Blood and Lace (1971) Movie Script
1
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 hospital.
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've taken off
right after the funeral.
Well, 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.
Well, as far as I'm
concerned I'm free to do
what I wanna 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.
Okay 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.
Or maybe you didn't
know my mother.
Yes, I did.
I bet you did.
Every drifter and
traveling salesman,
schoolboy over 16
knew my mother.
Yeah, yeah...
Ah!
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 Bijoux 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 county sheriff.
Ah 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 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 a while,
and the detective we had,
died but none of the
married men wanted the job
because of the hours.
Well I don't have anybody.
And the pay is
$50 a month extra.
Heaven help the county.
Anyway I was going
over your mother's case.
I'd like to ask you a
couple of questions, Ellie.
If you were any kind
of detective, you would've
checked the report at
the coroner's inquest.
I told them everything.
All right, now you told the
coroner that you were asleep
in your room, and you
ran into the hall.
That's right.
That 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.
Now 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 big and ugly.
A lot like yours.
All right.
This big, ugly face, have
you ever seen it before?
He was just another
one of mother's clients.
Some drifter she
picked up at the bar.
Ellie.
All right Ellie
this is important.
Now this man you saw,
did he see your face?
Did the killer see your face?
I guess he must've, why?
Only because you're
the only witness,
and 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 killer is,
or where he disappeared too.
Well what if you never find him?
I don't know.
But until we're through
looking for him,
you better not go any
place by yourself.
Hiya Calvin, sorry I'm late.
Yes Harold, uhm,
can I get you a beer?
No thanks, you wanted to talk?
What's on your mind?
Ah yeah Harold.
Uhm, what do you and the
country welfare bureau
have in mind for
uhm, Ellie Masters?
Orphan's home, I'm
taking her there tomorrow.
Ah.
She sure is a pretty
little thing, isn't she?
Yeah.
Looks a lot like
her mother used to.
Yeah.
Poor Edna Masters.
Yeah.
Tell me Harold, did
you and Edna ever uh...
What the hell
difference does that make?
Well I doubt that any
man in the county didn't.
Including you, huh?
Well not in a long
time, not since she turned
professional, when
I acquired this.
Where is this home
you're taken Ellie too?
You know, the old
Jameson Deere mansion.
Oh come on Harold,
what's the matter with you?
There's a killer
loose, Ellie could be...
Now, now, now, don't
get dramatic Calvin,
you're not with the theater now,
it's a perfectly safe place.
When old 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 does.
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.
Your interest in that girl
wouldn't go beyond police duty,
would it?
It might.
What makes
you think she could ever
be interested in you?
I didn't say she
would or she could.
And I think you'd
better keep your interest
where it belongs.
You know Harold, 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 off!
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.
Don't you like it here boy?
Sneaking out of
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 weren't
in here, the county
won't pay us.
You get my drift, huh?
Ow!
You let a 16-year-old-boy
make a fool out of you.
I tell you, he just
disappeared, vanished.
He must've made it to the road.
You mean you were too
drunk to look for him.
Well it shows you I came
pretty close, I grabbed this.
Anyway it's only the first
time one has gotten away.
Harold Mullins is coming
here tomorrow with a new girl,
he's going to inspect
the place when 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 in here.
Whether he does or not,
your boozing has cost me
$150 a month.
Okay, so you lose
money on Ernest,
but Mullins is bringing
a girl you see,
tit-for-tat.
Well you better
set up the infirmary,
and you get rid
of that suitcase.
It's freezing in here.
Well, that's the idea.
Get going, we have two more.
Frozen solid.
It'll thaw out soon enough.
Come on, come on,
this thing is heavy.
I think you and me are
gonna renegotiate our deal.
Shut up and get the others.
I mean it, you get 150
a month for these kids
and all I get is a hernia.
We'll talk about it later,
the children will be
up soon, get going.
Okay, we'll talk about it later,
but just don't forget it.
I'm the only one who knows
about your little secret.
What are you doing, Tom?
I'm working, go
back upstairs, Pete.
I wanna get something to eat.
I said go back
upstairs, do you hear me?
I didn't get enough supper.
If you don't go back upstairs,
you will never eat again.
Okay, don't get mad.
What took you so long?
Uhm, I bumped
into an old friend.
Go wash the liquor
out of your breath,
we've got a big clay ahead of us.
Ssshh, quiet Mrs.
Deere, loud talk,
frightens the children.
Oh you are a
foolish child, Alice,
trying to run away.
Why, Tom could've killed
you with that knife.
Lucky I got you to
the freezer in time
or you might've bled to death.
You know Mr.
Mullins, you seem
awfully anxious to get
me to this orphanage.
It's my job, until you're
21, you're my responsibility.
Well, I got this funny feeling,
like I used to get
sometimes with my mother.
Like you're trying
to get rid of me.
So this is Ellie Masters?
Ellie, this is Mrs. Deere.
Hello.
I heard about your
mother's tragic...
Murder?
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 out and get acquainted.
Later, we'll get you
settled in a room.
There's 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, Harold?
Why not.
Hi.
Hi, are you the new girl?
I suppose so.
My name is Bunch.
