Studio One (1948–1958): Season 7, Episode 8 - An Almanac of Liberty - full transcript

# Power to serve
the nation's defense #

# Equipment to serve
the nation's industry #

# Appliances
for greater convenience #

# In the nation's homes #

# Whatever you need #

# Whatever you do #

# You can be sure #

# You can be sure
if it's Westinghouse #

# Westinghouse #

[ Thudding, grunting ]

Good evening.
I'm Charles Collingwood.



"An Almanac of Freedom"

is the title
of a remarkable book

by Supreme Court Justice
William O. Douglas

published today
by Doubleday & Company.

It's a book
about the slow growth

of the habits and attitudes
which have made us free men.

It would be as impossible
to dramatize this book

as it would be to dramatize

the Constitution
of the United States.

But Reginald Rose has distilled
from "An Almanac of Liberty"

that moving spirit of freedom
in which it was written

and has shaped
from that spirit alone

an original teleplay
for Studio One.

It's the spirit
of "The Prayer for Liberty"



by Rabindranath Tagore,

with which Mr. Justice Douglas
closes his book

and which reads in part...

"Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high,

where knowledge is free,

where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way

into the dreary desert sand
of dead habit,

where the mind
is led forward by thee

into ever-widening thought
and action --

into that heaven of freedom,
my Father,

let my country awake."

[ Dramatic music plays ]

[ Clock ticking ]

[ Telephone ringing ]

[ Irish accent ] Hello?

WOMAN:
Now, let me tell you something,

Mr. Whatever Your Name Is!

This had just better be
the right extension.

They've been switching me
all over this building,

but all over it.

I mean, how difficult can it be
to find out

where to get a dog license?

-Hello?
-Hello.

His name is Sweetie --
S-w-e-e-t-i-e --

and he's a Pomeranian.

And I don't know why I need
a license for him at all.

I mean, you can hardly see him.

The license bureau
is extension 21.

Oh, for heaven's sake!

[ Ticking continues ]

[ Fingers snapping ]

Hiya, Mr. Neary.
How's it going?

Hey, where is everybody?

Thought they were
all supposed to be here.

[ Snapping continues ]

Hello, Miss Church.

Harmon.

-Oh !
-Hey, cut it out, Susie!

Gee, I’m sorry, Mrs. Church.

She shoved me.

I couldn't help it!

Can't catch me!
Can't catch me!

Can't catch me!
La la la!

[ Grumbles ]

MIKEY: Get you!

[ Ticking continues ]

OTTILIE: I do hope this won't
take too long, Horace.

You know I have to fix Billy
his luncheon

after he gets home from school.

There aren't very many people
here, are there?

Well, if it isn't
the illustrious president

of our City Council!

Hi, Horace.

Well, Matty, my love.
Where's George?

He'll probably come
straight over from the store.

Looks as if
there will be a crowd.

Even Mrs. Church is here.

What time is it?

HORACE:
10:24 on the nose.

Why did we have to come here,
Horace?

Excuse me.
Ottilie's holding a seat for me.

HANK: Hi, Harmon.

WOMAN: I still have
loads of chores.

Morning, Mr. Sweetser.

SAM: I know.
This won't be long.

Howdy, Mr. Sweetser.

Hello.

Hello, Mike.
Susie.

Mr. Neary, Mrs. Church.

Harmon, who let you in?

Hi, Dad.
Sorry I’m late.

[ Foreign accent ]
Ah, Dr. Slattery. How are you?

Tired.
How are you, Mr. Nathan?

Thanks, fine.

Oh, Phil, would you look at me?
I forgot to take off my apron.

How come they made it for 10:24?

It's such a silly time.
I mean, why not 10:30?

GEORGE:
But whatever it is,

I don't think it was
such a good idea

pulling them
on Saturday morning.

Busiest day of the week
at the store.

Well, how are you, Ben?

I’m okay.
Thanks, Mr. Wilkinson.

Say, how'd you like your ad
in the paper today?

Well, it looked okay.

Listen, I didn't think very much
of your editorial, though.

Pardon me, please.

[ Ticking continues ]

Why, the nerve of that man.

Did you see him, Ben, huh?

-Good morning.
-Good morning, Principal.

Oh, hello, Horace.
Ottilie.

Hello, Susan.
How's my favorite girl?

Hello, darling.
Sorry I’m late.

Listen, this isn't
a funeral or something, is it?

What the heck
is supposed to be going on?

Okay, so I’ll sit down.

[ Grunts ]

[ Sighs ]

Well, what is supposed
to be happening?

I don't know.

Listen, you were the one that
told me to be here at 10:24.

I am not.
I never told you any such thing.

Why, Matty, you mentioned it to
me right after breakfast.

You left the house
before I woke up.

-Did l?
-[ Indistinct talking ]

HARMON: All right!
Let's start the show!

