- 17 hours ago
Adaptation of Poe's classic tale of a castle haunted by the living dead. One of the creepiest stories from the man who defined the genre.
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00:00Come in.
00:19Welcome.
00:21I'm E.G. Marshall.
00:23Welcome to the sounds of suspense.
00:26To the fear you can hear.
00:31Horror that makes the flesh crawl as with maggots.
00:35Terror that turns the brain to jelly.
00:39These mark the work of Edgar Allan Poe.
00:43For nearly a century and a half,
00:44readers have wondered at the mad creations of his fever brain,
00:49even as their blood ran cold with fear,
00:54as shall yours.
01:00The fall of the house of Usher,
01:10was especially adapted from the Edgar Allan Poe classic
01:13for the Mystery Theater by George Lothar
01:17and stars Kevin McCarthy.
01:20I'll be back shortly with Act One.
01:22I must warn you that there lies ahead for you
01:36a tale so gruesome
01:38that when it ends,
01:41you will know beyond doubt
01:42that never in your life before
01:45have you experienced such revulsion.
01:48Are you prepared for this?
01:52Come then to a certain room
01:54where a man named Gabriel Manoring
01:55sits writing in his diary.
01:58A certain room
01:59in the house of Usher.
02:02I sit here writing this diary
02:06when in truth were I not a fool
02:08I should have already departed this frightful place.
02:12Already I have sent such horrors
02:15in these first hours of my visit
02:16that I tremble at the thought of what may be in store
02:19for my friend, Roderick Usher.
02:23And for me.
02:24During the whole of this dull, dark autumn day
02:28I had passed on horseback
02:30through a singularly dreary tract of country
02:33and at length found myself
02:35as the shades of evening grew on
02:38within a view of this bleak and melancholy house
02:42the house of Usher.
02:44I felt at once an iciness, a sickening of my heart
02:47and wondered what it was that so unnerved me.
02:53I was soon to find out.
03:04You'd be Mr. Manoring, sir?
03:07Yes.
03:08My master awaits you.
03:09One moment, one moment, my horse.
03:11We'll be well cared for, sir.
03:14Oh, that carriage standing there.
03:16That black carriage.
03:17Is there another visitor?
03:19Only the doctor.
03:20He is attending, Miss Madden.
03:22And this way, sir.
03:27Follow me now, sir.
03:32We turn here, the passage on our left.
03:37Now this to the right.
03:39I had no idea the house of Usher was so vast.
03:44Ah, yes.
03:45Vast.
03:46Above and below.
03:49Below?
03:50There are chambers underground.
03:52Vaults.
03:54Dungeons.
03:55That even I have never seen.
03:56And I have lived here as servant to Mr. Usher more than 30 years.
04:02Here we are, sir.
04:05Come.
04:05Mr. Gabriel Manoring, sir.
04:09Oh, Gabriel.
04:10My dear good friend, you've come.
04:12You've come at last.
04:13Roderick, I came immediately on receipt of your letter.
04:17It gave me cause for concern.
04:19Deep concern, after all, Roderick.
04:22Not having seen each other in years.
04:25Nor corresponded even.
04:27To receive a letter from you was in itself a surprise.
04:29But the contents, Roderick, the contents were a shock.
04:34How ill are you?
04:36Ill?
04:37I'm not ill.
04:39Not ill?
04:40But in your letter...
04:41I am not ill!
04:43Oh, I may have mentioned something of a sort in my letter, but...
04:47More than mentioned.
04:47You spoke of acute bodily illness, of oppressive mental disorder, of a malady, a malady, dear friend.
04:54So strange you could not bear to face it alone.
04:57Now that is why I'm here.
04:58That is why I came at once.
05:02The terrible agitation in your letter.
05:05Oh, mood, mood, mood.
05:05It was nothing but mood.
05:07Mood of the moment.
05:08Nothing more, nothing more.
05:08Come now.
05:09Oh.
05:11Kato, the port.
05:12Good, good, good.
05:13Thank you, thank you.
05:14I'll pour.
05:16I'll pour.
05:18And oh, Kato.
05:19Sir?
05:20Dr. Windham is with my sister still?
05:23Yes, sir.
05:24I would speak with him before he takes his leave if he feels I can bear to...
05:29Sir?
05:31Nothing.
05:32Nothing.
05:33Just...
05:33Just say I wish to see him.
05:35Yes, sir.
05:37There.
05:38The vintage port, Gabriel.
05:40You'll enjoy it.
05:41It's...
05:41It's aroma.
05:42It's fragrant bouquet.
05:43It will delight your nostrils.
05:46It's taste will fall sweet on your tongue.
05:48Your...
05:49Your health, good friend.
05:52And yours, Roderick.
05:55Hey, now.
05:56Tell me about yourself, Gabriel.
05:58How has life gone with you all these years?
06:00Oh, as all lives go, I suppose, has been the good, the bad, and different.
06:05Yes.
06:06Mine has been mostly bad.
06:08I've prospered.
06:10My importing business in Baton Rouge?
06:12Ruination, that's been my lot, my fate.
06:15The fate of the house of us, sir.
06:17Well, if...
06:18If you are financially in need...
06:22No, no.
06:23No, no, no.
06:24No, no, no.
06:24I speak of another kind of ruination.
06:28Decadence.
06:28I speak of the evil.
06:30The evil that molders within my body, my mind.
06:33My house.
06:35House.
06:35Oh, no.
06:38No house, this.
06:40A tomb.
