August 31, 2003 - 740108 - The Bullet

[vgarci]

This week's program is presented for your review by Brian (Hamlet2003).

For those who do not have the program, you can download it (with or without a Streamload account) at: www.streamload.com/vgarci (http://www.streamload.com/vgarci)

[vgarci]

Brian,
Great selection! This is one of my top 10 episodes because the writing and acting are superb. I think most people have wondered if fate plays a role in their lives but Sam Dann, in his first CBSRMT creation, tells a terrific story to make us explore this issue. We see friendship, a call to duty, fate, fear and love in this play which I gave a 5 because it embodied everything I like about the CBSRMT.

I find it interesting to think of the mindset at the time this play was written. The fact that it was based on a battle scene reminds me that it wasn't until April 30, 1975 that the last of the US troops were pulled back from Vietnam. The whole country was influenced by the war and I'm sure Sam Dann's writing reflected this preoccupation.

Finally, you had to love hearing Himan Brown speak of his excitement about this new series of radio drama we all love as the CBSRMT. Anyone win one of the prizes that were offered? Anyone got one to sell? ;)

[brian1984_2001]

I have not re-listened to this episode yet for evaluating, but I want to chime in here with a little information.

On later recordings from 1974, Himan Brown announces the winners. this actually happened twice. It's pretty cool stuff.

God bless that soul from the Kansas City area who thought to record the show in its very earliest days along with all that interesting news. Also a special blessing for the person who recorded all of those Fulton Lewis commentaries from WOR on Watergate. I love that stuff.

[Texas]

Larry Haines had a certain voice quality he could evoke...you just couldn't help feeling SORRY for the guy. (I think of some other episodes he did this, like "The Solid Gold Zarf" in which he's an everyman who loses his job for a large company where he's worked almost lifelong, and spends the rest of the episode trying to learn WHY he was fired.)

He does it very well here, as a guy who had an unhappy, unable-to-please-his-father childhood who seems to survive (Viet Nam?) staring death in the face, only to stare at it again later, after marrying and having a career, when he learns [i:264ba0ce1d]he's[/i:264ba0ce1d] the one who should have died in combat.

This is one of those very few RMTs that I'd have a tough time listening to again (a similar episode being "Star Sapphire") because I feel such pity for the central character.

[hamlet2003]

One aspect of this episode I found intriguing was that the initial introduction of the the ghost of the friend is very disturbing and you have a feeling that he is a malavolent spirit. It is only later we learn that he is, in a sense, a lost soul just like the lead character. This is a fine drama, dealing sensitively with the real regret many feel at some time in their life, that they have not lived the life for which they were intended.

[UNTIL NEXT TIME]

I think the show is very good for creating a mood of doom, or fate, which runs its course. I've listened to it 2 or 3 times. A thoughtful episode. Until Next Time.

[storytellermommy]

I liked this one. It was an interesting concept to think about (not that I believe it) every person having a bullet with their name on it, then finding out there had been a cosmic mistake. I was wishing it was a "part 1 of 2" since I really wanted to know how the buddy made the move on the main character's widow and just who the son turned out to be. ;)

[MikeH]

This was the type of show that made RMT what it was at its best. Mystery and suspense abound – was Paul truly a supernatural appearance to right an error of fate or just a stress related creation of Jerry’s tortured mind? Was there really a “Plan” or was Jerry’s death a suicidal product of post traumatic stress syndrome? We get conflicting clues as the show progresses – Jerry sees Paul in civilian attire, but then as the doctor predicts he doesn’t see Paul at all when he takes a long needed break from work and winds down. Even at the end, when Jerry yields to the Plan and steps in front of the truck we do not know whether it was fate or delusion induced suicide – until we hear Paul’s voice appear to comfort Marge. Then there was all that English teacher stuff – allusions and irony – just in the names we had Jerry “I didn’t pay the” Price and Paul “pushing up daisys” Gardner. It may be a stretch, but I thought even of Marge the Sarge confidence builder - always pushing Jerry to “be all he can be.” I gave it a solid 4, but it wasn’t quite a 5.

