Tormented

Season 4 Episode 13 | 2h 21m 22sVideo has Closed Captions

A jazz pianist is haunted by the ghost of his ex-girlfriend.

Aired 02/17/2024

Tormented

Season 4 Episode 13 | 2h 21m 22sVideo has Closed Captions

A jazz pianist is haunted by the ghost of his ex-girlfriend.

A jazz pianist is haunted by the ghost of his ex-girlfriend, whom he watched fall to her death on the eve of his wedding to another woman in this Bert I. Gordon sleezeball from 1960. Back at the NMTV studios, cable access investigative journalist Dr Lester W. Sinclair is convinced that Sapo is an escaped convict, and launches a campaign to bring him to justice.

Aired 02/17/2024

Nightmare Theatre is a local public television program presented by WSRE PBS

Nightmare Theatre is a local production supported by Pensacon and The Fish House.

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Tormented

Season 4 Episode 13 | 2h 21m 22sVideo has Closed Captions

Aired 02/17/2024

Genre

Drama

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One day the devil came to him for he was a minor demon. Asked him to torture some humans with his two friends in tow Mittens and El Sapo, the Baron Mondo Von Doren On Nightmare Theatre No, nothing. Mittens, let me try to put it this way. It was a great indecisive battle. Maybe one of the most exciting battles in military history. Think about it in terms of military strategy. There was once a great book on strategy called The Art of War. Now, sure, it was called The Art of War. But really, it's about strategic thinking, and it could be applied to all areas of life. It taught you how to think and plan strategically. One particular section said it's always best to occupy the high ground, the hilltop, the summit, the mountain peak. That way you look down and see if the enemy is attacking. That's why I always get the top bunk when we all go camping in the cabins. I need to survey my kingdom. Well, one fine day, a soldier was on top of his hill, maintaining his post like a good soldier when he saw an invading horde. He acted quickly and he was able to rally the troops. And after a horrific battle, the enemy was vanquished. Defeated. The soldier was hailed as a hero. The good guys won. Many medals were distributed, and many songs and poems were written in the honor of the Valiant Soldiers. What? No, no. It wasn't Thermopylae or some other ancient battle from a thousand years ago. It did happen during World War Two. It was the battle of to Theophilus. See, the good people of Toothless were under attack by the cavity creeps. The cavity creaks were in league with yuk mouth and his evil forces. But here's the thing, Mittens. The good guys always win. The bad guys always gets what's coming to them. I, for one, salute the heroes who fought to save to thwart bullies. Oh, wait, wait.

We're on late. Later, I'll tell you about all the brave souls lost in Nikola Wars. Hello, my friends, and welcome once again to Nightmare Theater. I am your host of Mother Van Doren. And here with me is Milton Zimmer Wolfe. And we were just discussing crepes. As we wait for the king of the crepes, I'll separate in pesto to show up with tonight's movie. Here I am, fellas. Oh, I'm glad you could finally fit us into your busy schedule. I do run on a tight time line so many social engagements, so little time. Must be hard to get everything done on time, huh? You're telling.

Me? Yes.

Yes, I am.

Sorry. What did you do today? Well, today was the day I make my rounds at the barbershops, jails, animal shelters and military recruiting centers. Why would you go to those places? The military is never going to take you and I would think you would steer clear of the jailhouse. I guess I can understand the animal shelter part. The barbershop is a complete mystery that was. Collecting hair, boss.

Collecting hair. Okay.

I'm going to ask this. Even number two, what do you do with the hair? What do I do with it, boss? I knitted in the doilies. I stuff it in our pillows. You stuff our pillows with hair sweep and more. Sure. And I looming in the sweaters.

Oh, Lord. And when the toothbrushes need re bristling. Stop it. I don't want to hear anything about that. I'll yanked out all my teeth myself before I use another toothbrush you give me. Hey, hey, hey. The toothbrushes. I give you a reversal with my own hair. I wouldn't give you some strangers hairball. Oh, dear Lord. All in all, it was not one of my best hair scavenging days, though. Well. Let me ask you the most obvious question. Do you have anything to show tonight? Anything at all? What we do, you see down at the Navy recruiting center, I was rooting around in a garbage bin, found this film card. It was tossed in there with all the hair and the empty cans and need beans. Maybe it's a navy training film on how to give sailors a good haircut. Can you show that? Maybe while I sally forth in search of a movie, I heard there was a good one up in the lighthouse. The lighthouse, whatever. Just go find a movie like now. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I wonder what this could be. I bet a pretty penny it's got and it's not one of those Navy training films like he thought. They keep those locked up. What do you think? It's another chapter of the Undersea Kingdom. There can't be any more of those. We've shown, like 75 of them, it seems, huh? Well, you're right. It's chapter 12 of the Undersea Kingdom. We sat through 11 of these chapters. I suppose one more can't hurt us. I hope I might as well quit up Mittens. We're stuck with it. Motors before Crash gets down there and destroys them. Your Imperial Majesty. They've broken the control. It gets to the master. Control and start the rocket motors by hand. But the strangers from the other world, Your Imperial Majesty, aren't you going to make any effort to stop them? They won't get far once the rocket motors are started. The planes really exhaust will take care of them. The motors are located around that bend. So they still might try to get out of here. I can't. I can't. I'm 35. All right, Tara shaking loose with foundation. It'll take off any minute and crash through the roof. Remember that case? All Atlantis will be flooded. We must get to the submarine.

What? Diane and Billy, they'll be safe. Our job is to get up to the top and prevent on the top of destroying our civilization. Towers taking off settlement. Before this day is over, I shall. Make myself supreme ruler of the Upper World War destroy it gets it disintegrated. Ready? Oh, look at this. Integrator. Put it out of commission. Now, starting up again.

Pressure. And what are we going to do? First thing we better do is think the submarine for the ocean comes down on that. You handle the ship? Sure.

Dad taught me all about it. Get your back. We're going down. Soon. The ocean fills. Atlantis will follow the tower up through the hole in the rough. The cover from the ocean is coming down. Here we go. Thank Captain Parker. Have you given the men the. Final instructions for the conquest of the upper world? Your orders have been carried out. You imagine if I could get to the reflecting point, I might be able to send a message to the naval base in the morning. A garden await your inspection in the garden. Room, there's a garden. And when? Like, get past him and command. Tune in on the naval base. I have unlimited duties now.

Good. Get me the wireless room is quite a signal. Is Lieutenant Corrigan speaking? I'm with Professor Norton. We're trapped in a metal tower which is being brought to the surface of the ocean by a madman. He intends to conquer the world, to destroy it, and the war stopped. We reached the surface window. What kind of strange craft is that? Our first victim. We start to project our. This is only the beginning. The upper world orders to get this tower to descend together. I can do it. Next up, look at their cities from my perspective. Plus, I read the Sun thinking.

Just the right price. We get to control this. And stop the earthquake.

Well, I. Try and get the naval base coming in again. Security without cargo compartments. The approximate location is latitude 63 degrees, longitude, 49 degrees. And we're moving in on the North American problem. This tower is equipped. With machinery capable of destroying our entire civilization. I recommend you dispatch the battlefield immediately. Against the tower. While I try and stop you from using it.

This is a greater. I don't want to. Tell you how he's been cut off again. Keep trying to get me the Navy Department. And the tower. We'd better get the foreign currency to Your Imperial Majesty. I heard him order our engines of war to destroy this tower. So much so that the sooner they get here, the quicker I will destroy them. Your Majesty. Look, they're approaching their guns. Can never reach us. Reject the invisible wall of atom rays around the tower. Fire. We're ready. Have you and the. Food waste ammunition. Then I'll give them a taste of their power. I shall have no thank you to for seems to explore them. Before they reach the tower. But keep firing. I was enough to. Turn the disintegrating rail against.

Them. I have to get down there and stop them. Now is the time to the end of tower. All always to be able to make it. Your Majesty. We can get to the. Ball plain before they destroy. And I don't think that a of they going faster aim at the water line.

I. Are you still trying to make that book? I've come to life, Professor. Yes, and I won't stop until I succeed. Once I discover the secret of hunger can't control all mankind will be relieved of the drudgery of physical labor. Well, that's all very fine, Professor, but right now you're coming with that. Quack who will need you as a witness of the marriage license bureau. Splendid. Why didn't you tell me in the first place? Wait till I get my things.

I'll be right back. Why come back? Hey, look after my hair. It's you. Can I come along? Do you think you can really? Well, hello and welcome back. Thank goodness that is over. That was the last chapter. Man, I love. I wish that that crash had beaten that Billy to within an inch of his life when it came out of that robot. That kid is almost as bad as SAPO. I'm glad we're past this, folks. We got through it together as a team. It was painful. I know, But you know something? I think we grew a little in the process. I know I did in many, many ways. I grew to hate everyone associated with this cereal. I grew to load the concept of cereals in general, and I grew to really resent SAPO for subjecting us to this hootenanny. He'll get his one day, believe me, I wonder where he is. He really should have found a movie by now. And here I am, fellas.

