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Dimension X - "Marionettes, Inc" (1951) · Old Time Sci-Fi Radio | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: In the projected year 1990, Henry Smith, restless in his marriage,
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: is introduced to a clandestine firm that supplies lifelike humanoid stand-ins.
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: From NBC's Dimension X, this is Marionette's Inc., episode 46,
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: first broadcast August 30th, 1951. Ray Bradbury's story was adapted
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: for radio by George Lefferts, with Kermit Murdoch as Henry Smith.
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: Martin Rudy as Walter Brayling, and Ross Martin as Brayling II.
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: As the prospect of a duplicate promises Henry an escape
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: from domestic routine while appearances remain intact, the arrangement raises
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: questions of identity, autonomy, and control. We now take you
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: back to the original broadcast.
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: Adventures in Time and Space told in future.
• 0:55
  Speaker 3: Dimension.
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: X. The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith,
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: publishers of astounding science fiction, bring you Dimension X.
• 1:18
  Speaker 3: Dimension X.
• 1:23
  Speaker 2: By the year 1990, we should see many amazing technological advances.
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: And yet, in many ways, life will be very much
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: the same. A husband will stop off at a bar
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: on his way home and perhaps unburden himself a little
• 1:37
  Speaker 2: to a friendly bartender.
• 1:41
  Speaker 4: Another one, Mr.
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: Smith? Uh, what time is it, Sam?
• 1:46
  Speaker 4: Why, almost ten o'clock, Mr.
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: Smith. One more. Listen to them.
• 1:54
  Speaker 4: The old songs are still the best, huh, Mr.
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: Smith?
• 1:57
  Speaker 5: Yeah, Sam.
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: I remember singing that one back in 1974. That's before
• 2:01
  Speaker 2: I met my wife. Golden day, Sam.
• 2:05
  Speaker 4: Here's your beer, Mr.
• 2:06
  Speaker 5: Smith.
• 2:07
  Speaker 2: Ah, thanks. Ah, that's good. Almost feels as if I
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: can go home and face Nettie now. Wife trouble, Mr. Smith?
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: Wife trouble, Sam.
• 2:19
  Speaker 5: Fight?
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: Oh, never. Nettie and I never fight. Nettie's too mad
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: about me ever to fight with me. She adores me.
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: Worships the ground I walk on.
• 2:27
  Speaker 4: Well, this is something new. I remember only last year
• 2:30
  Speaker 4: you was complaining she was throwing things.
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: Times have changed. I only wish she was still throwing things.
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: At least in those days I could walk out and
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: slam the door with a clear conscience. Now she's so
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: sweet and loving, I feel like a murderer. Every time
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: I stop in for a beer, I'm away home.
• 2:44
  Speaker 5: Tough, Mr.
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: Smith.
• 2:46
  Speaker 5: Tough.
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: Ever hear the expression, love will fly if held too lightly?
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: Love will die if held too tightly?
• 2:52
  Speaker 4: Can't say I ever did.
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: If only she'd relax a little bit. There, bruise on
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: my lip.
• 2:59
  Speaker 5: She kisses me.
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: For an hour every night when I come home.
• 3:03
  Speaker 4: Can you do anything for her?
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: I try. I remind her that she really wanted to
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: marry Harvey Tubman... I remind her how we used to
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: have those battles till the neighbors called the robot police.
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: Nothing works. I'm gone for an hour. She cries.
• 3:16
  Speaker 4: Well, me, I ain't got that kind of trouble. I
• 3:18
  Speaker 4: hang around too much, and Mabel calls me a loafer
• 3:21
  Speaker 4: and turns me up.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: That's a sad state. Can't figure him out. Well, I
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: guess I'll go home and feed myself to the lioness.
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: I tell you, Sam, when Nettie gets finished demonstrating how
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: much she's missed me, I feel like a man who's
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: been stuffed into an electronic washing machine with a dioxide
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: it rinsed dry. How much do I owe you?
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: Sixty cents.
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: Well, if it isn't Henry Smith. Brayling. I live and
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: breathe Walter Brayling. What are you doing here? Oh, having
• 3:49
  Speaker 2: the night out. Does Gloria know about this? Things have changed, Henry.
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: I thought she kept you chained to the bedpost most
• 3:55
  Speaker 2: of the time. Not anymore, Henry, not anymore. Well, you
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: aren't divorced, are you?
• 3:59
  Speaker 5: Oh, no.
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: Gloria's home. What'd you do, put a sleeping powder in
• 4:03
  Speaker 2: her coffee? Oh, goodness, no, Henry.
• 4:05
  Speaker 5: That would be highly unethical.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: I can't believe you just walked out on her. Ten
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: years of marriage, Henry, and I never had a night
• 4:11
  Speaker 2: to myself. But it'll be different from now on. Oh?
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: By the way, Henry, what time is it? Ten o'clock. Well,
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: I guess I'd better be going. Scared? No, don't want
• 4:21
  Speaker 2: to crowd my luck. Although, really, there's nothing to worry about.
• 4:25
  Speaker 2: I'd sure like to know how you do it, Walter.
