When a gentlegirl can win
prayer from out the lips of sin,
when a child gives up tears
and the barren almond bears,
when the silent chapel bell sounds the ghostly sinners knell
then shall all the house be still
and peace shall come to Canterville.
Well, I guess you guys are just starting back to school
after your summer vacation.
And here I am in un-jolly old England,
cooped up with my mum and brothers
on my way to some place nobody ever heard of.
My dad came over early to start his research at the university.
Mum says the Grant he got is some big deal,
the kind of thing that physicists get all excited about,
but I don't see why he had to drag all of us along.
Ginny, don't look so grim.
You know, living in another country can give you a whole new perspective.
If I don't die of boredom first.
Canterville next station.
Next stop Canterville.
Washington, wake up! We're here.
Oh, I can see dad.
- Dad! - Hi!
- Dad! - Hey, guys!
Haha! Hi!
Welcome to England. Sorry about this crazy weather.
You can get four seasons in a day here but it'll just blow over.
Hi. Guys, how was the trip?
The plane was bumpy
and Washington threw up in one of those little bags.
Adam, spare the details.
- And how about London? - We went to madame Tussauds.
They had this scary part, with Jack the ripper and everybody.
We saw Hamlet in the west end.
Guys, this is Mr Umney.
Mr and Mrs Umney will be taking care of us.
My family. My wife Lucille, my daughter Virginia,
and these are my sons, Washington and Adam.
Hi! How do you do?
Help Mr Umney with the baggage, guys.
Honey, we have people working for us?
You haven't seen anything yet. Come on.
Ginny, you're going to love this place.
I can hardly wait.
Oh, wow! Is this for us?
Ginny!
Ha-ha!
Come on, boys, climb in the back here.
Oh, that must be the new ones.
Morning!
Up!
Whoa!
It's a castle!
It's a real castle!
Awesome!
Hi! Oh, honey!
Welcome to Canterville hall, home for the next four months.
- What do you think, Ginny? - It's old.
May I present Mrs Umney?
I bid you welcome to Canterville hall, sir, madam.
- Hi. - I'll see to the luggage.
And to the young mistress, welcome.
- Mistress? Ginny's a mistress? - What are we?
You are the young masters.
- Masters? - We're master?!
Look out!
Excuse me. Boys!
Boys...
- Cool! - Awesome!
Terrific!
Some place, huh?
- Here! - I'll get you!
- Guys, cut it out. - Ow!
Guys, get over here.
After you've had a chance to get settled,
we'll be serving an early supper.
These are the lords of Canterville hall.
That's lord Henry.
You'll meet him tomorrow when he comes down to sign the lease.
- Look! - Hiram...
Hi, I don't see how we can afford this, and the servants?
Well, it's dirt cheap.
These aristocratic families are all going broke
and they have to rent these places out.
And then there's the silly stories.
Stories? What kind of stories?
Nothing really.
Hello!
What was that?
Oh, pay no attention to that.
Just the wind. These old places make a lot of noise.
Come on.
That was a wonderful meal, Mr Umney.
- Thank you very much. - Thank you, sir.
I'll tell Mrs Umney.
Ginny, you hardly ate anything.
It's too cold to eat.
Well, there wasn't exactly central heating when this place was built.
- Right, Mr Umney? - Quite right, sir.
I'd better go see what those boys are doing.
They'll be fine. Let them play.
You going to bed so soon, Ginny?
Yeah. Maybe I'll get warm there.
- Good night, honey. - Good night.
She just needs a little time.
I suppose.
What a stupid trick. You guys could have broken my neck.
Agh!
Those two boys are whirling dervishes.
No discipline.
Not to worry. They won't last the night.
Yes. The old boy was at it with the moaning as soon as they arrived.
Starved for attention, he is.
How long is it since the McKendricks?
Nearly two years.
I hear the poor woman is still in the institution.
Good luck to them. That's all I say.
What was that?
Probably just the Umneys closing up for the night.
Cheers!
Agh!
- Sh! Sh! - What is it?
What is it?
Maybe it's a ghost.
Agh!
All right, you two.
Here, jerks.
So, how did everyone sleep on their first night?
Hm?
Something wrong, guys?
Didn't you hear it?
You heard it too?
It thumped at our door.
I thought it was you.
Well, there may have been some noise in the hall
but I'm sure it was the Umneys closing up. Isn't that right, Mr Umney?
Closing up?
- Oh, quite possibly, sir. - There, see?
Nothing to lose any sleep over.
Now, guys, what do you say we check this place out?
Come on. I'll give you the two-dollar tour.
- Cool! - Great!
Hey...
It's a new place, ok?
You'll get used to it.
What choice do I have?
The library is my favourite room.
Look at all these books!
Wow! Look at this!
- Be careful with that. - What a wonderful room.
Look. This book contains the whole history of the Cantervilles.
Wow!
Oh, look. Someone must have spilled something here.
- Looks like blood. - Oh, please!
