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CBS Radio Mystery Theater (a.k.a. Radio Mystery Theater and Mystery Theater) is a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS Radio Network affiliates from 1974 to 1982, and later in the early 2000s was repeated by the NPR satellite feed.
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00:00The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents...
00:19Come in.
00:22Welcome.
00:24I'm E.G. Marshall.
00:26Welcome to the world of terrifying imagination.
00:30The fear you can hear.
00:34Somebody said it, I believe, or if he didn't, he should have.
00:37The world is neither good nor bad.
00:40Tis wishing makes it so.
00:43Our story is about a fae, elfin young woman who made her own world
00:47and who had a disturbing and fateful capacity to make her dreams come true.
00:52Not always in exactly the fashion or the dimension,
00:56she wished for.
00:57I'm warning you, you stop hanging on to me, Marge.
01:01I've got to, Tom.
01:02You just can't do it to us anymore.
01:04Just lay off of me.
01:06Tom, you can't do this again.
01:07Then I've got the luck tonight.
01:09I can feel it all going for me.
01:11The way you always feel?
01:13Please.
01:13Marge, let go.
01:14You want to put the whammy on me?
01:16I said...
01:17Tom, you...
01:18Let go.
01:21Marge.
01:22Marge, I didn't mean to...
01:24Push it.
01:26Oh, Lord.
01:29Ma?
01:31Ma?
01:34Ma!
01:36Pa, you killed her!
01:38Pa!
01:38You killed her dead!
01:40Dad!
01:41Ah!
01:44Ah!
01:47Ah!
01:50Ah!
01:52Ah!
01:52Ah!
01:52Ah!
01:53Ah!
01:53Ah!
01:53Ah!
01:53Our mystery drama, The Wishing Stone,
01:56was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Ian Martin,
02:00and stars Clarice Blackburn and William Prince.
02:04It is sponsored in part by the Kellogg Company,
02:07makers of Kellogg's Special K cereal,
02:10and by new sugar-free Diet 7-Up.
02:12I'll be back shortly with Act One.
02:27We are such stuff as dreams are made on,
02:30and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
02:35That quote is definitely Mr. Shakespeare's.
02:38But our little life is equally founded,
02:41and sometimes confounded,
02:43on dreams,
02:45like the bad one Jenny Coulter had a few moments ago,
02:48and for which, fortunately,
02:50there is present comfort
02:51in the person of her mother,
02:53and in turn,
02:54her brother, Judd.
02:56Jenny, you all right?
02:59It's you, Ma.
03:00You.
03:02Oh, you all right?
03:04Well, I'm fine, honey.
03:05What, did you have a bad dream?
03:07I suppose.
03:08Oh, now that I see you.
03:10Oh, Ma, it was so real.
03:12I saw you lying there at the bottom of the stairs,
03:15and your head.
03:17Oh, it was turned to the side like, like...
03:20Oh, and now, now, don't let it upset you.
03:23Here I am, right as rain,
03:25and it was only a dream.
03:26But it was just like I saw it happen.
03:28He pulled his arm away from you
03:30while you were hanging on,
03:31and you went tumbling down...
03:33Oh, oh.
03:34He?
03:35Who's he?
03:37I...
03:38I don't want to talk about it.
03:40Oh, was it your father?
03:43Yes.
03:44Who else would it be?
03:45Judd, what...
03:46What are you doing up?
03:47I heard Jenny Lou cry out.
03:49Oh, it was just a bad dream is all.
03:51You okay, sis?
03:52I'm just fine now.
03:54You go on back to bed now, son.
03:56What did you dream the old man did to Ma, Jenny?
03:58Ma was trying to stop him
03:59from going out gambling again,
04:01and he sort of pushed her off him, like...
04:04And she tumbled all the way downstairs.
04:07Oh, that's enough fussing about nothing now.
04:09You get back to bed, Judd.
04:11Okay.
04:12Good night, Jenny.
04:13Good night, Judd.
04:15Uh, you want I should close the door, Ma?
04:17No, I'm coming back to bed myself, right away.
04:21You're not scared no more, are you, honey?
04:24No.
04:25As long as I know you and Judd are close by.
04:27But I sure was scared.
04:29Oh, my baby.
04:31You're just so sensitive.
04:33Everything touches you close
04:35like a little old butterfly
04:36sitting on a leaf
04:37with your feelers reaching out all a-tremble.
04:40I like being butterfly.
04:42That's a pretty sort of thing to think on.
04:45So you just keep thinking on it
04:47and hustle yourself back to sleep.
04:49Good night, Jenny.
04:51Good night, Ma.
04:52I love you.
04:53And I love you.
04:55Sleep tight.
04:57Ma.
04:59Sakes alive, Judd.
05:00You like to startle me out of my wits.
05:02Come away from Jenny's door.
05:03I thought I told you to go on back to bed.
05:06Was you and Pa having an argument again tonight?
05:09When?
05:09Well, right now.
05:10That she might have heard.
05:12Your father isn't even here.
05:13He went on out after you kids went to bed.
05:16Yeah, I bet he's over to Stover's playing poker.
05:19Oh, Tom don't mean what he does.
05:22He's sick.
05:24Yeah, and so am I.
05:26I'm sick of him.
05:32I'm here in the kitchen, Dr. Luther.
05:35How's Jenny?
05:36Jenny Lou's just fine, Marge.
05:39She's getting dressed,
05:40and I'm going to drop her off at school
05:42on my way into town.
05:44It ain't the encephalitis again.
05:46You got to stop worrying about that, Marge.
05:49It's not so easy.
05:50After last year,
05:52getting put back one grade
05:54after missing all her classes.
05:56It won't take her long
05:57to jump back where she belongs.
05:58That's the right smart little girl.
06:01She used to be before.
06:04That's what I want to talk to you about.
06:07If I've told you once,
06:08I've told you half a dozen times
06:10that Jenny was one of the lucky ones.
