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CBS Radio Mystery Theater (a.k.a. Radio Mystery Theater and Mystery Theater) is a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS Radio Network affiliates from 1974 to 1982, and later in the early 2000s was repeated by the NPR satellite feed.
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00:15Come in.
00:19Welcome.
00:20I'm E.G. Marshall.
00:23Sit down and try to make yourself comfortable.
00:27Yes, it is quite warm in here, but don't worry about it, because in just a moment, we'll
00:33bring you a tale that will chill your blood, a tale of black magic that may have begun
00:39centuries ago, but which takes place today, a tale in which one of the dark powers of
00:46the pit is released on the campus of a Midwestern university.
00:52Did you hear that?
00:54It's just the wind.
00:55No, it's not.
00:57It's something else.
00:59I don't hear anything.
01:01I do.
01:03A kind of humming, singing sound.
01:07Look over there, near Brewster Hall.
01:10It's only a shadow.
01:11It's moving.
01:12It's coming this way.
01:13Now stop it, Debbie.
01:15You're getting yourself all...
01:16I tell you it's coming this way.
01:17There.
01:18It's got eyes.
01:20It's that thing I saw in the mirror.
01:24Oh!
01:24Get out of here.
01:26Run!
01:27Debbie, wait.
01:28Oh, don't go that way.
01:30This way.
01:31Over, toward me.
01:48Our mystery drama, The Sending, was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Robert Newman
01:55and stars Mandel Kramer and Marion Seldes.
02:08Is there such a thing as black magic?
02:11The ancients thought there was.
02:14For centuries, there were those who were willing to trade their souls for the power to call up and control
02:20the dark forces of the pit.
02:22To what end?
02:24Sometimes for power or wealth?
02:27Sometimes, as in this tale, to achieve eternal youth, eternal life.
02:34But, as we will see, there is always great danger involved.
02:39And the price is always high and usually paid in blood.
02:44Our spine tingler begins in a large, rambling house on the edge of the campus of a Midwestern university.
02:52A gray-haired woman, strangely shrunken but with intense, gleaming eyes, sits in a chair in a sparsely furnished room,
03:02waiting and listening.
03:07Arnold?
03:08Yes?
03:10Where are you?
03:11You know where I am.
03:12In my room.
03:17Hello, Mia.
03:19How are you?
03:21You know that, too.
03:22Where have you been?
03:24At a faculty meeting and then at my office.
03:26And you couldn't get home before this?
03:28Well, I had several conferences.
03:30I had to arrange my schedule.
03:31That's what you said yesterday.
03:32Mia, it always takes a few days when you're starting in a new place.
03:35Why are you so impatient?
03:36Why?
03:37Have you forgotten how I get when my time is running out?
03:41Do you realize I've only got about two weeks left?
03:45I told you to relax, Mia.
03:47Classes will be starting tomorrow and you know how quickly I can work when I have to.
03:52I should have someone for you within a few days.
04:03So, to sum up our first session, what we're dealing with, then, is a tradition that goes
04:08back to the dawn of time.
04:10Man's belief that he can control not the forces of nature, but the forces that shape nature
04:16and can give him power over other men and even over life and death.
04:20That will be all for today.
04:22You have your reading list and your assignment for next time.
04:24However, if any of you are interested in any of the many fields I covered in my outline,
04:29by all means, come talk to me and I'll give you some additional reading for a special report.
04:35Well, what do you think, Beth?
04:37Well, it was quite a lecture.
04:38I think it's going to be very interesting.
04:40I'm not talking about the course.
04:42I'm talking about him.
04:43He's really something, isn't he?
04:45Oh, come on, Debbie.
04:47He's married, isn't he?
04:48Oh, sure he is.
04:49All the really attractive ones are.
04:51But his wife is about 20 years older than he is.
04:55Not only that, but she's not well.
04:56How do you know that?
04:58Oh, I made it my business to find out.
05:01Since he just got here, it wasn't easy.
05:03But if you really want something...
05:05Debbie, okay.
05:07There's no reason why you should care.
05:09You've got someone for yourself.
05:10If you're talking about Bill, I haven't got him.
05:13He just has the room across the hall from me.
05:15Which he made a point of getting last spring.
05:17So?
05:18So?
05:18Give me a hand.
05:20Come on up and talk to Lansing with me.
05:22All right.
05:23As a matter of fact, I was going to do it anyway.
05:25I thought I might do one of those special reports.
05:28Oh, great.
05:28Then you talk to him and I'll tag along.
05:32Okay.
05:34Professor Lansing.
05:36Yes?
05:37I'm Beth Howard.
05:39I'd like to do one of the special reports you talked about.
05:41Oh, I'm delighted, Miss Howard.
05:43It usually takes three or four sessions before anyone volunteers.
05:46Was there something you were particularly interested in?
05:49Well, yes.
05:50The tarot.
05:51I should have known.
05:53That's usually one of the first assignments to be requested.