- Oh, gross! - Disgusting!
Maybe you ought to try to get it up.
Honey, you know in my carry-on bag
- there's the ch-ch. - I know. The miracle.
- I'll go get it. - Thanks, honey.
- Lucy. - Mm-hm?
You don't need to clean that.
That's why we're paying Mrs Umney.
You know what I'm like.
- Umney! - Morning, my lord.
- Are they still here? - Yes, my lord.
Oh, lord Canterville, those two boys are going to drive me mad, I swear.
Now, Mrs umney, we shall have to make allowances,
things being what they are.
- Any trouble? - Only... noises so far, my lord.
Well, at least they lasted the first night.
- With deference, sir, lord Canterville. - Ha ha!
There... gone.
Oh!
That stain, Mrs Otis, was the blood of lady Eleanore de Canterville,
who died on that very spot in 1584.
It has been the wonder of the county for 400 years.
And until today has resisted all efforts at removal.
Well, I didn't know it was so special.
Mrs umney...
Are you all right?
I suppose so.
Oh, Mrs umney, I'm so sorry.
Oh, Mark me, this bodes ill.
Mrs umney, we don't believe in such things.
You'll see.
I have seen things with my own eyes.
I have seen things happen in this house.
May Providence watch over you.
Um... this is Henry, lord Canterville.
Lord Canterville, my family.
- My wife Lucille. - How do you do?
- My daughter Virginia.
Oh, Virginia, how do you do?
And these two rascals are my sons, Washington and Adam.
- Pleased to meet you. - How did she die?
That lady Eleanore. Did somebody kill her?
No one knows.
Her husband, my unfortunate ancestor Simon de Canterville,
disappeared mysteriously after her death.
- His body has never been recovered. - Wow!
But his spirit has haunted this hall ever since.
- It was a ghost! - Awesome!
All right, guys, that's enough. Go outside and play.
- Say goodbye to lord Canterville. - Goodbye, lads.
- Bye! - Bye!
Lord Canterville, with all due respect, sir, the laws of physics
are not going to be repealed even for the British aristocracy.
You may think anything you like, Mr Otis.
Only you must remember that I warned you.
- Hm? The lease. - Thank you.
Hiram, before we sign anything,
- don't you think... - We consider ourselves warned.
We are happy, lord Canterville...
To be leasing the hall, ghost and all, until next June.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Otis, and Mrs Otis.
And Virginia, of course.
Ginny?
We're saying goodbye to lord Canterville.
Oh, bye.
Goodbye. You must come to dinner with me one evening.
Goodbye, all. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
So you've found the prophecy, have you?
Is that what it is?
A prophecy about what?
I couldn't say for certain.
Is it about the ghost?
I don't involve myself in such things.
Not like Mrs umney.
Looks like the storm will last the night.
I wonder if he'll come again.
Now, wash, like I've told you, there are no ghosts.
But lord Canterville said...
The universe operates on certain fixed principles.
Now, I admit we don't understand them all yet.
And sometimes we call the things we don't understand "supernatural".
But eventually, there will be a natural explanation for everything.
So, guys, up until then put your faith in science, not superstition.
Well, we all heard it.
I know some of us say that we heard something, Ginny.
And I also know that some of us would like nothing more
than to turn this family around and go back home.
That's not going to happen, ok?
So finish your supper and stop scaring your brothers.
There are no ghosts.
Hey, guys, help!
I'm stuck in this grungy old house my dad rented for us.
There's nothing to do and nobody for miles around
except these two spooky old people that take care of the place.
And on top of it, I think the place is haunted.
At first I thought it was just my stupid brothers
but now I think maybe something is really going on.
Of course my dad, the brilliant physicist,
refuses to believe it could be a ghost and blames it all on me.
As usual.
Washington, Adam.
You guys better cut this out.
Have at you, sir ghost.
Agh!
Leave them alone, you big bully!
Guys, what are you doing?
It's him!
- Who? What are you talking about? - He's right there.
There's no one there.
Are you all right?
We're fine, Mrs umney. It's just a prank that got a little out of hand.
I wouldn't be so sure.
Let us not meddle, Mrs umney.
Come along, my dear. Beddy-byes.
Ginny, I don't want you scaring your little brothers any more.
Now, it was a good joke, but enough is enough.
But he was there.
Guys, I know you think you saw something
but it was probably just the lightning and your imagination
with a lot of help from your sister.
How can you say that?
Virginia, I know you don't want to be here any more.
Well, I'm sorry. I can't do anything about that.
But you are not going to make the rest of our lives miserable.
Now, everybody get back to bed.
And you guys put that stuff back in the kitchen tomorrow morning.
Hiram...
Lucy, come on.
We're sorry, Ginny, honest.
It's ok, mum. Let him think what he wants.
Maybe the wind blew something over or the lightning cast a shadow.
You know it's a strange place. Your eyes play tricks.
Yeah, that must have been it.
