Original subtitles

HOST: Tonight's stars,

Leonard Nimoy,

Lorraine Gary,

and Kathryn Hays.

Lest you be turned off by the dim light

and the somber mean of this place,

let me reassure you that there is nobody here but us art lovers.

I'm your tour guide

in a place designed to show you the beauty of the unexpected.

Our conception of beauty may be a bit different than the norm.

For example, some might see something attractive in a goldfish.

We, on the other hand, find nothing lovelier than a piranha.

Now, this canvas here,

dark hallway, door slightly ajar.

A rather disquieting red room at the end of the hall

and a very large cat.

We suggest to you that, while felines may look cute and cuddly,

and playfully mischievous,

our suggestion is that you feed them a bit of milk and get rid of them.

Because cats are, and always have been, Satan's familiars.

Our painting title is Sheíll be company for you.

And it's hung in this place we call The Night Gallery.

PRIEST: "I am the resurrection and the light," sayeth the Lord.

"He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

"And who so ever believeth in me shall live..."

MAN: I hear they buried your wife today, Lord Bottomly.

Had to old boy, dead, you know.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

HENRY: But what do you do in times like this?

I never knew.

Doesn't mean I have no feelings.

I loved you, Margaret. You know.

I mean, all these years, of course I did,

but what am I supposed to do today?

Break down? Sob?

Would you like that? What...

All those years of wanting... Wanting.

You couldnít possibly want anything more.

I'm sorry, Margaret. But you see I'm free now.

I'm finally free.

(CAR DOORS CLOSING)

(ENGlNES STARTING)

Let's go.

What?

To your house, Henry. Maggie's room.

I'm so sure she'll be there.

(BELL CHIMING)

Sorry, l just had to go up and see the room.

Barbara, would you drink up, please?

I've got to get some rest.

Of course.

You need rest.

l suppose l didn't really expect to see Maggie up there, upstairs. But...

Poor, impatient Henry.

Saddled with his wife's best friend.

Barbara, l do understand.

And l understand you, Henry.

Your impatience...

After all these years, to get on with it.

What?

Of course. Strip the bed, get rid of her books,

her water-color pad, her wheelchair.

Even that little brass bell she'd use to call you to help.

Itís still there. Is it?

You just rang it.

Did l?

(STAMMERS) Why, l may have. l don't think so.

Well, you must have seen it. Itís on that little table beside the bed.

Oh, yes.

l suppose so.

"Get on with it," you said?

With what?

Well, your life.

Why shouldn't you be impatient?

All those young years passing,

spent on someone in her condition.

On an invalid.

She didn't mind the word.

And you don't think about young years passing.

What do you think about?

That she's your wife.

(CHIMING)

You never wanted an end to it?

For her sake, finally without pain?

No. When you knew it was hopeless?

Never.

And you never had thoughts of all those young things

that would happen to you if you were ever free again?

Yes.

l had thoughts.

And you did nothing?

That's funny.

I'd do anything for thoughts like those.

To make them happen!

Well...

Maybe you're a more evil person than l am.

Yes.

l can't let you stay all alone in this big house.

l don't mind being alone, Barbara.

l mind your being alone. And what are you going to do about it?

I'll send you my cat.

Cat?

(LAUGHING)

She'll be company for you.

BARBARA: Here's everything y o u need. (MEOWS)

Her name's Jennet.

(PURRING AUDlBLY)

Miss Morgan, please. This is Henry Auden.

She has? Where? Do you know?

That's kind of unusual, isn't it?

l mean, what kind of a vacation?

The company doesn't know where she's gone or when she's...

No. No, no, no.

Forget it, cat. You're not staying that long.

BARBARA: She'll be company for you.

(MEOWING)

(BELL CHIMING)

BARBARA: All those young years passing,

spent with some one in her condition.

(BELL CHIMING)

(PURRING AUDlBLY)

(BIG CAT GROWLING)

(BIG CAT ROARING)

(BIG CAT ROARING)

WOMAN: Worked half a day.

There's cold supper, you know where. Mrs. L.

PS: Have you bought a cat or what's all the kitty foo for?

I put out some, but she never ate none.

Must be shy.

You'll want a scratching post

or we can say goodbye to chair legs and hassock in sunroom.

I know cats. Tear things to pieces.

Tuesday, then.

(BELL CHIMING)

(ROARING)

(BIG CAT GROWLING)

(BlRDS CHIRPING FRANTICALLY)

(BELL CHIMING)

(BIG CAT ROARING)

(CACOPHONY ERUPTS)

(SCREAMING)

What do you want?

What did you always want?

(SOBBING)

(ROARING CEASES)

(CHIMING CEASES)

(SIGHING)

(BIG CAT GROWLING)

(BELL CHIMING)

l locked that door.

She can't tell you anything!

Shut that.

(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)

What time is it?

Almost 9:00.

Iím sorry, June.

Mr. Greenberg wants to see you.

He refused to countersign yesterday's work.

What happened?

I don't know. He just said he wouldn't countersign yesterday's work.

No, June, l mean, between us. Ever since Margaret died.

Well, Mr. Auden, there was never anything between us.

Coffee?

Yeah.

Of course there was.

Did Mrs. Auden know about me?

Then there was nothing.

June!

June, l can't go back there!

So l notice.

(SIGHS) What am l supposed to do about it?

Please.

There's no one there?

No.

And the house is what? Full of ghosts?

Yes, that's it.

And you need me? Yes.

How much? What'll you give me?

June, what's happened to you? You used to be so sweet!

Oh, no, l was never sweet.

But you didn't notice it because you don't give, you just want.

For now, something, somebody.

And then when the taste is all chewed out like gum,

what do you do?

What did you do with your wife when you were through with her?

Everybody wants to know.

Barbara wants to know.

Barbara?

You remember Barbara,

Maggie's friend?

BARBARA: Dear Henry, Maggie's lovely,

but not as blue as Lake Como.

What was that plan Maggie had?

To swim in everyone of the Italian lakes!

Whatever happened to it? To all our plans!

Whatever happened to us?

As you can see, Maggie's with me in spirit.

So it comforts me to know that...

To know that Jennet is there, with you, Henry.

Is she eating you out of house and home? I'll bet.

But be careful, don't kill her with kindness.

I know you, Henry.

I'd stay longer, it is beautiful here,

but something calls me back.

Or... (BELL CHIMING)

Someone.

(BELL CHIMES)

(BELL CHIMING)

(CHIMING CEASES)

(LAUGHING)

(NO CHIMING)

(BIG CAT ROARS)

No.

(BIG CAT GROWLING)

(BIG CAT GROWLING)

BARBARA: Dearest Henry, by the time you...

(BIG CAT CONTlNUES GROWLING)

(BELL CHIMING CONTINUOUSLY)

(CHIMING CEASES)

(SOBBING) Why me?

Why me, Margaret?

(CHIMING)

Yes.

All right.

HENRY: It's coming. My watch has stopped.

I could bar the door with furniture,

but that would o only delay it.

My hand hurts, Margaret.

Oh, God, I'm alone.

Is this what you wanted?

(BIG CAT GROWLS)

I can hear it.

Steady. Stealthy.

It knows where to come.

I only hope It wonít hurt too much.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Hello?

Henry?

Henry?

Yoo-hoo! Henry?

l phoned your office. l know you left early.

Oh, you didn't eat your supper.

Bad cat.

Are you home, Henry?

Now, please, don't play any tricks.

You know l don't like tricks.

(MEOWS)