Dimension X - Mars Is Heaven - #33

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Harold's Old Time Radio – Dimension X: Mars Is Heaven (#33)"

Date: May 6, 2026
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Dimension X – Mars Is Heaven (#33)
Based on the story by: Ray Bradbury

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Episode Overview

This episode presents a dramatic radio adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s "Mars Is Heaven," aired as part of the classic sci-fi anthology Dimension X. The story follows the first Earth expedition to Mars as they discover—instead of an alien landscape—a world uncannily reminiscent of 1920s Middle America. What begins as nostalgic familiarity soon spirals into a suspenseful and unsettling mystery, exploring themes of perception, memory, and the dangers of wish fulfillment.

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Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

Arrival on Mars (00:24–06:13)

• Dramatic Setup:
  The episode opens with the crew of the rocket ship XR53 landing on Mars, unsure whether they’ll be greeted as friends or foes. The crew—led by Captain John Black—prepares for the unknown, stressing discipline and protocol.

  "We're 17 men on an alien world, and it's up to us whether we ever get home again."
  — Captain John Black (02:56)

• Atmosphere and Apprehension:
  The landing is tense and cautious, capturing cold-war era anxieties. The crew expresses their fears and expectations about Martians, imagining everything from comic-book aliens to advanced civilizations.

  "Intelligent life can take many forms."
  — Dr. Horst (04:50)

  Dr. Horst reveals he has no family due to the Holocaust, highlighting both his freedom from emotional attachments and a sense of loneliness.

---

The Town that Shouldn’t Be (06:13–09:40)

• Discovery:
  As the ground mist lifts, the party is stunned to find a perfectly ordinary, Earth-like town—complete with Victorian homes, a rooster crowing, and a lawn adorned with an iron deer.

  "A whitewashed Victorian iron deer sitting on a lawn in the middle of Mars."
  — Dr. Horst (08:35)

• Recognition and Dismay:
  The town seems identical to various members’ hometowns, filling them with both nostalgia and confusion.

  "This looks like the town I was born in... Well, it looks like my hometown too."
  — Lieutenant Lustig & Lieutenant Hingston (09:40–09:45)

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Meeting the Locals (10:01–12:13)

• The Encounter:
  When the crew knocks on a door, they meet a woman who insists they’re in Green Lake, Wisconsin, in the year 1928.

  "This is Green Lake, Wisconsin, in the United States of America... Now, now, go away. Goodbye."
  — Local Woman (11:19)

• Disorientation:
  The crew debates whether they’ve landed in the wrong place, a different time, or if some Martian illusion is at work.

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Emotional Reunions and Suspicion (12:13–18:13)

• Shock and Joy:
  Lieutenant Lustig spots his long-dead grandparents and rushes to greet them, sparking a series of similar reunions among the crew.

  "How long you been here, Grandma?"
  — Lieutenant Lustig (13:57)

  "Ever since we died."
  — Grandma (13:59)

• Heaven or Trap?
  The idea surfaces that Mars may actually be heaven, but not everyone is convinced.

  "You mean to tell me that Mars is heaven?"
  — Captain John Black (14:05)

• Crew Mutiny:
  The men abandon ship, compelled by their found loved ones. Dr. Horst, with no one to greet him, becomes increasingly uneasy.

---

Illusion Unravels: Paranoia and Horror (18:13–24:21)

• Strange Night:
  The captain and Dr. Horst stay with Captain Black’s "family." Horst suspects the perfection is a psychological weapon, a telepathic trap by Martians. He reasons this is why no one greeted him: he has no happy memories for the Martians to exploit.

  "Suppose this house isn't real. Suppose the people are just images stolen from our own memories by Martians. Created for us by telepathy, hypnotism."
  — Dr. Horst (22:10)

• Chilling Realization:
  They surmise each crewman is isolated and vulnerable. Suddenly, the family’s composure drops, and their forms begin to shift—revealing their true Martian identities.

  "His face, it's changing. And his hands. He's a Martian. Run, Horst, run!"
  — Captain Black (23:59)

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Catastrophic Ending (24:21–25:19)

• Captain Black’s SOS:
  The captain desperately radios Earth, realizing almost too late the entire landing was a ruse. The Martians, using their own memories, have killed the crew.

