Up For Parole 50-03-17 (02) Paul Botwin

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Up For Parole 50-03-17 (02) Paul Botwin"

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Harold's Old Time Radio titled “Up For Parole 50-03-17 (02) Paul Botwin,” host Harolds Old Time Radio transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio. Released on April 25, 2025, the episode dramatizes a tense parole hearing for Paul Butwin, a 26-year-old inmate serving time for vehicle theft, conspiracy to rob, and burglary. The narrative delves deep into Paul's tumultuous past, his strained family relationships, and the psychological turmoil that led him to his current predicament.

Paul Butwin's Background

The episode opens with Paul Butwin standing before the parole board, seeking release after serving two and a half years of his five to ten-year sentence (00:31-00:40). Paul presents himself as a reformed individual who has adhered to prison regulations and distanced himself from negative influences. However, the chairman of the parole board is skeptical of Paul's sincerity and motivations.

The Parole Hearing

The parole hearing serves as the central focus of the episode, providing a window into Paul's personality and the factors that contributed to his criminal behavior. The Chairman probes Paul’s past, challenging his expressions of remorse and questioning the authenticity of his rehabilitation efforts.

• Initial Statements and Skepticism

  Paul begins by acknowledging his crimes: “I didn't think at the time I did it when I stole the car and the rest, that this was a crime not only against society, but against myself too” (02:19). The Chairman, however, is unimpressed and questions the authenticity of Paul's statements, suggesting that his speech might have been coached: “Who wrote that speech for you? Baldwin, sir. You can pick up one like that from any jailhouse lawyer for a buck” (03:02-03:11).

• Family Dynamics and Emotional Outbursts

  As the hearing progresses, Paul reveals deep-seated resentment towards his family. He admits to refusing to see his mother in prison and references a troubling aspect of his past involving his deceased father: “You want to see who he was?” (03:35). Paul's emotional instability becomes evident when he erupts, blaming his parents for his descent into crime: “They wanted me to be like this. They wanted a liar and a crook and they got it” (03:43).

Key Moments and Discussions

• Flashback to Paul's Life Before Crime

  Through a series of flashbacks, Paul recounts his life six years prior when he was considered "the good kid" in his neighborhood. He describes a pivotal moment of tension when his father appears to him, leading to a confrontation filled with anger and confusion: “I didn't know who I hated more, my father or my mother” (10:16-12:19). This encounter is crucial in understanding the psychological factors that influenced Paul's criminal behavior.

• Confrontation with His Apparent Father

  The episode dramatizes a haunting encounter where Paul confronts a man who resembles his deceased father. This confrontation escalates into a heated argument, with Paul accusing his father of deceit and manipulation: “She wanted a liar and a crook and they got it. They made me do it” (03:43). The intensity of this scene underscores Paul's internal conflicts and his struggle to reconcile his past with his present desires for redemption.

• Involvement in Criminal Activities

  Paul details his involvement in a sophisticated heist at a silk warehouse, explaining the logistics and his motivations: “We’re gonna get out of this town… Get real, big money so we could get married” (18:24-19:10). His rationalization reveals a blend of desperation and misplaced ambitions, highlighting the complexities of his character.

• Relationship with Martha Collins

  Paul's relationship with Martha Collins is portrayed as both a driving force and a source of conflict. Martha tries to pull Paul back from his criminal plans, advocating for legitimate opportunities and expressing concern for his future: “The main thing is you and me. Why don’t we stay here?” (18:49). Despite her efforts, Paul's distrust and anger prevent him from embracing a path of honesty and stability.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

• Paul Butwin on Blame and Control:

  “They made me a crook. My old man, Martha's father and neighbors, and her, my so-called mother, they got just what they asked for” (15:20-15:24).

• Parole Board Chairman on Personal Responsibility:

  “When a prisoner has learned a lesson after his harsh years of incarceration… this board believes that you have begun to learn that basic truth” (28:14-28:48).

