The Tell-Tale Heart Page #3

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while the night was still

and the house was dark.

Just beyond my awareness,

a plan was forming.

L! would not be long until

I would know what to do.

Be strong enough to act.

You all right, Sean'?

I'm fine.

Seems you drifted

in and out of sleep.

I'm not feeling well.

You're not trying

hard enough to focus, Sean.

But these pieces

are looking great.

When you arrived,

do you remember

what the weather looked like?

I remember the colors.

No, we've been over that, Sean.

Got to go deeper, remember more.

Let's try again.

When I worked with the old man,

clarity of purpose

would escape me.

It was as if he was draining

my strength of will.

Keeping me from her.

I must hold on to my mission.

I must be sure of the path.

Sure of what must be done.

You can relax, Sean.

Relax.

Of course, I...

I had to get rid of the eye.

I was never

kinder to the old man

than during the whole week

before I killed him.

And every night, about midnight,

I fumed the latch

of his door and opened it,

oh, so gently, and then,

when I had made an opening

sufficient for my head.

I felt restless

in the house now.

Upon the eighth night,

I was more than usually cautious

in opening the door.

A watches' minute hand moves

more quickly than did mine.

Never before

that night had I felt

the extent of my own powers,

of my sagacity.

I could scarcely contain

my feeling of triumph.

To think that there I was opening

the door little by little

and he not even to dream

of my secret deeds or thoughts.

I fairly chuckled at the idea.

And perhaps he heard me,

for he moved

on the bed so suddenly,

as it startled.

What'?

Now, you may think

that I drew back, but no.

Who's there?

I kept quiet,

still, and said nothing.

For a whole hour,

I did not move a muscle,

and, in the meantime, I did

not hear him lie down.

He was still sitting up

in bed, listening.

Just as I have done

night after night,

hearkening to the death

watches on the wall.

Would a madman

have been so wise as this?

I undid the lantern cautiously.

I undid it just so much

that a single thin ray

fell upon the vulture eye.

And this I did

for seven long nights.

Every night, just at midnight.

But I found the eye

was always closed,

and so it was impossible

to do the work,

for it was not

the old man who vexed me,

but his evil eye.

So you see, he would've been

a very profound old man indeed

to suspect that every

night, just at 12:00,

I looked in upon him

while he slept.

When I was alone,

away from the old man,

my memories seemed

to become clearer.

I could allow myself lo see her.

To see us, my Ariel.

I knew it now.

How she would save me.

We would save each other.

No.

This is not real.

How can this be?

I can set us both free.

Once he's gone...

we can be together.

We can save each other.

We can free each other.

Hey there.

Tea?

No, I'm okay.

Come, sit with me.

You still

having trouble sleeping?

How could you tell'?

You look tired.

It's normal though.

Pretty much everybody has a

problem sleeping now and then.

I have these wretched dreams.

Well, that's normal, too.

Everybody has bad dreams.

The world over.

Dreams of falling, dreams of

being chased, being hurt.

Our teeth falling out.

Looking for our mothers.

We have dreams

of hurting others.

My dreams are

a lot worse than that.

What you need to do

is just relax.

Think of nice things.

Like food.

Always helps me.

I think you need these

more than I do.

I don't think so.

Your dreams

will get better, Sean.

Trust me.

It's those pills

that are hurting you.

Well, I don't have a lot

of choice in the matter.

This is the path I'm on.

The quickest road out of

here's the one I'm gonna take,

so if that means taking these,

that's what I'll do.

Out.

I tried 100 times to get out.

You'll never get out.

What'?

Out of your dreams, silly.

Those will be with you forever.

It's your thoughts

you have to change.

In the end,

that's all we have left.

You know...

I'm just a little tired.

Could we, uh, could we

meet up later and talk'?

Sure.

Whatever you like.

You finished the chess set.

I thought that I was...

Yeah, Sean'?

I only finished a few

of these pieces last time.

I did let you

finish them all, son.

And you did a good job

for just learning.

What are you talking about'? No.

Sean, I want you to remain calm.

No lane's playing with you,

no lane's trying to trick you.

Been working on these pieces all week.

All week.

And you've made good progress. I've

only been here for a few days.

I assure you,

you've been here a week.

Don't you remember

these pieces, Sean'?

Excuse me.

Free to come and go

as you please, Sean.

The only thing

keeping you here is you.

How long have I been here?

Why, what happened?

What's wrong, what happened?

I have to get

out of here, all right'?

I cannot be losing my memories.

I can't.

What is wrong with you'?

How long have I been here?

A week, I don't know.

I haven't exactly kept track.

A week.

God.

Hey, get yourself together.

Look at me.

This isn't important.

It is important.

It's very important!

This is your problem, Sean.

What do you know

about my problems?

Hmm?

What do you know?

I've been through everything

trying to remember, Ariel.

And I can't.

I'm scared.

Remember when I told you...

that everything

you need to get well

is right in here?

It's true.

I have to show you something.

What is this place?

I'm pretty sure

this used to be a ballroom.

Do you dance'?

How do you know

you don't dance'?

You were in the military,

were you not'?

Yes.

But they teach us how to kill

people, not dance with them.

I've been to a military ball.

I see how you men...

twirling your partners

around and around.

Please meet me here

Oh meet me here

Don't you think

we should turn it down'?

Gonna wake everyone up.

I hope so.

It's about time people

around here started moving.

See?

You were a dancer,

especially in your past life.

No, I wasn't.

Okay.

I believe you.

Why this, why now?

I must kill the eye, and

then she can know the truth.

She will save me.

She will save us both.

I could sacrifice until then.

I could hold on until then.

I could pay the price.

I could be strong enough

for us both.

I'm sorry.

I'm tired.

Thank you for the dance.

Any time.

She must know my heart.

She must know

that I've been waiting for her.

She must know

the price I have paid.

Why must my heart

continue to bleed?

Who's there'?

How did you get in here?

Why do you ask'?

Finally, she knows.

Now we can escape together.

And be together.

It must be over now.

For we have paid the price.

And we have released each other.

It'll be over soon.

My heart is alive

Again

Alive

This is why

I love you

Breaking through

The rule books on the way

Leave these parts

Behind us

They don't matter anyway

The past is gone

Enslaved us yesterday

I wish we could escape

from here.

Just get away from this house.

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