1240 - March 25, 1971

[bunniefuu]

[mysterious music]

NARRATOR:The great house at Collinwood in the year ,

a time when the Collins family lived in mortal fear

of a curse set upon them by an enraged ancestor

more than years ago.

Since then the family has known only tragedy.

On the night that has just passed,

Melanie Collins was married to Kendrick Young,

but their happiness was to be short lived.

First they learned that Daphne Collins had just d*ed

after a brief illness and then Melanie once again

became the victim of the ghost of Brutus Collins,

the man who started the curse.

Mother, nobody understands better than I do how you feel,

but it's just as well that you didn't see Gabriel.

Morgan, I feel so guilty. He deserved a better fate.

MORGAN: Mother, that could be said for all of us.

Somehow I felt closer to Gabriel than any

of the rest of you.

He was the weakest.

He needed me the most.

Mother, I understand, but Gabriel's gone now.

At least he has met his peace.

Yes, he's at peace.

[knocking at door]

Come in.

What is it, Julia?

We must hold the lottery again as soon as possible.

[waves crashing]

[eerie music]

Julia, what are you talking about?

What's happened?

It's Melanie.

Kendrick and I had to lock her in the tower room.

She's had another att*ck?

Yes, only this one may be permanent.

Permanent.

JULIA: Yes, yes she tried to k*ll Kendrick with a Kn*fe.

We finally got it away from her.

Why do you say this might be permanent?

After we took her up to the tower room,

we went back downstairs.

We thought it was just another att*ck.

But then suddenly Kendrick and I saw the ghost

of Brutus Collins.

Brutus?

Yes, he was laughing at us and then he spoke.

He said that Melanie would never be sane

until another Collins went into the locked room.

MORGAN: Mother.

We have no choice, we must do it.

We must do this for Melanie's sake.

Poor Melanie.

She was married only last night.

It's almost as if the ghost of Brutus waited for that

moment of happiness, and then deliberately struck her down.

What a cruel and evil man he must have been.

Mother, we mustn't waste any more time talking.

When would you like the family assembled?

Tell everyone we'll hold the lottery late this afternoon

in the drawing room as usual.

But everyone isn't here, Mother.

Quentin went to Boston.

FLORA: When is he due back?

He won't be back 'til Monday.

Then we'll have to hold the lottery without him.

But, Mother, we've never done that before.

We've never done it without the entire family.

Morgan, for Melanie's sake, we cannot afford to wait.

When you see Kendrick, will you please tell him

I want to speak to him.

[door slams shut]

There's nothing we can do to avoid this.

I know.

I cannot bear the thought of the lottery anymore.

Who will it be, Julia?

Who in the family will we lose this time?

Good morning, Kendrick.

Good morning, Catherine.

Has Julia come downstairs yet?

No, I haven't seen her.

Were you out for a walk so early this morning?

Yes, I found the house quite depressing this morning.

CATHERINE: What, has something else happened?

If you don't mind, let's wait for Julia.

Of course.

Catherine, I didn't have time to tell you how I felt

when I heard the news about Daphne.

I'm sorry, Catherine, I don't know what else to say.

There is nothing else to say.

When is the funeral?

I don't know, it's up to Bramwell.

Catherine, are you ill?

No, no, I'm fine.

Well, obviously you're not fine.

Oh, it's just emotional stress, that's all, Kendrick.

Really I'm perfectly alright.

That may be so, but you're going to sit down.

Thank you.

MORGAN: Catherine, what happened to you?

What's wrong?

Morgan, please don't get yourself alarmed.

Catherine, I want you to answer my question.

What's wrong?

There's nothing at all wrong.

I just got a little dizzy, that's all.

It's just emotion.

I'm still very upset about, over Daphne.

Well, I think it's much more than that,

and I'm going to send for Doctor Fletcher.

No, Morgan I'm perfectly healthy.

Please don't call the doctor.

I think there's much more

that you're not telling any of us.

That's absurd.

If there was anything at all wrong, wouldn't you be

the first to know?

I don't know.

Morgan, you must realize if there was anything wrong

I would tell you right away,

but there is nothing to tell, Morgan.

Now please stop all this nonsense about a doctor.

Kendrick, Mother would like to see you in her room

right away.

KENDRICK: Excuse me.

I have some very bad news.

CATHERINE: What, what it is?

We're going to have to use this again.

CATHERINE: What, the lottery?

Yes, it's going to take place later this afternoon.

But why, Morgan?

MORGAN: Please listen to me.

There is a lot to explain.

[knocking at door]

Come in.

You wanted to see me, Mrs. Collins?

Yes, Kendrick.

