All language subtitles for Nightmare Alley (2021) (Awafim.tv)

(WIND WHISTLING)

(GRUNTING AND PANTING)

(SIGHS)

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(INSECTS CHIRPING)

(SNIFFS)

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC CONTINUES)

(RIDE PASSENGERS SCREAMING
IN DISTANCE)

(BUS BRAKES SQUEAL)

(DOOR HISSES OPEN)

BUS DRIVER: All right, folks.
Last stop. End of the line.

Grab your belongings
and head off the bus.

Thank you.

(BELL JINGLES)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

BARKER: (ON LOUDSPEAKER)
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

to the greatest carnival
in the world.

Spine-chilling attractions,
fun for all ages.

Hurry! Hurry, hurry.

Behold,
the beauties of the Orient,

reenacting forbidden dances
for your education

and pleasure.
(CROWD APPLAUDS)

Games of chance,
games of skill.

MAN: Molly, look what
I got for you. Chocolates.

You ready to go?
You got the sandwiches?

BARKER: One last chance to
witness this supreme oddity.

I must ask you, however,
to remember that this exhibit

is being presented solely
in the interest of science
and education.

Where did it come from?
Is it a beast or is it a man?

Come on in.
Come on in and find out.

(CROWD CHATTERING)

This creature has been
examined by the foremost
scientists

of both Europe
and the Americas,
and pronounced a man.

Unequivocally, a man.

(MUMBLES INCOHERENTLY)

He can go for weeks
with neither food nor drink

and live entirely
on the atmosphere.

But you're in luck
because tonight we're going
to feed him one last time.

Peach.

(CHICKEN CLUCKING)

There will be a slight
additional charge
for this attraction,

but it's not a dollar,
not 50 cent, but a quarter.

One fourth of a dollar,
and you will see him feed.

(WINGS FLAP)
Suckle on the blood

of reptiles and birds...
(CHICKEN CLUCKING)

Like a babe feeding on
its mother's milk.

(CHICKEN CLUCKS)
(CROWD EXCLAIMS)

(CLUCKING)

(GRUNTS)

(GROWLS)
(CHICKEN YELPS)

(CROWD EXCLAIMS)
(GRUNTS)

(CROWD GASPING)

(GEEK GROWLS)
MAN: Bite it! Come on!

(SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT)

(CHICKEN CLUCKING)

(GASPING HOARSELY)

No.

(MUMBLES INCOHERENTLY)

(INHALES SHARPLY, PANTS)

(GRUNTS)
(CHICKEN YELPS)

(WOMEN SCREAM)
(LAUGHTER)

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

(GRUNTS)

(CROWD CHEERS)
(WOMEN SHRIEK)

WOMAN: Come on.
Fourth of a dollar.

25 cents. Pay up.

(CROWD SCREAMS, APPLAUDS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

BARKER: (ON LOUDSPEAKER)
Step right up and get a prize!

MAN: Hey, mack.

You can't be back here.

You.

You're the cluck
from the bus stop.

You followed me here,
didn't ya?

Why?

What's your pitch, pal?

You on the level?
You need work?

He's jus
peddling applesauce.

Major. Major.
Give me a minute.

All right,
we got a storm
coming through.

I gotta load out fast.
I'm short a few guys.

It's hard work.

You get a dollar,
you move on.
No mooching around.

Savvy?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(WORKERS SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY)

All right, fellas,
on the count of three.

Ready?

One, two, three.
(WORKERS SHOUT INDISTINCTLY)

Let her down.

WORKER: Take the post down!
Take the post down!

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

Want I should help you
count it, Rockefeller?

It was a dollar

minus the till
for the Geek Show.

That's right.
I clocked you, cluck.

Hey! Hey!

I'll give you five
for the radio.

Tell you what,
we're joining
another carnival

about 20 miles
down the road.

I'll give you the five,
plus a nice hot meal
when we get there.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

(PLAYING GENTLE MELODY)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)
(CLAMORING)

BARKER: Come on, fellas.
I need help. Chop chop.

Hey, you.
Radio Flyer, come here.

The Geek, he got loose.

If you see him,
don't take him on your own.

Let's get this fucker.

Look under the truck.

No, keep going.
To the funhouse.

MAN: Hurry!

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

I'll let you in.

(DOOR WHIRS)

You go in there.

If you see him,
push him through.

I'll meet you
on the other side.

(MACHINERY WHIRRING)

(MACHINERY WHOOSHES)
(GASPS)

(WHIRRING STOPS)

(MUFFLED YELLING)

(METAL CREAKS)

(DOOR CLANGS AND HISSES)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(SOFT WHIMPERING)

(PANTING WEAKLY)

Hey, pal,
everybody's looking for ya.

(GEEK MUTTERS)

Well, I'm not gonna blow
the whistle. You didn't do
nothing against me.

Why don't you
come on out?

Come on,
I'm not gonna hurt you.

(GEEK MUTTERING)

I am not like...

I'm not like this.

(BOTH GRUNT)

Easy.

Easy.

(GRUNTS)

(BOTH GRUNT)

(GEEK GROANS)
Hey!

Hey!

Hey, you're
gonna kill him.
Jesus, kid!

Aw, jeez, is he dead?

I don't need no shooflies
in here, Clem.
Get him out of here.

CLEM: In the back.

The cage in the back.

Hell.

(CHICKENS CLUCKING)

Jesus.

(GRUNTS)

Out, out! Go, go, go.

(GEEK GROWLS)
Back!

Back, back, back!
(GROANS)

Step right up and behold,

one of the unexplained
mysteries of the universe.

Is he man or beast?

(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY)

GEEK: (WEAKLY)
I'm not like this.

(GEEK CRIES)

CLEM: Folks will pay
good money just to
make themselves feel better.

(CONTINUES CRYING)
Look down on this fucker,

grind some
chicken gristle.

How's your head?
Hmm.

Turn.

Oh.

(CLEM CHUCKLES)

You can find a mattress
over there behind those jars.

You can sleep
there tonight.

Stay out of the rain.

(CHICKENS CLUCKING)

Go on, go on,
around the corner.

Would a steady job be of
interest to you, young buck?

Folks here,

they don't make no never mind
who you are, or what you done.

(LOW, UNEASY MUSIC PLAYING)

(METALLIC TICKING)

(IMPERCEPTIBLE)

(SOFT METALLIC CLACKING)

(GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)

(RHYTHMIC TAPPING)

Hey!

(VOCALIZES)
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.

(SHOES CLATTER)
(GUITAR MUSIC ENDS)

(TRADITIONAL POP MUSIC
PLAYING ON RADIO)

Mornin'.

Mornin'.

You got a tub?

Certainly do.

Just arrived last night,
so I thought...

Of course you did.

Well, it'll be a dime
to use it, and you get
a cake of soap,

and, uh, hot water.

Leave the door open?

Sure. But put that dime
on the table.

Sorry to wake you, sugar.
I'm just getting a soak.

MAN: I gotta go
into town anyway.

Morning.

And, uh, I'm going to see
about getting some breakfast.

Now, sweetie, make sure
it's breakfast, okay?

Promise Zeena you won't go
into some blind pig.

Are you familiar
with those cards?

Mm-hmm.

And, uh, tarot.

Very powerful stuff.

Well, maybe Zeena
will read your fortune, uh,

if you're lucky,

after your bath.

You could take
all your things off

and hang 'em over
the chair there,
nice and neat.

MAN: I'll have
eggs a la Benedict,
a croissant,

jus d'orange, cafe au lait,
and, uh, ba-bum.

Au revoir, ma cherie.

(MATCH STRIKES)

Gonna be helping
Clem out a bit.

Clem, huh?

(MOANS)
(ZEENA SIGHS)

Say, maybe you can
hawk for me.

You know,
work the audience.

We got a little
mind reading show.

What would I have to do?

ZEENA: Ah,
ain't nothin' to it.
Carny speak's like a song.

We sound Southern
to Southerners
and Western to Westerners.

You got
a sweet little lilt.

Just gotta lean on it.
Talk of the soil.

You drawl slow,
but all the while,
you're hustling fast.

Yeah, you can
peddle for me.

And on your down time,
maybe Pete can show you
a trick or two.

You're gonna do just fine,
honey.

You got panache.

(CHUCKLES)

What is that?

Well,

you're easy on the eyes,
honey.

(ZEENA CHUCKLES)

Oh, you're trouble,
ain't you, pup?

No, ma'am, I'm absolutely
no trouble at all.

Oh, yes, you are.

Yes, you are.
You're a "maybe."

And "maybes"...

(SIGHS)

they're real bad for me.

Well, ain't you one.

I better go.
Yeah.

Just try and get away,
you dope.

(CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTING)

(CHEERING)

Take over for me.
My knees are shot to shit.

Always with the knees.

I am The Major!

The tiniest man
on record,

master of the nami-jitsu,
the secret technique
from the Orient.

And $20 says I can beat
any of you yahoos

in a wrestling match.

Don't be bashful, folks.

If there's any of you
that have a question for me,

Mr. Carlisle will now
be collecting your cards
and envelopes.

Make sure to
write your questions

and your name on a card
inside the envelope.

All right, don't look
at anybody else's.

WOMAN: Thank you.

Let's just all just mind
our manners, and we'll stay
out of trouble, now.

There are five senses
we all possess.

