The Mummy's Ghost (1944) Movie Script

Before our god,
Amon-Ra,
you are Yousef Bey,
son of Abdul Melek?
I am, O Father.
I have answered your summons.
You are prepared to
undertake a mission?
I am.
And to live your life
according to
the pattern decreed
by the Priests of Arkam?
I am.
Hear then.
Three thousand years ago
lived the Princess Ananka
and a young man, Kharis.
They dared to love each other.
But Ananka was
a priestess initiate of Arkam,
and such a love was forbidden.
The princess died,
her soul accursed forever.
Kharis was buried
with her.
Then,
thirty years ago...
An expedition located
and entered the tomb
of Ananka.
Managing to escape
the guarding mummy,
they brought the body
of the Princess Ananka
here to America.
It is now one of
the choice possessions
of the Scripps Museum.
This, however,
did not end the matter.
The secret cult,
the Priests of Arkam,
smuggled the monster Kharis
into this country,
and right into
our own vicinity, Mapleton.
He was turned loose,
and every living member
of the party
who had dared set foot
into that faraway tomb
died by his hands.
The monster itself
was later consumed
in the flames of
the Banning house.
And thus ended
a reign of terror
which, remarkably enough,
had its origin centuries ago.
- Professor Norman.
- Yes?
I know the papers said
the mummy really lived and...
That's right.
But it's incredible.
I believe maybe
it was a man made up
as a mummy,
to keep the legend alive.
I saw the creature.
I analyzed the mold found
on the wrappings
about his body.
I saw him moving around,
and so did hundreds
of other people.
Yes, Miss McLean?
Wasn't he kept alive
by the fluid from
some sort of leaves?
He was. Tana leaves.
They grew from a low bush
found centuries ago
in Central Africa.
Quite extinct now.
A quantity of
them was found among
the effects of
Professor Banning,
the man who first discovered
the mummy's tomb.
The authorities
gave me permission
to take them for
scientific research,
but how they could
preserve life indefinitely
is still a mystery.
If Banning knew the solution,
the secret died with him.
But the laboratory has
solved mysteries before,
and perhaps someday...
Which brings us
to the end of our discussion.
I assure you that
in our next class,
we will concern
ourselves solely
with the history of Egypt,
and not with the more lurid
and non-curricular subject
of living mummies.
Good afternoon.
Hey, Tom.
Coming out for
practice tomorrow?
Yep.
What do you make of
all this Egyptian mummy stuff
that Norman's
been dishing out?
I don't make
anything of it.
It's out of my line.
I thought maybe
your girlfriend could
throw a little
light on the subject.
You're crazy.
How would Amina know
any more about it
than you or I?
Well,
she's an Egyptian, isn't she?
At least her ancestors were.
And your ancestors
used to live in caves,
so maybe you can tell us
where to find
the missing link.
Oh, don't get angry now.
If she was my girlfriend,
I'd ask her.
Well, she isn't,
so don't bother.
Hi there, Peanuts.
You been a good boy today?
Missed your poppy,
didn't you?
Oh, that demonstration
is just gratitude
for leaving him in
my company all afternoon.
Which proves that his judgment
and taste are as good
as his master's.
Say, isn't it about
your quitting time?
In just a few minutes.
What's this?
Hmm.
"The Tombs of Ancient Egypt. "
Say, Norman would be
interested in these.
You should've heard
him this afternoon.
Gave us an eyewitness account
of that 3,000-year-old
Egyptian mummy
wandering around here,
strangling people.
What's wrong?
Nothing. I...
What is it, Amina?
Why do you
always get so jittery
if I mention
anything about Egypt?
Please, Tom,
do we have to
talk about it?
Why not? You're Egyptian.
That makes it important
and interesting to me.
But whenever I speak
of it, you freeze up.
I know.
I can't help it.
Something happens to me
when I think of Egypt.
But what's wrong
with Egypt, darling?
It's as modern and up-to-date
as any other country.
I know all that,
but...
Please, if you don't mind,
I'd rather not talk about it.
All right, darling.
I'm sorry.
Well, you ready to go?
Yes.
I have to take these books
to Professor Norman.
Amina, what's wrong?
I don't know.
I feel so tired
all of a sudden.
You're working too hard,
that's what,
and I come in here and get you
all upset with my talk
about mummies.
