ANNCR:

Ironized Yeast presents...

OBOLER:

(SINISTER) Lights Out...everybody.

SFX:

CLOCK CHIMES, UNDER

OBOLER:

(STARTING ON 4TH CHIME, SINISTER) It...is...later... than...you...think...

ANNCR:

(STARTING ON 12TH CHIME) If you frighten easily, we sincerely suggest that you turn off your radio... now.

OBOLER:

(AS CHIMES FADE) My name? Arch Oboler. Tonight, the fourth in our series of tales of the weird and the unusual. If you like moon and June, and love and dove, and if you're afraid of the dark and of things of the dark, you're forewarned. For, tonight's story is about the greatest terror in the world: the conscience of a man.

SFX:

GONG

SFX:

HEAVY RAIN FALLING OUTSIDE, UNDER

ALEC:

(BRUTISH) Munghara! (NO RESPONSE) Munghara! Shut that door!

SFX:

DOOR SLAM ... RAIN FALLING IN BACKGROUND, UNDER

ALEC:

And you, get out. You smell up the place.

MUNGHARA:

Big fellow rain, Boss. Big fellow rain.

ALEC:

So what? Get outta here. (NO RESPONSE) Get out, I tell you! Don't squat there, lookin' up at me! Get out! (NO RESPONSE) All right, I'll throw you out! (LIFTING MUNGHARA TO HIS FEET) Up with you, you filthy devil! (DRAGS HIM TO DOOR)

MUNGHARA:

(GROANING, AS HE'S LIFTED AND DRAGGED)

SFX:

DOOR OPEN ... HEAVY RAIN OUTSIDE

ALEC:

(SHOVES HIM OUT) Out!

SFX:

DOOR SLAM ... RAIN IN BACKGROUND

ALEC:

(TO HIMSELF) Filthy beggar!

SFX:

WALKS TO DESK ... SITS DOWN

ALEC:

Gonna write my last letters.

SFX:

RUSTLE OF PAPER ... SCRATCHING OF PEN, UNDER

ALEC:

(WITH INCREASING BITTERNESS) Dear Sheldon... Well, here's my last letter to you. Another three weeks, and my exile's over... I'm coming home. After three years in this devil-forsaken bush country, home! Home. I've almost forgotten how to write that word. Well, Sheldon, my friend, tell them to fatten up the fatted calf. I'm coming home rich. S. Alec Riverton won't have to take their infernal snobbery. He's struck it rich out here, and he's coming back to buy the town and everybody in it.

SFX:

THROWS PEN ON DESK, ANGRILY

ALEC:

Liar! Liar, liar! You haven't struck it rich! You're still a tramp! You're nothing! Nothing! Three years in Hell, and you're nothing!

SFX:

MEN'S LAUGHTER, SLIGHTLY DISTANT, UP THEN UNDER

ALEC:

Yes, they always laughed at you, and they'll keep on laughing.

SFX:

WOMAN'S LAUGHTER JOINS THE MEN'S LAUGHTER, WHICH CONTINUES UNDER, ALL GETTING LOUDER

ALEC:

(SARCASTIC, WORKING TO A TIRADE) Alec Riverton. Have you heard? He's back in town! Yeah, sure, he's broke. He's always broke! Broke! Broke!

SFX:

DOOR OPEN ... LAUGHTER OUT CLEAN ... HEAVY RAIN OUTSIDE, UNDER

ALEC:

(BACK TO REALITY) Who--? (SEES) Munghara. Didn't I tell you to stay out?

SFX:

DOOR SLAM

MUNGHARA:

(APPROACHING) Boss Man... Boss Man...

ALEC:

Get out of here. Blast you, get out of--!

MUNGHARA:

Boss Man, look. Me find.

ALEC:

(PAUSE. GASP OF DISBELIEF) No...

MUNGHARA:

Me find. Me, Munghara, me find.

ALEC:

Give it to me.

MUNGHARA:

No. Me find. Me.

ALEC:

Diamond as big as your hand...

