Producers' Showcase (1954–1957): Season 3, Episode 9 - The Great Sebastians - full transcript

[tuning orchestra music]

[dramatic orchestral music]

- [Announcer] April 1st,
1957, live from New York,

Producers' Showcase
brings you another evening

of outstanding entertainment.

[dramatic orchestral music]

[lively drum music]

[upbeat Vaudeville music]

[audience applauding]

- Madam.

And now, Madam, now, Madam,



can you give me the date of
this lady's birth, please?

- That lady's birthday?

July the 21st.

- You're correct, Madam.

- 19--
- Nevermind the year, Madam.

[audience laughs]
[audience applauds]

Now Madam, what is this, please?

- [Essie] That is a necktie.
- [Rudi] Ah, madam, and this?

Ah, come back later, Lady,

for the finish we
give away dishes.

[audience laughing]

Ah, a lady and gentleman
on the second row, Madam.

- Are you married? - Yes.
- A married couple, Madam.

Do you receive any vibrations
in this couple, Madam?



- From the lady I'm receiving
the vibrations of a name.

M-, Mirro, Miraslav

is the name of the
lady's first husband.

- Yeah, that is correct, Madam.
- Whom she loved very much.

Much more than her
second husband,

but not as much as her third
husband who is with us tonight.

[audience laughing]

[audience applauding]

[ominous music]

[dramatic music]

[lively classical music]

- [Announcer] Tonight, Producers'
Showcase proudly presents

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne

in The Great Sebastians.

[lively orchestral music]

[ominous music]

[lively orchestral music]

This is a production of Showcase
Productions Incorporated.

[lively orchestral music]

Producers' Showcase will return

with Act I of The Great
Sebastians in just a moment.

[upbeat Vaudeville music]

And now Act I of The
Great Sebastians.

[audience applauding]

- Now Madam, now Madam, can
you tell me what this is?

- It's a fur coat.

- That is correct, Madam, can
you tell me what kind of fur?

- I can, but I'd better not.

[audience laughing]

[audience applauding]
- Now, Madam.

Madam, there's a gentleman
holding up something.

Quickly, Madam, quickly,
can you tell me what it is?

- Is, a--
- quickly, Madam.

- It's a--
- Quickly, Madam, quickly!

- I don't think the gentleman
is concentrating hard enough?

- I'm so very sorry, Sir.

Madam said you are not concentrating,
you must have a very weak mind.

[audience laughing]

May, I, uh, what is this, Madam?

- Is round and-- - Yeah, very, thank you.
- It's flat. - Correct.

- It's metal. - Yes, that's right.
- Yet something inside it moves?

- That's correct, Madam.
- Oh, it's a watch, a wristwatch!

- That's correct, Madam.
- Yes, a lady's wristwatch. - Yes, correct.

- It was given to
her as a present.

- Yeah, correct, Madam, yeah.
- No, no?

Uh, uh, that's a
dirty trick, Madam.

[audience laughing]

Uh, no, you are correct, Madam.

- Yes, I know I was,
she gave it to herself.

[audience laughing]
- Ha, you see what I was...

[audience applauding]

- Madam came born with an ear.

Quiet of hands, she
can't concentrate.

What am I touching?

- It's round--
- Yes, yes, correct, Madam.

- It's not flat.
- [laughs] No, no.

- It's round like a ball.

- Yes, round like a, yes,
that's correct, Madam.

- Yes, I think it's got
something inside it?

[audience laughing]

- Yes, I hope you don't mind?
- Oh, it's a lady's head!

- Yes, that is correct, Madam.
Can you tell me the color of her hair?

- Yes, I can,
tonight it's blond!

[audience laughing] - That is
correct, Madam. [audience applauding]

Thank you, thank you very much.
[audience applauding]

- What's this?
- I'm having the room searched.

- See here, Vlasta
Habova, I am the theater--

- [Vlasta] You are
the theater manager.

You know how much money the
Sebastians have made here.

- But what's that-- - They haven't banked
anything, they haven't spent anything.

They're trying to smuggle
their money out of the country.

They have no sense
of patriotism.

- How can you say?

Sebastian is a Czech hero.

All through the war he's
broadcast from London,

gave heart to the resistance movement.
They're very well liked here!

- [Vlasta] By whom?
- By many people!

Who do you think sent
most of these flowers?

Only the Minister of Foreign
Affairs Johann Mazurik.

- Their knowing Mazurik
is not in their favor.

He's lived too long in the West.

[audience applauding]

- They're finished,
they're taking their bows!

[lively Vaudeville music]

- Ladies and Gentlemen,
may I thank you

for the way you have received
our act this evening.

In all our experience you are the greatest
audience we have every played to.

Yeah, that's so.
[audience applauding]

Yeah, isn't that so, Madam?
- They were marvelous!

- Well, perhaps that
is because, you know,

this is our farewell
performance in Czechoslovakia

or, perhaps, it is just because it
is Prague, the city of my birth.

And here we go.
[national anthem music]

Yes, thank you,
thank you very much.

- We hate to leave you, but
from here we go to London,

the city of my birth.
[England anthem music]

[Rudi laughing]
And to you--

- In London we start
our grand tour,

Germany, France.
[national anthem music]

Let's discuss, kaputz.
Very happy landing, Lady.

And did you know that in every country
we play in the native tongue?

When we are in England,
we do the act in English,

just as this moment we are
addressing you in Czech.

Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen,
you have been so wonderful,

we could go on playing
for you forever.

[audience applauding]

- I'm sure you wish to
see the rest of the Bill.

Goodbye!
- No, no.

Does that mean you
want to see some more?

[audience applauding]
- Au revoir!

- We could
demonstrate, you know?

- Auf wiedersehen!

- It has been such
a great pleasure--

- Arrivederci,
'til we meet again!

- [Couple] And God bless you!

[lively Vaudeville music]
[audience applauding]

- Yeah, don't cross under
stairs, it's unlucky.

- I'm surprised to see you here?

I thought you were still
out there doing a single?

- Essie, unless you
learn the new code,

that's exactly what I
will be doing, a single.

- You give too much, you know?

The Great Alexander
said, "A good performer

"always leaves an
audience hungry."

- Listen, if you mention the
Great Alexander once more--

- Rudi, our act is supposed
to last 20 minutes,

it says so in the contract.

Why do you want to give 'em
half as much again for nothing?

It's not good business.

- It is good business to know
what we are doing out there.

- Oh, I only missed once.

- Listen, Essie, you missed,
you missed three times!

- [Essie] What three times? - Well,
I'll tell you, Madam, if you please?

- A tie!
- No, Essie, no, that is the old code.

- [Essie] Rubber boots! If you
please, it's now rubber boots!

- [Rudi] Yes, now, if you please.
- Rubber boots.

- It is if you please.
- Rubber boots.

- It's always if you please.
- Rubber boots.

- If you please. - Rubber boots.
- If you please. - Rubber boots.

- If you--
- all right, all right.

- Yeah, and again, Madam
there is a gentleman holding

up something, quickly, can
you tell me what it is?

- No, I can't, you tell me.