06:13She came through it without a scratch,
06:15physical or mental.
06:17But such a long time.
06:18It was a very mild case,
06:21even if it was stubborn and protracted.
06:23It's just I worry so that she...
06:26She was somehow held back.
06:30Now, I want you to get that clean
06:31out of your mind,
06:32once and for all.
06:33But sometimes she seems so...
06:36so young.
06:38Oh, Lord,
06:40where do you want her to be at 16?
06:42I don't know of anyone fresher
06:44and lovelier
06:45and more unspoiled
06:47than your little girl.
06:48She wants to cling to childhood
06:51a little longer.
06:52Leave her be.
06:53Just so you're sure
06:54last year didn't hurt her none.
06:57There's only one thing
06:58I worry about with Jenny.
07:00What?
07:02Your husband.
07:04Lord knows why,
07:05but she thinks the sun rises
07:06and sets in her father.
07:09Once she settles for being a woman,
07:11she'll have to open her eyes
07:13as to what he really is.
07:15Oh, Tom doesn't mean
07:16to hurt anyone, Doctor.
07:17You told me yourself
07:18that he's sick.
07:19Yeah, I think it is
07:21a kind of sickness.
07:22But not one a doctor can treat.
07:26What am I going to do?
07:28I don't know, Marge.
07:31Oh, one thing I do know
07:33is I've got to go.
07:34People waiting at the office,
07:36but...
07:38Tom is hurting all of you.
07:40bad.
07:42Bad.
07:43Worse, maybe,
07:43than any of you realize.
07:45And in the end,
07:48Jenny will lose
07:49the one he'll hurt
07:50most of all.
07:58Judd, that you?
07:59Oh, yeah, Ma.
08:02Is Jenny with you?
08:04Oh, no, Ma.
08:05Oh, where you been?
08:07Baseball practice.
08:09Oh, why'd you think
08:10Jenny was with me?
08:11Because she didn't come home
08:12after school.
08:13Judd, it isn't like her
08:14to just take off.
08:15You don't suppose she...
08:16Well, she what, Ma?
08:17That dream shook her up.
08:19And Tom and me
08:21had another bad set-to
08:22this morning.
08:23She wouldn't run away.
08:25Jenny?
08:26From us?
08:27No way.
08:28Well, she was sort of
08:29strange when she left
08:31this morning
08:31with Dr. Luther.
08:32Kind of, I don't know,
08:34excited as if she had
08:35some secret plan.
08:37You know how she gets.
08:38Secret?
08:40Yeah.
08:41But I know where she is.
08:42Where?
08:43Well, I can't tell you.
08:46I mean, it's her own
08:47secret place, only...
08:50Well, the only reason
08:50I know about it
08:51is I was out
08:52rabbit hunting one day
08:53and I stumbled across it.
08:54She goes there to bird watch
08:56and, well, just to be alone,
08:57I guess.
08:58Now, she made me promise
08:59I'd never tell just where.
09:01I'll bring her home.
09:09Jenny?
09:11Jenny?
09:11Jenny?
09:13Jenny, what are you doing
09:14hiding out here?
09:16I wasn't hiding.
09:17I just came here to...
09:19to say a little prayer.
09:21For who?
09:22Pa.
09:24Oh?
09:24And the sun was shining in
09:26like a big splinter of light,
09:29the way it does through
09:30the hole in the tree up there.
09:32Remember how I always used to think
09:34when we was little kids
09:35that it was God
09:36stretching down his hand
09:37to touch us?
09:39Yeah.
09:40It was a long time ago.
09:42Don't say that.
09:44Because he is there.
09:46He was here today.
09:48Leastways, one of his angels was.
09:51What?
09:52I was kneeling
09:53and looking up into the sun.
09:55And all of a sudden,
09:58the birds was all still.
10:00And the whole hidey-hole here
10:02filled up with golden light
10:04that sparkled and spun.
10:06And right over there,
10:09he was standing.
10:12Who?
10:13Him.
10:14The angel of the Lord.
10:16And I could feel him
10:18all around me,
10:19in me,
10:20warm and kind,
10:23so kind.
10:24Then he touched my hand
10:26and smiled
10:27and just faded away.
10:31And then I looked in my hand
10:33and I saw it.
10:36Oh, wait.
10:37I didn't lose it.
10:38Oh, no, here.
10:40This is what I found
10:42in my hand.
10:43Well, let's see.
10:44What is it?
10:45It's a conjure stone,
10:46all gold and shiny.
10:48A stone I can wish on.
10:51The angel said that?
10:53He didn't have to.
10:55I heard the words inside me.
10:57You can wish on this, Jenny.
10:59You can have anything you want
11:01in the whole wide world.
11:07You just don't believe
11:08this is a wishing stone, Ma,
11:10do you?
11:10Jenny, right to the moment,
11:12I just gotta say
11:13I'm so fussed and fumed
11:15about dinner being ready
11:16and you kids not
11:17and your father ain't home,
11:19I can't hardly think straight about...
11:21Oh, Lordy,
11:22if my biscuits have risen,
11:23we're just gonna have to
11:25sit and eat without Tom.
11:27Jenny,
11:28don't bother Ma right now.
11:29I just wanna try
11:30my wishing stone.
11:32Wish something nice for her.
11:34Let's just hold up
11:35for a better time.
11:37I could wish Pa
11:38to hurry home
11:39so he wouldn't have to wait.
11:41I don't wanna wait
11:42none at all.
11:43I got a math test tomorrow.
11:45I just gotta pass
11:46or I don't make the ball team
11:47and I need every minute
11:48to study.
11:50Except who am I kidding?
11:52If I stayed up all night,
11:53I said I wouldn't be ready
11:54for tomorrow.
11:54If you had a few more days,
11:56could you make it?
11:57Well, even just one,
11:58I'd stand a chance.
11:59Okay, here goes.
12:01No, no, no,
12:01hold up a minute.
12:02Too late.
12:03Shh.
