(male narrator) Tonight, the Hardy Boys in
The Mystery of Witches' Hollow.
What do you think?
Well, the road's not so good,
but I don't think we're lost.
I-I knew this was a mistake.
Here we are, in the middle of nowhere,
a storm coming and no food.
Chet, you closed the hamburger stand in Forestburgh.
That was an hour ago.
If I couldn't see where you put it,
I wouldn't know where it went.
Hey, we're okay. I just saw the old barn with the hex sign on it.
Hex? W-what's a hex?
A hex sign.
Farmers in Witches' Hollow always put them out.
It's, uh, kind of an old superstition.
Huh?
Black magic.
It's supposed to keep away witches and goblins.
We're not far from Salem, you know.
(Chet) I could've gone to California for the summer.
I didn't have to come camping here with you guys.
What are we stopping in a place like this for anyway?
Callie's uncle, Capt. Maguire, told Dad
that there are some strange things going on up around here.
How strange?
Oh, witches and goblins and things like that.
What?
Well, naturally, Dad wanted it checked out.
I-I-I don't see why we have to do it.
Why would your father want us
to get involved in a dangerous place like this, anyway?
What can be dangerous?
There are no such things as witches and goblins.
Besides, Dad's working on another case.
Of course, if you'd rather get out and thumb your way back...
No-no-no thanks.
[snickering]
[thunder cracking]
[wind howling]
(Joe) Looks like the Captain's home.
(Chet) Hope he has dinner ready.
(Callie) Oh, don't worry, Chet.
(Callie) Uncle Mac always has something good on the stove.
[wind howling]
(Chet) Some camping trip.
Witches' Hollow. Gives me the willies.
[knocking on door]
We won't be here long.
Just long enough to check with Callie's uncle.
Ma'am, we're looking for Capt. Maguire.
The Captain's not home.
When are you expecting him, miss?
Mrs. Thompson.
I just come by to clean the place once a week.
Don't know when he'll be back.
(Frank) If that's the Captain's mail,
it doesn't look as if he's been around for a while.
I don't know.
Mrs. Thompson, I'm Callie Shaw, Capt. Maguire's niece.
He was expecting us tonight.
He didn't say nothing to me about it. But, uh...
Now at least we know how the place got its name.
...if you want to wait.
(Callie) Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.
[thunder clapping]
Better make yourselves comfortable.
(Mrs. Thompson) You might have a long wait if they got to him.
They?
The forces of evil.
The devil's workers and witches.
What?
I told the Captain. But he don't listen.
(Mrs. Thompson) I told him Witches' Hollow would get him.
Mrs. Thompson, you can't expect a grown man to believe in witches.
You don't know what goes on in Witches' Hollow, young man.
Dogs, cats go in the Hollow and never come back.
[wind howling]
Mrs. Thompson, when my Uncle Mac retired from the N.Y.P.D.,
he moved here because it was so quiet.
Not all that quiet, young lady.
(Mrs. Thompson) But have it your way.
Be like the Captain.
You want to wait...
Let's go.
...it's up to you.
Come, let's go. Let's go, let's go.
(Mrs. Thompson) Good night.
You know, she sounds as if she believed all that.
She sure had me convinced.
(Joe) You were right about one thing.
The Captain's been gone for a while.
Some of the mail's postmarked over a week ago.
Hey, guys.
(Callie) Uncle Mac's favorite gun,
the one with the engraving is missing.
(Joe) Looks like he left in a big hurry.
Could be he's just hunting, but-
Well, maybe we should call your dad.
Uncle Mac did say
there were some very strange things going on here.
Look, why don't we just drive home and talk to him?
[crickets chirping]
(Fenton) I think you're overreacting, Frank.
Witches' Hollow has a way of rubbing off on people.
I've known Maguire for years.
Wouldn't be the first time he'd gone off hunting
without telling anybody. Callie can tell you that.
Well, what about the mail and the spilled shotgun shells?
Sounds like Mrs. Thompson is just not a very good housekeeper.
If you could see your room right now,
you'd know that a mess does not make a mystery.
Sorry, Dad, I meant to clean up before I left.
Chet's dog is the only real mystery around here.
How do you get him to calm down
long enough to hold a phone conversation?
Chet's parents will be by tomorrow morning to pick him up.
Ask him what we do if the Captain doesn't show up.
