Episode 423 - Favorites from 1952 to 1954

Summary

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Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)

Host: Mean Streets Podcasts
Episode 423: Favorites from 1952 to 1954
Date: September 25, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Stars on Suspense marks the start of the countdown to the final decade of the classic radio series "Suspense," focusing on the host’s favorite episodes broadcast between 1952 and 1954. This period signaled major changes: the end of Autolite’s sponsorship and a shift from Hollywood’s A-list stars to expert radio character actors. The host presents five stories that illustrate the era’s evolving talent and storytelling style.

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Key Episodes and Discussion Points

Introduction: The Changing Face of "Suspense"

[00:54]—[05:44]

• The early 1950s saw "Suspense" transition away from major film stars as Autolite (the sponsor) withdrew support.
• Character actors like John Dana, Kathy Lewis, and Harry Bartel became central to the show.
• The episode features five hand-picked stories:
  1. "The Lady Pamela" (Deborah Kerr)
  2. "A Good and Faithful Servant" (Jack Benny)
  3. "The Frightened City" (Frank Lovejoy)
  4. "The Earth Is Made of Glass" (Joseph Kearns)
  5. "The Last Letter of Dr. Bronson" (John Dana)

Host Quote [01:16]:
“This period marked the end of an era for suspense…Big name stars, the leading men and women who had been the show's hallmark for years, appeared far less frequently…We'll track that shift over the course of the episodes we'll hear today.”

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1. “The Lady Pamela” starring Deborah Kerr

[05:44]—[32:16]

Plot Summary:

• Kerr plays Pamela Barnes, an elegant jewel thief whose final heist lands her in prison.
• After her release, she seeks her old partner, Halliday, only to find herself betrayed and embroiled in a spiral of double-crosses and deception.
• The story spans New York, San Francisco, and London, culminating in a tense confrontation where Pamela’s desire for revenge turns to irony and defeat.

Key Insights:

• The episode spotlights female agency in crime, with Pamela’s intelligence and ruthlessness at the fore.
• Kerr’s performance is lauded by the host: “When you hear her performance in this episode, you’ll wish she’d made more visits to the microphone.” [04:39]

Notable Moments/Quotes:

• Pamela’s leadership [10:06]:
  “I’m taking 500 out of your cut for that. You’re to follow orders, nothing else.” — Pamela, controlling her male accomplice, David.

• After betrayal [17:23]:
  “He’d gone, run out, leaving no word. And my share of the money had gone with him.”

• Final irony [32:03]:
  “Perhaps I’ve changed my mind…Now I think I have too. I don’t think we’d be happy together. You’re not exactly my idea of the ideal wife, you know.” — Pamela, in a chilling goodbye.

Timestamped Highlights:

• [09:10] – The jewelry store hold-up.
• [14:06] – Police interrogation: Pamela’s cool, measured replies.
• [28:09] – Emotional climax in the London café, with Pamela’s breakdown.
• [32:16] – The twist: Pamela is deceived and arrested.

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2. “A Good and Faithful Servant” starring Jack Benny

[37:35]—[62:19]

Plot Summary:

• Harold Fenton (Benny) is a devoted department store employee who, feeling overlooked ahead of retirement, orchestrates a theft for a secret “nest egg.”
• The crime’s apparent success invites unintended consequences as his colleagues entangle him in a second robbery.

Key Insights:

• The story employs Benny’s understated humor and pathos, blending black comedy with genuine suspense.
• Themes of loyalty, invisibility in the workplace, and the moral perils of criminality are central.

Notable Moments/Quotes:

• Fenton’s reflection [40:01]: “All that money missing. 50,000. Yet his only concern was for me. I thought that if I could afford it, I’d like to buy him some little token of gratitude. Then I thought again. In my desk at the office there was a secret compartment, and in that compartment was $50,000. I guess I could afford it.”
• On retirement [48:23]: “Well done, Harold Fenton.” — Mr. Waterman, during Fenton’s farewell ceremony.
• Cynical ending [62:15]: “A long time after 30 years in Waterman’s? Hardly.” — Fenton’s mother, summing up a life of service and sacrifice.

Timestamped Highlights:

• [38:15] – Fenton’s first description of the store robbery.
• [41:18] – Domestic scenes: the subtle pressures of caring for aging family.
• [54:12] – Fenton’s interaction with Ms. Prentice, hinting at missed life opportunities.
• [58:47] – The second heist’s treacherous twist.
• [62:15] – The bittersweet conclusion.

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3. “The Frightened City” starring Frank Lovejoy

[65:47]—[92:14]

Plot Summary:

• Nick Crawford returns to his hometown postwar and learns of his brother-in-law Johnny’s murder at the hands of local racketeers.
• As Nick seeks the truth amidst pervasive fear, townspeople and his own family rebuff him, terrified the gangsters will retaliate.

Key Insights:

• The drama highlights postwar disillusionment and the power of organized crime to paralyze an entire community.
• Lovejoy’s portrayal of alienation, grief, and dogged pursuit of justice provide emotional weight.

Notable Moments/Quotes:

• Nick’s outrage [69:10]:
  “A car drove by and someone shot a gun at Johnny. Johnny’s dead.” — Janie, Nick’s sister.

• Nick interrogating Osborne [84:19]:
  “You set him up as a pigeon… Here we are in this room. You, the man who's got the whole town scared… But I'm not gonna kill you. Because this is my town. And it used to be a pretty good town.”

• Restoration [91:42]: “And you know what? He’s lucky. He’s got a good town to grow up.” — Janie, after justice is restored.

Timestamped Highlights:

• [68:12] – Nick’s homecoming and learning of Johnny’s death.
• [75:51] – The wall of silence: townsfolk refuse to talk.
• [85:53] – Nick’s challenge: standing up to the crime boss.
• [91:42] – The town’s healing: "He’s got a good town to grow up."

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4. “The Earth Is Made of Glass” starring Joseph Kearns

[95:33]—[121:48]

Plot Summary:

• Richard Steele, a man obsessed with the philosophy of “compensation” for wrongdoing, attempts a “laboratory murder”—killing someone with whom he has no connection, to test if guilt and retribution exist.
• Steele spirals into psychological torment, haunted by guilt, hallucinations, and the blurred lines between fantasy and reality.
• A final twist reveals the murder existed only in his mind: compensation is psychological, not legal or physical.

Key Insights:

• The story is a metaphysical meditation on conscience, retribution, and the impossibility of emotional detachment in crime.
• Kearns’ performance veers from detached rationalism to frenzied guilt.

Notable Moments/Quotes:

• Steele on compensation [97:15]:
  “Say I commit a laboratory murder. In a pure abstract murder, one occurring in an emotional vacuum… Is it possible?”

• Philosophical revelation [119:06]:
  “For I’ve learned that no event between two human beings can happen in a vacuum… If one of us does violence to another, he does violence to himself.”

• Final diagnosis [121:14]:
  “He didn’t kill anyone…But Richard Steele killed in his mind…Even for that, the earth was made of glass. There was full compensation.”

Timestamped Highlights:

• [100:13] – Steele begins plotting the theoretical “perfect crime.”
• [105:02] – Imaginary murder: “He’s dead.”
• [114:23] – Hallucinations: Guilt invades every waking moment.
• [121:48] – The denouement: It was all delusion, but punishment follows intent.

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5. “The Last Letter of Dr. Bronson” starring John Dana

[124:34]—[147:16]

Plot Summary:

• Dr. Bronson, fascinated by what prevents murder, devises an experiment: he selects five people, giving each a motive and a fail-safe way to kill him, seeking to prove each deterrent (law, morals, societal approval, self-image, and squeamishness) is sufficient.
• Bronson’s confidence is shattered when the final subject, a sociopath, agrees without qualm.
• As the clock ticks toward midnight, Bronson realizes the fatal flaw in his theory—madness admits no checks.

Key Insights:

• The story transforms an intellectual exercise on ethics into mortal peril, exposing the limitations of rational “safeguards.”
• Dana’s Bronson is simultaneously arrogant, logical, and ultimately fearful.

Notable Moments/Quotes:

• Bronson’s thesis [126:08]:
  “There are five basic checks which serve to restrain man from murdering his fellow man.”

• Failed deterrents [132:23]:
  “If you don’t understand why I can’t do this monstrous thing, I suggest you look up the sixth commandment.” — Totten, refusing the easy crime.

• Sociopath’s acceptance [144:09]:
  “I do it after midnight. It’s fun… Used this gun a lot, killed about 50 dogs.”

• Bronson’s final words [145:44]:
  “Strange, isn’t it, that the one thing I didn’t count on… For insanity knows no restraint.”

Timestamped Highlights:

• [126:08] – The opening wager: Bronson invites Mosher to kill him.
• [132:47] – Moral refusal on religious grounds.
• [135:20] – Hitman’s refusal: needs “boss’s” approval.
• [139:56] – Vengeful colleague’s refusal: professional reputation trumps revenge.
• [144:31] – Realization: the sociopath is unrestrained.
• [146:37] – The experiment ends—ambiguously, fatally.

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Episode Flow & Tone

• The host’s narration is warm, knowledgeable, and respectful of performers and writers, blending historical context with personal favorites.
• Each story is introduced with a brief plot, cast & crew context, and its significance in the evolution of "Suspense."

Host Quote [04:54]:
“So now let’s journey back to the beginning of the end and my favorite episodes of suspense that aired between 1952 and 1954.”

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Memorable Quotes – Complete List & Timestamps

• “Do not keep me any longer in suspense.” — Announcer [00:34]
• “I relaxed for two years. Nine months and 14 days in prison. I feel like working now.” — Pamela, "The Lady Pamela" [23:32]
• “You're not exactly my idea of the ideal wife, you know.” — Robert Wylie to Pamela [32:05]
• “I'd like to buy him some little token of gratitude…Then I thought again. In my desk…was $50,000. I guess I could afford it.” — Fenton, "A Good and Faithful Servant" [40:01]
• “You, the man who's got the whole town scared…But I'm not gonna kill you. Because this is my town. And it used to be a pretty good town.” — Nick, "The Frightened City" [84:19]
• “If one of us does violence to another, he does violence to himself.” — Steele, "The Earth Is Made of Glass" [119:06]
• “For insanity knows no restraint.” — Dr. Bronson, "The Last Letter of Dr. Bronson" [145:44]

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Final Reflection

The host invites listeners to continue the journey into the latter years of "Suspense" in the next episode, promising more tales “well-calculated to keep you in suspense.” This episode stands as a tribute to the resilience and creativity of the radio medium in the face of change, highlighting stories that are as psychologically rich as they are thrilling.

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For listeners and lovers of classic radio, this episode is both a celebration of the golden era’s innovations and a showcase of narrative daring as the series evolved.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Now, let's see. Suspect, suspect, suspend. Ah, here we are. Suspense, the condition of mental uncertainty, usually accompanied by apprehension or anxiety.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Fear of something which is about to occur as.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Do not keep me any longer in suspense.

[Podcast Host/Narrator]

Hello and welcome to Stars on Suspense, where today we're heading into the home stretch of our journey through the years of radio's outstanding theater of thrills. With today's show, we enter Suspense's final decade on the air. And over the next two weeks, I'll share my favorite episodes from those last 10 years of the program. Today we're still in the early 50s with my favorites from 1952 to 1954. Now, this period marked the end of an era for suspense. In June of 1954, after six years of sponsorship, Autolyte bid farewell to the show. And Suspense once again embarked on a period of airing without a sponsor. Big name stars, the leading men and women who had been the show's hallmark for years, appeared far less frequently. Instead, lead roles were played by the talented west coast radio character actors who'd provided so many great supporting performances for the likes of Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Performers like John Dana, Kathy Lewis and Harry Bartel. We'll track that shift over the course of the episodes we'll hear today, beginning with the Lady Pamela from March 31, 1952, the only time Deborah Carr appeared on Suspense. And when you hear her performance in this episode, you'll wish she'd made more visits to the microphone. Ms. Carr plays a jewel thief who's caught after a robbery. And after a two year stint in prison, she discovers her old partner in crime has split the scene with her share of their loot. Next we'll hear Jack Benny in A Good and faithful servant from June 2, 1952. A longtime department store employee, Benny decides to help himself to a little retirement gift. It's a haul of cash from the store's safe. It's the perfect robbery. At least it is until some of his former co workers discover his secret and they pressure Benny into staging an encore performance while also cutting them in on the proceeds. Up third is Frank Lovejoy, one of my favorite suspense actors. We'll hear him in the frightened city from November 10, 1952. This is a great script penned by veteran radio writers Morten Fine and David Friedkin. And it stars Lovejoy as a soldier who comes back to his hometown, only to discover it isn't the peaceful place he remembers. His brother has just been murdered. And it's the latest in a series of crimes perpetrated by the racketeers that run the town. But Lovejoy finds no one else is willing to stand up to the crooks. For our final two shows today, we'll jump ahead to 1954 and the now sponsorless Suspense. Joseph Kearns, the one time man in black and frequent supporting actor, stars in the Earth Is Made of glass from June 15, 1954, the first episode to air after Auto Lake dropped the series. Kearns plays a man who designs an unusual experiment. He plans to commit a laboratory murder, a crime devoid of passion and motive, to see if the experience changes him. But as with all experiments, he discovers some unanticipated variables that lead to a surprising outcome. And finally, speaking of unusual experiments, we'll hear John Dana in one of my all time favorite episodes, the last letter of Dr. Bronson from November 4, 1954. Dana plays a doctor who believes he's figured out what will make someone commit murder. And more importantly, the checks and balances that will keep them from committing murder. He decides to prove his theory by picking five people and giving each of them a compelling motive to do him in. So now let's journey back to the beginning of the end and my favorite episodes of suspense that aired between 1952 and 1954.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Autolite and its 96,000 dealers bring you Ms. Deborah Carr in a story based on fact. Tonight's presentation of Sal Spins. Tonight, Autolight presents the story of a girl who chose a most dangerous way of making a living and bet her life on its success. A story true, except for changes in names and places, which we call the Lady Pamela. Starring Ms. Deborah Carr. This is Harlow Wilcox. I was visiting Sam, my neighborhood auto light spark plug dealer, the other day when his phone rang. Hello? Yes, sir. Huh. Well, it may be spark plug trouble because spark plugs are the very heart.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Of your car's ignition system.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Better let me and my plug check indicator take a look. That's the exclusive auto light plug check indicator, which instantly shows the exact condition of your spark plugs and whether they're right for your style of driving. Well, they may only need cleaning, but if new ones are needed, I'll install auto light resistor or standard type spark plugs. They're world famous. Yes, sir. And when you replace worn out spark plugs with ignition engineered Autolite spark plugs, you get smoother performance, quick starts and gas savings. You know our location, sir. Okay, see you soon. And friends, to quickly learn the location of your nearest Autolite spark plug dealer, just call Western Union by number and ask for operator 25. And remember, from Bumper to tail light. You're always right. With Autolight, Deborah Carr is appearing by arrangement with Metro Goldwyn Mayer, producers of the Technicolor musical Singing in the Rain, starring Gene Kelly, Donald o' Connor and Debbie Reynolds. And now, Autolight presents the Lady Pamela, starring Ms. Deborah Carr. Hoping once again to keep you In South Bend.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Mr. Tillett, I'm afraid that I'm taking up too much of your time.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Not at all, Miss Bond. Not at all.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I mean, you've shown me so many beautiful things, and I. I simply can't decide. It's extremely naughty of you to have so many lovely.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

