[barker] ...500 pounds above his head with one arm!
[continues, indistinct]
[barker 2] Hey, lookee, lookee, lookee! This way for the most...
[barkers continue, overlapping, indistinct]
[barker] Step right this way, folks! The show is about to begin!
Right this way! Here we are!
Folks, I must ask you to remember that this exhibit is being presented
solely in the interest of education and science.
Now, this creature — There he is! The geek!
He has puzzled the foremost scientists of Europe and America.
Is he the missing link? Is he man or beast?
Some have pronounced him man.
But beneath that shaggy mane of hair lies the brain of a beast.
-Look! -[women gasp]
[barker] If he should as much as sink his teeth into my arm,
nothing on this round, green Earth could save me.
Now, folks, it's feeding time.
-[chickens clucking] -[crowd gasps, murmurs]
[woman] Horrible!
[chickens shrieking]
[crowd exclaiming]
[man] He's on fire!
Now, folks, you haven't seen anything yet. Step in closer, please.
The greatest demonstration of fire manipulation the world has ever seen!
Hey. Come here.
Kind of a surprise to see you hanging around that act, young man.
-Why? -Hasn't got a skirt in it.
-That geek guy fascinates me. -You aren't the only one.
That's why we got him in the show.
How do you get to be a geek? Is that the only one?
-I mean, is a guy born that way? -Let me tell you something, kid.
When you've been around this carny longer, you'll learn to quit asking questions.
[calliope playing]
-Come on, Pete. -He gonna be able to work?
-Sure. -Pete's okay. I've got him sobered up.
-What's the matter, Stan? -Nothing.
What's the boss been razzing you about?
I was just asking him about that guy that does the geek business.
-That's always a sore point in a carnival. -Why?
The geek is one of our biggest draws,
but a lot of performers won't work a show that carries one.
I can't understand how anybody could get so low.
That can happen.
-I wanna thank you, Zeena. -Me?
-Uh-huh. -What for?
For being so nice to me, helping me with my spiel and everything.
-Well, I think you've got something, Stan. -Honest?
-You like this racket, don't you? -Oh, lady, I was made for it.
I had all kinds of jobs before this one came along,
but none of 'em were anything but jobs.
But this gets me. I like it, all of it.
The crowds, the noise, the idea of keeping on the move.
[scoffs] You see those yokels out there? It gives you sort of a superior feeling,
as if you were in the know and they were on the outside looking in.
Kinda hard to explain, but I like it.
I like you too, Zeena.
-[camera flashes] -[crowd exclaims]
-Hey, look! Hey, look! Hey, look! -[loud clanging]
Step right this way!
Move in closer, ladies and gentlemen, and let me introduce Zeena,
a miracle woman of the ages.
She sees, she knows, she tells you all the innermost secrets of your past,
your present and your future.
-Mademoiselle Zeena! -[applause]
Step right up, folks, and don't be bashful.
If there's any of you wants to ask me a personal question,
Mr. Stanton will now pass among you with little cards and envelopes.
-Lend me a hand there. -Write your question on the card!
-[man] May I have one? -There we are.
-I need a pencil. -All right.
Pass those out among yourselves. There we are, ladies.
Don't crowd. There's plenty here for everyone. There you are, sir.
Be careful not to let anyone else see what you write, because that's your business.
I don't want anybody asking me about anyone else's business.
-Just all mind your own beeswax. -One for you, young lady.
When you have written your questions, just sign your initials or write your name
as a token of good faith.
Write what's in your heart and, when you write about it, think about it.
-Madam? -Can I ask anything?
Yes, madam. Your questions will be held in strictest confidence.
No one will know but yourself and Mademoiselle Zeena.
Ah, I see that Mr. Stanton has a good handful of questions.
So if he'll bring 'em right up on the stage, we'll have some readings.
Thank you, sir.
-[woman] Wait a minute. Here's mine. -[woman 2] Madam Zeena?
-[man] Mister, here's my question! -I'd like to ask you about my mother.
[Zeena] Will that lady raise her hand, please?
-Come on, Pete. Here. -[Zeena] Well, madam, your mother's had
-a lot of hard work in her life. -Come on. Take these. Here.
-Another drink, huh? -No. Hurry up. Show's on.
There's something in there I don't see quite clearly yet.
So if you'll drop around and see me after this demonstration,
maybe I can tell you more.
I'll ask Mr. Stanton to drop the questions into the bowil.
There they go. I don't touch them.
Now then, people have asked me if I have spirit aid in doing what I do.
I always tell them the only spirits I control are the ones in this bottle.
-Spirits of alcohol! -[laughter]
I'll pour a little on the questions
and ask Mr. Stanton to light a match and drop it in the bowl.
Thank you, Mr. Stanton.
Now you see them burning, and that's the last of them.
So anybody who's afraid that somebody else is going to read it
or that I would handle his question
can just forget that I ever touched them.
Your question is now recorded nowhere except in the ether.
Your answer is there too, and I will find it for you.
I get an impression.
It's a little cloudy still, but it's getting clearer.
I get the initials "J.E.G."
I believe it's a gentleman. Is that right?
Will the person who has those initials raise his hand?
Right here, missy!
[Zeena] Thank you, Mr. Giles.
The name is Giles, isn't it?
[man] Yes, ma'am, that's his name. That's his name. Giles.
[Giles] Giles, yes.
[Stan whistles] Molly!
[Zeena] Wait. I see green trees and a rolling field.
It's plowed land, fenced in.
-[man] That's your place! -[Giles] Yes, ma'am, that's my place.
-[Zeena] I see something else. -Oh, is that for me?
[Zeena] It's a wagon.
[man] My goodness! That's just what you asked about.
-Zeena's going good. -[Giles] That's what I wrote!
-She sure knows how to put on an act. -Sure does.
-Too bad she's tied up with that rumdum. -Why?
She could grab herself a smart guy and make the big time in no time.
But she's already been in the big time.
She and Pete used to be one of the biggest headliners in vaudeville.
-Not with that act. -Uh-uh.
Pete stayed in the audience. He never came near the stage.
But how could they do that? How could he tip her off to anything?
They used a code, silly.
-A code? -Mm-hmm.
What kind of a code?
A word code between the two of them.
Zeena says that blindfold code is worth its weight in gold.
I'll bet.
-People still offer them big money for it. -Why don't they sell it?
Zeena says it's their nest egg.
-[man] Molly. -Here comes your boyfriend.
Hi, Bruno.
-What's going on here? -What does it look like?
-He get fresh, Molly? -Sure I did.
What do you think I'm made of?
She's the prettiest girl in the whole outfit, isn't she?
Sure she is, but —
Just because you're a big mush is no sign everybody else is.
-Come on, you lovely little freak. -[laughs]
-Thanks for the pop, Stan. -Next time, I'll bring you a Kewpie doll.
How do you like that? He had the nerve to admit it right to my face.
Oh, look, Bruno. I'm no baby.
I can take care of myself.
And when I'm talking to somebody, I wish you wouldn't come butting in like that.
What are you thinking about, Stan?
Molly was telling me about that code you and Pete used to use in vaudeville.
What about it?
Well, I was thinking that if Pete got sick or something,
why, I could work from the audience just like he used to.
No stage trap, no Gypsy switch.
-How do you mean? -You know, if you taught me the code.
Over my dead body she will.
You got a nerve, young fella.
Do you know what a code like that is worth?
Okay, okay, okay. Forget it.
-I'm just trying to help you folks. -I heard you the first time.
We gotta — We gotta watch ourselves on account of...
-Sure. -Hurt him enough already.
I thought it was the other way around.
No, Pete was all right till they picked me up.
-What happened? -Exactly what's happening now.
I'm about as reliable as a two-dollar cornet.
You're crazy. You've got a heart as big...
Sure. As big as an artichoke — a leaf for everyone.
That's what Pete said when he began hitting the bottle.
Then one day he didn't show up.
I dug up another partner, a magician by the name of Benston.
But I was no good without Pete.
In a couple of seasons, I was glad to get a job with an outfit like this.
Pete showed up about a year ago.
Here we are.
I did everything I could to make it up to him, but you see how it is.