I'll take these books
over for you,
and you go
get some rest, okay?
Okay.
However, that doesn't mean
I'm letting you off
our date tonight.
Come on, Peanuts.
The world believes
it has destroyed Kharis,
but through the sacred message
brought to us
by the most holy spirit
of Amon-Ra,
we know that he still lives.
Kharis still lives?
Lives only for the purpose
for which he was created,
to guard Ananka's tomb
until the end of time.
Your mission
is to bring him back to Egypt,
and with him,
Ananka, his beloved princess.
Now swear
by the ancient gods of Egypt
that you will never rest
until the Princess Ananka
and Kharis
have been returned
to their rightful
resting places
in these tombs.
I swear
by the mighty power
of Amon-Ra,
whose anger can
shatter the world,
and by the dread horror
of Set,
that I shall
never forsake my trust
as a Priest of Arkam.
Nor shall I rest
until the Princess Ananka
and Kharis
are safe once more
in the hills of Arkam.
Once each night
during the cycle
of the full moon,
you will brew
nine tana leaves.
Kharis will know
and come for the fluid
which preserves him.
He will find it
wherever it is.
I have it. I have it.
By heaven,
I believe I have it!
Good. And you'll come to bed,
won't you, dear?
No, no, no.
But it's late,
and you just said
you finished.
No, no. I found
the means to finish.
The key to
the locked door, I hope.
This was the lock.
This one elusive hieroglyphic.
And here I've found the key.
What on Earth does it say?
It says "nine."
Is that all?
That may be everything.
All right.
Then you come to bed.
It will still be nine
tomorrow night, won't it?
Yes, but tomorrow night
the moon will not be full.
That's part of
the story these tell also.
Nine tana leaves
must be brewed
during the cycle
of the full moon.
Whatever has
the full moon to do with it?
Oh, it's... It's ridiculous.
Yes, it sounds
that way, doesn't it?
But how are we
to be certain?
The moon affects the tides.
It may have the power
to affect these
tana leaves as well.
I don't know.
It's all too much for me.
That's my salvation, Ella.
The fact that
you're not a scientist,
and that it is
too much for you.
Now run along to bed
and don't worry about me.
All right.
Norman's dead.
Murdered.
What?
Yeah, it happened
sometime last night.
I can't believe it.
It's all over the campus.
The sheriff's at
Norman's house right now.
Tom, Amina's mixed up
in it too.
Amina?
Yeah. A watchman
picked her up unconscious
right outside Norman's house
early this morning.
It's only logical
that they'd suspect...
What's logical about it?
What does it
look like, Coroner?
Strangulation.
There are traces
of a foreign substance
on the throat.
That's mold.
The mummy.
I begged Matthew to
come to bed last night.
I begged him,
but he wouldn't listen to me.
He kept talking about keys
and leaves and moonlight,
and now he's dead.
He's dead.
Well,
how do you feel now?
I'm all right.
Good.
Now you can tell us
what you were doing
outside this house
last night.
No, I can't. I don't know.
Do you usually go walking
on the campus in
your nightgown?
I tell you, I don't know
how I got there
last night or why.
Well,
something happened here
to make you faint.
What was it?
I don't know!
I don't know! I don't know!
Now look, Miss Mansouri,
I don't want to get tough,
but a man was
murdered here last night.
I'm not saying you had
anything to do with it,
but you are in
a pretty hot spot.
And a lapse of
memory won't help you
out of it, so you'd better...
Where do you think
you're going?
I want to see the sheriff.
Let him in, Joe.
Don't worry, honey.
Everything's all right.
She had nothing to
do with this, Sheriff.
You can prove this,
of course?
Certainly.
She was with me last night.
For how long?
Well,
we went to the show and...
What time did you
leave her?
It was somewhere
around 11:00, but...
The murder took place
after midnight.
That puts us right
back where we were
before you came
barging in here.
What did you do
after this young man
left you last night?
Can you remember that?
Oh, yes. I...
I went to bed
almost immediately
after Tom brought me home.
I fell asleep right away too.
And then, the next thing, I...
The watchman found me.
You'd better go home.
But don't leave Mapleton
until I tell you.
You understand?
Yes. Thank you.
Come on, Amina.
I'll take you home.
What's the matter, Tom?
Nothing, dear.