MUNGHARA:

Me take stone Queenland, buy two three wife, me, Munghara.

ALEC:

Listen, Munghara. I have no money--

MUNGHARA:

Me take Queenland. Boss Man Queenland got lot money. Oh, yes, lot more'n here.

ALEC:

But I'll give you my rifle! See? Big gun! You, Munghara...gimme that diamond.

MUNGHARA:

No. No give one gun. Munghara go Queenland, (HEADING FOR THE DOOR) get lot money, lot gun...

ALEC:

Munghara, wait! Listen to me!

SFX:

WALKS TO HIM

ALEC:

Money. I'll give you money. More money than Queensland man.

MUNGHARA:

(BEAT. FIRMLY) My hand. Give me money my hand.

ALEC:

Tomorrow. Sun come up. I'll give you money. Do ya hear me? Plenty, plenty money! (PAUSE) Now. Gimme the diamond.

MUNGHARA:

(BEAT) No. Boss Man no got money. Me go Queenland--

ALEC:

(GRABBING HIM) No! Wait! You can't go!

MUNGHARA:

Boss Man no hold me! (STRUGGLING ANGRILY) Munghara go!

ALEC:

Stand still, and listen to me, you filthy savage!

MUNGHARA:

(FIRMLY) No, no!

ALEC:

Listen to me!

MUNGHARA:

(GRUNTS, AS THEY KEEP STRUGGLING FOR THE DIAMOND)

ALEC:

I've got to have that diamond! It's my chance! You can't take it from me!

MUNGHARA:

Me go Queenland...

ALEC:

I'll give you anything you want! Just gimme a chance to buy it from you!

MUNGHARA:

No, me go...

ALEC:

(VICIOUS STRUGGLE) No, I'll not let you get away from me!

MUNGHARA:

No, me...

ALEC:

That diamond! Give it to me! You're not going to sell it to anybody else! Give it to me!

MUNGHARA:

(INTENSE GROWL) NO! ME. ME FIND IT. YOU NO TAKE FROM ME. NO! (GRUNTING & STRUGGLING, UNDER)

ALEC:

(STRUGGLING) You devil! I can't take it. I haven't got your strength.

MUNGHARA:

No. Me found!

ALEC:

All right. (STRUGGLING TO TAKE KNIFE FROM MUNGHARA'S BELT) Your knife! Knife... I'll kill you. Kill YOU! (GRUNT, AS HE STABS HIM)

SFX:

HE STABS MUNGHARA, AND DRAGS THE KNIFE DOWN, SLICING HIM OPEN

MUNGHARA:

(GASP OF PAIN, AND BREATH ESCAPING FROM LUNGS)

SFX:

ALEC SLOWLY WALKS AWAY FROM HIM

MUNGHARA:

Boss...Man...?

SFX:

THUD OF BODY

MUNGHARA:

(DYING) You... you kill Munghara... You go long way now, but long way no help you... You die... three day when you get off big fella boat... Three day, Boss River...ton. You... (ON DYING EXHALE) die!

SFX:

GONG

SFX:

SEA-PORT AMBIENCE, UNDER

CHARLES:

(CALLING, OFF) Alec! Alec Riverton!

ALEC:

Yes, Charles! Over here.

CHARLES:

(APPROACHING) By George, Alec! Really you!

ALEC:

Good to see you, Sheldon. You got my letter?

CHARLES:

Oh, obviously. I'm here. So you've struck it rich, heh? Good old Alec! What'd you find? The whole bunch has been crazy with curiosity, ever since I got your letter! Gold, platinum, tungsten?

ALEC:

(TENSE) I... I- I'm very tired, Charles.

CHARLES:

Oh, I knew you'd do it, Alec. All you needed was a little perseverence. Once you stayed down there, I knew you wouldn't come back til you did something important! All right, old fellow, tell me now. What did you find--?

ALEC:

If you don't mind, Charles, I'm very tired. I... I had a bad trip.

CHARLES:

Why... Oh, I'm sorry. I- I didn't stop to think. There'll be plenty of time to talk later, won't there?

