WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.000 The strange Dr. Weird. 00:13.720 --> 00:16.920 Good evening. Come in, won't you? 00:16.920 --> 00:20.520 Why, what's the matter? 00:20.520 --> 00:25.360 You seem a bit nervous. Perhaps the cemetery outside this house 00:25.360 --> 00:29.520 is upset you. But there are things far worse 00:29.520 --> 00:34.480 than cemeteries. For instance, men with murder in their hearts. 00:34.480 --> 00:38.000 As in my story tonight, a story I call 00:38.000 --> 00:45.000 The Devil's Caverns. 00:50.360 --> 00:55.440 My story, The Devil's Caverns, begins in the desolate and remote mountain country 00:55.440 --> 00:58.520 of New Mexico. It is early morning 00:58.520 --> 01:03.720 in a large hunting lodge. John Drake, the noted naturalist and explorer, 01:03.720 --> 01:07.280 is speaking to his two nephews, Victor and Paul. 01:07.280 --> 01:11.040 You two have just wasted your time coming to New Mexico to see me. 01:11.040 --> 01:14.560 I told you both a dozen times I won't increase your allowances. 01:14.560 --> 01:18.320 And that's final. But Uncle John, you can hardly expect Victor and myself to live on 01:18.320 --> 01:20.080 five thousand dollars. Now be quiet, Paul. 01:20.080 --> 01:24.320 Uncle John has always been most generous to us. If he feels that he can't give us 01:24.320 --> 01:26.280 any more, we should be satisfied. 01:26.280 --> 01:30.120 Thank you, Victor. Dear me, it's nine o'clock and I'm not even at work. 01:30.120 --> 01:33.960 I must leave now. Oh, you're going to those caverns you discovered in the mountains? 01:33.960 --> 01:37.600 Yes. Would you take care to come with me? No, thank you, Uncle John. 01:37.600 --> 01:40.680 Exploring caverns is hardly in our line. 01:40.680 --> 01:43.840 But you can't go back to New York without seeing The Devil's Caverns. 01:43.840 --> 01:49.120 The Devil's Caverns? Yes. I call them that because they're so huge and dark. 01:49.120 --> 01:54.200 I imagine to anyone but a scientist like myself, the caverns would be rather terrifying. 01:54.200 --> 01:59.520 I see. Well, thanks anyway, Uncle John. Perhaps some other time. 01:59.520 --> 02:05.400 Very well. I'll see you both this evening when I return. 02:05.400 --> 02:09.880 The old fool. Worth millions when he wastes his time exploring caverns. 02:09.880 --> 02:14.040 Perhaps we made a mistake in not going to the caverns with him. 02:14.040 --> 02:17.360 What do you mean? Last night, Uncle John spoke about finding 02:17.360 --> 02:20.840 holes in the caverns. Holes hundreds of feet deep. 02:20.840 --> 02:25.280 What are you getting at? Suppose Uncle John were to accidentally 02:25.280 --> 02:30.120 fall into one of those holes. You and I would inherit his millions. 02:30.120 --> 02:33.360 Say, I hadn't thought of that. Well, I have. 02:33.360 --> 02:38.120 Yes, Paul, tomorrow you and I will accompany Uncle John into the caverns. 02:38.120 --> 02:51.760 Who knows? Perhaps he will meet with an accident. 02:51.760 --> 02:54.080 It's just a little further to the entrance to the caverns. 02:54.080 --> 02:57.360 But Uncle John, why did you make us wear leather gloves and high shoes? 02:57.360 --> 03:00.280 Well, they're for protection against the rats in Devil's Caverns. 03:00.280 --> 03:04.360 You mean the rats in there are dangerous? Oh, not really. It's just that now and then 03:04.360 --> 03:08.280 one of them will take a nip at you. And then there's the bats. 03:08.280 --> 03:11.760 A most remarkable species. Here we are. 03:11.760 --> 03:15.600 You just lead the way. It was just by sheer luck that I stumbled 03:15.600 --> 03:19.160 on the entrance. It certainly is dark in here. 03:19.160 --> 03:22.880 Just a second. I'll turn on my flashlight. There. 