03x01 - The Circus

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

NARRATOR:
Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes
to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

[thunder rumbles]

[laughing]

[laughing]

[thunder rumbles]

The... atmosphere

is, uh, cheerless...

funereal.

There's neither... the...

neither the, uh...

[thunder rumbles]

...neither the
tantalizing luridness

of the gypsy's wagon,

nor the somber mystery

of the medium's parlor.

[thunder cracks]

It is simply...

...uninteresting.

Hmm.

The last flickering flame

of showmanship.

And your own
flame, sir?

[thunder rumbles]

Fires are the archenemy

of the circus, Mr. Bragg.

You know me.

Oh, I know you well.

From the articles you have
written through the years,

I know you very well indeed.

Ah, but you've been
cleverly invisible.

I couldn't find you.

Happily, my audiences
don't seem to have that problem.

Yes.

People are, uh, diligent
about throwing away their money

on such lurid fictions
as you supply.

"Circus!

"Before your very eyes,

"man into werewolf.

"See the vampire
rise from its coffin.

"Bring...

"the children.

Invest in
a sense of wonder."

How much, exactly,
is the investment, Dr. Nis?

I only require enough

to feed my troupe
of performers.

[wheels creaking]

How is it that you came
here today, Mr. Bragg?

Uh, on a back road near here,

my tires caught a berm.

My car went into a tree.

[chuckles]

More carelessness.

It seems chronic with you,
Mr. Bragg.

Yes.

But this time,
it brought me good fortune.

As a newspaperman,

I've always listened to rumors.

And there's been this crazy one.

Crazy but persistent.

[thunder rumbles]

Of a freak circus
that never visited large cities,

but stopped, for one night only,
at isolated villages.

I am pleased to know

that I have held such prominent
stature in your devotions,

Mr. Bragg.

[chuckles]

Hardly.

You see, I'm not paid
to debunk charlatans, Dr. Nis.

I'm paid to sell newspapers,

which I manage
with awesome success.

Debunking charlatans--
well, that's a side benefit.

[thunder rumbles]

I pour out
all my... disappointment,

disillusionment,
disgust with the world...

...and just leave it
on someone else's doorstep

with the morning milk.

It's a form
of survival, Dr. Nis.

Keeps me from going mad.

[wheels creaking]

Will you stay for
this evening's performance?

Or do you intend to write
about it sight unseen?

I don't suppose
your observations will vary,

one way or another.

You wouldn't consider

a private showing,
perhaps--

some of the more

garish, sensational
highlights of your show?

Not only will I consider it,

I will insist on it.

[laughing]

The natural world
is full of prodigies,

for those who open
their eyes and mind.

We begin with a vampire,
Mr. Bragg.

[thunder rumbles]

[lid creaking]

[thunder cracks]

[hisses]

[gasps]

You're all right.

Everything is quite all right.

Nanoosh.

[lamb bleats]

[grunts]

[bleats]

[guttural hiss]

[lamb bleating]

Good Lord...

you're not going to...

[hisses]

Dr. Nis...

...this was no mere illusion.

You actually slaughtered
that poor animal.

Your poster...

urges people
to bring children.

Surely, not even you
can feel this...

...is suitable for children.

We would never use a lamb
for the general audience.

Particularly for the children.

For the performance,
a snake, a rodent.

But these creatures supply
a small quantity of blood.

So, in the early evening,

when the succubus
first arises from sleep,

we offer it something
more substantial

to slake its thirst.

It wouldn't do
for it to be in need

when the audience arrives.

A very serious accident
might happen.

By and large,
it does what we want it to do.

But none of
our performers

are 100% reliable.

Excellent makeup job.

I'll give you that.

Do the, uh, teeth

actually penetrate
the animal's flesh,

or is there
a hidden blade somewhere?

[hisses]

[dogs barking]

It's just the dogs,
you see, Mr. Bragg.

They help keep us
free of intruders.

[barking continues]

You seem interested
in our finances, Mr. Bragg.

