WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:05.040 Escape. 2 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:10.119 Escape tonight to a fabulous world where there is a 3 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:11.519 Diamond as Big as. 4 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:20.480 The Ritz, a Columbia broadcasting system and it's affiliated stations 5 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:24.239 for resentts. Escape a new series of programs, of which 6 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.760 this the third is The Diamond As. 7 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:27.920 Big as the Rints by F. 8 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.920 Scott Fitzgerald, produced and directed by William N. 9 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:31.440 Robeson. 10 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:41.399 In a country as large as ours, there are many 11 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:45.799 odd and wonderful corners hidden away, but none more fabulous 12 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:48.960 and wonderful than the one conceived in the imagination of F. 13 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:52.320 Scott Fitzgerald and located in the pages of his famous 14 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:56.640 short story The Diamond As Big as the Ritz. It 15 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.240 is described in the words of John Unger, twenty years old, 16 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.399 impressionable and quite willing to swear to the truth of 17 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:05.079 this whole strange affair. 18 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.840 I'd been going to the Saint Midas Prep school for 19 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:10.439 a couple of years, and this was my second summer vacation. 20 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:13.760 I'd met this fellow, Percy Washington during the winter and 21 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:16.239 got to be pretty good friends with him. Only I 22 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:18.400 didn't know about his family, or where he came from, 23 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:20.959 or anything like that. Of course, I knew he must 24 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.040 be rich, because Hall of fellas a saint. Midas come 25 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:26.200 from wealthy families. So when he invited me to spend 26 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:28.560 the summer at his home out west someplace, that was 27 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:32.400 okay by me. Well, we've been on the train overnight 28 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:35.359 when he first mentioned it. I don't even remember now 29 00:01:35.400 --> 00:01:38.200 what led up to it. We've been talking about first 30 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:44.959 one thing and then another. Exactly where is your home, Percy? 31 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:47.599 I mean you bought the train tickets and office. 32 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:50.840 It's still Montana's sort of Montana. 33 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:54.400 Oh yes, it's pretty wild country, isn't it. 34 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:56.200 Some of it is. 35 00:01:56.519 --> 00:01:58.799 When I you take Haities, Missouri, where I come from, 36 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.400 it's been settled one hundred fifty years, one of the 37 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:02.799 first times on the Mississippi River. 38 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:05.719 Indeed. Oh sure, that's very interesting. 39 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.439 Huh. I sure do appreciate you not making jokes about it, 40 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:11.400 you know the way some of the fellas do when 41 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:15.560 I say I come from Hades. Why my father's plantations? 42 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:19.080 Godges, do you know that my father is the richest 43 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:22.719 man in the world. Uh, by far the richest. 44 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.360 Well, I read about a man that paid taxes on 45 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.639 a five million dollar income. 46 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:27.520 Small fry. 47 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:30.919 If my father paid tax on his real income, he 48 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:34.159 disrupt the whole economy of the United States. 49 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.719 No kidding. I like rich people, and the richer fella 50 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:38.879 is the better. I like him. 51 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:41.280 My father could buy out all the millionaires in the 52 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:43.199 country and not even know he had done it. 53 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:46.680 Is that a fact? Wife? Is that the Slitzer Murphy's 54 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.680 once they're plenty of rich? Why their daughter Vivian's got 55 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:52.759 rubies as big as hen's eggs and sapphires that glue 56 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:53.639 like headlamps. 57 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:57.120 I like jewels, always have. I used to collect them 58 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:00.599 instead of stamms and diamonds. Whether Schlitzer Murphy had diamonds 59 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:04.879 as big as walnuts? Oh that's nothing, huh, nothing at all. 60 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:11.520 My father has a diamond as big as the Ritz. Please, 61 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:15.919 I'm not joking, but you mean as big as the 62 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.560 Ritz Carlton Hotel exactly. My father has a diamond as 63 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:29.599 big as the Ritz. Well, from there on it was 64 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:30.639 something like a dream. 