December 29, 2023 • 29 mins
The Sealed Book was a radio series of mystery and terror tales, produced and directed by Jock MacGregor for the Mutual network. Between March 18 and September 9, 1945, the melodramatic anthology series was broadcast on Sundays from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm.Each week, after "the sound of the great gong," host Philip Clarke observed that the mysteriously silent "keeper of the book has opened the ponderous door to the secret vault wherein is kept the great sealed book, in which is recorded all the secrets and mysteries of mankind through the ages.
Here are tales of every kind, tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds strange and terrible beyond all belief." After this introduction, the dramas began, with three organ solo breaks for inserting the commercials of local stations carrying the program. Although this anthology series did not have recurring characters (other than the Narrator and the Keeper of the Book), the writers often used the same names for different characters from week to week, including "Hester", "Drake", and most especially "Roger".
Here are tales of every kind, tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds strange and terrible beyond all belief." After this introduction, the dramas began, with three organ solo breaks for inserting the commercials of local stations carrying the program. Although this anthology series did not have recurring characters (other than the Narrator and the Keeper of the Book), the writers often used the same names for different characters from week to week, including "Hester", "Drake", and most especially "Roger".
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Episode Transcript
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(00:09):
The Seal Book. Once again.The Keeper of the Book has opened the
(00:35):
ponderous door to the secret vault,wherein has kept the Great Sealed Book,
in which has recorded all the secretsand mysteries of mankind. Through the ages.
There are tales of every kind,tales of murder, of madness,
of dark deeds, strange and terrible, beyond all belief. Keeper of the
(01:00):
Book, I would know what talewe tell this time. Open the great
book and let us read. Slowly. The great Book opens one by one.
The Keeper of the Book turns thepages and stops ah the strange story
(01:27):
of a scientist who delved into theunknown with frightening results, a tale titled
Beware of Tomorrow. Here is thetale Beware of Tomorrow, as it is
(02:34):
written in the pages of the SealedBook. Our story begins as Sheriff Ramsay
brings his car to a stop infront of an old mansion in a desolate
section of New England. A youngman gets out of the car and speaks
to the sheriff. Thanks very much, Sheriff for bringing me out here.
That's quite all right, young fellow, say do you know Professor Clark.
(02:58):
A man lives in his old Whyyes, I was Professor Clark's laboratory assistant
back in college. Why well,there's been some talk in turn of running
him and that man he is,that Barton fellow right out of the county.
But what has anybody got against theprofessor? There isn't a milder man
in the world. Maybe so,but folks has got wind of what happened
(03:20):
at the State Penitentiary over in Hillvalelast year. Sure, if you're talking
in riddles, what did happen theprofessor went over there when they hanged Richards,
that hold up killer, and thewarden give the professor the murderer's brain.
So what folks think he's keeping thatbrain in a big glass jar and
making it grow. Well, that'sperfectly ridiculous. Well, I'm not saying
(03:44):
I ever believed it, but it'dbe a good idea. If the professor
give folks a notion of what he'sreally doing in that laboratory of his,
with that Barton fellow to help him, then maybe the talk had died down.
I understand, all right, Sheriff. I'll mention it to him em
and I'll be getting on getting forann. I A few moments after doctor
(04:15):
Richard Dale had knocked on the doorof the ancient mansion. A frail,
white haired old man answered the door, an old man who could hardly speak
in his joy as he gripped RichardDale's hand. He led the way down
a long hall to a great roomwhere strange equipment took up almost every inch
of space. Retarts and electric furnaces, generators, batteries, great glass vats.
(04:43):
Doctor Dale stared around him in intensecuriosity as Professor Clark helped him off
with his hat and coat. Therenow, sit down, Dick, sit
down and let me get in.Look at you. I got your letter
and it made me so curious.I took the first train. You promise
me a surprise, as I said, this amazing laboratory. No, no,
my boy, he will come tothat in a moment. After you
(05:06):
meet Burton, my assistant. OhBurton, Yes, professor doctor Dale has
arrived. I want you to meethim. Why, of course, How
do you do, doctor Dale?How do you do? We've both of
us been looking forward to your visit. Yes, the Professor's letter made me
so curious. I couldn't stay away. Burton is alpha making some coffee.
(05:27):
Yes, he started it when weheard the car. Alpha. Who's hey,
our general man of all work,A truly amazing fellow. Nah he
comes, now what a new world? Shall all for serve copper? Good?
Heavens? I said, you'd besurprised, Dick. He's not human.
(05:51):
He's a machine, a robot,yes, my boy, an artificial
man made from metal and synthetic braintissue, a man walking and then talking.
