September 4, 2024 • 29 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 (00:06):
Adventures in Time and Space told in Futures. The National
Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of
(00:29):
astounding science fiction, bring you Dimension X. I doubt it
anywhere on Earth as a man or a woman or
(00:51):
a child who doesn't know the name of Wayne Crowder.
I doubt whether there's a human being who hasn't at
one time or another used one of the Crowder products,
the can opener of the razor blade, of the pattern
of tooth powder, dispenser of the Crowder improved slideless fastener.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
As a fortune in such products.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
And Wayne Crowder was a man to squeeze that fortune
of penny by penny, and he didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And in the magazines would.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Write about men of business, he was described as a
man of ice and stone, and ink and steel, no warmth,
and a heart that pump blood, not feel human emotion.
But he took some of his money and he built
himself a cowering skyscraper, and he placed his private office
at the Great Peak, and he built a battery of
buttons into his desk, so that when he wanted something,
(01:38):
all he ever had to do was mess a button.
And like genies springing out of the bottle, the proper
personnel would come running in him.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yes, mister Cravere, yes sir, right away, mister Craver.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Mister Crowder wants his engineers at once. Here I go, engineer, sir.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
All right, close the door and get out now, gentlemen, Sidan, gentlemen.
I hired you because you're the best engineers I was
able to find.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
They tell me. You can do anything. They tell me.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
If there's a scientific fact known in the world, even
if he was discovered six hours.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Ago, you, gentlemen, are up on it. I don't want
to put that to work. Gentlemen, I want you to
build me a spaceship.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
What spaceship, sir?
Speaker 1 (02:45):
That's right.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
I've decided that I'm going to be the man who
gives space flight to mankind.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
A questions.
Speaker 7 (02:53):
Well, I don't know, sir. We can design such a ship.
That part's not too hard. The basic print has been
in existence for many years. The submarine is the model
for the.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Shape in the form.
Speaker 7 (03:05):
Yeah, but we have no way of providing the motor
to power such a ship.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
When the ship's ready to fly, there'll be a motor.
Speaker 7 (03:13):
Sure. I don't like to contradict you, but you see,
scientists have been searching for a motor power for spaceships
for decades now without success. You'll have a ship, but
we can't lift that ship from the Earth's surface that
is not to the point of free flight at any rate.
Speaker 8 (03:30):
And mister crowd you see you'll be spending millions of dollars,
hundreds of millions, perhaps for nothing.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
What's your name, Phillips, Sir, you're fired. Go down to
cash here and dry your pay and get out.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
But mister Crowder out Nobody.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Who works for me thinks of how much something costs.
We use money.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
We don't let expense provide our rationalization for not beginning
a project fell up twenty waiting for get out, gentlemen.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
Any other comments that the ship will be built, of course,
mister Crowder, but the facts to the means we can't power.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
You design the ship. I'll find the motor for you. Where, sir,
that's a fair question.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
The answer is I don't know, but somewhere in the
world as a man who does.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Know the secret. Long before Henry Ford, there was Leonardo
da Vinci, and long before him there was Archimedes, and
long before him there was some Stone age genius who
invented the wheel when the only thing the mob could
conceive was dragging things around their backs. I want that motor,
and I'll rout out the man who has the theory
(04:46):
which will let us build it.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
I'll find him, money will be available to him, an
organization my backing, and.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
We'll get what we want.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
You're going to be plagued with the host of crackpots.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Obviously, it's going to be your job to separate the
week from the chaft. But anyone who shows up with
a promising idea, no matter how fantastic it sounds, is
going to have a chance to show what.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
It can do.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
How quickly do you want this done, sir?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yesterday? Yes, anything you need well, mister Crowder.
Speaker 7 (05:14):
Will need construction yards, sir, and certain machinery.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
And a great many materials. Of course, a label for.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
On send me the bills. I don't want to be
bothered with minor details, yes, sir.
Speaker 7 (05:25):
One more thing, sir, Phillips. Yes, we need him, sir.
He's a top man on electronics. See he's a vital cog.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
You know. I don't want Phillips working for me. That's clear.
I hope who else in.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
The country knows what he does, not one in this country.
Speaker 7 (05:40):
So there's a man in Asia though, get him. We've
tried before, mister Crowder. He's working on an important project
for his country.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
I'm not concerned with the tails, and I'll get that
man pay what he wants, but get him.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
Tell you you don't understand, I understand man. If this
man quits his job, that whole project will collapse. It
means the welfare of many people, millions.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
And there's a people in his country and he has
a high sense of patriotism.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
Why that sense of patriots Now, that's all. I don't
want to see you again until you have a report
of work in progress. Yes, as a man named Philip's
going to draw his pay, I want two company policemen
(06:25):
to meet him at the cashier's office and escored him
from there, directly off the premises. And I want them
to be emphatic about it, and notify the newspapers, the
television and the radio networks, periodicals and the scientific journals
that I'll received the press in my office afternoon at
three point thirty I have an important announcement to make.
(07:02):
You can finish your drinks later, gentlemen of the press
and ladies, it's my pleasure to be able to tell
you that I'm in the process of constructing a spaceship.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Any questions.