12:04I just wished
12:06there'd be no school tomorrow.
12:09No school tomorrow?
12:10What nonsense is that?
12:13Jenny, go bring them biscuits.
12:15Judge, you sit down.
12:16Ain't we gonna wait for Pa?
12:17We ain't waiting for nothing,
12:18not even wishes to come true.
12:20We're gonna eat our dinner
12:21before it spoils.
12:22Yes, Ma.
12:23I'll get the biscuits.
12:26You didn't have to be
12:27so rough on them, Ma.
12:28Play her game.
12:30I know, Judd.
12:32It's just I have no sense
12:33of humor left.
12:34Or fun.
12:35The way it is with us,
12:37if we had a wishing stone,
12:39we could use it
12:40for a lot better things
12:41than no school tomorrow.
12:43Huh.
12:44Ain't that crazy?
12:46The two of you
12:47have had me half believing
12:48there is a power
12:49in that stone.
12:58Hi, March.
12:59Tom?
13:00Where are the kids?
13:02As if you care.
13:04Gone to bed.
13:05Where have you been?
13:06What was the action tonight?
13:08Bingo?
13:09Horses?
13:10Pools?
13:11Nope.
13:12Tonight,
13:12I got a pretty fair excuse.
13:14The only thing I was gambling
13:16was my life.
13:18What's that supposed to mean?
13:20I've been a volunteer
13:22helper at a fire.
13:26Now it's finally out,
13:27I couldn't hardly wait
13:28to get home
13:29and tell the kids
13:29the good news.
13:31What good news?
13:32That the school burned down.
13:35Good news
13:36for the kids
13:36everywhere tonight.
13:37No school tomorrow.
13:44Is there any other
13:46catastrophe in the world
13:47that carries with it
13:48an equal amount of joy
13:49than a school
13:51burning down?
13:52But this time,
13:53is it chance
13:54or is some
13:55supernatural force,
13:57sinister
13:58or benign
13:59at play?
14:01We're going to find out
14:02that this simple phenomenon
14:04or happenstance
14:05is a great deal more
14:07than sheer coincidence
14:08when we return
14:10in a few moments
14:11with Act Two.
14:23So,
14:24Jenny Liu,
14:25our 16-year-old
14:26who is determined
14:27to cling to childhood
14:28and all its happiest dreams,
14:30has made her first wish
14:32upon the Conjure Stone,
14:34the magic piece
14:35of shiny gold
14:36that came to her,
14:37she believes,
14:38at the hand of an angel,
14:40a wish that came true.
14:42Well,
14:43this one was
14:44a harmless enough request,
14:46although the manner
14:47of its granting
14:47has been destructive enough,
14:49if indeed it was
14:51actually granted.
14:53If this is a wishing stone,
14:55it is potentially
14:56as dangerous
14:57as a nuclear bomb.
14:59Did you say
15:00the school burned down,
15:01Pa?
15:01It sure as Tucker did,
15:03John.
15:04Ain't that good news,
15:05Jenny?
15:05I reckon.
15:06I guess
15:07I didn't mean
15:08to do it that way.
15:09Eh?
15:10You didn't mean
15:10to do what?
15:11To burn it down.
15:12I just didn't want it to be.
15:14That's all I wished on.
15:15Hey,
15:15what was she talking about,
15:16Marge?
15:16Oh,
15:17it's just Jenny found a...
15:18Don't you tell him,
15:19Marge.
15:19Don't you tell me what?
15:20Oh,
15:21don't pay any mind
15:22to the young'un's nonsense.
15:24Just tell us
15:25about the schoolhouse
15:26and what happened.
15:27Well,
15:28sir,
15:28I just about finished
15:30trimming up
15:30Mayor Sacker's hedge,
15:31and I just started
15:32to get all my tools together
15:33to put back in a pickup
15:35when the fire horn went off.
15:37I heard that old horn
15:38go just a couple of minutes
15:39after.
15:39Shut up,
15:40I run straight over
15:41to the firehouse,
15:42being that close,
15:43and we took off.
15:45At the time we got there,
15:47she was past all saving.
15:49And it's funny,
15:50you know,
15:51you come to think of it,
15:52a brick building like that,
15:54that you wouldn't figure
15:55turning to a regular torch.
15:56Well,
15:57how'd the fire start,
15:58Pa?
15:58Yeah,
15:59you wouldn't believe this,
16:01and neither does nobody
16:02else credit it,
16:03but according to
16:03old Sam Wallace,
16:04all of a sudden,
16:06a flaming arrow
16:08comes straight out
16:09of the sky
16:10and cut right through
16:11the brick walls
16:12and everything
16:12and hit the oil tank
16:14and blew her wide open.
16:16Oh,
16:17that drunken old
16:18no good,
16:19some custodian,
16:21how bet he was drinking
16:22and dropped one of those
16:23foul old stogies
16:24he smokes
16:25into all that rubbish
16:26he's too lazy
16:27to clean out of the cellar.
16:28It could be.
16:29It's what most everyone thinks.
16:32Still...
16:33Still what?
16:35It's hard to tell
16:36someone who wasn't there.
16:38But damn it,
16:39the way he told that story
16:41didn't make you stop
16:42at least once
16:43to sink on it.
16:44What do you mean?
16:46Well,
16:46it's the first time
16:47I ever seen that old
16:48booze hound
16:49with his eyes put together
16:50like he really
16:51was seeing
16:52what he talked about.
16:54Anyways,
16:56we talked enough.
16:57Hey,
16:57something to eat
16:58around here.
16:59I got it warm
17:00and I'll serve it
17:01right away.
17:02Pa?
17:03Yes, Sugar?
17:04That flaming lightning bolt
17:06you said,
17:07how long before
17:08the fire horn sounded
17:09did it come?
17:10Oh,
17:11according to Sam's story,
17:13he lit out next door
17:14to the gas station
17:16and called the fire department
17:18where it couldn't have been
17:19more than a couple of minutes.