He's not very pretty, but thenthe professor was mostly interested in making
sure he'd work. He must weigha ton, no, only about three
(06:12):
hundred pounds. You see, Alphais mostly aluminum and other light alloys.
Inside his aluminum plates are some newbatteries I've devised together with miles of fine
silver wire and a dozen electric motors, to give you only the highlights,
shall I'll for serve coffee now?Yes, Alpha, put it on this
table here in poor a cup fordoctor Dale all for do so? Start
(06:43):
tapping myself believe it? Ye oh, puh or coffee? Go on,
Dick, take it huh oh,yes, of course, thank you.
He looks clumbye. He poured thecoffee as well as a man could.
Yes, my boy, Alpha hascapabilities you'd never suspect to look at him.
(07:08):
We won't need you anymore tonight.Alpha. You can go back to
your room now. I'll for go. Be sure to switch off your batteries.
They're going to need recharging tomorrow.Al for under, that's the most
incredible thing I ever saw, yousee, Dick, Like any machine,
(07:30):
he's completely inactive when his batteries havebeen switched off, but his brain continues
to function. It's an artificial protoplasmthat I spend eight years creating. It's
the only thing that makes him differentfrom any other machine. But it means
that Alpha can think, think likea man machine that can walk and talk
and think. But Alpha isn't theonly surprise I have for you, Dick,
(07:56):
He's not. No. I haveanother one, even more astonishing.
But you'll have to wait until morningto learn what that is. Eh,
Marton will show you dear room,Dick. Of course, Professor I'll see
you in the morning. Man.Yes, we'll have a long talk tomorrow.
Good night, Professor Clark, DoctorDale. Yes, but could we
talk for a minute before I showyou to your room? Why? Yes?
(08:18):
Of course, it occurs to methat the Professor forgot to tell you
why he asked you here It washis hope that you'd stay indefinitely and help
us carry forward the work we've beendoing here. Stay indefinitely. I have
my own work now. Don't sayno yet, Just think, doctor Dale.
(08:39):
Alpha is stronger and more rugged thana man. He needs no rest,
no food. Yet he can dothe work of three men. He
can plow, read, run machinery. Think how much drudgery a million like
him could lift from mankind's shoulders.Yes, yes, that's true. And
already Alpha is technically old fashioned.Professor Clarke has blueprints for a new machine
(09:01):
man as superior to Alpha as anaeroplane is to a bicycle. We want
you to help us build them.I'm certainly tempted to stay. Perhaps I
could arrange it good. Then I'llshow you to your room now if you
wish here. I am sleepy,if you'll just come this way, his
(09:33):
mind in a whirl of amazement,Doctor Dale retired and finally fell into an
uneasy sleep. How long he hadslept, he did not know. When
abruptly he woke with a scream ringingin his ears. A cry came from
downstairs. Doctor Dale leaped from hisbed and raced down to the lower hall.
(09:56):
In the lower hall, he foundParton hammering on the heavy door of
the laboratory. Professor Clark. ProfessorClark, what's wrong? Button? What's
happened? Professor Clark? I heardhim call for help? The door is
locked. We've got to break itdown. Yes, come, put your
shoulder beside mine. Right, you'reready, then shovel once again? All
(10:16):
right, once more, Professor Clark. Where I a, Professor Clark?
He's not here, yes, yes, he's here, lying on the floor
beside the window. He's been murdered. It was Alpha, It must have
been. No one else could havedone it. Who were his? Alp?
The window it's open. He wentout that way. We've got glatherline.
I'm afraid it's hopeless at night inthese woods. We couldn't possibly find
(10:41):
him. No, No, you'reright, of course, it'll be morning
soon. Then I think he'll comeback. He knows that he can only
go for a few more hours beforehis batteries must be recharged. But Barton,
why did he kill the man whocreated him? The Professor has been
thinking of destroying Alpha because he's nowtechnically out of date. Perhaps that's the
reason now for killed him. PoorProfessor Clark, we'll have to notify the
(11:05):
police, that is only the sheriff. In any case, I think we
should wait until morning and then reportthe Professor's death as an accident. An
accident. Yes, if the authoritieslearn the truth, our research may be
stopped. And when Professor Clark hasachieved so much, can we let it
go for nothing? No? No, of course not, doctor Hale.
