Episode Transcript
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(00:03):
Dust, starring Bill Smithrovich with StacyKeach as your narrator, was adapted for
radio by Dennis Etchison and written forthe Twilight Zone by Rod Serling. Heard
in the cast were Rich Komenick TonyCastile, Dale Rivera, Monique Librejos c.
J Amari, Amanda Amari, ChristianStalte, Eddie Martinez, Doug James,
(00:24):
Frennette Leebel, Alex Sopener, MegFalcon, Brenda Redhead, Rick Arthur,
Karl Lamari, Vince Amari, RogerWalski and Jason Mallow. To learn
more about the Twilight Zone radio dramasand to obtain audio cassettes and CDs of
these programs, visit our website attwilight Zone Radio dot com. The producers
(00:46):
of the Twilight Zone wished to thankCBS Enterprises, Carol Serling, Dennis Etchison,
Dick Bresha Associates, Claire Simon,Casting, Terry Jennings, Exim Satellite
Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, you, our sponsors and our radio affiliates for
helping make this series possible. Thiscopyrighted radio series is produced and directed by
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Carl Lamari and Jason Mallow for FalconPicture Group. Doug James speaking, You're
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traveling through another mentioned, a dimensionnot only of sight and sound, but
of mind, a journey into awondrous land whose boundaries are those of imagination.
Your next stop the twilight zone.There. How's that? Keep the
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board straight? Jonesy? Oh,what's the difference? If it ain't straight?
Somebody steps up and boom they fallright through. We got a broken
leg, broken leg, broken neck, all the same. Well, now
what if it's the padre, He'sgot to say his peace, don't he?
Yeah? I guess keep working aboutready for lunch? Not yet too
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hot to work this time of day. Sheriff wants it done. You know
that a man gets partsed, oughtto have himself a little drink once in
a while. Canteena's not open yet. It's because everybody's taking a siesta.
You know what a siesta is,don't you, Deputy. That's when you
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lay down someplace, pull your hatover your eyes, and have yourself a
little snooze. Good for what ailsyou? Does a man? Good?
Know what I mean? Go getanother two by four? No more left
then? Cuts ain't got a sawover brother woodpile. I sure don't see
it in front of the blacksmiths Jonesy. Yet, well, maybe we better
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wait a while. How's it coming, ed? Oh pretty soon now,
Sheriff Jonesy here's not ready to putup the crossbeam. Maybe you'd better give
him a hand. Oh he's doingall right by hisself, Jonesy. Yeah,
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you remember what I told you.What's that about that business the other
night? Drunken, disorderly. I'mgiving you a chance, Jonesy, either
that or I find you right.Don't worry, Sheriff. I'm working it
off. See that you do,ed, Yes, sir, call me
when the scaffold's in place, thenwe'll test the trap. Mighty big rush
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for one lousy Mexican. You heardme. I want it finished. I
mean, I'd like it very much, but that's the law, so let's
get it over with. I'm doingmy best, Sheriff, but I only
got two hands. Maybe you shouldhire some extra help. Nobody in this
town is going to lift a fingertoo lazy if you ask me, they're
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not lazy, ed. They justdon't want to see one of their own
swing. And I can't say asI blame them. You bitch in if
you need to a judge past sentencewe don't have much choice. Yes,
sir, get some more boards,Jonesy, let's go. I'm gone.
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There was once a village built ofcrumbling clay and rotting wood. I did
squatted ugly under a broiling sun,like a sick and mangy animal waiting to
die. This village had a sicknessshared by all its people. It was
the germ of squalor, of hopelessness, of a loss of faith. But
for the faithless, the hopeless,the misery laden, there is always time,
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ample time to engage in one ofthe favorite pursuits of men, to
destroy themselves. In just a moment, a most unusual traveler will pay a
visit to this village. He'll comeriding down the dusty main street, not
with bells and fanfare, but ona mule. It's not his first visit,
and it won't be his last.But this time he brings with him
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a gift that's for sale to thehighest bidder, one already signed, sealed
and delivered. In the Twilight Zoneand now the Twilight Zone and our story
Dust starring Bill Smithrovitch with Stacy Keachas your narrator. Oh, let's calm,
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keep it moving. Who's it?It's the man? What man?
