Caretaker by X Minus One

Summary

Podcast Summary: Caretaker by X Minus One

Podcast: Relic Radio Sci-Fi (old time radio)
Episode Title: Caretaker
Air Date: June 1, 2026
Original Broadcast: X Minus One (NBC Radio, based on the story by James A. Schmitz)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Relic Radio Sci-Fi presents "Caretaker," an adaptation from the classic X Minus One series. The story explores the psychological and existential complexities encountered by a stranded Earthman, Holman, living among the only other known human-like inhabitants on a distant planet. As a new exploratory crew arrives, they must unravel the mysteries of Holman's survival, his relationship with the local populace, and the fundamental rift between human perception and alien reality.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Mission Overview & Arrival on the Planet (02:00–04:57)

• Commander Lounge and his crew orbit the unnamed Planet 3785, preparing to make contact with Holman, an Earthman marooned for 22 years.
• Holman prefers to name the planet Kresgyth, adopting the native pronunciation instead of after himself.
• The crew is briefed on the unique importance of Holman's discovery: a genuine human race existing beyond Earth.

Notable Quote:

“Holman's discovery of what appears to be the first genuine human race ever encountered outside of Earth is of primary importance.”
— Commander Lounge [03:27]

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2. Meeting Holman & Introduction to the Situation (05:12–07:21)

• Holman is depicted as both grateful and somewhat damaged by his long isolation.
• Holman introduces his wife, Celia, whom he met among the indigenous people.
• He describes his attempt to adapt and create art, painting likenesses of Celia with local materials.

Memorable Moment:

Holman shares paintings of Celia, trying to “capture the spirit” of his alien wife.
“I tried to capture the spirit. I think I’ve got it pretty good.”
— Holman [06:11]

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3. Holman's Backstory & the Native Humans (07:23–11:15)

• Holman recounts the shipwreck that left him stranded, murder among the original crew, and how Celia’s people saved him but ostracized him after learning about the deaths.
• The native humans maintain distance, and Holman is never fully accepted except by Celia.
• He details his failed attempts to make closer contact with the villagers, feeling both rebuffed and fascinated by their serenity and telepathic abilities.

Notable Insight:

The villagers appear to have psychic or telepathic capabilities, preventing Holman from observing them with binoculars by somehow clouding his vision.

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4. On the Zaires: The "Snake People" (11:15–13:25)

• Holman names the rival species, the Zaires (“snake” in his terminology), describing them as blue, slimy, and unsettling, yet notably intelligent, with clothing and weapons.
• Holman views the Zaires as a threat, perceiving them as encroaching on the human enclave.

Notable Quote:

“What made it worse somehow, was that they wore clothes, but the clothes didn’t cover enough. Those weaving soft, blue, slimy bodies and those staring eyes…”
— Holman [11:38]

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5. Conflict and Tragedy (13:26–18:42)

• Holman reacts violently to the Zaires, killing some, only to find this act further ostracizes him from the native humans.
• He misinterprets the natives’ passivity—not violence—as weakness. Holman attempts to rally them in a campaign of violence against the Zaires, but they will not comply, as violence is taboo for them.

Notable Quote:

“They won’t kill their enemies. They’re too polite for that. So their enemies are gradually squeezing them out of existence.”
— Holman [14:38]

• Events reach a climax when Martyr and Commander Lounge discover Holman dead, and Celia appears. It’s revealed that Celia’s people, and perhaps Celia herself, possessed a fundamentally different worldview—one he could never accept. Celia confides that Holman could only experience their world through self-imposed delusions or “selective blindness,” seeing her as human, but experiencing violence when his sanity returned.

Key Interaction:

“There are medical men who would say he’d been insane for 20 years... Those moments when sanity came to him and he saw what was really there, then he killed.”
— Celia [17:10 & 17:23]

“There is nothing that your people and mine could share. We are too different. Will you leave?”
— Celia [18:36]

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6. Aftermath and Reflection (19:24–21:05)

• The crew reflects on the nature of Holman’s psychological survival—maintaining a self-delusion as a way to exist among the incomprehensible.
• They choose to report Holman’s death as peaceful, covering up the more disturbing truths. The episode concludes with their philosophical musings on the search for true kinship in the galaxy.