The more I try, the worse he gets.
And I'm not gonna give up on him.
It's the least I can do.
Zeena, you're a real woman.
-[horn honking] -[tires squealing]
[sighs] Look at him.
He's like a dog waiting for somebody to throw him a bone.
Come on. Help me get some breakfast into him.
-Hi, Pete! -Hello, baby. How'd you make out?
We don't have to sleep in the truck tonight.
Got me the bridal suite at the hotel. Two rooms and bath.
-Where's Molly? -I left her at the hotel.
Come on, you two. Looks like you could use a good hot bath yourselves.
I'll be all right. You and Pete go ahead.
Don't be silly. Huh, Pete?
It's all right. I've gotta see a fella anyhow.
[Zeena] What's your rush?
You're dead on your feet.
Well, this fella's got something that'll take care of that.
Here's enough for a shot.
But remember, only one.
Swell. See you later.
Stan.
Wait a minute, Pete.
Get some coffee in you first.
Promise Zeena you'll get something to eat.
I shall probably have a small orange juice, two three-minute eggs,
some Melba toast and coffee.
Got to see my money's safe.
Pete just gave you a gander at himself — before and after.
I've seen worse.
You think it's too late to put him in a cure?
I don't know much about those things, but I understand it takes dough.
-I can get it. -How?
Sell that code.
-The code? -Uh-huh.
- I got a better idea. -What's that?
Let's build up a new act with it.
What good will that do? I'm getting top carny dough right now.
I wasn't talking about doing it in this mouse menagerie.
You and I? Where else would we do it?
Well, if Pete could make a headliner out of you,
I don't see why you couldn't do the same thing with me.
Oh, Stan.
You think I can make the big time again?
You'd know more about that than I would.
-How about it, baby? -Don't rush me. Let me think about it.
Hey, where you going?
Come on, Stan! Give Bruno a hand!
[whistling]
What are you doing?
Cut them three times.
-What kind of deck is this? -This is a tarot.
Oldest kind of cards in the world.
Pete says the Gypsies brought them out of Egypt.
They're a wonder for giving private readings.
[Stan] Say, they look plenty weird.
[Zeena] Whenever I have something to decide or don't know which way to turn...
Look, Stan. That's the wheel of fortune.
-Yeah. -That means we're gonna knock "em dead.
-Pete and I never had it this good. -What did I tell you?
-What's the matter? -Well, I don't know.
Everything looks wonderful for us —
money, happiness and great success.
But there's no sign of Pete in it.
How could he be if he's away taking the cure?
Yeah, but there's no sign of him anywhere, dead or alive.
Hang on.
Yeah, maybe this is Pete.
[Zeena] Did you knock this off the table?
-No. You must have dropped it yourself. -I don't see how I could.
-Was it face up or down? -Face down.
-Are you sure? -Yeah. Why?
Couldn't be like that. It's too awful, it's too crazy.
-What's got into you? -Get your bath and get out of here.
-What's the matter? -It's all off, Stan.
-The act? -Everything.
-But what have I done? -Nothing.
But I can't go against the cards.
-You don't believe in that junk? - I didn't used to.
But time after time, it told me I was gonna ruin Pete's life,
and I went right ahead.
-Here's Pete's card. -What are you worrying about?
-Is this the one that was on the floor? -No, this one.
You see what it means? Are you satisfied?
Zeena, it just doesn't make sense.
Maybe not. Maybe it's silly, maybe it isn't.
Listen, honey. We've all gotta die sometime.
Sure, but when a card falls on the floor,
whatever happens, good or bad, is gonna happen fast.
And when a card falls face down, it's bad.
Zeena, that's for the chumps.
It's been true of Pete and me so far, hasn't it?
[sighs] Honest, Zeena, to see a smart girl like you
fall for one of your own boob-catchers...
I give up. Yes, sir, I give up.
-[Zeena] I don't believe it. -Huh?
You never give up.
Me? Why do you say that?
Well, I don't know. I just have a feeling.
That's why I'm gonna keep away from you.
-You know... -What?
-I wonder why I'm like that. -Like what?
Well, never thinking about anybody except myself.
Did your folks drop you on your head or something?
Yeah, they dropped me, all right.
Listen, honey. I don't want to make you unhappy. You know that.
If you want to forget about the whole thing, it's all right with me.
-You won't get sore, Stan? -What do you think I am?
Let me alone for a minute. I've got to think.
-You're terrible. -[knock on door]
Is that Pete?
No, it's somebody else. Get in there, quick.
-Hello, Bruno. Come on in. -Hello, Zeena. How's everything?
Where's Molly?
She's in there pounding her pretty little ear.
-In here? -Yeah.
Hey. Whose cap is that?
That's Stan's. He's in there taking a bath.
-Taking a what? -Bet you could use one yourself, huh?
Sure, but I wouldn't want to put you through all that —
Don't be silly. What do you think I got the place for?
Bunking in that truck gets you down. Stan!
-Yeah? -Hurry up. We got another customer.
[whistling]
[crickets chirping]
-Hey. Charlie? -[Charlie] What?
[Stan] Got a quart you can spare?
-Stan, when did you start nibbling? - I get around.
-That'll be four bucks. -It'll have to wait until payday.
[gasps] Moonshine.
-Don't forget. It's four bucks. -It's a debt of honor.
-[knocking] -[Pete] Charlie.
[Charlie] Pete. How you doing?
Bad. Charlie, won't you trust me? Just a half pint.
I'm sorry, Pete. You know I promised Zeena. Now go away.
-Yeah, but I... -Go away.
-Charlie! -Please go away.
[whistling]
Well, you're a fine one.
Running off in the middle of the show. Zeena was sore.
I couldn't help it. She's got me on a diet.
One shot a day.
-You seem to be doing all right. -No.
Just a sip here and there.
Zeena's tipped everybody off.
I seem to have the dropsies tonight.
Yeah, I heard you the first time.
Look, Pete. I'd like to help you, but I don't wanna get in Dutch with Zeena.
You won't. You know me, Stan.
I wouldn't tell anybody. Never.
[man shrieking]
I'll get him.
[shrieking continues]
It's the geek. He's got the heebie-jeebies again.
Yeah. Hoatley didn't give him his bottle today.
-Why? -Says he's been laying down on the job.
Ah, that's silly. Guy's been ready for the straitjacket for a week.
It's not right to cut a man off so quick, right in midair.
Come on. Steady.
Boy, have I got 'em.
Here.
You need that worse than I do.
-[sighs] -How is it?
Awful.
But I wish I had a barrel of it.
You're a good kid, Stan. You're going to go places.
Nothing can keep you out of the big time. You've got everything.
Just like I used to have.
Me and Zeena.
You should have seen us pack 'em in.
They'd wait through six acts just to see us.
Top billing everywhere we went.
[geek] & / was born Brought up in Boston I
♪ A city we all know well ♪
♪ Brought up by heartless parents ♪
♪ The truth to you I'll tell ♪
♪ Brought up by heartless parents... ♪
Poor guy.
"Poor guy"? If it weren't for Zeena, they'd be saying that about me.
Poor Pete. Pete the geek.
Ah, you're crazy.
No. I remember that fella when he first showed up here.
Hoatley knew him in the old days. So did I.
Of course, we pretended we didn't.
-Who was he? -Hmm? He used to be plenty big-time.
-Mental act? -What difference does it make?
It's all smoked meat now.
Just a bottle-a-day rumdum, and he thinks this job is heaven,
long as he has his bottle a day and a dry place to sleep it off in.
There's only one thing this stuff will make you forget.
-What's that? -How to forget.
-Have a drink. -No, thanks.
I, uh, wonder where Zeena is.
Waiting for me at the hotel, I suppose.
She's always waiting for me.
Boy, you should have seen us work once.
I heard you were pretty good by yourself.
Chord from the orchestra, amber spot and I'm on.
Make my spiel. Good for one laugh. Plenty of mystery.
Whoa, wait. Just a minute there.
Go right into my reading.
Ha! Here's my crystal.
Throughout the ages,
man has sought to look behind the veil that hides him from tomorrow.
And through the ages, certain men have looked into the polished crystal
and seen.
