CAST:
ANNOUNCER
ARCH OBOLER, host
KAY, the party gal; urban
FLORENCE, the smart one; urban
EDNA, the shy, nervous one; urban
DRIVER, of sleigh; rural
DOCTOR, kindly; rural
HOOPER, innkeeper; rural
NOTE: This transcript omits commercials.
ANNOUNCER:
Ironized Yeast presents--
OBOLER:
Lights out ... everybody.
SOUND:
TWELVE CHIMES, SLOW AND OMINOUS ... ON THE FOURTH, ANNOUNCER SPEAKS -- ONE WORD FOR EACH CHIME--
ANNOUNCER:
(SINISTER) It... is... later... than... you... think...
SOUND:
CHIMES OUT
OBOLER:
This is Arch Oboler, bringing you another in our series of stories of the unusual. And once again we caution you. These Lights Out stories are definitely not for the timid soul. So we tell you calmly and very sincerely, if you frighten easily –- turn off your radio now. But -- if you're fascinated by the mysterious, the fantastic, the unearthly -- then anticipate chills in our story of "Poltergeist." [...]
SOUND:
GONG! ... LONG PAUSE ... THEN FADE IN SLEIGH BELLS AND TROTTING HORSE BACKGROUND
KAY & FLORENCE:
(SINGING AND GIGGLING)
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
KAY:
(SPEAKS) Hey! (CHUCKLES) That was swell. Now, let's go to town. (SINGS SULTRILY, W. C. HANDY'S "ST. LOUIS BLUES") Saint Louie woman with her diamond ring-- Kickin' that man around--
FLORENCE:
(DISMAYED) Oh, no. No, stop that, Kay.
KAY:
What's the matter? Am I scarin' the horse?
FLORENCE:
Oh, it seems like a sacrilege singing a song like that out here. This beautiful clean snow and blue sky--
KAY:
Well, what's wrong with a hot song to keep us warm? If you think the Saint Louie Blues is gonna dirty up the snow, you ought to hear "Frankie and Johnnie" the way I sing it. (CLICKS TONGUE TWICE)
FLORENCE:
Oh, stop it, Kay.
KAY:
(GIGGLES)
FLORENCE:
You're not funny at all. Why can't you enjoy the fresh air without that cabaret sort of thing?
KAY:
Oh-ho! Just an old fashioned gal, eh, Florence? How 'bout you, Edna? Don't you like my songs either? You haven't said anything for the last five minutes.
EDNA:
Well, I - I haven't been listening to you, to tell the truth. I love to watch the snow sorta flow along under the sleigh.
KAY:
When you say that, gal, smile. Gosh, did ya ever see more snow in your life?
FLORENCE:
The man at the hotel said it'd been snowing on and off up here for two weeks.
EDNA:
I think coming out here to the country's the best thing we three have done since we started rooming together. Hiking in the snow's terribly healthy.
KAY:
Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. The healthier I get, the worse I feel.
FLORENCE:
(GIGGLES) Crazy idiot.
EDNA:
She does say the funniest things, doesn't she? I always say that Kay ought to--
DRIVER:
(TO HORSE) Whoa!
SOUND:
SLEIGH BELLS AND TROTTING HORSE SLOW TO A STOP
KAY:
(DRY) Hallelujah. We're here.
FLORENCE:
Is this as far as we go, driver?
DRIVER:
That's right, Miss. Can't go no further down this road, account of the drift.
EDNA:
(WORRIED) Oh, my goodness. If the drifts are too deep for a horse, how can we walk through them?
KAY:
I second the motion.
DRIVER:
Well, you young ladies don't have to worry none so long as you keep goin' down the valley over there. Snow ain't too piled up that way, all the way to Ma Jenkins.
FLORENCE:
Well, that's marvelous. Come on, girls. Let's get started.
DRIVER:
So long. (FADING) Take care of yourselves, girls!
