Lemora (1973)

[bunniefuu]

Hey! What time is it?

What time is it?

Take it easy...

I told you and told you,
he's way the hell up in Zaneville doing a job.

Yeah... he said he's on a job?

Well, when do you believe
what he tells you?

Relax. He won't be back till tomorrow.

/...I’ll be satisfied as long

/As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

/Just a closer walk with Thee,

/Precious Jesus, is my plea,

/Daily walking close to Thee,

/Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Today as everyday,

I'm going to speak about good and evil.

But this time,

this time, sisters, it's gonna be
no story from The Holy Book

about folk who lived thousands of years ago.

For today we have the example

of the influence that good can have over the evil
right here within our own very midst.

Yes. That's right.

I'm speaking about our own singing angel,

miss Lila Lee.

Newspaper over there,
vultures that live of the weak

have printed the fact that our little princess
is the daughter of Alvin Lee.

An evil gangster, who was
just now m*rder*d his own wife.

Good people, we know,
that even as some stinging flies buzz malicious sland

and gossip about us,

our own Lila Lee is the most innocent creature
on God's good earth.

Removed from her monstrous parents

for more than three years,

she has been washed clean of their evil counsel,

and has been truly reborn finding Christ's parental guidance

as a ward of this, Our Church.

Is it not enough to make the father pay
for these lepry sins?

Must you demand that this poor innocent
little child be punished as well?

LEMORA

A CHILD'S TALE OF THE SUPERNATURAL

/Singin' Angel Daughter of Real Life De...

/Dear Lila, I am writing you this
/at your father's request.

/He is on his death bed and constantly
/asks for you to come and forgive him

/for any harm he has done you.

/Come alone. If you tell of this or bring
/anyone with you, you will not be taken to him.

/The instructions to follow are enclosed.

/Because of your good works
/and intense devotion to God

/I know you won't fail him.

/Your Fellow Christian - Lemora.

/I am going to see father and forgive him.

/I'm still afraid but
/I want more than anything

/to be a good Christian and make you
/proud of me. Love, Lila

/Community Church. Our Own Lila Lee, The Singin' Angel
/Rev. Mr. Meuller. Sunday Service

Aren't you ready yet?

Shh... I had to work late.

Well hurry up for godsakes.
The show's all the way to Northpark.

Okay, come on in.
I'll only be a minute.

Mister?

Will you take me with you?

I have to get a bus in Northpark.

I ain't runnin' no taxi cab service.

You are of g'wan home...

before I change my mind.

Now get!

Blonde kid with blue eyes?
About thirteen?

Yeah.

Ye goods! I don't believe it.

Little goody two shoes out at night?

Don't you know who that was?

That's Miss Priss...!
The one that sings in the church choire.

Lila Lee.

Oh yeah?

Hey, her father's Alvin Lee.

Now she couldn't be goin' to see him.
Ain't nobody knows where he is.

Well, she's gettin' pretty sassy.

I oughta tell that holy Joe Reverend
she lives with.

She's shaked up with a Reverend?

God you got a dirty mind.

She ain't old old enough
to know what its for.

Maybe. Maybe not.

But if I was him I'd sure have one hell
of a time keeping my mind on bible studies.

I bet that the old Reverend
can't wait to teach her.

She's ripe and ready to go.

/Yes, go to Him even then.
/For the Lord will grant you courage.

/Remember...

to hear Christ's teachings and
doeth them not will lead to our ruin.

The lesson is over.

Oh, thank you Reverend, but your words
are so strong, so good.

I know I should have a courage I've need.

Lila! I won't tolerate any more these
unashamed displays of affection.

Now, you...

You go to your room.

/Chapter VII. How beautiful are thy feet
/with shoes, O prince's daughter.

/The joints of thy things are like jewels,
/the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

Quit it!
You act like a gentleman.

- Go, come on. Let's go outside.
- No!

Hey... hey!

I'll teach you to foolin' around
with my friends!

Stop it!

No!

Looking for a good time, girlie?

/Police search for missing g*nman

Hello?

