Original subtitles

- Welcome back (creepy music)

to "Elvira's 40th Anniversary, Very Special..."

Uh. I mean, "Scary, Very Scary Special."

Oh shit, I did it again.

Okay, "Elvira's First 40th..."

I, I know, I know, I know.

This is some sort of event, right?

(woman screaming)

(ghost calling)

(woman screaming)

(ghosts moaning)

(man laughing manically)

(door opens and creaks)

(chains rattling)

(wind whistling)

(door creaking)

(ghosts moaning)

- The ghosts are moving tonight.

Restless. Hungry.

May I introduce myself?

I'm Watson Pritchard.

In just a minute, I'll show you the only

really haunted house in the world.

(ghosts calling) (floor creaking)

Since it was built a century ago, seven people,

including my brother had been murdered in it.

Since then, I've owned the house.

(ghosts moaning)

I've only spent one night there

and when they found me in the morning,

I, I was almost dead.

(ghosts calling) (floor creaking)

(chains jangling)

(suspenseful music)

- I'm Frederick Loren.

And I've rented the house on Haunted Hill tonight

so that my wife can give a party.

A haunted house party. (chuckles)

She's so amusing.

There'll be food and drink and ghosts.

And perhaps even a few murders.

You're all invited.

If any of you will spend the next 12 hours in this house,

I'll give you each $10,000,

or your next-of-kin in case you don't survive.

Ah, but here come out and other guests.

(creepy music) - It's me, Elvira.

Hello again.

And if you're just joining us, way to go, Einstein!

You missed the best movie of the night,

"Elvira, Mistress of the Dark!"

And, FYI, we had an order and a whole plan

for how the evening would develop and flow,

so, you know, thanks.

But it just so happens that I started meditating recently.

Yesterday.

And so I'm open to my true self's intentions now.

I'm like too enlightened to judge or shame anybody

just because they're too stupid to look at a schedule.

Here's the thing, though.

I gotta make like a log and split, you know?

'Cause remember that dude, Frederick Loren?

I have to go find him because I never received my invitation

to his little haunted house party.

You know, the one he said, we're all invited to?

Hmm. I guess it got lost in the mail.

Probably his wife's doing.

"She's so amusing."

Now I don't wanna sound conceited,

but I look good as just a head, right?

Anyway, I am so excited to meet the guests

and see how this little shindig shakes out.

I'm a little bit nervous in the dark

'cause I'm surrounded by traps.

(rats squeaking) The neighborhood's

infested with rats!

The neighbors are just off the rails,

but I promised them I'd stop bringing my dates home.

You know, for the good neighborhood and all,

'cause do you know what?

It is not always about me.

Well, it's mostly about me.

I mean, how could it not be?

In any case, I'm ironically drawn

to the exterminator they hired.

(whip cracking) And you would be too.

The word neighborhood, like the word exterminator,

evokes warm and fuzzy images,

but they're houses.

This movie is about a house

and based on the floating heads,

not a very nice one.

I mean, what kind of a nutbag rents a random

Byzantine fortress on a road called Haunted Hills, anyway?

That was just asking for trouble.

(creepy music)

(camera squeaking)

You gotta realize, most people are way different

than you and me.

We're like, "Haunted Hill? I'm in!"

"You find someone to sacrifice. I'll bring the popcorn."

But in the boring, pasty, mortal world,

people wanna feel safe in a nice colonial

on Maple Street or Wisteria Lane.

Haunted Hill isn't an address that sounds safe.

Just the opposite.

So it's not just a real estate agent's nightmare,

it scares people and they panic.

It's what my exterminator, Dallas, calls "Too Effin' Scary."

Which is just another way of saying,

"Too scary." (cat shrieking)

So, call your neighbors,

your real estate agent and your exterminator

'cause we're going to a haunted house party

at the "House on Haunted Hill."

(suspenseful music) - It was my wife's idea

to have our guests come in funeral cars.

Hmm. She's so amusing.

Her sense of humor is, shall we say, original?

I dreamed up the hearse, it's empty now,

but after a night in the house on Haunted Hill, who knows?

This is Lance Schroeder, a test pilot.

So no doubt, a brave man,

but don't you think you can be much braver

if you're paid for it?

And I happen to know that Lance needs

the 10,000 I'll give him

if he's brave enough to stay all night.

This is Ruth Bridges.

You've no doubt read her column in the newspapers.

She says her reason for coming to the party

is to write a feature article on ghosts.

She is also desperate for money. Gambles.

You've already met Watson Pritchard,

a man living in mortal fear of a house

and yet he is risking his life to spend another night here.

