Man in the Middle
Lights Out 
Man in the Middle (After Five O'Clock)
Aug 25 1945 (Mar 06 1935)


CAST:
ANNOUNCER
JOHN, who THINKS to himself and SPEAKS to others
PATRICIA, his secretary
LUCILLE, his wife
TOM, Patricia's brother

NOTE: This is a transcript of a 25 August 1945 broadcast via the Armed Forces 
Radio Service. A version of this script was first broadcast on 6 March 1935 
under the title "After Five O'Clock."



ANNOUNCER: Lights out.

SOUND: EIGHT SLOW CHIMES ... WIND STARTS TO HOWL ON FOURTH CHIME ... THEN ALL 
OUT ... GONG!

JOHN: (THINKS TO HIMSELF, IN AN UNHAPPY MONOTONE) I wish I didn't have to 
stay here and work all day. I wish I could take a vacation and go to Bermuda 
or Nassau or Florida or somewhere. The grass is green in Bermuda. Green grass 
in March and the sky is blue instead of all gray and the sun is shining. I 
wish I was in Bermuda. I'm so tired and worried. Wish I had a big office with 
a nice davenport in it, so I could lie down and sleep whenever I wanted to. I 
won't get to to bed until all hours tonight. 

SOUND: OFFICE DOOR OPENS

JOHN: (THINKS) Here comes Patricia.

SOUND: PATRICIA'S STEPS IN ... DOOR SHUTS ... PATRICIA'S STEPS TO JOHN 
BEHIND--

JOHN: (THINKS) Pretty girl. Patricia's a pretty girl. If Lucille knew about 
Patricia, she'd probably divorce me. I wouldn't like that very well. I 
wouldn't like it at all.

PATRICIA: (SEXY) I brought in those letters, Johnny. The ones about the 
stamping machines.

JOHN: (SPEAKS OUT LOUD, FRIENDLY) Oh, thanks, honey. (THINKS) You've got too 
much lipstick on. I suppose I've got to kiss you.

PATRICIA: (BREATHLESS, BEING KISSED) Oh, don't, Johnny.

JOHN: (THINKS) That's the old stuff. If I didn't kiss you, you'd probably get 
sore. You're all right, Patricia, but I wish you wouldn't-- I don't know 
what I wish. I like to kiss you, but I don't like to have you expecting it 
all the time. (SPEAKS, LIGHTLY) Aw, come on. Give me just one little kiss, 
Pat. Come on.

PATRICIA: Oh, Johnny. Please.

JOHN: (CHUCKLES, SPEAKS) Come on, sweetheart. (PAUSE FOR KISS, THEN THINKS) 
Now, I suppose I've got lipstick all over me. Patricia, you've got too much 
perfume on and you know how I hate the stuff. And that green dress. I give 
you money to buy new clothes and you wear that dreadful green thing all the 
time. (SPEAKS, SWEETLY) Love me a little, Patsy?

PATRICIA: (SIGHS) I love you, Johnny. I do love you -- darling.

JOHN: (THINKS) Well, that's all right. Only don't love me too much, baby. If 
Lucille finds it out, she'll tear your hair out. She's tough, Lucille is. The 
time she slapped that Flynn gal at the club--

PATRICIA: Johnny, stop. You've got to get those letters signed. Go ahead and 
sign 'em.

JOHN: (SPEAKS, LIGHTLY) Oh, ho, there's no rush about the letters. (THINKS, 
GRIM) But there is a rush about them -- they've got to get off in the air 
mail.

PATRICIA: There is, too. They've got to go air mail to the coast tonight 
and I've got to get them ready for Harold to take to the post office. Now, 
you start signing 'em while I fix my face.

JOHN: (CHUCKLES, SPEAKS) Aw, Pat!

PATRICIA: Go ahead.

JOHN: (THINKS, ADMIRING) Smart girl. She'd like to neck, but she knows her 
business. She's all right. Yes, sir, she's all right. 

SOUND: SIGNS AND SHUFFLES LETTERS UNDER FOLLOWING

JOHN: (THINKS AS HE SIGNS) John R. Phillips. John R. Phillips. John R. 
Phillips. John R. Phillips. Phillips, Phillips -- I've got a funny name, 
Phillips. Nice signature. Wonder what a handwriting expert would say about 
it. Wish I could go to the coast along with these letters. Fly to the coast.

PATRICIA: I'll come in after five o'clock, shall I, Johnny?

JOHN: (SPEAKS, DISTRACTED) Uh, huh?

PATRICIA: I'll come in after five o'clock.

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Oh, swell. You bet. (THINKS, UNHAPPY) I wish you wouldn't come 
in after five o'clock. I get tired of this business, Patricia. I wish I could 
go down to the bar at five o'clock and have a drink. I'd have a Manhattan. 
And maybe I'd have another. And then I'd catch the 5:19 and go home and have 
dinner and read the paper and go to bed early. (SPEAKS, MATTER-OF-FACT) Well, 
they're all finished, darling.

