VOICE:

Lights Out, Everybody!

TWELVE CHIMES .. WIND UP ON NINTH .. ALL OUT WITH

GONG:

SOUND OF STREET TRAFFIC, DOWN AND CONTINUING FAR BEHIND:

MARION:

(SHE IS QUICK, ENTHUSIASTIC TYPE) Here it is, Jim! This is the building.

JIM:

(HE IS THE APPROACHING MIDDLE-AGED AMERICAN BUSINESS MAN ON TOUR .. A RATHER PHLEGMATIC, SLOW SPEAKING SORT) Yeah?

MARION:

Mmm! Isn't it imposing, and cruel, and horrible-looking?

JIM:

(BORED) All right, let's have it. Out with the guide-book.

MARION:

Well, it says - (READS) "One of the features of your visit to The Hague will be the notorious Gevangenpoort, Holland's famous and infamous prison, now a mecca for thrill-seeking tourists where may be seen instruments of torture used by both the Dutch and Spanish during the Middle Ages." Isn't that thrilling?

JIM:

Did I ever tell you [about the] time I went thru the County Jail and saw --

MARION:

(INTERRUPTING LAUGHINGLY) Of course you did, Jim, and anyway we'd better hurry and get in there - the book says they're only open until five, and it's getting awfully late.

JIM: O.K., so what am I supposed to do? See my Congressman?

MARION:

Poor Jim! You're terribly bored, aren't you?

JIM:

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that.

MARION:

Oh, yes, you are! The Peace Palace, the Flemish paintings, and the Knights' hall interested you about as much as your golf game interests me --

JIM:

Well, now --

MARION:

(GOING RIGHT ON) -- but don't worry, Jim -- this jail-house is going to make up for all of your boredom.

JIM:

I hope, I hope, I hope...

MARION:

Well, don't stand there! Use the door-knocker!

JIM:

O.K.

SOUND OF HEAVY IRON KNOCKER ON HEAVY WOOD DOOR, CONTINUING BEHIND

MARION:

I hope we're not too late.

JIM:

They've gone fishing.

MARION:

Try again, Jim - coming all the way to Holland and then missing the Gevangenpoort is like going to Washington and not seeing the--

JIM:

Hold it!

SOUND:

BOLT BEING PULLED BACK .. CHAINS BEING LOOSENED

MARION:

(HAPPILY) We're not too late!

HEAVY DOOR OPENING SLOWLY, CREAKILY

GUIDE:

(HE HAS A DEEP GUTTURAL MONOTONE VOICE) Yah?

MARION:

(RATHER FLUTTERY) Is this the Gevangenpoort - I mean, is it all right if we - I mean -

JIM:

What she's trying to say is can we still look over the place.

MARION:

(TRYING HER HIGH SCHOOL GERMAN) Kannen mir zen de prison, please?

GUIDE:

(GRUNTS)

SOUND:

DOOR OPENS SQUEAKILY A LITTLE FURTHER

GUIDE:

In!..

MARION:

Thank you! Come on, Jim!

JIM:

Yeah...

MARION:

(IN CLOSE, SOTTO .. TRIUMPHANTLY) There, Jim! He understood me!

JIM:

(SOTTO) I bet he thought you were talking Chinese!

SOUND:

DOOR CLOSING, BACK SLIGHTLY .. BOLT BEING THROWN AND CHAINS ATTACHED, ETC.

MARION:

(SOTTO) Certainly keep the place closed up, don't they?

JIM:

(SOTTO) Yeah...Don't waste any lights either...

GUIDE:

(FADE IN AND THEN FADE BACK QUICKLY) This way, myn herr...This way...

MARION:

Come, Jim.

JIM:

Hey, how about the price of admission?

MARION:

Oh, I suppose they collect that on the way out!

JIM:

Yeah, half the war debt I'll bet you!

SOUND OF SQUEAKING DOOR, BACK

GUIDE:

(BACK) Den veg, myn herr..

MARION:

(SOTTO, QUICKLY) He means this way -- thru the door.

JIM:

Yeah, I got it!

MARION:

Careful, Jim! The door's so low!

JIM:

Gypped the six-footers on this one, didn't they?

MARION:

Oooo! So dark!

JIM:

(UP) Hey, guide, how about some lights? How can we see --

MARION:

Jim. Where is he?

