The Turn of the Screw (2009) Movie Script

Dr Fisher. When are you
going to let me out of here?
When are you going to
let me out of here?
Calm down!
Has she said anything at all today?
No.
Nothing, as usual.
What is it, Ann,
something you recognise?
I've told you. I'm not here
to judge you, I'm here to help you.
Wouldn't it help if you could tell me about the
terrible things that happened in this beautiful house?
Tell me about Wigmore Street, Ann.
You CAN do that.
When you left home
and went to Wigmore Street that day,
you were excited, weren't you?
You were young, innocent,
in the big city for the first time.
You wanted to make
a good impression.
INSECT BUZZES
DOOR OPENS
Ah! The new Governess,
if I'm not mistaken.
You're not very old, are you?
Forgive me, I'm sure you're
quite old enough.
I'm 20. That is considered
quite old in Suffolk.
I lost my only brother in the war.
So, here I am. All the others are
long gone. I'm the only one left.
And the children?
Oh, of course, there's
my niece and nephew.
Orphans, poor things.
Miles and Flora.
Strange little... shadowy creatures.
I'm responsible for them.
Bly's our old country house.
My London life is hardly
suitable for children.
And I don't need Bly,
for now anyway.
I may need it in the future,
of course, when I marry.
You are to be married?
In the abstract, I will be married.
One day we men must
people the earth again.
But, er,
there are so many women.
Beautiful, accomplished, virtuous.
How can one choose?
You're not the nervous sort,
are you? Some girls are.
That's not you, is it?
No.
No, sir, it's not.
Because the post of Governess,
so many have left it
before they even start it.
The last girl, the pretty
one I chose, Miss Jessel,
I favoured her and she let me down.
She left without
even a week's notice.
If I trust you with this job,
you must promise, promise,
never to disturb me,
never to worry me, about anything.
I would never let you down, sir.
Then, if everything goes well,
if you succeed,
where all the others failed,
I will come and visit,
to inspect what you do.
You need to talk to me, Ann.
MAN SHOUTS
Why do you let those bloody priests
in here? This is a place of science.
Where was their god when those
boys were at the Somme?
I hear you were in the women's
wing again this afternoon?
I don't understand what makes this case so
fascinating. What is it that you are trying to achieve?
I don't know.
I just know I have to try.
Well, you can make your name
on any of these soldiers' cases.
That's where all the glory is.
Young men who've been torn apart and
been through unimaginable horrors.
A female mind is less of a challenge.
They don't have anything to do all day
so they imagine all kinds of things.
What's the point
trying to save her soul?
If she has one, that is.
Or is that what you're looking for? I'm
convinced I'm getting somewhere with her.
She's about to tell me
what happened. On the brink.
Then the matter must
takes it's course.
But you're running out of time.
Soon it will be out of our hands.
Well, we don't need that, do we?
We've gone beyond that, haven't we?
Do you believe in God, Ann?
I believe in...
The other.
You believe in the devil?
I've seen him.
We don't have much time, Ann.
You need to tell me what happened.
You need to take me there.
It was a sunny day.
The perfect day.
That first day I went to Bly.
DOG BARKS
Hello. Mrs Grose?
Miss Hazeldine, welcome to Bly.
I'm sorry, Miss. We haven't got a
full compliment of staff to greet you.
Not like we use to have
before the war.
There's just us women now.
Of course, I don't know what the
master might have told you to expect.
It is a very fine welcome.
I hope we can be friends.
And where is Flora?
GIRL GIGGLES
Er...
She was so excited when she knew you
were coming. I think she's hiding.
She's hoping that you'll
play hide and seek with her.
It's her favourite game. Thank you.
Let's get back to work.
PIANO PLAYS
Hello?
DOOR SLAMS SHUFlora?
Where are you?
GIRL GIGGLES
GIGGLES TURN TO SOBS
It's all right, Flora.
Don't worry. I'm coming.
There you are.
We've been waiting for you.
Was that you I heard,
playing the piano?
I play the piano very well.
Miles does too, but better.
Would you like to see my bedroom?
ECHOED WHISPERS
Well?
It's beautiful.
This is Miles's room.
He doesn't like people going in,
touching his things.
He'll be home soon,
so he can show you.
Not very soon. I think.
Maybe at the end of term.
It'll be a little while yet.
Is my room so very far away?
You're to have the governess's room.
Did you like her?
Your last governess?
We all liked her.
Uncle liked her especially.
Was she pretty? Oh, yes.