Hi there.

A one-way ticket for the
Northpark-Lonsdale bus.

We don't sell 'em for that one.

I don't know nothing about it.
It ain't part of any regular line.

You just pay the driver
when you board.

Where is it?

Comes in out back...

Only makes the one night trip,
but I guess you know that.

Should be in now.

Thank you.

What you runnin' around
for this time of night?

Somebody in my family is sick.

Oh... that's too bad.

Say, don't I know you?

No, I don't think so.

I'm sure I seen you somewheres.

Maybe it was just somebody
that looked like me.

Well... maybe so.

But the little girl as pretty as you
I'm sure I'd remember.

Say... you look like someone
who likes chocolates.

I got a box of 'em here.

- Oh no, I shouldn't.
- Go on. Take one before you go.

Go on. You got a long ride ahead yet.

Well...

What do you like best now?

Soft or hard centers?

You goin' to Astaroth?

Yes.

You Lila?

Yes.

Yep.

Yeah, you go on to Astaroth.

Pay it.

How much is it?

Well... it's kinda late.
And I might have to charge you extra.

This is all I have.

That's enough.

That's enough. Go on back,
give yourself a seat.

Can I open a window?

Well... Sure, if you've a mind to.

Hey. Putrid, ain't it?

All the salt marshes
around here are rotten.

And it gets worse further down you go.

All the way to Astaroth.

How far is it?

Too far if you ask me.

I only go there a special...
like tonight.

Why?

Gives me the creeps.

Railroad stopped going through years ago.

Swamps all over the place
and hardly nobody there.

And those people... oh God, those people...
Nobody likes those people!

It's the way they look.

They call it the Astaroth look.

It's suppose to come
from that epidemic they had.

What epidemic?

I dunno. I dunno.

Doesn't pay to be curious.

They don't like people askin' questions.

Sometimes they don't come back.

Now, no... I'm just funnin' you.

Go on, get yourself some sleep.

What was that, mister?

What was that?

There was just the ones that have
takin' up livin' in the woods.

They're the real bad.

Don't worry... town's just ahead.

What's wrong?

Damn if I know.

But if I can't fix it

I'll just take break off.

We can coast down the hill.

Done it before.

Mister?

Mister?

The brake!

Pull the brake! Pull! Pull!

/Burn those things after you
/carry her to the stone house.

Mary Jo?

I'm Lila Lee.
Who is Lemora?

For a minute thought you was Mary Jo.

Same color hair.

Where is my father?

I brought you this.

I was as beautiful as you once.
Not now.

/There was an old woman all skin and bones

/And she did weep and she did moan

/She walked on through the streets of town

/While all the dead lay on the ground

/Then turning to the parson said

/Will I look like that when I am dead

/The parson to the old woman said...

Boo!

Solange!

The lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in Green Pastures,

He leadeth me beside the still waters,

He restoreth my soul...

Go out...

Go away!

Get out!

Go away!

Hello. Hello?

No, this is 686.

Yeah, all right.

/... dancing 52 hours without lead up.

/Alvin Lee, one of the
/deep South's most vicious K*llers

/may have avoided interstate road blocks,

/said police chief gathered
/in a special statement last night.

/There is all the more likely
/however, the police chief continue,

/that Alvin Lee is hiding in a local area.

/As yet, of course, there has been no success
/in getting a lead on him

/after his escape a week ago.

/Should any listener have information
/as to his whereabouts,

/please contact this station.

/Thank you.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello!

Hellohellohellohellohellohello.

Please, Lila Lee. I'm thirteen years old

and I live at 38 Sycamore Street.

I don't want to stay here anymore.

I don't want to stay here anymore!

Let me out!

Let me out of here!

Let me out!

Let me out!

Let me out of here!

Got some food here for you.

Where are you?

Little girl?

Little girl?

Little girl?

Where are you hiding?

If you don't come out I'll get Lemora.

Just do me that one favor.

You'll feel differently
when you're one of us.

I know this is the last time
before I change.

And if she's still here...

