The Twilight Zone (1959) s04e04 Episode Script
He's Alive
You unlock this door with the key of imagination.
Beyond it is another dimension- a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind.
You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas.
You've just crossed over into the twilight zone.
The economy of our world, now, then, and forever, have always found the insidious breed of international bankers.
These are the worshippers of the purse.
Their religion is monetary gain.
Their shrine is gold.
Their loyalties, first, foremost, and primarily, deal with money.
What's wrong with that? Examine the phenomenon of foreign control.
You examine it, and you will note with absolute clarity that the lines lead directly to palestine! They lead directly to africa! They lead directly to the vatican! Uh, um so, so, there we are! There it is! There is a conspiracy! There's a insidious, enveloping conspiracy! A conspiracy personified by the yellow man by the black man and by foreigners who come in and infiltrate into our economic structure.
Oh, there'll come a morning, yes, there will, there will come a morning when these men have taken over your home, taken over your daughters and they'll be sitting right there on your doorstep.
If anybody's sitting on your doorstep, buddy, he's a man in a white coat.
You better just go with him, quietly.
You think that's funny, don't you? You think it's funny your country can be sold out.
That they can sell out your flag and birth rights.
That's funny, huh? Well, do something about it, punk.
You're such a big tiger, why don't you come down here and do something about it? Let me tell you something right now.
Someday this country's going to wake up.
And when they find out how izzy sold them out, and how rastus sold them out and how pancho sold them out, they're going to make up a list of all the people that get paid back.
And you know where you'll be? Right on the top of that list! Come here, i'll fix come here! What's the matter, punk? No more big speeches? No more big talk, huh? Know what you'll see when you get home and look in the mirror? A scrawny little kook with a big mouth.
A big hater when you got a couple of punks in front of you.
Problems, fellas, huh? The communists, the communists did this.
Which ones? All of 'em, all of 'em were communists.
What about some names, jack? If you press charges, we'll need names.
Forget about it.
We can handle this ourselves.
Need medical attention? We don't need any.
Okay, jack.
Hey, jack.
You forgot your, um, your flag.
There'll come a day when guys like you will crawl on your belly just to salute this.
There'll come a day.
Let me know the date, jack.
That morning, i'll cut my wrists.
Hey, pete.
Pete, i'm glad you're okay.
Boy, there must've been eight, ten guys on top of me.
I had all i could do to get away.
You get a mean crowd, pete.
Get a hot night, you get a mean crowd.
I told you guys that.
Every time you get a hot night, you get a couple of stiffs in the crowd and they swing it all the wrong way.
Remember when i was telling you that, pete? Remember how i was telling you every time you get a hot night it's all right.
It's done.
It's done.
Sure, pete, sure.
Why? I tried so hard.
I tried so hard out there tonight, i i couldn't get through.
I couldn't get through to any of them.
I knew what i had to say to them, i knew what i had to tell them, and i just cou i couldn't.
I couldn't get it out.
I couldn't find the words.
Someday, they're going to have to listen.
Someday they're going to cheer! Someday they will, pete.
They will.
Portrait of a bush-league fuhrer named peter vollmer.
A sparse little man who feeds off his self-delusions and finds himself perpetually hungry for want of greatness in his diet.
And like some goose-stepping predecessors, he searches for something to explain his hunger and rationalize why a world passes him by without saluting.
The something he looks for, and finds, is in a sewer.
In his own twisted, distorted lexicon, he calls it faith, strength, truth.
But in just a moment peter vollmer will ply his trade on another kind of corner a strange intersection in a shadowland called the twilight zone.
Wash your face.
It's not a mortal wound.
I think you'll survive.
When you get home, put some iodine on it.
Want a cup of coffee? A drink? May i have a drink, ernst? I have wine, you want some? Onesipswine, peter.
This is not medicine.
Well, i'll keep that in mind for next time.
For the next time? Just how many next times do suppose a person has in the scheme of things? Don't lecture me, ernst.
I'm sick and tired, and i don't need to be lectured.
Can i stay here tonight? It remains here for you, as usual.
You're a good friend, ernst.
You're a good friend.
A man does what he believes in.
A man usually does.
Well, i believe certain things.
Is that a fact? Yes, well, what difference does it make if we don't think alike about the same things? I mean, we're friends.
You've known me since i was a kid.
When you were a little kid, peter, and i used to find you crying at my door late at night i could pity you then.
And now? What do you think? Now you peddle hate on street corners as if it were popcorn.
It's not hate, it's, uh, a point of view, it's a philosophy.
Ah, i know the philosophy.
I know it quite well.
Nine years in a place called dachau.
You know who put me there? Peter vollmer.
A lot of peter vollmers.
Frustrated men sick men angry men.
But the result, the effect- never mind the cause- in shallow graves.
And it all started with young men in uniform talking on street corners.
You let me come here.
You let me come here; you never sent me away.
No, i never did.
I never do.
That's the weakness you scream about on your street corners.
Sentimentality, softness, the weakness that makes a man his brother's keeper.
Oh, i must be one of the worst of your criminals, peter.
Sentimental soft! And very preoccupied with my brother.
I should close the door on you.
Perhaps this is my sickness.
