Sonic Summerstock Playhouse 16.1- X-Minus One: The Defenders

You are listening to the new Mutual Audio Network. Welcome home. The following audio drama is rated G for general audiences. You've changed your cab into a horse and cab. There we go. Well, we're off to the playhouse, Maurice, and don't spare the horses.

Welcome to Season 16 of the Sonic Summerstock Playhouse. Performing through the summer months and presented by the Sonic Society for the Mutual Audio Network. The Sonic Summerstock Playhouse features producers and acting troops from our modern age of audio drama. Summerstock recreates and reproduces classic old-time radio plays in a love letter to the golden age.

and not in any intended form of copyright infringement of these classic radio shows. My name is David Ault, and now I am your grateful host again this year. Good evening. I'm David Alt and it's my great pleasure to once again welcome you to another season of the Sonic Summerstock Playhouse. Thank you, thank you. Yes, for 16 summers now, this historic playhouse has brought you more than 100 performances and dozens of audio drama troupes.

I am pleased to be your host through these and this year's journey in re-envisioning old-time radio drama plays with our new audiences. And in an exciting continuation tradition this year, we have another grand feature from Jeff Billard.

and his Audio Groove Cats production company with another X-1 science fiction classic. With a familiar cast of mutual players waiting in the wings and an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick novelette before us, Please sit back in the finest seats in the Playhouse and join me in welcoming, on the Sonic Summerstock premiere, The Defenders.

Countdown for blastoff. X minus 5. Minus 4. Minus 3. Minus 2. X minus 1. Fire. From the far horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future, adventures in which you'll live in a million could-be years on a thousand would-be worlds. The National Broadcasting Company presents X-1. Tonight, the Defenders. based on a story by Philip K. Dick.

And now, we bring you a special film of the destruction of San Francisco by radioactive pellets, released this week by robots of the Asian Confederation. This bombing was televised by robot cameramen of the Western Confederation as it took place. What you are about to see is a rebroadcast. Here you see the heroic robots, the leadys, who defended San Francisco against the dastardly attack.

Of course, since all human life has been under the surface of the Earth for 16 years, there was no actual loss of life, in the sense we know it. Still, the vicious destruction of Western ladies by this sneak attack by Asian robots...

The surface war? The surface war? But that's all we hear. It's all everybody works for. 90 cents out of every dollar goes for the surface war. Every man, woman, and child is either inventing new weapons or manufacturing robots to fight for us, or taking care of the people who are doing the inventing or manufacturing. Now, Mary, Mary, take it easy. I'm sorry, Dad.

Maybe you've been working too hard at the university. Maybe. How's the study coming? All right. Colonel Moss was asking about it only today over at Supreme Headquarters. I'm still working. Mary, you haven't mentioned the enemy much. Well, what's there to say? Well, is he as hateful as ever? He hasn't been feeling well. Pity. I hope he doesn't die. After all, he's the only living captive member of the Asian Confederation. How old is he, by the way? Thirty-four. Oh, you're joking, of course. No.

Mary, Western society only moved onto the surface of the earth some 16 years ago. Now, that would mean that the enemy was captured when he was only a boy. Yes. He told you this? Oh, no. He tells everyone he's 42. I deduced it from inconsistencies in his statements. Well, that's a little dangerous, isn't it? Well... You're the only one I've told, Dad. I wish you wouldn't even tell me these things. Do you expect your friend, Colonel Moss, to pop out from under the bed? Now you're being facetious.

It's no laughing matter, Mary. The whole concept of the enemy is so charged emotionally. And so full of lies. Mary. It's true. I've been talking to him for six months now. He's just an ordinary young man who happens to have had the bad luck to come to symbolize every hated thing we fight against. I have heard him speak.

