Witchcraft (1964)

[bunniefuu]

Stop! Stop that!

This is blasphemy.

Stop it!

Go back.

Go back, I tell you!

Go back!

Desecrating decent folks' graves...

Stop it. Stop, I said!

Myles thinks the garages would be better over

here where we're going to clear the graveyard.

Oh, I think it will be better where it was.

The children will need this for a play area.

A letter just came for you, Tracy.

Oh.

Oh, it's from Pam.

"Dear Mummy and Daddy,

I hope you're well."

They've taken her to Montreal

for the tennis tournament.

Hey, Bill, listen to this.

"Marge Campbell beat Hilda

in straight sets for the cup.

"You could have beaten both." At the same

time, with one hand tied behind your back.

Well, my daughter still

thinks I'm champ. So do I.

I've got the scars to prove it.

Hey, what else does she say?

"School will be out

in six weeks."

"I have already packed my things,

which everybody thinks is a big joke."

She writes a very good

letter for her age.

Oh, I do hope she likes it here.

Oh, I know she will.

Well, Tracy's crazy about

it, aren't you, honey? Mmm.

Well, let's have our tea.

Where's Todd?

Oh, he's having trouble with his car again.

Hey.

- Todd, tea.

- No, thanks.

You stay here.

Todd.

I'll see who it is.

You expecting someone?

Todd probably locked himself out again.

I want to see William Lanier!

It's Morgan Whitlock.

Oh, no.

Out of my way, woman!

This time you overreached yourself.

This time I'm taking you to court!

If there's any justice, they'll send

you packing back where you came from.

We've been to court, and you know the

decision. Yes, but your bulldozer...

You knew we were starting to grade this morning.

You've had months to move your markers.

I've even offered you trucks and

labor so you'll have no expense.

The Whitlocks have used

that cemetery for 800 years.

What right does an upstart like you have

to run sewers through their coffins,

put buildings over their graves?

Look, we've been through this a dozen times

already. That cemetery is full and abandoned.

No one's been buried there

for 150 years.

Look, I-I didn't want to disturb a cemetery,

but it's right in the middle of the tract.

And if this area is going to

progress... What do you mean?

Is progress smashing our gravestones

with your damn bulldozer?

That's not true.

The grading started on cleared ground.

Is that so, Mr. Lanier? Have you taken the

trouble to look at your handiwork today?

Have you talked to that brute,

Forrester, your partner?

Are you telling me that the bulldozer

damaged some of your gravestones?

I'm telling you that the bulldozer ran right

through the middle of the Whitlock plot.

And when we tried to stop it,

it ran us down!

If this is true, I want you to

know, it was against my orders.

You're not the sort of

a man I can believe.

But I'm going to stop you. I'm not gonna

let you ruin our countryside with...

With trash like this!

Let me talk to your uncle, Amy.

I know I can make him understand.

It's no use, Todd.

I've tried to talk to him so many times.

Then meet me tonight anyway.

I can't tonight.

I told you why.

Oh, Todd,

as soon as this is over,

it'll be just like before.

Won't that be wonderful?

Sneaking about just like before.

I told you not

to come near my niece.

Mr. Whitlock...

There'll be no argument.

You're not to see Amy! Is that clear?

I've got to talk to you.

There'll be no more talk

to Laniers!

I told him the truth.

I didn't know anything about it.

It's Forrester's fault,

not yours.

Yeah, that's why I better get over

there and get him to pull his men off.

I wish you could handle the

development on your own, Bill,

like in Toronto and Detroit.

Well, there I had a contracting business,

equipment and financial backing.

Here I need a partner

to supply them.

I wish he could have chosen a

better partner than Myles Forrester.

Mr. Forrester.

What is it?

Mr. Lanier's here to see you.

Ah. Send him in. Send him in.

Come in, Bill.

I won't be a moment here.

Fix yourself a drink.

No, thanks.

How did the trip to London go?

Oh, I'm dead beat.

I left at 6:00 this morning

and drove both ways.

- But the bank did us proud, Bill.

- Yes, I thought they would.

Plain sailing from here.

I've got the tractors in to start grading.

