MUSIC:

MYSTERIOSO THEME ... THEN IN BG

SOUND:

WIND BLOWS ... IN BG

1ST VOICE:

(SLOW, EMOTIONLESS) Dark Fantasy.

MUSIC:

FILLS A PAUSE ... THEN IN BG

2ND VOICE:

(SLOW, EMOTIONLESS) "The Cup of Gold."

MUSIC:

FILLS A PAUSE ... THEN FADES OUT

SOUND:

WIND OUT ... TRANSITIONAL PAUSE ... FADE IN QUIET MURMUR OF CROWD WATCHING GOLF TOURNAMENT ... THEN IN BG

LEE:

(BRISK, LOW) This is the deciding shot of the tournament, ladies and gentlemen. Truman Davis, now champion, has just sunk his last putt on the last green to turn in the amazing score of sixty-eight. Jan Mason, the contender, is on the green with a sixty-six, which in itself is even more amazing. Mason's ball lies at the very edge of the green. Looks like tough going. Should he sink the ball in one more stroke, turn in a sixty-seven as compared with a sixty-eight by Davis, we'll have a brand new champion. Should Jan Mason require two strokes, he would tie up the match, and three strokes would defeat him.

SOUND:

CROWD GROWS SILENT

LEE:

(SLOWER, LOW) And now Mason has just stepped into position. He's bending over the ball. He eyes the center of the green with that masterly dead-eye precision of his. Changes his footing slightly. There's not a sound from the spectators; every breath is held in excitement. This great contender prepares for victory or defeat. He pulls back the putter slightly. Eyes the distance to the hole once more. Takes deadly aim.

SOUND:

TAP! OF PUTTER ON BALL

LEE:

Hits the ball and--

SOUND:

CROWD APPLAUDS AND CHEERS, THEN MURMURS EXCITEDLY IN BG

LEE:

(UP, FAST AND EXCITED) It's in! He made it! The ball's in for a win for Jan Mason and the crowd goes wild! It's a new champion, ladies and gentlemen -- Jan Mason, the boy who came up the hard way to defeat the one and only Truman Davis, for five consecutive years the master of it all. And here's the irony: almost eleven years ago when Jan Mason first thought of golf, he acted as caddy for Truman Davis, the man he defeated for the championship here today. Oh, the crowd has completely engulfed the two participants and it's a little difficult for us to see them now. Oh, there they are, shaking hands and smiling! We're trying to make our way over to them for a few words from both Mason and Davis.

(TO CROWD) Will you pardon me, please? Pardon me, lady. Trying to get through. I beg your pardon, please. We'd like to get a few words from the two gentlemen.

(RESUMES ANNOUNCING) Well, we're trying our best, ladies and gentlemen, to make our way through this excited throng, but-- Ah, there's the gold cup! The gold cup, for the tournament winner. It's just been handed to one of the official referees by a beautiful platinum-haired girl. The referee is about to make the presentation. No! No, something's wrong. The referee turns to his fellow judges; they're talking excitedly. We can't make out yet what's happening. The men are examining the gold cup. Oh, it's flashing in the sunlight. Really a beautiful thing. Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

SOUND:

GUNSHOT! ... CROWD REACTS WITH CONFUSION AND HORROR, IN BG

MUSIC:

GRIM, BUILDS IN BG

LEE:

What's that?! Something's happened! It's Jan Mason! He's been shot! Someone shot the new champion! He's holding his left side! He's staggering! He's grabbed the gold cup! He's fallen down! Jan Mason is lying on the final green--

MUSIC:

TOPS EVERYTHING ... UP FOR CURTAIN AND OUT

SOUND:

TRANSITIONAL PAUSE ... THEN PHONE RINGS TWICE, RECEIVER UP

RUTH:

(INTO PHONE) Hello? --- I asked you not to disturb me, clerk. --- I don't care if there is someone to see me. --- What? Who? --- Lee Saunders, the radio announcer? Well, tell him I'm not in. --- I don't care if he is standing there watching you talk to me. Tell him you're talking to the maid. --- What? --- Hello? Who's speaking? --- But I was talking to the room clerk. --- Now, look here, Mr. Saunders. What do you want with me? --- No, I'm sorry, I don't have time to see you. --- No. I have nothing to discuss with you. Goodbye.

