OBOLER:

(SINISTER) Arch Oboler's "Lights Out"...everybody.

SFX:

CLOCK CHIMES, UNDER

OBOLER:

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

OBOLER:

(AFTER 12TH CHIME) This is Arch Oboler, bringing you another in our stories of the unusual. And once again, we caution you. These "Lights Out" stories are definitely not for the timid soul. So, we tell you calmly and very sincerely, if you frighten easily, turn off your radio now.

SFX:

GONG WITH LONG REVERB

SFX:

FADE IN SOUND OF AUTOMOBILE, FADE DOWN AND CONTINUING BEHIND:

LONA:

Alice?

ALICE:

Huh?

LONA:

Do you think we're still in the United States?

ALICE:

I'm beginning to doubt it.

LONA:

Are you sure you got the right address?

ALICE:

Of course.

LONA:

Well, don't be so dogmatic. You HAVE made mistakes!

ALICE:

Sounds as if you're starting to get annoyed.

LONA:

Well, I am! We've been driving so long, my back feels as if somebody were doing a "Big Apple" on it.

ALICE:

Oh, we'll be there soon enough.

LONA:

You know, Alice, sometimes that calm nature of yours makes me good and tired!

ALICE:

You sound as if you want to quarrel.

LONA:

I'm sorry. It's just that, well, I looked forward to this vacation for weeks, and now that it's happening, well, it isn't so much fun!

ALICE:

Oh, wait till you get to my aunt Harriet's. You can curl up in the alfalfa and sleep for days.

LONA:

Sleep! Oh, that's a lovely word! Just imagine... sleeping as long as you want without having to worry about making an eight o'clock class.

ALICE:

Perfect!

LONA:

But are you SURE you know where your Aunt Harriet lives?

ALICE:

(LAUGHING) I've run out of synonyms for "Of course I do"!

LONA:

Oh, I just like to reassure myself. I certainly hope she has soft beds. Oh, and that reminds me... You DID send her that letter that we're coming?

ALICE:

No.

LONA:

Say that again!

ALICE:

No, I didn't send the letter.

LONA:

You mean to say that she doesn't even know that we're coming to stay with her?

ALICE:

Well, I decided it'd be more fun if we sort of surprised her.

LONA:

Well, of all the brain storms! Walking in on somebody you haven't seen for ten years, and expecting her to welcome you!

ALICE:

She's my only aunt, isn't she?

LONA:

But...but maybe she won't have room for us.

ALICE:

Don't be silly! I told you, Aunt Harriet lives alone and likes it.

LONA:

Well, maybe she WON'T like it if we barge in on her.

ALICE:

Don't be silly! Of course we'll be welcome! From what I've heard, she's a little old darling.

LONA:

When you were eight, she was a darling. For all YOU know, she's taken the welcome mat in YEARS ago!

ALICE:

(LAUGHINGLY) Oh!

LONA:

Wait a minute. Didn't you say we were supposed to go down Camden Road three miles?

ALICE:

Yes.

LONA:

Then you ARE lost! That sign back there! This isn't Camden Road!

ALICE:

You're silly!

LONA:

I saw it with my own eyes! It said "Pig-Snackle Road"!

ALICE:

(LAUGHING UNBELIEVINGLY) Oh!

SFX:

AUTO EFFECT DOWN EVEN MORE

LONA:

(TRIUMPHANTLY) See that? Pig-Snackle Road! You ARE wrong!

ALICE:

(GURGLING WITH LAUGHTER) Pig-Snackle Road! That's too good to be true!

LONA:

Are you crazy? Laughing at a name of a place when you haven't got any idea where you are, and my back's breaking--

ALICE:

Don't be silly! I'm sure that we'll find--(UP EXCITEDLY) There! There it is!

LONA:

There's what? The edge of the world?

ALICE:

No, the cross road! The entrance to Aunt Harriet's place ought to be just a little bit beyond it.

LONA:

Hmm. That's what YOU say!

ALICE:

Yes! There it is! Here, we turn here. Turn.

