WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.079 The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:28.539 in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Enter our mansion 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:32.039 of mystery. And it's mystery we have in store 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:34.979 for you today in a house nestled in the pleasant 00:00:34.979 --> 00:00:38.020 English countryside. The house we are to visit 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:41.520 is not a brooding castle, nor is it set on one 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:44.000 of those windy and cheerless moors that Britain 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.899 is so famous for. It's a modest two -story cottage, 00:00:48.299 --> 00:00:50.859 high on a rise that overlooks the tiny hamlet 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:54.899 of Salford below. The residents of the town give 00:00:54.899 --> 00:00:57.719 it a wide berth. Even though no one has lived 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:00.799 in it for more than two years, and two young 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:07.079 men who rented it discovered why. What the devil 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:09.560 is that noise, Mark? It sounds as though it's 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:15.340 coming from up there. Look! I see it, but I don't 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:19.659 believe it! A rat! It's as big as a tabby cat! 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:33.650 Look at the eyes, Brian. Look at the eyes. Our 00:01:33.650 --> 00:01:37.250 mystery drama, The Judge's House, is based on 00:01:37.250 --> 00:01:40.510 a story by Bram Stoker and was written especially 00:01:40.510 --> 00:01:44.209 for the radio mystery theater by Bob Juren. It 00:01:44.209 --> 00:01:48.290 stars Gordon Gould and Lloyd Batista. I'll return 00:01:48.290 --> 00:02:02.599 shortly with Act One. Picturesque English country 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:05.299 houses have been immortalized in paintings and 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:08.979 photographs, particularly in travel posters luring 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:12.379 visitors to jolly old England. Often, though, 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.300 a house that looks so quaint from the outside 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:19.580 can harbor strange vibrations inside, particularly 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:22.520 when they take on the characteristics of the 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:26.520 owner. Such was the judge's house. But we'll 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:29.460 arrive there shortly. Let Mark Mason, a young 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:35.639 American in England, tell us what happened. I 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:37.860 often wonder how things might have turned out 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:41.439 if I hadn't gone to England that spring of 69. 00:02:42.860 --> 00:02:45.240 I wouldn't have these nightmares that have haunted 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:50.520 me over the years. I went to England at the invitation 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:54.199 of Brian Stokes, a fellow I met when we were 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:56.659 both doing graduate work at Stanford University, 00:02:56.659 --> 00:03:00.620 California. We planned to write a monograph together 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:04.699 on abnormal psychology, and he suggested I join 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:06.300 him in England for the two months we thought 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:09.580 it would take to write it. We were both filled 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:11.740 with excitement the day I arrived at his tiny 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:15.120 flat in Liverpool. Mark! It's great to see you 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.960 again. What a time we'll have. Oh, I can't wait 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:20.460 to see the Liverpool sights. Oh, we won't be 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:23.620 working here, Mark. Too many distractions. I've 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:26.419 rented a cottage at Salford. Complete privacy, 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.000 the agent said. Hasn't been lived in for two 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:31.759 years, but he said he'd clean it up a bit. Got 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:36.400 it for a song. You look disappointed. Where is 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:38.819 the Salford? About a hundred kilometers east 00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:42.180 of the city. Lovely village. Quiet and remote. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.979 Just what we need to work. When do we start? 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:49.199 We'll motor up Saturday. So that leaves us two 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.939 days here to make a tourist out of you. Freshen 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:54.159 up and we'll take in some of the nightlife you've 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:57.180 always been chasing after. There'll be precious 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:08.740 little in Salford, I'm afraid. This is it. Charming 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:10.659 little place, don't you think? Oh, it's like 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:12.860 every picture of an English cottage I've ever 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:15.879 seen. All it needs is the hollyhocks. A bit early 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:20.079 for those yet. I'm dying to see inside. You mean 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:22.699 you haven't seen inside? The front was enough 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:25.829 to convince me. Besides, the agent assured me 00:04:25.829 --> 00:04:29.149 it was just what we'd want. Hello? I think that's 00:04:29.149 --> 00:04:32.810 him coming out the front door. Hello! I see you 00:04:32.810 --> 00:04:35.629 made it all right. Come on, Mark. Let's go in. 00:04:37.069 --> 00:04:40.110 Made good time from Liverpool. Didn't expect 00:04:40.110 --> 00:04:42.970 you till after four. Roads were good. This is 00:04:42.970 --> 00:04:46.290 my friend from the USA, Mark Mason. Mr. Sheffield. 