In this intriguing episode of our mystery drama, we delve into the timeless struggle between good and evil, as personified by the characters of Julius Kaye Barley and his two guiding angels, Benjamin Benign and Nick Hellborn. Julius, a man of sharp wit and questionable ethics, finds himself at a crossroads when he encounters the alluring Dolly, who tempts him with promises of wealth and power. As Julius contemplates leaving his simple life and devoted wife, Ruthie, for a world of opulence and deceit, the battle for his soul intensifies. Will Julius succumb to the seductive allure of Dolly and the dark path she represents, or will he find redemption through the steadfast love and moral compass of Ruthie?
As the story unfolds, we witness the cunning maneuvers of Nick Hellborn, who seeks to claim Julius for his own, and the desperate efforts of Benjamin Benign to steer him towards virtue. The episode explores themes of temptation, morality, and the eternal conflict between right and wrong. With a rich narrative and compelling characters, this episode challenges listeners to reflect on their own choices and the forces that influence them. Join us as we unravel the mystery of Julius Kaye Barley's fate and discover whether virtue truly is its own reward.
(00:31) Introduction to the Moral Dilemma
(01:58) Virtue is Its Own Reward
(03:33) The Water Rights Dispute
(09:18) The Good Angel's Challenge
(14:51) The Struggle Between Good and Evil
(18:33) Dolly's Temptation
(27:28) A Proposal from Dolly
(32:25) The Internal Conflict
(37:01) The Decision
(40:53) Conclusion and Reflection
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[00:00:02]
Unknown:
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[00:00:32] Unknown:
Your own mister theater present. Come in. Welcome. I'm E. G. Marshall. The sun, we are told, shines on the good and the evil alike. And the rain falls on the unjust as well as the just. Rain and sun, water and light. Without them, nothing can grow in the garden of life. And so it all comes down to this. Since we may nurture the flowers of good or the blossoms of evil, which should we choose to cultivate? I must say you take this rather calmly. Shouldn't I? No. You've just been informed that you've been reduced to poverty. That's merely a temporary condition.
Oh, then you do have other assets.
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I have one other asset.
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And may I ask what that is? Certainly.
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It's you. Me? Yes. You. Between us, we shall conquer the world.
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Our mystery drama, virtue is its own reward, was written especially for the list of theater by Sam Gann, stars Fred Gwyn. It is sponsored in part by Contact, the twelve hour full capsule. I'll be back shortly with act one. The text for today's little sermon is provided by mister Robert Burton who was a contemporary of mister William Shakespeare and no mean phrase maker himself. Mister Burton a gentleman of great wisdom and deep perception. Mister Burton also said, every man has a good and a bad angel attending him all his life long. If that proposition was good enough for mister Robert Burton, it should certainly be good enough for us.
[00:03:10] Unknown:
Is that a fact? I'm not allowed to take anything away from brother Burton, whoever he was, but as far as I'm concerned, my man is an old time Roman you never heard of. A fellow named Cilius Italicus. And he said, virtue is its own reward. Yes, sir. That's what he said. And I happen to be stuck with it. Now I suppose you will want to know who I am. Well, we'll get to that shortly. The fact is you really can't appreciate me until you meet my client, mister Julius Kaye Barley. And where is he now? In his office and up to his old tricks again.
[00:03:55] Unknown:
Yes. Who? Ah, yes. Miss Minda. Miss Minda, after you hear a couple of three minutes, ring my phone, will you? What for? What do you care what for? Just ring the phone. I don't pay you to ask questions just to follow instructions. Now, send them in.
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Women.
[00:04:19] Unknown:
Mr. Lam. Oh, see here, Mr. Julius Cabari. Won't you have a chair? To what do I owe the honor of this visit? I have a bill here. Yes. That does look like a bill. It's for water. Do you question the accuracy of the bill, mister Lamb? I question the
[00:04:37] Unknown:
legitimacy. Why do I have to pay for water? Well, that should be obvious.
[00:04:42] Unknown:
You're using it. You can't send me a bill for using my own water. You are 100% correct. While I cannot send you a bill for using your own water, I am entitled to charge you for using mine. Yours? You happen to be drawing water from the Armageddon
[00:05:01] Unknown:
Stream. Well, that's on my property. The property you sold me. True.
[00:05:05] Unknown:
But I didn't sell you the water right. But it it says, this is the craziest thing I ever heard. If you consult the deed and I happen to have a copy here before
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me. You will note where it says. Well, that print is so small. I can hardly read it. It is nevertheless
[00:05:22] Unknown:
legible. It states clearly seller hold in perpetuum all rights to the heretofore described on against it stream. You mean it actually says that? Would you say to use this magnifying lens? There you are. See? Paragraph three. For which purchaser shall pay $50 per month for use of water. Said fee to increase 8% each year.
[00:05:53] Unknown:
This was an outrage. I didn't know that clause was in there. Surely your lawyer was aware of it.
[00:05:59] Unknown:
My goodness, the lamb. We have an agreement, you and I.
[00:06:04] Unknown:
You're a crock. And remember, under any circumstances or conditions will I do business with you as am.
[00:06:12] Unknown:
Excuse me. Yes. Who? Oh, put him on. Do you mind, mister Lam? It's an important long distance call. Yes, Mr. Roulette. Yes, indeed. Yes. I'm proceeding as quickly as possible. Mhmm. There's one tiny obstacle, but we can clear that in short order. Mhmm. Yes. Oh yes. I'll have good news for you very soon, Mr. Roulette. Mhmm. Goodbye. Now sir,
[00:06:44] Unknown:
where will we? I was telling you that you were a thief, an unprincipled scoundrel and that I shall never under any circumstances
[00:06:51] Unknown:
ever do business with you in the future. I'm sorry you feel that way. Would you mind putting that in writing? Well, putting what in writing? The fact that you do not intend to exercise your option. What option? Well, if you look at paragraph four, you will see it says that you have an option to purchase the adjoining plot to the Armageddon property for the same low price that you paid for the first parcel. Well, why would I ever wanna buy even so much as a square inch of ground from you at any price as any condition? Well, that of course is your prerogative. Once again sir, got that. Uh-huh. Then you release me from my obligation to sell you the adjoining plot. And thus permit me to place it on the open market.
[00:07:37] Unknown:
Well, you can do whatever you please. Knowing you, I'm sure it'll be something crooked.
[00:07:42] Unknown:
Then sign the statement.
[00:07:45] Unknown:
Oh,
[00:07:46] Unknown:
no. I find nothing. Mr. Lamb, you cannot arbitrarily refuse to acknowledge my right to sell the property elsewhere. I'm acting in good faith.
[00:07:57] Unknown:
Just a minute.
[00:08:00] Unknown:
You have a buyer for that property. You are making an inference.
[00:08:06] Unknown:
What? J Babington Roulette. He was on the telephone
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him. Is that a fact?
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The other half of the Armageddon parcel. What a perfect place for a resort hotel.
[00:08:24] Unknown:
Do you really think so?
[00:08:26] Unknown:
Just this one, you may have outsmarted yourself. In what way? With that option, Claude. You thought it was all worth worth hatred. Mhmm. I may have. Now you have to let me have it for 10,000. That's what it says? I insist on exercising that option. Oh, are you sure? Absolutely.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
That land has to be worth at least a quarter of a million dollars to go there.
[00:08:55] Unknown:
How you'd love to have clear exercise your options? Have the papers drawn up.