Miss Molly,
you have a question for us?
No.

All right. Well, you're not
gonna get an answer then.

ZEENA: We all can hear, see,
touch, smell, and taste.

ZEENA: However, I have been
blessed with a sixth one.

A natural connection,
if you will, to the ether.

Thank you for the envelopes,
Mr. Carlisle.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

Choose your fate or the color
of your curtains...

Zeena's cooking up
a good crowd out there, Pete.

You sauced? Come on, Pete.
Oh...

Pete, Zeena's on.
Oh?

(ZEENA TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
I'll read the first card.

(PETE MUMBLES)

She gonna need it soon.

Okay, Abigail.
Write it down.

Where's the chalk?
Right here.

People always ask me
if I have spirit aid.

Well, folks,
the only spirits I control
are the ones in this bottle.

(CROWD LAUGHS)

The spirits of alcohol.

Worried about her mother.
Gonna be looking soon.

And every card after that,
you understand?

I know it, I know it.

(CROWD EXCLAIMS)

(APPLAUDING)

The questions are now
in the ether.

I've never touched them.
Never read them.

I don't need to, 'cause I get
an impression right here.

PETE: There you go, Zeenee.

There's a woman

worried about her mother.

"Will mother get better?"

(WHISPERS)
Pete's sauced.

I'll go.

ZEENA: Wait,
I'm getting a letter.

Yes. It's an "A".

That's me.

Abigail?
Is that your name, dear?

(CROWD GASPS IN AWE)

I'd say your mother
had a lot of hard work...

(SLURRING) Molly.
Which envelope is it, Pete?

It's... I don't know.
This one?

I can't remember.

I'm sorry, Molly.

ZEENA: Now, I will attempt
to read the next question.

(MOUTHING)
I don't know which one it is.

ABIGAIL: Madam Zeena.

Tell me more.

Please.

WOMAN: Tell her, Madam Zeena.
If you can.

You have a couple of brothers,
or sisters, haven't you?

No, I don't, ma'am.
(CROWD MURMURING)

Only one sister.

My brother passed away.

Ah, yes.

But I see him.

That's what threw me.

Your brother is right here
this very minute.

His hand is on your shoulder.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Can you feel it?

Yes.
(PEOPLE GASP)

Yes, I felt
something.

I felt his hand.

Oh, God! Harry!

(CROWD APPLAUDS, CHEERS)

(SOFT MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
Are you okay?

Oh, the poor woman,
she wanted to know more.

Of course she did.
(SIGHS)

What did you tell her?
Well, the truth.

We missed a cue

and I had to use a trick
to ease the crowd.

It was just a trick.

It hurt.

PETE: Well, it's good.
It's good that you did that.

Yeah, well,
I gave her an amulet.

PETE: I'm sorry
I missed the cue.

I don't know why you don't
keep it going for her.

Never do a spook show.
Oh. (PUFFS)

PETE: No good comes out
of a spook show.

Is it so bad
to give her hope?

It ain't hope
if it's a lie, Stan.

(SIGHS)

All right, well,
what are those cards then?

Hmm? Tarot?

Well, honey,
it ain't the same thing.

No, I even run 'em over
for myself. And Pete.

You always get
some kind of answer.

I bought those for you
in Paris.

We stayed at the Ritz.

Ah. Held over four weeks.

Ah... (SPEAKS FRENCH)

(ZEENA CHUCKLES)

I wrote most of
the word system on that tour.

That's where
we perfected the act.

Didn't we, George?

Can you still do it?

Eh...

All right.

Stanton...

give Zeena an article.
Any article.

(SWITCHES OFF RADIO)

(WATCH TICKING)

ZEENA: Please concentrate
on this object

I have in my hand,
Professor.

What can
you tell me?

Wristwatch.

Leather band.

Brass, not gold.

Oh. Old and worn down.

Ah...

But it's full of meaning...

Ah, it wasn't
yours originally, was it?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)
You took it, or...

You stole it, didn't you?

Oh, I see an older man.

Oh, the boy hates him.

Oh, the boy would love
to be loved,
but he hates that man...

(PETE GRUNTS)

(SHUDDERS)

Death.

Death and the wish of death.

He loved that watch.

That was his pride,
my father.

Was it now?

No, no, no.

That's it. That's it.

(SNAPS FINGERS)

That's it. (GRUNTS)

(PETE SIGHS)

It's, uh...

It's all there.

(MUMBLES)

Now, you see,

each word has a number,

and that number leads you
to a different word.

Ba-bum!

Zeena feeds them to me.

"Please concentrate
on the object
I have in my hand, Professor."

"Please",
"an object", 21.

Emphasis on "concentrate"
means that it is old
and worn down.

Cheap.

Ba-bum.

But...

you gotta know
how to read the mark.

How they move
and talk, dress.

People are desperate
to tell you who they are.

Desperate to be seen.

Ain't that the truth?

Yeah, but how do you know
if you got 'em hooked?

Well, you pause.

ZEENA: That's right.

You take a moment.

"Would you excuse me, please?
I need a glass of water."

Yeah, or you faint.

Weakened by the effort.

(PETE CHUCKLES)

How'd you know
about my father, though?

That's a stock reading.

It's a "Black Rainbow."

One size fits all.

(SLURRING)

Thrifty but generous,
private but friendly,

and... and you,

you hated him but loved him.

Now, everybody's had
some trouble.

Somebody they've hated.

Shadow from their past.

And usually for a boy,
it's the old man.

Now, if the mark is older,

you say you had, uh,
some present loss.

But younger?

It's the father.

There's always a father.

Well,

I will take this to Clem.

We had a good day today.

A great day.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOOR CLOSES)
Oh, my sweet Pete.

(CHUCKLES DRYLY)
He breaks my heart.

No, no, no. No more belting
the grape for you, Pete.

I promised Zeena.

PETE: Oh, Zeena's
not gonna know, Clem.

Just one bottle,
that's all.

Okay. Last time.

Just go.

PETE: Bless you, Clem.
Bless you.

(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(JARS RATTLING)

These are my little angels.

Set it down here.
That's his home.

Uh, no.

Face him the other way,
he's shy.

Got to keep my beauties
pickled fresh.

"Begotten by the same lust
and threat that got us
all walkin' on this earth,

"but gone wrong somehow
in the maternal womb.

"Not fit for livin'."

Most of 'em die
right at childbirth,
or even inside the mother.

Now, this one
is a rare one.

(SWITCH CLICKS)
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Enoch.

I named him
on account of the Bible.

Little fucker killed
his mother
right at childbirth.

Flopped around for
a couple of days,
brayin' like a calf.

Eye follows you around
like 'em portraits.

Red box, wood alcohol.

Good for picklin',
bad for drinkin'.

Poison, real poison.

Blue box,

sweet sugarcane,
double-cooked.

Christ almighty, throat's sore
as a bull's ass in fly time.

(MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY
ON RADIO)

Folks know
to come to me for it.

Half a plug a quart.

Never cop a quart.

You gotta make the tin cling,
same as everybody else.

I never touch the stuff.

Ain't we virtuous?

Just say you understand.

I understand.
What do you understand?

Never cop a quart.

That's right.

Toe the line,
don't fuck with me.

That's the lesson.

(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Entrez.

Clem asked me
to deliver this to you.

Six quarts of wood alcohol
for the show.

Oh, yeah,
for the show.

(CHUCKLES)
That's a pity,
isn't it?

You can just
put 'em there.

(COINS CLINKING)

Here you go.

Hey, Pete.

I'd love to learn anything
that you'd wanna teach me.

Teach you?

I understand
if you don't wanna

give away your secrets.
(CHUCKLES)

Uh, no. It's not that,
my boy. It's, uh...

Well, it's just that
it's been some time

since anybody's asked me
to teach them anything.

Thank you.
Yeah.

You know
where to find me.
Yes, I do.

Have a good day.

(PEOPLE SCREAMING IN DISTANCE)

Never court
the sins of lust or pride.

I was turned into
this sorrowful shape,
for I disobeyed my parents.

They wanted
only my well-being...

MOLLY: Born during
an electrical storm,

the atmosphere charged
with electrostatic power.

I am now able to
withstand thousands...

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLES)
(CROWD EXCLAIMS)

...upon thousands of volts

as they will course
through my body.

But you must be warned
to keep your distance,

for this entertainment
carries with it
the danger of electrocution,

even for those
in close proximity.

(CROWD SCREAMS)

(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(GEEK MOANS)

(GEEK MUTTERS)

GEEK: (SOFTLY)
I'm not like this.

Not like this,
I am not like this.

(GEEK BREATHES RAGGEDLY)

(ORNAMENTS JINGLING)

Molly.

I wanna show you something.
You have a second?

I just got a
couple of minutes
before Zeena starts.

MOLLY: Mm-hmm.

So, uh, I saw your show,
and I think it's real good,

but I got an idea
for your act.

Now, in your show,
you just...

You know,
you tell a little story.

But what if
you showed them something?

What do you
think of that?

An electric chair,
and they put you in it.

Manacles in,

and the audience is going,
"What's going on here?"

All of a sudden,
little guy comes
shufflin' out

with an executioner's hood.

He pulls this lever,
and they get real scared.

They think maybe
you're gonna die,

and boom, you got them,
they're back on their heels.

What do you say?

You wanna execute me?

Just for a second.