03:22.880 --> 03:29.120 Well, I can understand now why you call these the Devil's Caverns. 03:29.120 --> 03:32.840 Something terrifying about this place. Yes, and there are others even more terrifying. 03:32.840 --> 03:36.200 Come along. I'll show them to you. Just a minute, Uncle John. 03:36.200 --> 03:40.600 What for, Paul? Paul, why in the world are you lighting a candle? 03:40.600 --> 03:43.280 I'm going to leave this candle here by the entrance. 03:43.280 --> 03:47.080 I figure we'll stop every 50 yards and leave a burning candle so we won't get lost. 03:47.080 --> 03:50.760 Yes. The candles will serve as beacons to guide us back to the entrance here. 03:50.760 --> 03:55.240 But that isn't necessary. Why, I know every inch of all the caverns by now. 03:55.240 --> 03:57.720 Nevertheless, Uncle John, we'd feel safer this way. 03:57.720 --> 04:01.080 Very well. It'll make you feel better. Now come along. 04:01.080 --> 04:03.080 There's so much I want to show you. 04:09.080 --> 04:12.840 If you'll come over here, boys, I'll show you one of those holes I was telling you about. 04:12.840 --> 04:16.680 We'll be there just as soon as we light another candle, Uncle John. 04:16.680 --> 04:20.200 How many candles does this make, Paul? This is the tenth candle. 04:20.200 --> 04:23.320 I figure we've come, you know, more than a quarter of a mile. 04:23.320 --> 04:26.920 Everything's working out perfectly. Now look back. 04:26.920 --> 04:30.760 You can see four of the candles burning and the other six are around that turn. 04:30.760 --> 04:32.040 Yeah. 04:32.040 --> 04:36.680 Well, come along now. We mustn't keep Uncle John waiting. 04:39.480 --> 04:44.280 Ah, there you are. Now I'm going to show you another of the wonder of these caverns. 04:44.280 --> 04:46.520 This hole I'm shining my flashlight on. 04:46.520 --> 04:49.800 Oh, something just brushed against my foot. 04:50.920 --> 04:54.600 That was just one of the cavern rats. They discovered we're here. Listen. 04:56.680 --> 04:59.000 Sounds like there are thousands of them. 04:59.000 --> 05:02.120 Yes, there are. Nasty little fellows, too. 05:02.120 --> 05:05.400 And our leather gloves and high shoes will protect us if they grow too bold. 05:05.400 --> 05:06.680 I hope so. 05:06.680 --> 05:10.760 Now, yesterday I measured the depth of this hole and much to my amazement, 05:10.760 --> 05:14.040 I discovered that it's 920 feet deep. 05:14.040 --> 05:20.120 Nine hundred and twenty feet? If anyone fell in, it'd be quite a fall. 05:20.120 --> 05:24.520 Shine your flashlight down the hole, Uncle John, so we can see what it looks like. 05:24.520 --> 05:27.480 Very well. Of course, you won't be able to see the bottom, 05:27.480 --> 05:31.560 but at least you'll get an idea of how... Why are you taking my arms, boys? 05:31.560 --> 05:33.560 We just want to make sure you don't fall in. 05:33.560 --> 05:37.240 Yes, Uncle John. After all, you're awfully close to the edge. 05:37.240 --> 05:40.280 Nonsense, boys. I won't fall in. I'll let go of my arms so I can... 05:40.840 --> 05:43.000 Stop pushing me! Let's come over here. 05:43.000 --> 05:44.280 Don't! I'll fall if you... 05:44.280 --> 05:44.920 Ah! 05:46.600 --> 05:50.120 Poor Uncle John. But then accidents will happen. 05:50.120 --> 05:52.600 Uncle John? 05:52.600 --> 05:58.120 Doctor, after listening to the first part of your story, 05:58.120 --> 06:01.240 don't you think some of our listeners may be a little shaky? 