She was just like a princess.
This is your room.
No! Not yet.
You'll spoil the surprise.
You can't look.
Not just yet.
Who is that?
Is someone there with you?
WHISPERED VOICES
Stop it!
GIGGLING
Do you like them?
We spent all day yesterday
picking them from the garden.
DOG BARKS
HEAVY BREATHING
DOG GROWLS
Hello, boy.
Where did you get to last night, eh?
BREATHING
Hello?
Who's there?
Playing a game, were we, boy?
I can see through your tricks.
FLOORBOARDS CREAK
There you are, Miss.
Won't you call me Ann?
Flora is so lovely.
I can't believe Miles
could be her equal.
Yes, Miss Flora is an angel.
And Miles, well you'll be
quite carried away by him,
you see if you're not.
I'm afraid I can get carried away
by people quite easily.
I got rather carried away
in Wigmore Street.
Well, you wouldn't be the first.
Miss Ann?
She's been up for hours. She's
waiting to show you the garden.
Oh, I forgot to thank you
for the flowers.
In my room. Flora said you'd helped her pick
them. Thank you for making me feel so welcome.
'I told you I would come
if you did well. '
BIRD FLAPS WINGS
You are sure that there
isn't a gamekeeper,
someone from the village, maybe?
No, there's only been us women
here since the master left.
I saw someone, hiding on the tower.
Are you sure none of
the maids has a lover?
Someone they're helping,
with food maybe?
Good lord, no.
No-one would do anything like that
here. This is a respectable house.
You must have been mistaken.
It's a wild garden, it's been a hot
day and if you're not used to it...
Aren't you going to open that?
It's a letter from uncle, isn't it?
It will be business I'm sure,
so I will read it later,
in private.
'Could Flora tell?
'How much I was longing
to hear from him.
'How I wish the master
would come home.
'Was he thinking of me, I wondered?
'Even a fraction as much
as I thought of him. '
"This is from the Headmaster.
He's an awful bore.
"Read him, deal with him,
but don't bother me with it.
"Not a word to me, remember?"
Miles is dismissed from his school.
But why?
Miles may never go back at all.
They refuse to take him?
Absolutely.
Do they say why?
Here. No.
Such things are not for me.
Master left you in charge.
Tell me honestly, Sarah,
is Miles a bad boy?
Do they say so?
They go into no particulars.
They simply express their regret that
it will be impossible to keep him.
My God.
They can only have one meaning.
He is a danger to the other boys.
A danger?! Master Miles?!
That angel?!
Why, he's scarcely ten years old.
Look! Look at the prizes
he's brought home.
I told you Miles was coming home.
He's not here. He's not come home.
DOOR SHUTS
Miles! There you are!
You certainly are pretty.
Just as much as uncle said.
Here's old Baines. Still got
that old motor running, Baines?
Come along.
She's so beautiful, Miles,
thank you. She's just like...
What are you talking about?
Just chatting about school.
What about school?
Did anything unusual
happen at school, Miles?
No, nothing unusual.
Just telling her about one of
the little jokes I like to play.
THEY LAUGH
Here we are, Miles.
Welcome home.
Here's Master Miles.
At last! Oh, there we are, Miss.
Now we're back to our little family.
Yes.
Everything's as it should be.
Here's Grosey.
Here's the master's dog.
And here's a pretty young governess.
Everything is as it has always been.
Come and play.
I've been waiting for so long.
I'm too old to play with
little girls any more.
Oh, it wouldn't hurt, would it?
Just to look around the old place
after being away all term.
Suppose it wouldn't hurt.
For a little while.
I'm coming to get you!
Did you think what's
to be done, Miss Ann?
You are sure this must be a mistake?
Hmm, now you've seen Master Miles,
you can see he's as he always was.
Do you really think we have
to tell the Master, Miss?
No.
I have decided.
Even if we do have to find another
school, it won't be before the autumn.
We might mention it when
the master comes to stay.
But until then,
we will enjoy the summer.
'I had decided.
'I, who had always been
the last to be considered.
'For the first time in my life
it seemed I was in charge.
'We were all alone at Bly.
'A world of women cast adrift.
'And for better or worse,
'I was the captain of the ship. '
How long do you reckon she'll last?
Not long.
We all think about a fortnight.
I wager a week,
now Master Miles is back.
PIANO PLAYS
Flora?
Where are you?
GIRL GIGGLES
Flora?
Can you hear me?
Where are you going?
WHISPERED CHANTING
Miss Jessel, she left
without even a week's notice.
