The Weird Circle (06) 1943 A Terribly Strange Bed

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – The Weird Circle (06) 1943 A Terribly Strange Bed

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Introduction

Harold's Old Time Radio transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio with its immersive storytelling and classic radio drama elements. In the episode titled "The Weird Circle (06) 1943 A Terribly Strange Bed," listeners are plunged into a suspenseful murder mystery set against the backdrop of 1940s Paris. This episode masterfully blends intrigue, character development, and atmospheric tension, capturing the essence of pre-television family radio entertainment.

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Characters

• Jack Westcott: An American author researching historic murder cases.
• Burke Manning: Jack's friend, a dedicated and intuitive detective.
• Inspector Duval: Head of the Paris police force, involved in the investigation.
• Fat Man (Monte Lariard): A sinister figure connected to a series of mysterious murders.
• Cecilia: A charming woman working at the tavern, entangled in the unfolding mystery.

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Plot Summary

Setting the Scene (00:06 - 01:28)

The episode opens with a haunting narrative introduction, setting the tone for the eerie events to unfold:

"Phantoms of a world gone by Speak again. The immortal tale A Terribly Strange Bed." [00:06]

We meet Jack Westcott, an American author engrossed in writing a manuscript on historic murder cases. His friend, Burke Manning, accompanies him to Paris for research.

Discovery of the Corpse (01:28 - 04:20)

While walking along the Seine River, Jack and Burke encounter Inspector Duval and a disturbing scene:

"A corpse, Monsieur Westcott. A corpse that's been squashed thin as a piece of paper." [02:31]

The grotesque appearance of the mutilated body raises immediate concerns. The Inspector reveals an alarming trend of similar murders, hinting at a serial killer's modus operandi.

Introduction of the Fat Man (04:20 - 07:00)

The sinister Fat Man emerges as a key suspect:

"Why do I enjoy seeing a mutilated body dragged out of the river?" [15:46]

His philosophical yet terrifying explanation of finding beauty in death deepens the mystery and raises the stakes for Jack and Burke.

The Tavern Encounter (07:00 - 14:56)

Determined to uncover the truth, Burke insists on following the Fat Man to a local gambling house, La Belle Tavern, despite Jack's reservations:

"I want to break the bank." [11:09]

Inside, the tension escalates as Burke becomes entangled in the tavern's dealings, and the Fat Man's influence becomes more palpable. The atmosphere is thick with suspense as the radio drama builds towards the climax.

Climactic Confrontation (14:56 - 24:05)

Burke experiences a harrowing ordeal when he finds himself trapped in a bizarre and threatening bed contraption orchestrated by the Fat Man:

"The canopy is being lowered on me. That's what it is, the canopy. It can't move." [22:14]

The struggle intensifies with dramatic dialogue:

"If the bed didn't work the first time, I've ways and means of making it work the second." [23:34]

Jack and Inspector Duval race against time to rescue Burke, culminating in a suspense-filled rescue that leaves the characters shaken but victorious.

Resolution and Aftermath (24:05 - 25:22)

In the aftermath, the characters reflect on the night's events. Inspector Duval hints at ongoing dangers, and Cecilia's fate remains uncertain:

"They might not harm at all. But just in case, I thought it might be a wise idea for you to go down there." [18:56]

Jack and Burke narrowly escape the perilous situation, but the lingering threat of the Fat Man suggests that the mystery is far from over.

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Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, poignant and chilling quotes enhance the narrative's depth:

• Narrator:

  "Stories Strange and weird. Bell keeper, hold the bell so all may know we are gathered again in the weird circle." [00:06]

• Jack Westcott:

  "I've got to finish that manuscript tonight." [05:02]

• Fat Man:

  "There's beauty in death." [15:56]

• Burke Manning:

  "I want to satisfy a hunch." [04:20]

• Inspector Duval:

  "A desperate man finds desperate ways to raise money." [06:07]

• Cecilia:

  "Am I? Why?" [07:36]

These quotes not only advance the plot but also provide insights into the characters' motivations and the story's underlying themes.