PATRICIA: Aw, that's a good boy. You get one more kiss now for doing your 
work so nicely.

JOHN: (CHUCKLES, SPEAKS) Thank you, Patsy -- you sweet girl. (THINKS, UNHAPPY 
MONOTONE) I wish I was in Bermuda. I wish I didn't have to stay here. That 
perfume smells awful; I don't like it. I hope nobody opens the door suddenly. 
Hurry up, take the letters and go away. If Lucille should open that door and 
look in here, she'd scratch your eyes out, Patricia. Hurry up and get this 
kissing over with.

PATRICIA: (BREATHLESS, COMING OUT OF A KISS) Oh, you're so sweet, Johnny.

JOHN: (CHUCKLES, SPEAKS) You're pretty sweet yourself, Patsy. (THINKS, 
DISGUSTED) Stop calling me "Johnny" -- stop it. Don't call me "Johnny." 
"Phillips" is bad enough. "Johnny, Johnny" -- it sounds like a ten-year-old 
kid. Go on, take the letters and get out. Please, Patricia.

PATRICIA: (FADING) See you after five o'clock, darling.

JOHN: (SPEAKS, PLEASANTLY) Okay, darling.

SOUND: OFFICE DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS AS PATRICIA EXITS

JOHN: (THINKS) Wonder what time it is. I wish Patricia would leave me alone. 
I can't get any work done today. I wish I'd gone to bed early last night. I 
wish I could go to bed early tonight. There's that silly bridge party. I hate 
bridge. I wish I could play bridge real good so I could win a lot of money. 
How much money can you win playing bridge? I could go to Bermuda if I could 
play bridge good enough to make a lot of money at it.

SOUND: PHONE RINGS

JOHN: (THINKS) Why do people have to call me up on the telephone? I suppose 
it's somebody I don't want to talk to. Somebody I owe money to. Maybe it's 
Lucille. Maybe it's Keene Crockett. Maybe it's Frank Loughran. Maybe it's--

SOUND: RECEIVER UP

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Hello?

(THINKS) It's Lucille. What's she calling me up for?

(SPEAKS) Oh, hello, dear.

(THINKS) I wonder if she suspects anything about Patricia. I wonder if she--

(SPEAKS) Well, where have you been?

(THINKS) She never comes downtown suddenly like this.

(SPEAKS) Oh? Is that so? Well, how was the show?

(THINKS) You're a nice girl, Lucille. I like you. I love you, Lucille. I love 
you better than Patricia.

(SPEAKS) All right. What time?

(THINKS) If she comes up here to the office and runs into Patricia--

(SPEAKS) Half past five?

(THINKS) That'll give me time enough.

(LAUGHS, SPEAKS) I'll meet you, dear. Uh, where'll you be?

(THINKS) That's better. I can get out of the office. Too bad for you, 
Patricia.

(SPEAKS) All right, honey. Half past five at the Creon Bar. ... Okay. 
(CHUCKLES) Goodbye, darling.

SOUND: RECEIVER DOWN

JOHN: (THINKS) Still have time to neck with Patricia a few minutes before I 
go. That's all right. Yes, sir, that's all right. Be just too bad if Lucille 
came here. She wouldn't come here, though. She hasn't been in the office in 
six months. Or is it seven months? Six or seven months. She always calls up.

SOUND: DOOR OPENS ... TOM'S STEPS IN

JOHN: (THINKS) Who's this guy? 

SOUND: DOOR SHUTS

JOHN: (THINKS) His face is familiar. What's he doing here? Who is he? Who are 
ya, fella? What do you want in my office? How did you get in? (SPEAKS) Well, 
young man. Did you want to see me?

TOM: (FROM OFF) Are you John Phillips?

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Yes.

SOUND: TOM'S STEPS APPROACH BEHIND--

JOHN: (THINKS) Who are ya? The face is familiar. I don't know who you are. 
How did you get in here?

TOM: (IN CLOSE) I'm Patricia's brother.

JOHN: (THINKS, TENSE) Patricia's brother? Now, what's he going to do? He 
can't do anything. He doesn't know anything about Patricia, and me. He 
doesn't know. I didn't do anything. (SPEAKS, INGRATIATING) You're - 
Patricia's brother? Well, I--

TOM: I came here to tell ya that I want you to let her alone!

JOHN: (THINKS) Now I'm in for it. He's a big fellow. He'll probably beat me 
up and my name'll be in the paper. (SPEAKS, LIGHTLY) I'm-- (CHUCKLES) I'm 
afraid I don't understand, young man. I--

TOM: You understand all right, Mr. Phillips. I want you to let her alone.