06:41A tomb that houses the living dead.
06:45You are ill.
06:47Yes.
06:48Yes, I lied.
06:50I...
06:50I am ill with...
06:52What?
06:54With what?
06:56With...
06:57With fear.
07:00Fear?
07:00Of what?
07:03They do not.
07:04What do we all fear, each of us?
07:06What living thing has not known fear?
07:09It lives within us, this fear.
07:11It rots within us, as I rot within this house.
07:15But mark you, good friend, whereas with others, fear rides like a restless maggot on me now and again.
07:22With me, with me, it's ever-present, a colorless slime growing within me, spreading, engulfing, drowning me.
07:32Drowning me.
07:34Roger it.
07:34No, no, no.
07:37I'm all right now.
07:38I'm all right.
07:41You...
07:42You must go.
07:43Go?
07:44Well, you shouldn't have come.
07:45I shouldn't have asked you.
07:47You must leave this house, this house of death, this...
07:50This...
07:50This tomb.
07:51Stop it.
07:53Now stop.
07:54I tell you that...
07:55Enough.
07:56Enough now.
07:58Here.
07:59Sit down.
08:01Compose yourself.
08:04Now hear me, Roderick.
08:06I came a great distance through the foulest time of the year to be with you.
08:11And here I shall stay until you are well again.
08:14You don't understand.
08:16I shall never get well.
08:18Of course you will.
08:19No, no.
08:20No.
08:21She is dying, you see.
08:23And I...
08:24I...
08:24Your sister?
08:26It is she who is dying.
08:27It is.
08:28It's Madeline.
08:30But it's she who is dying.
08:32If it is...
08:32No, no, you don't understand.
08:34You don't understand.
08:35You don't understand.
08:36Come in.
08:38Dr. Windham.
08:40Fire.
08:41Come in, doctor.
08:42Thank you, Cato.
08:44May I introduce myself, doctor?
08:45Mr. Usher, as you see, is not himself.
08:49I'm a friend of his.
08:50Gabriel Manning of Baton Rouge.
08:52Oh, how do you do?
08:54Lewis Windham.
08:55I entreat your pardon, both of you.
08:58Now, now, Roderick.
08:59Well, but my nerves.
09:00My nerves sometimes.
09:01Yes, I know.
09:02And I'm sure Mr. Manning understands.
09:05Uh...
09:05You've been taking the laudanum I prescribed?
09:08I used the last only yesterday.
09:12Well, I'll see if you get more.
09:13Oh, thank you.
09:16My sister?
09:18Yes, no change.
09:20How long?
09:22How long?
09:24Before death.
09:27I don't know.
09:29Your sister's malady baffles me.
09:32I don't know what is killing her.
09:33Nor do I know what keeps her alive,
09:35when in truth, she's all but dead.
09:38Oh, would it be an impertinence doctor
09:41for me to ask you what you mean by that?
09:43Well, no, no, Mr. Manning.
09:45Quite simply, there have been times
09:46when Miss Usher, Madeline,
09:49has been devoid of all vital signs.
09:52By this, I mean I've been unable at these times
09:54to detect a pulse, blood pressure,
09:56any respiration whatsoever.
09:58Yes.
09:59And yet, moments later,
10:00she's opened her eyes
10:01and returned to the world of the living.
10:05Strange, strange.
10:06I have encountered nothing like it
10:08in years of practice.
10:10It's not too far from the truth
10:12to say that she is dead,
10:14and yet she lives on.
10:16Yes, yes.
10:17Like the house itself.
10:19Now, Roderick, you mustn't harp on it.
10:21I tell you, we are like this house,
10:24my sister and I.
10:25We are this house.
10:26The house is us.
10:29The house is dead,
10:30and yet it stands.
10:32Your aberration about this house...
10:35It is no aberration!
10:38It's the truth.
10:40The house of Usher crumbles,
10:42yet it will not fall.
10:44Madeline is dead,
10:45yet she will not die.
10:47And as for me...
10:49Oh, heaven,
10:50the horror that awaits me!
10:54I'll send the Lord in them
10:56as soon as possible,
10:57Mr. Manning.
10:58There is little else I can do.
11:03Yes.
11:03I have other patients to attend.
11:05Oh, no.
11:06Thank heaven it's a moonlit night.
11:08I have many miles to travel.
11:10Good night.
11:11Good night.
11:14Roderick.
11:17Roderick.
11:17Yes, yes?
11:19Roderick, I want to help you
11:20in every way I can.
11:22That's why I'm here,
11:23but now you must do your part
11:25to help yourself.
11:26What do you mean?
11:28Well, I could be wrong,
11:29but it seems to me
11:30you let yourself go to pieces
11:33all too easily.
11:34This talk,
11:35this wild talk
11:35of your sister Madeline
11:36being dead and yet alive.
11:39Well, now that's nonsense.
11:39You know.
11:40No, no, no.
11:41Yes, well, I...
11:42Well, I'll agree with you
11:43with one thing.
11:44One thing only.
11:46In a way,
11:48you have become
11:49this damnable house.
11:50No healthy, sane man
11:52could live here for long
11:53without beginning
11:54to lose his sanity,
11:55without serious damage
11:57to his nervous system.
11:59I've...
12:00never seen such gloom.
12:03Inside as well as out,
12:04this very room
12:05reeks of dejection,
12:07despondency,
12:08undusted cobweb furnishings,
12:10black drapes
12:11covering the window.
