 Tired of the everyday grind ever dream of a life of romantic adventure Want to get away from it all We offer you escape Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure Founded by all that is secure and normal While outside Your children are playing a new and wonderful game Well, thanks. Thanks a lot. And how nice are you in town? It's long distance though, you shouldn't I can afford three minutes. How's Henry? Fine Bill. Oh, just fine What about me? Oh wonderful noisier than ever. She's got a new game now It's taken the place of hopscotch Invasion is she playing that too are yours the geometric jacks I suppose this is a scream all the kids their age are playing it up here Timmy's got a crush on some guy named a drill. I think that's what it is Well, it must be a new password mine likes him too. I got to New York word of mouth I suppose, you know kids sister in Boston. She says her kids are playing it too sweeping the country I Wonder where they learned it don't ask me all I know is what Timmy told me at lunch These kids and their imagination and they talked a little more schoolgirl friends casual woman talk Mrs. Morris was thoughtful. She was thinking of other things of adults of children under nine with imagination Rose bushes dimensions She thought of how much she'd forgotten about being a child and she wanted about mink and all the kids who at that moment Were playing invasion. Oh No, not if I know Fred. I'm so glad you called give my love to Henry and a kiss for me I will end the bill on the kid. Thanks dear. Goodbye. Goodbye. An hour drowsed by It was three o'clock There was an occasional harm inside the coolness of the house as a car passed outside The street was lined with good green and peaceful trees And all across the city and other gardens and other places Children under nine were excitedly playing a game Talking to rose bushes and grass lawns trees and shrubs Even children in apartment houses high in the air Conferring with potted plants cactus and ivy Mrs. Morris finished the vacuuming and went to the kitchen. Oh, hello, dear Of course, I'll get it Hmm, what do you know nothing mom? Oh, here you are. Thanks How things going? Hmm the invasion. Oh that almost finished when everything's right drill said we should be ready on time Five o'clock. That's right. Helen called me from Danbury. She says Timmy's playing it, too Hey, that's keen. I guess all the kids are aren't they? Oh, no, not all of them That guy's like Pete Brits and Dale Jared. They're growing up. They make fun of us They're even worse than parents. They just won't believe in drill They're so smart just because they're growing up. You'd think they know better They were little only a couple of years ago. Well, we're gonna get rid of them first Drill says it's okay to kill them first now. Wait a minute. I don't like that kind of talk ming Do you hear me? I don't like it at all. Oh, I mean it you keep on that way and there's no more playing You'll have to tell Anna to go home and you'll stay inside until bedtime. I'm sorry. Well, I should think so Thanks for the wire mom Mean what did those numbers mean? What numbers those numbers you were saying to yourself before Oh that well, there's this things that we have to do to get grown as friends out. That's all Look here. Oh, why don't you and Anna go down to the drugstore and get some ice cream, huh? You don't have to use your allowance. I'll pay for it. Haven't got time mom Well, I'd never believe I'd hear you say that I gotta go now mom. Oh, wait a minute Mink I Want you to tell me the truth What is this? Invasion silly it isn't silly it's the game. That's all We're just playing that invasion. Excuse me. I gotta get back now. I'll see you later You will return to escape in just a moment, but first This is fire prevention week proclaimed by the president and supported by all responsible businesses and individuals Fire start on the average at the rate of one every twenty seconds somewhere in America through them 11,000 lives a year and hundreds of millions of dollars in property are lost Clean out burnables Eliminate frayed wires and all other hazards. Don't give fire the place to start in your home or business And now back to escape. It was a game called invasion Mrs. Morris's little girl mink was playing it so as minks friend Anna And all the other children under nine Was called invasion and zero hour was to be at five o'clock This is Morris was disturbed. She wasn't sure why But there was something something about parents shutting ears and eyes to what was happening And because she was disturbed she did something she didn't usually do She called her husband at the office Oh, hello, Henry, I I'm sorry to bother you, but Miss Maxon said you weren't busy Should be able to get home early today Henry. Oh nothing. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute. That's all Not really. Well, now you tell her to be happy. Well, she's playing outside. She's fine Honey told you I I was thinking about you and wanted to talk. That's all Nothing wrong with that. Not a thing Well, you go back to your work, dear. I'll see you soon. All right What time do you think you'll be home? About five five thinking nothing really Just mink and you and me good thoughts. Goodbye, dear seller. Oh, I'm fine Goodbye. I've passed four The day began to wane the sun lowered in the peaceful blue sky Shadows lengthened on the green lawn Outside it was quiet for two little girls more intent than ever upon their endless movement of design and pattern with the implements before them This is Morris watched from the window and she had never known mink to have such powers of concentration She had switched on the radio and sat drinking a cup of coffee and turned over her thoughts Children children Children love and hate side-by-side Sometimes children love you hate you all in half a second Strange children Do we ever forget or forgive the whippings and the harsh strict words of