Mark.
open the window, Mark.
It's not just me, Mark. He commands.
Mark, I'm cold out here. open the window.
Mark.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep...
what do you want?!
Let me in, Mark. come on.
open the window...
...or I'll try another one.
okay, come in.
I'll kill you, Petrie, and your mother!
Ben Mears, I can see you through the grate.
Here I come, Mears. Almost there.
I see your knees shaking and the piss running down your leg.
what's it gonna take to make you face me?
Go to sleep, Tibbits.
Sleep? I'm wide awake.
I'll be awake all night.
You're not in the vent.
of course I am.
I squeezed and slithered to reach you.
I broke my collarbones and hips, Mears, but I'm getting there.
I'm getting closer.
Look at me! Look at me, Mears! Invite me in!
we'll finish this fight. I'll rip your heart out. I'll squeeze it and drink your blood!
- Leave me alone! - Invite me in, Mears.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
...help me win this stock-car race. - Damn.
That's quite a story.
They said you was a writer, but I...
You gonna sit with him your whole shift?
wait.
There's more.
Think I'm gonna stay a little longer.
Is he gonna make it?
The fall ruptured his spleen. Pulmonary and myocardial contusions.
But he can talk.
I hear that, but whatever Mr. Mears says now could be his last testament.
Please, don't go.
No one awake knew the truth.
A handful might have suspected, but even their suspicions were vague and unformed.
Monday was garbage day on Jointner Ave.
Today the green bags lay scattered on the curb.
The library was closed, so was the New Look Salon.
Now the light spilled across the land, and all the evil things slept.
The untouched walked slowly in Jerusalem's Lot...
... as if their bodies had become glassy and fragile.
They turned on all their lights, and they did not look out their windows.
That above all else, they did not look out their windows.
Free to go, Mr. Mears.
Miss Norton will drive you home.
You are being released, but I advise you to watch your step...
...in Jerusalem's Lot.
what about Tibbits? Is he still in there?
- He's still with us. - If you want to press charges...
...Deputy Gardener will assist you. - I'm fine. Let's go.
This isn't like Floyd. He's not the violent type.
what did you tell Floyd about my past? How does he know about the house...
...and the Bloody Pirates? - what are you talking about?
I'm only here because Matt Burke had a heart attack.
Let's see if he has any ideas about Mike Ryerson's death...
...and the missing Glick boy. - Floyd?
Floyd, get up.
Holy...
- what the hell's going on here? - He's chewed his own wrists.
- Barry? - Jim.
Hey, how'd it go the other night? Did you stuff that little Sandy McDougall?
Actually, Barry, I'm in a little trouble.
- can I ask you for a loan? - How much?
Ten grand. only for a week. Just until I liquidate some assets.
You know that Beemer's really drank up all my cash.
Yeah, it's just that I've dumped everything into T-bills.
Give me a couple of days to round something up...
I don't have a couple of days. I kind of...
Sorry to put you on the spot like this. Thanks anyway.
I'll be outside.
I confirmed you've had a mild heart attack.
The good news is your heart will continue to function just fine.
At your age a myocardial infarction can be induced by a number of things:
- Diet, cholesterol, smoking... - And fear.
Jim, I want you to help me...
...or commit me right now.
Now, these guys already think I'm crazy.
why's that, Matt?
I had a heart attack because I was scared.
Scared to death.
I saw Mike Ryerson in my house.
well, that's understandable.
Mike died in your house.
You've suffered some trauma.
Sometimes we see things...
- Jim, did you perform the autopsy on Mike? - No. No, I did not.
He had his shirt off. He had two cuts.
Vertical on the chest. Horizontal on the stomach.
Maybe one was a mistake, or the ME decided to dig deeper.
- Find out why Mike had two cuts, okay? - All right.
- There's more. - Matt has asked me to go to the church...
...to get some holy water.
Are they still talking?
Matt is.
The more he talks, the more afraid I get.
of vampires?
No, for Matt. He's talking himself straight into the loony bin.
whatever's going on, Matt Burke isn't crazy.
I never thought so either.
Susan, I have friends in New York. You could go and stay.
Get away for a long weekend.
- No. Thanks. - Let Matt and the police sort this out.
If something's going on, I wanna help.
I misled you about the book.
But not about my feelings.
