Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

All set, Randy?Yep.

Up you go, little lady.

Oh, thank you!

I'd take you myself, Betsy, but with your father away,

I just don't have the time.

Well, I'll try and keep the buggy from turning over.

He doesn't mean that, Randy.

The Virginian drove me the last time

I was invited to Brynmar Hall,

and, well, it'll be all right this time.

Thanks again.

See to it you take care of her,

or I'll have your hide.

Yes, sir.

[ clicks ]

Whoa!

Forgot to buckle the check.

I'd almost forgotten how beautiful

this country is up here,

so peaceful and quiet.

[ thunder rumbling ]

Yeah, well, what's coming up behind us

there don't look so peaceful.

How much further we got to go?

'Bout eight or ten miles.

Better get a move on, then, hadn't we? Giddyup, now.

Whoa, there, whoa! Whoa.

Some place.

There's no other place like it in Wyoming,

that's for sure.

Mrs. Tyson!

Miss Betsy.

You haven't changed a bit.

One doesn't at my age.

You've grown up, though.

Come in.

Could I get some feed and water for the horses

before I start back, ma'am?

You'll see the barn around in back.

[ thunder rumbling ]

Mrs. Brynmar won't be down for a while.

If you'd care to make yourself comfortable in the living room,

I'll take your bags to your room.

Thank you.

Jenny?

Jenny Markham!

Hello, Betsy.

Oh!

It's been two years.

A long time.

Well, I wrote you, but you never answered.

Oh, I've moved several times.

Well, I didn't know you were coming, but I'm glad you're here.

What have you been doing all this time?

Oh, nothing special. Just working.

Let me look at you.

Just like I remember.

Well, I hope I look a little older.

You look just fine,

just like the handsome young daughter

of Wyoming's most successful rancher should look.

Uh, well, you look fine, too,

even prettier.

None of us were as pretty as Mildred, were we?

She was very pretty.

Have you talked to Mrs. Brynmar yet?

I haven't even seen her.

Maybe she was waiting for

our most important guest to arrive.

Oh, if you mean me...

Oh, it's true. You know.

You were always the favorite visitor at Brynmar Hall.

Richard's here, too, you know.

Richard?

When I first arrived, I thought that I was the only one invited.

I should've known, shouldn't I?

Have you been here since?

No.

Neither have I.

When I got Mrs. Brynmar's letter,

I was surprised and curious.

I guess that's actually why I bothered to come.

Poor Mrs. Brynmar.

Must be awful living in this same house,

remembering that... terrible night.

MRS. TYSON: Miss Betsy?

The young man wants to see you.

Excuse me.

Randy, I'm sorry. I forgot all about you.

That's all right. I just wanted to say

I'd be going now, and I'll pick you--

But what about the storm?

Well, I've been wet before.

That road's awfully dangerous in this wind and rain.

Couldn't he stay over, Mrs. Tyson?

The guest rooms are all taken.

He wasn't expected.

But it won't be safe going--

I'm sorry, Miss Betsy. There's just no room.

Well, anyplace indoors is better than--

That's all right, Betsy. I don't mind a little lightning.

No! I'll speak to Mrs. Brynmar.

No!

Mrs. Brynmar doesn't want to be disturbed until dinner.

That team's never been balky in bad weather.

We'll make it all right.

Well, I don't think you should have to try.

Mrs. Tyson, I think

that I will speak to Mrs. Brynmar.

That won't be necessary.

I'll make up one of the downstairs rooms.

That'll be fine.

Wouldn't want to put you out any.

This way.

Was that you, Betsy Garth?

Richard! Jenny said you were here.

In the flesh.

Mm, you've matured.

Oh... grown up, anyway.

Just arrive?Mm-hmm.

Well, then welcome to the house of mystery,

the mystery being why we're all here.

Well, Mrs. Brynmar's letter said--

I know, that she's closing the house down,

moving away forever, and wants to say good-bye to Mildred's closest friends.

I got one too, you see.

I miss your pigtail.

