 Some evening is still untouched. Magnificent, serene. And on its eastern slope sit a boy and a girl, watching the twilight gather across the waters of the Great River. Glad you came. Of course, darling. It's beautiful. Beautiful. It's tremendous. Look, Judy, it's a quarter of a mile straight down to the Tappan Zee. You can see 15 miles of river north and south. I grew up looking at it. And you want to go on looking at it for the rest of your life? That's right. Old Hendrick Hudson came up that river just about 300 years ago and lost a ship right below us. They say the crew climbed up on this tour to keep a lookout for the fleet that never came back. And they say on dark nights before storm you can see them. Have you seen them, Ben? No, maybe. Can't be sure. Pretty wild around here when it's stormed. Well, fetch out the supper and I'll shut up. What'd you bring me? Sandwiches and it's dinner, not supper. Dinner. That's what I said. Fetch out the dinner. We won't quarrel the night where we've been. We always quarrel. No, Judy, no fights. Too nice a night. You know what I'm saying? Look. Down there, you see where I'm pointing? Where? Oh, it's a man. An old man. Who is he? That's Indian John. Last of his tribe. He found his burying spot last week. Burying spot? Yeah, that place I'll dig is great. You're joking. No, no, we got an understanding. When he feels it coming over him that it's his death day, he'll let me know. And then I'll dig him in so that crows and the foxes can't get at him. You see, he's all alone in the world. But you couldn't, Van, without a permit, without a burial permit. See, what's this? Beef. I like beef. Judy, this getting old and dying and crawling into the ground was invented way back before medical examiners and taxes and all of that. What does he care for permits? What do I care? What do you care for anything? No, Judy, not tonight. I mean it, Van. Every time I come up here, I hope I'll find your chain grown up. But you don't change. You never do. You never will. What do you want? I want you to come down off your mountain, join the human race. The human race? Look, South, down the river. New York City's down there. What a fine old view I'll have when the A-bomb start popping. You can have the human race, sweetheart. I'll stay up here. And what about me? I hope that you'll stay with me. What'll we use for money? You don't need the stuff. Have worked that out. All you need is a place to sleep and something to eat. I've never seen the time I couldn't find a meal on this mountain. Rainbow trout, jugged hair, something in the season right around the Zodiac. It's hopeless, isn't it? Let's talk about something else. Look here, big nose. I know it, bank robbed at $25,000. It says I got away, too. Now, there's something, honey. You know, I won't take an ordinary job in a factory or an office, but how about me as a bank robber? That nasty egg you're always talking about. $25,000 would make a nice little egg indeed. It is hopeless. I knew it before I came tonight. Uh-oh. Looks like we got company. Bad company. Hey, Max. Yeah? Any houses around here? Houses? Up here? A fellow named Van Dorn is supposed to have a cabin along this ridge somewhere. Van Dorn. Van Dorn. Your full name is Van Van Dorn. Kind of a hermit. We want to do a little business with it. I'm sorry, gentlemen. I wish I could help you out. What sort of business? If it's not too secret? A little deal involving this mountain. We want to buy it. Send them a flock of letters. No answer. You offered money? $2,000. This is Mr. Van Dorn. That's all. Yeah, and no deal. I wish you'd keep me a big mouth shut. Well, Mr. Van Dorn, my name is Biggs, R.J. Biggs. This is my partner, Judge Skimmerhorn. Pleased to make the acquaintance. I'll bet you are. Judy, I want you to meet the biggest crook this side of the Hudson. Oh, that's a great sense of humor, Mr. Van Dorn. Judge Skimmerhorn of the Skimmerhorn Skimmerhorns. He's a leg man for his father, a guest man for Biggs here, and a vice president of our local industry that trap rocked up. Mr. Van Dorn, let's get down to cases, huh? We'd like to buy this property. You like the view, I suppose. It certainly is a view. You wouldn't want to spoil it, of course. You wouldn't want to move in with a million dollars with a machinery and cut that guts out of a