Damon Runyon Theater 49-12-25 Dream Sweet Rose

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Damon Runyon Theater 49-12-25 "Dream Street Rose"
Published: December 5, 2025

This episode transports listeners to the heart of Broadway’s 1940s nightlife through Damon Runyon’s classic storytelling. The tale, "Dream Street Rose," revolves around a once-beautiful, now down-on-her-luck woman known as Dream Street Rose. Using a narrative within a narrative, Rose regales the regulars of Good Time Charlie’s establishment with a bittersweet story about heartbreak, hope, and, ultimately, revenge. The episode shines with street-smart dialogue, sharp wit, and unexpectedly poignant moments, keeping the listener guessing: Is Rose just spinning dreams—or telling the truth?

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Key Discussion Points & Story Outline

1. Setting the Scene: Rose’s Entrance

[00:00–03:30]

• The episode opens with Broadway—a typical Runyon-esque narrator—describing the quiet, late-night atmosphere in Charlie’s bar on West 47th Street.
• Dream Street Rose, a persistent, much-gossiped-about figure, enters and insists on telling “her friend’s” story, much to Charlie and Broadway’s initial annoyance and discomfort.

Notable Quote:

“Maybe she’s just lonesome, Charlie. After all, she’s quite an old doll. And many citizens like them shading 20 instead of maybe 60.” — Broadway [01:41]

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2. The Story Begins: Rose’s ‘Friend’ in Colorado

[03:45–07:08]

• Rose’s ‘friend’ is a beautiful small-town waitress in Colorado, immune to the affections of local men.
• She meets Frank McQuillen, a streetwise newcomer who stands out for not flirting with her.
• Their chemistry is built not on romance but on the banter and challenge between them.

Notable Quotes:

“You’re not a flirt. You wouldn’t know how to be one, kid. As far as you know, those eyes of yours are put in your head to see with, that’s all.” — Frank McQuillen [08:11]

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3. Romance and Betrayal

[07:09–13:23]

• Frank and Rose’s friend develop a relationship, much to the chagrin of local grocery clerk Will Higginbotham.
• Will, in a fit of jealousy, forces Frank at gunpoint to marry Rose’s friend.
• The newlyweds leave Colorado for a new life, but it quickly turns sour as Frank reveals himself to be a drifter and unloving.

Memorable Moment:

“You’ve got to take me with you.”
“Listen, kid, I’m a rolling stone. Here today, gone tomorrow. What fun would that be for you?” — Rose’s Friend and Frank [11:14–11:15]

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4. Downfall and Survival

[13:35–19:15]

• Frank’s laziness and opportunism lead him to associate with unsavory characters like Black Emmanuel, using Rose’s friend to curry favor.
• Eventually, Frank betrays her, taking money to leave town and abandoning her in a nightclub to fend for herself.

Notable Quote:

“He pulls a big double cross and she remembers him in her prayers?” — Broadway [19:01]

• Destitute and ashamed, Rose’s friend takes a job at Emmanuel’s club, refusing to return to Colorado out of pride and heartbreak.
• Despite everything, she prays for Frank’s success nightly.

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5. The Confrontation in New York

[19:15–24:00]

• Years pass. Rose’s friend discovers that Frank has found fortune and a new family in New York.
• She confronts him with a gun, offering him the choice to end his own life and avoid scandal for his new family.
• She leaves, satisfied that her prayers for his success created the perfect opportunity to break him emotionally.

Notable Quotes:

“Killed myself a long time ago. Only not with a gun.” — Dream Street Rose [23:02] “I’m gonna give you the chance you never gave me. That’s why I prayed you’d be successful and rich. To make it harder on you.” — Dream Street Rose [21:18]

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6. Was It Just a Dream?

[24:00–25:08]

• Rose finishes her story and leaves. Charlie and Broadway dismiss it as another of Rose’s fantasies—a tale fueled by loneliness and imagination.
• Moments later, a customer leaves a newspaper reporting Frank McQuillen’s suicide under bizarre circumstances eerily similar to Rose’s story.

Notable Quote:

"She can really dream ‘em up. Poor old doll.” — Charlie [24:08]

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7. The Shocking Payoff

[25:08–27:05]

• Charlie and Broadway realize the only people in the bar that night were themselves, Rose, and a single customer—mirroring details from the story.
• Tar tracks are left on the floor, matching the newspaper account of the scene at Frank’s home.
• The line between dream and reality is left thrillingly ambiguous; did Rose really pull off the perfect revenge?

