A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. In a moment, act one of the sin-eater, written especially for suspense by Bob Corcoran. This first portion of suspense is brought to you by the makers of parliament cigarettes. Extra margin. Yes, extra margin. Smoke after smoke, recess, filter, parliament is the cigarette that gives you an extra margin.  East ways till death comes after him, rare enough sudden likes, striking a man back. You're just going to sit there reading of the book? How is he, ma'am? Same as he was, Jesse.   I figure praying for him ain't just sitting here. Praying ain't no good for him, and you ought to know it. What you expect me to do? I expect you to let him die. He knowed what he is doing all these years. You can't put it on me. Now when it's time to pay him. Don't talk so. He's got the burden, not you. He's looking to lay in the ground while his soul walks in torment through the great, grey world for all eternity, or burns in hellfire as a damnation. His pain's so terrible, fierce. I see it's staring out of his eyes like an animal in a trap. Death would be a mercy for any man.  It's not yet, not like he is. Each of us owes God a debt, and no man can pay for somebody else. Only Isaac was here, he'd know what to do. Isaac ain't one of us no more. He went down the mountain. He went forth from Gilead, left us in our ways behind him. We was to ask Isaac for help, he just spouted the law at us ever which ways. Got to do it ourselves. Got to do it right now. Do what? You've got to go some other ways, you and Jesse here. What for, ma'am? What are me and Paul supposed to do? You'll set someone, so as your grandpa can die. Someone ain't afeard like other folks around here. Someone ain't kin, so we'll let him do it. But who? Who are we to fetch? I don't care, someone, anyone, who can take his heavy burden. Well, what if we don't find someone? No more, you've got to. Jesse's most a gold man.  Well, what if they don't want kin? Make them. Beautiful, isn't it Lucille? If I do that, I have the beholder line. Now I know what they mean by God forsaken. Too bad the scenery doesn't include some attentive young men. Oh, don't start that again. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm just a jealous old man with the young and too beautiful wife. And a vivid imagination. You're quite right. This will be good for both of us. Weak among these hills, among simple people, away from all the strains of...  You know, I became a teacher because I thought it would be the peaceful life. I guess we both got fooled. Well, what's the matter with him? He has more than enough room to pass? It's a police car. Well, why is he waving me to stop? I wasn't speedy. Maybe he wants your autograph. He was smiling. Well, good afternoon. Anything wrong, officer? I'm sure I wasn't going too fast. No, sir, I just wanted to check was you all right, not lost or nothing. And not many cars ever use this here back road. Oh, I see. Well, no, no, we're not lost. Just taking a drive through these hills. My name is Reed. This is my wife. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Reed, new man. Hello. Kind of dangerous, but the road's not so good. Are the natives friendly? Yes, ma'am. I'll come from around here myself. I can see that you're friendly. Can't you, James? My wife has a quaint sense of humor, officer. Yes, sir. Are there any communities near here? Community? Nests of natives, unspoiled and undiscovered. You see, officer, my husband is a specialist in folk music. Ballads, that sort of thing. He's still hoping to come across some tunes that Carl Sandberg missed. That's so, ma'am. Foreigners? Isn't that what you call us? Yes, ma'am. As far as you, Mr. Reed, I keep right on driving along. Headed right like Yard should bring you into Pyree. That's the next town, bit after dark. That's where I'm headed now. You make it all sound dangerous, officer. Don't you think you'd better drive along and protect us? It's an easy thing to scoff, ma'am, when the sun's shining. You take my advice, Mr. Reed, and drive right on into Pyree. I don't recollect ever hearing any ballad songs like you say around here. Oh, well, thank you, officer. We'll do that. Bye. You figure they've seen us, Paul? Of course not. Can't no one see us the way this tree comes down. We've got us a perfect hide-o, ain't we? She's so pretty, ain't she, Paul? The way the sun slants off her hair, sort of like gold.  Come on, let's go. We gonna fetch him, Paul? We gonna fetch one of them.  There are no need for you to be beholden to me. Me and Jesse here admire and take you folks. Oh, well, they say it's just back in the hills a bit. Yeah, just short piece. Old Granny Seaman, she's always singing them things. Would you call them? Ballads. Yeah, I see it. I know she'd be proud to sing them for you. And you say no one else, like us, I mean. Ever came here to hear her? No, sir, we sort of out of the way, you might say. This'll be one in Carl Sander's eye. Um, does your friend talk? Ain't my friend, ma'am. He's my boy, Jesse. He talks real good when he's a mind-to. Is that so, Jesse? Well, now you're gonna start on that boy. Boy? He's taller than his father. I'll leave him alone. Of course, what do you take me for? Reminds me of that officer. But better looking. Jim, I can't see a thing except this road and precious little of that. Let's go back. What's the matter? I don't like it. That's what's the matter. Where are they taking us?  