WEBVTT 00:00:04.179 --> 00:00:42.240 Okay. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the terrifying 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:46.600 world of your imagination. What would you say 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:49.179 is the one single feature that distinguishes 00:00:49.179 --> 00:00:53.219 man from all his fellow creatures? His brain? 00:00:53.859 --> 00:00:58.520 Speech? His ability to walk erect? The fact that 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.240 he's the only living thing that kills for any 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:04.500 other reason than self -defense or food? None 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:08.750 of them. Something much more simple. A phenomenon 00:01:08.750 --> 00:01:12.769 shared only by our cousins, the apes. The human 00:01:12.769 --> 00:01:17.329 hand. This is a gripping, eerie story of a pair 00:01:17.329 --> 00:01:23.969 of, how best to describe them, superhuman, unique, 00:01:25.290 --> 00:01:34.930 no, perhaps best, a pair of immortal hands. What 00:01:34.930 --> 00:01:39.280 time is it? Four o 'clock, doctor. Over seven 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:43.299 hours. My fingers are numb, Helga. May I finish 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:45.579 the suit just for you here, doctor? Their speed 00:01:45.579 --> 00:01:48.319 is very important. Morphine is beginning to wear 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:51.519 off. Dare I dog him again? No, absolutely not. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.480 Young, healthy as he is, we could kill him. Here, 00:01:55.900 --> 00:02:00.700 you take the needle. So carefully. These hands 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.579 must still be able to make the greatest music 00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:08.810 in all Vienna. in all the civilized world. If 00:02:08.810 --> 00:02:12.990 the graft holds, though I fly in the face of 00:02:12.990 --> 00:02:18.129 the Almighty, I have done what I have done. Dear 00:02:18.129 --> 00:02:23.810 God, may my gamble succeed, and be forgiven. 00:02:33.550 --> 00:02:37.150 Our mystery drama, Death by Who's Hands, was 00:02:37.150 --> 00:02:39.310 written especially for the Mystery Theater by 00:02:39.310 --> 00:02:42.849 Ian Martin and stars Stefan Schnabel and Robert 00:02:42.849 --> 00:02:58.789 Dreyfus. I'll be back shortly with Act One. In 00:02:58.789 --> 00:03:02.569 the beginning of the 19th century, no city in 00:03:02.569 --> 00:03:05.979 Europe shone more brightly, or boasted a more 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:11.199 resplendent culture than Vienna. City of dreams, 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:15.340 of glittering balls of royalty and nobility and 00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:20.759 beautiful women, but most of all of music. Music 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:25.759 to the Viennese was and is a religion of faith. 00:03:29.610 --> 00:03:32.569 an insidious destructive emotion which can lead 00:03:32.569 --> 00:03:36.629 to sinister and deadly results. You are listening 00:03:36.629 --> 00:03:39.750 at the moment to the hands of Rudy Baum on the 00:03:39.750 --> 00:04:10.599 piano in Vienna's great concert hall. Right, 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.780 right, my boy. You must not strain them at any 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:19.160 cost. Let's go to my dressing room. I must go 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:20.819 to my room with the inverse that he had changed 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:25.060 first. I am ringing white. Oh, the touch of your 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:28.879 hands. From the whisper of Mozart to the thunder 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:33.300 of Beethoven. We must protect those hands as 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:36.959 a doctor and your future father -in -law. I will 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:41.560 make that my business. Well, I intend to be a 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:48.180 little part of that legend, you see. Yes, you 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:50.579 were at your best, my friend. It was a remarkable 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:57.060 debut. Beyond our wildest dream. Beyond mine, 00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:59.199 I must admit. Rudy, I'll drive you back to the 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:09.470 university. No, we can drive, Rudy. You are coming 00:05:09.470 --> 00:05:11.209 to our little supper and celebration, aren't 00:05:11.209 --> 00:05:14.470 you, Brown? I wasn't sure I was invited. Rudy's 00:05:14.470 --> 00:05:17.509 best friend and fellow pianist, both of course. 00:05:17.730 --> 00:05:20.310 Can I accept? I'll go and fetch my hat and cape. 00:05:20.649 --> 00:05:23.129 Yeah, it is, and I will go with you. There will 00:05:23.129 --> 00:05:25.910 be important people coming backstage. Oh, you 00:05:25.910 --> 00:05:27.750 won't mind waiting a while, huh? Hell, don't 00:05:27.750 --> 00:05:30.790 run that jury, please. We'll try not to be too 00:05:30.790 --> 00:05:36.370 long. You didn't answer, did you, Dr. Brown? 