 The Mutual Broadcasting System in cooperation with Family Theater Incorporated presents stopwatch finale starring Steven Dunn Dick Hames is your host More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of Your family theater host for tonight Dick Hames, and I'm happy to be with you on family theater tonight, you know It's wonderful just to stop for a moment and think what a grand thing it'd be if all homes in America set aside a short time every day A short time to gather together and just talk over all the little problems that come up in daily family life It seems that we're often so busy today that we're apt to forget the small things in home life The simple things that make a happy home Yes, and kindness and understanding and family prayer It's so easy when you think about it, and it's so wonderful to know that God is in your family that God's blessing is on your home Because that means this understanding and kindness and true companionship in a home Now for tonight's family theater presentation starring Steven Dunn with Herbert Rawlinson and Bill Johnstone Concerning Edward A Gibson legally tried and condemned to death in the Riverton death house There are these unusual facts to remember. It's going fast. Get your mind off the time Gibson No, uh, no words from the governor yet. Not a thing. Can I get you any in magazines Gibson? No, thanks. I think I'll Think I'll just what's the time Hmm exactly four minutes after five that makes it six hours roughly right Six hours to live I wouldn't keep thinking about it Gibson You wouldn't know I'd do something get my mind on other things What for instance? Oh, I'd read the Bible or something You're asking me to read a Bible when I got six hours to live. I can't figure a better time to read one Gibson Yeah, yeah, I know they all do what I suppose if you want I'll I'll get the chaplain, too You don't need chaplains or Bibles warden when you don't believe in God Gibson you wouldn't be trying to fool me. Would you I think you're a pretty decent fellow Oh Decent fellow. Yes when they tried me and found me guilty you still say that that's right Thanks, Warden. That's one of the reasons why I mentioned the chaplain. I don't see what a check now wait a minute. Give I'm telling you what a minute, please Now take your time and stop shaking like that. You'll be giving me the jitters, too Okay What do you want to know? You've got six hours to live Gibson Roughly five hours 40 minutes Warden Even when I'm talking to you like this the seconds keep going all right now Gibson with five hours and 40 minutes to live Do you mean to tell me that that it's just going to be all over for you tonight? Just a plain blackout. That's right They throw the switch on you and then it's curtains quick You get cold It's over nothing more not a thing just curtains Forever in other words Gibson you just don't believe in God Warden, how much time just say I left five hours and 40 minutes five hours and 40 minutes Warden if I had five years and 40 minutes five hundred years and 40 minutes I still wouldn't believe in God. That's on the level Gibson sure Why should an electric chair make me change my mind? I thought I'd drop by and see you again Gibson. Thanks, Warden. How are you doing? Okay, want anything to help you pass the time. No, no, thanks anyway. I appreciate it. Don't mention it What's the time now? 723 At least in about three hours and a half Three hours and a half to live I can stay here if you want and talk to you One yes, what would you do with three hours and a half? I mean your last three hours Oh, I'd probably get a few stiff hookers into me Yeah, I could get a drink good night anything you want Gibson I'll be honest with you Warden. I never carry much for this stuff. Maybe a glass of beer now and then you want beer I can get you No, I'm just That's something I can't explain it. Yes, I I know what you mean How'd you like the dinner we sent over good good swell dinner warden? You didn't eat much. Oh This wasn't hungry. That's all got a cigarette sure No words from the governor yet. No nothing. Here's the pack. Thanks light. Yeah. Yeah, thanks Cigarette tastes good. Mm-hmm. Like a smoke warden it Well, I always like to smoke kid honest. I I wish you had a million years to smoke Yeah, a million years. There's nothing else I can do for you. Is there? Sure, you can give me the keys and let me walk out the front door Offhand Gibson, I'd say that you're one of the fellas. I'd like to let out the front door think so Yes, I followed your case. Yeah, the whole country followed my case according to my lawyer. It's a pretty big show. You'll got it, man Maybe if I'd never gone into that What's the matter? That's nothing. I just keep thinking that's all sure. I I know what you mean It's funny how things can happen to you I'm here in this death house tonight because Because I walked into a restaurant one day. Would you believe it a restaurant? Yeah Yeah, I wouldn't be here if I hadn't walked into that restaurant. What happened Well, I can trace it right back to that day in the restaurant when she said they I take your order, sir Yeah, I'd like a steak miss Porter house and make it on the rare side vegetables spinach and potatoes only no cream on the spinach Plain spinach. Yeah, that's right coffee. Yeah, you can bring me a cup