September 1, 2024 • 24 mins
Hope you enjoy this episode of Dimension X! Find all our podcasts and OTR radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Dimension X was an anthology science-fiction series, originally aired from 1950-1951. This program dealt with more "adult" oriented themes like death, religion and science, war, politics and the moral issues of human being in regards to their place in the universe. Many the episodes were adapted from stories by the prominent science fiction writers of the era, for example, Kurt Vonnegut and Ray Bradbury. - Thank you for listening, consider a donation to help keep the OTR radio stations commercial-free: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jared.day.oldtimeradio - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 - Find all the podcasts here @ Spreaker.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Adventures in time and space, transcribed in Future Tense. The
National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers
(00:32):
of astounding science fiction, bring You Demention X. In these times,
even a child knows the meaning of atomic fission, jet propulsion,
and electronic transmission. What we asked ourselves, will the child
of the future know? What of the time when science
(00:55):
unlocks the secret of life itself? Could it be that
one day.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Some things as constructing human life or passing back and
forth from one dimension to another will become mere child's play.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
My name is Sam Webber.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I'm an attorney, and a pretty successful one, if I
do say so myself. My wife Tina, and I live
in a comfortable twelve room place I've in Westchester.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Now.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
I've read a lot of horatio algist up in my time,
and so of you, probably, But I'll bet you've never
heard anything quite as spectacular as my story. Maybe you
won't believe it, but I used to be a completely
different guy, frightened, sickly, near sighted, a real mortemer me
no kidding.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
That was five years ago.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
The big change in me began to take place on
a cold December morning in nineteen forty five.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Just a moment, please, yes, please Webber, Yes, Samuel, that's right.
Step back, okay, Paula Springer for just a moment. You
must have the wronged chat body.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I'd sign here is a that for me? Were Berg
apartments looks like a coffin. I don't design, I'm jack,
I just deliver.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I'm signing here.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
After much straining, I wasn't in very good physical share
those days, I managed to push the box under my
single light bulb. There was a card in the small envelope.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Let's see to Sam from your classmates at the inter
Dimensional and Cosmic Institute. Merry Christmas twenty one, forty five
AD Holy Jumping Catfish. Hey mister, there must be some mistake.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Hey, Holy Jumping Catfish.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
They were gone and I didn't even know which delivery
company it was. Well, I finally decided to open it
up and see what was imaged. After about a half
hour of fumbling, I gave.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Up, All right, then, don't open.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
No sooner had I said the word open than it
came apart, like the skin off a banana. There inside
was something resembling a kid's chemical set. Files, jars, tubes, wires.
You never saw so much scientific looking junk in the life,
and on top of it all was a book of instructions.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Build a Mail Set number three. This set is intended
solely for uses of children between the ages of eleven
and thirteen. The equipment will enable the child to build
and assemble complete adult humans in perfect working order. A
disassemble later is provided so the set may be used
(03:59):
over again. Refills and additional parts may be acquired from
the Builder Man Company, nine twenty eight Diagonal Level, Glunt City, Ohio.
Remember only with Build a Man and You Build a Man.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
When I left for work that morning, my brain was
still reeling with the stuff I'd read in the Instruction of.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
Wom some had no jacket here the law just a
moment I would connect you in the stow jack Well, good.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Morning was the weber the good lourn t I mean,
good morning, hun til I get my mind off that book.
Only with Build a Man? Can You Build a Man?
Chapter one?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Making Simple Living Things? Chapter two, Duplicating Babies, Another small.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Your own the hall. I've got to get a grip
on myself. H do a little work. O'Brien versus O'Brien,
Frton versus the City of New York. So it must
have been a dream. Probably go home tonight and find
the place empty.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Well, well, well, if it isn't a poor man's Clarence Darrel. Hello, Lou,
I come as a pair of sad tidings for you.
Don't look very sad. The boss wants to see a
laughing boy for a bout. How should I know? Oh
and by the way, you'll be very happy to know
that I've just been promoted. I'm handling all the criminal stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
From now on. Congratulations.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
You know what this means for Tina and me, don't you, Junior?
Oh well, cheer up, Teina's not for you anyway. Some
got it, some don't. I got it, You don't.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
So long, laughing boy.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
That was my good friend Lou White. In the year
i'd known him.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
He'd already managed to steal it job I wanted, and
he was now working on the girl I wanted.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Her name was Tina, Tina Velbert. Good morning, Sam, Oh,
good morning, Tina. My you look good enough to yeah,
take to lunch.
