Original subtitles

Stop! Stop! Help! I've dropped my purse.

It's got all my money in it.

Thirty-five cents.

Oh, it's gone. It's gone.

Was that your candy money?

I'll never have so much money again in all my life.

Never mind.

Never mind?

I know somewhere where you can get

some candy for nothing.

Come on.

I'm dying to see your place.

Sylvia tells me it's all modern.

"Contemporary" they call it, dear, nowadays.

Well, whatever they call it, I'm sure it's very nice.

Thank you. Come on, honey, tomorrow's another school day.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you and Mr. Carter tonight.

You never know with a new principal.

He could be stuck up or plain nasty or both.

But neither of you seem to be either.

Thank you. You're very kind.

Yes, we were all very worried

when we heard you were foreign.

Oh. English is hardly foreign, dear.

Well, you know what I mean.

I hope Mr. Carter does.

Sally and I met in England, while I was teaching over there.

Actually, I... I'm practically a local boy from Toronto.

Weren't the local girls good enough for you?

I didn't have a chance to find out.

Left Toronto when I was 10.

Well, you'll get used to Sylvia,

but it'll take a little time.

Oh, you. Good night, everybody.

Good night. Good night, Sylvia.

Some of her best friends are foreigners.

Really?

I expect you'd like to keep this. Thank you.

Pity our chairman couldn't be here in person,

but right now, politics take first place

and he has this speaking date in Saint John.

Well, it was nice of him to send a telegram.

Our Mr. Olderberry always does the right thing.

Young Mr. Olderberry, I mean.

Is the old one still alive?

Oh, yes, yes. Clarence is still alive, all right.

Well, it looks like they want to shut up shop.

Come along, sweetheart.

I have some things in the office. I shan't be long.

Oh, I'll come with you, Peter.

Thank you again for making Pete and me feel so very much at home.

Oh, my dear, from now on you are at home.

Thank you. Good night. Good night.

Good night. Good night.

What's the matter?

I was just watching you.

You didn't really come back to get those books, did you?

Just wanted to get you alone.

Oh, no, you didn't.

You wanted to have another look at your office

to see if it was still here.

Do you blame me?

It's what you've always wanted, isn't it?

And you?

Do you like it here?

Oh, Pete, I love this place.

And I love you.

Oh, sorry, Mr. Carter, I was just locking up.

Uh, you two be long?

No, we're just going. Um... Oh, Harry, this is Mrs. Carter.

Oh, yes, I reckoned it might be. Leastways, I hoped so.

Ah, how romantic. Hello.

You two needn't hurry, I'm on all night.

Oh, thanks, Harry, but we do have a home to go to.

Good night, Harry. See you in the morning. Good night.

Good night.

Hello, kids!

Oh, Mother, you waited up.

Well, were the natives friendly?

Very friendly. In fact, they were wonderful.

I'm sure they were the salt of the earth.

Only I just don't like too much salt.

Oh, Mother. Drink?

Now, that's what I really waited up for.

Did Jean get off to bed all right?

She always does, for me.

What was tonight's tale of horror?

A little thing about a witch with three heads and one eye.

I don't know why you tell her such hair-raising stories.

She likes them. You did, too, remember?

I sometimes wonder how she can get off to sleep after listening to you.

Don't look now, but apparently she can't.

Oh, no.

Mummy.

What are you doing out of bed?

I couldn't sleep.

Now, you go back up those stairs.

Hello, Grandma.

Haven't I seen you somewhere before tonight?

Come on up. School tomorrow.

I know, but I was having a bad dream.

Oh, wait a minute. I thought you said you couldn't sleep.

How can you have a bad dream if you can't sleep, hmm?

I think I'm getting lockjaw.

Lockjaw.

Well, now that's just silly. You can't get lockjaw.

You've been inoculated against it.

Anyway, why lockjaw, for heaven's sake?

I stepped on a nail.

Come on, let's see it.

See? Right there.

I can't see anything.

Not even a scratch.

It isn't a scratch. It's a dent.

Now, you get off to bed before I twist your ears off.

Where did you step on this nail?

At the Olderberrys'.

At the Olderberrys'? When were you there?

This afternoon, with Lucille Demarest.

You went to the house?

Yes, we called on them.

I hope they appreciated the honor.

Did you see Mr. And Mrs. Olderberry?

Oh, no, they were out.

Well, if they were out, how did you get in the house?

You didn't just walk in, did you?

No, we rang the bell.

Who let you in?

Mr. Olderberry. I mean, the old Mr. Olderberry.

Oh, just a minute, this is getting confusing.

Who's the old Mr. Olderberry?

Oh, that would be the father.

I shall have to call up tomorrow and apologize.

How long were you there?

About half an hour.

Poor old man, he must have been about ready for a nervous breakdown.

Oh, no, he liked it.

I'm sure he did. I think that was a very nice thing for you to do.

But how did you come to step on this nail? You had your shoes on.

We, uh... We took them off.

What? You took your shoes off?

We took all our clothes off.

Darling, you didn't mean that, did you?

About taking off all your clothes?

Yes, I did.

Why did you do it, Jean?

Because Mr. Olderberry asked us to.

You spilt your drink.

Yes, I did, didn't I?

Shall I help you wipe it up?

Uh, darling, I don't think I quite understand.

Mr. Olderberry asked you and Lucille to take off all your clothes?

That's right. So, we did.

Wasn't that right?

Well, no, Jean, it wasn't.

Why not? He said to.

Not now.

Um, darling, I think you'd better go back up to bed.

I'll come up with you.

Can't I stay down a little longer?

No, I don't think so.

Come along.

Good night, Grandma.

Good night, widget.

Hope it doesn't spoil the table.

Good night, Daddy.

Night, Jean.

What about my lockjaw?

We'll put something on it when we get upstairs.

Then you won't have anything more to worry about.

God.

Yes.

You think he did what Jean said he did?

Yes, I do.

He actually made them undress?

Apparently.

If he touched her,

I swear I'll kill the swine.

There. How's that?

Fine.

There. You'll see,

in the morning it'll all be well.

Tell me a story.