of coffee too. Yes, sir It began with something as simple as that warden giving an order to a waitress She wasn't what you'd call beautiful Kind of a short girl Brown eyes dark hair the Latin type you'd call her She had a nice face Yeah, she was a tired-looking kind of a kid But I fell for a wooden fell about as hard as a guy could fall for a girl. What happened then I married her We went together six months and then he then we had a wedding. Mm-hmm Yeah, it's okay to a real church wedding bells organ rice, you know go ahead Now we had good times together two of the ways of myself. I had a good job bricklayer had three kids, too Hmm just can't figure it out. I mean it should have worked the other way. What do you mean Gibson? What other way I mean about the house? We figured it was just about everything we wanted, you know how people like to get out of cheap flats Figured if you have a nice house good big rooms Well, it's a place you can be proud of warden place. You can invite people to your friends Yeah, Louise always wanted a nice house. Yes, I see and I got her a house warden You should have heard of the first day. I showed it to her. She was holding my arm and she was saying oh It's beautiful. How do you like it Louise? Ain't it got everything I told you? It's beautiful Eddie. Come on. Let's look around You can't compare this for the old flak. Can you look at those walls? And You like that stuff, I know you're what this is first-class honey. Oh, I'm so happy Yeah, we do see the rooms upstairs. Are they big big you can get locked in the windows. I'll knock your eye out They open sideways instead of up and down And you walk on the stairs Eddie they don't creak why you can fall down these stairs and they won't creak You don't think I paid our cash for a matchbox. Oh, yeah And hey look here brass knobs on the door First-class, huh? Oh Eddie, it's wonderful One family suburban break model warden cost me nine thousand It's about all I had to it was a good investment Gibson. That's what everybody said Say, you know, you don't have to listen all this warden. I appreciate you're coming here like this. Oh, it's all right Gibson Go right ahead. I don't mind talk all you want my time is my own Yeah, yeah time Time talk Doesn't do much good talking does it that was about the time you met this Jordan fellow, wasn't it? I mean the papers covering your trial. They said something about that's right Jordan Jordan lived down the street. I commuted with him practically every day on the 816 Never really understood Jordan those first six months. He was a quiet kind of fellow almost lonesome One day I invited him over to my house They were sitting around that night before I knew it. We got talking on religion You know how people get off on that subject when you have a get-together everyone sooner later starts bringing in religion Well, it's Jordan he says now, please don't misunderstand me Gibson. I'm not trying to disparage any man's belief You and Louise happened to be like you were like my own folks They went to church to Respectable conscientious type of people that was their life their belief and I take my hat off to them Yeah, yeah, I understand that Jordan, but but you say this religion stuff is a lot of malarkey Am I right? Well, that's putting it a bit too roughly Gibson. Yeah, but you said I merely said that I don't believe in a God You mean you really don't believe in God. Mr. Jordan. That's right. Let me get this straight Jordan You don't believe in God you don't believe in heaven As I see it Gibson God heaven hell and all the assorted angels are Angels and devils are merely ancient superstitions which persist in disturbing the modern mind now understand I don't question the convenience of having a religion the convenience. Yes, the the propriety the usefulness of having a religion It keeps a lot of frustrated people happy the reward motive, you know, and you you don't believe in prayer Mr. Jordan, well, if there's no God to pray to why should I believe in prayer or a soul either? Yeah Yeah, what about the soul or not just a minute? I believe in the soul factor. It's the principle of activity dogs have cats and caterpillars and Even man But when you start talking to me about an immortal soul and that's where I draw the line Where do you draw the line Jordan six feet under the daisies when my time comes Gibson my boy after I pass out of the picture my soul won't go up or down or sideways Which precludes this ugly business of having to stand before some inquisitive creator To render an account of the innumerable binges. I've been on mr. Jordan. You you really believe that Jordan I not only believe but I preach it. It's a hobby of mine playing the part of the naughty disillusioner Well, I I mean if there's if there's no God as you say then what about the commandments? The Commandments Gibson are an unusual coda the Judaic Moors Allegedly dictated by some almighty Jehovah person with appropriate thunder and lightning Now wait a minute You mean the Commandments didn't come from God like it says in the Bible Well, if there isn't a God, I don't see how they could but mr. Jordan excuse me Louise Yeah, go ahead Eddie in other words Jordan you figure Moses was a liar Well, let's call him a psycho neurotic or what a psycho neurotic It's a peculiar complex