 In this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out the past stories strange and weird. Bellkeeper, hold the bell so all may know we are gathered again in the weird circle. Past phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale Mad Mountain. A place waits for one of Moncton's race when that one full-on shall lie graveless under open sky. That shall be a certain sign of the end of Moncton's line. From mortal ken from light of day Moncton's race shall pass away. Ada, this is the end. Absolutely the end. Nine o'clock and not a word from him. Oh mother, stop fretting. Alfred will come. I know he will. But when? When? The engagement dinner was at seven if you'll remember. But what difference does it make? Ada Elmsley. I do believe you're still in love with Alfred Moncton. Of course I am. After all the terrible humiliation he's put us to, how could you be? How could any self-respecting woman? And to think you broke off your engagement with William Sealy, the nicest boy in the whole county. Oh what gossip the servants will make. Mother please. In two minutes it'll be all over the village. Alfred Moncton didn't arrive, not even a word of apology. I can hear them now. Oh the humiliation. Mother please sit down and be quiet. I will not be quiet. I tell you Ada, I tell you I'm glad, really glad. I hope you'll never see him again. Mother, how could you say such a thing? Because it's true. You know as well as I do there's something very strange going on in Wincott Abbey. Something nobody understands. You've been listening to village gossip again. I've been using my own good eyes and ears. Do you know why Alfred Moncton keeps himself cooped up in that ancient abbey day after day after day? Never receiving anybody, making a hermit of himself? You exaggerate. He's a scholar. He studies most of the time. That's the lamest explanation I ever heard. How you could ever be in love with such an eccentric man is beyond me. And to have him deliberately. Oh I don't care. He has a million pounds a year. I'm not allowing you to marry him. Oh we've gone over this so many times. If I don't marry him it'll only be because Alfred doesn't want me himself. Ada, look, a carriage on the drive. Well, it's about time. Is it Mr. Moncton? I don't know. Ada, don't see him. Send him away. Alfred, look, he's coming in. Alfred! Ada, come back. For my sake, don't see him. Alfred, you did come. Oh, I knew you would. Forgive me Ada. Something's happened. I can't tell you what. I've got to go away. Oh, Alfred, no. Maybe I'll come back. But I can't have you waiting for me, Ada. You mean our engagement's broken? Yes. But why? Why, Alfred? I can't tell you now. But when will you return? I don't know. It may be a long time. Forgive me, Ada. Forget me. Oh no. How could I? How could I do that? Alfred, I'll wait. Time doesn't matter. I'll wait for you. I do love you, Ada. I do. Somehow I'll come back again, I promise. Living or dead, somehow I'll come back to you. Well, William Sealy. Imagine seeing you here in Naples, of all places. And after so long too. Has it been so long, John? Not many years. Five, I think, since eating. It seems long. What have you been doing with yourself? Last I heard you and Ada Elmsley were engaged. What happened? Oh, I'm afraid we just broke it off. And I've been wandering over Europe, one place to another. Don't tell me you're suffering from broken heart, I believe, is what they call it? No, just wander last, I think. At least that's what brought me here to the Garden of the Vila Real. And a lucky thing too. Let's drink a toast, shall we? I said, oh, something the matter? No, no, not really. It's just that fellow over there staring at me as if I were his long-last brother. It's rather a-nerving. Well, who I say? Do you know him? No, I don't think so. Do you? Well, only by reputation. He's a character around these parts. Really? What's his name? Moncton, I think, Alfred Moncton. Oh, I say you do know him? Well, only slightly. I haven't seen him since I was very young when he lived in the same county. Of course, I remember now. Moncton has Winkard Abbey, I believe. Yes, and also Ada Elmsley. Oh, I say. Oh, you mean they're married? No, just engaged. I wonder what he's doing here. Have a little slightest notion. Well, look there. He's written a note. He's given it to the waiter. Yes. Yes, I noticed. And the waiter's coming to our table. Mr. William Sealy? Yes, the gentleman just leaving. The one over there asked me to give you this. Thank you. You're welcome, sir. I wonder what Moncton wants with you. We'll soon see. Hell, let's read it. If you are the William Sealy from Wilkinshire County, England, will you do me the honour of calling at my flat this evening just before midnight? My need of a friend and confidant is urgent, I shall be