Then you come back to life.

You drew me?

Yeah, I draw
what's on my mind.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

You could make a living
at this.

My mama used to put me
in these contests
when I was a kid.

I used to win all of them,
but I don't know, I just...

Just something
I've always done.
Helps me think.

You do know this is
the Ragtag Opera, right?

Nothing's really the best
of anything around here.

Well, you're better
than this place.

Maybe you think
I'm special,
but I'm not.

Well, maybe I see
something in you
you don't see.

You do?
I mean, it's possible.

Maybe all this is
good enough for me.

I don't believe you.

If it's not good enough
for me, sure ain't
good enough for you.

What do you think?

You look good.

Think about it.

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Okay, you got steps.

Ready?

Voila.

Looks just like
the sketch, don't it?

No, sit in the chair.

You made this?
When did you make this?

And put your hands
in there.

Like that?
Yeah.

(METAL CLACKS)
Oh!

See that? Major.
That's drama.

Now your job over here is
gonna pull this lever. Okay?

Don't bend down
to talk to me.

No, I'm not bending down.
I'm trying to show you.

You're gonna
pull this lever back.

No, you gotta do it
with some force,
with some drama.

Put your back into it,
two hands. You got it.

(DRAMATICALLY) Ahh!
And the electricity is flying,

everybody's horrified.

Is she gonna live or die?
It's going back and forth.

And then you're gonna
save the day,

and you're gonna push it
forward, two hands.

Really put some...
And that's it!

Manacles come off,
smoke's coming out.

I haven't rigged this yet,

but these two areas
are gonna have sparks.

I don't know
about all your
gobbledygook,

but I am not wearing this,
I tell you that.

Oh, but it's so good.

What are you
all of a sudden,
an engineer?

It's the same rubber mat
as before,
same electrical current.

Just a better show,
that's all.

What does
this wheel thing do?

That's bullshit.

(STAN CHUCKLES)

Tell you what.

I'll think about it.
I'll do it.

I think he's
onto something.

Sure.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(ENGINE TURNS OVER)

You going someplace special?

Just driving Pete and Zeena
into town.

You want us to pick up
something for you?

Nah, I'm good.

What's it to you?
BRUNO: Nothin'.

You been bumpin' gums
with Molly a little too often.

Just so happens
I knew her old man.

I knew him really good.

Old-time grifter.

My guess, he wouldn't
have liked you at all.

I promised him
I'd take care of the girl,
and I'm gonna.

I still got five good pounds
of meat and bone right here.

Hurt that girl,
you get 'em all.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

STAN: What are you
still doing up out here?

I had a dream.
I couldn't go back to sleep.

Wanna tell me about it?

It was about my dad.

Did he pass?

He was alive and smiling
in the dream.

I'll bet you
he was handsome,
wasn't he?

Girls always
take after their daddies.

MOLLY: Hmm.

"Mary Margaret Cahill,
don't forget to smile,"
he said.

I don't really like to smile,
but I'd sure as hell
smile for him.

He could charm his way
out of anything.

A man after my own heart.

Tell me more.
About him?

Sure, about you.

What about me?

I know that, uh,
you like chocolates,

and you like to read.

And dancing.
(CHUCKLES)

When was the last time
you did?

A while.
Yeah?

We gonna fix that.

You ready?

(CAROUSEL POWERS UP)
Giddy up.

(CAROUSEL MUSIC PLAYING
ON SPEAKER)

(STAN HUMS ALONG TO MUSIC)
(MOLLY CHUCKLES)

I've been thinking
about what you said, Stan.

What did I say?
(MOLLY GRUNTS)

(BOTH LAUGH)

I remember.

And where would we go?

What if I told you
I can get my hands
on a two person act for us?

What are you
talking about?

I'm talking about an act
that would get us headlining

in the biggest hotels
and showrooms

from the East Coast
to the West Coast.

You're dreaming.

No, Molly.
You're bigger
than this place.

If you let me,
I wanna give you the world
and everything in it.

Molly.

(CAROUSEL MUSIC CONTINUES)

(CURTAIN CLINKING)

(ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(STAN PANTING)

Come on.
I need a hand.

Wound on his head
went bad.

Flies got to it.

Fever won't come down.

Is he dead?
No. But he's bound to be.

You heard?

That little Kraut, the one
that looks like Chaplin,

he just invaded Poland!

The balls on him.
Put him here.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Come on!
You gonna wait?

And answer questions? No!

They'll take him,
they'll care for him.

Put him under the...
I said leave him be!

Can't leave him in the rain.

Don't pretend
you give a shit with me.

You hungry?
I'm starving!

Come on!
Steak and eggs,
on me.

Sweetie, uh,
salt and pepper, please.

How do you ever
get a guy to geek?

Oh, I ain't gonna
crap you up.
It ain't easy.

You gotta pick up
a broken drunk.

A real alkie,
a two bottle-a-day fool, see?

Pick him up from where?

Nightmare alleys,
train tracks, flophouses,
you name it.

Lot of folks came back
from the war addicted
to the poppy, to booze.

Now, opium really
sinks its claws, but
you reel 'em in with booze.

You tell 'em,

"I got a little job for you.
It's a temporary job."

Make sure you
emphasize that.

"Just temporary, until we
get ourselves another geek."

You spike it with
that opium tincture.

One drop per bottle,
that's all.

But, oh...

oh, now, this is what
he thinks is heaven.

So, you say to him like this,
you say to him,

"Well, I gotta get me
a real geek."

He says,
"Ain't I doing okay?"

You say, "Like crap
you're doing okay.

"You can't draw
a real crowd
faking a geek.

"You're through."

And you walk off.

Now, that night,

you drag out the lecture,
you lay it on thick.

All the while you're talking,
he's thinking about
sobering up,

getting the crawling shakes,
the screaming, the terrors.

You give him time
to think that over
while you're talking.

Then, you throw him
the chicken.

He'll geek.

Jesus.

Poor soul.

Like this.

Index, middle finger,

half bent,
parallel to your thumb.

As if you're going to pluck
something out of the air.

Left hand on your temple.

This means you're asking
for color, texture, specifics.

That's it.

STAN: You got
quite a gift.

I don't know
how you do it, Pete.

Keep all that
in your head,

at the same time
entertaining all
these folks.

(PETE CHUCKLES)

You know, if, um...

If you're good
at reading people,

it's mostly because
you learned as a child,

trying to stay one step ahead
of whatever tormented you.

Now, if they really did
a number on you,

then that crack,
it's a hollow.

And there'll
never be enough.

There's no
filling that in.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING
IN DISTANCE)

(PETE GRUNTS)

Uh...

Clem is breaking in
a new geek.

Holding out on him.

Poor bastard.

He's gotta be
half out of his mind by now.

I think George and I
will sleep below tonight.

Stan, my boy.

Would you be
so kind as to...

as to procure me
a pint of the sugarcane?

Pete, close your eyes
and go to bed.

I need an incentive, son.

Hmm.

I'll see what I can do.

Attaboy.

(OPERATIC MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO)

(JAR RATTLING SOFTLY)

(METAL BANGING)

(CHICKEN CLUCKING)
(GEEK GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

(OPERATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

WOMAN: Jesus.

You got no rhythm.

(OPERATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(COIN CLATTERS)

(PANTING)

(SNORING SOFTLY)

(SOFT SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
PLAYING)

What are you doing?
Uh...

I didn't mean any harm by it,
Pete. I was just curious.

Stan, this book,
it can be misused.

Do you understand?

It's why I stopped
doing the act.

I got shuteye.

When a man believes
his own lies, starts believing
that he has the power,

he's got shuteye.

Because now he believes
it's all true.

And people get hurt.
Good, God-fearing people.

And then you lie.
You lie.

And when the lies end,
there it is.

The face of God,
staring at you straight.

No matter where you turn.

No man can
outrun God, Stan.

Yes, sir.

(TRAPDOOR CLOSES)

(FOOTSTEPS OVERHEAD)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(SIGHS)

(SMACKS LIPS)

(WHISPERING)
Middle and index finger bent,

parallel to the thumb.

Raise your left hand
to your temple,
middle and index finger bent.

Parallel to your thumb.

Raise your hand
to your temple.

Asking for
something specific.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

ZEENA: No! No! Where is he?
Where is he?

Pete! Come on!

BRUNO: Zeena!

Hey, Clem, we got a problem!

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(PEOPLE CLAMORING)

It's Pete. He finally
did it to himself.

He ain't moving.

ZEENA: (SOBBING)
Pete. Oh, my... Pete.

(CONTINUES SOBBING)

Pete!

(CONTINUES SOBBING)
Pete! Pete!

BARKER: Sin and salvation.
Heaven and Hell.

Find out what it feels like
right here on Earth.

Let the mirrors show you
who you are
and who you shall be.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

CLEM: (ON LOUDSPEAKER)
Spine-chilling rides!

Fun for all ages!

The sensation of the century!

Ten attractions
for a single ticket.

(SIRENS APPROACHING)

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Step right up and get a prize.

Clem!
CLEM: Yeah.

Clem!
Yeah.

Shooflies. I saw four cop cars
coming up the South.

Oh, shit.

They see the geek,
we're all wet.

I'll stash him.

You drop the banner,
chisel them a bit,

buy me some time.

Round up all the carnies

and take them over
to that stage over there.

