Come Light My Fire

The Zero Hour (aka Hollywood Radio Theater) was a 1973–74 American radio drama anthology series hosted by Rod Serling. With tales of mystery, adventure and suspense, the program was broadcast for two seasons. Some of the scripts were written by Serling.

The radio series debuted on September 3, 1973, in syndication, and was picked up by the Mutual Broadcasting System in December. The original format featured five-part dramas broadcast Monday through Friday with the story coming to a conclusion on Friday. Including commercials, each part was approximately 30 minutes long. Mutual affiliates were free to broadcast the series in any available time slot that they wished.

In 1974, still airing five days a week, the program changed to a full story in a single 30-minute installment with the same actor starring throughout the week in all five programs. That format was employed from late April 1974 to the end of the series in July 1974.

Episode Transcript

(00:10):
I'm Rod Sterling. You're listening tothe Zero Hour. Rest your eyes exercise
You're imaginager today Glenwald Taylor's Off FatStory People who play with matches and death

(00:36):
come Like by Fire, starring PeterLucas in the Mutual Broadcasting System presentation of
the Zero Hour, brought to youby the Ford Motor Company and Lazy Boy

(01:00):
Recliners. Also by State Farm Insurance, International Harvester and Quaker State Motor Oil.
This is the Zero Hour on MutualRadio. This is Hugh Downs with
another car buyer's report from Ford comparingthe total cost of ownership is the only

(01:23):
way to be sure you get yourmoney's worth when buying a new car,
and Ford says there are three importantconsiderations that make up the total cost of
ownership. Purchase price, operating economy, and trade in value. Don't overlook
that last one, trade in value. I'd like to give you some interesting
facts about trade in that are difficultfor the average consumer to come by,

(01:46):
like the fact that, based ona national average of NADA wholesale prices,
both the nineteen seventy three Torrino andthe nineteen seventy three Grand Tourno returned more
of their original purchase price than theirclosest sales competition. The facts speak for
themselves. A solid, well madecar will generally return more at trade.

(02:07):
In Ford says that's one of thereasons why Torino is the best selling car
in its class. The closer youlook, the better we look. At
one time, under common law,the woeful and malicious burning of another person's
house was considered to be a crime, as ainus is that of murder,

(02:30):
a felony punishable by death. Today'sstory is about both arson and murder.
It begins in a modestly impressive homeand a respectable middle class neighborhood where David
and Eleanor Scott have resided for thepast few years. But the man who
has successfully posed as a retired insuranceconsultant doesn't consult in the manner in which

(02:53):
his neighbors might anticipate. Listen,a man, we are expecting you,
mister Scott. Hello, mister porter. Well, I take it this is
a gentleman you're telephoned about. Yes, it's mister Gildin. Glad to know
you. Mister Gildfin. How doyou do I have a chair? Gentlemen,

(03:14):
missus Scott and you do. Well, let's get down to business.
Mister Porter tells me you have aproblem. May I ask what it is?
Well, I I think I'd ratherhave mister Porter explainers. Hell,
well, I'd be glad to see. Mister Gildan owns a tenement house on
the other side of town. Prettysoon the building will create big losses because

(03:36):
it needs new plumbing, wiring,through a replacement of dry roted timbers and
so on. Well. As aninsurance consultant, I'm interested in your coverage.
Do you have enough insurance to bein the market for a successful fire?
Yes, but I hesitated, forHeaven's sake. That's nothing to be
ashamed of. Yes, say misterGilpin, I told you these were okay.