Speaker 8 (07:17):
Did you say a spaceship? That's right, that's what I
thought you said. I knew the drinks weren't.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
That's wrong. I expected it might be something of a
shock to you, mister Crowder.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Is this spaceship under construction now?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
It is well?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
According to your plans?
Speaker 8 (07:37):
Is it intended for interstellar flight or merely for flight
between planets?
Speaker 5 (07:42):
This is the beginning only, and my intentions are quite moderate.
I expect the ship to be able to pursue a
course between Earth and Mars, or between Earth and Venus
before the present, any longer trips than I've gotten places
you've solved the problem of motive force, then no, I haven't.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
But what sort of you mean?
Speaker 1 (08:02):
You don't have any means of proportions for the spaceship.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
That problem is not solved as yet will be. That's
why I called you away in this afternoon. I want
you to announce that I have one hundred thousand dollars
in cash waiting for the man or a woman who
first brings me the.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Basic idea for such your motor. That's all I have
to say for now. Finish our refreshments, ladies and gentlemen.
I'll let you know from time to time when things
go mister crowded.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
One more question play. Do you have a name for
the spaceship yet?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
No? No?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, then let me suggest one. Yeah, Crowder's folly?
Speaker 6 (08:50):
What is your paper?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Daily Time? Sir?
Speaker 5 (08:54):
In form the company police that, under no circumstances is
any representative for the Daily Times better be allowed and
company property again.
Speaker 8 (09:10):
Wayne Crowder is offering one hundred thousand dollars to any
inventors can produce an engine capable of driving a spaceship.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Wayne Clowder is offering one hundred.
Speaker 8 (09:23):
Thousand gall ups to any velpie who can't produce an
engine capable of driving a spaceship.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
It was Crowder's folly, but a word of what he
wanted circulated to the far corners of the globe, and
it was known in the white ice block cups of
the Eskimos and in the grass based villages of Central
Africa as well as Place is less Remote, and the
Crowder Office became a mecca and the heaven for the
lunatic sringe of humanity. Their blueprints and scale models, cl
(10:00):
corridors and more. Applicants came with a great skyscraper.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
I told you wouldn't want these people in my office
on the screen.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Yeah, every time I open that door, they surge in
like a tidal way.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
I have a progress report for you, sir, on the
construction of the ship. For you're I've spent thirteen million
dollars for the yards, the equipment, including three gantry cranes,
several dozen presses, thousands of guys and sofia.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I'm going we.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Had twelve thousand people working for us directly, not including subcontractors.
And there lay before. What about the ship, mister Crowder?
The ship is finished as far as we can go.
Certain additional construction can be done now because it depends
on the shape and the mass of the engine.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
And a type of fuel on the weight of that fuel.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I see, all right, lay off, everybody would only I.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Voted that's this crowded. Is it possible that no one
will turn up with a motor.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
That's the one thing that's not possible. He will come
money and determination will buy anything. Because the door anyway,
WI it order the proper department to put a name
(11:19):
on the forward end of the ship. I want letters
in pure gold one foot high. The name of the
ship is Crowder's folly. Get it done today.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
The sun rose in the morning and glinted rose on
the silver sheen of the hollow ship's skin. The sun
set at night and glinted rose on the silver sheen
of the hollow ships skin. The golden letters on the
proud hold out a fury of Crowder for the world
to see.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
A step of fifty was.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Employed as time went on in taking rust preventive measures
to a sure the ship's well being. In a year,
the first experiment seemed ready to bear fruit, and a
test was held the atomic Fisher motor.
Speaker 7 (12:12):
In exactly forty five seconds. Now we hold the test
mist Crowder. The actual trial of the motor is taking
place three miles from here. Now, this dial here registers
the nucleonic activity, and this dial right here is trust.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Over here.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
This dial is a measure of the effectiveness of the
shielding in terms of outside radioactivity. That sound you hear
is our generators right here building up power to supply
the motor by remote control. Now, if this needle goes
around to the part of the dial marked in red,
(12:53):
there will be an explosion.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Are there any questions?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
There's aid with a test.
Speaker 7 (13:01):
Watched the needles h eight thousand, eighty five hundred nine thousand.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Ten eleven, twelve fifteen.
Speaker 7 (13:15):
That's an overload, dollser eighteen twenty. I don't know how
much Y can censor.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Huh what happened? Your generator blew out?
Speaker 7 (13:26):
What kind of I take your partners of the motor
blew up?
Speaker 1 (13:29):
What are you talking about? I'd hear Tom.
Speaker 6 (13:33):
You see, sir, it takes a while for the vibration is.
Speaker 7 (13:36):
Of an explosion to travel three miles and then reach
through fifteen feet of concrete.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I see, Well, other experiments in progress, let me know
when they're writer for testing.
Speaker 7 (13:46):
Yes, sir, mister Crowder, the inventor of that motor had
to be with it.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Of course during the tests. But he has uh. That is,
he had a family.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
We four what he was doing. He understood the danger.
Now line up those experiments and don't turn anyone away
if he seems to have the remotest possibility of success. Now,
I'm telling you my man will come money and determination
will buy anything. And strangely enough, Crowder was right, because
(14:26):
one day there came to his office a stranger, a
small man. He looked even smaller in that tremendous room.