Memorable Moment:

“Charlie, you are going to have a real tough time cleaning the floor. Tar is very hard to get off.” — Broadway [26:49]

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Maybe she’s just lonesome, Charlie.” — Broadway [01:41]
• “You’re not a flirt. You wouldn’t know how to be one, kid.” — Frank McQuillen [08:11]
• “He pulls a big double cross and she remembers him in her prayers?” — Broadway [19:01]
• “Killed myself a long time ago. Only not with a gun.” — Dream Street Rose [23:02]
• “She can really dream ‘em up. Poor old doll.” — Charlie [24:08]
• “Charlie, you are going to have a real tough time cleaning the floor. Tar is very hard to get off.” — Broadway [26:49]

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Episode Flow, Tone, and Style

• The tone is quintessential Damon Runyon: wisecracking, world-weary, and infused with a bittersweet nostalgia for Broadway’s lost souls.
• The narrative skillfully weaves between humor and pathos, dropping sly hints about the truth of Rose’s tale and culminating in a noir-style twist.
• Dialogue is brisk, slangy, and delivered with the signature cadence of Runyon’s “guys and dolls.”

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Final Thoughts

Listeners are left to wonder: Did Dream Street Rose merely spin a story inspired by headlines, or did she truly carry out the quietly vengeful act she described? The episode is a prime example of Golden Age radio’s blend of streetwise drama, character study, and narrative ingenuity—complete with cliffhanger ambiguity.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

Dream Street Road. And to tell it to you, there is Broadway.

[Broadway]

Thanks. It is early of an evening, about midnight when there is nothing much doing anywhere that I go around the good time Charlie's place in West 47th Street. I figure maybe I will have a few games of rummy with Charlie. In fact, we are just sitting down when Charlie looks toward the back door.

[Charlie]

And says, now, why does that dame doctor pick my place to come in?

[Broadway]

Oh, Dream Street, Rome.

[Dream Street Rose]

Yeah.

[Broadway]

Well, I guess I will be gone.

[Charlie]

No, please do not leave me alone with her, Robert.

[Broadway]

You are afraid of her.

[Charlie]

Look, when she comes in the door and stands like that, I know she is looking for somebody to talk to. And when nobody listens, she is liable to bust up the joint.

[Broadway]

I guess she is just lonesome, Charlie. After all, she is quite an old doll. And many citizens like them shading 20 instead of maybe 60.

[Charlie]

Come on, deal the card. Maybe she will take the hint and go away.

[Broadway]

Nope, she is coming over.

[Charlie]

We will not listen to her talk. Maybe silence will discourage you.

[Broadway]

Okay, okay. Just say hello and leave it at that.

[Dream Street Rose]

Hello, boys.

[Broadway]

Oh, hello, Rose.

[Charlie]

Hi, Rose.

[Dream Street Rose]

Gonna play rummy, huh?

[Broadway]

Yeah. We are just starting your deal, Charlie.

[Charlie]

Yeah, sure. Nice seeing you, Rose.

[Dream Street Rose]

That's okay. Go ahead, Deal the cards. And while you play, I'll tell you a story. I want to talk to somebody. Somebody. What's the matter, Charlie?

[Broadway]

Nothing.

[Dream Street Rose]

You don't like for me to come in here?

[Charlie]

Do I say anything like that, Rose?

[Dream Street Rose]

Yeah, the way you look at me. Okay, maybe I ain't plush and mink, but I'm people, ain't I?

[Broadway]

Look, Rose, nobody says anything against you.

[Dream Street Rose]

Nobody has to.

All they gotta do is look. And I know what they think.

Broadway, you're a good guy. You see, a lot of people, they're never like me, Rose, like you say you are people. Nobody thinks so. I'm just Dream Street Rose, the old doll who pushes a mop for a living.

[Charlie]

Broadway, she is lighted up.

[Broadway]

Me. Now, look, Rose, maybe you better go home. Come on, I will walk with you on the hotel.

[Dream Street Rose]

Oh, God.

[Broadway]

Okay. Rose, you say you have got something on your mind.

