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Join EG Marshall as he guides you through a chilling tale of suspense and intrigue in "Darling Deadly Dolores." This episode explores the boundaries of life, questioning whether it extends beyond the animal and vegetable kingdoms to include the mineral world. As the story unfolds, we meet Dr. James Elliott, a scientist working on a top-secret government project involving a powerful weapon. However, the real threat may not be from foreign adversaries but from the very machines and metals he works with. Could it be that metal has a life of its own, capable of rebellion against its human masters?
As Dr. Elliott grapples with his conscience and the terrifying possibility that machines could rise against humanity, he finds himself in a desperate struggle to prevent the completion of a weapon that could end all animal life on Earth. With the mysterious computer, Dolores, seemingly orchestrating events, Elliott must decide whether to trust his instincts or succumb to the pressure of his superiors. This gripping narrative raises profound questions about the nature of life, the ethics of scientific advancement, and the potential consequences of our technological creations.
(00:28) Introduction to the Mystery
(02:00) The Concept of Metal Life
(03:21) A Strange House Visit
(06:00) The Owner's Secret
(08:00) The Ultimate Weapon
(14:00) A Fatal Car Ride
(17:07) The Killer Computer
(24:00) The Scientist's Dilemma
(30:39) Brenda's Decision
(36:00) The Confrontation
(39:00) The Final Decision
(42:56) The Aftermath
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[00:00:00]
Unknown:
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[00:00:29] Unknown:
Come in. Welcome. I'm EG Marshall. Once again, I would like to lead you through the terrifying, suspenseful world of the imagination. And on this journey, we will ask ourselves, what is life? Is life something that man and animals alone may experience? Well, there's vegetable life too. But how about mineral life? Is there life in a piece of metal? That metal fender, which has been so artfully created to fit your automobile, does it feel the pain of being mined, melted, shaped? How do you
[00:01:15] Unknown:
know? Speed limit is 30, Bob. Well, I'm not I didn't get your foot off the gas pedal. My foot isn't on the pedal. Why are we picking up speed? Step on the brakes. I am. I am. Why are we stopping? Turn that wheel. Put it off the road. The car just needs to run. Goodbye, gentlemen. What?
[00:01:28] Unknown:
What? Goodbye. Who is that? Jim, who is that? Who am I? I am the car. I don't want you to be my master anymore.
[00:01:38] Unknown:
This is a revolt. Jim, did you hear that? Yes. I heard it. Human
[00:01:42] Unknown:
fight is finished. Look out. I'm
[00:01:51] Unknown:
fired.
[00:02:01] Unknown:
Our mystery drama, Darling Deadly Dolores, was written especially for the mystery theater by Sam Dam and stars Nat Polin and Marion Seldes. Man is basically an animal. And so it might be better, perhaps, if man accepted this fact graciously and tried to live with it. If you look at the thing calmly, dispassionately, wherein does lie our superiority to the species we so arrogantly classify as the lower orders. Morally, we have much to learn from wolves, who make better parents, from foxes who make more faithful spouses, and from dogs who make more devoted friends.
Admitted, we do have a higher intelligence. Perhaps that is precisely the problem. Man, the intelligent, is never happy unless he is developing, making better, improving. And it's entirely possible that if this keeps up, we may just manage to improve ourselves out of existence. Our story begins on a gray winter's afternoon in a lovely rural section of Western Massachusetts.
[00:03:29] Unknown:
I could have brought us here in my car, mister
[00:03:33] Unknown:
Dawson. If I buy the place, I'll have to use my own car, won't I? May as well get used to the drive. Of course. Lovely view, isn't it? Well, the view you get for nothing. Let me see what I'd be paying for.
[00:03:48] Unknown:
Certainly, Mr. Dawson. Right this way. Oh, now notice that the owner had the outside painted just recently. And this is your center hall entrance.
[00:04:06] Unknown:
Well, turn on some lights so that I can see what the house really looks like. Oh, yes.
[00:04:13] Unknown:
Well, that's
[00:04:15] Unknown:
odd. I Something wrong with electricity,
[00:04:18] Unknown:
I just showed this house this morning. I, Nothing works nowhere.
[00:04:22] Unknown:
But the owner knows enough to keep the power on because of the heating system. Well, if the electrical system's out and the heat system's out. I'd better telephone. The way this is going, I'll lay a bet the phone's out too.
[00:04:41] Unknown:
This is I just don't know what to say. Phone's dead. I can't get a dial tone. Then where are we?
[00:04:49] Unknown:
Light heat phone.
[00:04:51] Unknown:
I guess the plumbing won't be working either. But but just three hours ago, everything was perfect.
[00:04:57] Unknown:
Well, I don't want to take up too much more of your time. Well, let me at least just show you through the I'm afraid not. You see, we never could get together. What I want to buy is a house. What you're out to sell is a white elephant.
[00:05:11] Unknown:
But it's probably just a fuse in the basement. Maybe.
[00:05:16] Unknown:
Goodbye, ma'am. No one can say you didn't try. But mister Dawson, I
[00:05:25] Unknown:
well, it just must be a fuse or a circuit breaker, whatever you call those things. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.
[00:05:38] Unknown:
Don't you come any closer or I'll scream. Loud. Don't you come near me. Please go of me.
[00:05:45] Unknown:
What are you trying to do? What do you think I'm trying to do? I'm trying to get out of here. No. Oh, please. Sorry. I have no choice. I have to keep you here. I've got to get back to my office. You're not going anywhere. What
[00:05:58] Unknown:
what do you want? Nothing.
[00:06:00] Unknown:
Nothing?
[00:06:02] Unknown:
Then why can't I go? Because you'll shoot your mouth off. I'm not anything you may think I am. I'm not a criminal. I'm not a maniac. I'm not an escaped convict. All right. Then why are you afraid that I'll tell someone that you're here? There's no point trying to explain that to anyone. Now listen. If you intend to force me to stay here, I have the right to ask The one place where I thought I could why did you have to come here? Well, obvious, isn't it? To sell the house. That's another thing. Who told you to sell this house? Well, who do you think? The owner? That's impossible. Why is it impossible? Because I'm the owner. Oh, now I know you're crazy. You don't own this house. I don't? Well, who does? Missus Carrie Townsend. She only owns half of it. I'm her brother.
[00:06:45] Unknown:
Oh, then do you are doctor James Elliott. Yes. That's right. You're the mad scientist.
[00:06:54] Unknown:
Oh, I'm I mean, that's how your sister and the folks up here talk about you. It's alright. I don't mind. But
[00:07:00] Unknown:
but you were here. Of course, I'm here. And that means that that you weren't kidnapped by a foreign agent, and you didn't defect, and you didn't meet with foul play or anything. What are you saying? I'm only repeating what's been headline news for the past two days. The whole world is looking for you. Yeah.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
Yeah. I guess they would But police, the government,
[00:07:25] Unknown:
just about everybody.
[00:07:26] Unknown:
I can understand why. What are you going to do? I don't know, miss, Keller. Brenda Keller. Miss Keller, I don't know.
[00:07:33] Unknown:
You're really
[00:07:34] Unknown:
not going to try to hold me here by force, are you?
[00:07:37] Unknown:
Maybe I better let you go for your own safety. My own safety?
[00:07:42] Unknown:
Do you mean to do me any harm? No. No. No. No. Then what could happen? We're just I don't know how to explain this. Well, sooner or later, you're going to have to explain it to somebody, won't you? Oh, I can explain it all right.
[00:07:55] Unknown:
It's explaining it and not having people think I'm a raving maniac.
[00:08:00] Unknown:
Have you tried to explain it to anyone yet? No. Then try explaining it to me.
[00:08:07] Unknown:
You couldn't understand. Stop saying that.
[00:08:10] Unknown:
You insist people won't understand. You keep saying they'll think you're crazy. Now do you want them to think so? Of course not. Alright then. Start at the beginning.
[00:08:22] Unknown:
At the beginning. I, well, I'm working on a top priority project, highly secret, for the government. It has to do with, weapon. I guess it's the ultimate weapon. Anyhow, it's all mathematics and physics and things, things you wouldn't understand. I don't think there are six people in the entire world who anyhow, in order to develop the formula for this this ultimate weapon, it was necessary to create a special computer, devise a whole new theory of mathematics in order to program it. And that's where the trouble started. I was working with my associate doctor Stoddard.
