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In this intriguing episode, we delve into the mysterious world of dreams and reality with the story "The Stuff of Dreams." Our protagonist, May Cook, finds herself in a peculiar job where she is paid to live her life and report back to her employer, Mrs. Hilda Tipton, a wealthy recluse who spends her days dreaming. As May navigates this unusual arrangement, she encounters Eddie, a man with a criminal past, and together they become entangled in Mrs. Tipton's world of fantasy and desire.
As the story unfolds, the lines between reality and dreams blur, leading to unexpected and dramatic consequences. Mrs. Tipton's obsession with her dreams and the outside world culminates in a fiery climax, leaving listeners to ponder the nature of dreams and the dangers of living in a world detached from reality. Join us as we explore the depths of human imagination and the consequences of our dreams.
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[00:00:00]
Unknown:
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[00:00:15] Unknown:
In the time before AT and T fiber Internet. Shame.
[00:00:20] Unknown:
Shame. Shame. What did you do, love? I ran out of Internet data. And they're making you shame walk. No. It's just how I feel. Shame. Shame.
[00:00:31] Unknown:
In the time after AT and T fiber Internet. Nice to have unlimited Internet data. Right? Right. The dawn of a better Internet era with AT and T fiber. Limited availability in select areas. Check eligibility at att.com/getfiber.
[00:00:51] Unknown:
Restrictions apply. Come in.
[00:01:01] Unknown:
Welcome. I'm EG Marshall. We have a little diversion for you that may both relax and intrigue you. It deals with the subject of dreams. A great deal, too much, I think, is said these days about facing reality. It is considered a great virtue to face reality while to spend time dreaming, fantasizing, we call it now, is thought to be shameful, if not downright sinful. Personally, I would not care to live if I could not dream. Would you?
[00:01:39] Unknown:
I saw you coming out of her room.
[00:01:42] Unknown:
Did you now? Did you really? I won't have it, I tell you. I won't stand for it. Oh, what do you propose to do about it? I don't know. But I'll do something. Like what? I'll tell her who you really are. Oh, come off it. Now stop talking nonsense. You don't really know who I am.
[00:02:10] Unknown:
Our mystery drama, The Stuff of Dreams, was written especially for the mystery theater by Elspeth Eric and stars Bryna Rayburn. It is sponsored in part by Buick Motor Division. I'll be back shortly with act one. Back to the subject of dreaming, which is what our story concerns itself with. Not the dreaming we do at night, which is somehow considered respectable because we think we do not control it. No. This story is about the dreaming we do while we are wide awake.
[00:02:58] Unknown:
You, sure you've got the right address?
[00:03:02] Unknown:
I believe so. 111? That's right.
[00:03:06] Unknown:
Missus Tipton. That's right. Well, she ain't gonna come to the door. Why do you say that? Because she never does. Nobody ever does. Well, somebody will today. You think so, Well, you're wrong. You'll find out. I, lived at 113 all my life, born there. I was here when she moved in twenty years ago. Moved in and never came out. If it weren't for missus Hutchins, the cleaning lady comes once a week, preaching she was dead. But missus Hutchins has her own key. Missus Tipton, don't let her in. You can stand there for a hundred years. She'll never come to the door. I really don't think it's any of your business. Well, I'm just telling you what I know. Look. I happen to be answering an advertisement.
[00:03:51] Unknown:
See? Here it is. I cut it out of the morning paper. It's about a job. Something happened to missus Hutchins?
[00:03:57] Unknown:
The cleaning lady? Well, she was here yesterday. It's not an advertisement for a cleaning woman. What's it for?
[00:04:04] Unknown:
Well,
[00:04:05] Unknown:
it doesn't say exactly, but there's no mistake about the address or the name. Missus Hilda Tipton 111 West. That's her. Alright. So see. You are the first person that I have ever seen ringing that bell in twenty years. Must be something up inside there. Well, I really wouldn't know. Oh, wait till I tell my sister. Will she get a kick out of this? Oh, hey. You mind if I stand here till she opens the door? That is if she ever does open the door, which still remains in a doubt. I do mind. I want this job.
[00:04:37] Unknown:
The money is very good, and it won't help my chances if she sees you standing there gawking at her. Well, I'm not gawking. I got every right to be here. Just walking my dog. That's all.
[00:04:49] Unknown:
I do it every day, three times a day. Trixie and I always stop in front of one eleven for a couple of minutes. And we got a ride. Well, just the same. If you wouldn't mind Okay. Okay. Trix is all finished anyway. Come on, Trix. We go home. We ain't wanted here. That's plain. Thank you. We can watch from our porch anyway, can't we, old girl? Sure. We can.
[00:05:17] Unknown:
Oh, what what what is oh, that sun. That sun's so bright. Come inside. Come in for goodness sake.
[00:05:26] Unknown:
You did say 03:00, didn't you? I mean, that that's what I understood on the phone. Didn't you say Go ahead.
[00:05:32] Unknown:
Go on into the drawing room. Go ahead. It
[00:05:35] Unknown:
takes me a little time. At first, I thought that maybe you weren't home or I'd made a mistake or something.
[00:05:43] Unknown:
Oh, what a beautiful room. A perfectly beautiful Well, I I was on the phone when you rang the bell. Takes me a while to get around. All this weight I have to carry. I I have a glandular condition. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, go on. Sit down. No. No. Not there. That's a priceless antique. Sorry. Where where shall I Any place? I'm gonna lie down on the couch myself.
[00:06:11] Unknown:
You don't mind? Oh, I don't mind.
[00:06:13] Unknown:
I'll I'll just stand. If you want to. See, I I have a heart condition, and my weight problem makes it worse. So I have to be careful. Well, now you you came about the position. Yes. Oh, what what what's your name? You you told me on the phone, but I've forgotten. I I I talk to a lot of girls. My name is May Cook. May Cook? Yes. That's not a very imaginative name. Oh, well, it's mine. It's the only one I've got. Well, you you could change it to Maybelle, something like that. Well, I don't really want to. Oh, it doesn't matter what you call yourself. I I myself changed my name from Hilda to Hildegard, but, didn't seem to make much difference because I never see anybody or correspond with anybody or or have anything to do with anybody, really.
Not ever. Not anybody. Not since my husband divorced me and took my son away from me. Oh, that's awful. Oh, I am sorry. Not at all. No. He gave me plenty of money, and I I bought this house and furnished it. It even stow to leave you alone like that. Oh, I never think about it or them. They got in the way. Got in the way?
[00:07:39] Unknown:
In the way of what?
[00:07:41] Unknown:
My kind of life.
[00:07:45] Unknown:
Missus Tipton, it's really hard to see where I'd fit in. I'm a trained social worker. That's how I make my living. At least, that was how I made my living. I was discharged six months ago. They were cutting down and well, I haven't been able to find anything in my field and I'm running short of money. So so I'm willing to take almost any kind of job if it's respectable. Look, I'm not going to ask you to do anything you wouldn't ordinarily do. But do you need a secretary? Something like that? I think I could manage that maybe. Or or be a companion?
[00:08:18] Unknown:
I want a secretary or a companion. Why would I? I never do anything, and I I prefer being alone. Well,
[00:08:27] Unknown:
what is it that you do want?
[00:08:30] Unknown:
I want somebody to live for me. To
[00:08:33] Unknown:
to live for you? Precisely.
[00:08:39] Unknown:
Well,
[00:08:40] Unknown:
I really don't know what that means, missus Tipton. I never heard of anybody living for somebody else. Well, I shall explain.
[00:08:47] Unknown:
I don't pretend that my life in this house is living. It's not what most people would call living. Though, what do they know? Nothing. Actually, my life here is
[00:09:01] Unknown:
infinitely superior to what they would call living. Well, what what precisely do you do, missus Tipton? I dream.
[00:09:12] Unknown:
Just dream. That's all? What do you mean that's all?
[00:09:15] Unknown:
Oh, it's easy to see you don't know much about dreaming. Well, you mean daydreaming? I know about that. I daydream sometimes. Everybody does once in a while. Yes. But how many make it a life's work? Not many, I guess. Hardly anybody would be my guess. Well, people don't have the time. They can't afford it. I know I certainly can't. But I do have the time, and I can afford it. But it sounds
[00:09:40] Unknown:
strange. Of course, it sounds strange. No one has the sensitivity or the imagination to withdraw completely into the life of fantasy. A life peopled with the artist creatures doing the artist things in the artist way, saying incredible things, producing incredible
[00:10:01] Unknown:
sensations. You make it sound fascinating. But, I'm a very ordinary person, really. I I I don't think I could do anything like that. Of course, you couldn't. And that wouldn't be what I'd require of you. Well, I think we really ought to discuss that. You said
[00:10:19] Unknown:
you wanted me to live for you. I want you out in the world, what people call the real world, living what they call a a real life. And that's all? That's all. You were a social worker. You must have got around a lot. Well, some. Do you have a lover?