that wait a minute Jordan Well, you got me in a state where I don't know whether I'm coming or going I mean Everything I ever knew about the Commandments and sin sin Gibson Sin is merely being caught at what society says we ought not get caught at Society that's my opinion and if you're not caught Jordan if you're not caught Gibson Why then you're a free man caught caught That's a little word Warden Caught they caught me. It was a dead cinch. I waited for him waited Stood there. I didn't move that night. But what else about this Jordan fellow Jordan Jordan had me mixed up ever since that talk we had in the house. I Was trying to figure out some arguments You know proof about the things I used to believe in God and things. I Wasn't too quick on the trigger Jordan was a clever egg. I had to admit it. I said Jordan you certainly can dish that stuff out. Why you even got me bamboozle. Maybe you're beginning to see the light Gibson. Well, I Don't know the more I begin to think about I'll tell you what I want you to come with me tomorrow night No, where Jefferson circle I have a regular audience down there every Thursday night. You mean you make speeches in Jefferson circle Well, it's it's really a study the faces of the people Gibson Why they're like a bunch of scared kids when I give them the works. What do you mean the works? Oh, I call it my stopwatch finale Stopwatch finale. That's what he called it. What did he mean stopwatch finale? Oh, it's an old gag warden you get out in front of the people you pull out a stopwatch and Time's really gone. Isn't it Warden? I Got I'm talking to you as if I had a million years to live Do you hear what I just said wouldn't you mean about I said his name? I said my god Kind of habit I guess you sort of yell it like that when things really get black for you Gibson, are you sure you don't want me to get the chaplain for you? I'm walking out of my own steam ward. I'd say where was I you were saying something about a stopwatch. Yeah Well, this Jordan used to go down a Jefferson circle every Thursday night He get up on a platform in front of the people and he'd say He had a swell voice too. He'd say and to prove that I'm sincere To prove to you that no so-called God could have created this starving this dying world To prove that this so-called Almighty God if he does exist Is the biggest bungler and the most colossal criminal the human mind can conceive To prove to you there is no God. I Now serve notice on his majesty If what I say is not true Then I defy God to strike me dead on this platform within five seconds I'm timing you God Do you hear me? I'm giving you five seconds to strike me dead if what I say is not true So that's what he called stopwatch finale. Hmm. Yeah Well, you know the rest of the story Warden happens to thousands of people you're going along living working trying to raise kids Live normal and bang bang It's like lightning the way it hits you. You don't figure on it just Well, just a simple headache That's how I came to know first I had a headache that day and I left the job early I went home open the door of my house, and then I heard the laughing in the other room I open the parlor door warden my wife jumps out of the chair like a scared rabble almost I Wonder why she was so nervous all of a sudden then I And I looked at him Jordan, he's green enough saying your wife is really a sketch-gipson the most delightful sense of humor Oh, Louise. Yeah, you're home early darling. Yeah, I had a headache. It's a sinus head the sinus trouble No, no just not near a headache Mr. Jordan just dropped in for some tea. Oh, it's fine You don't mind excusing me if I go upstairs. Yeah, you're not sick. Are you darling? No, no a couple of aspirins will fix it up No, go ahead. Don't let me disturb you. Yeah, that's what I thought more than a couple of aspirins that fix it up But I couldn't get that other feeling out of my head thought about it for weeks Maybe I was wrong. I hope maybe I was wrong and that Louise was only Then Jim Holloway. He's my brother-in-law Jim came up to me one day and he says working hard Eddie Yeah, yeah, keep me going when the weather's right. You know it is with brick laying What do you get out there in the backyard? Oh, I'm building a little garage Jim laying the bricks myself Didn't Louise tell you about it. Oh that kid sister of mine never tells me a thing You know some of these days Jim, I'm gonna get a car Louise and the kids will enjoy a trip to the beach and up to the country. I Think Louise ought to go for it. Well, she ought to have more fun Jim You know how it is with women staying home all day with the kids. No fun And washes them out, you know Now after I get a car and yeah, I Came over to see her for something special. Oh, yeah, don't mind if I tell you something No, no, go right ahead Jim. No, I don't want to get you excited Don't want you to go losing your head or anything Maybe I should keep quiet and maybe I shouldn't I don't know I'm going out in the limb But I'm doing it because I like it. Oh, what's on your mind? It may be only rumors Yeah Now go ahead If I were you I'd keep my eye on that guy Jordan. What do you mean? I mean Louise yeah, Louise Thanks to him Thanks a lot So that's how you first found out about it Gibson. Hmm. Yeah, maybe Jim shouldn't have told me It's