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December 31, 2023 23 mins
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.
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Episode Transcript

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(00:10):
I'm Rod Sterling. You're listening tothe Zero Hour West your eyes exercise your
imagination today. Sue Jono's portrait ofan artist in trouble is that on Campus,

(00:42):
starring Peter Lucas in the Mutual BroadcastingSystem presentation The Zero Hour brought to
you by the Ford Motor Company andLazyboy Recliners. Also by State Farm Insurance,

(01:03):
International Harvester and Quaker State Motorcoil.This is the Zero Hour on Mutual
Radio. This is Hugh Downs witha Ford Car Buyers Report. Car buyers
today are giving serious thought to thereal cost of car ownership, not only

(01:25):
purchase price, but operating economy andtrade in value. What about operating economy
well considered gas mileage? Lots ofFord LTD owners have discovered that adjusting how
they drive results in surprisingly good gasmileage, And consider maintenance. The estimated
average cost for fifty thousand miles ofNorth's the seventy three LTD, can be

(01:46):
as much as one hundred and eightytwo dollars less in scheduled maintenance compared to
its nearest sales competitor LTD. Maintenanceschedules specifies fewer spark plug changes. Fuel
filter changes and chassis loops for moresavings. The nineteen seventy four Ltd is
the best selling car in its pricedclass, evidence that for many it's the

(02:06):
best solution to owning a full sizedcar, the well made ford. The
closer you look, the better welook. Have you ever looked carefully at
a painting? Within the frame,beyond the image, beneath the paint itself?
What you see as the artist,his soul buried before you, his

(02:27):
secrets exposed today a portraits and soundwe call it death on canvas. Picture
this a driving rain pelting the sidewalkalong Gallery Road, West, Tarllywood,
California. A lone man walking inthe night. I'm sorry, so admission

(02:49):
is by invitation only. I'm anold friend of John Dugget. We used
to share a studio. He probablyset me an invitation that I've moved.
Well, he must be here,ask him. I named Zeno, Gary
Zeno. Admission is a man?How out of venace beach? Zeno?
Eh, Johnny, you really hitthe big time man cocktail party. Our

(03:12):
critics one of the whole ball works. It's been a long time coming now,
well, it's been a long timesince we set up beaesels on the
boardwalk and through portraits of the tourist. Hey, you're still not doing that,
are you? But you know I'mstill screaming t shirts and teaching on
the side. Or is it theother way around? I know what you
mean. Looks like your styles changedsomewhat screaming news. Hey, is that

(03:34):
Marianne and that painting? Yes?Well, how is she and the baby?
Linda? We're divorced? Oops?Sorry, no, no, that's
cool. We had it falling outcheated, actually, I mean a nervous
breakdown. Wow. You know Ialmost went off the deep end too after
she did, but wella shrink talkedme out of it. You know,
well you both always were a littlebit high strung? Are you running down?

(03:57):
She? Linda? Linda, lookto the dark glasses and the beard
is an old friend, Gary Zino. Where's Christine? Honey? I want
ea her to meet her? Anyway? She went outside for some are it
is awful smoking in here? Goget her way, honey. Huh hookey,
nice meeting Mistina. Likewise, who'sChristine my wife? Hey, I've

(04:18):
been married for two years. She'sgot a woman on the painting. Very
nice. Oh, I'd have usedmore purple highlights and spots. But I
guess that's why I can't make aliving painting. Mm hmm. Hey,
you're gonna love Christine's you know,marvelous girl. She excuse me for a
minute. I got to go circulara little bit. Find me. Glee

(04:38):
is coming through. Hey, Ithink I can get a glass of that
before it's gone. Help yourself,get out for you father, father,
Flinda? What is it? What'swrong? Where's my father here? Linda?
What's the matter? Where's Christine?She's out in the car. She

(05:00):
did I don't worry, Johnny.I'll see that Lenny gets home. She
lives with her mother, you know, mary Anne. I thought Mary Anne's
mother lives there too, missus Stone, you know, I think I met
her? What hefty kind of mean? Who met her? All right?
Hey, look this question may takea while. Where can I reach you?