[ Rhythmic clapping ]

-Matty, who told you to be here?
-I'm trying to remember.

What's it all about, Walt?
Something to do with the school?

Not that I know.

It's probably something
Horace Sweetser dreamed up.

HORACE:
Oh, nothing with me.

Who knows what's going on
around here?

Somebody ought to know.

I got better things to do this
morning than sit around and gab.

MAN: Yeah.

Someone must have called this
meeting for a specific reason.

Now, well
who was the first one here?

I was.

Oh? Harmon.
Who told you to be here?

I think it was Mrs. Church.

It was not.

You can't go accusing me
of anything of the kind.

I never mentioned it to a soul.
I was lying in my bed.

I just thought of something.

Mr. Neary was here before me,
sitting right where he is now.

Well, how about it, Mr. Neary?

Oh, I’m just in here to dust.

Uh, this place gets very dusty.

Then all of a sudden,
instead of dusting, I sat down.

And he walked in here.

That's all I know.
I’m supposed to be dusting.

What do you suppose this is?

Well, how should I know?
Maybe it's just a coincidence.

OTTILIE: Well, now, look.

We couldn't have all just
walked in here by ourselves.

Everybody knew
what time to be here.

-I mean, somebody must have --
-Ottilie.

How about you, Ben?
You're on the paper here.

You're supposed to know
what's going on in downtown.

-What about this?
-You got me, Mr. Sweetser.

Maybe there was
a town meeting scheduled.

No.
That's ridiculous.

I’d have known about it
if there were.

Ben, we haven't had
a town meeting in here

in well over 30 years.

Maybe it's something
with the children.

A practical joke or something.

No, I don't think
the children know anything.

Let's find out.

Susie, do you know anything
about this?

No, Mr. Sweetser.
Mikey told me to be here.

At least I think he did.

I did not, you big liar.
You told me!

Don't you call me a liar,
Mikey Lester,

or I’ll smack you one.

You and what army?

Now, now, now.
Stop it. Stop it.

Stop it, children.
Stop it.

Now, let's be quiet.

Since nobody here knows
what this meeting is about,

I don't see any reason why
we should stay here any longer

and squabble about it.

Let's just call it a mistake.

It's a beautiful day out,

and I’m sure we've all got
better things to do.

MAN:
I’m for that, Horace.

Very strange, George.
Why 10:24?

How did everyone know?

Oh, I don't know.
Forget about it, Matty.

It's over.
Come on. Let's go.

HORACE: Oh, uh,
wait a minute, everybody.

Uh, as long as
we're all here together,

I figure this is a good time
to remind you

about the Patriots' Day
boxed supper

a week from next Saturday.

Now, let's all get out there
and remind ourselves

that we're 100% good Americans.

[ Cheering ]

Let's make this
the greatest Patriots' Day ever.

[ Cheering ]

Well, look at that.
It's pouring outside.

How do you like that?

Not 10 seconds ago,
the sun was shining.

For heaven's sakes.
And I’ve got on a new dress.

I’m not going out
in that, George.

BEN: It can't be raining.
My paper says "fair."

-[ Laughter ]
-Oh, very funny, Ben.

Well, Matty, I’ve got to
get back to the store.

I’ll see you later, dear.

-[ Thunder crashes ]
-[ Gasps ] George!

MAN:
Hey, that was pretty close.

And how, it was.

Let's wait, George.
Please.

I guess we all better
stay here, folks.

Looks like quite a storm.

WOMAN: Come back here.
You kids.

Did you hear me?

I want you to come back
this instant.

[ Thunder crashes ]

HANK: What the heck
is he doing here, anyway?

[ Thunder rumbles ]

Hello.

-How do you feel?
-Better, thanks.

Well, that's good.
My name is Ben Phillips.

-John Carter.
-It's nice to meet you.

Uh, I was a little surprised

to see you walk in here
this morning.

Why?

Well, these people haven't
treated you very well.

Uh, how long
have you been in town?

A week.

-What kind of work do you do?
-Anything.

I heard there was a housing
development going up here.

I thought there might be a job.

I was the one who, uh, ran out

and snapped that picture
of you yesterday.

I know.

Well, why did they do it?

I don't know.

-No idea?
-None.

I wish I did know.

Listen, everybody.

Being all together like this

is something
that only happens in Ridgeville

at bingo parties and funerals.

[ Laughter ]

Well, uh, anyway,
seeing as we are all here,

maybe there's a question
some of you can answer for me.

A man was beaten up in our town
by a mob last night.

Now, he doesn't know
why it happened.

He knows why.

No, he doesn't know
why it happened.

I saw the tail end of it.

Oh, there must have been
10 or 15 people in on it.

Most of them
are right here in this room.

I would like to know
why it happened,

a mob attacking one man
that way.