Hoo hoo ho, Joy. I say, Hey, say, how did that under the sneezing in the dorm room get her shoes back? Did the seahorse deliver the mail on time to the fisherman? Ever find true love? What are you even talking about? All right, you got me. I wasn't watching any of this. If I didn't see a minute of any of this cereal, I made it all. Oh, we're going to address that. Once this is over, you're going to watch every every second of it. Will you watch it with me? No.

You'll watch it alone.

All alone. What about you?

Means I can depend on you. Will you watch it with me? He said no ring. Did you find a movie?

I sure did. And I think it might be a good one. Why would you think that? Because it was all alone up there in the lighthouse. Suppose we don't have a lighthouse. But I swear we do. And this movie was up there. Whatever.

Let me see the film.

Can. Oh, Sapo, this is torment. Oh, is that good? No, it's. Not.

This is a terrible movie. Oh, come on. There's got to be something good in this here movie. There is nothing good about this movie. Oh, no, no, boss, you know what they say. Yeah, I do.

They say Fire Sapo They say down with Sapo They say a lot of things. But they also say there is something good in everything. Who says that?

Who exactly?

Spill it? Name names. Bring those people to me and I will prove each and every one of them wrong. Oh, come on.

Come on. You know, there is something. I have spoken. I've officially put my foot down. There is no good here. Well, maybe in a way.

Hijack plot. Paul frees. What Paul frees is connected this movie. And before you say anything, Paul Frees was a pretty good guy. Anyone who's been to the Haunted mansion at Disney has heard his voice. Boy, he had an amazing voice. Not unlike my own. He was extremely talented. In fact, Mel Blanc once said Free should be known as the man of a Thousand Voices. And he is in this movie. Which one is he? Well, he's in this movie sort of. Eventually, if we make it far enough into this movie, there's going to be a character named Frank Hubbard, played by a guy named Harry Fleer. So what does that have to do with this Pete Fleece guy, Paul Freeze. After the movie was completed, Paul Freeze came in and doubled his voice and four Fleer. Did Fleer see an early this film and demand that his voice be taken out? No but it's nice to see you think. And for once, Paul Freeze was often asked to do dubbing for people whose voices just didn't work or just didn't fit. He worked for nearly all the major studios and was very well-regarded in his field. Freeze was involved in over 250 films over his. Career, but he's most well known for this role.

Right? And not at all. Look, Paul Freeze has a great voice, but even his golden voice can't save this movie, folks. Let's Roll tormented the movie that features the voice of the guy from the Best Ride, a theme park ever produced here on Nightmare Theater. This is where I find peace and quiet. The peace of waves forever breaking on the shore, the quiet of tranquil moonlight on the sea. When the night wind rises and the fingers of the frogs deal in. They say you can hear voices. They say it's the dead growing restless and calling to the living. I never believed it until that evening. I came looking for me. But you always know that marriage was out. I never lied to you. But I always thought, Look, by whatever you thought is your business. But it's all over.

It's finished. You should never have come here. And you'll be doing yourself a favor if you take the first boat back. I can't go back without you. You come back with me, Tom. Just tell me you changed your mind. Nobody even knows I'm on the island. I chartered a private boat over. I won't even go back to the club. I'll quit right now. Why would you, for heaven's sakes, realize when a good thing is over. A second rate singer like me doesn't get in the picture anymore. I hear she's quite young and has money too. I please understand. And I'm in love with her. I need your time. No one will ever love you more than I do. It's okay. I'm sorry for everything. Night. I still have your letters. I've never been a lighthouse before. Show me the light, darling. What about the letters VI? Oh, I never throw anything like that away. You never know when they might come in handy. I wonder how she'd feel if I read them to her, putting in pertinent footnotes. Of course. Or maybe I'll have to show them to a lawyer. I'm sure he'd know what to do with them. How would a lawsuit fit in with your music career, Tom? How would the piano genius of jazz feel about that. Kind of publicity? Darling, you look as if you were ready to kill me. Now, you get this straight. I'm marrying Mike. And you get this straight. Tom.

Stuart, No one will ever have. You but me.

Me? We've come. Stay me play. I wanted it to be Sandy. Sandy. Sandy, Look, do me a favor, will you, and run out and play somewhere. I'm busy. I don't. You, like many? Sure.

I like you. I love you. I just want to be by myself. Where were you last night? The Amazons had a beach barbecue, and everyone on the island was there. And I was looking all over for you. Sandy, please run along. Oh, sorry. I almost forgot the wedding announcements. Okay, Mom, I want you to look at one for me. Something that it's only a week to the big day. Yeah, okay.

Okay. Yeah, It says it is five. No, I'll take care of it. I've got to. Take it easy. I didn't find any dead woman. Only me.

Seaweed. I know what's the matter with me. I'm seeing things. I'm letting my imagination run wild. It's my conscience. Oh, why should it bother me? I didn't do anything.

Goodbye. I didn't kill her. It's her own fault. She's dead She came out here of her own accord. She leaned against the railing. She fell. It wasn't my fault.

The gateway. Why should I be blamed? I had nothing to do with it anyway. Nobody ever needs to know. Nobody will even connect me with her. Why should they? Except for this watch of hers. All right.

Bye. That's the end of you.

Oh, oh, oh, Thank you. Make it. You expecting someone out? Oh, no, no. It's just that I wasn't expecting anyone. Uh, what are you doing up here? Looking for you. Doing up here in this old lighthouse? Well, at least it's quiet.

I. I wanted to think. I guess I'm worried about that Carnegie Hall thing next month. I wonder if I'm good enough. Course you're good enough. You're the best jazz pianist in the world. Right? I never loved anyone before in my life. Oh, I did that person was perfumer Paige. I'm old and gloomy in here. I just make a crater in that big lamp staring at us like it up here. Since the light stopped working. Glad they're going to tear it down. Well, let's go outside the sun. Warmer coming. They're sending the gown tomorrow. Oh, you're going to love it, Tom. Oh, I was supposed to see about a tie for Dad, and I forgot. I'll be so glad when the whole thing's over with. Won't you? Lonely be a week more? We can wait that long. So much time. Don't you see anything? There's nothing to see. Like there. Well, that's nothing. Like I've got to get out of here right away. But let's hope we can catch a boat to the mainland and be married this afternoon. Not the wedding. I was never for a big deal anyway. I only agreed to it because you wanted it. You know that I still want that. Please, Meg, please do this for me. Just go away with me right now. That's impossible. My mother and father to think of as well. You can. I'll have to go by myself. How's the wedding? What about it?

Make you go? There won't be one for Meg. Hello. What's.

What's possible? I just realized you yet told me a single word about the man. What directed this movie? First of all, don't interrupt me. Okay. Second, I was hoping we could ignore that subject just for tonight. But you know that every night before I go to bed, I keep a detailed journal and a diary about the directors. No, I don't believe that for a minute. Not one minute. But if you want to know about the director. Here you go, tough guy. This film was directed by the infamous Bert I. Gordon, if you're a glutton punishment and enjoy torturing yourself, why not get in your car? Tune in to your favorite AM radio station and drive down to your local book vendor and write them a check and purchase yourself a copy of The Amazing Colossal World of Mr. Big an Autobiographical Journey by Bert Gordon. All You Would Ever Want to Know About Bert I Garden. Whoo!

Mr. Big, That sounds like a bad guy in some type of crime movie or something. Well, that was his intention, but that's also his initials. Bert, I, Gordon b I g. Wow.

You know, names are funny, boss. The way names sound and the way they are spelled names are sure funny. And yours is at least. You know, books make great gifts, boss. That's right. If you have someone in your life that you'd like to get out of your life, give them this book for their birthday. They will never, ever speak to you again. Or if you have someone in your life that you want to get out of your life, just call me. I can take care of certain little problems for you. Yes, people will start talking to them and believe me, they will run far, far away. Yes, they will.

I'd leave if I could, believe me. Hey, boss, you haven't me anything yet about the cars. I wasn't planning to. Oh, come on, tell me. Tell me, tell me, tell me, Tell me. It's your funeral. This film stars Richard Carlson and Susan Gordon. Ooh, Is Susan Gordon any kin to Bert? Bye, Gordon. Yes.

Suppose she's his daughter. Wow.

And she beat out everyone else who auditioned for this role. She must. There must've been a mile long line of girls auditioning. She's a very lucky, very talented supper. She's not lucky. One time. One time she forgot to do her chores, and instead of grounding her, Bert made her be in this movie as a punishment. She never forgot to do her chores again. I can tell you that much. Well, can you tell me about anyone else in this thing? There must have been some other good people. Not really. However, if you insist. Joe Terkel plays a blackmailer. Type another.

Fellow criminal. Yes.

Blackmailing people is against the law. Joe Terkel plays a criminal. Now, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Who? Who is Joe Terkel?