Speaker 7 (06:16):
Oh I'm sorry, Sam, but I promised Lou. Oh sure,
I hope you're not too disappointed me.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Oh no, no, some got it. Some don't. I don't. Oh,
and that was Tina.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I tried to study my blood pressure as I walked
into the boss's office.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
You sent for me, mister Jack.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Oh, yes, sir. Sit down, Weber, sit down. Oh, thank you,
mister Weber. I've been reviewing the work of my staff
counselors for the past six months.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I want to know only one thing. Yes, sir, what happened? Uh?
I I don't understand. You haven't had a single new
client in six months, but no one has come in
mister Jack, my boy.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
In this business, you've got to be aggressive. You've got
to go out and create new clients. You've got to
show some zip. Yes, do you have any zip?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Oh? Yes, yes, mister Ojack. Oh I've got zip, all right.
I just can't seem to turn it loose. I'll get
in there and punch.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
However, I want to see a change in you in
the next few months. As a matter of fact, i'd
better you've got that, yes, mister Jack, and I'll try
to show some zip. I left the office early and
(07:39):
went home. Sure enough, there it was my bill, the
man said, gleaming a little obscenely in the corner. I
walked over to it, gave it a kick and hollered
open sesame.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Three minutes later, I.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Was flopped down in bed reading chapter one making Simple
Living Things. An hour later, I was fooling around with
such complicated items as the Junior Bioclibrator, which measured everything
from blood pressure to hemoglobe and content, and the Jiffy Vitalizer,
which was actually supposed to put life in your creation,
(08:15):
providing you had followed instructions carefully. At eight point thirty,
I made my first simple living thing.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Here boy, here, boy, Well maybe you aren't a boy.
Let's see. Okay, according to the book, you are a
rubicular oyster hog. Not much to look at, But I
made you. Me, Sam Webber, Attorney at Law, I have
created life.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Hey they come back here, come back here boy, here boy, hey,
hey hey. It was no use my rubicular oyster hog,
which was a cross between a field mouse and an oyster.
I'd run out under the door and into the world.
I was about to take off after it when there
was a knock on my door. It was Missus Lapante,
(09:06):
my landlady. Oh hello, Missus Lapante.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I heard a noise. Oh, just rehearsing his speech. I
have to make in court. You was squaking the the
bad throat.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
Oh, by the way, there was the general looking for
you this afternoon. Uh a gentleman, Yeah, tam, old man
in black overcoat, kind of nasty. Well, I told him
you wasn't anyone to go up to your room. Huh
tell you why I showed him away out in a hurry.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Oh thanks, missus Lapandi. Probably a bill collector.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
Yeah, well I got a run.
Speaker 7 (09:51):
Oh, good morning, Sam. Here's that memo on Rosenthal versus
Rosenthal and also a letter for it.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
What's the matter? You look tired? Huh had a bad night?
Speaker 7 (10:01):
You let go again?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Uh? Yes, yuh?
Speaker 7 (10:03):
Oh oh, say, by the way, your client was here
again this morning?
Speaker 3 (10:07):
A client? Yeah? Oh it must be the same fella
that called at my house the other day. Uh huh,
Well what did you tell him later? Oh? Thanks?
Speaker 7 (10:18):
Will that be all? Sam?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yes? Oh no, no, I uh are you doing anything
New Year's Eve?
Speaker 7 (10:27):
Oh? Sam, you haven't even noticed?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Notice why the ring?
Speaker 7 (10:31):
Silly third finger, left hand?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
What O Lou gave it to me?
Speaker 7 (10:36):
Isn't it simply gigantic?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
But you y, you're not gonna be married as.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
Soon as Luke finishes his next case. Lou is so
sharp and business like.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
So is a guillotine.
Speaker 7 (10:46):
Sam. After Lou gave me your ring last night, I
I began thinking, h how, well, how I used to
hope that.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
It it would be you?
Speaker 7 (10:57):
But well then I realized you never have the money,
And well a girl has to think a thing like
a good steady income and a husband with zip, Yes,
with zip.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Well Lou has plenty of zip. I'm sure you'll be
very happy zipping around with each other. Oh so.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Well, Sam, Hey, Hey, what's going on in here?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Honey?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Is that little baboon giving you any trouble? If he has,
I'll take him apart like an egg crate.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Now take it easy, strong, hight. Tina just told me
the good news about your engagement. She's crying with happins.