Everything's
going to be all right.
What did you draw, Ben?
Watcher,
top of the court house,
9:30 to 12:00.
Well, I reckon
you've got to do it.
We've all got to do
what we can, Mrs. Evans.
I'm patrolling High Street
from Sixth to Fourteenth.
Well...
All of the money in the world
wouldn't get me out tonight.
I remember the last
time this happened.
It was pretty horrible.
Almighty gods of Egypt,
extend your shielding arm
to me, your servant.
Protect me in this strange
and foreign land.
Help me to dispatch
with speed and glory
the mission I have
undertaken in your name.
Bring Kharis to me.
Wherever he is,
guide his steps
into these hills
where I await him.
Make him to know
that I prepare again for him
the cup of life,
the sacred fluid
of the tana leaves.
Tom, don't tell me
you've run out of gas.
No, I just wanted to
stop and look at you.
You know,
I haven't heard you laugh
like that for weeks.
Well, yes,
I was laughing, wasn't I?
I didn't realize it myself.
Oh, it's wonderful.
I can laugh again.
And that's the way
it's going to be from now on.
No more of this nonsense
of hearing voices
out of the blue
and going
from chills to fever
in the same day.
Right?
Right.
That makes it unanimous.
Now what?
I don't know.
I felt cold suddenly.
Is that better?
What makes him
act like that?
Oh, he heard
another dog bark,
so he thinks
he has to bark too.
Just showing off,
that's all.
I wonder.
I love you, darling.
I love you too, Tommy.
Then let me
hear you laugh again.
What's the matter?
That... That shadow.
It's nothing.
Just your imagination.
Come on now. Relax.
Sorry if I scared you folks.
I was just
taking a shortcut home
through the field there,
and I tripped over a stump.
Thought I never
would quit rolling.
That's too bad.
But you're on
level ground now,
so don't let us detain you.
Sure. Sure.
Well, good night to you.
Good night.
Now, you see?
You even had me
going there for a minute.
Take me home, Tom.
But you saw for yourself.
I know, but... Please.
All right, darling.
King! King!
What's the matter, boy?
Is that you, Ben?
Yeah, it's me.
It's about time too.
Old King's been
carrying on like crazy.
I hear him.
Go back to bed, Martha.
All right, boy, all right.
All right, take it easy.
Ben!
Ben!
Ben!
It was no thief
killed Ben, Mrs. Evans.
And nothing human
tore through that wall.
Sheriff.
Look at this.
If the mummy didn't
make those prints,
I'll eat them.
We'll get the rest of the men
and comb this country
inch by inch.
If you spot the mummy,
don't try to mix with him.
Just keep him in sight
until more help arrives.
Mighty Amon-Ra,
I thank thee for
guiding Kharis to me,
and for delivering us
from the hands of those
who would destroy us.
Grant me
the wisdom and the skill
to complete our mission,
and to return
the Princess Ananka
to the tombs of Arkam.
Almighty Amon-Ra,
thy will only is omnipotent.
Come, Kharis.
And that is the history
of the Princess Ananka,
the story of a disastrous love
which started more than
3,000 years ago,
and has endured
through the centuries
to bring tragedy and death
into the lives of everyone
connected with
the opening of her tomb.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
if you'll follow me
into the next room,
I'll tell you all
about the exhibit
which dates back
to the 13th dynasty.
Almighty gods of Egypt,
forgive us,
the Priests of Arkam,
powerless now to
prevent the gaze
of these heretics
resting upon her.
May the reclamation
of her body absolve us
from any laxity that
may have been ours.
(ON RADIO)
This is The Hour of Death.
The forces of evil
stand at the threshold.
A man shall die tonight
in this, the murder...
Did you ever meet a killer,
my friends?
You will tonight.
A killer is at large tonight,
my friends.
He enters
the darkened study of Dr. X,
the mad doctor
of Market Street.
In the darkened
shadows of the room,
the doctor waits.
There's a scuffle,
screams, gunshots, crash.
Amon-Ra,
Isis, Osiris, help me.
Kharis.
The hour of fulfillment
is at hand.
Behold her,
Ananka, the princess
of your forbidden love.
The gods have been kind.
Beneath the sheltering wings
of their protection,
we have come to
the end of our quest.
Kharis, the tombs of Arkam
are waiting to claim
their own.