Is it some quality of the crystal itself?
Or does the gazer merely use it to turn his gaze inward?
Who knows? But visions come.
Slowly shifting their form, visions come.
Wait!
The shifting shapes begin to clear.
I see fields of grass and rolling hills
and a boy.
A boy is running barefoot through the hills.
A dog is with him.
Yes. His name was Gyp.
Go on.
[scoffs] See how easy it is to hook "em?
[laughs]
Stock reading. Fits everybody.
What's youth? Happy one minute, heartbroken the next.
Every boy has a dog.
[cackling]
Now, now, now. Steady.
I'm just an old drunk. Just an old lush.
Zeena will be mad. Good old Zeena.
Well, gotta go now. Zeena will be waiting.
-[Stan] Okay, give me the bottle. -Why?
-[Stan] She'll only take it away from you. -Oh, I'll finish it first.
[Stan] Zeena will be worried.
Oh, Zeena's always worried about little Pete.
Hangs over me like I was an ice-cream soda.
Well, let her worry.
-[Stan] What are you gonna do now? -Take a little snooze.
Drink a little drink. Dream and drink.
Drink and dream.
[Stan whistling]
-Charlie. -Hi, Molly.
-Where's Stan? -Stan? He's out there.
Stan! Stan. Where's Zeena?
I don't know. I think she's over picking up her dough. What's up?
It's Pete. We can't wake him.
-What's wrong with him? - I don't know. Everybody's scared stiff.
Well, come on!
-Take it easy. -Let him alone. I'll take care of him.
Come on, Pete. Pete!
Come on, Pete. Pete, answer me!
Pete, do you hear me? Pete.
Come on, Pete. Do you hear me? Pete!
-Call a doctor! -I'm afraid it's too late, kid.
-Smell that. -[sniffs]
Pete didn't drink this.
This is the wood alcohol I use for burning my envelopes.
-Where do you keep it? -In my prop trunk.
Oh, Pete. Pete, what happened? Pete! Oh, Pete! [sobbing]
-It's all right. -Oh, Pete!
[sobbing] Pete!
He's gone.
He was a good guy and a swell trouper.
Only last night I made up my mind to put him in a cure.
Only last night!
[sobbing]
-What have I here? -A gold earring.
-Can you tell me what this is? -It's a key case.
-[crowd gasps] -[Stan] What color?
[Zeena] It is red.
[crowd gasps, murmurs]
Ah, here we are! Now, Madam Zeena, will you name this?
-It's a scarf. -Right again!
Here! Quick now. What is this?
Can't take your eyes off him for a minute, can you?
I want to be sure he's getting it right.
-Getting what right? -The code.
How do you suppose Zeena's working without anybody in the cubbyhole?
Please concentrate and see if you know what this is.
[Zeena] A gold watch.
How does she do it?
She and Stan are using a two-person code.
-What's that? -Each word stands for a number.
And each number stands for some object.
But there's more to it than that.
It's the way you accent the syllables and the vowels. Listen.
Quick now. Will you name this?
He's telling Zeena it's a lady's hat.
[Zeena] A lady's hat. A beautiful hat.
How did you know that?
Zeena and I have been helping Stan memorize the code.
Zeena says he's already got it as good as she has.
-Here. Quick now. What is this? -[Zeena] A silver dollar.
As soon as Stan has a little more practice,
I think they're going to quit the carnival.
He and Zeena?
Zeena's already written to three or four booking agents.
-[crowd laughs] -[Stan] This yours, miss?
Amscray. The ulls-bay.
[whistle blows]
Police.
[Stan] That concludes our performance for the time being, folks.
I guess you all must be pretty dry and could use a good cold drink.
I want to call your attention to that stand across the midway
where you can get all the ice-cold soda pop you can drink.
Wait a minute, young lady. Stay right where you are.
-You too. -[Stan] That's all for now, folks.
Come back tomorrow and you'll see a lot of things you didn't see tonight.
Hello, chief. My name is Hoatley. I own this attraction.
You're the man I'm looking for.
You're welcome to inspect every inch of the place, chief.
We've no girl shows, no games of skill or chance.
That's right, chief.
-Quiet, both of you. -You're the boss.
-What do you got in that geek place? -Crocodile tamer. Wanna see him?
That ain't what I heard.
They say you've got an illegal performance going on here,
with cruelty to human beings and feeding live chickens.
Oh, that's an exaggeration, chief.
Why don't you stay as my guest and view the entire —
Shut up, you.
I've got orders from the mayor to close you down and arrest who I see fit.
Send somebody for that geek fella.
I'm taking him and you and that girl there.
[Hoatley] What for?
Indecent exposure. That's what I'm arresting her for.
She didn't do anything wrong.
We've decent women in this town, daughters and growing girls.
-Come on! -Just a moment, Sheriff.
-Molly. The chair. -Get out of that contraption.
Now you can see the reason for the costume this young lady is forced to wear.
The electricity would ignite any ordinary fabric.
And only by wearing the thinnest covering can she avoid bursting into flames.
That's right, chief. Thousands of volts of current cover her body like a sheet.
You can't pull the wool over my eyes with a lot of sparks.
I've done business with you carnival crooks before. Get that geek in here.
You can talk to the judge.
Go get that geek. Put a shirt or something on him first.
Wait a minute.
Let me take a crack at that hick.
You daffy? You want him to pinch the whole show?
-Slip me a couple of bills. -You can't bribe these guys.
Come on, come on. Give me the dough.
-It won't work. -I'm not gonna bribe him.
[officer] That's what they say.
No, no, no. We're not bothering any of the town folk.
-[clears throat] Excuse me, Marshal. -Huh?
Now look, young fella, I don't want any more of your soft soap.
Pardon me, sir, but there seems to be several bills coming out of your pocket.
Another minute and you'd have lost your money, Marshal.
And I see that you've bought your wife a present of a lovely silk handkerchief.
That's very nice. I'm sure she's gonna like that very much.
-And a pure white one. For your daughter? -How'd you know I got a daughter?
I know many things, Marshal.
I don't know how I know them, but there's nothing supernatural about it, I'm sure.
You see, my family was Scotch,
and the Scotch are often gifted with powers
that the old folks used to call second sight.
You don't say.
For instance, I can see that you have carried a pocket piece
or a curio of some kind for nearly 20 years.
Several times you lost that luck piece,
but you found it again every time.
It means a great deal to you, and you don't know exactly why.
I would say that you should always carry that.
I always do.
Now, Marshal, this is none of my business.
I see that you're a man who is fully capable of handling his own affairs
and almost anything else that's liable to come along.
But my Scotch blood is working right this minute,
and it tells me that there is one thing in your life that's worrying you,
something that you find very difficult to handle
because all your strength and your courage
and your authority in the town seems to be of no avail.
It seems to slip through your grasp like water.
Wait a minute, young fella. Who you been talking to?
As I say, Marshal, it's absolutely none of my business.
You're a man in the prime of life, old enough to be my father.
By rights, you should be the one to be giving me good advice,
not the other way around.
Where's everybody? Joe, come on.
Tim, put those lights out. Get that crowd out of here. Beat it.
-Think he can pull it off? -Look at him. I told you that kid had it.
I sense that there are antagonistic influences surrounding you.
Come here.
Someone near to you is jealous of you
and your ability.
Son, that's the gospel truth.
And while part of it extends to your work as a peace officer,
there is another part that has to do with your spiritual life
and the influence of a good woman.
Yes. Yes, there is someone you love very dearly.
But there is an obstacle in the way of that love.
I can't see what it is. It's... It's rather dim right now.
You feel hemmed in and trapped by it.
But through it all, I hear a woman's voice.
A sweet voice singing a beautiful old hymn.
"O Pilot Me."
Or is it "Over the River"?
She can sing both of them.
I see a Sunday morning in a beautiful, peaceful little church.
You have labored hard in this lovely vineyard, Marshal,
and your labor is rewarded by a fine woman's love.
But I hear malicious tongues out there.
I see jealous faces waiting to surround you again and to do you an injury
and to harm that splendid woman too if they can.
You must be strong, Marshal.
You have the strength within you, an everlasting supply.
But not to crush — to uplift.
