Star of "Captain Horatio Hornblower"

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)

This episode of Stars on Suspense features a collection of vintage radio performances starring Hollywood legend Gregory Peck. The program in

Key takeaways

• Gregory Peck performs multiple roles, ranging from a student in 'Hitchhike Poker' to the titular naval hero in 'Captain Horatio Hornblower'.
• The episode features a comedic parody of the Hornblower story performed by Jack Benny and his gang.

Main topics

• Gregory Peck radio performances
• Captain Horatio Hornblower

Notable quotes

A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

Conclusion

A nostalgic retrospective that showcases the versatility of golden age

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Would you hand me that, please? Thank you. Hmm. Now let's see. Survey. Survive. Susanna. Suspect. Ah, here we are. Suspense. Meaning held in doubt. Expressing doubt. The state of being uncertain, undecided, or insecure. State of anxious expectation or waiting for information. Such as to keep one in suspense. Therefore, delay acquainting him with what he is eager to know. Speaker 1 (0:33) Welcome Speaker 6 (0:51) to Stars on Suspense, with more Hollywood legends and radio's outstanding theater of thrills. This week, we're setting sail with Gregory Peck as Captain Horatio Hornblower. Peck played C.S. Forrester's famous British naval officer in a 1951 film directed by Raoul Walsh and co-starring Virginia Mayo. It's a swashbuckling adventure set in the era of the Napoleonic Wars, and fans of high adventure and or of Gregory Peck should definitely check it out. Today we'll hear Mr. Peck recreate his starring role in an adaptation of the movie from the Luxe Radio Theater. You can rent or buy Captain Horatio Hornblower digitally through your preferred retailers. At the time of this recording, it can be streamed via HBO Max. and you can pick up a nice new Blu-ray from the folks at Warner Archive. Before we take to the seas with Captain Hornblower, we'll hear Gregory Peck in Hitchhike Poker, a suspense episode from September 16, 1948. Then we'll hear Mr. Peck and Ms. Mayo on the Lux Radio Theater from January 21, 1952. And finally, we'll hear a spoof set at sea. as Jack Benny and his gang present their version of Horatio Hornblower in an episode from September 23rd, 1951. It's Anchors Away for Adventure with Gregory Peck, right after these messages. Speaker 1 (2:31) for a good food buy, then get Velveeta, Kraft's famous pasteurized processed cheese food. Velveeta is one of the best food buys you can make because Velveeta is not only delicious, but it's nourishing too. And you can use Velveeta so many ways, in snacks, sandwiches, and for a variety of economical hot main dishes. Melt Velveeta for a smooth golden cheese sauce to extend leftovers or to use in new made dishes. Make it your handy helper for all kinds of money-saving hot meals. Get it tomorrow. Your best buy in cheese food, Velveeta. Made only by Kraft. Now let's take a quick musical trip to Blue Ribbon Land, to places around the world where folks enjoy internationally famous Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Ready now? See how many you can get. Speaker 1 (3:28) Paris is right. In Gay Paris, folks just like yourself, enjoy that smoother-tasting Pabst Blue Ribbon. Finest beers served anywhere. Now, that's right, that's right, Managua, Nicaragua. Another wonderful place where internationally famous Pabst Blue Ribbon is served and enjoyed. Thanks. Speaker 1 (3:54) That's right, that's right. Yes, all over America, all over the world, folks enjoy that number one international favorite, Pabst Blue Ribbon. Finest beer served anywhere. It's the beer the whole world knows about. And remember, the quality that has carried the fame around the world is yours for the asking. So next time somebody says, what'll you have? Give them the world's best answer. That smoother, smoother, smoother Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Now it's winner's time again. Yes, sir, here are the two winners of the Carousel Contest for the week ending November 8th. Each of these listeners wins a gorgeous $100 17-jewel Harmon Gold Watch just for writing an interesting letter about Carrie's salt. The ladies' watch goes to Mrs. A.O. Nobles, Jr. of Gainesville, Florida. Her suggestion tells you how to remove the printed dye from sugar bags or white feed bags. She suggests you dampen the bags with kerosene and sprinkle on Carrie's table salt. Then roll them up tight and let them stand overnight. Next day, just wash in soapy