I wonder why.

He says for money.

This Dr. David Trent. A psychiatrist.

He claims that my ghosts will help his work on hysteria,

but don't you see a little touch of greed there

around the mouth and eyes?

This is Nora Manning.

I picked her from the thousands of people who work for me

because she needed the 10,000 more than most.

Supports her whole family.

Isn't she pretty?

(suspenseful music)

The party's starting now.

And you have until midnight

to find the house on Haunted Hill.

(eerie music)

(gates creaking)

(gates clank)

(door opens and creaks)

(creepy music)

- Well, where is everybody?

- It isn't a very warm welcome, is it?

- Only the ghosts in this house are glad we're here.

- Are we all strangers to each other?

Don't you two know each other?

- I'm afraid I don't even know your name.

- I'm Nora Manning. - Lance Schroeder.

- Is Frederick Loren a friend of yours?

- I've heard of him, but I've never met him.

- I work for one of his companies, but I'd never seen him.

- I've never met the man either. Just a phone call.

Do you know him?

- No.

- [Ruth] Well then you're the only one of us who does.

- I don't know him.

All the details about running the house were done by mail.

- He's quite wealthy. Isn't he?

- Millions. - And a five wives,

I believe. - Four, I think, so far.

- $50,000 party for only five people is a little steep,

even for a millionaire. - Hmm.

Well, if I were gonna haunt anybody,

this would certainly be the house I'd do it in.

(door creaks and slams)

(chandelier jingling) (suspenseful music)

- Who closed the door?

(doorknob clattering)

(chandelier jingling)

- This thing's made of solid steel.

(glass shattering)

(intense music)

- Annabelle?

Our guests are here and fortunately still alive.

Is your face on yet?

- Dust and dirt everywhere,

and the water barely trickles.

Couldn't you have had the placed cleaned?

- Atmosphere, darling. You know how ghosts are.

They never tidy up.

And that's a very fetching outfit,

but hardly suitable for a party.

- I'm not going to the party.

- Mm, "You Spend The Night Ghost Party"

was your idea, remember?

Since it's gonna cost me $50,000,

I want you to have fun.

- The party was my idea until you invited all the guests.

Why all these strangers? Why none of our friends?

- Friends? Do we have any friends?

- No, your jealousy took care of that.

- I had a reason for inviting each guest.

I wanted kind of a cross section,

from psychiatrists to typist.

And from drunk to jet pilot.

They share one thing. They all need money.

Now let's see if they're brave enough earn it.

- And you call this a party?

- Could be.

(champagne sloshing)

- Why do you always do that? It spoils the champagne.

- It might explode.

- It never does.

- Will you guarantee that?

- That isn't funny, Frederick.

- It would make a good headline.

"Playboy kills wife with champagne cork."

Will you join me?

- No, thank you.

(cork pops)

- Just a sip might improve your humor.

- My humor is fine, thanks.

And I haven't poisoned it.

- It's always good to know that.

Have some. You'll enjoy the party more.

Go on.

- Your trust is so touching.

And I'm not going to the party.

- Of all my wives, you are the least agreeable.

- But still alive. - Hmm.

Would you go away for a million dollars, tax-free?

You want it all, don't you?

- I deserve it all.

Your jealousy isn't tax-free.

And you possessiveness is maddening.

- If ever a man had grounds for divorce.

- But can't prove them. - The time will come.

You'll slip up one of these days.

- Think so?

- If I live long enough.

You remember the fun we had when you poisoned me?

- (laughs) Something you ate, the doctor said.

- Yes, arsenic on the rocks.

Annabelle, you'd do it again

if you thought you could get away with it, wouldn't you?

- Darling, what makes you think that?

- Something about you.

I hear that hanging is very uncomfortable,

in case you get any more ideas.

Don't let the ghost and the ghouls disturb you, darling.

- Darling, the only ghoul in the house is you.

- And don't sit up all night,

thinking of ways to get rid of me.

It makes wrinkles.

(eerie music)

(lid slams)

- This is what she used on my brother and her sister.

Hacked 'em to pieces.

We found parts of the bodies all over the house.

In places you wouldn't think.

A funny thing is the heads have never been found.

Hands and feet and things like that.

But no heads.

- The wife, probably in a rage,

threatened her husband with a knife

and then carried away by hysteria,

took a swing at him and simply went on from there.

- (chuckles) She certainly went on.

How many people did she kill, Mr. Pritchard?

- Only two. Her husband and her sister.

No one else was here.

- So there are two loose heads just floating around

in here somewhere?

- You can hear them at night.

They whisper to each other and then cry.