ever grateful for your compliance. My address is below. Alfred Moncton. Oh, that man gives me the creeps. Are you going? Yes. I think I will. He's tormented with some terrible fear. You can see that on his face. Maybe I can help him for Ada's sake. Still, I wonder what it could be. Are the Williams Sealy from Wilkinshire? I knew it. Come in. Come in. No idea. You were left England, Moncton. Three months ago. Well, thank you a million times for coming tonight. What's the matter? Are you here? Please sit down. Would you have some wine? Oh, I'm sorry. I forget. I have no wine here. Wait a moment. Do you mind sitting in strong light? No, not at all. It's easier for me to talk in strong light. Here, the reading lamp. Some candles. My hand's shaking. Would you like them for me? Of course. Thank you. How's that? It's much better. Light makes me calmer. Sealy, can I trust you? I want to tell you why I'm here and what I'm looking for. It's hard to believe, but I'd like to hear you say that you'll tell nobody the secret. Of course I promise, Moncton. Thank you. I can trust you. I know I can. Sealy, you were engaged to Ada Elmsley once. Yes, but she broke it off soon after she met you, old man. Yes, I know she told me. I'm sorry, Sealy. But we love each other very much. Though I can never marry her. Never. But why? Come, I'll show you. Here in this room. What is it? There's nothing here. Wait till your eyes grow accustomed to the darkness. Come here a moment. Moncton, it's an empty coffin. I take it with me wherever I go. Every moment of my life is built around this casket, Sealy. Because I'm searching for the body of a dead man. Whose body? Stephen Moncton. My uncle. The coffin's for him. Come. Let's go back to the life. Sit down. Sit down. I'll tell you all about it. Are you sure you want to? More than anything in the world. I can't live with this thing much longer. I'm a haunted man. Haunted by fears and a curse. Listen, one evening last February, I was standing alone in one of the deserted rooms of the western turret at Wincord Abbey, looking at the sunset. Suddenly, I felt a sensation stealing over me. I could feel my very soul creeping out of my body. And yet I wasn't unconscious. For a long time, I stood there by the window, and then I began to see the form take shape. It seemed to creep from the shadows, advancing slowly, faintly luminous, until it stood beside me. What was it? The apparition of Stephen Moncton, his ghost. That was how I knew he was dead. Did you have a strong regard for him? Not at all. I should have been ashamed of him. He disgraced us wherever he went. Did you see him frequently? Only three times in my whole life. Then why are you so concerned? You'll learn in a moment. From an article in a French newspaper, I found out how he died. My uncle fought a fatal duel with the Count Saint-Laure, somewhere outside the Neapolitan states. The place of the duel was kept secret. Only the seconds knew where it was fought. But this I know. Wherever it was, Stephen Moncton was left unburied on the ground where he fell. I must find the place where he lies. I must! I must! I don't understand, Moncton. Why is it so important to you? Forgive me, I'm sorry. I tell the story so badly. Listen, did you never hear of the curious old prophecy about our family that's still preserved among the traditions of Wincord Abbey? Yes, I believe I did, but it was a long time ago. Well, it's been passed along from a remote time, and I myself found the verses of the prophecy. That's why I secluded myself, looking for it. Where did you find it? On the blank leaf of an Abbey manuscript. The verses say, When in Wincord vault a place waits for one of Moncton's race, When that one forlorn shall lie graveless under open sky, That shall be a certain sign of the end of Moncton's line. From mortal ken, from light of day, Moncton's race shall pass away. You see the terrible thing it says. What does it say exactly? It says that the last of the Moncton's will die when one of us lies unburied. I am the last Moncton, and every member of the family lies in the vault of Wincord Abbey, except one. The prophecy dooms me to death, even if I find him. Now you know the story and why I can never marry Ada, but I love him with all my heart, and I shall go back to her someday, dead or alive. Are you afraid of dying because of this superstition? No, not of dying, Celia. I'm afraid of living, of being tormented if I do live. If I set out tomorrow to look for my uncle's body, where do I go first? Where? Oh, Celia, what am I to do? You know how to help me. This misery has made me unable to help myself. I'll help you, Moncton, whatever way I can. It seems to me... Well, it seems to me logical to suppose that the jewel was fought somewhere near the Neapolitan frontier. So, if I were