1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:19,600 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 2 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:24,600 Tonight the story of a duel, an incomplete duel, since one of its participants chooses 3 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,140 to wait and owe his adversary. 4 00:00:27,140 --> 00:00:33,640 So now, starring William Conrad with John Danaer, here is tonight's Suspense play, The 5 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:34,640 Shot. 6 00:00:34,640 --> 00:01:01,360 Everyone's here, I see. 7 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:02,360 You're late, Rose. 8 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,940 I stopped to pick these. 9 00:01:05,940 --> 00:01:06,940 Cherry anyone? 10 00:01:06,940 --> 00:01:07,940 No? 11 00:01:07,940 --> 00:01:08,940 They're delicious. 12 00:01:08,940 --> 00:01:13,940 For a man who's about to die, you don't seem too concerned. 13 00:01:13,940 --> 00:01:16,140 Well, I am concerned, Peyton. 14 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:21,100 I have a whole hat full of delicious cherries that certainly have to be eaten. 15 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:26,100 And on the other hand, Peyton, I'm not certain that I have to die. 16 00:01:26,100 --> 00:01:28,940 You will draw lots, gentlemen. 17 00:01:28,940 --> 00:01:32,580 The papers in this hat are numbered from one to ten. 18 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:34,140 You will each draw a paper. 19 00:01:34,140 --> 00:01:37,380 The man who receives the highest number will fire the first shot. 20 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:40,380 And well, after you, Lieutenant Peyton. 21 00:01:40,380 --> 00:01:43,900 And good, good luck. 22 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:46,900 Your draw, sir. 23 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:51,420 Mr. Peyton. 24 00:01:51,420 --> 00:01:54,060 I draw eight. 25 00:01:54,060 --> 00:02:00,580 Now, now, I have drawn a ten. 26 00:02:00,580 --> 00:02:05,540 Mr. Roles wins the first shot, back to back. 27 00:02:05,540 --> 00:02:08,380 You will pace away until the count of eight is completed. 28 00:02:08,380 --> 00:02:10,620 Mr. Roles has the first shot. 29 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:13,700 You, Mr. Peyton, will return a shot. 30 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:14,700 Understood? 31 00:02:14,700 --> 00:02:15,700 Yes, understood. 32 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:20,300 Is anyone present here who finds this not an honorable way to settle the dispute between 33 00:02:20,300 --> 00:02:23,820 these two men? 34 00:02:23,820 --> 00:02:24,820 You ready, gentlemen? 35 00:02:24,820 --> 00:02:25,820 All ready. 36 00:02:25,820 --> 00:02:26,820 Ready. 37 00:02:26,820 --> 00:02:35,820 One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. 38 00:02:35,820 --> 00:02:41,820 Mr. Peyton, are you all right? 39 00:02:41,820 --> 00:02:43,820 Are you hit? 40 00:02:43,820 --> 00:02:47,220 No, I'm all right. 41 00:02:47,220 --> 00:02:48,220 Bullet went through my hat. 42 00:02:48,220 --> 00:02:51,220 Your shot, Lieutenant Peyton. 43 00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:53,740 Yes, I know. 44 00:02:53,740 --> 00:02:56,500 Cherry, wonderful. 45 00:02:56,500 --> 00:03:01,740 You seem so anxious to kill me, sir. 46 00:03:01,740 --> 00:03:05,820 Do I have to remind you that you have a shot at me? 47 00:03:05,820 --> 00:03:06,820 Go ahead. 48 00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:08,820 Take it. 49 00:03:08,820 --> 00:03:12,860 No, not now. 50 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:17,500 Zachary, he's taking a shot at you. 51 00:03:17,500 --> 00:03:19,060 You have to take your shot at him. 52 00:03:19,060 --> 00:03:20,060 Shut up. 53 00:03:20,060 --> 00:03:22,740 I don't have to do anything for you yet. 54 00:03:22,740 --> 00:03:26,380 You challenged him to a duel, Zachary. 55 00:03:26,380 --> 00:03:27,380 Quiet. 56 00:03:27,380 --> 00:03:36,740 Would you like to take your shot from here, Peyton? 57 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:39,220 No. 58 00:03:39,220 --> 00:03:41,740 You don't seem ready for death this morning, Rose. 59 00:03:41,740 --> 00:03:43,380 You're wrong again, sir. 60 00:03:43,380 --> 00:03:47,340 I'm always ready for death or life. 61 00:03:47,340 --> 00:03:48,820 You've disappointed me, Peyton. 62 00:03:48,820 --> 00:03:49,820 Have I? 63 00:03:49,820 --> 00:03:52,260 Or perhaps I've disappointed you. 64 00:03:52,260 --> 00:03:57,020 At any rate, all these gentlemen witnessed that I went through my part of the challenge. 65 00:03:57,020 --> 00:04:00,100 Now, witness this. 66 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:01,980 You still have your shot, Peyton. 