FLORENCE:
Come on, Edna. (TO DRIVER) Goodbye, mister.
EDNA:
(OVERLAPS) So long!
KAY:
(OVERLAPS) Take care!
SOUND:
FOOTSTEPS OF WOMEN WALKING THROUGH CRUNCHY SNOW ... CONTINUES IN BG ... THEIR BREATHING GROWS HEAVIER AS THEY GO
KAY:
Listen to the snow talkin' at us.
FLORENCE:
It's very dry snow. Our feet rub particles of it together and the friction makes the sound.
KAY:
(WEARILY) Woo.
EDNA:
It's kinda scary, isn't it?
FLORENCE:
Why?
EDNA:
Oh, I don't know. It - it's just as if the snow was sorta trying to talk to us. I mean, as if it was angry at our trespassing.
KAY:
Hey, don't tell me we're trespassin'. I don't want any country squire takin' any potshots at my, er, "constitutional amendment" with rock salt. Noooo, thank you.
FLORENCE:
Oh, don't talk nonsense, Kay. We're not trespassing. Why, this path through the valley here over to Mrs. Jenkins' house is the favorite hike of everyone who comes up this way during the winter.
KAY:
What's Mrs. Jenkins got anyway that makes people walk their feet off?
FLORENCE:
(CHUCKLES) Wait till you taste her cooking.
KAY:
Eat? Ohhhh, boy. Let's go.
EDNA:
It's awfully quiet out here, isn't it?
FLORENCE:
Oh, that's the glory of it. I've had the roar of the subway in my ears so long-- Oh, Kay! Don't walk so fast.
KAY:
(OFF) Come on! Look what I found!
FLORENCE:
Oh? Come on, Edna.
EDNA:
(WEAKLY) Oh, please -- let me take your arm. I'm getting out of breath.
FLORENCE:
Well, take it easy, there's no hurry. (BEAT, EXHALES) Well, what is it, Kay?
KAY:
Look, through the circle of trees here. Look what I discovered!
FLORENCE:
(BEAT) Well, isn't that interesting? It's a sort of a natural amphitheater.
KAY:
Sure! Saaaay, who was this guy Daniel Boone?
EDNA:
What's an amphitheater?
FLORENCE:
Well, that means an oval circling place with rising tiers of seats. It's, you know, like that place we went to for the horse show.
EDNA:
Oh.
FLORENCE:
Back in the times of the Greeks, they had outdoor theaters--
KAY:
Listen to the professor.
FLORENCE:
--and they used the places just like this where the ground sloped up and made a sort of a natural arena or stage below.
KAY:
Theater! That's an idea! Siddown, gals, and I'll give a special performance of the "The Kay Follies"!
EDNA:
It's awful snowy here, isn't it?
KAY:
I'll trample it down with my Spring Dance! (MOVES OFF, SINGS) "Welcome, sweet spring--" (CONTINUES AD LIB, IN BG)
FLORENCE:
(CHUCKLES, TO EDNA) Isn't she a nut, dancing in the snow? If I had that girl's energy--
EDNA:
She's really graceful, isn't she? I'll bet if she went on the stage, she--
KAY:
(BREAKS OFF SINGING, IN PAIN) Ow!
FLORENCE:
Kay!
EDNA:
She fell!
FLORENCE:
Kay? Kay, did you hurt yourself?
KAY:
(SLOWLY) Oooooh, did I land on my dignity. Here, gimme me a hand.
FLORENCE:
Here, I'll help you. (EXHALES, WITH EFFORT) There you are.
KAY:
Ohhh. Did I take a flop.
EDNA:
Did you hurt yourself badly?
KAY:
I'll live. What in the world did I trip over? (BEAT) Oh, no wonder! Look at that rock under the snow. No wonder I did a nosedive. Oh, geez.
EDNA:
My goodness, there are rocks like that all over. A person could break their neck if they--
FLORENCE:
Girls!
