Mars Is Heaven by Escape

Summary

Relic Radio Sci-Fi — “Mars Is Heaven” by Escape

Episode Date: August 10, 2026
Podcast Host: RelicRadio.com
Original Broadcast: Escape (Old Time Radio)
Story By: Ray Bradbury

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Episode Overview

This classic radio episode presents Ray Bradbury’s haunting short story “Mars Is Heaven,” originally aired on Escape. The story follows the first manned Earth expedition to Mars. As the crew prepares for the unknown, they instead find a strangely familiar small town—a startling recreation of their own home towns from Earth, inhabited by long-dead loved ones. Suspense, existential dread, and the subtle horror of the unknown unfold as the crew tries to reconcile paradise with paranoia.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Launching the First Mars Expedition

• Setting and Build-up:
  The episode begins with a live broadcast atmosphere, capturing national and international excitement as the pioneering 18-man crew of the Venture prepares for liftoff from New Mexico.
  • Memorable Segment: [03:21] Reporter Stuart Novins narrates the electrifying tension as the crew boards and launches.
• Mission Details:
  Technical logs and crew conversations outline the journey: speed, objectives, and the psychological toll of venturing into the unknown.
• Quotes:
  “It’s the voiceless prayer that’s in every heart. They’re about ready now. Some lights from the ship just blinked on and off. It’s a signal in just a few seconds. A few more. Stand by. Stand by.”
  — Stuart Novins (Reporter), [03:21]

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2. Arrival: Mars Looks Like Home

• Unexpected Discovery:
  Upon landing, Captain John Black and Dr. Sam Hingston exit the ship to investigate Mars’s surface—only to find grass, a picket fence, a Victorian house, and the strains of a familiar piano tune.

• Existential Questions:
  Confusion gives way to speculation that they’ve either traveled back in time or landed on an Earth twin.

• Quotes:
  “Look at that house. A Victorian house on Mars. You expect me to believe that?... Nuts.”
  — Captain John Black, [11:23]

  “Maybe this proves the existence of God.”
  — Dr. Sam Hingston, [12:11]

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3. Reunion with the Dead

• Emotional Encounters:
  Sam finds his grandmother—dead for thirty years—alive and cheerful. Other crew members also begin to find lost family and friends, stirring nostalgia, relief, and mounting confusion.

• Dream or Deception?:
  Captain Black questions the reality of these reunions, torn between joy and fear.

• Quotes:
  “Ever since I died thirty years ago, Sam. Who are we to question what happens?... All I know is, I’m alive again and no questions asked.”
  — “Grandmother,” [16:40]

  “Is Mars Heaven?”
  — Captain John Black, [17:14]

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4. Suspicion and Horror

• Dawning Realization:
  In the quiet with Phyllis, his resurrected former fiancée, Captain Black speculates about a Martian ruse:
  • Could the familiar town, the revivals of loved ones, all be elaborate weapons?
  • Are his family and friends actually Martians cloaked in memory, using hypnotic powers to lull and destroy the crew?
• Quotes:
  “Suppose this town is some other shape. A Martian shape. But by playing on my memory and my desires and my wants, they’ve made it what I’ve wanted it to be... Supposed my mother and father weren’t that at all. But two Martians, incredibly brilliant, keeping me under this dreaming hypnosis—as other Martians have done it to my men, to Sam.”
  — Captain John Black, [22:25]

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5. The Grim Finale

• Trap is Sprung:
  Captain Black tries to warn Dr. Hingston, but it is too late. The illusion collapses, and Martians, having embodied the crew’s memories, kill every Earthman.

• Epilogue—Martian Victory Ceremony:
  The Martians, reverting to their true forms, convene to celebrate their successful defense. They read a communiqué congratulating their use of “mass hypnosis.” Earthmen are dismissed as “barbarian invaders” now atomized.

