["Travel toечат themes"] Escape! It's time to escape into the world of adventure, time to forget for the next half hour the four walls of today and escape beyond the horizons of the mind to yesterday and tomorrow. CBS and its affiliated stations present Escape. Tonight we escape with Rudyard Kipling and the two gentle scoundrels he created in his immortal story, The Man Who Would Be King. The time, sometime before yesterday. The place, the north of India. The man who tells the story, Rudyard Kipling. One Saturday night it was my unpleasant duty to put the paper to bed alone. It was a pitchy black night, as stifling as night can be in India in June. It was very still, save for the ticking of the clock above my desk, which seemed to shatter the black heat of the night as the hands crept toward 3 a.m. And then from the passage outside my door I heard voices. Who's there? Only us. Who are you? He don't remember us, Dan. Then he don't. How could he forget having us turn back at the Jodhpur border? Told the authorities we was impersonating newspaper reporters, he did. Wait. That flaming red beard and that bald head. Why? Because you're Daniel Dravet and Peachy Carnahan. The same. Well, what do you want? If it's money, I haven't any. If it's a fight, it's simply too beastly hot. You can rest yourself easy, sir, because we've come asking for naught except some information. We've been all over this country and we've concluded that India isn't big enough for such as Daniel and me. So we're going away to be kings. Kings in our own divine right. What? Aye, we shall be kings. We've signed a solemn contract. Each day off the other, and neither of us will take a look at liquor or women until we become kings. Why, I've never heard of such a fantastic idea. But what is it you want of me? Not much. A look at such maps of Kofiristan as you might have about. Maps of Kofiristan? That's where we've decided to go. But don't you realize that not one single Englishman has ever gone into the Kofiristan mountains and lived to come out again? If you're really mad enough to go there, you're a good deal more likely to become dead men than kings. We shall see. Anyway, I don't believe you have the slightest intention of traveling a mile outside of Delhi. Then you should come down to the Sarai Marketplace in the morning, down where the caravans leave for the north. Yes, come down to the Sarai in the morning and see then if we be liars. Oh thieves, robbers, liars, the blessing of Pir Khan upon all pigs, give us the blessing of the Lord. You should not laugh at him, Sahib. The Witless are under the protection of Allah. Quite so, boy. Who is the fellow anyway? A mad priest, Sahib, who has arrived only this morning from Ajmir. Ah yes, Sahib, come to look at my camels loaded with toys to please the eye of an Amir. Oh here now, go about your business. I haven't any use for toys. These are wondrous toys indeed, Sahib, fit for a king of Kafiristan. What? Good Lord, Daniel Gravett. Quiet, come along. I've two camels just beyond the wall here. The blessings of Pir Khan on the gracious Sahib, who consents to look at the poor toys of a priest from Ajmir. Over this way. Where's Khan-i-Han? Here we are. Permit me to present my servant, Hazir Mir Khan, at your service, good man. Well I'll be... Do you like our disguises? Do they pass? If they fool this crowd in the Sarai, they're probably good enough to get you across the border and good enough to get you killed. Getting killed is no part of the contract Peachy and me drawed up, although perhaps killing fits in with our plans in a different sense. Feel around underneath the toys there in the camel bags. What? Go ahead. Good Lord, rifles. Twenty brand new martinis with ammunition to match. And twenty good reasons to make your death certain. Any Patron of the Hill tribes would kill his own mother to get a rifle. Now who would harm a poor mad priest Sahib? Ella protects me. Mad is right. Then so was Lord Clive and Rhodes and Bonaparte. Drive out the camels Peachy. We've a long way to go before we become kings. As I stood and listened to the camel bells fade away in the distance, I wondered, wondered if it might not be a glorious thing to go to Khafiristan and be a king. Three years pass in India, much as they pass in any other land. It grows hot. Then the rains come and then the heat again. Some colonel at a hill station puts down an uprising. A new viceroy comes out from London and the paper deal records the death of a sultan in Rajputana and the trees in the courtyard grow a few feet taller. Finally time in its circle turned up another night, much like the one three years before. Once again I sat alone in the office listening to the clock and waiting for some unimportant item to come over the wire from Europe. It