Night of the Demon

It has been written...

since the beginning of time...

even onto these ancient stones...

that evil, supernatural creatures exist...

in a world of darkness.

And it is also said...

man, using the magic power...

of the ancient runic symbols...

can call forth these powers of darkness...

the demons of hell.

Through the ages, men have feared and worshipped these creatures.

The practice of witchcraft, the cults of evil...

have endured and exist to this day.

Fifteen. Two and three makes five.

- I must see Dr. Karswell at once. - Who shall I say is calling?

Professor Harrington. Tell him it's most urgent.

I'm afraid Mr. Karswell is not at home, sir.

I know he's here. Tell him I won't leave until he does see me.

- I'm very sorry, sir. - Well, go back and say...

- Karswell. - That's all right, Bates.

Please, come in. This way.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Mother...

Well, I'll go and see about some tea.

That won't be necessary. We shall only be a minute.

Call it off, Karswell. Stop this thing you've started...

and I'll admit publicly I was totally wrong and that you were totally right.

It's very gratifying to hear that, but some things...

are more easily started than stopped.

But I've heard it. I've seen it. I know it's real!

You involved me in a public scandal.

I protested.

You said, "Do your worst," and that's precisely what I did.

Please, Karswell. I'll stop this investigation.

When Holden arrives, I'll tell him I've made a mistake.

I'll send a statement to the newspapers.

No more newspapers. All I ask for is privacy for myself and my followers.

- Well, I promise. - All right. That's good enough.

Then you'll stop this?

You've still got that parchment I gave you?

The runic symbols? No, they burned. I couldn't stop it.

I see. Well, I think perhaps you'd better go home.

- Then you will help me? - I'll do all that I can.

- Karswell, if you only knew. - I do know.

Thank you.

- Good night, Mrs. Karswell. - Good night.

Thank you again.

Good-bye, Professor.

- Yes, sir? - Do you have one of those eye masks?

I must get some sleep. That light keeps shining in my eyes.

I'm afraid we don't. Would you like a pill?

No, thanks. I'm trying to cut down.

Excuse me.

I can't get out.

- Sorry. - Good.

Could I change my seat? I can't sleep...

and I seem to be bothering the gentleman in front of me.

I'm afraid it's impossible. We're full up.

Oh. Thank you.

Thanks.

Anytime.

Here they come.

Dr. Holden? I'm Lloyd Williamson.

- Professor Harrington's personal aide. - How are you?

I'm so glad I'd be able to meet you here, sir.

The professor had planned to meet you here himself, but he...

- Well... - Dr. Holden?

We're the press, sir. Could you spare a few minutes?

- What makes me news? - Ghosts.

What exactly is the function of this convention you're attending?

Investigation of international reports on paranormal psychology.

"Para" what psychology?

Just say mind-reading, fortune-telling, spirits and zombies.

What are your views on those people in the States who claim to be reincarnated?

Bunk. Under hypnosis...

people are unusually susceptible to the power of suggestion.

Do all your delegates share your views on the supernatural?

There are probably some who don't.

Ask Williamson here. He'll probably know.

Do you believe those who don't to be fakers?

Let's say some people honestly believe in the supernatural.

But according to you, they're wrong.

- That's right. - What about the other delegates?

We haven't got time. I have a car waiting outside.

- One thing more, Doctor. - Yes?

Take it kind of easy on our ghosts. We English are sort of fond of them.

Sure. Some of my best friends are ghosts.

Operator, I'm still waiting for my number.

I'm sorry. The number you requested is reported out of order.

Could you check it, then? It's to Professor Harrington's house.

That is the correct number, but I'm sorry. The line is out of order.

Oh. Thank you.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Williamson.

You were saying Professor Harrington couldn't come.

I'm afraid I have some terrible news for you.

Professor Harrington was found dead this morning.

Found dead?

Sorry to disturb you, but there's so much to do and so little time.

I'll be right out.

The police say that Professor Harrington was electrocuted.

Somehow, his car ran into a power line outside his house.

