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00:30PIANO PLAYS
01:00I see you've already sold some of my toys.
01:11That was naughty of you.
01:14I thought you were beautiful when I drew that.
01:18The impossible acne of perfection.
01:22I must have been mad.
01:25How did madness come on me afterward?
01:28We may never know.
01:31We may never know.
01:36Through too much love of living,
01:39through hope and fear set free,
01:42we thank with brief thanksgiving
01:44whatever gods may be,
01:46that no life lives forever,
01:49that dead men rise up never,
01:51that even the weariest river
01:53winds somewhere to the sea.
01:57Oh, my famous Borgia ring,
02:01containing, so you testified,
02:04some rare poison,
02:07nearly tasteless, impossible of detection.
02:10Well, dear wife,
02:23shall we drink together
02:24in farewell to the past?
02:26The End
02:39The End
02:39Oh
03:09Thomas Edward Griffith, the man who made this lovely picture and then destroyed it, really lived.
03:19He was a writer, a painter, and a critic.
03:22Now, in each of these arts, he displayed talent.
03:26But his real genius lay elsewhere.
03:29We have the testimony of Charles Lamb, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, and other famous witnesses.
03:35That Griffith was the master of the gentle art of murder.
03:41A dabbler in the occult and a connoisseur of the exotic.
03:45Griffith was far ahead of the medical men of his time in the lethal science of intoxication.
03:54In simpler terms, Griffith was a poisoner.
03:58That's the name of our play, The Poisoner.
04:01And among those threatened by this sinister gentleman, played by Mr. Murray Mattson,
04:07were his wife, played by Miss Sarah Marshall.
04:11Her mother, played by Miss Brenda Forbes.
04:15Her sister, played by Miss Jennifer Ray.
04:18And his uncle, played by Mr. Maurice Dalton.
04:22Oh, by the way, uh, if in the course of our story someone brings you a cup of tea or a spot of brandy,
04:39I suggest you let them take the first signal.
04:44azione.
05:00Head of the page
05:02Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my bride, that is, as I see her with my heart.
05:21Thank you for disagreeing with those who say that Thomas Edward Griffith lacks only one attribute of genius, and that is talent.
05:27I agree with them. Perhaps I haven't until now.
05:30I am a very conceited man, or rather, I have been until today.
05:38Now I feel forced to confess that this portrait does not even begin to do justice to its subject, to that matchless pearl of loveliness without flaw, my wife.
05:52To the perfect pair, may their marriage be perfection.
05:58Well, dear wife, shall we drink together to the endless future?
06:07I can't get this chair through the door, it's so narrow.
06:12Well, looks as if everyone's here before us.
06:15Didn't even invite us to the wedding.
06:28You ought to be ashamed.
06:33So you're the bridegroom.
06:35Who are these people?
06:40Oh, this is my mother.
06:46And this is my sister, Helen.
06:50Your mother and your sister.
06:55I think we should be going.
06:57Thank you, Mr. Larrimor.
07:09I feel sick at my stomach.
07:11I didn't expect them until tomorrow.
07:22I didn't expect them at all.
07:24I should have told you they were coming.
07:25Yes, you should have told me.
07:31They have nowhere else to live.
07:33Mother sold her house, that was all she had.
07:35And that and the small income and debts.
07:39Helen's illness has taken a terrible burden on Mother.
07:46You're not even rich.
07:49I never said I was.
07:50You only pretended until you caught a husband.
07:53Get that animal out of here.
07:56It belongs to me.
07:57It belongs to me.
07:57And so do they.
08:02Or rather, you belong to them.
08:07My perfect bride.
08:10Where are you going?
08:20Don't!
08:20Don't you dare touch Mama!
08:27Did you see that?
08:30He was going to strike me.
08:32His own mother-in-law on his wedding day.
08:35What kind of a man did you marry anyhow?
08:38I don't know.
08:39I don't know.
08:41He's a murderer.
08:42Helen!
08:43He's a murderer.
08:44I saw it in his eyes.
08:46Oh, I'm going to faint.
08:49Take your sister upstairs and put her to bed.
08:52Take Hermione too, so she won't be underfoot.
08:55I'll wait for Mr. Thomas Edward Griffith.
09:01I, a mighty Hesquire.
09:04What if he doesn't come back?