67 00:04:01,980 --> 00:04:10,940 And if you aren't afraid to use it, I'll always be ready for you, any day, any place. 68 00:04:10,940 --> 00:04:13,860 I'll remember that, Rose. 69 00:04:13,860 --> 00:04:16,460 Please do, sir. 70 00:04:16,460 --> 00:04:18,700 Good day, gentlemen. 71 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:22,460 It's a lovely morning. 72 00:04:22,460 --> 00:04:25,060 Zachary, he'll tell everyone about this. 73 00:04:25,060 --> 00:04:26,260 You'll be ruined. 74 00:04:26,260 --> 00:04:28,340 You can't expect to stay in the regiment now. 75 00:04:28,340 --> 00:04:31,220 Why deprive him of life when he attaches no value to it? 76 00:04:31,220 --> 00:04:34,780 You ended the duel your way, and it's not an honorable way, Zachary. 77 00:04:34,780 --> 00:04:37,680 The duel has not ended. 78 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:38,680 You heard him. 79 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,180 All of you heard him. 80 00:04:41,180 --> 00:04:42,900 I still have my shot coming. 81 00:04:42,900 --> 00:04:45,900 Then I'll take it. 82 00:04:45,900 --> 00:04:48,180 I'll choose the day. 83 00:04:48,180 --> 00:04:50,820 Then I'll choose the place. 84 00:04:50,820 --> 00:05:00,180 Then I'll see if he still wants to eat cherries and laugh down the barrel of my gun. 85 00:05:00,180 --> 00:05:03,740 Yes? 86 00:05:03,740 --> 00:05:15,780 What do you want? 87 00:05:15,780 --> 00:05:17,100 I brought your mail. 88 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:18,540 Open the door. 89 00:05:18,540 --> 00:05:23,940 Set it there on the table, Mr. Temple. 90 00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:24,940 Thank you. 91 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:25,940 Yes, sir. 92 00:05:25,940 --> 00:05:28,020 Oh, I didn't know you had a visitor. 93 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:30,740 Mr. Stockwell, this is Mr. Temple, my landlord. 94 00:05:30,740 --> 00:05:32,340 How do you do, Mr. Temple? 95 00:05:32,340 --> 00:05:34,780 Colonel Stockwell, Virginia volunteer. 96 00:05:34,780 --> 00:05:37,300 Mr. Stockwell now, Mr. Temple. 97 00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:40,700 There's no longer a Confederate army or a Confederacy. 98 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:43,100 I forget sometimes, sir. 99 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:45,980 I served under you in the third volunteers, and I- 100 00:05:45,980 --> 00:05:48,660 Mr. Temple had quite a career as a soldier, Jim. 101 00:05:48,660 --> 00:05:51,700 He's told me about it every day since I took this room. 102 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:54,340 Only thing left to talk about now, Colonel. 103 00:05:54,340 --> 00:05:56,780 There's nothing but carpet baggers and Yankees. 104 00:05:56,780 --> 00:05:59,340 We all know how it is, Mr. Temple. 105 00:05:59,340 --> 00:06:00,700 Was there anything else? 106 00:06:00,700 --> 00:06:01,700 Oh, yes. 107 00:06:01,700 --> 00:06:07,140 Those are fine dueling pistols, Mr. Payton. 108 00:06:07,140 --> 00:06:09,980 I have already admired Mr. Payton's fire on them. 109 00:06:09,980 --> 00:06:13,020 Would you believe how good Mr. Payton is with it, Colonel? 110 00:06:13,020 --> 00:06:18,020 He lies right here on his bed and fires away at a little old playing card stuck on the 111 00:06:18,020 --> 00:06:20,420 fence post out there in the back. 112 00:06:20,420 --> 00:06:22,620 Hits it every time. 113 00:06:22,620 --> 00:06:27,620 Some shooting, I declare, Mr. Payton practices all the time. 114 00:06:27,620 --> 00:06:29,020 Is that all, Mr. Temple? 115 00:06:29,020 --> 00:06:30,020 What? 116 00:06:30,020 --> 00:06:31,020 I ask if that was all. 117 00:06:31,020 --> 00:06:33,020 Is there something else you have to say? 118 00:06:33,020 --> 00:06:34,020 I... 119 00:06:34,020 --> 00:06:37,620 Well, it's my wife, Mr. Payton. 120 00:06:37,620 --> 00:06:39,660 I mean, Libby don't like it. 121 00:06:39,660 --> 00:06:42,460 She don't understand how it is with a man and a gun. 122 00:06:42,460 --> 00:06:44,060 Women are like that. 123 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:47,940 I keep telling her these are hard times and we surely appreciate getting a man in here 124 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:50,700 who can pay us a little rent, but then she just don't know... 125 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:51,700 Then tell her. 126 00:06:51,700 --> 00:06:55,300 Tell her, Mr. Temple, I practice shooting and all kinds of light from all positions 127 00:06:55,300 --> 00:06:57,300 and I'll continue to do it. 128 00:06:57,300 --> 00:06:59,700 Good day, Mr. Temple. 129 00:06:59,700 --> 00:07:00,700 Yes. 130 00:07:00,700 --> 00:07:04,700 Good day to you both. 131 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:05,700 Yeah. 132 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:06,700 Jim. 133 00:07:06,700 --> 00:07:07,700 No thanks. 