CLEM: Whoopsie daisy. (GRUNTS)

Move it, move them! Move them!

STAN: Officer, what seems
to be happening?

Join the others.

Is that a warrant?
What's that for?

Don't try to
pull that legal stuff.

We're gonna close this whole
joint down one way or another.

STAN: Yes, sir.

OFFICER: ...that you
are carrying around...

(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY)
...an illegal performance

emphasizing cruelty
to both animal and man.

And you, young lady.

We have got wives
and daughters in this town.

You are under arrest
for indecency.
Get her down!

No, stop! Stop!
Get down off there!

OFFICER: I'll club you down.
The wheel is turning.

The electrical current's
gotta go somewhere.

Major, please!

If you just permit us, sir,
you can judge in a fair manner

like the good King Solomon.
(CROWD EXCLAIMS)

Everybody, back off!

(ELECTRICITY SURGING)

(ELECTRICITY POPPING)
(CROWD SCREAMING)

(GRUNTS)
(CRACKLING STOPS)

That's why she's forced
to wear the brief
as a covering, sir.

She purges the current.

Molly?

Molly? You okay?

(CROWD MURMURING)

BRUNO: Make way.

She just saved
your deputies' lives.

Molly, Molly.

I am closing you down.

I ain't none of
your thieving southern police

kissing a priest's toe
on Sundays and raking in
graft six days a week.

STAN: Is your name Jeremiah?

Jeremiah, Jeremiah...
J... Jer... J... J...

Jedediah Judd.

Yeah.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

A matter of the utmost
importance has arisen, sir.

If I could just
have a minute
of your time.

A message has come through.

And I think you're gonna
wanna hear it, but not
in front of these kind folks.

Please, sir.

(SIGHS)

Nobody leaves.

Thank you.
Thank you.

My name is Stanton Carlisle,
Marshal Judd,
and my family's Scot.

Scots are gifted with what
the old folks used to call
"second sight."

Now, it's clear to me,
for example,

that you are a man
who is generally distrustful,

but also fiercely loyal.

I'd say
that's a fair
description.

And, uh, this is
none of my business

because I know
that you are capable
of handling your own affairs

and anything else
liable to come along,
but I do sense a childhood

marred in disease.

And it makes you, uh,

feel hemmed in by it,
trapped, even to this day.

And I sense a curio
of some kind.

An amulet, a memento.

You carry it on your person,
you had it for a long time.

Who's Mary?

A saintly woman.

(GASPS SOFTLY)

My... My mother.

May I see it?

May I see it, sir?

Yes.

She wants you to know

that your ailment has not
shunned you from greatness,

quite the contrary.

Your community loves you
and feels protected
by you, sir.

And yes, you couldn't serve
your country on foreign soil,

but you protect us
here at home.

And this medal,

this medal should
be a reminder
of her love for you.

And as long as
you just keep it here,

close to your heart,
where our Lord
Jesus Christ resides,

it's gonna protect you
in the future.

And she wants you
to know this, sir.

It's only by being merciful
to others that a man
has true power.

(JUDD BREATHES DEEPLY)

(CROWD APPLAUDING
AND CHEERING)

But once I copped
the warrant
off that deputy,

I saw the marshal's name.

I knew it was
a lead-pipe cinch.

(ALL LAUGHING)

You know what's funny?
Pete used to always say,

"It's not the clothes,
but the shoes

"that could tell you
everything you need to know

"about a man."
Right.

And he had a lift
in his right shoe.

And I bet you he had polio
or something as a kid.

You know, the military never
letting him in, mama's boy.

I could tell by
the look in his eyes.

That's good.

Well, it takes one
to know one.

(CHUCKLES)
He tried to
railroad us, Clem,

with that
fancy moustache.

I saw that chain
around his neck,

I got it out of him,
Saint Christopher medal,

all that Bible talk.

I thought, well,
he must know
somebody named Mary.

Right.

And lo and behold,
the Lord blessed us.

His mother's
name's Mary.

You had him!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(PANTING) Molly,
I was looking for you.

You all right?

I'm ready, Stan.

Ready for what?

To leave all this behind,
go with you.

We are ready, aren't we?
(LAUGHS)

You saw me out there.
I sure did.

My whole life I've been
looking for something,

something that I'm good at.
And I think I found it, Molly.

I think I'm ready.

I know you are, Stan.
(CHUCKLES)

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
STAN: Hmm.

And I know you'll always
look after me, right?

I will if you let me.

What about Zeena?

Because of Pete?

Well, I don't wanna hurt her.
Oh, you won't.

Zeena's lived. She's, uh...
She knows what's what.

Everybody knows you're the one
I've been pining after.

Molly, you're the reason
I've stuck around.

(LIVELY CHATTER)

You seen Molly?

(LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

Hmm?

Stan?

(KISSING)
Stan?

I never let any man do it
to me all the way before.

None who
I agreed to, anyway.

You got nothing to worry about
with me, rabbit.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING EXCITEDLY)

Hey. Let's go.
Get your stuff.

BRUNO: Hey!

(BOTH GRUNT)
MOLLY: Bruno!

THE MAJOR: Molly! No.
Come with me.

MOLLY: Leave him alone!

You goddamn crumb.

MOLLY: No! Let go!

I warned you, didn't I?

Bruno, you're gonna kill him!
BRUNO: Come here!

(GRUNTING)

MOLLY: Stop it! Let him go!

I'm gonna kill him!
Leave him alone.

Get away! I love him!
I'm leaving!

Don't you understand?
I'm leaving with him!

(BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY)

(JAR RATTLING SOFTLY)

(CAGE RATTLING)

(DEEP RUMBLING)

(CONTINUES RATTLING)

(RATTLING CONTINUES)

(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

You want the book back?

No.

Mm-mmm.

You earned it.

You worked hard for it.

(ENGINE STARTS)
You ready?

Ready for what?

The world and everything
in it, rabbit. (CHUCKLES)

MOLLY: One, "will."
Four, "tell."

"Will you tell this lady
what she's thinking about?"

Eight, "trust."

"Do not trust
anyone involved."

Nine, "lost."

Nine, "complete,"
the loss of everything.

Seven, "loneliness."

Four, "tell."
Nine, "complete."

"I want to tell you
about absolute loneliness."

(ECHOING AND MUFFLING)
Eight, "trust."

Six, "negative."

(FLAME RUMBLING)

(RUMBLING FADING OFF)

(WHISPERING) Father.

You're going now.

I need you...

(STAN CLEARS THROAT)

Stan, are you okay?

Yeah. Keep going.
We got two shows tomorrow.

MOLLY: "Loneliness."

Two, "fear."

"Emphasis on detail."

Circle.
"A prophecy fulfilled."

(APPLAUSE)

Wait.

A woman.

MOLLY: Can you
be more specific?

Initials "R" or "S."

(NERVOUSLY) "R."

Yes.

Yes, "R."

I believe you know to whom
I'm speaking now, do you not?

You're correct again.

(APPLAUSE)

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

STAN: You messed up.

MOLLY: Stan.

Stan.

ANNOUNCER: Next show's
in 30 minutes.
Thanks, everyone.

All we do is rehearse it,
and you still fluff it.

Out there by myself.
What happened?

MOLLY: I'm sorry.
I guess I was tired.

STAN: Let's see
how many people stay
for the second show.

(MUFFLED, INAUDIBLE
CONVERSATION)

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

STAN: A pocket watch.

Gold.

MOLLY: Concentrate.

Do any other details
come to you?

There is an inscription.

Letters, am I correct?

You are.

Master Stanton,

can you kindly name them...
May I?

MOLLY: Yes, please
give me the object.

No, thank you.
I'll hold it.

Very well.

Master Stanton,
what is the object
being held by this lady?

Well, it seems
it's a night of gold.

A golden handbag.

(APPLAUSE)

Be quiet, child.

Let me ask the questions.

What is inside the bag?

Madam.

What is the meaning
of this?

You say you're genuine and
I say you use verbal signals
of some sort to communicate

between the two of you.
(CROWD MURMURING)

There are no
tricks involved, madam.

There's no
deception whatsoever.

Then answer me.

What is inside the bag?

The usual's inside that bag.

Lipstick, a handkerchief.

Oh, well, that is
easy enough,
is it not?

(PEOPLE CHUCKLE)

(TUTS)

Ladies and gentlemen,
I have never met this

woman before.

Nor have I any prior knowledge
to the contents of that purse,
and yet...

yet, there is something
very interesting in there.

A small pistol.

(CROWD GASPS)

Nickel plated,
ivory handle.

May I?

(CROWD EXCLAIMING)

(APPLAUSE)

You claim to carry it to

defend yourself, but...
(SMACKS LIPS)

I think you do it
because you like it.

I think you do it
because it makes you
feel powerful.

Well, madam,

you are not powerful.

Not powerful enough.

(APPLAUSE)

You are an only child,
are you not?

Your mother died
when you were young?

Her shadow looms
large and close,
too close for comfort.

Hardly a day went by

in which she didn't
crush you down in small ways.

And that gun,
that gun in your purse, well,

sometimes you have
dark thoughts about yourself,
don't you?

(CROWD MURMURS)

(SOFT SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(WHISPERS) Well,
don't you?

Are your initials "CK"?

Yes.

Have you suffered a loss?
A dear one, not long ago?