17:20See, Judd?
17:21It did so work.
17:22Okay,
17:23if you want to believe it.
17:24What are you kids
17:25talking about?
17:26Well,
17:27forget it, Pa.
17:27Just kid talk.
17:29Oh,
17:29I'm too old to share.
17:31Oh,
17:31no,
17:31if you want to.
17:33Oh,
17:33sure I do.
17:34Well,
17:34Pa,
17:34it's just for no mind.
17:37Jenny and me
17:37has got to be
17:38getting to bed.
17:39With no school
17:40to worry about tomorrow?
17:41If there's no school,
17:43there's plenty of chores
17:44they can catch up
17:44on in the morning.
17:45Scoot now,
17:46both of you.
17:47I'm serving your Pa dinner.
17:48Good night, Pa.
17:49Let's go, Jen.
17:50But I wanted to tell you...
17:51You can't upstairs.
17:52It's past your bedtime.
17:53Yes, Ma.
17:54Good night, Pa.
17:55Good night, kids.
17:58Did you have to
17:59chase him off the bed?
18:01Little enough chance
18:02I get to see him.
18:03It's little enough chance
18:04you make to see him.
18:06Oh,
18:06lay off,
18:07will you, Marge?
18:08I'm not even
18:09laying on.
18:10If you stuck
18:11a little closer
18:12to home
18:12than to the other woman,
18:14maybe you'd know
18:15what goes on
18:15around your own house.
18:16Now,
18:17what other woman?
18:18Now,
18:18dang it...
18:19I'm talking about
18:20Lady Luck
18:21or whatever name
18:21you want to call her.
18:22My rival.
18:23Lady Luck.
18:25Whatever makes you gamble,
18:26Tom,
18:27one way or another,
18:28it's going to be
18:29the end of us.
18:30You're ever going to
18:31see that
18:32before it's too late.
18:40Why wouldn't you
18:41let me tell Pa
18:42about the wishing stone?
18:43Because.
18:44Because what?
18:45Because first thing
18:46you know,
18:47he'll take it off of you.
18:48That's why.
18:48Why would he?
18:49Because it's real gold?
18:52Jenny,
18:52that stone ain't gold.
18:54Then what is it?
18:56It's pyrite.
18:57What's pyrite?
18:59Oh,
19:00it's just what
19:00everybody calls...
19:02Well,
19:03it...
19:04it's a sort of metal.
19:06Well,
19:06anyways,
19:07whatever it is,
19:08it's real precious to me.
19:10It's my lucky charm.
19:13Well,
19:13that's why you better
19:14not let Pa know
19:15what you think about it.
19:16Why?
19:17Well,
19:18you know what he's like.
19:19He cares about gambling
19:21more than he cares
19:21about anything,
19:22and all gamblers
19:23are real superstitious.
19:25Now,
19:26if he knew you
19:26had a lucky piece,
19:27especially if he heard
19:28the crazy story
19:29about you
19:30and the school
19:30burning down,
19:32he'd have it
19:32off of you so fast
19:33that it set your head
19:34to spinning.
19:35It isn't crazy.
19:36You heard me wish
19:37on the stone
19:38for no school,
19:39and now there is
19:40no school.
19:41That was just
19:42happenstance.
19:43You don't think
19:43it happened
19:44just because
19:44I wished it?
19:46Of course it didn't.
19:47Then I'm going
19:48to prove it to you.
19:50What do you want
19:51me to wish for?
19:52I don't want you
19:52to wish for nothing.
19:53I've got to show you.
19:55Look here now.
19:56I'm going to wish...
19:58What, Judd?
19:59Oh, you sound
20:00so funny.
20:02Well, maybe it's
20:03because I feel
20:04like that.
20:05Like what way?
20:08Well, sort of,
20:08you know,
20:10superstitious-like.
20:12It sort of gives you
20:13goosebumps if you
20:14think on it.
20:15What does?
20:16Well, now, look,
20:17Jenny, supposing...
20:18Now, I'm not saying
20:19it did fall out
20:20this way,
20:21but supposing you
20:23did get what
20:23you wished for.
20:25You were the one
20:25yourself said
20:26you didn't mean
20:26to get it the way
20:27you did.
20:28No, that's for sure
20:29I didn't.
20:30I didn't want
20:31the schoolhouse
20:32to go on fire.
20:34Gosh, Judd!
20:36Oh, supposing...
20:37Just supposing
20:38someone had been
20:39in there and got
20:40caught in the fire.
20:41Or a whole lot
20:42of folks.
20:44That's kind of
20:45what I'm saying.
20:46And my wish
20:48could have
20:48burned them all up.
20:51But the angel
20:52gave it to me.
20:53For sure,
20:54he couldn't have
20:55meant nothing
20:55bad to happen.
20:57I don't have
20:58to throw it away,
20:59do I, Judd?
20:59I can keep it.
21:02Well, that won't
21:03do no harm,
21:04so long as you
21:05don't wish on it.
21:07I guess I'll just
21:08put it away
21:09for my keepsakes.
21:10And I'll never
21:12use it unless...
21:14Unless what?
21:15Unless the angel
21:16comes and tells me to.
21:19Well, that's a
21:20right good idea, Jenny.
21:21And remember,
21:22don't let Pa
21:23get wind of that
21:24there stone.
21:25There would
21:26nothing hold him
21:26back from using it,
21:28even if he
21:29didn't believe in it.
21:37It's going to seem
21:38funny going to school
21:39in the courthouse.
21:40You'd think
21:41with only a Friday
21:42left in the week
21:42that I'd wait
21:43until Monday
21:43to start up again.
21:44I'm glad they did.
21:45I don't want to
21:46miss any more
21:47school ever.
21:48Then you'd better
21:49look out the things
21:50you go around
21:50wishing, Missy.
21:51Oh, she's took...
21:53I'm sorry, Ma.
21:54She's taken a pledge.
