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X Minus One - "Marionettes, Inc" (Old Time Radio, 1955) · X Minus One | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: December 21st, 1955, marked episode 30 of NBC's X-1, Marionette's Inc.,
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: adapted for radio by George Lefferts from Ray Bradbury's short story,
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: it carries us to the year 1990, where Henry Smith
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: learns that his friend Walter Brayling has acquired a humanoid
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: double from the discreet firm of Marionette's Inc., Walter's duplicate
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: can remain at home while he steps away from domestic obligations,
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: a prospect that sends Henry to the company's proprietor, W.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: Zeig.
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Arthur Cole, Bob Hastings, Frederica Chandler, and Carl Swenson are
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: among the cast, under Daniel Sutter's direction. Now, back to
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: the golden age of radio.
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: Countdown for blastoff. X minus 5, 4, 3, 2, X
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: minus 1, fire.
• 1:22
  Speaker 3: From the far horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales
• 1:25
  Speaker 3: of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories
• 1:28
  Speaker 3: of the future, adventures in which you'll live in a
• 1:31
  Speaker 3: million could-be years.
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: On a thousand maybe worlds.
• 1:34
  Speaker 3: The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street & Smith,
• 1:37
  Speaker 3: publishers of astounding science fiction, presents.
• 1:40
  Speaker 2: X minus 1.
• 1:54
  Speaker 3: Tonight, a Ray Bradbury story, Marionettes Incorporated. By the year 1990,
• 2:09
  Speaker 3: we should see many amazing technological advances. And yet, in
• 2:14
  Speaker 3: many ways, life will be very much the same. A
• 2:16
  Speaker 3: husband will stop off at a bar on his way
• 2:18
  Speaker 3: home and perhaps unburden himself a little to a friendly bartender.
• 2:24
  Speaker 2: Well, that's good. Almost feel as if I could go
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: home and face Nettie now. Wife trouble, Mr. Smith? Wife trouble, Sam.
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: If only she'd relax a little bit. Look, you see
• 2:35
  Speaker 2: this bruise on my lip? She kisses me. For an
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: hour every night when I come home. Can you do
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: anything for it? Well, I try, Sam. You can't figure
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: them out. Well, I guess I'll go home and feed
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: myself to the lioness. I tell you, Sam, when Nettie
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: gets finished demonstrating how much she's missed me... I feel
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: like a man who's been stuffed into an electronic washing
• 2:56
  Speaker 2: machine with the dial set at rinse dry. How much
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: do I owe you? Well, if it isn't Henry Smith. Brailing.
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: How is I live and breathe? Walter Brailing. What are
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: you doing here? Having the night out. Does Gloria know
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: about this? Things have changed, Henry. I thought she kept
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: you chained to the bedpost most of the time. Not anymore, Henry.
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: Not anymore. So you aren't divorced, are you? Don't know.
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: Gloria's home. What did you do? Put sleeping powder in
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: her coffee? Oh, goodness, no. That would be highly unethical. Oh, now, look,
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: I can't believe you just walked out on her. Ten
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: years of marriage, Henry, and I never had a night
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: to myself. But it will be different from now on.
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: By the way, what time is it? Uh, ten o'clock.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: I guess I'd better be going. Scared? Don't want to
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: crowd my luck. Although, really, there's nothing to worry about. Well,
• 3:49
  Speaker 2: I'd sure like to know how you do it, Walden. Ha, ha.
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: Would you really? Yes, I would. All right, Henry, since
• 3:55
  Speaker 2: you've always been a friend of mine, I'll let you
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: in on it. Come on, my car's outside. I'll drive
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: you home and let you see how it's done. Well, now,
• 4:01
  Speaker 2: that's nice of you, Walter. Oh, no, not at all.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: We fellas have to stick together. I don't suppose you
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: know how Gloria and I came to be married in
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: the first place. No, I don't. Well, one evening, she
• 4:27
  Speaker 2: threatened to tear off her clothing and call the police
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: unless I married her.
• 4:31
  Speaker 4: No.
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. Well, that's a bit extreme, isn't it? Gloria's
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: a nervous girl.
• 4:37
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: I bet you've had a pretty wretched time of it, huh? Yeah, yeah.
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: Didn't take long for me to become the laughingstock of
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: the neighborhood. Henpeck Brayling, they used to call me. I
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: know that. But, uh, Things are changing now. See this?
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: What's this? A single ticket to Rio on the morning rocket.
