Show yourself!
I know you're out there.
Help!
Help me!
Somebody help me!
Help!
Alas! Poor Yorick.
I knew him, Horatio.
A fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.
He hath borne me on his back a thousand times,
and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is!
My gorge rises at it.
Here hung those lips...
Excuse me.
This is a private party, miss.
My name is Gwen Conliffe, and I'm engaged to your brother, Ben.
Is Ben here?
No.
I'm afraid no one knows where Ben is, which is why I'm here.
Clive.
Well, boys and girls, let's repair to the tavern!
Good night, sweet prince.
I seem to recall, Miss Conliffe...
I seem to recall he mentioned you in one of his letters.
And it's quite uncharacteristic of my brother
to treat a lady in such a way,
but the character of man is such a shiftable thing.
You misapprehend me. Benjamin is missing from Blackmoor.
He's gone.
Did my father send you?
No, I'm here on my own.
It's been nearly a month since anyone has seen Ben,
and we knew that you were in London.
I'd hoped you had received some word.
Why do you think he's in trouble?
Because the night he went missing, 2 villagers were killed.
Would you help us?
Miss Conliffe,
I am under contract for the next 30 performances.
If this is about your father, I know how you feel.
Do you?
My company leaves for America tomorrow.
I simply can't help.
He is your brother.
Good night.
It must be a wonderful luxury,
doing battle with imaginary demons, Mr. Talbot.
Mine right now are very real.
Your mother?
Yes.
My oldest memories of my mother,
we are gathering grapes in her father's vineyard.
It is my Garden of Eden.
You're paying yours a visit?
No, my mother died not long after this was made.
My father and my brother, they live near Blackmoor.
A man needs a good stick on the moor.
I purchased this one in Gévaudan lifetimes ago.
It's the work of a master silversmith.
Would you do me the honor?
It's beautiful.
It will give me great pleasure to know that
it was the keeping of a civilized man.
Its heft is somewhat too much for me these days.
You're overly kind.
But I'm afraid I must refuse it.
As you wish.
Hello?
Samson!
Lawrence?
Hello, Father.
Lo and behold, the prodigal son returns.
I hope you're not expecting the fatted calf.
Stay!
We don't have many visitors.
You seem well.
I've often wondered what you look like.
You've come about your brother, have you?
Stay.
Yes.
Miss Conliffe learned that I was in London...
Samson.
...and sent me a letter
saying that Ben has disappeared.
I thought I'd offer my help in any which way I can.
Yes, what a splendid idea, Lawrence. A splendid idea.
Too late, I'm afraid.
Unfortunately, your brother's body
was found in a ditch by the priory road yesterday morning.
I assume you have something to wear for the funeral.
Sir John. You remember my son, Lawrence?
Singh, my servant.
Master Lawrence.
It's nice to see you, Lawrence.
It's good that you're here.
Has Miss Conliffe been notified?
She's upstairs in her bedroom, asleep.
Where are they keeping Ben's body?
Your father instructed me to bury your brother's effects with him.
It seems a shame.
Thank you.
I wouldn't, sir. It's...
I missed his whole life.
What if it wasn't a beast at all, but a cunning murderer?
Someone who bore a grudge against one of these men.
To misdirect the authorities, he kills the men,
and then he tears up the bodies
to make it look like a wild beast was responsible.
Ridiculous! Who would go to such lengths?
What about that gypsy dancing bear? It could have done it.
That mangy thing?
Kill 3 men? I doubt it.
I saw the bodies with my own eyes.
Unnatural wounds. Most unnatural.
Made by a fell creature, I say.
Damn gypsies wandering the countryside,
bringing their woe and deviltry with them.
They show up, and 2 weeks later this happens!
My guess is Ben Talbot went to their camp
to have it off with a gypsy whore.
The bear gets hold of him,
and they dump what's left of him in the ditch!
Got nothing to do with the gypsies.
25 years ago now,
me Pa found him.
Quinn Noddy and all his flock.
Brains and guts and God-knows-what
lying all over the moor for a quarter mile.
And, Quinn, the look on his face.
Like he'd been eaten alive.
Whatever did it was big, had claws,
and didn't mind a load of buckshot.
After that, me Pa went home and melted down me Ma's wedding spoons
and cast silver bullets on them.
Wouldn't leave the house on a full moon from then on.
He thought it was a werewolf.
I still say that bear's to blame.
You'd think the Talbots would've learned their lesson?
Consorting with the Romas.
Right. Remember that black-eyed Salome the old man married?
