In the flickering light of the lamp his eyes shine with an eerie red tinge
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
What a wonderful technique.
GEORGES
It is as if he is really staring at us.
HARRY
This is only half a picture, I wonder why someone would cut painting in half?
JAMES
Let me take a look.
James comes closer to the portrait first from right and then from left, trying to examine it from every angle.
While doing so he accidently bumps Karl Ivanovich, who, in order to avoid falling, braces his hand against the wall. The seemingly solid surface gives way, revealing a secret passage and the old man cries out as he falls into the dark space
KARL IVANOVICH
A-a-a!
INT-HIDDEN SALON-SAME EVENING
Karl Ivanovich rises from the floor, groaning. Harry helps him to his feet
KARL IVANOVICH
I am all right, thank god.
JAMES
Please forgive my clumsiness.
Karl Ivanovich pats James shoulder. The men are fascinated by the new room
With its large Venetian windows and luxurious furnishings it appears similar to the bedroom of the ghostly bride
GEORGES
Dont you think this salon matches the ghost ladys bedroom?
He runs his fingertip along the surface of an elegant desk
The finger is covered with dirty dust
HARRY
It seems that someone else lived here yesterday.
Books and bits of ladys handicraft litter a small desk.
In the center of the room there is a large chaise lounge with a small elegant table placed next to it.
A large silver vase on the table still holds a bouquet of dried field flowers
MILLER
Mister Cardie is right.
JAMES
(touching a cushion on the chaise lounge)
Take a look at this cushion; it still has an imprint of a head!
Captain Wright, Georges and Harry stare at the cushion
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
I see it too.
HARRY
Jamie, you are a hopeless romantic.
Georges touches the cushion
GEORGES
This is incredible!
A lute lies on the seat of the nearby chair. At the foot of the chaise lounge among several dried up roses there is a discarded blood red ladys cape, made from expensive plush fabric
JAMES
Look, here is her cape.
He picks up the cape and inhales its send slowly
JAMES
(continues)
This room and the ghost bedroom belonged to the same lady.
HARRY
Wait you can tell it from the smell, Sherlock?
JAMES
Yes, it is the same lavender perfume.
James hands Harry the cape
HARRY
No, thank you, I dont feel like sniffing at dusty old rags.
Harry puts the cape back where he and James found it
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Jamie, have you fallen for this fabled beauty?
JAMES
I wouldnt have minded meeting her.
HARRY
(laughs)
But, as always, you are too late.
INT-CARDIES CASTLE, PORTRAIT GALLERY-SAME EVENING
A portrait of a beautiful woman (aka Rita) with a spray of red roses at the waist of her blue dress hangs on the wall of the portrait gallery.
INT-HIDDEN SALON SAME EVENING
Karl Ivanovich hands Harry a small gold-edged book
KARL IVANOVICH
Ive fallen on it
Harry takes the book and opens it. The title page bears an inscription in Italian
HARRY
(reads it out loud)
Pray for my poor soul
KARL IVANOVICH
It is a catholic prayer-book.
Harrys words silence the laughter and the banter. It is as if the corpse itself is with them in the room.
James comes up to the table with the vase with dried field flowers. He points to the open decanter, whose stopper lies next to it on the table
JAMES
Here is the stopper. Whoever lived here had no time to close it.
HARRY
Why did the owners fled from here?
Georges looks inside a birdcage that stands near the window. Tiny bones of the long-dead bird lie at its bottom. Seashell-shaped feeder is empty
GEORGES
Good question.
Karl Ivanovich opens the drapes on the furthest window and discovers that it is really a door
KARL IVANOVICH
Heres the door.
He turns the key and the door opens with an unpleasant creak. Evening breeze rushes into the room
Candles flicker, curtains and the dried flowers in the vase move, as if the spirit of the dead woman has invaded the room, angered at the disturbance
EXT WITCHES VALLEY SAME SUMMER EVENING
The mist rises over the lake.
A quiet female laughter, like a bell, is heard here and there.
Nenufares seem to move on the water surface.
The mirror surface of the lake darkens.
INT HIDDEN SALON WITH A BALCONY SAME EVENING
Everybody looks around in a small adjacent room.
Miller approaches one of the four windows, looks into it, turns to everyone and gestures lively
MILLER
This salon forms a part of the suit of rooms that includes the ladys bedroom.
HARRYS VOICE
(behind the scenes)
I found a small balcony, the size of a birds nest!
Captain Wright comes close to one of the paintings decorating the side wall
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Here is the door to the ghost-brides bedroom. It is disguised as a painting.
MILLER
(comes close to the painting)
Yes, it can be mistaken for a painting.
Karl Ivanovich joins Wright and pulls on the door handle
KARL IVANOVICH
It wont budge.
MILLER
Let me try, sir.
He puts his shoulder to the door, but Wright stops him
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Miller, its useless, the door is nailed shut.
Harry stands in the balconys doorway facing the room
HARRY
Its because the door is blocked by the large wardrobe, the one where we found all those womens clothes.
JAMES
Gentlemen, its time for dinner.
Everybody follows James. They close the door behind them and the room is empty again
EXT-FOREST DAYTIME
Harry, Captain Wright, Georges, and James walk through the forest, carrying rifles and talking. A pair of spaniels follows them.
James carries their trophies, slung behind his shoulder
GEORGES
I think the lady in the abandoned rooms must have died suddenly.
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
And I think she ran off with her paramour.
HARRY
Who else agrees with him?
JAMES
I think something unpleasant happened at the Hunting House, but what precisely?
Georges picks up a stick from the ground and throws it, the dogs rush after the stick