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:50.310 How'd you do? Nice to meet you. Place is all 00:04:50.310 --> 00:04:53.250 tight and tidy. I had a warning straightening 00:04:53.250 --> 00:04:56.009 up the past two days, and I lit a fire for you. 00:04:56.589 --> 00:04:59.810 Makes things a bit cheery. Very thoughtful. What 00:04:59.810 --> 00:05:04.750 is that on the roof? A bell tower? Oh, yes. Yes, 00:05:04.790 --> 00:05:06.709 the bell's still there, as a matter of fact. 00:05:07.610 --> 00:05:12.389 Here we go now. Furniture's a bit stodgy, but 00:05:12.389 --> 00:05:15.889 serviceable. Ooh, that's some fireplace. Must 00:05:15.889 --> 00:05:19.459 be eight feet across. Nine, to be exact. I had 00:05:19.459 --> 00:05:21.759 a good supply of wood put round back. You'll 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:25.120 need it. It couldn't be better. And look, this 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.360 must be the bell rope. That's what it is. It's 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:30.480 attached through that hole in the ceiling and 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.180 up to the tower. Well, let's give it a try. No, 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:38.019 no, don't. Something the matter? It, uh, might 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:42.100 startle the village. Oh, is that bad? They're 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:45.519 a bit superstitious, you know. The villagers 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:48.939 are afraid of this house. At one time, it belonged 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:52.620 to a judge, Harrison Schelling. There he is, 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:55.680 in that portrait over the fireplace. Have you 00:05:55.680 --> 00:06:00.459 heard of him? Schelling. Schelling. No. Was he 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:05.540 famous? Infamous is the word. He was known as 00:06:05.540 --> 00:06:08.459 the Hanging Judge. He sent more people to the 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:10.939 gallows than any other ten judges put together. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:14.579 Oh, nice guy. He was really hated and feared. 00:06:15.709 --> 00:06:18.370 The reason I asked you not to ring the bell is 00:06:18.370 --> 00:06:22.310 because the judge, so the story goes, would ring 00:06:22.310 --> 00:06:25.829 it on the day of every hanging he ordered. Ugh. 00:06:26.709 --> 00:06:29.870 He must have been a fiend to take such delight 00:06:29.870 --> 00:06:32.990 in such a macabre custom. Boy, he's not still 00:06:32.990 --> 00:06:36.129 around, is he? Oh, no, no, no. He died 30 years 00:06:36.129 --> 00:06:40.009 ago. His son was living here until he died, and 00:06:40.009 --> 00:06:42.490 now the grandson wants to be rid of the place. 00:06:42.569 --> 00:06:45.279 But why are the villagers still on edge? I think 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.199 very few of them were around when the old boy 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:50.819 was handing out his hanging orders. That's true, 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.379 but in these small villages, Mr. Mason, legend 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:58.600 dies hard. They all believe the judge's spirit 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:02.819 is still here in Salford. If that bell were to 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:06.139 ring, well... They might think someone was going 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:10.240 to die. Precisely. We won't do anything to increase 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:14.759 their fears by ringing the bell. He's a rather 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:17.759 handsome man, don't you think? In a stern sort 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.759 of way, yes. It's a good portrait. Done in his 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:25.560 robes, seated in a high -backed chair. Ooh, every 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:30.839 inch the judge. Those eyes. They pierce right 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:34.800 through you. There's no phone, I'm afraid, but 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.639 if you want one... Not on your life. There's 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:39.579 no one we'd want to call. And we don't want to 00:07:39.579 --> 00:07:42.860 be disturbed. Oh, then I guess that's that. I 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:44.779 have your check for the rent, and if there's 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:46.980 anything you need, just pop round to my cottage. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.199 Yes, thanks very much. We'll freshen up, then 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:52.759 walk into the village tonight for a bite. We 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.620 passed a nice -looking pub on the way up. Oh, 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:57.360 yes, Andy Maughan's place. Nothing better between 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:08.550 Liverpool and Manchester. Decent -looking place. 00:08:08.670 --> 00:08:11.790 It's terrific. Looks exactly like my idea of 00:08:11.790 --> 00:08:15.110 an English pub. And so it should. That's precisely 00:08:15.110 --> 00:08:18.829 what it is. Ah, welcome, Gents. Ah, tight table 00:08:18.829 --> 00:08:22.649 for two right here. Thanks. Bit of a chill tonight. 00:08:22.949 --> 00:08:27.370 Indeed. Brandy for me? Hmm, the same. Ah, will 00:08:27.370 --> 00:08:31.410 you be wanting to eat? Yes, later. Traveling 00:08:31.410 --> 00:08:33.870 through, are you? No, no. We'll be staying here 00:08:33.870 --> 00:08:36.049 for a while. We've rented the judge's house. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.759 You what? My friend and I are working on a paper 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.639 together. We'll be living in the judge's house. 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:48.139 You are not serious. Oh, we know. The agent told 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:54.120 us about... Oh, McKenna. What does he know? Judge, 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:57.679 you mustn't stay up there. It's not on your life. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:09:01.659 Well, the place suits us just fine. What did 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:04.679 McKenna tell you? That you all think the judge's 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:09.250 spirit haunts the town. Aye, we don't think, 00:09:09.909 --> 00:09:13.950 we know. We'll be back with your brandy and a 00:09:13.950 --> 00:09:20.690 gif and a bit of advice along with it. Everyone's 00:09:20.690 --> 00:09:22.710 looking at us. Always that way when strangers 00:09:22.710 --> 00:09:26.309 come in. But I guarantee they'll be staring harder 00:09:26.309 --> 00:09:29.129 when old Andy tells them what we're up to. Makes 00:09:29.129 --> 00:09:32.210 it more of an adventure. Flaunting superstition 00:09:32.210 --> 00:09:35.919 right in their faces. There you are boys. Too 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:39.879 great news. Now, if I might just sit down a moment. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:45.279 Listen, I know you don't want to hear this, but... 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.700 On the contrary, it makes our position all the 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:51.039 more exciting. I wouldn't make light of it, sir. 