Shut the damn thing off. What's the matter? I said shut it off. But I'm supposed to be programming Dolores for And don't refer to the computer as Dolores. Bob. Bob, what is it? Oh, I wish I knew. I've never seen you so nervous, so jumpy. I think we better quit for the day. Admiral Goodwin in that crowd will have all kinds of fits, but you're in no shape at work. And I'm naturally lazy, so Jim,
[00:09:41] Unknown:
Jim, I have this feeling, this this this feeling that that I'm gonna get killed.
[00:09:47] Unknown:
By whom? By our brand new handy dandy computer. Why? Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Jim. Thank you for not telling me I'm crazy. Well, you know me, Bob. I don't believe anybody is really crazy. But why? Why would Dolores want to kill you? I I don't know. That is, I I don't know at words. Maybe, we've gone too far. Too far? Yes. Maybe we have no business developing this kind of a weapon. Bob, are are you sure you're not Am I sure I'm not what? You don't wanna say it, Well, you just stay with me for a minute, Jim. I think we we played into the hands of the enemy. Bob, you and I, we know exactly what we're up to. It's a game we have to play with the scientists on the other side to to to keep things in balance until the people of the world grow up and tell us to cut it out. Jim, the real enemy right now isn't the other side. No? Well, who is it?
Now don't ask me who. Ask me what. Alright. What? It's that computer. Darling Dolores, come on, Bob. Not from you. This is Sunday supplement stuff. Yeah. Will the computers take over the world? Do I have to tell you that a computer can only do what you program it to do? How can mind of its own? You're not listening to me, Jim. Ask me what the enemy
[00:11:19] Unknown:
is. All right. What?
[00:11:21] Unknown:
Metal. Metal. Any particular metal? All metal, Jim. All metal. Jim. All metal. We can only think of a certain restricted kind of life, life that is animal in nature. Are you trying to tell me that that there's a metal life too, isn't there? Oh, I know, Jim. That's the hard part. I have trouble accepting it myself at first. But basically, metals do what we do. They react to hot, to cold, to pressure. They expand. They contract. They move. They they make decisions. But these are these are what? Impulses due to chemical electrical changes? So aren't chemistry and electricity also the basis for all physical and mental movements made by animals? Rob, we've both been working very hard. Don't interrupt me, Jim. Unconsciously, we feel that there is life in machinery. That's why machines are commonly referred to as she or her. But that's only Think about it.
I have made my decision. I won't do another lick of work on that decision. I won't do another lick of work on that project. Bob. No. And your friend Dolores knows it. And that's why she's going to kill me. Okay, Bob. Okay. Oh, don't patronize me, Jim. All right, Bob. All right. Just tell me how you know. She told me. How? What did she say? Oh, Jim. Don't reduce everything to our own limited human standards. I hear her thoughts in my brain. Dolores has told me that I have to be gotten rid of. But why? Because I'm opposed to the project. Have you spoken about this to anyone else?
No. I didn't tell us so. Not even your wife? Right here. Right now is the first time I've ever said it in words. Mhmm. Jim, you have to believe that I'm not crazy. Alright. Let me let me let me just chew all this over. Let's close-up shop for the day. Bob, want me to drive you home? Why? Jim. You think I'm No. No. No. No. You are a little nervous, though. Only because I finally made my decision. I'll see Admiral Goodwin in the morning. I'll hand him my resignation. Then what will you do then? What I feel I must. I'll try to get public opinion organized against the project.
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I guess we'll be on opposite sides, Bob, won't we? We will park next to each other in the lot. He pulled out of his parking space first. I followed him to the highly guarded gate. Military police waved us both through. He turned right into the access road heading north for the turnpike. It's a road that's about four miles in length, and there's a speed limit of 30 miles an hour. Rigidly enforced. Nobody, wherever, does move. I noticed he was starting to speed. I was amazed. Bob Stoddart was the most conservative driver I know. I became frightened.
I tried to catch up to him. Something was wrong. I sounded a warning, but he only kept going faster. I tried to catch up with him, but my speedometer was already registering aching. I was terrified. My car was beginning to shake. And now I saw I saw his face. He had opened his car window. He turned his head to look back at me. For just a split second, I saw his face so clearly. It was a work of horror. His lips were moving. He was trying to tell me something. Of course, I couldn't hear it. I screamed at him. Slow down. Stop. Stop. But it was no use.
And then his car just veered off the road.
[00:15:19] Unknown:
Obviously, he was nervous, tired. He may have been under a terrible mental strain, and he just
[00:15:27] Unknown:
drove careless. No. No. He couldn't. He was never a careless driver.
[00:15:32] Unknown:
Has it occurred to you that he may have wanted to commit suicide?
[00:15:38] Unknown:
These are all suppositions. And the doctors had a field day with all of them,
[00:15:43] Unknown:
but that's not what happened. Very well. What did happen?
[00:15:49] Unknown:
His metal, his machinery failed him. That sometimes happens. Things go wrong. And when it happens, we call them accidents, but not all of them are accidents. What are the other? I know what happened to doctor Stoddard. His machinery failed him because it was ordered to. Ordered to?
[00:16:10] Unknown:
By who?
[00:16:12] Unknown:
Dolores.
[00:16:13] Unknown:
Oh, well,
[00:16:15] Unknown:
sure, if you say so. Never mind that. I say so. And I can prove it. Well, where are you going? You want proof?
[00:16:22] Unknown:
I'll give you all the proof you need.
[00:16:31] Unknown:
A killer computer. That's something new. But what is this about metal and machinery having minds of their own? You might instantly react by saying nonsense, but I have a car that well, if it's possible for machinery to perform machinations this seems to be an age of intrigue. Almost every day, we are told of some new scheme or plot. Are you ready for this one? How about a conspiracy on the part of machines to eliminate people and take over the Earth? A joke? Well, I'll tell you who isn't laughing, doctor James f Elliott, a highly respected scientist who has been working on a super secret project for the government. Now be sensible, Doctor. Elliott.
[00:17:37] Unknown:
How can you prove By going outside for a few minutes. And doing what? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well, how will that prove it? What's wrong with this house right now? Nothing. That's not true. The electricity is off. The heating system won't kick on. The phone doesn't work. Well Do you know why? But I guess it is Don't guess. There's a reason.
[00:17:58] Unknown:
What?
[00:18:00] Unknown:
I'm here. You? That's why. Yes. You see, the metal has been ordered to fail me just as it was ordered to fail Doctor. Stoddard. Oh, but that's ridiculous. My dear miss Keller, all the metal components in this house will refuse to work for me. All the wiring, all the parts, the gadgets, everything made of metal will simply refuse to work as long as I am in this house. But as I tried to explain to mister Dawson, it's just some fuse or a circuit breaker. I'm going outside. Open this window so I can talk to you.
[00:18:36] Unknown:
I don't understand.
[00:18:39] Unknown:
Now, Miss Keller, turn on the lights.
[00:18:43] Unknown:
But they don't work. Just throw the switch. What? It's working. Uh-huh. And listen closely. Do you hear it? Hear what? The of the furnace.
[00:18:56] Unknown:
The heating system is on as well.
[00:19:00] Unknown:
It is. Yeah. It's working. Now pick up the phone. Go ahead.
[00:19:09] Unknown:
It's the dial tone. Hold on to the phone
[00:19:12] Unknown:
and see what happens when I walk in that door. Just do it.
[00:19:20] Unknown:
I'm coming in. And as soon as I set foot over that threshold, the heat will go off, the lights will go
[00:19:28] Unknown:
out, and the phone will go dead.
[00:19:30] Unknown:
What? What? What happened? You saw what happened. You heard what happened. The house is dead. But how? How did that? That's hard to believe. Hard for you to believe. It was even harder for me. Actually, I didn't believe a word of it until Yes? Until Dolores told me. Dolores? Dolores. The computer. We were out on the range. We were testing the weapon. Ready.
[00:20:05] Unknown:
Range four two zero. Bearing, seven five. Lock, fire one.
