Original subtitles

No! Let go of me!

- Is there anything wrong, Richard?

- Huh?

No, not a thing.

- It really looked like something was.

Are you sure?

- Oh yeah, sure I am.

- I don't honestly see much hope for a full recovery.

- I understand.

It's what I imagined.

I'm sure we're doing the right thing.

Aren't you? - Of course.

- Why?

W-Why?

- You never told me anything.

Not a word about this Aunt Martha of yours.

How come?

- Simply not much to tell.

She's been living in South America for thirty years.

- Why did she decide she should come back?

- I couldn't begin to guess.

Well, there must be some reason.

- I don't know. Maybe old age.

- And you don't know anything else?

- Well, I was just a boy when she left.

And besides, I don't know exactly why, but

Martha's name was always taboo at home.

- Stupid.

- We weren't allowed to talk about her.

Not even mention her.

- Even your mother?

They were sisters after all.

Okay.

Mother, it's me.

You wanted to see me?

- Yes. Come in, darling.

Sit down.

Richard, the time has come for you to know there's,

there's something that weighs heavily on my mind

and it concerns your dear Aunt Martha.

It's not a very pleasant story,

and I'm not terribly proud

of the part I've had to play in it.

Now, you and I are the only ones left to know this,

and there's something you're going to have

to do about it someday.

I want you to promise me you will.

- I asked you a question.

- Hmm?

What, dear?

- I asked you if your mother never spoke about your aunt.

- Hmm. No.

Not as far as I can remember. Never.

- I still say it's pretty damn strange.

- What's so strange about it?

- Huh, just what I said before.

It was her own sister.

Remember the letter to her doctor?

You must write to him.

You must do it right away.

It's so very important that you write to him, Richard.

Whatever happens.

I'm Aunt Martha!

Woo! - Shut up, you little brat.

- Richard!

Richard, what's happening?

Are you crazy?

Ah, Christ.

I'm sorry, Maurice.

I really am.

- Why can't you do it?

- No, darling.

It's far too late for that.

It's all over.

You are the one who will have the time.

Maybe one day you will understand.

You will understand.

Now, you should leave.

You'll be late for school.

Mama!

Mama!

Dear Richard,

I'll be back home at the end of the month.

They're finally letting me go.

Thirty years is a long time,

and maybe you don't even remember your old Aunt Martha,

but now, you're all that I have left.

My dearest wish is to see you again, and hence this letter.

I know you have a wife and children now,

and I'm dying to meet them.

I'll be waiting for you all on the weekend

at the old country house.

Please don't disappoint me.

Your loving Aunt Martha.

If you're tired, we can stop for a minute.

No, no. I'm fine.

- I love you, daddy.

- Hey there.

It's a good thing I'm not the jealous type, huh?

- Come here, squirt.

- Everyone alright?

- Yeah. Okay.

You sure you don't wanna stop?

No, no. I'm fine. Really.

- Welcome.

- Good morning. - Hello.

- I'm the caretaker around here.

- I'm Miss Martha's nephew.

- Just what I figured.

Miss Martha can't wait to meet you and your family.

Great looking group.

This is my wife, Nora, and our kids, Maurice and Georgia.

- Unfortunately, your aunt isn't here yet.

She had some last minute things to take care of,

but there's nothing to worry about.

The house is all ready for you.

- Not here. - How come?

- But like I say, no problem.

She phoned to say she'd be arriving tomorrow morning

good and early. Anyway, come on in.

I'll show you around the house.

You must be tired after your long trip.

Maybe some of you would like a bath or something to eat.

This way.

Come on in.

This is the kitchen.

You'll find everything you might ever need in here.

Excuse me.

The guided tour continues, okay?

Alright, this is the living room.

- It's fine.

It is strange though, to see it like this.

You'd never guess this place

has been uninhabited all these years.

Decades you could say.

Look, everything's in place and,

and it's all absolutely spotless.

Remarkable.

- Well, sir, your aunt had me working like a slave in here

to get everything ready just for you.

She wanted to impress you.

- She managed to.

- You about ready?

- Yeah. - Let's see the rest.

- Here we are.

The master bedroom's through there.

The kids' rooms are just upstairs,

and there's a terrace they can walk out

onto from their rooms.

It's real pretty.

- What's in there?

- Uh, uh, excuse me, Sir.

There's no use trying that door.

It's been boarded up for years.

It used to go down into the basement,

but the stairs aren't safe.

- Ah, I see.

- This house has been empty for years,

so there's still some things

I haven't had a chance to fix up yet.

Oh, by the way, my name is Thomas.

If you need anything, I'm always to be found in my cottage.

It's the one down there before the turnoff, by the woods.

I'll be saying goodnight now.

- Thank you, Thomas.

Goodbye.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

- Who was it?

- No one, apparently.

- Let's march.

Time for bed, kids.

