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"Dead of Night" is the legendary un-aired audition pilot (recorded on March 21, 1947) for the classic CBS radio adventure series Escape. Based on a segment from the 1945 British horror anthology film of the same name, the story follows a paranoid, down-on-his-luck ventriloquist who becomes convinced his wooden dummy is alive, hostile, and planning to abandon him.
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00:02Time to escape.
00:21Escape from now, from here, from yourself.
00:25Columbia invites you to voyage into the realms of the imagination.
00:30Each week we present adventures of men and women who escape into the misty land between the credible and the
00:38incredible.
00:49Tonight's story of escape tells of a dummy with a wooden head and wooden arms and even a wooden heart
00:55who served a master until one day this master heard him say,
01:01I've had enough of you.
01:03I don't need you anymore.
01:11Escape now into the strange adventure of Eric Hickson and his dummy Toby.
01:22This is a story told backstage in many an English music hall in London Cabaret
01:27when the performers are sitting around waiting to go on
01:30or when they finish their evening show.
01:33Nobody ever knew very much about Eric Hickson,
01:36so many of the turns had played on bills with him.
01:39Mostly small-time acts,
01:41for it was only at the end of a long, difficult trail that Hickson reached the fashionable West End.
01:48It was the night after Hickson's opening at the Kit Kat Club.
01:52The act which preceded his was just finishing.
01:55But instead of taking his position in the wings,
01:57Hickson was still sitting in his dressing room.
02:00On his knee was his partner, Toby,
02:03a small, wooden, ventriloquist dummy with a painted face.
02:10I say, Hickson, what's holding you up?
02:12You're on in a minute.
02:13Are we?
02:14Of course you are.
02:14We've got a splendid house out there and I want to introduce you.
02:16Wait, Piccolo.
02:17Well?
02:17We can't go on.
02:18What?
02:19We can't.
02:20It's quite impossible.
02:21What nonsense is this?
02:22You hear the dancers are going on.
02:24It's Toby, Piccolo.
02:25Toby.
02:26He refuses to talk.
02:27Toby?
02:28Your dummy?
02:29Yes, I can't get a word out of him.
02:31Hickson, what is this?
02:32A rib?
02:33Certainly not.
02:34Well, you're a ventriloquist, aren't you?
02:36At least you were last night.
02:38Let the customers talk and hold hands.
02:40Huh?
02:41The stage is just as empty and wear on it.
02:43Toby.
02:44Hickson, what the devil are you up to?
02:45Go on, go on, Bigelow.
02:46Get out there and tell them we're not appearing.
02:48So your dummy won't talk, won't he?
02:50It's the very first time he's spoken all evening, I swear it.
02:52Who'd want to say anything ever again after those reviews we got on our opening last night?
02:57He knows he's beyond his depth here, Bigelow.
02:59He's frightened.
03:00Stop this gagging.
03:01Of all nights when you should want to be particularly good, with Mel Baxter in the house.
03:05Mel Baxter?
03:06The American ventriloquist?
03:07Yes, the star of the American wireless.
03:09And he married that gorgeous blonde in his last picture.
03:11Yes, she's with him at the table out there.
03:14What kind of nonsense am I talking to this dummy?
03:17Dummy yourself.
03:18Go on, Big Mouth.
03:19Get out there and introduce her.
03:21I want to see Mel Baxter.
03:29And now, ladies and gentlemen, before I present to you our next feature turn, I'd like to
03:35call on a distinguished artist who's here tonight.
03:38You've all heard him on the American wireless and seen him in the American cinema.
03:42Mel Baxter!
03:44Stand up, Mel.
03:45Stand up.
03:46And enjoy that well-known chick-cad hospitality.
03:51Ah, you're very, very nice people.
03:55Always nice to visit London.
03:57And isn't that charming lady with you, Mrs. Baxter?
03:59That's right.
04:00Stand up and take a bow, baby.
04:05Hello, everybody.
04:07Thank you, Mrs. Baxter.
04:09Oh, Mel.
04:10Did you bring your little pal, Muggsy Martin, along on this trip?