What was the reason?

He deserved every bit of it.
And more.

What's the matter?
Don't you know about him?

-Know what?
-He's a dangerous guy.

Right, Mr. Sweetser?

I’ll buy that.

I don't think we need
his kind around here.

What kind is that?

Well, if you don't know
what I mean, Ben...

I’d like to know what
Ridgeville's coming to,

mobbing a stranger
just like that.

Now, listen, Ben.

Ridgeville can take care
of itself.

We've gotten along fine
for a lot of years.

We're 100% Americans here,

and that's just the way
we're going to stay.

Right, Horace!

So you can sit down, Ben,
and mind your own business.

We'll take care of our town.

MAN #1: That's telling him,
Mr. Sweetser.

MAN #2:
You bet your life.

[ Thunder crashes ]

The clock stopped.

What time is it, Horace?

I’ve got 10:24.

My watch must have stopped too.

10:24?
But that's what the clock says.

Who's got the time?

I have 10:24.

That's funny.

My watch must have stopped
when I walked in.

This thing won't start.

Neither will mine.
It stopped at 10:24.

What is this?

I can't get mine going, either.

Look at that.
10:24 right on the nose.

So is mine.

That's the time it was
when I came in here.

What's happening, George?
What is it?

Easy.
Take it easy, Matty.

Come on.
Who's got the right time here?

Come on, come on.
Somebody speak up, will you?

My watch won't start.
It's stopped at 10:24.

I’m frightened, Horace.
What's wrong?

Quiet.

All right, uh,
let's take it easy, folks.

Uh, now,
has everybody's watch stopped?

-Aaah!
-[ Indistinct shouting ]

Don't lose your heads!

Don't lose your heads!
Calm down!

-Quiet!
-Listen to him.

Calm down!

I’m gonna telephone
for the time.

[ Thunder crashes ]

WOMAN:
When you hear the tone,

the time will be
10:24 exactly.

[ Tone sounds ]

ANNOUNCER:
Now that you've seen part one

of "An Almanac of Liberty,"

let's turn
to our Westinghouse program

and Betty Furness.

FURNESS: Poor kid -- She's gonna
be late for her date.

She never guessed it would take
so long to press that skirt.

She has to dampen the cloth
and then bear down hard.

And it still doesn't look right.

Before her next date she better
get herself one of these

wonderful, brand-new
Westinghouse open-handle steam

or dry irons.

It's so efficient.

This Westinghouse iron is far
superior to other steam irons

and for a very good reason.

You see, some irons have just
a couple of steam vents

here at the tip
of the soleplate.

Then other steam irons
have a couple more like that.

But look, the Westinghouse
has 15 steam vents

way down the soleplate.

Now, that's what makes a big
difference in ironing time.

You see, here is the width
of the steam path

made by that first iron.

That's pretty narrow, isn't it?
And here's the second one.

It's a little wider
but still not wide enough.

But just look at the steam path

made by the Westinghouse
steam iron .

It gives you more steam
over a wider area.

And that means faster and better
ironing and pressing.

You actually save strokes

on every single piece
that you iron.

I’m gonna use
this aluminum cookie sheet here

for a brand-new purpose

because I want you to see
that wider steam path in action.

Now, just watch.

There. See?

You get faster ironing
and better dampening.

And then when you roll it back
like that,

the steam stops automatically.

Actually,
this is two irons in one

because when you want
a dry iron,

you just flick that dial
to "dry."

You really don't know
how easy and fast ironing can be

until you own this
wonderful new Westinghouse

open-handle steam or dry iron.

It's now only $17.95.

See it at your dealer tomorrow.

And remember...

[ Dramatic music plays ]

ANNOUNCER: We return now
to Westinghouse Studio One

and "An Almanac of Liberty."

WOMAN:
When you hear the tone,

the time will be 10:24 exactly.

[ Tone sounds ]

10:24 exactly.

It can't be.

I came in here at 10:24.

I set my watch by the radio
this morning.

George, did you hear me?
It's the watch you gave me.

-I set it by the radio!
-Call again, Horace.

Phil, what is it?

The rain.
The blackness.

All morning it's like
I’m walking in a dream.

You know what I mean?

Yes. I know.

-Call again!
-Take it easy, George.

Give me the telephone.

You can't get it calling once.
Give it to me!

There's no sense in getting
overexcited, Mr. Wilkinson.

Don't you ever tell me
what to do.

But ever.

WOMAN:
When you hear the tone,

the time will be 10:24 exactly.

[ Tone sounds ]

Did you hear that?

-Dial the operator.
-Did you hear it?

What kind of craziness is this?

Take it easy, George.
Dial the operator.

Did you hear it?
Everything has stopped.

Don't be ridiculous.

No.
I told you before.

Everything has stopped.
I can feel it.