  "They made us think that Mars was heaven. And we fell into the trap. Can you hear me, Earth? You've got to stop the next rocket."
  — Captain John Black (24:40–24:57)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Allure and Power of Memory:

  "We were expecting green-skinned Martians with eyes on stalks—all the time it was only Mom and Dad and Edward waiting. It's funny what tricks your imagination can play on you."
  — Captain Black (21:04)

• On Dr. Horst's Emotional Void:

  "I never remembered my family, Mrs. Black. All I know is they were gassed at Dachau during the Second World War...I prefer to be free of emotional entanglements. They interfere with a scientific approach."
  — Dr. Horst (18:46)

• On the True Nature of the Trap:

  "Who would suspect his own mother? His grandparents? How easy. Just a knife in the heart of each sleeping man."
  — Dr. Horst (23:11)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:24 – "Adventures in time and space..." (Opening narration)
• 02:56 – Captain Black’s address to the crew about discipline and the unknown
• 08:33 – Discovery of the iron deer lawn ornament on Mars
• 09:40–09:45 – Crew realizes the town mirrors their own
• 11:19 – Local woman claims they are in "Green Lake, Wisconsin, 1928"
• 13:59 – Lustig’s grandmother says, "Ever since we died"
• 14:05 – "You mean to tell me that Mars is heaven?"
• 18:46 – Dr. Horst’s account of his loss and detachment
• 22:10 – Horst’s theory: Martian telepathy creating illusions
• 23:59 – Crew discovers the Martians' true forms; panic ensues
• 24:40 – Captain Black’s final transmission warning Earth

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Tone and Style

The original performance is steeped in the haunted optimism and creeping dread of early Cold War science fiction. The dialogue swings naturally between camaraderie, nostalgia, suspicion, and existential terror, typical of Bradbury’s evocative storytelling adapted for radio.

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Final Thoughts

"Mars Is Heaven" endures as a master class in psychological science fiction—using radio’s power to evoke atmosphere, suspicion, and fear. As each layer of familiarity turns to horror, the episode offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of wishful thinking and the malleability of human perception in the face of the truly unknown.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

Adventures in time and space transcribed in future tense

[Dr. Horst]

dimension.

[Narrator]

When the first space rocket lands on Mars, what will we find? Will we be welcomed with open arms? Or will the Martians treat us as invaders? Only one thing is certain. Someday a giant metal ship will take off from Earth to travel through the black velocities, the silent gulfs of space, to descend at last into the darkness of the upper Martian atmospheres. And on that day, man will finally know the answers. The day we first land on Mars.

[Radio Announcer]

Now hear this. Now hear this. Approaching critical deceleration. Fasten gravity suits. Stand by the land.

[Captain John Black]

Mr. Lustig, what do you make of the terrain?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

There seems to be a heavy ground miss, Captain. We won't be able to use our

[Captain John Black]

infrared lights and we'll have to come in on radar.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Wasn't that a little risky, sir, landing in the dark?

[Captain John Black]

I'd rather run the danger of a blind landing, Lieutenant, than come in without

[Lieutenant Hingston]

the COVID of darkness.

[Captain John Black]

Remember, we don't know what kind of reception is waiting for us down there.

[Radio Announcer]

Air speed 500. Altitude now 4000.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Bridge to engine room.

[Captain John Black]

Standby for deceleration.

[Engineer]

Engine room, aye.

[Captain John Black]

Fire forward tubes one and three.

[Engineer]

Aye.

[Captain John Black]

Skids down.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Skids check.

[Radio Announcer]

Altitude 504. 353 Apple Point.

[Captain John Black]

Now. All right, let's set her down.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Look out.

[Captain John Black]

Cut the power. Masters, pipe battle stations.

[Radio Announcer]

Aye, sir.

[Captain John Black]

I'll secure it, sir. Well, we're on Mars. April 20, 1987. 4:33, Granny's time. Enter that in the log, Masters.

[Radio Announcer]

I see.

[Captain John Black]

Well, gentlemen, it's less than two hours till dawn. Soon as it's light, we'll send out a landing party. Masters, get me an all over hookup.

