 Yeah 59 WROW first on the dial and now another tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense Zero hour written for suspense by Ray Bradbury Only with love Discipline and luck can the helpless parents hope to lead the bewildered child toward the grown-up world Where things are not always what they seem But what if the parents were to be denied that opportunity? What if the innocent little children were to take over the world at five o'clock some quiet summer afternoon? Well, here's the answer as we bring you Ray Bradbury's chilling story of childhood zero hour On a game such excitement the children hadn't known in their whole lives Meek talked earnestly to someone near the rose bush No one was there Shouting laughing at each other such fun such tremendous joy it was all means mother could do to get her Griming excited daughter in for lunch Goodness meek. I've never heard such a racket out in the garden. What were you and Anna up to? Exciting game ever just ever. Oh, what's the name of the game? Invasion invasion. Well invasion will have to wait until you've eaten your lunch properly now slow down young lady Do you hear can't feels waiting for me drill? Is he a new boy in the neighborhood dear he's new all right, I don't think I've seen him which one is drill. Oh He's just around I've got to go now mom. It's gonna have the invasion you finish your milk miss Who's invading what? Martians are invading the earth. Oh, I see And drills the Martian. I think so. He's had a very hard time getting you Oh, I should imagine they couldn't figure a way to attack earth how to get in or something drill says they have to do it by surprise Even get help from your enemy. Ah Fifth column. Yes, and all this time they haven't been able to figure out how to attack Until one day they thought of children. Oh, that was bright of them And they thought of how grown-ups are so busy. They never look under rose bushes or lawns Is that where drill is now under the rose bush? Yes with all his friends, too This is something about kids with under 11 with imagination. It's real funny to hear drill talk. It must be Well, you can run along now so you can have your invasion before dark Baths tonight school tomorrow, you know drill says I won't have to take any more bath No, he does to see and we can stay up till 10 o'clock. Well, your friend. Mr. Drill a better mind is peas and queues or I'm gonna call up his mother and Drills says you're dangerous because you don't believe in Martians Just like you think drill's a kid. Well, he's not and they're gonna let us run the world when they get in All of us kids now might even be queen. Well, that's nice dear now run along Mom what is it dear mom when the invasion comes? You and daddy Well, thanks. Thanks a lot. How nice are you in town? No, I'm up home and playing field I was thinking of you thought I'd call it's long distance though. You shouldn't oh, I can afford three minutes Fine and bill just fine. What about me? Oh wonderful noisier than ever. She's got a new game now It's taken the place of hopscotch invasion. Oh, is she playing that too? Yes, are yours same thing Some kind of geometric jacks. I suppose All the kids there age are playing it up here. Timmy's got a crush on some guy named Drill, I think that's what it is. It must be a new password Mink likes him too. I didn't know what got to your part of the world word of mouth. I suppose Money is saying I got a letter from my sister in Boston. She says her kids are playing it too It's sweeping the country. Well, I wonder where they learned it. Don't ask me All I know is what Timmy told me at lunch Zero hours at five o'clock when five o'clock today. That's when the invasion is going to be And they talk a little more schoolgirl friends casual woman talk, but Mrs. Morris was thoughtful She was thinking of other things of adults of little children with imagination Rose perfume and their unseen friend named drill I will She'd forgotten about being a child and she wondered about me and all the kids everywhere who at that moment were playing invasion In just a moment we will return for the second act of Suspense Meet star Stuart Irwin Nothing's worse for an actor than a nasty cold to feel better quickly I take wonderful four-way cold tablets the fast way to relieve cold distress Right tests of all the leading cold tablets proved four-way fastest acting Four-way starts in minutes to relieve muscular pains headache reduce fever calm upset stomach also overcomes irregularity Take my advice for your next cold take four-way cold tablets the fast way to relieve those cold miseries four-way only 29 cents Our program will continue in a moment after a word about another fine product of Grove laboratories Does dandruff dull your hair leave scalp itchy get fitch dandruff remover shampoo and get rid of unsightly dandruff in three minutes Three minutes with fitch regularly is guaranteed to keep embarrassing dandruff away forever Apply fitch before wetting air rub in one minute add water ladder one minute rinse one minute Every trace of dandruff goes down the drain three minutes with fitch Unsightly dandruff's gone fitch can also leave hair up to 35 percent brighter fitch dandruff