(Lance laughs)

- Since our host isn't here,

would anyone care to mix me a drink?

- Certainly. What will you have?

(door opens)

- Good evening.

I'm your host, Frederick Loren.

Since we're all strangers to each other,

let's get acquainted with the drink, shall we?

- Mr. Loren, I advise you to call this party off now.

The ghosts are already moving and that's a bad sign.

- Let me apologize for my wife.

She'll join us later. What will you have?

- Scotch Anne. - Doctor.

- I'll have the same. - Hmm.

Now before the party begins, let's go over the details.

(scotch pouring) The caretakers

will leave at midnight,

locking us in here until they come back in the morning.

Once the door is locked, there's no way out.

The windows have bars that a jail would be proud of.

And the only door to the outside locks like a vault.

There's no electricity, no phone, no one within miles.

So no way to call for help.

- Like a coffin. (drink pouring)

- So if any of you decide not to stay for the party,

you must let me know before midnight.

Of course, if you leave, I shan't be able

to pay you anything. (drink pouring)

- I'm interested in your reasons for this, uh, party.

(drink fizzing)

Aside from a pleasant company.

- Ghosts, doctor.

I think everyone wonders what they would do

if they saw a ghost.

And now my wife has given us all

the opportunity to find out.

- Hmm, amusing.

Ghosts, et cetera, being only creations of hysteria,

your party should be as success.

- Well Pritchard here promises us genuine ghosts.

- Seven now and maybe more before morning.

- That's cheerful.

- Four men have been murdered in this house.

And three women.

- You planned your party very well, Mr. Loren.

Four of us are men, three are women.

Well, a ghost for everybody. - Hmm.

Now Pritchard, why don't you take us on a tour

through the house and let's see what happens, hmm?

(suspenseful music)

- See that stain? Blood

A young girl was killed here.

And whatever got her wasn't human.

Don't stand there! - What do you mean?

Where?

(intense music)

- It's too late. They've marked you.

- Ridiculous. The roof probably leaks.

- Oh, that must be what it is.

Who would wanna haunt me?

- I would say any self-respecting male ghost.

- I hope it doesn't come back.

- Well, Mr. Pritchard, you're the life of the party.

He hasn't even started yet.

Wasn't there a man who threw his wife

into a wine vat or something?

- That was in the cellar.

There's been a murder almost every place in this house.

(suspenseful music)

All this belonged to a Mr. Norton,

who didn't die here, he was electrocuted later.

Mr. Norton hit a good deal experimenting with wines.

(lift clattering)

But his wife didn't think it was any good.

So he filled the vat with acid and threw her in.

She was supposed to stay down,

but the bones came up.

It's a funny thing,

but none of the murders here were just ordinary.

Just shooting or stabbing.

They've all been sort of wild, violent and different.

- Look out!

(Nora sighs) - Thank God she didn't

fall in.

- You mean there's still acid in there?

(suspenseful music)

(rat plops)

(acid bubbles and fizzes)

It destroys everything with hair and flesh.

just leaves the bones.

My, it's dry and dusty down here.

- Well there a, a cure for that upstairs.

(lift clattering) Hmm, come on.

- How'd you get invited to this party?

No. Let 'em go on.

I mean, what'd he tell you?

- (sighs) Mr. Loren said everybody would get $10,000.

- But he didn't say anything about being locked in?

- No. - Ah, he just made

a deal with me on the phone,

but nothing about having to stay.

- Aren't you gonna stay?

- If I don't, I lose $10,000.

- I'm going to stay too. $10,000.

- Yeah.

You believe in ghosts?

- (chuckles) I don't know.

- Well, I agree with what that doc says.

You can spook yourself.

I've done it in planes.

Seeing things that weren't really there.

Or were they? (both chuckle)

- What are you gonna do with your 10,000? If we get it?

- What do you mean, "if we get it?"

Won't he pay us if we stay?

- Oh, sure he will.

10,000 is no more to him than a nickel is to us.

- We were in an automobile accident.

Now I'm the only one in the family who can make any money.

- Boy, I've never seen so many doors.

Closet.

Bottles.

- Does it go anywhere?

(door creaks and slams)

(suspenseful music)

Lance!

(pounds on door) Lance!

Oh!

(Nora gasps)

(suspenseful music)

Help me, please! Lance is gone,

and there's a ghost! - A ghost?

- Please, please! - See what I mean?

- Come on!

- Did you say Lance is gone? Gone where?

- We'll have to break it down. It's locked.

- Locked?

Are you all right?

- Nothing that money won't cure.

I must've, I must've bumped my head.

- And the only way you could bump your head in here

is to run head on into the wall.

