(theme music playing)
NARRATOR: Man lives in the sunlit world
of what he believes to be reality.
But... there is,
unseen by most, an underworld.
A place that is just as real
but not as brightly lit.
A dark side.
(coyote howling)
WOMAN (singsongy): Henry.
Henry, dinner's ready.
All right, all right.
Henry.
Keep your pants on, I'm coming.
(liquid bubbling)
(door banging)
Have a nice rest, dear?
No.
Never any rest for the wicked.
Henry, the table needs setting.
Henry do this, Henry do that.
Can't believe I put up with you for,
what is it, 20 years now?
Oh, what happened?
Ellie, how many times have I told you
to keep the knives somewhere else?
How can such an old sourpuss taste so sweet?
You bet I'm sweet.
I could've had any one of two dozen girls.
And they wouldn't leave things lying around
for me to mutilate myself with, either.
Now don't exaggerate, dear.
And besides, it's 25.
Girls?
No, silly, years.
Friday is our 25th wedding anniversary.
I can't believe I'm bleeding to death,
and now you want to make me feel like an old man, too?
(laughing): Oh, you're not old.
You'll always be my sweet young man.
Well, what are we having, the usual?
One of your favorites.
That's one thing I found you reasonably useful for, El.
You're not a bad cook.
Well, Mother always used to say,
that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
Homemade wine, nothing better in a stew.
You know, it's funny how holidays and anniversaries
make me blue sometimes.
Ah, you're too sentimental, El.
Now take me... I miss the children.
What about the children?
Anniversaries seem so empty without them.
The children always added so much.
You know, I think those days are gone for good, El.
If only we could have more children.
Who knows, Ellie, who knows?
Stranger things have happened.
Oh, Henry.
You're such a dreamer.
(both laughing)
Hey, lady.
Yes?
You know where the old Anderson place is?
Why?
So we don't have to spend another night
in your orchard, that's why.
It's customary to ask first, not afterwards.
Who's asking?
Uh, you guys were eating dinner
and we didn't want to bother you.
Oh, well, no harm done.
Hey, lady, we don't got all day.
What did you say you were looking for?
The Anderson place.
Oh, it's not far down the road,
but I wasn't aware anyone was living there.
Come on, let's get going.
You know, there's a lot of work around here that needs doing.
We could, uh, put you up and feed you.
And maybe even pay a little.
What kind of work?
Slopping the hogs?
Sue-eee!
(laughing)
Watch it, sonny.
That happens to be a lady you're talking to.
Oh, Henry,
you're so dramatic.
There's one thing bums understand--
it's a couple barrels of buckshot.
Let's split, Mark.
Come on, let's leave the old folks at home.
ELLIE: You know, dear, you should consider
improving the quality of your friends.
What's your name?
Uh, Sybil.
Sybil.
What a perfectly lovely name.
Well, you're welcome here anytime, Sybil.
You remember that if you have any trouble.
Hey. Let's get going.
I do hope she'll be all right.
Ah, it looks tough again.
This meat.
Johnson swore it was prime cut.
Do you think she'll come back?
Who?
That girl, Sybil.
How the devil would I know?
Didn't you think she looked like one of the children?
Yeah, could be.
I don't know.
Maybe it's just because she's so young and sweet.
Don't forget to turn the wine casks.
You know, I do hope she comes back.
It would be nice to have a female around this place
who wasn't always bossing me around.
(knocking)
ELLIE: Henry?
SYBIL: No, it's Sybil.
Oh, Sybil.
Oh, come in dear.
I'm so glad to see you.
Did you find your friends?
Well, they weren't exactly my friends.
Oh, I see, his friends.
Anyway, they weren't there, so Mark split.
And you stayed.
Yeah.
Oh, was I staring?
I'm sorry.
But you do so remind me of one of our children.
I didn't think you had any children.
Oh, yes, little angels.
Do they still live with you?
Well, in a way they do.
Your children never really leave you.
They become a part of you.
You've been on the road for a very long time, haven't you?
Seems like I have.
How does a shower sound?
Awesome.
It's really nice of you.
Oh, pooh.
Call me Elinor.
Come on dear, the shower is this way.
(door opening)
Well, look what the cat drug in.
Oh, Henry. Now, you be nice or I'll snatch you bald-headed.
(chuckles) Ain't she a sweetie?
Where's the punk?
He's gone.
Well, lucky for him because I am feeling mean today.
You planning on staying a while?
Uh, I don't know.
Got any money?
Oh, Henry.
Now, you be nice, Henry.
Sybil's had a difficult time
since she ran away from home.
She hasn't seen her parents in two years.
Two years, huh?
I was just telling her how much she reminds me
of one of the children.
I've asked her to stay with us.
Sure, what the heck.
Don't worry, dear.
Coming from Henry Colander,
that is the sound of unbridled enthusiasm.
I'd love to stay.
You're really nice.
I don't know what to say.
All right, all right, settle down.
Let's not get carried away here now.
Don't let him fool you, he loves it.
You know, I think I've been looking
for a place like this all my life.
Should we show her the playroom?
Why not.
(door creaking)
Wow.
This is incredible.
It's unreal.
Look at this.
It's beautiful.
Do you like it?
Oh, yeah.
Henry built it for the children.
Would you like to try it?
You mean it?
Of course.
I'll get my suit.
I'll fire it up.
Henry.
Don't say it. Don't say it.
I thought you were going to fix that switch?
It's just a loose connection.
Then why didn't you fix it?
There's nothing to fix. It's just loose.
Henry!
Just leave me alone.
I know what I'm doing.
(electrical crackling)
(motor whirring)
(water bubbling)
I knew she wouldn't let me down.
Oh, that was quick.
Let's see your suit.
Henry.
It's kind of small.
Good.
All right.
Oh, that's cute.
HENRY: You're gonna love this.
Now ease yourself in, dear.
The water's hot.
I love it!
It's great!
It's going to be a wonderful anniversary.
You bet it is, Ellie.
Just like the old days. Just like the old days.
Oh, there you are.
Come sit with us.
Enjoy your soak?
It was heaven.
I must've been in there for hours.
It seemed like minutes.
I know, it gets addictive.
Henry and I were just talking about
what to make for our anniversary dinner.
It's your anniversary?
Tomorrow makes it 25 years.
25... that's forever.
Sure seems like it.
Well, happy anniversary.
I wish I had something I could give you.
Oh, your just being here is enough.
Makes it seem like old times.
I'm still gonna sue that bum.
Don't pay any attention to him.
He's upset with our butcher.
That's the point.
The man isn't a butcher, he's a moron.
Now, Henry.
Don't "now Henry" me!
The man's not a butcher 'cause he don't know how to kill.
What do you mean?
No living thing wants to die.
But without death, we can't live.
Yes, animals have to be killed.
But they should be killed the right way.
I'm not sure I follow.
If you kill them the wrong way, it poisons their meat.
How's it poisoned?
Fear poisons it.
Well, we've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
Henry and I are going into town
to get the fixings for our anniversary dinner.
So, you just feel free to sleep in as late as you like.
We'll be back before you know it.
Elinor?
Henry?
(chuckles)
¶ ¶
(motor whirring)
(loud classical music playing)
(music grows quiet)
Get away from there!
I-I didn't know you were back.
I'm not surprised with that thing cranked up!
No one touches this.
I'm sorry.
Get out of here!
Elinor, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to hurt anything.
I just wanted to use the tub.
I know I shouldn't touch anything.
I feel so embarrassed.
I understand.
Henry's a bit sensitive about his things.
And, well, it's been so long
since we've had any children in the house, that...
Well, there's really nobody to blame.
I feel so rotten.
I don't want to ruin your anniversary.
Oh, you won't ruin it.
Let me talk to him.
Look, kid, nothing's hurt.
And you know, like the little woman says,
it's our anniversary.
So why don't we just have a good time, okay?
I really didn't mean to hurt anything.
Forget it kid, it's all right.
It's homemade sherry.
Try some.
It's good.
That tub's still waiting for you.
Hi, Elinor.
Hello, dear.
Enjoying yourself.
Yeah.
You sure you don't want me to help you with dinner?
Of course not, that's my job.
I brought you something to nibble on.
Elinor...
Just pick what you want, dear. The water won't hurt them.
Want some more sherry?
Yeah.
Henry...
You don't scare me anymore, Henry.
Oh, honey, I never meant to scare you.
Now you just relax,
and enjoy yourself.
Here, love,
I brought you some more.
(laughing)
¶ ¶
Time to put the wine in Henry.
Henry do this, Henry do that.
Now, don't complain.
It's our silver anniversary.
Still trying to make me feel like an old man.
Not bad.
I think we should share it with the children.
I love having the children for dinner.
NARRATOR: The darkside is always there.
Waiting for us to enter.
Waiting to enter us.
Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.