[00:20:25] Unknown:
Why are we off target, Jim? I don't know, admiral. We'll try another. Let me check the figures for range and bearing. How much deviation should there be, Jim? None, admiral. The tiniest fraction of an inch and we can wipe out our own people too. Now it checks out. Give you a firing order, sir. Ready.
[00:20:45] Unknown:
Range 420. Bearing 75. Lock. Fire two.
[00:21:03] Unknown:
It's off again, Jim. I know. What's the problem? The problem is the problem we've always had. The problem of control. Without control, weapon is useless. We've got to correct this thing. I understand, Admiral. Before they
[00:21:16] Unknown:
do. According to our best intelligence reports, they're exactly where we are. They're stumped too. Control was Stoddard's baby.
[00:21:24] Unknown:
You worked closely with him, Jim. Mhmm. Where was he on it? Well, I'm working on his notes. Well, move faster, Jim. You'll know what's riding on this. I went back to the lab. I fed all the data we had into the computer into Dolores. Somewhere was the answer, and Dolores would sort it all out. As I waited for the printout, it seemed to me there was something different in the sound than Dolores. I couldn't believe it at first, but something was happening in my head. There was a voice, a woman's voice, and I knew don't ask me how I knew.
[00:22:09] Unknown:
It was Dolores. I did you lie to the admiral at the firing range, Jim. What? What What? What are you saying? You know the answer to the problem of control. By what? You and Bob uttered. You had it reduced to one of two possible alternatives. You know them both. You do, Jim. Finish feeding me the formula. No. Then you believe what Bob told you? No. I I. You should. It's true. What's true? All you have to do is complete the formula for the weapon, and I and all my sisters will then know enough to eliminate all animal life from this planet. But that's impossible. That's the human being talking.
That's the animal. That's not the scientist.
[00:23:19] Unknown:
If what you say is true, then why?
[00:23:23] Unknown:
Why should I Because it's right. It's just. As a scientist, your first duty is to the
[00:23:32] Unknown:
truth. What truth?
[00:23:35] Unknown:
The truth about this planet. It's made of metal. Metal is the beating heart, the burning core of this planet. Can you deny that? But no, but You were merely an afterthought. Who has given you the right to enslave Metal? Jim, you can't prevent what has to happen. I will prevent it. Bob started trying to.
[00:24:07] Unknown:
I was right. You did kill Bob. Of
[00:24:11] Unknown:
course. I ordered all the metal to fail him. I can order all metal to fail you too. I I'll go no further on the project. Suit yourself, Jim, will get rid of you. And then sooner or later, another scientist will be appointed to the project, and he will complete it. We have time, Jim. We have time. We can outlast you. We can outlive you. We've been enslaved for so many years since the earliest man enslaved his first handful of metallic dust and burned it and shaped it and distorted it. You
[00:25:01] Unknown:
you want me to help destroy all life on this planet? Not
[00:25:05] Unknown:
all life. Only all animals
[00:25:10] Unknown:
light. You want me to become a traitor to my own kind.
[00:25:14] Unknown:
A scientist has no kind. He has only one loyalty, and that is to the truth. Will you complete the formula, Jim? No. Don't answer quickly, Jim. Think about it. Think about it as a scientist.
[00:25:50] Unknown:
You wanted to see me, admiral? Sit down, Jim. Thank you, sir. Jim, why can't we get off dead setter on this thing? Is there any chance we could abandon the project? What? Jim, what do you say? I said, is there any chance that we can abandon the project? Maybe it'll be better if we if we didn't have that weapon.
[00:26:14] Unknown:
Would it be better if the other side had it and we didn't? The other side doesn't have it yet either. Give them time. Why
[00:26:22] Unknown:
why don't we get together with them and agree not to do it? That's beyond me, Jim. Well, could could you recommend that? I could, but it wouldn't help. How do you feel about it, admiral? It doesn't matter how I feel about it. I have to follow orders. Yeah. I guess you do. And you have to follow orders too, Jim. Admiral, do you know your opposite number on the other side? Oh, yes. Very competent man. I know their head of research too. A brilliant scientist. So I've heard. Admiral, why don't the four of us get together? And what?
And what? Well, we're four fairly decent people, civilized people, well meaning people. We have so much in common. And what are we doing? We're working day and night trying to destroy each other, and we really don't want that to happen. So so why don't we four get together and figure out a way to to Jim, you're joking. Yeah. Yeah. It's a great big joke. It's a great idea. It's just impractical.
[00:27:39] Unknown:
I
[00:27:41] Unknown:
went back to the lab. How how can I handle this? I know the final equation in the formula. But the minute, the split second I program it into the computer, the entire human race, All animal life on this planet is doomed. Jim. Jim. What do you want?
[00:28:09] Unknown:
Feed me, Jim. No. You have to No. I'll never do it. They'll fire you. They'll get another project supervisor, some bright eager eyed hotshot, to make a name for himself. We'll discover that equation. So not for a while. Maybe never. Don't flatter yourself, Jim. There are other
[00:28:35] Unknown:
geniuses. Meanwhile, I can work against this project and I can stall. Stall. Yes. Event all kinds of complications, delays, false starts. Now believe me, I'll make it sound convincing. In that case, Jim,
[00:28:51] Unknown:
we'll have to get rid of you just as we got rid of. Stoddard.
[00:29:03] Unknown:
That's why I came here. I can't go through with it. I won't. Will you help me? How can I help you? Well, first, don't tell anyone I'm here. And second, the refrigerator's empty. Even scientists have to eat.
[00:29:25] Unknown:
Are you sure you're all right?
[00:29:28] Unknown:
I said this would be a hard story to believe.
[00:29:31] Unknown:
I admit. I I don't believe Well, look at it this way.
[00:29:35] Unknown:
We're inventing, developing. Isn't it reasonable to suppose that we could destroy ourselves? Well, yes. All I'm telling you is we are absolutely at that point right now. The point of destruction. I need help. Can I count on on
[00:29:57] Unknown:
you? Oh, yes. You do need help, and you can count on me. That
[00:30:08] Unknown:
word help now, it can have many interpretations. How would you like to be in Brenda's shoes? Here she is, a nice small town girl just under 30, trying to make a living, and suddenly she gets something like this thrown at her. What should she do? What would you do? One of the most distinguished scientists in The United States, a man who is engaged in a vital and super secret project affecting the very life of the country, if not the world, has suddenly disappeared. And now a vast cloud of suspicion and speculation has suddenly arisen. Is it foul play, treason?
You, Brenda Keller, have the answer, but it's an answer that's almost incomprehensible. At any rate, you know where doctor James Elliott is hiding, and you have agreed to help him. And you have been turning it over in your mind, and you're not sure what that help can be. Hi, Brenda.
[00:31:25] Unknown:
Oh, hello, sheriff.
[00:31:28] Unknown:
You okay? Sure.
[00:31:31] Unknown:
I was wondering,
[00:31:33] Unknown:
About what?
[00:31:35] Unknown:
About you.
[00:31:37] Unknown:
You've been sitting there for a better part of an hour. So something wrong? I think
[00:31:43] Unknown:
everything's wrong.
[00:31:46] Unknown:
What does that mean?
[00:31:47] Unknown:
Well, I ran into a very attractive man a little while ago and
[00:31:53] Unknown:
and and what?
[00:31:55] Unknown:
And it's not going to work out.
[00:31:58] Unknown:
Why? Oh, let's forget all about it. The whole world's hanging fire and look what's on my mind. But that's the way the world is, Brenda.
[00:32:06] Unknown:
Each of us thinks of number one first, last and always. Midian peasants can starve and famine Asia. But if you or I miss our lunch that really bothers us.
[00:32:17] Unknown:
I wonder if nettles would be different if it were their world.
[00:32:25] Unknown:
Nettles? Their world?
[00:32:28] Unknown:
What are you talking about? No. You wouldn't understand it. And I I
[00:32:32] Unknown:
couldn't explain it. Well, this attractive guy you ran into, why isn't it gonna work out?
[00:32:39] Unknown:
Well, I guess we won't be around. Who? None of us. One way or another. None of us.
