In January of 1932 EC sent the manuscript [A BRIDE OF THE
INCAL] to Mr. Harry M. Goetz of New York, a new member of
A.R.E. and an executive with Paramount Pictures.
The manuscript which was sent to Mr. Goetz, and returned
by him, is below. You will notice that the material was
edited to the best of our ability and the last paragraph
on page 2 [of 4908-7, Par. 10] was deleted. This was done
because we felt it was not in keeping with the general ideals
and purposes as outlined in the majority of the EC readings.
[Manuscript prepared from
4908-1 through 4908-7]
"A BRIDE OF THE INCAL"
In a large hall, Carter David is lecturing on archaeology.
There enters a group of society people. Among them is
Rene Lowe, with her fiance. She has been especially
interested in the findings of this archaeologist. They
listen to the lecturer with interest. He exhibits many
of the findings.
In the home, the same evening, the discussion turns to
the discoveries that might be found in South America,
in the temples of Incal in the Peruvian Cordilleras.
Tom Stone, Rene's fiancee, discusses the possibility
of an expedition to this country.
Later a boat of one of the party is fitted out and the
party are to go. Rene decides that she will go, as she
has a brother who is in the Consular Service in that
country, and he has often written regarding the conditions
and the many legends of the people of that country.
A cablegram is sent, acquainting the brother of the
fact that the party is sailing for the Peruvian port and
will, in all probability, arrive in five to six days, as a
pleasure boat is being used and they will stop at eastern
ports on their way down.
In Cuzon, when cablegram is received by the brother, he is
glad to know they are coming, yet with the conditions then
existing in that country, and with the troubles experienced
in his office from the mountain folk, he is worried.
On board the pleasure boat we find the group of six, the
routine of such a voyage; the arrival at Havana, the port,
Moro Castle, Spanish legends of same are reviewed; the
passage through canal and on to Cuzon, the meeting with
the brother and the entertainment of the party. The house
as taken in this Latin American country if of the best,
and with the surroundings of the Consul, who is holding a
district meeting with secretaries - Fort Lowe, Rene's
brother, being one of them.
The taking up of the social life of the country, and the
meeting of many people, Rene excels all others in dress
and in ability to have those about her more attentive to
her than to others; then the final planning of the reception
for the President, which is to be held in this house that
is being used as the guest place.
Tom Stone and others plan their expedition into the hills
and the mountains, where legend says the Incas gold might
be found. Rene, apparently, has forgotten the mission, but
the men go about their work, following up clues and obtaining
guides, and the like, for the expedition into the mountains.
In the mountains we find the priests of the worshipers of
the Sun God, in their inner shrine in the heart of the
mountains. They are gathered, sixteen in number, with
Menue, their high priest, who is garbed in his royal robe
of red. All have come to consider the destruction of their
peoples, the confiscation of their gold, and plan to send
one of their number to appeal to the authorities. When this
is mentioned, one, Deio, is the spokesman. He is of the
higher craft, being the descendant of the chosen priest, but
of a mixed blood, being nearer white - or almost white. He
tells of his meeting the agent of the American Consul and
of a friendship that has begun, and how that through his
influence help might be obtained for his people, for he feels
that the Americans are more favorable than other nations who
seek for the treasure of the Incas.
Deio returns from the meeting in the Temple of Incal
to Cuzon and is received among the guests for the reception
given to the visitors of the Consulate agent. At this
entertainment there is the meeting between Rene and the
half-breed, or the Incal Priest, who is seeking the aid of
the Consulate agent for his people. Deio is at once enamored
with the beauty of Rene. When he is discovered with her in
the alcove by her brother, he at once makes an appeal to the
brother for a meeting, that the cause of his people may be
put before him. Stone is called to the meeting, and through
Deio the group is promised a guide to the region where the
gold of the Incas might be found. This suits Deio's
purposes, for he sees in this the opportunity to gain that
which he is trying to get, a hold on the Consulate agent,
through help offered his friends.
The trip is planned and made, and through the old paths
that lead to the mines that have been abandoned and put
under the care of the Incal Priests. The trip is made on
llamas, and they are carried up in the waste places, though
beautiful scenery, and are shown how the peoples in their
day had made and use conduits for the water supply form the
melting snow for the various portions of the valleys and
for the city.