I'm Ellie.
Does Mrs. Deere make
everybody work like this?
She says we have to learn
to pay our own way in life.
Uhm, I thought the
welfare bureau paid our way?
Well Mrs. Deere
says it's not enough
to take care of us, so
she needs extra income.
Oh that's uh, Walter Barns.
He's the eldest 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 wanna see her.
Perhaps I better
not, what I don't know
won't hurt me.
Hey it must be
pretty tough for you,
suddenly becoming
an orphan like that.
Not really, I've
got a father someplace.
I was born an orphan,
I've been in and out homes
all my life.
That girl Bunch
seems to be pretty nice.
Yeah she's a cute kid.
Oh I don't think she'd
like to hear you say that.
Why?
That isn't exactly, you
know, the kind of thing
a girl likes to hear
from her boyfriend.
Her boyfriend?
You gotta 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.
Ah, why don't we step
into my room and have
a nice cup of tea?
Yeah, but first I wanna
count heads for my report.
Oh of course, the count.
I have the children
stay outside,
so you could inspect.
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.
Well you know the regulation.
You keep the infirmary locked?
It keeps the other
children out and the germs in.
Ssshh, they're
sleeping, poor clears.
Maybe you can just peak in,
we don't want our welfare
officer catching anything, do we?
I'll tip-toe.
On second thought, I don't
wanna catch anything.
It might be fatal
for a man of my age.
Let's see there's
three in the infirmary,
and one in the attic.
Let's see the others outside.
No this is serious, Dorothy.
You sure you have no
idea where this boy
Ernest could be?
It's just terrible, no
child has ever run away
from my home before.
Uh-huh, well maybe
I'd better notify
the sheriff's office huh?
Well if they find
him, he won't be sent
to reform school, will he?
Well, oh, I can
use some influence.
It would be just terrible,
I'd lose that income...
Now, now, now, now, now, now!
I'll do everything I can.
Yeah...
Yeah...
I am so grateful
for you, Harold.
You know it's
always a real pleasure
doing business with you, Dottie.
Is everybody sleeping?
Everybody in this room?
My name is Ellie.
What are you doing here?
I'm exploring.
Nobody's allowed in the
house during inspection,
get out of here.
Goodbye Ellie, be good.
Goodbye Harold, keep in touch.
I'll do that.
And now, we'll take care of you.
The girls' rooms
are on this side.
The boys are over there.
How do you keep 'em apart?
With strict rules.
When you unpack we'll
store your suitcase,
since you won't be needing it.
Who's my roommate?
Oh she's a nice girl,
you'll have a lot in common.
It's me.
Bunch, this is Ellie Masters.
Sweet 16!
We met.
Well I see you two
girls are gonna get along
just fine. Get settled Ellie,
be down for dinner
at six o'clock sharp.
Latecomers aren't fed.
She's a lovely little
old bitch isn't she?
Maybe it won't be so bad.
You know Bunch, you and I
do have something in common.
Well I say, that the police will
catch Ernest and probably
have him back by morning.
Would 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, he
was the first to run away,
wasn't he?
Are you kidding,
runaway kids have run
a regular path between
here and the woods.
Well that's funny
Mr. Mullen said...
Don't worry about it,
the cops will have Ernest
back in the morning.
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've gotten away?
Yeah lucky for them.
Just because they
weren't brought back
doesn't meant they
weren't caught
and maybe sent 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 earn your way.
You'll start here and
work your way down,
Polish all the woodwork
and the floors.
That'll take a week.
And next week there'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
and I was old.
And Jameson had found
other beautiful women.
Women like your mother.
Well, he had a lot of company.
My husband was the
only thing in my life
that mattered, no
children, no friends.
Only Jameson.
And then...
Oh but that's in the past.
And you young people
people only concern
yourselves with today.
And tomorrow.
Yes tomorrow.
Well Ellie I'll do
my best to make sure
that all your todays
and your tomorrows
are full, and then
perhaps one day
you too will look in the mirror.
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.
Where are you going?
I'm taking this to
the girl in the attic.
You wanna keep her company?
But that girl is gonna die.
There's only one thing worse
than trying to run away kid,
that's seeing things
and saying things.
You get my drift, huh?
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, Tom.
Tom, Mr. Carruthers thinks
that Ernest might be
hiding in the house.
Oh is that so?
He thinks the house
will have to be searched.
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 murderer.
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-penny nail
through a couple of 2x4s.
Any cop that is worth
his wage can do that.
Yeah I guess you're right.
You 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 customer?
I just saw her around
town, she wasn't my type.
Her daughter is something else,
I'd like to take
a crack at that.
What the hell is
the matter with you?
I don't like that kinda talk.
Ellie happens to be a nice girl.
Yeah, sure she is.
That's the way you
like 'em, huh officer?
Nice and young.
Well, it appears you
made yourself a home.
Home, you mean workhouse.
It's like they say in jail.
The first week is the toughest.
That's a good comparison.
What brings you here?
I'm checking out the
runaway boy, Ernest.
Well, you're not gonna find him,
any more than you'd
find any of the others.
What others?
The other kids that ran away.
Mr. Mullens tried to tell
me that there weren't any.