SOUND:

RECEIVER DOWN

RUTH:

(EXHALES, TO HERSELF) He said he wanted to talk to me -- about the murder. He saw me. He - he's suspicious, he knows something. I - I must get out of here. I'll hurry and pack my things. I-- Oh, no. No time to pack. I'll just put on my coat; purse; a hat. I'll get a cab. Hurry. Oh, no -- not the front way. The back.

SOUND:

DOOR OPENS

LEE:

Goin' somewhere, miss?

RUTH:

(STARTLED) Oh--! (SHARPLY) Who are you?

LEE:

I'm the fella you hung up on.

RUTH:

What do you want?

LEE:

I figured you'd try to run out the back way.

RUTH:

I don't know you. Let me by.

LEE:

Oh, no. Back inside. We're gonna talk.

RUTH:

There's nothing I have to discuss with you.

LEE:

Afraid there is. (BEAT) A little matter of murder.

RUTH:

How much do you know?

LEE:

Plenty. Come on -- inside.

RUTH:

But I--

LEE:

(INSISTS) Inside.

SOUND:

DOOR CLOSES

LEE:

Now--

RUTH:

I have nothing to say to you.

LEE:

You think not?

RUTH:

Not a thing in the world. I demand that you leave here at once before I call the police.

LEE:

Oh, that way, is it? Very well.

SOUND:

RECEIVER UP

LEE:

Here you are.

RUTH:

What do you mean?

LEE:

Take the receiver. Shall I dial the number?

RUTH:

What number?

LEE:

The police, of course.

RUTH:

Hang up that phone, you--

LEE:

So. You're not as willing to call the police here as you pretend.

SOUND:

RECEIVER DOWN

RUTH:

How did you find me?

LEE:

Well, I was lucky.

RUTH:

What do you mean?

LEE:

You ran a stop sign downtown just after you'd come from the golf links. It was my car you almost hit.

RUTH:

Oh.

LEE:

No one saw you leave the golf links. No one knew who you were. You weren't the girl who was officially in charge of the gold prize cup.

RUTH:

No.

LEE:

And what's more, the cup that was given to the chief referee wasn't the official prize cup.

RUTH:

No.

LEE:

Instead it was some - some fantastic thing: a cup of pure gold, but covered with some sort of ancient writing. (BEAT) Well?

RUTH:

Yes.

LEE:

Now, look here. I'm a radio reporter and I've got a story here. I want to know what it is.

RUTH:

I - I - I don't know the explanation myself.

LEE:

Bottle it up and save it, sister. You murdered Jan Mason.

RUTH:

Did I?

LEE:

Didn't you?

RUTH:

No one saw who shot him.

LEE:

That's true. But it's the general opinion that you did it.

RUTH:

The - the general opinion?

LEE:

Naturally. You weren't the girl in charge of the prize cup. The real girl and the real cup have disappeared. And you were standing in a position where you could have fired the shot.

RUTH:

Are you sure of that?

LEE:

I'm positive. I remember. I saw you.

RUTH:

Did - did I really shoot him?

LEE:

What?

RUTH:

Tell me, did I really shoot him?

LEE:

I don't know. All I know is that you were standing directly in front of Mason. And so were six or eight others.

RUTH:

I don't know. I - I don't know.

LEE:

Look here. Maybe you and I can make a deal.

RUTH:

A deal?

LEE:

Tell me your story. Tell me what happened and maybe I can help you.

RUTH:

I - I don't know what happened.

LEE:

What do you mean you don't know?

RUTH:

All I know is there was a big crowd. And a golden cup. A little round white ball. A - a loud noise and--

LEE:

Go on.