BRANCHES SNAP
Who is it?
Oh. It's you.
I thought you were a ghost.
Oh no, Miss.
There are no ghosts here.
She died?
Why did no-one tell me?
It's a common enough story, I
wish it wasn't, but there you are.
She killed herself, the poor wretch.
Her lover had...
Her lover had left.
He ruined her.
And she couldn't live without him.
She didn't have any family, so it seemed
the decent thing to do to bury her here.
I didn't realise there
was a church on the estate.
Oh, yes. We might get a service
every month or so if we're lucky.
I don't think God's
much interested in us.
RUSTLING WHISPERS
This was taken soon
after she arrived here.
The children loved her.
She was a happy person
until he came along.
As we went deeper into summer,
I fell in love with Bly
and the children.
And they were beginning to trust me.
What a pity.
We should mend it. Make it seaworthy.
What do you say? You?
You can't do that.
Come on. It's easy, I'll show you.
# Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
# Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
# Life is but a dream. #
This is great!
# Row, row, row, your boat
Gently down the stream
# Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream. #
We've been sailing.
Ann made the boat work.
That's clever of her.
Miles, don't forget this.
You can have it.
You deserve it, today.
'My first real triumph.
'The master would be so proud of me. '
THUNDER
ANN SCREAMS
What's happened? Are you hurt?
There, over there at the window.
What?
There was a man at the window.
He had blood on his face.
I know what I saw.
There was a man at the window.
You are mistaken.
I've told you this is
a respectable house,
no-one from the village
would come here.
Children.
You say he was staring
straight at you?
Yes.
No, not at first.
He seemed to be...
looking around the room.
Looking for something.
Well, there you are then.
It must have been a burglar.
And we won't be seeing him again.
Well, he will have seen that
there is nothing to steal here
and that Miss Ann has a scream
on her that would raise the dead.
He won't be back, don't you worry.
You won't go, will you?
Like the others?
Of course not.
It'll take more than that
to get rid of me.
Oh, you made me jump.
What is it?
You've seen him, haven't you?
What do you mean?
He's back.
You can smell him. Who?
What do you mean?
There you are. Thank you.
What do you mean, "He's come back"?
Him. The evil one.
Quint.
He was the master's valet
but he didn't do much serving.
You wouldn't believe
what they got up to.
Filthy, dirty, evil things.
What do you mean, evil things?
Thank you, Miss.
When the master left for London,
he left Peter Quint here,
alone with us.
This one man allowed to do
whatever he liked.
The war took all the men.
There was no-one to
protect us from him.
He got more and more violent.
He's evil.
He's death.
No-one could resist him.
No-one.
How terrible.
Couldn't you tell anyone?
Send for the master?
No-one cared what he got up to.
And there were some that liked it.
Come on, Jessel.
He was particularly fond of
ensnaring the governesses.
Gave him even more
pleasure than us maids.
And you think he's come back
to carry on in the same way?
He's come back
to carry on with his evil ways.
Sometimes Quint took Master Miles
hunting at night.
They were always together.
That's why he's come back.
He's come for the boy.
BANGING AT DOOR
Who is it?
What is it? What's the matter?
Is it the children?
Yes, I should think it is.
What are you doing allowing
that madman back into the house?
I'm sorry, miss, I should have
warned you about poor Carla.
She lost her fiance
and three brothers to the war.
We gave her work and shelter because
she didn't want to go home again.
I'm afraid she's gone a little crazy
but she's harmless.
So none of what she said
about Peter Quint is true?
Carla hates and is
suspicious of all men now.
Peter Quint was no angel,
that's for sure.
But I promise you,
he's never coming back.
No-one knows how he died.
He was always drunk.
He was never careful.
He's come to take us home.
'I didn't know what to think.
'Or who to trust. '
RUSTLING WHISPERS
HUSHED VOICES
What are you doing in here?
We like it here.
Do you miss them very much?
Well, I... Who do you mean?
Why, your parents, of course.
This must be your father's room.
Some things look as if they
haven't been moved for years.
Flora was a baby when they died.
I can't remember anything
about them.
Not at all?
Not what they looked like?
I don't believe I've ever heard you
mention either of them. Not once.
They were the ones who died and
left us. They're just a blur.
A rubbed-out blur if you must know!
Of no interest whatsoever.
If they'd have cared about us
they wouldn't have left.
I think we all need some fresh air.
So, this is a... Flora?
Miles?
Une fourchette.
You'll be sorry when we get to the
cakes if you can't give me the words.
