You are alone in the dark forest and behind you somewhere is the werewolf waiting to drink your blood and you desperately desire the impossible to escape. Escape produced and directed by William N. Robson and carefully plotted to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure. Tonight we escape to the backward world of Eastern Europe where ancient superstitions still live in the minds of men. Tonight we escape with Jeffrey Household's grim story, taboo. Among semi-civilized peoples there has always been widespread belief in werewolves. Those fantastic creatures supposedly able to turn from man or woman into wolf and back again at will. This belief is still widespread among the simple folk of Eastern Hungary and the district around Svajbergen high in the gloomy Carpathian mountains and I must admit not without some reason. Before the late war I often spent my vacations in that area drawn to the dark loneliness by the pool of my Slavic blood. It was the same with her perhaps and our kindred ancestry no doubt drew us together. Her name was Kira Vaughn and she was there with her husband, a pleasant young Englishman. They were obviously much in love and I felt almost like an intruder when I found myself the only other vacationer in the village. However, they made me welcome and invited me to dinner. It was an excellent dinner. Won't you have some more strawberries, Mr. Shirabi? Thank you, no, Mrs. Vaughn. I've eaten far too much already. I cannot say when I've had so excellent a dinner. Thank you. I'm sure I shall get nothing like it at the inn. I should hate to have to stay at the inn. You see Shirabi, if my wife is one of those delightful creatures who cannot stand to be shut in, she must run free preferably in the woods with her hair streaming in the wind. She's quite unusual. Indeed she is, my dear Vaughn. And you may count yourself most fortunate. No, I do, I do. Where else should I find so good a cook? Very true. I've never tasted venison quite like that tonight. Delightful. Thank you. Another of her little victories. She delights in outdoing the ordinary housewife. She disdains the village shop and gets her meat right off the hoof.  Oh, dear, no. Not that. She's much too kindhearted and loving a person for that. She's found a new source. The district game warden brings fresh venison to our door. Oh, it's not he, but his son. True, the game warden's slightly moronic son, who is, I'm sure, in love with her. Oh, that's ridiculous. Not so. It's quite understandable. I'm beginning to fall in love with her myself. You see, my dear. Thank you, sir. Seriously, though, I can understand this wild desire to be free. This wish to, as you put it, run in the woods with the wind in your hair. It is some legacy of our Slavic blood, no doubt, yours and mine in the game warden's moronic son. Somehow we feel at home in these dark forests. Oh, you too. Yes. And I don't. I confess it, I don't. There's something here that frightens me, something strange and inhuman and taboo. Darling. I'll confess something, Kirovyev. I don't like Kirov to go out into these forests alone. Maybe I'm afraid that someday this emotional impulse of hers will get the better of her and she'll just disappear, like those two men last week. Oh? What was that? Have I missed some exciting happening? No, not really. Though you'd think so to hear the villagers talk, a fellow coming home through the woods after dark just disappeared. They got fed up with life here in the village and lit out for Budapest. And what about the other one? Oh, yes. Well, a search party went out the next day to look for the fellow. When they got back, they found one of their party was missing. Evidently, he'd taken the opportunity to skip out, too. Is that what you really think? Oh, why not, my dear? If those men had been done away with, it might have been by something supernatural. And there's no such thing. But might it not have been some wild animal? Oh, the bears around here are harmless and the wolves are not in peck. At any rate, there would have been some sign, some blood, track, something. There was nothing. They simply disappeared, vanished, skipped out. Richard, how can you be so careless? You see the paradox? My wife, who loves the woods, believes the fantastic tales of the villagers. I, who confess to finding the woods strange and frightening, do not believe them. Perhaps it is because you are frightened that you are afraid to believe them. What do the villagers say? Well, you know this district well enough. Talking of werewolves and such tomorrows, it's utterly fantastic. Yes, to you an Englishman, it would be. And it isn't to you? Fantastic, yes, I suppose. But perhaps Mrs. Vaughn and I, who feel at home in this forest, can understand and believe such fantasy a little more easily than you. Yes, I remember many times as a child. I dreamt of being an animal. I thought then that I would love it. The freedom of the forest. Exactly. That primitive instinct is so deep within us all. A heritage of some dim, distant past. In us slavs, it lies closer to the surface. Takes very little to bring it to light. Yes, it is true. Well, you've placed my wife in a new life, you ravioli. You'll have me suspecting her of changing into a wolf and running out to the forest to murder people. Oh, please, Vaughn. You take me too literally. And besides, it is a shame to spoil so delightful a dinner with so gloomy a conversation. Shall we go into the living room with the chair for fire in there? Oh, yes, sir. What is it, Peter? Beggle carbon, sir. But a message just came from the village. Oh, what is it? They want you and Mr. Sheraviev to come down there now. They're organizing another search party. What? Yes. There's another man missing. Kira, catch her, Sheraviev. She's fainted. It was only then I realized that these people were under a terrible tension. I was to learn very quickly that the whole village shared it. Every able-bodied man in the district was at the inn when we arrived. The magistrate explained the situation. Beggle, sir.  A little after dusky, solitary shot was heard. That was three hours ago, and he is not returned. But only three hours? Isn't there a chance that he might still return? A chance, perhaps. But the other two did not. It will do no harm to search for him. We may still be in time to save his life. We searched most of the night, and then next morning, Vaughn and I went out again. We climbed to my favorite spot for hunting black cock, and then followed the trail down to the village, the trail the missing grocer would have taken. I was beginning to be a little exasperated at Vaughn. He seemed to be so casual and uninterested, as if he were convinced that this one too had merely skipped out. But I underestimated him. He was a skilled tracker, and suddenly he did show some interest. Wait a minute. Someone has turned aside from the path here. He was in a hurry. I wonder why. I think you are right. There are some broken branches. Why? Why here? It's hardly likely anyone would go plunging into that thicket unless he had a reason. Wait, wait. See that big white rock behind the thicket? When you are being followed, it's comforting to have a clear space around you. You'd feel safe up on top of that rock with a gun in your hands if you got there in time. You may be right. Let's go up. Trotto. We forced our way through the underbrush to the rock. It was 30 feet high on the down slope side, and a hot spring at the foot of it bubbled out of the cavity, scarcely two feet wide. We made our way up to the slope around it, and came out on top. There was nothing there except for some ivy in the cracks and one small, stunted tree. Aha. Look, look at that. Where? The tree. The entire base has been shattered by a charge at close quarters. Perhaps that was the shot that was heard. You're right. It must be. They say there is always a tree between you and it. What do you mean, it? They were wolf. Well, this must have been a baby one then. That