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(triumphant orchestral music)

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(dramatic orchestral music)

(tires squealing)

(crashes)

(electricity crackling)

- Here's another flash on that highway bus accident.

Dan McCormick, the lone survivor,

has been taken to the receiving hospital for observation.

Attending physicians are astounded at his condition

because he shows no effects of the electrocution

that killed the driver of the bus

and all of his fellow passengers.

- And the man is conscious? - Yes.

It's the most amazing thing I've ever heard of, Doctor.

After a good night's rest,

he'll be able to leave the hospital.

- Come on, come on.

Give me those pants.

I wanna get outta here. (laughs)

- Here, here.

What's going on?

- [Nurse] I can't make him stay in bed, Doctor.

- I guess I ain't as tough as I thought I was.

- Tough?

You're lucky to be alive after a shock like that.

Now get back into bed and take it easy.

- Okay, okay.

You're the doctor.

- This is Dr. Lawrence.

Doctor, Don McCormick.

- How do you do?

- Dr. Lawrence wants to ask you a few questions.

- Sure, glad to have somebody to talk to.

You know, for a minute I thought

you was one of those reporters.

- No, but there are several of them downstairs.

You won't like for publicity.

- Oh, say, that's great.

I can use a couple good write ups in my business.

- What is your business, Dan?

- Oh, didn't you know?

I run a high pitch down on the midway.

It's an act.

I'm Dynamo Dan, The Electrical Man.

Fool around with storage batteries

and stick my fingers into light sockets,

and make sparks jump between my hands.

You know, yokel shockers.

- Yokel shockers? - Sure.

Stuff to fool the peasants.

It's all for effect.

Most of it's phony. - Yes, I see.

- Hey doc, get a load of this.

Supper in bed and I ain't even sick.

(all chuckle)

- Yes, we're gonna make sure

they take good care of you.

Well, I must run along now.

Here's my card.

When you get out of here, just drop in

and see me sometime. - Sure, sure, doc.

- Good bye. - So long, doc.

Nice guy, the doc.

- Dr. Lawrence is one of America's foremost scientists.

- No kiddin'.

Dr. John Lawrence, 515 Forrest Drive, The Moors.

(crickets chirping)

- [Dr. Lawrence] Thank you, Henry.

That's all tonight. - Thank you, sir.

- Good evening, Dr. Lawrence. - Wong.

- Hello, Uncle John. - Hello, dear.

- Oh, look at you.

- What's the matter, no date tonight?

- Yes, and a very nice one,

and I waited to tell you about your tickets.

- Tickets?

Tickets, what tickets? - For the convention.

- Oh, yes, yes.

When do I leave?

- First thing Wednesday morning.

- [Dr. Lawrence] Well, that gives me a couple of days.

- I've listed the references that you wanted.

- Oh, can't we get out of that?

I detest speeches.

It's probably because I've had

to listen to so many in my time.

- Well, here's your chance to get even.

Not that yours will be boring.

- (chuckles) I wish I could be sure of that,

but electrobiology sounds terrifying.

- Except to electrobiologists,

and that's who you'll be talking to.

- Mm, well, good night.

We'll hope for the best.

- See you in the morning.

Oh, and don't forget your medicine.

I left it on your desk.

- I said good night. - Good night.

(dog yawns)

(pleasant orchestral music)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(electricity crackling)

(tense orchestral music)

- Paul, why don't you give this up?

- It will work, I know it.

- With all the constructive things to be done,

why do you concentrate on destruction?

- You call my work destructive?

- Must we go over that all again?

This theory of yours isn't science,

it's black magic!

- I believe that electricity is life,

that men can be motivated and controlled

by electrical impulse supplied

by the radioactivities of the electron,

that eventually a race of superior men

could be developed, men whose only wants are electricity.

- But man, you're challenging the forces of creation!

- The forces of creation.

Bah!

You know as well as I do that half the people

in the world are doomed to a life of mediocrity,

born to be nonentities,

millstones around the neck of progress.

Men who have to be feared, watched, looked over,

and taken care of by superior intelligence.

My theory is to make these people of more use to the world.

By successive treatments, their bodies

could be so electrolyzed

that they are no longer subject

to the pains and frailties of ordinary mankind.

- Sometimes I think you're mad.

- I am!