• Quotes:
  “Congratulations on your splendid work in meeting the barbarian invaders and atomizing them. You have proven the complete efficiency of plan A. Hereafter, mass hypnosis will become standard operating procedure in repelling any further invasion from outer space.”
  — Martian Leader, [24:00]

  “He said his name was John Black. He was a nice young being... He thought I was his father, whatever that is.”
  — Martian Impostor, [25:49]

  “One of them asked me if Mars was Heaven. What’s Heaven? ... I don’t know.”
  — Martian, [26:11]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:52] “Who sleeps? Who sleeps and has no way of knowing what’s waiting for him? ... Will it consume us? Spew our dust out into space? Maybe it’s the Elysian Fields, all charm and sweetness... Which will it be, Sam?” — Captain John Black
• [15:41] “Sam, oh Sam! You look fine—so grown up. Sam, don’t you know me? It’s your grandma. Your old grandma.” — Apparition of Sam's grandmother
• [17:14] “Is Mars Heaven?” — Captain John Black
• [22:09] “The Martians would use telepathy, hypnosis, memory, imagination.”—“Oh, John, don’t question no more.” — Black and Phyllis
• [24:00] Martian leader’s speech declaring the “atomizing” of the crew and the future of mass hypnosis as Martian defense.

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Key Timestamps

• 03:21 – 04:16: Launch sequence & national anticipation
• 07:19 – 08:45: Landing on Mars; first look at the “Earthlike” town
• 15:33 – 17:05: Sam’s reunion with his deceased grandmother
• 17:38 – 19:17: Crew and captain begin to accept the illusion; emotional reunions
• 21:54 – 22:36: Black articulates his suspicions about a Martian trap
• 24:00 – 26:29: Martian victory speech and destruction of the Earthmen’s ship

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Tone and Style

The episode sustains a mood of eerie nostalgia, blending warmth, homesickness, and creeping dread. The story’s dialogue is natural and affecting, reflecting Bradbury’s lyricism and the radio era’s earnest delivery. As the hallucination is uncovered, the tone shifts from wonderment to terror and, finally, to cold, alien detachment as the Martians reveal themselves.

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Summary Takeaway

“Mars Is Heaven” is a chilling psychological sci-fi story exploring hope, loss, and vulnerability in the unknown. The episode excels at turning cherished memories into tools of annihilation, making the ultimate horror not monsters, but loved ones. The ending reinforces a classic Bradbury theme: the greatest threats are those that can read—and mimic—human hearts.

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Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

Relic radio.

[Relic Radio Announcer]

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

[Escape Show Narrator]

Tired of the everyday routine? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all?

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

We offer you escape. Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure escape brought to you by your Richfield gasoline dealer and the Richfield Oil Corporation of New York. Marketers of Richfield gasolines, motor oils and other petroleum products. Look for the Richfield Eagle on the cream and blue pumps.

[Escape Show Narrator]

Tonight we escape to a gigantic rocket ship about to be shocked into space on man's first voyage to Mars. As Ray Bradbury tells it in his famous science fiction story, Mars is heaven.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

The project is magnificent, overwhelming and tremendous. We return you now to the scene of the takeoff in the desert of New Mexico. Go ahead, New Mexico. Thank you, London. This is Stuart Novins back in New Mexico. I'm standing here on the great steel observation platform overlooking the takeoff stand. As the moment for departure draws nearer. The whole area has been flooded with artificial light. It bathes a spaceship in a kind of silver luminescence. And surrounding it, engulfing it. This subdued hysteria of hundreds of thousands of people come to see the start of this incredible voyage of 18 men in the rocket ship the Venture. It's standing there pointing upward, pointing toward the heavens. And in a few minutes it will bloom out into great flowers of heat and color. Shocked into space on man's first voyage to Mars. As you know, ladies and gentlemen, prayers are being said for these 18 men and their ship. The first men, the first ship to dare the voyage to another planet. Prayers are being said by every creed in mosques and churches and synagogues the world over. We take you now to the Basilica of St. Paul's in Rome. This is New Mexico again. We're sorry to cut in, but that roar you're hearing, the roar of the crowd. It's the moment we've been waiting for. I can see the crew of the Venture walking up the catwalk that leads to the spaceship. The men are entering.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

And now.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Now the escape hatch is closed. Now the men are in the ship. This silence, this great awful silence of the crowd. It's the voiceless prayer that's in every heart. They're about ready now. Some lights from the ship just blinked on and off. It's a signal in just a few seconds. A few more. Stand by. Stand by.

