Mad Ghoul, The (1943)

[bunniefuu]

- The discovery of

this ancient painting

in one of the most

famous temples

was of major importance.

It was a signpost in

the wilderness of clues.

There can be no doubt

that these white lines

represent gaseous vapors.

Further research

reveals conclusively

that the natives had a

rudimentary but practical

knowledge of what we

know today as poison gas.

With this difference,

the gas which the natives

evolved had a diabolical power.

Its effect was more

frightful than anything

conceived by modern science.

We have lethal

gasses which are used

for a definite purpose, to k*ll.

The poison gas of the natives

too had a definite purpose,

but it did not bring death.

It brought death in life,

or, if you prof

er, life in death,

To appease their gods,

they offered the heart

taken from a living

victim, or, when necessary,

from one recently deceased,

Ironically enough, to

carry out this savage rite,

our surgery students

will detect a remarkably

advanced cardiectomy

technique in the incision.

And although

chemistry, not surgery,

is my province, this

picture combines both

chemistry and surgery,

a fact which opened

up a new field of research,

Now, while you students

are enjoying your

summer holidays# I shall

explore that field further.

When you return to this

classroom for the next semester,

you'll learn what

I've discovered.

Good afternoon,

and a pleasant

holiday to you all.

Allison!

How did you like

my lecture, Ted?

- I found it extremely

interesting, Doctor.

- I thought you would.

Confidentially, I'm

much further along

in my research than I

led the class to believe.

- You mean that you?

- Yes, I said that

during the vacation

I expected to recreate

the native poison gas.

that was a slight

deviation from the truth.

I've already done so.

- that's wonderful, Doctor,

- Of course, I must

check and recheck

before I can make

my findings public.

Until then, what I've

told you is in confidence.

- Naturally, Doctor.

I'm highly flattered

that you chose

to confide in me.

- Why not?

The school of medicine

expects you to do

great things someday.

I guess I have

a knack with the knife,

but it won't do me

much good if I don't

pass your chemistry course.

- You could do with a

little more work in the lab.

that's what I want

to talk to you about,

- Is it that bad?

- No, no, no, but I

could use an assistant,

How would you like

to spend your vacation

helping me with my

experiments at home?

- Would I?

Say, there isn't

a fella in the class

who wouldn't give a leg

to work with you in the lab.

- Well, that's rather more

than the privilege is worth.

You needn't give me a

leg, just lend me a hand.

- When do I start?

- Right now.

- Fine.

Only I just remembered...

Yes.

You're thinking of

Isabel's broadcast.

We can hear that from my place.

- Well, that's all

right, if you don't mind.

- No, no, of course not.

Next to science,

music is my great love,

and I've always been

interested in Isabel's career.

# Our love will live

through the years #

# Throughout our

joy and our tears #

# This dream we

hold and cherish #

# Cannot perish #

# Things may come and go #

# But we always will know #

# Our love will live

through the years #

# Throughout our

joy and our tears #

# This dream we

hold and cherish #

# Cannot perish #

# Things may come and go #

# But we always will know #

# Our love will live #

You have just heard

Miss Isabel Lewis,

University City's own

bright particular star in

an all-request program.

- Isn't she wonderful?

Imagine me being

engaged to a girl like that.

- Yes, you're a very

lucky young man.

Don't I know it.

- You think you could

forget Isabel long enough

to get back to science?

- I'll try.

- Let's go

downstairs to the lab.

This is my private universe,

- Why, you've got

everything here,

- Yes, everything,

the world in a test tube.

And in hero, perhaps a

secret from beyond the world.

what do you see?

- A dead monkey,

Why, why, it's alive!

- Yes.

that's what I meant in

my lecture by life in death,

- How did you bring

this state about, Doctor?

- You know I told you that I had

recreated the native formula.

Here it is,

- that's innocent-looking stuff.

- I must warn you about that.

These crystals and

the gas they give off

are colorless and odorless,

therefore, the more deadly.

If you have occasion

to work with this

innocent-looking stuff, at

all times wear this mask.

- Apparently, the little

monkey here forgot his.

- Yes, when I exposed

Jocko to the gas,

he too thought it was

innocent-looking stuff,

but it's affect on him

was almost instantaneous.

Physical changes took

place within a few minutes.

- what sort of changes, Doctor?

- First there was an

appearance of emaciation,

followed by more

marked physical changes

and then by

paralysis of the will.

This condition, inevitably,

will terminate in death.

- Then you plan to

conclude your experiments

by allowing this animal to

enter that terminal stage?

- No, Ted,

that's why you're here.

- Me?