00:05:36.670 --> 00:05:38.990 Did I have any other choice than to remain and 00:05:38.990 --> 00:05:42.389 cool my heels? I think my friend tonight your 00:05:42.389 --> 00:05:45.750 nose is a little out of joint. Why do you say 00:05:45.750 --> 00:05:52.009 that? Listen to them. Can you hope to match it 00:05:52.009 --> 00:05:55.970 at your debut? That remains to be seen. I think 00:05:55.970 --> 00:05:59.269 I'll wait outside. It's uncomfortably hot in 00:05:59.269 --> 00:06:05.509 here. Only for other pianists I'm afraid, Franz 00:06:05.509 --> 00:06:22.300 Langemann. No, but you're right. It is a big 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:25.220 night. It's the start of everything I've worked 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:28.439 and slaved for all my life. You wouldn't understand. 00:07:13.080 --> 00:07:14.899 but don't let it go to your head. You're not 00:07:14.899 --> 00:07:17.980 the only pianist in Vienna. Oh, yes, I am now. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.480 Some of your classmates still have to make their 00:07:20.480 --> 00:08:27.949 debut. So impatient to announce the engagement, 00:08:27.949 --> 00:08:31.490 huh? Well, of course. Why not? It's not easy 00:08:31.490 --> 00:08:34.490 to be the wife of a man who belongs to the public. 00:08:34.669 --> 00:08:37.610 Oh, but I can't wait to be married to Rudy, to 00:08:37.610 --> 00:08:40.149 travel with him everywhere, to be feted by the 00:08:40.149 --> 00:08:43.730 great, to have kings and queens lavish praise 00:08:43.730 --> 00:08:48.230 and honor on us. There isn't much warmth in the 00:08:48.230 --> 00:08:52.250 light from reflected glory. What warms a woman. 00:08:52.779 --> 00:08:56.740 It's love. Oh, really, Papa? I'm getting exactly 00:08:56.740 --> 00:09:02.320 what I want. But I do wish... What is this, Helga? 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:05.220 What is this? Please help, Doctor. May I see 00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:08.519 you alone? No, I want to hear also. There is 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:12.500 an inspector of police downstairs. Police? There's 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:15.320 been an accident. We are both needed at the infirmary. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.879 An accident? To whom? I don't know how to... 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.720 Speak up, speak up. Concerns is that you'll have 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.539 to know sooner or later have longer months light 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:27.360 carriage collided with a heavy dragon France 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.820 has been badly hurt and Rudy where his hands 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:35.240 injured no he he has a concussion only but we'll 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:44.279 go immediately is he conscious no I'm going with 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:53.580 you to the infirmary Hemorrhage is so massive. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:57.159 Brain destruction is irreversible. I'm surprised 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:01.279 Rudy's still breathing. Oh, the music these hands 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.700 made less than three hours ago. The music they 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:09.299 could have continued to make. All vanished. Oh, 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.940 what a loss. What an irreparable loss to the 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:17.320 world. And to your daughter. Oh, yes, Ilse. I 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.139 cannot face her now, Helga. Will you, old friend? 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:22.820 Trust me. I'll take her home and sedate her. 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:24.820 No, no, no, give her something here before she 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:30.179 leaves. The inspector can see her home. I need 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:35.620 you here as you wish. But she'd want to see Rudy. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:37.840 What do I tell her? Tell her, tell her, tell 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:42.679 her she must wait. Don't hold out any hope. And 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:45.539 France? Well, I'm going to see him now. Tell 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:49.840 Ilse he had some hand injuries. Say he's under 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.889 sedation. And be sure that policeman takes Ilza 00:10:52.889 --> 00:11:02.429 home. He's asked all he needs to know. It's all 00:11:02.429 --> 00:11:07.230 right here, doctor. I'm awake. Yes, I see. How 00:11:07.230 --> 00:11:13.049 is Rudy? Rudy is asleep. Are you in pain? No, 00:11:13.850 --> 00:11:17.629 the morphine does that. I deserve it anyway. 00:11:19.950 --> 00:11:24.610 It was my fault. He was so swirled with his success, 00:11:24.710 --> 00:11:27.509 he blurted out the truth. He's been using all 00:11:27.509 --> 00:11:32.769 of us. Me, you, Wil, sir. He informed me he had 00:11:32.769 --> 00:11:35.730 no use for me anymore. Of course he still needs 00:11:35.730 --> 00:11:40.570 you and Ilse. Oh, I... I don't know why I'm even 00:11:40.570 --> 00:11:43.909 saying this, my dear. Rudy has no need of any 00:11:43.909 --> 00:11:50.940 of us anymore. You said he was a... He's dead. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:58.399 He might as well be. What does that mean? His 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:02.360 skull was fractured. He has had massive intercranial 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:06.320 bleeding. His brain is damaged beyond repair. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.840 In a sense, he's still alive. Medically, he's 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.120 dead. It's only a matter of time till the rest 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:18.980 of him dies too. And I am the one to live. Yes. 00:12:21.070 --> 00:12:28.850 You will live. My hands, how bad are they? When 00:12:28.850 --> 00:12:32.909 the wagon ran over them, the right one was severed, 00:12:33.250 --> 00:12:36.269 was moribund, devoid of all life by the time 00:12:36.269 --> 00:12:41.250 you were brought here. And the other, crushed 00:12:41.250 --> 00:12:45.429 beyond hope. If it can be saved from amputation, 00:12:45.769 --> 00:12:49.629 at best it will be a withered, motionless claw. 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:57.279 Why wasn't I the one to die? I can never play 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:02.240 the piano again. There is one way you could. 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:19.360 How? If I gave you Rudy Baum's hands. In stunned 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:24.039 incredulous shock, stares up at the usually kind 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:28.340 and humorous face of the hair Dr. Herschel. Now 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:32.539 it is stern and drained, the eyes boring down 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:36.220 at the young man, gleaming with a strange fanaticism. 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:40.779 What he is proposing is beyond belief, beyond 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:44.620 possibility, beyond the laws of man and God. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:14:03.639 I'll return shortly with Act Two. Vaccination 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:07.860 has been discovered eight years before, but anesthesia 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:13.059 will not even be conceived of till 1842. The 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:16.820 only antidotes against pain are alcohol, opium, 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:21.190 and a man's determination. And Franz Langemann 00:14:21.190 --> 00:14:24.230 lies in a bed in Dr. Herschel's private infirmary 00:14:24.230 --> 00:14:27.750 facing a transplant infinitely more complicated 00:14:27.750 --> 00:14:30.990 than anything medicine has dreamed of today. 00:14:31.289 --> 00:14:35.429 Rudy's hands! But he's still not dead. At the 00:14:35.429 --> 00:14:38.389 moment his heart stops to beat, we can take them. 00:14:38.610 --> 00:14:43.850 Still alive and pulsing. Could it work? Could 00:14:43.850 --> 00:14:48.720 I use them as hands? I don't know, Franz. I know 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.139 only you have nothing to lose. If the transplant 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:53.559 fails, you will be no worse off than you are 00:14:53.559 --> 00:15:00.539 now. And if it succeeds? If it succeeds? You're 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:03.919 a musician. What better tools could you have 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.059 to create beauty and music than the fingers and 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:13.879 the hands of Rudy Baum? Very well. If Rudy is 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:31.960 gone, I agree. Put the horses away. I'll sleep 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:35.340 till mid -afternoon. I won't need you before 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:45.720 then. Papa! Who is there? What are you doing 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:49.000 up so early? Early? It's almost nine o 'clock. 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:54.559 How is Rudy? Oh, what can I say, Leapchin? To 00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:02.750 make it easy for you. He's... I knew it. He's 00:16:02.750 --> 00:16:09.450 dead. Yes. It's all right, Papa. When you were 00:16:09.450 --> 00:16:17.750 so long, I knew. And Franz? Franz is... He will 00:16:17.750 --> 00:16:21.549 live. He's fine. What about his hands? That's 00:16:21.549 --> 00:16:26.529 what kept me so long. Helga and I were operating 00:16:26.529 --> 00:16:28.750 on them. Will he have the use of them again? 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:33.039 I hope a great deal more than that. He might 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:36.139 even be able to play again? It's too soon to 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:39.399 know anything. It'll take months. Oh, what's 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:43.240 the difference? It won't be Rudy. Nobody ever 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:46.799 will play like Rudy Baum again. Not in your lifetime, 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:51.340 Papa. Or in mine. It would seem too much to hope 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:56.659 for, would it not, my daughter? And yet, I am 00:16:56.659 --> 00:17:08.799 going to dare to hope. weak now and no sign of 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:13.119 gangrene? Yes. Yes, there seems to be circulation 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:17.539 in all the fingers, but no sensation yet. The 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:27.000 nerves need time to regenerate. So, now Franz, 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:30.339 we are taking off some of the bandages to free 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:35.319 the fingers. Yes, doctor. Now Franz, which hand 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:43.740 am I touching? I... I don't know. I don't know. 