You mean you miss pulling it.

Oh, no, I've given up such childish pastimes.

For what? Or am I foolish to ask.

For the intricacies of law, my dear.

I've passed my entrance exams

and am entering Harvard in the fall.

Well, Richard, I think that's wonderful!

Entirely the result of hard work and perseverance,

but mostly ability and brains.

You're as conceited as ever.

You haven't changed a bit.

Oh, yes.

We have all changed...

haven't we, Jenny?

This room's just fine. Thank you, ma'am.

Michael...

Yes, I know. Was he invited?

He brought the girl, Betsy.

She know he's staying?

No.

Better tell her.

Yes, I will!

I propose we celebrate our festive reunion.

Betsy?No, thanks.

Aha. Afraid the grape

will unleash the demons within you?

How about you, Jenny, my love?

Hmm?

Well then, to Mildred.

What's so interesting out there, anyway?

It's going to storm.

Oh, don't worry.

We'll all be very cozy in here, won't we?

Of course, unless the roof blows in.

You're impossible.

Nothing's impossible where nature's concerned...

Or me.

Oh, by the way, Betsy,

has Jenny told you what she's been doing

since we last met?

Can't you talk about someone else?

Now, don't be modest, my love.

I just happened to catch her act one night

at... what was the name of that establishment again?

Oh, yes.

The Golden Goddess Saloon, wasn't it?

You couldn't let it be, could you?

Nothing wrong with a girl working for a living.

Richard!

Jenny, I--

I don't need anything from you,

no kindly understanding, no pity.

I don't need anything from anybody.

[ clattering ]

[ squawking ]

[ guitar playing ]

[ thunder crashes ]

Sure fixing to storm.

An astute observation.

Yeah, where I come from

we call this real twister weather.

Call it that here, too.

You really think it'll get bad?

Don't like the looks of it, miss.

Did I ever tell you, Betsy, about the tornado

that hit my hometown when I was a boy?

If I remember correctly,

400 homes and nearly that number of people

just disappeared one night in less than--

[ knock on door ]

[ coughing ]

I'm, uh, Paul Martinson.

Yes, sir. In there.

Well, well, well, little Betsy Garth!

Paul!

You look just fine, Betsy.

And Richard. How are you?

Hail, hail, the gang's all here. Almost.

No Jenny?

Upstairs.

Pouting.

Paul, this is Randy, a friend of mine.

Randy, this is Paul Martinson.

How are you, Randy? Pleasure.Good to meet you.

We've known each other since we've been so high.

Well, not quite that long.

Well, heh, this is an unexpected surprise,

all of us here together again.

Oh, I'd forgotten you--

you didn't know!

I'm glad, Paul.

RICHARD: Surprised is a better word for me.

Anyway, on you it looks good.

Thank you.

Even though I do find it hard to believe.

Mm, well.

Like most things, people change too, Richard.

Oh, now, that sounds very interesting.

Later on, you must tell me about that.

Oh, I will, I will.

However, right now I'm going to find my room

and wash some of this dust off.

I'll see you after a while.

Well. Bet you're glad you're not out there now.

I ain't complaining any.

Oh, you're awfully quiet, for a change.

I was just thinking.

You, me, Jenny, and now Paul.

That completes the list.

What do you mean?

We're all here,

all of us who attended

Mildred's party that last night.

Something else I just realized, too.

This is an anniversary.

It happened exactly two years ago tonight.

Oh! Sorry.

Uh, my fault.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

I, uh...

I don't really like being alone.

Me neither.

I guess this storm and all

kind of puts me on edge.

My hair won't stay.

[ laughing ]

I'm sorry I got so upset downstairs.

Let's not even talk about it.

There's nothing that I'm ashamed of, you understand.

Of course.

It's just that...

Well, after my grandmother died,

I-I had to find work.

Jenny, don't let Richard upset you.

He's always taken pleasure in trying

to embarrass people, you know that.

I don't care what he's always done!

He'd better leave me alone.

Say, did you know that Paul's here?