KAY:
What's the matter?
EDNA:
What is it?
FLORENCE:
Kay, the rock you tripped over. It-- It's not a rock.
KAY:
What are you talkin' about? Of course it's a rock.
FLORENCE:
Well, yes, but it's something - something more than that. (BEAT) It's a tombstone.
EDNA:
(YELPS) Oh!
KAY:
Tombstone? Oh, no, it - it can't be. It--
FLORENCE:
Look for yourself. It says, "Here lies buried the remains of one, who restless in life--"
EDNA:
Stop! Don't read any more! Stop!
KAY:
And - and all these other stones layin' flat on the ground? They're tombstones, too?
FLORENCE:
Yes.
KAY:
Whooo. What a place to pick to dance.
EDNA:
(SHRIEKS) Oh!
FLORENCE:
What's the matter, Edna?!
KAY:
What did ya scream for?
EDNA:
(TERRIFIED) Kay! You - you danced on the grave!
KAY:
Whaaat?
EDNA:
You danced on the grave! I saw you! I saw you do it! You danced on the grave! Oh, Kay! Kay! (AD LIB HYSTERICS, IN BG)
FLORENCE:
Edna, stop it. Stop it!
KAY:
What's come into her? Edna, stop actin' like that!
FLORENCE:
Oh, stop! For heaven's sakes, control yourself!
EDNA:
(TEARFUL) Oh, Kay! Kay, I'm so sorry for you. You danced on a grave. (SOBS, IN BG)
KAY:
For heaven's sake, stop talkin' like that! Sure, I danced on a grave!
FLORENCE:
Well, yes, of course she did. It was perfectly accidental.
KAY:
And what if it wasn't? What of it?
EDNA:
(BEAT, QUIETLY) The poltergeist.
KAY:
The what?
FLORENCE:
Edna Hanson, what are you talking about? (BEAT) What's that word you just used?
EDNA:
(TEARFUL) Poltergeist. Oh, Kay, what have you done?
KAY:
You superstitious little fool! If you don't stop talkin' that way, I'm gonna slap your face! What's the matter with ya? I didn't do anything!
EDNA:
You walked on the grave. You danced on the grave!
KAY:
So what?!
FLORENCE:
Edna, be sensible. We all walked on graves. But it was purely accidental.
KAY:
Yeah.
FLORENCE:
We had no intention of desecrating them.
EDNA:
(INCREASINGLY HYSTERICAL) It doesn't matter, I tell you, it doesn't matter. The poltergeist. He'll come. I KNOW HE WILL! (GIBBERS, IN BG)
KAY:
Oh, what's the use? She's crazy!
FLORENCE:
Edna, what are you talking about? What's a poltergeist? What are you so frightened about?
EDNA:
My father. He told me. If you walk on a grave-- If you dance on a grave-- THE POLTERGEIST!
FLORENCE:
Poltergeist what? What is a poltergeist?
EDNA:
An evil spirit. It comes out of the grave. It kills. It destroys! IT'LL KILL US! IT'LL KILL US ALL!
KAY:
STOP IT!
EDNA:
(AD LIB HYSTERICS)
KAY:
Oh, please! Lay off that, will ya, Edna?
FLORENCE:
Edna!
SOUND:
FOOTSTEPS IN SNOW, IN AGREEMENT WITH FOLLOWING--
EDNA:
(INHALES SHARPLY) But it won't get me. (MOVING OFF) I'll run away! I'll run away! (AD LIB HYSTERICS, OFF)
FLORENCE:
Edna, come back here!
KAY:
She's gone insane! I'll get her! (MOVES OFF, CALLS) Edna! Edna!
FLORENCE:
Kay, catch her! Edna! Edna, don't run away! Nothing'll hurt you, nothing! (BEAT) Oh, Edna, look out!