[00:09:18] Unknown:
That's my client, Julius k Barley. And who am I? Remember when the fellow was talking about the good angel and the bad angel that attends every man his whole life long? It so happens that I am Benjamin benign, mister Barley's good angel, and I don't have any easy time of it. I'm usually on the carpet for the way I handle mister Barley. My supervisor, mister Nimbus, lives and breathes the rule book. Mister Benign, I have a report here concerning mister Barley's latest estimate. Well, mister Nimbus, it isn't exactly an illegal deed. No one forced mister Lamb to buy that second parcel of land. Mister Barley implied that there was an equal fire for the property. Mister Barley never said so directly. Mister Lamb chose to make the inference. And the fact is you cannot cheat an honest man. But the fact is mister Barley cheated mister Lamb on the first transaction. So all the conditions were spelled out breathing.
Small print, but it wasn't illegal. It was done with the intention to cheat. What have you been doing to keep mister Barley honest, upright, virtuous? I've been trying very hard. She goes from bad to her. I suppose I'll just have to try harder. I wonder if you're qualified to handle this assignment. I never lost a flyer yet. That's true. Yes. That's a fact. I had the computer read out of your activities at the beginning of time. Well that should mean something. It's caught me. You never had a client of the other side where you wanted. We have no way of knowing if that's true.
We do now. You see, mister benign, we have received a report from our intelligence. The other side has replaced mister Barley's current operative. I I can't believe that. It means they think he has the potential to go all the way. Oh, not to miss Kay Barley. I don't think there's any real harm in him. They called in their ace, Nick Helborn. Nick Helborn? Yes. Nick Helborn. Don't feel why we get to know the competition.
[00:12:04] Unknown:
Robber barons throughout history, only the top people.
[00:12:08] Unknown:
And it was Miss Melbourne who had turned them into men of England. Mister Nimbus, goat replacement. You must admit you haven't been aggressive enough. Yes. But now that I've got some real competition, it'll kind of blur me on to greater effort. We won't make a change just yet.
[00:12:29] Unknown:
But you'll have to show some positive result And soon, result. That's all they care about.
[00:12:42] Unknown:
I wish it give us a little more ammunition. The other side offers them wine, women's, and song, or someone put it power, health, and pleasure.
[00:12:53] Unknown:
And what can we give them?
[00:12:56] Unknown:
I said before that we generally know the competition and they know what. I ran into my opposite number, Nick Hellborn. Or maybe he ran into me.
[00:13:09] Unknown:
What do you say kid? Hello, Nick. Oh, sorry. I'm gonna have to put an end to your batting streak.
[00:13:18] Unknown:
Don't be too sure of that, Nick. I guarantee you this
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genius Kate Barbie is gonna be my main man.
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We'll see about that. I like your spirit.
[00:13:34] Unknown:
But you don't know who you're talking to. I work the queen of the crop. I have the two of the hun. I own Machiavelli. Yes. Yes. I know all your credit. And Junior's Cave Farm is the exact kind of character. I say he is No. I'm sorry, but all the signs are there. He's got the appetite. He's ready, and I'm ready. You won't judge him. That's what this game is all about, isn't it? Have to see who has the last
[00:14:13] Unknown:
word. A last word. What is the last word? We know it's a concept that puzzles many philosophers. For in truth, the last word is the word that has yet to be spoken. And in a world that has no beginning and seemingly no ending, who can identify which word was first and which will be last? Hopefully, we may make some progress in that direction in our second act. So it gets down to this. The basic struggle in the world is between good and evil. And no matter how we may state the problem or the challenge, at the bottom, it's always a case of doing right or doing wrong. And all of our arguments and justifications for pursuing a questionable course of action are like French cooking, which is the art of enhancing an inferior cut of meat with an intriguing sauce.
[00:15:23] Unknown:
I was worried.
[00:15:25] Unknown:
I was even frightened. Well, Barley wasn't exactly a good man. He wasn't exactly a bad one either.
[00:15:35] Unknown:
But now the other side had their eye on him And aside their top operative, Nick Kelborn, it was a cause for concern. How and when would Nick Kelborn strike? And through whom?
[00:15:53] Unknown:
Yes. Who? Very well. Send her in. Come in.
[00:16:04] Unknown:
Yes. Good morning, Miss Barley. I'm, Mrs. Quackenbush.
[00:16:12] Unknown:
You're Mrs. Quackenbush? Of course. Well, somehow I hadn't pictured someone like you when my secretary announced your name. You hadn't? Well, you hardly look like someone named Quackenbush. Oh, that's my name. Cynthia Dolly Quackenbush. The very sound of the name calls to mind in elderly, a more mature
[00:16:33] Unknown:
type of woman. But I'm happy. That's when everyone calls me Dolly. What may I do for you? We are about to enter a rather intimate relationship. We are. Certainly. That is in a business sense. Oh, I see. Now you were recommended to me as one to whom I could safely trust my affairs. Was I? But now that poor Hubert is no longer with us, Hubert was my late dear departed. Oh, I'm sorry. We must all leave sooner or later. And Hubert left me rather well provided for, I think. You think? Well, you would have to evaluate the investments and so forth. Now, you must excuse me. Oh, of course. And I'll make a complete study. Will you do that? I'm due for lunch with the Baroness Duvall. Oh, the Baroness Duval?
[00:17:26] Unknown:
Oh, you mean the famous French divorcee? She's a dear friend.
[00:17:30] Unknown:
I always use her apartment when I'm in Paris. Uh-huh. Do you?
[00:17:34] Unknown:
Yes. I'll try to analyse your portfolio as soon as possible. Oh, no, Raj.
[00:17:38] Unknown:
See, I'm leaving tomorrow for Washington. This is doing a command performance at the White House. This? Valentine's Turkish.
[00:17:47] Unknown:
Oh. Oh, you mean a great violinist? Well,
[00:17:51] Unknown:
this is dear friend. We always make sure the gangs invite to come along. When do you think you'll be back in town? That's hard to say. See, now tomorrow's Thursday and we're all going to the Costa Del Sol for the weekend.
[00:18:06] Unknown:
You mean the Costa Del
[00:18:08] Unknown:
So in Spain? Yes. It's been discovered. They're all thought go now. But these are democratic times, so what can you do? Yes. Yes. Then you'll be back next week. Next week? That's an eternity away. When will you return? Eventually, my dear. Eventually. That was Nick Elbourne doping gun. And what a gun, Dolly sparkled with delight and glowed with promise. And every word she said, cut the nerve. She was raising the curtain on a new
[00:18:49] Unknown:
fantastic world for genius Kaye Barley. And what did I have to fight her with? Whom did I have to fight her with?
[00:19:00] Unknown:
Stuff is almost ready, Denis. Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't get home too late. Oh, it's it's it's alright. I had such an exciting day at the school. Did you? I finally think I've been able to read to Edvard boy. Mhmm. Little any day. Mhmm. Did you have an interesting day?
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Routine.
[00:19:26] Unknown:
Oh, poor thing, miss. So what kind of wife is it? You just handle pieces of paper. You forget many of those pieces of paper are money. And the object is to make each of them create more pieces of paper.
[00:19:40] Unknown:
Mhmm. If you can do it. You can do it. You can do it very well. Actually
[00:19:45] Unknown:
Actually what? Actually there are those people who say you can do it too well.
[00:19:52] Unknown:
Now look here Ruth. Everything I've ever done is legitimate and above board. Oh, are you sure it's better? Business is a battle of wits. The idea is to get all you can from the other fellow because he's out to get all he can from you. And if the fellow isn't as smart or as clever as you are. Or and ruthless? Yes. Ruthless.
[00:20:12] Unknown:
That part of it. But where can it lead? To success. Is it any fun? Fun? It'll be the day just dead pieces of paper. There's no walls. No human touch.
[00:20:24] Unknown:
Hold on. I'll tell you a spotlight do tonight.
[00:20:27] Unknown:
Lucy. I'm really tired. Why don't we go to this community house? What for? I could teach the girls swimming and you could coach some boys basketball. Why don't we do that some other time? Everybody has to try to help out in this world.