JOHN: (THINKS) If he starts to hit me, I'll stab him with this paper knife. 
He could beat me. (SPEAKS, AWKWARD) Well, this is, uh-- I mean, Patricia is-- 
Well, what do you mean? (THINKS) I'm talking like a fool. I never could 
keep my head when I'm scared. He thinks I'm a fool. I am a fool.

TOM: You're - married, aren't you, Mr. Phillips?

JOHN: (THINKS) He knows all about me. He'll beat me up and he'll tell Lucille 
and-- (SPEAKS, PLEASANTLY) Well, yes, I'm married. Er, what about it? 
(THINKS) I'll pick up the paper knife.

TOM: I don't want any married men running around with my sister. And I'm man 
enough to stop it. Is that plain?

JOHN: (THINKS) Why, who do you think you are? You think you're going to talk 
to me like that? You don't know that I've got a gun in my desk. (SPEAKS) 
Well, I, uh-- (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) Well, you see, this is, er-- This is all 
very innocent, you know. Patricia and I-- Well, we--

TOM: I know. 

JOHN: (THINKS) Talking like a fool, like a fool, like a fool.

TOM: I'm just warning you, Mr. Phillips. I won't warn ya again. Just let me 
say this. I was welterweight champion of my brigade in the army. So -- take 
my advice and let Patricia alone.

JOHN: (THINKS) You'd better not make a pass at me. I'd shoot you. I'd kill 
you. I'm not going to be beaten up. (SPEAKS, AWKWARDLY) Well, I, er-- Of 
course, I, er-- I'm sorry, I-- (THINKS) Talking like a fool, a fool, a fool.

TOM: That's all. Don't forget.

SOUND: TOM'S STEPS TO DOOR, WHICH OPENS AND SLAMS SHUTS AS HE EXITS

JOHN: (THINKS) There isn't anything wrong between Patricia and me. There 
isn't anything wrong. I've just kissed her a few times. She's a nice girl. I 
wouldn't harm her. She likes me. We're perfectly innocent. He could beat me 
up without half trying. I'd kill him, though. I'd have to kill him. It would 
be self-defense. It would be. Of course it would. They wouldn't do anything 
to me. Why, you young punk, you've got a lot of nerve coming into my office 
like that and threatening me. I could have you arrested. I could call up 
Chief Ostrom and have you put in jail for threatening me. I'm John R. 
Phillips. Phillips. I know what I'll do.

SOUND: PHONE RECEIVER UP ... DIALS BEHIND--

JOHN: (THINKS) Coming into my office and threatening me -- when I haven't 
done a thing.

(SPEAKS, PLEASANTLY) Hello? Patricia?

(THINKS) Her brother. What do you know about that? Her brother. I didn't know 
she had a brother.

(SPEAKS) Uh, Patricia, did you, uh--? (CHUCKLES) Uh, did you see the visitor 
I just had?

(THINKS) Probably didn't see him. She wouldn't have let him come in.

(SPEAKS) Uh huh. Your brother.

(THINKS) Didn't know anything about it. I knew she didn't.

(SPEAKS) Well, he came in to tell me to, um - (CHUCKLES) - to let you alone.

(THINKS) I should have hit him. If I'd've hit him, he'd've prob'ly killed me.

(SPEAKS) No. No, I'm not kidding. He came in here and told me if I didn't let 
you alone, he'd - (CHUCKLES) - he'd beat me up.

(THINKS) He could do it, too. Only not if I got the gun first. I'd kill him. 
Sure, I'd kill him. Wonder what it's like to kill somebody. I wonder.

(SPEAKS) Well, I - just thought you'd like to know.

(THINKS) Never had anything like this happen to me in all my life. Notoriety.

(SPEAKS) Well, never mind. Do you love me?

(THINKS) I'm an idiot for keeping on with her. I'll get myself in a jam that 
I can't get out of.

(SPEAKS) Okay. After five o'clock.

(THINKS) After five o'clock. After five o'clock, he'll probably be waiting 
for her outside or maybe he'll come up here. I have to get away quick, too, 
so I can meet Lucille after five o'clock. After five o'clock. After five 
o'clock.

SOUND: GONG! ... THEN, CLOCK CHIMES FIVE O'CLOCK

JOHN: (THINKS) Five o'clock. Seems so long till five o'clock. Another day 
finished. I wish Patricia would hurry. I have to get away. I can't make 
Lucille wait. She'll be suspicious. I wish she wasn't so suspicious always. I 
wonder if that brother of Patricia's is still outside. I wish she'd come in.

SOUND: DOOR OPENS AND PATRICIA'S STEPS IN ... DOOR SHUTS AND PATRICIA'S STEPS 
APPROACH BEHIND--

JOHN: (THINKS) Here she comes now. What do I see in her? She's beautiful, but 
I'd hate to be married to her. (SPEAKS) Hello, Patsy. (THINKS) The way she 
eats ice cream. She licks it off the spoon. It makes me sick.