My dear lady, such jewels as these.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Were made only to adorn one such as yourself.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The afternoon is yours, and with it, my services.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How sweet of you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Now, this is the tiara.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, it's perfectly.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Mr. Tillis, I want you to notice the rubies here and the exquisite workmanship of the filigree.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I dare to ask. It's priceless, I know, but $50,000. No, I've got to be sensible. It's quite out of the question. Now, what about the necklace?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

24,000.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

The brooch and earrings, 18. They're adorable. And the diamond?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

14,000.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

For you, Ms. Bar, I should really close my eyes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm sorry, gentlemen, I'm.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, keep your hands on the velvet, friend, and nobody's going to get hurt.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You, lady, just sit there and don't.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Open your mouth or I'll close it for you.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You're.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

This is this.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hold up.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

We'll take that, please.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Don't you dare touch me.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Okay. Thanks for everything. So, dear. Oh, how are you, sweet? Oh, you know David Archer, don't you?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Of course. Do sit down. Have you ordered, Colonel? I'm famished.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I did. We were only waiting for you, my dear.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No trouble?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, not a bit. Everything went off, Smith. Good.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

David, that slap, it was a little too realistic. Don't ever do it again.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, look, I was only.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm taking 500 out of your cut for that. You're to follow orders, nothing else.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Listen, if you think you can get away.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Exactly the point, David. I do think. You don't. Tilleth might have seen a scar on your wrist when you slapped me. You've got a record. You could be identified by that. Follow orders in the future.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, now, now, now, children.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Be quiet. Halliday. Do you understand, David?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Sorry.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

All right. When are you disposing of the things.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Halliday, I. I'm flying to San Francisco tomorrow.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Good. Today's the 10th. We'll meet at my flat on the 15th. 8 o'.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Clock.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

That should give you enough time.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, ample, my dear. Ample.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

David. Where are you staying?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Join on 84th street, off the park.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I think it would be better if you move to a hotel. Change your name, too. Don't phone me. Send a note to the usual place.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Sure. Ah, here we are. Dinner. The finest food in New York, my dear. Just wait, you'll see.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

We had done much better than I thought we would. Although I didn't expect Halliday to sell for more than 40,000 in San Francisco. I remember as I brushed my hair before going to bed that night that I felt almost sorry for Mr. Tillet. But he was such an old rou. Next time he'd know better. Wicked little eyes. I didn't get up until 11 the next morning. It was a wonderful day, bright and clear. I was having my second cup of coffee when. Yes?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Police. Ms. Barnes.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, just a moment. I'm awfully sorry. I.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

It's all right, Miss Barnes. May I come in? My name's Boland.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Robbery detail.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Well, I suppose so. I suppose. I think you might have telephoned first. Did you find the jewel?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Not yet.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I thought I'd answered them all yesterday.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, miss.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh. Would you like some coffee?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, thanks.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Please sit down. You make me feel awkward.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm sorry.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Now, Mr. Boland, you know a man.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Named Archer, Ms. Barnes? David Archer?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No. No, I don't think so.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

He was picked up this morning. We think that he was one of.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

The men in the robbery yesterday.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Really?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

He was identified by a scar on his wrist. Mr. Tillett remembered it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How wonderful. But they were two men.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, we know. You're sure you don't know Archer?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No, I'm positive I don't.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You've never met him?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No. You sound as though you think I should, Mr. Boland.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You were followed. After the robbery, Ms. Barnes, you went to a restaurant on East 53rd Street. You had dinner there with two men.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

One of them was Arch Archer.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

That's ridiculous.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, our man didn't know it was Archer until this morning, when Mr. Tiller Klegrass. He was identified. The detective who followed you recognized Archer.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm afraid you're mistaken, Mr. Boland.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

We're not. The whole thing was too nicely timed.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Who was the other man?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Really, I don't know what you're talking about.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

All right. Get dressed, please, Ms. Barnes. You'll have to come downtown.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Am I under arrest?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Let's say you're a Material witness.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

It sounds better.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I don't think I was frightened. I was terribly annoyed, though. But at least they hadn't got Halliday. Mr. Bolan questioned me in a dirty little office at police headquarters. He wasn't at all like a Scotland Yard man. He smoked. Allowed me to smoke. His first name was Jack, and he was rather nice looking.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Name?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Pamela Kittredge Barnes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Age?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

24.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Height and weight?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

5Ft 4, 119 pounds.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Scars. Remarks?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Nationality?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

British.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Married?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Previous convictions?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

None.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You know.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

We'll check with the other side on that.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I imagine that you will. And when the questioning was finished, they released me. Perhaps Mr. Boland thought that I'd lead him to holiday. I didn't. But I got in touch by telephone.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, you just caught me. I was on my way to the airport.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Anything wrong?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

The police have arrested David. They questioned me this morning. I'm free at the moment. Now, look here, there's not much time. I know they'll get in touch with Scotland Yard about me. And when they do, I won't have a chance.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I suppose not.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

A couple of men followed me from police headquarters, so I can't very well get away. But Halliday.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes, dear?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I want to know where I can reach you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

When?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Later. If they put me away so I can get my money.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Well, as soon as I get back from San Francisco, I'll phone you. If something's happened, word will have got around. Now, don't worry. When you get out, the money will be here waiting for you.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Where? I'll get in touch.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I mustache. Now, darling, the plane.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

All the best, halliday.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Good afternoon, Ms. Barnes.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, Mr. Bar.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I thought we just received a cable from Scotland Yard about you.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I'm afraid I'll have to ask you.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

To pack your things this time. You're arresting me, aren't you?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

That's right.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

David Archer got 10 years. I spent two years, nine months and 14 days in prison. And I was nearly 27 when I went back to New York. The first thing I did was to get my hair done. Halliday hadn't been in touch with me. But I realized it might have been too dangerous. The police and the insurance company were still looking for the jewels. So I began to look for for Halliday. I telephoned every hotel in New York and every possible contact that Halliday might have had. And at the end of a month, I knew what had happened. He'd gone, run out, leaving no word. And my share of the money had gone with him. Hello, Ms. Barnes? Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

My Name's Robert Wylie. I'm downstairs in the bar. I'd like to come up and talk to you for a few minutes.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I don't think I.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, you don't know me, but I've heard about you.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Some people have been saying that you're looking for somebody.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

People?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

They say you're looking for someone called Halliday.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Do they?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Listen, I'm not a cop, if that's what you mean.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Can I come up?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm not in the habit of receiving strangers in my hotel room, Mr. Wylie. If you'll wait a few minutes, I'll come down.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Okay. I'll wait for you here in the bar. What will you be wearing?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Um, a gray tweed coat.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Right.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

So long. Table over there. Okay.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You. You're English, aren't you?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, I thought so.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How clever of you. You too.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I was.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What was it you wanted to see me about?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

A deal.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What kind of a deal?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'll sell you. Colonel Halliday.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You know where he is?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That's right.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I haven't any money.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

But you will have when you find Halliday.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Who told you about me? About Halliday?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Halliday? I've been working for him. At least I was up until a couple of weeks ago. We didn't agree on a couple of things and he ended up double crossing me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How much do you want?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

50. 50?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Too much, Mr. Wylie. Much too much.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't think so. Halliday is a big shot.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Now.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You're going to need help. You couldn't do it without me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Did he tell you how much he got for the job?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

50,000.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, now what?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Is he all right?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Where is he?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Partners?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes. Where is he? Mr. Wy.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Of course, there's one little thing.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What's that?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

He said if he ever saw me again, he'd kill me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Isn't that going to make it rather awkward? I mean, for you?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, it might. Unless. Well, that's where you come in.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Exactly how do I come in, Mr. Wily?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, I thought it might be awkward for Halliday to knock me off if we get to him first.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

In other words, before you tell me where he is, I have to agree to help you kill him. Is that the idea?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

If you want your dough. That's the idea.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I want my dough. Mr. Waddy. Where is he?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Auto Light is bringing you Ms. Deborah Carr in the Lady Pamela. Tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, suspense. Hey, Sam, you really go for the exclusive Auto light plug check indicator, eh? Sure. Do, Mr. Wilcox, it's a quick sure check on the exact condition of your car's spark plugs. I go for that plug check indicator just like drivers go for those great auto light spark plugs. And great is right, Sam. For those ignition engineered auto light spark plugs are designed by the same Autolite engineers who design the Coil distributor and all the other important parts of complete ignition systems used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars, trucks and tractors. And boy, that auto light resistor type spark plug is really something. It sure is, Sam. The new Autolite resistor type gives double life and greater gas savings as compared to spark plugs without a built in resistor. And it's only one of a complete line of ignition engineered auto light spark plugs designed for every use. So have your Autolite spark plug dealer check your spark plug soon. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage, Ms. Deborah Carr in Elliot Lewis's production of the Lady Pamela. A dramatic report well calculated to keep you in suspense.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Halliday was in London, and a week after our meeting, Robert Wiley and I booked the passage on the first steamer. It was the second day of our departure. I remember the night lovely and clear. Wiley had gone to buy a packet of cigarettes. I was leaning over the rail watching the flashes of phosphorus and the water was endless.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You ought to be careful leaning over the rail like that.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

It's beautiful.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, I wouldn't want to be in it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Can't you swim, Mr. Wiley?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Listen, now let's forget that Wiley stuff, Bob, okay?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Okay.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

How does a girl like you get mixed up with Halliday?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I wasn't mixed up with him. He was mixed up with me. There's a difference. You know.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

He worked for you.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

That's right.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Are you kidding?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Not at all. Why should I?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

From what he says, you were the front girl and he worked out the deal.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

The Colonel used to be an actor. I don't think he can bear second billing.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You're quite a girl.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And are you quite a boy, I've been told.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I say why?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I know you feel because you're a man, you have to behave like one. But don't ever do that again.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't get that.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I have no intention of letting you. You better understand this. You and I have a business arrangement. I want my money, you want to take care of the Colonel. We'll keep to that.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Okay. Don't you ever relax?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I relaxed for two years. Nine months and 14 days in prison. I feel like working now. Do you understand?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No. That that's the way you wanted.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

It is. And if you ever try to touch me again. We are fine. Three days later we were in London. We found a nondescript hotel in Chelsea and laid doggo for a time. It wasn't going to be easy. The Colonel was a very top dog in black market. And we both knew that if he ever found out that Wiley was in England, there'd be trouble. It was Wiley's idea that I go to see him in his flat. But I thought an accidental meeting would be better and so we planned it that way. I bumped into the Colonel at Piccadilly Circus.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, I beg your pardon.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm so sorry.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Pam. I say it is you, Colonel.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'd no idea.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Jeff, this is marvel. I mean absolutely marvelous. How long have you been over here?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Only a few weeks.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, marvelous. Oh, you're lovelies. Have a lovely lookshire. Could we have a cocktail together? Talk over old time?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, I'd love to.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, marvelous. How about Scott's? They know me there.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

We went to Scots and on the way he prattled about England, his England and of the old days in America. And it was all quite respectable talk. The Colonel was a striking man. Wore his clothes beautiful beautifully and walked with a carriage you'd expect from a man who looked like that. They knew him very well. In the restaurant I began to see that this was not the same Halliday I had known three years before. We sipped our drinks and it was all like a very exciting play. He knew I was going to ask him about the money from the robbery and I knew that my partner was going to kill him.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Things are not quite the way they were. Although I suppose one must put up with it, mustn't one?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You seem to have done nicely, Colonel.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, my lovely girl. It's all a matter of comparison.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Purely comparison to the jobs we used to do on the other side.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, darling, those are trifles. I have no time for such nonsense now.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Neither have I. What did you do with the jewels?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Jewels?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, the ones we got from Tillets. Remember? You went to San Francisco.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

