The Clock Bad Dreams

Air Date April 25 1948  

Transcript

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SPEAKER_02 0:05

In just a moment, you will hear The Clock, presenting, transcribed the premiere of a new thrill drama by Lucille Fletcher, the author of Sorry Wrong Number, and other noted studies in suspense. Listen now to The Clock. The American Broadcasting Company presents another in a series of dramatic programs, The Clock. From Hollywood, the clock tonight stars two distinguished players, Elliot Lewis and Jeanette Nolan. And it's produced and directed by Radio's master of the art of suspense, William Speer.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Sunrise and sunset, promise and fulfillment, birth and death. The whole drama of life is written in the sands of time. Clocks. All over the city, clocks. Little clocks and big ones, new ones just learning to count. Old ones, hold hands of the game. Clocks standing aloof from their owners, taking no part in their joys and sorrows. Their faces immutable and pervious. All over the city, the clocking needles, sewing the fabric of life, and the death, which must make room for new life. Stitching time the clock, whose face shows no anger, or delight, or surprise. Because time sees all things. From the two-room walk-up flat on the lower 3rd Avenue, New York, where Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Boschniak live over a second-hand clothing store. You can hear if the 3rd Avenue elevator isn't going by the chimes of the huge clock atop the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company building.

SPEAKER_05 2:10

Good morning, Charlotte. I'm so sorry to be so late, but I overslept myself. I was dreaming.

SPEAKER_08 2:17

Breakfast is over two hours ago? Everything is for the way.

SPEAKER_05 2:21

So so, of course. But perhaps there's some coffee.

SPEAKER_08 2:24

I don't keep stale coffee standing around all day. If you want, you can make some for yourself.

SPEAKER_05 2:30

Thank you, Charlotte. Such a dream I had. There's my headache. Do I feel depressed? Is there by any chance a piece of coffee cake in the house?

SPEAKER_08 2:43

No. Uncle McWosh came by this morning.

SPEAKER_05 2:47

Oh, McWosh? What do you want?

SPEAKER_08 2:49

He wants you to come down and make fresh potato salad? The boy from the high school didn't come.

SPEAKER_05 2:54

But I thought it was my day off. Right, all right, Charlotte. I will go. Just as soon as I have my coffee. Oh, what a dream. What a terrible dream. Cannot seem to get it out of my head. Do you know what I was dreaming, Charles? Who cares? I dreamed I was being electrocuted. Electrocuted, Charles? Isn't that terrible?

SPEAKER_08 3:18

The water's boiling.

SPEAKER_05 3:19

And it was so real, too. I was in a cell, a real cell in a prison. White, glaring white, like a bathroom. I was lying on a cart with my hands behind my head. When suddenly I heard these footsteps outside the door. Then I jumped up like a madman. And it came over me that the footsteps were my jailers. They were coming for me. To kill me. I was condemned to die.

SPEAKER_08 3:46

Will you hurry? Drink your coffee. I told them you'd be right down.

SPEAKER_05 3:50

Oh, yeah, but the coffee's so hot. That's the cup for you, Joe.

SPEAKER_08 3:53

No.

SPEAKER_05 3:54

And then these guards came into my cell and dragged me from the bars. There were four guards in gray uniforms. There was also a tin priest. Now, everything was very quiet. All the other prisoners shut up. They watched me from behind their cell doors. I could feel their eyes burning at me. I could hear my feet shuffle, shuffle along the floor. I felt so weak.

SPEAKER_08 4:20

No, you don't have another cup. Give me that pot.

SPEAKER_05 4:22

But but it would help clear my head a little. After a dream like that.

SPEAKER_08 4:27

Get your clothes on. That will clear your head.

SPEAKER_05 4:29

In a minute, in a minute. I'm just trying to remember.

SPEAKER_08 4:34

Remember what?

SPEAKER_05 4:36

Why they were electrocuting me. What I had done.

SPEAKER_08 4:40

Oh, what an idiot. He worries about his dream.

SPEAKER_05 4:44

Ah, yeah, yeah. I suppose it's silly. But that is the trouble with dreams. They tell you one little thing, and it is so real. But the rest of the story, they keep it to themselves.

SPEAKER_08 4:57

But are you going to stand around here talking all day?