Come on, Lucy.
Things'll be better in the morning.
Night night.
- Don't let the bed bugs bite. - Bed bugs bite, right!
Some bed bug.
Good morning.
Morning, madam.
Maybe the rain will help this poor thing.
Doesn't show any buds.
It's been like that ever since...
As long as anyone can remember, madam.
So why don't you take it out?
Lord Canterville's orders. It's not to be disturbed.
- Odd! - Mr umney.
I'm just going into town.
I'll get the car for you, sir.
No, no, that's all right. I'll drive myself.
No! No, no, no trouble at all, sir.
Honey, before you go,
I'm worried about Ginny.
Maybe she really did see something last night.
Oh, Lucy.
It's just her way of getting back at us for taking her away from her friends.
And the worst thing we could possibly do
is let her think we could be frightened into going home.
No telling what she'd do then.
Maybe.
But there were all those weird noises.
What noises?
Just the power of suggestion.
Don't let her suck you in.
Remember, like I say, everything has...
Everything has a rational explanation. Yeah, I know.
Good. Get her out, make some friends, meet the neighbours.
She'll be fine. You'll see.
I hope you're right.
- Morning, miss. - Hi. Mrs umney...
This is sir Simon, isn't it?
Why yes! Fine figure of a man.
That look on his face.
What do you think he's feeling?
Seems pretty fierce.
Yeah.
But there's something else too.
Well, now that you mention it, yes.
Maybe... a little sad perhaps.
And lonely.
Yes.
Perhaps so.
Agh!
Mum!
What is it, boys?
- Look! - I saw it first.
Oh, no! I thought we had it up.
I think the ghost just got mad and killed somebody else
and spilled their blood right here.
Honey, there isn't any ghost.
Well, somebody made it come back.
Well, we'll just have to clean it up again.
What is it?
It's nothing. Would you go get the cleaner?
Yes, mum.
We may have to start keeping this room locked up.
He comes back into the bar with a third ferret and he says...
What?
Hello.
Hi.
Hello.
I'm Hiram Otis. My family and I are renting Canterville hall.
And I was wondering if you could direct me to the post office, please.
That be here. I'm the postman.
Oh, thank you.
And what about the local police station in case of emergency?
That be here too. I'm the constable when one is needed.
As a constable you're a better postman!
- Telephone exchange? - Aye.
Then what about a doctor?
Well, I'm the local vet if that's any good.
Thank you. That's all very compact and convenient.
I'll be back soon, I'm sure.
You can count on it.
Seems a nice enough sort, eh?
How long do you give 'em?
They've already lasted much longer than most.
Well, I've got a fiver that says they're gone in a week at the outside.
- Make it a tenner. - Fiver!
Put me down for twenty.
- Ooh, twenty! - Oh!
Hello.
Mind if I look?
Suit yourself.
It's really very good.
Oh, it's just a sketch.
I'm Francis Stilton. How do you do?
Oh, Virginia Otis.
We're renting Canterville hall.
- Yeah, I know. I... - Oh?
I saw you the day you arrived.
Oh. I don't remember.
Actually, the whole district is talking about you.
Really? What do they say?
Oh, they just wonder how long you'll be staying here in England.
Oh. We're just staying till June.
You live around here?
I'm your nearest neighbour.
Cheshire chase just on the other side of the pine wood.
Are you enjoying your visit?
Not exactly.
I suppose you miss your friends.
Yeah, I do.
Boyfriend especially.
Oh, I don't exactly have a boyfriend especially.
What a pity. I mean... I'm surprised.
- That's all. A beautiful girl like you. - Yeah, sure.
So how do you like Canterville hall?
Oh. Let's just say it's peculiar. You ever been there?
Used to go there a lot.
Years ago, when the Cantervilles were still here.
I wonder if it's changed much.
Oh, well, why don't you come over and see for yourself?
I... I'd be delighted.
How about tonight?
Sure. How about dinner? Seven?
Right. See you then.
Ok.
I can't believe I did that.
I'm fine.
- Hi, honey. - Hi, hon.
How was town?
Well, the pub does everything but deliver babies
but I didn't ask them about that.
Everything ok here?
Yes, fine. The boys have been out exploring and Ginny went out painting.
Oh, we've got some time to ourselves.
- We can relax a bit. - Yeah.
Hey.
I met a neighbour and invited him to dinner tonight, ok?
- Sure. - That's great!
- I'll tell Mrs umney. - Thanks.
See? Told you she'd be fine.
Yeah, hi, you know that stain on the floor?
- It was there again this morning. - Really?
And it smelled a little like oil paint.
But it's ok. I got it up again.
Well, maybe we'd better start keeping that door locked at night just in case.
Yeah. Good idea.
When a gentlegirl can win...
Prayer from out the lips of sin...
When a child gives up tears...
And the barren almond bears.
When the silent chapel bell
sounds the ghostly sinners knell,
then shall all the house be still
and peace shall come to Canterville.