By Joe. Of course. What a marvelous memory. Where it's mouth, isn't it? Yes, rather bad show I'm afraid. I was hijacked. As our American cousin so quaintly put it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Who did it?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I don't know. It happened in San Francisco. Oh yes. Then when I heard what had happened to you and Archer, I gave up and came home to England.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You were Awfully lucky, weren't you?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Not really.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Now, it's strange, because I heard that you got $50,000 in San Francisco.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Rot. Who said so?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Wiley. Robert Wiley.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Wiley? And who is Robert Wylie?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, what's the use of all that, Colonel? You know very well.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

As a matter of fact, I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking. I gather that I'm supposed to be on close terms with this Wilycher.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

That's right.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I see. Well, you can only believe one of us, can't you? And I tell you, I have never.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Even heard of the man. I do know you better than I know him, Colonel.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Then you take my word, eh?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No, I take his. I'd like my share, Halliday.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I dare try.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I want my share.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What can I say? I know what you've been through. I think of poor Archer, still incarcerated. But on my word of honor, Pam, I didn't get a brass farthing.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I want my money now.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, Pam, Pam, you're too marvelous.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I mean it, darling girl.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Things have changed, you know. Over here, I'm the man. I don't take orders anymore, and if I did, it wouldn't be from a woman. Certainly not from you, Pam. You're much too emancipated, even for me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I think I would have killed him then. In Scots. If I'd had a gun or a knife, I would have killed him. And as I walked to the underground station, I did something I can never remember having done before. I cried. When I got back to the hotel, I went to Wiley's room and told him what had happened. We were agreed we would have to work fast. And so that night we went to Halliday's free left.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Yes?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Who is it?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Pam, may I speak to you for a minute?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, sorry.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Hello, Colonel.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Dear girl, how are you? Come in, Com.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Thanks.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, twice in one day you surprised me, Pam. But then, you always did. Just sit down, won't you? And your young man. Drinks?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No, thank you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Well, then, what should we talk about?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, I say, in front of this gentleman. You know, you haven't introduced me fair.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Are you kidding?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I never kid.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You're a rotten liar.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I may be, but I should still like to know. Oh, this must be Robert Wiley, am I right?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

There's not much point to this.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

No. I want my money, Halliday.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Of course. And what do you want, Wiley?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Never mind.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

This is almost funny, Pam. I don't know what you're up to, but I've really never seen this chap before in My life.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You think she's going to believe that?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Probably not.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You can give me Archer's share too.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

How thoughtful of you. And you'll see that he gets it, won't you?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Come on, come on. The money. Oh, yes. Tell me, Wylie, where did we know each other when?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What do you think you're going to do? Play me off against her?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, not at all. I'm just interested.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Colonel.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, sir.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

When you open the safe, please be careful.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, a gun now, eh?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Put it away.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

It's my gun.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I underestimated you, my dear. I shouldn't have done that. You will have to take it in pounds, you know.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

That's all right.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Poor Archer. I wonder if he'll look for you when he gets out.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

He might. Hurry up, please.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Will you tell me one thing?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Who is this man, really?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Hand it over.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Why are you afraid to let me talk? Mr. Wily, don't you want her to find out the truth?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Give me the money.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Look out for him. Pam, dear. I don't know what he's been telling.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You, but I'm going to tell you something now. I swore to myself that if I ever found you, I'd pay you out for what you did to me. I'd get my money and I'd pay you. I'm going to Colonel. He wants to do it. But I owe you more.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, Pam.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, Sam.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, you silly.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Give me that.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I been telling you the truth, Pam. I've never seen him in my life.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Why did you have to do that?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Because I wanted to.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You must be crazy.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Come on.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You're not going anywhere.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, stop it. Come on.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You stay right there. I've got to call the police.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Police?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes. Maybe you should have listened to him.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What do you mean?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm with International Insurance Company, New York office. We knew the jewels had been sold, but we wanted to recover as much of the money as we could.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You didn't know him?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, but I knew you'd be looking for him when you got out. We wanted to get you both.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Don't. Wait a moment.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

On the boat coming over, remember you wanted to kiss me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Uh huh.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Perhaps I've changed my mind.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Now I think I have too. I don't think we'd be happy together. You're not exactly my idea of the ideal wife, you know.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

If I ever get out, I'm going to kill you.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

If you ever get out, I deserve to get killed. Hello, Scotland Guard? I want to report a murder. A story based on fact Presented by Autolite Tonight star Ms. Deborah Carr. This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Autolite, World's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment. Autolight is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry. The many leading manufacturers who install auto light products as original equipment. Our Autolight family is made up of the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great autolight plants. It also includes more than 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in Autolite, as well as 96,000 autolite distributors and dealers in the United States and thousands more in Canada and throughout the world. Tomorrow night, Autolite will present the national television preview of the great Parade of Stars automobile show. From the grand Ballroom of New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. This program may be seen at the regular Autolight suspense television time tomorrow night or a few days later in some television areas. Don't miss this great program and remember to be with us next week for another thrilling Autolite suspense show on radio. Next week on suspense, our star will be Mr. Dan Duryea. In a dramatization from your morning newspaper. The dramatic report of a cold blooded killing and the awful consequences to its only witness. The story will be called Remember Me and it will be heard on suspense. The Lady Pamela was written for suspense by Anthony Ellis. Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morowic and conducted by Lud Gluskin. In tonight's story, Ben Rife is heard as Robert Wiley and Joseph Kearns as Halliday. Featured in the cast were Peter Leeds, Larry Thor and Ted Osborne. The Electric Autolite Company salutes the Boys Clubs of America. On this first day of National Boys Club Week. Boys Clubs serve the boy, the community and the nation. And investment in boys is an investment in America's future. This is the CBS Radio Network. AutoLight and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Jack Benny. In tonight's presentation of suspense. Tonight, Autolight presents a story about a man who worked for 30 years to perform prepare a most unique personal retirement plan. The story is called A Good and Faithful servant. Our star, Mr. Jack Benny. Hello there, Harlow. Well, the legislative luminary. How are you, Senator? My car is giving me trouble, Harlow. Your car? What's wrong with it, Senator? Well, it gets going slower than a loser leaving off. It rides rougher than a tax debate and uses more gas than a three day filibuster. Well, it may be spark plug trouble, Senator. Spark plugs should be checked every three to 4,000 miles. So see your nearest Autolite spark plug dealer. His exclusive Autolite plug check indicator will Quickly show the exact condition of your spark plugs. If they're worn out or wrong for your style of driving, he'll recommend resistor or standard type ignition engineered Autolite spark plugs for smoother performance, quick starts and gas savings. Sounds like a propitious proposal, Harlow. How do I find this Auto Light spark plug dealer? Why, just phone Western Union by number and ask for operator 25. She'll quickly tell you the name of your nearest Autolite spark plug dealer where you can get the finest spark plug service money can buy. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. And now, with the performance of Mr. Jack Benny, autolight presents Transcribed A good and faithful servant. Hoping once again to keep you in suspense. I know you've been through a lot, Mr. Fenton, but if you could just try to recall anything else about the appearance of the tomb.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Lieutenant, couldn't this wait? Fenton has spent 3:14 horrible hours locked in a vault. And while I admire his spirit and pluck in bearing up as well as.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

He has, I'm just trying to get something to go on. Mr. Waterman, do you want your money back or don't you?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The welfare of my employees comes first, Lieutenant. First, last and always.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And you're insured, Ms. Fenton?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Don't answer if you don't feel up to it, Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I don't mind, Mr. Waterman. I'm anxious to cooperate. Now, as near as I can remember.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Make sure you get this, Florence.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

As near as I can remember. Of course, I had only a flash before they forced me into the ball.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

We understand, Mr. Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I had the impression of one being tall but not too tall, and the other one was shorter.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

But not too short.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Exactly. And they were wearing masks. Rubber masks. One had a Lionel Barrymore mask, and I think the other was Dick Tracy. It was quite a shock to see him. Aha.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The Brinks gang, Lieutenant. The Brinks gang to A T, maybe.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Mr. Cartwright, would you come over here, please? Mr. Cartwright, is it the practice to keep large sums of cash on hand overnight at the store? Well, yes. The store does a tremendous cash business, Lieutenant. Tremendous.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

And yesterday was Dollar Day.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Thank you. Mr. Cartwright, how does it happen that Fenton was alone in the cash room when the bandits entered? Did he customarily close the vault for the night? Not customarily, no. When I'm unavoidably called away from the store. Well, does this happen often?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, very seldom, Lieutenant, very seldom.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

But it happened yesterday. Two men walked in, put you in the vault, walked out with a big.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Hunk of money at precisely 5. 56. Mr. Cartwright opened the vault this morning at 8:02.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Correct, Lieutenant. We won't know how much they got until I can make an audit.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

And if there's any question, Lieutenant, of corroborating Fenton's story, I need only to say that he's been with Waterman's for 30 years. A good and faithful servant.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

More exactly, Mr. Waterman, 29 years, 11 months and 29 days. I was due to retire tomorrow before this unfortunate circumstance arose.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nonsense, Fenton. You retire tomorrow. And if there's any question, Lieutenant, of Fenton's character, his honesty is the.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yeah, sure, sure, sure. You can go home, Mr. Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Better get some rest.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

If you want to duck the reporters, go out this back way.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, what do you think, Mr. Waterman?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Entirely up to you, my boy. Entirely. But in these days of doubt, of confusion and dishonesty in high places, I believe your simple story of courage and devotion to duty will be AN Inspiration everywhere.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Mr. Waterman, I am ready to face the press. They were all very nice to me. The reporters, the police, Mr. Cartwright, and especially Mr. Waterman. All that money missing. 50,000. Yet his only concern was for me. I thought that if I could afford it, I'd like to buy him some little token of gratitude. Then I thought again. In my desk at the office there was a secret compartment, and in that compartment was $50,000. I guess I could afford it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yoo hoo.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Mother, I'm home.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Good morning, Harold. I hope you haven't had breakfast. I've kept it hot for you.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

You're not going to ask me how it went, Mother?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, I heard over the radio. But I wish there'd been some way of doing it, that it wouldn't have kept you out all night.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, I wasn't out all night, Mother. I was in a vault.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I know you were, Harold. And if you keep on, you're going to end up with that same same sinus strip your father used to have.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, Mother, it was a perfectly dry, warm. Oh, never mind.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Eat your cereal, Harold. You'll feel better.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Mr. Waterman told me to take the day off, Mother. I'm not going in until tomorrow.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

That was certainly big of him.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

After all you've done for them.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How much did you get?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

50,000. It's in my desk at the office, in the drawer with the false bottom.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

In your desk? Will it be safe there, Harold?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, no one will be looking for it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Harold, you don't think you'll have any trouble getting the money out of your desk?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I think things will Work out all right. See, according to my plan, it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Harold, you see, I told you from the beginning you weren't strong enough for this type of thing.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

The next morning at 8:43, I punched in at the store. Figuring 308 working days a year that made 9,240 punches. It was a little strange to think of this being my last. I walked through the store to the elevator, past lingerie, ladies gloves and perfume, the way I always went. But this morning was different. People looked up when I passed. They spoke to me. They knew who I was. Even the brunette in perfume smiled at me. I almost stopped, but I couldn't think of anything to say. In the elevator, one of the girls asked me how I felt. Still scared, I said. And they laughed. They wouldn't have laughed any harder for Mr. Waterman. I got out at 8 my floor. And as I went into my office, Ms. Prentice, Mr. Cartwright's secretary, looked at me. 23 months and 2 days she'd been looking at the top of my head. But this morning she looked at me. Then she smiled. I guess I smiled back.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Good morning, Mr. Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Good morning, Ms. Prentice. It wasn't much, but I felt it could have been a start. I was almost sorry this was my last day.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Fenton.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Fenton, did you hear me?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Yes, Mr. Cartwright. I heard you, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

All right. A big workload piled up yesterday when you took off, and we haven't anyone new coming in till tomorrow. Not that I want to overload you on your last day.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

An honest day's work for an honest day's pay, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, good. I'm still trying to find out how much was taken in the hold up. So you're on your own.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I think I can tell you almost to the penny, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'll make my own check. Now, about the work, I. Oh, good morning, Mr. Waterman. I was just.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Well, Fenton, back at the old esque, eh?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, I just didn't feel right away from it, Mr. Waterman.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hey, I got a surprise for you this afternoon, Fenton. Going to make a little ceremony out of your retirement.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

A.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

A ceremony good for store morale, right, cartwright?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, absolutely, Mr. Waterman, absolutely.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

And about that request of yours you made last week. Week, Fenton? I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we can swing it.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, you're too kind, Mr. Waterman.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, my boy, when you work for.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Waterman's 30 years, you've got something coming to you.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

No, really. I ate my usual lunch that day. The Thursday blue plate special at Elmo's Grotto. $0.70, plus the usual.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Usual?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

10% tip, $0.07 with the usual. 20 minutes left in my lunch hour, I headed for the park with a nickel bag of peanuts. The squirrels were going to miss me. No, no, Mr. Waterman. You've had three already. Give Mr. Cartwright a chance. Sit up, Mr. Cartwright.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Sit.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

