- Oh. - Careful, Doc.
- Easy. - I got it. I got it. I got it.
All right.
- Christ, he's heavy. - Yes, he is.
Doesn't sound like he wants to leave you, Doc.
I'm sure you'll give it a good home.
Oh, yeah. He'll have it real easy.
He'll just lie around all day, you know.
He'll travel a little, get to meet a lot of interesting people.
I kind of envy 'em sometimes. I really do.
Shut up in there!
You got to learn some manners,
before you and me are gonna get along.
- That right, Doc? - It'll settle down in time.
What time is it?
Well, it looks like day is about to pop in.
I'd say about 4:30.
There you are, Doc. That's 800 bucks.
Thank you.
- Aren't you gonna count that? - I trust you.
Boy. Ain't many people ever said that to me before, Doc.
You're a real gentleman, you know that?
And a genius, besides.
Yes, sir. You're a real and a bona fide genius.
First one I ever met.
It's rare to be appreciated for one's failures.
You mark my words, Doc.
You're gonna go down in history as a great man.
You're great man, Doc.
I'm gonna get this show on the road.
- See ya. - Good-bye.
Here we have two of the most commonly confused snakes.
Uh, that is, the snakes themselves are not confused,
But we have a tendency to confuse them.
Let me put that another way.
The difference is,
in the case of the poisonous coral, the red and yellow bands touch.
Whereas, in the case of the non-poisonous king,
the red and yellow bands are separated by black stripes.
Now, a good way to remember that is the old folk saying:
"Red touch yellow, kill a fellow."
And they're off...
Uh, with the exception of Miss Stewart.
Dr. Daniels, I didn't want you to think...
Oh, but thinking comes naturally to me, Kitty.
Just as, uh, apparently...
Red touch yellow, kill a what?
Kenneth Daniels, I'm confused.
Miss Stewart, you'll have to excuse us,
unless, of course, you have a good stomach for bloodletting.
Pretty girl.
Still up to your old vices. Shame on you.
- Here. - No, thank you.
Oh, you might as well.
Neither one of us have very long to live, anyway.
You might as well enjoy yourself.
That's been your attitude for 20 years.
Ahhh.
Now we'll hear about the carefree grasshopper
and the busy ant.
No. Not my field.
Oh, that's right. You're our ophiological expert, aren't you?
The esteemed Dr. Stoner in his country laboratory...
cackling over his bubbling bottles and dripping serum.
The theories I have originated
are now being considered by the world medical opinion.
Considered inconclusive.
Now, let's get to the point.
Since I'm chairman of the department,
you'd like me to recommend an extension of your research grant
for another year.
- Isn't that it? - Look, Ken.
I am not some crackpot who's come in begging, hat in hand.
I've got 30 years in the field of venom research.
I've got 7 books, 63 articles, and monographs.
Please, don't haul out those thumb-worn and yellowed credentials.
Please.
Oh, I feel sorry for you, Carl.
A first-rate mind...
gone to seed.
Well... Well, I suppose I have been a little bit out of it, lately.
As you've said, we haven't got that long to live.
Of course, I need that grant.
I was hoping you might recommend some
bright young student who'd be willing to help me this summer.
I thought you had someone working for you.
I did have, but he left me on short notice.
I'm not exactly sure I want to place one of my students in your hands.
Oh, come on, Ken. You've ridden my ass enough today.
I may be a little self-involved, but I'm hardly Dr. Frankenstein.
You are to me.
You've been a thorn in my side for 20 years.
- I'm sorry, Ken. - It's not Ken.
It's Dr. Daniels, Dr. Stoner.
We can't be friends.
At least, we ought to treat each other with proper accord.
- Agreed. - Say it... "Dr. Daniels."
Dr. Daniels.
Well...
It's about time I had a little respect from you, eh?
You have it... and my gratitude,
if you'll just recommend somebody to help me.
Well, I suppose I could find it in the goodness of my heart.
As a matter of fact, I think I know just the boy.
You got Kitty in trouble. I don't like that.
Oh, come on, Steve. You know he didn't mean to.
If anybody gets a chick in trouble, it's old Steve-O.
Are you going to apologize to her or am I gonna have to make you do it?
I don't think there's anything to apologize for.
- This says different. - What's that, proof of Darwin's theory?
- What the hell does that mean? - It means natural selection.
Survival of the fittest.
- Are you David? - Uh, yes.
- David Blake? - Yes.
- I'm Dr. Stoner. - The herpetologist?
The herpetologist, yes.
I'm into snakes.
Uh, David. Excuse us.
Lucky.