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Conclusion

A Terribly Strange Bed is a quintessential episode that encapsulates the allure of old-time radio dramas. Through compelling storytelling, rich character interactions, and masterful use of sound, Harold's Old Time Radio delivers a captivating experience. Listeners are left on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Weird Circle series. This episode stands as a testament to the enduring charm and suspense of classic radio mysteries, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts of the genre.

Transcript

[Narrator]

The Weird Circle in this cave by the restless sea we are met to call from out the past Stories Strange and weird. Bell keeper, hold the bell so all may know we are gathered again in the weird circle out of the past Phantoms of a world gone by Speak again. The immortal tale A Terribly Strange Bed.

[Jack Westcott]

Jack Westcott was the best friend I ever had. He was the gayest of people. That was until we left America. I was writing a book about historic murder cases and had come to Paris to do some research work. Jack was fascinated with my work. Strangely fascinated, almost horribly so. He enjoyed finding twisted minds and probing them. His hunger for crime was bound to end in tragedy. On the last evening of our visit in Paris, we were walking on the left bank of the Seine river when Jack noticed a crowd gathered about our old friend, the head of the Paris police force, Inspector Duval. I was in a hurry to return to the hotel to finish writing my murder manuscript. The deadline was in the morning, but Jack insisted on stopping.

[Burke Manning]

What's the excitement all about, Devine?

[Narrator]

Well, hello, Mr. Westcott. Still looking for ancient murders, Mr. Manning?

[Jack Westcott]

Not tonight, Duval, ancient or otherwise.

[Narrator]

Stick around, Monsieur Manning. I'll show you a murder the likes of which you've never seen before. Okay, boys, drag it out of the river.

[Burke Manning]

What is it, Inspector?

[Narrator]

A corpse, Monsieur Westcott. A corpse that's been squashed thin as a piece of paper.

[Burke Manning]

Let's see it.

[Jack Westcott]

What do you mean, thin as a piece of paper?

[Narrator]

Bring it over here, boys. Right under the gas light.

[Jack Westcott]

Horrible looking thing, isn't it?

[Burke Manning]

Horrible and fascinating. It looks like it got squeezed in a giant press.

[Narrator]

We've had an epidemic of these corpses lately.

[Jack Westcott]

Any idea who's doing it?

[Narrator]

Not even a vague notion, mister. Hey. Hey, you. You the fat man.

[Fat Man]

You mean me, Inspector?

[Narrator]

Yes, I mean you, fat man. How come you're always around when we pull a corpse out of the river?

[Fat Man]

Why, I. I enjoy murder.

[Burke Manning]

You enjoy it? You enjoy murder?

[Fat Man]

It appeals to my sense of the artistic.

[Narrator]

Oh, it does?

[Fat Man]

Well, there's something fascinating about these bodies. Something for a connoisseur alone to appreciate the symmetry of the remains, the beautifully flawless flatness of the corpse, the hollow in the stomach lying in this puddle of gaslight. This mass of flesh and bones. It makes a nice picture. I should enjoy painting this if I could paint.

[Burke Manning]

I know what you mean, fat man. But wouldn't you prefer probing the mind of a man who conceived this crime?

[Fat Man]

A man's mind is his secret self. Well, enjoy the ghastly spectacle, my friend. Enjoy it. Good evening, gentlemen.

[Narrator]

All Right, men, take the body down to the morgue and try and find out who it is.

[Burke Manning]

Come on, Burke. I'd like to follow that fat man.

[Jack Westcott]

In heaven's name, why? He's nothing but a psychopathic case.

[Burke Manning]

I want to satisfy a hunch.

[Jack Westcott]

Well, if you're such a good detective, why don't you join Scotland Yard?

[Burke Manning]

Why, I might, Burke. I might at that. Where the devil is that gross piece of flesh disappeared to now? He was right in front of us until we turned this corner.

[Jack Westcott]

We've lost him, Jack, and I don't wonder. We've passed through every side street in the whole city. If you ask me, he knows he was being followed.

[Burke Manning]

Good. If he knows, he'll show his hand sooner. Now, the only place he could have gone around here is into the back door of this house. I wonder what house this is.

