Dimension X - The Roads Must Roll - #22

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Dimension X - The Roads Must Roll (#22)

Date: May 5, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

Overview

In this episode, Harold's Old Time Radio presents Dimension X's adaptation of “The Roads Must Roll,” a seminal science fiction story by Robert Heinlein. Originally broadcast during the early atomic age, this radio drama explores a future America completely reliant on massive, moving roadways—mechanized strips that have replaced traditional vehicles. When dissension and sabotage threaten the infrastructure, the episode unpacks issues of technological dependence, class conflict, and the danger of unchecked industrial power. The narrative blends adrenaline, political intrigue, and a distinctly mid-20th-century optimism and anxiety about the future.

---

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene (00:33–03:30)

• Premise: It's the mid-20th century. Traditional roadways and cars have become obsolete as entire cities rely on huge, high-speed moving roads (essentially giant conveyor belts).
• Technological Miracle: The narrator sets up the promise and growing pains of this new society, where transportation is efficient but utterly dependent on flawless engineering and the men who maintain it.
• Quote:

  “An engineering miracle had changed the face of a nation...if the roads should ever stop, our whole economic life would stop.”
  (Narrator, 03:02)

2. Rising Tensions: Engineers vs. Everyone Else (03:30–06:55)

• Engineer Saul Gaines: Rallies his fellow engineers, suggesting they are undervalued and hinting at the power they wield over society by controlling the roads.

• Union Leader Harvey: Reminds the engineers of solidarity with other workers, but Saul pushes for more drastic action, suggesting direct control by engineers.

• Labor vs. Management: This segment illuminates the brewing labor unrest and sense of superiority among the road engineers.

• Quote:

  “We’re the brains of the road. And where would the public be if we didn’t keep those roads out there rolling?”
  (Engineer Saul Gaines, 03:30)

3. A Glimpse of Everyday Life & Dependence on the Roads (06:56–09:53)

• Personal Sacrifice: Supervisor Jim Gaines' domestic life is set against his professional responsibilities, as he puts duty over family to host a visiting foreign minister.
• Tour of the Roads: Gaines gives Mr. Evans, an Australian sociologist, an overview of the roadways’ structure—including their speed, safety measures, and onboard facilities like restaurants.
• Quote:

  “The roads must roll.”
  (Gaines’ recurring slogan, with a weary pushback from his wife, 07:22)

4. Hinting at Disaster: System Fragility (09:53–13:39)

• Safety & Past Failures: Gaines details previous catastrophic failures and explains the highly regimented, military-like selection for engineers to prevent human error.
• Evans' Caution: The sociologist warns of overreliance on technology and the potential for disaster if strife undermines the system.
• Quote:

  “Isn’t it possible that you become too dependent on these roads, Mr. Gaines?”
  (Evans, 12:41)

5. Sabotage and Revolt (13:40–19:00)

• Disaster Strikes: Emergency stops on one strip; Gaines and Evans navigate chaos as Gaines tries to ascertain the cause.
• Discovery: Engineers realize this is no accident—rotors have been deliberately cut; this is sabotage, not mechanical failure.
• Call to Action: Armed cadets and engineers are mobilized to regain control sector by sector.
• Quote:

  “Somebody cut those rotors by hand. All available senior class cadets to report...with pistols and tear gas.”
  (Gaines, 15:11)

6. Face to Face with the Revolt Leaders: Van Cleek's Coup (18:10–24:26)

• Van Cleek: Former deputy and head of the Engineers’ Control Committee seizes Sacramento sector, threatening to halt or destroy the roads unless given control.

• Standoff: Powerful exchange between Gaines and Van Cleek as Van boasts of his control and threatens catastrophic violence for leverage.

• Psychological Assessment: Gaines investigates Van Cleek’s instability, deducing manipulation of psychological records to assemble a vulnerable, discontent crew.