12:12Here,
12:13let me throw them back
12:14and at least get some moonlight
12:15if not sunlight
12:16into this place.
12:18There...
12:19That's...
12:21Roderick.
12:23What is it?
12:24There's a graveyard.
12:27I can see it
12:28in the moonlight.
12:29The family graveyard,
12:30yes.
12:32Who?
12:33Who would be walking
12:34in it at night?
12:35What do you see?
12:37Well, where do you see it?
12:38There.
12:39There.
12:40Amidst the headstones.
12:41Oh!
12:43It's Madeline.
12:45What is she doing out there?
12:47There.
12:47We'd better go
12:48and find out.
12:49Good Lord.
12:51in the doorway.
12:54What is it?
12:55Oh!
12:57Madeline!
12:58Am I
12:59that horrifying
13:01to look upon?
13:03Dear brother.
13:13Madeline Usher
13:14walks among the headstones
13:16of the Usher graveyard
13:17yet stands
13:19in the doorway
13:20at the same time.
13:23Does her spirit
13:24walk abroad?
13:27Is she that
13:28close
13:28to death?
13:30I'll be back
13:31shortly
13:32with Act Two.
13:43Again,
13:44I must ask
13:45if you wish
13:46to go on
13:47and warn
13:48that if you do
13:49you will experience
13:51a kind of horror
13:52for which
13:53I can find
13:54no words.
13:55Even Gabriel
13:56Manory
13:57writing in his diary
13:58found it difficult
14:00to express
14:00his feelings
14:01in that moment
14:02of first meeting
14:03with Madeline Usher.
14:07I seek
14:08and cannot find
14:09words
14:09to recreate
14:10the terror
14:10of that moment.
14:11not a woman
14:13but a corpse
14:14stood before us
14:15in the doorway
14:15of that awful room.
14:17The very woman
14:18or corpse
14:19if you will
14:20that but an instant
14:21before
14:22Roderick Usher
14:22and I
14:23had glimpsed
14:23in the moonlight
14:24graveyard
14:25beyond the window.
14:27If she is alive
14:28I thought
14:28she should be dead.
14:31Thankuously
14:32I said
14:33you are
14:35Madeline Usher?
14:37Yes.
14:38How do you do?
14:39I'm Gabriel
14:40Manory.
14:41I know.
14:43Ah.
14:44You winced
14:45as you took
14:46my hand.
14:47What?
14:47You felt
14:48it.
14:49Coldness.
14:49No.
14:50No, no, no.
14:51I, uh...
14:52Yes.
14:53Yes.
14:53You need not
14:54dissemble
14:55with me.
14:56Even now
14:57you find it hard
14:58not to
14:59stare at the
15:00dark patches
15:01on my face.
15:02The
15:02putrescence
15:04that
15:04lives.
15:06Yes.
15:07thrives
15:09in my
15:09dying
15:10flesh.
15:11Madeline,
15:11my dearest sister,
15:12you should be
15:13lying down
15:14resting.
15:15You mustn't
15:16waste your
15:17energy.
15:17I wanted
15:18to meet
15:18your friend.
15:20Someone
15:20from the
15:20world of
15:21life
15:21outside
15:22this house.
15:23This
15:24tomb.
15:25I wanted
15:26to
15:26need it.
15:28She's
15:29falling.
15:30Catch her.
15:32Captain,
15:33just put her
15:34on the couch
15:34Gabriel.
15:35No, no.
15:35No, no, no.
15:36But still
15:37we'll
15:37carry her
15:38to her
15:38room.
15:41There's no
15:41pulse.
15:43No
15:43heartbeat.
15:44Is she...
15:45Well,
15:45help me.
15:47It's
15:47impossible to
15:48see.
15:48Can you
15:49carry her
15:49alone?
15:51She weighs
15:51nothing.
15:52Don't
15:52follow me
15:53then.
15:55Oh,
15:55what evil
15:56stalks the
15:57house of
15:57Usher.
15:59Help us,
16:00dear lord.
16:01Please,
16:02help us.
16:06put her
16:08down,
16:08Gabriel.
16:10Gabriel.
16:12Kim.
16:13Joyce.
16:14Kim,
16:15back.
16:16It's her
16:16bed.
16:18A coffin.
16:19Nevertheless,
16:20it is her
16:21bed.
16:22It's where
16:22she rests
16:23and sleeps.
16:25And haven't
16:25you noticed
16:25what she's
16:27wearing isn't
16:28a light dress.
16:29A shroud.
16:30Yes.
16:31She's been
16:32ready for her
16:32burial for
16:33nearly a year
16:34now.
16:34Oh,
16:34look,
16:35look,
16:35see,
16:36her eyes,
16:36her eyes
16:37are fluttered.
16:38I have
16:38taken my
16:38oath.
16:39She was
16:39dead.
16:39Not yet.
16:41Not yet.
16:44Gabriel,
16:45my friend,
16:45come.
16:47Well,
16:47you don't
16:47leave her
16:47like this
16:48alone.
16:48No company
16:49to cheer
16:49her when
16:49she wakes.
16:50She may
16:50not wake
16:51in again
16:51today.
16:52She may
16:52not
16:52wake
16:53in again.
16:56Come.
16:56No.
16:57I don't
16:57wake.
16:57there's
16:59something,
17:00something
17:00about her,
17:02something
17:02in her
17:02face that
17:03reminds me.
17:06Of course,
17:07it's you.
17:09Oh,
17:09you?
17:10You see
17:10then the
17:11family resemblance.