09:05He'll come back.
09:07He wouldn't walk out and leave all this.
09:10Neither will we.
09:12Neither will we.
11:25I'm sorry I startled you, Mother.
11:28Don't call me Mother.
11:31You and your snarmy palmy talk.
11:34I suppose that's how you landed Francis.
11:36I suppose you think you can get me drunk.
11:55Well, you can't.
11:56I only want you to feel at home.
11:59Mrs Abercrombie, I feel that I can be honest with you.
12:03It isn't every widowed mother who can provide so well for her orphan daughters.
12:07What do you know about that?
12:10I understand you've sold your home.
12:12And I intend to keep the money.
12:14You won't get your hands on it.
12:16Not while I'm alive.
12:18I don't expect to.
12:20But I think I must tell you that in spite of appearances and from what you may have heard, I am not wealthy.
12:26Not at all.
12:27My only income comes from a trust fund left by my father in charge of my uncle, Mr George Griffith.
12:32So you lied to her.
12:35I never lie.
12:36No lie can possibly be perfect.
12:39And as you will learn, I idolise perfection.
12:42Talk, talk, talk.
12:44Words, words, words.
12:46Words are my stock in trade.
12:50Here is a book I published.
12:52The Academy of Good Taste for Young Gentlemen or the Infant Connoisseur's Go-Kart.
12:57Amusing, full of witty epigrams which are quoted throughout London.
13:01But it earned me nothing.
13:03The time will come, however, where I can begin to profit from the reputation I am building.
13:08You could make life happier for your daughter, Mrs Abercrombie.
13:12For your daughters, by helping me to reach that goal.
13:15I wouldn't help you get anywhere.
13:20This was my house and I was master in it until I married.
13:23Well, I'm in it now.
13:24And I intend to stay as long as I please and live like I please.
13:29Or I'll tear your precious reputation down to nothing.
13:33Mrs Abercrombie, I...
13:34Don't try any of your tricks with me.
13:38I'm sorry, Mrs Abercrombie.
13:40I had hoped against hope.
13:42Well, you can just quit hoping.
13:47I have.
13:50Are you sure you want that?
13:53You just try to take it away from me.
13:56I won't.
14:03Good night, Mrs Abercrombie.
14:06Good riddance to bad rubbish.
14:09Yes, good riddance.
14:11I should have told you about...
14:26I should have told you about Mother and Helen.
14:42The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on.
14:45Nor all your piety nor wit can change her all to one half line of it.
14:51Does that mean it's all right?
14:52Everything will be all right soon.
15:22She's dead.
15:43My mother is dead.
15:45She was perfectly well.
15:49We never know.
15:51One moment health, the next oblivion.
15:55As Leonardo said, the moment we are born, we begin to die.
15:58We won't say anything about this to anyone.
16:09People would talk.
16:12Won't people talk anyway?
16:14I'm afraid so.
16:15Then they'll forget.
16:17As you must forget, my dear.
16:19Be thankful she died without suffering.
16:22How do you know she didn't suffer?
16:24He knows because he killed her.
16:27I saw him do it.
16:28Murderer.
16:31I was with you when she died.
16:33He murdered her.
16:34He murdered Baba.
16:36Oh, heaven be still.
16:37I saw him do it.
16:38I saw him do it.
16:38I saw him do it.
16:38I saw him do it.
16:40Murderer.
16:40Murderer.
16:42Murderer.
16:43Murderer.
16:44Murderer.
16:45Murderer.
16:46Murderer.
16:47Murderer.
16:48Murderer.
16:49Murderer.
16:50Murderer.
16:51Murderer.
16:52Murderer.
16:53Murderer.
16:54Murderer.
16:55Murderer.
16:56Murderer.
16:57Murderer.
16:58Murderer.
16:59Murderer.
17:00Murderer.
17:01Murderer.
17:02Murderer.
17:03Murderer.
17:04Murderer.
17:05Murderer.
17:06Murderer.
17:07Murderer.
17:08Murderer.
17:09Murderer.
17:10Murderer.
17:11Murderer.
17:12This is my husband, Mr. Griffith. This is Mr. Proctor. He was my mother's attorney.
17:20Very kind of you to bring Mrs. Griffith home.
17:24I have some business to discuss with you, Mr. Griffith.
