( woman screaming )

( pained moaning )

( woman screaming )

( man laughing maniacally over screams )

( creaking door )

( rattling chains and heavy foot steps )

The ghosts are moving tonight - 
restless, hungry.

May I introduce myself?

I'm Watson Pritchard.

In just a minute I'll show you the only
really haunted house in the world.

Since it was built a century ago,

seven people, including my brother,

have been murdered in it.

Since then, I've owned the house.

I've only spent one night there,

and when they found me in the morning I...

I was almost dead!

( pained moaning )

♪ ( jarring musical note, swelling ) ♪

I'm Frederick Loren.

And I've rented the house 
on Haunted Hill tonight

so that my wife can give a party.

A haunted house party. (chuckles)

She's so amusing.

There will be food and drink and... 
ghosts.

And perhaps even a few murders.

You're all invited.

If any of you will spend the next 
twelve hours in this house,

I'll give you each $10,000 -

- or your next of kin, 
in case you don't survive.

Ah, but here come our other guests.

(Frederick) It was my wife's idea 
to have our guests come in funeral cars.

She's so amusing.

Her sense of humor is, shall we say, 
original.

I dreamed up the hearse.

It's empty now, but -

- after a night in the house
on Haunted Hill -

- who knows?

[Tense music.]

This is Lance Schroeder, a test pilot.

So, no doubt a brave man.

But don't you think you can be 
much braver if you're paid for it?

And I happen to know that Lance

needs the ten thousand I'll give him,

if he's brave enough to stay all night.

This is Ruth Bridgers.

You've no doubt read her column
in the newspapers.

She says her reason 
for coming to the party

is to write a feature article on ghosts.

She's also desperate for money. 
Gambles.

You've already met Watson Pritchard,

a man living in mortal fear of a house,

and yet he is risking his life 
to spend another night here.

I wonder why.

He says "for money".

This is Dr. David Trent, a psychiatrist.

He claims that my ghosts 
will help his work on hysteria.

But don't you see 
a little touch of greed there

around the mouth and eyes?

This is Nora Manning.

I picked her from the thousands 
of people who work for me

because she needed the ten thousand 
more than most.

Supports her whole family.

Isn't she pretty?

The party's starting now.

And you have until midnight to find
The House on Haunted Hill.

♪ ( title music plays ) ♪

(gates creak, 
and slam shut)

Lance: Well, where is everybody?

Nora: It isn't a very warm welcome, is it?

Watson: Only the ghosts in this house

are glad we're here.

Ruth: Are we all strangers to each other?

Don't you two know each other?

Lance: I'm afraid I don't even 
know your name.

- I'm Nora Manning.
- Lance Schroeder.

Ruth: Is Fredrick Loren 
a friend of yours?

Lance: I've heard of him, 
but I've never met him.

Nora: I work for one of his companies,

but I've never seen him.

Ruth: I've never met the man either.
Just a phone call.

Do you know him?

David: No.

(Ruth) Then you're the only one of us 
who does.

Watson: I don't know him.

All the details about running the house
were done by mail.

David: He's quite wealthy, isn't he?

Ruth: Millions.

- David: And five wives, I believe.
- Ruth: Four, I think so far.

David: A $50,000 party for
only five people is a little steep,

even for a millionaire.

Lance: Hmm.

Lance: Well, if I were going to haunt 
anybody,

this would be 
the house I'd do it in.

( door creaks and slams shut )

(chandelier tinkles)

Nora: Who closed the door?

♪ ( ominous music ) ♪

(chandelier tinkles)

Lance: This thing's made of solid steel.

[chandelier tinkles]

( chandelier crashes )

♪ ( ominous music plays ) ♪

Fredrick: Annabelle?

Our guests are here and fortunately
still alive.

Is your face on yet?

Annabelle: Dust and dirt everywhere.

And the water barely trickles.

Couldn't you've had the place 
cleaned?

Fredrick: Atmosphere, darling. 
You know how ghosts are.

They never tidy up.

That's a very fetching outfit,

but hardly suitable for a party.

Annabelle: I'm not going to the party.

Fredrick: This 'spend the night 
ghost party' was your idea. Remember?

Since it's going to cost me 
$50,000,

I want you to have fun!

Annabelle: The party was my idea,

until you invited all the guests.

Why all the strangers? 
Why none of our friends?

Fredrick: Friends? Do we 
have any friends?

Annabelle: No. Your jealousy 
took care of that.

Fredrick: I had a reason
for inviting each guest.

I wanted kind of 
a cross section.

From psychiatrist to typist.

And from drunk to jet pilot.

They share one thing. 
They all need money.

Now, let's see if they're brave enough 
to earn it.

Annabelle: And you call this a party?

Fredrick: Could be.

Annabelle: Why do you 
always do that?

It spoils the champagne.

Fredrick: It might explode.
- (Annabelle) It never does.

Fredrick: Would you guarantee that?

Annabelle: That isn't funny, Fredrick.

Fredrick: It'd make a good headline.

"Playboy kills wife 
with champagne cork".

- Will you join me?
- Annabelle: No, thank you.

