Screaming Skull, The (1958)

[bunniefuu]

[Music playing]

MAN: The Screaming Skull
is a motion picture

that reaches its cl*max
in shocking horror.

Its impact is so terrifying

that it may have
an unforeseen effect.

It may k*ll you.

Therefore, its producers feel

they must assure
free burial services

to anyone who dies of fright

while seeing
The Screaming Skull.

[Frogs croaking]

[Birds chirping]

[Music playing]

[Music playing]

Welcome, Mrs. Whitlock.

It's lovely, Eric.

ERIC: You look disappointed
for a moment.

I did not. It's really lovely.

Oh, look.

[Music playing]

I bet that's the den there.

That's right.

JENNI: Is that a bedroom?

- Yes, it is.
- It's gonna be ours?

It'll need some fixing first.

It was her room, wasn't it?

Yes.

Come on along. I'll show you
the rest of the house.

[Music playing]

ERIC: It's rather
forbidding now, I suppose,

empty like this.

But it was usually this way.

Shortly after Marianne
and I were married,

she removed all of the furniture
her parents had left her.

"This is our home,"
she used to say,

"and we must choose
everything carefully."

Well, we didn't get very far
before she died.

But now that you are here,
it's gonna be lovely again.

I'll get the things
out of storage tomorrow.

They're all in town
at the warehouse.

[Clicks light switch]

And I'll take care of that, too.

You have candles?

Sure.

It'll be twice as romantic.

Speaking of being romantic...

[Music playing]

ERIC: I forgot to carry you
over the threshold.

JENNI: I love you.

- I love you.
- ERIC: Oh, Jenni.

I thought life
had died out for me.

What's that up there?

ERIC: Oh, that's where Mickey
keeps his gardening things.

- Who's Mickey?
- The gardener.

He's kept it up
for two years I've been away.

- By himself?
- That's right.

He must work awfully hard.

Oh, he and Marianne
would spend hours on end

working here in the gardens,

and up in the greenhouse
back there.

See, he loved it very much.

Sometimes, I used to wonder
who she was,

my wife or Mickey's nursemaid.

You know, I don't think
he quite believes she's gone.

I think he expects her
to show up

one of these mornings
and scold her

for neglecting the gardens.

You still love her, don't you?

No, I'm not jealous.

I'm grateful to her.

I think to have loved once,

really love,

to learn how to love always...

Learning it from her,
you give again to me.

I wish there was some way
to thank her.

[Horn honking]

- Who's that?
- I don't know.

And they're driving
around the back.

Come on, come on along.

[Car doors shut]

- Eric.
- I see Eric. Hi.

We stopped by
to meet your new wife.

Oh, Eric, this is
a wonderful surprise.

- It's been a long time.
- It has.

- Reverend.
- Good to see you, Eric.

Jenni, this is Mrs. Snow.

I'm very happy to meet you.

Jenni, this is
a lovely surprise.

And the reverend, Mr. Snow.

Hello, my dear.

- Oh, she's sweet, Eric.
- I know.

I happened to be going
into town, I ran into Mr. Mauer.

He told me
you were getting back today.

And we thought we'd just drop by

and bring you something
for your dinner.

- How nice of you.
- Well, it'll save you

all the bother of shopping while
you're trying to get settled.

Then, why don't you stay
for dinner?

- Oh, no, not tonight.
- Oh, no, no.

We wouldn't think of that.

- Oh, now, please say yes.
- We'd like for you to.

- It would be like old times.
- All right.

On the condition
that I do the cooking.

You don't have to.

MRS. SNOW: You know,
I know that, but I'd love to.

Well, there's Mickey.

Excuse me, honey.

Mickey.

Oh, poor Mickey.

He keeps this place up
like a shrine.

Eric told me
how he loved Marianne.

Mickey's father
was a gardener here

when Marianne's mother
was alive.

Mickey and Marianne
grew up together here.

Jenni, this is Mickey.

How do you do, Mickey?

I hope we'll be good friends.

Well, Mickey?

Thank you, Mickey.

- Well, shall we all go inside?
- It's a good idea.

