Blood and Lace (1971)

[bunniefuu]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[RADIO PLAYING SOFTLY]

[BEADS RATTLING]

[RADIO PLAYING SOFTLY]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[CRIES]

[RADIO PLAYING]

[CLATTER]

[FLAMES CRACKLING]

[SCREAMING]

-What's wrong?

-I had a bad dream.

-Ellie, for heaven's sake.

-Mr. Mullins, you've got to

get this girl out of here.

-I've arranged a

place for her, nurse.

-I didn't ask to come

to your crummy house.

-I'll stay with her nurse.

Please, thank you.

Thank you very much.

-Why are you keeping me here?

I'm not even sick.

-It's the only place we


could put you up temporarily.

-I should have taken off

right after the funeral.

But it's not too late.

-Ellie.

You're still a minor.

-I've got a father someplace

and I'm going to find him.

-Of course you have a father.

But you don't know who he is.

No one knows who he is.

Your mother knew,

but she's dead.

So as far as the court is

concerned, you're an orphan.

-But as far as

I'm concerned, I'm

free to do what I want to do.

-Ellie, you're

under court order.

You can't leave the county.

-Are you going to stop me?

-I'm a social worker,

not a policeman.

But if you try to

leave, I'll have

to report it to the Sheriff.

-OK, Mr. Mullins.

If that's the way

you're going to be.

-Look, you're an

orphan now and--

-I was an orphan

the day I was born.

Maybe you didn't know my mother.

-Yes.

I did.

-I bet you did.

Every dr*fter and traveling

salesman, schoolboy over 16

knew my mother.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[CAR ENGINE]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[BRAKES SQUEALING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[TRAIN HORN]

[TRAIN WHEELS]

-Hold it.

Hold it.

Hold it, don't be afraid.

I'm not going to hurt you.

Ellie, my name is

Calvin Carruthers.

You might know me.

I used to work at the theater.

I used to see an

awful lot of you.

Every Saturday for the matinee.

-How come you chased me?

-How come you ran away?

-I thought you

were somebody else.

-Well I drive this

road at night quite

a bit since I changed jobs.

-What's that got to do with me?

-Well, with the

theater closed, I

went to work for

the country sheriff.

Oh, wait a minute.

Hold it.

-Mullins told you, didn't he.

-Mullins told me you

were having nightmares

and that you were frightened.

Well considering what

you went through-- Ellie,

I think I'd better take

you back to the hospital.

Come on.

-You sure don't look like

any sheriff I ever saw.

Where's your uniform?

-I'm a detective.

-You've sure got a strange

way of doing things.

How did a man like you ever

get to become a detective?

-I was an ordinary

sheriff's deputy for awhile.

Then the detective we had died,

but none of the married men

wanted the job

because of the hours.

Well I don't have anybody.

The pay is $50 a month extra.

-Heaven help the county.

-Anyway, I was going

over your mother's case.

Like to ask you a

couple questions, Ellie.

-If you were any

kind of detective,

you'd have checked the report

at the coroner's inquest.

I told them everything.

[CAR ENGINE]

-All right.

Now you told the coroner that

you were asleep in your room.

And you ran into the hall.

-That's right.

-And you saw a man running

out of your mother's room.

This was all before you noticed

that the fire was in the house.

-That's right, Calvin.

-Did you see a hammer

in this man's hand?

-No I didn't see a hammer.

I only see it in my nightmares.

-Ellie.

Ellie, did you ever

see the man's face.

-Yes.

It was thick and ugly.

A lot like yours.

-All right.

This big, ugly face.

Had you ever seen it before?

-He was just another

one of mother's clients.

Some dr*fter she

picked up at the bar.

-Ellie.

[BELL RINGING]

-Ellie, this is important.

This man you saw.

Did he see your fave?

Did the k*ller see your face?

-I guess he must have.

Why?

-Only because you're

the only witness.

He just might come back

here looking for you.

And not because you

have a pretty face.

-Are you trying to scare me?

-No.

But we don't know who the k*ller

is or where he disappeared to.

-Well what if you

never find him?

-I don't know.

But until we're through

looking for him,

you'd better not go

any place by yourself.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Hi, Calvin.

Sorry I'm late.

-Yes, Hal Can I get you a beer?

-No thanks.

You wanted to talk.

What's on your mind?

-I uh-- what do

you and the county

Welfare Bureau have in

mind for Ellie Masters?

-Orphan's home.

I'm taking her there tomorrow.

-She sure is a pretty

little thing, isn't she?

-Yeah.