PATRICIA: (WORRIED) Oh, Johnny! What in the world did Tom say?

JOHN: (THINKS) He said plenty. He scared me to death. (SPEAKS) Tom? Who - 
who's Tom? Oh - (LIGHTLY) Oh, your brother. Why, er-- Why, he said, uh, I had 
to let you alone. That's all.

PATRICIA: He did? Oh, Johnny! Did he threaten you?

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Well, he warned me that he'd been welterweight champion of 
the, er, of something or other. (THINKS) He said he was welterweight champion 
of his brigade. How big is a brigade?

PATRICIA: Oh, Johnny, he's terrible. He'd beat a man just awfully -- just 
because the man spoke to me in the streetcar.

JOHN: (THINKS) Well, he won't beat me -- not if I can get to my gun. I guess 
I'll carry the gun with me in my pocket. (SPEAKS, CAREFULLY) Well, uh, do you 
want me to let you alone, darling?

PATRICIA: (HOW COULD YOU ASK THAT?) Oh, Johnny.

JOHN: (THINKS) I wish you'd say yes. I wish you'd say, "Yes, let me alone 
forever." I wish you'd-- (SPEAKS) Well , Patsy?

PATRICIA: (STARTS CRYING) Oh-- Oh, Johnny. (CONTINUES TO WEEP UNDER THE 
FOLLOWING--)

JOHN: (THINKS, DISGUSTED) Cut out that bawling. You look terrible when you 
bawl. Your face is all screwed up. You make a terrible face. Cut it out. You 
look terrible.

(SPEAKS, SOOTHING) Don't cry, sweetheart. Please don't cry, honey.

(THINKS, DISGUSTED) Bawling like a kid. Making awful faces. Your mouth open. 
Looks awful. Women look terrible when they bawl. I wish I'd never seen you. 
Patricia, stop bawling.

(SPEAKS, SOOTHING) Don't cry, honey. It's all right. I - I guess I'd better 
let you alone, Patricia, after all. I've - I've got no business loving you 
and - going on this way, I-- Well, I'm - just a fool, I guess. I--

(THINKS) That's a good line. Only trouble is, it makes her bawl even more. 
Will you pipe down? Will you stop that? Shut up. Stop bawling, Patricia. If 
your brother comes in here now--

PATRICIA: (DURING ABOVE, HER WEEPING HAS GROWN LOUDER) John, I love you so. 
I - I can't give you up.

JOHN: (THINKS) That's just fine. Only, baby, you'd better give me up 'cause 
it's going to get me in a jam. I know it is. (SPEAKS, SOOTHING) There, there, 
Patsy darling. Stop crying now and kiss me. Come on. Kiss me.

PATRICIA: (STOPS WEEPING, LOVINGLY) Oh, Johnny.

JOHN: (THINKS) Why do I do these dumb things? Why don't I say, "Go on, get 
out, let me alone"? I don't want to get beaten up. I don't care about you, 
Patricia. I really love Lucille. But you're pretty nice and you kiss nice. 
Only you're getting lipstick all over me.

14:01

PATRICIA: Oh, Johnny, please-- Please don't give me up, will you, Johnny? I 
love you, Johnny.

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Oh, darling. (THINKS, DISGUSTED) "Johnny, Johnny," I wish 
you'd stop calling me "Johnny." I wish you'd go. I have to go and meet 
Lucille.

PATRICIA: If Tom beat you up, I don't know what I'll do, Johnny.

JOHN: (SPEAKS, REASSURING) He isn't gonna beat me up, sweetheart. Don't you 
worry. Now kiss me.

(THINKS) I hope he won't beat me up. I guess I can ease out of this somehow. 
I don't know how, but I'll ease out of it. Patricia, you're all right, but 
I'm not going to play around with any girl with a tough brother, no sir. Not 
me.

(SPEAKS) Kiss me again, Patsy darling. I love you.

(THINKS) Now, why did I say I love her? I'm crazy, I'm a fool. I didn't mean 
to say that. I didn't want to say "I love you." I don't love you. You're 
nice, but I don't love you. I don't. I love Lucille. Lucille is probably 
waiting for me right now.

PATRICIA: (RELIEVED) Oh, Johnny. I love you, too.

JOHN: (THINKS) A fine mess now. I don't love you. I kinda feel sorry for ya, 
but I don't love you. I don't love you, Patricia. It would be a terrible 
thing being married to you. And the next thing, you'll start talking about 
divorcing Lucille and I won't, I won't; I love Lucille.

SOUND: DOOR SLOWLY OPENS

JOHN: (THINKS) The door's opening. Who is it? It's-- It's Lucille.

SOUND: LUCILLE'S SLOW STEPS IN

LUCILLE: (OFF, UNSURPRISED, IRONIC) Well -- !

PATRICIA: (GASPS)

SOUND: DOOR SHUTS

LUCILLE: (OFF) A very pretty little tableau indeed.