• Quotes:

  “Whoever controls the roads controls the country. And right now that happens to be me.”
  (Van Cleek, 18:44)
  “If I blow this charge in the middle of Sacramento sector, you’ll get an awful lot of people. … There are plenty of shopkeepers still on Strip 20.”
  (Van Cleek, 23:16)

7. Climax: Confrontation and Resolution (25:30–27:22)

• Gaines' Gamble: Gaines confronts Van Cleek unarmed, using psychological tactics to rattle Van, exploiting his insecurities and sense of inferiority.
• Disarmament: Gaines manipulates Van into relinquishing his weapon without triggering mass destruction, thus breaking the revolt.
• Quote:

  “I thought if I wounded your little ego you’d forget to push that button and pull a trigger instead. I’m afraid you’ll never make a good executive, Van. They have to know when to punch buttons.”
  (Gaines, 27:26)

8. Denouement: Order Restored—But at What Cost? (27:23–29:23)

• Aftermath: The engineers regain control, resolve the sabotage, and resume “rolling” the roads.
• Touch of Humor/Human Cost: Gaines is reminded of his neglected domestic life, as his wife is left waiting at Stockton for hours, a gentle reminder of the personal costs of duty.
• Quote:

  “No, no, don’t tell her that—I don’t think she’d appreciate it. She’s heard it too often.”
  (Gaines to his assistant, referring to the slogan "the roads must roll," 29:19)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Engineers’ Power and Hubris:

  “We’re the men who hold the power. It’s time we quit fiddling around and used a little direct action to get what we want.”
  (Saul Gaines, 03:30)

• Dependence on Infrastructure:

  “If the roads should ever stop, our whole economic life would stop. But the machinery had never failed. Yet the machinery that rolled the roads was perfect. But people forgot that machinery depends on men, the men who run it.”
  (Narrator, 03:02)

• Dangers of Revolt and Psychological Manipulation:

  “He must have been faking psych records for years, transferring maladjusted men into his sect.”
  (Gaines, 23:57)

• Human Element & Personal Life:

  “The roads must roll.”
  (Repeated slogan, often met with irony or exasperation, e.g., 07:22, 29:19)

---

Timestamps for Significant Sections

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction/Narrator sets up premise | 00:33–03:30 | | Labor meeting, Engineer Saul Gaines speaks | 03:30–05:52 | | Gaines’ family/personal life | 06:56–07:37 | | Gaines tours roads with Evans | 09:15–10:09 | | Failure/sabotage begins | 13:39–15:11 | | Van Cleek’s coup and manifesto | 18:18–19:00 | | Harvey’s warning, violence escalates | 19:00–20:21 | | Gaines’ tactical orders and advance | 20:21–21:26 | | Road comes to a halt | 22:14–22:57 | | Standoff and psychological duel with Van Cleek| 25:30–27:26 | | Closing/epilogue, Gaines’ personal cost | 29:00–29:23 |

---

Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains the clipped dialogue, earnest delivery, and blend of futuristic optimism with social anxiety characteristic of 1950s radio plays. The script focuses on issues of social order, technology’s double-edged sword, and the constant tension between personal ambition and societal duty. It’s both pulpy and prescient, offering entertainment alongside pointed social commentary.

---

Conclusion

“The Roads Must Roll” is a classic radio drama that not only entertains with its high-stakes plot and suspenseful confrontations, but also presciently examines the fragility of infrastructure and the human flaws that can undermine even the most advanced technological systems. Its warnings about overreliance on machinery, social class divisions among skilled workers, and the need for ethical leadership feel as relevant today as in the golden age of radio.

---

Transcript

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Adventures in Time and Space Transcribed in future tense. Can you predict the future? Can you tell what will come in a hundred years? Or in 10? Or in the next minute? Tonight, Dimension X brings you a glimpse of what may well happen within your own lifetime. The Robert Heinlein story the roads must roll.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Oh, our job is never done for our roadways go rolling along while you ride While you ride we are watching down inside so your roadways keep rolling along Always high, high heat the road

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

of men are we Check off The sector's lodge stop 1, 2 anywhere you

[Narrator / Various Characters]

go you are bound to know that your roadway keeps rolling along Keep them rolling, your roadway keeps rol.

[Narrator / Announcer]

It was in the middle 1950s that the automotive age began to die. The traffic engineers had long expected it. For years they had watched our vast cities sprawl and spread out, spill over into the countryside, become more and more dependent on motor transportation. And then finally, the inevitable breaking point is reached. The growing flood of cars and buses and trucks began to swamp the streets and arterial highways. The building of roads could no longer keep pace. The superhighways clogged, congested, became packed with cars stalled bumper to bumper. And the cities began to die of slow strangulation, for the traffic could no longer roll. And then the engineers took over. They banned the automobiles, tore up the superhighways. And in their place, they built the rolling road. Mechanized roads that moved like huge conveyor belts, whirling along on their giant rotors at speed rang ranging from 5 to 100 miles an hour, carrying the freight,

[Narrator / Various Characters]

the food and the people.

