I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the world of terrifying
imagination. To the fear you can hear. Tonight
I hope you have strong stomachs. For we're bound
on a Caribbean cruise. Oh, we don't expect rough
sailing on the way. So if you are easily seasick,
have no fears. Save them all for your landing
on the twin island of Mauishia. and Sandorin,
for it is the home of Voodoo and the living dead,
the soulless legions of men who are called zombies.
That's it, compadres. That's the coffin we seek.
Scrap away the earth so we can get the lead over.
for the witch doctor. That's it. Now break open
the lid. Swing it back. Muy bueno. Chandler.
Must have been strong as an ox. He'll make a
fine zombie brother for El Generalissimo's elite
guard. Our mystery drama the walking corpse was
written especially for the mystery theater by
Ian Martin and stars Tony Roberts I'll be back
shortly with act one The body of a dead person,
given the semblance of life, usually for some
evil purpose. That is a zombie. The very name
itself is calculated to make the flesh creep
and the blood run chill. But on a plane headed
for Miami, taking them to their honeymoon, nothing
could be further from the thoughts of Steve Ramsey
and his new wife, Pat. Oh, I can't believe I
have you to myself for these few hours, Steve,
let alone a glorious two weeks. I don't know
what other associate professors go through, but
my first two and a half years teaching parapsychology
have laid me out. I can't wait for those hot
sands and warm water. Can I serve you a drink,
sir? Oh, now that's what I call perfect timing.
Why not? One more and I can fly solo to Miami
without the plane. Then I'll join you. I can't
have you orbiting alone. May I get by, please,
Stuartus? I'm sorry, sir. Just let me move the
cart. Oh, thank you. Chris! It is Christopher.
It's all right, Stuartus. I'll join my friend
here for a moment. Hey, Steve, man. Good to see
you. Here, here, here. I'll move over. Sit down.
Chris, you look something else. It's great to
run into you. Only just for a moment there. I
thought you were thinking of giving me the brush
you have never I'll explain in a minute. Oh Pat.
This is Christopher leclerc. I want to I want
you to meet my brand -new bride This is a pleasure
mrs. Ramsey. Let me congratulate you on your
impeccable tasty and both of you on your marriage
I'd like to buy some champagne, but you already
have your drinks. No more champagne, thank you.
We've had enough in the last few weeks to float
a battleship. At least let me get a drink for
myself to toast the bride and groom. He's your
old football buddy, right? Yeah. Greatest running
back I ever saw. All -around athlete. He could
have made it big in the pros. Any sport. Isn't
he a prince or something? And his father is the
king of Mauisha. I wonder what's bugging him.
Now, this is better. A toast from my country.
To be a good man is first to have a good wife.
Abusantes. Thank you, Chris. And to yours. Yours,
too. Oh, yes. Drink to my good health, please.
What is it, Chris? You want to talk about it?
I wish I still had you calling the place for
me, but this is a different ballgame. You know
about my father? No. What? He's dead. Oh No What
can I say? Hang in there man. Oh I will be tough.
All right Was it was it recent the day before
yesterday? I didn't see anything about it in
the papers. It wasn't in the papers. He didn't
die He was assassinated Any idea who did it there
is no proof But I know. Who? Maybe not by his
own hand, but at least on his orders. Hernando
Trujedo. The Generalissimo? But I thought he
was your father's best friend. And my godfather.
His gift to me on my 21st birthday. His own good
luck charm. The bracelet of the sacred serpent.
The head, the voodoo symbol of life. The tail,
the symbol of death. You see, they are woven
together. But, but then why should he? Because,
Mrs. Ramsey, my father gave our people freedom.
A freedom the San Dorendian cannot share. Why
not? Because if they had it, they would tear
the man who rules them by terror to pieces. So
he's planning to move in on my wish and an exit.
The moment my father's assassination is revealed.