(04:00):
That's nice of you to say thatthey guarantee results and the confidentiality.
Mister Gilben, We've been doing thisnearly all our life, and I might
add we're not pyromaniacs. We merelyset a fire and walk away. You
see, with us, it's aprofession. Well, that makes me feel
a little better about it. I'ma respectable businessman and nothing must go wrong

(04:21):
so that I become involved. Weprotect all our clients. Now, please
don't worry. Well, I guessthat about sums everything up. I presume
mister Porter told you about our fee. Yes, it's quite satisfactory. He
would we appreciate your business, misterGilben, Yes, miss, May I

(04:46):
help you? I think so?Are you ours an investigator, mister Atherton?
Yes, I heard on the radiothat you were in charge of investigating
that tamid fire in the north sideof town. You know something about him?
I'm not sure, but I thinkso. I lived in an apartment
in that building, shared with agirlfriend. We lost everything. Were you
in the building at the time ofthe fire, No, sir, I

(05:06):
was at work. But yesterday afternoonI was leaving for the factory and I
noticed something that I thought I shouldreport to you. What was that?
Well, there were two old people, a man and a woman dad in
the lower hall. I'd never seeneither of them before. Were they acting
suspicious? I didn't think so atthe time, but later I began to
wonder about what they were doing.What were they doing? Well, she

(05:28):
was on her knees under the staircase. I stopped to see what was wrong,
and she told me she'd lost herkey. Now, just as I
asked if I could help her lookfor it. She said she found it,
so I left. Anything else?Yeah, As I went out the
front door, I noticed a carparked of the curb. A man was
sitting at the wheel and the motorwas running. That could be a coincidence,
I know. But when I gotto the corner where I wait for

(05:51):
my bus, I happened to lookback and saw the old couple getting into
the car, and it took offkind of fast. About what time was
that? Three? Almost exactly?So I worked a four to midnight shift
of the factory, and I leavethe house every day at three. That
was another reason I thought maybe ittied in. The radio report said that

(06:11):
the fire broke out a little afterthree. Right. Can you describe the
people you saw yesterday? I didn'tget a good look at the old couple,
it was pretty dark in the hall. How about the driver of the
car. I got a pretty goodlook at him. Do you know who
owned the apartment? I heard hisname was Gilpin, but we always paid
our rent to mister Brown, themanager, and he and his wife lived
in the building too. I don'tknow where they've gone from. For fine,

(06:33):
anything else you think would be ofhelp, afraid not well, thank
you for contacting me your concern.This is very much appreciated. Well,
then, let me fill in thisreport on the description of that driver,
and I'll let you go. Okay, your name please, this will be

(06:53):
kept confidential. Carol Kent, twor's and two l's and Carol, and
believe me this can We'll investigate thisthorough. Arson investigator Abdent. Oh sure,

(07:13):
chief, Yeah. I showed thatCarol Kent the mugshots. I got
complete headquarters, and she made apositive identification of a guy named Porter.
He's the guy she saw sitting inthe car. YEP. As a matter
of fact, he's been mixed upin half a dozen arson cases. I
sent word out to having picked up. Yeah. Meantime, I dropped by
that guy Gilpin's office and laid missKin's story right on him. He was

(07:36):
scared, I can tell you,and I tipped off the insurance company.
Okachie, right, I'll stay onit, talk to you later. Well,
come right in, mister Gilpin.Thank you, it's mister gil Ellie.

(07:57):
Oh, what a question. Surprised, I know, missus Scott.
It's not pleasant. An investigator fromthe arsenal squad called on me. Are
they suspicious? Oh, Plenny,I don't understand the fire we set under
that rickety old staircase wouldn't have leftany evidence, and what remained of it
couldn't have been separated from the restof the ashes. No, No,
it wasn't your technique. Someone sawyou, I wondered. There was a

(08:18):
sort of nice young lady who wantedto help me find the key. I
told her I'd lost. Well,she didn't identify you two, but she
described Porter and there after him.Oh, now isn't that provoking? Provoking?
Is that your only reaction, thatthis could be the ruination of all
of us reporter talks. I don'tthink there's much chance of that, mister
Gilpin. Once Porter gets wind ofit, he'll be out of town before