So was Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Pasteur,

Lister, and all the others who dared to dream!

50 years ago, a man was mad to think of anesthesia.

40 years ago, the idea of operating

on the brain was madness.

Today, we hold a human heart in our hands

and watch it beat.

Who can tell what tomorrow's madness may be?

- No one, Paul, least of all I,

since I too believe that we've only scratched

the surface of electrobiology.

But science through the ages

has been used for the betterment of mankind

to give some faint ray of hope

to these nonentities, as you call them.

- But-- - Now, now, now.

Together we've been very successful.

Let's drop it for tonight.

You hurry and clean up.

There's some cheese and beer in the kitchen.

I'll make a Welsh rabbit and we'll celebrate.

What do you say?

- All right, John. - Good.

- I won't be a moment.

(triumphant orchestral music)

- Do you like it? - It's terrible!

Say, who are you?

- Mark Adams. - Oh!

So you're Mark Adams, the big newspaper man.

(Mark chuckles)

Well, I have something to say to you.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself!

Five people killed and the best thing

you can do is write bad jokes.

Under his own power.

- Oh, well look, lady five people were killed

and we treated it with the proper respect,

but that was yesterday.

Now the Globe Dispatch has a circulation of 300,000,

say a million readers, and they don't want

to read anymore about the five that died.

They want to read about the one that lived, Dan McCormick.

Where is he?

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Oh, come, come!

- By the way, what makes you think he's here?

- Well, I bought the fourth floor nurse a dollar dinner

and found the taxi cab that brought him here.

Now come on, get with the news item.

What's Dr. Lawrence's angle?

- I still don't know what you're talking about.

- Okay, I'll wait.

- You're wasting your time.

There's nobody here.

(dog barking)

(Dan laughing)

- Nobody but us dogs.

(men laughing)

- You must be all right.

He doesn't usually make friends very easily.

- Sure, me and dogs always get along.

- What are your plans?

- Oh, I don't know.

I was headed for the county fair

when that accident happened.

I was going to open up my act.

Guess I'm too late now.

Suppose I'll have to do something else.

- In the meantime?

- Well, in the meantime there's always

that good old 18 bucks a week

from the unemployment insurance.

Of course, that doesn't start for a couple of weeks.

- Well, why don't you come and work with me?

- Huh?

- I say why don't you come and work with me?

- What doing?

- Well, I was thinking about

that electric act you used to do.

- Oh, I already told you that was a phony.

- Nevertheless, you survived an electrical shock

that killed five other people.

Maybe it wasn't such a fake after all.

Maybe you've built up an immunity to electricity.

- What's that?

- Immunity?

Ordinarily, fatal doses of electricity can't hurt you.

- Oh, you mean kinda like I was vaccinated against it?

- Something like that,

some cellular or glandular change has taken place,

which renders you immune.

I'd like to find out what that is.

- Hey, wait a minute!

You don't mean you wanna cut me open?

- No, no, no, just take your blood count,

examine your muscular coordination,

and study your reflexes.

If we can find out what it is

that produces this immunity against electricity,

we might be the means of saving the hundreds

of lives that are lost every year

through accidental electrocution.

You can live right here too.

- You mean I get to eat here too?

- Surely!

Take it easy until you're well and strong again.

- That's good enough for me.

- Dr. Rigas, come here a minute.

This is my associate.

Dr. Rigas, I want you to meet Dan McCormick.

- Good morning, sir. - Hiya, doc.

- I've been trying to persuade Mr. McCormick

to come work with us

while we study his apparent immunity

to high-voltage electrical shock.

- Oh yes, yes, of course!

Forgive me.

I didn't recall the name for a moment.

You're the one--

- Yes, I'm the one that lived.

- And I've assured him that we would

do nothing to injure his health in slightest today.

- Yes, yes, of course!

- Well, then let's get to work.

What say, pup?

(dog barks)

You ready, Corky?

Go get it!

(bright music)

Good morning, Miss June. - Good morning, Dan.

Lovely day, isn't it? - Oh, it sure is.

- [June] Well, are you beginning

to feel at home around here?

- Yeah.

You know, every day around here

is like Sunday on the farm.

- [June] Well, they're not working you too hard then?

- No.

Boy, they just give me a little shot

of electricity and feel my pulse

and look in my eyes and tap me on the knee.