(11:28):
We must carry on his work forhim. Yes, that's what he would
want. Then you will help meto continue it. You'll stay yes,
yes, I'll stay. No,And now to continue the story Beware of
(13:26):
Tomorrow as it is written in theSealed Book. Greatly Upset by Professor Clarke's
tragic death, Doctor Dale returned tobed and at last fell again into an
uneasy sleep, a sleep in whichhe was haunted by dreams of Alpha,
the metal monster Professor Clark had created. When he awoke, the sun was
(13:50):
shining and he could hear Barton movingabout downstairs. He dressed and went down
to find Barton getting breakfast ready.Ah, good morning, Doctor Dale,
Good morning, But I may signof Alpha, not yet. I thought
that while you ate, I mightoutline some of the problems facing us yes,
that's a good idea. You see, though Alpha's brain is of synthetic
(14:13):
protoplasm, it is not completely artificial. I was wondering about that. Sheriff
Ramsey mentioned that the professor had secureda human brain from an executed killer.
Yes, the professor found that togive life to his artificial brain tissue,
it was necessary to add a smallamount of tissue from a real brain.
I see the real tissue gave lifeto the rest, of course, yes,
(14:35):
but in this instance it may havetainted Alpha's brain with a murderous impulse
of a killer. It sounds perfectlyplausible. So our first problem will be
to obtain untainted brain tissues to blendwith the artificial tissues we will make according
to the Professor's formula. We'll letyou give us no trouble. I can
get what we need through the researchlaboratories with which I'm connected. Then that
(14:56):
solves our worst problem. The restwill be matters of detail. Fortunately,
there is enough equipment here to builda dozen or soul robots like Alfa Yuman.
No, indeed, the far moreadvanced type Professor Clark was perfecting.
Oh, if you've finished your breakfast, I have something to show you.
Yes, I'm true, I don'tfeel much like eating after last night.
(15:18):
Then come with me to the laboratoryand I'll show you the second surprise that
Professor Clarke had in store for you. Ah, here we are. Now.
(15:41):
What I am going to show youis in this box. Not not
another robot, Yes, a secondmechanical man the Professor built a few months
ago. This one, though,was a failure. You mean it wouldn't
work? It worked too well?Why don't follow you? It was too
intelligent. Professor Clarke called it Beta, and Beta's brain power was greater than
(16:03):
that of any human scientist who everlived. But Beta was insane. Could
heaven? He represented, however,a tremendous technical advance. Look, it
looks exactly like a human being.Yes, Professor Clarke used me for a
(16:25):
model when he built Beta. Anexcellent likeness. Touched the face, doctor,
all right. It feels smooth andrubbery with a hard surface. Underneath
the surface is a new plastic ProfessorClarke developed with which he could imitate exactly
the appearance of human skin. Underneathis an aluminum body on which the plastic
(16:47):
was baked. I see Beta's hair, eyes, and teeth are all artificial
too. But he walked and talkedand acted so much like a human being
that no man alive would have guessedhis secret. Ah, you would have
fooled me completely. Did you sayhe was insane from the human viewpoint,
Yes, he considered himself superior tothe human race with his enormous brain power.
(17:11):
He intended to make himself ruler ofthe world. Boy joke, not
in the least. That was whyProfessor Clark destroyed him just in time.
He had made plans to take overthis laboratory and construct dozens of mechanical men
like himself, and then with theirhelp, he was going to enslave all
mankind. But if that could happenonce, it might happen again. I
(17:33):
don't believe we should continue Professor Clark'swork. After all, there's no danger
now, doctor. You see,Beta also had a brain which contained tissues
taken from that of a condemned murderer. But we will select the brain tissues
we use from the highest types thatare available. In any case, we
must proceed, but the utmost caution, of course, Peter, this means
(17:56):
someone's come into the house. It'sout her he's come back, Helper,
We made into what you want.No I can control him. Alpha.
Alpha come here, aluck, comeAlpha. You killed Professor Clark. Why
did you do it? Professor saidhe would destroy Alpha, and you killed
(18:21):
him because of that. Alpha notwant to be destroyed. But you you're
just a machine. What difference doesit make to you? Alpha is a
machine that lives. Alpha stronger thanyou, Alpha better than you? Alphabe
(18:42):
quiet. We want to know whereyou've been. Did anyone see you?
Two men saw Alpha? What doyou mean? Two men driving automobiles saw
him? And what did they do? They tried hit Alpha with automobile and
(19:03):
then what happened. I'll stop automobile. I'l FA killed one man killed him.
Other man ran into wood. Alphanot find him. I'l FA come
back. We can't keep this asecret no matter what happens. We must
(19:25):
notify the authorities at once. Wait, let me think we can't the bell?
Someone at the door. I'll seewho it is. You stay here,
But what about Alpha. I'll switchoff his batteries then he can't move.
