The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985–1992): Season 4, Episode 4 - The Black Ferris - full transcript
Two boys, Hank and Peter, learn that a traveling carnival owner, Mr. Cooger, is using an enchanted Ferris wheel to turn himself into a small child so he can infiltrate the house of a local widow and steal her jewelry. However, the boys soon discover that no one believes them.
[mysterious music playing]
RAY BRADBURY: People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Right here.
All of this is my
magician's toy shop.
I'm Ray Bradbury.
And this is--
[ominous music playing]
[carnival music playing]
[laughter]
[ominous music playing]
[dog barking]
[piano music playing]
[carnival music playing]
[ominous music playing]
Dodger?
Give me 20 minutes.
I've got to tell Mrs.
O'Leary I'm out of town.
[ominous music continues]
[carnival music playing]
Pete!
Peter!
Hank?
What do you want?
Come on down!
It's suppertime,
and I've got homework.
Jump, or you'll be sorry.
Listen!
What?
Mystery, doom, death!
The end of the world!
The end of the world, huh?
This way.
Come on, Hank.
It's late.
I'm really going to get it.
You won't believe what's
going down at the carnival.
The carnival's closed.
Doesn't matter, let's go.
I don't believe you.
No, I'm telling
you, it happened.
Just wait and see.
[ominous music playing]
Shh, careful.
This way.
There!
There it is!
It's just a Ferris wheel.
Wait and see.
I saw it happen.
I don't know how, but it did.
You know how carnivals
are kind of weird?
Well this one's even weirder.
Duck!
What'd he do that for?
Shh!
[claps]
That's him.
Mr. Cooger, the carnival man.
Shh!
[electricity crackling]
[carnival music playing]
You see?
What?
It's going the wrong way.
Backwards instead of forwards.
Hey, yeah!
But so what?
Watch.
[carnival music stops]
Where's Mr. Cooger?
Wait till you see.
Come on.
Where?
Just follow me.
Come on.
[ominous music playing]
Who's that?
That's Mr. Cooger.
Come on!
[piano music playing]
[dog barking]
Shh!
Come on!
That's Mrs. Foley's house.
What's he doing there?
I don't know, but the same
thing happened last night.
It did?
Come on.
His name's Joseph Pike.
My mom told me.
He's an orphan that
showed up on her doorstep
one day two weeks ago.
Hank, I'm scared,
cold, and hungry.
And I don't know what
this is all about.
Don't be so dumb.
The carnival came to
town two weeks ago.
Get it?
MRS. FOLEY: Hello, Joseph.
Right on time.
Come on!
[wind howling]
What are we going to do?
I think she's in danger.
You must be a hungry
boy, so I've cooked
your favorite meal for you.
I love you're
cooking, Mrs. Foley.
He's probably after
her money, her jewels.
We've got to warn her.
Hank, it started
to rain again.
Let's just go home.
No way!
Looks beautiful.
Carrots?
You're going in?
We're going in.
We have to tell her
about Mr. Cooger.
Hank, maybe he's just a
little kid who's staying
at-- with Mrs.
Foley and she lets
him go late to the carnival.
No way!
[knocking on door]
MRS. FOLEY: Why,
for heaven's sakes!
Hank, Peter, you're all wet!
Come in.
Thank you, Mrs. Foley.
Well, it's suppertime.
Why aren't you both home?
Can we see you alone, ma'am?
Alone?
We have to warn you.
Warn me?
Yes, ma'am.
About the boy.
Yeah.
You think he's a
boy, but he isn't.
He's from the carnival,
and he's not a boy.
He's a man.
And maybe he's planning on
staying with you until he
finds out where your money is.
And then he'll run off
with it some night.
And you'll never find
him because he'll
ride the Ferris wheel
and get older and older
and nobody will find him.
Henry Walterson,
how you do go on.
What are you talking about?
Tell her, Pete.
Tell her what you saw.
It's true, ma'am.
Mr. Cooger.
He sat in the Ferris wheel
and it went backwards.
And he got younger and younger.
That's enough!
Peter, Henry, I won't
listen to another word.
Joseph has been coming to
visit for some time now.
He's a very nice
boy, which is more
than I can say for
you two, stirring
up trouble where there is none.
Now, you go home before
I call your parents.
So you go straight home.