I'll tell you what, let's have a little talk first.

Then maybe I'll read to you.

What'll we talk about?

I want to know all about this afternoon.

What was Mr. Olderberry like?

He's all right. He was very old though.

What were you doing there?

I mean, why did you go to the house in the first place?

Lucille said he'd give us some candy.

And did he?

Oh, yes, afterwards.

After what?

After we danced.

Can I have a drink of water, please?

Yes.

Yes, of course.

Where did all this happen?

In his room.

It's on the top floor.

It's got a private stairs and a front door and everything.

I'd like to live there.

Would you, darling?

Oh, I'd much rather live here, of course. It's much cleaner.

Was Mr. Olderberry alone?

Oh, yes, there was nobody else.

Lucille introduced me. She said I was her friend.

And then what happened?

He asked her if she liked to play games, too.

Jean said she did.

He said the game was for her and Lucille to take off all their clothes.

Jean didn't want to do it,

but Lucille said Mr. Olderberry would give them a lot of candy.

She took off her clothes first,

and then Jean.

He made them dance.

Oh, no.

Just sat there, a few feet away.

Jean said he kept smiling at them,

rocking backwards and forth with his hands on the arm of the chair.

He was making a sort of noise, as if he were singing,

only he wasn't singing.

Oh, Sally.

After a few minutes, he closed his eyes

and Jean thought he'd gone off to sleep.

She started to put on her clothes again,

but he woke up and asked her what she was doing.

She said she was cold, and anyway, she thought the game was finished.

He laughed and said that it was

and told her to go and get another box of candy.

That was when she stepped on the nail.

And that's the whole story?

Yes.

Do you think Jean has any idea what it's all about?

No, not the slightest.

She still thinks it was all a game.

She said the candy wasn't very good.

Sally,

it's true, isn't it?

Jean didn't make up any of it?

No, no, it's all true.

Pete! We don't want the whole town to know.

You know what those small town switchboards are.

Who are you calling?

His son.

Of course, they'll all be over at Saint John.

Well, we'll just have to leave it until the morning.

Leave it?

What else can we do?

Call the police.

I don't think that'd be at all wise.

I'm not interested in doing what's wise,

I only want to do what's right.

But would it be right, Sally,

to go to the police at this stage?

They'd arrest him. They'd get him away from here.

I very much doubt it.

What do you mean? Isn't what he's done a crime, attempted rape?

Attempted rape? Sally, he didn't even touch the child.

I don't understand you.

Neither of you seem to think this is serious.

A sexual pervert lures two little girls into his house...

He didn't lure them in,

they went there of their own accord.

What in heaven's name difference does that make?

A great deal. It means...

The fact is he got them into his home and made them do something

that might have had the most horrible consequences.

I don't think so, Sally. Really, I don't.

I'm not trying to minimize what happened. I do think it was frightful.

But you must keep a sense of proportion.

After all, Jean wasn't actually hurt.

You seem very sure of that, Marty.

I am, instinctively.

You see, I know how tough children can be.

Happy, normal children, that is.

And I know how much it takes really to shock them.

Listen,

when I was about Jean's age, there was a man in the village.

Percy Sandford, he was about 40.

Like a big, overgrown schoolboy.

A case of arrested development, I suppose. It usually is.

Anyway, when we little girls went by on our way to school,

he used to stand at the window and...

I believe the term is "expose himself. "

What happened to him?

Nothing.

The family was highly respected and respectable folk.

They just kept him at home,

and everyone pretended not to notice.

Anyway, you see, the sight of poor Percy didn't do me any permanent harm.

Sally, where are you going?

Sally, I asked, "Where are you going?"

I'm going for the police.

Sally, listen to me. You can't make a serious complaint

against someone without knowing what you're doing.

I know what I'm doing. No, you don't.

The charge you're making might be substantially false.

Do you think your daughter was lying?

No, Jean doesn't lie, but if we accuse Olderberry of something

like assault or attempted rape, he may get off completely.

We'd be sued for everything we've got.

I'm sorry.

Sally, give me that car key. Sally, Pete.

Now, calm down, both of you.

You're behaving like children.

First of all, Sally, would you mind telling me, without shouting, please,

why you think it's necessary to go rushing off to the police,

right now, in the middle of the night?

Because a crime should be reported

as soon as possible after it's committed.

This isn't an ordinary crime, like burglary or a hold-up.

This concerns a lot of people,

people you know and have to live with.

Whole families, maybe the whole town.

It concerns Pete's relations

with his colleagues and the school committee.

After all, don't forget we're foreigners here.

Are you putting Pete's job ahead of Jean's safety?

I'm not putting anything ahead of anything.

I just want you to look at this objectively.

Objectively?

You expect me to be objective

when a man tries to corrupt my daughter?

Yes, I do, for her sake and yours.

I'm sorry. The police have got to be told.

But why, Sally, why?

Because it isn't only Jean that's threatened.

It's every other child in this town.

We have a responsibility in this, a responsibility to society.

To hell with society!

What worries me is you and Jean and Pete,

and the effect this will have on your lives, if you let it.

Go away! Go away!

Go away!

Go away!

Now, there's a good girl. Go away!

There's nothing to be frightened of. Go away!

Mummy and Daddy are right here, Jean.

My darling, what's the matter?

He's in there, the old man, in the cupboard.

Nonsense, darling. You were just dreaming.

There's nobody here but you and us.

Yes, there is. I saw him go in.

He's still in there.

Now then, we'll check.

See? There's no one. Nothing.

Like Mummy said, just a bad old dream.

No, it wasn't. I saw his white hands.

He's gonna take me away.

Don't let him. It's all right, darling.

Don't let him. It's all right. Calm down.

No one's going to take you away.

Pete!

Are you going to the police?

Say, Mac, you want some fancy reading?

Just take a look at this guy Carter's statement.

Not now. The Chief's waiting for these.

You can read the file copy.

All right. All right.

I thought maybe you'd better have a look at this,

and see what your husband did say.

I know what my husband said.

Oh, sure, of course you do,

but I thought maybe there might be a few things

you didn't agree with or might want him to change.