He comes from the city with thingsto south right, that's right, m
Now you stuff tention, ladies andgents, Come on and gather around.
It's me Peter Sykes back from SaintLouis. Start with everything you need for
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kitchen and barn and the drive throatand the swollen tongue. Now, where's
everybody? Come on? Come on, just holiday. Nobody in the street.
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Well, when you look at thatsign closed today because of funeral,
I wonder whose funeral would that be. Let's have a look in the jail.
Wow, who's that in the window? Young mister kay Goes. If
I'm not mistaken, get away fromhere? What no visitor allowed? Will
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mister Geagos? I would say,you have no choice in the matter.
Leave me alone. Ah, buttoday's a special day, isn't it a
very special day? Now? Let'ssee what might this special day? Be?
A birthday? No wedding day?I don't think so. Wait I
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remember now, just this moment cameback to me. Today is the day,
young mister Diegos killer children dangles atthe end of a rupe because you're
gonna get hanged from that gallows,right, over there. Hello, Jonesy,
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Deputy Sicks, I have something foryou, Jonesy in my saddle bags.
Yeah, what's that good whiskey fromSaint Louis eighty five cents of court
not around here, Sheriff wouldn't likeit. How about you, Deputy?
I got postcards, wonderful postcards onthis trip. French dancing girls in their
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native costumes. Later, Sacks,we're going inside. Well, if you're
not buying, maybe the sheriff is. We got it finished, Sheriff.
Now all we gotta do is testit? All right? Boys, Sykes,
what are you doing here? Well, Sheriff, cotch a little bit
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of this, some of that?What'll be your fancy this fine day?
What do I fancy? I'll tellyou what I fancy, Sykes. I'd
like you to take your fat cucassand your loud mouth out of my office.
This is a small room and it'salready full of hot air. Don't
need any more rope, do you, eh? Coregos, What about you
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leave them be? How about nicehacks tart to cut those bars? Pike,
you gotta see the fancy five strandHemph. I sold this town for
your necktie party. Diegos. Itcan lift five people anymore at home?
Like you look, I told yougo pedal your wear someplace else. Well,
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well, look at him sitting therein the dark. Better go back
to the window, Goea goes.There's gonna be a funeral procession down that
street. They'll be burying the littlegirl you mangled under your wagon. Yeah,
you're sobered up now. Uh Doyou remember the little girl, don't
you? He got stink and drunk, and you erased your wagon down that
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street. What you did to thatpoor little girl? I said, leave
me alone? Oh uh uh uhoh gagoes. Not yet, you'll have
plenty of room to move around.In a while, you'll be able the
kick and kick and kick outside.You want me to throw him out,
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Sheriff, don't bother. He knowsthe way. You gotta take a drink
of this, Sheriff. It's agood tonic. Put a little gristle in
your arm, just the thing tosay up for a hanging, Yes,
sir, makes you strong and firm. Here feel my muscle. I don't
touch dog meat. Sikes. Youtalk big behind the badge cotch. It
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just sounds big to you, Sikes, because you've got a little brain.
You make noises like a mountain lionwhen you're safe in a hole, but
out in the open, you're ayellow dog who barks at the moon.
Sure, Sheriff, if you sayso, you know I always had a
little question about you. Seems yougot a thing for foreigners and strays,
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but you're mighty tight lipped when itcomes to your own kind. You're not
my kinds, so don't claim anykinship. As for that boy in there,
he had his trial and today he'sgonna swing for it. But there's
nothing in his sentence that says he'sgot to be tormented by a pig who
sells trinkets at unerals. Now goon, get out of my sight.