21:55What does that mean?
21:57I'm not going to
21:57wish on the stone
21:58anymore,
21:59because the wish
22:00you get might
22:00turn out bad
22:01for other folks.
22:02I think that's
22:03a very good pledge.
22:05Yes, only...
22:06Only what?
22:07I'll have to whisper.
22:09Well, don't mind me.
22:10I'm all finished.
22:11I've got to get
22:11my books
22:12from upstairs.
22:16What's this
22:16you had to whisper?
22:18I was just
22:19going to say
22:19that with Judd's...
22:21With Judd's
22:22birthday tomorrow,
22:23I wanted to
22:24wish him a bicycle.
22:26He sure has
22:27his heart set
22:27on one.
22:28Well, you won't
22:29have to worry
22:30because he's
22:31already got one.
22:32Leastways,
22:32he will by later
22:33this morning.
22:34How?
22:35You see this
22:36flower tin?
22:37Yes.
22:38Watch this.
22:40Down under
22:41the flower,
22:41there,
22:42in this old
22:43glass salt cellar
22:44is the money
22:44I've been saving
22:45up for most a year
22:46to get your brother
22:47the bike he wants.
22:49How come
22:49you kept it there?
22:51Your father
22:52what he is,
22:53it had to be
22:53some real safe place
22:55to keep his hands
22:56off it.
22:58Who's that?
22:59Oh, it's your Uncle Al.
23:00He's driving me
23:01to work this morning.
23:02Get the door, honey,
23:03will you?
23:03My hands are all flower.
23:05Sure thing, Ma.
23:08Oh, hi, Uncle Al.
23:10Hi, beautiful.
23:11Oh, my,
23:13you sure are
23:14as pretty as a picture.
23:15Getting to look
23:16more like your mother
23:17every day.
23:19And they don't
23:20come any prettier
23:21than that.
23:22Oh, you and
23:23your honey talk.
23:24You should have
23:25been on a TV
23:25instead of behind
23:26a cage.
23:27Thank God the bank
23:28don't keep its
23:29tellers there anymore.
23:30You make me
23:30sound like an ape.
23:32Uh, me, Tarzan.
23:34You, Jane?
23:36No, me, Jenny.
23:38You know,
23:38I see a guy here
23:39laughing.
23:40I know you must be
23:40around, Uncle Al.
23:41Hi.
23:42Hi, Gabe.
23:42Give me some skin.
23:43Well, here's five.
23:44I'll match it.
23:45Ooh, ooh.
23:45Say, that's some grip.
23:47You want Indian wrestling?
23:48Oh, I'm going to be ready
23:49pretty soon to take you on.
23:50I think you're ready
23:51already.
23:52Oh, I got no time
23:53this morning.
23:53I got to catch a school bus.
23:54Come on, Jenny.
23:55Maybe we got to scoot.
23:56Goodbye, Ma.
23:57Oh, have a good day, son.
23:59Bye, Ma.
23:59And get a real swell
24:01you-know-what.
24:03I will.
24:03Be happy, Jenny.
24:05I am.
24:05Bye, Uncle Al.
24:06Hey, it's great to see you.
24:07We'll make it longer
24:08next time.
24:09Bye, Uncle Al.
24:10Come on, Jenny.
24:12Make next time soon.
24:14You can count on it
24:15real soon.
24:18Oh, they're swell kids, Marge.
24:20I envy you.
24:21Yeah, they're what I live
24:23for these days.
24:25Uh, Tom left already?
24:28No, he's upstairs,
24:29dead to the world.
24:31He rolled in this morning
24:33around three,
24:34smelling like a brewery.
24:35That brother of mine,
24:37I'd like to knock
24:38his head off.
24:39The way he'll be feeling
24:41in time he gets up
24:41this morning,
24:42you won't have to.
24:43It'll fall off
24:43all by itself.
24:45I got to talk
24:46some business to it.
24:48Like what?
24:49I don't want to get
24:50you involved in it, Marge.
24:52Well, if it's about money,
24:53I will be anyway.
24:54It is about money.
24:56And there's no use
24:57asking him.
24:58I...
25:00I went through
25:01his pockets last night
25:02and he doesn't have
25:03one red cent.
25:05But he's got to.
25:07What for, Al?
25:09Jim Kenny
25:10called me at home
25:11late last night.
25:12The insurance agent?
25:14Yeah.
25:15Last payment
25:16on Tom's life insurance
25:17hasn't been made.
25:19And tomorrow's
25:19the last day
25:20of the grace period.
25:21But I gave him
25:23the money for that
25:24a month ago.
25:25You gave him
25:26the money?
25:27Oh, I was a fool,
25:29I know.
25:29But things had been
25:30going well for a while
25:31like they sometimes do
25:32or...
25:33Anyways,
25:34I thought they were.
25:35And he asked me
25:37to trust him
25:38and...
25:38Oh, Lord,
25:40what am I going
25:40to do now, Al?
25:42I don't know, Marge.
25:44This time I...
25:46I just haven't got it.
25:48What do you mean
25:49this time?
25:51Marge,
25:53Tom is hopeless.
25:54I've been carrying him
25:56for years
25:56or thought I was.
25:58I gave him the $60
25:59for that same payment.
26:01When I found out
26:02last night
26:02it hadn't been made,
26:03I was mad enough
26:04to kill him.
26:05One reason I waited
26:06till this morning
26:07is to cool off.
26:09I'd help you out, Marge,
26:11but I can't.
26:11I had to take out
26:12a new loan
26:13to raise the cash
26:13for Tom.
26:15I can't let
26:16the insurance go.
26:18You'd have a tough time
26:20getting a new policy
26:21written if this one
26:21lapses,
26:22but how?
26:25Nearly a year
26:26I've been saving it
26:27for a bike
26:29for Judd's birthday
26:30tomorrow.
26:32Instead...
26:32I'm going upstairs
26:34to beat the...
26:35No, no.