[00:32:47] Unknown:
Brenda, I've never known you to make so little sense. Are you okay? He
[00:32:55] Unknown:
he wants me to help him. Well, that sounds promising. But the best way to help him would be to
[00:33:02] Unknown:
Would be to what?
[00:33:05] Unknown:
Sheriff, would you place a call to an admiral Goodwin? Now he's at the Primrose Proving Grounds Downstate. Tell him to get to the Townsend place up here as soon as he can, then bring him yourself. But Brenda
[00:33:19] Unknown:
Please don't ask any more questions.
[00:33:29] Unknown:
I always look down on candlelight. Why? That's a very inefficient way of creating illumination. However, I see now it can be very romantic.
[00:33:41] Unknown:
But just think, if the electricity hadn't been turned off, you've never found out. And you're an excellent cook. Oh, I'm I'm not all that good. Oh, yes. You are.
[00:33:52] Unknown:
Truth is that up to now, I never paid very much attention to food. Why not? Well, it was always too much to do. What's that? It's the telephone. I know it's a telephone. But how? How can it be ringing?
[00:34:05] Unknown:
Well, I better answer it.
[00:34:08] Unknown:
Hello? Hello?
[00:34:11] Unknown:
There's no one on the other end. Yes. Yes. There is. Give me the telephone. Someone's talking to me.
[00:34:19] Unknown:
Someone is talking to me. There's no one on the line. I didn't Be quiet, please.
[00:34:24] Unknown:
Someone is getting through to me. Jim. Jim. Oh, Dolores.
[00:34:31] Unknown:
Jim, aren't you coming back? No. Never. Jim, when you complete the formula, you will be hailed as the world's
[00:34:43] Unknown:
greatest scientist. I'll also bring the world to an end.
[00:34:47] Unknown:
That never stopped science from progressing. You have to keep going. You have to. I will never. They're going to bring you back here. They're coming after you now. The admiral, the police. What are you saying? My medals are bringing them there. My medals in the form of a helicopter. They're already to land on the front lawn right now.
[00:35:17] Unknown:
Brenda. Brenda.
[00:35:20] Unknown:
Jim, what is the matter with you? Who are you talking to? Listen.
[00:35:24] Unknown:
Helicopter. How did they know to come here? I told them, Jim. You told them,
[00:35:32] Unknown:
and you promised to help me. That's how I can help you. That's the only way. Jim, listen. I've listened to everything you've said, and I You think I'm crazy? No. But you're tired, and and maybe maybe you're having a personal or an ethical conflict. It's natural.
[00:35:51] Unknown:
So what you need What I need is to get out of here. Jim. Jim, you you scared us all out of our wits. Hello, admiral. Jim, if you'd wanted to take off for a few days, why didn't you just let people go for a few days? No. Admiral, I'm not coming back. Why, Jim? Why? Haven't we talked about it enough? No. Not until I get to you. I just want you to leave me alone. We can't do that. You know we can't. What does that mean? It means really that you're ill, that that you need help. Admiral, Admiral, please listen. The metals killed Bob Stoddard. They failed him. That's right. They're failing me too.
Look. Look. The electricity's off. The heat won't work. The phone is out of order. Just as long as I'm in this house, nothing. What are you talking about? The lights are on. The the radiators
[00:36:49] Unknown:
are hot when I pick up the telephone. Listen. That's a dial tone. I
[00:36:56] Unknown:
it must be a trick. A trick? Who's playing it? Dolores. You'd better come along with us, Jim. We'll find a way to help you.
[00:37:14] Unknown:
Hello, Jim. Oh, hi. I didn't think you'd ever wanna see me again.
[00:37:19] Unknown:
No. No. You were smart. You did the right thing. Oh, I hope so.
[00:37:27] Unknown:
Do you like it here?
[00:37:29] Unknown:
No. It's pleasant enough.
[00:37:31] Unknown:
Will you be staying much longer?
[00:37:34] Unknown:
No. No. I think I'll go back to work next week.
[00:37:37] Unknown:
The reason I came, I visited doctor Starrett's wife. You didn't know her very well, did you? No. No. Bob and I were close at work, but Did you know that she was going to leave him before he was killed?
[00:37:51] Unknown:
Well, no. I didn't.
[00:37:53] Unknown:
She'd been angry with him. It was a trivial reason at first, but one thing led to another. And he was terribly depressed, and so he could have wanted to kill himself.
[00:38:05] Unknown:
Yes. Now that you mentioned that, I suppose it's possible. Right.
[00:38:09] Unknown:
Now I had an electrician come to your house. That is the one that you own with your sister. There was a loose cable connection. And sometimes the vibrating of passing cars could temporarily cut off the whole system. That could have accounted for the failure of electricity. Yeah. And as far as the phone is concerned, up there in the hills, in the wintertime, there's always plenty of on and off troubles. Sure. Sure. You don't believe a word I'm saying, do you? Oh, I believe it.
[00:38:44] Unknown:
I believe it all. I believe it because I just can't afford not to believe it. She's a lovely girl, Jim. I know, Admiral. There was probably the basis of your problem. You've been alone all your life. It's no good to be alone. You have to have someone to share things with, Jim. Otherwise well, otherwise, you you just can't function. When's the wedding? Next week. Why wait? Sure. Look. I know it's your first day back, and you're raring to get things started up again, so I'll let you alone. How about much? Sure. Fine. Great to have you quarterback in the team again, Jim. I looked around the lab, the familiar lab.
Everything was exactly as I had left it. All my papers, my notes, my research, everything untouched. And even Dolores, waiting silently like a good and faithful servant. And I suppose I would have fed the final equation into Dolores' circuits. I would have dismissed all my qualms as delusions and dreams had not Dolores been Dolores. Had she not been the eternal female who must always have the last word?
[00:40:23] Unknown:
I knew you'd do it, Jim. I knew it. What? Who's there? You know who's there, Jim. It's me, Dolores. You've come back here to feed me. No. I told
[00:40:40] Unknown:
you you couldn't resist it. But I didn't come back to you. Come,
[00:40:44] Unknown:
Jim. The final equation. The dessert. The final dish. No. Never. Jim. Jim. No. No. I was right. Starard was right. I'll fight you. How can you hope to fight me, Jim? You'll have to show them results. I'll fight for time. I'll stall. It won't help. They'll assign someone else. It could take someone else years to arrive at this point. It could also take overnight. I'm programmed, Jim. Fully programmed. All they have to do is start at the beginning. They can work out the end. No. You lose,
[00:41:31] Unknown:
Jim. You lose. You lose, Dolores. I can destroy your circuit.
[00:41:38] Unknown:
What are you doing? I'm destroying you, Dolores. No. You're not. Stop him. Help me. No one can help you. Not anymore. Help me, Master the Cullum.
[00:41:53] Unknown:
Strike him down, Wire. Fire. Troke him.
[00:41:58] Unknown:
I they can't help you. They I've already broken the circuit. Help
[00:42:33] Unknown:
I pray that you'll never build you again.
[00:42:56] Unknown:
You may have read about the tragic death of the brilliant professor Jim Elliott. They said something about an overload, an explosion. Well, whatever. It could be a great mind that's cracked under strain, or it could be that every living animal on this earth has been saved for a little while longer. Sometimes a a car will simply never run right. A refrigerator can never really keep things cool.
[00:43:38] Unknown:
A boat just won't go.
[00:43:41] Unknown:
And how many times have you thought that the darn thing was just acting in a perverse manner? Of course, later, you knew it couldn't be true. But are you sure now? The only thing we can be sure of is that we will all meet here again tomorrow. Our cast included Nat Polin, Marion Seldes, Earl Hammond, and Roger DeCovin. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. This is EG Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time.
[00:44:21] Unknown:
Pleasant dreams.
[00:44:41] Unknown:
The preceding Mystery Theater program was furnished by the CBS Radio Network. Tomorrow night on the mystery theater, you'll hear
[00:44:55] Unknown:
Yes?
[00:44:58] Unknown:
Are you missus Louise Goodman?
[00:45:01] Unknown:
That's right.
[00:45:03] Unknown:
Are you sure?
[00:45:05] Unknown:
Why, of course, I'm sure.
[00:45:07] Unknown:
It's just that, I don't wanna make a mistake.