I wanted to tell you how sorry I am

about what's happened to Melanie.

I should have take Melanie away from here

the moment we were married, as far away as possible.

No, you know that wouldn't have done any good.

Melanie is subject to these att*cks no matter where she is.

I would have found help for her.

I swear I would.

I also want to speak to you about something else.

KENDRICK: What is that?

I think it would be best

if you had your marriage annulled.

Annulled?

FLORA: Oh, I know it shocks you, but you must face it.

Under the circumstances, what sort marriage have you got

or can expect to have?

I will not consider it, Mrs. Collins.

But what if the prophecy is true?

What if she stays this way permanently?

She won't.

Well how can you be sure of that?

There will be no annulment, Melanie is my wife.

I vowed to take care of her in sickness and in health

and I will not break that vow.

FLORA: But you wouldn't be.

I will not discuss the point any further.

I have made up my mind.

I have faith that Melanie will be herself again

when the curse is broken.

JULIA: And when will that be?

When I end it.

You?

Don't be surprised, Mrs. Collins.

I am a Collins now, and I intend to take part in the lottery

when it happens.

And furthermore, I intend to be the one chosen

to go into the room.

Morgan, how much longer do we have to wait

for the lottery?

A couple of hours yet, but you needn't worry about it.

Why not?

MORGAN: Because you're not going to take part in it.

Now what are you saying?

Of course I am.

You went through your obligation in the last lottery

and you were chosen then.

But Morgan, you took my place in the room.

And I'll do it again.

Catherine, please let me have my way.

You've been through so much already, and I don't want you

to have to go through anymore.

You're going to have to put all your effort

into Daphne's funeral.

Very well, but if the family insists that I take part,

then I shall.

Don't worry, I'll handle the family.

What are you thinking about, Julia?

How few of us there are left.

Don't let it depress you.

I can't help it.

You know I never used to think about what it would be like

to go into that room.

I suppose I always felt that I would never be the one chosen

but now--

But now you think you will be the one.

Yes, the thought of it frightens me.

Perhaps it's because I know more about the room now.

Ever since Morgan took me there during the day

something happened there, something that frightened me

more than anything I've ever felt.

KENDRICK: Well, can you describe this feeling?

It happened when I went into the secret room

with the files.

When you saw the two bodies?

Oh, you can't possibly just call them two bodies.

Two ordinary corpses would have rotted to nothing

but bone in years.

These two were somehow mummified

and preserved all these years.

Then I had this frightening feeling about them.

They might still be alive.

You know that's impossible, Julia.

Kendrick, when I was there looking at them,

I could have sworn that one of them moved.

Julia, under the circumstances,

you could have imagined it very easily.

You're talking, that's what Morgan said.

I'm not sure.

Oh, I wish I could stop thinking about it.

Why are you looking at me like that?

I'm amazed at your fear of this.

I always thought you were the strong one in the family.

I think it's quite interesting that I thought I knew you

so well, but now I see a part of you

that I never knew existed.

Kendrick, are you certain

you want to go through with this?

Yes, Mrs. Collins, I'm certain.

Very well then, I can't stop you.

You are a member of the family now, as you said.

Julia, where are Catherine and Morgan?

They're in the master bedroom.

Shall I get them?

No, let them enjoy a few moments more alone together.

I'll prepare the slips for the lottery.

It'll be time soon.

This could be goodbye, Catherine.

CATHERINE: No, I'm sure it's not.

I've had the strangest feeling all day

that I'm to be a victim of fate.

How convenient it would be if I were to go into the room

and die, and with Bramwell already free,

that would leave you free.

Morgan, I can't bear to hear you talk this way.

With my sister dead not a day,

how can you think I'm thinking that?

Catherine, I want you to promise me something.

CATHERINE: Very well.

If I should go into the room and die--

Morgan, please stop talking this way.

Catherine, I want you to promise

that you will not marry Bramwell.

It is not going to happen.

You're not gong to die.

You haven't answered my question.

[knocking at door]

Come in.

Everyone is ready.

[sobbing]

[wind howling]

Well, where's Catherine?

MORGAN: She's not going to participate.

She was chosen the last time.

And you took her place.

According to your reasoning,

you shouldn't participate either.

Mother, I'd rather not discuss it.

Now let's get on with it.

I have prepared four slips.

Three of them are blank, and one is marked with an X.

Whoever draws the X will sleep in the room.

We will each draw a slip from the vase,

but no slip is to be opened until everyone has drawn.

Kendrick, do you understand?

Yes, I understand.

[suspenseful music]

I have drawn a blank.

Another blank.

That leaves me and you, Julia.

Would you please draw first?

I have chosen the X.

[eerie music]