Now you tell your brother Maguire can take care of himself.
I should be there day after tomorrow.
I'll have the Tanner case wrapped up by then.
[sighs]
And tell Chet
that I'm looking forward to seeing his folks.
(Frank) Okay, I'll tell him.
Good night, Dad. Thanks.
Well, don't worry. We'll spend the night here.
If the Captain doesn't show up by morning,
we'll go into Forestburgh.
[thunder rumbling]
[wind howling]
[rumbling continues]
[Callie screaming]
[cat snarling]
Joe!
I'm going after him. Joe, wait!
What's going on?
Someone was in the cabin.
Someone or something.
[metal clinking]
Someone. Something doesn't use a knife.
You two stay here.
Terrific.
(Frank) Joe!
Joe, where are you?
(Joe) Over here, Frank!
[Frank exclaims]
Joe, answer me!
Joe!
(Joe) Help! Frank!
Joe!
(Joe) Frank! The cliff.
Joe!
(Joe) Down here, Frank.
Hurry, Frank. I can't hold on much longer.
(Frank) Hold on. I'll have you up in a minute.
Hurry up, Frank.
[wind howling]
Hold on.
Hurry up, Frank. It's a long drop.
Grab the belt.
Not yet.
You wouldn't be so patient if you were on this end.
Put your wrist through the loop.
Come on. Got it.
(Frank) You've got it.
[Joe panting]
Come on. That's it, Joe.
Push.
[Joe gasps]
[Joe groaning] Okay. Push up.
[Joe grunts]
Can you give me some help?
[panting] I'm trying.
[both grunting]
That's it, that's it.
[both exhaling]
[both panting]
That was close.
[panting]
Are you hurt?
I'm all right. I fell for a kid's trick.
You shouldn't run off into the woods alone like that.
You almost got killed.
Wasn't my fault.
The guy I was chasing tripped me.
Did you say a guy?
I don't know.
A guy, a thing.
Could've been a girl, for all I saw.
No, couldn't have been.
You wouldn't mind so much falling for a girl.
Right.
[chuckling]
Thanks, brother.
Let's get back. We'll never find him now.
[thunder cracking]
[wind howling]
(Joe) Hey, Frank.
Show your light over here.
[wind whistling]
[thunder cracking]
(Frank) It's a 12 gauge.
Same as the ones that are in the cabin.
Either the Captain was getting pretty careless,
or whatever he was hunting-
Was hunting him. Look at this.
Hunting coat pocket?
Yeah, looks like it.
That stain could be blood. What do you think?
I don't think we should show this stuff to Callie
until we find out what's going on.
Do you feel up to a trip into Forestburgh to see the Sheriff?
One good trip deserves another.
You're holding up pretty good for a younger brother.
It's your example I'm trying to live down to.
[both laugh]
(Frank) Come on.
You wake me up in the middle of the night
to show me a shotgun shell and a piece of hunting jacket?
(Frank) We think something's happened to Capt. Maguire.
Joseph Hardy, your father would be ashamed
to hear you jumping to a conclusion like that.
Uh, I'm Joe. He's Frank.
Look, I don't care if you're Sherlock Holmes.
This isn't evidence of anything.
No matter what you two thought you were chasing.
But we told you, Maguire's gun was missing.
Look, that gun is missing most of the time.
The Captain bought that cabin for that purpose.
So he could hunt and fish.
Without interference.
We're not interfering. He asked us to come.
Oh? I thought you told me he called your dad.
Well, technically, yes.
Well, then, technically,
I'll get worried when your father does.
Any more questions?
Yeah. That is blood?
Son, a game coat is for carrying game.
Not cookies.
Sir, you still haven't explained
all the strange things going on in Witches' Hollow.
Uh-huh.
I see you've been talking to old Mrs. Thompson.
Yes, sir.
Well, then, you'd better listen to her,
and you'd better stay indoors.
Then the witches and goblins won't get you.
Sir, it wasn't our imagination.
Come on, Joe. The Sheriff knows his county better than we do.
You know, that's the most sensible thing
I've heard you two say since you came in here.
Thank you for your help, Sheriff.
Say hello to the Captain for me when you see him.
Yes, sir, and we will see him.
One way or another.
[door shutting]
[birds chirping]
[cat snarling]
[growling]
[door opening]
[door closing]
(Donner) Here you are, my pet.
