(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.
(Mozart violin piece playing)
(loud knocking on door)
(loud knocking continues)
(music continues playing)
(music stops)
(dog barking in distance)
I called.
Dr. Fenner?
Miss Aynsley.
Gail.
I'm told I have the last available space in town.
(clock chiming)
Oh, I should've started looking
for a place earlier.
The term begins next week.
I'm a graduate student in fine arts.
I'm Dean of the Veterinary School.
There's a reason the room hasn't been rented yet.
I'm a strict landlord.
I do most of my work at home here.
I write, I teach, I administrate and I have to have quiet.
So, there's no television, no stereo,
and no boyfriends trooping through
at all hours of the night.
All I've got is my slide projector.
And I promise not to run it late.
No boyfriends?
Me and my books.
Bookcases I have.
Third floor.
All to yourself.
FENNER: Bath and kitchenette, but basically illegal.
You said illegal?
I'm not zoned for tenants.
No exterior staircase, no fire place.
Oh, I don't smoke, either.
$35 off the rent.
It was my daughter's room.
It's wonderful.
Is that the closet?
It was, but it's locked now.
I've lost the key.
That's why the wardrobe is there.
If you don't have enough room for your things,
you can put them in one of the closets downstairs.
Why is the door so small?
(rattling)
¶ ¶
(bedsprings squeaking)
(rattling)
Dr. Fenner.
Yes, what is it?
You forgot to give me keys.
They're labeled.
I have to get to the office. Dr. Fenner.
Yes?
There was a rat in my room last night.
Rats?
(chuckles)
The only rats at this house are the ones I keep in formaldehyde.
Um, this one was alive.
I heard it scrabbling around in that closet.
It woke me twice.
There are no rats in this house.
¶ ¶
(door creaking)
(slide projector clicking)
(loud snap)
¶ ¶
(rattling)
(door creaking)
(rapid footfalls)
¶ ¶
(creaking)
¶ ¶
(creaking)
¶ ¶
(birds chirping)
(knocking on door)
If you still want a ride to the campus,
I'm leaving in two minutes.
There's a rat in that closet.
I managed to get it open.
How?
The key to the door also fits the closet.
I'll show you.
My daughter
lost the key a long time ago.
That door hasn't been opened in years.
I got it open last night, and I put a rat trap inside.
What did you catch?
Nothing.
The trap disappeared.
Do you think the rat appropriated it
to his own uses?
It must have moved the trap somewhere else.
Maybe your rat was raised on rutabagas.
Rutabagas?
Rutabagas are brain food.
Rats may be smart enough to avoid a trap,
but not smart enough to rearrange the furniture.
What's on the other side of that closet?
Attic space.
But it's closed off.
There's no way of getting to it.
Could be fumigated.
I'm going to be late.
Ready?
(sighs)
No, I would not care to invest in...
(door opening)
(creaking)
¶ ¶
(loud snap)
(cries out)
(ringing)
(phone continues ringing)
(sighs)
(door closing)
It's about time he got back.
It was Margaret's room.
Where is she now?
Montpelier, Vermont.
She has a boyfriend.
I paid for four years of college, two graduate schools,
and now, of course, she's painting houses for a living.
What about your wife?
A lump.
A lump?
Mm, in her breast.
Mastectomy.
Another lump.
A second mastectomy.
I-I...
Chemotherapy.
Spleen, liver, death...
and inheritance taxes.
I can't get that closet door open.
Well, of course not.
I told you that when you moved in.
No, it was open this afternoon when I came home from school.
Then it shut by itself, and I can't open it again.
I tried a screwdriver.
That's why I put the standing wardrobe in there,
so you wouldn't have to bother with that closet.
There's something living in that closet, Dr. Fenner.
(clicking)
(creaking)
¶ ¶
(screaming)
(growling)
(screaming) (growling)
(screaming continues)
(growling)
(cracking)
(croaking)
(nails clicking on floor)
(croaking)
(bird cooing)
I spoke to her briefly last night, yes.
No, I didn't see her this morning, Mrs. Aynsley.
I rented your daughter a room in my house.
I didn't become her legal guardian.
(bird cooing)
Probably wasn't even awake when I left this morning.
I have 8:00 office hours on Thursday.
No, I will not see if she has an appointment book.
I teach veterinary science,
not espionage.
I... I'm sure that she will call you
once she gets settled in.
Now, you, um, really must forgive me.
I'm having root canal work done in half an hour.
Yeah, thank you.
Good-bye, Mrs. Aynsley.
Yes.
(sighs, screams)
(gasping)
(sighs)
(croaking)
Yes.
She's such a pretty little girl.
(smacking lips)
Yes, you're so beautiful.
Do you know it? (croaking)
What?
I don't know...
What am I going to do with you?
I'm gonna tell you a nice story.
We're just gonna go upstairs,
and we're gonna tuck you into bed.
And then, I'm gonna tell you a...
yes, a nice little story.
Would you like that?
Hmm, you want to go upstairs?
Oh, come on now... yes, give me a hug.
Yes, yes.
There we go.
We'll go upstairs now.
(purring)
Let's go upstairs.
Take you to bed now.
We'll go upstairs,
and I'll tell you a nice story.
How would that be?
Would you like a nice story, hmm?
Would you like a nice story?
Yes, yes.
NARRATOR: The dark side is always there.
Waiting for us to enter.
Waiting to enter us.
Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.