RUTH:

That's all I remember. Next thing I knew, I was here in my apartment, stretched out on my bed with a gun in my hand.

LEE:

Where is it?

RUTH:

In that drawer over there.

LEE:

(MOVING OFF) Oh? This one over here?

RUTH:

Yes.

SOUND:

DRAWER OPENS, OFF ... GUN PICKED UP

LEE:

(RETURNS) Yeah. Yeah, it's been fired. A thirty-two. Mason was killed with a thirty-two.

RUTH:

He - he's dead.

LEE:

If he isn't, sister, he's a great little pretender.

RUTH:

It wasn't my fault. I tell you, it wasn't my fault!

LEE:

Oh, so maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. Now, take it easy and tell me what happened.

RUTH:

Why should I tell you?

LEE:

Because you've got to tell somebody.

RUTH:

But who are you?

LEE:

My name's Lee Saunders. The clerk told you that on the phone. I'm a radio reporter, sports and news. Now it's your turn.

RUTH:

What?

LEE:

Who are ya?

RUTH:

Oh. Doesn't matter.

LEE:

Well, let me decide that. What's your name?

RUTH:

Ruth Kendish.

LEE:

What'd you have against Jan Mason?

RUTH:

I didn't know him!

LEE:

Hm. You make a habit of killing men you don't know?

RUTH:

I didn't even know him, I tell ya! I didn't know him! (WEEPS) Oh, let me alone!

LEE:

Now, stop that.

RUTH:

No!

LEE:

Oh, stop it, I say. Now, do you want to tell me what happened or do you want to tell me and the police?

RUTH:

(SOBS) They're looking for me, aren't they? The police?

LEE:

What do you think?

RUTH:

(SOBERLY) Listen. I've told you what happened. I - I don't remember a thing except a big crowd, a cup of gold, a little white ball, and - (SNIFFS) - and a loud noise like a shot.

LEE:

Yeah. And then you woke up here in your room with a gun in your hand -- a gun that killed Jan Mason just a few moments after he'd won the golf championship.

RUTH:

It can't be true. It just can't be true.

LEE:

You're in trouble, baby. Ya better let me try to help ya.

RUTH:

What can you do?

LEE:

I don't know -- till I've heard your story

RUTH:

(BEAT, ALMOST A WHISPER) It must have been the incense.

LEE:

Incense?

MUSIC:

EERIE, OMINOUS ... SNEAKS IN

LEE:

Now what are ya talkin' about?

RUTH:

It came this morning. In the mail. A little package with three little cones. It was - it was addressed to me. There was a note inside. It's there in the drawer.

LEE:

Where the gun was?

RUTH:

Yes.

SOUND:

DRAWER OPENS, OFF

LEE:

(OFF) This the paper it was wrapped in?

SOUND:

RUSTLE OF PAPER

RUTH:

Yes.

LEE:

(OFF) Is this the incense?

SOUND:

RUSTLE OF PAPER

RUTH:

Yes.

LEE:

(RETURNS) Well-- I thought you said your name is Ruth Kendish.

RUTH:

It is.

LEE:

Well, this was addressed to Rotha Kendish.

RUTH:

What?

LEE:

Sure. Look for yourself.

SOUND:

RUSTLE OF PAPER

LEE:

There. You see?

RUTH:

Yes. (BEAT) Did you find the note?

LEE:

What note?

RUTH:

Oh. There it is. You - you dropped it on the floor.

LEE:

(BENDS) Oh, this.

RUTH:

Yes. Read it.

LEE:

(READS) "Rotha: You will put a fire to one of these precisely at one this afternoon."

RUTH:

(CONVINCED) Yes. It was the incense.

LEE:

What?

MUSIC:

OUT BEHIND--

RUTH:

I tried to forget it, put it away, and tried to keep it off my mind, but exactly at one, I - I opened the little metal box and lighted one of the cones. There was a lot of smoke -- sweet-scented, thick. That - that's all I remember.

LEE:

(GETS AN IDEA) Good Lord.

RUTH:

What are you doing?