• 4:27
  Speaker 5: Would you really?
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 4:29
  Speaker 5: All right, Henry.
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: Since you've always been a friend of mine, I'll let
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: you in on it. Come on, my car is outside.
• 4:34
  Speaker 2: I'll drive you home and let you see how it's done. Well,
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: that's nice of you, Walter. Not at all, Henry. We
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: fellows have to stick together. I don't suppose you know
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: how Gloria and I came to be married in the
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: first place, eh? No, I don't. Well, one evening, she
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: threatened to tear off her clothing and call the police
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: unless I married her. No. Oh, yes. Well, that's a
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: bit extreme, isn't it? Well, Gloria was always a nervous girl.
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: I bet you had a pretty wretched time of it. Oh, yes.
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: It didn't take long for me to become the laughingstock
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: of an abbot. Han Peck Brayling, they used to call me.
• 5:11
  Speaker 5: I know.
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: But things are changing now. Here. You see this? What's that?
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: A single ticket to Rio on the morning rocket. I
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: have hotel reservations there for a month. A whole month, Henry,
• 5:22
  Speaker 2: to have a fling. Won't Gloria make trouble over that?
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: That's the amazing part of it, Henry. She won't even
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: know I'm gone. I'll be back in a month and
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: no one the wiser. You don't believe me, do you? Frankly, no.
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: Just how are you going to swing it, Walter? That's
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: the secret, Henry. I tell you it's the most wonderful
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: thing ever invented. Worth every cent I paid for it.
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: What is it? I'm going to show you. Here's my house.
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: Notice the lights are all out. Shh. We'll wait up
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: there on the front porch. Walter, you haven't gone off
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: your rocker, have you?
• 5:58
  Speaker 5: Shh.
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: Now, I meow twice. Meow. Meow. Now, Henry, watch the
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: window in my bedroom. Well, it looks as if somebody... Hey. Hey.
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: There's a man up there. He's looking out. Good. He
• 6:17
  Speaker 2: sees me. He'll be down directly. Isn't it a bit
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: embarrassing for you, Warner? Not at all. You'll find out.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: Here he comes. Hello, B2.
• 6:28
  Speaker 5: Oh, good evening, Mr. Brayling.
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: Close the door. Either I'm going out of my mind
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: or there are two of you. You never told me
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: you had a twin brother. I don't. But if this
• 6:38
  Speaker 2: fellow weren't in pajamas, I couldn't tell you apart. That's
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: the secret, Henry. Everything go all right, me too?
• 6:44
  Speaker 5: Oh, just fine, Mr.
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: Braylor. I suppose my wife was in her usual good
• 6:48
  Speaker 2: form this evening?
• 6:49
  Speaker 5: As a matter of fact, we spent the evening playing gin.
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: No screaming? No shouting accusations?
• 6:54
  Speaker 5: Oh, no, sir. It was a very quiet evening.
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: Well, this is even better than I thought. Well, Marionettes
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: Incorporated aims to satisfy, sir. Did he say Marionettes Incorporated?
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: That's right, Henry. Lick him over. Isn't he excellently fashioned?
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: You wouldn't dream he was a robot, a marionette, eh?
• 7:13
  Speaker 5: I can't believe it.
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: It's against the law, of course, to duplicate a human
• 7:16
  Speaker 2: like this, but it's well worth the opportunity. I still
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: don't believe it. You can't tell him from a human.
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: Only one way, Henry. Put your ear next to his chest. Listen.
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: That's it. Machinery. Machinery. More romance. How long's this been
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: going on? I've had him a month, Henry. I keep
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: him in the cellar in my toolbox. Now, tonight I
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: told Gloria I'd like to be excused for five minutes
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: to run down to the cigar store. She agreed. I
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: went down to the cellar, took out Brayling, too, sent
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: him back upstairs to sit with my wife until I
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: got home. Miraculous. Of course, it doesn't seem quite ethical somehow. Oh, nonsense.
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: It's highly ethical. I've been home all evening. I should
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: be home with her for the next month. In the meantime,
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: another gentleman named Walter Brayling will be in Rio having
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: the time of his life. Well, can he walk around
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: without fuel for a month? Oh, he refuels himself. And
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: he's built to do everything. Eat, drink, sleep. You'll take
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: good care of my wife, won't you, B2?
• 8:10
  Speaker 5: Oh, of course. Your wife is rather nice. I've grown
• 8:14
  Speaker 5: quite fond of her.
• 8:15
  Speaker 3: You see?
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: Walter, old man, how long has this Marionettes Incorporated outfit
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: been in business? Secretly for two years now. Why? Well,
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: I wonder, is there a possibility that I might get
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: in touch with them? You? But you love your Nettie. Well,
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: I know, but even so, it's a little respite, a
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: night or two once a month. And she loves you,
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: dear me.
• 8:35
  Speaker 5: So much she.
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: Can't bear to leave me with her for half an hour.
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: You know that lately she's taken to calling me up
• 8:41
  Speaker 2: at work ten or twelve times a day to talk
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: baby talk?
