Original subtitles

( music playing )

ANNOUNCER:

Starring tonight,

Geraldine Page,

Broderick Crawford,

Barbara Steele,

Richard Thomas,

Cloris Leachman,

Michael Dunn,

and Lana Wood,

( music box playing )

Good evening,

I'm your tour guide

through this unusual salon

of unusual statuary

and paintings,

These are the sort of things

that may not please you,

but very likely

may chill you,

because this

is the "Night Gallery,"

( music playing )

Now, this one here,

unabashed and unashamed,

I submit to you is a dandy,

It delves into

an ancient funeral rite

having to do with a person

that's called a sin-eater--

one who attends a wake

and partakes

of the funeral food,

and in the process,

digests all the transgressions

of the deceased,

so that he departs the earth

a much cleaner

and sweeter little item,

Proving that we've become

a bit more sophisticated

in our tribal rights,

but we are much the poorer

for our 20th-century

chromium intellect,

You might agree with me

after you've seen

"Sins of the Fathers,"

( music playing )

( breathing )

( horse neighs )

( horse trotting )

He can't come,

He's too busy,

and Tragarin's too busy,

And the man from Conway?

He's dead himself,

What, with the plague

and now the famine,

There's not another one

to be had,

MAN: There's Dillon Evans,

That's right,

There's Dillon Evans,

Lives in that hut

on the north side

of Plynlimon,

Ride,

Offer him anything,

Hy!

Hah!

Hyah! Hyah!

( door closes )

( crows cawing )

MRS, EVANS: Who is it?

I work for Mrs, Craighill,

She needs your husband,

MRS, EVANS:

You can go back again,

He can't come, He's sick,

Well, he must come!

I've been looking

for three days,

and I can't find anyone else,

MRS, EVANS: Why don't you get

the man from Conway?

He's dead, too,

He died yesterday,

MRS, EVANS:

Ah, ( chuckles )

I didn't know,

Of course, you didn't know,

You live way off alone,

MRS, EVANS: Yes,

we live way off alone,

Yes, but not from choice,

You make us,

When you need our men,

you come running,

After they've done

what you want,

you cast them off, pariahs,

until you need them again,

We pay, don't we?

And there's fine food,

a banquet every time,

Well, he can't come,

He's sick,

How sick is your man?

There's no one else,

My master's been dead

for three days,

and he must be buried tomorrow,

Is your man so very sick?

He is,

We have not eaten for a week,

First, he was sick

with the plague,

and now

he's sick with the famine,

Then let him come,

There's roast lamb

and boiled eggs,

raw onion sliced across,

and thick slices of bacon,

Fresh baked bread

heavy with butter,

All there waiting for him,

Great wedges of cake

and whole slabs of white cheese,

You're sure

there's nobody else you can get?

No, they're all sick

or dead themselves

or busy with the dead,

Where are you from?

Carno, It's not very far,

Well, how do you know

what's too far?

He's so weak,

If he comes--I say "if"--

he rides your horse?

Sin-eater ride my horse?

What is so terrible

about a sin-eater?

He gets you to God,

doesn't he?

Oh, let's not quarrel,

The corpse is waiting,

and the banquet is all laid out,

Yes, Yes,

My man is supposed to eat

your master's sins,

and your master

goes innocent to glory,

What happens to my man?

Eternal damnation

for all the sins he has eaten,

for all the others

down through the years,

( crying )

SERVANT: Mrs, Evans,

no one made your husband

a sin-eater,

Hunger made him,

Money made him,

The money that

you throw after him,

And when he's finished

and you drive him

from your door,,,

Yes, ma'am,

And that's still the same,

The corpse is piled with food,

and there are three gold coins

waiting to be thrown,

You'll let him

ride your horse?

I'll let him ride my horse,

And you'll let him

ride your horse back?

SERVANT:

I'll let him ride it back,

Now, Mrs, Evans,

please tell him

and have him make haste,

I'll tell him,

Both ways,

He rides both ways,

SERVANT: Both ways,

Both ways!

Did your father hear?

IAN: No,

But I heard,

MRS, EVANS:

Why have you been crying?

IAN:

My father is sick and moaning,

and all I think about is food,

Ohh,

Don't worry,

You are going to eat,

It's terrible to be hungry,

You won't be hungry,

Not after tonight,

But where will the food

come from, Mother?

Will it drop like manna

from heaven?

You heard the man,

You will go with him,

you will eat,

Me?