Yeah, now I'll see who's atthe door. And now to continue
(21:23):
the story, Beware of tomorrow asit is written in the sealed book.
Doctor Dale waited tensely as Barton wentto answer the doorbell. He heard the
door open and recognize the excited voiceof Sheriff Ramsey speaking. Then a moment
later, Barton came back into thelaboratory, followed by the Sheriff, who
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held a revolver in his hand.But Sheriff, if you'd only let me
explain, never mind, mad,You're come with me both here. The
professor too worriedy Professor Clark is dead, Sheriff dead. He was killed last
night when an experiment he was engageddidn't went wrong. An experimenterh I suppose
it was an experiment that crushed thelife out of Jed Thompson an hour ago
down the road and scared bred Jenny'sabd. All he can do is jabber
(22:08):
about monstrees. It's true. Thething that killed both the Professor and Thompson
is an experiment standing there behind you, behind me, go yeh man made
out of machinery. It don't bealarmed, Sheriff. It's perfectly harmless.
Now. It is a machine manwhich Professor Clark built. Unfortunately it got
out of control. I don't believeit. I don't blame you, Sheriff,
(22:30):
but that's the truth. I thinkI can convince you. What are
you doing? Sancel or shoot?I'm simply going to switch Alpha there now
he can move and speak as wellas you were me that thing talk.
You're lying. You're up to something. Alpha. Will you tell the sheriff
that it was you who killed misterThompson all for killed man man tried hit
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Alpha with car? Are sure sothat's what the professor was doing all this
time building that thing? Now,Sheriff, surely you realize that we are
not murdered. Oh, I mean, but you're coming to jail just the
(23:17):
same. You're partly responsible anyhow,But Sheriff, anyway, it's for your
own protection. There's a mob bythe way out here, and they're gonna
burn this place down. I've gotto put you in jail for your own
safety. That mob's ready to lynchyou right now. Burn the place down.
That's what I said. Turn thatmachine thing off and come along.
We ain't got much time. No. All this equipment, machinery, the
(23:38):
professor's notes, they must not bedestroyed. We must stop them, yes,
Sheriff. The loss of science nevermind science. They got your own
skins to worry about. That mobmeans business, So let's get started.
I'm afraid we can't do that,Sheriff, I've got a sick you to
here, says different. We haveno choice, min Oh, yes we
had Alpha take the gun away fromthis man. Oh for world, do
(24:06):
what are you doing? Stop him? You stop him around? No?
No, stop him too late?Doctor Dale crushed him. Yes, doctor
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Dale, the sheriff is dead.Now you are a murderer in a good
cause. The life of one man, or of a dozen men, cannot
stand in my way. You don'texpect me to keep simon about this?
Do you? I think you will? Alpha Alpha? He doesn't answer.
His batteries have gone dead. Thelast burst of energy must have drained them
(24:49):
dry. But it makes no difference. I think it does a big difference.
There. See this suref Prameses revolver, the three bullets still in it.
Put your hands up. I mustexplain something to you. Doctor.
You can talk, but if youmove I shall shoot. I only want
to say that nothing is going tointerfere with my plan to build more the
(25:11):
improved form of robots that Professor Clarkperfected before his death, robots who looked
and act so much like men noone can detect them. They'll never be
built. I intend to destroy allof Professor Clark's notes. They will be
built by me. I shall buildten, a hundred, a thousand.
Then I shall lead them, withtheir superior intelligence, to the mastery of
(25:34):
the world. You're mad, ofcourse I should have guessed it. Oh,
Doctor, that's not the answer.I shall tell you the truth,
and then you must die. Standstill, Rottis you remember last night when the
Professor said he had another surprise foryou, an even greater surprise than Alpha.
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Yes, that surprise, Doctor wasBeta, the second robot, so
perfect it looked like a man,but so intelligent that human beings were his
children in comparison. But Beta wasdestroyed, O Doctor, Beta was not
destroyed, But you must be destroyed. Stand back, Stand back, I
(26:17):
say, all right, then Ishall choose. And now, Doctor,
your bullets are gone. Who whonot even hurt? Bullets cannot harm me.
That's what I'm trying to tell you. Beta, the second robot,
was not destroyed. But I sawwhat you saw was only an initial attempt
(26:38):
that failed. The real Beta stillexists. You see, doctor, I
am beta you yes, I too, am what you would call a mechanical
man. And now you must dieaway from me, stay away, And
(27:10):
so ends the tale Beware of Tomorrowas it is written in the Sealed Book.
