796 - July 13, 1969

[bunniefuu]

[ eerie music ]

NARRATOR:The year is ,

and the night is dark with gloom

and the promise of death,

for a stranger has come

to the Great Estate of Collinwood--

a stranger on a mysterious mission,

a stranger who knows where to find the legendary hand

from the Forest of Osden,

a stranger who will do anything to get it.

Such an honor.

My little puppeteer will see me again.

I was afraid you wouldn't.

Oh, you've no idea how curious I am.

I've thought of you often since our last meeting.

Oh, I'm sure you have.

I even searched the local newspapers.

Something I almost never do.

News is so boring, Don't you think?

You are not a puppeteer.

[ Angelique laughs ]

I wouldn't laugh if I were you.

If you've come after that ridiculous hand,

You mean the hand you took from me?

Do I look such a fool?

Or even to threaten me?

You underestimate me, my dear lady.

Well, then what do you want?

I've come to tell you about your fiance.

You see, I know a great deal more about you now

than I did before.

Yes, I've come to talk about Quentin Collins.

Well, I'm sure you can talk about Quentin

but whoever told you so much about me?

Do you care very much for him?

And if I do?

Do you intend to marry him?

You must tell me that and quickly.

Why must I?

Well, a minute or two doesn't make any difference to me now.

Does it to you?

It does to Quentin.

Why, why does it?

He only has minutes left to live.

Ah, pity for a man so young.

Where do you have Quentin?

Where? Tell me!

Shall I give you my handkerchief?

Do you have a small doll hidden in the pocket of your gown?

Shall I begin to choke again?

I think not.

I can do far worse things to you.

I wouldn't try anything if I were you.

Give me the hand.

Quentin'll live.

It's all very simple

just give me the hand.

Don't come near me.

Don't try any of your tricks.

Quentin's already started to die

and only I can stop it.

So, if you do anything to me,

you lose him. [ laughs ]

[ ticking and squeaking ]

[ dramatic music ]

[ waves crashing ]

[ eerie music ]

If you have Quentin,

show him to me.

I may not have been brilliant

the last time we met on the docks,

but even you can't think I'm that stupid.

I don't have the hand.

Then you'd better get it.

How can I get it if I don't know where it is?

You can find it.

Aristede, look at me.

The hand means nothing to me.

I know you don't believe that but it's true.

The hand means so little to me

that I gave it to someone else.

Don't look away, Aristede.

Just keep looking into my eyes.

Let us go now...

to where Quentin is.

Lead me to him.

You must do as I say.

[ Aristede laughs ]

Do you think I'd see you again without some protection?

If you gave the hand away,

which I find impossible to believe,

then get it back.

I'll need time.

You know how much time you have.

No, it's not enough.

It's all your friend Quentin has.

I would suggest you hurry.

[ creepy music ]

But how will you save Quentin, how?

You want to know too much.

But I'm concerned for his safety.

You still do not trust me?

But surely you must see that I must know

what's going to happen.

You can never know.

My great grandmother she took pity on Count Petofi,

turned him back from the wolf into the man

and it is her secret I know

but I am the only one who will know it!

'Til my daughter is born.

This hand and I, we are the only ones who know.

I told you that we tried to use the hand before.

Oh, yes, how brave you and that Magda were.

Only I know how to guide this hand.

But must you use it?

I have told you I must.

That is all I will say.

There is much to be done.

I must begin at the moment when the moon begins

to descend to the earth,

the moment before the moon disappears,

for when it does,

it must take the curse with it

to the underside of time.

But I don't know where Quentin can be.

You must find him.

Get him here.

Where are you going?

There are certain things I must get in the forest.

What?

Herbs, precious herbs, the leaf of the nightshade,

the prickly stem of the devil's thatch.

I will find them and come back in time.

You have Quentin here.

[ ominous music ]

[ squeaking and ticking ]

She's charming, your fiancee, Mister Collins.

Not a woman I'd trust.

Never, but some men like to live in doubt.

Do you think your fiancee wants you to live, Mister Collins?

Oh, I see by your eyes you have some doubts.

So do I.

So do I, indeed.

But we shall see, won't we?

[ laughs ]

At least I will.

You may never know.

[ laughs ]

[ dramatic music ]

But why didn't you tell me about this Aristede?

We're not in the habit

of confiding in one another, Barnabas.

But you should have told me this.

Who can this man be?

My God, if he has Quentin.

He does, I know.

Barnabas, we must give Aristede the hand

otherwise Quentin will die.

I do not intend to let Quentin die.

Barnabas, wouldn't it be safer

just to give him what he wants?

For once, not to have some elaborate plot

that might not work out.

How human you suddenly sound.

Perhaps you have changed.

I wish I could trust you.

Just leave me out of it.

I can't.

I have a small nagging wonder

at your even being here.

You can control this Aristede if you wanted to.

You could make him lead you to Quentin.

You expect me to believe that

when you have made me what I am.

Barnabas, Aristede has a medallion.

I don't understand it.

Why would...

I have no control over it.

Why would he have a medallion?

He's not from the gypsies.

Julianka is.

Well is there effort to get that hand?

What does it matter who he is?

Barnabas, we're wasting time.

When are you to meet?

Fifteen minutes.

Where?

The woods outside of Collinwood.

You must keep the appointment.

It will be useless without this.

You cannot take that.

Barnabas, if I have no power over him,

neither will you.

I have advantages that you do not.