EDNA:
(BLOODCURDLING SCREAM, OFF)
SOUND:
KAY AND FLORENCE'S FOOTSTEPS TO EDNA BEHIND--
FLORENCE:
Kay! Kay, what happened?! That stone! (BEAT) It hit Edna!
KAY:
(URGENT) Edna! Edna, open your eyes!
FLORENCE:
Blood! Blood all over her face! Kay, who threw that stone?! Who threw it?!
KAY:
(BEAT, SLOWLY, QUIETLY, IN AWE) I don't know. It came from the - graveyard.
SOUND:
GONG! ... FADE IN FLORENCE AND KAY SOBBING
DOCTOR:
Now, girls, take it easy. Take it easy.
KAY:
Oh, doctor. She won't die. Tell me she won't die.
DOCTOR:
No, no. Of course not.
FLORENCE:
And you're sure that her skull isn't fractured?
DOCTOR:
Oh, absolutely not. Maybe a little concussion, that's all.
KAY:
Well, it's almost five. Our train-- Can't we get someone to help us carry her down to the station so we can get her on board?
DOCTOR:
Board? I'm tellin' ya that little friend of yours shouldn't be moved out of bed for a week. If you do-- Well, it might be just too bad.
KAY:
Oh, Flo, what'll we do?
FLORENCE:
You go home, Kay. I'll stay with her.
KAY:
Oh, no, you won't. I'm not leavin' you here alone in this godforsaken place. If you stay, I stay, too.
FLORENCE:
Kay, please be sensible. Why should we all lose our jobs when you can--?
DOCTOR:
If you'll excuse me, you ladies, I've got to be on my way.
FLORENCE:
Oh, yes, of course, Doctor. Is there anything more you can do for Edna, Doctor? Any medicine or somethin'?
DOCTOR:
Nope, I've done all I can do. She's sleepin' comfortable now. (BEAT) Er, Miss?
FLORENCE:
Yes, Doctor?
DOCTOR:
The constable's sick, too, ya know, and he's sort of dependin' on me to keep things straight. Now, uh, just how did you say that little friend of yours got hurt?
KAY:
Well, it - it was just the way we explained, Doctor. That rock came flyin' and--
DOCTOR:
Yes, yes, I know but-- Who threw the rock?
KAY:
We - we dunno.
DOCTOR:
Whaaat?
FLORENCE:
That's true, Doctor. We don't know.
DOCTOR:
But somebody threw it. You can't change facts. Somebody threw the rock that cracked her head.
KAY:
(EXPLODES) For heaven's sakes, old man, you don't think we did it?!
DOCTOR:
Now, Miss, I didn't--
FLORENCE:
Kay, don't get excited. (SIMPLY) Doctor, you've got to believe us. It happened just the way we said. All at once that rock came flying through the air from the direction of the graveyard. It struck Edna and - and we just didn't see who threw it.
DOCTOR:
All right, if that's your story. Well, you better stay in your rooms here. I mean, you better not be leavin' till the constable's on his feet and has a chance to talk with ya. (MOVING OFF) I'll be back in a few hours to see how the girl is.
SOUND:
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES, OFF
FLORENCE:
(BEAT, QUIETLY) He doesn't believe us.
KAY:
What difference does it make? We know what we saw.
FLORENCE:
But what did we see?
KAY:
She was runnin'. She - she fell.
FLORENCE:
(BEAT) Kay?
KAY:
Well?
FLORENCE:
Let's not fool ourselves. There was no one there to throw that rock.
KAY:
There must've been!
FLORENCE:
But there wasn't.
KAY:
Stop sayin' that!
FLORENCE:
Aren't you brave enough to face facts? There wasn't any place for anyone to hide. I saw that stone. It seemed to come down out of the air. So slowly--
KAY:
Florence, if you don't stop talkin' like that--!
FLORENCE:
Do you remember what - what Edna said? It throws things.
KAY:
Stop lookin' at me like that! You're givin' me the jitters!