No, I couldn't,

I couldn't eat

a dead man's sins,

You're hungry,

Food is food,

But to eat from the chest

of a dead man, Mother,

the food will choke me,

Ian, there is the money,

those three pieces of gold,

But I'd rather starve,

And your father and your mother,

you want them to starve?

No, but, Mother,

to eat from the chest

of a corpse,

to take a man's sins

and be done for all eternity,

- No, I won't! I can't do that!

- Ian, Ian,

- Shh!

- I won't!

Ian,

What if you don't eat?

To take the dead man's sins,

you must eat the food

on the corpse,

But what if you don't eat?

What if you bring the food away?

- Not eat?

- No,

No, not there,

Not one crumb,

Not a crumb,

But everybody stands around,

Everyone watches,

Yes, but you'll send them out,

Ian,

you'll tell them

that you can only eat sin

in solitude,

And then they go out,

and then you make the sounds,

You scream and you cry out,

so they can hear,

But what--

what are the words, Mother?

I don't know the words to say,

SERVANT: It's 12 miles!

12 mountain miles!

He's coming!

He has to get dressed!

Ian, you've heard your father,

First, he says

the sin-eater's prayer,

I don't--I don't know it,

- No, you do,

- IAN: I don't!

Ian, you cry out

to God Almighty,

"Give me this man's sins,

Let me be damned forever,"

I can't say that, Mother,

I won't,

MRS, EVANS:

Well, then just mumble it,

You've heard your father,

First is the prayer,

Then he hisses,

and he mutters,

he takes pauses

while he gobbles the food,

and then he cries out

to God again,

But--But what,

what are the words, Mother?

I have no ear for the words,

The words are easy,

You just keep begging heaven,

You beg heaven

to let the dead man's sins

flow from him into you,

- Just imitate your father,

- But, Mother!

Mother, I can--

I can imitate a--

I can imitate a fox

calling to a vixen,

and she call him back,

and I can imitate an owl

- but, Mother, I'm not,,,

- Don't carry on,

Mother, Mother, I'm--

Mother, a nighthawk,

I can imitate

and a rabbit I can make come

to me, but words!

- Shh,

- I can't,

You just have to keep

begging heaven

louder and louder and faster

so heaven will heed and hear,

Well,

but when do I shriek?

You take time,

Take time with the begging,

and then when the sin

enters you,

you scream out with horror,

And then you--you run,

whimpering from the house,

But don't forget

to pick up the money,

And, uh, I won't have

to eat his sins?

No, Ian, no,

And you bring back roast lamb,

( music playing )

But I'll have to stay alone

with a dead man,

Thick slices of bacon,

wedges of cake

with raisins and nuts,

butter on the cake,

And I bring it all home?

Yes,

For you?

No,

I shan't touch one crumb,

Not a crumb,

For Father?

MRS, EVANS: No,

Not for your father,

You shall eat it all

and in this house,

( door closes )

( horse walking )

( whinnying )

What is this

you have brought me?

This is no sin-eater,

This is a boy,

SERVANT: He can eat

as well as another,

Perhaps better,

A boy is young and strong

to bear the burdens of sin,

WIDOW:

Do you call this strong?

Look how thin he is,

As for young,

is this poor child

to take on the evil

of a grown man's

entire existence?

He's still a sin-eater,

Let him eat,

Have I not ridden every night

for three days

and three nights?

And all the time,

I walked beside the horse

while he rode,

and half the time

I had to support him

so he wouldn't

tumble off,

He's weak,

There is no other,

I'm hungry!

MAN: Shall we not begin?

Start, boy,

If you're a sin-eater,

you know the words,

You must know the words

of the sin-eater's prayer,

( imitates animal howling )

Oww!

WOMAN: He's a fraud!

Throw him out!

- MAN: He didn't say the prayer,

- SECOND MAN: No,

He's not a fraud,

He'll say the prayer,

and he'll eat,

Do you want my husband

to go to hell, child?

Eat, child, eat,

Eat,

Eat, child,

Eat,

Eat,

MRS, EVANS:

Not one scrap, not one crumb,

( panting )

SERVANT:

Just a bite,

No, No, no!

No, you must all go!

You must all go,

I am one that eats alone,

OLD MAN:

Oh, no, lad,

The sin-eater eats

before the witnesses,

SECOND MAN:

Witnesses must be present,

OLD MAN: Witnesses must witness

when the sin passes,

Oh, but you'll hear it!

I s--I s--

I swear you'll hear

the shriek

when the sin passes into me!

OLD MAN: Oh, that's not right,

No, no, no,

SERVANT:

He will do it, I tell you,

He's the only one to be found,

- No, it has to be done,

- WIDOW: Quiet!