05:56Tell me, do you have a set of tarot cards?
05:58No, I haven't.
05:59Well, after you do your report, I'm sure the bookstore will have to order them.
06:03But in the meantime, if you'll stop by my office this afternoon, I'll give you my set and also a
06:07supplementary reading list.
06:08Oh, thank you, Professor.
06:09Not at all.
06:10Uh, what about your friend?
06:13I'm sorry.
06:13I don't believe I know your name.
06:15Debbie Ross.
06:16Would you like to take on one of the special assignments, too, Miss Ross?
06:19Oh, well, not right now, Professor, but I'll probably ask for one after the next session or two.
06:23But in the meantime, I wanted to tell you that I think the course is absolutely fascinating.
06:30Well, thank you, Miss Ross.
06:32Today's lecture was very general, of course, an attempt to indicate approach and sketch in background.
06:37But I hope you'll continue to find it interesting.
06:40Oh, I'm sure I will.
06:52All right, Mia.
06:53I told you you could relax and you can.
06:56You've got one?
06:57I have several.
06:58Two in particular.
07:00I'm sure you'll be delighted with either one of them.
07:01You're sure?
07:03Mia, haven't I done it often enough so that I can tell?
07:06Yes, we both have.
07:07But, Arnold, it'll have to be soon or I'll be so weak.
07:12I won't be able to help.
07:13Don't worry, Mia.
07:14It will be soon.
07:16Not more than another few days.
07:26All the power that ever was or will be is here now.
07:33Yes?
07:34Who is it?
07:35Who would you like it to be?
07:39Hi.
07:40Hi, yourself.
07:41So you're into the tarot.
07:42How did you know that?
07:44I heard you're intoning.
07:46Oh, yes.
07:47But how did you know that that had anything to do with the tarot?
07:50I'm not exactly an ignoramus, but I did a lot of reading in it on my own and in practically
07:55everything that was related to it.
07:56You never cease to astonish me.
07:59Yes, I'm quite an astonishing guy.
08:00Uh-huh.
08:01But how come you're not just studying it but working with the cards?
08:04It's for Professor Lansing's course.
08:06I'm doing a special report for him.
08:08Oh, good old Witchcraft 1-2.
08:11Oh, come on, Bill.
08:12We were a little surprised when we heard he was going to be giving it.
08:15No, I don't know why we should have been.
08:16Quite a few of the universities are giving courses like it.
08:19After all, this is the age of Aquarius.
08:22It happens to be a very interesting course.
08:25Yeah, sure it is.
08:26And Lansing's a fascinating man.
08:28Yes, he is.
08:29You know him?
08:30I've never met him officially, but I've seen him at the pool.
08:33The pool?
08:33Yeah, he's a very good swimmer.
08:35Oh, I'll have to tell that to Debbie.
08:38Why?
08:38Well, she's taking the course, too.
08:40And she's got quite a thing about him.
08:42Yeah, well, just tell her to watch her step.
08:45Oh, because he's married?
08:46No, because I've got a funny feeling about him.
08:55Yes, come in.
08:57Good afternoon, Professor Lansing.
08:59Good afternoon.
09:01It's Miss Ross, isn't it?
09:02Yes.
09:03Oh, I hope this is all right, my coming here to your office.
09:05Well, that's what I'm here for.
09:07What can I do for you?
09:08Well, I told you after your first lecture that one of these days I'd like to do one of
09:12your special reports.
09:13Yes, I remember.
09:15And you're ready to do one now, are you?
09:17I've gotten pretty well squared away in all my other courses, so I do have time for it.
09:21Well, I'm delighted.
09:22Now, is there any area that you're particularly interested in?
09:25Uh, no.
09:27Oh, well, then how about divination?
09:30Foretelling the future?
09:31That's right.
09:32That's a big field, isn't it?
09:34Yes, it is.
09:35And there must be a hundred ways people have used to look into the future.
09:39I'll give you a reading list on it, and, uh, why don't I give you this, too?
09:43What's that?
09:44It's called a speculum.
09:46It's an old bronze mirror.
09:49What a fascinating-looking thing.
09:51Yes, it is, isn't it?
09:52I got it in Paris years ago.
09:54I've never been able to date it, but it's probably Roman, Mithraic.
09:58But what is this strange-looking head on it?
10:01That's Kronos, or eternal time.
10:04He was an important figure in the mysteries of Mithra.
10:06And what do I do with it?
10:08Well, it was undoubtedly used not just in Roman times, but all through the Middle Ages,
10:13to foretell the future by looking into a mirror.
10:15Oh.
10:16Why don't you try it?
10:17You'll find the technique described in Zeller, one of the first books on the reading list.
10:21Oh, it sounded very exciting.
10:24Thank you very much, Professor.
10:26Not at all.
10:27It's a very rare and unusual thing, so I wouldn't give it to just anyone.
10:31But I know you'll take good care of it.