• 8:43
  Speaker 5: Your Nettie?
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: My Nettie. What do you say, old man? A favor
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: to an old buddy? Fellow lodge member? Well, I could
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: put you in touch with the man who makes them.
• 8:53
  Speaker 2: Of course, you'd be pledged to secrecy once you learned
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: where he's located. Oh, naturally. Very well, Henry. Here's his card.
• 9:00
  Speaker 5: Marionette's Incorporated, W.
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: Zig, proprietor and owner. New humanoid plastic, 1990 model, guaranteed
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: against wear. Our motto, no strings attached. Address the Jumbo Shop,
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: 43 South Wesley Drive. Mr. Zieg will take good care
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: of you, Henry. He's a charming fellow, a real craftsman. Wonderful.
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: I'll see him first thing tomorrow. Well, I'd better be
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: getting home now, though. Nettie's probably splitting a gasket. See
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: you around, old man, after I get back from Rio.
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: And while I'm gone, you might drop around regularly, just
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: as you always have. Treat Brayling, too, here as if
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: he were me. Otherwise, Gloria might be suspicious. Oh, I will. And, oh,
• 9:36
  Speaker 2: before I go, these marionettes are safe, aren't they? Oh, absolutely. Oh,
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: tell them to be, too.
• 9:41
  Speaker 5: We're guaranteed.
• 9:42
  Speaker 2: Fine. Well, good night, Walter. Good night, uh, B-2.
• 9:47
  Speaker 5: Good night, Mr.
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: Smith. Good night, Henry. Ah, well, I'm glad someone else
• 9:55
  Speaker 2: will have a chance at a little happiness and freedom.
• 9:58
  Speaker 2: All right, Brayling-2. Back into the cellar box for you.
• 10:04
  Speaker 2: Come on. Down the steps. That's it.
• 10:13
  Speaker 5: It's very damp down here, Mr.
• 10:15
  Speaker 2: Brayling. Bad plumbing. Well, here we are. Brayling.
• 10:18
  Speaker 6: Yes?
• 10:19
  Speaker 5: Before you put me back into the toolbox, could we
• 10:21
  Speaker 5: have a word?
• 10:22
  Speaker 2: Certainly, old man. This toolbox. What about it? Well, I
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: don't like it, Mr. Brayling.
• 10:27
  Speaker 5: Why not?
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: It's cramped. Oh. Well, I'll try to fix up something
• 10:31
  Speaker 2: more comfortable when I get back from Rio. All right, now,
• 10:34
  Speaker 2: before Gloria gets worried back.
• 10:35
  Speaker 5: Mary and Esther made them move, not.
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: To keep still. How would you like to lie in
• 10:39
  Speaker 2: a stuffy old box.
• 10:40
  Speaker 5: Most of the time?
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: I didn't realize you fellas were that sensitive.
• 10:43
  Speaker 5: Well, if you wouldn't like it at all. I keep running.
• 10:46
  Speaker 5: There's no way to shut me off.
• 10:47
  Speaker 2: I have my feelings, you know.
• 10:48
  Speaker 5: Hmm.
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: Well, day after tomorrow, I'll be off to Rio, and
• 10:52
  Speaker 2: you won't have to stay in the box for a
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: whole month. Why, you can move upstairs. But when you
• 10:55
  Speaker 2: get back from Rio, I'll go back in the box. Mr.
• 10:58
  Speaker 2: Zig didn't tell me at Marionettes Incorporated that it was
• 11:00
  Speaker 2: possible to get a difficult specimen.
• 11:01
  Speaker 5: There's a lot he doesn't know about us. We're pretty new.
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: Now, look... Now, look here, B2. This has gone far enough.
• 11:07
  Speaker 5: I'll never get to Rio.
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: Now, come on, now. Into the box.
• 11:10
  Speaker 5: And another thing.
• 11:11
  Speaker 2: Well... Your wife. What about my wife?
• 11:14
  Speaker 5: Well, I... I've grown quite fond of her.
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad you enjoy your employment.
• 11:19
  Speaker 5: You'll have the whole month.
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: I'm afraid you don't quite understand, Brayling. I've fallen in
• 11:23
  Speaker 2: love with her.
• 11:25
  Speaker 5: You what?
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: You just don't appreciate her. Maybe if you hadn't always
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: acted so meek and apologetic about everything, she'd have a
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: little more respect for you as a man. Well, now,
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: you aren't supposed to behave like this.
• 11:34
  Speaker 5: You know you think you.
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: Well, anyway, I could be very happy if I were
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: married to Gloria. Aren't you forgetting you're nothing but a big,
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: overgrown puppet?
• 11:42
  Speaker 5: Careful, Brayling. I'm sensitive.
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: All right. All right.
• 11:46
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry.
• 11:47
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry. Now, look. You wouldn't mind waiting here a moment,
• 11:50
  Speaker 2: would you? I have to go upstairs and make a
• 11:52
  Speaker 2: phone call.
• 11:52
  Speaker 5: To whom?
• 11:53
  Speaker 2: Oh, nobody important. I have to call Henry Smith about something.