- Essie, quickly is key.

K-E-Y, key, quickly.
- Key.

- All right, quickly, Madam. - Key.
- This quickly. - Key.

- Those quickly. - Key.
- Now quickly. - Key.

- Please quickly.
- Key, key, key. Key, I know it now.

- Yeah, you didn't
know it out there.

- Oh, Rudi, why do we have
to change the old code?

I did it for five years with
Alexander before I taught you.

We've done it for
20 years, dear,

why do we have to change it now?

- Because, if we
had gone on using

the old code much longer

the audience would have
begun reading our minds.

We should have changed
this five years ago.

You're not out front working
the aisles and the audience,

oh, you can't hear
'em whispering.

- Rudi!
- What?

- Somebody's been in here!

Somebody's been
all through this!

- [Rudi] They looked
at the truck, too?

I left the drawers closed!

Essie?
Did they get anything?

Essie, did they get anything?

- No, they didn't get anything.

- [Rudi] Well, wait 'til
I see Josef about this.

[fist knocking]

Yeah, come in!
- Rudi!

- Josie!

Why do we have, Josie,
will you get this for me?

Josie, while we were onstage

somebody was snooping
around in here.

- Oh, I, I can't believe that?

Strangers are not
allowed back stage!

- Is that for me?

- It came in the last
post, it's from England.

- What is the matter with you?

- I'll check immediately
with the doorman.

- Yes, see that you do.

- Do you mind?

I forgot, have you any special
interest in postage stamps?

- Postage stamps?
- Why do you say that?

- My little boy saves stamps.

He doesn't have
many English stamps,

may I have that one for him?

- Yeah, all right, all right,

but find out first,
who was in here.

- Right away!

- [Essie] Rudi, who's
the letter from, dear?

- The letter's
from the children.

- [Essie] Ah!

- Essie, was there any reason

why you didn't want Josie
to have this postage stamp?

- No.

Where do we go from London?

- Ah, you acted as if you
didn't like his asking for it?

- [Essie] Rudi, where
do we go from London?

- From London we go to Munich.
Essie, you didn't answer me.

- Oh, grand, they
love you in Munich!

- Essie--
- Do you remember?

- Oh, yeah, well, they have those
very good critics over there.

- Yeah, what was it he called you?
- He called me, "The Swallowed-Tail Swami."

[Essie laughs]

Oh, Essie, you know, you
cannot ask for more than that!

- He said you really liked it!

- Yeah, I was good, wasn't I?
- Oh, you were wonderful, Rudi!

- Yeah, yeah, you
were good, too.

- Oh, thank you.
Come on a bit more of that.

- Well, you know, so quick.

- Oh, quick was I,
well, thanks to me!

- Well, you seem to
have the answers almost

before I asked the questions.
[Essie laughing]

Oh, Essie, you really shouldn't
[speaking foreign language].

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Rudi, in Munich we
use the old code.

- We are using the new code now!

- [Essie] Not as good as the old code!
- How can you say that?

I've been working on
this code for two years,

how can you compare it to that
kindergarten system of Alexander's?

- Alexander was the greatest
mind reader that ever lived!

- If you please!
- Rubber boots!

- No, no, I don't mean that.

I mean, I don't wanna hear anymore
about your first husband.

If you please. - Now, Rudi.
If there hadn't been a Great Alexander

there wouldn't have
been a Great Sebastian.

And if there hadn't
been a Great Sebastian,

there wouldn't be any
little Sebastians, see?

- Essie, don't tear that stamp.

Essie, why were you so upset
when Josie asked for it?

- Well, you nevermind,
I'll tell ya later.

- Essie, when you won't
tell me what you are doing,

you are doing something
you should tell me

what you are doing.

Are you smuggling again?

- Well, that depends
on how you look at it.

- Now, Essie, you must tell me.

Now, you know how I feel,

I have always tried
to be an honest man.

- The less you know, the
more honest you can be.

- Essie?
- Oh, Edie's gonna meet our plane!

- Now, Essie, please tell me!
I not only wanna feel honest,

but I wanna feel sure that
you can get away with it!

- Look here!

You earned quite a
bit of money here.

- [Rudi] Essie, you can't take it out
of the country, it's against the law!

- It all belongs to us.

- [Rudi] No, if they start
searching you and they find money!

- They won't find any money!
- Yeah, but will they find?

- They won't find anything,

and if you want to see
it, look in my compact.

- There's nothing in here?

- Oh, no?
There.

- Oh, it's only a postage stamp?

- [laughs] There are only three
others like it in the whole world!

If we can save this stamp
until we get to England,

it'll be worth
over $1,000 pounds!

[Rudi gasping]

We'll surprise Edie's
wedding present! [laughing]

- You are wonderful!
Wonderful!

Essie, we have been
asked at more borders

whether we have liquor or
perfume or tobacco or currency,

but we have never been asked
if we have postage stamps!

Oh, Essie, we don't have
to lie about this at all!

- [Essie] No!
- And I think you can get away with it!

[fist knocking]

- Lock the door! - Quickly!
- Key! - Quickly!

- Key! - No quickly!
- Key! - Essie, quickly!

- Key! Key, oh. - Hide it.

[fist knocking]

- Yeah, who is it?

- It's me, Josef.

Sebastian, I'm having
the theater searched

and now, perhaps, you'll
give me the stamp?

- Stamp, what are
you talking about?

- The stamp for my--
- [laughs] Oh, the stamp!

I thought you said, yes,
of course, the stamp!

From our son to your son.

- [Josef] You have a son?

- [Rudi] Oh, yes, Christopher
and a daughter, too.

- It's Edie, she's gonna
be married on Tuesday!

We're giving her all her house
linen for a wedding present.

- Oh, yeah, and your
boy, how old is he?

- 16, he's still at school.
- Oh, you'll hear from him.

In the legit!
- He's got to tell ya!

- Oh, Josie, you should
have seen him last year

in his school play
as Lady Macbeth!

- He was marvelous!

- And so loud, you know!

- Oh, you could hear
every word he said!

We all be together for
the Easter holidays,

the whole family, it's the
first time in five years, whee!

- How long have
you been married?

- Uh, 22?
- Uh, 22 years?

- Yeah, 20, 22 years, yeah.

- How nice!

In this business so few
marriages last that long.

- Oh, I know, I know.
- You said it.

- But in all our years together,

there has never been
one thought of divorce.

- No, never.

Murder, yes.
- Yes.

But never, never divorce.

[fist knocking]
- I'll go.

- If that is the man to take
our trunks to the station,

tell him they are not
ready, come by later.

- General Zandek will wish to
see these people after the show.

- Thank you.

[door slamming]

[door slamming]

I was afraid this would happen
and it's going to. - What is it?

- A very important
government official

who was out front tonight
has asked to meet you.

- Oh, that's good!
- That's bad! - What?

- Because you don't
know how to behave

with government officials,
what not to say!

- What's the difference?
- What's there to say to be afraid of?

- Sebastian, please!

Last week, when you
were playing in Caslav,

the government of
Czechoslovakia changed.

- Yes, we know, we know!

