 Suspense and the producer of radio's outstanding theater of thrills the master of mystery and adventure William M. Robeson It is relatively easy to tell a tale of terror and suspense Against an exotic faraway background India say with its decoits and focures or China with its death of a thousand exquisite tortures or Paris with its apache sleeping under the bridges Since few of us have ever been there the author who probably hasn't been there either can speak freely But it is an infinitely more difficult task to take the everyday environment with which we are all familiar and tell against it a Tale of terror that could happen to any one of us Such a task has been brilliantly accomplished by Arthur Zagurus in the story of suspense. You were about to hear listen Listen then a skip home. I have stars in Subway stop which begins in exactly one minute. What are some of the symbols for heroism? One outstanding example is a cross of bronze with the design of a four-bladed propeller superimposed in the background is a chased square This is the distinguished flying cross Authorized by active Congress in July 1926 and the only identical metal Awarded under similar conditions by both the army and Navy departments This coveted decoration is suspended from a plain straight link attached to a blue ribbon with vertical white stripes on each side and A narrow center stripe of red bordered with white It is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight Among the famous men receiving this outstanding symbol have been Captain Charles a Lindbergh and Admiral Richard E bird The distinguished flying cross is a proud award Bestowed by a grateful nation on those dedicated men and women who serve gallantly and with extra measure It is a goal worth attaining and a prize worth cherishing and now Subway stop starring skip home iron a tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense the party if you could call it that was strictly stagged just a bunch of guys I'd gone to college with everybody in old clothes wearing a weekend stubble sort of a bull session with booze And even though we all had to go to work the next morning. It was past three o'clock when we broke up Mike and John walked me down the empty street to the subway station The city strange in the middle of the night Strange and unreal It seemed to belong to the tipsy three of us It's streets empty save for a couple of characters standing at the corner to stop lights blinking and automated precision Controlling the traffic that wasn't there Hold it hold it you guys Hey, what's happened to the elevated? It's missing somebody's stolen it. Yeah Yeah All right, who stole the owl? Come on owner up. Who stole it. Hey, you guys here. The hell's going on the ground Hey, how do I get my train? You do yeah, where right here next to this lamppost Besides honey, hey, what you you're pushing fat so sorry. I didn't mean to push you pimples Wise guy, huh? Tell him Guba. I'll tell him din. You better get on your way, Sonny before I turn your end Is the curfew against you? Teenager's been out this late you boys better go on home. Who asked you pops? Yeah, you punk's better blow Will you keep out of this banana nose? Get up get up. I can drop you again Take take it easy Donald. See the little boys are tired of playing with the big boys. You're gonna take that Google shut up, Den Let's go kids They like that tough, but they're not really You know, I was the same way. Well, it makes you think you've changed Right, I guess I haven't changed. I'm just an older teenager. That's all Oh, hey look what's heading right for us. Oh Tonight ain't our night. Hey, you fellas care to help a guy out you hit the wrong guy Yeah, we're flat too. We're gonna ask you for a dime, please go on beat it Please you heard my father's Graham anything that help a nickel dime how much wine can you buy for a dime? I'm gonna spend it on wine honest. I'm off it take off. I'll stop taking on a mic here Me or maybe I got some change See I got 62 cents left after that last poker hand I need 15 cents for the subway and 15 for the bus That leaves 32 cents. Oh 32 cents help you. Thanks, mr. Thanks And God bless you One of those winos hits every second in this neighborhood in neighborhoods change and it's going downhill Is this where I catch my train? Yeah Downstairs, okay. I better take off. You come over my place on Tuesday, right? Sure Johnny Oh, listen, thanks for the party. I had a great time. Okay, we'll see you Hey, you stairs keep still All the subways coming I better hurry Let me have a token. How many one just a second. I can't find my money. I told you there, please Here you are. Hey, hold it. Hey Oh Nuts Hey lady, thanks a lot. Yeah, welcome Maybe it was a stale smell of the subway for the excitement of the near fight Maybe it was all I'd had to drink The men's room was located at the dimly lit far into the platform. I ran to it Afterwards, I felt better. I was washing the bad taste out of my mouth when the door opened I turned and there were the two teenagers Hold it