Oh, please. That officer knew what he was talking about, the sunset, and it's not so easy to scoff. All right, I'm scared. I admit it. Now, will you turn around, please? Well, well, you are frightened. Of course, my dear. Something wrong? Uh, my wife doesn't feel well. I'm afraid we'll have to turn back and put off our visit till another time. It's only a little piece further. I'm sure it is, but you'll have to forgive us. Thank you for your kindness. He's come all this way. Seems a shame to stop now. Yes, but my wife... She looks fine to me. However she may look, she doesn't feel... Now, really, there's little point in talking about this. If you'll move your mule aside so I can turn around. Didn't you hear what I said? We heard, mister. Well, get out of the way. I don't want to hurt that animal. Nobody's hurtin' nothin'. Listen, you make me... This scattergun says that you do like I say.  Well, what if we refuse? You... you can't kidnap us like this. We'll be missed. Yes, yes, uh, police officer was talking to us just before... He won't bother us, nun. You won't be the first that's disappeared in these hills.   Nothin' will. Nothin'. That's in this world. I can't walk another step. We gotta keep up with him. It's just over that rise ahead.  I ain't a boy. I'm a man. Yes. I can see that. Let me lean on your arm. There, that's better. You won't let anything happen to me. Say you won't. I'm young. You know how that is, don't you? Well, it's different with my husband and... Oh, won't you tell me what it is?  Promise me you'll protect me. Will you promise me? Hurry up, Jesse. I promise. At home. In the hole, it's a grave. Get on up here, Jesse. Time's almost run out. Where's my husband? Old as brass, ain't ya? Maybe we'll change that. Come in the house, Missy. Don't be afraid, Lucille. What do they want? All right. You forces here against our wills. Why? You ever hear, tell, or... First, we let him know we got someone. Let him rest easy. Let him pick the one he wants it to be. So he can die. What is he talking about? In here. Grandpa. Grandpa. Maybe we're too late. No. See, his hands moving and fingers. Grandpa. All right. Open your eyes. Everything's all right. All right, see? Lucille and Jesse got someone. Hold up the lamp so he can see him, Jesse. See, Grandpa? I can't stand it.  Which'll it be, Grandpa? You show us and that one it'll be. I promised you. Then you can drop off nice and easy and peace. Oh, peace. Make a sign, Grandpa. The man, the woman. The woman looks like it wouldn't make much of a never minder. The man, he's pointing to the man. So be it. It's all over. He's dead. May the good Lord have mercy on his soul. Amen. Amen. Now, perhaps you'll tell us what you want me for. Yep. Us folks through these hills come from Wales. These ways are old folks did. They brought certain ways with them. Ways that seemed strange to others. You ever hear a tale of sin eating? Well, it's some kind of superstition, isn't it? And as he all is healed, it's a belief. It's true. Just as true as sin. It's one way sure a person can go certain to heaven. It's this way. A person goes sure to heaven by having all the sins he's been guilty of, transferred to somebody else willing to have them. And that someone is the sin-eater, your wise not to mock. That person is a sin-eater. At a death the corpse is brought out of the house and laid on a beer.  Then a bowl of ale which the sin-eater drinks off in a draft. After which he is given a bit of silver money. Then in there he takes on himself all the sins of the dead and feeds him of them from walking the wide world of burning in hell. And that old man in there, he was one of these sin-eaters? Longer than anyone around here can remember. And this is what you dragged us here for? Eat bread and drink ale and take on the sins that the old man was afraid to die with. I'm sorry. She's a fear, I reckon. She's got a right to be. She comes so close to having sins done days and years before she was born, waited on to her soul. It was too much for the old man when time came. That's why we had to get you. So he could die knowing he'd be free of them because of a sin-eater who'd come after. But what if I refuse? Refuse! You've seen that grave out, Chunder. That'll hold both of you. If you don't hold grandpa, she had to be sinned. Of course he'll do it. Now tell them you will. The wages of sin is death. You offer me death. Either way. All the ridiculous mumble jumbo I ever heard of. I mean after Freud and his friends, who believed in sin