Thirst (1979)

[bunniefuu]

(screams)

- No, no, no!

(panting)

- [Mrs. Barker] Superb,
she is responding

remarkably well.

- [Mr. Hodge] But are you quite
sure it's safe Mrs. Barker?

I'm no medical man
but it seems to me

that she is on the
verge of insanity.

- [Mrs. Barker] No, it's
standard conditioning procedure.

You will not be
deprived of what you

want Mr. Hodge.

Just see how the
process is working.

Totally different
woman from the one

we were observing a week ago.

- Hello Mugs.

Haven't you been fed yet, eh?

- Hello Miss Davis.

- Hello Lori.

- I've marinated the steak.

- Oh good.

- And Mr. Pervine
from Los Angeles--

- Oh yes?

- Said he'd call back at 10.

- All right.

- All the packing is
finished, your bags are ready.

- Oh thank you Lori,
well you can go home now.

I'll see you in four weeks.

Have you got the
keys to the house?

- Yes.

Have a lovely
holiday, Miss Davis.

- Thank you Lori.

Come on.

There you are, baby.

And you, Mr. Curt,
can wait till morning.

Come on.

I prayed you'd called.

- Why didn't you call
me for Christ's sake?

- I did, last bust up.

Was your turn this time.

(suspenseful music)

- Her habits are
reasonably regular.

As Miss Daintree said earlier,

she works most of
the time, either at

the office or at home.

The man friend is an
architect, Derek Whitelaw.

Over the past
month he's seen her

three times a week.

And on each occasion,
has shared her bedroom

with her for the evening.

- You've definitely
established that

Miss Davis has no relatives?

- Correct, Mrs. Barker.

The last remaining
relative, an aunt,

passed away last year.

- But soon, I trust, I
shall be her relative.

What a mating that will be.

The two greatest
families reunited.

- Only with her consent.

- She'll consent.

- The final thing
is the holiday.

- Is the architect
going with her?

- No sir, he can't get away.

- Then we have four
weeks, whatever

her reaction.

- It'll be positive.

With a family as noble as hers,

I'm sure the old,

the old thirst will
not have died out.

- Do stop deceiving
yourself Dr. Fraser.

She's a strong willed woman.

We may have to use force.

(cat meowing)

- There you are.

OK, OK, just a minute.

(phone ringing)

Yes.

- [Derek] Hi.

- Oh hi.

- [Derek] When's your plane?

- Well I don't have
to leave the house

till about 12.

Derek, ah, could you
come over for a while?

- Oh look, I could think
of nothing nicer, but

I've gotta finish these plans.

Look, I'm well aware that
it's Saturday morning.

Katie, how've you got your hair?

- Up.

- Freckles?

- Still there.

- Look, now you have a
good holiday, all right?

And rest, no work,
you understand?

- Don't go yet.

- Look, I have all this
work to get through.

- [Kate] Oh, the bloody
cat, look all right.

Bye.

- Bye.

- All right Mugs,
what are you up to?

Jesus.

What are you doing, get out!

Get out of it.

(hisses)

Stop that!

(high pitched whine)

- I knew the reaction
would be negative.

She should have gone
under conditioning

from the start.

- Conditioning has
nothing to do with it.

She's just strong willed.

Probably end up spending
a fortune on her,

achieving nothing.

Except, perhaps,
drive her insane.

- [Dr. Gauss] Kate,
this is our symbol.

Does it mean anything to you?

- Of course it doesn't.

- I wonder, Kate, whether
you're evading the issue.

Whether you begin to suspect why

we brought you here.

- That's exactly
what I want to know.

- Tell me all you know
about your ancestry.

- Look I've had enough.

Now tell me what
I'm doing here and

what you want from me.

- All right, Kate,
I'll explain to you.

You're unaware that your
great, great-grandfather's

name was Dotkin?

- So what?

- And that he changed
it to Davis in 1850

when the family went
to settle in Boston.

And that Herr Dotkin
was a direct descendent

of Countess Elizabeth Bathery?

- There's a legacy,
that's it, isn't it?

Look, you can have it.

Please take it.

- Yes there is a
legacy, to you from

Elizabeth Bathery.

Your ancestress.

Do you see her medallion?

