 And now, a tale well-calculated to keep you in soft suspense. In a moment, act one of Run Faster, written especially for suspense by Lois Landauer. All the ingredients for happiness still want things that are wrong for him. The whole time I was in the hospital after flying in Korea, I kept telling myself how wonderful it'd be when Chris and I got married. A little white house, simple, happy life. I got my discharge and we had the house and the simple life. Too simple. The range station where I got a job was on a small emergency landing field. So I was supposed to double on tower work for emergency landings. But there weren't any. Bill, my relief man, and my brother, Dink, lived with us. Dink didn't know beans about flying, but he got the same charge I did just being around it. He was over at the field the night the big fog moved in. Chris was fixing the supper I took on the midnight shift. Do you think two sandwiches will be enough? Sure. I'd better put in a piece of cake. You didn't eat much dinner. Well, sandwiches will be enough. Well, I'll just put it in. You can't tell you might get hungry. The sandwiches are enough. What's the matter, darling? Nothing's the matter. Is it the fog? Well, what's the fog got to do with me? I don't know. You just, you just act so funny every time the weather's like this. Wait, wait, wait a minute. What's the matter? Hold it, hold it. It's a plane, dear. I thought he was in trouble for a minute. Oh, Bill's on duty. He'd take care. Yeah, Bill always gets him. But do I? I sit in that shack night after night and what happens? Nothing. Is that so important? Important? You think I made a sawdust? Married life getting you down, Dave. Oh, for crying out loud. I guess it must be pretty dull after Korea. I didn't say that. You're thinking it. All right. So I like a little excitement once in a while. Is that so terrible? No. I guess we're just different, that's all. It's not that. What then? You wouldn't understand. You weren't there. Darling. Well? Maybe if you got away from planes. Chris, I don't want to get away from planes. That job is still open in Clinton. No. We could afford to build our own house in town if you took it. What's wrong with this house? Nothing, but we're so far away from everything. What do you mean far? There's only two hours away, and there's Bill and Dink. Dink should have young people. You've still got a few years left, Grandma. Anyway, he likes it here. Look at all the time he spends over at the field. Oh, honey, that father of yours would like anything you did. You know that? If you'd get this flying bug out of your system, Dink would probably get over it, too. I don't want to talk about it. But it's true, Dave. Oh, I hate to keep harping on it. Then don't. Are you about finished with those sandwiches? You still have half an hour. Bill overslept this morning. Yeah, but he asked me to relieve him early. He has a big date in Clinton tonight. Oh, Dave, that's not fair. What's the difference? Well, of course it doesn't matter to Bill the hours he keeps. He has no wife waiting around at home. I think he's being very inconsiderate. This is the third time this month. Look, I want to get over to the airport. Do you mind? The thermos is on the sink. You can fill it. I just washed it. Oh, Dave! All right. I broke it. Is that so tragic? Oh, here it is. Yeah, I know. If we lived in town, we'd get one of the corner drug stores. In town? You wouldn't have a job where you take midnight sufferers. Well, we're not in town. We're living where planes come in and go out. You understand? Now, I have to bust a thermos bottle to get some excitement. I'll bust one every five minutes. How do you like that? A dozen yards. Your house was a shapeless blur behind me. Then it was gone. I thought of Chris alone back there, cut off from the world. I felt like a great A-heel for acting up like that. Well, Bill cut out as soon as I got to the shack. Dink's wheelchair was close to the radar panel as usual, but there wasn't a blip inside as usual. Something wrong? No, it's the same old stuff. Chris, huh? Yeah. Of course, she's a woman, Dave. I guess so. That's not so hot for her. Those sure isn't any company for her when he's not on duty. He's just sleeping around on a date. And with you sleeping days, it really isn't much of a deal for her out there. Especially with a cripple like me around to slow things up. I'm nuts. I think I'll check Mercury. Midland radio calling LA Mercury Airlines. This is