and eating them. These hillbillies are just too much. Jim? Jim, you listening to me? Jim? Look, Lucille, I must get away somehow. I don't care what you say. I won't take the slime from that old man, the foulness, the filth. Perhaps if I was younger or stronger, if I knew less or more, I... Look, I'm going to try to run into the trees and then I'll... No, he's watching. He's got the gun. You got away. What about me? He likes you. He likes you. I saw it. Just like all the other strong young men. Oh, I'm sorry, Lucille. I didn't mean that, but please. Please talk to him, will you? Ask him to let us go. He won't. But try! Try! For God's sake, try! All right. I'll try. You poor old man. Jesse, I want to talk to you. What do you want, miss? Oh, just want to talk to you? I bet all the girls around here like to do that. Don't they, Jesse? Got no girls around here. These ways not good ones. Like me? I never see one like you.  Jesse, you like me, don't you?  I reckon I do.  Fun is all I know. Different. And, Jesse, let us get away. My husband and me. Now, before the others come out. That's what the sweet talkers for. So you and him can run. If I was alone, I wouldn't want to leave. But look at him. Poor old man. You see? He's afraid. He ought to be afraid with what he's going to do. But I'm going to make sure he does. Your grandfather died happy. That's the main thing, isn't it? Don't care if and he was happy or not. I hated him. Just a mean old man full of sin. Then let us go. No. I'm all feels different about him. He was her power. Besides time, them sins was got out of here one way or the other. Would you want me to be a sin eater? Of course not. You heard me talk up in there for you. But don't you see? When we're gone from here, my husband will force me to take them away from him. Just the way you mean to do it now. Please let us go so he won't force me later. If you could come to Pyrrhae, then I'd wait for you. You and I could... Jesse, it's time. Go and lay in the hands. Please, Jesse. Don't you worry now, man. Stand over the corpse. No. Do like she says. I won't. You can't make me. You do it! Now, you just stand up here nice like. She told me how you treat her. Don't hit me again. Don't hit me.  Yes. Yes. Drink this to your health. You'll let us go, but... Now take this here silver quarter. Take it. You earned it. Put it in your pocket. Now repeat after me. For these things given me. Say like she says. Yes. Yes. For these things given me. I take on all the sins. I take on all the sins. Of this soul departed. Of this soul departed. So help me, God. So... So help me. God. Leave him alone, woman. He just fainted. Get in the house. Come morning we'll take you down the mountain. Take care of him, Jesse. Me and Ma will take care of your grandpa. He's at peace now. Where's my husband? Outside, if you want him. Jim, don't need to be afraid, ma'am.  Where's my husband? Will you to shot through the widey world? What? I said I'd protect you. Are you digging? Grandpa grave's already used. Making him another. No. You like it here. He's full and quiet. With me. You like me. Sets on the moonlight. I asked Ma and... Well, she said we can have grandpa's room. Hey, with you. He said you'd wait for me and Pirey here or there. What's the difference? All them sins safe underground where they came never hurt you. Oh, thank God you've come. When you didn't show up in Pirey, I come back to see. It wasn't but one turn off as I found your car easy. Arrest him, officer. And there's another one. His father, kidnapping and murder. What in tongue can total hollering back? Look out. What do you want around here? I'm just listening to Miss Reed here. Don't play hard, don't never mind. Oh, she was saying. Don't talk. Arrest him. Can you hear that? She wants me to arrest you and Jesse, Pa. Well, what for, son?   She come here to live with Jesse. Police will come. They'll find me. I'm the police, ma'am. I'm also kin to these folks. Seems like I'll be kin to you. My brother Jesse'll do right by you. Oh, no. It appears like you wandered into the wrong nest of natives. Don't it, ma'am? You've been listening to The Sin Eater, written especially for suspense by Bob Corcoran. So long. Have a nice trip. Don't forget your phone. Planning your vacation or a weekend trip? Well, long distance can be a big help. You decide where you want to go, then just pick up your phone and call ahead for reservations. Make sure of a good place to stay. And while you're away, it's so easy to keep in touch with home by telephone. Well, have a good trip and don't forget the phone. Friends is produced and directed by Fred Hendrickson. Music supervision by Ethel Huber. Heard in tonight's story were Jim Bowles, Ethel Everett, Herb Duncan, Ivor Francis, Rita Lloyd, Doug Parkhurst and Guy Rep. Sound patterns by Walter Otto. This is Stuart Matt speaking. Listen again next week when we return with Snow on 66, written by William N. Robeson. Another tale well calculated to keep you in. Suspense.