[Jack Westcott]

It's a gloomy dump. Let's go back to the hotel, Jack. I've got to finish that manuscript tonight.

[Burke Manning]

Looks like a public bar to me. The La Belle Tavern. Are you coming with me, Burke, or are you going home?

[Jack Westcott]

I'm with you, old boy. I brought you to Paris, and, by heaven, I'm going to return you to America.

[Burke Manning]

This must be the doorbell. Here goes. And, Burke, no matter what I do tonight, don't worry.

[Narrator]

Come in, gentlemen. Come.

[Cecilia]

You were perfectly right, fat man. Those two Americans did follow you. They're sitting at the bar. Inside.

[Fat Man]

The Americans value their lives so slightly. Amazing, isn't it, Cecilia?

[Cecilia]

Their lives. Our lives. They might be cops. I don't want to get my neck in a noose.

[Fat Man]

To be quite candid, I am not interested in your neck. You are so impatient. And impatience is an evil ascribed to the very young. It might be a pity if you are not allowed time to cure yourself of that evil.

[Cecilia]

Don't threaten me of that.

[Inspector Duval]

Pig.

[Fat Man]

You pig. I'd hope to slap some sense into that lovely but empty head. Obviously, my stupid pigeon, those two Americans are wealthy. They would enjoy our roulette table if you would show them to it. Remember, I'll talk to the croupier and he will take care of the wheel of fate. If you don't do your part well, you face a lifetime in jail.

[Cecilia]

What happens if they get wise? Room 16.

[Fat Man]

But of course.

[Cecilia]

Let me go.

[Fat Man]

I knew you'd understand.

[Cecilia]

Yeah, I understand. There's something so gay about Americans, I always say. I hope you boys don't mind if I stick around.

[Jack Westcott]

Well, Miss.

[Burke Manning]

Not at all, Miss. Not at all.

[Cecilia]

You can call me Cecilia. How about another drink?

[Burke Manning]

That's fine.

[Cecilia]

Three more of the same, bartender.

[Burke Manning]

What do you do for a living, Cecilia?

[Cecilia]

Oh, I. I model in a dress shop.

[Burke Manning]

I don't believe you, Cecilia.

[Jack Westcott]

Jack, stop ribbing the girl. She's a good kid.

[Burke Manning]

I'm on the level. I'm interested in.

[Narrator]

Here's the drinks.

[Burke Manning]

Thanks.

[Cecilia]

Why do I interest you?

[Burke Manning]

Well, because you're fairly easy to figure out.

[Cecilia]

Am I? Why?

[Burke Manning]

You really want me to tell you?

[Cecilia]

Sure I do. Well, here's mud in your eye.

[Jack Westcott]

Potent stuff, Jack. Potent stuff. Tastes like cyanide.

[Burke Manning]

Well, Cecilia, I'd say you're a poor girl who lives in the slums, but you're pretty prettier than anybody in your entire neighborhood. Well, let's see then. You must have met a man.

[Cecilia]

What of it? I'm no saint.

[Burke Manning]

He promised you a lot of doodads and suddenly you found you'd committed your first crime. Let's say murder.

[Jack Westcott]

What'd she do? Set our mother on fire?

[Burke Manning]

Oh, well, for that let's have three more drinks. Bartender, three more. Well, now, let's say it really was murder. The second murder wasn't so hard and the third was easy, wasn't it?

[Cecilia]

I never had nothing to do with the murder.

[Burke Manning]

Well, for the sake of argument, let's say you have what inside of you all the time is this? Wanting to be liked. Wanting to be on the level. But your so called friends, they don't trust you, Cecilia. Someday they'll double cross you.

[Narrator]

Hear the drinks?

[Burke Manning]

Thank you.

[Cecilia]

Nobody will ever double cross me. Well, here's mutton. You're right. Drink up, boys.

[Burke Manning]

Is there anything else to do around here?

[Cecilia]

You seen the gambling rooms?

[Burke Manning]

Gambling rooms? Ah, that's me. Who runs those gambling rooms to see they?

[Cecilia]

I don't know.

[Burke Manning]

One of your friends. A fat man perhaps with a long nose.