Amon-Ra, almighty god,
thy wrath is far-reaching.
By thy will,
her soul has
entered another form.
Kharis, stop!
The gods have chosen
to make our task
more difficult.
So be it.
In whatever form Ananka's soul
has found refuge,
it shall not escape us.
Our mission will be fulfilled.
Get away from that case.
I am a Priest of Arkam.
I fear only
the great wrath of Amon-Ra,
not the little angers
of an infidel.
I'm warning you.
Come, Kharis.
I...
I don't know what happened.
I thought there was
someone here in the room.
I could feel his hands
touching me.
You must have been
having a nightmare, dear.
There's no one here.
Tom Hervey wants
to see you, Sheriff.
Let him come in.
Good morning, Hervey.
What's on your mind this time?
Sheriff, is it still necessary
for Miss Mansouri
to remain in town?
Why?
She needs a change.
This thing has
affected her terribly.
Why, she's on the verge
of a nervous breakdown.
I want to take her
to New York.
Why should it affect her
more than anyone else
in this town?
She's not the only one
that was shocked
by the murders.
But she was the only
one found unconscious
near the scene of one of them.
Yeah, I was thinking of that.
All I meant was
her shock was greater.
And I've got to take her away.
I'm afraid
I can't agree to that.
I'm not saying
that Miss Mansouri
is actually
implicated in any way,
but this is
a serious business.
And there's
a doggone lot about it
we don't know yet.
Just to make things
a little more involved,
a man was murdered
in the Scripps Museum
last night.
Not a doubt
about it, Inspector.
Strangled, mold on the throat.
Everything identical
with the killings in Mapleton.
Dr. Ayad, as an authority
and an Egyptian,
what do you make of this?
I don't know
what to make of it.
There's not a trace
of Ananka's body.
Looks like this is one time
you museum fellows
had something
put over on you.
Maybe there never was a body
under those wrappings.
As curator of
the Scripps Museum,
I examined this mummy
when it was first brought in.
I assure you,
the body of Ananka was there.
All right, Doctor.
But then it's possible,
isn't it?
The mummy took it last night.
It would have been impossible
for anyone to remove the body
without unwinding the bandages
that bound it.
You can see for yourself
not a single wrapping
has been cut.
I don't know
how to explain it.
What are those markings?
Hieroglyphics explaining
the curse of Ananka.
Could you read them for me?
Certainly.
"Herein rests,
"and must forever rest,
the body of Ananka,
"third daughter
of Amenophis.
"In the hills of
Arkam shall Ananka lie,
"in the tomb appointed for her
and in none other,
"because,
freed from its resting place,
"her soul may find
reincarnation in another form,
"again to seek out
its salvation on Earth."
Now let me get this straight.
Are you trying to tell me
there's another Ananka
running around
loose someplace?
I merely translated
these hieroglyphics
at your request, Inspector.
That may be so,
but it sounds like
a lot of applesauce to me.
First it's a mummy,
and now it's
a reincarnated woman.
Did you find anything else?
Not a thing, Inspector.
Well, I think I'll take
a trip to Mapleton.
A little
searching around there
might turn up something.
How about it, Doctor?
Will you go with me?
I?
Yes, I may need your help.
I've had a lot of cases,
but never anything like this.
If you really
think you need me,
I'll be glad to go.
Good.
Just where was that
Egyptian girl found
the night of the murder?
Right under that tree
out there.
But we haven't found
one thing that connects her
with the case yet.
Hmm.
What's this?
Some sort of
Egyptian ceremonial lamp.
Professor Norman was
doing an experiment in it
the night he was killed.
What kind of an experiment?
Well, from what little
his wife could remember,
he was doing something
with those leaves.
Tana leaves.
Oh, the stuff that's
supposed to keep
the monster alive,
I believe you said,
Dr. Ayad.
Yes, Inspector.
Will you translate that?
Gladly.
The inscription states
that the mummy Kharis
would come
for the tana leaves
wherever they are.
But there are one
or two symbols here
which seem incomplete.
Norman had gone into this
more deeply than I.
He was a great Egyptologist,
you know.
Well, you've said enough
to convince me of one thing.
Sheriff,
in classic criminology,
the criminal always returns
to the scene of the crime.