[cat gulping]
[cat eating]
Ah, Flatfoot,
I see you're still with us.
(Maguire) Dunderhead.
Why don't you let me out of here while you still can.
I'm surprised you haven't found your way out already.
Before she was fully trained,
Tabetha got out of this cage several times.
Thanks.
Of course, I can see your problem.
She never has taken to you
since the night we found you spying on our little enterprise.
Now I have no choice.
You still have a choice. Nobody's gotten hurt. Yet.
(Hudson) Do I know Forestburgh?
Sonny, I've lived here man and boy for 63 years.
Can't know a place much better.
Then you know about Witches' Hollow.
All I want to know.
I've heard her and I've seen her.
You've seen her? Seen who?
Reckon that's for you to find out.
Nobody else has.
Hasn't anyone tried?
You're kind of keen on questions, aren't you, sonny?
Well, I'm looking for a friend. His name is Capt. Maguire.
Yeah, city fellow that moved into the Hollow.
We're getting a lot of that.
A lot of what?
City folks.
Moving in, cluttering up the countryside.
That new fancy parkway gets finished,
there won't be room for a gnat to turn around in this town.
Well, about Capt. Maguire.
What about him?
Have you seen him?
Used to be, you'd see the folks you know every day.
Now it's construction workers,
campers and real estate dealers.
Uh, Mr. Hudson...
Yeah, Maguire. I seen him.
Came in for gas about, uh, three days ago.
Can you think of anyone else who might've seen him?
Well, he was mighty thick with that other city fellow Donner.
Construction man,
bought the old place back of the Hollow.
Gonna tear it down, they say. If it-
Frank, I've got Dad on the phone.
Excuse me, Mr. Hudson.
Yeah.
[sighs]
Hi, Dad.
Joe told me what happened last night,
about your run-in with Sheriff Houghton.
Now don't worry, it's just the man's way.
Oh, I'm not worried about that.
But I am worried about Capt. Maguire.
No word yet?
No, sir.
There's enough circumstantial evidence to hang your hat on.
Look, I can't possibly get up there until tomorrow.
I'm gonna call and get
all the information I can on Bill Maguire out of New York.
New York?
A chief of detectives can make lots of enemies.
Better to be safe than sorry.
It could take a couple of days
to go through all the cases Capt. Maguire's handled.
Ten minutes on the computer.
I'll call Callie with it as soon as I get it.
And you tell her not to worry.
Her uncle can handle himself.
I will.
In the meantime,
don't you two let the, uh, witches and black magic get to you.
That's easy for him to say.
I'll see you tomorrow morning. Goodbye, Son.
Okay. Bye, Dad.
[sighs]
[fuselage flap shutting]
That'll be $11.
About Mr. Donner, how do we find his place?
Just take the left fork back to the Hollow.
Don't blame me if you run into trouble.
He's a cheery character, isn't he?
My sentiments exactly.
[van approaching]
[birds chirping]
(Donner) I agree with you boys about one thing.
I don't hold much credence in all the talk about the Hollow.
Neither does the flatfoot.
Flatfoot?
[chuckles]
Sorry. Capt. Maguire.
You should hear what he calls me after a couple of drinks:
dunderhead.
[all chuckle]
You don't seem very worried.
About Maguire?
You should hear some of the stories he tells.
The list of crooks he's run in.
Reads like a who's who in crime.
That man's as tough as nails.
Though I can't say I'd like to be in his shoes
if some of them got out of jail.
Mr. Hudson says you're tearing this place down.
Is it your construction company that's finishing the parkway?
No, that's Wallis & Mathers' project.
I'm in development.
Houses, condominiums, office buildings.
Here's what this place will look like
if that parkway ever gets finished.
It's very nice. You say if it gets finished?
Wallis & Mathers could well wind up bankrupt.
They're having a lot of trouble.
Breakdowns, faulty materials, pilferage.
It's going to cost me a lot of money
if that project gets canceled.
You mean they can cancel the parkway?
When it's costing three times as much as it should, they can.
Especially if there's enough local resistance,
and believe me, there's resistance here.
I can't understand why.
Small towns and small-town fears.
Witches' Hollow is a good example.
Mr. Donner, what exactly is the legend of Witches' Hollow?
It involves an old lady who lived here in the woods.
On this site, as a matter of fact.
That's why I was able to get such a bargain.