- We together are going to

reverse the action of the gas.

You saw those

slides this afternoon.

One showed them

cutting the hearts

from living victims, supposedly

one of their pagan rites.

In my research,

however, I deduced that

this custom was not

to appease their gods

as they would have you believe,

but to restore life to

the gassed victims,

Combined with certain

herbs, the hearts taken

from the newly dead

served their purpose.

I have the herbs.

There is the heart.

You mean, you want

me to perform a cardiectomy?

- You sound reluctant.

You're not squeamish

about the surgery?

- I've performed

too many dissections

to be squeamish, Doctor.

- Good,

When you severed

this heart, did you notice

the dilatation of the

ventricle that creates

the largo bladder clot?

Now, the extract from

that clot combined

with these herbs

serves as the antidote.

Now...

- I can't help feeling a

sense of evil in all this,

- Moral concepts.

I am a scientist,

To me there is no good or evil,

only true or false.

I work with one,

discard the other.

Look,

- Motion is returning.

- We've done it.

- Congratulations, Doctor.

Your experiment is

a complete success.

- Yes, it's a success,

but not quite complete,

There's one element lacking.

what's that, Doctor?

- Human intelligence.

Just think what it

would mean if we could

repeat this experiment

in a human being.

Now, just a minute, Doctor.

You're not suggesting

that I do this

type of cardiectomy on a human?

- No, no, no, of course not.

I was carried away for a moment.

Well, my boy, we've

made history today.

that calls for a celebration.

Come along.

Thanks,

Doctor, but I'm afraid I...

Another engagement?

- Yes, it's Isabel.

She promised to have

dinner with me this evening,

You see, she leaves

on her tour in a few days.

She's been so busy, I've

hardly seen her for weeks.

- Yes, of course,

I'd forgotten all

about the concert tour.

I'd like to see her

too and wish her

godspeed before she leaves,

Why don't you

bring her over here

after dinner, and we'll

all celebrate together?

- Fine, I know

Isabel'd like that.

- Good, then I'll

be expecting you,

- Till this evening

then, Doctor.

- Isabel, come in!

It's good to see you again,

- Thank you, Dr, Morris,

It's good to see you,

but, I've been so busy,

- I know, but you've been

near me in spite of yourself.

I've heard you on the radio,

and I have all your recordings.

And I'm glad you

asked for a personal

appearance tonight.

- She's not kidding, Doctor.

She wasn't half

as glad to see me.

Ted.

what an interesting room,

Why, it's a miniature museum.

- It's a modest

enough collection,

but it has the

virtue of authenticity.

- what's that?

that's Jocko,

the miracle monkey.

- He was of great service

to us in the lab today,

so we thought he deserved

to share in the celebration.

- Absolutely.

- If you two will make

yourselves at home,

I'll see about something

to celebrate with,

- Miracle monkey?

- I can't tell you about it yet.

Besides, I've had enough

science for one day.

Darling, is anything the matter?

- No, of course not, I...

I'm just tired.

- We shouldn't have come.

Besides, I'd hoped

you'd say you wanted

us to be alone this evening.

- Well, you promised

Dr. Morris, and...

- Yes, I know, but I'd

still like to hear you say it.

- Aren't you being

a little inconsistent?

- I don't know.

I don't know anything

except that I'm

terribly in love with

you, and I have a strange

feeling that you're

drawing away from me.

- Well, you see I'm still here.

I haven't moved an inch.

- Darling.

Ted?

- Yes, Dr. Morris?

- I just remembered

your reputation as an artist

with a cup of cheers.

Would you mind?

- Not at all, Doctor.

- You'll find everything

you need on the sideboard,

You're unhappy, Isabel.

- Why do you say that?

- You've given so much

happiness to others

with your golden

voice, your loveliness,

but tonight you're

not the Isabel I know.

- I'm sorry if I

seem a little upset.

- I understand perfectly, dear.

You're no longer

in love with Ted.

- How did you guess?

My dear.

Don't you suppose that

I know how a woman

should look at a man

when she loves him?

- Yes, you're right.

I'd give a great

deal if it hadn't happened.

- But it had to happen.

In some ways,

Ted is only a child.

In his field, he's brilliant,

but his field is narrow.

For you, music has opened

up a great new world.

You've traveled.

You've outgrown him.

- Yes.

Yes, you're right.

- It's perfectly natural

now that you should

turn to a more

sophisticated man,

a man who could share

your great joy in music,

a man who knows the hook of life

and could teach

you how to read it,

- what shall I do?

I meant to toll him tonight.

that's why I called him.

I tried, but I couldn't.

Now I'm afraid I never can.