But we're not dealing
with an ordinary criminal,
so maybe we can
make him return.
How do you figure
to do that?
Just the same way
Professor Norman did.
Okay, Inspector.
Whatever you say.
Fine. Now,
if you'll step outside,
I'll explain
the rest of my plan.
He went through these doors
at night, didn't he?
Yes.
Well,
I want a pit dug right here.
A very deep one.
A pit?
Yes. You told me bullets
wouldn't stop the mummy.
We ain't found
any yet that would.
Well, my idea, Sheriff,
is to trap the mummy
when he comes.
"If he comes."
All right, if he comes.
But once we've
got him trapped,
we'll have plenty
of time to worry
about something
that will stop him.
Okay, Inspector.
Any way you want it.
Joe, take care of this.
All right, Sheriff.
Why don't you relax, honey,
and try not to think about it.
I tried to relax, Tommy.
Honestly, I did.
But I have this awful,
haunted feeling.
All right, that settles it.
We're getting out of here.
What do you mean?
We're going to New York,
to my people.
Can you be ready to leave
early in the morning?
Oh, Tom, of course, but...
But what?
But you've forgotten.
Sheriff Elwood said
I must stay in town.
Can you imagine me
forgetting that?
Well, we'll send him
a telegram and apologize
for leaving
without saying goodbye.
But your people, Tommy,
maybe they won't want me.
Honey, I've been doing a lot
of telephoning today.
My family is busy
right now getting out
the heirloom jewels
for the bride.
"The bride"?
Oh, no, Tom.
Oh.
So you don't want
to marry me, huh?
Trying to brush me off.
It's just that
you mustn't do this, Tommy.
You'll be
graduated soon and...
I love you, Amina.
I hate to interrupt
your little love scene,
but isn't it
getting kind of late?
You're right.
This girl has to get
plenty of rest tonight.
We're leaving first
thing in the morning.
Leaving?
Yes, for New York.
I'm taking her
away from here.
I'm glad, Tom.
It's the best thing
you can do.
You'll take good care of her
until morning, won't you?
You may be sure of that.
We're going in
and lock all of the doors.
And not one of them
will be opened before morning.
Good enough. Oh,
there's one other thing.
Peanuts and I had
a man-to-man talk
this evening,
and we both agreed that
what she needs is a bodyguard
who will never
leave her side.
And he's convinced me that
he's the man for the job.
So he's yours from now on,
together with all
his accomplishments,
including his yelp,
appetite, and fleas,
to watch over you
and keep you from harm.
Thank you.
Good night, ladies.
Goodbye, Tom.
Come, darling.
Hear me,
almighty gods of Egypt.
Somewhere in the land
there is flesh and bone
that hides
the spirit of Ananka.
Show me her dwelling place,
O Mighty Amon-Ra.
Give me a sign
out of your omniscience
and mercy.
Give me a sign that
I may send Kharis forth
to reclaim her for whom
the tombs of Arkam wait.
If now the hour has come
to seek and find,
give me a sign.
Shed your light
upon the darkness
of my groping.
Hear my prayer...
The light.
The sign.
Oh, Kharis.
This must be the hour.
Now you will find her.
By the light and by the sign,
you will know her.
Go.
Well,
I guess we're on our way.
I'm very sorry to subject you
to this, Mrs. Norman.
That's all right.
I want to help.
Perhaps this time,
these horrors will be ended.
Thank you. Now,
just where was your husband
the last time you saw him?
He was seated there.
Is that about right?
Yes.
I came down to ask him
to come to bed,
to let his experiment
wait until morning.
Mmm-hmm.
Doctor, will you please
take the professor's place?
Certainly.
Now, just what was he doing?
Well, he was simply boiling
some leaves and taking notes.
That was all.
What about the lights?
This lamp was on.
And the only other light
was the one there on the desk.
Will you turn out
the other lights, please?
Now, Mrs. Norman,
can you remember
anything else,
any remark of his
that might be important?
No, I don't think so.
Wait. He was excited
about something.
It seems he had
just discovered
what some writing
meant on there.
Try to remember,
Mrs. Norman.
Mmm.
I think it was
something about nine.
He said nine as if
it was very important.
Important?
Why, it's the clue
I needed to complete this.
Nine...
Nine tana leaves.
That's what he meant.
Fine. That's fine.