FLORENCE:
She said the poltergeist throws things. (BEAT) Spirit of evil.
KAY:
Florence Robb, have you gone crazy, too?
FLORENCE:
Why should we laugh at things like that? What right have we got to laugh? How do we know there aren't powers we can't see or understand? Powers of evil that revenge an insult, just like an evil man? Kay, how do we know?
KAY:
What're ya talkin' like that for? What're ya tryin' to scare me for? You - you're supposed to be the most intelligent one of us all. You, with your college degree. Sure! Sure, I danced on the grave, but the dead are dead and they can't revenge a thing! I'm not afraid! I'm not afraid of anything! I tell ya, it's not--!
EDNA:
(SCREAMS, OFF)
KAY:
(STARTLED) What?
FLORENCE:
(SCARED) It's Edna.
KAY:
Come on!
SOUND:
KAY AND FLORENCE'S HURRIED FOOTSTEPS BEHIND--
FLORENCE:
(CALLS) Edna, we're coming to you! Don't be afraid! We're coming!
SOUND:
RATTLE OF DOORKNOB
KAY:
Open the door, Florence! It's not locked!
FLORENCE:
It's stuck! It won't give.
KAY:
Here, let me!
SOUND:
DOOR FORCED OPEN
EDNA:
(MOANS AND GIBBERS WEAKLY IN PAIN ... CONTINUES IN BG)
KAY:
Edna! What is it?! What--? (A LONG SHRIEK, WHICH TAPERS OFF AS SHE PASSES OUT)
SOUND:
KAY'S BODY COLLAPSES TO THE FLOOR
FLORENCE:
Edna, what--? (GASPS) On your head-- (SWOONS) Ohhh--
SOUND:
FLORENCE'S BODY COLLAPSES TO THE FLOOR
EDNA:
(IN CLOSE, MOANING TURNS INTO A SLOW, AGONIZING EXHALE AS EDNA DIES)
HOOPER:
(BEAT, APPROACHES) Hey, what's going on here? (GASPS, HORRIFIED) Ohhhh-- (BEAT, SLOWLY AND BROKENLY) The - girl on the - bed. Her head. It's - crushed. Flatt-ened by a rock. (BEAT, REALIZES) God in heaven! It's not a rock. It's a tombstone.
SOUND:
GONG!
FLORENCE:
(WEEPS EXTRAVAGANTLY ... THEN IN BG THROUGHOUT SCENE)
KAY:
(NUMB) I - I wish I could cry, but I haven't got any more tears.
FLORENCE:
(TEARFUL) Why Edna? Edna--
KAY:
Florence darling, please. You'll kill yourself if you keep on like that. Oh, if this horrible night would only end.
FLORENCE:
It was my fault. Mine. I was the one who got her out here. She didn't wanna go. She hates the country. But I made her come. I made her!
KAY:
No. No, you're not the one to blame. I am. I danced on the grave.
FLORENCE:
But she was so good. So sweet. Oh, why did it have to be Edna? Why?
KAY:
You're right. It wasn't right for it to be her, was it?
FLORENCE:
Oh, noooo.
KAY:
I did it, not her. I did it. I danced on the grave. I danced on the grave.
SOUND:
SCENE FADES OUT ... TRANSITIONAL PAUSE ... SCENE FADES IN
DOCTOR:
You can't deny it, Hooper. You can't deny what you see with your own eyes.
HOOPER:
But I tell ya, Doc, nobody could've carried that tombstone up the steps without me seein' 'em, could they?
DOCTOR:
But there it is, ain't it?
HOOPER:
(SLOWLY, SOFTLY) Yeah. There it is.
DOCTOR:
Either somebody's playin' a terrible joke, or-- Or--
HOOPER:
You don't have to say it, Doc. I know.
DOCTOR:
That's just the trouble. You don't know. And I don't know. And nobody knows.
HOOPER:
Yeah. And - and that tombstone--
DOCTOR:
Well? What about the tombstone?