-Looks a lot like

her mother used to.

-Yeah.

-Poor Edna Masters.

Tell me, Hal.

Did you and Edna ever--

-What the hell difference

does that make?

-Well I doubt that any

man in the county didn't.

-Including you?

-Well not in a long time.

Not since she

turned professional.

And I acquired this.

Where is this home

you're taking Ellie to?

-You know.

The old Jameson Deere mansion.

-Come on, Hal.

What's the matter with you?

There's a k*ller loose.

Ellie could be--

-No.

Don't get dramatic, Calvin.

You're not in a theater now.

It's a perfectly safe place.

You know Jameson died last year.

The widow Deere turned it

into a nice home for kids.

We made an agreement

between her and the county

and it's worked out

real good for everybody.

-I bet it has.

-Look, I inspect that

house myself twice a year.

It's neat as a pin.

And the kids are healthy.

-Ellie Masters is healthy now.

I want to see to it that

she remains that way.

-Calvin.

You're interest in that girl

wouldn't go beyond police duty,

would it?

-Goodnight.

-What makes you think she'd

ever be interested in you?

-I didn't she

would or she could.

-Then I think you'd better keep

your interest where it belongs.

-You know, Hal.

When you get to be my age and

you start thinking seriously

about getting married,

you start sniffing around

for some good breeding stock.

-I suggest you do your sniffing

in some other pasture, Calvin.

-Now assuming that you have

a business deal with Mrs.

Deere about directing

county business her way--

-Now you hold on--

-Which makes no

difference to me, Harold.

The point is don't

give me a lecture.

When it comes to Ellie Masters,

maybe neither one of us

is strictly professional.

[DOOR SQUEAKING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[CLOCK BELLS RINGING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-What are you doing, boy?

Sneaking in the house at

night, carrying a suitcase?

Very suspicious

behavior, Ernest.

We don't like kids who try

to run away from our home.

Of course, if you aren't

here, the county won't pay us.

[SLAP]

You get my drift, huh?

[SLAP]

-Ow.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[THUD]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SLOW MUSIC]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

-You let a 16-year-old

boy make a fool of you.

-I tell you.

He just disappeared.

Vanished.

He must have made

it to the road.

-You mean you were too

drunk to look for him.

-I showed you I came

pretty close to grab those.

Anyway, it's only the first

time one's gotten away.

-Harold Mullins is coming

here tomorrow with a new girl.

He's going to inspect a

place while he's here.

-Oh, come off it, lady.

You got old Mullins

in your back pocket.

Or should I say

under your skirt?

-My relationship

with Harold Mullins

can only be pushed so far.

When he counts the

children tomorrow,

there's going to be one missing.

-You talk as if

he really doesn't

know what's going on here.

-Whether he does or

not, your boozing

has cost me $150 a month.

-OK.

So you lose money on Ernest.

But Mullins is bringing

the girl, you see.

Tit for tat.

-You better set

up the infirmary.

And you get rid

of that suitcase.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[METAL CLACKING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-It's freezing in here.

-Well that's the idea.

Get going.

We have two more.

-Frozen solid.

-He'll that out soon enough.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Come on.

Come on.

This thing is heavy.

I think you and me are going

to renegotiate our deal.

-Get the others.

-I mean it.

You get $150 a month for each

kid, and all I get is a hernia.

-We'll talk about it later.

The children will be up soon.

Get going.

-OK.

We'll talk about it later.

But just don't forget.

I'm the only one who knows

about your little secret.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-What are you doing, Tom?

-I'm working.

Go back upstairs, kid.

-I want to get something to eat.

-I said go back upstairs.

-I didn't get enough supper.

-If you don't go back upstairs,

you'll never eat again.

-OK.

Don't get mad.

-What took you so long?

-Uh.

I bumped into an old friend.

-Go wash the liquor

out of your breath.

We've got a big day ahead of us.

-Quiet, Mrs. Deere.

Loud talk frightens

the children.

-Oh, you are a

foolish child, Alice.

Trying to run away.

Why, Tom could have k*lled

you with that knife.

Lucky I got you to

the freezer in time.

Or you might have bled to death.

-Mr. Mullins, you seem

awfully anxious to get me

to this orphanage.

-It's my job.

Until you're 21, you're

my responsibility.

-I got this funny

feeling like I used

to get sometimes with my mother.

Like you;re trying

to get rid of me.

[CAR ENGINE]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[DOORBELL]

-So this is Ellie Masters.

-Ellie, this is Mrs. Deere.

-Hello.