Memorable Closing:

“I can’t help wishing it hadn’t happened. Holman…When he was hallucinating, he saw them as beautiful. He saw her as beautiful. But when he saw them clearly, what they really were, he killed them. Who wouldn’t?”
— Commander Lounge [19:53]

“Do you think there actually are people out there somewhere?”
— Commander Lounge
“I hope so.”
— Martyr [20:55]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------|-------------| | Mission Overview & Contact | 02:00–04:57 | | Meeting Holman | 05:12–07:21 | | Holman's Backstory & Villagers | 07:23–11:15 | | Discovery of the Zaires | 11:15–13:25 | | Holman's Attacks & Fallout | 13:26–14:48 | | Holman’s Death & Celia’s Revelation | 16:24–18:42 | | Crew’s Reflection & Departure | 19:24–21:05 |

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Final Thoughts

“Caretaker” uses the format of classic sci-fi radio to present a deeply psychological tale of alienation, cultural misunderstanding, and the limits of human perception. The episode blends suspense, melancholy, and philosophical depth, raising questions about what it really means to find “humanity” among the stars—and how much of it we carry with us.

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For more episodes from Relic Radio Sci-Fi, visit RelicRadio.com.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

Relic radio.

[Commander Lounge]

This is Relic Radio. Sci Fi Old Time Radio Science fiction stories from relicradio.com.

[Announcer]

Countdown for blast off.

[Holman]

X minus 5, 4, 3, 2.

[Announcer]

X minus 1.

[Holman]

Fire.

[Announcer]

From the far horizons of the unknown come tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future, adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy Science fiction magazine presents

[Commander Lounge]

-1.

[Announcer]

Tonight caretaker by james a. Schmidt.

[Commander Lounge]

Commander Lounge. Yes, Mr. Harris. Astrogation reports planetary orbit secure. What vector, Mr. Harris? Approximately 1,000 miles above subject planet 3785. Well, we'll have to give it a name soon, Harris. Yes, sir. Engineering secured. Damage control parties working on the hull. Very well. Has Martyr touched down in the scout ship? Yes, sir. We have him on the tight beam. Give him to me on my screen. Yes, sir. Bachmann, put Martyr on the command screen. Exploration ship titan calling ship 375. Come in.

[Martyr]

Scout 375 reporting.

[Commander Lounge]

What's it like down there, Martyr?

[Martyr]

It's not much different from the scan report, sir. I'm at the head of a valley. It's green and it's scarlet. It's all swampy and there's a big river threading through it.

[Commander Lounge]

Harris, get me a pinpoint on Martyr's location.

[Martyr]

There are mountains beyond. I can see Holman's house from here. Looks like a Swiss chalet standing over the lake.

[Commander Lounge]

Have you made contact?

[Martyr]

Yes, sir. Boyce is over there now.

[Commander Lounge]

How is he?

[Martyr]

Well, it's hard to say.

[Commander Lounge]

Tell him we're recording the planet officially as Holman's planet. That might please him.

[Martyr]

I don't think so, sir.

[Commander Lounge]

What?

[Martyr]

A Boyce suggested that during our first visit with Holman today. He wants us to record it instead as well. I'll spell it. C R E S G Y, T H. Kreskett.

[Commander Lounge]

What's that? Local?

[Martyr]

That's his phonetic interpretation of the name the people here use.

[Commander Lounge]

Fair enough, if that's how he wants it. Anything to add on your present report?

[Martyr]

No, no, no, sir. I'll call you back. After we met his woman.

[Commander Lounge]

His wife.

[Martyr]

Yes.

[Commander Lounge]

I'm glad it was you and boys who found Holman. You're reliable men. You in particular, Martyr. I don't need to emphasize that Holman's discovery of what appears to be the first genuine human race ever encountered outside of Earth is a primary importance.

[Martyr]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Lounge]

Boys might be inclined to hurry through the diplomatic overtures. You'll be careful about that part of it, Martha.

[Martyr]

Yes, very Careful, sir.

[Commander Lounge]

And the two continents we scanned before, we found no traces of human inhabitants, present or past.