SPEAKER_05 5:00

No, no, I was just gone. I'll be right down. Charlotte? Charlotte? I don't want to disturb you, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_08 5:27

You can't come in. I'm scrubbing this kitchen, and I don't want you making tracks across my.

SPEAKER_05 5:32

No, Charlotte. I wouldn't want to mark your nice, clean call. It's only my coffee.

SPEAKER_08 5:36

Go down to the drugstore for your coffee.

SPEAKER_05 5:39

It's closed on Sundays.

SPEAKER_08 5:41

So? I told you when we were having breakfast.

SPEAKER_05 5:44

I know, but eight o'clock. It's such an early hour for Sunday. And Uncle Niklosh kept the stalting last night till eleven.

SPEAKER_08 5:52

You didn't come home last night at eleven.

SPEAKER_05 5:55

A little glass of beer at Kleinman's.

SPEAKER_08 5:58

Huh?

SPEAKER_05 5:58

Would you begrudge me that after I was on my feet till eleven o'clock at night? Please, Charlie. I don't feel so good this morning, either.

SPEAKER_08 6:07

Naturally? After Kleinman?

SPEAKER_05 6:09

Not sleeping so good, not all week. Having those same bad dreams. Yeah, oh, they son excuse. But it's true. Do you remember? I told you I dreamed I was electrocuted. I was in that cell. Well, every night now, for a week. I have been dreaming about that cell. Oh, what? And in one corner there's a bed. Who magazines? The Look magazine and the Hungarian Weekly. I can see them just as clear as if they were in this kitchen.

SPEAKER_08 6:38

Now move those chairs out of the way. I want to scrub under the table.

SPEAKER_05 6:41

Don't. Don't you think that's very clear, Charlotte?

SPEAKER_08 6:44

What's clear?

SPEAKER_05 6:45

To dream all that.

SPEAKER_08 6:47

Every night. Ah, who cares about dreams? They're on the junk in your head.

SPEAKER_05 6:51

Ah, but it is very clear, just the same. To be there night after night. Oh, yes. Last night. Uncle Mikwash was there, too.

SPEAKER_07 7:05

Huh? What?

SPEAKER_05 7:07

I mean, in the dream. He came to see me and myself. Wasn't that clear?

SPEAKER_08 7:13

I don't say anything so queer about that.

SPEAKER_05 7:16

Can you imagine Uncle Miklosh giving me anything?

SPEAKER_08 7:20

That's a fine thing to say. Who brought you to America? Who gave you the job in the delicatessen?

SPEAKER_05 7:25

I don't mean that way, Charlotte. I meant. What did you mean? I meant. Well, Uncle Miklosh is always so careful with food in the delicatessen. But but in the dream. It was a very nice roast chicken in the dream. With plenty of breast and stuffing. And Uncle Miklosh even had a bottle opener in his basket to open up the schnaps. He kept telling me to eat. Eat! Eat, Bella. He kept saying, Stuff yourself. I can hear how he said it. You only got another month to live. Maybe. Maybe I should go to see a doctor. Huh? He should give me a thorough check up.

SPEAKER_08 8:11

Maybe you should go to a fortune teller, too. There's lots of places you'll be glad to take your money. If you only got the money. Might be a good idea. Only you don't got the money.

SPEAKER_05 8:21

But, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_06 8:22

Will you kiss your tiny feet out my night screen door?

SPEAKER_05 8:27

I'm sorry, Charlotte. I don't wipe it off.

SPEAKER_08 8:29

Oh. Get out, will you? Go down to the drugstore and get yourself some puppy.

SPEAKER_06 8:57

Bella! Bella? Bella, what's going on? Bella!

SPEAKER_08 9:05

Wake up! What are you sleeping here for by the radio in the middle of the afternoon yet?

SPEAKER_05 9:10

Well, what time is it?

SPEAKER_08 9:11

Four o'clock? Why aren't you in the store?

SPEAKER_05 9:15

I just came up here for a nap.

SPEAKER_08 9:17

A nap?

SPEAKER_05 9:18

In the middle of the day? Where is Uncle Nicolash? Uncle Miklosh went out. There was no customers. I was very tired. But if it is four o'clock, Uncle Mikwash was coming back at three.

SPEAKER_08 9:29

So, Uncle Miklosh was coming back at three? Now you're in a fine mess. A fine nice mess.

SPEAKER_05 9:35

Maybe he's not back yet.