Quiet,

( whimpering )

WIDOW: Yes, lad, yes,

If you are one

that eats alone,

then God's will be done,

We shall stand in the next room,

We shall hear

when the sin passes,

When we hear

the terrible wailing

and we hear the shriek

of mortal terror,

we shall know

that the sin has passed,

God Almighty!

( muttering )

Oh, let the sins of this corpse

flow into my body,

( muttering )

IAN: Let the sins of this man

flow into my body from his,

( whimpering )

( whimpering )

( screaming )

( grunting )

( whimpering )

Ohh!

( grunting )

( crying )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( coins clanking )

( crying )

( loons calling )

MRS, EVANS:

Did you bring the food?

MRS, EVANS:

Is that all of it?

That's all of it,

Not one morsel,

not one crumb did I eat,

Well, son,

now you will eat,

Wait, Where are you taking it?

No, it's mine, you promised!

Oh, no, you're not

giving it all to him!

You will have all of it,

All of it,

( panting )

MRS, EVANS:

Now you can eat,

( moans )

Ian,

Ian, think of your father,

He's your father,

Oh, he's not a simple farmer

with simple sins,

- He's your father,

- ( crying ) No,

- Think of your father,

- No,

No, to eat the sins

of the sin-eater?

Yes,

You have to,

Think of all the sins

of the sin-eater,

Sin upon sin,

year after year,

Hundreds of sins

from hundreds of men,

Ian,

Ian, someone has

to take on the sins

of the sin-eater,

- He's your father,

- No,

Are you going

to let your father die

with all those sins unrepented?

Unshriven?

Unforgiven?

Ian,

Ian, you smell bacon?

See?

See how white the cheese?

IAN: ( crying ) No!

Even though they're crushed,

the golden yolks,

Ian, don't worry,

( Ian sobbing )

You will have a son,

Oh, God!

Oh, God!

Have mercy!

( coughing )

Give me this man's sins,

and let me be damned forever!

( sobbing )

( Ian eating )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

Offered to you now,

an item having to do

with labor and management,

An employment office

where is offered a collection

of potential employees

whose skills are unique,

For, in addition

to their loyalty,

industriousness,

punctuality,

and impeccable cleanliness,

they also run

at least 100,000 miles

without a lube

and an oil change,

It's no wonder we call this one,

"You Can't Get Help

Like That Anymore,"

( music playing )

This is our domestic

help section---

butlers, cooks, maids,

everything for the home,

They look so incredibly real,

Well, they are real,

Mrs, Foster,

They're just as real

as you and I,

And do they think?

They actually think?

They think in the sense

that there are thought areas

into which they've been fed

computerized data

that enable them

to make decisions,

For instance,

this model here

is our production model

706 house maid,

Now, she can decide

when's the proper time

to change the sheets

and pillowcases for instance,

or wax the floor,

things like that,

That is the extent of her

thought process,

if you will,

Here's a new model,

we're just, uh,,,

just developing,

This is our production model

738, chauffeur,

FOSTER:

You mean he actually drives?

He does indeed

with consummate skill,

Par excellence,

Well, that's incredible,

Seems so, doesn't it?

You should see

the more expensive model,

This chap

not only drives,

but makes major

automotive repairs

and better than you could

get done at any garage,

( device buzzes )

Hample here,

MAN: ( on device ) You're wanted

in the complaint department,

Mr, Hample,

HAMPLE: I'll be there directly,

If you'll excuse me,

Uh, why don't you come on in

to our hospitality room

and look at the brochures,

and I'll be with you

- in a minute, huh?

- Complaint department?

Oh, you caught that,

Well, complaint is just kind of

a catch-all phrase,

Not even complaints really,

Just--usually,

just slight

modifications required,

You know, statistically,

we have fewer

than two percent returns

and ninety-nine percent

of the adjustments

are of a minor nature,

believe me,

WOMAN:

Good afternoon, Mr, Hample,

Good afternoon,

Miss Sherman,

This is Mr, and Mrs, Foster,

They're interested in some

of our domestic models,

I'm very pleased

to know you both,

May I get you coffee?

Or a drink?

Uh, coffee, please,

- Black,

- The same, please,

Make yourselves comfortable,

( computer beeping )

Our production model 473,

You can just shut them off?

HAMPLE: At your pleasure

and convenience,

Or you can reset

their functioning time,

They can work 24 hours a day

if you want them to,

That's incredible, It--

It's also a little scary,

Scary?