[Dream Street Rose]

Talk about. Gotta tell you about a friend of mine.

[Emmanuel]

Sure, sure.

[Broadway]

Go ahead. If it makes you feel any better, go ahead.

[Dream Street Rose]

I'd rather talk about this friend of mine. She's pretty, Broadway.

Real pretty.

[Broadway]

Yeah? Well, what about her?

[Dream Street Rose]

Rose, you're a good guy on Broadway.

I'll tell you, it's a good story. You'll like it.

[Broadway]

Now, when Rose is feeling like telling a story, people listen. Because otherwise, green Street Rose is more than 6 to 5 to start tossing things around and making the atmosphere unpleasant. So we let her tell her story and it is a strange one. And I will tell it to you in a minute.

[Narrator]

And now back to the Damon Runyon Theater and the famous story Dream Street Rose.

[Broadway]

Like I say, Dream Street Rose wants to tell us a story about her friend. Now maybe I better tell you why she is called Dream Street Rose. It is because she lives in a part of the 40s where there are many theatrical hotels and Roman houses and all the characters who live there gab and gab about what is coming up. All good. This gab is dreamy, very dreamy indeed. Because nothing good ever happens to her. Rose is like that. She is always talking to anybody who will listen.

[Dream Street Rose]

Tonight, Rose says as well, Broadway Charlie, you know where Colorado is? Sure.

[Broadway]

West of Albany.

[Dream Street Rose]

Uh huh. Well, a long time ago my friend lived in a little town in Colorado. She was a waitress there and an old man's joint. She was a good kid. She was real good.

[Broadway]

Okay, I will buy that. Now, what is the rest of the story?

[Dream Street Rose]

Pretty is a picture that kid was. Had all the guys nuts about her. But you know what, Broadway?

[Broadway]

She gives nobody a tumble.

[Dream Street Rose]

No. And then one day a guy walks in she never seen before. Ain't much for looks, but he had a nice smile. And he sat down at the counter and he says to my friend.

[Broadway]

Hello.

[Rose's Friend]

Hello. What do you have?

[Frank McQuillen]

Oh, ham and I guess.

[Rose's Friend]

All right, fry two with. How do you want the eggs?

[Frank McQuillen]

Light over, easy over. Do you mind if I ask you a question?

[Rose's Friend]

The answer is no.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now don't get excited, kid. All I wanted to know is what's the best place in town to stay.

[Rose's Friend]

Oh, well, the Santa Fe house, I guess.

[Frank McQuillen]

Thanks.

[Rose's Friend]

Why are you laughing?

[Frank McQuillen]

I didn't run true to form, did I?

[Rose's Friend]

I don't know what you mean.

[Frank McQuillen]

I was supposed to comment on your eyes, your complexion, your. Well, everything.

[Rose's Friend]

I'm sorry.

[Frank McQuillen]

It's all right.

[Rose's Friend]

Now what's so funny?

[Frank McQuillen]

Oh, you small town characters are all alike.

[Rose's Friend]

What's the matter with small towns and people?

[Frank McQuillen]

Not a thing.

[Broadway]

I like them.

[Rose's Friend]

Why'd you say that?

[Broadway]

Oh, forget it.

[Frank McQuillen]

I'm sorry.

[Rose's Friend]

Why'd you say it?

[Frank McQuillen]

Okay, I'll tell you. So you're pretty. Every customer who wears pants and comes in here gives you a line, you expect it. Then when somebody comes in who's been around and has seen more than a. Than a jerk, water junction and a doll faced waitress, you. Well, when somebody like that comes in and doesn't spread butter all over the place, you get sore.

[Rose's Friend]

You're pretty smart, aren't you?

[Broadway]

No.

[Frank McQuillen]

Just been around, that's all.

[Rose's Friend]

Lots of people I know.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now, let's stop talking. I came in here to eat. I'm going to eat in silence.

[Broadway]

Well, Dream Street. Rose tells me that is the way her friend gets acquainted with this guy whose name is Frank McQuillen. It seems he's a pretty sharp citizen. And it is not long before he is making a good living at the local pool parlor. Here's a pretty fair shot. Then it comes up a couple of weeks later. And since Frank takes all his meals at the little lunch wagon, he and Rose's friend get to know each other better. In fact, one night he takes her home from the lunch wagon. And while they are walking along, the scene is as fun.

