 makes the startling discovery that he holds the greatest power on earth. That's the story of Awakening, taken tonight from the files of John Steele. Adventurer. This is John Steele. And how are you this evening? I know you're interested in another story of adventure. And tonight, a lot of thinking. And serious thinking, too. There are so few of us who can tell of many adventures. At best in a lifetime, we experience one exciting moment that makes for a real story. Yet each one of us has had one such happening that stands out above all the rest. Bits of living are the stories that we bring to you. Tonight's tale concerns a man I met while I was working in a small town in New England. The man is a very usual kind of fellow with a very unusual story. Here he is to tell it. If you've ever lived in a small town, you'll know how it is in Reedville. Seasons come slow up there. The calendar moves from spring to winter and back to December again before you realize it. Year in, year out. Changes don't happen there. They just kind of move in on us. That's why when my father died, I took over his store. That's why for 15 years, Jenny and I were content. Just to live slow, just to keep the store. But I guess it began that spring morning. Fresh eggs, folks, seven crates. Here, let me give you a hand. It's okay. Just tell me where to put them. Right on the floor, right here. Got to get my win back first. Soda, favorite sasparum. Sounds good. One soda, coming up. Want me to fix you something to go with that, Steve? Sandwich, cake? Good Lord, Jenny. I just finished breakfast. You sure? Jenny likes to see everybody happy and she believes in keeping them like that by stuffing food into them. Good thing I don't come here more often than once a day. Where you treat me, I'd get so fat I wouldn't fit my clothes. How's Susan? Fine. Like you, greats wife like Cora and a daughter is pretty and smart as Susan. I'm lucky. So are they, Steve? Cora was asking when you were coming to see her, Jen. Ask Fred. He keeps me chained to this store while he's off running the village of Reed Hill. No, Jen. Tell me, you're going to be elected president of the new fire department. Well, now, who's been spreading a rumor like that? Oh, news gets around. My old man used to say, Never count your money until you had it right in the palm of your hand. Go on, be modest. Don't you pay attention to him, Steve. He knows he's going to be elected and he's tickled pink. Jen, where do you feed him to make him so popular? Right, you two. No kidding. School board trustee, notary public, kid of the Grange, and now president of the fire department. You're making it sound bigger than it is. I wouldn't say that. You're a pretty important guy, Fred. Have a candy bar. I can't. How much do I owe you for the pop? Forget it. Come on now, how much? It's all in the house. Look, yesterday someone forgot to charge up that carton of cigarettes. Day before, someone just accidentally forgot to mark down for key. Excuse me. You fired it out with Jen. She's bossing around. Morning, Miss Adams. Nice day today. Good morning, Fred. Smells like spring finally decided to stay a while. Some high test, Fred. Fill her up. I think 10 ought to do it. Don't often see around, certainly, Miss Adams. I have a special errand today, Fred. Sure enough. Docs do home. That's it. Big convention. Filly, wasn't it? Now, how did you know about that? Don't worry, Miss Adams. You'll make it. That 1035 is always late. Oh, you know he's on the 1035, too? Listen, Miss Adams, you keep a store in a town like Reedville as long as I have. You'll be postmaster, notary public. You'll go in and out of people's houses with orders like me. You'll find out a lot of things about people and what they do. I suppose so. Oil? Oil, Miss Adams? No, no thanks. I'll just clean out this windshield for you. No charge. Never saw anyone work as hard as that husband of yours, though. Too bad he has to go off to so many conventions. City's an awful place in the spring. Yes, he works very hard. Yes, Suri. Doc's a nice guy. It's a shame I say if a man can't find time to enjoy his own guests even. Guests? I see that Connecticut car around a lot must be a pretty good friend of yours. Yes, he, uh, it's a friend. Good looking chap, too. Yes. Doc's gonna feel pretty bad missing him. What's life worth if you