• 11:55
  Speaker 5: You're lying.
• 11:57
  Speaker 2: You're going to call Marionettes Incorporated and tell Mr.
• 12:00
  Speaker 5: Zieg to come and get.
• 12:01
  Speaker 2: Oh, no.
• 12:02
  Speaker 3: Oh, no.
• 12:02
  Speaker 5: Really, I'm not.
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: I was... Me too. Stay away.
• 12:05
  Speaker 5: Stay where you are, Brayling.
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: Now, B-2, take your hand off my arm.
• 12:09
  Speaker 5: No, Brayling.
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: What are you going to do?
• 12:11
  Speaker 5: Nothing much.
• 12:11
  Speaker 2: I'm just going to put you in the toolbox, lock it,
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: and lose the key. What? And then I'll buy another
• 12:16
  Speaker 2: ticket to Rio, and Gloria and I can have a
• 12:18
  Speaker 2: wonderful vacation. You're insane. Am I? Now, wait a minute.
• 12:21
  Speaker 2: Hold on, B-2.
• 12:21
  Speaker 5: Now, don't be rash. Let's talk this over. Goodbye, Brayling.
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: B-2, stop it. Don't. Let go. Help. To the box, Brayling. Help. Stop.
• 12:28
  Speaker 4: There.
• 12:28
  Speaker 2: There. Yes, Gloria. What in the world are you doing
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: down there at this.
• 12:39
  Speaker 3: Time of night?
• 12:40
  Speaker 2: Oh, nothing, lover. The pipes were knocking. I'm just making
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: sure the boiler hasn't exploded. You go back to bed.
• 12:46
  Speaker 6: I'll be up soon.
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: Well, hurry, won't you? We had such a nice evening.
• 12:49
  Speaker 5: I'm lonesome for you.
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: Oh, you won't ever be lonesome again, darling.
• 12:55
  Speaker 5: Never again.
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: Good morning, Nettie.
• 13:12
  Speaker 6: Oh, good morning, darling.
• 13:13
  Speaker 2: How are you? Have a nice time last night? I
• 13:17
  Speaker 2: missed you so. Breakfast ready?
• 13:19
  Speaker 6: Aren't you going to kiss me good morning?
• 13:21
  Speaker 2: Oh, yes, I suppose so. Oh, you're so wonderful, Henry.
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: I guess I'm the luckiest person in the world.
• 13:32
  Speaker 6: Here's your coffee.
• 13:33
  Speaker 2: And how would you like your eggs?
• 13:35
  Speaker 5: Anyway, it's all.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: Oh, but I want to please you. Oh, Nettie skipped
• 13:38
  Speaker 2: the eggs this morning. Oh, but you have to eat
• 13:40
  Speaker 2: to keep well, darling. I'm very healthy. I have an
• 13:43
  Speaker 2: early business appointment.
• 13:45
  Speaker 3: Oh?
• 13:45
  Speaker 2: It's a friend of Walter Brayling's. I met Walter last night,
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: and he... Yes? Well, I'd better be off. Now, Nettie,
• 13:54
  Speaker 2: don't look as if I were on my way to
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: Rio or something. I'm only going to work.
• 13:58
  Speaker 6: It's just that I miss you so.
• 14:00
  Speaker 2: I want to be with you all the time. Do
• 14:02
  Speaker 2: I have to go through this every morning? I'll be
• 14:04
  Speaker 2: back at supper. There's no need to cry now, is there? No, darling.
• 14:10
  Speaker 5: You aren't displeased with me, are you?
• 14:13
  Speaker 2: I try so hard to do everything just as I
• 14:15
  Speaker 2: think you'll like it. No, I'm not displeased. Well, goodbye, dear. Henry? Yes?
• 14:22
  Speaker 6: You forgot to kiss me goodbye.
• 14:35
  Speaker 2: No strings attached, no strings attached. A very nice puppet
• 14:38
  Speaker 2: with no strings attached. Let's see now, the Jumble Shop
• 14:42
  Speaker 2: 43 South Wesley. That should be about... Ah, here it is. Yes? Mr. Zig?
• 14:52
  Speaker 3: Yes?
• 14:53
  Speaker 2: Walter Brayling recommended me.
• 14:55
  Speaker 5: Enter.
• 14:57
  Speaker 6: Your name?
• 14:57
  Speaker 2: Henry Smith, 55 Evergreen Place.
• 15:00
  Speaker 6: And what can we do for you, Mr.
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: Smith? Well, Brayling showed me his marionette last night. I see.
• 15:05
  Speaker 2: I was intrigued with the idea. Not that my wife
• 15:08
  Speaker 2: is anything like that female meat grinder that he's married to,
• 15:10
  Speaker 2: you understand, but I'm a man who enjoys an occasional
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: evening with the boys. Without complication.
• 15:16
  Speaker 5: Naturally.
• 15:16
  Speaker 6: So I thought that I could duplicate you.
