Original subtitles

Good evening.

I’m serving a sentence for slander.

Something I said about our sponsor, I believe.

The warden thinks I’m making a tail for my kite.

He’s not terribly bright.

[flute playing]

And now, while I make my escape,

you, less fortunate, must stay and face the music.

Uh.

Some of the names on tombstones are really funny.

Look at that: "Jeremiah Mutton."

[chuckles] He’s as dead as mutton, too.

If you weren’t looking so grim, I think I’d laugh outright.

Look at that one.

I didn’t bring you here to see that.

I know you didn’t.

You’re being very mysterious.

Why did you bring me here?

I wanted you to see something else.

"Flora,

wife of...

Humphrey J. Orford.

Died November 1793.

Age 19."

Your wife?

Humphrey, you never told me you’d been married before.

She died 20 years ago.

But we are going to have our wedding in this church!

So close to her grave, it seems.

I’m sorry if it upsets you.

But the inscription, she was your wife!

Why didn’t you have some kind remembrance of her

carved on the stone?

She was vicious, she was unfaithful, she was a liar.

To let her be buried here at all was a gesture of kindness on my part.

Humphrey, must we be married in this church?

Darling, we’ve already sent out the invitations.

We’re being married on Wednesday, we can’t change the church now.

So close to her grave.

I feel she could almost reach up and touch me.

Good evening, Mrs. Boyd. Mr. Orford at home?

-No, Dr. Minden, he isn’t. -Is my daughter here?

No, they’ve gone to the church to see about the music for their wedding.

-But they’ll be back soon. -Oh, yes.

Are your lodgings comfortable?

Yes, thank you, quite comfortable.

[chuckles] Much too comfortable, in fact.

You know, a country doctor cannot afford to live so luxuriously.

Mr. Orford chose them himself.

They’re only a few minutes away.

My daughter’s enchanted to be in London.

She’ll find the house strange at first,

but in time she’ll get used to it.

[door opening]

Papa!

I hope we haven’t kept you waiting.

No, no, I’ve only just arrived.

Humphrey, the house looks exactly as I remembered it.

Yes, I never redecorated it.

Why should I, living here alone?

But we’re going to change all that, aren’t we?

You can start any time you like.

There’s a lot to do. I’ve never seen the rooms upstairs.

You never asked, my dear.

You can see the bedrooms now if you like.

It’s your study that interests me most.

-The place where you write. -Oh.

The study is littered with papers and books.

I feel quite ashamed to let anyone see it now.

Let’s wait till Mrs. Boyd can make it look presentable.

A glass of cherry, Doctor?

Thank you.

A study should be littered with books and papers.

I want to see it exactly as it is when you’re working in it.

Do you mind, Humphrey?

Not at all.

Come with me, please.

I hope you won’t find it too shocking.

When Mrs. Boyd tidies my study,

I usually find my most important papers in the waste paper basket.

So I keep the place locked.

I warned you, the place is something of a mess.

Over here are the books I have collected

in connection with my work on the early Christian martyrs.

These, I suppose, are my choicest treasures.

This is the life of St. Sebastian according to St. Ambrose.

And this is the Acta Sanctorum of St. Sebastian

attributed, quite wrongly, to St. Ambrose, too.

Sebastian’s missionary zeal upset the Emperor Diocletian

who had him tied to a stake and shot at by the royal archers.

Sebastian’s agony was exquisite.

In that condition, the victim’s pain becomes pleasure

so that those who inflict it can hardly be called torturers

or even sinners.

What is this doing here?

What is it, my dear?

It’s a silk petticoat!

There’s a needle and thread in it, somebody’s been mending it.

Well, it probably belongs to Mrs. Boyd, she must’ve been in here cleaning.

But it’s a party-petticoat, it couldn’t belong to Mrs. Boyd!

Why don’t you ask her, my dear?

Perhaps she was mending it for someone else!

As I was saying, in that condition pain becomes pleasure.

Those who inflict it might be called cathartic agents, since they’re

instruments of so-called torture are really instruments of purification.

[gasps]

Whatever is it, Elisa?

Could I go home, Father?

Don’t you feel well, my dear?

I feel faint.

You come downstairs, I’ll get you something to drink.

I’d rather not-- I’d rather go back to our lodgings,

they’re just across the square. The fresh air might...

You must have something. I’ll get you some brandy.

Elisa, my dear, what is this? What is it?

Look, Papa!

Why would anyone want to live with such a horrifying painting?

[Dr. Minden] Well, I suppose it must signify something to him.

Papa, I don’t know what is happening to me.

Suddenly, I’m terrified of that man.

Of Humphrey? Don’t be absurd, my dear.