mountain the way it did with Littlethor. We're just... We're in business. Not with me. You say $2,000? Yes, but I'll tell you what we'll do. I'll make it $3,000, and I'll give you the check right now. No deal. And incidentally, Skimmerhorn's senior offered my father $10,000, and he wouldn't sell it. 10! Van, you're right. Hold on. I'm not holding out, Judy. Now you keep out of it. Now, Mr. Van Dorn, we'd like to be generous. Generous, huh? To put it straight, we'll give you $4,000. Oh, now it's $4,000. Go on. Get moving. Otherwise, it is quite possible you'll be held incompetent by the court and a guardian appointed. What? Yes, by George, and anybody that won't take money when it's offered to him is incompetent. You'll take it now or not at all, Mr. Van Dorn. I don't go mountain climbing every day with a blank check in my pocket. You'd better get started back down that trail before it gets real dark. You might slip and fall a few thousand feet and break your ugly fat necks. You regret this. In fact, the sooner you get started, the better. There's something funny about this mountain when it doesn't like someone. Every storm on the Tappin' Zee climbs up here and wraps itself around Hightour and blazes away at what you've got. Steam shovels, bulldozers, anything new fangled. Get one of your shovels last week and kill the man. I've got a premonition that something might happen to you. You know something? He really is crazy. Yes, let him talk. He ain't going to sound great. What's that? Oh, nothing much. A section of flip coming down across the trail I've been expecting it for the last two years. You'd better go down this way. I've been ducking those vultures for years. What'll you do now? Fight them. And what about us? What about us? Goodbye, Van. Are you going? Yes. I'll walk you down. No. I'm a big girl, Van. You sit here and guard your rock. Your precious rock. You coming tomorrow? No. No more, Van. I'm through. You had a choice when you chose Hightour. You're in love with your mountain. We'll keep your mountain. Just like that. Just like that. Good night. Judith. Good night, Van. Goodbye. It has become quite dark now on Van Dorn's stone-strewn mountain. The owner sits motionless, peering intently at the slope above. He's not alone. Above his head, this silent procession moves toward the summit. Six men in the moon. The men wear knickerbockers, large black hats, and silver buckles on their shoes. Van Dorn watches them pass. Oh, oh. Looks like we're in the first stone. The young woman talks to a stocky middle-aged officer. The wit. Your reason? Tell Asher to post a watch. Not I. You tell him. He's your husband. No. He'll call me discontent. A carping wife. Discontent. He's right. When the half-moon returns, and carries us back to the side of day, and home, and friend, then will I be happy once more. Yeah. Pretty soon now, Lisa. Pretty soon the ship will come. At first, the days were like years. How the years are, as days. And I'm afraid for us. Why? I don't know. I tremble to think, darling. I, it's these strange new men. You've seen them too. Sorcerers. That's what they are. These new world devils. And they've laid a spell here. We must break it ere we can go home. I see this very clearly. Break the... Fall in love with one of them. Oh, that will undo them. Yeah. And I'll choose me out one of their female mermaid witches, with my heart on her. Become a man again. I gave my love long ago. It's no help. The captain, he is very true. Calm Lisa, stout heart will fight these devils, and win the day. And then I can go home. Pick one, fall in love, break the spell, and then we'll all go home. Open somebody up here with a subpoena, like I told you. Shut up and think about this. With both trails out, how are we going to get down off this mountain? What's that over there? Where? On the edge of that cap. On Van Dorn's property. I had it moved in this afternoon. Other side of the gorge is where our property starts. Come ahead. He could sue us. How did I know the deal was going to fall through? Anyhow, we can go fit in it when the rain starts. Swallow. And maybe get electrocuted. Two new figures scramble up the slopes. They are young, in jeans and leather jackets. One carries a small satchel. Rob, this is the stuff I'll let you talk me into. Look, pal, we got 25,000 bucks in this