Something in the Woodwork - Recap

Molly Wheatland has purchased an old house to move into after her divorce. She is setting the table for a birthday dinner when the repairman, Joe Wilson, comes downstairs. Molly tells him that she’s setting the table for her ex-husband, Charlie, and begs Joe into staying for coffee. While she drinks, Molly regales Joe with stories about Charlie. When he tries to leave, Molly asks about the attic room, and Joe says that it’s locked and he doesn’t have the key. Molly tells him to cut open the door, and asks if he heard from his father what happened in the attic 30 years ago. Joe feigns ignorance and Molly talks about how Jamie Dilman, a bank robber, took refuge in the attic but was gunned down by the police. The realtor was unable to sell the house, reputed to be haunted, until Molly decided to buy it, insisting that nothing ever scans her.



Once Joe cuts open the attic door and leaves, Molly goes up to the attic and calls out to Dilman’s ghost. She says that she can sense him behind the walls, in the woodwork, and says that she can use the company. However, she gets no response.

That night, a guilty Charlie stops by to talk to Molly. He comes in and discovers that the dinner she’s set is for his birthday. She gives him a present, an antique pillbox for his heart pills, and begs him to stay. Charlie refuses, saying that Julie is out in the car waiting for him. Molly tries to get him to stay, but Charlie tells her that he’s moved on and who he dates is none of his business.



After Charlie leaves, Molly goes back to the attic and calls out to Dilman’s ghost. The deceased bank robber finally responds, telling her to go away and stop bothering him. Molly bursts into tears, insisting that she needs him. Dilman’s ghost appears to her and says that he can’t leave the attic, the place where he died. Molly asks if the ghost can move things, but Dilman says that he doesn’t want to. Relentless, Molly asks if he can hurt someone but gets no response.



Charlie comes back and complains that Molly keep calling and harassing Julie. Molly ignores him and Charlie asks her to leave him and his girlfriend alone. She defends herself, saying that she has a friend of her own who she describes as a shadow living in the attic. Charlie thinks that she’s insane and tells her that he’ll come back with a doctor who can help. Molly invites him back with anyone he wants. Once Charlie leaves, Molly goes back to the attic and talks to Dilman, asking him to help her dispose of Charlie. When the ghost refuses, Molly tells it that if it doesn’t appear to Charlie and scare him into a heart attack, she’ll burn down the house and leave Dilman without a sanctuary.

That night, Charlie arrives as promised and discovers that the door is unlocked. Molly is waiting for him at the top of the stairs and walks down. She taunts Charlie, daring him to go upstairs and shake hands with her shadow friend, and accuses him of abandoning her to find a new wife. Charlie finally goes upstairs to the attic and Molly goes to the living room to have another drink and wait.



There is the sound of a scream and the thud of Charlie’s body hitting the floor. Molly tosses Charlie’s pillbox present into the garbage, but then pauses as she hears footsteps on the stairs. She goes to the hallway and sees a pale, drawn Charlie walking down the stairs. As Molly stares in horror, Dilman speaks through Charlie’s lips, explaining that her ex-husband is confined in the woodwork of the attic and is making himself at home. The possessing spirit warns Molly that she should have left well enough alone and not disturbed it, and advances on her in Charlie’s body as Molly screams in terror.



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