MUSIC:

TYMPANI ROLL

ANNOUNCER:

Now, from Hollywood -- ROMANCE.

MUSIC:

THEME ... THEN OUT BEHIND--

JANE:

(NARRATES, DREAMILY) Since I was a little girl in Redhorse, Colorado, I dreamed of traveling the world to those faraway storybook lands, in search of romance and adventure. And then one day, as I stood looking out over the blue Mediterranean, I knew that everything I'd hoped for would come true.

ANNOUNCER:

With Joyce McCluskey as Jane Dement, we bring you, transcribed, the delightful story of Ambrose Bierce, "An Heiress from Redhorse."

MUSIC:

FOR A LIGHT INTRODUCTION ... THEN BEHIND JANE--

JANE:

(NARRATES) As I look back on it, I don't recall anything especially significant about our arrival at the hotel in Cannes. How was I to know I was about to meet the one man who was to change my entire life? There was Auntie and me, our Mary, and the amount of luggage two women and a maid are apt to have when they're traveling the world. As I say, it was a routine arrival as far as we were concerned, but then you never know how it may appear to-- Well, a couple of bellhops, for example.

SOUND:

BUSY HOTEL LOBBY BACKGROUND

1ST BELLHOP:

Do you know who she is?

2ND BELLHOP:

(SIGHS) I don't care who she is. She is beautiful, and I can tell from here she would never marry a bellhop.

1ST BELLHOP:

Her name is Jane Dement -- beautiful, American, and rich.

2ND BELLHOP:

But of course! American and rich.

1ST BELLHOP:

But this one, she is the richest of them all.

2ND BELLHOP:

Ah, she's beautiful. The most beautiful. And she would never marry a bellhop.

1ST BELLHOP:

She smiles.

1ST & 2ND BELLHOP:

(BOTH SIGH DEEPLY)

2ND BELLHOP:

How can she smile when my heart is breaking? Hey! She's coming this way.

1ST BELLHOP:

She has recognized someone; a guest.

2ND BELLHOP:

Why, it's Monsieur Raynor, is it not?

GIG:

(PLEASANTLY SURPRISED) Well, Jane Dement! Of all the people in the world!

JANE:

(THE SAME) Gig! Gig Raynor! I don't believe it!

GIG:

(CHUCKLES, THEN MOCK SERIOUS) Hey, wait a minute. You know something? You're beautiful!

JANE:

(MODEST, AMUSED) Gig--

GIG:

No, really. I haven't seen you in, what? Fifteen years? And you've spent all of that time getting beautiful.

JANE:

(LIGHTLY) I didn't have anything else to do after you left.

GIG:

(LAUGHS)

JANE:

Oh, it's good to see you, Gig! Give us a chance to freshen up and then stop by for cocktails, won't you?

GIG:

I'll do that. Uh, but make it an hour, can you? 'Cause I've got to see, er, uh, someone off for Paris.

JANE:

Hm. She beautiful, too?

GIG:

Oh, you'll love her, Jane. I'll tell you all about her in an hour.

MUSIC:

TRANSITION ... THEN BEHIND JANE--

JANE:

(NARRATES) A flood of memories came back with Gig Raynor. Auntie hadn't seen him in the lobby. With Mary she was masterminding the luggage situation. But once we were upstairs in the suite, I told her about it.

AUNTIE:

Well, Giggles Raynor, huh? (GRUNTS WITH EFFORT, PULLS OFF SHOE) Ugh! Oh, my feet.

SOUND:

SHOE DROPS

AUNTIE:

(STRAINS WITH EFFORT, PULLS OFF OTHER SHOE) That feels better.

SOUND:

OTHER SHOE DROPS

AUNTIE:

Those shoes are just too blamed tight. Now, what do you suppose Giggles is doin' here?

JANE:

Well, he's in love, for one thing. Said he'd tell us all about it. (WISTFUL) Funny seeing Gig after all these years.

AUNTIE:

Make you homesick for Redhorse, honey?

JANE:

No. Not homesick. Just - full of remembering.

AUNTIE:

(MILD DISAPPROVAL) How long you gonna keep it up, Janey?

