The Sinister Monk (Edgar Wallace: Der unheimliche Mönch)

How long does it take for that idiot? - Ronny!

Well? - He can't hold out much longer.

And don't you think your rightful place is at your father's side?

It was his wish to talk to the notary.

My daughter Patricia keeps Darkwood Hall, so her girls' boarding school...

can continue. The remainder of my property and my revenues,

I bequeath to my beloved granddaughter, Gwendolin Francis Gilmore.

Let's go!

Patricia.

Ronny.

William.

Where's Richard? - Something surely held him up.

Otherwise he'd never have missed his father's death.

Since no will and testament has been found as yet, the law states clearly...

that the inheritance shall now be divided fairly and equally among his next of kin.

You are to appear before the official bureau of estates and inheritances...

on the 20th of this month, bearing certificates of your identity.

You'll see the judge at the Town Hall in Greensmothing at 10 o'clock.

You will send these forms to us as soon as you have filled them out. Good day.

Good day. - Good day.

So, that's how it is. If you want Darkwood Hall for your boarding school,

then I'll content myself with Sea House and the 3 buildings located in London.

Since there isn't any will, we'll wait! - Just a minute!

Where did you get the idea that there was no will?

Here!

This is only a photo-stat, of course. I did it myself, actually.

Quite good, don't you think? The original is locked up in my safe.

The will was in the notary's car. It was destroyed!

No, no! Otherwise, how did I get it? I received it in an anonymous letter.

You think I believe that? - Can you prove the contrary?

What does it say? Let me see! - Aside from Darkwood Hall,

everything else - all property, investments, as both real and on paper,

in other words, our father's entire fortune of nearly 4 million pounds -

is to go to Lord Gilmore's beloved granddaughter.

Do you mean Gwendolin? - Yes. Gwendolin!

The daughter of our brother, Reginald, who's now residing in jail.

Does Gwendolin know? - No. And she won't find out...

if you keep quiet and if I destroy the will and the copy I have.

Well, destroy it then! - I haven't finished what I had to say:

Read that carefully. If I do destroy the will,

each one of us will inherit a third. Since Reginald, as a murderer...

and convict is, alas, disqualified.

I'd like something more for my trouble. You'll get 10% of your possessions.

The rest you'll give to me, as your brother and lawyer.

And you will agree to give me power of attorney over the entire estate.

What I do with the money is my concern. What do you say? Will you all sign that?

And what if we refuse? - In that case, I'll speak to Gwendolin.

Oh yes? Then what do you get out of it? - Just as little as we will.

That's what you think. If you refuse, I have an alternate plan.

I was thinking of you. Will you sign it? - That's a lot to ask all of a sudden!

We've got to think about it. Give us a little more time.

Yes, it's only fair! - Sure. Just as you like.

And we'll meet again in a week. I would say, right here.

You are very sure of yourself. Aren't you, Richard?

I would say...

yes!

Dirty thief! - He's mad! Completely insane!

If he doesn't destroy that will... - Then he'll try to blackmail Gwendolin!

Yes. That's what he'll do.

That's got to be what he's planning. - And what if she doesn't give in?

Don't be naïve, Ronny. Your uncle has unusual ways of persuasion.

If Gwendolin doesn't want to lose everything, she'll be satisfied with less.

There's one way out of this, however. - Either the will disappears,

or Gwendolin does. You've got to invite her here!

Yes, I'll do that. But to protect her. - From whom?

From Richard. From you.

And... from my own son.

But why, Mama? Just 'cause I want to marry her?

Ronny! - If it's Gwendolin who gets the money.

After the marriage, you'll persuade her to sign it over to you. Is that right?

That's right, Uncle.

I'm going now. But I'll be back soon. With my beloved brother, Richard.

Excuse me.

Here she comes!

Thank you, girls! And I hope you all come back next month...

with the same smiles on your faces, ready to go back to work.

But for now go home and relax. I want you to have a wonderful vacation!

Goodbye Emily, Jean, Carol!

Have a good time. And give my regards to your parents.

What's going on here? - The girls are going on vacation.

All the girls? - No, about 12 of them are staying.

Either they've no-one to go to, or their parents are abroad. Excuse me.

Do you work here at the boarding school? - Yes, Sir. I'm sort of the house butler.

My name's Smitty, if I may be so bold as to mention it.

Listen. A girl will be arriving Here shortly. A certain Gwendolin.

She's my niece. You let me know The second that she arrives.

Here's my card. My address is on the back.

Certainly, Sir.

Have you worked here very long? - No, I've been here for 12 weeks.

I haven't been here in nearly 11 years. I don't remember it very well.

This is the park gate. - Ah!

Hello, Aunt Patty!

Gwendolin. I'm so glad you're here. - You haven't changed one bit, Aunt Patty.

It comes from living with youth. Take Gwendolin's luggage to her room!

How was your trip? - Good, the countryside was beautiful!

It seemed to take no time at all to get here from London. I usually drive myself,

but with Mr. Smith, I wasn't afraid! - Thank you, My Lady.

Thanks for inviting me. Uncle Richard asked me to stay with him, too.