satchel, and half of it belongs to you. So quick it is, he thinks he's following us. See, you blow that fire alarm all the way to Bear Mountain Bridge. So what do we do now? Down the other side and pick up the car. Holy smokes look there. Judge Schimelhorn, does he know you sure he knows me? 400 years. See, hiker, see, on a picnic. Play it cool, see. What about the satchel? The satchel, the satchel. Behind this rock. Good evening, Judge Stur. Well, you're a long way from home, buddy. Yes, sir, out for a hike. My feet are killing me. I think I'll just sit down on this nice flat rock. Hey, buddy, this is a funny time to be taking a hike. It's sort of a dare, a bet. Yes, sir. Well, boys will be boys. I don't suppose you brought some food along? Frankly, I'm famished. No, no food. That's odd, campers without food. Well, we ate before we left, sir. Night's going. Yeah, what then? I say we better be going. Gotta get to the soft, you know, gotta keep climbing. Huh? Come on, dope. What about the, you know what? Later. Then I can't hear. Good night, boys. Hope you win your bet. Yes, sir, Judge. Yes, sir. That's all. Let's go. Go where? I'm sitting right here, pal. No more stumbling around in the dark for me. A man could fall off a cliff. Get himself hurt. I guess you're right. Well, what's that? Oh, a satchel. Yeah? Somebody's moldy luggage. People always throwing junk around. I wish I had something to eat. If we had a phone, we could order a helicopter. I can't eat, huh? Going to sleep. Maybe you've never tried adjusting yourself to igneous limestone. I'm about to try it now. You have my sympathy. Thanks. You know, we could have done all this the honest way. Dear boy. Strangely fashioned bag which they flung from them. What can it hold? Secured most curiously. He tried to bite me. He heard a bit. He already damned and bewitched what more terrible thing can happen. Nothing. What is this strange green parchment stuff? Curious. I'll put a portrait of their devil king, huh? Yeah. None of it. It's a great jib boom. Copper pieces. A fortune of them. Enough to purchase a ship if these four endeavors would protect... Do you believe in apparitions? It's a figure of fun standing by our feet. Right out of a masquerade ball. He's spoken man and I... a boat. I'm asleep. I'm sound asleep dreaming. You've come to the wrong shop, sailor. You have no boat? No boat. Go away. Will you please? Will you please? It wasn't possible. Did you fake that thing? Fake it. I saw it. Oh, no. Nobody saw what I saw. I didn't either. I've got a family to support. They're not going to put me away anywhere. Whatever it is, it left a calling card. Looks like he ate his lunch here. Supposing a thing like that eats lunch. These envelopes. There's something in them. It'll help yourself. I want none of it. Scimmerhorn. This is... Oh, let me sleep. It's the green stuff, Scimmerhorn. A big, fat slice of money pie. Money pie? Pies and tans. Well, bless the poor little Dutchman's heart. And after all we said about him, too. You think he left it? He wasn't there before. Oh, look at it all. Before I always had to work for it. Or steal it. Never till tonight have I been wakin' by a little man in a big hat, fetching it to me in packages. Oh, yes. Oh, daddy, look at this envelope. A newet bank and trust company. Shorty's a bank robber? Looks that way. Guess we ought to return this, huh? That'd be the proper thing to do. These are probably marked. No. I read in the paper all small bills and unmarked no record of the serial numbers. You don't say so. I've known the president of that bank for years. He's a dishonest rat. Big T. 50-50? 50-50. Come on, come on, let's give you that. Hey, come on, you know what? No taxes, daddy. No taxes. Quick, quick, quick. Duck it. There comes that crazy van door. I thought you two would be a homing bet by now. Sorry, Mr. van door. With the trails out we thought we'd better spend the night. It goes down in the morning. Well, they won't like it, but be my guest. Thanks. By the way, that's steamship. A mistake, we'll move it tomorrow. By noon or it goes over the cliff. No, see. Right here. You are, Mr. van door, first thing in the morning. In fact, judge, let's mosey over there right now. Well, we'll be nearer the light. Right you are, Mr. Diggs. Good night, Mr. van door. Good night. Mr. van door