And so it'll change back
again at the next election.

- If there is a next election.

Sebastian, please, you
haven't been in Czechoslovakia

for 10 years, this is
not 1938, this is 1948!

- Oh, Josie.
- The government is Communist!

It's the kind that
will reelect itself!

I didn't say that!
Remember now, I didn't say that!

- Hey, look here, Joe!

Who's the important person
coming back to see us?

- It is General Zandek!

- General Zandek, oh, we have tons
of information on General Zandek!

- Essie, that information is
in the third collar, get it out.

Why didn't you let us know that
General Zandek was out front?

With this information we could have
made his hair pop out of his head!

Listen, born in Ostrava
on November 7, 1910.

Lost in a forest for 48 hours
when he was five-years-old.

He would never imagine that
we'd know a thing like that!

At 19, he broke his
leg mountain climbing.

At military school, he was
very [laughs] unpopular.

At 16, he got the mayor's
daughter in trouble.

Her name was Borgina Tronkova.

- What?
- Yeah, look, Borgina Tronkova.

- Borgina Tronkova, that's right.
- That's right. - Well.

That's trouble
enough for any girl.

- Very sentimental about his mother,
she died when he was very young.

Her pet name for him was

Pepy?
[Essie laughing]

Pepy, oh, Essie, what we
could have done with that.

Remember, Josie, wherever a
man's mother is concerned,

he is a complete pushover!

- Sebastian, please, I beg
of you, do me this one favor?

Those things you know
about General Zandek?

Do not use them in my theater!

Wait 'til you get to his home!

- His home?
- His home?

- Yes, every Saturday night
he gives a late supper party,

he will ask you to be there.

- What makes you think so?

- He always asks one or two
acts to entertain his guests.

- Oh, does he pay well?

- It doesn't pay at all!

- No pay, no go,
just!

- Essie!
- Tell him we're busy!

- Only the fact you're sick
could be considered an excuse!

- The thought of working for
nothing always makes me sick!

- You know General Zandek can't make us
go to his house and you know he can't!

- Oh, he can't make you go,
but he can make you wish you had!

Sebastian, I have seen
things this past week.

Please, see him!

- No harm in just
meeting him, Rudi.

- Thank you.

- Oh, I had better put
on something decent.

Oh, Rudi, put on
your trousers, Dear,

that general may not
understand artists!

Rudi!
- Yeah?

- You're gonna
not read his mind!

- [Rudi] Oh, it's a shame,
Essie, all that information,

we could have made his eyes
stand on end with that stuff!

It's a shame.

- [Essie] You're gonna wind up givin'
another half-hour show for nothing!

- Yeah, you know, it's very
hard to refrain from reading

a person's mind when you
know what it is in his mind.

- Now look, Rudi!
- Yeah?

- [Essie] Don't you try
to impress him, will ya?

- Yeah, and don't you dare to
try to look too attractive!

- Oh, no?
- Oh, no.

- Too late.

[fist knocking]

- You're about to be honored
by a visit from General Zandek.

- Look, Sergeant, look, we
got nothing up our sleeves?

- Then the general can be much
more pleasant when he feels safe.

Everything is all set.

- General Zandek,
the Great Sebastian.

General Otakar Zandek.

- Welcome, General Zandek.
- It's a pleasure!

I hear your voice very
well during the war!

- Oh, my broadcast?

- Oh, your broadcasts were a great
help towards the resistance movement.

- Well, you make me very happy.
- We came back safe to thank you.

- Well, you're very kind!
- For your performance tonight.

- Oh, you enjoyed it, huh?

- It was very entertaining.

- Yeah, well, my wife
will want to hear that.

Uh, Madam?
Uh, Madam,

may I present General Zandek?

My wife, Madam Sebastian.

- How do you do, General?
- Madam.

- Oh, forgive me,
I must sit down.

I'm not very well tonight.

- No, you know the performance
is so exhausting for her!

- I tried so hard
I felt the presence

of somebody in the audience,
someone with a powerful mind!

- [Rudi] It must have
been you, General.

- I suppose my mind was too
powerful for you to read?

- That's not true, not true.

- I was here Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday nights.

I dropped in just to
see your performance.

- Here again, tonight, you
pay us a great compliment.

- No, no, I was
looking for something.

I always thought that
reading of minds,

genuine mind reading
could be of great service

to someone that is,
say, in my position.

- Oh, that's very
interesting, Rudi?

- Oh yeah, that is a
very exciting source!

- Yes, but watching your
performance tonight,

I decided that everything
I saw was a trick.

- [laughs] Oh, so that's
what you really believe, huh?

- [Otakar] Are you claim that
you actually can read minds?

- Yeah, you know, frankly, General,
our reputation speaks for itself.

- [Otakar] Yeah, but I
am a military scientist,

I must have evidence, I
deal only with proven fact.

Please!

Not three on a match!

- Rudi?
The General must have evidence.

- Evidence, yes.
- Very well.

General, concentrate.

Madam? Do you receive any
vibrations from the general?

- There is a woman who has been
in his thoughts for many years.

- Yes, which one?
- You had trouble with her father.

- Well, [laughs] that
could be one of many.

- Aha, read her name.

Boujina.
- Boujina?

- Borgina Tronkova.

- Borgina Tronkova, the
little daughter of the man!

- Yeah, now are
you convinced, huh?

- No, no, she was
not in my thoughts.

As a matter of fact,
I didn't think of her for years! No!

Here name was not in my mind!
- No.

Not in your conscience mind,
but in your subconscious mind.

- She's never been out of
your subconscious mind.

- Oh, General, you know there are many
people who can read the conscious mind,

but what makes the
Great Sebastians unique

is that they are able to
read the subconscious mind.

- You had a painful experience
when you were about 19!

I'm seeing you being
carried down a mountainside.

[gasping] You broke your
leg climbing a mountain.

- That's true, that's
true, but how did you?

What mountain?

- It's a, hmm, it's a
very large mountain,

there are trees,

there is snow on the peak.

I think--
- Yes, yes, yes, but the name?

I'm thinking of the name,
read from my mind the name!

- General, we cannot work
in a hostile atmosphere!

The channel from your
mind to Madam's must

be open by a
willingness to believe!

- I'm willing to believe,
I wanted to be convinced

and I am disappointed
not to be convinced!

Sergeant!

I had hoped you could
be of use to me,

no, you are clever,
but you are fakes!

- You have your opinion of us
and have our opinion of you!

- Bring my car around
to the stage door.

Quickly!
- Key!

- What are you waiting for?
- I'm waiting for the key, Sir?

- You've read his mind?

- He was not hostile.

- Perhaps you can
help me after all?

Perhaps there is a chance?

We shall see if it
is worth taking?

I'm having some guests at
my house for supper tonight,

you will be there at 12 o'clock!

- Oh,-- - General.
- You will be there!

There is something
I need to know!

And you will help
me to find out!

There will be a car waiting
for you and an escort!

A military escort!

- Told ya not to try and impress him!
- And who impressed him?

You impressed him,
you remembered the cue

and at the wrong time!

[sighing] You even impressed me!