-I heard about your

mother's tragic--

-m*rder?

Why?

Did you know my mother?

-No.

But my late husband

spoke so highly of her.

Tom, here's the new girl.

Ellie, this is Tom

Kredge, our handyman.

-He looks handy, all right.

-Ellie, go up and

get acquainted.

Later we'll get you

settled in a room.

Something rebellious

about that girl.

She's going to be trouble.

-Oh, you can handle her.

You do have a way with children.

-Would you like to see the

rest of the house, Calvin?

-Why not?

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

-Hi.

-Hi.

Are you the new girl?

-I suppose so.

-My name's Bunch.

-I'm Ellie.

Does Mrs. Deere make

everybody work like this?

-She says we have to learn

to pave our own way in life.

-Um, I thought the welfare

bureau paid our way.

-Well Mrs. Deere says it's

not enough to take care of us

so she needs the extra income.

Oh that's Walter Barnes.

He's the oldest boy here.

Mrs. Deere's pet.

-He looks nice.

-He's also my boyfriend.

-I think I'll go

over there and get

acquainted with some

of the other kids.

-Jennifer tried

to run away again.

She's been locked in

the attic as punishment.

I don't suppose you'd

want to see her.

-Perhaps I'd better not.

What I don't know won't hurt me.

-Hey, must be pretty

tough for you.

Suddenly becoming

an orphan like that.

-Not really.

I've got a father some place.

-I was born an orphan.

I've been in and out

of homes all my life.

-That girl Bunch seems

to be pretty nice.

-Yeah.

She's a cute kid.

-I don't think she'd like

to hear you say that.

-Why?

-That's isn't exactly, you

know, the kind of thing

a girl likes to hear

from a boyfriend.

-A boyfriend?

You've got to be kidding me.

She's only 16.

I'm nearly 21.

-Poor Bunch.

-What do you mean by that?

-To be 16 and only a cute kid.

-Well the house looks

fine, Dorothy, just fine.

-I'm glad you're

pleased, Harold.

Uh, why don't we

step into my room

and have a nice cup of tea.

-Yeah.

But first I want to count

heads for my report.

-Oh, of course.

The count.

I had the children stay

outside so you could inspect.

Oh, I almost forgot.

We do have three

in the infirmary.

-Oh, I'm sorry.

Nothing serious, I hope.

-Just a little cold.

-I suppose you'd

like to see them.

-You know the regulation.

-You keep the infirmary locked?

-Keeps the other children

and the germs in.

Shh.

They're sleeping, poor dears.

Maybe we'll just peek in.

We don't want our welfare

officer catching anything,

do we?

-I'll tiptoe.

On second thought, I don't

want to catch anything.

Might be fatal for a man my age.

Let's see, there's

three in the infirmary.

One in the attic.

Let's see the others outside.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Now this is serious, Dorothy.

You sure you have no idea

where this boy Ernest could be?

-It's just terrible.

No child's ever run away

from my home before.

-Uh huh.

Well maybe I'd better notify

the sheriff's office, huh?

-If they find him, he won't be

sent to reform school, will he?

-Wow.

How I can do with some employ.

-It would be just terrible.

I'd lose that income.

-No.

No, no, no, no, no.

I'll do everything I can.

-I am so grateful

to you, Harold.

-You know it's always

a real pleasure

doing business with you, Dotty.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Is everybody sleeping?

Everything in--

My name is Ellie.

-What are you doing here.

I'm exploring.

-Nobody's allowed in the

house during inspection.

Get out of here.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Goodbye, Ellie.

Be good.

-Goodbye, Harold.

Keep in touch.

-I'll do that.

-Now we'll take care of you.

The girls' rooms

are on this side.

The boys are over there.

-How do you keep them apart?

-With strict rule.

When you unpack, we'll

store your suitcase.

Since you won't be needing it.

-Who's my roommate?

-She's a nice girl.

You wouldn't want to--

-Me.

-Bunch.

This is Ellie Masters.

-Sweet 16.

-We met.

-Well, I see two girls are

getting along just fine.

Get settled, Ellie.

Be down for dinner

at 6 o'clock sharp.

Latecomers aren't fed.

-She's a lovely old

b*tch, isn't she?

Maybe it won't be so bad.

You know, Bunch.

You and I do have

something in common.

[PLATES CLATTERING]

-Well I say that the

police will catch Ernest

and probably have

him back by morning.

Will you pass the rolls, please?

-I bet he gets scared and

comes back by himself.

-Listen to Bunch.

Resident psychologist.

What do you know about

the way a man feels?