- Do you want me to help you?

- How could you?

- Sometimes destiny itself

solves these problems,

This may be one

of the times, Isabel.

Suppose something should happen

that would make Ted himself

break off the engagement?

- But I can't imagine...

- I can.

I can see him...

Whoa there, within!

- Say nothing to Ted.

Thank you,

This is my masterpiece.

- Thank you, - Better be good.

- I hope you like it.

It's my own concoction,

- Well, to your success, Doctor.

- And here's to a

brilliantly successful tour,

- To us.

I'm sorry, Ted.

How clumsy of me.

- Now, you be a good boy, Jocko,

Good morning, Doctor,

I heard our little

friend chattering away

in the ball after

I rang the hell,

and I took it as an

invitation to come in.

- that's quite right, Ted.

I want you to feel

perfectly at home here

now that we're working together.

Thank you, Doctor,

what's the program this morning?

- Today, we start a

new line of research,

- Good.

- I wish you'd get me

the plans and charts

from my laboratory desk.

I want to go over

our findings together.

- Right.

Dr. Morris?

- Yes?

- I wanted to thank you

for having us over last night.

Before we came, Isabel

seemed nervous and upset,

but Being here

seemed to do her good.

She was like a new

person afterwards.

- Well, I'm very glad

if I helped in any way.

- Helped?

As a matter of fact, I'm

going to call her this afternoon.

I'm going to ask

her to marry me,

today, before she goes.

I lay awake all night

getting up my courage.

Now I'm going to do it.

- Well, good luck

to both of you.

- Thank you, Doctor.

Dr, Morris?

Dr, Morris?

Doc...

- Stand up.

Sit down.

Now listen carefully.

You understand me?

Answer me.

- I understand you.

- Good,

I'm your friend,

your only friend.

You're ill.

You need me,

I alone can cure you.

You'll do everything I say.

- Everything you say.

- You'll devote

your life to science.

I will make you well.

I'll make you famous,

but you will forget Isabel.

- Forget Isabel.

- Isabel doesn't want you.

She doesn't love you.

It's me she loves.

Do you understand?

Isabel loves me.

- Isabel loves you.

- Now, Ted, you stay here.

Do you understand?

Stay hero.

- Stay here,

Stay hero.

- Hello.

Dr. Morris.

Much better since I

talked to you last night.

- I'm very glad to

hear that, my dear.

I'm calling to hid you au revoir

and to deliver a

message from Ted.

No, I'm afraid h* won't

be able to see you off.

He collapsed suddenly

while we were at work.

No, it isn't serious,

mostly overwork.

But I've persuaded

him to go to bed

for a few days,

both for his own sake

and to save you the ordeal

of his goodbye at the train,

- But if he's ill, I hate to

leave without seeing him.

Couldn't I...

- No, no, no,

I know you have a concert.

No, don't think of staying over.

Ted will understand.

Goodbye, dear.

Ted, dig.

Now, Ted, you must

perform a cardiectomy.

You understand?

A cardiectomy so that

I can make you well,

- It's hard to make anything

out of these footprints,

They're all mixed up!

- I know, but do

the best you can,

We've gotta have

some measurements,

- How could all this

happen and me not

see anything nor hear anything?

- It'd take a Sherlock

Holmes to figure that one out.

Well, McClure,

what's on your mind?

- The thing to look for.

The thing to look for in this

case, Sarge, is the motive,

- Yeah, I need a

smart newspaper man

to tell me that,

Well, you got any ideas?

- Nothing very hot.

One thing is certain, you

got a maniac to deal with,

- Yeah, what kind of a maniac?

- You got me there, but the

body snatcher routine is out.

They take the

whole corpse for that.

what would anybody

want with just a guy's heart?

- You know, Bailey was

district attorney a while back.

Maybe some guy

he sent up did it.

- No, why would they wait

for revenge till Bailey's dead?

Besides, this was

no amateur operation,

This was done by an export,

Concentrate on exports, Sarge.

- How does our department

got along without you?

- They don't.

- Ted.

Tod!

- what happened?

what am I doing in bed?

- You had a sudden

attack of vertigo,

and I brought you in hero.

Then you just passed out.

- that's ridiculous,

I've never passed

out in my life.

- Never before, perhaps.

- I do remember feeling dizzy.

- Is that all you remember?

- Yeah,

No, I had some crazy

dreams, regular nightmares.

- Nightmares?

- Yes, there's something

about Isabel and you.

You seemed to be

telling me that Isabel

was in love with you.

that's funny, isn't it?

what else did you dream?

- I guess that's all.