Paul?

Yes, he's a minister now.

A-a minister?

Isn't that wonderful?

Yes, yes it is!

Come on, let's go downstairs and find him.

I'd like to see Paul again.

Where's Paul?

I don't know.

Say, Betsy, whatever happened to her, anyway?

Well, two years ago,

we were all attending a party here,

and during the night there was a fire.

Mildred and her father were burnt to death.

How'd it start?

Well, no one knows.

The fire didn't spread beyond the cellar.

Sometimes I still wake...

during the night, and I can--

I can hear Mildred screaming,

way off...

for her mother.

Mrs. Brynmar was hurt, too.

Why do you suppose she's keeping us waiting like this?

She's probably just resting.

I think she's doing it on purpose.

I don't see how anybody could rest

with the wind blowing like this.

[ bird squawking ]

How'd a house like this ever get to be

sitting out here in the middle of nowhere, anyhow?

Well, Daddy said that when Mr. Brynmar

brought his wife up from the East years ago,

he built this house exactly like the one

she'd always lived in so that she would like it

better here, living in Wyoming.

Sure went to a lot of trouble.

Mr. Brynmar was a big rancher then.

I guess he had a lot of bad luck,

drought and all,

and anyway, he lost most of his land.

Where do you suppose Paul and Richard are,

sprucing themselves up?

I reckon.

You reckon wrong, my boy.

Richard has finished his sprucing.

Now, as soon as our new minister arrives,

it appears the wheel will have turned a full circle.

Here we'll all be again.

Well, almost.

[ thunder crashes ]

Say, that was close.

You say they've got a cellar in this place?

Oh, yes, they've got a cellar, all right.

If there is a twister,

it might be a good place to be before this night's over.

PAUL:Hello!

Hello, Jenny!

Paul.

I guess congratulations are in order.

Oh, thank you.

You're as pretty as ever.

No, uh, sign of our hostess yet?

No. I was just about to comment it would be nice

to see her before the house blew in.

Looks pretty bad, doesn't it?

Bad enough.

Night's coming on, too.

Storms always seem worse when it's dark out.

That's because you can't see where the wind's going to drop you.

[ laughs ]

Why don't we change the subject?

Changing the subject doesn't change the facts, my dear.

Now, you're old enough to know that.

Blowing harder.

Now that's a bright statement.

Richard.

Don't know how much of this wind the house'll take.

The fire weakened the beams, you know.

On top of it, we had a big blow

about this time last year.

What do you suggest we do, go stand outside?

It might be safer than in here, miss.

Just don't feel easy.

I know who he is.

He's the cheerful gravedigger that welcomes you to the cemetery.

Oh, Richard, why don't you keep quiet!

Because I don't have to, my love.

Why won't she come down?

Oh, she'll be down soon, Jenny.

It's all right. Come on.

It's almost like she's doing it on purpose.

But why?

[ thunder crashes ]

It's just the storm.

It does things to the nerves.

BETSY: Why don't you play something, Randy?

Something cheerful.

[ chandelier tinkling ]

[ creaking ]

Look out!

Is anybody hurt?

Are you all right?

I could feel something like this gonna happen.

I still do.

Will you all come into the dining room?

Mrs. Brynmar will join you in a few minutes.

Miss Betsy. Miss Jenny.

Richard. Randy.

Reverend.

Well, looks like our hostess

is gonna keep us waiting just a little while longer.

No, Richard.

I think I've kept you waiting quite long enough.

Michael?

Please be seated.

Michael.

Yes, Miss Sarah.

It was so nice of you to come to please my whim.

I just couldn't move away

without seeing each one of you again.

You meant so much to Mildred,

her very best friends.

Not telling each of you that the others were coming

was my little surprise.

[ thunder crashes ]

Of course, I couldn't foretell

there'd be this terrible storm.

For that I apologize.

Paul, I heard you'd become a minister.

I must say, the collar is quite becoming.

Thank you.

Jenny.

You haven't changed.

A bit more...

sophisticated, perhaps.