And?
Well, it was during the Salem witch-hunts.
And apparently, she had a thing for cats.
(Donner) She took in strays,
all kinds, as a matter of fact.
Well, the legend says
that she raised a mountain cat.
A black one, and big.
My thought is, if any of this is true,
she must have found it as a baby.
What we would call affection training today.
Back then, you would be branded a witch.
They burned witches at the stake.
Not in this case.
When they came to get her for the trial,
she barricaded herself in the house along with this big cat.
It's, uh, not a very pretty story.
It's not a story at all without a finish.
Well, when she wouldn't come out, they set fire to the place.
And she never came out.
No.
And from then on,
whenever there was a sound in the Hollow,
it was her screaming.
And every time someone had a run-in
with a mountain lion or a bobcat...
Exactly, and that's the stuff of legends.
You make it sound pretty simple,
but we've heard the scream.
[laughs] Oh!
Then you boys best not go into Witches' Hollow.
Because the curse says those that hear the scream
are destined to be the next victims.
You mean, you've never heard it?
Oh, I've heard night sounds.
But then I don't get out in the woods much at night.
I leave that up to the flatfoot...
Uh, Capt. Maguire and young detectives like yourselves.
Well, thank you, Mr. Donner.
My pleasure.
(Frank) Thank you for your time.
(Joe) Thank you very much.
When Maguire gets back,
you tell him I've got a brandy waiting for him.
Okay, we'll do that.
Some story, huh?
You know, there's no way
to really find out what's going on at Witches' Hollow
unless we spend the night there.
Okay.
[engine starts]
[crickets chirping]
(Chet) You know,
sometimes I don't know what to make of you two.
First, you run off and leave us last night, then you-
We didn't want to upset Callie.
Besides, you were asleep when we got back.
That's what you're supposed to do at night.
[scoffs]
I won't close my eyes at all out here.
I told you, you could stay back in the cabin with Callie.
I'm beginning to wish I had.
[owl hooting]
(Frank) You're really going to love it out here, Chet.
Camping out in the open.
[owl hoots] Sleeping under the stars.
Really communing with nature.
Sure, just like a worm on a fishhook.
That's an awfully direct way of putting it.
But the phrase does have some truth in it.
(Frank) Dad may be right about Maguire's old enemies.
My bet still is
that the clue lies in Capt. Maguire's messages
about Witches' Hollow.
If you're right,
I think we can expect some pretty strange things to happen
before the night is over.
Will you two cut it out!
Maybe Chet's right.
Joe, think of a number between one and 10.
Five.
No, you lose. I'll take the first watch.
Just for the record, what was the number?
It doesn't matter. I just don't feel like sleeping.
[crackling]
[owl hooting]
(Callie) There's still no sign of the Captain yet.
The boys went to camp in Witches' Hollow.
They wanted to see what was happening in there firsthand.
Oh, that could be trouble, Callie.
I just got the report from the New York Police Department.
And it seems there are several people
that have been released from prison lately
who could be after your Uncle Bill.
One of them is particularly unstable.
Oh, what should I do?
I don't expect the boys back till morning.
Callie, this could be very important.
Is there some way to get word to the boys?
Well, I'd better try.
Why don't I take the information from you now.
[owl hooting]
[crickets chirping]
(Callie) Joe?
[frogs croaking]
Frank?
[snarling]
Joe?
(Chet) Joe?
(Joe) I got him, Frank! I got him!
You've got me!
Sorry.
I'm coming.
(Frank) Joe, hurry up!
I'm coming.
Get his arms. Pin him down.
(Chet) Frank, Frank, Joe, what is it?
Who is it?
(Frank) Get his legs.
Wait, I-I got- I have a stick.
[grunting]
If he gives us trouble, hit him.
[all panting]
(Joe) He's just a kid.
(Chet) Don't! No!
(Frank) Easy, easy. No one's gonna hurt you.
[kid panting]
Chet.
[frog croaking]
Take it easy.
What in the world
were you sneaking up on us like that for?
You might as well tell us.
We're gonna find out anyway.
Frank, I don't think he can speak.
Is that it?
[panting]
[mimicking wildcat]
[snarls]
[snarling]
[Callie screaming]
What was that?
(Joe) Where did it come from?
[Callie continues screaming]
(Frank) He knows. Let's go.