I know the snake...
I can't believe that Dr. Daniels really recommended me for this job.
Why do you say that?
Well, he's just not my idea of a real teacher.
Every time I ask him a question, he just says,
"Why don't you work on that little problem for yourself,
and please spare me the results of your efforts."
That sounds like Daniels.
In the future, let's try to respect each other's questions,
see what happens.
Incidentally, I don't think wisdom will die with Dr. Daniels.
Oh. It's all right, Harry.
This is Harry, my obedient serpent.
Hello, Harry.
Wow. He's a real beauty, isn't he?
- Red-tailed boa? - Yes.
Wow. He's hot.
Hey, you're thirsty, aren't you, boy?
Oh. I've got a little something here for Harry.
Here you go, boy.
Can't deny an old man his nip now and then.
After all, in human terms, Harry's almost 63.
I'll just get some water for Harry.
Hey. What gives, kid?
Ah, just helpin' you out.
Helping yourself, you mean?
Now, I am sorry about that,
but maybe that'll teach you to ask before you touch.
Holy shit! Help!
- It's all right. Don't panic. Don't panic. - Get it off!
- Just get it off! - Relax your arm, please.
- Well, just get it off of me. - I will.
David, could you give me a hand, please?
It's his tail that's caught so tight.
Let go, Harry. Let go.
What's the matter with you people, anyway?
You crazy or somethin'? Carryin' a snake around like that in a car!
Sorry, but that'll teach you to ask before you touch.
David, we're home.
Hi, Dad.
I wasn't expecting you back until tomorrow.
Oh, a friend of mine gave me a ride, so I decided to save time and money.
You know, you would be amazed at how much work babies are,
even your sister's.
I missed you.
Grandpa!
Oh. Hello, Jeffrey.
Oh, excuse me.
Uh, this is my daughter... Kristina.
- Kristina, this is David Blake. - Hi.
- David's going to be my new assistant.
- Where's Tim? - Tim left.
He left? Just like that?
Illness in the family. His father was seriously ill.
He's a handsome fellow.
You know, I thought he told me his father was dead.
His fath... You're right. It was Tim's uncle.
It's a shame.
The fear that most people have of snakes
is based on the same misunderstanding
that they have about any other minority group.
If they're told that one member is harmful,
then they generalize and believe that they're all dangerous.
It's so stupid.
For example, uh, the hognose is completely harmless.
So much so that he can't even be induced to bite.
Watch me. Watch my finger. See him get away?
See? See him run away from my finger?
Put your finger in there.
Go ahead. Right up to his nose.
He's a consummate coward.
That's enough. Let's leave him alone.
Uh, this is Sam. It's Kristina's turtle.
He's... albino from Malaysia. He's a little peculiar.
You've, uh, probably noticed, David, all the tags in this laboratory.
The color of the tag indicates
the comparative degree of danger of the species.
Now, a green tag means non-poisonous.
A yellow tag means poisonous.
But, uh, serum for all of these snakes along the wall here is easily obtained.
Now, a red tag means highly venomous.
Uh, serum is available for these species,
but in most cases, it arrives too late for help.
The, uh, black mamba, for example...
That's him in the cup.
...secretes enough poison in a single bite to kill 10 men.
- Oh? Where does he come from? - Africa.
This one was from the Congo.
I see by the chart he's hungry, or at least he ought to be. Uh...
- Would you, uh, stand back, please? - Oh.
He may appear to be a little shy at first.
But...
...he's the fastest snake in the world.
But I have him... near the head, too, where I need him.
His, uh, venom is neurotoxic,
inhibiting the breathing
and affecting the vagus nerve that controls the heartbeat.
The victim's heart beats wildly, and he usually succumbs within an hour
to symptoms that appear very much like a heart attack.
Would you hand me that feeding gun, please?
You know, uh, most snakes will not eat in captivity.
This, uh, force-feeder contains a premeasured diet
of, uh, milk, eggs, vitamin concentrates,
liver, gelatin, bone meal and chicken blood.
- Chicken blood? - For flavor.
Give it a little squeeze, please. Gently.
That's it. Now, we don't want to give him indigestion. That's enough.
David, together, we've just fed a very hungry black mamba.
Excuse me.
This room here is where we store venom...
and dry-freeze it into crystals...
...just like coffee.
Then it's blended and ground
and, uh, shipped to pharmaceutical firms and research laboratories...
where it's used as, uh, coagulants and, uh, pain relievers...
and the treatment of certain blood diseases.
Bookkeeping.
When I have the time, all of this, which I detest so much...
You do all this by yourself?