This room...

This room is so strange.

When he talked about St. Sebastian,

when he spoke about torture,

he seemed to revel in it.

Did you see his face? He was...

He was a different man.

There’s something evil here,

some evil presence.

You’re thinking ridiculous things!

Humphrey’s a fine man!

A man you should be proud of.

Instruments of torture

that are really instruments of...

pleasure and purification.

I’m frightened, Papa!

I tell you, I’m frightened.

Are you feeling better?

Yes, thank you.

Humphrey, I think we better be going.

Elisa should be lying down.

May I see you in the morning at the solicitor’s?

I’ll call for you at 9 o’clock. Everything’s ready.

All it requires is our signatures and then back for the ceremony.

Elisa?

I know this is a gloomy old place to live in,

but if you like, we’ll leave for Italy immediately after the wedding.

-Would you like that? -You’re very kind to me, Humphrey.

Thank you. I do appreciate it.

If you’ll excuse me a moment, I’ll see you at the door.

Papa, did you know that he’d been married before?

Of course, my dear.

Did you know his first wife?

I heard about her, that’s all.

Elisa.

There’s something I’ve not told you.

I’m in Humphrey’s debt,

very deeply, too.

-And if I marry him...? -He’ll settle my debt.

And there’s another thing we have to remember.

There hasn’t been anyone straining for your hand.

You’ve forgotten Philip!

Why do you bring up Philip all the time?

You haven’t heard from him for months!

I understand.

I’ll marry Humphrey.

You’ll never regret it, my dear.

[bell rings]

Oh, Ms. Minden!

Mr. Orford is out.

I know. It doesn’t matter.

It was you I came to see.

Oh.

Mr. Orford has told me that I may redecorate the house exactly as I please.

I thought I’d go over the rooms one by one.

I’d like to start with his study.

But, ma’am, Mr. Orford always keeps

his study door locked.

But you have a key?

No, ma’am.

I do not have a key.

But you must know where it is kept.

No, ma’am, I do not.

Mrs. Boyd,

we’re going to be spending a great deal of time in each other’s company, aren’t we?

Yes, ma’am, I hope so.

Then we mustn’t have any secrets from each other, must we?

No, ma’am, we mustn’t.

But the truth of the matter is

that Mr. Orford doesn’t even let me clean the study.

-Not even to clean it? -No, ma’am.

Well then, let’s start with the other rooms upstairs, shall we?

I would like your advice,

you know the house so much better than I do.

Well, as Mr. Orford is not here.

You know, ever since the first Mrs. Orford died,

this house has become gloomier and gloomier.

It’s a pleasure to think that someone is coming to brighten it up.

I wish we could have just a little peep at the study.

I have so many ideas about it.

I’ve never been in that room.

What?

Not since Mrs. Orford died.

But Mr. Orford said...

Why haven’t you been in there?

More than once I’ve had the key in the lock

but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to turn it.

Well, let’s do it together now,

shall we?

Oh, ma’am.

Please, Mrs. Boyd.

If I do let you in...

you won’t tell him, will you?

No, of course not.

He doesn’t even know I know where the key is hidden.

And ma’am,

promise me that you’ll never tell.

I promise.

[sighs in disgust] Nasty.

That’s what it is.

Mrs. Boyd,

you said you hadn’t been in here for years, didn’t you?

Well, no one ever comes in here.

Then how did your petticoat get in here?

-My petticoat? -When we were here before,

I noticed a silk petticoat on that chair.

Mr. Orford said it was yours.

Mine, ma’am?

But I told you, I’ve never been in here since his first wife died.

No one has,

Mr. Orford wouldn’t allow it.

Mrs. Boyd, I need your help.

Will you help me, please?

Tell me about the first Mrs. Orford. Who was she?

There’s no mystery about her.

She was the daughter of Mr. Orford’s gamekeeper.

Wasn’t a lady of quality at all.

But oh, so pretty!

Were they very much in love?

Well, the month after they were married, he found her with a lover.

At least, that’s what I heard.

Did she die in this house?

-Yes, ma’am. -Of what?

Of terror...

or hatred.

And the man, the lover?

What happened to him?

There he is.

Elisa?

-Eh-- -You may go, Mrs. Boyd.

If there’s anything you want to find out, why don’t you ask me?

I know so much more than the servant.

Now, tell me.

What would you like to know about the man in that painting?

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here.

No, no, your curiosity is quite natural.

Humphrey, please...

I found them together in this house,

so I had him arrested for house-breaking.

And as I happened to be Justice of the Peace,

the jury found the wretch guilty and he was hanged

until he was quite, quite dead.

I’ve got the cedar chest all ready with the camphor to lay your dress away.