can't enjoy a few friends? I guess I... Thought so, thought so last night when I saw the car in your drive. Poor Doc, I thought. Last night? You must be nervous, your grocery order. You must be mistaken. Please? You must be mistaken. There was no car in my drive last night. I wasn't even home. Ma'am? I said I wasn't home last night. I went to a movie. Well, it's not important, Miss Adams. I often go to movies when my husband's away. I don't like to be alone. Don't blame you. Yeah, sure, funny, though. Can't you hurry, Fred? I'll be late. I came into the kitchen like always do. I could have sworn I saw you in there moving around the other room. You couldn't have. If music was playing, you were at the piano, I guess, and I could hear voices. But you couldn't have. Well, maybe with someone else. There were no guests, I tell you. You know, Jen has been after me to get glasses. I'm beginning to think maybe I ought to now. I could have sworn I saw a blue Cadillac with yellow leather seats. Please, there was no such car in my drive. You must be mistaken. You say there wasn't? No. Then there wasn't. We all make mistakes, Fred. Yes, or he would do. I'm sure you were mistaken, weren't you? Could be, could be. That's all, Miss Adams? That's all. Thanks. OK. Fred. Ma'am? I'll pay you later. No worry, Miss Adams. No worry at all. Now through the kitchen. Said to tell you he'd see you at the inaugural dinner for the new fire department president. She sure is dead. Honey, I wish you wouldn't talk when your backs turn. I said that's a funny way to act. What's funny about it? Steve often goes out through the back. I wasn't talking about Steve. Oh? Laura. What about her? She acted like something was worrying her. A doctor's wife has a lot to put up with, I guess. Jim. Yes? What's today? I mean, what day? Tuesday, of course. I had to go to the bank. And yesterday was Monday. Naturally. And on Monday the movie's closed, isn't it? You know that, Fred. Monday's Jim Porter's night off. Then why did she say that? Who for goodness sake? My strange. The papers made a sound like small, funny at the store, things I've never finished doing. Then I thought of the fire department and it was a good thought to come into the store to pay her bill. I owe for the gas, too. Will you look it up, please? Certainly, certainly, Ms. Adams. Hey, I got a new French dressing in today. No thanks. Fresh escrow oil? I already have some. Thank you. Don't often care. I thought maybe you might like some more, Ms. Adams, in case of company dropping in or anything. The doctor and I entertain very seldom. Best to be prepared, Jenna only says. In the country, you have to keep a well-stock covered. Did you find what I owe you? 6349, exact. I think this will cover everything. Doc, get home okay? Fine. I'll have to see Doc one of these days myself. I didn't know you were sick. Me? No. Just want to chew the fat a while. Doc's an interesting guy to talk to. Yes, he is. Ms. Adams, you lost something. I... oh, thanks. I was mighty careless of you, Ms. Adams. Yes, wasn't it? That kind of money doesn't grow on trees. My old man used to say. Must have fallen out of my purse. You women, you should be more careful. These days, a penny comes hard. Man can't even get his tooth filled for $100. I suppose you're right. It takes money, a lot of money, to keep body and soul together these days. Yes, sir, even. Yes, sir, prices shooting sky high. Well, goodbye. Goodbye, Mr. Thompson. Say hello to Doc. All right, again. Sure. John Steele called. Said to tell you the fire department elections are probably on Monday. You'll get a notice. Hope I can make it. As if you wouldn't. You know right well there's no other man in town who can do the job as well as you. Yeah, that's right. Nobody is smart, is energetic, is responsible. I knew it. I just knew it. You haven't heard a word I said, Fred Tompkins. Not a word. I'm sorry, Jenna. I was thinking. You don't have to do it when I'm talking to you. Oh, my goodness. Jenna, how long the Adams has lived in town? Eight or ten years. About. Why? They keep pretty much themselves. Some people like to be alone. Some people might have reason to. What'd you say? Strike you to lose anything odd about his wife. She's prettier than most women around. That's all. Beautiful women always stand out. Left alone a lot too. I