It was a terrible accident.

He must've died instantly.

- The services will be held tomorrow. - I'll be there.

This is Mark O'Brien. He's been working with Professor Harrington.

- He'll continue to do so with you. - Fine.

You'll have to forgive me. I had a little sleep to catch up on.

- Of course. - Sit down. I won't be very long.

- What is this? - Part of O'Brien's research...

which is tied up with the Karswell Devil Cult investigation.

I see. Let me get some clothes on.

I wrote Professor Harrington recently that if he wanted to find the key...

to Karswell's phony supernatural power, all he had to do...

was check the psychological makeup of some of his followers.

I know, but we ran into difficulty.

The one cult member we persuaded to speak up...

a farmer named Rand Hobart...

was arrested several weeks ago as an alleged murderer.

He can still be useful.

I'm afraid not. His mind is in total collapse.

He's in a state of catatonic shock and in a home for the criminally insane.

Why do you say "alleged murderer"?

That's just my personal view.

A short while ago at the asylum, I succeeded in rousing Hobart.

Under hypnosis, he produced this drawing.

It's crude, but remarkably similar to these copies...

of old woodcuts and medieval drawings...

of a fire demon invoked by witchcraft to destroy an enemy.

You mean you think that thing committed the murder?

I thought the purpose of our convention was to disprove that type of thinking.

- Yes, but Mark says... - I'll speak for myself, Llyod.

I'm a scientist also, Dr. Holden.

I know the value of the cold light of reason.

But I also know the deep shadows that light can cast.

The shadows that can blind men to truth.

What truth? Myths.

Demonology and witchcraft have been discredited...

since the Middle Ages.

I wrote a book about it. That's why I'm here.

Then explain how an uneducated farmer like Hobart...

could know anything about this creature...

whose legend has persisted through civilization after civilization.

Babylonian, Baal, Egyptian...

Sethtyphon, Persian, Asmodeus...

Hebraich, Moloch...

Come in.

Come in.

Good evening. KT Kumar, Bombay, apologizes for being late.

That's quite all right, Kumar. We're just about to begin.

- This is Dr. Holden. - How do you do?

Dr. Holden. I'm very pleased to meet you.

Your work on hypnotism is a great favorite of mine.

Thank you. Now, we were just talking about devils and demons.

What are your views on the subject?

I believe in them. Absolutely.

Well, now that we're all here, let's get down to business.

Excuse me.

- Hello? - Holden?

This is Julian Karswell speaking.

Speak of the devil.

- Yes, Karswell? - I presume you know who I am.

Yes. What can I do for you?

Simply this. The newspapers say you're heading...

this so-called expose of my activities... is that true?

Yes, that's right.

I suggest you have some second thoughts on this.

Such as?

Such as minding your business... not mine or Rand Hobart's.

Harrington agreed to this. Out of respect for him, you might do the same.

- Can you prove that? - Had his personal assurance.

I'm afraid you can't have mine.

That's unfortunate, maybe for both of us.

O'Brien, see if you can have Hobart...

released to us for a clinical examination under test conditions.

That's exactly what I had in mind.

And forget this demon/monster theory of yours. It doesn't make sense.

Karswell's worried about what Hobart might tell us.

That makes sense.

You'll find the library straight through, sir.

I'm sorry, sir, but the last volume you asked for...

The True Discoveries of the Witches and Demons...

is not available.

What does "not available" mean?

It should be in our restricted section.

The only known existing copy...

is over 400 years old, you know.

Yes, I know.

It seems to be missing. Most peculiar.

I'm having it checked.

It was mentioned in these research notes.

Never mind. I can probably find what I want in these.

I hope so, sir. I'll do my best to trace it.

Excuse me, sir.

I couldn't help overhearing your conversation with the librarian.

You're interested in seeing The True Discoveries of Witches and Demons.

- Is that it? - Yes.

I have a copy I'll gladly put at your disposal.

Then the British Museum didn't have the only copy.

Apparently not, Dr. Holden.

I have what is perhaps the finest library in the world...