10:33And we'll all be looking forward to your report.
10:43Mia?
10:45I've got the girl.
10:46One of the two I told you about.
10:48Her name is Debbie Ross.
10:49She has the mirror?
10:50I just gave it to her.
10:52Good.
10:53When can we do it?
10:55You are impatient, aren't you?
10:57Yes.
10:59All right.
11:01We'll do it tonight.
11:06I hope you're approaching the occult with a proper amount of skepticism, said Professor Lansing.
11:13But somehow he didn't sound very skeptical himself just now.
11:19Exactly what are he and his wife planning to do tonight?
11:23And what does that have to do with the mirror he gave Debbie?
11:27We'll find out shortly.
11:39Unto all things there is a season.
11:43And, of course, the proper time for one of the darkest aspects of the occult black magic is night.
11:50Well, it's night now, about ten o'clock.
11:54And Beth Howard has just arrived at Debbie's rooming house, which is only a block or so from the campus.
12:01I was afraid you weren't coming.
12:02Well, you said it was important that you had something to show me.
12:05Yes, I have.
12:06Look.
12:07Oh, wow.
12:09What is it?
12:10A speculum.
12:12What's that?
12:13An old bronze mirror, probably Roman.
12:16Where did you get it?
12:18Ah, from Professor Lansing.
12:20Oh.
12:20I went to see him this afternoon.
12:23Beth, I think he likes me.
12:26He said he wouldn't give it to just anyone.
12:27I'm sure he wouldn't.
12:30It's a very unusual thing.
12:32What are you supposed to do with it?
12:34Well, it's all here in this book.
12:35The room should be dark, lit only by one candle.
12:39And you sit with your back to the candle, and you stare into the mirror, keeping your mind a blank.
12:45Ah.
12:46Have you done it yet?
12:47No.
12:48Well, I...
12:49I started to, and I...
12:50I felt a little funny about it.
12:53Funny how?
12:54Just funny.
12:55It's a wonderful-looking thing, but...
12:57But it's pretty weird.
13:00You know, all those figures around the edge of it.
13:02Mm.
13:03Is that why you called me?
13:05Yes.
13:05I thought maybe you wouldn't mind staying here with me while I tried it.
13:09Oh, of course I don't mind.
13:11Are you going to do it now?
13:12Oh, yes.
13:12I'll light the candle.
13:13Get the light switch.
13:14All right.
13:16It's strange, but I know how you feel.
13:19I felt very much the same way when I was working with the tarot cards.
13:23We don't really believe in any of the things we're doing, but for centuries, people did believe in them.
13:30Keep quiet.
13:31I'm going to look and concentrate.
13:35All right.
13:38Well?
13:39Do you see anything?
13:41I don't know.
13:43I think...
13:44Maybe.
13:46What do you see?
13:47Wait.
13:47I'm not sure.
13:50It's probably just a shadow, but I...
13:53I do think I see something in there.
13:57What does it look like?
13:58It's hard to tell.
14:01It's dark.
14:02Very dark and shapeless.
14:06It's moving.
14:08It's turning.
14:10Oh, Beth.
14:11It's got eyes.
14:15Flaming eyes.
14:16Oh, come on now, dearie.
14:17No, it's eyes.
14:18It's looking at me.
14:20Put on the light, Beth.
14:21I'm not going to look anymore.
14:22Okay.
14:24Oh.
14:25You really did think you saw something?
14:28Yes.
14:28Well, as you said, it was probably just a shadow.
14:32The candle flickering.
14:33You really are shook up, aren't you?
14:35Yes, I am.
14:37You want to come over to my place and stay overnight with me?
14:39Could I?
14:40Of course.
14:41Bill's out, too, giving a seminar, but he should be back soon.
14:44And if my light's on, he'll come in for a while.
14:46Oh, good.
14:47Just let me get my coat and wrap this up again.
14:51You're taking the mirror?
14:52Oh, I better.
14:53It may be a scary thing, but it's very valuable, and I said I'd take care of it.
15:04All right, Mia.
15:06Is it time?
15:07Yes.
15:08Let's go into my study.
15:10You'll have to help me.
15:11Of course.
15:12Take my arm.
15:14Oh.
15:15Slowly, then.
15:16Arnold, I really am weak.
15:21I've never felt so weak before.
15:24It doesn't matter.
15:25We'll all be over in a little while.
15:28Here, now, sit down.
15:30Yes.
15:32I'll get the box.
15:39Here, now, hold it while I light the incense.
15:43I have it.
15:44Where do you think she is?
15:47What is the difference?
15:48She has the mirror.
15:50No matter where she is, it will find her.
15:53Are you ready?
15:54Yes.
15:54Give me the rod.
15:56Here.
15:58All right.
15:58Now, you'll be quick with the Arthur when I need it.
16:00Yes.
16:06Peor, wherever you are, hear me.
16:12Do you hear me, Peor?