LEE:

(EAGER) Is there any more of this stuff left?

RUTH:

Two more little cones.

LEE:

Here, let's see.

SOUND:

METAL BOX OPENS

LEE:

Yes. There are two left. Here, give me a match.

RUTH:

What?

LEE:

(IMPATIENT) A match! Get me a match!

RUTH:

(RELUCTANT, SCARED) Ohh. Oh, no.

LEE:

Oh, here. Here's one.

RUTH:

Oh, don't! Please don't!

LEE:

I'm gonna see what this nonsense is all about.

RUTH:

Oh, no!

SOUND:

MATCH STRIKES

RUTH:

Oh, please, you don't know what you're doing!

LEE:

Well, we'll see in a minute. (BEAT, AS HE LIGHTS CONE) There.

RUTH:

(DISMAYED) Oh, I begged you not to do that.

LEE:

(PUZZLED) So much smoke -- so quickly. (BEAT) I don't understand how a little thing like that can produce so much smoke. (BEAT) That odor.

MUSIC:

SWIRLING, EERIE ... SNEAKS IN ... THEN IN BG

RUTH:

The same. The very same.

LEE:

It's - so strange.

RUTH:

(DIZZY) Oh--

LEE:

The smoke--

RUTH:

(COUGHS)

LEE:

Look how it rolls in great clouds -- hiding everything.

RUTH:

Stop. Stop!

LEE:

(COUGHS) So - so much smoke -- hiding everything.

RUTH:

(COUGHS)

LEE:

I can hardly see.

RUTH:

(COUGHS, GROANS) Ohhh.

LEE:

Like we were in another world.

PRIEST:

(GRIM) You are in another world.

LEE:

(STARTLED) What--?

MUSIC:

ACCENT AND OUT BEHIND--

LEE:

What's that?

PRIEST:

Welcome, Rotha. And Leetha.

LEE:

Who are you? Where are you?

PRIEST:

I am here beside you. You see?

LEE:

Yes. Now I do. The smoke's clearing away.

RUTH:

What happened? What happened?

PRIEST:

Don't you recognize me, Rotha?

RUTH:

My name's Ruth. I've never seen you before.

PRIEST:

Ah! That is where you are wrong. You have seen me before.

RUTH:

No. No, I don't know you.

PRIEST:

You mean you don't recognize me.

LEE:

Who are you?

PRIEST:

My name is Mota.

RUTH:

Mota?

PRIEST:

Yes, Rotha. I am the Holy One.

RUTH:

I don't understand.

LEE:

What's happened to us? We were in this young lady's apartment; now we're some place I've never seen before. Where are we?

PRIEST:

You are on Vento.

LEE:

Vento? What's Vento?

PRIEST:

Vento is an offspring of Venus and Pluto.

LEE:

What?!

MUSIC:

SPOOKY ... IN BG

PRIEST:

It is a planet as yet undiscovered by the scientists of the Earth. Many hundreds of thousands of years ago, Venus and Pluto collided. That probably would sound absurd to your astrologers today, but it is a fact. As a result of the collision, Vento came into being. A portion of Venus and a part of Pluto fused, broke off, and became Vento.

LEE:

You're talking over my head.

PRIEST:

Naturally, the people who existed on Pluto and those of Venus intermingled with Vento, became a planet in its own right. As a result of that ancient catastrophe, the Ventonians came into existence. I am one of them. And the two of you are now here amongst us.

RUTH:

But how? How did we get here?

PRIEST:

You remember the incense?

RUTH:

(REALIZES) Oh - yes -

LEE:

The incense?

PRIEST:

It is one of Vento's secrets. A tiny cone that emits a vapor powerful enough to permit anyone in contact with it to do as we here on Vento bid him to do.

LEE:

It's still got me goofy. After I started the incense burning, everything changed. We ended up here.

PRIEST:

Naturally. Because when you came in contact with the released vapors, I bade both of you to come here. And here you are.