That's it.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

That's it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Excuse me. Would you mind if I join you, Mr. Fenton?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Why, Miss Prentice, of course. I mean, of course not. Sit down. Sit down.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Thank you.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Move over, Mr. Waterman.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

He does look a little pompous, doesn't he? Which one is Mr. Cartwright?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

There, with the small mustache. He bites.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And Is there a Ms. Prentice?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, there is, but I believe she is, well, nesting. Well.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How long have you been feeding them, Mr. Fenton? They seem so friendly.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

30 years, Ms. Prentiss. My favorite animal. You give a squirrel a nut and.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Does he eat it?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

No, he runs away and stores it in a hole. We could all benefit from their example.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And now that you've stored your little nest egg, you're retiring, Mr. Finley.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, you might say that, yes.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You're quite a fascinating character, Mr. Benton.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Me?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm. I'm sorry I didn't know you sooner. You know, the whole store is talking about your ordeal in that vault.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, it wasn't so bad. In fact, I've always rather liked the vault.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What an odd thing to say.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, chau goo, Ms. Prentice. That's French for each to his own taste.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, you've been abroad, Mr. Fenton. Me?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, my goodness, no.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, but you will now that you're retiring.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, no.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I've got my eye on a little cottage by a lake and woods. Lots of squirrels there and no time clocks.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You and your wife, Mother. Oh, I hope you get it, Mr. Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Thank you, Ms. Prentice.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I wonder what the robbers are going to do with all that money.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I wonder. Five to one. Shall we go back and punch in Ms. Prentice?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

She let me walk all the way.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Back to the store with her. And in the elevator, Mr. Bixler Sporting Goods winked at me funny. For 10 years, I'd had the feeling Mr. Bixler didn't like me. There was quite a gathering in the cashier's office when we arrived. All the executives from Mr. Waterman's down and the editor of the store paper wandering through Waterman's. I'd sent an item to him last summer. Mr. Fenton of cashier department, spending his two week vacation at home. But he never printed it.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Come in.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Come in, Fenton.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

We've been waiting for our, shall we.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Say, a guest of honor me, Mr. Waterford.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You, Fenton. We have a little ceremony which I hope to conclude before the lunch hour was over.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Waterman.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Think nothing of it. This is your day, Fenton. Your day.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Going to get a shot of the two of us wool? Yes, sir.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Mr. Waterman, over by the door.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, if you don't mind, I'd like it sitting at my desk. I feel more well secure there by your desk.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

How's this? Got it. Good. Good. And now, Fenton, we all say farewell to a good and faithful servant. One who has given 30 years of his life as a contribution, however small, to making Waterman's the great institution it is today. Well done, Harold Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Thank you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

A modest man, but conscientious. His regular comings and goings past almost unknown to many until his ordeal of two days ago, locked all night in the vault by brutal and rapacious thieves. A night in which, in his own words, he relived each and every day of his 30 year service to Watermans.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Greater devotion hath no man was nothing really.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

And now, his labors done, his burden borne, Fenton will live up the rest of his days in ease and comfort, because he has arrived at the retirement age of the Waterman Pension Plan, by.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Which he will receive $31.68 a month.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

$31.68 a month for as long as he lives.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Thank you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

And now, a little surprise for Harold Fenton. A week ago, in a letter to me, our good and faithful servant asked that on his retirement, he be given permission to purchase for his home his old desk.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Actually, Mr. Waterman, I don't know what I do do without it.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, frankly, I put in a lot of thought on this simple request. I weighed the factors in my mind. On the one hand was Fenton's 30 year service. On the other, Mr. Waterman. On the other, he was already receiving his pension of. Well, his pension. However.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Please, Mr. Waterman.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

However, Fenton, my boy, I decided to go. You better.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

One better. Not a new desk.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nothing so unsentimental. Fenton, instead of allowing you to purchase the desk, I'm giving it to you. All right, boys, right in here. Take the desk wherever Fenton here wants it. Now, back to work, everybody. Month end clearance today.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Whoops. Easy, men.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Don't drop it.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Easy.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Fenton, my boy, in the years ahead, when you're seated at your old desk, think of us, won't you?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I certainly will, Mr. Waterman. I certainly will.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Jack Benny in A good and faithful servant. Tonight's presentation in radio's Outstanding theater of thrills. Suspense. Well, Senator, did you take my advice? Why, yes, Harlow. My auto light spark plug dealer turned my worn spark plugs out of office and elected a set of ignition engineered Autolite spark plugs. A wise move, Senator. Those Autolite spark plugs plugs are designed by the same Autolite engineers who design the coil distributor generator and all the other important parts of the complete ignition system. Used as original equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars, trucks and tractors. They're world famous for quality and performance. And my auto light spark plug dealer nominated auto light resistor spark plugs for my car. Harlow. Aha. You're on top now, Senator. Because auto light resistor spark plugs represent one of the greatest advancements in spark plugs for automotive use in the past 20 years. They offer proven advantages such as double life gas savings and smoother performance. And they're specified as original equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars. What's more, the Autolite resistor spark plug is just one of a complete line of ignition engineered auto light spark plugs for for every use. So, fellow citizens, be sure vote for Auto Light. Right, Senator. Friends, take a tip from me and see your nearest auto light spark plug dealer this week. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. And now, Autolite brings back to our Hollywood soundstage, Mr. Jack Benny in Elliot Lewis's production of A Good and Faithful Servant. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Retirement agreed with me. I walked to the park to see my friends when I felt like it. Leisurely lunch at Elmo's Grotto when I felt like it. And when the need arose, a little gardening. Mother and I were very happy.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You've done enough for one morning, Harold. Your bat'll go out again.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

All through, Mother. Just cleaning off the spades.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What were you planting this morning, Harold?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Mother, if anything should happen to me, knock wood.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Knock wood.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Right in between the beets and the radishes, there's a very rich patch of dirt.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Sir, aren't we going to get our little cottage by the lake?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I have to go in town today, Mother. I might just inquire around.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, good.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

You know, Mr. Waterman is really a very sweet man. The Waterman pension plan. I just wish I could tell him how happy it's made. I hadn't told Mother, but Ms. Prentice had called that morning. Mr. Cartwright wanted to see me that afternoon at the office, she said, and she asked how I was. What would have happened if I'd asked her to Lunch. I almost did, too. In the cashier's office at the store. Miss Prentice smiled when she saw me, and I smiled back. In fact, we struck up quite a conversation.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, Mr. Fenton, how are you?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Fine. Just fine, Miss Prentice.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Retirement agree with you?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Yes, indeed, fine.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You notice we haven't filled your old job?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, yes. Yes, indeed.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Haven't been able to find another man of your type. Well, well.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Is that you, Fenton? Come on in here.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Coming, coming, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Sit down, Fenton. Sit down.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Thank you.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Just trying to clean up accounts on the robbery. Fenton, what was your final tally again?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

50,000.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Almost exactly.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Mr. Cartwright, you're way off. That doesn't check with my audit at all.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I'm quite sure of my figures.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, then you're wrong, that's all. My check shows they got away with 82,000.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

82,000?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Right. Now, if you'll just sign the necessary statements corroborating my order.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I can't do that, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And just why can't you? Don't you take my word for it.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Frankly, no, Fenton.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Look, you're retired. It's nothing to you one way or the other. You just made a little mistake in your figures, that's all.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Mr. Cartwright, are you asking me to help cover up a shortage in your accounts?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

All right, Fenton, I'll lay it on the line temporarily. I'm a bit short involvement with a woman, and you wouldn't understand.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I most certainly wouldn't.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Look, I'll make it worth your while.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Shortages are found out Sooner or later, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

All right, if that's your attitude. Let me tell you something, Fenton. I don't like the smell of this robbery of yours. I don't like it at all. What do you think of that?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

You're implying that I made off with $50,000 belonging to watermans?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I think it's highly possible. And how are you so sure it was 50,000?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Supposing me for one instant capable of such a thing? Mr. Cartwright, wouldn't I be much too clever to put my head in a noose by covering up for you?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Fenton, if I was talking to an honest man, wouldn't he have taken my story right to Mr. Waterman?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hmm?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'll give you five minutes. Either sign my audit, or I go to the police and accuse you of stealing $82,000. Think it over, Finn.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

No question about it, Mr. Cartwright. Dishonesty might be a bit awkward for me. My instinct about the man had been thoroughly sound. I had disliked him for 16 years. Well, there was only one safe way out.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Of it.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, Mr. Cartwright, if you need money.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Why don't you rob the vault? Actually, it isn't hard at all.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, how did you. How do I get away with the money?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I'm sorry. I never reveal professional secrets.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, then you'll have to help me, Fenton. Lock me in the vault and you get away with the money.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Me?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Sure.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Then we're both in the clear. For good. Help me out, Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

You mean I'm going to clear out the vault a second time?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You'll never regret it.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Regret it? The fact is, I. I'd rather enjoy it. We settled on the following Friday. Friday nights the stores stayed open till nine. And they were having a big white sale that day. The money was already stacked on Mr. Cartwright's desk. When I got there was a juicy hall. I didn't see Mr. Cartwright around, but.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Hello, Mr. Fenton.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Ms. Prentice.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

But.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

But the money.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I. I was listening when you and Mr. Cartwright made your plans. Mr. Fenton and.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

And.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And he caught me and forced me to help him. You understand, Harold. I mean, Mr. Fenton.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Harold.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Times like these draw people together quickly, don't you think?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, I do. I really do, Ms. Prentice. Helen.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Thank you, Helen. Ms. Prentice, Mr. Cartwright mentioned a woman in his life. You're not the one, Harold.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Of course not.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Excuse me. I just thought. You remember the office party last Christmas?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, that. Well, that was just because he was under the mistletoe. And if you'd been under it instead of Mr. Cartwell.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Really, well.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, Fenton, you're here.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Good.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Anybody see you come up?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

It doesn't matter, really. Mr. Cartwright might even be better that way. Then you and Ms. Prentiss can say that I left minutes before the bandits arrived.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You're right, of course, Harold.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Thank you.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Are you ready, Mr. Cartwright? I brought some wrapping paper for the money. Even brought along a handle with care sticker. That's the Fenton touch, you know.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Get on with it, will ya?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

No need to be nervous. There.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Neat.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I spent eight years in rapping and mailing.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

All right. You know what to do with it, Helen.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I know.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Just a minute, Mr. Cartwright. I'm to take the money, remember?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

There's been a change, Fenton. We rewrote the script.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

You think that's wise to fly in the face of my experience?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Now look, Fenton, we're not children. You lock us in a vault and take off with the money, you think we'd ever see you again?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, you're questioning my honesty. I'm sure Ms. Prentice will vouch for me. We're rather good friends. Ms. Prentice.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Helen.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Unfortunately for you, Fenton, Helen's on my side. Now, if you wouldn't mind getting into the vault, huh?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Me?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Me in the vault?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

But this is a loaded gun, Fenton. Get in the vault. But you came back for a second helping, that's all. The Confederate got away with the money, but I courageously slammed the vault door on you and went for help. But will they believe me? I imagine they'll find 50,000 somewhere around your house. They'll believe me, Helen.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I see.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm sorry, Harold. It's a nasty trick. But we're nasty people. You should have stuck to squirrels.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Just one thing, Fenton. How did you ever get that 50,000 out of here the first time?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

How?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Well, I didn't, Mr. Cartwright.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You didn't?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Then where is it?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

It's still in the vault.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't believe it.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Oh, it's quite cleverly hidden. It took me most of that night. I was locked in.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Get in there and show me.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I'm sorry, Mr. Cartwright.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Get in there.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

No. I went through a lot for that money, Mr. Cartwright. 30 years. I just as soon you shot me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Helen, hold the gun on him. I'm going in and look.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Well, don't be long. What if somebody should walk in?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'll be able to see if he's lying. Just watch him.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You see anything?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Not yet.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't think it's possible. Open the door so I can get some more lights.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Must be true. Crime changes people. I had never lied, yet I lied to Cartwright. I never used violence. Yet I got behind Helen and.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I guess I'll go home.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Mother will be wondering what's happened to me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Some more cereal, Harold?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I don't think so, Mother. Thanks. What time is it?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

8:10, son.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

They would have opened the vault at 8 this morning. The police should be here any minute.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Are you sure those two will implicate you, Harold?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

It seems likely, Mother. The gun would be hard to explain. And I think Ms. Prentice will turn on Mr. Cartwright. After a night in the vault.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, she's just the type.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

I'm sorry, Mother. I guess I just don't know much about women.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

It's all right, son.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You think they'll be hard on you?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Not very. I haven't spent any of the money. The insurance companies always look kindly on such cases. There they are, harold.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How long?