16:16With this rod, and in the names of Gakerem, Amartet, Algar, and Alcosta, I summon thee.
16:29It's...
16:30It's...
16:31Coming, Arnold.
16:34There it is.
16:35Over there.
16:36I see it.
16:37Take the rod.
16:39Give me the Arthur.
16:40Why must it be wrapped this way?
16:42You know why.
16:43It mustn't be touched until it's needed.
16:45Quickly, hurry.
16:46Yes.
16:46Stay where you are.
16:49I hold the Arthur, whose hilt is signed with the seal of Solomon and which is more powerful than you
16:56are.
16:57Now, hearken to me.
16:59We have a life for you.
17:02You will know her as you always have before, because she has your mirror.
17:09I give her to you, and thus buy another year of life for Mia.
17:15Is it agreed?
17:19Good.
17:21Be gone, then, and take her.
17:24And then fulfill your part of the bargain.
17:32It's...
17:34It...
17:34It's gone.
17:36Yes.
17:38Are you all right?
17:39Yes.
17:40Yes.
17:41Somehow, I always forget how much it takes out of me.
17:45Yeah.
17:46Here's the Arthur.
17:48Wrap it up again carefully.
17:51I'll get us both some brandy.
18:00Why are you going this way?
18:01Well, I thought we'd cut across the canvas.
18:03Why?
18:05You're still upset, aren't you?
18:07Yes.
18:09Look, I'm not going to say it's silly.
18:11I've gotten anxious myself at times when there was no real reason for it.
18:16But you know the whole thing was just your imagination.
18:19You've been doing a lot of reading about things that are strange, and you think you saw something in the
18:24mirror.
18:25Probably one of those heads that are on it.
18:27I guess you're right.
18:29I'm sure I am.
18:30But if it's going to affect you this way, maybe you should give up the course altogether.
18:35No, that seems silly.
18:36Besides, you always claim one of my troubles was I was too literal.
18:41Well, I didn't have any imagination.
18:43Well, it's beginning to look as if I was wrong.
18:45Well, why don't we talk to Bill about it?
18:48It turns out he knows a lot about this sort of thing.
18:50How come?
18:51Well, he got interested in it through his work in English Lit.
18:54The Tarot when he was writing a paper on the wasteland,
18:56and Black Magic when he was doing an analysis of the Gothic novels.
19:01You two are really an item, aren't you?
19:04I don't know what you mean.
19:05Oh, of course you do.
19:06You never see anyone else.
19:08Neither does he.
19:09Well, I like him, and he likes me.
19:12You just like him?
19:14Okay.
19:15I more than like him.
19:16If he asks me to marry him, I do it in a minute.
19:19He will.
19:21How do you know?
19:22I just think he will.
19:25Well, it's not all that simple.
19:28He's just an instructor now, and it'll be a while before he gets his...
19:32What is it?
19:34Don't you hear that?
19:36Oh, it's just the wind.
19:37No, it isn't.
19:38It's something else.
19:40I don't hear anything.
19:42Well, I do.
19:44A kind of humming, singing sound.
19:49Look, over there, near Brewster Hall.
19:52Oh, it's only a shadow.
19:53It's moving.
19:54It's coming this way.
19:56No, no, stop it, Debbie.
19:57You're getting yourself all worked up about nothing.
19:59How do you think it's coming this way?
20:02It's got eyes.
20:04It's that thing I saw in the mirror.
20:06Come on.
20:07Run.
20:08Debbie, wait.
20:09If you're going to run, don't go that way.
20:12I'll come this way.
20:14Over toward me.
20:17Oh, my God.
20:20It is something.
20:22It is.
20:23Oh, God.
20:24I'm talking yet.
20:25Help.
20:32Beth.
20:33Beth, darling.
20:35Open your eyes.
20:38Beth.
20:40Good girl.
20:42I was starting to think I should call a doctor or take you over to the infirmary.
20:45What?
20:46Oh, Bill.
20:47Yes.
20:48How are you?
20:49I don't know.
20:52What happened?
20:53I'm not sure.
20:54I found you lying on the sidewalk at the edge of the campus.
20:57I brought you up here to your room.
20:59Oh, my head hurts.
21:01I'm not surprised.
21:02You got a nasty bump.
21:03You must have fallen and banged it.
21:06Now, get a wet towel.
21:07I'll put on a compress.
21:08No, no, wait.
21:09Debbie.
21:10What happened to Debbie?
21:12Debbie?
21:13Yes.
21:13She was with me.
21:14We were going across the campus when suddenly we saw it, the thing from the mirror, and
21:20we started to run, and...
21:22Wait a minute.
21:22Wait a minute.
21:23What thing?
21:24I told you.
21:25The thing from the mirror.
21:27It came after us.
21:28After her.
21:29And I heard her scream.
21:31Oh, Bill.
21:32Debbie, you've got to go look for her.
21:33Yeah, sure.
21:34Sure.