[00:10:39] Unknown:
There's a man I'm interested in. We're not
[00:10:43] Unknown:
what you said. I'm I'm just interested in him. Aye. But you're a proper little thing, aren't you? Well, never mind. I'd want you to go on dating whatever you've been doing with this man and whatever else you do with your time. And that's all. And report back to me once a week. Tell me what you've done.
[00:11:05] Unknown:
I can't believe that that's all I'd have to do. You you'd pay me for doing that? Yes. $300 a week. That's a great deal of money for just just living and telling you about it. I just can't see why you'd wanna pay me for doing just that. If you insist on an explanation Well, I'd like to understand if I can. Very well. You see, I'd be better at the job, I think, if I if I understood. Mhmm.
[00:11:35] Unknown:
Well, you see, I'm thoroughly convinced that I've created the perfect life for myself. I live surrounded by beauty, charm. It is a beautiful house. All the senses are satisfied here. Do you smell a little perfume in this room? Yes. It's lovely. I have it changed once a month. You see those draperies? Pure silk from Thailand. $100 a yard. Oh. And they are due to be changed shortly.
[00:12:11] Unknown:
When you change them, do you just throw the others away?
[00:12:15] Unknown:
You'd like to have them, wouldn't you? Well, perhaps, if you're a very good girl. Well, they're so lovely. Everything in this house is lovely, except me. Oh, missus Tipton. Nobody weighing close to three hundred pounds could be considered lovely, but it doesn't matter because I have my dreams. And in my dreams, I weigh exactly a hundred and ten, and my hair grows to my waist and is a light auburn in color. And my feet are small and narrow. My eyes are clear and bright, and my fingers are long and tapering. Never mind. The point is that in my dreams, I am the loveliest thing on Earth, and the loveliest things happen to me. And why do you That's been my life for twenty years, and I've endured every second of it.
But now, well, I I'm starting to grow older. It's sad, but I well, I I'm growing older, and it's it's harder than it used to be to to dream my beautiful dreams. Everybody grows older, missus Tipton, eventually. I don't intend to. No. No. I mean to go on living in my dreams until the very end. If there ever is an end. But there has to be, doesn't there? I mean, for everybody. Not for me. But
[00:13:54] Unknown:
I still don't see what you want me to do. I mean, I don't see what possible help I could be to you.
[00:14:01] Unknown:
I need food for my dreams. Food? They're starting to grow stale. My dreams, repetitious. I've dreamed each one of them a million times. I I need new ones. But can't you just make them up? No. I can't. I need some contact with life as it's lived by others. You know, sometimes lately, I've I've had the sensation that I was I was melting into my dreams, that I was vanishing into them, and I was becoming nothing but my dreams. But what I need now is to build a little bridge between me and the outside world. And since I clearly can't do this myself, I
[00:14:43] Unknown:
I must have someone do it for me. And that's what you want me to do? Build a a bridge for you? You think you can? I can try. I'd like to try. Hello, Eddie.
[00:15:03] Unknown:
Hello, miss Cook.
[00:15:05] Unknown:
How are you?
[00:15:07] Unknown:
How should I be?
[00:15:10] Unknown:
I know it must be hard for you.
[00:15:12] Unknown:
I've done time before. Oh, I feel so bad.
[00:15:15] Unknown:
It's my fault really that you're here. Oh, so you turned me in. You did your duty. You were, a good citizen. Yes. But So you feel bad? No, Eddie.
[00:15:25] Unknown:
You know I take a special interest in you. You know that.
[00:15:29] Unknown:
Oh, yes. I know that. You haven't had an easy life. You know anybody who's had what you'd call an easy life? I don't, miss Cook.
[00:15:39] Unknown:
You have to call me miss Cook. I thought we were getting to be friends.
[00:15:43] Unknown:
Well, you know something? I, I forgot your first name.
[00:15:46] Unknown:
It's May. May.
[00:15:49] Unknown:
I'll I'll call you,
[00:15:51] Unknown:
Maisie. Okay? Okay. At least it's better than Maybelle.
[00:15:57] Unknown:
Maybelle? What kind of a name is that?
[00:16:00] Unknown:
A woman I interviewed about a job yesterday. She thought I should change my name to Maybelle. Oh. Needless to say, I declined. Although, I must admit if she'd insisted, I'd have done it. The job pays so well.
[00:16:14] Unknown:
Anyway, you you got a new job? Oh, it's very strange. I don't know how it's gonna work out. Now wait a minute. Say it's legal, isn't it? Yes. It's perfectly legal. Okay. So what's the job? What does it pay? Well, you're not gonna believe
[00:16:29] Unknown:
$300 a week.
[00:16:33] Unknown:
Are you kidding? I'm not kidding.
[00:16:35] Unknown:
This woman, I don't know if she's crazy or what. She lives in this beautiful house, all this beautiful furniture, rugs, pictures. She never has any company. She never goes out. Why not? She doesn't want to. Twenty years ago, her husband divorced her and he got custody of the little boy. So she bought this gorgeous house and she lives there.
[00:16:56] Unknown:
Doing what? Dreaming.
[00:17:01] Unknown:
She sleeps all the time? No. I think she means daydreaming, making up things.
[00:17:05] Unknown:
Well, so what does she need you for? To help her make up things? Well, she wants me
[00:17:10] Unknown:
to live for her. How are you supposed to do that? She said that all I have to do is live my normal life and once a week, come and tell her about it.
[00:17:22] Unknown:
What's to tell?
[00:17:24] Unknown:
Well, she thinks if she has some sort of contact with the outside world, she thinks that would help her with her dreams.
[00:17:34] Unknown:
Oh, that's what she needs, help with her dreams. Then I get $300
[00:17:39] Unknown:
a week. Isn't that crazy?
[00:17:44] Unknown:
Well, isn't it? Say something.
[00:17:49] Unknown:
Yeah. No. I'm I'm I'm thinking. What about? I, come up for parole next week. I I think it'll go through. They practically promised me. Now what are you going to do when you get out? Well, I told them I had a dishwashing job, and I do. Where are you gonna live?
[00:18:05] Unknown:
Yeah. There's some flop house, I guess. Well, you'll get a better job. I have great faith in you, Eddie. And if there's anything I could do to help, you know you can count on me.
[00:18:15] Unknown:
Macy, there's one thing you could do to help. Oh, what's that? When I get out of here, let me move in with you. Idiot. Just for a little while till I get back on my feet. I don't I I I I don't mean shack up together. I mean, just just let me sleep on the couch or the floor or anything. Well, I It'd it'd mean everything to me.
[00:18:43] Unknown:
Well,
[00:18:45] Unknown:
for a while maybe. Okay. You can stay with me for a little while.
[00:18:56] Unknown:
Dear sweet mother nature, at whose shrine we all pretend to worship and whose dictums we constantly violate, What oddities she does create. Perhaps to revenge herself on us for our misdeeds. Perhaps to punish us for our hypocrisy. Perhaps to show her contempt for our stupidity. Whatever her reasons, it is an undeniable fact that here and there are specimens of her handiwork that shock, terrify, and appall us. I'll be back shortly with act two. Our tender little heroine, miss May Cook, has secured a position with missus Hilda Tipton, wealthy recluse.
In return for a handsome salary, miss Cook has only to lead her ordinary life and report weekly to her employer its mundane contents. To be, in missus Tipton's words, her bridge to the outside world. For missus Tipton spends all her time dreaming, just dreaming. While in another part of town altogether is a man called Eddie who spends his time in prison also dreaming. Dreaming of the day of his parole.
[00:20:27] Unknown:
Got the job, didn't you? She ought to give you your own key. I know she doesn't like answering the door. Missus Hutchins has her own key. She lets herself in. So why don't she give you your own key? You're getting to be as snooty as she is. Come on, Trixie. Let's not hang around where we're not wanting. We can always watch from the porch.
[00:20:56] Unknown:
Oh, oh, come on in, Mae. Oh, yeah. Looks like rain. Terrible day. Oh, go on in. Take your coat off. Go on in. I hope to goodness you've got something to tell me. Something with a little spice to it. I don't mind telling you what you tell me about the world out there. It makes me glad I don't live in it. Oh, move that pillow, will you? Which one? On the couch, the gold one I need it for my back. That's it. Oh, oh, oh, go ahead.
[00:21:32] Unknown:
Oh, yeah. Well, the beginning of the week wasn't so very exciting.
[00:21:36] Unknown:
I bought some clothes.