You didn't do that, did you?

Let's get a bandage on that.

(suspenseful music)

- I wonder why they didn't kill him.

- Who?

- He didn't bump his head. They hit him.

- They?

(eerie music)

- Nora, when you came in, you said something about a ghost.

- There was something.

- What did it look like?

- Well, it, it was wearing a black thing

that went all the way to the floor.

- Weren't you a little frightened at the time?

- Well, yes.

- That, Mr. Loren, is hysteria.

- Well then doctor, how do you explain

what happened to Lance?

Was that hysteria too?

- You better get that checked in a day or so.

- Thanks, doc.

- Wait for me in the hall.

(Watson sighs) (cork pops)

- The ghosts are coming closer. Mr. Loren.

- You really believe in your pet ghost,

don't you, Pritchard?

- Before the night's over, you will too.

- Would you like a drink, Lance?

- Ah, no thanks. - I'd like one.

Scotch Anne.

(scotch pouring)

Mr. Loren, are you really going to pay anyone

who stays all night?

- Certainly. $10,000.

- Will there be much red tape or delay?

- In a hurry, dear? - Frankly, yes.

Or frantically. - Hmm.

(ice cubes clink)

There you are, my dear.

(clock ticking)

(match striking)

- Someone or something was in here when I came.

But where?

And if the door was locked, how did it get out?

What you saw might've been a ghost, Nora,

but what was in here with me was no ghost.

- I don't know. I was so scared.

(knocking)

(knocking echoes)

That sound different to you?

- Yes.

(knocking echoes)

- Three, six, nine, 12.

12 Feet,

Three, six.

Now I'm gonna knock on the other wall.

When you hear me, you knock on this wall.

(knocking on wall)

Tap lower down!

(tapping echoes)

(intense music) (Nora screaming)

(Nora sobbing)

- Oh, Lance! I saw it again!

- Where'd it come from?

- From in here.

(suspenseful music)

- Well if it ran out of here, I would have seen it.

- Lance, it doesn't run. It just floats.

- Yeah, but, why didn't I see it?

- You don't believe me!

- Well, how can I?

(door closes)

(eerie music)

- I'm Annabelle Loren.

You must be Miss Manning.

I realize this is very unusual

and I'm afraid very dull party.

Wouldn't you like to freshen up?

This is your room.

Depressing, isn't it?

- I doubt if I'll spend much time here.

- It's going to rain.

Perfect atmosphere for my husband's party.

Why did you come here?

- He said he'd give me $10,000.

- Why did he pick you?

- I don't know.

My supervisor just came and said I'd been invited.

- How long have you known my husband?

- I just met him tonight.

- So, why you?

What are you doing wandering around by yourself?

- Well I was in the cellar with Lance.

Mr. Schroeder and I just left, that's all.

- Don't do it again.

Don't go anywhere in this house by yourself.

Now fix your face and I'll come by for you in a few minutes.

- But I... - You're in danger.

We all are.

- But who?

- I hope for your sake. you never find out.

(eerie music)

I'm Annabelle Loren. Were you looking for something?

- Not exactly. - Are you the doctor?

- No, no, I'm Lance Schroeder.

- The pilot. You've hurt yourself.

- Oh, it's just a bump on the head.

Which is my room?

- I believe this is it.

- Thank you, Mrs. Loren.

- Annabelle, Lance.

You were with a young girl in the cellar.

Why was she so upset?

- Was she?

- And you don't look like the type

to go around bumping his head.

What really happened, Lance?

- Well, Nora thought she saw a ghost,

but I didn't see anything.

- She was just frightened then?

- And mad at me, I think. I kidded her about it.

- I wouldn't joke about anything else

that happens here tonight.

- Now don't tell him you're taking all of this seriously.

- Aren't you? - Well, I'd like to find out

what hit me.

- Lance, I need help.

May I count on you?

- Yeah, sure. I guess so.

Look, what's going on here anyway?

I mean, what is with this party bit?

- This is no party. He's planning something.

- Your husband? - I wish I knew

what it was.

- Must be pretty big if he's gonna lay out 50,000.

- Money doesn't mean anything.

He has a reason for getting us all up here

to this dreadful old house.

- Well, what for? He doesn't even know us.

- Maybe that's exactly why you're here.

- Oh well, what can we get away with?

- Oh, he thinks that big money like his

can get away with anything.

You know of course that I'm his fourth wife.

The first simply disappeared.

The other two died.

Lance, I don't wanna join them.

- You mean he, uh-

- All his doctors said they died of heart attacks.

Two girls in their 20's.

- Well what can he do?