Midland Radio. You there, Hank? This is Mercury Airlines. You're on early, aren't you, Dave? Yeah, Bill's given the Clinton girls a break. Hey, what's with this thick stuff? Oh, it hasn't hit out here yet, but we're expecting it. What's your ceiling? Oh, about 400 feet. It's dropping fast, though. Better watch it. Army field's west of you aren't landing anyone without 0-0 cards. Well, maybe I'll have company. Could be. I think Dave's someone's coming. Well, I don't want anybody to have any tough flying, but it'd be good having a plane land here for a change. Dave. Now, hold it a minute, Hank. Get brothers trying to say something. Oh, hi there. Can I do something for you, mister? Talk to you later, Hank. Something wrong, Hank? No, no, I'll call you back. I thought it took me by surprise that I didn't hear your car. Wasn't under. You run out of gas? That's right. Well, walking's no fun in that mess. Have a seat. My name's Dave Cawthon. This is my brother, Dink. What's this place? This is Midland Rain Station, Dawson Field. I didn't see no planes. You wouldn't see planes here on a clear night. No, we're just an emergency field. Just you two, huh? Yeah, real cozy, just me and my... You live here? Here in the station? No, no, my place is about a mile down the road. You're married? Sure am. Dink, here, lives with us. Yeah, we sail in that little white house tomorrow, A.M. There'll be the neatest stack of flapjacks waiting you ever saw. You got any gas? Sure have. We have a pump in the front yard. That's your house, huh? You got nothing in your tank to get down the road a mile? Don't move, maybe it ain't gas even, but don't move. Wait a second. What do you do? What's that thing? This is state phone. Look, I'll put it for a number here. What for? Clinton, Gables, Games Garage. Here it is, the Clinton 25... What you gonna do, huh? I've got a tow car for you. No need to walk all that way to the pump and back in this weather if there's something wrong with your car. No. No, it may not even be as long as I said. They usually have calls now. Don't call nobody, see? There's no trouble. What was that number again? Let me see. Clinton, you're up. Hey, what are you... Give me that. Come on, hey. What are you... Hey, don't move. Hey. Now, try using it. Tartan, too. Now, where's that pump at? Down the road a mile, huh? Dave. It's all right, Bill's there. Here's a can, mister. There's no need to ask at the house about using the pump. You just help yourself. About a mile, huh? That's right. In the front yard. Why should I lie to you? All right. One mile. Real sweetheart, huh? Yeah. Yes, hello. I was talking to my wife operator. You cut us off. No, sir, I didn't. Well, look, will you ring her again, please? Hurry it up, please. All right. Hang up, and I'll call you back. I wouldn't worry. Davey was just a screwball. Yeah. One operator ring. Wish there was some way I could get home now. Well, it was a clear night. I'd take a chance covering for you, but... I don't know the first thing about radar. Hello, Chris? Off the border. We're working on it now, sir. The trouble is at this end. Oh, that's swell. He's at the house with Chris. Well, how long will it take, operator? I do not know five minutes an hour, maybe. Hard to say. Will you get me Sheriff Grover? Did something happen? Operator, I'd like to speak to Sheriff Grover. Do you mind? I've got a warn, Chris, about that carrot time I'd look at my watch only seconds and past. It seemed like hours. Something was happening. Hank didn't usually call me. Mercury Airlines calling Midland Radio. You there, Dave? This is Midland Radio. What's up, Hank? I want to know if you've heard from Marflake 535 out of LA. Negative. Why? Are they in trouble? I don't know. They haven't reported in over an hour. 535 is not due over here. I think they're off course. Can't say. They didn't report over down's bill with little falls. What's his altitude? That's just it. We're not sure. He was cleared out of here at 8,000. But with the weather doing tricks out your way, he may have been trying to contact us for a change in his flight plan. Better stick close, boy. A lot of people in that thing. You reading me, Dave? I'm not going any place. You should have gone to Clinton with Bill. I hear they're having plenty of excitement over there. We heard some metal patient walked out of the Big State Hospital over there yesterday. I've got a call that may be your 535. Aircraft calling Midland Radio. Repeat your identification, please. Go