They're the same.
When a gentlegirl can win prayer from out the lips of sin,
when a child gives up tears
and the barren almond bears...
When the silent chapel bell sounds the ghostly sinners knell
then shall all the house be still and peace shall come to Canterville.
It is the star to every wandering bark
whose worth's unknown,
although his height be taken.
Love's not time's fool,
though rosy lips and cheeks
within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks
but bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
How darest thou?
I'm sorry, I was just looking.
Be gone! Away!
- Evening, umney. - Good evening, your grace.
It's been a long time.
Too long, your grace.
Listen, umney, I'm not a Duke.
Not a Duke?
Just for this evening.
Very good, your grace.
- Sir, madam. - Hello.
I'm Virginia's mother.
Pleased to meet you, Mrs Otis.
I'm Francis Stilton, and this must be Mr Otis.
Indeed. It's nice to meet you.
And these are our two sons, Washington and Adam.
- Francis Stilton. - Hello.
And... I guess you already met our daughter Virginia.
Hello.
Yes, hello.
Madam, dinner will be served almost at once.
Your grace.
Umney.
He called you "your grace”.
Well, yes, technically that's what I am.
A lord?
Well, as a matter of fact, I'm the fourth Duke of Cheshire.
- Really? - You don't look that old.
Well, you see, my parents died in an accident when I was very young
and I inherited.
I'm so sorry.
So what do we call you then? Your grace?
Oh, please, just call me Francis.
Or whatever you like.
Madam, Mrs umney informs me that dinner will be served immediately.
Thank you.
Good. Let's not stand on ceremony. Let's sit down and eat.
Boys?
So... Francis, you must know this place pretty well.
Well, I haven't been here since the Cantervilles left
but it hasn't changed at all.
- You know about the ghost too? - Adam!
That's all right. In fact, I do know about the ghost.
I mean everyone around here does.
Well, we take it with a rather large grain of salt.
Except those of us who've seen him.
Yeah!
Come on, we don't want to bore Francis.
Not at all, no. In fact, I've seen him too.
Really?
Well, I suppose every place has its superstitions,
its mass hallucinations.
And the blood stain? You've seen that?
Years ago I saw it, yes.
- It's gone now. - It's gone?
But no one's ever been able to remove that.
Mum cleaned it up with stain remover.
It came back once but we got it this time.
- Yeah. Come on, we'll show you. - Guys!
Hang on a minute, guys.
Oh, no, not at all. In fact, I'd like to see it.
Good. Come on.
We've been keeping this door locked
in case anyone wanted to tamper with the stain again.
Now it's green!
I know the door was locked.
Oil paint all right.
And I guess we all know where that came from.
What?
Not now, Hiram.
I don't know how you managed to get in here, young lady.
But this is in very poor taste.
Dad...
Let's discuss this later.
Francis, I know you have to get home.
Yes, of course. I ought to be getting back.
Thank you for a wonderful meal.
Your coat.
Yes, thank you.
Go say goodbye.
Bed in ten minutes.
Do you think Ginny did it?
No way.
It was him all right.
Green blood? He's making fun of us.
Yeah.
But he won't get away with it this time because I've got an idea.
Yeah!
What was all that about?
Francis, have you really seen the ghost
or were you just saying that to defend me?
No, no, I really saw him.
It was about six years ago.
We were visiting, playing croquet on the lawn.
Just after sunset, he appeared right there, by that tree.
He was playing ninepins with his own bones.
My aunt fainted dead away.
Well, the ghost has been doing stuff like that to us too.
But my dad's a big-shot scientist who can't bring himself to think it's a ghost
so he blames it all on me.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, thanks.
What are you going to do?
I don't know but I'm going to do something.
Be careful.
I will.
Virginia?
How about tomorrow?
I think I can find the time.
And the barren almond bears.
Ah, Gabriel, do they retire to their beds?
Splendid.
I was beset by two upstart boys,
denigrated by a little sniff of a girl,
and, indignity upon indignity, ignored by their parents.
Well, I will tonight a special effort make.
First will I to the parents' room,
there to lay a clammy hand upon the woman's brow,
while I whisper in her trembling husband's ear
the awful secrets of the Charnel house.
Then to the boys where...
I will gibber...
And stab myself thrice in the throat.
Then turn I to the girl.
For her, I will do such things.
What they are yet I know not, but they shall be the terrors of the earth.
The bell invites me.
Gabriel, thou hast the storm forgot.
Blow winds! Crack your cheeks.
Thanks, my trusty familiar.
And now, to work.
Perchance a grand entrance.
A thousand pardons.
Pray, proceed.
A ghost!
Another ghost!
And such a one. It Rose like a colossus.
And in its hand, an Ethiope's dagger.
And from its eyes, there streamed demonic light.
Gabriel, think you could somehow manage that ourselves?
It had a most chilling effect.
And now, methinks...
We might turn this appearance to our advantage.