Go on, Mears. Don't be a chicken.
You wanna be a Bloody Pirate?
I wanted to be a Bloody Pirate, so I entered the Marsten house.
You're not a Pirate till you bring something back.
- Unless he kills you. - If Hubie kills you, you're in.
That night, it poisoned my life.
Everything changed after that night.
I could hear things scuttling away from me on the other side of the plaster.
Living things. Rats or woodchucks or whatever else...
... that had been nesting in walls or hibernating in cellars.
I could have left quickly, but I didn't.
I wanted to prove myself, so I went upstairs.
The house smelled. Mildew and upholstery rot.
And the kind of rancid smell like butter that had gone over.
I kept thinking I heard footsteps behind me. I was afraid to turn around...
... because I might see Hubie Marsten shambling after me with a carving knife.
Even then it was the house of legend and nightmare.
I didn't walk. I ran to Hubie's bedroom and grabbed my souvenir.
And that's when Hubie came home.
I knew the rumors. Whispers that Hubie Marsten kidnapped...
... and sacrificed small children to his infernal gods.
The campfire tales of torture and worse.
I fled to the bedroom and hid in a closet.
Hubie was coming my way. I pulled at the door...
... desperately trying to close it, but it stuck on a garment bag.
Hubie entered the room...
... and I watched the rest.
Hubie was not alone in the bedroom that night.
- String up. - Something was with him.
Something I never saw, but could only define as a presence.
- No more. - Hubie was on his knees.
He sobbed and begged for his life.
Whatever it was, didn't seem to listen.
Hubie's wife, Birdie, lay on the bathroom floor.
Legs splayed, bare feet...
... chest yawning from a shotgun blast.
Then the impossible.
Help me.
I collapsed. I was paralyzed.
Through frozen lips, Birdie Marsten cried:
"Help me. Help me."
Birdie's cries continued all night.
And I could not move.
Something in that house loomed above me and laughed.
Aunt Cynthia found me the next morning, rambling about Birdie's ghost.
My aunt checked inside the bathroom, where I was afraid to go.
The cries heard that night weren't Birdie Marsten or any ghost.
Ronnie Barnes, the boy in the bathtub.
Yes.
cynthia told me not to talk about the crying.
That it wouldn't have helped him anyway.
So I lied.
And then I said I never heard Ronnie.
Everyone felt sorry for me. They even said I was brave.
- You were 9 years old. - But I could have saved that kid.
That's why I came back. That's the book I have to write.
Small-town lies. My lies.
what about the house? You said there was a presence.
And it scares me, even to this day.
I think it was my own cowardice laughing at me.
Ben, you're no coward.
I'm the one who can't leave home.
Maybe I will go to New York, Mr. Mears.
If you'll come with me.
This time I have to stay.
could've been fun. Now we're stuck with Matt Van Helsing.
Shall we go check him for puncture wounds?
Mr. Zazelka left his lesson plan for you.
He's sick today, along with quite a few others.
Something must be going around.
Vampires.
well, maybe we should scrap the lesson plan and do some creative writing.
I didn't think you'd make it to school.
Don't tell me you're sick after you were out all night.
where were you?
- what's gotten into you? - what, or who?
You're grounded, Ruth. I don't care if you think it's unfair.
I'm still your father.
oh, is that your choice, or do you still want it both ways?
who is it?
- who is what? - who were you with last night?
My boyfriend.
Dud Rogers!
Ruth. No.
Rogers!
I'll kill you!
- I'm surprised you're going along with this. - well, I don't believe in vampires.
But I have to accept that people are dying of anemia. what's your excuse?
Professional curiosity.
I don't know how, but Matt Burke was right about Mike Ryerson's autopsy.
There were two incisions on his body.
I think the police should take a good look at Floyd Tibbits.
He attacked me yesterday. He was wearing a hat.
Floyd Tibbits is dead.
He chewed through his own wrists in jail last night.
I think he might have drank his own blood.
- Hello. Father callahan? - Yes.
- Father, I'm Susan Norton. - won't you come in.
I'm not a catholic or anything.
I have an odd request from Matt Burke...
...a teacher in town who's not a catholic either.
He would like some...
could you please just visit Matt Burke in room 3A over at the hospital?
Sure.
Is there something else you'd like to say?