He was an unusual visitor, and that he carried no briefcase,
fat with blueprints, schematics or formerly. He was unusual in
that he neither blustered, coward nor deferred to his host.
Or he was a pleasant little stranger bird, life of
(14:48):
eye and movement, bright and smiling.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Powder. My name is Wilkins. I can power that ship
you want, So of course what I have in mind
will be anything like that meaningless, anything like that meaningless
for you far we'll rock. My motor requires a difference
here in my head.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
It so happens that I'm presently weapons, that I'm presently supporting.
Half a dozen people will make this sense, none of
them been successful. What makes you think your idea will work?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Simple enough?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
The common magnet?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
What electromagnetism? Utilization of the force of gravity or its opposite,
in this case countergraph?
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Attack here very much, if you'll forgive me now.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Mister Crowder, there's one thing more this.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I've seen faces of metal before. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
How high from your desk would you say? I'm holding it?
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I'm very sorry. Mister Wilkins, do you want to leave
or do you want to be escorted out?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
This will only take a second. Say how high from
your desk? Would you say? I'm holding this piece of
metal foot and if I let go, then in less
than a second af fraction of a second, it should
fall to you?
Speaker 7 (16:03):
What then?
Speaker 3 (16:04):
How?
Speaker 6 (16:04):
Look?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
I don't want the surface about death.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Mind, but will it be.
Speaker 7 (16:09):
You?
Speaker 3 (16:09):
See I have let go of the metal? Is that right?
Speaker 1 (16:15):
What? Good?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Long?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Many seconds ago it should have crashed to the desk?
Am I right?
Speaker 1 (16:23):
This is the.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Well if you want to speak to me anymore, I'll
be right outside. But eh, hasn't fallen, that's right, sir.
It hasn't fallen A.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Faults in the air.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
That's right, sir. If it floats in the air, how
do you do it? Well? Why don't you call your
engineers and ask them? I'll wait outside.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Get me my engineer's immediately. Oh right, mister Wilkins, you're
quite right. This piece of metal is apparently counter gravity.
(17:15):
My engineers can give me no explanation. What do you want?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I want to build a spaceship using this material and
no great expendit. You're one hundreds of the cost you
be herem a city out there in your building, guard
and three other things workshop expert, mechanical assistance, and an
answer to one question.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
What is the question?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Why do you want so much to build this ship?
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Frankly, because I love power, because I'm ambitious. I want
to be the master not only of one world, but
of worlds.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
That's an honest answer. And that's as far as you
think goes.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Who else is there?
Speaker 3 (18:03):
But there's my answer. I want to leave this planet
and go to to Mars because there are strange wonders there,
because there will be scarlet sunsets, over balance wastes, and
in the starstrewn night, the thin cold air of a
dying world stirring in restless size across the valleys of
(18:25):
the drag canals.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
He may laugh out loud if you wish, mister crowdy,
I prefer that to the peculiar, repressed smile you're exhibiting. Now.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
You're a very lucky man. Mir Wilgan's a scientific talent,
because your talents, is a poet, are inferior and very sentimental. Well,
all right, you're a sentimental isn't I'm man logic. No matter,
we can work together you and I Your workshop will
be ready by morning. If you need money on material
as a person, now, just tell my engineers and you'll
(18:54):
get it, or I'll know the reason why. And that's all.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
Get me my engineers. Yes, mister Crowder, we have fifty
men working on preserving that useless hawk out there in
the construction yard.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Lay them off. Now, how many others?
Speaker 6 (19:25):
But the ship will deteriorate if we do that, so.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yes, how many other employees are still working for us
on the.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Project about three thousands, including the people working on experimental motives.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Get rid of them, but rid of them.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
Mister Crowder. I never thought you'd drop this project.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
You were so adamant on it.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
I'm not dropping anything but dead. Would you saw what
Wilkins had to offer. He's my man and the rest.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Is young, mister Crowder.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
He might fail. We ought to have a minimum of protection.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
The guy say he won't fail. You'll just lay everybody
off that is needed. Give him two weeks paying my
thanks for a thankless job. Well done.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
That's all, yes, sir, I'll I'll get a john sir.
What a year's work?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
And ten years or twenty years, and I do the
same thing. That's why you're an engineer and I'm an executive.
That's why you work for me, because when I have to,
I can be ruthless with my own mistakes. What are
you waiting for?
Speaker 7 (20:24):
I was just thinking, mister Crowder, what would happen to
me if my usefulness to you were over? I've worked
for you for thirty years.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Now, just don't give me any occasion to consider your
usefulness terminated. That oughtn't be two words.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
Yes, but nothing, sir. I'll make the arrangements at once.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Oh you where you want?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I try to stop himself.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Well, speak of man?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
My name is your resession?
Speaker 5 (21:00):
I am an electronic sex Oh yes, I remember you're
the Asian.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Well, come in, come in? Do you want me and mine? Am?
I just stay outside? Closed the door behind you?
Speaker 8 (21:13):
Yes, saddan visitors to thank you. No, I want to
give you a.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Gift before I leave. Oh you leaving? I thought we
still needed you.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I resigned.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm told you're a
good man.
Speaker 8 (21:35):
I want you to understand what's behind this gift. I
was working on a power project in my country, which
would have meant a tremendous rise in the stand up
of living for millions of my people. I was unable
to resist the money you.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
Had you resisted even more money, it would have been forthcoming.