[00:20:43] Unknown:
Yeah. Sure. Later. Did you bring home the evening paper? Oh, oh, I did. Do you? Please
[00:20:52] Unknown:
listen to me? Mhmm. Mhmm. I'm listening. But I feel that we were put here to I don't want to sound preachy, but there's so much to be done. And you know something? People like you and me, we have to do it. Are you with me? Yeah.
[00:21:10] Unknown:
Yeah. Of course. You know why?
[00:21:13] Unknown:
Because we're lucky. We're fairly young, strong, you make good money. Maybe you think sometimes it's not enough, but what is enough? Will you look at this?
[00:21:24] Unknown:
The Baroness Duval. Who? Here's a picture. What am I doing in America? That's what she's saying to the reporter. I have come here to have lunch with a friend. And?
[00:21:39] Unknown:
And that's it. Is she driving here from Paris just to have lunch? Why not? She can afford it. Can she? Oh. I'm sure she has plenty of money. Oh. I'm sure her pocketbook can afford it. But can her time she? So, what are you talking about? I should spend thousands of dollars on some trivial foolishness. Well, maybe it's not so trivial or unimportant to her. But she could do so many better things with her money.
[00:22:05] Unknown:
You just said the magic word. Her. It's her money. And she can spend it any way she pleases. She has that right. She does?
[00:22:20] Unknown:
She stood there just looking at me. It was an old argument.
[00:22:26] Unknown:
And she never got the better of it. But what other ammunition could I give her? Like I said, the opposition has all the big guns. Well, she wasn't tall and willowy like Dolly, nor did she have long, lustrous black hair or gleaming red lips, nor was it full bodied and yet gracefully slender like Dolly.
[00:22:52] Unknown:
Dolly was definitely going to be my problem. Better than us. We have just become aware of Dolly. I know all about Dolly. And what are you doing about her? There's only one thing I can do within the restrictions placed upon us. Yes. I can only strengthen missus Ruth Farley. Strengthen?
[00:23:17] Unknown:
I can only make her as attractive as possible.
[00:23:22] Unknown:
No paint and powder, is this, or any other world could hope to make Ruthie Farley as attractive as Farley. We can only hope for the best. I think I'd better call in your replacement. Why? Perhaps he could try some other tactic such as Well, mister Nimbus, you know as well as I do that there simply isn't any other tactic.
[00:23:47] Unknown:
All we're allowed is the one tactic, the single method. And if it doesn't work, we're finished. We lose another one. Oh, I prayed we will be able to keep Julius Kaye Barley.
[00:24:02] Unknown:
Well, I admit I was being selfish. I was thinking of my own record, but it was more for his sake than mine. It wouldn't have been all so bad. I didn't keep running into Nick Hilborn.
[00:24:16] Unknown:
Ted, I'm disappointed. About what? I expected more of a tussle, if know what I mean.
[00:24:25] Unknown:
It's all too easy. You think so? You don't have genius K Barley yet.
[00:24:32] Unknown:
I've got them all wrapped in a package and tied with a bow. I could remind you not to count your chickens.
[00:24:41] Unknown:
You could. I could also tell you that you can't sell the skin of a bear that's still in the woods.
[00:24:48] Unknown:
And you know what I can tell you, kiddo? Anytime a guy starts about in Proverbs, it's a sign he's whistling in the graveyard. Oh, by the way, don't forget to tune in the TV tonight.
[00:25:05] Unknown:
TV. What TV? Then I remembered the concert, the command performance, and she would be there. Dolly would be there. And, of course, Junior would be watching on his TV. I could see from the way the camera was pointing that just past the soloist, you could, most of the time, see this absolutely fantastic looking woman. And I could picture her doing this staring at her.
[00:25:44] Unknown:
Yes? Oh, yes. Yes. Have her come in immediately. Oh, and miss Linda, I do not want to be disturbed. Dolly, give me your answer to
[00:26:02] Unknown:
Oh, my dear dear junior. Won't you please sit down,
[00:26:08] Unknown:
Dolly? Thank you. I saw you Thursday night.
[00:26:13] Unknown:
Thursday night? Now what did I do in Thursday night? Ages ago.
[00:26:18] Unknown:
You were on television. That is I could see you while the recital was on at the White House. Oh, darling. This man performance. Didn't you just adore the way he played?
[00:26:29] Unknown:
Well, to tell you the truth, I I I didn't hear him. Why not? Was there a problem with the audio on your set? No. I I just kept looking at you. Are you are you sure that was wise?
[00:26:43] Unknown:
Please, forgive me. Well, for what? I don't even know why I said that. Well then you should strike it from the record. Dolly, I've I've been waiting for you. I have some news. What sort of news? Very serious news. I've been trying to think of a way to tell you. So just tell me that's all. No. I I No. I can't do that. Why not? Because this isn't the kind of thing you can just say in in in so many words. But if it needs to be said Oh, yes. It needs to be said. There's no way at all to avoid saying it. Then
[00:27:23] Unknown:
I'm
[00:27:28] Unknown:
waiting. Why don't we all wait? After all, if it's good news, it's in peace. And if it's bad news, we should be in no hurry to hear it. Of course, it can be both good and bad. That is good for Nick Hellbourne and bad for our good angel Benjamin Benign or vice versa. Well, we'll get all the news as usual when the curtain opens on act three. M. Chicago. Beauty, it is said, is its own reason for being, which means that beauty is entitled to special consideration. Beauty is always being preserved and protected. A beautiful lady in distress is always sure to draw a crowd which proves beyond all doubt that if you have a choice of being beautiful or homely, you shouldn't hesitate for one moment.
Right now, watch a beautiful lady go to work. Dolly, I I have examined all of the papers that you left with me. Oh. The documents that comprise your late husband's estate. Yes. The stocks, the bonds, the various securities and so forth. And?
[00:28:52] Unknown:
Well, this is what I find so difficult to say. Sooner or later you will have to say it. Yes. Then say it now.
[00:28:59] Unknown:
Very well. Your husband left you no estate.
[00:29:06] Unknown:
I beg your pardon? I said your husband left you no estate. Oh, but that's impossible. Yeah. I gave you that portfolio. I I am aware of it. Then how can you say he lets me know? All the stocks,
[00:29:18] Unknown:
all the bonds, all the securities are worthless. I don't believe that. I I'm I'm truly sorry. What? It can't be. You own hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bonds from the Triple Square Corporation. Is a moribund company. But I don't understand. Nothing there could be worth anything. A silver mine abandoned years ago. Played out. One company after another dead or or ready to die. Your husband left you all this? But he speculated.
[00:29:49] Unknown:
There would be wild swings one day he'd be up and one day he'd be down. Unfortunately, I thought he died on a down day. Oh, Well, I must say that you're taking this rather calmly. Shouldn't die?
[00:30:02] Unknown:
Well, you've just been informed that you've been reduced to poverty. Right. I could never be poor.
[00:30:08] Unknown:
Mhmm. You couldn't? I have too many friends.
[00:30:12] Unknown:
Well the terrible truth is that valid friendships are only possible among equals and Dolly, you're no longer equal to your friends. Financially. Oh, that's merely a temporary condition. Then you have other assets. Oh, yes. Of course. Well, I'm relieved to hear that. I have one other asset at this time. And what is that? You should say who
[00:30:36] Unknown:
and I would answer you. Me. Of course.
[00:30:42] Unknown:
I'm I'm not sure I understand it. Don't you?
[00:30:45] Unknown:
Come here. I'm sure I can explain it. Dolly. I've Come with me, genius. Where? Anywhere. Everywhere. Do you understand the rest of your life in this complicated little law office pulling little deals here and there? Well, but how how about You have a nice little home and a nice little wife and a nice little life. Is that what you want? You're bored. That's why you treat little suckers like mister Lam. How do you know that I Oh, come out into the world, Julius, and meet some big suckers. What are you saying? You belong out there with me. I have the context.