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One question, when this day isover, Cotch, which one will you
weep for? I've got enough tearsfor both. Here comes the funeral procession
already, look at him out there, all those people following, mister and
Missus Canfield. Oh Lord, thecoffin on that wagon. Sure is little
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in the name of the Father,the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Mister and Missus Canfield there, youshut up, Sikes. I just want
you to know I'm real sorry aboutwhat happened. My condolences to you,
Thank you, But this afternoon's gonnabe a lot more cheery. Yes,
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sir, we're gonna string up thedirty little animal that done this. She'll
be avenged. You can set yourmind to rest on that score. We'll
string up that mangler of little children. If it's the last thing we do.
Leave us alone. Please come along, Dora. Let him go,
just paying my respects. Some othertime, Sikes, some other time you
can act like a man with nobrains. But not now. Now you
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keep quiet. Sheriff, Hello,Sheriff Cotts. Mister Glegos, yes,
your leader. Now look at thatwill in. Ain't that the most gall
you ever seen in one place?Gegos's old man shows his face in town
in broad daylight. And during thefuneral procession too, somebody are to take
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a horse rip to that that hurrychild, run ahead, as I told
you, But grandfather, go mychild, now, Senor Canfield, what
is it? My grandfather wishes meto tell you that his heart is broken.
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Say what I told you that ifhe could that, if he could
give tell him his own life,his own life in return, tell him,
please, his own life in returnesla, Oh, please not brow
leave us. If he could givehis own life in return, he would,
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He would do so with great willingness. He understands, mister Gunfield.
If I may, I understand whatit is like to lose one's flesh.
I understand, and I am sadfor you. Get out of our way,
both of you, please, Iask you, please, don't have
any malice for my son Louis.He did not do it on purpose,
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and he is sick in his mindand in his heart because of it.
He said, get out of myway, Senora. I am on my
knees. Please do not let themkill my son. He will spend the
rest of his life, and Iam I in your service anything, anything
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you wish, but please, pleasedo not let them do this. Can't
you say that we're burying our daughtertoday? Come grandfather, yes, yes,
give me your hand. Look atit. Look at what's he doing
here? He should have his facein shame. He should get out of
towns. What he should do?Oh? Oh please please. My son
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did not mean to do it.He is a lover of children, as
you all are. He loves allthe little children. Why don't you go
back where you came from? Takethis? Oh, grandfather, you are
bleeding. It is nothing good nameHarvey, stand back, all of you.
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The next man who throws a rockor anything else lansing to me.
You understand how the report say lines, see donkey, what's he saying?
He's not needed here? Is thatwhat you told this old man of yours?
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Gegeos, father, take Espelita home. They will hurt you if you
stay here, my son, thereis one chance. Go home now.
Luis my lucky coin. He saidthat one can make a wish on it,
any wish. I have saved itfor years. Go home, old
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man, Make your prayers, makeyour wishes. But Luis's right, you
can do nothing here. Mister Sheriff. Have you never been drunk, but
you never felt such misery that youfound salvation only in a body, never
felt pain, such pain that youhad to ride through the nights and never
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look back. Mister Glegoes, myson was hungry and he felt such a
pain, and he drank too much, and he rode down the street,
not looking, not seen. Hehad a sadness deep inside, sadness that
there was not enough to eat,sadness that he had no work, sadness
that the earth all around him wasgrowing barren in the sun. He did
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not see the little girl. Henever saw her for an instant. I
swear to you he did not.It's best that you go home now,
come grandfather. That goes for therest of you. Come on inside it
you too, Jonesy. You've seenenough misery for a while. Little girl,
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Wait what stay a minute, comeover here. That's right, I
won't hurt you. Wait for me. Grandfather. You tell him something for
me. Tell him what you tellhim. I want to help him,
understand. Tell him his coin isno good, worthless. But I have
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a magic dust. You do itturns hate to love. But it is
very, very precious, very expensive. Come friende, Now you tell them
to bring one hundred pacils to myroom in one hour, and I will
sell him the magic dust that makespeople love and forgive you understand. Huh
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you tell the old man? Nowyou go all right? Magic dust?