(08:39):
you can wink an eye. Ohso that's why. That's why what mister
Gilpin, Well, it just struckme. I mean, that's probably why
I haven't been able to contact himsince this morning when he came to my
office and I paid him for thejob. Now just a second, mister
Gilben, you paid mister Porter.Yes, our share too. Oh that's

(09:01):
most distressing. That was the agreement. But if he skips town. That
means he's going to cut out withour share. Oh I'm afraid that's no
concern of mine. Oh we understandthat, mister Gilpin. It's just that
this is a little unexpected. MisterGilpin, if you'll excuse us, I
think we'd better call on mister Porter. Well, would it help if I
went with you? I don't thinkso. He has an apartment he uses

(09:24):
for a sort of hide away,and I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate how letting
anyone else know about it. Well, I hope you settle everything satisfactorily.
Oh we will, mister Gilpin.We will. Hi, this is Jim
Becketts with a special announcement about anexciting lazy boy chair sale taking place at

(09:48):
You're Lazy Boy Dealers. Now,Lazy Boy reclining shares of your choice are
available unheard of savings for a limitedtime only. Treat yourself and your family
to a lifetime of comfort and beauty. As you do, you'll wonder how
you ever relax without one in America'scomfort paper at a lazy boy chair.
Now, see you're a lazy boydealer today, you run in there.

(10:09):
He'll be glad to see you asyou will. We're number one. We're
the largest company, and you don'tget to be the largest company unless you're
doing a extra for people. Statefarm agent Bill Rich talks about car insurance
value. You know that if aconsumer field State Farmers number one, it's
got to be on two things,service and price. We only got there

(10:31):
because we're as competitive as anyone inbecause we're there to serve. It's sure.

(10:52):
But they say I joined that landis all man. It's a proud
made to say, takes Donna Americaagain my savings f So all man,

(11:31):
it's a proud made to say,takest mean America by again best saving.

(11:54):
Yes, who is Dave Scott?What are you doing here? Just thought
we pay you a call? Misterporter? Uh maybe come in for well
yeah, yeah, yes, good. Nice little place you got here.

(12:16):
Oh I see you're packing some luggagegoing somewhere. I told mister Gilpin you
take it on the lamb as soonas you found out on What about the
police and the arson investigators looking foryou? How do you know about that?
Mister Gilpin told us, what didyou come here for? Well,
we were afraid that in the excitementof trying to get away. You might
overlook us. What do you meanwe thought you might forget to pay us

(12:39):
me? You get paid by evenmister Gilben. He's told us he's already
paid. Oh you're nuts. Gilben'strying to watch on the deal and not
pay any of us. Mister porter, I do believe you're attempting to be
dishonest. Look, I'm hot andI gotta get out of town. Then
give us our money and you canbe on your way. Oh diuics you
are fogies on a figure. You'relucky. You're one spot more than that

(13:00):
tenneament building yesterday. Get away withyour skin should be enough of the payoff
for you. We took the samechance you did, and we expect to
be paid for it. What doyou want me to do? Get picked
up? That's what's going to happenif you don't let me get gone,
And if I do get picked upon the coff you stole me here out
O whistle on you. Oh my, I had no idea you could be
so unpleasant. Mister get a lotmore unpleasant if you toolcoos don't get out

(13:24):
of my way? What what's thegood for? We've been very patient mister
Porter. But patience is obviously gettingus no better. We have now arrived
at the moment of truth. Gillme that gun you hold. I'm afraid

(13:48):
I've killed him, Eli, Ireally didn't want to. Well, now,
David, I'll go through his luggageand you search his pockets. It
would be a shame not to getour money after going to all this.
Yes's Matthews, Arson, investigator offortonto see mister Gilban. Oh, oh,

(14:09):
yes, I have him come inplease. I'm sorry to bother you
again. I have to have anothertalk with you about the fire that destroyed
your property. Well, I thoughtI covered all that with the Manterield Department,
who was here in my office thismorning. Frankly, I'm not satisfied