It's a simple statement of fact.

I wouldn't call it just that.

What do you mean?

It's his story of what your little girl told you.

It ain't been substantiated yet.

It will be,

in court, if necessary, Mr. Hammond.

Captain Hammond, if you please, ma'am.

I sweated it out for my rank the hard way, Mrs. Carter,

so I kind of like people to use it.

I'm sorry, Captain Hammond.

No offense meant. None taken, I'm sure.

What I'm trying to say is this, Mrs. Carter,

and I hope you won't take me wrong.

You and your husband are strangers in this town.

Nobody knows much about you.

What has that got to do with it?

Quite a lot, in a place like this.

I don't say it's right, but that's how things are.

But you seem to forget that my husband has just been appointed

principal of your high school.

That must give him some standing in the community.

Some standing. The Olderberrys have a lot more.

I don't doubt that, but...

High school principals come and go,

but the Olderberrys, you might say, go on forever.

Are you trying to suggest that my husband and I withdraw our charge?

We just go home and forget about what happened to our child?

Well, now you mention it, just what did happen to your child?

Far as I can see, nothing very much.

Captain Hammond, have you any children of your own?

Yes, I have, ma'am, five of them. Three boys and two girls.

So I guess I know just about as much as anybody

how much notice to take of the things kids say

when they've been doing something they know they shouldn't.

Such as? Going to people's houses and begging for candy.

How dare you?

Oh, maybe I shouldn't have said that, but I get kind of riled

when I think of all the trouble that can be caused

by a little exaggeration.

I'm not denying that maybe the old man

did get a little fresh with those kids.

A little fresh?

You call it a little fresh getting young girls to strip in front of him?

Well, nobody was hurt, were they? He didn't do anything.

Yes, he did do something, he attacked their innocence.

And I don't mean their physical innocence, I mean their minds.

And the only reason he didn't succeed

was because they were too young and inexperienced to know what he was after.

In other words, no real harm's been done.

I didn't say that.

That's what it's going to sound like if you force the issue

and bring this out in an open court.

Will it?

Look, Mrs. Carter.

You've got to be realistic.

The Olderberrys practically made Jamestown.

If it hadn't been for Clarence,

that's the old man, starting the sawmill,

there'd probably be nothing but trees where I'm standing right now.

And if it hadn't been for Richard branching out in 100 different ways,

we'd have stayed nothing more than an overgrown lumber camp,

instead of being one of the most prosperous, go-ahead places

this side of the Saint Lawrence.

I'm sure that's true, Captain Hammond,

but you can't expect it to make much difference to Mr. Carter and me.

We're not members of your Chamber of Commerce.

No, ma'am, you and your husband ain't members of nothing here.

And you're not likely to be if you insist on going through with this thing.

I don't see that we have any choice.

Not only for Jean, but for every other child

in your prosperous, go-ahead town.

Okay, make fun of us.

We're nothing but poor, stupid colonials.

But at least we know how to look after ourselves and our own children.

We know enough to keep them away from a house like that.

A house like what?

I mean strangers' houses, where they're not wanted,

where they got no business to be.

Is that all you wanted to see me about, Captain Hammond?

To verify my husband's statement?

I'll bring it around for Mr. Carter to sign.

I suppose it's just possible

he may have some second thoughts by then.

No, Captain Hammond.

It's not possible.

Thank you for the information.

What information?

About the town.

Goodbye.

Mrs. Carter!

Hello, Mr. Phillips.

I heard what happened yesterday.

Oh?

I'm sorry, this isn't even a small world,

it's just an overgrown village.

So I gather.

Your little girl all right?

Yes, thank you.

Must have been horrible for you and Mr. Carter,

happening so soon after you got here.

Mr. Phillips,

has anything like this ever happened before?

I mean, with Olderberry?

Well, not as bad as this, no.

What do you mean?

Well, nothing as compromising as this, anyway.

You see, Mrs. Carter,

Clarence Olderberry's a very famous character around here,

and everybody knows how much he likes children.

He likes them so much that sometimes he can't keep his hands off them.

But he's never made his intentions quite so clear before.

And no one's ever done anything about it?

No one's gone to the police before.

The Olderberrys themselves, they sent him to Coldhill for a while.

That's a sanatorium a few miles out of town, for nervous diseases.

An asylum.

Well, they don't call it that.

I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me.

Good luck.

Is my husband free?

Yes, go right in.

Thank you.

Hello, darling. Hello.

Well, did you see Hammond? Yes.

Pete, I've found out something else.

This isn't the first time Olderberry's done this sort of thing.

He's well-known for his leanings in that way.

He's even been in a sanatorium.

Has he now?

That changes everything, doesn't it?

Means we're no longer alone.

The whole town will be behind us.

I'd like to think so. They must be.

I called Richard Olderberry. What did he say?

He said if I had anything to say, to say it to his lawyer.

Excuse me, Mrs. Carter. The Sports Committee is assembled, Mr. Carter.

Shall I tell... I'll see you at home.

Sally, don't worry, we'll be all right.

That's what I wanted to say to you.

I could tell them you'd rather make the meeting tomorrow.

Why? Do you think tomorrow will be any better than today?

Don't think I'm trying to excuse the old man or anything.

Well, I should hope not. No, it's just that I can't understand

what the child was doing there in the first place.

Oh, really. Half the time, when girls get themselves

into that kind of trouble, it's their own fault.

She's only nine or 10 years old, that's all.

That's old enough to know better. If you ask me...

Nobody did ask you, did they?

I beg your pardon.

So you damn well should.

Well, who on earth was that?

She's the child's grandmother.

Oh, no. Why didn't you warn us?

Sylvia, this is dreadful.

Why?

I only said what I'm sure a lot of people are thinking.

You are lucky, having your own pool.

Sure, come on.

I'll ask Mom for two sodas before we swim.

I wish we had a pool.

Hi, Mom, Jean's coming for a swim. Can I get two sodas?

I don't think you'd better swim today.

Huh? It's cold.

It's not cold. Don't argue.

Anyway, I'm sure Jean's mother would rather

she went straight home today.