17:28Well, come in. Come in.
17:42It's quite a good likeness.
18:08A poor thing, but mine own.
18:11You say you have some business with me, Mr. Proctor?
18:15As Mrs. Abercrombie's executor and Miss Abercrombie's legal representative, yes.
18:21Does Miss Abercrombie need a legal representative?
18:24Her mother thought so.
18:26Tell him.
18:27I'm afraid this is going to be very disappointing to you, Mr. Griffith.
18:31Why, Mr. Proctor?
18:32I know a good deal about your financial affairs.
18:35Do you?
18:37As it happens, our law firm has had business dealings with your uncle, Mr. George Griffith.
18:41And my uncle talked of his black sheep nephew, as he always does.
18:45Not favorably, I'm sure.
18:48I take it you've already quoted my uncle in extenso to my wife and Miss Abercrombie?
18:54I considered that to be my duty.
18:57You are a very dutiful young man.
19:00I try to be.
19:01The late Mrs. Abercrombie was a wise and forethinking mother.
19:05Demortious nihil nisi bonum.
19:08What?
19:09Oh, I thought all good lawyers knew Latin.
19:12Of the dead speak nothing but the best.
19:15I would scarcely expect even you to speak slightingly, especially under the circumstances.
19:20In any case, Mrs. Abercrombie placed her estate in trust,
19:25with the proviso that it should go entire, free of any claims by creditors,
19:30to whichever of her daughters remained unmarried at the time of her death.
19:34She did this in the belief that her married daughter would be amply provided for by her husband.
19:40And you doubt my ability to support my wife in the manner to which I had just begun to accustom her.
19:49I'm only saying, Mr. Griffith, that I shall do everything in my power
19:53to see that no claims by your creditors deprive Miss Abercrombie of the estate which now belongs solely to her.
20:00Have I made myself clear?
20:02You have, indeed.
20:04I feel faint.
20:07I'll take you upstairs.
20:09Yes.
20:19I didn't know. I really didn't know.
20:22My perfect wife.
20:39My favorite man speaks to this before.
20:41No, it was literally missing with the historic public Temper csak Ho.
20:42No, it was a very fantastical man for me.
20:55No, it passed away not at least any time here.
20:56You have no doubt a guy.
20:57Maybe you were such a wonderful guy.
21:06I've been watching for you.
21:31Why?
21:34Your uncle is here.
21:36Why?
21:38I thought perhaps if we could talk to him.
21:41We?
21:43I am your wife.
21:45My perfect wife.
21:52Mr. Stevens, the moneylender was here about the notes you signed.
21:56Three tradesmen came together.
21:58They refused to deliver any more bread, coal or meat unless you pay something on account.
22:03They heard about...
22:04about my mother's death.
22:07They thought perhaps you were her heir.
22:10That is, that I...
22:11That my wife brought me a fortune.
22:14Of course, you told them the truth.
22:15No.
22:15I asked them to be patient.
22:18Then I sent your uncle a note.
22:21That was kind of you.
22:24I asked him to come here to visit us.
22:25I had no idea he'd come immediately.
22:27My uncle wouldn't miss an opportunity to see me crawl...
22:29The old plead, employ him to cast me a crumb, feed his fat conceit by begging for what belongs to me.
22:37Where is he?
22:38I gave him my mother's room.
22:42Oh, so the stage is set.
22:44Now you expect me to go up to him and whimper, please, so that he can rant and rave, avenging your mother by humiliating me.
22:51Does my mother need avenging?
22:57Your charming sister thinks so.
22:59Come in.
23:21So you finally decided to come home, eh?
23:24Well, Uncle George, I didn't expect to find you here as my guest.
23:26What did you expect? Creditors on your doorstep? Bailiffs in your drawing room?
23:32As you know, that would be nothing new.
23:34However, the present situation is quite different from the past.
23:37You mean it's worse?
23:40Why did she marry you?
23:42She thought I was rich. I thought she was rich.
23:45We were both mistaken.
23:47So you added another pretty piece to your collection that you can't afford to pay for.
23:52Uncle George, you hold 5,200 pounds. It actually belongs to me.
23:57You have only to sign a piece of paper, and there will be no more creditors howling at my doorstep.