[00:21:38] Unknown:
What kind of clothes? Well, a couple of shirt waist dresses and Shirt waist dresses. Oh, they're very nice. Nice? I paid quite a lot of money for them. Didn't you buy anything,
[00:21:48] Unknown:
you know, sexy? No. Nothing long and filmy and, you know, revealing. I've I've never worn that sort of thing. Didn't you tell me you were in love with some man? Yes. That's true. I am. You wear shirt waist dresses when you're with him? Along with him, I mean? Well,
[00:22:09] Unknown:
he he hasn't been in town lately. Where has he been? Away. Away where?
[00:22:16] Unknown:
Oh, you don't wanna tell me. Okay.
[00:22:19] Unknown:
When's he coming back? Oh, he is back. He came back last night. Oh, good.
[00:22:25] Unknown:
So
[00:22:26] Unknown:
what what did you do last night, the two of you? Well, we went out for dinner seeing as it was his first night home. What did you eat? He had steak. I had fish. We both had salad and ice cream. Oh, Lord.
[00:22:39] Unknown:
Even the food you eat is dull. Don't you ever eat anything interesting? We used to go to a Chinese restaurant sometimes. I bet you ate chop suey.
[00:22:50] Unknown:
Yes. So
[00:22:52] Unknown:
after that splendid repast of steak and fish and ice cream,
[00:22:57] Unknown:
then what did you do? Well, we went to a movie. What movie? The one in the neighborhood. Forget the name of it. Oh, May. You could make up a name. Why would I do that?
[00:23:08] Unknown:
Well, you know I never go out of this house. I don't know one movie from another. So if you made up the name of a movie, I wouldn't know the difference. But why should I? Because we're lying. You never went to any movie. Not last night. Not after your lover's been away out of town, whatever. No. I want the truth, young lady. I want the whole truth. You've been coming here, what is it, three weeks now, and you you haven't said one word that was interesting. Near as I can tell, nothing happens out there in the world. Nothing. Nothing whatsoever. It's true. Nothing much does happen to me, missus Tipton. I don't believe that. I don't believe that for an instant. I couldn't have been so wrong about you. I never said that I was interesting or anything like that. I never there was something about you. I I I heard it in your voice over the telephone. So so sweet, so mild, so eager to please. And then when I met you, I I could see it in your face. Oh, I don't know what you could see. I'm just Hunger.
The yearning. You wanted my draperies, didn't you? Oh, but only if you were gonna throw them out. Well, you take secondhand things if they were fancy, expensive. And and then there was your manner. The way you smiled and agreed with everything I said even if I was rude. I knew you must have another side to you. What I saw couldn't be the whole of May Cook. There must be another part of her that was that was jealous and spiteful and angry. No. But I'm not. Guilty. Guilty of being spiteful and jealous and greedy. No, missus Tipton. Yes, miss Cook.
Now suppose you tell me about this lover of yours. Tell me all about him. What's his name? That'll do for a start. Eddie. Eddie what? You said he's been out of town. He's he's been in jail. In jail. In jail. Well, that's wonderful.
[00:24:57] Unknown:
In in jail for what? What did he do? Well, he broke into somebody's apartment. Your apartment? No. No. Then how'd you get to know him? It was the apartment of a friend of mine. So when she had to go to court to identify him, I went with her. She was frightened so I went with her. Hold on.
[00:25:12] Unknown:
I remember enough for the world to know that when a person says it happened to a friend, it didn't. It happened to that very person. So this Eddie didn't break into the apartment of a friend of your city. He broke into your apartment, and that's how you met him. Am I right? Isn't that what happened? Yes. Of course. Of course. Now how did he get in? Through the kitchen window. And you heard him moving around? Yes.
[00:25:46] Unknown:
What did he steal? Well, I I I didn't have very much. He he he took my mother's engagement ring and her wedding ring. I had a little cash, about $20. He took that. And what else? Oh, that's about all. I don't wanna hear about about all. I wanna hear all. What else did he take? Nothing else. He took you, didn't he?
[00:26:07] Unknown:
I don't know what you mean. I mean, he took you by force against your will. I mean, raped your nanny. He raped your no. He didn't. Why don't you admit it? Missus Chifton, I can't admit to something that never happened. Oh, you make me sick. Well, if that's so, perhaps I better not work for you any longer. And give up all that money. You need it. You know you do. Not that much. Look. Look. I want you to do one more thing for me then we can call it quits. I want you to bring this Eddie person here to my house. I wanna meet him. I I don't know if he'd want to come, missus Tipton. You'll bring him tomorrow night.
I'll expect you both for dinner. I've had enough conversation for today. You can go now. Your money's on the little table by the front door. Thank you, missus Tipton. Three $100 bills. Crispy new ones. Thank you, missus Tiff. For once, I got my money's worth. And I mean to get much more. Much, much more.
[00:27:21] Unknown:
That's all you told her? That I spent part of a year in a slammer? Well, there wasn't anything else to tell. Well, it just doesn't add up.
[00:27:28] Unknown:
Oh, what doesn't add up, Eddie?
[00:27:31] Unknown:
Well, that this old bag would wanna meet me. I I don't care how nutty she is or how lonely or how anything. That's not enough of a reason. No. No. No. No. There's gotta be something else. Yeah. I know what these bitties have on their minds. All the time, they got it in their minds. Didn't she ask anything about that? About what? You and me. About sex, dummy.
[00:27:58] Unknown:
She didn't ask me. She told me. Told you what? That
[00:28:05] Unknown:
that you raped me.
[00:28:10] Unknown:
I knew it. There had to be something. Well, of course, I I said you didn't. Then what? Then
[00:28:17] Unknown:
nothing. She got disgusted with me because I wouldn't say that you because I wouldn't say something happened that never happened. And so I said that maybe if that was the way she felt about me, maybe I better not work for her anymore. You said that? She didn't seem to care whether I quit or not. There was just one more thing she wanted me to do, and that was to bring you to her house tomorrow night for dinner.
[00:28:42] Unknown:
And you said you would?
[00:28:43] Unknown:
Well, I said I'd ask you. You don't have to go.
[00:28:46] Unknown:
What do you mean I don't have to go? She's pretty weird. I wanna go.
[00:28:51] Unknown:
But, Eddie, I really believe missus Tipton wants to think you raped me. I mean, I don't think she believed me at all when I said you didn't. Well, we can set her straight. Can't we? Well, I don't think she wants to be set straight. It was a nice job while it lasted. Oh, it isn't over yet? Oh, yes. It is. I've made up my mind. After tomorrow night, I'm never going near that house again.
[00:29:21] Unknown:
Yeah. No. You're perfectly right. You you you're not cut out for that job. Well, I'm glad you feel that way. Yeah. But me? I was tailor made for that job. You? You mean you would go to work for her? Why not? You said it was legal, didn't you? Yes. It's legal, but Well, I can tell my parole officer I'm working for a rich lady who is, slightly eccentric. Hash out of that job. I know I did. It's just Yeah. But I won't. Believe me. I'll make it into the best paying job in the world. Oh,
[00:29:57] Unknown:
you just want the money. Is that it? It not that I blame you. I wanted it too. But you see, it isn't worth it. Look. Here's the $300 that I got paid today. You take it. I really don't want it and you need it. So you take it. You only got some money I care about. Look here. Three $100
[00:30:14] Unknown:
bills. Hand them over. Here. Give me a match. What for? A match. Never mind. I I I got one someplace. What do you want a match for? I got it.
[00:30:25] Unknown:
Eddie. Oh, you can't. Oh, don't do that. That's $300.
[00:30:31] Unknown:
Don't they burn pretty though?
[00:30:41] Unknown:
Well, some people have money to burn, I guess. Not me and nobody I know either. And even if we did have, I don't think we'd go ahead and actually do it. I mean, we'd somehow think of something else. Anything else to do with it beside burn it. I mean, to say $100 bills are legal tender, not legal tender. We'll be back shortly with act three. It is the next night now, and May is bringing Eddie to have dinner with missus Tipton. Or is it the other way around? Is Eddie bringing May to the house of a woman he has never met? For contrary to May's expectations, Eddie jumped at the chance to meet May's employer.
More correctly, her former employer. For May fully intends to resign, and Eddie fully intends to take her place. It is 07:00, and May and Eddie are arriving at Number 111.
[00:31:54] Unknown:
Okay. Keep the change. Well, well, well. Don't pay any attention to him. Well, who is he? He lives next door. Well, I didn't expect to see you. Not tonight.
[00:32:06] Unknown:
Remember, Eddie.
[00:32:07] Unknown:
This is the last time I'm gonna come to this house. I gotcha. And with a man alongside you too.