06:01.240 --> 06:04.520 Well, I can't understand why. But if they are, 06:04.520 --> 06:08.840 I suppose we ought to suggest something to bolster their confidence. 06:08.840 --> 06:12.600 Ah, Doctor, that's a good idea. And then there's nothing that gives 06:12.600 --> 06:16.440 a fellow more confidence in himself than correct attire. 06:16.440 --> 06:20.440 For that reason, may I suggest that your wardrobe include at least one of the 06:20.440 --> 06:26.200 many smart, correctly styled Adam hats. Made of lustrous all-fur felt, 06:26.200 --> 06:29.400 in a wide variety of soft, harmonizing shades, 06:29.400 --> 06:33.240 Adam hats are the epitome of fine quality and good taste. 06:33.800 --> 06:38.360 You'll appreciate, too, the distinctive hat bands and other important details 06:38.360 --> 06:44.360 of your Adam hat. Top off that well-dressed look, gentlemen, with an Adam hat. 06:44.360 --> 06:48.040 Now, back to mystery and Dr. Weird. 06:52.040 --> 06:56.040 And now I'll continue my story, The Devil's Caverns. 06:56.840 --> 07:00.040 After John Drake's death scream had faded away, 07:00.040 --> 07:06.040 only the shrill squeaking of the rats and the heavy breathing of the two men remained. 07:07.000 --> 07:11.240 For a moment, the two stood in darkness. Then Victor spoke. 07:11.240 --> 07:15.240 All right, Paul, turn on Uncle John's flashlight and let's get out of here. 07:15.240 --> 07:19.240 Why, I haven't got his flashlight. He fell in before I could take it away from him. 07:19.240 --> 07:23.240 What? You stupid fool, I might have known you'd bungled. Now what have we got? 07:23.240 --> 07:27.240 Wait a minute, I have my cigarette lighter, if it only works. 07:29.240 --> 07:33.240 There. It doesn't give much light, but it'll do. 07:33.240 --> 07:37.240 Oh, come on, let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps. 07:37.240 --> 07:39.240 Yes, now there's the first candle a few yards away. Come on. 07:39.240 --> 07:47.240 Victor, look, the first candle just went out. 07:47.240 --> 07:49.240 Yes, that draft probably blew it out. 07:49.240 --> 07:51.240 The candle was right over here on this rock. 07:51.240 --> 07:53.240 Oh, Victor, it's gone. 07:53.240 --> 07:57.240 Gone? Nonsense. You probably left it on another rock. 07:57.240 --> 08:01.240 Now let's not waste time on this. There's the second candle 50 yards ahead. 08:01.240 --> 08:05.240 Oh, all right, but I'll tell you, that was a rock I left it on. 08:05.240 --> 08:07.240 Now it's gone. Oh, look, the second candle. 08:07.240 --> 08:11.240 The second candle, it seems to be moving. It's falling over. 08:11.240 --> 08:15.240 It's gone out. But that's as though someone blew it. 08:15.240 --> 08:17.240 Don't be a fool. 08:17.240 --> 08:19.240 Look, the third candle's beginning to flicker. 08:19.240 --> 08:23.240 It can't go out. It mustn't go out. Hurry. 08:23.240 --> 08:27.240 Oh, Victor, it has gone out. Now there aren't any candles to guide us out of here. 08:27.240 --> 08:32.240 Get hold of yourself. I've got my eye fixed on the spot where the third candle went out. 08:32.240 --> 08:35.240 Once there, we merely have to turn the bend to see the other candles. 08:35.240 --> 08:38.240 Yes, but suppose, suppose there are two. 08:38.240 --> 08:40.240 There won't be. 08:40.240 --> 08:45.240 It's Uncle John. He's going ahead of us, blowing out the candles so we can't escape. 