24:02I shall be able to work, think, and write, as I cannot do now.
24:07When you forged my signature, that was a sample of your writing ability, I assume?
24:11I am on to you, and I won't stand for any more of it.
24:17How much is that thing worth?
24:21More than you could possibly understand.
24:24Then get someone to buy it.
24:26Sell off their fancy-dancy this and that that you've filled your house with.
24:31There must be some fools who can afford their foolishness, but you can't.
24:35Nothing in this house is for sale.
24:37Since when did beggars get to be choosers?
24:40Since when did you get to be God, with the right to judge, condemn, to doom?
24:48This is the last time I shall ask you to help me.
24:51I've told you what to do.
24:53If you don't want to do it, it's your bad luck and not mine.
24:58Are you sure, Uncle George?
25:01Are you sure?
25:02You'd better not threaten me.
25:04Otherwise, you'll never get a penny.
25:06Never is a very long time.
25:08He killed him.
25:34They quarreled.
25:36I owe them.
25:37He killed his uncle away.
25:38He killed Mama.
25:39Murderer!
25:40Murderer!
25:42Murderer!
25:42Murderer!
25:43Murderer!
25:43Murderer!
25:44Murderer!
25:45Murderer!
25:46Murderer!
25:46Murderer!
25:47Murderer!
25:48Murderer!
25:49Murderer!
25:50Murderer!
25:51Murderer!
25:52Murderer!
25:53Murderer!
25:54Murderer!
25:55Murderer!
25:56Murderer!
25:57Murderer!
25:58Murderer!
25:59Murderer!
26:00Murderer!
26:01Murderer!
26:02Murderer!
26:03Murderer!
26:04Murderer!
26:05Murderer!
26:06Murderer!
26:07Murderer!
26:08Murderer!
26:09Murderer!
26:10Murderer!
26:11he's to drink that all of it when he wakes he'll be right as rain in a day or so probably outlive
26:26all of us constitutionally he's sound as English oak and as I imagine you've noticed as hard to bend
26:35or break he's going to die isn't he isn't he no dear there's a little trouble with his heart I'm
26:46sorry to disappoint you Helen night doctor thank you quite all right mrs. Griffith happy to be of
26:52service I'll show you after make sure your uncle takes his medicine to add a few drops of bread to
27:00disguise the taste anything you say he's the one that's disappointed did you see him he tried to
27:07murder his uncle I know he did I don't care what that doctor said he tried to murder his uncle
27:30oh
27:35oh
27:37oh
27:39oh
27:42oh
27:45oh
27:48oh
27:49oh
28:53Uncle George.
29:08Uncle George, wake up.
29:11It's all right, Uncle George.
29:13The doctor's been here.
29:15He makes this for you.
29:16It's mostly brandy.
29:18You ought to drink all of it.
29:27Doctor's orders.
29:33More.
29:34You ought to drink all of it.
30:04I must have dozed off.
30:06I thought I heard a noise.
30:33Wait!
30:34Wait!
30:40Helen should have been more careful, shouldn't she?
30:55she called you a murderer it would be very wrong of me to hold her accountable for things said
31:01under the stress of shock and sorrow the money comes to me now you know that of course this is
31:07hardly the time to talk about such matters with your poor sister lying there
31:25I believe you heard the doctor tell me to add brandy to his medicine to disguise its taste
31:30yes I heard uncle George must have wait just now while I was dozing and smelled the brandy he loved
31:43brandy strange in the same night in almost the same moment my uncle and your sister but first
31:52my mother she loved brandy too you hated her you hated Helen you hated your uncle
32:05hate is a small and ugly word for a smaller and uglier emotion you even hated my cat
32:10a few drops of spilled brandy lapped up from the floor wouldn't kill a cat
32:18any more than brandy killed my mother or him there was more than brandy in that glass wasn't there
32:26more than medicine wasn't there wasn't there
32:30murderer
32:35you poisoner
32:40me
32:47you
32:52you
32:59you
33:03THE END
33:33Move along, then. Move along.
33:37Wherever he's run to, they'll find him.
33:39You're safe from him, I promise.
33:55Are you...
33:56Are you Mr. Griffith?
33:58I am, Thomas Edward Griffith.
34:01I am here to arrest you, Mr. Griffith.