Mickey, remember,
you promised me

some of those rose cuttings.

Nice seeing you again, Mickey.

I'm going to have to get you

down to the barbershop
one day very soon.

Excuse us, Mickey.

[Music playing]

EDWARD: All right, that's done.

MRS. SNOW:
Oh, God. Please be careful.

Oh, Edward, now,
don't break your neck.

ERIC:
You're doing great, Reverend.

- Don't worry.
- MRS. SNOW: Good heavens.

Honestly, the two of them
are just like children.

That doesn't look too bad, Eric.

Jenni, I hope you have more luck
in getting your husband to mind

than I've had with mine.

You know, you've got to admit,

it does make
the room look better.

It went very well, Tarzan.

For penance, you can come
help me with dinner.

Now, come on.

Edward, you keep Jenni company?

Yes, dear.

[Music playing]

No, Marianne, no.

Send them away.

No.

Oh, she's so very nice, Eric.

- Jenni?
- Yes.

- Isn't she wonderful?
- Yes.

She's not at all like Marianne,
and I think that's for the best.

You know, so many men,
when they lose a wife,

they try so hard
to deny the loss,

they marry someone
exactly like the first wife.

It hardly seems fair
using the living

to bring back the dead, does it?

No, I suppose, it doesn't.

We make a prison
for ourselves out of the past,

at least, our sentimental wish
for our pasts.

- Mrs. Snow.
- Yes, dear.

There's something I must
tell you and the Reverend.

Well, of course, Eric.
What is it?

You see, Jenni has not had
a very happy past.

- Oh?
- And talking about it

or about something that might
strongly remind her of it,

she's very impressionable.

Is there something wrong, Eric?

No, not really.

You see,

she lost her parents
many years ago

in a very tragic way,

and talking
about unhappy past only--

she's very impressionable.

See, I want her
to be happy, Mrs. Snow.

Of course you do,
and so do we all.

Now, how did she lose them?

Well, I'm not prying, dear.

It's just that Mr. Snow and I
can help better

if we know something about it.

They drowned in an accident.

Jenni saw it all.

Who's Mr. Mauer?

Mr. Mauer?
Well, he's a lawyer in town.

I thought no one knew
we were coming.

You said you heard
from Mr. Mauer?

Well, Eric wrote him.

He takes care of the estate
or what's left of it.

Oh, that's right.
Eric has to see him tomorrow.

Well, Eric's co-executor
of the estate,

along with Mr. Mauer.

You see, Marianne's death
was so sudden

that, well,
all that was left to Eric

was the house and these grounds.

Mr. Mauer told me
that Eric had found

someone very sweet
and very kind,

and with whom
he is very much in love.

He didn't say enough.

How did Marianne die?

Didn't Eric tell you?

I think the subject's
rather painful to him.

I don't like to make him
talk about it.

Would you mind telling me?
I'd like to know.

It was a rainy day.

She and Mickey had been working
up there in the greenhouse.

She left him to go back
to the house for a few minutes.

The way we pieced it together
after the accident is that...

while she was coming
down this path,

apparently, it began
to rain very hard.

She must have run along here.

We don't know, of course,
what happened then.

Perhaps she slipped on a leaf.

They said her skull was smashed.

It was thought
that she hit her head

on the edge of the cement wall
where we're sitting,

and she fell in there.

She died in the water.

That's where Eric found her


[Music playing]

Marianne.

Marianne.

Marianne.

You said--

You said, "Mickey, wait here.

I'm going down to the house
for just a minute.

Wait here, Mickey," you said,

and then you went away
in the rain...

and you didn't come back
to play.

Marianne.

Why didn't you...?

..Back then?

I don't forget that you and Eric
are coming for lunch

the day after tomorrow.

We'll do better than that.

We'll come to church
on Sunday, as well.

Oh, getting Eric to church
is like moving a mountain.

He'll come.

EDWARD: Come along, my dear,
it's getting late.

Eric, thank you very much

for bringing Jenni
into our lives.

Thank you for the dinner.

MRS. SNOW:
It's a pleasure. Thank you.

- Good night.
- EDWARD: Good night.

