(wind howling)
Sleepy, darling?
Not yet.
You didn't let this get cold again, did you?
It's fine.
If you need me for anything else,
I'll be working on my new screenplay.
Desmond?
I love you very much.
Love you, too.
(door closes)
(sighs)
Hello, Miss Carson.
I'm sorry, but my wife just went to bed,
and I didn't want to wake her.
My God, Lili Lita lives here.
(quietly): Yes, and sleeps here.
Did you tell anyone I'm working with you?
No.
And it hasn't been easy, Mr. Williams.
But I kept my promise.
Mm.
Please.
I've come to realize
the one gift I possess
is a great eye for talent.
Lili Lita was, without question, a great actress.
But in this film, A Scandalous Woman...
I showed the world her true magic.
What did she have?
Character.
I'm not sure I understand.
You'll see.
The femme fatale I created for A Scandalous Woman was Glenda,
gun moll to the vicious gangster, Eddie Dugan.
Played by Ronald Redwood.
My Lili was tough, determined and very sensual.
Now... (film projector whirring)
forget everything you have been taught.
Learn from what you see.
(dramatic film score plays)
¶ ¶
This is so exciting, Mr. Williams.
We found it in his room, Eddie.
Yeah? Where?
In his bed.
Now, watch.
(footfalls)
(sighing)
How did it go?
I came back for something only you can give me.
Yeah? What's that?
A light.
Do you see her presence?
Maybe I will be.
I don't think so, doll.
DESMOND: Now, show me you're as talented as my Lili!
(gasps)
(crackling, whooshing)
(gasps, groans)
She hasn't a clue how to play this scene.
That cop will never get his cuffs on me.
Now, get her out of here. No!
TINA: Stop it. Somebody help me, please!
Stop it! Please. Stop this!
(film score swells)
(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
TINA (on-screen): No! What's going on?
Would you listen to me?
Only a dumb broad would cross Dugan.
(crying)
Oh, yeah? I'll tell him you said that!
The boss is through with you, doll face,
No!
But we're just starting.
No!
I've always wanted a sample of what you've been selling.
No!
TINA: No...! No...!
(crying)
(machine gun firing)
(tires squealing)
Somebody help me!
TINA: Please! Somebody help me!
(glass shatters, Tina screams)
(tires squealing)
Get down!
(machine gun firing on-screen)
(screaming)
No. Not yet.
Don't make me go back. Desmond, please.
You promised.
(groans)
Oh, my God. No.
Don't cry, baby.
This is funny.
(coughs)
I always thought I'd die in bed.
(dramatic film score crescendos)
Mm. Good morning, party animal.
Mm.
So, what time did you finally get in?
(sighing): I don't know.
4:45 or something.
What did you boys do?
Teaching Johnny to play chess.
That's funny.
He mentioned something about hot videos.
Chess videos. Oh.
What are you looking for in there, anyway?
I'm not sure yet.
There's been another disappearance.
Another actress?
Mm-hmm.
That's six in a month.
I'm just looking for movie or theater-related objects.
Who knows?
LILI: How's the new script coming?
Slow. I'm not as inspired as I used to be.
That's because you waste your energy taking care of me.
Hmm.
Why don't you stop writing, just for a while.
There's no place in the world for the films we used to make.
You can't re-create the past.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Lili, darling,
would you mind if I went out for a couple of hours tonight?
No.
The manager of The Eglington invited me
to a retrospective of my films.
Now you go on.
Have a good time.
But watch out for those young girls.
(coughs)
His work is incredible, Johnny.
My film teacher says he's one of the true masters of film noir.
Film what?
Film noir.
It's French for "dark film."
You know, as in evil or corrupt.
Erin, look, I'm sure this is a great film,
but they play this stuff on TV all the time. Why...?
Johnny, I told you this is my favorite film.
All right, all right.
I'm sure it's going to be great.
You'll love it, It's extremely romantic.
