MUSIC: THEME MUSIC

NARRATOR

Welcome to the 1950's. It is an age of wonder and excitement, when fresh off the heels of war mankind makes great strides in the advancement of technology. During this time he searches for truth through science and lays to rest the myths of magic and superstition. At least he believes he does. In tonights tale, THE PATTERN, Jim and Margaret Patterson, newlyweds trying to get a start on life together find that some myths don't die easily.

SFX: EARLY BIRDS CHIRPING. WIND BLOWING THROUGH TREES.

SFX: CAR DRIVING ON GRAVEL, STOPS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF.

SFX: CAR DOOR OPEN/CLOSES

MR LLOYD

Yes, I think they'll like this.

SFX: MR LLOYD WALKS AROUND ON THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY AND WHISTLES A MERRY LITTLE TUNE.

SFX: A CAR DRIVES UP ON GRAVEL AND STOPS, THE ENGINE SOON SHUTS OFF.

SFX: CAR DOOR OPENS/CLOSES X 2

JIM

Hello Mr. Lloyd have you been waiting long?

MR LLOYD

No..no..just got here a little before you. I assume you are the Pattersons?

MARGARET

Yes. Thank you for coming out so early to show us the house.

MR LLOYD

No problem. It's how I make a living.

SFX: ALL THREE WALK ON THE GRAVEL TO THE HOUSE.

MR LLOYD

I think you'll like this house.

MARGARET

It looks lovely.

JIM

And well built.

MR LLOYD

Oh it is. It's as sturdy as they come. It was built in the mid 1800's by a wealthy Irishman who had made a fortune in prospecting.

JIM

There's gold on the land?

MR LLOYD

Oh..(laughing), hardly. No, he aquired all his wealth out west. He married and moved here, raised a family and died a few years ago.

SFX: ALL THREE STEP ONTO THE WOODEN PORCH AND WALK TO THE DOOR.

MARGARET

What happened to the rest of his family?

MR LLOYD

(Hesitant) Well his wife died a few years before him and the children were grown by then so I believe most of them, there were three I think, girls, they had already married and moved off.

JIM

None of them wanted the house?

SFX: KEY TURNING IN LOCK

MARGARET

Yes you would think a home as lovely as this the children would be fighting over it.

SFX: DOOR OPENS

SFX: ALL THREE WALK AROUND ON THE HARDWOOD FLOORS AND TALK.

MR LLOYD

I'm not certain. None of the children apparently wanted it.

JIM

That's pretty odd. It seems like a great house. Margaret look at the fireplace.

MARGARET

Oh I know. We have to get a big, bearskin rug to put in front of it.

MR LLOYD

I thought you would like it.

JIM

How many rooms does the house have?

MR LLOYD

Well as I'll show you, it has six upstairs bedrooms, including the masters.

MARGARET

Six?

MR LLOYD

That's right.

MARGARET

Jim what are we going to do with six bedrooms? Do we need a house this big?

JIM

Well the children will need room to play. Plus sleep.

MR LLOYD

You have children Mr. Patterson?

(All three stop walking.)

JIM

No not yet.

MARGARET

But we plan on having them.

JIM

Plenty of them. At least we'll have room for them.

MARGARET

We've only been married for about six months.

MR LLOYD

Oh then you're still newlyweds.

SFX: MR LLOYD WALKING AWAY

MR LLOYD

By the way, this isn't the living room, it's merely the foyer.

SFX: DOOR OPENS

MR LLOYD

This is the living room.

SFX: JIM AND MARGARET WALK TO THE LIVING ROOM.

JIM

Now this is real nice. I love the dark stain, panel walls.

MR LLOYD

I knew you would like it.

MARGARET

We're going to need more furniture.

JIM

That's for sure. It has a fireplace too.

MR LLOYD

Yes. Almost all the lower rooms has one. They're not needed though.

MARGARET

Oh and why is that?

MR LLOYD

Before he died the owner, Mr. Wallace was his name by the way, Andrew Wallace, he had it modernized.

JIM

Really?

MR LLOYD

Yes. It has gas heating instead of coal or wood. It also has complete plumbing and water comes from the city. No telephone though.

MARGARET

Goodness I bet that costed him quite a bit.

MR LLOYD

Yes but he had the funds.

MARGARET

Why no telephone? A man with that kind of money...

MR LLOYD

He was a...recluse. He and his family kept pretty much to themselves.

JIM

Margaret did you notice the carpet?

MARGARET

Yes it is most peculiar.

MR LLOYD

It is most unusual. I believe one of the workers at the office said it was Asian. Apparently Mr. Wallace had a taste for interesting items.