- My husband is sometimes insane with jealousy.

Nothing matters to him then.

Please be careful.

- Would he hurt you?

- He would kill me if he could.

(suspenseful music)

- Annabelle, you're missing all the fun.

Nora Manning was almost killed by a falling chandelier.

The pilot bashed his head in.

- Is he badly hurt?

- The saturnine psychiatrist bandaged him up.

Don't you wanna go and console him?

As you do most men in your fashion.

- You're so clever, Frederick.

- As I lie awake nights, wondering why I married you.

It was rather a mistake.

- You didn't marry me, dear. I married you.

Unpleasant, but no mistake.

- Hurry up.

- Frederick, for the last time, I'm not going to your party.

- And for the last time, it's not my party, but yours.

And you are going.

- I am not.

- You ready, dear? - No.

- Are you ready, dear?

- Yes. Damn you!

- Would you adore me as much if I were poor?

No, all you wanna be is a lovely widow.

It's almost time to lock up the house.

And then your party will really begin.

I wonder how it will end?

(knocking)

It's close to midnight, Lance.

- Okay. I'll be down in a minute.

(knocking)

- Who is it? - Your host, my dear.

It's almost midnight, Nora.

We're all going to get together down in the living room.

- All right, Mr. Loren. I'll be right down.

(intense music)

Eh! Uh! (gasping)

(intense music)

- Come with us. Come with us before he kills you.

(Nora screaming)

(clock ticking)

(suspenseful music)

- Where's Nora? Miss Manning?

- I don't wanna stay here!

- Nora, what happened?

(doors creaking)

That's Jonas Slydes and his wife.

They've been caretakers here for years.

She's blind, you know.

- I'm not going to stay here!

- Well, doctor, it looks like we have a real case

of hysteria on our hands.

- I think she's just a little upset.

Not hysterical.

(door opens)

(suspenseful music)

- Good evening.

- Hello, my dear.

This is my wife. These are our guests.

Ruth Bridges.

Dr. Trent.

You know Watson Pritchard, of course.

Nora Manning and, uh, this is Lance Schroeder.

(creepy music)

- Oh, and what am I, Mr. Man, chopped liver?

Do they still say, Mr. Man?

Um, don't worry.

I'll be gone in a mo.

Pour yourself something. I'm good.

So is this party a shit show or what?

I mean, the wife, the husband, the screamer.

This guy.

Uh, sheesh.

I mean the kitchen sink was about to make an appearance.

And how about that exterior?

Can you imagine if this place showed up on Zillow?

"Frank Lloyd Wright, tomb-like residence.

Eight bedrooms, 10 baths, elevator, barred windows,

large basement with easy access acid pool, central air."

- "Wait, stop. What?

Acid? Uh, okay.

That's right officer.

Uh, we were playing in the basement.

We were playing flashlight tag,

when suddenly my ex-husband

who I'm suing for years of unpaid alimony and child support,

fell into the vat of acid."

Ah, if only life were that simple. Ah.

(wine bubbling)

Wait a minute. What happened?

Uh, I told you. Uh!

As God as my witness, I'll never go...

What? "Gone with the Wind."

Uh, okay. Anyway, beat it, scabbers.

(rat whistling) (glass shattering)

(cat shrieking)

(wine bubbling)

- Get me out of here!

- What about the 10,000? - I don't care.

He wants to kill me!

- Who wants to kill you?

- Mr. Loren.

(clock ticking) - May I have

your attention please?

I think you all remember the bargain we made

about staying all night.

$10,000 a piece.

If any of you don't survive,

$50,000 will be divided amongst the rest of you.

If I should die,

you will be paid by my estate.

When the door is locked from the outside by the caretakers,

we'll all be forced to stay in this house until morning.

If any of you decide not to stay,

you must leave with the caretakers now.

You won't have a chance to change your minds later

because there'll be no way to get out.

- I don't wanna stay! - Wait.

(wind whistling) (chandelier jingling)

(suspenseful music)

(door slams)

(doorknob clattering)

- It is midnight yet. Who told them they could leave?

- They never leave before midnight.

- Well they've gone now.

I was going to ask you whether you wanted to stay or not,

but it seems that the caretakers

have made the decision for you.

We're all locked in now.

- But I don't wanna stay.

- And I'm sorry, my dear, but it's too late now.

- Darling, haven't you had enough of this silly game?

Get some cars up here for these people

and let them go home,

but pay them first.

- This is your party. Remember?

In spite of my wife's faith in my ability

to do the impossible,

we will all have to stay in this house

until eight o'clock in the morning.

But we have some party favors for you

in these little coffins.