Two, please.
(suspenseful music playing on-screen)
(loud banging on door)
(applause)
(musical flourish plays)
What did you think?
It was okay.
Okay?
You really think that was romantic?
MAN: Ladies and gentlemen...
Yes.
we're pleased to have the filmmaker here tonight.
A cinematic legend,
Mr. Desmond Williams.
(applause) Whoo!
Now, if those of you who would like to discuss
the film with Mr. Williams
would please come down front, we can get started.
Where are you going?
To share my thoughts with someone who understands.
And this is the fifth time I've seen A Felony Life.
It gets better every time.
Well, thank you.
I'm glad the magic still works after all these years.
What I really want to do is direct.
Is there any advice you could give me?
Actually, I'm considering giving a course in directing.
If you want to give me your number,
I'll contact you when that happens.
555-1386.
Oh, thank you.
Mr. Williams, my name is Krissy Sloan.
Take my number, too.
555-
1862.
Wow, this is cool!
Shh, shh, shh!
Let's not waken Lili.
Mr. Williams, it's so kind of you to let me stay here tonight.
Oh, don't worry, we have plenty of room.
Are you sure your wife won't mind?
Not at all. She loves company.
I can't believe I'm getting a private screening
of A Scandalous Woman. Shh, shh.
I must've seen it at least 50 times.
Well, perhaps tonight you'll see it in a different light.
(tires squealing)
(screaming)
KRISSY (on-screen): Mr. Williams, help me!
You make me crazy, baby.
I don't want this to end. Ever.
I have no choice.
Yes, you do.
You can fix it so we can be together always.
I thought you said you cared about me.
I do.
I want you to prove you love me
like I proved it to you.
As long as she's out here,
I have to keep going back in there, get it?
If she's gone, I could stay.
(Krissy screaming on-screen) Next time.
Next time. Next time.
It's the same old story.
You promise to put her in the picture
and let me stay out here, but you never do it.
So, Desmond, I'll give it to you straight--
if she's still here next time...
you and I are finished.
Well, darling, be reasonable.
(machine gun firing) (screams)
Do it, Desmond,
or I'll find somebody who will.
(movie playing in distance)
(groans)
No!
LILI (over intercom): Desmond?
(coughs)
Desmond, is everything all right?
Yes.
I'm fine, my dear.
Sorry I woke you.
Are you running our film again? (coughs)
Oh, yes, darling.
Hi, guys.
JACK: Hey, Johnny. MICKI: Hi.
How's it going?
Not well. (sighs)
What's the problem?
Some actresses disappeared recently and Micki has the, uh,
the hunch that it's something to do with a cursed object.
JOHNNY: And?
And nothing in the manifest fits.
See, Lewis sold a Victorian costume, male,
a make-up case returned,
a movie camera returned,
and an old 16 millimeter movie print.
I'm going to check Lewis's files
and see if he has anything on cursed movies.
Good idea.
I think the movie last night I saw was cursed. Huh?
It cost me a beautiful girlfriend.
(chuckling): What was the movie?
Some moth-eaten thing called A Felony Life.
A Felony Life?!
Hey, Lord, I haven't seen that in years.
I wish I could say the same.
Oh, come on, Johnny.
That was one of those great tearjerkers of its time.
I hated it.
And I hated the way
Erin drooled over Desmond Williams afterwards.
Desmond Williams was there?
Oh, I'm sorry I missed that.
He was one of the really great directors.
He married that wonderful Lili Lita.
They did A Scandalous Woman together.
Did you ever seen that? No.
MICKI: A Scandalous Woman?
Yes.
Oh they did a whole string of hits together,
and then she retired to be his wife.
That was big news back then.
Well, if you want to see him, he lives in town.
I wonder if Lili Lita's still alive.
Last I heard she was an invalid, I think.
Jack. Hmm?
A Scandalous Woman was the name of the movie that Lewis sold.