134 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:08,700 Yeah. 135 00:07:08,700 --> 00:07:09,700 Thank you. 136 00:07:09,700 --> 00:07:14,700 Well, you haven't changed too much, Zachary. 137 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:16,700 A little gray. 138 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:19,700 It's been seven years now. 139 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:22,700 Now, Zach, maybe you have changed. 140 00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:25,700 The man who was just here was afraid I'd be... 141 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:27,700 Scared, shrinking little man. 142 00:07:27,700 --> 00:07:33,700 If I might comment, Zach, you didn't do anything to alleviate his fright. 143 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:35,700 He uses his wife as an excuse. 144 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:36,700 It's not his wife, it's him. 145 00:07:36,700 --> 00:07:37,700 He's frightened of my gun. 146 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:39,700 He knows what I can do with it. 147 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:40,700 But that means nothing to you. 148 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:42,700 He has no bearing on your life. 149 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:43,700 True. 150 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:46,700 But it comes to him that a gun pointed at a card stuck on a fence 151 00:07:46,700 --> 00:07:51,700 can just as easily be pointed at a heart stuck in a man's chest. 152 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:56,700 Would you mind putting those pistols back in the case? 153 00:07:56,700 --> 00:07:58,700 You afraid too, Jim. 154 00:07:58,700 --> 00:07:59,700 I'm not a Willis Temple. 155 00:07:59,700 --> 00:08:00,700 Don't treat me like that, Zachary. 156 00:08:00,700 --> 00:08:02,700 I'm your friend. 157 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:05,700 I came here to meet you because you asked me. 158 00:08:05,700 --> 00:08:10,700 Oh. 159 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:11,700 There. 160 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:14,700 Better. 161 00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:16,700 Why am I here, Zachary? 162 00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:18,700 What do you want of me? 163 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:20,700 A week ago I received a letter from Norfolk. 164 00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:25,700 It mentioned that an old acquaintance of mine is living here. 165 00:08:25,700 --> 00:08:27,700 A man who was in office in my regiment. 166 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:30,700 His name is Benjamin Rawls. 167 00:08:30,700 --> 00:08:31,700 Do you know him, Jim? 168 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:33,700 Slightly. 169 00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:35,700 I've seen him around town and spoken to him once or twice. 170 00:08:35,700 --> 00:08:38,700 How does he look these days? 171 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:40,700 Not knowing how he looked when you knew him, 172 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:41,700 I'd say he looks mighty fine, Zach. 173 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:43,700 He's in good health, I think. 174 00:08:43,700 --> 00:08:45,700 And he's done better than most of us. 175 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:47,700 I understand his family lost all they had at Savannah, 176 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:51,700 but there's an English branch that died off and filled in the inheritance. 177 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:53,700 He's very well off. 178 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:58,700 Marsha Pemberton's considered to be a very, very lucky young lady in these parts. 179 00:08:58,700 --> 00:08:59,700 Marsha Pemberton? 180 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:02,700 The girl he married last week. 181 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:04,700 Does he love her? 182 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:05,700 What? 183 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:07,700 Do you know if he loves this girl he married? 184 00:09:07,700 --> 00:09:10,700 Well, it's apparent to everybody in town that he loves her very much. 185 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:13,700 When he was courting her, folks in town saw him together. 