But I know different.
Uh Ellie.
About your mother.
I don't have any leads but uh,
I do have some ideas.
What am I supposed
to do, wait around?
You're going someplace?
Well anything's better
than this concentration camp.
Well 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.
Hmm?
Please, I'm thirsty.
Yes Jennifer, I have water.
I'm sorry.
I'll never do it
again, I promise.
I'm sure you will never do
it again Jennifer, but you're
going to stay in detention,
so the other children will
learn by your example.
Oh you were fortunate you know.
When Tom caught
you he could've...
He wanted to kill me.
Tom's 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 of the children
are important to me.
Oh, oh yes, the water.
It's so cold and clear.
And sweet.
I used to dream about a girl,
a stroll in the woods.
But there was never
anybody to do it with.
I'm very glad you came, Ellie.
I'm not gonna be
here for long, Walter.
What do you mean?
I mean I'm gonna 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 did.
They were boys Ellie,
they could take care
of themselves in the woods.
Besides, it's not really
that bad living in the home.
Then you're blind.
Jennifer's dying in the attic
and that stupid witch
is starving us to death.
Well, 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. Mullens
inspection, now
you're just blowing us
all out of shape.
And Jennifer,
she'll be okay too.
Mrs. Deere is a little
strict, that's all.
Tom Kredge, he
gives me the creeps.
He was a harmless lush.
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 gotta find my father.
What for, what good is
it going to do you, Ellie?
Maybe you've got
folks somewhere,
don't you wanna know?
Know what?
Well, you got a mother
and you got a father,
and you're a little
bit of both of them,
and you can look at them and see
what you're going to be.
Maybe it's better not to know.
Well I've got to.
There's gotta be something
better than my mother.
Maybe my father was
strong and kind.
He's 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 kinda 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.
Poor Ellie Masters,
all cooped up in
this old house, out in
the middle of nowhere.
Doesn't it get to you?
Well it isn't exactly my doing.
Do I get the feeling
you kinda wanna get away?
Hardly more than all the time.
And now you can.
Can what?
Escape.
Is this part of
your job, trying to see
who wants to run?
Well if you're not interested...
Okay, I am.
We can't talk here,
meet me in the cellar.
Cellar?
That's where I keep my tools,
no one will see us talking.
Here hold this for me.
No.
Take it so I can get down.
No, I'm afraid of those things.
It won't bite, it's
just a hammer, take it.
Tom was that you?
What are you doing here?
Have you finished your chores?
No ma'am, not yet.
Then why are you dawdling boy?
Well, you told me once
that I ever saw anything
that looked suspicious,
I should come and
report it to you.
Well?
Well...
I was outside a few minutes ago,
and I saw something I
think you wanna know about.
How did you get in here?
I came in through a window.
I don't want anybody to know
we're down here together.
You better tell me
what you got in mind.
If I show you a way to escape,
what will you do for me?
Anything you want.
You promise?
Show me.
A deal.
Here it is.
The great escape - whiskey.
You bastard!
You bastard!
Let go of me!
Why are you always trying to escape?
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 don't understand-
Ellie!
I think what
really happened was,
I caught her fooling
around the freezer and uh...
You are 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 outta here.
Oh no, I'm not not fired.
As a 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.
If I leave here, I'll take
our little secret with me.
Only when I get through,
it won't be a secret.
You're not that stupid,
you'd implicate yourself.
You're looking at a man
who has nothing to lose.
Plus if it's worth having,
I never really lost it.
It's you and me, 50/50.
Or you will own zero.
All right Tom, if that's
the way it has to be.
Please.
Stop your whimpering.
You're a witch!
A crazy witch!
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.
Then you don't really care
if Jennifer lives or dies.
Everything'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.
Walter.
Ellie I did an awful thing.
I was the one that
told Mrs. Deere
that you were in the
cellar with Tom Kredge.
Why?
I was jealous I guess.
That'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.
Then what the hell
difference does it make?
If you got into
town once in awhile,
you could've
patronized my mother.
Ellie for crying out loud.
Oh 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
coming in late at night.
Laughing and giggling and...
And then later I'd hear them
trashing around and I... I'd
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 him.
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.
That the only feelings
that she ever had for me
was blame.
Oh, you know Walter,
maybe you're right.
Maybe it is best not to know.
Not to know what?
That you're just some
poor accidental bastard
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?
Well, Ellie is only a couple
of years older than I am.
Come back in a couple of years,
and we'll talk about it.
Boy, are you dumb?
Can't you 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 you would, Walter.
Well?
Yeah it's all there.
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.
I mean there's the
mortgage to pay
and the food, so many problems,
money, the children running away
and now Tom Kredge.
Yes, I suppose I'll
have to get rid of him,
just as you say.
I still want.
Oh but, but I am grateful
for your help, Jameson.
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.
This horrible...
Horrible...
Horrible what?
Face.
It was a nightmare, of course.
I don't know, it 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
be afraid of Ellie,
it was a bad dream, wasn't it?
A bad dream.
That's all wrong for you.
How would you know what's
wrong or right for me?
Well I do know that
that looks like something
out of a carnival sideshow.
Let me help you.