65 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:33.319 We got off the train about Desk at a little 66 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:37.680 whistle stop called Fish, Montana. There wasn't anything there, not 67 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:41.199 even a station, just a broken down old buggy and 68 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:44.840 four or five sheep herders lounging beside the track, and 69 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:48.520 I suppose wondering who we were anyway, Percy and I 70 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:50.879 climbed into the buggy, and without saying a word, the 71 00:03:50.960 --> 00:04:01.000 driver cracked his whip and off we went. I don't 72 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:03.360 know how far we travel We didn't seem to be 73 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:06.639 following any road. After an hour or so, it got dark, 74 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:09.479 but the driver kept right on, never saying a word. 75 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.399 I hope you'll pardon this inconvenience, John, but we have 76 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.160 to take certain precautions, you know. 77 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:20.759 Oh, that's all right. 78 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:22.240 Anyway, we're almost there. 79 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:24.720 You're home, you mean, oh, no, to the place where 80 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.480 we consider it safe to transfer transfer What do you mean? 81 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:32.600 There's the signal now, headlights well up, the horse absom 82 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:33.240 here we. 83 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:38.319 Are an automobile, but there's no road. 84 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:41.279 Oh, this car is specially built, doesn't need roads. 85 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:43.519 Welcome home, must. 86 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.720 Good evening, Gigsum. Oh, come on, John, let's get in. 87 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:51.560 But that door opened by it so sonically controlled, you know. 88 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:56.240 Gosh, Hey, what's this car made out of silver? 89 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:57.800 No platinum? 90 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:01.160 And those are emeralds in the hubcaps and me upholstering 91 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:08.240 it's per mink. You're already must anytime, Gigsum. You've probably 92 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:12.079 noticed the exceptional brightness of the headlights, the lenses are 93 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.199 cut from diamonds. 94 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:17.240 Boy, what a car in this old junkie We use 95 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:18.439 it for a station wagon. 96 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:35.480 What are we stopping for? This is just a deserted canyon. 97 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:37.879 Oh, we're not there yet, John, it's a little further. 98 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:40.360 Wait you'll see hell. 99 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:48.360 Oh what, Percy, what's that the noise they're sending the 100 00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:51.959 hooks down? Hooks, Yes, to attach through the wheels. You 101 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:55.519 know that's what Dixon is doing now. But oh, yes, 102 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.279 I forgot to mention. Gigson will look after you during 103 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:01.360 the visit, look after me your personal valet. 104 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:02.319 Of course. 105 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:05.240 There'll be other slaves available too, whenever you need them. 106 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.079 Do you have a lot of slaves? 107 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:08.399 Oh? 108 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.839 Three or four hundred? I suppose already, Gigson. 109 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:13.120 Yes, must. 110 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:25.319 Hello a store. Look we're leaving the ground. 111 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.560 Yes, there's a hoy step there on top of the 112 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:29.480 cliff has cables about. 113 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:30.480 A quarter of a mile long. 114 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:35.360 But what four Oh, it's the only way in imagine 115 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:38.800 hoisting an automobile a quarter of a mile up the 116 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.879 side of a cliff. It's nothing really, As you may 117 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:44.480 have guessed, John, this is not going to be like 118 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:52.160 anything you ever saw before in your life. 119 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:02.000 Well, John, there it is. 120 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:06.639 That's your home. Oh it's magnificent, glacial. 121 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:08.399 It's not a bad little place. 122 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.120 How big is it? 123 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.000 I suppose you mean the number of rooms. 124 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:15.360 I think it's around a hundred and forty, but Father 125 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:19.920 may remember exactly. Then, of course there are other buildings, slaves, 126 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:21.120 quarters and things. 127 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:24.120 Why has anybody ever found out about it? This place? 128 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:27.000 I mean, well, for one thing, it's the only five 129 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:30.560 square miles in the U United States that have never 130 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.480 been surveyed. 131 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.120 Huh why not? 132 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:35.360 Oh, things were arranged. 133 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:37.560 I don't see how that's possible. 