WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.000 Suspense. 00:01.000 --> 00:29.920 This is the man in black, here again to introduce Columbia's program. 00:29.920 --> 00:30.920 Suspense. 00:30.920 --> 00:37.400 Heading our starring Hollywood cast this evening is Mr. Richard Dix, who appears as a United 00:37.400 --> 00:42.360 States Naval officer, who found himself in a remarkable predicament on what should have 00:42.360 --> 00:46.720 been an uneventful flight from New York to Philadelphia. 00:46.720 --> 00:52.520 As fellow passengers aboard the airliner are Miss Gail Page, a girl named Monica, and Mr. 00:52.520 --> 00:57.200 Montague Love, who plays that aged and domineering millionaire Silas Naylor. 00:57.200 --> 01:06.080 The story by John Dixon Carr called Death Flies Blind is tonight's tale of suspense. 01:06.080 --> 01:10.360 If you have been with us on these Tuesday nights, you will know that suspense is compounded 01:10.360 --> 01:15.120 of mystery and suspicion, dangerous adventure. 01:15.120 --> 01:20.800 In this series, our tales are calculated to intrigue you, stir your nerves, to offer you 01:20.800 --> 01:26.960 a precarious situation, and then withhold the solution until the last possible moment. 01:26.960 --> 01:32.000 And so it is with Death Flies Blind and the performances of Richard Dix, Gail Page, Montague 01:32.000 --> 01:45.120 Love, and our other players, we again hope to keep you in suspense. 01:45.120 --> 01:48.240 The Guardia Field, Municipal Airport of New York. 01:48.240 --> 01:51.640 The Guardia Field, vast behind its white buildings. 01:51.640 --> 01:56.880 On a gray spring afternoon when rain splashes across the runways, dims the sky, and spills 01:56.880 --> 02:01.560 spatters on the wings of a great silver painted airliner waiting beyond. 02:01.560 --> 02:05.000 Already as the limousine bus from the New York terminus slowly draws up to the waiting 02:05.000 --> 02:07.800 shed, you can hear the loud speaker. 02:07.800 --> 02:14.000 The big limousine bus besides its driver contains only two persons. 02:14.000 --> 02:18.800 One is a tall young man in United States naval uniform with the stripes of a lieutenant commander 02:18.800 --> 02:20.120 around his sleeve. 02:20.120 --> 02:26.800 The other is a tall and dark haired girl with a face a little frightened in the blue. 02:26.800 --> 02:49.160 The yellowing 02:49.160 --> 02:50.740 They go on non-stop from there. 02:50.740 --> 02:52.240 But that's just it. 02:52.240 --> 02:53.500 Who's going on from there? 02:53.500 --> 02:55.080 Oh, you'd be surprised. 02:55.080 --> 02:56.920 This airport bus must hold 20 people, 02:56.920 --> 03:00.300 but there's nobody in it except ourselves and the driver. 03:00.300 --> 03:02.560 Who's going on to Los Angeles or anywhere else? 03:02.560 --> 03:05.020 I was going to tell you about that, Monica. 03:05.920 --> 03:07.680 All right, miss. All right, sir. 03:07.680 --> 03:09.640 Hop under that shed and out the door on the other side. 03:09.640 --> 03:10.820 Oh, got your tickets ready? 03:10.820 --> 03:11.980 Yes, I've got them. 03:11.980 --> 03:13.480 All set, Monica? 03:13.480 --> 03:15.680 The rain is certainly coming down. 03:15.680 --> 03:17.360 Do they take off when it rains like this? 03:17.360 --> 03:19.240 Oh, and miss, a little rain don't bother them. 03:19.240 --> 03:22.040 What does bother them is unsettled weather at other places. 03:22.040 --> 03:23.740 You mean it's perfectly safe? 03:23.740 --> 03:25.960 They never take off, miss, unless it is safe. 03:25.960 --> 03:27.120 You better hurry up now. 03:34.460 --> 03:35.760 There's the plane, Monica. 03:35.760 --> 03:36.920 Shall we run for it? 03:36.920 --> 03:39.140 I'd rather not run if you don't mind. 03:39.140 --> 03:41.800 Aren't getting nervous, are you? 03:41.800 --> 03:43.520 I know it's stupid of me. 03:43.520 --> 03:44.480 I've flown before. 03:44.480 --> 03:48.400 It's just all those few seconds before the takeoff. 03:48.400 --> 03:50.900 You're moving and the motors have been idling. 