mark is only six inches off the ground. No. I think the man's gun went off as he fell. Perhaps he was followed too close as he scrambled up. About here would be where his body would have fallen. Do you see anything? I don't. No blood stain. Wait, wait. Look, look here. Oh, but it's just a tiny spot. That's enough. It's blood, all right, and something more, a tiny bit of tissue. Let me see. Brain tissue. Must have come from a deep wound in the skull, made by something like an arrow or a bird's beak, or maybe even a sharp tooth. But where's the body? There is absolute and no other sign. No evidence of it's being dragged off anywhere. No, I can't see any either. It's very strange. But at least we know one thing, Von. This man did not just skip out. This man was dead or dying. When we brought our information back, the excitement of the village mounted. The peasants crossed themselves. And at the inn, the old tales were being told. That's our vice, the Game Warden talking now. And Yosef's vice, his son beside him. The Moronic son. Yes, the old man was a character too, listen. The biggest one my grandfather'd seen. And it followed him in the forest. Time after time, he met it a twilight outside his cabin. And time after time, he fired at it point blank. But he couldn't hurt it. Then he pounded a silver penguin and loaded his gun with it. One shot and the wolf disappeared. But next day, they found Heinrich the cobbler dying in his house with a beaten silver coin in his belly.  Yosef! My grandfather used to tell the same story. Only when he told it, it happened to his grandfather. Anyone can see it didn't happen at all. Such things can't happen.  I do. Well, far from being a moron, Yosef seems to have more sense than the others. Perhaps. Yosef, you're not afraid of this werewolf then, eh? I? No. Why not? The whole village is frightened. I'm used to walking alone in the woods at night. You've got to be a part of the forest. Then you'll not be afraid of it. You do believe in werewolves then, eh? I don't say a man can turn into a wolf, no. But I can understand why he'd want to. Hmm. You're serious again, Cherabyev. Yes. I think I understand that too, Yosef. But what does it feel like? It feels as if the woods had gone under your skin and you want to walk wild and crouch at the knees. Yes. I think he's perfectly right. And you explain it by some primitive urge? Possibly. There may be many reasons. Physical hunger could be one. We sometimes forget that man was once a fleet-footed hunting animal with all the necessary instincts. Hunger? Yes, we all know about it, about what it can do to a man. I've been trapped in a cliff for five days, I know. None of you have suffered hunger as we did in the prison camp during the war. None of you knows what it is that we do. Yosef, let's not talk about it. He gets so upset remembering. Well, we'll have to go on searching for the body and for the werewolf. You will not find it, not until you arm yourselves with silver bullets. Perhaps it is gone now, whatever it is. The search parties may have frightened it away. It wasn't frightened by the first search party. It simply took one of them. Now it is still here. And it will strike again. You may be sure of that. The whole village believed that Yosef Weiss was right. They traveled in the woods by tools now. No one went alone. For a weak village life was disrupted. The men beat the forest the women tried to comfort each other. Kira wore herself out trying to be useful. The village women could not help loving her. But there was something else, something strange. One day I spoke to Frida, the maid about it. Ah, yes, she is a strange one, Mr. Sharivia. Even I have seen her going out to walk alone in the woods at twilight. The women in the village think she is possessed. What do you mean possessed? I hesitate to say, sir. Come, tell me. They are beginning to say sometimes the werewolf can be a woman. At first the suggestion seemed so ridiculous to me that I hesitated to speak of it. But then I decided to tell Vaughn before this rumor could reach Kira herself. He was naturally much upset. That settles it, Sharivia. We've got to do something. Something, yes, but what? There's only one thing we can do. Track down this supposed werewolf. But that's what we've been trying to do for a week. How can we do it? It's really very simple. We'll offer him bait. Bait? Who will be this bait? You and I should have yet. If you're game. Right. Yes, of course, I'm game. Good. But how? Are you going to tie me to a tree and watch out with a gun? That's about right.  And since it was my idea, you can have first turn with the gun. Are you a good shot? Right. This is no time for false modesty. Yes, I'm a good shot. Very well. It'll be night, and we'll have to shoot with only the moonlight. Where do we go? To the rock? Exactly. And the sooner the better. Tonight? Tonight. And say nothing, absolutely nothing, to anybody, especially to Kira. I understand. This is between us. Either we win, or we simply disappear. It was difficult getting away without telling Kira what we were going to do. She seemed to sense that something was wrong, and she sat staring after us with strange, angry eyes. In the village, Vaughn and I parted and made our ways to the rock separately. I reached there first, and settled myself on top of the rock, almost covered by the ivy, the gun across my knees. Presently Vaughn appeared on the path, and I gave the signal that I was there and ready. The trek was set. In the eerie stillness of the dark forest, we waited. Vaughn paced slowly on the path. I kept the gun sight-trained, a yard in back of him as he walked. Minutes passed in silence. Hours went by. Nothing happened. It was almost midnight, the end of our vigil. Vaughn waved his hand and started off down the trail. He would go fast in case he was followed, taking a shortcut down an old timber slide. He'd be in the village in 10 minutes. I was to follow presently. Then suddenly I got an intense feeling of dread. I was alone on the rock. My spine tingled, and then I heard it a quick rustle in the ivy behind me. Something brushed my face. It was only a bird. A night bird had lit in the ivy, and our swooshed past me and flew away. My nerves were still tingling when I got back to the village. Next day when I went to see Vaughn, he gave me a warning glance. Kira was suspicious. I could see the question in her eyes when she greeted me. So here is the other culprit. Which of yours most are brave for keeping such late hours? Why, I suppose to keep peace in the family. I should say it is I. No, you can't get him off that easily. I'm the only culprit, my dear. You see, I've never hunted deer at night. I asked Shoravyev to help me.  Oh, no, while they're having their dinner, if possible.  It's no use letting her start an argument, Shoravyev. I'll go get us a drink. Oh, yes, thank you. I'd like that. Why do you look at me like that? Was the hunting good last night? No, not very. And we didn't get anything, as you see. I'm afraid you'll still have to depend upon yours for your venison. Where did you hunt? I simply in the forest, nowhere in particular. You're not telling me the truth, are you? My dear, I don't know what you're thinking, but I assure you. Never mind. I suppose it is best I don't know. But take care of him, please. Of course I will. If anything should happen to him. But what could happen? You know, you understand these things. That night, I was the bait. And I confess, walking there on the moonlit path, the dense undergrowth pressing close on both sides, the forest all around me, that I felt a strange terror. But nothing happened. Once a bear ambled across the path, paused, sniffed, and disappeared into the brush. Then a little later, I thought I saw a flicker of white in the clearing below. But it never reappeared, and I decided it must have been a ripple of grass in the moonlight. At midnight, we returned to the village, and I was beginning to wonder if our