I seemed to be

walking and walking

in the dark, and I

was awfully tired.

I still am, as a matter of fact.

- You'd better

rest, and I'll see

about something to eat for you.

- I am hungry.

what time is it?

- It's late afternoon.

- Holy cats!

I've got to get hold of Isabel!

- Ted, you're too late.

Isabel's gone.

Gone?

- Yes, she left last night.

- How long have I been

out, for Pete's sake?

- Since yesterday morning.

- Great Caesar's ghost,

I've lost a whole day.

I was supposed

to see Isabel off.

She'll think that I...

- No, she won't.

I explained to her,

She was very sorry

and concerned,

but she had to go.

Now, don't worry.

I'm your physician now,

and I order you to rest.

- All right, Doctor.

I could knock myself

out all over again

for cracking up

at a time like this,

- Well, that happens

to the best of us

when we've been overworking.

- Your reporter's had

a wide experience

in the field of

crime, but he's never

encountered anything

as shocking or so baffling

as the work of this

unknown ghoul,

The police are, therefore,

looking for a surgeon

who, for some mysterious

reason, wanted a dead man's heart.

Your reporter will keep

you informed of further -

- Dr. Morris, I'd

like to talk to you.

- And I want to

talk to you, Ted.

We've got important work to do.

- I'm sorry, Doctor,

but I'll have to ask

you to get along without

me for a few days.

- Why?

- I've got to see Isabel.

I'll go to the town

where she's opening.

- You can't go now.

You can't walk out on me.

Our little friend's

had a relapse.

- Little Jocko?

- Don't you understand

what this means?

It means that the antidote

is only effective temporarily,

To keep him alive,

we've got to keep

on getting fresh

heart substance.

Ted, we've got to

find a permanent cure.

- I know how important

this is to you, Doctor...

- To me?

I think you should

be concerned too.

- I am, but, well,

seeing Isabel right now's

important to me too,

There are some things

I've got to get settled.

I want to be sure.

- You're letting those

nightmares upset you.

- No!

Maybe, I don't know.

All I know is I've

got to see her.

- But you're not well

enough to go to her now.

I'm fit as a fiddle.

- Suppose you have a relapse.

- Like little Jocko here?

After all, I haven't gone

through what he did.

Besides, you said yourself,

I was only overworking.

- that was a

superficial diagnosis.

But, in all fairness to

Isabel, before you ask

her to marry you, you

must be sure of your health.

- I'm all I right!

I've never been sick in my life,

I've got to see her,

I'm sorry, Doctor,

but I'm going.

- All right, Ted, since

you're determined,

I'll go along with you,

that'd be great.

Only, if you're going

just on my account.

- Don't worry about me.

I could use a holiday myself,

- Good!

Poor little Jocko.

- Yes.

# I dreamt, I dwelled

in marble ba*ls #

# With vassals and

serfs at my side #

# And of all who assembled

within those walls #

# that I was the

hope and the pride #

# I had riches too

great to count #

# I had hopes of a

high ancestral name #

# But I also dreamt

which pleased me most #

# that you loved

me still the same #

# that you loved me #

# You loved me still the same #

- what happened, darling?

You rushed off so suddenly.

Ted, here in Camden City.

Isabel, Isabel,

let me handle this.

You know this may

be the time to tell him.

- But if he's sick, Eric,

- He can't be very

sick if he traveled here.

But you will be if this

keeps up, you know.

I'm going to talk to Ted myself.

No, please don't do that, Eric.

I'll tell him.

I promise, I'll

tell him tonight.

- Hello, Ted, how are you?

- Eric, good to see you,

- Nice to see you.

- Congratulations, my dear,

- Thank you, Dr, Morris,

- And here's Ted.

- Darling, I just

had to sec you,

- How do you feel?

Are you all right?

- Of course I am.

Dr, Morris keeps

treating me like an invalid.

- As a matter of

fact, I didn't think he

should make the

trip, But he insisted,

so I thought I'd come along

and keep an eye on him,

- that was nice

of you, Dr. Morris.

I forgot, you don't know Eric.

This is Eric

Iverson, Dr. Morris,

- How do you do, sir?

- Eric's my

contribution to music.

I introduced him to Isabel.

- And a very important

contribution too,

- Well, thank you, Doctor,

and for that very

nice compliment,

may I invite you for a drink?

Would you like to join

me in my dressing room?

- I think that would

be an excellent idea,

- Excuse me.

Gee, it's wonderful

to see you again.

- Are you sure you're

well enough to be here?

- Of course I am.

Dr, Morris keeps tel

ling me I shouldn't take

any chances, but

it's nothing serious.