Now where is it? Oh?Yes, right down there on your ground.
I'll scrape up a handful and let'ssee. That should be just about
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one hundred paces worth of genuine magicdust. Come, grandfather, you must
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trust no, I cannot. Imust save Louise. There's Geges he's been
to town. Did he bring Louise? We must help them, bethroom.
What did they do to you?Nothing? They did nothing to me.
What of your boy? Did yousee Louise? See? I saw him.
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When is he coming home? Andthe sheriff will he spare him?
The sheriff can't do nothing, buthe is a good man. The town
is full of hate. They wantto see death today. Blood for blood,
even a river of it will notbe enough. Oh, my friend,
we are so sorry. Come inside, we will pray with you.
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No, there is no time.It will be soon soon, But there
is a way to change their heartsaway. I must first pay a fee
one hundred pessos. Hi, wherecan we get one hundred vesels? My
horse is worth fifty astrata. Yes, run to my house. Tell my
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wife to bring the money. Shehas saved all of it. I would
tell her Manuel, get my horse. You needed to plow the fields.
There are no crops because there isno water. You need your son.
Oh, girls, yes, Iwill pay you back. Every person,
Go and tell the others bring theircoins and their rings. We must save
Luise head. Yeah, sure,you've seen Jonesy. He's down at the
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blacksmiths. Go get him. Isit time? It will be soon enough.
Put the rope up and tie thesand bags and make sure that trap
works. Yes, sir, Louise, what want something to eat? No?
I can get something for you atthe CANTEENA just name it. No,
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thank you, sheriff. Why Iwaste good food? You smoke,
Louise? Sometimes you got a newpouch at tobacco Here, I'll roll you
one. If you like grassies,here, I lit it for you.
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There should be a lot of peopletoday. When was it God made people?
Was it on the sixth day?Sometimes I think he should have stopped
on the fifth. It's not theirfault. No, they are tired of
hating this place, the sun,the ground that is dead under their feet.
So they must find something else tohate. Maybe maybe it's just in
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them. God didn't make people tohate for no reason, didn't he?
Here they come? I can seethem from here, sorry, bunch.
More than show up at church.They want the big show Here. I
am the one you came to see. Look at him. Get away from
the window. You just rile themup. Oh there, slowly, Tom,
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Please come on, kids, you'regonna see something real special. Today,
Yes, daddy? Or where isit be? First? Let's go?
Don't want to miss it, doyou? Rogers? Huh? Hi?
Their sheriff. I had to bringthem, didn't you. What do
you mean? You know? Thisisn't a carnival, Rogers? It's a
hanging. Well. The kids,well, they ain't never seen one before.
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I figured it was about time.Yeah, I'll bet you did just
one thing? What's that? AmI telling me? Why? Why not?
They'll learn a lesson. They'll seewhat happens to drunks or kill kids.
I guess that's pretty important to you. Darn right it is. I
have to teach him. You wantthem to learn? You teach them a
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lot of things, don't you.Rogers? What's that? How do you
teach them pain? Shoot one ofthem in the arm? All right,
you kids, stay together, Comealong, may I'll tie up the horses.
Is that the man? What manin the window with the bars?
Is that the man they're going toput the rope on? See little one?