[Radio Announcer]

All set, Captain.

[Captain John Black]

Now hear this. Now hear this.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

All right, men, the smoking lamp is lit.

[Captain John Black]

We're 17 men on an alien world, and it's up to us whether we ever get home again. Next few hours should tell the story. And I want instant obedience to all commands. I'll court martial the first man who doesn't jump to when he's ordered. And one other thing. We may be on Mars, but this is still a United States Naval vessel. Officers will conduct a personal and weapons

[Lieutenant Hingston]

inspection in one hour. That's all.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Inspection, captain.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Now, Mr. Lustig, we've got an hour and A half to sweat out before

[Captain John Black]

we find out what's outside that airlock.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

I'd rather have a man worried about his stripes. About what's waiting outside on Mars.

[Radio Announcer]

Now hear this. Landing party report to forward airlock. Captain Black, Lieutenant Hingston, Lieutenant Lustig and Dr. Horst. Report immediately to forward airlock. It is now landing time minus five.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Sounds like they're paging us, Hangston. You ready, Dr. Horst?

[Captain John Black]

Yes.

[Dr. Horst]

Ready as I will ever be.

[Crew Member]

Oh, come on.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Let's report to the airlock.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

400 to go. Where's the captain?

[Dr. Horst]

Who knows? What difference does it make?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Just want to get it over with, that's all. Has anybody got a cigarette?

[Dr. Horst]

I think you're smoking too much, Lieutenant Plastic. Are you nervous? Lay off, will you, Horst? Wondering what's hidden outside underneath that ground mist. Very unusual, planet, Mars.

[Engineer]

Why?

[Dr. Horst]

It has an atmosphere. Wonderful thing, an atmosphere. Where you find one, you find life.

[Crew Member]

You mean Martians?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

What do you think they'll look like?

[Dr. Horst]

Who knows? Intelligent life can take many forms.

[Crew Member]

You mean they may have green skins and eyes on stalks or something?

[Dr. Horst]

Comic book conception is possible.

[Narrator/Producer]

Or they may have developed to a

[Dr. Horst]

point that is far beyond us. Perhaps they have a science that can produce weapons far more dangerous than our atomic missiles.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

You think we may have to fight our way out.

[Dr. Horst]

After all, we are invaders.

[Radio Announcer]

Now, here. There's landing time minus 2. Landing time.

[Crew Member]

All right, all right, we heard this. I know what I'd like to find outside that airlock.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Good old Illinois.

[Crew Member]

Ever been there, Lustig?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Only Chicago.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

You ought to see my hometown.

[Crew Member]

Green lawns, big white houses.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Sounds like my hometown.

[Crew Member]

My grandmother used to have one of those iron deers on the lawn. Every Halloween, we'd paint another color. One time we painted it black and white like a Holstein cow.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Where does your family live, Horst?

[Dr. Horst]

I have no family. When I was a child, they were gassed to death in the Dachau concentration camp.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's tough.

[Dr. Horst]

Oh, it has its equipment advantages. I have no ties on Earth. Nothing to lose. Now I imagine I'm the only one on board who is free to enjoy our present peculiar position.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

All right, Lustig, you can button it up now.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Aye, sir.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Now, gentlemen, in one minute, we'll be the first men to set foot on Mars. Quite an honor, eh?

[Dr. Horst]

As long as the medals are not awarded posthumously.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Still uneasy, Dr. Horst?

[Dr. Horst]

Captain Black? I've been uneasy ever since I can remember. On Earth and on Mars.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Now, 30 seconds. Give me the intercom phone, Lusty Masters. Aye, sir.

[Captain John Black]

Battle stations will be manned till we return. If we're not back in two hours,

[Lieutenant Hingston]

I want no rescue parties in a

[Captain John Black]

blast off and save the ship.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

You understand? Aye, sir. All right, gentlemen, five seconds. Four, three, two, one. Lustig, open the outer airlock.

[Crew Member]

Fresh air.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Let's go.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Hold it now.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

It's too dark to move fast.

[Dr. Horst]

Quiet, isn't it?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Not even a wind.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

You can't see anything through this ground, miss.