[champagne cork pops.]

Fredrick: Just a sip 
might improve your humor.

Annabelle: My humor is fine, thanks.

And I haven't poisoned it.

Fredrick: It's always good 
to know that.

Fredrick: Have some. You'll enjoy 
the party more.

Go on.

Annabelle: Your trust is so touching.

And I'm not going to the party.

Fredrick: Of all my wives, 
you're the least agreeable.

Annabelle: But, still alive.

Fredrick: Would you go away, for 
a million dollars, tax-free?

You want it all, don't you?

Annabelle: I deserve it all.

Your jealousy isn't tax-free.

And your possessiveness
is maddening.

Fredrick: If ever a man had grounds 
for divorce...

- Annabelle: But can't prove them.
- Fredrick: The time will come.

Fredrick: You'll slip up 
one of these days.

- Annabelle: You think so?
- Fredrick: If I live long enough.

Fredrick: Do you remember the fun
we had when you poisoned me?

[Annabelle laughs.]

Annabelle: Something you ate, 
the doctor said.

Fredrick: Yes. Arsenic on the rocks.

Annabelle.

You'd do it again if you thought you could
get away with it, wouldn't you!?

Annabelle: Darling, what makes you
think that?

Fredrick: Something about you.

I hear that hanging 
is very uncomfortable,

in case you get any more ideas.

Fredrick: Don't let the ghosts and the 
ghouls disturb you, darling.

Annabelle: Darling, the only ghoul 
in the house is you.

Fredrick: Don't sit up all night, 
thinking of ways to get rid of me.

It makes wrinkles.

[door opens and shuts.]

(eerie music)

Watson: This is what she used 
on my brother and her sister.

Hacked 'em to pieces.

We found parts of the bodies 
all over the house.

In places you wouldn't think.

A funny thing is, the heads have 
never been found.

Hands and feet and things like that.

But no heads.

David: The wife, probably in a rage, 
threatened her husband with a knife

and then, carried away by hysteria, 
took a swing at him,

and simply went on from there.

Lance: She certainly went on. How many 
people did she kill, Mr. Pritchard?

Watson: Only two.

Her husband and her sister. No one 
else was here.

Lance: So there are two loose heads 
floating around here somewhere?

Watson: You can hear them at night.

They whisper to each other.
And then cry.

( Lance laughs )

Ruth: Since our host isn't here, 
would anyone care to mix me a drink?

David: Certainly. What will you have?

( door opens )

Fredrick: Good evening.

(door shuts)

I'm your host, Fredrick Loren.

Since we're all strangers to each other, 
let's get acquainted with a drink,

shall we?

Watson: Mr. Loren, I advise you to 
call this party off now.

The ghosts are already moving 
and that's a bad sign.

Fredrick: Let me apologize for my wife. 
She'll join us later.

- What will you have?
- Ruth: Scotch and.

- Doctor?
- David: I'll have the same.

Fredrick: Now, before the party begins, 
let's go over the details.

(pouring drinks)

The caretakers will leave at midnight,

locking us in here, 
until they come back in the morning.

Once the door is locked, 
there is no way out.

(Fredrick) The windows have bars
that a jail would be proud of.

(Fredrick) And the only door 
to the outside locks like a vault.

There's no electricity. No phone.
No one within miles.

So, no way to call for help.

Watson: Like a coffin.

(stops pouring drink)

Fredrick: So! If any of you 
decide not to stay for the party,

(ice rattling)

you must let me know before midnight.

Of course, if you leave, I shan't be able 
to pay you anything.

David: I'm interested in your reasons 
for this... "party."

Aside from pleasant company.

Fredrick: Ghosts, Doctor!

I think everyone wonders 
what they would do

if they saw a ghost.

And now my wife has given us all
the opportunity to find out.

David: Hm. Amusing.

David: Ghosts, etcetera, being only 
creations of hysteria,

your party should be a success!

Fredrick: Pritchard here promises us 
genuine ghosts.

Watson: Seven, now. Maybe more 
before morning.

Fredrick: That's cheerful.

Watson: Four men have been 
murdered in this house.

And three women.

David: You planned your party 
very well, Mr. Loren.

Four of us are men. Three are women.

A ghost for everybody.

Fredrick: Pritchard, why don't you take 
us on a tour through the house?

Let's see what happens?

Watson: See that stain? Blood.

Watson: A young girl was killed here.

And whatever got her, wasn't human -

- Don't stand there!
- Ruth: What do you mean? Where?

(panicky music)

(ominous music)

Watson: It's too late. 
They've marked you.

David: Ridiculous. The roof 
probably leaks.

Ruth: That must be what it is. 
Who'd want to haunt me?

Fredrick: I'd say any self-respecting 
male ghost.

Watson: I hope it doesn't come back.

David: Mr. Pritchard, you're the 
life of the party.

Fredrick: He hasn't even started yet.

Wasn't there a man who threw his wife 
into a wine vat or something?

Watson: That was in the cellar.

There's been a murder almost every 
place in this house.