Okay look, will you
just leave me alone?
I really don't need any
of that big sister stuff.
Okay.
But a girl your age
shouldn't be wearing
make-up anyway...
Oh yes, a girl in 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.
Oh I'm sure you can make Walter.
But you'll never interest him.
All right ladies,
let's not wreck the joint!
She started it!
You're a liar in
addition to everything else.
Oh, look who's calling names!
We know all about
your father, Ellie,
tell us about your mother!
Well we 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 it is!
Only it isn't.
It isn't?
I had a dream.
I saw a hammer...
No wonder it looked so real.
It wasn't a dream.
Now Pete can you remember
what you're supposed to do?
Yeah but what is
this, the senior play?
You just go find
Walter and tell him
what I told you.
Okay.
Then what do you do?
Exactly 10 minutes
after Walter gets
to the shed, I tell
Ellie that Walter
wants to see her in
the shed right away.
Good, now get going.
Okay.
Hey Walter!
Yeah?
Bunch is over at the shed.
So?
She 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!
Don't worry Walter.
You and your little slut
can have each other,
I'm clearing out.
Let her go, Walter.
But I think she's
gonna run away.
Good!
But I don't want her to go.
Mrs. Deere, it's Ellie.
You've gotta stop her.
Walter every time I see you,
you've got some hot
news about Ellie.
What is it this time?
Well, she's gonna run away.
Who told you?
She did.
Someone tried to
kill 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 killed 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?!
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.
You've gotta let her run away,
to hell with the money!
Suppose she goes to the police,
with a wild story about a
killer hiding in the house,
what do you suppose
would happen?
Yeah, we'll have
cops all over the place.
There's only one thing to do.
Walter knows Ellie wants to go.
And by now all of
the children know.
So nobody is 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.
Okay.
What about that
welfare guy, Mullens?
Next time he comes,
we'll simply show him
Ellie Masters in the infirmary,
poor dear, she caught a cold.
Oh lady, I wanna talk to you!
Why Harold, what a surprise.
You can save the crap,
you made a fool out of me.
Oh, I don't know what you mean!
You said Ernest was the only
kid that ever ran away from here.
That's right.
Yeah but somebody
told the police
there's been a
whole lot of others.
Oh, Harold, shhht, the children.
Oh to hell with the
children, to hell with you.
I got a job at stake.
Let's talk about
it in the house.
Uhm, no, let's take a walk.
I don't wanna take a walk.
Let's go into the house.
At this time I wanna
speak to every single kid.
Well of course
Harold, whatever you say.
And they better all be there.
Certainly, you'll
see them all, everyone.
Pete, I think
you've finally cracked!
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 is
gonna die in there!
I'm not falling
for your corny joke,
go talk to Mrs. Deere!
Are you kidding,
Tom works for her,
they're probably in
on this together.
What an imagination.
Bunch, you've gotta
go to the cellar with me.
I'm too scared to go by myself.
That's ridiculous.
Or maybe you're scared too?
Okay, I'll play your game.
Let me out, let
me out of here, out!
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 better mind
your own business,
because you know Mrs. Deere
doesn't like us down here.
But I saw them!
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.
It'd be better from
bottom to the top.
Yes Tom, good idea.
Start with the cellar Harold,
Tom will guide you.
I wanna see every nook
and cranny in this house.
Oh you will.
And then I wanna talk
to each child, alone.
You may find,
that some of them
aren't really 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 outta here then.
Go outside with the
other kids, go on.
Why was he so anxious
to break this open?
Beats me, crazy kid.
It's a cooler room
for meat storage.
Let's get to work on
those nooks and crannies.
Where's Pete?
Where's Pete?
Oh here he comes, right here.
Where were you?
I wanna see the
inside of this thing.
Well sure, only
I don't have a key.
Then you'd better
get it, Kredge.
Sure, you wait right
here, Mr. Mullins.
Ahem.
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.
Who the hell are you?
Whoever you are,
you're a dead one!
You're not leaving my house!
Ellie, you got out!
She tried to kill me!
See I told you, I
wasn't making it up.
She's got the bodies of the
kids that tried to run away
in the freezer!
Ellie!
She murdered them!
Look all of you, run,
run away this is your
only chance, run!
Come on, let's go!
Let's
go where, Pete?
You're 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!
No, no!
No, don't kill me!
No please, I didn't
mean to hurt you!
I didn't even know
that you were there!
I didn't wanna hurt you!
Calvin?
That's right, Calvin.
Last week I found
the body of a man
in 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 kill and
he managed to crawl away.
Oh you said you
never saw the hammer
but I thought it was
kinda funny you'd have
nightmares about unless you did.
Well you learned that the
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 kill me.
I thought there
was something fishy
about that Mrs.
Deere and her house.
Well, I thought I'd do
some snooping around.
I got the idea I
would use you as bait.
And scare you into running off.
Just see what they would do.
Well, I found out.
You're so clever, Calvin.
False face and all.
This is nothing but
theatrical make-up that's all.
Come on.
What's gonna 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 figure we
could become friends.
Very good friends.
Now that we've gotten to
know each other so well.
Don't you wanna arrest me?
Arrest ya?