Dial the operator.

What does she say?
I can't hear.

Quiet, Mrs. Church.

WOMAN: Operator.

Hello, operator.

Would you give me the time,
please?

WOMAN:
When you hear the tone...

Operator?

Hello, operator?

Operator?!

There.
There, did you hear it?

Everything's stopped.
Just like I said.

-Everything has stopped.
-I'm getting out of here!

Cut it out!
Cut it out!

-Get ahold of yourself.
-What are you trying to do?

We've got kids in here.

Now, calm down.

Phil, this is something
I don't understand.

What did we do?
What did we do?

I don't know.

-MIKEY: Look at that!
-Huh?

Mr. Busby.

He's standing there
like a statue!

Yeah, it's Al Busby
right enough.

Look at him.

Half in and half out
of the pickup truck.

He's not moving.

Let me in there.
Let me in there.

Al!

Al Busby!
Listen!

Al Busby!

Rain beats in his face.

He doesn't even blink.

Just stands there, frozen.

Just like I said.

Everything has stopped, Matty.

Time is standing still.

I told you before, Matty.

Matty? Matty, didn't you hear?
I told you before.

I want to go home.

All right. Come on.
Sit down. Take it easy.

I mean, it's stopped.

MIKEY: Why?

Shh.
Quiet, Mike.

MIKEY: No.
No kidding -- Why?

We don't know why, Mikey.

[ Thunder crashes ]

I didn't want to come here.
I didn't have to come.

Might as well stay here.

What are we going to do?

I don't think there's anything
we can do except talk, maybe.

People never seem
to get much of a chance

to talk to each other anymore.

We're prisoners here.

Time has stopped
for everyone but us.

-If we knew why --
-Look, will you shut your mouth?

Maybe you can understand
a thing like this.

Maybe you know
what's going to happen to us.

If you could explain...

I can't either.

I guess none of us can.

Perhaps I can ask you
a question.

I don't know any of you here.
Why did you want to hurt me?

You hit me in the face.

I never saw you before
in my life.

Why did you do it?

You know why.
The things you said.

Things no good American
ought to say.

MAN:
That's right, Hank!

I ain't ashamed for hitting you.
I’d do it again.

What things did you hear me say?

Oh, don't start giving me
any of that.

Mr. Wilkinson told me plenty.

-He heard you say that --
-Mr. Wilkinson?

Yeah.
What do you want?

What was it I said
that offended you?

You really want to know?
Everything about you offends me.

You're a troublemaker.
You talk too much.

I don't like strangers.

And particularly
I don't like strangers

that criticize and disagree.

Is that why I was attacked?

You bet it is.

Listen, folks,
there's an element

creeping in our town
that's no good.

They criticize everything.

They have radical ideas

and infect
good, honest people with them.

Believe me,
we got to watch it.

Now, that's all I can tell you.

Now, listen, mister,
I’m warning you.

Excuse me.

Just a minute.
I’m not finished yet!

-Maybe you shouldn't finish.
-Phil...

Talk to a man the way you did?
Who gave you the right?

What's the matter with you?
That's Mr. Wilkinson.

There. You see?
You see what I mean, folks?

That is our tailor.

You see what's creeping
into our town?

Believe me,
we've got to watch it.

I’m begging you.
We've got a store here.

He comes in -- Mr. Wilkinson.

There is an example.

That is the element, folks.

Look who he's defending.
And you know what he is?

What I am?

Maybe you've got a definition.

I’m a tailor, and I’m a man.

What else?
Tell me.

Listen, Mr. Wilkinson,

I don't like anyone to tell me
that I’m an "element."

I may press your pants,
but we are both the same.

Me and you.

We were born the same way,
and we'll die the same way.

And in between, we've got
a right to be respected,

me as well as you.

Him as well as both us us.

Don't you forget it.

MAN:
The nerve that guy has.

GEORGE: Huh.

Did you hear?

-Did you hear him, Ted?
-Yes, sir.

Harmon, the man's
out of his mind, obviously.

Sam, look.
Look at this other fellow here.

Thank you.

Walks right over
to his little friend, see?

Oh, look, folks.
Listen.

Did it ever occur
to any of us here to find out

who this man really is --
I mean what he actually is?

Did it?
Perhaps the police here --

George.
Haven't you said enough?

No, Matty.
I haven't said half enough.

You're making
a fool of yourself.

That is my wife.
That is my lovely wife.

Matty, did you hear
what that man just said to me?

I heard.

It's still 10:24.

When do you think
it'll be 10:25?

What's going to happen to us?

We'll die!

No, no, no, Matty.
No, no, no, no.

[ Thunder crashes ]

Its him!

That man!

It's him, sure as we're all
sitting here waiting to die.

He's a peculiar man,
do you hear me?

A peculiar man.

