(eerie music) (gentle music) - There, Herbert, my boy.

That should show you there.

(John chuckles) - Oh, you're a deep one, Daddy, aren't ya?

- Mean to say he's beat you at last?

- Heck no, why he's overlooked- - Oh, oh, oh, I see it, let me take that.

- Ah, ah, Dad, rules of the game.

- I don't hold by them scientific rules.

You turn what oughta be an innocent pastime into some- - Father, you talk too much.

You'll put him off.

- Not him.

- Oh, do you hear that wind blowing?

- Oh, okay.

I'm, I'm listening.

(wind whistling) Check.

- I don't suppose Sergeant Morris will come today.

- Mate.

(John groans) - That's the worst part about living out so far.

Your friends can't come for a quiet chat, and, and, and, and you scramble your brains over, confound it, ah.

- Now Dad, Morris will turn up all right.

- No, it's late now.

All the, all the nasty, sloppy places to live in.

The road's a torrent, and the pathway is a swamp.

What's the county board thinking of?

That's what I wanna know.

Just because this is the only house on the road, it doesn't matter if nobody can get near it?

- Never mind, dear.

Maybe you'll win tomorrow.

- N-nevermind, maybe I'll, w-w-what do you mean?

Oh, you always know what's motivating me, don't you, Mother?

- Ought to, after 30 years, John.

(John chuckles) - And it's not such a bad place after all, Dad.

It's actually one of the few old-fashioned houses left in this town.

Home-like, I call it, and so do you, or you wouldn't have bought it.

- Yeah, fine job I did on that, too.

With $1,000 still owing on it.

- Now Dad, I'll work that off in no time.

Matter of three years with the raise promised to me.

- Ha, and if you don't get married.

- Not me, I'm not that type.

- Oh, I wish you were, Herbert.

A nice steady son with a family.

- There's plenty of time for that, Mama.

I'm sufficient for the day, as the saying goes.

Nowadays, my dynamos don't allow me any time for love making.

(Mrs. White chuckles) They're jealous, I tell ya.

- I often lie awake at night thinking if Herbert should take a nap, and, and his his, what do you call 'em, his dynamos go bad?

The whole town would be in darkness.

(John chuckles) What a, what a joke.

- Joke?

I'd get fired.

Some idea of a joke he's got.

I don't think so.

(someone knocking) - What's that?

- It's him, that's the sergeant.

- I wonder what yarn he's got for us tonight.

(both chuckle) - Don't slam the door, John.

(wind whistling) - Whip in quick, it's all I can do to hold it against the wind.

- Awful, awful.

A mile up the road by the cemetery, it's even worse, enough to blow the hair off your head.

- Give me your stick.

- I didn't know what kind of welcome I'd get.

- Oh, goodness gracious, you must be freezing.

Come, sit by the fire.

- Ugh.

How are you, ma'am?

- Oh, good.

- Ah, how's yourself, son?

Not on duty yet, eh?

Day shift, huh?

- No sir, night shift, but there's a half an hour yet.

- Ah.

- Oh, the hat father.

(fire crackling) There.

- Ah, thank you kindly, ma'am.

Ah, yes.

Ah, that's good.

That's a sight better than the trenches in France.

That's a sight better than sitting in a puddle with the rain pouring down in buckets, and the Huns taking pot shots at you.

- Didn't you have no umbrellas?

(Morris laughs) - Umbrellas?

Oh, that's good.

Hey White, that's good.

Did you hear what she said?

Umbrellas.

And galoshes, and hot water bottles.

No offense, ma'am, but it's easy to see you was never a soldier.

- My mother spoke out of kindness, sir.

- And don't I know it, and no offense intended.

No, ma'am.

Hardship.

Hardship, that's a soldier's lot.

Starvation, fever, getting yourself shot.

That's a bit of my life.

- Hmm, well, it don't look like you took too much harm, except for... - Well, and for that, I got this.

No ma'am, tough.

Thomas Morris is tough, and sober.

What's this now?

- Put your nose in, you'll see.

(Morris sniffs) - Mm, whiskey and hot, and sugar, and a slice of lemon.

You know, I said I'd never, but seeing the sort of night, well, here's another thousand a year.

- Same to you, and many of 'em.

- Ah.

What, not you?

- Not even a drop.