I can name you made up. Oh, he was a reasonably good character actor who, believe it or not, was in some pretty decent movies. So this movie opened the for him, huh? It opened the door to unemployment office for him for several years, but then he turned things around for himself.

Sorta. It's always good when someone reinvents themselves and turns their life. Around, isn't it? What would you know about that? Well, tell me, what other movies was the year you got to tell me? I won't be able to sleep tonight unless you tell me. A little kill some time.

I guess. Terkel played Lloyd in The Shining and Tyrell in Blade Runner.

Woo! Those were some really good movies, I hear. No thanks to this guy. You could have been in those movies and they still would have been good. Wait, I take that back? You would have ruined those movies. Any of these actors do anything else? Well, Richard Carlson did this movie in 1960, but before this, he did Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954, and it came from outer space in 1953. Now, those those were some good movies, right? I heard some older boys down by the water fountain talking about this movie. One time when I was in school. Those movies were really good, I hear.

Sure. But he did those two movies before he did this. Well, what great and amazing things did he do after this movie? Nothing.

Absolutely nothing. In fact, after this movie, he took up permanent residency, panhandling on the bad TV show circuit. He did shows literally no human being has ever heard of, like Owen Marshall, counselor at Law and Bus Stop and Lancer. Now, I doubt anyone can prove this movie directly ruined his career in a court of law. Oh, I steer clear of them.

Courts of law about. Oh, I bet. But he was in a couple of pretty good movies up until this point. And he was in nothing but bad TV shows after this movie. So if you want to draw a link between this movie and Carlson's career, I will not argue with you folks. Let's get back to starring a guy who eventually had a small role in Blade Runner and another guy who wound up being in a bunch of TV shows. Literally, no one other than me remembers here on Nightmare Theater. And now I will perform the greatest of all magic accomplishment ever performed on this island. The secret cabinet as. You will please notice the cabinet is empty.

Tom. Tom, you're not paying attention. Don't you want to see the secret cabinet? Oh, sure I do. I wouldn't miss it.

Go ahead. Well, they closed the doors to the magic cabinet and take the magic word and tap it with the magic wand. Abracadabra. We no longer have an empty cabinet. It is now filled with jellybeans. Tom Stewart, find one. You are. Oh, Sandy. Sandy. If you hate me for the rest of your life, I deserve it. I couldn't tell you. No matter what you did. No matter what I did.

No matter what. Even like fighting with your sister makes mad at me. You know. She'll get over that. If she doesn't, you'll be free to marry me. Okay. From now on, you're the other woman in my life, okay? And you run along. Now, I got some practicing to do. I'll clean up your magic step by step. Is lonely. I'm tormented by my. Oh, you empty. I am by the memory of who's there. It's Mrs. Ellen's Tom. I brought you some flowers. Something the matter, Tom? What makes you say that? You sound upset. Perhaps I'd better check you another time. Oh, no, no, Mrs. Alice. No.

Come on, Sit down. Thank you for the flowers. That lovely. Sit down right here. Mrs.

Alice, I want to ask you something. It sounds kind of silly, but what do you believe? That the spirits of the dead can come back to haunt the living? Do you believe in ghosts? What makes you ask a thing like that? You haven't answered, Mrs. Alice. Nobody believes in ghosts nowadays. Do you? If anybody was to ask me seriously, I would have to say no. Of course. A real estate agent runs into many strange things in an empty house sometimes. What kind of things? Well, there was a family named Samuels. They lived in that last house down the beach. One day, their little boy took his dog and went fishing. They never came back. And nobody knows what happened to them. After the Samuels moved away, I signed three tenants during that first month, but not one of them would stay more than a few days. You know. Yeah, I know that story, but that doesn't prove anything. They complained about an unseen dog whining and scratching at the door, but that wasn't what made them break their lease. It was the cold up in the boys room. You could feel it in your bones. A deathly cold. The walls were always damp and stained with seawater. Whatever caused it, the thing came back every night. Did you ever see it, Mrs. Ellis? It's been many years since I've seen anything. Oh, yeah. I'm sorry.

I keep forgetting it. Did anybody see. People say they found wet seaweed on the boys bed? What would you get? Call a wet seaweed.

A ghost can. Tom, what's wrong? Why do you ask that? You're running away from something. Well, Tom. Well, something I. I can't believe exist myself. If it does exist, you can't solve anything by running. Then on the other hand, if it doesn't exist, there's nothing to run from. You're a very wise woman, Marcellus. Thanks for talking to me on.

Thanks for the flowers. Have beautiful. Come back soon. I go away. No, Leave me alone. No, Tom, you go home. Go and go out. Oh, I appreciate your help. I know. I look up by midnight to you. No, no, no.

Go away.

You're dead. Leave me.

Alone.

Never mind. I'll always. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Oh, ow, ow, ow, ow! Say, you mean to say that by by? You can't hear me, kid, because you don't even exist. You're a shadow. Perhaps light, perhaps nothing more. But just in case you can hear me, I've come to tell you this. I'm not going to pay any attention to you anymore. You had to live my life right here. I'm going to stop running. And I'm going to marry Meg by. I'm going to marry Meg. When the time came to say it was going to be just as though you never existed. I'm going to marry Meg, just in case you can hear me by Goodnight and goodbye. No one will ever have you, Helen. Welcome back. I hope you're enjoying whatever movie it is we're showing tonight. I forgot. I seem to be here alone. I know Mittens was going off to get groomed. I don't know where else, I guess.

Come on, pal.

Just. Just keep moving.

Just keep moving. Hey, boss.

I caught a whistle. British theater out in the parking lot. I don't know who this guy is. Whistle This is no whistle breeches, No whistle. BRIDGES This is actor Alex Hyde White. What are you doing here?

Alex's here? Yeah, that guy. Well, this In the fall of 1988, I got break. That started a great.

Deal of work. Did you?

For the fall? That's a good one. That's a good one.

Roger Corman you've heard of?

Yeah. Concord, New Horizons.

Are very well. Well, what. Studio saying studio here in parentheses as this actually was a lot in the old home of Venice Lumber. This is a good book. I found it.

Found it.

Did you? So, Alex, let's talk a little bit about that, because it was a you started working with Roger Corman, which. I got my early breaks.

Yes. It's sort of a bad word around here, but after the movies we've seen from him. But but one of the big turning points in your life, in your career and sort of a moment, that kind of was a blessing and a curse, I guess, was when Roger Corman decided he was making the Fantastic Four. So can you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with that? I'd done a couple of films. In fact, I was just stumbled upon that section. I'd done a couple of films for Roger in the early days, some, you know, kind of late eighties. It was one was called Time Trackers. It was kind of a Willow knockoff. Roger Corman kind of made his Oh, yes, we have Mad Men. I'm sorry about the whistle breeches. Yeah. You know, No, I think that's fine. Thank you. I'm Roger sort of was very good at taking popular films and making sort of, you know, drive in bootleg versions of him. And I was so close to getting the part of Mad Mart again in Willow that obviously went to Val, who really deserved it right in the beginning that when the chance to do Time trackers came along, it was right in my right, right up right up my alley. So I was thankful for Roger. He'd given me some nice parts, and when Fantastic Four came along, they needed to do it in a hurry. And I'm kind of good at one audition with a couple of people who are who are the decision makers. And it came together very quickly. And, you know, it further reinforced the fact that I've, you know, spent most of my career giving mediocre performances in lousy films. So, you know, Yeah. So let's talk a little bit about the making of that film, because you guys really put your heart and soul into making that movie. And then things didn't go as you had planned. The funny thing about the Fantastic Four is it probably is a better story because it was never released in the conventional way, you know, because it was made as like it said, like almost like a bootleg version of what it could become. And it was intended to be good enough to kindle, rekindle or, create interest in a major version, but not good enough to be released and stand on its own feet. And it kind of that's where it lived. And Roger Corman being such a savvy guy, you know, he's going to make a movie, is going to use short ends. He's going to use creaky sets, but it's going to come out just to the point where, you know, it might be worth releasing. You know, it's like right about here, you see.

Yeah. If it can get through here, then he'll release it. And, you know, he made his whole he made his whole reputation on it. He never lost a dime on a movie, even the one that didn't get released because he got paid to, to make it. And Christopher Columbus inherited the project at Fox and very clever producers. They sort of used our movie as a leverage point, almost like blackmail. If you don't make the Fantastic Four, we're going to release this. One that blackmailed a lot of people.

Have each of you?

Yes. Yes.

