Nightmare Alley

Hey, lookie, lookie, lookie.!

This way for the monster.!

Right through here.!

Step right this way, folks.!

The show is about to begin.!

Right this way.!

Here we are.!

Folks, I must ask you to remember

that this exhibit is being presented...

solely in the interest

of education and science.

Now, this creature...

There he is! The geek!

He has puzzled the foremost scientists

of Europe and America.

Is he the missing link?

Is he man or beast?

Some have pronounced him man.

But beneath that shaggy mane of hair,

lies the brain of a beast.

Look.!

If he should sink his teeth into my arm, nothing

on this round, green earth could save me.

Now, folks, it's feeding time.

Horrible.!

He's on fire!

Now, folks, you haven't seen anything yet.

Step in closer, please.

The greatest demonstration of fire manipulation

the world has ever seen!

Hey. Come here.

Kind of a surprise to see you hanging

around that act, young man.

Why?

Hasn't got a skirt in it.

- Geek guy fascinates me.

- You aren't the only one.

That's why we got him in the show.

How do you get to be a geek?

Is that the only one?

- I mean, is a guy born that way?

- Let me tell you something, kid.

When you've been around this carny longer,

you'll learn to quit asking questions.

- Come on, Pete.

- He gonna be able to work?

Pete's okay. I've got him sobered up.

- What's the matter, Stan?

- Nothing.

What's the boss

been razzing you about?

I was just asking him about that guy

that does the geek business.

- That's always a sore point in a carnival.

- Why?

The geek is one of our biggest draws...

but a lot of performers

won't work a show that carries one.

I can't understand how anybody

could get so low.

It can happen.

- I wanna thank you, Zeena.

- Me?

- Uh-huh.

- What for?

For being so nice to me,

helping me with my spiel and everything.

- Well, I think you've got something, Stan.

- Honest?

- You like this racket, don't you?

- Oh, lady, I was made for it.

I had all kinds of jobs

before this one came along...

but none of'em

were anything but jobs.

But this gets me.

I like it. All of it.

The crowds, the noise,

the idea of keeping on the move.

You see those yokels out there,

it gives you sort of a superior feeling...

as if you were in the know

and they were on the outside looking in.

Kinda hard to explain,

but I like it.

I like you too, Zeena.

Hey, look! Hey, look! Hey, look!

Step right this way!

Move in closer, ladies and gentlemen,

and let me introduce Zeena...

the miracle woman of the ages.

She sees, she knows, she tells you

all the innermost secrets of your past...

your present and your future.

- Mademoiselle Zeena!

- Step right up, folks, and don't be bashful.

If any of you wants

to ask me a personal question...

Mr. Stanton will now pass among you

with little cards and envelopes.

- Lend me your hand there.

- Write your question on the card!

- I need a pencil.

- Pass those out. There we are, ladies.

Don't crowd.

There's plenty here for everyone.

Careful not to let anyone else see what you write,

because that's your business.

I don't want anybody asking me

about anyone else's business.

One for you, young lady.

When you have written your questions,

sign your initials or write your name...

as a token of good faith.

Write what's in your heart,

and when you write about it, think about it.

Madam? Yes, madam. Your questions

will be held in strictest confidence.

No one will know but yourself

and Mademoiselle Zeena.

Ah, I see that Mr. Stanton has

a good handful of questions.

So if he'll bring 'em right up on the stage,

we'll have some readings.

Thank you, sir.

Wait a minute. Here's mine.

- Mister, here's my question!

- I'd like to ask you about my mother.

Will that lady raise her hand, please?

Come on, Pete. Here.

Madam, your mother's had a lot

of hard work in her life.

Come on.

Take these. Here.

- Another drink, huh?

- Hurry up. Show's on.

There's something in there

I don't see quite clearly yet.

If you'll see me after this demonstration,

maybe I can tell you more.

I'll ask Mr. Stanton to drop the questions

into the bowl.

There they go.

I don't touch them.

Now, people have asked me

if I have spirit aid in doing what I do.

I always tell them the only spirits I control

are the ones in this bottle.

Spirits of alcohol!

I'll pour a little on the questions...

and ask Mr. Stanton to light a match

and drop it in the bowl.

Thank you, Mr. Stanton. Now you see them

burning, and that's the last of them.

Anybody who's afraid

that somebody else is going to read it...

or that I would

handle this question...

can just forget

that I ever touched them.

Your question is now recorded nowhere

except in the ether.

Your answer is there too,

and I will find it for you.

I get an impression.

It's a little cloudy, still,

but it's getting clearer.

I get the initials "J.E.G."

I believe it's a gentleman.

Is that right?

Will the person who has

those initials raise his hand!

Right here, missy!

Thank you, Mr., uh... Giles.

The name is Giles, isn't it?

Yes, ma'am, that's his name.

That's his name. Giles.

Giles, yes.

Molly.!

Wait. I see green trees and a rolling field.

It's plowed land, fenced in.

- That's your place.!

- Yes, ma'am, that's my place.

Oh, is that for me?

- It's a wagon.

- Goodness.! That's what you asked about.!

- Zeena's going good.

- That's what I wrote.!

- She sure knows how to put on an act.

- Sure does.

- Too bad she's tied up with that rum-dum.

- Why?

She could grab herself a smart guy

and make the big time in no time.

But she's already been in the big time.

She and Pete used to be

one of the biggest headliners in vaudeville.

Not with that act.

Pete stayed in the audience.

He never came near the stage.

How could he tip her off to anything?

They used a code, silly.

A code?

What kind of a code?

A word code

between the two of them.

Zeena says that blindfold code

is worth its weight in gold.

I'll bet.

- People still offer them big money for it.

- Why don't they sell it?

Zeena says it's their nest egg.

- Molly.

- Here comes your boyfriend.

Hi, Bruno.

- What's going on here?

- What does it look like?

- He get fresh, Molly?

- Sure I did.

What do you think I'm made of? She's the

prettiest girl in the whole outfit, isn't she?

Sure she is, but...

Just because you're a big mush

is no sign everybody else is.

Come on, you lovely little freak.

- Thanks for the pop, Stan.

- Next time I'll bring you a Kewpie doll.

How do you like that?

He had the nerve to admit it right to my face.

Look, Bruno. I'm no baby.

I can take care of myself.

When I'm talking to somebody,

I wish you wouldn't come butting in like that.

What are you thinking about, Stan?

Molly was telling me about that code

you and Pete used to use in vaudeville.

What about it?

Well, I was thinking

that if Pete got sick or something...

why, I could work from the audience

just like he used to.

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