21:34Look, let me get that...
21:35No, I'm all right.
21:38You've got to go find her.
21:39All right.
21:39Now, quiet down, Beth.
21:41Now, when I found you, you were all alone.
21:43Because I ran one way toward the house here, and she ran the other, and it was apt...
21:49You don't believe me.
21:51Well, it's a little hard when I don't know what you're talking about.
21:54I mean, what was this thing that came after you, and what was the mirror?
21:58The mirror that Professor Lansing gave her.
22:01She was going to do a report for him on divination, like the one I'm doing on the tarot, and...
22:06All right.
22:07Now, will you hold it a minute?
22:08When I left you to go to my seminar, you were still here.
22:11Uh-huh.
22:11You said you were going to stay here and do some reading.
22:14Right.
22:14And then Debbie called and asked me to come to her place, and she said she had something
22:18to show me.
22:19The mirror.
22:20Yes.
22:21An old bronze one.
22:23A speculum.
22:24Speculum, she called it.
22:25She was supposed to look into it.
22:27Describe what she saw.
22:28Yeah.
22:29Specul...
22:29Uh, speculomancy.
22:31That's right.
22:32But she felt funny about it.
22:34Nervous.
22:35So she wanted me there while she did it.
22:37Yeah.
22:38And did she do it?
22:39Yes.
22:40Yes.
22:41We put out the light and lit a candle, and she saw...
22:45Well, no, no.
22:46She thought she saw something in it, a dark shape with flaming eyes, and that made her
22:53more jumpy than ever, so I told her to come back here and stay overnight with me.
22:56Uh-huh.
22:57So you started to walk across the campus together.
22:59That's right.
23:00And there was no one around, and then we heard something, a strange sound.
23:05The wind.
23:05Oh, that's what I thought, too, at first.
23:08But it wasn't.
23:09It was a kind of a musical note, and then we saw it, this dark shape.
23:15Did she see it, or did you?
23:16We both did.
23:17She saw it first, and...
23:20Bill, you think I just imagined it?
23:24Oh, don't you?
23:25I don't know.
23:27Well, let's go back over it again.
23:28She was tense, nervous, thought she saw something in the mirror, and that made her more nervous.
23:33So she decided to come over here with you.
23:35Then she saw something, a shadow of some sort, which she identified with the thing she thought
23:40she'd seen in the mirror.
23:41But I saw it, too, Bill.
23:43After she described it to you.
23:45But I'm sure I did see it.
23:47It was...
23:47It was huge.
23:50Dark, and...
23:51Oh, right, if I did imagine it, where's Debbie?
23:53She's probably back in the room, embarrassed to death at the fuss she made.
23:57Well, I suppose that's possible.
24:00When I think about it, it does sound a little silly.
24:02I mean, two grown women getting hysterical, but...
24:05Bill, would you call her and make sure?
24:08Her number's in the book next to the phone.
24:10Sure.
24:12Let's see.
24:15Here we are.
24:18You know, I think maybe she ought to come over here anyway, so that we can talk about this,
24:22because if the two of you are going to get all worked up about that ridiculous course of length...
24:26It's not ridiculous.
24:28It's very interesting, just because we got a little silly about it.
24:34Well?
24:38Well, there's no answer.
24:39Bill, I don't like this.
24:41I think we should go and look for her.
24:43So look where?
24:44If she's not in her room and she didn't come up here, she could be anywhere.
24:46I mean, with another friend.
24:47I don't care.
24:48I still want to look for her.
24:51I'll show you where it happened, where we started running and...
24:53Well, what good will that do, unless she fell and hurt herself also?
24:56So, look, I'll tell you what.
24:58I'll call the campus police and see if they came across her or heard or saw anything.
25:03All right.
25:08Hello, security.
25:10This is William Taylor of the English Department.
25:12This is a rather odd call, but I wonder if any of your men ran into an undergraduate
25:17by the name of Debbie Ross within the last hour or so.
25:21Well, another student, Beth Howard, was with her.
25:24They were walking across campus and they were frightened by something.
25:28No, no, it wasn't a man.
25:30It was, uh...
25:31What?
25:34Oh, no.
25:37Where was this?
25:40I see.
25:41All right.
25:43I'll come right over.
25:45Bill?
25:46What is it?
25:47One of the guards found her about ten minutes ago.
25:52What do you mean, found her?
25:54Found her body in the bushes near Brewster Hall.
25:58She's dead.
26:05Man is a rational animal.
26:08And we always look for a rational explanation of anything that puzzles us.
26:13But what if there is no rational explanation for it?
26:17Do we admit that there may be things we don't know about?
26:22Things that we've refused to recognize because the idea terrifies us?
26:27Debbie Ross is dead.
26:30But how did she die?
26:43It's several days later.
26:46Many things have happened in that time.
26:49There have been questions, investigations, explanations, and recriminations.
26:56There has also been a funeral.
26:59As far as Beth is concerned, that is the only thing that really mattered.