If he would... join with us against these ameri-cans,
surely as a fellow ghost, he would feel some kinship.
Blood is thicker than water.
Although to us that is not entirely apt.
I'll after her and appeal to his ghostly honour.
There's yet time before dawn.
Hail and well met, sir ghost.
I bid you a hearty welcome to Canterville hall.
I am sir Simon de Canterville, the resident spectre.
But setting all chat aside,
wouldst join with me in an alliance, ghost to ghost?
"Ye Otis ghost, true and original. Beware of imitations."
Duped!
Mocked!
Ridiculed!
Now, by the bones of my ancestors, I swear,
when twice the cock hath called the sun,
deeds of blood shall be done upon your heads.
Yet crow again and cry havoc, murder shall walk abroad.
Yet crow again, and cry havoc!
Perdition take the naughty fowl.
I have seen the day when, with my good strong spear,
I'd have made him call for me and 'twere in death.
Take thou this.
Hey, that could have been us.
Come on, let's see what a big, brave ghost can do
to a girl and two little boys. I dare you.
Why must I be afflicted by these ameri-cans?!
What on earth is going on?
- What is this? - Are you all right?
We're ok.
This is the last straw, young lady.
- What? - Somebody could've been hurt.
- You could've burned the place down. - That's enough.
Ok... you win.
Soon as I can arrange it, you are going back to Indiana
- to live with your aunt Lydia. - Dad...
Hope you're happy now.
Mum...
Ginny, I think your father's right this time.
We didn't mean to do anything wrong, Ginny.
We were just trying to give him a dose of his own medicine.
Well, sir Simon...
I hope you're satisfied.
Virginia, you're riding like the devil's after you.
Maybe he is.
I know a place we can talk.
I used to come here when I was little. It's my favourite place.
It's like I've been here before.
What's wrong?
My parents are going to send me home.
Oh.
Why?
My brothers got the ghost mad this morning, they really let loose.
And my dad thinks I was trying to blow the place up.
He thinks I've been trying to scare the family into going home, but...
But what?
But now I don't want to leave.
I mean, it's weird cos at first I hated coming here,
but now...
Now I feel I belong.
I feel that, too.
Maybe there's some way to convince your parents.
Maybe they'll see the ghost for themselves.
No. Neither of them can see him.
I mean, he was standing right in the middle of the hall
and my dad walked straight through him.
They say that in order to see ghosts, you have to believe in them.
But everyone around here can see him without any trouble.
We grew up with ghosts. Our history's full of them.
So it's a catch-22 then.
My parents don't believe because they can't see him,
and they can't see him because they don't believe.
I'm afraid so.
But if they did believe, then they could see him.
That's it!
Wish me luck, Francis.
Virginia!
- I really have to talk to you. - No. You have no right here.
- And you have no right to ruin my life. - What?
All that moaning and rattling and thumping,
my dad blames me for all that.
You've used an awful lot of my good oil paints
for that dumb bloodstain of yours, and of course he blames me for that too
and that blast this morning, scaring my brothers half to death.
That really tore it.
And now, just when I meet someone I really like and I want to stay,
my dad is sending me home.
And he's sending me home on account of you.
But I knew not.
I must rattle my chains and groan through keyholes
and walk abroad at night. I have no choice.
Why not?
That concerns you not.
It does when you're ruining my life. Sir Simon...
You have to help me. You have to make him believe.
What?
He doesn't believe in ghosts.
Doesn't... believe?
He has ignored me quite.
In four centuries of haunting, I have never been treated so.
Your father did, without a care, amble through my person.
That's because he couldn't see you.
Francis says that because he doesn't believe in you, he can't see you.
Gabriel, that would explain it!
I was afeared that I was losing my powers.
Oh, no. I thought you were wonderful.
- Didst thou? - Yes.
I don't usually scream.
I mean roller coasters and scary movies, not a peep.
But when you came in that first time, well, you heard me.
A most gratifying scream.
Anyways, if we can make him see you, then he'll have to believe.
Zounds!
Bring a disbeliever to belief.
A cynic into faith. That would test my mettle. But how?
I know just the thing.
I'll introduce you to him as a ghost he already believes in,
then he'll see you without any trouble.
- Is there such a ghost? - Yes.
We saw a performance of Hamlet once in London,
and everybody loved the ghost of Hamlet's father,
partly because he came in early while everyone was still awake,
but you'd be great in that part.
Thou speaks wiser than thou knowest.
I gave will my thoughts on that role when he did visit here in 1599.
You knew Shakespeare?
I did, and save for my familiar Gabriel,
his words have been my only companions for 400 years.
Thou knowest how Hamlet's father must be confined by day
and walk abroad at night?
Where does thou think will Shakespeare gottest that?
From you?
In me you see the genius.
The original.
You might almost say the part was writ for me.
I knew you'd be terrific.
And you must play prince Hamlet.
We will perform it in the banqueting hall.
Gabriel will provide the stage effects.