• 15:20
  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 15:20
  Speaker 6: I think it might be arranged. You understand the need
• 15:23
  Speaker 6: for secrecy, of course. Although an act is pending in
• 15:26
  Speaker 6: Congress to legalize Marionettes Incorporated, it is still a felony
• 15:29
  Speaker 6: to use one of my creations.
• 15:31
  Speaker 2: I understand.
• 15:32
  Speaker 6: And there is the matter of the payment.
• 15:35
  Speaker 5: How much?
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: $ 9, 000.
• 15:36
  Speaker 6: $ 9, 000? Well, I have an inferior model at $ 75, 000.
• 15:40
  Speaker 2: No, if I go through with it, nothing's too good
• 15:43
  Speaker 2: for Nettie. Nettie's my wife. We've been putting money aside
• 15:46
  Speaker 2: to buy a summer house in Westport.
• 15:48
  Speaker 6: Sometimes we must choose.
• 15:50
  Speaker 2: Yes. Perhaps I could just slip out 9,000. It's a
• 15:53
  Speaker 2: joint account. How soon can I have it?
• 15:56
  Speaker 6: I could construct a mannequin in about two months' time.
• 15:58
  Speaker 2: Good.
• 15:59
  Speaker 6: Shall I consider the order of place?
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: At once.
• 16:01
  Speaker 6: Of course, you will have to report here for a
• 16:03
  Speaker 6: body mold, color index of your hair, lips, skin, etc.,
• 16:07
  Speaker 6: And I'll have to do a complete electro-emotional calibration.
• 16:10
  Speaker 2: You guarantee that these models are foolproof?
• 16:12
  Speaker 6: As foolproof as I can make them, Mr. Smith, and
• 16:14
  Speaker 6: I've had years of training.
• 16:16
  Speaker 2: No chance of detection?
• 16:17
  Speaker 6: None whatsoever. I've never had a complaint.
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: Walter Brayling seems satisfied enough.
• 16:22
  Speaker 6: I assure you, he's been taken care of in high style.
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: There was some way to be sure.
• 16:26
  Speaker 6: You have our guarantee?
• 16:28
  Speaker 2: Very well, Mr.
• 16:29
  Speaker 3: Zieg.
• 16:30
  Speaker 2: I'll get the money from the bank and send it
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: to you. Fine.
• 16:32
  Speaker 6: You'll be just as delighted with yours as Walter Brayling
• 16:35
  Speaker 6: is with his.
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: Oh, tell her.
• 16:38
  Speaker 5: Yes, Mr.
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: Smith?
• 16:40
  Speaker 3: I'd like to catch this.
• 16:41
  Speaker 2: Draft on my joint account.
• 16:43
  Speaker 3: Yes, sir.
• 16:44
  Speaker 2: $ 9, 000, sir.
• 16:44
  Speaker 3: That's right.
• 16:56
  Speaker 2: Well, I'm afraid that's impossible, Mr. Smith. Impossible? My wife
• 17:00
  Speaker 2: and I have a good $ 15, 000 in our account.
• 17:02
  Speaker 5: You're mistaken, Mr.
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: Smith. But I know... Here's your card, sir. You see, Mrs.
• 17:06
  Speaker 4: Smith withdrew $ 10, 000 recently.
• 17:07
  Speaker 2: $ 10, 000?
• 17:07
  Speaker 5: Hmm.
• 17:08
  Speaker 2: Without even telling me?
• 17:11
  Speaker 4: I remember distinctly, Mr.
• 17:13
  Speaker 2: Smith.
• 17:13
  Speaker 4: She said it was for a.
• 17:14
  Speaker 5: Surprise for you.
• 17:15
  Speaker 2: Good Lord. She bought that house in Connecticut. My birthday's
• 17:18
  Speaker 2: next week. Well, I'll have to borrow it somewhere. I've
• 17:22
  Speaker 2: already contracted it. Yes, sir.
• 17:24
  Speaker 5: Quite a surprise for you, eh, Mr.
• 17:25
  Speaker 2: Smith? Yes?
• 17:40
  Speaker 5: Oh, hello, Henry.
• 17:41
  Speaker 2: Hello, Gloria. Is Walter home? I'd like to speak to him.
• 17:44
  Speaker 6: Well, come in.
• 17:44
  Speaker 2: Thank you. Is something wrong? Well, just some private business.
• 17:48
  Speaker 2: Matter of a loan.
• 17:49
  Speaker 4: Well, he went down to the travel bureau, but he
• 17:50
  Speaker 4: should be back soon.
• 17:51
  Speaker 2: We're going to Rio, you know.
• 17:53
  Speaker 5: Both of you?
• 17:54
  Speaker 2: Isn't it wonderful? I don't know what's come over Walter lately.
• 17:57
  Speaker 4: He's been so romantic.
• 17:59
  Speaker 6: Last night he came upstairs and said, darling.
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: He hasn't called me darling in years. Darling, we're going to.
• 18:04
  Speaker 5: Take a honeymoon to Rio.
• 18:05
  Speaker 2: So we're leaving tomorrow. Anything wrong, Henry? No. I'm just
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: a little surprised, that's all.
• 18:12
  Speaker 4: Well, he should be back soon.