Oh, God. Julian?

(STAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
MAN: Go on.

STAN: He's...

He's right beside you.
(GASPS)

His hand is resting
on your right shoulder.

Can you feel it?

Yes. He wants you
to know something.

He wants you to know
how proud he is of you.
And how...

(CLATTERING)
(CROWD EXCLAIMS)

(CROWD MURMURING)

(APPLAUSE)

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(EXHALES DEEPLY, SNIFFLES)

What was that about?

I do not know.

That was something else.

See the way
that woman came after me?

I saw the way you went
after her and then the man.

What are you talking about?

We were behind the eight.
I got us out.

And why did you
keep on her, then?

Well, I had to.
Crowd would've turned on us.

Once she came after me,
I had to take her down.

Why are you so concerned?

I gave you the initials
of that watch

and you turned it
into a goddamn spook show.

Molly, did you see
the same show that I did?

That crowd was
on its feet.

When was the last time
that happened?

I mean, we give them mentalism
and they treat it

like it's a dog walking
on its hind legs,
but that, that was different.

We should leave that
in the show.

Stan, that woman was sitting
at the same table
as that poor, old man

and I've seen
her here before.

When?
(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Hey, hepcat.

You have a request.
An after show meet.

Uh, thank you.

It's them.
Oh, how do you know?

Of course it's them.

Then I won't see them.

Oh, yes, you will.

You're gonna go see that
poor, old man you spooked.

Let him off the hook.
Tell him the truth.

All right. Truth.

And an out.

And an out.
You happy?

It was a good show.
You ought to give me that.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Mr. Carlisle,
I don't mind waiting.

I'm Charles Kimball.

Judge Kimball.

I was hoping to engage you
for a private consultation.

STAN: Charles, may I?

Uh... (SMACKS LIPS)

Charles...

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

What you
experienced tonight...

I will double
your nightly rate.

Well, that's not the point.

The thing is...

Is she with you?

Charles wanted my opinion
before engaging you.

MOLLY: Well, we don't do
private consultations.

Molly, please.

I think Mr. Carlisle
wants an apology.

STAN: Why would
I want that?

You provided us with
quite a show here tonight,

so thank you.

(STAN SIGHS)

You seek solace?

CHARLES: Yes.

I believe we can
provide that for you.

Stan...
(CHARLES SIGHS IN RELIEF)

I'll do it.

Just this once.

CHARLES: Thank you.
Mr. Carlisle, thank you.

(CHARLES SIGHS IN RELIEF)
WOMAN: Here, Charles.

Have one of mine.

CHARLES:
This is my home.

4:30 pm, Wednesday.

I'll be there.

CHARLES: Thank you,
Mr. Carlisle. Miss.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

"Doctor Lilith Ritter.
Consulting psychologist."

A doctor. How about that?

MOLLY: Evening, Joseph.
Can I have some change,
please?

Yes.

Thank you.

STAN: I know
you're angry with me.

MOLLY: Of course, you do.

You can read minds.
You talk to the dead,

remember?
Oh, come on, Molly.

Why would you say yes?

You saw how
desperate he was.

What do you want me
to say to him?

MOLLY: Say no!

STAN: Where you going?
I have to make a phone call.

Make a phone call up
in the room.

Go away.

I'm gonna run a bath.
You better hurry up
before it gets cold.

(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(BELLS JINGLING)

Hostilities exist.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

There is no blinking
at the fact that our people,
our territory, and our...

I was thinking you and I
can make a dent in this town.

You and I can make
a pretty big dent
in this town.

I was thinking you
and I can make a pretty
big dent in this town.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

(MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYING)

(SOFT CLASSICAL MUSIC
PLAYING ON SPEAKER)

LILITH: Mr. Carlisle,
come in.

STAN: Slow day?

Have you not heard?

We're at war.

I'm aware.

How did you know
it was me?

What brings you here?

You left me your card,
didn't you?

So, here we are.

Oh, not me.
I never drink.

Microphones.

That's right.
Wire recorder.

Are you recording this?

No.

My office is wired to record
all analysis sessions.

You got a smoother line,
but you run a racket.

Same as me.

Is that what this is?

(KEYCHAIN CLINKING)

How did you know
I had a pistol?

STAN: I can read
a mark quick.

Find out what they want.

(MUSIC STOPS)
And I'm a mark, am I?

What do I want?

To be found out.
Same as everybody else.

Is that it?

Think out things
that most people want,
hit 'em where they live...

health, wealth, love.

Find out what
they're afraid of
and sell it back to them.

STAN: As long as
you don't oversell it.

You wanna know
how I knew about the gun?

I removed the blindfold
both for dramatic effect

and to get a rise
out of the audience,

but also to see the way
you held your clutch.

Elbow bent forward,
clutch was heavy.

And you lifted it
with your left,
no wedding ring.

No tan mark, unmarried.

So, you like to go
out at night,

you were at the Copa
so you got the bees,

but I assume you like to go
to lower places, too,
don't you?

If I want mud on my skirt,
I can find it.

(CHUCKLES LIGHTLY)

Well, you live alone.

No man in the house.

Gotta have a gun at home,

but you assume yourself
to be a lady,
so not a big pipe.

Something small,
portable, .22, .25,
four, six shot, maybe.

And since you like
pretty things,
nickel plated, ivory handle.

But you talked
about my mother.

Why?

Well, dames like you
always have mommy issues.

Daddy issues, too.

I see.

An Electra complex,
is it?

I wouldn't know about that.

But you're not
as hard to read
as you think, lady.

(SOFT SENTIMENTAL MUSIC
PLAYING)

If I'm so easy to read,
why come see me then?

That judge, he's a pretty
big deal in this town, is he?

Judge Kimball.
Doesn't get much bigger.

He a patient of yours?

Friend of my father's.

Y'all jazzy together?

(LAUGHS DRYLY)

Now, why would
you ask that?

Because you have
a handle on him.

His wife is
a patient of mine.

Mmm.
Interesting woman,
Felicia.

Have you ever been
in analysis?

I wouldn't know
what to talk about.

Simple. What are you
thinking about?

Now?
Now.

You.

Me?
Mm-hmm.

What about me?
That you come
a little closer

so I can get
a better look at you.

Is that why you're here?

To look at me?

No, I'm just thinking
that if you help me,

we can make
quite a big dent
in this town.

We?
Mm-hmm.

You give me something
on that judge,
any of the other higher ups,

I'll make it
worth your while.

You think you got something
big enough or interesting
enough for me?

Well, nothing matters in this
goddamn world but dough,

and you get that raw.

All right.

I'll give you something.

In exchange
for the truth.

Truth about what?

Yourself.

I give you
a little information
and you tell me the truth.

And don't lie.

I'll know
if you're lying.

That it?

Shoot.

Kimball lost a son.

An only child.

Julian.

23 years old.

Don't write
anything down.

This is not
a carnival trick.

You are to leave
no trace.

No writing.
Understood.

(SOFT SENTIMENTAL CONTINUES)

Julian enlisted against
Felicia's wishes
and died in No Man's Land.

I can work with that.

(APPLAUSE)

Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you very much.

Miss Cahill.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(PHONE LINE RINGING)

MOLLY: I'm sorry it took
this long to call you.

BRUNO: Yeah. You know,

when you didn't call
in the fall, I thought...

I know, I'm sorry.

Do you think you all might
come to visit us

before you close
for the winter?

Hey, Molly?

You all right?
It's all I wanna know.

I'm fine. Really, I am.
Everything's Jake, Bruno.

I have to go,
but I miss you all.

Send my love
to The Major and to Zeena?

And to everybody?

Anytime.

(SENTIMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)

So, how's this
gonna work, lady?

Doctor.

Doctor.

Lay down, please.

I think I'll just sit,
if that's okay.

We can go much deeper
if you do.

Why don't we just
start with sitting?

When I offered you a drink,
you said you never drank.

Because I don't.

But you made it
a point of pride.

You could've taken the glass
and not drunk.

You could've said,
"Not right now,"
and set it aside.

But you said,
"No. Not me. I never drink."

You can't do
mentalism and drink.

You gotta be
on your toes all the time.

When you're on,
you're on.

And you're on now?

I'm always on, Doctor.

Did your father drink?

He went White Ribbon
when I was 10.

But before?

Clearly, before, he did,
if you knew what
White Ribbon meant.

When I poured the whiskey,
you winced.

Why?
Did I?

Yes.

That's not something
I need to talk to you about.

The truth.
We shook on it.

(SIGHS)

I didn't like the way
it smelled, was all.

You were 12 feet away.

Stuff smelled off to me.

How so?
Smelled like wood alcohol.

You drank wood alcohol?

No. Not me. Never.

"Never."

It's that word again.

Please lie down.

Please.

I, uh...

It's a guy that I knew.

He tanked up on wood alky
and he kicked off.

What are you
thinking about now?

(CHUCKLES) It makes no sense.

Take your time.

Pianos. (LAUGHING)

Elaborate.

(STAN BREATHES DEEPLY)

My mother.

Did she
play the piano?

What's that have to do
with anything?

Did she drink?

Now and again,
like everybody else.

Not you.

You never drink.

She was beautiful,
your mother.

To me.

(FAINT, MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS)

Who played the piano,
Mr. Carlisle?

Guy named Humphries.

He was a friend of my folks.
He was in Vaudeville.