Hyma, the Greek sign
for human blood.

Welcome to the
brotherhood, Miss Davis.

Baroness.

- This is not happening.

- Good morning.

How do we feel today?

Careful it's hot.

- You b*tch.

You rotten b*tch.

- Vampires

we dislike that word.

The brotherhood is
something far nobler

than peasant superstitions
give me credit for.

There's nothing
supernatural about us Kate.

- No, we're simply a
superior race of people

who, over the
centuries, have proved

that the drinking of
the vital human essence

confers youth, power.

It's the ultimate
aristocratic act.

- [Loudspeaker] Would any member

of groups R, S, and
T who have not yet

reported for their
tranquilizer shots,

please do so immediately.

Groups R, S, and T.

- Seventy thousand of you?

- Of us, Kate, all
round the world.

- Where does it all
come from, your drink?

- These are our donors.

Does the truth still
frighten you so much?

This is a farm, Kate,
in the fullest sense.

One of many farms.

- You're all mad.

- I see reason is not enough.

There's only one way.

- Ow, oh, ow.

- Kate?

Kate, can you hear me?

- Yes.

- You're going on a
little journey now.

- Where?

- [Mrs. Barker]
You'll wake up there.

It's a place where bad girls go.

Bad girls go.

- Good evening.

- Closer.

- Superb, she is responding

remarkably well.

- Are you quite sure
it's safe Mrs. Barker?

I'm no medical man,
but it seems to me

that she's on the
verge of insanity.

- No it's standard
conditioning procedure.

You will not be deprived
of what you want,

Mr. Hodge.

A totally different
woman from the one

we were observing a week ago.

- Who authorized this?

- I did.

When you're away Dr.
Fraser, I'm in charge.

- Let her out.

You could've k*lled her.

- No, she's resilient.

- It's absolutely
unnecessary, there is no need

to subject her to that
kind of indignity.

Kate?

Kate?

It's all right.

Someone will come and
let you out at once.

- Look what gives you the right

to put me through this?

- Kate I am deeply sorry
for what's happened.

But the most important
thing at the moment

is that you get as
much rest as you can.

- Don't give me that.

What were they
trying to do to me?

- Look.

Look, I realize there
must be a lot of things

that you find difficult
to understand.

and I will explain

in time.

- But I don't want to be here.

- I also promise
you that what you've

been through I will never
allow to happen again.

Just trust me.

- Why should I trust you?

- Look around,
everybody's happy here.

The farm's a bit like
a commune, really.

It's all right Kate.

I wouldn't have
it any other way.

- Are they free to leave?

- They can't leave.

- Why not?

- It's essential that they stay.

Come on.

- You're very lucky.

Dr. Gauss has taken

a real liking to you.

- [Loudspeaker]
Attention please.

Attention please.

Would all members of groups

A, J, L, and Q

please enter the vans.

Attention please,
attention please.

Groups A, J, L, and Q.

Groups A, J, L, and Q.

Attention please,
attention please.

Groups A, J, L, and Q

please enter the vans.

Attention all process workers

shift change in 15 minutes.

Attention all process workers

attention all process workers

shift change in 15 minutes.

(screams)

(siren beeping)

- Dr. Gauss I must talk to you.

- Check with sterilization.

- Dr. Fraser's
program of so-called

persuasion will fail.

As I insisted from the
start, there's only

one solution.

- Under no circumstances.

- Eric you must admit there have

been no signs of change.

- Call a committee meeting.

I insist on a vote.

- Look,

if she comes to us
of her own accord

she'll be ours much, much, much

more wholeheartedly.

Now you must unlock her door.

- Look, you let
me out and I walk.

That doesn't mean I
accept what you're

doing here.

- Listen Kate, I bought
time for you this morning.

Use it wisely.

Just go anywhere you
like, get to know us.

- Where are those people going?

- I expect they're shiners.

I've been privileged to
have your people drink here.

- My people?

- Excuse me, I'm David.

Leah and I,

Leah and I are friends.

Leah, the other day
when you came through,

the one you chose.

- I never chose anyone.

- We all assumed.

They took her away right after.

I just had to tell you.

She's not very strong.

Please, don't drink too much.