ALEC:

(RELAXES SLIGHTLY) Yes. Yes, I suppose there will be.

CABBIE:

Cab, sir? Cab, sir? Lowest rates to the best hotels.

ALEC:

Yes, yes, I'll take a cab.

CABBIE:

Right in, sir.

SFX:

CAR DOOR OPEN

CHARLES:

Oh but, Alec, your bags...

ALEC:

(SLIGHTLY OFF) I'm having them sent on. Get in.

CHARLES:

All right.

SFX:

CAR DOOR SLAM ... ENGINE STARTS ... CAR ENGINE, UNDER

CABBIE:

Where to, Chief?

ALEC:

Arlington Hotel.

CABBIE:

Right.

SFX:

CAR-INTERIOR AMBIENCE, UNDER

CHARLES:

Well. Arlington, heh?

ALEC:

I can afford it.

CHARLES:

Well, I should hope so. One day's rent in that place would pay for a week in your old flat, eh, Alec?

ALEC:

(TENSE) What of it? I tell you, I can afford to do as I please.

CHARLES:

(PAUSE, CALM, BUT WARY) You, uh... you must have had a hard trip.

ALEC:

(ANGRILY) What do you mean?

CHARLES:

Just what I said.

ALEC:

No, you didn't say what you wanted to say. Now, say it! Say it!

CHARLES:

Alec... What's the matter?

ALEC:

Nothing's the matter! Nothing, I tell you. What can be the matter? I tell you, I've struck it rich! (BEAT) You hear me? Rich! I haven't failed. I... I... (ALMOST A WHIMPER) I... Oh, Charles. Help me.

CHARLES:

Alec, what is it?

ALEC:

I... I've got to talk. I've got to... Charles, I've got to tell someone... you... the truth. (PAUSE) Charles, listen to me. I... I had some trouble down there.

CHARLES:

Trouble?

ALEC:

Yes. W- with a man. A- and yet, not a man. Australian bushman...savage. He found a diamond that... a tremendous diamond. I had nothing. Three years of hell and work, and I had nothing! And that ignorant savage with a fortune he wouldn't know what to do with, so I... I- I...

CHARLES:

So what? You what?

ALEC:

I... I- I cheated him out of it. (PAUSE) Didn't you hear me?

CHARLES:

What am I supposed to say?

ALEC:

Yes... Yes, there's little you CAN say, isn't there? (CHUCKLE) I feel better already. (CHUCKLING) It takes the grind out of a thing to talk about it, doesn't it? (BEAT) And you won't tell anybody, will you, Sheldon? (NO REPLY. NERVOUS) Sheldon, don't just... LOOK at me like that! He did that too!

CHARLES:

He?

ALEC:

Munghara. The man I... (QUIETLY) Filthy savage! Why should his eyes...? Listen. You know what he said? (NO REPLY) He said that three days after I got off the boat...(LOST IN THOUGHT)

CHARLES:

Three days after you got off the boat, what?

ALEC:

(BACK TO REALITY) What? What did you say?

CHARLES:

Oh, I didn't say it. You did. You said that three days after you got off the--

ALEC:

(DISMISSING THE THOUGHT) No, no, that doesn't matter. All that matters is that I've got a pocketful of cash. (CHUCKLING) Hear that? That's important, isn't it?

CHARLES:

I, uh... I think I'm sorry for you.

ALEC:

Sorry for me? You crazy? I got all the money I can use for the rest of my life! (IMPERIOUSLY) Hey! You, cab-driver! Pull back that glass. I wanna talk to you!

SFX:

CAB INTERIOR WINDOW OPEN

CABBIE:

Sure, Chief. What's on your mind?

ALEC:

(IMPERIOUSLY) What do you take me for, a country cousin? This isn't the shortest way to town!

CABBIE:

Well, ya see, big-shot, it's this way. I just thought that...

(HIS VOICE TURNS INTO MUNGHARA'S, AS ALEC WHIMPERS IN TERROR)

 

MUNGHARA:

You die in three day when you get off big fellow boat. Three day, Boss Riverton, you die.