Take good it out while the people are in confusion
with no leadership. That's why I've given up
any dream of becoming a doctor and then going
home. A private plane will meet me in Miami to
fly me to Moesha. To save time, I took this commercial
flight under an assumed name. You think Trujedo
might... I was warned just in time. Less than
an hour after I left my apartment a bomb gutted
it I'm a dangerous man to know these days So
before I do cause anything Oh my god, Steve,
what is it two words with machine guns? Looks
like a sky That's one Garcia Toreado's hatchet
man. Oh, what can we do? Nothing. It's me who
won. Everyone quiet. I'm only going to ask that
my friends... Your friends can identify you.
We don't want that for a few days. They will
only be held as hostages till we are ready. If
they do as they are told, they will be released
on car. Now, all, join the other hostages you
were sitting with in first class. Steve, I am
so sorry. It's not your fault. You okay, Patricia?
Ready, unwilling, but... Able. That's my girl.
Let's go. Just walk ahead of me nice and steady.
Muy bien, mis amigos. Tanka, proban. Nobody moves
till I come back. Okay? Inside. That's it. Go
sit by him. Kito, don't let them move till I
come back. I'm sorry I got you into this. We'll
make out. Are you okay, honey? Well, a few butterflies
in the stomach. What does he want? To move in
and sit down, I think. Better keep him happy.
He's a surly character at best. Why don't we
sit in these four together? Our friend's a little
deaf. If we keep far enough away, we can talk
safely. If we keep our voices down. Why are you
being held hostage? Any number of reasons. I'm
U .S. Government. I know who you are. They took
a dim view of me for carrying a gun, and they
have a pretty good idea of who I am, too. Well,
who are you? Hawkins will do. Bill Hawkins. What
branch of the government? Well, I think I won't
reveal that. I was assigned to see that you cleared
the country safely, Your Highness. Someone slipped
me a knockout drop in the coffee. That's when
I lost consciousness and my gun. You were asleep
when I came back. Oh, this is Mr. and Mrs. Steve
Ramsey. And me too, Steve, ma 'am. Yeah, hi,
Hawkins. How do you do, Mr. Hawkins? Any idea
what their plans are? Refuel, clear the rest
of the passengers out. Then... Then we head straight
for San Dorinde. That's the notion. So the moment
they get our friend Kristoff here to San Dorinde,
he's a gone goose. He'll just drop out of sight
suddenly and for good. Now, my guess is they'll
set up one of these goons as a fall guy, have
a big show trial, and in the meanwhile return
the plane with us aboard only. Somewhere on the
way, we'll all disappear in a puff of plastic
bomb smoke. We're just as long gone as the King
here. What's the alternative? Distract Ugly there
long enough for one of us to disarm him. Garcia
and his other boys can only get at us through
the narrow passageway between Tourist Class and
here. I can keep them pinned down till you get
out the emergency exit. He's a big guy. Better
let me... Okay, no time to argue now. How do
we distract him? That's my job, Hatt. Please
stay out of it. I'm in it just as much as all
of you. Watch this. Hey, mister, come here a
second. OK, then I'll come to you. Take it easy.
I just want to ask something. If you can't hear
me, I can't speak any louder. Oh, please come
closer. That's it. I just want to ask with...
Watch it, he's strong as a bull! God, he's broken
my arm! It's alright, I have the gun. Stay where
you are. Don't let him near you. I'll shoot!
What are you waiting for? He's alive, but just
barely. If he can just hang on, maybe when we
land, a doctor can help. Do it late. Do it late
for me. Don't give up, Chris. Take... take...
the snake. What? The snake bracelet. He wants
you to... here. There. Steve has it, Chris. Good.
Lisa, you go. She hides you. Save you. Give her
a bracelet. But where do we find her? Avenue
of the Dolls. Guess what number. Oh, man. Oh,
man. Oh, gray serpent. Take me home. Take me
home. Oh, sirloche. Oh, sirloche. Help. This
sign. Sign of the... We're about to land. Pretty
short runway. Better fasten your seat belts.
