Matinee Page #6

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That's nobody.

I'm telling anyway.

Sherry, wait.

The all-purpose room?

Oh, man.

Sign here, please.

What are

these things for?

It's a release form.

It says it's not our fault if

the movie scares you to death.

Wow!

It's not a joke. We've had

ten-year-old kids having

heart attacks at this movie.

They're recovering, but we

can't be exposed legally.

Now, if you don't sign --

but, we're not scared,

are we, Dennis?

No.

Nurse!

I cut my elbow!

That looks terrible.

Next!

Sign here, please.

Hey, look it!

- Sandra!

- Hi!

I didn't know you liked

monster movies.

I'm here

with my parents.

Here she is.

Whoa!

Oh, God!

That's disgusting.

I know, Rhonda.

Well, the point isn't

whether we like it or not.

No.

If we start letting them

tell us what movies we can see,

or what music

we can listen to, then --

I know, Jack.

Oh! Um...

Okay, well, we'll, uh --

we'll see you later.

Okay, yeah.

Bye.

Bye.

Those two for real?

'Course they're real.

They're my parents.

They're great,

you know.

Don't be scared.

What actually happens

in this?

It's just a movie.

Right, I just heard

they had some other things.

Well, there's some stuff

to make it scarier.

When the guy in the movie says,

"you don't understand.

My wife is in there.

My God, look out,"

that's cue number five.

Turn one up to four,

two up to three.

Uh-huh.

For cue number six,

one goes to five,

two goes to seven,

but you never ever

turn one above six.

Right.

Now this stuff

over here.

The guy's gonna say:

"Stay down low and don't look.

Those are atomic weapons."

Bip, bip,

bip, bip, bip.

Okay.

You're not a

bad-lookin' kid.

You ever done

any acting?

How do you do it?

Never mind.

Go put your costume on.

Do you like poetry?

Just the man

I was looking for.

That's some audience.

They're practically

tearing the place to shreds.

I would like to be

paid in cash as soon

as the show is in.

As a matter of fact,

I'd like to be paid in cash

for both shows.

Mr. woolsey, we've never

shorted anyone, really!

You should

learn how.

The roar of the crowd.

Hi!

How are ya?

Good to see ya.

Enjoy the show.

No running.

Good to see ya.

[Chanting]

We want "mant!"

We want "mant!"

We want "mant!"

We want "mant!"

We want "mant!"

We want "mant!"

Down here looks good.

[Cheering]

Hello, I'm

Lawrence woolsey.

The feeling at this

atomic test site

is an anxious one,

but then, you're about to see

for yourselves what I mean.

My terrifying new process,

"atomo vision,"

puts you, the audience,

at ground zero,

not a safe place

to be.

But today, there is

no safe place to be.

[Explosion]

How we doing,

nurse?

Just too dazzled by

show business to speak.

That's the stuff.

Hey, wooley?

Mr. spector!

Hey, how's it going?

Sensational!

Ruth, this is Mr. spector

from megalopolitan theaters.

Enchant.

I'm up here.

Oh.

Hello, Mr. spector.

How are you, Harold?

How are the numbers?

It's Howard.

We're sold out.

Fantastic. What did I tell ya?

I wouldn't have to wear

this uniform anymore.

The question is how the picture

will play with an audience.

That's what I'll be watching.

[Radio:
Indistinct]

[mr. Spector]

What the hell is that?

War news.

Oh, you got

a bet on it?

When you see what

I've got cooked up!

[chuckle]

Wait'll you see

the feelers on this thing.

I'm sure it's wonderful.

I'm sorry. That's all

the balcony can safely hold.

There's a few seats

in front.

Oh, man!

[Woman on screen]

It all started out

so innocently...

With one of those dental

checkups you're supposed

to get every six months.

Bill and I always

thought if you just do

what you're supposed to,

then life

works out for you.

Popcorn?

How wrong we were.

[Man]

You're lucky

to be alive, bill.

I wish I was dead.

How could such a thing

happen, Dr. grabow?

X Rays, Carole,

a form of radiation.

An ant must've bitten

bill when he was having

his teeth x-rayed.

I've been meaning to have

the office fumigated, but

I've been too darn busy!

Anyway, the ant's saliva

must have gotten into

bill's bloodstream...

And gone straight

to his brain

just as the radiation,

which is measured in

units called roentgens,

was released.

And that's how

he became a --

"mant!"

[Audience gasping]

Oh, bill.

He's in a biological

no-man's-land...

Gene?

Somewhere between the

insect kingdom and our own.

Is it reversible?

I'm afraid not,

carole.

Excuse me.

Once a radioactive event

has taken place --

I'll always be this thing!

Don't say that, darling.

You're still bill, my bill.

So where were you?

I wasn't trying

to get out of anything.

I had a date with Sherry.

We were going to look

at coral animals.

Mm-hmm. So?

What happened?

Harvey starkweather.

He basically said

he'd kill me.

Now she's here

with her brother and

she wants to kill me!

Tell the truth, honey.

If I looked like this

when we first met --

I would've been afraid, bill.

I would've been very afraid.

Can I sit with you guys

at least?

Sure.

Hey, isn't that

that "ban the bomb" girl

you're with?

We're just

sitting together.

You hound!

By the way, I did get

your x Rays back, bill.

I don't 'spose it makes

much difference to you now,

but you didn't have a cavity!

[Knocking]

Come in.

Welcome, doctor.

[Bill]

Who's this guy?

I took the liberty of

inviting Dr. flanken here.

He's with the office of

unforeseen atomic events

in Washington.

[Geiger counter clicking]

Young man, I'm afraid

you've suffered some

of the worst...

Of what our mighty

little friend, the atom,

has to offer.

It can power a city...

Or level it.

[Carole]

How can it cause this?

[Dr. flanken]

Human insect mutation

is far from an exact science.

But there are some things

we do know.

You'll continue to

metamorphose... or change,

taking on more

ant-like characteristics.

And... you'll grow,

become bigger.

I'm sorry, bill!

Sorry?

Do you think this is

some picnic for me?

[Laughing]

[Bill]

Did you hear

what I just said?

Picnic! Get it?

Ants... picnic.

[Laughing]

What am I, alone here?

That's funny!

Isn't it funny, doctor?

[carole]

Doctor, watch out!

What's happening to him?

[dr. Flanken]

He's all right.

Any ant would react

to a small dose in the same way.

You're just seeing it in a

magnified... or larger form.

Oh, bill.

[Bill]

Thanks, doc.

I needed that.

We said we would try

and live a normal life,

but we were kidding ourselves.

Crumbs! How long

can I exist on crumbs?

I'm hungry!

I'll show you!

Go, my brothers and sisters!

Go!

You're free!

Free!

No, bill.

[Cackling]

Behold the

great emancipator!

And now, to go downtown.

No, bill, you mustn't.

I'll call Dr. grabow.

Get away from

the telephone, Carole.

Don't make me use this.

[Scream]

[Screaming]

Gotcha!

Oh, bill, if you could just

listen to the man in you

and put the insect aside.

Insecticide? Where?

No! No, I mean --

doctor, he belongs

in a hospital, not in a prison.

Where would you have me

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