Original subtitles

American International Television

But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night,

in which the heavens shall pass away

with a great noise.

And the elements shall melt

with fervent heat.

The Earth also,

and the works that are therein,

shall be burned up.

IN THE YEAR 2889

The geiger counter here in the studio

reads 632 Renchens. That's six times more than enough to kill a man.

Down through the ages, the prophets have forewarned us that in one day

thousands of years of accomplishments could be

wiped away by the destructive hand of power.

Now that day has come.

All communication with the outside world has stopped,

just 15 hours after the first nuclear bomb fell on Formosa.

The whole world has been silenced,

annihilated by nuclear bombs.

Three billion people murdered by a thousand nuclear bombs and the lethal fallout.

Maybe there's no one left to hear my voice,

no living human being to record the end of the world.

Now, this is Ted Johnson for K.B.G.E. - Radio.

He didn't come, Dad. Larry didn't come.

He's lost. They're all lost.

Not a sign of life:

New York, Paris, Moscow... All's quiet now.

Look, Joanna! It's holding at 47!

Why, we may be saved! Just as I planned it.

I'm not sure I want to, Dad...

not without Larry.

I'm sorry, honey. I'm afraid he didn't make it.

But there's always hope. Come, let's go inside.

I planned it right, Joanna.

Our house out here, miles from any city. The cliffs. The updrafts of air to fight back the radiation.

And provisions for the three of us for months.

There's only two of us now, Dad.

Honey...

I couldn't very well order Larry to come out here and stay with us, even though you are engaged to him.

There's someone at the door, Dad. It's Larry - he's made it!

- Wait! Don't open that door until you're sure it's Larry! - It is Larry! He's hurt!

- He'll contaminate us! - Larry! Larry!

- Don't! Don't open that door. We can't take the chance! - Let me go!

I've got to open that door!

Wait! Don't touch him!

He's red-hot with radioactivity!

It's not Larry!

- We've got to help him, whoever he is. - Wait.

We'd better check the geiger counter.

740 Renchens? And he's still breathing!

Why, he should be dead!

But he's still breathing! Nobody can take that much and still live.

Don't touch him. He's my responsibility.

- Who are you? - I'm Steve Marlin.

He's my brother.

Better keep away from him.

Granger?

It's OK, it's OK.

God, he's still alive.

- Don't know why, but he's still alive! - He must be dying.

The counter showed 740 Renchens.

Where are the bedrooms?

- Upstairs. Come with me. - No.

They can't stay here!

- Yes, they can, Dad. - But they're contaminated.

It's too late for them. But not us.

I'll get you some water and clean clothes.

- Get out of here or I'll kill you. - Don't shoot! There's a girl out here.

Throw your weapon on the floor.

I warn you.

- This gun's loaded! - OK, OK!

Stop it, Dad! Don't!

Move on into the room, here. Come in where I can see you.

- Are you all right? - Yeah, I guess so.

- Is... is it OK if we stay? - Of course you can't stay!

- I've got provisions for only three people. - Mac, we're staying, so forget the sob story.

Please, mister, help us.

You can't stay here! It isn't the way I planned it. I have provisions for three people only.

I'm Joanna Ramsey. Please, bring your suitcase upstairs and I'll get you some fresh water.

Wait!

I didn't mean nothin'.

I was just looking to see if anyone was alive in the house.

What's your name?

I'm Tim Henderson. I'm a rancher. I live up on the cliff.

- Sorry I roughed you up. - Sure.

Come on! ...How'd I knock you down?

- Come on up the house. - No!

He can't stay!

Oh, let the worthless old coot stay. We're all gonna die anyway.

It looks like we're stuck with each other, so let's understand the rules.

Now, I'm the ranking officer - I mean, person. I'm in command.

If we're votin', I vote for me.

- Oh, don't be funny. This is serious! - Shut up, Jada.

My second-in-command will be Steve.

This counter is registering 47 Renchens

of radioactivity now.

50 is considered dangerous. 500, fatal.

But that depends on the individual. Different people have different absorption rates and capacities.

We may live, and we may not.

There's a lot we don't know about it.

Some of us may be dying now.

- Well, how long before we can leave this museum? - Yeah.

I've got some things working for me in L.A. - big things. So how long before we can get out of here?

There is no Los Angeles.

No Los Angeles? You're kidding.

I don't believe you.

There are no radio signals, long or shortwave, from any city in the world.

She's right.

The six of us in this house may be the beginning of a new era.

A new civilization.

Seven. My brother's still alive.

But not for long, I'm afraid.

But be that as it may, I've spent ten years getting ready for this day.

I'll brief you as to why we're still alive.

This is my house, with its own generators and food supply.

These cliffs, surrounding the house on three sides,

are full of lead-bearing ore that acts as a barrier against radioactivity.

The lake here on the fourth side is heated from an underground heat source,

probably an old volcano

or maybe a crack in the Earth's crust.

Anyway, the warm air from the lake's waters creates an updraft.

And it's strong enough, I might add,

to carry radioactive contamination out of the valley.

As long as it doesn't rain. If the rains come too soon,

we'll all be contaminated and die.

That is, if we don't let other forces destroy us before that time.

What other forces?

Never mind that now.

But make no mistake about it: You're not welcome here.

This was planned for just three people. That's how much food we have.

If we divide that among the six of us, we'll soon have empty stomachs and rebellion.

I have the keys to the storeroom.

I, and I alone, will say when and how much food we eat.

Any argument about that, and I'll settle it with this.

Oh, you're a big man, packin' that gun.

Just don't you let go of it.

I don't intend to.

Where are you going with that?

- My brother. - Save the food.

Your brother's a casualty, face it.

Take it to him.

Dad, I've never seen you like this before.

We can't become animals. We're still human, and we've got to act like it!

That's just what I'm afraid of. We're all human.

Granger? How ya doin'?

I'm not gonna die.

I thought I was, but I'm not. I know I'm not, now.

Well, it's a miracle. You soaked up 700 Renchens.

I don't understand it, but I'm glad.

- Here. Try something to eat. - I don't want that.

I need fresh meat. Raw meat.

Well, I'll put your order in with the chef.

I don't know, but... I think it'll do me good.

- Well, why don't you wash up and get into some clean clothes, huh? - No. No water.

Just let me rest.

I'll be OK just the way I am.

You didn't tell me how you two happened to be near this valley yesterday.

Uh, we're not exactly on the main highway.

We were camped on the other side of the lake.

That's not too far off the highway.

We were on our way to California. I thought it'd be a kick to sleep out.

Yeah. Then her old car wouldn't start, and we were stranded.

You two married?

She's an old friend of the family.

Look, kid, you can be a friend of my family anytime you want.

Jada's a performer, a dancer.

