Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre

Host: Last time on Focus on the Family Radio Theatre.

Terry Bowman: Hello, are you the priest here?

Father Gilbert: Yes, I'm Father Gilbert, the vicar of Saint Marks.

Terry Bowman: I have a confession I want to make.

Father Gilbert: Did you kill someone?

Terry Bowman: I have to go.

Father Gilbert: Wait!

Emma Williams: What on earth are you yelling?

Father Gilbert: That young man.

Emma Williams: I'm sorry, Father, but no one just came out of your office.

Father Gilbert: But he did. Yes?

Father Gilbert: You're Terry Bowman.

Terry Bowman: Yes.

Father Gilbert: I believe you were the young man who came to see me.

Terry Bowman: I've never seen you before.

Bill Drake: When I went to polish the pews yesterday, there was two young men sitting in the back.

Father Gilbert: What if I fell asleep at my desk, but I heard part of Terry's conversation with his friend through the vent? Did I dream it, or did Terry Bowman confess to his friend that he'd murdered someone? Hello, Terry.

Terry Bowman: What now?

Father Gilbert: You have been to my church. In fact, you were there yesterday. You came in with a friend.

Terry Bowman: We needed somewhere to talk, and the church seemed like a good place to do it.

Father Gilbert: My impression was that you're in some sort of trouble.

Terry Bowman: Leave this minute, or I'll phone the police.

Father Gilbert: Thank you, Mrs. Williams. That was a lovely cup of tea.

Emma Williams: You're distracted. I think it would be better if we prayed together. Yes, all right. It's been a little slice of heaven.

Father Gilbert: I beg your pardon?

Emma Williams: Back off, man. Just back off.

Father Gilbert: I didn't understand what you said.

Emma Williams: I didn't say anything. I... Oh!

Father Gilbert: Mrs. Williams? Mrs. Williams!

Guest (Male): He's a priest.

Terry Bowman: Who are you?

Guest (Male): I am Gabriel, the angel of God.

Guest (Male): He's a detective.

Guest (Male): Father Gilbert used to be a detective inspector, Scotland Yard.

Guest (Male): He is Father Gilbert.

Guest (Male): Can you find the girl before she dies?

Guest (Male): Focus on the Family Radio Theatre presents The Father Gilbert Mysteries. Detective-turned-Anglican-priest Louis Gilbert combines streetwise smarts with spiritual intuition to solve some unusual cases. These stories blend suspenseful action with soul-searching drama, not to mention the spectacular effects and sound quality you've come to expect from Radio Theatre. To get your copy, log on to our website at radiotheatre.org. That's radiotheatre.org.

Guest (Male): State-of-the-art radio drama, winner of the Peabody Award for Excellence. Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. You'll find all your favorite episodes at your local Christian bookstore or online at www.radiotheatre.org.

Guest (Female): Sprinkle some love into your marriage this month with the Loving Well podcast from Focus on the Family. I'm Erin Smalley, and I host the podcast with my husband, Dr. Greg Smalley, and our good friend John Fuller. We chat about how to put Christ at the center of your relationship, deepen your love, and have a marriage that truly thrives. Listen today at focusonthefamily.com/lovingwell or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bill Drake: Gilbert? Do you know what time it is?

Father Gilbert: It's late, I know. I'm sorry.

Bill Drake: You're as white as a ghost. Come in.

Father Gilbert: Thank you.

Bill Drake: I was just having a drink. Would you like one?

Father Gilbert: No, I won't, thanks.

Bill Drake: Sit down then and tell me what has you knocking on my door at this hour?

Father Gilbert: Well, I had another thing, dream, encounter, I don't know what to call it.

Bill Drake: Oh?

Father Gilbert: I was at the home of Mrs. Williams from my church. She's elderly and can't make it to our services anymore.

Bill Drake: I know Emma Williams. Go on.

Father Gilbert: Well, I'd gone to serve her communion and suddenly she spoke to me in a very different voice from her own.

Bill Drake: Well, what did she, this voice, say?

Father Gilbert: Something about a slice of heaven and back off, man, just back off.

Bill Drake: Back off?

Father Gilbert: And then Mrs. Williams fainted for a moment. And when she came round again, she was perfectly fine. She didn't remember saying a thing.

Bill Drake: What do you suppose it means?

Father Gilbert: I don't know. I've gone over it again and again, and it makes no sense.

Bill Drake: There are a few possibilities. Mrs. Williams lost her head to some sort of delirium. She was playing a trick on you. Perhaps you had some sort of delusion. Or...