watches them go. At his feet is a crumpled ball of paper. He picks it up, smooths it. It's an envelope which he reads without expression in pocket. And now before him, approaching through the rocks, he sees a girl, young, beautiful. Do you hear my voice? Yes. And you can see me? Yes. Yes, I can see you. I've seen you many times. I know you. You are not like the other wizard men with their machines. You are kind. How do you know? When I was most lonely in the spring, I made a garden of your strange new world's wildflowers. I saw you come there and I hid. And when I looked again, a new flower had been planted with the other. Wild orchid. It was your garden? Yes. You know the names of all the flowers? Yes, I do. Teach me the names. What is the tall three-pedaled one that's almost black? The red's so dark. That's Trillium. Give me your hand. And speaking of flowers, tell me your name. It's Lisa. You're cold, Lisa. And your eyes are sad. Why so sad? I'm puzzled here and lost. It's so different for you. Keep my hand and tell me. In these new times are all men's shadows? All men lost? Sometimes I stand here at night and look out over the river when a fog covers the lights. Then if it's dark enough then I can't see my hands and I'm alone. Well, I don't know who I am. Maybe I'm cloud and maybe dust. I might be as old as time. I'd like to think I knew. A man gets that way standing, staring at darkness. But right now, at this moment I don't seem to care. At this moment, look you, when the wizards come to tear the mountain down, I'll have no place. I'll be gone then. No, they won't get this mountain. It's mine and it'll stay mine if I have to shoot them as they come. The mountain's mine. And you ought to make your garden where you like. Is it the light I feel come flooding back in me? Or their charms broken here seeing your face? Your hands are warm. I'm not cold now. For an instant I'm not cold seeing your face. This is your wizardry. Let me stand here and see you and be with you. Love me a little. Come, Lisa. We'll go to your garden. The judge and the other guy. We'll get 400 years for this. Oh, will you shut up? I got a thing. I think he won't do any good, Elkis. Check him to stay troopers. Quick, behind a rock. You see him? It's only those aren't troopers. Those big hats, they fool you. Boy, what a funny costume. Yeah. They looked to going over there towards a steam shop. Pretty weird, huh? Yeah. Real nervous. $498 appears. How you pretty stuff. Oh, you money pie. Hey, I wonder what happened to the other four bucks. Don't look at me. I think the little guy kept it. Yeah, come to think of it, his hands were full of pennies. Well, she'd come along now and show us how to get down off of here. If somebody would work that steam shovel, we could get in the bucket and ride right over to the other side. Isn't it too bad we're both such crooks? How do you mean? Otherwise we could draw lots. One send the other over. I know you, big deal, boy. You'd kill me for the amount of money I'm carrying right now. That's what I mean. Ain't it a shame? Awful. It's the... Oh, no. It's the gang. He's whispering in the big man's ear. And pointing. Yeah. Money back? You can have it back if you want it. We don't want it. Over to the steam shovel. Look what he's doing. That's the scoop. The way they're gesturing. I think they want us to get in. Is that it, fellows? Going to swing the judge and me across the chasm to the other side, huh? What do we do? I think we do what they want. Seems to be their show. All right. Move over and make room for all... Look at the little guy. He's got his crew on the winch. I don't know, and I don't care. I wish I was dead. That's your money, just to make sure I didn't snitch some. I think I'll do... Oh, the steam shovel. My dear Dewitt, bravely and courageously bent on breaking the sorcerous spell cast these long centuries over the abandoned Dutch. My dear Dewitt, sits on a rock, soothing a few bills with wit and glares at the steam shovel. Pure ease and rest, you doppelgangers. I'll beat you yet. With this green talisman will I defeat you, for Dewitt knows his sorcery. And what shall he wish for, now that he has the magic wish papers? But woman. Oh, a woman. Let my woman appear, oh, God of the numbered paper. Let her appear. Ah, your man Dewitt. Over here, dear