water and watch the dye rinse away. Sounds like a wonderful idea. And here's the winner of the man's watch. He is Mr. Sandy Rita of Cleburne, Texas, and he bases his suggestion on 30 years of experience. He says, the best thing I have ever found for smoothing rough gears and silencing their noise is the use of Kerry salt mixed with gear grease or compound. Congratulations to both of the winners. And folks, if you'd like to win one of these beautiful watches, listen for the easy rules later in this program. Meanwhile, remember, there's a fine carry salt for every farm and home use. There's deep penetrating carries table salt, carries meat curing salt, carries mineral supplement salt, and many others. Always look for the white bag box or cotton with a bright red band. Speaker 3 (5:33) When a cloud bursts and fresh clean rain falls on a grove of rich green pine, it's mmm so nice. Speaker 3 (5:47) And now, that same clean scent of pine is in new pine-scented Lysol. Speaker 1 (5:53) Right. Now the one and only genuine Lysol brand disinfectant comes in a new pine scent. It disinfects, deodorizes, as nothing else does. Kills disease germs on contact. In laboratory tests, Lysol's anti-germ action kept working for seven full days. A bottle costs as little as 29 cents, and it's so easy to use. Just add new pine-scented Lysol to your suds when you clean in bathroom, kitchen, nursery, sick room. Use pine-scented Lysol because Lysol deep cleans. Make your home... Pine, Speaker 3 (6:24) wheat, Speaker 8 (6:25) and Lysol clean. Speaker 1 (6:26) You can still get regular Lysol, too. And now, a tale well calculated to keep you in... Suspense. In just a moment, Suspense with Gregory Peck. Speaker 8 (6:46) Oh, Hap, did you find that old picture album? Yeah, Speaker 1 (6:49) yeah. Take a peek at yourself in the old, old look. One of the funniest things I've ever seen. Oh, dear me. Oh, Mary, here's a shot of our first car. Rolled down curtains and everything, remember? Speaker 8 (7:00) Oh, yes, and weren't we proud of it? Speaker 1 (7:02) But what an arm-breaker. Crank. crank like a rusty old coffee grinder. What a whale of a difference a quick-starting Autolite stay-full battery makes. Speaker 8 (7:11) Are you going to thank Autolite again, honey? For Speaker 1 (7:13) stay-full batteries? Mm-hmm. Oh, you said it, Mary. Why, I wouldn't trade that thirst-free powerhouse in our car for all the tea in China. Same goes for our Autolite spark plugs and Autolite ignition system. I don't Speaker 8 (7:22) suppose you'd care to trade this small talk for a half hour of suspense. Oh, sure, Mary, sure. Speaker 6 (7:40) Suspense. Speaker 6 (7:47) And its 60,000 dealers and service stations bring you radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Starring tonight, Mr. Gregory Peck in Anton Leder's production of Hitchhike Poker. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Want Speaker 2 (8:11) a ride, young fella? You bet. How far are you going? Oh, high. Well, hop in. Thanks. Speaker 2 (8:25) That's how I met J. Stuart Belden and his canary yellow convertible. That's how I took the ride. I'll be a long time forgetting. He looked to be about 45, and he wasn't bad looking for a guy that old. He was well built, about my size, no gray in his hair. And that coat he was wearing, boy, I'll bet plenty of camels went under the clippers for that one. Speaker 2 (8:55) So you're a student, eh? I graduate from Berkeley this year. I suppose you're a vet. Oh, yes, more than half the guys are vets. What's your name, son? Ridge Fowler. Married? Not me. Don't tell me you're a woman hater. Oh, no, it's not that. It's just, well, I have enough trouble feeding myself. I said the same thing years ago. Ah, but you'll change your mind when the right girl comes along. 9B-1863. A dud. Huh? Oh, didn't you ever play license plate poker? License plate poker? Never heard of it. It's just like regular poker, except instead of drawing cards, you draw license plates. Now, I drew that hand. There was nothing in it. Next card we see will be your hand. Speaker 1 (9:33) Here Speaker 2 (9:33) comes one now. Watch the license plate. 