Father Gilbert: Or what?

Bill Drake: Mind you, I'm not saying I believe this as an option.

Father Gilbert: Oh, go on, go on.

Bill Drake: Well, playing by your rules, let's say the voice was from God and God was sending you a new instruction.

Father Gilbert: To back off?

Bill Drake: Why not?

Father Gilbert: Well, I'm sorry, but the notion of God telling anyone in such a literal way to back off seems absurd. Would God even use the phrase back off?

Bill Drake: You tell me. I'm merely suggesting a possibility.

Father Gilbert: Oh, I'm not sure what to do.

Bill Drake: Go back to the facts. As far as we know, Terry Bowman hasn't killed anyone, nor is he likely to.

Father Gilbert: Why do you say that?

Bill Drake: Well, you've seen the boy. His father effectively removed any backbone he once had years ago. It may have been his first surgical procedure.

Father Gilbert: You know the Bowmans?

Bill Drake: I've met them on a few social occasions, which is why I can assure you that Terry Bowman is no murderer.

Father Gilbert: Is it possible that I've been thinking of this all wrong? Maybe I've been too literal?

Bill Drake: Possible. It's likely. So, why not take Mrs. Williams' advice and back off of this whole affair? It's getting you nowhere, and it's keeping me up late.

Mrs. Mayhew: Good morning, Mrs. Mayhew. You have a visitor.

Father Gilbert: I'm sorry?

Mrs. Mayhew: In your office. It's Dr. Bowman. He's been waiting 15 minutes, but you'd think it's been 15 hours. He wouldn't stop asking me questions.

Father Gilbert: Right.

Mrs. Mayhew: He made me tell him about your dream.

Father Gilbert: Oh, and how did he make you do that?

Mrs. Mayhew: By asking.

Father Gilbert: Thank you. Perhaps I should see what he wants. Right. Good morning, Dr. Bowman. I'm Father Gilbert.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: So you are. I came to see what kind of a priest is capable of upsetting my wife and harassing my son.

Father Gilbert: I can assure you, Doctor, that it wasn't my intention to do either.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: It's what you've done nonetheless. My wife and son are two of a kind, you see, and are easily upset. So I'm here to put a stop to this harassment, especially now I know what's behind it. A dream of all things.

Father Gilbert: A dream with some very odd connections to reality.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Your reality, maybe, but not ours. If you knew anything at all about my son, you'd realize how absurd you're being.

Father Gilbert: Well, I'm sure you're right, Dr. Bowman. Why don't you tell me about Terry?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: What's to tell? Terry has proven himself a very sensible, level-headed, and promising young man. His exam results were stupendous. He's going to Oxford, you know.

Father Gilbert: Yes, I know. Congratulations. But as a doctor, you can appreciate that appearances may be deceptive, a disguise for what's going on inside.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: I'm not here to be lectured by you.

Father Gilbert: You said that Terry has proven himself to be sensible and level-headed and promising. So what was he before?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Before? Well, he was a good lad.

Father Gilbert: But?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: But he made a few bad decisions, like any young person. He hung around with the wrong crowd. In the past year, however, he's come to his senses.

Father Gilbert: And how did he do that?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: By taking my advice, I suppose, of straightening himself up, disciplining himself.

Father Gilbert: No wonder you're so proud.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Yes. So you're wasting your time and ours. And I've come to tell you that we'll take legal action if you bother us again. Do I make myself clear?

Father Gilbert: Thank you for informing me.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Goodbye, Father Gilbert.

Father Gilbert: Goodbye, Dr. Bowman.

Mr. Eckhardt: Father.

Father Gilbert: Yes, Mr. Eckhardt.

Mr. Eckhardt: I thought you'd like to know that your young man is here.

Father Gilbert: My young man?

Mr. Eckhardt: Aye, the one you dreamed about. He's sitting in the back of the church. I think he's trying to decide whether or not to come and see you.

Father Gilbert: Oh, then perhaps I'd better help him along with his decision. Hello, Terry. I understand my father came to see you this morning.

Terry Bowman: Yes, he did.

Father Gilbert: What about?

Terry Bowman: You, of course.

Father Gilbert: What did he say?

Terry Bowman: He told me that if I come near you again, he'll take legal action against me. So I don't suppose we should be talking now, should we?

Father Gilbert: I want to know what you said. What did you tell him?

Terry Bowman: Why are you so worried about it?

Father Gilbert: Because I want to know, that's all. You started all this trouble, so I think I have the right.