Who do you wanna meet? All the doors are open to me. Let me take you inside. Inside where? You belong up there with me. With you? We belong together.
[00:31:39] Unknown:
But I'm,
[00:31:40] Unknown:
married now. Oh, it's just a reason you get yourself unmarried. You mean divorce Ruthie? Do you love her?
[00:31:49] Unknown:
No. Well, I, I, I haven't thought about it,
[00:31:53] Unknown:
lately. That's what I mean. You should be thinking about her day and night. I could make you think about me day and night. Well, but I Oh, I understand. You did love her at first. After all, that's why you married her. But do you still find her as interesting and stimulating and exciting? Can you pick me and answer that? I, Do you want to spend the rest of your life with plain little Lucy? He was slipping through my fingers. I was getting panicky. I had never lost a client before, but this one was going in just about gone.
[00:32:37] Unknown:
They wanted Julius Kaye Barley. They wanted him so badly. They were pulling out all the stops.
[00:32:45] Unknown:
I've never felt so much pressure in all my career. And of course, Nick kept rubbing it in constantly
[00:32:53] Unknown:
well here we are kiddo in the bottom of the ninth you got two strikes are you two out and you're down by a dozen runs what do you do now?
[00:33:04] Unknown:
This is far from over
[00:33:07] Unknown:
I saved him somehow. So do you want me to put in a good word for you? What are you talking about? Why you've got good style. Anytime you wanna jump the club you're with now and come over to mine, we can find a good spot for you. No. Thank you, mister Hellborn. Oh, you should be with a real outfit where you get something to work with, especially dameys like, I got Dolly. Who you got?
[00:33:36] Unknown:
Ruthie? I'm
[00:33:39] Unknown:
happy with Ruthie. About which one of them got the looks and which is just the plain Jane. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There you go with the Proverbs again. A sure sign you're about to press the panic button.
[00:34:03] Unknown:
But far worse than Nick Belbourne was my own supervisor, mister Nimbus. He had not only pressed the panic button, he was sitting on it. What do you propose to do now, Benjamin? I'm doing everything I possibly can. We can only hope for the best. If it is one we cannot afford to lose, we can't afford to lose any of them. But you'll just be a special gift. I understand. Oh, do you? Do you really? A man with body's brains happens along once every millennium. In the wrong hand, in the hand of Nick Elbourne, he could become a monster. He could take over the world. I know that. You were spite for him.
Fight? What did he think I was doing anyhow? But every day, I would watch what Mick Helborn was throwing as shoes. And Colette has this darling penthouse in Paris. And Georgios says we can use his yacht to cool the Greek islands at any time.
[00:35:06] Unknown:
And what should I have going for me?
[00:35:10] Unknown:
Jean, do you suppose we could volunteer for the hospital blood donor committee?
[00:35:20] Unknown:
There's no question that Nick had Dolly casting her spell.
[00:35:26] Unknown:
She was ready to make her kill. The money is no problem, Dolly. First, we can sell all my poor late husband's securities, especially the mine. But they're worthless. Of course. Well, then that's not exactly honest. Is it? No. Not exactly. I've never done anything before, Dolly, that was out and out dishonest. So why not? You flirt with the idea constantly, don't you? Well, You come close. Oh, so very close. And then you you back away. Why?
[00:36:03] Unknown:
Why?
[00:36:04] Unknown:
You delight in toying with the concept. You want to. You want to so badly. Why don't you? You want to be rich, really rich. It can happen. You can sell anybody anything. Worthless mine? You've already sold worthless land.
[00:36:23] Unknown:
I made no claims for it. Oh, I may have allowed people's imaginations to run unchecked but but but I never lied.
[00:36:31] Unknown:
Let the record show that. Why are you so concerned with the record? What record? How do you know there actually is a record or that somebody is watching or even cares? I've You want me. You know you want me. And you want wealth and power and you can have it all. Sorry. I It's all yours. Take it. Take it.
[00:36:57] Unknown:
He was all softened up for a kill.
[00:37:01] Unknown:
Sooner or later, he would have to talk to Lucy and tell her. For days, I've been watching
[00:37:09] Unknown:
him trying to nerve himself for the ordeal. He was going to leave her. That much he had practically decided. But first, there would have to be a scene, and he didn't like scenes.
[00:37:25] Unknown:
Of course, there was no way I could talk to him. There was no way I could talk to Ruthie. I left. But there was one idea I might be able to get across to her. Just one little thing she should say to him. It might hit the balance. You're home early.
[00:37:49] Unknown:
Yes, Ruthie. I wanted to talk to you. Oh, no. Well, what do you know?
[00:37:56] Unknown:
I guess I know everything. What, what, what does that mean? It means you want to meet me. So why do you say that? It's true. Isn't
[00:38:08] Unknown:
it? Who, who, who told you? You told me. Now wait a minute. When did I tell you? Oh, not a word.
[00:38:16] Unknown:
I could tell by the way you react to me. Ruthie, I There is another woman, isn't there? Yes. I I suppose she has a lot to offer. She does, doesn't she?
[00:38:31] Unknown:
Yes.
[00:38:33] Unknown:
Yes, Ruthie. She's very beautiful, isn't she? Oh, yes. And very rich.
[00:38:41] Unknown:
Well, she knows how to become rich. And so do you. That's true.
[00:38:47] Unknown:
From now on you just won't shear the lands anymore. You'll go on to the wolves. You could say that. There won't be any stopping you. No holds barred, no rules. Never take the hindmost.
[00:39:01] Unknown:
I'm sorry. But there are things I want. Lucy, there are things I have to have. And you will, Jean. You have them all.
[00:39:07] Unknown:
She can give you everything except one thing. I'm the only one who can give me that.
[00:39:16] Unknown:
What? What do you mean? I mean,
[00:39:19] Unknown:
a night's sleep.
[00:39:22] Unknown:
What are you talking about? I, I could always sleep at night. Of course.
[00:39:26] Unknown:
What did you have on your mind or on your country? Oh, you may have pulled a sharp little deal here and there but who did you ever hurt? Who did you ever destroy? I've seen your new lady. You're beautiful. Unbelievably beautiful. You're being very generous. How many other men will want her too? Men as handsome as you. Handsome. You'll be getting older. That'll keep you awake. At least with a plain wife, you don't have those worries. No, Lucy. I I wouldn't say you were plain. I think you were going after the wolves, but you'll be a wolf too.
They'll also be out to get you. You'll need friends associates, but will you be able to trust it? That'll help keep you awake. Lucy. Now that I think of it, you might just as well go off with it. What are you saying? What can I offer you? Only one small thing. A good night's sleep. He said it. Somehow I've gotten through to her and she said it. He stood there and laughed.
[00:40:40] Unknown:
Ruthie, can you forget what I said and forgive me?
[00:40:45] Unknown:
I'll forgive you but I'll never forget it.
[00:40:54] Unknown:
And that's the way it ended. I preserved my record. Mister Nimbus no longer nibbles on his fingernails when he thinks of Julius Kaye Barley. And even knows Nick Kelborn had a compliment for me. Well, kid, you did a great job.
[00:41:14] Unknown:
But tomorrow's another day.
[00:41:21] Unknown:
And so it is. As they used to say, another day, another dollar. But that was way back when a dollar a day was a handsome wage indeed. But while tomorrow will always be another day, yet in some way, it will be the same day as today. In one way or another, it will present us with the same problems, the same challenges, the same opportunities. As our story said, virtue is its own reward. And if you examine it closely, what other reward could it possibly be? For virtue could be bought or sold, why then it simply wouldn't be virtue. And the very next time, some still small voice within you urges you to follow a virtuous course.