[Narrator / Announcer]

From city to city and coast to coast. An engineering miracle had changed the face of a nation. The automobiles and railroads vanished. The rolling roads had taken over all transportation. And no one worried over the fact that if the roads should ever stop, our whole economic life would stop. But the machinery had never failed. Yet the machinery that rolled the roads was perfect. But people forgot that machinery depends on men, the men who run it.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Who makes the roads roll. That's right. The engineers not the supervisors, not the mechanic union, but the engineers. We're the brains of the road. And where would the public be if we didn't keep those roads out there rolling right behind the eight ball, and everybody knows it. All right, Saint. We're the men who hold the power. It's time we started using it. We've called this meeting of the Engineers Control Committee because that's what we want to do. Control? Because I'm tired of taking orders from the transport commission. From slick desk jockeys like Jim Gaines who don't even know a rotor bearing from a field. Let James yammer about our duty to the public. That's a lot of eye wiring. We've got the power, and we're the men that count. It's time we quit fiddling around and used a little direct action to get what we want. Let's go. Let's go. Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair. The chair recognizes brother Harvey of a transport mechanics unit. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks, boys. I don't rightly belong here since I'm no engineer. I'm just here to represent the workers union. But I want to know what Saul is shooting for. You engineers have got better working conditions than we have, and we ain't kicking. You say you engineers are powerful. You say you can tie up the road, right? Well, listen, so can any screwball with a jar of nitroglycerin. Yeah, and he don't need no engineering degree neither. Army, are you speaking for your union now, or are you here as a stooge for the transport commission? Listen, I. I helped found my union and I led the strike in 75 for decent working condition. Where were you engineers then, huh? With the things? Remember, you're only a guest at this meeting.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Go on, Pan.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Now, listen, man, I'm one of the

[Narrator / Various Characters]

old engineers on the roads.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

You all are worked up the hard work. We didn't go to the fancy technical institutes like those young punk cadets the commission is training to take over our jobs. Jim Gaines, don't fill us full of the old school spirit and that baloney about how the roads must roll so. All right, then. Why don't we get smart for a change? What would happen if the roads stopped rolling? Maybe the country would begin to realize that they can't do without it. And maybe we'd begin to get the things we want.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Yes?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Your wife is calling, Ms. Gaines.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

All right, put her on.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Jim, I want you to stop off on your way home.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

I'm sorry, darling, I can't make it.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Oh, but you promised.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Yes, I know, but Washington Called in. They're sending Evans, the Australian Minister of Transport, through my sector today. I've got to show him through personally.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Well, can't somebody else?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Well, I'm chief supervisor. It wouldn't be courteous.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Darling, courtesy begins at home. I've planned this dinner for weeks, honey.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

The roads must roll.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Jim, if you quote that nauseating slogan at me again, I'll divorce you.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Well, I can't help it, darling. I dare you. I'll meet you at Stockton at 9. We'll take in a show. Kiss Allen good night for me.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

All right, dear. Goodbye.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Bye, darling.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Mr. Evans is here.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Send him in.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Go right in, sir.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Well, good evening, Mr. Evans. I'm Gaines, Chief Engineer. How do you do, Mr. Gaines? Won't you sit down? Thank you. They told me at the embassy you'd be the man to see. Oh, I want to know how the roads work. I think we can handle that. I'm not a technical man, Mr. Gaines. My field is sociology. Suppose you tell me about the roads as if I were entirely ignorant. Well, fine, fine. Well, it's nearly dinner time. Suppose we run up to Stockton sector for dinner? All right. Take us about an hour on the roads and you can see them working. Excellent. If you'll excuse me for a minute. I promise. Hi, chief. What can I do for you? Oh, Dave, you're on the evening watch, huh? Where's Van Cleek? Oh, gone to some meeting. I'm going up to Stockton for dinner. Anything to report? No, sir. The roads are rolling. Okay, keep them rolling. All right, Mr. Evans, let's go. This. This here is the low speed strip. You ever ridden a conveyor before? No. It's quite simple. Remember to face the motion of the strip as you get on. Oh, that's it. Okay. All right, well, we'll go right across here. Each adjoining strip is a few miles an hour faster than the one next to it. I see. Freight is carried on the 50 mile strip. Most passenger traffic is on the express trip. All right, now, watch your step.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Here we are.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Maximum speed, 100 miles an hour. Amazing. This strip makes a round trip. San Diego to Reno in 12 hours. Oh, oh, here's the restaurant. Ready to eat? Is this a restaurant? There's a sign, Jake. Steakhouse. Fastest meal on the road. Is it really a proper restaurant? One of the best. Hooked right into the moving strip. Of course. Shall we go in?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Oh, Hello. Hello there, Mr. Gaines.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

