March 9, 2026 • 44 mins
CBS Radio Mystery Theater was a noteworthy attempt to revive in American radio dramas like Inner Sanctum (1941-1952) and Suspense (1942-1962). Radio dramas were widely considered "dead" 12 years prior to this series. CBS Radio Mystery Theater, or simply Mystery Theater, was created by Inner Sanctum creator Himan Brown and ran on CBS from 1974-1982. The show, much like older radio dramas, was introduced by a host (E.G. Marshall in this program), who steers us through the creaking door to start the episode. Many voices from the golden age of radio were featured, including Richard Widmark, Bret Morrison, Agnes Moorehead and many more. Find more classic, old-time radio series at Theater of the Mind - OTR | Spreaker | Apple | YouTube
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
DS Radio Mystery Theater Presents come in Welcome. I'm e. G. Marshall.
(00:25):
How great is our capacity for belief? Most people would
probably claim they'll believe anything they can see, feel, taste, touch,
or hear, in short, anything they could experience with their senses.
But I will venture to say, there are things in
this world so fantastic, so incredible, that you or I
(00:46):
could stare at them with our own two eyes and
swear under oath that we were not seeing what was there. Charlie,
you have got to support me on this. I can.
You've got to never take my word alone like a
raving lunatic. I'm sorry, mister Perk, but I can't do it.
You were down there with me. You saw it just
like I did. No, I didn't what I didn't say it?
(01:12):
Nayther did you way didn't say a thing. There's nothing
down there. Our Mystery Drama. The ninth volume was written
especially for the Mystery Theater by Percy Grainger and stars
Michael Wager. It is sponsored in part by Contact, the
(01:35):
Twelve Hour Cold Capsule and True Value Hardware Stores. I'll
be back shortly with that one. Energy is something we
hear a great deal about these days the kind of
(01:57):
energy provided by oil, and that is we hear debates
as to how much of these precious substances are left.
Some say supplies are virtually unlimited, others say we'll run
out in two to three hundred years, and the more
dire profits claim a mere twenty five years. Whatever the figures,
(02:21):
one thing is certain. As the situation becomes more urgent,
some of those looking for new reserves are not going
to let anything stand in their way. The year is
nineteen ninety eight. We're at a drilling site on the
western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Okay, starter up, tarter cockey, Yes, sir,
(02:46):
what are the chances of that well getting down another
fifty feet by no, I don't know, boss, that's pretty
solid stuff we're drilling through. Now. I don't understand this,
not at all. My forty two years in this business.
Is a company Giolic just told me to drill half
way up a mountain instead of on the low ground.
He seems pretty confident. He's a young smart alect to
(03:08):
ask me. He isn't quite right. You've been in the head, yeah,
but he went to college. I'd get on the back
of that rig shocky, you'd take it as fast as
you can. But remember, under no circumstances do I want
any more delays? Morning mile out, Morning John, Coffee's on?
(03:38):
Everything under way? Okay today? How can you be so cheerful?
And we've only got less than a week left and
no sign of oil less than a week five days
to be exact. I got a call from headquarters last night.
I've decided against renewing the lease on this land. Crazy.
I don't know how much oil every under that mountain. Well, John,
(04:00):
forgive me, but you seem to be the only one
still under the illusion that there's anything at all down there.
We've drilled ten dry holes over the past two years,
ten dusters, and all of them have been based on
your so called calculation. That's right, because headquarters always pulled
a pike before we got down far enough. Do you
have any idea how much drilling costs go up when
(04:24):
you get down past the second mile mile ow, I'm
going to make you a little wager. How many feet
do you think the boys can take it down? Today?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
I asked Sharky for fifty by noon.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That I will bet you one hundred dollars that by
noon we've struck oil.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
One hundred bucks.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Al far donaway. Now, as of last night, at quitting time,
it was nineteen thousand, nine hundred and sixty seven feet. Okay,
I'll make that bet even more specific. I say that
by the time we reach nineteen thousand, nine hundred and
eighty feet, we'll be into the biggest pool of boys
you ever saw.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Well, it's only thirteen more feet.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
That's right, is it a bet mile? Well, mister Hopkins, yeah,
Miss park I think we've hit something. Why, we've hit
an air pocket?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Are you sure?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I think that's what it is. The rockbit's not meeting
and your resistance not at all, nuns it Are you
holding in position? Yes, sir good get ready to cap
keep the rig going, But wait till I give you
a signal. I want to get company headquarters performed. Yes,
oh Milo, I think you just saved yourself a hundred bucks.
I want headquarters to put this over the intercom. Well,
(05:32):
this guys or goes. Everybody in that whole building is
gonna hear it. What what was that sounded like a
brig the rig it stopped?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
What's the matter, What's what's happened?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Shock you? What's going wrong. Ha, I don't know why
did you stop the rig? Something here? It is happening, boss,
What what are you talking about? Well, there was this, uh,
I mean, I don't know how to describe it. The
rotor was kicking up rocked ust, you know that yellowish
granite we've been drilling through, and then all of a sudden,
(06:17):
well it changed color, changed color. Yeah, and for that
you stopped the rig. Well I wait a minute, my
little chucky. You said the dust changed color to us. Well,
I think it was kind of reddish. Ah, well, it
sounds like we may be the start of clay.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
So where is this red dust? Let me see it?
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Well, now that's what I'm trying to tell you. It
isn't here anymore. It was in my hands. I was
holding it in my hands, looking at it, and it
just disappeared. You mean the wind blew it away? No,
my hands were cupped. There wasn't any wind. It just evaporated.
It just evaporated, yessie. Now I've got two nuts to
(07:03):
deal with. As a scientist, I'd be rather curious to
have a look at some of this dust. There ought
to be still some of this stuff in the hole here.
If I can just turn the tipe. Here we are.
(07:24):
I don't know if I touch it, mister Perk, what
if it's not safe? And it looks harmless enough to me,
But you don't know that's from nearly four miles down
on the earth. If it could be almost anything. That's
why I had him stop the ring. And I think
my first guess was right. It seems to be clay
of some sort of odd though. What it I have
(07:46):
to be a seam of clay that deep in the
earth and the kind of rock formation we've been cutting through. Look,
look there, see what I mean? Hey, what happened to it?
It just vanishes? That's what I was telling you, Chucky.
Bring me some kind of small container where you're a
plastic bag, anything, so long as it's air tight. Okay,
(08:08):
why air tight? I think it must be the fresh
air that's causing this stuff, whatever it is, to this integrate.
I want to get a sample of a down of
boulder of the university there and have it analyzed. This
is the only air tack bag I can fine, Miss Birth.
What is it? Aheaded from my lunch payer? Whiye put
my sandwich in it this morning? Well? I guess it'll
(08:29):
have to do. Milo, you give me a ride. Well,
what about the world. I think we'd better leave the
rig off until we find out what this stuff is.
It's past one o'clock. We've lost the whole morning. How
much longer is this friend of yours gonna take my love?
Professor Anderson is a very thorough person. He'll be finished
(08:52):
when he finished.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
This is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
You saw that d's disintegrate with your own eyes.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
So stuff up from the center of the earth and
acts weird?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Why not if I was down there, I I'd act weird.
It doesn't raise your curiosity at all. Huh, Professor Anderson
didn't reminder? Why did you find out? Were you able
to analyze the powder? Mister Hawkins?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Is that right? Yes, sir, you can call me Malow.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Well, how do you enjoy working with this practical joker here? Professor?