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.
It 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.
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 hospital.
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've taken off
right after the funeral.
Well, 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.
Well, as far as I'm
concerned I'm free to do
what I wanna 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.
Okay 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.
Or maybe you didn't
know my mother.
Yes, I did.
I bet you did.
Every drifter and
traveling salesman,
schoolboy over 16
knew my mother.
Yeah, yeah...
Ah!
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 Bijoux 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 county sheriff.
Ah 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 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 a while,
and the detective we had,
died but none of the
married men wanted the job
because of the hours.
Well I don't have anybody.
And the pay is
$50 a month extra.
Heaven help the county.
Anyway I was going
over your mother's case.
I'd like to ask you a
couple of questions, Ellie.
If you were any kind
of detective, you would've
checked the report at
the coroner's inquest.
I told them everything.
All right, now you told the
coroner that you were asleep
in your room, and you
ran into the hall.
That's right.
That 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.
Now 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 big and ugly.
A lot like yours.
All right.
This big, ugly face, have
you ever seen it before?
He was just another
one of mother's clients.
Some drifter she
picked up at the bar.
Ellie.
All right Ellie
this is important.
Now this man you saw,
did he see your face?
Did the killer see your face?
I guess he must've, why?
Only because you're
the only witness,
and 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 killer is,
or where he disappeared too.
Well what if you never find him?
I don't know.
But until we're through
looking for him,
you better not go any
place by yourself.
Hiya Calvin, sorry I'm late.
Yes Harold, uhm,
can I get you a beer?
No thanks, you wanted to talk?
What's on your mind?
Ah yeah Harold.
Uhm, what do you and the
country welfare bureau
have in mind for
uhm, Ellie Masters?
Orphan's home, I'm
taking her there tomorrow.
Ah.
She sure is a pretty
little thing, isn't she?
Yeah.
Looks a lot like
her mother used to.
Yeah.
Poor Edna Masters.
Yeah.
Tell me Harold, did
you and Edna ever uh...
What the hell
difference does that make?
Well I doubt that any
man in the county didn't.
Including you, huh?
Well not in a long
time, not since she turned
professional, when
I acquired this.
Where is this home
you're taken Ellie too?
You know, the old
Jameson Deere mansion.
Oh come on Harold,
what's the matter with you?
There's a killer
loose, Ellie could be...
Now, now, now, don't
get dramatic Calvin,
you're not with the theater now,
it's a perfectly safe place.
When old 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 does.
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.
Your interest in that girl
wouldn't go beyond police duty,
would it?
It might.
What makes
you think she could ever
be interested in you?
I didn't say she
would or she could.
And I think you'd
better keep your interest
where it belongs.
You know Harold, 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 off!
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.
Don't you like it here boy?
Sneaking out of
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 weren't
in here, the county
won't pay us.
You get my drift, huh?
Ow!
You let a 16-year-old-boy
make a fool out of you.
I tell you, he just
disappeared, vanished.
He must've made it to the road.
You mean you were too
drunk to look for him.
Well it shows you I came
pretty close, I grabbed this.
Anyway it's only the first
time one has gotten away.
Harold Mullins is coming
here tomorrow with a new girl,
he's going to inspect
the place when 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 in here.
Whether he does or not,
your boozing has cost me
$150 a month.
Okay, so you lose
money on Ernest,
but Mullins is bringing
a girl you see,
tit-for-tat.
Well you better
set up the infirmary,
and you get rid
of that suitcase.
It's freezing in here.
Well, that's the idea.
Get going, we have two more.
Frozen solid.
It'll thaw out soon enough.
Come on, come on,
this thing is heavy.
I think you and me are
gonna renegotiate our deal.
Shut up and get the others.
I mean it, you get 150
a month for these kids
and all I get is a hernia.
We'll talk about it later,
the children will be
up soon, get going.
Okay, we'll talk about it later,
but just don't forget it.
I'm the only one who knows
about your little secret.
What are you doing, Tom?
I'm working, go
back upstairs, Pete.
I wanna get something to eat.
I said go back
upstairs, do you hear me?
I didn't get enough supper.
If you don't go back upstairs,
you will never eat again.
Okay, don't get mad.
What took you so long?
Uhm, I bumped
into an old friend.
Go wash the liquor
out of your breath,
we've got a big clay ahead of us.
Ssshh, quiet Mrs.
Deere, loud talk,
frightens the children.
Oh you are a
foolish child, Alice,
trying to run away.
Why, Tom could've killed
you with that knife.
Lucky I got you to
the freezer in time
or you might've bled to death.
You know Mr.
Mullins, you seem
awfully anxious to get
me to this orphanage.
It's my job, until you're
21, you're my responsibility.
Well, I got this funny feeling,
like I used to get
sometimes with my mother.
Like you're trying
to get rid of me.
So this is Ellie Masters?
Ellie, this is Mrs. Deere.
Hello.
I heard about your
mother's tragic...
Murder?
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 out and get acquainted.
Later, we'll get you
settled in a room.
There's 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, Harold?
Why not.
Hi.
Hi, are you the new girl?
I suppose so.
My name is Bunch.
I'm Ellie.