- Look, Rudi,
please, don't joke,

I don't like this!
- Neither do I.

- I don't like it a bit!
- Neither do I.

- He wants to use us.

- Says he wants us to
find out something?

- I know, I heard him.
- Essie, what do you think it is?

What do you think he
wants us to find out?

- How should I know?
What do you think I am, a mind reader?

[ominous music]

[somber music]

[door ringing]

[suspenseful music]

I don't like this.

- [Rudi] Uh, The Great
Sebastians, please.

- You are expected, come in.

This way, please.

- In society, I was afraid we would
be late, the General said midnight.

- I told ya, nobody that's
anybody gets to a party on time.

- Your cape, Madam?

- Sorry I rush you, I apologize.

- Your cape, Sir?

- You're always rushing me.

- I'll put these
in this anti-room!

Then I'll tell the
general that you're here.

He and his guests are at supper.

- Then we are late, see I
told ya so, I told ya so!

- Oh, nevermind.

- The hours I spent waiting for
you, fixing your eyelashes!

- Oh, that's enough.

- Then running back to put
perfume behind your ears!

Tell me, has anyone ever
sniffed behind your ears?

- Don't you be vulgar!

- See, we gotta pump this
fella while we have a chance,

we gotta find out
something about the guests.

How can we read their minds when
we don't know anything about 'em?

Information, let's
see, information.

[ominous music]

- Rudi!

I don't like this!
I wish we hadn't got into this!

- They're very careful, not a thing!

[door slamming]

You may announce us!

- You will stay here 'til the general
and his guests have finished supper.

- Oh, we are the general's
guests, we were invited to supper.

- Oh, no, Madam, you are
the general's entertainers.

The general's entertainers never
sit at the general's table.

- We were good enough to sit
at the table with Mr. Mazurik.

- You know Johann Mazurik?

- Yes, we happen to be old friends,
we had lunch with him today.

- You did, Sir?
- [Rudi] Yeah, does that surprise you?

Well, now, perhaps you will tell the
general that we will have supper with him?

- Yes, Sir, yes, Sir!

- [Essie] Yes, Sir, tell him
The Great Sebastians never

read minds on an empty stomach!

- Yes, Madam!
- Yes, Madam!

Rudi!

The gentlemen's overcoats,
the information!

Something about this
house I don't like?

Oh, with that gate,

it looks like a prison.

Rudi! Get out of here
while we've got the chance!

- No, no, no! We'll get a
good supper out of it anyway.

Mr. and Mrs. Karel
Cerny, C-E-R-N-Y.

- Know anything about him?
- His speech has been in the paper a lot.

He's short, he wears
glasses with a ribbon.

- [Essie] Short, glasses with a ribbon.
- And this is from his mother. - Mother.

- She lives--
[guests laughing]

[guests muttering]

She lives in Bratislava.
- Bratislava.

- Somebody's sick?
- Good.

- In hospital.
- That's enough on him.

Cerny, hospital, Bratislava,

short, glasses with a ribbon.

Somebody's sick, somebody old.

- Novotny, Sigmund Novotny,
I've seen his name, too!

He's something high up!
Something in the interior!

- The interior of what?
- Interior of the government,

they have something
they call interior?

- Oh, fancy, what's his name?

N-O-V-O-T-N-Y, Novotny.

C-E-R-N-Y, Cerny.
[guests laughing]

- Sit here!

Now remember, when you get
up from the supper table,

now follow the ladies
to the powder room.

Yeah, I don't know why, but
people always talk more freely

when they are near plumbing?
- Yes!

Oh, what a lovely house!

- And what is that?

- [Oscar] The general says
you were not invited to supper!

- Well, then we leave!

- But I sneaked this food
out of the kitchen for you!

- You can sneak it right
back to the kitchen!

- Scraps from the kitchen!

I'd rather starve!
- Madam, Madam!

- Rudi!

Caviar and goose, I
think, oh well! [laughs]

- Yes, goose, yes!

- Well!
- This is a bit of all right!

- You know, as a matter of fact,
Sergeant, we prefer eating in private!

- Goose!
- And we love goose!

I'm very partial to a bit of
goose, is that pate you've got?

I haven't got the pate.
- Now, wait a minute!

Wait a minute, wait a minute,
now leave me some! - Fair's fair!

- Now, what kind of cheese is that?
- Now, now, Rudi, now you know--

- No, no, you took most of my--
- I'm starving! - Fair is fair!

[Oscar laughing]
- You eat off your own plate!

Perhaps we let you stay
for our performance, dear,

we have the same vibrations.

You have the kind of
mind I love to read!

- Oh! You really think
you could read my mind?

[Essie laughing]
- Now try, Madam, try!

Sergeant, will you place your mind
in the dining room for a moment?

- I'm, I'm in the
dining room, yes?

- Now concentrate on the
name of one of the guests.

Now think hard, Madam.

- I have the impression of a C.
C and an E.

Oh, now I see the full names.

C-E-R-N-Y, Cerny.

- That's right, he's the new
chief of press relations, yes!

- I knew we would have no trouble
with the newspapers here!

I had prepared them for our
taking over of the government!

- Your husband did a
good job, Mrs. Cerny.

- Thank you!
- Just, Cerny, you did!

- But the press abroad!

Some of them openly accused
us of, of doing what we did!

- Did you approve
of what we did?

- For heavens sakes, Zandek,
don't you trust anybody?

- Not really.

- I see Mrs. Cerny
shimmering in a yellow--

- Ah, Mrs. Cerny is in white.

- Shimmering in the yellow
candlelight, she looks gorgeous!

She's all in white.

- But, nowadays, what
with the children

and the entertaining, and
all those party meetings,

if I didn't have to go to
all those party meetings!

- Oh, I see, the thing you like

to do least is go to all
those party meetings?

- Oh, no, oh you
misunderstood me,

that's not what I meant at all!

- [Karel] Now, Sophie, don't!

- Now, Sergeant, concentrate on
another name, yeah, no matter how long!

- All right, yes, all right.
- Yes, this is right. Madam?

- Oh, this is very clear,
N-O-V-O-T-N-Y, Novotny.

- We did not expect
America to be pleased!

For a while, nothing
else must happen,

that why I feel we must
keep Mazurik in office!

- I agree with you!

Mazurik is a symbol.

- You think we need a symbol?

- At present, yes.
- Oh?

- I will defend
that point of view.

- Mr. Novotny is tall and blond.

- Oh, no, Mr. Novotny
is tall and dark!

- Tall and dark. - Tall and dark.
- Oh, I see how you made the mistake.

There's a tall blond woman
sitting there at the table,

she looks like a man,
she's in uniform.

She's on the general's
staff, Colonel Bradacova.

- What?

- Yes, of course, a cozy little
party, the general, Bradacova.

- Bradacova.
- Mr. and Mrs. Cerny.

- Cerny.
- Mr. and Mrs. Novotny.

- Novotny.
- No, no, no, no, no, no!

She is not exactly Mrs. Novotny,

although, in a way.
- Ah, ha! - Ah!

- Miss Habova!
- Habova.

