Gallery of Horror

All down through the ages certain people have been said

to possess certain strange, magical, mysterious powers.

Some of those, it is said, have powers for good, and they were venerated.

Of others it is said they had black powers, and they were feared and despised.

Some of those who were thought to have these black powers

were called witches and warlocks.

They'd summon demons, make all sorts of magical potions,

even call down curses upon people and specific objects.

Even whole towns began to feel and fear the effects of curses.

People began to be terrified by witches, even potential witches.

They were afraid of any curse from any source.

Eventually...fear turned to violence.

People became more afraid of cursing

than the physical person of the witch or warlock.

If someone died strangely, he was said to have died of a curse.

Crop failures, plagues... everything that went wrong...

a curse was blamed.

People thought that if a curse was put upon a person

that curse would last until that person died.

Or if a curse was put upon an object,

that curse would last as long as that object was in existence,

unless it was specifically revoked.

People lived in abject fear

until finally one brave man rallied his townspeople

and turned on a witch.

The violence spread.

Everywhere, witches and suspected witches, were set upon and burned.

The hysterical witch hunt spread to America

where hundreds of people were burned by fear-crazed mobs.

Even innocent old men and women who had never harmed anyone,

unable to reason with the people, met the same horrible death,

some shouting their innocence, some screaming imprecations, obscenities...

and threats of eternal revenge,

and some stoically and calmly, and strangely silently meeting their end.

One of those who was burned at the stake was a real witch.

Let me tell you the story of THE WITCH'S CLOCK

This is your last chance, Mrs. Farrell,

are you still willing to relinquish the comfort and security

of a modern Manhattan apartment for the... roughing wilds of Massachusetts?

Think well before you answer.

Well, I've been giving the matter due thought...

I've decided that I must stay by the side of my unworthy husband.

Where he goes, I go.

Well said, Mrs. Farrell.

Your husband must be a very lucky man.

I'm a lucky girl.

Oh, Bob, the furniture's marvellous!

All antiques, the agent said.

Doesn't the history of this old place seem to reach out and touch you?

It seems though we stepped back in time two hundred years.

It's only the dust and smell of age.

In a couple of days we'll have the place all aired out.

It'll be better than any apartment on the island could ever be.

- Is there a dungeon? - Yes. Down there.

Nothing in it though but some junk and more dust.

Show me. I want to see. Come on, please.

Very well, your wish is my command.

You see, nothing but a bunch of 16th Century lumber and rags.

Oh wait a minute, maybe some of the first Pilgrims used these things.

- Maybe Miles Standish... - It's just junk, Julie.

Oh, we might get a few bucks out of it in that town down the road.

I suppose you're right.

I know I'm right.

I mean, this stuff isn't exactly Fifth Avenue quality after two centuries.

- Wait a minute Bob...I've found something. - What is it?

It looks like a grandfather clock.

A peculiar old frame.

I've never seen a clock like that before.

I don't blame whoever owned it, hiding it away like that.

It would go perfectly in the main room, dear.

Please, it's really very pretty once you get used to it.

All right Mrs. Farrell, you win again.

One grandfather clock coming up.

There.

Oh, it's beautiful Bob, so stately and majestic.

It was made for this corner.

You're the interior decorator, I'm just the handyman.

Come on, let's get this place cleaned up.

- Bob, it's not working. - What do you expect after two hundred years?

Please see if you can fix it.

Oh, can't it wait?

I mean, we got a lot to do and I'm getting hungry.

All right. I guess it can wait.

Doesn't seem to be any way to open it, Julie. I...

I guess I'll have to break it open.

- No, Bob! isn't there a key? - None that I can find.

Whoever owned it sealed it up real tight, like they didn't want

anyone to use it again.

There must be one somewhere.

- Here it is, Bob. - Oh.

- Now are you satisfied? - Mmm-hmm.

Needs only to get started..

There.

- There's someone at the door. - Now who would be out on a night like this?

That's quite a wind. I'm sorry to disturb you.

My name's Tristram... Tristram Halbin.

Oh, I'm Bob Farrell and this is my wife, Julie.

Oh sir, I'm sorry. I thought the Mahlers lived here.

- I've come a long way to see them. - You must have made a mistake.