This is my wife's idea.

And I must say, I think it's rather dangerous.

I suppose you all know how to use one of these things,

but in case you don't,

you just press down on this lever with your thumb

and then pull the trigger.

(gun fires) (vase shatters)

Hmm. You see they're loaded.

- These are no good against the dead, only the living.

(suspenseful music)

- Doctor.

Lance.

Nora.

- Go ahead, take it.

- Miss Bridges.

And here's yours, dear. - I don't need it.

- It was your idea. Who knows?

You may wanna use it on me before this night is over.

- Throw these guns away. They won't do you any good.

- I agree with Pritchard on that point

although not for the same reason.

- Dr. Trent,

don't you approve of our little party favors?

- Suppose Nora had had a gun

when she mistook the blind woman for a ghost.

- I don't think anyone else

is going to walk around in total darkness.

(chuckles) Oh, I'm sure we're not gonna go

running around the house, shooting each other, aren't you?

- Who knows? Fear makes people do amazing things.

(bottle clinks)

(liquor pouring)

- Mr. Pritchard, you said your sister-in-law

killed a man and a woman here and cut them up.

You said they found hands and feet,

but they never found any heads.

Would you like to see one of those heads?

Would you all like to see one of those heads?

Well, then. Just follow me.

(suspenseful music)

- Darling, I really don't need this.

- Just go look in my suitcase.

Just go look.

(suspenseful music)

But it was in there. A woman's head!

- Nora, I think you're a little upset.

Would you care for a sedative?

- Get out! Get out, all of you!

All of you get out of here and leave me alone!

Just get out of here! (sobbing)

- Do you think it's all right to leave her

by herself, doctor?

- I wish she'd taken the sedative.

- Now what do you suppose she thought she saw?

- They're closing in on her.

- Look, doc, I think somebody oughta stay with her.

- There could be a million people around her

and if they wanted her, they'd get her.

- What if he's right? - He's too drunk

to know what he's talking about.

- I wonder.

I'll join you in a minute.

(door opens and closes)

- Do you think it would do any good

if you went in and talked to her?

- And do you think there really was a head

in her suitcase?

- (sighs) I don't know.

- A thing like that would put me right over the edge.

- Would you sort of stay up here,

I mean, in case she needs help?

- All right. I'll be in my room.

Just call if you need.

- Thanks.

(door closes)

(door closes)

- Are you sure there are only seven people in this house?

- Positive, except for the ghosts.

- I don't believe in ghosts nor in frightening women.

In Nora's case, it's gone far enough.

Perhaps too far.

- What do you suggest we do about it, doctor?

- Don't frighten her any more!

(suspenseful music)

(knocking)

- Nora?

(knocking)

Nora?

Nora?

(door creaking)

(intense music)

Nora!

Nora!

What do you know about this?

- They've taken her.

In a little while, she'll be one of them.

- Where's Nor...

Where is she? - It's too late.

It's too late. You'll never find her again.

- Pritchard, if you know where she is,

you better tell me now! - She's gone!

She's gone with them!

And there's nothing you can do about it.

(woman screaming and choking)

(eerie music)

- Nora.

- Raise her down.

- Nora?

- She's dead, Mr. Loren.

Your wife hanged herself.

- Suicide.

(door closes)

(suspenseful music)

- Lance!

- Nora!

- Lance, hide me, please hide me!

- What's the matter? - Hide me!

(Nora cries)

He tried to kill me.

He grabbed me and choked me and put me in that room.

And then he went away and left me.

- Who?

- He thought I was dead.

- Who?

- Mr. Loren.

- Are you sure about this?

- I don't know. It, it was dark, but it must have been him.

- Has anybody seen you since he left you?

- I heard some people in that room,

but I went by and nobody saw me.

- Mrs. Loren is dead.

- But how?

- Loren said she committed suicide.

But I think somebody killed her.

- Him?

(lock clicks)

(knocking on door)

(Nora gasps)

(knocking on door)

(suspenseful music)

- I'm sure you've come to the same conclusion I have.

- Yeah. I think so.

- Well let's all have a meeting, discuss what to do.

The living room? - Okay.

In a minute.

(lock clicks)

I've got to go downstairs.

Now you lock yourself in here and don't let anybody

know you're here.

If he thinks you're dead, he won't come here.

And I'll get back as soon as I can.

You'll be alright.

And if you have to, you use it.

(lock clicks)

(door closes)

(lock clicks)

(suspenseful music)

- So beautiful.

So greedy.

So cold.

What are you doing in here?

- Wait, don't we...

- What do you mean, coming in here?

- (chokes) I didn't want them to take her away.