We don't see much of you out on the road. Well, busy in the office, Jake. Right this way. Thank you.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Here we are.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Now What'll it be? Well, you order, Jake? Well, how about a steak 2 inches thick from a steer that died happy. That's right. That's right. Plug me in the intercom, will you, Jake? Sure. There's a talk box right next to you.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Blank tool.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Ryan, if you excuse me. Mr. Evans. DAVIDSON ON watch. This is the Chief Davidson. I'm at Jake Steakhouse. You can reach me at 10L66. 10L66. Right there. Now they can get a hold of me in an emergency. Now, Mr. Gaines, what kind of an emergency could there be? Well, two, principally. Power failure on the rotors would bring the road to a standstill. If that happened during rush hour, we'd have to evacuate millions of people. Well. Well, as many as that? Oh, yes, easily. There are 12 million people dependent on this section of road gainser. Hello, Chief Davidson. Just got the hourly reports in. Proceed. Cadet Engineer Gunther, while on watch, was found playing cards with CJ Ross, technician on duty. Any damage? One rotor running hot but still synchronized. It was tacked down and replaced. All right, have the paymaster give Ross his time. Turn him over to civil authorities. Place Cadet Gunther under arrest. Bring him to Road Town Central.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a [e-mail] or with your local agent.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Support is available 247 with VRBoCare. We're here day or night, ready whenever you need help.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Because a great trip starts with the right support. All right, keep em rolling. As I was saying, Evans, there are two possibilities of danger. Can you visualize what would happen if the strip under us would break? I hadn't thought that. You don't realize you're traveling at 100 miles an hour. Well, it can't break. Not now. The strip has a safety factor of over 12 to 1. It's a good soup, Jake. Thank you, Mr. Gay. But you know, Evans, a break did happen once in the early days. That was on the Philadelphia Jersey City road. Dear me, no. That's right. The strip wasn't much more than a conveyor belt. Then you know, it buckled for miles, crushing passengers against the roof. Yeah, forward section in Front of the brakes spilled them down under into the rotors and the rollers. Was it very bad? Over 3,000 people were killed in that break. But, Evans, the roads had to go on. You know, the entire economic system hangs on the roads. They stop now, the country would starve. Isn't it possible that you become too dependent on these roads, Mr. Gaines? For example, what have you had to strike? We had a strike back in 75, but there's not much danger of that anymore. No? Why not? Every cadet that goes to work on the roads today is a graduate of the United States Transport Academy. Oh, I see. They're all picked men screened for emotional stability. They're trained to give us the same kind of loyalty that Annapolis and West Point develop in their men. You're a graduate, I suppose, Mr. Gaines? No, no, I was too old for that. The academy wasn't set up till after the strike in 75, but it won't be long now. Maybe five or ten years. Evans. Before the oldest engineer on the roads is a man who's. Who's been through that academy. Gainer.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Davidson.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Chief, there's trouble in Sacramento.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

What is it? What's happening?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Emergency stop. Hello? Hello? Davidson. The phones must be out. Come on. Jake.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Jake, what is your customer?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Have everybody stay in the restroom. Probably somebody stepped onto the next truck. Got cut to ribbons. There'll be plenty of casualties. Jake, where's your getaway hat? In the pantry. Well, how are we going to help those people? I've got the whole road to think of. Now, don't bother me. Give me a hand. Jake. This hatch is stuck here. All right, if you're coming with me, Mr. Evans, you better move fast. I haven't got any time to waste. Where are we now? Freeway on top of the inner road ceiling. That's the outer shell over us. Are we going outside? No, there'll be an access down manhole over here. They're spaced every hundred feet. There, by the green light. I got you. All right. This will get us down on the northbound road. Careful now, it's dark. All right. Stand away from that door, Evan. But this road is still rolling. Yeah, so it is. It was only the 100 mile strip that stopped. There's what I want. A phone booth. Look out, Evans. Excuse me, will you?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Hey, I'm talking to my wife.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Don't argue.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