I'm her manager.

I... I guess it was stuck.

Now you know why she can't work with a fan.

Nice looking guy. Your brother?

My fiance.

He was supposed to be here yesterday.

You were gonna marry him.

I'm sorry. Really sorry.

What's the matter?

Strange...

I felt like I heard someone calling.

But not really calling.

Just something strange.

Come on, snap out of it.

Let's go to your father's storeroom and see if we can find some canned beef for my brother, huh?

Steve, come with me. I want to check the radioactivity outside.

Go ahead, Steve. I'll get the canned beef.

How we doing, John?

It's at 49. That's up 2 since last night.

It's as if some magic force is holding those clouds up out of this valley.

- That's the warm air from the lake. Creates an updraft. - Yes, I know.

- Oh yes, I told you this morning. - I've known about this valley for a long time.

The lake, too. Read about it in college, in Geology.

- Oh, you a geologist? - Mm-hmm.

I worked for an oil company about 100 miles south of here.

Then you just didn't stumble in here yesterday by accident?

No, my brother and I headed here the minute we heard about the bombings.

Smart thinking on your part.

Do you know

the real force of the atom has never been fully calculated?

Well, I think it reached its fulfillment yesterday.

Yes, but only as we know it affects our present form of life...

or life as we knew it, before this nuclear inferno covered the Earth.

You think some other form of life could have survived?

I'm only saying that its true force has never been fully understood.

You're confusing me now, John.

- Do you remember the H-bomb test at Matsuo some years ago? - Sure.

I captained one of those ships.

5 days after the blast, I towed the animal ship out of target zero.

The outside world never had a true account of that test.

What are you trying to say, John?

Coyote. In the daytime.

Hm. Must be a lot of game in this valley now.

Contaminated game. Fighting for life, just the way we are.

What's the matter, Granger?

There's live game outside.

I can tell.

Yes, we heard a coyote during the day.

I can feel it. And I need meat.

Granger, that game's contaminated. If you ate that, you'd die.

You would die,

but not me.

I can't eat that canned junk. I've gotta have some meat!

Fresh, do you hear?

That's all you're gonna get for a long time.

That's what you think.

That's just what you think.

Three weeks. Thought we'd all be dead by now.

Even Granger got out of bed yesterday.

Steve...

- I know he's your brother, but - - But what?

Well, he - he gives me a funny feeling.

Logically, he should have been dead long ago, but...

There's no such thing as logic anymore.

What's so illogical about my brother?

You know as well as I do, he hasn't taken food or water in three weeks.

Not since he's been here.

He says he doesn't need food.

And last night, he slipped out of the house and didn't come back until dawn.

The radiation must have affected his mind.

He's a mutation, Steve. Face it.

He's a freak of this new atomic world of ours.

I'm going outside.

For a walk.

Well, uh, don't go too far. Stay inside of the house.

Why?

Because I say so, that's why.

- Aren't you tired, Grange? You need more sleep. - I'm not tired.

I'm not afraid of anything out there.

In fact, I like it.

Would you like to go with me?

Oh, no, I have things to do.

I think he's dangerous.

No, I don't think so.

He should be destroyed.

Destroyed? My brother?

Yes. For our safety.

You can't do that, John! Well, not just because he's my brother, but don't you see... it's important to us that he live.

I don't see why.

I'm not sure yet.

We have to study him.

If it doesn't rain in the next few weeks, I think we're gonna live.

Somehow I knew we wouldn't die. My father always seemed so positive.

You know, after the bombs came, I didn't much care if I lived or died.

Don't talk like that.

It's true, Joanna.

But these past few weeks with you...

Now I feel I've got a big reason to live.

Me too, Steve.

Joanna -

What's wrong?

Did I misunderstand?

Didn't you hear it?

Hear what?

Something out there -

That strange feeling, sound, something -

Stronger than the last time I felt it!

It's just some harmless animal in the bushes, that's all.

No, Steve! It's more!

Let's go back in the house. Please.

These bones are still moist!

Look at the footprints!

They're Granger's.

You think he ate that rabbit?

He must have. He spends most of his nights prowling around in these woods.

49 Renchens.

You think a man could eat that poisoned meat and live?

No. No human could.

It defies all the laws of man and God.

There may be a new set of laws, John.

Laws for post-nuclear life we know nothing about.

Out with it, Steve. Say what you mean.

Well, I'm only guessing, but - We know that even small amounts of radiation can produce change.

Now if, for some reason, a man could survive complete saturation,

a thousand generations of change could take place in a matter of weeks.

The Matsuo test.

What do you mean?

Nothing. Go on with your theory.

I'm afraid there are more Grangers out here. And even worse than him.

All of us have survived more cumulative exposure than we ever thought possible.

You mean we all might become like your brother? Stalking these woods at night? Eating raw meat?

It's possible.

- Any bright theories as to what to do in this situation? - No.

You know, when my brother couldn't find the answer to something, he looked it up in the Bible.

He believed that it held the answers to everything.

"For I am with thee to save thee and deliver thee, sayeth the Lord."

"I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked."

"I will redeem thee out of the land of the terrible."

Look, I had enough of that Bible when I was a kid.

Well, it's easy to see it had no effect on you, Mickey.

I'm gonna go look for Granger.

What was that?

Maybe you'd better tell us what the Bible says about rain.

In our situation, we'd better pray that it doesn't rain.

Not for weeks, anyway.

Because if it does rain in this valley,

it'll be coming down through clouds saturated with nuclear death.

Maybe we'll be safe,

like Noah and the Ark.

Right now, there's about 40 Renchens of activity in this room.

If it rains, that will move up into the hundreds of Renchens in a matter of hours.

And we'll all be dead. Or,

like Granger. If we're unlucky.

But,

maybe the updrafts from the lake will hold the clouds back.

They will, Dad. We've been lucky so far.

We're gonna live. I just feel it.

I hope you're right, sweetheart.

And if the weather does clear, starting tomorrow, we'll have to go on half rations.

How much is half of nothing?

I've stored some seeds and grain. And I have books and materials

on every craft necessary to sustain life.

Mickey Brown: farmer and craftsman.

Oh, another thing -

We're about out of fresh water. But

there's a spring-fed pool not so far from the cliffs.

Hey, Joanna - maybe we could take a swim in the pool.

Well, if Dad says it's all right.

Oh, it's safe. I checked it today.

And starting tomorrow, we can all take turns bathing there.

Well, I'm telling you one thing.

I've taken more baths in the past two months

than I have in all my born days together.

Maybe that's why you're still alive, Tim.

- Grange? - Don't let it touch me!

- Don't let the rain touch me! - It's OK, Grange, the clouds aren't gonna come in the valley!

You're lying to me! It's gonna rain!