186 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:14,700 Often I saw him. 187 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:17,700 I would say Ben Rawls is in love. 188 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:21,700 The way a man loves only once in his life. 189 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:24,700 Is that what you want to know? 190 00:09:24,700 --> 00:09:26,700 Yes. 191 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:27,700 Why? 192 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:29,700 It's important for me to know. 193 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:32,700 Because I'm your friend, Zachary, I'm talking to you about Ben Rawls, 194 00:09:32,700 --> 00:09:33,700 but I'm uncomfortable. 195 00:09:33,700 --> 00:09:35,700 I don't like talking about a man. 196 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:38,700 You see over there, that large white house on the hill? 197 00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:39,700 Yes, I see it. 198 00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:40,700 That's where Ben lives. 199 00:09:40,700 --> 00:09:42,700 He's right there, Zachary. 200 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:43,700 You can talk to him instead of me. 201 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:46,700 I won't answer any more questions, Zachary. 202 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:55,700 Zachary, why do you want to know these things about Ben Rawls? 203 00:09:55,700 --> 00:10:01,700 I want to satisfy myself that he's at last found something to live for. 204 00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:07,700 I want to know if he can still laugh down a gun barrel. 205 00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:09,700 I heard about that, dude. 206 00:10:09,700 --> 00:10:12,700 I won't let you do this thing, Zachary. 207 00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:15,700 There's been enough killing. 208 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:20,700 Jim! 209 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:22,700 Yes? 210 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:24,700 Jim. 211 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:28,700 I'd hate to kill you, too. 212 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:44,700 You are listening to The Shot, 213 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:54,700 tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 214 00:10:58,700 --> 00:11:01,700 To keep the United States Air Force at full strength around the clock, 215 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:06,700 around the year, America's youth must respond in greater numbers than ever. 216 00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:10,700 An Air Force career offers travel, education, adventure, and high pay. 217 00:11:10,700 --> 00:11:16,700 More than that, it offers a personal opportunity to help America lead the world in the cause of freedom. 218 00:11:16,700 --> 00:11:19,700 For further information, see your local recruiter. 219 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:24,700 And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage, William Conrad, 220 00:11:24,700 --> 00:11:27,700 starring in tonight's production of The Shot, 221 00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:41,700 a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 222 00:11:57,700 --> 00:11:59,700 Zachary. 223 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:01,700 Jim Stockwell? 224 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:03,700 Yes. 225 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:07,700 Who are your friends? 226 00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:10,700 This is Palk Gager and Quincy Talbott. 227 00:12:10,700 --> 00:12:12,700 We were in the Army together, Zach. 228 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:13,700 How do, Miss Payton? 229 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:17,700 Palk and Quincy were executive officers, forming the Third Cavalry. 230 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:19,700 We served together at Apulia's. 231 00:12:19,700 --> 00:12:21,700 We were in the Army together, Zach. 232 00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:23,700 How do, Miss Payton? 233 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:26,700 Palk and Quincy were executive officers, forming the Third Cavalry. 234 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:27,700 We served together at Appomattox. 235 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:29,700 What do you and your friends want, Jim? 236 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:32,700 I want to talk to you about Ben Rose some more, Zach. 237 00:12:32,700 --> 00:12:34,700 I've told Palk and Quincy all you told me. 238 00:12:34,700 --> 00:12:37,700 They're close friends to me now, and I've asked them to assist me. 239 00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:39,700 That's right, Captain. 