Went crazy up there in the ward, killed herself.
She was a gypo whore queen or some such, wasn't she?
Yes.
She was crazy
for coming to this shithole you call a town.
What did he say?
You're in your drink, boy.
Get him out of my tavern, Nye!
Come on, lad.
If you want to do something about it,
I'll be outside.
My mother wasn't a whore.
Lawrence Talbot?
Good evening.
Please join us. It's good to see you up and about.
Refreshed, recovered and as enchanting as ever.
Please, join us.
Good evening, Miss Conliffe.
Good evening.
What a pleasant surprise.
May I recommend the baked eel?
Singh has outdone himself this evening, haven't you, Singh?
Something plainer.
Thank you.
I was a moment ago telling my son
that the telegraph system does reach us here in lonely old Blackmoor.
Do you find your home much changed, Mr. Talbot?
Blackmoor does seem rather the same as I left it.
How so?
The villagers, they still have the same wild ideas.
Yes, well, they're a provincial lot, I must say,
ignorant and superstitious to a worldly man such as yourself.
We're savages at the ends of the earth.
I didn't intend to start a squabble.
All I'm saying is that you dismiss the natural man at your peril.
That's all.
I find your insecurities quite strange, Father.
No, you mistake that for my self-awareness.
And how comfortable are you in your skin, may I ask?
One can get used to anything.
Excuse me.
You know, Lawrence, I've never understood what it is that you do,
pretending to be other people.
But I understand you're highly celebrated and famous for it.
Perhaps one day I'll see for myself what all the fuss is about.
I think your mother would've liked that.
She loved you and your brother with all her heart.
Why did she do it?
She struggled with life, as we all do.
She lost.
Does that answer your question?
I saw Ben's body today.
What kind of animal could have done such a thing?
I've seen the work of a Kodiak bear and a Bengal tiger,
nature at its most vicious,
but I must say, I've never seen anything like this.
People in town say it was a man.
You mean a raving lunatic at loose on the moor?
Yes, it's possible, but I think I would have run him down with my dogs.
On the other hand,
the wounds are so terrible that only something human
would seem capable of such wanton malevolence.
I found a strange medallion among Ben's belongings.
Yes, Saint Columbanus. He was an Eastern saint.
He was also a gypsy.
So did Ben have dealings with the gypsies?
Yes, he was our negotiator.
The local gentry would pay a fee,
and the gypsies would keep their criminal activities to a minimum.
And they would move on once they'd sold the local lads all the wine
and dark-haired ladies they could stand.
"That orbèd maiden with white fire laden, Whom mortals call the moon,
"Glides glimmering o'er my fleece-like floor..."
"By the midnight breezes strewn."
She exerts enormous power, doesn't she?
I wish things were different.
Never look back, Lawrence. Never look back.
The past is a wilderness of horrors.
Lawrence, I'm glad you're home.
Can I help you, sir?
I was hoping to have a word with Miss Conliffe.
Just a moment, sir.
Miss Conliffe.
My behavior was unacceptable.
These were Ben's.
He'd want you to have them.
If there's anything you need, anything at all, please let me know.
I want to know what happened to him.
I'll do everything I can.
Thank you.
Thank you for coming.
Mother!
Lawrence.
Lawrence, wake up.
I heard something.
Lawrence.
Lawrence, I'm scared.
Go back to bed.
Mother?
Mother!
Hello. Hello.
Ben said that you played here as children.
It was our refuge.
From what?
You mean from whom.
Your father,
he has a way with being distant.
Ben told me it was because I reminded him of your mother.
He said you did, as well.
Which is why he put me in an asylum for a whole year,
then shipped me off to my aunt in America.
You sure you won't stay one more night?
My father has lodgings at the inn,
and that's more convenient for the train, so...
When do you return to London?
Not till I find out what happened to my brother.
Lawrence, that's all well and good,
but I think your inquiry could wait until tomorrow.
The moon is full tonight, and I'd prefer that you stay inside
in the event that your raving lunatic theory is correct.
I don't want to lose you, too.
Take your horse, sir?
Good evening.
He says you must stay in the camp. The woods are not safe.
Ask him if he knows anyone who sells these.
You want to talk to Maleva.
To who? Maleva.
It was found on my brother's body.
Your caravan shows up, 3 men are killed.
I don't think it's a coincidence.
There is no coincidence.
Only fate.
But she plays a hidden hand.
Tell me about my brother.
Run round the back!
Give us the bloody bear, you old snake handler.
We know what's been going on.