17:13Obvious.
17:14In spite of
17:15what the
17:16intimacy of
17:16death has
17:17done to
17:17the face,
17:18the
17:19resemblance
17:19is still
17:20there.
17:20It's more
17:21than a
17:21resemblance,
17:22Gabriel.
17:23What do
17:24you mean?
17:25We are
17:27twins.
17:27as my
17:34friend spoke
17:34those words
17:35in that
17:35chamber of
17:36death,
17:37a curious
17:38change came
17:38into his
17:39face.
17:39It floats
17:40before me
17:40even now
17:41as I write
17:41a complexion
17:42gone so
17:43suddenly
17:44cadaverous,
17:45his eyes
17:46large,
17:47liquid and
17:47luminous
17:48beyond
17:48comparison,
17:49thin and
17:50padded lips
17:50gone thinner,
17:51paler.
17:52For a
17:53moment,
17:54he seemed
17:54scarce human.
17:55I had
17:58tried to
17:58calm his
17:59fevered nerves
17:59by telling
18:00him it
18:00was his
18:01sister,
18:01not he
18:02who was
18:02dying.
18:03And he
18:03had cried
18:04out,
18:04you don't
18:05understand,
18:06you don't
18:06understand.
18:07And now,
18:08in an
18:09instant I
18:09did understand,
18:10or at
18:11least the
18:12shadow of
18:12what he
18:12meant touched
18:13me and
18:13I was
18:15filled with
18:15the dread
18:16and loathing
18:16of what
18:17was to
18:17come that
18:17I cannot
18:18fully express.
18:18Had I
18:19known the
18:19full truth
18:20of what
18:20lay before
18:20us,
18:21my loathing
18:22would have
18:22increased
18:23a hundredfold
18:24and I
18:25should have
18:26fled the
18:26house of
18:27Usher then
18:27and there,
18:28certainly.
18:29I should
18:29not have
18:30found myself
18:31at breakfast
18:31with Usher
18:32the following
18:32morning.
18:35Another
18:35helping,
18:36Mr.
18:36Manry?
18:36No more,
18:37Cato.
18:38Then I
18:39can give you
18:40the message.
18:41The message
18:42from whom?
18:43Miss
18:43Madeline.
18:45She wishes
18:46to see you
18:47at your
18:48convenience.
18:48Well,
18:49then I'll
18:49go to her,
18:50of course.
18:52Why do you
18:52look at me
18:52like that?
18:54And now
18:54why do you
18:55turn away?
18:55Cato,
18:56face me.
18:58Look at
18:58me.
19:00What is
19:00it?
19:01Cato,
19:02is it
19:03the odor?
19:06Yes,
19:06sir.
19:07You best
19:07not go,
19:08Gabriel,
19:08or if you
19:09do,
19:09another time.
19:10I don't
19:10understand.
19:11The odor,
19:11the stench
19:12of putre
19:12fashion.
19:13Yet stronger
19:14at times
19:15than at
19:15others.
19:15And you
19:16mean that
19:16she
19:16take me
19:18to Miss
19:18Madeline
19:18at once,
19:19Cato?
19:19No,
19:19no.
19:20It will
19:20sicken you,
19:21nauseate you,
19:23even infect you.
19:24Well,
19:24it can kill me
19:25and be damned
19:25to it,
19:25but I'll
19:25not disregard
19:26her last wish
19:27of a dying
19:27woman.
19:29Unlike you,
19:29Roderick,
19:30I do not
19:30fear death.
19:39Miss
19:39Tosser?
19:42Madeline?
19:42Are you
19:47too tired
19:47to speak
19:48now?
19:49Would you
19:49prefer I
19:51came back
19:51another time?
19:52How good
19:54of you to
19:54come at all.
19:56It's a privilege
19:56to be of use
19:57to you.
19:59Favor.
20:00I wish
20:01a favor.
20:03Anything in
20:04my power.
20:04I want
20:05to die.
20:08I'm in
20:09such pain
20:11that I want
20:11to die,
20:13but I
20:14cannot.
20:16Cannot?
20:17I'm
20:17afraid.
20:20There's
20:20nothing to
20:21fear.
20:22Just only
20:22sleep.
20:23Dream
20:24your sleep.
20:25Don't fear
20:25that.
20:25I don't
20:27fear.
20:29I
20:30fear.
20:32You
20:33fear
20:33burial
20:34alive.
20:38Why would
20:39you have
20:39such a
20:39fear?
20:40What makes
20:41you think
20:41you might
20:42be buried
20:43alive?
20:43My
20:44mother.
20:46She?
20:48Oh,
20:49promise me.
20:50Spare
20:50yourself.
20:51Spare
20:51yourself.
20:51You need
20:52say no
20:52more.
20:53I promise.
20:53I promise
20:54you that
20:55you will
20:56not be
20:56buried
20:57alive.
20:59Rest.
21:01Rest now.
21:02Rest.
21:03That is
21:08what you
21:08meant,
21:09Roderick,
21:09is it
21:09not?
21:11Like her,
21:12like your
21:13twin,
21:13you don't
21:13fear death
21:14so much
21:15as you
21:15fear being
21:15buried
21:16alive.
21:16even though I
21:17will.
21:17I
21:17spot him.
21:18Yeah?
21:19Yes?
21:20Only
21:20part?
21:21Well,
21:21I fear,
21:23oh,
21:23God,
21:23more than
21:24I can
21:24tell you.