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Two years, Mother. Maybe less. Maybe even one.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

It's still a long time.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

A long time after 30 years in Waterman's?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Hardly. I'll get the door. Suspense presented by Autolite Tonight's star, Mr. Jack Benny this is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Autolite, World's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment. Autolite is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry. They are members of the Autolite family, as are the 98,000 autolite distributors and dealers in the United States and thousands more in Canada and throughout the world. Our family also includes the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great autolite plants from coast to coast and in still other Autolite plants in many foreign countries, as well as the 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in Autolite. Every Autolite product is backed by constant research and precision built to the highest standards of quality and performance. So remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. Next week, a story of revenge. The desperate effort of a murderer to destroy the man who had committed him to prison. The story is called Concerto for Killer and Eyewitnesses. Our star, the Director of Suspense, Mr. Elliot Lewis. That's next week on South Spence. Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morowic and conducted by Lud Gluskin. A good and faithful servant was written for suspense by Richard M. Powell. Portions of this program were transcribed. In tonight's cast, Norma Varden was heard as Mrs. Fenton, Doris Singleton as Helen, Gerald Moore as Mr. Cartwright, Joseph Kearns as Mr. Waterman, I ever back as Lt. Miller, and Charles Calvert as Mr. Wolf.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

For the location of your nearest Autolite spark plug or Autolite battery dealer or your nearest authorized auto light service station, phone Western Union by number and ask for operator 25. Switch to auto Light. Good night.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

This is the CBS Radio Network. Auto light and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Frank Lovejoy in tonight's presentation of suspense. Tonight, Autolite presents a story based on fact, terrifying in its truth. The dramatic report of a man returned home to find he now lives in a frightened city. Our star, Mr. Frank Lovejoy.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hi, Harlow. What's the matter, Hap?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm in love.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What's your name?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

It's not a her. It's the famous Autolite Staful, the battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. Why, millions of drivers go for the Auto Light.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Stay full, Harlow.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Sure, Hap. Because it's the great battery with the fiberglass retaining mats protecting every positive plate to reduce shedding and flaking. And that means longer life for the Auto Light. Stay full battery as proved by tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards. Tell other drivers how to meet this lovable battery. Harlow. All Right, friends, your neighborhood Autolite battery dealer services all makes of batteries and he will gladly show you the Autolite Stay Full battery for your car. To quickly learn his location, call Western.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Union by number and ask for me, operator 25. I'll give you the location of your nearest Autolite battery dealer where you can get an Autolite Stay full the battery.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

That needs water only three times a year in normal car use. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with auto light. And now, Autolife presents the Frightened City. Starring Mr. Frank Lovejoy. Hoping once again to keep you in suspense.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

The train pulled out of Easton at 1:20 in the afternoon. It had pulled in three minutes earlier. It was a simple thing I had to do. Then watch it cross the bridge over the Wabash, watch it grow smaller. And when it was out of sight, I was finally home. And home was. Pick up the barracks bag and walk up the small hill from the depot. Down in the main street on an autumn afternoon, turn left on Sycamore down three blocks where the houses are painted white and there's rockers on the porches and wide elm trees in November color. And the far off sound of a dog barking and the smell of smoldering leaves. And 595 Sycamore street up the path and up the steps. Jane. Janie.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Who is it?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Janie? Sis.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Nick. Oh, Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

How's the baby, Sis?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, fine. He was teething, but he's all right now.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I haven't seen him yet.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, he's beautiful.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

How's Johnny? How's Johnny, sis? What Johnny? How is he your husband? My brother in law? Johnny. How. What's the matter with you?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Didn't you get my letter?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I was aboard ship the last two weeks.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

So Johnny is dead. Johnny went walking one night and he's dead. One night Johnny said he was going to walk down the main street. He told me he wanted to stop in the police station. He had something to tell the police. He went out and he was walking along, walking along, walking along.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Babe. Baby.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

A car drove by and someone shot a gun at Johnny. Johnny's dead.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Who? Who shot Johnny, Sis? Janie, I'm talking to you. Who shot Johnny?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Janie, Come with me. Nick. There's your nephew. He's sleeping and he's my son. He's pink and he's fat and he says Mama. He can say dada too, but it's a word he won't need. He's a good baby. I love him as much as a mother can love a child. Now I Want to show you something else. I've had it here in my apron. And I've been wondering what to do about it. I found it under my door about a week ago. The day after Johnny was shot. I'll read it to you. Don't talk to strangers. What happened to Daddy can happen to Sonny.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Give it to me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

My little boy is going to grow up. He's going to play with other boys and laugh and cry when he scrapes his knee on the sidewalk and go to school.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Give me the note.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And live a life. No. No note, Nicky. These pieces get burned, get forgotten. It gets forgotten like everything else that's happened.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Who did it, Janie?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You're back from a war. Let everything be peaceful now. Look at my son Nick. The way he wakes up. So peaceful.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Then the infinite gentleness as she lifted the child. Held him close and kissed him. And the room was stillness and anguish. And the bitter fear and the emptiness. And this was homecoming. Outside, it was November along quiet avenue. And the glimpse of the coat sweated woman in her backyard. Gathering in her wash. Feeling in it the starch of cold autumn wind. Walk to a cross street and three blocks east, police headquarters. Give a murdered man's name and yours. Ask for the chief of police and in less than an hour be shown in to him.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Hello, Mr. Crawford.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Have a seat.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You know why I'm here?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yeah. Yeah, I do.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I just came from my sister. She's scared. She. She gets threatening notes and burns them up. Why?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I don't know.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Who killed her husband?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't know.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Now look, you. This happened to my sister and now it's happening to me. A week ago, a man walked down the street. He was on his way to see you. And he got murdered.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Easy, kid.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Easy.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I've got some things to tell you.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Tell me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Four people saw it happen to your brother in law that night. One of them, a woman, was brutally.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Beaten, tossed into a vacant lot.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

A kid playing in the trash found her there. Two days later, another witness got a bomb thrown through his nice new house.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

And almost killed his wife.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

That's two. The other two won't talk either.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Like your own sister won't talk.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm tired, Mr. Crawford. I got a lot of things to clear away.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I want their names and addresses.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

They'll talk to you, huh?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

They'll talk to me. I want those names.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

All right.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Tell the sergeant in the next office I said you can have them.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Mr. Crawford.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Things have changed in this town. It's different.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Hang around.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You'll see.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Hello, evening, Mr. Osborne.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I'm Mr. Osborne.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Something I can do for you?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

They told me down at your place of business you'd be home. It's about Jimmy Stewart. Mind if I sit down?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Not at all. Johnny Stuart. Friend of yours?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

He was married to my sister.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Your sis. Oh, then you must be Nick. Heard a lot about you from Johnny.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

How you were soldiering.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Welcome home, Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Johnny worked for you, didn't he?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Good accountant.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Nice guy, Johnny.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

One of the best.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You were with him the night he was killed.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That's right, I was with him.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Well, you want to tell me about it?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Johnny was walking by my store just.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

As I was closing up.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I told him to wait a minute, I'd walk with him. We walked, we talked. Got to a corner. I told Johnny to wait for me while I went into the drugstore to buy some cigarettes. Just as I came out, a car turned the corner, shot him down, drove away. That's how it was.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What kind of car?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I wouldn't know.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Sedan? Convertible.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Old?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

New.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

A week ago, they put me through this.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I didn't know then.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I don't know now.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Well, he worked for you.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

He.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

He was your friend. You knew all about him and me and his wife.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nick, I like it here on my port swing. It reminds me I'm alive.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Don't spoil it for me, Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Mrs. Mason, you were sitting right here at your window and you saw it happen. You saw Johnny kill.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I. I didn't see it.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What kind of a car? Just tell me that.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Nothing.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Well, the men who beat you up, did you identify them?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

There were weeds, dirty old tin cans.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Please.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And they threw me down and kicked me. My throat.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Go away.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What are you doing in my house?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You listen to me, Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I can remember when Johnny Stewart was.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

A kid and he stole penny candy.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

From me right here in this same drugstore.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

And he grew up to be shot down right on this corner, right outside this store. What happened that night, Mr. Nolan?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nick, I built up a nice business here. 20 years.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What did you see, Nick?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nicky, it was me. Had to scrub his blood off the sidewalk.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What did you see?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nothing. Nothing.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

That's what I saw, Nick.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nothing.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Hi.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Hello there.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Raking leaves. You can work up a sweat even in November.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yeah. Big tree. A lot of leaves.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Indian summer evening.

[Podcast Host/Narrator]

You sweat, I know.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You're Tom Ruxton, aren't you?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

That's right.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I'm Nick Crawford.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Glad to know you.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Johnny Stewart was my brother in law.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, really?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You got a nice house, Tom.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Thanks.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I understand your wife was almost killed when they Tossed a bomb into it.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

That's right. Hazel was out back.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Lucky that bomb was tossed into your house because you were a witness to a murder, wasn't it?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

House looks okay now. Got nice neighbors. Helped me. We fixed it up ourselves.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Who killed Johnny? You're scared to death, aren't you?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I've got a pretty good house here, Mr. Attract House GI Loan. Once I had a nice uniform just like you. Now that I've got's a wonderful wife and anybody asks me, I'll say, Hazel's a wonderful wife and I love her. Like I said, scared right now. Mostly of you and whatever you're carrying around with you. I don't want to rub off on me or Hazel. So I'll tell you something.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Leave me alone.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

When I went outside, it was evening in Easton. The air was chill and the dew was turning to light frost on the lawns. I walked for a while and I noticed a thing. The people on the streets. Their stares, their looks over the shoulder at me. The whispers and the turning aside to let me pass. The word had gotten around that Johnny Stewart's cross. My brother in law was back in town and he was asking questions I was being pointed out and walked away from. I'd come home and I'd come home to a frightened city.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Autolyte is bringing you Mr. Frank Lovejoy in the frightened city. Tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, suspense. Hey, Hap, isn't that wonderful? Well, Harlow, it looks just like an Auto Light Stay Full battery to me. Hap, I'm surprised at you. Don't you realize that this is the battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. Don't you know that the Auto Lights stay Full is protected by fiberglass retaining mats around every positive plate to reduce shedding and flaking? Aren't you aware of its longer life as proved by tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards? Why sure, Harlow. Well, then you'll agree when I say money can't be buy a better battery. So, friends, visit your nearest Autolite battery dealer. He services all makes of batteries and he's got an auto Light stay full for your car in case a replacement is needed. To quickly locate your nearest auto light battery dealer, call Western Union by number.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And ask for operator 25. I'll tell you where you can get an Auto Light Stay Full.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. And now Auto Light Brings back to our Hollywood soundstage, Mr. Frank Lovejoy in Elliot Lewis production of the Frightened City. A dramatic report well calculated to keep you in suspense.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

The next morning in Easton, clear, bright look out the window of an upstairs room where you slept in an almost forgotten bed in the glint of sunlight as autumn leaves wet with melting frost. And three houses down, the man on the bathroom darting out of his front door to where the morning paper had been tossed into an evergreen bush. Watch him stalk it, retrieve it, scurry.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Back.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Trace a design on a pane of steamed window, and it's almost the way you remembered it.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Almost.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Nicky, you up?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Come on in.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Hi.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Hi.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You sleep good?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Yeah. I heard the kid bawling a little while ago. Woke me up.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Ah, he was hungry. He's all right now. Nikki.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Got home real late last night. I waited up a long time. Then I got tired and went to sleep. My brother's first night home in three years. You'd think you could have managed to get home early enough for us to talk.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Well, what do we talk about, Jane?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You? What's happened to you in three years?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

But Johnny dead. Johnny murdered. Johnny, your husband, the man you had the kid with? We don't talk about that, huh, sister? Shut up, Janie.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I told you. Shut up.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You're gonna yell me into keeping quiet.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Janie, I told you, I don't want my baby killed. Johnny was enough.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You hate me for wanting to know why Johnny's dead. You hate me for that?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Janie, my baby gets hurt, I'll hate you to your grave.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You've got lots of new things in the house, Jane. You know, new furniture, new carpets. Looks nice. Looks expensive.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

So, you coming down for breakfast?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

How much did Johnny make working as an Accountant for Osborne? 50, 60 a week? How much, Nick?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Leave me alone.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

New sofa, big green leather chair. New carpet. That costs a lot of money. How did you get them, Jane? Installment plan. Somebody give you a birthday present? How'd you do it, Jane? You got a home hobby? You take telephone subscriptions for Latest Magazine? Or did Johnny do it? Is that it? How he steal? He rob?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

He kill?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Nicky?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Tell me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Ask Osborne.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Osborne? Ask him what?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How he suddenly became rich. How Johnny left a Bank account with $30,000 in it.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What are you talking about?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You said you walked the town last night, didn't you? See what's happened to it?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

See what?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

People walking into back rooms. Shops with no customers, open late. Men paying newsboys with bills and not taking change or newspapers. People walking into back rooms, card rooms, dice tables. Numbers.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

And Johnny was part of it.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Johnny worked for Osborne.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

And Johnny got sick of it and was on his way to tell the cop.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, Nikki.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Janie, what's the matter?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

If you tell anybody what I said, I'll swear you're lying. My baby. Nick. My son. I just died. That's what you did to me. It just died.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Hi, Nick.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What are you.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Hey.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hey. What's a big idea busting up my office?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I'll tell you the idea. Osborne. Osborne, I reached across that desk to grab you by the throat. And I was gonna try to break you in half. But a thing stopped me. You wanna know what stopped me? Osborne, what's the matter with your neck? I want you to look at me and I want you to say to yourself, here's a man who's angry. And you say to yourself, here's a man who might reach across the desk and kill me. He hasn't made up his mind yet. On your feet, Osborne. On your feet. Why did you kill Johnny?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You crazy?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Talk to me. Talk. Tell me, why did you kill Johnny?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I was walking with him, son. Walking with him? Husband.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