No, it's all right. My mother knew I was coming swimming.

I think you still better go straight home.

But why can't she?

Quiet, Sammy.

All right. Bye, Sammy.

Bye, Jean. Bye, Mrs. Nash.

Goodbye.

Maybe some other time.

Little girl. Yes?

Can you please tell me which is Mr. Carter's house?

Yes, I can. This is it. I live here.

Are you Miss Jean Carter? Yes, sir.

Will you take me in?

Yes, of course.

I've come to see your daddy.

Hello, Grandma, is Daddy home? Yes.

This gentleman wants to speak to him.

I'm Richard Olderberry.

Will you... Will you come in?

Thank you.

Is that Hammond?

No. It's Mr. Olderberry. Mr. Richard Olderberry.

May I come in? Certainly.

I'll take Jean upstairs.

Cute little kid you got there, you know?

We met on the doorstep.

I'm afraid I owe you folks an apology.

An apology?

Well, yes, for coming along like this without any warning

and about my behavior on the phone this morning.

You see, I was kind of annoyed

that you went to the police without talking to me first.

Um... Let me take your things.

Well, thank you.

Here you are. Oh, yes.

You'd better sit down. Thank you.

I also want to say I'm sorry about this misunderstanding.

Misunderstanding?

Yeah. All this stuff about the kids coming to my house

and my father teasing them or something.

Mr. Olderberry, I don't think you quite understand what happened.

Um... Offering children candy to take off their clothes

is something more than teasing.

Kids sometimes imagine things, you know.

Not a thing like that.

Mr. Olderberry, I think you should know,

my wife and I are absolutely convinced that Jean's story is true,

that your father did behave exactly the way she said he did.

Mr. Carter,

my family has been in this town for generations,

and in all that time nobody has ever been able to say

a bad word about us.

Nobody. Ever.

Mr. Olderberry, we don't want revenge.

All we want is an assurance

that your father won't be allowed

to go on being a menace to the children of this town.

What do you mean by assurance?

Isn't my word good enough?

That he isn't dangerous?

If he could be looked after in some way.

Perhaps a... A male nurse.

My father doesn't need a nurse. He's not sick.

But he is sick, that's just the point.

I happen to know a little about these things. An educator has to.

I'll admit we don't know the best way

to deal with people like your father.

Well, nobody's asking you to deal with him, Mr. Carter.

If he'd had some sort of treatment when he was a child,

some psychological training...

My father wasn't brought up like that.

Why, he was running the sawmill by the time he was 16.

He had discipline. Plenty of it.

That's not the point.

The point is, what to do with a person who,

for whatever reasons, has grown up with a twisted mind.

We'd like to give him some kind of a treatment,

try and root out the trouble.

But that's impossible.

Your father's too old.

There's only one thing left,

and that's to put him away where his illness can't harm others.

You wanna put my father away?

Well, nobody's gonna put my father away, Mr. Carter.

Look, that could be avoided

if you'd agree to send him to some place like Coldhill.

I understand that he was there for a time already.

Who told you that?

It doesn't matter. It does matter! I wanna know who told you.

The point is, why was he discharged?

He wasn't discharged.

He was in there as a voluntary patient.

He didn't wanna stay, so I took him out.

Now let's get this straight.

You mean they thought that he should have stayed there longer?

Anyway, they couldn't have kept him,

not unless he was committed by law in the first place.

We'll have to see that he is committed by law this time.

My husband's right, Mr. Olderberry.

Surely you must see that.

You... You lousy outsiders!

You come here without knowing a soul, looking for a job.

We find you one,

and the first thing you do is you... You stir up trouble.

You start talking about getting people arrested, about having them shut up.

Why, that's really funny coming from you, Carter.

You, with your fancy degrees and no money in the bank.

What did they teach you in them colleges, anyway?

Don't you know that a high school principal

needs the goodwill of the community?

That's got nothing to do with this.

That's got everything to do with this.

You're only here on trial.

We can get rid of you any time we want.

"We," Mr. Olderberry?

All right then, me, Mrs. Carter.

You'll soon find out that nobody else's word on the committee matters.

Mr. Olderberry, before you go,

will you admit that your father... I'll admit to nothing.

But I am going.

Mr. Olderberry!

You won't even admit that your father is mentally ill?

You're damn right I won't.

That'd be the same as admitting there's some truth in the story.

But I'll tell you what I will do, Carter.

Unless you withdraw your complaint,

I'm going to have a meeting of the school board

and you'll be without a job in 48 hours.

You'd better wait for the results of the trial, Mr. Olderberry,

it might make a difference.

There won't be any trial. It'll never get that far.

What are you doing here, Hammond?

I brought the document Mr. Carter wanted.

What document? The charge against your father.

He hasn't signed it yet.

Is that all it needs? Just my signature?

And then what?

Then I'll have to go to your place and make the arrest.

Look, Hammond, do you think I'm gonna let you do this?

I got no option, Dick.

Once an official complaint has been filed, everything else follows.

We'll see that he gets bail, of course.

There you are, Captain Hammond.

All right, Carter. All right.

You make your charge, but let me warn you about one thing.

Don't put that little girl of yours on the stand

to testify against my father.

Now, don't do that. Get out of here.

Because if you do, don't expect my lawyers to have any mercy on her.

You take it from me, it'll be an experience

that she won't forget in a hurry.

They'll tear her apart, and they'll do it on my instructions.

You're Mrs. Carter? Yes.

Your husband says he won't be much longer.

Unfortunately, Dr. Montfort couldn't see him right away.

Oh, that's all right.

You're sure you wouldn't rather wait inside?

Uh, no, thank you.

Well, he'll be right out. Terrible weather.

It would be different, of course, if Dr. Huber were alive.

He dealt directly with the case.

Is there anyone else who can give us the information?

I'm afraid not.

Well, surely you keep records of your patients' progress,

their case histories?

Of course. But they're strictly confidential.

You could be forced to produce them by a court order.

We could.

Look, Doctor, all I want to know

is whether Clarence Olderberry left this sanatorium

with or without the consent of his doctors.