[Dr. Horst]

Quiet.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

We don't know what's out here. Come on.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

What the.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Quiet. Captain, I. I could swear that sounded like a rooster. I don't hear it anymore.

[Dr. Horst]

A very unlikely sound. A rooster crowing on Mars.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Kingston. Aye, sir. Set that machine gun 25 yards to the flank. We'll stay here till the ground mist lifts. Aye, aye, sir. What do you make of the ground, Orson?

[Dr. Horst]

Grass. Plain grass. You can see some large foliage there where the mists thinned on.

[Captain John Black]

Kingston.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Hold your fire.

[Engineer]

You fool.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

I hit it again.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

What?

[Crew Member]

Some kind of wild animal.

[Engineer]

I hit it.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

I could see the tracers, but it's still standing. Come on, Horst.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Doctor. Doctor, where are you?

[Dr. Horst]

Up ahead, admiring the wild animal.

[Captain John Black]

Careful, Horst. Wait for us.

[Dr. Horst]

Don't worry, Captain. It's an iron deer. A lawn ornament.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's impossible.

[Dr. Horst]

It's hollow. Interesting, isn't it? A whitewashed Victorian iron deer sitting on a lawn in the middle of Mars.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

I don't understand.

[Dr. Horst]

Look around. The mist's lifting. Captain, look there. A house.

[Crew Member]

A regular old fashioned house on Mars.

[Grandma]

Good Lord.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

I haven't seen carved scrolls and gingerbread like that in years. Look at that port swing. Geranios. There.

[Crew Member]

I told you it was a rooster, Captain.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Give me the glasses, Lustig. I want to take a look through that front window. What? There's an upright piano, some sheet music on it.

[Dr. Horst]

Lustig.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

It's beautiful.

[Dr. Horst]

Ohio.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Beautiful Ohio? That can't be.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Look here, Horst. Do you think that civilizations of two planets could be identical?

[Dr. Horst]

I don't know. That specific variety of geraniums is only 50 years old on Earth.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Is it logical they should develop in Mars? How about that port swing? That piano. And beautiful Ohio. No, it's impossible.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Captain Black. This looks like the town I was born in.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Well, it looks like my hometown too.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

I've thought of something, sir. It's the only solution. Maybe we're not the first ship to

[Dr. Horst]

reach Mars from Earth.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

That's the only answer.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's impossibleistic. There have been space travel. It couldn't be secret. Do you have any idea what ships cost? What industrial power is needed? There's got to be some logical reason.

[Dr. Horst]

Captain. I think Perhaps we might find out. A light just went on in that house.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Kingston, cover that door with a machine gun. Come on, Horst, ring that doorbell. There's got to be a scientific answer to all this.

[Dr. Horst]

There's something moving in there.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Stand back. Horst, give me a clear shot. Maybe a Martian.

[Local Woman]

Can I help you?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

We. We were looking.

[Local Woman]

Well, if you're selling anything, it's much too early.

[Captain John Black]

No, no, wait.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Wait a minute.

[Narrator/Producer]

What.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

What town is it?

[Local Woman]

What do you mean? Are you census patriots?

[Dr. Horst]

No, we're strangers here. We want to know how this town got here.

[Local Woman]

Is this a game?

[Dr. Horst]

No, no, it's not a game. We are from Earth.

[Local Woman]

From where?

[Dr. Horst]

From Earth.

[Local Woman]

Do you mean out of the ground? Are you sure you're feeling well, madam?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

We came in a flying ship across space.

[Captain John Black]

We're from the third planet.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

This is. This is Mars now, do you understand? Mars.

[Local Woman]

You go away now, you hear? I'll call my husband from upstairs and he'll chase you and I'll go on.

[Dr. Horst]

This is Mars, isn't it?

[Local Woman]

This is Green Lake, Wisconsin, in the United States of America, bounded on the east by the Atlantic and on the west by the Pacific. Now, now, now, go away. Goodbye.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Horace, do you suppose it's really possible.

[Captain John Black]

I've got to find out more about

[Lieutenant Hingston]

this

[Local Woman]

for the last time. Now go away.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Pardon me, madam. What year is this year?