Alright.

- Good.

Well, are you tired?

- I'll be up a bit later.

- Hey, dad.

What about Charles?

Is he coming tonight?

You know your brother.

He said maybe.

Anyway, he has the address here.

What crazy brothers I have.

What are you laughing about?

You're worse than he is.

Night, guys.

- Night. - Night, kids.

- Good night.

- Hello?

Hello?

Hello? Who is this?

- It's very mysterious.

- What?

What's bothering you?

Well?

- Your aunt isn't here.

Your Aunt Martha.

The only thing you could say all day long was you know

that you hadn't seen her for so many years

and that there's been no kind of contact

in all that time between the two of you.

You haven't had a, a postcard.

No phone calls.

She's never been in touch at all,

So you can't blame me if I begin

to doubt the existence of this Aunt Martha.

- What I don't understand, Nora,

is that you're worrying so much.

It's easy to understand.

After thirty years she's back.

It's only normal she wants to see me again,

and get to know all of you.

That's all.

- The point is she isn't here.

She left you to the caretaker.

- But there's nothing strange at all about it.

She simply couldn't get here on time.

I'm sure she'll start talking about it

the minute she arrives and it'll be some perfectly dull

and banal incident, of course.

That's all.

Oh.

- What's wrong?

Did you lose something?

- I found it.

Finders keepers.

You know there are certain things

that have been a bit neglected.

Too damn busy or too tired.

Well, you do know that you're beautiful.

I want some.

- In that case, we'll have to ask Aunt Martha

if she'll invite us out every weekend

if that's the effect it has.

- Nora?

Hey?

Wake up.

There's someone in the house.

Oh, Charles. Shit.

- I'm sorry, dad.

I didn't mean to wake you up.

I'm sorry.

I had no idea at all that this was your room.

- I keep wondering who you take after.

- His mother, I'd say.

Your first wife, dear.

Charles, I'm sorry.

You must know I didn't mean anything unkind,

but your father always said

that your mother was a little bit wild.

- Yeah, I know.

If it's not too much trouble,

I'd like to know where I'm supposed to sleep.

- There's another spare room down the hall to the right.

- Okay, thanks.

Excuse me again.

Anyhow, I'm only staying overnight.

I'm meeting some friends in a town near here, okay?

Goodnight again.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight, Charles.

- Oh, by the way.

I meant to ask you.

How's Aunt Martha?

What did she say when she saw you?

- Aunt Martha isn't here yet.

She arrives tomorrow.

- And how did you guys get in?

- I promise you I'll explain it all first thing tomorrow.

Do you realize it happens to be

three o'clock in the morning, Charles?

- Hey dad, don't get so uptight.

I said I was sorry.

Cool, man, okay?

- Hey, you guys. Breakfast is ready.

- Great.

We're on our way.

Here we are.

- Hi, guys.

- Hi, Mom and Dad.

- Hi, darling.

I can eat a bear this morning.

- Could I have the bread?

- Good morning.

- Good morning. - Hi, Charles.

Hi there.

Aren't you going to sit down, Charles?

The food's too good to be eaten standing up.

There's real farmhouse bread and the milk's so fresh

you can almost hear it move.

- I know.

Thanks a lot though.

I'm kind of in a rush.

I'd like to have a look-see in the woods down the road.

It should be full of game around this season.

- Take me with you, okay?

- Sure, only in a year or two.

I told you I would, didn't 1?

That's all, folks.

I'm going off to meet friend.

Say hello to Aunt Martha for me.

I would've liked to meet her,

but better luck next time, I guess.

Huh, by the way, you never did tell me

just why she hasn't shown up yet.

- Huh. The caretaker told us.

He said she was sure to be here in the morning.

We're still waiting for the great event.

- Okay. Well, I'll see you back home.

Have a nice time.

- Okay, so long. - Bye.

- So long.

- Bye, Charles.

- What did you lose, Mr. Charles?

- Who are you?

- I'm the caretaker of the villa.

- Of course.

My dad said he'd seen you.

But how come you know my name?

- Miss Martha told me everything about her relations.

Now I know all of you, maybe better than she does.

- Oh yeah.

Dad said she was arriving here this morning.

Where is she?

I know she was dying to meet us.

- That's why I'm here.

I have to tell your parents that unfortunately

Aunt Martha won't be here till tomorrow.

- That's too bad.

I won't get to meet her.

I'm leaving now.

Oh well, some other time.

- Sure.

Now that you know the way, right?

- Yeah.

So long.

- Goodbye, Mr. Charles.

See you soon.

Good morning, everyone.

- How are you today?

- Fine, thanks.

I didn't mean to startle you,

but I thought I'd better come over

with the news straight away.

- What news?

- I would've waited till later,

but I saw the windows were open, so I figured you were up.

Your Aunt Martha phoned me,

sent me over here with her apologies.