Terry Bowman: What trouble did I start?

Father Gilbert: Because of you, my father is watching me again, as if I've done something wrong. He's suspicious.

Terry Bowman: He told me he's very proud of you.

Father Gilbert: Of course he is. I've done everything he wanted me to do. But now he's watching me and it's your fault.

Father Gilbert: Why are you so anxious, Terry? What is really going on with you?

Terry Bowman: It's all so complicated. You have no idea.

Father Gilbert: Well, then tell me.

Terry Bowman: I can't. You don't know what's involved. I'd be giving up everything.

Father Gilbert: Confession is like that, Terry. You give up so you can take on something greater, God's grace and forgiveness. Now look, if you have done something wrong, you really ought to tell me.

Terry Bowman: No, I don't believe that. There's another way. There has to be.

Father Gilbert: Like what? What are you going to do?

Terry Bowman: Something. Something to fix it once and for all.

Father Gilbert: Don't leave, Terry.

Terry Bowman: Let go of my arm!

Father Gilbert: I have a feeling you're going to make a terrible mistake. You're going to do something you'll regret.

Terry Bowman: It's none of your business.

Father Gilbert: Well, then why did you come to me?

Terry Bowman: To find out about my father. Terry! Terry!

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Yes? I don't believe it.

Father Gilbert: I need to talk to you about Terry.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: You won't give up, will you?

Father Gilbert: Terry came to see me at the church not 20 minutes ago.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Terry came to see you?

Father Gilbert: He was distressed about something. Do you know where he is now?

Mrs. Bowman: He's out running errands.

Father Gilbert: Is there any way to reach him? To make sure he's all right?

Mrs. Bowman: He has the mobile phone.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: No, I have it. What's this all about, Gilbert? I'm tired of your speculations and overreaction.

Father Gilbert: Trust me, I wouldn't have come unless I thought it was urgent. Your son was upset.

Mrs. Bowman: But why?

Father Gilbert: Dr. Bowman, you mentioned this morning about Terry's change of behavior over the past year. Exactly how has he changed?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: How? I don't know. A lot of different ways. For starters, he had gone from being a fairly mediocre student to an excellent one.

Father Gilbert: And how did he do that?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: By working hard and he's been hanging around with a better class of friends.

Mrs. Bowman: Don't forget that Sharon girl.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Oh, yes. Sharon. Oh, maybe that's him.

Father Gilbert: Who is Sharon?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: She was his girlfriend, but we persuaded him to put a stop to it. She wasn't right for him, if you know what I mean. We were glad he had the sense to see that.

Father Gilbert: When did they break up?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Two or three months ago, I think. I'm sure it's not relevant. In fact, I'm sure you're creating a fuss over nothing at all. Nigel?

Mrs. Bowman: Was that Terry?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: No, it was Mr. Fellows at the bank. He phoned to say that Terry had come in and withdrawn a rather large sum of money from his account. Normally he wouldn't have rung us, but he said Terry seemed unlike himself, very nervous and upset.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: Oh, this is ridiculous! What's the boy playing at?

Father Gilbert: What was Terry's ex-girlfriend's full name?

Mrs. Bowman: Sharon McGrath. She's at the university in South Haven. I think she works on Saturdays at the bookshop there.

Dr. Nigel Bowman: How on earth do you know that?

Mrs. Bowman: By paying attention, dear.

Father Gilbert: I understand you're a hunter, Dr. Bowman. Does that mean you have guns in the house?

Dr. Nigel Bowman: I do. Why?

Father Gilbert: Will you check to make sure none of your guns are missing, please?

Mrs. Bowman: Oh! You don't think that Terry would...

Father Gilbert: I don't know, Mrs. Bowman, but we have to consider every possibility.

Host: Whatever you're facing, hope is within reach. At Focus on the Family, our caring Christian counselors will listen, pray with you, and provide helpful resources. Call now to receive your free confidential consult at 1-800-A-FAMILY.

Host: Focus on the Family Radio Theatre is made possible through the generous donations of listeners like you. For more information, visit radiotheatre.org or contact Focus on the Family at 1-800-A-FAMILY.

Father Gilbert: Well?

Mrs. Mayhew: Does she still work at the bookshop? She does, but she's off sick today. I managed to get her address from one of the girls she works with, a friend, it turns out. She lives in a block of flats on the edge of the campus.

Father Gilbert: So she's away sick. Nothing serious, I hope.