pops. Hey get away from the door. Just step back pops. You ain't going nowhere Well, what do you want? Are you listening to the little man, Den? I'm listening. Don't sound so tough, does he? He ain't got the big boys around and he needs the big boys Don't you pops? He needs them because he's a small one ain't you little pops? Yeah Little pops he's a small one real small like is not I could break him up myself Easy like is not you could too on Den easy look. I'm not asking for trouble But a few guys want it you're gonna give me a hard time pops get him goop. I'll get him I've been choked up pops This pops right here under your eyeball. That's right. That's a nice use it goop Cut him up a little look at him, Den. Oh pops is a sweating and sweating. Go man. Go. Yeah, man. Yeah You hit me will you it is on Den? Cripes sake it is on yeah There there there now now Once upon a time pops there was this little boy and he Didn't like his pop. Oh, this pop spoke bad like An old goober didn't like that Come on get in no no no man. Don't use your feet that a kosher use your knee In a moment we continue with the second act of suspense Another visit with Joe and Daphne foresight Hey, honey, I'm home Daphne Drop dead. Oh, what's the matter honey? Don't you speak to me you you don't want Don one Daphne, I'm no Don one No, how about Espanol? Very funny ha ha ha. Well, it was no prize winner, but now there are you you you lethario I've often wondered what's a lethario? And I don't know but that's what the wives on TV always call their husbands I guess it applies. Do you want me to go out and come in again? As far as I'm concerned You can go for a long walk Preferably on a short pier Well, oh come on Daphne. What's wrong? You're a good friend Harry called and he spilled the beans which beans He said quote Tell Joe he was right about those blondes. They're great Unquote blondes. That's what he said Well, he didn't say blondes. He said bonds Savings bonds what sure I buy them on the payroll savings plan And I told Harry he ought to do it too Savings bonds have a guaranteed interest that pays back $4 for every three, which is a pretty good investment That's a pretty good story too. It's true. So help me. That's why Harry's so happy Savings bonds are great Well Maybe you're right You wouldn't really fool around with blondes. Would you you're too faithful and sweet Kind and fast-talking and now Starring skip home. I air act to love Subway stop It was quiet for a long time. I Knew I was lying on the floor of the men's room in the subway Couldn't remember why or how I got there Far off as if in a well I heard a voice Looky what we got here Mm-hmm. What's the matter son? Oh, what's wrong you? Too much. Oh, it's too bad. Let's just look for your wallet. I see we find out where you live son Hmm no money. No, that's not so good son. No here. Let's just turn you over Not pocket Cigarette like that Back oh you smoke too much son. I'll just keep these now. Let's see what's in the other pocket No, what's the message son ain't going to hurt you that let's see 15 cents Kind of disappointing you boy, but well that watch might make up for it. Let's see it Do you mind if I take it off here? Good. Thank you. Oh Here comes my train son, but before I leave a piece of advice for you don't drink it ain't good for you son help Time before I came to I Was awakened by the stench of the room cold stab of the floor. I Had to get up. I Had to get out of that room Somehow I pulled myself up and staggered to the door I opened it As I did I could feel sharp shooting pain cut across my abdomen. I Couldn't breathe Each breath was like a jab of cutting jab in the ribs. I Realized I was badly hurt. I should keep still I know if I stayed in that room I'd die Platform was empty completely empty. I leaned against the wall waiting for someone to help me I heard the subway train coming People would be getting off They'd help Slowly pulled myself toward the center of the platform Mr. Help me, huh? Mr. Please I ain't got any money. Go on beat it. Mr. Go on beat it before I call a cop. No No, what do you mean? No? No, don't grab me I'm hurt. Huh? Yeah, you better take care of yourself Look, I gotta go. Sorry, buddy. I gotta get home Supported myself against the cold wall. I made my way to the cashier's cage She couldn't see me because the windows were dusty and clouded with grime. I Tried to shout but I couldn't I tapped on the window. I Tapped for a long time before she noticed me. Huh? What do you want? Oh Please oh, it's you again. What are you bothering me for? Ah pick up your mumbling To drunk dancer. I look mister if you don't want nothing. Don't block the way Did you hear me get out of the way? Yes, ma'am. How many to please? Oh What's the matter with him drunk? Looks funny hanging over the turnstile like that how to call a cop, I guess Yeah, I fell down probably sure he looks hurt. I wouldn't go near him. I'm used to his kind You should see the place. I work in I'll bet Mister. Hey, you heard You don't sound good. Maybe you should