Shortly after doctor Tale's murder, afire swept through the old mansion,
learning it to the ground till thisday the ruins are avoided by the natives,
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or cursed is the ground where evilhas dwelt. And now, Keeper
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of the Book, before you closethe Great Book, show us the tale
we tell next time. This one, ah, yes, the story of
a man who escaped punishment for amurder he committed, only to find the
justice has a strange way of workingitself out. The tale is titled Murder
(29:07):
Must be Paid For. Be sureto be with us again next time when
(29:29):
the sound of the Great Gong haraldsanother strange and exciting tale from the Seal
Book. The Sealed Book, writtenby Bob Arthur and David Cogan, is
produced and directed by Jock MacGregor.
The Seal Book. Once again.The Keeper of the Book has opened the
(00:35):
ponderous door to the secret vault,wherein has kept the Great Sealed Book,
in which has recorded all the secretsand mysteries of mankind. Through the ages.
There are tales of every kind,tales of murder, of madness,
of dark deeds, strange and terrible, beyond all belief. Keeper of the
(01:00):
Book, I would know what talewe tell this time. Open the great
book and let us read. Slowly. The great Book opens one by one.
The Keeper of the Book turns thepages and stops ah the strange story
(01:27):
of a scientist who delved into theunknown with frightening results, a tale titled
Beware of Tomorrow. Here is thetale Beware of Tomorrow, as it is
(02:34):
written in the pages of the SealedBook. Our story begins as Sheriff Ramsay
brings his car to a stop infront of an old mansion in a desolate
section of New England. A youngman gets out of the car and speaks
to the sheriff. Thanks very much, Sheriff for bringing me out here.
That's quite all right, young fellow, say do you know Professor Clark.
(02:58):
A man lives in his old Whyyes, I was Professor Clark's laboratory assistant
back in college. Why well,there's been some talk in turn of running
him and that man he is,that Barton fellow right out of the county.
But what has anybody got against theprofessor? There isn't a milder man
in the world. Maybe so,but folks has got wind of what happened
(03:20):
at the State Penitentiary over in Hillvalelast year. Sure, if you're talking
in riddles, what did happen theprofessor went over there when they hanged Richards,
that hold up killer, and thewarden give the professor the murderer's brain.
So what folks think he's keeping thatbrain in a big glass jar and
making it grow. Well, that'sperfectly ridiculous. Well, I'm not saying
(03:44):
I ever believed it, but it'dbe a good idea. If the professor
give folks a notion of what he'sreally doing in that laboratory of his,
with that Barton fellow to help him, then maybe the talk had died down.
I understand, all right, Sheriff. I'll mention it to him em
and I'll be getting on getting forann. I A few moments after doctor
(04:15):
Richard Dale had knocked on the doorof the ancient mansion. A frail,
white haired old man answered the door, an old man who could hardly speak
in his joy as he gripped RichardDale's hand. He led the way down
a long hall to a great roomwhere strange equipment took up almost every inch
of space. Retarts and electric furnaces, generators, batteries, great glass vats.
(04:43):
Doctor Dale stared around him in intensecuriosity as Professor Clark helped him off
with his hat and coat. Therenow, sit down, Dick, sit
down and let me get in.Look at you. I got your letter
and it made me so curious.I took the first train. You promise
me a surprise, as I said, this amazing laboratory. No, no,
my boy, he will come tothat in a moment. After you
(05:06):
meet Burton, my assistant. OhBurton, Yes, professor doctor Dale has
arrived. I want you to meethim. Why, of course, How
do you do, doctor Dale?How do you do? We've both of
us been looking forward to your visit. Yes, the Professor's letter made me
so curious. I couldn't stay away. Burton is alpha making some coffee.
(05:27):
Yes, he started it when weheard the car. Alpha. Who's hey,
our general man of all work,A truly amazing fellow. Nah he
comes, now what a new world? Shall all for serve copper? Good?
Heavens? I said, you'd besurprised, Dick. He's not human.
(05:51):
He's a machine, a robot,yes, my boy, an artificial
man made from metal and synthetic braintissue, a man walking and then talking.
He's not very pretty, but thenthe professor was mostly interested in making
sure he'd work. He must weigha ton, no, only about three
(06:12):
hundred pounds. You see, Alphais mostly aluminum and other light alloys.
Inside his aluminum plates are some newbatteries I've devised together with miles of fine
silver wire and a dozen electric motors, to give you only the highlights,
shall I'll for serve coffee now?Yes, Alpha, put it on this
table here in poor a cup fordoctor Dale all for do so? Start
(06:43):
tapping myself believe it? Ye oh, puh or coffee? Go on,
Dick, take it huh oh,yes, of course, thank you.