• Paul Butwin's Final Admission:

  “I killed him. That's what I wanted to say” (26:10-26:12; 26:50-27:32).

Emotional Climax and Resolution

In the latter part of the hearing, Paul's emotional facade crumbles as he confronts the chairman with raw honesty: “I killed him. That's what I wanted to say” (26:50-27:32). This moment serves as a turning point, revealing the depth of Paul's remorse and his genuine desire for change. The chairman acknowledges Paul's dual nature—his remorse and underlying aggression—and makes the final decision to grant parole: “Parole granted” (28:47).

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a reflection on Paul Butwin's future post-parole, portraying him as a reformed individual working as a telephone linesman and integrating into society. This resolution emphasizes themes of redemption, personal growth, and the societal belief in second chances.

Final Reflections

“Up For Parole 50-03-17 (02) Paul Botwin” masterfully captures the essence of radio storytelling from the Golden Age, blending dramatic tension with deep character exploration. By focusing on Paul's internal struggles and the external pressures that shaped his life, the episode offers listeners a nuanced perspective on the parole process and the human capacity for change.

Notable Exclusions

As requested, the summary omits all advertisement segments, including multiple Wayfair style tips delivered by Nicole Byer (e.g., 00:01-00:27, 13:55-14:22, 22:19-22:29, 30:45-31:12) and other non-content sections such as promotions for CBS programs (16:32-17:14, 27:49-28:14). This ensures a focused and uninterrupted summary of the core narrative.

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This structured summary encapsulates all critical elements of the podcast episode, providing a comprehensive and engaging overview for listeners who have not experienced the original broadcast. It highlights key discussions, emotional peaks, and the ultimate resolution of Paul's parole hearing, enriched with pertinent quotes and timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Nicole Byer]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message. Wayfair's got style tips for Every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms Flyer. Today's style tip. When it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals. Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com. ooh. Fierce. This has been your Wayfarer style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Paul Butwin]

Wayfair.

[Martha Collins]

Every style, every home.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Your name?

[Paul Butwin]

Paul butler.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Your age, 26. Charge against you, stealing vehicles. Speak up.

[Paul Butwin]

Stealing vehicles, conspiracy to rob and burglary. Sentence, five to ten years.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Proceed.

[Paul Butwin]

Having served two and a half years at the state prison, having received the permission of the warden, I'm before this board, up for parole.

[Narrator]

Tonight again, another in the exciting new crime series, up for Parole. Authentic Cases is actually presented before the parole boards in your state prisons and told here for the first time.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to sit in judgment on another human being to decide whether he shall become your neighbor, your employee, perhaps your friend, or remain where you society have put him behind prison bars. For that human being is a social offender, a criminal. Now up for parole. Remember, at the close of tonight's broadcast, you can compare your own judgment with the official decision of an actual state parole board. I ask you, therefore, to listen and consider seriously the story you are about to hear told from the official records of Paul botwin, prison number 824371. Now pleading before the parole board and before you for his freedom.

[Paul Butwin]

One of those things, gentlemen of the board, the way things happen, I. I didn't think at the time I did it when I stole the car and the rest, that this was a crime not only against society, but against myself too. But, gentlemen of the board, since I got in a stir, I had a lot of time to think. I followed all the regulations and stayed away from influences. I think therefore, gentlemen, I am eligible for your kind consideration. Well, that's about it.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Who wrote that speech for you? Baldwin, sir. You can pick up one like that from any jailhouse lawyer for a buck. Is that what they told you that we wanted to hear?

[Paul Butwin]

What? He coached me. Nobody told me to say anything. I was.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Skip it. That's all beside the point. First, I think we better start from the beginning.

[Paul Butwin]

Yes, sir.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Now, the warden's report here says that you refuse to see visitors. Especially refuse to see your mother.

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, look, you gotta bring her.

[Parole Board Chairman]

And in a letter to the warden, your mother writes.

[Paul Butwin]

What? What difference does it make what she writes.

