Queen of Bones (2024)

[bunniefuu]

- What are you doing?

- Get those flowers

out of your hair.

We gotta go check the traps.

We got one.

What happened?

- Sam!

Sam, have you seen

that old symbol before?

- No, we've never been back

that far.

- I ain't seen anything

like it.

- Don't say it.

You sound ignorant.

This depression has

deepened by events from abroad,

but you're beyond the control

of either or our citizens

or our government.

Although it is

but a passing incident...

- Did I hear a r*fle shot?

- There was a wolf.

- How's that?

- He came right up on us

when we were checking the traps.

- You got anything

you wanna tell me?

Mm-hmm.

Go clean that r*fle.

That's enough!

You should wash up now

for dinner.

It's wonderful.

What do you think, Sam?

- Wonderful.

- I used flour to thicken it,

and there's starch

from the potatoes.

- And with a single rabbit,

she made a birthday feast.

You sound just like your mother.

- Really?

Please, Father, tell us

how she played.

- You know how she played.

- Well, I forget

how she played.

- Well, when your mother played

her violin,

you could hear all the beauty

and sorrow

that words cannot describe,

a little like when you two

were born.

So...

...14 years ago today,

your mother, Isobel,

went into labor.

And for more than a day

and a night,

she fought to deliver you

into this world.

By the time she drew

her last breath,

the doctors were standing

in her blood.

Then...

...they commenced to cutting

you two out,

first you, Lily, then you.

And they placed you both

in my arms.

And you were beautiful.

For in the midst of death,

there is life.

- Have mercy upon me,

O God,

according to

Your loving kindness,

according to the multitude

of Your tender mercies,

blot out my transgressions,

for my sin is always before me.

- Amen.

- Amen.

- Sammy.

Sammy, come on.

Samuel!

Up! Down! Left! Right!

- What's wrong?

- Nothing.

- I can hear you.

- I didn't say anything.

- You're loud when you're quiet.

- Don't you notice his story

changes every year?

And why keep telling us that?

- It's important.

To remember.

- Like we could ever forget.

- Our mother died

so that we might live.

- He's hiding something.

Did you see that?

- Ain't nothing you can do

about the wind.

- What are you doing?

Can you get ready

for Mr. Jensen, please?

- Of course, Papa.

- Good girl.

Bravo.

Thank you, my dear.

Mr. Jensen.

- She really is something.

- Yes, the soundboard

is spruce, of course.

- I was speaking

of your daughter,

Mr. Brass.

The bridge is maple, I see.

And the pegs, are they...

are they ebony?

- Yes, special order.

- Exquisite craftsmanship.

And the rosin is made from...

- From right here.

Organ pine.

- Ah.

Our conservatory in Portland

always has room for a talent

such as your daughter.

- Oh, you're very kind.

- I'm not being polite,

Mr. Brass.

There was a time when I openly

impugned the privileged,

but I'm getting old,

tired and humbled

by an extravagance of...

of suffering.

- Mm-hmm.

- The machinery is broke,

I think,

but our spirits are not yet.

Music...

Music is vital to the fight.

I believe your daughter

can contribute.

- She's not safe.

- Excuse me?

- How many violins

would you like, Mr. Jensen?

- We have many young students

in the conservatory.

I assure you, she will be

very well cared for.

- With respect, sir,

it is a father's concern.

I'll be sending her

to the convent very soon.

Now, how many violins

will we be needing, Mr. Jensen?

- Oh, we...

...we wouldn't need

more than six or...

or seven instruments.

I can have an invoice sent over

within a week.

- Quit spying.

It was a pleasure

to make your acquaintance.

Thank you.

- My apologies for...

overstepping, sir.

- Think nothing of it.

- Respectfully.

- Ah.

- Morning, ma'am.

- Good morning, Samuel.

Lily.

- Ma'am.

- Hi, Lily.

- George.

- Happy belated birthday,

twins.

We brought you some socks.

To keep you warm.

- Thank you, Miss Clemens.

- You didn't have to do that.

- Nonsense.

This is a special day.

- Morning, Miss Clemens.

- Morning.

- Lily.

I like the way you look.