27:04That and what has happened between her and Bill.
27:09Yes?
27:10Who is it?
27:11Bill.
27:12Oh.
27:13Just a second.
27:17Hi.
27:18So you're still locking your door?
27:20Yes.
27:21Which is very silly of me.
27:23All right.
27:23I didn't say that.
27:25It's certainly understandable.
27:27Uh-huh.
27:27It's still pretty childish.
27:29You've been treating me as if I were a hysterical female.
27:33That's not true.
27:33I've been perfectly willing to talk to you about it.
27:36But you know what the facts are.
27:37Mm.
27:37Of course.
27:39There were no marks on Debbie's body.
27:41At least none that could have killed her.
27:43She died of a heart attack.
27:45That's right.
27:45But they checked back on the physical she took when she was admitted here, and there
27:49was nothing wrong with her heart.
27:52Look.
27:52Bill, we've been through this before.
27:55Debbie thought she saw something in the mirror.
27:58Thought she saw it again out on that campus, and that made me think I saw it too.
28:02Look, darling.
28:03Don't.
28:03Call me, darling.
28:05Why not?
28:06Because I don't want you to.
28:09When I first signed up for the course, you teased me about it, even though you've done
28:12a lot of reading in that same field yourself.
28:15I didn't tease you.
28:15Yes, you did, Bill.
28:17And you made a few remarks about Lansing, saying you had a funny feeling about him.
28:21But now all the...
28:22I still have a funny feeling about him.
28:24As a matter of fact, I feel funnier about him now than ever.
28:27Why?
28:27Well, because I did a little checking up on him this afternoon.
28:30You know, we taught this same course at State last year.
28:33Yes, I know.
28:34What of it?
28:34Well, there was an incident there that was very similar to what happened to Debbie.
28:38Debbie, I mean, a student, a member of the swimming team, and therefore presumably very
28:43healthy, died suddenly one night of a heart attack.
28:46One of his students?
28:47No.
28:48That's the only difference.
28:50He wasn't one of Lansing's students.
28:52Well, then why do you call it similar, and why are you making a point of it?
28:57If there was no connection between them, Bill...
29:00I don't know if there was or not, but I thought perhaps I ought to look into it a little
29:04further.
29:04How?
29:05Well, I'm going to go see Lansing.
29:07I'm going to talk to him.
29:08No, no, Bill.
29:09Why not?
29:10Because I feel odd about him, too.
29:12I have ever since Debbie died, and I'm afraid.
29:30Yes?
29:31Good afternoon.
29:32Is Professor Lansing at home?
29:34Yes, he is.
29:35Do you think I could see him?
29:37My name's Taylor, Bill Taylor, and I'm an instructor in the English department.
29:40I stopped by his office, but he wasn't there.
29:43No.
29:43He's been very upset about the death of his students, so he's been working at home.
29:48I see.
29:49It was an unfortunate thing.
29:51Yes, it was.
29:53You're not Mrs. Lansing, are you?
29:55Yes, I am.
29:56Why?
29:58Oh, well, it's just that I thought I heard...
30:02That I wasn't well?
30:04Yes, that's right.
30:05I wasn't, but I'm fine now.
30:08Do you want to come with me?
30:09I'm sure Arnold will be glad to talk to you.
30:15Yes?
30:18Arnold, this is Mr. Taylor of the English department here.
30:21Come in, Mr. Taylor, come in.
30:22Sit down, won't you?
30:26First of all, I'd like to tell you how pleased I am that you agreed to stay and continue with
30:31your course.
30:32Well, I was reluctant to, but the faculty committee felt that I should.
30:36What happened was very unfortunate, but I don't see how you could have been considered responsible for it in any
30:41way.
30:41Well, I felt I was.
30:44It seems Miss Ross was a very imaginative person, very open to suggestion, which I should have realized.
30:49I don't think anyone would have realized it.
30:53I wonder if you could help me in a project of my own.
30:56If I can, I'd be very happy to.
30:58What's the project?
30:59My doctoral thesis, which is a study of the dark tradition that runs through English literature and led to the
31:05Gothic novels.
31:06Oh, yes, yes, yes.
31:07Very interesting.
31:08Just how can I help you?
31:09Well, I've done a certain amount of reading in the field, but I've wondered if you could give me a
31:13copy of the bibliography you used for your course.
31:15Well, I'd be glad to.
31:17Well, unfortunately, I don't have any copies here, but I'll send you whatever I have as soon as I get
31:21to my office.
31:21What's your address?
31:2221 Maple Street.
31:24All right.
31:26I'll get it off to you tomorrow.
31:27I'm very grateful to you.
31:28Not at all.
31:29You gave the same course at State last year, didn't you?
31:33Yes.
31:33Matter of fact, I did.
31:34Did you know Tom Wallace when you were at State?
31:38Wallace?
31:40Uh, no, I'm afraid not.