(05:20):
Well, I'm living in my carat a moment. Maybe it'd be
better if you'd give me your number. All right, here's the number,
here's the address. Thanks. Doyou have any idea who might have done
it? Frankly, I've got agood idea who my agent or ex agent
Fitzamanuel. I fired him last week, the crook. What do you mean?

(05:42):
Oh? He was making more moneythan I was. And Christine caught
him in it. He was.It was right there in the ledger,
plain as day. What's out you'rewriting? Isn't it not much? Steam?
Want to hear it? Sure,Grandma Stone says, I have the
makings of a real poet. Goahead, I'm listening. It's called Visions

(06:06):
of Marianne number four. Behold ashroud above me, descending darkly through night
sky. Raise her fingernails of doomrained down. I bowed to their back,
and call electric fields of heaven wail, and clouds bleed forever I thought

(06:29):
I have so far, that's verygood, thank you. Visions of mary
Anne number four are the first three, so uh gloomy. All my poetry
deals with death. Mary Anne,your mother. Yes, I'm like a
translator in a way. I'm notsure she understands what I write. Don't
you ever ask her? I guessyou don't know my mother. Well I

(06:51):
did, But that's been a longtime ago. That must have been before
she comes sick. Must have beenthat was fine years ago. She's been
this way ever since, this way. When she got out of hospital.
My mother came to live with Grandma'sstone and me I was so happy to
see her. She looked strange.She didn't cry or anything like that,

(07:17):
not out loud anyway, but therewas a tear like inside of her eye.
She didn't say anything at all.She speaks little even now, and
she's never left the house. MisterZeno to the rest of the world,

(07:38):
My mother died five years old.Hi, this is Jim Bagger's with news
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(08:01):
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(08:22):
You're in a neurosity farms. Ratesare very very competitive. The combination
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(08:43):
business woman, and I'd like totell you a little bit about my unsuccessful
business. I was the co founderof this woman's book club. But we
ran into a little trouble. Wehad all kinds of problems. So I
called SCORE, that's the service coreof retired executives, the retired executives law
businesses. I went over and discoveredand see it was in deep trouble.

(09:03):
I made several simple business suggestions.I also strongly recommended the club seeking corporation
with a well established women's magazine untilhis membership increased sufficiently. Unfortunately, one
of my associates really didn't like theidea of a man giving us an advice,
so she wrote herself a check withthe remainder of what we had left
in the treasury and took off.Mister Kraft came back to help again.
A man who knows how to solveproblems likes to keep solving it. Volunteer

(09:26):
for score score is one part ofaction. Action is doing something. Thank

(09:50):
you for bringing me home, misterDeane, would you like to come in?
Thanks? I would, Sinda,you're fooking Wick. You shouldn't take
it. Who are you? Thisis mister Zeno. Grandma, he brought
me home. Where's your father?He had some business missus Stone. I'll
explain. May I come in verywell? Linda, get out of those

(10:11):
wet clothes, immediately get Grandma,wipe your feet on the mat and hang
up your wet coat on the rack. When you've done that, come into
the park. Yeah, explain yourpresence, mister Zino. Hasn't we met
before? We actually we have.I knew your daughter when we were in
school. Oh, you were theone who used to get drunk and throw

(10:35):
beer bottles out of the window.I remember you well, that was a
long time ago. I haven't seenJohn or Marianne in years. I read
about John's opening, so I showedup at the gallery tonight. You must
have met Christine then, No,I didn't. Grandma? Did you hear
what happened tonight? Mister Zino can'tseem to get to the point. Somebody
killed Christine straangle her Christine is dead. Mother. Oh, Marianne, Oh,

(11:03):
you shouldn't be up at the timeof my dear go back to your
room. See do you know it'sall right? Mother? Now you've et
cetera, kers to a room andyet Missus Stone, I'm not here to
upset things. I just wanted totell you what happened, and not to

(11:24):
be frightened if the police come andask questions. Your granddaughter found Christine.
The police are talking to John nowthey don't know who did it. No,
not yet. I hope they findhim soon. Not safe to walk
the streets anymore. Well, I'dbetter be going, mister, don't wait.