You must be Betsy's young friend.

I hope you forgive Mrs. Tyson's rudeness.

I still correspond with your father, Richard,

matters concerning Stuart's estate.

Yes, I know about that.

And you, Betsy.

What a lovely young lady you've grown to be.

Why...

you're just the same age now

that Mildred was when...

[ chuckles ] We'll have to have a long talk together,

just you and I, later on.

If only Mildred could be here

to see each one of you again.

But of course, that's impossible, isn't it?

Paul, will you say grace for us, please?

Bless us, O Lord,

and the food we're about to share.

Bring peace to those of us who are troubled

and humility to those of us who are fortunate.

We ask that you bless us, your servants,

gathered around this table,

and we especially ask you

to bless loved ones who are absent.

We thank thee, O Lord, that we're able to gather

again in this house, where we have been

so graciously received in the past.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Paul.

Now, Mrs. Tyson, food for our hungry guests.

[ Paul chuckles ]

Well, I found bucking hay

to be the most difficult.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Hey, Randy, tell them about

your first experience branding calves.

Oh, yeah, that was really something.

Actually, I was doing all right

at roping and tying them for the iron,

but there was this one stubborn critter.

He pulled Randy off his horse!

Yeah, he took off and dragged me through the brush.

By the time they got him stopped,

I felt like I'd been dragged through a bed of cactus.

He looked like it, too.

Mrs. Tyson, bring them now, please.

There's one for each of you,

except Randy, of course.

They belonged to Mildred, of course.

I'm afraid the fire damaged them,

but I wanted each one of you to have a keepsake,

something to remember her by,

something of special significance

to each one of you.

After all, the guilt of that evening

hides right here at this table.

Doesn't it?

Michael?

All I said was I think I'll read some

of Mildred's favorite poetry aloud.

I don't want to hear it!

My, my, my.

Aren't we sensitive tonight?

That isn't necessary, Richard.

My apologies, Sir Galahad.

I think we should get out of this house.

Tonight. Now.

Jenny, what are you talking about?

Something's wrong! Something's very wrong.

I'm afraid it wouldn't be very pleasant outside.

Well, it couldn't be any worse than--

If you want to go, nobody's stopping you.

Leave me alone!Richard!

Look, aren't we all being just a little foolish?

Now, I'm sure Mrs. Brynmar

didn't mean anything by giving us these things.

She must have had a reason that was very important to her.

Got to try and understand what it's been like

for her being cooped up in this house

and not seeing anyone,

thinking about her husband and Mildred.

Still, even when we lose the things

most precious to us, we must go on living.

The voice of experience.

Or is that the sermon for the day?

Of course, you may be right.

Perhaps that's why we were given these things,

to remind us to do penance for our daily sins...

and peccadilloes, eh, Paul?

Miss Betsy, Mrs. Brynmar

would like to see you in her room.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Betsy, maybe I'd just better tag along, huh?

Oh, I'll be all right, Randy.

There's more than one thing about this house

that don't sit quite right with me besides that Richard.

Oh, Randy, you're letting

that storm get on your nerves, too.

Maybe, but I've had a funny feeling

ever since I walked through that door,

and I'm remembering what the Virginian said about taking care of you.

Are you coming, Miss Betsy?

Uh, yes, Mrs. Tyson.

Now, Randy, I'll be all right.

I'll just hang around here.

You need anything, you just holler.

Okay, I'll holler.

Miss Sarah?

Miss Sarah.

Miss Betsy is here now.

Of course.

Thank you, Mrs. Tyson.

Sit down, my child.

You're so much like her.

Of all her friends,

you were closest to Mildred.

We were good friends.

More than that.

As girls do,

I'm sure she confided things in you

that she never confided in me.

Oh, we had a secret or two, the usual kind.

I was her mother.

She had no right to keep things from me.

Mrs. Brynmar, these were kid things.

I did everything for her. She had no right.

I'm sure Mildred didn't--

I did what was proper for her.

I selected the clothes she wore,

the books she read.