31:42Was he a member of the faculty?
31:44No, no, he was an undergraduate on the swimming team.
31:47He died very suddenly near the end of the term.
31:49Oh, yes, yes.
31:51I do seem to remember that.
31:53Was he a friend of yours?
31:54No, no, a friend of a friend.
31:57Well, I think I'll be running along, and I do thank you, Professor Mansing.
32:02Oh, not at all.
32:03Goodbye, Mr. Taylor.
32:10Did he go?
32:12Yes.
32:13What did you think of him?
32:14He seemed like quite a pleasant young man.
32:17Very attractive.
32:18Mm-hmm.
32:20Well, I'm glad you think so, because he's going to be our next.
32:23Oh?
32:25Well, you don't have to worry about that for a while.
32:27You've got another four months.
32:29Yes, I know, but I'm a little concerned about him.
32:33As you said, he seemed quite pleasant and very plausible,
32:35but he asked me some rather strange questions.
32:38What kind of questions?
32:40About where I'd been before I taught at State.
32:42Also about your young friend, Tom Wallace.
32:45You think he's suspect?
32:46I don't see how he can.
32:49But we can't afford to take any chances.
32:51No, I suppose not.
32:54I wasn't going to mention it, but he acted rather strangely with me, too.
32:58He seemed surprised that I was up and around.
33:01Oh?
33:02That settles it, then.
33:05When are you going to do it?
33:07As soon as possible.
33:16Beth?
33:17Yes, Bill?
33:20I've been waiting for you.
33:21Do you want to come in here for a minute?
33:22I want to show you something.
33:24Of course.
33:24What is it?
33:27This.
33:29Oh.
33:30It's the mirror.
33:32The mirror Lansing gave Debbie.
33:34Uh-huh.
33:35That's what I thought.
33:36Where did you get it?
33:37I found it in my desk drawer about a half an hour ago.
33:41Well, how did it get there?
33:42Well, obviously somebody put it there.
33:45I was out all morning, and I never locked my door.
33:48Professor Lansing?
33:50Who else?
33:51It's his.
33:52And the police must have given it back to him after Debbie died.
33:56Well, why would he put it in your desk?
33:58That's a very interesting question.
34:00I think I can answer it.
34:03But if I do, you're going to think I've flipped out.
34:06No, I won't.
34:07Well, you should, because it's completely impossible.
34:10Do you know what a sending is?
34:14No.
34:16Well, when someone who's involved in black magic knows enough and is powerful enough
34:21to raise an evil spirit, he can send that spirit to destroy someone.
34:26Oh, no.
34:28You mean that thing that Debbie saw in the mirror that I saw out on the campus?
34:34Yes.
34:36And it's here now?
34:38In the mirror?
34:39No.
34:40But the spirit has to be guided to the victim.
34:43And in this case, it's being done with the mirror.
34:46It will go where the mirror is.
34:48I still don't understand, Bill.
34:50I can understand why he might want to get rid of you.
34:53But what did he have against Debbie?
34:55He didn't have anything against her, but there was something of hers he wanted.
35:01Her life.
35:02Her life?
35:04You remember what I told you about Mrs. Lansing yesterday?
35:07Uh-huh.
35:07That while the story was that she was quite old and ill,
35:10she turned out to be young and well and attractive?
35:14Yes.
35:15Well, according to the grimoires, the books of black magic,
35:19when you raise a spirit, you can also make a bargain with it.
35:23Give it the life of someone else in exchange for some more time for yourself
35:27or someone close to you.
35:29Bill...
35:30I told you it was impossible.
35:32Well, I would have said so, too, a week or so ago,
35:35but no, I don't think so.
35:37I think it's true.
35:40What are you going to do about it?
35:42Well, I've got to get rid of the mirror.
35:44Destroy it.
35:45No, no, I'm not sure I can do that.
35:48I'm going to act as if it were all true,
35:52all possible,
35:53and fight fire with fire.
35:56I'm going to get the mirror back to Lansing.
35:59Give it back to him?
36:00No.
36:01No, put it in his house without his knowing it.
36:04Well, how can you do that?
36:06I think I can.
36:08He has a class this afternoon.
36:09Yeah, but what about his wife?
36:11Well, she'll probably go out sometime.
36:13If she doesn't, I'll phone her.
36:14I'll give her a message that'll get her out of the house.
36:17Bill, I'm coming with you.
36:31All right, Beth.
36:33Come on in.
36:34How did you get in?
36:36The back door was open.
36:38You're sure no one's home?
36:40Well, you saw his wife leave a minute ago.
36:41Yes.
36:43What do you want me to do?
36:46Wait here with the door open a crack so you can see out.
36:49All right.
36:50Where are you going?
36:51Into his study.
36:52You won't belong?
36:54I'm frightened.
36:55No, no, no, no, no.
36:55I'll be back as quick as I can.
36:57All right.
36:58Go ahead.
37:02Bill!