Does Mrs. Deere make
everybody work like this?
She says we have to learn
to pay our own way in life.
Uhm, I thought the
welfare bureau paid our way?
Well Mrs. Deere
says it's not enough
to take care of us, so
she needs extra income.
Oh that's uh, Walter Barns.
He's the eldest 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 wanna see her.
Perhaps I better
not, what I don't know
won't hurt me.
Hey it must be
pretty tough for you,
suddenly becoming
an orphan like that.
Not really, I've
got a father someplace.
I was born an orphan,
I've been in and out homes
all my life.
That girl Bunch
seems to be pretty nice.
Yeah she's a cute kid.
Oh I don't think she'd
like to hear you say that.
Why?
That isn't exactly, you
know, the kind of thing
a girl likes to hear
from her boyfriend.
Her boyfriend?
You gotta 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.
Ah, why don't we step
into my room and have
a nice cup of tea?
Yeah, but first I wanna
count heads for my report.
Oh of course, the count.
I have the children
stay outside,
so you could inspect.
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.
Well you know the regulation.
You keep the infirmary locked?
It keeps the other
children out and the germs in.
Ssshh, they're
sleeping, poor clears.
Maybe you can just peak in,
we don't want our welfare
officer catching anything, do we?
I'll tip-toe.
On second thought, I don't
wanna catch anything.
It might be fatal
for a man of my age.
Let's see there's
three in the infirmary,
and one in the attic.
Let's see the others outside.
No this is serious, Dorothy.
You sure you have no
idea where this boy
Ernest could be?
It's just terrible, no
child has ever run away
from my home before.
Uh-huh, well maybe
I'd better notify
the sheriff's office huh?
Well if they find
him, he won't be sent
to reform school, will he?
Well, oh, I can
use some influence.
It would be just terrible,
I'd lose that income...
Now, now, now, now, now, now!
I'll do everything I can.
Yeah...
Yeah...
I am so grateful
for you, Harold.
You know it's
always a real pleasure
doing business with you, Dottie.
Is everybody sleeping?
Everybody in this room?
My name is Ellie.
What are you doing here?
I'm exploring.
Nobody's allowed in the
house during inspection,
get out of here.
Goodbye Ellie, be good.
Goodbye Harold, keep in touch.
I'll do that.
And now, we'll take care of you.
The girls' rooms
are on this side.
The boys are over there.
How do you keep 'em apart?
With strict rules.
When you unpack we'll
store your suitcase,
since you won't be needing it.
Who's my roommate?
Oh she's a nice girl,
you'll have a lot in common.
It's me.
Bunch, this is Ellie Masters.
Sweet 16!
We met.
Well I see you two
girls are gonna get along
just fine. Get settled Ellie,
be down for dinner
at six o'clock sharp.
Latecomers aren't fed.
She's a lovely little
old bitch isn't she?
Maybe it won't be so bad.
You know Bunch, you and I
do have something in common.
Well I say, that the police will
catch Ernest and probably
have him back by morning.
Would 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, he
was the first to run away,
wasn't he?
Are you kidding,
runaway kids have run
a regular path between
here and the woods.
Well that's funny
Mr. Mullen said...
Don't worry about it,
the cops will have Ernest
back in the morning.
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've gotten away?
Yeah lucky for them.
Just because they
weren't brought back
doesn't meant they
weren't caught
and maybe sent 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 earn your way.
You'll start here and
work your way down,
Polish all the woodwork
and the floors.
That'll take a week.
And next week there'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
and I was old.
And Jameson had found
other beautiful women.
Women like your mother.
Well, he had a lot of company.
My husband was the
only thing in my life
that mattered, no
children, no friends.
Only Jameson.
And then...
Oh but that's in the past.
And you young people
people only concern
yourselves with today.
And tomorrow.
Yes tomorrow.
Well Ellie I'll do
my best to make sure
that all your todays
and your tomorrows
are full, and then
perhaps one day
you too will look in the mirror.
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.
Where are you going?
I'm taking this to
the girl in the attic.
You wanna keep her company?
But that girl is gonna die.
There's only one thing worse
than trying to run away kid,
that's seeing things
and saying things.
You get my drift, huh?
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, Tom.
Tom, Mr. Carruthers thinks
that Ernest might be
hiding in the house.
Oh is that so?
He thinks the house
will have to be searched.
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 murderer.
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-penny nail
through a couple of 2x4s.
Any cop that is worth
his wage can do that.
Yeah I guess you're right.
You 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 customer?
I just saw her around
town, she wasn't my type.
Her daughter is something else,
I'd like to take
a crack at that.
What the hell is
the matter with you?
I don't like that kinda talk.
Ellie happens to be a nice girl.
Yeah, sure she is.
That's the way you
like 'em, huh officer?
Nice and young.
Well, it appears you
made yourself a home.
Home, you mean workhouse.
It's like they say in jail.
The first week is the toughest.
That's a good comparison.
What brings you here?
I'm checking out the
runaway boy, Ernest.
Well, you're not gonna find him,
any more than you'd
find any of the others.
What others?
The other kids that ran away.
Mr. Mullens tried to tell
me that there weren't any.
But I know different.