The party is left in the mountain near a lake, and Deio
hastens back to the city to gain more influence with the
agent and to bask again, if possible, in the presence of
Rene. He finds a ready reception for her actions, (Deio is
above the ordinary class) and it is not known by the people
that he is one of the priests with Memue. Trips are made
back and forth to the camp, which Deio knows is so situated
that the party can only be urged on to pay more money to his
people for information given, but which is only of the
character to induce them to spend more.
He finally induces the brother and sister, with the other
girls in the party, to join the campers in the mountains.
During this trip Deio attempts to keep as much in the
company of Rene as possible.
One day they are carried to the outer courts of the real
temple of the Incas, and Deio, acting as interpreter and
guide, leads the party through portals that have seldom
been seen by the outside world, and shows them all the
splendor of the Courts of Outer walls and the hangings and
draperies, with all the gold trimmings and the glitter of
the Sun lights in the walls that are the natural encasement
for these Sun Worshippers. With the authority as of one
in charge, he leads Rene, especially, through these
surroundings. The attention paid by Deio is resented by
Stone, and in camp after the second day's sojourn, Rene
quarrels with Stone and immediately returns with part of
the party to the city.
With the return of Rene and her companions to the city,
Stone, with some of his companions and natives, goes further
into the mountains seeking for the lost treasure. Here one
of the natives tells him of a battle that was fought in the
mountains by the Spaniards, and of the gold being brought
down this pathway and cached in a stream that the priests
had had dammed to form a lake, and some maps of same are
shown to him.
He returns to the city and gives the information he
has obtained to Rene's brother, and asks him as to the
plausibility of such happenings. Again in the evening he
has words with Rene relative to her attitude toward him
since being in this country, and her attitude towards Deio,
who has again followed her to the city and entered into the
social activities about the city. With his position among
the natives and the peoples in the city, he makes much
show and pomp; though, with it all, keeps the attitude of
the Incal relations. Especially is this shown in dress, for
he ever wears the red badge of his order on dress occasions.
Lowe and Stone decide to confer with the priests in the
mountains. They leave on this trip with the promise to
return in time for the President's ball.
In the mountains they meet the Priest, with natives, who
refuses to give any information regarding the legend and
maps in the hands of Stone; yet by their attitude, and the
hope of gaining some influence with Lowe, does not object
to the search for the gold in the lake. Immediately, Stone
sets about with the natives and his assistant, Haas, (who
has been with him on this expedition in heart and mind) to
drain the lake, and the necessary arrangements are made for
the equipment to be sent from the city. Stone, Lowe and
Haas return to the city.
The High Priest, Memue, goes to this ledge, over which in
days past this gold has been cast, and offers up his prayer
to the Sun God; for the Sun, as its rays come over the
mountains, falls upon the place from which the gold was cast.
(Prayer in Spanish)
In the city, preparations go forward for the grand ball to
be given by the President for visitors. In this preparation,
Rene is attempting to startle the natives and friends with
her dress.
The President's ball was to be a State occasion. All
of the party as visitors, with Rene, were present. As the
troubles were brewing with the people that were followers
of the Sun Worshippers, many of the higher casts were
present in the city. Among these, though not in a public
way, was Memue, the high priest of these peoples.
Stone and Duo were both expecting something, in word or act,
from Rene; neither having seen nor had word from her since
the hasty leaving the temple in the mountains. Neither are
prepared, however, for her appearance as she comes into the
ballroom; for she was bedecked in a daring dress, with the
with the headgear of many aigretts, and bodice of the briests
of hummingbirds, with a train the color of the royal robe of
the priests of Incal. When the whole assembly beheld her
descending the stairway, there was awe and consternation
shown in the face of everyone, and especially in that of
Stone and Deio, who stood in different parts of the room.
The expression of each depicted that which seemed to be going
through each one's mind. The brother, the first to gain
control of self, advances to meet her in her descent, and
escorts her to the President and makes the formal
introduction. She is then left in his company.