[Dream Street Rose]

Frank.

[Charlie]

Yeah?

[Rose's Friend]

Remember the first night you came into the lunch wagon?

[Broadway]

Mm.

[Frank McQuillen]

The eggs were fried too hard.

[Rose's Friend]

Is that all you remember?

[Frank McQuillen]

Well, what else was there?

[Rose's Friend]

You said something about small town characters.

[Frank McQuillen]

Oh, forget it. I was tired and. Well, you burned me a little.

[Rose's Friend]

Why?

[Frank McQuillen]

Well, the way you got saw.

[Rose's Friend]

I wasn't really.

[Broadway]

No, you acted like it.

[Rose's Friend]

Maybe because. Well, I guess I was hurt.

[Broadway]

But why?

[Rose's Friend]

Oh, I don't know.

[Frank McQuillen]

Because I didn't turn a backflip when you moved those eyes on me. I'll give 10 to 1 you got the locals jumping through hoops.

[Rose's Friend]

You got a fine opinion of me, haven't you?

[Frank McQuillen]

Nothing one way or the other.

[Rose's Friend]

What do you think?

[Broadway]

What's the difference?

[Rose's Friend]

You think I'm a flirt.

[Narrator]

You?

[Frank McQuillen]

No, not at all.

[Rose's Friend]

You're making fun of me.

[Frank McQuillen]

Oh, no, I'm not.

[Rose's Friend]

Why'd you laugh?

[Frank McQuillen]

Okay, all right. Stop a minute.

[Rose's Friend]

Yeah?

[Frank McQuillen]

You're not a flirt. You wouldn't know how to be one kid. As far as you know, those eyes of yours are putting your head to see with, that's all. You stand behind that counter all day, scared stiff.

[Rose's Friend]

Scared what of?

[Frank McQuillen]

Every guy who comes in, he makes a crack, you laugh and give him the fast brush. But underneath you're scared because you're just a pretty kid who doesn't know what two and two adds up to.

[Dream Street Rose]

Well, I hate you.

[Frank McQuillen]

Sure, because I told you the truth.

I'll give you ten to one you've never been kissed.

[Rose's Friend]

I am too.

[Broadway]

By whom?

[Frank McQuillen]

Will Higginbotham, the clerk in the grocery.

[Rose's Friend]

What's the matter with that?

[Broadway]

Nothing.

[Frank McQuillen]

Who said there was?

[Rose's Friend]

Always the way you say things like. Like you haven't got any use for anybody or anything.

[Frank McQuillen]

Maybe I haven't Wilson. He's a fine grocery clerk. And he kissed you. That makes him a big man.

[Rose's Friend]

I like him.

[Frank McQuillen]

Okay, okay. Let's drop Will Higginbottom.

[Rose's Friend]

He wants me to marry him.

[Frank McQuillen]

So marry him.

[Dream Street Rose]

I might.

[Frank McQuillen]

Such goings on.

[Rose's Friend]

Demean and contempt.

[Frank McQuillen]

Here's a change from grocery clerks.

[Rose's Friend]

Let me go.

[Frank McQuillen]

You want to be let go?

A grocery clerk? It was never like this.

[Broadway]

And so Rose's friend falls in love with his Frank citizen. And it is not long before other people know it. Including Will Higginbotham, the grocery clerk. Then it comes up one night. Frank has taken Rose's friend home again. And they stop and sit on a bench in a little pot.

[Rose's Friend]

Something wrong, Frank?

[Emmanuel]

Wrong?

[Broadway]

What?

[Rose's Friend]

I don't know. Haven't said ten words all evening.

[Frank McQuillen]

Maybe I've got nothing to say.

[Rose's Friend]

It's a nice night.

[Broadway]

Yes, well.

There is something wrong, isn't there?

[Frank McQuillen]

Look, why do you keep saying that? A million and one things to talk about and you keep going over that.

[Rose's Friend]

Hunts, I.

[Frank McQuillen]

Sorry, Frank, but.

[Broadway]

What?

[Rose's Friend]

You're leaving, aren't you?

[Frank McQuillen]

How do you know?

[Rose's Friend]

For the last couple of days, I felt all right.

[Frank McQuillen]

So you felt right. What of it?

[Rose's Friend]

Where are we going?

