WEBVTT 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:28.600 I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the world of unbridled 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:33.399 imagination. You know, man is a curious creature. 00:00:34.219 --> 00:00:37.520 Most of us settle for routine and habit. Eight 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:40.560 hours on the job, another seven or eight in bed, 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:43.539 and the other eight on some hobby that is neither 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:47.280 too physically demanding nor asks for too many 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:50.960 mental gymnastics. Few of us stretch ourselves 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:55.280 beyond a reasonable limit. We coast through life. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:00.359 Our metal never really tried. But some of us, 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:03.460 through harrowing experience, are stretched to 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:07.700 the full capacity of our beings. It's then we 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:15.659 find out what fiber we are made of. David! David! 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:20.379 Help me! Eve, what is it? What is she? Help me! 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:40.480 Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? She's 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:45.239 gone. Where? I dragged her under the arch there. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:48.280 Did you see anything? No, but you heard Eve. 00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:52.829 It's true. There is a thing that lives in these 00:01:52.829 --> 00:01:58.890 caves. And we're trapped. Trapped here. And it's 00:01:58.890 --> 00:02:12.569 messy. Our mystery drama, The Thing in the Cave, 00:02:13.349 --> 00:02:15.550 was written especially for the Mystery Theater 00:02:15.550 --> 00:02:19.669 by Ian Martin and stars Terry Keen and Marion 00:02:19.669 --> 00:02:23.129 Seldas. It is sponsored in part by Anheuser -Busch 00:02:23.129 --> 00:02:26.789 Incorporated, Brewers of Budweiser. I'll be back 00:02:26.789 --> 00:02:40.030 shortly with Act One. I don't suppose many of 00:02:40.030 --> 00:02:43.430 us ever plan to grow up to be speleologists, 00:02:44.150 --> 00:02:46.990 since most of us are subject to claustrophobia 00:02:46.990 --> 00:02:51.219 to at least some degree. For the very few of 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:54.639 you who don't recognize the Latin terms, let 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:58.039 me add that a speleologist, of course, is someone 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:02.479 who studies and explores caves. And claustrophobia 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:06.860 is that suffocating, pervasive dread of being 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:11.340 shot in. This tale concerns itself with four 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:15.379 young spelunkers. Those are cave explorers who 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:19.610 do it only for fun. and their gruesome experience 00:03:19.610 --> 00:03:24.969 of being cave -bound. Literally buried alive. 00:03:27.030 --> 00:03:29.409 It's just around the next bend in the trailhead. 00:03:29.590 --> 00:03:31.810 It's funny being born and bred in these mountains 00:03:31.810 --> 00:03:34.330 and yet I've never been inside Choctaw Cave. 00:03:34.430 --> 00:03:38.169 Oh, I'm not sure I want to myself. You get claustrophobia 00:03:38.169 --> 00:03:40.169 too, Barbara. David, I never even dare close 00:03:40.169 --> 00:03:43.810 the door in a phone booth. Darling? Yes, Eve? 00:03:44.129 --> 00:03:46.789 We can forget all this, you know. I don't have 00:03:46.789 --> 00:03:50.050 to. to have my childhood revisited. No, thanks. 00:03:50.150 --> 00:03:52.669 Right on. If I refused you this little memory 00:03:52.669 --> 00:03:55.150 trip, I'd hear about it for the rest of our marriage. 00:03:56.110 --> 00:03:58.069 If you ever decide to go through with the wedding. 00:03:58.590 --> 00:04:01.710 Oh, just you try to leave me at the altar, David 00:04:01.710 --> 00:04:08.090 Showers. Well, here we are. Are we here? Yes, 00:04:08.250 --> 00:04:14.270 sir, General Custer. Cavalry dis... No! I don't 00:04:14.270 --> 00:04:16.949 see any cave. It's right behind that scrub oak 00:04:16.949 --> 00:04:18.930 there. Listen, what do we do about the horses? 00:04:19.050 --> 00:04:21.930 Oh, here. I'll hitch us all to the Aspen here. 00:04:22.509 --> 00:04:25.350 My old Baldy, all I gotta do is let the rains 00:04:25.350 --> 00:04:27.750 trail. He won't budge more than 20 feet till 00:04:27.750 --> 00:04:31.310 I get back. Hey, you know, it's kind of clouding 00:04:31.310 --> 00:04:33.850 up over in the northwest. Maybe we ought to be 00:04:33.850 --> 00:04:35.949 getting back down the mountain. Ah, come on, 00:04:36.009 --> 00:04:40.769 give me your jigs. What's this? Just my old faithful 00:04:40.769 --> 00:04:43.500 knapsack with some of the remains of lunch. And 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:48.060 a flashlight. Ah, meet an old boy scout. Be prepared. 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:51.579 I brought a water bottle, too. Hey, come to think 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:53.639 of it, if he wants to get up to the ledge, which 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:56.720 he says goes to the back cavern, we ought to 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:00.079 bring along a rope. Fetch my Luria, too, while 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.259 you're at it. Will do. Where are you fellas? 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:06.100 Come on. Bobby and I have found the entrance 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:19.879 to the cave. bigger when I was a kid Barbara 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:24.920 and I can make it all right rolling but it comes 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:29.240 in the giant size hey can you make it just about 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:33.480 as tight as a cork in a bottle if I get stuck 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.759 you can be sorry if this is the only way in and 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:40.199 out just a moment we can all stand up you'll 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:44.699 see maybe we should all forget it You scared? 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:48.819 Ah, no, but I'm not exactly happy either. I don't 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:53.379 know if Hank can... We're here. In the cave. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:58.240 I can stand up. Oh, come on, everyone. It's just 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:02.319 beautiful. It's just as I remembered it. You're 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:07.160 right, Ethan. It's breathtaking. Like a cathedral 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:11.240 buried at the bottom of the sea. Oh, hey. Oh! 00:06:11.310 --> 00:06:15.569 Green like Saint -Chapelle in Paris. Saint -Howe 00:06:15.569 --> 00:06:17.990 in Paris? Oh, it's a marvelous chapel near Notre 00:06:17.990 --> 00:06:20.009 -Dame with all stained glass windows that make 00:06:20.009 --> 00:06:21.829 you feel as if you're scuba diving and looking 00:06:21.829 --> 00:06:24.670 at it through water. Hey, I could hear water, 00:06:25.129 --> 00:06:29.250 too. Somewhere. Come on. I'll show you where. 