Repay evil with good. Love your neighbor.
Do not hate your enemies.
Forgive them. They just don't know what they're doing.
Don't forget, to err is human.
To forgive, divine.
Goodbye now.
Where is everybody?
-Molly? -I'll be out in a minute, Stan.
-It's okay, honey. I stalled him off. -I heard you, Stan. Gee, you were great.
Aw, it was a lead pipe. I could do it with anybody.
Oh, sure you could.
-You're wonderful, Stan. -Honest?
Just wonderful.
-What are you shaking for? -I don't know. I'm not scared anymore.
I don't know what it is.
-But I'll be all right in a minute. -Sure.
Nothing's gonna hurt you as long as Stan's around.
I know it. You're terrif —
Oh, Stan, we shouldn't do this.
Why not?
No.
-You're worrying about Zeena. -Don't you think somebody ought to?
You're wrong, honey. Zeena and I are just friends, that's all.
-Stan, you don't have to lie to me. -I'm not lying to you.
I've only been kidding her along on account of the code, you know.
-Didn't look like kidding to me. -Listen, honey, you're all wrong.
Why, I can hardly stand to be in the same room with her ever since Pete died.
-Why? -I don't know.
It kinda gives me the willies.
That's why I've always had you around when we've been rehearsing the code.
-You've noticed that, haven't you? -Yes, but —
I tell you, I haven't been alone with her for ten seconds.
Listen, baby, all I want is that code. I'm telling you true.
-But you're going away with her. -But you're coming with us, aren't you?
You want me to?
-You don't think I'd go without you. -You mean that, Stan?
Absolutely. You satisfied?
Oh, Stan, I don't care about nothing now. Nothing in the world.
[Stan whistling]
[Hoatley laughs] The old geezer's trap was hanging open a mile,
lapping up every word the kid handed him.
-Stan! -You were great, Stan!
-Where'd you go to? - I hid in my truck.
Oh, Stan, you sure done noble. I always knew you was a born mentalist.
Imagine giving a cop a cold reading and getting by with it.
Yeah, but look who I had for a teacher, huh?
Nice work, kid. You kept your head. You're a real carny. No mistake.
You ought to have heard Stan spout the gospel to that old hypocrite.
It was like being in Sunday school.
-You must've been raised pretty religious. -Yeah, in a county orphanage.
-Didn't you have any folks? -If I did, they weren't much interested.
-Where'd you learn all this gospel? -In the orphanage.
That's what they used to give us on Sunday after beating us black-and-blue all week.
Then when I ran away, they threw me in the reform school.
But that's where I got wise to myself.
I let the chaplain save me and got a parole in no time.
Boy, how I went for salvation.
Comes in handy in a jam. Many's the judge I've good-talked right out of his shirt.
Son, you can have mine right now.
Let's give Stan a great big hand. We'd be in a peck of trouble if it wasn't for him.
And I'd be in jail!
How about some beer, partner?
Oh, Bruno, cheer up. There'll be no more trouble tonight.
We'll open tomorrow night and pack 'em in. Won't we, boss?
Sure, best advertising in the world.
-Hello, Bruno. -Where did you go?
-I've been looking all over. -She was in her truck.
Is that where you were? But I went in the tent and yelled my head off.
-Why didn't you answer me? -Where did you think I was?
What are you looking at me like that for?
-Uh-oh. -That's what I say.
Huh?
Oh, what's the diff? She's here now, isn't she?
And by the way, Bruno, where did you run off to when the trouble started, hmm?
Look, mister, you're not talking to that hayseed cop.
You're talking to Bruno. Savvy?
When you get through with him, there's a couple questions I'd like to ask.
Molly, you and Stan gonna get married?
Stan, you gonna marry Molly?
-You people trying to kid somebody? -[Zeena] And you aren't either.
Oh, Stan, Stan, aren't you the foxy one,
making out like you never knew this child was on the face of the earth.
-You sure fooled me. -He didn't fool me.
What's going on here?
Let's drink to the bride and groom! May all their children be acrobats!
-[Molly] You're drunk! -I'll give the bride away!
That's a good idea. Huh, Stan?
-[Molly] Bruno! -[Zeena] Molly, you stay out of this!
Bruno!
-He can't stand much more. -I don't care. You gonna do as I say?
-You trying to kill him? -All he's gotta do is touch my hand.
[screams]
There he is, Molly! Now we get a parson! Hey, boss?
[Stan] Sure.
Come on, folks. Let's drink to the bride and groom.
-I'm sorry, Stan. -What for?
I know how you feel.
You didn't want to marry me.
Sure, I did, honey. But I didn't want it to be...
Well, you know, everybody thinking...
-Cooks the carnival for me. -Why?
Well, there I was, on the top of the world, kingpin of the whole outfit.
Say...
Maybe it's the best thing that could have happened.
I've got the code — you know it as well as I do —
and I've got you.
Ah, Zeena and Mr. Bruno, they aren't so smart as they think.
We'll show 'em.
-You're not sorry? - I should say not.
Not one bit?
Why should I be? I've never been so tickled in my life.
You're sure? You're not just saying this?
Baby, there's only one thing I'm sorry about.
What's that?
That I didn't think of this sooner.
Oh, Stan, darling, you're wonderful.
I'll be a good wife to you. I'll love you to pieces.
I'll try to be everything you want,
and I'll not even look at another fella, never!
[orchestra: romantic]
[song continues]
-[song ends] -[applause]
I have another question here. Are you ready?
Yes.
Can you tell me how this question is signed?
It is signed "Mother."
-Is that correct? -Yes.
[applause]
Now then, will you read the question for me, word by word,
exactly as written.
"Is the young man my daughter has written to me about worthy of her?"
-Was that your question? -Word for word.
Are you able to answer this specific question?
Yes.
I think that you and your husband are going to be very happy about this matter.
The young man your daughter has chosen is very rare in this day and age, a good man.
He not only attends church on Sunday,
but he practices his religion seven days a week.
Your daughter is much the same type
thanks to the splendid heritage of good health, both physical and spiritual —
for they go hand in hand —
which you and your husband have so generously passed on to her.
If I were an artist and wanted to paint a full-length portrait
of the American family,
I could ask for no better models.
[Molly] The gentleman has a question. What is it?
The question is, will I feel better tomorrow?
[laughter]
-Have you an answer? -Yes.
This boy's got something.
-You're not taking him seriously? -Why not?
I'll show you.
-Isn't it some sort of a code they use? -Of course.
Notice how deliberately she accents certain words.
[laughter, applause]
Thank you.
This question, can you tell me how it is signed?
-It is signed with the initial "R." -That's right!
Now, can you describe the person who wrote this question?
-She's very beautiful. -I agree with you, Mr. Stanton.
She's quite beautiful.
Now will you read the lady's question?
The question is, "Do you think my mother will recover from her present illness?”
Is that correct?
What is your answer?
I'm afraid a truthful reply to that question will appear rather strange.
I don't know whether I should answer it or not.
Why?
I get the impression that the lady's mother
has been dead for some time.
[crowd murmuring]
[Stan] If that is incorrect, will the lady please say so.
I must assume that the lady's silence means assent.
[applause]
Here's a hundred blank records from the Record-A-Phone Company.
-Just a minute. -Is Miss Ritter in?
What is your name?
- I think she's expecting me. -Will you come this way, please?
Thank you.
Miss Ritter will be free in a few minutes.
Fine.
[door opens]
Hello.
- I suppose you must think this rather odd. -Why?
Me writing you that note.
I get a laundry basket full of them every day.
Won't you sit down?
What did you want to see me about?
My friends and I were very much impressed with your performance the other evening.
But that isn't why you asked me to drop in.
No, it isn't.
How did you happen to know so much about me?
I read your mind.
You mean to claim you can actually do that?
How else would I know that your mother was dead? I'd never seen you before.
You didn't make a reservation.
-The maitre d' didn't know who you were. -That's true.
That fella you were with — the maitre d' says he's a pretty big guy in this town.
That, uh, Ezra Grindle.
-You gonna marry him? -I?
I got a feeling there was something between you.
He's a patient of mine.