He looks clumbye. He poured thecoffee as well as a man could.
Yes, my boy, Alpha hascapabilities you'd never suspect to look at him.
(07:08):
We won't need you anymore tonight.Alpha. You can go back to
your room now. I'll for go. Be sure to switch off your batteries.
They're going to need recharging tomorrow.Al for under, that's the most
incredible thing I ever saw, yousee, Dick, Like any machine,
(07:30):
he's completely inactive when his batteries havebeen switched off, but his brain continues
to function. It's an artificial protoplasmthat I spend eight years creating. It's
the only thing that makes him differentfrom any other machine. But it means
that Alpha can think, think likea man machine that can walk and talk
and think. But Alpha isn't theonly surprise I have for you, Dick,
(07:56):
He's not. No. I haveanother one, even more astonishing.
But you'll have to wait until morningto learn what that is. Eh,
Marton will show you dear room,Dick. Of course, Professor I'll see
you in the morning. Man.Yes, we'll have a long talk tomorrow.
Good night, Professor Clark, DoctorDale. Yes, but could we
talk for a minute before I showyou to your room? Why? Yes?
(08:18):
Of course, it occurs to methat the Professor forgot to tell you
why he asked you here It washis hope that you'd stay indefinitely and help
us carry forward the work we've beendoing here. Stay indefinitely. I have
my own work now. Don't sayno yet, Just think, doctor Dale.
(08:39):
Alpha is stronger and more rugged thana man. He needs no rest,
no food. Yet he can dothe work of three men. He
can plow, read, run machinery. Think how much drudgery a million like
him could lift from mankind's shoulders.Yes, yes, that's true. And
already Alpha is technically old fashioned.Professor Clarke has blueprints for a new machine
(09:01):
man as superior to Alpha as anaeroplane is to a bicycle. We want
you to help us build them.I'm certainly tempted to stay. Perhaps I
could arrange it good. Then I'llshow you to your room now if you
wish here. I am sleepy,if you'll just come this way, his
(09:33):
mind in a whirl of amazement,Doctor Dale retired and finally fell into an
uneasy sleep. How long he hadslept, he did not know. When
abruptly he woke with a scream ringingin his ears. A cry came from
downstairs. Doctor Dale leaped from hisbed and raced down to the lower hall.
(09:56):
In the lower hall, he foundParton hammering on the heavy door of
the laboratory. Professor Clark. ProfessorClark, what's wrong? Button? What's
happened? Professor Clark? I heardhim call for help? The door is
locked. We've got to break itdown. Yes, come, put your
shoulder beside mine. Right, you'reready, then shovel once again? All
(10:16):
right, once more, Professor Clark. Where I a, Professor Clark?
He's not here, yes, yes, he's here, lying on the floor
beside the window. He's been murdered. It was Alpha, It must have
been. No one else could havedone it. Who were his? Alp?
The window it's open. He wentout that way. We've got glatherline.
I'm afraid it's hopeless at night inthese woods. We couldn't possibly find
(10:41):
him. No, No, you'reright, of course, it'll be morning
soon. Then I think he'll comeback. He knows that he can only
go for a few more hours beforehis batteries must be recharged. But Barton,
why did he kill the man whocreated him? The Professor has been
thinking of destroying Alpha because he's nowtechnically out of date. Perhaps that's the
reason now for killed him. PoorProfessor Clark, we'll have to notify the
(11:05):
police, that is only the sheriff. In any case, I think we
should wait until morning and then reportthe Professor's death as an accident. An
accident. Yes, if the authoritieslearn the truth, our research may be
stopped. And when Professor Clark hasachieved so much, can we let it
go for nothing? No? No, of course not, doctor Hale.
(11:28):
We must carry on his work forhim. Yes, that's what he would
want. Then you will help meto continue it. You'll stay yes,
yes, I'll stay. No,And now to continue the story Beware of
(13:26):
Tomorrow as it is written in theSealed Book. Greatly Upset by Professor Clarke's
tragic death, Doctor Dale returned tobed and at last fell again into an
uneasy sleep, a sleep in whichhe was haunted by dreams of Alpha,
the metal monster Professor Clark had created. When he awoke, the sun was
(13:50):
shining and he could hear Barton movingabout downstairs. He dressed and went down
to find Barton getting breakfast ready.Ah, good morning, Doctor Dale,
Good morning, But I may signof Alpha, not yet. I thought
that while you ate, I mightoutline some of the problems facing us yes,
that's a good idea. You see, though Alpha's brain is of synthetic
(14:13):
protoplasm, it is not completely artificial. I was wondering about that. Sheriff
Ramsey mentioned that the professor had secureda human brain from an executed killer.