(door opens swiftly)

(woeful music)

(footsteps on stairs)

(woeful music)

Watson: All this belonged to a Mr. Norton, 
who didn't die here.

He was electrocuted later.

Watson: Mr. Norton did a good deal of 
experimenting with wines.

But his wife didn't think 
it was any good.

So he filled a vat with acid and 
threw her in.

(Watson) She was supposed to stay down,

but the bones came up.

Watson: It's a funny thing.

None of the murders here 
were just ordinary.

Just shooting. Or stabbing.

They've all been sort of wild. 
Violent, and different.

(dramatic music)

Lance: Look out!

(woodwind music)

Watson: Thank God she didn't fall in.

Nora: You mean there's still acid
in there?

(woodwind music)

( violent bubbling )

Watson: Destroys everything 
with hair and flesh.

Just leaves the bones.

(piano trill)

(trumpeting)

(quiet bubbling)

Watson: My, it's dry and dusty 
down here.

Fredrick: Well there's... a cure... 
for that...upstairs. Come on.

(door shuts firmly)

Lance: How'd you get invited 
to this party?

(door quickly opens)

(door quickly shuts)

Lance: I mean, what'd he tell you?

Nora: Mr. Loren said everybody 
would get $10,000.

Lance: But he didn't say anything 
about being locked in.

Nora: No.

Lance: He just made the deal with me 
on the phone.

But nothing about having to stay.

Nora: Aren't you going to stay?

Lance: If I don't, I lose $10,000.

Nora: I'm going to stay, too. 
$10,000...

Lance: Yes... Do you believe in 
ghosts?

Nora: ( laughs) I don't know.

Lance: Well, I agree with what 
that doc says.

You can spook yourself.

I've done it in planes. Seen things 
that weren't really there.

Or, were they?
( laughing )

Lance: What are you going to do 
with your $10,000?

If we get it.

Nora: What do you mean 
"if we get it?"

Won't he pay us if we stay?

Lance: Sure he will. $10,000 
is no more to him,

than a nickel is to us.

Nora: We were in an 
automobile accident.

Now I'm the only one in the family 
who can make any money.

Lance: Boy, I've never seen 
so many doors.

(door clicks open)

Closet...

(door shuts)

(brushes dust off)

Bottles!

(door gently shuts)

(door clicks open)

Nora: Does it go anywhere?

( door creaks and slams )

(dramatic musical chord)

Nora: Lance!

(pounds on door)

Lance!

♪ ( dramatic music ) ♪

♪ ( intense dramatic music ) ♪

♪ ( dramatic music ) ♪

Nora: Help me! Please!

Lance is gone and there's a ghost!

- David: A ghost?
- Watson: See what I mean?

- Nora: Please! Come on!
- Ruth: Did she say Lance is gone?

Ruth: Gone where?

Nora: We'll have to break it down. 
It's locked!

David: Locked?

(suspenseful music)

Fredrick: You all right?

Lance: Nothing that money won't cure.

I must have - I must have 
bumped my head.

David: The only way you could bump 
your head in here -

- is to run head-on into the wall.

David: You didn't do that, did you?

Let's get a bandage on that.

Watson: I wonder why 
they didn't kill him.

Ruth: Who?

Watson: He didn't bump his head.

They hit him.

Ruth: They?

♪ ( eerie music ) ♪

Fredrick: Nora, you said something 
about a ghost.

Nora: There was something.

Fredrick: What did it look like?

Nora: It was wearing a black thing 
that went all the way to the floor.

David: Weren't you a little frightened 
at the time?

Nora: Well, yes.

David: That, Mr. Loren, is hysteria.

Fredrick: Well, then, Doctor, how do you 
explain what happened to Lance?

Was that hysteria, too?

David: You'd better get that checked in 
a day or so.

Lance: Thanks, Doc.

Lance (whispering): Wait for me 
in the hall.

(unplugs stopper)

Watson: The ghosts are coming closer, 
Mr. Loren.

Fredrick: You really believe in your pet 
ghosts, don't you Pritchard?

Watson: Before the night's over, you 
will, too.

Fredrick: Would you like a drink, 
Lance?

Lance: No thanks.
- Ruth: I'd like one. Scotch and.

Ruth: Mr. Loren, are you really going to 
pay anyone who stays all night?

Fredrick: Certainly. $10,000.

Ruth: Will there be much red-tape 
or delay?

Fredrick: In a hurry, dear?

Ruth: Frankly, yes.
(muttering) Or 'frantically'.

Fredrick: There you are, my dear.

( clock ticking )

Lance: Someone or some thing 
was in here when I came in.

But where?

If the door was locked, 
how did it get out?

What you saw might have 
been a ghost, Nora,

but what was in here with me
was no ghost.

Nora: I don't know. I was so scared.

( solid knocking )

( knocking with echoes )

Lance: Does that sound different to you?
- Nora: Yes!

( knocking with echoes )

Lance: 3... 6... 9... 12.

Lance: 12 feet.

Lance: 3... 6.

Lance: I'm going to knock on the 
other wall.

When you hear me, you knock 
on this wall.

( knocking with echoes )

( solid knocks )

(Lance) Tap lower down!