She won't be in before tomorrow morning.

- Well, thanks, Thomas.

It is pretty damn strange though.

I can't imagine why the hell she didn't phone us.

- As a matter of fact, she did.

She said she kept phoning all last night,

but nobody answered.

- Ah.

- Huh. That was it.

Actually last night the phone did ring.

- That's right.

- But there was never anyone on the other end.

- There, you see?

Anyhow, she says she's impatient

to give you all a great big kiss.

- Why don't you sit down?

Long as you're here, you can join us for a little breakfast.

- That's really nice of you but I've already eaten.

We get up pretty early out here in the country

and I've got a heck of a lot of chores to do.

Well, I'll be running along.

Oh, just remember, if you need anything,

you know where to find me.

Have a good day.

- Thomas?

Thomas, are you sure you won't have a bite with us?

- No, sir.

I've got all those things that need doing.

Good-bye.

- Bye. - So long.

- Bye.

Ooh.

- Georgia?

Georgia?

Georgia?

- Who's there?

Who is it?

- Cuckoo!

Scared you, huh?

- You, you pest.

Honest to God, Maurie, you're really dumb.

- Oh, come on, big sister.

I guess you are always gonna be such a darn fraidy cat.

- What do you want, Maurie?

Apart from all the silly jokes.

- Tell you something.

It's kind of spooky being all alone in this place.

Could I...

Could I stay here in your room?

- You really don't deserve it, but, okay.

Okay. Come on. Get in bed.

- Hey, Georgia. What do you think about her?

She'd be nice? Aunt Martha?

- We'll find out in the morning.

Now let's get some sleep.

- Yeah, I guess you're right.

Good night. - Night, brat.

- On your feet, kids.

Georgia, have you seen Maurie?

Wake up.

Where's your brother?

I don't know.

- Maurice?

You here?

- Dad?

Dad?

Maurice.

What are you doing down here at this hour, huh?

- I found the TV on last night.

I fell asleep in front of it.

What a nut.

Mm.

Morning, everyone.

Like my new gown?

- Where did you find it?

- Oh, hanging in the closet in my room.

- Looks beautiful.

- Daddy, what happened on June 16th, 19587

- How do you know that day?

- It was written on the mirror.

You know, the mirror in my room.

- Is something wrong?

- No, nothing.

I just wondered. That's all.

- What about Aunt Martha, daddy?

I mean, isn't she coming?

- That's a good question.

- Well, I'm sure she'll be here by,

let's say lunchtime, huh?

Maybe I'll check with the caretaker.

What is it, Nora?

- Hurry up, will you?

We've gotta get going.

I've got a lot of shopping to do down in the village.

- Hey, try not to be impatient.

And you try not to dawdle.

- Hey dad, come down here.

Hey, dad. Look what I found.

This must have been yours when you were a kid.

- Stop.

When you finish playing, just put it back

where you found it.

Mom and I will be back soon,

okay? - Mm-hm.

- So you decided to show up after all.

Nag, nag, nag.

Okay, I'll go talk to Thomas.

His cottage should be just around that bend.

I'll meet you back at the house when you finish shopping.

- Okay. See you later. Bye.

Sure you don't want me to drop by and pick you up?

- No, I'll enjoy the walk back.

Bye, darling.

- Bye.

- Hey, Georgia. Where are you?

Georgia?

- Georgia?

Georgia?

I'm going to kill you.

Georgia!

You like it?

- For God's sake.

Would you please throw it away?

You're impossible.

Will you ever learn?

- You haven't got any sense of humor at all, Georgia.

Can't even take a joke.

Now you're really going to die.

- I threw it away, Georgia.

I threw it away!

Happy now?

Georgia?

- Kids?

Hey, you guys.

Georgia, come give me a hand.

Hey, kids?

What's happening?

You in hiding or what?

Hey Richard, are you home?

Children?

Hey?

You down there?

Maurie?

Georgia? Are you here?

- Excuse me?

Is this where Thomas lives?

- Thomas? What Thomas?

- The caretaker at the Whitney place.

- Caretaker?

The Whitney place is empty, sir.

- You must be mistaken.

Yeah?

- Well, he met us last night when we arrived.

- Guess they gone and sold the old place.

He must be new.

Never met no Thomas in these parts.

That's for sure.

- Could I use the telephone please?

- Sure. Walk right on in.

- Thanks a lot.

Hello, St. George Clinic?

Can you tell me anything about Martha Thompson Whitney?

Yes, I'm a relative of hers.

Okay, I'll call you back in five minutes.

- "St. George Mental Health Clinic.

The patient, Miss Martha Thompson,

was received in our clinic on June 18th, 1958,

for serious mental problems and autism symptoms.

During these years the patient has gone

through bewildered periods and mental confusion.

Only during the last three years has the patient shown

a remission of the symptomology,

and has apparently regained her mental health.