(dramatic music)

(panting)

(chickens clucking)

- Excuse me, do
you have a phone?

My car's broken down.

Or, look, can you drive
me to the nearest town?

I'll pay, I'll pay a lot.

Can I buy that truck?

Do you hear me?

I'll pay you $5,000.

Please.

Please?

- [All] Hey!

(engine sputters)

- You all right?

- Yes thank you,
I'm just filling up.

- Are you from the farm?

- Yes, yes I am.

- Sure I can't help you sister?

- Ah, no thank you,
I'm just finishing off.

- OK, hope we see
you at the festival.

- OK.

(honking)

(engine stalling)

- Kate, how nice.

She was on her way
to greet the convoy.

Ride back with us.

I'll ask a man to
return the truck.

Wasn't it kind of Mr.
Dichter to lend it to you?

- [Mr. Hodge] Not our Dichter?

- [Mrs. Barker] Yes.

- Who are those people?

- They're our visitors
for the festival.

They come here from
all over the world.

- Tonight's the opening ceremony

and I'll be officiating.

You're, ah,

you're more than
welcome to come.

- Yes you must join us Kate.

- [Loudspeaker]
Attention please,

attention please.

Would all visitors
wishing to tour

the processing complex
please board the bus.

- Chief reason for
the establishment

of the dairy in 1939
was the brotherhood's

growing concern about the
health of its members.

Such diseases as
malaria, hepatitis,

and anaphylactic shock,
which is the result

of drinking blood
containing allergy-producing

penicillin, but common
amongst traditional drinkers.

The dairy brings our
lifestyle up to date.

Each carefully
selected blood cow

is accompanied to the village by

an elaborate medical file.

Before the blood is
tapped and cartonned,

each donor is placed
on a stringent diet

and subjected to scrupulous
hematological tests

for any blood contaminants.

We ensure that
all packaged blood

is absolutely free from
anti-tetanus serum,

pollens, and
antibiotics, any of which

may produce
hyper-immune reactions

to certain drinkers.

Move along now please.

(choir singing)

(dramatic music)

(screams)

- You were invited
to that ceremony,

we'd have prepared you for it.

Increasingly Kate
you seem determined

to create difficulties.

- We should leave her
alone, she needs time.

- Already you've come
dangerously close

to spoiling things for others.

Mr. Dichter, for example,
at the chicken farm.

The Hodge's chose him
for our highest honor.

If they'd even
suspected that he tried

to help you to escape.

- I stole that truck.

- You must understand
that the merest

question mark would
have disqualified him.

Happily I was able to
keep the incident quiet.

- If I made trouble
for that old man,

I'm sorry.

- Now you're being constructive.

Don't feel sorry for him.

It's the highest service
a prisoner can render,

to be exsanguinated, drained.

- Let me out!

(screams)

- [Mrs. Barker] Orderly.

- [Kate] Get off me!

(mumbles)

- [Nurse] They're
from Dr. Fraser.

- Put them down and wait.

If only you'd talk things out.

You would've come to understand

why you're flying so violently

in the face of your instincts.

And they are your instincts.

We've done a lot of
research on you, Kate.

You holiday'd at
your uncle's pig farm

when you were 11, remember?

And you saw pigs slaughtered?

What emotion did
that arouse in you,

when you saw throats slashed?

Blood.

- It made me feel sick.

- Your reaction was normal.

All of our people
brought up outside

have difficulty accepting
their natural feelings.

So they hide them beneath
a mask of revulsion.

- Ah!

(heavy breathing)

- I'm going to help
you in two ways Kate.

Not just to live
with your instincts

but to enjoy--

- [Kate's thoughts]
I can't breathe.

- Don't be frightened Kate.

What do you see?

Who?

- [Kate's thoughts] Derek.

- You want Derek?

I'll send for him if you like.

- [Kate's thoughts] Help!

- [Mrs. Barker] Derek,
Kate's calling for you.

We've edited her two
days of reminiscence

into a fairly
representative 90 minutes.

Before I play it
through, Dr. Gauss will

take you over the
psychometer chart.

This shows the chief
areas of weakness,

how we intend to exploit them.

- [Dr. Fraser] You
can't put her through

that in two weeks.

- [Dr. Gauss] The dangers
of psychic engineering

are exaggerated.