That's what I came to see you about.

Uh-huh.

Do you know they plowed up some of the

Whitlock gravestones? Oh, have they now?

You don't seem very surprised.

Well, no.

As a matter of fact,

I told them to.

You t... Have you gone

out of your mind

We've a lot of money up,

interest to pay, dates to meet.

You promised me that grading

would start on cleared ground.

And then what Wait?

Invest a few more thousand pounds?

We had an agreement.

Now look, Bill.

They've had all the warning in the world.

Everyone's moved their tombs

but the Whitlocks.

Let's face it, man.

They hate the Laniers.

They'll do anything they can to stop you.

Now this is a big project.

You're gonna make a lot of money.

We can still make money

without desecrating a cemetery.

You know, you old families are

all the same: living in the past,

going broke on thousands of

pounds worth of real estate.

Look, the city's moving

towards your acreage,

and, still, your father shot himself

because of financial worries.

My father happened to be

a man of principle...

Something that you probably find

very difficult to understand.

Well, I'm sure he was right by his

own lights, but times are changing.

Cities are expanding.

I know all about the population expl*si*n.

Now look, Bill.

I'll tell you what we'll do.

No, I'll tell you!

It's past quitting time now,

so there's nothing we can do tonight,

but tomorrow morning, you're gonna have all

that equipment transferred to clear ground,

and you're gonna supply me with all the trucks

and labor I need to move the Whitlock memorials,

and I'm gonna see

the job gets done.

That all right, Myles?

Right as rain. Anything I can do?

I'll be the first to call on you.

Good night, Myles.

Good night, Bill.

Oh, how did it go?

Is everything all right?

Well, not all right,

but I think we can straighten it out.

Well, what have you got there?

Oh, I found it in the cemetery.

They're both the same.

Yeah.

I think I'll go up and have a

talk to Grandmother before dinner.

Oh, well, don't be long,

will you, Bill?

Todd and Helen will need a drink when they

get in. Oh, take over for me, will you?

You're not only the best backhand in

Canada, you're a great bartender too.

The flattery I get

when you want something.

It's the same as the

stone in the fireplace.

That stone in the fireplace was put

there when the Whitlocks owned the place.

The only other one was on...

Vanessa Whitlock's grave.

I seem to remember

being told as a child...

that this was the sign

of a witches' circle.

It is.

What was it doing on the grave?

Our ancestors said that

Vanessa Whitlock was a witch.

They accused her,

and she was condemned.

That's the witches' circle...

The pact with the devil.

Well, if she was burnt as a

witch, she can't harm anyone now.

She wasn't burned.

After she was condemned,

they took her out and...

buried her alive.

Everyone's drink all right? No.

Oh, where's that piece of stone you

showed me? I was telling them about it.

Oh, I left it upstairs.

What did you show her?

A piece of the

witch's tombstone.

And you disturbed it?

Oh, it was pretty disturbed already.

I just wanted to

compare it with that.

Are you talking about real

witches with broomsticks and cats?

Well, I don't know about

the broomsticks and cats.

Friday will be May Eve... Roodmas.

Then you'll see for yourself.

- Let's change the subject.

- Well, I've never heard of Roodmas.

It's supposed to be one of the four great

sabbats of the year, when the witches gather...

Candlemas, Roodmas,

Beltane in midsummer, and Halloween...

The night that the witches make

their sacrifice to the devil.

Well, I can hardly wait

for Friday.

I gather Bill hasn't told you what

kind of a family you've married into.

Oh, knock it off, Todd. Oh, no.

I'm really interested.

What kind of a family have I married into?

What harm will it do?

Well, you started it.

You better finish it.

Well, the Laniers are

Norman stock... latecomers.

The Whitlocks were Anglo-Saxon.

Originally, they owned

all this land, this house.

The story goes that in the early

1600s, during the witch hunts,

the Laniers accused the

Whitlocks of witchcraft.

There have been cynics

who felt that their zeal...

was inspired more by greed

than righteousness.

But anyway, they had Vanessa Whitlock

k*lled and drove out her kinfolk.

Then they took over.