04:13No, no, I didn't.
04:14The little toothpick gets seasick.
04:16Oh, what a pity.
04:18Yeah, yeah, it is.
04:18He says every time he sees me, he gets seasick.
04:22Well, that gag's aged in the wood, but so is Muggsy.
04:27Well, I'm sure Mrs. Baxter is a much pleasanter burden on your knee, Mel.
04:32Thanks ever so much, and have fun!
04:38And now, ladies and gentlemen, I want to bring on an act that should make our American visitor feel lonesome
04:44for the missing Muggsy Martin, our own British ventriloquist, Eric Hickson, and his talking timber, Toby!
04:56Yes, good morning, good morning, good morning.
04:58Hey, Hickson, go easy on that good morning stuff.
05:01Why, Toby?
05:02That man over there looks like the truant officer.
05:04Oh, that shouldn't trouble you, Toby.
05:06You've been a very good boy, haven't you?
05:07Oh, yes, but I'm not in school.
05:09Too mean to say you've left school?
05:11Oh, yes.
05:12Appendicitis, you know.
05:13You left school because you have appendicitis?
05:15I don't have it.
05:16Can't spell it.
05:19You know, Toby, Toby, I saw a very strange sight the other day.
05:23Oh, dear, dear, dear, must we go on?
05:26Toby, I said I saw a very strange sight the other day.
05:31All right, all right, I'll go along with the gag.
05:33Talk about Muggsy Martin's jokes being aged in the woods.
05:37Toby!
05:38Let's get on with it.
05:39You saw a very strange sight the other day.
05:42What was it?
05:43Twelve men standing under one umbrella, and not one of them got wet.
05:46And why not?
05:48It wasn't raining.
05:50Did you hear that laugh, Hickson?
05:52They're forcing themselves to laugh.
05:54Do you blame them, Mr. Baxter?
05:56Toby, leave Mr. Baxter out of this.
05:57Leave me alone, Hickson.
05:58What about it, Mr. Baxter?
06:00Don't you feel sorry for me having to play along with Hickson's old jokes?
06:03Well, now, Toby, I don't know.
06:05I have great respect for old jokes.
06:07Old jokes are not to be laughed at.
06:12In fact, in fact, one of my favorite jokes is the old one about the man whose name was
06:16Joe Hitler, and he wanted to change his name.
06:19So the judge asked him what he wanted to change it to, and he said George Hitler, because he
06:23was tired of people saying to him, hello, Joe, what do you know?
06:28Oh, dear me, dear me, dear me.
06:30Is that strange sound laughter, Hickson?
06:33Yes, thank you very much for your valuable contribution, Mr. Baxter.
06:38Oh, not at all, Mr. Hickson.
06:40I was just standing here with 11 other guys waiting for you to borrow another umbrella.
06:46I suppose all your gags are original, Mr. Baxter.
06:50But of course, it's a gift.
06:53Now, I've no doubt that you hang up your stockings for them every Christmas.
06:56Sure, and I always get sock gags.
07:03There, there, there, Hickson.
07:05You'll see what happens when you try to top a real comedian, and Mr. Baxter will go right
07:09on top of you for the rest of the night.
07:11Give up and get off, Hickson.
07:14Give up and get off.
07:28Anyone in there?
07:34Who is it?
07:35Now, Baxter, Hickson.
07:39Mr. Baxter?
07:41Well?
07:42How do you do?
07:42Mind if we come in for a minute?
07:45All right, if you like.
07:47Oh, this is my wife, honey, Mr. Hickson.
07:50Mrs. Baxter.
07:51Hello, Mr. Hickson.
07:52Won't you sit down, just throw that dressing gown on the floor?
07:54Oh, thanks.
07:55Well, so this is your boy, huh?
07:57Nice carving job.
08:00I'm very handsome.
08:01Don't you think so, Mrs. Baxter?
08:04You're a dream man, Toby.
08:06Who made him for you?
08:07Don't put your hands on him.
08:09Oh, I'm sorry.
08:10Haven't you done enough damage tonight?
08:11Oh, now, look, Hickson.
