--Spolier--
The ending of the VHS then diverges considerably from the DVD version.
Dolan is shown the crucifix-shaped crypt pin by Mainsbridge, has his suspicions and heads back to the crypt. The computer spits out the leap year date, and Dolan's name, and then the ghost lops off his head. Dolan's quivering hand lets the pin drop in the crypt, and a hand picks it up.
Mainsbridge turns up to discuss matters with the caretaker Morris, and Morris explains to Mainsbridge that the vicar was a friend of Joe Hatcher's at the German prison camp. He was there when Joe Hatcher died.
Mainsbridge drives away, and we cut to the vicar walking across the muddy soil. The box of treasure materialises in the hole, and the vicar tosses the medallion back in the hole, then stands up to tell the ghost "It's alright now ...you can rest in peace... our secret is safe ..."
The vicar holds up the Napoleonic medal, but clearly the ghost isn't placated, as the vicar's mouth opens in a shriek, and the image freezes, and as we move in on the vicar's frozen face of fear, we hear Jackie's line again, "Do you believe in ghosts?" and we hear his reply "I do believe there are times when unhappy souls try to contact us, and who knows, God moves in mysterious ways."
The ghost then moves in a mysterious way with its mattock, and lops the head off the vicar.
The image of the ghost's shrieking, baleful figure freezes, and as a computer clatters, Mainsbridge's name and the date of his execution by ghost is printed on the screen over the ghost's face ...
...Mainsbridge...2921988 ...
The end titles roll over the ghost's face, and eventually there's an iris in over the ghost's face which, after the roller finishes, leaves just his two eyes staring out from the black screen.
DVD Ending:
The DVD version ruins this ending in a way that's completely inexplicable, as well as being inferior.
Dolan's death is deleted.
Mainsbridge turns up to talk to the caretaker Morris and they discuss the same things.
Mainsbridge drives away, and we cut to the vicar walking down to the site of the treasure hunt.
We see the ghost loom over him, and the vicar talks about resting in peace, and their secret being safe, and then the computer punches out a number in white on black screen ... in plot terms and resonance, a now meaningless and disconnected number ...
...2921988 ...
...pops up (there is no clue it might apply to Mainsbridge, nor do we hear Jackie's lines).
Cut back to the ghost landing the mattock with a cry, but with no sign of the vicar.
Loud music sting, freeze frame of the ghost, and end titles roll over a period-sounding piece of music, which turns to other themes as the roller unfurls ... with the iris disappearing before the end credits finish, and no two eyes left staring out from the black. Instead the music briefly plays out over black after the end titles have finished.