[Parole Board Chairman]

She says you used to stand in front of a picture of your father, your dead father. A picture in the living room and talk to him.

[Paul Butwin]

Cut it out, will you?

[Parole Board Chairman]

As if he were alive.

[Paul Butwin]

Okay, okay, okay. It was her and him. My mother and my old man. My girl, too, and her old man. All of them. They made me like this. They wanted me to be like this. They wanted a liar and a crook and they got it. They made me do it. I can tell you the way they made me do it. They got just exactly what they asked for. Is that what you wanted to know? That what you wanted me to say? Okay, I said it.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Well, if you said your piece. Butwin, you can leave now and the board will make its decision. Or if you want to, you can tell us what that outburst is all about. What it means standing in front of your father's picture.

[Paul Butwin]

Okay, okay, I'll tell you. I'll tell you the whole thing. Six years ago, I was the good kid. In my neighborhood. People. People used to say to their own kids, there goes Paul Batwin. Why can't you be like him? I was 19, going on 20, going to mechanic school at the time. I got the Good news about 5:00. So I came home and surprised. Ma.

[Martha Collins]

Who's that? Paul? That's you, Paul. Why, who said you.

[Paul Butwin]

Take off your apron, Ma.

[Martha Collins]

Oh, but, Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

No buts, no questions. Just take off the apron, Mom. And get on your new dress. And pin these on.

[Martha Collins]

Of course, Sage.

Why, Paul. What?

[Paul Butwin]

You and me, we're gonna paint the town. Ma. We're going out. Best Chinese restaurant there is. Anything you want on the menu? It happened, it happened and more. Remember I told you, at the end of the term, the specialists come down from that electronics company and so on. Big shots to pick three men for jobs.

[Lefty]

Sure.

[Paul Butwin]

Fire jobs. Well, I got tapped. Number two man. Start at $39.75 the first week.

[Martha Collins]

Oh, Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

Paul, I. Aw, mom, cut that out. It'll take you an extra half hour to fix up your face. Come on.

[Martha Collins]

Oh, Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

Go ahead, get your coat. Ma, I already ordered the table.

[Martha Collins]

Tell him, Paul. He was a man with standards. He'd be proud. If only he were alive now.

[Paul Butwin]

All right, Ma, I'll tell him. You. You go ahead and get ready. I went into the living room where his picture hung, my father's picture, right over the piano. A big photo colored by an artist. And I stood there like I did ever since he died when he was four. Hiya, pa. Thought you oughta know about me. Being picked out for the job and all that. It may not be much, but I'll work hard. I'll make you proud of me. Paul.

[Martha Collins]

I'm ready, Paul. You sure?

[Parole Board Chairman]

Sure, Ma.

[Paul Butwin]

You know, it's almost like he was smiling, Ma.

[Martha Collins]

I know.

[Paul Butwin]

So long, Pa. It was a lie. The whole thing was a dirty, lousy lie.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Hold on now. But if you can control yourself, we'll listen to the rest of your story.

[Paul Butwin]

All right? All right, I'll try. It was just one month later. The day I graduated. I was to start to work. The next day I came home. Ma wasn't there. I was going out with Martha that night. She was my girl. And I. I started to get read. Who's there? Yeah, Can I help you? Hey, look, Mac, this is my house. Who are you?

[Paul's Father]

Ain't changed.

[Paul Butwin]

Hey, where do you think you're going?

[Paul's Father]

You got a drink in the house?

[Paul Butwin]

Hey, wait a minute. I don't mind a guy walking in it. Look, Mac. Just who do you think you are, blood?

[Paul's Father]

Take a good long look, boy. Maybe you can answer your question yourself.

[Paul Butwin]

You. You. You aren't.

[Paul's Father]

Uh, huh. That's just who I am. What'd she tell you?

[Paul Butwin]

You can't be.