Look into his face.
It's his doing.

I can feel it.

The lightning and the thunder.

The midnight when God in heaven
knows it ought to be noon.

I tell you, he brought us here.
Each and every one of us.

Mary, behave yourself.

He snapped his fingers
and he rolled his eyes,

and we trooped in here

like flock of lambs
led to the slaughter!

NEARY: Stop it,
or I’m gonna slap you one.

The devil sits in this room!

Mary, you'll be getting yourself
a stroke or something.

Sit down.
Sit down.

[ Crying, muttering ]

I don't know
what's come over this woman.

Most of the time, she's quiet.

Maybe she's not so wrong.
Who is that guy?

That's right.
What's his name?

-His name is John Carter.
-What's on your mind, Harmon?

How do we know
his name is John Carter?

He acts strange,
like Mrs. Church says.

I don't like the looks of him.

Maybe the old woman knows
what she's talking about.

What are you saying?

He's the only one
sat here in his seat

when we were all leaving,
like he knew we'd never get out.

-That's right!
-But wait a minute.

TED: What do you mean,
wait a minute?

I tell you, men,
I’m gonna search him,

find out who he really is.

That name John Carter's a phony
if I ever heard one.

Come here!

Get your hands off him!

Well, now I’ve seen it.

A disgusting sight.

Now, just a minute,
Mr. Phillips.

Call me Ben!

Maybe you'll
understand me better.

Look around you, Harmon.
Do you see any trees?

Brother, this is no jungle.
This is your town hall.

And you're supposed to be
a human being in it.

What are you afraid of, Harmon?
Dying?

Listen, Harmon, if you die,
he dies too.

He's the same as you.

And while you're alive,
you're gonna respect his rights.

Did you ever hear of that word?
Rights?

Nobody's gonna search this man.

He's not guilty of any crime,

and he hasn't committed
any crime.

And what he has in his pockets
and in his head are his own.

So you can sit down and cry and
bite your nails if you want to,

but don't touch this man.

He's afraid too.

And so am l.

[ Indistinct talking ]

HANK: You gonna let him get away
with that, Mr. Sweetser?

[ Thunder crashes ]

Let me tell you something,
Ben Phillips.

Maybe you can talk these boys
back into their seats,

but you're not gonna buffalo me.

You've been shooting your mouth
off in this town long enough,

and I’m sick of it!

MAN: Brother,
you can say that again!

You've been up there
defending a dangerous man.

I say it's just like you
to do it.

It goes with
that rabble-rousing trash

you're printing
in your newspaper.

You're a radical, Ben Phillips,

and I say
you shouldn't be allowed

to print the stuff you run.

And if we ever get out of here,
you're not going to print it!

I’ll see to it that
the good people of this town

strike you proper, Mr. Phillips.

We'll get a committee that'll --

Listen, I don't think
you ought to.

-Ought to what?
-Well, I think you're wrong.

I mean,
what's printed in the newspaper

is supposed to be the truth.

I’ll give you a smack.
Sit down in your seat, mister!

-No.
-Billy, what are you doing?

I’ll smack you in a minute!

Everyone else is talking.
Why can't I say something?

Every man can speak his mind.
Isn't that right, Mr. Sweetser?

BILLY: Okay.

You know wherever they don't
allow the newspapers

to print the stuff
they want to print, why,

that country ends up
by going down the drain.

I can prove it to you
six different ways.

That's why we have freedom
of the press around here.

I mean, listen,

if that's just phony stuff
from a book,

then what am I wasting my time
studying it for?

But if it's real, then maybe
we ought to remember it.

I don't know.

You're always talking
about freedom

when you got a speech to make.

What's the matter, Dad?

Don't you believe
in anything you say?

-Honest, I’m ashamed a little.
-Billy...

I don't know about you,
Sweetser,

but if that was any kid of mine,

I wouldn't
waste my time talking.

I’d take a cat-o'-nine-tail
to him so fast,

it'd make his head spin.

Talking to his father like that.

That what you teach
in your school?

-Sam Hunt, you stay out of it.
-Be quiet!

Well?
What about it, Falion?

Is that your idea of
what a good education means?

Why don't you teach the kids
some respect for their folks?

They're supposed to learn that
at home, Mr. Hunt.

Ha!
There's smart answer for you.

Listen, Mr. Principal, I’ve seen
these kids of yours around town.

I’ve heard them talk.

I tell you, it's enough to touch
to a decent citizen sometimes,

with their carping
and their criticizing.

They're even talking politics!

Somebody ought to
smack them down.

And while they're doing it,

they ought to run a thresher
through that school.

-Mr. Hunt --
-Don't interrupt me!

Letting kids like that

read the stuff they've got there
in these times.

Yes, I’ve seen
some of the books.

They ought to be carted out
and burned.

These kids are being exposed
to foreign ideas.