08:13You asked for it out there.
08:14I asked for nothing.
08:15It was Toby.
08:15Got me into that.
08:16Toby?
08:17Oh, now, Toby.
08:19Aren't you ashamed?
08:20I asked you not to touch him.
08:21Mr. Hickson, you don't think Mel will steal him, do you?
08:25I can take no chances.
08:27You sure take him seriously, don't you?
08:30Well, relax.
08:31I do all right with Muggsy, my own dummy.
08:33So I've heard.
08:34Yes.
08:35And you sure surprised me with that little act out front.
08:38Your own part in it surprised me.
08:40My part?
08:41Well, you wanted some kind of comeback, didn't you?
08:43You asked for it, Mr. Hickson.
08:43You needn't explain anything.
08:45You see, Mr. Baxter, Hickson's attitude requires a certain amount of sympathy.
08:49He's quite aware he's not our equal.
08:52Oh, now, look, Hickson.
08:52Be quiet, Toby.
08:53Mr. Baxter, just why did you come to my dressing room?
08:56Well, uh, professional courtesy.
08:58If you've come here to make some sort of a bargain to buy Toby, it's no use.
09:01You can never have him.
09:02Now, wait, Hickson.
09:03Yes, wait, Hickson.
09:04I won't have it, Toby.
09:05Never, never.
09:06Whatever the Baxters have to say to me is my affair.
09:08Well, why don't you pretend you're a gentleman and make a graceful exit?
09:13Oh, really?
09:13Toby, if you're trying to make me look ridiculous...
09:16I'm succeeding.
09:17Oh, yes, I know.
09:19Now, go on over behind the screen and get your makeup off.
09:23Very well.
09:24But I warn you...
09:25Beat it!
09:27Uh, pay no attention to him, Mrs. Baxter.
09:29No, I don't understand.
09:31This fellow's amazing.
09:32Oh, not at all.
09:33He's stupid, really.
09:35Constantly interfering in my affairs.
09:37Uh, Mrs. Baxter, now that we're alone, may I tell you something?
09:42Something I'm sure you've heard before.
09:45Well, what is it, Toby?
09:47You're very beautiful.
09:50I'm very fond of you, Mrs. Baxter.
09:52And whatever Hickson thinks, you're really a very nice woman.
09:56Oh, now, look here.
09:57Mel, I don't like this.
09:59Hickson.
09:59Yes?
10:00Come out here.
10:04Well?
10:05What is it?
10:06Just how far do you want to carry a gag?
10:08A gag?
10:09Either you apologize to my wife...
10:10Apologize for what?
10:12Really, Mr. Baxter, I don't know what you're talking about.
10:14Mel, let's leave.
10:15You're not going to leave me, are you, Mrs. Baxter?
10:17Please don't.
10:18Oh, you're a very funny guy, Hickson.
10:20Take me with you, Mr. Baxter.
10:21I just want to be near her.
10:23If you're afraid I'll make love to her, you needn't worry.
10:26I will.
10:27Okay, Hickson, you asked for it.
10:29No, Mel.
10:29Don't hit him.
10:30Don't hit him.
10:32Oh, Mel.
10:33Mel, why did you do it?
10:35Here now.
10:35Here now.
10:36Well, what's going on?
10:37I don't know what's eating this guy.
10:38A gag's a gag, but he doesn't know when to stop.
10:40He looks a bit done in.
10:42Well, he had it coming to him.
10:45Glad he didn't break the dummy when he fell.
10:47Yes, that would have been a shame.
10:48He's such a cute little fella.
10:51Oh, and you do care what happens to me.
10:55I love you, Mrs. Baxter.
10:59I love you.
11:02Oh.
11:13Feeling all right again, old chap?
11:15Oh, yes, quite.
11:17Thank you, Bigelow.
11:18Oh, good night, then.
11:19No, it's not good night.
11:21This is goodbye.
11:23What, then?
11:24Yes.
11:25The manager sacked us, Toby and me.
11:27Oh, well, now that's a pity.
11:30Go on, say it.
11:32You're quite sure we had it coming to us.