21:24I,
21:25I,
21:25I,
21:25I,
21:26I fear
21:27what
21:27happens
21:27in death.
21:29Another
21:30aberration.
21:31As with the
21:32house,
21:32so with
21:32this.
21:33You are
21:33a man
21:33given to
21:34aberration.
21:34And what
21:35of that?
21:36You make
21:36as little
21:36sense,
21:36it's
21:37wind.
21:37Do you
21:38think because
21:38you call
21:38a thing
21:39an aberration
21:40it'll go
21:40away,
21:41that it
21:42will cure
21:42itself if
21:43you but
21:43name it?
21:44Reason.
21:45Common
21:46sense.
21:48When you
21:49speak to
21:49me,
21:50to me
21:50and Usher
21:51of reason
21:52and common
21:53sense,
21:53hmm?
21:54Do you
21:55not know
21:55of the
21:55madness
21:56that has
21:57tainted
21:57this family
21:58through its
21:58history?
21:59From the
21:59beginnings
22:00of the
22:00house of
22:00Usher,
22:01this house,
22:02this,
22:02this family,
22:04until now,
22:05until Madeline
22:06and me,
22:07the last
22:08of the
22:08Usher's,
22:09from beginning
22:09to end,
22:10from rise
22:11to,
22:12to fall.
22:15Roderick,
22:16rise to
22:18fall.
22:19From rise
22:20to fall.
22:23I,
22:23I had not
22:24thought on
22:25it before,
22:25but that
22:26is what
22:27it will
22:27be when,
22:28when,
22:29when she
22:30and I
22:31are dead.
22:33It will
22:34be the
22:35fall,
22:36the fall
22:37of the
22:37house of
22:38Usher.
22:40Come.
22:42Yes,
22:43Cato?
22:44The
22:44Lord
22:44and I,
22:45sir,
22:45from Dr.
22:46Wyndham.
22:46Oh,
22:46thank heaven.
22:47It has
22:47come none
22:48too soon.
22:57Mr.
22:57Manorick,
22:58sir.
22:59Hmm?
23:01What?
23:02Oh,
23:02yes,
23:03yes,
23:03Cato.
23:04You've
23:04been sitting
23:05here in the
23:06graveyard for
23:07nearly two
23:07hours.
23:09That long?
23:10Yes,
23:10sir.
23:10Tell me,
23:13Cato,
23:13how long
23:15have you
23:15been servant
23:16to Mr.
23:17Usher?
23:18More than
23:1930 years,
23:19sir.
23:21But I,
23:21I thought I
23:22told you that
23:23the night you
23:24arrived just a
23:25week ago.
23:25Did you?
23:26Then I
23:27forgot.
23:28Were you
23:28here when
23:29the mother
23:29died?
23:30The mother
23:31of Mr.
23:31Roderick and
23:32Miss
23:32Madeline?
23:33Why do
23:34you ask
23:35such a
23:35question?
23:35I don't
23:36know.
23:36I don't
23:37know really
23:37except I've
23:39been dwelling
23:39on what
23:40Miss
23:41Madeline
23:41told me
23:41about her
23:43mother,
23:44buried
23:45alive.
23:46Was she
23:47indeed?
23:47Sir,
23:48don't ask
23:49such questions.
23:50Don't dwell
23:51on such
23:51thoughts.
23:52Why not?
23:53It was
23:53discovered the
23:54mother had
23:54been buried
23:55alive?
23:56Yes.
23:57Tell me
23:58about it.
23:59Sir,
24:00I entreat
24:01you.
24:02Understand,
24:04you cannot
24:04stay in the
24:05house of
24:05Usher.
24:06No one
24:06can without
24:07something.
24:08I,
24:08I know
24:09not what
24:10but something
24:10evil taking
24:12possession of
24:13his mind,
24:13his spirit,
24:14his very
24:15soul.
24:16It will
24:17happen to
24:17you.
24:18It is
24:19happening to
24:20you.
24:20No.
24:21You've been
24:22drawn here
24:23to this
24:24spot.
24:25You've been
24:26sitting here
24:26in the damp
24:27and chill
24:28for hours
24:29because you
24:31too have
24:31taken the
24:32first step
24:33toward madness.
24:34How did
24:35they discover
24:35she'd been
24:36buried alive?
24:37Sir,
24:38I beg
24:38you,
24:39turn your
24:39thoughts
24:40away from
24:41how?
24:43If you
24:45must hear
24:45it,
24:47a few
24:48weeks after
24:48she had
24:49been buried,
24:50the coffin
24:51placed in that
24:52vault you see
24:53under the
24:53trees,
24:55it was
24:55discovered
24:55that she
24:57had been
24:57buried wearing
24:58a valuable
24:58ring.
24:59A ring?
25:00It contained
25:01a stone worth
25:01a fortune.
25:02It had been
25:02a...
25:03Tell me
25:03about it.
25:03She'd
25:04always
25:04worn
25:04it
25:04and when
25:05the
25:05undertaker
25:05encoffined
25:07her,
25:08he neglected
25:08to remove
25:09it.
25:10He had
25:10no idea
25:11of its
25:11worth
25:11or surely
25:12he'd
25:12have inquired
25:13whether the
25:13family wished
25:13her to wear
25:14it to the
25:14grave.
25:16And as you
25:16will understand,
25:18such was
25:18Miss Madeline's
25:19and Mr.
25:19Roderick's
25:20grief.
25:21They didn't
25:22think of the
25:22ring until
25:23weeks later.