You know how doctors do.

- Well, doesn't the electricity hurt?

- Naw.

Well, I used to take more than this

six times a day when I had my carnival act.

You know, Miss June,

you look mighty pretty with those flowers in your arms.

- Thank you, Dan.

- You remind me of a girl I used

to be kinda sweet on.

She had a high wire act in one of the Big Mac shows.

- What happened to her?

- Well, she ran away with the fire eater.

- (laughs) Well don't worry, Dan.

I won't do that.

- Hi, Corky!

Come here, kid.

Gimme that ball.

Gimme that ball! (laughs)

- [Mark] Good morning, Ms. Lawrence.

- Well, you do get around don't you?

- How goes the great experiment?

- Nicely, thanks.

- How long does a thing like this take?

- Oh, weeks, months, a year perhaps.

You see, when a scientific discovery

is announced to the world,

it must be proved beyond chance.

- Well, you've had a week now.

What progress have you to report?

- Oh, I think we can safely say

that the preliminaries have been completed.

- Well, that's fine.

Now we can get to the main bow.

What are you doin' tonight?

- Why, Mr. Adams.

I thought you were here professionally.

- Well, if you think there's anything amateur!

Look, June, you're making it awful tough for me.

I'm trying to romance with you,

and what do I get?

Biology!

- By the greatest authority in the world.

- Well, maybe he is.

But if you're interested in the subject,

I too have a few ideas along these lines.

- Hi!

Oh, I hope I didn't interrupt.

- No, it's all right.

I wasn't getting anywhere.

(Dan laughs)

Hey, you and Corky seem to be getting along all right.

- Sure, him and me gets along swell.

Say, you wanna see something?

Get a load of this.

All right, Corky.

Lay down, down!

That's it.

Turn over onto your side.

Over!

Hold it, hold it.

Now clear up on your back.

Turn over on your back.

Hold it.

Hold it!

Now back on your side.

No, no the other side!

Hold it.

That's a boy! (laughs)

He learned that one quick.

I think maybe when I go back to the carnival,

I'll get myself an animal act.

- Dan, will you come in here please?

- Sure.

- No, not you.

No, no, no, no!

(Corky whines)

- I don't like that guy.

- You don't know anything about him.

- Do you?

- I know that much of the success

of this laboratory is due to him.

He's a genius in his line.

- Maybe, but I'll bet he spent his childhood

stickin' pins in butterflies.

What do you think, Corky?

(Corky whines)

- Hey, doc? - Yes?

- Where's Pete? - Pete?

- Yeah, Pete, the rabbit in the end case there.

- Oh, he worked yesterday.

Now if you step on this, please.

- Sure.

Say, ain't we gonna wait for Dr. Lawrence?

- Dr. Lawrence is away for a few days

attending a scientist convention.

He left full instruction about the experiment.

Now just relax.

That's right.

(tense orchestral music)

Down please, thank you.

Now just relax.

(high-pitched, tense orchestral music)

(electricity buzzing)

You're perfectly all right.

You can get up now.

(slow orchestral music)

- Hey, doc, what happened?

Must have dozed off for a minute.

Oh, feels like my hands are asleep.

- Well, that's strange.

It's just the usual voltage,

enough to maintain your immunity.

- Oh, I wouldn't know from that scientific talk.

You all through with me now?

- Yes, that's all for today. - Okay.

So long. - Good bye.

(bright orchestral music)

- Hiya, Corky.

Come on kid, let's go, huh?

What's the matter?

Come on, Corky.

Come on, kid! (claps)

Come on, I won't hurt ya.

(electricity crackling) (Corky barks)

(Corky growls)

(electricity crackles)

(electricity crackles)

(electricity crackles)

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Ah, it's good to be home.

Conventions are all right in their way,

but I'm for holding them all in my own living room.

- Yes, I always thought them

pretty much a waste of time,

same old fogies with the same old theories.

- Oh, this wasn't so bad.

Now our Latin American friends

are really doing some worthwhile things.

By the way, where's Dan?

- [June] He was sitting out in the garden

just a few minutes ago.

- Hm, maybe he doesn't know what time it is.

Wong, call Mr. McCormick. - Yes, Doctor.

- I'm worried about Dan.

- Well, what's the matter?

Isn't he happy here?