ALEC:

(SCREAMS IN TERROR)

CHARLES:

Alec! Alec, what is it?

ALEC:

(TERRIFIED) Stop the cab! Stop the cab! Stop it!!!

SFX:

CAB QUICKLY PULLS TO A STOP, UNDER

CHARLES:

Alec, what is it? What's wrong?

ALEC:

You! Cab-driver, what did you say?! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

CABBIE:

So help me, I- I ain't said nothin'.

ALEC:

No, no, you spoke!

CABBIE:

What'sa matter with you?

CHARLES:

Alec, what's wrong with you? He didn't say anything to get excited about.

CABBIE:

No, honest. All I said was that I'd take ya the way ya wanted to go.

ALEC:

Munghara's voice... I heard it!

CHARLES:

Munghara? B- but you said that you--

ALEC:

He's dead, yes, yes, I know he's dead. Dead and rotting, half across the world. He COULDN'T have spoken. And yet... I think I heard him. (ALMOST A WHISPER) The dead CAN'T speak!

SFX:

GONG

SFX:

LOUD, HEARTY, SCREECHING LAUGHTER OF A PARTY-CROWD

CHARLES:

(LAUGHING HEARTILY) Come on, Joe, tell us another one, will ya?

CROWD:

(AD LIB BANTER, FADING SLIGHTLY UNDER)

ALEC:

(TENSE) Do you mind if we go outside for a little while, Miss Bennett? Nan?

NAN:

(SMILING) All right. I can't take those jokes either.

SFX:

DOOR CLOSE ... CROWD OUT CLEAN

NAN:

(RELAXED BREATH) Well, this is more like it.

ALEC:

(RELAXED AND HAPPY) The air is good.

NAN:

Yes.

ALEC:

And... I haven't had a word alone with you all night, have I?

NAN:

Truthfully, I didn't expect you to talk.

ALEC:

Why not?

NAN:

Oh... Charlie Sheldon told me you weren't much of a talker.

ALEC:

Well, he's right. Where I've come from, I haven't had many opportunities to talk.

NAN:

(CHUCKLING) Oh, come now. Not Sing-Sing, Mr. Riverton?

ALEC:

(SMILING) Almost as bad as that. Down Under.

NAN:

Where?

ALEC:

The bush country, interior Australia.

NAN:

Oh.

ALEC:

You know... You're the first woman I've gone out with since I got back.

NAN:

I'm not quite sure whether that's so flattering.

ALEC:

(TENDERLY) It is. Until Sheldon introduced me to you, I... I just didn't wanna be with anyone.

NAN:

Thank you.

ALEC:

You're very pretty, aren't you?

NAN:

In the dark?

ALEC:

No, really.

NAN:

Mmm... Well, I'm all there.

ALEC:

(TAKING HER HAND) Nan...

NAN:

Three years in the bush country. Maybe I'd better go in.

ALEC:

No, stay. Please. Just talk to me.

NAN:

Talk?

ALEC:

Yes.

NAN:

All right. (PAUSE) How long have you been back?

ALEC:

One day.

NAN:

Is that all? (CHUCKLING) I'd better go in. (CONSIDERS IT A MOMENT) Oh, no. No, I won't. What were you doing in Australia? Business of some sort?

ALEC:

Uh... You. Please tell me about you. You're an actress.

NAN:

Two schools of thought. Right now, I'm what's unhappily known as "resting between engagements".

ALEC:

Mm. Let's get away from here.

NAN:

What do you mean?

ALEC:

Go. Someplace away from here.

NAN:

Should I?

ALEC:

I want you to. (TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS, AND KISSES HER)

NAN:

That does it. I... I can never say no to a good-looking man who knows his own mind. All right, Mr. Riverton. Where--

(HER VOICE TURNS INTO MUNGHARA'S)

 

MUNGHARA:

...ever you say, but don't forget that three day, Boss Man, you die.

ALEC:

(HORRIFIED) No!