No. Kristina helps me with the feeding and the paper work.
And, of course, she runs the show on Sunday.
It's basically a family business.
Well, Dr. Stoner, if there's anything I can do to help...
I just hope you're not afraid of needles.
Immunization is an occupational necessity in our house.
That hurts more than the bite of most snakes.
What is it, some kind of antibiotic?
Not precisely.
You can put your finger on that for a few minutes.
- It sure does sting. - That'll only last a few minutes.
And you won't even feel that during the booster shots.
Booster shots?
Every few days for the next month or so,
until you can sustain a full drop of raw venom.
Oh. Wait a minute. What are you trying to do, kill me?
On the contrary.
I'm trying to make sure that nothing else does.
Come here, David.
The king cobra...
the most dangerous of all living creatures.
It's six years, and he still doesn't like me.
Why should he? I'm just a common human and...
...he's the king.
The most cunning, the most vicious,
the most insolent of all God's creatures.
It's only Friday, Your Majesty.
Two more days you'll get your chance again.
He's not afraid of anything, is he?
Nothing human.
Do you recognize the common mongoose?
Harmless, furry little animal...
except when he faces a cobra.
Are you religious, David?
Well, I've... I've never really given it much thought.
I've given it a great deal of thought.
You've read, of course,
that the serpent who tempted Eve was actually...
Oh, come on, Dad! David doesn't want to hear about all that right now.
Kristina, I'm not going to bore him with the whole Book of Genesis.
The serpent who tempted Eve in the garden
was actually Lucifer, the Devil,
cast down on Earth in another form to do the Lord God's work.
Dr. Stoner, do you really think it was God's work?
To tempt man with the fruit of knowledge?
What else would you call it?
Granted, we have misused that knowledge
and brought man to the brink of extinction.
Well, I don't think man will ever become extinct.
I think he has the will and the knowledge
to find some way to survive.
Do you really? So do I.
To evolve, in order to survive.
And I think we can help him.
I don't know if I'll be much help to man tonight.
Well, forget man. What about woman?
Who's gonna help me wash the dishes?
I will.
Oh.
I feel so... sleepy. I...
It's the effect of the inoculation.
You'll sleep very soundly tonight, David...
and, perhaps, even through tomorrow.
And if you're lucky,
you may experience what few persons have ever known and lived to recall.
You see, the venom of the cobra
is one of nature's strongest hallucinogens.
Kristina. Kristina.
We'd better help this boy to his room.
You're asking me questions, Harry, and I hear you.
But a scientist cannot afford the indulgence of guilt.
And after all, if God doesn't want me to continue,
the means of my disposal...
always at his command.
- A little more? - Come on.
You're gonna turn him into an alcoholic.
Here, drink the juice.
- Thank you. - Harry, don't listen to him.
He's past it, isn't he?
He's going to be fine.
Please, uh, don't crowd up to the enclosure.
There's plenty of room for everyone to see.
You can sit on your cars, or you can sit on your neighbor's cars,
but please do not crowd up to the enclosure.
Back off. Would you back off.
Just about around in here is fine.
Chiildren, back off over in there.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to witness
one of the most dangerous demonstrations
in the history of modern science.
Dr. Carl Stoner, my father, will capture and extract venom
from one of the deadliest creatures on Earth...
the king cobra.
Although many snake venoms are considered more toxic or poisonous,
the king cobra has enough venom in a single bite to kill 30 men.
And unlike most snakes that attack and then retreat,
the king cobra is apt to chew into his victim several times.
However, being of royal heritage,
the king will never attack unless annoyed.
Unfortunately, almost everything annoys the king.
Sounds like my wife.
Complete silence, please, and no pictures until I give the signal.
Ladies and gentlemen,
one of the world's greatest scientists...
and... and experts in the field of herpetology,
Dr. Carl Stoner.
Now, if you would please form a circle around the enclosure,
but please stand back about two or three feet.
And remember what I said about not taking any pictures.
Ladies and gentlemen, the king cobra!
I wouldn't touch it.
Watch out!
Dr. Stoner is now extracting the venom from the king cobra.
In the extraction process,
the snake secretes its venom voluntarily.
And by this method, a snake can be kept healthy
and producing venom for many years.
Now I'm helping Dr. Stoner feed the snake using a pressure gun,
which delivers a completely balanced combination of nutrients.
For those of you who are now leaving,
may I remind you that contributions will help Dr. Stoner
continue his research.
We really appreciate your support.
Only $18.15.
It's better than last week.
$18 to risk your life?
What's the matter with those people?
Don't they realize the importance of what he's doing?