I i only see the boy not the man.
Sleep on the couch.
Look why don't you understand? You're like a father.
You're the only thing in the world that i've ever loved.
What have i ever had to love? What? A drunken father who used to slam me against the wall? An old lady who had no marbles in her head? She didn't even recognize me half the time.
That's why i used to come here, because because you were gentle with me, and you'd talk to me, you feed me.
You took care of me.
Ernst ernst, you're my father.
That's the boy again speaking.
A little boy with so much fear in him.
Rest.
Rest well.
Who's out there? Who is it? A friend, mr.
Vollmer.
A friend? You have need of friends, allies.
Come down, mr.
Vollmer.
Come down, and we will talk, you and i.
Hello, mr.
Vollmer.
Who are you? How did you know where i was? I simply followed your tears, mr.
Vollmer.
You said that you had something to talk about.
I do, i do indeed.
I have you to talk about, and the things you believe in, which are the things i believe in, as well.
Your success, mr.
Vollmer, will be my success.
Go on.
Good.
Let us start by your learning what are the dynamics of a crowd.
How do you move a mob, mr.
Vollmer? How do you excite them? How do you make them feel as one with you? L-i don't know.
How? Join them first, mr.
Vollmer.
Join them? Yes, when you speak to them, speak to them as if you were a member of the mob.
Speak to them in their language, on their level.
Make their hateyourhate.
If they are poor, talk to them of poverty.
If they are afraid, talk to them of their fears.
And if they are angry, mr.
Vollmer, if they are angry, give them objects for their anger.
But most of all, the thing that is most of the essence, mr.
Vollmer, is that you make this mob an extension of yourself.
Say to them things like things like "they call us hatemongers.
"They say we're prejudiced.
"They say we're biased.
"They say we hate minorities- minorities.
"Understand the term, neighbors: "Minorities.
"Should i tell you who are the minorities? "Should i tell you? "We! Wearethe minorities!" That way, mr.
Vollmer.
Start it that way.
I understand.
I think i understand.
Neighbors neighbors.
They call us hatemongers.
They say weare prejudiced.
They say weare biased! They say that we hate the minorities! The minorities.
Understand the term, neighbors.
The minorities.
Shall i tell you who the minorities are?! We, we, we! Wearethe minorities! Because patriotism is a minority.
Because love of country is the minority.
Because to live in a free, white america seems to be of a minority opinion! Let me tell you something, neighbors.
I want you to dwell on this, just dwell on it.
We had the atom bomb, and suddenly the russians had it.
We wanted to send men into space! But it was the russians who got there first! We had the hydrogen bomb! It was the russians who exploded theirs.
Who gave them the bombs? Who sold us out? Who stabbed us in the back? Well if it's a minority opinion that we have to survive, then we are the minority.
And this minority will not stop until it is the majority! This minority will not give up the fight! This is the promise and this this is the legacy! Pal, we're in there now, huh? No more street corners? Oh, boy, are we going now, huh? Congratulations.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Nice speech.
Thank you.
Look, i'm not going to wait much longer.
If i don't get paid, you don't have the hall tomorrow night.
Gibbons, will you cool it? Can't you see we're busy? I'm not waiting not another five minutes! I want it settled now.
I told you, no dough, no rental.
No dough, no hall tomorrow night.
I'm not running this place for pleasure.
What seems to be the problem? This is a very hungry man here.
He got to have his shekels, his little old money.
I told you guys you're three weeks back in the rent.
You said you'd give me it a week ago.
All i got was cigarette butts on the floor.
Am i to understand you're going to lock us out for a couple weeks' rent? You understand right.
$200 due, $200 that i ain't received.
We happen to be a young movement.
We're still struggling.
We need time to grow.
But i don't rent time- i just rent the hall.
It's the money or you build a platform in the street.
Whew.
What are we going to do, pete? We got to do something.
I don't see why we walk tiptoe with this guy.
Why don't i educate him? I can, i guarantee it.
Somebody left this for you.
Who? Nobody saw him.
It was left at the back door with your name.
Two c's! Hey, how about that, huh? We needed and there it is! Did you see who left this? No, i didn't.
The message was just for you to get it.
Gibbons, come and get it.
Where'd the dough come from, pete? You have any idea? You were great tonight, pete.
You were really something.
I can't describe how it sounded.
You had them just like that, you had them.
We're going to make it now, frank.
Now we'rereally going to make it.
You bet your life.
An excellent performance, mr.
Vollmer.
Very effective.
You learn quickly.
Thank you.
I'd like to know who i'm thanking.
It does not make very much difference.
I am just pleased i could help.
You learned the style very well.
You delivered the speech exactly as i told you.
I'm very obliged.
The money? Oh, it was the least i could do.
We could not very well have you thrown out into the streets.
I happen to feel your work is very important.
Are you one of us? One ofyou, mr.
Vollmer? You might say iamyou.
Now, i have some suggestions.
I will continue to give you advice.
But there is a matter of great importance that must be taken care of.
What is it? An expedient, mr.
Vollmer.
Oh, you might call it a, uh acause celebre.
Something to cement the organization together.
I don't understand.
A martyr.
The organization needs a martyr.
How do you find a martyr? You do not find one, mr.