There hasn't been anyone living here for the last five years.

We just bought the place and are moving in today.

Oh.

- Is something wrong? - No.

I should have known the Mahlers would be gone by now.

Well, thanks for the momentary shelter.

You can't go out on a night like this, Mr. Halbin.

Do you have a place to stay?

No, I've just arrived. I thought the Mahlers would take me in.

I used to know them quite well. I was going to work for them.

My husband and I have plenty of room here.

We'd be happy to put you up for the night.

- Wouldn't we, Bob? - Oh yes. Certainly.

And if you need work we certainly could use your help cleaning up this place.

- In exchange for room and board, if that's all right?

Yes, thank you. Thank you very much.

Do you have any baggage?

No, I travel light.

And I'll bet you haven't even eaten.

- It has been a long time. - I'll remedy that.

- You have a good wife, Mr. Farrell. - Yes.

And don't think she doesn't remind me of it!

I haven't seen a room like this in a long time.

I don't suppose this has changed in two hundred years.

More like three hundred. Oh, won't you have a seat?

Yes, but it's perfect for my work- the atmosphere here.

Would it be rude to ask you what your work is?

- No, not at all. I'm a writer. Mostly mysteries and the like.

- I've been fairly successful lately, so Julie thought it would

be a good idea for us to move into the country.

You've made a good choice coming to Massachusetts.

I had some coffee on the stove Mr. Halbin, and I made you a sandwich.

- I hope that will be all right. - Yes. Very satisfactory.

I'll show you your room later, and tomorrow you can start work.

Thank you, you're kind. You're both very kind.

- Good morning, Mr. Farrell, I presume. - Yes.

I'm Dr. Finchley, your local physician.

Good morning Dr. Finchley. Won't you come in?

Well, thank you. That's very kind of you.

I was just passing by and thought I'd drop in on the new addition

to our community.

That's very nice of you.

My wife isn't at home right now, she's gone into town with our handyman.

Oh? That's too bad. I was hoping to meet her.

Yes. That's too bad. You're a writer I hear?

I wanted to be a writer too, once, but I got sidetracked somewhere.

Won't you have a seat?

Yes. There's a lot to write about around here.

Got a couple of story ideas myself. Like to tell you about them sometime.

I'd like to hear them.

Right now I'm doing a feature article for a major magazine on

witchcraft in New England.

Witchcraft, hey?

There was a lot of it around here. Plenty of burnings.

Oh my, yes. Plenty of burnings.

Yes, well that's what I'm writing about.

It was a regular witch court out there.

Got rid of a lot of old bags.

You didn't like your mother-in-law... spread the word she's a witch.

Before you know it, poof! No more problem.

Those were the good old days, some say.

Well thank you, but I have work to do.

Maybe you could come back another time.

Oh, time to go. Got a busy schedule, you know.

Nice talking to you, Mr. Farrell. I'll come back when I got more time.

There's a lot to say about those graves down there,

and about Lucy Mahler.

She was the only real witch there ever was.

Died 1673.

Say hello to your wife for me. Until some other time then.

- Wait a minute Dr. Finchley. - Yes?

I'd like to hear more about Lucy Mahler and the graves.

Most people won't talk about it, you know. She was a real witch all right.

Town folk tried to get rid of her and her whole family.

Buried them all right down in the crypt along with their friends.

Then she was the one who lived here?

That's right.

Lucy Mahler had powers, not witch powers mind you, but magical powers.

There's even talk that she enchanted a clock,

but nobody's had the nerve to find out for sure.

- Clock? - Yes.

People say it could bring back the dead.

Well, I've got to be going now.

- Nice meeting you, Mr. Farrell. - Yes.

Goodbye Dr. Finchley.

Tristram Halbin...died 1673.

Listen to me Julie.

You cannot, you will not, stay with your husband.

His cruel and sadistic nature is revolting to you.

You want only to leave with me.

Do you understand?

You will tell your husband.

Tristram, I've been looking for you.

You're just in time.

- Your wife has something to tell you. - That can wait.

I have something to tell you.

Something I think you'll find very interesting.

Lucy Mahler truly knew the power of time.

Time and life are one.

Yes, I know your secret, and I know why you were sent here,

but you'll not succeed. I'll see to that!