The Raven

You've got to do something.

You've got to save my daughter's life.

But, my dear sir, we...

You see, Judge Thatcher.

Jerry, if you love Jean, do something.

The root nerves at the base of the brain,

something has impinged on them.

It's impossible knowing. Stop telling me that!

Jerry.

Vollin.

Dr. Vollin.

Can we get Dr. Vollin?

- Dr. Vollin? - Dr. Vollin?

Get Dr. Vollin here.

Suddenly there came a tapping,

as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

Open then I flung the shutter,

when, with many a flirt and flutter,

in there stepped a stately raven.

The raven is my talisman.

Curious talisman.

Bird of the ill omen.

A symbol of death.

Death is my talisman, Mr. Chapman.

The one indestructible force.

The one certain thing in an uncertain universe.

Death.

Dr. Vollin, the museum that I represent

will pay you a very handsome price for your Poe collection.

Yes, yes, I know, but will you tell Dr. Vollin

this is a matter of life and death?

Oh, if you'll hold the line just a moment, sir.

What is it?

Excuse me, Dr. Vollin, Dr. Halden is on the phone, sir.

I've told him you didn't wish to be disturbed, sir,

but he says it's very urgent.

Yes, Dr. Halden?

But.

You know that I've retired from actual practice

and I'm doing only research.

Who is on the case?

Well, I'm satisfied.

They can handle it as well as I.

- But Dr. Vollin, I. - Let me, Jerry.

Dr. Vollin, this is Judge Thatcher speaking.

It's my daughter.

She's, she's met with a serious accident,

and none of the doctors in attendance can.

That's very flattering, but no.

No, Judge Thatcher.

I'm sure they can handle it as well as I.

I'm sorry.

He's hung up.

What's his home address?

- Hillview Heights. - Why?

I'm going there.

Mr. Chapman, I don't like to ask you to go, but I'm tired.

When you come again sometime,

I will show you those models I built.

They are down in my cellar.

I should like to see them.

Next time.

Yes, I've actually built, you know,

several of those torture and horror devices

that Poe described in his tales.

The Pit and the Pendulum.

That's the thriller, isn't it?

Well, I certainly look forward to seeing them.

Imagine building those things.

A very curious hobby.

It's more than a hobby.

Good night, Mr. Chapman.

Good night, Doctor.

But you can't say no.

I have said it.

I'll pay you any amount of money, Dr. Vollin.

Money means nothing to me.

But someone is dying.

Your, your obligation as a member of the medical profession.

I respect no such obligation.

I'm a law unto myself.

But have you no human feeling?

My daughter is dying.

Death hasn't the same significance for me

as it has for you.

But you're the one chance she's got.

Doctors Cook and Hemingway are competent doctors.

Competent.

It seems that competence is not enough.

Cook and Hemingway and Halden,

they say that you're the only one.

So they do say I'm the only one.

Yes, I, I beg you for my daughter's life.

Very well, I will go.

Start the anesthetic.

You're not only a great surgeon,

but a great musician, too.

Extraordinary man.

You're almost not a man.

Almost.

A god?

Yes.

A god with the taint of human emotions.

The scar is almost gone.

I'm so glad.

When I touch it, does it still hurt?

No.

A month ago, I didn't know you.

But now, I owe my life to you.

I wish there were something I could do.

There is.

Tell me.

The restraint that we impose upon ourselves

can drive us mad.

I don't know what you mean.

Jerry, Jerry Halden tells me you've made him your assistant.

It means we can be married that much sooner.

Now, I owe you another debt.

You owe me nothing.

I did it to give him something,

to take the place of what he's losing.

They're expecting me to dinner.

I, I think I'd better run along.

You're coming to see me dance tomorrow night?

Nothing can keep me away.

Thanks to you, I'm able to dance again.

I'm going to have a surprise for you.

Surprise?

Tomorrow night.

Goodbye.

Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered,

weak and weary,

over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore

while I nodded, nearly napping,

suddenly there came a tapping,

as of some one gently rapping,

rapping at my chamber door.

"Tis some visitor," I muttered,

"tapping at my chamber door."

"Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember,

it was in the bleak December

and each separate dying ember

wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow,

vainly I had tried to borrow from my books

surcease of sorrow,

sorrow for the lost Lenore.

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.

Did they really like me?

No, not much, they only called you back 12 times.

Oh, darling, isn't it wonderful?

I can dance again.

All our children will be dancers,

I can see them, The 14 Dancing Haldens.

That's what you think.

Here, dear, take my slippers off for me.

Of course.

Never so swell in my life.

Oh, Jean, you were darling.

We mean it, you were most charming.

Not only charming but dramatic as well.

Thank you so much.

That was marvelous, dear.

Dad.

What do you call that dance?

You've never done that before, have you?

I call it The Spirit of Poe.

So that was your surprise.

Was it a great surprise?

Whom the angels call Lenore.

I told you never to come into this room

unless I send for you.

I'm sorry, sir.

Judge Thatcher is here.

Judge Thatcher here.

Yes, sir.

- All right, send him in. - Very good, sir.

Good afternoon, Dr. Vollin.

Good afternoon.

Will you step in? Thank you.

You were expecting my daughter.

You see, last night, while Jean was dancing,

I, I observed something that, that worried me.

Later on, in Jean's dressing room,

I, I felt the same thing.

Then I, I questioned Jean, and she made a confession.

She's in danger of becoming infatuated with you.

Of course, I can understand that.

You, you saved her life, Dr. Vollin.

You think it's only gratitude she feels?

Oh, don't say it that way, Dr. Vollin.

Don't cheat us of the right to be grateful to you.

Come to the point, Thatcher.

Well, I made it about as plain as I can without, er.

Look here, you, you know that Jean's engaged

to young Jerry Halden.

Now we can't let her get any ideas about you, can we?

You are saying, Judge Thatcher,

that Jean has fallen in love with me.