Hey, guys, wait for me!
[cat growling]
[snarling]
[screams]
[screaming continues]
Callie, what happened?
Was that you screaming?
Oh, I thought I could find your camp.
I barely got into the woods when...
When what?
I don't know. It was...
With gleaming eyes, it was coming towards me.
Eyes? How many?
Well, like a cat. It was dark with no shape.
Just those eyes and a low whispering growl.
(Frank) What were you doing out there anyway, Callie?
(Callie) Your dad called with the information from New York.
Well, these-these woods can play tricks on you at night.
Joe and I have found that out.
Frank, there was something moving in those trees.
(Callie) It was coming after me. I saw it.
Hey, Frank, take a look at this.
That's it. That has to be what I saw.
Who's he?
(Frank) We don't know yet.
But that must mean that he saw the cat, too.
He was trying to warn us.
Thanks.
By the way, what you were doing in here last night?
Now we know why the Captain stocked so many provisions.
Callie, why don't you get him something to eat.
(Frank) Since we've been here,
he hasn't had a chance for a decent meal.
I was right about one thing. It was a kid's trick I fell for.
Oh, I don't think he meant any harm.
Why don't you and Chet see what you can find out.
(Frank) We'll get the sleeping bags.
Hey, don't I even get to pick a number?
Don't worry. I've got a feeling
Callie's scream scared every witch out of the Hollow.
Come on.
[crickets chirping]
I got to say,
this case really has me baffled.
Still no sign of the Captain,
and we really haven't learned anything.
I wouldn't say that.
We know that there is a real cat that roams these woods.
And when we get a chance to question the kid,
I think we're gonna learn a lot more.
[thunder rumbling]
Callie?
(Callie) Shh.
[door closing]
They're both asleep.
Too bad. I wanted to talk to the kid.
(Callie) The kid's name is Simon.
How'd he tell you that?
I'm afraid that all that he can write is his first name.
When I asked him about anything else, he just drew pictures.
And pretty good ones, too.
What's this?
(Callie) Apparently that's the shack in the woods where he lives.
And those are his pets.
They're not the only thing squirrelly about this place.
What's this?
That one, I don't know.
When I asked him about that,
he just got excited when I didn't understand.
(Frank) Well, we can talk to him in the morning.
Why don't you two get some sleep.
I wanna go over the notes that Dad sent up.
You're sure you don't want me to do it?
You really want to? No.
Then why don't you jump into your sleeping bag.
I don't have to. I could sleep standing up.
Good night.
[wolf howling]
[fire crackling]
[coughing]
Frank.
[wheezing]
[gasping]
What? We're locked in.
The place is on fire. Get Callie.
[both coughing]
(Frank) Callie!
Callie, wake up. The place is on fire.
Chet! Chet, get up!
Come on, everybody out. The place is on fire.
[all coughing]
[continues coughing]
Callie, are you all right?
(Chet) Hey, Joe, Frank.
Simon just showed me something.
The cabin isn't on fire.
There's just something stuck up there on the chimney.
(Joe) Frank, that can't be an accident.
Someone's trying to get to us.
Yeah, or scare us.
Either way, somebody thinks we're getting too close for comfort.
Chet, do you think you could get that thing off the chimney?
Why me?
Please, Chet. We need to talk to Simon.
Okay.
Simon, you were friends with Capt. Maguire?
Now we know he let you eat with him.
Did you ever go hunting together?
The last time, did he go hunting without you?
Do you know where he is now?
Looks like we're back to square one.
Hey, wait a minute. I think he wants us to ask him another question.
Hey, maybe he wants us to ask him the big one.
Did someone come and take the Captain away?
[exclaims]
I don't get it. Can you make anything out of this, Joe?
No, but I think I know someone who can.
[animal yowling] The Sheriff?
Right. Come on, Simon, get in the van.
You stay here.
All right.
(Joe) By the way, if Chet falls off the roof,
just give him his sandwich. He won't need a splint.
[laughs] Okay.
[engine starting]
Hey, where are you guys going?
(Joe) We just want to check out something. Be back soon.
[groans]
[coughing]
(Joe) So now, it all has to fit together.
You mean the Captain's disappearance and the legend?
Not exactly.
The shotgun, the shell,
the piece of cloth we found from the Captain's coat.
Yeah, not to mention what's happened to us.
Someone's definitely trying to cover something up.