Perhaps wallpapering the bedroom is too extravagant.
Maybe we should wait until you sell the new screenplay.
Desmond?
Desmond, are you all right?
Yes. Oh, yes.
You've been working too hard.
Maybe you should stay out of the study for a while.
(screaming)
Desmond?
Desmond!
Oh, my God, Lili.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Oh, it's okay. I'm fine.
TV NEWS ANCHOR: The bill would increase city property taxes...
Here it is, 16 millimeter movie print.
Sold to D.W.
Desmond Williams.
And locally, parents of a Pleasanton girl
are searching for their daughter who came here last night
for a special film screening.
Guys.
17-year-old Kristine Sloan was planning to attend a showing
of the 1939 film A Felony Life.
Mr. and Mrs. Sloan are not sure
how Kristine traveled here
or if she even made it to the screening.
She was there. I saw her.
Our local authorities are asking for your assistance
in helping to locate her. (TV clicks off)
Micki, I think we'd better go have a talk with Mr. Williams.
I'll come, too. No, Johnny.
You go and visit that desk sergeant friend of yours.
Find out if Williams had any contact
with the other missing women, hmm?
I'm sorry, Officers.
Anyone under 30 looks the same to me.
Okay.
Sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Williams.
No bother.
Well, good night, sir. Good night.
(gasps)
GLENDA: I want you to prove you love me.
Me!
I sure as hell been proving it to you.
LILI (over intercom): Desmond?
Desmond?!
Yes, Lili.
Darling, if you're not terribly busy
could you come up here for a minute?
Of course, my darling.
(intercom clicks off)
(wind howling, dog barking nearby)
GLENDA: You could fix it so we could be together... always.
I want you to prove you love me like I proved it to you.
LILI: There's no place in the world for the films we used to make.
GLENDA: If she's gone, I could stay.
LILI: I love you very much.
GLENDA: Do it Desmond, or I'll find somebody who will.
LILI: Desmond, what happened?!
The cup slipped.
I'm sorry. I'll get you another.
LILI: Oh, I'll be fine without it, my love.
It's no problem.
(knocking)
(insistent knocking)
Mr. Williams, I apologize
for coming to your home like this,
but I didn't know of any other way talk to you.
What do you want?
I saw your film the other night,
and I was, well, really inspired.
Thank you.
I'm Micki Foster.
Could I have some of your time?
(sighs) Not right now.
I need to talk to you about a movie print
that you bought.
A film called A Scandalous Woman.
Perhaps I can give you a moment.
In my screening room.
(wind whistling, crickets chirping)
Make yourself comfortable.
I want to make sure my wife is asleep.
And then we'll talk.
(knocking)
JACK (whispering): Hand me the print.
(film cans rattling)
Anxious to see the film?
Sure.
Actually, I'm more interested in buying the print.
Well, I haven't thought about selling it.
Maybe we should run it first
and see if you like it.
(dramatic film score plays)
Hold it! (gun cocks)
Okay, pal, hold still.
We don't want to hurt you.
Officers, this isn't really what it looks like.
DUGAN (on-screen): How did it go?
Came back for something
only you could give me.
Yeah? What's that?
A light.
Have you ever wanted to be in the movies, Miss Foster?
No, not really.
DUGAN: I want you to be around when this is over.
GLENDA: Maybe I will be.
It's quite an experience.
I don't think so, doll.
(grunting)
(whooshing, crackling sound)
Wait a sec. How did I get here?
What is this place?
You feel so good.
Did you do it?
Is she dead?
No, I couldn't do it.
The cops are never gonna get their cuffs on me.
DUGAN: Get her out of here.
No! Let go of me!
No! Jack, help me!
Where are you going?
As long as she's alive,
I'll never be free of that damned film.
If you're not man enough to kill that old bitch,
I'll find someone who will.
(knocking)
No, please, get back into the screening room.
Don't let anyone see you.
