I am quite harmless, I assure you.
Would you like a cigarette?
Well, I won't either.
What are you doing on my property?
Yes, my dear, it is your property, isn't it?
Well, as a matter of fact, I'm snooping. There's no other word for it.
- Are you one of the surveyors? - Oh, no, no.
I have nothing to do with all that sort of thing.
Then what's that camera for?
This is a sort of conversation piece.
I say, may I introduce myself?
My name is Harry Wills.
I've come all the way from London in the hope of meeting you.
Why?
Well, we have met before, you know...
a long time ago.
On the first night you arrived in London...
when I was a newspaper reporter...
and stood as close to you as I am now...
for two delightful minutes.
But I didn't talk to any reporters.
I know you didn't, and you had every reason not to...
the way they behaved toward you.
That's one of the reasons why I've always hoped I'd meet you again...
to apologize.
- You really were there? - Indeed I was.
And I can prove it to you.
Let me see now.
You were dressed in, um...
a sort of, uh...
gray... no, green...
a green suit with a sort of...
Tam-o'- Shanter to match.
Am I right?
You see, I was there.
You know, ever since that night I've read almost everything they've ever printed about you.
In fact, I'm quite an authority on you.
- You are? - Yes, indeed I am.
You're my favorite living mystery.
Have you ever solved me?
No.
But then you wouldn't be a mystery anymore, would you?
No, I wouldn't.
And I'm your... your favorite case when you got so many to choose from?
That's only natural.
You have everything.
You're unsolved. Perhaps even insoluble.
And you have passion and glamour in your past.
I say, I hope I'm not offending you.
It's the oddest thing. You're not.
I don't usually talk to people.
Not about that.
That's why I'm so flattered that you're talking to me now.
I say, let's go and sit up there and have a nice little chat, shall we?
Mr. Wills...
since you're an authority on me...
you think I'm a murderess?
Do I look like one?
Well, now, let's see.
It's rather difficult, isn't it? But that's as it should be.
They've told you I'm crazy.
Everyone says you are.
Are you?
I used to be positive I wasn't.
But just lately...
at night, it...
it seems as if...
I really don't know anymore.
If it comes to that, how does anyone know?
Would you like to see inside the house?
I've been wanting to see it for years.
Come on.
Papa used to give the most beautiful parties here.
They went on for days and days.
You're very fond of this house, aren't you?
I'll show you Papa's library.
Papa built this place up again, you know.
He bought back a lot of the original pieces.
Oh.
You're Miss Deering, aren't you? I had the pleasure of seeing you yesterday.
- My name is Wills. Harry Wills. - How do you do?
Your cousin's kindly considered to show me around this lovely old home.
I see.
Excuse me.
Come on.
Papa's library was like a playroom to me when I was a little bitty.
That's Papa. He never minded me underfoot.
He never minded a thing I ever did. He was always so...
Take your hands off that.!
You give that to me!
Now you get out! You get out, all of you!
Get out, do you hear me? You get out and stay out!
Go outside. Wait for me outside.
- You get out and stay out! - Charlotte, what's the matter? What did they do?
And you, too, snooping around.
Don't you think I know what you're looking for in my house?
But what does it matter if you haven't anything to conceal?
Oh, but I have. I have things concealed. Vile things.
Where do you suppose I keep 'em? Haven't you guessed?
In here.
A memento of my sinful romance. My lover's hand.
Look! Just look!
It's all... all I have left of him.
A love song he wrote for me...
and gave me in a music box.
My dear, Miss Charlotte. Please.
- Oh, John. - You better leave now.
I was trying to help her.
If you hadn't come here, this might never have happened.
I'm sorry.
Who put that box in there?
How in the world would I know?
Charlotte.
- John?
- Charlotte?
Charlotte? Charlotte, let me in.
The mirrors.
Charlotte, what happened to the mirrors?
- Charlotte...
what have you done?
It was Papa. He was so... so tall and so angry.
He still hasn't forgiven me.
No, Charlotte, he loved you. He wouldn't have harmed you.
But it was Papa.
It was Papa. I know it was.
- No, it just seemed that way. - He was there. He really was.
- He really was. - No, come along.
We'll talk about it tomorrow.
- Miriam, what are you doing? - Charlotte.
I'm taking you away from here today.
- No. - Drew and I have talked it over.
And we found a place where you'll be real comfortable.
No, I won't go.
- You just get some sleep. - You have to go before next Monday anyway.
L... I won't go, not while Jewel Mayhew's still down there.
I won't have her see me driven off my own place.
Would you rather she sees you arrested and taken off to jail?
Luke Standish wouldn't do that.