SFX:

AUTOMOBILE TURNING AT RATHER HIGH SPEED SO THAT IT CREAKS AS IT GOES AROUND THE CURVE

LONA:

Hey! Hey, wait a minute! What are you trying to do? Turn over?

ALICE:

(HAPPILY) It won't be long now!

LONA:

(JERKILY) You're telling me! This is no road; it's a cow path!

ALICE:

Oh, Aunt Harriet likes privacy. I remember Dad and Mother used to say that.

LONA:

Another hundred feet on this road, and I won't need a bed; I'll need a stretcher! Come on, slow down before--

SFX:

LOUD BANG, BACK SLIGHTLY AS TIRE BLOWS OUT-AUTOMOBILE PULLS TO A STOP

LONA:

I knew it. What a road! Even the tires couldn't take it.

ALICE:

(LAUGHINGLY) What do we care? Aunt Harriet's place is just a little ways down. We'll walk.

LONA:

You mean, leave the car right here in the middle of the road?

ALICE:

It's Aunt Harriet's own private road. No one'll bother it! Oh, come on; take your bag. Let's get out of here!

LONA:

Oh, all right. I'm just a stooge...

SFX:

CAR DOORS OPEN ... PAUSE ... THEN CLOSE

ALICE:

Come on, let's go! We'll be just in time for dinner!

LONA:

That's what YOU think!

ALICE:

What do you mean?

LONA:

I mean maybe your Aunt Harriet doesn't like guests who walk in just like that. Hey, Alice, NOW what are you stopping for?

ALICE:

(A LITTLE UNEASILY) I...I just noticed.

LONA:

Noticed what?

ALICE:

How dark it's getting.

LONA:

So what? Come on! When the sun starts setting, it gets dark. I learned that in Physical Science 1-O-1.

ALICE:

Yeah, but...back there on the road, it was so light, and here it's so...dark and gloomy.

LONA:

What's the matter with you? Are you gonna take your suitcase and come on, or are you going to stand there being afraid of the dark?

ALICE:

I'm all right.

LONA:

So many trees around here...no wonder it's dark! If that Aunt Harriet of yours wants privacy, she sure got it! And I hope when we get there, I'll have the same pri--

ALICE:

(UNEASY) Lona...

LONA:

Now what?

ALICE:

Look at that mist, coming up through the trees...

LONA:

Yeah.

ALICE:

Like long white curling fingers...

LONA:

Oh, stop that, will you? It's-- it's just that it's getting late, colder; moisture's condensing. Oh, will we ever get there? Riding and walking... Have you actually GOT an Aunt Harriet? Come on, let's go back--

ALICE:

(HAPPILY) Hey, wait, Lona! There it is!

LONA:

Huh? Hallelujah! It IS a house! Well, it's about time! (FADE FAST) It's about time...

SFX:

SHORT TRANSITIONAL PAUSE

SFX:

FADE IN KNOCKING ON HEAVY DOOR, CONTINUING BEHIND:

LONA:

Knock harder, Alice! Knock harder!

ALICE:

I can't. It hurts my knuckles!

LONA:

Oh, let me!

SFX:

LOUDER KNOCKING CONTINUING

ALICE:

She...she MUST be home! There's a light upstairs!

LONA:

And you were going to surprise her, eh?

ALICE:

But she never leaves this place!

LONA:

Oh, go on. You don't even know that she lives here!

SFX:

KNOCKING STOPS

LONA:

A fine business. Car with a flat, stuck in the middle of nowhere, nobody home in this God-forsaken place. And me so tired I could sleep standing on my head.

ALICE:

But she MUST be home!

LONA:

You're repeating yourself. Oh, if this is a vacation, I'm a--

SFX:

BOLT BEING PULLED BACK FROM DOOR, BACK

ALICE:

Wait a minute! Wait! There's someone at the door!

LONA:

Oh, yes.

SFX:

DOOR OPENING SQUEAKILY AND SLOWLY A FEW INCHES

AUNT:

(OFF SLIGHTLY)(SHE HAS AN OLD CRACKED VOICE) Yes? Oh, what do you want?

ALICE:

I'm-- I'm looking for... I mean, are you Miss Saugus?

AUNT:

Yes, yes. What do you want?