MUSIC:

OUT

LEE:

(AMUSED SKEPTICISM) Oh, now, what do you take us for? This is the twentieth century. Folks like us aren't taken in by some crackpot--

PRIEST:

(INTERRUPTS) Just one moment. Here. Will you look through this?

LEE:

Through what?

PRIEST:

This telescope, here. Right through here.

LEE:

(SKEPTICAL) Oh, now--

PRIEST:

It will not hurt you to look, will it?

LEE:

If you insist.

PRIEST:

That's right. In there. Now -- what do you see?

LEE:

A large round globe.

PRIEST:

It is the Earth -- ten million miles from here.

LEE:

Preposterous.

PRIEST:

You think so? Here, I'll turn on the Ultra-Penetrating Ray Machine and show you how preposterous it is.

SOUND:

DURING ABOVE, CLICK OF SWITCH

MUSIC:

HUMS ... FOR THE RAY MACHINE ... THEN IN BG

PRIEST:

Now -- what do you see?

LEE:

(SURPRISED) Closer! It's coming closer. Yes, something's happening.

PRIEST:

The Ultra-Penetrating Ray is making ten million miles of distance look like only inches.

LEE:

(AWED) It is the Earth. There's Europe -- Great Britain -- China and Australia. Now I can see the California coast. And Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York.

PRIEST:

Suppose we concentrate upon -- Florida.

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN IN BG

PRIEST:

There.

LEE:

No! It's not possible.

PRIEST:

What do you see, Mr. Saunders?

LEE:

A funeral. The funeral of Jan Mason, the golfer!

RUTH:

Oh, no!

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN IN BG

PRIEST:

Suppose you permit Rotha to look, Mr. Saunders.

LEE:

Yes, all right.

PRIEST:

Go right ahead, Rotha. (BEAT) That's right. There.

RUTH:

(GASPS)

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN IN BG

PRIEST:

You still do not remember, Rotha?

RUTH:

Why do you call me Rotha?

MUSIC:

OUT ... FOR THE MACHINE SHUTTING OFF

PRIEST:

Because that is your name.

RUTH:

My name is Ruth.

PRIEST:

When you were here, you were called Rotha.

RUTH:

When - when I was here?

PRIEST:

Many centuries ago, Rotha, you were originally a Ventonian.

LEE:

What are you talking about?

PRIEST:

We have theories of reincarnation as you do on your Earth.

RUTH:

Yes, I - I've heard about it vaguely, but--

PRIEST:

The one failing is that your theories do not go far enough.

LEE:

What do you mean?

PRIEST:

That there is such a thing as reincarnation, Mr. Saunders. But it is not restricted to one single planet, such as the Earth.

LEE:

You surely aren't trying to tell us that Miss Kendish here is the reincarnation of someone who lived up here?

PRIEST:

Whether or not you accept it, it remains a fact.

LEE:

Oh, that's utterly ridiculous.

PRIEST:

I'm glad I had the foresight to think of your reluctance to believe, so I have prepared the truth.

LEE:

Prepared what?

RUTH:

What are you talking about? What's the explanation of all this?

PRIEST:

Must I explain it again? The vapor of the incense I sent you; once it surrounds you, you are at the mercy of the Ventonian who sent it. You, on your planet, would call it "black magic." But it is merely nothing more than applied science.

LEE:

What's this - this proof you were talking about?

PRIEST:

I will extinguish the lights--

SOUND:

CLICK! OF SWITCH

PRIEST:

--and show you. Here on Vento, all time, all incidents are recorded. I shan't attempt to explain it completely. Suffice it to say, the principle is somewhat similar to that of your talking pictures -- only on a much more advanced and widespread scale. Anything that has ever happened here on Vento since the invention of this recorder can be reviewed by those who wish to see it. That's why there is no crime, no evil here. Now -- I turn on the machine. I must ask you to be silent. Do not speak.

MUSIC:

FOR MACHINE ... THEN IN BG

RUTH:

Mr. Saunders, look!

PRIEST:

Quiet!

RUTH:

That's me!