Remember, it's the voice of mister Benjamin the nine or one of his colleagues. They need all the help they can get and so do you. Our cast included Fred Gwynn, Bob Dryden, Ray Owens, and Bryna Rayburn. 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, pleasant
What you're hearing is Hardie fiber cement siding living up to its reputation as the siding that handles hail impact with ease. James Hardie knows how important a reputation is, especially when you're a contractor. That's why Hardie's siding withstands severe weather better than vinyl siding, with styles to match its strength, so you can be sure you're providing your clients with the best. Protect your reputation with exterior products by James Hardie.
[00:00:32] Unknown:
Your own mister theater present. Come in. Welcome. I'm E. G. Marshall. The sun, we are told, shines on the good and the evil alike. And the rain falls on the unjust as well as the just. Rain and sun, water and light. Without them, nothing can grow in the garden of life. And so it all comes down to this. Since we may nurture the flowers of good or the blossoms of evil, which should we choose to cultivate? I must say you take this rather calmly. Shouldn't I? No. You've just been informed that you've been reduced to poverty. That's merely a temporary condition.
Oh, then you do have other assets.
[00:01:36] Unknown:
I have one other asset.
[00:01:38] Unknown:
And may I ask what that is? Certainly.
[00:01:42] Unknown:
It's you. Me? Yes. You. Between us, we shall conquer the world.
[00:01:58] Unknown:
Our mystery drama, virtue is its own reward, was written especially for the list of theater by Sam Gann, stars Fred Gwyn. It is sponsored in part by Contact, the twelve hour full capsule. I'll be back shortly with act one. The text for today's little sermon is provided by mister Robert Burton who was a contemporary of mister William Shakespeare and no mean phrase maker himself. Mister Burton a gentleman of great wisdom and deep perception. Mister Burton also said, every man has a good and a bad angel attending him all his life long. If that proposition was good enough for mister Robert Burton, it should certainly be good enough for us.
[00:03:10] Unknown:
Is that a fact? I'm not allowed to take anything away from brother Burton, whoever he was, but as far as I'm concerned, my man is an old time Roman you never heard of. A fellow named Cilius Italicus. And he said, virtue is its own reward. Yes, sir. That's what he said. And I happen to be stuck with it. Now I suppose you will want to know who I am. Well, we'll get to that shortly. The fact is you really can't appreciate me until you meet my client, mister Julius Kaye Barley. And where is he now? In his office and up to his old tricks again.
[00:03:55] Unknown:
Yes. Who? Ah, yes. Miss Minda. Miss Minda, after you hear a couple of three minutes, ring my phone, will you? What for? What do you care what for? Just ring the phone. I don't pay you to ask questions just to follow instructions. Now, send them in.
[00:04:17] Unknown:
Women.
[00:04:19] Unknown:
Mr. Lam. Oh, see here, Mr. Julius Cabari. Won't you have a chair? To what do I owe the honor of this visit? I have a bill here. Yes. That does look like a bill. It's for water. Do you question the accuracy of the bill, mister Lamb? I question the
[00:04:37] Unknown:
legitimacy. Why do I have to pay for water? Well, that should be obvious.
[00:04:42] Unknown:
You're using it. You can't send me a bill for using my own water. You are 100% correct. While I cannot send you a bill for using your own water, I am entitled to charge you for using mine. Yours? You happen to be drawing water from the Armageddon
[00:05:01] Unknown:
Stream. Well, that's on my property. The property you sold me. True.
[00:05:05] Unknown:
But I didn't sell you the water right. But it it says, this is the craziest thing I ever heard. If you consult the deed and I happen to have a copy here before
[00:05:15] Unknown:
me. You will note where it says. Well, that print is so small. I can hardly read it. It is nevertheless
[00:05:22] Unknown:
legible. It states clearly seller hold in perpetuum all rights to the heretofore described on against it stream. You mean it actually says that? Would you say to use this magnifying lens? There you are. See? Paragraph three. For which purchaser shall pay $50 per month for use of water. Said fee to increase 8% each year.
[00:05:53] Unknown:
This was an outrage. I didn't know that clause was in there. Surely your lawyer was aware of it.
[00:05:59] Unknown:
My goodness, the lamb. We have an agreement, you and I.
[00:06:04] Unknown:
You're a crock. And remember, under any circumstances or conditions will I do business with you as am.
[00:06:12] Unknown:
Excuse me. Yes. Who? Oh, put him on. Do you mind, mister Lam? It's an important long distance call. Yes, Mr. Roulette. Yes, indeed. Yes. I'm proceeding as quickly as possible. Mhmm. There's one tiny obstacle, but we can clear that in short order. Mhmm. Yes. Oh yes. I'll have good news for you very soon, Mr. Roulette. Mhmm. Goodbye. Now sir,
[00:06:44] Unknown:
where will we? I was telling you that you were a thief, an unprincipled scoundrel and that I shall never under any circumstances
[00:06:51] Unknown:
ever do business with you in the future. I'm sorry you feel that way. Would you mind putting that in writing? Well, putting what in writing? The fact that you do not intend to exercise your option. What option? Well, if you look at paragraph four, you will see it says that you have an option to purchase the adjoining plot to the Armageddon property for the same low price that you paid for the first parcel. Well, why would I ever wanna buy even so much as a square inch of ground from you at any price as any condition? Well, that of course is your prerogative. Once again sir, got that. Uh-huh. Then you release me from my obligation to sell you the adjoining plot. And thus permit me to place it on the open market.
[00:07:37] Unknown:
Well, you can do whatever you please. Knowing you, I'm sure it'll be something crooked.
[00:07:42] Unknown:
Then sign the statement.
[00:07:45] Unknown:
Oh,
[00:07:46] Unknown:
no. I find nothing. Mr. Lamb, you cannot arbitrarily refuse to acknowledge my right to sell the property elsewhere. I'm acting in good faith.
[00:07:57] Unknown:
Just a minute.
[00:08:00] Unknown:
You have a buyer for that property. You are making an inference.
[00:08:06] Unknown:
What? J Babington Roulette. He was on the telephone
[00:08:16] Unknown:
him. Is that a fact?
[00:08:18] Unknown:
The other half of the Armageddon parcel. What a perfect place for a resort hotel.
[00:08:24] Unknown:
Do you really think so?
[00:08:26] Unknown:
Just this one, you may have outsmarted yourself. In what way? With that option, Claude. You thought it was all worth worth hatred. Mhmm. I may have. Now you have to let me have it for 10,000. That's what it says? I insist on exercising that option. Oh, are you sure? Absolutely.
[00:08:50] Unknown:
That land has to be worth at least a quarter of a million dollars to go there.
[00:08:55] Unknown:
How you'd love to have clear exercise your options? Have the papers drawn up.
[00:09:18] Unknown:
That's my client, Julius k Barley. And who am I? Remember when the fellow was talking about the good angel and the bad angel that attends every man his whole life long? It so happens that I am Benjamin benign, mister Barley's good angel, and I don't have any easy time of it. I'm usually on the carpet for the way I handle mister Barley. My supervisor, mister Nimbus, lives and breathes the rule book. Mister Benign, I have a report here concerning mister Barley's latest estimate. Well, mister Nimbus, it isn't exactly an illegal deed. No one forced mister Lamb to buy that second parcel of land. Mister Barley implied that there was an equal fire for the property. Mister Barley never said so directly. Mister Lamb chose to make the inference. And the fact is you cannot cheat an honest man. But the fact is mister Barley cheated mister Lamb on the first transaction. So all the conditions were spelled out breathing.