Nonsense. He dances, that's all.
Come on! Get off! What's going on here?
We've come for the bear, Nye.
It done all the killing.
For goodness' sake! He's harmless.
What happened?
It's the Devil! The Devil!
Mama! Mama!
Maria!
Maria! Where are you, Maria?
Maria!
Over there!
Maria!
Mama!
My baby.
Take the girl. Stay in the camp.
Boy!
Go back, get help!
Get Maleva!
Once he is bitten by the beast, there is no cure.
You should let him die.
You would make me a sinner.
There is no sin in killing a beast.
Is there not?
Sometimes the way of fate is a cruel one.
He can only be released by someone who loves him.
Lawrence.
Holy Mother of God.
Help me with him, Singh.
"Do thou but thine and be not diffident of wisdom
"She deserts thee not if thou dismiss not her"
Is everything all right?
Lawrence?
Get Dr. Lloyd.
Are you all right?
Yes, I feel better.
I thought you were leaving.
Well, this place is impossible to escape.
Besides, it's the least I could do.
What did the gypsies say?
Some nonsense about the Devil being at Blackmoor.
It's remarkable.
A week ago, I would have said you'd never use that arm again.
And now?
It seems to have healed itself.
I'll be back to check on you at the end of the week.
Thank you, Doctor.
Miss Conliffe. Yes?
I want to thank you.
For?
For prolonging your stay here at Blackmoor with us during this difficult time.
Had there been some sense of filial obedience,
well, you would not have been inconvenienced.
Well, Lawrence was trying to find out what happened to Ben.
And now we know it's still out there.
Nevertheless, I thank you.
Not at all.
You should be asleep, Lawrence.
So should you.
Is there anything I can get for you?
Are you expecting a war?
A Sikh is a warrior of God. He must always arm himself against evil.
Do you believe in curses?
This house has seen more than its share of suffering.
Your mother. Your brother. Yes, I believe in curses.
How could you stand it here all these years?
You didn't have to stay.
Silver.
I didn't know you hunted monsters.
Sometimes monsters hunt you.
Yes, he's been quite seriously injured, Inspector,
and he's suffering from a loss of memory.
I don't think he could be of any use to you now.
Well, I think, at some point,
he is going to want to talk about...
No. I do understand.
Only if I could have just a few words with him.
No. A completely unofficial interview.
Even the briefest exchange could be infinitely helpful to me.
Francis Aberline, Scotland Yard.
Honored to meet you, Mr. Talbot. I'm a huge admirer.
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.
I do hope they won't impede your return to the stage.
Thank you.
Shall we? Please.
It was an animal.
You're quite sure?
What else could it have been?
There are other witnesses, no doubt, that had a better look than I did.
Well...
Not too good a look, I'm afraid.
None of the locals survived to tell of it,
and the gypsies only talk of demons and devils.
I understood your injury was quite savage.
Yes.
I hope you don't find this prurient,
but would it be possible for me
to arrange for a specialist to examine you?
It's amazing what we can discern by scientific means these days.
And at your convenience, of course.
Of course.
No, a great mystery, it is,
given that there are no natural predators left in England
capable of inflicting such horrific injuries.
Well, the savagery of the attack would suggest the action of an animal.
Or a lunatic, perhaps.
Someone with a history of mental disturbance,
who'd spent time inside an asylum
and who may have suffered injuries at the hands of his victims.
I get your implication
and resent it.
You're clearly aware of my personal history,
as I believe I am aware of yours.
Weren't you in charge of the Ripper case a couple of years back?
Well, you're a direct man, so I'll be equally direct with you.
I'm not your enemy, Mr. Talbot.
But you've been seen as Hamlet, Macbeth, Richard III,
all with that same face.
Now a prudent man would ask who else might be living inside that head of yours.
Good day, Inspector.
So you won't mind if I establish your whereabouts
on the nights in question?
Feel free.
Good day, Mr. Talbot.
I'll be sending my specialists to examine you
at your convenience, of course.
Lawrence?
Yeah. You all right?
Yes.
What did the Inspector say?
Well, he asked a lot of questions.
I'm sorry. I feel so responsible for what's happened to you.
If I hadn't sent that letter, you'd be back in New York.
No. No. It was right that I came back.
You mustn't feel like that.
No.
Try it.
Well, I can't make it skip like you.
You have to flick it.
May I? Yes.
When you throw it, turn your wrist up and whip it.
Wrist up and whip it.
And make sure you swing your hips.
What's it like in New York?
Did you hear that?