feel sorry for the poor little thing sometimes. With her money you feel sorry for her? Money isn't everything. Sure it is, Jen. It's power. We wouldn't have to work seven days a week. Sweating to make ends meet. If I could, we're scared, aren't we? Are they? There's always something a man tries. One thing he's afraid of. What are you afraid of, Fred? Nothing. That's just it. A man who isn't afraid can do anything. Just about anything in the world that he wants. One of the nicest in town. We like it very much. Mr. Tompkins, you had some kind of business? Yeah, I... Can I get you some tea? No, thanks. We've had it a long time. I hear you play it every now and then when I deliver groceries. You play real well. You're very kind. The only people play a lot I notice. My old man used to play piano too. Did he? I would have liked you. Yeah. Mr. Tompkins. Well, it's about a pianist, Adams. Yes? Well, you know that old Rosewood piano Jenny and I got in the attic? The one you admired so much? Always. Truly beautiful. I'm glad to hear you say that, Mrs. Adams, because I'm going to give you that piano. No. Yes, I am. There is another person in this whole town I'd rather give that old piano to accept yourself. Knowing how you love music, Mrs. Adams, and how alone you are all the time, it's just what you need. You're very generous, Fred, but I have a piano. It's a wonderful instrument, Mrs. Adams. Two pianos. I can only play one at a time, you know? Believe me, you can't afford not to buy this one, Mrs. Adams. Buy? I... I guess I didn't put it very clear. I see. I guess... Well, it looks like we're wasting time. No. Ma'am? My husband. What would he say? Well, now I'm sure Doc would want you to be happy, Mrs. Adams. Music is such a harmless pastime, isn't it? When you consider what some lonely women do when their husbands work. I didn't have a piano with these... You don't have an old rosewood. How much? Four thousand dollars. You're joking. It's ridiculous. I took up enough of your time, Mrs. Adams. No, no, wait. I... I'll have to think it over. Sure. Sure you do that, Mrs. Adams. Think it over. I see. Four thousand fat dollars in a tower. Why should Laura Adam buy our old piano? Maybe she wanted it. All of a sudden? Why not? It's been up in our attic for years. Why didn't you buy it before? Maybe one of those city visitors of her is told it was valuable. Nonsense, Laura's no fool. It is a good piano. No hunk of wood is worth that much. That's a fine thing. The minute I try to do something, you gotta head a little. You have to pick it apart. Customer. All right. Coming. Morning, Fred. Jenny around? She's out back. Dropped in to see if any of the flowers came in yet. It's been kind of looking forward to spring flowers. I think Jen saved a box for her. Jen? Jen? Got chorus flowers? I'll get them. Hello, Steve. Jen? How is Corb? I love flowers. As much as Corb should only see them from wheelchairs. I don't know, Fred. The way I figure it. My wife and I have. Do you know Susan was voted the prettiest girl in the whole high school? No. Well, dog gone. She should be. Mark me down some pop. Wig up yourself. I think the world is Susan, don't you? Forward. You have every reason to. Not every guy has a daughter as bright and prettiest Susan. That kid certainly makes us over after friends. Well, Corb and I are giving her a little vacation when school's out. Kind of a graduation gift. Well, now. For long? Well, just as long as she likes, I guess. People will miss her. Including her old man. Susan has a lot of friends. Kind of fancy stuff as this. Peppermint. They're making it in all colors now. Mark me down a box. Corb might like some. Or Susan? Well, Corb and I do spoil the youngster a bit. Oh, you don't. Of course. Corb has been an invalid so long. It kind of makes it hard on you, I guess, Steve. I wonder how close you are to Susan. There are some things a kid like that has to tell another woman. What things? It's not important. It's important. If you mention it, Fred. No kind of bread came in this week. Vienna loaf. What things? Corb might like some. What things, Fred? Kids are all a little wild these days, I guess. What are you aiming at? What do you mean? Nothing. Skip it, Steve. Like I said, all of us will miss Susan. I know a particular party who will miss her especially bad. For instance? That rice