[Frank McQuillen]

Say that again, kid.

[Rose's Friend]

I said, where are we going?

Don't laugh.

[Frank McQuillen]

You tell me a joke, I laugh. Who said anything about we?

[Rose's Friend]

I didn't. I mean, I thought.

[Frank McQuillen]

Are you kidding? What do you want from me?

[Rose's Friend]

You love me. You told me.

[Frank McQuillen]

Did I?

[Rose's Friend]

You know you did, Frank. You know it. You told me a hundred times.

[Charlie]

99.

[Rose's Friend]

You got to take me with you.

[Frank McQuillen]

Listen, kid, I'm a rolling stone. Here today, gone tomorrow. What fun would that be for you?

[Rose's Friend]

I'm not.

[Frank McQuillen]

Are you?

[Rose's Friend]

So I do.

[Frank McQuillen]

All right, let's break this up. I didn't make any promises, did I?

[Rose's Friend]

I didn't think promises were missing.

[Frank McQuillen]

So nobody gets hurt.

[Rose's Friend]

I will, Frank.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now forget.

[Rose's Friend]

No, I can't. Don't you understand? Frank, I love you. Ever since the first night you walked in the lunch wagon, you were different.

[Frank McQuillen]

Not much.

[Dream Street Rose]

Frank, listen to me.

[Broadway]

Oh, no.

[Frank McQuillen]

Let's break this.

[Rose's Friend]

You've gotten.

[Frank McQuillen]

I don't think so.

[Rose's Friend]

Frank. Where you going?

[Frank McQuillen]

Away. I'll drop you a postcard.

[Rose's Friend]

Please. Don't want to go with you, Frank.

[Dream Street Rose]

I'll make you happy.

[Rose's Friend]

I promise. We'll be married.

[Charlie]

Big joke, huh, Frank?

[Rose's Friend]

Well.

[Charlie]

Sit down, Frank.

[Frank McQuillen]

Who do you think you are?

[Broadway]

Nobody.

[Charlie]

I said sit down.

[Frank McQuillen]

Why, you small town.

You crazy hidden bottom. Put that gun away and go back home.

[Charlie]

I will, after you've married her.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now listen. Fine. Spine You've had a lot of it, Will.

[Charlie]

Pete, with the two of you.

[Frank McQuillen]

What are you talking about?

[Charlie]

You're going home and get packed, Frank. Then the three of us are going over to Denver. I'll be best man.

[Dream Street Rose]

Why?

[Frank McQuillen]

If you think I don't care for this guy.

[Rose's Friend]

Will, please. I won't.

[Frank McQuillen]

Yes, you will.

[Broadway]

You love this guy.

[Emmanuel]

All right.

[Broadway]

He'll marry.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now, look, Will, there's a law that says I don't have it right here in my hand.

[Charlie]

All right, Frank, take your choice. We go to Denver. Russell, help me.

[Broadway]

I'll blow a hole right through you.

Well, that is that. The three of them go to Denver, and Rose's friend and Frank are married there. Now, that is only a little part of the story Rose tells me. And what the rest of it is and how it ends, I will tell you in a minute.

[Narrator]

And now back to the Damon Runyon Fair and the famous story Dream Street Road.

[Broadway]

Like I say, Rose gets to the part of the story about her friend where Frank married. Because Will Higginbotham holds a heater at Frank's middle. Which is a unique way of getting to be best man.

[Frank McQuillen]

But it works.

[Broadway]

Then Rose goes on.

[Dream Street Rose]

Now, that ain't the end. No, not by a long shot.

[Broadway]

I figure it is not.

[Dream Street Rose]

What's the matter? Don't you believe it?

[Broadway]

Oh, sure, sure. Only I hear a million stories like it every day. Why, there are even a million movies about it.

[Dream Street Rose]

Sure, sure, I know it. But it's got an ending that ain't like the others. You want to hear it?

[Broadway]

Look, Rose, I gotta be going because I.

[Dream Street Rose]

Okay. My friend and Frank get married and they leave. See, now a lot of things happen. And one thing my friend finds out is Frank don't love him.

[Broadway]

It seems to me that your friend takes quite a bit of convincing.

[Dream Street Rose]

Yeah, that's right, brother.

I guess every day you think she can make a guy love her even 100% heel like Frank?