JIM:

(PUZZLED) Huh! That's a quick disappearing act all right!

MARION:

But he was standing --

JIM:

Hey, guide!

WE HEAR THE ECHO OF HIS VOICE CALLING "HEY, GUIDE".

JIM:

Well, at least the echo answers! (UP) Guide!

THIS TIME THERE IS NO ECHO WHATSOEVER

MARION:

(TENSE NOTE IN HER VOICE) Jim!

JIM:

What's the matter?

MARION:

That time...there was no echo.

JIM:

(QUICKLY) So what?

MARION:

It's as if...suddenly we were closed off!

JIM:

(SCOFFINGLY) What are you talking about? Why, the open door's right here - (FADE) right here! (WE HEAR A SHORT CRY OF SURPRISE, BACK)

MARION:

Jim! What --

JIM:

(UNBELIEVINGLY) It's - it's closed!

MARION:

(IN SUDDEN FRIGHT) Jim!

JIM:

(STILL PUZZLED .. SLOWLY) Closed...and locked!

GONG:

JIM:

(SLOWLY) Nothing to get excited about...

MARION:

(TENSELY) But, Jim...

JIM:

I explained it again and again, haven't I? It's all part of the tourist bait - lock you up for a couple of minutes and then start you on the tour of the place in the right frame of mind.

MARION:

Are - are you sure, Jim?

JIM:

Sure I'm sure! You came here for a thrill and the guide's just giving you one, that's all!

MARION:

I - I don't like this...

JIM:

(CHUCKLES) Well, I do! First clever business enterprise I've seen on the whole trip! Yes, ma'am, good showmanship.

MARION:

But - but how long do we stay here?

JIM:

Oh, it won't be long now!

MARION:

The guide-book didn't say anything about this sort of --

JIM:

Of course it didn't! If they told you what to expect, all this'd be flatter than yesterday's pancakes!

MARION:

(TENSE NOTE IN HER VOICE) Jim, I - I've had enough...

JIM:

Aw, now --

MARION:

I'm scared!

JIM:

Aw --

MARION:

I'm scared -- really I am!

JIM:

O.K., O.K.! I'll call Drizzlepuss and tell him we want out.

SOUND:

HITTING SLOWLY, WITHOUT PANIC, WITH PALM OF HAND AGAINST HEAVY DOOR, CONTINUING INTERMITTENTLY BEHIND

JIM:

(AMUSED RATHER THAN FRIGHTENED) Hey, guard or guide or whatever they call you! We're ready for the next degree of our initiation!

MARION:

Louder, Jim! He'll never hear you!

JIM:

Go on. I'll bet you he's standing on the other side of the door! All right, guide, open the door! The gag's terrific, but my wife's not laughing any more! Open up, fella!

MARION:

(UP) Herr Guide! (BRING IN ECHO CHAMBER QUICKLY) Herr Guide!

WE HEAR THE ECHO OF HER VOICE CALLING THE LAST TWO WORDS "HERR GUIDE" FROM A LONG DISTANCE

JIM:

Well, I'll be --

MARION:

Echo! That means the door's --

JIM:

But this door's still shut!

MARION:

Then another door must have opened!

JIM:

(IRRITABLY) I've had enough of this gag! (UP) (EMPHATICALLY) Guide! Guide, get us out of here at once!

GUIDE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) Ya, mein herr...

MARION:

(SHORT EXCLAMATION OF SURPRISE) Ah!

JIM:

Well, it's about time! (TRIUMPHANTLY) What'd I tell you, Marion - he was waiting all the time!

MARION:

Then, let's go, Jim! I don't like this sort of thing, at all!

JIM:

Oh, no! No run-out powder, beautiful! You said I'd like this, and I do! We're going to see this whole layout from beginning to end! How about it, guide? Where do we go from here? Well, answer me, guide! Marion, you try some of your high school Dutch on him!

MARION:

(HALTINGLY) Woe to, mein herr? Dem wag raus, mein herr?

GUIDE:

(SLOWLY) I understand the English...

JIM:

Oh, you do, do you? Then let's go - this first gag is done, finished, caput!

GUIDE:

I do not know...

MARION:

My husband means he wants to go on. And please - no more of these - these jokes.

JIM:

(IMPATIENT) Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go.