Uh Ellie.
About your mother.
I don't have any leads but uh,
I do have some ideas.
What am I supposed
to do, wait around?
You're going someplace?
Well anything's better
than this concentration camp.
Well 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.
Hmm?
Please, I'm thirsty.
Yes Jennifer, I have water.
I'm sorry.
I'll never do it
again, I promise.
I'm sure you will never do
it again Jennifer, but you're
going to stay in detention,
so the other children will
learn by your example.
Oh you were fortunate you know.
When Tom caught
you he could've...
He wanted to kill me.
Tom's 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 of the children
are important to me.
Oh, oh yes, the water.
It's so cold and clear.
And sweet.
I used to dream about a girl,
a stroll in the woods.
But there was never
anybody to do it with.
I'm very glad you came, Ellie.
I'm not gonna be
here for long, Walter.
What do you mean?
I mean I'm gonna 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 did.
They were boys Ellie,
they could take care
of themselves in the woods.
Besides, it's not really
that bad living in the home.
Then you're blind.
Jennifer's dying in the attic
and that stupid witch
is starving us to death.
Well, 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. Mullens
inspection, now
you're just blowing us
all out of shape.
And Jennifer,
she'll be okay too.
Mrs. Deere is a little
strict, that's all.
Tom Kredge, he
gives me the creeps.
He was a harmless lush.
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 gotta find my father.
What for, what good is
it going to do you, Ellie?
Maybe you've got
folks somewhere,
don't you wanna know?
Know what?
Well, you got a mother
and you got a father,
and you're a little
bit of both of them,
and you can look at them and see
what you're going to be.
Maybe it's better not to know.
Well I've got to.
There's gotta be something
better than my mother.
Maybe my father was
strong and kind.
He's 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 kinda 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.
Poor Ellie Masters,
all cooped up in
this old house, out in
the middle of nowhere.
Doesn't it get to you?
Well it isn't exactly my doing.
Do I get the feeling
you kinda wanna get away?
Hardly more than all the time.
And now you can.
Can what?
Escape.
Is this part of
your job, trying to see
who wants to run?
Well if you're not interested...
Okay, I am.
We can't talk here,
meet me in the cellar.
Cellar?
That's where I keep my tools,
no one will see us talking.
Here hold this for me.
No.
Take it so I can get down.
No, I'm afraid of those things.
It won't bite, it's
just a hammer, take it.
Tom was that you?
What are you doing here?
Have you finished your chores?
No ma'am, not yet.
Then why are you dawdling boy?
Well, you told me once
that I ever saw anything
that looked suspicious,
I should come and
report it to you.
Well?
Well...
I was outside a few minutes ago,
and I saw something I
think you wanna know about.
How did you get in here?
I came in through a window.
I don't want anybody to know
we're down here together.
You better tell me
what you got in mind.
If I show you a way to escape,
what will you do for me?
Anything you want.
You promise?
Show me.
A deal.
Here it is.
The great escape - whiskey.
You bastard!
You bastard!
Let go of me!
Why are you always trying to escape?
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 don't understand-
Ellie!
I think what
really happened was,
I caught her fooling
around the freezer and uh...
You are 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 outta here.
Oh no, I'm not not fired.
As a 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.
If I leave here, I'll take
our little secret with me.
Only when I get through,
it won't be a secret.
You're not that stupid,
you'd implicate yourself.
You're looking at a man
who has nothing to lose.
Plus if it's worth having,
I never really lost it.
It's you and me, 50/50.
Or you will own zero.
All right Tom, if that's
the way it has to be.
Please.
Stop your whimpering.
You're a witch!
A crazy witch!
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.
Then you don't really care
if Jennifer lives or dies.
Everything'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.
Walter.
Ellie I did an awful thing.
I was the one that
told Mrs. Deere
that you were in the
cellar with Tom Kredge.
Why?
I was jealous I guess.
That'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.
Then what the hell
difference does it make?
If you got into
town once in awhile,
you could've
patronized my mother.
Ellie for crying out loud.
Oh 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
coming in late at night.
Laughing and giggling and...
And then later I'd hear them
trashing around and I... I'd
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 him.
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.
That the only feelings
that she ever had for me
was blame.
Oh, you know Walter,
maybe you're right.
Maybe it is best not to know.
Not to know what?
That you're just some
poor accidental bastard
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?
Well, Ellie is only a couple
of years older than I am.
Come back in a couple of years,
and we'll talk about it.
Boy, are you dumb?
Can't you 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 you would, Walter.
Well?
Yeah it's all there.
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.
I mean there's the
mortgage to pay
and the food, so many problems,
money, the children running away
and now Tom Kredge.
Yes, I suppose I'll
have to get rid of him,
just as you say.
I still want.
Oh but, but I am grateful
for your help, Jameson.
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.
This horrible...
Horrible...
Horrible what?
Face.
It was a nightmare, of course.
I don't know, it 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
be afraid of Ellie,
it was a bad dream, wasn't it?
A bad dream.
That's all wrong for you.
How would you know what's
wrong or right for me?
Well I do know that
that looks like something
out of a carnival sideshow.
Let me help you.
Okay look, will you
just leave me alone?