looking for the place, I'd follow the frontier to the lonely mountains, asking every native if he had seen two carriages in the road last February. Surely then you'd come across some clue. You're right, Celia. It's an inspiration. Come with me. Please come with me and help me find the dead man. Will you, Celia? All right, Moncton. I'll help you. But tell me one thing. Why did you say you're afraid of living, of being tormented if you do? Because I'm never alone, living this strong light in my eyes. What do you mean? I mean, his ghost standing beside you now, a death glare in his black eyes. Forever since the day he was murdered, waking or sleeping day and night, Stephen Moncton's ghost is with me wherever I go, screaming for me to bury the unburied dead. Burry the unburied dead, Alfred Moncton. Burry the unburied dead. Celia, would you take the reins for a while? What's the matter, Moncton? You look tired. It's nothing. The search just seems so hopeless. Where do we ever find him? Where do we ever find him? Oh, you must have patience. It's only been a week and the frontier hills aren't far from here. How's the carpent riding? The canvas covers it well. He's still with us. Always with us. The ghost, do you mean? Yes. Just yonder by the roadside. Suspended. Moving ahead. Waiting for his burial. I'll tell you, Celia, I'd rather die a million times than be companion by a bleeding ghost. Look, there's an old woman on the road. Oh, yes. Stopped the wagon. Well, there. Excuse me, senora. Do you live here on the frontier? Si. Si, senor. Do you remember about three months ago seeing two carriages take this road? No, senor. Then perhaps you had talk of a duel that was fought near here. By two men named Moncton and the Count Saint Lo. No, senor. But wait. Now, I remember during February where two richly adored carriages did pass my house late in the afternoon. Which way did they go? They were headed for the hills and very fast. Thank you so much. Celia, what luck. Let's go. Quickly. Moncton, calm yourself. All day you've been tense and I know your feverish. I'm all right, I tell you. If we hurry, we can make the hills by sundown. Let me have the reins. Get up there! Get up! Moncton, don't drive so fast. You'll kill the horses. Look, we're in the foothills. Surely this is the place. This must be the place. I know, but it's growing dark on the road stretchers. Hold on there, Moncton. Look, what's there on the road? A man with a lantern. He's motioning for us to stop. Whoa! Whoa! Senor, you'll take on this road at your own risk. Who are you? A sandal from the village of Sambastia. What's the matter with the road? A cave in? Nothing so simple, senor. The road of pass and ancient monastery fallen into ruins. It is a my duty to warn you that the road surrounding it is haunted. Haunted by what? By a witch that screams in the night. The people here will not go near the wood, so frightened are they. Seeley, we found the place. We found it. But we must go on, senor. We're not afraid. Thank you for warning us. You go at your own risk then. And to guard the protect you. Get up there! Look, Moncton, there on the moonlight, the ruins of the monstrous... Oh, there! This is the place, Seeley. I know it is. Jump down. Let's search it quickly. Listen to that. You're here in two now. Stephen Moncton pleading for me to bury the unburied dead. Where is it coming from? Yonder, on the hill. Come! Do you see his ghost? The waivers on the moonlight. Beckons from the doorway of the monastery. Seeley, we found the place at last! At last! Come on! Here's the door, Moncton. Here. Help me push it in. The roof is fallen in. Moncton, wait. Look, Yonder. A slab of stone on the moonlight. Looking up to the sky. The body of Stephen Moncton. He looks alive. His shirt is wet with blood. So he would remain forever. Left here, uncovered to the sky. When we place him in the vaulted wind, could Abbey his body will crumble and he'll be dust again. Come. It's a long way to England. Let us fetch the coffin. There's the ship, Seeley. There's the flower. Yes, and that looks like our captain. Captain King? Hello, there. May we see you a moment, sir? You're a blighted fellow Englishman. Remember, Seeley. Christ is no object. You talk to him. Well, what can I do for you, my lads? They told us at the consul's office that you'll ship the flora, Seeley, for England. Right, you are. On the way home again. Well, we're rather anxious to get to England ourselves, Captain. Will you take us? We'll pay whatever you ask. Well, now, can always use a few extra shekels. But I say, what's in that box on your wagon? It's an antique statue, a treasure of art, Captain. We're taking it back with us. Well, now, I think we can arrange passage all right. About 50 pounds for the lot of you. Yes, I think that's