No. Definitely not.
what are you gonna tell the Glicks?
I want to exhume their son. check for infectious encephalitis.
It's the only explanation.
Some people think the Marsten house is involved.
when something bad happens in this town people always look to the Marsten house.
It's been that way since I can remember.
Marjorie died this morning.
They took her husband Tony to the hospital.
He's in shock.
where's Marjorie's body?
- Should be the county coroner's. - My daughter spoke with the police.
chief Gillespie took Marjorie to the funeral home...
...on account of no one knows where carl Foreman is.
- who's he? - He's the coroner.
Larry, chief Gillespie.
Parkins, you better do something about Dud Rogers.
I want that cripple out of town.
I've been speaking with the town clerk's office.
I don't give a rat's ass.
Dud Rogers is stalking my daughter. I want something done.
You might ask him about that missing Glick kid too.
we've been going over land transactions...
...for the Marsten house and the Laundromat.
It's clear that Richard Straker did not buy the Marsten house.
- You did. - So?
In return, Straker's corporation gave your corporation thirty acres...
...in Kennebunk, which, once that new crystal Mall is built...
...will be worth 20 times the house and Laundromat.
Now, why would Straker swing such a lopsided deal?
- You'll have to ask him. - I will, but right now I'm asking you.
whatever business I have with Richard Straker or anyone else is confidential.
who is Richard Straker, Larry?
An antique dealer, as far as I know.
- where is Kurt Barlow? - I believe he's in Europe.
- what's happening to this town? - How do I know?
Ask Dud Rogers.
Now, are you gonna straighten out that gimp, or am I gonna do it myself?
Don't think that I won't.
what?
- what are you looking at? - Floyd Tibbits died in my jail today.
Tibbits?
You ain't worth a piss hole in the snow.
Get the hell out of here.
well, if you're gonna accuse me of something, then do it!
why did you buy that house for Straker?
You son of a bitch. I'll have you...
what's going on, Larry? why did you buy that house?
None of your business.
why did you buy that house?
Straker said he wouldn't buy the damn house.
He wouldn't buy his way into any town.
He had to be invited.
Invited?
He had to be invited?
Larry, what have you done?
Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary in town lately?
The mortality rate is certainly on the rise.
It's getting higher.
Any explanation?
Vampires?
It's difficult to proceed as it is.
But it's gonna be more difficult if you think I have sickbed dementia.
on the contrary, you seem extremely lucid.
Lucidity doesn't presuppose sanity, does it, Father?
No, it doesn't.
- First were the two Glick boys. - And then their mother.
- Marjorie Glick died this morning. - Mike Ryerson.
Floyd Tibbits. And carl Foreman is missing.
He's the county coroner.
He and his wife are in my parish.
Have you considered the possibility of vampirism?
well, that's a rather novel diagnosis.
Really? I'd say it was a very old diagnosis.
The church's concept of evil has radically transformed...
...this last century, Matthew.
we still acknowledge Satan and the demons...
...but we see them now mostly as aspects of the human psyche.
- Blame that on Freud. - Freud?
oh, yeah, you're right. He did spoil all the fun.
The good thing about this remote possibility is it's easy to prove.
I also don't need you to believe. Not yet.
A doctor from here and a very astute writer...
...are investigating the possibility right now, even as we speak.
The only thing I ask is that if they return...
...with evidence of vampirism...
...can we count on your immediate and unwavering support?
I'm always available to help you, Matthew.
Sorry I'm late.
Susan, Susan. Floyd Tibbits is dead.
what?
Floyd had a fight with Ben. They put Floyd in the drunk tank.
- I know... - well, Floyd killed himself in jail.
- He slit his wrists. - No.
It's terrible. You stay away from that writer, Susan.
- This is crazy. - And you're right in the middle.
It doesn't look... I don't care how it looks, Susan.
I just don't want you hurt.
Floyd slit his wrists?
Poor Floyd. He must have had second thoughts.
I hear he tried to stop the bleeding. It's terrible. He drank his own blood.
would you say there's money in literature?
You plan on writing a book on this?
No, I was just being rude.
- Frank. - Hey, Jimmy. Good to see you.
- Did they ever find the other boy? - No, they didn't.
Poor woman must have died of heartbreak.
- She your patient, Jimmy? - No, no.