Is that right, honey?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Well, there's no heart feeling same, just that the best
man got the girl, you understand. Oh say, by the way,
we're having a little celebration at s. Galley's tonight, drop
in and we'll live it up a little.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
I went home feeling like a man who has been
stuffed into a washing machine with a dial sided rinse dry.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
I was a failure.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I walked over to the mirror for a heart to
heart talk with myself. Nothing. That's what you've got, Sam Weber,
in unlimited quantities. Nothing. We ought to just tear you
down and start all over again.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
We ought to take your hey.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Oh no, no, not that again. But why not think
of it a Sam Webber without the psychological problems. You've
got a dynamic, uninhibited Sam. Who could win a girl
like Tina by sheer magnetism? Then then who was all over?
We could just take the old disassemblator and presto and
(12:56):
I can do it too. Fromosome content, check cerebra content,
maybe a little more, in a little less super eagle
nims eyes hair, general Endican reaction. Well, here goes. It's moving,
(13:29):
Holy mackerel, it's a lie. It's getting up. Say I
feel greatful now, no, no, take it easy. Do you
know who you are?
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Of course I do. I have all the thoughts you
ever had up until the point I was vitalized. My
brain is an exact duplicate of yours, except that I'm
not all blocked up psychologically.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
All right, it's setting me instruction. Manuel, you'd be an
inhibited say this is all right?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Oh, by the way. Since we both have the same name,
it'll simplify things. If I call you Weber, I'll be Sam.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Hold on, look here, I'll make the decision.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
How would you like a good punch in the nose?
Is that any way to talk to your own parent?
I did create you, you learn. Don't think I don't
appreciate it. Weber all man, But let's get one thing straight.
I live my life and you live yours. You got
that who pays the rent? You do for a while. Anyway,
I haven't decided whether or not I want to stay
in the law business.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
The law business. I may want her spread out a little.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Tina is the kind of girl to whom money is
very important.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Tina, Well, what did you expect?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I have enough of your likes and dislikes to wander
just as badly as you do, the only difference being
that I can get her. Oh we're not quite the same,
you and I. I've got zip.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Don't use that word. Now, how about some dinner. You
know I'm starved. I don't have to go out. I'll
need some clothes. Sorry, I only have this one suit. Fine,
you can lend it to me.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
What about me, I'll bring you sandwich after I come
back from Salis Sir Galley's. Well you haven't forgotten, have you, Weber,
We're invited to the celebration Tina and Loue White. Only
it wouldn't look quite right if we both showed up,
So I'll tell you all about it now, Off of
that suit and no nonsense.
Speaker 8 (15:17):
Well this is little enough for me. Have another drink,
mister Jack Sagulo. Well it's everybody happy.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Hey, honey, are you having her have a little old time? Oh?
Speaker 7 (15:31):
Yes, lou fine, fine, but you need to be preoccupied.
Oh I was just wondering if Sam is coming Sam.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Oh no, did you hear that, mister Jack, She's worrying
about Sam? Why that little one probably got frightened by
a noise maker. Well, well, well the happy cup, good evening, cats.
Everybody's lit up like a Christmas tree. Well I'll be same.
Are you in the bag? I never touched the stuff?
Bloom a boy, Never touch a boy? Scout training?
Speaker 7 (15:59):
Are things you weren't coming?
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Miss a chance to be with you, beautiful? Never? Hey,
what's got into you? Webber? Monkey glens. I don't read
your muscle bounds. You seem different somehow, even your voice.
Do you notice anything, Tina, Well.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Yes, it does seem Richard somehow.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Sam Webber, you're nothing but a cream tough and you
always will be.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Mister Ojack. I think he owes me an apology for that.
I should think so. All right, all American boy, make
with the apology.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Apologize me boy for two cents, Olks, would you excuse
mister White and me for a few minutes, We want
to step out into the hall for a little private conference.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Coming mister White, I'll.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Be right back, Honey, don't worry about a thing. Okay,
big boy, you're taking enough punishment now.
Speaker 7 (16:58):
Lou Lou, don't kill him he did, Oh dear.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
He'll be all right in a little while, baby.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
But did you? I mean, oh, Sam, see that we
really shouldn't kiss like this.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
It's what you've always wanted, isn't it?
