The Raven Page #3

Now, now, my pet.

You know, the other evening

we met Dr. Thayor...

...and he turned out

to be a veterinary.

My pet, he gave me some very

good advice about my dogs.

Man to see you.

Excuse me.

Oh, p-please,

don't stand there.

Yes. Move away,

my man, like a good fellow.

Never stand behind people.

Most unfortunate looking

fellow.

I'm so glad you have come,

Judge Thatcher.

Dr. Vollin,

is my daughter here?

Judge Thatcher,

I'm genuinely sorry...

...for all the stupid things

I said to you the other day.

I want you,

please, to forget.

One can't forget a man

saying...

But I... I was

under terrible strain...

...and if you can feel

in anyway indebted to me...

...clear your debts by forgiving me

for what I said.

Well, I suppose a man can...

Oh, I...

You do forgive me.

Now let's go

and... And join the others.

Go upstairs and tell Miss

Thatcher her father is here.

Oh, I'm so glad to see you.

Glad to see you.

Hello, Judge, I was wondering

whether you'd arrived.

That's from upstairs.

Oh, Dad,

I'm so glad you are here.

What happened?

What's the matter?

You look as white as a ghost.

I just had

a terrible fright.

What was it?

I was standing in my room

looking in the mirror...

...when the door opened and an

awful looking man came in.

Oh, you mean,

my servant, poor fellow.

Come on, let's sit down.

I will tell you about him.

Come.

I'm sorry, Miss Thatcher,

that my servant scared you.

Please be seated.

All of you, please.

Poor fellow...

...he can't help

the way he looks.

He served

in my regiment.

Arab bandits

took him a prisoner.

They mutilated him

and tortured him.

They have a genius

for devising torture.

It's almost the equal

of Edgar Allan Poe.

Dr. Vollin is

keen about Poe.

Yes, I've noticed.

Why your extraordinary

interest in Poe, Dr. Vollin?

That poem of Poe's,

The Raven.

I say, what is

The Raven?

It's a bird, Pinkie.

A pretty thing to

have around the house.

But isn't the raven

the symbol of death?

It always has been.

What is your interpretation of The Raven?

I will tell you.

Poe was a great genius.

Like all great geniuses...

...there was in him

the insistent will...

...to do something big, great,

constructive in the world.

He had the brain

to do it.

But he fell in love.

Her name was Lenore.

"Longing for

the lost Lenore"

"Longing for

the lost Lenore"

Something happened...

...someone took her away

from him.

When a man of genius is denied

of his great love, he goes mad.

His brain instead of

being clear to do his work...

...is tortured.

So he begins to

think of torture.

Torture for those

who have tortured him.

My interest in Poe...

...the way I speak

about torture and death...

...you people, being laymen,

perhaps do not understand.

As a doctor, a surgeon, I look

on these things differently.

A doctor is fascinated

by death and pain.

How much pain

a man can endure.

But I disagree with you,

Dr. Vollin.

That's not why

I'm a doctor.

You're a doctor

because you want to do good.

Yes.

Please let's

change the subject.

Let's go to bed.

Why, Colonel, where are your

company manners?

I'm sleepy, my pet.

I'm sleepy, too,

Pinkie.

Let's all go to

our nice warm beds...

...on this cold, windy night.

Well, if it isn't rude

to our host.

On the contrary...

I am flattered that you act

as if you were at home.

Thank you. Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

Sorry?

You came into the room

so suddenly.

Please believe I wouldn't

have been frightened otherwise.

Oh, Jean.

Coming.

Jean!

Come on, darling.

This is your room,

Judge Thatcher.

Thank you.

Uh, Dr. Vollin, may I see you

for just a minute?

I'd like to know about the drafts

in this house.

You know, I'm very sensitive

about drafts.

I'm certain

you'll be comfortable.

Thank you.

Please.

Allow me.

After you, sir.

This man, Vollin is

stark, staring mad.

Why, Dad!

Now, you came here

against my wishes.

All right, it's done.

But now let's get our things

together and go home.

What?

Let's go home.

But why?

In the talk I had with him the

other day, he said some things...

...that absolutely convinced me

he's not in his right mind.

And just now, the way he talked

about Poe and... And torture...

Oh, talk, that's all it was.

He was being amusing.

Well, I'm afraid there's something

wrong with my sense of humor.

I tell you, it's dangerous

to be under this man's roof.

Oh, Dad, he's not going to cut

our throats while we're asleep.

Well, I think

it's entirely possible.

Grown-up people.

When a perfectly reputable and

distinguished surgeon talks about Poe...

...why get scared?

There's absolutely nothing

to be afraid of.

Come in.

Get out of here.

Judge Thatcher.

Bateman!

What are you doing here?

Go downstairs.

You mustn't

be frightened.

The poor fellow

means nothing.

Probably came up to see if there's

anything he could do for you.

Are you comfortable?

Quite, thank you.

Yes. Thank you, I'm sure

we shall be very comfortable.

Good. Then I'll leave you now.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

You're worried

about Jean, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

You're afraid that in the

middle of the night he might...

Don't you think it would be a good

idea if I changed rooms with her?

And what about you?

Well, he certainly isn't

coming into my room.

Well, let me

do that then.

Come on. I'll go change rooms with Jerry.

All right.

Take my bags, dear,

will you?

All right.

Come along, Bateman.

The most unique museum

of torture.

Rare old pieces,

all of them.

But I warn you,

ready for use.

This device is

from one of Poe's stories.

The Pit and the Pendulum.

A man was thrown

into a pit...

...and tied to a slab

like this.

Suddenly he hears some peculiar

noise coming from above his head.

He looks up...

...sees a knife flashing.

Swinging rhythmically...

...as it gradually descends.

These things here

are manacles...

...which are controlled

by that lever.

Clasped around

the wrists and ankles...

...they hold a man

on the slab...

...helpless.

He cannot move.

In 15 minutes,

the knife reaches the heart.

Got you.

Come on, Bateman. Release me.

Release me, Bateman.

And please try to remember,

should anything happen to me...

...you remain the hideous monster

that you are.

Come on, Bateman.

It's all quite simple,

isn't it, Bateman?

Jerry, oh, I'm afraid!

What-What's the matter?

What's happened?

Look in my room.

All right, come on then

if you're afraid.

Darling, that's nothing.

The wind's blown a tree down, it's

fallen against your window, that's all.

Here, put your robe on

or you'll get cold.

Jerry, I saw a man

coming up through the floor.

Darling, I can understand you

imagining all sorts of things...

...but not a man coming up

through the floor.

I'm not imagining it.

I'll tell you what you do, you

sleep in your own room. Come on.

Now you hop

right into bed.

You've got to

get some sleep, you know.

I guess,

Daddy was right after all.

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