1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,000 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 2 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:20,800 Tonight, the story of two young men and a frightening dare. 3 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:22,820 We call it The Game. 4 00:00:22,820 --> 00:00:28,880 So now, starring Sam Edwards and Gil Stratton, Jr., here is tonight's suspense play, The 5 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:40,800 Game. 6 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,120 There were two of them. 7 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:48,680 They stood on the corner of Main and Elm, leaning back against the wall, indolent, 8 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,740 the summer sun warm, bringing to them the astringent odor of soft tar in the cracks 9 00:00:53,740 --> 00:00:54,740 of the sidewalk. 10 00:00:54,740 --> 00:01:01,440 It was two o'clock by the hands of the jewelers' clock a few doors down the street. 11 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:11,560 And it was at two o'clock, quite innocently at first, that the dreadful game began. 12 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:12,560 What do you want to do, Pen? 13 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:13,560 I don't know. 14 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:14,560 You? 15 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,080 No, I don't know. 16 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,640 I guess we could have a couple of games of ping pong. 17 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,640 You got the bill? 18 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,760 I don't know. 19 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:26,760 Forty cents. 20 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:27,760 We could, Red. 21 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:28,760 I don't know. 22 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:33,360 No, I don't feel like it. 23 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,360 Okay. 24 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,480 Hey, we could shoot some pool. 25 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:38,480 What's the matter? 26 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:39,760 You always want to play games. 27 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,760 Kid stuff. 28 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:43,760 Know something? 29 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:44,760 What? 30 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:46,480 I feel like getting drunk. 31 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:47,480 You're kidding. 32 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:48,480 I'm not kidding. 33 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:49,480 You're kidding. 34 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:50,480 What do you want to get drunk for? 35 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:51,480 For fun. 36 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,280 My folks won't be back till later tonight. 37 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,040 Not me, boy. 38 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,040 Not me. 39 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:59,840 I can get hold of a bottle. 40 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:01,880 Not me, boy. 41 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:02,880 Chicken? 42 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:03,880 That's me. 43 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:05,880 Okay, so long. 44 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,800 Hey, Red. 45 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,040 Wait a minute. 46 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:11,040 You kidding? 47 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:12,840 What do you want to do that for? 48 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:14,320 You got any better ideas what to do? 49 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:15,320 No, but... 50 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:16,320 Okay, I'll see you. 51 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,240 You know what would happen if they ever found out? 52 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:19,920 They won't find out. 53 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,000 You can stay over at my house tonight, call your folks, nobody will know. 54 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,000 That's crazy. 55 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:25,000 No, it isn't. 56 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,680 Don't you ever want to do something different? 57 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,400 We're not kids. 58 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,400 Maybe you are. 59 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,440 Maybe you need a couple of drinks to grow up. 60 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,840 Big man, I'm two weeks older than you. 61 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:35,840 Not up here, boy. 62 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:36,840 Not up here. 63 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:37,840 Nuts to you. 64 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:45,560 And they walked slowly, carrying the idea to a White house with gray trim. 65 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,280 A house well lived in, empty now, but waiting. 66 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:56,920 And the boys went in, upstairs, and to a room papered with ships and pennants, signs and 67 00:02:56,920 --> 00:02:57,920 maps. 68 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,920 The one, Red, disappeared for a few minutes. 69 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:05,000 The other tried to become interested in a book of fighting ships. 70 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:14,120 He was afraid of what was to come, knowing why, and not quite knowing. 71 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:19,320 That your father's? 72 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,040 No, the gardener hid it in the wood shed. 73 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,640 I found it a couple of weeks ago, hid it somewhere else. 74 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:26,920 Boy, I bet that fractured. 75 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:30,640 How do you like it? 76 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:32,280 I don't care. 77 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:33,280 Straight? 78 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:34,280 Sure. 79 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,480 Water chaser? 