The Fog (1980) quotes

Mr. Machen

11:55, almost midnight. Enough time for one more story. One more story before 12:00, just to keep us warm. In five minutes, it will be the 21st of April. One hundred years ago on the 21st of April, out in the waters around Spivey Point, a small clipper ship drew toward land. Suddenly, out of the night, the fog rolled in. For a moment, they could see nothing, not a foot in front of them. Then, they saw a light. By God, it was a fire burning on the shore, strong enough to penetrate the swirling mist. They steered a course toward the light. But it was a campfire, like this one. The ship crashed against the rocks, the hull sheared in two, masts snapped like a twig. The wreckage sank, with all the men aboard. At the bottom of the sea, lay the Elizabeth Dane, with her crew, their lungs filled with salt water, their eyes open, staring to the darkness. And above, as suddenly as it come, the fog lifted, receded back across the ocean and never came again. But it is told by the fishermen, and their fathers and grandfathers, that when the fog returns to Antonio Bay, the men at the bottom of the sea, out in the water by Spivey Point will rise up and search for the campfire that led them to their dark, icy death. [bells ring distantly] 12:00, the 21st of April.

You see the water acts like ice. A whole body would take a year to decompose, longer if it was down far enough, cold enough.

Nick Castle

But he was on the boat. He was below decks.

No. Dick Baxter died in the ocean. Remember last October those three kids that went diving for that old boat off the point? We got to 'em, they'd been down a week, maybe ten days. I swear to you right now, he's been down longer.

Listen, I never hitchhiked before. I just really want to be careful. Can I ask you something?

Nick Castle

Sure

Are you weird?

Nick Castle

Yes, I am. Yes, I am weird.

You are weird. Thank God you're weird. The last one was so normal, it was disgusting.

"December 9: Met with Blake this evening for the first time. He stood in the shadows to prevent me from getting a clear look at his face. What a vile disease this is. He is a rich man with a cursed condition, but this does not prevent him from trying to better his situation and that of his comrades at the colony. December 11: Blake's proposition is simple, He wants to move off Tanzier Island and re-locate the entire colony just north of here. He has purchased a clipper ship called the Elizabeth Dane with part of his fortune and asks only for permission to settle here. I must balance my feelings of mercy and compassion for this poor man, with my revulsion at the thought of a leper colony only a mile distant. April 20: The six of us met tonight. From midnight until one o'clock, we planned the death of Blake and his comrades. I tell myself that Blake's gold will allow the church to be built, and our small settlement to become a township, but it does not soothe the horror that I feel being an accomplice to murder. April 21: The deed is done. Blake followed our false fire on shore and the ship broke apart on the rocks off Spivey Point. We were aided by an unearthly fog that rolled in, as if Heaven sent, although God had no part in our actions tonight. Blake's gold will be recovered tomorrow, but may the Lord forgive us for what we've done." I couldn't read any further.

Sandy Fadel

You're grandfather had a way with words.

The celebration tonight is a travesty. We're honoring murderers.

Are you going to give the benediction tonight, father?

Antonio Bay has a curse on it.

Sandy Fadel

Do we take that as a "no"?

Sandy, you're the only person I know who can make "Yes, Ma'am" sound like "screw you".

Sandy Fadel

Yes, Ma'am.

Stevie Wayne

You're just a voice on the phone.
Dan O'Bannon: And you're just a voice on the radio. We'd make a perfect couple. You let me take you to dinner tonight, I'll prove it to you.

Stevie Wayne

Sorry, Dan. My idea of perfection is a voice on the phone.

Nick Castle

I don't believe in luck, good or bad. I don't believe in anything much. Something did happen once. My father was a fisherman. He ran a trawler out of Whitley Reef. One night, late, he was coming back in. He was out beyond the reef, out near Spivey Point. He looked to windward and saw a brig under shortsail, heading right for him. And he radioed, there was no reply. Nothing moved on deck, but she held her course. My dad and two of his hands, they boarded the brig, the Risa Jane. No one was on board. There was food on the table, and a hot, steaming cup of coffee. But underneath, the tin cup was rusted to the table. And then something caught my father's eye. It was a gold dubloon, minted in Spain, 1867. My dad picked up the coin, put it in his breast pocket of his jacket, and zippered it up. He came home, told us the story, and he unzippered the pocket to give me the coin. It was gone.

I think I'll go to Vancouver now.

What the hell happened out there?

Nick Castle

There was rust all over everything. It was like the boat had been out there a long time, taking on water. He was down below, near the bunks.

Nick, his wounds are covered with algae, his lungs are full, and there's silt under his fingernails. I tell ya, I saw Dick Baxter three days ago in Salinas. Now he's lying there on the table looking like he's been underwater for a month!

Stevie Wayne

I don't know what happened to Antonio Bay tonight. Something came out of the fog and tried to destroy us. In one moment, it vanished. But if this has been anything but a nightmare, and if we don't wake up to find ourselves safe in our beds, it could come again. To the ships at sea who can hear my voice, look across the water, into the darkness. Look for the fog.

Stevie Wayne

There's something in the fog!