[Cecilia]

I don't know the owner. Guys, you're real knight.

[Burke Manning]

Is the Batman in the back room now?

[Cecilia]

Probably. Gamble's here a lot. Do you. Do you really want to play?

[Burke Manning]

Sure.

[Jack Westcott]

Well, come on, Jack, we'll see who's right. My books are your instincts.

[Narrator]

Number 21 wins.

[Jack Westcott]

Jack, the fat man's in the corner of the room.

[Burke Manning]

Yeah, Sohmberg.

[Jack Westcott]

And he saw you, old boy.

[Burke Manning]

Don't think he didn't.

[Cecilia]

Come on, boys, let's play.

[Burke Manning]

Money, money, money.

[Fat Man]

Place your bets, gentlemen.

[Cecilia]

They'll make some room for us over here. Come on.

[Inspector Duval]

Hello, Cecilia.

[Cecilia]

Hello, Monte Laureate. You playing again? I thought you lost every cent you owned last night.

[Inspector Duval]

A desperate man finds desperate ways to raise money.

[Cecilia]

Even murder, eh?

[Inspector Duval]

We heard about it perhaps and perhaps.

[Cecilia]

Not like you to meet some new friends of mine. Monty, this is Jack Westcott and Burke Manning. Monty Lariard.

[Inspector Duval]

How do you do?

[Narrator]

Money.

[Burke Manning]

My money. Gentlemen, place your bets.

[Inspector Duval]

I bet 30 francs on odds.

[Burke Manning]

How about 100 francs on number 13?

[Cecilia]

Good boy, Jack.

[Narrator]

The play is dead.

[Inspector Duval]

Round and round the little ball goes.

[Narrator]

Where she stops, nobody knows.

[Burke Manning]

Hey, Burke, I feel a little dizzy.

[Jack Westcott]

You had too much to drink, pal. And those rents were strong.

[Narrator]

Number 13 wins.

[Burke Manning]

I won.

[Inspector Duval]

Good for you, American. Lucky for you I won the first time I ever played here. But never again.

[Fat Man]

Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money.

[Jack Westcott]

That was the first time Jack won on that incredible evening. But as the ball spun, his winnings increased. The table seemed to have gone crazy. Jack became gambling drunk. The croupier seemed desperate as that wheel spun round and round, each time increasing Jack's winnings. The room was tense with excitement, and even the little thin loser lawyer had seemed surprised.

[Inspector Duval]

M. You've won 30 times. 30 times, Jack.

[Jack Westcott]

You've won a fortune, man. Stop now, before it's too late.

[Cecilia]

Leave him alone, Burke. Let him play if he wants to.

[Burke Manning]

Sure, let me play if I want to. I want to break the bank.

[Inspector Duval]

Careful, Miss Earth. Let me warn you. Careful, Jack.

[Jack Westcott]

It's almost midnight and I've got a lot of work to do tonight. Please, let's go. And remember, the fat man.

[Burke Manning]

The fat man be hanged.

[Cecilia]

Here, Jack, have another drink.

[Burke Manning]

Thanks.

[Jack Westcott]

Jack, be sensible.

[Burke Manning]

Ah, stop being an old auntie, Burke. I'll see you later at the hotel. Make the book have a bloody ending. I'm in the mood for a good murder tonight.

[Jack Westcott]

Remember, Jack, I warned you. Goodbye.

[Burke Manning]

Money, money, money. Gentlemen, place your bets.

[Cecilia]

I. I told the croupier you wanted to see him. Back here, fat man. But it wasn't the croupier's fault. The American broke the bank.

[Fat Man]

That is for me to decide. Where is the American now?

[Cecilia]

How sad. Buying drinks for the house.

[Fat Man]

Good, good. That ought to keep him busy.

[Narrator]

You.

[Fat Man]

You called for me, monsieur? Yes, yes, I did. I'll need you, too. Cecilia. Shut the door. I don't like to frighten our patrons. I'm sorry about the wheel, monsieur, but.

[Narrator]

It was broken and I. I couldn't control it.