GUIDE:

(SLOWLY, PORTENTOUSLY) We wait...his word.

JIM:

What did you say?

GUIDE:

His word.

MARION:

His word?

JIM:

Who's he? Who're you talking about?

GUIDE:

(IN CLOSE) His Excellency!

JIM:

Excellency what?

GUIDE:

(IN CLOSE, REVERENTLY) His Excellency, Alvarez Ferdanand Duke d'Alba, sent by his gracious Highness, the King, to put the fear of God and the might of Spain into the hearts of these miserable Dutchmen. Until His Excellency calls for you, you will wait here...and I suggest that you pray for your sins. (FADE) I will be back for you.

CLANGING OF METAL DOOR, OFF SLIGHTLY .. HEAVY BOLT BEING THROWN

JIM:

(SNAPPING OUT OF IT) Hey! Hey, guide! Come back here!

BANGING ON METAL DOOR, BACK

JIM:

Guide! Let us out of here! Guide! (ETC. AD LIB THRU)

MARION:

(TRYING TO INTERRUPT) No, Jim, wait! Jim! (WHEN HE STOPS) Jim, listen!

JIM:

Gosh, can you imagine that, Marion? That old boy had me so hypnotized by his spiel that I - I let him lock us in again! (UP) Hey, guide!

MARION:

No, Jim, stop!

JIM:

Stop!? What do you mean stop? I don't know what this is all about, but I sure am going to find out! (UP) Guide! Guide!

MARION:

(THERE IS A NOTE OF TERROR IN HER VOICE) No, Jim!

JIM:

Wha'? What's the matter with you!?

MARION:

What that man was saying -- didn't you understand?

JIM:

Certainly not! None of it made sense!

MARION:

This much made sense, Jim - that name he mentioned - the Duke d'Alba - I remember from the guidebook - he was the man in charge of this prison!

JIM:

(AWED IN SPITE OF HIMSELF) Yeah?

MARION:

(IN CLOSE) And, Jim, that was four hundred years ago.

GONG:

JIM:

It's all a - a lotta bunk!

MARION:

But, Jim --

JIM:

Bunk, I tell ya! So he said it - so what? Somebody's screwy, but it isn't me!

MARION:

Jim, I tell you --

JIM:

And I tell you that little Dutchman's crazy, that's all! Yeah, sure! Working in a tomb like this, he went off his nut! Thinks he's back in the Middle Ages working for that Duke Whoosis!

MARION:

Jim, is it as simple as that?

JIM:

Wha'? What do you mean?

MARION:

He seemed so - so certain...

JIM:

Marion! You going crazy, too? (TENSELY) Oh, why I ever let you talk me into coming into this place! (UP) Guide! Come back here! Let us out of here! GUIDE!

MARION:

JIM! Wait! Listen!

JIM:

Eh?

BEGIN TO FADE IN TRAMP OF FEET OF SQUAD OF SOLDIERS BEGINNING AT "LET US OUT OF HERE" IN ABOVE .. KEEP FADING IN BEHIND:

MARION:

Don't you hear?

JIM:

Well, I'll be --

MARION:

Who - who could it be?

FADE TRAMP OF SQUAD IN CLOSE

JIM:

Sounds like...an army...

TRAMP OF FEET OUT IN CLOSE WITH...

VOICE:

(IN SPANISH .. PEREMPTORILY) Halt!

MARION:

(IN TERROR) Jim! They are soldiers!

JIM:

O.K. Swell! Now we will get out of this place! (UP) You! Lieutenant or whatever you are! Let us out of here! We're American citizens and we --

MARION:

(INTERRUPTING) (TREMULOUSLY .. IN ALARM) Jim!

JIM:

Wha' -

MARION:

They're not...real soldiers!

JIM:

Ah!

MARION:

Armor and funny spears and --

CELL DOOR OPENING SLOWLY, OFF

VOICE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY .. GUTTURAL) A la derecha!

JIM:

What the --

MARION:

(GROWING TERROR IN VOICE) Jim - Spanish - he spoke in Spanish.

VOICE:

(IMPERATIVELY) Caminar!

JIM:

(IN SURPRISE AT FIRST THEN FURIOUSLY) Hey! Take your hands off of me! What the --

MURMUR OF SOLDIERS' VOICES .. UNINTELLIGIBLE SPANISH JARGON CONTINUING BEHIND:

MARION:

(UP) Jim!