[Martyr]

Yes, I know, sir, but Holman's.

[Commander Lounge]

It's possible Holman's acquaintances are the sole survivors of humanity here. If we frighten the tribe into hiding, there may never be another contact.

[Martyr]

Yes, I understand.

[Commander Lounge]

Fine. Now then, what about these other creatures? What did Holman have to say about them?

[Martyr]

Well, in the 20 years he's been marooned in this valley, he's had only three or four actual encounters with him, sir. Rather violent encounters on his side. Apparently they learned to avoid him after that. They're called Zaires. He seems to have an almost psychopathic hatred for them.

[Commander Lounge]

That's not very surprising. We pulled up a scout drag a little while ago, bagged a couple of specimens. The description checks with Holman's description of the Zaires. The worm like slimy blue body with a set of arms, legs and head out of the water. They seem to wear some kind of clothes. Presumably to conserve body moisture.

[Martyr]

Yes, that's what he said.

[Commander Lounge]

All right, now, Martyr, I want you to continue according to the plan. And remember, be careful of Coleman. He's been alone on this planet for 22 years. He deserves a lot from us. Yes, sir.

[Martyr]

But he hasn't been alone. He has his wife.

[Commander Lounge]

Wife? Weiss, where are you? Down here.

[Holman]

I'm with Holman.

[Commander Lounge]

Check in with the exploration ship. Yes. It's all right, Holman. They say they'll name the planet the way you want it.

[Holman]

That's good. Celia will like that.

[Commander Lounge]

Celia?

[Holman]

My wife. I called her Celia from the start. She likes the name.

[Martyr]

I see.

[Commander Lounge]

Where's she now?

[Holman]

Oh, she's out somewhere. She's very timid. She'll show up sometime in the night and I'm leaving the doors open for her. I'll talk to her a little first to reassure her and you can meet her then. Meanwhile, would you like to see your picture? Why?

[Commander Lounge]

Do you got photographs?

[Holman]

No, no. I painted it. I used to do a little bit before I went the service. It's over here. I've done about 50 or so paintings over the years. I paint a lot of them over, you know, here in here. Grind my own pigments and cut brushes from the swamp grass. I'd give my arm for a good camel's hair brush. Here. Here she is.

[Commander Lounge]

Beautiful. Real good looking.

[Holman]

Of course, it isn't in exact likeness. I tried to capture the spirit. I think I've got it pretty good.

[Commander Lounge]

There's something about that picture. Sort of.

[Martyr]

Never mind.

[Commander Lounge]

Boys, boys.

[Martyr]

Doesn't know much about art.

[Commander Lounge]

Yeah, but I know what I like. I like a good looking woman. You're a lucky man, Holman.

[Holman]

You wanted to see the deep water. Well, it's right through here, Actually. It's just an opening through the concrete to the river that runs below. It's as pure as anything you could wish. If they want to refresh the water tanks of the ship.

[Commander Lounge]

Yes. I'll take it up with the captain. We'll be staying a week or more.

[Martyr]

We're to follow your judgment in every way in establishing contact with the Kreskyons.

[Holman]

Good. We can't do anything till Celia comes in. And we'll have to be very tactful then. But I'm sure it won't take a week.

[Commander Lounge]

What makes him so shy of us?

[Holman]

Oh, it's not you. It's me. Or it's an impression I gave them of the Earth kind of human beings. Come on upstairs and I'll tell you. Cigar? It's a local swamp grass.

[Commander Lounge]

Is it safe?

[Holman]

I've been smoking them for years.

[Commander Lounge]

You were telling us about the native humans.

[Holman]

Well, I've never asked Celia much about her people. There's some kind of very strong taboo that keeps her from talking about them.

[Commander Lounge]

How do you meet her?

[Holman]

Well, our ship crashed into the valley originally. I was the only man left in the original crew of four. Manning went insane two days before we made a planet fall and killed Nichols and Dawson. And so I killed Manning before he could wreck the ship completely. Have you got a light?

[Commander Lounge]

Martyr. Thanks. I'm all right.

[Holman]

You see, it was unavoidable, but they never understood it. Those people have seen you.

[Martyr]

How did they find out?

[Holman]

I was unconscious for about a month and completely blind for six months afterwards.