Mrs. Mayhew: According to her friend, Sharon's been sick quite a lot lately. Heartsick, the poor dear.

Father Gilbert: The girl said that?

Mrs. Mayhew: Yes, Sharon has been completely miserable in the three months since Terry broke up with her. She's let herself go, her studies, her work, her appearance. She rarely goes out or visits with her friends. She must have loved him a great deal.

Father Gilbert: Loved? Or does she still love him?

Mrs. Mayhew: Still does, her friend said. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than to find Terry at Sharon's flat.

Father Gilbert: Oh?

Mrs. Mayhew: I relish the thought that Terry disobeyed his father about something. From what you said, he has the poor boy under his thumb. It wouldn't surprise me if this whole business was simply Terry hatching a plot against him.

Father Gilbert: A plot against his father? As in murder?

Mrs. Mayhew: Who knows what a young man will do if he's driven too far? Or maybe Terry's going to use the money to hire someone to do it.

Father Gilbert: But if he's out to murder his father or to hire someone to do it, he's being very awkward.

Mrs. Mayhew: I didn't say he'd be very clever about it. Please, come in.

Sharon McGrath: Thank you. I'm sorry the room's in such a mess, but I've been ill.

Father Gilbert: Oh, no, no, we're sorry to bother you. Is there anything I can do to help? Do you need medicine?

Sharon McGrath: No, it's only a flu bug. I've never been visited by a priest before. Is something wrong?

Father Gilbert: We're looking for Terry Bowman.

Sharon McGrath: Terry? Why? Has something happened?

Father Gilbert: No, but we need to find him as soon as we can. Have you seen him?

Sharon McGrath: Not for a couple of months. Why have you come to me?

Father Gilbert: Dr. and Mrs. Bowman mentioned you.

Sharon McGrath: Did they? Well, that's a surprise. I assume once they wiped me off the bottom of their shoes, they'd forget all about me, particularly the doctor.

Father Gilbert: Was Dr. Bowman responsible for your breakup?

Sharon McGrath: Yes, Terry always did what his father wanted. Always.

Sharon McGrath: He tried to rebel a year ago, that's when we started going out, but he eventually caved in. The closer he got to his exams, the more he panicked.

Father Gilbert: Panicked? But Dr. Bowman said Terry did well in his exams.

Sharon McGrath: He did. Only because of Ian Price.

Father Gilbert: Who is Ian Price?

Sharon McGrath: He's the tutor. One of those weird geniuses. I didn't like him much.

Father Gilbert: Do you know where he lives?

Sharon McGrath: Last I heard, he was over in the Lansing building. It's the nice block of dormitories.

Father Gilbert: Well, thank you, Sharon. You've been a big help. And I do hope you feel better soon. Here's my card. If I can ever be of any help... Well, I do hope you get over your flu.

Sharon McGrath: Thank you. And if you see Terry, tell him... tell him I said hello.

Father Gilbert: We will. Yes.

Mrs. Mayhew: The poor girl. She was looking a bit green, wasn't she?

Father Gilbert: I think her friend at the bookshop was right. Sharon still loves Terry.

Mrs. Mayhew: What makes you think so?

Father Gilbert: Well, the framed photo of him on the bookshelf for a start, and the unfinished letter to him on her desk.

Mrs. Mayhew: Really, Father Gilbert? I had no idea you were such a snoop.

Father Gilbert: I simply saw what was there in front of me. Does the name Regents House mean anything to you?

Mrs. Mayhew: No, why?

Father Gilbert: Oh, something I saw on her desk. Never mind, I'll check it later.

Mrs. Mayhew: What do we do now?

Father Gilbert: Let's find Ian Price, shall we? I don't know where Terry is and frankly, I don't care.

Ian Price: I thought you were friends.

Father Gilbert: Terry doesn't have friends. He has people that he uses. Once he gets what he wants from them, then he dumps them. Something he inherited from his father, I'm sure.

Father Gilbert: How did he use you?

Ian Price: To get into Oxford, what else? I spent hours and hours with him, pouring my brain cells into his. And once he got the exam results, boom, he was gone.

Father Gilbert: So you haven't seen him in a while?

Ian Price: Weeks.

Father Gilbert: You weren't with him in Stonebridge a few days ago? Didn't the two of you meet at St. Marks Church, my church?

Ian Price: Where are you getting your information? I don't do churches or places like Stonebridge.

Father Gilbert: Are you sure? Our handyman saw Terry with someone who looked a lot like you.