I even chose her friends for her.

I only thought of what was right for her,

what would make her happy.

I'm sure Mildred knew that.

Then why was she planning to run away?

Run away?

You didn't know?

Wasn't that one of your little secrets?

No.

She was planning to leave, all right.

I found out that very last night.

I can't believe that.

It had to be either Richard or Paul.

Which was it?

I don't know.

Don't lie to me.I'm not!

I want the truth.

Mrs. Brynmar,

I don't know what you're after,

but I am not a liar!I'll find out!

Is it really so important now?

I'll find out.

Mrs. Brynmar, why did you give us those things of Mildred's?

Things?

Mementos...

to remind you of what happened.

Do you think we could ever forget it?

As a minister,

you should take better care

of your bishops.

Well, unfortunately sometimes it's necessary

to, uh, swap one piece...

for another.

And position.

Listen.

Sure got quiet all of a sudden.

Maybe the storm's over!

Hope it's not what I think it is.

Can't see anything.

If it is over, there's no reason we have to stay here.

None except 10:00 at night is no time to try to find your way down that road.

It's not over yet, not by a long shot.

I get it.

We've all suddenly gone deaf.

You hear it?

[ quiet rumbling ]

Well, what is it?

Twister.

[ wind whistling ]

What are we gonna do?

Get away from the windows

and get down behind the furniture, fast.

Get away from the window!

Hey, that was close.

Are you all right?

[ mutters ]

Michael, get that window covered up

before it starts blowing again.

I'll make sure Mrs. Brynmar's all right.

Are you all right?

Yes, thank you.

Thank heaven it missed.

Heaven is Paul's department, Betsy.

No offense meant.

MICHAEL: Excuse me, miss.

Let's get this up over the window.

Started raining again soon.

Always does after one of these things.

Hope it doesn't have any cousins in the neighborhood.

You mean there could be another one?

It's not uncommon, miss, not around here.

Not around Brynmar Hall.

Let's get this drape closed.

There, that should hold back some of the draft.

I believe I'll go to my room for a bit.

Picking on my guitar is sure more fun than this.

Can't say as I blame you.

[ cawing ]

Well, it didn't take your music long to--

Where are them boys?

Is something wrong?

Something's sure wrong when people go to cutting guitar strings.

Doing what?Just what I said.

Somebody cut the strings on my guitar.

Oh, Randy, why would anybody do anything like that?

I think somebody's trying to make sure

I know that I'm not welcome here.

[ music box plays ]

That's the music box playing.

It's gone!

Well, maybe all this is somebody's idea

of being funny, but not mine.

You two wait here.

[ music box continues, louder ]

[ music box falters ]

[ continues playing slowly ]

[ music stops ]

[ floor creaks ]

I know, it was all melted and everything.

Ugh. You know, I think our hero Randy

just wanted to get away from us girls

so he could get to bed.

I don't feel much like sleeping,

but I could stand some freshening up.

Me too. See you later downstairs?

[ thunder crashes ]

I didn't have a chance to talk to you, Jenny.

Did I startle you?

What do you want?

I'm concerned about you, dear.

You act frightened.

Why should you be frightened?

Why?!

Because of all the things that have been happening.

That chandelier that just happened to fall,

those ghastly gifts that you gave us,

this whole house!

I see.

You know, Jenny, I've been watching you

rather carefully since you arrived this afternoon.

In fact, I watched you verycarefully.

You seem so nervous,

I, uh, wondered if there was something wrong.

The only thing that's wrong is this house

and the people in it.

Are you quite sure?

Are you sure that there aren't especially unpleasant memories

for you here at Brynmar Hall?

No.

Why should there be?

Perhaps a feeling of... guilt?

No!

Of all Mildred's friends, I approved of you least.

You knew that, didn't you?

Oh, I knew that, all right.

Did you ever wonder why?

I knew why.

I didn't have what you considered

the proper background.

It was partly that,

but there was something more,

a certain sort of wildness about you.

Something I had to protect Mildred from.

