Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (Second Part)
Based upon the novel in "Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung" by Norbert Jacques
The Gowns of the Female Stars were designed by Vally Reinecke
and made in the fashion studios of Flatow-Schädler and Mossner.
Second Part: Inferno A play about people of our time.
Insomniac nights-- --
Dear Mr. von Wenk, I agreed under false pretenses to sound out Miss Carozza in prison. I thought that I would find the paid tout of a notorious criminal -- only to find a woman full of love, before whose simple and unconditional feelings
The sleeping woman -- --
I cannot be your ally. Please excuse me for deceiving you. Countess Told
"Only now shall the world learn who I am -- -- I! Mabuse! A giant -- a titan who jumbles up laws and gods like withered leaves!!"
"Count Told, would you not like to confide what happened to you?"
"I cheated at cards!"
"I cheated--! Yes--! But I did not want to! It just came over me! Something stronger than I forced me to do it!"
"I who usually never touch a card -- I had such a streak of luck! I had only to open my cards and I won!"
"Were all your guests old acquaintances?"
"All -- except one, whom my wife had invited --the psychoanalyst Dr. Mabuse. But he did not join in the game."
"You cheat!!"
"My wife has left me -- probably she has gone to her mother -- because she does not want to share her life with a card-cheat --"
"Don't you trust any doctor at all? Some experienced psychiatrist in whom you could confide?"
"Dr. Mabuse...? If I'd turn to Dr. Mabuse?"
"Useless, Countess. This door does not open except when I want it!"
"Count Told is on the phone!"
"Doctor, you were present when I had that-- accident at the card table. I need your medical help. When may I see you?"
"I treat patients only in their homes! Expect me tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock!"
The eleventh hour --
"Your case interests me -- I will treat you. But only under certain conditions!"
"For as long as you are under my treatment you will not leave the house, not receive anybody, not speak to anybody. You must not see anyone who reminds you of your former life!"
"As from today I am not available to anyone, neither personally nor by telephone. Tell everybody asking for me or the Countess that we have gone away for an indefinite time!"
"Please connect me to Count Told. The Countess is not staying with her mother!"
"I am sorry, but sir and madam are away!"
"I am sorry, Mr. State Attorney, but sir and madam left this morning!"
"My brother has sent a colleague with the message that La Carozza has been taken to the women's prison. She is in Cell 194, main building, second floor."
The blind -- --
"If by some damned coincidence they got on my track, I'll get away through this tunnel. - And I would like to see anybody open this trap door without a key!"
"From underneath a gentle push will lift the door!"
"Put on something decent and report to me! You are to start a new job in my house!"
Captivity -- --
"Be careful! My sudden disappearance will not go unnoticed. My husband, my friends will look for me--"
"Your friends?! Do you perhaps mean State Attorney von Wenk?"
"Unless the State Attorney really hurries up, he won't have much more time to free you!"
"And your husband is under my medical treatment!"
"You'd better not speak of your husband! Do not dare even to think of him! You will be pronouncing his death sentence if you mention his name in my presence!"
"Good God, hurry up! I am supposed to be in the women's prison by now!"
"Why are you so obstinate, Miss Carozza? If you'd assist us in clearing up Hull's murder, I might be able to arrange privileges for you!"
"You are sacrificing yourself for a scoundrel who has simply abandoned you -- and in vain -- for we are already on his tail!"
"He is stronger than all of you! He destroys anybody he wants too! You too he will destroy if you cross him!"
"I am supposed to check the electrical wiring in here..."
"The man for whose sake you are here has thrown you away like a squeezed fruit. He knows very well that it might cost you your head - and he does not lift a finger to help you--"
" -- and who can guarantee that no other woman has long since replaced you in his heart?"
"Give me two days time...!"
"Imbecile!"
"I need a ladder!"
"When will Wenk be back?"
"At five--"
"Wenk has managed to wear down La Carozza. We can't rely on her keeping quiet--"
"Then we must liquidate!"
"That will cost you your life, my boy! On whose instructions did you act?"
"From him!"
"But -- why? I have done nothing to him!"