4J3134. Two pair, threes and fours. You beat me. Hey, that's a good game. What are the stakes? Make it easy on yourself. Shall we say $100,000 a hand? Speaker 2 (9:52) See what I mean? Good Joe. A lot of laughs and small talk. And all the time, that convertible eating the miles up. What a car. We practically flew through Salinas, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria. Well, son, what do you say to a hamburger? I know a little place in Santa Ynez where they make a hamburger that drips with royalty. Well, you got me sold. And on the side, French fried onions, shoestring potatoes, and the coldest beer in the world. Stop. You're killing me. Speaker 2 (10:28) Now, tell me, did I overrate the place? Boy, that was terrific. The trouble is they give you too much food in there. I've got to quit eating like that. My clothes are getting tight, especially this coat. Oh, that coat sure is a beauty. I'm nuts about camels here. You are? Say, I've got an idea. Why don't you try it on? Oh, no, Mr. Belden, I didn't mean to... Go ahead. You're just enough thinner than I am that it ought to fit you fine. Well, gosh, I... Here, go ahead. Try it on. College boy can always use a coat. Speaker 2 (10:57) Well, it's a good fit. It was made for you. Well, I don't know what to say. That's a coat for a king. Well, I guess that makes you a monarch then, son. Because it's your coat now. Couldn't get over it. A coat like that, mine? I'll bet Mom's eyes will really pop when she sees it on me. Must have cost her years' tuition. I climbed back into the car and slouched down into the maroon leather seat and waited for him while he made a phone call. Boy, I felt like a king, all right. I was deep in a daydream when he came out of the phone booth. Speaker 3 (11:36) Okay, Ridge, here we go. Speaker 2 (11:52) Hey, look, a straight. Huh? I drew a straight. 2J, 3, 4, 5, 6. Really? A straight? That's the highest hand today. That'll be tough to beat. Darn tough. We drove for quite a while. Not talking much. We'd left Highway 101 at Santa Ynez where we got the hamburgers. There weren't many cars on the road, and Belden hadn't been able to draw anything to beat my straight. In fact, he seemed to lose interest in the game. He was concentrating on the road. It was a treacherous road, curved and high, full of hairpin turns, but he handled the car beautifully, taking those curves fast but sure, never slowing down a bit. I liked speed, but all of a sudden I felt nervous, the way he was hugging the edge. I turned to look at him to say something, and the words stuck in my throat. Speaker 2 (12:46) No more the smiling host. Instead, he was fastened to the wheel like a hawk. That's what he looked like, a hawk, ready to strike. I was tongue-tied at the changing. I guess my reflexes worked slowly, but his didn't. He threw open his door, twisted the wheel. Hey, so long, sonny. He jumped clear, and when the car hurtled into space, I was alone in it. Speaker 2 (13:09) smashed into the windshield. Another jolt threw me against the door. I'm not too clear at this point, but the next thing I knew, I was flying through space again. Only this time, I was free of the car. I landed, sprawled against the side of the hill. I began to slip, to roll. I grabbed wildly, desperately for just anything to stop myself. But it happened. Speaker 2 (13:33) It was the trunk of a twisted, narrowed old tree that grew out of the hillside. Hit me square in the stomach. Knocked the wind right out of me. Too hurt to care. It was a minute or two before I got up enough breath to move. Finally, I edged my way up the cliff, hand over hand. It was brutal, but I... I was surprised to discover that I hadn't fallen as far as it seemed. I was climbing around a bulge of boulders not more than eight feet from roadside level when I looked. There was Belden. A gun in his hand. I ducked and the bullets scaled off the boulders. He wanted me dead, that was for sure. He wanted to kill me. Why? Why? I waited. Then I heard the horn. It came out from behind the boulders. It crawled up on the road. Belden was nowhere in sight. I didn't see what kind of a car it was. I didn't even think to look. All I saw was... He beat my straight. 4L5555. That was the license. 4L5555. Four of a kind. All of a sudden, I was shaking. I looked at myself. It was beat up, cut, filthy. But what was worse, the camel's hair coat was a mess. King? I had to laugh. Belden was king. I was just the joker. Speaker 2 (15:26) My back hurt, my head throbbed, and I ached all over. But I walked every inch of the way back to Santa Ynez. It was dark by the time I got there. When I stood in front of the police station, I realized for the first time the meaning of the word sanctuary. I took a deep breath. I wanted to tell the police as straight a story as possible. I opened the door. Speaker 3 (15:57) There he is, officer. That's the boy who stole my car, forced me out, took my coat. Just look in the side Speaker 7 (16:02) pocket of the coat. You'll find my wallet. Speaker 6 (16:19) For suspense, Autolite is bringing you