Too much plugging

for mid-year exam,

not enough sleep, hardly

ever a chance to see you,

so I blacked out.

- I think Dr, Morris is right.

You should do as he says.

- Well, if you feel that way,

I better tell you all he said.

He says I should release

you from our engagement

until I'm sure about my health.

There's nothing wrong

with me that a little

rest and being

with you won't cure.

I came to ask you to

marry me, tomorrow.

But if you're afraid to,

if you're afraid.

If you're...

- Ted.

what is it?

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to upset you.

Ted, what's the matter?

Dr, Morris.

Dr, Morris!

Ted, why don't you answer me?

Dr, Morris!

Dr, Morris!

Something's happened to Ted.

- I expected this.

Leave me alone with him.

I know just what to do.

Come along, Ted.

You'll he all right.

I'll take care of you,

- Take care of me?

- that's rig ht.

Come along.

- I tell you, Gavigan,

the mutilation

of that Bailey corpse

and the m*rder

and mutilation

of that little guy

in Camden City are the

work of tho same fiend,

- Okay, okay, we'll

get complete coverage

from the press association,

- But if you send me down there

you'll get better coverage.

I've cracked, well,

I mean, the Sun

helped the police crack

three out of the five

most important cases

in the last two years,

Remember the Ambley m*rder case?

Remember the...

- Yes, I remember.

what do you want me to do,

give you a badge

with detective on it?

- No, just give me

an expense account.

- Okay, okay, if

you're goin', go on!

- Get out!

- Thanks, Chief.

Hey!

- Watch who you're

humping, McClure.

- Whom, baby, not who.

Remember, you represent

culture on the Morning Sun.

- From the smirk on your face,

you're getting

ready to represent

the m*rder-solved-while-you-wait

department again,

- Right, little girl, Sleuth

McClure rides again.

- what's it this time?

- The ghoul, baby.

Last known to operate

in Camden City.

that one.

You have my blessing,

McClure, after the way

he messed up

Isabel Lewis's concert.

- Look, sugar, I'm

talkin' about m*rder,

- Well, so am I.

Isabel Lewis wowed

them in Camden City.

I won't up to cover

the concert, and I know,

But did she get a

break in the papers?

No, because everything

was pulled to spread

the story of your ghoul.

I just happened to remember,

I got an expense account.

Come on, I'll take you to lunch,

- that's why I asked you to

meet me here this afternoon.

- Isabel, in every

town, I've tried to make

Ted let me take him home, but.

- I know.

You're afraid he'll

have another attack.

that's why I wanted

to talk to you alone.

I've looked forward

to this tour so much,

and it's turned out

to be a nightmare.

- He feels obsessed.

He's convinced

that if he goes home

or if he doesn't

stay as close to you

as possible, that something

very terrible will happen,

However, he has agreed

that he's seriously ill,

and that he can't

think of marriage.

- Yes, he told me that.

He was so

pathetic, so eager for me

to say he was wrong,

but I was so afraid

he'd have another

of those terrible

attacks that, well, I...

- Yes, I know, you

encouraged him.

that was neither wise nor

fair to anyone concerned.

- I know.

that's what Eric said.

that's why we're both, Eric

and I, turning to you for help.

- Eric and you?

- Yes, I guess you've seen

how we feel about each other,

I can't understand

Ted not seeing.

- We see what we want to

see most of the time, Isabel.

Even I, a scientist, have

such moments of weakness.

- Then, then you will help us?

- what is it you want

me to do, you and Eric?

- Well, Ted hasn't had an

attack for several days now,

He must be well

enough to face the truth,

and, well, we

thought that you'd be

better to tell him

because, well I,

you're a doctor,

and you'd know best

how to say it and when.

Then, after he knows, he'll

surely agree to go home.

- When he knows, I think

Ted will agree to anything.

- Then you'll do it?

You'll help us?

- You'll let me

choose my own time?

Of course, of course.

- Very well.

- Well, men have died for less

than holding hands, Professor.

Don't mind

him, Dr. Morris.

It's his idea of humor.

- I don't flatter myself

that I've made him jealous.

- Isabel told me you

wore going to be hero,

so I thought I might persuade

you to have dinner with us.

- No, I'm afraid not.

I must go and look after Ted.

- We're both very

grateful to you, Dr, Morris,

- It's been my pleasure.

Ted, we are not going

to the concert tonight,

- Why not?

- Because we're going home.

I'm taking you home.

- I'm going home

when Isabel goes.

- You're sick.

This senseless

obsession to follow Isabel

is a phase of your illness.