I'll fall.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Emergency priority division office. Davidson. Gaines here. Report. Chief, how you been? I've been calling. Never mind that. Report. 709. Report strip 20 past emergency level. Interlock it and cut the strip. Out. Cause of failure unknown. Direct communication to Sacramento control office. Out. Evacuation of Strip 20 commenced. No casualties. There are casualties. I saw them. Put police and hospital routine A into operation. Get me Van Cleek. I want him to take over for me till I report him. We can't reach him, Chief. Shall I cut out the rest of the road? No. Keep those other strips rolling or we'll have a traffic jam the devil himself couldn't untangle. There are 5 million passengers on that road now. Notify the Governor that I've assumed emergency authority. Arm all cadets available and await orders. Shall I recall technicians off watch? No, this isn't an engineering failure, man. That whole sector went out simultaneously. Somebody cut those rotors by hand. Now I want all available senior class cadets to report to Stockton Subsector Office 10 with pistols and tear gas.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Oh, the Governor wants to talk to you. He called in. Refer him to somebody else. I'm busy. I'll get back to you. I'm going down under.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Hammond. Hammond.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Put on this helmet.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

What helmet?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

This helmet.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

No,

[Narrator / Various Characters]

you can't hear without an anti noise filter. All right, come on. What are we looking for? A recon car. There should be one here. Are those the rotors? The big ones are rotors. They drive the road. The little ones are rollers. They give continuous support. I see. Oh, there's a watch gang now jacking down a rotor. Can they hear us? No, the noise filter works on a four foot radius. I'll flash them he sees the light.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Is that boosted?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Reporting, sir. I want your recon car emergency. Yes, sir. Right over here, sir. Come on, Evans. All right now get in. Really? It's so small. Oh, you fit. All right now hang on. She accelerates like a rocket. Oh, my stomach. Relay station, this is Gaines. Get me Davidson, senior watch officer.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Mr. Gaines, the mayor wants to talk.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

I haven't got time. Get me Davidson. Leave this circuit hooked into Davidson's board until I tell you to cut it.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Here's the Senior watch officer Davidson Gaines calling. Have you found out yet what's stopping the roads? No, sir, it's still a mystery to me. All right, I'm on my way in a recon car. Hold everything till I get there. Cadet Edmonds reporting, sir. Three platoons of cadet engineers standing by with Tumble Bug motorcycles. Are they armed? Pistols and tear gases.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Order.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

All right. Good. Assistant Supervisor Van Cleek is calling you on circuit nine. Well, it's about time. Cut me in.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Hello, Van. Where are you?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Sacramento office.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Sacramento? That's good report.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

In a pig's eye.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

What?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

I'm not your deputy anymore, Gaines.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Van, what are you talking about?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Please don't interrupt me and you'll find out it's true, Gaines. I haven't picked the director of the Engineers Control Committee. We're taking over.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Have you gone off your rotors?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

You can't start Strip 20 until I'm ready to let you. Van, I can stop the whole road if I have to.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Van. Van Creek. I'll call in the Army.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

How do you get them here if the roads aren't rolling, eh? Listen, Gaines, whoever controls the roads controls the country. And right now that happens to be me. Sign off, Gaines. I've got to call the White House. You behave yourself, you won't get hurt.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

I don't believe it, sir. He's got his Edmunds. If we go in and blast him out, he may wreck the road. What's your rolling tonnage now? 53% under evening peak, sir. How about Strip 20? Almost evacuated. Listen in on this, Davidson. I'm going down inside with these cadets. We're gonna work north, overcoming any resistance that we may meet. The watch, technicians and maintenance crews are to follow behind us. Each rotor, as they come to it, is to be cut out from under Sacramento's control then hooked into the Stockton control Board. You understand? Got it. Jack. If it works right, we can move control of Sacramento sector right out from under Van's feet. He can stay in his office there till he's hungry enough to be reasonable. Edmonds, get me a pistol. Mr. Gaines, there's a man here and he's badly hurt. You want the squirrel, see you take care of him. I haven't got time to. He's from Sacramento sector. What? Send him in here. Mr. Gaines. Mr. Gaines. Take it easy, Mr. Gaines. You're. You're Harvey from the mechanic. Tried to warn you. Tried to get away. Shot me three times. Get a doctor, will you? All right, now. Easy, easy. Harvey. Harvey. How long has this been building up? Isn't the men, it's the engineers. I told them they were crazy. Told them the road's got a roll