- You're drunk. - They will

if you don't watch her. - You're drunk!

All right, out with it, Pritchard!

Why did you come into this room?

- I'm the only one who understands.

- Understands what? - (gasps) Your wife

isn't there anymore.

She's already joined them.

- Now Pritchard, I've had enough of your spook talk.

Get out you sod and don't come back into this room again!

(suspenseful music)

- Where's what's her name? Nora?

- I didn't disturb her since I don't think

this concerns her.

- No, you're right.

- Mr. Loren, isn't there some way

we can get out of this house now?

- No. None at all.

- We could try breaking out.

- The only door to the outside is made of steel.

The bars at the windows are set in solid stone.

We've gotta stay.

- I'm not afraid of your ghosts, Pritchard.

But I am afraid.

When we came here a few hours ago,

the only thing we had in common

was the $10,000 we'd get.

Now however we share something else.

The death of Mrs. Loren.

So far tonight, one of us was almost killed

by a falling chandelier.

One of us was mysteriously slugged.

One of us is being driven to the brink of absolute hysteria.

And one of us is dead.

Were these accidents? Suicide?

And we must stay here for six more hours?

- Six hours?

Six of us.

Time enough.

- Who will be next?

How will it happen?

- Let me ask you a question, doctor.

You were the first one to see my wife dead.

Did you also see anything that she could have

climbed up on and then jumped?

- No.

- Did any of you?

There was nothing.

How then did she get up there so high?

- Exactly, Mr. Loren, how?

She couldn't have pulled herself up there.

She couldn't have dropped from the ceiling.

Do you think your wife killed herself?

- No. She was murdered.

By one of you.

- Or you, Mr. Loren.

To deliberately kill someone you must have a reason.

- We were all strangers to your wife.

Only you had a motive for murder.

- What husband hasn't at some time wanted to kill his wife?

What husband hasn't had a thousand opportunities

to do it in such a way so that he'd never be suspected?

I'm not such a fool as to hang my wife

from a ceiling by a rope.

- The fact remains that you or one of us

murdered Mrs. Loren.

And that's a matter for the police.

- So, how do we get the police?

- That's my point. We can't until morning.

What began as a silly party given by an eccentric,

has now involved us all in murder.

- For once, Pritchard may be right.

If another murder's in the works, let's stop it now.

- Another murder?

- Why not? Maybe one of us saw too much.

- Why should even a millionaire want to give each of us

$10,000 to spend one night in a gloomy old house?

To see some ghosts, have a party? No.

- Have you finished trying me, doctor?

And is the verdict guilty of murder?

- Oh, this isn't getting us anywhere.

Somebody killed Mrs. Loren, we know that.

One of us is guilty and the rest of us are innocent. Okay.

Now what we have to do for the next six hours

is protect ourselves from each other.

- Do you really think-

- I don't think anything.

I just know that I'm going to my room.

And if anybody comes in, I'll shoot him or her.

- And if we all stay in our rooms, we'll be safe.

Because the innocent will have no reason to leave his room,

and the guilty will admit his guilt if he or she does.

- And we all have guns.

- Then we're all agreed?

- Oh, I wish this night were over.

- Rooms? Guns?

I tell you, it doesn't make any difference.

They aren't through with us yet.

(suspenseful music)

What's the use of saying good night?

(door closes)

- Good night.

(door closes)

(door slams)

(lock clicks)

- Good night, doctor.

(lock clicks)

(glass shatters)

(gun clacks)

(doorknob clattering)

(lock clicks)

(lock clicks)

(intense music)

(Ruth gasping)

(Ruth whimpering)

(suspenseful music)

(knocking)

- Nora, it's me, Lance.

Are you okay?

They've all gone to their rooms and locked themselves in.

- Lance, I've been thinking.

It was so dark down there.

Maybe it wasn't Mr. Loren.

- It was him, all right.

He tried to kill you and he did kill his wife.

(lightning striking)

- How can you be so sure?

- She tried to warn me.

Asked me to help her.

The doc thinks he's gonna try and kill one of us.

(lightning striking)

Now there must be a way out of this place

and I'm gonna find it and get the police before he does.

- I'm going with you.

- Well if he finds out you're alive...

No, Nora, you're safer here than any place else.

Now just lock yourself in and keep quiet.

(lightning striking)

(lock clicks)

If I find a way out, I'll come back and get you.

(lighting striking) (suspenseful music)

(pounding on door)

(thunder rumbling)

(lightning striking)

(suspenseful music)

(lightning striking)

(Nora gasping)

(lightning striking) (eerie music)

- No! (gasping)

No!

