Original subtitles

You are very sleepy.

You can't seem to hold your eyes open.

You're beginning to drift.

You're drifting.

You're sound asleep.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Say good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for tuning in.

Thank you for tuning in.

You're now going back in time, far back, back years and years ago.

You're drifting back through the years, back, back, back.

When you speak next, you will be 40 years old.

Forty? I'm sorry, I mean four.

That's better.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me.

And what can be the use of him?

Mommy, why do I cast such a large shadow?

I never liked the way she answered that question.

What games did you play?

I didn't play much.

I spent most of my time watching television.

Television? When you were four?

Yes.

I was a very precocious child.

What did you see on television?

Stories.

Mostly stories like this one.

Wait a minute.

Someone told me they use it in dentistry these days.

You know what it's called?

Oh, well, it's a lot of bunkum anyway.

Oh, now, Mr. Pryor.

We've come a long way from the days when hypnosis was regarded as a form of

magic or witchcraft.

But it's surprising how many misconceptions and fears remain.

Even among my students in my class in parapsychology.

When I call for volunteer subjects, I get the oddest reactions.

And the fact is you can't hypnotize a person against his will.

Could you hypnotize me right now?

Would you like me to?

No, I wouldn't. You see what I mean about fears?

How about you, Lucy?

Are you afraid too?

I think Adele's right.

I've managed to keep this husband of mine through so far, so why take the

of giving myself away?

What makes you think you have him fooled?

Well, I don't know.

Have I, darling?

Well, maybe you ought to let Miles hypnotize you.

And we'll all find out.

Shall I?

The risk is all yours, my dear Mrs. Pryor.

All right.

Wonderful, wonderful, darling.

I'm willing to chance it if will is.

Well, how do we start?

Well, if you're serious, let's get you in a nice... Comfortable chair near a

light. Yes, this one will do.

I think you're very brave to do this.

There's nothing to worry about.

All I want is your concentration.

Comfortable?

Yes.

Relaxed?

Completely. Good.

Now, I want you to concentrate on this light.

Just stare at it.

That's right.

Just the light.

Soft and steady.

And it burns, warm and glowing.

of this room as now you are free

free you and the light

and the sound of my voice can you hear my voice

yes good we're alone

now you and I and whatever I ask

You must answer truthfully.

Will you do that?

Yes.

You mean she's hypnotized already?

I can't believe it.

Speak to her.

Lucy.

Lucy.

Lucy. She doesn't hear you or see you.

Lucy.

Wake up.

I'm afraid she doesn't feel your touch either.

Let's go back in time.

Way back.

Through the years.

Back to when you were a child.

Nine years old.

You're nine years old now.

What school do you attend?

Miss Ewing's classes.

And what are you studying there?

Reading, writing, arithmetic, and drawing.

And what do you want to do when you grow up?

Let's come back to the present.

Back through the years.

Five years, ten, fifteen years.

You're grown up now.

And you are married.

You've been married for five years.

And your name is Mrs. Lucy Pryor.

My name is Dora. What is your full name?

Dora Evans.

And it pleased thee, sir.

What on earth is she talking about? Shh.

Where do you live, Dora?

I abide at number 43, King Street, Philadelphia.

And what year is this?

In the year of our blessed Lord, 1853.

1800? Quiet.

Dora Evans.

You live in Philadelphia, and this is 1853.

Tell me, are you married? Do you have a husband?

I... He... I beg of thee, sir,

pray do not make me tell.

Very well.

We'll talk about something else.

Who is the President of the United States?

The... Honorable Benjamin Pierce.

Have you ever met him or seen him?

Oh, indeed.

He was here but a short while ago addressing a convocation of the Society

Friends on the question of slavery.

What do you like to do? You like to throw? You like to work in your garden?

Oh, I have a lovely garden, which... doth pleasure me greatly.

Would you like to show me your garden?

My garden?

Down there by the elder trees.

And my nasturtiums and ferns.

And over there the old mill wheel turns.

And here my rose arbor.

My rose arbor.