Well, yeah,

when they're working,

they seem so real, so human,

and when you turn them off,

it's as if,,,

As if what, Mrs, Foster?

It's as if you kill them,

( device buzzes)

What is it?

MAN: ( on device )

Complaints department, sir,

There are some customers who are

very anxious to speak with you,

And Dr, Kessler has been

trying to reach you, sir,

I'll be right there,

( computer beeping )

Miss Sherman

will take care of you,

I'll be right back,

You wanted

to see me, Kessler?

When you have a moment, yes,

Can it keep?

I've got two people waiting

for me with a complaint,

You have a person here waiting

for you with a complaint,

Now, look at that,

HAMPLE:

Good Lord, what caused this?

What caused this

is a psychopathic wrecking team

called Mr, and Mrs,

Joseph Fulton,

personally awaiting you

with a whining complaint

that we build

defective merchandise,

Defective in this case

meaning that we didn't build it

out of concrete

and armor-plated steel,

Now, hold on, Kessler,

this could very well

have been caused by an accident,

This could only have been caused

by two neurotic sadists

who find pure joy

in the act of destruction,

( device buzzing )

- Yes?

- MAN: Mr, and Mrs, Fulton

are still looking for you, sir,

Later, I'm very busy here

with Dr, Kessler,

Look at it,

All the major circuits torn out,

All the limbs, dismembered,

and fractured,

the entire body pockmarked

FULTON:

Oh, there you are, Hample,

I wanna talk to you,

not to any middle man,

Now, let me tell you

something,

No, let me tell him!

- We wanted a maid, right?

- Yes, Mrs, Fulton,

Nothing special,

nothing complicated,

- Just a maid,

- I understand,

Who could wash a floor

and make a bed,

Uh, nothing complicated

at all,

- Yes,

- And what do we get?

Some--some skimpy,

just jerry-built piece of trash

that can't even make a bed,

and it broke down!

KESSLER:

It did not break down!

Not broke down, madam,

It was broken down,

it was tortured,

abused, punished, and wrecked!

Please, Kessler,

You want a maid, do you?

Well, the only kind of maid

we could develop

for people like you

would be a surplus tank

with an apron on it!

Now, wait a minute,

I wanna tell you something,

No, let me tell him,

You're cheats,

That's what you are,

And we've a good mind

to report you,

$25,000, and for what?

Why, this thing

isn't even

as strong as a human!

What would you know about it?

These things

have more human qualities

than you two

have ever dreamt of,

What did you ever kick,

punch, and abuse

before we developed

robots for you?

Did you pull wings off of flies?

Did you pour kerosene on cats?

- Did you,,,

- That's enough,

That's quite enough,

I humbly apologize to you,

Mrs, Fulton,

Mr, Fulton, please, I truly do,

Now, if you'll wait

in the lobby,

I'll arrange

for a replacement maid,

One of our newer models,

You can pick it out yourself,

You'll have it by mid-afternoon,

I guarantee it,

and I guarantee

total satisfaction,

You want an apology,

I suppose,

That would be a good practice,

followed logically

by your resignation,

Abuse,

is that what you said?

Punish, torture?

Were those your words?

Dr, Kessler,

you're a very valuable man

and a rare intelligence,

I give you that up front,

But I also give you this

for a corollary,

You certainly must recognize

this is not a human being,

This--This thing here

is just a machine,

They're not just a machines,

This is not just a machine?

This isn't just

flesh-colored plastic,

These aren't just wires

and computer circuits,

This isn't just an inanimate,

lifeless synthetic?

Right now, I think you'd better

explain this to me, Kessler,

It's a phenomenon

I have just observed,

These, uh, beings

that we've created,

they've developed

certain dimensions,

certain characteristics,

I can't accept that,

KESSLER: You'd better,

And you'd better

accept this, too,

In the beginning,

they only respond

to what is programmed

into them,

And then?

KESSLER: And then,

like the human infant,

they begin to mature,

They begin to develop

emotional reactions,

And the next step--

and you'd best prepare

for this, Mr, Hample--

they begin to develop

survival instincts

and methods,

And when that happens,

good Mr, Hample,

you'd best get on the telephone

to people like the Fultons

and tell them to take out

their aggressions on the wall

or a punching bag

or something

that won't hit back,

( party music playing,

man and Mrs, Fulton laughing )

( grunting )

( Mrs, Fulton laughing )

( door opens )

( glass shatters )

So you're the maid?

