The Wolf Man

1

Talbot Castle,

Mr. Larry.

Welcome home,

Larry.

I'm mighty glad

to be here, Father.

Hasn't changed

much, has it?

Not in 300 years, except for

a few modern conveniences.

Do you know

Paul Montford?

Sure. Just dropped

in to say hello.

Welcome home,

Larry.

We used to snitch

apples together.

Now he's chief constable

of the district.

Which reminds me, I've

got to get to work.

See you tonight about

9:
00, Sir John?

Fine. Glad to have

you back, Larry.

Thanks. Bye-bye.

So, old Paul turned

out to be a cop, huh?

Cop? Yeah, a cop. Policeman.

You know.

He's Captain Montford,

retired.

Father.

I'm sorry about John.

Your brother's death

was a blow to all of us.

Sit down, won't you?

You know, Larry, there's developed

what amounts to a tradition

about the Talbot sons.

The elder, next in

line of succession

and so forth, is

considered in everything.

The younger frequently resents

the position in which he's found

and leaves home,

just as you did.

Yes, but, Father,

I'm here now.

Fortunately.

But isn't it a sad commentary

on our relationship

that it took

a hunting accident

and your brother's

death to bring you?

It really isn't

as bad as it sounds.

I've watched every

bit of news about you.

I was mighty proud when you won

the Belden Prize for research.

The whole business

is probably my fault.

See, the tradition

also insists

that the Talbots be the

stiff-necked, undemonstrative type.

Frequently, this has been carried

to very unhappy extremes.

Don't I know that.

Larry.

Let's decide, you and

I, that between us

there shall be no

more such reserve.

I'll do everything

that I can, sir.

Well, that should

be considerable.

You know, the 18 years you've been

away should have qualified you

to be of immeasurable

benefit to the estate,

since, in a great many ways, we are a

backward people, but don't quote me.

What have we got there?

It's from London, sir.

I think it's the new

part for the telescope.

Of course.

Come along, lad.

Come on. Up to the attic.

It's an observatory now.

There you are, sir.

I think that has it.

I'll have

a look at it.

It's excellent! Where'd you

learn such precision work?

Optical company

in California.

We did quite a job on that

Mount Wilson Observatory.

Are you interested

in astronomy?

Not especially.

I'm all right with tools.

In fact, I've done quite a little

work with astronomical instruments,

but when it comes to theory,

I'm pretty much of an amateur.

All astronomers

are amateurs.

When it comes to the heavens,

there's only one professional.

Fine.

Well, I've got some things to do before lunch.

I'll leave you to it.

Good afternoon, sir.

May I help you?

Why, yes. I'm looking for a gift.

Something in earrings.

Certainly. We have

some very nice ones.

There's these diamond ones.

They're very smart.

Or how about

these pearl ones?

No. I don't think

any of those will do.

What I'm really looking for

is something half-moon shaped

with spangles on it.

Golden.

I'm sorry.

We haven't any

like that just now.

Oh, yes, you have.

Don't you remember?

On your dressing table,

up in your room.

In my room?

Yes. Would you mind

getting them for me?

Well,

they're not for sale.

Well, I can't say

that I blame you.

They look so well on you.

Well, perhaps my father can help you.

I'll call him.

No, no, that

won't be necessary.

As long as I can't have the

earrings, perhaps I...

I'll buy a cane.

Tell me, how did you know about

the earrings in my room?

I'm psychic. Every time I see a

beautiful girl, I know all about her.

Just like that.

What kind of

cane would you like?

We have daywear

or eveningwear.

It doesn't matter.

There's this one, it's very smart.

Solid-gold top.

No, I don't think

that'll do.

Well, how about the little dog?

That would suit you.

No, thanks.

Well, here's one.

Would make a good putter.

Yes, it would.

That's funny.

Another dog.

No, that's a wolf.

A wolf?

Mmm-hmm.

A wolf and a star.

What does that mean?

I thought you said

you were psychic.

I am, but this is only wood and

silver, and it hasn't blue eyes.

Well then, that stick is

priced at three pounds.

Three pounds? 15 dollars

for an old stick?

Well, that's a

very rare piece.

It shows the wolf and the pentagram,

the sign of the werewolf.

Werewolf?

What's that?

That's a human being who, at certain

times of the year, changes into a wolf.

You mean, runs around

on all fours

and bites and snaps

and bays at the moon?

Even worse

than that, sometimes.

What big eyes

you have, Grandma.

Little Red Riding Hood

was a werewolf story.

Of course, there have been many others.

There's an old poem,

"Even a man who is pure in heart

and says his prayers by night

"May become a wolf

when the wolfsbane blooms

"and the autumn

moon is bright"

Yes, but what's this

pentagram business?

Every werewolf is

marked with that,

and sees it in the palm

of his next victim's hand.

Look, lady, if you're trying

to scare me out of here,

you're not

getting very far.

I'll take the cane.

Please tell me, have you

ever seen me before?

Of course. How do you suppose

I knew about the earrings?

I can't remember ever...

Tell you what we'll do.

We'll take a little walk tonight

and we'll talk it over.

No.

See you at 8:
00.

No!

Gypsies, huh?

Yes, they're

fortune-tellers.

They pass through

here every autumn.

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