[Captain John Black]

They're gone.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

The Venture, it's out of sight. Log entry.

[Captain John Black]

US Rocket ship Venture, one hour out from Earth. Destination Mars, Pascan Heaviside layer without incident. Rate of speed, 450,000 miles per hour. With planet Mars at its closest point to Earth, 35 million miles. Calculate duration of voyage to be roughly three and a half days. Captain John Blackmaster,

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Log entry.

[Captain John Black]

US rocket ship, the Venture, 12 hours out from Earth. While navigating super tensioned atmospheric forces, port shield generator broke down. Replaced by boosted.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Yes?

[Captain John Black]

Lieutenant Lustig reporting, sir. Come in, Pete.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Have a report on the trajectory.

[Narrator/Host]

Sir?

[Captain John Black]

Put it on my desk, Pete. Yes, sir. How do you feel?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Feel?

[Captain John Black]

Why, just wonderful, sir.

[Escape Show Narrator]

Sitting up there in a observation turd,

[Captain John Black]

I. I don't know just how to say it. The sights, I mean. Moon so close and Earth looking like.

[Escape Show Narrator]

And Mars. Sir?

[Captain John Black]

Sir?

[Escape Show Narrator]

You really think we'll make it?

[Captain John Black]

Who is it?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Dr. Hanks and Captain. May I come in?

[Captain John Black]

Sure, Sam. You weren't asleep, were you, John? Oh, no, Sam. Just sitting here, thinking.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Well, don't think about it. Too much sleep instead. You need all the sleep you can get.

[Captain John Black]

Who sleeps? Who sleeps. And has no way of knowing what's waiting for him. Look at it through the porthole, Sam.

[Martian Leader]

Mars.

[Captain John Black]

How would you describe it? That glittering blob of red.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

That's good enough.

[Captain John Black]

Will it consume us? Spew our dust out into space? Maybe it's the Elysian Fields, all charm and sweetness and moonlight shining on the restless dead. Which will it be, Sam?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

I don't know. All I know is that they told me I was an expert in space medicine at Randolph Field. On a plotted ground called Texas. They told me that. That's all I know.

[Captain John Black]

What are you doing up? You're supposed to be in the sack.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Well, I'll tell you, Captain, sometimes a man can't sleep. That happens to me sometimes. So I just wander through the ship, check on the boys, see that they're tucked in properly.

[Captain John Black]

That's what you were doing with me, huh?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

No, no, no, I. Well, I just.

[Captain John Black]

What made them do it, Sam? What made them volunteer?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Man keeps looking for something. There are no new frontiers now, only new worlds. There'll always be men who want to conque.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Log entry.

[Captain John Black]

US rocket ship Venture, 78 hours out from Earth. Approaching gravitational field of Mars. Atmospheric conditions similar to Earth's.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Log entry.

[Captain John Black]

US rocket ship Venture, 79 hours out from Earth. Have this moment landed on Mars at 1700 hours. We made it. Chemical analysis indicated on ship's instrument shows air to be breathable and will sustain human life. Gravity comparable with that of Earth's.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Ready, John?

[Captain John Black]

Yes. How are the men in sick base?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

I'm Happy? They're all right, John. You ready?

[Captain John Black]

First, one thing. Captain to crew. Captain to crew. Your attention. We have landed on Mars. No man is to leave this ship under penalty of court martial. Dr. Hingston and I will make a brief reconnaissance. Crew will proceed with repair of ship's hull. As you know, our ship is armed against any possible aggression. I can't impress it upon you too strongly. No man will leave this ship until Dr. Hingston and I ascertain that we are not in a hostile world. That is all. Let's go, Sam.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

You first, Captain. It's your honor you the first man from Earth to walk on Mars. This.

