 That up with the everyday grind want to get away from it all we offer you Escape Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure You are making your painful way over the great India desert alone and dying of thirst While behind you pursuing you for the fanatical coffee is The ones bowed to you as king and now call for your life Tonight we escape to India and two soldiers of fortune who pushed fate too far as Rudyard Kipling told it in his famous story the man who would be king One Saturday night it was my unpleasant duty to put the paper to bed alone It was a pitchy black night as stifling as a night can be in India and June It was very still Save for the ticking of the clock above my desk It seemed to shatter the black heat of the night as the hands crept toward 3 a.m. And then from the passage outside my door I heard voices Who there only us and who are you? Oh, so you don't remember a thing? No, I Job per border and Abony authorities turn us back for impersonating newspaper men use people and then there was the track Yeah, off of which you had us thrown if I remember correct. Oh, wait that flaming red hair that bold hand Daniel Dravid and peachy, Connell. That's I well what you two want this time if it's money I haven't got it and if it's a fight, it's too beastly hot. Yeah, go rest yourself easy Sir because we have come asking for not accept some information We've been all over this country and we've concluded that India isn't big enough for such as Daniel and me So we are going away to be Kings Kings in our own divine right. What I? We shall be King. Yeah, we've signed a solemn contract each to help the other And neither of it to look at liquor or women until we have become King I've never heard of such a fantastic idea. No, what do you want of me? No, but a look at that's maps of Kaffiristan as you might have about Maps of Kaffiristan that's where we decided to go Don't you realize that not one single Englishman has ever gone into the Kaffiristan mountains and lived at mouth again You're a good deal more likely to become dead men and kill them. Anyway I don't believe you have the slightest intention of traveling a mile outside of Delhi Then you should come down to the Saroi marketplace in the morning and where the caravan leave for the north now look Look you two. I'm a newsman not a nomad. Now. Why should I come down to that filthy pest? I'm not so sure that you're either What you mean you say you're a newsman But here's the chance to see the start of the greatest story of all time And you'd pass it up because you're too blasted lazy to get up that early in the morning come along Dravid Miller, but if you should have a change of heart Come to the Sarai in the morning and see whether we've been liars or not And so they left those two lovable scoundrels and I sat alone in my office thinking The kings of Kaffiristan Kings indeed But then perhaps just perhaps They might pull it off and it would be something to cable home And so it was that the next morning I was making my way through the dirty milling crowds of the Sarai marketplace Oh Should not laugh at him say the witless around the protection quite so who is the fellow anyway? And mad preside was arrived only this morning from a smear. I see I see You say Come look at my camels load it with toys to please the eye of an army and now now go about your business I haven't any use for toys. These are wondrous toys indeed Fit for a king of Kaffiristan. What my good lord Then you'll drive it quiet come along. I have two camels just beyond the warrior The blessings appear calm on the gracious side be consensed to look at the poor toys of a priest from Arj me Over this way. Where's Conor and here we are Permit me to present my servant as of me a guard at your service governor Well, I don't know how do you like our disguises they pause in if they fool this crowd in the Sarai They're probably good enough to get you across the border and they're good enough to get you killed Getting killed is no part of the contract peachy and me draw the although perhaps killing fishing with our plans in a different sense Feel around and only put toys there in the camel bag 20 brand-new Lee and fields with ammunition to match and 20 good reasons to make your death certain any Pathan of the hill tribes would kill his own mother to get a rifle now who would harm a poor mad preside Allah protects me Mad is right And so was Lord Clive and Rhodes and Bonaparte Live out the camel species. We have a long way to go before we become king As I stood and listened to the camel bells fade away in a distance. I wondered I Wondered if it might not be a glorious thing to go to Kapiristan and be a king Three years pass in India much as they pass in any other land It grows hot then the rains come and then the heat again The paper duly records the death of a sultan in Rajputana and the trees in the courtyard grow a few feet taller And finally time in its circle turned up another night much like the one three years before Once again, I settled on in the office listening to the clock and waiting for some unimportant item to come over the wire from Europe It was long after midnight when my office door slowly opened Well, I say you might not first, you know Good lord man, what's wrong? No, no, I haven't the faintest idea. Have it here. You'd better sit down old fellow. You're not a bad way. Yes Thank you It's our old year. I've been walking Right here in this very office. We settled in you sitting right there and giving us the map You've been sitting there ever since No No, no Man couldn't change that much in three years You're not peachy, come ahead. Yes. I was the king of Kapiristan Me and Daniel travel real crown kings. We was What in the name of heaven have they done to you peachy Peachy I knew peachy, honey He's a king with a real golden crown on easy for me. He does He's dead now. No, no, no, no, no your peachy. Can I hand