What do you see, mister Hawkins? Mister Perk here was
one of my more intelligent students, so I assume he
must be attempting humor when he comes around bothering a
busy old man with a handful of powdered tile tile.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
That's right, John, what you.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Asked me to drop everything for and analyze nothing but
common tile, such as one might use to roof a house.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
What's so special about it?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Huh? What's so special about it, professor, is that it
comes from the bottom of a well sat nearly four
miles down inside a mountain. See, so you weren't pulling
my leg. Why did you ask me to keep the
sample in an air tight container? It made my examination
much more difficult because when that dust is exposed to fascier,
(10:19):
it disintegrates, disintegrates, and Jean, if that's true, you realize
how old this material could be, you'll find must be
investigated at once. Well, there's just one problem, Professor, how
would you get down there? You know, I know the
(10:40):
site must be excavated, and this powder could will be
far older than all our previous estimates.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
It could be old.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It remains of a civilization we never even knew existed,
which reminds me, John, I must keep this sample and run.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Dating tests on it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Of course, Now, look, our company has a deadline. If
we don't find oil, we've got to be off that
land by the end of the week. Oh, you can't
continue to drill for oil, son, Don't you realize that
by continuing to drill, you might destroy an invaluable clue
to our past. I don't care about the past, professor,
(11:22):
I care about the future. And I don't see that
the excavation of one more prehistoric Indian dwelling or whatever
is going to be any difference. But getting to that oil,
if it's there, if we'll problem still is how to
reach the site.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Just a minute.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
You're drilling up the Pine Creek, aren't you, Yeah, three
miles up the mountain from there.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Well, and I think there might be a way.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Used to be a big silver mine at Pine Creek, remember, Ah,
that's right. It was abandoned at the turn of the century,
ninety five years ago. But the last sheriff then Doug,
struck a cave system. Of course, you took us down
a field. Tip. Let me see, I should have some
maps around here someplace. Yes, here we are, Hey, this
(12:14):
is the what I'm looking for. A cut away view
of the mountain. Now you can see here how extensive
the cave system is. Now where exactly is the location
of your drining site? Ah? Right here here is he
trace nine straight down twenty thousand feet.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's your lip.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Ah, And it would pleasure here the very deepest bowels
of the mountain.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
But here you see.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The cave starting at the base of the mine shaft,
which is already at the base of the mountain. And
you give yourself a head start of nearly fifteen thousand feet.
And look, here's a branch of the cave which comes
practically to the point our drill has reached. What we
could crawl there in a matter of hours. Now, just
a man at John seemed to be forgetting.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Who pays your salary?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Myle, Look, it's not one o'clock, give me until starting
time tomorrow nine o'clock. Why do we move half a day?
And I think perhaps you'd better allow us to perk
to attempt a dissent. My analysis showed traces of a
rather strange substance, an adhesive, I believe, or why was
(13:30):
it strange because it was entirely synthetic, and no primitives
were familiar with could possibly have known about it. I'm
reminded of an old story about a cabin boy on
a clipper ship. It seems he was always losing things.
(13:51):
One day, the captain asked him to clean his favorite clock,
but when he asked to have it back, the boy
couldn't produce it. The captain flew into a rage. I
suppose it's lost, he said. Oh no, sir, replied the
cabin boy. I know exactly where it is. It fell
out of my hands as I was cleaning it, and
(14:12):
it's at the bottom of the ocean. The characters in
our story know where something is, too, and like the
captain's clock, the only problem is how to get to it.
We shall dig deeper into all of this when I
return with a two. There are many things which distinguish
(14:40):
man from the so called lower orders of the animal kingdom,
and geologist John Perk is giving us a good demonstration
of one of them right now, For man is the
only animal who will deliberately set off to confront the unknown.
John Perk has bought a few precious hours from a
grudging my life Hawkins, and with Sharky as his assistant,
(15:03):
is descending into the mountain. Sharky carefully, the ledge isn't
too wide? Is there room for both of us? Just barely?
But time is it, Sharky? Almost midnight? Sharky? Huh? There
(15:25):
it is the end of the tunnel floor. Hand me
the bag with the drill and the explosives. Here we go.
While I'm feeling a hopeful the dynamite. You get out
the oxygen pack that inflate one of those balloons to
steal off the tunnel behind us. We don't want any
fresh air getting into whatever is behind that rock.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
The tunnel is all sealed off.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Mister Burke. Charge is ready. Now, let's just back up
around this corner. Yeah, okay, it'll just take a second
to a couple of wires, fast park. Are we sure
we want to do this? I mean, are we sure
we want to know what's back there? I'm a scientist, Sharky, Yes, sir,
(16:18):
it's oh why push the plunger? Okay, can't you see anything?
This flash slid? Now? Wait, we have dust that he
(16:39):
looks like, they say, chamber of some sort. Come on,
let's get back in there and set up a light kit.
Give me the like cue you crank up the generator. Okay, okay,
turn her on. Good lord, I don't get it, mister Perk.
(17:05):
We must have taken a wrong turn. This isn't a
prehistoric dwelling in somebody's house. We didn't take any wrong turn, Sharky. Well,
look seeing the ceiling there the nose of our rock
bit from the drilling rig hit. But look at this
a stove, a sink, even a dishwash. And look here
(17:26):
a dang rugs and table chairs. It look like, they say,
right out of a department store. I don't like this.
I wish we'd brought guns or something. What if this
is some kind of criminal hide aft four miles underground?
Well we don't know. Maybe it's a secret government project,
a bomb shelter or something. But how was it built?
(17:48):
I don't know, But there's got to be a reason
why it's here. Let's have a look around. Maybe there's
another way in which the survey charts don't show. Did
you find anything, mister Perk? Nothing? How about you? Well?
(18:09):
Nothing fantastic tirehouses incased in solid bedrock. But I saw bedrooms,
a bathroom, even a TV saying everything just like people
lived here, except that there are no signs of life anywhere.
Look at this glass in the windows, not even cracked,
(18:30):
and curtains that wonderful plumbing works. Well, it's one way
to find out, isn't it. Ah. The stuff that came
out of the tap, it's black. What is it? Let
me take that? No, mister pert. What my gosh, there's
(18:51):
nothing wrong with this shockey. It is perfectly good crude
oil oil. Yep, I don't.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Believe what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
A ranch house in the middle of the earth with
oil coming out of the fauceage. It's like magic. I
think there may be a more rational explanation, at least
for the oil. Did you see any stairs leading to
the basement. I saw some stairs down the hallway. Come
on it, let's follow these pipes. Pipes should be over
(19:23):
on that far wall. What's that? I don't know something. Oh, basically,
photos seems to be covered with it. Shine you light, Hey,
look it's our whole forest three inches deep and all
you see. I was right all along there is oil
(19:44):
in this mountain. We were right on target. And the
all the things stairs putting us in a gold behind.
Is this how this solves everything? At last? We have
proof that the oil exists. The company can go ahead
and take a new lease on the land, and we
will have the time to try to find an to
the mystery of this house. We can leave the generator here.
(20:10):
We've got to get back and stop milow starting a
rig up. What time is it? A two fifty seven A.
We should just about make it well. Inflate another balloon
to seal the passage behind us before removing the first one.
We all set to go, all said, wait, wait a minute,
what's this? What this door? I didn't see it before?
(20:33):
Did you check it out? No? I thought you did.