[Fat Man]

That is unfortunate for you. What are you going to do, monsieur? Come here. Don't put your fat hands on me, fat man. Let me. Don't fight the fat man. You can't move, can you, croupier? Because if you move, my arm will break your neck. Call my men. Cecilia. I might need a little aid with the stupid fool.

[Cecilia]

What are you gonna do?

[Fat Man]

Fat man have his brains pressed out of his body in room 16? His mind is no good where it is not.

[Jack Westcott]

Oh, no, monsieur.

[Burke Manning]

Please, monsieur, not room 16. What's that? What was that?

[Inspector Duval]

Monsieur Laureate, we'll probably be luckier if we don't ask questions.

[Burke Manning]

I want another drink.

[Inspector Duval]

Jack, listen to me. Put on your hat and coat and leave this place. You're being watched all the time.

[Burke Manning]

Who's watching me?

[Cecilia]

Hello, Jack.

[Burke Manning]

Oh, have a drink.

[Cecilia]

No, Jack, you've had enough to drink. Leave this place right away.

[Inspector Duval]

She's right, Jack. You must leave. I'll see you home personally. Come on, then.

[Cecilia]

I know you don't. Money, Laureate. I know your tricks. The last man you saw home was found with a dagger in his breast.

[Burke Manning]

How come you're so interested in me, Cecilia?

[Cecilia]

Because you're the first person who ever treated me decent. Oh, please, go home.

[Burke Manning]

Sooner or later, every woman develops a mother complex over me. Now, I don't want to be mothered.

[Fat Man]

Who is trying to mother you, my friend?

[Burke Manning]

Oh, hello, fat man. Cecilius.

[Fat Man]

Ah. She's developed a rather latent maternal instinct, I think. Maternal instinct is out of place tonight. After all, tonight's a night for celebration.

[Burke Manning]

Yeah, the fat man's right. Celebration. Bartender, open a bottle of champagne.

[Fat Man]

Bartender, Champagne. Champagne for Monsieur Westcott. Won't you join us, Cecilia?

[Cecilia]

Yeah, of course I will.

[Narrator]

Here is the champagne, monsieur.

[Fat Man]

Won't you drink with us, Monsieur Lorial?

[Inspector Duval]

No, thank you, fat Man. I don't think so. I never enjoyed toasting to death.

[Fat Man]

Death. Open the bottle, bartender.

[Inspector Duval]

Good night, Jack, and good luck.

[Burke Manning]

Good night. Good night. Good night.

[Fat Man]

Good night.

[Burke Manning]

Good night.

[Cecilia]

Good night. Here's the handkerchief, fat man.

[Fat Man]

Oh, Jack, your money is all tied safely in your handkerchief.

[Burke Manning]

Thank you, Frank. Thank you.

[Cecilia]

Thank you.

[Burke Manning]

Thank you. Well, I put the handkerchief.

[Fat Man]

It would be wisest to tie it to your belt.

[Burke Manning]

I feel dizzy, fat Man.

[Fat Man]

Oh, you need a cup of good hot coffee. That will straighten you right out. Cecilia, go in the kitchen and fix our friend a cup of coffee.

[Cecilia]

But I really.

[Fat Man]

Don't tell me, my little pigeon, that your hearing is failing you.

[Cecilia]

I'll get it right away.

[Burke Manning]

I'm glad we're alone, fat Man. I want a chance to talk to you.

[Fat Man]

Talk away, Jack.

[Burke Manning]

Tell me confidentially, why do you enjoy seeing a mutilated body dragged out of the river?

[Fat Man]

There's beauty in death.

[Burke Manning]

In the act of death, or in the recovery of a body after life.

[Fat Man]

Is lifted in both.

[Burke Manning]

Then do you enjoy Committing a crime, perhaps.

[Fat Man]

Perhaps it would be pleasant to watch a man die slowly, very slowly, in order to see life leave the body. Say that you and I watched a murder by Prussia. What would happen?

[Burke Manning]

I'm interested that man.

[Fat Man]

What would happen? The face is the first part affected. It would turn red and the victim would probably feel hot blood pounding in his brain. Pounding like steel hammers. Then his eyes would feel sore, as if the fluid creating sight were ebbing slowly away.