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: I have hotel reservations there for a month. A whole month, Henry,
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: to have a fling. Well, won't Gloria make trouble over there? Well,
• 5:05
  Speaker 2: that's the amazing part of it, Henry. She won't even
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: know that I'm gone. And I'll be back in a
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: month and knowing the wiser. You don't believe it, do you? Well, frankly, no.
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: Just how are you going to swing it, Walter? That's
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: the secret, Henry. I tell you, it is the most
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: wonderful thing ever invented. Worth every cent I paid for it. Well,
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: what is it? I'm going to show you. Here's my house.
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: You notice the lights are all out? Uh-huh. We'll wait
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: here on the front porch. Say, Walter, you haven't gone
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: off your rocker, have you? Shh, shh, shh. Let me see. Oh,
• 5:55
  Speaker 2: I meow twice. That's it.
• 5:59
  Speaker 5: Meow.
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: Meow. Now watch the window in my bedroom. It looks
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: as if somebody's... Hey, there's a man up there. He's
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: looking loud. Good. He sees me. Now he'll be down directly. Oh,
• 6:17
  Speaker 2: now look, isn't this a bit embarrassing for you, Walter? No, no,
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: not at all. You'll find out. Here he comes. Hello, B2.
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: Good evening, Mr. Braley. Either I'm going out of my
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: mind or there are two of you. You never told
• 6:33
  Speaker 2: me you had a twin brother. I don't. Look, if
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: this fellow were in the pajamas, I couldn't tell you apart.
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: That's the secret, Henry. Uh, everything go all right, B-2? Uh,
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: just fine, Mr. Braley. I suppose my wife was in
• 6:48
  Speaker 2: her usual good form this evening? Well, as a matter
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: of fact, we spent the evening playing gin. No screaming, shouting, accusations? Uh, no, sir.
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: It was a very quiet evening.
• 7:01
  Speaker 4: Well, but this is even better than I thought. Marionettes
• 7:05
  Speaker 4: Incorporated aims to satisfy, sir.
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: Did he say Marionettes Incorporated? That's right, and now look
• 7:12
  Speaker 2: him over. Isn't he excellently fashioned? You wouldn't dream he
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: was a robot, a marionette. Oh, I don't believe it. Well,
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: it's against the law, of course, to duplicate a human
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: like this, but it's well worth the opportunity. I still
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: don't believe it. You can't tell him from a human. Well,
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: only one way. Put your ear next to his chest.
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: That's it. Now listen. It's machinery. Old man, how long
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: has this been going on? Well, I've had him a month.
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: I keep him in the cellar in my toolbox. And
• 7:48
  Speaker 2: tonight I told Gloria that I'd like to be excused
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: for five minutes to run down to the cigar store.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: She agreed. I went down to the cellar, took out Brayling, too,
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: and sent him back upstairs to sit with my wife
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: till I got home. That's miraculous. Of course, Walter, it, uh, well,
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: it doesn't seem quite ethical somehow. Oh, nonsense. Highly ethical, hmm?
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: I've been home all evening. I shall be home with
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: her for the next month. In the meantime, another gentleman
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: named Walter Brayling will be in Rio having the time
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: of his life. Can he walk around without fuel for
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: a month? He refuels himself. He's built to do everything. Eat, drink, sleep.
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: You'll take good care of my wife, won't you, B2? Well,
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: your wife is rather nice. I've grown quite fond of her.
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: You see? Yeah. Walter, old man, how long has this
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: Marionettes Incorporated outfit been in business? Secretly for two years now. Why? Well,
• 8:48
  Speaker 2: I wonder, I suppose there's a possibility that I might
• 8:53
  Speaker 2: get in touch with him.
• 8:55
  Speaker 4: You? Hmm.
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: But your Nettie is madly in love with you. Well,
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: I know that, but even so, just a little respite,
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: you know, a night or two once a month, huh?
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: But she loves you dearly. So much she can't bear
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: me to leave her for half an hour. You know
• 9:10
  Speaker 2: that lately she's taken to calling me up at work
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: ten or twelve times a day, talking baby talk? Your Nettie?
• 9:17
  Speaker 2: My Nettie. So now what do you say, old man,
• 9:20
  Speaker 2: as a favor to an old buddy, a fellow lodge member? Well,
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: I could put you in touch with the man who
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: makes them. Of course, you'd be pledged to secrecy once
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: you learned where he's located. Oh, naturally, naturally. Very well, then.