You better have a look, mister Burke. This place gives
me the creeps. I got this funny feeling. Why don't
we just leave well enough alone? Help me move the
light over? The kind of thing could survive down here
(20:55):
without air? Mister Parke, I'm frightened. Don't open this door
or get out of the way.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Uh what is it?
Speaker 1 (21:09):
A library? A library? Only a library room filled with books?
You're not afraid of them, are you? I'm I'm going
to have a look. Maybe they will provide some kind
of clue. The owner is obviously a man of refinement
(21:36):
and culture. Is complete works of Shakespeare, Milton, play those dialogs, Aristotle, Dante,
plutarch I hear the more recent office Faulkner, it's Gerald. Anyway,
This isn't offering us much in a way of clues.
Huh do you find something this requiring chair? My father
(22:00):
in law's got one, just like it in his den
Oh exactly like Well, I mean it's a different color,
but it's the same model. Well here's something. Whoever owns
these books is obviously interested in history. Here's an entire
case devoted to it. Herodotus, Chasitus, Levy Arrange in chronological order,
(22:26):
Hollin Should's Chronicles, Givens French Revolution.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Who's this? Who?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Someone named d V. Davis wrote a history of the World.
I thought I never heard of him, sharky, Well, don't
look at me. I never heard half of those other
guys you mentioned Davis Strange. Every other author on the
shelf is familiar with him. I missed the park. You
(22:55):
remember that feeling I had before? Well, it's coming back.
I think we ought to go. Now, wait a minute.
History of the World by David Vladimir Davis in nine volumes.
There are only eight volumes here. Well, there's a space.
(23:15):
The ninth folume is missing in the day fighting course,
Lord shocky, you don't see the ninth fives of this
set lying around anywhere. Do you know why did you
see it anywhere lying around the house. I don't know.
I just try to remember. Well, there were some books
on a table.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
In the living room.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I've got to find it here. But the time it's
after three at the time. We've got to find the
ninth volumes of this set. Why Because I am holding
the eighth volume in my hand, I can feel its weight.
I know it's real. It's not an illusion. The eighth
volume of a nine volume set of books on the
(23:52):
history of the world, our world as we know it
and have lived it. And this eighth volume goes from
the eighteen fifteen the Battle of Waterloo to the year
two thousand. But this is nineteen ninety eight. What is
this guy, fortune teller? Don't you see there's still another
entire volume.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Of the set.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I think I'm beginning to understand. What's that noise with Burke?
The house is beginning to shake. It's nothing. What was it?
I'm not sure. But if we really are sitting on
top of an oil field, it's a highly unstable situation.
The vibrations from the dynamite must have disturbed things. Who
we got to get out of here first. We have
(24:35):
got to find that book. Why why, what's so important
about some old fortune teller's book. That's not it, charky,
that's not it at all. Don't you realize what we've discovered.
This is what's that smell? But that smell, hey, it's gas.
There's gas escaping from somewhere. That explosion must open the
leak in a gas pocket. Quick put this book in
(24:57):
our bag to come back later with masks to search
for the ninth volume. Mister Park, there's daylight at last.
There's someone there at the mine entrance. My god, it
(25:19):
looks like Fazir Anderson.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
God is that you?
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Well you're coming from But what are you doing here?
I must know what you found down there. I've been
up the entire night running daging tests on that title sample.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
At first I couldn't believe it, but.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Now I know. There can be no doubt that powder
you brought me is over twelve billion years old, but
we know the world's only four and a half billion
years old. Well, I mean that's what I heard, mister
Hawkins say. What. Yes, that's what we thought, waster, but
evidently we've been wrong. Now tell me about your phone.
(26:05):
At the bottom of our well holded house, even more
perfectly preserved the ruins of Pompeii. It has every modern
appliance we're familiar with, from electric can openers to reclining chairs.
It's just like the houses in the suburb where I live.
Only difference it is from the civilization so far in
the past, until now not even a trace of it's
(26:27):
been known. But what about all those books, mister Perk,
the Shakespeare and alle how'd they get there?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Shakespeare?
Speaker 1 (26:35):
That's the most incredible thing of all, professor, That twelve
billion year old civilization was ours, same names, same events,
same people, fighting the same wars, making the same inventions,
creating the same masterpieces.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Probably making the same mistakes.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Ah, sir, that's why you wanted the ninth of that history.
That's right, Sharky, Because whatever fatal mistake they made, whatever
happened to cause their extinction, it's going to have to
us unless we can discover what it was and avoid it.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Ninth volume.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
There isn't time to explain, our professor. We've got to
get back to camp and stop Milo before he turns
on that rig. In our beginning is our end?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Said T. S.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Eliot. All living things duplicate themselves in reproduction with a
phenomenal precision. So is it not at least possible then
that nature repeats itself on a larger scale too? In fact,
on the largest scale of all I shall return shortly
(27:52):
with our final act. We catch but glimpses of our past.
The legend of Atlantis lives on, the mysteries of Stonehenge,
and the giant statues of Easter Island continue to baffle us.
(28:17):
The most advanced and sophisticated civilizations are represented by mere
shards of pottery stumbled on by accident.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
For all our research, there is still behind us a vast, unknown,
but now a discovery, fantastic, terrifying evidence of a former
civilization identical to our own, a civilization whose end was
so cataclysmic no trace had ever been discovered until now.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Thank goodness, we got here before you started that rig.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
John, I've got a boulder.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
There's no time for that. Shote, Yes, sir, get out there.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Get the rig start.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Oh wait, you got to listen to us. I'd got
a better idea, John, Why don't you listen to me
for a change. I got a little phone call last
night from headquarters.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
You remember them, don't you.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
They wanted to know how things were going. Understandably, they're
getting a little anxious considering the fact that we've got
only four days.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Before our lease here is up.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
And you can imagine my chagrin when I had to
tell him the rig wasn't even running. That my geologist,
who's supposed to be telling me where the drill had
told me to stop so he could go down and
nose around some prehistoric Indian hot That's not what's down
I don't care what's down there.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
My job is to drove for oil.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
You know who's arriving today, Sid Dabb, Sid Dabs, that's right,
the company executive vice president. He wants to know what
the heck is going on here. He's firing up personally
to take over the operation. If you would let me
get a word in edgeworth, I can tell you what's
going on. All I want to know is why we
haven't struck oil. Well, that's one thing you don't have
to worry about. There is oil down there. We saw it.
(30:07):
You saw it. I stuck my finger in it, I
tasted it. It's there, right where I said it would be.
The drill is no more than twenty feet above the
strike at this very moment. Let's get it going and
have that oil coming up with mister Dobbs, so he
won't have our heads in a sling Chardie. Yes, no,
wait a minute, you can't start the rig, not until
(30:28):
we've had a chance to go back down there, go
back down? What for Milo, what we've discovered? It wasn't well,
it wasn't what we expected. There's a house down there,
all right, but it's modern. I mean, we'll not modern exactly.
(30:48):
It's twelve billion years old.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
But shirkey, what's he talk?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
I know, I know it sounds incredible, but professor Anderson
ran dating tests powder. We took him and it is
twelve billion years old. Ugh, and so you firmed a
modern twelve billion year old. But the importancy is the book.
That's why we've got to go back down. Oh, I
(31:15):
see what the ninth volume. It's a history of the
world from the year two thousand on.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
John.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
I'm doing my best to stay with you, but you
aren't making it easy for me, my love. Now listen,
there is a house down there from a civilization that
existed twelve billion years ago. That was ours, It was us,
And don't you see what that means? We're being given
(31:46):
the chance to look into the future. I see, Jerky, Yes, Sah,
you've been awful quiet. Yes, so you were down there
with mister Pirk. Weren't you, Yes, you went all the
way with him. You saw everything he saw. Yes, and
(32:09):
you saw this house he's talking about. No, No, I didn't.