I placed no limit on your worth to me, I understand.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
But you see I did not come without a sense
of guilt, because there was no one in my country
who could take.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
My place, I would assume.
Speaker 8 (22:11):
And now I discovered that what I did was for nothing.
The spaceship on which I worked is being dismantled. Right,
so I have been corrupted by you. At a whim.
I think you have too much power, sir. I think
you use your power for evil, selfish purpose selfish yet
(22:34):
only centimentality is evil. I think otherwise, And so in
order that you shall not corrupt anyone else, I have
this gift for you. Here you are, sir, and just
one more shot for good measure to make sure you
(22:55):
are really dead.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Good.
Speaker 5 (23:06):
As a man on his way out by the name
of jarbizushtually an engineer, he's not to be molested. He
probably won't stop the cashier. So I want to check
for six months hour in advance mail to his home address.
A man showed a certain quality of ruthlessness, which is
deserving of recognition, and you.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Have the chap of the company. Police, bring me a
new bulletproof vest. This one seems to have been dented
in two places. A new spaceship, according to wilkins plans,
(23:46):
as executed by Crowder's engineers, was finished within four months.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
It was small, It was shaped like a disk.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
It gleamed brightly even in the smoky haze of an
October sunset. Inside Crowder and mister Wilkins, in a small
cubucle of the heart of the machine, was surrounded by
many instruments of a complicated nature. Outside, huge crowds gathered
to witness the test. They stirred and murmured, waiting restlessly.
As inside the control room of the craft, Wilkins installed
(24:14):
the final secret part he had not revealed to those
who built his driving apparatus. Well, Wilkins, what's holding us up?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Nothing now or the sentiment?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Perhaps?
Speaker 3 (24:28):
But I wish to look once more on Earth's familiar scenes.
Here now the screening is removed. Look look at the
people out there.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Never mind looking out there, Let's leave that thing closed.
You're a sentimental fool, Are you afraid? Or did you
decide that that last minute, that your invention won't work.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
It will work. Oh, sit down, it's crowdy. Mm and
do me a favor when I press this button, Will
you please press the button on the arm of the
chair you're seated on. I'll tell you when.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Turn on your motor. I want to hear its raw
and feel its tug as we got loose from her
its gravity and fly outward into space. That might be
a moment in which I share your sentimentality.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
A pressure button, elser, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
This is all hawks. I'm beginning to distrust you. Wilkins.
When are we're going to take off? You said at
five sharp? And it's two minutes after five.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Now, well do we move?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Don't we It's crowd We're already moving. The button you
pushed was to nullify the effects of acceleration. If you
don't mind, I'd like to open the screen again. Now
if you care to look for.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yourself, Welkins, we're in space.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
He look down at Earth.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
How far we've come. It's no bigger in toy boon.
Speaker 7 (26:06):
A time.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
A firefly moon.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Wilkins, you've done it. Yes, I swore to be.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
The first man of concas space, and I've done it.
It's a triumph of power and ambition and sentimental blast cent.
I meant your model and dreaming would have died on
Borne except for me. I made this possible. Wilkins, don't
ever forget that, my capital, my forcefulness, my will. Look
out there space stars that never were seen from her.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
But this is only the beginning.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
We will build a large a motto, one great enough
to hold a hundred man.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
A thousand in carrigo.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Besides, I'm the master of the planets, Wilkins, turn back now? No?
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Why I said turn back?
Speaker 5 (26:59):
No, we've proved the ship can fly, and our turnback.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I wanna start work at once in preparation for the.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Long flight to come, So we will go on.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
What are you doing to find me? Are you crazy?
I'll break your puny little body.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Into piece, mister Crowder, Can you control this ship? Would
you like to be streuted out here in space? Just
a drift in space without control? Would you like that?
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Turn back? No?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
You're crazy, You're crazy crazy?
Speaker 7 (27:33):
No.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Sentimental, Yes, your money and ambition paved the way, that's true,
But sentiment was the vital fact that it sent me
to you. Uh, you'll forgive me if I remove these
primitive clothes.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Oh are you?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
What is it all right? Mister Crowder? There is no
need to be so terrified, because you've had your first
close look at a martian going home.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
You've just heard another adventure into the unknown world of
the future. The world of a private detective receives many
strange assignments, but none has ever received one quite like
(28:40):
that given to the investigator we're going to tell you
about next week as he bring you from the pages
of a September issue of Astounding Science Fiction untitled Story.
Speaker 8 (28:57):
Dementia X is presented each week by the Nice Broadcasting
Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of the
magazine Astounding Science Fiction.
Speaker 6 (29:08):
Today, Dimension X has presented.
Speaker 8 (29:10):
The Vital Factor, written for radio by Howard Rodman from
the story by Nelson Bond. Featured in the cast where
Raymond Edward Johnson as Crowder, John McGovern as the engineer,
and Lloyd Van Rutten as the Martian. Your host was
Norman Rose. Music by Albert Berman. Dimension X is produced
(29:31):
by William Welch and directed by Fred Way.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Dragnet.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
The Story of Your Police Forces next on NBC
Adventures in Time and Space told in Futures. The National
Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of
(00:29):
astounding science fiction, bring you Dimension X. I doubt it
anywhere on Earth as a man or a woman or
(00:51):
a child who doesn't know the name of Wayne Crowder.