JIM:

My wife! (STRUGGLING) Take you hands off her - what - let go of her - what --

MARION:

(SCREAMS FADING .. ALL BLOTTED OUT BY:

GONG:

JUAN:

(FROM HIS VOICE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HE IS A SADISTIC SONOFACENSORED) Buenas tardes, amigos...

JIM:

(BREATHING HEAVILY .. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HE IS FURIOUS BEYOND RATIONAL EXPRESSION) Look here! Look here! Whoever you are! My wife - where is he - what -

JUAN:

(INTERRUPTING SUAVELY) Just a moment, Ingles-man - I must ask the question, not you...

JIM:

(STRUGGLING) Get your hands off me, you sonofa -

JUAN:

It is no use to struggle against my men, Ingles-man - you must know that one common Spanish soldier is better than Vient Ingles-men!

JIM:

(TENSELY) Where - is - my wife?

JUAN:

Your woman? (CHUCKLES) A fine soft woman, eh, Ingles-man?

JIM:

(TENSELY) You tell me --

JUAN:

(SHARPLY) I tell you what pleases me to tell! (CHUCKLES) It will be most interesting to deal with an Ingles-man - how tired I have become of these stupid fishermen!

JIM:

(UP .. CALLING MADLY) Marion! Marion, where are you!? Marion!

JUAN:

(UP) Quiet! You will disturb His Highness! Your woman is well enough -- better than you, Ingles-man!

JIM:

Englishman! Englishman! What are you talking about? I'm an American citizen! What is all this? Crazy uniforms - man-handling me - what is all this?

JUAN:

Some of your words I do not understand, Ingles-man - (CHUCKLES) but me you will understand well enough. For a year I was with the illustrious Duke at your court, and I spit on all of you! You are nothing but pigs, but we Grandees will teach you better manners soon enough!

JIM:

Look here - I've been listening to you all this time thinking I could get a grain of sense out of you! But I can't! All this that happened - maybe I'm going crazy - I don't know - but tell me this - what's this all about?

JUAN:

Again I must tell you, Englis-man, I ask question. (SHARPLY) What were you doing here? What?

JIM:

Let me tell you - you're going to hear about this - all of you! A joke's a joke, but --

JUAN:

Answer me!

JIM:

If these gorillas of yours would let go of my arms, you'd talk quickly enough! Why are you doing this to us? Where's my wife?

JUAN:

(TENSELY) So! Your mouth is big, eh? I will make it smaller!

THUD OF FIST ON FLESH

JUAN:

So...now you will talk what I want you to talk, eh, Englis-man?

JIM:

(THICKLY .. HE HAS BEEN STRUCK ON MOUTH) You - you little - when I get my hands on you --

JUAN:

(IN CLOSE) Why are you here, Englis'man?

JIM:

(AFTER PAUSE) If I - if I tell you - do we get out of this crazy house?

JUAN:

Yes, yes! Tell me! Why are you here? The king of yours plots against the Duke, is it not so?

JIM:

My name's Jim Elson. My wife and I are supposed to be here on a vacation.

JUAN:

What you speak?

JIM:

Vacation! Vacation! Is there anyone here in this nuthouse who understands English?

JUAN:

I speak, I understand your English. But the strange words, do not use them! Tell me plain - why are you here?

JIM:

(WEARILY) I told you! My wife --

JUAN:

Yes!

JIM:

She wanted me to see this place, that's all.

JUAN:

Ah! It is the woman! (UP) Savano! Bring her!

VOICE:

(BACK) Si, senor commandant!

DOOR OPENING FAR BACK BEHIND:

JUAN:

(IMPERATIVELY) Aceleradamenti!

VOICE:

(BACK) Si!

JUAN:

Always the women, eh, Inglishman?

JIM:

(DAZEDLY) So help me I don't know...what this is all about. Lunatic asylum or something - listen, fellow! All we want to do is get out, understand?

JUAN:

(AMUSEDLY) Si, I understand! I understand!

JIM:

Get out and then we'll forget all about this. I mean, I don't know what your racket is, but I won't make you any trouble!

JUAN:

Oh, but you are no trouble!

