 Take one man with a driving compulsion, give him his chance to destroy it. That's our story, captive, taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. Hello, friends. This is John Steele. This week's story is laid in the steaming heat of the Tiger Country. You know, it's always been my practice to try to space my guests from week to week so that their adventures are different, geographically and in situation. That's why I was pleased to run into Jim Madden this week. I first met Jim when he was on an expedition in the jungle near Saigon in Indochina. I thought I knew him pretty well during those first three years down there, but when he tells his story, you'll see as I did, how much a man hides of his real feelings. Folks, this is Jim. Funny how a man will hang on to something year after year, even when he knows it doesn't make sense. It had been like that with me ever since we'd finished that last expedition. The others didn't lose any time packing for the states, and we were all up to here with sweaty jungles and mosquitoes in the laria. I hated it as much as they did, but I didn't go back with them. I couldn't. Not yet. I got a little native hut on the edge of Saigon a few days right from the bush, nearing up the push into it every chance I could for three years. I got to know it like the lines in my hand. Hunting parties coming through seem to like the idea of an English-speaking guide. There weren't many of them, but it kept me going. I had to take a lot of ribbing from the local barflies. It didn't stop me, though. Now your beard's getting flat, Jim. Smatter, Jim. You've got a safari coming up. Must be. Always gets that dreamy look. Hey, it does look kind of stupid, don't it? Sure. Ain't you heard? Jim's in love. Oh, shut up. Hey, Jim, that ain't no way to talk. If I knew a beautiful claim... Hey, maybe it's the American dame over there with the little guy. Them two came today? Jim don't bother with no females but one. Lay off, will you? Being in love ain't good for a jungle guy, you know. Sure gets off. In the head. You seen the new native gal over Herb's joint? Why, you know Jim ain't interested in weightlessness, pal. I am, boy, real warm-skinned and slanty-eyed. Pretty and one-eyed. What do you want Jim to meet at? He never had to do such a hitch. Why don't you go get it, Jim? The night of go. I told you. No, no, no. One-eye. Sure'll be nice to have around a house, Jim. Jim, bring one-eye home? Yeah. Why, man, Jim's a real lover boy. He just stands around and worships. He don't do nothing. Fade, you guys. Smell it, Jim. You lose your nerve? Yeah, yeah. That's what it is. Yeah, I tell you. She's got them where she wants them all right now. Well, I'll get her wise, guys. As soon as I have the dough for another trip. Oh, you know, Joe, seems to me I hate that before. Yeah, about three years ago now. Wouldn't you save this? Yeah. Giving you a hard time, Jim? Oh, hi, John. No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. Jim's playing pushing the corner, Mr. Steele. Say, Jim, remember Dick Manning, don't you? Sure, sure. I'd like to see old dead-eye Dick. Then start packing. What? Got a letter from him this morning. Ask me to look you up. Yeah? What for? Remember Dick left here to take over his dad's geology labs? Good break, too. Yeah, Dick's done well with it, too. He'd just been given an endowment by the government for a whole new branch lab in New York. Oh, swell. Well, I said, congratulations. Dick wants you to run it. I'm sorry. I can't make it. But good night, man. It pays 10,000. Sorry. You could use 10,000. I know, John. Tell him thanks anyway. One eye, huh? Well, I'm OK, Jim. I won't be answering his letter till the end of the week. Take it over, son. A week. Two weeks, two years. I'll get her or nobody will. And very sure of yourself that he hadn't. You are James Madden the guide, aren't you? Yeah. Uh, I'm Danny Masters. Pat, Ms. Stennis and I are down here to do a story. She takes pictures. We're from Rifle and Line, Magnus. I know. No kidding. It's not so surprising, Danny, considering the New York papers. We don't get New York papers, Ms. Stennis. Really? News about me gets around faster than us? News about any visitor moves fast down here. Your local gossip's tell you my father owns Rifle. I'm impressed, Ms. Stennis. What I was trying to say, Mr. Madden, is that I'm prepared to pay you. Oh, well. That puts you on another plane. Pat means, Jim, we'd