But her condition is strikingly similar to Mike Ryerson.
No surface lividity, no rigor. No incipient rigor.
Frank.
- I'd like to sit with her tonight. - Sit with her?
There's a strange virus going around.
Look, it could be infectious encephalitis.
But either way I'm gonna need some time to observe the decomposition process.
well, whatever you want.
Be sure to lock the door when you leave.
well, of course. Thank you.
It's a tragedy.
- Norton's café. - Hi.
- Is Susan there? - Susan's left work, Ben.
Did she say where she was going?
No. She got a little upset...
...when she heard about Floyd. - Does she have a cell phone?
- I'm afraid not. - Thank you.
- It's all right. - who are you?
I'm Mark Petrie. I know you. You're Sue Norton. My mother knows your father.
Joyce Petrie. It's my mother. The waitress at Giaco's.
- what are you doing here? - what are you doing here?
Did you come to kill the vampires?
- A friend died last night. - one of them tried to get me.
That was Richard Straker in the SUV. He's moving around by day...
...so he must be the watchdog.
The vampire's name is Barlow. And he's the partner that nobody's seen yet.
You're not the only one talking about vampires.
- who else? - A teacher and a doctor.
- You okay? - It's that house.
A writer friend of mine spent a horrific night there when he was a kid.
- Ben Mears? - You know him?
I know the story. Did you bring a stake too?
Yeah. That's cool, but I don't think it's going to work.
Don't believe everything you read.
come in.
- Hello, Father. - Ed, come in. Have a seat.
we have something to celebrate today, Father.
- what would that be? - Eva Prunier has agreed to marry me.
- well, congratulations. - Persistence and patience.
And love. Nothing good ever happens without love.
we'd like to do it tomorrow. A small ceremony. Very simple.
- That is, if you're available. - It would be an honor.
I've had some good news meself.
Unusual, but good. A true battle.
Perhaps there's a need for this religious relic after all. care for a Jameson's?
Never say no.
Here's to your marriage and the death of Freud.
- Slàinte. - Father, maybe I'll wait on this drink...
...what with the wedding tomorrow and all. - No. Has she's reformed you already?
Perhaps I'll abstain as well.
closed.
closed all day.
Thank you.
Stop. we'll call the police.
- I have friends who can help. - No.
I'm going in before that kid comes back to my window.
- I'll go. You keep watch. - No, thanks.
when we find him, don't look into his eyes, okay?
He sleeps in a coffin until dark, but he can still hook you with his eyes.
Do you hear what you're saying? Do you really believe this?
what if Barlow is just an ordinary serial killer?
You wish.
- oh, God, do you smell that? - Yes.
- It's worse in here, isn't it? - Yes.
That's where we have to go.
- I can hear my heart. - I can hear your heart too.
Mark. oh, no.
The police are on their way. That was an alarm you triggered.
- we... - Don't come any closer.
Just take whatever it is you have and leave.
- we're not stealing anything. we're just... - what do you want?
- Are there more of you? - No. Look, I'm sorry.
we were curious about the house.
we heard it was sold, but we didn't think anyone lived here.
You're trespassing.
what does he have there? You're armed.
- It's just a hammer and some wood. - A hammer?
You've come to vandalize?
No, look, I'm Susan Norton. I've lived in Salem's Lot my whole life.
This is Mark Petrie. we know you just moved here, and...
And this is the way you welcome me? with hammers and guns?
You...
...show me that.
what is this?
Is this a weapon? Is it?
- No. - Is it?
No!
Fine!
- Help! Help! - Go on!
- Help! - Three.
Two.
Help!
one. Time's up.
oh, this is ridiculous.
I'm killing my career.
I'm being blackmailed.
Professionally?
It was very unprofessional on my part.
If you saw the man's wife, you might think it was understandable...
...but certainly not professional or forgivable.
I'm surprised. I didn't think doctors had penises.
Yeah, it's an industry secret.
we usually try to keep it between ourselves and the nurses.
How much?
Ten thousand, by today.
He threatened to call the board earlier.
I might not even be a doctor right now.
You're too busy to be a doctor. You're a vampire hunter.
- we should be home by midnight. - That would be cinderella.
I can't stay any longer. It's useless. I gotta go find Susan.
what if she went up to the house?
oh, my God.
Ralphie?
where are you, sweetheart?