SPEAKER_08 9:38

And what's this bottle of beer doing under the sofa?

SPEAKER_01 9:42

What bottle of beer?

SPEAKER_08 9:43

So why you were so tired? Why you didn't hear me? Why the radio was playing so loud I could hear it halfway down the street?

SPEAKER_05 9:51

Oh, please, Charlotte. It was so hot. And I wasn't really drunk. I was only asleep. I was having a terrible nightmare. Where did you get this bottle?

SPEAKER_08 10:04

From Kleinman's? Or from Uncle McLaur's store? From the store.

SPEAKER_05 10:09

I will pay him back, Charlotte. Listen to my heart. How it's still pounding. How can a man wake up quickly when he's dreaming he's on trial for his life? Think of it. A thousand people looking at you, and the judge with his black cap on, and the jury standing there, and then one of them getting up and pointing. Can you hear the words? Clear. Clear. Guilty! Bela Bozniak is guilty and is condemned to death.

SPEAKER_08 10:36

How many times do I have to tell you never to touch anything in that star? That belongs to Uncle Nikolash.

SPEAKER_05 10:42

Why should they say I am guilty?

SPEAKER_08 10:45

Because you are! You are guilty of stealing Uncle Nikosh's bottle of beer and cheating on your time in that star. Like a millionaire! And how do I know about other things you are guilty of? Maybe you steal from the cash register. Who knows? Maybe you stop yourself full of blood wash and pickles, and Uncle Niklosh is not looking. Maybe you install the document. I know what I hear from Uncle Miklosh.

SPEAKER_05 11:17

What do you hear from Uncle Miklos?

SPEAKER_08 11:21

Lots of things. That's all I got to say to you, Bella Bosniakis. You better watch your step from now on. You better behave yourself.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

Why?

unknown 11:37

You hide me.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

It's no use, Charlotte. It's no use. I got to see a doctor or something.

SPEAKER_08 12:01

Oh, get out of that lazy good for nothing.

SPEAKER_05 12:04

I'm really sick. I must have a growth in my brain.

SPEAKER_08 12:08

Yeah, there's always something the matter with you, Ben. It comes time for you.

SPEAKER_05 12:11

He keeps on dreaming the same dream night after night. Nobody. With a normal mind in his head. Keep quiet. I don't want to hear about your dreams. Always, always I got this terrible guilt in me, like a pain. All night long. I'm running away. I'm hiding from people who are trying to catch me.

SPEAKER_08 12:30

No! So why do you run? Why don't you get caught?

SPEAKER_05 12:38

I am on the streetcar, riding under the L down Third Avenue. There are lots of people. I'm squeezing myself tied up against the window, turning my face out. So no one will recognize me. I am pulling my coat colour up around my face. And my cap down over my eyes. I am wearing dark glasses. I am running along the light to the bridge. It's still a bright, glaring day.

SPEAKER_04 12:59

I am like a little black snake on the big steel bridge. And over my head, they are looking at me from every place.

SPEAKER_05 13:08

And under the bridge, they are watching me from boats. The automobiles are racing after me, honking their horns. At the end of the bridge, I see the man at the toll gate waiting to stop me. He's a tall man with glasses, a brown overcoat, both. His name is Mr. Twin.

SPEAKER_08 13:31

Maybe if the covenant are off you, you will shut your mouth and get out of that bed.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

I can. I'm too weak. Well, I was over to the doctor.

SPEAKER_08 14:12

So you were over to the doctors. I wish you joy to the doctors, and what did the doctor do for you, millionaire?

SPEAKER_05 14:20

Nothing.

SPEAKER_08 14:21

Nothing. Three dollars he pays to the doctor for a visit, and the doctor does nothing for him. Why not? Dr.

SPEAKER_05 14:28

Stumfogel is not a mind doctor for the stomach and the heart. He knows nothing about the brain.

SPEAKER_08 14:33

Oh, so now he figures that out Dr. Stumpfogel is not a mind doctor now. After he throws away the three dollars.

SPEAKER_05 14:40

He gave me these pills.

SPEAKER_08 14:41

Yeah, the medicine already. How much do they cost?

SPEAKER_05 14:45

They are sleeping pills. I don't need sleeping pills. I don't want to go to sleep.

SPEAKER_08 14:49

So in this case, then, why did you buy?

