The Most Dangerous Game Page #3

- "Oh, I don't know. "

You Americans.

One passion builds upon another.

Kill!

Then love.

When you have known that...

you will have known ecstasy.

Oh, Martin!

Here you see Zaroff,

the keyboard king...

in his Branca Island hour.

Come on, Count.

Now, you show them.

- What do you suggest?

- Oh, just a good tune.

But not highbrow,

like last night.

- Just a good tune, see?

- I see.

Oh, his hunting dogs.

Keep your voice low

and listen.

It isn't true about the launch

needing repairs.

I heard it leave the boathouse

last night. It returned this morning.

You mean he's keeping you

from returning to the mainland?

Yes.

Well, perhaps he enjoys the company

of two very charming people.

Two, maybe.

There were four of us a week ago.

- The other two have disappeared.

- What do you mean?

One night after dinner,

the count took one of our sailors...

down to see his trophy room...

at the foot

of those stone steps.

- That iron door?

- Yes.

Two nights later

he took the other there.

Neither has been seen since.

Have you asked him

about them?

He says they've gone hunting.

Oh, be careful.

He's watching us.

Will you smile,

as if I'd said something funny?

Now look here. You must be mistaken.

Not now.

Applaud.

- Attaboy! Attaboy!

- Thank you.

What did I tell you?

Smacks a mean ivory, eh, Rainsford?

It was splendid.

Don't stop, please.

I'm afraid we have failed to hold

the full attention of our audience.

Well, I expect it's rather difficult

for Mr. Rainsford...

to concentrate on anything

after all he's been through.

My dear lady,

you are pleading for yourself.

I can see the drooping

of those lovely eyes.

Excuse me.

You know, the count's worse

than a family governess.

Every night he sends us off to bed

like naughty children.

Oh, no, my dear. No.

Charming children.

There, you hear that, sis?

Now trot along upstairs

and don't bother us grownups anymore.

Well, after that I guess...

I guess I'll have to go.

- Good night, Mr. Rainsford.

- Good night.

We'll be seeing each other

at breakfast.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Good night, sis. We won't

be seeing each other at breakfast.

Oh, my dear Rainsford,

I have been most inconsiderate.

You must be feeling

the need of sleep too.

- Yes, I am just about all in.

- Then Ivan will show you to your room.

Oh, Martin,

turn in early, please?

Don't worry. The count'll

take care of me, all right.

Indeed I shall.

- Well, good night.

- Good night, sir.

Sleep well.

Oh, uh, well, here's to long life.

A long life.

Tell me, Mr. Trowbridge...

are you also fatigued?

Tired? Me?

You know I'm not.

You know, Rainsford,

we two are just alike.

Up all night and sleep all day.

Well, good night.

Well, what are we

gonna do, huh?

What's the big idea?

I thought that perhaps...

tonight you would like to see

my trophy room?

Your trophy room?

I'm sure

you will find it most...

interesting.

Say, that's a great idea.

Ho-ho. Now we're pals.

No more secrets now, huh?

- We'll make a night of it.

- I hope so, Mr. Trowbridge.

Just you and I... pals.

We'll have fun together, huh?

Precisely, yes.

Fun together.

Attaboy, County, old boy,

old boy, County.

Please let me come in.

I'm sorry to disturb you,

but I'm frightened.

- What was it? Those dogs?

- My brother.

I've been listening for hours

for him to come upstairs.

I've just gone to his room.

He isn't there!

- He's probably somewhere with the count.

- That's just what I'm afraid of.

Count Zaroff is planning something...

about my brother and me.

You don't really think anything

has happened to your brother?

Oh, I don't know,

but we've got to find him.

Won't you help me?

Why, of course I'll help you.

- Where do you think he's gone?

- Where did the others go?

The iron door.

I'll meet you downstairs

in five minutes.

Thank you.

That's queer.

It's unlocked.

Zaroff! He's coming down.

Back here, quick!

Where is my brother?

You killed him!

You killed my brother!

You!

Why, you...

Come, come, my dear Rainsford.

I don't want to treat you

like my other guests.

You and I,

we are hunters.

So that's

your most dangerous game.

Yes. My dear fellow,

I intended to tell you last night...

but you know, Miss Trowbridge...

You hunted him like an animal.

I know what you think,

but you are wrong.

He was sober and fit for sport

when I sent him out.

An hour or two strapped up in here

brought him to his senses.

You raving maniac!

Yes, yes, yes. I'll take it off...

when we've finished.

The stupid fellow tried to escape

through the swamps of Fog Hollow.

You see, when I first began

stocking my island...

many of my guests

thought I was joking...

so I established

this trophy room.

I always bring them here

before the hunt.

An hour with my trophies...

and they usually do their best

to keep away from me.

Where do you get

these poor devils?

Providence provided my island

with dangerous reefs.

But there are light buoys

to mark the safe channel.

They do not always mark it.

- You shifted them.

- Precisely right.

Too bad your yacht

should have suffered...

but at least

it brought us together.

You take half-drowned men

from ships you've wrecked...

and drive them out

to be hunted.

I give them

every consideration...

good food, exercise...

everything to get them

in splendid shape.

- To be shot down in cold blood.

- Oh, no, no.

Oh, I admit,

with this annoying fellow...

but usually I give them

hunting clothes...

a woodsman's knife

and a full day's start.

I even wait until midnight to give them

the full advantage the dark.

And if one eludes me

only till sunrise...

he wins the game.

Suppose he refuses

to be hunted.

Ivan is such an artist

with these.

Invariably, Mr. Rainsford,

invariably they choose to hunt.

And when they win?

To date I have not lost.

Oh, Rainsford, you'll find

this game worth playing.

When the next ship arrives,

we'll have gorgeous sport together.

You murdering rat!

I'm a hunter not an assassin.

Come, Rainsford.

Say you will hunt with me.

Hunt men?

Say you will hunt with me!

No?

What do you think I am?

One, I fear, who dare not

follow his own convictions...

to their logical conclusion.

I'm afraid in this instance,

Mr. Rainsford...

you may have to follow them.

What do you mean?

I shall not wait

for the next ship.

Four o'clock.

The sun is just rising.

Come, Mr. Rainsford.

Let us not waste time.

Ivan.

Your fangs and claws,

Mr. Rainsford.

Bob! Bob!

Lvan.

Bob! Bob, what are they

going to do?

- I'm going to be hunted.

- Oh, no. No, Miss Trowbridge.

Outdoor chess.

His brain against mine.

His good craft against mine.

- And the prize?

- The prize?

You may recall

what I said last evening.

Only after the kill...

does man know

the true ecstasy of love.

Suppose you lose.

If I do not...

What shall I say?..

Find you...

between midnight and sunrise tomorrow,

freedom for both of you.

- I'm going with you.

- No. He'll kill you too.

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