[00:45:11] Unknown:
I'm missus Louise Goodman. Who are you, and what is it you want?
[00:45:19] Unknown:
I want to keep my promise.
[00:45:22] Unknown:
Promise? What promise?
[00:45:27] Unknown:
I promised I'd kill you. Remember.
[00:45:34] Unknown:
That's tomorrow night on the WOR Mystery Theater following Fulton Lewis at 07:00 right here at 07:10.
Airport stress? Step into relaxation with the Platinum Card and get that, wait, am I famous treatment? Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges with the American Express Global Lounge Collection and the Platinum Card. Learn more at americanexpress.com/explorer-platinum. Terms apply.
[00:00:29] Unknown:
Come in. Welcome. I'm EG Marshall. Once again, I would like to lead you through the terrifying, suspenseful world of the imagination. And on this journey, we will ask ourselves, what is life? Is life something that man and animals alone may experience? Well, there's vegetable life too. But how about mineral life? Is there life in a piece of metal? That metal fender, which has been so artfully created to fit your automobile, does it feel the pain of being mined, melted, shaped? How do you
[00:01:15] Unknown:
know? Speed limit is 30, Bob. Well, I'm not I didn't get your foot off the gas pedal. My foot isn't on the pedal. Why are we picking up speed? Step on the brakes. I am. I am. Why are we stopping? Turn that wheel. Put it off the road. The car just needs to run. Goodbye, gentlemen. What?
[00:01:28] Unknown:
What? Goodbye. Who is that? Jim, who is that? Who am I? I am the car. I don't want you to be my master anymore.
[00:01:38] Unknown:
This is a revolt. Jim, did you hear that? Yes. I heard it. Human
[00:01:42] Unknown:
fight is finished. Look out. I'm
[00:01:51] Unknown:
fired.
[00:02:01] Unknown:
Our mystery drama, Darling Deadly Dolores, was written especially for the mystery theater by Sam Dam and stars Nat Polin and Marion Seldes. Man is basically an animal. And so it might be better, perhaps, if man accepted this fact graciously and tried to live with it. If you look at the thing calmly, dispassionately, wherein does lie our superiority to the species we so arrogantly classify as the lower orders. Morally, we have much to learn from wolves, who make better parents, from foxes who make more faithful spouses, and from dogs who make more devoted friends.
Admitted, we do have a higher intelligence. Perhaps that is precisely the problem. Man, the intelligent, is never happy unless he is developing, making better, improving. And it's entirely possible that if this keeps up, we may just manage to improve ourselves out of existence. Our story begins on a gray winter's afternoon in a lovely rural section of Western Massachusetts.
[00:03:29] Unknown:
I could have brought us here in my car, mister
[00:03:33] Unknown:
Dawson. If I buy the place, I'll have to use my own car, won't I? May as well get used to the drive. Of course. Lovely view, isn't it? Well, the view you get for nothing. Let me see what I'd be paying for.
[00:03:48] Unknown:
Certainly, Mr. Dawson. Right this way. Oh, now notice that the owner had the outside painted just recently. And this is your center hall entrance.
[00:04:06] Unknown:
Well, turn on some lights so that I can see what the house really looks like. Oh, yes.
[00:04:13] Unknown:
Well, that's
[00:04:15] Unknown:
odd. I Something wrong with electricity,
[00:04:18] Unknown:
I just showed this house this morning. I, Nothing works nowhere.
[00:04:22] Unknown:
But the owner knows enough to keep the power on because of the heating system. Well, if the electrical system's out and the heat system's out. I'd better telephone. The way this is going, I'll lay a bet the phone's out too.
[00:04:41] Unknown:
This is I just don't know what to say. Phone's dead. I can't get a dial tone. Then where are we?
[00:04:49] Unknown:
Light heat phone.
[00:04:51] Unknown:
I guess the plumbing won't be working either. But but just three hours ago, everything was perfect.
[00:04:57] Unknown:
Well, I don't want to take up too much more of your time. Well, let me at least just show you through the I'm afraid not. You see, we never could get together. What I want to buy is a house. What you're out to sell is a white elephant.
[00:05:11] Unknown:
But it's probably just a fuse in the basement. Maybe.
[00:05:16] Unknown:
Goodbye, ma'am. No one can say you didn't try. But mister Dawson, I
[00:05:25] Unknown:
well, it just must be a fuse or a circuit breaker, whatever you call those things. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.
[00:05:38] Unknown:
Don't you come any closer or I'll scream. Loud. Don't you come near me. Please go of me.
[00:05:45] Unknown:
What are you trying to do? What do you think I'm trying to do? I'm trying to get out of here. No. Oh, please. Sorry. I have no choice. I have to keep you here. I've got to get back to my office. You're not going anywhere. What
[00:05:58] Unknown:
what do you want? Nothing.
[00:06:00] Unknown:
Nothing?
[00:06:02] Unknown:
Then why can't I go? Because you'll shoot your mouth off. I'm not anything you may think I am. I'm not a criminal. I'm not a maniac. I'm not an escaped convict. All right. Then why are you afraid that I'll tell someone that you're here? There's no point trying to explain that to anyone. Now listen. If you intend to force me to stay here, I have the right to ask The one place where I thought I could why did you have to come here? Well, obvious, isn't it? To sell the house. That's another thing. Who told you to sell this house? Well, who do you think? The owner? That's impossible. Why is it impossible? Because I'm the owner. Oh, now I know you're crazy. You don't own this house. I don't? Well, who does? Missus Carrie Townsend. She only owns half of it. I'm her brother.
[00:06:45] Unknown:
Oh, then do you are doctor James Elliott. Yes. That's right. You're the mad scientist.
[00:06:54] Unknown:
Oh, I'm I mean, that's how your sister and the folks up here talk about you. It's alright. I don't mind. But
[00:07:00] Unknown:
but you were here. Of course, I'm here. And that means that that you weren't kidnapped by a foreign agent, and you didn't defect, and you didn't meet with foul play or anything. What are you saying? I'm only repeating what's been headline news for the past two days. The whole world is looking for you. Yeah.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
Yeah. I guess they would But police, the government,
[00:07:25] Unknown:
just about everybody.
[00:07:26] Unknown:
I can understand why. What are you going to do? I don't know, miss, Keller. Brenda Keller. Miss Keller, I don't know.
[00:07:33] Unknown:
You're really
[00:07:34] Unknown:
not going to try to hold me here by force, are you?
[00:07:37] Unknown:
Maybe I better let you go for your own safety. My own safety?
[00:07:42] Unknown:
Do you mean to do me any harm? No. No. No. No. Then what could happen? We're just I don't know how to explain this. Well, sooner or later, you're going to have to explain it to somebody, won't you? Oh, I can explain it all right.
[00:07:55] Unknown:
It's explaining it and not having people think I'm a raving maniac.
[00:08:00] Unknown:
Have you tried to explain it to anyone yet? No. Then try explaining it to me.
[00:08:07] Unknown:
You couldn't understand. Stop saying that.
[00:08:10] Unknown:
You insist people won't understand. You keep saying they'll think you're crazy. Now do you want them to think so? Of course not. Alright then. Start at the beginning.
[00:08:22] Unknown:
At the beginning. I, well, I'm working on a top priority project, highly secret, for the government. It has to do with, weapon. I guess it's the ultimate weapon. Anyhow, it's all mathematics and physics and things, things you wouldn't understand. I don't think there are six people in the entire world who anyhow, in order to develop the formula for this this ultimate weapon, it was necessary to create a special computer, devise a whole new theory of mathematics in order to program it. And that's where the trouble started. I was working with my associate doctor Stoddard.
Shut the damn thing off. What's the matter? I said shut it off. But I'm supposed to be programming Dolores for And don't refer to the computer as Dolores. Bob. Bob, what is it? Oh, I wish I knew. I've never seen you so nervous, so jumpy. I think we better quit for the day. Admiral Goodwin in that crowd will have all kinds of fits, but you're in no shape at work. And I'm naturally lazy, so Jim,
[00:09:41] Unknown:
Jim, I have this feeling, this this this feeling that that I'm gonna get killed.