ALICE:

(HAPPILY) Then you ARE Aunt Harriet!

LONA:

(SOTTO) Hallelujah again.

AUNT:

Who's calling me Aunt Harriet? Who, I say? Who are you?

ALICE:

Why, I'm Alice! Alice Preston!

SFX:

DOOR OPENING FULL, BUT SQUEAKILY

AUNT:

(IN A LITTLE CLOSER) Alice? Oh, yes, yes, bless my soul, I know you! Come in! Come in!

LONA:

(SOTTO) Hallelujah. We're here.

AUNT:

(FADE) Come in! Come in! Close the door.

SFX:

DOOR CLOSES

ALICE:

Oh, Aunt Harriet, you don't know how glad I am to see you! Did we have a time getting here!

AUNT:

Yes, yes. (OFF) Come right in here, right in here.

ALICE:

(SOTTO) There. There, Lona. I told you we'd be welcome.

LONA:

She didn't even ask who I was.

AUNT:

(VERY AFFABLY) Now put your things down here and sit down and make yourselves comfortable.

ALICE:

Thanks. Aunt Harriet, this is my girl friend, Lona Stevens. We room together at the University, and I asked her to come along with me because--

AUNT:

It's all right, my child, it's all right. Anyone's welcome. Anyone at all.

LONA:

That's very kind of you, er, Aunt Harriet. I hope you won't mind my calling you that, but Alice always--

AUNT:

There, my child, it's all right. A name's a name. Now, sit here and be comfortable.(FADE) I'll get some tea. Yes, yes...nice tea...

ALICE:

(UP) Oh, no, really, Aunt Harriet--

SFX:

DOOR, SLIGHTLY OFF

LONA:

(SOTTO) Well! Apparently, your Aunt Harriet does what she wants to do.

ALICE:

(CHUCKLING) Doesn't she.

LONA:

Oh, well, as long as we're here... (LOOKS AROUND) Like something out of a museum, isn't it?

ALICE:

What?

LONA:

The house...the furnishings.(CHUCKLES) Look at the chairs and that sofa! Are they prehistoric or are they prehistoric?

ALICE:

(A BIT UNEASY) Yeah. I, uh, I didn't think she was so old...

LONA:

Old? Oh, you mean your aunt?

ALICE:

Yes.

LONA:

Oh, well! After all, ten years living alone out in this God-forsaken place... But I sort of think she's nice!

ALICE:

(TENSE) Do you?

LONA:

Taking us right in, and not asking us all sorts of silly questions. That's the kind of relative to have! You know, if I were to go barging in on any of mine, first they'd give me a third degree on how come I was away from school, and then they'd give me another third degree on how long I was going to stay, and--

ALICE:

(LOW & TENSE) Lona!

LONA:

What's the matter?

ALICE:

Back there in the shadows. What...what, what is--

LONA:

I don't--

ALICE:

It's something moving.

LONA:

Why,it's a dog!

ALICE:

Oh?

SFX:

FAINT MEOW OF CAT, FAR BACK

LONA:

(IN GREAT AMAZEMENT) Why, no! It's...it's a cat!

ALICE:

(UNBELIEVINGLY) Cat?

SFX:

CAT MEOWS AGAIN, FAR BACK, A SULLEN SORT OF SOUND

ALICE:

(AGHAST) It... it IS a cat...

LONA:

(AGHAST) Not a cat! Look at the size of it... Tiger...

ALICE:

Lona... What'll we do?

LONA:

Don't move! If we do, it'll--

SFX:

DOOR OPENS, BACK

AUNT:

(IN FAST) Now here's your tea, young ladies. Nice warm tea, just what you need...

ALICE:

(IN TENSE HORROR) Aunt Harriet...

AUNT:

What's the matter? What--

SFX:

CAT MEOWS FAR BACK, AS BEFORE

AUNT:

(UNDERSTANDINGLY) Oh... He's frightened you.

ALICE:

What-- what is it?

AUNT:

(SHARPLY) You've got eyes, haven't you?

ALICE:

Yes, but--

LONA:

It's so dark in that corner we can't hardly tell! (LAUGHS) It's-- it's not a tiger, is it?