JANE:

Keep what up?

AUNTIE:

All this traipsin' around the world. Aren't you gettin' a little saddle weary?

JANE:

No, I'm not. (BEAT, SYMPATHETIC) But I'm afraid you are, aren't you, darling?

AUNTIE:

Well--

JANE:

You'd like to pack up once and for all, and head back to Redhorse, Colorado, wouldn't you?

AUNTIE:

(SIMPLY) It depends on you, honey. As long as you want me taggin' along, I'm proud to do it. But I don't think you're happy. Everyone a-bowin' and scrapin'. All those phonies and hangers-on everywhere we go. They're not real folks, Janey. But, God love ya, you're still real folks.

JANE:

(GIGGLES QUIETLY) Thank you, sweetie. Do I have to go back and live in Redhorse to prove that I'm "real folks"?

AUNTIE:

Well, no -- not if you're happy this way.

JANE:

(SHRUGS) I'm not happy, I'm not unhappy. I love to travel and, thanks to the old Calamity mine, I can travel. Phonies, hangers-on -- they don't fool me. But they're not the only people we meet. Don't you like any of them? Don't you enjoy yourself at all?

AUNTIE:

Oh, sure I do, Janey. You know all I want is for you to be happy, honey. That's just natural if you love somebody. It's all Calamity Jim wanted when he willed ya the mine.

JANE:

(QUIETLY) But a woman isn't ever really happy, is she, until she finds her man?

AUNTIE:

(BEAT, GENTLY) No, honey, she ain't. Not really.

JANE:

(CHANGES TONE) Well, I want to shower and change before Gig comes. Shall I have Mary start a bath for you?

AUNTIE:

Oh, land, I suppose so. But I tell ya, since I got all this class, I'm near wearin' out mah hide latherin' it up so often!

MUSIC:

WRY TRANSITION

SOUND:

GIG MIXES DRINKS IN AGREEMENT WITH FOLLOWING--

GIG:

Now how about you, Auntie? Martini?

AUNTIE:

Old Smuggler on the rocks, Giggles. Martinis set me to walkin' on mah hands! (HOOTS WITH LAUGHTER)

GIG & JANE:

(LAUGH)

JANE:

Oh, make it a light one, Gig.

GIG:

Oh, I tell you, it's great to see you people again. We've all come a long way from Redhorse, haven't we?

JANE:

I wonder if we have.

AUNTIE:

We've done it on Redhorse money, don't forgit. Why, if it hadn't been for Calamity Jim -- and your granddaddy, Giggles, gettin' so big with Wells Fargo & Company -- we'd still be scratchin' around on them mine shafts. And don't either of you kids ever forget it!

GIG:

Lest we forget Redhorse, a toast.

JANE:

Salud.

AUNTIE:

Chug-a-lug!

GIG & JANE:

(CHUCKLES)

SOUND:

THEY ALL CLINK GLASSES, DRINK, AND EXHALE

GIG:

(GENTLY) Well, Janey, how long has it been since anyone called you "Gunny"?

JANE:

Gunny?

GIG:

(YES) Mm hmm.

JANE:

Not since I saw you last, I guess. (LIGHTLY) And you will be glad to know I haven't worn any gunnysack creations since then, either.

GIG:

(CHUCKLES)

AUNTIE:

There was three of you young'uns, wasn't there? Here fill this up again, son.

GIG:

All right.

SOUND:

GIG POURS DRINK

AUNTIE:

Gunny and Giggles and, er-- You remember -- a sort of a scared critter he was. Cousin to Harley Ebright.

JANE:

Dumps.

AUNTIE:

(TAKEN ABACK) Was that his name?

JANE:

He was Dumps to us. Remember, Gig? First time we ever saw him, he was poking through the rock dump looking for ore the miners missed.

GIG:

Yeah. Used to find some, too. Enough to keep him and his mother alive, anyway.

JANE:

(WITH AFFECTION) And he wasn't a scared critter, Auntie. He was shy. (DEEPLY) Poor old Dumps.

GIG:

He was killed, wasn't he?

JANE:

Yeah, that's what I understand. After his mother died, he ran off to Cripple Creek or somewhere like that; took a job driving a truck to Denver and back.