134 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.399 Believe me, it hasn't been easy. I understand. Grandfather had 135 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:45.319 to bribe three government bureaus, a vice president, and half 136 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.839 of Congress ones to keep this place off of the maps. 137 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:51.839 Oh but surely somebody stumbled on to it. Prospectors people 138 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:52.079 like that. 139 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:55.639 Oh, yes, that happens occasionally. Then, of course we have 140 00:07:55.800 --> 00:08:00.720 to arrange things. You mean, not always. Usually we just 141 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:04.000 take them prisoner and keep them same as the aviators. Oh, 142 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.639 planes come here, well, once in a while they fly over. 143 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:10.360 Of course they never get away. We have nine anti 144 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.319 aircraft batteries around the hill here. 145 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:15.480 You shoot them down. 146 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.000 Oh, yes, great sport. 147 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.680 It does upset mother a bit, though, and there's always 148 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.920 a chance that one might get away. That's father's greatest worry. 149 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:31.120 This place, this whole thing, it's it's fantastic. Oh, come now, John, 150 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.240 I picked you for a fellow with his feet on 151 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:36.159 the ground, and you haven't seen anything yet. You know 152 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:45.759 this is only the beginning. 153 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:52.559 And it was only the beginning. We crossed the acres 154 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.320 of lawn and entered the great Chateau, and from that 155 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:59.159 moment on, vision upon vision tumble together in a gigantic 156 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:04.360 kaleidoscope of color symmetry and exquisite harmony. But there were 157 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:08.799 corridors lined with gleaming crystals, lit by lamps cut from emerald, 158 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.480 And there were great halls carpeted with chinchilla fur and ermine, 159 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:16.519 and some with floors of clear transparency flaming in the 160 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.519 shifting glow of a myriad colored fire beneath them. And 161 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.840 there was a white haired man, pink faced and pleasant, 162 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.639 who was Percy's father, and a lovely lady with dark 163 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:32.240 hair piled high on her head like a fragile queen, 164 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:39.720 who was Percy's mother. Soft music came from hidden places, 165 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:45.120 Perfumes filled the air, Exotic foods and wines more rare 166 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:49.919 than pearls. And finally, sitting in my chair in the 167 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:58.039 Great banquet Hall, I quietly fell asleep. I thought there 168 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:01.320 could be no more nor greater wonders. I was wrong. 169 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:05.000 There were many more and greater ones, and one of 170 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:16.960 them I discovered the next morning in the garden. Hello there, 171 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:21.879 huh oh, oh, you're lovely. 172 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.840 My name is Kismian. You're John Hunger and you're a 173 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:25.639 friend of my brother. 174 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:31.240 Are you from the East, No, well, at least not exactly. 175 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:35.799 I'm from Hades, Oh, Missouri. 176 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:38.320 Would you like to sit down here on the grass? 177 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:39.600 Well, yeah, sure I would. 178 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:42.720 I'm more used to school this fall. Do you suppose 179 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:43.360 I like it? 180 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:46.039 I think so. Of course it'll be different from all this. 181 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:48.919 That's what Jasmine says. And she's in the east. Now 182 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.200 I've never been outside. 183 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:53.360 Who's Jine, my sister. 184 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:57.519 She's older than I am. 185 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.279 I hope you won't be offended. But well, you're the 186 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.200 most beautiful girl I've ever seen. 187 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:08.279 Yes, I know what. I surprised you didn't I a 188 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.600 year ago I would have said thank you. But father 189 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:13.279 says it's very necessary to learn to take things for granted. 190 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.200 So now I just take it for granted that I'm beautiful. 191 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:18.919 You see, you're pretty sophisticated, aren't you. 192 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:21.960 Oh, I'm not at all. I think sophisticated young people 193 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:24.519 are terribly common. I'm not a bit like that. 194 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.879 I didn't really mean it. I only said it to 195 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:27.480 tease you. 196 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.480 Well, I'm glad. I wouldn't want you to think anything 197 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:31.000 like that. 198 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:31.799 Why. 199 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.600 I don't smoke or drink even And I never read 200 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:35.840 a thing he'd said poetry. 