1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,000 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 2 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:17,280 Tonight, we depart from the usual to bring you a play from one of the greatest authors 3 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,360 of science fiction, Mr. Ray Bradbury. 4 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:25,000 It is the story of a last voyage in a spaceship and the six men who took it. 5 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:31,000 So now, starring Mr. William Conrad, here is tonight's Suspense play, Kaleidoscope. 6 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:39,800 She was a spaceship cargo carrier, seven years old, with over a million and a half miles lost 7 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:40,800 in her wake. 8 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:46,400 Within her metallic skin was the world of the crew, an atom of life surrounded by a 9 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,400 vast expanse of nothingness. 10 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,280 The ship and the crew were owned by the company, a third class vessel operated by third class 11 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,360 personnel, and each of us hoping that in our day would come promotion to second class, 12 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:05,960 or even to first, and the great hushed passenger liners, which were also owned by the company. 13 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:10,760 The company ran everything and wasn't anyone else to work for, and to accept that what 14 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,760 was given, not gratefully, but with hope. 15 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,760 There were 19 of us to begin with on a routine voyage. 16 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,760 Our cargo, seasoned lumber. 17 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:25,680 I was at control on the second day, on stone navigating. 18 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:26,680 On the nose. 19 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:27,680 Good. 20 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:28,680 Control. 21 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:29,680 Bearing mark, Captain. 22 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:30,680 Right. 23 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:31,680 Hollis, where's the captain? 24 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:32,680 In his cabin. 25 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:33,680 On the bottle again. 26 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:34,680 Why didn't you ask him? 27 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:35,680 I don't have to, I can smell him all the way out. 28 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:36,680 You want something, Advocate? 29 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:37,680 Sea tube's blowing again. 30 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:38,680 It isn't showing on the indicator. 31 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:39,680 I can't help that. 32 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:40,680 Wait a minute. 33 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:41,680 Captain. 34 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:42,680 I'm going to the ship. 35 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:43,680 I'm going to the ship. 36 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:44,680 I'm going to the ship. 37 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:45,680 I'm going to the ship. 38 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:46,680 I'm going to the ship. 39 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:47,680 I'm going to the ship. 40 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:48,680 I'm going to the ship. 41 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:49,680 I'm going to the ship. 42 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:50,680 I'm going to the ship. 43 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:51,680 Control. 44 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:52,680 Yeah. 45 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:53,680 Applegate reports sea tube blowing, sir. 46 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:54,680 Oh? 47 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:55,680 It doesn't show on the indicator, sir. 48 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,680 All right. 49 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:57,680 I'll be right there. 50 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:58,680 Now what was the idea of that? 51 00:01:58,680 --> 00:01:59,680 What? 52 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:00,680 Telling him it didn't show. 53 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:01,680 You trying to louse me up? 54 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:02,680 You better keep check on that tube. 55 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:03,680 Who's giving orders? 56 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:04,680 I am. 57 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:05,680 My sash to you, friend. 58 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:06,680 Oh, come on, Applegate. 59 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:07,680 I don't want to blow up. 60 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:08,680 I've got two weeks of pay coming when we get back. 61 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:09,680 Here, give me a power check, will you? 62 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:10,680 Sure. 63 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:20,680 Nothing must be haywire with the indicator. 64 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,680 Get it straightened out, Hollis. 65 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,680 She's not firing in sequence, sir. 66 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:26,680 Heating up, too. 67 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:27,680 Let me see. 68 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:28,680 I don't like this. 69 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:29,680 Rockets, who's the captain? 70 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:30,680 Dempsey, sir. 71 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:31,680 It's sea tube, I think. 72 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:32,680 Heating the others, too. 73 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:33,680 Lock off's frozen. 74 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:34,680 I don't know what's going on. 75 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:35,680 I don't know what's going on. 76 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:36,680 I don't know what's going on. 77 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:37,680 I don't know what's going on. 78 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:38,680 I don't know what's going on. 79 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:39,680 I don't know what's going on. 80 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:40,680 I don't know what's going on. 81 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:41,680 I don't know what's going on. 82 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:42,680 I don't know what's going on. 83 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:43,680 I don't know what's going on. 84 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:44,680 I don't know what's going on. 85 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:45,680 I don't know what's going on. 86 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:46,680 Lock off's frozen. 87 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:47,680 Use emergency. 88 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:48,680 Standby. 89 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:49,680 Come on. 90 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:50,680 Come on. 91 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:51,680 Control, this is Applegate. 92 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:52,680 Emergency doesn't answer. 93 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:53,820 It's getting too hot. 94 00:02:53,820 --> 00:02:55,780 Maybe it will answer from here, sir. 95 00:02:55,780 --> 00:02:59,120 Applegate, get your men out of there. 96 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,580 Standby to abandon. 97 00:03:01,580 --> 00:03:02,600 Keep going, Kirk. 98 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,940 Shall I sound the alarm? 99 00:03:04,940 --> 00:03:05,940 Yes. 100 00:03:05,940 --> 00:03:12,940 This is the captain. This is the captain. Get into your suits. You've got about two minutes, 101 00:03:12,940 --> 00:03:18,940 maybe less. Get into your suits. The ship is going to explode. Get into your suits. Abandon. 102 00:03:18,940 --> 00:03:22,940 Abandon. Get into your suits. Get into your suits. 103 00:03:22,940 --> 00:03:36,940 The concussion cut the spaceship up the side like a giant can opener. Those of us who weren't 104 00:03:36,940 --> 00:03:42,660 immediately killed were thrown into space like wriggling silverfish scattered into a dark sea. 105 00:03:42,660 --> 00:03:49,140 And the ship and a million pieces went on, a meteor swan seeking a lost son. 106 00:03:49,140 --> 00:03:56,580 The sound of our voices calling like lost children on a cold night. 107 00:03:56,580 --> 00:04:10,020 John, John, this is Hallett. Where are you? I don't know. How can I? Which way is up? I'm falling. 108 00:04:10,020 --> 00:04:18,940 Oh God, I'm falling. We're going away from each other. Who is that? This is the captain. Who is that? 109 00:04:18,940 --> 00:04:31,860 Lester. Where are you? We were hurtling in space in every direction. And now instead of men, 110 00:04:31,860 --> 00:04:39,500 there were only voices. Voices communicating by radio phone. All kinds of voices. Disembodied 111 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:46,180 and impassioned in varying degrees of terror and resignation. All moving away from one another. 112 00:04:46,180 --> 00:04:51,860 We were wearing our sealed tight space suits with glass tubes over our faces. But there 113 00:04:51,860 --> 00:04:57,140 hadn't been time to lock on the propulsion units. Not time enough. And without them we 114 00:04:57,140 --> 00:05:02,980 were meteors. Senseless. Each going to a separate and irrevocable fate. 115 00:05:02,980 --> 00:05:20,580 This is the captain. I want a roll call. Who is that? This is Applegate. Sir, Applegate. Next? Lester. Who? Lester. Simpson. 116 00:05:20,580 --> 00:05:36,740 Stone. Hollis. Anybody else? Anyone else? Stone to Hollis. How long can we talk the phone? 117 00:05:36,740 --> 00:05:44,220 Well it depends on how fast you're going your way and I'm going mine. An hour I make it. What happened? 118 00:05:44,220 --> 00:05:52,740 A rocket blew up. Didn't you feel it? That's all. Rockets do blow up. Which way are you going? 119 00:05:52,740 --> 00:05:58,260 It looks like I'll hit the moon. Well it's Earth for me. That's nice. 120 00:05:58,260 --> 00:06:11,700 Back to old Mother Earth at ten thousand miles an hour. I'll burn like a match when I hit the atmosphere. 121 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:17,620 Well Stone's going to the moon. I know where I'd like to see Applegate go. 122 00:06:17,620 --> 00:06:28,340 I don't want to die. I don't want to die. It's a long way down. Who's that? I don't know. Stemson I think. Stemson is that you? This is Hollis. 123 00:06:28,340 --> 00:06:39,020 It's a long long way and I don't like it. I don't like it. Stemson this is Hollis. Stemson do you hear me? Stemson. Yes? You take it easy now. 124 00:06:39,020 --> 00:06:50,260 We're all in the same fix. I don't want to be here I'm afraid. There's a chance we'll be found. I heard that. What a liar you are. You shut up Applegate. 125 00:06:50,260 --> 00:07:01,860 Come and make me. Come on Hollis. Come and make me shut up. I don't believe this. I don't believe any of this is happening. Not to me it's a bad dream. Take it easy Stemson. 126 00:07:01,860 --> 00:07:16,500 Hey you know I don't feel so bad. Who's that? It's me Stone L'Espere. I was just thinking. I've had a pretty good time. Lots of good times. Hey did I ever tell you about my wife? 127 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:28,140 Which one? Who's that? Applegate. Oh sure. How do you feel Applegate? Oh why don't you shut up. No kidding about my wife. The one on Mars. Did I ever tell you? 128 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:36,660 That's enough. This is the captain. We've got to figure a way out of this. Make a plan. I sash to you captain. What did you say? 129 00:07:36,660 --> 00:07:50,140 Oh you heard me. Don't try pulling rank on me. You're ten thousand miles away by now. You listen to me Applegate. Consider this a mutiny of one captain. Hang me. Kill me. 130 00:07:50,140 --> 00:07:59,620 Look I want to tell you something. Your ship was a bad ship and you were a bad captain and I hope you break wherever you're going. I'm ordering you to stop Applegate. 131 00:07:59,620 --> 00:08:07,740 Be my guest. Order me some more. You're going to put me in chains till we land? Mars sash to you captain. 132 00:08:07,740 --> 00:08:21,900 Hey fellas let me tell you about my wife. The one on Venus. It doesn't matter now. I guess anybody can know now. Oh listen I had it real good. One wife on Mars another on Venus one on Jupiter. 133 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:34,180 Oh boy what a time. Hey Stone. Yeah. Remember the time we put into Mars port for repairs? I remember. Well that's when I met the first one. 134 00:08:34,180 --> 00:08:38,740 You know what those Mars girls are like. Well. 135 00:08:38,740 --> 00:09:00,740 L'Espere went on and on with his talk about his wives. An interplanetary bigot. His money, his wonderful time, drunkenness, gambling. On and on while we fell in space away from each other. L'Espere reminiscing on the past happy while he fell to his death. Space. 136 00:09:00,740 --> 00:09:11,740 Thousands of miles of space and the voice vibrating in the center of it. No one visible at all. Only the radio waves quivering and trying to quicken other men into emotion. 137 00:09:11,740 --> 00:09:18,740 I tell you when a man's had a life like I've had it's not so bad. Not much left for me to do I guess. 138 00:09:18,740 --> 00:09:41,740 Sir. Men. This is the captain. I want you to know that I'm very grateful for your loyalty. You've been a good crew. Wallace. Stone. If you get out of this I have you both posted for a promotion. It'll go through when you report. 139 00:09:41,740 --> 00:09:55,740 Okay. I wish that. Captain. Captain. And the one on meteorite got him. And he take it. 140 00:09:55,740 --> 00:10:24,740 Wallace. Wallace. Can you think of something. Something to do. Why ask him. I'll tell you something to do. Make it quick. Open the valve on your suit. We're finished all of us. Who cares. Everyone's going to cry over me. 141 00:10:24,740 --> 00:10:43,740 And we fell through space. Five of us living. Each in his orbit of loneliness. Moving away from the other. From this outer edge of my life looking back there was one remorse. And that. Only that I wish I could go on living. 142 00:10:43,740 --> 00:11:01,740 All dying people feel that way. What. Oh. I didn't know I was thinking out loud. Funny. If I'd never lived. Yeah I know. I know. 143 00:11:01,740 --> 00:11:29,740 Hey. What is it. All right what. Let's hear me talk. Go ahead. You hate my god. I never thought much about it. I want to tell you something. I was the one who blackballed you with a rocket company five years ago. 144 00:11:29,740 --> 00:11:46,740 Did you hear me. I heard you. How does that make you feel. Nothing. You wanted to get to the top all your life. I know. I'll bet you always wondered what happened. Well it was me. See I put the black mark on you before I was tossed out myself. It isn't important. 145 00:11:46,740 --> 00:12:15,740 Well I had a good time. Yeah it's a good thing to think about too. Had a wife on Mars. Venus. One in Jupiter. So you said. And I'm saying it again. I like to think about it. They all had money too. Oh yes they treated me just fine. You know once I got drunk and gambled twenty thousand dollars. Twenty thousand dollars. In one night. Just like that. Oh it's been a good life. 146 00:12:16,740 --> 00:12:43,740 But you're here now. I didn't have any of those things. I was jealous of you. Funny little man. How did you rate it. The women. The good times. Women frighten me. And I went into space always wanting them. Jealous of you for having them. And money. And as much happiness as man could want. 147 00:12:43,740 --> 00:13:11,740 I'm not jealous anymore though. Because it's over for you just the way it is for me. Now it's like it never was. It's all over Lusbea. It just never was. You hear me Lusbea. Who's that? It's Hollis. Do you hear me? You're out here Lusbea. Falling. Dying. It's all over. Just as if it never happened isn't it? No. It happened. When anything's over it's just like it never happened. 148 00:13:11,740 --> 00:13:40,740 Where's your life any better than mine now? Now's what counts. Is it any better? Is it? Yes it's better. How? How? Because I've got my thoughts. Good thoughts. I remember. So are you. What good? What good are they? You gonna be rescued? You gonna live more than a few hours? I'm resting easy. I've had my turn. I'm not getting vicious at the end. 149 00:13:40,740 --> 00:14:09,740 Not like you. Vicious. Vicious. Take it easy Hollis. I know how you feel Hollis. I don't take it personally. You're alright. I always thought that. Hey what? What's the matter? I can see something. Down. Down. Yeah. I can see lights. They look like lights. Where? What? Where? Where are you? Must be a ship. Maybe they'll see us. What are you talking about? 150 00:14:09,740 --> 00:14:38,740 Yes. Which way are you going Stone? It's lights I tell you. I can see them planes. Which way? Which way? Where are you Stone? Where? Guess what? Huh? What? Stone and Tom. What? What? I've got myself into a meteor swarm. Little asteroid. Meteor? Yes. I think it's a Miradon cluster. You know Hollis. The one that goes out past Mars and in toward Earth once every five years while I'm right in the middle. Stone. Stone. It's like a big kaleidoscope. 151 00:14:38,740 --> 00:15:02,740 That's what I thought was a light. All kinds of colors and shapes are created beautiful. All that metal. I'm going with them. They're taking me with them. I'll be. Stone. So long Hollis. So long. Good luck Stone. Don't be funny. 152 00:15:02,740 --> 00:15:30,740 I looked. There was nothing. Only the great diamonds and sapphire and emerald myths and velvet inks of space. And then in the sudden calmness of his going there was a kind of wonder in the thought of Stone going off in a meteor swarm out past Mars for years and coming in toward Earth every five years. Passing in and out for the next million centuries. 