I doubt whether there's a human being who hasn't at
one time or another used one of the Crowder products,
the can opener of the razor blade, of the pattern
of tooth powder, dispenser of the Crowder improved slideless fastener.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
As a fortune in such products.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
And Wayne Crowder was a man to squeeze that fortune
of penny by penny, and he didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And in the magazines would.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Write about men of business, he was described as a
man of ice and stone, and ink and steel, no warmth,
and a heart that pump blood, not feel human emotion.
But he took some of his money and he built
himself a cowering skyscraper, and he placed his private office
at the Great Peak, and he built a battery of
buttons into his desk, so that when he wanted something,
(01:38):
all he ever had to do was mess a button.
And like genies springing out of the bottle, the proper
personnel would come running in him.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yes, mister Cravere, yes sir, right away, mister Craver.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Mister Crowder wants his engineers at once. Here I go, engineer, sir.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
All right, close the door and get out now, gentlemen, Sidan, gentlemen.
I hired you because you're the best engineers I was
able to find.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
They tell me. You can do anything. They tell me.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
If there's a scientific fact known in the world, even
if he was discovered six hours.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Ago, you, gentlemen, are up on it. I don't want
to put that to work. Gentlemen, I want you to
build me a spaceship.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
What spaceship, sir?
Speaker 1 (02:45):
That's right.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
I've decided that I'm going to be the man who
gives space flight to mankind.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
A questions.
Speaker 7 (02:53):
Well, I don't know, sir. We can design such a ship.
That part's not too hard. The basic print has been
in existence for many years. The submarine is the model
for the.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Shape in the form.
Speaker 7 (03:05):
Yeah, but we have no way of providing the motor
to power such a ship.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
When the ship's ready to fly, there'll be a motor.
Speaker 7 (03:13):
Sure. I don't like to contradict you, but you see,
scientists have been searching for a motor power for spaceships
for decades now without success. You'll have a ship, but
we can't lift that ship from the Earth's surface that
is not to the point of free flight at any rate.
Speaker 8 (03:30):
And mister crowd you see you'll be spending millions of dollars,
hundreds of millions, perhaps for nothing.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
What's your name, Phillips, Sir, you're fired. Go down to
cash here and dry your pay and get out.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
But mister Crowder out Nobody.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Who works for me thinks of how much something costs.
We use money.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
We don't let expense provide our rationalization for not beginning
a project fell up twenty waiting for get out, gentlemen.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
Any other comments that the ship will be built, of course,
mister Crowder, but the facts to the means we can't power.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
You design the ship. I'll find the motor for you. Where, sir,
that's a fair question.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
The answer is I don't know, but somewhere in the
world as a man who does.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Know the secret. Long before Henry Ford, there was Leonardo
da Vinci, and long before him there was Archimedes, and
long before him there was some Stone age genius who
invented the wheel when the only thing the mob could
conceive was dragging things around their backs. I want that motor,
and I'll rout out the man who has the theory
(04:46):
which will let us build it.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
I'll find him, money will be available to him, an
organization my backing, and.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
We'll get what we want.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
You're going to be plagued with the host of crackpots.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Obviously, it's going to be your job to separate the
week from the chaft. But anyone who shows up with
a promising idea, no matter how fantastic it sounds, is
going to have a chance to show what.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
It can do.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
How quickly do you want this done, sir?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yesterday? Yes, anything you need well, mister Crowder.
Speaker 7 (05:14):
Will need construction yards, sir, and certain machinery.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
And a great many materials. Of course, a label for.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
On send me the bills. I don't want to be
bothered with minor details, yes, sir.
Speaker 7 (05:25):
One more thing, sir, Phillips. Yes, we need him, sir.
He's a top man on electronics. See he's a vital cog.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
You know. I don't want Phillips working for me. That's clear.
I hope who else in.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
The country knows what he does, not one in this country.
Speaker 7 (05:40):
So there's a man in Asia though, get him. We've
tried before, mister Crowder. He's working on an important project
for his country.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
I'm not concerned with the tails, and I'll get that
man pay what he wants, but get him.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
Tell you you don't understand, I understand man. If this
man quits his job, that whole project will collapse. It
means the welfare of many people, millions.
Speaker 7 (06:00):
And there's a people in his country and he has
a high sense of patriotism.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
Why that sense of patriots Now, that's all. I don't
want to see you again until you have a report
of work in progress. Yes, as a man named Philip's
going to draw his pay, I want two company policemen
(06:25):
to meet him at the cashier's office and escored him
from there, directly off the premises. And I want them
to be emphatic about it, and notify the newspapers, the
television and the radio networks, periodicals and the scientific journals
that I'll received the press in my office afternoon at
three point thirty I have an important announcement to make.
(07:02):
You can finish your drinks later, gentlemen of the press
and ladies, it's my pleasure to be able to tell
you that I'm in the process of constructing a spaceship.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Any questions.