Edward, did you know
that Jenni's very wealthy?

Well, yes, Mr. Mauer
told me in town today.

But she's not at all
like Marianne.

You know, she's so gentle
and timid as if--

as if she were afraid
of something.

I knew you'd like
my friends, dear.

Hey, what's this, huh?

Just happy, that's all.

- Oh, come here.
- I'm so happy.

Come on.

[Music playing]

How are the cots?

Fine.

What are you reading?

Something Mrs. Snow sent over.

-Interesting?
- Uh-hmm.

It's called
"Beast in the Jungle."

It's all about a man
who waited all of his life

for something great,

wonderful to happen to him.

He had only one good friend,

it's a woman
in whom he confided.

And she died.

At her grave,
he suddenly realized

that she was the great
wonderful thing

that he'd waited for
all of his life.

But it's too late then.

And his memory is like...

beast in the jungle...

rise up out of the past...

overwhelming.

Oh...

Poor fellow.

He doesn't know what he missed.

[Music playing]

[Window banging]

[Window blowing]

Eric?

[Window banging]

[Music playing]

Eric?

[Music playing]

[Window banging]

Eric?

[Window banging]

[Wind blowing]

[Screams]

Jenni.

What are you doing here?

The window was blowing.
Where were you?

I thought I heard
someone moving about.

Now, what is it?

What is that?

Is that water?

Lily pad?

I don't think Mickey
looks for her in the pond.

Jenni, now, stop it.

I can't help it, Eric,
that bad feelings come back.

I forbid you to talk about it.

She looked like that, Eric.

My mother looked like that.

Oh, Jenni, Jenni.

I can't help it, Eric.

Darling, you're just
talking yourself

into those same old fears.

I've got to talk about it, Eric.

I have to talk about it.

I forbid you
to talk about it now.

What?

Just that with you beside me,
I'm alive again.

I don't wanna be
sick anymore.

Honey, look.

Now, you mustn't go on
thinking like this.

Besides, how could
a very poorly-done self-portrait

upset you so much?

[Wind blowing]

I know it's only my own fear.

It's my own guilt
that I can't get away from.

Eric, I'm sorry.

Oh, I want you to listen to me,
and I want you to believe me.

Now, you were sick once, yes,
but you were cured.

Mickey caused this.

You may as well know.

He does look for Marianne
night after night

down by that pond.

And he probably
comes here afterwards.

I'm gonna speak to Mickey
in the morning.

Now, don't you see

how simply
it's all explained away?

But if I also heard
a scream, Eric,

before I went to the hospital,

I was hearing things.

I'm hearing them again.

What did you hear?

It was a high, strange scream.

High, strange scream?

Like a peacock's cry?

What's that sound like?

Come here.

[Peacock screams]

Sound like that?

You see?

It's all very, very real.

I'm such a fool.

You feeling better now?

Yes.

[Music playing]

[Crickets chirping]

Shh, shh.

Good night.

Ah, we won't be bothered
with any of Mickey's

nightly visits anymore.

I've forbidden him
to come into the house.

I was just nervous last night.

I wish you wouldn't
take it out on Mickey.

No, he's a child.

He must be disciplined.

I'd like him to feel
I'm his friend.

Why don't you do
some gardening with him

while I'm at town?

If he sees you're interested,

you'll win him over
quickly enough.

Wait a minute.

I made a list, staples mostly.

Are you sure you don't
wanna come in with me?

You'll get more done without me.

I got to see about the lights,
the phone, the bank,

and the warehouse people
about that furniture,

you know, that couch
has just about broken my back.

Don't forget to see Mr. Mauer.

I have to see him this evening.

It's a bore,
but I'll have to see him.

Will you be home in time
for dinner? I'll wait for you.

Now, if I'm not,
don't you worry, darling.

Getting out of Mauer's clutches

sometimes requires
an active guard.

I love you.

[Birds chirping]

Hello, Mickey.

Oh, look out.

You almost cut him.

He's a handsome one,
isn't he?

So cuddly and warm.

When I was a little girl, I used
to wanna be a caterpillar.

So, I was a very little girl.

There you go.

Marianne must've loved
the gardens.