I'm not trying to be unsociable, but my work don't go with it.

I have to keep a cool head, a steady eye, and a still hand.

The flywheel might gobble me up.

- Oh, don't, Herbert.

- No fear, Mama.

- Ah, electricians, sort of magicians, you are.

Light you say, light it is.

Power you say, and the trains go whizzing.

Knowledge, you say, and, and the words go humming to the end of the world.

Fair beats me, and I've seen a lot in my time, too.

- Your Indian magic?

All a fake, sir.

The fakir is fake.

- Fake, you call it?

Well, I've seen it, I tell ya.

- Oh, come on, such as what?

Come on.

- I've seen a man with no more clothes on him than a baby, if you know what I mean, take an empty basket.

Empty, mind ya.

As empty as this here glass.

- Give it here, Morris.

- Which was not my intention, but used as illustration.

- Oh, I've seen the basket trick, and I've read how it was done.

I could do it myself with a bit of practice.

Ladle out something stronger.

- Stronger?

What do you say to an old fakir, chucking a rope up in the air?

Up in the air, mind you, and then swarming up it as if it was hooked on, and vanishing, clean outta sight.

I've seen that.

Cake, what for?

- That yarn takes the cake.

(all laughing) - You mean to say you doubt my word?

- Oh, no, no, he was just joking.

Herbert, you shouldn't.

- Herbert always was one for a bit of fun.

- Well, it's true.

Why if I chose, I could tell you things, but there, you're not getting any more yarns outta me.

- Nonsense, old friend.

You're not gonna get uppity about a little bit of fun.

Now, what was that you was, you was telling me the other day about a monkey's paw or something?

- Uh, nothing.

At least, nothing worth hearing.

- A monkey's paw?

- Yeah, you were telling me- - Nothing.

Don't go on about it.

What, empty again?

There, thinking about that monkey's paw makes me that absent-minded.

- Yeah, I think you said you always carried it on you?

- So I do, for fear of what might happen.

Yes.

- What's it for?

- You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

- I will, every word.

- Magic, then.

And don't you laugh.

- I'm not.

Got it on you now?

- Of course.

- Let's see it.

- It's nothing much to look at.

Just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy.

Here.

(tense music) - Oh.

- Let's take a look.

(ominous music) Why, it's all dried up.

- [Morris] I said so.

- Oh, listen to that wind.

- What's so special about it?

- That there paw has had a spell put upon it.

- No, no.

- By an old fakir.

A very holy man.

He'd sat all doubled up in one spot going on 15 years, just thinking of things.

And he wanted to show that fate ruled people.

That everything was cut and dried, from the beginning, if you know what I mean.

And that, if you try to change it, you caught it, hot.

So he put a spell on this paw.

Could've been anything, he just took the first thing handy.

He put a spell on this paw, and made it so that three people could each have three wishes.

- Oh.

(both chuckling) - Ooh, but- - Sh, sh, hush, don't laugh.

- But listen up, though the wishes were granted, those three people would have caused to wish they hadn't been.

- How could the wishes be granted?

- He didn't say.

It would all seem so natural.

You might think it a coincidence, if so disposed.

- Why haven't you tried it, sir?

- I have.

- [Herbert] You've had your three wishes?

- Yes.

- Were they granted?

- They were.

- Has anybody else wished?

- Yes.

The first owner had his three wishes.

Oh yes, he had his three wishes, all right.

I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death.

That's how I got the paw.

- Well, seems to me you've only got a wish for things that can't have any bad luck about 'em.

(Morris sighs) - Morris, if you had your three wishes, it's no good to you now.

What do you keep it for?

- Fancy, I suppose.

I did have some idea of selling it, but I don't think I will.

It's done enough damage already.

Besides, people won't buy it.

Some think it's a fairy tale, and others wanna try it first, and buy after.

- If you could have another three wishes, would you?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

No, I'm damned if I would.

- Oh, what are you doing?

- Let it burn, let the infernal thing burn.

- Let it burn, Father.

- No, no.

If you don't want it, let me have it.

- I won't, I won't!

My hands are clear of it, I threw it in the fire.

If you keep it, don't blame me, whatever happens.

Here, pitch it back again.

- No, I'm going to keep it.

What do you say, Herbert?

- I say keep it if you want to.