I never got a movie made with it. Eventually got myself in trouble. But you had fun at the time. But you know, the Fantastic Four lives on and it started in infamy. But, you know, they've had they've had great trouble with that franchise. And so, you know, I'm thankful. It was weird. You know, you never know in this business as an actor or filmmaker, a creative man, maybe of any of any sort, you never know the validity of a of your of your work. You're you never really know. It's up to the to the audience. You know it's like a live show. It's up to the audience to tell you if it was any good or not. And it doesn't have to go perfect. So it was a great lesson in, like you say, lead with your heart. And I that's a very important thing for an actor to do. We, we, we we can get sidetracked by trying to lead with the brain, by trying to figure everything out. But the best the best things happen from the heart. And did you because the film, you know, obviously was never released And then but it did start showing up in bootleg versions at conventions and things like that.

And you guys did some conventions, in fact. Yeah. And did did the fans respond to you there? Did you get that positive feedback there from the conventions? You know, I was like a grassroots discovering where what what the where the message hit. It was really very interesting. And the one thing about Roger, which is always, as I'll always say, that, you know, it was never, never necessarily intended to be buried, is that he gave me 100 no 1000 publicity stills to go out and we went to New York. We went to some comic book conventions, we went to fan conventions, and we did a thing that is the lifeblood of any traveling troupe or performer. We went out on the road and found an audience, and the audience were around comic book stores, or they would they would seek us out. All we had to do was sort of advertising camp, and we'd have a line of two or 300. We showed a trailer of the film and then it would start to show up in convention locations and you'd go over $10, you buy a bootleg, and you know, it was lousy because we're second or third generation. But, you know, funnily enough, our wonderful director who lives in New Orleans, only somehow he found he got himself a copy of the film, what at that time was with 94, a high resolution and copy. I think it was called VHS, see or not even three quarter. And that somehow became DVD and Blu ray. And so now you look at the film and it's actually pretty you know, it's a pretty good quality. It's a crazy story, you know, And it's it identifies me so much in terms of you never know where lightning's going to strike, You know, sometimes. Sometimes it kills you, sometimes it gooses your fries or or inspires you. But for a while there, it was something that we were supposed to be I wouldn't say ashamed of, but that we weren't supposed to be sort of proud of it, you know? And the industry has grown up. The ability to make independent films has become, so I would say democratized, that this individual, a work stands out, I think, just as much because it's flawed. And the original Fantastic Four are, you know, they're nothing if not kind of flawed characters in search of of their place in the world. And so I hope that Fox which I guess Disney probably owns it now it would be wonderful for Disney Marvel to sort of maybe try to incorporate that kind of element in the story. Don't try to make everything so good. They'd be a bunch of misfits. And of course you've come.

To the right place, you. Come to the right place. And of course, you know, you need to have some of the original cast. Yes, of course. I mean, well, in a role as maybe a scientist or something. I think that.

Guy walks around parking lots. You can find some. Yeah, a guy guy rides around parking lots, a guy just reading his book. I mean, you know, I'm writing a book about the Fantastic Four, and I'd like to interview you, Mr. Richards.

Well, yes, please. Come on. It's a bit of a stretch, but I think we could make it work. Well, thank, Alex. I'm sorry that I'll have accosted you in the hallway, but let's make sure we show everyone the book so they can go out and get their own copy. Nice to meet.

You. Thank you.

Called in the volume. My Life in film and TV. And the volume is, in fact, a digital term that they use now for motion capture filmmaking. You're no longer just in the shot, you're either in the volume or in my case, when I'm done. They say, Alex, can you just get out of the volume, please? Because we need it. Well, thank you so much, Alex. We're going to we're going to get back to this film here on Nightmare Theater. And it's probably not even going to be as good as the Fantastic Four. But but we're going to watch it anyway. Just get back to the film.

Am I in No. Portugal, pal?

Come on.

Come on. Don't release the dogs on him this time. Don't release it. Wow.

Hi. It's Coke in the refrigerator. Help yourself. Okay. What is. That you wanted to say about. I?

You know, I wondered if you'd talk to your sister Meg, for me. Tell her how sorry I am. Okay? You tell her I behaved like a little boy, and I'm ashamed of myself. I'll tell her. She didn't call anything off. She didn't. I guess she swore to make up just like grown ups. You are ready?

Yeah. I'm already got the ring and everything. Be said. Okay. Oh, okay. Go back. Make sure. Rocky. Can I try. To?

Sure. I really want one of my own. Well, you might be just a little bit young. I know. Dear little Sam, she's just a child.

What? Do you know how old I am? Practically nine. In China and Borneo in India. Places like that. Girls already have husbands at my age. I get married tomorrow. If I could find someone like you. Can't I? Please try. I just put it on your finger. What am I thinking.

There in. The ring? I managed to drop it Couldn't for fun. It's got to be somewhere 70 off.

Off? What time? That right there. This good thing there. Sandy. Sandy, tell me the truth. Didn't you see anything right there? There wasn't anything to see you hurt. I'm sorry, but I'll find everything later. You run along now.

Sandy. I finished my practicing. I see you later. Bye.

Bye. I know now you've come back, but it won't do you any good. Because I'm going to marry Meg. Yeah. What to do with the ring by VI? What did you do with that ring? I don't understand what you're going. Oh, right now. What questions? You know what's wrong with you, boy? You've been working too hard getting ready for your concert. Had a lonely life here on the island with my musician friends. I'm getting it down, but I'll take care of all that once we're married. Maybe you better tell your mother that the wedding is on again. I never told her it was all. You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you? You know, the first thing you're going to do is have a long vacation, a whole month honeymoon in Europe?

Uh huh. You know how many hit records I'd have to sell to pay for that? Dad's putting the bill to his wedding present too. If He wanted to tell you himself, but he won't be here to write for the wedding. And when we get back, we're going to have a big party so I can get to know all your friends. Big party. We'll be living in a three room apartment. Mother and Daddy.

What? Mind if we use their house in Bel Air? They say now that I'm getting married, it's too big for them anyway, so I'll be turning it over to us for good.

One of these days. Are you trying to spoil me? It's nothing I'd like better. Come on up the house. The minute I want you to think something. Put my wedding gown in. That's supposed to be bad luck. You're not superstitious about things like that, are you? No.

I'm not superstitious. My garden's full of roses this month, and it seemed about time to bring you some fresh ones.

So. Hi.

Hello.

Welcome. No stranger. Have you been keeping lady? It's a beautiful gift to have arrived. And you haven't seen any of it. Look at this. Look, you're a dear.

Anyway.

Champagne. Fix your drink.

Hm? Look. Another one. Oh, there's my girl, my pal.

Hi. It's everything made up your neck. Well, I'm working on it. Hi, Miss Elliot.

Tom. Another pair. People must think newlyweds live on lettuce by candlelight. This makes nine pairs of candlesticks and 12 salad bowl and more coming every time the mail boat arrives. Got our wedding. Got a day in, Tom.

It's simply a dream. What a bride goes through to make herself attractive for you men. It took three fittings to get the bodice right and three layers of knit to make the skirt full enough. Hardly Seems worth it. After all, I'm only marrying her. So you'll be my mother in law. Sandy. See if there's a window open. There's a cold draft. All of a sudden, that sweet smell must be the fresh roses. My roses never smelled like that. It's a woman's perfume. Help me make room for these, dear. In my day, it wasn't candlesticks. It was teaspoons. Mr.

Hubbard and I received no less than 78 of them when we were married. I think that's a reason for his attitude. When he went back to the mainland, he said he was going to go right to the office and stay there until the wedding. I'm sure you'll never treat your wife like that with your town or with you. He isn't committed. Where is he? I think led to come to look at her dress and. My wedding dress. What is it? What did she find? Seaweed. Hello and welcome back. It's getting real spooky. Look up in that.

Lighthouse it and I'll.

Never know it. Sure is.

Remember Sapo? Ghosts are nothing to be afraid of. Don't bother them and they won't bother you. But if you do bother them, watch out. They're going to get their revenge. Bus or ghost real. Do you think this guy has the guilty news or is there really a ghost up there hating him?

It's difficult to say.

Really. The main difficulty is that I really just don't care. But if I did care, I'd say what passes for a ghost is probably just the manifestations of his guilty conscience. He knows that he caused that woman's death and he it's eating away at him. Guilt has many impacts on health and sanity supper, but. It could be ghost or spooks or some other member of the supernatural. World.

It's usually just guilt. Normal people feel remorse or sadness and regret when they do something bad and their mind plays tricks on them. But it could be ghosts. I mean, I guess whatever. Sure, it would be great, you know, if someone came up with a way to determine if your house really was painted or if it was just your guilty conscience getting to you. I guess so. You know, I said it would be great if someone had a way to let you know if your house was really heated by a ghost or by something you did in the past. If someone could invent something like that. No, no, no, no.

Kool-Aid, folks. Since at least 1959, people have asked themselves, what's the deal with those weird creaking sounds in my house settling foundation?

Why? Why is this so cold in one room and so hot in the other? Bad insulation, uneven heat flow, bad seals on the windows? What's up with that smell? You know. Good.

Well, I. Cause that smell, there's always a logical answer, especially when you're around.

Yes. Sometimes it can be hard to determine if your house is actually heated. Until now. Oh, no.