HOOPER:
I - I ain't quite sure, but that's a tombstone out of the old buryin' grounds, up at the Bend.
DOCTOR:
You're crazy.
HOOPER:
No, I ain't, either.
DOCTOR:
Why, that place is a good three miles from here.
HOOPER:
Yeah. I know.
DOCTOR:
Who could've carted a heavy stone like that for three miles?
HOOPER:
Yeah. Who?
DOCTOR:
Stop lookin' like that, you flap-eared old fool! Human hands carried that stone in here and killed that girl.
HOOPER:
Sure.
DOCTOR:
Yeah, the constable'll find out who did it the minute he's on his feet again. You wait and see.
HOOPER:
No, he won't, Doc. You're smarter'n me and all that, but-- Oh, this time you're wrong. There ain't nobody that takes in breath and leaves out breath like you and me that the constable's gonna find out who killed that girl. You know that, Doc.
DOCTOR:
Oh, stop talkin'! I wish the constable was here, and this night was over. It's been a terrible night. Terrible.
SOUND:
SCENE FADES OUT ... FADE IN CLOCK TICKING SLOWLY
FLORENCE:
That terrible clock. Ticking-- Ticking--
KAY:
Yeah, I know. I've been sittin' here, listenin' to it.
FLORENCE:
I can't stand it any more. I'll stop it.
KAY:
Why bother with it?
SOUND:
CLOCK STOPS TICKING
FLORENCE:
Come on to bed, Kay. Please. There's no use sitting there. It won't help her.
KAY:
Yeah. Nothin' can help her. But maybe I can help you.
FLORENCE:
Me?
KAY:
It was my fault. Mine. I was the reason it happened. It killed her, and it'll kill you and me, too, unless I stop it.
FLORENCE:
No, don't say that.
KAY:
It's true. But why should you be hurt? I'm to blame, not you. Listen, Flo. I'll go out there.
FLORENCE:
There?
KAY:
Out there, to the graveyard.
FLORENCE:
What?
KAY:
I'll talk to it.
FLORENCE:
Kay--!
KAY:
I'll tell it I didn't mean to do it.
FLORENCE:
No.
KAY:
That I didn't know where I was dancin'.
FLORENCE:
Please.
KAY:
Maybe, somehow, it'll hear, listen to me. And then it won't hurt you.
FLORENCE:
Oh, no, no! I won't let you go out there! It'll kill you!
KAY:
But, Florence--!
FLORENCE:
It'll kill you, too!
KAY:
But, Florence--!
FLORENCE:
No, no, I'll hold you! You can't go! You can't!
KAY:
(BEAT, GIVES IN, NUMB AGAIN) All right.
FLORENCE:
(QUIETLY) Come on to bed, Kay, please. In the morning-- In the morning, things will be different.
KAY:
But it won't.
FLORENCE:
Nothing'll hurt us. The men -- they're right outside the door. They won't let anything get at us. Oh, please, Kay, please, come to bed.
KAY:
(BEAT) Yeah.
FLORENCE:
We'll - we'll pray.
KAY:
(BEAT) Pray? I - I don't exactly know how.
FLORENCE:
Just say anything. Anything. Like this. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." Now you.
KAY:
(SLOWLY) If I should - die - before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
SOUND:
SUBDUED GONG
FLORENCE:
Kay? (NO ANSWER) Kay, are you asleep? I can't sleep any more. Kay, tomorrow -- I mean, when it gets light and everything -- do you think people will believe us? Do you think so, Kay? I - I'm not quite sure what happened. I always used to be so sure about things. And now I'd-- (GASPS) Kay?! (NO ANSWER) Kay, where are you?! (NO ANSWER) Kay, where--? (BEAT, REALIZES, TO HERSELF) The window. She went out the window!