PRIEST:

Quiet, I say! (BEAT) It is you. But not in your present body. It is you of centuries ago. Watch closely now. And listen.

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN IN BG

SOUND:

KNOCK ON DOOR

ROTHA:

Come in.

SOUND:

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

KENTA:

Darling.

ROTHA:

Kenta dearest.

KENTA:

Forgive me for coming to you so late, but I had to see you before tomorrow.

ROTHA:

Oh, I'm glad you're here, dearest. I've waited for you all day.

KENTA:

I've been at practice.

ROTHA:

Are you ready for the game tomorrow?

KENTA:

Yes. Quite. I fear I'll have trouble defeating Jana, though. He's become quite expert.

ROTHA:

Oh, do you care so much?

KENTA:

Rotha, if I should lose tomorrow-- Oh, but we mustn't think of such a thing. Victory means everything to both of us.

MUSIC:

UP, FOR A TRANSITION ... THEN IN BG

SOUND:

FADE IN QUIET MURMUR OF CROWD ... THEN IN BG

ROTHA:

(TO HERSELF, SADLY) Oh, he - he can't win now. My poor, poor Kenta. He tried so hard. Oh, but now it's too late. Unless there's a miracle. If Jana misses two strokes-- Oh, but he can't. And even if he did, it would be a draw. If he takes but one stroke, my poor Kenta will be defeated. Jana is ready now. If he does it in a single stroke, Kenta has lost. Now--

SOUND:

TAP! OF PUTTER ON BALL

ROTHA:

(GASPS)

SOUND:

CROWD REACTS FAVORABLY ... THEN BEHIND--

ROTHA:

(TO HERSELF, DISAPPOINTED) He did it. Jana did it. My poor, poor Kenta.

MUSIC:

UP, FOR A TRANSITION ... THEN IN BG

SOUND:

DOOR OPENS

ROTHA:

Kenta--?

KENTA:

My dearest one. I come to you, but without the cup of gold.

ROTHA:

Oh, does it matter so much?

KENTA:

Yes, yes -- much. I promised that you should have the cup.

ROTHA:

But I don't mind.

KENTA:

I should have won.

ROTHA:

We still have each other, Kenta. We will be married.

KENTA:

No. No, Rotha -- for yesterday, I swore by the great god Venda that should I not be victorious, I wouldn't be worthy of you.

MUSIC:

TURNS TENSE ... IN BG

ROTHA:

You swore by Venda?!

KENTA:

Yes, yes -- a sacred oath. I was so eager for victory I knew that the thought of losing you forever would inspire me to win. But - I failed.

ROTHA:

(DEJECTED) An oath sworn to Venda is a holy oath. I must resign myself to it. (DETERMINED) But now-- Now I swear by the great god of Venda a holy and a sacred oath -- that I will avenge what has happened. I will take vengeance from Jana, if all eternity is required for me to do it!

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... AND OUT

PRIEST:

I believe that is all the proof you need.

LEE:

Ruth! Did you know Truman Davis?

RUTH:

Truman Davis?

LEE:

Truman Davis, the national golf champion -- the one who was beaten by Jan Mason.

RUTH:

No. No, I didn't know either of them.

PRIEST:

You think not, Rotha? Don't you recognize the man called Jan Mason? He is the reincarnation of the man Jana, who defeated Kenta in the games many years ago.

RUTH:

(DISTRESSED, EXHALES) Well, it all seems so familiar and-- (INHALES) And yet I-- (EXHALES) I'm so upset. I--

PRIEST:

You swore a terrible oath centuries ago -- an oath to work vengeance upon Jana. In your span of life here on Vento, you did not find the opportunity to avenge yourself. And so, as one of the high priests of Vento, it was my duty to bring to a climax your ancient oath.

LEE:

You sent that devilish incense to her! You prompted her to go out there and kill Jan Mason; gave her that golden cup!

PRIEST:

It is the cup Kenta lost to Jana centuries ago. It amazes and confuses the Earth people greatly.