Yes, the professor found that togive life to his artificial brain tissue,
it was necessary to add a smallamount of tissue from a real brain.
I see the real tissue gave lifeto the rest, of course, yes,
(14:35):
but in this instance it may havetainted Alpha's brain with a murderous impulse
of a killer. It sounds perfectlyplausible. So our first problem will be
to obtain untainted brain tissues to blendwith the artificial tissues we will make according
to the Professor's formula. We'll letyou give us no trouble. I can
get what we need through the researchlaboratories with which I'm connected. Then that
(14:56):
solves our worst problem. The restwill be matters of detail. Fortunately,
there is enough equipment here to builda dozen or soul robots like Alfa Yuman.
No, indeed, the far moreadvanced type Professor Clark was perfecting.
Oh, if you've finished your breakfast, I have something to show you.
Yes, I'm true, I don'tfeel much like eating after last night.
(15:18):
Then come with me to the laboratoryand I'll show you the second surprise that
Professor Clarke had in store for you. Ah, here we are. Now.
(15:41):
What I am going to show youis in this box. Not not
another robot, Yes, a secondmechanical man the Professor built a few months
ago. This one, though,was a failure. You mean it wouldn't
work? It worked too well?Why don't follow you? It was too
intelligent. Professor Clarke called it Beta, and Beta's brain power was greater than
(16:03):
that of any human scientist who everlived. But Beta was insane. Could
heaven? He represented, however,a tremendous technical advance. Look, it
looks exactly like a human being.Yes, Professor Clarke used me for a
(16:25):
model when he built Beta. Anexcellent likeness. Touched the face, doctor,
all right. It feels smooth andrubbery with a hard surface. Underneath
the surface is a new plastic ProfessorClarke developed with which he could imitate exactly
the appearance of human skin. Underneathis an aluminum body on which the plastic
(16:47):
was baked. I see Beta's hair, eyes, and teeth are all artificial
too. But he walked and talkedand acted so much like a human being
that no man alive would have guessedhis secret. Ah, you would have
fooled me completely. Did you sayhe was insane from the human viewpoint,
Yes, he considered himself superior tothe human race with his enormous brain power.
(17:11):
He intended to make himself ruler ofthe world. Boy joke, not
in the least. That was whyProfessor Clark destroyed him just in time.
He had made plans to take overthis laboratory and construct dozens of mechanical men
like himself, and then with theirhelp, he was going to enslave all
mankind. But if that could happenonce, it might happen again. I
(17:33):
don't believe we should continue Professor Clark'swork. After all, there's no danger
now, doctor. You see,Beta also had a brain which contained tissues
taken from that of a condemned murderer. But we will select the brain tissues
we use from the highest types thatare available. In any case, we
must proceed, but the utmost caution, of course, Peter, this means
(17:56):
someone's come into the house. It'sout her he's come back, Helper,
We made into what you want.No I can control him. Alpha.
Alpha come here, aluck, comeAlpha. You killed Professor Clark. Why
did you do it? Professor saidhe would destroy Alpha, and you killed
(18:21):
him because of that. Alpha notwant to be destroyed. But you you're
just a machine. What difference doesit make to you? Alpha is a
machine that lives. Alpha stronger thanyou, Alpha better than you? Alphabe
(18:42):
quiet. We want to know whereyou've been. Did anyone see you?
Two men saw Alpha? What doyou mean? Two men driving automobiles saw
him? And what did they do? They tried hit Alpha with automobile and
(19:03):
then what happened. I'll stop automobile. I'l FA killed one man killed him.
Other man ran into wood. Alphanot find him. I'l FA come
back. We can't keep this asecret no matter what happens. We must
(19:25):
notify the authorities at once. Wait, let me think we can't the bell?
Someone at the door. I'll seewho it is. You stay here,
But what about Alpha. I'll switchoff his batteries then he can't move.
Yeah, now I'll see who's atthe door. And now to continue
(21:23):
the story, Beware of tomorrow asit is written in the sealed book.
Doctor Dale waited tensely as Barton wentto answer the doorbell. He heard the
door open and recognize the excited voiceof Sheriff Ramsey speaking. Then a moment
later, Barton came back into thelaboratory, followed by the Sheriff, who
(21:47):
held a revolver in his hand.But Sheriff, if you'd only let me
explain, never mind, mad,You're come with me both here. The
professor too worriedy Professor Clark is dead, Sheriff dead. He was killed last
night when an experiment he was engageddidn't went wrong. An experimenterh I suppose
it was an experiment that crushed thelife out of Jed Thompson an hour ago
down the road and scared bred Jenny'sabd. All he can do is jabber
(22:08):
about monstrees. It's true. Thething that killed both the Professor and Thompson
is an experiment standing there behind you, behind me, go yeh man made
out of machinery. It don't bealarmed, Sheriff. It's perfectly harmless.