( knocking with echoes )

(dramatic music)

( Nora screams in terror )

( sobbing )

Nora: Oh Lance! I saw it again!

Lance: Where'd it come from?

Nora: From in here!

Lance: Well if it'd ran out of here - 
I'd have seen it.

Nora: Lance, it doesn't run, 
it just floats!

Lance: But why didn't I see it?

Nora: You don't believe me!

Lance (laughing): How can I?

(eerie music)

Annabelle: I'm Annabelle Loren.

(eerie music)

You must be Miss Manning.

I realize this is a very unusual 
and, I'm afraid, very dull party.

Wouldn't you like to freshen up?

Annabelle: This is your room.

Depressing, isn't it?

Nora: I doubt if 
I'll spend much time here.

Annabelle: It's going to rain. Perfect 
atmosphere for my husbands party.

Why did you come here?

Nora: He said he'd give me $10,000.

Annabelle: Why did he pick you?

Nora: I don't know. My supervisor just 
said I'd been invited.

Annabelle: How long have you
known my husband?

Nora: I just met him tonight.

Annabelle: So... why you?

What were you doing 
wandering around by yourself?

Nora: I was in the cellar with Lance - 
Mr. Schroeder - I just left, that's all.

Annabelle: Don't do it again.

(Annabelle) Don't go anywhere in this 
house by yourself.

Now fix your face and I'll come by 
for you in a few minutes.

Nora: But I -
- Annabelle: You're in danger.

We all are.

Nora: But who?

Annabelle: I hope, for your sake, 
you never find out.

Annabelle: I'm Annabelle Loren. 
Were you looking for something?

Lance: Not exactly.

Annabelle: Are you the doctor?

Lance: No. I'm Lance Schroeder.
- Annabelle: The pilot.

You've hurt yourself.

Lance: Oh, it's just 
a bump on the head.

Which is my room?

Annabelle: I believe this is it.

Lance: Thank you, Mrs. Loren.

Annabelle: Annabelle, Lance.

Annabelle: You were with the young girl 
in the cellar.

Why was she so upset?

Lance: Was she?

Annabelle: And you don't look like 
the type to go around bumping his head.

What really happened, Lance?

Lance: Nora thought she saw a ghost, 
but I didn't see anything.

Annabelle: She was just 
frightened, then?

Lance: And mad at me, I think. 
I kidded her about it.

Annabelle: I wouldn't joke about anything 
else that happens here tonight.

Lance: Now, don't tell me you're taking 
all of this seriously?

Annabelle: Aren't you?

Lance: Well, I'd like to find out 
what hit me.

Annabelle: Lance...

If I need help, may I count on you?

Lance: Yes, sure. I guess so.

Look - what's going on here, anyway?

What's with this party business?

Annabelle: This is no party, 
he's planning something.

Lance: Your husband?

Annabelle: I wish I knew what it was.

Lance: It must be pretty big, 
if he's going to lay out $50,000.

Annabelle: Money doesn't mean anything.

He has a reason for getting us all 
up here to this dreadful old house.

Lance: Well, what for? He doesn't 
even know us.

Annabelle: Maybe that's exactly 
why you're here?

Lance (scoffs): What can he get away with?

Annabelle: Oh, he thinks that big money 
like his can get away with anything.

You know, of course, that 
I'm his fourth wife.

The first simply disappeared...

The other two died.

Lance, I don't want to join them.

Lance: You mean, he, uh -

Annabelle: Oh, his doctors said 
they died of heart attacks.

Two girls, in their twenties.

Lance: Well, what can he do?

Annabelle: My husband is sometimes 
insane with jealousy.

Nothing matters to him then. 
Please be careful.

Lance: Would he hurt you?

Annabelle: He would kill me 
if he could.

(door shuts)

(spooky music)

(door quickly shuts)

Fredrick: Annabelle, you're missing 
all the fun.

(door shuts firmly)

Nora Manning was almost killed 
by a falling chandelier.

The pilot bashed his head in.

Annabelle: Is he badly hurt?

Fredrick: The saturnine psychiatrist 
bandaged him up.

Don't you want to go 
and console him?

As you do, most men, 
in your fashion.

Annabelle: You're so clever, Fredrick.

Fredrick: I lie awake nights, 
wondering why I married you.

It was rather a mistake.

Annabelle: You didn't marry me, dear.
I married you.

Unpleasant, but no mistake.

Fredrick: Hurry up!

Annabelle: Fredrick, for the last time, 
I'm not going to your party.

Fredrick: And, for the last time, 
it's not my party -

- but yours.

And you are going.

Annabelle: I am not.

Fredrick: Are you ready? 
- Annabelle: ... no ...

Fredrick (forceful): Are you ready, dear?
- Annabelle: ... Yes, damn you!

Fredrick: Would you adore me as much, 
if I were poor?

(laughs) All you want to be 
is a lovely widow.

It's almost time to lock up the house.

And then your party will really begin.

I wonder how it will end.

(door shuts)

( knocking )

Fredrick: It's close to midnight, Lance.

Lance: Ok. I'll be down in a minute.