-Not much but I'm

willing to experiment.

-This boy Ernest was the

first to run away, wasn't he?

-Are you kidding?

Runaway kids run a regular path

between here and the woods.

-That's funny.

Mr. Mullins said that--

-Don't worry about it.

The cops will have Ernest

back in the morning.

MRS. DEERE: There just

aren't enough children

to keep the old place going.

I know how important it is.

The house.

The tradition.

I just have to cut down.

-Those other kids, they

must have gotten away?

-Yeah.

Lucky for them.

-Just because they

weren't brought back here

doesn't mean they

weren't caught and maybe

send to reform school.

-What happened to those

three kids in the infirmary?

-There hasn't been anybody in

the infirmary for over a week.

-I heard talking.

-It's only a roll.

-This is no restaurant.

Those rolls have

to last three days.

I warned you, Pete.

Now tomorrow you

won't eat at all.

As for you, Ellie.

Tomorrow will be the

beginning of your chores.

In this house,

you'll earn your way.

-You'll start here and

work your way down.

Polish all the woodwork

and the floors.

-That'll take a week.

-Next week they'll be

something else to do.

We work hard in

our house, Ellie.

Chores, classes.

-Well when do we get a day off?

-Sunday you may

do as you please.

I can see you're not used

to discipline, Ellie.

-Oh, I've had my share.

-I suppose things are always

simpler when you're beautiful.

I can remember.

Oh yes.

I was beautiful once.

My husband Jameson thought

I was very, very beautiful.

And then one morning I

looked in the mirror.

I was old.

And Jameson had found

other beautiful women.

Women like your mother.

-We had a lot of company.

-My husband was the only thing

in my life that mattered.

No children.

No friends.

Only Jameson.

Then-- but that's in the past.

Only you young people only

concern yourselves with today.

-And tomorrow?

-Yes, tomorrow.

Ellie, I'll do my

best to make sure

that all your todays

and tomorrows are full.

And then perhaps one day you

too will look in the mirror.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[GASP]

-Who are you?

-Jennifer.

I'm thirsty.

-How long have you been here?

-I don't know.

Days.

-Why?

-I tried to run away.

I'm thirsty.

[WATER RUNNING]

-Where are you going?

-I'm taking this to

the girl in the attic.

-Want to keep her company?

-That girl's going to die.

-There's only one thing worse

than trying to run away, kid.

That's seeing things

and saying things.

You get my drift?

-That's ridiculous.

-Maybe.

But it wouldn't hurt to give

this place a good going over.

-What do you mean, going over?

-A search from top to bottom.

-Excuse me.

Oh, Tom.

Tom, come here a minute.

Tom, this is

Detective Carruthers.

Tom Kredge, my handyman.

-Yeah, I've seen

you around town.

-Tom, Mr. Carruthers

thinks Ernest

might be hiding in the house.

-Is that so?

-He thinks the house

ought to be searched.

Uh, didn't you say

something about seeing

Ernest that night he ran away?

-Yeah, that's right.

I-- I saw him outside kind

of walking towards the road.

-Did he have anything with him,

like a bundle or a suitcase?

-Yeah.

A suitcase.

-Oh, his belongings are gone.

I can show you.

-All right.

I'd like to see Ellie

Masters, Mrs. Deere.

-She's in the kitchen.

I certainly hope you find

her mother's m*rder*r.

-So do I.

-It's frightening having some

maniac walking around loose.

-Kredge, let me see your hammer.

Yeah.

This is a fine tool.

You know, I used to be

able to with one whack

drive a 16 putty nail through

a couple of two by fours.

-Any carpenter worth

his wage can do that.

-I guess you're right.

Get into town much now, Kredge?

-No, not much.

-You know Edna

Masters, don't you?

-Yeah, I know her.

So what?

-I mean as a carpenter

or a customer?

-I just saw her around town.

She wasn't my type.

Her daughter's something else.

Bet I could take

a crack at that.

What the hell's the

matter with you?

-I don't like that kind of talk.

Ellie happens to be a nice girl.

-Yeah.

Sure she is.

That's how you like

them, huh, officer?

Nice and young.

-Well.

Appears you've made

yourself a home.

-Home.

You mean work house.

-It's like they say in jail.

First week is the toughest.

-That's a good comparison.

What brings you here?

-I'm checking out that

runway boy Ernest.

-Well you're not

going to find him.

Any more than you'd

find any of the others.

-What others?

-The other kids that ran away.

Mr. Mullins tried to

tell me that weren't any.

I know different.