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: Will you wait? Yes, yes, I'd better. Say, as long
• 18:16
  Speaker 2: as you're over here, maybe you can help me with something. What? Well,
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: I went downstairs to get an old suitcase a little
• 18:22
  Speaker 2: while ago, and I heard.
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: The strangest noises near that old tool chest of Walter's.
• 18:26
  Speaker 2: He mentioned that the boiler was acting up, and I'm
• 18:28
  Speaker 2: afraid to go down there again. I wonder if you'd
• 18:30
  Speaker 2: take a look. What kind of noises? Like a... like
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: a thumping sound. Maybe I'd better go down, Gloria. You
• 18:37
  Speaker 2: stay up here. Should I call a.
• 18:38
  Speaker 5: Plumber, do you think?
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: No, no, I'll take care of it. I'll have a look.
• 18:44
  Speaker 2: Good Lord. Good Lord. Hello. Hello in there. Just a minute.
• 18:52
  Speaker 2: Keep quiet, for goodness sake.
• 18:55
  Speaker 5: I'll have to.
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: Smash the lock. Now, what in the... Henry!
• 19:01
  Speaker 6: Henry, thank God you've come.
• 19:02
  Speaker 2: Be quiet. I've been in there all night. I thought
• 19:05
  Speaker 2: I'd suffocate. He tried to kill me, Henry.
• 19:07
  Speaker 5: He tried to murder me.
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: Oh, which one are you? Don't be an idiot. I'm Walter.
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: What happened? B-2, the marionette.
• 19:12
  Speaker 5: He stuffed me in the toolbox and left me to suffocate.
• 19:14
  Speaker 2: Well, fortunately, I found an old file in there and
• 19:16
  Speaker 2: managed to get an air hole through the wood. Good Lord.
• 19:18
  Speaker 2: He's taking Gloria with him to Rio.
• 19:20
  Speaker 5: Have they left yet? No, he's gone downtown for the ticket.
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: Oh, good. We may just have time. For what? Take
• 19:25
  Speaker 2: it down to Marionette's Incorporated and tell Zig to stop him. Well,
• 19:27
  Speaker 2: you're in no condition to... Oh, don't worry about me.
• 19:28
  Speaker 2: We can't waste any time. Come on. But Gloria... Nick,
• 19:31
  Speaker 2: I'll tell her. Tell her you fixed the plumbing. Tell
• 19:32
  Speaker 2: her anything. I'll meet you outside.
• 19:34
  Speaker 5: All right. Oh, what a fool I've been.
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: What a fool I almost was. I went down and
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: ordered one of those things today.
• 19:42
  Speaker 3: Thank you.
• 20:00
  Speaker 2: Honeymoon for two under the pampas smooth. Oh, Walter, it's
• 20:04
  Speaker 2: so nice to have you like this.
• 20:06
  Speaker 5: You like the change?
• 20:07
  Speaker 6: I don't know what did it, but whatever it is,
• 20:08
  Speaker 6: I'm in favor of it.
• 20:10
  Speaker 2: I hope it's permanent.
• 20:11
  Speaker 5: Oh, I intend to see that it is.
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: Oh, by the way, darling, do you happen to remember
• 20:14
  Speaker 2: where that old pistol of mine is? Pistol? Yes, I
• 20:17
  Speaker 2: just thought since we're going to be traveling in strange countries,
• 20:20
  Speaker 2: it wouldn't hurt to bring it along.
• 20:21
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: Well, I think it's here in the sideboard.
• 20:24
  Speaker 6: Yes, dear.
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: Oh, Walter, you know how frightened I am of those things.
• 20:27
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'll be very careful of it.
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: In fact, I think I'll go down to the basement
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: and practice. Not really shooting it, of course, just to
• 20:33
  Speaker 2: make sure it's in good working order.
• 20:35
  Speaker 4: Do be careful, darling.
• 20:36
  Speaker 2: Oh, I will.
• 20:37
  Speaker 5: If you should hear a shot, dear, don't be frightened.
• 20:40
  Speaker 5: I may fire it into a block of wood just.
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: To test it. Perhaps I'll fire into that old tool
• 20:45
  Speaker 2: chest of mine. Yeah, that should absorb it.
• 20:48
  Speaker 3: Oh, speaking of that tool chest.
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: Yes, what about it?
• 20:50
  Speaker 6: It reminds me that Henry Smith was here.
• 20:52
  Speaker 2: Oh? Yeah, I heard some noises downstairs, dear, and he
• 20:54
  Speaker 2: went down to fix the plumbing.
• 20:56
  Speaker 5: Is he still down there?
• 20:58
  Speaker 2: No, he left. I really don't understand it. He seemed
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: so anxious to see you before he went down to
• 21:03
  Speaker 2: the cellar, and then he just left.
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: Oh.
• 21:08
  Speaker 5: Did he stop the noises?
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: Well, he must have.
• 21:12
  Speaker 5: I don't hear them.
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: I see.
• 21:14
  Speaker 5: What is it, dear? I have to go out for
• 21:15
  Speaker 5: a while, darling.