Thank you, Mrs. Norman.
You've been a great help.
Now, will you
please go to your room?
We have a couple
of men on guard,
so you'll be perfectly safe.
Thank you.
Sheriff.
Well, I guess
we're all ready.
Go ahead, Doctor.
Yes?
What about Amina?
Wait a minute, I...
Get help! Hurry!
How deep did you dig it?
Ten feet. All right?
Yeah, it should be.
You're going to
camouflage that better,
aren't you?
Oh, sure.
Now you men know
what we're out for tonight.
I think we're playing
a long shot, but it may work.
Now I want you men
to spread out
and watch for the mummy.
If he shows himself at all,
keep him heading this way.
Now you men,
take the north end
of the turnpike road...
Beg your pardon,
Sheriff.
But if the mummy
starts this way at all,
he'll come all the way
in order to get
what he's after.
If he gets here,
we're gonna need
every man we've got
to handle him.
I suggest that
you concentrate your forces
right around the house here.
Okay, Inspector,
it's your show.
Now if the monster gets here,
don't any of you try
to tackle him alone.
Simply let him come through.
We want to
trap him in that pit
if it's humanly possible.
Is that clear?
Yes, Inspector.
Okay, boys,
stick to the grounds,
and good luck.
Sheriff Elwood, help!
Hurry, it's the mummy!
Look out! There's a pit!
Please,
I've got to see the sheriff.
Here I am, Mrs. Blake.
What happened?
Amina, the mummy took her!
The fields!
Come on, men!
All right, take her home.
Come here. Come here.
Where is she, boy?
Where is she? Show me.
The light
and the sign.
Ananka.
She's beautiful, Kharis.
As she was centuries ago.
And she has returned.
The will of Amon-Ra
has been done.
Kharis, we turn our eyes
toward home.
Who are you?
Why am I here?
I am a Priest of Arkam,
and you are here
because the gods
have willed it so.
Let me go.
Do you not know who you are?
I am Amina Mansouri. I...
You are the Princess Ananka,
third daughter of Amenophis,
onetime pharaoh
of all Egypt.
You're mad.
Centuries ago,
you died a cursed death.
No...
The birthmark of Ananka,
symbol of the Priests
of Arkam.
You cannot
escape your destiny.
It's not true.
It is true.
For those who defy the will
of the ancient gods,
a cruel and violent death
shall be their fate.
Never shall they
find rest unto eternity.
You have done
your work well, Yousef Bey.
The gods will look
with favor upon you.
Why do you not rejoice?
Perhaps because it grieves you
to consign this lovely girl
to death again.
Why should she not live,
Yousef Bey?
Why should you not live?
I live...
I live to fulfill my destiny
as a Priest of Arkam.
But what of
your destiny as a man?
You are thousands of miles
from the tombs of Arkam.
She is thousands of years
from her sin.
Look at her.
She is beautiful.
Kharis dared to love her.
Are you less brave than he?
Almighty Isis,
protect me in this,
my hour of temptation.
Give me
the strength to fulfill
my vows as a Priest of Arkam.
The tana leaves, Yousef Bey.
The tana leaves...
They would keep her
young and beautiful forever.
Take them, Yousef Bey.
You and Ananka
together forever.
Forever.
You have nothing more to fear.
Not death nor decay.
Here in this cup is
my gift of life to you.
I am going to
make you immortal.
And I, too,
shall drink and be immortal.
We will not return to Egypt.
Our world shall be wide.
Our time shall be without end.
Has any man before offered
a gift of eternal life
to his bride?
Kharis! Stop!
I'll take her back,
Kharis!
Together, we'll go to Arkam.
The three of us! I swear it!
Good dog.
We're onto something.
Come on, boys.
It's young Hervey, Sheriff!
How is he?
The monster...
Up there. Amina.
Come on, men!
Stay with him, Doc.
Looks like somebody else
has been messing around
with tana leaves.
And not so long ago.
Now, now, wait.
You'd better take it easy.
Yeah, just...
There's nobody
up in that shack.
Listen.
Amina! Amina!
You can't go in that swamp.
It's certain death.
Let go of me.
Hervey. Hervey!
Come back here!
Amina! Amina!
Hervey!
Hang on, boy.
The fate of those who defy
the will of the ancient gods
shall be a cruel
and violent death.