Showcase #69

POOR RICHARD'S MANIAK!

At a New York City hotel, a police officer sees a jumper on a high ledge. The officer quickly runs inside and heads to a room near where the jumper stands. Inside, the officer finds the room's occupant, Slim Pipdyke, unaware of the situation outside. Together, they lean out the window in an attempt to stop the man. To their surprise, they find Flip, who isn't planning on jumping but is merely taking a walk. Flabbergasted, they give up trying to talk Flip inside. Unexpectedly, Flip jumps off the ledge and bounces off a trampoline below held out by a group of firemen. He then quickly scrambles back up the side of the building. Moments later, he climbs in a window to find the rest of the Maniaks preparing to leave for their concert.  Later, the band is set to play at Shea Stadium but are surprised to find it nearly empty. It turns out that one man has bought out the whole show for himself and a couple friends. After the performance, Jangle realizes he recognizes the men in the audience. He introduces his band-mates to his former schoolmates, strongman Thomas Sampson and brainiac Harrison H. Harrison. Silver is uninterested until Jangle introduces Richard Pipdyke XIV, the son of the world's richest man. The old pals take the Maniaks out for a night on the town. Following a staggering display of wealth, the band is dropped back at their hotel for the night.  The next morning, the quartet is again picked up by Pipdyke who flies them to his mansion for a big party. By the conclusion of the party, Silver and Richard Pipdyke have become engaged. The remaining Maniaks are at first very pleased by the engagement because now the stingy Silver won't be in charge of the band's finances. They quickly decide that a marriage based on wealth will lead to Silver being unhappy and vow to break up the couple. They meet with an actress and pay her to disrupt the wedding by claiming Pipdyke had already married and deserted her.  The wedding progresses but the moment the Maniaks expected a disruption passes without incident. The vows are read until Silver shouts, "No!" It turns out, she could take Pipdyke for richer but couldn't live with poorer. Just then, the actress the boys hired arrives. She skipped the wedding to bet on a horse called Dickie the Pip and wants to give them their cut of the winnings. It isn't a sad day for Richard Pipdyke either as it turns out he decides he can't forsake all other women for Silver and surrounds himself with beautiful women.