a dangerous thing going around with stories like that even if it's the truth. I know but Jim Jim thought he was doing right. I don't blame what happened after that. Well, I was Felt kind of sickish the rest of that day First I thought I wouldn't say anything to Louise but that night in the house I came right out with it. I told her everything that Jim said I can still see her face getting white the look in her eyes All right You know everything now What are you gonna do about it Louise Louise don't look at me like that? Tell me it's Tell me it ain't true. It is true. I love him. I tell you I love him You snooped your phone down. All right. I love him What else do you want me to say the kids our house? Oh, Louise honey, I can't I just can't believe the jam. Oh, it's no use. We'll figure out everything later Later, let's not talk about it now Louise can't you see what you're doing? I'm fed up with it all. I'm fed up with the sneaking and the shame. I'm I'm finished And I can't help it You mean our marriage it's it's off Maybe it was never on how can you say it Louise sooner or later? See I See Louise Okay Everything was clear to me then warden. I saw the whole picture. So I walked out of the house Sure, I could see Jordan's point now. It was plain plain as a nose on your face. The first time it clicked I should have figured the angle long ago was an old game old as the hills you could steal into a guy's house the house You paid for and sweated for you could steal into his house and talk to his wife Get her infatuated turn her head talk to his kids use nice words pat him on the back be sociable be a nice guy You could talk a lot of big talk about religion and stuff. There is no God No, God you could say those words because there ain't a God. You don't have to worry about a guy's wife or his kids or his house All you got to worry about is don't get caught see don't get caught Society doesn't like it. Well, I wasn't worried about society. What's right. What's wrong? Don't get caught That's the game Jordan was playing the little Ed Gibson can play it I walked down the Jefferson circle that night warden. I saw him on the platform a Couple of hundred people were there too. Jordan was going strong. It was a saying of what I say is not true I Defied God to strike me dead on this platform within five seconds I'm timing you God Do you hear me? I'm giving you five seconds It's time Gibson All right, Warden I'm ready and waiting I can still get a chaplain for you. No, no, no, I can make it a lot Okay Just as you say Gibson Wooden yes, lad He's one thing I didn't tell you maybe you'd like to know about it. What is it? The night I shot Jordan. I yes I ran to where he was lying on the platform and see his lips were moving just whispering Jordan the same Make God have mercy. You said that yeah, he said it The guy who didn't believe in God Here's the door Gibson Concerning Edward A. Gibson legally tried and condemned to death in the Riverton death house There is this other unusual fact to remember After he had walked through that last door after the electrode was applied and Shortly before the switch was thrown He was heard to say. Oh my god my god Have mercy on my soul You have heard stopwatch finale starring Stephen Dunn now here is your family theater host for tonight Dick Haynes It often happens when we look back on things We kind of second guess in which we'd done things differently Isn't that especially true when we look back and realize how differently things might have been? You know you hear a lot about incompatibility and mental cruelty and other things that cause family breakups But fundamentally in every family that breaks up is usually only one thing wrong People get to thinking too much about themselves about their own happiness Isn't it really true that you're never happier than when you make others happy? There's no difficulty in family life that can't be cured in one simple way By kindness that's it. Of course. It means two-way work a two-way working agreement Yes, and respect for God makes us considerate of the rights of others and Praying together is the most wonderful way to make people thoughtful and kind to one another That's why it's so very true that a family that prays together stays together Now before saying good night, I'd like to thank Stephen Dunn for his performance is Ed Gibson Our thanks to Timothy Mulvey for writing tonight's play into Max tear for his music This production of family theater incorporated was directed by David Young Others who appeared in tonight's play were Herbert Rawlinson as the warden and Bill Johnstone as Jordan Gene Bates was Louise and Frank Gerstle played Jim Next week our family theater stars will be Jimmy Duranty and Dennis Day and Strictly Amateurs And now this is Dick Hame saying good night and God bless you This series of the family theater broadcast is made possible by the thousands of you who felt the need for this kind of program By the mutual broadcasting system which has responded to this need and by a friend of the New York Foundling Hospital Which cares for homeless and motherless babies without distinction of race creed or color Join us at the same time next week when our family theater stars will be Jimmy Duranty and Dennis Day Tony LaFranco speaking This is the mutual broadcasting system