153 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:59,740 Hollis. This is L'Espere. You all right? Yes. I'm fine. I can't hear you so good. You there? Hollis? This is Hollis. I'm okay. You? Hollis there must be something wrong with the phone. Hollis? Can you hear me? Say something will you? Turn up the booster. Turn up your booster. Hollis can you hear me? Yes. Yes I hear you. 154 00:16:00,740 --> 00:16:28,740 Hey that's fine now. Yeah. Oh I thought you were gone. Who are you talking to? The Stone. Ah. Hey who else is around? Applegate. Applegate. I'm here. Stimpson. Stimpson. Hey Stimpson. I guess he's gone too. 155 00:16:28,740 --> 00:16:57,740 L'Espere can you see anything? I wasn't looking I was thinking. I think your arm hit Mars. Mars. Wouldn't that be something if I landed in the wife's backyard? She'd get a kick out of that. That's pretty funny huh? Is that you Applegate? No. I thought it was you. Hollis? No it must be Stimpson. Stimpson. Stimpson. I want to wake up. 156 00:16:58,740 --> 00:17:26,740 Mama. Mama I want to wake up. Make him stop will you? Stimpson. Shut him up. Stimpson. Stimpson will you listen to me. Now Stimpson listen to me. Help or get right it'll be easier. You open your valve. Open it. Listen to me Stimpson open your valve. Now. Do it now. It won't hurt only you'll set it Stimpson. 157 00:17:26,740 --> 00:17:29,740 Open your valve. 158 00:17:29,740 --> 00:17:58,740 Stimpson. Hollis. Applegate. Yeah. Has he gone? I guess so. Oh. Hey anybody know what time it is? Oh what do you care? What did you say? Applegate. 159 00:17:59,740 --> 00:18:18,740 The boost is fading. What did you say? I don't know. Oh well I guess it doesn't matter. Habit I suppose. You mind if I keep talking? And the past is the time. 160 00:18:18,740 --> 00:18:44,740 The goodbyes. Voices dying. Men dying. The awareness of life my own. What can I do? Is there anything I can do to make up for a terrible and empty life? If only I could do one good thing to make up for the meanness I collected all these years. And didn't even know it was ending. 161 00:18:44,740 --> 00:19:13,740 Hollis. Hollis. Yes. Hollis that was right you told Stimpson to do. I said it to make him feel bad but you did it right. I murdered him. No no you didn't. Listen Hollis. This isn't good this thing between you and me. It's a bad way to die. Are you listening Hollis? Yes I'm listening. I lied. I didn't black ball you. Can you hear me? Yes. 162 00:19:13,740 --> 00:19:40,740 Listening to your talk when you were saying those things to L'Espere about it not mattering and he said about you being vicious made me ashamed I've been like that too. It's alright I understand. Can you get L'Espere? No. No he was gone an hour ago. Can you hear him? 163 00:19:40,740 --> 00:20:08,740 No. Last thing I heard he was singing a dirty song. Quite a guy. Yeah. You're fading out. You too. What? I hope everything's okay with you Applegate. I hope you go to heaven or wherever you want. I hope for you. 164 00:20:08,740 --> 00:20:33,740 You're getting soft Hollis. Better open your valve. So long. Take it easy Applegate. So long Hollis. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Applegate. Applegate. 165 00:20:38,740 --> 00:20:45,740 So long. 166 00:20:45,740 --> 00:21:12,740 Anytime now I'll hit the earth's atmosphere. I'll burn and be scattered in ashes all over the continental land. But I'll be put to use. Just a little bit but ashes are ashes and they'll add to the land. I wanted to make something of my life. To be light. To do good for people. To make them happy. 167 00:21:12,740 --> 00:21:34,740 Now it's all gone. I wish I could do a good thing. Just something for me to know about. When I hit the atmosphere I'll burn like a meteor. I wonder if anyone will see me. 168 00:21:42,740 --> 00:21:56,740 Time for bed Sonny. 169 00:21:56,740 --> 00:22:25,740 Okay. Hey hey look up there Mom. A falling star. High stars. Make a wish dear. Make a wish. 170 00:22:25,740 --> 00:22:30,740 Suspense. 171 00:22:30,740 --> 00:22:37,740 In which Mr. William Conrad starred in tonight's presentation of Kaleidoscope written by Ray Bradbury. 172 00:22:37,740 --> 00:22:42,740 Next week the story of two people and the terror that rode with them in the city. 173 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:45,740 We call it Backseat Driver. 174 00:22:45,740 --> 00:23:01,740 That's next week on Suspense. 175 00:23:01,740 --> 00:23:24,740 Suspense is produced and directed by Anthony Ellis who adapted tonight's script. The music was composed by Renny Garagão and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Special technical effects by Robert Chadwick featured in the cast were Stacey Harris, Harley Bear, Howard McNear, John Danaer, Sam Edwards, Georgia Ellis and Master Jonathan Ellis. 176 00:23:24,740 --> 00:23:42,740 This is the CBS Radio Network.