Now, is his medallion in the form of a cross?

No.

Then I will see what luck I can have.

[ Angelique laughs ]

How arrogant you are.

It must please you very much

to have saved the day when I can not.

I am saving him for his sake,

not for yours or for mine,

but for him, and David Collins, and Chris Jennings.

They are my reasons, and now we must start planning.

[ squeaking and ticking ]

Oh, one must look one's best at all important moments

and this is an important moment.

As your emissary, I'm sure you want me to be at my best.

It's time now.

I shall go now for Angelique's answer.

Are you a gambling man?

Shall we make a wager?

Ah, you don't think it's in the best of taste?

You may be right.

I'll see you again, perhaps.

[ Aristede laughs ]

Well, not clever enough, Mister Collins.

Not clever enough or strong enough.

At least you've shown me what you believe.

You don't trust Angelique either.

You don't think she's gonna save you.

Well, I can't make any mistake now.

I've been warned, threatened even.

This machine, you know, can be used more than once

and I have too much respect for my body

to even think about lying on that table.

Au revoir, Monsieur.

At least, you hope so.

Aristede.

Aristede.

Aris.. [ rustling of branches ]

You didn't bring it.

I couldn't.

Quentin knows you well.

He knows you well, Madam.

If you will give me more time,

I will get it for you.

You ask me the one thing I'm powerless to grant,

No, wait!

Don't waste your time with me.

You'll be better off going in that house

and putting on your clothes of mourning.

You'll look beautiful in black.

[ dramatic music ]

[ sighs ]

BARNABAS: Aristede.

Aristede.

Who's there?

[ dog barks and howls ]

BARNABAS: You cannot go, not yet, Aristede.

Who are you?

BARNABAS: Where is he, Aristede?

Where's Quentin Collins?

I don't know.

BARNABAS: Yes, you do.

Show yourself to me.

Show yourself!

[ rustling of bushes ]

[ dramatic music ]

Who, who are you?

Who are you is more to the question.

Stay away from me.

You will stay here.

I would willingly go but you will not let me.

If you told me where Quentin is,

you would be much better off.

No.

Yes, you would.

What is that medallion?

It's charming.

It is old, isn't it?

You will look into my eyes.

Look at me!

You cannot resist me.

You are powerless to resist me.

You see my will in my eyes, don't you?

Yes.

We have so little time.

You must tell me where Quentin is.

You understand that.

Yes, I understand.

You will take me there the quickest way.

We must find him.

Start now, Aristede.

Start now!

[ eerie music ]

[ gears squeak ]

[ ticking ]

[ ominous music ]

[ muffled cries for help ]

[ eerie music ]

Where is he?

We wouldn't keep him in the foyer, sir.

We?

I often speak about myself that way.

Take me to him.

Quentin!

You'll wake the dead, sir.

He's not here.

[ Aristede laughs ]

Where is he?

You tell me, sir.

Will he ascend to heaven or descend to hell?

You have tricked me.

No, you and Angelique, you didn't bring the hand.

Where is he?

What difference does that make?

He only has a moment or two left

and he's miles from here.

Where?

What difference does it make?

I want to know.

I'll tell you, sir.

You wanna go for the body?

I don't mind that.

A body is a useless thing to me.

You can congratulate me on my cleverness.

He's in an abandoned mill by Sutter's Creek.

You are not lying to me this time?

There's no reason for me to lie.

You can never get there in time to save him.

You and I will meet again, Aristede.

[ dramatic music ]

[ squeaking of bats ]

[ squeaking and ticking ]

[ thud ]

[ wind blowing ]

[ ominous music ]

The nightshade, a gift of the devil-god

for those who hunt rest without peace.

The devil's thatch, a gift to remind us

that agony is not only human,

for the spirit lives on

and when there is spirit, there is agony.

Great God of the distant mountains,

keeper of the Osden Forest,

beloved of my people,

help me tonight when the moon begins its downward path.

Give me the power that was my mother's.

Let me help this man.

[ door opening ]

You are here!

I see the sign over your head.

You are right, Julianka.

He is the man.

Rest!

He must rest.

Yes, can you cure me?

Are you sure?

If you use the hand,

may I not change into something even more frightening?

Not if the ancient gods are with us

and they will be.

I must go in one moment.

I must find the one thing that will draw them here.

It will not fail.

The new blood of the orris root.

Oh.

You do not believe me?

You will.

Wait!

You are luckier than Count Petofi.

Before my great grandmother cured him,

he had to pay her with his hand.

I don't understand why you have to go out again.

Why didn't you get it the first time?

The gods will only come

if they are summoned at the moment we begin.

It is now minutes past three.

The moon will be where it must be at four o'clock.

[ foreboding music ]

But you are safe.

You should have let me die!

Quentin.

Well, where is she?

She should have been her by now.

Or is this another kind of gypsy joke?

No, no.

You seem so very positive, Barnabas, why?

She's run out on us.

We have minutes.

I'll go and look for her.

See that he doesn't leave the house.

There's no need for you to stay here.

I would like to.

[ Quentin laughs ]

Oh, now don't sound human.

I'm not impressed.

I remember where you came from,

how you came here, and why.

Yes, I'm sure you do.

I shall have to make you forget all that

Shan't I.

[ eerie music ]

Julianka,

Julianka.

[ Julianka moans ]

Your throat.

[ Julianka gasps ]

[ ominous music ]

[ eerie music ]