SOUND: LUCILLE'S SLOW STEPS TO JOHN BEHIND--

JOHN: (THINKS) Now, I'm in a fix. What'll I do? I can't explain to Lucille 
that I don't love Patricia, I can't. What will I do? Oh, God help me. Please, 
God, help me. Help me get out of this. Help--

LUCILLE: (ICILY) Who is this woman, John?

JOHN: (THINKS) The way she said "woman"! (SPEAKS, AN AWKWARD INTRODUCTION) 
Why, er-- Why, Miss, er, er, er, Miss Parmelee, er, Mrs. Phillips. (THINKS) 
I'm a fool. Introducing them as though they were at a party. Fool.

LUCILLE: Perhaps you can explain what this is all about, John?

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Well, uh, Lucille, er-- Well, you see, uh, I -- Miss Parmelee 
and--

PATRICIA: I - I think I can explain, Mrs. Phillips.

LUCILLE: Well?

PATRICIA: I-- (EXHALES, SIMPLY) I love Johnny. That's all.

JOHN: (THINKS) She said she loves me. Now what can I do? Lucille -- believe 
me, please -- I don't love her. I don't. Oh, God, please help me out of this.

LUCILLE: How very interesting. And Johnny loves you, I take it?

JOHN: (THINKS) No, I don't. No, I don't. No, I don't love her. I love you, 
Lucille.

PATRICIA: Yes. He loves me, too.

JOHN: (THINKS) I do not. I do not love you. I love Lucille.

LUCILLE: Is this true, John?

JOHN: (SPEAKS) I, er-- I-- Yes. I - love her, Lucille. (THINKS) I do not, I 
do not. I lied. I'm a fool. Why did I say that?

LUCILLE: You really love this - this little tramp, John?

PATRICIA: (OFFENDED) Who are you calling a tramp? You can't--

LUCILLE: I called you a tramp, young woman.

PATRICIA: Well, I'll scratch your eyes out!

SOUND: NOISY CATFIGHT ... THEN IN BG

JOHN: (THINKS) Now, they're fighting. Oh, Lucille, [?]. She got me into this 
mess. Oh, stop! (SPEAKS) Stop it! Lucille! Patricia! Stop it! Stop it, I say! 

SOUND: CATFIGHT ENDS

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Now, stop this, both of you! Lucille! Let go of her, Patricia. 

PATRICIA: (SOBS)

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Now, sit down here, both of you. Won't do either of you any 
good to act--

PATRICIA: John, my dress is all torn.

JOHN: (THINKS) That dreadful green dress. I'm glad it's torn. Lucille beat 
you up pretty well. Lucille's a good scrapper. Nice work, Lucille. (SPEAKS, 
SOOTHING) It's all right, darling. Now, now, sit down here. (THINKS) 
"Darling" -- I'm a fool. I don't love you. I don't, I don't.

LUCILLE: I'm sorry I lost my temper, Miss Parmelee. I'm sorry.

PATRICIA: (SAVAGE) I hate you.

JOHN: (THINKS) You shut up. Don't you talk to Lucille that way. (SPEAKS, 
TRIES TO BE REASONABLE) Now, Patricia, darling, please--

PATRICIA: Oh, John, I--

LUCILLE: John, how long has this been going on?

PATRICIA: (PROUD) It's been going on for a long time. We love each other.

JOHN: (THINKS) We do not. She just thinks she loves me and I don't love her 
at all. I don't, Lucille. I don't.

LUCILLE: Oh, I see.

JOHN: (THINKS) No, you don't see, Lucille. You don't see.

LUCILLE: I suppose you want me to divorce John, then, so - you and he can be 
married?

JOHN: (THINKS) Oh, Lucille, don't divorce me. What'll I do without you? 
What'll I do? Please, Lucille. Don't divorce me. Why, I love you, Lucille. We 
love each other.

LUCILLE: Is that right, miss?

PATRICIA: Yes, that's right.

JOHN: (THINKS) Don't listen to her, Lucille. Don't listen to her, please. 
Don't listen to her, Lucille. I don't want to marry her.

LUCILLE: What do you think, John?

JOHN: (THINKS) I don't want a divorce, Lucille. I don't want anything but 
you. Oh, no, Lucille. Please, Lucille. Don't--

(SPEAKS) I, er, well, it's - it's up to you, Lucille.

(THINKS) Why did I say that? Why did I--? No, no, don't divorce me, Lucille. 
I can't live without you. I'll die, Lucille. I'll die without you. If I could 
only explain--

SOUND: KNOCK AT THE DOOR

JOHN: (THINKS) Who's that? I bet it's her brother. I knew he'd come up here. 
Oh, why did this have to happen to me? Oh, go away. Please go away.

SOUND: KNOCK AT THE DOOR

LUCILLE: You'd better go to the door, John.