you are I must put yourself together? Oh You've got to keep looking into me eyes Yeah, maybe everything won't go to peace. All right. Oh, all right. No, tell me what happened to peachy We left the caravan it got duller and we struck off into the oars Well, yes, go on weeks. It was the traveling First there wasn't no roads and after a while There was always the drums Sometimes there was close Sometimes father all Most of the time we could hear them Now it's no place to be stopping up with you. I'm very it's no use Daniel What's got into a little poor beast's a dunnion and starve. I miss ourselves. I've got no further and it'll go on without him I've not come this far to die on the side of a mountain to wait Look Daniel over the edge of them rocks Oh Men they are Score or more of them. One goes ahead of the rest in naught, but there was an arrows They got a pair of the rifle the peachy. Oh, it's you are Daniel It's now that we stop to become kings here here and some cartridges to easy now peachy I'll drop the straggler to the rear first, then we'll lay a few at their feet. No arm to the one in front We may need him Right on that bloomin faces. They're leader. He's coming out alone. Well, and good I'm gonna go partway to meet him bitchy keep your rifle by look at him Daniel He's as fair as us with yellow air. Oh, so he is Part of the lost tribes these people are stopped I await your command or you who speak with the voice of thunder Why is the law darey peachy? We're in luck. It's the old afghan tongue he speaks Speak up who are you and whence do you come? I am high priest and the chief of the village of Bushkite a Journey of only a few hotbeats. This bus guy. How many people they are numbered in the thousands And I'm all villagers in the hills more than a man has fingers and toes That peachy is our kingdom made to order and you You're going to take us to bushkite. You understand Understand the voice of thunder that you speak He's a smooth one peachy. He knows the thing I do What's your name? Yeah, that's too long They won't call him peachy. He has the look about him of an old soldering friend of ours So he does And we bestow a name on you from now on you'll be Billy fish and put this on your drums Tell him who kings have come out of the mountain tops two kings that speak in words of thunder so the earth trembles Tell them two kings have come to Kepiristan At you peachy Why are you sitting out here in the dark? I've been thinking man has to stop and think sometimes But anything special then look at him peachy Look at that blinking campfires are gleaming in the dark like the jewels in the crown. Yes, Daniel You done a fine job for sure. Oh 23 villages you're joined together as one. It is the army you trained to be thankful it 2000 men with a fair knowledge of better now some of them's a bit green at it yet Yeah, there are now every man jack woman and child we own a body and soul Yes, we're kings now Daniel not proper kings yet, but we will be yes You know didn't you think be cheap how's that now Billy fish told me something today that fair amaze me these people know the craft I mean they're free maces Can you as I'm possible so well may its gospel trill he give the grip and everything It's all the craft is older than the memory of men and up here in the hills. They've been preserving it all these years Why some of the eye priests know up through the fellow craft, but they don't know the third degree You see at peachy. They don't know the third degree, but we do Daniel What is it you're fixing to do do? We're going to be proper kings. We've got them going and coming now I'm going to turn the whole country into one grand large Raise some of the priests to the third degree and for me. I'd be the grandmaster of Kapiristan Are you I got the right to we've never been officers in no lodge, right? What's a king got to do with asking for a right? I'm against it Daniel It's no good to go fooling around with the craft You talk like an old woman The thing will work. I know it will we'll make it a blue man's ceremony regular aprons with the symbols and the marks All for us peachy the kings a cafe this time Everything is prepared master and the priests and the people wait Well, they haven't much longer Billy Yeah, now peachy. How'd you like me apron? It's a wonder aside for fair Daniel made a white omen skin it is and the master's mark with emerald studded mark You know the meaning of the mark what I do Scott into you Billy Is a thing that's passing strange muster? That's strange and rubbish. I'm alone now ready peachy right with you Daniel And out we go on to the temple steps And we'll give them what for not to blink your eyes out. That's what we'll do Look at them peachy right down on their blooming knees and yelling their full-legs all Good thing to be a king Daniel the mark behold the mark Yeah, now what's wrong with the priest Billy it looks like trouble Daniel no Stand where you are master They recognize the mark. Yeah, that great stone on the floor. Why did they turn it over wait? It's the same. He bears the mark Speak up Billy fish. What's the meaning of it see for yourself? Daniel Carved on the back of the stone It is the master's mark all right and the same as the sign you wear Only a few of the priests have known of the hidden mark on the stone. What is it made? The menu who have doubted you are a god doubt no longer And you Billy what do you think? I? Master I think that now it is the time for these Daniel golden crowns. Hey, how they glitter fit for the brow of the king. It's what we came for Yeah, now put them on we'll turn ourselves now You know something peachy we come here to be kings and that we are all right But claimed if we ain't a couple of blooming gods to boot with a million people Well enough peachy so it was gods you became as well as kings, but then what happened what became of Daniel rabbit Drive rabbit Aren't you Daniel rabbit