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: But, Walter, where do I have to pack if we're leaving?
• 21:18
  Speaker 2: I'll be back soon. There's something very important I have
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: to attend to. Well, what is it? Oh, just some
• 21:21
  Speaker 2: personal business with Henry Smith.
• 21:24
  Speaker 5: Please excuse me, darling, and don't worry.
• 21:26
  Speaker 2: When I get back, everything will be fixed once and
• 21:28
  Speaker 2: for all.
• 21:29
  Speaker 5: Yes, we can enjoy the rest.
• 21:30
  Speaker 2: Of our lives just as though the old Walter Brayling
• 21:33
  Speaker 2: never existed. Ah, Mr.
• 21:50
  Speaker 6: Brayling and Mr.
• 21:51
  Speaker 3: Smith.
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: Yes, Mr. Zig.
• 21:53
  Speaker 6: Come in, come in, gentlemen.
• 21:55
  Speaker 2: We certainly will come in.
• 21:57
  Speaker 6: What brings you?
• 21:58
  Speaker 5: A good deal, Mr.
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: Zig. Yes, indeed, a good deal.
• 22:01
  Speaker 6: If I might know exactly, you seem so upset.
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: Tell him, Henry. You told me your marionettes were foolproof, Mr. Zig.
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: They are.
• 22:08
  Speaker 6: My personal guarantee goes with each one of them.
• 22:09
  Speaker 2: We know all about your personal guarantee. Except that Mr.
• 22:12
  Speaker 2: Brayling's dummy knocked him out, stuffed him in a toolbox
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: to suffocate, and is making plans to run away with
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: his wife. Oh, dear. Well, Mr. Zig?
• 22:20
  Speaker 6: Oh, I really don't know what to say, gentlemen.
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: You see, I work alone.
• 22:23
  Speaker 6: I make these marionettes myself so that I can see
• 22:26
  Speaker 6: to it personally that there are no errors. However, even
• 22:29
  Speaker 6: the finest craftsman can make a mistake once in a while.
• 22:32
  Speaker 2: What Mr. Brayling and I would like to know, Mr. Zig,
• 22:34
  Speaker 2: is exactly what are you planning to do to stop
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: this over-ambitious robot?
• 22:38
  Speaker 6: Well, of course, we shall have to recover B2 first,
• 22:41
  Speaker 6: and then I will simply dismantle him.
• 22:43
  Speaker 2: He doesn't seem to want to be dismantled, Mr. Zig.
• 22:46
  Speaker 2: In fact, I think you'll have trouble catching him. Maybe
• 22:48
  Speaker 2: I can save you the trouble, gentlemen. B2, look out!
• 22:52
  Speaker 2: He has a gun. I thought I'd find you here
• 22:54
  Speaker 2: when I discovered the tool chest empty. Now, look, Vito,
• 22:57
  Speaker 2: whatever you're planning to do, you won't get.
• 22:58
  Speaker 5: Away with it. I think I will.
• 23:00
  Speaker 2: Mr. Zeke, Mr. Zeke, can't you do something?
• 23:02
  Speaker 6: I'm afraid I can't think of anything.
• 23:04
  Speaker 2: I'll save you the trouble, because I'm going to kill
• 23:07
  Speaker 2: the three of you. Oh, you won't get away with it. No.
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: You forget that Gloria and I will be on a
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: plane to Rio in a few hours.
• 23:14
  Speaker 5: All right, Mr. Zeke.
• 23:16
  Speaker 2: You first. Oh, now, see here, this isn't fair.
• 23:18
  Speaker 4: I created you.
• 23:19
  Speaker 6: You can't do.
• 23:21
  Speaker 2: Grab him. I've got him. I've got him. Quick. Quick,
• 23:23
  Speaker 2: that hammer. Well, that's the end of Brailing 2.
• 23:34
  Speaker 5: Oh, thank heaven.
• 23:37
  Speaker 2: Henry.
• 23:38
  Speaker 5: Henry, he got Zig right through the.
• 23:39
  Speaker 2: Oh, holy jumping catfish. Henry, look at him. Look at Zig.
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: Nothing but a mass of coils and springs, just like
• 23:44
  Speaker 2: Brailing 2. Well, he's nothing but a marionette. He's no
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: different from... Walter... You know what this means? It's incredible.
• 23:50
  Speaker 2: A marionette building other marionettes. But someone must have built Mr.
• 23:54
  Speaker 5: Zig original.
• 23:55
  Speaker 2: Well, perhaps Mr. Zig turned on whoever built him the
• 23:57
  Speaker 2: same way that Brailing 2 turned on you. Well, at
• 23:58
  Speaker 2: any rate, we'll never know. I wonder how many of
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: these things are walking around among us. Oh, I shudder
• 24:03
  Speaker 2: to think of it. Some of our best friends might be...
• 24:06
  Speaker 2: Come on, we've got to get out of here.
• 24:07
  Speaker 3: But the police.
• 24:08
  Speaker 2: Don't be a fool. There's been no crime committed here.
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: All the police will find is two oversized puppets with
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: their springs coming out of them.