(14:30):
with the report he brought back fromthat meeting. Not what do you mean?
I mean that we are convinced Arsonwas involved. Have you spoken to
the insurance company? I have.Didn't they tell you they found no evidence
of Marshon? Yes, but Iwanted to talk with you anyway. Another
element has entered the case. Murder. Murder, the murder of a man

(14:50):
named Porter, the man our deputyquestioned you about this morning, the man
who was seen in the car outsideyour building, but I told him I'd
never I've heard of the man.I don't believe you. We made an
extensive investigation of your business operations,mister Gilton home. Yes, it uncovered
some very interesting things. Well whatshort of facts? Facts concerning the dilapidated

(15:11):
condition of some of your buildings.Really, the one on Twelfth Street in
particular, I'll sue you. It'svery evidence you could have profited nicely from
a fire, which would have renderedthe structure one hundred percent Unsel, this
is a preposterous accusation. I haven'taccused you yet, but the only person
we had under surveillance who could havelinked you to this job was Porter,

(15:33):
and he's conveniently dead. You're ina bad spot, mister Gilton, very
bad. There's something going on.It's you a local international dealer. Right
now, would you buy the otherpickup from international? You'll get four?
Hold it? Hold it? What'sthis? The other pickup from international?
What's that? Well, there aretwo pickups out there that I'll sell everybody
else. You know who they are? Go ahead, Well, we're the

(15:54):
other pickup, the one with awider track, lower center of gravity,
the one with great handling ability,the other pickup from International. Okay,
all right, right now? ShouldI go ahead? Until July twentieth,
you get four firestone gas saving steelbelvet radial tires. When you buy a
new International pickup at participating dealer theother pickup, right, go ahead.

(16:14):
You get these gas saving radios atno extra cost on most models, and
they're worth two hundred and ninety dollarssuggested retail pride no extra cost, Right,
go ahead, I know, andyou get a free tire gauge just
for coming in and correctly inflated tireshelp you get better mileage. So stop
at your local inter Okay national debt. Are you telling me that all I
have to do is stop at mylocal International dealer and he'll give me a

(16:36):
tire gauge free. There's nothing tobuy. That's right, I'll buy that.
Go ahead, go ahead. TheVeterans Administration helps people in little ways.
A veteran, let's say he's tryingto get him the pot he's following
go to school and with he addedhe's not getting any money, but he's
entiled. Well, what's wrong withwriting a letter saying that I'm in the

(16:59):
law. This man is entitled toreceive two hundred and twenty dollars a Monthey
for attending school on a full timebasis. Believe it or not, he
can take that letter with the littlejob, take it to the real estate
people. And because he has anadditional income of two hundred and twenty dollars,
although he's receiving it, it makeshis chances of getting that apartment much

(17:22):
better. And this is what Imean about the little thing going beyond the
duty. Every once in a walk, just go a little bit out of
your way to help someone. That'smy parloxity to me. These are little
things, but big things to thatperson. Very a big thing to that
person. At the a we trya little harder to help. Yes,

(17:45):
cheek, we're making some digress.Well bring you up to date. I'm
convinced, Skelping Skilding. I wentto his office and told him that murder
had now been added to the crimeof arsenal, and that we suspected the
tie in between Guilpin and the deadman, and he's obviously they worried.
I also spend nearly two hours withCarol Kent going through all the mud shots
of old people. I struck outcompletely there. We can't find that old

(18:08):
couple, Gilp and may get awaywith this thing. I have one wild
idea, Chief. It's a thousandand one shot, but it may work.
I'll let you know. Thanks solong. Hello, Sally don Atherton.

