WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:15.000 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, The Spence. 00:15.000 --> 00:24.300 Tonight, the story of two small boys who carry death in their pockets. 00:24.300 --> 00:27.000 We call it two platinum capsules. 00:27.000 --> 00:33.000 So now, here is tonight's The Spence play, Two Platinum Capsules. 00:33.000 --> 01:01.400 The story you are about to hear is based on fact. 01:01.400 --> 01:02.400 It happened. 01:02.400 --> 01:09.400 It involved the lives of six people. 01:09.400 --> 01:15.400 That sound is being made by a Geiger counter, a device for detecting radioactivity. 01:15.400 --> 01:26.400 It plays an important part in the following events. 01:26.400 --> 01:32.400 Place, a city in northern California, population, 41,300. 01:32.400 --> 01:37.400 For Johnny Murphy, age 11, the day started like any other day. 01:37.400 --> 01:41.400 The time, 8.36 a.m. 01:41.400 --> 01:42.400 Apple car! 01:42.400 --> 01:43.400 Baltimore! 01:43.400 --> 01:44.400 Who are your friends? 01:44.400 --> 01:45.400 The mailman. 01:45.400 --> 01:46.400 Careful! 01:46.400 --> 01:47.400 Hey! 01:47.400 --> 01:48.400 Hey, you boys! 01:48.400 --> 01:49.400 You stop that! 01:49.400 --> 01:50.400 You weren't even close. 01:50.400 --> 01:51.400 I could have hit him if I wanted to. 01:51.400 --> 01:52.400 Johnny! 01:52.400 --> 01:53.400 Johnny! 01:53.400 --> 01:56.400 Yeah, Mom! 01:56.400 --> 01:57.400 Come here. 01:57.400 --> 02:00.400 I'll be right back, please. 02:00.400 --> 02:03.400 What do you want? 02:03.400 --> 02:07.400 Come up here. 02:07.400 --> 02:09.400 I saw you throw that apple car at the mailman. 02:09.400 --> 02:10.400 I didn't hit him, Mom. 02:10.400 --> 02:11.400 I didn't even try. 02:11.400 --> 02:13.400 So, ever let me catch you doing a thing like that again. 02:13.400 --> 02:14.400 Now, come inside. 02:14.400 --> 02:15.400 The father's home. 02:15.400 --> 02:16.400 Can you? 02:16.400 --> 02:17.400 When do you get back? 02:17.400 --> 02:18.400 Just a minute ago. 02:18.400 --> 02:19.400 Hi, boy. 02:19.400 --> 02:20.400 Did you find some uranium, Pop? 02:20.400 --> 02:21.400 No, I'm not doing it. 02:21.400 --> 02:23.400 We didn't expect you on until tonight, George. 02:23.400 --> 02:26.400 Well, I woke up with a lousy cold yesterday. 02:26.400 --> 02:29.400 And on top of that, the water can sprung a leak. 02:29.400 --> 02:32.400 Didn't even have enough to make coffee before I left camp last night. 02:32.400 --> 02:33.400 There's some on the stove. 02:33.400 --> 02:36.400 Hey, Pop, let me listen to the guy you're telling us. 02:36.400 --> 02:37.400 Not now, Johnny. 02:37.400 --> 02:39.400 Your father's tired from driving all night. 02:39.400 --> 02:41.400 Please, Pop, just for a second. 02:41.400 --> 02:42.400 Sure. 02:42.400 --> 02:43.400 Okay. 02:43.400 --> 02:44.400 Now. 02:44.400 --> 02:51.400 Oh, he's eating. 02:51.400 --> 02:58.400 Is that how it sounds when it's near uranium? 02:58.400 --> 03:00.400 No, it clicks a lot faster. 03:00.400 --> 03:01.400 So they tell me. 03:01.400 --> 03:02.400 I'll fix your breakfast, George. 03:02.400 --> 03:03.400 Scramble them, huh, man? 03:03.400 --> 03:04.400 Hey, Johnny, come on. 03:04.400 --> 03:05.400 Hey, Pete's waiting for me, Pop. 03:05.400 --> 03:06.400 Okay, boy, you run along. 03:06.400 --> 03:07.400 Johnny, you'll be home for lunch. 03:07.400 --> 03:08.400 Okay, Mom. 03:08.400 --> 03:09.400 I'll be home. 03:09.400 --> 03:10.400 I'll be home. 03:10.400 --> 03:11.400 I'll be home. 03:11.400 --> 03:14.400 Where are we going? 03:14.400 --> 03:15.400 I don't know. 03:15.400 --> 03:16.400 Where do you want to go? 03:16.400 --> 03:17.400 I don't know. 03:17.400 --> 03:18.400 Hey, how about to my house? 03:18.400 --> 03:19.400 Nah, nothing to do over there. 03:19.400 --> 03:20.400 Well, what do you want to do? 03:20.400 --> 03:21.400 I don't know. 03:21.400 --> 03:22.400 Something. 03:22.400 --> 03:25.400 Hey, I listen to my Pop's guy you're telling us. 03:25.400 --> 03:26.400 Yeah? 03:26.400 --> 03:27.400 What did you hear? 03:27.400 --> 03:28.400 Uranium? 03:28.400 --> 03:29.400 No, I don't know. 03:29.400 --> 03:30.400 What did you hear? 03:30.400 --> 03:31.400 Uranium. 03:31.400 --> 03:32.400 Uranium. 03:32.400 --> 03:33.400 Uranium. 03:33.400 --> 03:34.400 Uranium. 03:34.400 --> 03:35.400 Uranium. 03:35.400 --> 03:36.400 Uranium. 03:36.400 --> 03:37.400 Uranium. 03:37.400 --> 03:38.400 Uranium. 03:38.400 --> 03:39.400 Uranium. 03:39.400 --> 03:40.400 Uranium. 03:40.400 --> 03:41.400 Come on. 03:41.400 --> 03:42.400 Where are we going? 03:42.400 --> 03:43.400 I don't know. 03:43.400 --> 03:44.400 Why don't we go down to that new dump? 03:44.400 --> 03:45.400 Where? 03:45.400 --> 03:46.400 The new dump the city opened. 03:46.400 --> 03:47.400 They're filling in that old gravel pit over near Afton High. 03:47.400 --> 03:48.400 What do we do down there? 03:48.400 --> 03:49.400 I don't know. 03:49.400 --> 03:50.400 Look around. 03:50.400 --> 03:51.400 See if we can find something, maybe. 03:51.400 --> 03:52.400 Okay. 03:52.400 --> 03:53.400 But I gotta be home for lunch. 03:53.400 --> 03:54.400 At 850, George Murphy, the Pot-Tower, is on the run. 03:54.400 --> 04:18.400 Five miles away, Ms. Helen Webster, a registered nurse employed at the Middle Branch Hospital, 04:18.400 --> 04:21.400 entered the staff cafeteria. 04:21.400 --> 04:28.400 A few moments later, the administrator, Dr. Carl Hudders, stopped at her table. 04:28.400 --> 04:33.400 Well, how did you like working up in 222 yesterday, Ms. Webster? 04:33.400 --> 04:34.400 Fine, doctor. 04:34.400 --> 04:36.400 Burton didn't give you any trouble, did she? 04:36.400 --> 04:37.400 Well, no. 04:37.400 --> 04:38.400 Get along with her all right? 04:38.400 --> 04:39.400 Yes, I think so. 04:39.400 --> 04:40.400 I think she probably hates your gut. 04:40.400 --> 04:41.400 But why? 04:41.400 --> 04:42.400 She's leaving next week. 04:42.400 --> 04:43.400 We've asked her to retire. 04:43.400 --> 04:44.400 She knows you're taking her place. 04:44.400 --> 04:45.400 Oh, I see. 04:45.400 --> 04:46.400 Did she explain why she's leaving? 04:46.400 --> 04:47.400 No, she didn't. 04:47.400 --> 04:48.400 She's not leaving. 04:48.400 --> 04:51.400 Oh, I see. 04:51.400 --> 04:52.400 Did she explain everything to you carefully? 04:52.400 --> 04:53.400 Very carefully, doctor. 04:53.400 --> 04:54.400 Well, we want you to take charge as soon as she's gone. 04:54.400 --> 04:55.400 Is that all right with you? 04:55.400 --> 04:56.400 Yes, sir. 04:56.400 --> 04:57.400 It's very interesting work. 04:57.400 --> 04:58.400 It could be dangerous. 04:58.400 --> 04:59.400 But if you're careful, there's no risk involved. 04:59.400 --> 05:00.400 Did Burton have you working with the real thing or the dummies? 05:00.400 --> 05:01.400 Well, the dummies at first. 05:01.400 --> 05:02.400 And then she opened the safe. 05:02.400 --> 05:03.400 Those capsules certainly don't look dangerous. 05:03.400 --> 05:04.400 They're killers, Ms. Webster. 05:04.400 --> 05:05.400 Don't ever forget it. 05:05.400 --> 05:29.400 Every large hospital has a room, 222. 05:29.400 --> 05:35.400 And in it, in bold letters across the lead line door are the words, danger, radioactive. 05:35.400 --> 05:36.400 We're not occupied. 05:36.400 --> 05:37.400 The room is padlocked. 05:37.400 --> 05:45.400 At 914, Ms. Elsie Burton, registered nurse, inserted the key in the padlock and entered 05:45.400 --> 05:46.400 the room. 05:46.400 --> 05:51.400 She opened the heavy safe, and using a pair of forceps, looked at a small metal box from 05:51.400 --> 05:52.400 it. 05:52.400 --> 05:54.400 She quickly placed the box on the table. 05:54.400 --> 05:59.400 Then, stepping behind a lead shield designed to protect her body from the contents of the 05:59.400 --> 06:00.400 box, she opened it. 06:00.400 --> 06:07.400 Inside the box were several platinum capsules, and each capsule was filled with radium. 06:07.400 --> 06:17.400 It was 927 when she picked up the phone to report two of the platinum capsules missing. 06:17.400 --> 06:27.400 Nine twenty-eight, George Murphy had finished his second cup of coffee, glanced through 06:27.400 --> 06:32.400 the morning paper, and was watching his wife at the kitchen sink. 06:32.400 --> 06:35.400 More coffee, George? 06:35.400 --> 06:36.400 No, thanks. 06:36.400 --> 06:37.400 You look coffee-tired. 06:37.400 --> 06:38.400 I am. 06:38.400 --> 06:43.400 We got a notice from the bank today. 06:43.400 --> 06:45.400 The payment's overdue again. 06:45.400 --> 06:47.400 I know, Mae. 06:47.400 --> 06:54.400 On that Geiger counter, you had to buy $160, when I think what I could have done without 06:54.400 --> 06:55.400 your help. 06:55.400 --> 06:56.400 All right, all right. 06:56.400 --> 06:59.400 George, we can get along on your salary. 06:59.400 --> 07:01.400 You don't need a million dollars. 07:01.400 --> 07:06.400 We can get along just fine on what you make at the gas station, if you'd only work instead 07:06.400 --> 07:10.400 of taking three days a week away, traits enough, goodness knows where. 07:10.400 --> 07:13.400 Let's talk about it some other time, huh? 07:13.400 --> 07:15.400 I'm going in and lie down. 07:15.400 --> 07:16.400 You close the bedroom door. 07:16.400 --> 07:19.400 I want the radio on while I do the ironing. 07:19.400 --> 07:30.400 Nine thirty, the two boys, Johnny Murphy and Peter Kahn, were approaching the city dump. 07:30.400 --> 07:32.400 Hey, Peter, wait up. 07:32.400 --> 07:34.400 Come on, we're almost there. 07:34.400 --> 07:36.400 Look, see it? 07:36.400 --> 07:37.400 Huh? 07:37.400 --> 07:40.400 Doesn't look like nothing but a big hole in the ground. 07:40.400 --> 07:43.400 That's where they took all the gravel from. 07:43.400 --> 07:45.400 They're dumping all kinds of stuff in that old pit now. 07:45.400 --> 07:47.400 Hey, who's that? 07:47.400 --> 07:48.400 What? 07:48.400 --> 07:49.400 What about the shop? 07:49.400 --> 07:51.400 Oh, I don't know. 07:51.400 --> 07:53.400 Maybe he's a watchman. 07:53.400 --> 07:54.400 He's crazy. 07:54.400 --> 07:56.400 What does he have a watchman at a dump for? 07:56.400 --> 07:58.400 Who'd steal junk? 07:58.400 --> 08:00.400 Morning, boys. 08:00.400 --> 08:02.400 You can answer him. 08:02.400 --> 08:04.400 Are you the watchman? 08:04.400 --> 08:06.400 That's right. 08:06.400 --> 08:08.400 You boys out exploring? 08:08.400 --> 08:11.400 Well, kind of, if it's all right. 08:11.400 --> 08:15.400 Oh, it's all right, providing you look out for the trucks. 08:15.400 --> 08:17.400 Yes, sir. 08:17.400 --> 08:19.400 We'll be careful. 08:19.400 --> 08:28.400 By ten fifteen, Dr. Hutter and Miss Burton and Miss Webster had made a preliminary search for the missing radium. 08:28.400 --> 08:31.400 It was not in room 222. 08:31.400 --> 08:36.400 A further check revealed that only one patient in the hospital was receiving radium therapy. 08:36.400 --> 08:42.400 According to the day chart, the radium used on the patient the day before had been returned to the safe. 08:42.400 --> 08:48.400 Nevertheless, the patient was examined, and the immediate area surrounding her bed carefully searched. 08:48.400 --> 08:50.400 The radium was not found. 08:50.400 --> 09:00.400 At ten thirty-five, Dr. Hutter and the two nurses reentered room 222. 09:00.400 --> 09:03.400 I don't understand how it could have happened, Doctor. 09:03.400 --> 09:05.400 Could someone have taken it during the night? 09:05.400 --> 09:11.400 No, even if they had a key to fit the padlock, Miss Burton is the only person in the hospital who has the combination to the safe. 09:11.400 --> 09:15.400 You'll have all this responsibility next week, Miss Webster. 09:15.400 --> 09:18.400 Burton, what time did you show the capsules to Miss Webster yesterday? 09:18.400 --> 09:20.400 Just before lunch, Doctor. 09:20.400 --> 09:23.400 Did you count the capsules before returning them to the safe? 09:23.400 --> 09:27.400 Well, they weren't away from this table. I didn't think it was necessary to count them. 09:27.400 --> 09:29.400 Well, we've done all we can. 09:29.400 --> 09:31.400 I'll notify the insurance company. 09:31.400 --> 09:34.400 Let them send a radium hound up from San Francisco. 09:34.400 --> 09:36.400 A radium hound? 09:36.400 --> 09:42.400 Yes, a man who specializes in finding lost radiums by using a scintillator or a guide to a counter. 09:42.400 --> 09:46.400 You go through the hospital carefully and the counter will locate the radium. 09:46.400 --> 09:49.400 Doctor, before you go, may I speak to you alone? 09:49.400 --> 09:50.400 Certainly. 09:50.400 --> 09:53.400 I'll be in the hall, Doctor. 09:53.400 --> 10:05.400 Doctor, you know I've never been one for carrying tales, but I refuse to take the responsibility for losing those capsules. 10:05.400 --> 10:08.400 No one is blaming you, Burton. Accidents happen. 10:08.400 --> 10:10.400 This was no accident. 10:10.400 --> 10:11.400 Go on. 10:11.400 --> 10:16.400 Doctor, I just happen to know that Miss Webster is engaged to a young doctor. 10:16.400 --> 10:19.400 I don't see that that has any bearing on the lost radium. 10:19.400 --> 10:28.400 I'll finish. This doctor is setting up his own office, and I'm sure he'd be mighty grateful for a gift of 200 milligrams of radium. 10:28.400 --> 10:33.400 Burton, you've been around here too long. You've soured. 10:40.400 --> 10:42.400 Doctor, I just remembered something. 10:42.400 --> 10:43.400 Yes, Miss Webster? 10:43.400 --> 10:49.400 All the night, Leonard, Dr. Perry, told me that one of his patients goes away every weekend to hunt uranium. 10:49.400 --> 10:51.400 Would he own a Geiger counter? 10:51.400 --> 10:54.400 He might. Yes, see if you can reach him. 10:54.400 --> 10:55.400 Yes, sir. 10:55.400 --> 10:58.400 We'll take this building apart if we have to. 10:58.400 --> 10:59.400 Oh, Miss Webster? 10:59.400 --> 11:00.400 Yes, sir? 11:00.400 --> 11:03.400 Notify all hospital personnel of the loss immediately. 11:03.400 --> 11:13.400 If someone's picked up those capsules without realizing what they are, they're in trouble. 11:13.400 --> 11:18.400 May Murphy had just tuned in the 11 a.m. news broadcast when the phone rang. 11:18.400 --> 11:25.400 Recognizing the urgency in Miss Webster's voice, she promised to wake her husband immediately. 11:25.400 --> 11:29.400 George? George, you've got to wake up. George. 11:29.400 --> 11:30.400 Hmm? 11:30.400 --> 11:32.400 George, they want you down at the hospital. 11:32.400 --> 11:35.400 What's the matter, Johnny? Something happened to Johnny? 11:35.400 --> 11:39.400 Oh, no, not Johnny. They've lost some radium at Middle Branch Hospital. 11:39.400 --> 11:42.400 The nurse that called thought you might be able to find it. 11:42.400 --> 11:44.400 Hand me the cigarette, will you? 11:44.400 --> 11:46.400 Thank you. 11:46.400 --> 11:48.400 You got any hot coffee out there? 11:48.400 --> 11:51.400 I'll heat it. Here. 11:51.400 --> 11:53.400 Thanks. 11:55.400 --> 11:57.400 Do you think you could find it, George? 11:57.400 --> 12:01.400 I don't know. Maybe, if it's still in the hospital. 12:01.400 --> 12:04.400 What does radium look like? You ever see any of it? 12:04.400 --> 12:07.400 I wouldn't know radium if I tripped over it. 12:07.400 --> 12:18.400 Atomic number 88. Atomic weight, 226.05. 12:18.400 --> 12:23.400 Radium is an intensely radioactive element emitting strong gamma rays. 12:23.400 --> 12:28.400 It is used principally in the treatment of cancer to destroy malignant tissue. 12:28.400 --> 12:33.400 Unfortunately, the gamma rays cannot tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy tissue, 12:33.400 --> 12:37.400 making it extremely dangerous to handle. 12:37.400 --> 12:41.400 Unless caught in time, there is no cure for radium poisoning. 12:41.400 --> 12:43.400 Only a slow, lingering death. 12:43.400 --> 12:46.400 Hey, mister. You know what time it is? 12:46.400 --> 12:51.400 What time? Well, let's see now. It's eleven-thirty. 12:51.400 --> 12:54.400 You see? I told you it wasn't more than that. 12:54.400 --> 12:57.400 You boys are too young to be worrying about time. 12:57.400 --> 12:59.400 He's always worried about something. 12:59.400 --> 13:01.400 I gotta be home for lunch. 13:01.400 --> 13:05.400 Well, did you find anything valuable down in the dump? 13:05.400 --> 13:07.400 No. Nothing there I wanted. 13:07.400 --> 13:09.400 I don't know if what I found is valuable or not. 13:09.400 --> 13:13.400 Well, that's it. Can't judge what it's worth if you don't let me take a look at it. 13:13.400 --> 13:15.400 I've got them in my pocket. 13:15.400 --> 13:16.400 Them? 13:16.400 --> 13:21.400 Yeah. Two little pieces of metal. See? 13:21.400 --> 13:24.400 Oh, yeah. Mighty nice. 13:24.400 --> 13:28.400 Looks like they might have been used for counterweights of some sort. 13:28.400 --> 13:32.400 Excuse me, boys. Gotta tell that fellow where to unload. 13:32.400 --> 13:34.400 We'll see you, mister. 13:34.400 --> 13:38.400 You be careful crossing the street, you boys. Don't want to get hurt. 13:38.400 --> 13:46.400 It was twelve-thirty when George Murphy arrived at the hospital. 13:46.400 --> 13:50.400 He was quickly briefed by Dr. Hutter and the search started. 13:50.400 --> 13:58.400 Slowly, carefully, they walked through the sterile corridors, 13:58.400 --> 14:05.400 listening for any change in the normal count of the Geiger counter. 14:05.400 --> 14:10.400 I understand you do quite a bit of uranium protecting, Mr. Murphy. 14:10.400 --> 14:17.400 Yeah, I guess I do. I usually take off and work at the gas station on Thursdays and come back Sunday. 14:17.400 --> 14:20.400 You ever find any? 14:20.400 --> 14:21.400 Not yet. 14:21.400 --> 14:23.400 I'm still hoping. 14:23.400 --> 14:28.400 Oh, my. You find this radium, I mean. 14:28.400 --> 14:30.400 Is that valuable? 14:30.400 --> 14:32.400 That deadly. 14:32.400 --> 14:37.400 There's always a chance someone has picked it up without realizing what it is. 14:37.400 --> 14:40.400 Something? 14:40.400 --> 14:43.400 The background count was a little high, but it's gone down. 14:43.400 --> 14:46.400 Oh. 14:46.400 --> 14:49.400 Say, just what do those capsules look like, Doctor? 14:49.400 --> 14:58.400 Oh, they're about two inches long, metal, approximately as big around as those thick lead pencils. 14:58.400 --> 15:04.400 Well, doesn't look like it's up here. Come on, I'll buy you a cup of coffee. 15:04.400 --> 15:06.400 Hey, Doctor, wait a minute. 15:06.400 --> 15:09.400 I'm thinking of some response on this thing. 15:09.400 --> 15:11.400 Oh, that's from 222. 15:11.400 --> 15:12.400 What? 15:12.400 --> 15:17.400 We keep our regular supply of radium in 222 just to hit. 15:17.400 --> 15:22.400 Oh. Well, I'm glad to know this thing works. 15:22.400 --> 15:28.400 Sure like to see it act up like that out in the desert. 15:28.400 --> 15:31.400 Time, 1.40. 15:31.400 --> 15:34.400 After having a cup of coffee, the men continued their search. 15:34.400 --> 15:36.400 Drain pipes were examined. 15:36.400 --> 15:40.400 Trash and waste was put into the incinerator. 15:40.400 --> 15:46.400 The incinerator itself and finally the ground surrounding the entire hospital were checked. 15:46.400 --> 15:54.400 At 4.15, as far as they were supposed to determine, they agreed the radium was not in or near the hospital. 15:54.400 --> 15:59.400 Doctor Hunter then contacted the trucking service that removed the non-combustible radium. 15:59.400 --> 16:02.400 That's pretty good. 16:02.400 --> 16:08.400 Previous act, we thought for sure the watchman of the yard would remember where he had unloaded. 16:08.400 --> 16:14.400 Time, 4.59. 16:14.400 --> 16:20.400 There's the watchman's shack. 16:20.400 --> 16:22.400 Doesn't look like anybody's here. 16:22.400 --> 16:24.400 He's probably gone for the day. 16:24.400 --> 16:27.400 Well, anyone want to look around? Might get lucky. 16:27.400 --> 16:35.400 Yep, you bet I. 16:35.400 --> 16:36.400 Funny. 16:36.400 --> 16:37.400 What's that? 16:37.400 --> 16:44.400 Oh, and I'm shaving in the morning. I can usually see myself later in the day at the gas station working, you know what I mean? 16:44.400 --> 16:46.400 Sure, I think so. 16:46.400 --> 16:49.400 I sure did see myself down here looking for a needle in a haystack. 16:49.400 --> 17:18.400 I hate saying this, but I'm beginning to think Burton might be right. 17:18.400 --> 17:19.400 Burton? 17:19.400 --> 17:25.400 She's in this, in charge of 222. She believes the radium was stolen. 17:25.400 --> 17:29.400 Could be. I'd sure give ten bucks to know where it is. 17:29.400 --> 17:32.400 I'd give a lot more just to know those capsules aren't poisoning someone. 17:32.400 --> 17:35.400 Hey, howdy. Help you, fellas? 17:35.400 --> 17:36.400 Oh, are you the watchman? 17:36.400 --> 17:37.400 That's right. 17:37.400 --> 17:39.400 We were looking for you about an hour ago. 17:39.400 --> 17:44.400 I quit at five, went to eat. Oh, I live out here. What do you want to see me about? 17:44.400 --> 17:48.400 Do you remember a consolidated truck here yesterday afternoon? 17:48.400 --> 17:51.400 Yes, I do. I had them dump out in Area 4. 17:51.400 --> 17:52.400 Where's that? 17:52.400 --> 17:55.400 Right where you fellas were standing when I first spotted you. 17:55.400 --> 17:58.400 Oh, well, thanks. 17:58.400 --> 18:03.400 Hey, hey, wait a minute. You still ain't said what you wanted to see me about. 18:03.400 --> 18:05.400 Do you know what radium looks like? 18:05.400 --> 18:07.400 No, can't say I do. 18:07.400 --> 18:13.400 A couple of capsules containing radium were lost from the hospital. We thought they might have been carried out here. 18:13.400 --> 18:16.400 Well, how would I know them if I didn't see them? 18:16.400 --> 18:19.400 About two inches long, little capsules of metal. 18:19.400 --> 18:24.400 Oh, mm-hmm. 18:24.400 --> 18:27.400 Where to now? Would you mind dropping me off at the hospital? 18:27.400 --> 18:33.400 Okay. 18:33.400 --> 18:36.400 Hey, here. Hey, hey, hold on a minute. 18:36.400 --> 18:38.400 Yes? 18:38.400 --> 18:41.400 Two boys down here this morning. Should be something like that. 18:41.400 --> 18:42.400 Two boys? 18:42.400 --> 18:46.400 Yeah, sure. I remember what they found. Looked like little counterweights. 18:46.400 --> 18:48.400 Well, do you know the boys, either one of them? 18:48.400 --> 18:49.400 No, never saw them before in my life. 18:49.400 --> 18:51.400 Did they mention their names? Can you describe them? 18:51.400 --> 18:54.400 No names, but I reckon I could give you an idea of what they looked like. 18:54.400 --> 18:55.400 Get in. 18:55.400 --> 18:56.400 What for? 18:56.400 --> 19:00.400 They're taking you down to the police station. We've got to find those boys fast. 19:00.400 --> 19:18.400 By 7.30, the two radio stations in the city were broadcasting a description of the boys every half hour. 19:18.400 --> 19:23.400 And all points full of them had been relayed to the police substations and all patrol cars. 19:23.400 --> 19:27.400 The morning newspaper was setting up a story on the front page. 19:27.400 --> 19:32.400 There is nothing to do now but wait. 19:32.400 --> 19:33.400 Hey, Mom. 19:33.400 --> 19:34.400 Yes, Johnny? 19:34.400 --> 19:36.400 Take a look at my leg, huh? 19:36.400 --> 19:37.400 Your leg? What's the matter with it? 19:37.400 --> 19:39.400 I don't know. Sort of burns. 19:39.400 --> 19:43.400 You probably skinned it, let's see. 19:43.400 --> 19:46.400 Well, there's nothing there. Just a little red is all. 19:46.400 --> 19:49.400 Feels like it's burned. 19:49.400 --> 19:51.400 There's your father. Now you go get ready for bed. 19:51.400 --> 19:53.400 Okay. 19:53.400 --> 19:54.400 Hi, boy. 19:54.400 --> 19:55.400 Hi, Pa. 19:55.400 --> 19:57.400 George, I kept your dinner warm. It's in the oven. 19:57.400 --> 19:59.400 I didn't get a chance to call you. 19:59.400 --> 20:02.400 I know. I heard all about it on the news. 20:02.400 --> 20:04.400 My poor kid. 20:04.400 --> 20:08.400 Now you sit down. 20:08.400 --> 20:09.400 What'd you fix? 20:09.400 --> 20:14.400 Lamb chop. I heated up some of those frozen biscuits. 20:14.400 --> 20:16.400 Is that boy going to die from the radium? 20:16.400 --> 20:18.400 I don't know. 20:18.400 --> 20:23.400 Dr. Hudders said something about the rays burning deeper and deeper as time went on. 20:23.400 --> 20:26.400 Something to do with the square road and I don't know. 20:26.400 --> 20:28.400 Hand me the butterwhip. 20:28.400 --> 20:31.400 The description they gave on the radio. 20:31.400 --> 20:33.400 That boy must be about Johnny's age. 20:33.400 --> 20:35.400 Yeah. 20:35.400 --> 20:38.400 Johnny, I told you to get ready for bed. 20:38.400 --> 20:41.400 Oh, golly, Mom. I haven't hardly seen Pop in three days. 20:41.400 --> 20:43.400 That's right. 20:43.400 --> 20:45.400 Well, boy, what have you been doing? 20:45.400 --> 20:49.400 Nothing. Just taking it easy. 20:49.400 --> 20:53.400 Taking it easy. You just wait, boy. You just wait a few years. 20:53.400 --> 20:56.400 Can I put your guide, your counter, away for you? 20:56.400 --> 21:00.400 Look, how many times do I have to tell you that it isn't a toy? It costs a lot of money. 21:00.400 --> 21:02.400 That's the truth. 21:02.400 --> 21:04.400 Can I listen to it, Pop, please? 21:04.400 --> 21:07.400 Johnny, leave your father alone. He's dead tired. 21:07.400 --> 21:08.400 Go on. Get ready for bed. 21:08.400 --> 21:09.400 Oh, Mom. 21:09.400 --> 21:10.400 Mind your mother, boy. 21:10.400 --> 21:12.400 Yes, sir. 21:12.400 --> 21:14.400 All right. Come back here. 21:14.400 --> 21:15.400 Yes, sir. 21:15.400 --> 21:16.400 Come here. 21:16.400 --> 21:19.400 Now, wait a minute. 21:25.400 --> 21:27.400 What's wrong with it? 21:27.400 --> 21:30.400 Oh, the switch is stuck. 21:30.400 --> 21:33.400 Okay, now. 21:33.400 --> 21:35.400 What the devil? 21:35.400 --> 21:48.400 What the hell? Wait a minute. 21:48.400 --> 21:49.400 Where did you go today, boy? 21:49.400 --> 21:50.400 Huh? 21:50.400 --> 21:51.400 You went to the city dump, didn't you? 21:51.400 --> 21:53.400 George, no. Pop, what are you looking at? 21:53.400 --> 21:55.400 Answer me, Johnny. You went to the city dump, didn't you? 21:55.400 --> 21:56.400 What? 21:56.400 --> 21:57.400 Give me the radium, son. 21:57.400 --> 21:58.400 I didn't do nothing wrong. 21:58.400 --> 21:59.400 Give me the radium. 21:59.400 --> 22:01.400 I didn't do anything wrong, Johnny. 22:01.400 --> 22:13.400 I was messing with these little fools with the sections. I thought it was these little directions. 22:13.400 --> 22:15.400 The search was over. 22:15.400 --> 22:21.400 Fortunately, because of Johnny's normal activity, the radium capsules had bounced around in his pocket. 22:21.400 --> 22:26.400 The burns covered a wide area, but the rays had not penetrated as deeply as they could have done. 22:26.400 --> 22:30.400 The Murphys were told to consider themselves lucky. 22:30.400 --> 22:36.400 If the boy had carried the capsules another few hours, it would have been impossible to save him. 22:36.400 --> 22:42.400 On being informed of the boy's condition, Ms. Burton, the nurse in charge of room 222, 22:42.400 --> 22:48.400 admitted to throwing the two capsules in with the non-combustible rubbish, hoping a replacement would receive the blame. 22:48.400 --> 23:16.400 She was immediately discharged and barred from any further practice in the nursing profession. 23:16.400 --> 23:23.400 Suspense, in which we brought you tonight's presentation of two platinum capsules. 23:23.400 --> 23:46.400 Be sure to listen next week when we again bring you radio's outstanding theater of thrill, Suspense.