 Rolling trailer truck, and on the road ahead, the person who caused it all. That's the story of the long road, taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. Hello friends, this is John Steele. I wonder how many of you have ever driven one of those big diesel trucks. If you haven't, you probably wondered what it was like to push one of the huge jobs down the road. And I bet you many of the time you wished you had one, when some crazy fool pulled out of a side road in front of you. Right? Well, this week's adventure is going to take you right into the cab of one of them, during an all night trip. A trip made by a good friend of mine, Greg Prater. And one he'll never forget, because death was also riding the road that night. But I've asked him to tell you a story in person. Greg, maybe you're one of those people too, who always say, find out yourself before you believe anything. Investigate. Sure, it's a good theory, but in practice it don't always work out. Even investigating can give you the wrong idea, you can be misled by a lot of things. Believe me, brother, when the time comes that you find yourself getting into a spot, thinking something you don't want to. There ain't no theory going to do you any good, most likely. You're going to act just like I did. I've been working for the northern truck, and they trucked stuff from coast to coast to the northern state. But for the last six months, I've been running the night leg between Syracuse and Springfield Mass. One night I told the wife, Betty, to meet me at Sammy's, where all us drivers eat, before she went home from shopping. And I got there early, she was over in the corner, talking with another driver. Didn't see me come in. Can I say an honor? It's a long road, honey, and a lot can happen to Greg and Will. I'm going to kill him. I told you about this before, Betty. Greg! Yeah, Greg. What's the matter? You'll find out. You told me to meet you here. Not with Art, I didn't. Now look here. You do the looking part. Greg, I've got it. Wait outside, Betty. Wait outside. There's nothing in here. You keep out of this. You've got to listen to me, Greg. Outside! Please! You heard me! You're making a scene. I'm making a scene. Yeah, and you've been... But I explained everything. What's he knew? Where would you... Stay away from my wife. They were just talking until you came. Stay away from my wife. It's public here. You heard me. Who do you think you're talking to? I'm talking to you. You want to make something out of it? The place is filled with your friends. I don't need any help. Okay, big shot. Have it your way. Just remember what I'm telling you. Stay away from my wife. Someday you'll wish you hadn't acted so tough. You... Look at me that way. Why did I marry anyway? You don't understand. I know what's up. You don't. I've been hearing about you and Art ever since I've been working nights. There's an explanation, darling. Take your hands off me. Oh! I didn't have the decency to hide it. Right out in the open, I thought of all my friends. They had nothing to hide. I thought of breaking you in two. Listen to me. You cheap girl. You can't stand the truth. Someone lied to me. Yeah, yes. Ask Don't deal. He wouldn't get mixed up in a thing like this. Ask him if you don't believe me. It ain't bad enough. I got to worry every night about those hijackers on my job and everything. No, you've got to add to it. I'm sorry. I told you to stay away from my heart, didn't I? Yes. Why didn't you? It was because I had... You had to have a sight. No. Oh, Greg. You know how I feel about you. I don't know whether... Don't you? Baby. Only just... Yeah, yeah. That's why you've got to listen to me. I don't want to make you lie. You're not. Look. Ask Patty. Shut up about him. I got it. All right, all right, baby, later. No. I got to check my truck out. We can talk it over when I get back in this trip. All right. All right. Yeah, Mr. Steele. Mr. Steele. Mr. Steele. What are you doing? I've got to get him. Don't you don't. Please. We'll talk about it later. I said you're going home. Greg. Hey, Tammy. Tammy. You can't make the trip tonight, Greg. You've got to listen to me. Now, get in. I'm sorry. Go on. Why so, Mr. 60 Crescent Road. Yeah, right. Make sure she gets there. Don't worry. My wife gets away sometimes. So, Greg, please. Now, don't listen to her no matter what she says. Take her there and see that she stays there. Here, this is all yours. Hey, for that, I hold her myself. You don't have to go that far. Just do as I say. Get up, boys. Right there. I'm the boss. I've been there for a while watching the cab go away. I'm wondering why I gave in to her. Not that I didn't really know. We should let it slide for the time being. We have it out when I got back. The