I'd have thought summer

had come early.

That's sweet of you, George.

You read that in a book,

somewhere?

- Actually, I did.

- Hey, Pinky,

come on, quit jawin'

and hand me those groceries.

- You know, I really wish

you didn't call me that.

- And I wish it wasn't

so hot out,

but you don't see me

hollering at the sun.

George, don't...

don't mind him.

He's just...

He's just jealous

he don't have white hair.

- Bacon, and I...

threw in a few bricks

of my sweet cream butter.

- Oh. You didn't have

to do that, Ida.

I know you're struggling

to make ends meet.

- No, no, no.

There's nothing like butter

to make a house a home.

Oh, George, I told you to wait!

On that,

you know, I swear

that boy is touched.

- I... sorry!

And then,

there's his complexion.

My God, how he suffers

affliction.

But at least, he'll be able

to run a grocery one day.

- What is all that?

- What he needs is a father.

I see it every day.

Take that rear tire,

it's been leaking all summer,

but damn if I know enough

to show him how to patch it.

- Ida May. What's in the trunk?

- Isobel's old clothes.

The priest sent them over.

- Hmm.

Uh, Lily, darling?

What don't you fix Miss Clemens

a cup of coffee?

- Thank you, Lily.

I take it sweet.

She is certainly

growing up fast.

- Why did you bring

that trunk here?

- They were among

your father-in-law's things

stored at the church.

- Mm-hmm.

- He was k*lled yesterday.

A tree came down on him.

The funeral is tomorrow.

I know you swore off seeing

your mother-in-law, but...

why else would she send

that trunk along,

if not as a gesture of truce?

Blessed are the peacemakers,

Malcolm.

- Sam.

Take that trunk.

Put it in the cellar.

Bring these keys straight back.

- Good housekeeping?

sh*t, Pinky.

- Yeah. I wish you didn't

call me that.

- And I wish you'd bring

the right magazine.

I told you: Motor Mechanics,

Popular Mechanics,

anything with cars.

- I told you: I need something

I can trade the other boys for.

I don't mean no dried turd

this time.

- That was a buffalo chip.

Indians use them

for their fires.

It made

my hands stink.

What's this?

What is that?

We saw this. This symbol.

Carved on the post in the woods.

Maybe it's a witch book.

- There's no such thing.

- What about the Witch

of the Woods?

That's just a story.

The Witch of the Woods

is real,

the Mad Scourge, the...

- Queen of Bones.

- Says who? Kids in town?

Christ, you're gullible.

- Hey, don't take

the Lord's name.

Yeah, I heard

some guys know a witch.

- Drykkur.

It says, "Witch's truth potion."

Is that Mother's handwriting?

Lily?

Is the coffee ready?

- All right. They're waiting

on the coffee.

Go.

Go.

- It's a strange thing.

One book, buried in a trunk

full of clothes,

like Mother was hiding it.

I think Father's been lying

about her.

- You don't know if it's

even hers.

It is.

Besides, who else would it

belong to?

- I don't know.

- Who else would have etched

that rune in the woods?

- I don't know.

But what I do know

is that she died

and left us here with him.

And nothing changes that.

- Well, if Papa hasn't told us

something,

there's probably

a reason for it.

- Then what else do you need

to know?

The truth.

I want to know the truth.

The truth about what?

- About why we're going

into town.

- Where did you hear that?

- It's your shoulders.

You were talking

to Miss Clemens

and your shoulders were...

sad.

- Your grandad passed.

His funeral is tomorrow,

so be ready to go

by sun up. Okay?

- Let's get dressed early

and go to the cellar.

Sam.

- Do not defile yourself

by any animal or bird

or anything that moves

along the ground.

You have set me apart

from the nations to be my own.

A man or woman who is a medium

or spiritualist among us

must be put to death.

- This is the shawl

from the photo.

Do you think

the witch gave her this?

- It's strange.

Our mother writes in your hand.

- Since when do you notice

my writing?

- I see all the misspellings.

- Shh. Look.

Why would Mother draw

these animals on that symbol?

Hmm!

A toad, a wolf's skull

and an owl feather.

We collect all three

and take them to the witch.