I should have seen this coming. Yeah, you're right. I should have stopped him before he got started. There's no stopping him Once the caffeine and the horseradish kicks in. Best to just ignore him and let him finish. Returns.

Yeah. Scientists working in the psychology Supernatural studies department at Van Doren University. That's not a real place. Have finally come up with a way to determine once and for all, is it guilt or is it a ghost? Put that down.

And in this. And using technology on loan from the Franklin Mint. The Franklin Mint through a generous, a very generous grant from the National Beef Council, we have created and this is a beta version of the wandering guilt or ghost gauge nonsense. Absolute gibberish. No, no, no, no.

Stop it. Oh You have to do is take this into the room that you suspect is haunted or be spook ified, if you will, may be plagued by the impacts of something you did. You wave it around. It samples the air through the portal it and it measures the tension in your skin. And it determines with 89% yes, 89% certainty if you have a ghost or if it's something you did. Oh, it's it lit up that that's what that's weird. It lit up when I waved in front of me. Ten.

You see the. Notice that thing seems to go off whenever you touch. You might be taking like a short in a wire or something wrong with the operating system. Or perhaps just perhaps you're guilty of something. I was pure as the driven snow. I have never even said a swear word out loud. That is. Maybe you are.

Haunted.

That could be. I do hear voices sometimes. Maybe there's a ghost loose in my innards. Maybe this is just a cheap piece of junk. Saffo Don't look for the supernatural explanation. Don't to come up with crazy tie ins for every movie we show. The explanation here is simple The man killed her. He's a criminal. And believe me, criminals always get their comeuppance. Always, Always. Folks, let's get back to Joe. Rented here on Nightmare Theater. Still lighting up. Tom?

Yes, Mrs. Alice. And then here. I brought you some. Honey, don't get up. I'll just put it on the bar.

Here. Thank you, Mrs. Alice. I really brought the honey only as an excuse because I knew you were upset. Tom, there's nothing supernatural about what happened to Meg's dress. There must be a logical explanation. I know, I know. That's seaweed. It's just like that, Samuels boy. Have been no recent deaths, Tom.

No. Anyway, I'm sure of one thing. I've had enough of her. Who are you talking about? Oh, I'm a friend. I used to have a girl named VI. She came over here to the island to see me, but we quarreled up in the lighthouse. Well, at any rate, she went back to the mainland. Are you sure that's what happened? What do you mean? Am I sure. That maybe she didn't go back to the mainland? Maybe This girl VI, is still here and is playing tricks to get even. Now, where do you suppose a woman can hide on this island who's hiding? Never mind, Sandy. Things will work out. You'll see. Never met Stella. Well, people I found. Never mind. Because there are some things that grownups don't want children to know about Sandy. Those are always the most interesting things girls come looking for. Never mind. That is looking for it. So I have always hanging around there. The lighthouse is a very dangerous place, Sandy. It'll soon be torn down. That doesn't keep people from going there. But you mustn't go there, Sandy.

Not ever run along home. Now, come on, Frank. What's the matter, Fritz? I'm surprised at you. You're being as silly as Tom. Well, it's all right. I'll go.

Alone.

Oh. Oh, well, young lady. Young lady.

By. That's a lovely perfume you're wearing. It's no use. I know you're in here somewhere, but I can hear you too. Don't you think it's ridiculous to hide? Come down. There's something I want to say to you. Very well. If you won't, then I'll go up and find you. Listen to me, please. I don't usually give people advice, but Tom is a dear friend, and I want to ask you to leave him alone. Are you listening to me? You might at least have the politeness to answer by that. A nasty laugh you have. What folks are you up to now? Wait. Listen to me. You know you're worrying and frightening, Tom. After death, it's not hard to sense how desperate he's getting. I know Meg doesn't concern you, but you wouldn't want to make an innocent person suffer, would you? I would. I should speak more clearly. You're trying to make me sorry for you, I suppose. But I can't help thinking how foolish you are playing this absurd game. That's Hitler. Let me talk to you.

Please. You've caused those two people all the unhappiness you need to know. It's time you stopped. You don't belong here, you know. Why don't you leave Tom and Meg alone and go back? What are you saying? I can't hear you. What a fiend you are. You're not fooling me. I know exactly what you are. Hello and welcome back. Torment. It is what it is, folks. But what do you make of it? Suppose I wasn't even watching this thing. Why not? I was flipping the channels on one of the TV's in the kitchen and I found something. Something in the kitchen. Did you bring enough for. All of us?

No, I found something on the TV. I taped. And I got to tell you, it's starting to scare me. Boss, Is that. Is it that commercial with the talking cat again? I told you a thousand times.

It's not real. It's just special effects. Oh, no, it's worse than that. Scary talking cat. Take a look at this, boss. I got it all cued up. Me press this. Greetings, fellow sleuth. My name is Dr. Luft. W Sinclair, Certified for knowledge, just modern dance instructor and duly authorized county agricultural agent. I can help you read the strange bumps on your neighbor's head, learn new dance steps, and tell you the right balance to make sure your winter beats are their absolute reddest colony. I have free hangouts from Google Plus folks. I could spend a lifetime telling which bumps on a man's head divined him as a jaywalker or the proper way to do the Watusi or about how John Lloyd's method of crop rotation was in the 14th century. But tonight, Tonight, my friends, I am focusing my monumental mind on a torn from today's headlines. Crime. A great man once said the weed.

Of. Crime bears bitter fruit. As an agricultural agent, I can make that food that's bitter, perhaps even as sweet as the. Sweet as.

Candy. But crime is horrible no matter how the fruit tastes. And I have taken it upon myself to expose dastardly criminals. Tonight on I Is on Crime. I focus my watchful eye on a devious fugitive who has been running from justice for almost 30 years. I'm going to expose him for who he is. Tonight on this very program. Oh, it's just this nut again. I thought you said he was talking about you. Just keep watching. We press this button again. Here are the facts. Fact The first well-known underworld figure of Salvador Sappi boy de pistol vanished in 1950, just days before he was supposed to testify against his will. Before they keep our committee, here is the last known photo of which was taken while he was in the Atlanta Federal Prison. He escaped the night before he was supposed to testify. Just look at this miscreant. Look at that ghastly, misshapen head back the second, despite a massive manhunt involving law enforcement agencies from 20 states and eight countries, no trace of his body was ever found. In fact, the third, a mere three days after the pistol appeared, a masked man calling himself El Sapo de Tim Pesto was hired by the Baron Mondo Van Doren as his personal manservant. Can you not see it, folks? Sappi Boy and Sapo DiPesto and De Tim Pesto. Is it not obvious? DiPesto And El Sapo are one and the same. El Sapo has the bulbous head of a racketeer and the sloping forehead of a union busting. Just look for yourself. See, they are the same man. He wears a mask so we can't see the bumps on his head that betray his criminal nature. Sure, he conducts himself as a bumbling, hapless buffoon. But make no mistake, he is really one of the most devious and cunning leaders of a murderous criminal syndicate, an escaped fugitive from justice. And I will bring him in. But does that man claim that I'm some kind of Mafia pin king? It's Kingpin and Sapo. No one, literally no one, is going to mistake you for a criminal mastermind. Wait, because there's more. Let me push this button one last time. Listen, my friends, we must work together to bring in this vile reprobate. SAPO simply cannot be the bumbling, stumbling oaf he pretends to be. Have you noticed? He never seems to have the movie prepared? So he comes up with some crazy story about where he's been? No man is that inept. It's an act, a charade. Whenever he doesn't have a movie, it is because he was out consorting with his criminal friends. They were probably planning truck hijackings or maybe even some sort of fake blue gene scheme. Well, this ain't.

Good, boss. Just turn that thing off.

Don't worry about that guy. You haven't done anything to be worried about, have you, Sapo? Uh, no, boss.

Stop. I swear, Sapo. That guy's just a windbag babbling the TV. No one pays attention to people like that. Maybe you're right, boss, but I'm still worried. Of course I am.

So just relax and take it easy. Let's get back to the movie that was.

Maybe. Maybe that will take your mind off of things. We're showing the movie tonight. I'll chalk that up to your anxiety. Why don't you let me hold that remote. Folks. Let's get back to the tormented here on Nightmare Theater. It's not fair. You're getting the party from the husband. I get nothing. Be nice to me, Pina. Two more days.

I'll be a married woman. And you miss me? I'll miss Tom Moore. Sandy, How's my family? Ready. Am I too early or too late? I'm so happy you made it in time. You don't think I'd let my daughter Mary without her favorite father being around now, do you? Well, roll up your sleeves and pitch in the party right after tomorrow's rehearsal. Hi, honey.