Speaker 9 (17:16):
Well, isn't it, oh Sam?
Speaker 3 (17:32):
By this time, he's probably kissing her and there's nothing
you can do about it, Weber, old man. Nothing. Hey,
wait a minute, where's that book of Instructions to disassemble
a build a Man model? Merely focus the ray of
the disassemblator device and press lever X. But that's murder
(17:57):
counselor still legally, in order to prove there's been a murder,
you need a corpus ELECTI and nobody even knows there
is another Sam Webber. So you're finally home.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I'm start sorry Weber oh man, but very pressing business
detained me.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I suppose you made a fool of me over at Cigallo.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
On the contrary, what do you mean, my boy?
Speaker 4 (18:20):
You are looking at a man who, in one fell
swoop has got himself a raise, a promotion, and a wife.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
At least she'll be my wife tomorrow. Who Tina? Of course,
I don't believe.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
I had to put on quite a show, but all
around it was a real success. Mister Ojack was so
impressed he called me aside and said he was gonna
give me a crack at some criminal cases. And if
I made the grade, why who knows? I may even
accept the partnership. You've got it all figured out having
chats about it. Only you neglected to consider one thing.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Oh it's that this Hey, put that down. Get back
you you you surper you. I'm gonna melt you down
like a Welsh rarebit whoever, you can't do that. It's murdery.
It's like killing your own son after what you've done
to me. It's a pleasure.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
I didn't ask to be brought into this world, but
now that I'm here, I like it enough to want
to survive.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Take off my suit you fully, you won't be needing
it again. You're really going through with it.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Huh.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I am all right. Oh, here's your jacket.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
On me?
Speaker 3 (19:22):
That thing, give it to me. Funds better. Now, we'll
fix this little item. So can't do it, Sammy.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Seawebber. You don't have the guts to stand up against
the man you might have been.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Oh what's it sound? I don't know. It seems to
be inside the house. Comedy's coming up the stairs. Listen,
take a pig through the keyhole. Webber, jump. It's him,
the old man, the black coat, his eyes all black
(19:58):
and shiny. Went out of me. Whites, It's insane.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Don't.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
He's bringing it? He bringing it all right in the door.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
Good evening, gentlemen. As I feared, I am too late
to prevent you from duplications.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
However, and I see.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
That you have destroyed the disassemblator, it means I shall
have to do the job manually.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I'm ugly task. Who are you?
Speaker 4 (20:34):
I am the census keeper for the twenty fourth oblong.
You see, your Builderman set was intended for one of
the Weber children, who is on a field trip in
this oblong two hundred.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Years from now.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Because of an unfortunate time warp, the set was delivered
here accidentally. You mean this set came here from two
hundred years from now precisely time, as with all things
is we shall have to recover the set, of course,
and adjust any discrepencies it has caused. Meanwhile, the problem
(21:07):
is which of you, two gentlemen, is the original Sam
Webber Am listen? Difficulties, difficulties? Why cannot I ever have
a simple case like a double co duplication? Now look here,
mister census keeper.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
The duplicate will obviously be less stable and more emotionally unbalanced. Certainly,
a man of your qualifications can decide which of us
is the more valid member of society, which of us
will will conform more readily to the standards.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
I observe that one of you is naked. Wait a minute,
and you also seem to be trembling, whereas this gentleman
seems quite calm.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And then hold you. You're making him say, I hardly think.
Please please, mister Webber, Yes, it would be if you
didn't watch.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Of course, Well that's my story. Within ten seconds, the
old Sam Webber had been completely dismantled and.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Packed into the box.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Tina and I were married, and I went on to
become a full partner in the firm of O.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Jack, Somerset and Weber.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Oh and by the way, Tina and I have been
doing quite successfully, but the old Sam Webber and his
build a man set made such a mess ofup. We
have won two three little connuplications. Sam Junior, aged four, Sameta,
age three, and Semina, age four months.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Good night.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
You have just heard another adventure into the unknown world
of the future. The world of Dimension Time is a
(23:20):
strange and mysterious dimension. Could we alter the future if
we could travel back in time to our own youth.
Next week we bring you a story of a man
who found the answer in time and time again.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Dimension X is presented transcribed each week by the National
Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of
the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. Today, Dimension X has presented
child's play, written for radio by George Lefferts from the
story by William ten beatured in the cast where Leon
Janny is Sam Carl Weber as his alter ego, and
(24:03):
Patsy Campbell as his girl. Your host was Norman Rose.