Speaker 8 (07:17):
Did you say a spaceship? That's right, that's what I
thought you said. I knew the drinks weren't.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
That's wrong. I expected it might be something of a
shock to you, mister Crowder.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Is this spaceship under construction now?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
It is well?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
According to your plans?
Speaker 8 (07:37):
Is it intended for interstellar flight or merely for flight
between planets?
Speaker 5 (07:42):
This is the beginning only, and my intentions are quite moderate.
I expect the ship to be able to pursue a
course between Earth and Mars, or between Earth and Venus
before the present, any longer trips than I've gotten places
you've solved the problem of motive force, then no, I haven't.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
But what sort of you mean?
Speaker 1 (08:02):
You don't have any means of proportions for the spaceship.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
That problem is not solved as yet will be. That's
why I called you away in this afternoon. I want
you to announce that I have one hundred thousand dollars
in cash waiting for the man or a woman who
first brings me the.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Basic idea for such your motor. That's all I have
to say for now. Finish our refreshments, ladies and gentlemen.
I'll let you know from time to time when things
go mister crowded.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
One more question play. Do you have a name for
the spaceship yet?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
No? No?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, then let me suggest one. Yeah, Crowder's folly?
Speaker 6 (08:50):
What is your paper?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Daily Time? Sir?
Speaker 5 (08:54):
In form the company police that, under no circumstances is
any representative for the Daily Times better be allowed and
company property again.
Speaker 8 (09:10):
Wayne Crowder is offering one hundred thousand dollars to any
inventors can produce an engine capable of driving a spaceship.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Wayne Clowder is offering one hundred.
Speaker 8 (09:23):
Thousand gall ups to any velpie who can't produce an
engine capable of driving a spaceship.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
It was Crowder's folly, but a word of what he
wanted circulated to the far corners of the globe, and
it was known in the white ice block cups of
the Eskimos and in the grass based villages of Central
Africa as well as Place is less Remote, and the
Crowder Office became a mecca and the heaven for the
lunatic sringe of humanity. Their blueprints and scale models, cl
(10:00):
corridors and more. Applicants came with a great skyscraper.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
I told you wouldn't want these people in my office
on the screen.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Yeah, every time I open that door, they surge in
like a tidal way.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
I have a progress report for you, sir, on the
construction of the ship. For you're I've spent thirteen million
dollars for the yards, the equipment, including three gantry cranes,
several dozen presses, thousands of guys and sofia.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
I'm going we.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Had twelve thousand people working for us directly, not including subcontractors.
And there lay before. What about the ship, mister Crowder?
The ship is finished as far as we can go.
Certain additional construction can be done now because it depends
on the shape and the mass of the engine.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
And a type of fuel on the weight of that fuel.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I see, all right, lay off, everybody would only I.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Voted that's this crowded. Is it possible that no one
will turn up with a motor.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
That's the one thing that's not possible. He will come
money and determination will buy anything. Because the door anyway,
WI it order the proper department to put a name
(11:19):
on the forward end of the ship. I want letters
in pure gold one foot high. The name of the
ship is Crowder's folly. Get it done today.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
The sun rose in the morning and glinted rose on
the silver sheen of the hollow ship's skin. The sun
set at night and glinted rose on the silver sheen
of the hollow ships skin. The golden letters on the
proud hold out a fury of Crowder for the world
to see.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
A step of fifty was.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Employed as time went on in taking rust preventive measures
to a sure the ship's well being. In a year,
the first experiment seemed ready to bear fruit, and a
test was held the atomic Fisher motor.
Speaker 7 (12:12):
In exactly forty five seconds. Now we hold the test
mist Crowder. The actual trial of the motor is taking
place three miles from here. Now, this dial here registers
the nucleonic activity, and this dial right here is trust.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Over here.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
This dial is a measure of the effectiveness of the
shielding in terms of outside radioactivity. That sound you hear
is our generators right here building up power to supply
the motor by remote control. Now, if this needle goes
around to the part of the dial marked in red,
(12:53):
there will be an explosion.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Are there any questions?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
There's aid with a test.
Speaker 7 (13:01):
Watched the needles h eight thousand, eighty five hundred nine thousand.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Ten eleven, twelve fifteen.
Speaker 7 (13:15):
That's an overload, dollser eighteen twenty. I don't know how
much Y can censor.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Huh what happened? Your generator blew out?
Speaker 7 (13:26):
What kind of I take your partners of the motor
blew up?
Speaker 1 (13:29):
What are you talking about? I'd hear Tom.
Speaker 6 (13:33):
You see, sir, it takes a while for the vibration is.
Speaker 7 (13:36):
Of an explosion to travel three miles and then reach
through fifteen feet of concrete.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I see, Well, other experiments in progress, let me know
when they're writer for testing.
Speaker 7 (13:46):
Yes, sir, mister Crowder, the inventor of that motor had
to be with it.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Of course during the tests. But he has uh. That is,
he had a family.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
We four what he was doing. He understood the danger.
Now line up those experiments and don't turn anyone away
if he seems to have the remotest possibility of success. Now,
I'm telling you my man will come money and determination
will buy anything. And strangely enough, Crowder was right, because
(14:26):
one day there came to his office a stranger, a
small man. He looked even smaller in that tremendous room.
He was an unusual visitor, and that he carried no briefcase,
fat with blueprints, schematics or formerly. He was unusual in
that he neither blustered, coward nor deferred to his host.