[Captain John Black]

This grass. It's a well kept lawn, John.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Look over there.

[Captain John Black]

A house.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

A Victorian house. Colored glass and scrolls. Everything. I don't believe it.

[Captain John Black]

Come on,

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Sam.

[Captain John Black]

Look at these two iron deer on this lawn. We had a pair of these when I was a kid. Sam, you hear that? That piano from that house. Sam, this isn't Mars.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

It can't be. It just can't be. It can't be, John. But it is. Welcome to Mars.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

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[Captain John Black]

What did I say, Sam? Somewhere back there in space that Mars was the Elysian Fields, all sweetness and charm.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Oh, John, it isn't that. It's what you see. A world like ours on Earth.

[Captain John Black]

And this.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

A small town with good air in it. A small town like the one I was born in. Same smell of flowers. Same sounds.

[Captain John Black]

You think that the civilizations of two planets can progress at the same rate? Develop in the same way I do now. Well, I don't. Look at that house. A Victorian house on Mars. You expect me to believe that? A house with lace cursing windows, with port swings, with something that sounds like a piano and probably is a piano playing?

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Beautiful, Ohio.

[Captain John Black]

You believe all that?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

I believe it. I admit it's strange, but I believe it. Strange?

[Captain John Black]

Nuts.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

It's impossible.

[Captain John Black]

We're going back to the ship.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Wait, wait, John. It could be. It could be that there are similar patterns of thought, movement, civilization on every planet in our system. Maybe we're on the threshold of the great psychological and metaphysical discovery of our time. Maybe we.

[Captain John Black]

Well, go on, Simon.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Maybe this proves the existence of God.

[Captain John Black]

Not everyone needs proof.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

I don't. But how else can you explain all this, John? It fills me with terror and joy. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Captain John Black]

I admit it looks peaceful and cool. Pretty much like Council Bluffs, where I was born. That was a good, quiet place. Council Bluff's, Iowa.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

I.

[Captain John Black]

Do you see that, Sam?

[Phyllis]

Do you hear it?

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

I see it and hear it.

[Captain John Black]

It's there.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

A horse and carriage going down the street.

[Captain John Black]

Suppose, just suppose that by accident or something we landed on a planet in space in another time. Suppose that this is earth 30 or 50 years ago. Maybe we got lost in the dimensions. What do you think, Sam?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

So much like my hometown. That house, that room up there with a beaded lamp near the window. When I was a kid, I used to sleep and do my lessons in a room just like that. I'd lie there in the night and I'd be awake. And I could hear the freight trains across the river and. John, do you hear that? I hear.

[Captain John Black]

Let's go.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Where?

[Captain John Black]

We're going up to that house and ask questions.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Where else?

[Captain John Black]

Come on.

[Phyllis]

Yes?

[Townswoman]

Can I help you?

[Captain John Black]

I beg your pardon, but we want.

[Townswoman]

If you're selling something. I'm much too busy and I haven't time. We're all at supper.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Oh, wait.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Wait.

[Captain John Black]

Don't go. What town is this?

[Townswoman]

What do you mean, what town is this? How could you be in a town and not know what town it was?

[Captain John Black]

I beg your pardon, but we're strangers here. We're from Earth and we want to know how this town got here. How you got here?

[Townswoman]

Are you census taker?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

No.

[Townswoman]

What do you want then?

[Captain John Black]

How long has this town been here?

[Townswoman]

It was built in 1868. Is this a game?

[Captain John Black]

No, no, not a game. Look, try to understand. We're from Earth.

[Townswoman]

From where?

[Captain John Black]

From Earth.

[Narrator/Host]

Where's that?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

The Earth.

[Townswoman]

Out of the Ground, you mean.