Music by Bert Berman. Dimachin X is produced by William
Welch and directed by Fred Way.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
In reply to.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Many queries from our listeners, last week's story and to mention,
ex Pebble in the Sky was written by Isaac Asimov.
This is NBC, the national broadcasting company
Adventures in time and space, transcribed in Future Tense. The
National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers
(00:32):
of astounding science fiction, bring You Demention X. In these times,
even a child knows the meaning of atomic fission, jet propulsion,
and electronic transmission. What we asked ourselves, will the child
of the future know? What of the time when science
(00:55):
unlocks the secret of life itself? Could it be that
one day.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Some things as constructing human life or passing back and
forth from one dimension to another will become mere child's play.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
My name is Sam Webber.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I'm an attorney, and a pretty successful one, if I
do say so myself. My wife Tina, and I live
in a comfortable twelve room place I've in Westchester.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Now.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
I've read a lot of horatio algist up in my time,
and so of you, probably, But I'll bet you've never
heard anything quite as spectacular as my story. Maybe you
won't believe it, but I used to be a completely
different guy, frightened, sickly, near sighted, a real mortemer me
no kidding.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
That was five years ago.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
The big change in me began to take place on
a cold December morning in nineteen forty five.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Just a moment, please, yes, please Webber, Yes, Samuel, that's right.
Step back, okay, Paula Springer for just a moment. You
must have the wronged chat body.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I'd sign here is a that for me? Were Berg
apartments looks like a coffin. I don't design, I'm jack,
I just deliver.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I'm signing here.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
After much straining, I wasn't in very good physical share
those days, I managed to push the box under my
single light bulb. There was a card in the small envelope.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Let's see to Sam from your classmates at the inter
Dimensional and Cosmic Institute. Merry Christmas twenty one, forty five
AD Holy Jumping Catfish. Hey mister, there must be some mistake.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Hey, Holy Jumping Catfish.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
They were gone and I didn't even know which delivery
company it was. Well, I finally decided to open it
up and see what was imaged. After about a half
hour of fumbling, I gave.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Up, All right, then, don't open.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
No sooner had I said the word open than it
came apart, like the skin off a banana. There inside
was something resembling a kid's chemical set. Files, jars, tubes, wires.
You never saw so much scientific looking junk in the life,
and on top of it all was a book of instructions.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Build a Mail Set number three. This set is intended
solely for uses of children between the ages of eleven
and thirteen. The equipment will enable the child to build
and assemble complete adult humans in perfect working order. A
disassemble later is provided so the set may be used
(03:59):
over again. Refills and additional parts may be acquired from
the Builder Man Company, nine twenty eight Diagonal Level, Glunt City, Ohio.
Remember only with Build a Man and You Build a Man.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
When I left for work that morning, my brain was
still reeling with the stuff I'd read in the Instruction of.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
Wom some had no jacket here the law just a
moment I would connect you in the stow jack Well, good.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Morning was the weber the good lourn t I mean,
good morning, hun til I get my mind off that book.
Only with Build a Man? Can You Build a Man?
Chapter one?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Making Simple Living Things? Chapter two, Duplicating Babies, Another small.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Your own the hall. I've got to get a grip
on myself. H do a little work. O'Brien versus O'Brien,
Frton versus the City of New York. So it must
have been a dream. Probably go home tonight and find
the place empty.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Well, well, well, if it isn't a poor man's Clarence Darrel. Hello, Lou,
I come as a pair of sad tidings for you.
Don't look very sad. The boss wants to see a
laughing boy for a bout. How should I know? Oh
and by the way, you'll be very happy to know
that I've just been promoted. I'm handling all the criminal stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
From now on. Congratulations.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
You know what this means for Tina and me, don't you, Junior?
Oh well, cheer up, Teina's not for you anyway. Some
got it, some don't. I got it, You don't.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
So long, laughing boy.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
That was my good friend Lou White. In the year
i'd known him.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
He'd already managed to steal it job I wanted, and
he was now working on the girl I wanted.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Her name was Tina, Tina Velbert. Good morning, Sam, Oh,
good morning, Tina. My you look good enough to yeah,
take to lunch.