Come on. Come on. Come on back to the house.

Gonna touch me!

Grange, come on back to the house!

- This place is spooky even in sunshine. - It feels great, though.

So quiet.

I'd give anything to hear that downtown traffic again.

I didn't realize how isolated it would be from the house.

You are good looking.

Clean-cut, and that bit.

That's something new for Mickey.

Mickey?

Oh, he's all eyes for you.

He isn't even giving me the time of day anymore.

I'm not interested in Mickey.

Well, you'd better not be.

Otherwise, well...

I'd have to make a play for Steve!

That would be unfair competition for you.

Yes, I... I see what you mean.

Mickey always comes back to mama.

Hey, what's the matter, kid?

Somebody's watching us, I can feel it!

I didn't hear anything!

Something's moving over there in the bushes!

It's probably one of the fellas. It's probably old Timothy.

Hey, Timothy!

Hurry up. Let's get out of here!

Granger's not the only one hunting game.

And, after they've finished off the game, we'll be next!

This place is cursed.

Steve, we've got to get rid of your brother.

John! He's the only way to find out what we're up against! Don't you see that?

The animals on the ship. The Matsuo test.

They forewarned of something like this.

- You know, you keep mentioning that. You gonna keep up the mystery, or you gonna tell me about it? - Tonight.

Back at the house, I'll show you, after the others have gone to bed. I have the evidence.

What you looking at?

You said I didn't see anything at the pool. You said it was just my imagination.

That's right. You just became upset.

Steve, somebody was looking at me, tried to talk to me.

What'd he say?

Nothing you'd understand.

Nothing I'd understand, for that matter.

Well, you won't go swimming alone in the pool anymore. I'll stand guard.

My skin was tingling, my pulse was pounding...

You're still upset. Come on, let's go back to the house.

Do you believe in mental telepathy?

I'm afraid I'm reading your thoughts, if that's what you mean.

What am I thinking?

It's not the same way you were thinking about me a few days ago.

I'm sorry, Steve.

I just feel like I'd like to be alone right now.

I'm sorry too, Joanna.

Mickey! Don't scare me like that.

I just wanna talk to you, that's all. You know, I bet I haven't said a dozen words to you since I got here.

Hey, look, what's so bad about me? I don't drink, I don't smoke...

And once I even gave some money to a drunken bum. My old man!

Come on. Don't give me that hard-to-get stuff - come on!

Don't! You belong to Jada.

I belong to me! Get it?

Me!

Hey buddy!

Oh, it's you, Miss Jada. Care for a taste of some of the best whiskey in these mountains?

It is whiskey! Hey, where'd you get it?

Made it myself, that's where. I make it by the barrels back at my place.

That is awful, Tim!

The first taste is never good, Miss Jada.

It's that long, second one that puts hair on your chest!

Better?

Grange!

You won't believe this, but I just saw Granger walk up the mountain trail through that fog, and it didn't faze him.

Do you remember anything about the Matsuo bomb test?

Yeah, there were some vague rumors right after that, weren't there?

There's something I have to show you.

As I told you, my job was to tow the animal ship out of Target Zero.

I got the first look at those animals.

- The newspapers said they were all destroyed. - The newspapers lied.

Three of those animals lived through it.

Lived through an H-bomb?

There was a law against taking photographs.

But no law against sketching what we'd seen.

There were over a thousand animals on that ship.

- That was a chipmunk. - This was alive?

Yes. It lived for three days.

Our third survivor was a monkey.

Its skin looked like rubber,

but it felt more like metal.

Armor-plated.

Nature's answer to complete nuclear radiation.

Why, that's a million years of evolution with one bomb!

- You say they lived for three days? - When we got back to the inspection ship, they were dead.

- Well, if we could figure out what killed them, it may help us. - We never knew.

After we washed them down, we went down to inspect.

They were normal, except for their appearance.

But they refused food and water.

- New species. - Yes.

They were the forerunners of whatever it is we have out there.

Sometimes I have a feeling of doom.

Well, I know this much:

There are two forms of life fighting for survival in this valley, and only one can win.

John, it's got to be us.

You know, I started this thing

just to stay alive.

But you've given me a deep feeling of responsibility toward the welfare of mankind.

Our kind.

I think I'll turn in now. Goodnight, John.

Yes. I'll tell the girls the first thing in the morning.

- The girls? - Yes.

They should bear children as soon as possible.

Steve!

That's enough!

Now, Mickey - we've had enough of you.

Get your things and get out of this house!

You wouldn't do that to an animal, Dad.

- He stays. - Are you all right, love?

Get out of my life!

Mickey!

A sea captain can perform the marriage ceremony in case of an emergency.

Joanna, I want you to marry Steve. I want you to have... children.

There'll be no wedding, Dad, and no children.

You have a responsibility to the future.

- What would Mother say? - Your mother? - And Larry, what would he say?

They're both dead.

I'm the only one who knows.

Knows? Knows what?

- Have you been listening to me? - Yes, Dad.

I'll marry Steve in a week.

If he's still alive. And I am.

What are you doing, love?

This little gadget's

gonna open that storeroom for me.

Can you imagine us having a kid?

'Course, we won't tell him his mother was a -

exotic dancer.

I wonder what's wrong with Joanna?

She goes around in her own little world now.

She slipped off her rocker.

- Maybe we all are. - Not me, baby.

You still go for her, don't you?

You're just plain dirt to her, but you still want her!

All I want is a key to open that storeroom!

All this time you've been saying it was you and me!

But you meant her! You liar!

OK, OK. So I lied a little.

A little!

The only friend you ever had in this world was me!

The only one who ever loved you was me! Me, me!

Now listen, you cheap hood!

A present from the hood... lover!

Now beat it!

I wanna finish this key.

We can't go up there for at least two more months.

And we're running out of supplies.

Only enough for about two more weeks.

Don't touch him - he's hot.

Food.

They wouldn't give me any.

"They?" There's more of you up there?

Stronger...

- Much... stronger. - How many? How many more?

Uhh... stronger... uuhh...

Food!

He won't be needing food now, poor devil.

Look at the head. The strange bone structure.

It's like those animals at Matsuo.

And the same mutated skin the animals had.

And... there's more like him up there! Stronger!

Stage 2, this one. Stage 3, stronger. Stage 4, maybe invulnerable.

How about Stage 1? Who's that?

That's Granger. My brother is Stage 1.

There's no doubt about it.

They're coming closer to the house every night.

We'll have to take turns standing guard, Steve.

I'd use Mickey, but we can't trust him with a gun in his hand. I know his kind -

spawned in bilgewater.

Timothy, sometimes you're a lifesaver.

Jada, we're like two peas in a pod.