appreciate it if you'd be our guide. Oh, stop bowing and scraping, Danny. We're hiring Mr. Madden. What kind of animals are you looking for? I don't know. Sledang, wild elephants, tigers, whatever we have. Have a credit card for me at the hotel desk this afternoon. Well, sure. Thanks, Jim. That's well. I'm quite sure the gratitude is on Mr. Madden's side, Danny. I'll sell, Ms. Stennis. It's your job. Yeah. And I believe I overheard you say if you had the, um, dough, you'd... Yeah? This, uh, what did you call her, one eye? She must be very unusual. Oh, Pat, he doesn't want to... You know, Mr. Madden, I'd really like to see the kind of female you're so wrapped up in. Would you? You'll meet her, if you're lucky. Hey, Jim, how far do we go by car? About 200 miles. We'll make camp at the edge of the tall cane where the road ends. Road? Might as well do something more countable than pickup trucks. Roads like this, you're drawing a good car. Look, the poor natives piled in the other one must be hot as... Don't be absurd, Danny. After all, they're just natives. They're good men. Add it up ahead, Jim. Yeah. Gee, never thought I'd see the jungle again. Don't see anything so wonderful, just woods and tall cane. And tigers. Yeah. What are we stopping? Shut up. Mr. Madden, I have to... I said shut up. Danny, take over, will you? What on earth? Just follow the natives. They'll know where to pitch camp. What's up, Jim? Nothing, I'll meet you later. You're taking a rifle. I'm coming with you. Sit still. All right, Danny, get going. All right. They hadn't heard it, but they hadn't been listening for it like I had. I'd have known the Tigris call anywhere. Maybe it wasn't one eye, but I had to find out. And I had to be alone, because if it was one eye, I was going to get it, not Danny, not at Dennis. Shadows between the trees were black patches now. I'd picked up the pug marks for a while, but it was getting too dark to see anything. She might be crouching in the thickets waiting for me to pass. I noticed the air was suddenly very still. The monkeys and peacocks were quiet. I knew she was close by now, somewhere in the shadows. And then I saw her. She was lying in a small clearing by a high rock, not in a crouch position. She was asleep. I crawled forward and watched her from behind a tree. The zigzag of the scar over her blind eye looked deeper than I'd remembered in the dim light. I raised the spring field carefully and took a sight on her forehead. My eye wandered down over her heavy body. Her stomach was heaving in big, regular breaths. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I don't know how long I stood there looking at her, my finger on the trigger and the rifle hard against my jaw. My hands felt sweaty on the cool barrel. Three years I waited for this. But I didn't shoot. Next time, maybe, I stood up slowly, headed back for camp. You didn't eat your dinner, Mr. Madden? I'm not hungry. Is that what it's like? What? Being in love. I don't get it. Yesterday, your friends in the bar. Oh. No, no, Miss Dennis, that's not it. They said other interesting things about you, I noticed. Oh, you noticed a lot. Just in order to put two and two together. Get four? Only about three and a half. That's a good average. The missing half is one eye. I'm not very good at fast repartee, Miss Dennis. Slowly then. This one eye is an animal, isn't it? So? A cat? Tiberous. I thought so. Why? I like seeing people react. This is a new kind of stimulus. I'm a guide, not a guinea pig. Why, Mr. Madden, you're upset. You mind your business, I'll mind mine. It's a very pleasant program. I like it. By the way, speaking of animals. We weren't. What was that you heard on the road today? Why? A tiger. You're telling her asking. That's why you wouldn't let us go. You're crazy. You went alone to scare the tiger off. It all figured, huh? Yes. So you wouldn't have to kill. You're nuts. I don't think so. I don't think so. Killing animals bothered you a great deal, doesn't it, Mr. Madden? Hey. You think... You think I've got buck fever? Exactly. Oh, no, forget it, lady. I'm the blood first, you think? Are you? Sure. Sorry. I don't think you're much of an actor. No. Well, frankly, Miss Dennis, I don't care what you think. Good morning, Mr. Madden. Hi, everybody. Well, they just started, huh? They can stand the heat. It's all right. Now, look, why don't you two hang around camp until they get used to this? Not me, bub. I'm going