And you're supposed to say, "But what?"
I would, but I know you don't know either.
He wants something?
He wants you to turn.
(Frank) There's no road to turn into.
(Joe) What's to lose?
We've run into a dead end ever since we got here.
This has to be the heart of Witches' Hollow.
You kidding?
It couldn't have a heart after what we've been through.
(Frank) What do you make of that?
What is it?
[engines rumbling]
[speakers screeching]
(Joe) Listen to those screams.
They're the same ones we heard before.
I don't get it. What's a truck convoy doing here?
[continues screeching]
(Joe) Those speakers, look at them.
Very clever.
They record the screams and then play them back
to scare people out of the Hollow,
so no one discovers their operation.
[screams continue] What operation?
I don't know, but there's gotta be some reason why they're using this old road.
That means they're hauling something they don't want anyone to see.
Right.
Smugglers?
[screams continue] (Frank) Or thieves.
There's only one way we're going to find out.
Call the Sheriff.
Uh-huh. By the time he gets here, they'll be long gone.
Frank, you're not suggesting what...
I mean, those guys have gone to a lot of trouble to keep people away.
The higher the stakes, the more desperate the game.
And that means Capt. Maguire's life is in real danger.
We've got only one tangible clue if we don't let it get away.
Simon, can you get back to the cabin by yourself?
We'll meet you there.
I'd be happy to go with him.
What, and miss the first train to Witches' Hollow?
Let's go.
[screaming continues]
You certainly know how to thumb a ride.
Years of experience.
I feel like I hit a ton of bricks.
You're close. It's cement.
Hey, what did Donner say the name of that company was,
the parkway contractors?
Wallis...
[both panting]
"Wallis & Mathers. "
But this is no way to build a parkway.
Donner said they'd had pilferage
but this is grand theft.
They'll be bankrupt in no time at this rate.
And there's a good chance Capt. Maguire discovered the same thing.
(Frank) Yeah. He could be in big trouble.
I can't think of a better reason
why not to get off this thing right now. Come on.
Frank, looks a lot faster from here.
Just close your eyes and jump.
And don't forget to roll.
[water splashing]
Joe, where are you?
Over here.
You're the one who told me to roll.
Don't worry.
You'll dry off.
It'll be morning before we get back to the van.
That's a pleasant thought.
You mean the boys are in a truck?
Headed where?
Into Witches' Hollow, Simon?
[exclaims]
Oh, I don't like it, Callie.
From what you've told me,
with Maguire disappearing and now the boys,
looks like the Sheriff is gonna have to put out that posse
whether he likes to or not.
[thudding]
Joe, Frank, are you all right?
He's in great shape.
[door closing] A-any word on Maguire?
Well, not exactly.
We don't know how he disappeared, but we may know why.
Whole truckloads of Wallis & Mathers construction materials
are being stolen
and hidden somewhere in Witches' Hollow.
Wait a minute. Wallis & Mathers? Who are they?
The parkway contractors. Someone's trying to stop the parkway project.
And they're using the legend of Witches' Hollow to cover their tracks.
We think Maguire was onto them
and they had to get rid of him.
Now, hold on, slow down.
Wait a minute. Why does anyone want to stop the parkway project?
Right.
Well, there's a lot of local resentment
against the parkway and all the outsiders it'll bring in.
Aha. Felony resentment.
That's not a very good motive.
You certainly have a way of punching holes in our balloons.
Only when there isn't enough air in them.
Have you got any other ideas?
Well, not yet.
The commercial interests stand to lose their shirts
if the parkway isn't finished.
Mr. Donner's plans for all those houses and condos
will go up in a puff of smoke without it.
Donner?
(Joe) He's a good friend of the Captain's.
(Fenton) That's it? That's all you've got?
Well, we've only been working on it for two days, Dad.
Well, It seems that was long enough for you to alienate Sheriff Houghton.
Callie, I'd like you to come with me.
I think we're going to need a little charm
if we're going to get a, uh, posse out into the woods.
Right.
In the meantime, you're going to stay out of trouble.
But, Dad...
No buts. Come on, Callie.
[door closing]
Sorry, I don't understand.
(Frank) The storm the night we arrived.
The cat attacked the Captain?
Doesn't look like any captain to me.
(Joe) This is the Captain?
It still doesn't make any sense.