Now, in regard to this feeling you have,
psychologists admit the validity of mental telepathy under certain —
Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I thought this looked like one of those joints.
You ever been psychoanalyzed?
No. I saw one in a murder movie once.
But a good mentalist could've straightened the whole thing out in five minutes.
I'm sure you could have. How did you know my mother was dead?
I didn't. I just had a feeling that your question wasn't on the level.
I figured you were trying to make a chump out of me. Just common sense.
It's not so common.
-I don't know about that. -Why?
I've got that same feeling right now.
What's on your mind, lady? What are you up to?
Don't worry, Mr. Carlisle. I never make the same mistake twice.
-Me neither. -[intercom buzzes]
Yes?
She is? But...
I'll be through in a minute. I'll buzz you.
I'm afraid we'll have to continue this in our next.
There's a patient I have to see. Sort of an emergency call.
-Okay. -You can go out this way.
Well, I'll be seeing you.
-When? -I don't know yet.
You can call me at my apartment. It's in the book.
-I may give you a ring. -Fine.
I don't come to the office on Wednesdays or Saturdays.
I heard you the first time.
[door closes]
How do you do, Mrs. Peabody?
Sorry to rush in on you like this, my dear.
It's quite all right, Mrs. Peabody.
-That's what I'm here for. -[sighs]
Really, I'm — I'm terribly upset.
Now, what seems to be the trouble?
I had another one of those dreams about my daughter, Carol.
You know, I never dream of her as dead but always alive.
-Very much alive. -I know.
Now, you just come over here and make yourself comfortable.
I'm not to be disturbed under any circumstances.
Now just lie back here.
There. Is that better?
-Mmm, my dear. -Good.
I wouldn't have bothered you,
only you said dreams were important in cases like mine.
They're one of the clues we have to the subconscious mind.
It's a psychologist's way of looking at the patient's tongue.
-I'll telephone you tomorrow morning. -Fine. Goodbye, Mrs. Peabody.
[door closes]
You make a record of everything?
-It's a wonderful idea. -How did you get back in here?
I fixed the latch on the door when I went out.
I wanted to get a line on you.
Maybe we can do a little business after all.
You make one of these things every time you give a treatment?
How could you do such a horrible thing?
You don't realize what you've got here.
[whistles]
We could set this town on its ear.
Or is that what you wanted to talk to me about?
Are you insane?
That's not a bad hunch, lady.
If you got clients like that Grindle,
you must be up to your knees in that Lake Shore and Lake Forest mob.
And with that stuff you've recorded,
you have no idea what I could do with it.
-In a nightclub. -[Stan] Are you crazy?
I'm getting out of there as soon as my contract's up.
You should see some of the letters I get.
Couple of big spook people are after me now.
But I've got an altogether different idea.
Look here, Mr. Carlisle. If you ever so much as mention to anybody —
Please. What do you think I am?
I haven't sufficient flow of speech to go into that.
But I want you to know that I make these records only for my personal study.
Mm-hmm.
-You're not a regular MD, are you? -Of course not.
But anything my patients reveal to me is as sacred
as though it were given under the seal of the confessional.
-Is that clear? -All right. All right.
You don't have to get on your soapbox.
I'm going to be strictly on the level about this whole thing myself.
Will you get out of here?
-I should've known you were that kind of — -Uh-uh-uh.
Takes one to catch one.
Get out.
-[applause] -[people murmuring, exclaiming]
[orchestra plays]
Stan, you're not listening to me.
Oh, I'm sorry, baby. What were you saying?
-I've got a surprise for you. -What kind of surprise?
You'll see.
It's not locked.
Hello, Stan.
You very surprised?
Who wouldn't be?
The — The carnival was rained out in Kankakee,
so I thought that now would be a good time to...
A good time to what?
-Well, just get together again. -[Molly] Sure.
What's the use of people being mad at each other?
It sure turned out for the best, huh, Stan? You can't say it didn't.
I'll say. Look at you. Look at Molly. You're the tops.
You're going like a million dollars.
When you come home at night, you're singing like a lark.
Now, what could be sweeter?
Come on, professor, give your old pal a kiss.
Well, you're right at that.
Bruno.
Excuse me while I get out of these clothes.
[Zeena] Same old Stan.
Molly, it doesn't look like you'll shop for baby clothes this year.
-I won't? -Mm-mmm.
Oh, Bruno? Here.
Oh, throw that away.
Well, thanks, Stan. You look nice and comfortable.
A man's coming to give him a massage. He's not sleeping so good.
-Still monkeying around with those things? -Yep.
What's wrong with them? Everything they say about me has come true.
Another wire from New York.
-Is that where you're opening next? -[Molly] Oh, they're offering us the moon.
But Stan hasn't made up his mind yet.
-You're making a mistake. -Who?
You. If you make the change in the work you're thinking of.
-You told her about it. -How could 1? I haven't seen her since —
-How else did she find out about it? -I haven't said a thing.
I told you I didn't want you to breathe it to a soul!
She didn't have to tell me. It's all here, plain as day.
It doesn't say what this new stunt is, but you're going to the top like a skyrocket.
Stan, turn that card over and we'll see how it'll end up.
-Who else did you tell? -Look, Stan —
-Turn that card over. -What do I care what the card says?
Leave it alone.
[Bruno] The hanged man.
-You better watch yourself. -Is that bad?
Not if he doesn't go against it.
But I thought... Wasn't that Pete's card?
Sure. Now it's yours.
You hear that? I told you that new stunt was all wrong. I told you —
Oh, don't be a sap. This is the stuff she feeds to chumps.
-It's nothing but a deck of Gypsy cards. -I don't care.
-Zeena believes them. -Sure I do. So does Stan.
-You're crazy. Why should 1? -They were right for Pete, weren't they?
Get out. I know what I'm doing.
I don't need any help from a couple of cheap carnival freaks.
Go peddle your stuff where it belongs. Get out!
-Stan! -Who are you calling a freak?
Bruno. We gotta get that 1:30 bus.
Come on.
-Zeena, I'm sorry. -Forget it.
What got into you acting so crazy?
It's all your fault. I'll tell you something again.
Stan, I never —
Don't lie to me. You did write to her about it, didn't you?
[knock on door]
-Excuse me. I forgot my cards. -Oh, yes.
Oh, there's one on the floor.
The hanged man.
-Feeling better? -Not a bit.
Yeah, you're still sweating. I'll have to close up those pores.
This always seems to freshen you up.
Stan!
What's the matter with him tonight?
-What's in that bottle? -Nothing.
Just pure alcohol. Same as I always use.
I felt pretty shaky about the whole thing, but I didn't let it ride me.
Until tonight, the smell of alcohol didn't bother me at all.
I hadn't thought about Pete in a long, long time.
But seeing Zeena again and all that stuff about the cards, it...
it sort of turned my stomach inside out.
That's quite natural. We call it total recall. Go on.
That's all.
There's nothing more to tell.
I walked around for an hour or so trying to cool off.
Nothing worked, so I... I came here.
Quarter after 7:007? I've gotta beat it.
[sighs] Well, what do you make of it?
I think you're a perfectly normal human being —
selfish and ruthless when you want something,
generous and kindly when you've got it.
Although Pete died as a result of an accident,
you naturally felt a sense of guilt because you profited by it.
Am I right?
Yeah, I guess so.
As I understand it, you never told Zeena or anybody else
about giving Pete that bottle?
You think I'm crazy?
I think you showed good sense.
You might have had a hard time of it trying to explain to the police
under the circumstances.
Maybe I didn't show such good sense in spilling it to you.
Then what did you come to me for?
I figured that if anyone was gonna help me, it'd have to be somebody like you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Carlisle.
What a chump I was to fall for Zeena and those cards.
Letting a little thing like a whiff of alcohol make me blow my top.
Then you're not going to let it influence you in the least?
Nope. I'm going right ahead the way I figured.
The spook racket. I was made for it.
I suppose you expect to be paid for this.
-What do you think? -How much?
-Nothing at all. -Hmm?
Professional courtesy.
Well, maybe I can return the favor someday.
-Maybe you can. -What do you mean?
Remember? Takes one to catch one.