was long after midnight when my office door slowly opened. I say look here, you might knock first, you know. Knock? Good Lord, man. What's wrong? You don't know who I am, do you? No, no, I haven't the faintest idea. But here, you'd better sit down, old fellow. You're in a bad way. Yes, thank you. It's a whole year I've been walking. Right here in this very office we settled it. You sitting right there and giving us the maps. You been sitting there ever since three years. No, oh no. A man couldn't change that much in three years. You're not Pichi Khan Ahand. Yes. I was King of Khafiri-stan, me and Daniel Dravot, real crown kings we were, just as true as gospel. What in the name of heaven have they done to you, Pichi? Pichi? I knew Pichi Khan Ahand once. He's a king. Wears a real golden crown on his head. So help me, does. He is dead now, though. No, no, no. You're Pichi Khan Ahand. You must pull yourself together, man. Yes, pull myself. You've got to keep looking into my eyes. Then maybe everything will go to pieces. All right. Now tell me what happened, Pichi. We left the caravan at Jagdala. We struck off into the hills alone. Go on. Weeks it was we traveled, Daniel and me. First there wasn't no roads, and after a while no food. But there was always the drums. Sometimes they was close, and sometimes farther off. But most of the time we could hear them somewhere. Move along there. Here now. There's no place to be stopping up with you. I'm fearing it's no use, Daniel. What's got into them? The poor beasts are done in and starved, same as ourselves. They'll go no further. Then we'll go on without them. I've not come this far to die on the side of a mountain. Wait. Look, Daniel. Over the edge of the rocks. What? Oh, men they are. There'll be a score or more of them. One goes ahead of the rest. And naught but bows and arrows. Break out a pair of the rifles, Pichi. Right you are, Daniel. It's now that we start to become kings. Here, here. And some cartridges too. Easy now, Pichi. I'll drop the straggler at the rear first, and then we'll lay a few at their feet. No arm to the one in front. We may need him. Now. I've got him by the old neck. Lay on, Pichi. Hold it, Daniel. Look at them. Aye, flat on their blooming faces. The leader has come out alone. Well and good. And we'll go part way to meet him, Pichi. But keep your rifle by. Look at him, Daniel. He be as fair as us. With yellow hair. So he does. Part of the lost tribes these people are. He's stopped. I await your command, for ye who speak in a place of thunder. By the Lord, Harry. Pichi, we're in luck. It's the old Afghan tongue he speaks. Speak up. Who are you and whence do you come? I am High Priest and the chief of the village of Bushtime. A journey of only a few heartbeats. This bash guy. How many people? They are numbered in the thousand. There are more villagers in the hills? More than a man has fingers and toes. Hear that, Pichi? Here's our kingdom made to order. And you, you're going to take us to Bashkai. Do you understand? I understand the voice of thunder that you speak. He's a smooth one, Pichi. He knows a thing or two. What's your name? Mazulkand Jogdallur. That's too long. What shall we call him, Pichi? He has a look about him of an old soldiering friend of ours. Billy Fish. So he does. We bestow a new name on you. From now on you will be Billy Fish. As you command, I obey. All right. Put this on your drums. Tell them two kings have come out from the mountaintops. Two kings that speak in words of thunder so the earth trembles. Tell them two kings have come to Kafiristan. That you, Pichi? Danyan, why be you sitting here in the dark? I've been thinking. A man has to stop and think sometimes. Aren't anything special, Danyan? Look at them, Pichi. Look at their blinking campfires are gleaming in the dark like the jewels in a crown. Aye, Danyal. You've done a fine job for sure. All 23 villages you joined together as one. It is the army you trained to be thanked for it. Two thousand men with a fair knowledge of bearing arms. Some's a bit green at it yet. There are others now. Every man, jack, woman and child. We own a body and soul. Aye, we're kings now, Danyal. Not proper kings yet, but we will be. Sooner than you think, Pichi. How's that? Billy Fish told me something today that fair amaze me. These people know the craft. You mean they're Freemasons, Danyal? It ain't no wise possible. So help me, it's gospel true. He give me the grip and everything. It's old, the craft, it's older than the memory of man. And up here in the hills they've been preserving it all these years. Why, some of the high priests know up through the fellow craft. But they don't know the third degree. See it, Pichi? They don't know the third degree. But we do. Danyal, what is it you're