[Local Woman]

1928, of course. Oh, for goodness sake.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

You hear that, Horst? And we know it's 1987, and we know it's Mars. Is it possible that we got fouled up, made some tremendous blunder and circled

[Dr. Horst]

around and landed back on Earth in 1928?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Maybe. Some switch in time or dimension. Could we have shifted somehow and gone backward in time? Horst, it won't hold water. It's not logical. We've checked every mile we went. Past the moon and out into space. We're on Mars.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Find out anything, Captain?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

No. We're going back to the ship till I figure out some logical explanation for all this. Lustig, out at point.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Aye, sir.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Hingston, in the rear.

[Captain John Black]

Keep that gun in half

[Lieutenant Hingston]

course. There's got to be some cold, logical solution.

[Dr. Horst]

Captain. Captain.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

What?

[Dr. Horst]

That house down the street.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

The white one with the green shutters.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Lustig, what's the matter? I never thought.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

I never thought.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Thank God. Thank God. Lustig. Lustig, come back here.

[Dr. Horst]

He's running for that house.

[Captain John Black]

Crazy fool.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

After him. Quick.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Lustig, stop. Come down off of that porch. Grandpa.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Grandpa.

[Captain John Black]

Lustig.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

What the devil do you think you're crocking? Grandma and Grandpa? It is you Lusty.

[Dr. Horst]

What's going on here?

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[Grandma]

Why, it's been so many years.

[Dr. Horst]

How you've grown, boy.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Oh, it's so good to see you, Lieutenant Rustic.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Oh.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Oh, Captain. Grandma, I want you to meet my friends. This is Captain Black. Captain, I want you to meet my grand folks.

[Grandma]

Howdy. Any friends of Albert's is friends of ours.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

How long you been here, Grandma?

[Mom]

Oh, good.

[Local Woman]

Many years.

[Mom]

Ever since we died.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Ever since you what?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Yes, sir. They've been dead 30 years.

[Captain John Black]

What?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

You mean to tell me that Mars is heaven?

[Grandma]

Nonsense. No. All we know is here. We're alive again. And who are we to question God's infinite ways?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Hi, Lustig. We're going back to the ship.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

But Captain, I want to talk to my grandson.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Lieutenant Lustig, I don't like any part of this. You'll come back with us. I have to club you and carry you.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Yeah, but sir, they're my.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Heaven only knows what they've run up against. Back of the ship.

[Captain John Black]

First. Look at that crowd around the ship.

[Dr. Horst]

Looks like we're being welcomed with a celebration.

[Captain John Black]

Celebration? They've abandoned ship. Every port is open. No guards at all.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

You. You.

[Captain John Black]

Masters.

[Radio Announcer]

Hiya, Captain.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Meet my old dad.

[Radio Announcer]

Dad, that's Captain Black. And he's not a bad guy for

[Captain John Black]

an office of all the. Hingston.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Oh, what?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Sir?

[Captain John Black]

Bring that man back. Use force if you have to.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Excuse me, sir.

[Captain John Black]

There's my uncle George Hingston.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

I'll be right back, Captain. Uncle George. Uncle George.

[Captain John Black]

What the devil is he?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Understand, sir. They've all found friends and relatives.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

They're all here.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

He's right, Captain.

[Dr. Horst]

I've counted. The whole crew is out on the crop.

[Captain John Black]

But I gave orders. Definite orders.

[Lieutenant Lustig]

You don't understand, Captain.

[Captain John Black]

I understand mutiny. I don't care how many relatives show up. I'll have discipline.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Johnny.

[Grandma]

Johnny, you old son of a God.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Edward. Edward, it's you.

[Captain John Black]

It can't be.

[Grandma]

Of course it is. Johnny, you old son of a guy.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Ed. Edward. Dr. Horst, this is my.

[Captain John Black]

My brother, Edward.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

How do you do? Hello. It's. It's wonderful to see you, Edward.

[Captain John Black]

Look, I've got to get back to my ship.

[Grandma]

Hey, I almost forgot. Mom's waiting at home.

[Dr. Horst]

Mom and dad, too.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Mom, dad are alive. Excuse me, Horst.

[Captain John Black]

Then you're real.

[Grandma]

Then don't I feel real? How's that, huh?

[Captain John Black]

Ed.