Marge? You okay?
Use the cross!
She bit me!
She bit me! She bit me!
She bit me!
Give me my bag! Give me my bag!
She bit me.
Tetanus.
In my heart.
Do it! Hurry up!
Did we get it?
You should call me in the morning.
Hello?
Hello?!
Susan!
Ben, there's no car. would she really come up here by herself?
If you think so, we'll go in. If not, we should find her.
we'll come back together with a plan.
You wanna be a Bloody Pirate, don't you? Go on, Mears.
- Unless he kills you. - If Hubie kills you, you're in!
Susan!
Ben, come on.
call Norton's. Let's check her house.
Help! Help me, please!
- Help! - Here I come, ready or not.
where are you?
- Susan! - Mark?
I can't see. It's so dark.
- come down, boy. - I know your name!
- I admire you. come down for a taste. - It's Barlow!
There's enough here for two. why would you run, boy?
Susan!
I'd like to drop everything and help, Ben, but I have four missing people...
... and three dead.
When was the last time you heard from Susan?
- It was about nine hours ago. - That's not so long.
I've been to her house, the café, the gym, the library. Nobody knows where she is.
What's going on, Mr. Mears? Do you know? Because I don't.
I have suspicions, but if I don't know, I can't help.
You wouldn't believe me.
Ben?
Be careful, Parkins.
Susan?
closed. It was closed yesterday too.
Thanks.
Thank you kindly.
Ed, breakfast is ready.
Ed?
Yeah?
Is there a writer here named Ben?
- Ben Mears. - Yeah, could you get him?
- Please? - He may be sleeping.
No, he'd want you to wake him up. Please.
Morning.
- Are you the friend of Sue Norton? - Yes. Have you seen her?
Ben.
- Ben, have you seen Ed this morning? - No, I haven't.
- we're getting married today. - Married?
- can I talk to you outside? - of course.
congratulations.
we went in the house through that window.
She's still up there! Right now. Look, I don't know what she...
I'm with Mark Petrie. He was with her. I'm headed there now.
You can't barge in. I can get a warrant...
- ... within the hour. - Stop.
I gotta go, chief. I'll call you back.
Father, with what Mark says and Susan's car, that's proof enough for me.
Hold on a minute. what if Straker's partner is armed?
How are you gonna protect yourself?
I made these up last night.
- Take that. - Son, stay in the car.
I'm going.
- Maybe you'd rather stay behind, Father. - No, I'll go. This team needs a clear head.
Vampires. would have been a lot easier to accept...
...if you could have arranged for a thunderstorm or a power failure.
would a dancing Marjorie Glick do it for you?
It's a loan.
Ten thousand? I can't take this from you.
when this is over, we're gonna need your good reputation.
- Thanks, man. - You guys hear about the hippie vampire?
He's ghoul, man. Real ghoul.
- You're doing well, Ben. - oh, yeah? How so?
only a trained physician can see that you're scared out of your mind.
I've never been up here before, at least not this close.
Hold on.
Let cooler heads prevail.
Hello?
- Hello? - Susan!
Hello!
Straker's upstairs.
There's something different.
- He's bled dry. - Holy Mother of God.
I didn't do that.
I tried to go down, but I didn't.
I know what's different.
It doesn't smell anymore.
over here.
Give me the stake.
Hold on. You have to make sure.
If he's dead, you're only desecrating a corpse. But if he's not...
Legally dead.
Saints preserve us.
Here!
My God. what monster did this?
She's dead.
or undead.
wait! wait!
what if we kill Barlow and they all come back to life?
or they just die.
- You don't really believe that. - But what if?
Please, not Susan. we know where she is.
we can come back if we have to.
- what if she infects someone else? - Please.
Please.
It's been a gruesome day.
Rest in peace.
- who's poking around the Marsten house? - can't say from this distance.
Town looks a little dead today.
Maybe I'll take a ride up and see.
They're leaving, Nolly. Let it be.
Sometimes these badges get in the way.
our badges? what do you mean?
- Are you all right, Parkins? - No.
I'm scared.
on lighter occasions, these used to hold the perfect martini.
There's a presence in that house. I don't know if you can feel it.
oh, I can feel it.
I felt it before, when I was a boy and I went inside.
I thought it was me. I thought it was...
