The Old Dark House

Hell.

What are you stopping for?

I'm stopping for a rest.

Really Philip you can't stop here.

For pity sake either go on or go back.

You can't expect me to spend the night

like a half-drowned rat on a mountainside.

- It's better to stop than drive the car

gently over a cliff, isn't it?

- Well it won't help things losing your temper.

- I've never been in a better temper in my life.

I love driving 100 miles through the dark

practically without headlights.

I love the trickle of ice cold water pouring down my neck.

This is one of the happiest moments of my life.

- Would you like me to drive for a bit?

Yes, I was expecting that.

- Oh, I shall be glad when we get Shrewsbury.

If we get to Shrewsbury.

- Do you happen to have any idea where we are?

- I haven't the least idea in the world.

That's very comforting.

You all right Penderel?

Fine.

Where are we?

We don't know.

We've lost our way.

We're somewhere in the Welsh mountains, it's half past nine

and I'm very tired.

Don't mention it.

- 10 to one we don't see Shrewsbury tonight.

Oh well, never mind.

As a matter of fact taking one thing with another

I'm not particularly sure that I want to go to Shrewsbury.

As far as that goes, I don't particularly

want to go anywhere.

Something might happen here,

but nothing ever happens in Shrewsbury.

- Something certainly might happen here.

- Well I'll tell you something that might happen.

I don't want to frighten Mrs. Waverton.

- Go on Mr. Penderel, I'm not easily frightened.

Aren't you?

I am.

Well, I was just going to say,

we'll have to be a bit careful.

Don't stop!

How can I help stopping?

Do you think we're in a motorboat?

Mr. Penderel please.

Sorry.

Do you think we'll do it?

I really don't know.

Bon voyage.

Well now for heaven sakes stop.

Let's look at a map or something.

My own view is we're not on a map.

- Oh you look, Philip, I can't see anything.

It's all a stupid puddle.

- Seems to represent this country very well.

Everything here is under water.

Oh well just drive on.

We'll arrive somewhere, sometime.

Yes, I suppose that's all we can do.

Oh look, Phil, lights, lights.

Pull in there.

Probably wisest to push on.

Well, I'm for staying here.

There you are.

The whole hilltop has probably fallen off.

- Is there anybody there said the traveler?

Knock again, louder.

- I should have thought that was loud enough

to wake the dead.

That's an idea.

What is?

Wouldn't it be dramatic?

Supposing the people inside were dead,

all stretched out with the lights

quietly burning about them.

I'm sure it would be very amusing.

I'm sure I could do with a drink.

These people have to be selfish,

to be soaked inside not out.

Listen.

What is it?

Thought I heard something.

Good evening.

We've come to ask for shelter.

We've lost our way.

We're absolutely cut off.

Don't you understand?

We can't go forward and we can't go back.

The road's blocked on both sides, landslide.

Even Welsh ought not sound like that.

My name is Femm, Horace Femm.

How do you do?

I'm very sorry to break in on you like this.

My name is Waverton.

May I introduce my wife?

How do you do?

Penderel.

Charmed, I'm sure.

How do you do?

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

- My sister was on the point of arranging these flowers.

- I don't know if your man explained the situation to you.

- He did his best, but I'm afraid I couldn't understand him.

You see Morgan is dumb.

- Oh I see, of course, I didn't realize.

We saw your lights and wondered if you'd be kind enough

to give us shelter for the night.

You see it's quite impossible to go on.

I see.

How awkward, how very awkward.

What is it?

What do they want?

- Allow me to introduce my sister, Miss Rebecca Femm.

- [Phillip, Margaret, Penderel] How do you do?

What are they doing here?

What do they want?

How do you do?

What did they say?

What do they want?

What are they doing here?

What's all the fuss about?

What?

- You must excuse my sister, she's a little deaf.

In fact, sometimes quite deaf.

They want to know if they can stay here for the night.

Shelter, they've been caught in the storm.

Of course they can't stay.

We can't have them here.

But, we only just managed

to get here as it was. - But, Miss Femm, surely--

It's pouring down in torrents.

Go on.

You see there's a landslide.

Half the mountain seems to be crumbling.

It only just missed us.

The road's blocked behind us and I'm pretty sure

it's blocked in front as well.

We hate to intrude, but what else can we do?

- You see there isn't anywhere else we can go.

Even the road below is underwater and for that matter,

this place itself may be underwater pretty soon

or even buried.

What's the matter?

Did you hear what he said?

There's a landslide and floods.

The lake has burst its banks.

We're trapped, we're trapped.

We've got to go, you hear, we've got to go.

- You're afraid Horace, you're afraid, aren't you?

You don't believe in God and yet you're afraid to die.

You've seen his anger in the sky and you've heard him

in the night and you're afraid, afraid, afraid.

Where's your mocking now?

You might well be afraid.

Your time will come.

But, it hasn't come yet.

This house is safe.

I know it better than you.

Morgan!

You remember the great storm years ago when we were cut off,

there was a landslide, and floods,

and the roads were washed away?

Morgan remembers.

He means this house is safe because it's built on rock.

You will have to stay here.

The misfortune is yours not ours.

No beds, they can't have beds.

- As my sister hints, there are, I'm afraid, no beds.

That's quite all right.

If we can just sit around the fire, that'll be fine.

By all means.

I'm not very sure that I want to go to bed myself tonight.

Morgan, attend to the fire.

- Is there any place I can put the car out of the rain?

- There are some stables round the corner to the right.

Morgan will show you.