"I will try an experiment -- I will confront him with La Carozza. Perhaps one of them will give themselves away --"
"You--?"
"He has killed her --!"
"Who-?! the name -- the name --!!"
"No, no no -- I won't say a word - or the same thing will happen to me!"
"Take this man to police headquarters under double guard and with every conceivable precaution! Avoid busy streets! Report immediately!"
"And if I have to cross-examine you for 48 hours, I will get the name out of you! You may count on that!"
"Johannes Gutter has been arrested! They're taking him to police headquarters!!"
"All his life Johannes Gutter has devoted himself to our just cause! That's why he has been taken from our midst now! Are we going to put up with that??!!!"
"We shall not leave him in the lurch! We'll get him out!"
"They are not taking the usual route! They are going through Mueller Street!!"
"Johannes Gutter! Johannes Gutter!"
"Release Johannes Gutter!!!"
"Be sensible, folks! The prisoner we're transporting is not Johannes Gutter at all!"
"See for yourselves that the prisoner is not Gutter. But then be sensible and clear the path!"
"Where have the people with the prisoner got to? After the incident with La Carozza, I won't rest until I know that fellow to be in your special care!"
"Carozza was thoroughly searched when she was brought in. How did she suddenly get the poison? Even in the women's prison, the Great Unknown must have his accomplices!"
"In Mueller Street we suddenly could not get any further! God knows who incited those people--!"
"Wake the Countess and tell her that I wish to speak to her."
"I've never seen that person before. None of us knew him! But since he shot his mouth off -- --"
"You wished to speak to me?!"
"The game between us must end -- one way -- or the other! I am no longer the man I used to be. I am making mistakes -- losing my nerve--"
"I intend to leave this town -- this country, Countess, and I ask you to accompany me!"
"I want you to become mine! And I will destroy without mercy any obstacle that stands between us!"
"For the last time, Countess, will you follow me of your free will -- or as a prisoner?"
"Never, do you hear? Never! I want to return to my husband!"
"You have now pronounced his death sentence--"
Nocturnal phantoms --
The day --
"Dr. Mabuse!"
"Your condition has deteriorated -- you are sicker than ever!"
"Do you know that your wife wants to commit you to an insane asylum?"
"Your wife has left you -- forever! Your life is ruined -- you cannot go on living --
-- Not go on living -- !!"
"The Count must be left absolutely alone - any disturbance could be fatal!"
"Not go on living!"
"With the razor -- --!"
"Where is the Countess?"
"I have not seen the Countess since that terrible night at the card game!"
"Then why did you tell me on the telephone that the Master and Mistress had gone away?"
"I was ordered to do so by the Count."
"In my humble opinion, Sir, the master grew really bad only after Dr. Mabuse treated him."
"Since we are going abroad tomorrow, Countess, here are the people who will have the honor to be at your service!"
"I wish to return to my husband!"
"Your husband is dead--!"
"If there is any human feeling in you -- let me go to my husband!"
Dr. Mabuse Psychoanalysis
"I am very sorry, the Doctor is out!"
"Nothing, Sir.
"With your permission: Dr. Mabuse!"
"What a strange coincidence, Doctor! I have just come from your house. I wanted to inform you of the suicide of your patient, Count Told!"
"And I, State Attorney von Wenk, came to ask your help in preventing just such a tragedy!"
"The case of Count Told is so unusual from beginning to end that I have become convinced that both as card-cheater and as suicide, the Count acted under the compulsion of some overpowering, but to him, hostile mind!"
"Are you familiar with Weltmann's experiments?"
Today! Today! Today! An Evening of Experiments Sandor Weltmann Experiments in Mass Suggestion, Sleepless Hypnosis, Trance, Natural Magnetism, The Secrets of the Indian Fakirs. The Secrets of the Psyche. The Subconscious in Man and Animal. In the Main Auditorium of Philharmonic Hall
"You would there see with your own eyes how Weltmann, due to his tremendous suggestive powers, is able to compel people to act in a way diametrically opposite to their nature --preferably, people who try to resist his influence--"
"And you believe Count Told fell victim to such an overpowering influence of some unknown enemy?"