SOUND:
WIND BLOWS ... CONTINUES IN BG
FLORENCE:
(TO HERSELF) She's gone out there. To the graveyard. To talk -- to it! (HORRIFIED) Oh, Kay, why did you go, why did you go? (BEAT, DETERMINED) I'll go out there, too. Oh, she'll be so frightened out there alone. I'll go, too. (MOVING OFF) I'll go, too.
SOUND:
WIND BLOWS, UP FOR A BRIEF TRANSITION ... THEN IN BG
FLORENCE:
(SHIVERS, TO HERSELF) Ohhhh, so cold. Hands. Snow's so sharp. Cutting my legs. Oh, why did you go out there, Kay? Why did you? I've got to find you.
SOUND:
WIND BLOWS, UP FOR A BRIEF TRANSITION ... THEN IN BG
FLORENCE:
(MISERABLE, TO HERSELF) The wind. Oh, why doesn't the wind stop? (BEAT) "Blow, blow, thou winter wind. Thou are not so unkind as--" (SUDDENLY BREAKS DOWN AND WEEPS HORRIBLY, THEN INCREASINGLY DELIRIOUS) I've got to find you, Kay. I've gotta find you. It's snowing. I love snow. Edna didn't like snow. Where are you, Kay? Where are you?
KAY:
(GHOSTLY SINGSONG, DISTORTED, FROM OFF) Here I am, Florennnnce.
FLORENCE:
(TO HERSELF) I've lost my way. I've lost the road.
KAY:
(GHOSTLY, OFF) Here I ammmm.
FLORENCE:
Where are you, Kay? Kay, where are--?
KAY:
(BEAT, GHOSTLY, CLOSER) Here I am, Florennnnce.
FLORENCE:
(RELIEVED) Oh, Kay.
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This waaaay.
FLORENCE:
I heard you, Kay. I heard you! I'm coming to you, Kay! We'll talk to it. We'll talk to it together. We'll say that we didn't mean any harm, won't we, Kay? Won't we?
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This way, Florence.
FLORENCE:
Poor Edna. We can't help her, Kay. We can't help Edna. But I'm coming to help you, Kay. I'm coming! I'm coming!
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This way, Florence.
FLORENCE:
Yes! I hear you!
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) Here we arrre, Florence.
FLORENCE:
I hear you! I'm coming, darling! I'm coming to help! I'm coming to help you! I'm coming! I'm coming!
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This waaaay. Here I am, Florence.
FLORENCE:
I hear you! I hear you calling my name, I hear you! Yes.
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This waaaay.
EDNA:
(GHOSTLY) Here we arrre, Florence.
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This way, Florence.
FLORENCE:
Yes.
EDNA:
(GHOSTLY) Here we arrre, Florence.
FLORENCE:
Yes, I hear you! I hear you!
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This way, Florence.
FLORENCE:
Where are you?! Where are you?!
EDNA:
(GHOSTLY) Here we arrre.
KAY:
(GHOSTLY) This waaaay.
FLORENCE:
No! (SCREAMS) NOOOOO!
SOUND:
VIOLENT GONG! ... WIND CONTINUES THROUGH GONG, BUILDING TO A PEAK ... FILLS PAUSE ... THEN IN BG THROUGHOUT SCENE
DOCTOR:
This way, Hooper. They must've come this way.
HOOPER:
Huh. Climbin' out the window like that in the middle of the night. They must've gone crazy, the both of them.
DOCTOR:
Let's not worry about that now; we've got to find them. Here, give me that lantern!
HOOPER:
What is it, Doc? What have you found?
DOCTOR:
A shoe. One of the girl's shoes.
HOOPER:
By gosh! Stuck in the snow. We're goin' the right way.
DOCTOR:
Come on, move fast. We've got to get to them.
HOOPER:
Doc! Look at this!
DOCTOR:
What is it?
HOOPER:
Over there! Ain't these footprints?
DOCTOR:
Yes. Yes. Yes, that's right. Footprints. (CALLS) Helloooooo, up ahead! (NO RESPONSE) Helloooooo!