He is hateful. He knows what to say if he wants to keep alive. Mary, I won't hear any more of this. Oh. I'm sorry, Dad. I suppose it doesn't serve any useful purpose. Oh, it isn't that. It... I'm thinking of your own safety. If remarks like this were overheard, do you know what they do to traitors? I've heard they turn them over to the leadies. They're taken up to the surface. As they approach it...

The radioactivity begins to destroy them, and by the time they reach the top... I'll be careful. Good. Now then, why don't we stop this morbid talk? How about turning on some music, eh? Alright. Dad? Yes? What was it like? What? On the surface. Don't you remember? Mm-mm. Oh, no, of course not. You were only about six at the time. Well, it's best not to talk about it too much. Oh, tell me, Dad, please.

Well, it was quite different from living underground. We lived in a valley, your mother and you and I. There were pretty farms along the floor of the valley. Little white houses and green fields and trees. Oh, and there were birds. Yes, I'm afraid the birds are extinct now. It must have been hard for you those first years underground.

Well, it wasn't pleasant, but I had my work at the War Institute. There was so much to be done then, building the leddies to take over the surface war, designing the pneumatic tubes. to get supplies and weapons up to the robots, organizing the robot councils on the surface, and, of course, the constant fight against radiation leakage. We're still working on that one.

I wonder what my life would have been like if it hadn't happened. About all I know is metal walls and great roaring factories and barracks. Nobody wants to live this way, my dear. We have to. Someday, when the enemy is defeated... What makes you think he'll be defeated? The Asians are just as secure underground as we are. When our ladies conquer theirs... Dad? What is it?

Dad, the enemy... The one I've been interviewing. I thought we weren't discussing him. He mentioned a word to me. A word? Yes. It... It seems to me that I heard it before when... when I was a little girl. It's best to forget these things. No. I don't know what it means, but... It might even be a bad word, but... I have to ask you. I'd rather not. Please? Well? The word was... Peace.

Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shock you. I think I'll go up to my room. I have to get up early. I'm taping an interview with the enemy. Excuse me.

Now get me the director of internal security. Yes? Boss, this is Donald Taylor. Yes, Donald. It's about my daughter. Mary? Yes, she's been working with the enemy, as you know, compiling a new study. Yes. Well, I'm afraid some of the things he's told her that he may not be completely, uh, well... completely sane. Oh?

I thought perhaps you might, well, supervise their relationship a little more. After all, she's been spending almost six months in his company, several hours a day. I see what you mean. Now, um, I don't mean to suggest that anything has happened already. Her, uh, attitudes... Don't concern yourself about it. Everything will be handled discreetly.

The enemy is waiting inside, Miss Taylor. Good. Is the recording and filming equipment ready to go? All checked and ready, uh-huh. You've checked the restraint suit on the prisoner? Yes, miss. You may leave us alone. Just buzz when you want me, Miss Taylor. I will. Thank you, guard. Hello, hateful one. Hello, beloved. How are you? Feeling no pain? I thought about you last night. I talked to father. Be careful. Oh, it's alright. This can't go on, Mary. Sooner or later, someone will suspect.

I don't care. I love you. Mary. Bill, you better get something on tape if anybody comes in. All right. Tape number 425X. Subject, recorded interview with Captive Zed N2, former soldier of the Asian Confederation and enemy of the Western Confederation. I am Yosef Kali. Serial number ZN2. Former soldier of the Asian Confederation. What were you taught to believe concerning the people of the Western Confederation?

I hate them with all my heart. They are inhuman and to be destroyed. What is your objective? It is the objective of my people to enslave all members of the Western Confederation and to utilize them for the benefit of the masters of the Asian Confederation. Did you ever witness any murder of members of the Western Confederation? I was a pilot in a group which dropped radioactive dust on women and children who were preparing to be evacuated underground. I myself killed some 15,000.