Uh-uh.
I was told that YOU
were always the good one.
That no-one had ever
seen you do bad things.
Maybe no-one stayed
long enough to find out.
C'est un gateau magnifique,
et c'est surement delicieux.
There.
I don't know any French words.
Except...
# Au clair de la lune
Mon ami, Pierrot
# Prete-moi ta plume
Pour ecrire un mot
# Ma chandelle est morte
Je n'ai plus de feu. #
Come along, Miles, we need the third.
# Ouvre moi ta porte
Pour I'amour de dieu. #
Who's going to hear you out here?
Un, deux...
# Au clair de la lune
Mon ami, Pierrot
# Prete moi ta plume
Pour ecrire un mot... #
SHE SCREAMS
Help her.
Save her.
What are you doing?
Don't be angry with us.
We were just playing a game.
It's all right.
Miles?
Miles?
What is it?
What is it that you can see?
SCREAMING
SHE SOBS
What's happened?
What is it?
What's happened?
Miles... I must go to him.
You're safe. You're safe.
It's all right, Miles. You're safe.
Don't look, darling.
It'll be all right.
She shouldn't have been up there,
stupid woman.
We're not allowed.
It's not surprising she fell.
Come on.
MAN'S LAUGHTER ECHOES
He's evil.
He's death.
The children are still asleep,
thank God.
I saw it, Sarah.
I saw Peter Quint's ghost
standing there, on the roof.
He pushed Carla off.
You know that's not possible.
You know there are no ghosts here.
You've had a fright.
You'll calm down and you'll realise
that, of course, that's not what you saw.
Carla tried to kill herself
last winter.
I thought she was getting better but
the grief must have overwhelmed her.
It was a trick of
the light, Miss Ann.
Nothing more.
A trick of the light?
Is that what you now believe,
that you may have been mistaken?
That some need, deep inside you
conjured up Peter Quint and Emily Jessel?
That you were forced to pit yourself
against them, to vanquish them?
Doctor Fisher, have you gone
completely mad working in this place?
They wanted me to think
I was mistaken.
And they took great pains to make
me think I was insane, as you do.
But I know what those
ghosts were up to.
Carla knew too.
That's why they killed her.
Let's say there were... ghosts.
What do you think they wanted?
It's so obvious.
Quint had come back for Miles and
she was waiting to claim Flora.
But why? Did they want to harm them?
What did they want
with the children?
To possess them, of course.
To make them like themselves.
To live through them.
To be together again.
Men will be men and women will
be women, don't you know that yet?
That's how it will always be!
It's all right.
Were you frightened for yourself?
They corrupted the children
while they were alive.
I believe that the closer I got to teaching
the children what was normal, what was right,
the more they would try to stop me.
So what did you decide to do?
What women always do.
I gave in, of course.
Of course you are right.
I must have been mistaken.
But like women also do,
I was going to watch and wait.
I had to protect the children.
It's a lovely day for a picnic,
isn't it? Would anyone like tea?
They used to have the most marvellous
picnics here, on this side of the lake.
Sometimes they'd go on
until after midnight.
You could see all the
lights from the house.
I've made your favourite tea and biscuits and
if you're lucky we can have a cake as well.
That was before the war, of course.
Nothing like that happens now.
Doesn't the master entertain
when he comes home?
He never comes home.
That's not to say he won't,
when he hears how well you're doing.
You think I'm doing well, do you?
Of course you are.
Why, the children love you.
You are doing so well.
Some more tea, Miss Jessel,
or can I call you Emily?
Milk and sugar?
I know exactly what you like.
Sarah? She's always loved
playing with those dolls.
Shall I tie your hair up for you?
It's getting a little hot out here.
If you just sit still...
Flora?
Who was that you were talking to?
I'll make it look very
pretty for you.
The situation was even worse
than I thought.
What do you mean?
I thought my biggest task
was to protect the children.
Now I realised that the children
not only knew about the ghosts,
but wanted them to come back.
Did Miss Jessel take her lessons
in the morning?
Excuse me? I'm assuming she
did actually try to teach.
Flora was very fond of Miss Jessel.
And yet she has never
mentioned her to me. Not once.
And Miles has never
mentioned Peter Quint.
Don't you think that's odd?
If they liked them so much?
Unless they were
trying to conceal them.
The children were very lonely
before they came.
Miss Jessel was very pretty and very
kind and the children didn't see any...
Any depravity? Are you sure of that?
I am not. I think they have seen
more than children should see. No.