[Captain John Black]

No, from the planet Earth. Come out on the porch, please, and I'll show you.

[Townswoman]

No, I won't come out there. You're evidently quite mad from the sun.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Let me try. Lady, we came in a flying ship across space, among the stars. We came from the third planet from the sun, Earth, to this planet, which is Mars. Now do you understand?

[Townswoman]

You're touched from the sun, too. Go away now, before I call my husband from his supper. He'll beat you up, that's what he'll do.

[Captain John Black]

But this is Mars, isn't it?

[Townswoman]

This is Green Lake, Ohio, on the continent of America, surrounded by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and a place called the World, or sometimes the Earth. Go away now.

[Narrator/Host]

Go away.

[Captain John Black]

Let's take a walk, sam.

[Relic Radio Announcer]

Yeah.

[Captain John Black]

Sam.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Yeah?

[Captain John Black]

There's something going on here, something we don't understand. I want you to go back to the ship. If anything out of the way happens, lift the ship and get out.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

But, John.

[Captain John Black]

That's an order, Sam.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

All right, if it's an order. John, look. Look at that woman walking toward us.

[Captain John Black]

What about her?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Well, she looks like.

[Narrator/Host]

Sam. Oh, Sam, you look fine. So grown up. Sam, don't you know me? It's your grandma. Your old grandma.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Grandmother?

[Narrator/Host]

What's wrong, Sam? This is a happy meeting. And who is this friend of yours?

[Captain John Black]

This is Captain John Black.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

John, this is my grandmother. Grandmother, so help me. So help me. John, this is my grandmother. She's dead. Died 30 years ago. But this is my grandmother.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, there's no sense standing here on the street. You just come along to my house. We've so much to talk about. You, too, Captain. And your friend of my grandson's is mine, too. Now, don't stand there with your mouths open. Come on. Here, Sam, have some more iced tea. Would you like some more, too, Captain?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Oh, thank you. I would.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, here's to our help.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Help? How long have you been here, Grandmother?

[Narrator/Host]

Ever since I died.

[Phyllis]

What?

[Narrator/Host]

Don't look like that. I said ever since I died 30 years ago, Sam. Who are we to question what happens? What's living, anyway? All I know is I'm alive again and no questions asked. Here, Captain Field.

[Phyllis]

Go ahead.

[Narrator/Host]

Feel my arm. Solid, isn't it? You hear my voice, don't you? You hear it, don't you, Captain?

[Captain John Black]

Yes. Yes, I hear it, Grandmother.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, then why go around questioning?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Just that we. I never thought I'd see you again, Grandmother.

[Captain John Black]

Mrs. Hingston?

[Narrator/Host]

Yes. Samoa. Iced tea, Captain?

[Captain John Black]

Oh, no, no. I just want to ask you a question. Mrs. Hingston is Mars? Heaven?

[Narrator/Host]

Nonsense.

[Townswoman]

No.

[Narrator/Host]

It's a world. And we get a second chance. It's like another Earth. How do we know there wasn't one before Earth?

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

That's a good question, John. Well.

[Captain John Black]

Well, maybe we better get back to the ship, Sam. It's been nice, Mrs. Hingston. Thanks for the drink.

[Narrator/Host]

You'll be back? Of course. For supper, I mean. We're having fried chicken, mashed potatoes.

[Captain John Black]

What's that? Excuse me, Mrs. Hingston.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Come here.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Hey. Well, what do you know, John? A parade. With a brass band.

[Captain John Black]

But the crew, my crew. Marching behind the band with all those people.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

But they're heroes. These people are welcome.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Remains heroes.

[Captain John Black]

The abandoned ship. They had orders. I'll court martial every one of them. John, listen to me.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

They found all relatives and friends just like I have.

[Captain John Black]

They have their orders.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

What would you have done?

[Captain John Black]

Obeyed orders.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

I, I. What's the matter? I don't believe it.

[Captain John Black]

It's impossible.

[Phyllis]

John. They said I would find you here. Phyllis. Of course, darling.