AUNTIE:

Oh, I recollect now. He was killed fendin' off them as held up his truck, wasn't that it?

JANE:

(SADLY) Mmm. Poor old Dumps.

GIG:

(LIGHTLY) Here! Watch it, Jane. I'll get jealous of him all over again.

JANE:

Well, you're a fine one to talk. What about the girl you just saw off for Paris? The one you said I'd love?

GIG:

Oh, I hope you'll love her. 'Cause I do. Oh, she's wonderful, she really is. Karen is her name and she's-- (A LITTLE EMBARRASSED) Well, she's, er, a countess.

AUNTIE:

We're broad-minded, Gig. How'd you meet her?

GIG:

(CHUCKLES) At a party here, couple of months ago. A chap named Barri-- (AN INSPIRATION) Ohhhhh, now there's someone for you to meet, Jane.

JANE:

Who?

GIG:

This Dr. Barritz. He introduced Karen to me. Well, you've heard of him, surely. Dr. Barritz?

JANE:

Nope. Never.

GIG:

Everyone on the continent knows him.

JANE:

Everyone except me then. I never heard of him.

GIG:

Oh, well, Jane, you've really got to meet him.

JANE:

All right, Gig, if you say so.

GIG:

Yes. (GROPES FOR WORDS) There's something about him-- It sounds crazy, but it - it's something mysterious and - and-- (GIVES UP) I don't know. Anyway, you'll meet him, you'll see what I mean. (LIGHT INNUENDO) Every woman does.

MUSIC:

TRANSITION ... THEN BEHIND JANE--

JANE:

(NARRATES) Ordinarily I think very little about it when someone says, "You must meet George. You and George will hit it off just fine." In my experience, that's an absolute guarantee that George and I will be bored stiff with one another. But when Gig invited me to a salon a night or so later, on the promise that the mysterious Dr. Barritz would be there, I accepted with something very close to alacrity.

SOUND:

SALON CROWD MURMURS, CHUCKLES, ET CETERA ... THEN IN BG

GIG:

Now let's see. Uh, yeah. That is Dr. Barritz -- in that group over by the windows.

JANE:

Which one?

GIG:

Well, it-- No. Here, you stand where I am.

JANE:

Okay.

SOUND:

THEIR STEPS BRIEFLY AS THEY EXCHANGE PLACES

GIG:

Now-- See? The tall one?

JANE:

(IMPRESSED, EXHALES, QUIETLY) Oh, brother!

GIG:

Ha ha ha! And just wait till you see that scar. A perfect scar down the left side of his face.

JANE:

(WITH A DELIGHTED SHIVER) French Foreign Legion, I presume?

GIG:

You know what Karen says? She says he hypnotizes people or does black magic or something.

JANE:

(INTERESTED) I don't care if he's a cannibal.

GIG:

(CHUCKLES) All right, come on, let's go meet him.

JANE:

(COLD FEET) No. No, I couldn't. Not now.

GIG:

What do you mean you couldn't? Jane, that's what we came for.

JANE:

Well, I know, but-- Look, Gig, get me a drink, will ya? I think I need a bracer.

GIG:

(GROANS, MILDLY EXASPERATED) Ohhhh, I'll get us both a drink.

SOUND:

GIG'S BRISK STEPS AWAY ... AFTER A BEAT, BARRITZ'S SLOW STEPS APPROACH, THEN OUT WITH--

BARRITZ:

(IMPRESSIVE) Good evening.

JANE:

(SLIGHT STARTLED GASP, IMPRESSED) Oh, it's you! Hello.

BARRITZ:

We haven't met? I don't remember. I'm Dr. Barritz.

JANE:

Yes, I-- That is, a friend just pointed you out. (OFFERS HER HAND CASUALLY) I'm Jane Dement.

BARRITZ:

(ACCEPTS HER HAND SUAVELY) Miss Dement. I came all the way across the room to find out if you were as beautiful as you appeared to be.

JANE:

And was it worth the trip?

BARRITZ:

You're even more beautiful. I shall have to arrange always to be close enough to - to appreciate it.