201 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.159 I was only kidden. 202 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.120 I believe girls should enjoy their youth in a wholesome 203 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:40.759 sort of way. 204 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:43.960 Oh so do I I like you, John. 205 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.360 I wish you'd spend some of your time with me 206 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.720 this summer, not all with Percy. 207 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:51.039 Oh, I will kiss mine, I will. 208 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.080 You may be in love with me if you'd like to. 209 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:55.240 I'm absolutely fresh ground. 210 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:57.679 You know I am in love with you. 211 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.080 But of course we'll have to meet secretly. My parents wouldn't. 212 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.799 Permit it if they knew, and that's what we'll do. 213 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:05.039 Well, I have to go now. I'm supposed to be 214 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.639 with mother at eleven. Aren't you going to ask me 215 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:12.759 for a kiss? Jasmine says, boys always do nowadays. 216 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:17.399 Well, some of them do, But not me. We don't 217 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.360 expect nice girls to do that sort of thing. 218 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:28.559 In hades, it was. 219 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:33.039 A funny thing. Percy's family were polite, friendly, always smiling, 220 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:35.720 and yet all the time I had a feeling that 221 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:39.600 some terrible and golden mystery lay hidden just around the corner. 222 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:44.399 A few days after I'd met kiss Mind, Percy remarked 223 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:48.919 casually that an unusual event had occurred. A man had 224 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:52.559 escaped from the cage. I didn't know what he meant then, 225 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:55.279 but the next morning I was walking with Percy's father 226 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.559 on the grounds of the estate. 227 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:59.519 The slaves quarters are there, Miss Dangun. 228 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:02.639 Oh, yes, they're very nice. 229 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.320 Very adequate. 230 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:07.000 During one period of my youth, I became absurdly idealistic 231 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.080 and allowed them to live in luxury. 232 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:12.159 I even equipped their rooms with tile bars. 233 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.480 I suppose they used the bath tubs to keep coal in. 234 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:19.720 Mister Schlitzer murphytized, imagine the opinions of mister Schlitzer Murphy 235 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.879 are of little importance. 236 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:24.240 They did not use the tubs for coal. They bathed 237 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:24.600 in them. 238 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:29.039 Unfortunately, several caught cold and died, so of course I 239 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:30.080 had the bars removed. 240 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:35.600 Shall we move on, mister Washington Percy said something about 241 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:39.120 a man escaping from the cage. I didn't quite get it. 242 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:39.879 The cage. 243 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:43.639 Eh, well, perhaps you'd like to see it might prove interesting, 244 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.559 just as novelday. 245 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.879 It's over here. 246 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:52.080 These trees. They're sixty feet tall and they have roses 247 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.240 blooming all over them. 248 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:57.240 Rather interesting development by a Swiss botanist. They're the only 249 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.200 ones in the world. 250 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.159 I'll be done. I suppose you'll see them all over 251 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:02.120 the country in a few years. 252 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:07.320 No, no, these are the only ones that was arranged. 253 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.080 Here. We are a cage. 254 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:17.399 It's a pit dug in the ground, the grating on top. 255 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:21.159 Oh, yes, it's not really a cage except in a 256 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:21.919 certain scenes. 257 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:26.960 Well boys, how are you getting along, sirry? 258 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.960 Yeah? How many men are down there? 259 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:36.639 About fifty years? I recall? Oh are they oh aviators? 260 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:40.039 We've shut down, wandering prospectors, none of that sort. 261 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.879 Yes, But why are they kept there? 262 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:47.440 They've all had the common misfortune of having discovered El Dorado. Gentlemen, 263 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.600 I'm sure you'd like to know that your companion, who 264 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.399 departed without my permission, has been taken care of. 265 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.679 He was shot. 266 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:04.360 He was shot by some of my agents in fourteen 267 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:08.600 different places gulfed mister hunger. 