[Broadway]

I guess so.

[Dream Street Rose]

A couple of months go by. Don't take my friend long to find out that Frank don't like to work. He makes a living by being a good talker. And then one night, he comes into their hotel room.

[Rose's Friend]

Frankie?

[Frank McQuillen]

No, Napoleon.

[Dream Street Rose]

Ha, ha.

[Frank McQuillen]

You got me being corny now.

[Rose's Friend]

You're tired, honey?

[Dream Street Rose]

No, no.

[Frank McQuillen]

I'm full of vim and vigor. You ever comb your hair?

[Rose's Friend]

I was just doing it when you came in.

[Frank McQuillen]

Uh huh. Say, how would you like to go out tonight?

[Rose's Friend]

Frankie, you meet.

[Broadway]

I said it.

[Rose's Friend]

Where, Frank? Where, honey?

[Frank McQuillen]

Black Emanuels.

[Dream Street Rose]

Oh, no, Frank.

[Rose's Friend]

Someplace else.

[Charlie]

No, thanks.

[Emmanuel]

Someplace else.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now, look, you've been yapping about going out. Okay, I offered a taking you pull along face. What's the matter with Emmanuel's place?

[Rose's Friend]

I don't like him.

[Frank McQuillen]

Well, he likes you. I know he's got good connections. Be nice to the guy and he'll do me some good.

[Rose's Friend]

You don't need a person like Emmanuel, Frank. You've got brains. If you get a job, you'd be 16, successful in no time at all. Oh, please, hon.

[Frank McQuillen]

I'll be ready in a half hour. If you're not, I'll leave without you.

[Dream Street Rose]

All right, Frank.

[Rose's Friend]

I'll be ready.

[Broadway]

Personally, I think Rose's friend is a dope. Because nobody but a dope would string along with a citizen like Frank. But she sticks with him and she smiles nice at blacker men. Who smiles back then Rose says. It comes up one night at Emanuel's place. Rose's friend is sitting at a table waiting for Frank when the scene is as follows.

[Emmanuel]

Hello, baby. Sit down. Yes, hello, Emmanuel.

[Rose's Friend]

Sure, sit down.

[Emmanuel]

Thank you. You look real extra pretty tonight, baby.

[Rose's Friend]

Thank you.

[Emmanuel]

Oh, don't thank me. I thank you.

[Rose's Friend]

You thank me?

[Dream Street Rose]

What for?

[Emmanuel]

You make a menu as place. What you say? Classy. Look around. What do you see, huh? Not pretty. People like you. Sure, I like you. Maybe you like me, huh?

[Rose's Friend]

Don't touch me.

[Broadway]

Why not?

[Emmanuel]

We're good friends and Frank is.

[Rose's Friend]

What did he say?

[Broadway]

Nothing.

[Rose's Friend]

What did he say?

[Dream Street Rose]

Tell me.

[Emmanuel]

Look, baby, maybe you don't know, but Frank.

[Rose's Friend]

What about him?

[Emmanuel]

He's not coming tonight, baby.

[Dream Street Rose]

Why not?

[Rose's Friend]

He told me he'd meet me here.

[Broadway]

Sure.

[Emmanuel]

But Frank, he's gone.

[Rose's Friend]

Gone where?

[Broadway]

Way.

[Rose's Friend]

Well, you're lying. He didn't have any money to go anyplace.

[Emmanuel]

I make him alone, he goes away and you're here.

[Rose's Friend]

That's not true.

[Emmanuel]

I tell the truth always, baby. I give him money and he goes. But he leaves you here because he knows Emmanuel likes you.

[Rose's Friend]

I mean, he took money from you and.

Left me.

[Emmanuel]

Talk too loud.

[Rose's Friend]

Get your hands off me.

[Emmanuel]

Look, baby, I'm not so bad. You like me and I make things easy for you. You take a job here in my place. You make it glass.

[Rose's Friend]

Get away from me.

[Broadway]

Get away. Hudson people are looking because I don't care.

[Rose's Friend]

Get away.

[Broadway]

Leave me alone. Go away.

[Emmanuel]

All right, baby. Well, listen to Emmanuel. You find out it's not so good to be so hungry. Then maybe you come back to Emmanuel. Maybe you like me after all.