[crowd laughs]
If this is answered right, I'll pay you all ten percent.
Have you an answer for this question?
-[Stan] Oh, I'm afraid not. -Why?
[Stan] Because that has to do with the stock market.
[laughter]
A labyrinth whose eccentricities no mentalist of my acquaintance
has ever been able to solve.
As a matter of fact, I tried it two or three times myself,
and find that I can do much better at the racetrack.
-[laughter] -That's very funny.
-Took me 20 years to find that out. -[Molly] Good evening.
-Have you written out a question? -Yes.
Thank you.
I have a question here.
Will you tell me how it is signed?
I get the impression "Mrs. S.P."
But I have a feeling that's incorrect.
Why do you feel that is incorrect?
I don't know. But would you ask the lady with the pearl necklace
if it shouldn't be Mrs. A.P. — "A" for "Addie."
-Is that correct? -Yes.
The lady says yes.
Now will you please answer her question.
The lady wishes to know if she will ever see her daughter again.
The answer is yes
if she believes in the hereafter, a life beyond the grave.
Is that true? Has your daughter passed on?
-Yes. -Wait!
Don't anybody move.
I see someone standing between me and that lady.
The figure is very dim.
But I see it's a girl.
A lovely girl of 16.
I get the name... "Caroline."
That's my daughter's name.
That's... That's Carol.
Yes, she... she wants to speak to you.
She says...
-[Mrs. Peabody screams] -[Molly] Stan!
Stan! Stan!
Gentlemen. Gentlemen, please. Please.
[excited murmuring]
[man] Chicago, Illinois.
The city of Chicago finds itself with a mixed personality on its hands.
Stanton Carlisle, known as the Great Stanton, nightclub mentalist,
fell into a deep trance during his act in a nightclub.
Before doing so, he was able to talk to and see, so he claims,
the departed daughter of a famous Chicago society woman.
Many proclaim him to possess spiritual phenomena.
Sir Oliver Green, famous spirit sleuth of England,
says that Stanton's contact is undoubtedly genuine.
But in the meantime, Professor Samuel Kaufman Brown proclaims him a trickster.
[Ezra] Addie, this is absurd.
I say again, I am neither a child nor an imbecile.
And I won't be treated as one.
I didn't hear you knock. Take the tea things, please, Maude.
Ezra.
Ezra, please.
Ezra, I know you were deeply devoted to my late husband,
and I am grateful to you for your interest in my welfare.
But I won't have any further interference.
This young man has brought me the greatest spiritual comfort I've ever known.
And I am going to continue to do everything I can, regardless of cost,
to make it possible for him to bring that same spiritual comfort to other people.
If I had my way,
I'd build him the finest tabernacle in the world.
I can't figure it. Addie's usually so levelheaded about everything.
That's what disturbs me.
Maybe she might not be so wrong about this young chap after all.
Nonsense. He's nothing but an uncommonly shrewd young trickster.
I have seen him work, and I grant you, he has personality and flair.
As far as Addie's concerned, he seems to be a bit of a hypnotist.
You know, I'd like to get a crack at this fellow.
Do you think you could arrange for me to see him privately?
I don't see why not, Mr. Grindle.
It's obvious we can't get anywhere with Mrs. Peabody.
-Well, get him on the phone now. -Very well.
I'll talk to him.
[boat engine rumbling]
[Ritter] Stan?
Shh. Quit yelling. Turn off that boat.
-[engine stops] -Well, how'd you come out with Grindle?
[sighs] No wonder he's the head of one of the biggest outfits in the country.
-You didn't let him scare you off? -Sit down. I wish you'd been there.
He came in like a lion and went out like a lamb.
What happened?
Well, he started off by throwing the district attorney at me.
He was going to have me investigated.
He said that the things I told Mrs. Peabody about her daughter
anybody could have found out just by looking through the newspaper files.
I wish you could have seen his face
when I started slipping him some of the stuff you gave me about his past.
Especially when I asked him if there was anything in the newspaper files
about his still being in love with some dame that's been dead for 35 years.
And when I called her Dory?
[laughs] That put the old boy right on the carpet.
Have you got a cigarette?
-Then he really did go for it. -Go for it?
He stood there and shook like a leaf.
Came apart like a broken doll.
Crawled on his hands and knees to me
and begged me to get some message or other from this Dory.
Mm.
Thank you.
But I told him that he wasn't ready yet for spiritual communion.
He should prepare himself a little more with prayer and good works.
Well, he came back in about two hours with a whole lot of good works.
He gave me enough to start building the finest tabernacle in the country.
-Well, what's wrong with that? -Nothing. Nothing at all.
And he's going to buy me a radio station of my own.
A radio station?
Yeah. But...
there's a big "if" to it.
He wants me to fix it so that he can see this Dory with his own eyes.
-See her? -Yeah, that's all.
That's all he wants, an absolute, blown-in-the-glass clincher.
Oh.
"Oh" is right.
I think somebody must have sold his mother a wooden nutmeg.
Yeah, that's the way he is.
We should have expected something like this.
You don't have a picture of this Dory dame in your files anyplace, do you?
No, but it shouldn't be too difficult to get one.
He has them in every room of his house.
Yeah.
Well, I've got the tabernacle anyway, no matter what happens.
-How much did he give you? -150 grand.
Feels like it's in cash.
It is. He asked me to take it that way.
He said if I used his name, he'd deny it.
Why?
You don't think the old geezer wants Mrs. Peabody or any of the others
to know that that's how he got me to turn down that old firetrap
that she was gonna give me.
-You got anyplace to stash it? -I have a jewel safe.
What's the good of me putting it away if you're gonna start building?
I'm not going to start building anything until we've got Grindle really in the bag.
This is only peanuts.
But it'll come in handy in case anything goes wrong.
Stan, you're wonderful. You think of everything.
-There's one thing I didn't think of. -What's that?
If it was gonna be this chilly tonight, I should have brought an overcoat.
Well, I'm freezing myself, but I know a place where we can go.
-Where? -Funny I never thought of it before.
It's not very far from here either.
-You mean that place down the road? -Don't be silly.
I belong to the Rogers Park Beach Club.
-I have a cabana there. -Yeah, I know a better place.
-Where? -Marshall Field's window.
Nobody ever goes to the beach club at this time of year.
Nix. We don't wanna take any chances. This thing's too big.
I'm surprised a smart cookie like you...
Supposing somebody saw us together and Grindle found out about it.
Then where would we be?
Well, at least you can't say I didn't try.
[engine starts]
Good night. I'll give you a buzz tomorrow.
Good night, Stan.
Mr. Carlisle? Special delivery, sir.
-Oh. -Can you sign for it?
-Here we are. -Thank you, sir.
-Here. -Thank you.
Hello, dear. Did you sleep well?
Why didn't you wake me when you got up?
I have quite a difficult problem to solve,
and I don't seem to be able to make a dent in it.
-What's wrong? -It's that new convert of mine.
Mr. Grindle?
It seems his conversion isn't as complete as I thought it was.
Did he take back the money he gave you for the tabernacle?
No. No, no. But before he goes any further,
he wants me to materialize the spirit of his dead sweetheart.
But you can't do that.
I mean, you told Mrs. Peabody nobody could.
That's right.
But we've got to look at it this way, darling.
A man's faith is trembling in the balance.
A man who was a confirmed skeptic about anything relating to religion
now stands upon the threshold.
The door is open. One more step will bring him inside the fold.
What should I do? Should I let the man's soul be lost forever?
Or should I stake my own to save it?
-Or yours? -Mine?
What have I got to do with it?
You?
You can help me.
Of course, I realize it's in the nature of a subterfuge,
but our motives are so pure, so unselfish.
Wait a minute, Stan.
Oh, honey, there isn't the slightest bit of danger.
I won't let him get close enough to see anything
except that you're a young dame about her age.
I knew it.
-I knew it! -You knew what?
You never were on the level. You lied to me. Zeena was right.
-Walking out on me, huh? -Look, Stan.
Anytime you wanna go back into show business —
Yeah, you and all that talk of yours about love.
You were going to be such a good wife to me.
I've tried to be. You know I'd do anything.
Sure, sure. Anything in the world for me. Or to me.