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:49.680 I... I have no hands. It isn't working. Patience, 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:54.799 patience. Why don't we try something else? Move 00:17:54.799 --> 00:18:16.200 your right thumb. Now we try the other fingers 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:24.440 one by one. And as you see, today we take all 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:29.500 the bandages off for good. These terrible scars. 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:33.900 No, no, no. Terrible, beautiful. Well, you will 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:36.480 see within a year there will be thin white lines 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:40.119 you can hardly detect. Besides, I made the grafts 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.420 far enough back so that your linen will cover 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:48.480 them at all times. Even when you play, you really 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:51.099 expect that I will ever play the piano again. 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:56.319 I hope. I hope with all my heart. Now we try 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.599 the exercises again. Here, pick up the pencil. 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:05.380 I can't. I can't feel the damn thing. The feeling 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:10.259 will come. No, never. They work, they move, but 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:12.619 they have no feeling. I tell you, it's all been 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:16.049 for nothing. I'm wearing a dead man's hands. 00:19:24.430 --> 00:19:27.490 Good morrow, Franz. Morgen, lieber Herr Doctor. 00:19:28.369 --> 00:19:31.329 Are there a few today? Oh, I haven't had any 00:19:31.329 --> 00:19:33.089 pain in them for the last two or three days. 00:19:34.970 --> 00:19:41.269 The first part is over. We are going home. Home. 00:19:43.770 --> 00:19:47.650 loss it is too big and with my family gone of 00:19:47.650 --> 00:19:49.910 course of course you don't return to the castle 00:19:49.910 --> 00:19:53.970 you're coming home with us oh no my dear I cannot 00:19:53.970 --> 00:19:58.329 impose on your hospital I insist you are my patient 00:19:58.329 --> 00:20:03.950 you're my protege and my prodigy besides you 00:20:03.950 --> 00:20:07.130 still need care and supervision for your exercises 00:20:07.130 --> 00:20:11.230 yes at home we will have a new teacher for you 00:20:12.689 --> 00:20:16.670 Ilse. Helga has been training her to assist with 00:20:16.670 --> 00:20:22.009 your rehabilitation. Does... Does Ilse know about... 00:20:22.009 --> 00:20:26.089 About the hands? No. No one knows that secret. 00:20:26.630 --> 00:20:30.230 Save you and I and Helga. No one must ever know. 00:20:31.009 --> 00:20:34.869 As far as the world is concerned... And you, 00:20:35.109 --> 00:20:40.740 Franz. These are your hands. You must think of 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:44.500 them from now on Every moment waking or sleeping 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:53.640 is as your hands yours But they are not they 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:59.559 are Rudy bombs really bomb is dead Come let us 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.839 go home. I have some special bandages that you 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:07.099 will wear always I'll come is this waiting to 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:12.460 see you eagerly Yes, sir To see me I will tell 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:15.259 you a secret and then we shall never mention 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:19.559 it again. I Believe sincerely that it was not 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:22.779 Rudy my daughter loved she was just blinded and 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:27.000 bewitched by his talent I Can be truthful and 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:30.819 I say she mourns him no longer But aren't you 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:36.420 anxious to see her? Yes, sir. Yeah Let's go home 00:21:46.269 --> 00:21:49.950 Yes, I didn't hear you come in. Guten tag. Where 00:21:49.950 --> 00:21:52.130 is Papa? He went back to the infirmary after 00:21:52.130 --> 00:21:54.990 lunch. Oh, I thought you and he were together. 00:21:56.549 --> 00:21:58.609 And now that I'm here, I must take up my duties. 00:21:58.750 --> 00:22:01.130 Will you come to the table? Are we to eat again? 00:22:02.430 --> 00:22:07.190 No. We're going to start your exercises. Oh. 00:22:08.990 --> 00:22:15.940 Your poor hands. To think. That night... Pa never 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:19.180 told me how badly they were injured. There's 00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:23.619 not a sign of a scar. Your father is a magician. 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:27.500 I know he's prouder of his success with you than 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:30.980 anything he's ever done. Do they still hurt? 