trap would ever be sprung. We must keep on, Shiraviev. I have a feeling that tomorrow night, perhaps, or the next night. I'm game as long as you are, but so far we've only lost sleep. I've got to keep on. Have you forgotten about Kira, the things they're saying about her? No, of course not. But surely these people would not do anything to her? It's not that. It's what it might do to her spirit. If she were to hear those insane rumors, she's so sensitive. I don't like to think about it. Then shall we go out again tomorrow night? Yes. You must come to dinner, though, first. Vice is bringing down more venison. Kira will want you to come. All right, till tomorrow night then. After dinner, we went out for our third night on the rock. Vaughn was the bait tonight, and I, the watcher. The forest was alive with sound. A deer coughed. The bear came ambling back as woolly and harmless as a dog. I was watching him when, suddenly, he paused and sniffed the air, and disappeared into the trees. The animal sounds quiet at one by one, and a tense stillness fell over the forest. My hand tightened on the gun, and suddenly, I saw it. That flicker of white moving fast through the trees. It was coming up the path toward Vaughn, a soft, bulky, white blur, coming surprisingly fast. Vaughn's back was turned. He did not see it. My finger tightened on the trigger. It was only a few yards away when he turned. Kira! I started to press the trigger. No, Sharaf, no! Richard! Kira, what are you doing here? Oh, darling, I was looking for you. I looked last night, too. Oh, Richard. Kira, you shouldn't have. It was foolish, terribly foolish. Richard, there was something after me. I know it. That's why I was running. Kira, you shouldn't be out here alone. But what about you? Where's Sharaf? He's up there on the rock, covering me with his rifle. I'm perfectly safe. I'll show you. I'll hold out my handkerchief like this. Now, Sharaf, put a hole in that. I stared for a moment at the white square of handkerchief, then at the white of her coat. My lips were dry. My finger felt numb on the trigger. Come on, Sharafie, the handkerchief. Please, God, don't let me miss. There, you see, my dear? I'm perfectly safe. They went down the path together, and I followed after a moment. A hundred yards from the timber slide, I knew I was being followed. Even before I heard something in the brush behind me, I stopped and turned around, moved past me, cutting off my retreat. Now I stood alone in terror, but it was still in the brush. If only I could make the timber slide. I got down safely. I went straight to Born. He came out of the house to talk to me. I told him what had happened. His reaction surprised me. Sharafie, if I'm sorry, I had to leave you up there to face it alone, but I had to bring her down. Of course, I know that. And you must believe this. She never left me. We came down together, arm in arm. We came straight down. You must believe that. But of course, why should I think differently? Then you must realize, whoever it was up there in the brush following you, it couldn't have been Kira. Good heavens, Von. Do you think I believe that preposterous story? Well, didn't you? Even up there on the rock, when you hesitated about firing at the handkerchief, didn't you believe it might be Kira? No. Why, no, of course not. But I did. Von knew my thoughts almost better than I knew them myself. Yes, that was why my lips were dry and my finger numb when I pressed the trigger. I had refused to admit it even to myself. And now was I sure, even now, that night Von was excited. We're going to get it tonight. After last night, it'll be there waiting for us. Yes, I think you're right. But if you are, we wouldn't want anyone else to come walking in on us. It might cause confusion. Don't worry. Kira has promised to stay at home. She says we're doing our duty, and she won't interfere. Do you think this is our duty? No. Neither do I. I never feel that anything I enjoy can be my duty. And now I really enjoy this. Tonight, I'd like to be the bait. No, it's my turn. I won't give it up. Besides, if it's revenge, you want you have the gun. Let's so. All right then. Tonight, you will be the bait. That night, for the first time, I regretted ever getting into this mess. As I paced up and down the path, my nervousness grew. Tonight, it would surely come. I felt it. But would Von shoot straight and quick enough. The hours went by. Clouds kept scudding over the moon, leaving me in deep darkness for minutes at a time. I was really beginning to be frightened. Then a fraction of a second before it happened, I knew it was coming. There was a hot breath on my neck, a crushing weight on my shoulder, something hard against my skull, and a crack of Von. Von! Von! Von! Shiraviev, are you all right? Yes, I think so. What was it? A man, a wingman. Come on. I'm going in after him. All right. I'm coming. Von! Where did he go? I can hardly believe it. But he went right into this hot spring under the rock. But there's hardly opening enough for a rabbi. He went under the water. Come on. Wait, Von. I'm coming with you. We plunged into the spring, wriggling our way forward, not knowing what to expect. Von held the rifle high above the water, but there wasn't room enough for our heads. We had to hold our breath and plunge forward. Luckily, there was only a few feet. I emerged and took a breath. Then I heard Von firing. Got him! Where? Shine the flashlight. There! At the other side of the cave. Yes. Who would have thought there would be a cave here? Oh, that anyone who could have gotten through that spring. It was a perfect hiding place. Yes. There's him. No good now. Turn him over. Let's see who our werewolf is. Yes. Why? It's Weiss. Josef Weiss, the Game Warden's son. Why didn't we think of that? We all knew he was not quite sane.  Remember, he said, I do not believe a man can turn himself into a wolf. But I know why he'd want to. Yes. And he described the feeling to walk wild and crouch at the knees. He knew that feeling. He knew it too well. Beside Josef Weiss, we found the murder weapon. It was a patented animal killer, a heavy iron muzzle that gripped the scalp, a heavy spike that was released by a spring. His hiding place was even more perfect than we had supposed. When the magistrate investigated, he found a passage from that cave which led underground for more than a mile, and finally to the Game Warden's house where a ladder led into his cellar. Undoubtedly Weiss found that dry underground river one day and realized he could use it. Perhaps that is what caused his mind to snap. Yes. It released a long pent-up spring in him, like that weapon he used. He saw that he could run in the woods like an animal, disappearing and reappearing with perfect safety. And so your theory proved correct that there's a murderous, primitive instinct lurking in some people. Yes. Well, it's all explained excepting what he did with the bodies. It would serve no useful purpose to speculate on that now. Yes. I suppose you're right. Kira, you haven't said anything. Why did you have to shoot him? Kira, he was a murderer. He tried to murder Shiravyev.  Kira.  You understood that night when you shot the handkerchief, just as I have. It might have happened to any of us, you see. Kira, what do you mean? Take me away from here, Richard. Just take me away quickly. Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robson. And tonight brought to you taboo by Jeffrey Household. Adapted for radio by John Dunkel with Paul Frieza, Shiravyev. Marta Mitrovich as Kira and Morgan Farley as Vaughn. The special musical score was conceived and conducted by Sy Fuhr. Next week.  You have only a few seconds left to live. A few seconds left to plan your escape. Next week we escape with Ambrose Beers' famous story on occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Good night then until the same time next week when we again offer you Escape. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.


J-E-T-L-L-O! The Jell-O program starring Jack Benny with Mary Livingston, Phil Harris, Kenny Baker and yours truly, Don Wilson. The orchestra opens a program with hallelujah from Hit the Deck. Here's the true story as told in the local paper of a potluck supper which was held out in Madison, Wisconsin, a short while ago. It seems that eight women were each asked to bring one surprise dish. And the reception committee thought they'd probably bring baked beans or potato salad. Well, the table was all set and the coffee was brewing and they began to unwrap the dishes. The first dish was Jell-O. The second dish was Jell-O. The third dish was Jell-O. Four, five, six, seven, eight, so help me, they were all Jell-O. And not a baked bean or a bit of potato salad inside. Well, we've never recommended Jell-O for your entire meal, but that story shows you what we mean when we say Jell-O is America's favorite Jell-Oton dessert. That's because it tastes so good with that delicious extra rich flavor as tempting and refreshing as the real ripe fruit. It's the perfect dessert for any occasion. Family luncheon, company dinner, or just potluck supper. So look for those big red letters on the box. They spell Jell-O and Jell-O spells a treat. It was hallelujah played by the orchestra. And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I present our versatile master of ceremonies. A comedian who with one subtle gesture, one wistful look, can plumb the depths of your emotion. I get right down there. Why, only two weeks ago, he was Gangadine in a loincloth lost on the desert. Water. Water. That's what I want. Water. And last week, he was Alexander Graham Bell inventing the telephone. Operator. Operator. That's what I want. Operator. So tonight, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, we bring you the Paul Mune of Radio Jack Benny. Thank you. Jell-O again. This is Jack Benny talking. And Don, I appreciate that lovely introduction you gave me. I'll admit I have done some fairly dramatic things in radio, but you really shouldn't compare me to Paul Mune. He's a great artist. But Jack, look at the way you handled the role of Gangadine two weeks ago. Who else could have given it such a vivid characterization? Oh, Don.  Who else? I'm thinking, Don. We don't grow on bushes, you know. Oh, hello, Mary. Hello. Why, Jack, do you realize that an artist like you is only born once in a hundred years? Now, wait a minute, Don. I appreciate that, but really, I'm not the actor I think I am. I mean, I'm not the actor you think I am. You're the actor I think you are. Mary, I'm talking to Don. What were you saying, Don? We were talking about the big opening of the Hollywood race track last Tuesday. We were not. Now, get back in them green pastures. Oh, yes, pardon me. I was comparing you to Paul Mune. Yes. Oh, Jack, I should think you'd want to get off that subject. My goodness, haven't you any modesty? Well, it isn't the case of modesty, Mary. I just want to get this thing settled one way or the other. Either I'm as good as Paul Mune or I'm not. Personally, I don't think so. You can be sold. Not so easy, Mary. I never swell up without a struggle. You know that. Go on. You're the only guy I ever saw that gets mumps above the ears. That's so. You're certainly a smarty-pants today, aren't you? Say, Jack. Yes, Phil. This may be a surprise coming from me, but the dramatic stuff you've been doing on our program lately has been terrific. No kidding? Why, there isn't one person who comes into the Wilshire Bowl and has a marvelous dinner for a dollar and a half and no cover charge that doesn't say Jack Benny's sensation. Well, thanks, Phil. I know that comes right from the heart. I may rib you a lot, Jack, but as far as I'm concerned, you're as good an actor as Paul Mune any day. And I know what I'm talking about.  No, Jack, I'm on the level. Me, too. Oh, I see. I get it. So you guys thought you were fooling me, eh? Thought you were putting something over on me. Well, the joke's on you because I went right along with you. Yep, hook, line, and sinker. Well, Mary, you don't think for one minute that those guys had me going, do you? I was just stringing them along. You were? Certainly imagine comparing me to Paul Mune as though I'd fall for that. Why, as an actor, he makes me look like a nickel. You got change coming, brother. Thanks. And congratulations to all of you who are very clever. But you know what kills me? But you guys can always think of silly gags to pull on me. But last week my car was stolen right in front of the studio and not one of you had the decency to ask me if I'd found it or what happened to it or anything.  Oh, that's right, Jack, and I'm sorry I forgot about it. Nobody cares what happens to me. My car can be stolen, my house could burn down. Well, I could come down here next week in a wheelchair and none of you would be surprised. Well, you're about to. I am, eh? Yeah, you don't look so hot right now. Well, there's a reason for that, Phil. I was up all night trying to find a loophole in your contract. That's why. Did you have a lawyer with you? No, it wasn't the Sandman. Phil better keep his fingers crossed. Oh, hello, Kenny. Hello, Jack. You just get in? Yeah. Say, Jack, I want to tell you something before I forget it. I think you're a better actor than Paul Muney any day. Oh, fine. And that comes right from the heart. Skip it, Kenny. Skip it. It's all over. You should have got here earlier. Oh, darn it. I miss all the fun. Oh, so you were in on that little plop too, eh, Kenny? Yeah. Oh. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I was wise to the whole thing. It was a very obvious gag. Oh, I brought that up at the meeting, but no one agreed with me. The meeting? Oh, so you fellas have a club now for your little conspiracies against me. Do you belong to it, Mary? Oh, sure. I'm a member of the BBU-THD. BBU-THD, what's that? Bill Benny up and tear him down. Well. Incorporated. That's quite a little organization you got there. Roosevelt, I mean of your club. Who's ahead of us? I'm the exalted high supreme knife in the backers. Well, I should have known that. Imagine a club devoted to the principle of making my life miserable. What's the password of this secret society? I suppose you have one. Yes, Jack, and it's very mysterious. When you get to our headquarters, which I'm not at liberty with the Bugs, you knock on the door three times and say, Jello, Jello, Jello. I see. And then someone opens the door? Not yet. Oh. Then a man looks through the people and says, name these six delicious flavors. Weird, isn't it? And you say, strawberries, raspberry, cherry, orange, lemon, and lime. Gee, and then he opens the door? Not yet. Oh. And then the man says, is Jello economical and easy to make? Uh-huh. And you say, yes, brother, but it's not genuine without the big red letters on the box. Oh, ain't this spooky? And then the man opens the door? Not yet. Oh, for heaven's sake. What happens next, Don? Then you slice a banana, put it on top of the Jello, and serve it with whipped cream. Oh, that's so complicated. And then the man opens the door? What door? What door? The door that the man was talking to, to the door, I mean the man on the other side who was, oh, forget it. I'm all mixed up now. It's perfectly clear to me. Well, you're sharp, Kenny. However, gotten involved in these doors, I don't know. And now, folks, going from the secrets of this sinister organization to our solo of the evening, we will have a song by our mystic young tenor, Kenny Baker. This is a brand new number that will soon sweep the country and come in. Mr. Benny? Yes. I will listen to your program, and I think you're as good an actor as Paul Muney and Spencer Tracy put together. Well, thanks. Thanks a lot. I wish somebody put me together. Goodbye. I'd like to have his head on the end of my cane. Sing, Kenny. Well, I'd love you'll be in the spell of anew to bear and look at you as the violins play for the moon and the melody. Sing to come to our end of spell of anew. It's sung by a young punk. But I want to tell you something, Kenny. That was very good. Now, I do know I was going to say that. You say the same thing every week. You're in a rut, Pappy. That's right, sonny boy. If you want to get cute next week, I'll just ignore your song. I won't say a word about it. You do, and I'll tell Mervyn on you. Don't stop showing off just because you've got a manager. I've got a manager, too. Some manager. I saw Mountain Hall a little while ago passing out cards. So what? Jack Benny Comedian. Available for wedding, smokers, and weenie bake. If you don't make it last, you only pay half. Well, that's only fair. But don't run down my manager. He keeps me busy as a bee. While last night, I was master of ceremonies at the world premiere of that new meat market in Santa Monica. I went over very big. Did you bring home the bacon? I got paid in cash. It wasn't a barter deal. And now, ladies and gentlemen...  Cheap dates?   