Sometimes, we're feelin' low as a have-no-well,

- but give us a whack of this stuff - - Yeah! Give us a whack of this!

...and we're high as a silk hat on Sunday!

Come on, ya big lug!

Hey... quit it! Quit pouring so fast!

Come with Jada, Timothy baby!

I wanna pay you back for

all that ever-lovin' kindness!

Request permission to come aboard, Captain!

Permission granted, sailor.

And when I come out, they start to whistle and shout "Take it off!"

And once I got my motor running,

all you could hear was their breathing!

That near scared me to death!

One time,

I, like, ran off stage!

But Mickey baby,

he just kicked my little backside and - ! On I went!

Now wasn't that sweet of Mickey baby?

One of these days I'm gonna return that favor.

Now, here it comes!

This is where I start to peel!

Kick me under that blue spot, daddy, 'cause I'm comin' on for the clincher!

N-no! Don't break my jug, please!

That was the last drop I had!

Good! Then we'll have no more of this disgusting behavior.

Right?

"Sailor"?

There's one like you in every crowd!

Now I'll never make it!

But I, uh...

Well? What have you got to say about it?

Personally, I hate the stuff.

Have a nice nap?

Caught me. I must have dozed off.

Say, have you seen Tim? He's not in the house anyplace.

He's probably sleeping it off in the woods somewhere.

You know, I'm really worried about that old coot. You shouldn't have broken his jug.

You're right. I had no idea he was an alcoholic.

Well, if he doesn't show up by daybreak, I'll go out and find him.

I'll go with you. It was my mistake.

You don't suppose he tried to get back up over those cliffs, do you?

Well, he better not. If he does, it'll be the end of him.

Goodnight.

Easy, Timothy...

It's... just a little rabbit.

My god!

Tim!

Tim, don't! Don't go into that fog!

Don't go into that fog! You'll be killed sure!

John!

Steve!

- What happened? - Oh, I've sprained my ankle.

- Where's Tim? - Back up over the cliff.

He went back to his whiskey still.

Did you go after him?

Through that vapor?

How long were you up there?

A minute. Hour. What difference does it make?

Steve, I've had the course.

Well, come on. We'll get you washed up.

Don't tell Joanna. I've just got a sprained ankle, understand?

Sure, John. Come on. Let's get back to the house.

He's dead.

Believe me, Steve, it's better this way.

Poor Granger.

Now my whole family's gone.

No, Steve. You and Joanna are the new family now.

Perhaps for the whole human race.

Look at those punctures!

It's like - like three steel claws!

Steel claws...

It's like the hand of the monkey in your drawings!

Matsuo.

- Steve! - What is it, Joanna?

- In there! In the bushes! - Where? What is it?

Someone was calling to me!

It's just your imagination! I wasn't 40 feet away from you and I didn't hear a thing!

Oh, please, Steve, take me home! Please!

Joanna insists this thing tried to talk to her.

How about the way it looked?

She said it looked like an ape.

The sketches of Matsuo. The monkey!

But this thing is man-sized.

That means it's a man, not an ape.

How do we fight it? How do we kill it?

You're the one who said we'd come up with an answer.

But how? It eats contaminated flesh, breathes contaminated air...

The things that kill a man, it thrives on.

What's the point? You're driving at something.

Just that in order to kill it, we must first understand it.

Now, we know it has fears. It was close enough to Joanna to attack her, but it wouldn't follow her into the pool.

Don't scream. I mean it!

What do you want?

I never had time for your kind of woman. You're something new in my life.

No... No!

Girl, you won't hate me when there's just the two of us - there'd be no point to it, get what I mean?

Mickey! Let the kid alone!

Joanna, go back to the house.

I have a few words for this child molester here!

You don't know when you're through, do ya?

You said the two of us,

- but all along, you meant her! - Yeah, that's right. Now you know.

You and your dimestore stuff.

You're cheap! A cheapie!

I didn't know how cheap you are 'til I met her!

She hates your guts!

You're cheap to her! She'd rather kill herself first!

Come on.

Let's not fight like a couple of kids.

- Let's go take a moonlight swim, huh? - Beat it!

I don't want any part of you.

Well.

You decided to come back to Jada.

What's the gun for, Cap'n?

Where's Jada?

Well, we had a little beef. She didn't come back.

Stayed outside to cool off, I guess.

OK, Mickey. I got something to settle with you.

Tomorrow, maybe. I'm beat right now.

- You go next to Joanna again and I'm gonna kill you. - Kill me!

I haven't had a laugh all day.

Why he was spared by the bombs, I'll never know.

He'll kill you, Steve.

Get him first. Now!

Here, take this!

Just sneak up on Mickey and empty it into him, huh?

John, you know me better than that.

It's the same feeling that made you go up that mountain for Tim.

But there's so much at stake.

At least carry a gun. Here,

get one. Out of the storeroom.

Get it now. And be ready to use it.

Hey, how long before a guy can get out of here?

As far as I'm concerned, you can leave now.

You know, this reminds me of that kids' song. Ten Little Indians.

...That got knocked off one at a time.

Same way with us. First there were seven.

Now there's... Now there's...

"3 little 2 little 1 little Indians..."

And then there was none.

Try that again.

Please. Try that again.

Not me, Cap'n.

I know when to cool it. Like right now.

Joanna!

Joanna!

- I heard her screaming, but she's not in her room! - I have a strange feeling. She's in danger, Steve.

That thing...

- The thing out there has got my baby! - I'm going after her. - Wait!

There's a special Luger. In the storeroom.

With a 30-round magazine. Get it.

Steve - put your revolver under my pillow. You won't need it.

If there's no other way, use that Luger on Joanna.

Joanna!

Now! That's better, Cap'n.

If there's two men and only one gun, I like to have it.

Looks like your ship's falling apart, don't it?

Well, you've been no help.

You wouldn't find Jada.

You wouldn't help Steve look for Joanna. Oh, you're lower than scum.

I'm a coward.

I only fight when I have to. And on my own conditions.

And one of 'em is that I know what I'm fighting.

Joanna!

"3 little 2 little 1 little Indian..." You know, you're a sucker.

I know you went after ol' Tim, into that fog.

Killed yourself for that worthless old coot.

So, that's why you're acting so brave.

- That's why you're moving in. - Moving in?

I'm taking over.

The works, the house. Your daughter.

If she gets back.

I'd make a better old man for her kids than Steve would. They'd be tough, like me.

Looks like it will rain after all.

Still think that rain will kill us all?

You'll know soon enough.

Joanna!

Here, Steve! Over here!

The water! It's afraid of the water!

Well, there's your rain, Cap'n! But good!

How long do you think we'll live now?

Well, here. Get me a sample of the rainwater and I'll test it.

Why, it doesn't register!