Speaker 7 (06:16):
Oh I'm sorry, Sam, but I promised Lou. Oh sure,
I hope you're not too disappointed me.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Oh no, no, some got it. Some don't. I don't. Oh,
and that was Tina.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I tried to study my blood pressure as I walked
into the boss's office.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
You sent for me, mister Jack.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Oh, yes, sir. Sit down, Weber, sit down. Oh, thank you,
mister Weber. I've been reviewing the work of my staff
counselors for the past six months.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I want to know only one thing. Yes, sir, what happened? Uh?
I I don't understand. You haven't had a single new
client in six months, but no one has come in
mister Jack, my boy.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
In this business, you've got to be aggressive. You've got
to go out and create new clients. You've got to
show some zip. Yes, do you have any zip?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Oh? Yes, yes, mister Ojack. Oh I've got zip, all right.
I just can't seem to turn it loose. I'll get
in there and punch.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
However, I want to see a change in you in
the next few months. As a matter of fact, i'd
better you've got that, yes, mister Jack, and I'll try
to show some zip. I left the office early and
(07:39):
went home. Sure enough, there it was my bill, the
man said, gleaming a little obscenely in the corner. I
walked over to it, gave it a kick and hollered
open sesame.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Three minutes later, I.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
Was flopped down in bed reading chapter one making Simple
Living Things. An hour later, I was fooling around with
such complicated items as the Junior Bioclibrator, which measured everything
from blood pressure to hemoglobe and content, and the Jiffy Vitalizer,
which was actually supposed to put life in your creation,
(08:15):
providing you had followed instructions carefully. At eight point thirty,
I made my first simple living thing.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Here boy, here, boy, Well maybe you aren't a boy.
Let's see. Okay, according to the book, you are a
rubicular oyster hog. Not much to look at, But I
made you. Me, Sam Webber, Attorney at Law, I have
created life.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Hey they come back here, come back here boy, here boy, hey,
hey hey. It was no use my rubicular oyster hog,
which was a cross between a field mouse and an oyster.
I'd run out under the door and into the world.
I was about to take off after it when there
was a knock on my door. It was Missus Lapante,
(09:06):
my landlady. Oh hello, Missus Lapante.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I heard a noise. Oh, just rehearsing his speech. I
have to make in court. You was squaking the the
bad throat.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
Oh, by the way, there was the general looking for
you this afternoon. Uh a gentleman, Yeah, tam, old man
in black overcoat, kind of nasty. Well, I told him
you wasn't anyone to go up to your room. Huh
tell you why I showed him away out in a hurry.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Oh thanks, missus Lapandi. Probably a bill collector.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
Yeah, well I got a run.
Speaker 7 (09:51):
Oh, good morning, Sam. Here's that memo on Rosenthal versus
Rosenthal and also a letter for it.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
What's the matter? You look tired? Huh had a bad night?
Speaker 7 (10:01):
You let go again?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Uh? Yes, yuh?
Speaker 7 (10:03):
Oh oh, say, by the way, your client was here
again this morning?
Speaker 3 (10:07):
A client? Yeah? Oh it must be the same fella
that called at my house the other day. Uh huh,
Well what did you tell him later? Oh? Thanks?
Speaker 7 (10:18):
Will that be all? Sam?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yes? Oh no, no, I uh are you doing anything
New Year's Eve?
Speaker 7 (10:27):
Oh? Sam, you haven't even noticed?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Notice why the ring?
Speaker 7 (10:31):
Silly third finger, left hand?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
What O Lou gave it to me?
Speaker 7 (10:36):
Isn't it simply gigantic?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
But you y, you're not gonna be married as.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
Soon as Luke finishes his next case. Lou is so
sharp and business like.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
So is a guillotine.
Speaker 7 (10:46):
Sam. After Lou gave me your ring last night, I
I began thinking, h how, well, how I used to
hope that.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
It it would be you?
Speaker 7 (10:57):
But well then I realized you never have the money,
And well a girl has to think a thing like
a good steady income and a husband with zip, Yes,
with zip.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Well Lou has plenty of zip. I'm sure you'll be
very happy zipping around with each other. Oh so.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Well, Sam, Hey, Hey, what's going on in here?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Honey?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Is that little baboon giving you any trouble? If he has,
I'll take him apart like an egg crate.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Now take it easy, strong, hight. Tina just told me
the good news about your engagement. She's crying with happins.