Well, naturally,

the Whitlocks didn't take very

kindly to this, and ever since then,

they're supposed to have made

the destruction of the Laniers...

the main item of business

at their sabbats.

Is Myles Forrester in his office?

Uh, well, yes, Mr. Whitlock.

You tell him

that I want to see him now.

What is it?

Mr. Whitlock wants to see you.

What, at this time of the night?

You should have

been home hours ago.

Well, I thought you wanted those

estimates to go off to the council. Ah.

Uh, tomorrow will do.

You've done enough for today.

And so have I.

All I want is a hot bath and then bed.

What am I to tell Mr. Whitlock?

Uh, tell him to go to blazes if you like.

No, he's Lanier's problem now.

Just get rid of him. All right.

I'm sorry, Mr. Whitlock. Mr. Forrester's

very tired. I insist upon seeing him.

I'm sorry. He's had a long day, and he's

going home. He'll not be rid of me easily.

He says, you see Mr. Lanier if

there's anything to discuss. Lanier?

You warn Forrester for me

that he's going to be sorry.

He's going to regret this day!

I'm rejecting these. Make a note, will you?

"New bids on door hardware."

What about the metal casements?

I'll answer it.

The metal casements?

Oh, I don't think we'll ask

for bids.

Uh, I think we'd be

better off to negotiate...

or let the subs handle it.

This is Detective Inspector Baldwin.

My husband, William Lanier.

How do you do?

And his brother, Todd.

I don't believe we've met, Inspector.

I'm Helen Lanier.

Oh, uh, Inspector Sheldon's

on sick leave, ma'am.

I was sent down to fill in for him.

Oh, I see.

Well, I'm afraid I have some very shocking

news for you. Myles Forrester is dead.

Dead? I just saw him last night.

He was drowned, Mr. Lanier, in his

bathtub, and we think it was m*rder.

Oh, no.

Oh, death was caused

by drowning, all right, but,

well, there were marks on his throat as

if somebody had tried to strangle him.

We're holding Morgan Whitlock.

No charges have been

filed yet, sir, but...

Whitlock went to see Forrester last night

and behaved in a very threatening manner.

And he's unable to account for his

movements at the time of the death.

What about Amy? The niece? She's at

home now. I drove her there myself.

Just a moment, young man.

He was with us.

None of us left the house.

Oh, I see. So you can all vouch

for each other then?

Was there anybody else

in the house last night?

Just my grandmother,

Malvina Lanier.

Do you think I might speak

to her just for a moment?

That won't be necessary,

Inspector.

My mother hasn't left

her room since my father died...

many years ago.

- It was a great shock to her. She hasn't walked since.

- I see.

Inspector, it's for you.

Oh, thank you. Excuse me, will you?

Hello. Baldwin speaking.

I'm going over to see Amy.

No, Todd, I don't think it's the

time... Bill, she's by herself.

Yes, all right.

Go ahead.

All right, now stay there and don't

touch anything. I'll be right over.

That was my assistant,

Sergeant Kinley.

Something very odd's

happened at the cemetery.

I wonder if you'd mind going

down there with me, sir.

Me? What can...

Well, all right.

Yes, if you think I can help. Good.

Oh, yes. By the way...

We found it pinned to a window

curtain in Forrester's office.

It's a witch's charm...

A devil doll.

Oh, Todd, I'm so glad

you're here.

Didn't you know I'd come

as soon as I heard?

I wasn't sure.

Why, Amy?

Well, your brother and

Mr. Forrester being partners and...

And Uncle being accused...

I love you.

That's the only thing that matters.

Oh, Todd.

How's your uncle taking it?

He's more angry than anything else.

He's gonna be all right. They're just

checking on everyone that knew Forrester.

They questioned all of us this morning.

They even asked about my grandmother.

The inspector said they're holding your uncle

'cause he was at Forrester's last night.

But they haven't filed charges against him.

He told us that.

Oh, I hope so.

I don't know what I'd do.

Just don't worry. They'll have

to release him. It won't be long.

In the meantime,

you can't stay here on your own.

You're coming to stay at our house.

Oh, I couldn't do that.

Why not?

You know how Uncle feels.

