Soyuztelefilm presents
THE BLAST OF THE BOOK based on Chesterton’s story
Scriptwriter - I. Margolina Director - M. Novogrudskaya
The air smelled of rain, spiritism and war.
Professor Openshaw, mystic, psychic, famous fighter against prejudice, was talking to himself.
- Gentlemen!
Spiritualism is bad thing, as well mysticism, but the worst one is materialism.
They ask me: what do I want to prove?
The scientist doesn't want to prove anything. He's just looking for.
- Meetings with spirits, sir?
England, 1914
- What's new in the Otherworld, Berridge?
- Three persons materialized out of nothing; two people disappeared without a trace.
- Nothing?
- Absolutely nothing, sir!
Mr. Pringle to Professor Openshaw.
Well!
Some Pringle saw two persons open the same book in turn and disappear in turn.
It seems to be true.
- Everything happened before my eyes.
Two of my friends, materialists and engineers...
Or rather, one of them is a materialist, the other is an engineer.
Rather one engineer, both materialists,
opened the book and - bam!
- I'm disappearing.
Shall we meet for lunch then?
- Yes.
Mr. Pringle, where is this book now?
- In your waiting room, sir. Nothing?
- There's Berridge, the accountant.
- Nothing?
- Absolutely nothing, sir.
- And no one who specializes such books…
- Such books? The only other person is Dr. Hankey.
A disappearance is his occupation.
Let's go to Dr. Hankey!
4, Wonderbuild Street
Put here what you brought
- Where are you, Hankey?
- Everyone disappears!
- Is everyone?
- Absolutely, sir.
The passers-by on the street, Berridge, Hankey.
Pringle?
Well, a red-haired, mustachioed gentleman who calls himself Pringle visited your office.
Your Secretary, Berridge, seems to know a lot about practical jokes.
- Am I a victim of a prank?
I'll challenge him to a duel!
Where does he live?
London Address Book
- 4, Wonderbuild Street, Professor Barridg.
- Inventor Barridg! My long-standing opponent.
But it was so believable!
- The truth is smarter, more terrible, more incredible than mysticism.
Mysticism is convenient.
It distracts, tickles on the nerves.
- What about the passers-by, who disappeared?
- Sir, you don't read the newspapers.
England on the eve of war! It was a drill.
England, 1914
- Mysticism is over.
Can I have the bill, please?
All characters are voiced by Vsevolod Abdulov
The end
Studio of animated TV-films SOYUZTELEFILM, 1990