-Uh, Ellie.

About your mother.

I don't have any leads

but I do have some ideas.

-What am I supposed to do?

Wait around?

You going someplace?

-Well, anything's better

than this concentration camp.

-This is the safest

place for you.

We can keep an eye on you.

-Well you haven't exactly

been keeping me company.

-I've got an awful lot

of cases to handle.

But I'll be around.

-Please.

I'm thirsty.

-Oh yes Jennifer.

I have water.

-I'm sorry.

I'll never do it again.

I promise.

-I'm sure you'll never

do it again, Jennifer.

But you're going to

stay in detention.

So the other children will

learn by your example.

You're very fortunate, you know.

When Tom caught

you, he could've--

-He wanted to k*ll me.

-Tom was very angry at you.

It was lucky I was there.

I saved your life.

And did you say thanks?

Well?

-Thank you.

Thank you.

-That was nice.

You're important

to me, Jennifer.

All the children

are important to me.

Oh, oh yes.

The water.

It's so cold and clear.

And sweet.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I used to dream about

a girl strong of wit.

There was never anybody.

I'm very glad you came, Ellie.

-I'm not going to be

here for long, Walt.

-What do you mean?

-I mean I'm going to run

away the first chance I get.

Will you help me?

-I can't help you, Ellie.

-You could if you wanted.

-You can't run away, Ellie.

You wouldn't stand a chance.

-Other kids--

-They were boys, Ellie.

They could take care of

themselves in the woods.

Besides it's not really

that bad living in a home.

-Then you're blind.

Jennifer's dying in the

attic and that stupid witch

is starving to death.

-But we get enough to eat.

-Walter, I did see three kids

in the infirmary the first day

I got here.

-I told you, Ellie.

We were all outside for

Mr. Mullins' inspection.

Now you're just blowing

this all out of shape.

And Jennifer, she'll be OK too.

Mrs. Deere's a little

strict, that's all.

-Tom Kredge.

He gives me the creeps.

-He was a homeless lurch.

A starving hobo before

Mrs. Deere took him in.

Ellie.

-I can't stand being

cooped up in one place.

I never could.

Besides, I've got

to find my father.

-What for?

What good's it going

to do you, Ellie?

-Maybe you've got

folks somewhere.

Don't you want to know?

-Know what?

-You've got a mother

and you've got a father.

You're a little bit

of both of them.

You can look at them and

see what you're going to be.

-Maybe it's better not to know.

-I've got to.

There's got to be something

better than my mother.

Maybe my father was

strong and kind.

-Probably just some

horny salesman.

-You're horrible.

-Did you ever stop

to think that maybe

it's horrible to

find out, Ellie?

You know, I'm kind of glad

I never knew my folks.

Because I've got nothing

to live up to or down.

I'm just me, Ellie.

And that's all I care about.

-That is all you care about.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[HAMMERING]

-Poor Ellie Masters.

All cooped up in this old

house in the in of nowhere.

-It isn't exactly my doing.

-Do I get the feeling

you want to get away?

-Hardly more than all the time.

-And now you can.

-Can what?

-Escape.

-Is this part of job,

seeing who wants to run?

-Of course, if you're

not interested--

-Maybe I am.

-Meet me in the cellar.

-Cellar?

-It's where I keep my tools.

No one will see us talk there.

Here hold this.

-No.

-Take it so I can get down.

-No.

-It won't bite.

It's just a hammer.

Take it.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-Is that you?

-What are you doing here?

Have you finished your chores?

-No ma'am.

Not yet.

-Why are you dawdling, boy?

-Well.

You told me once that if I

ever saw anything that looked

suspicious, that I should

come and report it to you.

-Well?

-Well when I was outside

a few minutes ago,

I saw something I think

you ought to know about.

-Oh.

How'd you get in here?

-I hopped in through a window.

I don't want anybody

to know we're together.

-You'd better tell me

what you got in mind.

-I'll show you a way to escape.

What'll you do for me?

-Anything you want.

-You promise?

-You show me.

-A deal.

Here it is.

A great escape.

Whiskey.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[CRYING]

[SHOUTING]

-You'll be punished

for this Ellie.

Tom, come here.

I know what you've been up to.

-He tricked me into

coming down here.

-I'll deal with

you later, Ellie.

Go to your room.

-You know--

-Go.

-Nothing really happened.

It was-- I caught her

around the freezer and--

-You're a liar and a

stupid one at that.

She doesn't suspect

anything about the freezer.

You've had your last warning.

-You're right, lady, I have.