AUNT:

(SHARPLY) Don't talk nonsense!

ALICE:

Well, what is it?

AUNT:

He shouldn't be here at all! It's much too early for him!

ALICE:

Aunt Harriet, didn't you hear me? I-- I asked you what it is.

AUNT:

(IRRITABLY) What do you think he is?

ALICE:

It...it can't be a cat!

LONA:

Why, he's as big as a police dog!

AUNT:

All right, all right, come upstairs! I'll show you to your rooms.

LONA:

There CAN'T be a CAT THAT size!

AUNT:

This way... (FADE) This way... I'll show you to your rooms...

ALICE:

But, Aunt Harriet--

AUNT:

(SHARPLY) Come along, now. I say, now come along...up these stairs...

LONA:

Come on, Alice!

ALICE:

But why does she--

LONA:

Come on! We better do as she says!

ALICE:

All right.

SFX:

THREE WOMEN GOING UPSTAIRS SLOWLY, CONTINUING BEHIND:

AUNT:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) Must be tired, you two... Sleep, that's what you need...sleep...

ALICE:

But, Aunt Harriet, how could it be a cat, when we--

AUNT:

We'll talk no more about it! We'll talk no more about it now!

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS OUT

AUNT:

(OFF) Tomorrow. We'll talk about that tomorrow morning.

SFX:

DOOR OPENING, BACK SLIGHTLY

AUNT:

(BACK) In here, my dears. In here.

LONA:

(SOTTO) Come on, Alice!

ALICE:

(SOTTO) But why doesn't she answer me?

AUNT:

(IN FULL) There, you see? A very comfortable room for both of you to rest in. Nice wide bed. Everything clean. (FADE SLOWLY) You'll get a nice rest here, yes, you will! Fine rest!

ALICE:

(OVERLAPPING, FROM "EVERYTHING CLEAN") But Aunt Harriet! Wait! Just a minute. I-- I want to find out something about this--

SFX:

CLOSING DOOR, BEHIND

LONA:

Oh, forget it, Alice! Whatever it is, you can find out in the morning!

ALICE:

But that cat--

LONA:

Oh, cat! Cat! Can't you say anything but cat?

ALICE:

It was so huge and--

LONA:

Huge, nothing!

ALICE:

What?

LONA:

We just imagined it, that's all! I mean, there in the shadows it looked monstrous! You heard it! It sounded just like an ordinary tom-cat!

ALICE:

But I saw...

LONA:

You didn't see any more than I saw, and I think it was just a long shadow that got us fooled, that's all!

ALICE:

(SLOWLY) Yes...that could be it, couldn't it?

LONA:

Of course! You remember in Psych 1-O-1 class, old Pudgy-wudgy told us about the tricks your eyes play in bad light when it comes to judging size!

ALICE:

Yeah. Yeah, I-- I remember. Local signs they called it.

LONA:

Right! Well, that's the way it was with that cat! (LAUGHS) I'll bet you your Aunt Harriet thinks we're both a little screwy. That's why she got us up here to bed in a hurry! (SIGHS) Oh... Bed! Isn't that a wonderful word? And will WE sleep!

ALICE:

(UNEASILY) I... I hope so... (FADE) I hope so...

SFX:

BEGIN TO FADE IN TICKING OF CLOCK WITH ABOVE FADE, HOLD FOR A FEW SECONDS AS TRANSITION, THEN FADE DOWN AND OUT BEHIND

LONA:

(SOFTLY, DOUBTFULLY) Alice...

ALICE:

What?

LONA:

You're not sleeping either, are you?

ALICE:

No... I, um... I wanted to talk to you for hours, but I wasn't sure if--

LONA:

I thought YOU were asleep.

ALICE:

Somehow, I... I can't.

LONA:

Me neither. I can't understand why. I'm the one who was crying how tired I was.

ALICE:

Bed's so comfortable.

LONA:

House is quiet enough.

ALICE:

(UNEASY) The house...

LONA:

Hm?

ALICE:

Maybe that's why we can't sleep.

LONA:

What do you mean?

