(theme music playing)
NARRATOR: Man lives in the sunlit world
of what he believes to be reality.
But... there is,
unseen by most, an underworld.
A place that is just as real
but not as brightly lit.
A dark side.
(laughter, glasses clinking)
(laughing)
BLAINE: Masterful, that's what it was.
No one can dish out humiliation the way you can, Duncan.
The look on Poole's face
when I said foreclosed was absolutely priceless.
(laughing)
There's nothing like a good old public execution, is there?
A shrewd businessman
knows his limits, Jack.
And if he doesn't,
you'll be very happy to point them out, I'm sure.
To another profitable day.
So, what about my offer?
A partnership is going to be worth millions.
Provided your buyout succeeds.
I always succeed, Duncan. You know that.
Oh.
What will it be this time?
Bribery? Sex?
Or a little homicide?
Don't get sanctimonious with me.
Business is business.
You methods are every bit as brutal as mine.
Just like two scorpions in a jar, eh?
(chuckles)
(both laughing)
All right.
So, what do you say?
No. I think I'll have to pass this one up, Jack.
But I may have a better offer for you.
Like what?
I'll tell you at 10:00 tonight.
We'll make it a surprise.
I hate surprises.
What did you say?
WILLIAMS: I'll give you a million for it.
A million for what?
Your soul, Jack.
Your soul.
I said I'd give you a million dollars
for all the rights to your eternal soul.
So that's your little surprise?
Have another drink, old man.
I think you need it.
$2,000-- you don't make that shot.
Don't be a fool, Duncan.
There's no such thing as a soul.
Well, then you won't mind selling yours to me.
It will be the easiest million you ever made.
Soul.
Huh, I haven't even thought of the word
since I was a kid in Sunday school.
$3,000 on the next shot.
You know, in 15 years of our Friday nights,
I've never known Jack Blaine to back off a sure thing.
Back off? Me?
Well, here I am offering you a clear million
for the rights to your "nonexistent" soul,
and you are reminiscing about Sunday school.
Has my old atheist friend
suddenly gotten religion?
Nonsense.
Double or nothing.
All right.
Damn.
WILLIAMS: You know, the way you're losing,
you could use that extra million.
(thunder crashing)
Is it cold in here or is it just me?
More cognac, sir?
Thank you, Richards.
And would you mind turning the heat up a little, please?
Mr. Blaine seems to be catching a bit of a chill.
Right away, sir.
We don't want to add pneumonia
to your other miseries.
What do you mean by that?
You told me so yourself this afternoon
about that sorry old liver of yours.
You think I have one foot in the grave, don't you?
Well, what do you say there, old boy?
Should I have my lawyer make up that contract?
Clearly, you've got nothing to lose.
I know you, Duncan.
There's a trick buried
somewhere in this offer.
I'm just trying to make a point.
If you clearly believe there's no such thing as a soul,
well, you won't mind selling yours to me.
It won't be the first time you've made a profit
on nonexistent property.
All right, Duncan.
I'll go along with your little charade.
I think you're getting senile,
but I always say when there's weakness, capitalize on it.
Well, good, good!
Now, that's the Jack Blaine I know and admire.
Besides, another million won't kill me. (laughing)
Well, then I'll have that contract drawn up,
and you can sign it on Friday.
Friday?
You're crazy, you know that?
(thunder crashing)
Perhaps.
To my next million.
To your soul.
(thundering)
You...
(both laughing heartily)
(doorbell chiming)
Well, Jack.
Duncan...
Well how about a little eight ball before you sell me your soul?
Would you mind if we got to the business at hand?
I'm not feeling too well tonight.
Well, that's not very sportsman- like, but as you wish.
Let's see.
Oh, here's the good part.
"Within 24 hours of the demise
"of one John C. Blaine, all rights
"to his eternal soul shall thereafter
"become the exclusive property of one Duncan Oliver Williams.
"In consideration thereof,
"Mr. Williams, hereafter referred to as 'buyer,'
"agrees to deposit to the accounts of Mr. Blaine,
"hereafter referred to as 'seller,'
"the sum of one million U.S. dollars
"immediately upon execution of this contract.
"If the buyer
"should die before taking possession of said soul,
"the contract shall be considered null and void.
"If, however..."--
oh, now, this is the important part, Jack--
"If, however, buyer should meet death at the hands of foul play,
"of any kind,
"all monies shall be returned to buyer's estate
with highest interest allowed by current law."
Your idea, no doubt.
Just a precaution, Jack.
I remembered your old partner, Jeffrey Smith,
the suicide...
Or was it homicide?
Um... (coughs)
Fine. Fine.
As you said, Duncan,
easiest million I ever made.
Yeah.
(birds chirping)
Well, Jack, this is an unpleasant surprise.
I hope you don't mind my dropping by like this.
No, of course not.
It couldn't wait till Friday.
Sit down. Thank you.
I had a sobering visit with my doctor this morning.