I understand your problem, Mr. Carter.

You must try to understand ours.

Coldhill is not a state institution.

We're supported entirely by private subscription.

Meaning the Olderberrys?

Among others.

Then I'm wasting my time and yours.

Not at all. I'm sorry I had to keep you waiting.

Goodbye, Dr. Montfort.

Mr. Carter,

may I give you a piece of advice in confidence?

Yes, please do.

Don't bother to get a court order

to open the files of Clarence Olderberry.

Why not?

There's nothing in them.

What did you find out?

Who owns Coldhill Sanatorium.

This is one ace Olderberry can't trump.

Mrs. Demarest?

Oh.

You'll be the Carters, I suppose?

Yes. Well...

Thank you.

Tom ought to be home any minute now.

He... He knows you're coming.

I do hope it isn't inconvenient.

Oh, no, I... I haven't started getting supper yet.

I was just getting the vegetables ready.

Thank you.

Please, do sit down.

Thank you.

Will we be able to see Lucille?

Well, Lucille's away right now.

She's staying with her aunt up in Halifax.

How long will she be there?

Why, I don't know. A couple of weeks. Depends.

Depends on what?

On how long Marjorie, that's my sister, can have her.

Oh, wouldn't you folks like a cup of coffee? It won't take a minute.

No, thanks, really.

Mrs. Demarest, you do know why we've come here.

Why... Why yes, I think so.

I feel that it's important that we should be in this together

from the very beginning.

Yes.

Well... Well, of course, that's up to Tom.

But I'm sure he must realize

how much better it would be for both of us.

I hope so.

Well, they... They've just got to put that old man away.

They've just got to. Don't worry, Mrs. Demarest.

Between us, we'll see that they do.

Oh, that'll be Tom.

The Carters are here.

Oh. They been here long? No.

I had to walk halfway back from the mill.

The car broke down. Second time this week.

Uh, Mrs. Carter.

How are you? Hello.

Did you fix the folks some coffee?

Oh, no one wants any.

Well, I do.

Oh. Well, if you'll excuse me.

Well, won't you sit down?

Thanks.

What can I do for you, Carter?

Well, nothing at the moment, but next week I'll be going over to Saint John

to see the Crown Prosecutor about this Olderberry case,

and well, I thought we could save a lot of time and trouble

if you came along with me.

What for?

Well, to tell your side of the story.

Or rather Lucille's.

I'm sure you want to keep her out of it as much as possible.

I want to keep her out of it, period.

That's why I sent her away to her aunt.

But she can't be kept out of it.

Next to Jean, she'll be the Prosecutor's chief witness.

Oh, no, she won't. Because she wasn't a witness.

I don't get you.

Look, Carter, just like everybody else around here,

I'm sorry about what happened,

I just don't want to get mixed up in it.

But you are mixed up in it already, as Sally says.

I don't know what your little girl's been telling you,

but Lucille was nowhere near that Olderberry house the other afternoon.

Mr. Demarest!

Look, she was playing on the swing with Jean till 5:30,

then she came home for her supper.

Jean didn't want to go, so she left her there.

But that's not true.

That's her story.

The mill you work at, is it the Olderberry mill?

What's that got to do with it?

I wonder.

I also wonder if Lucille will stick to her story on the witness stand.

There isn't going to be any witness stand.

I don't want my kid dragged through the courts.

You won't have any choice if the Attorney General issues a subpoena.

Well, we'll see.

That's right.

Come on, Sally. We'd better be getting home.

Yeah, I think maybe you better.

Goodbye, Demarest.

I think you're making a very serious mistake.

I'm not making any mistake.

Can I speak to Mr. Richard Olderberry, please?

Tom Demarest. Why, Tom, why?

Shut up. But why?

Hey, I think that's them coming now.

You just tell your story like you told it to your mother and me at home.

Okay? Yes.

Ready?

Keep the change.

I think I'll sit here.

All right, sure. Thank you.

You're welcome.

These are your seats here.

Morning, Mrs. Carter. Good morning.

Morning, Jean.

Don't you worry, Dad. Everything's going to be fine.

I had a word with the judge.

There'll be no need for your father to stand during the hearing.

Good. Thank you.

Order in court. The court will rise.

Oh, yes, oh, yes, the Supreme Court of Jamestown

is now in session. Mr. Justice Charles presiding.

God save the Queen.

The accused will rise.

Oh, under the circumstances,

we can dispense with that formality.

Mr. Olderberry, you may remain seated.

Clarence Frederick Olderberry, in the name of Her Majesty the Queen,

and under the provisions of the criminal code of Canada,

you are charged with procuring a child, to wit:

Jean Carter, age nine years, seven months, of Jamestown,

with intent to commit an act or acts of gross indecency.

The charge which the complainants are bringing

against Clarence Olderberry is a grave and repulsive one.

Particularly repulsive

because of the tender age of the girl, Jean Carter.

Before, however, we give you details of the offense

and present our evidence, I would like to make one or two observations.

It would be idle to deny that some of us know,

or think we know, something about this case.

In a small community, where the parties in this case

are widely and personally known,

it is probable that some of the jury

have certain feelings and opinions,

and that such feelings may predispose them

either for or against the accused.

If any of you have such feelings,

I ask you to cast them entirely from your minds.

You are sworn, you know,

to try this man according to the law

without fear or favor, affection or ill will,

coldly, dispassionately, on the evidence alone.

And this you must do.

The crime which we have to consider is an ugly thing.

It is also, by its very nature, a secret thing.

I am unusually fortunate in having been able

to subpoena an actual eyewitness, young Lucille Demarest,

to corroborate in detail,

the testimony of the complainant.

And I assure you that when you have heard the evidence

of the two girls between them,

you will see that you've no alternative but to find the accused

guilty as charged.

My Lord, may I call my first witness?

If it'll please Your Lordship?

Mr. Slade.

Before my learned friend proceeds,

I think he should see this paper

that's just been handed to me.

May I ask my learned friend why this paper was handed to him instead of to me?

It concerns my witness.

I'm afraid I cannot answer that.