hunting. You're frowning, Mr. Madden. Why do I laugh out loud? Hey, will you quit, you two? Gee, you think you'll marry the way out? Well, I'm sure Mr. Madden knows what I'm thinking. Sorry, afraid not. Danny, did you know there's a tiger near here? No kidding. I don't think so. I don't think so, either. There's a tiger near here. No kidding. Mr. Madden heard it on the road yesterday. A tiger? Well, why didn't you say something, boy? Well, there wasn't time to tell you what to do. Let's get it. No, it should still be around. That depends. How come? It might have been scared off. Isn't that true, Mr. Madden? No. Wait to tell us by the buffalo bait we spread around this morning. Now, Miss Dennis can set up her cameras near that. Oh, no. I'm going in myself. You want pictures, don't you? Of course. Wild animals don't pose, Miss Dennis, not even for you. That's a way. Just set up cameras with string traps. The animal goes to bait, snaps his own picture. I only have two cameras, and I'm not getting them smashed. Get better pictures if you do it. I believe I made myself clear. Okay, okay. And I'm going to get me a tiger rug. Now, this section of the jungle is pretty dense. You need flash bulbs. The string system would really be... Are you trying to tell me? I'm trying to tell you wild animals are easily frightened. They can jump at you. But you'll be there to protect me. Won't you, Mr. Madden? Me too, Pat. I want to crack at those babies. You're here to write stories. Oh, sure, though. You're carrying the only gunman, Mr. Madden. Oh, no. Are you? Why should I? That seems to fit at all. Things aren't always the way you sink in the jungle. I'm seldom wrong, Mr. Madden. Well, you're wrong this time, honey, because I'm shooting me at that. I'll see if Etienne has a report. Get your stuff together. I had to get away from Pat Dennis then fast, or I'd have clipped her one way across that beautiful smug mouth. I'll never think what she wanted. I couldn't tell her the real reason about one eye. I just doesn't say things I felt out loud. But I was going to get that sheet-tiger. She was my kill when I was ready. She was my kill when I was ready. She was my kill when I was ready. She was my kill when I was ready. She was my kill when I was ready. We had a late start. Steam was rising up out of the ground, hot and sticky. We haven't gone near one of those caucuses. Natives will let us know if they've been fed on. What are we looking for, Jim? And tell what we'll find. What is it? Quiet. What's the matter? Quiet down. I don't hear anything. Wait a minute. I'm coming to you. Back there. Not me, boy. Get back, I told you. I'll let you know. Oh, for Christ's sake. Mr. Madden, Danny and I are both... You're both going to wait right here. Oh, no, we're not. But keep it quiet. Tiger, Jim? Yeah. The pug marks stop. There's rocks up there. Come on, let's get it straight. Oh, wait here a minute. Hey, you're not going to start that again. Oh, be quiet, then. I'll see if I can spot her now. Keep down that key. This will win you ready. You're a whistle. Twice a whistle. There you are. Your tail's showing, baby. I don't know if I can... You just see the rest of her around. This... Jim, what are you doing? Down here. I can see him. Get out of here. Don't rock my way here. Let me take him out. Danny, no. Don't worry. It's an easy shot. No, no! Nobody could do that with me. What do you say? My tiger should kill my tiger. Jim, shut the fuck up. Kill my tiger. Shut up. Jim, my god. Let go of it. Get away from all the disgraceful people. Shut up. You could have hit her twice. You could have... Shut up. Shut up, both of you. Appreciate it. He is Madden and Vicky. Yeah, quite a guy. He killed me here. Jim, if you just tell me... Forget it. I still... I said, forget it. Don't you want to see Danny's kill, Mr. Madden? That's right. Let's have a look. Sure. Hey, look at that. I did that. At the end. Get ready for skinning. They're not even looking at the tiger, Mr. Madden. I've seen tigers before. Boy, look at those eyes. Eyes. Sure. Looks swell over my eyes. Get out of the way. But you weren't interested, Mr. Madden. What's the matter, Jim? It's not... Not what? Nothing. Nothing at all, Miss Dennis. Well, hey, Danny boy. This calls for a celebration. Your first tiger. Sad head. Good one. Lucky I cut something to prove it with. They'd never believe it. You like hunting, huh? Oh, it's swell. I'm raring to get me another. Oh, say, your