SPEAKER_05 14:52

I am afraid to sleep. Every time I sleep, there is that Mr. Tainer waiting for me again. He is everywhere. Beside the ash cans in the air shaft, on the fire escape, in the hallway behind the baby carriages. I even dream he's in the delicatessen. He's looking over the counter at me like a customer. He's hiding behind the herring barrels. Give me those pills.

SPEAKER_08 15:11

Stop that, Frank. You didn't take any yet, did you?

SPEAKER_05 15:13

He's even in Kleinman's. He's sitting there in the back room drinking a glass of beer and looking out the plate glass for me to go by. His face is green and red in the neon sign going on and off outside. Now green, now red. And sometimes I hear him whisper.

SPEAKER_08 15:27

That's good. It isn't a special prescription. I can take that back to the dunk stock. You didn't even open the box.

SPEAKER_05 15:32

He whispers to somebody about me. He tells people what I have done. And I know it's true. I am guilty.

SPEAKER_08 15:39

Oh, how I am guilty. I've got to take that back to the dunk stock right now.

SPEAKER_03 15:43

But why am I guilty? What have I done? Charlotte, think, think.

SPEAKER_04 15:48

How could I be guilty? Is it because of Mama that I left her there hungry and never brought her over like I promised? But you yourself, Charlotte, said there was no room. And the money Uncle Miklosh paid me. How could I have brought Mama here to starve? How could I have paid a boat trip when there was nothing for us half the time to pay the rent? But maybe it is Mama. Cursing me from the grave. Charlotte! Charlotte! Don't leave me alone, please! Charlotte!

SPEAKER_05 16:45

Hello, Charlotte. I I got good news for you, Charlotte. At last, I just slept. And the dreams, the bad dreams, have gone away. Two hours, three hours I was sleeping, and there was nothing just sleep. Isn't that wonderful, Charlotte? I guess I'm cured, huh? You went out and left me alone. I was so tired. But I was afraid to sleep. I went to the park and I lay down on a bench. But the minute I closed my eyes, there was that Mr. Turner again with his face green and red. And then I went over to Flymark. I had only two little beef. The pianola was plain. It was nice and Charla!

SPEAKER_04 17:41

Charla? What is it? Please, Charla! You're not that mad at me, are you?

SPEAKER_07 17:48

Uncle! You're good for nothing! Shall I?

SPEAKER_06 17:52

Charlotte, please, what has happened? What has happened? You are fired. That is what has happened. Uncle Nicholas refuses to put up with you anymore.

SPEAKER_07 18:01

What?

SPEAKER_06 18:03

Do you hear?

SPEAKER_08 18:06

There is a boy, a high school boy, working in your place full-time.

SPEAKER_04 18:11

No, you mean making the potato salad too?

SPEAKER_08 18:14

Yes, making the potato salad too. And waiting on the customers. Now, loafing on the sidewalk and taking naps and talking like a lunatic and getting drunk every other night. And now what are you going to do? What are you going to do? I will go down and speak to Uncle Nicholas. He will go speak to Uncle Niklosh. At two o'clock in the morning, yet he will speak to Uncle Niklosh and get thrown out on his ear and go to the hospital and cause Morris bangs.

SPEAKER_04 18:46

Uncle Niklosh, it's he will get over it, Charlie.

SPEAKER_08 18:50

That's what you think. You haven't talked to Uncle Niklosh. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 18:55

Uncle Charlie.

SPEAKER_08 18:56

Two days. Two days? Yes, Uncle Nikklosh couldn't go to Hobogan to see about the cheesecake. You were lying home sick in bed. With what? With the fever, with the stomach trouble, with that leg. No! Dreams!

SPEAKER_06 19:11

Dreams, yes, like a baby!

SPEAKER_08 19:13

Oh, Charlotte, and where are you? When the customers are telephoning for the orders, they should be stand up right away. Upstairs. Sleeping, taking a nap. And where are you Friday night? The busiest night in the store. Seeing Dr. Stoophog, throwing out your good money to a crack. And where are you today? When Uncle Niklos is going to play in the Intel Brock's Hungarian Checker's Tournament.

SPEAKER_05 19:43

Checker's tournament today?

SPEAKER_08 19:44

Yes!

