(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
(thunder crashing)
(keys clanking in lock)
(key clanking in lock)
This is a mistake!
(phone rings)
Yes?
Yes, I understand.
(thunder crashes)
I'm sorry, eli,
Your stay of execution has been denied.
Is there anything you wish to say before...?
Please, I'm innocent.
This is a horrible mistake!
No!
(electricity zapping)
(eli gasping)
(guttural rasping)
(zapping stops)
He's not dead.
(zapping) (gasping)
(zapping stops)
(eli gasps)
My god, he's still alive!
Put him back in the chair.
You can't do that.
Judge avery.
He's right.
He was sentenced to die.
And he was declared dead.
You can't execute a man twice.
(thunder crashing)
I want to know what it did to him.
(rock music playing)
Hey! Bobbidy-do-bop!
(music volume increases)
(groans)
(music stops)
What are you doing?
I'm trying to make my lightning lamp sensitive to music.
Why should your lamp be any different than you?
(laughs)
I'm talking about ohms and watts here.
I'm talking about electricity and music meeting together
As one in harmony.
I'm talking about the visual
Extension of the...
Electronic music age.
Jack: Ah, a modern-day version
Of the van de graaff generator, huh?
You know how to make this, uh, work in time with the music?
Yes, of course, but we've something more pressing to hand.
One of the query letters that we sent out
To lewis' old customers came back stamped
"no forwarding address."
Well, that happens all the time.
Ah, yes, but this time and in this case
I think that that particular purchaser of antiques
Chose not to be followed.
No, they're using an alias: Dr. Christian lindheim.
I checked with the medical association.
They never even heard of a doctor by that name.
What did lewis sell him?
An electric chair...
A real one.
(elevator music plays)
Man: All done.
(giggles)
I hope that didn't hurt too much.
I've always been opposed to causing pain.
Didn't feel a thing, doc.
This gas is ultra euphoric. Very '60s.
Nitrous oxide.
It tends to take the edge off.
(laughs)
I gotta tell you, the muzak is a plus idea,
But generic pop is a void.
Try somethin'
More progressive.
Okay.
How long you been a dentist?
It's a semi-grim job.
A long time.
I studied dentistry back in the '70s,
But I got sidetracked.
I went back to school because I like this profession.
Kids-- you fill me with energy.
(laughing)
Bizarre.
I like it.
Dr. Lindheim?
Please, come in.
I, uh... Just wanted to tell you how lucky
We all feel to have had you with us
At haverstock this last year.
Most dentists of your caliber wouldn't come near
A reform school.
Well, I'm happy to hear that,
But it's really no sacrifice on my part.
These kids, they give me just the kind of... Stimulation
I need now.
Well, they sure seem to like you, too.
Which, uh, makes it all the harder
To tell you the news:
The school's closing down in two weeks.
Why?
You know the bureaucrats;
A matter of funding, among other things.
I'm just as sorry about it as you are.
(door opens, closes)
¶ ¶
Warden: I'm sorry, eli.
Your stay of execution's been denied.
Eli: No!
(creaking)
Warden: The electric chair hadquite a history.
It was installed in 1937.
There were 19 men executed in it, 18 of them successful.
You mean, someone survived?
In 1978.
Fellow by the name of eli pittman.
He was convicted of murdering his girlfriend.
The chair gained a certain... Notoriety
After pittman lived through his execution.
That's where it used to be.
The chair was never used after the pittman incident.
It was sold to a private collector, I believe.
Uncle lewis?
Uh, whatever happened to pittman?
Oh, that's the sad part.
Turns out that he was really innocent.
Another man confessed to the killing.
I always had a feeling about pittman.
Even tried to get him a stay of execution.
Can you imagine being innocent and still getting executed?
Mm. Well, he must have been in pretty bad shape, hmm?
Yeah, he was.
A little while later,
He was transferred to the temple hills mental hospital.
Well, I'd like to stay
And help you some more on your book on infamous antiques,
But the wife says dinner 6:00 sharp,
And I don't like to keep her waiting.
Oh-oh, of course not. Thank you very much, warden.
You've been more help than enough.
I'm dr. Lindheim.
Nice meeting you.
Open.
Yeah.
I'll bet you chipped that lateral incisor in a fight.
Same thing happened
To me once.
You get in plenty of fights when you're an orphan.
You're an orphan, too?
Yeah.
Tough break, isn't it?
No family, no friends,
No one who cares whether you live or die.
I had a girlfriend,
But she's been gone a long time.
Now all I have is my work.
You and the other kids,
You help me to live a full life again.
You give me the juice I need to go on, and I appreciate that.
You're okay, doc.