No!

No.

(lightning striking)

Oh, no!

(intense music)

(Nora screaming)

(Nora whimpering)

Lance!

(Nora whimpering)

(creepy organ music)

(Nora screaming)

(thunder rumbling) (lightning striking)

(knocking on door)

- An admission of guilt, doctor?

- Certainly not.

There's either somebody else in this house

or one of us has left his room.

Did you hear anything?

- Organ music?

- That and someone walking.

- You got yours?

Ready?

- You look downstairs and I'll look up here.

- Why not together?

- There may be only minutes, seconds left of someone's life.

Why waste time?

(eerie music)

(lock clicks)

- It's almost over, darling.

Every detail was perfect.

- What's happening?

- We've done it.

The perfect crime. Beautiful.

- Has she killed him?

- Not yet. But she will.

- Get me out of this hanging harness.

What's taking that girl so long? What time is it?

- At first I couldn't get Nora

to want to protect herself with a gun.

But after you appeared at the window,

everything began to work just as we had planned.

You were wonderful.

Just the touch that finally drove her

into complete hysteria. (Annabelle exhales)

- It'll be worth all of our planning, darling.

Where's Nora now?

What's happening?

- On her way to the cellar.

So scared, she'll shoot the first thing that moves.

- And Frederick?

- On his way to the cellar too.

- David, are you sure none of them will suspect us?

- Of what?

An hysterical girl accidentally shoots somebody?

Who would suspect that we planned it that way?

That we drove her to it?

- What about my suicide?

- Well, just a ghost party gag.

We'll claim it was a dummy

since I'm the only one who touch you.

- And the caretakers?

- Well, they had no idea what they were really doing.

- What about Nora? She's not stupid, you know.

- Darling, believe me.

Everything we planned is working perfectly.

Nora is sure Frederick murdered you.

She thinks Frederick attacked her the cellar, not me.

And now Nora's almost out of her mind with fear.

The heads, the music, your hanging.

I tell you, when Frederick walks in there, she'll shoot him.

- It's taking too long.

David, you oughta be there.

- When you hear the shot, come down to the cellar.

(suspenseful music)

- Nora! No!

(gun fires)

(body slams)

(Nora screaming)

(suspenseful music)

(lift clattering)

(man choking) (acid splashing)

(acid bubbling and fizzing)

- David?

David.

(door creaking)

(suspenseful music)

(door creaking)

(door creaking)

(acid bubbling and fizzing)

(intense music)

- [Frederick] At last, you've got it all.

Everything I have, (Annabelle screams)

even my life.

But you're not going to live to enjoy it.

Come with me, murderess. Come with me.

(Annabelle screaming)

(Annabelle continues screaming)

(acid splashing)

(acid bubbling and fizzing)

(eerie music)

Good night, doctor.

Good night, Annabelle.

The crime you two planned was indeed perfect.

Only the victim is alive and the murderers are not.

It's a pity you didn't know when started

your game of murder that I was playing too.

(acid splashing)

(acid bubbling)

- There must be some way to get in here!

- Well it's right along here, some what.

(tapping on wall)

(wall scraping)

- Lance!

I've shot Mr. Loren! He's down in the wine cellar!

- Alive? - I don't think so.

It's him! He's alive!

- You didn't shoot anyone, my dear.

I loaded your gun with blanks.

I can tell you all now,

Trent and my wife were planning to kill me.

They failed.

Trent tried to throw me in the vat.

My wife stumbled and fell.

I'm ready for justice to decide if I'm innocent or guilty.

(suspenseful music)

- Now there are nine.

There'll be more, many more.

(floor creaking)

(chains jangling) (ghosts calling)

They're coming for me now.

And then they'll come for you.

(ghost laughing maniacally)

(chains jangling)

(door creaking)

(intense music)

(suspenseful music)

- Yeah, what did you say you needed at the mall?

(bright music)

I said, what do you need from the mall?

(sighs) Desmon?

Are you really sleeping or are you just screwing with me?

Okay, fine.

But I'll need you to make sure the GPS is working

or we're gonna end up in another Mexican prison.

Just saying.

Desmon, I swear if I find out you're awake,

I'm gonna kill...

Oh, (chuckles), we'll be right back with more

of my "40th Anniversary Scary Special Special."

Now with 20% more fear.

Which is why we here at Shudder say,

"If we can't scare you to death,

at least we can make you wish you were dead."

BRB.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Don't go away.

If you liked, "House On Haunted Hill,"

you're going to love "The City of the Dead."

(laughs) You heard me right. They're dead.

And it's a city.

Like the lady said, "BRB."