08:45.240 --> 08:47.240 How can it be, Uncle John? He's dead. 08:47.240 --> 08:51.240 It's his ghost that's doing it. He's getting revenge on us for what we did. 08:51.240 --> 08:53.240 Be quiet, do you hear? 08:53.240 --> 08:59.240 Listen, the rats, that's it. They're the ones who are knocking the candles over. 08:59.240 --> 09:04.240 They're carrying them off. They're hungry. They're attracted by the wax in the candles. 09:04.240 --> 09:11.240 Why are you stopping? Can't you see? The path divides into three here. 09:11.240 --> 09:13.240 Do you remember which is the way out? 09:13.240 --> 09:16.240 I don't remember these three paths at all. 09:16.240 --> 09:19.240 We must have come by the middle path. Yes, I'm sure that's the one. Come on. 09:28.240 --> 09:32.240 We're bound to find the entrance. After all the hours we've searched, we're bound to... 09:32.240 --> 09:36.240 Why do you keep on saying that over and over? We're lost and you know we are. 09:36.240 --> 09:38.240 We're never going to get out of here, never. 09:38.240 --> 09:42.240 I'll go shut off the scene to that. Stop talking about Uncle John. He's dead. Dead? 09:42.240 --> 09:46.240 No, he's all around us. I can feel him. He blew out all the candles. 09:46.240 --> 09:50.240 Now he's waiting for us to die. Shut up. Even the rats know that we're going to die. Listen. 09:50.240 --> 09:55.240 My cigarette lighter. It's gone out, Uncle John. He blew it out. 09:55.240 --> 09:58.240 It won't work. The fuel's all gone. 09:58.240 --> 10:02.240 Paul. Paul, where are you? I'm over here. You have some matches, haven't you? 10:02.240 --> 10:05.240 Yes. Those matches are a matter of life and death. 10:05.240 --> 10:09.240 We don't dare walk in the darkness, not with all those holes around. 10:09.240 --> 10:11.240 Paul, keep talking so I can find you. 10:11.240 --> 10:14.240 How can you find me when I'm lost? You'll never find me. 10:14.240 --> 10:19.240 Paul, what is it? Uncle John. He just rushed past me. He's come to take me. 10:19.240 --> 10:21.240 Don't be a fool. It was a bat that rushed past you. 10:21.240 --> 10:27.240 No. No, Uncle John. He's come to get me. No. No, stay away from me. Stay away. 10:27.240 --> 10:31.240 Paul, come back. Come back, you hear? It's dangerous to run like that. 10:31.240 --> 10:35.240 Paul. He's fallen into a hole. He's gone. 10:35.240 --> 10:38.240 I'm all alone without any light at all. 10:38.240 --> 10:43.240 So, Uncle John, you think you've gotten the better of me? Well, you haven't, you haven't, you hear? 10:43.240 --> 10:47.240 I've got to get a hold of myself. I must. If I go to pieces, I'll never get out of here. 10:47.240 --> 10:50.240 I've got to take this thing off. There must be some way that I can... 10:50.240 --> 10:54.240 Ow! My left leg. Oh, one of those rats bit me. 10:54.240 --> 10:58.240 But they're swarming all around me. Ow! I've got to fight them off if I don't, they'll... 10:58.240 --> 11:02.240 Ow! Oh! Get away! Get away! Ow! 11:10.240 --> 11:16.240 Too bad about poor Victor, wasn't it? Such a horrible way to die. 11:16.240 --> 11:19.240 Two weeks later, when a searching party entered the cavern, 11:19.240 --> 11:24.240 they found a clean white skeleton lying a few hundred yards from the entrance. 11:24.240 --> 11:29.240 Unfortunately, they were never able to find a trace of John, Drake, and Paul. 11:29.240 --> 11:34.240 It was as if... as if they had vanished from the face of the earth. 11:34.240 --> 11:40.240 Now, I once knew a dead man who... Oh, you have to go now? 11:40.240 --> 11:43.240 Perhaps you'll drop in on me again soon. 11:43.240 --> 11:49.240 Just look for the house on the other side of the cemetery. 11:49.240 --> 12:17.240 The house of Dr. Weird.