glasses empty here can... Oh, I shouldn't, Jim. Well, I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're here. Your glasses empty here can... Oh, I shouldn't, Jim. Well, hit the sack if I'm going to kill me a she-tiger tomorrow. Why a she-tiger? Huh? Oh, I don't know. You must have one of these. Mail. E-mail. Don't push your luck. Stay healthy. Ah! You said yourself there ain't any man-eaters around. Nope, I want a nice, big tiger. Here, here's a nice hamper. Okay, for the road, huh? Yeah. Well, hey, Jim. Hmm? What are all those little tree houses near the Buffalo Spore? Oh, Sean. The Hinox. Sniper tactic, sir. Yeah, they might call it that. Well, that'll be a breeze from me after specific duty. Tigers isn't a war criminal. Oh, sure. I don't know, but it's the same as... No! All I said was... It is your bad day, huh, Buster? Oh, I'm sorry, Danny. Drink up. Oh, he says that easy. I can have a steady eye tomorrow. Why don't you try slip-dang, Danny? You know those wild-box and get pretty... I got the tiger bug. There's something... There's something about a tiger. Yeah. What were you saying about the machine? Hmm? All the machines. Well, as soon as the natives find the carcass that's been fed on, they all get their racket makers. Near as even. Yeah, they bang on trees with sticks mostly. Anything makes noise. The advance is in a big circle toward the tiger. Oh, it's gone by then. No, no, the tiger's not far off. The rest is easy. The natives pass by the machine, covering me with their yelling and their beating. And I just sneak and whee, you mean. Well, tomorrow I thought I'd show you. Why? You said there's nothing to it. How about I hang on it? Don't worry about me, Buster. I'm a man who's used to hard liquor. Uh-huh. Don't you ever get a lonesome down here, Jim? Year after year? No, much. I'd have to stay this far from the bright lights I go. I could live. But you ever get a yen to see something besides native women? White women in Saigon? Yeah, that counts. Like this, I'd sure like to have a cute little redhead. Make a pitch for Dennis, why don't you? Pa? She's not a woman. She's a boss's daughter. Oh, she's female. You can have her. A little redhead works on 52nd Street now. The tropical flowers smell up and does that for you. Yeah, that and the slugs you've been born. Oh, at the end, what are you doing there? Pa? Where is she? You know, Tent, Missy. Oh. Hey, Tien. Wait a minute. I'll take that. Tell her to come on out. Miss Dennis. What do you want? Here's your coffee. Just leave it. I'll be out in a minute. Get full of bugs. Please. What are you waiting for? What, no thanks. Did you come to give me a lesson in etiquette? That'd be a good idea. I'll get out of here. A lady's man? Don't flatter yourself. All right. Thanks. Now, will you please? Down? Sure. Don't mind if I do. From now on, Mr. Madden. My friends all call me Jim. How nice of them. Now, will you... Cut the act, will you? Your act's better than mine. What's that supposed to mean? Why pretend? I don't get it. You'll never kill one eye. Oh, that's where you're wrong, Duchess. Am I? What do you keep harping on that for? It was not bug fever. I told you it's not. You expect me... I expect nothing from you. Good. Well, you've never seen it. She's not like other animals. One blind eye. No, no, it's she... Oh, she's intelligent. Smart. A tag dress with an IQ. This is... But you're quite a tennis player, aren't you, Miss Dennis? Well... Well, you'd rather have a good player beat you than win all the time over... Of course. Get it? I... From the first time I saw one eye, three years ago, I'd known I was gonna get her some day. Each time I'd gone into that bush, I'd sworn I'd come back with her pelt, but... Couldn't give up your lollipop, could you? Well, I got kicks out of this. Go on. Ah, you don't get it. Please. Yeah. Well, she's outsmarted me almost every time, once through the water. Last time, she let me almost get near enough, and then I found she'd let me right into the tall cave. Almost like she's having herself a good laugh every time. Just to go on for years, you know. Unless someone else gets the first... No, no one is... No, this trip. Really, Mr. Madden? Really, Miss Dennis. You'll write me about it. You'll be here. Keep yourself. Oh. Matter of fact, you were very much here right now. I think you'd better go. Oh, well, take it easy, Duchess. There's no rank in the jungle. Mr. Madden. That makes his own