Mr. Gregory Peck in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. Speaker 1 (16:34) Hey, I'm sure getting a big kick out of Gregory Peck tonight. Good, Speaker 8 (16:37) maybe you'll put that old picture album away now. Why, Mary, don't you Speaker 1 (16:41) like old photos? Speaker 8 (16:42) No, they make us look so silly. Besides, all they've made you do is talk about Autolite. And when it comes to Autolite, I'd rather listen to Frank Martin. He really knows what he's talking about. Speaker 1 (16:53) Autolite News stay-full batteries need water only three times a year in normal car use. This means less trouble and care for you. for Autolite's greater water reserve practically eliminates one of the major causes of battery failure. Autolite stay-full batteries are a great new development of Autolite engineers who produce complete ignition systems for many of America's finest cars. They work in complete harmony with your car's entire electrical system. Car owners everywhere tell us Autolite batteries are the greatest batteries ever built. Heck, Mary, I could have told you all that and never stopped looking at this album. Quiet, Speaker 8 (17:27) Hap. Speaker 1 (17:28) So, friends, stop at your neighborhood Autolite dealers and get an Autolite Stay Full battery. Then you'll know what fast starts really are. And remember this. The Autolite Stay Full battery you buy needs water only three times a year in normal car use. You know, Mary, I can repeat every word Frank Martin said about Autolite Stay Full batteries. Autolite Stay... Shh! Speaker 8 (17:48) Here's suspense again. And Speaker 6 (17:51) now, Autolite brings back to a Hollywood soundstage Mr. Gregory Peck as Ridge Fowler in Hitchhike Poker. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Speaker 2 (18:07) Couldn't be. What was Belden doing here in the police station? What was he trying to pull? I knew even before I put my hand in the coat that Belden's wallet would be there. And I knew, too, that the police would never believe me. No matter what I said, I was trapped. The desk sergeant was waiting for me to talk, but my throat was dry. My tongue was paralyzed. My brain spinning. Well, what do you got to say for yourself? You don't understand, you see. He gave me the code. I didn't know about the wallet. Is that the best you can do? But I tell you, he picked me up when I was hitchhiking. I was going home from school for the weekend. Then he forced me off the road. He tried to kill me. He shot at me. Sergeant, let the boy go. But, Mr. Belden... I've changed my mind. I don't intend to press charges. Speaker 1 (18:48) But this kid's crazy. Easy, Sergeant. He's a war veteran. Speaker 2 (18:52) Oh, I... I see. Oh, no, no, no. Lock me up, please. Don't believe him. Everyone is entitled to one mistake. Any boy who is big enough to come into the police station voluntarily, give himself up, deserves another chance. If I could have erased the memory of his face when he twisted that wheel and screamed, so long, sonny. All these benevolent words would have fooled me like they were fooling the desk sergeant. Belden was bursting with sweetness and light. But every word he said to release me only tightened the web tighter. And I knew just as sure as I was standing there that he wasn't through with me. That walking out of that door would be like releasing the... Clay Bird at a trap shoot. Speaker 1 (19:29) Well, it's up to you, Mr. Belden, if you're sure he won't cause any more trouble. I'm positive that after tonight, this young man will be no trouble to anyone. Speaker 2 (19:36) No trouble to anyone. After tonight, I had to get away from there. I had to run. Speaker 5 (19:44) I don't Speaker 2 (19:53) know how long I ran. I didn't know where I was. The town was behind me. I stopped out of breath. I... I tried to light a cigarette. My hands shook like I had the palsy. It was like the South Pacific. Snipers and trees, but what trees? Where? Then I saw the bright, glaring neon ahead. Mackinac, one sign said. And wayside rest, trucks welcome the other. Just a dinky service station and a lunch wagon, but it was an oasis to me. Howdy. Hey, what's the matter, bud? You sick? No, no, I'm all right. You sure look green around the gills. Speaker 5 (20:39) Been in a fight? Speaker 2 (20:41) How soon will the truck start coming through? Speaker 5 (20:43) You got a long wait, Speaker 2 (20:45) about two, three hours. Been in an accident? Look, mister, I've got to get a ride to Ojai. Do you mind if I hang around and wait? No, I don't mind. Speaker 3 (20:53) Won't do no good, though. Ain't allowed to pick