command? Hmm, I wonder very wonder How can you forget or forgive those over and above you? those tall silly dictators Those parents might be in the garage. What do you want them for? Well, if you tell me I can find Before your father comes home behind the shrubs and mrs. Morris knew it was ridiculous to make an issue of it besides What was the issue? invasion drill zero hour Unaccountably a cool breeze came up and although normally for that time of year it would have been a relief Mrs. Morris felt a chill She closed the window waiting silence came upon the street deepening Then from the living room. This is Morris heard ever clock zero hour Zero hour it had come and now it had gone But was the clock right? Mrs. Morris knowing how foolish it was at knowing it went to the phone and dialed silly On the time will be exactly four fifty four and twenty seconds 54 and 20 seconds And mrs. Morris knew that it wasn't as silly as you'd thought Because it wasn't five o'clock yet Not zero hour yet Then the car drove up into the driveway Mrs. Morris heard him chuckle Then his steps up the walk to the front door, but I didn't have time for a kiss. How about you? Hard day or not particularly Would you like a cocktail you read my mind? Martini perfect. I think exciting happened today. I told her she was crazy, but she just felt like calling Like you calling me this afternoon crazy, huh? Oh, what was that all about? Well, I told you I Wanted to hey Incidentally, what's this new game the kids are playing zero hour invasion. That's a nice depressing thought Oh, I don't know something silly. They're they're all playing it these days Here thanks you make the best martinis in the world. I'm glad you think so And there's been a beautiful day, you know, I kept looking out the window wishing I was anywhere, but in that What's the time Henry a couple of minutes after five or no no the clock's wrong by your watch. Hmm. Oh, uh Well, I've got two minutes, too. I'm probably slow You got something on the stove. No, I I just wondered honey Hey Look at me What's the matter? Nothing really. No, really mink been up to something. Of course not then what well, I I Guess I'm a little tired Upset that that's all you want to go out for dinner. Oh, no. No, I've got a steak here I tell you what I'll barbeque it. How'd that be? Oh, fine What was that? Well, I Thought I heard something why didn't I must have been imagining it You are jumpy Why don't you have a drink to you? No, I don't want one What's the time Mary? What is this? Well, I mean it something's wrong. No, I want to know It's silly it It's so silly I I'm on edge there. I am I don't like it that kid's done something. Hasn't she I'm gonna get her. Oh, no, no Henry Please don't she she hasn't It's nothing at all. I just What's that? I I don't know Those kids haven't got anything dangerous out there. Have they I notice a lot of junk lying around. Oh, no Nothing dangerous Just things, you know nothing electrical. Well, no, I I'm sure not What the devil Maybe you better go out and tell them to stop playing now. It's after five You tell me to put off the invasion until tomorrow Tell her that it's coming from outside So what are they up to I'd better take a look make Oh They're falling She seemed to know something Her mind had worked that quickly any excuse to get him away from the outside to get him upstairs to the attic in time Outside there were more explosions and they could hear the children screaming with delight Minks are there. What's the matter with you? No, no, I'll show you hurry Get inside quick Now We're safe until tonight Mary. Maybe we can sneak out later. Maybe we can escape. Are you crazy? Why'd you throw the key away? What heavens take the kids out there? Oh, you don't know. You don't we've got to stay here. We've got to It's horrible. We've got you you've got to stay here with me. Well at this point I don't know how the devil I can't get out Be quiet, please be quiet Who's gonna answer that noise again, it's in this house Mary. What is it? Very what's happening? You know now answer me Stop that Mary somebody's downstairs. Who's down there? Be quiet His wife's terror and the electric humming from below mr. Morris felt a great fear They trembled together in silence in the attic mr. And mrs. Morris parents of a little girl Then they heard steps coming up the stairs and the boys and a queer cold light became visible under the door crack a strange odor And the alien sound of eagerness in minks voice was almost more than they could bear each wanted to scream and another sound and the attic door lock mean Mink with bright little eyes and towsel hair peered inside and behind her tall wavering blue shadows Fightful shadows direction and adaptation of the story were by Anthony Ellis tonight You heard Paula Winslow as mrs. Morris and Issa Ashdown as mink with John Dana as the narrator Featured in the cast were Eve Mac Bay Bill Johnstone and Mary McGovern The special music for escape was composed and conducted by Leith Stevens Next week Together in the room You and the one you love the objects of an experiment While the man who has dared you to undergo his test is waiting for the moment when you break and in your defeat Find that there is No escape So listen next week when escape will bring you Steven Vincent Bonet's unusual story elementals Music has seldom had it so good starting this Monday night Bon Monroe joins forces with the famous Sotter Finnegan orchestra and Sally sweetland adds her feminine vocalizing to the Monday night Caravan on CBS radio You'll make it a listening habit every week once you've heard the Monday night caravan Featuring the songs of Bon Monroe the remarkable musical approach of the Sotter Finnegan Organization and the vocals of Sally sweetland remember premiere tomorrow night on most of the same stars address stations This is Roy Rowan speaking Preceding program was transcribed Suspense has heard Monday evenings on the CBS radio network