268 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:14.240 They found them, then a man who got away. 269 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:18.720 Those places were towns. My agents were over eager. None 270 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.720 of them could offer a positive identification. I am afraid 271 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:24.639 the man may still be at large. So you see, 272 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.159 it's not all utopia, hair. We do have our difficulties. 273 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:32.000 Isn't it a little unnecessary holding them like that? 274 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:34.240 We're not at all. It's the only way to keep 275 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.000 this place hidden. 276 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:40.559 Yes, I guess that must be important. Percy was telling 277 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.080 me something on the train. I thought he was just kidding, 278 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.960 but he said, you had a diamond as big as 279 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:47.360 the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Oh. 280 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.200 Yes, yes, indeed, as a matter of fact, it's much 281 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:55.480 bigger than the Rits, much bigger. 282 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:03.960 Well, summer went on, and I was more and more 283 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.200 in love with kiss mine. Oh she was priceless, exquisite, 284 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:11.840 like no other girl in the world. After a couple 285 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.639 of weeks I'd kissed her, of course, and I was 286 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:19.480 really in love for the first time. I should have known. 287 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.919 I should have put two and two together when Percy's 288 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:24.840 father showed me the cage, but I didn't until one 289 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.840 morning late in the summer. I'd slipped off with kids 290 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:33.320 mind and the rose garden kiss mine. I think we 291 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.039 ought to ellope. 292 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.200 Oh, I don't know. It would be much nicer to 293 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:39.840 be married here, But then it would be more romantic 294 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.360 to her loawe. 295 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.159 Yeah, all the Sunday supplements would write stories about fabulous 296 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:48.399 errorspes with you are fabulous. You know. 297 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:51.960 I knew an heiress from Omaha once. I don't think 298 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.360 you like her. She visited my sister here. 299 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.039 Oh you've had other guests then. 300 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.320 Nah, Well, yes, we've had a few. 301 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:02.799 Wasn't your father ever afraid they might talk outside to 302 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.480 some extent? 303 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.720 Well, let's talk about something. 304 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:08.920 Pleasanter but so unpleasant about it? 305 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:12.240 Well, I grew quite fond of some of them. 306 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:16.160 You mean they told and your father, Oh. 307 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.720 They didn't get a chance to Father had to be sure. 308 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.480 That's murder. 309 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:24.680 What else could we do in the cage. But they'd 310 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:27.319 have been a constant reproach to us. And Father does 311 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:30.480 it so nicely. They're always drugged in their sleep, and 312 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.759 then we tell their families they died of scarlet fever. 313 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:37.200 And butte, I'm not sure how that affects the statistics there. 314 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.920 Of all the horrible it is. 315 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:42.880 Not, after all, be terribly boring you without ever having anybody? 316 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.480 Why father and mother have sacrificed some of their best friends. 317 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:51.599 Well you're no better than the Well, then that's what 318 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.480 they planned to do with me. 319 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:55.160 Oh couldn't you forget it and be nice to me 320 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.000 until you have put away? It's only for two or 321 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.640 three weeks. 322 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.759 You go on this way, kissing, talking about love when 323 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.200 you know I'm not much better than a corpse. 324 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.200 You're not a corpse. 325 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.599 You're not. 326 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.799 I won't have you saying I kissed a corpse. 327 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.920 Oh that wasn't what I said. I did not. You 328 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.599 said it. 329 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:13.839 Father, who kissed a corpse? 330 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.000 Nobody? 331 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:18.119 We were joking, you two having any business here anyway? 