That's pure water!

Well, what do you know.

Just plain old rainwater!

That's it!

Water! It's afraid of water!

Joanna and Steve may be safe!

What's afraid, Cap'n?

- You crackin' up on me? - Don't you see, you idiot?

That thing out there, that atomic fiend. It's afraid of pure water.

That's why it wouldn't go in the pool!

What are you thinking in that sick mind of yours?

Simple.

I'm gonna shoot Steve, right between the eyes.

In God's name, why?

Well, I thought you knew, smart man.

I want Joanna.

I don't hear it anymore.

Hear what?

The weird sound.

It tried to speak to me.

Steve?

It was Larry. What killed him?

He was created to live in a contaminated atmosphere.

Guess the rain must be pure.

He couldn't stand it.

I guess that means that all the other people like Larry will be killed by the rain, too.

Then there is a future.

Yes, Joanna.

Mickey!

The Beginning

...must be stopped.

You, and all the school-parent groups about the country,

and you must stand united on this,

can stamp out this frightful assassin of our youth.

You can do it by initiating compulsory education

on the subject of narcotics in general.

But dread marihuana in particular!

That is why we are meeting, ladies and gentlemen,

to lay the foundation for a nationwide campaign by you

to demand by law such compulsory education.

For it is only through enlightenment that this scourge can be wiped out.

Out of the traffic in these drugs,

a lawlessness we can hardly estimate has grown and is now flourishing.

lt exists in almost every city and hamlet in the country.

You will find it interesting and important to know

some of the methods used to bring drugs into the country

and the work of the forces of law and order,

which are daily combatting the traffic,

always risking their agents' lives.

The Dept. of Narcotics, Washington, wages this ceaseless fight.

l have a letter of vital importance from someone in the Narcotics Bureau.

l'm going to read this letter to you.

''My dear Dr. Carroll:

''The suppression of the use of marihuana and the forces behind it

''is the most important job this department is engaged in.

''At the outset, there is one vital fact l would submit.

''There is a powerful agency. l speak of the school-parent groups

''which can be invaluable in stamping out this scourge.

''Their help and vigilance could be the deciding factor in our fight.

''Marihuana is grown in every state in the Union.

''Recently, in Brooklyn, New York,

''a fie/d of marihuana was found behind a tenement court.

''The weed was here being cu/tivated,

''regu/ar/y stripped and dried and so/d in schoo/s

''and at government army posts in and around New York.

''The dried /eaves and berries are ground up

''and made into cigarettes by a simp/e hand machine.

''The dead/y narcotic is thus quick/y and easi/y prepared for its market.

''The sa/e of marihuana is more difficu/t to detect and ha/t

''than the traffic in drugs such as opium, morphine and heroin.

''They are hidden in fake jewe/ry cases,

''in the hee/s of shoes,

''women's shoes especia//y, as the drugs can be secreted in fa/se hee/s.

''Ho//owed shaving brushes are another way.

''Books with fa/se centers are used.

''Watch cases are convenient hiding p/aces.

''The va/ue of drugs thus seized is enormous.

''Recent/y, a huge supp/y of heroin was taken.

''/t was concea/ed in an apparent/y harm/ess shipment of o/ive oi/.

''The dead/y drug was burned at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

''And more vicious, more dead/y,

''even than these sou/-destroying drugs is the menace of marihuana. ''

No doubt, many of you do not believe that these things do happen,

that they cannot happen to you.

You may also believe the facts have been exaggerated.

Let me tell you something that happened here in our own city.

You probably read about it.

However, l'll give you the real facts behind the case.

An apartment was near one of our high schools.

lt was run by a woman known as Mae Coleman.

Hey.

-Come on, Mae, get up. -What time is it?

Time to clean this place. lt's like the Marines landed.

That bunch last night was high enough to defeat the Marines.

Get on the job. Some of the kids may be up later.

Jack, we don't need to drag those young kids up here.

Just button up your lip.

Always squawking about something. You got more static than a radio.

Ah, greetings.

-Hello, fella, how are you? -Fine, how are you? Come in!

Glad to be here.

-ls Mae in? -She'll be right in. Just sit down.

-What kind of a joint is this, Eddie? -lt's OK, Gwen.

-See, they probably had a party. -Ahh.

-A couple of your customers, Mae. -Yeah?

They know what they're doing, not like the young kids you bring here.

All right, all right. Listen, l'm gonna blow.

Where you going?

Got to make some deliveries. l'll bring back a couple of kids.

-Oh, l wish you'd lay off those kids. -Why don't you get over your complex?

By the way, Ralph, l'm giving a party Saturday at my grandmother's.

The place with the pool. Coming?

-Maybe. -l'd like to have you.

-OK, l'll probably drop over. -So long, Ralph.

-Hey, Ralph! How are you, kid? -Fine, Jack. You?

-Oh, great. Where you headed? -Oh...

Hey, how do you like that?

That's the one l was telling you about.

Very nice.

l don't know why you make such a fuss over Ralph.

He's a swell swimmer. Made the freshman team at college.

My dad knows his family. None of them are any good.

-Parents just got a divorce in Paris. -Yeah?

Ralph runs around pretty much on his own. He's been in trouble.

Well, l don't go around with him.

You better not. He's too old for us. That's what my dad said.

-Hello, Mary. Hi, Bill. -Hi, Ralph.

Hi, Ralph. You know my brother Jimmy, don't you?

How are you?

l'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Jack Perry. Mary, Bill.

Glad to know you.

-We're going to Joe's, come along. -We're playing doubles.

You can play anytime. Let's have fun.

We can't today. Some other time.

-Can l come? -Sure.

Hey, l'll see you at dinner, Sis.

-Don't be late, Jimmy. -l won't.

-Hello, Joe. -Jimmy!

Hi, Agnes!

-He ain't no paper man! -That's ''Hot Fingers'' Pirelli.

He swings out with a mess of jive!

-You want to dance? -Do l!

Mae's expecting us at the apartment later.

-Any new prospects? -Maybe.

Oh, Jimmy, you're wonderful!

You just finding that out?

-Why can't we go now? -Sure.

We're having a party at my girlfriend's. Want to come?

-l'd love to. You want to, don't you? -Oh, sure.

-Any place with you. -Come along, we can all go in my car.

-See you later, Joe. -So long.

-You're sweet to help me, Bill. -Anything but Domestic Science.

Don't you want to learn about running your own home?

The answer is no. You know, after that session we had yesterday,

l told Mother the trouble with her pot roast gravy was

she hadn't added three heaping teaspoonfuls of olive oil.

-What did she say? -She threw me out of the kitchen.

-No wonder. -Hello, children.

-Hello, Mother. -Hello, Mrs. Lane.