I'll get yours for you. Not the most promising
way to begin a honeymoon, particularly when it
seems there is more than a little chance of ending
it, even before it's begun. Who knows what kind
of reception is ahead for the newlyweds? I'll
be back shortly with act two Under other circumstances
Pat and Steve would have no complaints about
their accommodations on the island drained and
exhausted The silk sheet at bed, in an expensive
suite, is an alluring invitation to sleep. Except,
even if you are dead to the world, who wants
to become part of the world of the dead? Oh,
Steve. Is it possible? Could there really be
such a thing as a zombie? No, of course not.
It's just a superstition. But you saw Chris fire
two bullets right into his body. Yes. And he
didn't even flinch. Cogito ergo sum. What? I
think. Therefore, I am... Pat, look. Under any
other circumstances, I'd be fascinated. I mean,
this is my field. And you do believe... that
there are... Walking dead. Do you... Do I believe
that a man can be exhumed from the grave and
life breathed back into his corpse? No. No, I
can't accept that. That's beyond my credulity.
But I've seen things in parapsychological experiments
and in psychic research that... Honey, the power
of supernatural belief is beyond belief. The
right subject, particularly one of low mentality,
under hypnosis, is capable of incredible feats.
Superhuman strength, no sensation of pain, no
shock reaction. Oh, Lord. Now what? The knock
wasn't at the door we came in. It's that one
over there. Wait a minute. Stay where you are,
Pat. Yes? Who is it? Bill Hawkins. I'm in an
adjoining room. Is there a fold on your side?
Yeah, half a sec. Hiya, Bill. Listen, we've got
to talk. What's the sense in talking? Hello,
Pat. Hello, Bill. How's your arm? Feels fine.
They did a real good job of patching it up. I
just wondered before we all turned in if you
had a radio in here. There's one right over there.
Good. Mind if I turn it on and see if I can catch
some news? Uh -oh. Only one band. Well, let's
see what it's got. Hey, I see they provided you
with a meal too. I never even noticed. Pretty
good grub. You should try it. I wouldn't touch
it. Nor I. Look, I don't see how well I can cut
the comedy now. This place has bugged the radio
ought to block us out. Now we've got to plan
some kind of escape. How? I may have that lined
up. It's where to hole out after we bust from
here that's got me stumped. I've got a possible
answer to that. What? Sans Solange. Ooh, Chris's
aunt. She lives here. Where? Avenue of the Dolls.
It's a long, winding street. Any idea where?
You know it? I spent six months on secret service
here before we closed down our embassy. Did he
give you a cross street number? He was pretty
incoherent before he died. When I asked him,
he just sort of rambled on about... the great
serpent and the black bull or something the serpent
is the basic symbol of the voodoo religion black
bull i never heard of in this liturgy wait a
minute the chicken in the oboe occult is a sacrificial
animal considered to maybe it was the black pole
he was trying to say black pull it does that
mean anything to you bill yeah It's sort of a
souvenir shop, you know a typical tourist trap
with straw hats and gals Could you find it sure
it's not How do we get out that's like some good
you got a dark scruff to cover that blonde hair
Come with me walk soft keep your horses to the
sides. I looked down. There's one of those zombies
down there. But you see, there's a balcony and
steps that lead to the street. Well, with a something
subhuman, or maybe I should say superhuman, armed
with a gun right at the bottom of them. If he's
cold cocked, it isn't going to do him any good.
Bill, you have a lot of guts, but you're no Muhammad
Ali, and the only strength I have is in my brain.
Hold out your hands. I'm going to give you the
equalizers. Steve, with his fist wrapped around
a roll of nickels or quarters, a 13 -year -old
boy could deck Joe Frazier, given the chance
to blindside him. Yeah, but we haven't got your
hands out. This is a salt cellar. Same difference.