From now on, you

keep your mouth shut.

-You're fired.

Get out of here.

-I'm not fired.

Matter of fact, you and

me just became partners.

From now on, I'm in

for 50% of the action.

-You're in for

nothing but trouble

if you don't leave my house.

-I'll leave here.

I'll take our little

secret with me.

But when I get through,

it won't be a secret.

-You're not that stupid.

You'd implicate yourself.

-You're lucky I'm a man

who has nothing to lose.

Of course, if it's worth

having, I've already lost it.

You and me.

50 50.

You alone, 0.

-All right, Tom.

If that's the way it has to be.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Please.

-Stop your whimpering.

-You're a witch.

[SLAP]

-A crazy witch.

[SLAP]

-You weren't entirely

at fault, Ellie.

Otherwise I'd really punish you.

-Like Jennifer in the attic?

-Jennifer tried to run away and

I was advised to punish her.

-By who?

God?

-My husband Jameson always

advised me and counseled me.

-I thought he was dead.

-He's not living but that

doesn't mean he's dead.

Science is making

marvelous progress

with drugs and transplants.

Someday, people who have

passed away before their time

will be restored.

Like my husband and others.

If we preserve their bodies.

So you see, Ellie.

What you call death may be only

the temporary absence of life.

-You don't really care if

Jennifer lives or dies.

-It's so simple when

you're young, isn't it?

Black and white.

Good and bad.

Life and death.

Youth and beauty.

You children are so fortunate.

-And you hate us

for it, don't you?

-On the contrary, Ellie.

I'd like to preserve you all.

Just as you are.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Walter.

-Ellie, I did an awful thing.

I was one that told

Mrs. Deere that you

were in the cellar

with Tom Kredge.

Why?

-I was jealous, I guess.

It's pretty dumb, isn't it.

Being jealous of Tom.

-Yes.

Now you can clean up the shed.

Hey, I can use this

when I run away.

The old witch took mine.

-Is there anything in it?

-Walter, how many girls

have you made love to?

-Hundreds.

-That's what I thought.

-What the hell

difference does it make?

-You get into town

once in a while,

you could have

patronized my mother.

-Ellie, for crying out loud.

-I knew a lot of her clients.

The mailman, the postman,

Mr. Samuels the banker.

-Ellie, how can you talk about

your own mother that way?

-Sometimes I'd hear

them come in late

at night, laughing and giggling.

Then later I'd hear

them thrashing around

and I, I used to lie there

in my bed and wonder--

-Wonder what?

-Wonder what it would've been

like to have had a real father.

Not a stepfather.

Not a foster father.

But a real blood relation.

-Maybe it's better not to know.

-Mother wouldn't

even talk about it.

You know she wouldn't-- wouldn't

even tell me who he was.

The only thing she ever said

was that the first man who

made love to her

got her pregnant.

And ruined her figure.

But the own feeling that she

ever had for me was blame.

You know what,

maybe you're right.

Maybe it is best not to know.

-Not to know what?

-That you're just

some poor accidental

b*stard that nobody even wanted.

-Well.

If it isn't the answer

to a maiden's prayer.

I thought I'd get a little

bit of sun before class

this afternoon.

-I don't think Mrs. D ought

to catch you in that outfit.

-What makes you so

damn good, Walter?

-Maybe your age.

-Ellie's only a couple

years older than I am.

Come back in a couple years

and we'll talk about it.

-Boy, you're dumb.

Care to see what she is?

-No, Bunch.

What is Ellie?

-You know.

Strange.

She's a big tease.

Anybody can see that.

-All girls tease, Bunch.

It's just part of the equipment.

Look at you.

-I wish your would, Walter.

Well?

-Yeah.

It's all there.

MRS. DEERE: I know I

shouldn't worry about money.

But losing that

$150 on Ernest could

mean the difference

between profit and loss.

If we lose another child,

it could be the end.

And there's the mortgage

to pay and the food.

So many problems.

Money.

The children running away.

And now Tom Kredge.

I suppose I'll have

to get rid of him.

Just as you say.

I so want out of these

responsibilities.

Oh but, but I am grateful

for your help, Jameson.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SCREAMING]

-It came from that room.

-What happened?

-I don't know.

I think she had a bad dream.

-Ellie, did you

have a nightmare?

-What's wrong?

-I saw the hammer.

It was horrible.

Horrible.

-Horrible what?

-Face.

-It was a nightmare, of course.

-I don't know.

It is seemed so real.

-Ellie, have you had

nightmares since your mother--

-Yes.

-Well.