-That was sweet of you, Mother. -Hot chocolate! Thanks, Mrs. Lane!

You can't study on empty stomachs. Enjoy yourselves.

-He will. -She will too, Mrs. Lane.

-May l? -Thank you, sir. You're so very kind.

Mary, before we do that math, let's read this. lt's swell.

Romeo and Ju/iet?

-Don't you like it? -Uh-huh.

When l study this, l think of you.

l feel as though you're there beside me.

Oh, listen.

''lt is my soul that calls upon thy name.

''How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night.

''Like softest music to attending ears!''

-''Romeo!'' -''My dear?''

''At what o'clock tomorrow shall l send to thee?''

-''By the hour of nine.'' -''l will not fail.''

'''Tis twenty years till then.''

Well...l'll see you tonight, Mary. Goodbye, Mrs. Lane.

-Goodbye, Bill. -So long.

Gosh, l...

Oh, Bill!

l guess l'm all right. Bye! Bye!

-Hey, Daddy! -Oh, Junior!

There you are!

-Hey, Dad, you got anything for me? -Don't bother your father.

-Have you? -There you are.

What made you so late, Bill? l was worried.

Oh, l had to study, Ma.

He was not. l saw him out walking with his girl.

Bill's got a girlfriend...

-Make him stop! -Junior!

-Well, Bill has got a girl. -Quiet! And put that candy away.

-You shouldn't have given it to him. -His girl's name is Mary.

Hey, l'll shut you up.

Bill! Junior! Quit that carrying on!

They're all right, they're young.

Mary's little lamb.

l didn't mean it, Bill!

What l'm burned up about is that you didn't say Bill had a swell girl!

Gee. lt must be love.

-She must be swell if you like her. -You must want something.

-Come on, what is it? -lt's my model plane. lt won't work.

Gosh, Bill, you could fix it. You can fix anything!

OK, l'll fix it.

-Dad, read me the funny papers. -Here we are.

-Hey, Bill! -Oh hello, Jimmy.

Mary went home. Her mother wanted her to go to the dressmaker.

Oh thanks, Jimmy.

l see Mary let you have the car.

-Can l take you anyplace? -l wasn't going anyplace special.

How about driving over to Joe's place with me? l'll buy you a soda!

-l never drink that stuff! -l'll buy you something else.

-You're on the hook for a root beer. -Swell!

-Hi. What'll you have? -Hey, Jimmy!

Hi Jimmy. Hi, Bill. Come on, slide in.

-Hello, Blanche. Hello, Ralph. -How've you been, Ralph?

Two sodas... l mean one soda and one root beer.

-How's Mae? -Fine. We're going to her apartment.

-Could Bill come? -Sure.

-l don't know... -Come on, Bill!

-Thanks, but... -Come on, Bill.

-Mary won't be jealous. -A lot of the kids will be there.

l don't know... l really shouldn't... Well, OK.

-Hiya, kids! -Hello, Jack, whaddya say?

Yeah, come on in.

-Jack! -Hi, Agnes!

Come on, Bill, don't stand there!

Billy-hillbilly!

-Hi, kids! -Mae, this is Bill Harper. He's OK.

Hello.

Well, if you say so, he's all right with me. l'll be back in a minute.

-Hiya, kids, how ya doing? -OK. Hiya, Mae.

-There's a new one in today. -Yeah, Bill Harper.

He's all right. Blanche's got herself quite a yen for him.

Not bad. l didn't think she had that much taste.

She got Ralph not to bother her. Now she's got her hooks out for Bill.

We haven't many more smokes. You'd better go and get some.

Couldn't you find that out this morning? Now my car is in the shop.

So what? That kid out there, Jimmy. He's got a car. He'll take you.

Come on, get going. Hurry up.

-Hey, Jimmy. -Yup?

l've got to go to Cedar Avenue.

-You got a car? -My sister's.

-Mind giving me a lift? -Why sure, come on.

No, thank you.

-Well, here we are. -Oh, thanks.

Oh, Mae, don't forget me.

l never forget you.

Oh dear. lf you want a good smoke, try one of these.

l thought you were a sport.

Of course, if you're afraid...

That's better! That's more like it. l know you'll like it.

Just take a puff of this.

-Just be a minute, kid. -Give me a cigarette, will you?

-Hello, Jack. -Hiya, Boss.

-How's business? -Great. Those kids sure go for it.

-Swell. -Had to get a few more cartons.

-Ran short today. -All right.

Danny? Pack ten gross for Jack Perry.

Who? Pete Daley? All right, send him in.

lt's all right, stay where you are.

l want to talk to you.

Go ahead, Jack's OK. What's the beef?

l never beefed when l sold that rotten gin.

-You want dough, right? -l don't need it that bad.

-Taking two-bit pieces from kids. -Millions, begging to be taken.

-Don't be a dope. -Just dope enough to draw the line.

OK, Pete. You know what my policy's always been.

lf the boys are not satisfied, l'm always glad to have them retire.

Retire permanently.

So long.

-l wish you had a couple of kids... -Get out!

-Jack, pick up your stuff from Danny. -OK, boss.

-Let's go, Jack, l'm red-hot! -Be careful or you'll be ice cold.

Take it easy, kid!

Slow down! You'll kill somebody!

Mary, you're not eating your breakfast again.

Bill Harper hasn't been around lately. Anything wrong?

Why should there be anything wrong?

There shouldn't be. Whatever it is isn't serious, l know.

-l'm sorry for snapping at you. -Don't worry about it, dear.

Why don't you speak to Bill? He'll be honest, whatever it is.

-l'm sure Bill Harper never lied. -Yes, his mother says he never lies.

-There, you see? -lt'd be all right if...

-...if l speak to him about it? -Why, of course.

-Oh, Jimmy. -Hello, Ma.

Sit down. l'll have your breakfast for you in a moment.

-ls something worrying you? -What have l got to worry about?

-Why don't you tell me? -Don't cross-examine me!

Jimmy! Don't let Mother see you like that.

There is certainly an organized gang distributing narcotics to students.

Not only in my school, but all over the city.

You government men have got to find some way to stop it.

Of course, l agree with you, Dr. Carroll.

But do you realize marihuana is not like other forms of dope?

lt grows wild in almost every state in the Union.

Thus, there is no interstate commerce in the drug.

So, the government's hands are tied.

Frankly, the only sure cure is a widespread campaign in education.

lt's fine to talk about education, Mr. Wyatt.

But we educators can't do anything until the public is aroused.

Let me show you something.

ln 1 930, the records on marihuana in the Narcotics Division

scarcely filled a small folder like this.

Today, they fill cabinets.

All these...devoted to marihuana records.

Here is an example.

A 16-year-old lad, apprehended in the act of staging a holdup.

