This way for the monster.! Right through here.!

Step right this way, folks.! The show is about to begin.!

Right this way.! Here we are.!

Folks, I must ask you to remember that this exhibit is being presented...

solely in the interest of education and science.

Now, this creature... There he is! The geek!

He has puzzled the foremost scientists of Europe and America.

Is he the missing link? Is he man or beast?

Some have pronounced him man.

But beneath that shaggy mane of hair, lies the brain of a beast.

Look.!

lfhe should sink his teeth into my arm, nothing on this round, green earth could save me.

Now, folks, it's feeding time.

Horrible.!

He's on fire!

Now, folks, you haven't seen anything yet. Step in closer, please.

The greatest demonstration of fire manipulation the world has ever seen!

Hey. Come here.

- Kind of a surprise to see you hanging around that act, young man. - Why?

Hasn't got a skirt in it.

- Geek guy fascinates me. - You aren't the only one.

That's why we got him in the show.

How do you get to be a geek? Is that the only one?

- I mean, is a guy born that way? - Let me tell you something, kid.

When you've been around this carny longer, you'll learn to quit asking questions.

- Come on, Pete. - He gonna be able to work?

Pete's okay. I've got him sobered up.

- What's the matter, Stan? - Nothing.

What's the boss been razzing you about?

I was just asking him about that guy that does the geek business.

- That's always a sore point in a carnival. - Why?

The geek is one of our biggest draws...

but a lot of performers won't work a show that carries one.

I can't understand how anybody could get so low.

It can happen.

- I wanna thank you, Zeena. - Me?

- Uh-huh. - What for?

For being so nice to me, helping me with my spiel and everything.

- Well, I think you've got something, Stan. - Honest?

- You like this racket, don't you? - Oh, lady, I was made for it.

I had all kinds of jobs before this one came along...

but none of'em were anything but jobs.

But this gets me. I like it. All of it.

The crowds, the noise, the idea of keeping on the move.

You see those yokels out there, it gives you sort of a superior feeling...

as if you were in the know and they were on the outside looking in.

Kinda hard to explain, but I like it.

I like you too, Zeena.

Hey, look! Hey, look! Hey, look! Step right this way!

Move in closer, ladies and gentlemen, and let me introduce Zeena...

the miracle woman of the ages.

She sees, she knows, she tells you all the innermost secrets of your past...

your present and your future.

- Mademoiselle Zeena! - Step right up, folks, and don't be bashful.

If any of you wants to ask me a personal question...

Mr. Stanton will now pass among you with little cards and envelopes.

- Lend me your hand there. - Write your question on the card!

- I need a pencil. - Pass those out. There we are, ladies.

Don't crowd. There's plenty here for everyone.

Careful not to let anyone else see what you write, because that's your business.

- I don't want anybody asking me about anyone else's business. - One for you, young lady.

When you have written your questions, sign your initials or write your name...

as a token of good faith.

Write what's in your heart, and when you write about it, think about it.

Madam? Yes, madam. Your questions will be held in strictest confidence.

No one will know but yourself and Mademoiselle Zeena.

Ah, I see that Mr. Stanton has a good handful of questions.

So if he'll bring 'em right up on the stage, we'll have some readings.

Thank you, sir.

Wait a minute. Here's mine.

- Mister, here's my question! - I'd like to ask you about my mother.

Will that lady raise her hand, please?

- Come on, Pete. Here. - Madam, your mother's had a lot ofhard work in her life.

Come on. Take these. Here.

- Another drink, huh? - Hurry up. Show's on.

There's something in there I don't see quite clearly yet.

If you'll see me after this demonstration, maybe I can tell you more.

I'll ask Mr. Stanton to drop the questions into the bowl.

There they go. I don't touch them.

Now, people have asked me if I have spirit aid in doing what I do.

I always tell them the only spirits I control are the ones in this bottle.

Spirits of alcohol!

I'll pour a little on the questions...

and ask Mr. Stanton to light a match and drop it in the bowl.

Thank you, Mr. Stanton. Now you see them burning, and that's the last of them.

Anybody who's afraid that somebody else is going to read it...

or that I would handle this question...

can just forget that I ever touched them.

Your question is now recorded nowhere except in the ether.

Your answer is there too, and I will find it for you.

I get an impression.

It's a little cloudy, still, but it's getting clearer.

I get the initials "J.E.G."

I believe it's a gentleman. Is that right?

- Will the person who has those initials raise his hand! - Right here, missy!

Thank you, Mr., uh... Giles.

- The name is Giles, isn't it? - Yes, ma'am, that's his name. That's his name. Giles.

Giles, yes.

Molly.!

Wait. I see green trees and a rolling field.

It's plowed land, fenced in.

- That's your place.! - Yes, ma'am, that's my place.

Oh, is that for me?

- It's a wagon. - Goodness.! That's what you asked about.!

- Zeena's going good. - That's what I wrote.!

- She sure knows how to put on an act. - Sure does.

- Too bad she's tied up with that rum-dum. - Why?

She could grab herself a smart guy and make the big time in no time.

But she's already been in the big time.

She and Pete used to be one of the biggest headliners in vaudeville.

- Not with that act. - Pete stayed in the audience. He never came near the stage.

How could he tip her off to anything?

They used a code, silly.

A code? What kind of a code?

A word code between the two of them.

Zeena says that blindfold code is worth its weight in gold.

I'll bet.

- People still offer them big money for it. - Why don't they sell it?

Zeena says it's their nest egg.