How could you set him up as a pigeon? It's real simple. Walk with him, then go into a drugstore and wait until he's killed. Now you know how. Now tell me, why you talking to your sister, son? Osborne, you send your boys down to see my sister. They might live through what happened to him, but I doubt it.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Tough boy. Soldier boy.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Here's what's else, Osborne. This town suddenly stinks. Dice rooms, card rooms, numbers and everything that goes with it. My brother in law gets a shiny garbage disposal, a new grand piano, real fine rugs, and a large bank account on how much a 75. Accountants make about that, don't they?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

We could start you at about 300.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Be polite, Mr. Osborne, to a guy who's talking 500. Polite, Mr. Osborne. That's the word for just now. I could kill you, Osborne. Think about it with me. Here we are in this room. You, the man who's got the whole town of Easton so scared that nobody has a friend anymore. Takes a powerful man to frighten almost 20,000 people. But you did it.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Anything happens to me, Nicky boy, you'd.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Get one block from here. Let's think about that too.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

That's what I'm coming to. Then there's me in this room. And you're afraid of me. And that makes me pretty big too. But I'm not gonna kill you. Because this is my town. And it used to be a pretty good Town.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The uniform and the flag and the fist.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That's all you need.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

And there's law and there's people who need to know what's happening here. I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna do.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Get proof. Nicky.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

How about 8 o' clock tonight? I'm gonna take a walk. And I'm gonna take the same walk that Johnny did. And I'm going into that drugstore and I'm gonna make a phone call. A long distance call to St. Louis to a newspaper guy I know. And then it's gonna be in the papers about a frightened city. And the reporters will come here and they'll find out. Osborne. You're getting real scared, baby.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You mean it?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

About taking that walk tonight?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Nick, I mean it.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Maybe we'll bump into each other.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

We will. And on the way home, stop at Lane's Sporting Goods store. Buy a gun, buy cartridges. And Mr. Lane is all business. No good evenings, no how have you been, Nicky? Just ring it up on the cash register. Not look at you. And walk.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Correct.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Quickly away from you when it was done. And the walk home. Small town held in November. Twilight inside the house. Try the new piano. The room where the baby is. Play with him. And Jane comes in and takes him away from you and tells you there's supper in the kitchen if you. You want it. And eat alone. Paper propped against water pitcher. Alone. From now on, everything alone. Because the police wouldn't let you be a pigeon. Glance at the kitchen clock and it's time.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You going out, Nick?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Where?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Just for a walk.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Will you be late?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Maybe. Don't wait up for me.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Something for you, Nick?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Some change. I want to use your phone.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Sure, Nick. Here, Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Thanks.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Long distance?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Oh, long distance. What's the station to. Station charge to St. Louis.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Just a moment, please. That will be $1.20, including the tax. What number do you wish, please?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What number are you calling in St. Louis, please?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Pick a number.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm sorry, sir, but.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Don't be sorry. Get anybody you want to talk to in St. Louis. Have a talk on me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I will return your money, sir.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

No, don't do that. There's somebody I want to call in St. Louis, but I can't think of who it is.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I will give you information.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

No, no, Just. Just talk to me.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm sorry, sir, but I can't do that.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Operator, I've got to talk into this phone for just a little while longer. Just to let somebody think I'm not kidding, in case somebody's watching.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I don't Understand? Sir? Would you like information?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

About what?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Do you wish to talk to St. Louis, sir?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Do you think I should?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm afraid I'm going to have to return your money.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

No, no, don't do that. I've got a number. Get me Venton 64373 in St. Louis.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

One moment.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Osborne.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nick.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, Nick.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Sorry, soldier.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And just think, you could have died on a battlefield, not in your hometown.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Osborne didn't die. He lived quite a long time. Five months. Hospital, trial, confession. Centered. And in five months? It was spring in Easton. It was a good spring. And you know how people are. They react to the weather.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hi, Nick.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Tree's starting to bud already, you notice?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

They get friendly and they smile a lot. Like winter was a long time. A dark time. And it was over.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Come on over to the house when you have a chance, Nick.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You do that, you hear?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Grass grows in the springtime, but babies grow all the time.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Did you see them? Did you see him, Nick? He walked. My son walked.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Sure. Sure, I saw him, sis.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

He's growing up.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

That happens, sis.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And you know what? He's lucky. He's got a good town to grow up.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Suspense presented by autolight. Tonight's star, Mr. Frank Lovejoy. This is Harlow Wilcox. And here once again is our star, Frank Lovejoy. This was your first appearance of our new season, Frank, and we want you to know we enjoyed every minute.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Thank you, Harlow. And thanks to Autolight for making it possible. You've had some wonderful shows this season. And next week's promises to be one of the best. Ladies and gentlemen, if I may, I recommend that you be sure to listen to Death and Ms. Turner. Starring Ms. Agnes Moorhead.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, Frank. It should be a great show. Brought to you by one of the great names in American industry, Autolyte and its family of 98,000 distributors and dealers in the United States and thousands more in Canada and throughout the world. Our family also includes the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great autolight plants from coast to coast, and auto light plants in many foreign countries, as well as the 18,000 people who have invested a portion of their savings in Autolight. Every Autolite product is backed by constant research and precision built to the highest standards of quality and. And performance. So remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. Next week, a new radio play by the originator of suspense, Mr. William Spear. The story is called Death and Ms. Turner. And it will star the first lady of suspense, Ms. Agnes Moorhead. That's next week on Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morowic and conducted by Lud Gluskin. The Frightened City was written for suspense by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Featured in tonight's cast were Joan Banks, Lou Merrill, Herb Butterfield, Paula Winslow, High Averback and Charles Calvert. Frank Lovejoy appeared through the courtesy of Warner Brothers, whose current release is Operation Secret. Remember, next week, Ms. Agnes Moorhead in death and Ms. Turner.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You can buy Autolite Stay Full batteries, Autolyte electrical parts and Autolite resistor or standard type spark plugs at your neighborhood Autolite dealers. Switch to Autolite. Good night.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

This is the CBS Radio Network. And now, tonight's presentation from radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills. Suspense. Tonight, the story of a murder. Deliberate, cold, motiveless. In which we will examine its effects on our protagonist. The story is called the Earth Is Made of glass.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Good morning, Dr. West.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, good morning, Ms. Adams.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I've brought down the night charts from the fourth floor.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Now look them over. What sort of night did you have?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Fairly quiet, Doctor. No new cases?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

There were. I don't know where you'd put them.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Well, we have one vacant bed this morning. 4:36.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Mr. Steele?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes. He died about 4:00am Surprised he held on that long. I thought you might be upset, doctor. I mean the day supervisor. Ms. Rosenberg told me you and Mr. Steele were either related or very close friends.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, no, not at all. Mr. Steele suffered certain delusions.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Just before he died. He asked me to give you this, Dr. West. It's some kind of diary or journal. He said he owed it to you, that it was in compensation.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Very well.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Leave it on the desk. I'll ask who's in charge of settling his estate.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

All right, Doctor. I looked at the first few pages. It's very strange. Oh, well, I'm going off duty.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Very well, Miss Adams.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I'll see you tomorrow.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, Doctor.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The journal of Richard Thomas Steele. Strange. He tore out a good many pages. Everything up to July 26th. That's only a month ago. Why on earth did he leave it to me? Who do you think I was? Poor devil. There was certainly something torturing him. July 26. An extremely depressing day. From early morning on, the air was hot, heavy, sticky. I stayed indoors.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I stayed indoors with the blinds drawn. Spent three and a half hours arranging and cataloging a new shipment of books. I must say I gloated over the volume of bacon gold leaf uncut. 1836. A treasure. In the afternoon, I ventured out to play chess with Elliot. He's an Uninspired player and a worse conversationalist. I'm appalled that a man of Elliot's pretension still wallows in 18th and 19th century thought patterns, twaddle and sentimentality. He's totally out of step with the times, blindly determined to keep his mind closed to any developments in science. It was so apparent in that argument we had over Ralph Waldo Emerson. I noticed he had a volume of Emerson's essays, a cheap reprint, and I thumbed through it. There was one paragraph in the essay called Compensation, which especially annoyed me. I must have snorted because Elliot was instantly on the defensive. When I asked him if he actually believed such claptrap, he fairly leaped at me. Certainly I believe there's compensation, Richard. Tit for tat, Measure for measure, love for love. Whatever a man does, comes back to him. Good for good, evil for evil. So that if I should commit a crime, I would of necessity be punished in one way or another? Yes. You mean that I would in some way suffer in compensation for my evil deed? Isn't that what Emerson says? I want to know what you believe. I believe what he says. Well, let's read what he says, discounting the poetry and all the emotional overtones. Emerson says, commit a crime and the earth is made of glass. Commit a crime and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge in fox and squirrel and mole. You cannot recall the spoken word. You cannot wipe out the foot track. You cannot draw up the ladder so as to leave no inlet or clue. Some damning circumstance always transpires. The laws and substances of nature, water, snow, wind, gravitation, become penalties to the thief. Well, Elliot? Beautiful, isn't it? Don't be evasive, Elliot. We're discussing his theory. Well, I don't see how there can be any argument. We know. We know a good deal more than Emerson, you old fellow. Especially about the laws and substances of nature. They surely haven't changed. No, no, but we've taken them into the laboratory. We've tested the substances and we've mastered the laws. Put them under our control. The scientific method, Elliot. Why, it cancels out every word. Your friend Emerson wrote. The scientific, scientific method. Is it an open sesame to all knowledge? Does it make us gods? There are still mysteries we can never fathom, Richard. For instance, the mysteries in ourselves. In our souls. Yes, in our souls. And whatever it is we have that cannot be weighed or tested, yet which manifests itself in every good or evil thing we do. Say you commit a murder. Say I do a perfect crime. For I grant you that a man of your intelligence can outwit the police. Nevertheless, you could not escape from. Well, let's call it your conscience. But say I commit a laboratory murder.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Let me put it this way. To catch a murderer, the police first set out to discover some connection between the murderer and his victim, which leads them to the motive of the crime. And when a murderer is caught by his own conscience, it is also through his connection with his victim, his emotional connection. But in a pure abstract murder, one occurring in an emotional vacuum, the two participants would be connected only by the unadulterated act of killing. But isn't every man connected first of all with himself? I mean, a man renders judgment on.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Himself, in his soul, I would say.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What superstitious clap clap. Elliot, apparently you're completely unable to grasp my premise. Theoretically, a laboratory murder is entirely possible. Why not? Actually, it'd be very interesting to test the theory and find out. July 28th. The weather continues warm, humidity high. This is the last summer I shall spend in New York. Today I roam to around my library. Read a little thought a great deal. It's odd how I keep referring back to my conversation with Elliot. Abstract murder. A laboratory murder. I jotted down one or two theoretical points today. An amusing project in such hot weather. What utter nonsense. To think of conducting a laboratory experiment in writing on paper or. It's a contradiction in terms. The core of the scientific method is to prove theory in life. So let us proceed actually to create a pure murder. A murder committed, as I said, to Elliot in a material and emotional vacuum. A murder of someone with whom I have no connection, whom I have no possible reason to kill. But I will decide how to choose my victim after I've made all the other preparations and have purchased the necessary equipment. Gloves, sir? What kind of gloves? Any kind of gloves. But I mean, what do you want them for? Driving? Gardening? I want gloves I can use for almost anything. Ah, well now, we call these utility gloves. Oh, yes, those are excellent. Yes. What size? Any size, medium. Now these look just. No, no, no, I don't want to try them on. I'll take them as they are. Just wrap them up. You know, I'm very fond of a genuine old fashioned hardware store like this one. Well, lots of people tell me that, sir. Anything special you're looking for? No, I suppose I'm just browsing. What are those, ice picks? Yes, sir, quite a selection. Screwdrivers and. Oh, there's something I want.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

A knife?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

One of those. Well, to be fair with you, sir.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Those are pretty poor knives.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That's why they're marked down. Too big for paring, too small for carving. Just knives. That's about it. The best possible recommendation. I'll take one. A meaningless knife. All purpose gloves. Knife and gloves. New factory made uncontaminated by human ass association. Smelling only of the harsh impersonal machines which turned them out. My first safeguards against the intrusion of emotion. And now, to complete my plans. Who will it be? I must never see his or her face. I must not know his or her name, age, occupation, thoughts or desires. I must come into contact with this victim as casually as though we were blown together by the wind. There can be no selection, no volunteer volition on my part, except the elementary volition necessary to raise my arm to kill. July 30th. The exact record of what has occurred. I must write it down. Now, while it's fresh in my mind, I'll be absolutely precise and objective. Very well, then. At exactly 10pm tonight I left my house wearing the new gloves and carrying the knife in my right hand coat pocket. I walked an undetermined number of blocks, turning corners at random, taking care to observe no street signs or landmarks. I observed only one thing, that there were many people on the street. In fact, I became aware that I was pushing through a rather dense crowd. I walked on with difficulty, but not once did I allow myself to become conscious of the exact nature of my surroundings. Then, at last, I found my progress through the crowd blocked by what I can only describe as a human back. I raised the knife and drove it into the back with all my force. I continued walking without haste, pausing only a fraction of a second to hear. He's dead.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

He's dead.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

He's dead. Yes. I paused just long enough to hear. Thus confirmed my uncle unqualified belief that without any possible consequence to myself, I had taken another human being's life.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You are listening to Mr. Joseph Kearns in Sylvia Richards Study and Motive. The Earth Is Made of Glass. Tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. This is Flag Week, when all patriotic organizations urge all patriotic Americans to display.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Their stars and stripes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Your flag, hanging on high, tells all who pass that America truly is one nation indivisible.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Give new glory to Old Glory by.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Showing your country's colors during Flag Week and on all patriotic holidays, national and local. And now we bring back to Our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Joseph Kearns in Elliot Lewis production of the Earth Is Made of Glass. A tale well calculated to Keep you in Society, Spence.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

