 And now, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. In a moment, Act 1 of the Silver Shoe, written especially for suspense by Robert Reddick. Some things that you just take for granted. I mean, you don't question if somebody died. You've ended a funeral and watched them lower the coffin into the grave. You just gotta say to yourself, well that's the way it is. It's all over. Maybe if you care a lot for somebody like I did for Corey. Maybe they go on living in a way in your mind. Not really living, but kind of living in your thoughts and your memories and your dreams. But that's all. So when I saw this girl sitting in a drugstore two years after Corey's funeral, naturally I had to figure she was somebody who just happened to look a lot like her. I mean, wouldn't you? I wouldn't have been shocked if she'd just been sitting there at the counter drinking her coffee. But she was doing something that, well I guess I'd seen Corey do a hundred times. She was holding a spoon upside down, dabbing little strokes with it on her napkin, like it was a paintbrush drawn imaginary little pictures on it. And when she spoke to the counterman, it was with Corey's own sweet, familiar voice. Can you let me have a check, please? Sure. What'd you have? Eggtowers, sandwich and coffee. Okay, fifty cents, beautiful. I guess I must have looked pretty strange standing there staring at her, but I couldn't help myself. You want something, buddy? Huh? Oh, yeah, a cup of coffee. A cup of coffee, coming up. Nice offer. I watched her pay the check, watched every movement she made, every step she took as she walked out of the door. And there were Corey's movements, Corey's steps, every one of them. Kind of cute, huh? What? Nice looking chick. Does she come in here a lot? Yeah, once in a while. She's one of the things that works down the street at the dance hall. Here's your coffee. All right, here's your dime, huh? Oh, sure, tiger. I had to a few doors away. There was an entrance lit up with a lot of neon and stuff saying it was a dance hall. And I saw her walk into it. It felt kind of funny if I followed her, but somehow I couldn't do anything else. Inside, there was this sort of pink ceiling over a long flight of stone steps leading down into the dance hall. Well, I bought a ticket and a little boost at the bottom. Then I went into this big room where the music was playing. But a bunch of other girls came running up to the railing and started calling out to me. What's up? Thank you. You got a cigarette, Taylor? You may not always get the pretty one. What made you pick me, honey? Yeah, I asked you, Taylor. What made you pick me? Well, I can't see very well the smoke, just what it is in lips. How about you dig down in your bell bottoms, honey, and bring a lady up a match? I keep up here, my breast pocket. Well, good for you. What's the sign over the answers, honey? Fifty girls, fifty gorgeous, exotic dancing partners? Well, of course, even when this joint is jumping, there's only twenty-two of us, but I'm in the other part. You think I'm gorgeous and exotic, honey? Is that why you picked me? Well, I don't think I know what you mean. You know what gorgeous means, don't you? Oh, sure. Exotic means weird, honey. Strange. Come on, baby, buy me some tickets. And while you're out there on the floor, hold me tight in your arms. You can tell me how exotic I am. Well, I really came in here looking for somebody else. She's about five-foot-three and has light brown hair and blue eyes. This is like half the girls in America. Besides, if you don't see her, she ain't here. Who told you she worked here anyway? Here, this picture in my wallet. She looks like this girl. No, somebody's kidding you. We ain't got nobody here who looks like that. How come I saw her come in here? Look, I ought to know I've been working here for four years. I tell you, we've got no girl like that. Why don't you just forget her and concentrate on me? Anything to matter with me? You bet there ain't. Now, don't you run away, Taylor. I'm going in and part of my nose. Don't let any of these other names latch onto you. And when I come back, I'll show you the way a patriotic lady treats the Navy. You walked away. I began to figure maybe I was mistaken after all about seeing Cory or this girl coming in here but maybe I lost her on the street that it was somebody else I'd seen in the neon light. And I was just about to leave when I saw her again, sitting alone at a table in a half-darkened corner clear across the room. She was dressed different now in a sort of spangly silver gown that left her shoulders bare. It looked just like Cory did the night I took her to the Macindre's ball. When it's sort of a day's I walked across the dance floor and over to the table where she was sitting. I guess she was thinking about something because she didn't look up until I was just about standing next to her. Hi. Hi yourself. I saw you upstairs at the drugstore. Did you? Yeah. She had a strange