It's all a bunch of nonsense, anyhow.

- Nonsense?

I, I wonder.

I wish I knew.

- Stop it!

Mind what you're doing, that's not the way.

- Well, what is the way?

- Oh, don't have anything to do with it, Father.

- That's what I say, ma'am, but if I didn't tell him, he might wish for something he didn't mean to you.

You hold it in your right hand, and make the wish aloud.

But I warn you, I warn you.

- Sounds like "The Arabian Nights."

Father, you might want to wish me four pairs of hands.

- Oh, right you are, Mother.

I wish- - Stop it!

If you must wish, wish for something sensible.

Here, I can't stand this.

It gets on my nerves.

Where's my coat?

- I'm coming your way to the works in a minute, won't you wait?

- No, I'm all shook up, I want some fresh air.

I don't want to be here when you wish, and wish you will, as soon as my back's turned, I know, I know!

But remember, I warned you.

- Oh, that's all right, Morris.

Don't you fret about us.

(Mrs. White chuckles) Ah, here.

- No, I won't.

- Oh yes, you will.

Little bit.

- Goodnight.

(tense music) - Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Put it in the fire.

(wind whistling) (lock clicks) - There.

- If there's no more in this than there is and his other stories, we shouldn't make much out of it.

- Did you give him something for that, Father?

- Oh, a trifle.

He didn't want it, but I made him take it.

- Oh, there now, you shouldn't, throwing away your money.

- Ah, I wonder.

- What?

- I wonder if we hadn't better chuck it on the fire.

- Likely.

Why, we're all gonna be rich, and famous, and happy.

- Throw it on the fire, indeed.

You just spent money on it.

Oh, it's so like you, Father.

- Ooh, wish to be an emperor, Father.

Then you can't be henpecked.

- Oh, you young whippersnapper.

- Easy with that dish cloth.

- Be quiet there.

(all laughing) I wonder, I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact.

I seem to have all I want.

- Oh, Dad.

If you'd only paid the debt on the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you?

Well, go ahead, wish for the $1,000.

- Shall I?

- Go ahead.

- Don't have anything to do with it, Father.

- Now, Dad.

- I wish for $1,000.

(dramatic music) (John yelps) - Oh, what's the matter?

- What's the matter?

- It moved.

As I wished it, it, it twisted in my hand, like a snake.

- Nonsense, Dad.

- It must've been your imagination, John.

- Why, it's as stiff as a bone.

(fire crackling) Well, I don't see the money, and I don't think I ever will.

- Thank God there's no harm done.

But it gave me a shock.

- I know.

- Half past 11, I must get along.

I'm on at midnight.

We've had quite the merry evening.

- I'm going off to bed.

Don't be late for breakfast, Herbert.

- I'll walk home, as usual.

Does me good.

I'll be home about nine.

Don't wait, though.

- You know your father never waits.

- Goodnight, Mother.

Goodnight, Dad.

Oh, you'll find the cash tied up in the middle of the bed.

(Herbert laughs) - It moved, Herbert.

- Oh, and a monkey hanging by its tail from the bedpost, watching you count the golden sovereigns.

- I wouldn't, wish you wouldn't joke, my boy.

- All right.

(wind whistling) Lord, what weather.

Night, Dad.

- Goodnight.

(lock clicks) This bolt is stiff again.

I'll have to have Herbert look at it in the morning.

(fire crackling) (suspenseful music) Mother, Mother!

- [Mrs. White] What's the matter?

- N-nothing.

I saw faces in the fire.

- [Mrs. White] Come to bed.

(ominous music) - What a morning Herbert's got for walking home.

- What time is it?

Oh, I declare, it's quarter to nine, and he's off at eight.

- Well, takes him a half hour to change and wash up.

He's probably by the cemetery now.

- Oh, he'll be home in 10 minutes.

- Well, what's for breakfast?

- Well, eggs and sausage.

- Ah.

(fire crackling) - Oh!

That filthy paw.

The silly thing.

The idea that we listened to such nonsense.

- Ah, Sergeant and his yarns.

I suppose all old soldiers are alike.

- [Mrs. White] How can wishes be granted, nowadays?

- [John] Oh, been thinking about it all night, have you?

- Well, you kept me awake with all your tossing and turning.

- Well, I had a bad night.

- Well, I expect it was the storm.