NAN:

What's the matter? What is it?

ALEC:

(TIGHTLY) You! What did you just say?

NAN:

Well... Well, all I said was that, if you wanted--

(HER VOICE TURNS INTO MUNGHARA'S)

 

MUNGHARA:

...two, three day, Boss Man, you die.

ALEC:

(CLENCHED TEETH) You devil!

NAN:

What...?

ALEC:

(TIGHTLY) You think you can fool me, but it's YOU, Munghara! I heard you!

NAN:

Wh- what's the joke? I don't get it...

ALEC:

Out of your throat, I heard it!

NAN:

Well, now, look here, I--

ALEC:

I'll stop YOU! (GRABS HER THROAT)

NAN:

(STRUGGLING) Please!

ALEC:

(STRANGLING HER) I'll stop you, Munghara! I will!

NAN:

(STRUGGLING) Help! Help!!!

CHARLES:

(SLIGHTLY OFF) Hey, did somebody secure this door? Hey, stop that, you! (APPROACHING FAST) Let go of her! (STRUGGLING WITH ALEC) Let go of her, Alec! Alec! Help! Somebody help! He's choking her to death! He's choking her!

SFX:

GONG

ANNCR:

Two days have gone by since Alec Riverton got off the boat. And this is the third day. The fatal day of the Australian bushman's prophesy.

SFX:

GONG

CHARLES:

(SIGH) Now, look here, Alec. For twenty-four hours, you haven't moved out of this room. Now, why don't you--

ALEC:

(SHARPLY) Stop it! It's none of your business.

CHARLES:

Oh, isn't it? If not for me, you'd be in jail right now. Why do you think Nan Bennett didn't have you thrown in jail?

ALEC:

She needed money.

CHARLES:

Yeah. And it took me three hours' straight talking, to talk her into it. Once and for all, why did you choke her?

ALEC:

It's none of your business!

CHARLES:

Nothing's my business, no. I'm just the guy who happened to be chump enough to be friends, heh? ("BE REASONABLE") Alec, listen to me. Go to the police, and--

ALEC:

No, no, don't say that! (THREATENING) Sheldon, if you talk...

CHARLES:

(WEARY) I can't talk, and I won't talk, Alec. My infernal friendship. Alec... At least let me call in a doctor.

ALEC:

Doctor? What do I want with a doctor?

CHARLES:

For your nerves. Maybe--

ALEC:

Mind your own business, I tell you! I'm all right. There's nothing--

SFX:

KNOCKING ON DOOR

ALEC:

(SCARED WHISPER) Who's that?

CHARLES:

The waiter, I suppose, with our dinner.

ALEC:

Are you sure?

CHARLES:

Well, I--

SFX:

KNOCKING ON DOOR

ALEC:

(WHISPER) Ask who it is.

CHARLES:

Oh, of course. (CALLING) Who is it?

WAITER:

(OUTSIDE DOOR) Room service.

CHARLES:

Oh. Well, come in. Come in.

SFX:

DOOR OPEN

WAITER:

Your dinner, sir.

ALEC:

(TENSELY) Yes, yes, I know what it is. Well, set the table. Serve it.

WAITER:

Very good, Sir.

CHARLES:

You ARE in a state, all right, Alec. I- I just don't get it.

ALEC:

(TENSE WHISPER) The second day.

CHARLES:

What?

ALEC:

Never mind. Are you going to eat with me, or aren't you?

WAITER:

Everything is ready, Sir.

ALEC:

Well, it's about time! Here, you sit here, Sheldon.

CHARLES:

All right.

SFX:

SCRAPE OF CHAIRS

ALEC:

Waiter!

WAITER:

Yes, Sir?

ALEC:

Lights! Let's have some more lights here! I wanna see what I'm eating!

CHARLES:

(WEARY) Alec, there's plenty of light.

ALEC:

Don't YOU interfere. I've paid for service, and I'll get it. Waiter, didn't you hear me? Well, don't stand there gaping at me! Do as I said!

WAITER:

Yes, Sir, but I was...