34:03And I must warn you, sir, that anything you may say may be used in evidence against you.
34:08The charge, I presume, is murder?
34:11Mr. Justin, I point out to you that he is the first to mention murder.
34:15Thus proving, to Mr. Proctor's satisfaction,
34:19that a guilty conscience doth betray me.
34:23Your name is Mustin?
34:26Justin.
34:27Oh.
34:28Of the Bowbells Flying Squadron.
34:30You hardly flew coming here.
34:32In fact, you kept me waiting.
34:34I sent my dear wife to fetch you hours ago.
34:38That's not true!
34:39Now, why do you suppose did I do that?
34:42She is no longer answerable to you.
34:46I believe she is still my wife.
34:48And that under English law, a wife cannot take the witness stand against her husband.
34:53There is also the fact, Mr. Proctor,
34:57that choice of an advisor and protector for my wife rests entirely with me.
35:02And I'm afraid you're not exactly the Galahad sans peur et sans reproche I choose to guard my loving, loyal wife.
35:08CEREMON
35:26PICTIONS
35:28Her neck is broken.
35:30Mr. Proctor was her protector.
35:32You can see why I lack faith in you.
35:35Come along, sir.
35:35my business with mr justice employers soon be settled and then nothing will stand between us
35:46my dear nothing carry those carefully please good day mr proctor au revoir my dear
36:05mr griffith needn't be locked up in the midst of all this if he confess and throw himself on her
36:27majesty's mercy he'll be moved to better quarters and from there to execution doc and what else
36:35can a murderer expect he's in there well mr larrymore i i came as soon as i heard you needn't have
36:51hurried i thought i would find you in deep distress no interesting experience distresses an artist or a
36:58writer and since i am both or neither depending on the point of view my enemies or mine
37:05as a matter of fact i am much respected here not because i am called a poisoner but because the
37:13other prisoners think my crimes earned me ten thousand pounds that makes me their hero since
37:17their own sins were so much less profitable i came hoping you might let me help in hanging me
37:25or saving me i don't know what can save you they say you've even threatened to kill your wife
37:34no painting is finished mr larrymore until the last brush stroke is applied
37:39i don't understand no of course you don't good night mr larrymore
37:46oh mr larrymore be so kind as to give my wife a message say to her that i'm sure it will be only
37:54a few days before i can come to her and we can resume settlement of matters which remained unresolved
37:59when she and mr proctor brought mr justin to arrest me
38:13i'm still laughing mr justin this man is a murderer
38:18he doesn't even trouble to deny his own guilt
38:21he rests his defense on mockery and on a crooked game of confusion and obfuscation
38:29and on a claim of reasonable doubt what doubt can there be when an innocent man is accused he
38:37reacts with anger and indignation you mr griffith manifest only contempt and cynicism your attitude
38:44alone convicts you i beg your pardon sir john my lord may i speak
38:53you may speak the prosecutor demands your ruling that i must stand trial for my life but it seems to
39:01me perhaps i'm a little prejudiced that he destroys his own case by his summary of it
39:08i have been told the corpses of my departed uncle and my wife's lamented mother have been exhumed
39:13examined for some trace of deadly poison yet the prosecutor offers no testimony that these
39:17autopsies were rewarded as far as he can prove both my generous uncle george and our beloved mother
39:25abercrombie died of natural causes is that not true so sir john must content himself with the claim
39:33that i possess some deadly unknown drug oh rarely now do you believe a jury will credit me with
39:43such satanic mastery of the fine art of murder i submit the record shows me as arch defender of the
39:52true and the beautiful these gentlemen describe me as arch poisoner but they cannot name the poison
39:58they pile suspicion on suspicion but they cannot produce plain facts the lord deny it sir john
40:05as sworn servant of her majesty an upholder of the laws of england deny there is reasonable doubt
40:12that is for the jury to decide but do you dare to face a jury with ramshackle paste and scissors
40:19circumstantial evidence that and nothing more my lord i submit that
40:23the prison is remanded in custody pending further disposition of the issue here before us
40:35the prison is remanded in custody of theledge of the law her
41:04You think, Mr. Griffith, that you've won a great victory over English law.
41:18Being free and clear by Lord Danforth's decision is hardly a defeat.
41:22It isn't over, Mr. Griffith. It can't be over.