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:55.620 Oh, go ahead. It's true. The old fiend's spirit 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:59.480 still haunts the hills of Self, and we've got 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:03.870 proof. Really? It's been no coincidence. that 00:10:03.870 --> 00:10:06.250 every time there's been a death in Salford for 00:10:06.250 --> 00:10:09.690 the past two years since the house was empty, 00:10:10.470 --> 00:10:15.049 the bell in the tower rang. Rang on the day the 00:10:15.049 --> 00:10:21.009 person died before they died. But who'd ring 00:10:21.009 --> 00:10:26.450 the bell? The judge, lad. The judge. He's still 00:10:26.450 --> 00:10:30.090 up there. Mock me? Suppose it was the wind. swinging 00:10:30.090 --> 00:10:32.929 the bell. Oh, come on now. What you take me for? 00:10:33.309 --> 00:10:35.710 There was no wind the first time and any other 00:10:35.710 --> 00:10:41.210 time. That first day, we all remember it. I'll 00:10:41.210 --> 00:10:45.850 tell you, one clear morning, the bell starts 00:10:45.850 --> 00:10:48.110 ringing and ringing. What makes you think it 00:10:48.110 --> 00:10:51.309 was the judge's ghost? We all ran up to see who 00:10:51.309 --> 00:10:53.889 was pulling the bell rope. Thought it might be 00:10:53.889 --> 00:10:57.490 kids on a prank, you know. And you saw the judge? 00:10:57.789 --> 00:11:01.750 No, no, no, no. We peered in the window and the 00:11:01.750 --> 00:11:04.809 rope was swinging like mad and the bell was ringing 00:11:04.809 --> 00:11:09.950 But there was nobody in the room Who else but 00:11:09.950 --> 00:11:12.110 the ghost of the judge could have been pulling 00:11:12.110 --> 00:11:15.769 that rope? I'll tell you there was no one there 00:11:15.769 --> 00:11:22.750 and then someone died. Oh Oh Tally Being sick 00:11:22.750 --> 00:11:27.750 with pneumonia for two days died that night It 00:11:27.750 --> 00:11:31.759 was mrs. Allen Next time the bell rang, she tripped 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:39.019 over a cat. It had. And that was that. I guess 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:41.879 you'd have no reason to lie about it. I suppose 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:46.779 this did happen. Four times. Did anyone die without 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:50.159 the bell ringing? Not in the past two years. 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:53.539 Since the judge's son died and left the house 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:56.779 empty? Right. Then the bell ringing doesn't really 00:11:56.779 --> 00:12:00.480 cause the deaths. Of course not. But how does 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.799 the old monster know when to ring it? Always 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:06.679 when someone is going to die. Have you thought 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:09.120 about going up and dismantling the bell? That 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.659 would put an end to it. If you could get a man 00:12:12.659 --> 00:12:15.639 to go near that place. We'll be living there. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.960 We'll have a look. You're still going to stay 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:22.500 there? After what I just told you? Of course. 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:27.940 I can't believe it. Well... I won't hang on my 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:30.840 conscience whatever happens to you. You don't 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:40.360 want to believe me? It's your business. Mark, 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.820 do you think he was pulling our leg about the 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:45.399 house? No, he seems serious enough. But it's 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:48.799 so far -fetched. Ghosts don't pull bell ropes. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.820 I'd rather think your theory about the wind might 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:54.620 have some substance. Perhaps, but there's a wind 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:56.710 tonight and not a sound from the bell. Let's 00:12:56.710 --> 00:13:00.250 have a look at it from inside. Now? Why not? 00:13:00.710 --> 00:13:03.210 We have a flash. There must be a way out from 00:13:03.210 --> 00:13:11.690 the upper floor. All right, why not? There. That 00:13:11.690 --> 00:13:14.090 small ladder going up to the trap door. That's 00:13:14.090 --> 00:13:17.070 got to be it. You want to go first? Here goes. 00:13:19.190 --> 00:13:22.950 The thing's probably rusted shut by now. Hope 00:13:22.950 --> 00:13:28.990 I can budge it. Any luck? Yes. There it goes. 00:13:29.870 --> 00:13:34.870 Can you see it? The bell's enclosed in a housing. 00:13:35.929 --> 00:13:39.110 Wind couldn't get at it. Not a big one either. 00:13:39.789 --> 00:13:41.309 Looks like the dinner bell they used to ring 00:13:41.309 --> 00:13:43.549 at prep school. Want to take off the rope and 00:13:43.549 --> 00:13:47.730 give the villagers a break? Should I? Well, maybe 00:13:47.730 --> 00:13:52.070 not. We better not. Brian, what are you doing? 00:13:52.830 --> 00:13:55.980 Stop that thing! I didn't touch it! I didn't 00:13:55.980 --> 00:14:00.259 touch it, Mark. I'm coming down. The damn thing 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:04.279 just started clanging. Then someone is down there 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:14.840 in the living room, pulling that bell rope. Someone 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:18.620 or something is pulling the bell rope. Certainly 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:20.919 not one of the villagers who hear the judge's 00:14:20.919 --> 00:14:23.860 house. Certainly not the judge who sits in his 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:26.700 high back chair staring out from his portrait. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:30.399 We'll go downstairs with Mark and Brian to learn 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:34.120 just what's going on when I return shortly with 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:47.620 Act Two. The bell the old judge used to ring 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:50.840 on execution day of victims he had sentenced. 00:14:51.070 --> 00:14:54.669 begins to ring of its own accord, or so it seems, 00:14:54.990 --> 00:14:57.470 for Brian, who was inspecting it, never touched 00:14:57.470 --> 00:15:01.009 it. But two educated young men aren't taken in 00:15:01.009 --> 00:15:05.289 by myths, superstitions, or ghosts. There's a 00:15:05.289 --> 00:15:09.490 practical explanation for everything. Someone's 00:15:09.490 --> 00:15:11.629 down there pulling on that bell rope. Come on! 00:15:12.070 --> 00:15:14.610 How did anyone get in? We'll find out! This is 00:15:14.610 --> 00:15:16.850 as crazy as the story that innkeeper told us. 00:15:18.389 --> 00:15:22.590 The bell stopped. Look! The rope's still swinging. 00:15:23.149 --> 00:15:26.250 Well, someone did that, Brian. He's got to be 00:15:26.250 --> 00:15:30.450 in the house. But where could he go? It only 00:15:30.450 --> 00:15:33.029 took us moments to come down the stairs. There's 00:15:33.029 --> 00:15:35.389 no place for anyone to hide. Well, have you got 00:15:35.389 --> 00:15:39.110 any ideas? No. But the villagers must be having 00:15:39.110 --> 00:15:42.129 kittens down there. You said it. They're wondering 00:15:42.129 --> 00:15:45.850 who's next. What the devil is that noise? It 00:15:45.850 --> 00:15:47.629 sounds as though it's coming from up there. Mark! 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:50.759 at the hole in the ceiling for the bell rope. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:56.039 I see it, but I don't believe it. A rat? As big 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:59.740 as my grandmother's tabby cat. Look at the eyes, 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.299 Brian. The eyes. It's the fire knight hitting 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:07.299 them. Could the rat have run up the bell rope? 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:13.460 Yes. That's what rang the bell. Wait till old 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:16.340 Andy and the villagers learn their ghostly bell 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:20.779 ringer is nothing but a rat. Well, I hate the 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:24.220 thought of sharing a cottage with That we shot 00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:26.779 we'll get some poison or a trap in the village 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:29.379 tomorrow. I need a beaver trap to catch that 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:33.720 thing I Keep staring at us poison will do the 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:40.240 trick. Oh Well back away from the hole But it's 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:43.440 still up there in the eve somewhere Maybe we 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.879 ought to drive down tonight for the poison the 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:47.879 innkeeper probably has some we'll do it in the 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:50.350 morning I'm not going to sleep too well with 00:16:50.350 --> 00:16:52.970 that thing scratching around in the walls. Tomorrow 00:16:52.970 --> 00:16:57.730 it'll be dead. That rat just rang its own death 00:16:57.730 --> 00:17:05.029 knell. Shall we get some work done first? No, 00:17:05.029 --> 00:17:08.190 let's get into town and get that poison. I'll 00:17:08.190 --> 00:17:10.910 work a lot better when we bury that rat. Another 00:17:10.910 --> 00:17:14.130 drizzly morning. I'll go for the poison. You 00:17:14.130 --> 00:17:16.730 stay here by the fire. No need for us both to 00:17:16.730 --> 00:17:19.609 ride down. Okay, if you don't mind. I'll put 00:17:19.609 --> 00:17:21.589 on another pot of coffee. I'll bring some fresh 00:17:21.589 --> 00:17:23.730 eggs from the village. We'll have ourselves a 00:17:23.730 --> 00:17:27.690 good breakfast and give Mr. Rat his last meal. 00:17:31.210 --> 00:17:33.990 I watched Brian get into his convertible and 00:17:33.990 --> 00:17:36.230 swing down the curving road toward the village. 00:17:37.769 --> 00:17:41.430 I threw another log in the fire. And as I headed 00:17:41.430 --> 00:17:45.059 for the kitchen to start the coffee... I had 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:49.660 the feeling that I was being watched. And I was. 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:55.359 I looked up into the eyes of the judge in the 00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.539 portrait. The sensation was incredible. Up to 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:04.779 now, I'd only given the portrait a passing glance. 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:09.240 But now, the eyes seemed to burn right through 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:14.730 me. There was animation in them. They were watching 00:18:14.730 --> 00:18:20.190 every move I made. I moved closer to the mantle 00:18:20.190 --> 00:18:25.990 to study the canvas. Here was hate. Revenge and 00:18:25.990 --> 00:18:30.849 madness rolled into one face. But the eyes, those 00:18:30.849 --> 00:18:36.730 incredible eyes, I had to turn away. And when 00:18:36.730 --> 00:18:41.029 I did, it was only to meet another pair of eyes. 00:18:42.569 --> 00:18:46.430 The rat. was looking down at me from the hole 00:18:46.430 --> 00:18:54.829 in the ceiling. It sat there, unmoving. As unmoving 00:18:54.829 --> 00:18:58.470 as the judge in the portrait, I picked up a small 00:18:58.470 --> 00:19:01.410 log from the hearth and threw it up at the rat. 00:19:03.250 --> 00:19:07.349 Oh, I missed. But the rat disappeared into the 00:19:07.349 --> 00:19:11.339 eaves. And I busied myself in the kitchen until 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:14.759 I heard Brian coming in the front door. Hello, 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:18.799 Mark? I'm back. In the kitchen. Coffee's ready. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:22.839 I got the rat poison and a lecture to boot. A 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:25.140 lecture? Seems the shopkeepers as queer about 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:28.519 this house as Andy down at the pub. A rat, he 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:31.640 says. Fat chance. It's the old judge ringing 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:34.119 that bell. Did he say anything about the bell 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:36.579 ringing last night? Of course. They're all in 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:40.529 an uproar. Brian... I want to tell you something. 00:19:41.630 --> 00:19:46.450 While you were gone, I saw the rat again. It 00:19:46.450 --> 00:19:48.970 looked down at me from that hole up there. Well, 00:19:49.009 --> 00:19:51.210 this stuff will soon take care of him. As I looked 00:19:51.210 --> 00:19:56.250 back at it, I saw... I saw the eyes of the judge. 00:19:56.789 --> 00:19:59.430 What? The eyes of the judge in the portrait. 00:20:00.589 --> 00:20:03.009 They looked at me with the same intensity as 00:20:03.009 --> 00:20:06.049 the eyes of the rat. Well, we'll take the portrait 00:20:06.049 --> 00:20:09.759 down if it bothers you. And as for the rat, he's 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.740 about to have his last meal. Maybe it was being 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:17.160 here alone. My imagination worked overtime. We'll 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:19.059 spread this poison around and get some work done 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:21.799 today. May as well start laying out the structure. 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:25.019 Where should we put that stuff? It always seems 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:27.619 to appear up by the bell rope. Must have his 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:30.680 nest there. We'll put some up there and some 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:32.819 in the pantry just in case. I sure hope it works. 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:35.480 The chap in the village guaranteed it. Get me 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:37.319 that stuff out of the kitchen and I'll sprinkle 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.500 these pellets in the rafters around the bell 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:43.640 rope hole. You better be careful, Brian. Those 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:46.720 rats can be vicious. I hope you've got enough 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.039 of that stuff. We'll soon see. Better take the 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:56.500 flash. Yes. Any sign of Brother Rat? Not so far. 00:20:57.779 --> 00:21:01.900 No. It's not up here now. What is up there? Just 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:04.480 a cramped space between the ceiling and the bedroom 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:10.359 floor. There. That does it. Hello. What's this? 