Right. Where is the groom? He's not feeling well. What's the matter with him? He's been over working. At the piano, I suppose. Please don't start that again. It's bad enough to accept a musician into this family, but a jazz musician is asking too damn much. Why don't you go to bed, dear? You must be tired. What's the matter with a jazz musician? Be still brat. Poor Tom. Inadequate. Can't you hear of something? I asked if you live here in the lighthouse? No, on the island. On the island? Why do you want to know? Look, kid, I really don't care. I'm looking for a guy called Tom Stewart. You know him? What do you want him for? He won 200,000 a sweepstakes ticket. I'm here to give him the money. I don't believe you. Look, kid, you know where he lives. What you looking for, Dad? Not much to see out there, huh? Oh, wow. This is a crazy pad. I you lost money. Oh, man, this sure is. You know, wait a minute. What is this? Look, I don't want another new dad. I really don't. She owes me a fine, that's all I thought it'd be nice to have. What are you talking about?

No sweat. I don't want nothing from you. She owes me a fin, that's all. Wow.

You sure have a nice pad. Oh, look, I don't mean to be rude, but you'll either have to tell me what you're talking about to get out of here. The blond, the one with the. She owes me some bread, that's all. It's not going to get bugged about. What she does.

Here is your business. I can see a degree. Look, I motor this check via Mason over to the island. I got a boat now and she asked me if I'd take her. Well, I say okay, but she said she doesn't have the change. This is what said. Okay, so we make a deal. Five bucks over and five bucks back. I look, I haven't the faintest idea who or what you're talking. Look, Dad, all I want is the bread. When she didn't show by morning, I figured I'd been had. And I know she didn't go back on the regular one because I had to put by Jack in. You said no. Now I'm a real square and I didn't remember the name of the guy. She said today.

I remember. How do you like that, Tom Stuart. That's the name of the guy she said when we made the run. So enough of this jazz dad, come on, I have to leave, you know? Well, maybe a better way to run until the chick shows. You'll do nothing of that. All right. I.

Maybe it's worth it. $5 just to get rid of you.

Yeah. There you go. What you do is your business, Dad. All I want is what's coming to me. I'll be right with the missus. Alice, Here you are. Plenty of pickups.

Yes, sir. Plenty of back on. How are you, Mrs. Alice? Well, Mr. Nelson, it's a very warm day. I think I'll have something like, um, egg salad sandwich and a glass of iced tea with lemon. Don't like sugar in my tea, but plenty of lemon. Well, how about a nice hamburger, a tuna fish salad? What's the matter with your eggs? Oh, was nothing the matter with them? I just don't have any. I've been out of eggs for almost a week now. Kramer's hands to stop me. It's a funny thing. Nothing like this ever have before. Except once about the time of Samuels.

Boy, don't they just have a good line? Would you like a tuna fish salad? Just the iced. I say, Dad, can I have a Coke? Right. I haven't to send out to the mainland, especially to get some eggs for their party. Can't bake a cake without eggs. Speaking of the wedding, are you still there, Sandy? Yes, ma'am. Shouldn't you be at the rehearsal? Oh, I. Can't take it, Mr. Nelson. No, Mr. Nelson. I wish I could have my sight back long enough to see Tom and Meg married. They must be a lovely couple. I'd give anything to see them all.

A handsome couple.

All right, Tom. Stuart's marrying a beautiful gal, the nicest of families to say that. What did you say? The hand to the guy getting spliced was Tom Stuart. You're all The name is Meg Harvard. And Little Sandy will be standing here to my right next to the bride. And then the groom, of course, to her.

Right. And you'll be standing here. The parents will be in their pews at. May I help you? Yeah. I want to speak to Tom Stuart. Excuse me. You're interrupting a wedding rehearsal in there. Like I said, Dad, what you do with your business, I mean It's crazy with me. If you want to marry one chick and keep another one on the side for kicks.

Wow. But I feel sort of a responsibility, seeing as how I brought your brought over on my tug. See what I mean.

What are you driving it? Come on, Dad. Don't you know I gave you the money you're after? What more do you want? Well, it seems that our deal is in line for some renegotiation. Well, hurry. We're waiting for you. Yeah, go ahead back. We'll pick it up later. Time.

I got plenty of. Hello and welcome back. I hope you guys out there are having a better night than we are. This movie is bad. Really bad. It has not been a good night, boss.

Nope. Say no. Make it better. Yeah.

A visit from Greg again. Other than that. I don't know, boss. A nice plate of cookies and some cherry Kool-Aid. Ooh, that would hit the spot.

I'd be very nice. But, Seth, I need a favor. Would you mind going over to the towers in the southeastern section? Isn't that a hated section where that goes live? No, no, not anymore. I just need you to go get my mama's family mug. I left it in there, and I want to have some of that cherry Kool-Aid later tonight. Could you go and get it for?

Me? You know, everything tastes better in that mug. You're sure that section is not haunted anymore? Not since last week. I personally saw the ghost leave. I think they went to Idaho. Or was it Iowa anyway?

Right. They're gone. Please go get my mug. Okay.

I'll be right back. Okay. Okay.

Okay.

He's gone. Let me watch a little more of this Lester guy. I have an idea. I wonder. My operatives are very close to locating El Sapo Data Barstow. There are rumors he was in a burrito bar in Memphis just last Monday. Some say he's riding a Greyhound bus to the boyhood home of Slim Whitman. Some say he's locked himself in a broom closet. Can't get out. These are all false leads. He's a. Devious.

Genius. If you have excited El Chapo, call, do not attempt to apprehend him himself. He's dangerous. If your information pans out and he is captured, I personally, Dr. Lester Sinclair, will pay you a very generous reward. Call it a finder's fee. Just call me at one 800. Dr.

Lester. Bingo. There it is. That's what I was waiting for. I've got an idea. I'll tell you later. What's going on?

Look. Boss, I look long and I look low and I look low again. But I can't find your mama's family mug. I'm sorry. Say, I could have sworn I heard that Lester guy just a second ago. Was he talking again? It was probably just an echo. Let's get back to more of tormented here on nightmare theater. Can we still have the Kool-Aid? Yes, since I can drink it out of Vicki Lawrence. His face. I will have it. We'll see about that tomorrow night. I'll be Mrs. Stewart. Isn't that right, Mr. Stewart? I'll be right back. Please, Tom, just one more.

I. I wanted to get a drink. I'll get a drink. Just One more number I want to show you up by glove. Sorry I started your time, but candids of the best time. I had my mouth open in my eyes closed. It's going to be the worst picture ever made. You don't like it? I can take another. No, no, that's fine. I assure you. I'm sure. Yeah.

No, no.

No. You get a drink, right? Tom?

What's wrong with it? Nothing. It's only a picture. Why are you so upset?

I'm not upset. Oh, something's bothering you. Is it another girl? You can tell me now. I'll try not to be jealous. Jealous? I could be jealous and.

Bye. She's dead.

She doesn't exist. She's a perfume. She's a footprint.

She's a hand. She's a face in a picture. Who could be jealous of.

Talking crazy Tom, Let me see the picture. Well, you're not making any sense. That's her face between the two of us. I don't see anything except you and me. I know you put up lights. What's the matter? You don't look too happy to be married tomorrow. I sometimes wonder the way Tom's been acting lately. Anything Tom does is all right. He's perfect in your eyes anyhow, isn't he? Oh, don't worry, Sandy. I love him. I suppose every girl has a few last minute doubts because he's always around the lighthouse. Because he imagines things that aren't so Everything will be all right. It's late. I get the window. There's a light up there. I wonder who it could be. A boy and a girl, probably. You wouldn't understand what to. They used to go there and Nick. Not anymore. Everybody says it's too cold and damp and smelly. Does Tom go there with anybody or does anybody meet him there? Now, who's imagining things? You're right. Oh, I. That's probably only a reflection of the moonlight on a loose pane of glass. Hello, and welcome back. My this movie is plodding right along here, in fact. Ouch.

Ouch. What's.

What's the matter, boss? What's the matter.

It's my back. I think I pulled it again. Seppo, would you mind going up to the room on level 42 and getting my back pills for me? I got the misery in my back. All of a sudden, it really hurts. So you want me to rub it or something for you? I could rub some liniment or witch hazel on it. I want you to go get my pills. Can I have one of them? No.

And I counted them so I know how many are left in the bottle. About half of a pill and a half.

Half a dozen.

Go. Okay. He's gone too, and I let my fingers do the walking. Let me just dial this number, man. We used to have to do this all the time, but this. Hello? Yeah, Hello. Oh.

Oh, yeah. I'm calling for Lester Sinclair. What? Yeah, I guess. I mean, Doctor Sinclair. I apologize, brother. Look, I understand you're willing to pay big bucks for information leading to the capture of L SAPO de Tempesta, who you believe is some sort of mafia kingpin. What would that come out to and say? Dollars and cents. Oh, really? That much? And that's American money, right? Oh, and if I knew. Where he would.

Be, would you be able to pick him up today? Oh, and that money would be in cash. Right.