80 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:37,920 What about you? 81 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:39,760 No water for me. 82 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:40,760 Same thing then. 83 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:46,960 Sit down, we'll talk. 84 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,800 They drank, and they didn't like it. 85 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,720 But they'd started the game, and they couldn't stop. 86 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:58,360 A small clock with an owl front piece ticked above them, the eyes of the bird metronomically 87 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,080 switching from side to side. 88 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:06,320 A car passed occasionally, and there was a tension, until the sound of tire and engine 89 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,440 faded away. 90 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:14,080 It didn't take too long for the warmth to grow, and the eyes to become hot, the tongue 91 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,080 loose. 92 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,440 Thanks. 93 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:30,920 Boy, not bad, huh? 94 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,960 Feel pretty good? 95 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,000 Yeah, pretty good. 96 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:41,960 Boy, Elaine, wouldn't be bad having her up here now, huh? 97 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,840 Yeah, wouldn't be bad. 98 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:45,960 You ever take her out? 99 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,440 A couple of times, I guess. 100 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:49,440 All right, huh? 101 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,440 Nick? 102 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:51,440 No, not much. 103 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,880 Oh, I thought you two were like that. 104 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,720 That's what I heard last term. 105 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:57,720 You kidding? 106 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:02,840 You know, you know what's the matter with you, Pen? 107 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:03,880 What? 108 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:04,880 You're soft. 109 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,440 I'm your friend, boy, I can tell you. 110 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,440 What the other guys say, think, you know? 111 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,040 Guts, boy. 112 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,200 Not all there, not enough. 113 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:15,600 I'm your friend, Penny. 114 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:16,600 I like you. 115 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,880 But you gotta have guts. 116 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:19,880 I've got guts. 117 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:20,880 Not enough. 118 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:22,680 And that's what all the guys think. 119 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,960 Pen's okay, but kind of soft, you know? 120 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:26,960 Chicken. 121 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:27,960 Yeah? 122 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:28,960 I'm telling you. 123 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,560 I don't want to be a pal to a guy who's soft. 124 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:33,560 You gotta be hard. 125 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:34,560 Be like the other guys. 126 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,640 How do you figure all this? 127 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,120 Nobody asked you. 128 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,560 I know what I am. 129 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:41,560 I know. 130 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,360 I'm not soft, not chicken. 131 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:45,360 Ah, you. 132 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,440 You're afraid to get drunk with me. 133 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,560 I'm getting drunk with you. 134 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,840 Because you're afraid I'd think you were chicken, that's why. 135 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:52,840 That's why. 136 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:53,840 You're crazy. 137 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:55,840 I've seen you afraid, Penny. 138 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:58,560 I had to explain it to the guys. 139 00:05:58,560 --> 00:05:59,560 When? 140 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:00,560 When? 141 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,280 That time we went shooting ducks with your old man's shotgun. 142 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:05,280 You were chicken then. 143 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:06,280 You're crazy. 144 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:08,920 The guys thought you were. 145 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:09,920 Afraid of the gun. 146 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,800 That's not chicken. 147 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,760 That's what I told them. 148 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,720 But I'm not sure. 149 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:17,720 Let's forget it. 150 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:18,720 Uh-uh. 151 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,880 You can't run out on that, boy. 152 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:24,120 I'm your friend, Pen. 153 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,320 I'm telling you for your own good. 154 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:27,320 Okay, okay. 155 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:28,760 You've told me. 156 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,760 I'm chicken, no guts. 157 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:31,760 Forget it. 158 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:33,760 Afraid of a gun. 159 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:38,400 You and me could never go hunting up in the mountains, I'll tell you that. 160 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:39,400 Cut it out. 161 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:40,400 You're a kid. 162 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:41,400 You're chicken. 163 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:42,400 You want to fight. 164 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,040 Is that what you want? 165 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,040 You want to? 166 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,040 Because if you do, I... 167 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,040 What for? 168 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:48,040 That doesn't mean anything. 169 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,160 Kid stuff. 170 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,440 I got a better idea. 171 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,640 You want to really do something that'll show, boy? 172 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,240 That'll really show it? 173 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:02,600 Do what? 174 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,320 Play a game. 175 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,080 You like games? 176 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:07,320 Real easy game to learn. 177 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:08,320 Nothing to it. 178 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,320 Here, have a drink. 179 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,320 Sit down. 180 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:14,320 Game? 181 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:15,320 Mm-hmm. 182 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,440 I read about it a while back. 183 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:18,440 Russian roulette. 184 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,600 Never heard of it. 185 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:21,600 Some kind of gambling? 186 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,360 I'll tell you. 187 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,560 It's real easy. 188 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,760 First you get a gun. 189 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,240 A revolver, Penny. 190 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,240 Bullet gun. 191 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,400 So what? 192 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,280 You take one bullet and you leave it in the gun, see? 193 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:39,280 Then we take turns. 194 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,180 What kind of a crazy game is that? 195 00:07:43,180 --> 00:07:47,000 We take turns pointing at our heads and pulling the trigger. 196 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:53,040 If nothing happens to you, I take the gun, spin the cylinder and point it at my head 197 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:54,720 and shoot. 198 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:56,720 You call that a game? 199 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:57,720 Sure. 200 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,000 See which one goes chicken first. 201 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,480 You never know where the bullet is. 202 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:06,200 If you spin the cylinder and the bullet comes up on your turn, bluey. 203 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:07,200 That's nuts. 204 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,240 In this book, it went on a long time. 205 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:10,960 Then one guy got like you'd get. 206 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,720 He was chicken and he folded up. 207 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,360 Listen, I'm sick of hearing you say that. 208 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:15,360 I'm sick of it. 209 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:16,360 You hear? 210 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:17,520 You want to know something? 211 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:18,920 You'd get chicken before me. 212 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:19,920 You. 213 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,760 I wouldn't do it to you, Penn. 214 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:22,760 Don't worry. 215 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:23,760 It wouldn't be fair. 216 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:24,760 Forget it. 217 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:25,980 Wait a minute now. 218 00:08:25,980 --> 00:08:26,980 You started this. 219 00:08:26,980 --> 00:08:29,040 So go ahead and finish it. 220 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,560 Your old man got a gun, has he? 221 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:32,560 Sure. 222 00:08:32,560 --> 00:08:33,560 Okay. 223 00:08:33,560 --> 00:08:34,560 You want to be crazy? 224 00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:35,560 Okay. 225 00:08:35,560 --> 00:08:36,560 Go ahead. 226 00:08:36,560 --> 00:08:37,560 Get the gun. 227 00:08:37,560 --> 00:08:38,560 Go ahead. 228 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:39,560 Well, go on. 229 00:08:39,560 --> 00:08:40,560 Get it. 230 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:44,800 Let's start playing. 231 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,960 Red smiled a smile of pity. 232 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,800 With deliberate ease, he sauntered from the room. 233 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:56,000 Penn might have seen him stagger a moment as he reached the door, but Penn wasn't looking. 234 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:04,200 He was noticing for the first time his hands lying flattened on the table, disassociated. 235 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,320 And there was a scar on the right index finger. 236 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:12,280 He got it when he cut himself 12 years before on his first borrowed scout knife. 237 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:17,960 Now the scar, a memory on a trigger finger. 238 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:24,480 He didn't look up again until Red came back with the gun. 239 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,080 38. 240 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,080 That's the best gun. 241 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,080 Want to hold it? 242 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,080 No. 243 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,120 I figured you wouldn't. 244 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:36,120 It's okay. 245 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:37,120 We'll forget it. 246 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,240 Go ahead. 247 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,240 Take out the bullets. 248 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,280 Okay. 249 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,480 Take out five, leave one. 250 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,080 Huh, Penny? 251 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:50,080 Yeah. 252 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,680 Take out five, leave what? 253 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:59,480 One bullet. 254 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:15,080 For you or for me? 255 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,080 Okay? 256 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,080 Okay. 257 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:26,880 The gun. 258 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:31,560 The gun rested muzzled to the wall in the center of the table bearing scratches made 259 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:36,080 by a three-year-old in the forgotten moment of high experience. 260 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:40,600 The boys sat opposite each other looking down at the gun. 261 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:45,600 And the gun waited. 262 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,080 You want to go first? 263 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,520 Doesn't make any difference. 264 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,880 Me either. 265 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,880 Flip a coin. 266 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:55,880 Okay. 267 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,880 Call. 268 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:59,880 Heads. 269 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:01,880 Okay. 270 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:09,880 I'll take the first shot. 271 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,800 There was a ceremony to the game then. 272 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:17,280 A matchmanship with a toss of a coin, a drink of whiskey. 273 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:24,120 The glass put down and next to come the lifting of the gun. 274 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:29,080 Pins stared at it and thought how he could best reach out to take the handle gracefully, 275 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:30,080 practically. 276 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:37,040 He had never held a revolver in his life. 277 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:41,040 I've got to spin the cylinder? 278 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:48,080 No, no, the other way. 279 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:53,080 Now. 280 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,840 What's the odds the bullet comes up when I shoot? 281 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:57,880 I don't know. 282 00:11:57,880 --> 00:11:58,880 One in six, I guess. 283 00:11:58,880 --> 00:11:59,880 I don't know. 284 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:00,880 Okay. 285 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:05,160 He was a careful boy. 286 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:12,480 And so he didn't put the muzzle to his head immediately. 287 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:18,040 At this point of the game, there was a numbness which did not allow for speculation of pain, 288 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,080 mother, father. 289 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,400 Rather he was surprised by the weight of the gun, the physical oneness with it lying in 290 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,400 his hand. 291 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:29,880 He was afraid of it and fascinated in his fear. 292 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:30,880 Red watched. 293 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:32,880 His mouth open a little. 294 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:38,840 His eyes reddened with drinking, but bright, watchful, seeing the friend of his youth slowly 295 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:45,080 raise the gun unsteady and awkwardly turning the barrel to his head. 296 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:56,440 He wet his lips and waited. 297 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,440 Didn't go off. 298 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,440 No. 299 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,640 How did it feel, Pen? 300 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,640 I don't know. 301 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,240 Were you scared? 302 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:09,240 I guess so. 303 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,880 I don't know. 304 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:13,240 You sure looked scared. 305 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:14,240 Real white. 306 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,400 I didn't think you'd do it. 307 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,280 You took long enough. 308 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,440 You're doing a lot of talking. 309 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:21,440 You scared? 310 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:23,880 It's your turn. 311 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,880 Give me the gun. 312 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,960 Boy. 313 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,280 It's a real gun. 314 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,440 Remember when we were kids, cap pistols. 315 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,960 Bet you never thought we'd be doing this. 316 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:40,960 No. 317 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:42,640 Okay. 318 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:47,960 My turn. 319 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,520 Where are you, baby? 320 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:50,520 Where are you? 321 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:57,120 You want to make a side bet on this one? 322 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,640 Who's going to pay me if you lose? 323 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,520 Watch, Pen. 324 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,480 When you make up your mind to do it, do it quick, see? 325 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,480 Like this. 326 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:17,960 Now, you sweat it out. 327 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,880 Pretty good game, huh? 328 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,520 I'll make you one bet, though. 329 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:23,520 What's that? 330 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:25,520 You crack before I do. 331 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:26,520 You're nuts. 332 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:27,520 A buck? 333 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:28,520 A buck? 334 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:29,520 Sure. 335 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:30,520 A buck. 336 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:31,520 A buck. 337 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:36,520 The game had taken another turn. 338 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,280 It presented an added incentive to win. 339 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,640 A dollar bet that one boy would be a coward. 