They come for the show.
Some of them come hoping he'll get bitten.
Has he ever been bitten?
More times than I care to remember.
I'm glad the immunization really works.
With the smaller snakes, yeah, but nobody knows about the king.
Damn!
Now, I've got you.
He got me, Harry.
I'll milk you tomorrow.
You African bastard!
I've got enough serum in me for 10 mamba bites.
We're both getting older and slower, Harry.
I think that's a sign that...
I should stop dueling with the king.
Too many important things to think about.
You know, I saw an intriguing article yesterday.
At our present rate of consumption,
we can expect worldwide fuel shortages in less than 50 years.
The world is gonna belong to the cold-blooded species.
But we already knew that, didn't we, Har?
It's a perfectly natural reaction to the cobra inoculation.
I just wish you'd told me about it before.
I feel like an orange.
Yes. You see, the venom burns off the superficial layers of the skin...
much like a sunburn, only from the inside.
It's the same principle that allows a cobra
to shed his skin every few months.
Don't tell me this is gonna happen every few months...
'cause, if it is, you should've got a fatter assistant.
This is the first and last time.
I feel positively naked... and cold.
- Good. - What?
You'd best put on a sweater. I feel a little chilly in here, myself.
Doc Stoner. I don't know if you remember me.
I'm Dale Hardison. I'm an old student of yours.
Yes. I think I do recall.
Well, there's no reason why you should.
I never was too good a student.
But, uh, well, I'm the one that never could remember the name
of those plants' phylums.
"Phyla"... still the plural.
But, uh, you seem to have found a worthwhile calling
preserving the status quo.
Well, yeah, it, uh, takes all kinds.
- This is my deputy, Morgan Bock. - How do you do?
But not spelled the same as the composer.
What, uh, what can I do for you, gentlemen?
Well, you could get us a couple of girls.
We were kinda hopin', Doc,
that you could give us the 25-cent tour of your place.
We've heard a lot about it up in town.
Be a pleasure. This way.
Come ahead, Mr. Bock.
This is the laboratory.
And this...
...is my daughter, Kristina.
Ma'am.
And a female python. A couple of girls.
Don't tell me my old parking tickets have caught up on me.
Well, if they have, looks like you've got a pretty good lawyer to defend you.
No. No, she's sick. Poor thing, she won't eat.
That's three and a half weeks.
I think we should isolate her, so she doesn't infect the others.
Gentlemen, she's heavy. Could you give me a hand?
Geez, Doc. Is it...? Is it safe?
Pythons rarely attack except when they're hungry
or if they sense great fear.
- All right. - Hey, Dale.
- Come on, Morg. - It's okay. Just go right behind me.
I've got its head. It's all right.
Whoa!
It's okay. I've got its head.
- About four feet behind her. - Yeah, right behind me.
- Oh, right about there. - It's okay. Just grab on right there.
Yes.
- Right here? - That's a good spot.
Let's lift.
One, two, three, up.
- Come on, Morgan. - Whoa.
- Okay? Got it? - On the way to the storm cellar.
That's the isolation spot.
Oh?
Easy. Easy.
I appreciate this so much. Are you doing all right there?
Doing okay, I guess.
Sure is a big snake.
I know.
Gently. Thank you.
Dad, I left some cages open. I better go lock them up.
Thank you, Kristina.
Damn it. That virus is hanging on.
You and, uh, your daughter live here alone, Doc?
Yes. And my assistant, David Blake. Possibly you saw him as you drove up.
Hmm. You've got another boy working here for you, don't you?
- Tim McGraw? - He left some time ago.
Hmm. Went back to school, huh?
No. I think a relative was ill.
That, uh... That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Doc.
Uh, I got a letter from his aunt.
She hasn't heard from him for a couple of months and...
she's kinda worried.
I went over to the school to check out the records and...
nobody over there seen or heard from him since he came to work for you.
These kids today just pick up and take off.
Some of them do.
You, uh...
You just gonna leave that snake runnin' around down here, loose?
The cellar door is secure enough.
And she'll probably nest up there in the roofs.
Well, Morg, I guess we better be goin'.
Uh-huh.
- Thank you, Doc. - Thank you, gentlemen.
- What do you call him? - His name's Aaron.
- And what do you call him? - Aaron the II.
It's not infrequent that they're born with two heads,
it's just that only about one in a million survive.
Huh.
So that's what a baby cobra looks like.
Mm-hmm.
Careful. Careful. They already have fangs and venom.
You know, they're the only creatures that can protect themselves
from the moment of birth.
Father says it's because they're God's favorites.