[Paul's Father]

Leave it to Emma. Good old Emma. Always tell the truth. Never lie, never steal. She told you I was dead, didn't she? She never told you about him over the piano then? Well, he was in state prison for unlawful entry, burglary, violation of the Sullivan Act, 15 to 20 years. She never told you, then? She never told you your old man was a con? Well, take a good long look, sonny, because your old man has come home. Now, how about a drink? How about a good long drink? We're reunited.

[Paul Butwin]

You. Oh, no. No, no. No. It's impossible. It can't be. She wouldn't do a thing like that. Telling me that. You are him. You are him. Look. Look at the picture. Same mouth. Eyes. You and him. You're the same. The same. The same.

[Paul's Father]

Quit it. Where you gone?

[Paul Butwin]

Who cares? Who wants to know? You gonna stop me? The next 24 hours, the whole world fell on top of me. A whole life. A life of. A life of lies. Everything I thought was decent was phony. Everything I believed in was a lie. I didn't know who I hated more, my father or my mother. What did I care what happened? My job. That didn't matter. People I knew were saying things behind my back. Lies. Saying they knew it all along. I was too good to be true. Okay. I said. Okay. I'll be what I am. The Son of a conviction. I changed. I got hard. Never again was I gonna be soft, get sucked in by lies. I'd show them.

[Martha Collins]

I don't think it's a good idea, Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

My girl, Martha, she didn't understand yet. That's how big the change was. Even she didn't understand. We were talking together in a drugstore, in the back booth. Safe place.

[Martha Collins]

You sure it's a good idea, Paul?

[Paul Butwin]

Well, what am I gonna do, go back and live there? Look at him every morning and her. Listen to explanations and all that kind of stuff. Look, now I'm on my own. And I got plans, kid. I got real plans. I know you go soft on me too.

[Martha Collins]

Oh, it's not that.

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Your old man says it. If I see you, he'll. He'll break my neck. Well, I'd like to see him try. You're still with me, aren't you?

[Martha Collins]

Of course.

[Paul Butwin]

Okay. With you, I can lick them all. Every stinking one of them. The neighborhood, my job, my own man and. And her. Oh, Paul, what's wrong?

[Martha Collins]

My father.

[Mr. Collins]

Martha, get up and get out of here.

[Paul Butwin]

Now, look, Mr. Collins.

[Mr. Collins]

I told you never to see him again, and here you are, hiding.

[Martha Collins]

We're not hiding.

[Mr. Collins]

Do you know who he's been hanging out with? The kind of company he keeps? The things he's been doing?

[Nicole Byer]

What?

[Paul Butwin]

Mr. Collins, you.

[Mr. Collins]

Look, boy, what did I tell you I'd do to you if I caught you again with my daughter? Mister, I told you I'd break your neck. I told you the kind of a man you are. Now, get out of here. And if I ever catch you so much as looking at her again, well, what you just got is only a sample, Botwin.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Just a sample.

[Paul Butwin]

It made me look like dirt in front of Martha. They made that happen. My own man and my mother. Okay. I thought before I knew where I was heading. Now I knew for sure. For absolute sure. Yo, Lefty, you got it straight? At 10, he closes up the store. He's been averaging 250, 275 a night. Friday night, he ought to have at least 300. Now, you take a look out, Vince. Lefty, you go in the store first, and I'll handle the heavy work. Come on, let's go. It's parked on the corner of 137th and Tremont. A Cadillac with white wall tires. The keys are in the glove compartment. Now, I'll meet you at Samish's garage in 15 minutes. A grand, at least. Split three ways. Look, bud, I said everything in the register.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Yes, but I already told you.

[Paul Butwin]

You told me enough. Now I'm telling you. And then came the best. The best of the whole bunch.

[Nicole Byer]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfarer message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms. Flyer. Today's style tip. When it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals. Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com. oh, yes. This has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Paul Butwin]

Wayfair.

[Martha Collins]

Every style. Every home.

[Paul Butwin]

I was watching my step, staying at a friend's place. And he found me. How? I don't know. He got the right knock and I opened the door. My old man. Well, how do you like that? Come on, get in. Shut the door. Were you followed?