MARION:

(FAR BACK .. STRUGGLING) No! I won't go there - I won't -

JIM:

Marion!

JUAN:

And your woman - she is no trouble...

JIM:

(UP) Marion! Where are you?

JUAN:

The walls are so heavy - why waste the voice? She will be here.

SOUND:

HEAVY DOOR OPENING VERY SLOWLY BACK

JUAN:

You see - I tell you the truth as you should tell me the truth, English-man!

DOOR OPENING FULL, BACK

JIM:

(UP) Marion!

MARION:

(BACK) Dear!

JIM:

Oh, Marion!

MARION:

(IN FULL .. TEARFULLY) Oh, my dearest!

JIM:

Don't cry, dear. Everything's going to be okay!

MARION:

It's happened, Jim - just as I said! Don't you understand?

JIM:

No, no! It doesn't make sense, but we're getting out all right!

MARION:

Jim, listen! Time's turned back. Back, I tell you!

JIM:

Wha --

MARION:

These men - they're the Spaniards of three hundred years ago who conquered the Netherlands! And they're here again!

JIM:

No, no! It can't be!

MARION:

And we're here with them! (TEARFULLY) Oh, Jim, Jim!

JIM:

No, Marion, listen - what you said - it can't be - time can't --

JUAN:

(IN FAST) So, my friends - it is quite enough, as you say. The woman will now say to me what she know!

MARION:

What - what I know?

JIM:

Tell him about - about us, Marion! It doesn't make sense but - but tell him!

JUAN:

(SINISTERLY) I am waiting...

MARION:

Yes. I'll tell you! You see, we're Americans!

JUAN:

(BLANKLY) (GRUNTS) Ah!

MARION:

Yes, I know that doesn't mean anything to you. (LAUGHS A LITTLE HYSTERICALLY) Our country doesn't even exist yet, does it?

JUAN:

Talk plain words.

MARION:

Yes, I'll try! What's happened is this - thru some miracle time has turned back! My husband and I are here in this prison that existed three hundred years before we were born!

JUAN:

What crazy talk is this?

MARION:

It's not crazy - it's true! You and all these men - you belong in a world that's dead and gone!

JUAN:

(IMPERATIVELY) Tell your woman to talk plain words, Ingles-man!

MARION:

But I'm trying to tell you --

JIM:

(INTERRUPTING QUIETLY) No, Marion - let me. Listen here, Mister - what my wife's been trying to tell you - maybe she is right! Sometimes the craziest thing is the truest thing! The more I look at you and your men - I remember I saw a picture once - I start thinkin' maybe she is right! Maybe time did turn back! Maybe this thing that's happened -

JUAN:

(INTERRUPTING ANGRILY) Espia! She talk plain words to me! (UP) Ferrado!

EXECUTIONER:

(BRUTISH .. FADE IN) Senor!..

JUAN:

Mujer.

EXECUTIONER:

(GRUNTS)

MARION:

(IN FRIGHT) Jim! That man - what - (UP) No! No! Let go of me! (ETC. AD LIB)

JIM:

(STRUGGLING WITH HIS CAPTORS AS MARION BEGINS TO STRUGGLE) What are you - no! Let go of her! Where are you taking her? Let go of me, you devils you! You - sitting there - what are they going to do to her?

JUAN:

(QUIETLY ENJOYING HIMSELF) Ferrado will do, not I. He is, how you say, clever to make talk.

MARION:

(BACK) Jim! What are they going to do to me?

JIM:

(STRUGGLING) Let go!..You! Listen! We were trying to explain why we were here!

JUAN:

Plain words - Ferrado will squeeze them from the woman!

MARION:

(BACK--PLEADING TERROR IN VOICE) Ji-i-m!

JIM:

Marion, I can't, I can't! (STRAINING) They're holding me!...(IN TENSE EXCITEMENT) Those metal things! Why - why is he putting them on her fingers! Why?

MARION:

(BACK) - (WEEPILY) Jim!

JUAN:

I told you Ferrado knows how to make the women talk.

MARION:

(BACK - IN TERROR, CRYING OUT) No-oo!

JIM:

What! What's that devil doing?

JUAN:

(AVIDLY) The screw on the thumbs - tighter and tighter....

MARION:

(CRIES OUT IN PAIN - BACK) Ahhh!