SPEAKER_05 19:46

I'm sorry, I forgot. Sleeping. Uncle Einmann's back room. But never stay away on purpose, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_06 19:55

Oh, yeah, that's all the thanks, Uncle Niklos did. After all he's done for you. I don't blame him. He gave you plenty of rope you should hang yourself with. He closed his eyes to plenty.

SPEAKER_05 20:08

I'll apologize. I'll explain to him everything in the morning. He's not unreasonable. After all, he's your Uncle Charlie.

SPEAKER_06 20:17

Too bad for him.

SPEAKER_04 20:19

He wouldn't let us starve, Charlotte. Uncle Nicholas couldn't.

SPEAKER_08 20:33

So? It's nine o'clock. How much longer are you going to wait to go down and speak to Uncle Nicholas?

SPEAKER_05 20:40

In a minute, I'm going right away. I just got to pull myself together a little.

SPEAKER_08 20:45

Yeah, I thought so. You don't talk so brave this morning, do you?

SPEAKER_05 20:49

It's not that. It's just. I'm sick. I got those same bad dreams back all over again. Sure, you got them.

SPEAKER_08 20:58

Whenever you got something to do you don't want to do, back they come.

SPEAKER_05 21:02

Wonderful. No, Charlotte. I'm not afraid of Uncle Mickwash, no. I am afraid of myself.

SPEAKER_08 21:11

But don't think I'm such a sucker, Bella. I've listened to your complaining long enough. I don't fall for that same tune forever.

SPEAKER_05 21:20

Charlotte, listen to me just for once. Job can wait a few minutes.

SPEAKER_08 21:23

Oh, the job can wait, can that? That's a new one, the job can wait.

SPEAKER_05 21:29

I have done something. Maybe maybe I did it in my sleep. Maybe I'm a sleepwalker. Maybe I climbed down the fire escape sometime and went into somebody's kitchen somewhere and committed a murder.

SPEAKER_03 21:44

I couldn't dream such things all by myself. Last night. I dreamed.

SPEAKER_05 21:53

I'd just killed somebody. It had just made two o'clock. I was coming out of a window, climbing out over the sill. It was night. There was a fire escape with flower pots going down into an air shaft. I started to climb down. It was a long way to the ground. I crammed down like A monkey. And as I went, I could see into all the dark windows of the flats. A man was eating his supper, and his radio was playing, and a baby was crying. And all the time I kept holding my breath, afraid they would see me.

SPEAKER_03 22:30

Because upstairs there was somebody lying in a room. Why? Like a kitchen.

SPEAKER_07 23:08

Do you hear me better? Can you hear what I said?

SPEAKER_08 23:14

Look at you. Shaking like a leaf. You are an old man already. You are not afraid of Uncle Nicholas. Not much. You are afraid of everything. Afraid of your own shadow. Your own crazy dreams. A fine man I throw myself away on. A fine hero. What are you looking at me that way for? You don't think I can hit you, huh? You think I'm going to stand around here forever wasting my time on a good for nothing? You think I'm good only to wash your clothes and keep your house clean? You think I got no strength in my hands? I can hurt you worse than that sometime. You get your life. What are you standing there for then? Are you going down now? Or not?

SPEAKER_01 24:26

But I am going, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_08 24:29

I'm going to What are you doing in the kitchen at this time of night? Making sandwiches. There's no bread for sandwiches. What are you doing with that knife?

SPEAKER_01 25:28

I was just dreaming. He had another strange dream, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_08 25:37

Get into bed. Put that knife back into the drawer.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

I was dreaming. I was washing my hands, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_05 25:50

Over there. In that sink.

SPEAKER_08 25:56

So what?

SPEAKER_01 25:59

And they were covered with blood. I was washing this knife, too. It was covered with blood, too.

SPEAKER_07 26:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 26:16

And what's so but so strange about that?

SPEAKER_01 26:24

It was your butt, Charlotte.

SPEAKER_06 26:30

My blood?

SPEAKER_02 26:49

Transcribed from Hollywood, the clock is produced and directed by William Speer, the Master of Suspense. And tonight's star, Jeanette Nolan and Elliot Lewis. This evening's play was written by Lucille Fletcher. The clock theme was composed by Bernie Green. Our musical director is Basil Adlam. Next week, same time, you will hear Kathy and Elliot Lewis as stars of The Clock. Who knows? You might be telephoned to name the new mystery melody for fabulous Jackpot Prizes. Be sure to hear it on Stop the Music tonight over this ABC station.