We'll keep them lovely
for her always.

You know what I'd like
to do, Mickey?

I'd like to pick
some of the nicest flowers

and take them to her.

Would you like that?

Yes.

Eric told me she was near here.

Could you show me where?

[Music playing]

Is that all right, Mickey?

I'm sure it was a great loss
to all of you, Mickey.

She cries.

Cries?

- In the night.
- Dead people don't cry, Mickey.

I heard her.

Heard her?

[Music playing]

Mickey?

[Music playing]

[Door creaks]

[Peacock screams]

[Music playing]

[Music playing]

[Peacock screams]

[Music playing]

I don't think he quite
expects she's gone.

She cries.

She cries in the night.

I think he expects her
to show up

one of these mornings.

She died in the water.

The base of her skull
was smashed.

She didn't wanna die.

She died in the water.

[Woman screaming]

[Music playing]

[Door creaking]

[Crickets chirping]

[Wind whooshing]

[Leaves rustling]

[Footsteps approaching]

[Music playing]

[Crickets chirping]

[Music playing]

[Knocks on door]

[Music playing]

[Knock on door continues]

[Music playing]

Eric?

[Knocks on door]

[Music playing]

[Crickets chirping]

[Music playing]

[Screaming]

Jenni?

Jenni?

Jenni? Honey?

Honey?

- Eric!
- It's all right, darling.

It's all right, I'm right here.

I'm right here.

Just lie back, that's right,
just lie back.

It's all right.

When you found me,
what else was there?

What do you mean what else?

A skull?

Jenni?

I know there was no skull.

Of course not.

Mickey says
Marianne cries at night.

Why, that childish, stupid...

Don't blame him.

We both heard the peacocks.

He, out of his love
for Marianne,

which is the cry
to be from her.

I, out of my sickness.

Now, darling.

We've been all through that
nonsense last night.

Don't you see?

I've never imagined
seeing these things before.

To just stand there and see it,
if it turned out to be not...

Eric...

I want you to call
Dr. Anne tomorrow in New York.

I want you to take me back.

No, Jenni.

Now, it may sound selfish,

but don't you see,
having you to love,

I'm happy, too.

I don't wanna lose that.

Now, in the morning,
Mr. Snow will be here,

and we'll tell him--

he's very comforting.

And I think he'll agree with me.

About what?

I think it's Mickey.

You see, he hated me
from the first.

Marianne was his friend,
and while I married her,

he thought I was taking her
away from him.

And now that she's dead,

taken away from him forever,

I suppose
in that childish mind of his,

I'm responsible for that.

And now, because you're my wife
and in Marianne's house,

he hates you, too.

I don't think
Mickey is responsible.

He's not quick enough
or clever enough.

And who?

Myself.

It's all in my own mind.

We do need
somebody else, darling.

We need somebody
outside of the confusions

of our love for each other.

Now, the Reverend Snow
will be here in the morning.

It was in there.

Well, this much is real anyway.

Look here, Jenni.

You see, this is how you gouged
your hand.

And you say,
you threw the skull down here

where Eric is looking?

Yeah.

Did you find anything, Eric?

Nothing yet.

Surely, Jenni,
you must agree with me

that anything
as fragile as a skull

would've been smashed to bits
down there.

And Eric has found nothing,

and to assume that the skull
would move of its own

all the way from there
to the driveway door...

Come now, Jenni,
there's no reason for that.

Don't you see?
I agree with you.

Did Eric tell you
I spent over a year

in the sanitarium'?

Well, Eric told Mrs. Snow

that you are
very impressionable,

but that's all.

I know lots of people
needing rest go to sanitariums.

This wasn't quite
that kind of sanitarium.

You see...

I grew up loving my father
and hating my mother.

Well, she never knew it.

Something I kept to myself.

She was very beautiful,

very g*y, like her.

Very much.

And I knew she resented
that I was not more like her.

I used to lie awake at night
and wish she were dead.

EDWARD:
Well, that isn't very unusual.

I understand many children
go through such a period.

I was no longer a child.

One day...

I got my wish.

They were both drowned.

I could still hear her scream.