expression on her face. Kind of like I figured mine must have looked sort of surprised. Like she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. You know something? My face looked up just now. It was almost like I knew you from somewhere. I knew you real well. You seem to be reminding me of someone. I can't remember who. You give me a funny feeling. You know what I mean? I told me to buy her some dance tickets at the little booth. Well, I did. Then I came back and I sat down with her at her table. I told her how she reminded me so much of someone too. I've got a photograph of her. I'll show it to you. There. That's Cory. Well, doesn't she look... Yeah, yeah, she does. I'm sorry about following you down here from the drugstore, but... Well, that's all right, Joey. You don't have to apologize. I understand. How did you know my name? What? You called me by my name. How did... Oh, it's your name, Joey? Yeah, I do. Well, that's the habit of mine. I call all sailors Joey till I get to know them a little. How come? Oh, I don't know. Just like that. Look, let's dance, huh? Well, I don't dance very well. Oh, that's all right, Joey. Just hold me. And then she took my hand in the same sweet, special way that Cory had a hundred times, a thousand times before, gently, tenderly, with her fingers lightly placed. I sat there more than two years ago, leaning against the outside wall of my house. My eyes were closed because the sun was bright and my head was back because it was nice and warm on my neck, like that. Cory came over and quietly stood beside me that way, the same way with her head back and all. He took my hand and placed her fingers in mine. And she said clearly that I almost couldn't hear her. It must be lovely on the beach. And I thought to myself, yeah, we're on the dunes. And just as if she could read my mind, she said. Or on the dunes. And the next thing I remember, I was lying on a blanket. It was blazing hot, nice though. Turned over on the blanket, put her face next to mine. I love you, too. And when we're old enough, I want to marry you and have three children and live in a nice little house and have many friends and books to read and records on the phone. And I want to die with you in my arms. I realized that I was holding this other girl in my arms that we were dancing. Why did you learn that step? What? The one you just did. Well, I don't know. I just kind of like it. You said you couldn't dance. Well, very well usually. Me, we danced just fine together. Comfortable and easy. Two people have danced together a lot. Yeah. You're not 21, are you? No, 20 years. Oh, you're supposed to be 21 to come in here. Oh. Well, we won't tell them, will we? Truth is, I'm only 20 myself, but they don't know that. Oh, is that right? Uh-huh. See, that's just the age. Cory, I'm sorry. I just can't help you. Oh, of course you can. You're so much like her. It's all right, Joey, I understand. You know, all the time we've been dancing, I've been lost in memories, too. Yeah? Yeah, but mine are funny. And they picture in my mind that makes no sense. What do you mean? Well, I see myself with a boy. The one you remind me of in a pond. It's very quiet and the full moon lights up his face. But I can't be proud of who he is. The picture is clear. We're standing together looking up at his statue. The strange things, I don't seem to remember anything like that ever happening to me. I guess it did, but I just can't seem to remember. But I could remember it. I could remember it very well. It was two years ago. And I was walking in Heatherton Park with Cory. It was a bright moon. Nobody else was there. Nobody in the whole park stopped before the statue of Daniel Porter, who had said contributed more to the development of something or other than any other man in the state. She looked up at it as if she were going to mention something about it. She said, Dr. King said, I must will. From the way she said it, that it was serious. She walked through the park without saying another word. And the next day, she went away to the sanatorium. Three months later, she was dead. She was asking what was wrong. It was impossible to tell her. I was frightened. I tried to tell myself that there were other parts, other statues, other moon lights, but somehow I knew. Joey, you look pale. What's the matter with you? Could we go back and sit down? Sure, come on. Don't you feel well? I'll be all right. That park you pictured in your mind. That statue? Yeah. You were standing with some fella looking up at a statue. What was the moon? Low, just over his shoulder. What? The moon sort of low in the sky like it was sitting there right over the shoulder of the statue. I think it was. How could you know that? And were you holding his hand? Yeah. Ooh, with your fingers locked in his light. And then suddenly I saw it. A cup in her open palm. A small silver medallion that I'd made for Corey three years before. I cast it myself with a makeshift crucible and