- Are you suggesting

that I'm losing my mind?

- I'm telling you that

you're a sick man,

a very sick man.

- what's the matter with me?

Why am I always having

these awful nightmares?

what happened

to me, Dr. Morris?

Tell me!

I feel like I, I...

what's?

- Ted?

Can you hear me?

- I, I hear you,

- I have important news for you.

Listen carefully.

I know why Isabel

doesn't want to marry you,

Eric is responsible.

Do you understand?

- Eric?

- Yes, Eric, your friend,

He's taken her away from you.

Eric is treacherous.

- Treacherous.

- We must get rid of Eric.

- Get rid of Eric.

- Come hero, Ted.

Sit hero.

Now, write what I tell you.

- Dear Eric, I must

talk to you alone.

I'll meet you at tho stage

door at midnight, Ted.

- I just received it.

- But, but why all the secrecy?

Why at mid night?

Why alone?

- I don't know, but

I'll soon find out.

Eric, I don't like it.

Ted hasn't been himself lately,

and, well, there's

something strange

about tho whole thing.

Please don't go,

- Nonsense, darling,

Ted wouldn't hurt a fly.

- Well then I want

to be there too.

- No, no, no, no.

Ted said alone, and alone it is.

- Yes?

Five minutes, Miss Lewis.

- All right,

- Now, Ted, listen carefully,

Eric is waiting at

the end of the alley.

Do you understand?

- Eric is waiting,

- Remember, Eric betrayed you,

You must k*ll Eric.

- k*ll Eric.

k*ll Eric.

k*ll Eric.

Eric!

- Darling, why did

you come here?

I told you not to follow me.

- I had to.

I got more and more frightened,

and just before midnight, I

couldn't stand it any longer.

- There, there, you

see, you're just working

yourself up into a

lather over nothing.

I'm perfectly safe.

But tho shadows.

- Nonsense, there

are no shadows.

- Hey, McClure.

- Hi, sugar, what

are you doin' here?

- Checking out.

I came up last night

for Isabel Lewis's recital,

building up her

homecoming for her final

concert Saturday night.

what's with you?

- With me it's

ghoul trouble, baby.

The devil was digging

up the graveyard

right here in this

town last night

while you were listening

to the angel sing,

I hopped a plane

and came down here,

but that's all the

good it did me,

- No clues?

- Nothing.

The only thing I'm

sure of is that this guy,

or whatever he is, is

the same in every case.

Let's get a drink.

- Okay,

- It's always the same routine.

Each time, a fresh

grave, except that time

when he k*lled the caretaker.

Then he had a fresh corpse.

- Ooh.

I'm glad I picked music.

- Look, every place

he operated the heart

was removed by a skilled hand

and with exactly

the same technique.

- Let me see that a minute.

- Two Manhattans.

- This is funny.

- what's funny?

- Well, Isabel

Lewis was operating

in these same

towns, only she was

tearing their hearts

out with music.

- You mean to say that

your gal and my ghoul

have been playin'

the same circuit?

- that's it.

One of life's gruesome

little coincidences.

- Say, what sort

of a gal is she?

- Take it easy, McClure.

You're not suggesting

anything so fantastic...

- Hey, look, nothing's

too fantastic for this case.

When did she play those towns?

- This gets curiouser

and curiouser.

She sang in every

one of these towns

at the same time as

the crime was committed.

But I still say...

- I don't care what you say.

This is the closest

thing to a hot tip

I've had, and I'm

gonna follow it.

Where does she sing tomorrow?

- Cranston then back home.

- that's good enough for me.

I'm goin' to Cranston with ya.

Pay for the drinks, baby.

I'm gonna pack my bag.

- I have been the

leading mortician

of Cranston for 30

years, Mr. McClure,

but such a strange

request has never

come to me before.

- The reasons for

such a strange request

never existed before, Mr. Eagan.

- Quite true, quite true.

that's why I

listened to you at all.

But I cannot believe

that this monster

would dare to

desecrate the sanctity

of Cranston's honored dead.

And yet...

- And yet a monster

wouldn't be expected

to develop a sense of

honor even in Cranston,

would be, Mr. Eagan?

- No, no, I suppose not,

but even assuming

that you are right

in believing that he

will strike here next,

why should he choose

this particular deceased?

- For three good reasons.

One, he always chooses

the newly buried as his victim,

Two, he must read the

obituary news to find them,

Three, this corpse...

Deceased,

- Deceased is more accessible

than one already interred.

True, true,

This may be the means

of saving the deceased

from a horrible mutilation.

Mr. McClure, I believe

it is my duty to help you.

- I knew you would.