26:36Take me downtown, Al.
26:38I just can't face
26:39Tom this morning.
26:40I'll have it out
26:41with him tonight.
26:48After what you
26:49made me have
26:50to do today,
26:51how could you
26:51steal money
26:52out of my purse
26:53and leave
26:53to go gambling again?
26:54All I want to do
26:55is run it up
26:55till it's enough
26:56to pay you back.
26:57You're sick.
26:57I'm not going to let you
26:58take the money
26:59I broke my back
27:00making today.
27:00I'll bring you back
27:01five times this.
27:03And you're not
27:04stopping me.
27:05Oh, yes, I will.
27:06I'm warning you.
27:07You stop hanging
27:08under me.
27:09I got to, Tom.
27:09Tom, you just can't
27:10do this to us anymore.
27:11Just lay off of me.
27:13Tom, you can't
27:13do this to us again.
27:14I got the luck tonight.
27:16I can feel it
27:17all going for me.
27:18The way you
27:18always feel.
27:19Please.
27:20Let go of me.
27:21You want to put
27:21the whammy on me?
27:22I said, Tom, let's go.
27:27Marge, I didn't mean
27:29to push.
27:32Oh, my God.
27:35Ma, what happened?
27:37Ma.
27:38Oh, Judd.
27:39It's just like my dream.
27:42He killed her.
27:44Pa killed her dead.
27:53The terror of addiction.
27:55Step by step, it grows
27:58to envelop the addict
27:59till it becomes
28:00his whole world,
28:01shutting out
28:02everything else.
28:03But the greater terror
28:05is the destruction
28:06of all who love him,
28:08dragged down with him,
28:09and eventually engulfed
28:11in a tragedy
28:12not of their making.
28:15I'll return
28:15in a moment
28:16with Act Three.
28:28An endless moment
28:29in time.
28:31A few dreadful seconds
28:33ticked away,
28:34with every heart
28:35crying out
28:35to take them back again,
28:37to make this
28:37just a bad dream
28:39and not reality.
28:41Three people
28:42frozen in horror.
28:44The fourth sprawled
28:45at the bottom
28:46of the stairs,
28:47her neck bent
28:48at an impossible angle,
28:50frozen in...
28:51What?
28:53Unconsciousness?
28:54Or death?
28:56Now, at last,
28:57the man brings himself
28:58to move.
28:59Marge.
29:01Marge.
29:01Don't you touch her, Pa.
29:03I'll kill you dead.
29:03Oh, son.
29:04I'm not your son.
29:05I'm your enemy.
29:07Jenny, call the police.
29:08Emergency.
29:08We gotta get Ma
29:09to the hospital fast.
29:19I'm your host.
29:21Ma.
29:23Ma.
29:24Ma.
29:25Okay, kid.
29:27Just take it easy.
29:29She's not gonna die.
29:32You're not gonna let her die, Doctor.
29:34Just hang in tough, kid.
29:35And we'll do our best.
29:45I should have gone
29:46with the ambulance.
29:47Oh, you're sticking
29:48right with me, brother.
29:49We'll see how your wife
29:50makes out.
29:51No, no, no.
29:51Look, officer,
29:52you don't think she's...
29:53Well, for the sake
29:54of your own skin,
29:55you better hope she isn't.
29:56But it was an accident.
29:58Well, the way that boy
29:58of yours reacted
29:59looked like he wasn't
30:00so sure.
30:01Now, we gotta get moving.
30:02Now, what happened
30:02to your daughter?
30:04Oh, Jenny,
30:06she went back
30:07to get something.
30:09Where are you taking us?
30:10Oh, the hospital.
30:11First, anyways.
30:12Oh, here she comes.
30:13Come on, shake her leg, kiddo.
30:15I...
30:15I had to get
30:16something very important.
30:17Okay, okay.
30:18Hop in the front
30:19with my buddy,
30:19Officer Franks.
30:27Okay, Harry.
30:28Straight to X-ray.
30:30You, uh...
30:31You got a family doctor, kid?
30:32Uh...
30:32Yeah, Dr. Luther.
30:34Oh, you know his number?
30:35No, but I can look it up.
30:36Okay.
30:37Tell your doctor
30:38to get here
30:39as fast as he can.
30:41It...
30:41It's that bad?
30:44I wouldn't want
30:44to fake you out, son.
30:46It's not good.
30:51And I phoned Dr. Luther.
30:53He's on his way here.
30:54Is Ma gonna die, Chad?
30:56I...
30:57I don't know.
30:58I'm...
30:59I'm scared.
31:00Real scared.
31:02So am I.
31:03Judd?
31:04What?
31:05I'm gonna break my pledge.
31:07You forgive me?
31:09What...
31:09What pledge?
31:10I brought the wishing stone.
31:12I'm gonna wish on it.
31:14I'm gonna wish
31:15that Ma's gonna be all right.
31:17Just like it never happened.
31:18If you want to,
31:19Jenny, go ahead.
31:21Can't do no harm.
31:22What can't do no harm?
31:24For me to use
31:24my wishing stone?
31:26Your what?
31:27Shh.
31:28Quiet.
31:29I'm wishing
31:31right now.
31:40Are you the intern
31:41brought the cold case in?
31:43He is, officer.
31:44I wish he...
31:45I'm waiting for x-rays
31:46right now.
31:47I'd say she has
31:49one chance
31:50in a thousand.
31:52For certain,
31:53sure,
31:53neck is broken.
31:54And the way
31:55it's broken
31:56and other signs
31:57indicate to me
31:57her spinal cord
31:58is badly damaged.
32:00If it isn't
32:01severed altogether.
32:07I just can't
32:08understand it,
32:09Dr. Luther.
32:10When I brought
32:11Mrs. Calder in,
32:12I'd have sworn
32:13she was in deep coma.
32:15I was sure
32:16her neck was broken.
32:17Spinal cord severed.
32:19There's no indication
32:20of that
32:20for my examination
32:21of her.