And nobody tells them
they're bad ideas!

Is that your idea of teaching
them to be good 100% American?

-Are you through?
-Yes, I’m through.

Now let's hear the double-talk.

No double-talk!

Sympathy.

I’m sorry for you and people
like you who speak out

in favor
of fear and ignorance.

I’m sorry for you
because you're afraid.

I’m not afraid
to punch your head in!

Stop it!

Now, you've had your say.
Now shut up and listen.

You're not alone, Mr. Hunt.

There are many people like you
who are afraid.

That's an unfortunate thing

because this is the first time
in 175 years

that we have been afraid.

But fear is among us now,

and it's nagging at us
to burn the alien books.

I ask you why.
What have we to be afraid of?

You yourself said
that our democracy

was the greatest system
in history.

Well, can books overthrow it?

Can knowledge destroy it?
Can curiosity wreck it?

Because if it can,

then we're a dying race
and freedom is an empty word.

But if it's strong --
and I know it's strong --

then I’ll let those kids read
every book they want to read.

And I’ll discuss with them

and trust them to pick out
the best ideas

because that's what freedom is!

Now, let's understand
one another.

Nobody makes me tell those kids

there's anything anywhere
that they cannot know.

'Cause I believe in what
we've got, and you don't.

SAM: Hmph!

If we had a child,

I’d be proud to send him
to your school, Mr. Falion.

Likewise.

Well, I’ve heard rabble-rousing
speeches in my time --

Horace, stop it.

[ Thunder crashes ]

I’ve got a feeling
that maybe there's a reason

why we're here like this.

Maybe she's right.
Maybe we've done something.

All right, what have we done,
Mr. Bleeding Heart?

I’ll confess to it!

-I'll yell it out loud for you!
-We beat up an innocent man.

Innocent?

Why, Ben Phillips,

that man belongs in jail,
and you know it.

Then why don't you accuse him
of a crime and let him face you?

Why don't you see
that he has counsel?

Why doesn't he hear
the charges against him?

And why don't you see
that he has a trial by jury?

What country are you living in,
Mr. Wilkinson?

All right.

You go right ahead
and dispense justice.

But it's still 10:24, we are
still here, and he got us here.

All right?

I’ll let him face me with that,
if he can.

Yes.
I say it again.

You got us here.

Now, what have you
got to say to that?

No one got you here.

You came of your own free will.
Don't you remember?

And that is a lie.

Why are you so afraid?

I’m not afraid!

MATTY: George!

[ Telephone ringing ]

ANNOUNCER:
And now let's pause for a moment

and turn to our Westinghouse
program and Betty Furness again.

FURNESS: Looks like
that turkey's just too big

to stuff into that old, cramped
refrigerator of hers.

Well, that's apt to happen.

Your first home, a small family,

and you buy
a small refrigerator.

But the first thing you know,

your family's grown
but your refrigerator hasn't.

So why don't you get a
refrigerator to fit your family?

Turn in that old,
cramped refrigerator

on this brand-new,
great big two-door Westinghouse.

Just look at all that room.

It's ideal for the family
that really likes to eat.

And you'll see
there's no trouble at all

getting this huge
25-pound Thanksgiving turkey

right in there.

What's more, this big,
family-sized Westinghouse

gives you a special place
and a special cold

for every kind of food.

I bet you're using more
frozen foods than you used to.

Well, then this separate freezer
is just made for you

because it keeps
77 pounds of frozen food

safely, firmly frozen.

And this exclusive meat keeper

keeps 18 pounds of fresh meat
days longer.

There's plenty of room in these
handy rollout shelves

and the two big
vegetable humidrawers.

Then, over on the door,

there's a special place
for a dozen eggs,

for cheese, snacks,
a butter keeper,

and even a bin for fresh fruit.

And what's more,

this wonderful Westinghouse
freezer/refrigerator

does away
with defrosting forever.

In fact,
it's the only fully automatic

two-door refrigerator
made today.

It's completely frost-free.

You never have to defrost
the freezer,

and you never have to defrost
the refrigerator.

Just imagine having
this big separate freezer

and this big
separate refrigerator

with the holidays coming on.

Isn't it
just the kind of refrigerator

you've been wanting
for your family?

What a wonderful Christmas gift
it would make

for the whole family.

A gift for a lifetime.

Go and see this

and the other wonderful
Westinghouse refrigerator values

with big trade-ins and easy,
easy terms at your dealer now.

And remember...

[ Dramatic music plays ]

ANNOUNCER: We return now
to Westinghouse Studio One

and "An Almanac of Liberty."

[ Telephone ringing ]

Hello?

WOMAN:
Now, let me tell you something,

Mr. Whatever Your Name Is!

This had just better be
the right extension.

They've been switching me
all over this building,

but all over it.