[00:32:14] Unknown:
Missus Ditton must be loosening up a bit. Am I right? Just ignore him. For twenty years, it was just missus Hutchins went through that door. Then the young lady makes an appearance. Now, lo and behold, the young gentleman. Why don't you just go on home? I live next door. Well, go there. Okay. Come along, Trixie. We'll sit on the front porch and watch what happens.
[00:32:40] Unknown:
There you are. I've been waiting. Come in. Come in.
[00:32:53] Unknown:
Oh, that was the most delicious meal I've ever been privileged to enjoy, Mrs.
[00:32:58] Unknown:
Tipton. Better than prison food, Eddie.
[00:33:01] Unknown:
Well, I haven't always eaten prison food. I'll just bet you haven't.
[00:33:06] Unknown:
Oh, nay. Fetch Eddie another helping with a burnt almond mousse. Yes, missus Tipton. Eddie. Mhmm. You remind me of somebody. I I can't think who. My, husband perhaps? Oh, heavens. No. My husband was a stick.
[00:33:23] Unknown:
Your son? Well,
[00:33:25] Unknown:
considering I haven't seen my son since he was five years old. Now now you're more like like someone I've dreamed about. Is your dessert, Eddie? Well, I can settle it down. When you finished, maybe you'd like to see the rest of the house, Eddie. You've seen the First Floor. Maybe you'd like to see the Second Floor. Oh, my. That would be a privilege. My bedroom, I think, is my masterpiece. It's it's in shades of beige at the moment. From ivory through parchment to ecru. Though, I may change it. Then let let me look at it first. Oh, I will. I will. I've never seen your bedroom, missus Tipton. No. You haven't, have you? And I once promised to show it to you, didn't I? Yes.
Well, then we'll all look at it together. Eddie, finish your moose? It's all finished. I really should have an elevator installed. These these stairs are getting a bit too much for me. Voila, entree. Oh. Oh, how perfectly how perfectly exquisite.
[00:34:40] Unknown:
It's Oh. Very nice. I commend your taste, missus Tipton. Oh, you really like it. Yeah. Yeah. I really do. But but you said you were gonna change it. Oh, I change everything regularly.
[00:34:53] Unknown:
I get tired after a while. I need new things, new colors, new textures. New sensations? Most of all, new sensations.
[00:35:05] Unknown:
Well, I, have some thoughts on how you could redecorate this room. Oh, have you indeed? Oh, I wouldn't change a thing. Who asked you? Oh, it's just an opinion? I'm interested
[00:35:15] Unknown:
in Eddie's opinion, not yours.
[00:35:18] Unknown:
Well, why don't you go downstairs and clean the table? Yeah. Why don't you? And, wash the dishes. I prefer to stay here. I wasn't hired to clear the table and wash the dishes. Nevertheless,
[00:35:28] Unknown:
just this once.
[00:35:30] Unknown:
This one time. Not this one time. Not any time. May, step outside with me for a minute. Outside where? Well, just outside in the hall. What for? Well, for a little conversation. That's all. I could come on. Come on. Come on. After you.
[00:35:47] Unknown:
Alright. Just for a few minutes. Now, look. I want five minutes alone with missus Tipton. You really want to work for her? You want to do her living for her?
[00:35:58] Unknown:
I really want to. Eddie, you don't know what she's like. Oh, I know exactly what she's like. She's another one of those women. I've known them all my life. What women? Women like you. Oh, she's nothing like me. Not outside, but inside you're alike. You're the kind that likes criminals. You like everything about them. If I wasn't a criminal, you wouldn't like me. I wanted to help you, to understand you, to help you to understand yourself. I understand myself perfectly. I understand myself backwards, forwards, sideways. I'm I'm I'm bad, Macy. Bad, bad, bad. Not really. No. Yes. Really, really she understands of that fat blob in air. I'm what she's been dreaming about all these years.
Lust and lasciviousness and uncontrolled passion, dreaming of a life where anything goes and the world belongs to the clever and the strong. I've never lived that way. I'd never dreamed about those things. Oh, yes. You have, baby. You haven't got the gumption to do anything for yourself. So you find somebody like me and pretend you wanna change me, but you you you wanna rehabilitate me. Isn't that what you call it? Well, I can't be rehabilitated, baby. I don't wanna be. And that fat lady in there doesn't want me rehabilitated. She wants me just the way I am.
So now if you'll excuse me Eddie. Missus Tipton? Well, you've turned off all the lights.
[00:37:19] Unknown:
The moonlight comes through the windows.
[00:37:22] Unknown:
Well, how romantic. Moonlight streaming through parchment silk. And where are you, missus Tipton? Here, Eddie. Well, now, would you by any chance be in the big canopy bed, missus Tipton? The the big bed draped in ivory net? Silk net. But I can scarcely see you.
[00:37:45] Unknown:
You can hear my voice.
[00:37:48] Unknown:
So I can, Hilda.
[00:37:50] Unknown:
Call me Hildegard.
[00:37:55] Unknown:
You said I reminded you of someone.
[00:37:58] Unknown:
Someone I've known
[00:38:00] Unknown:
intimately. Well, suppose I light a match and you take a look at my face. Think who it is I remind you of. You ready?
[00:38:12] Unknown:
Oh, yes. Why? Why? I know you. I I know you. You is it possible?
[00:38:24] Unknown:
Is what possible?
[00:38:25] Unknown:
That you or him? The fiend? The archfiend? Am I? Oh, light another match.
[00:38:35] Unknown:
Look carefully at my face, holy god.
[00:38:38] Unknown:
Oh, this is possible. You're here, here with me and you are going to To what? You're going to force yourself on me, aren't you? Oh, I know it. It's what I dreamed of. Oh, light another match, my beloved. Your majesty, your satanic majesty, I am your servant, your your slave. What is that? The room is growing red. This this fire the the back is on fire.
[00:39:35] Unknown:
Quiet, Trixie. Oh, a missus Hutchins. Missus Hutchins. I'm in a hurry. Oh, terrible. Think about the fire. Terrible. That beautiful house. Though, I've never been inside, of course. Have they, been questioning you, the police and the fire people? Yes. Well, they'll get around to me later. Me and my sister. No doubt. We were the ones who called the fire department, you know. Didn't, they tell you? No. Oh, yes. My sister and I heard this sort of explosion. And then we saw smoke coming out of one of the upstairs rooms. Missus Tipton's gorgeous bedroom. Is that what room it was?
Yes. Then she must have started it herself. I wouldn't know about that. Well, nobody got out. I understand. Nobody. Where was missus Tipton at the time? In her bed. They found her there? Yes. And, the young girl, miss Cook, I believe her name was?
[00:40:31] Unknown:
Outside the door. The door to the bedroom? Yes. And the door was locked.
[00:40:39] Unknown:
Why, the poor girl must have been trying to get in to save missus Difton. It looks that way. But where was the man? What man? The man who came to the house with the young lady. There was no man. Of course, there was a man. He drove up about dinner time with the young lady, and they went into the house together. Now he never came out because my sister and I watched the house back and front from that moment on. We were so surprised to see a man going in. No man was found in the house. Well, wait till they get to questioning me. I'll tell them about the man that went in and never came out. You'll only be making a fool of yourself. Well, it must have been the man that set the fire.
[00:41:27] Unknown:
The fire started in the bedroom, and the door to the bedroom was locked. And nobody of any man was found. So there. Now I've got to be getting on home. You can tell your fanciful tale to the police if you want to. But how did it happen?
[00:41:42] Unknown:
How did the fire start?
[00:41:45] Unknown:
It was the work of the devil if you ask me. He has sly ways, the devil has. Very sly ways.
[00:41:57] Unknown:
And all their pretty dreams went up in smoke, which I am given to understand is not an uncommon fate for dreams that are too remote from reality. And in particular, dreams of violence. These especially are doomed to end in smoke and fire and death. So dream away, my friends, as I shall continue to do. But be careful what your dreams are made of. I'll be back shortly. Our revels now are ended. These, our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits and are melted into air, into thin air. And this insubstantial pageant faded. Leave not a rack behind.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. As so often happens, the final word is given to the one who says it best. Master William Shakespeare, born 1564, died 1616. Our cast included Marion Seldes, Bryna Rayburn, Jack Grimes, and Dan Arco. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now, a preview of our next tale.
[00:43:35] Unknown:
Sleeping Hill. Very mild. I could give you one. No. Thank you. I don't What's that? No. No. No. It's just the telephone. Strange. At this hour, shall I answer it? Yes. Please do. Hello? Oh, well, just a minute. The operator says mister Bulmer is on the wire. It's an emergency. Will you take the call? An emergency? Well, of course.