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I am the man well hurt whenthey put a rope on around his
If God wills it, Tom Junior, get away from there. Run along,
now, kids, Your dad's waitingfor you. You gotta do that
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all day, Wayne. He finishedpretty soon. I'm trying to catch my
siesta. Ain't got but another hour. Go sleep someplace else. Ain't no
place that's out of the sun.Sipped in this barn, no place laid
down anyways. Well, this ain'ta hotel. I got my blacksmithing to
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do. What's that you're working on? Let couse for the sheriff. He
asked you for him. No,but he's gonna need him when they walk
that boyd of the rope Jersey.Oh what you want now? Let's go
time already, Sheriff says, wegotta test the rig right now, right
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now, here you go. What'sthis? Sheriff cotches leg irons for the
wet back. Well, thank you, Wayne, Yeah, I do,
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ladies and gents. Let's see whowants a souvenir to mark the occasion.
I got hair ribbons for the ladies, ceegars for the men, and candy
for the little ones. Come on, come on, Peter Sikes back from
Saint Louis with a bag full oftricks. Sykes. Well, hello,
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Sheriff Cotch, beautiful day. Whenyou say not a cloud in the sky,
I thought I told you I gotno use free in this town,
Sikes. So you did, sheriff, So you did a lot of these
folks do, seeing as how thisis a special day at all. You
want to stop a man from makinga living, would it? There's honest
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ways to do it. That's notyour style, I see here. So
how much junk have you sold today? Sikes? Well I just got started.
Then. It wouldn't cut into yourbusiness none. If I were to
run you off, sure would.The crowd's filling up. I ain't had
a chance to ply my trade?What trade is that? Circling the town
like a vulture waiting the feet offthe debt. I don't rob and I
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don't cheat. Everybody gets what they'repaid for. Well, seeing sas nobody's
paid you yet, why don't youjust crawl back where you belong. You
may live to regret that catch.There's an election coming up, and when
folks see the way you push peoplearound it Having come in to Sikes and
the hell, I only hope Idon't have to see you in either one.
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Now, get the hell out ofair. We'll just see about that.
What was that all about? Nothing? Old Sacks. He's a character,
all right, him? And hiswhiskey and his way with cards.
Get the rope. We need totest the rig, Yes, sir,
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mister catch and tired, right,make sure it'll break his neck clean,
not leave him to choke to death. Quickly? Where is send your sikes?
Sikes? He's gone, what musthave road on out of town?
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But I have business, very importantbusiness. To take it easy, old
man. The hanging hasn't even startedyet. Hanging will be in a minute,
though. They're just now trying thegallows to be sure it works.
No, No, not yet orto fall? Not yet? Ready to
share? All right? Go ahead, got hold of the rope, Jonesy,
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I got it. Then let herrip. Get ready, Louise,
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it's about that time. I'm ready, Sheriff. I suppose I should put
these on you. You'd think Iwill run, No, I don't not
really no place to run too.That crowd out there, some of them
would just like to tear you apart. And I would like to walk like
a man, not like an animalin chains. You know, I'd like
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to see that too. I believeyou you won't need these lights cups.
Come on, son, Oh therehe is journey this killer. Well,
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this is what we came to see. So was the girl? He run
down? I do, Come on, he is not there, he is
my son? Yeah yeah, sure, old man, God, no,
no, here you goes what you'relooking for? Me? Senor sigh sh
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Come over here behind the building.Now, then, the little girl told
you. See she told me.She said that you have a dust that
will save my son, a dustwith med properties. That's the idea,
old man. A little bit ofthis sprinkle over the heads of the crowd,
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and you'll see some real magic.You mean that small bag does it
not contain tobacco? Oh no,not this pouch. You'll see it'll stop
them from hate in your son,make them feel sympathy for him. Then
who knows, maybe they'll even lethim go. This is a very big
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magic. Did you get the money, old man? See see you have
it with you here in my handkerchief, just as you said, gold pieces.
Where do you get on? Allmy friends? My friends went into
the city. One sold the wagon, another sold the horse, some borrowed.
