House of the Damned

Adil Qatine

Hello. Long distance for Scott Campbell.

This is Scott Campbell. One moment, please.

Scotty, this is Joe. Joe Schiller.

How you been?

Fine, Joe. Fine.

How's Nancy? She's fine. She's in bed.

Oh. I guess I got you up, huh?

I was gonna call you tomorrow, but I have to go out of town.

I'll get right to the point, Scotty.

Would you be free to do a job for me right away? Maybe. What kind of a job?

Well, it's, uh, sort of a survey, but it could lead to something.

You know the Rochester Castle up in the hills, off the coast highway?

I've read about it. I've never actually seen it. Not many people have.

Anyway, my firm represents the Rochester estate.

The castle's been out on lease about 10 years.

The lease has run out. They've got a white elephant on their hands.

They want an architect to go up there and make a survey...

condition of structure, possibility of conversion or remodeling.

Maybe demolition. When would they want me to start?

You and Nancy drive up tomorrow. You should be able to get there by late afternoon.

There's a real estate office about two miles from the turnoff...

run by a guy named Quimby.

Get the keys from him. You'll be better off staying at the castle.

It's quite a ways to a motel.

I'll be out of town tomorrow, but Loy and I will drive up and join you on Saturday.

Hey, that's right. You haven't met Loy, have you? No. No.

Well, good. We'll have a celebration.

Thanks. I just had one. Today's our anniversary.

Congratulations.

So, we, uh... we got a deal?

We got a deal, Joe. And thanks.

Ah, what are friends for? See you Saturday.

Good night, Scott. Good night.

You can come out now.

I answered it.

Who was it? Joe Schiller.

Joe Schiller? What's he doing here?

He's not here. He's in Los Angeles.

Just called to wish you a happy anniversary.

I'll bet.

It's kind of funny, isn't it?

I mean, we haven't seen him since... since we got married.

Must be that fine legal mind of his.

But that's not why he really called. He offered us a job.

What kind of a job?

It's an architectural survey of a place up the coast.

An old pile called the Rochester Castle.

You mean the one that crazy heiress built? Uh-huh.

Actually, it's, um, more early Hollywood Spanish than a castle.

But she was supposed to have built some dungeons down in the basement or something.

What do they expect to do with it?

That's what they want us to find out.

Joe asked us to drive up tomorrow.

Tomorrow? You mean, like in a couple of hours?

Pretty long drive.

We'll never make it.

Good night, Frank Lloyd Campbell.

Well, it doesn't look quite the same...

but I'm sure this is the road that leads up to the place.

If I could just see the lake, I'd know.

Even if it is, we don't have the keys to get in.

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but why don't we go back and find the real estate office.

We didn't pass it on the way up, so it must be north of here.

About two miles, Joe said.

Let's take a ride up this road and see if I'm right.

Oh, come on. Where's your spirit of adventure?

It's not my spirit of adventure I'm worried about.

It's your sense of direction.

Live dangerously, huh?

I'm pretty sure this is the place.

I think we'd better walk it.

You said the lease had just run out.

Doesn't look like anyone's lived around here for years.

All I know is whatJoe told me, honey.

Let's have a look.

There's a lake. This has to be it.

How did you know there was a lake, Scott? Have you been up here before?

No, but there were pictures in the paper when they put Priscilla Rochester away.

What had she done?

Never really came out, honey.

Family declared her incompetent and put away.

Then they cleaned up whatever was going on before anyone could check it.

They must be quite a family.

Onward and upward, Mr. Campbell.

Now, why would anyone build a thing like that in this godforsaken spot?

Locked. Is that the only door in?

As far as I know.

Supposed to be an elevator in here that goes to the top.

And that's the only road in.

She built this thing like a fortress.

What's in there?

Can't see a thing.

Well, I guess we'd better go back...

and find that real estate office.

