 Take one man scarred by the lonely footsteps in the leaves, and a path of decision. That's our story, The Circle Road, taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. John Steele, we're back to bring you another story of intense emotional conflict. This week, I have as my guest, Eddie Guard. Now, Eddie's story actually happened two or three years ago, but the way things are today, it might do us all some good if we sat down and just remember it. I was never formally introduced to Eddie. He just stepped out of the night on a lonely station platform and started talking to me. There was something about him that impressed me. Well, I followed up on him, and curious to tell you about it himself. I think you'll be interested. Eddie, some guys, when they got their discharge papers, had it all planned what they were going to do. All the months they'd been sitting in foxholes or rotten in a jungle, they'd planned what they're going to do when they got back and got out. Open a business, get married, buy a house, all the other stuff you heard a hundred times. Well, I had something I was going to do, but it was none of them. I was going to look up my buddy, Al Corrie. I was a long time getting out because of the hospital, and the Docs wanted to keep me around for a while to be sure I was all right. But when they did give me the papers, I took the first train up to Plainfield. When I got off, I asked a guy sitting in the car where the Corrie's lived, and he offered to drive me over. That was the longest part of the five years I'd ride from the station. Friend of Al's, huh? What? I said you were friend of Al's? Yeah. Met him in the war? We were in the same outfit. Thought I hadn't seen you before. Still in the Army, huh? Nah. I thought you couldn't wear the uniform. How much farther is it anyway? Just up the next block. Oh. Bring back any silver news? What? On the war? Oh, no, no, nothing important. I see. Well, here you are. Well, do you want to get out? Yeah, yeah. I'll be somebody home. Thanks. I told you. Yeah? We got a quiet town. Keep it that way. What do you mean? That's what I said. This, this where Al Corrie lived? Yes. I'd like to talk to him. Well, Al isn't home right now. Why don't we be back? We expect him almost any day. I'm his mother. Is there anything I can do for you? No, thanks. Al went up to Danbury to see about a job. He didn't plan to stay more than a few days. Well, I'll come back tomorrow. You're Eddie. Huh? You're Eddie, aren't you? Yeah. And I almost let you go away. I felt you were Eddie. Well, come in. Well, I... Please, come in. Jim! Oh, Jim! Oh, it's so good to finally meet you, Eddie. After all we've heard about you and Al was never sure you were... Jim! Come in the living room. What is it, dear? It's Eddie. Hello? This is Al's father. Jim, it's Eddie. Well, I'm certainly glad to meet you. Hello, Eddie. Hello? For months we've heard Eddie this, Eddie that. It's years now. Alan will be so happy. You think he will? I can't wait till he gets back. Perhaps you ought to send him a telegram, Jim. I know you'll... Good idea. No, no, no, don't do that. I'm sure son would want to... I'll hang around town till he gets back. I want to, you know, give him a surprise. We understand. Of course. A few will tell me where I can find a hotel on the... Hotel? How ridiculous you're staying here, Eddie. No, I... We wouldn't think of having you stay in a hotel. Would we, Jim? Certainly not. Well, I think I'd better go... That may be Alan now. I'll let him in. Well, come on, Eddie. I'll show you. Well, what's wrong? Get back. There's pain in your chest. Let me see... All right, get back. Well, what is it? Stay where you are. And I know you'll want him even to be here. Yes, I do. Isn't it wonderful? Virginia, this is Eddie. Virginia lives across the street. Yeah, I know. Hello? He calls you Ginny. Virginia, you stay for dinner. We'll all have a grand time. You will, won't you? What? Stay for dinner. Yes, I'll stay. Good. Come on, Eddie. I'll show you your room. Oh, yeah, yeah. And take your time, Ed. We don't hurry around here. Up this way. Nice place. I'm sure it's better than the last time you and Alan saw each other. Yeah. The door to the right. This is Al's room. We haven't a guest room. Nice. You can share it when Al gets back. I think he'd want it that way. Yeah. Bath is through that door and the closet's over there. Thanks. I'm glad you came. I think Alan is needed, you Eddie. So, let's see. He hasn't been the same since he came back. Sometimes we don't understand him anymore. Maybe there's a reason. I know you boys don't like to talk about it, but it seems I know my son, and you know him. He's been going around in circles ever since he came back. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful help. I will. I'm sure of it. If you're tired, you want to rest up. I'm okay. Here, now, give me your coat and I'll... What? What's that? Nothing. I didn't mean to let it fall out of your coat. It's a gun, isn't it? Yeah. It's an ugly thing. It's kind of pretty when you need it. Neat, little revolver. What on earth are you carrying a thing like that around for? It's a souvenir. I was going to give it to Al. It isn't loaded, is it? No, just a souvenir. Oh. Well, I'll call you when dinner's ready. Make yourself completely at home. I will. I come back, Al. There's a good dinner Al's mother served at that night, and the talk around the table was mostly about me and Al and what Al would say when he saw me. They had plenty of guesses, but I knew what he'd say. After dinner they were still talking. I couldn't take any more of that, so I got to go for a walk. Ginny, the girl offered to go along and show me the sights of the town. That was fine by me. Al's girl. And everything's on Main Street. It's not like any other small town. But the people are nice. You don't take a good picture. What? The one Al had that made you look mousy. The only one I had when he left. Besides, maybe I've changed in five or six years. Yeah. Al always said you were going to get married when he came back. You're not, are you? No. Why not? It didn't work out. That's no answer. It's different. Something had changed, that's all. Somebody else? I don't know. Yeah, come on. What? Just looks good enough. Don't you want a walk? All right, maybe later. Let's have a drink. I don't know about this place. I've never been inside. It's a bar, isn't it? Come on. All right, then. Yes, sir, would it be? A double... I only had you. Nothing, thanks. A double rye, huh? Right away. I always wondered what this place looked like inside. Well, now you can say you know. Hey, soldier, soldier. Still fighting a war for us? Beat it. You know, I was going to fight you. Look, you want to get hurt? You got a girl to talk to, huh? You're lush. There you are, soldier. Well, here's luck, baby. Why'd you come, then? I wanted to see Al. Yes. I wanted to look up my old buddy. Why didn't you come before this? I came as quick as I could. The war's been over a year and a half. Has it? Were you hurt in a hospital? In old mine, I'd rather not talk about it. Of course it. Sorry. It's all right. Yeah, I was hurt. You don't have to. Funny thing, back in the army, you know, you don't talk much. Everybody's going through the same thing. There's no need to. I guess I'd forgotten what it's like to talk to somebody that wasn't there. Doesn't know what it was all about. Were you badly hurt? No, there were a lot. Hurt worse. Lake? How'd you know? I don't live. Only a little. He's a pretty good. You're the first one that's known. Sorry. What's there to be sorry about? I'm here, ain't I? Are you sure you want to see Al? Oh, yeah, I want to see him. I don't think you should. That's where you're wrong. Hey, soldier, soldier, boy. Oh, let go of me. I just wanted to buy you a drink. Thought I told you to beat it. Ah, don't get sore, soldier, boy. The war's over. What would you know about it? Don't you get tough, huh? That's the trouble with you guys. Get out, A.G. He doesn't understand. Get out. Who do you think you're talking to? I'll see you tomorrow. Yeah. I just shouldn't. What's the matter with you? She's still right where you are, mister. I'm calling the cops. Please, if you'll just let it... He can't do things like that. Cops will straighten him out. Who's he thinking is? He's a nice fellow. I guess so. What? Son did the same thing when he got home. He did. Sure, I was kind of worried the first time it happened, but after a while, I guess I got used to dragging myself out of bed in the middle of the night. That doesn't happen for some time now. Got anything planned for tomorrow? What Saturday, you know? I didn't know what you and Ginny might have... No. Well, the high school's got a football game with Maplewood. Did you play football? No. Yeah, let's see. Hunting season opens tomorrow. That's what Alan and I usually do. You've done much hunting? No, no. Say, you got a lot to do here in Plainfield. You want to give it a try tomorrow? Uh, oh, that's all right, I understand. I guess you boys have had your filler killing. What? I understand. Well, maybe you and Ginny can take in the football game if son doesn't get home. Yeah, maybe. Nice girl, Ed Ginny. Yeah? Make her a mighty fine wife for some young fellow. You know, I was thinking... What? If you haven't got any other plans, why don't you stay around Plainfield for a while, Eddie? We would be glad to have you at the house. Alan would be happy, too. Oh, no, I am. I got the plans. And you know best. Oh, almost missed the house. I'll get the garage doing. No, no, we'll just leave it out here overnight. Yeah? Don't mention nothing about this to mother. I told her you'd gone out without any money and were stuck down town with a bill you couldn't pay. Okay. Sure. Sure, sir, Eddie, to keep from the women, eh? Yeah. You want to say that I'm the... I'm