Is that right, honey?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Well, there's no heart feeling same, just that the best
man got the girl, you understand. Oh say, by the way,
we're having a little celebration at s. Galley's tonight, drop
in and we'll live it up a little.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
I went home feeling like a man who has been
stuffed into a washing machine with a dial sided rinse dry.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
I was a failure.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I walked over to the mirror for a heart to
heart talk with myself. Nothing. That's what you've got, Sam Weber,
in unlimited quantities. Nothing. We ought to just tear you
down and start all over again.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
We ought to take your hey.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Oh no, no, not that again. But why not think
of it a Sam Webber without the psychological problems. You've
got a dynamic, uninhibited Sam. Who could win a girl
like Tina by sheer magnetism? Then then who was all over?
We could just take the old disassemblator and presto and
(12:56):
I can do it too. Fromosome content, check cerebra content,
maybe a little more, in a little less super eagle
nims eyes hair, general Endican reaction. Well, here goes. It's moving,
(13:29):
Holy mackerel, it's a lie. It's getting up. Say I
feel greatful now, no, no, take it easy. Do you
know who you are?
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Of course I do. I have all the thoughts you
ever had up until the point I was vitalized. My
brain is an exact duplicate of yours, except that I'm
not all blocked up psychologically.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
All right, it's setting me instruction. Manuel, you'd be an
inhibited say this is all right?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Oh, by the way. Since we both have the same name,
it'll simplify things. If I call you Weber, I'll be Sam.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Hold on, look here, I'll make the decision.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
How would you like a good punch in the nose?
Is that any way to talk to your own parent?
I did create you, you learn. Don't think I don't
appreciate it. Weber all man, But let's get one thing straight.
I live my life and you live yours. You got
that who pays the rent? You do for a while. Anyway,
I haven't decided whether or not I want to stay
in the law business.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
The law business. I may want her spread out a little.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Tina is the kind of girl to whom money is
very important.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Tina, Well, what did you expect?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I have enough of your likes and dislikes to wander
just as badly as you do, the only difference being
that I can get her. Oh we're not quite the same,
you and I. I've got zip.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Don't use that word. Now, how about some dinner. You
know I'm starved. I don't have to go out. I'll
need some clothes. Sorry, I only have this one suit. Fine,
you can lend it to me.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
What about me, I'll bring you sandwich after I come
back from Salis Sir Galley's. Well you haven't forgotten, have you, Weber,
We're invited to the celebration Tina and Loue White. Only
it wouldn't look quite right if we both showed up,
So I'll tell you all about it now, Off of
that suit and no nonsense.
Speaker 8 (15:17):
Well this is little enough for me. Have another drink,
mister Jack Sagulo. Well it's everybody happy.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Hey, honey, are you having her have a little old time? Oh?
Speaker 7 (15:31):
Yes, lou fine, fine, but you need to be preoccupied.
Oh I was just wondering if Sam is coming Sam.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Oh no, did you hear that, mister Jack, She's worrying
about Sam? Why that little one probably got frightened by
a noise maker. Well, well, well the happy cup, good evening, cats.
Everybody's lit up like a Christmas tree. Well I'll be same.
Are you in the bag? I never touched the stuff?
Bloom a boy, Never touch a boy? Scout training?
Speaker 7 (15:59):
Are things you weren't coming?
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Miss a chance to be with you, beautiful? Never? Hey,
what's got into you? Webber? Monkey glens. I don't read
your muscle bounds. You seem different somehow, even your voice.
Do you notice anything, Tina, Well.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Yes, it does seem Richard somehow.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Sam Webber, you're nothing but a cream tough and you
always will be.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Mister Ojack. I think he owes me an apology for that.
I should think so. All right, all American boy, make
with the apology.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Apologize me boy for two cents, Olks, would you excuse
mister White and me for a few minutes, We want
to step out into the hall for a little private conference.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Coming mister White, I'll.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Be right back, Honey, don't worry about a thing. Okay,
big boy, you're taking enough punishment now.
Speaker 7 (16:58):
Lou Lou, don't kill him he did, Oh dear.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
He'll be all right in a little while, baby.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
But did you? I mean, oh, Sam, see that we
really shouldn't kiss like this.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
It's what you've always wanted, isn't it?
Speaker 9 (17:16):
Well, isn't it, oh Sam?