240 00:12:39,700 --> 00:12:41,700 Mr. Stockwell's told us everything. 241 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:44,700 Zach, the war did many things to all of us. 242 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:49,700 Everything we thought and lived for is gone now, but we are still human beings. 243 00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:52,700 You want to kill Ben Rose tonight. 244 00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:54,700 This is what the war has done to you, Zach. 245 00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:56,700 And this is what I want to talk about. 246 00:12:56,700 --> 00:13:00,700 Wanting to kill a man in cold blood, a man you haven't seen for seven years, 247 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:02,700 I bet it doesn't make sense. 248 00:13:02,700 --> 00:13:06,700 I'm your friend, Zachary, and I want to help you. 249 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:09,700 Go home, Jim. 250 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:13,700 Palk, Quincy, this is none of your business. 251 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:15,700 We can't do that, Zachary. 252 00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:18,700 We can't let you go in and shoot Ben Rose in cold blood. 253 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:22,700 Let Saul go upstairs to your room and talk a bit, Captain. 254 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:26,700 Quincy's got some fine whiskey that's coming from Ireland, haven't you, Quincy? 255 00:13:26,700 --> 00:13:29,700 I sure have, Captain. It's Jameson's. 256 00:13:29,700 --> 00:13:32,700 You're a man I'd be proud to share it with. 257 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:37,700 Captain, Mr. Stockwell is your friend, and he's thinking of you. 258 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:41,700 Is Ben Rose your friend, too, Jim? Are you trying to protect him? 259 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:43,700 But I know of Ben Rose. I told you this afternoon. 260 00:13:43,700 --> 00:13:44,700 Get out of my way. 261 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:48,700 You'll have to kill me first, Zachary. Kill these two boys who've never done you any harm. 262 00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:50,700 But I won't let you go over there. 263 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:52,700 Come on, Quincy. 264 00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:55,700 I think they got fooled, Zachary. Stop. 265 00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:59,700 All right, Palk, it's the only way. 266 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:06,700 All right, let me down there. 267 00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:09,700 Quincy, hand me that whiskey. 268 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:12,700 Yes, sir. I'll get his head, Mr. Stockwell. 269 00:14:12,700 --> 00:14:19,700 Right here. Here. 270 00:14:20,700 --> 00:14:25,700 I'm sorry, Zachary. Sometimes we all go about things the wrong way. 271 00:14:25,700 --> 00:14:30,700 I'm noted for my poor judgment in many matters. 272 00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:37,700 Jim, ask him to wait over there. 273 00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:41,700 All right, Palk. Quincy, over there. 274 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:43,700 Sure, it's all right, Mr. Stockwell. 275 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:45,700 Captain Peyton is a man of honor. 276 00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:48,700 Come on, Quincy. Be right over by the tree, you said. 277 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:55,700 Jim, Jim, I have to kill him. I have to before I can ever live again. 278 00:14:55,700 --> 00:15:00,700 I hate him, Jim. When you've lived with it, I hate as long as I've lived with it. 279 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:01,700 There's nothing else you can do. 280 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:05,700 Zach, Zach, it would solve nothing, killing Ben Rose. 281 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:09,700 Why do you think I resigned my commission before the war was over? 282 00:15:09,700 --> 00:15:12,700 Why do you think I disappeared from the Confederacy? 283 00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,700 Why do you think I never returned to my home? 284 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:17,700 I heard you had done all those things. 285 00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:20,700 I didn't ask any questions because you're my friend. 286 00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:25,700 Ben, Ben Rose, the cause of everything. 