Stone approaches the brother, as he leaves the group, and
questions him as to what Rene must mean in coming to the
ball in such an attire, not knowing himself what might be
the significance.
It is seen in the acts and countenance of Deio that he feels,
apparently, that she has accepted his advances and that her
dress must be the answer; for she is wearing the replica of
the dress of the Bride of the Incal. He hastens to gain
audience with her, but she turns aside and prevents his
direct approach in conversation. He, in consternation,
turns to the veranda, where he meets Memue, who has been
called by some of the natives who have seen the entrance of
Rene. The expression in the countenance of Menue strikes
something deep in the heart of Deio. He sees there is
something subtle in the Memue's manner, and is unable to
account for it. Memue, however, without a word turns from
Deio and starts out the mountain trail; and for many minutes
there can be heard the call that makes each and every person
in hearing stop to listen and wonder what is the meaning of
the awakening cry. The natives know, and others by hearsay,
that it is the original cry of the High Priests of the Sun
when they call the faithful. This causes consternation in
everyone. Those in the ballroom are the first to gain
control of themselves, and the revelry goes on as before.
After a time Duo pulls himself together sufficiently to
return to the ballroom, and to seek out Rene. He finds
her in conversation with Stone. A general banter ensues
between the three, until they are disturbed by others of
party. The President leads Rene away, and the men turn to
the business in hand, - the search (and the draining
or stopping of water) for the lost gold.
This gold, after a time, is discovered by Haas. Great
quantities are taken from the cache and brought in to the
President, and the division is attempted between State and
the finder. Deio gives expression of his belief that
a portion of this should be given to his people, or the
Incas. Then there is discussion between the President and
the American Consul; this is finally settled in a manner
satisfactory to the representatives of the Incas, yet not
satisfactory to Deio.
With the return of Memue to the mountains, there is soon
the call for the gathering together all worshippers of Incal.
There is such a gathering as has not been made for many ages.
The meeting being for believers only. At this meeting,
Memue is all excited over the conditions that have arisen;
that the Sun God has allowed the white man to remove part of
their gold, and he demands that a sacrifice to be offered
Incal, which has been allowed to remain unsatisfied for many,
many years. With much speech and gesticulation, the choice
is to be made of she who has defied, as it were, the
conditions surrounding her. Have not the Gods pointed out
that one who is pure enough to be offered as the Bride of
the Incal?
With this decision by Memue and high priests, that the
sacrifice or bride must be given the Incal, they set about
seeking ways and means that same shall be obtained. Memue
was for taking the maiden unawares, or bringing her to the
temple to bide the time when she should be given to the
Incal; but with the powerful appeal made to the group of
priests by Deio, he is finally given the authority to secure
this fair maiden for the rites of the Incal Bride. He, Deio,
returns to Cuzon, and finds the President and Consul with the
party preparing to return to New York, since their quest has
proven successful. Yet all were excited about the cry that
had been heard, and question Duo. Rene feels that her
brother has been drawn into this in some manner, and fears
for his safety. She attempts to cajole out of Deio what has
happened in the mountains. He, taking advantage of her
interest, attempts to induce her to go to the Temple with him
again. When she refuses, he, after study, approaches Stone
and Haas with the information that they have only begun to
find the real treasure, and says he will take them to the
Temple and show them all the wonders of the first Incas, and
more gold than had ever been seen at one time. This appeals
to the desire in Stone's make-up, to become the ruler of the
gold of the world, and for the time he forgets all save the
greed of gold, and goes with Deio to the Temple and is shown
the treasure house of the Incas, with its many inner Temples
and Courts, and the chamber wherein are all the jewels and
gold of the Incas has been stored for thousands of years. In
this storehouse, Deio attempts to make the trade with Stone
for the party to be brought to the mount, and he, Stone, be
allowed to acclaim himself the discoverer of this gold.
This is done, unbeknowing to Memue, the high priest. With
Stone in the mountain alone, Rene, with her brother and
others, begins to fear for his safety, for he has not
return as early as had been expected. A party is sent to
locate him. They meet him on his way back with Deio, and
he makes light of their fears.