- Vlasta Habova, she's
head of cultural action.

- Those racketeers!

- I like you.

I feel I should warn
you, you are in danger.

You are in grave danger.
You'll have to use your wits.

- You had me frightened
for a moment.

- Commissar Habova suspects you will
try to smuggle money out of the country.

You will be searched,
probably at the border.

I have friends there!
I could give you their names!

- Ah, that is so nice!
As a matter of fact--

- You know, that was very
good caviar, not too salty,

but it always makes
me so thirsty.

- Of course, they're
having champagne!

I'll try to get
hold of a bottle.

- Yeah, what year?

- [Oscar] I'll have to look.

- Oh, well, bring it anyway.

You give me your compact!
- I wasn't gonna tell him!

- Give me your compact!
- They'll never find it!

- Essie they're not gonna
find that stamp on you!

- Oh, Rudi, you'll
have me tear it up!

- No, I promise, no!

- Why, you're gonna hide
it in with the cigarettes?

- Now wait a minute,

I put the stamp in the bottom there,
so, and then that on top of it, so!

It'll do for now.
- I wish this was over.

- Oh, don't worry, we'll
scare the pants off

these fat cats and
get outta here.

- Hey, Rudi, I had an
idea for an opening.

- An opening, good.
- I did it once with Alexander.

- Yeah, let us think up something else!
- Now, look!

You bring me in blindfolded
and I introduce you

to all of the ladies in
the room by their names.

- Yeah, and how are
you gonna code that?

- The color code!

We know Mrs. Cerny's in
white, Colonel Bradacova,

she's in uniform, that's gray!

- Oh!
- Whoa!

- You got champagne, very well!
- 1943!

- I'm very thirsty!
- Oh, go on with ya!

[people exclaiming]
There!

Come on, it's our
lucky day! [laughing]

I hope we have time
to finish the bottle?

- Oh, you will, Madam, they
just served the mocha torte.

- Oh, you peeked in
the dining room, then?

- Yes, Mrs. Cerny is wearing white.
- White.

- And she's also wearing a
flower, big flower, right here.

- Ah, and Miss Habova, of course,
is dressed for cultural action.

- Well, she is
dressed for action,

she looks like some
sort of flamingo.

[Rudi coughing]

- [Essie] Flamingo?

- I wasn't prepared
for flamingo!

- Flamingo is a bird, it's
sort of a pinky-red bird.

Red covers it.

- It doesn't quite
cover Miss Habova!

[people laughing]

- He's a dream!

We love you, Ducky! [laughing]

- Oscar!
- Oh, you'll excuse me.

- Get that out of here!
- Yes, Sir!

- Take the lot of
yourself and you get out!

Close the door!
- Yes, Sir!

- Put away those
cigarettes, Rudi!

You smoke too much, dear!

- Madam Sebastian!
Sebastian!

Now you'll learn
why you're here!

What I'm going to tell
you must not go further!

Among the people you are going to meet here
tonight, there's someone who is disloyal.

- Disloyal to the government?
- To me, it is the same thing!

You are here to tell
me which one it is.

Now let me tell you
who my guests are.

- Oh, no, General, let us
tell you who your guests are.

- No, no, not at
the moment, General.

But with your permission,

Madam and I will wait
in that anti-room

and when all your guests
are assembled here,

I will lead in
Madam blindfolded.

- I will introduce Sebastian
to each lady in the room,

calling her by name.
Remember, blindfolded.

- It is not necessary,
all this hocus-pocus!

- You are wrong, General!

If you want us to find out
what you want us to find out,

it will first be necessary
to convince your guests

that we can read their minds.

Then, if one of your guests
has a guilty thought,

they will be frightened,
afraid that his thought will betray him.

- My guests are not fools!

- No, but have you ever tried
to keep out of your mind

something you are trying
to keep out of your minds?

You can't do it.
- That's nonsense!

- General, would you like
to turn lead into gold?

We have the formula,
old alchemists' formula.

Now, put some lead in a
pot, sit it over a fire

and when it begins to melt,

stir
slowly,

without thinking of
the word rhinoceros.

Now that you know the formula,

do you think you could
ever stir molten lead

without thinking of
the word rhinoceros?

- [laughing] You know, you are more
intelligent than I thought you were!

- Well, you know, we are not

The Great Sebastians
for nothing!

- We are tonight!

- [Otakar] My guests will soon be
ready, is there anything you need?

- Yes, we need some
pads and some pencils.

- [Otakar] Pads and pencils?

- We want your guests
to write down a thought

and then Madam without seeing
what they have written,

will read that thought.
- Good!

Can I write something?
- Well, of course.

- And you will read it? Out loud?
- Word for word.

- Oh, that's very good,
I'll be watching their faces

and then I, I'll know!

Um, you wait in there!

I do not wish to start until
all my guests have arrived.

- All your guests?

- [Otakar] Yes, there's
another guest coming.

- Uh, General, you know, that uh, that
opening, that introduction we mentioned,

oh, you are so right,
it's hocus-pocus!

- Yeah, we better not do it!
- No, no, no, I like it very much!

I want you to do it!

- No, no, General, we'll have
to think of something else.

- Now, just a minute!

Sergeant, be sure to save
some supper for Mrs. Balzar.

- [Oscar] Mrs. Balzar, yes, Sir.

- All right, all right,

if you don't wanna
do it, don't do it.

- We do!
- But we do wanna do it!

- I don't understand you people?
- That's good!

You see, our luck
is still with us!

Mrs. Balzar.

- We're lucky when we
get out of this house!

- Darling, don't worry, Mr. Mazurik
won't let anything happen to us!

- Balzar. - Yeah.
- Balzar. - Yeah.

- Oh, Rudy, I'm nervous!

Let's run the color code.

- Madam, will you present me?

- Red, flamingo, Habova.

- Madam, will you be good
enough to present me?

- Gray, uniform,

Bradacova.

- Madam, may I
have the pleasure?

- White,
Mrs. Cerny.

[door ringing]
Balzars!

Oh, Rudi, we don't know
what they're wearing?

- Oh, well, we'll
leave her to the last.

- Oh!

- No it was not difficult at
all, it is only a two-hour drive.

- [Sophie] Maria!

- Sophie, darling!
- How lovely you look!

Thank you, Sweetheart!

Oh, General, truly I
am so sorry to be late!

- No, Madam, Mrs. Balzar,
you are still in time.

Oh, in time for what?

- Otakar has that mind reading
act here from the Variete.

- Mrs. Balzar,
Sophie, come sit down,

I know the general
wants to start.

- To start what?
- We about to have our minds read!

- To read my mind?
- Everybody ready?

- Yeah.
- Yeah, we are ready.

- Ladies and gentlemen,

Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian!

[Rudi whispering]

Oh, I beg your pardon,
The Great Sebastians!

[guests applauding]

- Madam Sebastian, will you be
good enough to present me?

- Colonel Bradacova, may I
introduce The Great Sebastian!

- But, how did she know?
- It's just a trick.

- Madam Sebastian,
will you present me?

- Miss Habova, this is
The Great Sebastian.