How that wind blew.

- I didn't hear it.

I was asleep and not asleep, if you know what I mean.

- And all that rubbish about you're supposed to be unhappy if your wish is granted.

I know $1,000, I don't know how $1,000 could hurt us.

- Well, it might drop on my head wrapped around a brick.

Well, mind you, Morris said it would, well, it would happen so naturally that you would take it for a coincidence if you were so inclined.

- Well, it hasn't happened, as far as I know, and it's not going to happen.

And how you can sit there and talk about it.

What's that?

(someone knocking) - [John] Postman, of course.

- [Mrs. White] Oh, it's a letter, John.

- Well, what'd you expect him to bring, a ton of coal?

- John, do you suppose?

- Suppose what?

- Do you suppose it's the $1,000?

- Oh, here now, don't talk nonsense.

Well, why don't you fetch it?

- Oh.

(suspenseful music) Oh, it's thick, John.

And there's something crisp inside of it.

- Well, who's it for?

- Oh, you.

- Well, give it here then.

Oh, what a superstitious old woman you are.

Where's my specs?

- Oh, let me open it.

- Don't you touch it.

Where are my specs?

- Well, don't let sudden wealth sour your temper, John.

- Will you find my specs?

- They are right on the top of your head.

- Oh, yeah.

- Now be careful, don't tear it.

- Tear what?

- If it's money.

- Oh, don't become a dotty old woman, making me nervous.

Sir, enclosed, please find receipt for interest on your mortgage of $1,000 on your home, duly received.

- That's what comes from listening to tipsy old soldiers.

You thought it was money.

- No I didn't, I said all along that- - Herbert is going to laugh when I tell him.

(Mrs. White laughs) - You're not gonna tell him.

You're gonna keep your mouth shut, that's what you're going to do.

I'd never hear the end of it.

- Serves you right.

I will tell him.

Oh, you know how you like his fun, the way he was joking with you last night after you told him the paw moved?

- Well, so it did, it did move, I'll swear to it.

- You thought it did.

- I say it did.

There's no thinking about it.

You saw how it upset me, didn't you?

Well, well, didn't you?

Why don't you listen?

But, what is it?

- Nothing.

- Oh, well, do you see Herbert coming?

- No.

- He's about to.

What is it?

- Nothing, there's some woman out there.

Looks like she's carrying a briefcase.

- Well, what about her?

- She's standing at the garden gate.

It looks like she, wants to come in, but can't make up her mind.

- Well go on, you're full of fancies.

- Oh, she's gone away.

No, she's coming back.

- Don't let her see you peeping.

- Oh, well she's looking at the house.

She's got her hand on the latch.

Oh, no, she's going away again.

She looks like some kind of an official, John.

- What of it?

- John, oh, you'll just laugh at me again, but maybe she's coming about the $1,000.

- Oh, you're just a foolish old woman.

Don't, don't talk nonsense.

Come and eat your breakfast.

Where is she now?

- She's going down the road.

Oh, no, she's turning around.

I, I think she's making up her mind.

- Well- - Oh, here she comes.

Oh, John, look at the way we look.

Oh, the place is a mess.

- Oh, what does it matter?

She's come to the wrong place, the wrong house.

- Oh dear.

- She's lost, or something.

(someone knocks) (lock clicks) - Is this the home of Mr. White?

- Please come in, ma'am.

Please overlook our untidiness, and then the place is a mess.

- Morning, my name is Ms. Sampson.

- Oh, would you like to sit down?

- Thank you.

No, no, no, I think not, I think not.

- Fine weather for the time of year.

- Yes, yes.

My name is Ms. Sampson, I've come- - I bet you came here to see Herbert.

He'll be back in just a few minutes.

That's his breakfast waiting there.

- No, I've come from the electrical works.

- Oh, why you might have come with him.

- No, no, I've, I've come alone.

- [Mrs. White] Is there anything the matter?

- I was asked to call.

- Herbert, has something happened?

Is he hurt, is he hurt?

- There, there, there, there, don't you jump to conclusions.

Let the lady speak.

You've not brought bad news, I'm sure, ma'am.

- [Ms. Sampson] I'm sorry.

- Is he hurt, badly?

- Very badly.

- Oh, John.

Oh, John.

(eerie music) - Is he in pain?