[Captain John Black]

Phyllis.

[Phyllis]

Of course. Who did you think it was?

[Captain John Black]

This is Phyllis, Sam.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

My, my.

[Captain John Black]

10 years ago. After that, I never got married.

[Phyllis]

We're waiting for you. Your mother and father, they're alive, waiting for you at your old house on Maple Avenue.

[Captain John Black]

You heard that, Sam, didn't you? This is Phyllis talking. And she said mother and dad and the house.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

You understand it now. The crew. Same thing has happened to them. Yes.

[Captain John Black]

Yes. When I open my eyes, it'll all be gone. Phyllis will be gone.

[Phyllis]

Open them, John. Oh, my darling. My darling.

[Escape Show Narrator]

Good to see you.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Children dancing together again. Your mother would have enjoyed it so much, John.

[Captain John Black]

I must have worn her out with all my questions.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Don't worry about it, son. She'll get a good rest tonight. Then in the morning. The days after. We have so much time now, son. We'll all be together. You and Phyllis, your mother and I. So much time. Yes.

[Phyllis]

Don't go away from me, John. Hold me closer. What a dream. So long of dancing with you. No, no, no, no, no. No more questions. Just accept that your mother and father were once dead and are now alive. That I was killed 10 years ago. I was killed in a horrible accident. And now, Now I'm alive and in your arms. Oh, tight, John. Hold me tight.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Think I'll run along to bed now. You children won't forget to turn out the lights. Well, you know what to do. Good night, Phyllis.

[Phyllis]

Good night, Father Black.

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

Good night, son.

[Captain John Black]

Good night, dad.

[Phyllis]

Shall we go out on the back, Pork, John. Like we used to long ago. Come with me. John. Here. Let's sit here on the steps. Remember that grape arbor? You built it. I remember. You hit your thumb with a hammer and I cried. Be very silent, John. Is anything wrong?

[Captain John Black]

Phyllis? I've just had a crazy notion. Suppose this were Mars.

[Phyllis]

But it isn't.

[Captain John Black]

Humor me, Phyllis. Suppose it were Mars and the Martians saw our ship coming and saw us inside our ship and hated us. And they wanted to destroy us, but

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

in a very clever way.

[Phyllis]

Yes.

[Captain John Black]

Well, what would be the best weapon a Martian could use against us? With our atomic bombs, our hydrogen. John. No, let me finish. The hypothesis is interesting. The Martians would use telepathy, hypnosis, memory, imagination.

[Phyllis]

Oh, John, don't question no more.

[Captain John Black]

Look, suppose this town is some other shape. A Martian shape. But by playing on my memory and my desires and my wants, they've made

[Dr. Sam Hingston]

it what I've wanted it to be.

[Captain John Black]

I suppose my mother and father weren't that at all. But two Martians, incredibly brilliant. Keeping me under this dreaming hypnosis as other Martians have done it to my men, to Sam.

[Phyllis]

But me. You've had your arms around me. You've kissed me. We shared old secrets. Was that a Martian hypnosis? John.

[Captain John Black]

Phyllis.

[Phyllis]

Yes, what is it, John? Where are you going?

[Captain John Black]

I've got to talk to Sam. I've got to find out what he thinks now that he's alone with his grandmother.

[Phyllis]

Stay here with me, John.

[Captain John Black]

I've got to talk to Sam. Maybe he's beginning to wonder too.

[Phyllis]

You're not going anywhere, John.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Phyllis.

[Martian Leader]

Phyllis.

[Captain John Black]

No, you're.

[Martian Leader]

You're not Phyllis. I was right. You're not you.

[Narrator/Host]

Friends.