Like actual folding money. Good. Well, if you want him, just come down here to the compound at the end of LA. Go see Lane and get them this afternoon. Yeah, Yeah, this afternoon. All right.

Bye. Okay, Mittens, here's what we're going to do. That Lester Sinclair guy is offering big money for. Suppose capture. Someone is going to get that money. It might as well be us. Oh, I know he's your friend, but I mean, big money. Just think what we could do with all of that money. Well, I'm in charge, and I've made the decision. You're just going to have to trust that I know what I'm doing. I know what's best for us all. Folks, let's get back to whatever was happening in Tormented here on theater. You could shake that head all you want, buddy. I've made my decision, and you're going to abide by it. Where are you? I'm over here. By what? What do you want? I want you to. I want to save you from your own mistakes. The mistake was in knowing you. And the only way you could correct was for me to die, wasn't it? It's not my fault you're dead, isn't it? I couldn't have saved you.

Couldn't you? Maybe you can make yourself believe that, but not me. I was there, remember? You had to shut me up so you could marry me. You got away with that. All right. But now what are you going to do? I'll never let you marry me. You belong to me, Tom. You belong to us.

Go. That's the trouble with making one person. You have to go from bad to worse to keep it quiet. What would you do?

It may. I'd get wise to you. Stop her the same way you stopped me. I didn't kill you, VI. I never killed anybody.

And I never will. And once I'm married, I'm going to live a very happy, very normal life with Meg and with our friends. And there's really nothing you can do about it, isn't there? You may have noticed. I've found my voice. Now I pick things up fast. I'm going to use it to tell the world about you. I told you, Tom, no one will ever have you but. Me needs to try. Try to make me. Tom.

Stuart killed me. Tom, You kill me.

Tom. You were telling me, Tom Stuart killed.

Me. Why did you kill me, Tom?

Mr.. Can they kill me? Tom turns me that. Don't be such a hurry, Dad. You're always in a hurry. You shouldn't be like that.

Give me that. I just want to talk to you. I'm a nice, friendly talk, that's all. Give me that look. Sick, dead. Something's wrong. Look, are you going to talk to me or not? Let's get this thing over with. Just What is it you want? Like I said, that all I wanted was coming to me. You know, the way it looks to me, we should be sort of partners. I hope you and you help me. I bring your Playgirl over to the island, and I figure it's worth some sort of service to you to sort of buy something for me, like a silent service That's the word you're reaching for is blackmail. That's not it at all. That we should be sort of pals. I do you a favor. Now, you can do me one. In other words, if I don't pay you blackmail, you go to my fiancee and expose my life of sin. Is that it? Well, you're saying it rather crude, dead, but you're getting the idea. But it won't do you any good. I'm not going to pay you one lousy cent in the first place. I don't know a girl named VI. And even if I did, it wouldn't do you any good. Because unfortunately, I am not sharing my cottage with anyone. If it'll make you feel better, you can look for yourself. That's not necessary. Not at all. You see, I already have. Well, then you know she's not here. Well, yes and no. You see, when you were so eager to cope with that five, I figured you were, well, anxious to keep everything sort of quiet. Like now, when I find out you're getting spliced to another chick. Well, the story's even getting better to read. Now, here, the part I like the best. I do a little snooping when you're not around. What do you think?

I think you still with me, Dad? Go on. You see, that's the punch line. That's the gimmick. If this dull boy is hiding in your cottage and she isn't any place else on the island, and she never left the island. Oh, What do you suppose would have happened to her, huh? You tell me you're a comedian, huh? You're the one that has the rest of the answers. You know something? Everything you've just said is all bluff. You don't know a damn thing. That's not true. That is not friendly at all.

In fact, I thought. You'd take a wrong outlook on things, so I sort of borrowed something. A friend of yours. Let's get out of here. I can see that you finally dig me That what we come up here for. So that you and I can have a little talk in peace and quiet. It's cool. Just what do you want? Five now. Five thou. And don't tell me and I'll get your future father in law is loaded.

Tom. Tom.

Five. Who are you talking to? You didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything. I'm waiting to hear something from you. They're closing in on it now. You'd better take care of him right now. No.

Know that's your final answer. Well, I didn't. Come in a minute. He's so easy, Tom. Just as easy as I live. Go ahead. There's a piece of pie behind you. One good blow is all it takes. He got rid of me. But you'll never get rid of him. As long as he lives. He'll bleed you of every penny.

Tom. And all the time you'll have it hanging over you. What if people find out what it make? Find out You can't let them do it, Tom. You'll lose. Look, you've had enough time. Do I get the money or don't say yes. Tom.

Does he get paid?

No. All right. You know what's best. See what your chick has to say about this. And what change your may. Have to know. And indeed, the you know, I. Received firstly lifting and secondly, the second boy, huh? Yeah.

Yeah, that's what it did. What was the third place. Oh, that the mystery.

Blaine. Oh, wow.

Well, what about the fourth place? Ooh, I don't talk about that boy. I got nothing else to say about that blade.

Oh, and.

One. Anyway, welcome back. We're once again in the subsub subsub basement of the television studio with a mysterious curator from the Merrill Movie Museum. And he's brought us another piece today. It looks like it's not maybe in the best shape. It's not. Well, it looks like that, but it's supposed to look like supposed. That's the intention here. So this is from what's what is probably still considered the best of the Star Trek films, Star Trek two, The Wrath of Khan. So you're saying it's not Star Trek five now? What about that? That is looking for nobody. That the best example is one where they looked for that guy. Yeah, that's that. That's Star Trek five. I think SAPO probably likes that movie. Call your.

Favorites.

Yeah, I like that guy on the bus.

Yeah. So this is in the movie Star Trek, too. Of course. We had the return of Khan, the the great villain from the original series episodes, Spacey Brian, played by Ricardo Montalban, who took over the U.S.S. Reliant.

Yes. One of the many great ships in Starfleet. There was a great, beautiful model made of The ship is back, and this time they still filmed everything With models. There's no CGI, right? So they had to hand build all of these ships that you saw on screen. Of course, the Reliant did not fare so well in Khan's hands and by the end of the film was destroyed. This is a portion of the destroyed rely on this is that you're kind of the roll bar on that shot the robots and so they build these beautiful models and then they have to artistically destroy these models to make them look like they've been destroyed on screen. And that's what you see here. You know, that they would have built in some cases they would have just destroyed the original model. In this case, I believe they would like to give me a job doing that. But you know, again, you kind of put everything together and made it look like it had been through an explosion. And there probably were you can kind of see here some things that maybe lit up and things like that that were on this model perhaps at one point, because I if I recall correctly, this is kind of the way that the Reliant looks when it's drifting right. Kind of after it's been kind of attacked by the Enterprise and Captain Kirk, as does done what he's always doing he comes back from unbeatable odds to win. You know, we don't want to go into the metaphor of that but so yeah, so this would have been this would have been seen on screen extensively. Right, right, right. And you could see, you know, they would have gone through because this would have been up close on camera. They go through all the attention to detail here with the Starfleet Delta. He had the registry number NCC, 1864, 1864, United Federation of Planets. You can when you close up in on that, you can really see all that detail because you needed to be able to see that detail on screen to sell it as a. As a real ship that's been destroyed.

Yeah. And Star Trek two was kind of a turning point for that series of films. Star Trek one had been a hit, but it wasn't a particularly great film, I think. I think history's been a little more kind to it now. It's it's considered a little better than it was at the time. But this film really cemented the Star Trek film series as something that was going to be great going forward. It really did. You know, with Nicholas Meyer coming in as a director and really kind of focusing on action the way the first film had and the first film was kind of intentionally a more cerebral film. Yes, kind of inspired by 2001 and films like that, which is great. And all. But it wasn't necessarily what the audience was looking for in the aftermath of Star Wars.

Right. Which is what got the first Star Trek film greenlit in the first. Right. And it was a lot of films and a lot of movies, the TV shows and other things that came after Star Wars that were sort of, you know, Roger Corman made Battle Beyond the Stars, which is not at all anything like Star Wars are as near as quality. But again, that was him following along. But the major studios did that, too. They would see suddenly science fiction as popular. We got to start making science fiction movies. So Star Trek got that treatment, you know, Battlestar Galactica, another thing that sort of rode on the coattails of Star Wars. And so we have all Star Wars to thank for a lot of that. Stuff and for every great thing that came along, the revival of Star Trek or the Battlestar Galactica, which went on to become a great, great series. Yeah, you had things like Battle Beyond the Star Solar Crisis. Yeah. Where again, you might have some some great prop work on in the film, but the film itself, nobody really remembers that. Well, thank you so much for bringing us in to us today. This is a really amazing piece. I mean, to imagine that we've seen this on screen for so many years and then here it is in front of us. It's kind of it's kind of a very overwhelming experience, really. So why don't you folks get back to our film, which is not nearly as good as what Star Trek two was here on Nightmare. You know, some bondo and buffing compound. I can make this look like New Sandy. Sandy, come here. Sandy, did you hear your mother call you? What is it? Drop whatever you're doing and come here at one. Oh, right. Oh, Sandy, we have to be at the church in 20 minutes. And you're not even dressed yet. Never mind that. Now makes your hand Come and hold it. When I take it up. You'll make a lovely wife, Meg. Thanks, Meg. Do you really love them? A whole lot? Whatever makes you ask a thing like that. Last night you said you weren't sure. Well, I'm sure Now you'll remember to take the bouquet when I hand it to you, won't you? I'll remember. Suppose he done something awful bad the way I feel now. I'd marry him no matter what. Oh, don't forget. You stand close behind me. But not too close. Yeah, that's them. And you, young lady, get into your gown this instant. Subject loaned us her ring in place of the one you lost. That's okay. I've got the minister's V here in my pocket, and everything's under control, so snap out of it. Okay?