00:06:29.910 --> 00:06:31.990 Listen, look out for the, uh, what do you call 00:06:31.990 --> 00:06:34.420 them? A stalactite. If they hang from the roof 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:37.259 and the ones from the floor are felt like Mike, 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:40.480 right? What makes the professor and my degrees 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.839 in English Hank? Water dripping calcium in the 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:47.540 rock something like that. They build up or down 00:06:47.540 --> 00:06:52.500 drop over the centuries Here it is Here's the 00:06:52.500 --> 00:07:00.800 waterfall Oh That's beautiful But what is the 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:04.850 full drain? Nobody knows. But some say it's bottomless 00:07:04.850 --> 00:07:06.889 and it goes right through the earth. But where 00:07:06.889 --> 00:07:08.970 does the river that makes the waterfall come 00:07:08.970 --> 00:07:11.629 from? Up there? Well, the kids I used to know 00:07:11.629 --> 00:07:14.870 climbed up to the ledge there and then went in 00:07:14.870 --> 00:07:17.410 through the crest. They say it comes from another 00:07:17.410 --> 00:07:21.009 chain behind this. Where it comes from before 00:07:21.009 --> 00:07:27.529 that, I guess nobody knows. What's that? Maybe 00:07:27.529 --> 00:07:35.199 a skin. What are you talking about? Oh, crazy. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.040 Oh, but it's such fun to remember how we kids 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:41.980 used to come here together and talk about the 00:07:41.980 --> 00:07:47.139 thing. The thing? What was the thing? Oh, it 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:50.339 was just something we made up, some country legend, 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:54.480 someone had heard about this creature, this monster 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.839 that lived in this underground river, whatever 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:00.279 it is. What kind of monster? Well, you know. 00:08:03.510 --> 00:08:08.269 with one great red -rimmed eye and long, shaky 00:08:08.269 --> 00:08:10.910 tentacles that crept and crawled along the rocks 00:08:10.910 --> 00:08:16.129 until suddenly they bounced. What was that? It 00:08:16.129 --> 00:08:18.790 sounded like thunder. I bet that storm broke 00:08:18.790 --> 00:08:22.370 outside. Come on, we better get going. Oh, I 00:08:22.370 --> 00:08:24.829 just wanted to get into the cave behind us, where 00:08:24.829 --> 00:08:28.279 we are. Just once again. Oh, no. Count me out. 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:30.319 This place is giving me the heebie -jeebies. 00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:32.419 I'm getting a little tight in the throat myself. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:35.480 Come on, darling. You're right, David. I must 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:38.059 have been a little crazy. I don't know what it 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:43.539 was, but something seemed to draw me here. Almost 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:48.960 as if it was something calling. Come on, Eve. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:09:20.889 Run! Now we mustn't lose our head. So dark. So 00:09:20.889 --> 00:09:25.049 pitch dark. What happened to Hank and Dave? They've 00:09:25.049 --> 00:09:28.289 gone to see about clearing the entrance. We only 00:09:28.289 --> 00:09:31.350 had some light. The boys had the only flashlight. 00:09:33.490 --> 00:09:38.450 Wait a minute. What is it? Is it the... No, no, 00:09:38.730 --> 00:09:41.370 cool it. Cool it, Eve. Just Hank and Dave coming 00:09:41.370 --> 00:09:45.190 back with the light. Any luck? You both alright? 00:09:45.570 --> 00:09:49.409 We'll make it. How's Eve? Oh, I'm okay, David. 00:09:50.049 --> 00:09:53.370 Can we go now? Well, it isn't going to be that 00:09:53.370 --> 00:09:57.389 easy. Well, can't we help to clear? Eve, Barbara, 00:09:57.970 --> 00:10:01.549 I don't know. The landslide we heard, it may 00:10:01.549 --> 00:10:03.649 have covered over the cave entrance outside. 00:10:04.230 --> 00:10:06.389 You mean that even if people came looking for 00:10:06.389 --> 00:10:08.470 us, they might not be able to find the entrance 00:10:08.470 --> 00:10:10.730 to the cave? That's why we have to start clearing 00:10:10.730 --> 00:10:16.289 out from inside here. Eve. Well, what is it? 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:18.960 I mean, at least we know where the way out is. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:22.399 We can crawl back through the tunnel. We don't 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:26.139 know where the way out is anymore. What do you 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:29.120 mean? The whole area where we passed along the 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.139 stalactites and the stalagmites has collapsed. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.500 Even if we could guess where the tunnel going 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:38.039 out began, the rocks blocking it are so large, 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.879 it would take a bulldozer to move them. Oh, good 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.250 Lord. Then we're trapped. It's sealed in like 00:10:44.250 --> 00:10:48.090 a tomb. And it's all my fault. Oh, Eve. Eve, 00:10:48.309 --> 00:10:53.309 don't. Come on. Darling, baby. Stop it. Stop 00:10:53.309 --> 00:10:56.610 it. Take it easy, Barbara. Now, Eve, come on. 00:10:56.870 --> 00:10:59.870 You've got to get a hold of yourself. Oh, I'll 00:10:59.870 --> 00:11:04.009 be all right. I'm sure you will. Hank, have you 00:11:04.009 --> 00:11:07.690 any ideas what we can do? Well, I guess the first 00:11:07.690 --> 00:11:10.769 thing to do is not to panic. Now, we've got water. 00:11:11.330 --> 00:11:13.750 I've got some chocolate bars and a couple of 00:11:13.750 --> 00:11:15.789 sandwiches left over from lunch in my saddle 00:11:15.789 --> 00:11:19.509 bag. We've got light as long as the batteries 00:11:19.509 --> 00:11:24.549 last, which reminds me. Do we have to be in the 00:11:24.549 --> 00:11:26.889 dark? There's no sense in using up the batteries 00:11:26.889 --> 00:11:30.070 when we don't need it. David. Right here, Eve. 00:11:30.490 --> 00:11:33.389 Hank, what are our chances of being found? Oh, 00:11:33.389 --> 00:11:36.019 it's hard to answer, Barbara. Of course, they'll 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:38.399 miss us back at the ranch by tonight. Didn't 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:40.480 say where we were going. But when they find the 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.519 horses hitched right outside... It's always supposing 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:48.019 they weren't buried in the landslide. Is there 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:50.440 any other way out of the cave you know of, Eve? 