rules out of him. Please. Well, what are you scared of, Mr. I'm not... You're frowning, Miss Dennis. Get out of here. Won't you trust me? Please. No more room to back up. I'll have that tent there moved in the morning. Give me your hands up. Would you like a man's arms around you? Get out of here. This is the jungle, my girl. Everything by you. I'm sorry, I didn't shave, Duchess. Stop that. Oh, dear. What's the matter, Duchess? You look bothered. Get out of here. Okay. Wait, Jim. Oh, Jim now, huh? What if he yells to dance? I know it. There's enough coffee for two. Yeah. Well, don't drink it all, Duchess. Might keep you awake. Wake up. Number of two carcass, Missy. No. Chudon? That guy's still there. Tigris. How are the beaters? No, never mind. Try without him. But, Missy, at five o'clock... You heard me at ten. Get my gun. We miss you. I'm talking about a tiger. Jim? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tigris. A sheep? I'll be right with you. That's what you think. Missy, we are ready. Oh, shut up. You want to wake the whole camp? Oh, please, Jim. Pass up to him. Oh, fine. You think that wish to use the beaters makes you? They are anxious. Ah, we might as well now. Let's go. Jim, come here at the first... At ten. Okay? We are ready. No kidding, Jim. How about letting me have the first shot? Shut up. She still feeds. Nothing. Well, what do we do? See that flap ledger over there? You can see the hole. Hey, I'm not staying. Get up there! Quiet, I'm out. Who's Dennis with you? Pat, I haven't even seen him. Oh, she's probably still dressing. Go back and get her. Jim, I don't want to miss it. We'll wait. Okay, but don't forget. Yes. Okay, boys. Let her rip. You've got a gun. I have flashed it. I told you, you can't use that thing. No. Listen, if I get you sticking a bulb in that... You what? Yeah, it gets hotter. Must be the netting tidying on your side? Yeah. Jim, what I said about buck feed... Not it, I tell you. Something else? Something I got to do. I hate waiting. I'll get used to it. Jim, I've been so rotten. You'll do. No, really, I... Hold it. Hold it. Is it? I got to have a picture. No, it's too dark. If you cover me from up here, I can jump to that big lower branch and use the flash. Too risky. I know. As I take it... Too big a chance. I was right. What? The tan. You're crazy. When the time comes, I'll... Come, Jim. Okay, then? You take the picture. Okay, put down that gun. I want that picture. If you're not going to... Give me that gun. Give me that gun! I'm not shooting my tigers. Jim. One eye is my private kill, you hear? Your private... Okay, okay. Now get ready. He's lifting her hand. Oh, sure. Some fool was... for it earlier. Danny. You can't. She's my kill. Three years. No one but Jim Madden can play with his own private toy. Ready? She's beginning. Yeah. No. Here. Come, Danny. Between the eyes, boys. Kill yourself for one-eyed tigers. Jim. He didn't drill out. I know. Good thing. The three years. Still a good thing. I want a ball. Pat. I had a perfect sight from the machine. I know. That's why... Honey, listen. If I'd shot her myself, I'd have only started looking for another one like her. You said she was one of a kind. Well, I'd never have been sure. Maybe. Yeah. Let's get the first train, Jim. I want New York. No. Something I gotta do first. Jim... No. Yeah. First, I gotta stop off in Saigon long enough to buy a wedding present. A wedding... People are supposed to send us. Oh, well, not for us, are they? It's from us. To Danny. The title, Captain. A story of a man who learned the importance of self-denial. And if you like Jim's adventure, why not come back next week, friends? I'll have a story of a man who had to face death to learn how to live. I like to call it the right medicine. So until next week, this is John Steele, saying a life of adventure is yours for the asking, wherever you find it. Only don't look for it. It may find you. Well, goodbye and good hunting. John Steele Adventure is produced by Robert Monroe, directed by Elliot Drake and written by Lois Landauer. John Larkin was heard as Jim. Also in our cast were Ross Martin, Charlotte Manson and Mort Lawrence. John Steele is played by Don Douglas. Musical effects were by Doc Whipple. Your announcer has been Ted Malley. Remember, next week, future will presents The Right Medicine, another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele, Adventurer. This is a mutual broadcasting system.