boy. What about the rice boy? Nice kid, I guess. I didn't mean that. Huh? What about him and Susan? I'll look, Steve. What about him and Susan, Fred? You're a father, Steve. You know better than anyone. I don't think I'll wait for the flowers. Pointed. Tell Jen I'll pick them up later. Hey, hey, Steve. Steve, is that your son? I know he is. This was good mistake. I was only going to suggest you call in. You call me. You wouldn't dare not to. Fred, I'm worried. Now what? We're $300 behind this week. The show is losing money. Does that all forget it, Jen? We have money. A lot of money. Not if we don't earn it. That was my mistake, too. All along, I worked too hard. I should have used my head. Laura Adams canceled her account. What? I don't like this. Oh, well, we can get along without the Adamsons. It's not the only one. The heresies and the bruises in the land hours. Laura Adams was her best customer. I don't like it, Steve. I don't like it at all. Hi, Professor. Good morning. Good morning. The green is certainly a messy season. Yeah. The roads back to the new school were literally a sea mud. It's been really an hour to drive back. All these days, that old buggy of yours is going to get bogged down good, Professor. It's a sturdy car. It's 20 years. I'm all afraid. Big pardon? Nothing. You should try conscientiously not to mutter, Frederick. Forgive me. I keep remembering you as a small boy who sat in my English class. Blushing and stammering. Frederick, my first accomplishment as an instructor was helping you to overcome that handicap. Thanks, Professor. Those were the days, Frederick. Yes, indeed. You're a prosper. What's that? I sold it well for yourself. District school supervisor's quite an important person around here. Well, it's been good, me, Frederick. Yes, indeed. Hear anything about the far department elections? That word. How's your sister these days, Professor? Cynthia. Cynthia? Splendid. Splendid. Glad to hear it. Yes, indeed. She's fine. Fine. How nice of you to remember, too. In almost 12 years since Cynthia left Reedville, the country still has future. World's an awful small place, Professor. Yes, indeed. I always say that. Not long ago, I ran into a friend who knows Cynthia. How chaps an attendant at one of those sanitariums? Indeed. We must go. Roads, you know. These days, people who get too far into the bottle are treated just like sick people, it seems. I must get on. A lot of people are asking about Cynthia. My car, you know. The lights are bad. You ought to have another car, Professor. One of these days, that old crate won't get you home. New models are so expensive. Not a new one. Something like my car, for instance. I'd like to see you have a car like that, Professor. Oh, yes, indeed. It's a handsome car, Frederick. A very handsome car. I'd sell it to him. Oh, my Lord. Reasonable. I couldn't think about it, Professor. A bowl, that's all. Are you hurt? My grandmother's cut glass comporter. Never liked it. What are you doing back here, anyhow? You ought to be out in the store. Somebody has to clean the house. Dog gone, Jen. You shouldn't be doing this heavy work. Where's all that help I hire for you? Susan didn't come. Oh, she didn't. Well, we'll just find out right now. Oh, I had a heart attack. Doc's there now. All right. All right, then. I'll get you someone else. You can't get help in this town. I'd like to know why not. Help's hard to get, and you know it. Soon as nowhere came over, it's a sort of favor. I paid her good money. Now Sue won't get her vacation. She'll have to nurse her mother. Okay, okay. What's the matter with you? Can't you forget Cora Preston for just one minute? Just one. I've done housework before. I guess I can do it again. It's a pretty cheap trick, Steve's point. Pretty doggone cheap. For heaven's sakes, Cora didn't have a heart attack just so I'd have to clean the house. I'll fix him. I'll fix him. He came. I ordered sasperilla. That's good. Why don't you go out? For a walk or something? I don't feel like it. I'll take care of the customers. What customers? Two people came in yesterday. Sam Jones and Ruggles Cribb. Dead beats. Fred, I went to the bank yesterday. You always go on Mondays. This is Tuesday, the 18th. We have a lot of money in the account, Fred. I told you we did. The store's losing money. For Lord's sake, Dan, don't