They'll be policemen and reporters and photographers everywhere.
Charlotte, after last night, you must leave here.
You must.
- Last night? - The music room.
The mirrors.
Where will you take me?
To a nice place...
where people will be kind to you.
You'll see.
But I won't go in the daytime. I won't go till it's after dark 'causeJewel will see me.
Now, Charlotte, what difference does that make?
Jewel will have to know sooner or later.
Now I want Charlotte to get some sleep.
I'll go downstairs and see about cleaning up down there.
- What are you gonna do to me? - Now I want you to get all the rest you can.
You're going to feel a lot better after you've had a little sleep.
Drew, I didn't break those mirrors. Really, Drew, I didn't break those mirrors.
Oh, of course you didn't break the mirrors.
Mr. Wills's room.
Yeah. Will you hurry it up?
Mr. Wills? Velma Cruther.
- You told me to call you if...
Oh. I'll talk to you later.
I was just using the phone.
So I see.
Miss Charlotte will be leaving tonight, Velma.
You'll be given your wages till the end of the month.
You trying to hand me my walkin' papers?
No, it's just that you won't be needed any longer.
Is that so?
Well, what about when she comes back? Or ain't she comin' back?
Since the house won't be here, I hardly think that's relevant.
Oh, you think so, huh? You know what I think?
I think if she leaves this house with you...
she ain't never gonna be seen nor heard from again.
Anyways, I take my orders from Miss Charlotte and not from you!
It should be obvious, even to you, Velma...
that my cousin is in no condition to run a household.
Oh, is that so? Well, there's a whole lot of things that's obvious to me.
The childish tricks you've been playing here...
trying to frighten me into leaving are more than sufficient reason to dismiss you.
Tricks?
What are you calling tricks?
Wasn't me that ripped your dad-burned old dress.
But you seem to know it was ripped.
And I haven't mentioned it to anyone.
Besides, it isn't just the dress.
I don't even know what you're talking about.
But I do know one thing, though.
You're just jealous because Miss Charlotte always favored me!
You're trying to dupe me out of the money...
that she promised me when she passes away!
Oh, that's charming.
Quite charming.
My cousin just happens to be a little ill...
and you're already dividing up the spoils.
I didn't mean it.
I did not mean it that way, and you damn well know it!
Anyways, you don't have no call to be so high and mighty.
I seen all that fancy foreign mail that you've been gettin'.
You think I don't know a due bill when I see one?
You had it in for me since the first time you come to this house.
And you know why? 'Cause I can see right through you.
You didn't fool me then, and you sure as hell don't fool me now.
My dear Velma, I wouldn't dream of trying.
But the point is you're fired. You're just not needed any longer.
Well, I'm not gonna clear out just 'cause you say so.
I've been lookin' after Miss Charlotte since before you come here, and she knows it.
Where do you think you're going?
I'm goin'upstairs, and I'm gonna tell her what you've been up to.!
Don't you dare go up there and bother her.
Mm-hmm.
What's going on up there that you don't want me to see?
Now, Velma, Miss Miriam's more than qualified...
to look after Miss Charlotte...
and to take care of closing up the house.
Oh.
So you're in on this together, huh?
You and her.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Miss Charlotte's sick.
You're not gonna help her get well by kicking up all this ruckus.
Oh, all right!
All right, I'm goin'.
But don't think you're not gonna be sorry!
Both of you!
What in the world does she think we're gonna be sorry about?
She's always been insanely jealous...
of anyone who was close to Charlotte.
I guess it's something she just can't be rational about.
You haven't got much to go on, really.
I got what I know, don't I?
I know the state Miss Charlotte's been in ever since that fool woman come here!
She wouldn't have smashed them mirrors that way...
if somebody didn't have her good and worked up about something.
She loves that old house.
She really does.
Yes, but even allowing that there may be some cause for concern...
what can I do?
You could do somethin'!
She likes you.
I seen how she was with you.
Now, if you was to... if you was to go out there...
and you were to tell her not to listen to them...
I think she'd mind what you say.
I must admit, the whole thing seems strangely odd to me.
If they take my Miss Charlotte away from that house...
I ain't gonna never see her again.
I knows it. I just knows it!
You feeling all right, Charlotte?
Somebody has to finish your packing for you, don't they?
You don't want to leave all your things behind, do you?
Do you?
Papa.
Papa, I'm going to have to leave the house.
I tried to keep the house, but they're tearing it down.
I can't help it.
Don't be angry.
I've lived alone here all these years to protect you.
You know that.
Just because I loved John more than I loved you...
didn't give you the right to murder him just to punish me!
John never hurt you. John never even...