[Broadway]

Course, I do not believe a word of what Rose says because she is noted for Making up stories that are like greens. But I see that her eyes are full of tears as she says to me, poor kid.

[Dream Street Rose]

Know what she did? Broadway?

[Broadway]

No, what?

[Dream Street Rose]

She took the job at Emanuel's place. It's tough to be hungry with no dough, no place to go.

[Broadway]

Why does she not go back to Colorado?

[Dream Street Rose]

She can't.

[Broadway]

Well, does she marry Black Emanuel?

[Dream Street Rose]

No. She loved Frank. Fact. She prayed for for him. Every night she prayed for Frank.

[Rose's Friend]

What?

[Broadway]

He pulls a big double cross and she remembers him in her prayers?

[Dream Street Rose]

Sure. Every night she prayed that Frank would be a big success. Like she always knew he could be. He had brains. She wanted him to make good.

[Broadway]

And does he?

[Dream Street Rose]

That's the funny part. He made good, in fact, right here in New York. But my friend didn't find it out until a couple of months ago.

[Broadway]

Now, wait a minute. Please do not tell me that she goes to him and he falls in love with her and is sorry for what he does. That is too much.

[Dream Street Rose]

She went to him? Yeah. My friend, after 20 years, went to Frank. She surprised him one night when he was alone.

My friend says she'll never forget the look on his. He looked up and seen my friend standing there, big as life. He blinked a couple of times and then you.

[Frank McQuillen]

Why, you're dead.

[Dream Street Rose]

No, Frank, not me.

[Frank McQuillen]

How did you get in here?

[Dream Street Rose]

I'll tell you that in a minute. You did all right for yourself, didn't you, Frank?

[Frank McQuillen]

What do you want? Money?

[Rose's Friend]

Me?

[Dream Street Rose]

Now I'm rich. Rich as you are.

[Frank McQuillen]

You're crazy. Now, look, the way we were married, you didn't expect me to stick it out, did you?

[Dream Street Rose]

Yeah, of course not. I only minded what you did with Black Emanuel. I only mind what happened to me. After a few months working for him.

[Frank McQuillen]

How did you get in?

[Dream Street Rose]

I know you're maid. I got a key from her. Snitched it out of her bag.

[Frank McQuillen]

I'll call the police.

[Dream Street Rose]

No, you don't.

[Broadway]

What?

[Frank McQuillen]

What's the idea?

[Dream Street Rose]

This is the second time a gun's been pointed at you. Second time I know of.

[Frank McQuillen]

What do you want?

[Dream Street Rose]

Your rich wife, three kids, away at a fancy school.

[Frank McQuillen]

Makes sense.

[Broadway]

Will you?

[Dream Street Rose]

Sure. Nobody seen me come in. The key I gots for the little door off the terrace. The one that's being fixed with Ty.

[Frank McQuillen]

What's that got to do with us?

[Dream Street Rose]

I'm gonna leave this done with. You.

Gonna give you the chance you never gave me. That's why I prayed you'd be successful and rich. To make it harder on you.

[Frank McQuillen]

Now, look. 10,000 to fix things. My Check or cash? I got that much cash in the safe.

[Dream Street Rose]

Maybe even more.

[Frank McQuillen]

Yeah, sure, even more.

[Dream Street Rose]

I'm enjoying this. I picked a night when the butler'd be off and the maid's off. And your kids away at school and your wife at some do on her.

[Broadway]

Stop it.

[Frank McQuillen]

You had your fun. Now take the money and go.

[Dream Street Rose]

You don't owe me a penny, Not a red cent. Only your life. Your life for mine, Frank.

[Frank McQuillen]

Why, you are crazy.

[Dream Street Rose]

I figured it all out. Be like this when I'd find you. If I'd kill you, there'd be a big scandal. Your wife and kids would be dragged in and people would find out you never even bothered to get a divorce.

[Broadway]

I thought you were dead, but I'm.

[Dream Street Rose]

Gonna give you a chance. Here, take this gun.

[Frank McQuillen]

Take the gun.

[Dream Street Rose]

People think you killed yourself that way. Save your wife and kids a lot of scandal. See, I'm giving them a break too.

[Frank McQuillen]

So you'd think I'd use this gun on myself, huh?

[Dream Street Rose]

Thinking on using it on me, huh?

[Broadway]

Why not?