dispatcher's office picked up my orders and papers. I went after the loading platform to check my trailer. Just doing it now, Mr. Steele. Okay. I'll see you before you roll. Sure. Going to my trailer. What's it look like? Get out of there. Sure. I check my own loadings. Okay. Go ahead. Couldn't put it past you to shift my load. Why'd I do that? It'd just break your heart if I swung wide on a turn and tipped over, wouldn't it? Steele asked me to help you check out. Oh, he did. Yeah, Eddie's busy. Okay. But stay out of the trailer. Yeah? I think the load the way I want it. Get in the cab and let's start. What's your rush? I'm parking now. They're okay. Directional is okay. Left headlight out. Well, hit it. Probably a loose connection. Okay, watch it. I'll test the brakes. Okay. Get in the trailer now. Do it myself. Thanks. So it's yourself? I'll be back in a minute. Why? You just left. Yeah, yeah. Worth a lot. Keep an eye out for those hijackers. Don't worry. If they have an inside man, like I think, we bound to labor this product tonight. I'll bait, huh? Maybe. They won't stop me. They never have yet, you know. Yes. You're the only one of our drivers. They haven't held on. Maybe they know better. Perhaps. Be careful, anyway. You think I haven't got enough to do just watching my driving, huh? Sure, but it pays to be careful. People seem to think we can stop these big boys on a dime. Can't be done with 30 tons rolling fast. I don't worry about you handling driving problems. You're a worrywart, John. Wouldn't you be too? Not with me driving. Okay. I'm ready to roll. Where's Art? I don't know, and I don't care. It should be here. Art! Come on, make it snappy. Greg's ready. What's it got to do with Art? I'm going with you. Go with me. Extra precautions. Did you see my name on the board? No, Mr. Steed. Two men can handle trouble better than one. Not him. Art suggested he go along. Oh, he did, huh? To protect the cargo. And you? You stupid... Nothing to do with Mr. Steed. I've assigned him. I'm not going to have him around me. There's no time to argue. There's no argument to it. Art's not going with me. What's the matter, Greg? You have to go along? That's it. Oh, you... I'm not a doctor at all. I'm a doctor at both. But I still like to do anything about it. Now get him over. Okay, Mr. Steed. But I hope you still got two drivers when this trip's over. I couldn't understand Art all along. He was as wise as much as anybody about art and then bedding. It was like he was asking for murder. The two of us cooped up in a cab and traveling through long stretches of deserted country. It'd be easy to make something happen to Art along the road. It's a long road. Plenty of time. It's a nice start. But that couldn't do anything but get me in more trouble. Art and me didn't talk until we got past Herkimer. He started it, or it would never get started. We're still at the tip top, then? Yeah. She's really something. Yeah. I like to have waitresses like that in all our eating places. Uh-huh. She doesn't belong in one of those joints, anyway. Too much class, you know what I mean? I just... Okay, Greg. What do you mean? She kind of goes for you. We're friends. Yeah. What are you getting at? Nothing. Then don't sound like it. Did I sound like I meant something? All the gals at these joints along the road. Uh-huh. You eat there every night, you're bound to get friendly. Sure. Besides, they're out there in those places all night long. I like to get gossip from the drivers passing who's along the road. Yeah, nothing wrong with being friendly, is there? No. What are you getting at? Nothing. Except that it seems to me you're way off base and it's who talks to who stuff. Me? It's all right for you, but not your wife. It depends on who she's talking to. Like me? Yeah. You're afraid you haven't got what it takes to hold, buddy? No. Maybe I haven't. What's your tire blue? You sounded like it. No tire blue, I could tell. You better stop. I'll leave the car back for you. There wasn't any other car on the road. Well, it doesn't... You better stop and check. I'd know it if one of my tires was flat. Might be one of the inside ones. I'd still know. Listen, if Steve finds out you chewed up a tire without stopping, he's just a kind of blabber. I wouldn't have to. Oh, I'll stop if that'll satisfy you. Yeah, after you're gone half a mile. After you have to go a mile. Well, what's it matter if you're to stop right away? I don't need any driving lessons from you, bud. It matters where I get going. What? Pull it whole. Wasn't there when we left Syracuse a fresh hole? Yeah, nuts. Now, see for yourself. Powered right. I got a gun at home, I slugged like this. Probably some hunter that knows you're so close to the highway. Somebody was aiming at the