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:38.240 No. Even when I hold them? My hands are not what 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:41.720 you heard, Ilsa. It was my heart that was in 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:45.980 your hands. It was a long time ago, Franz. It's 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:51.039 over. Shall we start again, then? Us? Again? 00:22:52.660 --> 00:23:05.380 No, I meant the exercises. What are you doing 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:09.759 here in the music room? It's suddenly, suddenly, 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.190 suddenly, yes. I feel that my hands may be ready 00:23:13.190 --> 00:23:18.470 to try again. Try it. Forgive me. I know you 00:23:18.470 --> 00:23:22.190 will understand. I want to be alone in the house. 00:23:22.589 --> 00:23:27.329 I want no one to hear me until I'm ready. If 00:23:27.329 --> 00:23:33.190 that is what you wish, Liebling. Liebling? Oh, 00:23:33.789 --> 00:23:38.309 that was a slip of the tongue. I'll take it as 00:23:38.309 --> 00:23:45.829 that for now. But if... is it... will you help 00:23:45.829 --> 00:23:50.109 me in a plan I have? Ask me. Well, your father's 00:23:50.109 --> 00:23:52.789 birthday is two months away. I want to repay 00:23:52.789 --> 00:23:54.809 him for all he's done for me in a way beyond 00:23:54.809 --> 00:24:01.089 money. Let me have four hours a day. Alone. Here. 00:24:01.890 --> 00:24:03.789 No one but the servants in the house and swear 00:24:03.789 --> 00:24:07.009 them to silence. Let the hairdoctor think I'm 00:24:07.009 --> 00:24:09.309 taking my regular exercises to strengthen my 00:24:09.309 --> 00:24:13.299 hands. Instead... Let me exercise them where 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:17.500 they belong. On the keyboard. Oh, that's marvelous. 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:22.579 If only I... Only what? No, if only I could share 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:25.859 it with you. No one can share this private agony. 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:30.299 Liebchen, yes, I will call you that and I hope 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:33.440 that I have the right to. But I won't know for 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:37.880 at least two months. Help me. In everything. 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:50.609 Always. Yes. And that was not a slip of the tongue. 00:24:51.690 --> 00:24:53.930 I'll be out of the house in ten minutes, and 00:24:53.930 --> 00:25:06.990 you can start to build your triumph alone. A 00:25:06.990 --> 00:25:10.890 dinner fit for a king and a birthday cake made 00:25:10.890 --> 00:25:15.710 for an emperor. I had forgotten it was my birthday, 00:25:15.710 --> 00:25:19.329 but then that's... It's easy to do at my age. 00:25:19.670 --> 00:25:22.509 We'll have a port and brandy and coffee in the 00:25:22.509 --> 00:25:24.750 music room. Music room? Why there? Now don't 00:25:24.750 --> 00:25:27.230 ask questions, Papa. On a birthday there are 00:25:27.230 --> 00:25:30.529 many surprises. There's one very special gift 00:25:30.529 --> 00:25:34.210 you haven't received yet. From Franz. Oh, I don't 00:25:34.210 --> 00:25:38.150 need any gifts. This one permit me to offer you. 00:25:40.190 --> 00:25:43.569 Here, sir. Thank you, Franz. Lieb her, Doktor. 00:25:44.349 --> 00:25:48.359 Danke schön. No, sit with me, Papa. Here on the 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:53.160 sofa. This is all so, so mysterious. What are 00:25:53.160 --> 00:26:01.319 you up to? Listen. This is a moment of terrifying 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:06.240 truth. I am Lazarus. But am I surely risen from 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:11.680 the dead? For all of us, music is a way of life. 00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:16.769 If it is still mine. And this is the best birthday 00:26:16.769 --> 00:26:19.910 gift I can offer either of you. In return for 00:26:19.910 --> 00:26:48.339 all you've done for me. Here it is. Magnificent 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:53.039 I've never heard it play better to live To live 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:57.339 for moments like these Oh France France, how 00:26:57.339 --> 00:27:01.039 can I thank you? But this is not just for me 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.339 you you will concert time. Oh, of course He's 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:06.220 going to set the world on fire and that's the 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:08.960 other birthday present we have for you Papa more 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:12.759 more France is not only your prodigy. He's going 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:18.759 to be your son We're going to be married At last. 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:23.099 Well, this is not my birthday. It's the beginning 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:34.720 of the world. Good night, Yus. Must you go? Time 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:39.000 enough for us. This is his celebration. Let us 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:45.400 wait for hours. If I must? Don't tell me. You 00:27:45.400 --> 00:29:32.960 were so wonderful tonight. me is yours. of the 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:35.900 restless dreams that are torturing her intended 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:39.500 husband. And neither of them is aware of the 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:43.059 nervous tensing and extension of the hands that 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:47.859 once were Rudy Bounds. Hands joined to the body 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:52.480 of Franz Langermann. I'll return shortly with 00:29:52.480 --> 00:30:08.490 Act 3. The debut that fall of Franz Langermann 00:30:08.490 --> 00:30:11.970 was sensational. The public took him to their 00:30:11.970 --> 00:30:15.589 hearts, and the critics were unanimous in praise, 00:30:16.349 --> 00:30:18.609 projecting for him the brilliant future that 00:30:18.609 --> 00:30:21.869 had been denied Rudy Baum by his untimely death. 00:30:22.890 --> 00:30:25.970 So bright indeed were all Franz's prospects that 00:30:25.970 --> 00:30:28.569 he seemed to have banished the tortured dreams 00:30:28.569 --> 00:30:31.630 that haunted his sleep till the morning of his 00:30:31.630 --> 00:30:35.009 wedding day. He was standing before the peer 00:30:35.009 --> 00:31:55.420 glass adjusting his white cravat when... a beer 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:59.960 glass with a chair. But why? Doctor, I cannot 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:02.720 marry you. We will have to call the wedding off. 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:07.839 Guests already arriving? Is this dress and her 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:10.519 bridle down? What's the matter, boy? Are you 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:16.099 mad? More than a little, I'm afraid. I can guess 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:20.099 perhaps what troubles you. Let us sit down together 00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:34.170 then and talk this over. your dreams and now 00:32:34.170 --> 00:32:38.650 today the specter appeared in the mirror yes 00:32:38.650 --> 00:32:43.390 and you feel that his uneasy spirit is doomed 00:32:43.390 --> 00:32:47.089 to haunt you that his ghost will forever dog 00:32:47.089 --> 00:32:52.329 your footsteps yes certainly if I marry you sir 00:32:52.329 --> 00:32:55.009 and I love her too much to put her through that 00:32:55.009 --> 00:33:00.369 too you are an exceptionally kind and sensitive 00:33:00.369 --> 00:33:05.099 man You've been through an agonizing and traumatic 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:08.700 experience. You've been driving yourself practicing 00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:13.119 long hours for your concert debut. You are exhausted 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:17.400 physically and emotionally. The mind is simply 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:22.599 playing you tricks. No, you don't understand. 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:28.019 Rudy Baum was no friend of mine. You remember? 00:33:28.710 --> 00:33:30.589 I tried to tell you that night, the night of 00:33:30.589 --> 00:33:32.769 the accident. Oh, yeah, yeah. So you did, I recall. 00:33:33.250 --> 00:33:36.170 Rudy was my enemy. He resented me, hated me. 00:33:36.690 --> 00:33:39.269 And I'd have his triumph when he had everything. 00:33:39.289 --> 00:33:42.029 He gloated over it. He threw it in my teeth. 00:33:42.230 --> 00:33:45.410 Well, then that is it, Franz. Why should you 00:33:45.410 --> 00:33:47.809 have any remorse? You think it is only remorse 00:33:47.809 --> 00:33:50.809 that conjures up these visions? Of course. That 00:33:50.809 --> 00:33:54.589 and your over -sensitive nature. And I can help 00:33:54.589 --> 00:33:57.349 there. I will give you some mild sedation for 00:33:57.349 --> 00:34:01.890 the days. And for the nights? If you need it. 00:34:02.630 --> 00:34:06.069 I should think Ilse would be better than all 00:34:06.069 --> 00:34:10.590 my pills for that. What you need is her to take 00:34:10.590 --> 00:34:23.670 care of you. Ilse, Franz, welcome home. Oh, Papa, 00:34:23.769 --> 00:34:26.309 it's good to be back. It's good to see you here, 00:34:26.730 --> 00:34:29.530 Doctor. So now, tell me all about the tour. It 00:34:29.530 --> 00:34:32.489 was brilliant, marvelous, unbelievable. Standing 00:34:32.489 --> 00:34:36.309 ovations everywhere. France was the lion of the 00:34:36.309 --> 00:34:40.170 hour. He looks like a rather tired lion. Oh, 00:34:40.210 --> 00:34:42.710 just need a couple of days' rest. I must look 00:34:42.710 --> 00:34:45.590 a fright after that long carriage ride. You'll 00:34:45.590 --> 00:34:50.929 excuse me while I change. Oh, I forgot. We are 00:34:50.929 --> 00:34:53.710 to give a special concert recital for the Anthra 00:34:53.710 --> 00:34:59.889 at Schönbrunn. Imagine! own emperor. Well, she 00:34:59.889 --> 00:35:03.630 is wildly happy. Yes, he also thrives on all 00:35:03.630 --> 00:35:06.710 the social life. Well, you don't seem to share 00:35:06.710 --> 00:35:11.050 her enthusiasm. Oh my God, how can I? Oh, come 00:35:11.050 --> 00:35:14.530 on, France. Not so bad to be wined and dined. 00:35:14.829 --> 00:35:17.309 The important thing is to remember it's a tribute 00:35:17.309 --> 00:35:21.980 to you, a genius. My genius. Do you really think 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:25.960 it is I they applaud? Who else? These, these. 