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:53.899 No, not really. Like I told you, some kids got 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:56.000 up on the ledge at the top of the waterfall and 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.679 they went into some kind of a chamber behind 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:03.480 there. But they claimed that... That what? Eve, 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:07.120 please, we've all got to keep our heads. Well, 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:12.179 it's just that the thing came rising out of the 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:15.600 water, hissing and snarling, so they just took 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:19.899 up and ran. Well, I don't guess four of us grown 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:22.179 -ups, as long as we stick together, are going 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:24.840 to dream up any bogeyman out of the shadows. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:30.220 I've got to turn the light on for a minute. Twenty 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:34.559 after four. They won't miss us till dinner time. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:36.659 By the time they start any kind of search, it'll 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:39.500 be dark. Yeah, and with the thunderstorm and 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.639 the Picota River running high as it does at the 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.919 ford, they may figure we hold up a halfway house. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:47.299 That's this side of the river? Yes, and there's 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:51.840 no phone, right Hank? That's right. Look, it's 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:54.820 only about 20 feet up to that ledge. It'd be 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:57.940 easy to climb. Dave and me could go in through 00:12:57.940 --> 00:13:00.889 that cleft and have a look around. Maybe there's 00:13:00.889 --> 00:13:03.730 a way out that way. You girls wait here. Oh, 00:13:03.730 --> 00:13:05.870 no way. I'm not sitting around in the dark. We'll 00:13:05.870 --> 00:13:09.789 all go, Hank. Well, okay. You climb first, then. 00:13:09.909 --> 00:13:12.789 David, right behind you. Then Barb, and I'll 00:13:12.789 --> 00:13:24.070 come up last. Let's go. Bingo. We're in the second 00:13:24.070 --> 00:13:27.529 cavern. How big is it? This must be where the 00:13:27.529 --> 00:13:30.220 waterfall comes from. Is there any way out? Hold 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:34.240 it, everyone. Hold it. Let's see. Let's start 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:38.159 to the left here. The walls are so smooth, like 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:40.779 they've been polished. Once upon a time, I guess 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:43.799 the whole floor was underwater. Shine the light 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:46.539 higher, Hank, so we can... Let's see if there 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:50.340 were any clefts or passageways at ground level 00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:53.659 first. It's so small. You're over halfway round 00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:56.840 and nothing. Maybe where the water comes in. 00:13:58.250 --> 00:14:02.149 We'll be there in a minute. No? Try along the 00:14:02.149 --> 00:14:05.870 right hand wall. The water runs along against 00:14:05.870 --> 00:14:09.629 it. And back through a hole in the floor, down 00:14:09.629 --> 00:14:13.629 to where we came from. Shine the light back again 00:14:13.629 --> 00:14:17.029 where the water comes in. Why? The batteries 00:14:17.029 --> 00:14:21.370 are getting dim. But I saw something. Wait a 00:14:21.370 --> 00:14:24.970 minute. You may be right. The water doesn't come 00:14:24.970 --> 00:14:27.830 quite to the top of the archway. It isn't that. 00:14:28.809 --> 00:14:35.029 It's something else. It's calling me. The same... 00:14:35.029 --> 00:14:38.330 Hey, wait a minute, wait! Oh, Hank! Are you all 00:14:38.330 --> 00:14:41.490 right? Damn it! Turn my ankle! David, the flashlight! 00:14:41.669 --> 00:14:46.289 I know, I know, I'm looking for it. David! David, 00:14:46.330 --> 00:14:50.429 help me! What is it? Where are you? Something's 00:14:50.429 --> 00:15:06.600 breaking! Help me! Where's the damn light? He 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:09.600 dragged her under the arch there. I don't know. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:14.000 I can't swim. I can't. Look out. Hold the lights 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.639 steady. Go in the arch. I'm going after her. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:24.039 Did you see anything? No. The water's only a 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:27.460 couple of inches under the roof. Hank's gone. 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:33.940 He thinks it's the same again. And he's coming 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:41.580 back for all of us. From ghoulies and ghosties 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:45.139 and long -legged beasties and things that go 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:49.720 bump in the night, good Lord deliver us. The 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:54.679 quote is from an old friend, Anom. Or to give 00:15:54.679 --> 00:16:00.580 him his full name, Anonymous. But will he deliver 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:04.440 our four young spelunkers, or any of them, from 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:08.690 this thing that haunts the cave? I'll return 00:16:08.690 --> 00:16:24.409 in a moment with Act Two. There's a creepy, crawly 00:16:24.409 --> 00:16:27.529 feeling about the very thought of being shut 00:16:27.529 --> 00:16:32.529 in anywhere, without doors or windows. Confinement 00:16:32.529 --> 00:16:35.450 of any kind is as foreign to the human animal 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:39.899 as it is to his fellow beasts. And as for caves, 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:47.120 I know I wouldn't be found dead in one. I hope 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:49.960 that figure of speech isn't a prophetic one for 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:53.500 one of our four young friends who are cave -bound. 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:58.899 What was that? A column of water. I don't know. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:02.159 But didn't you see something inside it with great 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:06.299 arms reaching out like a tree? It was just a 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:08.759 geyser, a water spout, some freak of nature. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:13.039 Eve said there was a thing. Oh, what did it matter? 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:17.099 Eve's gone. She's dead, drowned. And it's my 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:19.859 fault. And Hank hasn't come back either. David, 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.440 you can't help it if you can't swim. He hasn't 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:24.299 helped Hank, but he could. He's disappeared. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:27.980 She was my girl. If anyone had to die with her, 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:30.200 it should have been me. Maybe they've gotten 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:34.460 to another cave. If they hadn't... Their bodies 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:36.660 would have come up to the surface. Look at that 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:39.319 vortex there, Barbara. Where the spout, or whatever 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:43.460 it is, came from. Just before the archway. It 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:46.799 spins like a whirlpool. It could have sucked 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:50.660 them both down to the bowels of the earth. Oh, 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:53.960 Damon, what are we going to do? I don't care 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:57.220 anymore. Well, I do. Give me that flashlight. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:02.579 It's getting dimmer. Maybe there's a hole or 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:06.920 passage higher up that might... What's that? 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.059 The lights are still on. Put it out. No, I can't. 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.700 I can't. I don't want to be in the dark with 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:14.900 them. We'll have them all over us. Unbushed against 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:33.519 me, please. Please help me! Take it easy, Eve. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:39.759 You're all right. You'll be all right. The thing... 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:44.000 The thing that pulled me under the water. You're 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:49.579 out of the water now. Where? I don't know. Dry 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:53.660 land anyway. Thank you. How did you get here? 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.799 I went into the water after you. Try to save 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:03.559 me? Oh, it's an eagle scout. You know, trustworthy, 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:08.880 loyal, helpful. What about David? He can't swim. 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:13.900 Oh! But what did you... How did you... I don't 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:17.539 think I could explain. What do you mean? It just 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:21.480 doesn't make sense. The stream was flowing out 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:25.460 of the arch. So I was swimming against it. But 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:29.950 suddenly, something... Something just... pulled 00:19:29.950 --> 00:19:33.849 me along against the current what about you oh 00:19:33.849 --> 00:19:39.309 don't you see it was him the thing oh if it was 00:19:39.309 --> 00:19:43.230 why did he save you and me you thought he wanted 00:19:43.230 --> 00:19:49.369 to drown you yes i i did it first and then it 00:19:49.369 --> 00:19:55.529 seemed so kind so kind as if it wanted to help 00:19:55.529 --> 00:20:05.190 but We've got to find, we've got to get back. 00:20:05.450 --> 00:20:10.630 Take it easy. Too tired. Oh, we have some lights 00:20:10.630 --> 00:20:16.730 that we can... Nothing but matches. Soaking wet. 00:20:18.630 --> 00:20:32.680 Maybe dry out. You can't even see the time. David? 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:36.380 Yes, Barbara? Would the light disturb the bats 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:39.000 again? They make my flesh crawl, but anything's 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:41.059 better than the dark. Well, it must be night 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:44.000 outside by now. I have a hunch they've taken 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:46.680 off of the outside cavern. Well, are they in 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:48.619 for a surprise when they find there's no exit 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:51.339 anymore? Maybe they know of one out of here. 00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:59.619 Let's try. So far, so good. Getting so dim isn't 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:06.160 all that highlight. see. Well. Can you see anything. 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:12.700 No. Like the inside of an egg. David what are 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:15.480 we going to do get back get back near the arch 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:18.539 rocks flat maybe if the water goes down or something 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:23.880 we can figure a way. To. Know no they've got 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:33.869 to be like David I can't take it. A minute. Thank 00:21:33.869 --> 00:21:36.309 God. Some light. It's only a lighter. It won't 00:21:36.309 --> 00:21:39.049 last long. Now we've got to save it. Sit down. 00:21:39.130 --> 00:21:42.609 Just don't turn it off. I have to. Just keep 00:21:42.609 --> 00:21:45.049 thinking it's there if it's needed. It's there 00:21:45.049 --> 00:21:50.650 if it's needed. Oh, David, hold me. Please. Okay, 00:21:50.809 --> 00:22:05.940 okay. Got you, all of you, into this. But Eve, 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:10.200 Eve, that won't help. What we need to do is move 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:15.440 around and try to get warm. At least we're dry. 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:22.700 Try those matches again. Oh no, no good. If only 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:27.079 we could see to... What is it? Look up, Eve. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:34.009 Way, way up there. What do you see? It's... It's 00:22:34.009 --> 00:22:37.230 a shaft of light. Sunlight. It's coming from 00:22:37.230 --> 00:22:41.349 outside. It means there's a way out. But it's 00:22:41.349 --> 00:22:45.029 so high up. It's so little. With any luck, as 00:22:45.029 --> 00:22:48.210 the sun rises, it'll give us more light. Then 00:22:48.210 --> 00:23:05.289 we can explore. must be a good 60 feet. Hard 00:23:05.289 --> 00:23:08.950 to tell in this light. Could we climb up there? 00:23:09.190 --> 00:23:12.869 Oh Lord, no. We've got to think about Bob and 00:23:12.869 --> 00:23:15.369 David first anyway. Oh, I've been thinking about 00:23:15.369 --> 00:23:18.769 that. Trouble is I was groggy when I fetched 00:23:18.769 --> 00:23:22.369 ashore here. I've no idea how long the underwater 00:23:22.369 --> 00:23:24.789 swim is. But with the current going with you... 00:23:24.789 --> 00:23:27.430 There's a good chance I could make it through, 00:23:27.470 --> 00:23:31.640 but making it back's another problem. Especially 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:36.700 since David doesn't swim. We can't count on Mr. 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:39.539 Singh to be around to help us out again. But 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:42.900 here, we have a chance. And there, they don't. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:46.359 So there's got to be some way. I've got a notion. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:50.319 Eve, you got anything to write with? No. I haven't 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:53.500 got a pocket for any kind of pen. Wait a minute. 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:58.319 Pocket of my jeans. Lipstick. Any good? Famous. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:03.380 Now look. I'm going to take my canteen and empty 00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:07.700 it. Now the one sure thing we have is plenty 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:10.500 of water. You think we could write a message 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:13.140 with lipstick on that? No, not so good in that 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:17.380 canvas cover. But if we just strip it, we could 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:19.740 write on the metal. You don't think water would 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:22.480 wash it off? I don't suppose you've done much 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:25.099 dishwashing. Well, even a bachelor does his share. 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:28.319 Well, then you know how tough it is to get lipstick 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:32.809 off a glass. I sure do. But how do we get this 00:24:32.809 --> 00:24:35.430 message? Look, with the stopper in this canteen, 00:24:35.470 --> 00:24:38.190 it won't sink. Now, I'm going to tie it to the 00:24:38.190 --> 00:24:40.789 end of the rope and let it float on down far 00:24:40.789 --> 00:24:43.950 as I can. Supposing the rope isn't long enough? 00:24:44.049 --> 00:24:48.049 Oh, there's 30 to 35 feet of rope here. It better 00:24:48.049 --> 00:24:51.950 be long enough. Now, let's put our heads together 00:24:51.950 --> 00:24:54.730 and figure how much of a message we can get on 00:24:54.730 --> 00:25:06.599 this canteen. David? Yes, Bart? Is it me? Or 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:10.039 is it getting hard to breathe in here? It's all 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:15.359 in the mind. You know what's funny? Bart? I used 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:18.759 to be kind of jealous of all the big brains. 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:23.859 Me, I was just, you know, fun and games and the 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:27.759 action girl. No ties, strictly let it all hang 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:32.480 out loose. I wish I had the chance to find just 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:39.200 one cell. Oh, Davis. What, Barbie? You're not 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:42.000 kidding me. The air is getting heavier and heavier. 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:45.660 Please, can't we have a little light? There's 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:50.940 not much light if you... What is it? There's 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:56.019 something floating in the stream. Here, hold 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:58.980 this up for me. Can you reach it? Yeah, I have 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:04.259 it. What is it? It's a canteen. It's tied to 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:07.160 a rope. Looks like Hank's canteen. The water 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:09.240 bottle he brought in without the cover. Hold 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:12.039 it close, dear. Oh, look. There's writing on 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:16.400 it. Oh, God, I'm blind without my glasses. It's 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:19.839 in lipstick. That means Eve. Here, can you read 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:23.900 it? Hold the flame steady. Eve, Hank, safe, hug, 00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:30.140 rope, three times if found. Way out. If writing 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:39.339 materials reply, send all in flask. How much 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:42.400 do you measure? About 20 feet. And how far between? 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:48.200 One, two, three! They've got it! Now all we have 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.160 to do is wait for one tug and we can bring back 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:58.960 the message. There's so much more we should have 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:01.539 told them the time the light is almost out of 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:04.119 fluid. Thank God my watch has an illuminated 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:07.380 dial We missed their return instructions. Well, 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.500 oh we can't that's all. Oh the lighter I've got 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:14.720 to be sure this bottle sight the captain. Okay 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:22.779 here goes One tugger the Geronimo the light Or 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:24.759 if I ever get out of here, I'll write for special 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:27.059 dispensation during the energy crisis. I never 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:29.720 want to spend another moment in the dark again. 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:37.480 What does it say? We could use a better reading 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:40.799 light. What's it written on? Pencil on a handkerchief. 00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:46.920 Dearest Eve Hank, write only for one more message 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:52.559 from you. Air supply failing. Trapped here. Give 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:58.099 instructions. Expect answer five minutes. Pencil 00:27:58.099 --> 00:28:02.000 enclosed. Can you imagine? The 20th century, 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:04.480 a little less than 20 feet away, and we communicate 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:07.220 like the Stone Age. Never mind. At least we communicate. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:10.420 Let's just get them here so we can communicate 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:17.829 face to face. It's silly, Dave. You know you 00:28:17.829 --> 00:28:19.910 can't swim. If anything goes wrong and you panic, 00:28:20.009 --> 00:28:21.970 I'll at least be here. And if I leave you here 00:28:21.970 --> 00:28:25.190 in the dark alone? I... Now, look. Let me slip 00:28:25.190 --> 00:28:27.230 the rope around your shoulders like Hank instructed. 00:28:27.950 --> 00:28:30.410 I know how to handle a sling like this. Will 00:28:30.410 --> 00:28:34.769 you remember? Yes. Go on. Get in and tug. Let's 00:28:34.769 --> 00:28:36.809 get out of here before my lighter gives out. 00:28:43.170 --> 00:28:46.660 It's nothing. I could have swum it alone. I didn't 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:48.940 hold my breath more than half a minute. Oh, Bobby, 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:51.420 it's so good to see you again. Let's get that 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:53.519 sling off and float it back on the bottom of 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:55.859 David. Hurry, hurry. I think he'll be able to 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:59.559 manage. Oh, sure, a cinch. Oh, here you are, 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:02.640 Hank. Oh, I just hope your boyfriend isn't jealous. 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:07.599 You mean the thing? No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:16.440 have said that. All right, 17, 18, 19, 20. Twenty 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:22.220 -one. It should be right on the mark now. What's 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:24.599 the matter? Haven't he tugged yet? Give him a 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:27.880 chance. I hope the lighter hasn't run out of 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:30.039 fuel. But if he can't see, then how can he get... 