...some manifestation of my own fear.
It wasn't.
- what is it? - The unholy spirit.
Dull, mindless, moronic evil.
As familiar in the confessional as the smell of old velvet.
Marsten invited the unholy spirit into his house and home, and there it resides.
In that house, it feels so familiar. It feels like it's coming from inside me.
Evil comes from inside of all of us.
I've made a fine career turning the hard mirror on other people.
would you feel more comfortable in the confessional?
I don't need absolution, Father. I need peace of mind.
I'm weak.
I let a boy die once.
out of fear.
I could have saved him, and instead I lied.
And now my lies have grown like a cancer.
And as much as I can, I hate myself.
You're way beyond hate now, Ben, and into truth.
Truth with yourself is the first step towards forgiveness.
Truth with the Lord follows.
Five Hail Marys, two our Fathers and an act of contrition.
That was a fine confession.
Hi, Sandy. Is Royce here?
Jimmy, I'm sorry about this.
Yeah, me too.
Royce?
Got my money?
Look, Royce, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say.
Just give me my money.
- I should have known. - But you didn't.
Men grow old, but never old enough to know better.
Royce, are you feeling all right?
oh, now he wants to get down my pants too. Get lost.
- Has he been acting strange lately? - what?
- Get the hell out of here. - Listen to me.
There's a virus going around. You should come to the hospital for an exam.
Then let me take Sandy and Roy in for the vaccination.
- Get out. - Just get out of here. Go!
My car. I'll give you my brand new BMw if you let me take Roy to the hospital.
- You're not taking my baby. - Shut up, Sandy.
You're gonna give me your Beemer? For keeps?
Yeah. Keys for keys, my car for yours. I just wanna get Roy vaccinated.
- You can pick him up tomorrow. - Give him the kid.
- Royce! - Give him the frigging kid.
come on.
come on!
He's fine. I just want a complete physical and a full blood check.
- who is he? - He's my nephew.
why don't you register him under my name. okay?
- Told Matt what happened at the house? - He confirmed what I already knew.
well, it's an epidemic now.
I don't know the pathology, how it starts or spreads.
You know how it spreads.
But why do they need blood?
Do they lack the capacity to generate red blood cells?
we put kidney patients on erythropoietin when dialysis chews up their red-cell count.
Maybe a 30-day trial would cure one of these beings...
...if we could stop them from killing long enough.
Hear what I'm trying to say? I don't know how to stop it.
Start with Barlow. He's the root. And then we work our way back.
Finding Barlow may not be so easy. He's experienced.
- He'll be clever. - where's Mark and Father callahan?
- They went to get Mark's mother. - convincing his mother will take time.
- It's almost dark. - Which city, please?
Jerusalem's Lot. Petrie. This is the last time we split up.
Hello? Mark, get over here. come here.
- Mom! - Hello?
whatever you've been doing with Mark does not sound right at all.
can we continue this debate at the hospital?
- we have to hurry. - There's blood on his clothes, Father.
Did you really pound a stake through a man's body? And the two boys?
Mark.
- Mark. - Stop, stop.
There's blood in your hair.
You've involved my son in a crime, Father. I know about you.
- You have a reputation with the bottle. - Mom, he didn't do anything!
Father, I want you to leave! I'm gonna call the police.
- I don't wanna see you with Mark again. - Please!
call Dr. cody and Ben Mears. They were... God, the fricking phone is dead.
Give me that! Hello? what...?
Mom?
In God's name!
Back away. Back away, shaman.
- Let him go. - Piss off! You get out of the room...
...and I'll save his life. - No.
- He killed my attendant. He can replace him. - Stop!
why?
will you sacrifice your little cross? Throw it away.
Meet me on even terms. Black against white.
- Your faith against mine. - And trust you to let him go?
Run, Mark.
Go on, run!
Your turn, Father.
The crucifix.
Drop it.
You stay away from me.
I'm a priest.
I command you, in the name of God.
The demands of your church are impossible. It's all about sacrifice and no proof.
Nothing to sink your teeth into. Isn't that terribly lonely?
Kneel, Father.
Kneel.
Say a prayer if you have to. confide in me. where did you go wrong?
was it a little nip over lunch?
Some wine with dinner?
Drugs? Little boys?
You're not ready to go to heaven. You know it.