287 00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:35,700 One night, in front of the whole regiment, he slapped me. 288 00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:36,700 Over what? Why? 289 00:15:36,700 --> 00:15:41,700 Her girl, just a girl we both liked. I don't even remember her name. 290 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:44,700 No, everybody had seen it come. 291 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:53,700 Until Rose joined the regiment, I was the most popular officer with my fellow officers and the ladies. 292 00:15:53,700 --> 00:15:55,700 Zachary, that was then. 293 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:59,700 And this is now. But my life stopped then, Jim. 294 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:06,700 Jim, try to remember how it was then in the early stages when the North was dying and not the South. 295 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:16,700 It was so fashionable to be young and reckless and brave and an officer in the Confederate Army. 296 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:25,700 And then to be slapped by a man more brave, more reckless, more, more everything. 297 00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:27,700 It was too much, Jim. 298 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:33,700 Those days are gone. Forget them. The whole way of life is different now. 299 00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:34,700 It's no different for him. 300 00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:35,700 Exactly. 301 00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:36,700 And it's no different for me, Jim. 302 00:16:36,700 --> 00:16:39,700 Can you kill a man for something that happened then? 303 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:48,700 He shot at me once. Now I owe him a shot. You know that, Jim. 304 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:58,700 Yes, exactly. You owe him a shot. Go ahead. 305 00:16:58,700 --> 00:17:02,700 You are letting him go, Mr. Stockwell? 306 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:31,700 Yes. I can't stop him. It's between him and Ben Rose now. 307 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:34,700 I understand you have some business with me, sir. 308 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:40,700 I don't usually receive people who refuse to give their names to my servants. 309 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:41,700 Hello, Rose. 310 00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:42,700 Jim. 311 00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:43,700 What? 312 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:45,700 Don't you recognize me? 313 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:48,700 Zachary Payton. What are you doing here? 314 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:52,700 I owe you a shot, Rose. And I've come to pay off. 315 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:57,700 I see. Are you ready? 316 00:17:57,700 --> 00:18:01,700 I'm ready. I told you I always would be. 317 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:05,700 Yes, you did. And you asked me to remember it. 318 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:10,700 You don't seem quite as certain as you were the last time we met. Is there something wrong? 319 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:15,700 I... I believe we were at eight paces before. 320 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:19,700 Yes. Do you mind if I count? 321 00:18:19,700 --> 00:18:20,700 I'll count. 322 00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:25,700 As you will, Rose. Back to back. 323 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:37,700 One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. 324 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:42,700 Shoot, man. Shoot! Do it quickly. 325 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:45,700 You seem in a hurry to die, Mr. Rose. 326 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:50,700 It's Marshal, my wife. She'll be coming home any minute. 327 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:57,700 Ah, well, in that case, we'd better get on with it, then. 328 00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:58,700 Shoot! 329 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:04,700 You know, I apologize, Mr. Rose, that this pistol isn't loaded with cherry stones. 330 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:10,700 You have no idea how often I've dreamed of cherry stone bullets since last we met. 331 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:14,700 I think they would be somewhat lighter than lead. 332 00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:17,700 Shoot! 