- I guess so, but he seems to have slowed down.

- Perhaps it's a reaction to our experiments.

- Well, maybe we're crowding him too much.

I'll check the reports after luncheon.

- He's coming now, sir.

(Corky whines)

- Oh, how are you, Dan?

They take good care of you while I was away?

- Oh, I'm okay, doc.

- Special for you, Mr. Dan.

- No thanks.

I ain't hungry.

- Finish your lunch, doctor.

I'll take care of him.

- Take his plate back to the kitchen, Wong.

He may eat it later. - Yes, doctor.

- Uncle John, there's something the matter with Dan.

Something strange is happening to him.

- Oh, nonsense, child.

I admit he looks rather badly,

but as Dr. Rigas said, that might be

the result of our experiments.

- Well, I wish you would make sure.

- I will, now that we've got

that scientific conference out of the way.

Have you any idea what might be wrong?

- Well, nothing definite, but you remember the goldfish?

- Goldfish?

- Digs and Betty, in your office.

- Oh, yes, yes, of course.

- They died.

- That's too bad.

Something in the water, eh?

- Yes, sir.

Electricity.

- Paul, look here.

June asked me to give you this.

- Oh, yes, thanks.

What do you make of Dan's condition?

- As I suspected, he's nervously upset.

I've ordered a few days rest.

- Take a look at this blood specimen.

- [Dr. Rigas] Mm, seems to be way

below normal in cortisol count.

- That was taken from his arm this morning.

Nothing much like the specimen we took

from him when we first arrived, is it?

- No, it isn't.

- I don't know what to make of it.

Have you kept a record of his treatments?

- Of course, I'll get it.

Here it is, doctor.

I think you'll find everything

according to your instructions.

- Oh, I don't know what's the matter with me.

I'm weak as a kitten.

- Oh, you overtaxed yourself at that convention.

- Mm, probably.

- Why don't you go upstairs and lie down for a while?

- [Dr. Lawrence] You watch Dan carefully.

We mustn't let anything happen to him.

- Well, of course.

I'll take care of him.

You go to bed.

- It's been a good many years

since I've been tucked in.

It's very pleasant being waited on.

- Are you sure you'll be all right?

I hate to run out on your like this,

but it's Mark's night off and we planned--

- Now, I understand perfectly,

and please don't worry about me.

- Well, here are your reference books

and your paper and your pencil.

If you take my advice, you'll go to sleep.

- Thanks.

There are just a few things I want to look up.

- Promise?

- Yes, I promise.

Now run along. - Good night.

- Good night.

- Well Dan, I have here a nationally advertised cigarette.

Now if you watch closely,

I'll put the cigarette in the palm

of my left hand and make it disappear.

Now watch me.

Right out through the elbow.

Pretty good, huh? (chuckles)

How 'bout a little card trick?

Yeah, you like card tricks?

I have a standard deck of playing cards here.

Now if you'll just pick any card

out of the deck, any card at all.

Don't let me force the ace of spades on ya.

Any card.

That's it, take one of those right there.

That's fine.

Now, if you look at the card,

remember what it is, and put it back in the deck.

Okay, put it back in the deck there, anywhere at all.

Just slide it in there.

That's it, put it in there.

Hey, Dan!

- What goes on in here?

- I don't know.

I was showing Dan some card tricks

and I guess I didn't go over so big.

How's Dr. Lawrence?

- Oh, he's much better.

I made him promise to go to sleep early.

- What seems to be the matter with him?

- Well, overwork I guess.

He was pretty nauseated and awfully weak.

- Sounds like someone's been

dishing out Mickeys around here.

- Mickey?

Yeah, that's a little thing they give you

when your presence is no longer required.

- Now where would Uncle John get a thing like that?

- Dan, I'm ready for you.

(tense orchestral music)

- Mark, I'm not going.

There's something wrong around here.

- It certainly isn't with Dr. Rigas.

Dan seemed anxious enough to go in there with him.

- Yes, that's just it.

Dr. Rigas seems to have some sort

of a hold on him that the rest of us don't know about.

- Oh, June, don't go Edgar Allan Poe on me.

Look, you see these tickets?

They cost a buck 10 a piece.

And when a newspaper man lays out cash for tickets,

that is true love. (June chuckles)

(bright orchestral music)

(Corky whines)

- [Dan] Hurry up, will you, doc?