How old was the man
at the carnival?
The one who died?

What did you say
his name was?

I didn't say.
I didn't think I said...

Pete.

Pete.

How did Pete
get the alcohol?

(LOW, UNEASY MUSIC PLAYING)

I gave it to him.

(FAINT RUMBLING)

(JAR RATTLES)
But it was a mistake.

Mistake?

What was he to you?

Did you admire him?
Parts of him.

I think you pitied him.

I don't know.

He had his fair shake,
he just blew it.

Did Pete teach you things?

Yes.

He was older,
wasn't he?

He was old enough
to be your father.

(WINDOW THUDS)
(GRUNTS)

I think we've done enough.

Did you ever stutter
as a child?

(SNIFFS) No.

Because you have
a slight movement.
Compulsory movement.

Your head moves
up and down,
ever so slightly.

(SIGHS)
And Humphries.

Was he ever inappropriate
or abusive to you as a child?

Shut your mouth.
Shut your mouth.

It's all right, Stanton.
Answer me.

Humphries took
my mother away

because my father wasn't
man enough to hold on
to her, all right?

Bible spouting hypocrite.

Always selling his
tall tales about Jesus
and a happy afterlife.

(SIGHS)

(WHISPERS) And what
do you sell?

I'm a hustler
and I know it.

I'm on the make
and I know it.
Get it?

I am nothing like my old man,
and I never will be.

LILITH: "Never."

That word again.

We're going
to work on that.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

(BELL DINGS)

(FAINT, MUFFLED
JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

(LAUGHTER)
(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

BRUNO: He's working on his
disappearing act right now.

ZEENA: He can't stop.

He cannot stop himself.
BRUNO: Gonna be a headliner.

Something for the road.

I invited them.
Are you mad?

STAN: Why would I be?

(JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES
ON SPEAKER)

Hello, Stan.

We're on our way to Gibtown,
thought we'd visit
a while like old pals.

(SMACKS LIPS, BREATHES DEEPLY)

Oh, George.

You guys get
something to eat?

THE MAJOR: Just drinks.

Should order some food?
Sure.

How long you staying?

Uh, not long.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

Mmm.

Okay. Ready?

(LAUGHTER)

(UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES)

That's right.

There you go!

(MOUTHING)
(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(THE MAJOR AND MOLLY LAUGHING)

You're doing well.

Well, it's the same grift,
just different threads.

And...
(BOTH LAUGH)

ZEENA: (SOFTLY)
Don't do the spook show.

Don't do
the spook show.

Is that why
she called you?

What? No. She didn't tell me.
No. It's all in the cards.

Well, save it
for the chumps, Zeena.

THE MAJOR: Hah!
(BOTH LAUGHING)

Fine. Then you do it.

Three card question,
it'll take two seconds.

I'll oblige.

Downfall.

Impending danger.

An urgent choice.

Now, Stanton,
this is the last card.

It's a decree.

You turn it,
you're gonna find out
what's coming to you.

(SOFT OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS)

The Hanged Man.

It's upside down.

(ZEENA GRUNTS)

But you can
still choose, Stan.

Well, you said
so yourself,

"There's no such thing
as bad cards," remember?

Just depends on
what you do
with it. Look.

(OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)

I fixed it.

I fixed it.

Keep that image
in your mind.

Okay.

He loved you so
very, very much.

I can sense that
so clearly.

Even though you didn't see
eye to eye from time to time.

Oh.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)

No, that is true.
We did not. (CHUCKLES)

May I touch
that photograph?

Is that okay?
Yes, yes.

That could give me
a deeper line to him.

(SNIFFLES, CLEARS THROAT)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

He died suddenly.

(SWALLOWS)

But he wants you to know
that he was in no pain.

(GASPS)

He wants you
to know that

it hurts him
so very, very much

to know that
you miss him because...

well, he says
that he...

He says that you should know
with absolute certainty

that you will
all be together
again in time.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

Is he here?

Is he here?
Can I speak to him?

(BOTH GASPING)

Speak to him. (SNIFFS)

When you left...

(SMACKS LIPS,
INHALES SHARPLY)

you took all life
with you.

(SIGHS)

(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)

Your father wanted you
to enlist, I did not.

(SHUDDERS)

(VOICE BREAKING)
But I'm the one
who's left with nothing.

(SHUDDERS)

(SOFTLY) Yes.

(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)

Your 5:00 is here.

I don't have a 5:00.

(ON INTERCOM) He's here.

Doctor.

Mr. Carlisle.

What's that?

Your half.
That's a split. 50-50.

Not interested.
I got what I wanted.

But you should've
seen 'em.

My God.

I think they'll be
talking about that
the rest of his life.

And I think every time
they tell it, it'll just get
better and better,

bigger and bigger.

A toast, then.
To your success.

(SMACKS LIPS)
Uh, he asked me to, uh,

see one of his friends.

And who might
that be?

He didn't say,
but I'm considering it.

I'll tell you what,
you got a safe?

(UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS)

I do.

Why don't you
keep this for me?

I don't want Molly to know
about it anyway.

Why don't you keep it
for a few days?

If you change your mind,
we'll spilt it 50-50.

And if not,
I'll keep it.

You barely know me.

(SMACKS LIPS)

Oh, I know you well.

(UNEASY MUSIC CONTINUES)

I know...

you're no good.

And I know that 'cause...

neither am I.

Is that so?

Yes.

(MUFFLED JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

MOLLY: You're asking
for the shape.

What if I do two?

Color.

That's good.

I'm too hard on us.

No, you're right about it.

You need a break.

Whatever you wanna do,
we'll do.

Can we go dancing?

Absolutely.

ANNOUNCER: (ON PA)
Call for Stanton Carlisle.

(IMITATES ANNOUNCER MOCKINGLY)

Whatever you want.

ANNOUNCER: You can
pick it up on house phone.

We'll go tonight
after the show.

I'm dying in here, Stan.

I love you.

Yeah.

LILITH: The man Kimball
wants to introduce you
to is Ezra Grindle.

Grindle was a patient of mine
for a brief time.

He's unstable.
Unpredictable.

How is he fixed for dough?

Oh, he's very rich.
Very powerful.

And intensely private.

Dealings with Grindle
have consequences.

Permanent ones.

Well, you better
give me an angle.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

Coat, hat, and gloves
on the counter.

And empty your pockets.

No pencils, no pens, no keys,
no cigarettes, or lighter.

Hands up.

Turn around.

I need your watch
and your ring.

Manners, friend.

What was that?

You should say "please."

Please.

Mr. Carlisle.

I'm Ezra Grindle.

(DOOR SHUTS)

Let me take your jacket.

Please.

I'm very wary
of appearing in public,

so I want to thank you
for coming to see me.

A man of your talents.

Well, that's very
kind of you.

Wouldn't count on that.
(CHUCKLES)

Take a seat.

What is this?

This is our version
of a polygraph.

You familiar with the term?

You call it a lie detector.

You'd like to
perform this on me?

That's the general idea, yeah.

(LAUGHS)

MAN: We will measure
your blood pressure,

respiration, involuntary
muscle contractions.

Not sure how comfortable
I am with this.

Well, we've had our share of
snake charmers in the past.

We deal with them.

Raise your arms, please.

I don't think
this is necessary.

Can you watch
my tie, please?

I'll watch it.
Thank you.

And what happens
if I fail?

One thing at a time, hmm?

MAN: I will ask you
simple questions
to establish our baseline.

You will answer
in short sentences,

only what you believe
to be absolute truth.

(POLYGRAPH POWERS UP)
"Absolute truth."

(SNIFFS) I can do that.

Now,

brief as you can,
what is your name?

STAN: Stanton Carlisle.

MAN: What year are we in?

(SNIFFS) 1941.

MAN: Good.

What day is today?

(STAN LAUGHS)

Wednesday, I think.

Who is the president
of the United States?

Roosevelt.

Very well. Now,
as briefly as you can,
are you a true medium?

Yes, I am.

Can you read minds?

Yes, I can.
Under the right
circumstances.

Brief.

Keep your answers
brief, please.

Now, are you in contact
with the beyond?

Before we go on,
there's a...

There is a presence
in this room.

Right now.

It's a female presence.

(SOFT SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

She's just insisting,
she's insisting that this...

that she communicate
with somebody.

Is it me? Do you wanna
communicate with me?

Is it him?

Oh, it's you, Mr. Grindle.

I don't... I don't...

Oh. She... She passed away
many years ago.

Oh, but there was...

Yeah, there was
a life extinguished with it.

And it... it...

Oh, it was a child.
It was a baby.

You forced her to miscarry,
did you not?

(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)

Shall I go on?

No.

There's no need.

A word in my office,
gentlemen.

You said you were
gonna fine-tune it.

MAN: Yes, sir.

GRINDLE:
You fine-tuned it incorrectly?

MAN: No, no, no.
CHARLES: Ezra...

GRINDLE: You had two and two.
(DOOR CLOSES)

Two wrong, two right.

(MUFFLED CONVERSATION)
(STAN SIGHS)

Stop, stop!

Answer me this, you brought
him straight from the club.

How could he know that? How?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Well,

got him hooked real good.

Despite all that.

He's got quite
an operation.

And he's gonna
call back?

Oh, yeah,
he's gonna call back.

I left real money
on the table.

Gotta leave money
to get money.