Joe, are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Frank, it's a foot. It's a flatfoot.
Flatfoot, the name that Donner called the Captain.
And this is Donner?
Remind me never to do another crossword puzzle.
I still don't understand what's going on.
You don't have to understand. I think Simon does.
Come on, let's go.
Chet, if Dad calls,
tell him we've gone over to Donner's place.
Here we go again.
[birds chirping]
(Maguire) When this scheme of yours falls apart,
you'll be a lot better off facing a larceny charge than homicide.
But it's not going to fall apart.
There's a bill in the legislature right now
to suspend the parkway construction
for 6 months, pending study.
The accident you're going to have at the construction site
would be all that's needed to pass the bill unanimously.
I was wondering why you kept me here this long.
It can still blow up in your face.
Only when it does, you've got a man's life on your conscience.
Listen to me, Maguire.
I've been pushed around and laughed at all my life
by speculators and money men.
Now I'm gonna have my chance to do some pushing.
All those speculators will come running to me,
begging me to take their restaurant and gas station sites
at half-price.
And of course, they'll stop laughing
when the temporary shutdown ends,
and I come up millions ahead.
Then we'll see who pushes who.
Have a good meal. It's your last.
You'll be leaving when the trucks pull out tonight.
Donner.
You can't be sure the shutdown will be temporary.
Those speculators just might have the last laugh after all.
It will be temporary.
I'm not without influence, Flatfoot.
[growling]
Hi.
Uh, I called Emerson, uh.
Lead the way, Simon.
[cat snarling]
Simon, you sure you know what you're doing?
He knows.
[creaking]
[door rattling]
[growling]
Another dead end.
Maybe not.
This panel's loose. Here, give me a hand.
How about a foot?
[door crashing]
Who's there?
Capt. Maguire?
Stay back. The cat.
[snarling]
Wait a minute. I have a way with animals.
Yeah. So did Jonah.
[growling]
Nice kitty.
Careful, son. T-that's no house pet.
You don't have to tell me. Come on.
[snarling]
Come on.
Nice kitty. Yeah.
(Maguire) Wait a minute, son.
I'll throw him a piece of meat.
Yeah.
That's it. That's a kitty.
That's it, that's it. That's it.
(Joe) Good.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
It's okay.
[Joe panting]
That's it.
Give it to me.
[hissing]
[cat snarling]
[sighs]
[growling]
You're a regular Clyde Beatty.
Thanks.
Well, you have the honor of opening the cage.
[broom rattling]
[cat snarling]
You are gonna tell us how all this happened, aren't you?
Just open the door, son, before Donner gets back.
[creaking]
Now I want you to get that material
and get it over to the Hollow tonight.
Hold it, Donner. Hold it.
Move over. I'll drive.
(Maguire) Hold it!
(Donner) What's going on? I can't see anything.
[police siren wailing]
Nice going.
Yeah, nothing to it.
Well, uh, it was dangerous up there, you know.
I was hanging on...
(Maguire) Sheriff, give me a hand.
(Callie) Oh, Uncle Mac.
Oh, Uncle Mac, it's so good to see you.
(Frank) And we were lucky, I guess.
How are you?
Well, you boys do intend to tell me what you're doing here?
Nothing, Dad. Just a little catnapping.
Catnapping? That's pretty good.
[engine starting]
(Sheriff} Thanks, Mac.
(Callie) Thank you.
Clouds, lightning, thunder, it rhymes with dunder.
Dunderhead. Why didn't we figure that one out?
Simon saw Donner with the cat.
That's why I went out in the woods
the night his drivers grabbed me.
But he didn't put the two together until you boys showed him.
It looks like Simon did all right.
That Wallis & Mathers reward is all right, that's for sure.
Well, it's more than enough to see Simon through art school
and the special tutoring he needs.
That's really what he's wanted for some time now.
Well, with his talent, Simon will be fine.
Hey, what's gonna happen to Tabetha?
Oh, Clyde Beatty here is going to take her home as a house pet.
I think the zoo is a better idea.
Un-unless Joe wants to take on the job
of training his Aunt Gertrude, too.
Oh, no. I'm through with cats.
Besides, we have to take Chet on the camping trip we promised him.
Not in Witches' Hollow.
Well, you see,
there's a place a little further north called the Devil's Rock.
There's a legend there that says the place-
Forget it! Wonderful.