I'm spilling the salt into your left hand. Wrap
the other around this heavy crystal. I'm doing
the same with the pepper. Are you pet? Oh, I
wouldn't know that. You're going to cover us
by making a diversion. Pick up that glass water
pitcher there Too heavy for you to throw no For
where we turn off the lights turn off the radio
make like we're turning in Then we sneak out
the French windows onto the balcony you go off
to the right opposite end from the steps When
that zombie reacts to the crash of that picture
on the flagstones on your side Steve and I go
down the steps and take him out Then we go look
for toss a large See you. Of course. So we wait
until dark. And I won't be long now. Now! You
take him, Steve! He's still not out. I'm throwing
the pepper. Throw the salt in his eyes. There
you are. Watch it! I think I... I think I killed
him. Well, don't stop to find out. The lights
going on. Come on, Pat. You are a waste of things.
Little Christoph. First my brother, then his
son. Well, he will be made to pay. An eye for
an eye, a heart for a bleeding heart. Now shall
the tyrant bleed. Now at last my curse shall
enter his vitals. Now will the great serpent
uncoil and strike Hernando Trujedo dead. It wasn't
the Generalissimo who shot Chris. It was a man
named Garcia. That jack -o -puppet dangled by
the string. That less than nothing with no mind
or will of his own. Is he a zombie too? What
do you know of zombies, my child? Nothing, except
what I saw on the plane and what my husband tried
to tell me. Oh, you are a teacher in college,
Monsieur Ramsey, no? Yes, and much of my studies
are in the supernatural. You believe in zombie?
Well, no. Not altogether. Very well. We shall
put our beliefs to the test. It's a doll. Like
the ones you saw in the store here. Not quite
the same. This one is like the souvenirs of El
Generalissimo. With this difference. I have been
a long time making him. You see the straw is...
from his favorite horse's stall. The beard is
made from the comings of his hairbrush. The eyes,
j -chips from a dress coat button. The boots
from the fingers of an old glove. This is a voodoo
doll. All of him is made with things that once
belonged to Truedo. Last thing I needed to make
the spell work, the weapon. Now what last I have
in my hand, the instrument of destruction. I
straighten out a circle, turn the head to the
sky and death. The tail towards the ground and
strike! What have I done? Mr. Ramsey. You...
You drove the bracelet like a knife straight
through the doll's head. From temple to temple,
Hernando Traedo will be dead by midnight. And
we will all be free. You still do not believe.
Let us find how strong your science holds against
my faith. To hate those men. The doll. They must
not find the doll. Help me pin it under my skirt.
Oh, my hands are shaking so much. More. More
is in time. So, meet again, C .R. Ramsey. How
did you find us? Your friend Hawkins. He gave
us away? C .R. Ramsey, every man will give anything
away with the right persuasion. See, your clock
ends took longer than most. It was very foolish.
What do you mean? Since in the end, he told,
why was it worth dying for? Come on, you must
not keep the canardissimo waiting. Please, let
me assure you that you... of nothing to worry
about. I ask you all to relax. Now, the tavern
is set for a late summer. I am sure you must
all be famished after a long and difficult day.
Won't you be my guests? Prisoners, you mean,
for Hado? Ah, yes. La bonne princesse Solange,
I come honored. I have no idea you have come
to live among us. I have been here longer than
you know. Yes, I must speak to my secret police
about that. Had I been told you were honoring
our country with a visit, I would have arranged
a more suitable welcome. I am sure you would,
by disposing of me as you did my brother and
my nephew, Christoph. I suppose it would be impossible
for me to convince you... I had no hand in the
death of King Francois. The sub -truth is that
his heart failed him. His death was a natural
one. Lie upon lie. But one truth you cannot twist.
The death of my nephew. Did you see him die?
There are two witnesses before your desk who
did. Excuse me a moment. Garcia! Are you ready?
Si. Now. We must wait for a moment. For what?
You can see. Signora Ramsey, let me ask you a
question. What? Did you see Christophe Leclerc
die? Yes. And you, Signora? Yes. You are quite
sure? Of course. Yes. Look, what are you trying
to prove? Not I. I will let him show you that
for himself. You see? Chris. Steve. He's alive.