- You like these treatments, don't you, Dan?

- Yeah.

They make me feel strong like I used to.

They wear off too quick.

- Oh, well, we'll fix that.

Now stretch out, please.

That's right.

This is our final experiment.

If we're successful, we shall have proven

a theory that will revolutionize the world!

A theory that will silence completely

those scoffers who babble of trivialities.

(tense orchestral music)

And we shan't be disturbed.

I've taken care of that.

(bright orchestral music)

- Yeah, that's what I thought you said.

- Hm?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Better?

(dramatic orchestral music)

(machinery whirring)

(electricity crackling)

- Look June, this is a big night.

I've go a lot of important things to do and say,

but I can't get started

if you're not gonna pay attention to me.

- Oh Mark, I--

- Now wait a minute, let me finish.

I had this whole routine all worked out,

the show, supper, a little music.

You know, sort of work up to it gradual-like,

and now you dust me off with the first pitch.

What's the matter?

Don't you wanna go?

- Of course I wanna go,

and I want the dancing and I want the supper,

and most of all I want to hear what you have to say.

But Mark, I'm worried.

Take me back to the laboratory

and let me check on Uncle John and Dan

and make sure they're all right,

and then wind yourself up for some enthusiastic cooperation.

- Well, now you've made a deal.

(June laughs)

(dramatic orchestral music) (electricity crackling)

- Now you'll do exactly as I say.

Step down from there.

Success!

Even more than I'd hoped.

Come.

Now, point your finger at that condenser.

Stop!

That's the power, the energy in you!

We must conserve it.

I have prepared for that.

Come over here.

Get into this rubber suit.

It will insulate you.

That will save the electricity

that's giving you your strength.

(tense orchestral music)

With these rubber gauntlets, your power is safe.

Without them, it will run from you

through everything you touch.

There you are!

Not Dan McCormick, but something I created,

obeying my will.

I can give you life or take it from you.

- Paul, what are you doing?

- Finishing the experiment

that proves once and for all

that my theory of electrobiology is correct!

Look, there he stands, the shell of a man,

electrically alive, every impulse controlled by me.

Come here.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- You must be mad. - Of course I'm mad!

The while you were fooling with the conventions,

I had conquered destiny!

(laughs) Think of an army of such creatures,

doing the work of the world, fighting its battles.

Look at him!

The worker of the future,

controlled by a superior intelligence.

We must assemble all the great scientists

and show them this creature.

We must...

Where are you going? - To call the police.

You destroyed a human being.

That's murder! - Oh, please don't.

You're a brother scientist.

You must understand!

What is one life compared to this discovery?

Oh, he'll live a beautiful existence.

No pain, no sorrow.

John, don't! (phone clicking)

Stop him!

- Dan, Dan!

Don't you know...

(dramatic orchestral music)

- That's enough, let him go!

He's dead.

You killed him, remember that.

You killed him!

When they ask you, you tell them.

You killed him.

Come.

I must get that power out of you.

Come.

Hold that.

(tense orchestral music)

You'll remember nothing of what happened

except what I told you.

You killed him.

- I killed him.

- All right, sugar.

Take your look and let's get goin'.

- Uncle John!

- What happened?

- Dr. Lawrence came into the laboratory

to check the treatment I was giving our patient.

I left the room for a moment.

There was a crash.

When I came back, our patient was choking Dr. Lawrence.

I was too late to help.

- Do you mean to say Dan killed him?

- I don't believe it.

- Ask him.

- Dan, it's a lie, isn't it?

You didn't kill Dr. Lawrence, did you?

- [Mark] Come on, Dan.

We're your friends!

Did you kill him?

- I killed him.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Is Mr. Stanley in his office?

- I'll see.

What is your name, please? - June Lawrence.

(phone buzzes) - Yeah?

- [Secretary] Ms. Lawrence to see you.

- Have her come in.

Dr. Lawrence's secretary.

You go ahead with the preliminaries.

- Yes, sir.

- Come in, Ms. Lawrence.

- Mr. Stanley, I want to talk to you about Dan McCormick.

- Of course, sit down.

Now, what about Dan McCormick?

- Dan didn't kill Dr. Lawrence.

- He's signing a statement that says he did.