Small print, but it wasn't illegal. It was done with the intention to cheat. What have you been doing to keep mister Barley honest, upright, virtuous? I've been trying very hard. She goes from bad to her. I suppose I'll just have to try harder. I wonder if you're qualified to handle this assignment. I never lost a flyer yet. That's true. Yes. That's a fact. I had the computer read out of your activities at the beginning of time. Well that should mean something. It's caught me. You never had a client of the other side where you wanted. We have no way of knowing if that's true.
We do now. You see, mister benign, we have received a report from our intelligence. The other side has replaced mister Barley's current operative. I I can't believe that. It means they think he has the potential to go all the way. Oh, not to miss Kay Barley. I don't think there's any real harm in him. They called in their ace, Nick Helborn. Nick Helborn? Yes. Nick Helborn. Don't feel why we get to know the competition.
[00:12:04] Unknown:
Robber barons throughout history, only the top people.
[00:12:08] Unknown:
And it was Miss Melbourne who had turned them into men of England. Mister Nimbus, goat replacement. You must admit you haven't been aggressive enough. Yes. But now that I've got some real competition, it'll kind of blur me on to greater effort. We won't make a change just yet.
[00:12:29] Unknown:
But you'll have to show some positive result And soon, result. That's all they care about.
[00:12:42] Unknown:
I wish it give us a little more ammunition. The other side offers them wine, women's, and song, or someone put it power, health, and pleasure.
[00:12:53] Unknown:
And what can we give them?
[00:12:56] Unknown:
I said before that we generally know the competition and they know what. I ran into my opposite number, Nick Hellborn. Or maybe he ran into me.
[00:13:09] Unknown:
What do you say kid? Hello, Nick. Oh, sorry. I'm gonna have to put an end to your batting streak.
[00:13:18] Unknown:
Don't be too sure of that, Nick. I guarantee you this
[00:13:23] Unknown:
genius Kate Barbie is gonna be my main man.
[00:13:28] Unknown:
We'll see about that. I like your spirit.
[00:13:34] Unknown:
But you don't know who you're talking to. I work the queen of the crop. I have the two of the hun. I own Machiavelli. Yes. Yes. I know all your credit. And Junior's Cave Farm is the exact kind of character. I say he is No. I'm sorry, but all the signs are there. He's got the appetite. He's ready, and I'm ready. You won't judge him. That's what this game is all about, isn't it? Have to see who has the last
[00:14:13] Unknown:
word. A last word. What is the last word? We know it's a concept that puzzles many philosophers. For in truth, the last word is the word that has yet to be spoken. And in a world that has no beginning and seemingly no ending, who can identify which word was first and which will be last? Hopefully, we may make some progress in that direction in our second act. So it gets down to this. The basic struggle in the world is between good and evil. And no matter how we may state the problem or the challenge, at the bottom, it's always a case of doing right or doing wrong. And all of our arguments and justifications for pursuing a questionable course of action are like French cooking, which is the art of enhancing an inferior cut of meat with an intriguing sauce.
[00:15:23] Unknown:
I was worried.
[00:15:25] Unknown:
I was even frightened. Well, Barley wasn't exactly a good man. He wasn't exactly a bad one either.
[00:15:35] Unknown:
But now the other side had their eye on him And aside their top operative, Nick Kelborn, it was a cause for concern. How and when would Nick Kelborn strike? And through whom?
[00:15:53] Unknown:
Yes. Who? Very well. Send her in. Come in.
[00:16:04] Unknown:
Yes. Good morning, Miss Barley. I'm, Mrs. Quackenbush.
[00:16:12] Unknown:
You're Mrs. Quackenbush? Of course. Well, somehow I hadn't pictured someone like you when my secretary announced your name. You hadn't? Well, you hardly look like someone named Quackenbush. Oh, that's my name. Cynthia Dolly Quackenbush. The very sound of the name calls to mind in elderly, a more mature
[00:16:33] Unknown:
type of woman. But I'm happy. That's when everyone calls me Dolly. What may I do for you? We are about to enter a rather intimate relationship. We are. Certainly. That is in a business sense. Oh, I see. Now you were recommended to me as one to whom I could safely trust my affairs. Was I? But now that poor Hubert is no longer with us, Hubert was my late dear departed. Oh, I'm sorry. We must all leave sooner or later. And Hubert left me rather well provided for, I think. You think? Well, you would have to evaluate the investments and so forth. Now, you must excuse me. Oh, of course. And I'll make a complete study. Will you do that? I'm due for lunch with the Baroness Duvall. Oh, the Baroness Duval?
[00:17:26] Unknown:
Oh, you mean the famous French divorcee? She's a dear friend.
[00:17:30] Unknown:
I always use her apartment when I'm in Paris. Uh-huh. Do you?
[00:17:34] Unknown:
Yes. I'll try to analyse your portfolio as soon as possible. Oh, no, Raj.
[00:17:38] Unknown:
See, I'm leaving tomorrow for Washington. This is doing a command performance at the White House. This? Valentine's Turkish.
[00:17:47] Unknown:
Oh. Oh, you mean a great violinist? Well,
[00:17:51] Unknown:
this is dear friend. We always make sure the gangs invite to come along. When do you think you'll be back in town? That's hard to say. See, now tomorrow's Thursday and we're all going to the Costa Del Sol for the weekend.
[00:18:06] Unknown:
You mean the Costa Del
[00:18:08] Unknown:
So in Spain? Yes. It's been discovered. They're all thought go now. But these are democratic times, so what can you do? Yes. Yes. Then you'll be back next week. Next week? That's an eternity away. When will you return? Eventually, my dear. Eventually. That was Nick Elbourne doping gun. And what a gun, Dolly sparkled with delight and glowed with promise. And every word she said, cut the nerve. She was raising the curtain on a new
[00:18:49] Unknown:
fantastic world for genius Kaye Barley. And what did I have to fight her with? Whom did I have to fight her with?
[00:19:00] Unknown:
Stuff is almost ready, Denis. Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't get home too late. Oh, it's it's it's alright. I had such an exciting day at the school. Did you? I finally think I've been able to read to Edvard boy. Mhmm. Little any day. Mhmm. Did you have an interesting day?
[00:19:24] Unknown:
Routine.
[00:19:26] Unknown:
Oh, poor thing, miss. So what kind of wife is it? You just handle pieces of paper. You forget many of those pieces of paper are money. And the object is to make each of them create more pieces of paper.
[00:19:40] Unknown:
Mhmm. If you can do it. You can do it. You can do it very well. Actually
[00:19:45] Unknown:
Actually what? Actually there are those people who say you can do it too well.
[00:19:52] Unknown:
Now look here Ruth. Everything I've ever done is legitimate and above board. Oh, are you sure it's better? Business is a battle of wits. The idea is to get all you can from the other fellow because he's out to get all he can from you. And if the fellow isn't as smart or as clever as you are. Or and ruthless? Yes. Ruthless.
[00:20:12] Unknown:
That part of it. But where can it lead? To success. Is it any fun? Fun? It'll be the day just dead pieces of paper. There's no walls. No human touch.
[00:20:24] Unknown:
Hold on. I'll tell you a spotlight do tonight.
[00:20:27] Unknown:
Lucy. I'm really tired. Why don't we go to this community house? What for? I could teach the girls swimming and you could coach some boys basketball. Why don't we do that some other time? Everybody has to try to help out in this world.
[00:20:43] Unknown:
Yeah. Sure. Later. Did you bring home the evening paper? Oh, oh, I did. Do you? Please
[00:20:52] Unknown:
listen to me? Mhmm. Mhmm. I'm listening. But I feel that we were put here to I don't want to sound preachy, but there's so much to be done. And you know something? People like you and me, we have to do it. Are you with me? Yeah.
[00:21:10] Unknown:
Yeah. Of course. You know why?
[00:21:13] Unknown:
Because we're lucky. We're fairly young, strong, you make good money. Maybe you think sometimes it's not enough, but what is enough? Will you look at this?