ahead. Midland Radio to Mercury 535. LA has been looking for you, buddy. What's your problem? I'm from Midland. We're reporting present weather of 200 feet overcast. Visibility half a mile dropping. Altimeter setting 29.83. We're from the northwest at 5. Over? Yep, just now, Hank. I'll bring them in here in about 1330. Good. Now, if you can just pick up that last metal patient, we'll give you a merit badge. Patient? What's wrong with him? Muggy night. Chris might be alone with a killer, and I couldn't go to her. Because of an SOS I'd been waiting for all these months. Chris only a mile away. Heavy stuff outside seemed to crawl in the room as we waited. Talking, just smoking and listening. I knew any minute the plane might call, but I wasn't thinking of planes now. I wanted that phone to ring. I had to know about Chris. Operator, how about my phone? Hmm? My phone is at fixed yet. I told you I'd let you know, sir. Well, what about the sheriff? What about him? Well, I think it's the strangler they're looking for. Clinton? He's gone to the house, and Chris is there alone. He's gone with the way he acted, and his hands. He tore my state telephone book in half. Now, son, just cause a man strong enough to do that don't mean he's a criminal. Strangler, and my wife is alone. You've got to do something, Sheriff. Thanks a lot, Sheriff. Right away, huh? I'll be there in half an hour. Half an hour? That'll be too late. Sonny, my old bus only goes so... But Sheriff, a half an hour he could be there now. Why don't you call... Would you get me Lon Miller? What are you talking about? Pull up. Pull up. 535. Execute missed approach immediately. 535. 535. Pull up fast. Papers were wild old. The airliner full of people. How great only a feels length from me. And Chris, a mile away. Blip showed up on the radar. Midland to 535. Make a 90-degree turn to your right. Acknowledge. 535 to Midland. Midland to 535. We have a target at 5 miles southwest of the field. Take a heading of 040 degrees and remain at 1500 feet. Over. 535. Roger, 535. You're approaching now at 12. Chris. The guy's waiting, Dave. We're at 10 to 12. 535. Calling Midland. Wait. 535. Midland to 535. Is she all right? Is Chris... Midland to 535. You're one mile from touchdown. Over. Think answer me. Is Chris okay? Come on to a heading now to the left. Left turn. 300 degrees and descend to 800 feet. Over. 535. You're now at one half miles. Expect to intercept the glide path in half a minute. Let's go, Patty. 35. You're now one quarter of a mile from touchdown. Set your flaps before intercepting the glide path. You're now approaching the glide path. Your heading should be 300 degrees. Adjust your rate of descent to 600 feet per minute. 535. You're now on the glide path. Glide path is very good. You're tracking on the center of the runway. Here he comes. You're on the centerline. You're on the glide path. Approach is very good. 535. Down in three seconds. Centerline very good. Glide. You're on the glide path. Operator. Yes, sir. Operator, what happened? I told the other gentleman the whole thing. What? Chris with dark bruises on her throat. Chris with her mouth going slack. I saw it in the dim outline of the house. And then I was on the porch. Right through the door. She was standing with her back to me by the table and moving slowly around the end of it by the sprinkler. He had Chris's scarf in his hands. And that's all I saw as I rushed at him. Are you okay? Yes. Yes. If you were a nice lady. All right, baby. No, honey. It's all right. Hold me tight. How much longer I could have held out. I tried to be gentle. He liked the scarf. So I gave it to him. I don't know why I should have been afraid. He was just like a child. All he wanted was gentleness. And yet something about him. I wanted to hear so much in the excitement. I forgot he could hurt you. What did you say? I said, I mean... Excitement? Yeah. I guess that's what it was, all right. That's what you wanted, wasn't it, Dave? No, honey. That's what I thought I wanted. I'll call the hospital. To run faster. Written especially for suspense by Lois Landauer. Jimmy Blaine. Jim Z. Summers. Bill Lipton. Roger DeCoven. Bob Reddick. Ted Pavel. And Guy Rapp. Music supervision by Ethel Hubert. Sound patterns by Walter Otto. Technical direction by Fred Cusick. This is Stuart Metz speaking. Listen again next week. When we return with The Silver Shoe. Written by Robert Reddick. The Silver Tail, well calculated to keep you in.