With the return to the city, Deio attempts to induce Stone
and the guests of the group to go at once. However, Rene's
brother, Fort, does not fall in with the expedition, for now
he doubts the sincerity of both men. (Stone and Deio)
In the end, Rene is finally appealed to by both Stone and
Deio to make a last visit to the Temple and hear some of the
Priests' meetings that are held in the inner shrine. All go
to the mountains together. When they have started on their
way, the whole country of natives seem suddenly to become
awake, yet with the reverence and bowed head all along the
way they are met.
In the Temple they find all in readiness for the meeting,
and when they have bowed in the Temple, Rene near Duo,
suddenly the place where she has been kneeling sinks to the
chambers below, and she finds herself in a walled chamber.
Immediately she is bound and gagged, and there appears the
High Priest himself, who has her arrayed in the bridal
costume of the Incal. Rene realizes she has had the replica
of such prepared for the President's ball. Fort and Stone
with the others are greatly disturbed. Just why Stone does
not show the attitude that should be expected from a fiance,
is not understood by Fort; yet they attempt to storm the
place as soon as they obtain help. Deio comes to Rene,
telling her of what has happened and how Stone has sold her
for gold to the High Priest, but that he, Deio, will rescue
her when she is wedded to the Incal. The day arrives,
without there having been help to her from the outside.
Stone awakes to the realization that he has been tricked by
Deio. Rene is carried to the walled vault wherein the bride
is to be buried alive with the Incal, and as she sees the
encasement she gives up all hope, save the faith she feels
she must have in Deio.
With the realization of the trick that is played upon him by
Deio, Stone goes into the hunt, and then with the brother
succeeds in finding the chamber through which he has once
been shown, wherein she is suppose to be buried with the
Incal. They make an underground excavation through one of
the channels where water has been turned at one time.
When the bride is called, and as she is led into the tomb
and is promised by Deio to be rescued by him, she finds -
as the door swings to on the sepulcher, that she is in the
arms of Stone and her brother, and that Deio has been the
trickster all the time.
All is well.
All are joined happily, and there is the wedding of Rene
and Stone.
1/26/32 Mr. Goetz' letter: "I am returning herewith outline
of the story A BRIDE OF THE INCAL which you submitted to me.
Attached is an opinion from the head of our Editorial Board,
which is self-explanatory [see below].
"Should you at any future date have any other ideas for
stories, I should be pleased to have them considered.
"The comments of Mr. Holman may be of some benefit and
guidance to you should you venture any further attempt."
[Letter enclosed]
PARAMOUNT PUBLIX CORPORATION
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
To Mr. Harry Goetz: Date Jan. 25, 1932
A BRIDE OF THE INCAL
This is too sparse an outline with which to judge
conclusively a story's picture possibilities.
However, from what is here, it is pretty safe to say that
there is no picture for us in it.
In the first place, the set-up, background and general
action of the story demand, of necessity, an expensive
production. To warrant such expense, we would have to
have a story of far greater merit than this one.
The plot and motives are very confused and fragmentary.
There are no fully developed characters and what there is
of them is quite unsympathetic and not very interesting.
The outline reads like the first crude notes of an author
who intends, if he is very skillful and fortunate, to
produce a play like THE GREEN GODDESS.
I cannot give any encouragement to this piece whatever.
Russell Holman
2/03/32 EC's letter: "Thank you very much for the report
on the scenario. I think Mr. Holman is quite right, and I
hope that we will be able to submit another scenario in the
next few months that may have a more favorable report. As
I said, I have seen on the screen three pictures from this
same channel. The writer may have used the suggestions and
ideas to build the story, rather than taking just the
information given."
4/25/32,
6/20/32,
6/25/32,
7/05/32 See
294-144, 294-145 and
294-146, a series of four readings giving the basis for a
scenario on Uhjltd, EC's incarnation in Persia-Arabia. HLC
wrote the story in manuscript form and it was published by
A.R.E. in August 1935 under the title U H J L T D. (This
manuscript was also submitted to Mr. Goetz but it was not
found suitable.)
Prior to the [
4908] series, a series of five readings were
given in January 1924 to depict the psychic work of Edgar
Cayce, the idea being to prepare a scenario on the subject.
See [
4907] series.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation