MUSIC:

ORGAN FANFARE

ANNOUNCER:

Adam Hats presents--

SOUND:

CRASH! OF THUNDER

ANNOUNCER:

"The Strange Dr. Weird."

MUSIC:

ORGAN ACCENT ... THEN OUT

SOUND:

DOOR OPENS

DR. WEIRD:

Good evening. Come in, won't you?

SOUND:

DOOR SHUTS ... BOLT THROWN

MUSIC:

EERIE ORGAN ... BEHIND--

DR. WEIRD:

You seem a bit nervous. Perhaps it would calm you a little if I were to read to you from the secret journal of Professor Drake. It's a fascinating tale. I call it--

MUSIC:

ORGAN STING ... THEN OUT

DR. WEIRD:

--"Journey into the Unknown"!

MUSIC:

ORGAN ... TO A CONCLUSION

SOUND:

CRASH! OF THUNDER

MUSIC:

EERIE ORGAN ... BEHIND--

DR. WEIRD:

There are some extremely interesting entries in Professor Drake's journal -- particularly those beginning with the entry made October first, which reads.... "Today, my son, Paul has reached the final stages in the preparation of his Serum Number Seventeen. After two years of intensive work, and sixteen failures, he believes that he's at last succeeded."

ORGAN:

STING

FATHER:

But just think of it, Paul! Before you took the serum, you could only lift two hundred pounds - but now you can lift four hundred! Why, your strength has been doubled!

PAUL:

Yes. With the added strength my serum will give him, man will be able to resist diseases that he succumbs to now. His lifespan will be lengthened by twenty or thirty years! Perhaps even--

SOUND:

OF DOORBELL RINGING OFF

FATHER:

I'll answer it, Paul.

SOUND:

OF DOOR OPENING

FATHER:

Oh, it's you, Julia.

JULIA:

Yes, I want to see Paul.

SOUND:

OF DOOR CLOSING

FATHER:

Well, you can't, Julia. He's right in the midst of an experiment.

JULIA:

But I haven't seen or heard from him in two weeks. After all, I am his fiancee.

FATHER:

But, Julia, he can't be disturbed. He's in--

SOUND:

OF DOOR OPENED.

JULIA:

Oh, hello, darling.

PAUL:

Why, Julia!

BIZ:

THEY KISS

JULIA:

(GASPS) Oh, Paul, you - you squeezed me so tightly.

PAUL:

I'm - I'm sorry, dear. I'm afraid I don't know my own strength.

JULIA:

(LAUGHING) Oh, that's all right. Paul, what kind of experiment is it you're working on?

PAUL:

Darling, I can't reveal anything yet, not even to you. But when my work is done, you'll be the first one to hear about it.

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN EERIE IN BG

DR. WEIRD:

Here's the entry for October seventh... "Serum Number Seventeen is effective beyond Paul's wildest hopes."

ORGAN:

STING

FATHER:

(HAPPILY) Just think of it, Paul! Today you were able to lick up six hundred pounds with ease.

PAUL:

(VAGUELY) Yes...

FATHER:

Why - why are you staring at yourself in the mirror so?

PAUL:

(TROUBLED) Father, do you notice any change in the shape of my head?

FATHER:

Why, no, Paul. And I'd certainly notice a change if there were one.

PAUL:

Yes, of course. It must be just my imagination.

MUSIC:

ACCENT ... THEN EERIE IN BG

DR. WEIRD:

On October eighth, he wrote... "This morning when I entered the laboratory, I found Paul fast asleep at his desk. I woke him."

ORGAN:

STING

FATHER:

Paul, wake up.

PAUL:

(WAKING UP) Huh?

FATHER:

You should have gone to bed when I - (A GASP) Paul!...No!, it can't be!

PAUL:

What is it, father? What's wrong?

FATHER:

(A WHISPER) Your face.

PAUL:

My face? (SUDDENLY) Quick, hand me that mirror!

FATHER:

Uh, yes. Here.

PAUL:

No!...No...(VOICE TREMBLING) I was right! Look at me, father. My face has become broad, the features flattened, the cheek bones prominent. And notice how thick the hair on my body has become! I've reverted to -- the Neanderthal man!

FATHER:

The Neanderthal Man? But Paul, he existed fifty thousand years ago!

PAUL:

Yes, I know! At the swift pace I'm going backwards, it may only be a week...a few days...before I revert to an ape completely!

FATHER:

Paul, what are we going to do?!

PAUL:

There's only one way I can save myself! I must find a neutralizer that will stop the serum from changing me into an ape, before it's too late!