What shocky You didn't see a twelve billion year old house.
It looks just like ours. It has a set of books.
It's gonna tell us what's going to happen. No, sir,
I didn't. I didn't see any of that.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
That's what I thought.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
No, fuck you, what are you saying? My low? Look
in this bag, we brought up the eighth filume of
that set seed. Look it goes from eighteen fifteen to
the year two thousand. Now, now, will you believe me?
There's nothing in here but a pile of DUTs. Oh good,
great parents, such a hurry. I must not have sealed
(32:53):
the container properly. Look, my lord, you've got to believe me.
Twelve more hours all I need. But we've got to
go back down there. Hello Hawkins here heyes, okay, I'll
be right over.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
The company plane has just landed with mister Dobbs.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
I'm going to meet him, and I want that rig
in full operation by the time we returned. Milo listened
to me, Remember when we were at Anderson's lab. He
said his analysis of the power show traces of a
substance that primitive man couldn't have known about.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Oh yes, yes, I meant to tell you. Professor Anderson
called yesterday.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Right after you and Sharky had gone down into the mine.
He'd run another test and discovered what it was. What
doesn't that convince you I'm telling the truth? It was mayonnaise,
John mayonnaise, that's right. Remember we used a sandwich bag
from Sharky's lunch pail. Mayonnaise. Shock key, mister Perrick, Please
(33:54):
let me get back. Why did July I got to
get the riggs started? Are you crazy? Do you realize
what we'll be destroying? Mister park I don't want to
talk about it. What are you afraid of going back
down there? We'll run hoses down to pup out the gas. Anyway,
you don't have to go if you don't want to.
I can find somebody else. I know it's risky, but
it's too important not to take a chance to perk.
(34:14):
Please let me go until you tell me why you
lighte a milo. Don't you see what this discovery could mean,
The chance to look into the future, The chance to
avoid making the same mistake twice? How what how are
you going to avoid it? Don't you want to know
your own fate? No, I don't want to know. An
(34:40):
entire civilization may perish because of your cowardice. Why won't
you support me?
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Didn't you see that?
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Of course I saw it? Did you take a good
look at it? What are you getting at?
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Shock?
Speaker 1 (34:54):
It doesn't matter. It's a modern house, so it's not
Oh true, many, it's not some weird futuristic contraption filled
with gadgets we've never seen. It's modern, It's contemporary. Don't
you see what that means? This is as far as
we're coming. This is the end of the line. Whatever's
(35:17):
going to happen is going to happen soon, and it's
probably too late to stop it. But we can try
if we know what it is. I don't want to
know what it is. I don't want to know, so
you won't support me. When said Dobbs arrive, you won't
(35:39):
back me up. Sorry, mister Bert, You'll think I'm a
raving lunatic. Shocky, Why isn't that rig going yet? Oh man,
hello John, Hello, said mister Dobbs.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
I gave orders for the rig to be running, and
that's all right, Mint, forget it. Rig isn't going on.
It isn't. No, we've decided to suspend operations all together.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Suspend operations.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Our lease is up in four days. Thank us. That
long to pack up and be out of here. As
far as I'm concerned, the sooner we never see this
place again. The better said, when you say suspend operations,
you mean you intend to pull a pipe, and we
sure can't afford to leave it behind. You can't do that.
Why why not? Removing the pipe would expose the hole
(36:29):
to the fresh air. And well, there's something down there
that would be destroyed by fresh air.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
I said.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
We struck some old clay rock yesterday. That's why the
rig isn't going. John insisted on exploring in a nearby cave, said,
you have to listen to me. Shocky's right. There is
oil down there. We're within twenty feet of it. Are
you asking me to start the rig going again? No, no, no,
I'm asking you to take a new lease on the
(36:58):
land and hold off making the strike until I found
Until I've completed my explorations, John, I remind you that
we've been listening to you for two years. There's no
more time.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
It's all run out.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
You are also sitting on top of something infinitely more
important than oil, and it's going to be destroyed.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
John, I think you need some sleep. That's your problem.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Now. I am an adjust a minute. Mallow. I'm curious
about these continued illusions. John, I might give you one
more chance. I will accept your considered judgment as a
rational scientist that the oil is there and hold off drilling.
He if you'll tell me what's down there that's so
(37:46):
important my judgment of the rational scientist. Oh never mind, said,
never mind, go ahead and pull the pipe. Okay, we
have the men pack up. We'll pull a pipe.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
And dismantle the rig in the morning.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
John, why didn't you just tell mister Dobbs what it was,
you'd say, he wouldn't have believed me, Professor Anderson, Not,
not without Sharky's corroboration. Sure you're going to start pulling
the pipe in the morning, and a golden opportunity and
will be lost forever. No, not exactly what chance remains.
(38:31):
Surely you don't intend to stop them at gunpoint? Oh no,
I'm gonna try going down again. She said there was
gas sneaking, that the ground was beginning to shift. He
can wear masks against the gas, and it's for the shifting. Well,
we'll just have to take that risk, you said, we
(38:51):
That's why I came to you, Professor. I need someone
to go with me. It's a two man job. I
I don't know who else to turn to him. I
know you can. I mean, I know what you're trying
to say, but on a mission of such importance, I
wouldn't hesitate.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
It, not for one minute.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
And then you'll come with me.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
Yes, of course, we're good.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
We've kind of started once. There's barely enough time as
it is, shock Eve, I can't say I'll be sorry
to see the last of this place. Something about it
always did give me the willies. Had you better lock
(39:35):
the gate for the last time? Okay, miss talking.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
Wait a minute, what's that?
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Why the stuff on your boots, the black stuff? Why that?
That's the ore oil where to come from? But that's
what I was trying to tell you all along. The
oil that's down there, Miss Birk, and I saw it
and we waded through it. Shaky, Get mister Dobbs from
the office. Why you got a start up that rig.
(40:06):
There is oil, Sharky oil. You know what that means?
Our future is golden here it is, a professor, It's
amazing how schnevery detail exactly like our own from a
(40:31):
duplicate civilization that inhabited the earth twelve billion years ago.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
How much it could teach us?
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Wait a minute, Sharky said he thought he'd seen some
books in the living room this way. Look over there
on the table. Yeah, this is it. The History of
the World by D. V. Davis for you known. Do
you realize what this wo mean, Professor, when we open
this book? Yes, I wonder what it is John, that
(41:07):
we're to learn about ourselves from ourselves? What's that? Professor?
They started the prill the whole house, and come see
if it does. There is a legend in classical mythology
(41:36):
about the civil the prophetess who lived appropriately enough to
our story in a cave. She offered to sell nine
prophetic books to Tarquin the Proud, the last of Rome's
legendary kings. He refused, for he felt her price was
too high, so she burned three of the books and
offered him the remaining six for the same price. Again,
(41:59):
Tarquin refused and again, Sybil burned three of the precious volumes.
Finally he bought the last three for the price of
the original nine. But because of his stingy short sightedness,
Mankind lost forever his chance to know what the future holds.
I shall return shortly. Do we really want to know
(42:33):
what fate has in store for us? That would probably
depend on whether or not we had the ability to
act on that knowledge and to alter the impending course
of events. But would it be a simple matter of
avoiding a single fatal mistake, or would we discover a
future as complex as human nature itself and as unchangeable.