I don't think he'd want you

to be here alone.

He'd never forgive me if I stayed

with the Laniers. Don't ask me, Todd.

But suppose they hold

him for some days?

I don't know.

Oh, Todd.

I'm frightened.

I wish you and I could be a thousand

miles away from Uncle and...

this feud... a-and...

And what?

And everything.

What do you want?

Hello, Miss Lanier.

I'm sorry to trouble you, but...

Amy!

Hello. Come in. Come in.

I'm glad you changed your mind.

Tracy, this is Amy Whitlock.

My sister-in-law, Tracy. Hello.

Todd's told me a lot about you.

How do you do, Mrs. Lanier.

Amy's on her own.

I said, if she felt lonely,

she was to stay with us. Oh, of course.

I feel like a terrible nuisance.

We've plenty of room.

Come on.

I'll take you upstairs.

Don't be long now.

Who was that? Todd invited the

Whitlock girl to stay with us.

Do you think that was a good idea?

Why not? She was by herself.

Where is she now?

Tracy took her upstairs.

A Whitlock hasn't slept in

this house for 300 years.

Then it's about time one did, just to

put a stop to this nonsense. Nons...

You know the Whitlocks still

belong to the old religion.

I know there have always been stories about

witchcraft and certain practices, yes.

There's a coven right here.

It's common knowledge.

Are you trying to tell us that Amy's

a witch? I am only trying to say...

there's a coven of 13 here and

that the Whitlocks belong to it.

This is absolutely idiotic.

Look, Helen, the girl's upstairs now.

There's not much we can do about

it until tomorrow, is there?

You do as you like.

You're head of the house now.

But in the morning, I'm driving

up to London to stay with friends!

Plenty of time for sleep later on.

You're coming to bed right now.

Helen! What is it?

I saw it. You saw what, Helen?

I saw it.

Get the dressing gown.

Now come on, Helen. Come and sit down.

You'll be all right.

I... I saw it. Come on.

Put this on. Keep warm.

Sit down.

Now, Helen, what did you see?

It's that girl. I warned you.

Do you mean Amy?

Oh, she's in bed.

No.

I'll go and see.

She's in bed asleep.

Look, Helen, do you feel better?

Can you tell us?

What frightened you?

Well, there was a woman...

in gray.

She was standing beside my bed.

Th-There was mud on her clothes.

She was going to k*ll me.

Look, Helen.

Tracy and I were out in the hall,

and no one came out of your room.

You saw there was no one here when we switched

the lights on. Now don't tell me I dreamt it.

I saw her as plainly as I see you.

She came from there.

There's noth...

You shouldn't have let her go. I had no idea

she'd left until I saw that her car was gone.

Where did she go?

What happened last night?

After Helen went to bed,

she, um...

Well, she thought she saw

something in her room.

Saw what in her room?

Oh, I don't know. She said it was a... a

woman in gray. With clay on her clothes.

How did you know that?

Bill, you must go after her at once.

She's in great danger.

Amen.

Oh, you go on ahead.

I'll be up in a minute.

I'm, uh, sorry to intrude, Mr. Lanier,

but I thought you'd want to know...

They're releasing Morgan Whitlock.

Oh, thank you.

When?

Tonight or tomorrow morning.

No evidence?

We're baffled.

Forrester was a powerful

man, Mr. Lanier.

How could anybody have just

walked into his bathroom...

and strangled him without

any sort of a fight?

Doesn't make sense. And neither

does the death of my Aunt Helen.

Well, I don't know about that. Oh, come on,

Inspector. You know it wasn't an accident.

Nobody leaves the main highway and drives 200

yards across a rubbish tip... by accident.

No. It wasn't suicide.

You can take my word for that.

It wasn't m*rder either.

You can take my word for that.

We examined those tracks

very carefully.

There were no suspicious

marks on the cliff top.

That car was driven

at an even pace...

across that rubbish tip

and straight over the cliff.

It never stopped.

Well, what's your explanation?

You name it.

I wish I'd never started

this construction project.

Come in.

Oh, hello, Tracy.

What are you doing up?

Todd told me he and your husband are

driving up to London this afternoon.