You'd welcome death. Instead I'll have you serve as a mortal.
Life is such a precious gift. So have a drink on me.
Enjoy the present.
Drink.
Did I do the right thing with my life? was I mislead? You know, don't you?
Is there a God?
whoever feeds you...
...is your God.
Eva.
I'm sorry I'm late.
- I can't enter. - what is it, Ed?
It's different, is all.
It's wonderful and strong.
Are you different, Ed?
Yes and no.
I love you even more.
Join me, Eva.
It's all right, Ed.
I love you.
All those years.
I should never have made you wait.
This is my choice.
Sons of whores.
Hey, Petrie!
You come on out of there! I know it's you!
come on!
All right.
I hear you.
According to literature, a vampire can't simply walk into a man's house.
He has to be invited.
Mike Ryerson invited Danny Glick into my home. I invited Mike...
He killed my mom. He killed my mom. She's dead.
Hello?
Sorry to call so late.
I'm glad you did, Daddy.
I'm up every three hours to feed little Connor anyway.
I wish you were here in Florida.
Me too.
I'm trying to decide...
Decide how much they need me here.
They'll always need you, but I need you too.
- Little Connor wants to see his grandpa. - Yeah.
The weather's good for golfing, Daddy.
Don't wait forever.
He just amazes me. He's a tough kid. Tougher than I was at his age.
You're tough enough.
- You haven't tried to leave us. - Don't tempt me.
How long will he sleep?
Till morning.
I can't promise what shape he'll be in when the sedative wears off.
- what do you think of his story? - I think it's true.
- You think Barlow climbs walls? - That may be an illusion.
I wouldn't be surprised if Barlow flew in like a damn bat.
You think he got callahan?
I think Father callahan would be here if he could.
You have to find Barlow tomorrow.
- To kill the serpent, you cut off the head. - where do we start? The antique store?
Too obvious.
Mark said Barlow picked him up by the neck.
That chalk?
could he be in the school?
Junior high is close. So is Butler Elementary.
He could hide in a furnace room or storage area:
Schools are abandoned at night. He could move freely.
That's where you have to concentrate.
Take Mark with you. He'll be a diversion.
- Don't you think he's been through enough? - Think about it.
Two adults snooping around a school? How long before someone calls the police?
Use the boy. Use everything you have, Ben. And be prepared to lie.
If you two get locked up, we're finished.
- He's right. - If you haven't considered it already...
...consider it now. There is every possibility that some of us or all of us...
...may live and triumph only to stand trial for murder.
we can't go in there now.
we should check where he was last seen. we may find another lead.
My house.
I'm all right. Let's just get him.
You have family around here?
An aunt in california.
would it help to go back in and see your mom?
Maybe there's something you'd like to take?
- Parkins. we need your help, Parkins. - Too late for that.
My deputy didn't show up today. Somehow don't think he will.
- where are you going? - None of your business.
Parkins, this town's dying.
- But we still have a chance. - This town's dying...
...because something terrible was born.
Something between Marsten and whatever games he played in that house.
That's why Barlow came here.
Ask Larry crockett. He's the son of a bitch who invited him.
Barlow's a killer. He's a monster.
we think he killed the Glick brothers, Mike Ryerson...
Marjorie Glick, Dud Rogers, charlie Rhodes Floyd Tibbits, carl Foreman...
...maybe even Susie Norton.
He's not just a killer, is he?
No.
I'm not afraid to die, Mr. Mears. Not at all.
But these people don't die, do they?
Hello, Father.
Hey, Father.
Thought we lost you.
You...
You did, boy!
I thought I'd make you taste your own medicine.
It hurts, doesn't it!
crockett? crockett!
Larry! Larry!
How many pills did you take, Larry? Larry, look at me. How many pills?
- we're looking for Kurt Barlow. - You sold him the house.
Ruthie's gone.
He flew out the window with my daughter, and they laughed at me.
was it him?
It was Dud Rogers! Dud Rogers and Ruth crockett.
Ruthie crockett.
Get him in the light. See if he's one of them.
what do you know about Barlow? You sold him the house!
- chief Parkins says you invited him! - I didn't know. I swear I didn't know.
- Look, let's just go, okay? It's getting late. - You get out.
You can't judge me!
I don't give a damn about your forgiveness!