The children have been neglected.
They have had no useful parenting.
Quint and Jessel taught them depravity
while you looked the other way.
Come on then.
She's just a tart.
'We were so frightened!'
I was so frightened.
We couldn't stop him.
Are the children
really spoiled, Miss?
Look.
They are just children, Miss.
Playing children's games.
I knew then that, whatever else,
Quint had taught Miles how to deceive.
Education was the only weapon
I could think of.
I don't know why you've
bothered with all this.
It's the summer holidays. I'll have
lessons enough when I get back to school.
I know. But we don't know
when or where that will be.
So I thought we could have a few
easy lessons. What do you mean?
I may not go back to school?
Maybe I could write to uncle, ask him to
sort things out if you're not going to.
Oh, yes, I should like
to write to uncle as well.
Very well. I'll get some paper.
I'm sure your uncle
will enjoy reading these.
Diane, will you bring
those vegetables in?
I've been waiting here
for the last half hour.
Stop chuntering girl, bring them in.
I still thought the master
might come to my rescue.
I didn't want him
to lose faith in me.
RUSTLING
The children thought I didn't
realise what was going on.
How they tried to distract me.
INDISTINCT WHISPERING
I didn't care any more that the
master would be disappointed.
You're going.
I told you that you would.
Just like all the others.
So you're all packed, are you?
I've come to say goodbye.
It's not going to make
much difference to me.
I'll be back to school soon,
doing what all boys do.
This was the time to say it.
That he could not go back to school.
Because they did not want him.
Because he'd been
taught wicked things.
Things that normal
children should not know.
Tell me what happened
at school, Miles.
You see what we see, don't you?
You know what we know.
Tell me, Miles.
If you could only name them,
I could help you banish them.
HORN BEEPS
There's Baines now.
Have a safe trip.
I had let everyone down.
I had no idea where I was going.
You see what we see, don't you?
You know what we know.
Stop!
BRAKES SQUEAL
How could I leave you?
Who else can protect you?
I don't remember anyone
tucking me up to sleep before.
Did that make you sad?
That you cannot remember any
family tenderness?
It's got nothing to do with this.
What about your father?
He has nothing to do with this.
It says here he was a parson.
A small country parish. A defender.
He saw himself as a warrior.
So you were an obedient child?
You saw yourself as
a defender of the faith?
To please your father?
I hated my father.
We are the defenders of the faith.
We will shield the weak
from the devil.
We will fight him to the death.
I thought I wasn't strong enough
to be a warrior.
At Bly I discovered that I was.
PIANO MUSIC
Where's Flora? Isn't she with you?
No, I thought...
PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES
They've gone. Have you looked everywhere?
Maybe they're hiding in the schoolroom.
They're not inside. They've escaped.
They've gone to be with them.
Oh, my dear God.
Flora, what are you doing?
I was just having
a walk by the lake.
You're so stupid!
You're so pathetic!
You're hopeless!
I'm sorry. I'll be better.
I'm sorry. I'll be better.
You bitch. You have to learn.
You have to learn!
Stop it! Stop it this instant!
Let me go! QUINT: That little bitch
has to learn!
Stop it!
Stop it! Stop it!
What are you doing?
Now do you believe me?
Come now, Flora, you must confess.
Where are they, your special friends?
The ones you had to trick us
to get to see?
There. Over there.
Now we can see your friends.
There you are.
There's your Miss Jessel.
Let me go!
Admit it. Take a look at them.
Is that who you want to be with? Do
you want to be a woman just like her?
Stop it.
For pity's sake,
there's nobody there.
There's nobody there.
But they were there. I'm not
playing games. You know it, Flora.
You just have to tell the truth.
I don't know what you mean.
I see nothing.
I see nobody. I never have.
I think you're cruel and I hate you.
Take me away. Take me away from her.
SHE COUGHS AND SNIFFLES
There, there. Don't cry, now.
Sarah will take...
Don't let that damn woman
near me.
Keep that bitch from me.
Damn her to hell,
I say. No, no!
Go away! Go away!
No, stop it.
That must have been terrible, hearing
the child saying those things about you.
Rejecting you.
No. Don't you see?
Now everybody could hear.
No-one could deny it.
Not even Sarah.
I say damn her to hell.
No, make that whore go away.
Don't let her hurt me.
I say damn her to hell.
No. At last,
the full truth of Quint's
corruption could be acknowledged.
Do you think he wanted
to corrupt you, too?
What do you mean?