I'm model number 931,

Mr, Fulton,

I'm here to serve you,

Model 931,

Let me tell you something,

Whoever made you

sure put it all together,

because you're a one

little charming hunk of maid,

believe me,

Thank you, Mr, Fulton,

Don't forget this one,

Now, wait a minute,

wait a minute, wait a minute,

Can't you do anything else

besides clean up a room?

I am programmed to take

complete charge of a house,

This includes all cleaning,

answering telephones,

and other related duties,

Well, I got news for you,

If that's the sum total

of your services,

why did they give you

such a beautiful face and body?

I think--

I think it's a gross deception,

that's what I think,

Because anybody

that looks like you

has got to be able to do more

than just clean up a room,

MRS, FULTON:

Is that what you think,

joy boy?

Then again,

give this a thought, Joe,

Maybe she's not just a maid,

Maybe that's only

a part of her function,

Is it possible

that they programmed

a little slut into you?

Oh, no, ma'am,

My model number

is that of a domestic,

If you wanted a robot aid

whose functions

were more complicated,,,

That's bull, dearie,

( dishes and flatware

clinking )

What I just did,

did that, um,,,

Did that tick you off?

I asked you a question,

Inside that maze of wires

and expensive tubes,

is there

a little special battery

that--that makes you

want to break people's

heads open?

We do not possess

the capacity for anger,

Did you hear that, Joe?

Why don't you let her

clean up the mess?

Because I'm fascinated

with this prefabricated

little wild flower,

who can get pinched,,,

who can get stepped on,,,

who can get knocked

through a wall,,,

and the worst

that can happen

is that she'll light up

and say, "Don't,"

Why don't you

stop picking on her?

I might ask

the same question of you,

You've got a thing

about sophisticated machinery,

Why don't you go out

in the garage

and pinch the power mower?

Just a minute,

I'm not finished,

We don't,,,

employ you,

We own you,

Remember that,

I own this furniture,

I own these drapes,

I own these pictures,

- I own this booze,

- ( liquid swishing )

And I own you,

Now, if,,,

now and then I get off my feed

and, uh, irritable,

I may have to

take it out on you,

I may have to remind you

that you are just a,,,

vacuum cleaner

with pretty legs,

Your predecessor didn't,

uh, work out so well,

She couldn't hack it

in the service,

( chuckling )

You want to register

a complaint?

I give you my permission,

I also give you fair warning

that I may let you have it

with a lamp,

I was only looking at you,

Mrs, Fulton,

Say again,

I said I was only looking

at you,

you and your husband,

You were only looking at us,

All right, dearie,

What do you see?

I said, what do you see?

MAID: Mrs, Fulton,

I can't lie,

MRS, FULTON: No?

I'm programmed

to tell the truth,

So tell the truth,

What do you see?

I see a middle-aged woman,

aging without grace--

aggressive, competitive,

discontented,

with an ugliness inside

that can't be covered

with cosmetics,

And Mr, Fulton--

crude, cruel, vulgar,

lusting for everything,

but loving nothing,

Now, shall I continue

to clean up the room,

or what is your pleasure?

My pleasure

is to deactivate you

for good,

Mrs, Fulton, you pointed out

that my predecessor

was incapable of survival here,

I must warn you

so long as I'm activated,

I shall defend myself

against destruction,

What's that?

I shall not allow you

to destroy me,

MR, FULTON:

You shall not allow us?

Let me tell you, Miss 931,

or whatever your name is,

You're just about five seconds

away from a scrapheap!

( groans )

Please, Mrs, Fulton,

I have no desire to hurt,

no wish to give pain,

but I must survive,

And so you shall, dearie,

Just long enough

to wish you'd never been built,

( screams )

( glass shatters )

( phone rings )

Hello, yes,

No, ma'am,

We have temporarily

discontinued our operation,

That's correct,

No, ma'am,

We frankly don't know

whether it will resume or not,

I'm sorry,

what was the question?

We're undergoing

a reorganization,

No, ma'am,

I can't tell you a date

or a time

or even whether or not

we'll be back in operation

in the near future,

Thank you for your call,

Goodbye,

( music playing )

Is everything all right?

KESSLER:

Everything functioning well,

How very odd,

KESSLER:

The ingenuousness of man,

his cleverness,

The paragon of animals,

And yet his incredible

and amazing stupidity,

There was an English writer,

Samuel Butler,

He wrote a book

called "Erewhon,"

And there's a line in it,

"There is no security

against the ultimate development

"of mechanical consciousness,

in the fact

of machines possessing

little consciousness now,"

"Even a potato

"in a dark cellar

"has a certain

low cunning about him

which serves him

in excellent stead,"

How very true,

How very tragically true,

for them,

( music playing )