JIM

Oh. How so?

MR LLOYD

Well it seems he had quite an extensive collection of antiques from various lands. Asia, Africa, the Far East.

MARGARET

I would have loved to have seen those.

JIM

The pattern on this carpet is almost hynotising.

MARGARET

I like the colors. Gold and black is quite unusual. I've never seen anything quite like it.

MR LLOYD

I haven't either. I've sold quite a few houses over the years, especially lately and it's the first one I've seen.

MARGARET

Do you suppose it's magical? It does come from Asia.

JIM

Nonsense dear. Magic is a belief of the poor, underdeveloped world.

MR LLOYD

Oh that's right I forgot. Someone mentioned you were a scientist.

JIM

So I'm told.(Laughs)Actually I'm a professor of physics at the university.

MR LLOYD

That's very interesting. How long have you been teaching?

JIM

For five years now.

MR LLOYD

You enjoy it I assume?

JIM

Yes very much so. Like all other jobs it has it's moments.

MR LLOYD

That is very true.

MARGARET

Jim let's look at the rest of the house.

JIM

Getting impatient dear?

MARGARET

No it's just this room is so cold.

JIM

Cold? Are you coming down with something dear? It must be nearly seventy-five in here.

MR LLOYD

Come. I'll show you the rest of the house then we can talk about a price.

JIM

Now remember I'm merely a professor.

MR LLOYD

(Laughs)I know.

MUSIC UP THEN SLOWLY FADES-FOR TRANSITION

SFX: ONE SIDE OF A COUCH BEING SET DOWN ON CARPETED FLOOR

JIM

There. Now is that where you want it?

MARGARET

Yes, thank you dear.

JIM

Good now I think I'll make good use of this couch and rest for a bit.(Beat)I didn't think we would ever get all this furniture moved.

MARGARET

Me neither. But it look's like we still have plenty of room for more.

JIM

Yes it is pretty big.

MARGARET

Well I finally got the last of the boxes unpacked.

JIM

Good. Let's make a deal.

MARGARET

What's that?

JIM

Let's live here for a long, long time.

MARGARET

(Laughs)Okay. Sounds good to me.(Beat)I wonder what's on the radio?

JIM

Why don't you find out?

SFX: RADIO BEING TURNED ON. SOME NICE JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS-(DUCK UNDER)

JIM

Oh I haven't heard this song in awhile.

MARGARET

Want to dance?

JIM

Certainly my dear. Just please avoid the toes.

MARGARET

That only happened once.

(Jim hums to the tune)

JIM

Are you happy?

MARGARET

Happy? About moving here?

JIM

Yes.

MARGARET

Oh yes. I'm very happy. Why? Are you not?

JIM

Yes, I'm very happy. I just wasn't sure how you felt now that we're here. I know you're more of a city girl.

MARGARET

City girl? (Laughs)But I'm from Arkansas.

JIM

True. (Laughs)

(Music continues to play for a moment then)

JIM

You have the room looking nice.

MARGARET

Thank you. I just wished it wasn't so cold in here.

JIM

You still think it's too cold?

MARGARET

Yes. I have to wear a sweater everytime I come in here.

JIM

Is it like that for the other rooms. I mean cold.

MARGARET

No...just this one.

JIM

Hmmm. Must be because the wind hits stronger on this side of the house more often. Because of the hill.

MARGARET

Maybe. There's something else though.

JIM

Hmmm?

MARGARET

Well I know you'll think I'm crazy.

JIM

Oh it's far too late for that my dear.

MARGARET

Very funny.

JIM

I thought so.

MARGARET

Seriously though. Look at the carpet.

JIM

The carpet?

MARGARET

Yes. Notice something odd about it?

JIM

Well I thought it odd to begin with, but you insisted on keeping it.

MARGARET

Look. There in the middle, next to the table.

JIM

Okay but I still don't see...

MARGARET

The pattern. It's...changed.

JIM

What do you mean by 'changed'?

MARGARET

It's shifted. Before in that spot the swirls and lines looked to be spaced about the same. The same all over the carpet. But now there in that spot it's changed. It seems to be...I don't know...it's moved. Forming a different pattern.

JIM

Oh dear you're imagining things.

MARGARET

I knew you would think I was crazy.

JIM

It's not that. Maybe it was already like that before but you just didn't notice it.

MARGARET

Well...maybe your right.

JIM

Of course I am. The move has been stressful. Now, let's finish our dance. Shall we my dear?

MUSIC UP AND FADES SLOWLY-TRANSITION