It was simply handed to me as I came into court. Perhaps by mistake.

May I see the document, please?

Certainly, Your Lordship.

This is a doctor's certificate to say that

Lucille Demarest is unable to appear today,

and it gives medical grounds to suggest

that she should not be required to come into court at all.

Hmm.

Is Dr. Mason in court?

Uh, no, My Lord.

But I understand that Dr. Mason,

who is a regular consultant at the Jamestown Hospital,

is ready to come here and be questioned,

if Your Lordship and my learned friend so desire.

Huh.

Well, I think this is up to you, Mr. Duggan.

Thank you, My Lord.

Well, Dr. Mason is a well-known

and highly-respected practitioner.

If he is prepared to sign his name to a declaration

that this girl's health will be seriously impaired

if she's forced to appear in court,

I don't see that I have any choice but to accept his word for it.

You realize, Mr. Duggan, that you are entitled to ask for an adjournment

until such time as Lucille Demarest is considered fit to be called.

I see no reason to suppose the young lady

will ever be considered fit to appear.

Certainly, after this, I should look upon her

as a potentially hostile witness.

Well, in that case, what do you wish us to do?

I should like to proceed, Your Lordship.

In cases of this kind, as I have pointed out,

it is frequently necessary to rely on the evidence of a solitary witness.

And although, of course, I shall be laboring under a severe handicap,

I am confident that we can afford to do so now.

I should like to call Jean Carter.

Lord, may my witness be seated?

Well, if she sits down, we won't be able to see her at all.

I think I can remedy that, My Lord.

How's that?

Fine.

Will the young person be taking the oath, My Lord?

Jean, do you know what an oath is?

A sort of bad word?

Well, that's one kind.

But I mean another kind.

A sort of promise to do something.

Like swearing something?

Yes. Have you ever taken an oath? Swore on something?

Oh, yes, sir. I'm a Brownie.

Well, then, you know how bad it is

to swear to do something and then not to do it?

Yes, sir.

Well, now, what we want you to do

is to swear to tell the truth.

Is that all?

Yes, but it's a very important thing.

Will you do it, Jean?

Yes, sir.

This child obviously understands.

I think she should be put under oath.

Take the Bible, please, in your left hand.

Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

"I swear by Almighty God... "

"... the evidence I am about to give... "

"... that the evidence I am about to give... "

"... shall be the truth, the whole truth... "

"... and nothing but the truth. "

Would you please tell us what happened then?

Nothing. That was all.

How did you get out of the house?

He let us out.

Did he say anything?

He asked me to come back when I wanted some more candy.

Thank you, Jean. I think that's all I have to ask you.

Can I go now?

I'm afraid not just yet. I think my learned friend, Mr. Slade,

would like to ask you some questions.

Will he ask me many?

He may, but don't be frightened.

You've only to answer him like you answered me.

Must we have all this back-chat, My Lord,

between the prosecutor and his witness?

I see no harm in it, Mr. Slade.

I think our friend was just attempting

to put the child in the right frame of mind

for your cross-examination.

Oh, I don't mind that, My Lord, but I object to his veiled attempt

to make sure the child keeps to the prepared text.

I resent the implication, My Lord.

Understandably.

Mr. Slade, you will please refrain from making such contentious remarks.

Yes, My Lord.

Now then, Jean,

there are just a few points in your story I don't quite understand.

I want you to help me to get them straight.

I'll try.

Now, firstly, you said that Mr. Olderberry showed you out,

and then invited you back sometime. Yes.

Your exact words were,

"He asked me to come back when I wanted some more candy. "

Were they?

Did he include your friend in this invitation?

No, he didn't.

Are you sure of that? Yes.

Now, why do you think he invited you back and not the other little girl?

Maybe he liked the way I danced better.

Or maybe simply because the other little girl wasn't there.

Oh, but she was.

I suggest to you, you were alone when you went into that house,

and you were alone when you came out.

No, Lucille was there.

All the time?

Yes, except... Except when?

Except when she went for a drink of water.

Was that before you took your clothes off, or afterwards?

Before, I think.

You think?

Oh, I'm trying to remember.

No, it was afterwards, after we danced.

She was thirsty.

But you were cold. Was I?

Oh, you said so in your evidence.

You said you asked Mr. Olderberry

if you could put on your clothes because you were cold.

Then I guess I was.

You guess you were?

Jean, how much of what you've been telling us is just sheer guesswork?

My Lord, I object.

My learned friend is trying to confuse the witness.

Objection overruled. The question is quite legitimate.

Thank you, My Lord.

But you needn't bother to answer it, Jean.

Instead, I'll ask you another one.

Where did your friend go to get this drink of water?

To the bathroom. Where was that?

Down the hall. Was she naked?

She must have been. Was she naked?

Yes, she was.

And you're asking us to believe

that Mr. Olderberry allowed her to wander all around the house

with nothing on where anybody might have seen her?

Well, maybe she had something on.

And maybe you had something on.

I didn't! I didn't!

Maybe you were fully dressed the whole time,

and this whole outrageous story of Mr. Olderberry making you undress is a lie.

It isn't! He did!

Jean,

do you like Mr. Olderberry?

No.

Why not?

He's so old.

That's no reason.

He's ugly.

Would you like him better if he was young and handsome?

I don't know.

He wouldn't be so scary.

Oh, you find him scary? Yes.

Because of what he did to you?

No, I didn't mind that.

Oh, you didn't mind him making you dance in front of him with nothing on?

I like dancing. With nothing on?

Sometimes.

Do you do it often?

Sometimes after my bath.

In front of other people?

For Daddy and... Oh, so your daddy likes to see you dance naked?

Yes.

Well, what a very unusual household.

My Lord, I object very strongly

to the implications of that remark.

Objection sustained.

Strike out the question and the answer.

I hope, Mr. Slade, you are not taking comfort from the fact

that what is easy to erase from the court records

is not so easy to erase from the minds of the jury.

My Lord, I assure you...

Because that is not a tactic that recommends itself to the bench.

Proceed.

Thank you, My Lord.

Now then, Jean.