[hamlet2003]

Mike, your commentary on this episode is very interesting. I never considered that perhaps the whole thing was just stress-induced delusions (though being the Mystery Theater, I guess I just accepted the fantasy elements). I also appreciate your thoughts on the significance of the characters' names.

I'm curious why it seemingly took so long for the "powers that be" to set things right and switch the two men. Why was Jerry allowed to return from Nam, marry, and start a career? And what had Paul been doing all this time? Standing around talking with Mr. Death about the weather? :roll:

[MikeH]

"I'm curious why it seemingly took so long for the "powers that be" to set things right and switch the two men."

Well Joseph, My guess is that, since as Paul mentioned, it was a bureacratic mix up, the case worker responsible did not discover the mistake for several years, perhaps when his supervisor inquired about the birth of that special child Paul and Marge were to have. Then, rather than admit the mistake and seek assitance recitfying the situation, he covered it up for a few more years until his supervisor audits the file and learns that the child had never been born. The supervisor then notifies the Dept. Chief for North American Affairs, who is afraid to bring the matter up at the next board meeting for fear that the exposure of yet another such error from his Dept., would compromise his pending promotion. Only after several more years when the Dept. Chief finally takes control of the Board does he discretely take the measures recounted in this episode.

Haven't we all lived this process at one time or another?

Mike H.

[bva18]

I also liked this epesode. It does make you wonder sometimes if there is a plan in store for us all. Not that I believe it, but it does make you wonder.

I like Mike's description about why it took so long for the plan to be worked out. Maybe he should have been a writer for RMT.

[dnagle]

This show was very dramatic and the dialogue was outstanding. I kicked my vote up to a 5 because of the ending. I was expecting a sort of 'It's a Wonderful Life' type ending where Jerry's buddy had come back to help him see how much he had to live for. The 2-week binge at the end set me up for this expectation so the ending took me by surprise. In listening I tried to imagine hearing this as a brand-new series. It must have had quite an effect on the first audience. Also the treatment of the Vietnam vet and mental disorders was more open at this point than would be the case in the years to come when people didn't want to face these things. Also enjoyed the news spots and commercials, man how times have changed.

[dsndblm]

I give this episode a 5. I had listened to it once and it really didnt do much for me. I listened again last night and found it to be very entertaining. The part about every bullet being meant for a specific person really made me think. The war veteran angle really made me think what it must be like to be involved in a war. The way it was described the writers painted a very good mental picture, much better to me than tv shows or movies that I have seen.

[johnb]

I gave this episode a 3. I enjoyed the acting and the story aspect dealing with fate (reminds me of the "It is your destiny" line ala darth vader).
I was wondering though, when Jerry finds out he's gonna die in 2 wks by a truck, what does he say at the end of his vacation, "Honey we better hurry home I've got an appointment with a truck, smack dab in the kisser".
What's the consensus on Jerry's last action of jumping in front of the truck. Noble? Stupid? Doesn't really matter, because he didn't have a say in it because fate/destiny forced him to do it?
-John b smile.gif

[CBSRMTFAN]

I liked this episode for a number of reasons the biggest of which is that we don't really know why he did it. It could have been post traumatic stress but maybe it was guilt? Well into this episode I couldn't help but wonder if Paul really didn't get killed but somehow managed to survive...

Sometimes the best episodes are the ones that really leave a lot to the listener. The thought provoking questions alone make this one a 5 in my book.

I almost forgot to mention the music. How creepy was it when Paul first appears in the bar. The effect is extraordinary and sent a shiver down my spine.

Bruce

[Ross]

The drama between both characters was a strong point in this episode for me. Not to mention the timeliness of the content.

Has been one of my faves for a long time.

- Ross