Okay.

I'll be all right. I'll get that funereal look off your face. This is a wedding that cheer him up. Money. I think that's a pretty dress. And you're really going to marry my sister, aren't you? I don't feel like that. I can't help but suppose you love somebody. Somebody who did something bad. And only you. Would you keep it secret. Well, good friends generally try to stand by one another. But what if it was something real, real bad? Real, real bad.

Like what? Murder. Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of this company to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate instituted God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ. And His church is not by any to be entered into and advisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God into this holy estate. These two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak or else hereafter forever hold his peace. The bishop Oh, by VI. I've got to tell you, you've one. I'm sure you're glad to hear that I'm going away by and I'm not coming back by. I I'm running out on Meg. I'm not coming back. Sandy, what are you doing here? I followed. Why did you have to kill him? I knew something would happen. I was against the marriage from the beginning. Let me help you with your gown, dear. Don't bother, Mother.

Sam. You'll help Sandy. Help your sister. Where is Sandy? I thought you came home ahead of us. Well, if she did, she's not here now. I wish you hadn't seen it. Sandy. I'm afraid to tell everybody, and I don't know what to do. Will tell. But how can I be sure of that? Good. The protect protected other?

Yes. Sometimes they can't help themselves. Things leak out. Police hear about it. You know what would happen if the police heard about this? I go to the gas chamber. Sandy. Sandy, Why did you have to see it? I couldn't tell them. No, Nobody could help any of it except me. I could have saved by. I could have put my hand out to it. Instead I killed her. Sandy. Sandy, you know I love you very much. Thank you, Reverend. She isn't there. I can't imagine where she could have gone. Where is Tom? The least he could do is be here when Meg needs him. Can't you leave him alone? There's a light in the lighthouse. Sandy could be there. She talks about the place all the time. Oh, I don't think she'd there at night, though. We'd better make sure. I was going up there. That's what I'm looking at.

The sea. You're not afraid of me, are you? I never used to be. On my neck. When the. Moon shines, you can see the whole island from up here. You didn't tell anyone we were coming up, and. I didn't tell them.

Anything. Good. Good. Let's go back. Afraid?

Yes. Sandy. Sandy. Why did you have to see it? Dad, There was prepared to bring him in. Now come. Who could it be? Where did you find her? What's in the rock? She's been down there a week. I'd say. It's bringing him in now, but. Hello and welcome back. For us. I got them back.

Pills for you, boss. But I got to tell you, I got to tell you, I saw that from the subsub sub sub basement running out of the room. And I think he had a pill in his hand. And I tried to stop him, but he was too fast for me. So if one of them pills is missing, and if you count on him and one of them is missing, what, me? Oh, I'm certain he was too fast for you. What did you think of tonight's movie? Did you like the ending? I didn't even see what happened. I was too busy getting your pills for you and looking for that mama's family mug and whatnot. And have any time now? The movie's over, and we had quite a night. Yes, we did. But, boss, that was sure scary there for a minute. I was pretty sure that Lester guy was going to fly me and hold me off to the jail or something. The night is still young. Suppose the night is still young. And there he is. Yes.

Here he is. Here, do something. Oh, I'm going to do something.

All right. Your time has come, my friend. Yes, it has, Baron, I believe we discussed a finder's fee for you. We sure did. $50,000, was it? I'll make that back.

The book price alone. What book? I am going to write a true crime novel about how I Doctor Lester W Sinclair took down a man. The FBI and Interpol have been looking out for decades. Oh, that sounds great. Who did you take down? He's talking about you dummy Me?

Yes, you. Here is your money. $50,000. I must say, you're not quite as objectionable character as I previously believed. Thank you.

You're not so bad yourself. Do you want a receipt? No.

There's no need to complicate matters with the paper trail. I'll just take the money and you'll take him away and we'll be square. What's happened And what's happened is justice. Is what's happening. She finally showed up. She's been standing in the corner, waiting and watching all of these years. She's a proud and dignified lady. And she hates to ask her boys for help. But she asked me and I came through and mama called by God, me, Dr. Lester W Sinclair, Lady Justice is a fickle maven with a memory like an elephant. And you have insulted her for the last time. You are going back to prison to serve out the rest of your sentence. Well, I know.

Devious criminal mastermind. I'm not even a mastermind. I don't even have a mind on a stumbling, bungling, Stumbling fool. Just ask anyone who will kill me, bucko. You fooled quite a lot of people with that lazy, inept, shiftless, incompetent act of yours. But you didn't fool me. No, you didn't. For me, I really am lazy and incompetent. Tell that to the judge, my friend. Tell it to the judge and give me these pills. Let's put these into evidence. No, no, those are mine. Take him away. Officers, call off that wild dog. No, no no, no.

Mittens.

Calm down, buddy. Come down. Keep him away from me. It's going to be okay. Keep now.

It's okay.

Okay, Mittens.

Bad boy. We'll talk about this later. Stand down. And that's an order. Boss.

Boss. I'll see you in 20 years, SAPO. More like 40 years. Thank you, Baron. I have other fugitives to find, other world to conquer, and a book to write. Do you want me to mention you in my book?

No. I'm kind of a behind the scenes guy you have. You can have all the glory for this capture. This is all on you, my friend.

All on you. Besides, SAPO has been here a long time, and I don't want to get busted for being some kind of accomplice or something. You take him away and run with it. Very wise, Baron.

Thank you once again. Let's go, Officer.

Hey, where are we going? Well, I need my shower cap. I still gotta weave all that hair into a sweater for the Baron. Oh, there'll be plenty of time for sweater waving where you're going. The Graybar Motel. The big hat off my house, boss Mittens. Guy in the subsurface. Not bashful.

Roger, a bodyguard. Somebody help me. Call that lawyer, Chadwick Foster. Call Paul, please. Call anybody.

Call Martindale. He'll know what to do.

Help them. You know what they say? Oh, don't do the crime if he can't do that. But I never shut up. All right, well, that's it, folks. Saffo has finally gotten what's coming to him. Maybe a few decades on, the RockPile will make him see the error of his ways, but I doubt it. What do you mean? What are we going to do, Mittens? Why are we going to go on a well-deserved vacation, my friend? Three weeks in Paris, three weeks in Rome, four weeks in London, eight weeks in train Sylvania and one week in beautiful Branson, Missouri. We're going to have the time of our lives, my friends. Well, no, no, don't worry about SAPO. Look I'm sorry I had to trick you, Mittens. I wanted to let you in on the plan for. For it to work. I had to be a it had to be a total, complete secret. I knew you would try to protect SAPO. I was counting on it.

Here's the truth. Sapo is not the man they're looking for. Sapo did not start working for me in the 1950s. He's been with me since the late 1800s. He's definitely not a master criminal. He's going to be fine. Well, eventually, everything worked out just like I thought it would. And again, I wanted to let you in on it, but I was worried you give it away somehow. Once they take that mask off of him and get a good look at him, they're going to ask him to put it back on quickly because he's ugly. And then they'll realize they have the wrong man and they'll kick him loose. They could run his prints, but he chewed those off years ago. He might be in there a month or two at the most, but by that time, they're going to realize their mistake. And you and I will be in the mountains of Transylvania, enjoying some nice Romanian wine with a big heaping bowl of pork and potato stew and a nice break from SAPO. And best of all, 50,000 big ones. That guy is a rube. Yeah, Yeah, sure. Well, pick up SAPO a bell or a whistle or something. You know, while we're on Paris, maybe. Maybe we'll get him a Slim Whitman T-shirt in Branson. He likes that guy. Folks, we have to go now, but we'll run into you again somewhere down the line. It's a very small world there, and it's full of good places to go and fun things to do. Get out there and see it while you still can. Life is short. If you see us in Europe, feel free to say. Hello.

But I hope you don't take this the wrong way. If you see us in Branson, please leave us alone. We only have one week there. But I promise you we will meet again. And until we do. May all your dreams be nightmares.

Nightmare Theatre is a local public television program presented by WSRE PBS

Nightmare Theatre is a local production supported by Pensacon and The Fish House.