fixing to do? Do? We're going to be proper kings. We're going to get them going and coming now. I'm going to turn the whole country into one grand lodge. Raise some of the priests to third degree. And for me, I'll be the grand master of Kafiristan. Oh, but you ain't got the right to. We never been officers in no lodge. Right. What's a king got to do with asking for a right? Oh, I'm against it, Danyal. It's no good to go fooling around with the craft. Ah, you talk like an old woman. The thing will work, I know it will. We'll make it a blooming ceremony. Regular aprons with the symbol and the marks. All of us, Pichi, the kings of Kafiristan. Everything is prepared, master. And the priests and the people wait. Well, they don't have to wait much longer, Billy. Here now, Pichi, how do you like my apron? It's a wondrous sight for fair, Danyal. Made of white ermine skin it is. And the master's mark with emeral studded. The mark? You know the meaning of the mark? That I do. What's got into you, Billy? Not, but it is a thing that's passing strange, master. Strange and rubbish. Come along now. Ready, Pichi? Right with you, Danyal. Then out we go. On to the temple steps. We'll give them what for. Knock their blinking eyes out. That's what we'll do. Look at them, Pichi. Right there. Right down on their blooming knees and yelling their full heads off. Oh, did our good thing to be our king, Danyal. The mark! Behold! The mark! To the sign! The promised winds have come! Here now. What's wrong with the priest, Billy? It looks like trouble, Danyal. No. Stand where you are, master. They ran off. They recognized the mark. That great stone in the floor. Why do they turn it over? Wait. It's the sign! He bears the mark! You promised winds have come! Speak up, Billy Fish. What's the meaning of it? See for yourself. Look. Danyal! Carved on the back of the stone! It is the master's mark, all right. And the same as the sign. You'll never see it again. What's the meaning of it? The many who have doubted you were a god. Doubt no longer. And you, Billy? What do you think? I, master, I think that now it is the time for these. Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Danyal! Golden crumbs! By how they glitter, fit for the brow of a king. Tis what we came for. Here now, put them on. We'll crown ourselves in our own right. Listen to them! You know something, Peachy? We come here to be kings, and that we are, all right. But blamed if we ain't a couple of blooming gods to boot, with a million people bowing on their knees before us. Well enough, Peachy. So it was gods you became as well as kings. But then, what happened? What became of Danyal's rabbits? Dravot. I knew Danyal Dravot was. He's a king now, Danyal is. Where's our golden crown? Karnan was with him. Peachy, try to pull yourself together. I'll try. Now, you became kings, you and Danyal. Kings of Alka-Firistan. He was a fine figure, Danyal was, with his red head wearing that golden crown. Kept himself aloof from the people, so to speak. And when he walked up o'er the temple, the fair crawled on their stomachs to worship him. But what happened, man? Happened? Well, I figure mostly it was winter coming on. The winds were starting up, and the clouds was blowing down from the north. Oh, it could blow beastly cold that winter wind. Hey, who's out there? That you, Billy? Can't found it anyway. Here now, what's this? I... I brought you food, master. Stewed the wild sheep with curry and rice. Up off your knees, girl. Bring it inside. Thank you, master. Uh, place it there. Now, you're a well-favored wench. I do not understand. Why were you crawling on your knees? It is a fitting way to approach the god of Kaffiristan. What's your name, girl? Marum of danger. Marum, eh? You married? He... he does not yet been my happy fortune, master. Are you afraid of me? You are a god. I mean, how do I seem to you? Do you find me pleasing, or what? Your face is more wondrous than the noonday sun. And your look... the look of eagles. Hmm. Hmm. Uh, very well. You may leave now. Thank you, master. Hmm. Marum, eh? Peechie! Peechie! Is you calling me, Daniel? Oh, the food's here, eh? Good. Not that wind outside. Winter's about due to strike and fill the trail with snow. There'll be little moving about before spring. Right you are. Peechie, I've decided to take a wife. But you can't do it, Daniel. We made a contract. That was till we was kings. Well, kings, we've been many months now. Oh, but it's no good. I tell you now, I'm against you. You was against using the craft, too. But look what it done for us. Oh, but this is different. Billy Fish will tell you no, too. The same as I do. Billy Fish, huh? Who's the king here, him or me? The mind's made up. Three days from now, I shall have me a wife. And you can put