11:35Well, you did go too far with the Baxter.
11:37I didn't do it.
11:38I had nothing to do with what Toby said.
11:40Oh, I say.
11:41It was Baxter.
11:42It was Baxter who put those words into Toby's mouth.
11:46He's trying to steal them from me.
11:47Oh, now see here.
11:48It took us 15 years to make the Kit Kat.
11:51And we had only two nights here.
11:55You just think what Toby and I have done together.
11:57We fought our way to the very top after years of cheap and dirty music halls.
12:06Starving out at the elbow.
12:09Oh, you know what it's like, Bigelow.
12:11Always trying to perfect the act.
12:16Toby's a partner anyone would want.
12:18And Baxter's no exception.
12:19All right.
12:20All right, old boy.
12:21Then you'd better take good care of Toby.
12:24No, never fear.
12:25I'll never fear.
12:26I shall.
12:27He's locked in my dressing room right now.
12:29And tonight and every other night,
12:31we are going to sleep behind locked doors
12:34until Mel Baxter leaves London.
12:40The End
12:42The End
13:06Who's there?
13:07Baxter?
13:08I'm going to talk to you.
13:09Mel, be careful.
13:11It's Hickson.
13:11And the door isn't locked.
13:14Where is Toby?
13:15Get out, Hickson.
13:16I've come for Toby.
13:17Where is he?
13:18You've stolen Toby from me,
13:19and I've come to take him back.
13:20I haven't seen your dummy
13:21since we were in your dressing room tonight.
13:22You lie!
13:23You came and stole him from me
13:25whilst I was asleep.
13:26Sure, sure.
13:27I never travel without my burglar tools.
13:29Now listen, Hickson.
13:30I only knocked you down before,
13:31but this time I'm going to finish a job.
13:32Mel!
13:33I'll handle this my way, baby.
13:34No, no, Mel, look.
13:35On the floor.
13:36What?
13:36On the floor at the foot of my bed.
13:38Toby!
13:39Oh, Claudia, how did you...
13:40Toby, there you are.
13:42I found you.
13:44Oh, my poor little Toby.
13:46He kidnapped you.
13:47Now look, Hickson,
13:48I haven't the slightest idea
13:49how your dummy got here.
13:51Mel, look how he's shaking
13:52that awful thing.
13:53Wake up, Toby.
13:54He's trying to wake it up.
13:54Oh, come now.
13:55You're not deceiving me.
13:57You know I'm here.
13:58Go away and leave me alone.
13:59I'm through with you, Hickson.
14:01I can't stand it, Mel.
14:02Easy, baby.
14:03Now look here, Hickson.
14:04Maybe you're ill or mad or something.
14:06Ill?
14:07You took Toby away from me
14:08and you say I'm ill?
14:09I didn't take them.
14:11You brought them here.
14:11You must have.
14:12Maybe while you were walking
14:13in your sleep.
14:13Mel, he's got a gun.
14:14He won't shoot.
14:15Come with me, Toby.
14:16We're going home again.
14:18No, Hickson.
14:18I won't go with you.
14:19I'm going to stay here forever.
14:21What?
14:22I'm missing some trick.
14:24Baxter, you've influenced him against me.
14:26You're putting words into his mouth.
14:28Look, Hickson, will you relax?
14:29I tell you I had nothing to do with this.
14:30I couldn't have.
14:31Nothing to do with it?
14:32You're a devil, Baxter.
14:34You tried to steal Toby away from me
14:36and now you're trying to drive me mad.
14:37Hickson, will you listen to reason?
14:38No.
14:39No, I won't listen to reason.
14:41I won't.
14:46Beastly, man.
14:48Take up his gun before he hurts somebody with a baby.
14:51I've got it, Mel.
14:52Say it's not true.
14:53Now, stay where you are, Hickson.
14:54What?
14:55Oh, no.
14:56Oh, no, I'll do nothing of the sort.
14:58You're insane.
14:59Hickson, you're the one who's sick.
15:00I'm trying to help you.
15:01Help me.
15:02You're trying to take Toby away from me.