One more time, baby.
Just one more time. Nice. Now hold still.
Once again.
Thanks. Remind me to send you one for Christmas.
Charlotte?
Charlotte? Charlotte, what is it?
How is she?
She'll keep. Oh.
Wanna help me get rid of this?
It's almost too real, isn't it?
Your artist friend in New Orleans has quite a talent.
- And a minimum of curiosity. - Do you think it's done the job?
Not quite. We could probably achieve the rest with this drug...
but the effect wouldn't be permanent.
Besides, chemically it's traceable.
Then we'll have to go through with the rest?
Don't you worry. After the last phase of treatment...
there won't be a doctor in Louisiana who wouldn't commit her.
Then establishing your right to handle the estate...
should take...
oh, just a few days.
Good morning, Charlotte.
- Where's Velma? - You let her go yesterday.
You fired her.
- Fired? - You're not going to need her any longer.
I had a terrible dream.
- Terrible. - I know.
You'll stop having them once you're away from here.
Now you eat your breakfast.
And I'll come back later and see how you are.
Miss Charlotte?
Miss Charlotte.
What have they been givin' you?
That's some kind of drug, ain't it?
Oh, Miss Charlotte.
- I thought you'd gone. - Well, I was gone. They kicked me out...
Miss Miriam and your friend Dr. Drew.
I told that to Mr. Wills, but he wouldn't listen.
You can't go that way. Miss Charlotte, I've gotta get your coat.
Your shoes. You can't go there.
Come on, Miss Charlotte. Come on, Miss Charlotte.
I've gotta get you out of here.
- Come on, honey. We gotta go outta here.
Miss Charlotte. Come on, darling.
Don't you say anything. You hush now, ya hear?
Don't you say a word. Come on, Miss Charlotte.
Miss Charlotte, don't say anything. Shh.
Shh. Be quiet. Don't say anything.
Oh, my!
Shh, Miss Charlotte.
You'll be able to eat something later.
I'll take this away.
Is there anything you want before I leave?
I'll look in on you later.
Now get some rest.
Come on, Miss Charlotte. You gotta wake up now. Come on.
- No. No, Velma, no! - Shh! You gotta be quiet, honey.
Come on. Put your legs over here. That's right.
You gotta put this coat on. Put your little hand in here now.
Come on. Put your little hand in there. That's right.
Come on. Now give me your other hand.
That's good. Get it in there.
Come on. Give me your other one.
You just can't keep hogs away from the trough, can you?
I come to get my things.
Is my cousin one of your things?
I'm taking her outta here...
away from you.!
The only thing you're taking out of here is you!
Miss Charlotte! Miss Charlotte!
So you're finally showin' the right side of your face, ain't ya?
Well, I seen it all the time.
That's some kind of drug that you've been givin' her.
You've been makin' her act the way she's been.
Well, I'm goin' into town...
and I'm goin' to tell them what you been up to.
Dr. Bayliss, please. Yes, Bayliss.
And hurry. Please hurry.
Sit down.
You seem awfully nervous.
He was always fighting to keep two things...
his daughter and his money.
And now he's gonna lose both.
Gotta hand it to him. He held on to both of'em an awful long time...
even after he died.
I suppose in a way he's got Charlotte to thank for that.
If she hadn't deluded herself into believing...
it was dear old Papa who killed John Mayhew...
she might never have stayed here guarding that so-called, uh, secret.
She might have gone off and spent the entire fortune.
Are you sure it's all right?
Sure what's all right?
Don't make fun of me!
Oh, you mean Velma.
Of course it's all right. Nobody's ever gonna know it wasn't an accident.
Except me, of course.
Which rather tends to make me the senior partner...
in our little enterprise, doesn't it?
Charlotte's still asleep. Do you want me to give her anything else?
No, no. She'll do quite nicely as she is.
Well, I'd better put in an appearance in town.
Oh, come on, Miriam.
Don't start weakenin' now.
This may be our last chance of acquiring the wealth...
to which I'd like to become accustomed.
See you.
It's all yours, Mr. Wills.
Thank you, Sheriff.
Hi, Mr. Wills. I'll bet this is the first time...
you've ever seen the county coroner operate out of a funeral parlor, eh?
Yes. It's a bit different where I come from.
It's a bit different most places.
Still, for a town of this size, it's kind of handy.
I just heard the news about Velma Cruther's death...
at the newspaper office.
- It was Miss Cruther he came to see, wasn't it? - Oh, yes, indeed, sir.
She certainly had a nasty accident, all right.
- Would you like to see the body? - No, thank you.
Oh. Well, step inside anyway.