Dr. Williamson has repeatedly requested her

relatives to withdraw her from the clinic.

The doctor feels that her continuing presence here

would be harmful to her.

If therefore we hear no answer from the relatives,

"we'll be forced to release the patient by next..."

- Yes, I called a minute ago for news about uh,

Martha Thompson. Yes.

What's that?

Yes. I knew she was going to be discharged

end of the month yesterday.

What?

Last March?

- Thanks a lot. - Sure thing.

- Oh my God.

Oh my God. No.

It's all a joke, right?

Georgia?

Maurie?

Nora, where are you all?

What's going on?

Where are you?

- Charles?

Charles?

God.

Aunt Martha?

My God. What's happened to us all?

Why?

- I don't know, my dear nephew.

I mean, I only got here this moment, you see.

I cannot know what happened and why.

Don't be afraid of your Aunt Martha.

There is no reason for you to be afraid.

I've always loved you.

I took care of you right from the start.

You were like my baby, too.

I was your rich aunt and your mother

left you with me very often,

until one day she decided

to take all my wealth, all my life, dear.

She locked me in that horrible inferno.

Over thirty years, over thirty years I suffered.

But you, you know, you could, you could've done it.

You could have gotten your aunt away from there.

Why didn't you do it?

Why did you leave me like that, my angel?

You left me in that horrid place.

It seemed like five thousand years.

Tell me why.

What made you do it?

- I was just a boy and my mother's suicide

was a big shock for me.

I was too young.

I didn't know what to do.

I was just a child.

You must understand.

I was just a child.

- Oh, but you grew and grew and then nothing

could prevent you from enjoying poor Martha's money.

- No.

- Too bad that I loved you.

- No.

- Of course you enjoyed it.

- No.

- You enjoyed it while I was rotting away...

- No, no, no!

- And you didn't lift a finger.

- Please, please.

I'm so confused in my mind.

It's so absurd. I, I...

but why are they...

After all, since it's all my fault?

Not theirs.

Not their fault.

It's all my fault.

So why are they dead?

- I told you, I don't know anything of all this.

I've just arrived.

I can't tell you what I don't know.

But perhaps it's because the sins

of the fathers shall be visited upon the sons.

Their veins carried your tainted blood, didn't they?

Your blood is not worthy of being left in this world.

That is perhaps why they died.

- You did all this.

You should have killed me, not them.

Goddamn you.

- Now you're acting unfairly, dear nephew.

Don't you see I once again have shown you

how much I love you?

You must not die.

Not yet if you please, not until you've suffered as I have.

Only thus

will you be able to understand what I suffered,

throughout all those years.

Until then, Richard, you won't understand

how and why all this came about,

but I've given you the chance to know.

Then you'll be allowed to forget.

Richard?

Richard?

Richard.

- Good morning, Martha, love.

I feel much better now.

I hope you're proud of me.

I've done everything you wanted.

Everything you yourself would have done

if you'd had the time.

They were bad people, cruel people,

and they hurt you, my dear.

You know, at first I was so angry

because you left me with no warning, without a word.

But then I realized that you never

would've done that to me without a reason.

Oh, you had one.

I know.

The bastards aren't here anymore.

Believe me, I took your vengeance on them.

Your sister wanted every cent of yours.

What you'd already done for them wasn't enough. No way.

No way.

She committed suicide.

It's the least she could do.

Well, I hope she finally found some peace.

But her little boy nowadays is a grown man.

Uh-huh.

And even though he knows the whole story

because his mother explained it all in a letter to him,

he still left you locked up in there.

A prisoner in that hellhole.

Yes, my darling.

Now I understand everything.

But don't you worry, I've avenged you.

Are you still afraid of the people

who did those wretched things there?

No.

Don't worry, love.

I'm here and nobody will hurt you.

Nobody, never.

That's you Richard, isn't it?

Come closer.

Don't be afraid of Aunt Martha.

She can't hurt you now, poor soul.

But I can.

I'd like you to come right over here, bastard!

I had a different end in mind for you, Richard.

A more fitting one.

One that, that made more sense,

that made more sense,

but it doesn't matter at all.

Not a bit.

Any end is too good for you.

So I'll just go right ahead and kill you,

you stinking son of a bitch!

- No! You're crazy!

Let me go.

- Ah!

Ah!

- Now die. Now!

You die!

You die!

I wonder how it happened.

I gotta do something here.

It's a tragedy.

- Hey,

this one's still alive.

Quick! Somebody call an ambulance.

No, Richard, you mustn't die.

Not yet at least.

Not before you've suffered as much as I did.

Only that way can you ever understand what you did to me.

You'll have to suffer for many years,

my dear little nephew,

just the way I did.

But your loving Aunt Martha will always be by your side

because she loves you.

She loves you.

She loves you.