Why don't you just come out and say it!

I was never good enough for you!

All the young men who used to come to call

were always attracted to you.

It was strange.

You weren't as pretty as Mildred,

but there was a special way about you.

Men always recognized it.

Mildred never paid attention to men

before you started coming here.

You brought evil into this house,

to Mildred!

We were friends, best friends!

You were her conspirator.

That night at the party, you pretended to go to bed,

but you really went to see Mildred.

What was the secret you shared?

There wasn't any.

You're a liar!

You knew she was planning to run away.

All right.

All right, I knew.

Which one was it, Paul?

Richard?

I don't know.

You went to her room to pack her clothes for her.

I saw you!

Which one?She never told me!

Oh, don't you understand?

Whoever was with her when the fire started,

that's the person who killed her!

No! It was an accident.

It was murder, murder!

It was murder.

I heard loud voices.

I know what I came to find out.

I'll take you to your room now.

Please do.

Oh! Ow.

Oh.

Randy, are you all right?

I guess so.

This is Mildred's room. What are you doing here?

Getting hit on the head mostly.

Here, hold this.

Thought you'd gone to your room. What happened?

I wish I knew.

I was looking for the music box...

It's gone.

It was right there, and it's gone.

I reckon whoever conked me must've took it.

Randy, what you said about this place--

I think maybe you were right and I was wrong.

That's some improvement, anyway.

Well, what do we do?

Stick close together,

and in the morning we'll get out of here.

My husband used to say

that your father was one of

his most competent and trusted employees.

Of course, trust is a cardinal virtue for a bookkeeper...

or even for a bookkeeper's son, isn't it?

For anyone, I would say.

How well put, Paul.

But then, of course, you always had

a way with words, didn't you?

You know,

I never pictured you as a man of the cloth.

I suppose I never did myself.

Well, I've heard it said that many young men

feel called to the ministry to escape

personal tragedy or... sins.

Well, it's really quite logical.

In the church, a person might be able

to find a measure of compensation, or...

absolution.

What are you trying to say?

Oh, don't be offended, Paul.

It's just that I'm interested in you,

as I am in all of Mildred's friends.

I remember that last summer so well.

Stuart was away on business somewhere,

and you used to drive Mildred to church every Sunday.

Yes, I remember it quite well.

You were both so young.

Eighteen.

It was a very wonderful summer.

I suppose that you and Mildred

talked about all those shining, foolish things

that children always talk and dream about,

knights in shining armor, eternal love,

running away together, falling in love.

I imagine all young people talk of such things at some time.

Foolish young people.

Yes.

But I taught Mildred the truth.

The truth?

That such things only exist in daydreams

and the mouths of men.

Every man.

If you believe that, I'm sorry.

I'm glad Mildred didn't.

She knew the truth.

Good night.

Paul!

Good night.Paul!

You profess to be a man of God.

Well, as a man of God,

do you dare tell me why you wear that collar?

You think I entered the ministry to escape some... guilt.

Well, you're wrong.

I didn't run to the ministry, I ran from it.

It didn't seem at all romantic or exciting,

yet I could not rid my mind of the idea.

I talked to Mildred about it.

I even tried a little bit of everything else,

trying to find something I really wanted to do,

something else I was best at.

Well, after a while, I stopped running...

and I found out.

I don't believe you.

Mrs. Brynmar,

Mildred meant a great deal to me.

She was my friend.

Her loss was a very personal loss to me.

But her death is not the reason I wear this collar.

I would've worn it in any case.

Get out.

Get out!

Paul, have you seen Jenny?

No, I haven't. Why, is something wrong?

I don't know. She's not in her room.

We can't find her anywhere, unless she's with Mrs. Brynmar.

She's not in Mrs. Brynmar's room. I just left it.

You remember how she talked.

You don't think she'd try to leave?

I don't think so, not in this storm.

Found her out there.

Oh!

Here!

Get blankets and smelling salts.

What happened to her?

I don't know, I...

I saw her run out of the house and went after her.