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: Here's his card. Marionettes Incorporated. W. Zeig, proprietor and owner.
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: New humanoid plastic 1990 models guaranteed against wear. Our motto,
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: no strings attached. Address, the Jumbo Shop, 43 South Wesley Drive. Mr.
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: Zeig will take care of you. He's a charming fellow.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: Real craftsmanship. That's wonderful, Walt. I'll see him first thing tomorrow. Well,
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: I'd better be getting home now. Nettie is probably splitting
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: a gasket. Well, see you around, old man, after I
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: get back from Rio. Oh, while I'm gone, you might
• 10:06
  Speaker 2: drop around regularly, just as you always have. Treat Brayling, too, here,
• 10:10
  Speaker 2: as if he were me. Otherwise, Gloria might be suspicious. Yes, fine.
• 10:13
  Speaker 2: I'll do that. Oh, before I go, these marionettes... They're safe,
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: aren't they? Oh, absolutely. Tell him, B-2. Oh, we're guaranteed. Well,
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: that's fine. Well, good night, Walter. Good night, B-2. Good night, Mr.
• 10:31
  Speaker 4: Smith.
• 10:32
  Speaker 2: Good night, Henry. Well, I'm glad someone else will have
• 10:39
  Speaker 2: a chance at a little happiness and freedom. All right, Brayling-2,
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: it's back into the cellar box for you. Come on,
• 10:45
  Speaker 2: down the steps. That's it. It's very damp down here, Mr.
• 10:56
  Speaker 4: Brayling.
• 10:57
  Speaker 2: Bad plumbing. Here we are. Brayling. Yeah?
• 11:01
  Speaker 4: Before you put me back into the toolbox, could we
• 11:04
  Speaker 4: have a word?
• 11:06
  Speaker 2: Certainly, old man. Now, this toolbox. Yes, what about it? Well,
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: I don't like it, Mr. Brayling. Why not? Well, it's cramped.
• 11:13
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: Well, I'll try to fix up something more comfortable when
• 11:16
  Speaker 2: I get back from Rio. All right, now, before Gloria
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: gets worried back into the... Marionettes are made to move,
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: not keep still.
• 11:24
  Speaker 4: Now, how would you like to lie in a stuffy
• 11:26
  Speaker 4: old box most of the time?
• 11:29
  Speaker 2: Well, I didn't realize you fellas were that sensitive. Well,
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: you wouldn't like it at all. I keep running.
• 11:33
  Speaker 4: There's no way to shut me on.
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: I have my feelings, you know. Well, a day after tomorrow,
• 11:39
  Speaker 2: I'll be off to Rio, and you won't have to
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: stay in the box for a whole month. You can
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: move upstairs. But when you come back from Rio, I'll
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: go back into the box. Mr. Zeig didn't tell me
• 11:50
  Speaker 2: at Marionettes Incorporated that it was possible to get a
• 11:53
  Speaker 2: difficult specimen. Oh, well, there's a lot he doesn't know
• 11:57
  Speaker 2: about us. Look, look, look here, B2. This has gone
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: far enough. I'll never get to real... Come on, come
• 12:01
  Speaker 2: on now, into the box. And another thing.
• 12:03
  Speaker 4: Well?
• 12:04
  Speaker 2: Your wife. Yes, what about my wife? I've grown quite
• 12:06
  Speaker 2: fond of her. I'm glad that you enjoy your employment.
• 12:08
  Speaker 2: You'll have the whole month.
• 12:09
  Speaker 4: I'm afraid you don't quite understand, Braylon. I've fallen in
• 12:13
  Speaker 4: love with her.
• 12:13
  Speaker 2: Yes, well, all... You what? Well, you see it. Well,
• 12:17
  Speaker 2: you just don't appreciate it.
• 12:19
  Speaker 4: Maybe if you hadn't acted so meek and apologetic about everything, well,
• 12:23
  Speaker 4: she'd have a.
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: Little more respect for you as a man. You aren't
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: supposed to behave like this, you know. I think I
• 12:29
  Speaker 2: could be very happy if I were married to Gloria.
• 12:31
  Speaker 2: Aren't you forgetting that you are nothing but a big,
• 12:35
  Speaker 2: overgrown puppet? Now, careful, Brayling. I'm sensitive. I'm sorry. Look,
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: you wouldn't mind waiting here a moment, would you? I
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: have to go upstairs and make a phone call. To who?