JOHN: (THINKS) I can't go to the door, Lucille. I can't. Oh, Lucille. I love 
you.

SOUND: JOHN'S RELUCTANT FOOTSTEPS TO DOOR, DOOR OPENS

TOM: Is Patricia here?

JOHN: (THINKS) I knew he'd come. I knew it. Now, he's going to start all over 
again. What can I do? What can I do? (SPEAKS, AWKWARD) Yes. Uh, she's here. 
Uh, come in.

SOUND: TOM'S STEPS IN ... DOOR SHUTS ... TOM'S STEPS TO PATRICIA BEHIND--

TOM: Patricia? I've come to take you home.

JOHN: (THINKS) If she'll only go with him. If she'll just go with him and go 
away from here.

PATRICIA: (DEFIANT) I won't go with you, Tom.

JOHN: (THINKS) Go with him, Patricia, and never come back.

LUCILLE: And who is this, may I ask?

TOM: I'm Patricia's brother. I don't know who you are.

LUCILLE: I - I'm Mrs. Phillips.

TOM: (SPEAKS INDECIPHERABLY TO LUCILLE BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) Now he'll tell her that he came up here to warn me this 
afternoon. It'll be worse than ever. Oh, why did this have to happen to me? 
Oh, why? Why? Why did it?

TOM: You seem to have stepped in on a very pleasant little scene, Mrs. 
Phillips. You have my sympathy.

LUCILLE: Thank you. You knew about this, I take it?

TOM: Yes. Come on, Patricia.

LUCILLE: I think Patricia prefers to remain here.

JOHN: (THINKS) Oh, Lucille. Please, Lucille, don't. I love you, Lucille. Let 
him take her. Go on. Get out. Get out, both of you. Get out.

TOM: Patricia. We're getting out of this. We're going home.

PATRICIA: No, I'm going to stay right here. You can't make me go, Tom.

JOHN: (THINKS) Yes, you can. You're her brother. Make her go. I'll go crazy, 
I'll go crazy, I know I will. I can't stand this. I can't. Oh, please, make 
her go.

TOM: Mrs. Phillips, I - I'm sorry. My sister-- (SPEAKS INDECIPHERABLY TO 
LUCILLE BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) Go on, take her. Make her go with you. Make her go. Make her 
go. Please take her away. Please do. Lucille, make him take her away. Make 
him take her.

LUCILLE: (SYMPATHETIC) I know. It's all right. Only - it seems to be rather 
complicated.

TOM: (INSISTS) Come on, Patricia.

PATRICIA: You let me alone.

JOHN: (THINKS) I won't, I won't do it. Take her away. Make her go with you. 
Go on. (SPEAKS, AWKWARD) Uh, let her alone, uh, Tom.

TOM: Phillips, I don't know why I don't beat you within an inch of your 
worthless life.

JOHN: (THINKS) You make a move, I'll get the pistol out of the desk and kill 
you. I'll kill you -- all of you. You and your sister and Lucille and myself. 
I'll kill you all.

LUCILLE: (REASONABLE) Tom, I don't think that would do a great deal of good.

TOM: No, I - I suppose it wouldn't.

LUCILLE: Well, John, we might as well talk this out. No use going insane -- 
as we did a few moments ago. There must be a way out. Sit down.

JOHN: (THINKS) Oh, Lucille, if I could only explain to you, if I could only 
tell you but you wouldn't believe me, I can't tell you.

PATRICIA: I don't think there's anything to talk about. You'll simply have to 
divorce him.

JOHN: (THINKS) No, no, no, Lucille, don't listen to her. I don't want to 
marry her, I don't want her.

LUCILLE: Sit down, John.

JOHN: (THINKS) Oh, Lucille, you've always helped me. Please, get me out of 
this. Please, Lucille. I love you. Please get me out of it. Dear God, please 
help Lucille get me out of this, please, God.

LUCILLE: Now, Miss, uh - Parmelee, is it? You're sure you want John badly 
enough to take him away from me? 

PATRICIA AND LUCILLE: (ARGUE INDECIPHERABLY BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) She can't have me, Lucille. She can't have me. If you divorce 
me, Lucille, I'll kill myself. I will. I'll die. I can't live without you, 
Lucille. Oh, Lucille, you know me so well. You love me, Lucille. This girl is 
nothing to me. Lucille, don't forget me. Lucille, don't forget how we loved 
each other all the time in school.

PATRICIA: (INSISTS) I'm perfectly sure. You've got to divorce him.

PATRICIA AND LUCILLE: (ARGUE INDECIPHERABLY IN BG--)

JOHN: (THINKS) You won't let me go, Lucille. You won't just throw me away. I 
wish I had a cigarette. Where are the cigarettes? They're in the desk drawer.