She'll make a potion

that somehow reveals

the hidden truth.

- How are we gonna find a witch?

- George says some kids in town

may know.

- What about the potion?

Who's gonna drink it?

- I will.

- Look at that.

It's a 15 GMC flatbed

for hauling.

You know, someday,

I'm gonna work in a garage

in the city.

I've been studying on it.

Nothing more American

than a car.

It gives you the freedom

to go anywhere.

- Now, what do I tell you?

- We're not to speak

unless spoken to.

- You know, she disowned

your mother.

- How's the coffee?

- It's hot.

- Not bad, huh?

I told you.

She's coming of age.

That's what worries me.

It needn't.

But I can reach out

to Saint-Mary's if you'd like.

- Mmh. Yes, perhaps it's time.

Lois.

Can we speak in private?

- You have something to say?

Say it.

- I'm sorry.

- You need to speak up.

I said I'm sorry

for your loss.

- My husband lived

a decent life,

if this lot's any indication.

Though it sorrows me we haven't

a pint to see him off proper.

But I'll tell you, Malcolm.

What sorrows me most...

...you, coming here,

of all the days.

- But you... you made a gesture.

- A gesture?

- Mm-hmm. The trunk.

- Your husband always said

when he passed

he'd want Isobel's old things

to go to her children,

including the trunk of clothes.

There you have it.

Good intentions.

- Maybe.

Your daughter would want us

to make our peace.

- It's a sin to speak

for the dead.

You want peace?

Then ask forgiveness.

- I've done nothing wrong.

- You moved with her

to those woods.

Away from her family.

- Well, she couldn't

walk through the valley

just by sitting in church.

- She wasn't walking,

for Christ's sake,

she was wandering the shadows

that reside under the pines,

her head full of those g*dd*mn

witch books!

- Lois.

- It was up to you, Malcolm...

...to keep her on the path.

To keep her safe.

- And I tried.

- So you say.

- These are forged

in the belly of the Earth.

- Forged?

- Made in a fire?

- Made out of lava rock.

Obsidian.

- Sam!

- Pinky, g*dd*mn it!

- Uh, sorry.

Someone knows a witch.

Let's see if they go for it.

- Here he is, Arvin.

- Thanks, Pinky. Now, get lost.

- His name's George.

- My mistake.

- Get out of here.

It's a Model TT.

125-inch wheelbase.

Gearbox for hill climbing.

It looks like a... 1925.

- Man knows his cars.

- But does he know who we are?

- I've heard the rumours.

- I've heard of you too.

Sam Brass, lover of automobiles

and peddler of dried

coyote turds.

- You mean buffalo chips.

- As far as I'm concerned,

you can hustle, Sam.

You just need...

a better product.

- Are you talking about

bootlegging?

- Me and Studs could use a hand

moving product to Portland.

Help us on this next shipment

and I can help you.

I heard you're looking

for a witch.

- What witch?

- An old hag, living in the back

of the woods.

- Just some kind of alchemist.

- No, a real witch

is what I heard.

- The mad scourge?

- Whatever she is,

she's half mad and blind

as night.

She told me once she prefers

the dark.

I say, "What in the hell for?"

She says, "If you look into

the darkness long enough,

you can see things there

no one else can see."

So, wanna see her?

Then you gotta help us

move this liquor.

- Okay.

How are we gonna do this?

That's good news.

But after

he takes us to the witch,

I have to move booze.

You mean bootlegging?

- He knows where she lives.

- Why should we believe him?

- His kin's been in these woods

longer than anyone.

He'd know.

Papa?

Papa.

Papa.

- Hmm. Yeah?

- Is it true what Grandma Lois

was saying about my mother?

- No.

No, of course not.

No, she's grieving, and...

grief makes people cruel.

Grief can...

...infect whole towns,

whole nations.

That's why we live out here,

away from all that.

Goodnight.

Lily.

- Yes?

- Say your prayers.

- Yes, Papa.

- What did he say?

- He's definitely hiding

something.

- So let's go see

the witch then, tomorrow.

- And ask her what?

We have to do it right.

Remember? It's all in that book.

Where's that page

with the animals on it?

Hmm.