Speaker 3 (17:32):
By this time, he's probably kissing her and there's nothing
you can do about it, Weber, old man. Nothing. Hey,
wait a minute, where's that book of Instructions to disassemble
a build a Man model? Merely focus the ray of
the disassemblator device and press lever X. But that's murder
(17:57):
counselor still legally, in order to prove there's been a murder,
you need a corpus ELECTI and nobody even knows there
is another Sam Webber. So you're finally home.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I'm start sorry Weber oh man, but very pressing business
detained me.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I suppose you made a fool of me over at Cigallo.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
On the contrary, what do you mean, my boy?
Speaker 4 (18:20):
You are looking at a man who, in one fell
swoop has got himself a raise, a promotion, and a wife.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
At least she'll be my wife tomorrow. Who Tina? Of course,
I don't believe.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
I had to put on quite a show, but all
around it was a real success. Mister Ojack was so
impressed he called me aside and said he was gonna
give me a crack at some criminal cases. And if
I made the grade, why who knows? I may even
accept the partnership. You've got it all figured out having
chats about it. Only you neglected to consider one thing.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Oh it's that this Hey, put that down. Get back
you you you surper you. I'm gonna melt you down
like a Welsh rarebit whoever, you can't do that. It's murdery.
It's like killing your own son after what you've done
to me. It's a pleasure.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
I didn't ask to be brought into this world, but
now that I'm here, I like it enough to want
to survive.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Take off my suit you fully, you won't be needing
it again. You're really going through with it.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Huh.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I am all right. Oh, here's your jacket.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
On me?
Speaker 3 (19:22):
That thing, give it to me. Funds better. Now, we'll
fix this little item. So can't do it, Sammy.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Seawebber. You don't have the guts to stand up against
the man you might have been.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Oh what's it sound? I don't know. It seems to
be inside the house. Comedy's coming up the stairs. Listen,
take a pig through the keyhole. Webber, jump. It's him,
the old man, the black coat, his eyes all black
(19:58):
and shiny. Went out of me. Whites, It's insane.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Don't.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
He's bringing it? He bringing it all right in the door.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
Good evening, gentlemen. As I feared, I am too late
to prevent you from duplications.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
However, and I see.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
That you have destroyed the disassemblator, it means I shall
have to do the job manually.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I'm ugly task. Who are you?
Speaker 4 (20:34):
I am the census keeper for the twenty fourth oblong.
You see, your Builderman set was intended for one of
the Weber children, who is on a field trip in
this oblong two hundred.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Years from now.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Because of an unfortunate time warp, the set was delivered
here accidentally. You mean this set came here from two
hundred years from now precisely time, as with all things
is we shall have to recover the set, of course,
and adjust any discrepencies it has caused. Meanwhile, the problem
(21:07):
is which of you, two gentlemen, is the original Sam
Webber Am listen? Difficulties, difficulties? Why cannot I ever have
a simple case like a double co duplication? Now look here,
mister census keeper.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
The duplicate will obviously be less stable and more emotionally unbalanced. Certainly,
a man of your qualifications can decide which of us
is the more valid member of society, which of us
will will conform more readily to the standards.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
I observe that one of you is naked. Wait a minute,
and you also seem to be trembling, whereas this gentleman
seems quite calm.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And then hold you. You're making him say, I hardly think.
Please please, mister Webber, Yes, it would be if you
didn't watch.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Of course, Well that's my story. Within ten seconds, the
old Sam Webber had been completely dismantled and.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Packed into the box.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Tina and I were married, and I went on to
become a full partner in the firm of O.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Jack, Somerset and Weber.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Oh and by the way, Tina and I have been
doing quite successfully, but the old Sam Webber and his
build a man set made such a mess ofup. We
have won two three little connuplications. Sam Junior, aged four, Sameta,
age three, and Semina, age four months.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Good night.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
You have just heard another adventure into the unknown world
of the future. The world of Dimension Time is a
(23:20):
strange and mysterious dimension. Could we alter the future if
we could travel back in time to our own youth.
Next week we bring you a story of a man
who found the answer in time and time again.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Dimension X is presented transcribed each week by the National
Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of
the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. Today, Dimension X has presented
child's play, written for radio by George Lefferts from the
story by William ten beatured in the cast where Leon
Janny is Sam Carl Weber as his alter ego, and
(24:03):
Patsy Campbell as his girl. Your host was Norman Rose.
Music by Bert Berman. Dimachin X is produced by William
Welch and directed by Fred Way.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
In reply to.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Many queries from our listeners, last week's story and to mention,
ex Pebble in the Sky was written by Isaac Asimov.
This is NBC, the national broadcasting company
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