OK, genius.
Now you did it.
Suppose he heard us?
Suppose he comes and kills
us in our beds tonight
to shut us up for keeps?
He wouldn't do that.
Wouldn't he?
Look.
[gate closes]
Henry Walterson,
you'll be lucky
if you don't catch pneumonia.
He was soaked to his skin.
You're late again
tonight, Hank.
That's the third time
this week, young man.
Now what's this
about the carnival?
Well, you know Mr. Cooger,
the carnival man, dad?
Yes.
Pink carnation, funny suit.
Yeah, you seen him?
Yeah.
He's staying down the
street at Mrs. O'Leary's.
Why?
Yeah well, dad,
Mr. Cooger isn't
always Mr. Cooger all the time.
Sometimes he's a little boy.
And sometimes he's staying at
Mrs. Foley's instead of Mrs.
O'Leary's.
And Pete and I--
Hank, that's enough.
I'm tired of listening
to your fantasies.
And I'm tired of telling you
not to go to carnival anymore.
But dad--
That's final.
Now go to your room.
Now!
MRS. WALTERSON: He's always
loved carnivals, Bob.
MR. WALTERSON: Closed ones.
In the rain?
And the stories he makes up!
MRS. WALTERSON: There is a
little boy at Widow Foley's.
You know, the little orphan boy.
She's been so happy since
he came into her life, Bob.
It's wonderful she has,
well, someone again.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Listen, Pete, I
figured it all out.
You see, Mr. Cooger's
got a great plan.
Yeah?
What?
First to rip off all
her money as the kid.
Then he disappears.
But really, he's sticking
around town as Mr. Cooger.
That way nobody will suspect him
[pete sneezes]
Nobody will believe that.
I tried to tell my
folks, but they said
I was just making it all up.
We've got to move tonight,
before he tries to kill us.
You said so yourself.
Aw, come on, Hank.
We're the only ones who know.
And he knows we know.
[pete sneezes]
Bet you he's going to
try something tonight.
Meet me at Mrs. Foley's
in half an hour.
It's raining.
My mom said I can't go
out anymore tonight.
PETE (ON PHONE):
Do you want to die?
No.
Then meet me
there, and I bet we
see that orphan kid sneaking
out with all her money
and running to the carnival.
I'll see you in half an hour.
You're not going anywhere
tonight, young man.
You're grounded.
[ominous music playing]
Give me your pants.
Dad!
And your shirt.
Good.
Now get to bed.
Jeez.
[thunder pealing]
[sneezes]
Joseph?
Hank?
Is that you?
Yeah.
Gosh, you're-- you're naked!
Yeah.
My dad said I couldn't go out.
He took all my
clothes to make sure.
Luckily he forgot my sneakers.
I ran all the way.
You'll catch pneumonia!
MRS. FOLEY: Joseph?
Duck!
Pete, are you wearing
clothes under your raincoat?
Of course I am.
Then give me your raincoat.
Pete!
I'll catch pneumonia.
Have you gone to bed, Joseph?
MRS. FOLEY: Joseph?
Joseph?
[screams]
I was right.
Look, here he comes!
Quick.
Hank?
Peter?
Come on, Pete.
If he gets to the Ferris wheel
ahead of us, it'll be too late.
He'll rip our heads off.
Right.
And then he'll be
Mr. Cooger again,
and we'll never prove anything.
They threw a pillow
case over my head.
And I don't know what they've
done with poor Joseph.
I don't believe it!
Are you sure?
I saw them running
away, the pair of them,
with my very own eyes.
And I reported it to the police.
I see.
Thanks for calling
us, Mrs. Foley.
It's Hank and Pete.
Mrs. Foley says they
robbed and attacked her.
She's called the police.
[ominous music playing]
There he goes!
[police sirens wailing]
Hurry!
Hurry!
Now!
Now!
We can't let him get away!
[laughs]
What have you done to Joseph?
[mr. cooger laughs]
[carnival music speeds up]
Dodger!
Stop the wheel!
Stop the wheel!
Stop the wheel!
Dodger!
Stop the wheel!
Stop the wheel!
[explosion and popping]
Stop!
Stop!
Stop the wheel!
Stop!
Stop the wheel!
Dad, you've got
to listen to me!
That's Mr. Cooger!