[00:21:24] Unknown:
The Baroness Duval. Who? Here's a picture. What am I doing in America? That's what she's saying to the reporter. I have come here to have lunch with a friend. And?
[00:21:39] Unknown:
And that's it. Is she driving here from Paris just to have lunch? Why not? She can afford it. Can she? Oh. I'm sure she has plenty of money. Oh. I'm sure her pocketbook can afford it. But can her time she? So, what are you talking about? I should spend thousands of dollars on some trivial foolishness. Well, maybe it's not so trivial or unimportant to her. But she could do so many better things with her money.
[00:22:05] Unknown:
You just said the magic word. Her. It's her money. And she can spend it any way she pleases. She has that right. She does?
[00:22:20] Unknown:
She stood there just looking at me. It was an old argument.
[00:22:26] Unknown:
And she never got the better of it. But what other ammunition could I give her? Like I said, the opposition has all the big guns. Well, she wasn't tall and willowy like Dolly, nor did she have long, lustrous black hair or gleaming red lips, nor was it full bodied and yet gracefully slender like Dolly.
[00:22:52] Unknown:
Dolly was definitely going to be my problem. Better than us. We have just become aware of Dolly. I know all about Dolly. And what are you doing about her? There's only one thing I can do within the restrictions placed upon us. Yes. I can only strengthen missus Ruth Farley. Strengthen?
[00:23:17] Unknown:
I can only make her as attractive as possible.
[00:23:22] Unknown:
No paint and powder, is this, or any other world could hope to make Ruthie Farley as attractive as Farley. We can only hope for the best. I think I'd better call in your replacement. Why? Perhaps he could try some other tactic such as Well, mister Nimbus, you know as well as I do that there simply isn't any other tactic.
[00:23:47] Unknown:
All we're allowed is the one tactic, the single method. And if it doesn't work, we're finished. We lose another one. Oh, I prayed we will be able to keep Julius Kaye Barley.
[00:24:02] Unknown:
Well, I admit I was being selfish. I was thinking of my own record, but it was more for his sake than mine. It wouldn't have been all so bad. I didn't keep running into Nick Hilborn.
[00:24:16] Unknown:
Ted, I'm disappointed. About what? I expected more of a tussle, if know what I mean.
[00:24:25] Unknown:
It's all too easy. You think so? You don't have genius K Barley yet.
[00:24:32] Unknown:
I've got them all wrapped in a package and tied with a bow. I could remind you not to count your chickens.
[00:24:41] Unknown:
You could. I could also tell you that you can't sell the skin of a bear that's still in the woods.
[00:24:48] Unknown:
And you know what I can tell you, kiddo? Anytime a guy starts about in Proverbs, it's a sign he's whistling in the graveyard. Oh, by the way, don't forget to tune in the TV tonight.
[00:25:05] Unknown:
TV. What TV? Then I remembered the concert, the command performance, and she would be there. Dolly would be there. And, of course, Junior would be watching on his TV. I could see from the way the camera was pointing that just past the soloist, you could, most of the time, see this absolutely fantastic looking woman. And I could picture her doing this staring at her.
[00:25:44] Unknown:
Yes? Oh, yes. Yes. Have her come in immediately. Oh, and miss Linda, I do not want to be disturbed. Dolly, give me your answer to
[00:26:02] Unknown:
Oh, my dear dear junior. Won't you please sit down,
[00:26:08] Unknown:
Dolly? Thank you. I saw you Thursday night.
[00:26:13] Unknown:
Thursday night? Now what did I do in Thursday night? Ages ago.
[00:26:18] Unknown:
You were on television. That is I could see you while the recital was on at the White House. Oh, darling. This man performance. Didn't you just adore the way he played?
[00:26:29] Unknown:
Well, to tell you the truth, I I I didn't hear him. Why not? Was there a problem with the audio on your set? No. I I just kept looking at you. Are you are you sure that was wise?
[00:26:43] Unknown:
Please, forgive me. Well, for what? I don't even know why I said that. Well then you should strike it from the record. Dolly, I've I've been waiting for you. I have some news. What sort of news? Very serious news. I've been trying to think of a way to tell you. So just tell me that's all. No. I I No. I can't do that. Why not? Because this isn't the kind of thing you can just say in in in so many words. But if it needs to be said Oh, yes. It needs to be said. There's no way at all to avoid saying it. Then
[00:27:23] Unknown:
I'm
[00:27:28] Unknown:
waiting. Why don't we all wait? After all, if it's good news, it's in peace. And if it's bad news, we should be in no hurry to hear it. Of course, it can be both good and bad. That is good for Nick Hellbourne and bad for our good angel Benjamin Benign or vice versa. Well, we'll get all the news as usual when the curtain opens on act three. M. Chicago. Beauty, it is said, is its own reason for being, which means that beauty is entitled to special consideration. Beauty is always being preserved and protected. A beautiful lady in distress is always sure to draw a crowd which proves beyond all doubt that if you have a choice of being beautiful or homely, you shouldn't hesitate for one moment.
Right now, watch a beautiful lady go to work. Dolly, I I have examined all of the papers that you left with me. Oh. The documents that comprise your late husband's estate. Yes. The stocks, the bonds, the various securities and so forth. And?
[00:28:52] Unknown:
Well, this is what I find so difficult to say. Sooner or later you will have to say it. Yes. Then say it now.
[00:28:59] Unknown:
Very well. Your husband left you no estate.
[00:29:06] Unknown:
I beg your pardon? I said your husband left you no estate. Oh, but that's impossible. Yeah. I gave you that portfolio. I I am aware of it. Then how can you say he lets me know? All the stocks,
[00:29:18] Unknown:
all the bonds, all the securities are worthless. I don't believe that. I I'm I'm truly sorry. What? It can't be. You own hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bonds from the Triple Square Corporation. Is a moribund company. But I don't understand. Nothing there could be worth anything. A silver mine abandoned years ago. Played out. One company after another dead or or ready to die. Your husband left you all this? But he speculated.
[00:29:49] Unknown:
There would be wild swings one day he'd be up and one day he'd be down. Unfortunately, I thought he died on a down day. Oh, Well, I must say that you're taking this rather calmly. Shouldn't die?
[00:30:02] Unknown:
Well, you've just been informed that you've been reduced to poverty. Right. I could never be poor.
[00:30:08] Unknown:
Mhmm. You couldn't? I have too many friends.
[00:30:12] Unknown:
Well the terrible truth is that valid friendships are only possible among equals and Dolly, you're no longer equal to your friends. Financially. Oh, that's merely a temporary condition. Then you have other assets. Oh, yes. Of course. Well, I'm relieved to hear that. I have one other asset at this time. And what is that? You should say who
[00:30:36] Unknown:
and I would answer you. Me. Of course.
[00:30:42] Unknown:
I'm I'm not sure I understand it. Don't you?
[00:30:45] Unknown:
Come here. I'm sure I can explain it. Dolly. I've Come with me, genius. Where? Anywhere. Everywhere. Do you understand the rest of your life in this complicated little law office pulling little deals here and there? Well, but how how about You have a nice little home and a nice little wife and a nice little life. Is that what you want? You're bored. That's why you treat little suckers like mister Lam. How do you know that I Oh, come out into the world, Julius, and meet some big suckers. What are you saying? You belong out there with me. I have the context.
Who do you wanna meet? All the doors are open to me. Let me take you inside. Inside where? You belong up there with me. With you? We belong together.
[00:31:39] Unknown:
But I'm,
[00:31:40] Unknown:
married now. Oh, it's just a reason you get yourself unmarried. You mean divorce Ruthie? Do you love her?