(HIS VOICE TURNS INTO MUNGHARA'S)

 

MUNGHARA:

...just thinking that you die in three days.

ALEC:

(WHIMPERING IN TERROR, UNDER)

MUNGHARA:

...Three days, Boss Riverton, you die!

ALEC:

(SCREAM OF COMPLETE TERROR, AS HE OVERTURNS TABLE AND LAUNCHES HIMSELF AT THE WAITER)

SFX:

CRASH OF DISHES AND TABLE OVERTURNING

ALEC:

(STRANGLING WAITER) Kill you! Waiter, I'll KILL you!

WAITER:

(STRUGGLING) No, Sir! Let go of me! I didn't do anything!

CHARLES:

(STRUGGLING WITH ALEC) Alec, let go of him! Are you completely out of your mind?

ALEC:

(STRUGGLING) I'll KILL him! I will! I... will!

WAITER:

But I didn't do anything! You turned the table over! You did, Sir! I swear it! (GETS FREE)

CHARLES:

It's true, Alec! YOU overturned the table! The waiter didn't!

ALEC:

Munghara... His voice... Waiter, you spoke with HIS voice! I heard you! I saw your lips move!

CHARLES:

But Alec, what are you saying?

ALEC:

The waiter! What did he say? Quickly, what did he say before I... threw over the table? (NO REPLY) Answer me! What did he say???

CHARLES:

Why... I don't remember. What did you say, Waiter?

WAITER:

I... I merely said that, that I thought the meat was a bit cold. So, perhaps I'd better replace it.

ALEC:

Oh, no, you lie. You lie! I heard you! You spoke with HIS voice! GET OUT! That devil won't get me! He's dead! GET OUT! GET OU... (WEAKLY, WHIMPERING) Get ou... My head, I... I can't... (FAINTS)

SFX:

THUD OF BODY ON FALLEN DISHES

CHARLES:

Alec! (RUSHES TO HELP HIM) Alec!

SFX:

GONG

CHARLES:

But, Doctor... isn't there something you can do?

DOCTOR:

Violent again?

CHARLES:

All night. He- he'd doze off, and then he'd wake up screaming about devils and... Doctor, you've got to do SOMETHING for him.

DOCTOR:

If I only knew what was troubling him. Do you know?

CHARLES:

Y- yes... He's got some crazy fixation about some Australian savage. He told me he'd cheated him. He... keeps repeating, "The third day. The third day," over and over again in his nightmare.

DOCTOR:

The third day?

CHARLES:

Yes. And today, when dawn came, he- he began to cry. He said that today was the third day. Doctor, please. Come in and look at him for yourself.

DOCTOR:

As you wish.

SFX:

DOOR OPEN

ALEC:

(SCARED LITTLE GASPS) Wh- wh- who is it? What do you want?

CHARLES:

It's the doctor, Alec.

DOCTOR:

Yes, good morning, Mr. Riverton. What's this nonsense about nightmares?

ALEC:

(TERRIFIED, SHALLOW BREATHS) I- I- I'm glad you came, Doctor. He- he won't dare come when you're here, will he, Doctor? (LITTLE WHIMPERS, UNDER)

DOCTOR:

He? Why, who do you mean?

ALEC:

Oh, no, never mind what I mean. Just stay by me. Don't leave me. Not today. Sheldon, you won't leave me?

CHARLES:

Of course not, Alec. Please try to calm down, will ya, fella?

ALEC:

Y- y- you think I've gone crazy, don't you? Well, I tell you, I haven't. I DID hear him talk. Twice! Yes. Once, the first day, and once, the second day. But today, I must not hear him. You hear me? I MUST not! If I do, I die too, and I can't die! I WON'T die! (STARTING TO CRY) I- I never had anything. Now I can live. I- I can have all the things I... (TEARFUL WHISPER) Oh, please, please, I don't wanna die! (CRIES SOFTLY, UNDER)

DOCTOR:

(QUIETLY, TO CHARLES) I... I'd better give him the hypodermic.