[Commander Lounge]

Blind?

[Holman]

Well, they got me out of the wreck and nursed me back to life. But as soon as I was out of danger, only Celia would stay with me. She and I were alone for weeks before I regained my sight. How did they know I killed the others? Well, they're sensitive in a number of ways. And there were those bodies in the ship.

[Commander Lounge]

They.

[Holman]

Well, they withdrew from me as soon as I no longer needed their help.

[Commander Lounge]

Then in all this time, you were never able to gain their confidence?

[Holman]

It's not a question of confidence. It's a question of. Well, I'm trying to tell you I didn't mind being alone with Celia. You'll understand that when you see her. The other stayed in a small lake village they had a couple of miles up the valley across the swamps. Celia went up there every few days. But she never brought anyone back with her. I suspected it was simply because I was an alien. I thought they'd get over that in time. Celia seemed happy enough, so it wasn't a very acute problem.

[Commander Lounge]

Could you observe them?

[Holman]

Well, one day when she'd slipped away again, I remembered a pair of field glasses I'd taken off the ship. And I got them and trained them on the village. That was a very curious experience. I never found a complete explanation for it.

[Commander Lounge]

Well, what happened?

[Holman]

Well, just for one instant, I had everything in the clearest possible focus. There were children playing on the platforms above the water. A few adults standing in the doorways of a house. And suddenly everything went blurred.

[Commander Lounge]

Was something go wrong with the glasses?

[Holman]

No, no, they didn't want me to look at them. They just blurred my vision.

[Commander Lounge]

What do you mean? What you mean. You mean telepathically?

[Holman]

Well, I don't know. The glasses had a four mile range and they were functioning perfectly. But the instant I turned them on the village, the field blurred. I never felt so snub before.

[Commander Lounge]

Yeah, I guess that's quite a hint.

[Holman]

Well, I admit it annoyed me. The next day I announced to Celia that I was going over to the village. Well, she made no objection. But she followed me in the distance. Probably to make sure I didn't drown on the way. It's wet going around here. At last I came over a rise and found myself a hundred yards from the village on the land side. And then I realized they'd left it. I walked around it a while and found cooking fire still glowing. But nobody had waited to receive me. So I went home insulted and very sulky. I wouldn't even talk to Celia until the next morning.

[Commander Lounge]

Did you see anybody there?

[Holman]

Nobody. Well, I settled down and built a house for the two of us. And that took up all my time for several months. I couldn't ignore them. There was something so curiously happy and peaceful about them. Even though they gave me the cold shoulder. From the one look I had of them, it showed me that they were the most beautiful people I'd ever seen. Well, you've seen the picture. It doesn't do her justice.

[Commander Lounge]

Yes, you must be.

[Holman]

So one day when Celia was gone, I made another trip to the village and the same thing happened.

[Commander Lounge]

Did you make any attempt to explore further?

[Holman]

Oh, yes. I got the little lifeboat flyer repaired. Enough to get it off the ground and set it down again. I had enough fuel for one 24 hour trip. I flew down the valley for almost 50 miles before I came across the first colony of the other ones. The Zaires.

[Commander Lounge]

Is that what the people here call them?

[Holman]

No, Zaire. That's the word for snake. I named them that.

[Commander Lounge]

Did they live in caves?

[Holman]

No. That's what fooled me. It was a village of houses, just like the one here. I sat down on the lake and I saw them. They just stood there very quietly, watching me through the doors and windows. What made it worse somehow, was that they. They wore clothes, but the clothes didn't cover enough. Those weaving soft, blue, slimy bodies and those staring eyes. I backed down the ladder with my gun ready in case they rushed me.

[Narrator]

But they never moved.

[Commander Lounge]

Did you find any more of them?

[Holman]

There were about eight more colonies of Zaires further down the valley. But there was no trace of another tribe of humans. At the time, I didn't know just what to make of it. There was a possibility that my village represented an advanced troop of human beings into the land of snakes. But it turned out to be the other way around. It seemed to be the snakes that were pushing out the humans. So I swore to myself that as long as I lived, at least, human beings were going to hold this section of the valley undisturbed in its safety. When I came back, I said to Celia, celia, I must speak to your people. Go Tell them I'll come again tomorrow. And they mustn't run away. Well, she looked at me and then she went in the direction of the village.

[Commander Lounge]

Did they wait for you?

[Holman]

Well, she came back late at night, crept into my arms and told me they promised to wait for me. Oh, I set out the next morning full of great plans. And after all, the zer snakes lived in widely scattered settlements. The villagers and I could wipe out those settlements one by one until we'd cleared the land. But then I didn't realize how different Celia's people were from us.

[Commander Lounge]

Now, what happened?

[Holman]

Well, I came over that rise and there the village was. This time I knew they'd stayed home. And then, not 20ft off my path, I saw two of the there stand standing in the bushes, One watching me and the other looking at the village. They were the first ones I'd seen that close, and they were horrible. They had a rapacious, greedy look. They seemed oily and unclean. Each had a kind of tricky crossbow over his shoulder. And they couldn't be seen from the village. Oh, would you like something to drink? There's some kind of fermented home brew I made.

[Commander Lounge]

No, no. What happened?

[Holman]

Well, I sh both down before they got over the surprise. Was a natural thing to do, wasn't it?

[Commander Lounge]

Sure, sure, I guess so.

[Holman]

But apparently, from the point of view of the villagers, it wasn't. The village was empty again when I got back home. I was actually sick with disappointment. And then I discovered Celia was gone. She stayed away three days, and when she came back, I never went back to the village.

[Commander Lounge]

But I don't see why.

[Holman]

Neither did I, until it was too late. They won't kill their enemies. They're too polite for that. So their enemies are gradually squeezing them out of existence.

[Commander Lounge]

Captain, what do you expect us to do in this situation?

[Holman]

Kill the Zaires? As many as we can find. If the human beings of this world won't defend themselves, we'll have to defend them. I can't be on guard here forever. It's up to you and the other men on the ship to do the job right. You will, won't you? You'll make a report to Commander lounge.

[Commander Lounge]

Well, we'll make our report.

[Holman]

Oh, that's fine. Well, gentlemen, I suppose it's late now. I suppose you'll want to turn in.

[Commander Lounge]

When will your wife get back?

[Holman]

Well, she'll be back later. Don't worry about her. You awake? Why?

[Commander Lounge]

What do you want? Listen. Why? Somebody moving in the house. Listen, Al. No, no, no. Listen to those steps.

[Narrator]

I hear.

[Holman]

Hear him?

[Commander Lounge]

There's no man. Slow Dragon.

[Holman]

Yeah.

[Commander Lounge]

Come on. Wait a minute. Wait. Sidearms right here. Come on. All right. It's coming downstairs. Stop listening. I get the safe to catch you on.

[Holman]

Look.

[Commander Lounge]

No firing unless I tell you. Look. Water. I'll take care of myself. Maybe it's one of those airs. I'd like to get a shot at them. Come on downstairs. All right. There's a light.

[Holman]

What?

[Commander Lounge]

What's that? A missile gun home and had a number of obsolete weapons down there. Hurry up. Look out. There goes the light. I got my torch. It came from the well room. Oh, it's the door. Stand back. Turn your light in there. It's.

[Holman]

It's Holman.

[Commander Lounge]

They've got Holman. There. There it goes. Stand clear. I'll blast. Wait.

[Holman]

Wait a minute.

[Commander Lounge]

Get out of the way. It's one of those hairs. Give me a clear shot.

[Holman]

Hold it.

[Commander Lounge]

Can't get out of here while we've

[Holman]

got the well covered.

[Commander Lounge]

Keep your blaster ready while I look at Holman. I hear it moving back there in the shadows.

[Holman]

He's dead.

[Commander Lounge]

Come on, make a break for it. You rotten, slimy snake. Come on. Through the head with his own gun. Who's that? Sarah? That snake. You got a good look at it. No, no. I jumped for the shadows. There it is. Marta. Swing your torch around. I'll roast it with one blast.

[Narrator]

You. Who are his friends? Will you listen to me?

[Commander Lounge]

Who are you?

[Narrator]

He called me his wife.

[Commander Lounge]

How'd she get in here? If that zare gets a hold of her. Don't move.