( knocks )

(Nora) Who is it?

Fredrick: Your host, my dear.

Fredrick: It's almost midnight, Nora.

We're all going to get together 
down in the living room.

Nora: All right, Mr. Loren.
I'll be right down.

(shrill, dramatic music)

( recoils in disgust )

( gasping )

(single piano chord)

(single piano chord)

(single piano chord)

Jonas: Come with us.

Come with us, before he kills you!

( screams )

(clock ticking)

Lance: Where's Nora? Miss Manning?

(door slams)

Nora: I don't want to stay here!

Fredrick: Nora, what happened?

( creaking )

Fredrick: That's Jonas Slydes and his wife.

They've been caretakers here for years.

She's blind, you know.

Nora: I'm not going to stay here!

Fredrick: Doctor, it looks like we have 
a real case of hysteria on our hands.

David: I think she's just a little upset, 
not hysterical.

( door opening )

Annabelle: Good evening.

Fredrick: Hello, my dear.

This is my wife.
These are our guests...

(Fredrick) Ruth Bridgers,

(Fredrick) Doctor Trent,

(Fredrick) You know Watson Pritchard, 
of course,

(Fredrick) Nora Manning,

(Fredrick) and this is Lance Schroeder.

Nora (whispering): Get me out of here!

Lance (whispering): What about the $10,000?

Nora (whispering): I don't care! 
He wants to kill me!

Lance (whispering): Who wants to kill you?

Nora (whispering): Mister Loren.

(clock ticking)

Fredrick: May I have your attention, please?

Fredrick: I think you all remember

the bargain we made about 
staying all night?

$10,000 a piece.

If any of you don't survive, $50,000 
will be divided amongst the rest of you.

Fredrick: If I should die...

...you will be paid 
by my estate.

Fredrick: When the door is locked 
from the outside by the caretakers,

we'll all be forced to stay in this house 
until morning.

If any of you decide not to stay, 
you must leave with the caretakers now.

You won't have a chance 
to change your minds later,

because there'll be no way to get out.

- Nora: I don't want to stay!
- Lance: Wait!

( wind whistles, chandelier clatters )

( loud bang )

(tense music)

(jiggles doorknob 
forcefully)

Fredrick: It isn't midnight, yet! 
Who told them they could leave?

Watson: They never leave before midnight.

Fredrick: They've gone, now.

Fredrick: I was going to ask you 
whether you wanted to stay or not,

but it seems the caretakers 
have made the decision for you.

Fredrick: We're all locked in, now.

Nora: But I don't want to stay!

Fredrick: I'm sorry, my dear.
But it's too late, now.

Annabelle: Darling, haven't you had enough 
of this silly game?

Get some cars up here for these people, 
and let them go home.

Annabelle: But pay them, first.

Fredrick: This is your party, remember?

Fredrick: In spite of my wife's faith 
in my ability to do the impossible,

we will all have to stay in this house 
until eight o'clock in the morning.

Fredrick: But, we have some party favors 
for you...

In these little coffins.

(Fredrick) This is my wife's idea.

(Fredrick) I must say, I think it's rather 
dangerous.

Fredrick: I suppose you all know 
how to use one of these things.

Fredrick: In case you don't,

you just press down on this lever
with your thumb...

And then pull the trigger.

( loud bang )

(porcelain shatters)

Fredrick: You see? They're loaded.

Watson: These are no good 
against the dead -

- only the living.

(foreboding music)

Fredrick: Doctor?

Fredrick: Lance?

(woodwind music)

Fredrick: Nora?

Lance: Go ahead. Take it.

Fredrick: Miss Bridgers?

Fredrick: And here's yours, dear.

Annabelle: I don't need it.

Fredrick: It was your idea.

Who knows, you may want to use it 
on me before this night is over.

Watson: Throw these guns away.
They won't do you any good.

David: I agree with Pritchard, 
although not for the same reason.

Annabelle: Dr. Trent, don't you approve 
of our little party favors?

David: Suppose Nora had had a gun,

when she mistook the blind woman 
for a ghost?

Ruth: I don't think anyone else 
is going to walk around in total darkness.

Annabelle: Oh I'm sure we're not going to 
go running around the house

shooting each other, aren't you?

David: Who knows? Fear makes people 
do amazing things.

Nora: Mister Pritchard...

Nora: You said your sister-in-law killed 
a man and a woman here and cut them up?

You said they found hands and feet, but 
they never found any heads?!

Would you like to see one of those heads?!

Nora: Would you all like to see 
one of those heads?!

Well then! Just follow me!

(mournful music)

Annabelle: Darling, I really 
don't need this.

Nora: Just, go look in my 
suitcase. Just go look.

Nora: But it was in there!

(Nora) A woman's head!

David: Nora, I think you're 
a little upset.

Would you care for a sedative?

Nora: Get out!

Get out, all of you!

All of you, get out of here 
and leave me alone!

Just get out of here!

( crying )

(door shuts firmly)

Fredrick: Do you think it's all right 
to leave her by herself, Doctor?

David: I wish she'd taken the sedative.