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: Nobody important. I, um... I have to call Henry Smith
• 12:50
  Speaker 2: about something. You're lying.
• 12:52
  Speaker 4: Now, you're going to call Marionettes Incorporated and tell Mr.
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: Sive to come and get me. No, really, I'm not.
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: I was... B-2, stay away. Now, stand where you are, Braley. B-2,
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: take your hand off my arm. No, Braley. What are
• 13:05
  Speaker 2: you going to do? Nothing much. I'm just going to
• 13:08
  Speaker 2: put you in a toolbox, lock it, and lose the key.
• 13:12
  Speaker 4: Then I'll buy another ticket to Rio, and Gloria and
• 13:16
  Speaker 4: I can have a wonderful vacation.
• 13:18
  Speaker 2: You're insane. Oh, am I? Now, wait a minute. Hold on, B2. Don't, don't,
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: don't be rash. Now, let's talk this over. Goodbye, Braylon. Now, B2,
• 13:25
  Speaker 2: stop it. Don't, don't. Let's, let go. Into the box, Braylon. There.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: Let me out. Let me out.
• 13:39
  Speaker 6: Walter?
• 13:40
  Speaker 2: Walter? Yes, Gloria? Well, nothing, lover. The pipes were knocking,
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: and I'm just making sure the boiler hasn't exploded. Now,
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: you go to bed, and I'll be up soon.
• 13:52
  Speaker 5: Hurry, won't you?
• 13:54
  Speaker 6: We had such a nice evening. I'm lonesome for you.
• 13:58
  Speaker 2: You won't ever be lonesome again, darling. Never again. Good morning, Nettie.
• 14:14
  Speaker 5: Good morning, darling. How are you? Have a nice time
• 14:18
  Speaker 5: last night? I missed you so.
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: Is breakfast ready?
• 14:24
  Speaker 5: Well, aren't you going to kiss me good morning?
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: Oh, yes, I suppose so.
• 14:33
  Speaker 7: You're so wonderful, Henry. I guess I'm the luckiest person
• 14:38
  Speaker 7: in the world. Now, here's your coffee.
• 14:42
  Speaker 6: How would you like your eggs?
• 14:43
  Speaker 2: Oh, any way at all.
• 14:45
  Speaker 5: But I want to please you.
• 14:46
  Speaker 2: Look, skip the eggs this morning.
• 14:48
  Speaker 5: But you have to eat to keep well, darling.
• 14:50
  Speaker 2: I'm very healthy. I have an early business appointment this morning. Oh? Yes,
• 14:56
  Speaker 2: it's a friend of Walter Brayling's. I met Walter last night.
• 15:00
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: Yes. So I'd better be off. Now, Nettie, don't look
• 15:06
  Speaker 2: as if I were on my way to Rio or something.
• 15:09
  Speaker 7: Well, it It's just that I miss you so. I
• 15:13
  Speaker 7: want to be with you all the time.
• 15:15
  Speaker 2: Dear, do I have to go through this every morning?
• 15:18
  Speaker 2: I'll be back at supper. Now, there's no need to
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: cry now, is there?
• 15:23
  Speaker 5: No, darling.
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: You.
• 15:26
  Speaker 7: You aren't displeased with me, are you? I try so
• 15:28
  Speaker 7: hard to do everything just as I think you'll like it.
• 15:31
  Speaker 2: I know, I know. I'm not displeased. Now, goodbye, dear.
• 15:36
  Speaker 5: Henry.
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 15:38
  Speaker 5: You forgot to kiss me goodbye.
• 15:49
  Speaker 2: No strings attached, no strings attached. A very nice puppet
• 15:53
  Speaker 2: with no strings attached. Let's see now. Jumble Shop. 43
• 15:59
  Speaker 2: South Wesley. Well, that should be about... Ah, here it is. Yes? Mr.
• 16:09
  Speaker 5: Zeig?
• 16:09
  Speaker 2: Yes? Uh, Walter Brayling recommended me. Enter. Thank you. Your name?
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: Henry Smith, 55 Evergreen Place. And what can we do
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: for you, Mr. Smith? Well, Mr. Brayling showed me his
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: marionette last night. I was intrigued with the idea. Not
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: that my wife has anything like that female meat grinder
• 16:32
  Speaker 2: he's married to, you understand, but, well, I'm a man
• 16:35
  Speaker 2: who A joyous and occasional evening with the boys, you know,
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: without complications. Naturally. Yes, so I thought... That I could
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: duplicate you? Exactly. I think it might be a ring. Yes,
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: how much? $ 9, 000. I have an inferior model at $ 75, 000. No, no, no.