remover shampoo Inside the Morris house an hour drows by while across the town in other gardens in other backyards Little children were excitedly playing a game Talking to rose bushes the grass lawns trees and shrubs Even children in apartment houses eye in the air conferring with potted plants cactus and ivy Mrs. Morris had finished her mending and gone back to the kitchen when mink burst in Can I have a glass of water of course I'll get it high R squared 47 a 56 Seven what dear nothing mom. Here's your water. Thanks How are things going? Hmm the invasion. Oh that yes that Almost finished Real says we should be ready on time five o'clock. That's right. How did you know Helen called from painsfield? She says Timmy's playing it too. Hey, that's keen. Well, I guess all the kids are aren't it? No, not all of them not guys like Gil Astley and Jimmy Woods. They're growing up Make fun of us. They're worse than parents Well, we'll get rid of them. Jill says it's okay to kill them too. Now. I don't like that kind of talk mink Do you hear me? I don't like it at all. Oh, I mean it you keep on that way and there's no more playing You'll have to tell Anna to go home and you'll stay inside until bedtime. I'm sorry. Well, I should think so Thanks for the water mom mink. Uh-huh What did those numbers mean what numbers those numbers you were saying to yourself a minute ago? Oh That they're the things we have to do to get Joel and his friends out. That's all Look dear. Why don't you and Anna go down to the drugstore and get some ice cream? You don't have to use your allowance. I'll give you the money haven't got time mom. Thanks. Well, I I never thought I'd hear you say that I've got to go now. Wait just a minute mink. I want you to tell me the truth now What is this? Invasion silliness. It isn't silly It's just a game that's all mom. We're just playing an invasion. Excuse me. I got to get back now. See you later She wasn't sure why but because she was disturbed she did something she didn't usually do She called her husband at the office. Hello, dear. Hello, Henry I'm sorry to bother you, but miss Maxon said you weren't busy not too. I should be able to get home early today Everything all right. Yes You all right. I'm fine Mink. Oh, she's Henry what Oh Nothing, I I just felt like talking to you for a minute. That's all Yes, no, not not really. She's playing outside. She's fine Honey is something wrong? No, I told you I was thinking about you and and wanted to talk that's all What time do you think you'll be home about there five? Oh, well, I was just thinking You Nothing really good. Bye darling. You are okay. I'm fine. Good. Bye mother hour passed It was half past four Outside it was quiet the two little girls more intent than ever upon the endless movement of their game Mrs. Morris watched from the window and she had never known me to have such powers of concentration She turned on the radio and sat drinking cup of coffee Turning over her thoughts children Children love and hate side by side Sometimes children love you and hate you all in a half a second Children do they ever forget or forgive the whippings and the harsh strict words of command? wonder I wonder How can you forget or forgive those over and above you those? tall silly dictators parents What is it dear? We got a piece of that pipe and a hammer Well, I don't know they might be in the garage. What do you want them for? Oh, we just need them Well, if you tell me I can I can get them. Thanks mom is something wrong real stuck halfway We get him in all the way through it would be easier than all the others could come through after him. Can I help? Thanks mom. I can do it. You better hurry me. I want you to take your bath before your father comes home All right, he's coming home early and mean mean Mink has disappeared behind the shrubs Mrs. Morris knew it was ridiculous to make an issue of it besides What was the issue? invasion drill zero hour The child's game Curious waiting silence came upon the street deepening it Then from the living room. This is Morris heard Zero hour it had come And now it had gone But was the clock right? Mrs. Morris knowing who is it was? Knowing it went to the phone and dial That it wasn't as silly as she thought because it wasn't five o'clock yet not zero hour yet Then she heard the car drive up and her husband reading her daughter. Hi, Mink. Hi daddy. How's it going? Fine? Got a kiss for me. I haven't got time now daddy. That's a nice thing What are you doing? We're playing invasions. Well your mother in the house. Yes, okay? Be good. I will zero hour in a few minutes daddy. All right. I'll be ready in the living room Dear daughter didn't have time for a kiss. How about you? I did not particularly would you like a cocktail you read my mind my teeny perfect Anything exciting happen today? No. Oh Helen called From Plainfield. I told her she was crazy, but she just felt like calling like you calling me this afternoon crazy What was that all about? I told you I I wanted to Hey, um incidentally What's this new game the kids playing? Invasion that's a nice depressing thought is mink. All right Come to think of it. She she looked kind of funny Yes, she's all right What's