Vollmer.
You choose one.
You take one of no value, and you make him into a symbol.
You wrap him in a flag, and you make his death work for you.
Find a man who is of no value while he's alive but who can serve you when he's dead.
Is there such a one? We're waiting, pete.
I'll be right there, nick.
Sure, pete.
You talking to somebody, pete? You tell frank to come in here.
Alone.
Sure thing, pete.
Right away.
Excellent, mr.
Vollmer.
An excellent choice.
I was just thinking there must be some other way.
Another way? There is no other way, mr.
Vollmer.
And if you soften up, if you weaken now, there is no point in going on.
Now when frank comes back, tell him you have discovered an informer.
Tell him the informer has done you irreparable damage.
Tell him the informer must be put out of the way.
But put out of the way cleverly, mr.
Vollmer.
Put out of the way subtly.
Put out of the way so that there is some question as to who is responsible.
Nick's, uh, been with us from the beginning.
From the beginning? Oh, no, mr.
Vollmer.
None of you were there at the beginning.
None of you.
Nick's a friend of mine.
This is an act of friendship.
We are allowing him to serve the cause.
Nick said you wanted to see me.
We've got a stoolie in the group, frank.
A stoolie? Nick.
Nick's been talking.
I think he's been hired by the police.
Nick?! Nick has done that? I know it for a fact.
Everything we've done and everything we've said nick's told.
What do we do, pete? Get rid of him.
Make it look like somebody else did it.
Make it look like somebody who hates us did it.
I understand.
I understand, pete.
You call it you've got it.
Cross off the fat one.
Anything else? Right.
We now, all of us, have a martyr.
We have a martyr! Twilight zonewill continue after station identification.
It's a good crowd.
Right up to the ceiling.
What's the matter, stanley? Nothing, pete.
Then why the look? It's nothing, it's nothing at all.
You can tell me, stanley.
What's the matter? Nick was my friend, pete.
He was a nice guy.
I miss him.
Do you want me to really tell you what nick was, stanley? Would you really like a rundown? He was a fat pig! With no guts.
He was a greasy bigmouth who copped out at every turn.
He was a nickel-and-dime judas, and he got exactly what he deserved.
So don't mourn for nick, stanley.
Because he doesn't rate mourning- not that pig.
A man of honor died last week.
A decent, courageous fighter for the cause of freedom gave his life.
He gave his life for us! Some skulking assassin murdered him! But friends, and neighbors, and co-fighters nick bloss did not die in vain.
They stilled his great heart but they could not stifle his memory.
They could not obliterate his courage.
They could not wipe away his honor.
He lives in you, and he lives in me.
He lives deep in the gut of every human being who wants to see the united states of america be free.
Nick bloss died for this.
And you and i we must live for this! and letsomebody else concern themselves with the lifeblood of a nation he's got a voice on him.
I knew it when it was just a whimper.
That's a bad kid, that one.
Used to be used to be people would laugh at him.
But lately, he gets the crowds, and not many people laugh either.
You've know him a long time, haven't you? Since he was a child.
A silent, little boy with very little to say.
(vollmer continues orating in background we're overdue to cut away the cancerous i've seen it before.
I've seen it all before.
That was another time, mr.
Ganz.
Another place, another kind of people.
That doesn't go here.
That's what we said, too, they were brown scum.
Temporary insanity, part of the passing scene too monstrous to be real.
So, we ignored them or laughed at them.
Because we couldn'tbelieve that there were enough insane people to walk alongside of them.
And then one morning, the country woke up from an uneasy sleep (vollmer continues orating in background and there was no more laughter.
The peter vollmers had taken over.
The wild animals had changed places with us in the cage.
This nation of ours is being beaten to death! Just as sure as the almighty made communists, catholics, and jews.
There's no time to stand around, scratch our heads, and pull our beards, and twiddle with our earlobes but not again.
It mustn't happen again.
We can't let it.
We simply can't let it happen again.
All, all that nightmare.
violence happens to be the only way to be violent oh, no no, not this time.
we do not want to be pushed.
Now, i want to ask you a few questions.
You just answer yes or no to the following.
Do you want the united states of america to remain free? Yes! Do you want your homes infected with the vermin from foreign shores? No! Now, listen to this one.
Do you want a bunch of mongrels to come over here go on, mr.
Vollmer.
You were saying? I can tell them what you were saying.
I've heard it before.
I've heard it a thousand times before in munich, in berlin on a hundred different street corners.
It was drivel then, and it is drivel now.
You've got to stop, ernst.
Well, what is this one here? The new model? A 1963 fuhrer right off the assembly line? Well, this one is not so new.
He's not so fresh.
This one is nothing but a cheap copy! Peter, we've got to do something.
We're losing the audience.
Let me get rid of him.
Just leave me alone.
Well, let me tell you about this one.
About the breed, the species.
They're all alike, they are all alike.
Problem children sick, sad, neurotics, who take applause like a needle.
That's enough, ernst.
Please please? Listen to me, peter, and let them listen.
Or else i'll tell them about a quaking, whimpering boy who cried on my couch; who still cries on my couch.
Please don't, please, ernst.
Pete, don't let him do this.