That's that.

All right girls.

Back to bed.

There's nothing to

do afraid of, Ellie.

It was a bad dream, wasn't it?

A bad dream.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

-That's all wrong for you.

-How do you know what's

wrong or right for me?

-Look, I do know that

that looks like something

out of a carnival sideshow.

Let me help you.

-Will you just leave me alone?

I really don't need any

of that big sister stuff.

-OK.

But a girl your age shouldn't

be wearing makeup anyway.

-Oh yes, a girl my age.

You're so mature and wise.

-Bunch, why do you hate me?

Walter was never interested

in you even before I got here.

-I'll make him interested.

-I'm sure you can make Walter.

But you'll never interest him.

[SMASH]

[SHRIEKS]

-All right, ladies.

Let's not break anything.

-You're a liar in addition

to everything else.

-Oh look who's talking.

Talk about your father Ellie.

Talk about your mother.

-You don't know anything

about yours except

that she had four

legs and barked.

-Cut it out.

Ellie, where's my hammer?

-How should I know?

-You had it in the cellar.

-Well then that's where is is.

-Only it isn't.

-It isn't?

I had a dream.

I saw a hammer.

No wonder it looked so real.

It was his.

-Now Pete, can you remember

what you're supposed to do?

-Yeah but what is this?

A senior prank?

-Just go find Walter and

tell him what I told you.

-OK.

-Then what do you do?

-Exactly 10 minutes after

Walter gets to the shed,

I tell Ellie that Walter want to

see her in the shed right away.

-Good.

Now get going.

-OK.

-Hey Walter.

-Yeah.

-Bunch is over at the shed.

Says she's got

something to show you.

-What is it?

-You've got to see

it to believe it.

-Walter, I've decided--

-Ellie.

Walter.

You and your little sl*t

can have each other.

I'm clearing out.

-Let her go Walter.

-But I think she's

going to run away.

-Good.

-But I don't want her to go.

-Mrs. Deere.

It's Ellie.

You've got to stop her.

-Walter, every time

I see you, you've

got some hot news about Ellie.

What is it this time?

-She's going to run away.

-Who told you?

-She did.

-Someone tried to k*ll me

last night and I know who.

-It was just a dream.

-That was no dream.

There was a man in my room.

-And where is this man now?

-I don't know.

Maybe he's still in the house.

-Stop it.

-I'm not staying here to

be k*lled by some maniac.

-And where would you go that

this maniac you've imagined

couldn't find you?

-I don't know.

Maybe the police.

-All right, Ellie.

-Mrs. Deere.

Mrs. Deere.

[KNOCKING]

Mrs. Deere.

Mrs. Deere please

let me out of here.

Mrs. Deere.

Please, you've got to

let me out of here.

-I knew that girl was trouble.

-Let her run away.

To hell with the money.

-Suppose she goes to the

police with a wild story

about a k*ller

hiding in the house.

What do you suppose

would happen?

-We'd have cops

all over the place.

-There's only one thing to do.

Walters knows Ellie wants to go.

And by now, all

the children know.

So nobody's surprised

when she shows up absent.

-Sure.

Just like our friends

in the freezer.

-I'll keep all the

children outside.

So you and Ellie

won't be disturbed.

-OK.

What about that

welfare guy, Mullins?

-Next time he

comes, we'll simply

show him Ellie Masters

in the infirmary.

Poor dear.

She caught a cold.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SCREAM]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SCREAM]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[CAR ENGINE]

-Old lady, I want

to talk to you.

-Why Harold, what a surprise.

-You can save the crap.

You've made a fool out of me.

-I don't know what you mean.

-You said that Ernest

was the only kid

that ever ran away from here.

-That's right.

-But somebody told

the police there

have been a whole lot of others.

-Shh.

Harold, the children.

-To hell with the children.

To hell with you.

I've got a job at stake.

-Let's talk about

it in the house.

Uh, no.

Let's take a walk.

-I don't want to take a walk.

Let's go into the house.

But this time I want to

speak to every single kid.

-Why of course, Harold.

Whatever you say.

-And they'd better all be there.

-Certainly.

You'll see them all.

Every one.

-Pete, I think

you're full of crap.

-I saw it.

It happened.

-In your mind, you mean.

-In the cellar, I mean.

He put her in the

freezer and he locked it.

Bunch, Ellie's going

to die in there.

-I'm not falling

for your corny joke.

Go tell it to Mrs. Deere.

-Are you kidding?

Tom works for her.

They're probably in

on this together.

-What an imagination.