But I decided I'd rather be here. - I'm happy you did, Gwendolin!

But you let me help with the housework? - Certainly! But the main thing...

is for you to feel at home. - Thank you.

That's my niece Gwendolin. She's my guest but wants to help with the housework.

Later on you'll get to know each other. - How do you do? - Hello!

Would you show me where my room is, now?

Oh, excuse me, Lady Patricia. Hello.

I was just going to get some food for my pigeons out of the garage.

This is Mr. Short. He rents some rooms up in the top of the tower. He's an artist.

You're too kind. But you must excuse me. My little pigeons are getting impatient.

So she's going to clean the house for us. - She looks very nice to me,

and very pretty. - She's the daughter of a convict!

Well, how do you know that? - I know it, that's all.

You can't know how wonderful it is to look out of my window and see trees and grass.

That's your room. The 2nd door. - How's Uncle William and Uncle Richard?

Oh, they're quite well.

Well, now who is that? - Your cousin Ronny.

I'm delighted, Cousin! Delighted and enchanted by so much charm and beauty.

And so on, and so on!

I remember you when you were that high. Things have changed.

For us both.

Come on. Here's your room. I hope you like it.

Ronny!

I must speak to you!

I know you, Ronny. And I know what you're up to!

You feel sorry for her, you mean? I do, too. How solid do you think this is?

Ronny!

Don't think you can get away with it. I'm not going to cover up for you again.

Aren't you? - No!

Just remember that I intend to marry her.

Excuse me. Sorry!

Come in!

Your luggage!

Thank you, Mr. Smith. - They all call me "Smitty".

And if you would too, I'd be honored. - Thank you, Smitty!

May I help you with anything? - Would you please open the big suitcase?

With pleasure.

There you are. - Thank you.

Who's that? - My father.

Your father?

It's funny... For some reason, I could almost swear that I've seen him somewhere.

It was many years ago, though. - It's very likely.

His picture was in all the papers. - That's right! I remember it now.

He was indicted for murder and later convicted and sent to prison for life.

I'm sorry. Forgive me.

But he's still my father.

And I... I am still your faithful servant.

Thank you, Smitty.

Yes? Who is it?

Have you been at my door, Mr. Short? - No, I wouldn't do such a thing!

The door handle was moving. - Maybe it was the ghost of Darkwood Hall.

The Monk. - Monk? What monk?

In the old days, this castle was a monastery.

Many people have seen the ghost of a monk walking in the moonlight.

It was undoubtedly the fog. - Undoubtedly.

In any case, all the girls are terribly frightened.

Come on!

Help! Help!

Hurry! Get in!

Come out of there! Your game is finished, my friend!

Come out of there with your hands up. I've got you covered.

I said come out of there!

Post C, this is Inspector Potter! I have a present for Scotland Yard!

I want 3 men to report to section MO298.

In other words, around 2 miles from Darkwood Hall. Repeat the message!

Yes, Sir. 3 men to Section MO4... - No! Not MO4! MO2!

Whoever is behind all this, those poor girls are petrified by this monk!

I want you to send as many men as possible to the school to protect us!

But really, Patricia! Isn't this all rather fantastic?

I mean, why should your place suddenly be overrun by sinister monks?

I'm not talking about a lot of monks. Only about one monk!

But there aren't sufficient grounds to warrant an intervention by Scotland Yard.

No? If something should happen to One of the girls, my school would close!

And then I'd no longer pay taxes. And one of you would be dismissed.

I hope that it's you! - You hope that it's...

ls there anyone you suspect in particular? - I can't imagine any reason why...

Oh, but I can! With all those beautiful girls in one place!

Who would be eccentric enough to dress like that! From the girls' description,

anyone at all could be the monk. Even you! And maybe one day, you'll have to prove...

that you're not. Good morning! - Good morning!

Information about the murder, Sir? - No murder. She owns a boarding school.

That may be, Sir. But the murder... - I'm telling you: No murder,

it's just a practical joke. A monk who frightens young girls.

Oh, then you don't know yet? Inspector Potter's been murdered.

Not true! Is it a fact? - Yes. Here. On this road.

But wait a second. That road is very near to Darkwood Hall,

the boarding school run by Lady Patricia who was just here. Is there a link, Black?

I don't see how. Inspector Potter was killed in such a way that no...

school girl would have had the strength to do it. All the symptoms of a hanging.

Bruised throat, neck broken, eyes protruding and so on.

Except he was killed standing up. - Is that supposed to be a joke?

That's impossible, Black! When do I get the autopsy report?

Doctor Howell is dictating it now. But I see no connection...

between this murder and Darkwood Hall. - Potter was working on a lead of his own.

And he asked me to give him a free hand. I'm very sorry, now that I didn't go...

ahead with it. He once complained that it was far harder to take care of a teenager

than a sack full of fleas! And in Darkwood Hall,

there are more than a dozen active fleas. I mean, teenagers dancing around.

What a drag! Who dances like this nowadays? Who has a chance to kiss anyone?

And how about with Ronny? - Yes. Or Smitty?

And, Mr. Short? - I've had enough. I'm going into town.

Buy me a lipstick. Love Pink! - I'll think of it.