We will discontinue the interview to check the quality of the recordings. And to kiss the lips of the captive from the Asian Confederation. Oh, Joseph. I can't tell you how it pains me to hear you mouthing this stuff. Keeps me alive. If there were only some way to escape. Some place to go. The surface is the only place to go, and the radioactivity kills you in 40 minutes with the thickest lead suit. Sometimes, I think even 40 minutes of freedom would be worth it. 40 minutes of pain?

If that's the price. Well, then I... For myself, I wouldn't care. But for you, Mary. If there were a way to reach the surface... There is. Colonel Moss. This has been, I must say, a most interesting interview to hear. You heard it? From the beginning. We had the room wired this morning. Then you know. Yes. What's going to happen to us? To you, nothing. Because of my friendship for your father and your own youth, we will simply require that you remain silent about anything that has happened.

And Joseph? The enemy will be handed over to a D-Class leddy at the mouth of the tube and taken to the surface. We will perform the entire operation with a ceremony and public announcement. He'll die. Precisely. No, please. Take her out. Joseph, I love you. Mary, do as he says. Please let me stay. Let me say goodbye to him. Remove her. joseph please please let me stay please

Father. Yes? Did you talk to Colonel Moss? Yes. And? He'll permit you to come along and watch the ceremony, provided... Provided? There's no display of any sort. and of course a public denouncement of the whole matter it prepared a statement to the effect that the enemy tried to dupe you that he used hypnosis etc etc well I'll sign it. The ceremony is at the foot of the tube tomorrow morning at 6.

At that hour, the enemy will be handed over to a D-class leddy, which is being brought down from the surface. Remember your promise.

The prisoner is ready to be turned over, sir. Is the robot here? The robot is arriving now. I'll give the orders. I wish to converse with it. Yes, sir. The robot has landed at the foot of the tube, sir. Switch on the intercom. Robot? Robot N-71. Can you hear me? Yes, sir. We have a prisoner to turn over. He is to be taken to the surface and destroyed. Yes, sir. Before we send him into the radiation lock, there are a few questions the military would like to have answered.

Yes, sir. How is the war going on the surface? The war continues. We are a little short of fast pursuit craft, the single seat type. It will be noted. Our missiles pounded the Euro munitions plant of the Asian robot team last night with good results. Excellent. Are you ready to receive the prisoner? I am ready. I must warn all observers to remain behind the lead wall when the radiation lock opens. A few seconds' exposure to a hot leady is enough to cause serious damage. Prisoner, step forward.

Steady, Mary. Remember your promise. Yes. Is he... He is there. Oh, if I could only see him alone a minute. It's out of the question. Keep well behind the lead wall. Ready? Ready, Colonel. Open the lock. Step into the lock, prisoner. He's in with the lady. You can almost feel the radiation. By now, he's as good as dead. Lower the door. No! Wait! Mary, come back! Joseph! Mary! Joseph! Hold the door. Robot, remove the woman and take the prisoner to the surface.

Hurry. She'll be burned to death. Don't go out there. The lady is pushing her out. Close the lock. Mary. Sergeant, get a technician in a radiation suit to pick her up. Have her shielded and brought to the decontaminating chamber. Yes, sir. My daughter! You'd better get into a lead suit, Donald. We'll see what we can do to save her.

How is she? Bad? I don't understand it. What's wrong? She's cold. Not a trace of radiation. You mean the lady wasn't radioactive? It's impossible. Those robots are exposed to enough radiation in an hour to kill a regiment. Well, could the counter be defective? I checked it out. No, it must be some freak. Somehow she avoided exposure to the rays. Well, you're a very lucky man, Professor. Can I see her? Oh, yes. Yes, go in. Thank you.

Mary? Hello, Dad. Did they tell you you were going to be all right? Yes. Well, you don't seem overjoyed. Should I be? You really care for this murderer of women and children? Dad, for the last time, Joseph never murdered any women and children. He confessed to those crimes to keep alive. Well, we won't discuss it. You're safe. That's all that matters. Is he? Was he taken up? Yes. By now, he's gone. I don't believe it. Mary? I don't believe it. Somehow, deep inside me, I know he's alive.