- It's just a trick!

- You have to admit it's
a good trick. [laughs]

- And
now, Madam?

These two ladies, may I have the
pleasure, the double pleasure?

- How do you do, Mrs. Cerny!

- [gasping] Oh, how do you do?

- May I introduce
The Great Sebastian?

- Oh, Karel, did you hear she is wonderful!
- And again, the pleasure!

- Oh, Mrs. Balzar,
The Great Sebastian!

[guests applauding]

- Ladies and Gentlemen,
may we have your attention?

It is Madam's great gift
that she can read your thoughts.

Now, in order to help you concentrate,
we will ask each of you,

please, to write a thought
on a slip of paper.

Sergeant, will you see that each
guest is provided with pen and pencil?

Now, when you have
written your thoughts,

please fold the paper
twice, fold the paper twice

and I will collect
them in this bowl.

- Madame Sebastian, instead
of writing a thought,

may I write a question?

- I do not answer questions,
I am not clairvoyant.

[Rudi wheezing]

I have an impression of why
you want to ask a question,

you are worried, something
is constantly on your mind,

an illness--
- Karel, no!

- Not yours, a
relative, perhaps?

- Which relative?
- Karel, it's your father!

- Sophie!
- It is your father.

He is ill in hospital,
not here in Prague.

Think of the
village where he is,

oh, this is not a village, it
is a town, a very large one.

I have the impression of a,

B,

Bratislava!

- Oh, she is wonderful!
- [Karel] These people are amazing!

[guests exclaiming]

- Thank you very
much, thank you!

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

Madam Sebastian!

Pardon.

[whispering] Madame Sebastian,

by pressing your written
thoughts against her forehead,

still folded and invisible,

will tell you what
thought you have written.

[guests exclaiming]

Shh, shh, please, please.

Now, no, in order to
have Madam concentrate,

we will ask all of you,
please, to be very, very quiet.

[claps] Is there someone
out there in the hall?

- [Otakar] Oscar!
[guests exclaiming]

- [Rudi] There is no one here?

- Close the door!
- Yes, Sir, yes, Sir!

- [Rudi] You know, I am so
sorry, oh no, it is my fault.

- Close the door!
- Yes, Sir.

- Look, quiet, please!
Quiet.

Now Madam must concentrate.

Madam, we are waiting.

- The People's Democracy

will live forever!

- That is word for
word what I wrote!

- Yes, word for word.

- Real quiet, quiet
please, quiet.

Madam must concentrate, Madam?

- Somebody in this room.
[door ringing]

- Yes?
[door ringing]

- [Essie] Has
revealed--

- Yes?

- [Essie] Secret
information--

- Yes, yes! Yes! [fist knocking]

I told you no one! I will see no one!
- I am very sorry, General.

- [Otakar] How dare you!

- I'm, I'm very sorry, General,
but it's Comrade Bacilek.

[guests exclaiming]
- Ah, Comrade, Bacilek.

- General?
I have to interrupt.

- Not now, not now, it can wait.
- No, it cannot wait.

- I am very sorry, I'm
afraid it must wait,

we are in the middle
of our performance.

- Quiet!
- Who are these people?

- They are entertainers.
- Yes, we were.

- Quiet!

- Novotny, you are
to report at once

to the prime minister,
he's waiting for you.

- What's happened?
- You will be told.

- Cerny, the foreign office
is talking to Moscow,

there will be
instructions for you.

- What's happened.
- Tell us, what's happened?

- It's Mazurik.
- Mazurik, what now?

What has he done now?

- Mazurik is dead.

- [Otakar] Mazurik?

- No.

- [Otakar] Colonel, report
to headquarters immediately!

- Yes, Sir.

- Cerny, under no circumstances
will there be a release of this news

until it has been decided
how it will be announced.

- How, how did he die?

- Suicide.
- Oh, no!

Not Mazurik, not suicide!
- How else?

- I'm not surprised,
Mazurik was weak.

- No, Mr. Mazurik
was a good man.

- What makes you so sure?

- We are friends of his, we
had lunch with him today.

- You were with Mazurik today?
- What did he talk about?

- He talked about London, he talked about
the war, he talked about the old days.

- What was his mood?
- He was quiet.

But he wasn't depressed.

- I cannot believe that
he would commit suicide?

- No one will believe
he committed suicide.

- You had lunch with Mazurik today,
he committed suicide tonight!

- You noticed nothing?
- No!

- You lie!
Get out of my house!

- Karel, what will we
do without Mazurik?

- Sophie, stop it,
stop it, stop it!

- Let her cry, why
shouldn't she cry?

[Sophie sobbing]

- General, the Sebastians
are not to leave this house.

- Javorsky?
- Comrade Bacilek, I'll take charge!

- Sergeant!
- General,

Comrade Javorsky
represents the party.

Yes, Comrade?

- The Sebastians were the last
outsiders to see Mazurik alive.

If there is to be an announcement
that Johann Mazurik committed suicide,

a statement from them telling
why would be very valuable.

- That could be of
great service, Comrade.

- I shall prepare
such a statement.

- Comrade,
why was Javorsky put in my house?

- You have been in the party long
enough not to ask for explanations.

- Without my knowing!

- General Zandek, Mazurik had many friends,
when the news of his death becomes known

there may be attempts to defect.
The border control should be tightened.

- Yes, yes, yes, yes, I should
be the commander myself.

I will be at the
daybreak by the border.

- Sir, is there a car that can
take us to our hotel, please?

- Oh, this has
made us very late.

- [Otakar] You are
to remain here!

Until I release you!

- General, I am giving
the orders here.

- [Rudi] Well, thank you
very much, you are very kind.

- [Essie] Oh, he's been
kind to us all evening.

We are very grateful.

- You are under arrest!

You are under suspicion
of trying to smuggle money

out of Czechoslovakia.

- Smuggling?
- Says who?

- Sebastian!

Empty your pockets!

Madam, your handbag!
- No!

- If you please!
- Rubber boots!

- No, Essie, no!
- Corporal!

The handbag.

And they are to be
thoroughly searched,

stripped to the skin!
- Not my skin!

Nobody's gonna to
strip me to my skin!

- Corporal!
- Rudi?

I could do with a cigarette.

- [Oscar] Oh,
American cigarettes.

- Yes, we like
American cigarettes.

- [Oscar] So do I.

- Well, the bloody nerve,
don't let him get away with it!

- Quiet, Essie, quiet.

Now let me handle this.

Sergeant?

We are ready to be searched.
- Rudi?

- Why, Essie, we
have nothing to hide?

[lively orchestral music]

[ominous music]

Well, can we go now?

- There are your things!

Rudi?

They cut the lining of my
bag, my best evening bag!

I'm getting real fed
up with your Czechs!

- Essie!

- Is there anything missing?

- Well, I don't
see my cigarettes?

- They've been confiscated.

- Confiscated?
- By me.

- I was just dying for
a decent cigarette?

- [sighing] All
right, all right.

I want you to sign this statement of what
you know of Johann Mazurik's suicide.

- We don't know
anything about that.