Or he was a pleasant little stranger bird, life of
(14:48):
eye and movement, bright and smiling.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Powder. My name is Wilkins. I can power that ship
you want, So of course what I have in mind
will be anything like that meaningless, anything like that meaningless
for you far we'll rock. My motor requires a difference
here in my head.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
It so happens that I'm presently weapons, that I'm presently supporting.
Half a dozen people will make this sense, none of
them been successful. What makes you think your idea will work?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Simple enough?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
The common magnet?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
What electromagnetism? Utilization of the force of gravity or its opposite,
in this case countergraph?
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Attack here very much, if you'll forgive me now.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Mister Crowder, there's one thing more this.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I've seen faces of metal before. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
How high from your desk would you say? I'm holding it?
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I'm very sorry. Mister Wilkins, do you want to leave
or do you want to be escorted out?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
This will only take a second. Say how high from
your desk? Would you say? I'm holding this piece of
metal foot and if I let go, then in less
than a second af fraction of a second, it should
fall to you?
Speaker 7 (16:03):
What then?
Speaker 3 (16:04):
How?
Speaker 6 (16:04):
Look?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
I don't want the surface about death.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Mind, but will it be.
Speaker 7 (16:09):
You?
Speaker 3 (16:09):
See I have let go of the metal? Is that right?
Speaker 1 (16:15):
What? Good?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Long?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Many seconds ago it should have crashed to the desk?
Am I right?
Speaker 1 (16:23):
This is the.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Well if you want to speak to me anymore, I'll
be right outside. But eh, hasn't fallen, that's right, sir.
It hasn't fallen A.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Faults in the air.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
That's right, sir. If it floats in the air, how
do you do it? Well? Why don't you call your
engineers and ask them? I'll wait outside.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Get me my engineer's immediately. Oh right, mister Wilkins, you're
quite right. This piece of metal is apparently counter gravity.
(17:15):
My engineers can give me no explanation. What do you want?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I want to build a spaceship using this material and
no great expendit. You're one hundreds of the cost you
be herem a city out there in your building, guard
and three other things workshop expert, mechanical assistance, and an
answer to one question.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
What is the question?
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Why do you want so much to build this ship?
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Frankly, because I love power, because I'm ambitious. I want
to be the master not only of one world, but
of worlds.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
That's an honest answer. And that's as far as you
think goes.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Who else is there?
Speaker 3 (18:03):
But there's my answer. I want to leave this planet
and go to to Mars because there are strange wonders there,
because there will be scarlet sunsets, over balance wastes, and
in the starstrewn night, the thin cold air of a
dying world stirring in restless size across the valleys of
(18:25):
the drag canals.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
He may laugh out loud if you wish, mister crowdy,
I prefer that to the peculiar, repressed smile you're exhibiting. Now.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
You're a very lucky man. Mir Wilgan's a scientific talent,
because your talents, is a poet, are inferior and very sentimental. Well,
all right, you're a sentimental isn't I'm man logic. No matter,
we can work together you and I Your workshop will
be ready by morning. If you need money on material
as a person, now, just tell my engineers and you'll
(18:54):
get it, or I'll know the reason why. And that's all.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
Get me my engineers. Yes, mister Crowder, we have fifty
men working on preserving that useless hawk out there in
the construction yard.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Lay them off. Now, how many others?
Speaker 6 (19:25):
But the ship will deteriorate if we do that, so.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yes, how many other employees are still working for us
on the.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Project about three thousands, including the people working on experimental motives.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Get rid of them, but rid of them.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
Mister Crowder. I never thought you'd drop this project.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
You were so adamant on it.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
I'm not dropping anything but dead. Would you saw what
Wilkins had to offer. He's my man and the rest.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Is young, mister Crowder.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
He might fail. We ought to have a minimum of protection.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
The guy say he won't fail. You'll just lay everybody
off that is needed. Give him two weeks paying my
thanks for a thankless job. Well done.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
That's all, yes, sir, I'll I'll get a john sir.
What a year's work?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (20:06):
And ten years or twenty years, and I do the
same thing. That's why you're an engineer and I'm an executive.
That's why you work for me, because when I have to,
I can be ruthless with my own mistakes. What are
you waiting for?
Speaker 7 (20:24):
I was just thinking, mister Crowder, what would happen to
me if my usefulness to you were over? I've worked
for you for thirty years.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Now, just don't give me any occasion to consider your
usefulness terminated. That oughtn't be two words.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
Yes, but nothing, sir. I'll make the arrangements at once.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Oh you where you want?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I try to stop himself.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Well, speak of man?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
My name is your resession?
Speaker 5 (21:00):
I am an electronic sex Oh yes, I remember you're
the Asian.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Well, come in, come in? Do you want me and mine? Am?
I just stay outside? Closed the door behind you?
Speaker 8 (21:13):
Yes, saddan visitors to thank you. No, I want to
give you a.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Gift before I leave. Oh you leaving? I thought we
still needed you.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I resigned.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm told you're a
good man.
Speaker 8 (21:35):
I want you to understand what's behind this gift. I
was working on a power project in my country, which
would have meant a tremendous rise in the stand up
of living for millions of my people. I was unable
to resist the money you.