Put him down.
Yeah, put me down, put me down.
Shut me up.
Stifle me- why don't you? Why can't you? Because this is your courage right here.
This is your strength.
This and the torchlights, and the crowd, and thesieg heil! The rebuttal.
The only sort of answer your kind knows how to give.
This is your fuhrer.
He's yours.
I give him to you.
A gift from the sewers.
Mr.
Vollmer.
You see the way it is? I knew him.
I knew the old man.
Is that a fact, mr.
Vollmer? For such a long time.
I've known him for so long.
He cheapened you, mr.
Vollmer.
He tore you to pieces! Your voice is that of a lion, your instincts are those of a rabbit.
And you- what are you?! You direct traffic from the darkness! You plan the battles, and you're never there when they're fought! Why don't you come out in the light? Why don't you come up here alongside of me? Why don't you give me a name and a face and a reason why? Mr.
Vollmer.
I was making speeches before you could read them.
I was fighting battles when your only struggle was to climb out of a womb.
I was taking over the world when your universe was a crib! And as for being in darkness, mr.
Vollmer, i invented darkness! You you picked me.
You picked me.
I did not pick you, mr.
Vollmer.
You picked me.
You chose my ideas, you invoked my name, you stole my slogans.
So now, you must take whatever else comes with it.
In the past, i have given you suggestions.
Now i give orders! And from now on, you must be built of steel.
Steel, mr.
Vollmer.
No soft gaps of sentiment.
Like we handled nick.
Like we handled the mobs.
Like we made the speeches.
And bit by bit, gradually, we shall forge a force- first an idea, then a force.
Just as i did it before, mr.
Vollmer, with my own hands! The old man, the jew, he'll be back again, tomorrow night, the next night.
I know him, i know the type.
We sent them into the ovens, but always, there was a handful left to point a finger.
His kind, mr.
Vollmer, his kind are dangerous.
They talk, they think, they plant a seed.
They hold us back! Kill him! Kill the old man! Kill him? Kill ernst? Yes, tonight.
Now.
He'll be in his room.
All right, i'll do it.
I'll do it right now.
And mr.
Vollmer when you come back, we will have much to talk about.
Plans, campaigns, ideas- the first steps.
This is only the beginning, mr.
Vollmer.
This is just the dawn.
It will be a long, long day! You wouldn't listen to me, ernst.
You wouldn't pay attention.
On the contrary.
I listened to you all i could stand.
I couldn't even begin to tell you what's happened, ernst.
It's too incredible, too unbelievable.
There's no stopping us now.
No stopping you, peter.
An old man stopped you tonight, with a few words.
He stopped you with the truth.
No, you're wrong, ernst.
It's not just me anymore.
There's someone else behind us.
Someone that you'd tremble at.
He'd have to be a very imposing figure, peter.
More imposing than you.
More imposing than that, too, peter.
Only because you don't think i'll use it.
Which shows you don't know me very well, ernst.
I know you, peter.
I know you.
From a ravaged little boy wanting love to a torn man craving respect, identity, pride.
Peter i don't fear you, so you may do what you have in mind at any time you wish.
But this last one reminder to you.
You can never kill an idea with a bullet, peter.
Never.
I'm all steel now.
Ernst, i'm made of steel.
No sentiment, no softness.
Just purpose and will.
Then shoot.
Kill.
Destroy me.
All steel all strength.
But at the expense of the thing most other men have.
Some fragments of decency to tell them right from wrong make them feel guilt at dishonor that make them that make them love.
Yes, peter you have steel but you have no heart.
Mr.
Vollmer! Sentimentality? None.
Steel tonight? Steel.
And no regrets? None.
What did you destroy tonight? Only a disease.
A growth that was on our flesh that had to be removed.
Not a man? No, hardly a man.
How did it feel? It felt it felt like i was immortal.
Mr.
Vollmer! Weareimmortal! You peter vollmer? We have a warrant for your arrest.
Charge is complicity in murder.
Victim's name was nicholas bloss.
That should be familiar to you.
Throw that gun away.
Walk toward us with your hands up.
There's something very wrong here.
You've made a terrible mistake.
I'm made out of steel.
Don't you understand that i'm made out of steel? Where will he go next, this phantom from another time, this resurrected ghost of a previous nightmare- chicago, los angeles, miami, florida, vincennes, indiana, syracuse, new york? Anyplace, everyplace, where there's hate, where there's prejudice, where there's bigotry.
He's alive.
He's alive so long as these evils exist.
Remember that when he comes to your town.
Remember it when you hear his voice speaking out through others.
Remember it when you hear a name called, a minority attacked, any blind, unreasoning assault on a people or any human being.
He's alive because through these things, we keep him alive.
The talented author richard matheson pays a return visit totwilight zone with a story called "mute.
" It provides an exception challenge to the acting talents of barbara baxley, frank overton and an unusual 12-year-old by the name of ann jillian.
Is she burned? She's alive.
Are you all right? She's in shock, harry.
Bad off.
Can't talk, can't cry, can't do nothing.
She's not burned, though.
How could she get out of that house without being burned? Don't push, children.
Be careful.
I want you to know you're not fooling me for one moment.
I know exactly what you are.