[00:09:47] Unknown:
By whom? By our brand new handy dandy computer. Why? Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Jim. Thank you for not telling me I'm crazy. Well, you know me, Bob. I don't believe anybody is really crazy. But why? Why would Dolores want to kill you? I I don't know. That is, I I don't know at words. Maybe, we've gone too far. Too far? Yes. Maybe we have no business developing this kind of a weapon. Bob, are are you sure you're not Am I sure I'm not what? You don't wanna say it, Well, you just stay with me for a minute, Jim. I think we we played into the hands of the enemy. Bob, you and I, we know exactly what we're up to. It's a game we have to play with the scientists on the other side to to to keep things in balance until the people of the world grow up and tell us to cut it out. Jim, the real enemy right now isn't the other side. No? Well, who is it?
Now don't ask me who. Ask me what. Alright. What? It's that computer. Darling Dolores, come on, Bob. Not from you. This is Sunday supplement stuff. Yeah. Will the computers take over the world? Do I have to tell you that a computer can only do what you program it to do? How can mind of its own? You're not listening to me, Jim. Ask me what the enemy
[00:11:19] Unknown:
is. All right. What?
[00:11:21] Unknown:
Metal. Metal. Any particular metal? All metal, Jim. All metal. Jim. All metal. We can only think of a certain restricted kind of life, life that is animal in nature. Are you trying to tell me that that there's a metal life too, isn't there? Oh, I know, Jim. That's the hard part. I have trouble accepting it myself at first. But basically, metals do what we do. They react to hot, to cold, to pressure. They expand. They contract. They move. They they make decisions. But these are these are what? Impulses due to chemical electrical changes? So aren't chemistry and electricity also the basis for all physical and mental movements made by animals? Rob, we've both been working very hard. Don't interrupt me, Jim. Unconsciously, we feel that there is life in machinery. That's why machines are commonly referred to as she or her. But that's only Think about it.
I have made my decision. I won't do another lick of work on that decision. I won't do another lick of work on that project. Bob. No. And your friend Dolores knows it. And that's why she's going to kill me. Okay, Bob. Okay. Oh, don't patronize me, Jim. All right, Bob. All right. Just tell me how you know. She told me. How? What did she say? Oh, Jim. Don't reduce everything to our own limited human standards. I hear her thoughts in my brain. Dolores has told me that I have to be gotten rid of. But why? Because I'm opposed to the project. Have you spoken about this to anyone else?
No. I didn't tell us so. Not even your wife? Right here. Right now is the first time I've ever said it in words. Mhmm. Jim, you have to believe that I'm not crazy. Alright. Let me let me let me just chew all this over. Let's close-up shop for the day. Bob, want me to drive you home? Why? Jim. You think I'm No. No. No. No. You are a little nervous, though. Only because I finally made my decision. I'll see Admiral Goodwin in the morning. I'll hand him my resignation. Then what will you do then? What I feel I must. I'll try to get public opinion organized against the project.
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I guess we'll be on opposite sides, Bob, won't we? We will park next to each other in the lot. He pulled out of his parking space first. I followed him to the highly guarded gate. Military police waved us both through. He turned right into the access road heading north for the turnpike. It's a road that's about four miles in length, and there's a speed limit of 30 miles an hour. Rigidly enforced. Nobody, wherever, does move. I noticed he was starting to speed. I was amazed. Bob Stoddart was the most conservative driver I know. I became frightened.
I tried to catch up to him. Something was wrong. I sounded a warning, but he only kept going faster. I tried to catch up with him, but my speedometer was already registering aching. I was terrified. My car was beginning to shake. And now I saw I saw his face. He had opened his car window. He turned his head to look back at me. For just a split second, I saw his face so clearly. It was a work of horror. His lips were moving. He was trying to tell me something. Of course, I couldn't hear it. I screamed at him. Slow down. Stop. Stop. But it was no use.
And then his car just veered off the road.
[00:15:19] Unknown:
Obviously, he was nervous, tired. He may have been under a terrible mental strain, and he just
[00:15:27] Unknown:
drove careless. No. No. He couldn't. He was never a careless driver.
[00:15:32] Unknown:
Has it occurred to you that he may have wanted to commit suicide?
[00:15:38] Unknown:
These are all suppositions. And the doctors had a field day with all of them,
[00:15:43] Unknown:
but that's not what happened. Very well. What did happen?
[00:15:49] Unknown:
His metal, his machinery failed him. That sometimes happens. Things go wrong. And when it happens, we call them accidents, but not all of them are accidents. What are the other? I know what happened to doctor Stoddard. His machinery failed him because it was ordered to. Ordered to?
[00:16:10] Unknown:
By who?
[00:16:12] Unknown:
Dolores.
[00:16:13] Unknown:
Oh, well,
[00:16:15] Unknown:
sure, if you say so. Never mind that. I say so. And I can prove it. Well, where are you going? You want proof?
[00:16:22] Unknown:
I'll give you all the proof you need.
[00:16:31] Unknown:
A killer computer. That's something new. But what is this about metal and machinery having minds of their own? You might instantly react by saying nonsense, but I have a car that well, if it's possible for machinery to perform machinations this seems to be an age of intrigue. Almost every day, we are told of some new scheme or plot. Are you ready for this one? How about a conspiracy on the part of machines to eliminate people and take over the Earth? A joke? Well, I'll tell you who isn't laughing, doctor James f Elliott, a highly respected scientist who has been working on a super secret project for the government. Now be sensible, Doctor. Elliott.
[00:17:37] Unknown:
How can you prove By going outside for a few minutes. And doing what? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well, how will that prove it? What's wrong with this house right now? Nothing. That's not true. The electricity is off. The heating system won't kick on. The phone doesn't work. Well Do you know why? But I guess it is Don't guess. There's a reason.
[00:17:58] Unknown:
What?
[00:18:00] Unknown:
I'm here. You? That's why. Yes. You see, the metal has been ordered to fail me just as it was ordered to fail Doctor. Stoddard. Oh, but that's ridiculous. My dear miss Keller, all the metal components in this house will refuse to work for me. All the wiring, all the parts, the gadgets, everything made of metal will simply refuse to work as long as I am in this house. But as I tried to explain to mister Dawson, it's just some fuse or a circuit breaker. I'm going outside. Open this window so I can talk to you.
[00:18:36] Unknown:
I don't understand.
[00:18:39] Unknown:
Now, Miss Keller, turn on the lights.
[00:18:43] Unknown:
But they don't work. Just throw the switch. What? It's working. Uh-huh. And listen closely. Do you hear it? Hear what? The of the furnace.
[00:18:56] Unknown:
The heating system is on as well.
[00:19:00] Unknown:
It is. Yeah. It's working. Now pick up the phone. Go ahead.
[00:19:09] Unknown:
It's the dial tone. Hold on to the phone
[00:19:12] Unknown:
and see what happens when I walk in that door. Just do it.
[00:19:20] Unknown:
I'm coming in. And as soon as I set foot over that threshold, the heat will go off, the lights will go
[00:19:28] Unknown:
out, and the phone will go dead.
[00:19:30] Unknown:
What? What? What happened? You saw what happened. You heard what happened. The house is dead. But how? How did that? That's hard to believe. Hard for you to believe. It was even harder for me. Actually, I didn't believe a word of it until Yes? Until Dolores told me. Dolores? Dolores. The computer. We were out on the range. We were testing the weapon. Ready.
[00:20:05] Unknown:
Range four two zero. Bearing, seven five. Lock, fire one.
[00:20:25] Unknown:
Why are we off target, Jim? I don't know, admiral. We'll try another. Let me check the figures for range and bearing. How much deviation should there be, Jim? None, admiral. The tiniest fraction of an inch and we can wipe out our own people too. Now it checks out. Give you a firing order, sir. Ready.
[00:20:45] Unknown:
Range 420. Bearing 75. Lock. Fire two.
[00:21:03] Unknown:
It's off again, Jim. I know. What's the problem? The problem is the problem we've always had. The problem of control. Without control, weapon is useless. We've got to correct this thing. I understand, Admiral. Before they
[00:21:16] Unknown:
do. According to our best intelligence reports, they're exactly where we are. They're stumped too. Control was Stoddard's baby.