- Well, if that will
help, we will be very glad

to sign a statement saying
we don't know anything.

- Wait a minute, Rudi.
- Now, Essie, we still have to pack.

- Rudi, before you sign anything,
you've got to know what it says,

remember that contract
you signed for Blackpool?

- You have the most wonderful
memory when you don't need it!

All right, all right,
what is the statements?

- "We, the undersigned Rudolph
Schlupp and Esther Silk Schlupp--"

- Just a minute, just a minute!
Where did you get those names?

- From your passports.
- We are known as The Great Sebastians.

- "We, the undersigned
Rudolph Schlupp

and Esther Silk Schlupp--"
- Cut out the Schlupps!

- "Known in the music halls
as The Great Sebastians.

Desire to reveal the conversation we
had today with the late Johann Mazurik."

- Say, is this for the newspapers?
- Ah, yes, for all over the world.

- Oh, Essie, that's
good, that's very good.

Good, go ahead now, go ahead.

- "We became acquainted
with Mr. Mazurik

"in London during the
war when he was a member

"there of the Czechoslovakian
government in exile."

- No, no, I think you
should say our acquaintance

was not just business,
we were friends as well.

- "At Mr. Mazurik's invitation,
we had lunch with him today.

We found him in a serious
state of depression.--"

- No, no, no, no.

We didn't say that, we said he
was quiet, but not depressed.

Now you'll have to change that.

- "He confessed that he felt he had
betrayed the people of Czechoslovakia.

He told us that he now realized
that only under Communism

can the people of Czechoslovakia find
happiness, prosperity and peace."

- No, he didn't say anything like that!
- Quiet!

- I tell you, he did not say
anything like that! - Quiet!

- I tell, Essie, don't!
Put down that inkwell.

- "He said he realized that he had worked
against the best interest of his country

and so, it is clear to us now,
that it was for these reasons

Johann Mazurik
committed suicide."

Madam?

You will sign first.

- Me, sign that?

It's just a pack of lies.

Sign it yourself,
you made it up!

- This statement is in the
interest of the People's Democracy.

- The People's Democracy!
You don't give a hang about the people!

- [Rudi] Madam.

- If you're gonna lie,
do it off your own back,

don't get nice, decent people
into a thing like this!

- Madam. - Don't Madam me!
This is no time for it!

- You plan on returning to England?
- Yes.

- Your children are in England, those are
their pictures I found in your wallet.

- [Rudi] Yes.

- You must want to
see your children?

And if you want to see your children,
if I were you, I'd sign the statement.

- And if we don't sign?

- We'll have to keep you here.
- Here in this house?

- For people who will not work with
us, we have other places.

Madam?

I'll let you think it over.
- I thought it over.

- I leave it here!
- You can take it with you!

And you know what--
- Essie, shh!

- You know what you're trying to say to
me, Rudi? - Essie, come here.

Let's sign this, let's
sign this statement

and get outta here, get
out of Czechoslovakia.

- Rudi, I thought you had a sense of
decency! Johann Mazurik was your friend!

- No, let me finish-- - And now you're
willing to put lies in his mouth?

- No, I'm not!
- Now that he's dead?

- Let me talk, let me finish!
You don't know what I am going to say.

- What are you going to say?
- Well, tell me, what is wrong with signing

the statement now and then telling the
truth when we get across the border?

- What about this side of the border?
- Yeah, well, what about it?

- The only Czech who would know
the truth would be you! - Essie.

- That sergeant and he gang wouldn't let
the truth get back here! - Yeah, I know--

- Rudi, the people that
love Mazurik are here!

All they'd ever be told would be that
pack of lies with our names on it!

- Yeah, but we have also--
- I rather go to jail than sign that paper.

- Oh, my, Essie, really!
- I'm not being a bloody angel.

I know we've done a bit of hanky panky
in our time, but that's different.

That isn't income tax, you know.
That's very serious.

I don't understand you?

Mr. Mazurik was sweet to you.

He was sweet to both of us.

And he was a sweet man

and you're willing to
put lies in his mouth

now that he's dead
and gone today.

I'm ashamed of you, I am.
- Will you.

Oh, Essie, you're right, you're right.
This is very serious. - You hit me?

- Yeah, I know, but
you see, oh, Essie,

we've never had to face up
to anything like this before.

You know this is big, this a big thing.
This is bigger than the act.

Oh, Essie, I am so proud of
you, I really am.

- [Essie] Proud of me, what for?

- Oh, Essie, you didn't even have
to think to know what we had to do!

[paper crinkling]

- Oh, Rudi!

You think we'll be what
they call, liquidated?

- Essie, that
always sounds to me

like being put in a bottle.
[Essie crying]

Whatever happens,
we'll be together.

- In this world.
- Yeah, and the next.

- You believe that?
- Oh, yes, I do!

I just can't believe
that we would close here

and not open somewhere else?
[Essie crying]

- Edie was gonna to be at Northolt
to meet our plane Monday.

You think they'll let us wire
her to say we've been delayed?

Oh, Rudi, I do hate to
miss the wedding. [crying]

We'd like to go back to our
hotel if you don't mind?

- Your hotel tonight
will be Pankrac Prison.

You will stay at Pankrac until,

it will be up to you
to decide how long?

- [Essie] That'll be 'til the
first pews of hell freezes over!

- Goodnight, goodnight, Madam!

Stubborn, British cow!
- I'm glad I'm stubborn!

- I'm glad you're British!

Have you got your registration
card from the British Consulate?

- In my bag.

- Has it got its telephone number on it?
- Why?

- Well, you heard what he
called you, stubborn British!

- That's not all he called me.

- Essie, the British government aren't
going to let these Czechs do this to us!

Now, you stand guard, watch out
for the corporal, he is upstairs!

- You're marvelous!

Alexander would never have
thought of this, dear!

What's the matter?
Don't they answer?

Oh, come on, Rudi, make it fast!

[phone clicking]

[Rudi sighing]

- Yes, who is it?

Oh, Mr. Secretary, you
know, I am so very sorry

to disturb you at
this time of night,

but it's a matter
of great importance.

Yes, yes, of course I
should have told you!

This is Sebastian of
The Great Sebastians.

Sebastian of The
Great Sebastians,

well look, I have
told you twice.

Sebastian of The
Great Sebastians,

we are the headline act, we've
been playing the Variete.

Yeah, where is your home?

We have played every
theater in England.

Yeah, we broke the house
record in Nottingham.

Yes, six months ago we
broke the house record

at the Palladium in London.

Yeah, were you in
London six months ago?

At the Palladium?

Well, of course, you remember
the mind reading act.

Look, we broke the house record.

Well, perhaps you will
remember it better this way?

There was an American
on the bill with us,

his name was Stanley K,
yes, he's a little fellow--

- Nevermind telling him who you
are, tell we're being held here!

Tell him they've got to
do something about it!

- Yes, we are being held
prisoners here, my wife and I.

Prisoners, here in Prague,
in General Zandek's house.

Well, I will tell you what
this has to do with you.

My wife is a British subject and
she is registered at your consulate.

Yeah, please look.