I want to see him off.

Oh, you should be in bed.

Oh, it's only flu or something.

He'll start thinking I'm an invalid.

Well, all right.

But be sure you're warm enough.

Tell him I'll be

down in a minute.

We really ought to take her home

now, you know, Todd.

But she isn't well enough.

She's had this fever for two days.

She can't stay here

once they release her uncle.

I'm not having him

storming around the place,

upsetting Tracy

while we're away.

Oh, I can handle him, Bill.

Besides, Amy can keep me

company when you're in London.

Are you sure you wouldn't

rather we drove up tomorrow...

or, um, postponed the meeting?

Of course not.

This development's important.

What time are you seeing the bank?

10:00.

We should be back

before evening.

You're worried about something.

What is it?

Oh, it's...

just that I don't like leaving you

here alone right after the funeral.

Oh, Bill.

You know me better than that.

I'm not the fanciful type.

Nothing.

You know, I'm worried about you.

You and Todd

are both very tired.

Be careful when you're

driving, won't you?

Yes. I'll drive the first half

while Todd has a sleep,

then he can take over.

Here, carry my bag.

Are you all right?

Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

Amy, I... I don't like

to interfere,

but do you have to go

back to your uncle?

Couldn't you stay with us?

Please, don't ask me that.

Don't make it any harder.

Harder

I must do what Uncle says.

He's...

Well?

I must obey him.

Oh!

What is it?

What an ugly thing.

Bill, look out!

There must be an explanation.

There isn't.

I was wide awake, and I saw the

road in front of me the whole time.

Maybe it was some sort

of autosuggestion.

You were thinking about Helen's accident

and turned off at the same place.

I was thinking about

the meeting tomorrow.

All right, you explain it.

I can't, I can't, I can't!

All right, why don't I admit it?

It was witchcraft.

Don't be idiotic, Bill.

All right, I know it sounds idiotic.

A week ago I'd have

laughed at it myself.

But how else do you explain

Forrester, Aunt Helen and now this?

Well, I don't accept it.

You don't have to.

But I'm not gonna

risk my life...

or yours or Tracy's anymore.

We should never have left her.

We can't go back now.

Apart from anything else,

it would scare the life out of Tracy.

Besides, she's got Amy with her.

And we'll be back

by tomorrow evening.

Look, let's go onto London.

And to put your mind at rest, you can

phone her as soon as we get to the hotel.

Hello?

Yes.

Oh, Bill. Good.

Oh, we're fine.

We had tea together,

and then she went up to bed.

Yes.

Oh, me?

Oh, I've been doing

all the odd jobs...

I never seem to get done

when you're around.

How was the trip?

What?

Oh, "uneventful." Sorry.

This line isn't very clear.

Did you drive all the way?

I said, did you drive

all the way yourself?

Oh, good.

Yes. Yes, I'll tell her.

She says she wants

to go home tomorrow,

so I'll probably drive her over.

Right.

Well, good luck for the meeting.

Thanks for calling.

Good night.

Amy?

Come in.

Oh, you're still up.

The old don't need much sleep, you know.

Have you seen Amy?

No, and I don't expect to.

Isn't she in her room?

No.

You'd better get to bed.

Yes, I will, dear.

Good night.

Good night.

Amy?

Amy?

Amy!

Oh, no!

Well, we're in business.

You were just great with them.

I thought once or twice we

weren't gonna pull it off.

I never want another

couple of hours like that.

I'm going to ring Tracy.

Right.

Make it fast, Todd.

Sure, but if Amy's in,

she might know where Tracy is.

Hello, darling.

We've just got back.

Look, Bill's worried because

Tracy doesn't answer the phone.

Do you know where she is?

At your home.

You're sure? You're sure she's there

now, this afternoon? Yes.

Bill? Amy says Tracy's

at home.

You go on. I'll follow.

Okay.

Todd, you can't come in.

You mustn't.

Why

Please go. Please.

We can talk about it later.

I'm not going till I know what's wrong.

Something's happened here, hasn't it?

I don't know what you mean.

Listen, Amy, I love you.

That's the only thing... Stop it, Todd.