Were you afraid that he would
corrupt you, eventually,
like he did all the other women?
You're here,
at last. Of course.
Where else would I be?
I am trying to tell you
what happened.
I am not some hysterical female
who only thinks of men.
My one thought was of the children
and how to save them.
MURMURING
Don't you understand?
I'm trying to help you.
If we don't get to the truth,
they'll take you away.
I'm not afraid of that.
Thank you for your concern,
but it's you I'm sorry for.
You scientists.
If you don't believe in evil,
evil that will endure
throughout the ages...
If you don't believe in Quint,
he will keep coming back for you.
LAUGHTER
I believe you.
I do.
Now tell me about the last day.
In many ways it was simple,
now that I was truly alone.
Now that the master was
not coming to save us.
Now that it was a matter
of life and death.
I hate you!
I knew exactly what had to be done.
We must take Flora away from here...
From them. Straight to her uncle.
And what will you do, Miss?
Oh, don't worry.
Everything is in hand.
I am staying.
Make no mistake I will
do whatever it takes.
I will be ready for them
when they come.
Get in, Flora.
Everything's going to be fine.
So, we're all alone.
Are we?
CLOCK CHIMES
Shall we go to church?
When do you think...
When do you think
I might go back to school?
Well, I mean,
playing with Flora is all right for
the holidays, but I need to get on.
Get on?
You know, Miles,
you never did tell me
what happened at school.
I have to grow up.
I have to go back to school.
You never did tell me
why you were sent home.
Miles...
I think the school
have made up their minds.
I don't think they will
have you back.
You're lying!
You're a lying bitch!
Your hands are shaking.
Are you frightened?
You know why, don't you?
I know I'm not your mother,
but I will always love you.
And I will always be here
if you want to come home.
You're very sweet. I love you too.
He's got to see the headmaster.
They're going to send him home.
Quint made sure you couldn't go back,
didn't he?
He made sure you'd have
to return to Bly for good.
He's evil.
You think he is the only one to care.
But he wanted to spoil you for the rest of the
world so he could keep you here for himself.
There's nowhere for you to go, Miles.
You didn't ask why I was frightened.
I'm frightened because
I think he's coming.
I think it will be soon, Miles.
And I know I will have
to fight him for you.
RUSTLING
But you'll have to help me, Miles.
You know that, don't you?
I think you should know.
I've written to uncle
so he can sort things out.
I gave the letter to Baines myself.
You know, Miles, I'm not sure...
I don't think your uncle much cares.
Don't you think he
can be made to care?
No, I don't.
I don't think he cares
much about us at all.
I hoped he'd come.
Like you.
So we could be a family,
but he won't.
He is so very indifferent.
KNOCKING
You know what has to be done,
don't you, Miles?
You have to name him.
The one who is trying to possess you.
RATTLING
You must name him. And you must
tell him you want him to leave.
RATTLING
Miles... Miles...
Tell him you want
to stay here with me.
Tell him you want him to go.
Is he here?
Is he here with us?
Has he come for me?
Has...
Quint, come for me?
BANGING
Don't you love us, Miles?
Don't you want to stay with us?
VIOLENT RATTLING
Tell him you want him to go.
Go! I want you to go!
FIST HAMMERS GLASS
You're just a pathetic,
worthless bitch!
Do you think
you can stand up to him?
I will not let him take you.
Tell him you want to stay with me!
Do you think you can stand up to me?
I will not let you take him.
I will not let you take him!
I will not let you take him!
HE EXHALES LONG BREATH
SHE SOBS
BIRD SINGS
It sang its heart out,
that blackbird.
As if it had stolen my voice.
BIRDS SING
They think this
was maybe a day or so after.
They had to break down the doors.
Found her sitting there with him,
calm as can be.
May the Lord
in his love and mercy,
help you
with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
You don't believe her story, do you?
I don't know what unspeakable things
happened in that beautiful house.
All this nonsense about
ghosts and evil. It's a smokescreen.
She was a young inexperienced girl
who fantasised about her employer,
then fixated on this dead servant.
Sad case,
but, but you can't blame yourself.
Can't I?
You did your best for her.
Now you must get back
to your real work.
If I hadn't been so sure
I could help her.
If I hadn't made her tell me...
There still would have been a dead
child. Someone has to pay for that.
May the Lord... Why do you find
it so hard to believe in evil?
Evil that endures.
Welcome, Miss Doughty,
welcome to Bly.
PIANO MUSIC
There you are, at last.
We've been waiting for you.