-Bunch, y you've got to

go to the cellar with me.

I'm too scared to go by myself.

-That's ridiculous.

-Maybe you're scared too.

-OK.

I'll play your game.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SCREAMING]

-There.

Do you hear that?

-No.

I don't hear a thing.

-That pounding.

You can't hear it?

-I don't have time for your

dumb jokes, little boy.

And you'd better mind

your own business.

Because you know Mrs.

Deere doesn't like us--

-I saw him.

-You're just trying

to get me in trouble.

-Tom.

Mr. Mullins doesn't seem to

feel we run a proper home here.

He wants to inspect again.

-From top to bottom.

-Be better from bottom to top.

-Yes Tom.

Good idea.

Start with the cellar, Harold.

Tom will guide you.

-I want to see every nook

and cranny in this house.

-Oh you will.

-And then I want to talk

to each child alone.

-You may find some of them

aren't very talkative.

-I'll take that chance.

-This way, Mr. Mullins.

-What are you doing, Pete?

-I was trying to get in there.

-You know you're not

allowed in the cellar.

Now get out of here.

Go outside with the other kids.

Go on.

-Why was he so anxious

to break this open?

-Beats me.

Crazy kid.

It's a cold room

for meat storage.

Let's get going on those

nooks and crannies.

-Where's Pete?

Where's Pete?

-Here he comes.

Right here.

-Where were you?

-I want to see the

inside of this.

-Oh sure.

Only I don't have a key.

-Then you'd better

get it, Kredge.

-Sure.

You wait right

here, Mr. Mullins.

-He wants in the freezer.

-Then that's where

we'll put him.

-Come on.

Come on.

I haven't got forever.

-But Harold.

That's exactly what you do have.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-Who the hell are you?

Whoever you are,

you're a dead man.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-Good luck leaving my house.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-Ellie you got out.

-She tried to k*ll me.

-See, I wasn't making it up.

-She's got the bodies

of the kids who

tried to run away

in the freezer.

She m*rder*d them.

Look, all of you.

Run.

Run away.

This is your only chance.

Run.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-Come on.

Let's go.

Let's go.

-Go where, Pete?

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-You going to leave

me in here to die?

-Why Tom.

You won't die.

Not in here.

We're just going to chill your

blood and stop the bleeding.

-Please don't leave me in here.

-But Tom.

All your friends are here.

[SCREAMING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SCREAMING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-No.

No, don't k*ll me.

No, please.

I don't mean to hurt you.

I didn't even know

that you were with her.

I didn't want to hurt you.

Not you.

And your face.

Calvin.

-That's right.

Calvin.

Last week I found the body of

a man near your mother's house.

He was burned and his face

was smashed to a pulp.

It wasn't hard to

figure out, Ellie.

He was in bed with

your mother that night.

But you didn't k*ll him and

he managed to crawl away.

Oh, you said you

never saw the hammer.

But I thought it was

kind of funny you'd

have nightmares about

it unless you did.

When you learned that a man

wasn't found with your mother,

you knew he got away.

So you decided to pin

everything on him.

-He was just another

one of mother's clients.

-I figured you knew you

smashed his face in pretty good

and you made a

fugitive out of him.

So you might be afraid

he'd be out for revenge.

-Back at the house

they tried to k*ll me.

-I thought there

was something fishy

about Mrs. Deere and her house.

So I thought I'd do

some snooping around.

I got the idea I

would use you as bait.

Scare you into running off

to see what they would do.

Well I found out.

-You're so clever, Calvin.

False face and all.

-This is nothing but

theatrical makeup, that's all.

Come on.

-What's going to

happen to me now?

-Well that's up to you, Ellie.

You don't think I would want

anything to happen to you,

do you?

-What do you mean?

-Well I figured we

could become friends.

Very good friends.

Now that we've gotten to

know each other so well.

-Don't you want to arrest me?

-Arrest you?

No, Ellie.

I-- I want to marry you.

-Marry me?

-Yeah.

No one would have

to know what I know.

-You mean you

wouldn't say anything?

-Not if you're my wife.

Wouldn't be loyal.

-And if I'm not.

-Be a shame to see

that pretty little

neck in a hangman's noose.

-Would they really hang me?

-I'd say at least

life imprisonment.

-No I couldn't stand that.

-Well you have a choice.

-Calvin, you are corrupt.

-Well evil breeds evil, honey.

How about it?

-Mother always said that older

men made the best husbands.

-I bet your mother

never told you

that I was the first

one to make love to her.

[GIGGLING]

[LION ROAR]