Phil Harris and his feed bag, nine. Remember? Them were the happy days. Yeah, they certainly were. By the way, Jack, what were you doing in the livery statement? He was in their pitching. All right, let's reminisce some other time. And speaking of jobs, Mary, I wish I had a nickel for every tray you juggled. Yeah, she knows I'm not kidding. Now, ladies and gentlemen, as I started to announce, next Sunday night, as a super special offering, flying bennings will present, for your entertainment, one of the... Open up, you've got company! Come on in, Andy. Hiya, Buck! Long time no see. Ray, what are you doing in town? Buck, I come down to invite you and the gang over to the house next Thursday night. We're going to have big dealings. Oh, what's going on, Andy? Well, Ma and Pa are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Golden wedding, no kidding. See, it doesn't seem possible to have been married for 50 years. Well, Pa's still trying to get it a note. Oh, don't give me that stuff. She was 50 years. That's a long time ago. He sure is. When they went on their honeymoon, Buck and I, our falls was just dripping. And look at it now. Well, we'll all be at the party, eh, fellas? Yes, sir. I wouldn't miss that for anything, Andy. You going to have any entertainment there? Oh, yes, sir. We're going to have an orchestra, we're dancing and everything. Well, well. And for the main event, Ma and Pa are going to put the gloves on for 10 rounds. Oh, boxing, eh? Yeah, you ought to see Ma on those purple sights. What do you think he'll win, Andy? Well, around Van Nuys, the odds are five to one on Paul. I see. But confidentially, Buck, as the fight goes over three rounds, Ma will pulverize him. Well, that sounds like there ought to be plenty of excitement. Hey, Jack, don't you think we ought to chip in and buy the old folks something for their anniversary? Why, certainly. What can we buy for your Ma, Andy? Oh, anything. Buck, chip me sickle to death if you've got a pair of gold earrings or something like that. Well, we'll make her happy. And oh, yes, what does your pa want for his golden wedding? Just golden wedding. Well, I don't blame him. We've got our right to celebrate. Well, Andy, you can bank on us. We'll all be there next Thursday. I don't think I can make it. I've got a date to take my girl to a movie Thursday night. Why don't you take her out Friday night? I can't. She's our maid. Well, bring her along to the party, the more the merrier. He'll be there, Andy, and so will I. I'm counting on you. Say, Buck, I meant to tell you, I was awful sorry you... you hurt... It's all right, Andy. Take it easy. Take it easy, Andy. But while you're taking it easy, this isn't an hour or 12 hours. I mean it. But really, it's really... I was awful sorry when I heard your car was stolen. Are you going to buy another one? I will if I don't get my Maxwell back.  It isn't the value of it, but it's a matter of time. Well, that car is part of it. I don't know, it's just like a child of mine. What are you laughing at? You need new seat covers. The way to like get it back. Incidentally, Mary, did you put that ad in the paper like I told you to? I'm talking about the reward, too. $75. $75? I never mentioned any reward. Don't worry, when they see your name, they won't believe it anyway. Don't be too sure. I doubt that I'll ever get that car back. Well, why don't you buy a new one, Buck? Oh, I don't know. I might. Well, I'm glad to hear it. Come on in. How do you do, Mr. Benny? I can't guarantee you need it delivery, but don't worry, you'll get it just as soon as it comes from the factory. Here, you lost time right here. Wait a minute, what is this? A van to mine. Happy Callahan. He's an automobile salesman. Well, Andy, I don't... That's all we have.  The Comma 6? Never heard of it. Weren't you never heard of the gittiest, cuttiest, slickest of the car on the market today? Well, half, but... Why in the world does everything take on this transmission-automatic clutch that gives you radio hot and cold running water? What are you talking about? You want a car, don't you? Well, I do, you do, and this is the lucky day for you. With every Comma 6 this week, this week only, we're getting going absolutely free a bag of peanuts.  Why, this is a marvelous find, Mr. Benny. It cost only $1,200 F-O-V Shanghai China. China? Yes, you know, you own a whole, you know, put some... What? What did you say? And besides that, you can save $200 to be drive the car home from the factory. Well, how am I going to drive a car from Shanghai to Los Angeles? Why the loads of marvelous? You don't hit a stop late for 5,000 miles. Well, of course not. That's the Pacific Ocean. All right, a little water ain't going to hurt ya. Now listen, Mr. I don't want to watch into this thing. I want to give it some thought. And as soon as I decide, I'll let you know. Okay, bud. No hard feelings. See you later. Remember those key hunts are going like hot cakes. Hold on. Well, there's a go-getter if I ever saw one. Is he really a friend of yours, Andy? Sure, he's going to be at the party Thursday night, so watch out. Thanks for the warning. Oh, say Phil, I've got a number while I recover from that human tornado that blew in there. All set. What are you going to play? Why are you checking?  It's got class. It's got fam. It's got fam. Wham, jam. All just playing. Don't sell us. What a knock. That was My Heart Stood Still, played by Phil Harris and his internationally famous orchestra. And now, ladies and gentlemen, internationally famous. Yes, by that, Phil, I mean you're just as well known in Tijuana as you are in San Diego. And now, ladies and gentlemen, as I have tried to announce several times this evening, next Sunday night in response to requests from two grade Danes and Iris Setter and numerous other dogs, we are going to present our version of 20th Century's current film success, The Hound of the Baskervilles. In fact, I have before me right now a letter which I received from a dog in Fire Plug Nebraska. Especially requesting this play. May I quote from this letter, Dear Mr. Bennet, sincerely yours, Priscilla St. Bernard. Now, as we have gone to a great deal of trouble and expense preparing for this massive piece, tonight, hmm, tonight we are going to give you a preview of some of the highlights of this, shall I say, canine epic? Sure. Okay. That's all right with me. Me too. Oh, quiet. Now, Andy. Yes, Buck.  That is, you're going to be the hound of vicious snarling beast with sharp teeth and long claws. Do I have fleas too? No, you don't have fleas. And what good are the long claws? Never mind. Now, in our previous, I wish you'd had fleas after that gag. Now, in our preview, Andy, now, in our preview, Andy, you just howl when you're supposed to. Well, what am I going to be, Jack? I'm not sure, Kenny, but I think Andy bites you in the first scene. Oh, but I guess I better wear my old suit. I would, yes.  You know, make it sound like the march of time as only you can do it. Okay, Jack, I'll be right up on my toes. Thanks, Don, but I doubt that they can take it. Everybody ready for the preview? One, two, three. Oh, for crying out loud. I'll answer it. Hello? Hello? Hello, boss. This is Rochester. I know who it is. What do you want? This will only take a minute. All right. What is it? Well, I don't want you to know that check you left for me this morning for my weekly salary. Yes? What about it? Well, it seems to be two dollars south of the stipulated amount. Oh, well, I meant to explain that to you, Rochester. You see, you're supposed to be my butler, my valet, and my chauffeur. Uh-huh.  Uh-huh. So I'm, uh, deducting two dollars from your check on a technicality. A technicality? Yes. Well, boss, I'm handing some ink and overrule you. You what?   My full salary is only ten dollars. Well, sure it is, but you get your room and board, don't you? I can get that in jail. No, you can't. And more of it. That's a fine way to talk, Rochester, while you've gained twenty pounds since you started to work for me, and you can't deny it. Oh, you can. Now look, Rochester, I don't want to argue with you any longer and forget about the two dollars. And incidentally, you're very lucky. I didn't take more out of your salary after what you did this morning. What do you mean, boss? I don't care how hot it is. You had no excuse for shaving all the fur off of Carmichael. He looks like nothing now. I told you to clip him. If I don't get that two dollars, I'm going to peel him. You leave that polar bear alone, and I'll talk to you when I get home. Goodbye. Oh, boss. What? I forgot to tell you your manager called. Oh, what does he want? He says there's a new driving stand opening at ten o'clock tonight, and you've got to be there in full dress. Oh, okay. I'll be there. Put on some cork. I'm working with you. Oh, no, you're not. And goodbye. Huh. None of that Sambo and Tambo stuff for me. I'm doing a monologue. All right, fellas. Time is getting short, so let's get ahead with our preview. Ready, Don? All set, Jack. And now, ladies and gentlemen, for a few of the highlights from next week's sensational attraction, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Oh, Sherlock. Sherlock Holmes. Yes, Watson? This man is dead. Dead? How do you know? I shook hands with him and he wouldn't let go. That's elementary, Watson. Elementary. Mystery. Now listen to me, Lady Barrow. I want the truth. Did you kill Sir Hugo? I didn't. You're too cruel. Too, too beastly. Rally, you are. Rally, rally, rally. And who did kill Sir Hugo? Sir Hugo was killed by... What was that? Andy Devine. That's elementary, Watson. Elementary. Action. Which way did he go? That way. No, this way. No, no, the other way. Which way? Anyway. Look where he is now. I'll get him. Those are just a few of the thrills that are in store for you next Sunday night. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get him. I'll get you next Sunday night. So be sure and tune in. Play foes down where through, pay playfell. Well, whenever the old nursery rhyme about the queen of parts and the tarts that were stolen away. Well, if those parts were half as delicious as the ones I'm going to tell you about, it's no wonder somebody swiped them. For these are jello fresh fruit tarts and really, they're swell. You can use fresh strawberries, raspberries, or orange sections and the same flavor of jello to match. And here's the way to make them. Sweeten the fruit. Then dissolve one package of jello in one pint of hot fruit juice and water. Pour this mixture over the sweetened fruit then turn into baked tart shells and chill until firm. And there you have something. Crisp golden brown little tart shells filled to the brim with fresh fruit and delicious shimmering jello. So get some strawberry, raspberry or orange jello tomorrow and try these fresh fruit tarts. We're a little late, so good night folks. The maker pairs on the jello program for Tennessee Marv & Lowei Productions. This is the National Broadjusting Company.