The New York
experiments have shown

that the relief
periods which precede

each intensification,
do generally keep

the patient's sanity intact.

- [Dr. Fraser] She's
still in narcosis?

- Hi.

It's lunchtime.

- Where is this?

- Hm, what are
you talking about?

- I've got a headache.

And my arm stings.

- Well I couldn't blame an ant

for having a bite of you.

- Derek!

- Kate.

- I thought--

(romantic music)

Derek, you always
forget the salt.

- I didn't forget it.

Don't you know it's poisonous?

- Hypochondriac.

- Ah.

- Where's the car?

- It's where we left it.

- Funny I don't remember
us driving here.

What day is it?

- You all right Kate?

- Oh, it's weird.

I thought I'd lost you.

- Hm, hm, now, now we eat.

(horror music)

Derek?

- [Derek] It's good Kate.

Drink it.

It's love.

It's youth.

It's power.

- Derek?

- You have honored me

Baroness.

(thunder claps)

- Miss Davis, what's happened?

You're frozen, come in.

I put the heater on.

Come, come Miss Davis.

We must get you out
of those wet clothes.

- Lori.

How long have I been away?

- Beg pardon miss?

- How many days?

- Let me get a doctor.

- I don't want a doctor.

- But miss, you only left
the house an hour ago

for work.

- Oh Lori, it really is you.

- Oh miss.

Come, come.

You go ahead miss, I'll
get you some dry clothes.

(dribbling)

(screams)

You mustn't be ashamed miss.

You're getting the
thirst, that's all.

The thirst is in all of us.

- Not in me.

Not me.

Not me.

- [Mrs. Barker]
Don't be upset Kate.

You'll love boarding school.

Lots of other five
year olds to play with.

And mummy will come and see you

whenever she can.

Kate.

Wake up Kate.

I'm so sorry to
tell you this Kate,

but your mother,

your mother won't
be coming back.

She died.

- Mother?

- [Mrs. Barker] You
must forget the past

now Kate.

Cut your ties with the past.

- Mother?

(people whispering)

Mother?

- [Mrs. Barker] Your
mother is dead Kate.

The past is dead.

- Mrs. Barker!

Where are you?

Please?

I know you're watching me.

- [Lori] Miss Davis?

Miss Davis, drink.

- Lori!

Lori I know you're here.

Lori.

- Yes Miss Davis?

- Lori please help me.

(banging)

(growling)

(banging)

(creaking)

(banging)

This is happening.

(choir singing)

- Gentlemen, on the
14th and final day

of programming,
she has no memory

of her previous experiences.

But as you can see,
she's deeply conditioned.

Notice the reflex
cupping of the hands,

the questing.

She now senses that
somewhere there is

a key to her dilemma
without being

aware of what it is.

When that key is
presented to her,

she now recognizes
it, Dr. Fraser,

rejoices in it.

- Hm, well, let us
hope that in spite

of all this we're still
able to earn her respect.

(choir singing)

(people talking)

* Hyma

* Perpetuis

* Photis

* Vanium

* Hyma

* Hyma

* Hyma

* Perpetuis

* Sablan

* Votaris

* Hyma in Perpetuis

- This is your destiny Kate.

Destiny.

* Hyma

* Perpetuis

(choir singing)

- Hyma perpetuis.

(people talking)

- Destiny Kate, destiny.

(choir singing)

- [Mrs. Barker] I'm
by no means convinced

that she is ours yet.

The real test is how her
indoctrination stands up

in the outside world.

- Miss Pearson from
the office, miss.

- Oh thank you Lori.

Martha, hello.

- I expected to find you in bed.

- What with all this
work I've got to do?

- Well it was supposed
to be a sick call,

but I brought this just in case.

- I think you know me too well.

- What does the doctor say?

- Oh he thinks I've
got some sort of virus.

I just don't feel
like eating anything.

Yet at the same
time I feel hunger.

I don't even feel like
I've had a holiday.

And I keep having these dreams.

It's almost as if,

hey Martha,

how long has Lori worked for me?

- A year.

- Back to work.

Most urgently to Ted Hearst.

Now can you please
send us the new

lipstick peg designs
and color charts?