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:14.579 What did you find? A big book of some kind. Like 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:18.619 a scrapbook. Bring it down. I intend to. Must 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:21.619 have been up there for years. I'm surprised the 00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:23.599 rat hasn't chewed it to bits and made a nest 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.960 out of it. It's almost falling apart. Look, we'll 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:28.819 lay it out on a long table. Belong to the old 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:33.170 judge, without a doubt. Looks like a lot of newspaper 00:21:33.170 --> 00:21:38.309 articles. The judge's press clippings? Yes. From 00:21:38.309 --> 00:21:43.589 papers 40 and 50 years old. Look at this. Hanging 00:21:43.589 --> 00:21:48.390 judge, sentences 200th to die. He was actually 00:21:48.390 --> 00:21:52.490 proud of it. So it seems. Here's a picture of 00:21:52.490 --> 00:21:58.450 him. Dated June 19th, 1920. Same face as the 00:21:58.450 --> 00:22:02.230 portrait. Only a lot younger. Hello. Here's an 00:22:02.230 --> 00:22:06.930 odd one. Look at this. The British Society of 00:22:06.930 --> 00:22:10.450 Sorcery will hold its monthly meeting at Society 00:22:10.450 --> 00:22:13.130 Headquarters, 31 Pembroke Place, on Thursday, 00:22:13.150 --> 00:22:16.769 October 1st at 8 p .m. Featured speaker of the 00:22:16.769 --> 00:22:19.869 evening will be the Honorable Judge Harrison 00:22:19.869 --> 00:22:24.910 Schelling of Salford, whose topic will be witchcraft 00:22:24.910 --> 00:22:29.630 and the changing form. The public is invited. 00:22:29.750 --> 00:22:32.329 Well, now we know his hobby. It gets more fascinating 00:22:32.329 --> 00:22:35.869 all the time. I might make a hobby of him. What 00:22:35.869 --> 00:22:39.009 about our monograph? It might tie in nicely. 00:22:39.609 --> 00:22:44.069 Perfectly. We're doing abnormal psychology. A 00:22:44.069 --> 00:22:55.049 judge into witchcraft. What a case history! Well, 00:22:55.210 --> 00:22:57.720 Mark... I think we've done enough work for one 00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:00.039 day. You want to go into the village for supper? 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:03.019 I just as soon heat up some soup here. It's drizzly 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:05.859 and cold out there. Suits me. It's almost dark, 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:09.240 too. This fire's too good to leave. What was 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:15.740 that? What? You didn't hear it? There. Something 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:20.180 hit the floor. There it is. It's one of the poison 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:24.839 pellets. He's pushing them down the hole. The 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:27.180 devil! Some guarantee that guy in the village 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:29.940 gave you. Look at the fiend. He's throwing the 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:33.059 stuff back at us. That's one smart rat. He knows 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:35.440 what's not good for him. Well, look at it this 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:39.180 way. He was here before we were. Maybe we're 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:42.500 intruding on him. Why don't we just leave him 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:45.759 alone? Let him scrounge around as he pleases. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:48.779 It's been his home for we don't know how long. 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:53.460 I don't like that idea at all. But at the moment... 00:23:54.039 --> 00:24:03.259 I don't have a better one. Brian and I had a 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:07.119 light supper, did some work, let the fire go 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:10.960 to Embers and went to bed. I don't know how long 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:13.720 I'd been asleep when I heard Brian yelling at 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:16.440 me and dragging me out of bed. Mark, the house 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:18.920 is on fire. Hurry! Why aren't the downstairs 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:24.930 a blaze? Look! I couldn't see flames, but fire 00:24:24.930 --> 00:24:27.069 like flickered around the stairwell. I grabbed 00:24:27.069 --> 00:24:31.069 my pants and we hurried downstairs. It's the 00:24:31.069 --> 00:24:35.349 fireplace. I thought the whole house was ablaze. 00:24:35.509 --> 00:24:38.789 Yes, it's the fireplace, but how come? There 00:24:38.789 --> 00:24:40.730 were just dying embers when we went up to bed. 00:24:41.650 --> 00:24:46.089 But how did this start up? I don't know. Fascinating, 00:24:46.109 --> 00:24:49.230 isn't it? It's downright weird. Someone started 00:24:49.230 --> 00:24:52.779 that fire up again. Sure is all right. But I'll 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:55.920 be darned if I'll detach a supernatural significance 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:59.339 to it. Some charcoal just flared up. I didn't 00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:02.180 say it was supernatural. I said someone started 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:04.380 the fire up. Are you accusing me of playing tricks 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:09.019 on you? Don't be ridiculous. But you picked a 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:11.400 dilly of a house for us to try to concentrate 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:20.019 in. Brian's upbeat nature kept me from taking 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:23.299 things too seriously. But I should have realized 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:25.680 we were in a danger far greater than Brian would 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:29.099 admit. For the next two days we worked without 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:31.980 incident. And no sign of the rat, thank heaven. 