SOUND: DESK DRAWER OPENS

JOHN: (THINKS) Cigarettes. (SEES SOMETHING) Oh. There's the pistol. Lucille, 
if you throw me away, if you divorce me, you'll kill me. I'll take the pistol 
and blow my brains out. 

SOUND: DRAWER SHUTS

JOHN: (THINKS) I wonder what it feels like to blow my brains out, I wonder. 
I'll find out if you let me go, Lucille. I'll kill myself. I will, I will.

PATRICIA AND LUCILLE: (STOP ARGUING)

TOM: Mrs. Phillips? Patricia's too young to know exactly what she does 
want. She's a flighty kid. She doesn't really love your husband. He's just-- 
Well, fascinating to her because-- Well, he's a successful businessman and--
(CONTINUES INDECIPHERABLY BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) "Successful businessman"? If this gets into the papers, I 
won't be a "successful businessman," I'll be a fool. I am a fool! A fool. 
Oh, why did this have to happen to me? It can't happen to me. It's a dream.

PATRICIA: I don't care what Tom says about me, Mrs. Phillips. He thinks I'm 
just a baby, but I'm old enough to know my own mind! (CONTINUES 
INDECIPHERABLY BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) You're a fool, too, Patricia. We're all fools. Fools. I don't 
want you. Oh, Lucille, look at me. Lucille, please look at me. I love you, 
Lucille. If you'll just look at me, you'll know I love you. Please, Lucille.

LUCILLE: John isn't the easiest person in the world to get along with, young 
woman. (CONTINUES INDECIPHERABLY BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) You got along with me, Lucille. I know I'm hard to get along 
with, I'm crazy and I'm a fool, but you love me. You loved me enough to fight 
over me. You got along with me. You're the wisest person in the world. You 
love me, Lucille.

PATRICIA: I don't care! I love him and I'm going to marry him! 

PATRICIA AND LUCILLE: (ARGUE INDECIPHERABLY BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) No, you're not. If Lucille won't have me, I'll - I'll - I'll 
kill myself. I'll kill myself with the pistol that's right here in the desk 
drawer. I will. I will.

LUCILLE: Well, let's ask John about it. John, do you--? Do you really and 
truly love this girl?

JOHN: (THINKS) No, no, no, I don't love her, Lucille. I don't love her. I 
don't, I say, Lucille. I love you, you, you, you.

LUCILLE: John?

JOHN: (SPEAKS, AWKWARD) I, er-- I--

PATRICIA: Of course you love me, Johnny darling.

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Why, yes. I-- (THINKS) I said it again. Something's wrong in 
my head. I can't think. I don't know what it is. I guess I'm going crazy. Oh, 
what have I done? I've lost you, Lucille. I've lost you, dearest. (SPEAKS) 
Lucille, I-- I-- (THINKS) I can't talk. I'm crazy. My head is all wrong. I 
don't know what's the matter with me. Lucille, if you could only see my 
thoughts, if you only could know how I love you. I can't stand this. I can't, 
I can't.

TOM: This is all very painful, Mrs. Phillips. (CONTINUES INDECIPHERABLY 
BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) If you'd only take your sister and take her away from here and 
let me talk to Lucille, I could make Lucille understand. Oh, Lucille, don't 
look at me like that. Lucille, if you'd only come over here to me, and put 
your hand on my shoulder, everything would be all right. You'd understand. 
(SPEAKS) Patricia, I - I -

PATRICIA: Oh, Johnny, darling.

TOM: Sit down, Patricia.

JOHN: (THINKS) That's right, make her sit down. She's a fool, she's a fool. 
Oh, what am I going to do? What can I do? What, Lucille dearest, what?

LUCILLE: Miss Parmelee, I - I love John a great deal. (CONTINUES 
INDECIPHERABLY BEHIND JOHN--)

JOHN: (THINKS) Oh, Lucille. You do love me. You love me. You don't want to 
lose me. I know what you're thinking. Lucille, you won't give me up, because 
you love me. You want me to be happy. Oh, Lucille, I've never been good 
enough for you. You're the most wonderful woman in the world. I love you, 
Lucille, I love you.

LUCILLE: But I - I'm afraid I love him a great deal yet.

JOHN: (THINKS) Lucille. Lucille, darling. Why can't we end all this business 
and [?] and go home? We're going to play bridge tonight. Come on, let's play 
bridge. [?] It's like a play. Take Patricia out of here, Tom. Take her away.

PATRICIA: I know, I'm sorry. I can't help loving him, Mrs. Phillips. It's 
terrible, I know, but -- I do love him.

JOHN: (THINKS) Oh, God. Oh, God. What will I do? What can I do?

LUCILLE: (GENTLY) I know, my dear. (RESIGNED) Well, John, I suppose we could 
see Carl Beldie about the divorce. I'm - I'm sorry it had to be this way.