(typing)

Right, these bunch
seem fine to me.

They can be sent off to
the legal department.

- Right.

- Oh Martha, we've been
working for two hours

and I haven't even
offered you coffee.

- I'll get some.

- No, no, I'm the hostess here.

- Miss Davis,
shall I send a copy

of the contract
with this letter?

Miss Davis?

Is there something you want?

What are you doing?

(Martha screams)

(Kate screams)

- Let me see, let me see!

- Oh I had another bad dream.

Was it a dream?

- Come on.

Come on, I'll get you a
warm drink or something.

- No Derek, stay with me.

No!

Leave it on.

- [Derek] Good night.

I love you.

(Derek screams)

- Oh Derek, I'm sorry.

Please forgive me, I'm sorry.

- We have failed.

She remains in a
state of confusion.

- As long as her
feelings are mixed

she's liable to run to
someone and confess.

Everything that we've built
up here would be lost.

Even for the descendent
of so noble a family

the risk isn't worth taking.

We must start on more
conditioning immediately.

- I won't allow that.

I don't think she could take it.

- Save your arguments
for tomorrow's

committee meeting.

The chairman will be there.

He'll decide.

- Another danger?

- No, Derek's all right.

He'll come around.

- Where's Derek?

- It's all right, he's
being looked after.

Why don't you get into bed.

Hm?

Let's have a look at you.

- What's happening to Derek?

- Kate, they're not
satisfied with the way

that the conditioning's
been going.

They're having a
meeting tomorrow

and I think the vote
will go against you.

I'm going to try
and get you out.

- You'd go against them?

- It's a clear choice.

Either with the
will of the rebel

or serve.

- I'm not leaving
here without Derek.

- That's impossible, it's
already too much of a risk.

All right, I'll come
for you in the morning.

And get some rest.

- Dr. Fraser, good morning.

- Morning.

Thought you'd be
finished by now.

- Well I just have, actually.

Mrs. Barker is still working.

I was coming to phone you.

I just wanted you
to know that, ah,

I'll be voting on your side.

- Can we discuss this later?

I've got a patient.

It's all right, it's all right.

- Who are you?

- There's a hut in the bush.

I'm gonna take and
hide you there.

Kate will join us later.

- Why, why are you helping me?

- I'm helping Kate.

OK, come on.

You stay as close
to me as you can.

Come on.

(dramatic music)

- Well, well, well, Dr. Fraser.

A bit early to be
taking the prisoner

for his morning walk, isn't it?

This man is an A
security prisoner.

Show me his release
authorization.

- Run!

(screams)

- Help, help!

(siren blaring)

- Dr. Fraser, there's a
blockage in No. 3 vat.

- Yes, all right
contact Dr. Gauss.

Tell him that, ah, tell him
I'll be here in two minutes.

- Eric, Eric!

They need you back in the dairy.

There's a block in the main vat.

You can't take her!

- Get back!

(dramatic music)

(screams)

- Mr. Hodge, I've found it,

what's causing the blockage.

- Where are we going now?

- Well we have to
stay undercover.

I have a place.

- Dr. Fraser,

thank you.

- You'll find that there
are a lot of people

like me who are

willing to serve.

You'll see Derek very soon.

The house is just over here.

This is my secret retreat.

Had it for 10 years.

Through there.

- [Kate] Derek?

- [Dr. Fraser] It's all right,
we'll be with him shortly.

- Derek?

Derek?

- And no one but you

shall drink a drop of him.

- No.

Turn that off.

I said turn that off!

Derek, Derek.

Now get out.

Get out!

Derek, Derek, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry Derek, Derek.

I'm sorry, Derek.

Derek.

I'm sorry Derek.

Please.

Please give me another chance.

- Photis vanium

Disirupt hyma.

- Please, let me,

let me be one of you.

I am.

I am one of you.

I am one of you.

- [Mr. Hodge] I am
one of you, at last.

I knew your conditioning program

would succeed in
the end, Dr. Fraser.

As head of the Hodge
family, I will be

forever indebted to you.

As a result of your
work, our two greatest

families will be
permanently united.

You have my deepest
admiration, Dr. Fraser.

- [Dr. Fraser] I did only
that which was necessary

to ensure her happiness.