"You have roused my curiosity, Doctor -- I will follow your suggestion!"
"Forgive me just one more question, Doctor: do you happen to know the whereabouts of Countess Told?"
"How come you let that gentleman into my office without informing me? Are not even you to be relied on any more?!"
"Yes -- it's true -- how did we allow it??"
"As soon as you see Wenk approaching, start the engine and let him pass. Then you come back here as quickly as possible!"
"This time his whole bodyguard won't save the State Attorney!"
"I don't know if Sandor Weltmann himself is the puppeteer. In any case, we are dealing with an opponent where the improbable is the most likely of all things expected. That means you'll just have to act on your own initiative--"
Today! Today! Today! An Evening of Experiments Sandor Weltmann Experiments in Mass Suggestion, Sleepless Hypnosis, Trance, Natural Magnetism, The Secrets of the Indian Fakirs. The Secrets of the Psyche. The Subconscious in Man and Animal. In the Main Auditorium of Philharmonic Hall
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would next like to demonstrate to you a case of typical mass suggestion such as is the power base of the Hindu Fakirs."
"Would somebody please call out a couple of two-digit numbers!"
"12!"
"64!"
Alright; 64 and 12. If the ladies and gentlemen occupying the seats with those numbers are agreeable to my conducting some experiments with them, would they please rise."
"Seat number 12 is empty!"
"Perhaps the gentleman at number 11 would be so kind--"
"In the right inside pocket of your jacket you have two 1000 - Mark notes issued in 1918, series D number 65045 and series E number 5567, a weapon license, one identity card; in your left inside pocket you carry a Browning -- is that correct?"
"Would you please read out what it says on the note?"
"The lady from number 64 shall remove the Browning from the inside pocket of the Gentleman at number 11 and give it to the Gentleman at number 5!"
"Would the Gentleman at number 11 be so kind as to be available for one more experiment?"
"The I would ask you, as well as a few other ladies and gentleman, to come up and join me on the stage!"
"A new experiment! This Gentleman will be so kind and carry out what I have written down in this sealed envelope"
"Tsi-Nan-Fu!"
"Doctor... Doctor Ma-- --"
"Do what I have written down!"
You conduct the lady to her seat, leave the auditorium, get into the car number 3825 waiting outside the door, and drive at full speed over the mountain road into the quarry. Melior!
"The note says: You lead the lady to her seat, leave the auditorium, go home and go to bed!"
"This thing gives me an eerie feeling! We've got to go after him!"
"Boss, the "Great Unknown" we are looking for -- Dr. Mabuse, doctor, gambler, criminal--!"
"To the closest police station! As fast as possible!!"
Finale
"I'll look after the car, you wake Fine and the Countess! Let the Doctor sleep as long as possible. After last night's business, he was completely exhausted."
"We can't get out, the police have surrounded the house!"
"Then -- we'll give them a fight!!!"
"They are resisting more stubbornly than we anticipated. The men should keep under cover until I give further instructions!"
A telephone conversation --
"This is State Attorney von Wenk speaking!"
"Dr. Mabuse, I request you not to resist the forces of justice."
"I don't know anything about your 'justice'. If you want me -- get me!"
"We are determined to proceed against you with the fiercest means! Give up your pointless resistance!"
"I allow myself to draw your attention to the fact that Countess Told is also in the house!"
"We must get the army to help us!"
"Mabuse is keeping Countess Told prisoner! The attack on the house has to succeed the first time or the woman's life will be in danger!"
"Doctor! The army is coming--!"
"Let the woman go, Doctor! Save yourself!"
"Where is Mabuse?!"
"Shut up, Spoerri! Remember Pesch!"
"--Home--!"
"Caught--!"
Will he keep his mouth shut, this weed?!
"These objects were found on the dead in Mabuse's house, Sir!"
"And Hawasch is dead -- and Fine --"
"...It is the key -- to Hawasch's counterfeiting plant -- he may have taken refuge there --!"
"Take over the bank, Dr. Mabuse..."
"Cheat!"
The man who was once Mabuse--
THE END
Part One was slightly abridged by Erwin Leiser with the concurrence of Fritz Lang.