Speaker 5 (21:52):
Had you resisted even more money, it would have been forthcoming.
I placed no limit on your worth to me, I understand.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
But you see I did not come without a sense
of guilt, because there was no one in my country
who could take.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
My place, I would assume.
Speaker 8 (22:11):
And now I discovered that what I did was for nothing.
The spaceship on which I worked is being dismantled. Right,
so I have been corrupted by you. At a whim.
I think you have too much power, sir. I think
you use your power for evil, selfish purpose selfish yet
(22:34):
only centimentality is evil. I think otherwise, And so in
order that you shall not corrupt anyone else, I have
this gift for you. Here you are, sir, and just
one more shot for good measure to make sure you
(22:55):
are really dead.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Good.
Speaker 5 (23:06):
As a man on his way out by the name
of jarbizushtually an engineer, he's not to be molested. He
probably won't stop the cashier. So I want to check
for six months hour in advance mail to his home address.
A man showed a certain quality of ruthlessness, which is
deserving of recognition, and you.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Have the chap of the company. Police, bring me a
new bulletproof vest. This one seems to have been dented
in two places. A new spaceship, according to wilkins plans,
(23:46):
as executed by Crowder's engineers, was finished within four months.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
It was small, It was shaped like a disk.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
It gleamed brightly even in the smoky haze of an
October sunset. Inside Crowder and mister Wilkins, in a small
cubucle of the heart of the machine, was surrounded by
many instruments of a complicated nature. Outside, huge crowds gathered
to witness the test. They stirred and murmured, waiting restlessly.
As inside the control room of the craft, Wilkins installed
(24:14):
the final secret part he had not revealed to those
who built his driving apparatus. Well, Wilkins, what's holding us up?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Nothing now or the sentiment?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Perhaps?
Speaker 3 (24:28):
But I wish to look once more on Earth's familiar scenes.
Here now the screening is removed. Look look at the
people out there.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Never mind looking out there, Let's leave that thing closed.
You're a sentimental fool, Are you afraid? Or did you
decide that that last minute, that your invention won't work.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
It will work. Oh, sit down, it's crowdy. Mm and
do me a favor when I press this button, Will
you please press the button on the arm of the
chair you're seated on. I'll tell you when.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Turn on your motor. I want to hear its raw
and feel its tug as we got loose from her
its gravity and fly outward into space. That might be
a moment in which I share your sentimentality.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
A pressure button, elser, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
This is all hawks. I'm beginning to distrust you. Wilkins.
When are we're going to take off? You said at
five sharp? And it's two minutes after five.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Now, well do we move?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Don't we It's crowd We're already moving. The button you
pushed was to nullify the effects of acceleration. If you
don't mind, I'd like to open the screen again. Now
if you care to look for.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yourself, Welkins, we're in space.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
He look down at Earth.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
How far we've come. It's no bigger in toy boon.
Speaker 7 (26:06):
A time.
Speaker 8 (26:08):
A firefly moon.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Wilkins, you've done it. Yes, I swore to be.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
The first man of concas space, and I've done it.
It's a triumph of power and ambition and sentimental blast cent.
I meant your model and dreaming would have died on
Borne except for me. I made this possible. Wilkins, don't
ever forget that, my capital, my forcefulness, my will. Look
out there space stars that never were seen from her.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
But this is only the beginning.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
We will build a large a motto, one great enough
to hold a hundred man.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
A thousand in carrigo.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Besides, I'm the master of the planets, Wilkins, turn back now? No?
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Why I said turn back?
Speaker 5 (26:59):
No, we've proved the ship can fly, and our turnback.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I wanna start work at once in preparation for the.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Long flight to come, So we will go on.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
What are you doing to find me? Are you crazy?
I'll break your puny little body.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Into piece, mister Crowder, Can you control this ship? Would
you like to be streuted out here in space? Just
a drift in space without control? Would you like that?
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Turn back? No?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
You're crazy, You're crazy crazy?
Speaker 7 (27:33):
No.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Sentimental, Yes, your money and ambition paved the way, that's true,
But sentiment was the vital fact that it sent me
to you. Uh, you'll forgive me if I remove these
primitive clothes.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Oh are you?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
What is it all right? Mister Crowder? There is no
need to be so terrified, because you've had your first
close look at a martian going home.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
You've just heard another adventure into the unknown world of
the future. The world of a private detective receives many
strange assignments, but none has ever received one quite like
(28:40):
that given to the investigator we're going to tell you
about next week as he bring you from the pages
of a September issue of Astounding Science Fiction untitled Story.
Speaker 8 (28:57):
Dementia X is presented each week by the Nice Broadcasting
Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of the
magazine Astounding Science Fiction.
Speaker 6 (29:08):
Today, Dimension X has presented.
Speaker 8 (29:10):
The Vital Factor, written for radio by Howard Rodman from
the story by Nelson Bond. Featured in the cast where
Raymond Edward Johnson as Crowder, John McGovern as the engineer,
and Lloyd Van Rutten as the Martian. Your host was
Norman Rose. Music by Albert Berman. Dimension X is produced
(29:31):
by William Welch and directed by Fred Way.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Dragnet.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
The Story of Your Police Forces next on NBC
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