• 16:57
  Speaker 2: If I go through with this, nothing is too good
• 16:59
  Speaker 2: for Nettie. Nettie's my wife. We've been... putting money aside
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: to buy a summer home in Westport. Yeah, sometimes we
• 17:07
  Speaker 2: must choose. Yeah, yes. Well, perhaps I could just slip
• 17:11
  Speaker 2: out 9,000. It's a joint account. How soon could I
• 17:15
  Speaker 2: have it? Oh, I could construct a mannequin in about
• 17:19
  Speaker 2: two months' time. Good. Shall I consider the order, please?
• 17:24
  Speaker 4: At once.
• 17:25
  Speaker 2: Of course, you'll have to report here for a body mold,
• 17:28
  Speaker 2: color index of your hair, lips, skin, etc., And I'll
• 17:33
  Speaker 2: have to do a complete electro-emotional calibration.
• 17:38
  Speaker 5: Uh-huh.
• 17:39
  Speaker 2: Now, you guarantee that these models are foolproof? As foolproof
• 17:43
  Speaker 2: as I can make them, Mr. Smith, and I've had
• 17:46
  Speaker 2: years of training. And there's no chance of detection? None whatever.
• 17:50
  Speaker 2: I've never had to complain. Uh, very well, Mr. Zeig.
• 17:55
  Speaker 2: I'll get the money from the bank and send it
• 17:56
  Speaker 2: to you. I am sure you won't be sorry, Mr. Smith.
• 17:59
  Speaker 2: You will be just as satisfied is Walter Brayling. Oh, uh, Tuller.
• 18:15
  Speaker 7: Yes, Mr.
• 18:15
  Speaker 2: Smith? I'd like to cash this draft on my joint account, please. Yes, sir. $ 9, 000, sir?
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: That's right. Oh, I'm afraid that's impossible, Mr. Smith. Impossible?
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: My wife and I have a good $ 15, 000 in our account.
• 18:30
  Speaker 2: You're mistaken, Mr. Smith. Well, I know. Here's your card, sir.
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: You see, Mrs. Smith withdrew $ 10, 000 recently. $ 10, 000? Without even
• 18:41
  Speaker 2: telling me? I remember it distinctly, Mr.
• 18:43
  Speaker 4: Smith.
• 18:44
  Speaker 2: She said it was for a surprise for you. Good Lord,
• 18:47
  Speaker 2: she's bought that house in Connecticut. My birthday is next week. She... No, no, no.
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: I've got to borrow it somewhere. I've already contracted... Yes, sir.
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: Quite a surprise for you, Mr. Smith. Yes?
• 19:09
  Speaker 6: Oh, hello, Henry.
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: Hello, Gloria. Is Walter home? I'd like to speak to him.
• 19:13
  Speaker 6: He should be back soon. Will you wait?
• 19:15
  Speaker 2: Yes, yes, I better.
• 19:17
  Speaker 6: Oh, say, Henry, as long as you're here, maybe you
• 19:19
  Speaker 6: can help me with something.
• 19:20
  Speaker 2: What?
• 19:21
  Speaker 8: I went downstairs to get an old suitcase a little
• 19:23
  Speaker 8: while ago... and I heard the strangest noises near that
• 19:27
  Speaker 8: old tool chest of Walter's. He mentioned that the boiler
• 19:30
  Speaker 8: was acting up, and, well, I'm afraid to go down
• 19:33
  Speaker 8: there again. I wonder if you'd take a look.
• 19:35
  Speaker 2: What kind of noises?
• 19:36
  Speaker 6: Like a thumping sound.
• 19:41
  Speaker 2: Well, maybe I'd better go down, Gloria. You stay up here.
• 19:43
  Speaker 6: Should I call a plumber, do you think?
• 19:45
  Speaker 2: No, no, no, no, I'll take care of it.
• 19:46
  Speaker 6: Well, it's right down those stairs.
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: All right, I'll have a look. look. Hello? Hello in there.
• 19:57
  Speaker 2: Let me out. Let me out. Shh. Just a minute.
• 20:02
  Speaker 2: Keep quiet, for goodness sake.
• 20:03
  Speaker 4: Let me out.