What about the rose arbor?

It was there I made my decision.

me stealthy to the house and into the parlor where sat my

good husband he did not see me enter i

came up behind him and quit

I've never seen anyone dead before.

When I came out of the hypnosis, the stone went blind there.

And you have no recollection of the killing whatsoever?

No, they told me later.

The Thompson's and that dreadful man, Miles Farnham.

One can't commit an act contrary to one's own nature.

Someone you love, it's not possible.

I still can't believe he's dead.

Believe me, I'm sorry to put you through this, Mrs. Pryor, but try to understand

it is necessary. There has to be a coroner's inquest, and I must have the

correct.

Yes, I understand.

You say you became this Dora Evans.

Yes, I... I was wearing strange clothes, and... I remember

I had large hands, and there was hate.

I felt this hate in her, and I couldn't resist.

I was drawn to her, dreading something, something she wanted, something she

willing to do.

I think that's enough for now.

Yes.

Why don't you go along home and try to get some rest, Mrs. Pryor? I'll let you

know when the coroner's inquest is going to take place.

Oh, it's this way.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Well, we've had some odd ones, but this.

All right, if you'll come in now, please.

Mr. Farnham, Mr. Sherman.

What do you do?

Just here, if you will, Mr. Farnham.

Cigarette?

Thank you.

I've got some news this morning I think might interest you.

Put through a call to the Philadelphia Historical Society.

It seems there actually was a Dora Evans.

Born September 2nd, 1828.

Married, no children.

On June 10th, 1853, Dora Evans stabbed her husband with a pair of pruning

shears.

Yes, she killed him.

Was it possible that this dead woman, Dora Evans, could influence a living?

Could she actually compel Mrs. Pryor to kill her husband?

Obviously she did.

Unless, of course, you think Mrs. Pryor murdered her husband.

It's your suggestion, not mine.

Well, I'm just trying to find out what all this questioning is about.

Your case, Mr. Burke, if there is such a case, isn't against Lucy Pryor.

I'm afraid if anyone's to blame for his death, it's Dora Evans, and you can't

very well try her, now can you?

Well, as she's been dead over a hundred years, I'm inclined to agree with you.

Yes.

Well, if there's nothing else...

Yes, thank you for your time, Mr. Farnham. My secretary did get your home

address and phone number, didn't he? Yes, he did. And if I can help, please

on me. I will let you know when the coroner's inquest will take place.

Goodbye. Bye.

What do you make of it?

It's curious.

Of course there's absolutely no case against her.

No jury in the world would convict her.

No, of course they wouldn't.

For Professor Farnham to see you, ma 'am.

Oh.

Ask him to come in, Alma.

Hello, Mrs. Pryor.

Did I disturb you? I hope not, but I had a sudden impulse to look in and see how

you were.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Oh, do you mind if I have a drink?

Thank you.

You know, I had a talk with that Burke fellow today after you left. And a

fascinating thing came up, did he tell you? Tell me what?

About Dora Evans.

She actually existed. Oh, a long time ago.

And it seems that she killed her husband.

With, of all things, a pair of pruning shears.

That's rather poor taste at a time like this, don't you think?

You mean you didn't know about it?

Professor Farnham, unless there's some reason for this conversation... My dear

Mrs. Pryor, I have decided to cut myself in.

Cut yourself in?

On what?

Let's not pretend anymore, Mrs. Pryor. You need me.

I beg you. Please don't argue with me, Mrs. Pryor.

I'm the hypnotist, remember?

It's my profession.

Now, a little judicious searching through any good library, I'm sure most

could have come up with Adora Evans.

Ah, but so few would conceive the brilliance of using it as a peg on which

hang a murder.

That's a monstrous accusation.

But it would be perfect, wouldn't it?

I'm the one person who can uphold your story.

With my sworn statement, this would never get beyond the coroner's inquest.

Without it, my dear Mrs. Pryor, I'm afraid you might find yourself in one of

those... Sorted tabloid trials Alma

Alma

Professor Farnham is leaving

Now get out

of my house Get out of my house

This coroner's board of Hennepin County is now in session. The clerk will enter

the opening data.