lady. Are you lost, too? Completely adored, ma'am, on my own mountain. Would you live on the mountain? I do. Then you are acquainted with Van... Van Dorn. I have seen him about. Have you seen him tonight? I have. Where? In the arms of the captain's wife and she, a married woman of some year standing. And where was this? Uh-huh. I'm a man of delicate sentiment, sweetheart. I'd not expose your beautiful eyes to such dastardly moral treachery. Forgive me. I'll look elsewhere. But I assure you, the lads head over ears, ma'am. And lo, you'd be to interrupt him. But he laughs like yourself should have no trouble replacing one sailor man with another in these stirring times. Thank you. All right. I am myself a notion of glad. Salt tears have been wet over me by one and another. No doubt. Hmm. I'm a blunt man. Could you find it in your heart to let me? I'm sorry. No. You could save me from the air sorcery with but a single kiss. See, I have the talisman. Look, someone's coming. Ah, if there be, watch what soldierly stand all David makes in defense of a lady. Yeah. David, master of the horse pistol. Come out, children of the new Satan. Show yourselves in the light. OK, shorty, let's drop the cannon. They point toys at me. We don't want no trouble, shorty. Just hand over the money and we'll all go home to bed. Gee, you'll guess you sound just like Humphrey Boga. Yeah. OK, OK, Jackson, get up the green stuff. Ah, the talisman. You want this, do you? That's the idea, pal. Only we want all of it, the full 25 Gs. Yeah, put down the cannon, see. Put down the cannon, you're gonna be sorry, see. Brought charlotte manholes off fiends. Hey, look out. Let him have it, man. But in one more... Oh, he's taking money off him. Hey, hey, there's something funny about this guy. I can see right through. Full of holes in the tennis rack. Just one more. Right between the eyes. Nothing. Hey, let's blow. Me, I'm heading for Canada. Same here, old man. And deserted me even if I defended her honor. Rating does disturb my aching heart. Come back, dear lady. But see how the first flickerings of dawn do pale the river's face. Then, the lion. And this is a buttercup. And here's a touch-me-not. The touch-me-not's a shoe. A tiny golden shoe with a hairspring latchet for beanies to loosen. Where did you part from, Judah? Last evening. It seemed longer. You loved her very much? Yes. I love someone too. I love him still. No, you're mine now. I cannot be. There's too much life between us. Not for me. Even for you. You are weary? Well, the truth is that I sometimes sleep at night. Put your head in my lap. I'll hold you. I dare ask you something. Sure. There's so much that's changed. Must men still die? Oh, yes, yes. They die. Tell me. Why, it is I am as I am and not like you. I don't do all these. Have I been enchanted here? Can these strange new wizards cast bells to hold wrecked manor forever high on a mountain fringe? There are no wizards and no spells. Just men and women and money and earth. The way it's always been. It's not so sorry then. Now, can it be men die and carry since no memory of death? Not gray, not lined, not stricken down, but stamped forever on moving air and echo and an image. Could this be how men die? It may be, Lisa. I love you when you speak. Then I am dead. And all the crew is dead. Oh, you're cruel to lie here warm and living. When you wake, we shall be parted. And you will have a world, but I'll have none. Sleep, sweet. Let me have your head on my knees. Only this light. And your brown hair on my finger. Oh, are you Judas? Yes, and I just sleep. But when you wake, you will have him back. I don't know who you are. I'm but a friend of his. You left him bitter going away so lightly. I was bitter. And so we tried to play it beam lovers, but it won't do. Why are you crying? Am I crying? You're strange. The best you were strange to. Who are you? I'm afraid of you. Afraid of tears and a voice out of long ago. It's all I have. Lisa, the ship is on the river. Quick, there's haste. She must catch the tide down the stream. Catch the wheat you're waking. Hi. Who is the man? Her lad, but he was hurt and fell asleep. Ah, that could come quickly, the captain waits. Lisa, where are you going? The half moon, our ship is on the river. And we must catch the tide. Would you leave me now? Yes, I must. No, Lisa, don't