• 20:05
  Speaker 2: I'll have to smash the lock. Now, what? Henry, thank
• 20:13
  Speaker 2: God you've come. What's a meet? I've been in there
• 20:15
  Speaker 2: all night. I thought I'd suffocate. He tried to kill me.
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: He tried to murder me. Who? Which one of you? No,
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: don't be an idiot. I'm Walter.
• 20:23
  Speaker 6: What happened?
• 20:24
  Speaker 2: Me, too. The marionette. He stuffed me in a toolbox
• 20:26
  Speaker 2: and left me to suffocate. What? Fortunately, I found an
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: old file in there and managed to get an air
• 20:32
  Speaker 2: hole through the wood. He's taking Gloria with him to Rio.
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: Have they left yet? No, he's gone downtown for the tickets. Good.
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: We may have time. For what? To get down to
• 20:43
  Speaker 2: Marionettes Incorporated and tell Mr. Zeig to stop him. You're
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: in no condition. Don't worry about me. We can't waste
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: any time. Come on. What about Gloria? I'll sneak out.
• 20:52
  Speaker 2: Tell her that you fixed the plumbing. Tell her anything.
• 20:55
  Speaker 2: I'll meet you outside. All right. What a fool I've been.
• 20:59
  Speaker 2: What a fool I almost was. I went down and
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: ordered one of those things today. Gloria. Gloria, love.
• 21:17
  Speaker 6: Yes, darling. Did you get the tickets to Rio?
• 21:20
  Speaker 4: Right here in my wallet. Honeymoon for two under the
• 21:23
  Speaker 4: pampas moon.
• 21:24
  Speaker 6: Oh, Walter, it's so nice to have you like this.
• 21:27
  Speaker 2: Oh, you like the change?
• 21:29
  Speaker 8: I don't know what did it, but whatever it is,
• 21:31
  Speaker 8: I'm in favor of it.
• 21:32
  Speaker 6: I hope it's permanent.
• 21:33
  Speaker 2: Well, I intend to see that it is. By the way, darling,
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: do you happen to remember where that old pistol of
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: mine is?
• 21:40
  Speaker 6: Pistol?
• 21:41
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I just thought, since we're going to be traveling
• 21:43
  Speaker 4: in strange countries, it wouldn't hurt to bring it along.
• 21:47
  Speaker 6: Well, I think it's here in the sideboard.
• 21:49
  Speaker 4: There.
• 21:52
  Speaker 5: There.
• 21:53
  Speaker 6: You know how frightened I am of these things.
• 21:55
  Speaker 4: Well, I'll be very careful. In fact, I think I'll
• 21:58
  Speaker 4: go down to the basement and practice. Not really shooting it,
• 22:02
  Speaker 4: of course, just to make sure it's in good working order.
• 22:05
  Speaker 6: Well, now, do be careful, darling.
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: Oh, I will.
• 22:08
  Speaker 4: If you should hear a shot, now, don't be frightened.
• 22:10
  Speaker 4: I may fire it into a block of wood just
• 22:13
  Speaker 4: to test it.
• 22:14
  Speaker 5: Perhaps I'll fire it into that old.
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: Tool chest of mine. That should absorb it.
• 22:18
  Speaker 6: Oh, speaking of that tool chest.
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: What about it?
• 22:21
  Speaker 6: It reminds me that Henry Smith was here.
• 22:23
  Speaker 4: Oh?
• 22:24
  Speaker 6: Yes, I heard some noises downstairs and he went to
• 22:27
  Speaker 6: fix the plumbing.
• 22:28
  Speaker 2: Is he still down there?
• 22:30
  Speaker 6: No, no, he left.
• 22:32
  Speaker 8: I really don't understand it. He seemed so anxious to
• 22:34
  Speaker 8: see you before he went down to the cellar. And
• 22:37
  Speaker 8: then he just left.
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: Did he stop the noises?
• 22:41
  Speaker 6: Well, he must have. I don't hear them.
• 22:43
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I see.
• 22:45
  Speaker 6: What is it, dear?
• 22:46
  Speaker 2: Well, I have to go out for a while, darling.
• 22:47
  Speaker 6: But, Walter, we have to pack if we're leaving.
• 22:50
  Speaker 4: Well, I'll be back soon. There's something very important I
• 22:53
  Speaker 4: have to attend to.
• 22:53
  Speaker 5: What is it?