JUAN:

(TAUNTING) Oh, how it hurts!

JIM:

No!

MARION:

(AD LIB CRIES, INTERMITTENT, OF PAIN AS THE THUMB-SCREWS TIGHTEN)

JIM:

(THRU HER CRIES) No! Stop it! Stop hurting her! Let go of me! Stop it! Tell that devil to stop it!

JUAN:

Si! Ciertamente! If she confess! To the plot! Against the life of the duke!

MARION:

(CRYING OUT IN UNBEARABLE PAIN, BACK)

JIM:

(UP) Marion! Marion, listen! Confess! Confess to anything! Confess! They - they stop! Confess!

MARION:

(BACK - TEARFULLY - MOANINGLY) I confess! I confess!

JUAN:

Excelente! (UP) Ferrado! Bring the espia here to me!

EXECUTIONER:

(BACK) Si, commandant!

MARION:

(FADE IN SLOWLY WEEPING BEHIND:

JIM:

(IN CLOSE - INTENSELY) You said you'd let us go!

JUAN:

Closer to me, Ferrado! Bring the woman closer!

MARION:

(IN FULL, WEEPING WEAKLY AS REACTION FROM TORTURE)

JIM:

Marion...your hand...(UP IN FURIOUS RAGE AS HE STRIKES WITH MANACLED HAND AT EXECUTIONER) You devil! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! Kill you!

AD LIB CRIES OF SOLDIERS AS THEY JUMP ON HIM

MARION:

(THRU EXCITEMENT) No! Jim! Don't hurt him! No!

ALL AD LIB OUT WITH:

JUAN:

Silencio! Atencion!

VOICE:

(EXCITEDLY) Commandant! Ferrado! est morte!

JUAN:

So, Inglis-man! With the irons on your hands you have crush in the skull of my executioner, eh?

JIM:

(BREATHING HEAVILY) If it was your skull!

JUAN:

(SLOWLY - TENSELY) You talk too much, Englis-man - your mouth is big like the fish - and like the fish I will do to you ... (IN CLOSE) Will you talk so much...when your flesh...cooks in the oil?

GONG:

SOUND OF HEAVY OIL BOILING, BUBBLING SLOWLY - HOLD LONG ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH THEN CONTINUING BACK, SLIGHTLY, BEHIND:

JUAN:

It is quite ready.. See, Inglis-man - the blue smoke twists and curls as it rises...That means the oil is hungry for the flesh! I see you look about you. No, Ingles-man, there is no escape from this room. The Dutchmen built it strong here under the ground - (CHUCKLES) and now I use it when I wish to hear the confessions of heresy and treason.

OIL BUBBLES LOUDLY FOR A FEW SECONDS

JUAN:

Hear how hungry the oil is!..Yes, the Dutchman built the Gevangenpoort, but now it is ours, as all things are ours. (CHUCKLES) As your cries for mercy will be mine, Ingles-man!

OIL BUBBLES

JUAN:

So! Your big mouth does not talk any more, eh? You are going to be brave man, eh, Ingles-man? We will see! (UP) Vestido!

SOUND OF TEARING CLOTHES CONTINUING WITH:

JUAN:

They tear off your clothes - now you get a little afraid, eh, Ingles-man?

SOUND OF SLAP OF HAND AGAINST BARE FLESH WITH:

JUAN:

(ANGRILY) Say something!...(TENSELY) So! Your face is like man who walks in sleep! I wake you up! A little of the oil --

SOUND OF OIL BEING LADLED UP

JUAN:

--against your flesh! So!

AT "SO" WE HEAR THE OIL SPLATTER AND HISS AGAINST THE MAN'S FLESH

JIM:

(DOES NOT CRY OUT BUT GASPS)

JUAN:

(ANGRILY) Ah! You have thick skin, Ingles-man! But when all of you is in the oil - no! I have another thought! (UP) Hembra!

VOICE:

(BACK - FADE) Si, commandant..

JUAN:

(IN CLOSE) See, Ingles-man - another thought - a thought you will not like - a thought that will open up that stubborn mouth of yours and make you bray louder than a mule with a knife deep in its entrails!

SOUND OF DOOR OPENING, SQUEAKILY, BACK

JUAN:

Look, Inglis-man!

JIM:

(WHISPERING) Marion!