And finally, George Sampaio, the former president, George Sampaio was born in Lisbon on September 18, 1939. In 1961, he graduated in law from Lisbon University. Whilst at university, he was involved in various academic activities that marked then the start of persistent political action against the dictatorship. He then took a legal career. He became a member of the Board of the Law Association, playing an important role in the defense of political prisoners in the dictatorship. In 1969, he stood for parliamentary elections for the National Assembly as a member of the CDE, Electoral Democratic Commission, opposing the ruling dictatorship. Politically active, he participated in the recent resistance movements working towards a socialist inclined democratic alternative. From 1979 to 1984, he was a member of the European Human Rights Commission of the Council of Europe, where he played an important role in defending fundamental rights and in contributing to a more dynamic implementation of the principles contained in the European Convention of Human Rights. He was reelected to the parliament in 1985, 87, and 91. In 1989, he ran for mayor of Lisbon, and he was elected. Later reelected in 1993. At the time, his candidacy was of great political significance and gave what were local elections at a national impact. In 1995, following a successful campaign, Justin Pye was sworn in as the president of the Republic of Portugal. In May 2006, he was appointed by Cofiana as United Nations General Special Envoy to stop TB. And in April 2007, he was appointed by Ben Kimun as United Nations I Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, a position he held until 2012. He holds a significant number of Portuguese and foreign honors and awards. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. George Sampaio. Your next instance is, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to everyone. I am really very pleased and thankful for the opportunity given to me to share with you a few thoughts on the subject that is both very close to my heart and in many ways at the core of my political life over the past 30 years.  Having heard all of those who spoke in this session, I think you are well informed of all the paths that had to be followed. I am humbled by their wide breadth of experiences and accomplishments, as well as by the very deep interest in this topic of this audience at large. Permit-o-me ainda que saúde em português, todos os meus concidadantes aqui presentes, que estou certo compreenderão que falem em inglês nesta conferência internacional tal como foi solicitado pelos organizadores. Last but not least, let me thank the two co-organizers, Harm Reduction International, and Updash, J.S.P.R.J.P.R. de Moviment, for holding this very timely conference. The program is, of course, very impressive, and the wide range of speakers' amounts is really truly amazing. My sincere congratulations. Dear friends, if I may say so, I have been addressing the topic of drug policies since the 90s when I was mayor of my city, Lisbon. And afterwards, as presidents of this country, I kept this issue among my priorities, trying to keep it high on the national political agenda. The reason why I accepted to be part of the Global Commission on Drug Policy set by President Franz Gecker, those from Brazil, and that is now chaired by my good friend, Ruth Dreyfus from Switzerland, was precisely because of my longstanding personal commitment to this hot topic, which for me, by and large, is the main issue for public health. But that is more than a personal interest because in this very specific issue of drug control, Portugal has a lot to share with other countries and partners, and I still think a lot to learn. Why? Because we have a solid bedrock of evidence to provide about the outcomes of the changes made in our drug policy since the 90s, so I'll explain today by Professor Quintanilla, since the 90s when Portugal was facing a serious opioid epidemic that sparked alarm across all social groups. So let me start by sharing with you our experience. In these rather dark times, dominated by failures and regressions in many fields, it is good to have, after all, a success story. This story is a part of a pioneering reform of drug policy implemented over 20 years based on a new vision that, first and foremost, aimed at minimizing all drug-related problems through a broad harm reduction approach. Two main big changes were introduced that expressed a true cultural shift on how the country was viewing the problem. One, the focus moved to drug users and to give them the opportunity to be taken care of in a holistic and comprehensive way by the relevant health and social care professionals. And two, the whole issue of drug use offenses was basically removed from the framework of the criminal law and the criminal justice system. While consuming drugs or possession of small quantities remained an offense subject to administrative or civil sanctions, drug users were no more jailed or treated as criminals. This new bold humanistic, pragmatic approach clearly paid off as it led to the following results. Let me just identify them. First, the number of drug users decreased. Second, the number of drug users went into voluntary treatment increased. Third, the number of newly reported cases of HIV and AIDS among drug addicts had declined substantially every year since 2001, for a drug-related mortality rates have decreased as well. This success story allows us to strongly make the case for change in drug policy that put public health, community safety, and human rights first. This is all about the key policy shifts that the Global Commission on Drugs Policy has been advocating significant creation in 2011. I mean, putting people's health and safety first, ending the criminalization and incarceration of people using drugs. Three, changing enforcement responses to drug trafficking and organized crime. And four, countering prejudices about people who use drugs, thus addressing world drug perception-related problems. Properly regulate drug markets to put governments back in control and call for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to redesigning drug control policies. Ladies and gentlemen and dear friends, please make no mistake, successes are not timeless. What was innovative in the past and produced change for the better has to be kept under permanent scrutiny, evaluation, and review. Public policies have to adapt to new trends and address emerging and long-term challenges. They have to adjust and improve conceptual frameworks, approaches, and tools. There is no time to rest on one's laurels. All countries, all cities, all communities can do more and better to make public policies of harm reduction move forward to fully realize access and coverage for all. Early joint efforts and collaborative action at all levels, international, regional, national, and local levels, bringing together all sorts of players and constituencies, central and local governments, civil society organizations, patient groups can, in fact, bring change on the ground. Let's not give up, as there is still a long way to achieve legal regulation of all drugs according to their potential harms. Against this backdrop, harm reduction would be much easier and would provide public policy with more solid foundations. In this journey, those countries that are more advanced hold more responsibilities, not only with the view to consolidating their achievements, anticipating new challenges, and remaining at the forefront of innovation, but also as drivers of change across the world. Ladies and gentlemen, in this regard, let me draw your attention to the upcoming report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy that will be launched on 25 June in Lisbon. For the very first time, this report will challenge the international classification of drugs, showing that it has little or no correlation to their scientifically assessed harms. Yet, as we all know, it has been playing a large role in shaping current perceptions of drugs and their potential dangers. It is time to turn the tide. A non-sigmatizing and evidence-based drug scheduling system can influence and guide people to make more responsible and less harmful choices. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, to develop further a credible drug strategy, a new step ahead has to be made, one that will use rational evidence for the assessment of the harms of drugs. Without any doubt, this is the way forward. Let's work, plan, and act together to make it happen and spark sustainable change. I wish you well. Thank you very much.