Ian Price: Didn't I just say I wasn't there? Are you a priest or a policeman?

Father Gilbert: I'm only asking if...

Ian Price: If you're not the police, then I've got things to do, all right? So just back off, man. Back off.

Father Gilbert: What did you just say?

Ian Price: I said to back off. Now, if you don't mind...

Father Gilbert: No, not at all. Thanks for your help.

Mrs. Mayhew: Yes, Father. Goodbye, Mr. Price.

Ian Price: Yeah, right. It's been a little slice of heaven.

Mrs. Mayhew: What a charming young man. Every mother's dream. The thug.

Father Gilbert: There he goes now.

Mrs. Mayhew: Where?

Father Gilbert: Over there, getting into that car. Let's follow him.

Mrs. Mayhew: Follow him? You mean like they do in the films?

Father Gilbert: Yes, and please hurry.

Mrs. Mayhew: Right, but why?

Father Gilbert: It's something he just said. I think it's a clue.

Mrs. Mayhew: Is he going to meet Terry? Oh, I was right. Terry is going to pay Ian to bump off his father. It all fits together. Ian looks like the type who'd do it.

Father Gilbert: You're going to lose him, Mrs. Mayhew. Can we go just a little bit faster?

Mrs. Mayhew: Fasten your seatbelt, Father! I don't like the look of this place. What do you suppose it is?

Father Gilbert: It looks like an old factory of some sort or... From the look of the tracks, it may have been a railway shipping yard.

Mrs. Mayhew: I wouldn't want to be here after dark. Aren't you going to follow Ian inside?

Father Gilbert: I suppose I should.

Mrs. Mayhew: Now wait. Someone's coming. It's Terry.

Mrs. Mayhew: Oh, so you were right.

Father Gilbert: Well, I had hoped...

Mrs. Mayhew: What do you think he's got in that bag? The money?

Father Gilbert: Perhaps. His father's gun?

Mrs. Mayhew: Oh! Should we call the police?

Father Gilbert: Yes, yes, we should. We passed a corner shop on the way. You go back and phone from there.

Mrs. Mayhew: Me? Well, what are you going to do?

Father Gilbert: I don't know, sneak inside, I suppose. Something doesn't make sense, though. Why would Terry meet Ian here of all places?

Mrs. Mayhew: Because it's secluded, I suppose. No one can hear what they're saying to each other.

Father Gilbert: Yeah, or no one can hear other things.

Mrs. Mayhew: What if your theory is wrong, Mrs. Mayhew? What if the victim isn't going to be Dr. Bowman?

Mrs. Mayhew: Then who will it be?

Father Gilbert: You phone the police. I'm going inside.

Mrs. Mayhew: Be careful, Father.

Terry Bowman: More? You want more money? But I don't have any more. I gave you all I had for those exam answers.

Ian Price: Don't give me that. You're loaded.

Terry Bowman: My father controls all the money. I was lucky to get this much.

Ian Price: It's not enough. I have bills to pay too, you know.

Terry Bowman: I don't have any more.

Ian Price: Then the deal's off. I hope your father is more forgiving than you've said. Just think how he'll react when he finds out the truth.

Terry Bowman: You can't tell my father.

Ian Price: Oh, and how are you going to stop me?

Terry Bowman: I tried to reason with you.

Ian Price: What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?

Terry Bowman: Give me the papers. I want all the proof you have.

Ian Price: Take it easy, man. Don't do anything crazy.

Terry Bowman: Now! I want everything.

Ian Price: I don't believe this. You'd shoot me over a couple of thousand quid?

Terry Bowman: Well now, let me think that through. I can let you talk to my father and lose everything, or I can shoot you here and no one will know. What should I do? I don't need your help to answer that question, Ian.

Father Gilbert: Pardon me, Bowman, but it's not as easy as that.

Terry Bowman: What are you doing here?

Ian Price: Oh, man, am I glad to see you. Tell this idiot to put the gun away.

Terry Bowman: This is none of your business. Go away.

Father Gilbert: It's too late. If you kill Ian now, then you're going to have to kill me too, because I'm a witness.

Terry Bowman: Why can't you just leave me alone?

Father Gilbert: Because I'm worried about you and with good cause, it turns out. Now put the gun down. Killing Ian won't solve anything.

Ian Price: Yeah, listen to him.

Terry Bowman: Don't you see? I'll lose everything! When my father finds out...

Father Gilbert: Finds out what? That Ian got you the exam answers in advance? Do you really think your father will find that unforgivable?

