The Wicker Man

Sister Summersisle: My Celtic ancestors, all the way back, rebelled against this oppression of the feminine. So, in the late 17th century, they fled to the New World. Unfortunately, they settled near Salem. So when they saw that the persecution continued even here, well, that started a long and painful migration westward. Until in the 1850s, my great-great-grandmother led a group of people here and vowed never to enter into that other world again.

Edward Malus: How is that possible? You can't just...

Sister Summersisle: Oh, those pioneers needed little urging to isolate. They were looking for a simpler way of life. Of course, some do leave, like our Willow, you know, to test themselves or us. Or to find a man. But they always come home... eventually.

Edward Malus: Men are, what, second-class citizens?

Sister Summersisle: No, not at all; we love our men. We're just not subservient to them. Men are a very important part of our little colony. Breeding, you know?

Edward Malus: God. Quite a little racket you've got going for yourself here. Breeding? Sounds like inbreeding to me.

Sister Summersisle: Please don't criticize what you know nothing about.

Edward Malus: Don't any of you want to just be with someone, fall in love?

Sister Summersisle: We procreate 'cause that's the desire of the goddess, to assure ourselves of worthy offspring; the strongest, the finest, the most sturdy of our kind.

Edward Malus: I see. Female, right? And what if someone just happens to have a boy? What do you do then?

Sister Summersisle: That depends.

Edward Malus: Let me ask you one other thing, because frankly, I just don't get you. I do not get this place.

Sister Summersisle: Oh, you will. In time, perhaps.

Dr. T.H. Moss: You came to find our little Rowan. But it is we who found you, just as we intended to do.

Edward Malus: I don't understand. Rowan was missing. I had to come. I had a letter. Willow, tell them. Willow, please tell them.

Sister Beech: The letter was from all of us here. Your invitation to visit... one might say.

Sister Summersisle: You see, you were just the man we needed. And we were determined to get you here.

Sister Rose: Notice, Sir Knight, how we led you to believe that your daughter would be sacrificed, due to the failure of the crops last year.

Edward Malus: But they did fail. I saw the photo.

Sister Summersisle: Yes, they failed, all right; disastrously so. One of the few times since my ancestors moved here. But we are always prepared with a powerful sacrifice. And that, my friend, is your destiny.

Edward Malus: [aiming his gun around as he's circled] BACK UP!

Sister Summersisle: What we require is a stranger, yet one who is connected to us.

Sister Rose: Connected by blood.

Edward Malus: Willow... why have you done this to me?

Sister Willow: We orchestrated all of this with the greatest care; everything that's happened. Be proud of yourself. You have done so well.

Sister Summersisle: Yes. My daughter speaks the truth. Your fate was sealed many years ago, when she chose to be with you.

Edward Malus: Your daughter.

Sister Summersisle: Yes. My Willow. This is a story whose chapters were carefully written. You have been chosen to die a martyr's death. You will sit beside the gods and goddesses for all of eternity.

Edward Malus: [the townsfolk move in closer] BACK UP! I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL SHOOT YOU!

Sister Summersisle: It is a great honor. One that you cannot refuse. It is ordained. There is no way out.

Edward Malus: STAY BACK!

[he pulls the trigger, but the gun clicks empty, and Willow reveals the bullets in her hand]