call a cop. I don't want no trouble Long as he don't make trouble for me. I will make no trouble for him But don't you understand this guy's hurt bad nothing ever happens to those kind of guys. Oh Here comes my train. Maybe you should call a doctor lady. What's that bum? Don't be silly can't find any wallet no Identification. I told you just a bum. Well, you might call it doctor Help We all do brother. We all do no no you don't know side brother. I'm hurt Dying wages of sin is death brother the wages of sin is death Remember that brother Hey, mister. You better be it. You can't hang around here all night. You hear me. Give me two tokens. Yeah, go right through honey. Yeah We just missed it jam. We are always just missing trains. There'll be another one along in a minute What's he staring at? Oh him that bomb. Hey, what are you staring at? Oh, he's just a drunk, honey. Well, I don't like him staring Okay, buddy. You heard the lady Hey What's the matter? He's your carry in the mail. Yeah, he's looking at us, but he don't see us What watch it buddy watch it you're slipping. Let me help you Hey You're hurt aren't you? Honey, I'd better go get some help come on Jimmy. We don't want any trouble honey. This guy's hurt Hurt bad. I know that I just just can't leave him here. Look Jimmy. He's probably a crook or something him. Oh Come on be sensible. I am and I want you to be sensible You bother with him You're gonna have to bother with cops carts, maybe and the newspaper yours papers You think so sure Supposing that guy dies. It's sure to get my paper that you found in you and me I don't want my name in the paper. Do you? Oh But honey, he's hurt. Do you want your name in the paper? well No, I darling it wouldn't look too good. What do you supposing your wife read about it, huh? Now look Jim means a bomb. You're gonna throw everything away for a bomb. Oh I don't know. I'll train's coming. He'll be all right, but this guy come on Look buddy. I'm I'm sorry. He can't hear you I hate to leave him like what's the matter with you was he your brother something you don't even know the guy Don't buy trouble Jim Do you want to stand back Help Hell In a moment we continue with the third act of suspense We have together Ample capacity in freedom to defend freedom This is NATO the North Atlantic Treaty Organization The strategic land area covered by the North Atlantic Treaty is vast and is divided into three major commands in accord with geography and political factors European Atlantic Ocean and Channel commands Combined these cover a land and water mass stretching virtually from the North Pole to the Tropic of Cancer From the coastal waters of North America to those of Europe and Africa The United States of America is a part of NATO You should be aware of and alert to the programs and objectives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization And now Starring skip home. I air act three of subway stop I pushed through the gate made it to the stairs. I held on to the railing and pulled myself up one step to Three four steps Looked up at the street It was morning now and the sun was streaming into the subway The day was awakening people would be going to work. The sun was warm very warm I Sat there looking at the clouds sky Sun After a while I closed my eyes. I Could hear people coming down the steps. Oh brother. He's got a beauty Really find the money People of the city Leaving me to die. I Didn't mind any longer. I Should have cursed them shot it out, but I didn't I Couldn't I felt sorry for them And then I heard a slow shuffle of feet coming down the steps Coming toward me. I could smell the stench of old wine and beer. I Felt rough calloused hands rub across my cheek Finally, I heard a voice Remember me, mister You gave me money last night He was the only one who did what's the matter mister you heard Yes You stay there. I'm gonna call an ambulance You stay right there. I heard him move away And then after a few minutes he came back and sat beside me He lifted my head and cradled it in his arms. I knew that it was gonna be all right. I Wanted to thank him Don't try and talk mister. You don't have to see anything Thanks, you don't got to thank me. I got to thank you You gave me the money. I used your dime for the phone call Hey, you two get out of the way you bums are always cluttering up the steps mister my friend and me ain't bums He's sick and I'm helping him. Yeah, I ought to call a cop you mister You're the bum Suspense Mr. Skip home. I are starred in William and Robeson's production of subway stop by Arthur Zagoras Supporting mr. Homeyer and subway stop were Shirley Mitchell Virginia Greg Barney Phillips Bill Quinn Jota Santis Tommy Cook Jackie Kelk and Norm Alden listen Listen again next week when we return with zero hour Ray Bradbury's fearful tale of the day the children and Martians took over the earth Starring the amazing child star Evelyn Rudy another tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense This is the United States armed forces radio and television service