I mean, how difficult can it be
to find out

where to get a dog license?

Hello?

Who was it?

It was a woman.
I don't understand.

What did she say?

She called before.

A minute before everyone started
to come in here.

This was the same call.

-What are you talking about?
-The same call.

Exactly the same call.

It was like she was making it
for the first time.

[ Screams ]
Look at the clock!

NEARY: 10:23.

GEORGE: No.
That's impossible.

MAN:
My watch says 10:23.

Well, so does mine.
What is this?

Start your watch.

I can't.

Start it!
Start it!

-I'm trying!
-Do you hear me?

[ Gasps ]

What do we do?

Where do we go, Ted?

Well, don't you hear me?

[ Weeping ]

Originally, I picked up
the phone at 10:23.

MAN: No, look, look.
This just can't be.

We're all going out of our minds
or something.

WOMAN: When you hear the tone,
the time will be 10:23 exactly.

[ Tone sounds ]

I didn't hear. What was it?
I didn't hear.

It's gone back a minute.

It's 10:23.

It can't.

I wasn't even here at 10:23.

I was down the street.

MIKEY: Look!
Mr. Busby's gone!

MAN: What?

[ Thunder crashes ]

What's happening?

I see him.
Up towards Elm.

His truck is stopped
in the middle of the block.

He's frozen at the wheel.

He was here before,
right in front of the window.

He hasn't gotten here yet.

What is it?

In heaven's name,
what has happened?

Well, I guess time
has moved backwards a minute.

And then it stopped again
for everyone else but us.

We're here talking, but for
everyone else, there's nothing.

But why?
Why has it happened?

I don't know.

It happened
just as we hit that man.

We didn't hit him!
George did!

George is the same
as all of us, Ottilie.

We struck a man
without any reason.

That's a step backward.

What are you talking about?!

I don't know, but I think maybe
I can see it now.

A man looses
a fraction of his freedom

each time he's attacked
like that, and so do we.

And when we try
to trample down freedoms

that have taken centuries
to establish,

it's like time is moving
backward instead of forward.

-I think that maybe what's --
-OTTILIE: Stop it!

That's insanity.

You keep making up
these fantastic things.

It's not our fault.
It's not!

Horace?
Horace, do something.

Look at me.
I can't stand much more of this.

BILLY:
Take it easy, Mom.

If someone has a better
understanding, please...

...let him speak up.

[ Thunder crashes ]

All right.

I don't pretend to understand
this, and I’m not gonna try.

I don't know what he's got to do
with it, but it's something.

Don't be a fool, Mr. Sweetser.

We're going to
throw him out of here

if we have to break his neck.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

You can't do that!

Don't you see?
This is our problem, not his.

We can't get rid of it
by punishing him.

Don't tell me that!
I’m not gonna listen to you.

All right, men.
Come on, now.

Let's do it.

All right.
What are we waiting for?

Hank! Come on!

Ted! Come on!

Hank, boy, on your feet!
We're all together in this.

Hank, do as I tell you.
Follow me.

Go away, Mr. Sweetser.

Harmon.
Harmon, come on.

This is the answer.

We'll nail him to the wall, boy,
and this thing will be over.

Now just don't stand there.

You don't have to think.
Just follow me.

Ted.

Ted, you're with me, aren't you?

Oh, I don't know, Mr. Sweetser.

Well, are you or aren't you?
Answer me.

Answer me!

No, Mr. Sweetser.
I’m not.

All right.

I don't need you!

Do you hear that?!
I don't need you!

Sam.

Sam, listen.

We can stop this thing
right away if...

Who's with me in this?

We've got to do this!

Look at the clock on the wall
and you'll know why.

We got to get this man!

Now...Now, there's me,
and there's George Wilkinson.

-Who else?
-OTTILIE: Horace!

I said "Who else?"

All right, George.
Come on.

MATTY: No!

-You leave him alone.
-George, do you hear me?

-Yeah, Horace, I hear you.
-Then come on.

Wait a minute.
Listen, Horace.

-I think trying to --
-You think what?

Oh, don't mumble, George.
Talk to me!

Do you want to help me in this
or don't you?!

I guess I don't.

Okay!

He didn't do anything.

He was alone.

It's a very strange thing.

Very.

Phil, why are we here?

I don't know.

There must be a reason.

Things like this don't happen
without a reason.

Is it a dream, George?

No, Matty.
It's no dream.

MRS. NATHAN:
It must be something.

It has to be something.

I say God help us.

What is it, Ben?

All of us here together.

Maybe it's the day.

I don't understand, Ben.

Why today?

What day is this?

It's Saturday.

-A Saturday in December.
-What's the date?

Oh, December 15th.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow I’m gonna be 9.

That's how I know.

December 15th.
Is that a special day?

Who knows.
What do you mean by special?

Did something happen
on December 15th?

Maybe that's it.

Maybe something happened
on this day.

-At 10:24?
-At 10:24 A.M.

Maybe we did something wrong
on this day, Ben.

Maybe it's a day
on which we did something right,

something good.

December 15th...

...1789.

What's that?

December 15, 1789.

The Bill of Rights approved
by Congress on this day.

I remember that 'cause
I was in Mr. Falion's class.

The Bill of Rights.
Are you sure?

BILLY:
Well, I got an "A."

What's the Bill of Rights
got to do with us?

We attacked a man
for speaking his mind.

MAN: No, but he said
evil and dangerous things.

No, he only said
unpopular things.

And it's his right to say them.

What's happened to us?

Where have our freedoms gone?

This country was born free out
of the blood of the oppressed.

They wrote our Bill of Rights.

Who in this room
knows what it says?

Freedom of speech, it says.

And freedom of the press.

And freedom of religion
guaranteed to everyone.

Guaranteed.
What else?

Speak up, or hold your tongue
and be ashamed.

"Every man is secure

in his person, his home,
and his effects

against search without cause
or without sworn warrant."

Right!
And there's more.

"The people
can assemble peaceably

for any purpose whatsoever."

Go on!
Let's hear it loud!

"You can't take away what a man
owns without just compensation."

And how, they can't!

"No man can be deprived
of life, liberty, or property

without due process of law."

Life, liberty, or property.

You said it, brother!
What else?

"No man can be compelled
to testify against himself."

No man, no matter what.
Come on! Let's speak out.

You can't try a man twice
for the same crime, right?

Right! They can't!
And that's not all.

Let's shout it out.

They got to let a man
face his accuser.

And they've got to tell you
what you're being tried for.

"Every accused man must have
a lawyer to defend him."

-That's a must.
-And a fast trial by jury.

And a fast trial by jury.

No excessive bail
and no excessive fines.

And no man has to submit to
cruel and inhuman punishment.

No man, Mr. Wilkinson.
No man.

Those are our rights,

bought and paid for
with the bones of our fathers.

Do you hear me?
They're what make us free.

-They're what make us strong.
-They're what make us men.

As long as
we've got those rights,

we don't have to be afraid.

But when we start destroying
liberty in the name of liberty,

then we'd better run and hide --

each man from his neighbor
and each father from his son --

because no one will be safe
and no one will be free.

We've got this Bill of Rights.

It's written in blood and pain
on a little scrap of paper.

Don't let anyone destroy it.
Not anyone.

Now, hear what I tell you.

Pledge your lives and your
fortunes and your sacred honor

to let every man, woman,
and child walk erect and free

until the day they die
because that's our right.

And if we stand firm...

...then it's indestructible.

I pledge...

[ Woman gasps ]

[ Clock ticking ]

[ Horn honking ]

Hey, I’ll race you
to the corner!

[ Dramatic music plays ]

[ Chorus singing ]

ANNOUNCER: And now Betty Furness
wants to ask you to help her.

Won't you help me do the dishes?
Would you rather wash or dry?

The rest of the family's
having fun in the living room,

but there's
always the dishes to be done.

Well, you can join
right in the family fun

because there's no washing
or drying dishes ever again

when you own this wonderful

Westinghouse
automatic dishwasher.

What's more,
it gets the dishes a lot cleaner

than you possibly could

because the water is especially
heated by the dishwasher.

A new thermostat control
assures a temperature so hot

that your hands
couldn't possibly stand it.

And that also means

that all common disease germs
are destroyed.

Now, this you'll hardly believe.

Right now, in most areas,
your dealer will install

a Westinghouse dishwasher
absolutely free.

That's right.

You get a free installation
under normal condition.

Now, there are four other

Westinghouse models
to choose from,

including a portable dishwasher.

So get one and free yourself

from that most tiresome
daily task.

And remember...

( Slow instrumental playing )

ANNOUNCER:
This is the song

that leads three people
to each other --

a disk jockey...

a girl...

and a killer.

( Music stops )

Tune in in next Monday
when Studio One presents...

And introducing the song,
"Let Me Go, Lover,"

especially written
for Studio One.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

Westinghouse Studio One

has been selected for viewing by
America's armed forces overseas.

This is Paul Brenson saying
good night for Westinghouse,

who have made
more than 40 million products

for the American home.

And reminding you that
Wednesday night, November 10th,

on most of these
same CBS stations,

Westinghouse presents
"The Best of Broadway."

Ethel Merman stars in the famous
Broadway musical-comedy hit

"Panama Hattie,"
with music by Cole Porter.

Also starring Art Carney,
Ray Middleton,

and Jack E. Leonard.

That's Wednesday, November 10th,

on Westinghouse
"Best of Broadway."

Studio One originated live
from New York City.