Now, I don't want you alone,

I don't want anybody

around takin' any chances.

I'll handle this all I alone,

Now, here's all you have to do.

In the first place...,

what kind of a corpse

do I make, Mr. Eagan?

- Very nice, very nice

indeed considering

you have the

disadvantage of being alive.

Now, if I were preparing you...

- Never mind, that's

one disadvantage

I want to keep for a while,

Everything all set?

- I hope so.

I told my chapel

attendant that I

would take charge of everything.

I still think you should

have brought the police.

You can't get a cop interested

unless you got

evidence, and I'm doin'

this on a hunch,

Now, fix those lilies

so they hide my g*n.

- I'm terribly worried about

leaving you here alone,

- Forget it.

I don't think I'll be

alone very long,

and, tomorrow, you

and I will be sensational,

- Remember, for goodness

sakes, whatever you do,

don't mar this coffin.

- Get 'em up, up, brother, up.

- The reports of your

death seem to have

been greatly exaggerated.

that's too bad.

We counted on

performing this cardiectomy

with a minimum of effort.

- Well, I'm delighted

to disappoint you.

Now, if you'll just turn around.

- You don't seem to understand,

This is important to me,

and more so to my

friend behind you.

No you don't.

- Al I right, Ted, we're ready.

- Why don't you stop?

Why, that gag's got whiskers.

- Here's the route.

It looks as though

the ghoul's deliberately

swinging around to come

back where he started from.

If he strikes here again,

the vicious circle closes.

- It closed in Cranston

on Ken McClure.

He played a hunch

there and lost,

but it was a good hunch

all right, all right, too good.

- Macklin, you've got to get

the maniac that k*lled him,

He'd done more

toward crackin' this thing

than any of you, now

you've got to finish it.

- We'll finish it.

- Anyone in this town

that gets into a cemetery

tonight won't get out alive.

- Miss Elliott, tel I me

more about this man

that travels with the

Lewis girl, the accompanist.

- Eric Iverson?

- Yes.

- He seems like a perfectly

normal, nice person.

He's a fine musician

just as she is.

It can't be possible that

they could be involved,

And yet...

- Well, thanks very

much, Miss Elliott.

You've been swell.

We'll take it from here.

Miss Lewis?

- Yes.

- I'm Sergeant Macklin

with the homicide division.

This is Detective Garrity,

- How do you do.

- I'd appreciate a few

moments of your time.

- what could you possibly

want to see me about?

- Well, for one thing,

I want to welcome

you back to the home town,

We're all very proud

of you, you know.

- Thank you.

Come in.

Won't you sit down?

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Well, tonight's the big

night, isn't it, Miss Lewis?

- Yes.

- You'll have all the home

town people out to hear you.

- It's nice of you to

show so much interest,

Sergeant Macklin,

but I'm sure that's

not what you came to talk about.

- I notice the press

gave you quite a big play.

It's too bad you had

to share the spotlight

everywhere you went

with a homicidal maniac.

- You mean those

dreadful grave robbings?

- And m*rder.

- Yes, it was horrible.

Imagine it happening in

almost every town I sang.

- Yes, in every town you sang,

that's what got us to

thinking that maybe you could...

- Why, why you can't think that?

So that's what you're here for.

It isn't possible that you,

that anybody believes that I...

- No, no, no, of course not.

But you may be able to help us,

- Well, how?

I know nothing about it.

It's just a horrible

coincidence.

- Well, yes, that's

what it looked like

until Ken McClure

tried to heat this

coincidence to the punch.

You were giving a

concert in Cranston.

He had a theory the

ghoul would be there too,

and he was right.

The only trouble

is he didn't live

to tell us what he discovered,

Miss Lewis, I

want you to tell me

everything you know

about your accompanist.

- Eric?

No, Eric couldn't

be mixed up in this.

Why, why, he's,

well, we're engaged!

- Suppose he's two people,

the man you love and the ghoul?

- The ghoul?

- Yes, haven't you ever

heard of schizophrenia?

Split personality.

No, not Eric.

I don't believe it.

- what are his interests

aside from music?

Does he care anything

at all about science?

Has he ever studied

medicine or surgery?

- No, never, I'm sure of it!

- Well, these atrocities

were committed

by more than one man.

Is it possible he

has a scientific friend

that may have connived with him?

- Eric never had

any interest but music,

and most of his friends are..,

- Yes?

Most of his friends?

- Are musicians and artists.

- I see.

Well, thank you very

much, Miss Lewis.

- Thank you.

- Good luck tonight.

- Thank you.

Hello, Doctor.

- Why, Isabel, aren't

you due at the concert?