(43:00):
Oecast included Michael Wager, Court Benson and Robert Dryden. The
entire production was under the direction of Hymon Brown. This
is e. G. Marshall inviting you to return to our
Mystery Theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant,
(44:00):
do you
DS Radio Mystery Theater Presents come in Welcome. I'm e. G. Marshall.
(00:25):
How great is our capacity for belief? Most people would
probably claim they'll believe anything they can see, feel, taste, touch,
or hear, in short, anything they could experience with their senses.
But I will venture to say, there are things in
this world so fantastic, so incredible, that you or I
(00:46):
could stare at them with our own two eyes and
swear under oath that we were not seeing what was there. Charlie,
you have got to support me on this. I can.
You've got to never take my word alone like a
raving lunatic. I'm sorry, mister Perk, but I can't do it.
You were down there with me. You saw it just
like I did. No, I didn't what I didn't say it?
(01:12):
Nayther did you way didn't say a thing. There's nothing
down there. Our Mystery Drama. The ninth volume was written
especially for the Mystery Theater by Percy Grainger and stars
Michael Wager. It is sponsored in part by Contact, the
(01:35):
Twelve Hour Cold Capsule and True Value Hardware Stores. I'll
be back shortly with that one. Energy is something we
hear a great deal about these days the kind of
(01:57):
energy provided by oil, and that is we hear debates
as to how much of these precious substances are left.
Some say supplies are virtually unlimited, others say we'll run
out in two to three hundred years, and the more
dire profits claim a mere twenty five years. Whatever the figures,
(02:21):
one thing is certain. As the situation becomes more urgent,
some of those looking for new reserves are not going
to let anything stand in their way. The year is
nineteen ninety eight. We're at a drilling site on the
western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Okay, starter up, tarter cockey, Yes, sir,
(02:46):
what are the chances of that well getting down another
fifty feet by no, I don't know, boss, that's pretty
solid stuff we're drilling through. Now. I don't understand this,
not at all. My forty two years in this business.
Is a company Giolic just told me to drill half
way up a mountain instead of on the low ground.
He seems pretty confident. He's a young smart alect to
(03:08):
ask me. He isn't quite right. You've been in the head, yeah,
but he went to college. I'd get on the back
of that rig shocky, you'd take it as fast as
you can. But remember, under no circumstances do I want
any more delays? Morning mile out, Morning John, Coffee's on?
(03:38):
Everything under way? Okay today? How can you be so cheerful?
And we've only got less than a week left and
no sign of oil less than a week five days
to be exact. I got a call from headquarters last night.
I've decided against renewing the lease on this land. Crazy.
I don't know how much oil every under that mountain. Well, John,
(04:00):
forgive me, but you seem to be the only one
still under the illusion that there's anything at all down there.
We've drilled ten dry holes over the past two years,
ten dusters, and all of them have been based on
your so called calculation. That's right, because headquarters always pulled
a pike before we got down far enough. Do you
have any idea how much drilling costs go up when
(04:24):
you get down past the second mile mile ow, I'm
going to make you a little wager. How many feet
do you think the boys can take it down? Today?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
I asked Sharky for fifty by noon.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That I will bet you one hundred dollars that by
noon we've struck oil.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
One hundred bucks.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Al far donaway. Now, as of last night, at quitting time,
it was nineteen thousand, nine hundred and sixty seven feet. Okay,
I'll make that bet even more specific. I say that
by the time we reach nineteen thousand, nine hundred and
eighty feet, we'll be into the biggest pool of boys
you ever saw.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Well, it's only thirteen more feet.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
That's right, is it a bet mile? Well, mister Hopkins, yeah,
Miss park I think we've hit something. Why, we've hit
an air pocket?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Are you sure?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I think that's what it is. The rockbit's not meeting
and your resistance not at all, nuns it Are you
holding in position? Yes, sir good get ready to cap
keep the rig going, But wait till I give you
a signal. I want to get company headquarters performed. Yes,
oh Milo, I think you just saved yourself a hundred bucks.
I want headquarters to put this over the intercom. Well,
(05:32):
this guys or goes. Everybody in that whole building is
gonna hear it. What what was that sounded like a
brig the rig it stopped?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
What's the matter, What's what's happened?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Shock you? What's going wrong. Ha, I don't know why
did you stop the rig? Something here? It is happening, boss,
What what are you talking about? Well, there was this, uh,
I mean, I don't know how to describe it. The
rotor was kicking up rocked ust, you know that yellowish
granite we've been drilling through, and then all of a sudden,
(06:17):
well it changed color, changed color. Yeah, and for that
you stopped the rig. Well I wait a minute, my
little chucky. You said the dust changed color to us. Well,
I think it was kind of reddish. Ah, well, it
sounds like we may be the start of clay.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
So where is this red dust? Let me see it?
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Well, now that's what I'm trying to tell you. It
isn't here anymore. It was in my hands. I was
holding it in my hands, looking at it, and it
just disappeared. You mean the wind blew it away? No,
my hands were cupped. There wasn't any wind. It just evaporated.
It just evaporated, yessie. Now I've got two nuts to
(07:03):
deal with. As a scientist, I'd be rather curious to
have a look at some of this dust. There ought
to be still some of this stuff in the hole here.
If I can just turn the tipe. Here we are.
(07:24):
I don't know if I touch it, mister Perk, what
if it's not safe? And it looks harmless enough to me,
But you don't know that's from nearly four miles down
on the earth. If it could be almost anything. That's
why I had him stop the ring. And I think
my first guess was right. It seems to be clay
of some sort of odd though. What it I have
(07:46):
to be a seam of clay that deep in the
earth and the kind of rock formation we've been cutting through. Look,
look there, see what I mean? Hey, what happened to it?
It just vanishes? That's what I was telling you, Chucky.
Bring me some kind of small container where you're a
plastic bag, anything, so long as it's air tight. Okay,
(08:08):
why air tight? I think it must be the fresh
air that's causing this stuff, whatever it is, to this integrate.
I want to get a sample of a down of
boulder of the university there and have it analyzed. This
is the only air tack bag I can fine, Miss Birth.
What is it? Aheaded from my lunch payer? Whiye put
my sandwich in it this morning? Well? I guess it'll
(08:29):
have to do. Milo, you give me a ride. Well,
what about the world. I think we'd better leave the
rig off until we find out what this stuff is.
It's past one o'clock. We've lost the whole morning. How
much longer is this friend of yours gonna take my love?
Professor Anderson is a very thorough person. He'll be finished
(08:52):
when he finished.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
This is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
You saw that d's disintegrate with your own eyes.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
So stuff up from the center of the earth and
acts weird?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Why not if I was down there, I I'd act weird.
It doesn't raise your curiosity at all. Huh, Professor Anderson
didn't reminder? Why did you find out? Were you able
to analyze the powder? Mister Hawkins?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Is that right? Yes, sir, you can call me Malow.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Well, how do you enjoy working with this practical joker here? Professor?