Look, I don't want
to turn against my own kid.

It's not like that at all.

You'd be setting her free.

No, no.

But right now my throat
feels like it's burning up.

I'm so thirsty.

I'm so thirsty.

Take it easy...

Lemora?

Lemora?

What is it?

I can't hear you.
Come in.

Your little girlie's run off.

Run off?

You stupid idiot...
You let her run off.

Stop. Did you hear that?

Hear what?

Hello Lila.

I'm Lemora.

Why did you lock me in?

That wasn't to keep you in.

It was to keep other things out.

Your room is ready now.
Come, it's not safe to be out here.

That was my father I heard,
wasn't it?

Yes.

Well, can I see him there
so I can go home?

Not until you're immune
to his disease.

How long will that take?

Until tomorrow,
after the ceremony.

What ceremony?
What disease?

Is that what's wrong
with all those children?

And those things in the woods?

My, you have a lot of questions.

Don't worry. They'll all be
answered in due time.

That escape was very clever of you.

Now go up into your room
and get dressed in the clothes I've laid out.

It's the first open door
at the end of the hall.

Let me go! Agh!

Let me go!

No! No, let me go!

Lila.

Did I frighten you, Lila?

I'm sorry.

The mirror is broken,

but you can see how lovely
you are in my eyes.

Look...

Hurry now.

We are waiting.

Don't be frightened.
They won't harm you.

They're just curious.

Like they were last night.

They were just playing a joke.

You have pretty skin.

Is that wine?

Sort of.

I don't touch spirits.
It's unchristian.

It's very rude not to do as another does

when you are under his roof.

If you don't enjoy our company

you can go back
to where you were last night.

Drink.

Our guest is a singer.

A very good one.

Perhaps we can persuade her
to sing a song for us.

Don't be shy now.

We'll appreciate anything
you can give us.

Sing.

/Just a closer walk with Thee

/Precious Jesus is my please

/Daily walkin' close to Thee

/Let it be, Dear Lord... Let it be

/I am weak, but Thou art strong

/Jesus, keep me from all wrong

/I’ll be satisfied as long...

I'm so hot... and dizzy.

That drink has done that to you.

Isn't it nice?

Feeling better?

Good.

Now...

Let's have some music.

Do you like to dance?

No.

I mean... I never have.

See? Just give your body up to the music.

The Reverend would...
die if he knew that I...

Is fun evil?

The real sin is for a girl
to deny herself life and joy.

Especially if she's as lovely as you.

Vanity is a sin.

Find him children!
Tell the others.

My father was here, wasn't he?

Something's scared him.
He was tied and they cut him loose.

Those things from the woods got him,
didn't they?

No one got him.

No one cut him loose.

He broke loose.

He couldn't have done that,
he was dying.

He was running a high fever.
Sometimes he became delirious.

Had fits.

That's why he was strapped down.

Right now he's probably
out there in the woods...

Running wild.

I want to help find him.

That's too dangerous.

Then what about the children?

Those children have already
had the disease.

They're immune.

Don't worry,

they'll find him before it's too late.

Are you tired?

Good, because I have your
bedtime bath all ready for you.

It's what you need
to really make you sleep.

Hurry up and get undressed
before the water gets cooler.

Well? I hope you're not embarrassed
in front of another woman.

Are you?

Don't you like that too?

No. The old woman
scared me with it.

Who is she?

What?

Solange? She's harmless.

She used to own this place,
years ago.

Why, how tense we are...

You're not afraid now, are you?

Just relax and
let me take over.

What an exciting figure you have.

You must be very popular.

No, I'm not.

Oh, come on.

The other girls don't like me.

I never know what to say to them.
I feel so different.

Of course you're different.

You're better and they know it.

That's just jealousy.

But what about the boys?

I bet many of them are
in love with those serious eyes.

How many have you kissed?

None.

Boys are just dirty minded
and silly. I hate them.

Well, sometimes they can be amusing.

After all, a charming girl like you

is bound to interest many men.

One day when you realize
the power that you have,

you'll see how right I am.