It's Chris. Chris. Is it really you? Sure, man.
Sure. Don't you know me? There is no mistaking
the tall, lithe figure, the regal bearing, the
proud, handsome face. All those belong to Christophe
Leclerc. He might easily have remarked, as Mark
Twain once telegraphed, the reports of my death
are an exaggeration. We'll return shortly with
Act Three. At the shock of the reincarnation
of a dead man appearing from the grave, it is
not surprising that his friends and relatives
are literally frozen in their tracks. Under the
circumstances, then, it is only decent courtesy
for the returned corpse to break the ice. Forgive
me, I thought never to see you again. But here
I am. Ah, mon cher bébé, mon cher bébé. Well
now, here is a reunion worth celebrating. That
was a pretty rough wound you had, Chris. Worse
than it looked, thank God. It was mostly flesh
damage. The doctors tell me the bullet bounced
off my sternum and never entered the chest. But
should you be on your feet? Long enough to ease
your minds about me. I'm still a bit woozy. It's
like the time you took the XB2 slant -off tackle
against Ohio State and that big linebacker saw
Chuck kick you in the head. Something... Something
like that. Tell them the good news, El Generalissimo.
Set my aunt's mind at rest. Well, I know you
hold out my motives, even Christophe did. I can
hardly blame him since I took such extreme measures
to bring him here to San Dorinde before his planned
arrival at the Moesia. What was your reason for
that? Ah, we walk a tidal rope on this shared
island of ours. Two cultures, two languages,
two forms of government perched precariously
on a ever -increasing population in a far more
ancient and primitive culture than either of
ours. Your brother and I, each in his own way,
preserved that delicate balance. With his unexpected
death, steps had to be taken. Why? You know his
plan was to return the government to the people.
That would not have worked, not even for them.
We would have ended both of us in anarchy. Fortunately,
my godson was perceptive enough to... Realize
that. We have worked out between us a better
plan. A compromise? I would prefer to call it
an entente. But tell them, Cristof. It's quite
simple. Tomorrow, together, my godfather and
I shall proclaim a union between Mauritia and
San Dorinde. A trilingual state with one government.
Ruled by whom? by the generalissimo and myself.
I as president and my godfather as prime minister.
Trujito in second place? Ah, we heard us grow
the younger, Solange. Someone must take our place.
I am happy to yield to the future. What better
hands could this island be in than in Christoph's?
So, now I think... Mr. Presidente, you should
rest. Doctors can do only so much. Nature handles
the rest. Yes, I would like to lie down. I am
sure you will be excused. I beg you not to wait
for me to enjoy your supper. The Presidente and
myself have a few matters to settle about the
announcement tomorrow before he goes to sleep.
Forgive me, please. I'm tired. And tomorrow's
a big day. Good night. Good night, Chris. Good
night. Adieu, mon bébé. Goodbye. Forever. What
is it? What's the matter with you two? You saw.
You know. Do you now believe in zombies? What
are you trying to say? That wasn't Chris who
was here just now. I don't understand. You don't
know him as I do. First, he never would accept
this deal. The guy is too decent, too honest
to be part of it. But there are other things.
What? Well, first off, our school never played
Ohio State. Second, Sawchuck was no linebacker
but a running back who murdered us on the only
loss we had together. Third, XB2 wasn't a run
play but a deep pass play that had nothing to
do with Chris except as a decoy. I don't understand
the things your husband says, but I tell you,
that was not Christophe Leclerc who just left,
not my nephew. They have stolen his soul, and
that I cannot allow. Well, what can we do about
it, Tante Solange? It is a very few minutes to
twelve. I told you, Hernando Trujedo would be
dead by then. Remember? Yes. Here is a conjured
doll which will make his death I Place it on
his desk so he can see it For it is by his own
guilt. He must die Before the end of this day,
but if he doesn't return he will return It is
written in the dust Nobody feels like eating.