It's a funny thing...

airline hostesses, department store buyers, secretaries...

they look all pretty much the same when you come right down to it.

What can I do for you folks? I'm Scott Campbell, and this is Mrs. Campbell.

Oh, of course, of course. Mr. Schiller called about you. I'm Mr. Quimby.

Come on. Sit down, won't you?

Now, I suppose you came by for the keys to the Rochester place?

Yes.

Well, I'm glad you got here during daylight...

'cause it gets spooky up there at night if you don't know the way.

Mr. Schiller said that you might be staying up there. That's right.

Well, there's a store a little ways down the road. You can get groceries there.

Gas and lights still on. No phone though.

You're welcome to use mine if you have to make a call. Thanks very much.

You, uh, don't happen to be superstitious, do you, ma'am?

l-I don't think so.

You count 'em.

Go ahead. Count 'em.

Thirteen.

You see? You see? Fifty doors in the place, and only 13 keys.

Of course, they'll open everything.

Uh, Mr. Quimby...

I understand someone was leasing the castle.

That's right... for the past nine years.

The lease ran out last month. Who was it?

Well, an old screwball... an old fella named Arbuckle.

Captain Sam Arbuckle, he called himself.

I understand he made his money in tent shows. He retired up there.

Why'd he leave? Search me.

Haven't seen much of him lately. Never did see much of him.

Last two months of the lease he paid in advance.

And then he just up and walked away from it.

Didn't even turn in his keys.

That's a duplicate set you got there.

Didn't anyone ever try to find him? What for?

Captain wanted his privacy the same as old Priscilla.

Well, we'd better get going.

Thanks for the keys. Glad to oblige.

Anything I can do for you, just let me know.

You don't have a picture of Priscilla Rochester, do you?

After what Scott told me, I just wondered what she looked like.

If I had one, Mrs. Campbell, I'd be happy to show it to you.

As far as I know, there are no pictures of Priscilla Rochester.

Let's see. The last time I saw her was about four years ago.

I thought they had put her away.

They did. She got out a few times.

Those fancy rest homes are not exactly Alcatraz, you know.

Yes. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Quimby. You're welcome.

Scott, you just moved it an hour ago. Somebody put it back.

Let's take a look at the place first. I'll bring the stuff up later.

This is gonna be a real guessing game.

You don't have to be polite. I'll follow you.

Uh-huh.

Well!

Come into my parlor.

Scotty, isn't this really something?

If you like early Dracula.

I wonder what's up here.

I don't know.

Let's find the elevator. Don't you want to try the stairs?

Tomorrow, hon. It's getting late.

Even our own elevator.

Ours? Well, there's nobody else here. Come on.

Isn't that terrific? Wouldn't children love it?

Well, I don't imagine there's ever been a child in this house.

Shall we have a look?

Do you hear what I hear?

Sounds like we have company.

Ohh.

The poor thing must be half starved.

He looks pretty well-fed to me.

Oh, Scotty!

Okay, bring it along.

There's some milk in the car.

It's okay, kitty.

So many beautiful things from all over the world.

Yeah.

There's supposed to be a warehouse full of stuff they took out of here...

somewhere in L. A ...

if it hasn't been sold off.

Hey, what time is it?

About dinnertime. You hungry?

I'm just beginning to get interested...

after last night.

Well, why don't you wait here...

and I'll see if a key on here will unlock a bedroom we can use.

Then we'll go down and get our things. Okay.

Don't be long now.

Scott?

Scotty? Where are you?

Here I am, honey. Come here.

Wanna show you something.

What do you think of it?

It's like something out of Dickens.

Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

And how do you like this?

Oh!

I thought we could make it our headquarters while we we're here.

Office, home, dining room, bedroom, all in one.

I can set my board up over here. It's very cozy.

We'd better get to bed before you fall asleep.

You awake? Mm-hmm.

Up we go.

I'm not asleep. Well, prove it.

Care for one more day-after-our-anniversary toast?