And you must wear...
A cloak.
Just my size.
For myself, my armour will well suit
which last I wore before the virgin queen at Kenilworth.
Until tomorrow night?
Oh, Gabriel.
I scarcely dare to think it.
Might it be she at last?
No.
It is too much to hope.
And yet she is a lass unparalleled.
And then Hamlet says, "oh my...” what?
Prophetic soul.
Oh, my prophetic soul.
Ok, good. I think I've got it.
I hope this works.
Yeah, you and me both.
What's that over there?
It's the old chapel. It's one of the required sights of the district.
Would you like to see it?
Sure.
This is the Canterville family plot.
It goes all the way back through the centuries.
Are sir Simon and lady Eleanore here?
No. I don't know if anyone knows where they are.
When I was little, I used to climb right to the top of the bell tower.
The bell's cracked, so doesn't ring but...
"The silent chapel bell."
- Sorry? - Oh, nothing.
Oh, look.
The moon is rising.
It's a blue moon.
- Blue? - Second full moon in a month.
Supposed to make people fall in love.
Let's look inside.
This is wonderful.
It's like time stands still here.
Virginia...
It's as if I've known you all my life.
I feel that, too.
But I'm...
I'm scared.
Why?
Well, let's face it. Sooner or later, I'll be going home to Indiana.
But nothing can come between us, not if we're really meant for each other.
You seem so sure.
I am.
I think.
I've never felt this way before. It's...
Hard to be sure.
Right.
And what if we're wrong?
We must at least give it a chance.
Don't you feel that?
I don't know.
I just, um...
I don't know.
I see.
Sorry. I'm so sorry.
Why do you season this your love with so much salt water?
Oh, sir Simon. Love?
I've never felt this before. I don't know what to do.
You fear the thrill that seized your heart when you did kiss that boy.
It is awfully scary.
Love it is, and not to be denied.
And it can bring you joy untold.
But if we are weak...
If we succumb to fear or green-eyed jealousy,
then it can wreak a terrible devastation on our soul.
I know whereof I speak.
But never to have loved...
Or sadder still, to have loved and let it slip away...
Is never to have lived at all.
Then love...
And come what sorrow may,
it cannot countervail the bliss that one sweet minute gives you in his sight.
Come, go you to this boy.
And let love guide you.
Oh, sir Simon, thank you.
Thank you.
Lassie, you have bereft me of all words.
All right, I think we're set.
Do you have everything?
Yeah, my costumes and things are up there.
Are you two ready?
Good.
Come on, everybody. Show time.
Virginia, remember, it's "prophetic soul".
Prophetic soul.
- Cool! - Good luck.
This way, ladies and gentlemen.
Mr and Mrs umney, would you please take your seats here?
Your grace.
Now, the performance will take place from the gallery.
Now listen, he's a little nervous,
so don't make any rude noises or pull any practical jokes, ok?
Promise?
- Wouldn't dare. - Good.
Now, remember, at the beginning of the play, Hamlet's father has died,
and his uncle has married his mother.
Now, in this scene, Hamlet meets the ghost of his father,
who tells him that he was actually murdered by the uncle.
I'll be Hamlet, and we have a special guest star playing the ghost.
Hey, wait till the kids at school hear we had a real ghost playing a ghost for us.
You know, one rarely gets the chance to see Shakespeare
performed by somebody who actually knew him.
Hiram, look.
Wither wilt thou leave me? Speak. I go no further.
- Mark me. - I will.
My hour is almost come
when I to sulphurous and tormenting flames
must render up myself.
Alas, poor ghost.
Pity me not.
But lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold.
Speak, I am bound to hear.
I am thy father's spirit,
doomed for a certain term to walk the night
and for the day confined to fast in fires,
till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
are burnt and purged away.
- Wow! - Double wow!
Sh!
List, list, o, list.
If ever thou didst thy dear father love,
revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
- Murder? - Murder most foul
as in the best it is.
But this most foul strange and unnatural.
Haste me to know it.
Know then, thou noble youth.
The serpent that did sting thy father's life
now wears his crown.
Oh, my prophetic soul. My uncle?
Aye, that incestuous, that adulterous beast
won to his lust the will of my most seeming virtuous queen.
O Hamlet,
what a falling-off was there, from me whose love...
Whose love was of that dignity...
That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage...
Sir Simon, what is it?
Forgive me.
Wonderful, your grace.
That was rad!
Yeah, that was cool!
Would you please congratulate miss Virginia on her...
Outstanding performance?
Gave me the chills, I can tell you.
Yes, I will. Thank you.
If you'll excuse us.
- Your grace. - Here she comes.
- That was awesome, Ginny. - Yeah, that was cool!
It was wonderful.
Ginny, really, I don't know what to say.
- That's ok, dad. - No, really.
I don't know how you and your friend did it, but it was quite an illusion.
Hiram! You just saw...
I'll figure it out eventually, but it was a first-rate effect.