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:28.539 That's what they come to worship. And who makes 00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:31.920 them work? Not I. I tell you they have a life 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:34.699 of their own. Do you think I could attack the 00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:37.119 Beethoven Emperor as though notes exploded from 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:40.199 one of Napoleon's cannons? I tell you they are 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:43.500 beyond my control, and it is driving me mad. 00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:48.099 I want to play my own music, be my own man. These 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:50.980 may be the hands of a genius, but... Lord, help 00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:53.920 me, they are not mine. I never want to play the 00:35:53.920 --> 00:36:06.679 piano again. Bob? Yes, yes, sir. What are you 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:11.059 doing out of bed? Thinking. Well, must you sit 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:14.440 by the window, come back to bed, and think with 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:18.880 me? I'm afraid in bed with you, sir, I... Don't 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:22.639 think very clearly. It's better when you don't 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:26.639 think at all. That used to be a way out. No longer. 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:36.480 What do you mean? Yes, sir. Listen to me. I don't 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:40.179 want to play again. Are you out of your mind? 00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:44.539 The king, the queen, Napoleon and the Empress 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:47.909 Josephine. Are they so important to you? Oh, 00:36:47.909 --> 00:36:50.289 what are you trying to say? Are they more important 00:36:50.289 --> 00:36:53.869 to you than my piece of soul? No, really, Franz. 00:36:54.349 --> 00:37:00.590 You should live to play. Why? Because it's expected 00:37:00.590 --> 00:37:05.070 of you. By whom? Well, by the nobility, royalty, 00:37:05.389 --> 00:37:07.750 everyone who hears your music. And you? Yes, 00:37:07.750 --> 00:37:10.650 and my father. Oh, no. Your father understands. 00:37:11.070 --> 00:37:13.469 And for the rest, there's always a new artist, 00:37:13.610 --> 00:37:16.570 a new interest. The truth is, isn't it that... 00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:19.360 I must keep on playing for you. Well, that isn't 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:23.179 true. Then, if you love me, agree that my career 00:37:23.179 --> 00:37:26.940 is over. Would you love me still, just as Franz 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:30.920 Langermann? You're being foolish, Liebling. This 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:34.159 is just another temperamental display. Why should 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:36.860 you stop playing? I won't allow you to. Won't 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:40.460 you, Lisa? I think it's time we put things to 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:44.820 a test. What are you doing? I want to show you 00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:49.309 something. I don't think I want to see it. At 00:37:49.309 --> 00:37:53.070 last you must. You see my arms? Why do you think 00:37:53.070 --> 00:37:55.610 I wear these bandages above my wrists? Well, 00:37:55.650 --> 00:37:58.809 you... you always said the scars were ugly, and 00:37:58.809 --> 00:38:04.210 it... Ugly? Let me show you the truth. Look at 00:38:04.210 --> 00:38:11.710 both arms. What? There's nothing there but... 00:38:11.710 --> 00:38:16.719 but a thin white line. On each arm. all the way 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:21.320 around. See? Yes, but... but I thought... In 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:24.519 the accident, Rudy's brain was injured fatally, 00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:27.579 but the rest of him was untouched. All of me 00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:31.599 was untouched, except my hands. They were completely 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:36.059 destroyed. But if they were... if they were... 00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:40.659 Oh! Oh no! Yes, yes, these are Rudy's hands. 00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:43.880 grafted to me miraculously by your surgeon father. 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:46.920 These are what you love, aren't they? Not me! 00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:51.159 Even when they were still Rudy's, it was these 00:38:51.159 --> 00:38:53.739 hands and the fain and the notoriety and the 00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:56.420 acclaim that could win and really claim your 00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:59.420 love. The man behind them meant little except 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:04.579 a means to an end, right? No, I... no, I give 00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:07.320 you one last choice, you'll see. Rudy can never 00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:11.639 play again, and promise you I never will. But 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:16.219 you stay with me as my wife and care for me and 00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:19.440 nourish me now I know you're mad and I'll not 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:24.179 waste my life on you. I Forced myself to endure 00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:26.719 Rudy because I knew he could carry me with him 00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:30.019 to the top. I Found you more endurable if you 00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:33.579 could give me the same But if you turn your back 00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:38.559 on success and glory Don't ask me to do the same. 