You told us that Mr. Olderberry didn't touch you while you were dancing.

Yes. Oh, he did touch you?

No.

He never even came near you?

No.

But he gave you a lot of candy?

Not a lot.

Ah, you wanted more?

Well... Did you want more?

I didn't like them very much.

Oh, if you had liked them, you would have let him touch you?

No! Why not?

I don't know. Come on now, answer me.

What do you think he'd have done to you?

I don't know.

Stop saying, "I don't know," and answer me.

You're going too far.

How dare you interrupt?

Order!

Mr. Carter, it's for me to decide when Counsel is going too far.

Continue, Mr. Slade.

Thank you, My Lord.

Now, I'll ask you again.

What do you think he would have done to you?

I don't know. I don't know.

I suggest you do know,

and that's why you ran to your parents with this whole ugly story.

I didn't, I didn't.

Mommy!

Don't cry, darling. It's all right. It's all right.

It's not all right.

You put him up to this.

You said you were going to hurt her, and by God, you have.

Order! Order!

Mr. Carter, you will please sit down.

I will not have this courtroom turned into a beer garden.

Now, Mr. Slade.

Just what is this line of questioning intended to establish?

Just this, My Lord.

I submit that the hideous and improbable charges

brought against my client by this child are the result of a diseased imagination.

And I think we should have a psychiatrist tell us

if she's as innocent as she seems.

You may stand down now, Jean, and go to your mother.

Mrs. Carter, you may take Jean into the witness room. It'll be quiet in there.

I'm going to recess the court for 20 minutes,

after which I hope we can return to this business in a calmer frame of mind.

The court is adjourned for 20 minutes.

Mr. Duggan, Mr. Slade,

during the recess I would like to see you both in my chamber.

I'd like to see you, too, Mr. Carter, if you please.

Mr. Carter? No, thanks.

Oh. Please sit down with us, Mr. Carter.

I think, for the sake of Mr. Carter,

I should preface my remarks with a few observations,

which may seem trite and obvious to my legal friends,

but it's important to emphasize that we are here to make

legal and not moral judgments.

Now, it may seem wrong at times,

but I assure you, it is one of the greatest safeguards of our legal system

that judge and jury are not required to decide if a man is innocent,

that's for God to do.

Only to say if he's guilty as charged.

I understand that.

Now this is what I want you to realize.

Now that the child has been brought into court,

the defense are entitled to ask her any questions they may think fit,

however distressing to you or the child.

Even if they go so far as to demand a medical examination,

I shall have no alternative but to accede to that request.

And it may not end there.

Feeling better, darling?

Mrs. Carter, the judge is coming back now.

They'll be wanting the young lady.

Oh. Do I have to go back?

I'm afraid so, darling.

Don't worry, widget. You're doing fine.

See you later.

All right?

Silence in court. The court will rise.

Silence!

I have to claim Your Lordship's indulgence

while I interpose a statement,

which, of course, is made with a sense of great responsibility.

Having conferred with my learned friend

and Mr. Peter Carter, the father of the girl in question,

I hope you will not think I am slighting this court

or shirking my duty in any way at all

in seeking to avoid the prolongation of an ordeal that,

however the case might end,

can only have a bad psychological effect on the child herself.

And what I propose, and ask your leave to do,

is to abandon the prosecution and withdraw the charge.

Order in the court.

Mr. Slade?

I would like to add that Mr. Olderberry seeks

only to be cleared of the hideous charge brought, for whatever reason,

by this mistaken and misguided child

and her misguided and mistaken parents.

I must therefore ask for a clear verdict of not guilty

to be brought in by the jury and duly recorded.

Order in court!

Gentlemen of the jury,

in view of what I've just heard,

I can only instruct you to bring in a verdict of not guilty.

Do you wish to withdraw?

No, My Lord.

Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?

We have.

And do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

The defendant will rise.

Clarence Olderberry,

you have been found not guilty and are hereby discharged.

You may go out of here a free man.

He's not back yet.

The board meeting still on?

As far as I know.

They've been at it a long time.

I'll tell Mr. Carter you came by.

It's all right. I'll tell him myself, if you don't mind.

I shouldn't think he'd want to see you just now.

Maybe so, but let's just wait and see, shall we?

I shouldn't think he'd want to see any of you.

Oh, why? What have we done?

Nothing. You just stood around and let it happen.

First the trial, and now this.

What did you want us to do?

Sign petitions or go on a hunger strike?

Oh, nothing heroic.

But you could at least have told him what would happen

if he started attacking the Olderberrys in this town.

Maybe we didn't know what would happen.

Maybe we wanted to find out.

But you took good care not to stick out your own necks.

You left that to him.

Oh, you make me sick, the whole lot of you.

Oh, what's going on here?

You've been ill-treating my secretary?

On the contrary. She's been ill-treating me. Can I see you for a minute?

Sure.

Is it true that you called the board today

and gave in your notice?

I wanted to beat them to the draw.

Then you're really leaving?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

And so am I, in a way.

Miss Jackson seems to think that

all the faculty have let you down.

Miss Jackson has an overdeveloped sense of loyalty.

Meaning we haven't?

You've nothing special to be loyal about. You hardly know me.

We know you now.

Anyway, what did you want to see me about?

Just that.

I wanted you to know that a lot of us agree with Miss Jackson.

Can I come in?

I'm sorry. I'm busy.

Mr. Phillips will excuse us.

Is that all, Neal? Yeah.

Oh, there was just one other thing.

When you get your new school, wherever it is,

if you could use a not-too-bright art teacher,

I wish you'd let me know.

I imagine I'll be needing another job, too.

What makes him think you're getting another school?

He's probably an optimist, like me.

The board has decided not to take up your resignation.

Why?

Because I'd rather have it that way.

Just to show that I don't hold any grudges.

But I do.

You're under contract to us.

There's a saying about leading a horse to water.

Yes, but you can't sue horses.

You know, Mr. Olderberry,

I don't know who's more dangerous, you or your father.

But there is one thing I do know.

Neither of you are going to hurt me or my family any more.

Look, I didn't want to hurt you. You forced my hand.