I know because my father tried to force me into the same thing when i was your age.
Beyond it is another dimension- a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind.
You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas.
You've just crossed over into the twilight zone.
The economy of our world, now, then, and forever, have always found the insidious breed of international bankers.
These are the worshippers of the purse.
Their religion is monetary gain.
Their shrine is gold.
Their loyalties, first, foremost, and primarily, deal with money.
What's wrong with that? Examine the phenomenon of foreign control.
You examine it, and you will note with absolute clarity that the lines lead directly to palestine! They lead directly to africa! They lead directly to the vatican! Uh, um so, so, there we are! There it is! There is a conspiracy! There's a insidious, enveloping conspiracy! A conspiracy personified by the yellow man by the black man and by foreigners who come in and infiltrate into our economic structure.
Oh, there'll come a morning, yes, there will, there will come a morning when these men have taken over your home, taken over your daughters and they'll be sitting right there on your doorstep.
If anybody's sitting on your doorstep, buddy, he's a man in a white coat.
You better just go with him, quietly.
You think that's funny, don't you? You think it's funny your country can be sold out.
That they can sell out your flag and birth rights.
That's funny, huh? Well, do something about it, punk.
You're such a big tiger, why don't you come down here and do something about it? Let me tell you something right now.
Someday this country's going to wake up.
And when they find out how izzy sold them out, and how rastus sold them out and how pancho sold them out, they're going to make up a list of all the people that get paid back.
And you know where you'll be? Right on the top of that list! Come here, i'll fix come here! What's the matter, punk? No more big speeches? No more big talk, huh? Know what you'll see when you get home and look in the mirror? A scrawny little kook with a big mouth.
A big hater when you got a couple of punks in front of you.
Problems, fellas, huh? The communists, the communists did this.
Which ones? All of 'em, all of 'em were communists.
What about some names, jack? If you press charges, we'll need names.
Forget about it.
We can handle this ourselves.
Need medical attention? We don't need any.
Okay, jack.
Hey, jack.
You forgot your, um, your flag.
There'll come a day when guys like you will crawl on your belly just to salute this.
There'll come a day.
Let me know the date, jack.
That morning, i'll cut my wrists.
Hey, pete.
Pete, i'm glad you're okay.
Boy, there must've been eight, ten guys on top of me.
I had all i could do to get away.
You get a mean crowd, pete.
Get a hot night, you get a mean crowd.
I told you guys that.
Every time you get a hot night, you get a couple of stiffs in the crowd and they swing it all the wrong way.
Remember when i was telling you that, pete? Remember how i was telling you every time you get a hot night it's all right.
It's done.
It's done.
Sure, pete, sure.
Why? I tried so hard.
I tried so hard out there tonight, i i couldn't get through.
I couldn't get through to any of them.
I knew what i had to say to them, i knew what i had to tell them, and i just cou i couldn't.
I couldn't get it out.
I couldn't find the words.
Someday, they're going to have to listen.
Someday they're going to cheer! Someday they will, pete.
They will.
Portrait of a bush-league fuhrer named peter vollmer.
A sparse little man who feeds off his self-delusions and finds himself perpetually hungry for want of greatness in his diet.
And like some goose-stepping predecessors, he searches for something to explain his hunger and rationalize why a world passes him by without saluting.
The something he looks for, and finds, is in a sewer.
In his own twisted, distorted lexicon, he calls it faith, strength, truth.
But in just a moment peter vollmer will ply his trade on another kind of corner a strange intersection in a shadowland called the twilight zone.
Wash your face.
It's not a mortal wound.
I think you'll survive.
When you get home, put some iodine on it.
Want a cup of coffee? A drink? May i have a drink, ernst? I have wine, you want some? Onesipswine, peter.
This is not medicine.
Well, i'll keep that in mind for next time.
For the next time? Just how many next times do suppose a person has in the scheme of things? Don't lecture me, ernst.
I'm sick and tired, and i don't need to be lectured.
Can i stay here tonight? It remains here for you, as usual.
You're a good friend, ernst.
You're a good friend.
A man does what he believes in.
A man usually does.
Well, i believe certain things.
Is that a fact? Yes, well, what difference does it make if we don't think alike about the same things? I mean, we're friends.
You've known me since i was a kid.
When you were a little kid, peter, and i used to find you crying at my door late at night i could pity you then.
And now? What do you think? Now you peddle hate on street corners as if it were popcorn.
It's not hate, it's, uh, a point of view, it's a philosophy.
Ah, i know the philosophy.
I know it quite well.
Nine years in a place called dachau.
You know who put me there? Peter vollmer.
A lot of peter vollmers.
Frustrated men sick men angry men.
But the result, the effect- never mind the cause- in shallow graves.
And it all started with young men in uniform talking on street corners.
You let me come here.
You let me come here; you never sent me away.
No, i never did.
I never do.
That's the weakness you scream about on your street corners.
Sentimentality, softness, the weakness that makes a man his brother's keeper.
Oh, i must be one of the worst of your criminals, peter.
Sentimental soft! And very preoccupied with my brother.
I should close the door on you.
Perhaps this is my sickness.
I i only see the boy not the man.
Sleep on the couch.