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:42.309 You cannot love me for myself Only for these. 00:39:42.530 --> 00:39:47.429 For those hands. No matter whose, you can rule 00:39:47.429 --> 00:39:50.269 the world. Even though they destroy me. Oh, I 00:39:50.269 --> 00:39:52.489 don't know why I wasted my time on such a fool. 00:39:52.929 --> 00:39:56.130 Those hands are not for destruction. Even about 00:39:56.130 --> 00:39:59.670 your throat. Say you love me. Oh, stop being 00:39:59.670 --> 00:40:01.869 a child, son. Say you love me. At this moment, 00:40:01.989 --> 00:40:05.449 I despise you. What? What? What? For the new 00:40:05.449 --> 00:40:06.909 pier glass I brought today, you're gonna knock 00:40:06.909 --> 00:40:17.179 it over. You feel this book? What are you looking 00:40:17.179 --> 00:40:45.530 at? Can't see him. Rudy. In the mirror. What 00:40:45.530 --> 00:40:51.809 is there to do? Police will come, Franz. You 00:40:51.809 --> 00:40:57.190 will be hanged. What does it matter? Nothing 00:40:57.190 --> 00:41:03.510 can bring Rudio or my daughter back. I was as 00:41:03.510 --> 00:41:07.929 guilty as anyone in this. I wanted to save a 00:41:07.929 --> 00:41:12.949 rare musical gift for the world. And I was tempted 00:41:12.949 --> 00:41:18.820 in the operation to... to play God. And now there's 00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:23.619 only one thing to do. What? Poor Ilse must have 00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:29.900 fought. Your face is damaged. Now we must ransack 00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:33.079 the apartment or I will take enough valuables 00:41:33.079 --> 00:41:36.920 away with me. Then I will say I came to visit 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:39.840 you and that I found my daughter and you and 00:41:39.840 --> 00:42:44.099 then that I rushed out for the police. dead my 00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:47.860 son -in -law merely renders unconscious I placed 00:42:47.860 --> 00:42:51.699 him on the bed as you see and came for you inspector 00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:55.940 murder and robbery obviously I don't know how 00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:58.800 much is missing certainly my daughter's jewels 00:42:58.800 --> 00:43:01.280 some ivory pieces I gave them as a wedding present 00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:04.719 your daughter is quite dead strangled how is 00:43:04.719 --> 00:43:07.619 the young man awesome facial wounds possible 00:43:07.619 --> 00:43:17.460 concussion and He has been straggled too. Tongue 00:43:17.460 --> 00:43:21.179 protruding, face livid, marks on throat, not 00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:26.880 much doubt. Some kind of maniac, it looks. Cortomino. 00:43:27.639 --> 00:43:31.860 What is it? A maniac, all right, look. Cut right 00:43:31.860 --> 00:43:48.030 off above the wrist. He has no hands. Rudy Baum 00:43:48.030 --> 00:43:51.789 from his solitary grave. Would he prove to have 00:43:51.789 --> 00:43:57.289 hands or not? As it happened, no one did. And 00:43:57.289 --> 00:43:59.989 since here Dr. Herschel died quite suddenly from 00:43:59.989 --> 00:44:02.570 a heart attack during the solemn requiem mass 00:44:02.570 --> 00:44:05.429 for his daughter and his son -in -law, why should 00:44:05.429 --> 00:44:08.309 it have occurred to anyone to question this extraordinary 00:44:08.309 --> 00:44:24.110 tale further? I'll be back shortly. closing. 00:44:25.070 --> 00:44:30.250 Man proposes, God disposes. There is never a 00:44:30.250 --> 00:44:34.010 time when man can take his work into his hand. 00:44:35.110 --> 00:44:37.670 No truer words have been spoken than in the Bible, 00:44:37.809 --> 00:44:42.769 Hosea 8, Chapter 7. They have sown the wind, 00:44:43.369 --> 00:44:48.090 and they shall reap the whirlwind. Our cast included 00:44:48.090 --> 00:44:50.690 Robert Drivers, Stefan Schnabel, Marion Seldas, 00:44:50.889 --> 00:44:54.219 Ira Lewis, and Roger DeKoven. The entire production 00:44:54.219 --> 00:44:58.099 was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now, 00:44:58.539 --> 00:45:04.019 a preview of our next tale. Florence would never 00:45:04.019 --> 00:45:08.019 give me a divorce, and even if she did, she'd 00:45:08.019 --> 00:45:12.059 want a big alimony. I just couldn't afford you, 00:45:12.300 --> 00:45:15.739 Sherry. Well, I won't deny I'm expensive, but 00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:19.860 you could easily afford me. How? Symer, sir, 00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:23.869 and his new... Lady love are leaving early for 00:45:23.869 --> 00:45:28.030 a weekend in Bermuda. Monday's a holiday. They 00:45:28.030 --> 00:45:30.869 won't be back till Tuesday morning. It won't 00:45:30.869 --> 00:45:33.510 be till then that they discover the money is 00:45:33.510 --> 00:45:36.630 missing. What money? The money in the teller's 00:45:36.630 --> 00:45:39.789 drawers. How much do you think it adds up to? 00:45:39.909 --> 00:45:43.769 Well, it's the end of the month, payday for most 00:45:43.769 --> 00:45:47.110 people. The deposits have been heavy, somewhere 00:45:47.110 --> 00:45:51.750 between six or seven hundred thousand... Why? 00:45:52.650 --> 00:45:55.449 What do you want to know? I just wanted to know 00:45:55.449 --> 00:45:58.630 how much we're going to steal. This is E .G. 00:45:58.889 --> 00:46:00.989 Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery 00:46:00.989 --> 00:46:04.949 theater for another adventure in the macabre. 00:46:05.269 --> 00:46:09.590 Until next time, pleasant dreams.