Don't be so modest.

Why, if you knew how often
your father spoke of you,

you'd think he was madly
in love with you himself.

He does love me.

No matter how bad and evil
he's been or...

or how many lies he's told,

he was never mean to me or hurt me.

Never?

Only when I was little
and he picked me up.

Then his beard would scratch.

It didn't hurt that much
but I pretended it did

and then he'd call me his little princess.

So... even after you knew about him
you couldn't help but love him.

I guess so.
Do you love him too?

Only I like you much better.

Did he love you right away?

Oh yes.

If someone has it in them to love me,

they love me from the minute
that they see me.

Sometimes they don't even know it.

Stand up.

All right, all done.

Can't have you catching
cold now, you all dry.

So you're not so serious
all the time.

Lila, I have a surprise for you.

Wait right here.

Father?

Father is that you?

I forgive you father.

I'll pray for you. Don't you...?

Lemora!

Lemora!

There, there. Let it come.
Don't hold back.

What's wrong?
What was wrong?

You're save now.
That's all that matters.

Everything's all right. Nothing's wrong now.

But he was like one
of those things in the woods.

What was wrong?

I don't know.

Starting a year ago right after joining us

some of our people would become ugly.

Beast-like.

Now they must be stopped...

k*lled.

Will you k*ll my father?

I'll have to.

Do you want him to k*ll you?
Or me?

No.

Did he do this?

It's like a snake bite, I... I had to...

And I hope I did it soon enough.

When I was your age
the things I liked best

were hearing stories
and having my hair brushed.

Shall I do them for you?

Yes, ma'am.

You must call me Lemora.

Yes, Lemora.

Once upon a time
a little girl was born

far across the sea

in a small town
like the ones around here.

Yet, even though she was beautiful
and loved by almost everyone...

...she could feel that something was after her.

And she ran away.

Just like a lot of people
who don't want to accept

what they truly are.

And so she kept running,

running...

from what she knew she was,

until she couldn't run anymore.

That's when she came here.

That little girl is you,
isn't it?

Maybe.

Are all those children yours?

Yes.

What happened to your husband?

I don't have a husband.

They're all adopted.

But none of them are
as nice as you are.

Or as lovely.

As lovely as Mary Jo?

Who told you about her?

The old woman.

Who was she?

Just a weakling who couldn't stand love.

Look.

This is for you.

Isn't it lovely?

Tomorrow, after the ceremony,
you and I will become blood sisters.

And all my power,

all my beauty,

all my life
will be yours to share.

What kind of ceremony?

In the church?

Yes.

Baptist?

Oh, no.

Much more ancient than that.

The church that
all the others came from.

The ceremony that goes so far back

no one knows when it began.

What's it like?

It's beautiful...

When you're going through it,

it's so intense that sometimes you feel

like you're going to die.

But you don't.

You live!

Better than you've ever lived before.

/The search for Alvin Lee continues.

/Police were due of learn a few hours ago
/when they received a phone call

/from an auto court owner telling them
/that the k*ller had just taken a run there.

/Upon arrival however the man was discovered

/to be one Robert J. Troller,
/35 of Fairville.

/The auto court owner name as Barry Quests

/now faces a lawsuit.

/Police wish to emphasize that only
/the owners of public housing

/"being in" transportation services
/need be a scrupulist.

/They ask every citiznen not to hesitate

/should he or she feel or they have
/recognized this gunner.

/Mary Jo Spinks,
/13 years, 1892.

/My diary.

/June 3rd. Pa won't leave yet.

/Lemora must like him 'else why,
/why put us up and be so nice to me

/when she's been all over
/the world and I don't know what.

/She sure knows stories.

/Will pray for mama's soul
/in heaven before I sleep tonight.

/June 9th. She says I am her
/daughter and will give me everything.

/I think I love her
/but I'm scared.

/I don't know if bad things are there
/or if it is all in my head.

/Why isn't daddy home yet?

/June 15th. I swear to God
/I won't give in again.

/She'll never make me do anything again.

/I feel scared but I have to do it now.