May I ask how it happened?
Well, it seems she, uh... she fell off a ladder.
She must have been up there fixing her roof.
The roof in her place has always let in the rain.
And, uh, well, it's done it for years.
You mean this happened at Miss Cruther's home?
Well, I'd hardly call it a home, sir...
but she did fall in her own backyard.
I see. Who found her?
Well, I couldn't tell you that, sir...
but it was Dr. Bayliss that brought her in.
Charlotte.
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
Charlotte, don't you cry
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
I'll love you till I die
Oh, hold me, darlin'
Please hold me close
And brush the tears
From your eyes
You weep because you had a dream last night
You dreamed that I said good-bye
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
Charlotte, don't you cry
Charlotte.
John?
John, wait! Don't go.
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
Charlotte, don't you cry
John?
Don't go away.
John?
Please don't go away!
Papa?
Charlotte.
John.
You idiot.
You wretched idiot!
He's dead.
And you killed him.
Miriam!
Don't call the sheriff.
People staring at me and hating me.
It will be just like the night when John was murdered.
But you killed Drew. We can't just pretend it never happened.
You don't know what it's like when hate is everywhere. You can't feel it.
Oh, Miriam, don't you hate me too.
Oh, please, Charlotte. Please, please don't.
I didn't mean to kill him. The gun was just there in-in my hand.
And-And when I saw him, he looked so horrible.
It was just like the night when... when the mirrors were all smashed...
and just like the night when I saw that hand.
Oh, Miriam... Miriam, please don't call the sheriff. I just couldn't stand it!
Oh, Charlotte, don't.
We could get rid of the body. We could hide it somewhere.
Then people would think someone else had done it. That's the only thing to do.
Miriam... Miriam, I've got lots of money.
I'll give it to you, all of it.
We really could get rid of the body if you'd help me.
We could get rid of it if you'd help me.
- Oh, I wish to God I'd never come here.
I'll get the car. You turn out the lights.
Well, go!
- Get in there and stay quiet.
Get in there!
Miss Deering, I hope you'll forgive me for popping in at this time.
I happened to be out driving with a friend when I noticed the lights.
I've heard the news about Velma Cruther's death.
What a terrible thing. She was such a loyal person.
I'm quite sure Miss Hollis must be terribly upset about it.
I wonder if there's anything I can do?
It's very kind of you, but, no, there isn't anything.
Charlotte was upset.
I've given her a sedative and put her to bed.
- It was a dreadful shock for her. - I'm terribly sorry.
Please give her my sympathy.
I'm sorry I can't ask you in.
It's quite all right. I shouldn't have come.
It's very late. I just happened to be passing, that was all.
You understand.
Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Wills. Good night.
Uh, by the way, I understand you'll be leaving...
this house in a matter of days now, you and your cousin.
Well, of course our plans are indefinite now.
Naturally, they would be.
Mr. Wills, you'll have to excuse me.
I must look in on Charlotte.
Excuse me, please. Good night.
I don't think I can help you.
You can't help me?
I'm the one that's helping you!
Do you want me to wash my hands of the whole thing?
Call the sheriff? Is that what you want?
Well, all right, then.
Hey, turn your lights on.!
I must be the worst person in the world...
to have killed Drew.
Will you please shut up?
Miriam, I-I can't touch him.
- Don't make me do it, Miriam. - Get out!
Do what I say!
Well?
Will you stop that!
Miriam, they'll... they'll be finding him soon...
and-and they'll be asking questions...
and I-I-I don't think I-I could lie to 'em.
You-You-You... You'll have... You'll have to tell 'em, Miriam...
I'm not able to answer questions.
'Cause they'll find out if you don't. They'll find out, Miriam.
Damn you!
Now will you shut your mouth?
You'll do as I tell you.
And if I tell you to lie, you'll do that too.
I'm never going to suffer for you again.
Not ever.
Do you understand?
Get out.
Get out and go up to your room.
Go ahead!
I'm going to clean out the back, and I'll be up in a minute.
Well, go on!
Go up to your room.
Well, go on.!
Go on.! Go on.!
Hush...
hush, sweet Charlotte.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
To your very good health.
- You look absolutely ravishing. - Thank you, sir.
I bet Lazarus never felt as good as I do.
To Venice in the spring.
Venice?
Well, as a matter of fact, I'm not certain...
that I shall want to live in Europe.
I don't see that what you want...
has anything to do with where we go.
You forget that Velma's tragic departure...
has allowed me to become the senior partner of our little enterprise.
Are you sure you have the brains to be the senior partner?
I, uh, don't think I follow you.