Please, stop the wheel!
He stole the stuff
from Mrs. Foley!
[ELECTRICITY CRACKING AND
POPPING]
Stop!
[ominous music playing]
[carnival music playing]
RAY BRADBURY: People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Right here.
All of this is my
magician's toy shop.
I'm Ray Bradbury.
And this is--
[ominous music playing]
[carnival music playing]
[laughter]
[ominous music playing]
[dog barking]
[piano music playing]
[carnival music playing]
[ominous music playing]
Dodger?
Give me 20 minutes.
I've got to tell Mrs.
O'Leary I'm out of town.
[ominous music continues]
[carnival music playing]
Pete!
Peter!
Hank?
What do you want?
Come on down!
It's suppertime,
and I've got homework.
Jump, or you'll be sorry.
Listen!
What?
Mystery, doom, death!
The end of the world!
The end of the world, huh?
This way.
Come on, Hank.
It's late.
I'm really going to get it.
You won't believe what's
going down at the carnival.
The carnival's closed.
Doesn't matter, let's go.
I don't believe you.
No, I'm telling
you, it happened.
Just wait and see.
[ominous music playing]
Shh, careful.
This way.
There!
There it is!
It's just a Ferris wheel.
Wait and see.
I saw it happen.
I don't know how, but it did.
You know how carnivals
are kind of weird?
Well this one's even weirder.
Duck!
What'd he do that for?
Shh!
[claps]
That's him.
Mr. Cooger, the carnival man.
Shh!
[electricity crackling]
[carnival music playing]
You see?
What?
It's going the wrong way.
Backwards instead of forwards.
Hey, yeah!
But so what?
Watch.
[carnival music stops]
Where's Mr. Cooger?
Wait till you see.
Come on.
Where?
Just follow me.
Come on.
[ominous music playing]
Who's that?
That's Mr. Cooger.
Come on!
[piano music playing]
[dog barking]
Shh!
Come on!
That's Mrs. Foley's house.
What's he doing there?
I don't know, but the same
thing happened last night.
It did?
Come on.
His name's Joseph Pike.
My mom told me.
He's an orphan that
showed up on her doorstep
one day two weeks ago.
Hank, I'm scared,
cold, and hungry.
And I don't know what
this is all about.
Don't be so dumb.
The carnival came to
town two weeks ago.
Get it?
MRS. FOLEY: Hello, Joseph.
Right on time.
Come on!
[wind howling]
What are we going to do?
I think she's in danger.
You must be a hungry
boy, so I've cooked
your favorite meal for you.
I love you're
cooking, Mrs. Foley.
He's probably after
her money, her jewels.
We've got to warn her.
Hank, it started
to rain again.
Let's just go home.
No way!
Looks beautiful.
Carrots?
You're going in?
We're going in.
We have to tell her
about Mr. Cooger.
Hank, maybe he's just a
little kid who's staying
at-- with Mrs.
Foley and she lets
him go late to the carnival.
No way!
[knocking on door]
MRS. FOLEY: Why,
for heaven's sakes!
Hank, Peter, you're all wet!
Come in.
Thank you, Mrs. Foley.
Well, it's suppertime.
Why aren't you both home?
Can we see you alone, ma'am?
Alone?
We have to warn you.
Warn me?
Yes, ma'am.
About the boy.
Yeah.
You think he's a
boy, but he isn't.
He's from the carnival,
and he's not a boy.
He's a man.
And maybe he's planning on
staying with you until he
finds out where your money is.
And then he'll run off
with it some night.
And you'll never find
him because he'll
ride the Ferris wheel
and get older and older
and nobody will find him.
Henry Walterson,
how you do go on.
What are you talking about?
Tell her, Pete.
Tell her what you saw.
It's true, ma'am.
Mr. Cooger.
He sat in the Ferris wheel
and it went backwards.
And he got younger and younger.
That's enough!
Peter, Henry, I won't
listen to another word.
Joseph has been coming to
visit for some time now.
He's a very nice
boy, which is more
than I can say for
you two, stirring
up trouble where there is none.
Now, you go home before
I call your parents.
So you go straight home.
OK, genius.
Now you did it.
Suppose he heard us?
Suppose he comes and kills
us in our beds tonight
to shut us up for keeps?
He wouldn't do that.
Wouldn't he?