JANE:

(PUZZLED) You sound like an American. But you don't talk like one. If you know what I mean.

BARRITZ:

Well, I haven't been home in years, but-- Don't misunderstand me, Miss Dement. I mean what I am saying to you.

JANE:

Thank you, Dr. Barritz.

BARRITZ:

You say we have a friend in common? How is it we haven't met before?

JANE:

I just arrived in Cannes a day or two ago.

BARRITZ:

Ah.

JANE:

Gig Raynor's an old friend of mine.

BARRITZ:

(CHUCKLES) How nice for Gig. Where is he?

JANE:

He went for drinks.

BARRITZ:

Oh? They're not hard to-- (SEES SOMETHING) Oh, dear. I'm afraid Gig is trapped.

JANE:

Oh?

BARRITZ:

By the Baroness de Rochefort. She'll prattle on for another hour. (BEAT, GENTLY SEDUCTIVE) We should be able to become very well acquainted in an hour, shouldn't we?

MUSIC:

BRISKLY WARM AND JOYOUS ... FIRST ACT CURTAIN

ANNOUNCER:

We will return to ROMANCE and our story, "An Heiress from Redhorse," in just a moment.

Unusual people in unusual places are commonplace only on CBS Radio's dramatic series ESCAPE. This thrilling Saturday night drama series, produced in Hollywood, brings you stories that provide escape from the realities of your own existence, whatever it is. Bizarre experiences set in out-of-the-way locales are yours, if you want to escape every Saturday night on most of these same stations. Try ESCAPE tonight.

And now for the second act of "An Heiress from Redhorse" as we return to ROMANCE.

MUSIC:

SECOND ACT INTRODUCTION ... THEN DREAMLIKE BEHIND JANE--

JANE:

(NARRATES, DREAMILY) I don't know if you've ever seen the Golfe de la Napoule by moonlight. Or looked down on an old Romanesque chapel from Mount Chevalier by dawn's early light. Or if you've gathered dew-laden figs and grapes from the vines of sleeping farmers for breakfast. Oh, but let me tell you: it takes longer than an hour and it's very effective.

MUSIC:

GENTLY OUT

JANE:

(NARRATES) I would have sworn that I wouldn't have slept when I crept back to the hotel, but I did. I slept beautifully.

SOUND:

NOISY CLATTER! ... MADE BY AUNTIE TO WAKE JANE

AUNTIE:

(ORNERY) And if that don't do it, I'll load my thirty-aught-six and fire!

JANE:

(BIG YAWN) Ohhhhhhh! (QUIETLY HAPPY) Good morning, Auntie.

AUNTIE:

(CORRECTS HER) Good afternoon. Good late afternoon, at that.

JANE:

Oh, lovely, lovely sleep.

AUNTIE:

Well, you musta needed it, honey. I understand them saloons can tire you out to a fare-thee-well.

JANE:

Salon.

AUNTIE:

Huh?

JANE:

Salon, not saloon, darling. There's a difference.

AUNTIE:

Well, anyways, I see you met that doctor fella.

JANE:

How'd you know?

AUNTIE:

Well, there's somethin' in the neighborhood of forty-five floral offerings smellin' up the place.

JANE:

(DEEPLY PLEASED) Really? He sent flowers? Ohhhhhh, he remembered.

AUNTIE:

(DRY) From last night? That's not much of a trick, you know.

JANE:

Auntie, I'm in love.

AUNTIE:

Are ya, honey?

JANE:

(DREAMILY) Like sixteen years old, and really in love. All that's sweet and tender and new, like lilacs and honeysuckle, and holding hands in the dark and feeling shy, and then not shy at all and-- Oh, I don't know.

AUNTIE:

(CURT) Has he got any money?

JANE:

Oh, Auntie!

AUNTIE:

Well, I just asked.

JANE:

I know, but not with lilacs and honeysuckle.

AUNTIE:

Sorry.

SOUND:

TWO SHORT RINGS OF FRENCH PHONE ... RECEIVER UP ... BARRITZ'S VOICE ON FILTER

JANE:

Hello?

BARRITZ:

(IMPRESSIVE) Good morning.