[Martian Leader]

Friends, comrades, fellow Martians. This is a great day for Mars. A day of great rejoicing. As number one of quadrant 327B of sector Q, it is my proud privilege to read to you this message from the Planetary All High. It says, congratulations on your splendid work in meeting the barbarian invaders and atomizing them. You have proven the complete efficiency of plan A. And hereafter mass hypnosis will become standard operating procedure in repelling any further invasion from outer space, be they submartion from Earth or any other creature from any other planet. Well done. I can add little to this unstinted praise from you all. I. But I would like to point out to you that what you have accomplished could not have been done had it not been for our space heroes who have risked so much and often given all in recent years to keep the planet Earth under close surveillance. This surveillance, as you know, has been accomplished by our space Patrols known to Earth men as flying saucers. Ah, they were courageous, these Earth creatures, to brave space in that crude ship. But they were inferior beings and therefore they had to be atomized. Their extinction was necessary to ensure our way of life. Yet, perhaps since this has been your first encounter with creatures from outer space, you. You whose glorious victory this has been, may want to say something. Is there anyone who wants to say something? You.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, yes. Yes, it was a very interesting experience. He said his name was John Black. He was a nice young being. Nice?

[Martian Leader]

He thought I was his father.

[Narrator/Host]

Whatever that is. I guess that's all I want to say.

[Martian Leader]

And you?

[Phyllis]

Oh, no, I don't think so. Well, I thought of something, but I forgot.

[Martian Leader]

I see. And you?

[Narrator/Host]

One of them asked me if Mars was heaven. What's heaven?

[Martian Leader]

I don't know. Now for the business at hand. The ship. The ship they came in. The destruction of it. Disintegrator squad ready. Proceed. Compressed charge. 16 atmospheres. Charges compressed.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Low velocity trajectory 2.

[Martian Leader]

Low velocity trajectory 2. Release. Charge. The ship they came in. It's gone.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Motorists, did you ever consider that taking care of a car is something like caring for a baby? It's easier when you've got a system. And in caring for your car, the Richfield gasoline dealer has a system. It's called Richfield All Point Safety Service. Have the Richfield dealer service your car tomorrow because hot weather is hard on lubricants. Wear and sudden breakdown can occur before you realize there's anything wrong with All Points Service, the Richfield dealer will change your oil to fresh rich lube all weather motor oil and give your car a careful All Point lubrication job. Chassis, differential, front wheels and transmission. And that includes service of automatic transmissions with the new Richfield automatic transmission fluid. Richfield All Points Safety Service also includes inspection and care of all the likely trouble spots such as battery, spark plugs, tires and radiator. So save time, save money with this one stop service. Get warm weather protection for your car. Now, with Richfield All Point Safety Service, look for the Richfield Eagle on the cream and blue pumps. Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robeson and tonight has presented Mars is Heaven by Ray Bradbury. Adapted for radio by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Featured in the cast were Jeff Corey as Captain Black, Florence Bates as the grandmother, Bill Johnstone as Dr. Hingston, Walter Catlett as number one of Mars, Elizabeth Root as Phyllis, Paul Freeze as Peter Lustig, Ian Wolf as the father and Stuart Novins who played himself. Also heard were Ruth Parrott and Ben Wright. Special music arranged and played by Ivan Ditmars.

[Stuart Novins (Reporter)]

Next week,

[Escape Show Narrator]

you're standing on the floor of the ocean, pronging up a fortune and sponges. But moving closer and closer to you, his huge sponge hook raised to rip open your diving suit, is a man from whom there is no escape.

[Richfield Gasoline Advertiser]

Next week at this time, the Richfield Oil Corporation of New York invites you to escape with an exciting story about sponge fishes in the Gulf of Mexico. As John and Gwen Bagney tell it in the Big Sponge. Be listening. Goodbye then, until the same time next week when once again, we offer you escape. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Relic Radio Announcer]

That's the show for this week, but don't forget there are thousands more like it at relicradio.com horror, strange tales, science fiction, crime, all available for free. If you'd like to donate to Relic Radio and help keep it all free, you can do that through the website as well. Visit donate. Relicradio.com to find out more to see the special downloadable sets that are available. My thanks to those who have donated and thanks for listening today. Talk to you again next week.