Ruth: What do you suppose 
she thought she saw?

Watson: They're closing in on her.

Lance: Look, Doc, I think somebody 
ought to stay with her.

Watson: There could be a million people 
around her -

- if they wanted her, they'd get her.

Annabelle: What if he's right?

Fredrick: He's too drunk to know 
what he's talking about.

Annabelle: I wonder...

Annabelle: I'll join you in a minute.

(door shuts quietly)

Lance: Do you think it would do any good 
if you went in and talked to her?

Ruth: Do you think there really was a 
head in her suitcase?

Lance: I don't know...

Ruth: A thing like that would put me 
right over the edge.

Lance: Would you, sort of, stay up here? 
In case she needs help?

Ruth: All right. I'll be in my room.

Just call us.

Lance: Thanks.

(door clicks open,
shuts)

(yanks door open,
shuts firmly)

David: Are you sure there are only seven 
people in this house?

Fredrick: Positive... 
Except for the ghosts.

David: I don't believe in ghosts.

Nor in frightening women.

In Nora's case, it's gone far enough.
Perhaps, too far.

Fredrick: What do you suggest 
we do about it, doctor?

David (stern): Don't frighten her 
any more.

♪ ( eerie music ) ♪

(knocks lightly)

Lance: Nora?

(knocks lightly)

Lance: Nora?

Nora?!

( creaking )

(shrill crescendo)

(creepy music)

(tremulous note)

Lance: Nora! 
...Nora!!!

(accusatory chord)

(quiet music)

Lance: What do you know about this?

Watson: They've taken her!

In a little while, she'll be one of them.

Lance: Where's Nora- !

Where is she?

Watson: It's too late. It's too late.

You'll never find her again.

Lance: Pritchard, if you know where she is

you'd better tell me, now!
- Watson: She's gone!

Watson: She's gone with them 
and there's nothing you can do about it.

( woman screams )

(strangling sound, fades)

♪ ( eerie music ) ♪

Lance: ... Nora ...

David: Let her down.

Fredrick: Nora?

David: She's dead, Mr. Loren.
Your wife hanged herself.

Fredrick: Suicide...

(door shuts firmly)

(music quickens pace)

Nora (whispering): Lance!

Lance: Nora!

Nora: Lance, hide me! Please hide me!

Lance: What's the matter?

Nora: Hide me!

Nora: He tried to kill me.

He grabbed me and choked me 
and put me in that room.

And then he went away and left me.

Lance: Who?

Nora: He thought I was dead.

Lance: Who?!

Nora: Mister Loren.

Lance: Are you sure about this?

Nora: I don't know. 
It was dark but it must've been him.

Lance: Has anybody seen you since 
he left you?

Nora: I heard some people in that room, 
but I went by and nobody saw me.

Lance: Mrs. Loren is dead.

Nora: But how?

Lance: Loren said she committed suicide.

(Lance) But I think somebody killed her.

Nora: Him?

( door locking )

( knocking at door )

(Nora gasps)

(quick knocks)

(door softly shuts)

(door clicks open)

David: I'm sure you've come to the same 
conclusion I have.

Lance: Yeah, I think so.

David: Let's all have a meeting to 
discuss what to do.

The living room?

Lance: Ok. In a minute.

(door firmly shuts)

(quietly slides bolt)

(door quietly opens, shuts)

Lance: I've got to go downstairs.

Now, you lock yourself in here and 
don't let anybody know you're here.

If he thinks you're dead, 
he won't come here.

I'll get back as soon as I can.

You'll be all right.

Lance: If you have to, you use it.

(slides bolt open)

(firmly shuts door)

(door clicks open)

(quiet music)

(soundlessly shuts door)

(quickly opens door)

(gently shuts door)

Fredrick: So beautiful.

So greedy.

(Fredrick) So cold.

Fredrick: What are you doing in here?

Watson: Wait! Don't! Wait!

Fredrick: What do you mean, 
coming in here?

(choking gurgle)

Watson: I didn't want them to 
take her away.

Fredrick: You're drunk!

Watson: They will if you 
don't watch her!

Fredrick: You're drunk!

Fredrick: All right, 
out with it, Pritchard -

- why did you come into this room?

Watson: I'm the only one who understands!

Fredrick: Understands what?

Watson: Your wife isn't there any more.

She's already joined them!

Fredrick: I've had enough of your 
spook talk.

Get out, you sot, and don't come back 
into this room again!

(thuds against door)

(door clicks shut)

(curtain ring slides)

(yanks door open)

Watson: Where's whats-her-name?
Nora?

David: I didn't disturb her, 
since I didn't think this concerns her.

Fredrick: No, you're right.

David: Mr. Loren, isn't there some way 
we can get out of this house now?

Watson: No... none at all.

Lance: We could try breaking out.

(Watson) The only door to the outside 
is made of steel.

Watson: The bars of the windows 
are set in solid stone.

We gotta stay.

David: I'm not afraid of your ghosts, 
Pritchard.

David: But I am afraid.

David: When we came here a few hours ago,

the only thing we had in common 
was the $10,000 we'd get.