JUAN:

You see they have to carry her in, Inglis-man. (CLICKING HIS TONGUE IN MOCK PITY) Tch, tch, tch! Such a pity! Her face so cold, so white!

JIM:

Marion...

MARION:

(PAUSE, THEN, SLOWLY - IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SHE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY AFFECTED BY WHAT HAS HAPPENED) Are you...all right?

JIM:

Marion...why you?

MARION:

Wha'?

JIM:

Why you? I didn't want to see you!

MARION:

(IN SURPRISE) Jim!

JIM:

(BUILDING) I tell you I didn't want to see you! I made myself believe it was all a dream - a nightmare - something that wasn't real - it would end! (BITTERLY) Now I see you again - (BROKENLY) and I know it's real!

MARION:

(WEEPILY) Oh, Jim...

JUAN:

So! You have not forgotten how to use the tongue, ah, amigo? (CHUCKLES) But then I told you I had another thought I will tell it to you now. I think maybe you will like it better if - (IN CLOSE) if your woman sees with her flesh if the oil is hot enough for you!

JIM AND MARION AD LIB EXCLAMATIONS OF SURPRISE

JUAN:

(CHUCKLES) Si, I knew it would loosen the tongue! Yet still another thought - what a pity it would be to drop the woman in the oil without hearing her sing a little more. So - (UP) Presente!

SOUND OF HEAVY OBJECT BEING DRAGGED FORWARD ACROSS THE STONE FLOOR, TOGETHER WITH:

MURMUR OF SOLDIERS VOICES AS THEY DRAG THE TORTURE INSTRUMENT FORWARD

JUAN:

Your eyes open wide, Englis-man. They say, "What is this?" With pleasure I tell you! You see the wood - it is long enough so that the woman's body can be strapped on it. And so your woman will be strapped on it! (UP) Hembra!

MURMUR OF SOLDIERS VOICES TOGETHER WITH:

MARION:

(FADING OFF SLIGHTLY AND THEN HOLD BACK) No! Jim! What now? Why are they strapping me down on this thing? (TEARFULLY) Jim! What are they going to do to me?

JUAN:

(IN COLD ENJOYMENT) Your woman ask many questions, Inglis-man - why you no answer her?...Your eyes they burn at me, but it does not matter to me, Inglis-man. To me you will not do what you did to Ferrado. The irons and the chains on your legs and arms are too heavy, eh, amigo?

MARION:

(BACK) Jim! Please! What are they going to do to me?

JUAN:

I tell you what, Ingles-man - see her head hangs back over the edge of the board...

MARION:

(BACK, IN QUICK ALARM) My hair! What are you doing with my hair?

JUAN:

(IN CLOSE) She has long hair - they tie the end of it to - how you call it? - the wind-up handle. (UP) Deprisa!

VOICE:

(BACK) Si, commandant!

JUAN:

Now, watch, Ingles-man! As he turns the handle --

SOUND:

OF RATCHET, BACK, CONTINUING BEHIND.

JUAN:

---the hair of the woman winds back --

MARION:

(BACK, CRIES OUT IN PAIN) Ahhh!

JUAN:

(AVIDLY) And the woman's head is pulled back --

RATCHET SOUND

MARION:

(CRIES OUT)

JUAN:

And back --

ANOTHER RATCHET SOUND TOGETHER WITH:

MARION:

(CRIES OUT IN UNBEARABLE PAIN)

JUAN:

(LAUGHINGLY) And back!

JIM:

(THRU HIS TEETH) Devil!

JUAN:

So! You talk again! (UP) And back!

ANOTHER RATCHET SOUND BACK TOGETHER WITH:

MARION:

(CRIES OUT IN UNBEARABLE PAIN)

JIM:

(HOARSELY) Stop!

JUAN:

(LAUGHINGLY) Oh, no! It will not stop!

RATCHET SOUND AGAIN, BACK

MARION:

(IN GREAT PAIN) Jim!