(electrical zapping, crackling) (screaming)
(zapping continues)
(whispers): Power...
(deep whirring)
(whirring growing louder)
(whirring continues growing louder)
(car horns honk in distance)
(crying): Please...
I'm innocent.
Put him back in the chair.
This is a horrible mistake.
He was sentenced to die.
(echoing laughter)
(echoing laughter fades away)
Yes?
Mr. Kendricks...
I'm dr. Christian lindheim.
We spoke on the phone. Oh, yes. Come in.
Sit down-- can I get you
A cup of coffee? No, thank you.
(soft chuckle)
I must say,
I'm thrilled to have a former district attorney
Willing to discuss my case.
Normally I wouldn't, but it sounded so intriguing
I could hardly resist.
You say you have proof
That an innocent man was convicted of murder?
Indeed I have.
I'm most interested.
A potential settlement
For any lawsuit would be astronomical.
Excuse me, dr. Lindheim...
H-have we met before?
Ten years ago.
I'm eli pittman.
That was not
My fault.
The evidence was... Was conclusive.
Oh, I know.
I think that, um...
That under the circumstances-- excuse me--
It would be best if you would leave now.
Yes.
I think it would be best, too.
(buzzing, crackling)
(yelling)
(continues yelling)
Ryan: Jack.
We found all kinds of stuff on pittman in the library.
I made xeroxes of everything.
It's terrible what happened to him.
Yes, yes, it was.
He was discharged from the hospital
About eight months after the failed execution.
Apparently, he was something of a legal embarrassment.
There was no precedent to hold him.
Where is he now? Well, nobody really knows.
He was an orphan, so there were no relatives.
Let me have a look
At those clippings, would you, micki?
Dear god!
What is it?
Daniel kendricks.
He was electrocuted in his office last night.
It was on this morning's news.
He was the d.A.
Who prosecuted pittman?
Yes, uh, this is speed demon courier service.
We have a package here for judge joseph avery.
We need to verify when he'll be home for delivery.
Thank you. You've been very kind.
Get this, eli pittman was a fourth-year dental student at state university.
Phi beta kappa, no less.
(wry chuckle)
How could I be so stupid?
Dr. Christian lindheim,
The man who bought the chair from lewis.
I'd assumed that he was a medical doctor.
Never even thought about him being a dentist.
What are you saying?
No wonder the medical association
Didn't have any record on him.
The dental association just might.
You're not thinking that dr. Lindheim
And eli pittman are the same person?
That's exactly what I'm thinking, micki.
(rock music playing)
(exhales)
(gasps)
You just scared the hell out of me.
I'm sorry, melissa-- I didn't mean to.
I knocked, and I thought I heard you tell me to come in.
I was just on my way out.
Yeah? You're not a narc or anything, are you, doc?
Come on. I just came by to see why you missed your appointment.
What appointment?
They didn't tell you?
I have to check that crown I cemented last week.
You've been excused from class.
So... History class is history.
Uh-huh.
I like it. (laughs)
You gonna give me some more of that funny gas?
Of course. Anything you want.
Look, if pittman is lindheim and he's got the chair...
Yeah, but what's the chair got to do with it?
I'm not even sure right now.
But first thing we have to do is find pittman.
Or lindheim. And warn all the people that he may be after.
All the people in those photos? Mm-hmm.
But what are we gonna tell them?
Well, first, micki, let's hope that they're still alive.
Now, let's have a look at that lower cuspid.
(pop music playing)
Can we crank it up a bit?
No, not the music.
I'm talking gas. (laughs)
Melissa?
You in there?
That crown's just fine.
You know, doc...
You're a nice guy, not like the suits.
(sighs)
(buzzing)
(zapping, crackling)
Sorry to disturb you, doctor-- have you seen melissa duvall?
She didn't show up for her history class.
No, I'm afraid I haven't, mr. Downing.
Hmm. Well, if you should see her, would you give me a buzz?
Absolutely.
(deep whirring)
(whirring growing louder)
(whirring continues growing louder)
Judge joseph avery, 24 west 59th street.
You sure he's gonna be home?
Yes, I talked to him-- he said he's gonna be home.
No way was I gonna talk to him about this stuff over the phone.
Can't wait to see you explain it to him in person.
Pittman: Judge avery.
Yes?
Who is that?
An old friend with an ethical question.
Are you the young man I spoke to on the phone earlier?
I'm afraid we haven't spoken in ten years.
The ethical question I mentioned
Is as follows:
What would be the proper...
Or rather, the judicial form of punishment
For someone who wrongfully executed an innocent man?
(echoing laughter)
(echoing laughter continues)
(echoing): I want to know... I want to know...