15:04Look, will you let me get a doctor for you?
15:05No.
15:06You fool.
15:07You'll never get Toby away from me.
15:10I'll take him where you'll never see him again.
15:13Never.
15:13Hickson.
15:16Claudia, that man's desperately ill.
15:18We've got to get a doctor.
15:26I suppose we should have called the cops, Doctor, but, well, Hickson's in the profession,
15:31and if he's sick, we'd rather have a doctor look after him.
15:34I appreciate your sentiments, Mr. Baxter.
15:36What's made him act this way?
15:38What's wrong with him?
15:39Well, I can't give an opinion without seeing him, without talking with him, but perhaps
15:43your husband may have some ideas.
15:45Me?
15:45You're a ventriloquist, Mr. Baxter, but a more successful one than Hickson.
15:49And, two, you're happily married, less introspective, perhaps.
15:54Isn't it quite possible that Hickson, in his loneliness, his struggles for success, may
15:59have become so accustomed to thinking as two people that the personalities have actually
16:04become divided?
16:05Why, I don't know.
16:08Oh, yeah, yeah, I can see how that might happen.
16:12You mean he thinks he's two people?
16:14No, Mrs. Baxter, he doesn't think he's two people.
16:17It's possible he doesn't know these personalities have become divided, that Toby now might be
16:23said to live within Hickson without Hickson's knowing, and...
16:26Then what's going to happen to him?
16:28Well, it's something he'll have to fight out within himself.
16:31If we can keep the dummy away from him, he may recover.
16:34Oh, but, Doctor, he took it with him.
16:35Then we've no time to lose.
16:36Where does he live?
16:37Have you any idea?
16:38No, but I can find out.
16:38Well, then we'd better go at once.
16:39He must be separated from that dummy.
16:55Oh, here you are, Hickson, right back where you started.
16:59Be quiet, you fool.
17:00Be quiet.
17:01You can't keep me quiet.
17:02You never could.
17:04Where would you have been if I'd kept quiet?
17:06How can you be so ungrateful?
17:08I made you what you are.
17:10You made me until I came along you a very small time, Hickson.
17:15Very small time.
17:17You've forgotten that you're nothing but a lifeless, useless stick of wood without me.
17:21A lifeless, useless stick of wood, am I?
17:23It was I she liked, not you.
17:25It was I Mrs. Baxter spoke kindly to.
17:28It was I she smiled at, not you.
17:29But you wouldn't even be here without me.
17:32A lifeless, useless stick of wood.
17:34You couldn't even get up the nerve to kill Baxter tonight.
17:37Kill him?
17:39Yeah.
17:41Yes, that's it.
17:43You wanted me to kill him.
17:44Why didn't you kill him?
17:46Then she could have belonged to me.
17:47I could be with her forever.
17:49Oh, you fool.
17:51You know that's impossible.
17:52You're just saying that.
17:54You're jealous.
17:55Jealous.
17:56Jealous.
17:57Oh, Toby.
17:59Toby, please.
18:01Don't say these things.
18:03It's the truth.
18:04You're a weakling, a coward.
18:05Toby, I beg you.
18:08You mean nothing to me anymore, Hickson.
18:10You're weak.
18:11No, no, I'm not.
18:13You monster.
18:16Oh, more than the mind can bear.
18:18I can't stand it.
18:19I've got to get rid of you.
18:22I'll kill you.
18:23I'll destroy you.
18:24Hickson, take your hands off me.
18:26I'm through with you.
18:27Take your hands off me.
18:28No, I'll kill you.
18:30You vulgar little beast.
18:32Hickson, stop.
18:33Die, you monster.
18:35Wait.
18:36I hate you.
18:38You filthy beast.
18:39Come on.
18:40Don't.
18:41No.
18:44No.
18:46Talk back.
18:49You little monster.
18:52You'll die, you hear?
18:54Now tell me I'm weak.
18:56You can't kill me, Hickson.
19:00No matter how you try,
19:02you can't kill me.
19:05You're still a failure.
19:08I'll show you who's a failure.
19:18Toby, Toby, what have I done?