MUSIC:

UP SHARP AND DRAMATIC..THEN DOWN BEHIND

DR. WEIRD:

In his entry for October tenth, he wrote... "Paul has been working forty-eight hours without rest - and so far has been unsuccessful in finding a neutralizer. This morning when I entered the laboratory, I could see that he is looking more and more like an ape every day."

ORGAN:

STING

FATHER:

Paul, you just can't go on this way! You've got to get some rest!

PAUL:

I can't rest! Every minute is precious! (CONFUSED) I..I lost four hours last night.

FATHER:

You lost four hours? I - I don't understand.

PAUL:

While I was working here last night, I glanced at the clock to find it was just three o'clock -- then the next thing I remember, was finding myself in the hall -- and the clock was just striking seven! (FRIGHTENED) I can't remember those four hours! Where I was...what I was doing! In those four hours, I lost my ability to think as a man! My mind became that of an ape. During those four hours, I - I actually was an ape!

MUSIC:

UP SHARP AND DRAMATIC...THEN OUT.

ANNOUNCER:

We return to the story of the terrible danger threatening this young scientist in just a moment. Meanwhile, for a "breathing" spell, a word from Dr. Weird.

DR. WEIRD:

Yes, yes, a "breathing" spell -- something pleasant to think upon. And what subject would be more appropriate at this fall season than -- hats. I'm sure my young friend here can tell you something most helpful about Adam Hats.

ANNOUNCER:

Thank you, doctor.

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Now, let's return to Dr. Weird and his tale, "Journey into the Unknown."

MUSIC:

BRIEF INTRO..THEN DOWN BEHIND

DR. WEIRD:

The entry for October eleventh in Professor Drake's journal reads as follows... "The changes in Paul's appearance continue. His body is now completely covered with a heavy growth of hair, and his skin is rapidly turning to a deep brown, and becoming coarse and calloused. His arms have lengthened almost five inches, and he walks more and more in a stooped manner, with hands almost touching the floor. As yet no change in voice has been noted."

MUSIC:

UP SHARP AND DRAMATIC..THEN DOWN BEHIND..

DR. WEIRD:

On October twelfth, he wrote... "Last night Paul suddenly dropped a test tube and snarled at me. In that moment he was completely an ape."

MUSIC:

WASHING UP..THEN DOWN BEHIND...

DR. WEIRD:

The entry for October thirteenth reads... "Last night, when I came in to the laboratory, I found a window open and Paul gone. I immediately rushed out into the night to find him. A few blocks away on the university campus, I saw police gathered around the body of a girl who had just been murdered. Every bone in her body had been crushed.

"A few hours later, Paul returned to this house. He could recall nothing of what had happened, or where he'd been. To prevent another 'accident' from occurring, today I had steel bars placed over Paul's bedroom windows."

ORGAN:

STING

SOUND:

OF DOOR BELL...DOOR OPENED.

FATHER:

Oh, it's you, Julia.

JULIA:

Good evening, Mr. Drake. (DETERMINEDLY) I want to see Paul.

SOUND:

OF DOOR CLOSING.

FATHER:

Now, I'm sorry, Julia, but Paul can't be disturbed. He's asleep in his room.

JULIA:

(ANGRILY) You've been putting me off for days. But this time I am going to see him!

FATHER:

(FADE, FRANTIC) Julia, come back! You can't see him now!

SOUND:

OF BEDROOM DOOR OPENED.

JULIA:

(TO HERSELF) The light switch? Oh, here it is.

SOUND:

OF LIGHT SWITCH.

FATHER:

Julia, you shouldn't have-- (STARTLED GASP)

JULIA:

(PUZZLED) Why, he - he isn't here. His room's empty.

FATHER:

(DAZED) He - he isn't here.

JULIA:

Why were those bars put over Paul's windows?

FATHER:

It - it's all part of the experiment, Julia.

JULIA:

Why, this window over here...it's as though someone bent the bars apart to escape. But no man could have bent bars as strong as these. (GASPS) That ape!

FATHER:

(FEARFULLY) What ape, Julia?

JULIA:

The one that the police believe crushed that poor girl to death last night.

FATHER:

Now really, Julia, do you think for a moment that--?

JULIA:

You were using an ape in the experiment! This room was his cage -- and now he's escaped!

FATHER:

Julia, you're wrong. I assure you--

JULIA:

(ALARMED) Paul's out looking for that ape, isn't he?! And the ape's a killer!

FATHER:

Please, Julia--

JULIA:

I'm going to get the police!