I really don't need any
of that big sister stuff.
Okay.
But a girl your age
shouldn't be wearing
make-up anyway...
Oh yes, a girl in 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.
Oh I'm sure you can make Walter.
But you'll never interest him.
All right ladies,
let's not wreck the joint!
She started it!
You're a liar in
addition to everything else.
Oh, look who's calling names!
We know all about
your father, Ellie,
tell us about your mother!
Well we 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 it is!
Only it isn't.
It isn't?
I had a dream.
I saw a hammer...
No wonder it looked so real.
It wasn't a dream.
Now Pete can you remember
what you're supposed to do?
Yeah but what is
this, the senior play?
You just go find
Walter and tell him
what I told you.
Okay.
Then what do you do?
Exactly 10 minutes
after Walter gets
to the shed, I tell
Ellie that Walter
wants to see her in
the shed right away.
Good, now get going.
Okay.
Hey Walter!
Yeah?
Bunch is over at the shed.
So?
She 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!
Don't worry Walter.
You and your little slut
can have each other,
I'm clearing out.
Let her go, Walter.
But I think she's
gonna run away.
Good!
But I don't want her to go.
Mrs. Deere, it's Ellie.
You've gotta stop her.
Walter every time I see you,
you've got some hot
news about Ellie.
What is it this time?
Well, she's gonna run away.
Who told you?
She did.
Someone tried to
kill 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 killed 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?!
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.
You've gotta let her run away,
to hell with the money!
Suppose she goes to the police,
with a wild story about a
killer hiding in the house,
what do you suppose
would happen?
Yeah, we'll have
cops all over the place.
There's only one thing to do.
Walter knows Ellie wants to go.
And by now all of
the children know.
So nobody is 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.
Okay.
What about that
welfare guy, Mullens?
Next time he comes,
we'll simply show him
Ellie Masters in the infirmary,
poor dear, she caught a cold.
Oh lady, I wanna talk to you!
Why Harold, what a surprise.
You can save the crap,
you made a fool out of me.
Oh, I don't know what you mean!
You said Ernest was the only
kid that ever ran away from here.
That's right.
Yeah but somebody
told the police
there's been a
whole lot of others.
Oh, Harold, shhht, the children.
Oh to hell with the
children, to hell with you.
I got a job at stake.
Let's talk about
it in the house.
Uhm, no, let's take a walk.
I don't wanna take a walk.
Let's go into the house.
At this time I wanna
speak to every single kid.
Well of course
Harold, whatever you say.
And they better all be there.
Certainly, you'll
see them all, everyone.
Pete, I think
you've finally cracked!
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 is
gonna die in there!
I'm not falling
for your corny joke,
go talk to Mrs. Deere!
Are you kidding,
Tom works for her,
they're probably in
on this together.
What an imagination.
Bunch, you've gotta
go to the cellar with me.
I'm too scared to go by myself.
That's ridiculous.
Or maybe you're scared too?
Okay, I'll play your game.
Let me out, let
me out of here, out!
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 better mind
your own business,
because you know Mrs. Deere
doesn't like us down here.
But I saw them!
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.
It'd be better from
bottom to the top.
Yes Tom, good idea.
Start with the cellar Harold,
Tom will guide you.
I wanna see every nook
and cranny in this house.
Oh you will.
And then I wanna talk
to each child, alone.
You may find,
that some of them
aren't really 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 outta here then.
Go outside with the
other kids, go on.
Why was he so anxious
to break this open?
Beats me, crazy kid.
It's a cooler room
for meat storage.
Let's get to work on
those nooks and crannies.
Where's Pete?
Where's Pete?
Oh here he comes, right here.
Where were you?
I wanna see the
inside of this thing.
Well sure, only
I don't have a key.
Then you'd better
get it, Kredge.
Sure, you wait right
here, Mr. Mullins.
Ahem.
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.
Who the hell are you?
Whoever you are,
you're a dead one!
You're not leaving my house!
Ellie, you got out!
She tried to kill me!
See I told you, I
wasn't making it up.
She's got the bodies of the
kids that tried to run away
in the freezer!
Ellie!
She murdered them!
Look all of you, run,
run away this is your
only chance, run!
Come on, let's go!
Let's
go where, Pete?
You're 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!
No, no!
No, don't kill me!
No please, I didn't
mean to hurt you!
I didn't even know
that you were there!
I didn't wanna hurt you!
Calvin?
That's right, Calvin.
Last week I found
the body of a man
in 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 kill and
he managed to crawl away.
Oh you said you
never saw the hammer
but I thought it was
kinda funny you'd have
nightmares about unless you did.
Well you learned that the
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 kill me.
I thought there
was something fishy
about that Mrs.
Deere and her house.
Well, I thought I'd do
some snooping around.
I got the idea I
would use you as bait.
And scare you into running off.
Just see what they would do.
Well, I found out.
You're so clever, Calvin.
False face and all.
This is nothing but
theatrical make-up that's all.
Come on.
What's gonna 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 figure we
could become friends.
Very good friends.
Now that we've gotten to
know each other so well.
Don't you wanna arrest me?
Arrest ya?
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.
It 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.