I don’t want to see it again.

Oh, ma’am, you mustn’t be unhappy.

Mr. Orford has his peculiarities

but then, what man is perfect?

I’m afraid of him.

But she’s made him what he is.

You must make him something better, something different.

-I’m afraid of him! -[knocks on door]

Come in!

-A gentleman to see you, ma’am. -Who is it?

Lieutenant Philip Haven, he says he’s your cousin home from India.

[footsteps approaching]

Philip!

I only arrived in London this morning

and heard the news about your marriage.

I’m so glad to see you, Philip!

This is my cousin, Philip Haven.

He has just returned from three years in India.

-I’ve introduced myself. -Of course.

I’ve never seen you in regimentals before.

You look so handsome.

Never take them off, young man.

If you do, you might look just like any other young man.

How long will you be staying here, Philip?

Two months, that’s all.

Well, we are going to Italy tomorrow, but when we return

-I hope-- -[Orford] Elisa.

Don’t you think you should be changing?

Oh, let’s have a glass of wine at least with Philip, first.

I must prepare for our journey tomorrow, if you’ll excuse me.

It’s nice to have met a cousin of my wife’s.

Your husband seems to think I’ve called at the wrong moment.

Of course not.

Now, we must have a glass of champagne.

You must drink to my happiness.

N-No, please don’t. I’d better go.

I can wish you happiness without a glass of champagne.

But you’ve only just arrived!

You must tell me all about India

and about your life in the army.

You hardly wrote to me at all.

Well, I-I was ill with malaria in March,

it was two months before I got better.

That’s why they let me come home. I wasn’t due until September.

And you love the army, don’t you?

Yes, and I love India.

Saw a lot of the country.

It’ll be good to go back.

[Philip] Well, goodbye, Elisa.

[Elisa] But we will see you when we return, won’t we?

Perhaps.

[Elisa] Philip!

Promise me you will come and see us.

I’ll try.

Philip...

I wish you’d written.

Goodbye.

Well, my dear,

let’s drink a toast to our marriage.

Your cousin’s visit this afternoon was rather unexpected, wasn’t it?

Completely.

He heard about our marriage and he wanted to wish us both happiness.

It was very thoughtful of him.

When you get to know him better,

I’m sure you will like him.

I think that’s extremely unlikely.

But you, you like him? You’re fond of him, shall we say?

He’s my cousin, after all.

And is he fond of you?

He used to be.

Was he in love with you?

We were so young.

And were you in love with him?

I suppose I was.

But that’s all past now.

He was whispering to you in the hall.

As he was going, when you kissed him, he was whispering to you.

Why would he whisper?

You were arranging to meet you when you get back from Italy--

-Humphrey, please! -Why’re you lying to me?

I’m not lying to you!

I asked him to visit us when we return from Italy.

You think I want to start another marriage with lies?

If anyone is lying, it is you!

A few hours ago, you swore a solemn oath.

I’ve had some experience with a wife who betrayed that oath.

I shouldn’t want it to happen again.

-[Elisa] Papa! -Yes?

Papa, would you come upstairs, please?

Why, what’s the matter, my dear?

We were to have left half an hour ago,

but Humphrey is locked in his study and he won’t answer.

Get the key, my dear!

There’s only one key and it’s gone!

Humphrey. Humphrey!

Papa, there’s something dreadfully wrong.

-I’m sure-- -Humphrey!

Humphrey!

[Elisa whispers] Papa...

[grunts]

[gasps]

He’s dead.

He’s been stabbed.

But who could’ve done it with the door locked?

Yes, but... the door was locked from the inside.

Papa!

Look!

It’s that petticoat.

It’s his wife, Flora!

She’s still alive!

She must’ve stabbed him with the paper knife.

Oh, you poor, poor thing!

All these years, he’s kept her locked up here.

Why doesn’t she say something?

The poor woman has lost her reason.

[Elisa] Then it was her petticoat.

[Mrs. Boyd] Yes.

Why didn’t she call for help?

All these years, why didn’t she cry out?

He saw to that.

He cut out her tongue.

[Mrs. Boyd gasps]

This seems to be the end of my attempted escape.

As for our story, however, there’s a bit more.

Shortly after the scene you have just witnessed,

the police entered the picture

but because of the circumstances,

justice was tempered with mercy.

If tonight’s story seemed a bit strong for you,

perhaps you would like to escape

into the delightful make-believe of one of our commercials.

After which I,

representing grim reality, shall return.

I don’t understand.

There must be something in the atmosphere

that makes, otherwise strong ropes,

and ladder’s shatter under my weight.

Next week, if I escape in time,

we shall have another story.

Until then, goodnight.