ALICE:

There's...there's something about the house...

LONA:

What?

ALICE:

Something...oppressive...that-- that won't let us sleep.

LONA:

Oh, you're crazy!

ALICE:

No, I-- I'm not!

LONA:

It's just that, well, that we're too tired to sleep, that's all! Yes, that's it! Too tired! Nerves on edge!

ALICE:

(QUIET AND UNEASY) I've been lying here for hours trying to figure it out. Now I know.

LONA:

Will you stop talking like that?!

ALICE:

Don't you feel it, Lona? Don't you?

LONA:

Well, I--

ALICE:

Tell the truth. You DO feel it!. It's... it's something heavy in the air...pressing down on us. I'm... I'm awfully frightened, Lona. Awfully.

LONA:

Well, you're not going to frighten me! Why...why, this is your own Aunt Harriet's house! She's down there, sleeping, and she--

SFX:

HUGE CAT SUDDENLY WAILS, FAR BACK

LONA & ALICE:

(CRY OUT IN FRIGHT)

SFX:

CAT WAILS AGAIN, FAR BACK

ALICE:

(IN TENSE TERROR) That...that cat!

LONA:

Yeah!

SFX:

CAT WAILS AGAIN

ALICE:

It sounds huge, doesn't it?

LONA:

(TRYING TO BE REASSURING) That's because it's so quiet in the house.

SFX:

ANOTHER HUGE CAT JOINS THE FIRST CAT IN AN INTERMITTENT CATERWAULING DUET. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE QUALITY OF THEIR CRIES THAT AN ARGUMENT IS OCCURRING. GO FOR REALISM, NOT COMEDY. ONE CAT WAILS, AND THE OTHER CAT ANSWERS. THIS CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY BEHIND

ALICE:

Lona! There's another one!

LONA:

Ssh!

ALICE:

I tell you there's two of them!

SFX:

CAT SOUNDS INCREASE IN TEMPO

ALICE:

Lona, listen to them. They're not ordinary cats! Listen to them!

SFX:

GONG WITH LONG REVERB

SFX:

CATS' ARGUMENT CONTINUES, UNDER

LONA:

(VERY TENSELY) They...they CAN'T be cats!

ALICE:

I'll call Aunt Harriet! She'll tell me! She'll make them stop!

SFX:

CATS BEGIN A TREMENDOUS FIGHT, FAR BACK

LONA:

Alice! Wait! Don't go out there, you little fool!

ALICE:

Aunt Harriet! I've got to--

LONA:

Get away from that door! Listen to those things down there! Listen to them!

SFX:

HORRIBLE FIGHT OF THE CATS CONTINUES FOR A FEW SECONDS BEHIND:

ALICE:

No, no! I can't stand any more of it! (UP) Aunt Harriet! Aunt Harriet, make them stop! (UP DRAWN OUT IN GREAT TERROR) Aunt Harriet!

SFX:

THE CAT CRIES CUT OFF KNIFE-CLEAN. THERE'S A FEW SECONDS OF TENSE SILENCE, THEN:

LONA:

(IN HUSHED VOICE) They've...they've gone!

ALICE:

(RATHER WEEPILY) What...what were they?

LONA:

Could two cats make all that noise?

ALICE:

(UP) Aunt Harriet! Why don't you come in here?

LONA:

No, no, Alice! Don't open that door!

ALICE:

But Aunt Harriet-- Why doesn't she answer me? She must know what it's all about! Why doesn't she?

LONA:

(INTERRUPTING SHARPLY) Wait!

ALICE:

What?

LONA:

Listen!

SFX:

SOFT PADDED SOUND OF SOMETHING COMING UP THE STAIRS VERY SLOWLY, FADING IN

PLAY THE FOLLOWING VERY SLOWLY, BUILDING UP TENSION

ALICE:

Someone's...coming up the stairs!

LONA:

Yes!

ALICE:

My...my Aunt Harriet?

LONA:

It's...it's not quite like footsteps.

ALICE:

(IN CLOSE IN A TERROR-STRICKEN WHISPER) The cat!

LONA:

Maybe...

ALICE:

The...the door?