What it did to him... What it did to him.
I want to know... I want to know...
What it did to him... What it did to him.
I want to know... I want to know...
What it did to him... What it did to him.
You!
Don't you come any closer!
Gladly.
(electricity crackling)
(gasping)
(groans)
Get out of the water!
What's wrong?
You got the keys?! Give me the keys!
You've got the keys!
I must have dropped them.
He's going to electrocute us!
Wait! Wait! Wait!
Lock the doors.
I saw this on the news.
Lightning... Lightning hit the car,
And the guy inside wasn't hurt.
There was something about it, uh...
Grounding out or something.
Just don't touch anything metal.
(thunder crashing)
(electrical crackling)
It seems to be stopping.
I'll go find the keys.
Jack, I'm telling you, it was unbelievable.
I mean, this guy had a zillion volts
Coming out of his fingertips.
Did you see his face?
No. I didn't get a good look at him.
Well, this is hardly what I expected.
You mean, this man is becoming
Some kind of a transformer or capacitor,
Using electricity to kill?
Jack, every single person in those photos
Has turned up dead-- accidental electrocutions.
All of them?
Of all the ones we've been able to track down.
I mean, there is a group photo with not everyone captioned.
Here it is.
Now, we haven't been able to I.D. This man
And a couple of guards.
Well, warden hobbs should be able to help us there.
Ryan, you'd better check with him.
I've also been able to discover the whereabouts
Of dr. Christian lindheim.
You're kidding. Where?
The dental association had a record on him, all right.
He's on staff at that old haverstock reform school.
I've made arrangements for us to pay them a little visit.
Buying antiques? What else?
Well, if lindheim and pittman are the same person,
You guys better be wearing your rubber boots and gloves.
(thunder crashing)
Yes. Some storm.
And, like a fool, I forgot my rain boots.
They certainly can come in handy.
Yeah.
Tell me, why exactly is this facility closing down?
Oh, funding mostly.
See, most of our kids are runaways and orphans.
That's not high on a politician's priority list.
And, of course, there's a high rate of escapes.
We lost three kids last month.
(thunder crashing)
Down here, we've got
Turn-of-the-century wall fixtures,
Beveled leaded glass.
We've even got an antique french bathtub.
I'm sure you'll find something interesting.
That's what we hope.
I understand that you even
Have your own staff dentist here.
As a matter of fact, we do.
Woman: Mr. Downing, please pick up extension 440.
Excuse me.
Downing here.
Oh, of course. Yeah.
I'll be right over.
Thanks for seeing me again, warden.
Just had a few more details to pick up for the last chapter.
Certainly. Anything I can do to help.
Now, these are all the people
Who witnessed eli pittman's execution, right?
Yeah. That's correct.
This guy right here-- we haven't
Been able to I.D. Him.
That's patrick streidall.
He was the jury foreman during the pittman trial.
These people must feel terrible about what happened.
No doubt about that.
So do you know where we might be able
To find mr. Streidall?
Not really. He originally lived in brookville.
Brookville. Well, that may be able to help.
I have some more information
In my personal files at home.
You're welcome to come over tonight
To go through them if you want.
Maybe after we have some dinner?
6:00 sharp, as usual? Well, I...
Peggy's making meat loaf.
That sounds delicious.
Why don't you let me give you a call?
I gotta get together with my partner,
See what he came up with.
Good. Yeah.
According to that directory,
His office is in the main building, room 144.
Well, it's a good place to start.
Eh...
Dr. Lindheim, you wanted to see m...?
Dr. Lindheim?
(screaming)
(moaning)
You look like a classical fan to me.
How about a canon in d major?
Fine.
(classical music playing)
(drill buzzing)
What did you tell them?
Tell who?
I don't understand.
Open.
(groaning)
(screaming)
The two who were asking questions...
The old man and the girl-- who are they?
What did you say to them?!
Antique dealers.
Why... Why are you doing this?
No, no.
(groans)
(screaming)
This way.
Mm-hmm.
I'm sorry, mr. Downing,
But I had to be sure no one suspects.
I assure you, all pain
Will be gone in a matter of seconds.
Look, there it is.
(crackling)
(machine humming)
(machine whirring)
(sighs)
Jack, he must have gone out this door.
Yeah.
Micki!
This is the electric chair.
He's using this for dental work?
Look at this.
Pass me that syringe.
See if you can find a small cork
From one of those bottles.
Here.
What are you doing?
Magnetizing this needle.
You're making a compass.
Pittman obviously has a huge charge of electricity.
Well, this may just draw the needle.
But we found the chair. Why do we have to go after him?
The chair's not going anywhere for a while,
But pittman evidently is.