[00:43:58] Unknown:
Hello, operator? Yes. You may put the call through. Here you are. Hello, mister Bulmer? What? What what are you say?
[00:44:09] Unknown:
Who are you? No. No. No. I won't listen. Miss Radlover, what is it? Are you ill? You're so pale. It it was not mister Boner. Not mister Boner? Who was it? I don't know someone who said
[00:44:27] Unknown:
someone who said they would kill me. This is E. G. Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time. Pleasant dreams.
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
[00:00:15] Unknown:
In the time before AT and T fiber Internet. Shame.
[00:00:20] Unknown:
Shame. Shame. What did you do, love? I ran out of Internet data. And they're making you shame walk. No. It's just how I feel. Shame. Shame.
[00:00:31] Unknown:
In the time after AT and T fiber Internet. Nice to have unlimited Internet data. Right? Right. The dawn of a better Internet era with AT and T fiber. Limited availability in select areas. Check eligibility at att.com/getfiber.
[00:00:51] Unknown:
Restrictions apply. Come in.
[00:01:01] Unknown:
Welcome. I'm EG Marshall. We have a little diversion for you that may both relax and intrigue you. It deals with the subject of dreams. A great deal, too much, I think, is said these days about facing reality. It is considered a great virtue to face reality while to spend time dreaming, fantasizing, we call it now, is thought to be shameful, if not downright sinful. Personally, I would not care to live if I could not dream. Would you?
[00:01:39] Unknown:
I saw you coming out of her room.
[00:01:42] Unknown:
Did you now? Did you really? I won't have it, I tell you. I won't stand for it. Oh, what do you propose to do about it? I don't know. But I'll do something. Like what? I'll tell her who you really are. Oh, come off it. Now stop talking nonsense. You don't really know who I am.
[00:02:10] Unknown:
Our mystery drama, The Stuff of Dreams, was written especially for the mystery theater by Elspeth Eric and stars Bryna Rayburn. It is sponsored in part by Buick Motor Division. I'll be back shortly with act one. Back to the subject of dreaming, which is what our story concerns itself with. Not the dreaming we do at night, which is somehow considered respectable because we think we do not control it. No. This story is about the dreaming we do while we are wide awake.
[00:02:58] Unknown:
You, sure you've got the right address?
[00:03:02] Unknown:
I believe so. 111? That's right.
[00:03:06] Unknown:
Missus Tipton. That's right. Well, she ain't gonna come to the door. Why do you say that? Because she never does. Nobody ever does. Well, somebody will today. You think so, Well, you're wrong. You'll find out. I, lived at 113 all my life, born there. I was here when she moved in twenty years ago. Moved in and never came out. If it weren't for missus Hutchins, the cleaning lady comes once a week, preaching she was dead. But missus Hutchins has her own key. Missus Tipton, don't let her in. You can stand there for a hundred years. She'll never come to the door. I really don't think it's any of your business. Well, I'm just telling you what I know. Look. I happen to be answering an advertisement.
[00:03:51] Unknown:
See? Here it is. I cut it out of the morning paper. It's about a job. Something happened to missus Hutchins?
[00:03:57] Unknown:
The cleaning lady? Well, she was here yesterday. It's not an advertisement for a cleaning woman. What's it for?
[00:04:04] Unknown:
Well,
[00:04:05] Unknown:
it doesn't say exactly, but there's no mistake about the address or the name. Missus Hilda Tipton 111 West. That's her. Alright. So see. You are the first person that I have ever seen ringing that bell in twenty years. Must be something up inside there. Well, I really wouldn't know. Oh, wait till I tell my sister. Will she get a kick out of this? Oh, hey. You mind if I stand here till she opens the door? That is if she ever does open the door, which still remains in a doubt. I do mind. I want this job.
[00:04:37] Unknown:
The money is very good, and it won't help my chances if she sees you standing there gawking at her. Well, I'm not gawking. I got every right to be here. Just walking my dog. That's all.
[00:04:49] Unknown:
I do it every day, three times a day. Trixie and I always stop in front of one eleven for a couple of minutes. And we got a ride. Well, just the same. If you wouldn't mind Okay. Okay. Trix is all finished anyway. Come on, Trix. We go home. We ain't wanted here. That's plain. Thank you. We can watch from our porch anyway, can't we, old girl? Sure. We can.
[00:05:17] Unknown:
Oh, what what what is oh, that sun. That sun's so bright. Come inside. Come in for goodness sake.
[00:05:26] Unknown:
You did say 03:00, didn't you? I mean, that that's what I understood on the phone. Didn't you say Go ahead.
[00:05:32] Unknown:
Go on into the drawing room. Go ahead. It
[00:05:35] Unknown:
takes me a little time. At first, I thought that maybe you weren't home or I'd made a mistake or something.
[00:05:43] Unknown:
Oh, what a beautiful room. A perfectly beautiful Well, I I was on the phone when you rang the bell. Takes me a while to get around. All this weight I have to carry. I I have a glandular condition. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, go on. Sit down. No. No. Not there. That's a priceless antique. Sorry. Where where shall I Any place? I'm gonna lie down on the couch myself.
[00:06:11] Unknown:
You don't mind? Oh, I don't mind.
[00:06:13] Unknown:
I'll I'll just stand. If you want to. See, I I have a heart condition, and my weight problem makes it worse. So I have to be careful. Well, now you you came about the position. Yes. Oh, what what what's your name? You you told me on the phone, but I've forgotten. I I I talk to a lot of girls. My name is May Cook. May Cook? Yes. That's not a very imaginative name. Oh, well, it's mine. It's the only one I've got. Well, you you could change it to Maybelle, something like that. Well, I don't really want to. Oh, it doesn't matter what you call yourself. I I myself changed my name from Hilda to Hildegard, but, didn't seem to make much difference because I never see anybody or correspond with anybody or or have anything to do with anybody, really.
Not ever. Not anybody. Not since my husband divorced me and took my son away from me. Oh, that's awful. Oh, I am sorry. Not at all. No. He gave me plenty of money, and I I bought this house and furnished it. It even stow to leave you alone like that. Oh, I never think about it or them. They got in the way. Got in the way?
[00:07:39] Unknown:
In the way of what?
[00:07:41] Unknown:
My kind of life.
[00:07:45] Unknown:
Missus Tipton, it's really hard to see where I'd fit in. I'm a trained social worker. That's how I make my living. At least, that was how I made my living. I was discharged six months ago. They were cutting down and well, I haven't been able to find anything in my field and I'm running short of money. So so I'm willing to take almost any kind of job if it's respectable. Look, I'm not going to ask you to do anything you wouldn't ordinarily do. But do you need a secretary? Something like that? I think I could manage that maybe. Or or be a companion?
[00:08:18] Unknown:
I want a secretary or a companion. Why would I? I never do anything, and I I prefer being alone. Well,
[00:08:27] Unknown:
what is it that you do want?
[00:08:30] Unknown:
I want somebody to live for me. To
[00:08:33] Unknown:
to live for you? Precisely.
[00:08:39] Unknown:
Well,
[00:08:40] Unknown:
I really don't know what that means, missus Tipton. I never heard of anybody living for somebody else. Well, I shall explain.
[00:08:47] Unknown:
I don't pretend that my life in this house is living. It's not what most people would call living. Though, what do they know? Nothing. Actually, my life here is
[00:09:01] Unknown:
infinitely superior to what they would call living. Well, what what precisely do you do, missus Tipton? I dream.
[00:09:12] Unknown:
Just dream. That's all? What do you mean that's all?
[00:09:15] Unknown:
Oh, it's easy to see you don't know much about dreaming. Well, you mean daydreaming? I know about that. I daydream sometimes. Everybody does once in a while. Yes. But how many make it a life's work? Not many, I guess. Hardly anybody would be my guess. Well, people don't have the time. They can't afford it. I know I certainly can't. But I do have the time, and I can afford it. But it sounds
[00:09:40] Unknown:
strange. Of course, it sounds strange. No one has the sensitivity or the imagination to withdraw completely into the life of fantasy. A life peopled with the artist creatures doing the artist things in the artist way, saying incredible things, producing incredible
[00:10:01] Unknown:
sensations. You make it sound fascinating. But, I'm a very ordinary person, really. I I I don't think I could do anything like that. Of course, you couldn't. And that wouldn't be what I'd require of you. Well, I think we really ought to discuss that. You said
[00:10:19] Unknown:
you wanted me to live for you. I want you out in the world, what people call the real world, living what they call a a real life. And that's all? That's all. You were a social worker. You must have got around a lot. Well, some. Do you have a lover?