What is this?!
Sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Williams,
but we caught this man looking in your window.
He claims a friend of his is inside,
and that she's in some sort of danger.
I don't understand what...
You know damn well that Micki Foster's in that room!
If you've got nothing to hide, then let them check.
Please, you'd better believe me.
She's in danger!
You don't mind if we take a quick look, do you?
Lili?
What seems to be the problem, boys?
I'm, uh, I'm sorry.
Your friend here seems to think you're in some sort of trouble.
My friend?
I've never seen this joker before in my life.
And I assure you I'm in no trouble.
At least not yet.
Sorry for disturbing you.
Good night.
Wait. I know this woman.
Shut up, pal.
You're in enough trouble already.
What have you done?!
Now those men have seen you!
They should see me.
I've got a lot to offer, don't you think?
You can't!
You keep me locked up
like a caged animal
so you can have me when the mood strikes.
Well, I want out!
You can't do this!
You're mine!
I created you, damn it!
Desmond, I love this place.
The color of it, the feel...
I'm sick of it in there.
The same old faces, the same old story.
I want to be with you forever,
but there's only one way that can happen, hmm?
LILI: Desmond? Desmond?
Get in that room now!
(door slams)
Oh, now, you're not supposed
to get out of bed by yourself.
I thought you were asleep.
I heard voices.
Nothing to worry about.
We had a prowler.
A prowler?!
It's all right.
The police took him away.
Are you sure we're safe?
Yes, love.
There.
(grunts)
There we are. There, there.
Thank you.
All right, now, now go to sleep,
and if you hear anything, it'll be me running a film.
Probably one of yours.
Good night, Desmond.
MICKI (on-screen): Get your hands off me!
Let go! Stop! Jack, can you hear me?!
(dog barking nearby)
Help me! Jack, help me!
Jack are you out there?! Jack!
(Micki crying)
Let go of me!
Cry all you want, doll.
You ain't leaving this party, yet.
No!
(laughs)
I can't believe I had to bail you out.
Thank you.
Just drive, will you, Johnny?
So what happened to Micki?
I don't know.
But I swear that woman I saw was Lili Lita.
Well, didn't you say that was Desmond's wife?
Yes, but this Lili hasn't aged a day in 40 years.
He must be able
to re-create her through the curse.
Jack, you don't think Micki...?
Step on it, will you, Johnny?
(Micki grunting)
(groans)
Why are you doing this?
Only a dumb broad would cross Dugan.
Yeah? Well, your boss is a creep!
I happen to know he sold you out to the cops.
Oh, yeah? I'll tell him you said that.
Well, you do that. It's your funeral.
The boss is through with you, doll face,
but we're just starting.
(wrench rattles)
I've always wanted a sample of what you've been selling.
(cries out) (wrench clattering)
(grunting)
Miss me?
Where the hell have you been?
Oh, teaching you how easy it would be for me to leave.
I was checking on the old lady.
You didn't?
No, relax.
Only you can do that.
She's sleeping like a baby.
Why can't you understand?
I can't kill her. She's my wife.
All you ever tell me is what a burden she is.
Look at me, Desmond.
I'm your chance to live like a human being again.
Lili was a great star.
She's not some little nobody who can just disappear.
Well, we can't be together until she's gone.
I don't care how you do it, but you're going to do it...
tonight.
Kill her, Desmond.
Set me free.
(door squeaks)
(muffled cries)
(muffled cries continue)
(muffled yelling)
(muffled yelling quiets, stops)
(gasps): That's my baby.
We'll get rid of her in the morning.
Now we have all the time in the world.
(hinges squeak)
(door closes)
Micki managed to unlatch a window. Come on.
(Micki panting on-screen)
There's no need to hurry anymore.
We can take all night if we want.
LILI: I don't think so.
DESMOND: Lili!
I thought you killed her.
Death scenes were always my forte.
(suspenseful movie music continues in background)
Desmond loves me.