-What do you mean "to you"? -What are you doing now?
What do you think the newspapers will say when they find out about this?
-"Wife quits miracle worker." -I won't say anything.
You can tell them I've gone to visit some friends.
No, they'll follow you. They'll get it out of Bruno or some of the others.
Honey, look. It's not me that I'm thinking about.
But what about this poor guy, Grindle? What's gonna happen to him?
Mrs. Peabody, all those other people that I've helped.
Look. Look at these. Hundreds of them every day.
Simple, honest little people who believe in me. They say I've given them hope.
I'm not worrying about them. They're gonna be all right.
But you won't.
You've got to stop it. Do you hear?
You've got to, Stan, or I'll make you.
I will walk out on you.
Are you crazy?
No, I'm not crazy. Just plain scared.
Scared? Of what?
I don't know. I can't explain it.
But I feel — Well, you're going against God.
How do you figure that?
Do you think I'd be getting all those letters?
That's what makes it so terrible.
Everything you say and do is so true and wonderful,
and you make it sound so sacred and holy,
when all the time it's just a gag with you.
You're just laughing your head off at those chumps.
You think God's gonna stand for that?
Do you want him to strike you dead?
You can't do it, Stan.
Nobody's ever done it. Never!
Now, honey, don't get yourself all worked up about nothing.
I've gone over this in my mind a hundred times.
If anybody comes back,
they're not gonna get all steamed up because we fake a little.
And another thing.
I've met a lot of these spook workers. They're all hustlers just like me.
I didn't see one of them wearing a lightning rod.
But they don't act like you do. They don't talk like ministers.
When did I ever talk like a minister?
Oh, you do it all the time.
I am talking exactly the same way I did when we were in the nightclub.
And I'll tell you another thing. I never mentioned God in the nightclub, did 1?
No. I don't think so.
Have I ever mentioned him in this racket?
Have you ever heard me do it? Come on, come on. When did I do it?
-You haven't, but — -No, I'll say I haven't.
I know what I'm doing. I've read the Bible.
I can recite the Ten Commandments backwards.
And I'll tell you what the Third Commandment is too.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain."
A lot of people think that means swearing. But I'll tell you what it means.
It means exactly what you're talking about.
I'm not taking any chances, baby. There's nothing to worry about.
There's no difference between this and mentalism.
It's just another angle of show business.
Wait a minute, mister. You're not talking to one of your chumps.
You're talking to your wife.
You're talking to somebody who knows you red, white and blue.
And you can't fool me anymore.
There's only one way I can stop you from doing this thing,
and that's to leave you.
You'd honestly do a thing like that to me?
No. I'm going to do it for you.
We're right back where we started, hmm? All right.
Listen to me. I'm no good.
I never pretended to be. But I love you.
I'm a hustler. I've always been one. But I love you.
I may be the thief of the world,
but with you, I've always been on the level.
You've done a lot of talking about love.
I never mentioned it before.
But I guess you get the general idea.
If you wanna walk out on that,
it's okay with me.
Here we are.
Mr. Grindle, this... this place of yours
is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.
-You should be very proud of it. -Yes, I am.
Those great trees in moonlight, they give the whole place a...
a cathedral-like atmosphere.
-You feel that? -Yes.
I'm glad to hear you say that.
I've been coming here to pray. It's so secluded.
I didn't want any of the servants to see me.
I see you've been reading the Bible.
How did you know?
Well, we — we know that it tells us
that prayer, like good works, should be done in secret.
-There's one thing that troubles me. -What's that?
Well, on account of the life I've led,
I don't know very much about God.
And it's very hard to pray to someone,
I mean, when you know so little about him.
Well, that's true. But nobody knows very much along those lines.
That's where we must rely solely upon our faith.
Indeed, I think it's a mistake
to try to define our thoughts about it in human terms.
That, in itself, is a form of irreverence.
It's like... like trying to put the ocean into bottles.
That's right. That's where I've been wrong.
Trying to put boundaries around this thing.
It's too big. It has no boundaries, no limits.
It can't have, can it, and be what it is?
Go on. Go on, my friend.
You don't know it, but you're praying right this moment.
No prophet of old could have said a finer thing than you have just said.
Keep it up.
Think like that in your heart. Don't worry about the words.
There are no words for it. Words are boundaries too.
But they're not any bigger than we are.
You've got to do things, just as you said the other day —
good things, good for their own sake,
without any hope of reward or...
-What's the matter? -Look!
-Do you see it? -Yes.
It's probably one of your servants.
No, no, it couldn't be. They have orders never to come down here.
Dory?
It is.
Dory! Dory!
-Wait! -Dory!
-But it's Dory. Don't you see? -Yes.
That means we're on hallowed ground. Kneel.
Kneel.
Dory! Dory!
Quiet. Don't move. Stay where you are.
Dory. Dory.
Oh, Dory, forgive me. Forgive me, Dory.
I believe now. I believe everything.
Oh, Dory, ask God to forgive me.
Ask him to give me one more chance. Please. Please!
[sobbing] I'll do anything.
What right have I to ask for mercy
when I have never shown mercy to anyone?
No! No!
-I can't, Stan! I can't! -What happened to you?
-Not even for you. -Who are you?
-I'm Stan's wife. -Get out of here! Get out of here!
Fake! You crook! You dirty, sacrilegious thief!
Help! Help!
I couldn't help it, Stan.
I know I've ruined everything for you.
- Know you hate me. -All right, all right. Quiet.
I don't know what happened.
When I saw that man down on his knees, praying to God,
I just couldn't go on.
I don't wanna hear any more about it.
As soon as I find a taxi stand, I'm getting out of here.
What for?
There's something I've gotta do.
Now listen, I want you to go back to that motel,
change your clothes and meet me at the Inglewood station.
-You're going to take me with you? -If you hurry.
What about our things at the hotel?
We haven't got time to monkey with things like that.
Oh, Stan, I love you. I love you.
Yeah, I know. Here we are.
There he was on his knees. I had all that dough right in my hand,
-and she has to go and blow her top. -[Ritter] Then what happened?
Well, he called me a dirty, sacrilegious thief, and he grabbed me.
I hurt him, I think, accidentally.
-You think? -Well, anyway, he went down.
-You better get going. -Yeah, yeah, I know.
You'd better take your money with you.
-What are you going to do? -I'm going to leave most of this with you.
What for?
In case I get caught, I'll have some fall money.
That wouldn't be any good. You'd just lead them back to me and pull us both in.
Yeah, you're right. You suppose there's a chance of handling Grindle?
Well, it depends. He's not going to be easy.
He has his pride, you know.
Yes, but you can work on the publicity angle.
-His board of directors and so forth. -You leave that up to me.
The important thing for you is to leave town.
Don't try to get in touch with me under any circumstances.
Watch the papers. If nothing happens, you can call me.
Okay. What a mug I've been.
I had the whole world right in my vest pocket, everything I wanted.
The kid said I couldn't get away with it, and I had to stick my chin out.
You'll stick it out even further if you hang around here much longer.
I guess you're right at that.
-Goodbye, Stan. -Goodbye, Lilith.
Say, buddy, how much longer is it gonna take us?
Inglewood station? About a half hour.
-Can't you step on it a little bit? -Sure.
-Take me back where you picked me up. -What?
I said take me back where you picked me up!
Okay.
[tires squealing]
Who is it?
You're good. You're awful good.
Just about the best I ever saw.
Instead of 150 grand, I get 150 brand-new $1 bills.
-The Gypsy switch. - I don't know what you're talking about.
-Where's the rest of it? -The rest of what?
-Open that safe. -[pounding on door]
-[woman] Miss Ritter! Miss Ritter! -Come in, Jane.
I saw a man on the fire escape, and I...
It's quite all right, Jane. This gentleman's a patient of mine.
Will you make yourself comfortable in there, please?
I'll be with you in a minute.
[coughing]
When you first came to me, you were in bad shape.
I'd hoped that by getting at the roots of your anxieties,
I could avert a serious upset. Well, I seemed to have failed.
Wait a minute. If you're thinking of throwing the cops at me,
don't forget that you've been in this with me.