[Burke Manning]

That would be painful.

[Fat Man]

Painful but glorious. His face would discolor. The pressure on his chest would be so great, he'd try to scream, cry out, but he couldn't. He wouldn't be able to move. Not a limb, not a muscle. He'd be paralyzed. I'd see to that. And in that moment, all the horror that is in man's mind would be indelibly imprinted on the brain until a sudden crushing noise would blot out thought.

[Burke Manning]

And what would that crushing noise be?

[Fat Man]

A pulverizing of the human bone.

[Cecilia]

Here's the coffee, fat man.

[Fat Man]

Ah. Let me see it. Hmm. Tastes all right. Here you are, Jack. This will fix you.

[Burke Manning]

I. No, I don't think I want any. If you'll pardon me, I'm so dizzy. So frightfully dizzy.

[Fat Man]

Oh, of course you are. Here, Jack, drink it. Drink it. My friend. My good, good friend.

[Cecilia]

If you don't want to drink it, Jack, don't.

[Fat Man]

Don't open your mouth, my friend. It will sober you very quickly.

[Burke Manning]

No, I.

[Fat Man]

Open your mouth. There. Now, how do you feel?

[Burke Manning]

I. Sick. I'm sick. It stopped, isn't it? Stopped. Let me get. Oh.

[Fat Man]

Our friend Jack is asleep. Cecilia, call the bartender. I think our friend will spend the night with us in room 16.

[Inspector Duval]

Monsieur Manning. Monsieur Manning. I've been looking all over Paris for you, monsieur.

[Jack Westcott]

You've been looking for me?

[Inspector Duval]

Yes. I've called every hotel in the city trying to find you. I know you don't remember me, but I met you earlier this evening at the Lebel Tavern. My name's Lauriad, of the Paris police force.

[Jack Westcott]

Yes, yes, of course.

[Fat Man]

I.

[Jack Westcott]

Won't you come in? Where's Mr. Westcott?

[Inspector Duval]

I had to leave him at the tavern. He wouldn't listen to me. You see, monsieur, I've been assigned to watch that tavern. It's been under suspicion for several weeks.

[Jack Westcott]

But great Scott, man, where's Jack now?

[Inspector Duval]

At the tavern. He's carrying an enormous amount of money on his person. I know the fat man will never allow him to leave with that money. Why don't you raid the den unfortunately, we can't. We have no proof. As a matter of fact, they might not harm at all. But just in case, I thought it might be a wise idea for you to go down there. You can go to the door and ask for.

[Narrator]

Yes, what do you want?

[Jack Westcott]

You're the bartender, aren't you?

[Narrator]

I am not Napoleon's grandma. What do you want?

[Jack Westcott]

My friend Jack Westcott hasn't come back to the hotel as yet. We've been waiting for him and I thought that he probably decided to spend the night here at your place and I.

[Narrator]

Your friend is not here. Go home, American, before you get yourself in more trouble than you can handle.

[Cecilia]

Who was it?

[Narrator]

The other American, asking about his friend. Where are you going?

[Cecilia]

Upstairs, to take Monsieur Westcott a candle, like the fat man told me.

[Narrator]

Be sure the fat man told you. Or else.

[Cecilia]

I'm sure. Very sure.

[Burke Manning]

Jack.

[Cecilia]

Jack, I. I brought you a candle. Are you asleep? Wake up, Jack, please wake up. Please. Maybe if I shake him. Wake up. Oh, I hate to slap you, but your life depends on it.

[Burke Manning]

What is it?

[Cecilia]

Wake up. Wake up, Cecilia, dear.

[Fat Man]

Jack. Jack. Luckily he's still asleep. Come, Cecilia, let our friend sleep.

[Burke Manning]

I'm so sick. So dizzy and sick. Why didn't she let me sleep? I feel paralyzed. I can't move at all. Just as if I'm drugged. Maybe if I concentrate on the room, I'll go to sleep.

[Fat Man]

Funny.

[Burke Manning]

Funny that a French gambling house should have a bedroom. What is an old English four poster bed doing in a French room anyway? What a heavy canopy over my head. So solid looking almost as if it were made of steel.