You're gonna have to give me
some real information
on him now.

No. Not me.

(STAN SMACKS LIPS)

I figured.

I'm the only one
who could've given
you that information.

If your foot slips,

we both fall.

Don't worry.
I'll figure it out.

I mean, this guy's, uh,

he's real deep
on the spook dodge.

(KEYCHAIN CLINKS SOFTLY)

I don't think
you have a problem.

I'd say he's very desperate.

Don't worry. They'll never
trace it back to you.

(KEYCHAIN CLINKING SOFTLY)

The thing
you need to know is,

if you displease
the right people,

the world closes in on you
very, very fast.

(SOFT SENTIMENTAL MUSIC
PLAYING)

What happened to you?

Life.

Life happened to me.

(KISSING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

LILITH: (ON RECORDING)
Patient Ezra Grindle.

Therapy session number four.

GRINDLE: I am alone.

Lost.

I feel lost.

Everything I earn
feels hollow.

LILITH:
Would you elaborate, please?

GRINDLE: May, 1901.

The last time I saw her alive.

I didn't... I...

"Doris Mae Cable."

GRINDLE: I couldn't
claim her body.

...property for
register number 28030.

GRINDLE: Because
I would've been ruined.

So my love went
to a commoners' grave.

Thank you kindly.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES)

There you are.

(SIGHS)

(WIND WHISTLING)

(GRINDLE GRUNTS)

(WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY)

GRINDLE: So I wanted to know
what impression
you got from her.

The girl that, uh,
you sensed during the test.

I didn't see her.

She didn't materialize.

GRINDLE: But by that,
you mean she could?

STAN: Well, it was very brief,
uh, Mr. Grindle.

GRINDLE: Uh, Ezra, please.

STAN: I sensed
profound sadness and regret.

She loved you.

And that boy.
That baby boy.

It was a boy?

Is she with me?

She's never far.

This place important to you?
This garden?

Yes. I built it,
uh, to honor her.

The paths and the benches,
you see?

She would've loved it.

She does.

I can sense it.

Brother Ezra, she...

she's trying to
tell me something.

It doesn't make
any sense.

Sometimes they communicate
like that. It gets jumbled.

The letter "D."

Dorrie? Dorrie, is it?

(SHUDDERS)

(GRINDLE PANTING)

I wanna see...
(VOICE BREAKS)

Oh, I have to
see her again.

Whatever it takes.

I want you to...
(SNIFFLES) Uh...

Materialize her?
Yeah.

Do you have any idea
what would be required

for something
like that to occur?

(GRUNTS) I'll commit $10,000
for every session we have.

Mr. Grindle.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

Your sins are grave.

You would have to
work hard,

spiritually,

if you even wanna
have the chance
to see or sense her.

Listen, I have more money
than I will ever need.

(VOICE BREAKS)
But I have no hope.

And you think
you could buy that?

(SNIFFLES) Well...

not to be crude...

(SNIFFLES)
but I know I can.

(CHUCKLES)

(PANTING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Are you sure that she can play
the lady in question?

Molly?

(LOCK CLICKS)

She's tougher than I am.

I'll stage it at night.

Keep Ezra on his knees,
make him pray or something.

He'll stay put.

Blood. She'll need blood
on her hands and dress.

More shocking the image,

the less inclined
Ezra will be to examine it.

Nothing can
hold you back.

(SOFT SENTIMENTAL
MUSIC PLAYING)

(GULPS) To us.

MOLLY: "Dear Mom and all,
I'm sending this
from the fairgrounds.

"A boy named Ezra took me.

"He had my picture taken
as you can see.

"Tell Pop and all I wish
I was with you
and hug little Jennie for me.

"Will write soon.
Fondly, Dorrie."

She never mailed this.

STAN: What are you
talking about?

Well, she died
a few days later.

This is the last thing
she wrote,
and she never mailed it.

Yeah, but that's not
why I showed it to you.

Her family never got to see.

STAN: Look.
Who does that look like?

Look at her face.

It's you.

I could materialize you
in a seance.

Not me, Stan.

We can buy a costume,
we can get a long black wig,

and we can cut it,
we can style it
just like that.

He can unburden his soul
and he can forgive himself.

As far as I can tell,

that's what a preacher does
every other Sunday.

And it worked
with Judge Kimball.

I believe it saved
their marriage.

I think he really
loved her, Stan.

You can see that,
can't you?

All that suffering
that he had,

we can deliver him
some hope.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Close it, yeah...

He wants to see you.

I'm sure that he does.

Come on in.
Have a cup of coffee first.

Are you gonna sit out
in the snow?

I won't bite.

You take, uh,
cream in your coffee?

No, thanks.

Yeah, neither do I.

(STAN CLEARS THROAT)

I don't know why
he bothers with you.

You're cheap, pal.

Just phony.

But I'll tell you this,

I care for that man.
Mmm.

I owe him a lot.

And if you're smart,

that should scare you.

STAN: She says you...

lied to her.

You gave a false name
and you left her body behind.

Ezra, you have to
keep the circle.

GRINDLE: I wanna see her now,
I wanna talk to her.

Don't break the circle.
This takes patience.

I've given you a fortune!

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

Now it's time
that you delivered

to me something
other than guilt.

Because I'm done hearing

this endless fucking
recitation of what I did.

I know what the fuck...

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

I did.

And what I'm going to do
if this goes on much longer.

What does that mean?
Come on.

You'll just have
to find out.

You gonna stay here
and practice.

Can you ask
for more time?
No.

I'm not sure
about this, Stan.

I am sure.
We are out of time.

Just go put on the wig
and the dress.

And that's the position.

Hands down by your side,
with your palms open.

Okay?

Where are you going?

I gotta go get
everything ready.

I love you. (KISSES)

(DOOR OPENS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(CLASSICAL MUSIC
PLAYING SOFTLY)

Charles.

I've been thinking about

what Mr. Carlisle said,

about us being
reunited with Julian.

Do you remember?

I do, my love.

(CHARLES GRUNTS)

Oh, Julian.
(INHALES DEEPLY)

Julian.

(GUN COCKS)

Molly?

MOLLY: Dear Stan.

Molly?

MOLLY: By the time
you read this,
I'll be eastbound.

I won't do what
you want me to.

I can't.

I've loved you the best I can,
as much as I can,

and I know now
it'll never be enough.

Whatever is missing in you,

it sure is not me.

It's hard to accept it,

but as much as
the truth hurts, I need it.

And maybe in time
you'll need it too.

Molly.

Fuck.

(BRAKES SCREECH)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT
ON PA)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SHOESHINER SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY)

Molly.

It's me.

I thought you already left.
Leave me alone, Stan.

Hold on. Let's just...
Leave me alone.

Molly.

Where you going?
I don't wanna talk to you.

Just hold on one second.

I read your letter,
I understand.

I just wanna talk about it
for a second, okay?

Oh, you read it? Good.
Listen...

You smell like booze.
Leave me alone.

Molly, you can't leave now,
we are in too deep.

MAN: Hey, hey!
STAN: Molly.

MOLLY: There's no
"we" anymore.

There hasn't been
for a long time.

I don't know who
you're seeing on the side,

but you're certainly not
fucking me anymore!

I bet it's that
frozen-faced bitch
you were so impressed with.

I bet she seems
like class to you.

Well, she's not
and neither are you.

Molly.

Molly, I was just trying to
get the inside track on her

because you didn't want me
to do the spook show.

That's why I was
sneaking around on you!

Hey, what's the big idea?
Just mind your own business!

This is the last time,
I promise.

And every day
is Christmas after that.

Oh, sure, the whole world
and everything in it.

I'm scared, Stan.

STAN: I'm scared,
too, Molly.

I'm scared every day
of my life.

(PANTING)

I'm so scared sometimes
I can't even breathe.

But I fight it, Molly,
I fight it.

That's the only way
I've survived.

Sometimes you don't see
the line until you cross it.

I crossed it,
I know that now.

Molly, everybody's left me
in my life.

Don't leave me, please.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(SOFTLY) Please.

(DOOR LATCH OPENS)

(WIND WHISTLING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

Can I see your watch?

(TICKING)

When I get rid of Anderson,
I'm gonna bring Ezra
to the park bench.

Just up from
that open gate.

At 8:00, Molly.

No earlier, no later.

You're gonna go through
that gate and you're gonna
walk 20 paces.

Okay?

When he sees you, I'm gonna
put him on his knees,

and I'm gonna
make him pray.

And when
he closes his eyes,

you get to go away
and then we're done.

Simple.

I understand.

Good.

Do you remember
the old gag?

The current, when it would
run through my body?

Mm-hmm.

You know how
I could take it?

First few times I did it,
my muscles would
cramp for days.

It really hurt bad.

But I'd just try
and tell myself
not to feel it, you know?

Try and make myself
go numb.

But it was always really
clear to me when I couldn't
take it anymore.

When I'd had enough.

I've had enough.

I'll be there at 8:00
and I'll do what
you need me to do.

(SLOW SUSPENSEFUL
MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRINDLE GRUNTS)

(SMACKS LIPS) Now,
perhaps because of the nature

of what we're doing tonight,
we'd benefit from being alone.

Will you leave us?

Sir, are you sure
about this?

Yeah, I'm sure. It's fine.

(SNIFFLES)
You have to have faith.

