Nightmare Alley Page #5

Molly, you and Stan

gonna get married?

Stan, you gonna marry Molly?

- You people trying to kid somebody?

- And you aren't either.

Oh, Stan,

Stan, aren't you the foxy one...

making out like you never knew

this child was on the face of the earth.

- You sure fooled me.

- He didn't fool me.

What's going on here?

Let's drink to the bride and groom.!

May all their children be acrobats.!

- You're drunk.!

- I'll give the bride away.!

That's a good idea.

Huh, Stan?

- Bruno!

- Molly, you stay out of this!

Bruno!

- He can't stand much more.

- I don't care. You gonna do as I say?

- You trying to kill him?

- All he's gotta do is touch my hand.

There he is, Molly!

Now we get a parson! Hey, boss?

Sure.

Come on, folks.

Let's drink to the bride and groom.

- I'm sorry, Stan.

- What for?

I know how you feel.

You didn't want to marry me.

Sure, I did, honey.

But I didn't want it to be...

Well, you know,

everybody thinking...

- Cooks the carnival for me.

- Why?

Well, there I was, on the top of the world,

kingpin of the whole outfit...

Say!

Maybe it's the best thing

that could have happened.

I've got the code,

you know it as well as I do...

and I've got you!

Ah, Zeena and Mr. Bruno,

they aren't so smart as they think.

We'll show 'em.

- You're not sorry?

- I should say not.

Not one bit?

Why should I be?

I've never been so tickled in my life.

You're sure?

You're not just saying this?

- Baby, there's only one thing I'm sorry about.

- What's that?

That I didn't think of this sooner.

Oh, Stan, darling,

you're wonderful.

I'll be a good wife to you.

I'll love you to pieces.

I'll try to be everything you want...

and I'll not even look at another fella,

never!

I have another question here.

Are you ready?

Yes.

Can you tell me

how this question is signed?

It is signed, "Mother".

- Is that correct?

- Yes.

Now then, will you read the question for me,

word by word...

exactly as written.

"Is the young man my daughter

has written to me about worthy of her?"

- Was that your question?

- Word for word.

Are you able to answer

this specific question?

Yes.

I think that you and your husband

are going to be very happy about this matter.

The young man your daughter has chosen

is very rare in this day and age... a good man.

He not only attends church on Sunday,

but he practices his religion seven days a week.

Your daughter is much the same type...

thanks to the splendid heritage of good health,

both physical and spiritual...

for they go hand in hand...

which you and your husband

have so generously passed on to her.

If I were an artist

and wanted to paint a full-length portrait...

of the American family...

I could ask

for no better models.

The gentleman has a question. What is it?

The question is,

will I feel better tomorrow?

- Have you an answer?

- Yes.

This boy's got something.

- You're not taking him seriously.

- Why not?

I'll show you.

- Isn't it some sort of a code they use?

- Of course.

Notice how deliberately

she accents certain words.

Thank you.

This question...

can you tell me how it is signed?

- It is signed with the initial "R."

- That's right!

Can you describe the person

who wrote this question?

- She's very beautiful.

- I agree with you, Mr. Stanton.

She's quite beautiful.

Now read the lady's question.

The question is, "Do you think my mother

will recover from her present illness?"

Is that correct?

What is your answer?

I'm afraid a truthful reply to that question

will appear rather strange.

- I don't know whether I should answer it or not.

- Why?

I get the impression

that the lady's mother...

has been dead for some time.

If that is incorrect,

will the lady please say so.

I must assume that the lady's silence

means assent.

- Here's a hundred blank records from the

Record-A-Phone company. - Just a minute.

- Is Miss Ritter in?

- What is your name?

- I think she's expecting me.

- Will you come this way, please.

- Thank you.

- Miss Ritter will be free in a few minutes.

Fine.

Hello.

- I suppose you must think this rather odd.

- Why?

- Me writing you that note.

- I get a laundry basket full of'em every day.

Won't you sit down?

What did you want to see me about?

My friends and I were very much impressed

with your performance.

But that isn't why you asked me

to drop in.

No, it isn't.

- How did you happen to know so much about me?

- I read your mind.

You mean to claim

you can actually do that?

How else would I know that your mother

was dead? I'd never seen you before.

You didn't make a reservation.

- The mitre d' didn't know who you were.

- That's true.

That fella you were with... the mitre d' says

he's a big guy in this town.

- That, uh, Ezra Grindle. You gonna marry him?

- I?

I got a feeling

there was something between you.

He's a patient of mine.

Now, in regard to this feeling you have...

- psychologists admit the validity of

mental telepathy under certain... - Uh-huh.

I thought this looked like

one of those joints.

You ever been psychoanalyzed?

No. I saw one

in a murder movie once.

But a good mentalist could have straightened

the whole thing out in five minutes.

I'm sure you could have.

How did you know my mother was dead?

I didn't. I just had a feeling

that your question wasn't on the level.

I figured you were trying to make

a chump out of me. Just common sense.

It's not so common.

- I don't know about that.

- Why?

I've got that same feeling right now.

What's on your mind, lady?

What are you up to?

Don't worry, Carlisle.

I never make the same mistake twice.

Me neither.

Yes?

She is? But...

I'll be through in a minute.

I'll buzz you.

We'll have to continue this

in our next.

There's a patient I'll have to see.

An emergency call.

You can go out this way.

Well, I'll be seeing you.

- When?

- I don't know yet.

You can call me at my apartment.

It's in the book.

I may give you a ring.

Fine. I don't come to the office

on Wednesdays or Saturdays.

I heard you the first time.

How do you do,

Mrs. Peabody?

Sorry to rush in on you

like this, my dear.

It's quite all right,

Mrs. Peabody.

That's what I'm here for.

Really, I'm...

I'm terribly upset.

Now, what seems to be the trouble?

I had another one of those dreams

about my daughter Carol.

You know, I never dream of her as dead,

but always alive.

- Very much alive.

- I know.

Now, you just come over here

and make yourself comfortable.

I'm not to be disturbed

under any circumstances.

Now just lie back here.

There. Is that better?

- Mm, my dear.

- Good.

I wouldn't have bothered you...

only you said dreams were important

in cases like mine.

They're one of the clues we have

to the subconscious mind.

It's a psychologist's way

of looking at the patient's tongue.

- I'll telephone you tomorrow morning.

- Fine. Good-bye, Mrs. Peabody.

You make a record of everything?

- It's a wonderful idea.

- How did you get back in here?

I fixed the latch on the door

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