What?
Horses.
Hello, Doctor. I thought our appointment wasn't till Friday.
Come with us. It's nearly the full moon. You were bitten by the beast.
You bear his mark now.
Mr. Talbot.
There are many of us here who are looking for a natural explanation.
Help us.
Come on, Talbot. Show us your wound.
We are told it heals in an unnatural way.
Get your hands off of me.
Will you let him murder your wives and children?
My eyes! Damn you, Talbot!
Sorry, Colonel. I meant to shoot you.
Sadly, I'm not the marksman I used to be. I must be getting old.
He's cursed. God has forsaken him.
Let us deal with him.
You know you're trespassing on my land,
and I could shoot you on the spot right now.
My Sikh manservant, he's on the roof,
and he happens to be a crack shot with a repeating rifle.
And he will kill you.
He'll kill the next 8 of you before he has to reload,
so please take yourself off my land.
And if I see any of you trespassing this way again,
I won't be so civil, if you take my meaning.
Good day to you, Colonel.
Lawrence.
You're bleeding.
How could they possibly think he's a threat to them?
Well, he's a stranger here in Blackmoor, Miss Conliffe,
and that makes him very dangerous.
Thank you.
Yes. You can also thank Singh when he returns from the village.
You're not the only one in the family who can act.
Samson!
Let's get something to clean that.
Did they hurt your shoulder?
No.
On the contrary, it feels much stronger than before.
That's good.
I was able to hold them...
All 3 of them back.
You know, you mustn't listen to them. The villagers.
They're backward and foolish.
Everything I hate about this place.
This might sting a bit.
Lawrence.
Excuse me.
What's happened? You have to leave.
Please pack your things.
Did I do something?
It's not safe here.
You must return to London tonight.
I'll be out here waiting.
Lawrence, wait.
What are you afraid of?
If anything ever happened to you,
I'd never forgive myself.
There are those who doubt the power of Satan.
The power of Satan to change men into beasts!
But the ancient pagans did not doubt.
Nor did the prophets. Did not Daniel warn Nebuchadnezzar?
But the proud king did not heed Daniel.
And so, as the Bible says, "He was made as unto a wolf and cast out from men."
A beast has come among us.
But God will defend his faithful.
With his right hand, he will smite the foul demon.
I say to you, the enemy's ploy is a devious one.
Twisting the accursed into beasts, he seeks to bring us low.
Make us as animals.
Teach us self-loathing,
so we forget that we are made in the image of Almighty God himself!
Samson.
Why does our Lord tolerate this mockery?
"Pride goeth before destruction,
"a haughty spirit before the fall."
I say it is because we have sinned against him.
Because our crimes reek to heaven, and they demand vengeance.
Pint of bitter, please.
Mrs. Kirk.
Why aren't you out with MacQueen, trying to catch that thing
what killed my husband?
As I don't know where the lunatic will strike,
it seems the practical thing to do is to stay as near as possible
to the potential victims.
And seeing that 214 of the 309 residents of Blackmoor and its environs
live within, what, 500 yards of this tavern,
I was planning to spend the evening here.
Not Talbot Hall?
Why would you say that?
They're cursed, all of them.
Unfortunately, "cursed" does not give me a warrant
to wander about Sir John's estate at night.
Rules, Mrs. Kirk.
They're all that keep us from a dog-eat-dog world, you know.
Pint of bitter, please.
Lawrence,
Miss Conliffe has left Blackmoor.
Yes, I sent her away.
She's probably in London by now.
Why would you do that, Lawrence?
Because this place is cursed.
Father.
It is a shrine to your beloved mother.
She was truly a beautiful woman.
I know that losing her wounded you deeply.
And it is monstrous, a young boy seeing his mother like that.
And I would have given my life, Lawrence,
that you hadn't found us that night.
You must believe me when I tell you this, Lawrence.
You do believe me, don't you?
I loved your mother with a passion like the burning of the sun.
Her death finished me. I was devastated.
I still prowl the house at night,
searching for her.
I'm dead all the same.
Look into my eyes, Lawrence.
You see, I'm quite dead.
My dear fellow, I wish I could tell you
that the tragedy that has beset your life was over.
But I'm afraid the darkest hours of hell lie before you.
I don't think they'll kill you, Lawrence,
but they will blame you.
The beast will have its day.
The beast will out.
We've got him, men! We got him!
Mind the pit, Johnny!
Johnny? Help me get out!
Shoot it! Shoot him!
Johnny!
Johnny?
MacQueen!