once? He's a king now Daniel is where's a golden crown Was with it he did you try to pull yourself together now? Yes, I'll try good Now you became kings you and Daniel kings of all capyrius stand where he was a fine figure Daniel was With his red head wearing that golden crown Kept himself aloof from the people so to speak when he walked out in front of the temple like They had a crawl on this stomachs to worship. Yes, but what happened man? Well, I figure mostly it was Winter coming Winds was starting up and Clothes was blowing down from the north. Oh It could blow beastly cold That winter wind Who's out there? That's your belly. I found it anyway Yeah, now what's this? Food You're the one And rise up off your knees girl bring it inside. Thank you Wasted there You're a well-favored winch Why are you crawling on your knee? I Didn't wait to approach the god of capyri stand. Mm-hmm. What's your name girl? My room of danger You married Not yet be my happy fortune Right, I mean You are a god. Yeah, I mean How do I seem to you? You'll find me pleasing or what? Your face Is more wondrous than the moon this And you look the look of Very well in my life now, thank you Hey, Jay Hey, Jay. Oh, is you calling me Daniel? Oh Fools here, right? Good Mark that wind that son You know winter's about do this strike and fill the passes with snow There'd be little moving about before spring. Yeah, you're right Pitchy I Just wanted to take a wife But you can't do it Daniel. We made a contract that was till we was Kings Well Kings we've been these many months now snow good. I'll tell you now. I'm against it against it You was against using the craft too, but look what you've done for us. This is different Billy fish will tell you no the same as I do belly fish. Yeah, who's the king here him and me? My mind's made up Three days from now. I shall have me a wife and you could put it on the drums until every blighter out there in the else Kingdom of comparison Don't I have a queen hot-skeeping a peachy they should have brought her in half an hour ago. I don't know Daniel How about you Billy fish? You put them up to store and off Deliberate like certain preparations must be made muster. She's across the court with some of the priests Maybe they're trying to fuck her up a bit Daniel. She thinks she's going to die You know die indeed. Why I muster it is against the laws of heaven for a woman to marry it got I'm not a god. I'm a man. You know that by now Billy. No I should not want to think so master But either way this can mean only trouble. I beg you to reconsider and I beg you to keep your mouth shut Billy I'm through waiting. I'm going over to talk to the master, please. Oh, we've got to go with him Billy I think it's gonna mean trouble, but come on How many men can you depend on no more than 20 with rifles most of my men are in Bush Kai And what shall we do? She'll have to make a run for it. I fear we might be safe in Bush Kai Bring out the girl Well now that's better Yeah, girl This is no way for a bride to behave I'll smile now and give us a kiss The wait just bit It's too late back Daniel they're coming with now they can't do this. I am the king must run for it. Must I come on Daniel come on Founded even I'll come back I'll come back and pick the blustered edging. That's what I'll do. Yes, Daniel. Yeah, we'll be back. All right How much further Billy only short way beyond this reach master? Well so far so good Least them bloom and drums is soft. Well, we're the top Daniel. Yeah, and our right good climate speed Seems the drums have come before us muster Cut off No less than a thousand of them Then and they're quiet like them wicked long knives in their hands They'll be not getting past them Daniel. No We're done for Go back Billy fish take your man away with you Go with him peachy. It's me. They want I did it me the king. No, Dan I'm sticking with you Billy fish you clear out. I am your friend. I Stay with you You're a good man Billy They're coming now Daniel Peachy forget it Daniel. I'll forgive you breathing fully Then let him come There'd be a one thing they can't change peachy We've been king Kings in our own right This sliced open for Billy fish like a blooming earring. I did You know in the snow and the rocks. Oh good lord, ma'am, but you peachy you got away from them Got away from it. Oh No Stung me out on a tree It drove nails right through me and said it I've fooled them all right because the morning coming up. I wasn't dead And then I made him think I'd I'd lost me since him And there was a freight you are me because I was Protected by Ella down then After the wallet Let me go you poor devil What a dragon what happened to Daniel Daniel Daniel's a king He wears a golden crown and now now what happened to him He's never left me All them long months Walking on the road back. He kept me safe The mountains they don't at night, but Daniel held up his hand Peachy came along bent double I never let go of Daniel's hand He's with me now Here in this bundle You know Daniel sir, even if it was a monochrome Look at him now Now you've seen that we was really King's of You're my wife you Pardon me sir. I let him go There was little else to do He was only hours away from his death. I Sat there and stared at the bundle he had left lying on my desk Stared as the pale shafts of dawn struck fire in the red beard Stared at the golden crown Sitting too large and heavy upon the wrinkled mummified head of Daniel The man Escape is produced and directed by Norman McDonald Tonight we have brought you the man who would be king by Rudyard Kippling adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Dunkel Featured in tonight's cast for Ben Wright and Wilms Herbert with John Dana Peggy Weber and Jack Crucian special music by Ivan Dittmar Good night, then until the same time next week when once again we offer you escape This is the United States Armed Forces radio and television service