up riders, company rules. Might be lucky and catch a wildcatter, but I doubt it. Speaker 2 (21:00) Oh, thanks. Speaker 3 (21:01) You sure you're all right? Maybe you better go next door and get yourself a cup of coffee. Sure look like Speaker 2 (21:07) you could use one. Yeah. That's a good idea. If a ride turns up, I'll call you. Thanks, Mac. Speaker 5 (21:13) Oh, I'm not Mac. I'm Al. Mac works days. Speaker 2 (21:21) I felt halfway decent when I came out of the lunch wagon. I'd cleaned myself up and reduced my capital to 15 cents. Al had a customer. Speaker 5 (21:31) Gas and oil, that'll be $2.80. Hey, Bud, come here. Speaker 2 (21:34) Huh? Speaker 5 (21:35) I got you a ride to Ojai. Oh, you have? Who with? The little lady here. Speaker 3 (21:40) She's been driving all day, got an awful headache. She's going straight to Ojai. Here's the fella I was telling you about, lady, that needed a ride to Ojai. Speaker 8 (21:47) Oh, I'm afraid you misunderstood. I just said I wished I had somebody to drive me. Speaker 2 (21:53) Oh, well, I don't blame you for not wanting to take a rider, but I'd appreciate it if you'd change your mind. I've got to get to Ojai tonight. Speaker 8 (22:01) Well, I... I am tired. Oh, Speaker 2 (22:04) go ahead, miss. He's a nice fellow. Speaker 8 (22:07) Well, if you'll vouch for me. Now, wait Speaker 7 (22:09) a minute, lady. I don't vouch for anybody. Speaker 8 (22:12) All right. I guess it'll be all right. Speaker 7 (22:16) It Speaker 2 (22:22) was a pleasure to drive for her. She didn't say much and... I didn't feel like talking. She just sat there beside me, her eyes closed, resting. Once in a while, I snatched a quick look at her. She had long, dark eyelashes resting on her marble-like cheeks, hands folded in her lap. I found myself remembering when the right girl comes along. I was trying to remember who said it when I saw her looking at me. Feel better? Speaker 8 (22:54) Much better. I'm ashamed of myself, hesitating to let you drive my car. I'm afraid I'm overcautious. Speaker 2 (23:01) Oh, I wouldn't say that. Can't be too careful. Speaker 8 (23:04) One reads of such awful things happening on the road. Speaker 2 (23:07) Yeah, things. I hadn't thought of Belden since we left Al's gas station. Now he was back in the front of my mind. Speaker 8 (23:17) You're going awfully fast. These curves are treacherous. I guess Speaker 2 (23:21) I'm just anxious to get home. Speaker 8 (23:22) Yes, but look out! Speaker 8 (23:28) Do you want to kill us both? You almost sideswiped Speaker 2 (23:30) him. Oh, I'm sorry. I... Speaker 8 (23:31) What are you honking now for? He's gone. Speaker 2 (23:36) Your... your horn. Speaker 8 (23:38) What about it? Speaker 2 (23:39) Oh, nothing. I... I thought I'd heard it before. Speaker 8 (23:44) Before? Look, maybe I'd better drive. Oh, Speaker 2 (23:49) no, no. I'm sorry. I'll be all right. I'm sorry. Speaker 2 (23:55) I'd be sewing up my sleeves if I didn't get a hold of myself. I must have been crazy, thinking that her horn was the same as the one that had honked for Belden when I was hanging on the side of that hill. It was just a horn. A lot of horns sounded like. I tried to steady myself. I didn't want her to catch on how rattled I was. I turned to her to apologize. She was putting a cigarette in her mouth, but... It was purely automatic. She was sitting up straight, tense. Her eyes were glued to the road ahead. I'd been over this road earlier tonight with Belden. Suddenly, it loomed up at that wide bank curve just ahead, the spot where Belden had tried to kill me. My hands froze on the wheel. I held my breath, and then I saw her hand reach out. What are you doing? Speaker 8 (24:47) Let go of my wrist. What's wrong with you? I was only reaching for the cigarette lighter on the dashboard. Speaker 2 (24:54) I'm sorry. That curve back there, it... Speaker 8 (24:57) Pull over and stop. Speaker 2 (24:58) Huh? Speaker 8 (24:58) Pull over. I'm going to drive. We Speaker 2 (25:06) drove about a mile, I guess. Neither one of us said anything. Then without any warning, she took a sharp turn off the highway and down a rutted dirt road. Hey, miss, you're leaving the highway. Speaker 8 (25:18) We better stop a while. You don't look so well. Oh, Speaker 2 (25:20) I'm all right now. You Speaker 8 (25:21) don't look it. Better have a drink. I'll reach in the glove compartment to find some scotch. Oh, no, Speaker 2 (25:26) really, I'm all right. Speaker 8 (25:27) Well, then maybe I need it. Speaker 2 (25:33) Maybe it was the drink. Maybe it was the girl. Maybe it was just relief. But I felt peace for