[00:31:49] Unknown:
No. Well, I, I, I haven't thought about it,
[00:31:53] Unknown:
lately. That's what I mean. You should be thinking about her day and night. I could make you think about me day and night. Well, but I Oh, I understand. You did love her at first. After all, that's why you married her. But do you still find her as interesting and stimulating and exciting? Can you pick me and answer that? I, Do you want to spend the rest of your life with plain little Lucy? He was slipping through my fingers. I was getting panicky. I had never lost a client before, but this one was going in just about gone.
[00:32:37] Unknown:
They wanted Julius Kaye Barley. They wanted him so badly. They were pulling out all the stops.
[00:32:45] Unknown:
I've never felt so much pressure in all my career. And of course, Nick kept rubbing it in constantly
[00:32:53] Unknown:
well here we are kiddo in the bottom of the ninth you got two strikes are you two out and you're down by a dozen runs what do you do now?
[00:33:04] Unknown:
This is far from over
[00:33:07] Unknown:
I saved him somehow. So do you want me to put in a good word for you? What are you talking about? Why you've got good style. Anytime you wanna jump the club you're with now and come over to mine, we can find a good spot for you. No. Thank you, mister Hellborn. Oh, you should be with a real outfit where you get something to work with, especially dameys like, I got Dolly. Who you got?
[00:33:36] Unknown:
Ruthie? I'm
[00:33:39] Unknown:
happy with Ruthie. About which one of them got the looks and which is just the plain Jane. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There you go with the Proverbs again. A sure sign you're about to press the panic button.
[00:34:03] Unknown:
But far worse than Nick Belbourne was my own supervisor, mister Nimbus. He had not only pressed the panic button, he was sitting on it. What do you propose to do now, Benjamin? I'm doing everything I possibly can. We can only hope for the best. If it is one we cannot afford to lose, we can't afford to lose any of them. But you'll just be a special gift. I understand. Oh, do you? Do you really? A man with body's brains happens along once every millennium. In the wrong hand, in the hand of Nick Elbourne, he could become a monster. He could take over the world. I know that. You were spite for him.
Fight? What did he think I was doing anyhow? But every day, I would watch what Mick Helborn was throwing as shoes. And Colette has this darling penthouse in Paris. And Georgios says we can use his yacht to cool the Greek islands at any time.
[00:35:06] Unknown:
And what should I have going for me?
[00:35:10] Unknown:
Jean, do you suppose we could volunteer for the hospital blood donor committee?
[00:35:20] Unknown:
There's no question that Nick had Dolly casting her spell.
[00:35:26] Unknown:
She was ready to make her kill. The money is no problem, Dolly. First, we can sell all my poor late husband's securities, especially the mine. But they're worthless. Of course. Well, then that's not exactly honest. Is it? No. Not exactly. I've never done anything before, Dolly, that was out and out dishonest. So why not? You flirt with the idea constantly, don't you? Well, You come close. Oh, so very close. And then you you back away. Why?
[00:36:03] Unknown:
Why?
[00:36:04] Unknown:
You delight in toying with the concept. You want to. You want to so badly. Why don't you? You want to be rich, really rich. It can happen. You can sell anybody anything. Worthless mine? You've already sold worthless land.
[00:36:23] Unknown:
I made no claims for it. Oh, I may have allowed people's imaginations to run unchecked but but but I never lied.
[00:36:31] Unknown:
Let the record show that. Why are you so concerned with the record? What record? How do you know there actually is a record or that somebody is watching or even cares? I've You want me. You know you want me. And you want wealth and power and you can have it all. Sorry. I It's all yours. Take it. Take it.
[00:36:57] Unknown:
He was all softened up for a kill.
[00:37:01] Unknown:
Sooner or later, he would have to talk to Lucy and tell her. For days, I've been watching
[00:37:09] Unknown:
him trying to nerve himself for the ordeal. He was going to leave her. That much he had practically decided. But first, there would have to be a scene, and he didn't like scenes.
[00:37:25] Unknown:
Of course, there was no way I could talk to him. There was no way I could talk to Ruthie. I left. But there was one idea I might be able to get across to her. Just one little thing she should say to him. It might hit the balance. You're home early.
[00:37:49] Unknown:
Yes, Ruthie. I wanted to talk to you. Oh, no. Well, what do you know?
[00:37:56] Unknown:
I guess I know everything. What, what, what does that mean? It means you want to meet me. So why do you say that? It's true. Isn't
[00:38:08] Unknown:
it? Who, who, who told you? You told me. Now wait a minute. When did I tell you? Oh, not a word.
[00:38:16] Unknown:
I could tell by the way you react to me. Ruthie, I There is another woman, isn't there? Yes. I I suppose she has a lot to offer. She does, doesn't she?
[00:38:31] Unknown:
Yes.
[00:38:33] Unknown:
Yes, Ruthie. She's very beautiful, isn't she? Oh, yes. And very rich.
[00:38:41] Unknown:
Well, she knows how to become rich. And so do you. That's true.
[00:38:47] Unknown:
From now on you just won't shear the lands anymore. You'll go on to the wolves. You could say that. There won't be any stopping you. No holds barred, no rules. Never take the hindmost.
[00:39:01] Unknown:
I'm sorry. But there are things I want. Lucy, there are things I have to have. And you will, Jean. You have them all.
[00:39:07] Unknown:
She can give you everything except one thing. I'm the only one who can give me that.
[00:39:16] Unknown:
What? What do you mean? I mean,
[00:39:19] Unknown:
a night's sleep.
[00:39:22] Unknown:
What are you talking about? I, I could always sleep at night. Of course.
[00:39:26] Unknown:
What did you have on your mind or on your country? Oh, you may have pulled a sharp little deal here and there but who did you ever hurt? Who did you ever destroy? I've seen your new lady. You're beautiful. Unbelievably beautiful. You're being very generous. How many other men will want her too? Men as handsome as you. Handsome. You'll be getting older. That'll keep you awake. At least with a plain wife, you don't have those worries. No, Lucy. I I wouldn't say you were plain. I think you were going after the wolves, but you'll be a wolf too.
They'll also be out to get you. You'll need friends associates, but will you be able to trust it? That'll help keep you awake. Lucy. Now that I think of it, you might just as well go off with it. What are you saying? What can I offer you? Only one small thing. A good night's sleep. He said it. Somehow I've gotten through to her and she said it. He stood there and laughed.
[00:40:40] Unknown:
Ruthie, can you forget what I said and forgive me?
[00:40:45] Unknown:
I'll forgive you but I'll never forget it.
[00:40:54] Unknown:
And that's the way it ended. I preserved my record. Mister Nimbus no longer nibbles on his fingernails when he thinks of Julius Kaye Barley. And even knows Nick Kelborn had a compliment for me. Well, kid, you did a great job.
[00:41:14] Unknown:
But tomorrow's another day.
[00:41:21] Unknown:
And so it is. As they used to say, another day, another dollar. But that was way back when a dollar a day was a handsome wage indeed. But while tomorrow will always be another day, yet in some way, it will be the same day as today. In one way or another, it will present us with the same problems, the same challenges, the same opportunities. As our story said, virtue is its own reward. And if you examine it closely, what other reward could it possibly be? For virtue could be bought or sold, why then it simply wouldn't be virtue. And the very next time, some still small voice within you urges you to follow a virtuous course.
Remember, it's the voice of mister Benjamin the nine or one of his colleagues. They need all the help they can get and so do you. Our cast included Fred Gwynn, Bob Dryden, Ray Owens, and Bryna Rayburn. 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, pleasant
Introduction to the Moral Dilemma
Virtue is Its Own Reward
The Water Rights Dispute
The Good Angel's Challenge
The Struggle Between Good and Evil
Dolly's Temptation
A Proposal from Dolly
The Internal Conflict
The Decision
Conclusion and Reflection