HOOPER:
(NERVOUS) Doc, we're - we're gettin' pretty close to the old buryin' grounds.
DOCTOR:
Well?
HOOPER:
Maybe-- Oh, look here, Doc. Let's not be fools. Let's wait till morning.
DOCTOR:
(SHOCKED) What? And let those frightened girls freeze to death? Get along!
HOOPER:
But, Doc, I--
DOCTOR:
(SNAPS) You come with me or the whole town'll know what a yellow-livered no-good ya are.
HOOPER:
All right. All right. You don't have to get so sore, Doc.
DOCTOR:
(CALLS) Helloooooo! Helloooooo! Anybody up there?! Helloooooo!
HOOPER:
Doc! Doc, look!
DOCTOR:
What?
HOOPER:
There they are! Up ahead!
DOCTOR:
Glory be, they're alive. The both of 'em. Come on.
HOOPER:
Doc? Doc! Look at 'em! That's the buryin' ground up there! And they're dancing! Dancin' on the graves!
DOCTOR:
Why, they must be out of their heads. (MOVING OFF) Come on! We've got to stop 'em.
SOUND:
HEAVY BREATHING AND FOOTSTEPS THROUGH SNOW AS MEN RUN TO THE GRAVEYARD ... THEN BEHIND--
HOOPER:
Doc! Doc, wait for me! Oh, Doc! It's - it's dark again.
SOUND:
FOOTSTEPS OUT WITH--
HOOPER:
(QUIETLY) Where are they, Doc? Where are the girls? Have they--? Have they stopped dancin'?
DOCTOR:
(GRIM AND SLOW) Yes.
HOOPER:
Huh?
DOCTOR:
They've stopped dancin'. (BEAT) Did - did they ever dance?
HOOPER:
What're ya talkin' about, Doc? We saw 'em! We saw 'em dancin' in this place with our own eyes!
DOCTOR:
Did we? The moonlight. Here it comes again. See with your eyes again.
HOOPER:
(BIG GASP, THEN MOANS SLOWLY) Ohhhhhhh, noooooo. (EXHALES)
DOCTOR:
(SLOWLY) Both of the girls --- froze stiff to the ground --- each with her head --- crushed by a --- tombstone.
SOUND:
GONG!
ANNOUNCER:
(EXHALES, UNEASY) Um, Mr. Oboler--? Would you mind telling us -- me -- whether there actually are such things as poltergeists?
OBOLER:
All I can tell you is this. There are authenticated records in existence that in the City of London on the twenty-seventh day of April Eighteen Seventy-Two, from four in the afternoon on a Thursday until half past eleven at night, a certain room in a certain house was deluged by stones thrown from no apparent source. The London police surrounded the house, but they found no trace of whoever or whatever was throwing those stones with a murderous violence.
ANNOUNCER:
I, er-- I see. So much for "Poltergeist." But what about next week? [...] What happens next week?
OBOLER:
Well, anything can happen. But, er-- Specifically next week, "Munghara" -- a strange title and a strange story. The power of suggestion. The dictators have shown us to what evil purposes that power can be used. Well, next week, a man who, er-- (CHUCKLES) But that, as usual, is next week.
ANNOUNCER:
Yes. LIGHTS OUT, written and directed by Arch Oboler will come to you again next Tuesday at this same time. Be sure to listen for the amazing story of "Munghara." And if you need more Vitamin B and iron, be sure to try Ironized Yeast -- the one and only Ironized Yeast -- with the big letters "I-Y" on the package, and on each tablet.
SOUND:
TWELVE CHIMES, SLOW AND OMINOUS ... ON THE FOURTH, ANNOUNCER SPEAKS -- ONE WORD FOR EACH CHIME--
ANNOUNCER:
(SINISTER) It... is... later... than... you... think...
SOUND:
CHIMES OUT