- I just had to

talk to you first.

- By all means, come right in.

what is it, Isabel?

what's troubling you?

- Doctor, have you ever

known a schizophrenic?

- Yes.

- Could Ted be like that?

- what gave you that idea?

- Because he's

in trouble, Doctor.

Ted's in dreadful trouble.

- what trouble am I in, dear?

Ted, those

horrible things that kept

happening on the tour,

the murders and the hearts,

cutting out those hearts,

- Isabel, Ted knows

nothing of all that.

He was far too ill to read

anything so shocking.

I kept the papers from him.

- Tell me, Isabel, tell me.

- The police, they think

Eric is mixed up in it.

They think he's a schizophrenic,

and somebody else,

they said, somebody

that knows surgery,

like you, Ted.

But I didn't tell

them you were there.

I didn't tell them,

and Eric couldn't

be mixed up in it, could be?

- No, dear.

Eric couldn't be,

not in 1,000 years.

- My child, where did you

get such a fantastic notion?

I've been with Ted

practically every minute.

You're making

yourself ill over the wild

imaginings of an

ambitious detective.

- You're sure, Doctor?

- Of course I am.

I'm sorry, Ted,

Please forgive me.

- Well, there's

nothing to forgive.

You love Eric, don't you?

It's all right.

I'm glad, because I'm very ill.

I didn't realize it

before, but I know now.

You're free, Isabel.

She's right, isn't she, Doctor?

- It was an accident,

Ted, I swear it.

- I remember, those nightmares.

I must've been

in the pit of hell.

- But for me, you would've died.

I risked my life.

- m*rder and

mutilation of the dead.

- When we k*lled, it

was in self defense.

Besides, they can't touch us,

Nobody knows anything,

not even our experiments,

only you and I.

- I remember.

Isabel and Eric, Isabel and you.

- that's something you

pulled from your subconscious.

- She'll be safe with Eric.

- So long as Eric

is safe from you.

- From me?

You...

Yes, I remember again.

k*ll Eric.

what am I, alive or dead?

Man or beast?

what have you done to me?

- I saved your life, I tell you,

and I'll find a way

to make you well.

It was an accident.

You understand?

An accident!

You fool, you madman,

what have you done?

- I'm sending this evil

back into the darkness,

- Ted, you're mad.

You can't do this,

- You're wrong, Doctor.

There's nothing left of it now

but you and me and this.

And now I'm glad, because

my work here is finished.

I've, I've...

- But you haven't

finished yet, you know.

There's just one

more task, Eric.

Get up.

Remember, you must

first k*ll Eric then yourself,

Understand?

First Eric then yourself,

- First Eric then myself.

First Eric then myself.

Ted!

Tod!

Tod!

Tod!

Tod!

- Nothing ghoulish looking

about that guy to me,

- You can never tell

about these musicians.

A lot of 'em are

pretty q*eer ducks.

# All the lovely things of

life are made all for love #

# All for love #

# Every bough casts

refreshing shade #

# So that lovers vows

may be expressed #

- First Eric, then myself.

- Ted.

Ted.

# I wandered far

and long to find #

# The reason why #

# The reason why

there's a world #

# And the thing

we call our soul #

Ted.

Ted, Ted, listen to me,

Ted, you've gotta

come with me now.

We need each other now.

- First Eric, then myself.

Ted, we can't think

of Eric now, only ourselves.

- First Eric, then myself.

- Ted, you've gotta help me.

Ted, you've got to,

Tod!

# My darling, my own #

# Let your arms enfold me #

# Let them hold me #

# We were meant

for this and this #

- First Eric, then myself

- Miss Isabel Lewis.

Miss Lewis, do you

know who this man is?

- Why...

- Yes, she does, Officer.

- How long have you known him,

and what's this all about?

- I can't toll you anything now,

I can't even think.

- Please, if you don't mind,

Maybe this note will I explain.

- Dearest Isabel, what

you surmised about me

this evening is true.

Forgive me.

It was Dr, Morris

who involved me

in all of those

unspeakable crimes.

I shall pass on

knowing you and Eric

will be happy together.

I pray you will I forgive

me for everything.

Do you know who Dr. Morris is?

- He was Tod's

professor at school.

- Officer, do you

mind if Miss Lewis

goes to her dressing room?

It's been quite a

shock, you know.

She'll be very happy to

answer all your questions later.

- All right, but both

of you stay there.

I'll h* there shortly,

- Ted.

Ted.

It's no

use, Dr. Morris.

I'm sending this evil

back into the darkness,

There's nothing left of it now

but you and me and death.