August 1st. All day I felt enormously stimulated, elated by the success of my experiment. The very intensity of the sun outside my study has added to my feeling of well being. Tomorrow I shall complete my notes on this extraordinary and I'm sure valuable psychological study. Today I shall relish to the full my mood of achievement. How I regret that I can't tell old Elliot. I can picture the disbelief and horror on his face if he knew compensation. Oh, tut, tut, Mr. Ellison. August 3rd. Yesterday I was unable to write in my journal because of the excessive heat and because I suffered from a headache and a vibration in my ears. Today I'm forcing myself to write, to have on record the final control in my experiment, my laboratory murder. To assure complete ignorance of the identity of my victim. I have read no newspaper and will not read any for a period of time, two or three weeks. Nor will I hold conversation with anyone apt to be morbidly interested in murder. As reported in the tabloid press. August 4th. The heat is unbearable. And all day I have felt that odd heavy vibration in my head. Now also on my arms and body. It is almost complete constant in a 1 2, 12 rhythm. But sometimes it's a sound as well as a vibration, like the distant sound of the sea. I must consult a doctor. Last night I was kept awake by the throbbing in my head. And toward morning I was subjected to a new agony. Very softly at first, but louder and louder, like voices heard in delirium. My head became filled with an almost hysterical babbling. Not for an instant have the voices stopped or even paused. I seem to keep time with the reverberation of my heart. August 8th. I have no need to consult a doctor, for I know the nature of my illness. Last night, trying to drive the unspeakable uproar from my brain, I turned to music. But when I put the record on the machine, Schnabel's recording of Beethoven's F minor Sonata, the Appassionata, the sound in the voices rose to her bedlam, shrieking round out the music. And then I knew. In spite of every precaution, my laboratory murder had not taken place in a vacuum. Two things had penetrated my shield. First, the voices echoing in my ears. The fragments of speech about a concert are the same voices I heard in that crowd, rising again and again to the climax of a woman's scream. And the pulsing sound I heard when I drove that knife home into a beating heart. Its vital rhythm, the mighty leap and contraction of the heart's muscle on the blade of the knife was transmitted back to me through my hand and remains indelibly recorded in the heartbeat of my own blood. August 11th. During the past hour, the incessant hammering of sound has receded, but I know this respite will be brief. Now, while I'm able to reason, I must discover where I erred and act swiftly to correct my error. There's no turning back. The death I caused is an accomplished fact. And each day I remember something more. Today, suddenly, like a photograph imprinted on my brain, I saw the black car of his coat, his gray hat, and between his clipped, silky reddish hair. And I had, and still have, an insatiable desire to turn his head around to see his face. Perhaps there's only one course for me to take to reverse my plan. Learn everything about my victim, every possible detail. Create for myself a total portrait, and then discard it in its entirety. Learn his name, age, address, all the statistics of his life. I beg your pardon, miss. Where are the newspaper files?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

What dates did you wish to see?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The week of July 30th.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Which paper?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The Times. I'll start with that.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Just a moment.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I want them for the whole week.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, yes. Well, here are all the copies for July bound. And these loose ones are August so far.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, thank you.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Now, don't take them out of the reading room. And return them to the desk when you're through, please.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes, thank you. I will. I opened the bound volume near the end and immediately saw his picture, Page one center. The photograph was blurred, but without reading a word. I recognized him because he matched his hair. I mean, his face went with the back of the head. I had seen. But before I could read the headline above the picture, someone spoke to me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Pardon me, but may I look at.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That for just a moment? It couldn't be standing at my shoulder, smiling, young, apparently as alive as I. But it was. He was there. He? My victim. The face in the paper and his face were the same. I swear they were the same.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm sorry to bother you. The girl at the desk told me you had that volume of the Times.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I. Yes, yes. There's an item I wanted to see.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

In the July 30 issue. I'd wait, but I have to catch a train. If I'm late, my wife worries.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You know how it is. If I am late, my wife worries. And that night he was very late. Somewhere she's still waiting. Waiting. Is that what he wanted me to know? But this is madness, hysteria. It's merely coincidence. The man in the Library. He looks so much like him. He's dead. I know he's dead. And the dead neither walk nor speak. I must believe that. And I must go back to the library and find out where he lived, who and what he was. August 15th. I'm beyond all human help. I can confide the terrors I live with only to the patient of this journal. Today I went to Riverside, to a quiet street where he had lived. A tree lined street running down to the Hudson River. I walked past his house, number 246 Palisades Road. A young woman on the front porch was trimming a morning glory vine. I ached to speak to her and ask her name, but the words stuck in my throat. I walked on. Then at the next corner, it happened again. I had paused at the curb when he came up behind me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Pardon me, did you see the bus go by?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The bus?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, the bus for Columbia. Say, what's wrong? Are you ill?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, no, no, no. I'm all right.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You look like you're about to faint. I live right near here. If you want to lie.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, no, no, please. I'm all right.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

My house is just down.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, please, no.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, it's up to you. I can't make you come, but I hate to see you suffer needlessly.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

August 20th. He doesn't like to see me suffer. Yet because of him there isn't one day, one hour when I'm free from despair and fear. Yes, I accept him now. The dead do walk and speak. At least one dead man does. Whether actually or in the madness of my brain, I do not know. I only know that if I venture out of my house, inevitably he finds me. Sometimes he follows at a distance. Sometimes waits ahead of me and beckons. And sometimes he meets me face to face as he did two days ago. I was going home and I stopped at the Corner Drugstore. Evening, Mr. Steele. Malden. No, no. I'll have a cup of coffee.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Sure thing.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah, this stool's vacant next to this gentleman. Thank you. Oh, no, no. Go ahead, sit down.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Sure, sit down. I won't bite you. Hey, here's your coffee.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, Joel, I changed my mind.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Look, fella, if it's something about me, What's.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What's wrong, Mr. Steele? What do you want of me? Tell me what you want.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Me?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't want anything.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Then why don't you leave me alone? Somebody you know?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Mr. Steele?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Apparently Mr. Steele thinks he knows me.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I do? Oh, I do.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Maybe so, mister, if you say so. But if you know me, it sure wasn't from this life must have been some other incarnation.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That was the evening of the 17th. And yesterday I'd started down the subway step at 53rd Street. After looking all around to make sure he was nowhere near, I'd only gone a few steps when I felt my arm jostled and I turned.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, pardon me, please.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What do you want? What?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What do you mean?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Why are you following me? I looked and I didn't see you. And then suddenly you struck my arm.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Maybe it's just fate or something. Anyway, I said I was sorry.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Then have mercy on me and go away. Look, you don't own the subway. Please, just. Please. Okay, okay.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Since my face seems to give you the willies, I'll be big hearted. I'm in no hurry. Got all the time in the world. So I'll wait and take the next train. Will that help?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You know it will.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't know and don't want to. But run along now before I Change my mind.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

August 26th. What will you have? Quoth God, Pay for it and take it. Well, I have paid and I must now take. For today I learned the cure for all my pain and torment. Today the course I have to take is clear. Today, on a deserted path nearing fifth Avenue, I saw him again. He was coming directly toward me. I waited. I didn't even try to escape. Oh, wait. I. I must ask.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Ask me what?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Only one question. I. I have to know.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I'm not sure.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I. We don't have to play games or pretend.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

I accept you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You're real.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, I guess I'm real.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

And only you can give me the answer.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Why me?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Please. I can't stand much more.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Don't you see you look sick? If you want me to help you, I.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

There's only one way you can help. Only one way. Just answer me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, okay, go ahead. I'll try.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Do you. Do you believe in compensation?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What do you mean by that?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I mean, if someone does evil, if I have done evil, must I get evil in return?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, say it again.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Do you believe in good for good, evil for evil? Look, what about killing?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, there's all sorts of killing. In the war I killed several people.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

But senseless killing, killing with no reason. What is the compensation for that?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You've asked a pretty complicated question of a pretty simple guy. The only thing that comes to my mind right now is what it says in the Bible. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That's what you believe?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, sure, I guess that's what I believe. Well, does that answer your question?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Command the price asked by the only one who can ask it. Well, I'll pay. For I've learned that no event between two human beings can happen in a vacuum. We're all enmeshed. Bound together through our blood in a pulse and net. If one of us does violence to another, he does violence to himself.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Very well.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

This price I'm glad to pay. I'm glad to die for his death. There is no other way.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Hello, Mr. Steele. Are you awake?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Where am I?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

In the hospital. How do you feel?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hospital? But I must. I have to die. Not if we can keep you from it. I have to.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Well, you did your best. And what a silly way to do it. With a butcher knife.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I tell you, you have to let me die. Where's the doctor?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Now? Now, lie down. Lie down. Mr. Steele, the doctor will be here in a minute.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I have to make him see. I promised.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You promised. Oh, here's the doctor now. Dr. Westey, I'm having a little trouble.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Trouble, Ms. Rosenberg? What seems to be the matter? You forgive me.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I tried to do as you said. I tried to die. Stella.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Please go away.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Leave me alone. Promise I'll die.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Miss Adams.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, Dr. West.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Did you finish reading his journal?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, Doctor.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

It's a weird document.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Certainly is. What made him think you were the man he killed?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

That was the nature of his illness. He had a fixed delusion. He looked at me and saw someone else's face.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

How strange.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

But there's something stranger still. When I finished reading this, I called.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The police and checked about the murder.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes, and there was no such murder as he described. Not on July 30, not ever.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

He didn't kill anyone.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

He never drove his knife into a living vac. But Richard Steele killed in his mind.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You mean, just because he thought of killing?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, he went further than that. He selected his victim.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Who?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The man whose picture was in the paper.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I looked it up.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

It was on the front page of the book review section. The photograph of an author.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Someone he wanted to kill?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And even for that crime, because he wished for someone's death. The earth was made of glass. There was full compensation.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Whose death? Who was it?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The author of a new biography called Ralph Waldo Emerson and Our Time.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

And who was it by?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The author was Richard Steele himself. Suspense. In which Joseph Kearns was starred in the Earth Is Made of Glass.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Class.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Next week. The story of a man with no imagination. Who found it necessary to cause the violent end of a life it was written by the winner of the Edgar Allan Poe award, E. Jack Newman. And it's called Sequel to Murder. That's next week on Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morowic and conducted by Ludluskin. The Earth is Made of Glass was written for suspense by Sylvia Richards. In tonight's story, Joseph Kearns was heard as Mr. Steele. Featured in the cast were Whitfield Connor, Charlotte Lawrence, Herb Butterfield, Jerry Hower, Paula Winslow and Junius Matthews. And remember next week, E. Jack Newman's new suspense play, Sequel to Murder. When four noisy people give one noisy party in a Baltimore home, two of the four wind up at the morgue. It's an unsettling bit of business that interested all of Baltimore just a few years ago. And CBS radio's Crime Classics weighs the available facts for you. Tomorrow night on most of these stations.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Hear all about the death of a.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Baltimore birdie and friend on Crime Classics. Tomorrow night, you can join the FBI.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

In peace and War Wednesdays on the CBS Radio network.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. Tonight, the story of a man who sets out to prove that he cannot be murdered, only to find there was a slight error in his calculations. So now, starring Joe here is tonight's suspense play, the last letter of Dr. Bronson.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

My dear Dr. Mosher, forgive me if I dash this letter off rather hurriedly. There are but a very few minutes remaining for me. The few minutes between now and midnight. You have always protested my fascination with the subject of death. It irked you to hear me discuss the latest electrocution or hanging. You alone, Moser, will know how this fascination has led me to this terrible moment. I should like you to have all the facts. First of all, let me recall a conversation which we held here in my study a little over a year ago.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Death and murder.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

There you go again, Bronson. Really, you're unhelpful.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, no, no, now, now, wait, Mosher. I've been studying the question for some time, and I have concluded that there are five basic checks which serve to restrain man from murdering his fellow man.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

An interesting theory.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, it's. It's more than a theory. I can and I intend to prove in it.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Oh, come on now, Bronson.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I shall select five men, each of whom I shall supply with a motive to commit a murder. Greed, revenge, jealousy, whatever. I shall encourage each man to kill and then restrain him from the act by means of the particular check which I'm testing.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

You forget of course. That a murderer requires a partner in crime. The victim, the man to be killed.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Well, I shall supply one. You will ask this victim to face five men, each standing to derive satisfaction.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Or profit from murdering him.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Correct.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And his only chance of survival being.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The validity of your theory of check.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Do you seriously imagine you will persuade any man to have such utter confidence in your reckonings? There is one such man.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Who?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Myself.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Bronson. This is in spite of. Why?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Why should I hesitate to risk high stakes on a sure thing?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

But your life?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, no, I tell you, there's no danger involved whatsoever. When will you begin your experiment? Well, why don't we begin right now? Mosier. I invite you to kill me.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

There's a revolver right here in my desk and I. Your joking, Bronson. I'm not. What possible motive would I have for murdering you? Motive? Why, we're associated rather closely in our work. You'll come naturally into my entire practice. I'll put that in writing for you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

It's preposterous.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Why won't you kill me, Mosher? There are dozens of reasons. In the first place, I'd go to.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