What do you see, mister Hawkins? Mister Perk here was
one of my more intelligent students, so I assume he
must be attempting humor when he comes around bothering a
busy old man with a handful of powdered tile tile.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
That's right, John, what you.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Asked me to drop everything for and analyze nothing but
common tile, such as one might use to roof a house.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
What's so special about it?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Huh? What's so special about it, professor, is that it
comes from the bottom of a well sat nearly four
miles down inside a mountain. See, so you weren't pulling
my leg. Why did you ask me to keep the
sample in an air tight container? It made my examination
much more difficult because when that dust is exposed to fascier,
(10:19):
it disintegrates, disintegrates, and Jean, if that's true, you realize
how old this material could be, you'll find must be
investigated at once. Well, there's just one problem, Professor, how
would you get down there? You know, I know the
(10:40):
site must be excavated, and this powder could will be
far older than all our previous estimates.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
It could be old.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It remains of a civilization we never even knew existed,
which reminds me, John, I must keep this sample and run.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Dating tests on it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Of course, Now, look, our company has a deadline. If
we don't find oil, we've got to be off that
land by the end of the week. Oh, you can't
continue to drill for oil, son, Don't you realize that
by continuing to drill, you might destroy an invaluable clue
to our past. I don't care about the past, professor,
(11:22):
I care about the future. And I don't see that
the excavation of one more prehistoric Indian dwelling or whatever
is going to be any difference. But getting to that oil,
if it's there, if we'll problem still is how to
reach the site.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Just a minute.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
You're drilling up the Pine Creek, aren't you, Yeah, three
miles up the mountain from there.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Well, and I think there might be a way.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Used to be a big silver mine at Pine Creek, remember, Ah,
that's right. It was abandoned at the turn of the century,
ninety five years ago. But the last sheriff then Doug,
struck a cave system. Of course, you took us down
a field. Tip. Let me see, I should have some
maps around here someplace. Yes, here we are, Hey, this
(12:14):
is the what I'm looking for. A cut away view
of the mountain. Now you can see here how extensive
the cave system is. Now where exactly is the location
of your drining site? Ah? Right here here is he
trace nine straight down twenty thousand feet.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's your lip.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Ah, And it would pleasure here the very deepest bowels
of the mountain.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
But here you see.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The cave starting at the base of the mine shaft,
which is already at the base of the mountain. And
you give yourself a head start of nearly fifteen thousand feet.
And look, here's a branch of the cave which comes
practically to the point our drill has reached. What we
could crawl there in a matter of hours. Now, just
a man at John seemed to be forgetting.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Who pays your salary?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Myle, Look, it's not one o'clock, give me until starting
time tomorrow nine o'clock. Why do we move half a day?
And I think perhaps you'd better allow us to perk
to attempt a dissent. My analysis showed traces of a
rather strange substance, an adhesive, I believe, or why was
(13:30):
it strange because it was entirely synthetic, and no primitives
were familiar with could possibly have known about it. I'm
reminded of an old story about a cabin boy on
a clipper ship. It seems he was always losing things.
(13:51):
One day, the captain asked him to clean his favorite clock,
but when he asked to have it back, the boy
couldn't produce it. The captain flew into a rage. I
suppose it's lost, he said. Oh no, sir, replied the
cabin boy. I know exactly where it is. It fell
out of my hands as I was cleaning it, and
(14:12):
it's at the bottom of the ocean. The characters in
our story know where something is, too, and like the
captain's clock, the only problem is how to get to it.
We shall dig deeper into all of this when I
return with a two. There are many things which distinguish
(14:40):
man from the so called lower orders of the animal kingdom,
and geologist John Perk is giving us a good demonstration
of one of them right now, For man is the
only animal who will deliberately set off to confront the unknown.
John Perk has bought a few precious hours from a
grudging my life Hawkins, and with Sharky as his assistant,
(15:03):
is descending into the mountain. Sharky carefully, the ledge isn't
too wide? Is there room for both of us? Just barely?
But time is it, Sharky? Almost midnight? Sharky? Huh? There
(15:25):
it is the end of the tunnel floor. Hand me
the bag with the drill and the explosives. Here we go.
While I'm feeling a hopeful the dynamite. You get out
the oxygen pack that inflate one of those balloons to
steal off the tunnel behind us. We don't want any
fresh air getting into whatever is behind that rock.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
The tunnel is all sealed off.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Mister Burke. Charge is ready. Now, let's just back up
around this corner. Yeah, okay, it'll just take a second
to a couple of wires, fast park. Are we sure
we want to do this? I mean, are we sure
we want to know what's back there? I'm a scientist, Sharky, Yes, sir,
(16:18):
it's oh why push the plunger? Okay, can't you see anything?
This flash slid? Now? Wait, we have dust that he
(16:39):
looks like, they say, chamber of some sort. Come on,
let's get back in there and set up a light kit.
Give me the like cue you crank up the generator. Okay, okay,
turn her on. Good lord, I don't get it, mister Perk.
(17:05):
We must have taken a wrong turn. This isn't a
prehistoric dwelling in somebody's house. We didn't take any wrong turn, Sharky. Well,
look seeing the ceiling there the nose of our rock
bit from the drilling rig hit. But look at this
a stove, a sink, even a dishwash. And look here
(17:26):
a dang rugs and table chairs. It look like, they say,
right out of a department store. I don't like this.
I wish we'd brought guns or something. What if this
is some kind of criminal hide aft four miles underground?
Well we don't know. Maybe it's a secret government project,
a bomb shelter or something. But how was it built?
(17:48):
I don't know, But there's got to be a reason
why it's here. Let's have a look around. Maybe there's
another way in which the survey charts don't show. Did
you find anything, mister Perk? Nothing? How about you? Well?
(18:09):
Nothing fantastic tirehouses incased in solid bedrock. But I saw bedrooms,
a bathroom, even a TV saying everything just like people
lived here, except that there are no signs of life anywhere.
Look at this glass in the windows, not even cracked,
(18:30):
and curtains that wonderful plumbing works. Well, it's one way
to find out, isn't it. Ah. The stuff that came
out of the tap, it's black. What is it? Let
me take that? No, mister pert. What my gosh, there's
(18:51):
nothing wrong with this shockey. It is perfectly good crude
oil oil. Yep, I don't.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Believe what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
A ranch house in the middle of the earth with
oil coming out of the fauceage. It's like magic. I
think there may be a more rational explanation, at least
for the oil. Did you see any stairs leading to
the basement. I saw some stairs down the hallway. Come
on it, let's follow these pipes. Pipes should be over
(19:23):
on that far wall. What's that? I don't know something. Oh, basically,
photos seems to be covered with it. Shine you light, Hey,
look it's our whole forest three inches deep and all
you see. I was right all along there is oil
(19:44):
in this mountain. We were right on target. And the
all the things stairs putting us in a gold behind.
Is this how this solves everything? At last? We have
proof that the oil exists. The company can go ahead
and take a new lease on the land, and we
will have the time to try to find an to
the mystery of this house. We can leave the generator here.
(20:10):
We've got to get back and stop milow starting a
rig up. What time is it? A two fifty seven A.
We should just about make it well. Inflate another balloon
to seal the passage behind us before removing the first one.
We all set to go, all said, wait, wait a minute,
what's this? What this door? I didn't see it before?
(20:33):
Did you check it out? No? I thought you did.
You better have a look, mister Burke. This place gives
me the creeps. I got this funny feeling. Why don't
we just leave well enough alone? Help me move the
light over? The kind of thing could survive down here
(20:55):
without air? Mister Parke, I'm frightened. Don't open this door
or get out of the way.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Uh what is it?
Speaker 1 (21:09):
A library? A library? Only a library room filled with books?