See? Look.
- Bye-bye, Dad! - Bye!
- $11.20. - I'd like to insure it too, for $3,000.
You people sure got the racket.
All you do is give them snakes a little squeeze and...
the money comes pouring out.
You know, if we could just get an urutu,
we could actually start to make real profits.
The urutu is one of the rarest snakes in the world...
and is found only in the jungles of the Amazon.
- Hey. Where does that go? - Oh, it goes around the lake.
You know that one drop of urutu venom...
What are you doing?
Uh, hey, uh, let's go for a swim.
Don't be silly. We didn't bring our suits.
It doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother you.
Come on.
Come on, Kris.
Look, you're a naturalist, right?
Well, what could be more natural than the two of us...
going for a swim in the lake?
Come on.
Ready?
I'll go first.
You're comin'?
Hurry up!
Don't look!
Why? You're going to be looking.
Look, that's the problem! I can't see without my glasses!
So you can't look, either!
Okay, okay, I won't look! Hurry up!
- Promise? - Promise!
Whoo!
Wow, is it warm!
- Cover your eyes! - Kristina, get in the water!
David, cover your eyes!
All right, all right!
Come on. It's not getting any warmer.
I'm coming. Hey! You're peeking.
No. I'm not. Come on. Cover your eyes.
Hurry up. Oh, it's nice.
Ugh. It's freezing!
- No, it's warm. - It's freez... You lied!
Watch out.
- Hug me. - No touching.
That's not fair.
No. No.
The skin shedding is complete...
on schedule and no complications.
David's body temperature is dropping at the rate of three degrees a day.
Should stabilize at 80 degrees by the end of the week.
The prognosis is perfect.
Slight flattening of the nostrils.
Eyelids beginning to recede.
Facets that will not be readily apparent for several days.
After that, however,
the evolutionary process should accelerate greatly.
Cataclysmic changes should occur...
Oh.
I have you.
And I set you free.
Oh.
- You know something? - What?
I think your father's actually worried I might try something with you.
Well, aren't you going to?
Of course not.
Not while you're driving, doctor.
Look! A carnival!
Ohhh! Whoa!
Ohhh! Geez!
You look terrible! Aah!
Look at it! It's the High-boy!
High-low fast and safe!
Sensational ride!
Okay, we got a winner!
All right. Here it goes, guys!
All right! All right!
I don't know, Morgan.
Maybe you should've gone into some other kind of work.
Here, Daniel Boone. You try it. Go ahead.
- You payin'? - I'll pay.
- Feel a lot safer now, Morgan? - Oh, yeah.
If you live to be 1,000, you may never again get the chance
to see the most fantastic, the most bizarre,
the most incredible creatures in all of creation!
25 cents is all it costs. One thin quarter.
Two dimes and a nickle. Three nickles and a dime.
Anyway you add it up,
it's the greatest bargain in the whole world.
Sam Lee, the seal boy.
Arvin Le Deux, the man with two noses.
Joan and John Prendergast,
brother and sister Siamese twins, joined together forever at the waist.
And the incredible snake man! Half-man, half-snake.
The most astonishing human reptile in the history of the world.
Let's go see.
I can't stand those things. You know they're all fake.
Fake? Did I hear the little lady say "fake"?
Ladies and gentlemen, and gentlemen and ladies,
listen to me and listen well.
$1,000. That's right. A crisp, new $1,000 bill.
This is my gift
to the person who can prove that the snakeman is not real.
That's right. You heard me correctly. He's inside now, waiting for you.
No glass surrounds him. No mirrors distort him.
You may see him, speak to him, touch him, if you dare.
And the person that proves that the incredible snakeman
is not real, alive and as presented, will receive $1,000 in cash.
What do you say, sonny? The little lady says the thing is a fake...
Come on. Let's go see it.
All it costs is one thin quarter to prove she's right
and collect yourself $1,000 in change.
- Come on. Let's go check it out. - No. No. You go.
$1,000 just to prove the snakeman is a fake.
I'll wait right here. You go see.
Real as life. One look. Don't touch, just look.
Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, $1,000.
As real as you've ever seen it before in your whole life.
Hey, baby. This is for you.
- Oh, thank you. - You're welcome.
And in appreciation, I'll even let you buy me a beer.
Oh, no. Really. I'm waiting for someone.
Who could be more important?
Kristina, you've gotta see it. It's incredible. It's got blue eyes.
Hello, little David. How you doing tonight?
Hi, Steve. How are you?
Yeah, good to see you. Real good to see you.
What are you...? What is this?
- What the hell is going...? - What are you doing?