19:26Toby, Toby, I never meant to.
19:31Answer me, answer me, Toby.
19:43Hickson! Hickson, are you in there?
19:45Don't wait, Mel. Fire the door.
19:47Oh, there we are.
19:48I'll go first.
19:49Look, there he is, Doctor.
19:51Mel, too late.
19:52Now, easy now. Perhaps he's only fainted.
19:54Doctor, Doctor, look. The dummy.
19:57Smashed to bits.
19:59I can't believe it's real.
20:00Easy, honey. Take it easy.
20:02Hickson's breathing. He's just out for a minute.
20:04Oh, Mel.
20:06What'll happen when he comes to?
20:08And he realizes what he's done to Toby.
20:10Now, how are you, Hickson?
20:12Steady now. You're coming around all right.
20:15There you see, honey. He's all right. He's opening his eyes.
20:17Now, now, don't try to sit up, Hickson.
20:19Just lie back and be still for a moment.
20:23He's looking for Toby.
20:25Yeah, when he sees him.
20:26Now, now, now, don't try to sit up, Hickson.
20:29Your dummy's a bit cracked up, but I guess he could be fixed.
20:32Fixed?
20:34He said he'd kill me.
20:36But I told him he couldn't.
20:39Mel!
20:39Oh, doctor.
20:40Doctor, it's Hickson speaking in Toby's voice.
20:43He said he'd kill me.
20:46As if he could.
20:48Mr. Baxter.
20:49Doctor, what about Hickson? Hickson himself?
20:51I've never seen anything like this.
20:52Oh, Hickson. Hickson, speak up, man.
20:55Quick, Baxter. Put that dummy together again.
20:57He's pretty badly smashed.
20:58I don't care. Hold him together if you have to.
21:00I'll do what I can.
21:01What good would I do, doctor?
21:02It's our one chance to help this man.
21:05See, Hickson?
21:07Here's Toby.
21:09See, he's all right.
21:11Here he is.
21:13Hickson won't appreciate what you're doing, Mr. Baxter.
21:18Now you're giving me...
21:21Back to him.
21:24He thought you were trying to steal me away from him.
21:30Mr. Hickson.
21:31Huh?
21:32Oh.
21:35It's you, Mr. Baxter.
21:42Toby!
21:43Toby, what's happened to you?
21:44Oh, you and Toby both had a little accident, Mr. Hickson.
21:48Baxter!
21:49Mr. Baxter had nothing to do with it.
21:51He and Mrs. Baxter are your friends.
21:53They were worried about you.
21:54They called me.
21:55I'm a doctor.
21:56Oh, I see.
21:57I'm very grateful.
21:58Thank you, Alfred.
21:59Well, we told the doctor how Toby'd been acting up this evening.
22:03Oh, yes.
22:05Well, now I remember.
22:07Yes.
22:07Yes, you were a very bad boy, Toby.
22:11You said so many things that I didn't put into your mouth.
22:15You can't go on like this, you know.
22:19If he acts to succeed.
22:22You ruined us tonight, Toby.
22:24Toby, it's going to be a long, hard fight to get back.
22:30I'm not really angry with you, Hickson.
22:33I'm glad.
22:35We are dependent on each other, Toby.
22:39You know that.
22:41Promise me you'll behave from now on.
22:45Promise you won't say anything I don't put into your mouth.
22:51I promise.
22:55But still, I can have my own ideas.
23:06I'll never do that.
23:23Tonight's voyage of escape into the realms that lie between the credible and the incredible
23:28has ended, but we hasten to invite you to voyage with us at the same time next week
23:33when we will bring you the strange adventure of a man who searched the Brazilian jungles
23:38for a diamond as big as the Ritz.
23:41Your ticket for the voyage is merely your desire to join all hands aboard when CBS again
23:47presents Escape.
24:05Dead of Night was adapted by the CBS division of program writing from the Universal Motion Picture.
24:11Barry Kroger appeared as Eric Hickson, Art Carney as Toby the Dummy.
24:16Escape is a CBS feature production directed by John Moseman.
24:21This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.