32:22Not the slightest
32:23in these x-rays.
32:24I know,
32:25but not in this
32:26second set.
32:27Was there a first?
32:29Yes.
32:30And that's the funny thing.
32:32When we developed them,
32:33everyone was fogged.
32:35And we don't know why.
32:37Well,
32:38these are perfectly clear.
32:39So is my patient's condition.
32:42I see no reason
32:43why she shouldn't go home.
32:45Cheer up, son.
32:46All interns make mistakes.
32:48I made a few beauts
32:50in my time.
32:51And I'll say this for you.
32:53If you have to make one,
32:54make it on the gloomy side.
32:55They're the ones
32:56that don't hurt anyone
32:57or anything.
32:58Except maybe your pride.
33:04I can't understand it.
33:06That cop said it flat out
33:07that Marge was a goner.
33:09Well, maybe he was just
33:10trying to put the fear
33:11of God into you.
33:12Well, if he was,
33:13he sure succeeded.
33:15If it'll do any good.
33:17You think I made a stone, Judd?
33:20You think I don't blame myself
33:21for what might have happened?
33:23You think I wasn't ready
33:25to kill myself
33:25if anything happened to Marge?
33:27I don't know, Pa.
33:28Pa wasn't trying to hurt Marge,
33:30Judd.
33:31It was an accident.
33:32An accident that wouldn't
33:34have happened if...
33:35Pa wasn't sick
33:37with gambling fever.
33:38Well, I've learned
33:38my lesson this time.
33:39I'll never gamble again.
33:42Oh, Pa.
33:43Oh, that makes me so happy.
33:45I'm glad, honey.
33:46And it means
33:47I won't have to use
33:48the stone again.
33:49Mm-hmm.
33:50I can save up
33:51what's maybe the last wish
33:52for something special
33:53for all of us
33:54instead of having to use it
33:56to stop you from gambling.
33:57What stone?
33:58The wishing stone.
34:00The one I used
34:01at the hospital
34:01to wish Mar well again.
34:03Oh, that's right.
34:05I forgot.
34:07Listen, Duchess.
34:09Let me see that stone.
34:10Don't show it to him.
34:11Why not?
34:12I don't know.
34:13It's just a sort of hunch
34:15that...
34:16Wait a minute.
34:17Here comes the doctor.
34:19How's Marge, Dr. Luther?
34:20She's fine,
34:21more is a wonder.
34:22Oh, a few scrapes
34:24and a bruise or two
34:25and a lump on the head.
34:26Nothing a good night's rest
34:28won't take care of.
34:29Thank God.
34:30You should.
34:32It's a miracle
34:33she didn't break her neck
34:34in a fall like that.
34:36That intern at the hospital
34:37was sure she did.
34:38But she didn't.
34:40No, Judd.
34:41I told you
34:41she'll be as right as rain.
34:42Can I go up
34:43and see her now?
34:44Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:45She was asking for you
34:46and the kids.
34:48She wants to see you
34:50alone a moment first.
34:52I'll go right up.
34:53Just to put your mind
34:54at rest
34:54or maybe more hers,
34:57she doesn't want to
34:59prefer any charges
35:00against you.
35:01So you can tell her
35:02my report to the police
35:04will call it just an accident.
35:05She slipped and fell.
35:07I'll tell her, Doc.
35:08You got off mighty lucky
35:10this time, Tom.
35:11You better not
35:13tempt fate again.
35:14I won't.
35:20No, I mean it, Marge.
35:22Just,
35:22just give me another chance.
35:25I didn't see
35:26how I could, Tom.
35:27I never meant
35:28to throw you
35:29down those stairs.
35:30Oh, not because of that.
35:33The last straw for me
35:35was taking a chance
35:36away from Judd
35:37to have something
35:38he wanted more than
35:40anything in the world.
35:41His bicycle.
35:42You should just
35:44let the insurance go.
35:45How could I, Tom?
35:47With two kids to bring up?
35:48If anything happened to you,
35:50I...
35:51Not that I want
35:52anything to happen to you.
35:54You gonna
35:55take me back, Marge?
35:59I don't know, Tom.
36:01It's hard for me
36:02to feel for you
36:03what...
36:04what I once felt.
36:07But
36:07if you're gonna
36:09promise me
36:10you'll quit the gambling
36:12for the children's sake,
36:14we'll try to make
36:15a go of it.
36:16You won't be
36:17sorry, Marge.
36:18I hope not.
36:20I just
36:21wish I knew
36:22how to make it up
36:24to Judd tomorrow.
36:25If there was something
36:26I could pawn...
36:27You haven't left
36:28anything in this house
36:29that you could.
36:31Except the one thing
36:33you could never
36:33get your hands on.
36:34Well, what's that?
36:36My wedding ring.
36:39Do you...
36:39Do you think
36:40I could get enough
36:41on that?
36:42Well, not enough
36:43to pay for it all.
36:45But for a down payment?
36:47Then
36:47I'll take that night job
36:49cleaning sewers
36:50you made me turn down
36:51to pay it off.
36:52I don't want you
36:52working in any sewers
36:53anyway.
36:54You can't work
36:55day and night.
36:56Well, I can't
36:56till I get Judd
36:57to his bike.
36:58Well, we'll see.
37:00I'll take the ring
37:01down in the morning.
37:02No, no, no, no, sir.
37:03Dr. Lewis
37:03doesn't want you
37:04out of bed.
37:05I'll take it down.
37:06You?
37:07Can't you trust me, Marge?
37:10Well, if you can't
37:11trust me now,
37:12then what hope
37:13do I have
37:14or any of us
37:15I can ever be trusted.
37:17Well, you got to.
37:19Well, I swear to God,
37:21I'd just as soon
37:22be dead.
37:25All right, Tom.
37:27I'll trust you.
37:36Did what?
37:38You ran out of the money?
37:41Look, Benny.