333 00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:24,700 Rose, this doesn't seem to me like a duel anymore. It's just plain murder. 334 00:19:24,700 --> 00:19:28,700 And if I'm anything, I will not be called a murderer. 335 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:32,700 You must understand that I've had quite a long lecture on why I shouldn't be doing this. 336 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:35,700 I don't like shooting an unarmed man. 337 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:43,700 Well, there's another pistol in my case, all loaded. Take it, and then we can start over. 338 00:19:43,700 --> 00:19:46,700 You hesitate, Mr. Rose. 339 00:19:46,700 --> 00:19:52,700 I do not hesitate, sir. 340 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:55,700 I'm ready now. 341 00:19:55,700 --> 00:20:00,700 Well, go ahead, Mr. Rose. Your shot. 342 00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:01,700 What? 343 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:09,700 You may have the first shot. I'm ready. 344 00:20:09,700 --> 00:20:16,700 Well, sir, you have broken a candle holder and ruined a picture. 345 00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:21,700 Now I truly owe you a shot. 346 00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:26,700 Ben? Ben, dear, what is this? What's the matter? Oh, Ben, are you all right? 347 00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:33,700 Oh, I'm fine, Marsha, fine. But truly I am. Didn't you see we were just joking? 348 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:34,700 Joking? 349 00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:41,700 Oh, don't be so frightened. Now, I'll tell you what. Find Abrams and ask him to bring up some nice wine. 350 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:45,700 And then I'll introduce you to my old friend here. 351 00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:51,700 Tell me, sir, is my husband telling the truth? Ben, is it true you're just joking? 352 00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:59,700 He's always joking, Mrs. Rose. Once he slapped me in the face for a joke. 353 00:20:59,700 --> 00:21:04,700 Another time he put a bullet through my cap for a joke. 354 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:12,700 Just now he fired a gun at me and missed. Another joke. 355 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:18,700 Now I think I'll have my little joke and end this joking. 356 00:21:18,700 --> 00:21:21,700 Ben, this is the man Peyton you told me about. 357 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:27,700 Leave the room, Marsha. This is between us. 358 00:21:27,700 --> 00:21:32,700 This man has a right to shoot at me. I wouldn't have any honor if I didn't allow. 359 00:21:32,700 --> 00:21:34,700 Oh, no. 360 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:42,700 Shoot, Peyton. Shoot, man, and stop making her suffer for me. 361 00:21:42,700 --> 00:21:46,700 Will you fire or not? 362 00:21:46,700 --> 00:21:53,700 No. No, sir, I will not fire. 363 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:59,700 I'm satisfied. I've seen you afraid. 364 00:21:59,700 --> 00:22:05,700 I forced you to fire at me. That's enough. 365 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:13,700 You'll remember me all your life, Rose. I'll leave you to your conscience. 366 00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:36,700 Now, as for that shot, here it is. Goodbye, Mr. Rose. 367 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:42,700 You back again? You did it. You took your shot. 368 00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:47,700 Yes, I put it in the picture right next to his shot. 369 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:54,700 Zack, Zack, he's still alive. You could have killed him, but he's alive. 370 00:22:54,700 --> 00:23:23,700 He's fine, Jim, and still the bravest man I ever met. Let's go, Jim. 371 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:30,700 Suspense, in which William Conrad starred as Peyton with John Danaer as Rose. 372 00:23:30,700 --> 00:23:36,700 Next week, the terrifying story of a young couple and a madwoman and what happened to them. 373 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:46,700 We call it On a Country Road. That's next week on Suspense. 374 00:23:46,700 --> 00:23:52,700 Suspense is produced and directed by Norman MacDonald with music composed by Lucian Morawek and conducted by Lud Bluskin. 375 00:23:52,700 --> 00:24:05,700 The shot by Alexander Pushkin was specially adapted for Suspense by E. Jack Newman, featured in the cast were Parley Bear, Edgar Barrier, Lynn Allen, Vic Perrin, Marvin Bryan, and Frank Gerstel. 376 00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:27,700 Friday nights, enjoy the Arthur Godfrey Digest on the CBS Radio Network.