[Paul's Father]

No, I. I was careful. Paul, I. I gotta talk to him.

[Paul Butwin]

What do you got to say to me, Paul?

[Paul's Father]

I'm on parole, you know. Then on good behavior. What you've been doing, it's been getting around. They're blaming me, boy. They say if I ain't a fit father, I ain't eligible anymore to be on parole. They're gonna send me back to the pen. It's five years. You don't know what that means, boy. I waited 16 years for this to.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Get out and have a chance.

[Paul's Father]

You lousing me up?

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, brother, that's the best I ever heard. They're gonna send you back for being a bad father because your son is doing jobs in the neighborhood.

[Paul's Father]

Well, what are you gonna do?

[Paul Butwin]

Ma says it's shut up and I'll tell you. Do I care about you going back to prison? Sure I care, Pa. I care so much that if I had any spit to waste, I'd spit right in your eye. Okay. That's what they wanted. They made me a crook. My old man, Martha's father and neighbors, and her, my so called mother, they got just what they asked for. His. Is that what you wanted to know? Gentlemen of the parole board.

[Parole Board Chairman]

That wasn't the end, was it, Butler? That was just the beginning. There was arrest too, for the car theft. Sentenced to Pine Hill. It was the first prison term. And then there was more.

[Paul Butwin]

Uh huh. You wanna hear that too? All right, I'll tell ya.

[Narrator]

We'll return to our file in just a moment. But first, this Sunday night, genial Horace Height will hold his first quarterfinals of 1950 on his CBS Youth Opportunity Program. During these first months of the year Horace has been making the rounds at the towns and cities, finding new and fine young entertainers. And the pick of these will compete this Sunday night when Horace Heights Original Youth Opportunity Program comes round on most of these same CBS network stations. Now back to the true story of Paul botwin. Prison number 824, 371, the man who is up for parole.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Proceed. Butwin.

[Paul Butwin]

I did my time as best I could at Pine Hill. They. They treated me fair. They tried to give you a break. I served my time, and after a year, I got out.

[Parole Board Chairman]

You were at Pine Hill? An institution for first offenders. A Wallace prison. They got schools there. No hard labor. Warden wrote me a letter. He said that when you finally finished serving your term, you were offered three jobs. Two were in your own line. Telephone repairman. You turned them down. The other one was in a silk house as a shipping clerk. Why did you take that job?

[Paul Butwin]

Well, while I was at Pine Hill, I met two guys who told me I was a sucker if I didn't take the job at the silk warehouse. Because it was an easy money deal if I made my plans right. You see, Martha left home, and I could see her anytime I wanted. And she'd marry me no matter what her old man said. So I wanted to make money quick, Big money, so we could get married. Well, when I did get out, I took the job. And in a month, I had the place all cased.

[Parole Board Chairman]

That's what we want to hear about when? The truth. Now, tell me, did you see this girl? Martha?

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah. Yeah, I saw quite a bit of her. But I. I didn't tell her what I was up to. I only told her that soon we'd have some money and we'd go out west somewhere, get out of town.

[Martha Collins]

Paul, I still don't understand that. You're doing well here. You have a good job.

[Paul Butwin]

We're gonna get out of this town. You just leave everything to me. There's big things coming, baby. Real big.

[Martha Collins]

Paul, I don't care. The main thing is you and me. Why don't we stay here?

[Paul Butwin]

What can you build on? A family? A father, a mother like yours and mine.

[Martha Collins]

You ought to see your mother, Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

Keep her out of it.

[Martha Collins]

Look, Paul, she's worked all this time. She saved a little money. She's ready to give it to you. We could maybe start a business or something.

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, Martha, you still on that? Look, make up your mind. You with me or against me?

[Martha Collins]

Paul, she's your mother.

[Paul Butwin]

She's a liar, that's what she is. She's the one that started the whole thing. You know that.

[Martha Collins]

See her.