LONA:

Cats...can't...open doors.

SFX:

SOFT FOOT-PADS COME IN CLOSE AND STOP

ALICE:

It...it's right outside the door.

LONA:

I can hear, can't I?

ALICE:

Is...is it a cat?

LONA:

(SHARPLY) Of course it is!

ALICE:

You...you don't think so either, do you?

LONA:

It...it's just sitting there.

ALICE:

Yes.

LONA:

(SHARPLY) Let it sit there!

ALICE:

I'm...I'm so afraid!

LONA:

When morning comes, we'll get out of here!

ALICE:

(UP) Aunt Harriet! Aunt Harriet, why don't you answer me?

LONA:

Oh, stop that!

ALICE:

(UP CALLING) There's...there's something outside of our door, Aunt Harriet! We don't know what it is!

LONA:

What's the use of calling her? She won't answer you!

ALICE:

Why do you say that?

LONA:

Because she hasn't answered us, and she won't!

ALICE:

But she's in the house! She must know--

LONA:

Wait!

SFX:

FADE IN ANIMAL'S CLAWS SCRATCHING AT DOOR JAMB

ALICE:

(SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH)

LONA:

(TENSELY) Trying...to get in...

ALICE:

As...as long as the door's shut...

LONA:

We're...we're safe enough.

ALICE:

(CALLS) Aunt Harriet! Oh, PLEASE wake up, Aunt Harriet!

LONA:

(GASPS SUDDENLY) No!

ALICE:

What?

LONA:

Look... The doorknob... It's turning!

ALICE:

(GREAT GASP OF HORROR)

LONA:

Alice! Cats can't open doors!

ALICE:

You...you mean, Aunt Harriet? (HOPEFULLY) Yes. Yes! It...it must be Aunt Harriet!

LONA:

(RELIEVED) She's ill, and she's trying to open the door! (FADE) I'll open it for her!

ALICE:

No! Oh, no, Lona, stay away from that door! I'm afraid! Oh...oh, don't!

LONA:

(BACK) Come right in, Aunt Harriet!

SFX:

OPENING DOOR BEHIND ABOVE-SLOWLY, SQUEAKILY

LONA:

(GREAT TEARING SCREAM OF HORROR, BACK) NOOOOO!!!

SFX:

GONG WITH LONG REVERB

SFX:

FADE IN WIND, AND HOLD BACK, EERILY BEHIND:

ALICE:

(COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AND SOBBING PITIFULLY. AFTER A FEW SECONDS SHE BEGINS TO MURMUR WEEPILY TO HERSELF) No... Oh, no... Oh, Lona...I...I've got to get help...I've got to... (MOANS) Oh, my arm! I can't stand the pain...I've got to!...The wood's so thick... I'm lost...I'm lost... And I've...I've got to get help! Someone's got to help me! (CRIES HEAVILY FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN, DETERMINED) I'll-- I'll-- I'll get help for you, Lona! I'll-- I'll get help!

SFX:

WIND HOWLS

ALICE:

(SLOWLY) It's getting brighter... It's dawn... If...if I could only find a path...a road...(WEEPS) Bushes tearing my clothes... Why do you tear my clothes? I...I just... just want to get help for Lona... I'll get help for you, Lona! I will! I will!

SFX:

BEGIN TO FADE IN AUTOMOBILE APPROACHING

ALICE:

(SUDDENLY) Road! Road! (EXCITEDLY) An automobile! (UP) Help! Help! Stop! You've got to stop!

SFX:

AUTOMOBILE IN CLOSE, STOPPING, UNDER

ALICE:

Help me! Please! Oh, help me! Oh, Lona! Please!

SHERIFF:

(IN FAST) What is it, sister? What's the matter? Who are you?

ALICE:

(HALF-HYSTERICALLY) That cat! Help me! Come with me! Right now! Please! Don't talk! Hurry! (CONTINUES UNDER)

SHERIFF:

(THRU HER HYSTERICAL PLEADING) Now take it easy. Take it easy. I'll...I'll help you. Sure, I'll help you. I'm Sheriff of this county!

ALICE:

Hurry! You must help me! Please!