(suspenseful movie music continues)
You made her up to look like me.
Who is she?
I'm you.
She took my place in the picture so I could be here.
(panting, grunting)
This is impossible!
(screaming)
Miss Lita!
(movie music continues)
Johnny, get after her!
It's all right.
My friend is the young girl playing your part.
MICKI (on-screen): Jack!
(gunfire)
(tires squeal)
MICKI: Jack! Can you hear me?
This can't be happening.
I'm afraid it is.
LILI: Well, how do we get her out of there?
JACK: The film must allow your character
to be freed if another takes her place.
We have to find her and get her back into it.
(gunfire in movie)
You mean there have been people before this?
JACK: Yes, and they've never been seen again.
Probably never will be.
(Micki screams, gunfire continues)
You've got to let me explain, Lili.
I never meant to harm you.
I just wanted us to be together again,
like we were.
You said you loved me.
But what you really loved...
was that pathetic character I portrayed.
(siren wailing in distance)
¶ ¶
DUGAN (in movie): Let it go.
GLENDA: I came back for something only you could give me.
Yeah? What's that?
GLENDA: A light. (mouthing)
(lighter snaps open)
(lighter snaps shut)
DUGAN: I wanted you to be around when this was over.
GLENDA (exhales smoke): Maybe I will be.
I don't think so, doll.
(chuckles quietly)
Miss Lita?
Lily?
Yes?
Yes, I'm Lili.
DUGAN: Now, get her out of here!
I need to take you back to the house.
No, I can't.
Desmond lied.
He said I was a star, but he didn't...
he didn't tell me about this.
They love me.
All of them love me.
Why didn't he tell me about this?
I don't know.
I think we should go talk to him about this.
Yes. Let's.
MICKI: Jack!
Lili, I've never been unfaithful.
She's you.
She is not me.
And I am not that slut you created for your movie.
You stopped loving me because I couldn't stay young forever.
DESMOND: But you could be young forever.
In there-- you can be healthy, beautiful.
You can have it all back.
Please don't listen to him, Lili.
We can all have what we want here.
He can get his friend back; I can get...
No, no, this is crazy! It's the only way.
She can't go back until someone dies.
(gunfire continues on-screen)
I'm sure that can be arranged.
(gasps)
DESMOND: Darling, convince her.
Make her take your place.
No, I'm through
with taking direction from you.
What do you mean?
She gave me a life, but you,
you kept me trapped in your godforsaken film.
You never told me what I meant to other people.
(grunting)
She gave me to the world,
but you just wanted me for yourself.
(grunting)
(gunshot)
(groans)
(gunshot)
(gunshots, grunting)
(exciting movie music continues)
(movie gunfire continues)
(gasps)
(bullets ricochet, Micki gasps)
I've been away too long.
Lili, no!
(movie music continues)
(crackling, whooshing )
(Glenda laughing)
I'm free!
(crackling, whooshing)
(grunts)
(dramatic orchestral movie score plays)
Don't cry, baby.
(coughing)
I'm free!
(crackling)
(echoing scream)
(screaming continues)
(dramatic movie score continues)
Micki! Micki! Thank God! (sobbing)
Thank God.
LILI (on-screen: This is funny.
(Lili coughs)
I always thought I'd die
in bed.
(orchestra sustains minor-key chord)
(exciting orchestral music playing)
JACK: Well, that's one movie that won't be seen again.
MICKI: Good.
It'll be a long time before I want to see another film.
(chuckles)
You sure you're okay?
What was it like to be there?
I was... completely at the mercy of...
what was going on around me.
I never felt so... manipulated.
Desmond spent his whole life manipulating people.
Then he lost the ability
to separate fantasy from reality,
and it destroyed him.
I guess he wanted to live his whole life like a movie.
Well, we all crave the escapism that they provide.
Unfortunately, some of us forget
that a movie is only an illusion.