(18:30):
Didn't you tell me a while backthat you had a friend with the
Civic Repertory player theater director? Yep, that's the guy. Well, listen,
do me a favor in contact him. Ask him if he knows of
an elderly male and female couple whocould do a job for us and keep
their mouths shut. Sure they'll bepaid. Oh, they won't make the

(18:52):
kind of dough Richard and Liz make. But on the other hand, they
don't have to be sexy, justelderly. Good you get back to me.
H, thanks, Elly, MayI help you well, mister Gilpin,
I'm sorry he's out at the moment. What was it in regard to

(19:15):
will young lady? It's a personalmatter. Would you like to leave a
message? Well, actually, miss, it's both personal and business. We
rendered him a service, a veryconfidential service, and I'm sure he'd like
to talk with us about it.Would you like to leave your name we'd

(19:36):
rather not, would we dialing?Oh no, no, I don't think
it's necessary. Just still here.We called and that we're in a little
trouble. He'll know how to contactus. Well, it's a little unusual,
but I'll tell him, well,the service we rendered was a bit
unusual too. Believe me, Missmister Gilpin will understand it ain't it will

(20:02):
be on that way. It's shundayto Tule, Yes, cheef. I'm
in my car across the street fromGilpin's office building. I'm hoping for some
action that I've already been here foran hour. Although he went in,
he hasn't come out yet. Oh, here he comes. He's hailing a

(20:23):
cab when one's was pulling up.Now I'm going to tail him. He's
given the driver instructions. Now I'llbe in touch later. Clear, Oh,

(20:47):
mister Gilson to come night. Yes, what can we do for you?
First of all, why did youcome to the office. That could
lead to some pretty sticky business.Secondly, what kind of trouble do you
in trouble? Yes, you leftword of my secretary you were in some
kind of trouble. What are youtalking about? We've never been near your
office. Ever, don't try tohand me a snow job. My secretary
told me an alderly covered Excuse me, I'm a shot. I know I'm

(21:12):
going to see I'd like to see. Mister Gilph. You followed me here.
What is this? It's a track, that's what it is. I
was following because you were dumb enoughto come to my office, your fool.
I told you we never went nearyour office, and that's the truth.
You're both flying. No, misterGilpin, they're telling the truth.

(21:33):
I purposely chose the time when Iknew you'd be out to send another elderly
couple to your office. What Ifigured you'd lead me to the people who
set fire to your building. Youcan't get away with him trapp it.
Maybe by myself I couldn't, Butthere are two uniform men outside. This
house is covered, so I suggestyou and your friends come along peaceful.
You can't make this sticker, andI'm a respectful businessman. Don't look now,

(21:56):
mister Gilpin, but your respectability justwent up and smoke. Just when
you need it more than ever.You can find it more places than ever.
That's Quaker's State motor oil. Whydo you need it? More because
if you're using your car less,that engine just isn't getting the exercise it

(22:17):
needs. But Quaker State's Quality protectionis tailor made to handle deposits that build
up in an underworked engine. Nowthat you need it more, it's available
more places. Nice to know youkeep it hi. This is Jim Baker
the News about why Lazy Boy isAmerica's comfort favorite. It appeals to men

(22:40):
because of rugged construction and he mancomfort. Women love it because there are
beautiful styles that match any decor,and there's an amazing choice of hundreds of
colors and fabrics. A lazy boylets you recline to any position, even
full bed. Put a lazy boyin your living room and into your life.
See you're a lazy boy dealer today. He's waiting. Run down there

(23:03):
go indeed, I'm Rod Serling.Close your eyes, exercise your imagination and
joined us again on our next presentationof Zero Hour, Come Light My Fire

(23:23):
as an original radio drama adapted byGlenn Hall Taylor. Peter Lucas was heard
as Don Atherton featured in the castwhere Jack Edwards, Paula Winslow, Luke
Krugman, Jack Prussian, Katherine Rodyand ruth Anson. Zero Hour, created
by Jay and Colos, directed byDon Hills, is produced in Hollywood for
the Mutual Broadcasting System by Radio ProductionsIncorporated. The music is composed and conducted

(23:47):
by Stanley D. Hoffman. RochelleSherman Associate Producer. This has been a
presentation of the Mutual Broadcasting System.