moles. She used to wear it on a chain. Where did you get that? That thing in your hand. Let me see it. Give it to me. Joey, what are you doing? Give it to me. I lost the table. I grabbed it from her with my hands stuck against hers and she dropped it. Where is it? What is it? What is it? What are you doing? Two dollars. I can't find it. Joey. Where did it go? Lies! Give me some lies! Joey! How did you get that, Madeline? How did you get it? Madeline, I had a coin in my hand. What are you talking about? That was no coin. Don't you think I can see? Oh, what's the matter? This guy drunk? No. Well, you turned some lights on. Now, listen, pal. Mr. Bailey, it's all right. You sure? Yeah. Okay, Meryl, but you'd better take it easy. Stay low. We don't want no trouble here. Oh, Joey, you don't know this place. You make any trouble and they'll... What is this all about? What are you trying to do to me? You listen to me for a minute. What are you lying to me for? I saw it. I saw it in your hand. Look, Joey, I mean it. You make any trouble or anything and they'll call the shore patrol. They will. Now, look, let's get out of here, okay? I'll turn in my tickets and change my clothes. We're not supposed to take dates out of here, so you go on up to that drugstore and wait for me. I'll meet you in a few minutes. After you're gone, I'll find it. I'll find what you're looking for. I waited 10 minutes, 20 minutes. I waited half an hour. And I went into the phone booth and I called the dance hall. I was dancing with... You know the one I mean. This girl, I was with. I want you to put that girl on the phone and... What are you making a statement? She said she'd meet me. Who did? This girl. Which girl? What's her name? It was... I don't know. She didn't tell me her name. That's all that's left of that sailor. Is this the one? No. Look, you see this guy in here? Sure. Who's he dancing with? He wasn't dancing with nobody. But he just walked over and sat down by himself at the back table in the corner. He just sat there staring at the table post for about half an hour. And he walked out. What are you? You remember me, don't you, honey? You gave me a cigarette. Who are you telling me you were dancing with somebody for? What's the matter with you? You came over to our table. Remember, I was looking for something. I was looking for something, all right? In just about a minute, you're going to get it. I'll pack up, you hear me? It's not here. Here. Here. You see this? It's a picture of some dain. He showed it to me. He keeps saying she works there. He can crack to something. You've got the wrong place. She don't work here. Let's go. I'm telling you, I was sitting with her, dancing with her. Are you down here? Where are you? Don't you... Get your hands off me. I said get your hands off me. Okay, buddy. I just want nobody to... Oh, you... Next morning, in Sick Bay, on the ship, I couldn't do anything but lay there and think about this girl. I told the ship's doctor about it. You've been under a great strain lately, Joey. I'm going to recommend that your duties be suspended for a few days, at least. You want me to stay here? Yes. In Sick Bay? That's right. What do you think? I'm crazy or something? You want to keep an eye on me? I said you've been under a strain. That's all. I don't think you've ever really gotten over the shock of Corey's passing away. You've been thinking a lot about her lately, haven't you? I mean, in these last weeks, before you even saw this other girl in the drugstore. Yes, I have. Well, isn't it possible that you simply wandered her back so much that... That my imagination was playing tricks on me? Something like that? Yes. I want you to stay right there in that bed. I lay there for about a week. I guess I was just about convinced that's the way it was. I mean, it was the only thing I could think of that seemed to explain everything. One day they told me I could get up and they brought me my clothes. And then I found the silver medallion in one of my shoes. That's where it must have fallen when she dropped it. There was no question about it. It was the one I had made for Corey at her funeral, at the reception. I had been the last one in line to look at her into the coffin and place the medallion in her sweet, cool hand and gently curl her fingers over it. And then they closed the lid. I never told that to the ship's doctor. You think I should have? You've been listening to The Silver Shoes, written especially if all suspense by Robert Reddick. Produced and directed by Fred Hendrickson. Heard in tonight's story were William Mason, Tony Darnay, Dick Keith, Rita Lloyd, Gertrude Warner and Ralph Camargo. Music supervision by Ethel Hubert. Sound patterns by Walter Otto. Technical direction by Michael Schottkiss. This is Stuart Metz speaking. Listen again next week when we return with Pages from a Diary, written by Virginia Boland and starring Jim and Henny Bacchus. Yes, another tale well calculated to keep you in. Suspense.