go. Your hurt's quite cured. And mine's past curing. Let me go with you. No, we are of different worlds. What do I care of worlds? Any world you have, I'll make it mine. Give me your hand again. They dare not take you from me. They dare not touch you no matter who they are or where they're from. They have no hold on us. There were too many, many, many years. Cut out your hand. The dawn points with one purple finger, the star, to put it out. When it has quite gone out, then we'll be gone. Lisa, Lisa. The morning light strikes through us. And the wind that follows after rain, hugs at our sails. And so we go. And welcome you are to the age, too. An age of witches and paper and paper money and paper men. So that a poor Dutch rape, more man than the thickest of you. She never said goodbye. You were in love with her. She leaves the mountain bare now that she's gone. I came to tell you that I was wrong. Look, there's no ship at all. It faded into the dawn. And all the mist that hung about the tour, look how they lift. Pouring downstream with the wind. Whatever it was was said or came between us. It's all gone now, to this daylight again. I came to say it's only I could keep you. You should keep the tour or what you wished. I'm sorry I went. I'm sorry this has happened. But it has, and so. Should I keep the tour? Yes, if you'd like. I'll sell it if you'll stay. Won't you stay with me, Judy? I think I'd always hear you calling Lisa while I was standing by. I took a wrong turn in once when I left you and went down the hill. And now it may never be the same. Watch at the cliff, the great steam shovel bleeds bright orange in the clear. In the scoop dangling from the crane, judge Skimmerhorn and Arthur J. Biggs greet the new day. I wish I was dead. Oh, shut up. Fall over. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. The little the sun comes up a little. We're going to be pan-fried in this thing. Look, look down there. More of those little people I give up. It's a trooper. A beautiful morning. Yes, sir. I always say it's worthwhile being up early just to catch the sunrise. He's got my father with him. You're disappointed, huh, Papa? Go over 50. But we'll think it over. Can you describe it? He was short and fat, a big black cat carried a sword off shotgun and wore knee pants. And you can see right through. Oh, yeah, you can see right through. And by the way, I can tell you where the sun is. Now where? On the ground behind you. Right under the shovel. How did you get there? Why don't you ask the gentleman up in the scoop? Ask the judge if he picked up any weight during the night. Oh, I kept a good deal. I think of my own could funnel these eggs back to jail, but... Aren't you going to help the judge down before you go? Oh, no, Bob. This is his death day. I'm letting me trail down. You can barely see. When I had lost the path halfway along the ridge, we came on together for as she led me. There'll be time for crying later. And you, my friend, you must forget this mountain. Forget? Forget the mountain? High Tor is now dead for you. This I know. Even as it passed from my people to yours, so now it must pass from you to these new men. Their mark is on it, and your time here is over. But let them come in despoiling for time is by the time, and these will not endure. Let them have this little hill and find your peace beyond. For there's no hill worth a man's peace, while he may live and find it. John, should I sell High Tor? There is wilder land, and there are higher mountains in the west. You will find them. Together, you and your woman, you must take her with you. Will you come, children? I'll remember Lisa. Was there a Lisa? I think she was my dream of you and me, and how you let them out and bear them once when you were gone. She was my dream of you and how you left the tour. Say you'll come with me. All right, then. I'll come with you. It's time now. One last look at the rock. There's nothing made by these new men high. Tower or cut or buildings by a lake that will not make good ruins. Ruins? Yes, in time. When these new men are gone or look aside only a little while, the white stone darkens, the wounds close, and the roofs fall, and the walls give way to rains. Nothing is made by man but makes in the end good ruins. Well, that's something. But I can hardly wait.