Oh, don't hurt him, Steve.
Don't do that. Don't do that.
Hey! What do you think you're doing? Get your hands off...
David, no!
All right, all right. All right, what do you think this is, an arena?
Okay.
Ow! Come on!
Hey, cut it out!
Break it up. You're ruining business for the paying shows.
Son of a bitch bit me!
Hey, buddy, you wanna go to jail?
Randall, why don't you stick to football?
Now where'd you come from?
- He's Dr. Stoner's assistant. - Oh, yeah. Miss Stoner.
You're Dr. Stoner's daughter. That crazy...
He's not crazy, you goddamn Neanderthal!
Neanderthal? I don't like the sound of that!
All right. This is gettin' a little wearisome for everybody.
Come on, you two. Let's go.
Randall.
Goddamn it. I said, move.
- Let's get out of here. - Come on, Steve.
Night, sheriff!
"I think I could turn and live with animals.
They are so placid and self-contained.
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition.
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins.
They do not make me sick, discussing their duty to God.
Not one is dissatisfied.
Not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another,
nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago.
Not one is respectable...
or unhappy over the whole Earth."
Walt Whitman, Harry.
A great man.
Huh. The lovers return.
Look sober now, Harry,
or Kristine will make us blow in a balloon.
- Okay. - It's all set. She'll do it for 10 bucks.
10 bucks each or 10 bucks for all of us?
10 bucks each. What do you think, she's some cheap hooker?
I don't have to pay for it. Never did. Never will.
Hey, didn't you tell the guy who Steve is?
Yeah. I was afraid then she'd ask for 20.
What's the matter with you? What are you doing?
You wanna go outside and mix it up?
No. Steve, no. Come on. What's the matter with you?
He's still steamed about getting shot down by the redhead.
She dug me.
Sure. She just didn't see your clippings, that's all.
You'd better believe it.
- Goddamn. - Hey, what are you doing?
Where are you going, Steve?
- Let the jerk go. - He's nuts.
Come on, Harry.
Come on.
Come on. Drink it, Harry. It'll make you feel better.
Go on.
That's a boy.
Dr. Stoner, why am I losing weight?
I expected it.
God. Feels like 40 below in here.
Harry, you know, you're getting lazy in your old age.
You gotta keep physically fit if you wanna make it in this world, Harry.
Good night, Harry.
- Hi, pretty baby. - What the hell are you doing here?
Get out! Get out! No! Get out!
Harry, no!
Get off! Get off!
Oh, no.
You people are nuts! All of you!
- Keeping snakes around like that! - Harry! Harry!
Oh, no!
Freaks! That's what you are! A bunch of snake freaks!
Oh, no.
Do you know that boy's name?
"I think I could turn and live with animals.
They are so placid and self-contained.
I stand and look at them long...
and long."
Harry was just a snake, Kris.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.
Look. We'll try and find another Harry.
Your face.
- What about it? - I don't know. It looks different.
Late adolescence.
As for the rest of me...
Haven't you ever seen wild-eyed passion before?
Show me.
Oh, God. That hurts, honey.
I'm sorry.
Hey, weren't you frightened? Makes me shiver to think of snakes.
Have you ever seen me frightened of anything?
You're so brave.
Right. And tired.
Hey, it's only 9:30. Curfew's not until 11:00.
I'm serious. I'm still in training.
Twice a night, that's all the coach allows me.
What about weekends?
Later.
Hey, uh, look.
Francie told me that you were like this, but I didn't believe her.
You should have. I gotta take a shower.
I'll see you around.
♪ On top of old Smokey all covered with snow ♪
♪ I lost my sweetheart ♪
♪ For a courtin' too slow ♪
♪ Courting's a pleasure ♪
♪ But parting's a grief♪
♪ False-hearted lover is worse than a thief♪
Shit!
God! Oh, God! No!
Get off me! God!
I think you're supposed to say something.
I love you.
I... I didn't mean that.
I did.
Don't cry.
Why are you crying? There's nothing to cry about.
I can't see you.
I'm crying because I can't find my glasses.
♪ On top of old Smokey ♪
♪ All covered with snow ♪
♪ I lost my true lover ♪
♪ For a courtin' too slow ♪
- Oh, no. - Shit!
Oh, shit.
Ow! Where's my shirt?
I don't know.
Oh, this. That's it.
Come in.
Oh, Kristine.
- You're back early. - Yes.
Maybe not early enough.
You and David seem to be getting along well together.
- We like each other. - Yes.
Maybe we have different definitions of "like".
You're an innocent girl, Kristine.