- Effect? - Of course.
I'm just amazed that you went to such trouble for a practical joke.
Well, it's late. We'd better turn in.
Um, good night, Francis. We'll see you tomorrow.
I'm sorry. Your father just seems to refuse to believe.
Yeah.
I'm more worried about sir Simon.
May I see you tomorrow?
Yes.
Good night.
I'm sorry, I...
Forgive me.
I don't know why you give her such a hard time.
Look, Lucy, I know there's an explanation for all of this.
I just haven't figured it out yet.
Hi, the explanation is simple. The house is haunted.
- You really believe that? - Yes, I do.
Sir Simon is a ghost,
and as far as Ginny is concerned, you've acted like a complete idiot.
For the past couple of years you two have been at each other.
You used to be so close.
I admit I'm having a problem dealing with her, ok?
I don't know. I don't know.
She used to sit with me, she used to talk to me.
And now, she's growing up.
Most of the time, I have no idea what she's feeling, what she's thinking.
Honey!
Most of the time, she doesn't know herself.
She's a teenager. It's tough.
I suppose.
But there's one thing that hasn't changed, Luce.
There are still no ghosts.
You take the cake!
Where are you going?
I'm going to check on our daughter, see if she's all right.
Ginny.
Let her sleep.
Promise I'll speak to her in the morning. Come on.
Sir Simon?
Sir Simon, what's wrong?
Why did you stop like that?
I've read that speech so often.
But just now, the meaning struck me as never before.
Oh, Virginia, if I were to tell you the secrets of my prison house,
you would hate me as I hate myself.
Nothing could make me hate you.
You can tell me anything.
Wouldst wish to know how I became a ghost?
Well, the book said that you were suspected of killing your wife,
- but I didn't believe it. - It's true.
It is?
For years, our lives were sweet and full.
And then, the green-eyed monster in my mind did sow his seed
which like a canker shrivelled up my love.
There was a man who I believed a friend.
A friend I took for truth what he told me,
that like Hamlet's mother, my wife had been unfaithful to me.
I fell into a jealous rage, I locked her in the house,
I forbade to her all company, I berated her constantly.
Her very denials inflamed my madness.
I drove her to such despair...
That at length, I dragged her into madness, too.
And one terrible night,
there, by that fireplace, she took my dagger and she killed herself.
And she died in my arms.
My tears mingled with her blood.
You see, that stain is ours.
Oh, sir Simon.
I buried her secretly, in a place that she loved best in the world,
and I... put... an angel there to guard her.
The garden.
I've been there. Francis took me.
And soon, I learned that she was innocent.
My friend had lied. He had wanted her for himself.
She loved me. She was loyal.
And every...
Every day, every moment since then, I miss her.
And that is why I could not bear to see you lose your love.
And how did you die then?
I summoned her family here to the house,
and I confessed to them my crimes,
and I bid them do with me whatever they wished.
And her brothers brought me here to this cell.
They chained me to the wall, and here I starved a lingering death.
How horrible.
I would die a thousand deaths if I could undo what I've done.
But there was more.
They brought a witch who conjured a spell...
That, like Hamlet's father,
I was doomed to walk the night and for the day confined,
here to brood on my sins.
But...
Most of all, remembering her.
Then when do you sleep?
I am forbid to close my eyes.
By day, I'm here, by night, I haunt. It is ordained.
I have not slept for over 400 years, and in truth...
I'm so very, very tired.
Poor, poor sir Simon.
Isn't there any place that you can sleep?
Oh, yes. That peaceful garden.
The angel of death could take me there.
To lie in the soft, brown earth, listening to the silence.
Forgiving life.
At peace beside my Eleanore.
And can that happen?
Yes. Thou canst make it so.
How?
- There is a prophecy. - I've read it.
But I don't know what it means.
I'll show you. Come. Here.
Here now. Read aloud.
"When a gentlegirl can win prayer from out the lips of sin,
"when a child gives up... her tears..."
Am I a gentlegirl?
Oh, yes, thou art. And still so young to be called a child.
What do I have to do?
You have wept for my sins,
for I have no tears left.
Next, you must pray for me,
because I had no faith in love.
And then...
If you would go with me into the realm of darkness,
there to stand before the angel of death...
And speak for me...
The angel will have mercy on me.
"Then shall all the house be still...
"And peace shall come to Canterville."
To you.
Oh yes.
What is it like in the realm of darkness?
I tremble even to think of it.
There is mist, and fearful shapes do lurk in it,
imprisoned in the voiceless winds,
blown with restless violence.
And evil voices whisper in your ear.
But if you hold steadfast to your belief and show no fear,
they cannot hurt you.
Against the purity of faith, the powers of darkness cannot prevail.
I'm not afraid.
I'll go with you and tell the angel...
That you are a good and kind ghost...
Who gave me the courage to follow my heart.
Now you, my lady,
and as a true knight should,
I pledge my soul to your safety and happiness for ever.