16 years old, and a marihuana addict.

-Here is a most tragic case. -Yes, l remember. Just a young boy.

Under the drug's influence, he killed his entire family.

Then there is the most vicious type of case.

Here.

ln Michigan. A young girl, 1 7 years old. A reefer smoker.

Taken in a raid in the company of five young men.

Here is a most flagrant case.

l remember. The papers made quite a play of it.

-ln West Virginia, wasn't it? -Yes. And there are hundreds of them.

l'd like to take these records. l feel they would be invaluable to me

-in combating the evil in my school. -You're very welcome, Dr. Carroll.

Sit down, Bill.

There seems to be something wrong. What is it?

You were always a fine student. You always had excellent grades.

l guess the work is getting harder, Dr. Carroll.

No. No, it isn't that.

Bill, l'd like to help you. But l can't, unless you let me.

You're undermining your health.

There's nothing, Dr. Carroll, really. l'll study harder, honest.

Honest? lf you were being honest with me and honest with yourself,

l'm afraid you'd tell me an entirely different story.

l'm going to ask you a straightforward question.

-l'd like a straightforward answer. -Yes, sir.

lsn't it true that you have, perhaps unwillingly,

acquired a harmful habit through association with undesirable people?

-Well? -Oh no, sir. l haven't, Dr. Carroll.

Well, that is, you see, l'm...

...worried about something at home.

All right, my boy. We'll just have to let it go at that.

But remember, if you ever want to confide in me,

-no one will ever be the wiser. -Thank you, Dr. Carroll.

-Hi, Mary, want to play? -Thanks, l'm waiting for someone.

lf you're waiting for Bill, he hasn't been here for weeks.

-Come on, Jimmy, play something hot! -OK!

Come on, Billy! Dance with me!

-Didn't take Bill long to catch on. -Don't take any of them long.

-Hey, don't you ever get fed? -You're feeding me, can't you see?

-Give me a knife and fork, will you? -Get it yourself.

Come on, Bill!

Come on! Come on, Bill!

Come on, Bill.

-Good morning, we're the police. -Good morning.

We're tracing a hit-and-run. Someone caught part of the license.

-We're checking all numbers like it. -l'll try to help.

-Do you recall the 29th, last month? -The day before Mother's birthday.

Yes, l left school and went to the dressmaker with mother.

-l was there all afternoon. -Did you loan your car to two men?

-No, l had the car all afternoon. -Thanks, Miss. Sorry to trouble you.

Tell me... Did they...? Was the person killed?

Fortunately not. But that's still no excuse for hit-and-run driving.

Has Jimmy Lane been here today?

He was in. He went over to Mae's place. You know where that is.

He was going to wait for me here, so he didn't give me Mae's address.

Are you sure Jimmy didn't leave any message for me? Mary?

No, he didn't.

But l guess you're OK. l'll write it down for you.

-Mary! Come right in! -ls Jimmy here?

Oh, why, he's around somewhere.

l think he went to take Agnes home. He'll be right back.

Sit down, Mary. Let me take your coat.

Who's the new kid just came in?

lt's that gal Ralph's gone overboard for.

We've never been able to get her up here before.

Hey, hey. Scram, will ya?

-Smoke, Mary? -Thanks.

-Are you sure Jimmy'll be back soon? -Sure. Any minute.

Say, what's the matter? Am l an orphan?

-Where do you put it? A hollow leg? -Thanks, dear.

Here, Mary.

-Oh, Mary, give me a kiss, Mary! -No! Don't! Don't!

-Please, no! -Oh, Mary!

You leave me alone!

-Go away! -Mary! Everybody's...

Leave me alone! Oh, leave me alone!

-Everything's over. -Leave me be!

Ralph! Ralph!

Look!

Jack, is she all right?

She's dead.

Mae, get me some water.

Now listen, you two.

Get out of here. Forget you were ever in here today.

l'll handle this. Now get going.

Give it to me.

Here.

Mary?

Mary? Mary!

-What happened? -You killed her.

Mary, Mary!

Oh, Mary...

Look. After l scram, you call the cops.

And this is your story. Remember it.

These kids came here for some beer. From the kitchen, you heard shots.

You came in, and that's what you found.

Just stick to that story.

Mary!

Mary! Speak to me! Mary!

-Hello, Jack. -l was just talking to a friend.

A cop.

Sergeant on the homicide squad.

-Guy you hit that day died. -Died? You... l mean you didn't...?

No. l didn't crack, and l'm not going to.

-Nobody'll know you drove that car. -Thanks, Jack.

Just don't say you were ever up in Mae's apartment.

Why sure, Jack!

OK.

Your honor, l'd like to recall Dr. Alfred Carroll to the stand.

Call Dr. Alfred Carroll to the stand.

Dr. Carroll, as principal of the Lakeside High School,

did you, in the last three months,

notice changes in the demeanor of your student, William Harper?

Yes, in a number of things.

For example, at times, disassociation of ideas.

Also, l happened to attend the recent interscholastic tennis matches.

While Bill Harper had been considered an exceedingly good player,

l saw him miss the ball by as much as three or four feet.

This, l understand, could be attributed to the use of marihuana.

lt causes errors in time and space.

Objection, your honor!

The witness isn't qualified as an expert on narcotics.

Sustained. Dr. Carroll has been called merely as a character witness.

Although you didn't personally know the defendant was using marihuana,

did you notice any changes that would lead you to believe, as an educator,

that he was under some severe stress

which might possibly have been induced by some drug?

Yes. l recall distinctly, a few weeks ago.

lt was during a class of English literature.

There was a serious discussion of Shakespeare's Romeo and Ju/iet,

when he burst into an uncontrollable fit of hysterical laughter.

Oh, by the way, Dr. Carroll,

six months ago, what was your opinion regarding the character of my client?

He was a fine, upstanding American boy.

A good scholar, a good athlete,

and representative of the caliber of young men we are proud to graduate.

Oh, snap out of it, will you? lt's not our fault.

Why'd l ever bring him up there, anyway? He's just a kid.

-They can't hang him. -Shut up, shut up!

Why don't you let yourself go? Talk.

Go off your nuts and have me that way too.

-lt's his own fault, wasn't it? -Shut up!

They've got us hidden out, haven't they? The cops can't find us!

Jack. Jack, l want to get out of this place.

You'll stay here as long as we have to keep those two under cover.

Till the trial's over...or the boss gets a better idea.

-But they're getting on my nerves. -lt can't last much longer.

l'm not worried about her. We got to keep him gagged.

Oh, he's about ready to crack.

Just keep him from having too many reefers.

Any day now, that punk'll get hot.

He'll probably spill and tell all if he gets a chance.

l don't think he'll get it.