JOHN: (SPEAKS) Lucille-- 

(THINKS) Lucille, you can't do this, you can't. You can't, you can't. You're 
not going to let me go. You're not going to divorce me.

(SPEAKS) Lucille, I - I -

(THINKS) Lucille, I'll kill myself. The gun is right here in the drawer. I'll 
shoot myself. I've got to, Lucille. I won't let you go. No, no, no, I won't, 
Lucille.

(SPEAKS, VOICE WAVERS) Lucille, I - I -

(THINKS) I'll kill myself, Lucille. Oh, Lucille, don't you see? I love you.

SOUND: DRAWER OPENS ... SCRAPE OF GUN AS IT'S RAISED

JOHN: (THINKS) It's no use. The gun is [here?] I'm afraid to. I'm afraid to 
die. But I can't go on living without you. I can't. I can't.

TOM: Put down that gun!

JOHN: (THINKS) No, no, I won't, Tom. Goodbye, Lucille, goodbye.

SOUND: GUNSHOT!

PATRICIA: (SCREAMS)

LUCILLE: (GASPS)

SOUND: BODY FALLS TO FLOOR

JOHN: (THINKS) I've done it. I don't feel any different. Blood. All over. 

(AFTER A PAUSE, REALIZES, SPEAKS, FILTERED VOICE) I'm dead. I'm dead. 
(DESPAIRINGLY) Oh, Lucille. Lucille. I love you, Lucille. I'll love you 
always, Lucille.

PATRICIA: (WEEPS) Oh, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny! (GASPS, THEN ANGRILY, TO 
LUCILLE) You! You!

TOM: Patricia! Pat! No!

PATRICIA: (HYSTERICAL) He did it because of you, Mrs. Phillips! [?]

SOUND: GUNSHOT!

JOHN: (AFTER A PAUSE, FILTERED, LOVINGLY) Oh, Lucille. Where did you come 
from, Lucille? Oh, [?] I love you.

LUCILLE: (FILTERED, TENDERLY) I know you love me, John. I love you. 
That's why I had to give you up. I love you, John. I love you.

JOHN: (FILTERED, HAPPY) We'll always be together. Won't we, Lucille?

PATRICIA: (IN DESPAIR) Oh, Johnny-- Johnny, I can't go on without you. 
(WEEPS) Oh, Johnny darling. Johnny-- Johnny--

TOM: Pat. Pat, please. (URGENTLY) No, Pat, don't!

PATRICIA: Goodbye, Tom, I'm - I'm sorry it's such a mess.

SOUND: GUNSHOT!

TOM: Pat!

JOHN: (FILTERED, GENUINELY) Lucille, I love you - love you, love you. I will 
never love anybody but you.

PATRICIA: (FILTERED, DREAMILY) Johnny? I'm here. I'm with you, Johnny. I love 
you. I love you!

JOHN: (FILTERED) Oh, no! Patricia! (IN DESPAIR) Lucille? Where are you, 
Lucille? Now I've got to start all over again! All over again. Over again. 
(FADES)

SOUND: GONG!

JOHN: (MUMBLES IN HIS SLEEP) Over again.

LUCILLE: John? John, dear? Aren't you going to wake up?

JOHN: (AWAKENS) What? Hey -- where am I?

LUCILLE: (CHUCKLES) You're in bed, darling.

JOHN: Huh? 

LUCILLE: Where'd you think you were?

JOHN: Oh. Ooh, I don't know. I - guess I was dreaming. (URGENTLY) Is it - is 
it really you, Lucille? You're - you're really here? There's - there's nobody 
with ya?

LUCILLE: (LAUGHS, AMUSED) Of course not, silly. Who in the world would be 
with me? Hurry up now and get dressed. I'll have your breakfast ready.

JOHN: Oh, yeah - (CHUCKLES) - breakfast.

LUCILLE: Scrambled eggs and bacon, too. Oh, don't you go back to sleep now. 
You'll be an hour late getting to the office as it is. 

JOHN: (CHUCKLES)

SOUND: DOOR OPENS ... LUCILLE'S STEPS AWAY

LUCILLE: (EXITING) I'll see you downstairs, dear.

JOHN: (CHUCKLES) All right, honey.

SOUND: DOOR SHUTS

JOHN: (TO HIMSELF) Whew! Oh, boy. What a dream. 

SOUND: RECEIVER UP ... DIALS PHONE

JOHN: Hello, uh, this is John Phillips. Will you connect me with my 
secretary, please? (PAUSE, CLEARS THROAT) Hello, Patricia? Uh, this is Mr. 
Phillips. ... No. Not "Johnny" -- MISTER Phillips. I won't be down to the 
office today, but in the meantime -- I want you to go to the cashier and get 
your check! You're FIRED!

SOUND: GONG!

MUSIC: ORGAN THEME FOR FINISH ... THEN IN BG, UNTIL THE END

ANNOUNCER: This is the Armed Forces Radio Service.

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