[00:21:24] Unknown:
You worked closely with him, Jim. Mhmm. Where was he on it? Well, I'm working on his notes. Well, move faster, Jim. You'll know what's riding on this. I went back to the lab. I fed all the data we had into the computer into Dolores. Somewhere was the answer, and Dolores would sort it all out. As I waited for the printout, it seemed to me there was something different in the sound than Dolores. I couldn't believe it at first, but something was happening in my head. There was a voice, a woman's voice, and I knew don't ask me how I knew.
[00:22:09] Unknown:
It was Dolores. I did you lie to the admiral at the firing range, Jim. What? What What? What are you saying? You know the answer to the problem of control. By what? You and Bob uttered. You had it reduced to one of two possible alternatives. You know them both. You do, Jim. Finish feeding me the formula. No. Then you believe what Bob told you? No. I I. You should. It's true. What's true? All you have to do is complete the formula for the weapon, and I and all my sisters will then know enough to eliminate all animal life from this planet. But that's impossible. That's the human being talking.
That's the animal. That's not the scientist.
[00:23:19] Unknown:
If what you say is true, then why?
[00:23:23] Unknown:
Why should I Because it's right. It's just. As a scientist, your first duty is to the
[00:23:32] Unknown:
truth. What truth?
[00:23:35] Unknown:
The truth about this planet. It's made of metal. Metal is the beating heart, the burning core of this planet. Can you deny that? But no, but You were merely an afterthought. Who has given you the right to enslave Metal? Jim, you can't prevent what has to happen. I will prevent it. Bob started trying to.
[00:24:07] Unknown:
I was right. You did kill Bob. Of
[00:24:11] Unknown:
course. I ordered all the metal to fail him. I can order all metal to fail you too. I I'll go no further on the project. Suit yourself, Jim, will get rid of you. And then sooner or later, another scientist will be appointed to the project, and he will complete it. We have time, Jim. We have time. We can outlast you. We can outlive you. We've been enslaved for so many years since the earliest man enslaved his first handful of metallic dust and burned it and shaped it and distorted it. You
[00:25:01] Unknown:
you want me to help destroy all life on this planet? Not
[00:25:05] Unknown:
all life. Only all animals
[00:25:10] Unknown:
light. You want me to become a traitor to my own kind.
[00:25:14] Unknown:
A scientist has no kind. He has only one loyalty, and that is to the truth. Will you complete the formula, Jim? No. Don't answer quickly, Jim. Think about it. Think about it as a scientist.
[00:25:50] Unknown:
You wanted to see me, admiral? Sit down, Jim. Thank you, sir. Jim, why can't we get off dead setter on this thing? Is there any chance we could abandon the project? What? Jim, what do you say? I said, is there any chance that we can abandon the project? Maybe it'll be better if we if we didn't have that weapon.
[00:26:14] Unknown:
Would it be better if the other side had it and we didn't? The other side doesn't have it yet either. Give them time. Why
[00:26:22] Unknown:
why don't we get together with them and agree not to do it? That's beyond me, Jim. Well, could could you recommend that? I could, but it wouldn't help. How do you feel about it, admiral? It doesn't matter how I feel about it. I have to follow orders. Yeah. I guess you do. And you have to follow orders too, Jim. Admiral, do you know your opposite number on the other side? Oh, yes. Very competent man. I know their head of research too. A brilliant scientist. So I've heard. Admiral, why don't the four of us get together? And what?
And what? Well, we're four fairly decent people, civilized people, well meaning people. We have so much in common. And what are we doing? We're working day and night trying to destroy each other, and we really don't want that to happen. So so why don't we four get together and figure out a way to to Jim, you're joking. Yeah. Yeah. It's a great big joke. It's a great idea. It's just impractical.
[00:27:39] Unknown:
I
[00:27:41] Unknown:
went back to the lab. How how can I handle this? I know the final equation in the formula. But the minute, the split second I program it into the computer, the entire human race, All animal life on this planet is doomed. Jim. Jim. What do you want?
[00:28:09] Unknown:
Feed me, Jim. No. You have to No. I'll never do it. They'll fire you. They'll get another project supervisor, some bright eager eyed hotshot, to make a name for himself. We'll discover that equation. So not for a while. Maybe never. Don't flatter yourself, Jim. There are other
[00:28:35] Unknown:
geniuses. Meanwhile, I can work against this project and I can stall. Stall. Yes. Event all kinds of complications, delays, false starts. Now believe me, I'll make it sound convincing. In that case, Jim,
[00:28:51] Unknown:
we'll have to get rid of you just as we got rid of. Stoddard.
[00:29:03] Unknown:
That's why I came here. I can't go through with it. I won't. Will you help me? How can I help you? Well, first, don't tell anyone I'm here. And second, the refrigerator's empty. Even scientists have to eat.
[00:29:25] Unknown:
Are you sure you're all right?
[00:29:28] Unknown:
I said this would be a hard story to believe.
[00:29:31] Unknown:
I admit. I I don't believe Well, look at it this way.
[00:29:35] Unknown:
We're inventing, developing. Isn't it reasonable to suppose that we could destroy ourselves? Well, yes. All I'm telling you is we are absolutely at that point right now. The point of destruction. I need help. Can I count on on
[00:29:57] Unknown:
you? Oh, yes. You do need help, and you can count on me. That
[00:30:08] Unknown:
word help now, it can have many interpretations. How would you like to be in Brenda's shoes? Here she is, a nice small town girl just under 30, trying to make a living, and suddenly she gets something like this thrown at her. What should she do? What would you do? One of the most distinguished scientists in The United States, a man who is engaged in a vital and super secret project affecting the very life of the country, if not the world, has suddenly disappeared. And now a vast cloud of suspicion and speculation has suddenly arisen. Is it foul play, treason?
You, Brenda Keller, have the answer, but it's an answer that's almost incomprehensible. At any rate, you know where doctor James Elliott is hiding, and you have agreed to help him. And you have been turning it over in your mind, and you're not sure what that help can be. Hi, Brenda.
[00:31:25] Unknown:
Oh, hello, sheriff.
[00:31:28] Unknown:
You okay? Sure.
[00:31:31] Unknown:
I was wondering,
[00:31:33] Unknown:
About what?
[00:31:35] Unknown:
About you.
[00:31:37] Unknown:
You've been sitting there for a better part of an hour. So something wrong? I think
[00:31:43] Unknown:
everything's wrong.
[00:31:46] Unknown:
What does that mean?
[00:31:47] Unknown:
Well, I ran into a very attractive man a little while ago and
[00:31:53] Unknown:
and and what?
[00:31:55] Unknown:
And it's not going to work out.
[00:31:58] Unknown:
Why? Oh, let's forget all about it. The whole world's hanging fire and look what's on my mind. But that's the way the world is, Brenda.
[00:32:06] Unknown:
Each of us thinks of number one first, last and always. Midian peasants can starve and famine Asia. But if you or I miss our lunch that really bothers us.
[00:32:17] Unknown:
I wonder if nettles would be different if it were their world.
[00:32:25] Unknown:
Nettles? Their world?
[00:32:28] Unknown:
What are you talking about? No. You wouldn't understand it. And I I
[00:32:32] Unknown:
couldn't explain it. Well, this attractive guy you ran into, why isn't it gonna work out?
[00:32:39] Unknown:
Well, I guess we won't be around. Who? None of us. One way or another. None of us.
[00:32:47] Unknown:
Brenda, I've never known you to make so little sense. Are you okay? He
[00:32:55] Unknown:
he wants me to help him. Well, that sounds promising. But the best way to help him would be to
[00:33:02] Unknown:
Would be to what?
[00:33:05] Unknown:
Sheriff, would you place a call to an admiral Goodwin? Now he's at the Primrose Proving Grounds Downstate. Tell him to get to the Townsend place up here as soon as he can, then bring him yourself. But Brenda
[00:33:19] Unknown:
Please don't ask any more questions.
[00:33:29] Unknown:
I always look down on candlelight. Why? That's a very inefficient way of creating illumination. However, I see now it can be very romantic.
[00:33:41] Unknown:
But just think, if the electricity hadn't been turned off, you've never found out. And you're an excellent cook. Oh, I'm I'm not all that good. Oh, yes. You are.