The electric chair for it.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

There. There you are. A perfect illustration of the first and most obvious check. Man refrains from killing because he himself will be killed by law.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

All right, Bronson, maybe that proves your point. The first one, at any rate.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

But what about next time?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

And the next?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

That, my dear doctor, remains to be seen. And so, my dear doctor, you yourself illustrated the first of my five positive checks which restrain man from murder. Fear of the law. Now, that was more than a year ago. The remaining checks have not been so simple. I had to locate my four subjects. I had to cultivate the friendship of each, so that when the time should come to confront him with my proposition, I would be certain of how he would act. Now, the first of my four potential murderers was a clerk named Totten. We frequently went to church together on Sunday evenings at St. Stephen's right around the corner of my apartment. And one Sunday evening after the service, I asked him up to my apartment and as we walked along, we talked.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You know, Dr. Bronson, I was talking about you to my wife the other day before they took her to the hospital. I was saying what a great comfort it was to be with you these Sunday nights.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Oh, now come, Mr. Thompson. You embarrass me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, no, I mean it. In the world today, too many people seem to feel that they no longer need their God.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Yes, yes, their lives seem to be void of the great thing you have, your faith.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

The church is a great comfort to me, and I do need something to cling to in times like these. Isn't this your apartment that we're passing?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Oh, I want to go up the sideway. We should be unobserved. Unobserved? Yes. Yes. Won't you step into the study, please?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yes.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Now, if you will take this chair opposite my desk.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Thank you.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Good. Now, Tutton, you could make rather good use of $5,000 now, couldn't you?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I beg your pardon?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, I'm quite sincere.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

You know what even $100 would mean to me with my wife in the hospital.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Exactly. And so here in this desk, I have this little package containing $5,000. Now, it's yours if you will do me one service.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What could I do for you that would be worth all that money?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Let me explain. My doctor called on me yesterday, and he told me. Well, to be quite frank with you, Tutton, he said that I was slowly going mad.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, that couldn't be.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, I'm quite all right at present, but it's only a matter of time, and I'd rather not have to face it. And so, if you will take these rubber gloves.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

I don't understand.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Put them on, please.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

But why?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

As soon as you have them on, I shall hand you this small bottle. It contains cyanide of potassium, one of the deadliest poisons known to man. Now, I hold it firmly, thus and clearly impress my fingertips on it. Finally, here on the desk, I'm leaving this note explaining that I have committed suicide.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Suicide?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Now, when the bottle is in your hand, I want you to remove the stopper and empty the contents upon my outstretched tongue. You see, I will be dead within a few seconds. Then you may leave by the same way we came in. You will be quite unnoticed and with $5,000 in your pocket. What do you say?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Well, you can't take the matter of life and death into your own hands.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Precisely. That's why I'm asking you to do this for me.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Very sorry, I can't oblige you.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

But now, if it's the law you feel.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No, no, no, it's not that. You seem to have arranged that perfectly.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Then what is it?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

If you don't understand why I can't do this monstrous thing, I suggest you look up the sixth commandment. Good night.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

So, Mosher, my second point was proved. Man refrains from killing because it is against his religious principles. The hands of the clock now read. 15 minutes to midnight, one quarter of an hour, in which to complete this report. Now, my third proposition called for an entirely different sort of man. One night I came upon him, very unexpected. Unexpectedly, I was walking along one of the darker streets of the city. There was no one in view. He was slumped down beside an ashcan. He had been shot in the chest and left arm, severing an artery. He was bleeding profusely. I tore off his shirt, made a tourniquet for his arm.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Never mind me. Get away.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Who did this to you?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

What difference does it make?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

You're going to a hospital.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

No.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

They'll call the cops. There, there. Come on, I'll help you to your feet. Come now.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Ain't gone.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I'm a doctor, man. You'll die if you're not treated quickly.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Ain't gone, I tell you.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

They'll call the cops.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Well, I don't want no cops. His name was Matt Doyle, a small time hoodlum. I visited Doyle in the hospital almost every day. Several months later, I was ready to put him to the test. I found Doyle in one of his hangouts and brought him to my apartment. And for the third time, I carefully explained my proposition.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Oh, that's the angle Here.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Here are the gloves. Here is the suicide note. And here is a.45 caliber automatic. You're familiar with this type of weapon, I take it?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Familiar? Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Is this on the level?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Absolutely.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

And it's what a do is mine.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

If I kill you?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

That's right.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Nobody know I done it?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No one.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

These gloves, they're kind of small for me.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

That's all right. They'll do.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

You want me to put on the other one?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Safer, yes.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yeah, guess it is.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Now, I. I want you to understand exactly what you're doing, Doyle. Without any justifiable cause, merely for the sake of money, you are going to murder me. Now, you understand that?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

You've been hired to do this before.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

But you've never killed a friend, have you?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Yeah.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah, I have.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Anyway, they was my pals until they got in the boss's way. But when the boss would say, see to a mat, then there was just another job. To me, Whatever the boss said was.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Always right, you see.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

But. But you.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Well, I don't know. No. No, I can't do it.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

But I thought you said that you.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

No.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Here, you take the gloves.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Are you afraid of the law?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

What's the matter then?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

It's.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Well, the boss always told me what.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

To do, you see.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

And then afterwards, he'd always come around and slap me on the back. And he'd Say, good boy, Matt. But if I took care of you well, you couldn't come around later to tell me that I'd done a good job. And, you see, that's important to me.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Yes, but look.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

No, no. I'm sorry, Doc, but if there's somebody else that you want me to take care of.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, no, no. There's no one. Thank you just the same. That was my third proposition. Even a criminal of low intelligence, a professional killer, cannot bring himself to murder unless the act follows the code of his society. Unless it is approved by some voice of authority. My next subject was altogether different in temperament. I first encountered Judith Ainslie about five years ago. When I operated on Barrett Sheffield, the actor. You will recall that Sheffield was brought to the hospital with a lung abscess. As I prepared to do the rib resection, I noticed that the nurse standing beside me was greatly agitated.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Retractors, Doctor.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Thanks.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Doctor, do you think this is advisable?

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

What?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

His dyspenia is more pronounced.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Listen, Miss Ainsley, Another hemostat, please.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

But he's getting blue, Doctor. Do you think you really should.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

He's cyanotic, Miss Ainslie.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm sorry, Doctor, but if.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Doctor.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Doctor, caffeine. Quickly, please. Quickly. Well, that's that.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You killed him. You killed him. You should never have gone ahead. You know that. I warned you.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

What is the matter with you, Ainsley? Have you never seen a pulmonary before?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, I have. Well, we were going to be married next week.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

If ever I saw hate, cold, undying hate, it was in that girl's eyes. I had made the most implacable enemy of my life. A few months ago, I inquired about Miss Ainslie and learned that she had done four years of medical and was now interning. In the hope of picking up a residency, I went down to the hospital and sat in the doctor's lounge. Waited for her. Presently, she came in with another intern. I stood up, walked towards her.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Oh, I would say about three months ago.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Miss Ainslie, could I speak with you, please?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Excuse me.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Of course, doctor.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Dr. Ainslie, if you please, Doctor, I.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Have a little proposition to make to you. But first of all, there are two facts I'd like to be sure of. A, you are unable to set up your own practice because you don't have the money to get started. Now, is that right?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Perhaps.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Fact B, you still hate me and feel a strong desire to be revenged for the wrong which you consider I have done you.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Yes, I'm afraid that's true, Dr. Bronson.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Good good.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Yes. You see, I want to pay someone to murder me. So once again I carefully and painstakingly set forth my simple conditions.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I'm not sure that you're entirely sane, Doctor, but go on. You interest me.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

You see, it's my heart. I've had considerable damage. Coronary occlusion. Had to spend six weeks on my back. Just got up last week. So naturally I was given digitalis and.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

I see, Doctor.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You've been heavily digitalized. And if someone were to give you an injection of calcium gluconate, it would have an immediate heart block. Dead within a few minutes.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Exactly. A simple error of judgment. Unavoidable.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

$5,000, my own practice.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

And I will say that I'm feeling badly again. A recurrence of my pericardial pains. I will go back to bed and ask that you be assigned to care for me. And the rest is simple. No one would ever expect you to know that I had been digitalized.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Still, if I were on my toes, I would naturally go over your case history before giving medication of any kind.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Well, yes, I suppose that's true. Professional people might think you had been a little lax.

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

Doctor, I want to thank you. You've done me a great service.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

You mean you'll do it?

[Female Lead/Supporting Character (Pamela Barnes / Jane / Nurse / Ms. Prentice)]

You've reminded me that nothing, no money, no revenge, nothing can be worth the slightest shadow of suspicion in a doctor's career. They'll never say that I lost a patient because of an error in judgment. You see, I once knew a doctor who did.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

There.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Mosher is my fourth check man, or in this case, woman. Refrains from killing because of the fear of loss of reputation.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Now.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Now I come to the testing of my fifth subject. Man who would not murder because he couldn't bear the sight of blood, much like less the responsibility for shedding it. Ladern was my man and I found him shortly after my search began. On that day I saw him turn a ghastly white as a fast moving car ran over a small dog which had run into the street. Ladern clutched at his throat and fell in a dead faint. I, of course, made it my business to become acquainted with him. I hadn't seen him for more than four months until tonight. As he took his place at my desk, I noticed he's changed.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

He's thinner.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

His dark eyes seem blacker than ever. And so now, for the fifth and last time, I explained the necessary details.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

So it will look like suicide?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Yeah, that's right. Here is the knife. And the suicide knife note. You've arranged everything? Everything.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No One knows I'm here.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No one. You want me to kill you now?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

Why do you want to die?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

My doctor says that I am going insane. That's strange about going mad.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

About him saying you're going mad.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Oh, yes, it was a shock. I don't mean that. What do you mean?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

That's the same thing they told me.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

They what?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

They told me over a year ago.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

That I was going mad. The sight of blood no longer troubles you?

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

No.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Then there is no check.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

What check?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

How many is it? Nothing.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Nothing?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Well, might as well get this over with. Nice gloves you've got here. Nice and smooth on my hand. Then you're. You're going through with it? I've got my gun right here, too. Beauty, isn't it? Yes. Then if you'll give me back the knife. No, no, I'll keep that. I've used this gun a lot the past three months. Killed about 50 dogs. You. You've done what?

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

It's very interesting.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I do it after midnight. It's fun watching the dogs. You have to know just where to hit them. Kills them instantly. Yes, but the noise. I have a silencer. I don't like to wake people up when I kill their dogs. Now, look here, Letourne. This has gone far enough. I was only joking.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

No, you weren't.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Now listen to me. I was only joking.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Shall I do it now?

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

No, no, no, wait. You want it through the heart, don't you? Not. Not yet. Can't you wait just a little while? What for? There's no use your trying anything.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

I'd kill you quick.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

As.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I suppose you would. Look, I have been conducting a little experiment. I would like to write an account of it before I go. What sort of an experiment? I don't think you'd understand.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

I'll wait till midnight, then. I gotta go. There's a German police dog. Big ugly brute. But I'll wait. Thanks. The clock says 10 minutes past 11.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

You got 50 minutes. I'll wait by the window.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

And.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

And so, Mosher, my experiment has ended. Strange, isn't it, that the one thing I didn't count on was the choosing of a subject who would not respond to my checks. Who, in fact, had no checks at all. For insanity knows no restraint. Dr. Bronson, it's midnight. He is still at the window. I know that. I am beginning to understand exactly what is going on in his wicked mind. I wonder why. Now I shall sign my name for the last time and lay down my pen. Then I shall look up and say.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

All right.

[Male Supporting Character (Robert Wiley / Dr. Bronson / Matt Doyle)]

Ladern. All right, Ladern.

[Narrator/Announcer (Harlow Wilcox)]

Suspense, in which John Dana starred as Dr. Bronson. Next week, the story of a man who learns far too late that in horse racing or life, there is no such thing as a sure thing. We call it the sure thing. That's next week on Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by Norman MacDonald with music composed by Lucian Morowic and conducted by Lud Luskin. The Last letter of Dr. Bronson was specially written for suspense by Leonard St. Clair from a story by Richard Krakey. Featured in the cast were Parley Bear, Howard Culver, Paul Richards, Virginia Gregg and James Nusser. You enjoy City Hospital every Saturday in the daytime on the CBS radio.

[Male Supporting Character (Nick Crawford / Other Male Roles)]

We.

[Podcast Host/Narrator]

Just heard the Lady Pamela, a good and faithful servant, the frightened city, the Earth is Made of Glass, and the last letter of Dr. Bronson. That will do it for this show. Thanks so much for joining me. Next time I'll present my favorite episodes from the final years of suspense, from 1955 until 1962, when the show signed off the air for good. In the meantime, you can check out down these Mean Streets, my old Time Radio Detective podcast. New episodes of that show are out on Sundays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. You can rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com Meansts OTR now good night until next time, when I'll be back with my final batch of favorite episodes, each of them a tale well calculated to keep you in.

[Male Lead/Detective/Interviewer]

Suspension.

[Male Supporting Character (Harold Fenton)]

Ladies and gentlemen, the chief hope of our enemies is to divide the United States along racial and religious lines and thereby conquer us. Let's not spread prejudice. A divided America is a weak America. Through our behavior, we encourage the respect of our children and make them better neighbors to all races and religions. Remind them that being good neighbors has helped make our country great and kept her free. Thank you.