LEE:

You're responsible for all that happened; hypnotized this girl. And now what?

PRIEST:

Now she will return to the Earth and accept her punishment.

RUTH:

(HORRIFIED) Oh, no! No, that's not right!

PRIEST:

It is not for you to say.

LEE:

(WITH EFFORT) It's for me to say this.

SOUND:

LEE PUNCHES PRIEST

PRIEST:

(GRUNTS IN PAIN)

RUTH:

(STARTLED) Lee!

SOUND:

PRIEST THUDS TO THE FLOOR, UNCONSCIOUS

MUSIC:

TENSE, EXCITING ... IN BG

LEE:

Quick! There's no time to lose!

RUTH:

Oh, there's no escape from here.

LEE:

The incense; I still have it! Here!

SOUND:

METAL BOX OPENS

LEE:

There's one cone left. Just one.

RUTH:

But what can you do?

LEE:

Well, you heard what he said. Anyone here on this planet can use it. (TO HIMSELF) Oh, confound it, haven't I got a match? Yeah, here's one. Now--

SOUND:

MATCH STRIKES

RUTH:

Lee--?

LEE:

Careful, that's my last match. (BEAT, AS HE LIGHTS CONE) There. It's burning. Now turn on that ray machine.

RUTH:

Do what?

LEE:

(IMPATIENT) Turn it on, turn it on!

RUTH:

Oh, well, all right.

SOUND:

CLICK! OF SWITCH

MUSIC:

HUMS ... FOR THE RAY MACHINE ... THEN IN BG

RUTH:

What are you going to do?

LEE:

Look into the telescope. Watch! Tell me what happens.

RUTH:

All right.

LEE:

I'm holding the burning incense in front of the telescope lens. Oh, I'm hoping--

RUTH:

Lee! It's still focused on the funeral. But - something's happened!

LEE:

Yes?

RUTH:

The coffin is gone!

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN IN BG

RUTH:

It's opened! Someone's sitting up in it!

LEE:

Is it Jan Mason?

RUTH:

Yes! Yes, it is.

LEE:

Good! Just a mere thought did it. The penetrating ray sent the incense vapor directly to Earth -- to the man in the casket, Mason -- and I concentrated on his coming to life again.

RUTH:

(AMAZED) He is. He is alive.

PRIEST:

(GROANS)

RUTH:

(STARTLED GASP) Oh!

LEE:

Oh, our friend's coming to.

RUTH:

What do we do?

LEE:

Here, give me your hand.

RUTH:

What?

LEE:

Give me your hand. Come on, hurry, hurry!

RUTH:

Lee, that smoke--

LEE:

Hurry, there's no time to lose!

RUTH:

How are we gonna get away from here?

LEE:

Simple. You saw what a mere thought did for Jan Mason. Hold tight now! Here we go!

MUSIC:

UP ... TO A SWIRLING DESCENDING GLISS ... FOR A FAST RETURN TO EARTH ... AND OUT

SOUND:

TRANSITIONAL PAUSE

MUSIC:

MYSTERIOSO THEME ... IN BG

SOUND:

WIND BLOWS ... IN BG

1ST VOICE:

(SLOW, EMOTIONLESS) Dark Fantasy.

SOUND:

WIND OUT WITH--

MUSIC:

UP AND FADES OUT

ANNOUNCER:

You have heard "The Cup of Gold," tonight's original tale of Dark Fantasy by Scott Bishop. Ben Morris was Lee Saunders, Eleanor Naylor Caughron played Ruth, Muir Hite was the High Priest, and George Ande was Kenta.

Next Friday, the twenty-sixth in this Dark Fantasy series created by Scott Bishop: "Coffins for Two," the weird and pulse-pounding tale of two boxes, roughly hewed into the shape of caskets, bearing three silver handles on each side and silver nameplates on which were engraved the names of two living people.

This is Tom Paxton speaking. Dark Fantasy comes to you each Friday night from Oklahoma City. This is the National Broadcasting Company.