SHERIFF:

Now wait a minute! Are you the girls who left that car on the side of the road back in the woods?

ALICE:

The car...car... Yes, yes...we...we left our car there! Oh, hurry! Please help me! My-- my friend Lona! (CONTINUES UNDER)

SHERIFF:

(UP) Joe!

JOE:

(BACK) Yeah?

SHERIFF:

These are the girls!

JOE:

(BACK) Yeah?

SHERIFF:

We found your car in the woods, and we've been looking for you for hours!

ALICE:

Please don't stand there talking! Hurry! We've got to help her! (SOBBING) It-- it's killing her!

SHERIFF:

Killing her?! Joe! Did you hear what she said?

ALICE:

Hurry! Don't talk; hurry! Hurry... (FADING) Hurry...

SFX:

WIND AS TRANSITION, FADING DOWN BEHIND:

ALICE:

(FADE IN, WEEPING) Hurry! Please hurry! I beg of you! Hurry!

SHERIFF:

All right, now, take it easy, sister! This is the house, ain't it?

ALICE:

Yes! Oh, yes! This is the place! Right-- right here!

JOE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) The old Saugus house!

SHERIFF:

Yeah! Uh, try the door, Joe!

SFX:

DOOR OPENING, BACK

JOE:

(BACK SLIGHTLY) It's open, Sheriff!

SHERIFF:

Let's go!

ALICE:

Upstairs! She's upstairs! (KEEPS MUTTERING HYSTERICALLY, UNDER)

JOE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) Nobody down here, Sheriff!

SHERIFF:

All right, let's get up there! I don't know what this is all about, but I'm soon gonna find out!

SFX:

THEY RUN UP STAIRS, UNDER

ALICE:

(UP) Lona! We're coming for you! Lona, we're coming!

SFX:

FOOTSTEPS OUT

JOE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) Hey, what room is it, Sheriff?

ALICE:

(MUTTERING HYSTERICALLY) Right-- right here! That room! That room right there! Hurry! It's killing her! (KEEPS MUTTERING, UNDER)

SHERIFF:

Get your gun out, Joe!

JOE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) The door's partly open!

SHERIFF:

O.K., kick it open! But watch yourself!

SFX:

THUD OF FOOT ON DOOR-DOOR FLYING OPEN, OFF SLIGHTLY

SHERIFF:

(UP) Careful, Joe!

JOE:

(BACK) Sheriff!

SHERIFF:

Sister, you stay here!

ALICE:

(WEEPING) Lona!

JOE:

(FADING IN) Sheriff! There's nobody in this room!

SHERIFF:

Huh?

JOE:

Look for yourself!

SHERIFF:

Now what the--

ALICE:

(WEEPING) Lona! Lona, where are you?

SHERIFF:

Hey, now, wait a minute, sister, are you sure that--

ALICE:

(QUIET HYSTERIA) Yes! Yes, she was here! Right here! And it-- it came in the door! And-- and jumped at her! I turned! I ran! I jumped out o' the window!

JOE:

(OFF SLIGHTLY) Hey! This window ain't broke!

ALICE:

But I tell you I went through it! See... see my arm!

SHERIFF:

(DOUBTFULLY) Yeah, but-- but there's no one in here!

JOE:

And the bed, why it ain't even messed up! Did you say you two were sleeping, sister?

ALICE:

We were! We were! (WEEPING) Oh, Lona! Where are you? What has it done with you? (SUDDEN THOUGHT) Aunt Harriet! She'll know! Or...or has it killed her, too?

JOE:

(BACK) Sheriff! Come quick! Come quick! Bring the girl!

SHERIFF:

Come along, sister! Joe, what is it?

JOE:

Look in there!

ALICE:

Aunt Harriet!

SHERIFF:

Old lady sitting in the rocker and knitting.

ALICE:

Oh, Aunt Harriet! Lona! Where is she? What happened? Oh, Aunt Harriet, please tell me!

SHERIFF:

Yeah. Yeah, tell us all!

AUNT:

(CALMLY) And might I ask what this is all about?