The vampire is the costliest
of our troupe to keep fed.

Not like our dogs,

that make their supper
from the little pests

that are always visitors
in our tents.

Oh, dear.

We'll have to ask Nanoosh

to repair that
before the performance.

[rat squeaking]

An unexpected expense.

[growls]

There is always the unexpected,

isn't there, Mr. Bragg?

[thunder rumbling,
wind whistling]

[growls]

I wouldn't come
too close.

Not at suppertime.

[growls]

[thunder crashes, rumbles]

Earlier, I accused you of
a lack of showmanship, Doctor.

I retract that.

All this has been...

quite extraordinary.

Technically speaking, that is.

You're a tough customer,
Mr. Bragg.

A tough customer, indeed.

[chuckles]

Come with me...

if you dare.

[laughs]

Normally, we allow
our creatures to roam freely...

[hisses]

...but before

[hissing]
each performance,

we invite the ticket holders
for a visit backstage here--

a sort of sideshow.

But we feel that, when there is
to be close contact, a cage

can discourage any
unnecessary aggravation.

Like, uh, curious brats pulling
at the beard of the werewolf?

[chuckles]

We haven't had that happen yet,
but I'm sure it will someday.

[hisses]

Oh, speak of the devil.

Here is the werewolf,
Mr. Bragg.

False advertising,
Dr. Nis.

The poster says,

"Before your very eyes,
man into werewolf."

That suggests
the viewer may witness

the event itself.

[low, breathy snarling]

Yes, well,

it's so unpredictable.

Lycanthropy is not a condition
that can be perfectly timed.

A logical disclaimer,
Doctor,

but aren't your patrons--
however dull-witted--

somewhat disappointed?

[growls]

BRAGG:
This is disgusting!

You appeal only to the basest,
most vulgar mentality.

[yells]

[gasps]

[groaning]

NIS:
Dear, dear,

if it's not one thing,
it's another.

My reanimated corpse,
Mr. Bragg.

A personal experiment of mine.

I'm afraid I wasn't
as successful

as I'd like to have been.

[dog barking]

[groaning loudly]

[yells]

[reanimated corpse groaning,
grunting]

[dog barking]

[dog sniffing]

When you corral him, Nanoosh,
take him to the surgical wagon.

Will you, please?

[grunts]

BRAGG:
This is a nightmare.

It's disgraceful to perform
this sort of thing at all--

but in front of children?!

It's unpardonable!

This will not end

with a simple indictment
in the Sunday edition,

Dr. Nis!

I will not rest

until this monstrous circus
of yours is banned,

burned, eradicated!

[thunder rumbling]

Despite your professional
skill at phrasemaking,

I think you will
never find the words

to sufficiently express all that
has been aroused in you today.

[thunder rumbles]

[thunder rumbling]

NIS: True believers only
are safe here.

Those who doubt are advised
to open their hearts.

Open their hearts...

to this... horror?

Horror, Mr. Bragg?

I deplore the term.

My life has been spent
in trying to keep alive

the faith in
the mystery of nature.

Listen...

if a man, who believes,

sees a ghost,

he's merely frightened.

A man who disbelieves

and comes face-to-face
with what he denies...

...may well die of shock.

[guttural gasping]

So...

perhaps my circus does
provide some useful service.

And as for the children,

what better time
to develop a sense of wonder

than one's youth...

before it is too late.

NIS:
Ladies and gentlemen...

[people chatting]

...children of all ages...

the circus!

Invest now...

in a sense of wonder!

Thrill to the majesty
of the unknown.

See the creatures
of myth and legend.

[growling, snarling]
Lo, the wonder
of the ancients!

Come face-to-face with the
marvel of the experimental--

component parts of the dead
imbued with life--

our reanimated corpse!

[guttural gasping]

NARRATOR:
The dark side is always there.

Waiting for us to enter.

Waiting to enter us.

Until next time, try
to enjoy the daylight.