-l'll see you later. -Where are you going?

l'm going to see the boss.

-Hello, Jack. -Hello, Boss.

-What'll we do about that Wiley guy? -Still jittery, huh?

-l don't know what he'll do. -Feed him hot sticks.

Mae's doing that. No good.

l got a hunch that he's due to crack when that Harper verdict comes in.

He's liable to take a powder on us and blow his topper to the D.A.

You mean you think we'd all be better off if he never heard the verdict?

Well,

what are you waiting for?

You, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have a duty to perform.

A duty to yourselves and to our community.

Mary Lane is dead.

The evidence you've heard at this trial

could not have failed to convince you of the guilt of the defendant.

By his own admission, he pressed the trigger of the weapon

that sent lovely and innocent Mary Lane to a tragic and untimely death.

We are not so much concerned about the motives as about the deed itself.

While the defendant has told you that he saw someone attacking Mary Lane,

and that his mind went blank from that moment on,

the defense has not produced one witness to verify that statement.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you've heard able men testify at this trial,

men who have tried to bring out the fact

that the defendant might have become momentarily insane

when he fired the shot that killed Mary Lane.

But the defense has been unable to prove that he was insane.

He was sane when he visited the apartment where the tragedy occurred.

He habitually visited the place.

He was sane when he went to a bedroom with another woman.

You heard what went on in that room, from the defendant's own lips.

lnvolved as he was in a tawdry love affair,

Mary Lane was in the way. She had found him out.

ln a moment of anger, he deliberately and willfully killed her.

lf such deeds are permitted to go unpunished,

this community would cease to be a decent and safe place

for us or our children to live.

l do not believe l have to plead, or even demand,

that you bring in a verdict to punish the defendant

for the crime that he has committed against society.

You are upright citizens. That is why you were chosen to judge another.

As honest, upright citizens, there is only one verdict you can find.

And that is a verdict of ''Guilty.''

And this court will be adjourned until the jury's verdict is reached.

l suppose you all feel the same about this case.

-But he might have been insane. -No, he knew what he was doing.

-But supposing he was insane? -You'll never make anyone believe it.

We'll take a first vote.

Eleven for conviction. One for acquittal.

There's a reasonable doubt about his sanity. We can't...

No doubt that he murdered her. He admitted it himself.

That wasn't the first time he was there.

We got to make an example before such boys contaminate all of our children.

We can't let every murderer hide behind a gag of insanity.

Sure, they see red before they kill somebody. But whose fault is it?

Have you reached a verdict?

We have.

The defendant will rise.

What is your verdict?

We find the defendant guilty as charged.

No!

Stop that racket! Stop it!

What's the matter with you? You give me the creeps.

Mae. Mae!

-What do you want? -Bring me some reefers.

They're going to hang him.

-Blanche. They're going to hang him. -Oh, come on. Get a hold of yourself.

Here you are.

And quit that crazy laughing!

-Where's Jack? l want to leave. -You'll hang if you don't pipe down.

l want to see Jack. Jack.

l want to see Jack.

Jack.

-You'd better quiet him. -l can't do anything with him.

l've got to see Jack.

We can't let that kid hang.

He'll be here. Don't worry. He'll be here in a little while.

l've got to see him. l've got to...

Come on, darling. Everything'll be over soon.

-Want me to play something for you? -Yeah. That's it. Play something.

All right. Come on.

Sit down.

Honey, give me a smoke, will you?

Faster.

Faster!

Play faster!

Faster. Play faster.

Faster.

l know what you want.

You want to kill me.

You're crazy. Take it easy, kid.

l just want to talk to you.

Hurry, hurry! There's a terrible fight going on! Yes... Apartment 32.

Stop it! Stop it! Let go of me! Take your hands off of me!

Stop it! Take your hands off me! Stop it!

Stop it!

Who hired you and Jack Perry? Are you ready to te// what you know?

Yes!

/'// ta/k.

lf we can gain leniency for my client, she will plead guilty,

and turn state's evidence in the case of William Harper.

l regret this court is not prepared to bargain with justice.

l'll tell anyway. l was there. l saw it.

l know who killed Mary. And l'll tell you who killed Mary Lane.

lt wasn't Bill. lt was Jack.

Jack Perry. He shot Mary and then he put the gun in Bill's hand.

We were all at the apartment one day. Mary came in looking for her brother.

Bill and l, we'd been in another room.

Bill came in and caught Ralph with Mary. They started to fight.

Jack had the gun. He was going to hit Bill over the head to make him stop.

And then...then the gun went off. l saw it.

l can see it now. lt was horrible!

Before we knew it, Mary... Mary was dead.

But you see, Judge, Bill didn't know he hadn't killed Mary.

He was so doped up, they made him think he had.

Ralph wanted to tell you, too. Oh, if they'd only let him.

But this is the truth, Judge. l'm telling you the truth.

After Jack saw that Mary was dead, he put the gun in Bill's hand.

lt was Jack's fault.

And it was my fault, too.

l got all of them to come up to the apartment.

l'm just as much to blame.

l am. l am.

Do you wish to plead guilty to a charge of fostering moral delinquency

-in the case of William Harper? -Yes, yes. l'm guilty. l am!

Prepare a statement for signature, and an order

setting aside the verdict in the case of the People v. William Harper.

ln the interests of justice, l shall direct a verdict of not guilty.

Sign here, please.

You shall be brought into court on Thursday, the 1 7th, for sentencing.

Meanwhile, you will be held as a material witness

in the case of the People v. Ralph Wiley.

We have come in the hearings before this court today

to what l hope will be the final actions in a sad, unfortunate case,

one whose horrible tragedy will forever remain with me.

l am happy to have been enabled, before it was too late,

to set aside the verdict in the case of the People v. William Harper.

But, young man,

although this court believes that to convict you would be grossly unjust,

we cannot condone your acts.

We only express the hope that your experiences may not alone keep you,

but thousands of others, from the vicious pitfalls of marihuana.

Thus, l am ordering you to remain in this court during the next case

so that you will have to witness what you yourself so narrowly escaped.

Call the case of the People v. Ralph Wiley.

Bill.

Bill.

Your honor, the State waives trial of the defendant, Ralph Wiley...

...and recommends that he be placed in an institution

for the criminally insane for the rest of his natural life.

The defendant's counsel joins the State in this request.

Since counsel for the defense and counsel for the state agree on this,

l see no reason why the request should not be granted.

That happened right here, to your neighbors.

lt is not too much to say that in your hands lies the possibility

of averting other tragedies like it.

We must work untiringly to oblige our children to learn the truth,

because it is only through knowledge that we can safely protect them.

Failing this, the next tragedy may be that of your daughter,

or your son, or yours,

or yours...or yours.

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