25:24And decided
25:25to retrieve
25:26it?
25:26Yes.
25:27We went
25:28to the
25:29vault,
25:29the three
25:30of us,
25:31slid back
25:32the slab
25:32that covers
25:33it and...
25:34Sir,
25:36let us
25:36go in.
25:37Finish.
25:38Finish what
25:38you're telling
25:39me.
25:41There lay
25:42the coffin.
25:44The lid
25:44was in two
25:45parts.
25:46A lower
25:47part that
25:47covered her
25:48body from
25:48the waist
25:49down,
25:50an upper
25:50part from
25:51the waist
25:51up.
25:53This I
25:54pried up
25:55and there
25:57there...
25:59Go on.
26:01She lay
26:02face down.
26:05Her hands...
26:07Her hands
26:08had torn
26:09chunks of
26:10hair out
26:11by the
26:11roots.
26:12Such was
26:13the agony
26:14of terror.
26:16Hands,
26:17do I say?
26:18Claws.
26:20They had
26:20become rigid
26:21in the
26:22depth,
26:22Rose.
26:23Yes.
26:24Yes?
26:25We
26:26turned her
26:28over.
26:30Her face.
26:32Oh,
26:33my God,
26:33we wear
26:34a face.
26:35I cannot
26:36describe.
26:37I cannot.
26:39I cannot.
26:39I cannot.
26:41Enough.
26:43Enough,
26:43honey.
26:44Oh,
26:45oh.
26:46Chill is
26:47getting to me.
26:48Oh,
26:48no!
26:50Henry!
26:52Quickly.
26:53Come.
26:53help us.
26:58What is that?
26:58There.
26:59Coming
27:00toward us
27:00from the
27:00house.
27:01Roderick!
27:01Help me!
27:03Help me!
27:04What is it,
27:05ma'am?
27:05A corpse!
27:07A corpse!
27:08Oh,
27:08Madeline!
27:09Dead!
27:10She's dead
27:10at last!
27:11But,
27:12but,
27:12but,
27:12but,
27:13but,
27:13what?
27:13What?
27:14What is it?
27:16She tried
27:17to take me
27:18to the grave
27:18with her.
27:19She tried
27:20to drag me
27:21into her coffin.
27:22No,
27:23no,
27:23no,
27:23no.
27:23Roderick,
27:24Roderick,
27:24pull yourself
27:25together and tell us.
27:26I,
27:26I,
27:27I went to her
27:28chamber to see
27:28how she was.
27:30I called her name
27:31again and again
27:33and again
27:33and no answer.
27:34I felt for a pulse,
27:35none.
27:37I,
27:37I sling my head
27:38against her breast.
27:39No heartbeat.
27:40And then,
27:42oh God,
27:44her arms were entwined
27:45around my neck,
27:47her cold arms
27:48around my neck
27:49and I tried.
27:51I tried to break free
27:53but I couldn't,
27:54I couldn't.
27:55I grabbed her wrists
27:57and I tore,
27:58I tore her arms
27:59from her neck.
28:03Sir,
28:04I've got it.
28:05Ah,
28:05help me carry him
28:06inside.
28:15Oh,
28:15oh no.
28:16I'll be calm,
28:17Cato.
28:18When Mr. Usher
28:19tore himself free
28:20he must have dragged
28:20her half out of the coffin.
28:23Come.
28:24We must put her back in.
28:27Cato.
28:28I dare not touch her.
28:31Very well.
28:35There.
28:38Is she
28:39at last
28:40dead?
28:43She seems so.
28:45Ride for the doctor.
28:46Tell him to come at once.
28:48Yes, sir.
28:51Sir,
28:52you mean to stay here?
28:55Yes.
28:55But I will be gone
28:57at least two hours.
29:00You change your mind.
29:01I grab the ring.
29:02Find your way back
29:03to the library
29:03in that maze of cargo.
29:04Don't worry about it.
29:05I shall stay here.
29:07I made her.
29:08She'd not be buried alive
29:09and I mean to keep
29:10that promise,
29:10Cato.
29:12Beginning now.
29:12Alone in that chamber
29:22of death
29:23within the house
29:24of Usher
29:25Gabriel Manorings
29:27seats himself
29:28beside the coffin
29:29of Madeline Usher
29:30to keep his vigil
29:32and his promise
29:33and wonders
29:35if he himself
29:36may not be going mad.
29:39I'll be back shortly
29:40with Act Three.
29:42Terror so awful
29:53as to shatter
29:54the human mind
29:55haunts the house
29:56of Usher.
29:57Hangs like a shroud
29:59in the air.
30:01Grips on the spirit
30:02like the very slime
30:04upon the decaying walls.
30:07As Gabriel Manorings
30:08sits beside the coffin
30:09of Madeline Usher
30:10he feels this terror
30:12seeping into him.
30:17Seeping into me
30:18like a rising tide
30:19of pollution.
30:21Cato said he would
30:21be gone two hours
30:22in fetching Dr. Windham
30:23but to me
30:24it seemed like twenty
30:25before I heard
30:26his returning footsteps.
30:31You don't look well.
30:32I'm all right.
30:33Sir,
30:34you deceive yourself.
30:36Never mind now.
30:37I'm seeing Miss Usher.
30:38In that bag, Cato.
30:43Heart first.
30:47Is she?
30:49No.
30:50There's no heart beating.
30:51None whatever.
30:52No pulse.
30:54No vital signs at all.
30:56She is gone then.
30:58Hey, Mr. Manorings.