tires. Are you making a federal case? That was a deliberate shot. Who would believe that? That he still will. Well, late now anyway. If you had to stop when I told you... He had them swarming all over us. How could I handle them? Let's get moving. I don't like sitting out here on this lonely road this way. It's safer with me driving anyway. Oh, would you? Yeah. You can have it if you want. It was your idea. I got a hold of it. It was an accident. Yeah. You know, when I tried to break it, it wouldn't take hold right away. By that time, I'd cut the emergency and see you'd fallen. You should have told me soon if you were so sleepy. It just came on me. When we were on a downhill grade? Maybe. Maybe you'd like to have seen an accident happen. I think it's easier for you, wouldn't it? Why? Because of me out of the way. You? You're not in my way. What's the matter with you? I just thought of something. Maybe I've been all wrong. About what? Fuck you. What do you mean? You know, I don't think you stand a chance for that. You're pretty sure of yourself. Yeah. Yeah? I'm thinking different now than I had back at Sammy's. Walking on something like that after all you've been hearing would make any guy's blood boil. But driving along at night to get a chance to do a lot of thinking just seemed to me that if Art was that anxious to have me out of the way he couldn't be too sure of himself with Betty. Just before we got to the rough mountains west of Massachusetts I pulled a big truck into the tip top in. Art was almost asleep. Said just bring him some coffee. Rose saw me come in the door and left one of the white line boys and rushed my way. Something funny about the way she was looking at me though. She got it good to see. Think I've been gone a long time. I got a choice. Alone. What a way to get some food in me. No. Can't you tell me here. Too many people. What's the matter? The boss. Come on. What do I snag a piece of cake? I've been waiting for this call. Take it easy. I can. You're shaking like a leaf. Gracie cool. You mean the one at Sammy's? Yeah. Oh. Something about Betty? Yeah. No way. What happened? What happened? I thought you weren't even going to make it. Well, let's have it. Aren't you Hamilton? Is he with you? Yeah, I'm a caddie. She's got a ditch in great. Sure'd like to. She's got us. Another life and death. What about Betty? I don't want to tell you. Go on. The plan on killing you, Greg. Tonight. Where'd you get that idea? Gracie. Gracie. She heard out in your wife's hand and it's not for your hysterics. I don't believe it. It's true. I'm not Betty. You don't see Gracie spend no three bucks calling here to have me warn you if it wasn't true to her. Well, why didn't she tell me there? I didn't think much of it. All a joke or something, you know. It was fun. I thought we were going along with you tonight. But Betty... Yeah, I didn't want to tell you that. She... You know, between her and Artie... and Artie... Yeah. I thought maybe I'd have done it before I got a chance to warn you. No. Nothing happened. No, just those hijackers. They shot at my tires. They shot? Yeah. It was like... like my... like my grandmother's home. Huh? Nothing. You think Betty's the one that shot at you? I don't think nothing, honey. Thanks a lot for tipping me off. You're great. I'll take care of this. You can't go on with the trip. I gotta. But... Don't worry, baby. Right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I'm sorry, boy. About Betty, I mean. Thanks, honey. But... Well... Now that she... Yeah? Well... Now that she knows how she really feels about me... What she is... Maybe... What? Maybe I'll have more interest in the tip-top now. Huh? I know what you mean, honey. Is it a chance? That's all just a chance. It's always a chance for anything. Okay. I've got a job to do now, honey. Oh, you can't go back. I'm wise now. He won't get away with nothing. He can tell a police. Couldn't prove a thing. I'll handle this my own way. I wish you wouldn't. Don't worry, honey. You can't go on. That's my middle name. I'll be waiting for you, Greg. Thanks. Maybe you won't want me after tonight. I walked out to the truck shaking mad. Less than half an hour ago, I'd been chasing my mind about Betty. Even should I knew her so well, I wouldn't have thought of her. Even should I knew her so well, yeah, I knew her. Now, I was still sleeping and pretending to be when I got there. I checked the tractor and traded like a hawk, just in case I had tried anything while I'd been in the tip top. Everything looked okay, so I pulled out on the highway again ahead of the other mountains. It's only a couple of minutes until I'd woke up. Hey, where's my coffee? I didn't get any. Why not? Because you're not going to need any. Huh? So you talked