ep088 Ceiling Zero: Ranger Bill

“ep088 Ceiling Zero” is an episode of Ranger Bill, the old-time radio show. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Ranger Bill and his companions Henry Scott, Stumpy and Gray Wolf search the mountains after a jet crashes near their forest, and find test pilot Gary Metzger alive but badly hurt. Gary is taken to the base hospital, where he suffers periods of irrational fear and must be held in restraints. His brother Paul asks Bill to help him. Bill takes Gary on walks and tries to bring him back to flying, while the base staff discuss Gary's future in the service. The transcript ends partway through this effort, with the central question of whether Gary will fly again still open.

A mountain forest near an Air Force base, with a base hospital and officers' club

Characters: Ranger Bill, Henry Scott, Stumpy, Gray Wolf, Gary Metzger, Paul Metzger, Colonel Garrett, Dr. Fitzgerald

Listen for: Bill's conversation with Gary about his fear of death and his faith

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.