You're not afraid of them, are you? I'm I'm going
to have a look. Maybe they will provide some kind
of clue. The owner is obviously a man of refinement
(21:36):
and culture. Is complete works of Shakespeare, Milton, play those dialogs, Aristotle, Dante,
plutarch I hear the more recent office Faulkner, it's Gerald. Anyway,
This isn't offering us much in a way of clues.
Huh do you find something this requiring chair? My father
(22:00):
in law's got one, just like it in his den
Oh exactly like Well, I mean it's a different color,
but it's the same model. Well here's something. Whoever owns
these books is obviously interested in history. Here's an entire
case devoted to it. Herodotus, Chasitus, Levy Arrange in chronological order,
(22:26):
Hollin Should's Chronicles, Givens French Revolution.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Who's this? Who?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Someone named d V. Davis wrote a history of the World.
I thought I never heard of him, sharky, Well, don't
look at me. I never heard half of those other
guys you mentioned Davis Strange. Every other author on the
shelf is familiar with him. I missed the park. You
(22:55):
remember that feeling I had before? Well, it's coming back.
I think we ought to go. Now, wait a minute.
History of the World by David Vladimir Davis in nine volumes.
There are only eight volumes here. Well, there's a space.
(23:15):
The ninth folume is missing in the day fighting course,
Lord shocky, you don't see the ninth fives of this
set lying around anywhere. Do you know why did you
see it anywhere lying around the house. I don't know.
I just try to remember. Well, there were some books
on a table.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
In the living room.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I've got to find it here. But the time it's
after three at the time. We've got to find the
ninth volumes of this set. Why Because I am holding
the eighth volume in my hand, I can feel its weight.
I know it's real. It's not an illusion. The eighth
volume of a nine volume set of books on the
(23:52):
history of the world, our world as we know it
and have lived it. And this eighth volume goes from
the eighteen fifteen the Battle of Waterloo to the year
two thousand. But this is nineteen ninety eight. What is
this guy, fortune teller? Don't you see there's still another
entire volume.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Of the set.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I think I'm beginning to understand. What's that noise with Burke?
The house is beginning to shake. It's nothing. What was it?
I'm not sure. But if we really are sitting on
top of an oil field, it's a highly unstable situation.
The vibrations from the dynamite must have disturbed things. Who
we got to get out of here first. We have
(24:35):
got to find that book. Why why, what's so important
about some old fortune teller's book. That's not it, charky,
that's not it at all. Don't you realize what we've discovered.
This is what's that smell? But that smell, hey, it's gas.
There's gas escaping from somewhere. That explosion must open the
leak in a gas pocket. Quick put this book in
(24:57):
our bag to come back later with masks to search
for the ninth volume. Mister Park, there's daylight at last.
There's someone there at the mine entrance. My god, it
(25:19):
looks like Fazir Anderson.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
God is that you?
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Well you're coming from But what are you doing here?
I must know what you found down there. I've been
up the entire night running daging tests on that title sample.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
At first I couldn't believe it, but.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Now I know. There can be no doubt that powder
you brought me is over twelve billion years old, but
we know the world's only four and a half billion
years old. Well, I mean that's what I heard, mister
Hawkins say. What. Yes, that's what we thought, waster, but
evidently we've been wrong. Now tell me about your phone.
(26:05):
At the bottom of our well holded house, even more
perfectly preserved the ruins of Pompeii. It has every modern
appliance we're familiar with, from electric can openers to reclining chairs.
It's just like the houses in the suburb where I live.
Only difference it is from the civilization so far in
the past, until now not even a trace of it's
(26:27):
been known. But what about all those books, mister Perk,
the Shakespeare and alle how'd they get there?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Shakespeare?
Speaker 1 (26:35):
That's the most incredible thing of all, professor, That twelve
billion year old civilization was ours, same names, same events,
same people, fighting the same wars, making the same inventions,
creating the same masterpieces.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Probably making the same mistakes.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Ah, sir, that's why you wanted the ninth of that history.
That's right, Sharky, Because whatever fatal mistake they made, whatever
happened to cause their extinction, it's going to have to
us unless we can discover what it was and avoid it.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Ninth volume.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
There isn't time to explain, our professor. We've got to
get back to camp and stop Milo before he turns
on that rig. In our beginning is our end?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Said T. S.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Eliot. All living things duplicate themselves in reproduction with a
phenomenal precision. So is it not at least possible then
that nature repeats itself on a larger scale too? In fact,
on the largest scale of all I shall return shortly
(27:52):
with our final act. We catch but glimpses of our past.
The legend of Atlantis lives on, the mysteries of Stonehenge,
and the giant statues of Easter Island continue to baffle us.
(28:17):
The most advanced and sophisticated civilizations are represented by mere
shards of pottery stumbled on by accident.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
For all our research, there is still behind us a vast, unknown,
but now a discovery, fantastic, terrifying evidence of a former
civilization identical to our own, a civilization whose end was
so cataclysmic no trace had ever been discovered until now.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Thank goodness, we got here before you started that rig.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
John, I've got a boulder.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
There's no time for that. Shote, Yes, sir, get out there.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Get the rig start.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Oh wait, you got to listen to us. I'd got
a better idea, John, Why don't you listen to me
for a change. I got a little phone call last
night from headquarters.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
You remember them, don't you.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
They wanted to know how things were going. Understandably, they're
getting a little anxious considering the fact that we've got
only four days.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Before our lease here is up.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
And you can imagine my chagrin when I had to
tell him the rig wasn't even running. That my geologist,
who's supposed to be telling me where the drill had
told me to stop so he could go down and
nose around some prehistoric Indian hot That's not what's down
I don't care what's down there.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
My job is to drove for oil.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
You know who's arriving today, Sid Dabb, Sid Dabs, that's right,
the company executive vice president. He wants to know what
the heck is going on here. He's firing up personally
to take over the operation. If you would let me
get a word in edgeworth, I can tell you what's
going on. All I want to know is why we
haven't struck oil. Well, that's one thing you don't have
to worry about. There is oil down there. We saw it.
(30:07):
You saw it. I stuck my finger in it, I
tasted it. It's there, right where I said it would be.
The drill is no more than twenty feet above the
strike at this very moment. Let's get it going and
have that oil coming up with mister Dobbs, so he
won't have our heads in a sling Chardie. Yes, no,
wait a minute, you can't start the rig, not until
(30:28):
we've had a chance to go back down there, go
back down? What for Milo, what we've discovered? It wasn't well,
it wasn't what we expected. There's a house down there,
all right, but it's modern. I mean, we'll not modern exactly.
(30:48):
It's twelve billion years old.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
But shirkey, what's he talk?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
I know, I know it sounds incredible, but professor Anderson
ran dating tests powder. We took him and it is
twelve billion years old. Ugh, and so you firmed a
modern twelve billion year old. But the importancy is the book.
That's why we've got to go back down. Oh, I
(31:15):
see what the ninth volume. It's a history of the
world from the year two thousand on.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
John.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
I'm doing my best to stay with you, but you
aren't making it easy for me, my love. Now listen,
there is a house down there from a civilization that
existed twelve billion years ago. That was ours, It was us,
And don't you see what that means? We're being given
(31:46):
the chance to look into the future. I see, Jerky, Yes, Sah,
you've been awful quiet. Yes, so you were down there
with mister Pirk. Weren't you, Yes, you went all the
way with him. You saw everything he saw. Yes, and
(32:09):
you saw this house he's talking about. No, No, I didn't.
What shocky You didn't see a twelve billion year old house.