340 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:46,840 A boy would lose his nerve, wouldn't have the guts to take another chance at blowing 341 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:48,560 his brains out. 342 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,000 Good bet that. 343 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:56,920 The room was too warm, and outside the middle afternoon sun blazed down hot on the heavy 344 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:57,920 sycamore trees. 345 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:05,480 Dusty and still, a 12-year-old passed by on the street, whistling tunelessly on his way 346 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:11,040 to the drugstore for a soda. 347 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:12,040 Go ahead. 348 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:16,200 Or do you want to quit now? 349 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,320 I'll do it. 350 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:19,320 Don't worry. 351 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,320 I'm not quitting. 352 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:26,560 Boy, I'll say this for you. 353 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,800 A guy who's as scared of guns as you, you're doing all right. 354 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,440 It gets tougher now, though. 355 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,840 It's all in luck, you know. 356 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,840 You lucky, Pen? 357 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:38,840 Yeah. 358 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,480 I'm lucky. 359 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,120 That's good. 360 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,440 Maybe you need another drink, huh? 361 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:48,440 No. 362 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,440 Not one anymore. 363 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,440 Okay. 364 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,440 Well? 365 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,440 Red? 366 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:02,000 What's the idea, huh? 367 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,360 What are you pointing it at me for? 368 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:05,360 You scared? 369 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:06,760 No, I'm not scared. 370 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,960 Maybe we should play it this way for a while. 371 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,560 I shoot at you, and you shoot at me. 372 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:12,560 That's not the game. 373 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:13,560 Why not? 374 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:14,560 Same thing. 375 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:15,560 No. 376 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:16,560 That'd be like murder. 377 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:17,640 You want to play, you play it right. 378 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:19,840 Who says the way we've been playing is right? 379 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,920 Oh, I get it. 380 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:23,840 You're trying to get out of taking your next shot. 381 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,200 I'm asking you, who says the way we're playing is right? 382 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,640 Listen, will you quit pointing it at me? 383 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:28,640 What difference does it make? 384 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:29,640 Just tell me that. 385 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,160 It's the difference we're playing Russian roulette. 386 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:32,160 That's the difference. 387 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:33,160 If you want to quit, say so. 388 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:34,160 I'm not quitting. 389 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:35,160 Okay, then. 390 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:36,160 Take your shot. 391 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:43,520 It was a thing to be well considered on the part of Red. 392 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,480 The present abstract quality of self-destruction was one thing. 393 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,920 But a gun pointed at him, a gun held in another hand. 394 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:55,800 This was not a game of his choosing, and he would have no part of it. 395 00:16:55,800 --> 00:17:00,520 Suddenly he knew himself to be sober, terribly sober. 396 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,520 And because of this and the fact that the game had mushroomed beyond his understanding, 397 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,680 there was no stopping the play. 398 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,480 He knew that Pin was sober too. 399 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:16,840 And as from a great distance, he saw his friend raise the gun, but steadily this time, pressure 400 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:23,000 whitening the index finger, the muzzle touching just at a pulsing vein he had noticed in Pin's 401 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:29,360 temple. 402 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:32,000 You're a lucky guy. 403 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,840 Yeah. 404 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,200 I'm lucky too. 405 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:42,260 You better be. 406 00:17:42,260 --> 00:17:43,760 My turn now. 407 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:44,760 My turn. 408 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,800 Why didn't he quit? 409 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:48,800 He's never had guts. 410 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,480 Why didn't he quit? 411 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,120 Maybe he's so drunk he hasn't got the sense. 412 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:58,240 No, he's not drunk. 