Look why don't you understand? You're like a father.
You're the only thing in the world that i've ever loved.
What have i ever had to love? What? A drunken father who used to slam me against the wall? An old lady who had no marbles in her head? She didn't even recognize me half the time.
That's why i used to come here, because because you were gentle with me, and you'd talk to me, you feed me.
You took care of me.
Ernst ernst, you're my father.
That's the boy again speaking.
A little boy with so much fear in him.
Rest.
Rest well.
Who's out there? Who is it? A friend, mr.
Vollmer.
A friend? You have need of friends, allies.
Come down, mr.
Vollmer.
Come down, and we will talk, you and i.
Hello, mr.
Vollmer.
Who are you? How did you know where i was? I simply followed your tears, mr.
Vollmer.
You said that you had something to talk about.
I do, i do indeed.
I have you to talk about, and the things you believe in, which are the things i believe in, as well.
Your success, mr.
Vollmer, will be my success.
Go on.
Good.
Let us start by your learning what are the dynamics of a crowd.
How do you move a mob, mr.
Vollmer? How do you excite them? How do you make them feel as one with you? L-i don't know.
How? Join them first, mr.
Vollmer.
Join them? Yes, when you speak to them, speak to them as if you were a member of the mob.
Speak to them in their language, on their level.
Make their hateyourhate.
If they are poor, talk to them of poverty.
If they are afraid, talk to them of their fears.
And if they are angry, mr.
Vollmer, if they are angry, give them objects for their anger.
But most of all, the thing that is most of the essence, mr.
Vollmer, is that you make this mob an extension of yourself.
Say to them things like things like "they call us hatemongers.
"They say we're prejudiced.
"They say we're biased.
"They say we hate minorities- minorities.
"Understand the term, neighbors: "Minorities.
"Should i tell you who are the minorities? "Should i tell you? "We! Wearethe minorities!" That way, mr.
Vollmer.
Start it that way.
I understand.
I think i understand.
Neighbors neighbors.
They call us hatemongers.
They say weare prejudiced.
They say weare biased! They say that we hate the minorities! The minorities.
Understand the term, neighbors.
The minorities.
Shall i tell you who the minorities are?! We, we, we! Wearethe minorities! Because patriotism is a minority.
Because love of country is the minority.
Because to live in a free, white america seems to be of a minority opinion! Let me tell you something, neighbors.
I want you to dwell on this, just dwell on it.
We had the atom bomb, and suddenly the russians had it.
We wanted to send men into space! But it was the russians who got there first! We had the hydrogen bomb! It was the russians who exploded theirs.
Who gave them the bombs? Who sold us out? Who stabbed us in the back? Well if it's a minority opinion that we have to survive, then we are the minority.
And this minority will not stop until it is the majority! This minority will not give up the fight! This is the promise and this this is the legacy! Pal, we're in there now, huh? No more street corners? Oh, boy, are we going now, huh? Congratulations.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Nice speech.
Thank you.
Look, i'm not going to wait much longer.
If i don't get paid, you don't have the hall tomorrow night.
Gibbons, will you cool it? Can't you see we're busy? I'm not waiting not another five minutes! I want it settled now.
I told you, no dough, no rental.
No dough, no hall tomorrow night.
I'm not running this place for pleasure.
What seems to be the problem? This is a very hungry man here.
He got to have his shekels, his little old money.
I told you guys you're three weeks back in the rent.
You said you'd give me it a week ago.
All i got was cigarette butts on the floor.
Am i to understand you're going to lock us out for a couple weeks' rent? You understand right.
$200 due, $200 that i ain't received.
We happen to be a young movement.
We're still struggling.
We need time to grow.
But i don't rent time- i just rent the hall.
It's the money or you build a platform in the street.
Whew.
What are we going to do, pete? We got to do something.
I don't see why we walk tiptoe with this guy.
Why don't i educate him? I can, i guarantee it.
Somebody left this for you.
Who? Nobody saw him.
It was left at the back door with your name.
Two c's! Hey, how about that, huh? We needed and there it is! Did you see who left this? No, i didn't.
The message was just for you to get it.
Gibbons, come and get it.
Where'd the dough come from, pete? You have any idea? You were great tonight, pete.
You were really something.
I can't describe how it sounded.
You had them just like that, you had them.
We're going to make it now, frank.
Now we'rereally going to make it.
You bet your life.
An excellent performance, mr.
Vollmer.
Very effective.
You learn quickly.
Thank you.
I'd like to know who i'm thanking.
It does not make very much difference.
I am just pleased i could help.
You learned the style very well.
You delivered the speech exactly as i told you.
I'm very obliged.
The money? Oh, it was the least i could do.
We could not very well have you thrown out into the streets.
I happen to feel your work is very important.
Are you one of us? One ofyou, mr.
Vollmer? You might say iamyou.
Now, i have some suggestions.
I will continue to give you advice.
But there is a matter of great importance that must be taken care of.
What is it? An expedient, mr.
Vollmer.
Oh, you might call it a, uh acause celebre.
Something to cement the organization together.
I don't understand.
A martyr.
The organization needs a martyr.
How do you find a martyr? You do not find one, mr.
Vollmer.
You choose one.
