The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus (La mano de un hombre muerto)

The Sadistic Baron von Klaus

Here, take this. Calm down.

I hate Sundays.

- Go on in, you stupid - - Okay, I'm going.

- Hi, Theo. - Good evening, Margaret.

- What's happening? - Nothing good.

- Come on, tell me! - My personal assistant.

I'm the brain. He's the machine!

What a machine! Not very modern.

Hanzel, don't help yourself to that.

You know it's the most expensive stuff.

I know, but it's the best.

There you go. You deserve it.

It's very lively in there, eh?

They sing a lot but don't spend much!

- And the boss? - She's happy today.

It's been a long time since I saw her like this.

- Wait for me here. - Why?

You look like a beggar!

Hi, Hanzel. Has Margaret paid you?

No, Miss Lida, but I'm in no rush. I'm giving her a loan.

- Have you had a drink? - Without your permission, not yet.

- Go ahead. - Thanks!

- You're a funny rascal, you are! - And you're gorgeous!

Can't you see you're disturbing the doctor?

- No, not at all. - It's not disturbing him, see?

I wonder how you can work with all that noise.

You get used to it. Besides, I prefer not to be alone.

I like the sound of young people around me.

- He's talking about me. - Listen,

these articles you've been writing for the last three months -

- Is it true what I've heard about them? - What have you heard?

They say it's a very gloomy story about ghosts.

With plenty of vampires and big birds.

Not exactly, but kind of.

It's fascinating!

I could tell you things that would make your blood run cold in your veins,

and I'm not kidding!

Unbelievable, but true!

He's heard everything. He's a smart guy, you know!

Go on then, tell me.

Have you heard of von Klaus?

The baron? I know him, yeah.

He lives six or seven miles from here.

That's right. It's a damp, swampy area

in the middle of nowhere, full of quagmires,

where thousands of bats fly around every night.

That's where the current baron rules.

I mean the other one, the one who died 500 years ago.

I didn't know that one. I'm a bit too young.

Don't make jokes.

I'm talking about the first baron.

Centuries ago, he was the lord of this land.

One day, he and his men decided to kidnap a young girl.

She later died from the atrocities they committed.

The father called down curses upon the torturer

and his lost soul now wanders about till the end of time.

Not long afterwards, the baron disappeared

in the stagnant waters surrounding the castle.

People claim he died,

but I know he didn't.

He often appears over the ponds in the middle of the night.

His ghost comes from the depths of the swamps,

and he comes to kill sadistically.

- I say it because I know it. - Yes, it's true.

I've seen his shadow.

I haven't heard of crimes here in this area.

I've seen the mutilated bodies, the torn flesh of three poor young girls.

It's been a long time, probably 50 years ago.

You must have been very young.

Yes, just a kid.

I'll never forget what I saw.

Baron von Klaus, the father of the current baron, was accused.

What is certain is that the spirit of the murderer

has been reincarnated in his descendants.

It's a good horror story, but a bit too fantastic.

That's not all.

Every time a young woman was sacrificed, the same signs occurred.

There were blasts of wind,

and wild animals came down from the mountains towards the village.

The moon disappeared three times

and dreadful screams were heard in the forest.

You're about to see that I'm not lying.

Tonight, the signs have started to manifest as before.

There are the same omens.

I know the killer has come out of the swamps.

Come on, Hanzel, stop bothering Dr. Kallman

with your ghost stories.

It's not a story for children,

but it's certainly compelling.

The women here are pretty, aren't they?

Beautiful, boss. They're worth the money.

If you behave, I'll pass them on to you when I'm done with them.

Thanks, boss!

Look at these brand-new boots I found in the garbage.

You must have radar.

Every time you come across a trash can, you find something good.

I've been at it a long time. I'm a professional.

- Hanzel. - Yes?

It's all because of your beard.

I want to be as smart as you, Hanzel.

I wish I had your experience.

It's all a matter of intuition.

- You dig about in the heap and say - - This smells like new.

Don't go too much by that.

The old man knows what he's doing.

A thousand-year-old chair is worth more than one made today.

Everything is worth something, even a piece of bone.

- A bone? - Yes, a bone.

Giddyap!

Theo, come here.

It's him.

He's come back, Theo.

MAIDENS AND MURDERERS WEEKLY MAGAZINE

Hello, kid.

What's going on at this ungodly hour of the morning?

Where were you? Chasing skirts?

No, this time it was pants.

A female bus driver.

She was beautiful.

Congratulations, Karl!

You're a lucky man.

Lucky? Nothing happened, unfortunately.

Here, take this money!

Where am I supposed to go this time?

To Holfen.

- Where? - To Holfen.

To Holfen, okay.

Holfen, a town noted for its gothic style, its trout,

its food and its crimes.

Which of these specialties am I supposed to write about?

- The crimes, of course. - Very well.

One young girl was murdered, another has disappeared.

It's incredible.

These crimes have been recurring periodically since the 17th century

and there's supposed to be a ghost called von Klaus.

Is this a picture of the ghost?

No, one of his descendants.

It could be interesting.

Doctor.

Doctor, is there any hope?

Good night.

My son. Where's my son?

Don't worry, he won't be long.

Excuse me, Ludwig, but it's urgent. Your mother is in a very bad state.

Thank you, my God!

My son is here.

Now I can die in peace.

Don't say that. You'll see.

You're gonna get better.

That's her, isn't it, your little fiancée?

Yes.

She's lovely. Very pretty.

I'm very sorry I won't get to know her.

I'm sure she'll make you happy.

My God, I wish I could talk to you,

just you and I, in secret.

My son, I must tell you everything.

A curse was put on us

many years ago.

You admire the genius of your ancestor, the baron, too much.

For many years, I've hidden from you

the fact that he was a terrible murderer.

- I know. - No.

You can't imagine all the things he did.

The key! Yes, the key.

Over there.

In the middle drawer,

behind the false bottom.

It's the key to the cellar.

Nobody has gone inside since the death of your grandfather.

The place is cursed.

You have to go in...

and see for yourself.

You'll feel the same horror I felt.

Then you must escape from this place, and take her with you.

You must escape the curse.

Promise me you'll go away from here.

Calm down, Mother.

I'll do whatever you want.

Last night,

I had a terrible nightmare.

A premonition...

that everything was going to happen again, just as in the past.

I saw that the shadow from the swamps had started killing again -

killing and torturing.

Remember, your uncle

was the spitting image...

of your ancestors, my son.

Didn't you hear the horn?

Didn't you hear the horn?

Oh, yes. Take the first left.

- The first left. - Okay, okay.

Get up on the sidewalk.

Idiot.

Hey, babe.

Would you happen to have seen an old, ugly, foolish

little creep of a police commissioner?

You're here about the crime?

What's going on? This place is a mess.