- Molly. - Here comes your boyfriend.

Hi, Bruno.

- What's going on here? - What does it look like?

- He get fresh, Molly? - Sure I did.

What do you think I'm made of? She's the prettiest girl in the whole outfit, isn't she?

- Sure she is, but... - Just because you're a big mush is no sign everybody else is.

Come on, you lovely little freak.

- Thanks for the pop, Stan. - Next time I'll bring you a Kewpie doll.

How do you like that? He had the nerve to admit it right to my face.

Look, Bruno. I'm no baby.

I can take care of myself.

When I'm talking to somebody, I wish you wouldn't come butting in like that.

What are you thinking about, Stan?

Molly was telling me about that code you and Pete used to use in vaudeville.

What about it?

Well, I was thinking that if Pete got sick or something...

why, I could work from the audience just like he used to.

No stage trap, no gypsy switch.

- How do you mean? - You know, if you taught me the code.

Over my dead body she will.

You got a nerve, young fella.

- Do you know what a code like that is worth? - Okay, okay, forget it.

- I was just trying to help you folks. - I heard you the first time.

We gotta... We gotta watch ourselves on account of...

- Sure. - Hurt him enough already.

I thought it was the other way around.

No, Pete was all right till they picked me up.

- What happened? - Exactly what's happening now.

I'm about as reliable as a two-dollar cornet.

You're crazy. You've got a heart as big...

Sure. As big as an artichoke. A leaf for everyone.

That's what Pete said when he began hittin' the bottle.

Then one day he didn't show up.

I dug up another partner, a magician by the name of Benston.

I was no good without Pete.

In a couple of seasons I was glad to get a job with an outfit like this.

Pete showed up about a year ago.

Here we are.

I did everything I could to make it up to him, but you see how it is.

The more I try, the worse he gets.

And I'm not gonna give up on him.

It's the least I can do.

Zeena, you're a real woman.

Look at him.

He's like a dog waiting for somebody to throw him a bone.

Come on. Help me get some breakfast into him.

- Hi, Pete! - Hello, baby. How'd you make out?

We don't have to sleep in the truck tonight.

I got me the bridal suite at the hotel. Two rooms and bath.

- Where's Molly? - I left her at the hotel.

Come on, you two. Looks like you could use a good, hot bath yourselves.

I'll be all right. You and Pete go ahead.

Don't be silly. Huh, Pete?

It's all right. I've gotta see a fella anyhow.

What's your rush? You're dead on your feet.

Well, this fella's got something that'll take care of that.

Here's enough for a shot.

But remember, only one.

Swell. See ya later.

Stan.

Wait a minute, Pete.

Get some coffee in you first.

Promise Zeena you'll get something to eat.

I shall probably have a small orange juice, two three-minute eggs...

some melba toast and coffee.

Got to see my money's safe.

Pete just gave you a gander at himself, before and after.

- I've seen worse. - You think it's too late to put him in a cure?

I don't know much about those things, but I understand it takes dough.

- I can get it. - How?

Sell that code.

- The code? - Uh-huh.

- I got a better idea. - What's that?

Let's build up a new act with it.

What good'll that do? I'm gettin' top carny dough right now.

I wasn't talking about doing it in this mouse menagerie.

You and I? Where else would we do it?

If Pete could make a headliner out of you, I don't see why you couldn't do the same with me.

Oh, Stan.

You think I can make the big time again?

You'd know more about that than I would.

- How about it, baby? - Don't rush me. Let me think about it.

Hey, where you goin'?

Come on, Stan! Give Bruno a hand!

What are you doing?

Cut them three times.

- What kind of deck is this? - This is a tarot.

Oldest kind of cards in the world.

Pete says the Gypsies brought them out of Egypt.

They're a wonder for giving private readings.

Say, they look plenty weird.

Whenever I have something to decide or don't know which way to turn...

Look, Stan. That's the wheel of fortune.

- Yeah. - That means we're gonna knock 'em dead.

- Pete and I never had it this good. - What did I tell you?

- What's the matter? - Well, I don't know.

Everything looks wonderful for us...

money, happiness and great success.

But there's no sign of Pete in it.

How could he be if he's away taking the cure?

- But there's no sign of him anywhere, dead or alive. - Hang on.

Yeah, maybe this is Pete.

Did you knock this off the table?

- No. You must have dropped it yourself. - I don't see how I could.

- Was it face up or down? - Face down.

- Are you sure? - Yeah. Why?

- Couldn't be like that. It's too awful, it's too crazy.

- What's got into you? - Get your bath and get out ofhere.

- What's the matter? - It's all off, Stan.

- The act? - Everything.

- But what have I done? - Nothing. But I can't go against the cards.

- You don't believe in that junk? - I didn't used to.

But time after time it told me I was gonna ruin Pete's life, and I went right ahead.

- Here's Pete's card. - What are you worrying about?

- Is this the one that was on the floor? - No, this one.

You see what it means? Are you satisfied?

Zeena, it just doesn't make sense.

Maybe not. Maybe it's silly, maybe it isn't.

Listen, honey. We've all gotta die sometime.

But when a card falls on the floor...

whatever happens, good or bad, is gonna happen fast.

And when a card falls face down, it's bad.

- That's for the chumps. - Been true of Pete and me so far, hasn't it?

Honest, Zeena, to see a smart girl like you fall for one of your own boob-catchers...

I give up. Yes, sir, I give up.

- I don't believe it. - Huh?

You never give up.