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:34.160 Watch it. There's the tug. Come on. Let's all 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:39.339 pull fast. Should it come as easy as that? Something's 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:43.940 wrong. He's lost the rope. He's lost the rope 00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:46.519 all right. But it's something worse than that! 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:56.980 Get back, everybody! Get back! Once again, some 00:29:56.980 --> 00:30:00.500 malign influence interferes in the tantalizing 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:03.740 possibility of escape for the four young people 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:07.440 whose metal has already been tested unbearably. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:12.539 And for the lovers, the tables are bitterly turned. 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:17.779 It seems that it is Eve's turn to mourn David. 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:33.960 We'll return shortly with Act Three. Instead 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:37.559 of David, appearing from the tunnel, secure on 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:41.869 the rope, there is an empty sling. tied to the 00:30:41.869 --> 00:30:46.130 canteen for a float. And behind it, a boiling 00:30:46.130 --> 00:30:49.470 spout of frothing water spewing from the narrow 00:30:49.470 --> 00:30:52.509 opening of the channel like a huge fire hose, 00:30:53.049 --> 00:30:56.029 reversing the normal current till the opposing 00:30:56.029 --> 00:31:00.950 forces drive a seething lake over the floor of 00:31:00.950 --> 00:31:06.210 the cavern. Hank! Hank, what happened? I don't 00:31:06.210 --> 00:31:09.380 know! It's that... That thing David and I thought 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:12.640 after you went in to save Eve. David said it 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:16.140 was some sort of a water spout, like a geyser. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:23.240 Look! What? Floating in. David, help me. Help 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:27.640 me. Right with you. Easy. Eve. Let me get Eve. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:31.240 Don't let him go. Eve, it's all right. The water's 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:36.240 washing him ashore. Eve. Eve, swallow the letter. 00:31:38.820 --> 00:31:43.099 Get him on his back, Hank. That's right. Now 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:46.200 help me pull his jaw forward. What's that for? 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:49.440 Free his tongue so he doesn't strangle. Okay, 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:54.240 now let's get the water out of his stomach. And 00:31:54.240 --> 00:32:02.900 then we'll start mouth to mouth. But what happened, 00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:07.700 David? The lighter gave out, so I had to lie 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:10.079 there in the dark, feeling with my hands for 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:13.819 the bottle to come through. Suddenly I felt it, 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:16.039 but it slipped out of my hands, and I fell in 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:18.779 the water, grabbing at the rope. That must have 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:21.339 been the tug I felt. I don't know. I lost the 00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:23.180 rope, and I was floundering when suddenly the 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:27.000 water began to literally boil all around me. 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:31.259 The water spot? Yeah. It lifted me half out of 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:33.619 the water and flung me against the orchard. I 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:35.819 guess it knocked me out. You've got quite a bruise 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:38.039 on your forehead. It's what happened to us, Eve. 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:40.940 What do you mean? There's some fault right below 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:44.960 there. And every often, you know, enough cold 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:49.799 water hits the molten lava way down. You're the 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:52.099 professor, Dave. What happens? I don't know. 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:55.140 I suppose it forms a steam explosion that blows 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:57.980 a whole column of water back up into the small 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:01.880 cavern and part of the tunnel. Creates... Yeah, 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:04.480 sort of a whirlpool that's momentarily strong 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:07.160 enough to hit the normal current like a whip 00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:11.140 tide and drive it back. Best I can do. I can 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:14.660 do better than that. It's the thing that wants 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:18.039 to help us. It saved three of our lives already. 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:21.160 I owe at least part of my thanks to Barbara. 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:23.539 And me to Hank. And if it hadn't been for David, 00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:26.180 I'd have ended up a raving maniac in the dark. 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:29.839 I guess we all have turned up a little short. 00:33:29.950 --> 00:33:34.250 One way or another, except Hank. I'll say one 00:33:34.250 --> 00:33:37.309 thing. There's only one best man in the group. 00:33:37.410 --> 00:33:41.569 Only at your wedding, mister. Because, well, 00:33:41.690 --> 00:33:44.490 Hank is about to exhibit his private white feather. 00:33:45.109 --> 00:33:48.049 What do you mean, Hank? Well, if we're going 00:33:48.049 --> 00:33:52.650 forward, there are only two ways to go. Even 00:33:52.650 --> 00:33:54.869 I have looked at the other end of the river here, 00:33:54.869 --> 00:33:58.509 where it comes in, and there's no way out there. 00:33:59.250 --> 00:34:01.210 How about... the cleft up there where the light 00:34:01.210 --> 00:34:04.970 comes from. Well, looks to be the best bet, only 00:34:04.970 --> 00:34:10.070 Davey, old man, that's 60 or 70 feet up there. 00:34:10.630 --> 00:34:12.949 And I want to tell you, heights turn my belly 00:34:12.949 --> 00:34:16.510 to water. Even that first 20 foot climb we made, 00:34:17.150 --> 00:34:20.670 I'd like to die. I didn't dare look down after 00:34:20.670 --> 00:34:25.230 we got there. So what do we do now? We climb. 00:34:26.369 --> 00:34:29.110 Just let me look it over. Now, shouldn't be too 00:34:29.110 --> 00:34:32.800 tough. Are you sure you're up to this, darling? 00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:36.460 Eva, I may be an egghead, no muscle boy, and 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:39.699 I can't swim. But one thing I do know how to 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:50.360 do is climb mountains. This one's my baby. Now, 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:52.900 just let me go over a few points once again. 