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

and when I tried to get away.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Reading from the mouth. Harvey. Harvey, can you hear me? He's dead, Mr. Gaines. Come on, Edmonds. We better move. All right. You, man. You saw Harvey brought in. How many of you want a chance to kill the mouse that did it? All right, man. Anybody who hasn't got his mind on his job will be in the way. Now, here's the order. We move north, mounted on Tumblebugs. We're going to try to regain control rotor by rotor before Sacramento sector knows that we're moving. Now, we've got to capture any watch personnel we run on before they can get word back. You understand, man? Surprise is vital. Use tear gas when possible. Shoot only when necessary, but get them before they can reach your phone jack. Any questions? No, and move out. What's the score, Edwards? 33 prisons so far. No one kills. Years since I rode one of these tumble bugs. Forgotten how to steer it. There's man ahead there at the ROTOR base. Now he's got a phone jacked in. Hurry. He gets word back, we're sunk. I. I don't think he's seen us. I'll dismount again. All right, quickly. Seasons. Come here, you. He's got a gun.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

I got him, sir. I got him.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Grab his gun. Yeah, he had an intercom jacked in, all right. If he's got through the Sacramento office, it's gonna be tough. I don't know, sir. Maybe you can get the call through. Listen.

[Narrator / Announcer]

The road.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Take off your noise filter there. It's the road. The road is stopping. Halt your man.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Hold.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Hold up there. Hold up. Edmonds, there's a recon car coming up. Relay station, call for Mr. Gaines and the recon speaker. Give it to me. Here you are, sir. Gaines, sir. Davidson here. Chief. Van Cleek's calling you. Who stopped the road? He did. Oh, he did, did he? All right, cut Van Cleek into me.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

You thought I was spawning, eh, Gaines? What do you think now?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

All right, Van. The road has stopped. You've won this trick.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Then why don't you get smart? Give up. You can't win.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

You forgot something, Van. You can't lick the whole country.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Yeah. Gang, I've got a switch button in my hand. If I push it, it'll blow 300 yards straight across the road. And then for good measure, I'll take an axe and wreck the control station before I leave.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

That's pretty drastic, Van.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Yeah. If I blow this charge in the middle of Sacramento sector, you'll get an awful lot of people. There are plenty of shopkeepers still on Strip 20. That rob apartment house is next to the Robin.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Gone. Now, look, Van, you don't want to blow the road. Neither do I, suppose. Van, I come up to your headquarters and we talk this over. Two reasonable men ought to be able to make a settlement.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

Is there some kind of a trick?

[Narrator / Various Characters]

I'll come alone, unarmed. My men will stay here.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

All right, Gaines, but one wall open I flob around.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

We've got to hurry, Dave. If I take too long, Van Cleek will get edgy and set off that chart. I can't understand it. The psych tests are rigid. We've never had a failure in the Hum Wadsworth Burton Metric. Then suddenly a whole sector goes sour. How could Van Cleek get a whole crew of psych cleared men to revoke Dave as my deputy? He was ex officio personnel officer for the whole road. He must have been faking psych records for years. Transferring maladjusted men into his sect.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

I've got that personnel record, Mr. Gaines.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Thank you. This is Van's record here. Masked introvert. Inferiority rating 7 on. In spite of potential instability shown on Wadsworth Curve, this officer is especially adept in handling men. He's adept, all right. I haven't got time for any more, Dave. Chief, are you actually going up there to Van Cleek's office? I've got to. They'll be armed. They'll kill you. I'm gonna take that chance. I just call in the Army. He won't dare blow the road then. Yes, he would. Look at that psych record there. He's putting up a big, brave front, but he's rotten inside. He wants to be taken seriously. He wants everybody to think he's the most dangerous man in this country. If I call the army in, he'll try to prove it by blowing the road. But how can you stop him, Mr. Gaines? He'll have a gun. What'll you have? What'll I have? Only a prayer and what I know about, Mr. Van Cleek. All right, Gaines.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Director Van Cleek will see you now.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Gaines. I want you to sign this now. The declaration of your recognition of the Engineers Control Committee. You've got one minute to sign it, Gaines, or I'll. I'll push this button and blow up the whole sector. You better sign, Gaines. You need this gorilla with the gun, Van.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Why are you.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Can't you handle one unarmed man alone?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

All right, hurry. Out, out, out.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Okay.