Hello, my name is Arnold Fein. I have a concern with your product. Your Purina, yes? Okay, I feed one animal Purina for maybe 2-3 weeks. And he starts to get all forming from the mouth.  He cannot walk properly ever since I give him your product. What product did you feed her? I feed him Purina, the dry dog food with the Purina. We have several brands in our range, so can you please tell me what brand you feed your dog? I do not have the package. I throw away, but it's a Purina on it. It's a Purina on my wife, right down some number. And I call you here. Without the package and without the name of the product, we take this case very seriously, especially because you are reporting that your dog wasn't well. Not a dog, it's a pig.  I just see what happened and you get very sick. My pig cannot walk. If you want to contact a vet, this product is not formulated for pigs, or maybe you have to change the diet that you are feeding your dog. I have a listen-listen, I have a many pig.  They are happy, healthy, and the first time I try Purina, one of them starts vomiting all over the kitchen. There is blood from the back. I highly advise you, recommend you to take your animal to the vet. The vet then makes me pay $100, $200. I need to sell the pig to butcher. Listen here Pussycat, do you listen here? I need to sell the pig to butcher by the weekend. I need some medicine, maybe you can send medicine to my house.  You write that down. I haven't noticed any swear words. Look, I need the pig okay by Friday. So we have three days and maybe you know that I can take him to give me discount or something because your product make them sick or something. I cannot pay for the vet right now and it's your product so you need to be the one to fix the pig. It's lying there, it's all foaming from the mouth and flicking around in the backyard. I'm so sorry, without the product, without the name of the product or batch details of the product, I cannot afford that. Maybe you name one, I need to refresh my memory. I remember the package, I remember the package. What are the, it was the large dog food I think for large breed dog or something like that, you know, the large breed. Where did you buy the product from? From a calls. My wife is sick. What happens sometimes if you don't transition slowly from the food you were feeding you previously, your pigs. From a new one, that's at least what your device for dogs. You have to transition slowly between the old food and the new food in order to avoid upset and so on. But I know my pig, I breed pig for maybe six, seven years now.   My wife is sick.  And I know my pig, I feed them anything and anything and they usually find and happy.  I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry to hear that. Yes I know, it's a very distressing, very distressing for my wife, she's sick. My wife is sick. My wife is sick in bed, she cannot take it to the vet and I do not know what to do. I have a gun, I think maybe I may have to put it down, you know, I might have to choke it, choke it to death if the bullet doesn't kill it. And you know, I don't want to do that because I love to pig.   I look after them, they stay in the house, they sleep with my wife. And you know, the children ride the pig in the backyard and it's sick. My wife is very seriously, but because it's not well. No, my wife is very sick. My wife is very sick. Yeah, exactly. She has a big long headache. Close to her.    They ride the pig around the backyard and the kids, I don't know where they are. The children are gone. The children are not in my house. Where are my children, you know?    It's very wrong, there is something very wrong and very concerning about your pig well. I know, that's why I called you to contact the vet.  I am, I am so sad. Who is this? Who is this? Yeah, look, I feel sorry for your experience with one of our products. But as I said, without the vet, the full name of the product, the batch details or a vet report, there is not much that I can do for you. Who is this? What I can do, if you provide the bed, the office of the receipt where you state that you bought our brand, I can organize every sound of the bed for you as a gesture of goodwill. But only if you provide the copy of the receipt and send us to our email.   It has walking on two leg and throwing up a sheet. I've never seen anything like it and I think maybe the pig is not really a pig. It seems like maybe possessed or something, I don't know. It's walking around like a human being. Yelling, my name, it's Yelling Arnold. Who is this?  It's a very strange... I know what you're describing to me, I highly advise you to contact a vet.  No, I won't cover anything because you haven't proved yet that you bought one of our brands. I think maybe the pig, it is now painting the back fence. It has a paintbrush and it's painting the back fence. I've never seen behavior like it, painting my back fence, looking back at me and waving its paw. Waving at me, smiling and my wife is in bed sick and my children are missing. This is a line where we provide pet care, a device and pet nutritional device. Here's concerns, I'm here to help you. If you start joking with me, saying that your pig is waving at you, I'll have to terminate the call. Look, my pig, it looks like it's waving, it's probably just flicking around. But it seems like it's smiling and waving, but I understand. It seems not real. Thank you. I love you very much and good luck in your life. I love you. Thank you. Who is this?    It's waving at me the pig. It's flicking around. This is a serious chat about, you know, this is a serious line. Dude, I love so many wives, so many flicking arounds.  Who is this? She never addressed her. I really wanted her to.  She was very sweet. Dude, he was French.