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:57.039 I lead, he follows, Barb and Ben Hank. What if 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:59.719 I fall? You're on a sling. The rest of us can 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:01.760 hold you, and if you don't lose your head, try 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:04.079 to relax. And as you swing back to the wall, 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:07.179 grab hold again. But you're not going to fall. 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:11.059 It isn't a tough climb. The main thing is, don't 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:14.639 look down. Just keep your eyes up. And each one 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:17.000 follow whatever toe holds or hand holds, the 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:19.679 one before is used. I'll test each one of them 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:23.360 first. Most of the climb, we can follow ledges. 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:26.179 If they feel now, face the wall and move sideways. 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:31.440 Don't look down. No hurry. Don't anyone try to 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:34.679 play hero. If you're tired, let me know and we'll 00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:37.659 rest, okay? I'm not worried, darling. I trust 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:40.659 you, Dave. Well, if we don't get started, I may 00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:51.940 never move. Here we go. We're halfway up now. 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:56.679 Anybody want to take a rest? No. I'm all right. 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:02.280 I'm afraid to stop. Next part's going to be a 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:05.940 little tougher. Hang in, and keep your eyes up. 00:36:07.699 --> 00:36:12.260 James! James! Hold on, anyone. What is it, Hank? 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:19.260 James, I can't! I can't! My knees! It's so far 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:22.519 down! Hank, damn it! Look up here at me! Now 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:25.320 that's better. Now you listen. We only have about 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:28.210 15 more feet to go. There's a nice wide ledge 00:36:28.210 --> 00:36:30.349 we can settle on while I explore the cleft we're 00:36:30.349 --> 00:36:33.230 heading for. You lose your head, you can take 00:36:33.230 --> 00:36:36.469 all of us with you. Just cut me loose and let 00:36:36.469 --> 00:36:40.309 me... Don't be a fool, Hank! We're a few feet 00:36:40.309 --> 00:36:42.550 from getting back in the world. Come on, don't 00:36:42.550 --> 00:36:53.329 let us all down! All right, I'll try... Easy 00:36:53.329 --> 00:36:56.250 does it. Just hook your weight forward over the 00:36:56.250 --> 00:37:01.530 ledge. I can't. I'm stuck. Now, when I pull, 00:37:01.610 --> 00:37:06.590 get your knee up. All right, now slide yourself 00:37:06.590 --> 00:37:12.230 back against the rock. There, that's it. I can't 00:37:12.230 --> 00:37:17.010 get out of this. I'm moving to Kansas, where 00:37:17.010 --> 00:37:20.789 it's as flat as a pancake. What are you doing? 00:37:20.949 --> 00:37:24.909 I'm tying the rope. I need it. It was awful. 00:37:25.949 --> 00:37:28.309 But nothing, wasn't it, darling? What do you 00:37:28.309 --> 00:37:32.150 mean? That place where the light's coming from 00:37:32.150 --> 00:37:37.150 is behind that big rock in the ceiling. We can't 00:37:37.150 --> 00:37:40.710 climb up there. It would take a fly. I can get 00:37:40.710 --> 00:37:43.769 there, darling. How? I just need some knots in 00:37:43.769 --> 00:37:46.510 this one lariat. Can you see that spur that sticks 00:37:46.510 --> 00:37:49.869 out? I toss the noose of a lariat over that. 00:37:50.110 --> 00:37:52.050 and then I can shinny up the rope and over on 00:37:52.050 --> 00:37:54.769 top of the rock. But you'd swing like a pendulum. 00:37:55.050 --> 00:37:58.250 If I took off from here without any break. But 00:37:58.250 --> 00:38:00.489 I'll tie the other rope to this one for a trip 00:38:00.489 --> 00:38:04.849 line. And the rest of you can let me swing over 00:38:04.849 --> 00:38:08.690 slowly and steady me as I climb. How do we get 00:38:08.690 --> 00:38:11.389 across there to join you? See that other spur 00:38:11.389 --> 00:38:13.710 higher up between us and the rock I'm going for? 00:38:13.769 --> 00:38:16.969 Yes. After I get across, I'll sling a line over 00:38:16.969 --> 00:38:19.920 that and secure it my end. You can all swing 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:22.800 across. Like we used to do when we were kids 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:25.440 and played Tarzan. It's only about ten feet. 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:27.739 I don't think I could do it. You've got to, darling. 00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:38.760 It's the only chance we have left. Thank heaven! 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:43.300 I never thought he'd make it! Did you find the 00:38:43.300 --> 00:38:48.360 rip? Yes! Does it lead outside? Eventually. It's 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:52.940 a sort of long chimney. Could we climb it? Yes, 00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:56.440 if we were gremlins. It's wide enough all right 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:59.199 one way, but the other is not over six or seven 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:03.099 inches. None of us could get through. Oh, no. 00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:07.039 Well, that blows it. What can we do, David? There's 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:11.099 nothing to do except... I'm down again. Not me! 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:15.059 I am in the gut! I don't think I have the strength. 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:19.820 You have a mute A on your hands, Captain. I couldn't 00:39:19.820 --> 00:39:25.139 make that climb down again either. Okay. We'll 00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:29.260 do what I told you before. Swing all of you over 00:39:29.260 --> 00:39:39.800 here. There's plenty of room for all of us. I 00:39:39.800 --> 00:39:43.320 got you, Eve. Back on good old terra firma. Just 00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:45.940 like riding down an elevator. Oh, thanks Hank. 00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:50.400 So we all got down easy. How does David? He's 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:53.059 got a way. He sort of takes a hitch around himself 00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:55.420 and he lowers himself down. But here he comes. 