37:03What is it?
37:05Nothing.
37:06The clock startled me.
37:08Will you be much longer?
37:10No.
37:10No.
37:12No.
37:12Get in here a minute.
37:13You think it's safe?
37:15Yes.
37:17What is it?
37:19I hid the mirror behind the books on one of the shelves, but when I was here, I thought
37:24I'd look in his desk, and I found this box.
37:27What is in it?
37:29This rod.
37:31It's used for raising spirits.
37:33And that other thing that's all wrapped up?
37:36Yeah.
37:37I was just going to look at it.
37:39I think it...
37:41Yes.
37:43It's an Arthame.
37:44What's that?
37:46Well, it's a magic knife that's used to control a spirit once it's been evoked.
37:51It's, uh, this is the seal of Solomon here on the hilt.
37:55And it is all true, at least.
37:58Yeah, yeah, yeah.
37:59It looks that way.
38:00Bill, you got rid of the mirror, so let's go.
38:03Just a second.
38:03I want to think.
38:05I don't want him to be able to do anything like this again, but I can't take the whole
38:09box.
38:10I mean, if I do, he'll know someone was here.
38:12On the other hand, I...
38:14Yes.
38:16I can take the Arthame.
38:17Well, won't I do the same thing, Bill?
38:18Let him know we were here?
38:20No, not right away.
38:21See, when I was here yesterday, I saw...
38:24Oh, there it is.
38:25A dagger.
38:27See, I'll wrap that up and I'll put it in the box instead of the Arthame.
38:31Well, what'll happen if he tries to use it?
38:34I don't know.
38:44All right, Mia.
38:46Is it time?
38:47We said midnight.
38:48You are sure he's there, in his room, now?
38:52He has an early class tomorrow, so I would assume so.
38:56Now hold the box while I light the incense.
38:59Arnold, I don't like this.
39:01Why not?
39:01We've never done anything like it before.
39:04Twice.
39:05Not just in the same place, but within a few weeks.
39:08We have no choice, Mia.
39:10He's suspicious.
39:11And if he goes on prying and asking questions...
39:13Yes.
39:15All right.
39:16Give me the rod.
39:17Here.
39:20Pior.
39:22Wherever you are, hear me.
39:29Do you hear me, Pior?
39:32With this rod, and in the names of Dargeram, Amartet, Algar, and Algasna, I summon thee.
39:42There it is, Arnold.
39:44Over there, near the bookcase.
39:46I see it.
39:47Give me the Arthame.
39:48Here.
39:50Stay where you are.
39:53I hold the Arthame.
39:55I have another life for you.
39:58A man this time.
40:01He has your mirror.
40:04Go to him and destroy him.
40:09Why are you looking at me that way?
40:12Why aren't you going?
40:14I tell you, he has your mirror.
40:16I...
40:18Bill, this is the Arthame.
40:20It's my Persian dagger.
40:21What?
40:22Quick, find it.
40:23If you don't...
40:24No.
40:25No.
40:26Keep away from me.
40:27Please.
40:28Oh, my God.
40:30No.
40:31No.
40:31No.
40:40What time is it now?
40:42Quarter after twelve.
40:43Do you think he's tried to do anything?
40:45I don't know.
40:46And I don't know how we'll be able to find out unless...
40:49Oh, what's...
40:49What's that?
40:52It's a police car.
40:53It's going that way.
40:55Toward the Lansing house.
40:56But why?
40:58Let me see if I can find out.
41:04Hello, security.
41:06This is William Taylor on Maple Street.
41:08One of your squad cars just went by going over towards Willow Road.
41:12Do you know why?
41:13I mean, you know, is there anything wrong?
41:16I...
41:17Oh.
41:20Oh, I see.
41:23What did they say?
41:25They're not sure what's wrong.
41:27Someone on Willow Road called and said they heard...
41:31terrible screams coming from number 45.
41:34As if someone were being murdered.
41:36Oh, but that's...
41:39Yes.
41:39Their house.
41:41Oh, Bill.
41:42What are you going to do?
41:44Are you going to say anything?
41:46What would be the point?
41:49Do you think anyone would believe it?
41:57Of course, no one would believe it.
42:00Things like that don't happen.
42:02At least not today.
42:05Old people may have thought they were possible once.
42:08There are many medieval tales of men who tried to use the powers of evil for their own ends.
42:15And were finally destroyed by them.
42:28As I told you, the tale you just heard was a work of fiction.
42:33Completely imaginary.
42:34But I am reminded of what Shakespeare said.
42:40Why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
42:45and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?
42:50Present fears are less than horrible imaginings.
42:56Our cast included Mandel Kramer, Marion Seldes, Tony Roberts, and Phoebe Doran.
43:03The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
43:07This is E.G. Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater
43:11for another adventure in the macabre.
43:15Until next time...
43:18Pleasant dreams.
43:20The preceding mystery theater program was furnished by the CBS Radio Network.