I found her like that.

I guess a tree limb must've hit her in the head.

Doesn't appear to be too serious.

Put this under her head.

You take the smelling salts.

Help me, please.

RICHARD: At least Jenny has the courage of her own convictions.

I had to get away.

I ran and ran, and...

Well, then I remember someone following me.

Then I don't know what happened.

Why did you have to get away?

Oh, it's so hard to explain.

Well...

Mostly it was Mrs. Brynmar.

She came to my room.

She said I brought evil to the house.

She accused me of all sorts of things,

mostly about Mildred.

You're not alone there.

I had quite a session with her myself about the same thing.

Me too. I didn't know what she was talking about.

Trouble is, I do.

What?

What do you mean?

Well...

That night of the party, two years ago,

Mildred whispered to me to meet her in the cellar.

I thought it was odd, but I did what I was asked.

She said she was eloping,

only she wouldn't tell me with whom.

Only that if her mother ever found out,

she'd stop her for sure.

She found out, all right.

She told me about it tonight,

but I didn't believe her.

Well, it's true.

She asked me to go upstairs and pack a bag for her.

I didn't want to, but she begged so that...

I did it,

and I was upstairs in her room when the fire started.

You've done nothing to be ashamed of.

Oh, that's not the whole thing.

The first time I went down to the cellar,

I had a lamp with me.

I left it by the windowsill

when I went upstairs again.

Well, don't you see?

Nobody knows how the fire started.

I put the lamp there.

You don't know that it was your lamp that started it,

and, well, even if it was, it was an accident.

Oh, I've said that over and over again.

"It was an accident."

If I could only know for sure!

There is no way to know, Jenny...

but I'm sure no one blames you.

Why don't you try and get some rest,

and we'll see you bright and early in the morning.

Betsy, Paul? Thank you.

Good night, Jenny.

Who is it?

Randy.

[ sighs ]

Come in.

I was just checking. You all right?

I think we'd both better try and get some sleep.

Well, if I do, it'll be with one eye open.

Can't you lock that door?

No key.

Well, if you need me, I'll come running.

Good night.Night.

[ screaming ]

It's just a king snake. It won't hurt you none.

I don't care. Get it out of here!

Oh!

What happened?

Snake in her bed.

Probably came inside to escape from the storm.

Sure, and he found it drafty on the second floor,

so he climbed into bed to get warm, I reckon.

There has to be an explanation.

Yeah, somebody put it in there while we were downstairs.

Oh, Randy, you're imagining things.

I didn't imagine this lump alongside my head,

or a lot of other funny things going on around here tonight.

I think he's right.

Let's get this thing out of here.

I'll put him outside where he belongs.

I'm all right.

I-I'm all right now.

[ door opens ]

[ door closes ]

[ bird scratches in cage ]

[ cawing ]

[ bell rings ]

"Dear Mildred, I have given it serious thought

"and have now realized

"that it is impossible to take you with me.

I am sorry that I must break my promise to you."

[ door closes ]

Been here long?

No, not long.

You know, I had an uncle once who was a preaching man.

Said he always felt nervous if he didn't have his coat on.

[ chuckles ]

I imagine most ministers feel that way about it.

I noticed you always wear yours.

Reckon that's how I noticed

you have a button missing off it.

Where'd you find it?

In the cellar.

Found this, too.

I wrote this two years ago...

to her.

Were you down there just now, in the cellar?

No, I mean...

I did make sort of a pilgrimage earlier today,

but, uh, no.

No.

Well, as long as the girls are safe in their room,

I guess we might as well try to get some sleep, too.

I suppose.

[ knocking ]

Who is it?

It's only me.

Come here.

I, uh... I hope I'm not pestering you.

Of course not.

I...

I-I've tried sleeping,

but I can't!

This awful house!

Would you like some warm milk?

It'll help put you to sleep.

Okay, you lay down and I'll get you some.

Aah!

Aaah!

Randy!

Randy, help me!

Betsy!

I saw him too.

I couldn't see his face.