On that spot did I forfeit my soul.
This is Virginia Otis
praying for this poor old ghost,
sir Simon de Canterville,
who is very sorry for what he has done.
He can't undo it, but he has spent dozens of lifetimes paying for it.
You need to forgive him,
because he can't forgive himself.
Please?
You have been heard.
I'm ready now.
Remember, show no fear, hold fast to your faith.
I could not bear the weight of two loves lost.
I'll be fine.
You can only pass through while the clock chimes.
Ginny.
Pumpkin. It's me, the old man.
Look, I know I've been unreasonable about this whole business.
And I'm sorry. I'm gonna try harder to maybe see things more your way.
So please forgive me for being so insensitive.
Gin-gin?
Lucille!
Has anyone seen Ginny? She's not in her room.
- She must've gotten up early. - No, her bed hasn't been slept in.
All right, let's spread out and search.
Mr umney, you know the grounds better than anyone.
The grounds? Yes.
I'll go with Mr umney.
- I'll search here with Mrs umney. - I'll go upstairs.
- I'll go with you. - Let's meet back in the library.
Come on, Mr umney!
- Your grace, emergency. - Ginny's missing.
Will you search the grounds, your grace?
- No sign? - No.
I have an idea. Come on. Let's try the chapel.
Quiet, please. We need help.
That way.
Have you seen an American girl?
No.
Dad?
Dad...
Hiram!
It's the cloak she was wearing.
And the stain's truly gone.
Oh, god, she's with him.
She's with him!
Oh, no. Lucy, I've been so blind.
If anything's happened to her...
If anything's happened to her, I'll never forgive myself.
You've not touched your food.
We're not hungry, Mrs umney.
Yes, it's the same with us.
Please, we're all exhausted. Just leave it till tomorrow.
Bless you all, and good night.
She'll be in our prayers.
Well, there's nothing more we can do tonight.
Let's turn in and get started again in the morning.
What's that?
It's coming from the library.
Let's go.
- What's happening? - Mum, dad.
Boys, come here.
Dad, where are you?
Ginny?
- Ginny? - I can't find my way back.
I've got you.
- Francis! - Virginia! Where are you?
- Ginny! - This way!
Daddy, I can't see you.
Ginny, follow the voice!
Virginia, follow my voice.
Virginia, where are you?
- I can't see you. - It's this way.
Follow my voice.
I'm slipping.
Dad!
Dad, where are you?
Virginia, over here.
It's closing!
- No! - Virginia!
I'm here, Virginia, take my hand.
Mum, dad, it's closing.
Dad!
Got you!
- Ginny, I thought I'd lost you. - Thank heaven it's all over.
Oh, mum.
Dad.
Wow! A secret door!
Come on. We have to see about sir Simon.
I thought it was open.
Daddy, we have to get in.
Lucy, hold this.
We have to look after his earthly body.
Poor sir Simon.
We'll take care of him now, Gabriel.
Listen.
It's the chapel bell!
Look!
"When the silent chapel bell sounds the ghostly sinners knell,
"and the barren almond bears..."
He's been forgiven.
To lie in the soft, brown earth, listening to silence.
To forgive life,
to be at peace beside my Eleanore.
Well, lord Canterville, now that sir Simon has been laid to rest,
I suppose your family will want to return to the hall?
When you and your family have returned to America, perhaps.
Though actually, we have become quite fond of living in London.
Why? Have you something in mind?
Well, I've spoken to the university about extending my research Grant.
Oh, dad, really?
And there are some wonderful schools.
- Cool! - Yes!
And Lucille tells me that she loves England,
so would you consider extending the lease indefinitely?
Oh, and of course, we'd be delighted
if the Umneys would consider staying on.
Yes, and we'd promise to be good, wouldn't we, Adam?
You bet!
I'm sure there's nothing that Mrs umney would enjoy more.
Of course we would love to.
So what do you say?
Please?
I can think of nothing more fitting
than you and your family remaining here for as long as you'd like.
- Oh! - Cheers!
Wonderful!
Oh, one more thing.
My dear girl.
You've rendered my unlucky ancestor a very important service.
My family and I are much indebted to you for your marvellous courage.
Now this box contains a ring.
It belonged to the lady Eleanore.
On behalf of the entire Canterville family,
I give you our deepest thanks.
You're a very extraordinary young lady.
Wow!
Francis, the garden's come back to life.
It's beautiful.
May this bring the two of you back together,
as sir Simon brought Francis and me together.
And lady Eleanore...
Sir Simon made me see what life is,
and what death is,
and that love is stronger than both.
Please forgive him.
Adieu. Adieu. Adieu.
Remember me, my gentleqirl.
Oh, Simon, read me another sonnet.
Ah, yes, my dear. With the greatest pleasure.
"O! Never say that I was false of heart,
"though absence seemed my flame to qualify.
"As easy might I from myself depart,
"as from my soul, which in thy breast doth lie.
"That is my home of love."