The Invisible Man Page #4

And remember, he'll leave tracks,

even if he himself is invisible.

I must interrupt the music for a moment.

I have an urgent message from the police.

Earlier this evening we broadcast

a report of an invisible man.

The report has now been confiirmed.

It appears that an unknown man

by scientifiic means

has made himself invisible.

He has attacked and killed

a police inspector and is now at large.

The chief of police appeals

to the public for help and assistance.

Those willing to cooperate are requested

to report tomorrow to their local station.

The invisible man works without clothing.

He will have to seek shelter.

You're requested to lock

every door and window,

and every outbuilding

he may use to hide in.

The police will be glad of any suggestions

that will help in capturing the fugitive.

Remember, he's solid but cannot be seen.

A reward of 1,000

will be given to any person

whose information leads to his capture.

The police appeal

to the public to keep calm

and to admit uniformed

search parties to all property.

(music resumes)

(shouts of panic)

- I've got the doors padlocked.

- I'll keep him out!

Hello.

Hello. Get me Esher, 1021.

(phone rings)

Hello?

Doctor, it's something ghastly.

It's Griffin. He's come back.

He's the invisible man.

He's asleep in my room.

He's mad, a raving lunatic.

He's killed a man tonight.

Listen to me, Kemp.

No one but you and I know that it's Griffin.

- I shall come in the morning.

- You must come now. I can't bear it!

If I come now,

he'll be suspicious and escape.

You must keep him calm and quiet

for tonight. I trust you, Kemp.

- Who was that, Father?

- It was Kemp.

It was about Jack. I know it.

What is it? Tell me.

- Leave me alone, Flora, please.

- I'm not afraid. Tell me.

Jack Griffin's come back.

He's at Dr Kemp's house now.

Jack Griffin's the invisible man.

Is that the police?

Was that 1,000 reward all right?

Well, listen, I've got a way to catch him.

The paper says he threw ink

at the man he killed.

Get your own back and squirt ink about

with a hose pipe till you hit him.

The ink'll stick on him.

Then you can shoot him.

Is that the police? I wanna tell you

how to catch the invisible man.

The paper says it's going to be

frosty in a day or two.

Well, you watch out when there's frost,

see, then you can see his breath.

Police, quickly.

Is this the police? This is Dr Kemp.

The invisible man is in my house,

asleep upstairs. Come at once. Hurry!

But, listen, Doctor,

I've only got five men here.

I'd want 100 to surround the house.

Yes, all right. I'll send them up

as soon as possible.

Leave it to me and Kemp. We shall work

day and night to undo this experiment.

- You must let me go to him.

- Only when he's well again.

No, now. I can do far more

with Jack than you or Dr Kemp.

But, Flora, he's not normal.

His mind's unhinged. At present he's mad.

I can persuade him to help you.

You're powerless unless he does.

- I'll be ready in five minutes.

- Wait till the morning.

It's life or death, Father. You know that.

- I'll go alone, then.

- Flora.

(knocking)

Who's that? Who's that?

(Griffiin) unlock the door, Kemp.

Let me in.

- What are you doing here, Kemp?

- I couldn't sleep.

I had to get up and come down.

- Why did you lock the door?

- I... I was afraid.

Wouldn't you be afraid

if I were invisible like you?

There's no need to be afraid, Kemp.

We're partners. Bosom friends.

We've a busy day ahead.

You must sleep.

(car approaches)

I see. You told the police.

That was why you went downstairs.

No, I didn't. I swear I didn't.

Look, it's not the police.

It's Dr Cranley and Flora.

Flora.

- Why, yes, of course.

- I had to tell them you were back, Griffin.

- Flora was nearly mad with anxiety.

- How could I forget?

(doorbell)

(Kemp) Shall I let them in?

Yes, of course you must let them in.

I shall go and prepare myself in my room.

I shall see Flora. Alone.

- He knows you're here.

- He was asleep.

He saw you from the window.

He wants to see Flora alone.

- No, Flora, don't.

- He's calm now, and quiet.

- Jack won't do me any harm.

- He's insane.

It's for us to cure him - Kemp and I.

Keep away, Flora.

I must go to him.

Doctor, he was a different man

when he saw Flora leave the car.

He won't hurt her. We must play for time.

- Why for time?

- We... we must prepare things.

If we try and bind him now, he'll escape.

We must take him when he's asleep

and chloroform him. Wait here.

- Flora, my darling.

- Thank God you're home, Jack.

I would have come to you at once,

Flora, but for this.

How wonderful it is to see you.

How beautiful you look.

That funny little hat. I always liked it.

- You've been crying.

- I want to help you. Why did you do this?

- For you, Flora.

- For me?

Yes, for you, my darling.

I wanted to do something tremendous,

to achieve what men of science

have dreamt of since the world began,

to gain wealth and fame and honour,

to write my name above

the greatest scientists of all time.

I was so pitifully poor.

I had nothing to offer you, Flora.

I was just a poor, struggling chemist.

I shall come back to you,

Flora, very soon now.

The secret of invisibility

lies there in my books.

I shall work in Kemp's laboratory

till I find the way back.

There is a way back, Flora.

And then I shall come to you.

I shall offer my secret to the world,

with all its terrible power!

The nations of the world will bid for it -

thousands, millions.

The nation that wins my secret can

sweep the world with invisible armies!

Jack, I want you to let my father help you.

You know how clever he is.

He'll work with you until you find that

second secret that'll bring you back to us.

Then we'll have lovely,

peaceful days again

out under the trees,

after your work in the evening.

Your father? Clever? (laughs)

You think he can help me?

He's got the brain of a tapeworm,

a maggot, beside mine.

Don't you see what it means? Power.

Power to rule, to make

the world grovel at my feet.

Jack, listen to me. Listen!

My father found a note in your room.

He knows something about monocane

you don't.

It alters you, changes you,

makes you feel differently.

Father believes its power will go

if you know what it is.

Come and stay with us.

Let's fight this thing out together.

Power, I said.

Power to walk into the gold vaults

of the nations,

into the secrets of kings,

into the holy of holies.

Power to make multitudes

run squealing in terror

at the touch of my little invisible finger.

Even the moon's frightened of me,

frightened to death.

The whole world's frightened to death.

(dog barking)

So, I see. Kemp couldn't sleep.

He had to go downstairs.

He was frightened.

I put my trust in Kemp.

I told him my secret

and he gave me his word of honour.

- You must go now, Flora.

- I want to help you.

There is nothing for you to do

except to go.

I shall come back. I swear I shall

come back, because I shall defeat them.

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