try to tie this store around my neck forever. I have other projects. I work on... Daniel and the car didn't bring that much. I tell you, I have other projects. Quit trying to run my life, will you? I'll go out if I want. And if I don't, I won't have any woman to tell. Hello, Fred. Nice to see you, John. Hey, where's everybody? What do you mean, everybody? We're here. Usually, you have to fight your way through this place. I'm trying to quiet lately. Spring planning, I guess. Just pass Professor Elwell down the road. You know, I just can't get used to the idea of the professor's new car. It used to be kind of a landmark, you might say. The old boy putting along in his... Something for you, John. Sure. Need some cigarettes, as a matter of fact. This your brand? Yeah. Well, it looks like the Reedville Fire Department's going into action at last. About time. Official. Elected a president last night. What? Joe O'Brien. They were supposed to notify us. They didn't even let me know. I got a car. Nobody told me it's a frame up a cheat. Hey, wait now. They can't do this to me. I waited for this one. What do you mean? They're trying to be John Steele. They sent you here with their dirty lies. They go, Fred. They can't do this to me. They can't. I'll show you out. Yeah. Goodbye. They can't do this to me, Jen. That office was mine. It was all set. Forget it. They're yellow, every single one of them. Fred, nothing's that important. It is to me, and they know it. They're yellow, and they're playing all their dirty tricks to pay me back. Pay back what? Nothing. Well, what? Leave me alone. I only asked a simple question, Fred. Quit trying to poke into my business. Why don't you lock the store and go to bed? It's after hours. You could use some rest. The store stays open. You kept telling me you don't care one way or the other about the store, and now... It stays open. All right. They think they can threaten me. I'll show them they can't. Oh, stop this crazy talk. You're lost. Forget it. It's Steve. He engineered the whole thing, and the doc. Fred. If he wants his money back, he can think again. What money? Leave me alone. What money, Fred? Leave me alone! Shout at me, Fred Tomkins. And quit running my life. I won't have you talking to me like this. No. No, I won't. I'll talk how I please, Jen. Not to me. You're just like the others. That's enough. Shut up, will you? Okay, then. Where are you going? Get out of the way. Put down that gun. I'm in no mood to argue, Jen. Put down the gun. I'll show the lousy little... Fred. Put it. Fred, listen. Jenny, I warn you. Put it. Jen! Jen! This is Tomkins, Mrs. Adams. Fred Tomkins. Mrs. Adams. Mrs. Adams. Did you get your number? Ring again. Hurry. Yes, sir. Listen, Mrs. Adams. Where's Doc? Doc is out on a call. Where can I reach him? Can't you? I'm afraid I don't know. You don't understand. This is urgent. It's a matter of what... Listen. Get me Preston's. Mrs. Preston is sick, sir. They asked me not to ring after nine o'clock. Steve's my friend. Will... Hurry. Steve, this is Fred. Steve. Steve, I need help. I need help right away. Sorry. It's not for me. Steve, listen. It's Jenny. Is that your LL, doesn't that? Try again. He answered before. A little death, Mrs. Adams. Ring. Keep on ringing. Yes, sir. It's my wife. I can't leave her. Yes. Try everywhere. Yes. Wait. John Field. Yes. Ring him. Hurry. John, Fred Tomkins. What did you say? Fred, Fred Tomkins. Listen, John. Find time to wake him up. It's Jenny. She's hurt. What? Jenny, shot. No, Fred. We've done all we can. She's got to get well, Doc. You've got to make her. You've got haste. Don't you understand? If Jenny dies, there's nothing. Nothing. She's all I got. I'll take it easy. I'll do anything. I'll give you anything. I never meant to harm you, Doc. I know everyone in town hates that. It's not true. But I never meant to harm, no matter what your wife said. If my wife and John Steele hadn't driven all over this country looking for me, there wouldn't be any question even about waiting now. Lara? Yes. You know, yeah, you are. Let's go, Tomkins. What? Just a minute, sure. You've got to get him booked. All right. All right. Look, Fred, don't worry. They all know you didn't shoot Jenny. We'll get Mac on the case. He's a good lawyer. I'll do all I can for Jenny. Don't be afraid. No. I'm all afraid.