You've had a very sheltered life, and I can understand how lonely...
Wait. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Don't you think it's a little late to be telling me
about the birds and the bees?
- I'm very serious, Kristina. - Well, what do you want me to say?
That you haven't slept with him.
I don't think that's any of your business.
You don't understand the consequences of what you're doing.
Oh, come on, Dad.
I mean, I may not be very sophisticated,
but I do think I know a little...
No, you don't.
Kristina, one drop of... David's blood could...
- Could what? - Have an effect.
The inoculations.
There's a period in which the venom could have a damaging effect
on his nervous system.
Want you to promise me you won't have intercourse with him.
I don't think you have the right to ask me that.
I have more than a right. You are a stupid little child.
You don't understand what's happening.
And you're a stuffy, selfish, overprotective old man,
and you could care less about me or my happiness!
- Kristina, I want your promise! - No!
David!
David! David!
- What is it, Kristine? - I wanna see David right now.
Well, he doesn't want to see you. He's had an allergic reaction...
- Look, I don't... - ...to the immunization.
His face is broken out.
You're hiding something from me. I know it. He's gonna die, isn't he?
- He's not going to die. David! - Yes?
- How do you feel? - Ugly.
You see?
What the hell are you laughing at?
Male vanity.
Yeah, well, what would you do if you woke up one morning
and looked like a... beehive?
- He's going to be all right, isn't he? - Of course. Now, Kristine.
I'll call you as soon as I get there.
Kristina, drive carefully.
I can't believe you're really letting me do this all by myself.
- It's only a snake. - Only a snake?
It's an urutu.
I wouldn't trust anybody else to pick it up.
- I'm sorry about last night. - So am I.
Everybody forgiven?
- I'll call you tonight. - Please do.
- Take care of him. - I will.
Dr, Stoner, I... I feel... I feel terrible.
David, drink this.
- What is it? - A mild sedative.
- No, I don't feel... - It'll calm you.
Doctor, what's happening to me?
You're gonna be all right, David.
You've just become hypersensitive to the venom.
Yeah, well, don't...
Don't you think I should check into a hospital or something?
You may if you like.
But I'm not sure how much they know about cobra venom infections.
What is it?
My stomach.
It... It feels like my insides are being twisted.
Yes.
- No. No, no. Please. - David.
- No! - David, it will relieve the pain.
You're gonna be fine. Just fine.
A little alcohol on that.
I'll be right back.
- Hello, Carl. - What do you want?
Well, uh, I have a little piece of news for you,
and, uh, I thought rather than call,
you'd appreciate it if I came by and told you personally.
Are you sure the college can manage without you for an afternoon?
Class is suspended for the day for the funeral of one of the students.
Steve Randall, the team's star fullback.
It's a dangerous game, football.
I've always thought it should be outlawed.
Oh, he didn't die of a football injury. Heart attack.
Too bad.
- David around? - Working in the lab.
I'd like to say hello to him.
Uh, look. I have just said that we're busy,
and you just said that you had something to tell me.
Well, I was gonna try to soften the blow,
but since you're not being very civil, I might just as well drop it on ya.
The board rejected your request for an extension of the grant.
Fine. Good-bye.
You don't seem very upset about it.
I'm too busy to bother about it now. Just too busy.
- Feeling better? - Doctor, what is this?
I feel like my guts are being rearranged.
Your system is changing to assimilate the venom.
It's time for you to lie down.
- Where are we? - The storm cellar.
It's almost soundproof, in case you're considering shouting.
Shouting?
You're goddamn right I'm gonna shout.
- What are you doing to that boy? - Call it a Halloween prank.
His face... was distorted.
It looked like he was turning into a snake or something.
Very perceptive of you.
But, of course, you know that's impossible, don't you?
All I know is you're insane, and I intend to have you locked up.
What is this? Is this some kind of joke?
I hope you find it amusing.
There's a key for that lock in those tanks.
You know, I was so impressed with your lecture on the difference
between the coral snake and the king.
You know, "red touch yellow, kill a fellow"?
I was hoping you might enlighten me
on the difference between these two.
Now, in one of these tanks, we have the Western Hognose,
which we both know is completely harmless.
And in one of these tanks is the Hognose Pit Viper,
which we both know is highly venomous.
You have a decision to make. I advise you to make a good one.
You're free to go whenever you wish.
Just reach in a tank and pick a key.
I'm sure you won't have any trouble picking the right key...
Dr. Daniels.
Of course.
What?
- Hello. - Dad.
I'm here at the cargo office, and they don't seem to have any record of it.
They don't? That's odd.