- Hide.

The candle.

Back upstairs.

Did you open that window?

- What happened to you?

- Went on a walk.

- Where did you get that shawl?

- From the cellar.

- Wait.

How?

- I took the keys

from your room.

- Lily, I will not tolerate

disobedience.

If you wanna sneak around

in the dark, that is fine,

take the rest of the day...

- No, wait!

- ...and the night.

- No! No!

- Is it in you?

Is it in you?

Is it in you?

- Please, Papa, how long

am I to stay down here?

- Hide with the snakes.

- No!

- And the beasts of the field.

- No!

- If that is what you mean!

Papa!

No!

- Stack the rest of that wood.

Papa!

Sam!

Sam, please!

Sam!

Sam!

Sam!

- Is everything all right?

- Your sister's behaviour,

it's not like her.

If you knew anything,

would you tell me?

- Yes, sir.

- Yes you'd tell me

or yes you know something?

Samuel.

- I'd tell you.

I just--

- Are you keeping secrets?

- If I say no,

would you believe me?

Focus, deeper

your spirit towards the wind.

- And Lily needs our strength.

She's changing,

she's becoming a woman.

And this affects

her temperament.

Now, it would be impolite

to acknowledge such things,

like staring at a cr*pple.

But...

...we can set an example.

- Yes, sir.

- Keep her on the path.

Only our faith

will hold the darkness at bay.

The toad and the wolf

speak the hidden truth.

Play this melody on your strings

to rouse a feather from the owl.

To get your wish,

write these staves on calfskin.

Write this on parchment

and keep it with you always.

Or the elements of water

and earth and sky.

- For he that troubleth

his own house shall inherit...

Focus, deeper your spirit

towards the wind.

The words and divine within

to harness the elements.

The skull of a wolf...

to tame others of its kind.

Did you get the toad?

- It's safe.

- Thank you.

Remember the wolf carcass

we saw in the woods last week?

- We can't go through

with this.

He knows something's wrong.

- Well then,

we're on the right path.

- After what he just did to you?

- He only hurts us

because he loves us.

- It's probably what Isaac

thought...

- Just listen.

- ...when Abraham tried

to sacrifice--

- It doesn't matter

what Isaac thought.

- Sure, there's no commitment

that speaks of honouring like--

- g*dd*mn you, will you

just listen to me?

This is the reason

we're closer to her

than we've ever been before,

finding out what she believed.

If we stop now,

we won't ever know who she was.

And we won't ever know

who we are.

- Did you just take

the Lord's name?

- Yes, I believe I did.

Come on.

Blessed are those

who wash their robes,

that they may have the right

to the tree of life

and they may enter

the city by the gates.

Do not defile yourselves

by any animal or bird

or anything that moves

along the ground.

You have set me apart

from the nations to be my own.

A man or woman who is a medium

or spiritualist among us

must be put to death.

- Stay back.

- Forgive those who trespass

against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

- Get back!

- Bring the flame.

I said, "Get back!"

Get back!

Be gone.

Be gone.

- Good morning.

- Morning.

- It's important

that you understand,

everything that I do,

everything,

is for your protection.

- From what?

- The world,

my darling, the world.

It's full of wolves.

And you're just a lamb.

- Like Mother was.

- Oh, she was a Saint,

you know that.

- Do I?

To me and Sam, she's just

an idea that we pray to,

but we don't really know

who she was

or what she really felt.

- You've been putting ideas

in your head?

- I think I've had plenty

of time down here

to form my own opinion, Father.

- You know, I taught you violin

so that you could know

your mother in a way

that neither Sam nor I

ever could.

Play the music she loved. Hmm?

That'll teach you

everything you need to know.

- Right.

- Lily.

- May I go?

- Hi, Lily!

Hey, honey,

go get the seed from the trunk.

- Ida.

- I'm sorry to stop by

unannounced.

- No. No need to be sorry.

- Sam.

Would you mind helping George?

I brought some seed.

- What?

- For the garden.

- Oh. It's... very kind.

Huh...

Lily?

Would you bring some coffee

to the workshop?

- Yes, Father.

- Please.

Go into my...

my workshop here.