[00:10:39] Unknown:
There's a man I'm interested in. We're not
[00:10:43] Unknown:
what you said. I'm I'm just interested in him. Aye. But you're a proper little thing, aren't you? Well, never mind. I'd want you to go on dating whatever you've been doing with this man and whatever else you do with your time. And that's all. And report back to me once a week. Tell me what you've done.
[00:11:05] Unknown:
I can't believe that that's all I'd have to do. You you'd pay me for doing that? Yes. $300 a week. That's a great deal of money for just just living and telling you about it. I just can't see why you'd wanna pay me for doing just that. If you insist on an explanation Well, I'd like to understand if I can. Very well. You see, I'd be better at the job, I think, if I if I understood. Mhmm.
[00:11:35] Unknown:
Well, you see, I'm thoroughly convinced that I've created the perfect life for myself. I live surrounded by beauty, charm. It is a beautiful house. All the senses are satisfied here. Do you smell a little perfume in this room? Yes. It's lovely. I have it changed once a month. You see those draperies? Pure silk from Thailand. $100 a yard. Oh. And they are due to be changed shortly.
[00:12:11] Unknown:
When you change them, do you just throw the others away?
[00:12:15] Unknown:
You'd like to have them, wouldn't you? Well, perhaps, if you're a very good girl. Well, they're so lovely. Everything in this house is lovely, except me. Oh, missus Tipton. Nobody weighing close to three hundred pounds could be considered lovely, but it doesn't matter because I have my dreams. And in my dreams, I weigh exactly a hundred and ten, and my hair grows to my waist and is a light auburn in color. And my feet are small and narrow. My eyes are clear and bright, and my fingers are long and tapering. Never mind. The point is that in my dreams, I am the loveliest thing on Earth, and the loveliest things happen to me. And why do you That's been my life for twenty years, and I've endured every second of it.
But now, well, I I'm starting to grow older. It's sad, but I well, I I'm growing older, and it's it's harder than it used to be to to dream my beautiful dreams. Everybody grows older, missus Tipton, eventually. I don't intend to. No. No. I mean to go on living in my dreams until the very end. If there ever is an end. But there has to be, doesn't there? I mean, for everybody. Not for me. But
[00:13:54] Unknown:
I still don't see what you want me to do. I mean, I don't see what possible help I could be to you.
[00:14:01] Unknown:
I need food for my dreams. Food? They're starting to grow stale. My dreams, repetitious. I've dreamed each one of them a million times. I I need new ones. But can't you just make them up? No. I can't. I need some contact with life as it's lived by others. You know, sometimes lately, I've I've had the sensation that I was I was melting into my dreams, that I was vanishing into them, and I was becoming nothing but my dreams. But what I need now is to build a little bridge between me and the outside world. And since I clearly can't do this myself, I
[00:14:43] Unknown:
I must have someone do it for me. And that's what you want me to do? Build a a bridge for you? You think you can? I can try. I'd like to try. Hello, Eddie.
[00:15:03] Unknown:
Hello, miss Cook.
[00:15:05] Unknown:
How are you?
[00:15:07] Unknown:
How should I be?
[00:15:10] Unknown:
I know it must be hard for you.
[00:15:12] Unknown:
I've done time before. Oh, I feel so bad.
[00:15:15] Unknown:
It's my fault really that you're here. Oh, so you turned me in. You did your duty. You were, a good citizen. Yes. But So you feel bad? No, Eddie.
[00:15:25] Unknown:
You know I take a special interest in you. You know that.
[00:15:29] Unknown:
Oh, yes. I know that. You haven't had an easy life. You know anybody who's had what you'd call an easy life? I don't, miss Cook.
[00:15:39] Unknown:
You have to call me miss Cook. I thought we were getting to be friends.
[00:15:43] Unknown:
Well, you know something? I, I forgot your first name.
[00:15:46] Unknown:
It's May. May.
[00:15:49] Unknown:
I'll I'll call you,
[00:15:51] Unknown:
Maisie. Okay? Okay. At least it's better than Maybelle.
[00:15:57] Unknown:
Maybelle? What kind of a name is that?
[00:16:00] Unknown:
A woman I interviewed about a job yesterday. She thought I should change my name to Maybelle. Oh. Needless to say, I declined. Although, I must admit if she'd insisted, I'd have done it. The job pays so well.
[00:16:14] Unknown:
Anyway, you you got a new job? Oh, it's very strange. I don't know how it's gonna work out. Now wait a minute. Say it's legal, isn't it? Yes. It's perfectly legal. Okay. So what's the job? What does it pay? Well, you're not gonna believe
[00:16:29] Unknown:
$300 a week.
[00:16:33] Unknown:
Are you kidding? I'm not kidding.
[00:16:35] Unknown:
This woman, I don't know if she's crazy or what. She lives in this beautiful house, all this beautiful furniture, rugs, pictures. She never has any company. She never goes out. Why not? She doesn't want to. Twenty years ago, her husband divorced her and he got custody of the little boy. So she bought this gorgeous house and she lives there.
[00:16:56] Unknown:
Doing what? Dreaming.
[00:17:01] Unknown:
She sleeps all the time? No. I think she means daydreaming, making up things.
[00:17:05] Unknown:
Well, so what does she need you for? To help her make up things? Well, she wants me
[00:17:10] Unknown:
to live for her. How are you supposed to do that? She said that all I have to do is live my normal life and once a week, come and tell her about it.
[00:17:22] Unknown:
What's to tell?
[00:17:24] Unknown:
Well, she thinks if she has some sort of contact with the outside world, she thinks that would help her with her dreams.
[00:17:34] Unknown:
Oh, that's what she needs, help with her dreams. Then I get $300
[00:17:39] Unknown:
a week. Isn't that crazy?
[00:17:44] Unknown:
Well, isn't it? Say something.
[00:17:49] Unknown:
Yeah. No. I'm I'm I'm thinking. What about? I, come up for parole next week. I I think it'll go through. They practically promised me. Now what are you going to do when you get out? Well, I told them I had a dishwashing job, and I do. Where are you gonna live?
[00:18:05] Unknown:
Yeah. There's some flop house, I guess. Well, you'll get a better job. I have great faith in you, Eddie. And if there's anything I could do to help, you know you can count on me.
[00:18:15] Unknown:
Macy, there's one thing you could do to help. Oh, what's that? When I get out of here, let me move in with you. Idiot. Just for a little while till I get back on my feet. I don't I I I I don't mean shack up together. I mean, just just let me sleep on the couch or the floor or anything. Well, I It'd it'd mean everything to me.
[00:18:43] Unknown:
Well,
[00:18:45] Unknown:
for a while maybe. Okay. You can stay with me for a little while.
[00:18:56] Unknown:
Dear sweet mother nature, at whose shrine we all pretend to worship and whose dictums we constantly violate, What oddities she does create. Perhaps to revenge herself on us for our misdeeds. Perhaps to punish us for our hypocrisy. Perhaps to show her contempt for our stupidity. Whatever her reasons, it is an undeniable fact that here and there are specimens of her handiwork that shock, terrify, and appall us. I'll be back shortly with act two. Our tender little heroine, miss May Cook, has secured a position with missus Hilda Tipton, wealthy recluse.
In return for a handsome salary, miss Cook has only to lead her ordinary life and report weekly to her employer its mundane contents. To be, in missus Tipton's words, her bridge to the outside world. For missus Tipton spends all her time dreaming, just dreaming. While in another part of town altogether is a man called Eddie who spends his time in prison also dreaming. Dreaming of the day of his parole.
[00:20:27] Unknown:
Got the job, didn't you? She ought to give you your own key. I know she doesn't like answering the door. Missus Hutchins has her own key. She lets herself in. So why don't she give you your own key? You're getting to be as snooty as she is. Come on, Trixie. Let's not hang around where we're not wanting. We can always watch from the porch.
[00:20:56] Unknown:
Oh, oh, come on in, Mae. Oh, yeah. Looks like rain. Terrible day. Oh, go on in. Take your coat off. Go on in. I hope to goodness you've got something to tell me. Something with a little spice to it. I don't mind telling you what you tell me about the world out there. It makes me glad I don't live in it. Oh, move that pillow, will you? Which one? On the couch, the gold one I need it for my back. That's it. Oh, oh, oh, go ahead.
[00:21:32] Unknown:
Oh, yeah. Well, the beginning of the week wasn't so very exciting.
[00:21:36] Unknown:
I bought some clothes.
[00:21:38] Unknown:
What kind of clothes? Well, a couple of shirt waist dresses and Shirt waist dresses. Oh, they're very nice. Nice? I paid quite a lot of money for them. Didn't you buy anything,
[00:21:48] Unknown:
you know, sexy? No. Nothing long and filmy and, you know, revealing. I've I've never worn that sort of thing. Didn't you tell me you were in love with some man? Yes. That's true. I am. You wear shirt waist dresses when you're with him? Along with him, I mean? Well,
[00:22:09] Unknown:
he he hasn't been in town lately. Where has he been? Away. Away where?