Just as well.

I think we'd all better have a get-together.

We guests, that is.

That man downstairs, who could he have been?

That and a lot of other questions need answering.

Well, the obvious fact is that whatever's

going on in this house is directly related

to the fact that the four of us

were here two years ago tonight.

Mrs. Brynmar said that Mildred was planning to run off that night.

With one of you.

Don't you have a comment on that, Richard?

Somehow I seem to have run out of quips.

Sorry.

Do any of you ever remember Mildred leaving this house,

just once in all the time we knew her?

We were always invited here.

Except for church on Sunday.

Brynmar Hall wasn't her home, it was her prison,

and her mother was her jailer.

She hated this house, and in a way,

she hated her mother, too.

That night of the party,

Mildred knew I was going to Laramie the next day,

and she asked me if I would take her

to some old friends of the family who lived there,

and that is all there was to it.

I owe you an apology, Paul.

I'm afraid you overestimated me, Richard.

At first, I agreed to take her.

Later on, I thought, well, how it would seem,

so I wrote her a note

and told her I'd changed my mind.

I never saw her again.

I wish I had taken her with me.

I wonder what really happened down there that night.

Mrs. Brynmar seems to think

that one of us killed Mildred.

But that's ridiculous!

Yes.

But she wouldn't believe Richard or me.

Not even on a stack of Bibles.

We, uh...

we all know what Mrs. Brynmar thinks of me.

Still, someone should talk some sense to her,

before something really awful happens.

Yeah, Jenny's right.

I guess it's up to me.

Well, I'll try.

I'll go with you.

I'll be all right. It's just across the hall.

Mrs. Brynmar?

[ gasps ]

Mrs. Brynmar?

I thought I heard you calling from outside.

I didn't call.

I always liked the white dress better.

Why are you standing there?

Go to your room at once.

Mrs. Brynmar, I would like to talk to you.

Must I punish you?Please!

Must I?

Then I will punish you.

Punish you, punish you!Randy!

[ Betsy screaming ]

Randy?

Betsy!

[ cawing ]

[ Betsy screaming ]

Why did you run away from me, Mildred?

I know all about it, Mildred.

I can't just let you run off, can I?

I've given you everything,

and now you want to leave me.

I'm not Mildred! Look at me.

You know how I'm going to punish you, Mildred?

Just the way I punished you before

when you tried to run away.

You're afraid of the dark, aren't you, Mildred?

You've always been afraid of it, haven't you?

RANDY: Betsy, unlock the door! Let me in!

All right, then.

Darkness!

[ screams ]

[ yelling ]

Try to get the fire out!

Come on!

Get her out of here!

She's dead.

After Mildred's death,

all of us here...

Mrs. Tyson, Michael, myself,

recognized the change in Sarah's mind.

She somehow shut out the fact

that she herself had started the fire,

almost exactly as you saw for yourselves,

only this time it was her own dress that caught fire.

Gradually, she transferred the guilt to one of you.

When I found out she'd sent the invitations...

But what about you, Mr. Brynmar?

I was burned trying to save Mildred.

Later, after I'd seen the revulsion in the eyes of my own wife,

I let the outside world assume I'd died in the fire.

For the things I did, I apologize.

I was deeply afraid of what Sarah might do.

I had no intention of hurting anyone.

Neither did Michael nor Mrs. Tyson,

who helped me in trying to frighten you all away.

Please forgive me.

I'll bring the buggy around, Betsy.

I'll be on my way, too.

Jenny...

I hope to see you again.

In the meantime, maybe they'll be able

to teach me something at Harvard about...

people and things.

Well, till next time.

We'll see each other again soon, Jenny.

Paul?

I'm sure we will, Betsy.

Do come and visit me, Jenny.

Well, I don't know where I'll be.

I'm looking for new work.

I think I could help you find something, Jenny,

if you'd like.

I'd like that.

Your young man is waiting for you, Miss Betsy.

I'll be expecting you, Jenny.

Bye, Paul.

Good-bye, Betsy.