- I just wanted to apologize.

I really thought the old woman

had changed.

- Oh, yes.

I was optimistic too.

- I'm so sorry.

- Would you quit being sorry?

Thank you, Lily.

Leave us, please.

We'll help ourselves.

- Are you all right?

You seem...

- Mm-hmm.

I have been a little distracted.

- Don't let that old woman

curdle your cream.

She has always been hateful.

- She's right about one thing.

There is a curse on this place.

I mean, in the walls,

under the floor boards,

among the pines,

the same ones that k*lled

the old man, and...

brought that trunk back here.

A current of evil.

And now, it's infected

my daughter.

- You're certain?

- It started on her birthday.

Just little things, at first,

just like her mother.

The lying and the...

sneaking around, and...

fits of anger.

- I told you.

She's coming of age.

- It's more insidious than that.

- I feared as much.

I did reach out to Saint-Mary's.

They're expanding their school.

You were right.

If you wanna keep Lily

on the path,

she belongs with the sisters.

I can take her there for you.

As early as tonight.

I just want

to protect her.

You will be.

Don't worry.

You will never be alone.

- Ida...

- So...

So I can take her?

- Yes. Take her!

- Thank you.

For the coffee.

Lily.

- What?

- You think that I'm here

to compete with you

for your father's affection.

Why would I do that?

- Because you need him.

Because business is slow.

- A year from now,

it'll still be a man

running this country.

My money is on that governor

from New York, Roosevelt.

We can wash their pants, Lily,

but we will never wear them.

The truth is your mother

was too free-spirited

to accept that and it hurt her.

And it hurt your father.

So be a good girl.

And be gracious.

For all that he has given you.

- Are you okay, sweetie?

What happened?

That woman.

I saw her putting her hands

all over him like a...

snake, with her...

- Quails.

- Come on. You should have

seen him.

And that's not even

the worst of it.

They're sending me

to the convent, Sam.

- When?

- Tonight.

- sh*t.

- We have to go now.

To see the witch.

- What do you need that for?

- You'll see.

- Which way are we headed?

- She carved a rune over there

where we found the wolf.

And down there with the toad.

- So it's like a compass.

- So the owl is...

- North.

- Sam.

Sam.

- What are you doing?

- Where are they going?

- Probably waiting on a steamer.

Near the Portland limit,

it's got a salon, library

and a barber shop.

Now, that's a 4-8-2

Mountain Type engine.

"Next time, try the train,

travel while you sleep."

But then, they'll be jumping

a rusty, old boxcar

right in the rails.

- Sam.

- Hmm?

- I love you.

No matter what.

- Why are you

telling me this?

We're not gonna die.

Don't be silly.

- Hey, Sam.

- Hey.

- And you must be Lily.

- Hi.

- Didn't think yous were coming.

- The witch up this way?

- Through the fallen trees.

Leave your violin here.

You look real nice.

After you, Miss Lily Brass.

- Hello?

- Hello?

Excuse us.

- The door was open.

- Two hounds and a b*tch.

What brings such a litter

my way?

- It's Arvin.

I brought some business.

- We heard tell you're a witch.

- I've been called

lots of things.

- And that you make potions.

- That depends on what for.

- For the hidden truth.

- A potion will cost you.

- How much?

- First time buyers?

One silver dollar.

- After we get what we came for.

- That's not how it works.

- Well, it has to.

- Who are you?

- That's what I wanna find out.

- Follow me.

Lay your victuals there.

- My father is Malcolm Brass.

He married a woman named Isobel.

Did you know her?

- I know lots of people.

- What do you know?

- Hush now. And see.

You wanna know the truth?

I'm more than just

an old witch, Lillian.

- How do you know my name?

- I was there

when she named you.

It was me who pulled you,

screaming, from her guts.

She even gave me

your umbilicals as a keepsake.

- You're lying.

- Your daddy come to me.

Said he don't want no doctor

from town knowing about Isobel.

Said I was capable enough.

- But she died.

- No one died on my watch,

Samuel.

I was good at midwifing,

even without my eyes.

Your mama was alive and well

when I left her.

But no doctor,

no one would ever believe

an old hag like me.