Your liver.
Yes.
Well, have a drink.
He gives me one, maybe two months.
Never listen to quacks, Jack.
They had this old ticker giving out years ago.
And look at me, I'm as mean as ever.
Duncan, I'd like to discuss this little game we've been playing.
Well, the contract, you know what I mean.
Now, you haven't succumbed to those old fairy tales
about a soul, have you?
Absolutely not.
It's just that...
Well, it-it's just that...
my affairs will be more easily resolved
when... if we can just forget that agreement.
Out of the question.
A deal is a deal.
I paid you good money for that contract.
Take the money back.
You can find many more ways to enjoy it now
than I ever will.
I'm enjoying this immensely.
Please.
You know, Jack,
this is what life is all about.
Rolling up your sleeves, getting your hands dirty.
Duncan, you're a cruel and vicious man.
Cruel and vicious, yes...
but shrewd, too.
I'll get that million back, you'll see. (laughs)
(door opens)
A telegram for you, sir, from Mr. Blaine.
A telegram?
Well, old Jack is becoming a bit of a pest, isn't he?
Well, go ahead, read it.
"Duncan. Stop. You must accept this offer. Stop.
"Return the contract. Stop.
I'll give you a million for it. Stop."
Now let me see if I understand this correctly.
He'll give me back my million,
and he will give me an additional million?
That would appear to be the case, sir.
Well, now, that's not a bad exchange.
It's well worth the wait.
Yes, sir.
Excuse me, sir.
May I remind you that it's Thursday?
That's right.
It's your evening off.
Will there be anything more, sir?
Lock up the house.
As usual, sir.
Yes, as usual.
I never had so much fun earning a million dollars.
(thunder crashing)
(wind whistling)
Richard! Richard!
I told you to close those windows!
I told you to close the win...!
(wind stops blowing)
(distant thunder crashing)
A draft...
Mm-hmm. Mm.
I can't wait any longer to enjoy this.
(rattles cradle)
Oh, perfect.
Richard's night off, phone goes dead.
Next thing you know, the lights will go out.
(electrical fizzing, thunder crashes)
(thunder crashing)
(loud clattering sound)
(glass shattering)
(phone rings)
Hello. Hello!
WOMAN: Mr. Williams.
Who is this?!
'Tis Jenny, Mr. Williams, Mr. Blaine's housekeeper.
Well, now, Jenny, how did you poss...?
You know, I just tried this phone a minute ago,
and it was dead.
The storm is full of demons tonight, sir.
Well, now, this is a pleasant surprise.
Let me speak to Mr. Blaine.
I'm sure I have something to tell that old card
that will make him feel very happy.
I'm afraid he can't, sir.
What do you mean, I can't?! Put him on!
I can't, sir. That's why I'm callin'.
Mr. Blaine passed away this mornin'.
Dead? Mr. Blaine dead?
Oh, sir, 'twas awful.
Such hollerin' and cursin'.
But he can't be dead!
I just got a telegram.
Yes, sir, he had me send it last night.
Why, that no-good cheat.
What about my money? Why didn't you call me?!
Couldn't, sir. There was so much to do.
(voice cracking): Oh, Mr. Williams, he was supposed to be cremated
at 3:00 this afternoon.
He was what?
'Twas what he wanted, sir.
(sobbing): Oh, Mr. Williams, oh...
He got to keep my money after all.
And all I have left is a useless piece of paper.
(thundering, electrical fizzing, glass shattering)
Jenny, can you hear me?
There are prowlers in the house.
Jenny, it is Richard's night off,
and there are prowlers in the house.
Get the police immediately. Send the po...
(line disconnects)
Can you hear me?
Jenny, can you hear me?
Hello, Jenny?
Jenny?
(glass breaks)
WILLIAMS: Who's there?!
Richard...
is that you?
(thunder crashing)
(pounding on door)
At last, the police.
I've come to fulfill the contract.
I brought you my soul.
You're dead.
I was taken, Duncan.
You're dead!
Please.
He's coming for you. (thundering)
We have a contract, Duncan.
You paid for it.
No, Duncan!
(screaming)
BLAINE: You must take it.
(thundering)
He's coming, Duncan.
If you don't take it, he will.
BLAINE: Take it. Please take it before he does.
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
Take it, Duncan, before he does.
No, Duncan, it's yours.
He's here, Duncan.
Take it.
Please go away.
Go away! Go away!
Please?
Go away! Go!
(gasping)
No.
(gasping)
(groans)
(eerie laughter)
Here's what I was looking for.
"If the buyer should die
"before taking possession of said soul,
the contract shall be considered null and void."
(thunder crashing)
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
Isn't that what you said, Jack?
You must have known I have liens on this property.
After all,
there's the murder of your partner...
among other things.
And Duncan's debts are far too numerous to list.
I came...
...to collect.
(devious chuckle)
The dark side is always there waiting for us to enter,
waiting to enter us.
Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.