'You don't have my 'gift' '

I kind of picked up on something similar when he struggled to agree with his wife about her "gifts." I think there is more going on with Billy than we see on the surface. As far as him being weak, I've never seen a more brazen portrayal of kidnapping and grabbing the ransom money than he pulled off! I can't wait to read the book. I'll update when I do to give some insights there.

Just finished the book. In it, there's not as much mystery about Billy. He truly believes in his wife's supernatural abilities, although she's only been able to read other peoples' minds, not contact the dead.

I think in the movie, Billy is reinforcing the idea that it's all in Myra's head, with Arthur and her "gift." There is no Arthur in the book. The two of them actually get along very well, but have resentments as the plan begins to fall apart.

In the final seance scene, Billy knows the jig is up, and is very nervous. The police officer the superintendent sent outside was the one following him after taking him the money--Billy recognizes his hat. The little girl is dead, accidentally smothered by Billy while he was trying to keep her quiet (when Mrs. Clayton was in the next room). Billy feels tremendous guilt, which turns to fear for his own safety.

When he left the body in the woods, Billy struggled with the scout master trying to get away, which brought on a terrible asthma attack. He barely made it back home, knowing he had been seen by the scout master and the scouts, who found the body. But Myra still wanted her publicity to make her a famous medium, and made a phone call to Mr. Clayton telling him he could find his daughter by a certain tree in the woods.

During that final seance, (Mr. Clayton is there too), Myra does contact the little girl's spirit, who tells about the nurse and doctor (Myra hit the little girl and threatened her with more beatings).

The superintendent asks Billy where the money is and Billy tells him, then feels great relief. Myra comes out of her trance, and asks Billy if she really did it (contact the dead). He smiles and says she did.