(11:45):
I want you to have my poems, the carbon copies. I still
have the original. Thank you.You'll come back, won't you. Sure
good? I'll finish Visions of Mariannenumber four and give you a copy and
I'll look forward to that. Goodnight, Missus Stone, Good night,
Linda, good night. Oh.I haven't talk it to the police.

(12:16):
I don't see what business dis isof yours. John Duggan's a friend of
mine. Mister Emmanuel, you werehis agent. What happened between John and
he does not consent on you?Oh? Sure it does John owes me
money? And from what I understand, you may have it. You are
a liar. Well, you're acrook. Look I have a pain to
catch busy. Oh you are acute father. Oh I'm a real doll.

(12:39):
Now, Look, agent, Iwas with John last night at the
station. I call him at homethis morning and there's no answer. Somebody's
wife has strangled of death. Theguy doesn't just disappear overnight. Maybe he's
in mourning. Why don't you goback to your finger, get painting,
leave the detective, stop to thepolice. Yeah, well, thanks for
your time, Don mansion, andI'm sorry I did. Hello, Hylenda,

(13:07):
is your grandmother at home? Hi, Mistersino, she went to the
market. You you haven't heard fromyour father, have you? No?
Did you read about it in thepaper? Read about what a murder weapon?
It's not a weapon. Really,Christine was strangled with a nylon stocking.
Isn't that weird? Yeah, Linda, if your father calls, tell

(13:30):
him I'd like to talk to him. Would you do that for me?
Sure? What are you coming by? I'll be done with the poem pretty
soon we can talk. Well,I'll let you know you'd be good now
okay, bye bye bye, OhJohnny, Johnny, Oh see, no,

(14:01):
I thought you of the cops.Come in hurry. What are you
doing? Wan't you answer your phone? I've been calling you all day.
Listen, I know what you're thinking. I mean, you're packing in all
this. But I didn't do it. Somebody's framing me. But good,
Well what are you talking about?Hey, you don't know about Fitz Emanuel.
Well, I saw him early thismorning. My car broke down.
I've been walking in the rain forthe past two hours. What about Emmanuel?

(14:24):
Oh boy, well, I don'tknow the details, but well,
I've got to get rid of theseletters. Help burn me. For sure.
Fritz Emmanuel's dead. Somebody strangled them. Here, honey, this is
for you. Oh George, youhad a nice surprise. What is it.

(14:46):
It's a tire gauge. Oh it'sbeautiful. Yeah, it's a tire
gauge. Well you check your tirepressure? Well helps you get better mileage?
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(15:09):
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(15:35):
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right. Good morning, Personnel department. Just mean to please, I'll put
you're on hold or here's your application. It's just would you please have a
seat? Valley The run on theend of just locks No, I say,

(15:56):
And he's ruthy. I hope theyhire him. He's really gorgeous.
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(16:19):
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(16:41):
Street, New York, Do York. I see he hasn't been here for
quite a while. He lets mestay here when I need a place to

(17:03):
work. Nice guy for an alcoholic. Hey, look, you know I
can't ask you to do this forme. Let me see those papers you
want to get rid of. Trustme, Johnny Dougan. While you're at
home painting naked ladies, guess whichmodel is posing for a certain agent.
Is it really true that you're thelast to know it's unsigned? They're all

(17:26):
like that, Well, who doesthis refer to your wife? And Emmanuel?
Well, apparently so is it true? No? No, I don't
think it is. I mean,Christine denied it, and so did he.
I confront of them both with it. But that's the real reason I
fired Emmanuel. Now I see whatyou mean about those letters being incriminated.
They give you a motive for bothmurders. It's a pretty good frame.

(17:47):
Well what about the stocking that wasused to kill Christine? Just a plain
old nylon. Anyone can buy apair practically anywhere. It wasn't Christine.
She never wore them. Johnny burnedthose letters. But wait a minute,
let me have one. Where areyou going to chip away some old paint?