Leave me alone!

I warned you not to come near Amy.

Now get out.

I want to talk to Amy, and you've no

right to interfere. I have every right...

to charge you with forcing

your way into my home.

Now I'll give you one minute...

before I call the police.

Very well.

I'll call you later, Amy.

He's back.

What about the brother?

Have you seen him?

Yes.

Vanessa will be angry.

Vanessa?

Yes.

She is coming to us.

You will see her tonight

yourself...

At the sabbat.

Tracy?

Tracy?

Trace...

Tracy!

Yes?

I'm Bill Lanier.

Oh, Bill?

I'll be out in just a moment.

It would be better

if you wait outside.

What are you doing here? What happened?

The doctor will tell you.

Where's my wife? There hasn't been

anyone here all day except Mrs. Lanier.

Are you sure?

Here you are, Nurse.

How are you, Bill?

Hello, Arthur.

Close, surely,

but she'll be all right.

Oh. What happened?

Well, as far as I can make out, Malvina fell

down the stairs sometime during the night.

When she came to, she managed to phone

me, and I brought the nurse.

I just dropped by to see

how she was coming along.

How did she get to the stairs?

Walked. Only way

she could have.

You see, there was never anything

the matter with her legs, you know.

Psychic trauma.

After your grandfather's death,

she had it fixed in her mind...

that she was only safe

in her own rooms.

Sort of sanctuary.

I can't imagine what changed

her after all these years.

Have you seen Tracy?

I imagined she was with you.

No. I left her here.

Arthur, I've got to talk to Grandmother.

Is that all right?

Oh, yes, I think so, but don't overdo it.

I've got to run along. I'll drop by

after rounds. Yes, all right. Thanks.

Grandmother?

Grandmother?

Would you mind leaving us

for a moment, please?

Grandmother,

where's Tracy?

I...

I... saw her...

The witch... Vanessa?

Vanessa Whitlock.

H-H-Helen was right.

Where is Tracy?

She...

She wasn't burned.

She...

She... She c-came back.

T-Tonight is...

Roodmas...

The witches' sabbat.

Grandmother, please.

Where has Tracy gone?

Tracy...

To the crypt.

Oh, it's you.

How did you get here?

I took the shortcut back from Amy's and

saw your light. What are you doing here?

I can't find Tracy,

and Gran says she came in here.

Tracy?

What on earth for?

This is fresh candle grease.

There's a tunnel

behind here that leads...

to the walled-off part

of the cellar in the house.

Yes. I remember hearing it was used

as an... an escape route for priests.

That's right,

in the religious persecution.

Family used to celebrate mass down there.

They built a chapel.

Now, this moves away from the

wall, Todd, so give me a hand.

Right when I say.

Ready? Right, now.

There's a fire down there.

There's a what?

Tracy!

She's been drugged.

Cut the feet.

Tracy.

Tracy, darling.

Tracy, wake up.

It's me. It's Bill.

Tracy. Tracy, wake up.

Tracy, it's me, Bill.

Keep walking, Tracy. Keep walking.

Turn her around, Todd.

You've got to wake up, Tracy.

Please wake up.

You'll be all right. You'll be all right.

Only keep walking.

Tracy, keep your eyes open.

Come on.

Tracy, wake up!

Bill. It's all right, Tracy.

It's all right.

We're taking you home now.

Todd.

Oh, no.

Bar the door.

Go off!

I've got Tracy.

Go to your homes.

Hide your robes. Hide them!

Get some brandy.

Come on, Todd.

Tracy, why did you go into the crypt?

I followed Amy.

She's one of them.

Oh, Bill.

He has led you away

from the old religion.

You have disobeyed

our priestess.

That's not true.

I'm your servant,

and I respect and worship you.

A Lanier returns to die. No!

And we shall be ready.

No! No, I won't let you.

You can't.

I won't let you. No!

I won't let you.

No!

I won't let you k*ll him.

Amy!

Amy!

Amy!

Bill! Have you

seen Todd anywhere?

Amy!

Amy!

Amy! No!

Amy!

Todd. Are you all right, Mrs.

Lanier?

Born in evil.

Death in burning.