You take one of no value, and you make him into a symbol.
You wrap him in a flag, and you make his death work for you.
Find a man who is of no value while he's alive but who can serve you when he's dead.
Is there such a one? We're waiting, pete.
I'll be right there, nick.
Sure, pete.
You talking to somebody, pete? You tell frank to come in here.
Alone.
Sure thing, pete.
Right away.
Excellent, mr.
Vollmer.
An excellent choice.
I was just thinking there must be some other way.
Another way? There is no other way, mr.
Vollmer.
And if you soften up, if you weaken now, there is no point in going on.
Now when frank comes back, tell him you have discovered an informer.
Tell him the informer has done you irreparable damage.
Tell him the informer must be put out of the way.
But put out of the way cleverly, mr.
Vollmer.
Put out of the way subtly.
Put out of the way so that there is some question as to who is responsible.
Nick's, uh, been with us from the beginning.
From the beginning? Oh, no, mr.
Vollmer.
None of you were there at the beginning.
None of you.
Nick's a friend of mine.
This is an act of friendship.
We are allowing him to serve the cause.
Nick said you wanted to see me.
We've got a stoolie in the group, frank.
A stoolie? Nick.
Nick's been talking.
I think he's been hired by the police.
Nick?! Nick has done that? I know it for a fact.
Everything we've done and everything we've said nick's told.
What do we do, pete? Get rid of him.
Make it look like somebody else did it.
Make it look like somebody who hates us did it.
I understand.
I understand, pete.
You call it you've got it.
Cross off the fat one.
Anything else? Right.
We now, all of us, have a martyr.
We have a martyr! Twilight zonewill continue after station identification.
It's a good crowd.
Right up to the ceiling.
What's the matter, stanley? Nothing, pete.
Then why the look? It's nothing, it's nothing at all.
You can tell me, stanley.
What's the matter? Nick was my friend, pete.
He was a nice guy.
I miss him.
Do you want me to really tell you what nick was, stanley? Would you really like a rundown? He was a fat pig! With no guts.
He was a greasy bigmouth who copped out at every turn.
He was a nickel-and-dime judas, and he got exactly what he deserved.
So don't mourn for nick, stanley.
Because he doesn't rate mourning- not that pig.
A man of honor died last week.
A decent, courageous fighter for the cause of freedom gave his life.
He gave his life for us! Some skulking assassin murdered him! But friends, and neighbors, and co-fighters nick bloss did not die in vain.
They stilled his great heart but they could not stifle his memory.
They could not obliterate his courage.
They could not wipe away his honor.
He lives in you, and he lives in me.
He lives deep in the gut of every human being who wants to see the united states of america be free.
Nick bloss died for this.
And you and i we must live for this! and letsomebody else concern themselves with the lifeblood of a nation he's got a voice on him.
I knew it when it was just a whimper.
That's a bad kid, that one.
Used to be used to be people would laugh at him.
But lately, he gets the crowds, and not many people laugh either.
You've know him a long time, haven't you? Since he was a child.
A silent, little boy with very little to say.
(vollmer continues orating in background we're overdue to cut away the cancerous i've seen it before.
I've seen it all before.
That was another time, mr.
Ganz.
Another place, another kind of people.
That doesn't go here.
That's what we said, too, they were brown scum.
Temporary insanity, part of the passing scene too monstrous to be real.
So, we ignored them or laughed at them.
Because we couldn'tbelieve that there were enough insane people to walk alongside of them.
And then one morning, the country woke up from an uneasy sleep (vollmer continues orating in background and there was no more laughter.
The peter vollmers had taken over.
The wild animals had changed places with us in the cage.
This nation of ours is being beaten to death! Just as sure as the almighty made communists, catholics, and jews.
There's no time to stand around, scratch our heads, and pull our beards, and twiddle with our earlobes but not again.
It mustn't happen again.
We can't let it.
We simply can't let it happen again.
All, all that nightmare.
violence happens to be the only way to be violent oh, no no, not this time.
we do not want to be pushed.
Now, i want to ask you a few questions.
You just answer yes or no to the following.
Do you want the united states of america to remain free? Yes! Do you want your homes infected with the vermin from foreign shores? No! Now, listen to this one.
Do you want a bunch of mongrels to come over here go on, mr.
Vollmer.
You were saying? I can tell them what you were saying.
I've heard it before.
I've heard it a thousand times before in munich, in berlin on a hundred different street corners.
It was drivel then, and it is drivel now.
You've got to stop, ernst.
Well, what is this one here? The new model? A 1963 fuhrer right off the assembly line? Well, this one is not so new.
He's not so fresh.
This one is nothing but a cheap copy! Peter, we've got to do something.
We're losing the audience.
Let me get rid of him.
Just leave me alone.
Well, let me tell you about this one.
About the breed, the species.
They're all alike, they are all alike.
Problem children sick, sad, neurotics, who take applause like a needle.
That's enough, ernst.
Please please? Listen to me, peter, and let them listen.
Or else i'll tell them about a quaking, whimpering boy who cried on my couch; who still cries on my couch.
Please don't, please, ernst.
Pete, don't let him do this.
Put him down.
Yeah, put me down, put me down.