Alhamdulillah, jizakum wa akhir, and Sidi Fredun for that beautiful talk, masha'Allah. He had so many gems. Some of the things that really stood out are the three focuses that you had in terms of really modeling our homes to the prophetic model, or trying our best to model our homes to the prophetic standard. So, you know, maintaining or looking at the home and doing the house cleaning as you said of the home, the cleaning of the heart, and then the cleaning of our sahba, our companions. But the point that you made about happiness and becoming happiness, I actually wanted to kind of speak about that for just a moment because even, masha'Allah, when we were speaking earlier, we were talking about perspective, right? The perspective that we have in life really does shape our experience. Masha'Allah, she'll speak more on that point. But one of my favorite hadith, of course, is the Hadith Qutsi. Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala says, And I love this hadith because it's very empowering. What Allah is telling us is, again, what you think of Him, right? And that extends to your circumstance. He will, of course, affirm. So, if you have a positive outlook and you accept that whatever you're going through, whether it's a tribulation, whether it's khayr, blessing, whatever it is, because it's from Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala, that there's meaning behind it, that there's a purpose behind it. And you don't let your perspective turn from Allah, right? Because this is the nature of the dunya when we don't have the right understanding of why we're in certain circumstances. We then are left to the whisperings of shaitan, the external evil that is outside of us, but also our own nafs, which will start to whine and complain, and you just become very nafsi in your understanding. You're not thinking of the greater wisdom of why you may be going through something. So having that mind shift is really important. And that's why, again, when we look at this idea of how do we establish a prophetic household, another hadith that is really important for all of us to learn and to internalize is the hadith, Indeed, all of you are a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for your flock. And this is another empowering hadith because what is Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta'ala telling us, he's saying that He has given all of us leadership roles. And that includes men, of course, women, as well as children, believe it or not. Yes, even you have leadership roles. You have expectations within your household. And so defining those roles becomes now the next part of how we can bring some balance into our homes, right? Because leadership, of course, requires to know what your role is.  And then for women, their leadership role is to maintain their children and their household. And then, of course, for children, it's to help in the household and to take some of those burdens from their parents and to be a part of the household. So immediately, you set the tone of what? Two things, respect, right? Respect is so essential in a household. In order for a household to have balance and to have peace, we have to have respect. And if we see each other, if everyone sees one another as a leader and they see that they have an important role to play in the household, then naturally you will bring respect into the conversation, into the way you treat one another. So respect is essential. And the other really important quality is empathy. If we don't have either of these two qualities in our homes, which all of which we learned from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, you will not find a single example of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ever, of course, because he had the best of character, of ever speaking to anyone without respect. Even those who wished harm on him, Subhanallah, he had, because why? As the saying of said Naisa, a vessel only pours out what it contains. He was incapable of putting out anything other than respect, because he was pure. And so if we understand that, then we look to ourselves and hold ourselves accountable. So you will not find any example of him ever speaking to a child or a person of a different background. It doesn't matter in a way where he put himself above them. Never. Even though he was the best of creation, the most beloved of Allah swt. And if anybody had that, if anybody could have done that, it should have been him, right? But he didn't do it. Why? Because he knew who he was with Allah and he didn't need to do that. And also he's modeling for us that if you want to have the households that are peaceful, you don't need to come, you don't need to demand respect. You don't need to raise your voice. You don't need to, you know, lead with an iron fist and threaten and use charged language. You don't need to do that. If you are respectful, right, people will listen to you. So really watching the way that we talk to one another. And this is in every direction, from parent to child to spouse to spouse. Every direction we need to restore respect in our homes. And we also need to restore empathy. And this is really important, especially as I see so many teens here. You know, earlier today I was with a group of teens and I did an icebreaker with them. I was getting to know them. So I asked them, tell me your name, tell me what's your favorite day of the week and why, and then tell me what's your happy place. And Subhanallah, the answers really touched my heart. Favorite day of the week, what do you guys guess? Knowing teens, what do you think it's going to be? Friday, Saturday, Sunday, pretty predictable. Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of two people who said, I think Monday and Wednesday, at three people, Monday, Wednesday and Tuesday for very different reasons. Everyone else said Saturday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. What do you think the reason why they love those days? Yes? There's no school, that was part of it. But there was another really beautiful reason. What is it? They get to stay home. Few reasons were given. One, it's time with family, which is really beautiful to hear. Two, they get to sleep in. Okay, why do I mention this? Because I wasn't surprised. This is something that I have heard repeatedly for years from teenagers who are going through one of the hardest phases of life that they feel that sleep, which is a human need, it's everybody needs rest, right? It's something that they don't get enough of, and if they speak up, they're not respected. That is not seen as an important need. And I think it's really, we have to look to ourselves and really understand when a child, who again is growing development, they're developing, their brains are developing, just like an infant. You wouldn't wake up an infant from sleep. You know that an infant or a toddler, they need their sleep, you let them have their naps. When they wake up, they wake up. But how many of us in our households don't have the basic empathy to respect this very basic human need and basic in the sense of, if you look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs, this is on the bottom tier, right? We need food, we need water, we need air, we need rest, we need sleep. We need to look to their parent and saying, I don't want to go to so and so. I don't want to do this because I'm really tired. Can I please sleep? And the parent is, no, you have to go. Get up right now. And then knocking on the door and waking them up and being, you know, irritated. Why? Because I have a schedule. I have something that I need to get done. Get up and do it right now, right this minute. What do you think is going to, it's a breakdown immediately of respect and empathy. There's no respect. That child has a need. And I say this because again, I want to advocate for our youth sometimes. These very basic things, they feel like no one's understanding them. And if you think about, although it seems like, okay, why is that a big deal? But does sleep not affect everything? Right? How many of us, when we don't get enough sleep, are not very pleasant to be around? Right? So when I hear the parents telling me about their teens who have an attitude problem and who don't want to talk to them, who don't want to sit and, you know, have dinner with the family or who just, they can't figure out, I have to point them to these very basic things. Are they resting? Are they getting enough rest? Oh, yeah, here and there. And then you start like questioning and you realize if you made these little simple adjustments of fulfilling each other's basic needs, what do you need? Are you okay? Are you checking in with them? Are you resting? Do you need anything? Or anything else? Because there's a lot of things that are going on, you know, on both sides. And this goes both ways, by the way. Parents obviously have needs too. They may be tired and exhausted as well, but they don't think that you can help them. But what would you do with teenagers? I mean, how do you think your parents would respond if you went up to them after you empathize realizing that he was out all day long and a long commute. We live in an area where there's usually long commutes for a lot of our parents. So you have the, you know, the fatigue of just being out all day and then on top of that, and then you have to come home and get dinner ready, help with homework. How do you think your parents would feel if you just went up to them and said, hey, Dad, are you okay? Can I get you anything? Do you need like a shoulder rub? Maybe I can give you a shoulder rub after dinner. How do you think they would feel? Suddenly they feel seen. Suddenly they feel appreciated. Suddenly they feel validated. Those exchanges, as simple as they seem, can do incredible wonders to repair some of the breakdown that we have in our households. Because again, we live in a time where everybody's, you know, just doing their own thing. They have their homework, they have their sports, they have their routines, their clubs, parents are at work, they have to go shop, they have this and that to do, and nobody's really seeing each other. Nobody's really stopping and appreciating one another and then offering these two things that we are taught in our deem from the very beginning, if you're, you know, looking at any part of our faith, you will find these themes of how we speak to one another should always be with love, moaddah, with respect, right, with empathy, with compassion. You will find it throughout the Quran, throughout the hadith, but if we don't have that in our own households, then are we surprised when we find a breakdown in communication? Should we be surprised? Of course not. So really essential that we first and foremost understand our roles that each of us have leadership qualities, all of us, that should command, right, respect from others as well as that we give back, right, respect to everyone in the household and then that we also empathize, inshallah.