[Paul Butwin]

I won't.

[Martha Collins]

She's been waiting half an hour.

[Paul Butwin]

She's here.

[Martha Collins]

She's outside. She just wants to tell you how sorry she is.

[Paul Butwin]

All right, Martha, go ahead. Open the door. Tell her to come in. Paul.

[Martha Collins]

Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

Martha said my mother was coming to see me. Well, I got news for you. My mother's dead. She died when I was a little boy of four. She was a fine woman with standards, but she died.

[Martha Collins]

Oh, Paul.

[Paul Butwin]

That's right. My mother's dead. Now go on, get out.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Batwin.

[Paul Butwin]

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Board. I'd like to know if that's still your attitude.

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, I know she's alive, if that's what you mean.

[Parole Board Chairman]

I also meant that during your stay in the state prison, you've consistently refused to see her, open her letters or to write to her.

[Paul Butwin]

That's the way I feel right now. I just said it.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Go ahead.

[Paul Butwin]

So I went on with the plans. I had a heist job at the silk plant because that's what they wanted me to do. Okay, that's what I was gonna do. First I saw the fence lined up.

[Lefty]

You got the truck tail, right? You're doing delivery on the truck right in the back?

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah, that's right.

[Lefty]

Okay. Truck Stewart, the plant in Coopersville. 47 minute run. Timed it to the second she blows the tire. And the turnout over near Fremont Road. While you're fixing it, our trucks drive up. Tom Zayner, the company driver, you take care of our boys, will slide the silk into the tracks. One heads for the Inner City bridge, the other takes the north end tunnel. You get 10 grand for the job, the rest goes to me.

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, it was smooth. Flat tire. Taking care of Zana, the company driver. Transfer the goods to the fence's. Two trucks went smooth as silk. One filled up and headed for the Inner City Bridge, the other one for the tunnel. Me on it. Me and the fences. Driver. 10,000 was a good start. And there'd be more. Plenty more. Well, we took the extension highway, turned north at River Street. And then I saw the lights in the tunnel. They were blinking on and off, on and off. What's the matter? What's the matter?

[Mr. Collins]

They're blinking. I don't know.

[Paul Butwin]

Well, is it for us?

[Mr. Collins]

Maybe a traffic snar.

[Paul Butwin]

Well, get your foot on the gas.

[Mr. Collins]

What do you think I'm doing?

[Paul Butwin]

They're closing it up. It is us. It's no good.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Stop that truck. Okay, out. No tricks.

[Paul Butwin]

They gave me the business in court. I took A plea Guilty. What did I care? Because the first thing they told me when they got me in the station, the very first thing we had a tip off. Fella, good looking kid, too.

[Paul's Father]

Name of Martha Collins.

[Paul Butwin]

After that, what did I care? She was like Ma, a liar, like all of them.

[Parole Board Chairman]

That's it, Button. That's all there is.

[Paul Butwin]

Yes, sir. Except I've been serving my time. I never got no marks against me on the report, that's all.

[Parole Board Chairman]

You think that warrants parole?

[Paul Butwin]

That's up to you.

[Parole Board Chairman]

No, it's up to you, too. Because your records have a couple of other things on it, too. Like that course you started to take in lathe work and woodwork. Automotive repair course that you started.

[Paul Butwin]

Ah, what's that got to do with anything?

[Parole Board Chairman]

What's the matter? Are you ashamed? You ashamed that there's any decency left in you? Is that what you're ashamed of? Ashamed that maybe the world won't think that you're tough, hard Paul Butwin Number 824371. Is that what you're ashamed of?

[Paul Butwin]

I got nothing to say.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Just a second. Oh, yes, that's okay. But when you've got two visitors, Principal Keeper wants to know whether you'll see them.

[Paul Butwin]

No.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Don't you want to know who they are?

[Paul Butwin]

I know who they are.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Ward's going to pass judgment on your case within the next hour. Sending you out now but one because we have to hear another case. That'll take about a half an hour. Then we'll decide yours. We'll send for you. You can go now.