[Grandma]

Ed, we've got lunch for you. Johnny, Mom's making corn fritters.

[Captain John Black]

Corn?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Dr. Horst, haven't you found anybody?

[Dr. Horst]

No, Captain. I have nobody.

[Captain John Black]

Then you come on home with me, right, A.D. sure.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

You bet. Horst, you wouldn't believe it, but it's

[Captain John Black]

been 35 years since I had Mom's corn fritters.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

By George, 35 years.

[Mom]

And there's plenty more in the kitchen, so don't hold back. Johnny. You too, Dr. Horst.

[Engineer]

Well, Johnny, you're still in the Navy, huh?

[Captain John Black]

That's right, dad. I'm in command of the ship.

[Engineer]

We're an old Navy family, Dr. Horst. All three of our boys in the service.

[Captain John Black]

Ed was the best pilot in the Pacific.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

What didn't happen, Ed? Oh, what's the difference?

[Narrator/Producer]

I'm here now.

[Mom]

You know, it's almost perfect. All we're missing is your brother, Will. Then the whole family could be together.

[Captain John Black]

Well, it won't be long, Mom. Will's in charge of the XR54.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's the next rocket coming out to Mars.

[Engineer]

Well, little Will, when does he leave, Johnny?

[Captain John Black]

Takeoff's scheduled for September.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

But it depends on what we report. There's no question about that. Now, Christmas together again. That'll be something, huh?

[Engineer]

Yes, sir. Well, this calls for celebration.

[Grandma]

How about a little of the old

[Engineer]

dandelion wine, eh, Johnny?

[Mom]

Now, Father, don't you go giving Johnny too much wine.

[Engineer]

He's a big boy now.

[Captain John Black]

Mother.

[Engineer]

Well, sir, isn't everything just fine? Just fine.

[Grandma]

The candlelights are gleaming on the banks of the Wallach far away.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Play another song. Sure.

[Mom]

Well, Dr. Horace, what do you think of my little family?

[Dr. Horst]

Very nice.

[Mom]

You know, I can't understand why you didn't find any folks here, Dr. Horst. It's just a shame everybody else is so happy.

[Dr. Horst]

I never remembered my family, Mrs. Black? All I know is they were gassed at Dachau during the Second World War. When I was liberated. I was in a delirium three months. I cannot remember anything before then. The psychiatric phenomenon.

[Mom]

That's terrible. Isn't there anything anybody can do?

[Dr. Horst]

I don't want to remember. Oh, I haven't had a pleasant life. I prefer to be free of emotional entanglements. They interfere with a scientific approach.

[Mom]

I'm sorry, Dr. Horst.

[Captain John Black]

I'll get it.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Hey, that's our ring.

[Captain John Black]

Long and free shorts. I remember that.

[Mom]

Well, maybe we better call it a night. You must be getting tired, Johnny.

[Dr. Horst]

I better be going back to the ship.

[Engineer]

Oh, nonsense. You stay the night.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

We insist.

[Mom]

I just couldn't rest thinking of you all alone on that ship.

[Dr. Horst]

I'd be all right. Well, good night.

[Narrator/Producer]

Wait a minute, Dr. Horst.

[Grandma]

That phone message was for you.

[Dr. Horst]

Me?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Yeah, that's right.

[Grandma]

A message from Anna.

[Dr. Horst]

Anna? I don't remember any Anna.

[Grandma]

She asked if you were better.

[Mom]

Perhaps she's someone you knew at Dachau.

[Engineer]

She said she's coming over here first

[Grandma]

thing in the morning.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

So you'll have to stay over. Yes. Well, that settles it then. You stay here, Horst. You can bunk with me in my old room.

[Engineer]

Oh, but Johnny, we thought you'd like

[Lieutenant Hingston]

to be with Edward so you could

[Mom]

talk the way you used to.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Well, we can't put Dr. Horst on the daybed. I think we better share the room tonight. There'll be plenty of time for talking, Ed. I guess so.

[Captain John Black]

Well, I suppose I better drop back the ship. You know, Ed.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Security check.

[Mom]

Why do you have to do that here?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Well, I don't know. There's no good reason, I guess. Well, I suppose we skip it tonight.