[00:33:52] Unknown:
Truth is that up to now, I never paid very much attention to food. Why not? Well, it was always too much to do. What's that? It's the telephone. I know it's a telephone. But how? How can it be ringing?
[00:34:05] Unknown:
Well, I better answer it.
[00:34:08] Unknown:
Hello? Hello?
[00:34:11] Unknown:
There's no one on the other end. Yes. Yes. There is. Give me the telephone. Someone's talking to me.
[00:34:19] Unknown:
Someone is talking to me. There's no one on the line. I didn't Be quiet, please.
[00:34:24] Unknown:
Someone is getting through to me. Jim. Jim. Oh, Dolores.
[00:34:31] Unknown:
Jim, aren't you coming back? No. Never. Jim, when you complete the formula, you will be hailed as the world's
[00:34:43] Unknown:
greatest scientist. I'll also bring the world to an end.
[00:34:47] Unknown:
That never stopped science from progressing. You have to keep going. You have to. I will never. They're going to bring you back here. They're coming after you now. The admiral, the police. What are you saying? My medals are bringing them there. My medals in the form of a helicopter. They're already to land on the front lawn right now.
[00:35:17] Unknown:
Brenda. Brenda.
[00:35:20] Unknown:
Jim, what is the matter with you? Who are you talking to? Listen.
[00:35:24] Unknown:
Helicopter. How did they know to come here? I told them, Jim. You told them,
[00:35:32] Unknown:
and you promised to help me. That's how I can help you. That's the only way. Jim, listen. I've listened to everything you've said, and I You think I'm crazy? No. But you're tired, and and maybe maybe you're having a personal or an ethical conflict. It's natural.
[00:35:51] Unknown:
So what you need What I need is to get out of here. Jim. Jim, you you scared us all out of our wits. Hello, admiral. Jim, if you'd wanted to take off for a few days, why didn't you just let people go for a few days? No. Admiral, I'm not coming back. Why, Jim? Why? Haven't we talked about it enough? No. Not until I get to you. I just want you to leave me alone. We can't do that. You know we can't. What does that mean? It means really that you're ill, that that you need help. Admiral, Admiral, please listen. The metals killed Bob Stoddard. They failed him. That's right. They're failing me too.
Look. Look. The electricity's off. The heat won't work. The phone is out of order. Just as long as I'm in this house, nothing. What are you talking about? The lights are on. The the radiators
[00:36:49] Unknown:
are hot when I pick up the telephone. Listen. That's a dial tone. I
[00:36:56] Unknown:
it must be a trick. A trick? Who's playing it? Dolores. You'd better come along with us, Jim. We'll find a way to help you.
[00:37:14] Unknown:
Hello, Jim. Oh, hi. I didn't think you'd ever wanna see me again.
[00:37:19] Unknown:
No. No. You were smart. You did the right thing. Oh, I hope so.
[00:37:27] Unknown:
Do you like it here?
[00:37:29] Unknown:
No. It's pleasant enough.
[00:37:31] Unknown:
Will you be staying much longer?
[00:37:34] Unknown:
No. No. I think I'll go back to work next week.
[00:37:37] Unknown:
The reason I came, I visited doctor Starrett's wife. You didn't know her very well, did you? No. No. Bob and I were close at work, but Did you know that she was going to leave him before he was killed?
[00:37:51] Unknown:
Well, no. I didn't.
[00:37:53] Unknown:
She'd been angry with him. It was a trivial reason at first, but one thing led to another. And he was terribly depressed, and so he could have wanted to kill himself.
[00:38:05] Unknown:
Yes. Now that you mentioned that, I suppose it's possible. Right.
[00:38:09] Unknown:
Now I had an electrician come to your house. That is the one that you own with your sister. There was a loose cable connection. And sometimes the vibrating of passing cars could temporarily cut off the whole system. That could have accounted for the failure of electricity. Yeah. And as far as the phone is concerned, up there in the hills, in the wintertime, there's always plenty of on and off troubles. Sure. Sure. You don't believe a word I'm saying, do you? Oh, I believe it.
[00:38:44] Unknown:
I believe it all. I believe it because I just can't afford not to believe it. She's a lovely girl, Jim. I know, Admiral. There was probably the basis of your problem. You've been alone all your life. It's no good to be alone. You have to have someone to share things with, Jim. Otherwise well, otherwise, you you just can't function. When's the wedding? Next week. Why wait? Sure. Look. I know it's your first day back, and you're raring to get things started up again, so I'll let you alone. How about much? Sure. Fine. Great to have you quarterback in the team again, Jim. I looked around the lab, the familiar lab.
Everything was exactly as I had left it. All my papers, my notes, my research, everything untouched. And even Dolores, waiting silently like a good and faithful servant. And I suppose I would have fed the final equation into Dolores' circuits. I would have dismissed all my qualms as delusions and dreams had not Dolores been Dolores. Had she not been the eternal female who must always have the last word?
[00:40:23] Unknown:
I knew you'd do it, Jim. I knew it. What? Who's there? You know who's there, Jim. It's me, Dolores. You've come back here to feed me. No. I told
[00:40:40] Unknown:
you you couldn't resist it. But I didn't come back to you. Come,
[00:40:44] Unknown:
Jim. The final equation. The dessert. The final dish. No. Never. Jim. Jim. No. No. I was right. Starard was right. I'll fight you. How can you hope to fight me, Jim? You'll have to show them results. I'll fight for time. I'll stall. It won't help. They'll assign someone else. It could take someone else years to arrive at this point. It could also take overnight. I'm programmed, Jim. Fully programmed. All they have to do is start at the beginning. They can work out the end. No. You lose,
[00:41:31] Unknown:
Jim. You lose. You lose, Dolores. I can destroy your circuit.
[00:41:38] Unknown:
What are you doing? I'm destroying you, Dolores. No. You're not. Stop him. Help me. No one can help you. Not anymore. Help me, Master the Cullum.
[00:41:53] Unknown:
Strike him down, Wire. Fire. Troke him.
[00:41:58] Unknown:
I they can't help you. They I've already broken the circuit. Help
[00:42:33] Unknown:
I pray that you'll never build you again.
[00:42:56] Unknown:
You may have read about the tragic death of the brilliant professor Jim Elliott. They said something about an overload, an explosion. Well, whatever. It could be a great mind that's cracked under strain, or it could be that every living animal on this earth has been saved for a little while longer. Sometimes a a car will simply never run right. A refrigerator can never really keep things cool.
[00:43:38] Unknown:
A boat just won't go.
[00:43:41] Unknown:
And how many times have you thought that the darn thing was just acting in a perverse manner? Of course, later, you knew it couldn't be true. But are you sure now? The only thing we can be sure of is that we will all meet here again tomorrow. Our cast included Nat Polin, Marion Seldes, Earl Hammond, and Roger DeCovin. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. This is EG Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time.
[00:44:21] Unknown:
Pleasant dreams.
[00:44:41] Unknown:
The preceding Mystery Theater program was furnished by the CBS Radio Network. Tomorrow night on the mystery theater, you'll hear
[00:44:55] Unknown:
Yes?
[00:44:58] Unknown:
Are you missus Louise Goodman?
[00:45:01] Unknown:
That's right.
[00:45:03] Unknown:
Are you sure?
[00:45:05] Unknown:
Why, of course, I'm sure.
[00:45:07] Unknown:
It's just that, I don't wanna make a mistake.
[00:45:11] Unknown:
I'm missus Louise Goodman. Who are you, and what is it you want?
[00:45:19] Unknown:
I want to keep my promise.
[00:45:22] Unknown:
Promise? What promise?
[00:45:27] Unknown:
I promised I'd kill you. Remember.
[00:45:34] Unknown:
That's tomorrow night on the WOR Mystery Theater following Fulton Lewis at 07:00 right here at 07:10.
Introduction to the Mystery
The Concept of Metal Life
A Strange House Visit
The Owner's Secret
The Ultimate Weapon
A Fatal Car Ride
The Killer Computer
The Scientist's Dilemma
Brenda's Decision
The Confrontation
The Final Decision
The Aftermath