David: Now, however, we share 
something else -

- the death of Mrs. Loren.

David: So far, tonight, one of us was 
almost killed by a falling chandelier.

David: One of us was mysteriously slugged.

David: One of us has been driven to 
the brink of absolute hysteria.

David: And one of us is dead.

David: Were these accidents?
Suicide?

David: And we must stay here 
for six more hours!

Watson: Six hours? Six of us...
Time enough.

David: Who'll be next?

(David) How will it happen?

Fredrick: Let me ask you a question, 
Doctor.

Fredrick: You were the first one 
to see my wife there.

(Fredrick) Did you also see anything that 
she could've climbed up on,

(Fredrick) and then jumped?

David: No.

Fredrick: Did any of you?

Fredrick: There was nothing.

How, then, did she get up there, so high?

David: Exactly, Mr. Loren. How?

She couldn't have pulled herself up there.

She couldn't have dropped 
from the ceiling.

Do you think your wife killed herself?

Fredrick: No. She was murdered.

By one of you.

David: Or, you, Mr. Loren.

David: To deliberately kill someone, 
you must have a reason.

Lance: We were all strangers to your wife.

(Lance) Only you had a motive for murder.

Fredrick: What husband hasn't, at some 
time, wanted to kill his wife?

What husband hasn't had a thousand 
opportunities

to do it in such a way

so that he'd never be suspected?

I'm not such a fool as to hang my wife 
from the ceiling by a rope.

David: The fact remains that you, 
or one of us,

murdered Mrs. Loren.

And that's a matter for the police.

Lance: So how do we get the police.

David: That's my point.
We can't until morning.

David: What began as a silly party, 
given by an eccentric,

has now involved us all in murder.

Lance: For once, Pritchard may be right.

If another murder's in the works, 
let's stop it now.

Ruth: Another murder?

Lance: Why not. 
Maybe one of us saw too much.

David: Why should a millionaire want to 
give each of us $10,000

to spend one night in a gloomy old house?

To see some ghosts? To have a party?

David: No!

Fredrick: Have you finished trying me, 
Doctor?

And is the verdict "guilty of murder"?

Lance: Aw, this isn't getting us anywhere.

Somebody killed Mrs. Loren, 
we know that.

One of us is guilty, 
and the rest of us are innocent.

Ok. Now, what we have to do 
for the next six hours

is protect ourselves.
From each other.

Ruth: You really think -
Lance: I don't think anything.

I just know that I'm going to my room.

And if anybody comes in, I'll shoot him.
Or her.

David: And if we all stay in our rooms, 
we'll be safe.

Because the innocent will have 
no reason to leave his room.

And the guilty will admit his guilt 
if he or she does.

Lance: And we all have guns.

Fredrick: Then we're all agreed?

Ruth: Oh, I wish this night were over.

Watson: Rooms. Guns. I tell you, 
it doesn't make any difference.

They aren't through with us yet.

(woeful music)

Watson: What's the use 
of saying "good night"?

( door shuts and locks )

Ruth: Good night.

( door shuts and locks )

(door clicks)

(yanks door open)

( door slams shut and locks )

Fredrick: Good night, Doctor.

( door softly shuts, and locks)

(door shuts firmly)

( glass breaks )

(glass shard clinks)

( gun cocking )

(quiet, nervous music)

(woodwind sliding scales)

( doorknob lightly rattles )

(quietly slides bolt)

(door quietly opens)

♪ ( jarring musical notes ) ♪

(door quietly shuts,
and latches)

(dramatic music)

( Ruth gasps )

(shrill crescendo)

Ruth: (panicky gasps)

( knocking )

(Lance) Nora, it's me, Lance.

(door softly opens)

Lance: Are you okay?

(door softly shuts)

They've all gone to their rooms 
and locked themselves in.

Nora: Lance, I've been thinking.

It was so dark down there, 
maybe it wasn't Mr. Loren.

Lance: It was him, all right.

He tried to kill you, 
and he did kill his wife.

( thunder )

Nora: How can you be so sure?

Lance: She tried to warn me.

Asked me to help her.

The Doc thinks he's going 
to try to kill one of us.

( thunder )

Lance: Now, there must be a way 
out of this place,

and I'm going to find it 
and get the police, before he does.

Nora: I'm going with you.

Lance: If he finds out you're alive...

No, Nora. You're safer here 
than any place else.

Now, just lock yourself in 
and keep quiet.

( thunder )

Lance: If I find a way out, 
I'll come back and get you.

(thunder)

(door clicks open)

( thunder )

(door clicks shut)

(quiet music)

(trumpets)

♪ ( piercing notes ) ♪

(trumpet, cymbals)

( Lance knocking )

( thunder claps)

(thunder fades, then rumbles)

♪ ( descending tones ) ♪

( thunder )

♪ ( discordant piano ) ♪

( rolling thunder )

(Nora gasps)

(thunder)

(eerie music)

( Nora gasps )

Nora: No!