Please, Mr. Carlisle, try to understand
that these delusions of yours in regard to me are a part of your mental condition.
When I first examined you, you were being tortured by guilt reactions
connected with the death of that drunken mentalist during your carnival days.
What are you trying to pull? You can't prove anything.
Besides, it was an accident. I told you that.
I'm a psychologist, not a judge.
What I want to explain to you is
all these things that you think you have done lately,
or that have been done to you,
are merely the fancied guilt of your past life projected on the present.
Do I make myself clear? You must regard it all as a nightmare.
The police records show that a carnival employee by the name of Peter Krumbein
actually died of wood alcohol poisoning in Burly, Texas.
Self-administered. You told me you gave him that bottle of wood alcohol yourself.
But I suppose that was just another one of your homicidal hallucinations, wasn't it?
Or was the homicide a reality too?
Speaking of records,
would you like to hear a playback of the recital you made to me that night?
It's on file in my office, but I'll be glad to let you hear it anytime you like.
Listen. I can prove that you've been in this with me from the start.
That's another thing, Mr. Carlisle,
which clearly indicates the serious nature of your malady.
Since I've been your counselor, you've made a strange transference to me.
You see me as a confederate who's cheated you.
That explains your entrance by way of the fire escape tonight.
Really, Mr. Carlisle, I hate to say this to you,
but you simply must have hospital care.
These hallucinations of yours...
We can't have you wandering about, getting into trouble, can we?
Listen, you can't bluff me with that doctor-patient baloney.
-[siren wailing in distance] - I want that dough. I want that —
That's why you were stalling, huh?
Waiting for the cops.
That's ridiculous. Why should I call the police?
Don't you think I got ears? What about that?
-What about what? -That police siren.
[siren continues]
I don't hear anything.
-Huh? -Let me get you a sedative.
I'll drive you down to Saint Joseph's Hospital. It's not far from here.
They'll take good care of you, and you can have a nice, long rest.
Please, Mr. Carlisle, put yourself in my hands.
-[siren stops] -You can trust me absolutely.
No.
Stan, where have you been? I've been waiting for hours,
walking up and down the platform, looking all over for you.
-[Stan] Huh? -What's the matter, darling?
What's happened to you?
A lot of things, baby.
A lot of things.
Zeena wasn't so far off after all.
-Zeena and her boob-catchers. -Zeena?
Where's the carnival playing now? Do you know?
Galesburg, I think. But why?
-You could go there by bus. -But, Stan...
Yeah. Yeah, that's the best idea.
What about you? Where are you going?
I don't know.
Oh, but, Stan, I thought I was going with you.
So did I.
What's happened? You've got to tell me.
[conductor] All aboard!
Listen, baby. I want you to get on that train.
Go anywhere, then get back to Galesburg.
Keep out of sight as much as possible.
Here.
Here's the bankroll. Take good care of it.
But what about you? Won't you need some?
No, I'll be all right. So long, honey.
[conductor] All aboard!
Get aboard, honey. Don't miss the train.
Stan?
Take care of yourself.
[piano in distance: blues]
-[knock on door] -[Stan] Who is it?
[man] It's Joe. Bellboy.
-Pick up the tray. -Come in.
-Something wrong? -What do you mean "something wrong"?
-The food, you haven't touched it. -Well, I'm not hungry.
Hey, uh, look, mister, it ain't none of my business,
but we got a pretty good doctor down the street there.
-You want me to call him for you? -What makes you think I want a doctor?
Nothing. Only, you haven't touched a mouthful in about three days. I just —
I don't want a doctor, and I'm all right.
Say, uh, you know where I can get a drink?
No, not at this hour in this state, unless you want gin.
Sure, sure. Anything. Anything.
Two bucks.
-If there's anything else you want... -No. Good night.
[geek's voice screaming]
[train horn blowing in distance]
Since the dawn of history,
man has sought to see behind the veil which hides him from tomorrow.
Through the ages, certain men have gazed into the polished crystal
and seen.
Is it some quality of the crystal itself?
Or does it merely serve to turn the gazer's vision inward?
Who can tell?
But visions come.
Slowly shifting their form, visions come.
Wait!
The shifting shapes begin to clear.
I see fields of grass
and rolling hills and a boy.
A barefoot boy is running through those hills.
A dog is with him. A dog is with him.
Yeah, his name is Don. Go on.
Your mother. Your mother is waiting at the gate for you.
A beautiful gray-haired old lady.
That's right, buddy. You're pretty good.
She was always standing there waiting.
Even when I come home a couple of years ago.
[laughs]
Hey, you see how easy it is to hook 'em?
Stock reading. Fits anybody. Never misses.
Ah, what's youth?
Happy one minute, hungry and heartbroken the next.
Every boy has a dog.
Every boy has a beautiful old gray-haired mother.
-Everybody except maybe me. -What happened to her?
-Oh, what do you care? -Hey, don't cry in that good liquor.
You know, I had a mother once.
She wasn't so good-looking, but she was mighty good to me.
Hey, hey, you fellas take it easy. There's not gonna be any left for me.
Buddy, you're sure a good mind reader.
[train approaching, horn blaring]
[bottle shatters]
-[calliope playing] -[barkers calling]
Oh, excuse me, mister. Are you the boss?
That's right. What do you want?
I, uh... I wanted to talk to you about an attraction.
An added attraction, so to speak. It's, uh, an attraction that...
-An attraction. -Yeah? What kind of an attraction?
-Come on. Hurry up. I'm busy. -Well...
Of course, I understand, a man in your position.
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm — I'm Sheikh Abracadabra.
A top-money mitt-reader.
Sorry, brother. I'm all full up.
Anyway, I don't hire no boozers.
Me?
You smell like you just climbed out of a beer vat.
-Go on, beat it. -Um...
Please, just give me a chance, mister.
I'm an old carny hand, and I'll tackle anything.
Come here.
Sit down.
Would you like a snort?
Oh...
Oh, that's very refreshing.
Thank you, sir.
All I need is a fly and a bridge table.
I can hang my banner on the edge of the fly.
If I could have a small advance to purchase the necessary —
This show is too high-class for a mitt camp.
Besides, palmistry always gets you in trouble with the law.
Well, I'm pretty good at magic too, sir.
Magicians are a dime a dozen nowadays.
-Would you like another? -Yeah.
Go ahead.
Anyway, I never fool with an act unless it's got something sensational.
Yeah. Yeah, sure.
-Wait. -Yeah?
I just happened to think of something.
I might have a job you can take a crack at.
Of course, it isn't much, and I'm not begging you to take it, but it's a job.
Yeah, well, that's all I want.
And we'll keep you in coffee and cakes.
Bottle every day. Place to sleep it off in.
What do you say? Anyway, it's only temporary.
Just until we can get a real geek.
-Geek? -You know what a geek is, don't you?
Yeah.
Sure, I know what a geek is.
Do you think you can handle it?
Mister...
I was made for it.
Jimmy!
Hey, Jimmy!
Jimmy!
-What's wrong, Ed? -Have you seen the handcuff key?
No.
Come on. Come on. Where's the straitjacket?
-Who wants it? -The boss.
-Is anything wrong? -The geek's gone nuts.
-The geek? -The one McGraw hired today.
[Stan shrieking]
[man] There, grab him, boys!
[man 2] Hey, what's wrong with him?
You better get inside and stay there.
[man] Let's get him!
[shrieking]
Watch him now. Don't hurt him.
Where did he go? Huh?
[shrieking]
Stan. Stan.
Son, nobody's gonna hurt you.
Come on, boys, after him. Hey, George!
[whistle blows]
[blows whistle]
-Mark, you go around the back. -Okay, Charlie.
-Stan! -Hey, look out, kid.
-That guy's liable to kill somebody. -Stan!
It's me, Molly!
Stan.
It's me, Molly.
I've looked everywhere for you. Everywhere.
I've been waiting for you.
Don't you know me, honey? It's me, Molly.
Everything's gonna be all right now. I'll look after you.
Molly?
Well, he certainly fooled me. I never recognized him.
Stanton. Stanton the Great.
How can a guy get so low?
He reached too high.
-Good night, boys. Lock up. -Good night.