• 22:54
  Speaker 4: Well, just some personal business with Henry Smith. Now, please
• 22:58
  Speaker 4: excuse me, darling, and don't worry. When I get back,
• 23:01
  Speaker 4: everything will be fixed once and for all. We can
• 23:06
  Speaker 4: enjoy the rest of our lives just as though the
• 23:09
  Speaker 4: old Walter Brayling never existed.
• 23:22
  Speaker 2: Oh, Mr. Brayling and Mr. Smith. Come in, gentlemen, come in.
• 23:27
  Speaker 2: What brings you? Mr. Zeig, you told me your marionettes
• 23:32
  Speaker 2: were foolproof. They are. My personal guarantee goes with each one.
• 23:37
  Speaker 2: We know all about your personal guarantee. Except that Mr.
• 23:41
  Speaker 2: Brayling's dummy knocked him out, stuffed him in a toolbox
• 23:43
  Speaker 2: to suffocate, and is making plans to run away with
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: his wife. Oh, dear. Yes, well, Mr. Zeig. Well, I
• 23:50
  Speaker 2: really don't know what to say, gentlemen. What Mr. Brayling
• 23:52
  Speaker 2: and myself would like to know, Mr. Zeig, is... Exactly
• 23:56
  Speaker 2: what are you planning to do to stop this overambitious robot? Well,
• 24:00
  Speaker 2: of course, we shall have to recover B2 first, and
• 24:04
  Speaker 2: then I'll simply dismantle him. He doesn't seem to want
• 24:07
  Speaker 2: to be dismantled, Mr. Zeig. In fact, I think that
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: you'll have trouble catching him. Maybe I can save you
• 24:13
  Speaker 2: the trouble, gentlemen. Yeah, but... B-2. Look out, he's got
• 24:15
  Speaker 2: a gun.
• 24:16
  Speaker 4: I thought I'd find you here when I discovered the
• 24:18
  Speaker 4: tool chest empty.
• 24:19
  Speaker 2: Now, you look, B-2. Whatever you're planning, you won't get
• 24:22
  Speaker 2: away with it. Oh, I think I will.
• 24:24
  Speaker 5: Mr.
• 24:24
  Speaker 2: Cy, can't you do something? I'm afraid I can't think
• 24:26
  Speaker 2: of anything.
• 24:27
  Speaker 4: I'll save you the trouble because I'm going to kill
• 24:29
  Speaker 4: the three of you.
• 24:30
  Speaker 2: No, you won't get away with it. No?
• 24:32
  Speaker 4: Now, you forget that Gloria and I will be on
• 24:34
  Speaker 4: a plane to Rio in a few hours.
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: All right, Mr. Cy, you first. Now, see here, this
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: isn't fair. I created you. I... You can't... You... Grab him.
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: I've got him. Quick, that hammer. Look out. Well, that's
• 24:53
  Speaker 2: the end of Brayling, too. He got Zyde, though. Right
• 24:56
  Speaker 2: through the... Holy chump and catfish. Look at him. Look
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: at Zyde. He's nothing but a mass of coils and springs,
• 25:06
  Speaker 2: just like Brayling, too. He's nothing but a marionette. He's
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: no different. Brayling. know what this means. Oh, this is incredible.
• 25:18
  Speaker 2: A marionette building other marionettes? But someone must have built Mr.
• 25:21
  Speaker 2: Zeig originally. I wonder... Perhaps Mr. Zeig turned on whoever
• 25:26
  Speaker 2: built him the same way Brayling 2 turned on you.
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: At any rate, we'll never know. I wonder how many
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: of these things are walking around among us. I shudder
• 25:36
  Speaker 2: to think of that. Some of our best friends might be.
• 25:40
  Speaker 2: Come on, we have to get out of here. But
• 25:41
  Speaker 2: the police... Now, don't be a fool, Brayling. There's There's
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: been no crime committed here. All the police will find
• 25:47
  Speaker 2: is two oversized puppets with the springs coming out of them.
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: And they seem so... so lifelike. Yes, I know, and
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: they were only machinery. You've got to remember that. Yes. Well,
• 25:57
  Speaker 2: what'll I tell Gloria? Well, if I were you, Brayling,
• 25:59
  Speaker 2: I wouldn't tell Gloria a thing. I'd simply pick up
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: that other ticket to Rio and take her on a honeymoon,
• 26:04
  Speaker 2: just as she's expecting. What about you, though, Henry? What
• 26:07
  Speaker 2: would you do?
• 26:08
  Speaker 4: Me?