(Nora sobs)

( rolling thunder )

♪ ( eerie ethereal notes ) ♪

(thunder claps)

(eerie music)

(thunder claps)

(eerie singing)

(violent thunder claps)

(eerie singing)

Nora: No! No! (sobs)

( rolling thunder )

(discordant piano)

Nora: No!

(intense thunder)

Nora: Oh, no! (sobs)

(thunder)

♪ ( sudden musical stab ) ♪

( Nora screams )

(musical crescendo)

(Nora screams)

(fast piano)

( gasping )

(sobbing)

(fast piano)

(musical chord)

Nora: (whispers) Lance...

( Nora breathes shallowly )

♪ ( organ playing ) ♪

( Nora screams )

( thunder rolling )

( knocking )

(door clicks open)

Fredrick: An admission of guilt, Doctor?

David: Certainly not.

There's either somebody else 
in this house,

or one of us has left his room.

Did you hear anything?

(door softly shuts)

Fredrick: Organ music?

David: That, and someone walking.

Fredrick: You got yours?

Fredrick: Ready?

David: You look downstairs, 
and I'll look up here.

Fredrick: Why not together?

David: There may be only minutes, 
seconds, left of someones life.

Why waste time?

(door clicks open)

♪ ( eerie music ) ♪

( door locking )

(eerie music)

(curtain ring slides)

(eerie music)

David: It's almost over, darling.

(David) Every detail was perfect.

(eerie singing)

Annabelle: What's happening?

David: We've done it.

The perfect crime.
Beautiful.

Annabelle: Has she killed him?

David: Not yet.

But she will.

Annabelle: Get me 
out of this hanging harness.

Annabelle: What's taking that girl 
so long?

What time is it?

David: At first, I couldn't get Nora 
to want to protect herself with a gun.

After you appeared at the window,

everything began to work 
just as we had planned.

David: You were wonderful!

Just the touch the finally drove her

into complete hysteria!

Annabelle: It'll be worth 
all of our planning, darling.

Where's Nora now? 
What's happening?

David: On her way to the cellar.

So scared, 
she'll shoot the first thing that moves.

Annabelle: And Fredrick?

David: On his way to the cellar, too.

Annabelle: David, are you sure 
none of them will suspect us?

David: Of what?

A hysterical girl accidentally shoots somebody?

Who would suspect 
that we planned it that way?

That we drove her to it?

Annabelle: What about my suicide?

David: Just a ghost-party gag.

We'll claim it was a dummy, 
since I'm the only one that touched you.

Annabelle: And the caretakers?

David: Well, they had no idea 
what they were really doing.

Annabelle: What about Nora? 
She's not stupid, you know.

David: Darling, believe me.

Everything we planned is working perfectly.

Nora is sure Fredrick murdered you.

She thinks Fredrick attacked her 
in the cellar - not me.

Now Nora's almost out of her mind 
with fear.

The heads, the music, your hanging -

I tell you, when Fredrick walks in there, 
she'll shoot him.

Annabelle: It's taking too long.

David, you ought to be there.

David: When you hear the shot, 
come down to the cellar.

♪ ( tense music ) ♪

♪ ( sudden musical stab ) ♪

Fredrick: No! No!

( gunfire )

( Nora screams )

( chain rattles )

( muffled grunt )

( splash of acid pool )

( violent bubbling )

Annabelle: David? ... David?

( hinge squeaking )

( hinge squeaking as door shuts )

( hinge squeaking as door shuts )

♪ ( tense music ) ♪

( bubbling )

♪ ( music rises in intensity ) ♪

♪ ( tense music ) ♪

(Fredrick) At last, you've got it all.

(Fredrick) Everything I have.

(Fredrick) Even my life.

(Fredrick) But you're not going to live 
to enjoy it.

(Fredrick) Come with me, 
murderess! Come with me!

( Annabelle screams )

♪ ( tense music ) ♪

( Annabelle screams )

♪ ( music rises in intensity ) ♪

( Annabelle screams )

( splash with bubbling )

♪ ( flourishing eerie music ) ♪

Fredrick: Good night, Doctor.

Good night, Annabelle.

The crime you two planned
was indeed perfect.

Only, the victim is alive 
and the murderers are not.

It's a pity you didn't know, 
when you started your game of murder,

that I was playing, too.

( splash with bubbling )

Nora: There must be some way 
to get in here!

Watson: It's right along here somewhere -

Nora: Lance!

Nora: I've shot Mr. Loren!
He's down in the wine cellar.

Lance: Alive?

Nora: I don't think so!

Nora: It's him!
He's alive!

Fredrick: You didn't shoot anyone, 
my dear.

(Fredrick) I loaded your gun with blanks.

Fredrick: I can tell you all, now.

Trent and my wife 
were planning to kill me.

They failed.

Trent tried to throw me in the vat.

My wife stumbled and fell.

I'm ready for justice to decide 
if I'm innocent...

...or guilty.

♪ ( music plays softly ) ♪

Watson: Now there are nine.

There'll be more. Many more.

( footsteps, creaks, chains rattling )

They're coming for me, now!

And then, they'll come for you!

( maniacal laughter )

( door squeaks as it closes )

♪ ( end title music plays ) ♪