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♪♪♪
[light sound of a heart beating]
♪♪♪
I can not recall how the idea entered my mind;
but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.
I loved the old man. He had never wronged me.
He had never insulted me. I desired nothing of him.
It was his eye!
Yes, his eye!
He had the eye of a vulture -
Whenever it fell upon me,
my blood ran cold; and so by degrees - -
I decided to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of him forever.
Oh, you should have seen me.
How wisely - with such
foresight and careful calculation - I planned it.
Every night at midnight,
I turned the *** of his door and opened it - -
so gently.
You would have admired my cunning.
I moved slowly - - so slowly.
While I was well inside the room.
I let the light fall on the vulture eye.
But it was closed.
I was never candid to
that old man in that week before I killed him.
Every morning I boldly went into his room and
inquired after him. "Mornin', did you sleep well?"
"Oh, not bad my friend. Not bad."
He suspected nothing.
♪♪♪
On the eighth night I was more than usually cautious.
A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than I did.
But never before I felt the triumph of my powers.
[door creaks open slowly]
♪♪♪
[floor creaking with each step]
[man gasps]
It was open! "Who's there?"
Wide open!
"Who's there?"
I kept quite still in the darkness.
For an hour I didn't move a muscle.
As he's trying to comfort himself
this dread swells in his chest. [heart beating]
And then I heard it. [heart beating]
A dull quick sound like a watch enveloped in cotton.
It increased my fury as a beatin' of a drum
drives a soldier to courage.
[man gasps and yells] [heart beating]
[man continues to yell]
[heart beats increase] [man groaning]
[silence]
[heavy breathing]
His eye will trouble me no more.
♪♪♪
I took wise percautions for the disposal of the body.
[thump]
[faint heart beats]
[knocking on door]
[heartbeats]
What have I to fear?
[knocking on door]
Sorry, to distrub you, sir,
but a neighbor has reported a shriek.
Shriek? A shriek.
Oh, that was my own nightmare you see.
I see.
Come in.
♪♪♪
[light heart beats]
I made them search. Search well. There was nothing to fear.
No clues anywhere. I'd seen to that.
I led them into his chamber.
I bade them to rest from their fatigues.
Tea? Never at night sir. Thank you.
Two sugars. Thank you.
Oh, butterflies. Write that down.
*** Mary. Mmm hmm..
Oh, theatre posters. One of the pomping folk.
Ahh, yes.
Hmm...
This candle is covered in dust,
but it's been moved. Covered... in... dust.
Hmm... but moved. But... moved.
Put that down. Hmm..
Please sit. Thank you.
In the enthusiam of my confidence in the wild audicity
of my perfect triumph, I placed a chair
above the spot beneath which the corpse lay.
How long have you lived here?
Ten years. At least. And the gentleman?
About a year.
He's a widower, see. Prefers lodgings rather than keep a house.
Mr. Hodge prefers to lodge.
Very nice place it is.
A ... very .... nice ....
Suddenly a deep fatigue swept over me.
My head becomes awake.
There was a ringing in my ears.
[police mumbling] Became more distinct.
That thumping sound.
[overlapping voices]
[thump]
[overlapping voices continue]
When did you say the gentleman left?
I didn't say. When did he leave then?
[heartbeats]
I'm not sure. You're not sure?
[heartbeats]
I didn't say. When did he leave then?
I'm not sure. You're not sure? I didn't say.
[hearbeats]
No doubt I grew pale. The sound increased. What could I do?
Was it possible they didn't hear it?
Sir? They mock me!
[heart thumping]
[heat thumping]
[heart thumping speeds up]
Nice .... tea. Yes..
Anything was more horrible than this duration.
Lapsang souchong I believe.
Tastes like gunpoweder. It does.
It grew louder and louder and louder.
[heart thumping continues] [man mumbling]
[heart beating rapidly]
I MADE TEA!
I can't stand your mockery a moment longer. You...
are the villains for your deceit.
[heart beating rapidly]
I can't stand it! [echoing]
[heart beating continues]
It's the beating of his hideous heart.
[heart beating continues]
[heart beating stops]
And thereby ends my tale.
♪♪♪