JANE:

(INHALES SHARPLY) Good morning.

AUNTIE:

Good morning? People don't know the time of day in this country!

JANE:

(TO AUNTIE) Sssshhh!

BARRITZ:

Listen, if someone's there, or you're busy, I'll call later.

JANE:

Oh, no. No.

BARRITZ:

Well, say, I - I hoped I might call on you. I have a plan I'd like to discuss with you.

JANE:

(IN A DAZE) Sounds wonderful. When would you like to come?

BARRITZ:

Well, I'm-- (CHUCKLES SELF-CONSCIOUSLY) I'm down in the lobby now.

JANE:

Sounds wonderful. (DOUBLE TAKE) Lobby?! Oh! Well, uh-- Yes, I'll get dressed! I mean-- How 'bout five minutes?

BARRITZ:

Well, I can wait five minutes, I guess.

JANE:

Make it three.

BARRITZ:

Three minutes. Goodbye.

JANE:

Bye.

SOUND:

RECEIVER DOWN

JANE:

(STILL DAZED) He's coming up - in three minutes. (DOUBLE TAKE) Three minutes?! Auntie, what'll I wear?!

AUNTIE:

Don't ask me! Slip into some lilacs and honeysuckle, for all o' me!

SOUND:

BRISK TRANSITION ... THEN BEHIND JANE--

JANE:

(NARRATES) I flew low around the room a few times before I found anything appropriate to wear. Auntie received him when he came. Heaven knows what they talked about, but by the time I joined them, Auntie was signed, sealed, and delivered.

MUSIC:

UP FOR A PIANO GLISSANDO AND OUT

SOUND:

JANE'S STEPS TO BARRITZ ... THEY'RE INSTANTLY ENTRANCED WITH EACH OTHER AND IGNORE THE OVERLY GREGARIOUS AUNTIE

BARRITZ:

Jane--?

JANE:

I'm sorry I'm late.

AUNTIE:

Oh, lawsy, don't apologize! The doctor and me have had the nicest sort of chat!

JANE:

Sleep well?

BARRITZ:

Wonderfully.

AUNTIE:

So'd Jane! I had a good night, too! Course, these beds are just real comfortable.

JANE:

Your flowers are beautiful.

BARRITZ:

You're beautiful.

AUNTIE:

Oh, she does look good, don't she? Color pinkin' out in her cheeks. And your flowers, young man. Why, I never seen such flowers! No, I take that back. There's a shop in Pueblo-- Well, now that I think of it--

JANE:

You said you had a plan?

BARRITZ:

(YES) Mm hm. Sainte-Marguerite Island. It's just out in the harbor, but it's beautiful. I thought we'd go.

JANE:

I'd love to.

BARRITZ:

Wonderful.

AUNTIE:

That sounds just dandy! When do you think ye'd go?

BARRITZ:

Tomorrow, darling. We'll spend the day and-- (CHUCKLES, TO AUNTIE, KINDLY) I beg your pardon. Did you say something?

AUNTIE:

(GIVES UP) Who, me? Not a syllable.

SOUND:

HAPPY TRANSITION ... THEN BEHIND JANE--

JANE:

(NARRATES) We left early the next morning for Sainte-Marguerite. Dr. Barritz had a beautiful yacht. I think I could have floated over on my own power, or walked, if he'd asked me to.

SOUND:

BIRDS CHIRP, ET CETERA ... THEN IN BG

JANE:

(NARRATES) It isn't much of a trip. We were there in no time. And we walked. And talked.

SOUND:

THEIR STEPS IN BG

JANE:

What's that funny old building up ahead?

BARRITZ:

That's the citadel. Surely you've heard of it?

JANE:

No. Should I?

BARRITZ:

(AMUSED) You're joking I know, but I'll tell you anyway. That's the famous old citadel of Sainte-Marguerite where the Man with the Iron Mask was confined in the late fifteenth century.

JANE:

Oh?

BARRITZ:

(CHUCKLES) Darling, you are joking. (A LITTLE POMPOUS) Anyone who has read his French history or even Dumas' "Vicomte de Bragelonne" knows about the Man with the Iron Mask.