[Grandma]

Sure.

[Captain John Black]

Good night, everybody.

[Mom]

Oh, it's good to have you home, Johnny.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

It's good to be home, Mom.

[Dr. Horst]

Captain Black, are you asleep?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

No, no, I just been thinking about what we were expecting. Green skinned Martians with eyes on stalks. All the time it was only mom and dad and Edward waiting. It's funny what tricks your imagination can play on you. Yeah, I guess Mars is heaven. Horst.

[Grandma]

Hmm?

[Dr. Horst]

I've been thinking about Martians too. Captain. Just suppose. Suppose there were Martians and they saw us land. Suppose they thought of us as invaders. What would be the best weapon they could use against our atom bomb?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

I don't see what you're getting at.

[Dr. Horst]

They would want to disarm us first to wipe out all suspicion. To make us feel at home. But suppose this house isn't real. Suppose the people are Just images stolen from our own memories by Martians. Created for us by telepathy, hypnotism.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's the craziest theory I ever heard.

[Dr. Horst]

Maybe that's why there was no one for me. Because in all my life there is no happy memory. No real love person.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

How about that phone call from Anna?

[Dr. Horst]

Yes, Anna. I don't remember who she was, but I do now. I just remembered. When I was freed from Daho. Sick, delirious. I raved about a wonderful, kind nurse named Anna that took care of me.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

There you are. It's logical. She's coming to see you tomorrow.

[Dr. Horst]

But there was no Anna. I'd been nursed by a man. What? Anna. There's only a dream. And there's only one way they could have learned about her. By reading my subconscious mind.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's impossible.

[Narrator/Producer]

Harsh.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Why?

[Dr. Horst]

The whole crew was thinking of home. Suppose the Martians read our minds?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Yes. But if there are Martians.

[Dr. Horst]

If there are, they have us separated. Each man in a different house, sleeping. Trusting no one at the gun, I

[Lieutenant Hingston]

licked my pistol downstairs. You think there's something to this, Horse?

[Dr. Horst]

It's a. Who would suspect his own mother? His grandparents? How easy. Just a knife in the heart of each sleeping man.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

That's impossible. Horseman. We've got to get back to the ship. Listen.

[Dr. Horst]

The crickets have stopped.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Come on.

[Dr. Horst]

We don't know when they change back to whatever they really are.

[Grandma]

Where are you going, John?

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Ed. Well, we. We wanted a drink of water, that's all. Ed.

[Grandma]

You're not thirsty, John? You don't want to drink? You don't want to drink?

[Lieutenant Johnny]

His face, it's changing. And his hands. He's a Martian. Run, Horse, run. It's my horse. Horse, where are you?

[Captain John Black]

Hello?

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Hello? Can you hear me?

[Lieutenant Lustig]

Earth?

[Lieutenant Johnny]

This is Captain John Black, the XR53, calling from Mars. I've locked myself in the ship, but they've crippled it. I can't take off or fire the guns. And they're coming for me now, the Martians. I'm all alone here. All the rest are dead. Hingston, Lustig, Dr. Horst. Poor horse, he didn't even reach the door.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Listen.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Listen. They're trying to break through the hall now. Edward and mom and dad and all the folks. But they're changing now. Melting and changing back into the. They're Martians. Can you understand me? Martians, not men. They made us think that Mars was heaven. And we fell into the trap. Can you hear me, Earth? You've got to stop the next rocket.

[Lieutenant Hingston]

Tell.

[Lieutenant Johnny]

Tell my brother will tell. My brother will not to come. They'll trap him too. They'll kill them all. Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? Earth, this is John Black on Mars. Hello, Earth, this is John Black on.

[Narrator/Producer]

Tonight, Dimension X has presented and transcribed the Ray Bradbury story Mars is Heaven, adapted for radio by Ernest Kanhoy. Featured players were Wendell Holmes as Captain Black and Peter Capell as Dr.

[Dr. Horst]

Horse.

[Narrator/Producer]

Your narrator, Norman Rose. Music by Albert Berman, engineer Bill Chambers. Dimension X is produced by Van Woodward and directed by Edward King. Robert Warren speaking in a moment.

[Dr. Horst]

Dimension xx. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.

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