Get out! This is my house! My house! And I'll destroy it if I want to!
The white chalk could be dry wall.
They're renovating my boarding house.
Are you saying the chalk on his shirt was dry wall?
we gotta check hardware stores, construction site...
It's only two miles from the Marsten house.
The lady at the boarding house asked about Ed. Said he was missing.
The Marsten house, the boarding house, construction site... Barlow can be anywhere.
There are five people living in this house with me and no one's answering. Let's go.
what's the alternative, Jim?
You wanna leave?
I'm not saying that.
But this isn't gonna be over today, Ben.
It'll be weeks before we get to them all, if we get to them all.
can you stand that?
can you stand doing what we did to Mike 1000 times?
Pulling them out of closets, their stinking holes...
...only to ram stakes into their chest cavities and smash their hearts?
can you stand that without going nuts?
And what about Mark?
- You think he can take it? - we're wasting time.
Matt Burke says that the good in this town far outweighs the bad.
- And what side was I on? - I think you have a choice.
- oh, God. - He's here.
I'll get a flashlight.
cody!
oh, God!
No!
They cut the wood.
He's here.
I can feel it.
Use a hammer!
oh, my God.
we have to hurry. Pull it into the light.
Give me the hammer.
He looks like a regular guy. could be someone's father.
Don't look at him.
I said, don't look at him!
- No! - Mark! No!
Mark!
Fame.
Money, women.
Think. You're the writer.
Killing me will never kill the evil in a man, nor yourself.
Think. You will always be flawed until you embrace evil.
You don't have the guts to put that stake where it belongs.
You will always be weak within.
Think, writer. Desperate man...
...sucking tales from whom you meet.
Feeding on the lives of family and friend.
Spinning their tragedy into personal gold.
I know where you're going with this.
You are the vampire.
I'm not the vampire.
Not anymore, you son of a bitch!
Look at me.
He's gone.
I think they're dead.
Go on and get in the car.
- Ben. - Susan.
Did you kill him?
why didn't it help you?
I don't need any help.
I only need you to be happy.
- May I come in? - No.
Ben, this isn't your house.
And you're not a religious man.
You don't have any faith to keep me out.
You're wrong.
I do have faith.
You pushed me to it.
oh, Sue.
I wish you'd never gone in that house without me.
I was stupid.
Reckless.
I did something for you, Ben. I was so excited to tell you.
I went to the hospital.
After I saw Father callahan.
I found the records of the boy from the Marsten house.
Do you know how he died?
- Very slowly. - No.
He was strangled. He died instantly from a crushed larynx.
Ronnie Barnes was never alive that night.
You couldn't have saved him.
The crying you heard wasn't him.
I don't understand.
Even at 9 years old, you had a good imagination.
I could love you, Ben Mears.
I feel it.
No, Susan.
I'm sorry.
You've been sorry long enough. It's time you forgive yourself.
Ben! Ben, they're everywhere!
Susan, no!
Ben.
we gotta go.
crockett!
- They're everywhere. - come on!
He's right...! Look out! Look out!
Ruth!
I found you.
This was a good town, a good community.
Take me with you, Ruth.
Take me, please.
You can't join us, Daddy.
But you can help us live.
- I don't want your blood. - But we want your flesh.
No, no.
Ruth.
we can stop these things.
If we burn them out, they'll have nowhere to hide.
A couple people looking in the obvious places could do well.
Maybe we'll get lucky, find some help along the way.
They say fire purifies.
That should count for something.
Mears.
Ben Mears! Damn you to hell!
Damn you to hell!
Purify.
oh, man, that's quite a story.
So the boy lived.
Did he come to Detroit with you?
Ben?
Ben!
Ben?
I got him, Ben. It's done.
It's finished now.
we won. You can rest easy. we won.
Hunting season's over?
I don't believe you.
I can't.
God bless.
- what's going on with this guy? - Bring his chart down.
- call anesthesia, stat. He needs to be tubed. - Bed down.
Pillows out.
And now I am comforted by thoughts of the town.
I see autumn hills. I pedal my favorite bike down Main Street.
They say you can never go home again, but I did.
I came back to my town.
And in the dark, the town is yours, and you are the town's.
And together, you sleep like the dead, like the very stones in the old north field.
All clear.
[ENGLISH]