30:59I have attended her
31:01in this strange illness
31:02for nearly a year.
31:04I've seen her in this state
31:05four times before.
31:06What's to be done?
31:08What's indeed?
31:10Well,
31:10I would wait
31:12a few days at least
31:14and then
31:14and then I should
31:17bury her.
31:18No.
31:19No.
31:20She feared to be
31:21buried alive.
31:23Yes, I know.
31:24Her mother.
31:25You attended her?
31:26No, no.
31:26Another man.
31:28From what I've been
31:29able to learn
31:29I judge her illness
31:31was similar,
31:32just as unaccountable
31:33as baffling.
31:35Well, Mr. Manorings,
31:37she did indeed
31:37fear the same fate
31:38her mother suffered
31:39but I think that
31:40after, say,
31:42three or four days...
31:43I say no.
31:44At least.
31:46At least a week.
31:47No.
31:48No.
31:48Two.
31:49Even three.
31:50You don't know
31:50what you're saying.
31:52You can't keep a body
31:53for two or three weeks.
31:55Especially hers.
31:56Why especially hers?
31:58Well, look at her, man.
31:59Here.
32:01See?
32:01Under the skin
32:02of the cheeks.
32:04Those gray patches.
32:06She's partially
32:07decomposed already.
32:08I gave her my word, doctor.
32:10I said we would
32:11make sure.
32:12There is an evil
32:14in this house.
32:15A sinister,
32:16malevolent thing
32:17that's
32:18fastened itself
32:19on the ushers
32:20years ago
32:20and is beginning
32:23to fasten
32:24itself on you.
32:25Now, doctor.
32:26Now, hear me out.
32:28I have not seen you
32:29in some days.
32:31The moment I came
32:32into this room,
32:32I saw it.
32:33I tell you,
32:34I saw it.
32:35The change in you.
32:37The sickening
32:38in you.
32:39The
32:39I do not use
32:42this word lightly,
32:43Mr. Myring.
32:45The
32:46insanity in you.
32:50You are right.
32:51I gave
32:52Madeline Usher
32:53my word
32:53she would not
32:54be buried alive
32:55and she will
32:56not be.
32:58Well,
32:59I see that
33:00I cannot
33:01dissuade you.
33:02Very well.
33:04Do as you wish.
33:05And may
33:06God help you.
33:14I stayed
33:15by her coffin
33:16for yet another
33:17hour or so,
33:18making sure
33:19there were no
33:19signs of life.
33:21Then I returned
33:22to the library,
33:23led there,
33:23of course,
33:24by Cato,
33:24for I,
33:25well,
33:25I could never
33:26have found
33:26my own way
33:27through that maze
33:28of corridors
33:28and passages.
33:30I found
33:30Roderick Usher
33:31seated,
33:32bolt upright
33:32in a wing chair,
33:33staring at...
33:34I know not what.
33:37I...
33:37Roderick.
33:39Roderick,
33:40I must talk to you.
33:42Do you hear me?
33:44Yes.
33:45Now,
33:46Roderick,
33:47as I told you,
33:49I promised
33:50your sister
33:51to take
33:51every precaution
33:52against her
33:52being buried alive.
33:53She is dead.
33:55I know it
33:56in my heart,
33:57my soul.
33:58I know it.
33:59I believe so,
34:00too.
34:00But we must
34:01be certain.
34:03Now,
34:04that presents
34:05a problem.
34:07Roderick,
34:09are you listening?
34:10Problem?
34:11Yes.
34:14Decomposition.
34:16If she is dead,
34:18she will decompose.
34:20And after a period
34:21of days,
34:22well,
34:22if you could imagine...
34:23Days?
34:25Days of what?
34:26Of visiting her coffin
34:28at least every 12 hours,
34:29say,
34:29to make sure she's dead.
34:30Are you mad?
34:31We must keep her body.
34:33One week,
34:34two.
34:35And the question is,
34:37where?
34:39Where?
34:40We'll have to leave
34:41the coffin open
34:41in case she should
34:43regain her senses.
34:43on the other hand,
34:45if she is indeed
34:47dead,
34:47the...
34:48Well,
34:48there are...
34:48There are vaults
34:50deep down beneath
34:52the house.
34:52We could put the coffin
34:53in one of those.
34:54Good.
34:55Good.
34:55We'll do that,
34:57then.
34:58Yes.
35:00We'll do just that.
35:08Together,
35:09Usher and I
35:10arrange for the
35:10temporary entombment
35:12of Madeline,
35:13his twin.
35:15The vault,
35:16so long unopened
35:17that our torches
35:18were half-smothered
35:19in its oppressive atmosphere,
35:21was small,
35:22damp,
35:22and entirely
35:23without means
35:24of admission of life,
35:25lying at great depth
35:27beneath the house.
35:31There.
35:33There, Gabriel.
35:34It is done.
35:36We must come here again.
35:38In no more than
35:39twelve hours.
35:40As you say.
35:43As you say.
35:47Before he wished
35:48only bury,
35:49Madeline,
35:50before it becomes
35:51her complaint,
35:51agrees so readily
35:53with what I said.
35:55Only I'd ask myself
35:56that question.
35:57But I did not
35:58end consequence
35:59for some
36:00unexpected problems.
36:01Why do you not
36:02believe me?
36:03I don't believe you,
36:04Roderick.
36:04I wish to be for myself.
36:05There is no need
36:06for you to do it.
36:08I have done it.
36:09You have?