[Narrator]

I won't.

[Commander Lounge]

Why did you kill him?

[Narrator]

But I thought you understood.

[Commander Lounge]

You mean she killed him? It was that zare, the snake.

[Narrator]

There are medical men who would say he'd been insane for 20 years. As he counted time, they would have forced him back into sanity. I could not bear the thought he should suffer that.

[Commander Lounge]

Suffer what?

[Narrator]

Are you all fools? He was a fool. Though I loved him. He could not see beyond the shape of things. So here among us, he saw shapes he could bear to see. And those moments when sanity came to him and he saw what was really there. Then he killed. Are you all like that?

[Holman]

What you talking about?

[Commander Lounge]

Is the snake there with her? Go upstairs, boys. Wait for me outside. You're gonna kill that snake? Yes, I'll kill the snake, all right. Take my blast. Now be careful. Get between the eyes. Mater, roast that there to a crisp. Go on outside. Are you still there?

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Commander Lounge]

Is there any way you can get out?

[Narrator]

I can leave, but the river that flows under the well, if you do not shoot at me.

[Commander Lounge]

I won't shoot at you.

[Narrator]

May I take his body?

[Commander Lounge]

Yes.

[Narrator]

And you will all leave with your ship. I loved him. Although my people thought it strange. Almost beyond their tolerance. They are foolish too. Yet not as foolish as you are. They saw what was in his mind and not beyond that. And so they were afraid of him. But he is dead now. And there is nothing that your people and mine could share. We are too different. Will you leave?

[Commander Lounge]

We'll leave. What did you see that was beyond his mind?

[Narrator]

A brave spirit. Though very frightened, he ventured far, far, far into the dark of which he was afraid. I loved him for that. I am coming now. I think you had better look away.

[Commander Lounge]

Yes, sir. I've just been down to sick bay. Boyce is all right? He's in shock. Well, I gave him a shot of sedative on my way up here. Oh, the medics say he'll be all right. They're giving him a reconstructive psychotherapy fix. You won't remember much of it. If you had looked squarely at that thing, we might have had to give you the same treatment. Our pickled specimens of the Zaire are pretty hideous. I suppose it's all the way you're looking at it. Yes, I suppose so. Holman had his own way of looking at it. Selective hysterical blindness maintained for 22 years with his own type of artistic hallucinations thrown in. I can't help wishing it hadn't happened. Pullman. He didn't maintain it throughout. When he was hallucinating, he saw them as beautiful. He saw her as beautiful. But when he saw them clearly where they really were, he killed them. Who wouldn't? I almost feel like getting out of space and staying out for good. Well, it's time to file a report and wrap up. What are you reporting? That Holman died here quite peacefully about a year before we found him. Leaving a diary of inspiring courage and devotion to space exploration behind him. We'll have time enough to work up the diary. That should keep everybody happy. All secure, sir. Shall I close down the ports? Just a minute. Martyr. Look down there. The whole galaxy. Do you think there actually are people out there somewhere? I hope so. You think we'll ever find them? I don't know.

[Martyr]

They've never found us.

[Commander Lounge]

Foreign.

[Announcer]

You have just heard X minus 1 presented by the National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction magazine, which this month features survival type by JF Bone. Score 1 or 1 million was not enough for the human race. It had to be all or nothing with one man doing all the scoring. Galaxy magazine on your newsstand today. Tonight, X minus 1 has brought you Caretaker, a story from the pages of Galaxy, written by James A. Schmitz and adapted for radio by Ernest Kanoy.

[Commander Lounge]

Featured in the cast were Ted Osborne,

[Announcer]

Bill Lipton, Mason Adams, Raymond Edward Johnson and Betty Kane.

[Commander Lounge]

This is Fred Collins.

[Announcer]

X Minus One was directed by Daniel Sutter and is an NBC Radio Network production.

[Commander Lounge]

Polio is not over yet. A total of $46,900,000 is needed to continue the fight against this crippling disease. Thousands of polio victims are depending on you. Help finish the polio fight. Join the 1957 March of Dimes the world on a new hotline. Listen for news on the hour and the exciting hotline service all day, every day on most of these stations.