CBS Radio Mystery Theater (a.k.a. Radio Mystery Theater and Mystery Theater) is a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS Radio Network affiliates from 1974 to 1982, and later in the early 2000s was repeated by the NPR satellite feed.
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00:00And now, Mystery Theater.
00:17Come in.
00:20Welcome.
00:22I'm E.G. Marshall.
00:25Lend me your fears.
00:27It happens now and then.
00:29That a man will vanish without warning.
00:32Disappear completely.
00:34Without leaving a trace.
00:36Or a man will suddenly lose his memory.
00:39His body remains.
00:40But his mind has gone.
00:42What is essential in him leaves us.
00:45And we are left perplexed.
00:47Mystified.
00:48Frustrated.
00:49All we have to go on is rumor.
00:52Speculation.
00:53Theory.
00:53And since we cannot explain it.
00:56After a while, we tend to stop thinking about it.
01:00Until it happens again.
01:02To somebody else.
01:03You're back.
01:04Oh, my husband.
01:06You're back.
01:08You won't even embrace me.
01:10Who are you?
01:12Who am I?
01:12What kind of question is that?
01:15How can you say you're my wife?
01:16We've been married for more than 15 years.
01:19No, we haven't.
01:21What are you trying to say?
01:22I'm trying to say that I'm not your husband.
01:25You're not my wife.
01:26I don't even know you.
01:27What's more, I'm not even standing here.
01:30How can I be?
01:31I haven't even been born yet.
01:41Our mystery drama, A Long Time to Die,
01:44was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Sam Dan
01:48and stars Mandel Kramer.
01:50I'll be back shortly with Act One.
02:01His name is Alfred Stuart Ainslie.
02:06He's 41 years old.
02:09Average height.
02:10Average weight.
02:11Average looks.
02:13Nothing about sex to make him memorable.
02:16Indeed, he has never in his life done anything to bring him notice
02:19from beyond the circle of his immediate family,
02:22his close friend,
02:23his rather esoteric profession.
02:25His name was in the newspaper twice.
02:28First when he was born,
02:29and then 30 years later,
02:31when he was married.
02:32Right now, his name is on the front pages
02:35of newspapers in every country of the civilized world.
02:38Alfred Stuart Ainslie,
02:40quiet, unassuming,
02:42has it in his power to shake the government
02:44of the most important country in the world
02:46and perhaps alter the very course of history.
02:52Alfred, do you want a drink of water?
02:55Water?
02:56Darling, I know this is difficult, but...
02:57Feel okay, Al?
02:58No, Jerry, he's not feeling okay.
03:00Can't you see there's obviously something wrong with him?
03:02Al, what is it?
03:03He's pale.
03:04He's sweating.
03:04Now, look, Al, you're not the one who's being investigated.
03:07If you're not feeling well, we can ask for a recess.
03:10The chairman's just come in.
03:11The committee stands in order.
03:15Mr. Ainslie, we will resume with your testimony.
03:19We're still under oath.
03:21I would like to continue along a line of questioning
03:23initiated by Senator Selby.
03:25Would you turn, please, to page 684?
03:28Heard it, Al.
03:29Question.
03:31Is it possible that Congressman Carstairs
03:33could have forged the secretary's handwriting?
03:36Answer, Mr. Ainslie.
03:39Senator, I would have...
03:40More examples of both gentlemen's manuscript.
03:44Mr. Ainslie, you were given these specimens
03:46to analyze overnight, were you not?
03:50Or were you not, Mr. Ainslie?
03:52Ah, you took those samples.
03:54You examined them.
03:54Say yes.
03:56Um, yes.
03:58Very well.
04:00Now, are you in a better position to answer my question?
04:02Well, are you, sir?
04:07Al, Al, you told me you had studied them
04:09and come to a conclusion.
04:11Al, answer Adam's question.
04:14Counselor, is Mr. Ainslie having trouble
04:16understanding the questions?
04:18I know, sir.
04:20Mr. Ainslie, it's obvious that something is troubling you.
04:23Yes, sir.
04:25Well, then suppose we take a recess,
04:26give you a chance to rest.
04:28Committee will adjourn till 345.
04:32Well, Al?
04:37You want to talk to me?
04:39I never saw that before.
04:41Hmm?
04:42Saw what?
04:43A man makes smoke.
04:44The way you make smoke.
04:46Al, are you serious?
04:48We have pipes,
04:49and we put the tobacco in the pipe,
04:50and that's how we smoke,
04:51but you're holding something.
04:53What's that call, right?
04:54All right.
04:55I can play along if that's how you want it.
04:58This is called a cigarette.
05:00Cigarette?
05:01You mean you never heard of it?
05:02No.
05:04Well, that's odd.
05:05Right here, in your pocket.
05:07Put your hand inside your shirt pocket.
05:09You have a pack of cigarettes.
05:12How long do you want to play this game?
05:13It isn't a game.
05:14Tell me what it is, then, Al.
05:16You call me Al.
05:17I'm not Al.
05:18You're not Alfred Ainslie?
05:19No.
05:20All right, who are you?
05:21My name is...
05:22Maha Twiki.
05:24Yes?
05:25In your language,
05:26it would be running beaver.
05:29That sounds like an Indian name.
05:31Indian.
05:32That word, Indian.
05:33Yes, yes, yes.
05:34In this language,
05:35in your language,
05:35it would be Indian.
05:37You claim you're an Indian?
05:39Yes.
05:41Wow.
05:41You don't believe me?
05:44Just tell me how you got here.
05:46I was sent to the north
05:48to scout the...
05:50you would call them the Iroquois.
05:53Scout?
05:53Yes, to see if we should make war.
05:55War?
05:56Make war or become allies.
05:58I was on my way home to my tribe.
06:01I was at the place
06:02where the mist covers the rocks.
06:04I walked into the mist
06:05and there was a noise.
06:08What kind of noise?
06:09Loud thunder.
06:10A flash of lightning.
06:11It was as if
06:12someone had hit me over the head
06:14with a club.
06:15I knew nothing.
06:17Then I was sitting in a strange room
06:18in strange clothes
06:19and strange people
06:20were talking to me
06:21on a subject
06:22I know nothing about.
06:23You claim to be an Indian.
06:25You talk about fighting and wars.
06:28Well, that would be
06:29before the white men
06:30came to this country.
06:31I've never seen men like you
06:33and these others.
06:35There is one small detail
06:37that troubles me.
06:40How does it happen
06:41you speak English?
06:43I don't know.
06:44You don't know?
06:46I don't know.
06:47I was returning to my people.
06:49They live near the banks
06:50of the Great River.
06:51The Great River?
06:53The Potomac.
06:54Ah.
06:55As I told you,
06:56something took place
06:57in the mist.
06:58I awoke.
06:59Now I'm in a strange place.
07:01I find that I can speak
07:02the language
07:03but I don't know
07:03what anything means.
07:05Where is this place?
07:07Who are you?
07:08I'm your doctor.
07:09Your friend.
07:11My name is Carl Stitzer.
07:13And who am I?
07:14Al Ainsley.
07:16You're a collector
07:17of and a dealer
07:18in autographs.
07:19Historical papers.
07:20You're considered
07:21one of the top experts
07:22on handwriting.
07:23I don't know
07:23what any of that is.
07:25What is it
07:26that you know
07:27how to do?
07:28To track?
07:29To scout?
07:30To hunt?
07:31All right, Al.
07:33I've gone along
07:34as far as I can.
07:36Now let me tell you
07:36something.
07:38Your testimony
07:39can destroy
07:39Congressman Carstairs.
07:41I don't know
07:42anything about this Carstairs.
07:43If you testify
07:44that in your opinion
07:45Carstairs forged
07:46those papers
07:46then not only
07:48will Carstairs
07:48be destroyed
07:49but the principles
07:50he stands for
07:50will be discredited.
07:52You believe
07:53in what Carstairs
07:53stands for, Al.
07:54I am not Al.
07:56You're torn, Al.
07:58You don't want
07:59to examine
07:59those documents.
08:00I don't even know
08:00what documents are.
08:01Because if they are
08:02forgeries
08:03you will put an end
08:04to Congressman Carstairs
08:05political life
08:06and you can't
08:07bring yourself
08:07to do that.
08:08I am a stranger
08:09in a strange land.
08:11I need a friend.
08:12You're afraid
08:12to find out
08:13if Carstairs is guilty.
08:14You can't face
08:15the consequences.
08:16When a man
08:16finds himself
08:17in such an intolerable
08:18situation
08:19he tries to escape.
08:21You're a doctor.
08:22In my language
08:23that means
08:24a medicine man,
08:25a magician.
08:25You've escaped
08:26to a remote past
08:27to a long-gone
08:28buried
08:30forgotten world.
08:32You don't believe me.
08:32You don't believe me.
08:40Doctor, what is it?
08:41Think, Joan.
08:42Think carefully.
08:44How long have you
08:45and Al been married?
08:46Eleven years.
08:47And how long
08:47had you known him
08:47before that?
08:48We were kids
08:49in school together
08:50back in the first grade.
08:51Then you've known him
08:52all his life?
08:53Just about.
08:54Has he ever been
08:55interested in Indians?
08:58Indians?
08:59No, not that I know of.
09:00You don't have anything
09:01in the house like
09:02handicrafts,
09:03weapons,
09:04books.
09:04That would have to do
09:05with Indians?
09:05Mm-hmm.
09:06Nothing at all.
09:07Does Al
09:08have a secret life?
09:10Doctor, I'm not
09:11going to answer
09:12any more questions
09:13until you tell me
09:13what you're driving at.
09:16Well,
09:16see that he gets
09:18plenty of rest.
09:18No visitors.
09:19No excitement.
09:21And please keep
09:21in constant touch
09:22with me.
09:23Doctor, can't you
09:23tell me anything at all?
09:25No.
09:26But I do have to
09:27ask you one more question.
09:28Does he know
09:30how to shoot
09:31a bow and arrow?
09:32What kind of a question
09:33is that?
09:34Just answer it.
09:35I would say no.
09:37Mm-hmm.
09:39Well,
09:39maybe we better
09:41find out.
09:47Morning, Jerry.
09:50Doc, I've been
09:51waiting for you.
09:52Is Al dressed and ready?
09:52Look, Doc,
09:53you've just got to
09:54talk to me.
09:54Why?
09:55Why?
09:56Why?
09:56Don't pretend
09:57to be living
09:57in a world of your own.
09:58You read the papers,
09:59you hear the news broadcast.
10:01Al has to testify,
10:02yes or no,
10:04whichever way,
10:04it no longer matters,
10:05but he can't
10:06remain quiet.
10:07He's not the only
10:08handwriting expert
10:09in the world.
10:09The committee
10:10can call another.
10:10It's too late
10:11for that now.
10:12The rumors are out.
10:13He's been bought off,
10:14he's been scared off,
10:14and both sides
10:15are under suspicion.
10:16I admit,
10:17it's an unfortunate situation.
10:18Now, look, Doc,
10:18you can maybe
10:19stall the committee
10:19another day,
10:20maybe two,
10:21maybe even
10:21through the weekend recess,
10:22but that is about
10:23as far as you can go.
10:24I'm doing the best I can.
10:25Why can't he testify?
10:27I can't tell you.
10:27You can't or you won't.
10:28Both.
10:29Now, let me tell you
10:30what's gonna happen.
10:31The committee has the right
10:32to assign their own doctors
10:33to examine Al.
10:34I know.
10:36How much time do I have?
10:38A week?
10:38That's really stretching it.
10:40I'm ready to go with you, Doctor.
10:41Al.
10:42Now, how do you feel?
10:43Let's go, Al.
10:44Why can't I come along?
10:45Goodbye, Jerry.
10:46A fox has been by here.
10:55Is that so?
10:56Mm-hmm.
10:57You can see his tracks.
10:58Well, I can't.
11:00This valley looks familiar.
11:02And yet,
11:03so strange.
11:04Where are all the animals?
11:05There's no sign of deer
11:06or wolf.
11:07Where are the animals?
11:08If you really are running beaver,
11:10you wouldn't believe
11:11what's happened.
11:11Now,
11:14in this box
11:16is a bow.
11:18A bow?
11:18Yes.
11:19Here's the bow,
11:20the strings,
11:21the arrows.
11:22I've never seen a bow
11:23like this one.
11:25How strong.
11:27And these arrows.
11:28I don't know
11:28the first thing about it.
11:30Is this mine?
11:31To keep?
11:32To be able to hunt with?
11:33Why don't you
11:34hit that oak tree
11:35about 60 or 70 yards
11:37to the left?
11:38Well, that's no shot.
11:40The tree is standing still.
11:41A child could hit that tree.
11:43What's moving?
11:43Is there a rabbit
11:44or a squirrel,
11:45a hawk?
11:45No, I'm sorry.
11:46There's nothing around.
11:48All right, then.
11:49I'll put this arrow
11:50into the center
11:51of the trunk
11:52of that small tree
11:53on the right.
11:54That maple.
11:56But that's almost
11:57150 yards.
11:59It's an ordinary shot.
12:01I'm ashamed of it.
12:02But there's nothing else.
12:06Right in the center.
12:08Well, Doctor?
12:09I don't know
12:10running beaver.
12:12I don't know.
12:15How do I explain this?
12:21Someone,
12:22probably a seasoned
12:23politician,
12:24said once,
12:25when in doubt,
12:26tell the truth.
12:28That sounds great
12:29in theory.
12:30But how would you like
12:31to have to tell
12:32this kind of truth
12:33to a sharp
12:34congressional committee?
12:35We'll have more
12:36of this kind
12:37of truth
12:38when we return
12:39shortly
12:39with Act Two.
12:51There's a beautiful
12:51stretch of countryside
12:53running along
12:53the boundaries
12:54of Washington,
12:55D.C.
12:55and Maryland.
12:57Hilly,
12:58wooded,
12:59charming.
13:00It's the site
13:00of many lovely homes.
13:02Some 500 years ago,
13:04it was just as hilly,
13:06just as charming,
13:07much more wooded,
13:09wilder,
13:10of course,
13:11filled with game
13:12and inhabited
13:14by Indians.
13:15Running beaver!
13:16Running beaver,
13:16it's you!
13:17Stop!
13:19You're alive!
13:20For days,
13:21the council
13:21has been waiting
13:22for you,
13:22running beaver.
13:23The council?
13:24You're ill.
13:25You've just returned
13:26from a long,
13:27hard,
13:27dangerous journey.
13:28But you're the only
13:29one who could do it.
13:31Now, what,
13:31what bothers you,
13:33running beaver?
13:34I have.
13:34You,
13:34you act as if
13:35you don't even know me.
13:36I'm your friend,
13:37your blood brother,
13:38Eagle Wing.
13:39Come,
13:39we must go
13:40to the council
13:40immediately.
13:47Many days ago,
13:49the council
13:49sent running beaver
13:50and three companions
13:52north to the
13:53Iroquois nation
13:53to determine
13:55peace or war.
13:56And now,
13:57running beaver
13:57returns alone
13:58and we ask him,
13:59where are your
14:00companions?
14:02And shall the
14:02Iroquois be
14:03our friend or foe?
14:05Speak to us,
14:06running beaver.
14:07Running beaver,
14:08say something.
14:10I am very tired.
14:13The important
14:13question should not
14:14be answered by a
14:15man who needs
14:16sleep and food.
14:18Running beaver
14:19shall return
14:19to the council
14:20after he has
14:21eaten and
14:23rested.
14:29Sit,
14:29my husband.
14:30I have meat,
14:31corn.
14:32I was so frightened,
14:34so afraid the Iroquois
14:35would kill you.
14:36Sit,
14:37rest,
14:38and eat.
14:40Now,
14:40I will tell you
14:41the news about
14:41the boy.
14:42The boy?
14:43Our son.
14:44He's been chosen
14:45for the wolf society.
14:46You always
14:47wanted that.
14:48Your mother
14:48brought him
14:49this bearskin robe.
14:51You're not eating.
14:53It's not cooked.
14:54It's the way
14:55you like it.
14:57There's something
14:58wrong.
14:59You don't look
15:00right.
15:01Perhaps you'd
15:02better see
15:02the medicine man.
15:04The medicine man?
15:05Red Bear.
15:06He always liked you.
15:09There is something
15:10wrong.
15:10This is not like you.
15:11not to be hungry,
15:12to be so quiet.
15:14You're frightened.
15:16Why are you frightened?
15:23You wouldn't come
15:24to me,
15:24Running Beaver,
15:25so I've come to you.
15:27Leave us,
15:27White Swallow.
15:31Now,
15:32what nature
15:33of evil spirit
15:33is within you?
15:35Was there a spell
15:36cast upon you
15:37in the Iroquois country?
15:38I wonder
15:39if I can talk to you.
15:39You wonder.
15:42Your father
15:42was my closest friend.
15:44I seem to understand.
15:46How,
15:47I don't know,
15:47but I seem to
15:48understand this language.
15:50Is that a surprise?
15:52This is your language.
15:54I don't know
15:55what I'm doing here.
15:57I don't know
15:58how I got here.
15:59A spell
16:00has been cast
16:01upon you.
16:02I'm sure
16:02you won't believe,
16:03but
16:03I am not
16:05Running Beaver.
16:07How can that be?
16:09My name is
16:10Alfred.
16:11In your language
16:12it would mean
16:12a wise elf
16:14or a wise council.
16:16Excellent name.
16:18I come from,
16:19well,
16:19perhaps it would be
16:20this same land,
16:21but,
16:21but I live,
16:23or shall live,
16:24hundreds of years
16:25from now.
16:26I could tell you
16:27stories of,
16:27of great things,
16:28of great ships
16:29flying through the air,
16:30of enormous buildings.
16:31I,
16:31I don't even know
16:33where to begin.
16:34It must be a time
16:35of great magic.
16:37Unbelievable magic.
16:38What a happy time
16:40that must be.
16:41I couldn't say
16:42that it is all
16:43that happy.
16:44I find that hard
16:45to believe
16:45with all that magic.
16:47At any rate,
16:48I was going to
16:48an important meeting
16:49of the committee.
16:51Well,
16:51never mind
16:51what that means.
16:53I decided to walk
16:54to the bus
16:54instead of driving
16:55my car.
16:57I'll explain to you
16:57what they are later.
16:59There was a mist
17:00near Rockledge,
17:01and I walked
17:03into it
17:03and something,
17:05something seemed
17:05to explode
17:06in my head.
17:08And when I walked
17:09out of it,
17:09I,
17:10I was in these clothes.
17:13I was somebody else.
17:14I was frightened.
17:16I began to run
17:17and suddenly
17:18someone stopped me.
17:19Yes,
17:20Eaglewing.
17:21He is your friend.
17:23You don't believe
17:24a word of this.
17:26How can I?
17:27You are exactly
17:28like running beaver.
17:29Your body is his.
17:31Your voice is his.
17:32I am not running beaver.
17:34What am I supposed
17:35to say to the council?
17:36You will have to appear.
17:38The tribe has been
17:38waiting for days.
17:40The life of every man,
17:41woman, and child
17:42could depend
17:42on what you say.
17:43What am I supposed
17:44to say?
17:45The truth.
17:46The truth is what
17:47I just told you.
17:48Can I say that
17:49in front of the council?
17:52No.
17:52Then what can I do?
17:55Now,
17:55rest,
17:56sleep.
17:58Sometimes,
17:59the spirits
17:59speak to us
18:00in dreams.
18:01I'll need more
18:02than a dream
18:02to get myself
18:03out of this.
18:10Running beaver?
18:12My husband?
18:13Are you awake?
18:14Hmm?
18:15Oh,
18:16what a dream.
18:20Joan,
18:20you'll never imagine...
18:23Oh, no.
18:24I'm still asleep.
18:26Running beaver?
18:26I...
18:27Can you eat
18:27something now?
18:29Cold.
18:30Here,
18:30wear this robe.
18:31Your mother made it.
18:32My mother?
18:34Please,
18:35can't you tell me
18:36what's wrong?
18:36Ronnie Beaver,
18:37may I come in?
18:38Who's that?
18:39Your oldest friend.
18:41Do you mean you
18:41don't know
18:42Eagle Wing's voice
18:42anymore?
18:43Ronnie Beaver,
18:44Ronnie Beaver,
18:44you must come
18:45to the council
18:45at once.
18:46But he's not well.
18:47I know,
18:47I know he's not well,
18:48but there's trouble.
18:49Trouble?
18:49There's talk
18:50all over the village.
18:51Now,
18:51what happened
18:52to the three men
18:53who went with you
18:53to the Iroquois?
18:55Did you kill them?
18:56Kill them?
18:57How could he kill them?
18:57They were all his friends.
18:59What passed
18:59between you
19:00and the Iroquois cheese?
19:02Running Beaver,
19:02you must tell him.
19:03I don't know.
19:05I don't know.
19:11I tell you,
19:12all of you
19:13gathered here.
19:14I don't know.
19:15Running Beaver,
19:16in war and peace,
19:18you've been first
19:18among us.
19:20We sent you
19:20as our ambassador
19:21to the Iroquois.
19:23We entrusted you
19:23with the lives
19:24of three of our
19:24bravest young men.
19:26Now,
19:27where are they?
19:28Their families
19:29have a right to know.
19:30Speak.
19:32Chief,
19:33I will speak for him.
19:34No one can speak
19:35for a man
19:36before the council.
19:37Not even you,
19:38Red Bear.
19:39Running Beaver
19:39is ill.
19:41What kind of illness?
19:42He has lost his memory.
19:44Yes,
19:44the winger lost
19:45a memory.
19:45Where is my son?
19:47Where is he gone?
19:48I can't see him.
19:49Quiet!
19:51He has lost his memory?
19:54Yes.
19:54Can you cure him,
19:55Red Bear?
19:56I can try.
19:58You have six days.
19:59At the end of that time,
20:00Running Beaver
20:01will talk to the council
20:02or else
20:03submit
20:04to justice.
20:11Why did we come out here?
20:13I'm so cold.
20:15Where is your knife,
20:15Running Beaver?
20:16Knife?
20:17Running Beaver
20:18always carries a knife.
20:19Well,
20:19I didn't think...
20:20Give him your knife,
20:21Eagle Wing.
20:22Why do I want a knife?
20:23Eagle Wing,
20:24attack him.
20:25Attack?
20:26But everyone knows
20:26Running Beaver
20:27can't be beaten
20:28with a knife.
20:28Let's make sure.
20:31I'll only do it
20:31if he keeps his knife
20:32in a sheath.
20:33Now,
20:33you know how excited
20:34he gets even
20:35when we fight in fun.
20:36Attack him,
20:36Eagle Wing.
20:37Have your knife
20:38at the ready,
20:38Running Beaver.
20:39Look,
20:40are you ready,
20:40Running Beaver?
20:41Now.
20:42What did you do
20:45that for?
20:47Did I catch you
20:48off guard?
20:49Look,
20:49I am trying
20:50to tell you people
20:50I am not...
20:51Eagle Wing,
20:52go back to the village.
20:53But I...
20:53Do as I tell you.
20:54I was never able
20:55to do that.
20:55Go back to the village.
20:56There is magic here.
20:57Yes,
20:57yes,
20:58I'm going.
20:58I'm going.
21:01What did I just see?
21:02You saw a man
21:03knock me down.
21:04You don't know
21:05how to fight
21:06with a knife anymore.
21:07When did I ever
21:07know how to fight
21:08with a knife?
21:09I can't believe it.
21:10I was just a quiet kid
21:12when I was in school.
21:13And I suppose
21:14you can't shoot
21:16with the bow?
21:16No.
21:17Or throw the lance?
21:18I'm trying to tell you
21:19I am not
21:20your Running Beaver.
21:22Then we have magic.
21:24Call it what you want.
21:26But we have trouble.
21:34As the chief
21:35of this council
21:36I call upon
21:36Running Beaver
21:37to speak.
21:38Chief,
21:39Chief Stark,
21:40track up.
21:40I haven't called
21:40on you Red Bear.
21:42I called upon
21:43Running Beaver.
21:43But chief...
21:44The council
21:44has given you
21:45six days Red Bear,
21:46six days to
21:47cure Running Beaver.
21:49Let me talk.
21:50Gentlemen,
21:51I don't know
21:52how to make you
21:53understand.
21:53Be quiet.
21:54No, no, no.
21:55Let him talk.
21:56But he's mad.
21:57Let us judge.
21:57I am not
21:58who you think I am.
21:59I am not
22:00Running Beaver.
22:01I told you
22:02he was mad.
22:03You say
22:03you are not
22:04Running Beaver.
22:05No, I am not.
22:06I don't know
22:07how to convince you
22:08because I don't
22:08even know
22:08how it happened
22:09to myself.
22:11White Swallow,
22:12step forward.
22:15Yes?
22:17Is this man
22:18your husband?
22:19Yes.
22:21She really does.
22:22Silence.
22:22Why do you deny?
22:25Are you tired of me?
22:26Is there another woman?
22:28Good Lord.
22:29You could have been
22:30living 500 years
22:31from now.
22:31You women never change.
22:32I thought you loved me.
22:33All of you,
22:34listen to me, please.
22:35I know it's hard to believe,
22:37but I am not
22:37Running Beaver.
22:38Who are you then?
22:39I am a man from a town.
22:41I don't know.
22:42It must be
22:43hundreds of years
22:43from now.
22:44Silence.
22:45Silence.
22:45This is the council.
22:50We'll have no disorder here.
22:53Running Beaver,
22:54have you anything more to say?
22:55I have plenty more to say,
22:56but I don't know how to say it.
22:57The council will retire.
22:59We shall return
23:00with our decision.
23:08Red Bear,
23:09what are they going to do with me?
23:11Well...
23:12It's not good, is it?
23:13It will depend.
23:14Depend on what?
23:16Star Tracker
23:17is a devout believer
23:18in magic.
23:19I think he believes you.
23:21Well, then it can't be bad.
23:22But the people are angry
23:23and three young men
23:24are missing.
23:26Probably dead.
23:27The people feel
23:28it's your fault.
23:29But...
23:29Probably the council
23:30will declare
23:31that you have been possessed
23:32by an evil spirit.
23:33It's all nonsense.
23:34I'm sure you know
23:35what you think.
23:37But you asked me
23:37what I think.
23:39What will happen?
23:40The evil spirit
23:42will have to be
23:42driven out of you.
23:44How?
23:45Or shouldn't I ask?
23:47By fire.
23:49By lance.
23:50By arrows.
23:51You mean they'll kill me?
23:54That's how we drive out
23:55the evil spirit.
23:57Is there anything
23:58I can do, Red Bear?
24:00I don't know.
24:01But I'll try to think.
24:03running beaver,
24:11stand before the council.
24:13You have been ordered
24:14to report.
24:15You refuse.
24:16I tried to tell you.
24:17Therefore, the council
24:18has decided to drive
24:19the evil spirit out of you.
24:21No!
24:22Tell them, running beaver.
24:23Tell them.
24:24We must have silence.
24:27Tonight, running beaver,
24:28the council will drive
24:29the spirit from you.
24:30Wait!
24:31He has the right
24:32to ask for judgment
24:33by combat.
24:34What are you saying?
24:35Must I remind
24:35the council of the law?
24:37Very clever, Red Bear.
24:38No one dares.
24:39Silence!
24:40Silence!
24:41Silence!
24:41Well, you've heard
24:44the challenge.
24:45Who will fight
24:46running beaver?
24:48Your reputation
24:49has just saved you.
24:51No one will dare
24:51to meet you.
24:53No one?
24:54No one will accept
24:55the challenge.
24:57Are we a tribe
24:58of trembling women?
25:00Must I,
25:01at my age,
25:03save the honor
25:03of the people?
25:04I'll fight him!
25:05Eaglewing!
25:06You, you're his best friend!
25:08No longer!
25:08After all,
25:09he denies
25:10he's running beaver,
25:11doesn't he?
25:11The council accepts
25:12the offer of Eaglewing.
25:14May the one
25:14who is right
25:15win.
25:17Clear a space.
25:18Wait!
25:19The law says
25:20each contestant
25:21must fast
25:22and pray
25:22for three days.
25:24No, no!
25:25Silence!
25:27We shall obey the law.
25:30We shall meet again
25:31in three days.
25:33What did you get me into?
25:34I got you three days.
25:36What good will it do me?
25:38You could learn
25:39to fight
25:40with a knife.
25:45Well,
25:46you've been a quiet,
25:48unassuming
25:48handwriting analyst
25:50all your life.
25:51You've never so much
25:52as swatted a fly
25:53in anger.
25:54Now,
25:55suddenly,
25:56you have to fight
25:57to the death
25:58with knives,
25:59no less.
26:00And, uh,
26:01how is the
26:02other fellow doing?
26:03The one who has to face
26:05the Congressional Committee.
26:07We'll see how it all
26:08comes out
26:08when we return shortly
26:10with Act Three.
26:20Just as telephone wires
26:22can cross
26:23when they cover
26:23great distance,
26:25so can lives
26:26when they cover
26:27great spans of time.
26:29Two such lives
26:30have been disrupted.
26:32Running Beaver,
26:32an Indian
26:33who lived
26:34500 years ago,
26:35and Alfred Stuart Ainsley,
26:37who is a contemporary
26:38of ours.
26:40Alfred Ainsley
26:41is now talking
26:42to his lawyer.
26:43That is,
26:44his lawyer
26:45thinks it's
26:46Alfred Ainsley.
26:47We know
26:47it's Running Beaver.
26:48Al,
26:50level with me.
26:51Is this a stall?
26:51I keep telling you
26:52I don't know
26:53what you're talking about.
26:54I can't help it.
26:54I talk to the reporters.
26:56I talk to the committee people.
26:57Nobody understands you.
26:59You keep saying
26:59you're a friend
27:00of Al Ainsley.
27:01Yes, Al.
27:02We've been friends
27:03since college.
27:03Then you should know
27:04that I am not
27:05Al Ainsley.
27:06My name is Running Beaver.
27:07I'm an Indian.
27:09I'd lived about
27:09500 years ago.
27:12I better get
27:13Doc Stetzer back here.
27:16Jerry,
27:16what are you doing here?
27:17I ordered
27:18complete rest for Al.
27:19You know what
27:19Al just told me,
27:20Doctor?
27:20He thinks he's an Indian.
27:22It happens to be true.
27:23It happens to be...
27:25Oh, I see.
27:28Yeah,
27:28I think I see.
27:29What do you think
27:30you see, Jerry?
27:31They got to you too, Doc.
27:33Who got to me?
27:34I don't know.
27:35But somebody
27:36doesn't want Al
27:37to testify.
27:37He's been bought off
27:38and so have you.
27:39Jerry, I resent that.
27:40The two of you
27:40concocted this ridiculous...
27:41It happens to be true.
27:43Do you think
27:44that you can sell this
27:45to Senator Adams,
27:46to the committee,
27:46to the news media?
27:47I only tell you
27:48what I perceive
27:49as the truth.
27:49Oh, they'll skin you alive.
27:51What is he saying, Doctor?
27:52Something very unpleasant.
27:53That's not the worst.
27:54You're going to be finished,
27:55Dad.
27:55Your career will be ruined.
27:56You won't have
27:57an ounce of credibility left.
27:58Jerry,
27:58enough for now.
28:00No, it's not enough.
28:01They'll get you on contempt.
28:02They can even pull
28:03obstruction of justice,
28:04conspiracy.
28:05Al, do you realize
28:06you can go to jail?
28:07Jerry, he doesn't realize
28:08anything of the sort.
28:09But it should be obvious to him.
28:10It would be
28:11if he were Al Ainslie.
28:13Doc,
28:13are you crazy too?
28:14Jerry, Jerry,
28:15this is no time
28:16for anyone to lose his head.
28:17Okay, okay, okay, okay.
28:18Let's be calm.
28:19Let's be reasonable.
28:20How does a thing
28:21like this happen?
28:22There's no answer.
28:23I've,
28:24I've done some research,
28:25consulted.
28:26And the best
28:27I can come up with is,
28:29look,
28:30at the speed of light,
28:32there's no regular
28:33sequence of time.
28:34The past,
28:35the present,
28:35the future,
28:36everything is mixed
28:36and jumbled up.
28:38Everything becomes
28:39a storm
28:40of pure energy.
28:41Doc,
28:41what can I do
28:42to convince you guys?
28:44Sometimes,
28:45in rare cases,
28:47our thoughts,
28:47our ideas,
28:49achieve such intensity
28:50that they too
28:51become a form of energy
28:53and carry our minds
28:54into this,
28:55this raging storm.
28:57And minds
28:58can be mixed up
28:58and thrown
28:59from one body
29:00into another.
29:01I can't believe
29:01I'm sitting here
29:02listening to this.
29:02Whatever the reason,
29:04he's not Al Ainslie.
29:05Now, get a hold
29:06of yourself.
29:07Jerry,
29:07now you can't
29:08excite him anymore.
29:09I'll throw you
29:10out of here.
29:10You may not have
29:11to throw me out.
29:12I want to leave.
29:13Now, Al,
29:14in exactly three days,
29:15you'll have to appear
29:16before that committee.
29:17If you value
29:18your reputation
29:19and your freedom,
29:20please think up
29:22a better story.
29:23Or best of all,
29:25tell the truth.
29:34Are you awake, Al?
29:35I brought you some tea.
29:36This is the first chance
29:37I've had to talk with you.
29:39Darling,
29:40what is it?
29:41Are you my wife?
29:43I mean,
29:43his wife.
29:45What are you saying?
29:46I'm not your husband.
29:47Don't say that.
29:48It's true.
29:49I know you, darling.
29:51I've known you
29:51all my life.
29:52Who knows you
29:53better than I do?
29:54I am not
29:54Al Ainslie.
29:57There's someone else,
29:57isn't there?
29:58Another woman.
30:00Please.
30:00I knew you were timid,
30:01but I didn't think
30:02you'd go this far.
30:03I have a wife.
30:05What?
30:06Her name is White Swallow.
30:08And we have a son.
30:10Al, I don't know
30:11what your game is,
30:12but you won't
30:12get away with it.
30:20Gentlemen,
30:21this visit of yours
30:23is most unusual.
30:24I know it is,
30:25Senator Adams.
30:26I have no right
30:26to conduct committee
30:27business privately.
30:28Senator,
30:29we just wanted to
30:30acquaint you
30:30with certain facts.
30:33And...
30:34And?
30:35Well, please,
30:36just listen.
30:37No matter what you hear,
30:39just listen.
30:40Then use your own judgment.
30:43Go ahead, Al.
30:44Senator,
30:46I am not
30:47Alfred Stewart Ainslie.
30:50You're not?
30:52I am running bare.
30:54I am a Potomac Indian.
30:56Then this is
30:57most unusual.
30:58Dr. Stitzer and I,
30:59we believe
31:00that I lived
31:01500 years ago.
31:03Somehow,
31:04I have occupied
31:04the body
31:05of Mr. Ainslie.
31:06But though I have
31:07his body,
31:07I have none
31:08of his skills.
31:08And?
31:09And that's all.
31:11And this is what
31:12you want me to believe,
31:13hmm?
31:13It's the truth,
31:14Senator.
31:15You'll be at the
31:16committee hearings
31:17on Monday morning.
31:18Senator,
31:20didn't you hear...
31:20Doctor,
31:21I don't believe
31:22a word of it.
31:23It's no use,
31:31it's no use.
31:32Watch the knife.
31:33Watch it constantly.
31:34Don't look at your
31:35opponent's eyes.
31:35Oh, Red Bear,
31:36I'll never learn.
31:37You may not be
31:38running Beaver,
31:38but you have
31:39his great body,
31:40his strength,
31:40his agility.
31:41I'll tell you
31:41what I don't have,
31:42his desire to fight.
31:43Are you a coward?
31:44No,
31:45I just don't believe
31:46in violence.
31:47Strange.
31:47I can't kill anybody.
31:49The council
31:54has already decided,
31:55Red Bear.
31:56But this will be
31:57murder, Chief.
31:58He isn't running Beaver.
31:59He does not know
32:00how to fight.
32:00A man who doesn't
32:01know how to fight?
32:02Impossible.
32:02He is not one of us.
32:04He's from another time.
32:05Well, how does he
32:05happen to be here, then?
32:06There is a place, Chief,
32:07where the soul
32:08that belongs to each man
32:09is put into his body.
32:10Yes, we know that.
32:11It is the sacred,
32:12haunted place
32:12where the mist
32:13meets the rocks.
32:14There's always thunder there.
32:16Evil, malicious spirits
32:17have an opportunity
32:18to play tricks.
32:19And so...
32:19I understand.
32:21I even believe.
32:23But the council
32:23has spoken.
32:24He does not know
32:25how to fight.
32:26He will have to learn.
32:32Keep the knife low
32:33and moving.
32:33It's no use.
32:34I just can't kill anybody.
32:36Even to save
32:37your own life?
32:38Suppose I kill
32:38Eagle Wing tomorrow,
32:39then what?
32:40At least you'll be alive.
32:41To do what?
32:42Still about my life
32:43here in an alien place
32:44doing things that I hate?
32:45Fighting, hunting, killing?
32:47No, I'm better off dead.
32:49You'll have to testify
32:53before the committee.
32:54I can't.
32:55You'll be ruined.
32:56Well, if that's the only way...
32:57Relax.
32:58Think.
33:00Don't fight against
33:01Alfred Ainsley.
33:02Accept him.
33:03Let his thoughts
33:04flow into your brain.
33:05Let his knowledge
33:06come to you.
33:07Why?
33:07So you can get past
33:08the committee.
33:09And then?
33:10What do you mean, then?
33:11Then what will I do?
33:13Live here as Al Ainsley,
33:14away from my wife,
33:15my son,
33:15my friends,
33:16my people?
33:17Never to hunt,
33:18never to fight?
33:19To exist in this strange
33:21and terrible world,
33:22a place I can neither
33:23understand nor accept?
33:25No.
33:26Rather, let me be disgraced.
33:27Why do you want
33:28to be disgraced?
33:29So I can die of shame.
33:35Wake up, Running Beaver.
33:36Wake up.
33:37It's time to start out
33:38for the fighting ground.
33:39So early?
33:40You still refuse to fight him
33:42as Running Beaver would?
33:43Yes, I refuse.
33:44Why?
33:45I told you.
33:47I want to die.
33:48I know why you would
33:49want to die in this life.
33:50But I don't understand
33:52why you would want to die
33:53in your other life.
33:55What are you saying?
33:57What troubled you?
33:58You are a man of trouble.
34:00I see that.
34:01When you walked
34:02into the mist,
34:03were you troubled?
34:05How did you know?
34:06I am only guessing.
34:09In your other life,
34:10did you also want to die?
34:12I'm not sure.
34:13Perhaps?
34:13Perhaps I did want to.
34:15Why?
34:16Because,
34:17because I would have
34:19to say something
34:20that would,
34:22that,
34:23no, you couldn't understand it.
34:25That would have to be
34:26something you hate?
34:27Yes.
34:28Yes, I would have to ruin
34:30a man that I had
34:30always respected.
34:32Did he,
34:33does he deserve
34:34to be ruined?
34:35Yes,
34:36because he broke faith.
34:38And you did not have
34:40the courage
34:40to do your duty.
34:42I,
34:42in other words,
34:43you are an even
34:44greater coward
34:45than I thought.
34:47Maybe.
34:48Would you rather die
34:49under Eagle Wing's knife
34:50or,
34:50or what?
34:54Or go back.
34:56Do your part
34:57as a man.
34:58Face your responsibility.
34:59Go back?
35:02Testify against?
35:03Isn't that what must be done?
35:05Isn't that what truth
35:06and justice demand?
35:08Yes.
35:09Then you'll go back.
35:10But how?
35:12How can I go back?
35:13Are you sure you want to?
35:15Yes.
35:16You'll do what's required?
35:18Yes.
35:19You believe it
35:19with all your heart?
35:20Yes.
35:21Yes,
35:22I believe it.
35:23Now I believe it.
35:24then come with me.
35:26Where?
35:27To the place of mist.
35:30The sacred place
35:31where you became
35:33running beaver.
35:43Time to be leaving
35:44for the committee meeting.
35:45I'm ready.
35:45I decided to go with you.
35:47Let's get it over with.
35:48Tell me,
35:49something bothers me.
35:51It bothered me
35:52that first day
35:53when I thought
35:54that you had
35:55willed yourself
35:55into amnesia.
35:57I can see how
35:58Al Ainsley
35:58could have found
35:59life intolerable.
36:01But you're not
36:02Al Ainsley.
36:03No.
36:04Therefore,
36:04my diagnosis was wrong.
36:06I don't think
36:06I understand.
36:08Why was life
36:09also intolerable
36:10for running beaver?
36:12Why were you
36:13trying to escape
36:13as running beaver?
36:15To escape?
36:15What was tormenting you?
36:18How did you know?
36:19Did I guess right?
36:20Yes.
36:24From what
36:25were you trying
36:26to escape?
36:27I had gone
36:28with three others
36:29to the Iroquois
36:29as an ambassador.
36:33The Iroquois
36:33promised peace.
36:35I knew it was a lie.
36:37My three friends
36:38were bribed.
36:40On the way home,
36:41they plotted
36:41to kill me.
36:43I was too smart,
36:44too strong.
36:46I killed them instead.
36:47If I told this
36:49to the council,
36:50I would make enemies.
36:52I was afraid.
36:54I see.
36:57Would you rather
36:58die like a man
36:59among your own people,
37:01if indeed you must
37:02die at all,
37:03or would you rather
37:04die of shame
37:04here among strangers?
37:07I am wiser now,
37:08but it's too late.
37:09It's too late for me.
37:10I can't go back.
37:11Are you willing
37:12to face the council?
37:14Face them?
37:15Defy them?
37:17Fight them?
37:18Let's go back
37:19to this place
37:19where the mist
37:20covers the rocks.
37:22And when we reach it,
37:23try,
37:24try to go back.
37:27All the way
37:28back home again.
37:36The committee
37:36will stand in order.
37:39Mr. Ainsley,
37:39are you finally prepared
37:41to report your findings?
37:43Yes, Mr. Chairman.
37:45I've studied
37:46all the relevant materials,
37:47and I am absolutely convinced
37:49I will stake
37:50my professional reputation
37:52on the fact
37:52that the signature
37:53is forged.
37:53I say this to the council.
38:02Three young men
38:03of the tribe
38:03took bribes
38:04from the enemy.
38:06I alone refused.
38:08They tried to kill me.
38:11I killed them instead.
38:13I will answer
38:14for this deed
38:15with my life.
38:17If any man here
38:19thinks he can take it,
38:20at a certain speed,
38:26at a certain intensity,
38:28at a certain burning level
38:29of anxiety or desire,
38:32time, space,
38:33and spirit
38:34can be twisted
38:35out of shape
38:36or sequence.
38:38That's how we might
38:39explain it today.
38:40On the other hand,
38:42there are evil
38:43and mischievous spirits
38:44who delight
38:44in creating misery
38:46and confusion.
38:47that would be
38:48yesterday's explanation.
38:51Choose one
38:51or the other.
38:53Or,
38:54supply your own.
38:56I'll be back shortly.
39:07And, uh,
39:08what's the moral
39:09of our little tale?
39:11Simply this.
39:12Whenever you're desperate
39:14for a means of escape
39:15from a problem,
39:16don't try too hard
39:18for an easy way out.
39:20You might just be
39:21unlucky enough
39:22to find it.
39:24Our cast included
39:24Mandel Kramer,
39:25Grace Matthews,
39:26Arnold Moss,
39:27Nat Poland,
39:28and Mason Adams.
39:29The entire production
39:30was under the direction
39:31of Hyman Brown.
39:33This is E.G. Marshall
39:34inviting you
39:34to return to our
39:35mystery theater
39:36for another adventure
39:37in the macabre.
39:38Until next time,
39:41pleasant dreams.
39:46Ash