No, no, her name on the
register would be under

Esther Silk Schlupp.

No, no, S-C-H-L-U-P-P.

No, but the name of the act
is The Great Sebastians.

He never heard of the act.

- Oh, never you mind, Rudi.

- I'm so very sorry, Esther.

- Well, don't expect
waiting for it.

[suspenseful music]

[ominous music]
- I've just heard!

I've heard they're taking
you to Pankrac Prison.

[suspenseful music]

- [laughing] Oh, yes, we know.

- Well, why don't you
sign the statement?

They will make you sign
it when you get there!

- I'd like to see them try.

- Oh, they will start the
minute you get to Pankrac.

Questions, questions, before
you go to sleep tonight,

tomorrow, the next
day, hour after hour!

They won't let you
sleep until you sign.

- What's it to you
whether we sign or not?

- Let me call to
Comrade Javorsky, hmm?

Let me tell him that I have talked to
you, that you will sign?

- So that's it?
- That's what?

- You think that if you can get us to sign,
it'll get you in right with the sergeant?

- Tonight, in your dressing
room, you read Javorsky's mind!

You did!

I saw it myself, that's
why I brought you here!

Tell me what is on his mind now!

- He don't happen to be here.

- What difference
does that make?

People miles away
from each other

sometimes think
of the same thing!

If you can read minds,
read his, Madam!

Read his mind, now!

- You go and be a
general somewhere else.

- You are fools!

You write your names on a little
piece of paper and you could go!

You have a chance to get out of the
country, if I were in your place, I--

Why should I waste
my breath on you,

you won't listen to reason!

You fools!
[suspenseful music]

- Check the window!

- [Essie] Is there such a
thing as a subconscious mind?

- What?

- We're always talking subconscious mind,
and that just impressed me there isn't one!

- That's what?

- Is there such a thing as a subconscious
mind and if there is, what is it?

- It's where you think but you
don't know you're thinking!

- Now, what have we-- - Rudi!
- Still got on the table? - Rudi?

- What?

- I've just read the
general's subconscious mind!

I am a mind reader!

- Oh, Essie, this is
no time to come down

with delusions of grandeur!
- Look, Rudi!

Did you hear him say?
- Yeah.

- He said, "You've got a chance
to get out of the country,

"if I were in your
place," that means that

in his subconscious mind he
wants to get out of the country!

- What?

- The general wants to
get out of the country!

- Essie, you are right, kiss me!
- Oh!

How can we use it?

- Oh, well, it's the
sergeant he's scared of.

- If I'd only known that, I would
have read the sergeant's mind for him!

- [Otakar] Yes, yes,
put it in my car!

- Oh, perhaps you still can!

No, no, no, here.
Project, Madam, project.

Find him, Madam, find him!

- A robe, yes, Sir!
- Finding something moving.

It's a car, it's moving.
- The driver is here.

- There is.
- Yes, Sir!

- Go on, Madam!
- There are two men in the car.

- You see one of them?
Can you reach his mind?

- It's the sergeant,
he's angry with someone.

[suspenseful music]
It's a cold anger.

- Yeah, but can you hear
what the sergeant is saying,

we must know what he
is planning to do?

- He's saying, "Let
him think himself safe.

"Next week,

"next week."

Now it's fading.

Something's interfering?
- Oh, try again, Madam?

- Oh, I see something moving,
it's not a car, it's a boy.

It's a child, he's in a forest!

He's frightened, he's lost,

he's lost in a forest!
- I!

I was lost in the forest!

- Now he's running,

now he's standing still?

Oh, he's listening, I
hear a voice calling.

"Pepy!
"Pepy!"

- My mother!

That was my mother, no one
called me Pepy but my mother!

But why should my
mother be in my mind?

- In the forest you
were frightened.

- Yes, yes, I was
frightened, but she found me!

- She'll always find you
when you're frightened.

You're frightened now.

You think to escape,
to leave the country!

- [gasping] No, no,
that is not in my mind!

- It was in your mind!
- No!

- It was in your mind,
you can't deny it!

It was in your mind!
- For a moment only!

- [Sebastians] Rhinoceros!

- Yes, yes, you are right.

It will never be
out of my mind now.

You know, it was when
they mentioned the border,

when the thought
first came to me.

If you can get to the
border, you can get across!

- Yeah, and you will take us with you!
- Shh, impossible!

- Then we will take you to
Pankrac with us, surely!

- Shh!

Who is it?
- [Kovac] Corporal Kovac, Sir.

The chauffeur is
waiting with your car.

- Tell it to wait!
- Yes, Sir!

[suspenseful music]

In the backyard there is a gate.

A small gate opens to the road.

I will drive my car around
and meet you there, shh!

- General!

How did the British Consulate find out
these people were being held here?

- I don't know, it's impossible?
How could they?

- I suppose, Madam,
that they read your mind

all the way from
Pelleova Street?

The foreign office has instructed
me to inform you that you are free.

- Well, then I can have
back my cigarettes?

- Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm afraid I owe you a
package of cigarettes.

- I'm afraid you owe us a
great deal more than that.

- You, Madam, you wish to
get out of this country!

You shall, as soon
as we can arrange it!

- Javorsky, I'm leaving
for the border this minute,

I can put her across
the border myself.

- As far as I'm concerned,
you can kick her across!

- Not while I'm there!
- You won't be there!

You are a Czech, you will
remain in Czechoslovakia!

- No, I won't leave, we've
never been separated!

- That's enough!
- Here!

- Take your hands off her!

- [Essie] Leave me
be, leave me be!

You leave!

- Your handcuffs!

Where's the key?

All right, bring him over here!

- I won't leave you, Rudi, I won't go!
They can't make me go!

- [Oscar] Hold him
arm, hold it still!

All right, lift it up!

- [Essie] It's not right to do this!
- [Oscar] Higher!

- [Essie] If they're gonna keep you
here, then they're gonna keep me, too!

They can't me go, Rudi!
- No, go quickly, Essie, quickly!

Go, quickly, Essie,
please, quickly, quickly!

[Essie sobbing]

- Let me sit down!

You won't get him you dirty liar!
- [Oscar] Get away, get her away from me!

- Oh, you stinking swine!
- Oh, get her out of here!

[Essie sobbing]
No, wait!

Madam, what happens to your
husband depends on you.

What you say and
what you don't say!

- [sobbing] I won't
cause no trouble.

I'll go with the General if you will
let me kiss my husband goodbye?

Oh, see you again, Rudi,

more quickly than you think.

- [Oscar] General!

Get her out of here!

- [Otakar] Put her in my car!

- I'll be back with another copy
of the statement for you to sign.

You will sign it!
[dramatic music]

[suspenseful classical music]

[dramatic music]

[gate crashing]

[dramatic classical music]

[sentimental orchestral music]

- [Announcer] The Great
Sebastians will be produced

as a motion picture
by Columbia Pictures,

whose latest production, Jeanne Eagles,
starring Kim Novak and Jeff Chandler,

will soon be seen in
leading movie theaters.

[sentimental orchestral music]

This has been a production of
Showcase Productions Incorporated.