- I know, but Dan couldn't kill anything.

He was kind and gentle.

Well, something has happened

to change Dan completely, something terrible!

- Must have to make him confess

a murder he didn't commit.

Now Ms. Lawrence, your uncle died of a broken neck,

caused by a brutal choking.

A powerful man did that.

Now you yourself admit

that Dan and Dr. Rigas were alone

in the laboratory at the time.

Have you any reason to suspect Dr. Rigas?

- Oh, I'm all mixed up.

Maybe Dan did kill him, but he wasn't himself!

- Now, now, wait a minute.

Take it easy.

How long have you known Dan McCormick?

- Ever since he came to work for my uncle.

- Get along all right together?

Went out to dances and parties and so forth?

- Oh.

I see what you mean.

No, we've never been out together.

I'm engaged to Mark Adams of the Globe Dispatch.

Boy, I'm sorry I'm not more coherent

in telling my suspicions,

but don't treat this like an ordinary killing.

There's something tragic behind this,

and now with this confession--

- Of course you must realize

that a confession cannot be accepted by the court

as conclusive evidence when the charge

is first degree murder.

I still have to prove my case.

- I know, but you'll introduce the confession

and it's bound to influence the jury.

- Ms. Lawrence, I give you my word

that I will do everything I can possibly

to help Dan McCormick.

- Then find out if Dr. Rigas has actually

been following my uncle's instructions in the laboratory.

- The District Attorney, moving swiftly

through the preliminaries,

promises a speedy trial in the case of Dan McCormick,

the so-called Electrical Man

accused of murdering Dr. John Lawrence, noted scientist.

To expedite matters, he has requested

the appointment of a commission

to determine McCormick's sanity.

- Dr. Rigas, the District Attorney would like to see you.

- Of course, show him in.

- How do you do, Dr. Rigas?

We're sorry to disturb you, sir.

- I wasn't doing anything of importance.

- We'd like to have you explain

just what treatments Dan McCormick was undergoing

and what bearing, if any,

they might have on his condition.

- Of course.

Won't you sit down? - No, thank you.

- Well, here's the case history.

I completed a record of the expense and treatments,

given in accordance with Dr. Lawrence's instructions.

- I see.

Just what was the purpose of these experiments?

- Dr. Lawrence was trying to determine

what furnished the immunity that enabled Dan

to escape electrocution in that accident.

- Hm, that called for quantities

of electricity to be given, did it not?

- Oh, just small amounts,

enough to maintain immunity as that chart shows.

- I see.

Did this application affect any change in him?

- Well, he did become moody and irritable,

but I can't see what connection there is

between that and the mild treatment he received here.

- What's this, doc?

Looks like an operatin' table?

- Hm?

Oh, that's an electro thermostatic table.

We've succeeded in curing many malignant diseases

with electrical heat. (chuckles)

(switch clicks)

Would you care to try it?

- No thanks, doctor.

I'll take your word for it.

(electricity buzzing)

- I wish he could tell us what he thinks.

- Oh, well all dogs respond to certain vibrations.

I remember my Aunt Hattie's house,

that's Aunt Hattie on my father's side,

she had-- - Oh, it's no use, Mark.

I'm worried and I'm scared.

I feel sure that Dr. Rigas did something to Dan.

I'm worried about what it is,

and I'm scared we won't found in time.

- Yes, so am I, sugar.

- How about your paper?

Won't they help?

Don't they wanna know?

- Yes, if we could go to them with something definite.

I tried to tell the chief what we suspected

and he started calling a man in a white coat.

(door clicks)

(men laughing)

- Of course, of course.

Anyone who commits murder must be momentarily insane,

otherwise they wouldn't do it.

Well Dr. Rigas, thank you for your courtesy.

- Don't hesitate to call me any time I can be of help.

- Thanks. - Good day.

- Dr. Rigas? - Yes.

- Dan was insane, wasn't he?

They can't hold him legally responsible, can they?

- That will be determined tomorrow.

- Yes, but those doctor's, they--

- Don't worry.

Dan's business will be taken care of.

The District Attorney's invited me

to be present at the examination.

- You have been reluctant to discuss the night of the crime,

but I assure you that your reticence

will not prejudice us against you.

We want you to feel perfectly at your ease.

You did kill Dr. Lawrence?

- I killed him.