agreeable. And breeze in the sails tonight, Captain? Right, you are, Mr. Seeley. She's blowing straight for England and quick tilled. Mr. Mountain coming up for a breath of air. I'm afraid he's not the world's best sailor, Captain. He's staying close in the cabin. Great Scott, what's that? Sounds like the very devil-awailing in the night. Yes, so it does. Excuse me, Captain, I think I'll go below. Jonesy, hear that wail like a blooming banshee? Aye, sir. Find out where it came from. Muckton, your ghost is haunting the ship. I know Seeley. I heard him, too. But what can we do? You'll find out there's a dead man in the casket. Those sailors are dangerously superstitious. But what can I do? He screams to be buried in Winkard Abbey Sealin. He'll haunt me till I lay his body there. I thought this way. Mr. Mountain, open the door. Seeley, come in, Captain. There's something wrong among the men. They're silent and afraid. One of the Maltese boys is saying there's a dead body in that packing case there. Is he right? No, Captain. It's only a harmless, marvellous statue. Well, I wish one of you'd contradict the boy then. The men are a parcel of fools who believe in ghosts. There might be trouble if this keeps up. We'll speak to the men, Captain. They'll do it soon. For another hour, I'll see you through Gibraltar straight and in the open sea. Good night. Good night, sir. Sealin, did you hear that? In the open sea, then England. But the crew, the captain's right. No, no, no, wait. Believe me, it's best to wait. Look, the sun's coming up and the ghost will be silent until nightfall. Then we'll be inside of England and it'll be done, Sealin. It'll be done. How much farther to England? The port's just over the horizon, Mr. Sealin. However, take a look at that black cloud. I'm not lighting it. But what is it, a squaw? The likes of which you'll never see again, I'll wait ya. Blast those demons. The tempers are up because Mr. Mountain's stubborn silence. Get a move on ya there, you men. Better get below, Mr. Sealin. The beginning to row. Sealin, what is it? The ship's in danger. I know it is. I've come to fetch you, Mountain. They're cutting away the form as the ship sprung a leaf. No, I can't leave him here. What difference does the body make now? The men are already taking to the boats. No, I can't go. I can't. I'd be haunted the rest of my life. I'd rather die, Sealin. I'd rather die. What are you doing? There's no time. We can take him out into one of the boats. I must get him to England. I must. Sealin, behave your own way, Sealin. Mine is gone when this common sink's in the sea. I've got to stay. I've got to take it back to Wunkid Abbey. You go before it's too late. Sealin! From the bottom of the sea, Alfred Mountain, walk to the land of England and bury the unburied dead. Walk with the brine of the sea in your eyes and the body of an unburied mountain in your arms. Walk to the walls of Wunkid Abbey where peace is and death. Burry the unburied dead Alfred Mountain at Wind Carabbey, at Wind Carabbey and give my ghost eternal peace. Burry the unburied mountain dead. What's the matter? Come with me quickly. Alfred Mountain's returned to England. You can help him if you only come quickly. Alfred! Oh, what's happened, William? It's nearly dawn. Where is Alfred? We were shipwrecked tonight in the Channel. A merchant ship picked up most of the crew, and he was on board. I thought he had drowned, but somehow in some incredible way he got ashore. But where is he now? On his way to Wind Carabbey. Oh, please, come quickly. We can meet him there. I have a carriage waiting. Wait. I'll get a wrap. Oh, William, I knew Alfred would come back someday. I knew he would. We'll wait for him at the Abbey vault. Why at the vault? Because he was carrying the corpse of Stephen Monk and his arms. Come now. William, look. The vault door's wide open. He's there. Alfred's there. Ada, wait a minute. Don't look in there. Why if he's here? We'll bring it together then. Look. Wet footprints on the floor. I'll pull from their narrow places. The lid's open. What's it mean? He said he'd come back. Look. The letters on this one say Stephen Monkton. Below the family crest. What's that inside it? What's left of the corpse? A pile of sea-soaked clothes and bones. Oh, hot. Please come away. No, no. The other one. Don't look in there. But I must. I didn't know I... I thought he was alive. But he was drowned in the channel. Now, their ghosts will not walk the earth screaming for a place of burial. He had to come back to Wincord County. Even death could not stop him. Oh. And I'll tell you. Now, the last of the Monkton's is tormented no longer. He rests in peace. Come here. Look. The sun is coming up. From the time-worn pages of the past, we have brought you the story Mad Monkton. Hellkeeper.