JANE:

(UNEASY) Well, sure. Sure.

BARRITZ:

More recently you know that Marshal Bazaine escaped from there and fled to Italy to spend the rest of his easy days.

JANE:

Wouldn't - wouldn't I be stupid not to know that?

BARRITZ:

Yes, darling, you would. And you're not stupid -- or I couldn't have fallen in love with you.

SOUND:

THEIR STEPS STOP

JANE:

(BEAT, STUPIDLY) Have you?

BARRITZ:

You know I have. You're like a love I'd lost, and found again, and loved all the more for having lost it.

JANE:

(UNCERTAINLY) Have you - loved many times before?

BARRITZ:

Jane, you mustn't be offended. I've told you: I've fallen in love with you. I want very much for you to be the right woman to share my life.

JANE:

Do you think I'm the right woman?

BARRITZ:

I'd hoped for beauty; you have that. Love is important, of course, but-- You must understand, a man of my position requires a stimulating companion, too. Someone to keep pace with my interests, my friends.

JANE:

(DRY) She sounds great. What's her name?

BARRITZ:

Could be Jane. There's a lot of raw material there, darling. (CONDESCENDING) With my culture, background, I could mold it into something quite exciting.

JANE:

(HURT) I see. Well, I know a lot of raw material who'd better be getting back to Cannes.

BARRITZ:

(SURPRISED) Darling--

JANE:

Auntie wasn't feeling very well when I left and I'm not feeling too well now.

BARRITZ:

Really? What seems to be wrong?

JANE:

Nothing. (SOBS) Just - everything! (WEEPS)

MUSIC:

SAD TRANSITION

SOUND:

JANE'S STEPS APPROACH ... THEN OUT

AUNTIE:

Well, you're back sooner than I'd expected, honey.

JANE:

(ON THE VERGE OF TEARS) Call Mary. Tell her to pack.

AUNTIE:

Pack?!

JANE:

Pack. I want to get out of here, and now.

AUNTIE:

But, honey-- Gig's comin' by.

JANE:

Well, we can tell him goodbye.

AUNTIE:

I don't suppose you want to be any more direct than you're bein'.

JANE:

If I say many more words, I'll scream. (SOBS, BEAT) Get Mary, will ya, sweetie? I - I want to go home.

AUNTIE:

(SYMPATHETIC) Aw, Janey honey, I'm sorry.

JANE:

(FORLORN) Just help Mary pack, will ya?

AUNTIE:

(BRISK) Sure I will, honey. Sure.

SOUND:

AUNTIE'S STEPS AWAY ... DOOR OPENS AS GIG ENTERS, HIS STEPS IN

GIG:

(OFF, URGENT) Jane! You'll never guess what's happened! (TO AUNTIE) Oh, hello, Auntie -- excuse me.

AUNTIE:

(OFF) Howdy, Gig.

SOUND:

DOOR CLOSES ... GIG'S STEPS TO JANE

JANE:

(COMPOSES HERSELF, EXHALES RESIGNEDLY) Okay. I'll never guess what's happened.

GIG:

Do you know who I ran into on the street just now? No, of course you don't, no. Harley Ebright.

JANE:

Oh?

GIG:

Janey, Harley Ebright? Dumps's cousin!

JANE:

All right, so what?

GIG:

(WORRIED) Well, he recognized me, and he knows you're in town and swears he's coming up here to see you.

JANE:

Well, what's wrong with that? If we're still here, I'll be delighted to see old Harley.

GIG:

(AWKWARD) Now, Jane-- Look-- Jane, it isn't that I'm ashamed of Redhorse or anything like that. It's - it's just that Karen doesn't know about-- Well, about my background and-- Look, I wouldn't tell Dr. Barritz about you. Oh, you understand, don't you, Janey?

JANE:

Oh, brother, do I understand.

GIG:

Oh, that's great, that's great. I knew I could count on you. I-- (BEAT) Well, I can, can't I, Janey?

JANE:

(INCREASINGLY UPSET) Oh, sure. Sure, you can count on old Gunny. Why not?! We wouldn't want anyone to know we were born in a rock pile, never knew from nothin' then and don't know from nothin' now!