Shut me up.
Stifle me- why don't you? Why can't you? Because this is your courage right here.
This is your strength.
This and the torchlights, and the crowd, and thesieg heil! The rebuttal.
The only sort of answer your kind knows how to give.
This is your fuhrer.
He's yours.
I give him to you.
A gift from the sewers.
Mr.
Vollmer.
You see the way it is? I knew him.
I knew the old man.
Is that a fact, mr.
Vollmer? For such a long time.
I've known him for so long.
He cheapened you, mr.
Vollmer.
He tore you to pieces! Your voice is that of a lion, your instincts are those of a rabbit.
And you- what are you?! You direct traffic from the darkness! You plan the battles, and you're never there when they're fought! Why don't you come out in the light? Why don't you come up here alongside of me? Why don't you give me a name and a face and a reason why? Mr.
Vollmer.
I was making speeches before you could read them.
I was fighting battles when your only struggle was to climb out of a womb.
I was taking over the world when your universe was a crib! And as for being in darkness, mr.
Vollmer, i invented darkness! You you picked me.
You picked me.
I did not pick you, mr.
Vollmer.
You picked me.
You chose my ideas, you invoked my name, you stole my slogans.
So now, you must take whatever else comes with it.
In the past, i have given you suggestions.
Now i give orders! And from now on, you must be built of steel.
Steel, mr.
Vollmer.
No soft gaps of sentiment.
Like we handled nick.
Like we handled the mobs.
Like we made the speeches.
And bit by bit, gradually, we shall forge a force- first an idea, then a force.
Just as i did it before, mr.
Vollmer, with my own hands! The old man, the jew, he'll be back again, tomorrow night, the next night.
I know him, i know the type.
We sent them into the ovens, but always, there was a handful left to point a finger.
His kind, mr.
Vollmer, his kind are dangerous.
They talk, they think, they plant a seed.
They hold us back! Kill him! Kill the old man! Kill him? Kill ernst? Yes, tonight.
Now.
He'll be in his room.
All right, i'll do it.
I'll do it right now.
And mr.
Vollmer when you come back, we will have much to talk about.
Plans, campaigns, ideas- the first steps.
This is only the beginning, mr.
Vollmer.
This is just the dawn.
It will be a long, long day! You wouldn't listen to me, ernst.
You wouldn't pay attention.
On the contrary.
I listened to you all i could stand.
I couldn't even begin to tell you what's happened, ernst.
It's too incredible, too unbelievable.
There's no stopping us now.
No stopping you, peter.
An old man stopped you tonight, with a few words.
He stopped you with the truth.
No, you're wrong, ernst.
It's not just me anymore.
There's someone else behind us.
Someone that you'd tremble at.
He'd have to be a very imposing figure, peter.
More imposing than you.
More imposing than that, too, peter.
Only because you don't think i'll use it.
Which shows you don't know me very well, ernst.
I know you, peter.
I know you.
From a ravaged little boy wanting love to a torn man craving respect, identity, pride.
Peter i don't fear you, so you may do what you have in mind at any time you wish.
But this last one reminder to you.
You can never kill an idea with a bullet, peter.
Never.
I'm all steel now.
Ernst, i'm made of steel.
No sentiment, no softness.
Just purpose and will.
Then shoot.
Kill.
Destroy me.
All steel all strength.
But at the expense of the thing most other men have.
Some fragments of decency to tell them right from wrong make them feel guilt at dishonor that make them that make them love.
Yes, peter you have steel but you have no heart.
Mr.
Vollmer! Sentimentality? None.
Steel tonight? Steel.
And no regrets? None.
What did you destroy tonight? Only a disease.
A growth that was on our flesh that had to be removed.
Not a man? No, hardly a man.
How did it feel? It felt it felt like i was immortal.
Mr.
Vollmer! Weareimmortal! You peter vollmer? We have a warrant for your arrest.
Charge is complicity in murder.
Victim's name was nicholas bloss.
That should be familiar to you.
Throw that gun away.
Walk toward us with your hands up.
There's something very wrong here.
You've made a terrible mistake.
I'm made out of steel.
Don't you understand that i'm made out of steel? Where will he go next, this phantom from another time, this resurrected ghost of a previous nightmare- chicago, los angeles, miami, florida, vincennes, indiana, syracuse, new york? Anyplace, everyplace, where there's hate, where there's prejudice, where there's bigotry.
He's alive.
He's alive so long as these evils exist.
Remember that when he comes to your town.
Remember it when you hear his voice speaking out through others.
Remember it when you hear a name called, a minority attacked, any blind, unreasoning assault on a people or any human being.
He's alive because through these things, we keep him alive.
The talented author richard matheson pays a return visit totwilight zone with a story called "mute.
" It provides an exception challenge to the acting talents of barbara baxley, frank overton and an unusual 12-year-old by the name of ann jillian.
Is she burned? She's alive.
Are you all right? She's in shock, harry.
Bad off.
Can't talk, can't cry, can't do nothing.
She's not burned, though.
How could she get out of that house without being burned? Don't push, children.
Be careful.
I want you to know you're not fooling me for one moment.
I know exactly what you are.
I know because my father tried to force me into the same thing when i was your age.