stealing to coming along with me, huh? Well, yeah, in a way. So you could carry out the little plan. You and my wife worked on that. But... What plan? Kill me. Who told you that? You were hurt back in Sammy's. Okay, Greg. No, you don't. Pull over and stop. Don't want to, you know, good. I'll take you to the police. Oh, you don't? What's your road? Give me. Greg! Don't worry. Throw it out the window. Now, you're going to get just what you were going to give me. You won't have the chance. Only I'm going to let you sit there and sweat it out. I wonder when it's going to happen. And how? Think about what you've got yourself into by being the white guy. The others will get you if I don't. Just us two now. You'll find out. I got you sweating already, haven't I? Go on. Maybe you'll get a taste of what I've gone through. Hey, watch it. Crazy kids. They're in front of a truck that way. Swing over. More. I'm driving. Well, that was close. Look at what they were doing. They had a woman in the car. Uh-huh. Ah, where were we? Look, Greg, yeah. Yeah. They lied to you. Whoever told you that. No, you tried twice already. Look, go on and pass. You got plenty of room. Same car. Yeah, now they want a race. Looks like a signal to you. You don't get me to look that way. There you are. Well, let him signal. He wants you to pull over. Hop. No. Hey, yeah. Then I ain't pulling. They're cutting it. Hey, Jackas. No, there was a woman. It's all a watch. What? I'm going to catch up with one of them on the mountain. What are you going to do? Gun it. Push it for all she's got. This is a long downgrade. You're going to take advantage of it, too. They're waiting ahead. They're going to eat my exhaust. They're going to cry cry me again. Brian, stop me. They're going ahead. Yeah, I know. Hey, Greg, that's your car. That's all. They're blocking the road. Too bad. Put on your brakes, Greg. The gas. But I didn't. I know what's coming. Because of the hijackers. I think you could have cooked up a better story by now. He was sure it was an inside job. And I suspected art. We asked him to try and find out. Hop on. If that was so, you wouldn't have had to keep it from me. We know that now, but we didn't then. What do you mean? We weren't sure you were in it on a two. Me? Because your talk was the only one that had never been hijacked. But I told you how I got away. They tried it. It could have been an alibi to cover yourself. I tried to tell you that night about art, but you wouldn't give me a chance. You only asked me to... Well, you knew Art went for me. This all straight? Yes. I should have known. No, me better. It was just that... Well, I'd heard things. I could have happened to anyone, Greg. That's right. And then you bedding in the hospital. I wouldn't even answer your notes. I am. Yeah, yeah. Let's just deal with what they've got on me. How tough is it? I don't know. I told them before he died that you pushed him out deliberately, rammed the car. It makes it tough, huh? Not easy. We've got your lawyer, Greg. Thanks. Maybe when the jury hears all the evidence, they'll be lenient. Just maybe. You shouldn't think that way. We'll do all we can. I know that. Ready? Yes. We're kind of a tough spot. I mean, I am. We? In Long Road, honey. But I'm coming to the last turn, one more turn, then straight road ahead. If you like Greg's story, why not come back next week? I'll have a man who always kept away from trouble, until he found himself tangled in the terrifying secret. I like to call it the face. 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, so long and good hunting. Adventurer is produced by Robert Monroe, directed by Elliot Drake and written by Roy L. Beats. Matt Poland was heard as Greg Prada. Also in our cast were Gene Tatum and Alan Stevenson. John Steele was played by Don Douglas. Musical effects were created by Doc Whipple. And your announcer is Ted Malley. All names of persons and places used in this program are fictitious. Any resemblance to names of actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Remember, next week, mutual presents, The Face, another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele, Adventurer. In its endless war against disease, particularly tuberculosis and malaria, the United Nations Children's Fund supplies medicinal such as the 20th century wonder drugs, penicillin and streptomycin. It also provides medical equipment and even bicycles for transportation. Through the fund, many countries contribute personnel, supplies and money to help prevent the further spread of many killing diseases. Your help will enable the Children's Fund to continue this program. Send your contribution to the United Nations Children's Fund Committee, New York 16, New York. This is the Mutuo Broadcasting System.