37:42You got to do
37:43an old customer
37:44a favor, huh?
37:45You got to cover me
37:47for the fifth.
37:48Headlonger.
37:49Now, Benny, Benny,
37:50you got to.
37:51That 15 I laid out
37:53on the first
37:53was money I got
37:54for pawning
37:55my wife's wedding ring.
37:56I got to get it back
37:58and I got a hot tip
37:59the headlonger's assure.
38:02Benny,
38:03for God's sake.
38:06Just this once.
38:08Please.
38:09Benny.
38:11Benny.
38:16What am I going to do?
38:18I wish to God
38:21wish
38:23that wishing stone.
38:25Yeah.
38:34Where's Jenny, Judd?
38:35Oh, I left her down
38:36by the pond.
38:37We were skipping stones.
38:39I just came up
38:40to see how you were feeling.
38:41Fine.
38:42I'm going to get up.
38:43Your pa didn't get back yet,
38:45did he?
38:45No, ma'am.
38:46I ain't seen him
38:47since early morning
38:48when he pulled out
38:48in the pickup.
38:49Well,
38:50you go on back down
38:51and keep Jenny company.
38:53I'm going to make me a cake
38:54so we can have
38:55a real birthday celebration.
38:57Oh, it's all right, Ma.
38:58I don't need a cake.
38:59You're going to get
39:00a lot more
39:00than you bargained for.
39:02Now, go on.
39:03I don't like Jenny
39:04down by that pond alone.
39:05You know she can't swim.
39:12Hi, Pa.
39:13What are you doing
39:14up on top of the rock here?
39:16Oh, just sunning myself
39:18and listening to the birds.
39:19Jenny,
39:21you know that wishing stone
39:22you talked about?
39:23Yes.
39:23Is it gold?
39:25You want to see?
39:25Yeah, yeah.
39:26Here.
39:28Oh, damn.
39:29It's nothing but pyrite.
39:31Isn't that a kind of gold?
39:33Yeah, fool's gold
39:34and even worth
39:35as much as a piece
39:36of charcoal.
39:37No, Pa.
39:38No.
39:39Don't throw it away.
39:40It's still good
39:41for one wish.
39:42You think this makes
39:43any wishes come true?
39:44It made the school burn down
39:45and Ma got her neck unbroken.
39:48You're a ma.
39:49Why does you grow up
39:50and stop your daydreamin'?
39:52Don't you know nobody
39:53ever got nothing by wishing?
39:54I've been doing
39:55a kind of wishing
39:56all my life.
39:57Look at where I end up now.
39:59Well, I'm going to wake up
40:01your little Miss Bright Eyes
40:02to show just how tough
40:03a world this is.
40:04Pa!
40:05Please, please don't get mad.
40:06If this was a wishing stone,
40:09well, nobody ever needed it
40:10more than me
40:11right this moment.
40:12So look at this.
40:13I'm going to make a wish.
40:15I need money.
40:16I need it bad.
40:18So I'm going to wish
40:19that old Nick himself
40:21comes climbing up
40:22out of the middle
40:23of this pond
40:24with a sack of gold
40:25on his back
40:26for me.
40:27And I ain't going to be greedy.
40:29And I ain't going to ask for much.
40:31Just say like a ten.
40:32No, no, no.
40:33Make it
40:33twenty thousand dollars.
40:35Okay.
40:38Now, I'll rub the stone
40:40and I wish.
40:46You see?
40:48It ain't no wishing stone.
40:50It'll make dreams come true.
40:52It's a nothing.
40:54Pa!
40:56Pa!
40:56Jimmy, help me!
41:20I don't know how I'm going to tell the kids, Al.
41:26They're not really children anymore, Marge.
41:30They know.
41:31I guess I do baby them.
41:34I won't anymore.
41:37In a lot of ways, they're better off.
41:41Tom...
41:41Well, Tom had a cancer
41:43that he just couldn't cut out.
41:47Even my wedding ring, he...
41:51Oh, I didn't want him dead, though.
41:54Well, he is.
41:57And it was of his own making.
42:00Kind of queer, isn't it?
42:02What?
42:04Him trying to show Jenny Lou
42:06her wishing stone wasn't worth the darn
42:09and he ended up having his wish come true.
42:11Not quite.
42:14The policy's only for 10,000.
42:17There's double indemnity
42:20for accidental death, Marge.
42:23Tom got everything he wished for.
42:25The full 20,000.
42:35Three wishes.
42:37And they all came true.
42:39Whether by some supernatural force
42:42or sheer coincidence,
42:44it doesn't really matter.
42:45For in the end,
42:46everyone was better off
42:47except the one who didn't deserve to be.
42:50This was the gambler's last plunge.
42:53One he should never have taken
42:55with the odds so stacked against him.
42:58Like Jenny,
42:59Tom Coulter had never learned to swim, either.
43:14As for the wishing stone itself,
43:17since it lies buried deep somewhere
43:19in the mud at the bottom of the pond,
43:21no one will ever know
43:23if it had the power to grant wishes.
43:26For Jenny, like all of us,
43:27had no escape from a common fate
43:29that soon befell her.
43:31She grew up
43:32and inherited a mantle
43:34that only Peter Pan
43:35seems to have escaped.
43:37She stopped believing in magic.
43:41Our cast included
43:42William Prince,
43:43Clarice Blackburn,
43:44Ann Costello,
43:45Jack Grimes,
43:46and Robert Dryden.
43:48The entire production
43:49was under the direction
43:50of Hyman Brown.
43:52Radio Mystery Theater
43:53was sponsored in part
43:54by Anheuser-Busch Incorporated,
43:57brewers of Budweiser.
43:59This is E.G. Marshall
44:01inviting you to return
44:02to our mystery theater
44:03for another adventure
44:05in the macabre.
44:07Until next time,
44:09pleasant dreams.
44:11Be be followed via Bdiepie.
44:15How did you infer
44:17What?
44:17What?
44:18How did you infer
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