it on the drums and tell every blighter out there in the hills. The kingdom of Kafiristan is going to have a queen. What's keeping her, Peechie? They should have brought her in here half an hour ago. I don't know, Daniel. How about you, Billy Fish? You put them up to stalling off deliberate like? Certain preparations must be made, Master. She's across the court with some of the priests. Maybe they're trying to harden her up a bit, Daniel. She thinks she's going to die, you know. Die indeed. Why, I'm only... Master, it is against the laws of heaven for a woman to marry a god. I'm not a god. I'm a man. You know that by now, Billy. No, and I should not want to think so, Master. But either way, this can mean only trouble. I beg you to reconsider. And I beg you to shut up, Billy. I'm through waiting. I'm going over there. Master, please. We've got to go with him, Billy. And I'm thinking it's going to mean trouble. How many men can you defend, depend on? No more than 20 with rifles. Most of my men are in Bashkai. Then what shall we do? We shall have to make a run for it, I fear. We've got to be safe in Bashkai. Go on now, you buckling fools. Bring out the girl. Well, now, that's better. Here, girl, this is no way for a bride to behave. Now smile now and give us a kiss. Oh! The wench has bitten me. Blood, Master. Don't let them see the blood. Look! See the blood! He's not a god or a devil, but only a man! Only a god! Only a man! Here, Blast, what is this, Ross? Master, it's too late. Mark Daniel and they're coming with knives. They can't do this. I'm the king. We've got to run for it, Master. Come on, Daniel, come on. Oh, grounded heathens, I'll come back, I'll come back and beat their blasted heads in. That's what I'll do. Sure, Daniel, we'll be back all right. How much further, Billy? Only a short way beyond this ridge, Master. Well, so far so good. Blast them blooming drums are stopped. We're at the top, Daniel. Right, good time it's been. Wait. Look. It seems the drums have come before us, Master. Cut off. No less than a thousand of them stand in the acquired line with them wicked long knives in their hands. There'll be no getting past them, Daniel. No, we are done for. Go back, Billy Fish, and take your men away with you. Go with him, Peachy. It's me they want. I did it, me the king. No, Dan, I'm sticking with you. Billy Fish, you clear out. I am your friend. I stay with you. You're a good man, Billy. They be coming now, Daniel. Peachy. Forget it, Daniel. I forgive you freely and fully. Then let them come. There'll be one thing they can't change, Peachy. We've been kings. Kings in our own right. Kings of all Kapiuristan. Dan! Ah! I sliced open poor Billy Fish and blew me in the head and they're dead. They're in the snow and the rocks. Good Lord, man. But you, Peachy, you got away from them. Like nowhere did I get away from them. They are just for fare, all right. Struck me out on a tree. Drawed nails right through my hands. They did. See? But I fooled them all right. Because the morning came and I wasn't no wise dead. Then I made them think I'd lost my senses. I was afraid, army, because I was protected by Allah. They cut me down then. And after a while, they let me go. You poor devil. But what of Dravid? What happened to Daniel? Daniel... Daniel's a king. He wears a golden crown. But now, what happened to him? He's never left me. All them long months walking on the road back, he kept me sane. The mountains, they danced at night. But Daniel held up his hand and Peachy came along, bent, doubled. I never let go of Daniel's hand. Nor Daniel's head that they gave me in the temple as a present. It's with me now. I'm here in this bundle. You knew old Daniel, sir. Him that was a monarch once. Look at him now. Ah! Oh! Well. Now you've seen that we was really kings. I'll be on my way. You'll pardon me, sir? I let him go. There was little else to do. He was only hours away from his death. I sat there and stared at the bundle he had left lying on my desk. Stared as the pale shafts of dawn struck fire in the red beard. Stared at the golden crown, sitting too large and heavy upon the wrinkled, mummified head of Daniel Drabbit, the man who would be king. Escaped is produced and directed by William N. Robeson. Tonight's story, Rudyard Kipling's The Man Who Would Be King, was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and featured Raymond Lawrence as Peachy, Eric Snowden as Daniel Drabbit, and Robert Rawlinson as Kipling. Musical effects were created and conducted by Cy Fuhr. Next week, CBS and its affiliated stations invite you to escape in Operation Florida League, an episode from the files of the OSS. And so, good night, until a week from tonight, we invite you to escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