His business must not be finished.
Look.
(steam blowing loudly) (gasps)
(crackling)
Do you hear that?
(crackling)
Yeah.
(gasps)
(sighs)
(electrical zapping)
It's just a transformer.
(scoffs, chuckles)
(zapping) (gasps)
(thunder crashing)
(grunts)
Whoo!
Well, at least we've recovered the chair.
Whatever charge he has is gonna have to last him.
I still don't understand why he didn't try
To electrocute us.
He's saving it for his next victim.
You got the chair back.
Yes, indeed we did.
What did you turn up?
Well, the guy in the photo, he turned out to be
The jury foreman. He's dead.
We should've found some way of stopping pittman.
Well, no, it wasn't pittman.
He died ten years ago, right after the trial; cancer.
So, we've got no more victims and we've got the chair.
So it looks like our job is done, huh?
There is a killer on the loose.
There's no way to prove it.
You don't understand!
Ah, ryan, we think he's been getting his energy
From killing kids.
You know, those supposed escapees
From the reform school?
Great! Just great.
And we're not at all
Sure that he has no more victims.
He left without trying to electrocute us.
He's obviously not finished.
Well, who-who could it be? I mean, everybody
In that photo is dead.
Who says it has to be someone in the picture?
That's right!
Who was in charge of the execution?
Who gave the, uh, go-ahead to throw the switch?
The warden.
It's a recording.
All the lines are down in the area because of the storm.
We have to warn him somehow.
I'm afraid we have to do more than that.
Warden hobbs invited me over for dinner tonight.
He said he'd be home at 6:00 sharp.
It's almost 5:30. We can just make it.
(distant siren wailing)
What time is it?
It's 5:57.
Peggy: How was the office today, dear?
Good. Good.
Not as good as being home with you, though.
Aw...
Has our dinner guest called?
No, but, uh, the phones are out.
I'm sure he'll be here shortly.
Okay. I'll be up in the study.
Okay, you turn left at the next corner
And it should be down two blocks.
You said he was weakened
When he grabbed hold of the hood ornament, huh?
Yeah, yeah. He barely had enough energy to run away.
Must've been grounded out or short-circuited in some way.
We must try and find a way to make that happen again.
(doorbell rings)
Oh, you must be ryan dallion.
I'm glad you could join us on an awful night like this.
Is something wrong, mrs. Hobbs?
No, no, not at all.
I, uh, I just pictured you
Much younger from my husband's description.
I'm sorry, that must have sounded terrible.
Don't give it a second thought.
Is the warden around?
He's just upstairs.
I-I'll let him know you're here.
No!
I'd like to surprise him.
I think he'd appreciate it.
Of course.
Dinner's almost ready.
Who are you?
(echoing): I'm so sorry, eli...
Your stay of execution has been denied.
(men laughing)
(all laughing)
Is there anything you wish to say...
...Say before...?
Eli...
Good god!
(doorbell rings)
Yes, may I help you?
Mrs. Hobbs, I'm ryan dallion.
But who is that man upstairs?
It's pittman.
Eli pittman?
Yes. No, wait, wait.
Call the police.
The-the-the phones are still out!
Micki, take her and go and get some help.
Micki: Yeah. Come on, let's go.
Ryan, get the jumper cables out of the car,
And then attach one of the claws
To the plumbing, to the radiators,
Furnace, anything. Anything that'll ground it.
I wondered about you, eli.
Jack: Warden hobbs,
Get away from him!
Stick around.
I'm sure there'll be enough of me
Left over for you.
It's not gonna work, pittman.
I've witnessed the whole thing.
You're more than welcome to watch.
And I'd love to hear your explanation to the police.
(grunts)
Pittman,
We've got the chair.
It's all over.
You're a dead man!
(zapping) (screaming)
(zapping fades)
(electrical popping sounds)
(gentle crackle)
(thunder crashing)
Ah, nothing like the sun.
Yeah, can't say I miss the storm,
But the lightning was kinda fun.
Speak for yourself.
Jack: Yeah,
Electricity is one of nature's most powerful elements.
Used properly, it can save millions of lives
Through modern medicine.
Maybe someday even take us
To the farthest reaches of the universe.
Not to mention power my stereo.
Thank you very much.
I guess the list of applications does go on into infinity.
But used wrongly, ooh!
How's it coming, jack?
It's finished.
It looks the same to me.
Well, there are a few little delicate adjustments.
Put your hand on the globe.
Go on, go ahead, it won't shock you.
No pun intended.
(gentle hum)
Ooh... This is pretty cool.
It kinda gives me a tingling feeling.
(giggles)
Yes, I'd say it's a success.
(laughing)