JUAN:

It will not stop until the hair is torn from the head or the neck is broken! What do you say now, Ingles-man? Are you so brave now? I stand so close to you and you can do nothing! Behind me the oil is boiling yet - when her neck is broken, we will cook her flesh until - AHHH! (CRIES OUT IN SURPRISE, FADING BACK SLIGHTLY TO PAINT PICTURE OF HIS FALLING BACKWARDS FOLLOWED BY HORRIBLE CRY OF PAIN CUTTING OFF ABRUPTLY)

IMMEDIATELY AFTER JUAN'S CRY OF SURPRISE WE HEAR HEAVY SPLASH AS HE FALLS BACKWARD INTO THE OIL - AFTER HIS CRY CUTS OFF, WE HEAR THE HEAVY BUBBLING OF THE OIL CONTINUING BEHIND:

SOLDIERS:

(IN HORROR AND ALARM) El commandant!
...The Englishman thrust him into the oil!
...The commandant!
...Out of the oil!...Get him out!
...No! He's dead! El commandant is dead!
...Under the oil!
...The Englishman - we must kill him.
...Si! Kill the Englishman!

JIM:

(STRUGGLING) Let go of me! No! (ETC. AD LIB)

SOLDIER:

Hang him up! Hang him by the neck!

MARION:

(BACK) No! Jim, fight them! Fight them!

JIM:

(AD LIB EXCLAMATIONS AS HE STRUGGLES)

SOLDIER:

The noose! Here - around his neck!

MARION:

No! No! No!

JIM:

(CHOKING) The rope - no - choking me!

SOLDIER:

Pull him up! Pull him up!

MARION:

(BACK) No! Jim! (SCREAMS UP HORRIBLY, HOLD FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN FADE BACK AND OUT QUICKLY)

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LAST SOUND OF HER SCREAM WE HEAR, FADING IN, THE RUMBLE OF THE KETTLE-DRUM - THE RUMBLE DOES NOT FADE IN FULL, BUT CONTINUES BACK BEHIND:

MARION:

(IN CLOSE - MOANING)

JIM:

(AFTER A SEVEN COUNT) Marion! Marion!

DRUM RUMBLE OUT KNIFE-CLEAN

MARION:

(RETURNING TO CONSCIOUSNESS) Wha' - Jim - wha' - (AS SHE RECOGNIZES HIM, WITH GROWING STRENGTH) Jim! Jim!

JIM:

(SOOTHINGLY) It's all right, dear. It's all right.

MARION:

They didn't hang you, Jim! They didn't hang you!

JIM:

Hang me? What - what are you talking about?

MARION:

I saw! The noose around your neck! They pulled you up! I saw --

JIM:

(INTERRUPTING) Marion! Wait a minute! What are you talking about?

MARION:

Your feet walking the air! I saw it!

JIM:

Marion, stop that! What's the matter with you?

MARION:

(DAZEDLY) Don't you...remember anything?

JIM:

Remember what?

MARION:

The men -

JIM:

There's been no one here!

MARION:

Eh?

JIM:

That's been the trouble! Brought me in to see this blasted Gevangenpoort prison or whatever you call it and the guide left us alone in this blasted dungeon and hasn't come back yet!

MARION:

Jim! Nothing...happened?

JIM:

(RATHER UNCERTAINLY) No, no, of course not! I - well - things went sort of dark suddenly and - and you fainted I think - I mean things went black before my eyes - I mean - oh, I don't know what I mean! Let's get out of this place!

MARION:

Yes!

JIM:

Come on. Here - I think we came in this door.

SOUND OF TURNING HANDLE AND DOOR OPENING SQUEAKILY WITH:

JIM:

Yes! This is the one!

BRING IN SOUND OF AUTOMOBILES, STREET TRAFFIC, ETC. AND BACK AS DOOR OPENS WIDELY

JIM:

Yeah! There's the street!

MARION:

(HAPPILY) The street! Automobiles! People! Oh, Jim! Nothing did happen! Nothing did!

JIM:

(A LITTLE TOO VEHEMENTLY) Of course nothing happened. Of course not! What could happen to two normal people who in the middle of the twentieth century who --

MARION:

(CRIES OUT IN HORROR) Ah!

JIM:

Marion! What ---

MARION:

(STRAINED NOTE OF INTENSE HORROR IN VOICE) Your neck!

JIM:

Wha'? What's the matter?

MARION:

(PAUSE, THEN IN CLOSE) There's the mark of the noose around your neck.

GONG:

ANNOUNCER:

Lights Out written especially for radio by Arch Oboler comes to you each Wednesday from our Chicago studios.