41:25I beg to differ. There's a statute concerning double jeopardy.
41:29Having been arraigned and charged, and Her Majesty's Chief Justice having ruled,
41:33there was not even sufficient evidence to place me on trial.
41:37I cannot be charged again for the same alleged crimes.
41:41All London is up in arms against you, Mr. Griffith,
41:44and I shan't consider my duty as done until you are penned and punished.
41:49The baffled bloodhound baying at the unreachable moon.
41:55What's that?
41:56A draft on my uncle's bankers, payable when I come into my inheritance.
42:00I would like you to divide it among my fellow prisoners,
42:05so that they shall have pocket money for their long voyage to the prison camp in Australia.
42:12Goodbye, Mr. Justice.
42:14Mr. Griffith.
42:31Well, Mr. Larymore, I didn't expect to see you again.
42:37I owe you a debt and I'm trying to pay it.
42:39Please, Mr. Griffith, don't stand talking.
42:42The news of your release is being shouted in the streets.
42:44A mob is forming.
42:46I'm with clubs and stones.
42:48Here's money.
42:50All I have.
42:50I've paid the coachman.
42:52Hurry, Mr. Griffith.
42:53You've paid me a thousand times over for favours that cost me no more than a few well-chosen words.
43:07But still, I must disappoint you, Mr. Larymore.
43:10I cannot run off and hide.
43:11I have a rendezvous to keep.
43:13I beg you, Mr. Griffith, do not go to your wife.
43:15Did she send you here to plead her cause?
43:18I'm thinking only of you.
43:19You were on a pedestal.
43:21Now you've fallen, as Lucifer fell.
43:23But still, something might be saved.
43:26I beg you, Mr. Griffith.
43:30The mob is coming.
43:31There's stone here, Mr. Griffith.
43:33They'll hang you if they can.
43:34Go before it's too late.
43:49Too much love living.
44:12Too joy, sir.
44:13Thank goodness me, thanksgiving.
44:17What are the gods?
44:20Maybe.
44:47You are very rude to refuse to drink a farewell toast with me, my dear.
45:09They will cry.
45:14You killed her.
45:16I will say, she chose a quick death by her own hand in preference to life with a husband
45:21she ruined when she called him Griffith the Poisoner.
45:25And another case of reasonable doubt.
45:30You have no other choice, my dear.
45:32This, or unbearable agony, infinitely prolonged.
45:44I'm up here!
45:45I'm up here in the bedroom!
45:47Where's this, Griffith?
45:48In here, please, quickly!
45:50I am here to arrest you, Mr. Griffith.
45:59There can be no charge against me now.
46:05Oh, you're quite wrong, Mr. Griffith.
46:07Mr. Griffith, in October 1828, you completed a certain financial transaction.
46:14Monies were held for you in trust to the order of Mr. George Griffith.
46:18That's past history and buried with my uncle.
46:21No, Mr. Griffith.
46:22I have here a bank draught
46:25which bears your uncle's signature
46:28and which you presented for payment.
46:31Your uncle did not sign this, Mr. Griffith.
46:33It has been compared with his true signature
46:35and yours on the draught you gave me in Nougat.
46:39You forged this draught, Mr. Griffith.
46:42I robbed no one.
46:44The money was mine.
46:46If that is, I...
46:48I anticipated time a little.
46:50You confessed to forgery in the presence of these witnesses?
46:53No matter if I do, I am not under oath or on trial.
46:57But you will be, Mr. Griffith.
46:59You will be.
47:03And the penalty for uttering false paper
47:06under the law at which Mr. Griffith has laughed until this moment
47:09is transportation to Australia
47:12as a prisoner at hard labour
47:14in the penal colonies for life
47:17with no possibility of parole.
47:20Of course, it's not the same thing
47:22as hanging at execution dock for murder,
47:24but for such a perfectionist as Mr. Griffith,
47:27it may be worse.
47:30It may be worse.
47:31It may be worse.
47:35It may be worse.
47:36It may be worse.
47:43Yes, Mr. Griffith.
47:46That no life lives forever, that dead men rise up never, that even the
48:09world. Where are you? The river. Why, why?
48:39The river. Why, why?
48:51The river. Why, why?
48:57The river. Why?
49:01Amen.
49:31Amen.
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