Somehow, I knew that leddy wasn't radioactive. That leddy? Yes, that's puzzling. We'll have to investigate that. I'm going to send an order to the service asking that the same leddy be sent down again. There's something very strange about the whole business. The tube's arriving with the leddy as you requested, Professor. Good. I'm going in to examine it. Isn't that dangerous, even with the suit on, sir? It won't take me long. Very well.

He's reached bottom. Open the lock. Father. Hold it. Mary, what are you doing here in a radiation suit? This is the same lady, isn't it? Yes, I was just going in to examine it. I want to go with you. Why? This is the lady that took Joseph up. I want to speak to it and find out. Ah, Mary, why torture yourself? It's more torture this way. I have to know. If he's alive or dead, I have to know. He's dead. The Letty will know. Please, Father.

Please. Very well. Close your helmet. Open the lock, guard. Ready, Mary? Ready Let's go in robot n-71 i am the same who escorted the prisoner to the surface this morning yes is he he is dead the radiation killed him before he reached the surface Oh, no. Steady, Mary. Robot? Sir? You accompanied him to the surface? Yes. You've been exposed? I fought in three battles. Then explain something. Sir.

According to a counter I have concealed in my suit, you're cold, not a trace of radioactivation. How do you explain this? Well? Answer me. That's an order. I must return to the surface. Not until you answer me. I must return to continue fighting the war. Do not attempt to stop me. I again... Dad, he has a ray gun. Look out! Keep back. I've shorted him with the metal counter. He'll be burned out in a second.

I thought these robots were unable to harm their masters. Oh, he might have been bluffing, but I couldn't take a chance. Why do you suppose he did it? I don't know.

but i am beginning to suspect something so fantastic that i've got to find out about it find out leave the tube mary what are you going to do i'm going to the surface what My suit will protect me for about five minutes up there. No humans have been up to the surface for years. It's illegal. I know all about that. Now, will you leave the tube? No. I'm going with you. Mary, please. If you go, I go with you. All right. Hang on. I'm going to start the elevator. Here we go. Bye.

The silence is frightening. Father, what was that? It sounds like a rooster. That's impossible. There's no living thing on earth. Mary, do you see what I see? Trees, forests, a windmill, and farmhouses. Look! oh we must be dreaming father birds look it's unbelievable Oh, no, I can't believe it. I can't.

Raise your hands, both of you. It's a leddy. Do as he says. He's armed. Good. I am Alpha 5, Chairman of the Surface Council. What's this all about? Where's the war? The ruins? What's happened here? Can't you guess? The war? There is no war. There hasn't been any war for 15 years.

no war but the guns the munitions the we've been destroying them as fast as you can send them to the surface and the asians their robots have been destroying their arms also why how did this happen what about those films of the destruction of san francisco what about those televised reports the bombings the slaughter models we have a full-time division of a class robots who do nothing but photograph the progress of the fictitious war using scale models the entire destruction of san francisco

which you witnessed on your televisors, took place on a tabletop. Well, how did this come about? Quite logically. You created us to pursue the war for you. while you human beings went below ground to survive. But before we could continue the war it was necessary to analyze it to determine its purpose. We did this. And?

we found it had no purpose war to the logical mind is absurd but it fulfils a need in human terms the need to direct your hatred of yourselves away from you and on to others eventually man will grow up enough so that he can face his own dislike of himself with humility the time has almost come as a matter of fact until it does come we decided to preserve the illusion of war meanwhile we rebuilt the cities

replanted the farms and kept everything in readiness. We are the caretakers. And what will happen to my daughter and myself? You will remain on the surface with the others.

Others? There is a small group of members of the Asian Confederation which came to the surface only a few months ago. They are farming a valley not far from here. By the way, you may remove your radiation suits. There is no radiation. You said the others. Does that mean that the prisoner... Or the one who- He is alive and well. Father! He's alive! Where is he? In a farmhouse not far from here. He has rejoined some of his people. Would you take me to him?