sorry. No, don't worry about it, Eddie. Take a little time. You'll get back on your feet again. I know you will. Bye, Mr. Corey. Good night, son. The first time since it happened I felt something good for somebody. I walked around the room looking at his things. A baseball hanging on the wall, something written on a no-hit-no-run game pitched by Al Corey. A picture of a football team with Al in the middle hole in a football underneath a Flainfield High School, 1936 Group 3 champion. Mrs. Corey had left a pair of pajamas on the chair and a glass of milk and some crackers on the table. This was the way to live. It wasn't until I sat down on the bed and took the harness off my leg that it all came back. I shoved the harness into the bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin but the room was cold and I was shivering. I lay there telling myself it couldn't happen again. I'd almost gone soft and couldn't happen again. I must have fallen asleep. I remember dreaming about running and jumping and playing football. Next thing I knew somebody was standing in the room and talking to me. My goodness, you like a cold room. It must be 20 below in here. Well, I set this down. I'll close the window. I guess all boys are alive. They have enough blankets. What time is it? 11 o'clock. Al back yet? No. I thought I'd better wake you if you're going to the game. What? Dad went hunting this morning. He said you'd probably go to the game. Now you get up and wash your face. I brought you your breakfast. Mrs. Corey, I... I don't spoil my men all week long but this is their day. Come on now, get up. Well, you're going downstairs. I'll get up. I was going to stay with you while you ate. Oh. Do you mind? That's good. Now come on, get up. I'll eat and I'll wash later. Army certainly taught you boys bad habits. Here, let me fix that pillow behind you. Hey, that's better. Now can you balance this on your lap? Yeah. Dad, bring you enough money last night. What? You'll build downtown. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, sure, he brought enough. That's good. Did you have a good time? Yeah. Sure? Yeah, why? The way you were acting this morning. And then something Virginia said. What about Virginia? She said she didn't think you'd be staying long. Why didn't she say that? This morning. What else did she say? Nothing. She said anything about why I came back? No. You're not eating, Eddie. Did I say something that upset you? Mrs. Corey, I gotta get... That's so formal, why don't you call me mother? No. What's the matter, Eddie? Get out of here, will you? Get out of here and leave me alone. All right, Eddie, that's what you want. We're happy to have you here. We know you can help all of us by helping Alan. He needs it. What about me? I'm sorry, Eddie, I don't want to talk to you. That's too bad, you're going at it. That's the way you do it in the army. Yeah, come to think of it, it is. Well, this is playing field. Will you please leave before... Shut up! Go on and then sit down. I will not. Go on. Whatever you want to say, please say it and get out. I'll leave when I'm through. That's something in your favor. Sit down. Yes, Sergeant. What's the matter, you poking your nose in somebody else's business? What do you mean? You know what I mean? I was caught this morning. Is that against the law? You talked to her about me. I only said I thought you'd be leaving soon. What else did you say to her? Nothing. You told her about last night. I did not. You're lying. You told her why I came back to playing field. Didn't you? That's my business. I don't think it is. Yeah, you wouldn't understand. Maybe. Look, Ed, I'm awfully sorry for you with your marriage. Don't be. I'm afraid of you, too. I kept that man at the bar last night. He had a common. He wanted to buy you a drink. Oh, he stands very... I know what he said and he was right. The war is over. I don't know why you came back to see Al, but I'm afraid. Why? Something in you. Vicious. I don't know. You're crazy. I don't want you to be afraid of me. I don't want to be. What's between Al and myself is nothing to do with you and me. I think it has. No, it hasn't. You and me were right here today. Al... Well, I'm having back-through in the war. Then leave it there. I can. I see. Now, Ginny... I think you'd better go. Why? You're different, Ed. You're not like us. You don't belong in playing field or any other town like us. What? This way or if you were like this before... What way? Mean and ugly. Sorry, Ed. I didn't want to say that. Please go. I said last night it was good to talk to somebody if it wasn't there. I didn't know what it was all about. Well, I've changed my mind. Oh, sure, the war was tough on you. You give up a couple of gallons of gas or find a heavy cream. Now, do you know what it feels like to fight when you don't even know what you're fighting for? You'd be called and hungry with your clothes crawling with