- [Ms. Sampson] He is not in pain.

- Oh, thank God for that.

Thank God, thank God.

You mean?

Oh, oh, no, oh no.

(Mrs. White sobbing) - Go on, ma'am.

- He was telling his work buddies a story, something that happened here last night.

He was laughing, and he wasn't noticing, and, and, the machinery caught him.

- The machinery caught him?

Yes.

And him, our only child.

It's hard, ma'am, very hard.

- The company wishes to express their sincere sympathy with you in your time of great loss.

- Our great loss?

- I was to say further.

I'm only the representative, I'm only obeying orders.

- Our great loss?

Our great loss.

- I was to say, the company disclaims all responsibility, but in recognition of your son's services, they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation.

- Our great loss?

How, how much?

- $1,000.

(both sobbing) (somber music) - Jenny, Jenny?

- Yes.

- Where are you?

- At the window.

- Oh, what are you doing?

- Looking up the road.

- What's the use, Jenny?

What's the use?

- That's where the cemetery is.

That's where we've laid him.

- A week today.

What time is it?

- [Jenny] I don't know.

- We don't take much account of time now, do we, Jenny?

- Why should we?

He don't come home.

He'll never come home again.

There's nothing to think about.

- Or to talk about.

Come away from the window, Jenny.

You'll get cold.

- It's colder where he is.

- Aye, gone forever.

- And taken all our hopes with him.

- And all our wishes.

- And all our wi... John.

- [John] What, what, Jenny, what's the matter?

- The paw, the monkey's paw.

- W-what about it?

- I want it.

You haven't done away with it?

- Well, I haven't seen it since- - I want it, find it, find it!

- Here, here it is.

- Why didn't I think of it?

Why didn't you think of it?

- Think of what?

- The other two wishes.

- What?

- We've only had one.

- Wasn't that enough?

- No, we want another one.

Take it.

Take it, quick, and wish!

- Oh, wish what?

- Wish our boy alive again.

- Dear God, are you mad?

- Take it, take it and wish.

Oh my boy, my boy.

- Go to sleep, you don't know what you're saying.

- Our first wish was granted, why not the second one?

- He's been dead 10 days.

Jenny, Jenny, I was, I only knew him by his clothing.

If you wasn't allowed to see him then, how could you bear to see him now?

- I don't care, bring him back!

- I don't dare touch it.

- Wish!

Wish!

Wish!

Wish.

(suspenseful music) - I wish my son alive again.

(eerie music) (paw clatters) (ominous music) - Nothing.

Nothing at all.

- Thank God.

Thank God.

- All along the road, not a single living thing.

Nothing, nothing.

There's nothing left in our lives, John.

- Except each other, Jenny.

And memories.

- We're too old, John.

We were only alive in him.

We can't begin again.

We can't feel anything now but emptiness and darkness.

- Isn't for long, Jenny.

There's that to look forward to.

- Every moment's long now.

- Ah, I can't stand the cold.

- It's dreary, so dreary.

- I'll light the fire.

Where's the matches, where are the matches?

Oh.

I can't.

Can't sit in the cold, it's not healthy.

Don't take on so, Mother.

- I'm a mother no longer.

- Mother, now, there now.

You should get to bed.

Go to bed, I'll be up there soon.

- Whether I'm here, or in bed, or wherever I am, I'm with my boy, I'm with my boy.

(horror music) (something thuds) What was that?

- A rat, the house is full of them.

(someone knocking) (wind whistling) Stop, what are you going to do?

- It's Herbert, it's my boy.

I forgot he was a mile away.

- Oh, for God'd sake.

- What're you doing?

- Don't go near the door.

- Let go of me, let me go.

I've got to open the door.

- Think of what you might see!

- Oh do you think I'd fear the child that I bore?

Let me go!

- Stop it!

- I'm coming, wait.

- No, don't do it!

- Wait, John, the top bolt is stuck, I can't move it.

Quick, come help me.

(someone knocking) - There's one wish left.

- Herbert, your mother is coming to you, wait, wait.

- Oh, god.

Where is it?

It's gotta be around here somewhere.

- Please help me.

It's moving, it's moving.

- God forbid I- - Your mother's coming to you.

- I wish him dead, I wish him dead and at peace.

- Herbert!

Herbert, no.

(somber music)