[Narrator / Announcer]

All right.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Outside. What's so funny? You. I know about. You are man. You start a revolution because you think the engineers should control the road. Then when you've got control, the only thing you can think of is to blow it up. That's kind of silly, isn't it? Tell me what you so scared of. I'm not scared. Yeah, Sitting there sweating all over that push button that you're holding. If your buddies knew how afraid you were, they'd probably throw you into the rotors. I'm not afraid. You're afraid of me right now, Van. You're afraid I'll have you on the carpet. You're afraid the cadets won't salute you. You're afraid that they're laughing at you behind your back. No, no, no, I'm not. You keep quiet now. I've got a gun here. Yeah, you're afraid of using the wrong fork at dinner. You're afraid people are looking at you, Van, laughing. I am not.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

I am not.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

You dirty, stuck up snob. Just because you went to a high hat school you think you're better than everybody, huh?

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

You and your crummy little gold break.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Cadet Van. You're a pathetic little shrimp. I understand you perfectly, Van. You're a third rater. All your life you've been afraid that someone would send you to the foot of the class. Throw you right out on your ear where you belong. I don't want to look at you anymore.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

You young.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

I'll show you. I'll put a bullet in you. Put down that pop gun before you hurt yourself. Won't you come near me now, don't you come now.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

I'll shoot. I'll shoot now.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Give me that. Van.

[Engineer Saul Gaines]

No, Let me go.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Will you give me that pistol? I thought if I wounded your little ego you'd forget to push that button and pull a trigger instead. I'm afraid you'll never make a good executive, Van. They have to know when to punch buttons. No. No, I'm not. Davidson. Gainsay. Chief, are you all right? Yeah, I'm all right. Attack now. Davidson, mop up. I'll hold the control room. I've got Van Cleek. I think his little revolution is just about over. Mr. Gaines. Mr. Gaines. Oh, Mr. Evans, I forgot about you. I've been waiting at the sector office. Is everything under control? Yes, all's rolling. Those are the watch engineers going under to check Sacramento sector inch by inch. Now. Remarkable organization. Remarkable. Thank you. Harley's in chief. San Diego Circle rolling. Bakersfield, Fresno. Stockton. Stockton. Stockton. Oh. Oh no. What's the manatee? It's trouble, Mr. Gaines. There sure is. I promised to meet my wife at Stockton for a show. She been waiting there since 9 o' clock last night. Oh, dear me. Dave. Dave, see if you can get her for me. Try the sector office. All right, Chief. And. And Dave, see if you can calm her down. Oh, sure, chief, sure. I'll tell her the roads must roll. No, no, don't tell her that I. I don't think she'd appreciate that. She's heard it too often. Well, I better get going. Bye, Dave. Keep them rolling. Keep them rolling and your roadways go rolling along.

[Narrator / Announcer]

You have just heard another adventure into the unknown world of the future.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

The world of the Mansion.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Next week, the strange story of the test pilot who became the first man ever to invade outer space and of what he found when he got there. Listen. Next week, to the Outer Limit. Tonight's Adventures in Dimension X. The Roads Must Roll was written by Robert Heinlein and adapted for radio by Ernest Kanoy. Featured in the cast were Wendell Holmes is game, Ralph Bell as Van Cleek. Your host was Norman Rhodes. Music by Albert Berman.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Engineer Bill Chambers.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Dimension X is produced by Van Woodward and directed by Edward K. The Strange, who became the first man ever to invade outer space. He found when he got there.

[Grainger Advertiser]

If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock. So your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Representative]

I'm here on the job site with Dale, who's a framing contractor.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Hey, good morning.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Representative]

Dale traded up to Geico Commercial Auto Insurance for all his business vehicles. We're here where he needs us most.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Yep, they sure are.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Representative]

We make it easy for him to save on all his insurance needs. All in one place with coverage that fits his business and bottom line. Oh, I shouldn't have looked down.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

It's all right.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Representative]

We're so far up here.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

Look at me. Take a deep breath.

[Geico Commercial Auto Insurance Representative]

No, I'm good. So good.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Get a commercial auto insurance quote [e-mail] and see how much you could save. It feels good.

[Narrator / Various Characters]

To Geico.