However, I'm willing to forget all that.

You're willing to forget?

Yes.

You see, I hold a certain amount of power in this community,

and I'm going to hold more.

I don't want people to go around saying that I abuse it.

I want them to see how generous I can be with someone who's crossed me.

Like me?

Mr. Carter, if you play this right, play it sensibly,

my way, you can still have a very successful

and useful career here in Jamestown.

You can build a good life for yourself and your family.

A good life here? Where you and your father

are allowed to go around spreading your different kinds of corruption?

Now, look here, Carter!

From what I've seen of this town and what you've made of it,

I can only thank God we're getting out in time,

before we've caught the infection.

Lucille! Lucille!

Lucille!

Lucille's gone down to the store for me.

She should be back in a minute.

I'll go and meet her. I want to say goodbye.

Jean! Yes?

You're... You're going away tomorrow?

Yes.

Well... Well, if I don't see you again, goodbye.

Goodbye, Mrs. Demarest.

Lucille's gonna miss you.

I'm going to miss her, too.

You're... You're the nicest friend she ever had.

Oh, well. Goodbye, Mrs. Demarest.

Hi, Lucille!

Gosh, you nearly ran me over.

No, I didn't, not really.

I just tried to scare you.

You didn't scare me.

I've just been to your house. I saw your mother.

She's nice, isn't she?

She's all right. Come back with me?

I was going to.

Can I have a ride?

If you're careful.

And don't go too fast.

I won't.

And don't go too far either!

Hello. Yup.

Marty, you sound...

These'll have to go in with the books.

Yes, yes.

I understand.

No. Okay.

What was that? Hmm?

Oh, nothing. Just someone at the school.

I've got to go downtown. I won't be long.

Going downtown? But you've only just come back.

Yes, we need some more labels. We've run out.

Hurry up then.

Yes, I will.

Come on. I can't.

What have you done with the shopping bag?

I must have dropped it somewhere back there.

My dad'll kill me.

I'm sorry.

Can't we stay here?

I think he's stopped following us now.

You can stay if you want to, I'm not.

No, wait, Lucille. Wait for me!

Where are we?

Moon Lake.

I came here once on a picnic,

but it doesn't look the same.

But how do we get home?

We have to get to the other side.

But I can't swim.

Well, we'll have to go around then.

But it's miles.

And it'll be dark.

Come on.

Maybe we could hide in there.

Suppose it's haunted?

Don't be silly. Come on.

It's scary.

I don't like it.

What are we going to do?

We'll just have to go around.

Hey, look!

Come on.

Go and get the oars!

Help me.

Now what...

If you would ask him, please, Mrs. Olderberry.

Sorry to bother him like this.

Well, I'm going to look a fine sort of a fool

if the old man's been at home all the time...

Hello. Is that you, Dick?

It's Clegg Hammond here. Sorry to drag you...

I see.

He what?

I see.

Yes, yes, I think you should.

Yeah, please, as soon as you can.

Old man isn't there.

He was down at the sawmill this afternoon.

Nobody's seen him since.

Pete?

No, it's me.

Hello. You're back early.

Oh, I didn't have my hair done after all.

Why not?

Too many people waiting.

Is something wrong?

No, no, I'm all right.

Well, if you're not too tired,

could you set the table for me?

Yes, of course.

Pete's run out on me. I think he's just playing hooky.

Did you see Jean anywhere about?

No, why?

I think it's about time she came in.

I'll take it. No, no, it's all right.

Hello. Yes, who is this?

Mrs. Demarest?

Lucille? No, she's not here.

No, neither of them.

That's odd.

Well, um, if she does come,

I'll tell her to come home straight away.

And if you see Jean, could you tell her the same thing?

Yes, please.

Goodbye.

I was right about Pete.

There are plenty of labels here,

and he must have seen them.

Mother, there is something wrong.

Darling, what is it?

Jean...

What about Jean?

Has she had an accident?

Mother, I want to know.

It may be nothing at all, nothing to be frightened of.

What may be nothing at all?

They found Jean's bicycle on the side of the road through the woods.

It wasn't damaged or anything, it was just lying there.

Why didn't you tell me when you came in?

How could you not tell me? How could you?

Marty told you?

I found out.

Jean's probably just wandered off into the woods somewhere.

There's no reason to believe that he's anywhere near there.

"He"? You mean Olderberry?

You think he's in the woods with her?

Carter, you're losing time.

Has Jean been wearing this lately?

She wore it at school today. Why?

Don't touch it.

I'm going with you.

Sally, I... I want you to be here if Jean comes in.

But she won't. I know she won't.

Oh, Pete! Pete!

Marty, call Dr. Stevens, will you?

Yes.

Jean!

Jean, my baby!

Spread out in line. Spread out.

Captain Hammond!

Looks like maybe we ought to be looking for two kids.

Call up Purdy. Tell him to send someone round to the Demarests'.

Warn the hospital. Yes, sir.

And you'd better round up as many foresters as you can find.

Come on.

Hey, Captain! Captain Hammond!

There's an old trapper's hut further on.

This boat must have come from there.

Captain Hammond, sir!

No, I wouldn't.

I wish you'd let me give you this sedative, Mrs. Carter.

Please, Sally.

You've got to be all right when Jean gets back.

Stop pretending. She's not coming back. I know she's not.

You mustn't talk like that. I won't have it.

You won't have it? Sally.

Oh, I'm sorry.

All right, Doctor.

Come on. Make room!

Get back! Come on, get back!

It's all right, Sally. Jean's all right.

Jean. Oh, Jean.

Thank God.

She got away from him.

We found her wandering around in the woods the other side of the lake.

Got away? Pete, he didn't...

No. She's all right. Really all right.

He didn't touch her.

She couldn't say very much.

She didn't even know what happened to Lucille.

What happened to Lucille?

He killed her.

My father...

He killed that little girl.

No. Oh, no.

Mummy, I was frightened.

It's all right, darling. You're safe now.

You're home. Excuse me, please.

He killed her.

He killed her.

He killed her.

I'm going to the Demarests'.

You'd better come, too.