It looks just like ours. It has a set of books.
It's gonna tell us what's going to happen. No, sir,
I didn't. I didn't see any of that.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
That's what I thought.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
No, fuck you, what are you saying? My low? Look
in this bag, we brought up the eighth filume of
that set seed. Look it goes from eighteen fifteen to
the year two thousand. Now, now, will you believe me?
There's nothing in here but a pile of DUTs. Oh good,
great parents, such a hurry. I must not have sealed
(32:53):
the container properly. Look, my lord, you've got to believe me.
Twelve more hours all I need. But we've got to
go back down there. Hello Hawkins here heyes, okay, I'll
be right over.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
The company plane has just landed with mister Dobbs.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
I'm going to meet him, and I want that rig
in full operation by the time we returned. Milo listened
to me, Remember when we were at Anderson's lab. He
said his analysis of the power show traces of a
substance that primitive man couldn't have known about.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Oh yes, yes, I meant to tell you. Professor Anderson
called yesterday.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Right after you and Sharky had gone down into the mine.
He'd run another test and discovered what it was. What
doesn't that convince you I'm telling the truth? It was mayonnaise,
John mayonnaise, that's right. Remember we used a sandwich bag
from Sharky's lunch pail. Mayonnaise. Shock key, mister Perrick, Please
(33:54):
let me get back. Why did July I got to
get the riggs started? Are you crazy? Do you realize
what we'll be destroying? Mister park I don't want to
talk about it. What are you afraid of going back
down there? We'll run hoses down to pup out the gas. Anyway,
you don't have to go if you don't want to.
I can find somebody else. I know it's risky, but
it's too important not to take a chance to perk.
(34:14):
Please let me go until you tell me why you
lighte a milo. Don't you see what this discovery could mean,
The chance to look into the future, The chance to
avoid making the same mistake twice? How what how are
you going to avoid it? Don't you want to know
your own fate? No, I don't want to know. An
(34:40):
entire civilization may perish because of your cowardice. Why won't
you support me?
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Didn't you see that?
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Of course I saw it? Did you take a good
look at it? What are you getting at?
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Shock?
Speaker 1 (34:54):
It doesn't matter. It's a modern house, so it's not
Oh true, many, it's not some weird futuristic contraption filled
with gadgets we've never seen. It's modern, It's contemporary. Don't
you see what that means? This is as far as
we're coming. This is the end of the line. Whatever's
(35:17):
going to happen is going to happen soon, and it's
probably too late to stop it. But we can try
if we know what it is. I don't want to
know what it is. I don't want to know, so
you won't support me. When said Dobbs arrive, you won't
(35:39):
back me up. Sorry, mister Bert, You'll think I'm a
raving lunatic. Shocky, Why isn't that rig going yet? Oh man,
hello John, Hello, said mister Dobbs.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
I gave orders for the rig to be running, and
that's all right, Mint, forget it. Rig isn't going on.
It isn't. No, we've decided to suspend operations all together.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Suspend operations.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Our lease is up in four days. Thank us. That
long to pack up and be out of here. As
far as I'm concerned, the sooner we never see this
place again. The better said, when you say suspend operations,
you mean you intend to pull a pipe, and we
sure can't afford to leave it behind. You can't do that.
Why why not? Removing the pipe would expose the hole
(36:29):
to the fresh air. And well, there's something down there
that would be destroyed by fresh air.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
I said.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
We struck some old clay rock yesterday. That's why the
rig isn't going. John insisted on exploring in a nearby cave, said,
you have to listen to me. Shocky's right. There is
oil down there. We're within twenty feet of it. Are
you asking me to start the rig going again? No, no, no,
I'm asking you to take a new lease on the
(36:58):
land and hold off making the strike until I found
Until I've completed my explorations, John, I remind you that
we've been listening to you for two years. There's no
more time.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
It's all run out.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
You are also sitting on top of something infinitely more
important than oil, and it's going to be destroyed.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
John, I think you need some sleep. That's your problem.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Now. I am an adjust a minute. Mallow. I'm curious
about these continued illusions. John, I might give you one
more chance. I will accept your considered judgment as a
rational scientist that the oil is there and hold off drilling.
He if you'll tell me what's down there that's so
(37:46):
important my judgment of the rational scientist. Oh never mind, said,
never mind, go ahead and pull the pipe. Okay, we
have the men pack up. We'll pull a pipe.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
And dismantle the rig in the morning.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
John, why didn't you just tell mister Dobbs what it was,
you'd say, he wouldn't have believed me, Professor Anderson, Not,
not without Sharky's corroboration. Sure you're going to start pulling
the pipe in the morning, and a golden opportunity and
will be lost forever. No, not exactly what chance remains.
(38:31):
Surely you don't intend to stop them at gunpoint? Oh no,
I'm gonna try going down again. She said there was
gas sneaking, that the ground was beginning to shift. He
can wear masks against the gas, and it's for the shifting. Well,
we'll just have to take that risk, you said, we
(38:51):
That's why I came to you, Professor. I need someone
to go with me. It's a two man job. I
I don't know who else to turn to him. I
know you can. I mean, I know what you're trying
to say, but on a mission of such importance, I
wouldn't hesitate.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
It, not for one minute.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
And then you'll come with me.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
Yes, of course, we're good.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
We've kind of started once. There's barely enough time as
it is, shock Eve, I can't say I'll be sorry
to see the last of this place. Something about it
always did give me the willies. Had you better lock
(39:35):
the gate for the last time? Okay, miss talking.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
Wait a minute, what's that?
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Why the stuff on your boots, the black stuff? Why that?
That's the ore oil where to come from? But that's
what I was trying to tell you all along. The
oil that's down there, Miss Birk, and I saw it
and we waded through it. Shaky, Get mister Dobbs from
the office. Why you got a start up that rig.
(40:06):
There is oil, Sharky oil. You know what that means?
Our future is golden here it is, a professor, It's
amazing how schnevery detail exactly like our own from a
(40:31):
duplicate civilization that inhabited the earth twelve billion years ago.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
How much it could teach us?
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Wait a minute, Sharky said he thought he'd seen some
books in the living room this way. Look over there
on the table. Yeah, this is it. The History of
the World by D. V. Davis for you known. Do
you realize what this wo mean, Professor, when we open
this book? Yes, I wonder what it is John, that
(41:07):
we're to learn about ourselves from ourselves? What's that? Professor?
They started the prill the whole house, and come see
if it does. There is a legend in classical mythology
(41:36):
about the civil the prophetess who lived appropriately enough to
our story in a cave. She offered to sell nine
prophetic books to Tarquin the Proud, the last of Rome's
legendary kings. He refused, for he felt her price was
too high, so she burned three of the books and
offered him the remaining six for the same price. Again,
(41:59):
Tarquin refused and again, Sybil burned three of the precious volumes.
Finally he bought the last three for the price of
the original nine. But because of his stingy short sightedness,
Mankind lost forever his chance to know what the future holds.
I shall return shortly. Do we really want to know
(42:33):
what fate has in store for us? That would probably
depend on whether or not we had the ability to
act on that knowledge and to alter the impending course
of events. But would it be a simple matter of
avoiding a single fatal mistake, or would we discover a
future as complex as human nature itself and as unchangeable.
(43:00):
Oecast included Michael Wager, Court Benson and Robert Dryden. The
entire production was under the direction of Hymon Brown. This
is e. G. Marshall inviting you to return to our
Mystery Theater for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant,
(44:00):
do you
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