Screen board is now in session to determine the death cause and

the said Will Pryor, killed October 13, 1958, as a resident in Glenmallow Hill.

Dr. Malcolm Ederberry, examining physician.

Death certificate signed 1 .45 a .m. morning of October 13, 1958.

Mr. Farnham, this is key testimony you're giving here, since we're dealing

a...

somewhat mystical area, and you being an accredited, what is this here, meta...

Metaphysician. Thank you, metaphysician.

Now, this transference, as you refer to it, this exchange of body and spirit

with Dora Evans, is that a possibility?

Not only a possibility, gentlemen, a fact.

I can cite a dozen other instances such as the one that Mrs. Pryor went through.

It was a transitive exchange with a person long deceased.

Glenn, if you don't mind, I'd like to question the witness.

Well, that's your prerogative.

Mr. Farnham, I'd like you to tell the coroner's board something about this

experience you've had.

Specifically, the year 1938, Nassau County, New York. I have here a police

report of an indictment against a Miles John Farnham in May of that year on

charges of fraud and malpractice.

It wasn't proven.

I was exonerated. The whole thing was a mistake.

I will prove that Mr. Farnham, or Professor Farnham as he likes to call

is not an accredited hypnotist.

And that Mrs. Lucy Pryor was not in a state of hypnosis at the time of the

stabbing of her husband. That's not true. She was under hypnosis.

I verified that.

But we have only your word.

I submit these police reports on the character of this man's word.

I disacknowledge his claims of professionalism. And I ask that this

brought before people's court for grand jury trial.

I object to his inference.

What does he mean I'm not accredited?

It's an inexact science. We don't carry graduation diplomas about in our hip

pockets.

This lady was under hypnosis.

If you don't believe me, if anyone has any doubts, with Mrs. Pryor's

I'll prove it to you right here and now.

Well, I hardly think that Mrs.

Pryor... No, I don't mind, Mr. Garson.

Where do you want me, Professor?

In that chair, please.

Would you raise your veil?

May I please have complete silence?

Now, do you remember the light in the living room?

Yes.

I want you to concentrate on this light.

Soft, steady light.

Warm and glowing.

Floating in faith.

Free. of this room.

Free.

As you are free.

You and the light and the sound of my voice.

Can you hear my voice?

You're going back in time now.

Years are slipping by.

What is your name?

My name is Dora Evans.

And it pleased me, sir.

My garden is there by the elder trees.

And just here is my rose arbor.

It was there I made my decision.

I took Miss Delphi to the house.

I submit this lady is in deep hypnosis.

You can have her examined by any doctor you may choose to verify this.

I guarantee she is not accountable for any acts she performed in this

She is under the direct control of the spirit of Dora Evans.

The spirit of a woman dead for over 100 years.

I came up behind him and... Somebody get a doctor, quickly!

Hurry up!

End of a pretty good case against Mrs. Lucy Pryor. Come on, darling, just try

not to think. We'll get you home and into bed right away. George, get the

will you? All right.

Darling, sit there quietly. I'll only be a moment.

Oh, Mr. Burt, would you keep an eye on her? I'm going across the street and get

some smelling salt.

Certainly. Thank you.

May I have a drink of juice?

Do you have a cigarette?

I need it.

Lucy, the car's downstairs here.

It's a ride.

There's no one anywhere near us.

I have no recording devices.

No one can ever verify what you say at this moment.

You're free now.

Free of me and the courts.

So just to satisfy my curiosity, did you plan the whole thing?

Would Snotty like to know?

What do you think of this?

He regressed me and then only brought me halfway back.

I... Good heavens, everyone's asleep.

That last commercial must have hypnotized them.

He put the entire audience under.

That isn't doing good.

Since I can't wake you up, I can only leave you with this post -hypnotic

suggestion.

Next week when you awaken, you will feel compelled to tune in again

when we promise to bring you another story and three less soporific

commercials.

Good night.