(18:12):
Hi, mistersino, guess what Ifinished? Visions of Marianne Number four?
The police were here. They cameafter you called. They were looking
for my father. What did youtell them? I told him the truth.
I don't know where he is,neither do I. Who is that
on the phone, Grandma? Oh? A wrong number? This is he?

(18:34):
Know? You're a witch? Well, it's raining outside. I'll get
you your copy of the poem,missus Stone. I wonder if I might
ask Marianne a few questions. She'sasleep right now. Perhaps I can answer
for her. All right? Doyou know if Marianne ever wears stockings?
Obviously she has no reason to.Does she own any I don't believe so,
do you. Oh really, misterTino, I'm back here. It

(18:57):
is Linda. So you were stalking? Are you suggesting that Linda might have
killed Christine? Somebody in this housedid? That's preposterous. That couldn't be,
Missus Zino. Well, I thinkit could as long as we're making
accusations. Sir, My guess isthat my ex son in law is the
culprit. Or maybe you're the oneyou're hiding him. Manto. Let me

(19:19):
show you something, missus Stone.This is visions of Marianne number four,
typed by your granddaughter on a machineI assume is in this house. Now,
notice how the very top up ofthe tall letters are chopped off.
Now take a look at this.See it's from the same type, right,

(19:40):
No, I don't think so we'lllook at it. Oh, mister
Cino, I should throw you outof my house. But speaking in such
a tone of voice, But thepolice are on their way, so I
won't grammar. You called the policewhy because they're looking for your father and
mister Zino knows where he is.He drove up in your father's car.
Were you really at the market thisafternoon? When I called, I didn't

(20:00):
know you called Linda, were youhere all day today? You don't have
to answer him? There all dayexcept for a few hours this morning.
I went to the library. Youleft your mother here alone? No grandma
was here with her. Weren't yourgrandma? No, mother, you're standing
up, help her, Linda,No, leave me alone. I'm perfectly

(20:21):
all right. No, I heardeverything. Zo is right. Somebody here
did kill Christine and Fritz Emmanuel too. I wrote those letters. Oh no
you didn't, mother, I did. I waited five years to get even
for what people did to me.Oh they're coming for me. Oh,

(20:44):
I'll put on some decent clores.Poor mary Anne. You know, I
don't know what else to say.My theory is those electric shock treatments she
was given five years ago had somethingto do with what happened to her mind.
Things got blown out of proportion.She felt betrayed by Christine for replacing
her, and by a Manuel forstealing your other love, your work.

(21:08):
Well, I'm just terribly sorry tohappen for everyone's sake, especially Linda's.
You know, well, you'll bothbe starting out again together anyway. Right
now seems like a good time,is you know, what crazy stuff do
you have planned? No stud it'swork. I'm teaching a night course at
City College in photosilk screening. Linda'salready said she'll come. Come on.

(21:29):
I came to your opening, allright. Promise me one thing, not
a word about purple highlights. There'sa little town in western Pennsylvania called Oil
City where they make peace of mindfor car owners. Quaker State motor oil.
They refine it from one fewer Pennsylvaniagreat crude oil, the world's choices.

(21:53):
Then they fortify it to protect yourengine against heat and rust and dirt
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(22:18):
apartments, living rooms, den's familyrooms. Lazy Boy is as beautiful as
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See your lazy boy dealer today.Hurry up, he's waiting. Run
down there, go, yes,indeed, I'm rod serving. Close your

(22:42):
eyes exercise your imagination and join usagain on our next presentation of Zero Hour.
Them on Canvas as an original radiodrama written by Sue Dona. Peter

(23:03):
Lucas was heard as Tom Crock.Featured in the cast were Charlie Dugdale,
Peggy Walton, Jerry Hausner, LoganRamsay, and Janet Waldo. Zero Hour,
created by Jam Polus, directed byDon Hills, is produced in Hollywood
for the Mutual Broadcasting System by RadioProductions Incorporated. Music is composed and conducted
by Stanley D. Hoffman Ochelle ShermanAssociate Producer. This has been a presentation

(23:26):
of the Mutual Broadcasting System.
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