the first time that night. I watched her inhale. The glow from the cigarette lit up her high cheekbones. I couldn't see her eyes until she turned her head. What's your name? Ridge. Speaker 8 (25:57) Mine's Virginia. Speaker 2 (25:59) Hi. Speaker 2 (26:02) You must think I'm pretty much of a jerk the way I've been acting. That's all right. Speaker 8 (26:06) Things like that happen to everybody. Speaker 2 (26:08) Yeah, I guess so. Look, I'm all right now. I could drive. Speaker 8 (26:13) What's your hurry? Speaker 2 (26:14) Well, I thought... What's the matter? Don't you like to sit here with me? Well, no, it's just that I thought you were in a hurry. Speaker 8 (26:24) I'm not now. Speaker 2 (26:27) Are you? No, I'm in no hurry at all. Speaker 2 (26:38) It seemed to be moving. It was so gradual. I caught a trace of warm perfume in her hair. She smiled at me. One of those elusive smiles. Half innocent, half my shoulder. Accepted the invitation. Speaker 5 (27:01) I like you, Rich. I like you a lot. You Speaker 2 (27:06) know, tonight back in the filling station, when I first saw you, I... What's the matter, Ridge? The miniature license tag on your key ring. Speaker 8 (27:16) Yes? Speaker 2 (27:18) 4L5555. Four of a kind. Four of a... You play license plate poker? I'm afraid so, Ridge. Four fives. It's the license of the car that picked Belden up after he tried to kill me. That's right. Then you're in it with me, Sonny. I fell right out of the car. Hard. My face buried in the dirt. Speaker 2 (27:44) blackout, but it would have been much easier if I had. Only my mind functioned. Everything else seemed paralyzed. Speaker 8 (27:53) Well, you took your time getting here. Speaker 2 (27:54) I was delayed. Speaker 3 (27:55) You Speaker 8 (27:55) were supposed to be here waiting. What if I hadn't been able to keep him? Oh, Speaker 3 (27:58) I knew I could depend on you, darling, to detain him. Speaker 8 (28:00) What is that supposed to mean? Did Speaker 3 (28:02) you have to go as far as you did? Did you have to let him kiss you? Do Speaker 8 (28:05) you know a better way to keep a man on ice? A Speaker 3 (28:07) perfect wife, a little helpmate. Speaker 8 (28:08) Oh, shut up. Put him in the back Speaker 3 (28:10) seat. Now, just a moment, darling. I'm going to do it right this time. There'll be no slip-ups. You Speaker 8 (28:13) fool! Put that gun away! Why? Don't you realize if a bullet is found in the body, it won't be accidental death? Speaker 3 (28:19) Always so right, aren't you, darling? Speaker 8 (28:21) Only because you're so stupid. Speaker 3 (28:23) Stupid, am I? Who planned this whole thing? Speaker 8 (28:25) You did, and badly. If you'd handled it right in the first place, his body would be burned up by now, along with the car. Now put him in the back! His Speaker 2 (28:35) wife? But what... Why do they want to kill me? Why? Belden, pick me up. Throw me in the back of the car. Uh-huh. Hand me the wrench, Virginia. Speaker 5 (28:47) Stuart! Speaker 2 (28:51) This time, warm, black oblivion. After a second, the pain was gone. And so was I. Speaker 2 (29:12) consciousness returned in splotches. Speaker 8 (29:14) My head Speaker 2 (29:15) was like a short wave receiver, now static, now clear, now clear, now static now. Anything behind us? Speaker 8 (29:22) Nobody. Speaker 2 (29:23) We're almost there. Are Speaker 8 (29:24) you sure no one has discovered the car yet? Of Speaker 2 (29:26) course not. The way it's lying, nobody will see it till daylight. And then, Jay, Speaker 3 (29:30) Stuart Belden will be found dead, burned to an unrecognizable crisp. We can shake this place, go to South America. Speaker 8 (29:35) You can go. I have to stick around, remember, to collect the insurance and pretend I'm heartbroken you're dead. Speaker 3 (29:40) Will that be so hard? You didn't talk like this when you married me. But of course, there was a lot more money then. Speaker 8 (29:46) Yes, swindled from suckers. Speaker 3 (29:48) Since when have you become fussy about where money comes from? What's changed you, the schoolboy? Don't be a fool. All right, we've got to work fast. Give me a hand with him. Speaker 8 (29:56) Wait. Here comes a car. End Speaker 2 (30:02) of the line. But anyway, now I knew why. I was a stand-in for a corpse. Speaker 3 (30:10) as soon as I get him out of the car. All clear? Speaker 2 (30:12) Yes. This was it. They were on either side of me. I had to think, think straight. My body still felt numb. One chance, if only my muscles coordinated, I'd wait till he dragged me out of the car and then I'd fight. Virginia, get the gasoline