00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:58.380 Oh man, oh man, that's some kind of guy you're 00:39:58.380 --> 00:40:03.739 marrying. Everybody all right? We are. A few 00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:08.139 rope burns, that's all. Sorry I put you through 00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:11.679 all that for nothing. I wasn't much help, but 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:14.000 it was worth a last chance. You have to harp 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.119 on it. I'm not giving up yet. What else is there 00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:22.320 to try, darling? Faith. Trust in God. I don't 00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:24.639 think he'd have put us through all this much 00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:27.980 and not plan to save us. He certainly tried to 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:30.019 see what we were made of. Yes, and look at us. 00:40:30.199 --> 00:40:32.880 We all came through and none of us is whimpering 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:36.760 anymore, thinking of himself. I still think there's 00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:40.289 something there. Maybe not a childhood picture 00:40:40.289 --> 00:40:47.909 of a... a thing. Oh, good Lord! What is... coming 00:40:47.909 --> 00:40:51.389 out of that other tunnel? It's hard to see in 00:40:51.389 --> 00:40:54.869 this murky light. But it's the thing. I knew 00:40:54.869 --> 00:40:59.070 all along he didn't mean us harm. It's the thing! 00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:08.440 I reckon our muster has thrown quite a scare 00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:12.000 into you folks. Jim Trimble here, Deep Sea Diving 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:15.039 and Ocean Bed Recovery Incorporated, ex -frogmen 00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:18.300 in the Navy. You've got a mess of folks mighty 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:21.139 worried about you on the outside. They're going 00:41:21.139 --> 00:41:24.079 to be some relief once my boys bring in scuba 00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:26.420 tanks and gear to get you to the outside there. 00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:31.329 Just let me get them to go ahead. Hello grace 00:41:31.329 --> 00:41:35.010 to Jim all four missing persons alive and well 00:41:35.010 --> 00:41:47.849 proceed with planners outline But How did you 00:41:47.849 --> 00:41:51.210 find us? Well, sir, my daddy was quite a diver 00:41:51.210 --> 00:41:54.610 in his day free diving that was not with gear 00:41:54.610 --> 00:41:57.940 like today And he always had a notion there was 00:41:57.940 --> 00:42:01.179 a back way into Chalk Dog Cave through the underground 00:42:01.179 --> 00:42:04.579 river. And he found it one day off Chip Dog Lake 00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:08.739 here. I was about 16, and he went down and he 00:42:08.739 --> 00:42:11.739 never came back. I wonder if he ever made it 00:42:11.739 --> 00:42:14.199 to the cave. Oh, no doubt about that, ma 'am. 00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:17.199 After I got out of the Navy, I went down myself 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:19.860 with scuba gear and a motor outfit just like 00:42:19.860 --> 00:42:24.929 now. And I found my daddy, or his skeleton. I 00:42:24.929 --> 00:42:27.969 figure he got down just holding his breath, but 00:42:27.969 --> 00:42:30.750 trying to make it up again at that angle, the 00:42:30.750 --> 00:42:34.150 current was just too strong. After it got him, 00:42:34.550 --> 00:42:38.010 it brought him back to rest here, you know. I've 00:42:38.010 --> 00:42:41.190 rung him out and buried him proper. I'm sorry, 00:42:41.349 --> 00:42:44.570 Jim. No need. He died doing what he wanted to 00:42:44.570 --> 00:42:50.110 do. But how did you find us? Well, Hank's old 00:42:50.110 --> 00:42:52.849 horse Baldy was smart enough to outstep that 00:42:52.849 --> 00:42:55.679 landslide and... When he turned up downhill, 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:59.119 folks got alerted. But there wasn't a hope of 00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:01.199 digging you out. And they sent for me, and I 00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:04.460 got flown in from San Diego. That's how I come 00:43:04.460 --> 00:43:07.460 to scare you into thinking I was that old legend. 00:43:07.539 --> 00:43:12.159 I guess my father started. But the thing... It 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:16.119 isn't a legend, Jim. Your father never really 00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:29.360 died. He was the one that saved us. The fountains 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:33.960 of hot water still spout. The vortexes swirl. 00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:38.380 The long double lariat still hangs swinging from 00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:43.260 that high spur. But no living creature will ever 00:43:43.260 --> 00:43:47.099 enter them again. For even the bats are gone. 00:43:47.820 --> 00:43:50.519 Smothered in the first two caverns where air 00:43:50.519 --> 00:43:55.019 forever was shut off. Perhaps all that is left 00:43:55.019 --> 00:44:00.719 is one thing. With a small T now For it has become 00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:05.260 the pleasant ghost of a simple kindly man I'll 00:44:05.260 --> 00:44:21.000 be back shortly So for this time a happy ending 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:24.840 and let's write the epitaph to this tale of suspense 00:44:25.070 --> 00:44:29.750 in Milton's words. Hence, loathed melancholy 00:44:29.750 --> 00:44:33.829 of cerebrous and blackest midnight -born, in 00:44:33.829 --> 00:44:39.670 Stygian cave forlorn. For myself, I equate cave 00:44:39.670 --> 00:44:43.610 with a Latin word spelled the same way, c -a 00:44:43.610 --> 00:44:50.110 -v -e, but pronounced cave. It means beware. 00:44:51.309 --> 00:44:54.170 Our cast included Marion Selders, Terry Kean, 00:44:54.349 --> 00:44:58.289 Michael Wager, Bob Caliban. The entire production 00:44:58.289 --> 00:45:01.989 was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now, 00:45:02.690 --> 00:45:09.170 a preview of our next tale. And you don't believe 00:45:09.170 --> 00:45:12.730 in the presence of Satan? No, I don't. All I 00:45:12.730 --> 00:45:15.789 know is what that kind of talk leads to. Oh, 00:45:16.050 --> 00:45:19.289 the brick, you mean. I'm sorry about that. Well, 00:45:19.329 --> 00:45:21.480 yes, you should be. You've got these farmers 00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:23.940 half insane with your superstitious prattle. 00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:26.480 Some say that about religion. I wonder why. All 00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:28.360 right, let's not get sidetracked, Reverend Stokes. 00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:30.860 I don't want a theological debate. I want you 00:45:30.860 --> 00:45:33.400 to tell your congregation the truth. And what 00:45:33.400 --> 00:45:36.179 is that, Dr. Stumpf? That my son might raise 00:45:36.179 --> 00:45:39.079 his frauds for his lab experiments. Shall I tell 00:45:39.079 --> 00:45:41.239 them to believe in coincidence that a peaceful 00:45:41.239 --> 00:45:45.119 town is ripped apart every time your son returns? 00:45:45.699 --> 00:45:48.800 That cattle die for no reason at all? That we 00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:51.659 are suffering epidemics? and the worst drought 00:45:51.659 --> 00:45:54.639 in our history all because of coincidence yes 00:45:54.639 --> 00:45:56.980 yes you tell them that this is the 20th century 00:45:56.980 --> 00:46:01.219 what else could it be ask your son dr sample 00:46:01.219 --> 00:46:05.559 ask him if he's just doing lab experiments this 00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:08.340 is eg marshall inviting you to return to our 00:46:08.340 --> 00:46:11.699 mystery theater for another adventure in the 00:46:11.699 --> 00:46:17.800 macabre until next time pleasant dreams