Terry Bowman: You don't know my father. He hasn't forgiven me for smaller things than that. This is all your fault!

Ian Price: Calm down, man. You knew how I felt. You saw how panicked I was, and what did you do? Hit me for money, try to blackmail me.

Terry Bowman: Fine! Let's forget the whole thing.

Father Gilbert: Oh, that's easy for you to say now, after torturing me for weeks and weeks, waiting for that moment when you blabbed everything to my father. Now you want to forget it? Well, I can't forget it. My father will hate me for this. I might as well spend the rest of my life in jail.

Father Gilbert: Why? Why, Terry? Ian isn't worth that, is he? And what about Sharon?

Terry Bowman: Sharon? What do you know about her?

Father Gilbert: I know that she's pregnant.

Terry Bowman: Pregnant?

Father Gilbert: Nearly three months, if my guess is right. She's suffering from morning sickness. I saw her only a little while ago.

Terry Bowman: My Sharon?

Father Gilbert: Your Sharon, who still loves you, Terry. The baby is yours.

Ian Price: Well, there's no point in shooting me. You've got bigger problems than cheating on your exams.

Father Gilbert: You're not helping your situation, Ian. Pregnant. Pregnant. Ian, go.

Ian Price: Count on it.

Father Gilbert: Terry.

Terry Bowman: No, don't say anything. I know what you think.

Father Gilbert: We'll talk to your father. We'll help him understand. His love for you is greater than any mistakes you've made.

Terry Bowman: He won't.

Father Gilbert: Oh, come on, don't underestimate him the way he underestimated you. We're going to work it out together.

Terry Bowman: We?

Father Gilbert: Yes, we. I'm going to take you home.

Bill Drake: And they lived happily ever after.

Father Gilbert: Well, we have no guarantees of that, but they're working on it.

Bill Drake: I'm sure Dr. Bowman had a few choice words.

Father Gilbert: Oh, Dr. Bowman will always have a few choice words. But I believe he was truly startled to realize how hard he'd driven his son or to what extremes his son was willing to go to to try to keep his love. Perhaps he felt even a twinge of remorse.

Bill Drake: How did you know the girlfriend was pregnant?

Father Gilbert: Well, she'd been ill for the past three months, which is a giveaway. And the rest of the clues were there in her room.

Bill Drake: So, all's well that ends well.

Father Gilbert: Yep.

Bill Drake: You chased after your dream and saved Ian's life.

Father Gilbert: Oh, no, it wasn't Ian's life that was saved.

Bill Drake: Wasn't it?

Father Gilbert: No, you were right all along, Bill. Terry wasn't going to kill Ian. He only wanted to give him the money and then scare him off.

Bill Drake: You astound me. How do you know that?

Father Gilbert: The gun wasn't loaded.

Bill Drake: Ah, but if Ian's life wasn't saved, whose was?

Father Gilbert: The one who hadn't been born. Sharon was considering ending her pregnancy. I saw the appointment card on her desk for Regents House. It's a chain of clinics. But now...

Bill Drake: I can imagine how the family reacted, the wealthy son and heir having a child by someone of the lower classes. Oh, scandalous.

Father Gilbert: Well, we'll be dealing with that as well, right after their wedding.

Bill Drake: You've got your work cut out for you.

Father Gilbert: Well, God's grace and forgiveness will be needed on all sides in the days and months to come.

Bill Drake: There is one final thing that hasn't been solved: the dream itself. Now, even if you had seen Terry's photo somehow and had heard bits of Terry's conversation with Ian in the church, how could you possibly dream about Terry's confession to a murder he hadn't committed?

Father Gilbert: Well, that part of the mystery may well remain a mystery.

Bill Drake: Yes. Gilbert?

Father Gilbert: Yes?

Bill Drake: If you have any dreams about me, keep them to yourself, will you?

Father Gilbert: What makes you so sure I haven't dreamt about you already?

Bill Drake: What?

Host: Father Gilbert, A Soul in Torment, was written and directed by Paul McCusker. Sound was recorded and designed by Mark Drury and Dave Arnold. Music was composed by John Campbell. Our cast included Adrian Plass as Father Gilbert, Bernard Cribbins as Drake, and June Whitfield as Mrs. Mayhew, plus the voice talents of Richard Briers, Kate Biers, Terence Connelly, Fiona Henley, Matthew Lawrence, Nancy Nevinson, Gordon Reed, and Philip Sherlock. And I'm Dave Arnold, your producer and host for Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. Thank you for listening.