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: Well, I'm going home and give Nettie a kiss that'll
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: send your hair... Oh, you know, when I think of
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: what might have happened if I'd gone through with this
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: marionette thing, it makes a fellow realize how lucky he
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: is to be married to a decent woman. Oh, come on,
• 26:23
  Speaker 2: let's go. Nettie? Nettie? Where are you, sweetheart? In here, darling. Oh,
• 26:42
  Speaker 2: I've missed you today. Come here.
• 26:44
  Speaker 5: Oh, Henry. Oh, you look tired, darling. Can I do
• 26:51
  Speaker 5: something for you?
• 26:52
  Speaker 7: Just tell me I'm yours to command.
• 26:55
  Speaker 2: Oh, man's a fool to jeopardize a nice home and
• 26:58
  Speaker 2: a loving wife like you. Oh, you do love me,
• 27:01
  Speaker 2: don't you, Nettie?
• 27:01
  Speaker 5: Oh, you know I do. Here, let me get your
• 27:04
  Speaker 5: slippers on.
• 27:05
  Speaker 2: No. Oh, it feels good to sit back on the
• 27:07
  Speaker 2: sofa and relax. Oh, you don't know what a trying
• 27:10
  Speaker 2: day I've had.
• 27:11
  Speaker 5: Oh, I can see you're all upset. It It isn't
• 27:14
  Speaker 5: anything I've done, is it, dearest?
• 27:15
  Speaker 2: No, no, no. Well, in a way, something you've done
• 27:20
  Speaker 2: is connected with it, yes.
• 27:21
  Speaker 5: What's that, darling?
• 27:22
  Speaker 2: The money. Money? I know you wanted to surprise me
• 27:25
  Speaker 2: with the house, darling, but really you shouldn't have taken
• 27:28
  Speaker 2: that money out of the bank without consulting me.
• 27:30
  Speaker 5: Henry, I don't even know what you're talking about.
• 27:32
  Speaker 2: No, no, Nettie.
• 27:32
  Speaker 5: But I don't.
• 27:33
  Speaker 2: Nettie.
• 27:34
  Speaker 5: Oh, you're so upset, darling. If it's anything important, let's
• 27:38
  Speaker 5: talk about it later. Why don't you just put your
• 27:41
  Speaker 5: head on my shoulder and rest?
• 27:44
  Speaker 2: Well, I must admit that sounds enticing.
• 27:47
  Speaker 5: Here, let me make you comfortable.
• 27:49
  Speaker 2: There.
• 27:49
  Speaker 5: Now you just close your eyes. That's it.
• 28:00
  Speaker 2: Ready?
• 28:01
  Speaker 5: Yes, darling.
• 28:02
  Speaker 2: Do you hear something?
• 28:05
  Speaker 5: No, darling. You sure? Like what?
• 28:11
  Speaker 2: Like the Ticking of the clock?
• 28:14
  Speaker 5: No.
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: Strange. I don't hear it now, but... When I had
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: my ear against your chest... Oh, no. No, she couldn't
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: have done that to me. Not Nettie.
• 28:25
  Speaker 5: What are you talking about?
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: I'm talking about... No, I won't believe it. You're my Nettie,
• 28:30
  Speaker 2: aren't you? You're real live flesh and blood. But I
• 28:35
  Speaker 2: hear it. It's coming from you. It's coming from you!
• 28:38
  Speaker 4: No!
• 28:51
  Speaker 3: You have just heard X-1 presented by the National Broadcasting
• 28:54
  Speaker 3: Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of astounding
• 28:58
  Speaker 3: science fiction. Tonight, by transcription, X-1 has brought you Marionettes Incorporated,
• 29:05
  Speaker 3: written by Ray Bradbury and adapted for radio by George Lefferts.
• 29:10
  Speaker 3: Featured in the cast were Les Damon, Dick Hamilton, Carl Swenson,
• 29:15
  Speaker 3: Tao Goetz, Arthur Cole, Bob Hastings, Freddie Chandler, and Ginger Jones.
• 29:22
  Speaker 2: Your announcer, Fred Collins.
• 29:24
  Speaker 3: X-1 was directed by Daniel Sutter and is an NBC
• 29:28
  Speaker 3: Radio Network production.
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: Pro Football Championship. Los Angeles Rams versus Cleveland Browns, Monday,
• 29:43
  Speaker 2: NBC Radio. Our time with X-Minus One and Marionettes, Inc.
• 29:53
  Speaker 2: comes to a close.
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: Follow X-Minus One for more classic broadcasts.