332 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:20.960 Kis mine? Go read, go play golf. Don't let me 333 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.079 find you here when I come back. 334 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:26.359 Yes, father, good day children. You see now he knows 335 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.559 you spoil everything. You don't really love me? 336 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:35.440 Kiss mine? You tell me what's the reason for all 337 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.079 this secrecy? What if you are rich and have this place? 338 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:40.039 Why would it be so terrible if anybody found out 339 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.359 about it? 340 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.720 Why it's on account of the diamond? 341 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:44.119 Of course, diamond. What is this diamond all of you 342 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.759 talk about? 343 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:49.279 Well, it's the Oh you'd better ask Percy. I'm always 344 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.440 getting things mixed up. 345 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:53.119 Well, I will ask him. And another thing. I'm getting 346 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.960 out of here tonight. If I have to dig through 347 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.720 the mountains, I'm going back east. 348 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.720 Take me with you. 349 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:02.720 No, why notis my dear? Your father wouldn't permit it. 350 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.160 If you won't take me, I'll go tell him I 351 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.759 want to marry you. 352 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.359 Oh you can't do that. He'd bumped me off this afternoon. 353 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:12.519 Oh please take me, darling. We'll be terribly poor and 354 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:16.799 very happy, and I'll cook things for you. Oh, herbs 355 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:21.240 and berries and things. Won't that be fun? You will, 356 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:21.759 won't you? 357 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:22.160 John? 358 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:29.400 Well, my head was really in a whirl. This whole 359 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:33.079 thing was fantastic. So was the family, even kids mine. 360 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:36.640 I couldn't think of anything to do, But well, I 361 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.839 rushed to see Percy. 362 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.200 But John, why didn't you ask me before? 363 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.279 Because I thought you were kidding all the time. 364 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:45.359 I know you wouldn't have believed me if I told you. 365 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.880 Well, I'm ready to believe anything. 366 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.000 No. 367 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:51.279 Well, it was grandfather who started the whole thing purely 368 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:54.279 by accident. He came out here from Virginia after the 369 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.880 War between the States and stumbled onto it under what 370 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:01.400 the diamond, that's what made this all possible. Of grandfather 371 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.640 spent two years going around to different cities of the 372 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:07.119 world selling bits of it. Then he started building this place. 373 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:10.880 He put his money in jewels, but father found that 374 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.079 radium took much less space. 375 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.440 But why the secrecy. 376 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:17.440 Oh, we just wouldn't do if anyone found out, ruined 377 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.559 the economy of the world. 378 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.759 The thing's too big. 379 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.920 And this has been going on for three generations. Then 380 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:26.640 the cage and this thing of inviting friends. 381 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:30.039 Oh, yes, you see, there wasn't really any danger before 382 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:33.119 airplanes They are what worrious. 383 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:36.319 You knew when you invited me here? What would happen? Please? 384 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:40.160 John, I thought you'd be more sensible about it. After all, 385 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.680 you can see my position. 386 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:45.839 Oh yeah, well where is it? Where do you keep 387 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.000 this diamond? This cause so cock eyed much trouble. 388 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:50.400 Oh, I thought you'd guessed. You've noticed the hill the 389 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.359 chateau stands on. 390 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.279 Yeah, it contains a cubic mile, and except for a 391 00:20:55.319 --> 00:21:00.920 thin covering of dirt, it's one big solid a diamond. 392 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:13.839 It was nearly midnight. I don't know what woke me, 393 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:16.839 but all of a sudden I was staring across the 394 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:20.480 patches of moonlight, spotting the ermine carpet of my bedroom, 395 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:24.960 staring at three slaves I'd never seen before. They just 396 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:28.960 slipped inside the door and stood there, each with a 397 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:35.839 vicious length of shiny copper wire, the official executioners. I 398 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:39.880 lay there on the bed, watching them, counting heartbeats, not 399 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:43.559 daring to move, not daring not to move. They didn't 400 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:47.599 know I'd wakened, and they began edging across the room. 401 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:50.759