[00:22:16] Unknown:
Oh, you don't wanna tell me. Okay.
[00:22:19] Unknown:
When's he coming back? Oh, he is back. He came back last night. Oh, good.
[00:22:25] Unknown:
So
[00:22:26] Unknown:
what what did you do last night, the two of you? Well, we went out for dinner seeing as it was his first night home. What did you eat? He had steak. I had fish. We both had salad and ice cream. Oh, Lord.
[00:22:39] Unknown:
Even the food you eat is dull. Don't you ever eat anything interesting? We used to go to a Chinese restaurant sometimes. I bet you ate chop suey.
[00:22:50] Unknown:
Yes. So
[00:22:52] Unknown:
after that splendid repast of steak and fish and ice cream,
[00:22:57] Unknown:
then what did you do? Well, we went to a movie. What movie? The one in the neighborhood. Forget the name of it. Oh, May. You could make up a name. Why would I do that?
[00:23:08] Unknown:
Well, you know I never go out of this house. I don't know one movie from another. So if you made up the name of a movie, I wouldn't know the difference. But why should I? Because we're lying. You never went to any movie. Not last night. Not after your lover's been away out of town, whatever. No. I want the truth, young lady. I want the whole truth. You've been coming here, what is it, three weeks now, and you you haven't said one word that was interesting. Near as I can tell, nothing happens out there in the world. Nothing. Nothing whatsoever. It's true. Nothing much does happen to me, missus Tipton. I don't believe that. I don't believe that for an instant. I couldn't have been so wrong about you. I never said that I was interesting or anything like that. I never there was something about you. I I I heard it in your voice over the telephone. So so sweet, so mild, so eager to please. And then when I met you, I I could see it in your face. Oh, I don't know what you could see. I'm just Hunger.
The yearning. You wanted my draperies, didn't you? Oh, but only if you were gonna throw them out. Well, you take secondhand things if they were fancy, expensive. And and then there was your manner. The way you smiled and agreed with everything I said even if I was rude. I knew you must have another side to you. What I saw couldn't be the whole of May Cook. There must be another part of her that was that was jealous and spiteful and angry. No. But I'm not. Guilty. Guilty of being spiteful and jealous and greedy. No, missus Tipton. Yes, miss Cook.
Now suppose you tell me about this lover of yours. Tell me all about him. What's his name? That'll do for a start. Eddie. Eddie what? You said he's been out of town. He's he's been in jail. In jail. In jail. Well, that's wonderful.
[00:24:57] Unknown:
In in jail for what? What did he do? Well, he broke into somebody's apartment. Your apartment? No. No. Then how'd you get to know him? It was the apartment of a friend of mine. So when she had to go to court to identify him, I went with her. She was frightened so I went with her. Hold on.
[00:25:12] Unknown:
I remember enough for the world to know that when a person says it happened to a friend, it didn't. It happened to that very person. So this Eddie didn't break into the apartment of a friend of your city. He broke into your apartment, and that's how you met him. Am I right? Isn't that what happened? Yes. Of course. Of course. Now how did he get in? Through the kitchen window. And you heard him moving around? Yes.
[00:25:46] Unknown:
What did he steal? Well, I I I didn't have very much. He he he took my mother's engagement ring and her wedding ring. I had a little cash, about $20. He took that. And what else? Oh, that's about all. I don't wanna hear about about all. I wanna hear all. What else did he take? Nothing else. He took you, didn't he?
[00:26:07] Unknown:
I don't know what you mean. I mean, he took you by force against your will. I mean, raped your nanny. He raped your no. He didn't. Why don't you admit it? Missus Chifton, I can't admit to something that never happened. Oh, you make me sick. Well, if that's so, perhaps I better not work for you any longer. And give up all that money. You need it. You know you do. Not that much. Look. Look. I want you to do one more thing for me then we can call it quits. I want you to bring this Eddie person here to my house. I wanna meet him. I I don't know if he'd want to come, missus Tipton. You'll bring him tomorrow night.
I'll expect you both for dinner. I've had enough conversation for today. You can go now. Your money's on the little table by the front door. Thank you, missus Tipton. Three $100 bills. Crispy new ones. Thank you, missus Tiff. For once, I got my money's worth. And I mean to get much more. Much, much more.
[00:27:21] Unknown:
That's all you told her? That I spent part of a year in a slammer? Well, there wasn't anything else to tell. Well, it just doesn't add up.
[00:27:28] Unknown:
Oh, what doesn't add up, Eddie?
[00:27:31] Unknown:
Well, that this old bag would wanna meet me. I I don't care how nutty she is or how lonely or how anything. That's not enough of a reason. No. No. No. No. There's gotta be something else. Yeah. I know what these bitties have on their minds. All the time, they got it in their minds. Didn't she ask anything about that? About what? You and me. About sex, dummy.
[00:27:58] Unknown:
She didn't ask me. She told me. Told you what? That
[00:28:05] Unknown:
that you raped me.
[00:28:10] Unknown:
I knew it. There had to be something. Well, of course, I I said you didn't. Then what? Then
[00:28:17] Unknown:
nothing. She got disgusted with me because I wouldn't say that you because I wouldn't say something happened that never happened. And so I said that maybe if that was the way she felt about me, maybe I better not work for her anymore. You said that? She didn't seem to care whether I quit or not. There was just one more thing she wanted me to do, and that was to bring you to her house tomorrow night for dinner.
[00:28:42] Unknown:
And you said you would?
[00:28:43] Unknown:
Well, I said I'd ask you. You don't have to go.
[00:28:46] Unknown:
What do you mean I don't have to go? She's pretty weird. I wanna go.
[00:28:51] Unknown:
But, Eddie, I really believe missus Tipton wants to think you raped me. I mean, I don't think she believed me at all when I said you didn't. Well, we can set her straight. Can't we? Well, I don't think she wants to be set straight. It was a nice job while it lasted. Oh, it isn't over yet? Oh, yes. It is. I've made up my mind. After tomorrow night, I'm never going near that house again.
[00:29:21] Unknown:
Yeah. No. You're perfectly right. You you you're not cut out for that job. Well, I'm glad you feel that way. Yeah. But me? I was tailor made for that job. You? You mean you would go to work for her? Why not? You said it was legal, didn't you? Yes. It's legal, but Well, I can tell my parole officer I'm working for a rich lady who is, slightly eccentric. Hash out of that job. I know I did. It's just Yeah. But I won't. Believe me. I'll make it into the best paying job in the world. Oh,
[00:29:57] Unknown:
you just want the money. Is that it? It not that I blame you. I wanted it too. But you see, it isn't worth it. Look. Here's the $300 that I got paid today. You take it. I really don't want it and you need it. So you take it. You only got some money I care about. Look here. Three $100
[00:30:14] Unknown:
bills. Hand them over. Here. Give me a match. What for? A match. Never mind. I I I got one someplace. What do you want a match for? I got it.
[00:30:25] Unknown:
Eddie. Oh, you can't. Oh, don't do that. That's $300.
[00:30:31] Unknown:
Don't they burn pretty though?
[00:30:41] Unknown:
Well, some people have money to burn, I guess. Not me and nobody I know either. And even if we did have, I don't think we'd go ahead and actually do it. I mean, we'd somehow think of something else. Anything else to do with it beside burn it. I mean, to say $100 bills are legal tender, not legal tender. We'll be back shortly with act three. It is the next night now, and May is bringing Eddie to have dinner with missus Tipton. Or is it the other way around? Is Eddie bringing May to the house of a woman he has never met? For contrary to May's expectations, Eddie jumped at the chance to meet May's employer.
More correctly, her former employer. For May fully intends to resign, and Eddie fully intends to take her place. It is 07:00, and May and Eddie are arriving at Number 111.
[00:31:54] Unknown:
Okay. Keep the change. Well, well, well. Don't pay any attention to him. Well, who is he? He lives next door. Well, I didn't expect to see you. Not tonight.
[00:32:06] Unknown:
Remember, Eddie.
[00:32:07] Unknown:
This is the last time I'm gonna come to this house. I gotcha. And with a man alongside you too.
[00:32:14] Unknown:
Missus Ditton must be loosening up a bit. Am I right? Just ignore him. For twenty years, it was just missus Hutchins went through that door. Then the young lady makes an appearance. Now, lo and behold, the young gentleman. Why don't you just go on home? I live next door. Well, go there. Okay. Come along, Trixie. We'll sit on the front porch and watch what happens.
[00:32:40] Unknown:
There you are. I've been waiting. Come in. Come in.