MUSIC:

WASH UP SHARP AND DRAMATIC..THEN DOWN FAST AND LOSE FOR

RADIO ANNCR:

(FILTER) --at the latest by day after tomorrow! And now a special message from police headquarters! Twenty minutes ago an unidentified girl was found crushed to death. It is believed she was killed by the ape that murdered Betty Ryan late last night. All residents are warned to get off the streets--

SOUND:

OF RADIO TURNED OFF.

PAUL:

(FADE IN) Father, I heard what that announcer said. I killed that girl tonight, didn't I? And the one last night, too! (HORRIFIED) I'm a murderer.

FATHER:

(FRANTIC) Paul, listen to me! The police are looking everywhere for you. We haven't a moment to lose! The neutralizer we were working on last night-- It should be ready by now, shouldn't it?

PAUL:

(PULLING HIMSELF TOGETHER) Yes! And this time I'm certain it will work.

FATHER:

You must take an injection before it's too late, and you revert forever to an ape!

SOUND:

OF POUNDING ON DOOR

CHIEF:

(MUFFLED) Open up in there! It's the police!

PAUL:

Quick, father, the neutralizer, before it's too late!

SOUND:

OF POUNDING ON DOOR

FATHER:

I have to fill this hyperdermic, Paul, before I can give you the injection!

CHIEF:

(MUFFLED) All right, you men, break the door down!

SOUND:

OF DOOR BEING SMASHED

PAUL:

Hurry, father, hurry!

FATHER:

I am!

SOUND:

OF DOOR OPENING WITH A CRASH.

PAUL:

(TERRIFIED) It's too late!

CHIEF:

(FADE IN) The ape! There he goes, men -- out the window!

SOUND:

OF CRASH OF GLASS AS PAUL GOES THROUGH WINDOW.

FATHER:

Paul! Paul, come back!

CHIEF:

Mike! Flash a warning to every patrol car! Issue tommy guns to all the men! The orders are - shoot to kill!

MUSIC:

BRIDGE

PAUL:

APE GROWLS OFF, BEHIND--

CHIEF:

All right, men, spread out! We've got the ape cornered now!

FATHER:

Please, Chief, you've got to listen to me! If you'll only let me inject this neutralizer into him, then there won't be any need for all this!

JULIA:

(TENSE) Oh, don't listen to him, Chief! That ape's a killer!

CHIEF:

Yeah, we're gonna put an end to that ape once and for all!

FATHER:

No, no! You can't! You don't understand! It isn't an ape! It's my son, Professor Drake!

CHIEF:

(SNEERS) Your son! I know an ape when I see one!

FATHER:

Yes, I know, but it's my son changed into an ape! This neutralizer will bring him back to normal--

CHIEF:

You must be crazy! (TO COP) Okay, Mike! Let him have it!

FATHER:

No, no, no! I won't let you! I'm coming, Paul, I'm coming!

CHIEF:

(FAST FADE) Mr. Drake, come back! Come back, do you hear! Hold your fire, Mike!

PAUL:

FADE IN SNARLING OF APE, CLOSE

FATHER:

(FADE IN) Here I am, Paul. Paul, it's father. I have the neutralizer.

CHIEF:

(OFF) Come away from that ape, Mr. Drake!

PAUL:

SNARLING ON MIKE

FATHER:

Paul, I have the injection. Here, give me your arm.

PAUL:

SNARLING UP

FATHER:

Paul! No! No, don't! Don't! (BLOODCURDLING SCREAM AS HE IS CRUSHED TO DEATH)

JULIA:

(OFF, HYSTERICAL) Oh, he's killed him!

CHIEF:

(OFF) All right, Mike. He's dropped the old man's body now. Let him have it!

SOUND:

OF MACHINE GUN BLASTING AWAY.

PAUL:

(SNARLS LIKE AN APE AS HE IS HIT...THEN REVERTS TO HUMAN AS HE MOANS) Oooooooh, my chest. (DYING) Father? Where am I? What's happened? (GROANS AND DIES)

MUSIC:

TO A FINISH ... THEN IN BG

DR. WEIRD:

It was a great pity about poor Professor Drake, wasn't it? He was so young.

What am I going to do with his journal? I thought I might carry on his experiments, but I would need someone to assist me -- as a sort of human guinea pig. Perhaps you would like to volunteer.

Oh, you have to go? Too bad. Perhaps you'll drop in on me again soon. I'm always home. Just look for the house on the other side of the cemetery -- the house of Dr. Weird!

MUSIC:

UP AND OUT

ANNOUNCER:

[Join us again next week at this same time for another visit with "The Strange Dr. Weird."

SOUND:

CRASH! OF THUNDER

ANNOUNCER:

"The Strange Dr. Weird," directed by Jock MacGregor, is presented by the makers of Adam Hats -- the hats that are always tops in quality! This - is - Mutual!