/I won't be able to stand it
/if it hurts too much.

/Help me God.
/I feel so alone.

/Go. Go! Get out!

/- Hello!
/- Get out! Get away from here! Get out!

/Get out! Run!

/Run! Run!
/Run out! Run!

/Run out...!

/They'll k*ll you
/like they k*lled us.

/Run, run away...

/Confess!

/Run Lila, run!

/Get out! Run Lila!

/Get out Lila, run!

You are a so pretty little boy.

I'll take care of you.

Don't be frightened.

I'm going into town.
k*ll the things in there now

and any others you might find later.

Everyone of them must be exterminated.

This girl is around here somewhere.

If you let her escape,

or allow them to get to her
before you do

I'll make you wish you could die.

Lila...?

Did you really think
you could escape so easily?

The further you thought you were
getting away from me, the closer you can.

Lila?

Lila?

You never had a chance.

Each one of your moves has been
directed from the very beginning.

Like a chess game.

Let me alone! Let me go!
What have I ever done to you?

Why, nothing at all.

But you make a mistake.

I don't want to
revenge myself on you.

I want to give you something.

Come to me...

You want to k*ll me!

No. My present is the opposite of death.

It is life!
A life than can never die.

But why me?

I don't want it.
I swear I don't!

Oh yes you do.

I know you Lila,
better than you know yourself.

We are one and the same

and until you realize that,
you can never be happy.

Keep away!

It has to happen, Lila.

Wouldn't you rather I did it out of love...

than have one of those wood things
do it out of their own animal hungers?

You're too good
to be their queen.

Do you want to degenerate
into a lower form?

Or would you rather I raise you up?

Come now and rule with me forever!

What you did to my father?

I don't do anything.

I only show people who they are.

But don't worry. That won't happen to you.

Your father was some monstrous
and debased...

I hate you!

You think so, but
I fascinate too much

and you can't help yourself.

Do you think this has been all my doing?

You've been drawn to me
from the very beginning,

before you even knew my name.

Why won't you come to me and find peace?

It's evil!
It wouldn't be me anymore.

Oh yes you would.

The real you!

No!

Let us show her our love.
Are you with me?

Amen.

Let us show this Angel that we love her
for the love she bears us.

Do you feel love?

Amen.

Do you know she is as distinct

and as blameles from her father,
as Christ is from Satan?

Amen!

As God is from Evil?

Amen!

As light is from darkness?

Amen!

Do you feel it
in your hearts?

Amen!

Do you feel it
in your souls?

Amen!

You're not so good.

- You're a hypocrite.
- A liar!

- The reverend...
- You know he wants you.

You know why.

You encourage him.

- Don't you?
- You see everybody trying to seduce you.

Drain you. Devour you.

But it's you!

You want to seduce.

You want to drain.

You want to devour.

Stop! Stop!

Stop! I don't want that!

Please, make it stop! Please!

Stop!

Please, please!

Stop!

Please, please, no, stop!

Make it stop!

Please, stop!

Lila...
Princess...

Lila...

Lila...

Oh yes... You cannot k*ll me.

I am the un-killable.

My spirit is the strongest ever.

No matter by which name I am called,

I am recognized as the most
powerful in the hearts of all.

See,

you are the k*ller,
not I.

In his poor way, your father
only wanted to give you love.

Now,

come into my arms and free yourself
from all guilt.

What are you?

I am whatever you want me to be.

Lila!

Lila!

Lila!

Lila!

Lila...

I'm dreaming you're alive.

It's not a dream.

Oh, Lila, Lila...

You haven't shaved.

That hurts.

Oh, Lila, don't...

Don't.

Lila.

Don't...

/Rock of ages cleft for me

/Let me hide myself in Thee

/Let the water and the blood

/From Thy wounded side which flowed

/Be of sin the double cure

/Save from wrath and make me pure

/Could my tears for ever flow

/Could my zeal no languor know

/These for sin can not atone

/Thou must save, and Thou alone

/In my hand no price I bring

/Simply to thy cross I cling