[00:32:53] Unknown:
Oh, that was the most delicious meal I've ever been privileged to enjoy, Mrs.
[00:32:58] Unknown:
Tipton. Better than prison food, Eddie.
[00:33:01] Unknown:
Well, I haven't always eaten prison food. I'll just bet you haven't.
[00:33:06] Unknown:
Oh, nay. Fetch Eddie another helping with a burnt almond mousse. Yes, missus Tipton. Eddie. Mhmm. You remind me of somebody. I I can't think who. My, husband perhaps? Oh, heavens. No. My husband was a stick.
[00:33:23] Unknown:
Your son? Well,
[00:33:25] Unknown:
considering I haven't seen my son since he was five years old. Now now you're more like like someone I've dreamed about. Is your dessert, Eddie? Well, I can settle it down. When you finished, maybe you'd like to see the rest of the house, Eddie. You've seen the First Floor. Maybe you'd like to see the Second Floor. Oh, my. That would be a privilege. My bedroom, I think, is my masterpiece. It's it's in shades of beige at the moment. From ivory through parchment to ecru. Though, I may change it. Then let let me look at it first. Oh, I will. I will. I've never seen your bedroom, missus Tipton. No. You haven't, have you? And I once promised to show it to you, didn't I? Yes.
Well, then we'll all look at it together. Eddie, finish your moose? It's all finished. I really should have an elevator installed. These these stairs are getting a bit too much for me. Voila, entree. Oh. Oh, how perfectly how perfectly exquisite.
[00:34:40] Unknown:
It's Oh. Very nice. I commend your taste, missus Tipton. Oh, you really like it. Yeah. Yeah. I really do. But but you said you were gonna change it. Oh, I change everything regularly.
[00:34:53] Unknown:
I get tired after a while. I need new things, new colors, new textures. New sensations? Most of all, new sensations.
[00:35:05] Unknown:
Well, I, have some thoughts on how you could redecorate this room. Oh, have you indeed? Oh, I wouldn't change a thing. Who asked you? Oh, it's just an opinion? I'm interested
[00:35:15] Unknown:
in Eddie's opinion, not yours.
[00:35:18] Unknown:
Well, why don't you go downstairs and clean the table? Yeah. Why don't you? And, wash the dishes. I prefer to stay here. I wasn't hired to clear the table and wash the dishes. Nevertheless,
[00:35:28] Unknown:
just this once.
[00:35:30] Unknown:
This one time. Not this one time. Not any time. May, step outside with me for a minute. Outside where? Well, just outside in the hall. What for? Well, for a little conversation. That's all. I could come on. Come on. Come on. After you.
[00:35:47] Unknown:
Alright. Just for a few minutes. Now, look. I want five minutes alone with missus Tipton. You really want to work for her? You want to do her living for her?
[00:35:58] Unknown:
I really want to. Eddie, you don't know what she's like. Oh, I know exactly what she's like. She's another one of those women. I've known them all my life. What women? Women like you. Oh, she's nothing like me. Not outside, but inside you're alike. You're the kind that likes criminals. You like everything about them. If I wasn't a criminal, you wouldn't like me. I wanted to help you, to understand you, to help you to understand yourself. I understand myself perfectly. I understand myself backwards, forwards, sideways. I'm I'm I'm bad, Macy. Bad, bad, bad. Not really. No. Yes. Really, really she understands of that fat blob in air. I'm what she's been dreaming about all these years.
Lust and lasciviousness and uncontrolled passion, dreaming of a life where anything goes and the world belongs to the clever and the strong. I've never lived that way. I'd never dreamed about those things. Oh, yes. You have, baby. You haven't got the gumption to do anything for yourself. So you find somebody like me and pretend you wanna change me, but you you you wanna rehabilitate me. Isn't that what you call it? Well, I can't be rehabilitated, baby. I don't wanna be. And that fat lady in there doesn't want me rehabilitated. She wants me just the way I am.
So now if you'll excuse me Eddie. Missus Tipton? Well, you've turned off all the lights.
[00:37:19] Unknown:
The moonlight comes through the windows.
[00:37:22] Unknown:
Well, how romantic. Moonlight streaming through parchment silk. And where are you, missus Tipton? Here, Eddie. Well, now, would you by any chance be in the big canopy bed, missus Tipton? The the big bed draped in ivory net? Silk net. But I can scarcely see you.
[00:37:45] Unknown:
You can hear my voice.
[00:37:48] Unknown:
So I can, Hilda.
[00:37:50] Unknown:
Call me Hildegard.
[00:37:55] Unknown:
You said I reminded you of someone.
[00:37:58] Unknown:
Someone I've known
[00:38:00] Unknown:
intimately. Well, suppose I light a match and you take a look at my face. Think who it is I remind you of. You ready?
[00:38:12] Unknown:
Oh, yes. Why? Why? I know you. I I know you. You is it possible?
[00:38:24] Unknown:
Is what possible?
[00:38:25] Unknown:
That you or him? The fiend? The archfiend? Am I? Oh, light another match.
[00:38:35] Unknown:
Look carefully at my face, holy god.
[00:38:38] Unknown:
Oh, this is possible. You're here, here with me and you are going to To what? You're going to force yourself on me, aren't you? Oh, I know it. It's what I dreamed of. Oh, light another match, my beloved. Your majesty, your satanic majesty, I am your servant, your your slave. What is that? The room is growing red. This this fire the the back is on fire.
[00:39:35] Unknown:
Quiet, Trixie. Oh, a missus Hutchins. Missus Hutchins. I'm in a hurry. Oh, terrible. Think about the fire. Terrible. That beautiful house. Though, I've never been inside, of course. Have they, been questioning you, the police and the fire people? Yes. Well, they'll get around to me later. Me and my sister. No doubt. We were the ones who called the fire department, you know. Didn't, they tell you? No. Oh, yes. My sister and I heard this sort of explosion. And then we saw smoke coming out of one of the upstairs rooms. Missus Tipton's gorgeous bedroom. Is that what room it was?
Yes. Then she must have started it herself. I wouldn't know about that. Well, nobody got out. I understand. Nobody. Where was missus Tipton at the time? In her bed. They found her there? Yes. And, the young girl, miss Cook, I believe her name was?
[00:40:31] Unknown:
Outside the door. The door to the bedroom? Yes. And the door was locked.
[00:40:39] Unknown:
Why, the poor girl must have been trying to get in to save missus Difton. It looks that way. But where was the man? What man? The man who came to the house with the young lady. There was no man. Of course, there was a man. He drove up about dinner time with the young lady, and they went into the house together. Now he never came out because my sister and I watched the house back and front from that moment on. We were so surprised to see a man going in. No man was found in the house. Well, wait till they get to questioning me. I'll tell them about the man that went in and never came out. You'll only be making a fool of yourself. Well, it must have been the man that set the fire.
[00:41:27] Unknown:
The fire started in the bedroom, and the door to the bedroom was locked. And nobody of any man was found. So there. Now I've got to be getting on home. You can tell your fanciful tale to the police if you want to. But how did it happen?
[00:41:42] Unknown:
How did the fire start?
[00:41:45] Unknown:
It was the work of the devil if you ask me. He has sly ways, the devil has. Very sly ways.
[00:41:57] Unknown:
And all their pretty dreams went up in smoke, which I am given to understand is not an uncommon fate for dreams that are too remote from reality. And in particular, dreams of violence. These especially are doomed to end in smoke and fire and death. So dream away, my friends, as I shall continue to do. But be careful what your dreams are made of. I'll be back shortly. Our revels now are ended. These, our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits and are melted into air, into thin air. And this insubstantial pageant faded. Leave not a rack behind.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. As so often happens, the final word is given to the one who says it best. Master William Shakespeare, born 1564, died 1616. Our cast included Marion Seldes, Bryna Rayburn, Jack Grimes, and Dan Arco. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now, a preview of our next tale.
[00:43:35] Unknown:
Sleeping Hill. Very mild. I could give you one. No. Thank you. I don't What's that? No. No. No. It's just the telephone. Strange. At this hour, shall I answer it? Yes. Please do. Hello? Oh, well, just a minute. The operator says mister Bulmer is on the wire. It's an emergency. Will you take the call? An emergency? Well, of course.
[00:43:58] Unknown:
Hello, operator? Yes. You may put the call through. Here you are. Hello, mister Bulmer? What? What what are you say?
[00:44:09] Unknown:
Who are you? No. No. No. I won't listen. Miss Radlover, what is it? Are you ill? You're so pale. It it was not mister Boner. Not mister Boner? Who was it? I don't know someone who said
[00:44:27] Unknown:
someone who said they would kill me. This is E. G. Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time. Pleasant dreams.
