ANNOUNCER. Malt-O-Cod, the only malt food drink flavored with real cod-liver oil, presents…

(Music: “Night Ride” by Sibelius.)

The Adventures of Solo Rider and his faithful Indian sidekick, Dharmavarapu! Galloping on his fiery white horse at the speed of sound, Solo Rider opposes wickedness wherever it threatens the innocent!

(Music: In full, then fade.)

(Sound: Shattering glass.)

DHARMAVARAPU. I say, old bean, it looks like a spot of bother over at that saloon.

SOLO RIDER. You mean the Lazy I down yonder?

DHARMAVARAPU. Well, that’s a jolly good first guess, but I meant this one over here, where the sheriff’s deputy just flew through the window.

SOLO RIDER. Oh.

DHARMAVARAPU. What do you say we act like good decent citizens and all that sort of rot and see if there’s anything we can do?

SOLO RIDER. Yes. Yes, for I am the Solo Rider, and I have sworn a solemn oath to right wrongs wherever wrongs are…um…wrong.

DHARMAVARAPU. Of course you have, old chap. My point exactly. Hitch your horse here—I’ll just tie up Bartholomew like this, and we’ll go inside.

(Sound: Swinging doors; ragtime piano.)

SOLO RIDER. Which one of you is the lawbreaker oppressing the innocent citizens of this bedraggled Western village?

DHARMAVARAPU. My money’s on the largish fellow with the black hat and the big revolver.

LAWBREAKER. Wall, I reckon yer Injun pal’s got it right, stranger. Waldo Lawbreaker’s the name, and I came here to get some good oppressin’ done afore the Christmas shoppin’ season.

SOLO RIDER. Desist at once, for I am the Solo Rider, and this is my faithful Indian companion Dharmavarapu, who never leaves my side, and we have sworn to oppose lawbreakers whenever they oppress the innocent!

LAWBEAKER. So how can you be a Solo Rider if’n you always go around with a faithful Injun companion?

SOLO RIDER. Beg pardon…?

LAWBREAKER. I mean, there’s two of you all the time, right? So you ain’t never ridin’ solo, right?

SOLO RIDER. I don’t get you.

DHARMAVARAPU. Please don’t puzzle him with numbers, there’s a good fellow. It interferes with his digestion, and then I’m the one who has to deal with the consequences.

LAWBREAKER. Wall, what’s he doin’ here with that dang fool mask on, anyway? What’s it made of? Construction paper?

SOLO RIDER. My regular mask is in the laundry. Now desist from your depredations, oppressor, or prepare to suffer the consequences.

LAWBREAKER. Mighty fancy gun you got there, stranger. But I got one fancier.

SOLO RIDER. Then you leave me no choice.

LAWBREAKER. Well, you done asked for it.

(Sound: Gunfire, automatic weapons, cannons, rockets, taxi horns, etc. Piano stops.)

SOLO RIDER. Your barrage was ineffectual, Lawbreaker. You missed me.

LAWBREAKER. You didn’t do no better, ya crazy masked coot. You couldn’t hit the side of a barn with that thing. Look at all the junk you shot up.

SOLO RIDER. Mere collateral damage in the fight against injustice.

LAWBREAKER. Wall, I ain’t payin’ fer that throw pillow. Say, is that a silver bullet?

SOLO RIDER. Yes, a silver bullet, the signature of Solo Rider wherever lawbreakers oppress the innocent.

DHARMAVARAPU. It’s really just chrome-plated. —(To Solo Rider.) Well, honestly, old top, one can’t just lie to the fellow.

MRS. LAWBREAKER (entering). Waldo! Waldo, is that you playin’ with guns again?

LAWBREAKER. Well, gee, maw, I…

MRS. LAWBREAKER. I cain’t leave you alone fer three minutes while I buy me a new bonnet fer Cyber Monday. Look how you shot up this saloon. Didn’t I tell you not to be so careless?

LAWBREAKER. Aw, maw, it wasn’t just me that…

MRS. LAWBREAKER. I don’t want none o’ your lip. You’re comin’ back to Buchanan Station with me right this instant.

LAWBREAKER (receding). Ow! Maw, that hurts my ear!

DHARMAVARAPU. Well, there’s not much more for us to do here, is there? Leave a dime on the bar for the throw pillow, and we’ll get going.

(Sound: Swinging doors.)

SOLO RIDER. And so injustice and oppression are defeated once again.

DHARMAVARAPU. Yes, of course. Good show, old chap, but I think you’re supposed to get on the horse the other way.

SOLO RIDER. Oh.

(Sound: Galloping hooves approaching.)

DHARMAVARAPU. I say, old bean, it looks like a posse headed this way.

SOLO RIDER. Where? I see no kitty cat.

DHARMAVARAPU. No, posse, from the infinitive of possum, meaning…

(Sound: Hooves come to a stop.)

SHERIFF. Say, have you fellows seen a big fellow, goes by the name of Waldo, travels with a lady he says is his mother? He’s wanted for throwing deputies through windows in five states and half a territory.

DHARMAVARAPU. Certainly, my good man. I believe you’ll find the lad and his aged companion meandering along the highway in the direction of Buchanan Station.

SHERIFF. Sorry, stranger, I don’t speak Apache.

DHARMAVARAPU. Oh, blimey. Um, “Ugh, him go thataway”?

SHERIFF. Oh! Thankee, pardner. Much obliged. Say, for an Injun, you’re mighty white. Come on, boys! Head him off at the pass! If we can find a pass.

(Sound: Galloping hooves.)

DHARMAVARAPU. And now, old bean, what would you say to a well-deserved rest in Carson City?

SOLO RIDER. You mean the place with the malt shop? I want a triple chocolate malted with quadruple whipped cream. Hi-ho, Chromeplate! Away! …I said hi-ho. Hi-ho? Come on! Stupid horse.

DHARMAVARAPU. Not like that, old sport. You have to give him a little poke like this.

(Sound: Whinny, galloping hooves receding.)

SOLO RIDER (receding into distance). Jeez Louise! Slow down, Chromeplate! Chromeplate! For the love of Mike, slow down! I’ll give you an apple!

DHARMAVARAPU. And for this I went to Cambridge. Well, come along, Bartholomew, my lad. Let’s trot. We’ll catch up with him in Carson City.

(Music: “Night Ride,” in and under for…)

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(Music: In full, then out.)