Let's walk the path.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES)

MAN: (ON RADIO) In view
of Prime Minister Churchill's
recent pledge

that a British declaration
of war on Japan

would follow almost
immediately upon
the outbreak of war

between Japan and
the United States, a British
announcement is expected soon.

(WIND WHISTLING)

I place no blame on you

and I want you
to know that.

But I think
we should go back inside.

You asked me
to purge my soul from sin?

That's right.

I haven't done that.

You're gonna do it now.

You're gonna purge your soul
and invoke her forgiveness.

I've done things that
I've never told anyone about.

And you're gonna
tell her now.

No, I can't.
Close your eyes.

I can't.
Be still.

Don't. Don't make me,
please.

And tell her.

Dorrie.

Dorrie...

That's it.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

Through the years...

I have hurt
many young women.

I don't know why.

I was seeking...

I was seeking you in them,

or I was seeking
to rid my soul
of this anger.

I... (SIGHS)
I don't know.

What did you do?

I don't know.

I hurt them.

(SNIFFS)

I hurt them.

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Dorrie.

(SLOW DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Oh, my God.
She's there. (GASPS)

She's there.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: This is
WWKB Studios in Buffalo.

We interrupt this program
to bring you
a special news bulletin.

Judge Charles Kimball
and his wife, Felicia Kimball,

died today of gunshot wounds.

An apparent murder-suicide
that has baffled the town.

Ezra, you did the work.
Now, that's far enough.

Let's get on our knees,
let's pray with
our eyes closed.

We're gonna ask...
(GRINDLE GRUNTS)

Let go of me. Dorrie.
No, Ezra!

Dorrie. Oh, Dorrie...

MOLLY: Stan, I can't.

I can't. I can't!
GRINDLE: No, Dorrie!

Let go!

Dorrie. (SNIFFLES)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Sorry.

What?

Who are you?
All right.

Now, let go of her hand.

Who is...

Let go of her hand.

You dirty motherfucker.

(CRYING)
You motherfucker.

I'm gonna...
I'm gonna destroy you.

You and this bitch!
(MOLLY GRUNTS)

Anderson!

Anderson! Anderson!

(STAN GRUNTING)

Stan.

Stan!

(STAN GRUNTS)
Stan!

Stan!
(GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

MOLLY: Oh, God. Oh, God.

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

Go to the car.

Now!

(PANTING)

(ENGINE TURNS OVER)

(GUNSHOT)
(GASPS)

(GUNSHOT)

Sir.

(ENGINE STARTS)

Move over!

MOLLY: Stan,
what are you doing?

(ANDERSON YELPS)

(WHEEZING)

Oh, God!
What did you do, Stan?

Why did you do that? Stan!

Stan! Stan!
(GROANING)

(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)

Molly, get out of the car.

(GRUNTING)

(CROWBAR CLATTERS)

They'll think that, uh,
someone stole the car.

Can't go back to the hotel.

Shut up.

Shut up.

Molly, they were
trying to kill us.

Molly.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Molly!

I don't need you!

I don't need you, Molly!

Did anyone
see you come here?
STAN: No.

You didn't catch a cab,
did you?

No, cabbies remember faces.
I walked.

Ah, she blew it.
That goddamn tomato.

I was so close. (SNIFFLES)

It's all here.

Take it.

(STAN BREATHING HEAVILY)

Do you have a few hours?

Don't panic.
(COUGHS)

No.

I better be on my way.

(GRUNTS) Okay.

Mmm. (EXHALES HEAVILY)

(SNIFFLES)

(PANTING)

I do love you, Stan.

What did you say?

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Did I oversell it?

(BUTTON CLICKS)

Patient Stanton Carlisle.
Final therapy session.

(SLURRING)
What are you doing?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

They're all singles.

Where's the dough?

What are you referring to,
Mr. Carlisle?

The money!
You took it!

Try to understand.

These delusions are becoming
part of your condition.

You crazy fucking bitch.

I'll tell them
everything we did.

Did what? Tell me.

We did it together.

I'm sorry, Mr. Carlisle,

but have we met anywhere
other than this office?

Cut it out.
What are you doing?

You came unannounced.

My secretary
allowed you in.

I did everything
I could,

but it seems you've made
a transference to me.

Both as your mistress
and your mother.

I had tried to avert
a serious upset.

It seems that
I have failed.

The symbolism is quite
obvious, Mr. Carlisle.

You have a very peculiar
relationship to older men.

Ezra Grindle,
for example.

But also the man you claimed
to have killed
at the carnival.

Why?

Why are you doing this?

You don't even
care about the money.

(BUTTON CLICKS, MACHINE WHIRS)

(LAUGHS)

You're such a disappointment.

No, you're right.
Money doesn't matter to me.

But it means everything
to you, doesn't it?

You're a small,
small man.

You don't fool people,
Stan.

They fool themselves.

You think you stand high
above the common man?

You're nothing but an Okie
with straight teeth.

You think you could
take me, Stan?

You're so blind,
aren't you?

You can't read
the signs.

Didn't you notice
my clutch was heavy?

(STAN GRUNTS)
(GASPS)

(GRUNTING)

Am I powerful enough
for you now, Stan?

(STIFLED GRUNTING)

(RECEIVER CLICKS,
DIAL WHIRRING)

(BREATHLESSLY)
Yes, yes, security.
I need help.

There's a man.

A patient of mine.

Come immediately!

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(LILITH CHOKING)

Come on, Stan.

You think you can
take my breath away?

(LILITH CACKLING)

(DIAL TONE BEEPING)

(STAN GASPS)

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(PANTING)

(GASPS FOR AIR)

You all right, Doctor?

(HOARSELY) I'll live.

(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SIRENS WAILING)

(GASPING)

(SHUDDERING)

(TRAIN BELL CLANGING)

(SIRENS CONTINUE WAILING)

(PANTING AND GRUNTING)

(TRAIN HORN BLOWS)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(MEN CLAMORING)
(CHICKENS CLUCKING)

(GRUNTING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)
(OFFICERS CLAMORING)

OFFICER: I gotta move it out.

(CHICKENS CONTINUE CLUCKING)

(TRAIN BELL CLANGING)

Okay. Close it!

(TRAIN THUDS)

(TRAIN CHUGGING)
(GRUNTS)

(PANTING WEAKLY)

(ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYS)

(WHISPERS) I always

hated you.

(WIND WHISTLING)
(MAN GROANS)

(COUGHS)

(GASPS)

(COUGHING)

(WIND CONTINUES WHISTLING)

(WATCH TICKING)
(GROANING)

(SHUDDERS)

(GASPS)

(SNIFFLES)

Hey! No more mooching.

You either pay your suds
or beat it.

(WATCH TICKING)
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(HORSE WHINNIES)

(WIND WHISTLING)

(METAL TINKLING)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

(TRADITIONAL POP MUSIC
PLAYING ON RADIO)

Yes?

Make it brief, I'm busy.

Oh, you like that?

Bought it off an old
ten-in-one that's folded.

Got the radio, too.

(MUTTERS)

He killed... He killed...
He killed his mother at birth.

Enoch.

Say, that's a nice angle.

Enoch.

So, what do you need?

I would like to apologize
for my appearance.

I've, uh, fallen onto
some hard times of late.

But I do have an act

that I know would be
of great value to you.

You were a carny, huh?

Well, I top-lined
a mentalism act for two years.

Two shows a day.

Sold out.

Oh, mentalism.
Yes, sir.

Sorry, brother.

Some other outfit,
maybe. But not us.

Well, if I may, I would love
to demonstrate for you.

Jesus! You smell like
you pissed your pants.

I don't hire no boozers.
Now beat it.

Go on, beat it.

Oh, Christ, wait.
You know what?

One carny to another,
let's have a snort.

Come on, sit.

(GLASSES CLINK)

(MUSIC STOPS)

I don't like mentalism.

It's too old-timey.

Always gotta have
something new these days.

Sensational.

(GULPING)

(STAN EXHALES HEAVILY)

I just happened
to think of something.

I might have one job that
you could take a crack at.

It ain't much and I'm not
begging you to take it,
but it's a job.

It'll keep you
in coffee and cakes.

Dry place to sleep.
Shot now and then.

What do you say?
Oh, yes, sir.

It ain't much,
but it's a job, right?

Of course,
it's only temporary.

Just until we get
a real geek.

You know what a geek is?

So what do you say?

You think you could
handle it?

(GULPS, BREATHES SHAKILY)

Mister, uh...

(SOBBING)

(TEARFULLY)
I was born for it.

(LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY)

(CONTINUES LAUGHING)

(SOBBING)

(OLD JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

♪ Sometimes I wonder

♪ Why I spend the lonely night

♪ Dreaming of a song

♪ The melody haunts my reverie

♪ And I am once again with you

♪ When our love was new

♪ And each kiss an inspiration

♪ Oh, but that was long ago

♪ Now my consolation
is in the stardust of a song

♪ Beside the garden wall

♪ When stars are bright,
you are in my arms

♪ The nightingale tells
his fairy tale

♪ Of paradise where roses grew

♪ Though I dream in vain

♪ In my heart it will remain

♪ My stardust melody

♪ The memory of love's refrain

(WHISTLING)

♪ Though I dream in vain

♪ In my heart it will remain

♪ My stardust melody

♪ The memory
of love's refrain ♪