Word? I don't suppose I can altogether blame
you. Shall I have you shown to your quarters
for the night instead? Where is Christoph? I
should never really cover out him to overcharge
himself after being wounded. He was absolutely
exhausted. I saw him to bed. And you return to
suggest the same to us? I think we are all tired.
Whatever discussion there may be between us,
can't wait for tomorrow. For you, there is no
tomorrow. What do you mean? Liar, cheat, thief,
murderer. Look on your desk. Conjuring. piece
by piece from your belongings, fashioned in your
likeness, christened in your name with the blood
of the black bullet, your own bracelet of the
sacred serpent driven through its brain. Do you
think I could buy such childish superstition?
I am a savage! What a man thinks is what he is.
This primitive mumbo -jumbo, we'd have no effect
on me. Are you sure? How large is a bag of guilt
you carry? We'd nothing convince you, woman.
Your nephew or mine? My nephew! Christophe! Christophe
is dead! How can you say that? You have just
seen him! I saw a walking corpse. Already a superstition.
Like my conjured dog? Of course! Don't believe
in it. No! And you believe in zombies. You know
the power of voodoo can create them. You know
the power of voodoo can kill. What is it you
want? Too late for that. I will give you anything.
I offer you, and these two, safe transport now.
No strings attached. How can you guarantee it?
I am head Geraritmo. My power is infinite. Not
anymore. The clock is ticking your life away.
No. Twelve o 'clock. Only a few seconds left.
Help me. Help me. I cannot help. The die is cast.
You cannot even help yourself. I give you money,
jewels, anything. Name it. What do you want?
What you cannot give me. What you stole from
my nephew. His soul. I want yours in return.
And die! I, the power granted me as an opium
woman, vested in my hands by the uncoiling sacred
serpent, to take the place of the voodoo doll.
As it should to all tyrants, so comes a violent
death to you. I condemn you to everlasting fire
and death. By the serpent arriving in your grave!
No! No! I cannot die! I am a dictator! I am supreme!
I am more! No one can touch me, do you hear?
No one! Does it matter? He's dead. Are you sure?
He's dead, all right. Now what? Gotta get away.
Escape, somehow. Only how do we get through the
palace guard? At least I have his gun. We better
try and make a run for it. We have to rescue
my nephew first. But tell to Solange, he's our
enemy now. I still must rescue him. Don't run
for it. I'll try to hold them off You can't kill
dead men with that Garcia. Yes, not a zombie
Hand me that salt seller. Yeah, but what good
salt is the only thing that will kill a zombie?
I'm on the bed if you know no, he's still breathing.
He's just a Leave me alone with him. Go if you
want to, but leave me with Kristoff. Will it
be long? As long as it must take. Go. We can't
find a way out of here without you. We'll wait.
Oh, great serpent who coils about the sky and
holds our world together. Help me now. Help me
to break the black magic that chains my baby
to a living death. Help me to bring his soul
home to you. Kristoff. Kristoff. Listen to me.
It is Tanta Solange who speaks. You know me as
an opium magician. My magic is greater than the
magic of the Hogan who made you what you are.
He summoned you from the grave and stole away
your soul. Now I must summon you back to the
grave. Only you can break the bond. set a people
free in a mad orgy of festival and delight. In
the wild celebration that lit up the city, no
one had time to pay any attention to the three
somber people who found their way back to the
hotel. For Pat, Steve, and Tante Solange, there
was sadness, but solace, too. The king was dead,
but so was the zombie who might have held him
prisoner for eternity. I'll return shortly. Power
of suggestion? Hypnosis? Superstitious fear?
Overpowering guilt complexes? Terror of the unknown?
Do any or all of these explain the events of
the tale I've just told? Or are there really
such terrifying things as a walking corpse? Are
there really zombies? Well, let's hope you and
I never have to find out. Our cast included Tony
Roberts, Suzanne Grossman, Vinnet Carroll, Bob
Caliban, Jackson Beck, and Ian Martin. The entire
production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
This is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return
to our Mystery Theater. for another adventure
in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.