Well, you know Brazilian mail, Kristy. It's about as botched up as our own.
Right. Well, do you have the order?
No. The shipping agent phoned.
What was that?
- Uh, bad connection. - How's David?
- He's greatly improved. - Can I talk to him?
At the moment, he's resting.
Oh. Well, make sure you tell him I asked about him.
Yes.
What do you want me to do about the urutu?
Well, when it arrives, tell them to hold it,
and we'll make some kind of arrangements to get it here.
Okay. Well, listen, I'll wait here until morning,
and if it doesn't arrive, I'll just drive back again.
Fine.
And don't forget to tell David I called.
- I won't, Kristy. Good night. - Good night.
Kristina sends her love.
You so interested in snakes, I got a beauty for ya.
Oh, yeah? What kind of snake?
Don't know the name of it, but it sure is the biggest one I ever saw.
Fella down at the carnival's got it in his freak show.
Half-snake and half-man. Sure worth a look-see.
Oh, come on. You don't really believe all that stuff, do you?
I've seen a lot of freak shows.
Used to be a donnicker man
with the Westcott Brothers Amusements of the World.
53 years on the circuit, never seen one like that before.
Well, I'm sure it's just a python made to look like a man.
His blue eyes sure fooled me.
Never heard of a snake with blue eyes.
- Where did you say this carnival was? - Couple of blocks down off Main.
Better hurry though, because they'd be closin' down about now.
There's sure one born every minute, ain't there?
Patch says that he can't spring Chip until next Wednesday.
He keeps gaffing that wheel, Jimmy Jr.'s gonna dump him.
Chip gives the whole show a bad rap.
Marks don't believe in nothing anymore.
Yeah.
Come on in. Come on in.
Here, sit down. Take the load off.
I know you're closed, but, uh,
I was wondering if you would let me see the snakeman?
The snakeman? Well, how do you like that?
The snakeman's got himself a late date with a little chicken.
- He expectin' you? - I know this sounds crazy.
But, you see, I know a lot about snakes,
and I was just wondering if you would let me see him.
Well, the snakeman's sleeping now.
You come back tomorrow, and you can have a nice, long look.
- I'll be glad to pay you. - I told you, he's sleeping.
You see, this is an entertainment, girlie, it's not an all-night diner.
I don't think it's clear to you how very important it is for me to see him.
You heard me. Beat it.
- Good night, honey. - See you around, baby.
Hoo-hoo.
All right.
Oh, God!
Oh, Tim!
Oh, no! Oh, Tim!
Oh, Tim!
Hey! Hey, you!
Hey, you! Come back here!
Oh, no. No, not David, too. No.
No.
- Dale? - Hmm?
- There's a girl here to see you. - Well, she pretty?
She's pretty upset. She says she killed Steve Randall.
I knew he was in training.
I mean, I knew it was bad for athletes to get overexerted.
But I couldn't help myself. I loved him too much.
Well, just how much did you love him?
Three times. His poor heart!
- Three times? - I mean, he looked a little tired.
He told me this story about how he killed this snake.
Snake? I don't know anything about that.
This girl made a pass at him.
Girls are always making passes at Steve.
He took her home,
and it turned out that she was Dr. Stoner's daughter.
And there was this big snake.
Stoner.
Excuse me, Dale.
I just got a call from Dr. Daniels's wife.
She's worried because he didn't come home last night.
Well, tell her to check the girls' dorms.
Well, the last she heard, he was on his way to Stoner's place.
Stoner.
All right.
Let's go.
Thank you, miss.
The last one, David.
And, unfortunately, the most painful.
- But think of it as your baptism. - Oh, no.
The final agony of your old life as a puny human.
And the beginning of your new existence.
A new existence for all mankind.
You are the future, David.
Just as Adam was the first man,
you are the first creature of the next evolution.
You will survive pollution, the holocaust, the famines,
and the plagues that will make man extinct.
You will survive and multiply and prevail.
Hit it.
Long live the king.
A new life, David.
A bright, clean new life.
Your Highness, I'd like an audience with you.
I command it.
Your Majesty, I regret to inform you, there is a pretender to your throne.
A king with the power of a cobra,
but with the intelligence of a man.
The creature is different from...
A creature who is different from...
It's natural for you to resist change.
And...
...change is the hope...
...of the world.
Great... change...
...is...
Dad! Dad!
Oh, no! Oh, no!
Dad, I saw Tim! I saw him!
What did you do to David? Dad! Dad!
David! Da-David!
My father's dead!
David! David!
No! No! David, no!
No! No!
Oh, no! David!