Look.
[gate closes]
Henry Walterson,
you'll be lucky
if you don't catch pneumonia.
He was soaked to his skin.
You're late again
tonight, Hank.
That's the third time
this week, young man.
Now what's this
about the carnival?
Well, you know Mr. Cooger,
the carnival man, dad?
Yes.
Pink carnation, funny suit.
Yeah, you seen him?
Yeah.
He's staying down the
street at Mrs. O'Leary's.
Why?
Yeah well, dad,
Mr. Cooger isn't
always Mr. Cooger all the time.
Sometimes he's a little boy.
And sometimes he's staying at
Mrs. Foley's instead of Mrs.
O'Leary's.
And Pete and I--
Hank, that's enough.
I'm tired of listening
to your fantasies.
And I'm tired of telling you
not to go to carnival anymore.
But dad--
That's final.
Now go to your room.
Now!
MRS. WALTERSON: He's always
loved carnivals, Bob.
MR. WALTERSON: Closed ones.
In the rain?
And the stories he makes up!
MRS. WALTERSON: There is a
little boy at Widow Foley's.
You know, the little orphan boy.
She's been so happy since
he came into her life, Bob.
It's wonderful she has,
well, someone again.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Listen, Pete, I
figured it all out.
You see, Mr. Cooger's
got a great plan.
Yeah?
What?
First to rip off all
her money as the kid.
Then he disappears.
But really, he's sticking
around town as Mr. Cooger.
That way nobody will suspect him
[pete sneezes]
Nobody will believe that.
I tried to tell my
folks, but they said
I was just making it all up.
We've got to move tonight,
before he tries to kill us.
You said so yourself.
Aw, come on, Hank.
We're the only ones who know.
And he knows we know.
[pete sneezes]
Bet you he's going to
try something tonight.
Meet me at Mrs. Foley's
in half an hour.
It's raining.
My mom said I can't go
out anymore tonight.
PETE (ON PHONE):
Do you want to die?
No.
Then meet me
there, and I bet we
see that orphan kid sneaking
out with all her money
and running to the carnival.
I'll see you in half an hour.
You're not going anywhere
tonight, young man.
You're grounded.
[ominous music playing]
Give me your pants.
Dad!
And your shirt.
Good.
Now get to bed.
Jeez.
[thunder pealing]
[sneezes]
Joseph?
Hank?
Is that you?
Yeah.
Gosh, you're-- you're naked!
Yeah.
My dad said I couldn't go out.
He took all my
clothes to make sure.
Luckily he forgot my sneakers.
I ran all the way.
You'll catch pneumonia!
MRS. FOLEY: Joseph?
Duck!
Pete, are you wearing
clothes under your raincoat?
Of course I am.
Then give me your raincoat.
Pete!
I'll catch pneumonia.
Have you gone to bed, Joseph?
MRS. FOLEY: Joseph?
Joseph?
[screams]
I was right.
Look, here he comes!
Quick.
Hank?
Peter?
Come on, Pete.
If he gets to the Ferris wheel
ahead of us, it'll be too late.
He'll rip our heads off.
Right.
And then he'll be
Mr. Cooger again,
and we'll never prove anything.
They threw a pillow
case over my head.
And I don't know what they've
done with poor Joseph.
I don't believe it!
Are you sure?
I saw them running
away, the pair of them,
with my very own eyes.
And I reported it to the police.
I see.
Thanks for calling
us, Mrs. Foley.
It's Hank and Pete.
Mrs. Foley says they
robbed and attacked her.
She's called the police.
[ominous music playing]
There he goes!
[police sirens wailing]
Hurry!
Hurry!
Now!
Now!
We can't let him get away!
[laughs]
What have you done to Joseph?
[mr. cooger laughs]
[carnival music speeds up]
Dodger!
Stop the wheel!
Stop the wheel!
Stop the wheel!
Dodger!
Stop the wheel!
Stop the wheel!
[explosion and popping]
Stop!
Stop!
Stop the wheel!
Stop!
Stop the wheel!
Dad, you've got
to listen to me!
That's Mr. Cooger!
Please, stop the wheel!
He stole the stuff
from Mrs. Foley!
[ELECTRICITY CRACKING AND
POPPING]
Stop!
[ominous music playing]
[carnival music playing]