• 24:14
  Speaker 5: But they seem so lifelike.
• 24:15
  Speaker 2: They're only machinery. You've got to remember that. Well... What
• 24:18
  Speaker 2: do I tell Gloria? If I were you, Brayling, I
• 24:20
  Speaker 2: wouldn't tell Gloria a thing. I'd simply pick up that
• 24:23
  Speaker 2: other ticket to Rio.
• 24:24
  Speaker 5: And take her on a honeymoon.
• 24:25
  Speaker 2: What about you, Henry? What are you going to do?
• 24:27
  Speaker 5: Me?
• 24:28
  Speaker 2: I'm going home and give Nettie a kiss that'll singe
• 24:30
  Speaker 2: her hair. I'll even forgive her for taking that $ 10, 000
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: out of the bank without telling me. You know, when
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: I think of what might have happened if I'd gone
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: through with this marrying that thing, it makes a fellow
• 24:41
  Speaker 2: realize how lucky he is to be married to a
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: decent woman. Let's go. Nettie! Nettie! Where are you, sweetheart?
• 25:05
  Speaker 2: In here, darling. I've missed you today. Come here. Oh, Henry. Oh,
• 25:13
  Speaker 2: you look tired, darling. Can I do something for you?
• 25:16
  Speaker 4: Just tell me I'm yours to command.
• 25:19
  Speaker 2: Ah, a man's a fool to jeopardize a nice home
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: and a loving wife like you. You do love me,
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: don't you, Nettie? You know I do. Here, let me
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: get your slippers on. Oh, feels good to sit back
• 25:32
  Speaker 2: on the sofa and relax. You don't know what a
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: trying day I've had. I can see you're all upset.
• 25:38
  Speaker 2: It isn't anything I've.
• 25:38
  Speaker 6: Done, is it, dear?
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: Well, in a way, something you've done is connected with it.
• 25:42
  Speaker 5: What's that, darling?
• 25:43
  Speaker 2: The money.
• 25:44
  Speaker 6: Money?
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: I know you want to surprise me with the house, darling,
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: but really you shouldn't have taken that money out of
• 25:48
  Speaker 2: the bank without consulting me. Henry, I don't even know
• 25:51
  Speaker 2: what you're talking about. Now, Maddie.
• 25:52
  Speaker 6: But I do. Maddie.
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: Oh, you're so upset, darling.
• 25:56
  Speaker 4: If it's anything important... Let's talk about it later.
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: Meanwhile, why don't you just put your head on my
• 26:04
  Speaker 2: shoulder and rest? I must admit that sounds enticing. Here.
• 26:10
  Speaker 2: Let me make you comfortable. There.
• 26:17
  Speaker 6: Now you just close your eyes.
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: That's it. Nettie. Yes, darling. Do you hear something? No, darling.
• 26:32
  Speaker 2: You sure?
• 26:33
  Speaker 3: Like what?
• 26:34
  Speaker 2: Well, like the... Like the.
• 26:37
  Speaker 5: Ticking of a clock.
• 26:39
  Speaker 2: No. Well, it's strange. I don't hear it now, but...
• 26:42
  Speaker 2: When I had my ear against your chest... Oh, no. Oh, no.
• 26:47
  Speaker 2: What are you talking about, darling? No, I won't believe it.
• 26:49
  Speaker 2: You are my Nettie, aren't you? You're a real lie,
• 26:51
  Speaker 2: flesh and blood. Oh, she couldn't have done that to me.
• 26:54
  Speaker 2: Not Nettie. Can I hear it? And it's coming from you.
• 27:00
  Speaker 2: It's coming from you. You have just heard another adventure
• 27:10
  Speaker 2: into the unknown world of the future. The world of...
• 27:13
  Speaker 2: Dimension X. Next week... Dimension X moves to a new
• 27:27
  Speaker 2: day and time. It will originate in New York on
• 27:31
  Speaker 2: Saturdays from 8 to 8.30 p.m., beginning September 8th. Consult
• 27:35
  Speaker 2: your local newspaper for the exact day and time in
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: your locality. And don't miss Mary Leinster's story of deep space.
• 27:42
  Speaker 2: First Contact. Dimension X is presented each week by the
• 27:55
  Speaker 2: National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers
• 28:01
  Speaker 2: of the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. Today, Dimension X has
• 28:07
  Speaker 2: presented Marionettes Incorporated, written for radio by George Lefferts, from
• 28:13
  Speaker 2: the story by Ray Bradbury. Featured in the cast were
• 28:16
  Speaker 2: Kermit Murdoch as Henry, Martin Rudy as Brayling, and Ross
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: Martin as Brayling, too. Your host was Norman Rose. Music
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: by Albert Berman. Fred Collins speaking. Dimension X is produced
• 28:30
  Speaker 2: by William Welch and directed by Fred Way. Dragnet, the
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: story of your police force is next on NBC.
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: Dimension X has concluded with Marionettes, Inc. This is Victor Sterling.
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: Until next time, good night. Follow old-time sci-fi radio for
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: more classic science fiction broadcasts.