413 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,240 Why didn't he quit? 414 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:02,240 It's my turn. 415 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:03,920 I gotta do it. 416 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:05,680 He'd tell everyone if I didn't. 417 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,680 He'd tell them all and they'd laugh. 418 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,680 I don't know. 419 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:15,880 It feels like the bullet might be coming up. 420 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:17,160 Not yet, then. 421 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,920 Not yet. 422 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:25,400 I gotta smile like I was enjoying it. 423 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,160 This will be something to tell our kids, huh, Pin? 424 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,040 Yeah, sure will. 425 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,960 How long are you gonna take? 426 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:36,400 What's the matter? 427 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,960 Make you nervous? 428 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:39,800 Why should I be nervous? 429 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:40,800 It's your shot. 430 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:41,800 Okay, then. 431 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:42,800 Shut up, huh? 432 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:43,800 He's scared. 433 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:44,800 Red's scared. 434 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:45,800 He doesn't want to do it. 435 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:46,800 I'm not the only one. 436 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:47,800 All this big talk. 437 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:48,800 He's no more than me. 438 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:49,800 All that big talk. 439 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:50,800 Look at him. 440 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:51,800 He's scared. 441 00:18:51,800 --> 00:19:06,800 It was at that moment that Pin discovered this truth, that he knew he wanted to. 442 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:08,800 He could quit the game. 443 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:15,800 And as he looked at Red, he became aware of a great anger that had no direction, no apparent 444 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:21,960 reason, but it filled him and made him strong. 445 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,240 Let's quit, Red. 446 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:25,600 You're crazy. 447 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:26,600 I want to quit. 448 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:27,600 Nuts to you. 449 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:28,600 It's my shot. 450 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:29,600 I don't care who are quitting. 451 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:30,600 You quit when it's your shot. 452 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:31,600 I'll take care of myself. 453 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,280 I'm telling you, Red, put the gun down. 454 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:35,280 Drop dead. 455 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:36,280 Put it down. 456 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:37,280 You're chicken. 457 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,520 A!! 458 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,120 Control!! 459 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:43,920 You! 460 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:52,180 Ok, I'm voting, 461 00:19:52,180 --> 00:19:58,120 Ok, kita会. 462 00:19:58,120 --> 00:19:59,600 Come on. 463 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,960 Ok, ok. 464 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,380 We crazy? 465 00:20:04,380 --> 00:20:11,380 You better answer the phone. 466 00:20:17,820 --> 00:20:21,140 Hello? 467 00:20:21,140 --> 00:20:25,180 Oh, hello mom. 468 00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:30,180 Oh, fine. 469 00:20:30,180 --> 00:20:33,460 No, I'm with Penn. 470 00:20:33,460 --> 00:20:35,780 No, I'm fine. 471 00:20:35,780 --> 00:20:38,060 Oh, out of breath. 472 00:20:38,060 --> 00:20:40,060 We've been playing. 473 00:20:40,060 --> 00:20:43,140 Kind of rough, I guess. 474 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:44,660 Oh, sure mom. 475 00:20:44,660 --> 00:20:47,740 Everything's fine. 476 00:20:47,740 --> 00:20:50,540 Okay. 477 00:20:50,540 --> 00:20:54,420 Okay, mom. 478 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:57,900 Sure, mom. 479 00:20:57,900 --> 00:21:01,700 So long. 480 00:21:01,700 --> 00:21:08,700 Oh, I'm sorry. 481 00:21:31,700 --> 00:21:37,300 I guess we came back in. 482 00:21:37,300 --> 00:21:39,300 That was mom. 483 00:21:39,300 --> 00:21:41,780 Oh? 484 00:21:41,780 --> 00:21:46,740 She said we could go to the tavern for dinner if you like. 485 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:48,300 Charge it. 486 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:49,940 That'd be okay, Ren. 487 00:21:49,940 --> 00:21:51,940 It's well. 488 00:21:51,940 --> 00:21:55,300 Yeah. 489 00:21:55,300 --> 00:21:59,220 Guess we better clean up, huh? 490 00:21:59,220 --> 00:22:03,220 Guess we better. 491 00:22:03,220 --> 00:22:06,940 They cleaned up, not saying much to each other. 492 00:22:06,940 --> 00:22:12,180 They felt very close and were not able to express their closeness. 493 00:22:12,180 --> 00:22:16,780 Then there was a last thing to do and the last part of the game to be played. 494 00:22:16,780 --> 00:22:19,140 They had to know. 495 00:22:19,140 --> 00:22:23,020 So they walked to the edge of the town into a shallow ravine. 496 00:22:23,020 --> 00:22:25,340 Red took the gun from his pocket. 497 00:22:25,340 --> 00:22:29,300 He still had this shot he'd never fired at himself. 498 00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:36,380 He aimed at a half-burned tree stump some 30 yards away and slowly began to squeeze 499 00:22:36,380 --> 00:22:37,380 the trigger. 500 00:22:37,380 --> 00:23:06,500 Suspense. 501 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:13,200 In which Sam Edwards and Gil Stratton, Jr. starred in tonight's presentation of The Game. 502 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:17,960 Next Tuesday, the story of a rehearsal and the performance of murder. 503 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,660 We call it The Cellar. 504 00:23:20,660 --> 00:23:40,860 That's next week on Suspense. 505 00:23:40,860 --> 00:23:45,180 Suspense is produced and directed by Anthony Ellis, who wrote tonight's play. 506 00:23:45,180 --> 00:23:49,860 The music was composed by Leith Stevens and Lucian Morawick and conducted by Wilbur Hatch, 507 00:23:49,860 --> 00:23:54,740 featured on the cast was Mr. John Boehner. 508 00:23:54,740 --> 00:24:19,940 This is the CBS Radio Network.