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We got many vessels and we convertto them. Let me see it
will work, mister Sykes, themagic dost it will work? Yes,
yes, I guarantee you. Thenyou are a strange man. You sold
the rope to hang my son,and now you send me that which will
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save him. I'm a businessman,mister Gegos, I sell that which is
needed. I make no distinctions.It's called equality. Now this will work
like I told you, it's bigmagic. All you have to do is
give me the coins and the dust. Here, luis, luise, my
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son. I am just throw someinto the air over their heads and then
watch what happens. That's right,just what the Lord is, my shepherd.
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I shall not want. You don'thave to say anything. Father,
I never went to church. Thereis still time, my son. I
can't change. Now. You willraise a Catholic, won't you? We
never had much time for. Thenlet's get it. Lo do I walk
through the valley of the shadow ofdeath. I shall fear no evil,
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for the Lord is with me.He he maketh me lie down in green
pastures. I will dwell in thehouse of the Lord forever. Now,
Sheriff, all right? Ed?What the nose around his neck? Amen?
Stand down, Padre, No,not yet, I have the dust.
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Come with me, eh, Pedro. You must pay now you must
pay heed to the magic. What'sthat old Coop talking back, Jonty leaven
Bee beating magic. You must pay? What kind of magic? What's he
got in the bag? See?I know with all your heads in the
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air, all of you, itis only for love. It is for
compassion. The magic is for thenceone can leave as you would want yours
to live. Magic magic, magic. Watch that old man. You wouldn't
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want to trip and fall down.Watch it. I didn't do nothing,
Sheriff, back off. It isfor love. The magic fee is for
love. Now I don't believe it, but it couldn't have darn it,
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Sacks. What kind of rope didyou sell this town? It was new
rope, five strand to him.Nobody could have broken it, but it
did right through all five strands.Come on, Luis, what are you
doing helping him to stand up likea man? A miracle, a miracle
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you sent him free. You can'tdo that, Cotch, what about it?
Mister Canfield, missus Canfield. Youcannot defeat the magic. Gotta hang
him again. There are only twopeople here who have the right to beg
an eye for an eye? Whatabout it? Folks? No more today,
John, no more. I justcan't take anymore. But he killed
(34:39):
our child. Yes, he did, and a part of himself when he
did it. He suffered enough.You're sure there's been quite enough pain,
John, Quite enough. It hasto stop now or or we'll die ourselves,
Sheriff Cotch, Yes, mister Canfield, there must be There must be
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another hand in all this to makethe rope break like that, Another hand,
maybe the hand of providence. Youwant to stop it, then,
yes, John, what is it? We leave it like this? We
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leave it like this. One victimis enough, Dora, one is too
much. I think we should allgo home. Now, get up,
Louise. I'm free. Are anyof us free? But you can go
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home? You have that much freedom? Yes, my son, come,
it was magic, my father,it was magic, magic dust. We
will go home now, ed Yeah, tell him to open the CANTEENA I
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think I'd like a drink. Youand Jonesy too. You don't have to
ask me twice, Sheriff. Let'sget moving. It was new rope.
I tell you it was brand newrope bought and paid for. Oh well,
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another day, another dollar. Comeon, Gil, we'll find us
another town from now on. Idon't unders standard. Why how could it
break like that? There was nothingthe old man's pouch except dust dust and
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me. Well, at least Igot me some shiny gold coins. That's
what I've got. What are youkids looking at? H huh ah huh.
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What's the matter that got your tongues? All right? It was magic,
that's what you want to hear.Magic. I go on, take
them, your yours, take them, take them. It was a very
(38:00):
small, misery laden village on theday of a hanging, and of little
historical consequence. And if there isany moral to it at all, let's
just say that in any quest formagic, any attempt to understand sorcery,
witchery, ledger domain, first checkthe human heart, for inside that deepest
(38:22):
of places is a wizardry that costsfar more than a few pieces of gold.
Tonight's Cason point offered without further comments. In the Twilight Zone. More
from the Twilight Zone after this Hello, I'm Stacy Keach. I hope you're
(38:49):
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(39:12):
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