[Charlie]

You broke in, threatened me.

[Dream Street Rose]

Sure. Only I left a lot of letters around and a marriage certificate signed by Will Higginbottom as a witness.

[Broadway]

Will?

[Dream Street Rose]

They'll ask him. He'll be glad to tell what he knows. Then I wonder how your wife and kids will take it, huh? No, Frank. You won't use that gun on me. Because you can't a lot better if you use it on yourself.

[Frank McQuillen]

I can't do that.

[Broadway]

I can't.

[Rose's Friend]

Why not?

[Dream Street Rose]

Why not? It's easy, Frank.

[Rose's Friend]

I can't.

[Dream Street Rose]

Killed myself a long time ago. Only not with a gun.

[Broadway]

Mine was dirty or in H. Please, for heaven's sake.

[Frank McQuillen]

I'll make it up.

[Dream Street Rose]

Goodbye, Frank. Boy, my prayers sure was answered.

[Frank McQuillen]

Oh, where you going? Where are you going?

[Dream Street Rose]

And I want to hear that gun go off before I get back out on the terrace. Because if I don't.

[Frank McQuillen]

Oh, please don't. Listen, Theresa, will ya? Please don't.

[Dream Street Rose]

That's the story, Broadway.

A good one, huh?

[Broadway]

Oh, first rate. You must tell me another one sometime, Rose.

[Dream Street Rose]

Be glad to, Broadway.

We'll see you around, Broadway, Charlotte.

[Broadway]

Sure, Bo.

[Charlie]

Yeah. Drop in again after a long time.

She can really dream him up.

[Frank McQuillen]

Poor old Dow.

[Broadway]

You think that story is a dream, then?

[Frank McQuillen]

Why, sure.

[Broadway]

Look, do you hear of a guy.

[Charlie]

By the name of Frank McQuillan knocking himself off?

[Broadway]

No.

[Charlie]

There is never anything in the papers about it. And when a guy with as many potatoes as Rose says this Frank has got bumps himself, there is always a big thing in the paper.

[Broadway]

I Guess you were right, Charlie. But that doll can really make them dreams sound real.

So I and Charlie go back to our room again and we think no more about the story about Rose's friend. But it is not the end. And what the payoff is. I will tell you in a min.

Well, it comes up a couple hours later, which makes it about 2 in the morning. We stop the rummy game while Charlie waits on a customer. Then he comes back over to me and says as follows.

[Charlie]

Broadway. Do you remember what I say about the papers? If this Frank bumps himself, it has gotta be in the papers.

[Broadway]

Sure. Why?

[Charlie]

A customer leaves this newspaper just idle like. I glance at it and what do.

[Broadway]

I see but this millionaire suicide.

[Charlie]

Go ahead, read it.

[Broadway]

Police this evening were called to the home of Frank McQuillen to investigate what was apparently a suicide. The butler discovered the body in the study about 11pm after returning from the movies with the maid.

[Charlie]

Butler?

[Broadway]

Maid, yeah. The butler had been home a half hour before discovering the body of Mr. McQuillen. When the police asked him why he. Why? He stated that because he forgot his key. He had been forced to use the terrace entrance under repair. Tar used in the repairs had covered his shoes and he changed them before going to the study.

[Charlie]

Like you say that Rosenal can really dream a mum.

[Frank McQuillen]

Sure.

[Charlie]

What are you laughing at?

[Broadway]

Rose sees this in the early editions and comes in here and gives us the business. The old doll has a good laugh.

Boy, are we the saps.

[Charlie]

Are we the.

[Broadway]

What is the matter, Charlie?

[Charlie]

Broadway. Only you and Rose and one customer come in here tonight. Is that correct?

[Broadway]

Sure. Why?

[Charlie]

Rose comes in the back way. You use the front. So does the customer.

[Broadway]

What are you getting at? Look, look.

[Charlie]

From the back door to this table.

[Broadway]

Yeah, I see.

Charlie, you are going to have a real tough time cleaning the floor. Tar is very hard to get off.

[Narrator]

I am. So ends the famous damon runyon story. Dream street rose.

The damon runyon theater.

The Damon Runyon Theater with John Brown as Broadway is directed by Richard Sanville and the stories adapted for radio by Russell Hughes. Vern Carstensen is in charge of production. This is a Mayfair production.