- Perhaps if we go back over your boyhood again,

we can find some mental meeting ground.

As I remember your story,

you were brought up in an orphanage.

There was a man there.

He hit you often.

He hit you hard.

He hurt you.

You cried.

Nobody would help you.

All your life, you've been anxious to get even with him.

In your mind, Dr. Lawrence was that man

because he ordered the treatment that hurt you.

You did get even with him, didn't you?

You feel better.

You keep telling yourself you got even!

- No! (dramatic orchestral music)

I...

Killed him.

- And in conclusion, I say without hesitation

that the accused, Dan McCormick,

suffers from acute melancholia,

induced by a persecution complex--

- In our opinion then,

does that make him mentally irresponsible?

In other words, is he legally insane?

- On the contrary.

He is decidedly sane, and definitely responsible.

- Thank you, doctor.

You've already testified that you're a newspaper man.

- That's right. - A feature writer?

- Well, my stuff carries a byline.

- Then you'd do almost anything

to get a good story, wouldn't you?

- I'd do anything I could to save an innocent man

if that's what you mean.

- Thank you, that's all.

- And when I returned to the laboratory,

the accused was standing over the body of Dr. Lawrence.

- What did he say?

- [Dr. Rigas] He kept repeating, "I killed him."

- The cause of death was a severe dislocation

and partial fracture of the third

and fourth cervical vertebrae.

- In other words, a broken neck.

- That is correct. - Thank you.

- We find the defendant guilty as charged.

- To be put to death before midnight

of the 29th of May

in the manner prescribed by law.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

This is your local reporter bringing you

interesting highlights on the day's news.

First, let's consider the case of Dan McCormick,

the man who used to do an electrical act

at fairs and side shows.

Well, ironically enough, the last act

of his little drama will find him dying

in the electric chair

where all the immunity in the world won't help him.

(tense orchestral music)

(electricity crackling)

(door squeaks)

- All right, Dan. (suspenseful orchestral music)

- Well, looks like he's on his way.

Oh, be careful.

- What's the matter, you get jumpy?

- I guess so.

These things always get my goat, man.

(somber orchestral music)

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Hello, Joe?

Well, he just went into the execution chamber.

Mark's inside to watch him go.

What?

Sure I can speak up.

No, there's nothing the matter with my voice!

Did you ever cover an execution?

Well, that's what I mean.

- Well, that's that.

I could do with a drink. - Me too.

(tense orchestral music)

- Hey, Sully.

What's going on up there?

- Well, I don't know.

- Joe, they gave him three shots and he's still alive.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

- Hey, Mike, did you hear that?

There's something wrong in there.

- He's taken all they can give him.

(electricity crackles)

- Listen to this.

They can't kill him! - He just killed

two guards in the execution chamber.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- He just broke through!

He's headed for the yard. - Hey, did you hear that?

- Don't touch him!

He's full of electricity.

- He just broke through!

He's headed for the gate!

He's got the warden with him.

Well, they can't shoot.

Poor guy's walkin' dead.

No, the warden can't run!

If he starts, Dan will grab him

and he'll shrivel up like a potato chip.

(tense orchestral music)

(electricity crackling)

- Okay, come on. - Has anybody seen him?

- Take it easy.

- Have you had any trace of him

since he walked out of the prison?

- Boys, I'll be absolutely frank with you.

I haven't heard a word.

The experts say that he can't live more than three hours.

He broke out of prison at 11:15,

and right now he may be dying in some out of the way spot,

maybe hours before we find what's left of him.

- Here's a late bulletin on the McCormick escape.

The body of Warden Harris has been found

in the woods near State Prison.

Apparently, the warden tried to get away

from McCormick and was electrocuted.

McCormick is still at large,

a menace to everything and everybody.

Three men died during his escape

and countless others are in danger.

Stay indoors, refuse an admittance to your home,

and notify the police if you see him.

He can only live a few hours

because the electricity which gives him life

is running out of his body with every step he takes.

(electricity crackling)

- Fred!

- Hey! - Fred!

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Mary Beth!

- You can absolutely quote me as saying

that the danger is passed,

that the public has nothing-- (phone buzzes)

Yeah?

- [Secretary] Urgent on one.

- Stanley speaking.

- My name is Frank Davis.

I'm at the Lakeside Rod and Gun Club.