Now. It is a machine manwhich Professor Clark built. Unfortunately it got
out of control. I don't believeit. I don't blame you, Sheriff,
(22:30):
but that's the truth. I thinkI can convince you. What are
you doing? Sancel or shoot?I'm simply going to switch Alpha there now
he can move and speak as wellas you were me that thing talk.
You're lying. You're up to something. Alpha. Will you tell the sheriff
that it was you who killed misterThompson all for killed man man tried hit
(22:56):
Alpha with car? Are sure sothat's what the professor was doing all this
time building that thing? Now,Sheriff, surely you realize that we are
not murdered. Oh, I mean, but you're coming to jail just the
(23:17):
same. You're partly responsible anyhow,But Sheriff, anyway, it's for your
own protection. There's a mob bythe way out here, and they're gonna
burn this place down. I've gotto put you in jail for your own
safety. That mob's ready to lynchyou right now. Burn the place down.
That's what I said. Turn thatmachine thing off and come along.
We ain't got much time. No. All this equipment, machinery, the
(23:38):
professor's notes, they must not bedestroyed. We must stop them, yes,
Sheriff. The loss of science nevermind science. They got your own
skins to worry about. That mobmeans business, So let's get started.
I'm afraid we can't do that,Sheriff, I've got a sick you to
here, says different. We haveno choice, min Oh, yes we
had Alpha take the gun away fromthis man. Oh for world, do
(24:06):
what are you doing? Stop him? You stop him around? No?
No, stop him too late?Doctor Dale crushed him. Yes, doctor
(24:29):
Dale, the sheriff is dead.Now you are a murderer in a good
cause. The life of one man, or of a dozen men, cannot
stand in my way. You don'texpect me to keep simon about this?
Do you? I think you will? Alpha Alpha? He doesn't answer.
His batteries have gone dead. Thelast burst of energy must have drained them
(24:49):
dry. But it makes no difference. I think it does a big difference.
There. See this suref Prameses revolver, the three bullets still in it.
Put your hands up. I mustexplain something to you. Doctor.
You can talk, but if youmove I shall shoot. I only want
to say that nothing is going tointerfere with my plan to build more the
(25:11):
improved form of robots that Professor Clarkperfected before his death, robots who looked
and act so much like men noone can detect them. They'll never be
built. I intend to destroy allof Professor Clark's notes. They will be
built by me. I shall buildten, a hundred, a thousand.
Then I shall lead them, withtheir superior intelligence, to the mastery of
(25:34):
the world. You're mad, ofcourse I should have guessed it. Oh,
Doctor, that's not the answer.I shall tell you the truth,
and then you must die. Standstill, Rottis you remember last night when the
Professor said he had another surprise foryou, an even greater surprise than Alpha.
(25:56):
Yes, that surprise, Doctor wasBeta, the second robot, so
perfect it looked like a man,but so intelligent that human beings were his
children in comparison. But Beta wasdestroyed, O Doctor, Beta was not
destroyed, But you must be destroyed. Stand back, Stand back, I
(26:17):
say, all right, then Ishall choose. And now, Doctor,
your bullets are gone. Who whonot even hurt? Bullets cannot harm me.
That's what I'm trying to tell you. Beta, the second robot,
was not destroyed. But I sawwhat you saw was only an initial attempt
(26:38):
that failed. The real Beta stillexists. You see, doctor, I
am beta you yes, I too, am what you would call a mechanical
man. And now you must dieaway from me, stay away, And
(27:10):
so ends the tale Beware of Tomorrowas it is written in the Sealed Book.
Shortly after doctor Tale's murder, afire swept through the old mansion,
learning it to the ground till thisday the ruins are avoided by the natives,
(27:30):
or cursed is the ground where evilhas dwelt. And now, Keeper
(28:42):
of the Book, before you closethe Great Book, show us the tale
we tell next time. This one, ah, yes, the story of
a man who escaped punishment for amurder he committed, only to find the
justice has a strange way of workingitself out. The tale is titled Murder
(29:07):
Must be Paid For. Be sureto be with us again next time when
(29:29):
the sound of the Great Gong haraldsanother strange and exciting tale from the Seal
Book. The Sealed Book, writtenby Bob Arthur and David Cogan, is
produced and directed by Jock MacGregor.
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