the time Henry there are a couple of minutes after five? Why no the clock's wrong by your watch. Huh? Oh? I've got two minutes, too. I'm probably slow Got something on the stove. No, no, I just honey. Hey, um Look at me What's the matter? Nothing really now really? Minks been up to something of course then what I guess I'm a little tired up upset. That's all You want to go out for dinner? No, I've got a steak in the icebox Tell you what I'll barbecue it. How'd that be fine? What was that? What I thought I heard something I didn't I I must have been imagining it you are jumpy Why don't you have a drink? Do you go? I don't want one What time is it now? Mary what is this? I mean it something's wrong Now I want to know it's silly. I mean it's so silly. I I'm on edge. That's all I don't like it That kid's done something hasn't she? I'm gonna get her in. No Henry, please. Please don't she hasn't it's nothing at all. I just What's that? Those kids haven't got anything dangerous out there. Have they I Noticed a lot of junk going around. I thought it was a game. She wouldn't have done it herself. They've made her do it Maybe you'd better go out and tell them to stop playing now It's after five you tell me to put off the invasion until tomorrow tell her that what are they up to? How about I take a look? Outside there. No, it's upstairs. I know it is in the Mary Mary, it's not up there. It's outside in the attic. That's where it is Her mind had worked that quickly any excuse to get her husband away from the outside to get him upstairs to the attic in time There were more eerie explosions and they could hear the children screaming with the lights. It's not in the attic It's outside minks out there What's the matter with you? No, no, Henry. I'll show you hurry Get inside quick Now we're safe until tonight. Maybe we can sneak out later. Maybe we can escape. Are you crazy? Why did you throw the key away? For heaven's sake the kids out there. Do you want it? Oh, you don't know you? You don't we've got to stay here Henry, we've got to you've got to stay here with me. I don't know how the devil I can get out Who is that light? Be quiet. Please be quiet. They'll hear us. They'll find this Henry, please. There's that noise It's in this house now Mary, what is this? Mary what's happening? You know Answer me stop that Mary somebody's downstairs Oh Between his wife's terror and the electric humming from below mr. Morris felt a great fear They trembled together in silence in the attic mr. And mrs. Morris parents of the little girl named mink Then they heard steps coming up the stairs And the voice and the queer cold light became visible under the door crack a strange odor And the alien sound of eagerness and minks voice was almost more than they could bear and another sound and the lock to the attic door melted Mink mink with bright little eyes and towsel hair peered inside and behind her tall wavering blue shadows Have you ever wondered what people abroad think of us many of them don't have a very high opinion of our country or our way of life It's not because of anything. We've done or haven't done. It's what they think we have or haven't done Unfortunately those thoughts were planted in their minds by books and other literature distributed in both free and iron curtain countries by the communists This material has been deliberately slanted to create false impressions of America and Americans But the people who read them are hungry for the truth Somewhere on your bookshelves or in your attic. You must have books you're through with By contributing them to books from America. You can help send the truth about America to readers and students abroad Particularly helpful are good standard American novels up to date histories and geographies as well as English grammars if they're in good condition with hard covers Pack them up and send them to books from America box 1960 Washington 13 DC that addressed again is books from America box 1960 Washington 13 DC suspense You've been listening to zero hour written for suspense by Ray Bradbury In a moment the names of our players and a word about next week's story of suspense Are you all out of tune because you're irregular then help yourself get back in tune with Kellogg's all brand You'll feel right on pitch when Kellogg's all brand goes gently to work Relieves constipation due to lack of bulk by supplying your system with bulk forming whole brand Yes, a daily bowl full of Kellogg's all brand with milk helps put you right back in tune The natural way the good tasting way to fact is Kellogg's all brand is the one brand cereal that combines proved effectiveness with appetizing taste and Christmas It never gets mushy and milk. So remember if constipation is a problem Gentle it away as millions do with Kellogg's all brand the good food way to keep Regular as clockwork a double L hyphen Brn Kellogg's all brand at your grocer Bird into night story where Francie Myers as mink ginger Jones as mrs. M John Gibson is Henry others in the cast included Vivian Smollon and Sarah Fossil Listen again next week when we return with the long night written especially for suspense by Walter Black Another tale well calculated to keep you in