A man just came out of the bushes and scared my wife.

It must be that escaped convict, McCormick.

- Yeah?

All right, thanks Mr. Davis.

I'll take care of it.

Sergeant, I want you to have 10 men,

two squad cars downstairs in five minutes.

(reporters clamoring)

McCormick just scared the life out

of some people out at Lakeside

and he's stolen a pair of rubber boots.

- Rubber boots?

But then he won't die!

- Did you say Lakeside? - Yes.

- Well, that's out at The Moors!

- Yes!

(tense orchestral music)

- Hey, watch out!

Hey, watch out!

(dramatic orchestral music)

(people yelling) (electricity crackling)

- Get away from that steed!

Ha! Ha!

Ha!

(people clamoring)

(gun fires)

(horse neighs)

(electricity crackling)

- Attention all police and sheriff details,

Dan McCormick, convicted murderer

who escaped from State Prison tonight

is somewhere in the neighborhood

of Oak and Crescent Drive, The Moors.

- He's headed for the laboratory!

- Step in it, Reagan.

(sirens wailing)

(tense orchestral music)

(glass shatters)

- May I help you?

- I was just tidying up a bit.

- How nice. - Yes.

Well, I think I'll be going.

- Is this what you wanted?

- Go on, take it.

Read it!

It contains a most amazing record

of the extraordinary experiment

that was only completed tonight

when Dan McCormick walked away from the electric chair.

- I knew you'd done something terrible to him.

- Terrible?

Was it terrible that I gave him life?

I haven't made a great discovery,

and I present him with a spectacular demonstration.

Tonight, the whole world will be talking

about Dan McCormick, not a handful of musty scientists,

but the whole world!

- You mean, you deliberately let Dan go to jail

when you might have saved him?

- At first, I intended to, but--

- Well-- - No, no, no, no, no,

he really killed your uncle.

Sure, he was under my control at the time

and didn't know what he was doing,

but he killed him.

My efforts of controlling, in fact,

were so successful that the temptation

of putting him to the supreme test proved too strong.

- And they gave him a sanity test.

- Yes.

Ironical, isn't it?

Dan McCormick as you knew him was doomed

from the first day he came to this laboratory.

For years, I'd hoped to find a subject with immunity

that would enable me to test my theories.

- You mean you deliberately destroyed him?

- I killed one human life in order

to prove one great scientific truth.

You know, it's a curious fact

that ever since my earliest experiments

with rabbits and guinea pigs

I've always found the female of the species

was more sensitive to electrical impulse than was the male.

It's fortunate that we met here.

Shall I show you how it's done?

(dramatic orchestral music)

(sirens wailing)

- Dan!

- Stop!

Stop!

Dan, stop!

Stop, I tell you!

Dan!

Stop, I tell you!

Stop!

Can't you hear me?

Stop!

I'll take the power out of you! (grunts)

(electricity crackling)

(tense orchestral music)

(sirens wailing)

- Dan, it's the police!

Dan, don't run away!

We know what they did to you.

Here's the book.

There must be some way to cure you!

Dan, please?

- All right, Lachlan, Mack, come with me.

Sergeant, cover the ground.

- Right! - Perfect!

Around that way.

The rest of you fellas come with me!

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Rigas!

- Electrocuted.

- Dan!

- Look!

He's just out at across the field!

- He's carrying something. - It's a body.

- June!

June!

- Dan!

Dan, where are you going?

Dan!

- He's gonna hit the fence!

- [June] Dan! Dan!

Put me down!

- He's caught on the barbed wire.

- [June] Dan!

- That cuts through that rubber suit, he's finished!

- [June] Dan!

- Dan, get away from that fence!

(electricity crackling)

- The electricity's running out.

(Corky whines)

(somber orchestral music)

- And when Dan carried me out of the laboratory,

I held onto it.

- Has anyone else seen it?

- No one alive.

- We can have photographs of the notebook

and photostats of the pages in Rigas' own handwriting!

- Do you think you ought to print it?

- Do I think I ought to print it?

Why, the story will get me the Pulitzer prize.

- Do you want to make it possible

for someone else to do what's been done to Dan?

- Well no, but...

Yeah, I see what you mean.

(book clatters)

(peaceful orchestral music)

(triumphant orchestral music)