36:10I have visited
36:10the coffin
36:11at least once
36:11every twelve hours,
36:12sometimes twice.
36:13She does not live.
36:16It's my word for it.
36:17It is my word
36:18concerns me.
36:19I gave my word
36:20to her,
36:21not yours.
36:22She is dead.
36:23I assure you,
36:26she's dead.
36:30It was about that time
36:31the sounds began.
36:33Strange knocking,
36:34creaking,
36:35perhaps had begun before,
36:36but I had not at first.
36:38I would hear some
36:39curious sound
36:40from below
36:40and say to Roderick,
36:41what was that?
36:42What was what?
36:43Listen.
36:46What is that?
36:48Rats,
36:49perhaps?
36:50Rats?
36:51Well,
36:51you know,
36:52the house is vested
36:52with them.
36:54I've never heard
36:54rats make sound
36:55like that.
36:56I asked.
36:57Time went on.
36:59And it seemed to me
37:00the sounds grew
37:00louder and I would
37:01say to Roderick,
37:01listen.
37:04And he would answer.
37:05A door banging
37:07in the wind
37:08somewhere.
37:09And I would say
37:09there is no wind.
37:10He would answer.
37:11Well,
37:12let it's somebody else.
37:13Don't bother me.
37:17And on that fatal night,
37:18that fatal night
37:19as we got in the library,
37:20he's sitting,
37:21staring,
37:21vacant,
37:22nothing,
37:22trying to read,
37:23but my mind
37:24saw that awful
37:24chain of death
37:25far below,
37:26outside the wind
37:27gathering for a storm.
37:29It happened.
37:30I came aware
37:31of distinct
37:32hollow metallic
37:34muffled reverberation.
37:36Complete unnerved,
37:37I went to my feet
37:38and looked at Usher.
37:39His eyes were fixed
37:40before him
37:41and throughout
37:42his whole conference
37:43there reigned
37:43a stony rigidity.
37:45I said,
37:45Roderick,
37:46do you not hear it?
37:47Yes,
37:48I hear it
37:48and have heard it
37:50as you have.
37:52Long,
37:53long,
37:53many minutes,
37:54many hours,
37:54many days
37:55have I heard.
37:56Yet I did not.
37:58I dared not speak.
38:00No.
38:01No,
38:02touch me not.
38:03I am accursed.
38:04Accursed?
38:05For I heard
38:06the sounds as did you,
38:07but I dared not speak
38:08and dared not go.
38:09Not go?
38:10My God,
38:11are you telling me?
38:12I dared not once,
38:12not once have I gone
38:13down to sea.
38:14I dared not.
38:16I dared not.
38:18We put a living
38:19in the tomb.
38:22She comes.
38:24She comes.
38:25For me.
38:26Listen.
38:27Now listen.
38:28I know.
38:29We've heard
38:30the rending
38:30across
38:31the grating
38:31of iron hinges
38:32of a prison
38:33struggles
38:33within the
38:34covered archway
38:34of the vault.
38:35And now,
38:36now,
38:37she comes.
38:39For me.
38:40The moment
38:40she'll be here.
38:42I hear her
38:44footsteps.
38:45I hear
38:47the horrible
38:48beating of her heart.
38:50She comes.
38:51For me,
38:51she comes.
38:52I tell you,
38:53she stands
38:54outside the door.
38:56And as if
39:02in the superhuman
39:04energy of his utterance
39:05there had been
39:05found the potency
39:06of a spell,
39:07the huge
39:08antique pants
39:09to which he pointed
39:10drew slowly back.
39:11And outside
39:12those doors
39:12did stand
39:13towering
39:14an enshrouded
39:15figure
39:15of Madeline.
39:16There was blood
39:21on her white
39:21robes,
39:22evidence of
39:22some bitter
39:23strut on
39:23every portion
39:24of her
39:24putrefied frame.
39:26For an instant
39:27she remained
39:27trembling and
39:28reeling to and
39:29fro upon the
39:30threshold.
39:30And then
39:33with a moaning
39:34trial
39:34fell heavily
39:36on her brother
39:36and in her
39:38violence
39:39now final
39:40death
39:41agate
39:41bore him
39:43to the floor.
39:44A corpse.
39:47A victim
39:48to the
39:49terrors
39:50of all
39:51he had
39:52anticipated.
39:57This is
39:58E.G.
39:59Marshall.
39:59I shall
40:00return
40:01shortly.
40:10The
40:11manuscript
40:12of the
40:13fall of
40:13Rouse of
40:14Usher
40:14ends
40:15thus.
40:17I fled
40:17from the
40:18house.
40:19Lean all
40:19behind me.
40:21As I ran
40:21I heard
40:23sound
40:23so horrendous
40:24it made
40:25stop
40:25and turn.
40:27My brain
40:29reel
40:29as looking
40:30back
40:31I saw
40:32the mighty
40:32walls of
40:33the house
40:34burst
40:34to sun
40:35and in
40:37a few
40:37moments
40:37the moon
40:38breaking
40:39through scudding
40:40clouds
40:40a blood red
40:42moon
40:42revealed the
40:44end.
40:46The fall
40:47of
40:48House of
40:48Usher.
40:50Our cast
40:50included
40:51Kevin McCarthy
40:52Arnold
40:53Arnold Moss
40:53Marion
40:54Sotis
40:54and Robert
40:55Biden.
40:56The entire
40:56production was
40:57under the
40:57direction of
40:58Hyman
40:58Braff.
40:58All right.
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