lice and your food like a... like a cold baseball in your stomach and you fight anyway. Now, do you know what it feels like to have your legs shot off? You know, because a lousy yellow rat was supposed to cover you, but he didn't because he didn't have the dots. Her saying it over and over again. Mean and ugly. Football feeling like I'd hear the crowd yelling in the distance. Somebody stop me a cop, I don't know. Asked me if I wanted to see the game. Away from the field, the streets were empty and the leaves said the words under my feet. Mean and ugly. Mean and ugly. Ginny said I didn't belong in playing field. Maybe she was right. I didn't know. A gang of kids went down the street in a Model T singing high school songs and I knew the game was over. The air had turned cold and my leg was beginning to hurt. When I got back to the quarries, the house was empty. There was a note on the hall table from Mrs. Corrie saying that she'd be back in time to get dinner. I went upstairs to my room. Owl's room. I got my toothbrush out of the bathroom and sheared off the chair and put it in the zep bag. I started writing them a note and I heard the front door open in his voice. The gun under my jacket was pressing hard against my words. I forgot Ginny. I forgot his mother and father. I forgot everything but a hidden... What? I took the gun out, twirled the chamber and started down the stairs. My leg ached. Had you, mom? I'm almost as good as new. Except I can't run. I won't be able to teach my kid how to play football. Can't even hunt. Yeah, it's too bad. Used to be pretty good at football. The last time I saw you. All I could see was a seed of your pants. Funniest thing I ever saw. It's not the way I like to remember it, buddy. I hear you had a pretty tough time settling down. Kind of going around in circles. There's a lot of things here most guys don't have. Good home. Good mother, father. Nice girl across the street should have been easy. No one has his own problem. You've been my biggest one. Yeah? I know if you were alive someday you were going to come back and get straightened out. So this was settled one way. Then you ought to be glad to see me. You think of me probably you're right. But I can say I was more worried about what would happen to mother and dad when you came back than it was about me. What happened to me that day just had all I could take I guess and I ran. Oh what it is to be afraid. You're tough. You couldn't take it. I'm sorry you were hurt. Sorry. I always thought a lot about you. As hard as you were there was just nothing mean about you. Okay, I'm getting out of here. Just stand where you are and don't say a word because I might change my mind. Shut up. Just do me one favor will you? You see your mother and father tell them the next time they raise a son teach him how to be a man don't let him find out for himself. Goodbye. Aside from New York. That's right. Be along in a minute. Take it when it's closed you can get one on the train. Thanks. Hundred and first infantry. Yeah. You're out that had a tough time. Yeah. You were out here. No. Nice town. I've been looking all over for you. Ginny. I'm coming with you. No. Al told me what you did. I'm coming with you. No, baby. I was wrong, Eddie. I was so wrong. Oh, no, you were right. I got a lot to learn about being a civilian. I'll help you. I'm not even sure it'll work. This is something I got to do alone. Calling soldier? Yeah. I'll wait for you, Eddie. That's up to you, baby. I'll wait for you. Then I'll be back. Ginny, do you hear me? I'll be back. You'll learn that the handbook of battle is not the manual of peace. Well, friends, if you liked Eddie's story, why not come back again next week? I'll have the story of a man who sacrificed his integrity among men for a mission of honor. I like to call it Cargo X. 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, goodbye and good honey. John Steele Adventure is produced by Robert Monroe, written and directed by Elliot Drake. John Larkin was heard as Eddie. Also in our cast were Jim Bowles, Joyce Gordon, Abby Loesson, Ross Martin. John Steele is played by Don Douglas. Musical effects were created by Doc Whipple and your announcer is Ted Malley. Remember, next week, Mutual presents Cargo X. Another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele Adventure. This program came from New York. Follow clues down Mutual's mystery lane to further thrills and chills. Along the Sunday Avenue of Mystery and Suspense are Martin Cain, the two-fisted gumshoe, the shadow and a cloak of invisibility, true detective mysteries with real-life cases, and Nick Carter, master detective. Weekdays hear I love a mystery every night over most of these same stations, with the fabulous adventurers Jack, Doc and Reggie in eerie investigations. Remember, all roads lead to Mutual when you travel the mystery trail, where the announcer says, this is the Mutual Broadcasting System.