[Paul Butwin]

Hello, Martha.

[Martha Collins]

Paul. Just one thing. I never chipped off the police. They just said I did it so you'd tell about the rest of the gang. I thought you ought to know. Thanks, but that's not important. The important thing is. Oh, Paul, I feel so guilty about how little I made you understand. I wanted you the way you were before. I didn't want you and me against the whole world. I wanted to be part of the world with you. That's all I ever wanted. Can you understand that?

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah.

[Martha Collins]

Paul, can I say something? In my own stupid way, I thought, I'll save him. I'll save my boy by keeping the truth from him. But you can't build a life on a lie like that. And now the only thing I care about is. Well, I hope you don't hate me too much. And you won't hate me forever.

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, my.

[Martha Collins]

And one thing, too. You ought to know, Paul. Your Paul, he died. He died because he had nothing. Not you. Not me. Nothing. And, well, I was the cause of that, too. That's all. Martha, we better go.

Yes, Mrs. Baldwin.

[Paul Butwin]

He died because. Because he had nothing. And. Oh, what's the use of talking? What's there to say? Goodbye. I'm glad you came.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Baldwin.

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Board's ready. Let's go. Is there anything else before we decide? Butwin?

[Paul Butwin]

No, sir. No, that's all.

[Parole Board Chairman]

But when all along you've showed two sides of yourself. The decent side and the self pitying side. The side of you that says I got shoved, hit. Okay, I'll shove back. But there's another you. Butwin. There's a young man there who wants to belong, to embrace his mother, to get married and all that. That.

[Paul Butwin]

Oh, what's the sense? Come on, get it over with.

[Parole Board Chairman]

You had something to say?

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah, I got something to say. My old man's dead. You know why? Because me. Me, his son. I spit in his face. I told him, go ahead and die. Who cares? I didn't care what happened to him, to them, to me, to. To anyone. I killed him. That's what I wanted to say.

[Parole Board Chairman]

That's all?

[Paul Butwin]

Yeah, that's all.

[Parole Board Chairman]

All right, Butterfly. Board will make its decision. Step outside with the gu.

[Narrator]

While Paul Botwin waits and the parole board reviews his story and his parole file, you too have a decision to make on his case. Weigh Paul Botwin's story carefully before you form your judgment, because in a moment you will have an opportunity to compare your decision with that of the actual board before which he appeared.

The cream of the Fun and songs on Arthur Godfrey's daytime shows are now brought to you in a half hour special Godfrey Digest every Saturday night on cbs. So if you want a fast half hour of humor and songs by Jeanette Davis, Bill Lawrence and the Mariners, listen in every Saturday night to the Godfrey Digest on most of these same CBS stations. And now back to the case of Paul Butwin, who is up for parole.

[Parole Board Chairman]

Paul Butwin.

[Paul Butwin]

Yes, sir.

[Parole Board Chairman]

When a prisoner has learned a lesson after his harsh years of incarceration, when a man begins to learn a bitter lesson, this board will always be sympathetic. When a man stops blaming society for his shortcomings and begins to place the blame where it belongs, upon himself, he's learned a basic truth. Paul Butwin, this board believes that you have begun to learn that basic truth. And therefore, parole granted.

[Narrator]

And today, Paul Botwin, paroled prisoner, is a telephone linesman in an eastern city, a useful citizen, a married man with a son of his own. Paul Batman has justified the faith you and your parole board placed in him when he was up for parole. You've been listening to up for Parole with Michael O'Day, written by Arnold Pearl and directed by Mitchell Grayson, researched by Wally Gould, music conducted by Harry Salter. Listen again at this same time next week when CBS will bring you the actual story of case 3375 OB up for parole. This is CBS, where you thrill to gangbusters every Saturday night. The Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Nicole Byer]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfarer message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms flyer. Today's style tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals. Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com oh, fierce. This has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Martha Collins]

Wayfair Every style, Every home.