I was all alone
on the little beach.

And all I could see
was the overturned boat

on the top of the waves.

And I kept trying to reach them,

and the waves kept
throwing me back.

And then...

I could hear her cries no more.

And then, hours later,

the men came and searched
for the bodies.

They were never found.

And that's when these
bad feelings started,

this feeling
that if I really wanted to,

I could've saved them,
but I didn't.

That I really k*lled them.

No, Jenni, you tried.

You tried your very best.

I didn't.

But thinking, and begging,

and praying couldn't make
this feeling go away.

That's when they took me
to the hospital.

But they told me I was cured.

Jenni.

They told me I was cured.

Mickey!

Mickey!

All right, you go on.

I'll be there in time for lunch.

But where do you think
he's gone off to, Eric?

Who knows about Mickey.

He might be hiding.

You looked at Marianne's grave?

Mickey?

Mickey!

Mickey?

Mickey!

Mickey!

Mickey!

Eric, did you find him?

No.

Where's Jenni?

She's with Mrs. Snow
on the patio.

Eric...

I think I should tell you
that Jenni has confided in me

about the sanitarium.

Oh, did your wife know?

I told that Jenni
was impressionable,

but not that...

Well, I haven't said a word
to her.

Mr. Snow,

you can do both Jenni
and me a great favor

by forgetting
she ever told you that.

But, Eric,
if it helps explain...

It explains nothing.

If I were you, Eric,
I'd take her away.

If she's so impressionable,

and that house
frightens her so much,

why subject her to it?

Look, I can't do a thing
like that.

It'd be the worst thing for her.

Mr. Snow, it would be admitting
she was sick again.

I want her to be happy.

We'll stay here.

Perhaps you know best, Eric.

See, I've got a simple
and old-fashioned

piece of philosophy.

The only cure for her fear
is to teach her she's loved,

I mean, really loved,

and I love her so much.

God bless you for that, Eric.

She's a very fortunate woman

having someone like you
to care for her.

[Music playing]

Be night soon.

Oh, Jenni, Jenni.

I'm sorry.

Darling, you've got to believe
it will not happen again...

ever.

Mickey!

Mickey!

Eric.

Eric!

- Eric, stop it!
- No, all right.

What are you trying to do
with that skull?

Eric, stop it,
it wasn't his fault.

- Where did you get it?
- Leave him alone.

I'll take care of this, Jenni.

Now, I know
you never liked me, Mickey.

I know you're doing it
to get us to leave here.

Idiotic attempt to scare us,
as if we were children.

It was you, wasn't it?

Wasn't it?

No, not me, not me.

Ah, get out of here!
Get out of here!

[Music playing]

I wish you'd apologize to him.

You know as well as I do
it's not his fault.

It's all in my own mind.

Jenni, I'm gonna do something,
and you're gonna help me do it.

- What's that?
- That portrait upstairs...

reminds you of your mother.

Yeah.

You were fine until you saw it.

Now it has you all preoccupied
with memories of the past.

We're gonna burn it.

That's precious to you, Eric.

The picture means nothing to me.

I want you to be happy.

We can't be until this fear
is out of our lives.

All right, Jenni.

Go on, Jenni.

Let's go back in now.

[Screams]

It's only the peacocks.

[Music playing]

Fire's almost out.

ERIC: Yes.

We can't let those ashes
stand overnight.

The brush in this hill
is a regular tinderbox.

You wanna help me?

All right, you feeling better?

It's as if I destroyed her
with my own hands.

She'll come back, Eric.

She'll come back.

Darling, if you go on talking
that way,

you destroy the whole purpose.

Now, the thing is out
of the house, and it's over.

You just give it half a chance,
and you'll begin to forget it.

And if you'll just spread
those ashes out a little for me,

I'll get the water to it.

That's it.

[Screams]

Eric!

Eric!

What is it, darling?

That skull!

It's the skull!

Darling, there's no skull there.

There's no skull there, darling.

There is no skull there, Jenni,
darling.

There's no skull there.

There's no skull.

[Music playing]

We'll be able to catch
a plane tonight?

When we get into town,
I will call Mr. Mauer.