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.680 We didn't go into the village at all. And we 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.900 were surprised when we saw Andy, the tavern keeper, 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:42.559 approach the house somewhat cautiously. Come 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:48.779 in, Andy. And you know who is me? Our crystal 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:54.029 ball. What? We saw you through the window. I 00:25:54.029 --> 00:25:57.009 hope I'm not intruding. No, of course not. Help 00:25:57.009 --> 00:25:59.450 yourself to Sherry. We never thought we'd see 00:25:59.450 --> 00:26:02.309 you set foot in here. No, I never thought I would 00:26:02.309 --> 00:26:05.789 either. We was getting concerned about you too. 00:26:06.289 --> 00:26:10.049 Haven't seen you in two days. I was elected to 00:26:10.049 --> 00:26:14.910 come see you. She was all right. Rather, I lost 00:26:14.910 --> 00:26:19.309 the draw. And you see, we're fine. Did you get 00:26:19.309 --> 00:26:21.890 rid of the rat? Well, we don't know. We haven't 00:26:21.890 --> 00:26:26.049 seen it for two days. I knew those pellets would 00:26:26.049 --> 00:26:28.529 do the trick. We're not sure it ate any of them. 00:26:28.670 --> 00:26:31.289 How? It kept pushing them down at us from its 00:26:31.289 --> 00:26:36.470 nests up there. You don't believe me? I believe 00:26:36.470 --> 00:26:41.589 anything that might happen in this house. So 00:26:41.589 --> 00:26:46.640 that's him staring down from the wall. The old 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:52.140 hanging judge himself, eh? That's him. Evil as 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:55.940 evil can be, he is. You can tell it to look at 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:59.539 him. Curious you should put it that way. What 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:06.480 way? You said, he is, not he was. Of course he 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:10.779 is. He won't believe his spirit's hearing in 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:15.779 that bell. But we know it. Mark me. You're in 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:18.880 for a hard lesson, don't I know it? We appreciate 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.559 your concern for our well -being. I mean that. 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:25.559 Well, if you was about to come to harm, we wouldn't 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:29.940 ignore you. Things are awfully tense in the village. 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:36.420 About us? About you. About all of us. It blasted 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:40.880 bell -ring three nights ago. We know. We're waiting. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:53.349 Wondering. Who's going to be next? Do not send 00:27:53.349 --> 00:27:56.930 to know for whom the bell tolls It tolls for 00:27:56.930 --> 00:28:00.210 the judge's next victim But it's merely a gutter 00:28:00.210 --> 00:28:02.589 rat that rings the bell when it occasionally 00:28:02.589 --> 00:28:05.109 runs up and down the bell rope to its nest in 00:28:05.109 --> 00:28:08.190 the ease That's what Brian would have the villagers 00:28:08.190 --> 00:28:12.069 believe and perhaps he's right, but that's a 00:28:12.069 --> 00:28:15.630 big perhaps and we'll find out what really goes 00:28:15.630 --> 00:28:18.589 on in the judge's house when I return shortly 00:28:18.589 --> 00:28:34.250 with Act 3. Iron bells in the silence of the 00:28:34.250 --> 00:28:37.390 night, how we shiver at the melancholy menace 00:28:37.390 --> 00:28:40.799 of their tone. The people of Salford certainly 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:42.920 shiver every time the bell in the judge's house 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:46.420 rings. According to them, it means someone is 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:49.740 going to die. But it's been several days now 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:53.119 since the bell rang last, and the village is 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:57.640 still wondering... Who's going to be next? That's 00:28:57.640 --> 00:29:00.200 your trouble, Andy. You let superstition color 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:03.819 your whole life. No one is going to be next, 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:06.140 just because a rat happened to swing on a bell 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:10.440 rope. Ah, you can talk, lad. You haven't lived 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:17.000 in Salford. We know. Well, I better be getting 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:19.140 back. Well, thanks for coming, Andy. We appreciate 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:22.619 your concern. Like I said, we hadn't seen you 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:25.359 in two days. Just wanted to make sure you was 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:29.480 all right. We still think you're lonely. Perhaps. 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:32.140 But it will take more than a rat and superstition 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:35.400 to get us to leave. I hope for your sake there 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:39.299 is nothing more. Good -bye now. So long, Andy. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:41.259 We'll be down for a beer. And thanks again for 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:47.059 thinking of us. You be careful now. Decent chap. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:50.380 They all are, I suppose. Wanna get back to work? 00:29:50.759 --> 00:30:01.490 We'd better. and thus then the psyche is turned 00:30:01.490 --> 00:30:05.569 inward on itself with no other outlet something 00:30:05.569 --> 00:30:11.069 the matter mark i just can't concentrate i know 00:30:11.069 --> 00:30:15.190 i'm acting like one of the villagers but i can't 00:30:15.190 --> 00:30:18.190 stand that portrait staring down at us it really 00:30:18.190 --> 00:30:20.809 bothers you yes and i'm going to take it down 00:30:20.809 --> 00:30:24.519 all right if you feel better But he is sort of 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:26.579 an inspiration now that we're ready to include 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:29.200 him in the paper. Give me a hand, will you? Sure. 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:34.359 Heavy, is it? It's not that. It seems to be nailed 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:40.859 to something. It won't budge. So it is. Let's 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:47.279 both lift from the bottom. No use. I'm afraid 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:50.599 it's there to stay. Unless we destroy the thing. 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:54.990 No, we can't do that. Well, let's get back to 00:30:54.990 --> 00:30:58.410 work. I want to go over the scrapbook, item by 00:30:58.410 --> 00:31:02.230 item. It'll give us a good start on... Hello? 00:31:03.490 --> 00:31:08.569 Did you move the book? No. It's gone. I mean, 00:31:08.750 --> 00:31:10.410 I distinctly remember leaving it on the corner 00:31:10.410 --> 00:31:12.250 table here. Well, it's got to be around here. 00:31:12.289 --> 00:31:15.329 I never touched it. Nor I. Not since we looked 00:31:15.329 --> 00:31:20.279 at it the first time. It's absolutely gone. Well, 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.420 maybe the judge stepped down from the portrait 00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:26.880 and hid it somewhere to keep us from crying Now 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:29.019 you're treating the whole situation the way you 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:41.680 should But where could it have gone Let's call 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:45.859 it a day it's getting dark want to pop down to 00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:54.049 Andes for a pint I'd like nothing better. Anything 00:31:54.049 --> 00:31:57.509 more, boys? Oh, no, thanks. I'm falling asleep 00:31:57.509 --> 00:31:59.950 from all that ale. I'll finish this and we'll 00:31:59.950 --> 00:32:04.910 go. You know, the people have been talking. Oh? 00:32:05.289 --> 00:32:09.670 Yeah. Yeah, thinking maybe you lads, lonely as 00:32:09.670 --> 00:32:13.670 you are, have maybe driven the old thing away. 00:32:14.970 --> 00:32:18.059 Nothing's happened in the village. You know what 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:21.579 I mean? I think we do. You're going to be here 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:26.299 for two months. That's good. Just your being 00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:30.119 there has done something. This is the first time 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:32.859 nothing's happened after the bell rang. And we 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:35.039 hope it stays that way. We'd better get back. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:38.960 Let's have the tab, Andy. Good night, boys. It's 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:53.190 all on me. I wish we'd left the light on. Take 00:32:53.190 --> 00:32:56.490 the flash. I'll pop round back for some firewood. 00:32:56.950 --> 00:33:02.369 You go in and stir the embers. Okay. I went into 00:33:02.369 --> 00:33:05.609 the living room, and before I could turn on a 00:33:05.609 --> 00:33:10.549 light, I knew I was being watched. I flicked 00:33:10.549 --> 00:33:15.230 on the light and... a rat was back. It looked 00:33:15.230 --> 00:33:18.890 over the rim of the hole, its eyes aglow with 00:33:18.890 --> 00:33:22.430 reflected light. Oh, the chill that ran up the 00:33:22.430 --> 00:33:27.430 back of my neck was indescribable. The rat stared, 00:33:27.829 --> 00:33:32.609 unmoving, and then it leaped to the bell rope, 00:33:33.289 --> 00:33:37.069 swinging back and forth, setting off the clanging, 00:33:37.710 --> 00:33:40.970 twisting and riding on the rope as it chewed, 00:33:41.130 --> 00:33:45.329 chewed right through the rope. It fell to the 00:33:45.329 --> 00:33:50.500 floor with a thud. and turned toward me. I raced 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:54.279 for the kitchen and slammed the door. I had to 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:57.460 get out of the house. I ran through the kitchen's 00:33:57.460 --> 00:34:01.819 back door. Oh, but I couldn't budge it. Mark, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:04.680 what the devil's going on? Why was the bell ringing? 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:07.960 I can't open the door, Brian. The rat's in the 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:12.500 living room. It's crazed. Open the door! I'll 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:18.440 push from this side. Now, what's happened? The 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:22.320 rat's loose in the living room. It's gone mad 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:25.000 or something. It attacked me. Now, calm down. 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:28.059 Why did the bell ring? The rat chewed through 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:31.500 the bell rope. Brian, we've got to leave here. 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:34.619 The rat clawed at the door. Let's take a look. 00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:37.860 No! Don't open the door to the living room. It's 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:43.920 there, waiting. I don't hear anything. Well, 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:47.480 it's clever. It's waiting for us to come out. 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:56.360 I'm going to see. Can you see him? No. Look, 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:59.460 look at the bottom of the door. Scratch marks. 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:03.179 Yes, you're right. I could almost put up with 00:35:03.179 --> 00:35:05.480 the supernatural aspects you find so exciting, 00:35:05.619 --> 00:35:08.880 but we can't stay with a crazed rat. There's 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:11.820 no sign of it now. Come on, let's take a look. 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:19.840 What's the matter? Am I dreaming? Look at the 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:26.139 portrait. The portrait? The judge? He's gone. 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:30.559 He's no longer in it. Everything else is there. 00:35:31.179 --> 00:35:36.579 The chair. The table his arm rested on. This 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:40.860 is extraordinary. The painting's completely intact. 00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:47.519 No smudge. No tears. And no judge? We're getting 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:51.340 out of here. I can't leave now. We're experiencing 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:54.539 an unbelievable supernatural event. Have you 00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:57.119 lost your mind? We have both seen with our own 00:35:57.119 --> 00:36:01.039 eyes a figure disappear from a painting. We both 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:04.760 know it's impossible, but it's happened. There's 00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:08.179 an incredible supernatural force at work in this 00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:11.059 house. Do you mean the judge is roaming around 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:16.969 the house? The image of the judge. the lecture 00:36:16.969 --> 00:36:20.369 in the newspaper advertisement witchcraft and 00:36:20.369 --> 00:36:25.090 the changing form mark this adds up the spirit 00:36:25.090 --> 00:36:28.809 of the judge never left the house it stayed here 00:36:28.809 --> 00:36:32.170 in the form of the rat probably several rats 00:36:32.170 --> 00:36:35.989 over the years and the body of the judge was 00:36:35.989 --> 00:36:39.550 preserved in the portrait it was there for him 00:36:39.550 --> 00:36:44.250 to claim whenever he wanted dressed in his robes 00:36:44.250 --> 00:36:49.280 remember The eyes of the rat looked like the 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:52.019 eyes of the judge in the painting. What an experience 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:54.420 we've stumbled on. You mean you're going to stay 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:58.119 here with that crazy judge on the loose? We can't 00:36:58.119 --> 00:37:00.820 miss out on this. I want to see what he does 00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:02.659 next. Do you actually think we're going to meet 00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:06.119 up with him? He's gone from the portrait. He's 00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:09.179 got to turn up somewhere. Brian, listen to me. 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:12.960 That rat attacked me. That means the Judge has 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.579 murder in mind, too. Look, we have got to get 00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:22.460 out of here! Look. There he is. At the top of 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:32.320 the stairs. Blooming above us, like some colossus, 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:37.039 stood the Judge. His black robes swirled around 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:40.619 him. His long white hair had a luminous glow. 