- Why would Father lie?

- That's something you're gonna

have to ask him yourself.

Arvin!

- Ma'am.

- Stay with Lillian here,

in case she gets sick.

Let her get her wits together.

Sam, come on!

I'll show you

how to load up the crates.

- Are you gonna be okay, Lily?

- Hurry up, Sam.

- She'll be fine.

- Sam.

- I brought you the witch

and now you're gonna

move liquor.

- Seven runs through that still

makes us eight gallons

of pure liquor,

but that's high shots

till we cut it with water,

putting our final yield

at 12 gallons

of good clean whiskey.

You follow?

What's wrong?

Do you need to lie down?

- It's hard work,

stacking dozens of these,

but you and Lily

come from a tough family, Sam.

I admire your resolve.

You know, Arvin told me

she was pretty too.

Explains why he was eyeing her

in there.

What the hell?

- Lily!

Lily, where are you?

- Get the hell out of here!

- Sam...

- Ungrateful little b*stard!

- Come on, stay with me!

- I will show you!

Lily!

- Don't be afraid.

- I'll show you!

- You okay?

What is it?

Hello?

- Oh!

I didn't hear you come in.

- What are you doing here?

- The Lord's good work,

Lily.

I wanna help you.

George and I are driving you

to the convent,

but he's out back,

he's laying seed.

- I don't wanna go

to Saint-Mary's.

- Oh, it's for the best,

trust me.

I packed up your suitcase.

Now, go gather up the rest

of your things like a good girl.

- Yes, ma'am.

It's a long road, though.

Allow me to fix you

a cup of coffee before we go.

- Oh, no, that's alright.

- She makes a decent cup,

Miss Clemens.

- Oh, fine, then.

- Where's my father?

Um, out in the workshop.

- The coffee's on the top shelf.

I can't reach. Do you mind?

- Um...

I'm not seeing it.

- Maybe at the bottom?

- Ah!

- Thank you.

- What are you doing?

- Making space for the devotion

of prayer

to stay the advance of darkness.

- What darkness?

- The darkness that you...

...brought into this house.

It was your job, Sam,

to keep her on the path.

- He did.

All the way

to the midwife's house.

- The midwife?

All right, you...

...you can't understand.

- What did you do to our mother?

- I loved her.

Her quietude, her music...

That's not true.

- The darkness had gotten

into her at a young age.

I didn't know it

until we moved out here,

when she started to change,

to stray from the path.

- And that book?

- The Galdrabk?

Black Books of Elverum.

She spent more and more time

in those woods alone,

just reading and reading.

I burned every one

that I could find,

yet still she talked with beasts

and carved pagan symbols

in the trees.

- So she was the Witch

of the Woods.

- People began to suspect.

- The Queen of Bones.

- Did you hurt her?

- No, Sam, I did not.

- She came down with the flu

when she was eight months along

with you two.

When the blind hag

delivered you,

I took you both in my arms.

Your mother insisted on nursing,

but the flu was like a plague.

That year, it was still k*lling

people then.

I knew it was the will of God,

and that is why I refused

the doctors

and locked her in the cellar.

She died a week later.

Though, I do believe she atoned.

- How could you?

- How could I not?

I ensured that neither darkness

nor madness

found a foothold here.

And they wouldn't have,

until you went looking.

My God, Lily,

on you go.

And may God have mercy on you.

- Where is she buried?

- What?

- Her bones, where are they?

- I burned her.

The wolves took the rest.

Now, go on.

Get out of here.

- Malcolm.

- Take her away, please.

Ida!

Ida.

Ida? Ida? Look at me.

Look at me.

Ida. Ida.

Dear God.

What have you done?

- Let us go.

- What have you done?

- Please. Please, put that down.

- By Christ, I will not

allow darkness in this place!

- Stay back!

- That, I cannot do, Samuel.

Now, look upon your sins

and allow me to help.

I love you both.

But this will stop!

And it will stop now!

May God help us all!

- Father.

Father.

Blessed are the merciful.

- For they shall receive mercy.

Which way do you wanna go?

- Portland.

Rose City Conservatory.

- Then what?

- Let's see where the wind

blows.