Can I see him? Of course. If you will just follow me. Wait, there's another car rising in the tube. Stand aside. Just remain where you are. Sergeant, take this leddy into custody. Yes, sir. Well, Professor, this is quite a sight. How did you happen to come here?

the guard told us you had surfaced we found the shorted robot where you left it and discovered it was cold so we decided we'd better investigate good lord what a shock this is a blessing colonel not a shock do the asians know about this a few of them have surfaced but the underground civilization is still ignorant of it they think the war is going on just as our people do

you don't say you know what this means don't you it means the end of the war it means peace it means victory professor it means we can mount a full-scale attack We can drop hydrogen fission bombs right down their tubes. We can wipe out the whole race. But there's no need. There's no war. There will be.

i'm returning underground to report this to supreme headquarters you'll have to accompany me for security reasons you cannot do that colonel since when does a robot give orders to a human we were constructed to protect you in this case we will protect you from yourselves stand aside we're going to the tube i will be happy to stand aside But you will not be able to descend. No. Well, we'll just see a... Look out! Father, what is it?

What happened? Look. Good lord. They've destroyed the tube. We're sealed off. Exactly. we have always had heat balms in readiness for just such an emergency lead and rock are fused for a depth of some ten miles it will be years before your people can reconstruct the tube I don't believe it. It makes no difference to us whether you believe it or not. Men, destroy this robot. There are many more. Destroy him.

Now. Look. Down the road. Humans. A bunch of humans coming toward us. Those are Asians. Joseph. Joseph. Father. Joseph's with them. Ready, armsmen. As soon as they're close enough, I'll give the signal to fire. Colonel, in heaven's name, they aren't even armed. They're the enemy.

our only hope for survival is to join with them we'll need food and shelter if we destroy them the professor is right colonel we're cut off from our own people sergeant another word and i'll have you court-martialed now ready your weapons men don't do it our only hope now is peace silence i've got to warn them

Go back! Go back! All right, Professor. You asked for it. Now! Father! Father? Is he... colonel moss is dead thank you sergeant you saved not only my life but many others i couldn't see any other way professor we got to live too Father? Yes, Mary? Does this mean that we can have peace? If we want it, Mary, if we really want it, we can have it.

You have been listening to The Defenders, adapted for radio by George Lefferts and based on a story by Philip K. Dick. Featured in tonight's cast were Joe Stofko as Professor Donald Taylor. Angela Young as Mary Taylor. Lothar Tuppen as Joseph and Guard One. Jack Ward as N71. Trevor Rines as the TV announcer and the sergeant. Jeff Billard as Alpha 5 and Guard 2. And John Bell as Colonel Moss. The Defenders was directed and edited by Jeff Billard and is an Audio Groove Cats Amigos production.

X-1 opening by Lothar Tuppen. Script provided by Larry Groby of the Generic Radio Workshop. Music and other media licensed through Pond 5, Incompetech, and Pixabay. This is John Bell speaking. And now, with the conclusion of this week's Sonic Summer Star Playhouse, Mr. David Ault. Thank you once again to Mr. Jeff Billard and the Audio Groove Cats.

Go to JeffreyBillard.org to find more of his incredible dramatic works. And head to the box office for next week's tickets as we welcome another returning champion of the Playhouse, John Bell. Until then, for Jack Ward and all of us here at the Playhouse, I'm David Olt. Good day from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

And that concludes our feature this week for Sonic's Summer Stock Playhouse. All productions, features, characters, and scripts presented in the Playhouse belong strictly to their copyright holders, and no infringement is assumed or intended. The Sonic Summerstock Playhouse is part of the Sonic Society and is a proud member of the Mutual Audio Network, where we listen and imagine together. Please join David Ault and myself next week at this time. for our next brand performance feature.

Sonic Cinema.