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:49.800 and his eyes, those eyes. Over his arm hung the 00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:55.780 bell rope, and in his hand a black cap. As we 00:37:55.780 --> 00:38:01.179 stood transfixed, slowly he placed a black cap 00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:06.579 on his head. A cap British judges always put 00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:14.619 on when passing a sentence of death. the death 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:20.079 cap incredible what a manifestation he's beckoning 00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:23.820 to us i'm going up no brian you can't it's only 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:27.440 an ectoplasmic manifestation a spirit i want 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:30.420 to see what it does it can't hurt us let's just 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:35.579 leave never see it's motioning us to follow i'm 00:38:35.579 --> 00:38:38.340 going to follow it don't i'm going to see this 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:44.650 through it's moving away down the hall I must 00:38:44.650 --> 00:38:49.429 see where it goes and what it does. Brian, please 00:38:49.429 --> 00:38:52.269 don't go up there. Heading for the bell tower. 00:38:53.190 --> 00:39:00.769 I'm close enough to touch it. Brian. Brian. Answer 00:39:00.769 --> 00:39:06.869 me, Brian. I raced up the stairs. There was no 00:39:06.869 --> 00:39:11.550 sign of Brian. I searched every room, every corner 00:39:11.550 --> 00:39:16.769 of the second floor. Brian and the judge had 00:39:16.769 --> 00:39:24.190 vanished. I ran back outside, jumped into Brian's 00:39:24.190 --> 00:39:27.670 car and headed for help in the village. What 00:39:27.670 --> 00:39:31.429 is he doing? The judge. He's... The judge? He's 00:39:31.429 --> 00:39:34.809 up at the house. Brian followed him. Followed 00:39:34.809 --> 00:39:38.349 him? Up where? Stairs. But they both disappeared. 00:39:38.679 --> 00:39:40.599 Can you get some of the men to come back with 00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:44.699 me? We have got to find Brian. I don't know. 00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:47.199 There's none but me who dares set foot within 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:53.500 that place. Listen. The bell. Why? It couldn't 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:57.000 ring. The rat chewed the rope clear through. 00:39:57.599 --> 00:40:02.099 I'm crazy to do it. But I can't leave you alone 00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:05.760 to face it. Come on. I'll go back up there with 00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:10.880 you. Roy! Alex! Come with us and don't ask questions. 00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:20.960 They say you saw the judge. He disappeared from 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:23.659 the portrait. And then we saw him standing at 00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:27.480 the top of the stairs. That's when Brian went 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:31.480 up to follow him. We'd better approach cautiously. 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:34.699 Peering the windows first to see what's going 00:40:34.699 --> 00:40:39.199 on. I'm going in to find Brian. My leg! Through 00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:43.599 the window! I can see it! Brian! Hurry up, man! 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:55.860 Quick! Brian! Brian! I looked with horror and 00:40:55.860 --> 00:41:01.199 then covered my eyes. Brian was hanging by the 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:07.650 neck from the bell robe. swinging in slow rhythm 00:41:07.650 --> 00:41:12.869 to the tolling of the bell. Before I passed out 00:41:12.869 --> 00:41:17.230 and everything went black, I caught a glimpse 00:41:17.230 --> 00:41:23.789 of the portrait. The judge was back, seated in 00:41:23.789 --> 00:41:29.150 the high back chair, as though he had never moved. 00:41:38.179 --> 00:41:42.039 He came to on the lawn with Andy standing over 00:41:42.039 --> 00:41:48.239 me. Are you all right, Len? Yes, but... Brian. 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:53.480 Oh, Brian. He'll be all right, too. We got him 00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:56.360 down in time. The men have taken him to the pub. 00:41:57.219 --> 00:42:01.579 He's... He's alive? Indeed. A nasty scar he'll 00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:04.119 have on his neck, but he'll be all right. The 00:42:04.119 --> 00:42:08.130 doctor's with him now. What are the men doing 00:42:08.130 --> 00:42:13.730 over there? Ending this once and for all. We're 00:42:13.730 --> 00:42:16.869 burning the place to the ground. It'll go up 00:42:16.869 --> 00:42:22.710 like a tinderbox. Aye. Judge, rat and all. And 00:42:22.710 --> 00:42:25.269 if the grandson complains we burned down his 00:42:25.269 --> 00:42:29.610 house, so be it. We have to protect ourselves 00:42:29.610 --> 00:42:40.699 from the judge's house. That was the end of it 00:42:40.699 --> 00:42:45.519 for us Brian recovered and we finished our work 00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:49.519 back at his flat in Liverpool But I can still 00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:52.159 remember watching the judge's house collapse 00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:57.159 into fiery ashes And the small furry figure that 00:42:57.159 --> 00:43:02.019 emerged from the inferno Its eyes glistening 00:43:02.019 --> 00:43:06.309 in the light of the flames before it scampered 00:43:06.309 --> 00:43:15.670 off into the woods beyond. The bell will toll 00:43:15.670 --> 00:43:18.889 no more over the judge's house. No longer will 00:43:18.889 --> 00:43:21.389 the villagers of Salford have to live in fear 00:43:21.389 --> 00:43:24.670 and dread. We know the rat deserted the sinking 00:43:24.670 --> 00:43:28.949 ship, or fiery house to be exact, but without 00:43:28.949 --> 00:43:32.750 the portrait and the bell and the house. he'll 00:43:32.750 --> 00:43:35.989 probably end up as just another homeless gutter 00:43:35.989 --> 00:43:51.349 rat. I'll be back shortly. Believers in witchcraft 00:43:51.349 --> 00:43:54.769 staunchly maintain that certain evil spirits, 00:43:55.289 --> 00:43:59.349 the devil most notably, can survive for years, 00:43:59.789 --> 00:44:03.280 sometimes centuries, by taking on various other 00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:07.440 life forms. One way of living forever, I suppose. 00:44:07.960 --> 00:44:10.679 But I don't think I'd like it. I mean, what's 00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:14.079 the good of living forever if your friends can 00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:17.599 never recognize you? Our cast included Gordon 00:44:17.599 --> 00:44:20.820 Gould, Lloyd Batista, and Robert Dryden. The 00:44:20.820 --> 00:44:22.960 entire production was under the direction of 00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:26.840 Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall, inviting 00:44:26.840 --> 00:44:29.849 you to return to our mystery theater. for another 00:44:29.849 --> 00:44:34.969 adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant 00:44:34.969 --> 00:44:35.829 dreams.