CHARLES:

Yes, please, anything to quiet him. He's just so afraid, I can't help him.

DOCTOR:

Mr. Riverton, please.

ALEC:

(LIKE A FRIGHTENED CHILD) What...?

DOCTOR:

Your arm.

ALEC:

What are you going to do?

DOCTOR:

Why, I merely want to give you a sedative, subcutaneously. It will act quickly that way.

CHARLES:

Put you to sleep, Alec.

ALEC:

Sleep...? It'll put me to sleep?

DOCTOR:

Yes. Yes, of course.

ALEC:

Then give it to me quickly. He can't hurt me when I sleep, can he?

DOCTOR:

Who can't hurt you?

ALEC:

(TENSELY) Stop asking questions, I tell you! (LIKE AN ADDICT) Give me the injection, quickly. It's the third day. If I fool him today, he can't hurt me ever. I know he can't. Can you give me the injection? Here's my arm for it. Yes, hurry, hurry; I've got to be asleep!

DOCTOR:

(PREPARING THE NEEDLE) Yes, yes, of course. In a moment, you'll be all right. Yes, just another second and--

(HIS VOICE TURNS INTO MUNGHARA'S)

 

MUNGHARA:

...you die, Boss Riverton!

ALEC:

(WHIMPERING IN TERROR, UNDER)

MUNGHARA:

...You die!

ALEC:

(SCREAMS IN TERROR, THEN WHIMPERS)

CHARLES:

Alec!

DOCTOR:

Mr. Riverton! Mr. Riverton!

ALEC:

No, no! Stay away from me!

DOCTOR:

What?

ALEC:

I heard you!

DOCTOR:

(TO CHARLES) What does he mean?

ALEC:

You're not the doctor! You're HIM. The devil Munghara! (MUTTERING, UNDER) I know you. I do.

CHARLES:

Doctor, he's out of his mind. Do something.

DOCTOR:

Yes, of course. I'll give him the sedative.

ALEC:

(INSANE WHISPER) No, no. You're HIM. I know it. You're HIM. You speak with his voice. I heard you. You're HIM!

CHARLES:

Alec, the doctor wants to help you.

ALEC:

(MUTTERING, UNDER) I know you...

DOCTOR:

Well, of course.

ALEC:

(WHISPERING, WORKING UP TO AN INTENSE FRENZY) No, no, don't touch me, Munghara. Don't touch me, Munghara. Get away from me, Munghara. You're dead. I killed you. I saw the knife drive in you. You're dead, d'you hear me? You're dead! You're dead!!! The dead can't live again! (WHIMPERING IN TERROR) N- no... No! (YELLING) No, that knife in your hand! Don't do it to me! I'll give you back your diamond! (YELLING AND SOBBING) I'll give it back! I'll give you back your diamond, Munghara! DON'T KNIFE ME! DON'T! I'LL GIVE YOU THE DIA...(DISSOLVES INTO A TINY WHIMPER, THEN SILENCE)

CHARLES:

(PAUSE) Doctor... He's fainted.

DOCTOR:

Yes, he... (PAUSE, AS HE CHECKS FOR A PULSE) No. (CHECKS AGAIN) No, it can't be!

CHARLES:

Doctor, what is it? What's wrong?

DOCTOR:

(PAUSE. IN DISBELIEF) Your friend... He's dead.

CHARLES:

(LITTLE GASP. NUMBLY) Dead...?

DOCTOR:

Yes.

CHARLES:

Oh, my... But why? Why did he die?

DOCTOR:

Why, I... I don't know. I only TOUCHED him with the hypodermic needle.

SFX:

GONG

ANNCR:

(DEEP EXHALE) Hm. You mean, Mr. Oboler, the man died from the power of suggestion?

OBOLER:

You heard the story. Whether it was suggestion or the force of the Unknown, judge for yourself.

SFX:

12 CLOCK CHIMES, UNDER

OBOLER:

(STARTING ON 4TH CHIME, SINISTER) It...is...later... than...you...think...

SFX:

CHIMES FADE OUT