ALICE:

(AGHAST) Aunt Harriet! What's the matter? Didn't you hear anything? Lona...that-- that horrible cat-thing! What did it do to her? Answer me! What did it do?

AUNT:

Would you gentlemen tell me who is this hysterical young girl?

ALICE:

(AGHAST) Aunt Harriet!

SHERIFF:

Now look here, don't you know who this girl is?

AUNT:

I certainly do not!

ALICE:

But Aunt Harriet! I'm Alice! I came here with Lona! Don't you remember?

AUNT:

You must be mistaken. I have been alone all night.

SHERIFF:

You hear that, Joe?

ALICE:

No! No, no! I was here! Lona and I did come here! It's a horrible joke, that's what it is! Aunt Harriet, please... Please tell them you're just joking! Lona... where is she?

AUNT:

(SLOWLY AND DISTINCTLY) I don't know what you're talking about. I never saw you before in all my life.

ALICE:

(IN DAWNING HORROR) No... Oh, no, that-- that's not true, Aunt Harriet! Aunt Harriet, why do you say that? (MUTTERS INCOHERENTLY, UNDER)

SHERIFF:

(INTERRUPTING SHARPLY) Now wait a minute! Wait a minute! I've had about enough of this outta you, sister! Chasing up here with all that bunkum about cats and killings and all that! You better come along with us!

ALICE:

No, no... Everything I said to you was true... It was true! (ETC. AD LIB)

SHERIFF:

Joe, take her other arm!

ALICE:

(STRUGGLING AND WEEPING) No, no! Let go of me! Please, Aunt Harriet! Don't let them take me away! Those horrible cat-things! I tell you, there were two of them here! Oh, don't let them take me away!

SHERIFF:

Now, don't mind her, old lady. We'll take care of her.

AUNT:

(BEGINNING TO TITTER WITH HORRIBLE GLEE) Yes, yes! Take good care of her! Cracked little thing! (BEGINS TO LAUGH HORRIBLY)

SHERIFF:

Now come along, sister...

ALICE:

(SUDDENLY) No! Wait! (HORRIFIED) Look at her teeth as she laughs. Look...at...her...teeth!

JOE:

Mother in heaven, they're...they're CAT'S TEETH!

SFX:

THE HORRIBLE LAUGHTER STOPS ABRUPTLY WITH HIS STATEMENT "CAT'S TEETH"

SHERIFF:

A-- and her hands! They're-- they're claws!

AUNT:

(WITH A SORT OF CAT OVERTONE) No! No! Stay away from me!

SHERIFF:

Grab her, Joe!

AUNT:

(AS SHE STRUGGLES, IT IS MORE OF A GREAT CAT STRUGGLING THAN A WOMAN. CAT SOUNDS INTERMINGLE WITH HER HUMAN CRIES) Let me go!

JOE:

Stop, you!

AUNT:

Let me go! (ANGRY CAT SOUNDS)

SHERIFF:

(IN GREAT PAIN) Clawing my eyes! Get her, Joe! She's getting away!

SFX:

THREE GUNSHOTS

AUNT:

(FAR BACK, HORRIBLE CAT CRY OF AGONY, FOLLOWED BY)

SFX:

THUD OF BODY ON FLOOR

SHERIFF:

(BREATHING HARD) Joe...

JOE:

Dead.

ALICE:

(WEEPILY) Oh...oh, Aunt Harriet...

SHERIFF:

She's no aunt of anything human, I can tell you that! Look at her!

ALICE:

(DAZEDLY) But... but my Aunt Harriet? Aunt Harriet Saugus?

JOE:

Saugus! D'you hear that, Sheriff?

SHERIFF:

Yeah. (TO ALICE) So you... you came here thinking she was Mrs. Saugus, did you, girl?

ALICE:

(WEEPILY) Yes. Yes, Lona and I. And...and Lona must-- must be dead now. How could my aunt do what she did? How could she?

SHERIFF:

(SLOWLY) This thing is no aunt of yours, child. Your Aunt Harriet Saugus died in this house three years ago. (IN CLOSE) And she left...TWO CATS.

SFX:

GONG WITH LONG REVERB

SFX:

12 CLOCK CHIMES, UNDER