Who do you suppose helped to set up cousin Charlotte...
for this little comedy by sending her all those charming notes?
Well, naturallyJewel Mayhew.
Jewel?
Jewel Mayhew hasn't done a thing in years and years...
except keep me in comfort until her money ran out.
I sent Charlotte all those notes.
You...
And Jewel Mayhew?
My notes toJewel had a more practical purpose.
The one good thing that ever happened to me in this house...
was seeing Jewel Mayhew go out to the summerhouse that night.
She paid me handsomely for that indiscretion.
She paid you?
Jewel murdered her husband, and you could actually bring yourself...
to make both her and Charlotte suffer for it all these years?
Yes, darling.
That's exactly what I did.
Do you still feel you have the imagination...
to be the senior member of this partnership?
Evidently not.
I didn't know you had such a dulcet baritone.
Well, you attended the wrong Sunday school when I was a choirboy.
So, you see, my dear...
you've joined this game somewhat later than you thought.
I did indeed.
If you'd known earlier, would you have trusted me...
not to put real bullets in that gun tonight?
No, ma'am, Miss Miriam. I don't believe I would.
I would be careful not to over-celebrate too soon.
We've still got one more show to put on first thing in the morning.
- So early? - Yes.
I asked the folks from the state institution to come over here about 10:00.
You mean I shall have to wring my hands...
in abject misery and humiliation...
at the disgrace of having a member of our fine old family...
committed to the local madhouse?
Fine old family, indeed.
Sam Hollis was nothing but a thieving, fat fraud. And...
- And furthermore...
he and John Mayhew...
were the biggest two damn womanizers...
in the whole state of Louisiana.
Oh, dear, all that lovely money...
that Big Sam sweated to get his hands on.
While we're spending it like water...
Charlotte will be weaving lots and lots of little baskets.
Oh, don't distress yourself, darling.
There's nothing wrong with basket weaving.
Of course, it never cured anybody...
but it is most therapeutic.
I can just see Charlotte's face when those doctors at the institution...
call you in to confirm their opinion.
When she sees me walk in there tomorrow morning...
she'll let out such a scream that they'll never let her out.
The way I heard it, that Deering woman...
didn't have nothin' but a flimsy peekaboo dress on.
Yeah, me too. I heard that. She and that Dr. Drew...
you didn't have to guess what was going on there.
Ya ask me...
you go to live with a bloodthirsty maniac...
you're just asking for it.
She went on a real rampage.
I'll bet they'll never pin it on her, just like back before.
Martha! Dora! Ooh, whee, is this a day.
People dropping like flies every which way.
What happened?
Well, what, Nellie?
You won't never in this world believe it, but it's so.
Jewel Mayhew... And I know because I got it straight from Bessie...
- What? What? - What happened?
Jewel Mayhew just went and dropped dead this morning.
Oh, no.
She had her third stroke and she was gone...
before they even got the doctor on the phone.
- No! - And just guess what brought it on.
- What? - What?
It was when she heard what happened over here last night.
Isn't that the most extraordinary thing?
What is?
It was just a thought. But suppose it was Jewel Mayhew...
who really murdered her husband back in '27.
And supposing there was a witness to the murder.
So?
That would explain why she didn't try to collect...
on her husband's insurance.
She was afraid a routine investigation might reveal her guilt...
thus enabling the witness...
to take advantage ofher silence and blackmail her...
bleeding her white.
What does that give you?
Well, it would at least give us...
the timing ofJewel Mayhew's death and...
all this sort of bizarre irony, wouldn't it?
Hey, you're not kidding, are you?
It would mean that Charlotte Hollis has suffered all her life...
for a murder she hadn't committed.
- You mean that's true? - How should I know, old chap?
I'm just guessing.
Merely speculating, that's all.
Here she comes now.
- It's Charlotte Hollis. - Look. There she goes.
- Here she comes. - Hey, Miss Hollis, over here.
Now give me another one.
Thank you, Miss Hollis.
Can I have one too, Miss Hollis?
She looks right pretty, don't she?
Sometimes they got their sane moments, just like you or me.
Maybe so, but you ain't seen Dr. Drew...
or that Deering woman lying in there.
Oh, she has to be crazy as a loon.
- I wouldn't wanna be in her shoes. - Y'all step back.
All right, let's move back, everybody.
Miss Hollis, this letter's for you.
I think you've been waiting a long time for it.
Sorry. Everybody has to move back.
Okay, let's go.
Step back.
- Stop pushing! - Get back over there!
Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte
Charlotte, don't you cry
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
I'll love you till I die
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
Charlotte, don't you cry
Hush, hush sweet Charlotte
I'll love you
Till I die