He'll arrange a midnight plane.

I thought there'd be more time.

Time for so many
wonderful things.

It's gonna be all right.

Of course.

[Knocks on door]

It's just me.

It's gonna be all right.

Good evening, my dear.

Mrs. Snow's hens thought
you might like some fresh eggs

for your breakfast
in the morning.

Hello, Eric.

This is a surprise.

Those hens labored mightily,
as you can see.

Fine, I'll take them.

If you'll excuse me, dear.

Of course.

What is it, Eric?

I've got to take Jenni away.

That hospital she was in before.

It happened again?

I thought it would help her
if we got rid of that portrait.

- You know the one.
- Yes.

And we burned it.

She saw a skull in the ashes.

You were there?

I saw nothing, of course.

Of course.

And I thought it was Mickey.

But when I was there myself,
and I saw her...

Mr. Snow, there's something
I've never told you,

I've never told anybody,

but when Jenni was put away
in that hospital,

she tried to do away
with herself.

I'm terribly afraid.

You think she might
try it again?

I know she will.

Unless I get her back
to that hospital.

When are you going?

Tonight.

We shall miss you.

Mrs. Snow and I have grown
very fond of Jenni.

Yes, and she of you.

I don't suppose you'll be
coming back here again, Eric?

No.

Never.

I'll miss him and his wife.

He's very kind.

Yes.

And I said good-bye to him
just now.

He tried to talk me out
of what I saw.

HOW?

He said he felt the skull
was real.

He's gonna bring
the some men in the morning

to search the estate.

Where?

Everywhere.

He's just talking,
trying to be kind.

I suppose.

I'll go upstairs and pack.

You wanna come with me?

I'll be up in a minute.

[Music playing]

ERIC: Mickey!

Mickey!

Mickey!

[Music playing]

All right.

Where's the skull at?
You saw me put it in the pond.

- You must have. Where is it?
- I don't know.

- I don't know.
- Don't lie to me.

Don't lie to me.
Where is it?

- I don't know.
- Tell me the truth.

Who took it?

Tell me, tell me.

- Tell me.
- I didn't take it.

- I didn't take it.
- Who?

- Who?
- Not me, not me.

Who?

Marianne, Marianne, took it.

Marianne took it.

You and your Marianne.

[Music playing]

All right!

Oh, Edward,
in the name of heaven.

Mickey, where did you find this?

Pond.

Well, who put it there?

- He did.
- Eric?

He did.

Then, there was a skull.

But Eric said that he didn't
see it when Jenni saw it.

I know.

Oh, but why would Eric
lie like that?

Mickey, those other times
with the skull,

did you do it?

No.

Mickey, you've never lied
to me before.

Lying is a sin,
you understand that?

You must not lie to me now.

Did you do it, Mickey,
all those other times?

No.

I simply do not understand that.

If it wasn't Mickey...

And it wasn't
her imagination...

But why would Eric
do such a thing?

I don't know,
I just don't know.

Well, what do you think
we should do about it?

We're going back there
to that house.

All right.

Mickey?

Mickey?

Eric and I are leaving, Mickey.

I'd like to say good-bye.

I'd like to leave
as your friend, Mickey.

Mickey?

Mickey?

[Music playing]

[Screaming]

JENNI: Eric! Eric!

Eric!

[Screaming]

Eric!

[Knocks on door]

[Music playing]

[Woman screaming]

EDWARD: Jenni?

Jenni!

What happened?

Jenni.

Jenni, are you all right?

Oh, Jenni?

Eric...

Eric tried...

- Shh, oh, don't, don't.
- Where is Eric?

I don't know.

- I don't know.
- I'll find him.

It's all right, Edward.
Now, be careful.

Shh.

It's all right, darling.

Oh, it's all right.

Oh, it's all right.

All right, come on.

Eric?

Eric?

Please answer me.

Eric?

Eric?

Eric, where are you?

Eric?

Eric?

Eric.

Why did he do it?

Your money.

The question is now,
did Marianne die in an accident?

I suppose we'll never know.

[Music playing]

They'd gone.

Rest.

[Music playing]