[Fat Man]

The mattress is so hard.

[Burke Manning]

I must concentrate on something. The picture above my head is just even with the canopy. An evil looking Spaniard with five feathers in his head. The eyes moved. I'm certain of it. The eyes moved. I wonder if I dare look up again. I was sure there were five feathers. Now there are only four.

[Fat Man]

Four feathers. Four feathers now. Three feathers.

[Burke Manning]

I wonder who's outside my door.

[Jack Westcott]

Try to sleep.

[Burke Manning]

No, no. Look at the picture. What? The feathers have disappeared. I can barely even see the face.

[Fat Man]

God damn.

[Burke Manning]

The canopy is being lowered on me. That's what it is, the canopy. It can't move. The paper thin corpse. Oh, I gotta move it. It's coming closer.

[Inspector Duval]

Closer.

[Fat Man]

Squash me.

[Burke Manning]

Oh, I must move. I. I can't go. It's almost done. Halfway down go. I. Oh, just crawl out of bed. When I get a Cody, I crawl out of here. Oh, I'm safe. Safer than horrible contraption. Now to get out of here. The window. Open the window slowly. I'll crawl to the window now, if I can push the window open slowly, very slowly.

[Fat Man]

The bed must have clamped down on him by now. Listen to me, man.

[Burke Manning]

Push the window open.

[Fat Man]

Don't.

[Burke Manning]

It's stuck.

[Fat Man]

Be sure and deliver the money back to me.

[Burke Manning]

I don't know how to open it.

[Inspector Duval]

Why didn't it crawl through?

[Fat Man]

You can raise the canopy now. Extra wind, gentlemen.

[Burke Manning]

Help. Help. Somebody get that man to fight. Get out of the fire. I've got him out the window.

[Fat Man]

If the bed didn't work the first time, I've ways and means of making it work the second. And perhaps it would be more pleasant to watch life ebb out in front of me.

[Burke Manning]

No, no.

[Fat Man]

Place him carefully on the bed.

[Burke Manning]

There we go. Let me go.

[Fat Man]

There we go.

[Burke Manning]

Good.

[Fat Man]

This ought to Prove Most enjoyable, Mr. Westcott. It's a pity you haven't my detached viewpoint. Put him in, then. Lower the canopy.

[Burke Manning]

No, no, no.

[Cecilia]

This way, Burke. Out this way. Hurrying into Loriel. I can hear the bed movement.

[Burke Manning]

Cecilia, you fool. Look. Get Jack out of that bad. Jack. Jack, boy.

[Inspector Duval]

Here, hold on to me.

[Jack Westcott]

I'll drag you out.

[Narrator]

Don't you put your hand on me.

[Burke Manning]

Larry, march into there.

[Inspector Duval]

I'll take care of the botanical.

[Burke Manning]

I'm all right, Burke. Don't worry about me.

[Fat Man]

I'm just shooting.

[Jack Westcott]

I'll help her.

[Burke Manning]

Help me. Dogs to sit down. Don't push me.

[Fat Man]

Don't be sorry. Help.

[Burke Manning]

Help.

[Cecilia]

No, you don't, Batman.

[Burke Manning]

You little.

[Fat Man]

No, you don't.

[Cecilia]

You're on to fight for me. A Frankenstein.

[Burke Manning]

There.

[Cecilia]

Try to get out of your own bed.

[Burke Manning]

Well, Inspector Duvall, that's the story. Lauriard and Burke were waiting outside all the time. They saw me at the window and Cecilia let them in.

[Narrator]

Close shave, eh?

[Jack Westcott]

A lucky escape. Lauriard and I pulled him out of the bed just in time. And Cecilia pushed the fat man under the canopy as it closed down.

[Narrator]

Must have been a horrible sight, Burke.

[Burke Manning]

Well, what about Cecilia, Inspector? What would they do to her?

[Narrator]

Unfortunately, the police can't find her, and I've instructed them not to look too hard. From the time worn pages of the past we have heard the story A terribly strange bed Dell keeper toll the bell.