GIG:

Oh, wait a minute now--

JANE:

Just lots of glass, but no polish, that's us! Giggles and Gunny and Dump's cousin!

GIG:

But, Janey--!

JANE:

Why, the three of us can set Cannes on its international ear!

GIG:

(EXASPERATED, FIRMLY) I didn't mean to insult you, Janey.

JANE:

(SIGHS, SADLY) Nobody meant to, Gig. (BEAT) But let me tell you something: Redhorse is looking better to me by the minute. Look-- (EXHALES) I'm gonna take a walk along the beach.

GIG:

Well, I'll come with you.

JANE:

No, I-- I don't want anyone with me. Just tell Auntie I'll be right back, will ya?

MUSIC:

SOMBER TRANSITION

SOUND:

BEACH BACKGROUND ... SEA AND GULLS, ET CETERA ... JANE'S SLOW STEPS IN THE SAND ... STEPS OUT WITH--

BARRITZ:

(OFF) Jane! Jane darling! Wait!

SOUND:

BARRITZ'S RUNNING STEPS IN SAND APPROACH

JANE:

(QUIETLY DISMAYED, TO HERSELF) No! Not you, not now.

BARRITZ:

(APPROACHES) Jane? Jane, please listen to me.

JANE:

I listened, remember? I listened. And I didn't know what you were talking about.

BARRITZ:

(WARMLY) I know. I know, and it's wonderful.

JANE:

I still don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not your love, or your companion. I don't qualify. I'm a sort of a stupe.

BARRITZ:

I love you, Jane. I've always loved you.

JANE:

Oh, come off it. I'm not that stupid. You're not making sense.

BARRITZ:

No, wait. Jane, that girl I described on Sainte-Marguerite? She was phony. So was I.

JANE:

(SKEPTICAL) Su-ure.

BARRITZ:

No, darling, listen to me. Last night I was just acting. It all happened so fast-- I had to prove something to both of us. I wanted to make sure we were the same people we used to be.

JANE:

(CONFUSED) I'll let you know when you begin to make sense.

BARRITZ:

(CHUCKLES, LOVINGLY) Oh, Gunny. Gunny darling--

JANE:

And don't call me-- (DOUBLE TAKE) Gunny?!

BARRITZ:

(SWEETLY) Stupid, wonderful, beautiful Gunny. Don't you know? Didn't you even dream? I'm Dumps.

JANE:

(DISBELIEF) You're dead.

BARRITZ:

Only if you don't love me.

JANE:

(PUZZLED) But you are dead. Everyone said so. You were killed by bandits back in Colorado!

BARRITZ:

(CHUCKLES) No, I didn't quite die. All I got was a rather distinguished scar on my face and-- (SLOWLY, QUIETLY HOPEFUL) Maybe I got you, too, Gunny?

JANE:

(OVERCOME WITH HAPPINESS, QUIETLY) Oh. Golly!

MUSIC:

A WARM AND JOYOUS CURTAIN

ANNOUNCER:

ROMANCE is produced and directed by Norman Macdonnell, with editorial supervision by Het Manheim. You've heard "An Heiress from Redhorse" by Ambrose Bierce, specially adapted for ROMANCE by Kathleen Hite, and starring Joyce McCluskey as Jane Dement. Featured in the cast were John Dehner, Jeanette Nolan, Lawrence Dobkin, Ben Wright, and Lou Krugman. This is Dick Cutting inviting you to hear ROMANCE transcribed next week at this same time.

MUSIC:

THEME ... THEN IN BG, UNTIL END

ANNOUNCER:

An innocent man is murdered to lure Marshal Matt Dillon out of Dodge City long enough for a bank to be robbed. It's high adventure in the Old West and there's plenty of gunsmoke as it unfolds. That's Monday night on CBS Radio. Don't miss GUNSMOKE with this latest thrilling story, on most of these stations. Stay tuned now for STARS OVER HOLLYWOOD, which follows immediately over most of these same stations.

CBS ANNCR:

MEET CORLISS ARCHER for Monday night merriment on the CBS Radio Network.