03:50.900 --> 03:52.940 All of a sudden, they start to roar. 03:52.940 --> 03:55.040 The plane races ahead and the roar gets louder. 03:55.040 --> 03:57.700 And suddenly you think, am I ever going to get down alive? 03:57.700 --> 03:59.040 Now look here, my dear. 03:59.040 --> 04:01.580 Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm... 04:01.580 --> 04:03.840 There's nothing to worry about, you know. 04:03.840 --> 04:06.160 Of course not. I'll be good. 04:06.160 --> 04:09.880 It's just this dismal day and ghostly bust about in the past, isn't it? 04:11.180 --> 04:12.760 Ted, look. 04:12.760 --> 04:13.760 Where? 04:13.760 --> 04:15.440 At the plane. 04:15.440 --> 04:17.820 They've got all the windows covered inside with a little gray curtain. 04:17.820 --> 04:18.820 Oh, that's all right, Monica. 04:18.820 --> 04:20.860 It's only a wartime measure. 04:20.860 --> 04:21.620 Wartime measure? 04:21.620 --> 04:22.740 Yes. 04:22.740 --> 04:26.500 You must keep those curtains closed for some minutes after taking off and before landing. 04:26.500 --> 04:30.000 So no one can make maps or take pictures of our airports. 04:31.880 --> 04:33.580 Anything could happen at their cost. 04:33.580 --> 04:34.800 No. 04:34.800 --> 04:38.840 And what's more, if you're worried about your fellow passengers, look over your shoulder. 04:38.840 --> 04:40.540 Well, there are some people coming through the gate. 04:40.540 --> 04:44.000 Yes, you see the little gray-haired man or the big fellow on each side of him? 04:44.000 --> 04:47.880 The secretary dashing around them like a destroyer in a convoy? 04:47.880 --> 04:50.600 You know, I've seen that gray-haired man somewhere before. 04:50.600 --> 04:52.440 You've seen his picture? 04:52.440 --> 04:54.440 That's Silas Naylor. 04:54.440 --> 04:57.020 The third richest man in the world. 04:57.020 --> 04:59.600 Those two big fellows are his bodyguard. 04:59.600 --> 05:00.640 Does he need a bodyguard? 05:00.640 --> 05:02.020 Well, I... 05:02.020 --> 05:04.020 Not more than most of us, I imagine. 05:04.020 --> 05:05.400 Ted. 05:05.400 --> 05:06.200 I don't like it. 05:06.200 --> 05:07.320 Nonsense, my dear. 05:07.320 --> 05:09.160 Come on, now. Up the steps to the plane. 05:09.160 --> 05:11.160 Give your name to the air hostess to the door. 05:11.160 --> 05:13.160 That's it. 05:13.160 --> 05:14.160 Good afternoon, miss. 05:14.160 --> 05:16.160 May I have your name, please? 05:16.160 --> 05:18.160 I'm Monica Vale. You're the air hostess? 05:18.160 --> 05:19.160 That's right, Miss Vale. 05:19.160 --> 05:21.160 Take any seat you like. And you, sir? 05:21.160 --> 05:23.160 Onslow, Lieutenant Commander Fred Onslow. 05:23.160 --> 05:26.160 Oh, yes, Commander. We've had instructions about you. 05:26.160 --> 05:29.160 Happy to have you with us, even if it's only as far as Philadelphia. 05:29.160 --> 05:30.160 Thank you. 05:30.160 --> 05:32.160 May I take your overcoat or your briefcase? 05:32.160 --> 05:35.160 Only the overcoat, please. I'll keep the briefcase. 05:35.160 --> 05:37.160 Fred, look there. 05:37.160 --> 05:38.160 What is it now? 05:38.160 --> 05:40.160 That man you called Mr. Naylor's secretary. 05:40.160 --> 05:42.160 Light-headed man, rather good-looking. 05:42.160 --> 05:44.160 He's sprinting towards this plane as fast as he can run. 05:44.160 --> 05:47.160 Well, he'd better be careful on that slippery surface. 05:47.160 --> 05:48.160 He certainly has. 05:48.160 --> 05:51.160 Air hostess! Air hostess! Air hostess! Air hostess! 05:51.160 --> 05:54.160 Look out, man. Look out, man. Watch your step. Look out. 05:56.160 --> 05:58.160 Are you all right? Here, let me help you up. 05:58.160 --> 06:01.160 I'm all right, thanks. Perfectly all right. 06:01.160 --> 06:02.160 Air hostess. Yes, sir? 06:02.160 --> 06:04.160 My name is Michael Shepherd. 06:04.160 --> 06:07.160 I'm Mr. Naylor's secretary, and I think there must be some mistake here. 06:07.160 --> 06:09.160 Yes. When Mr. Naylor travels, 06:09.160 --> 06:12.160 he's in the habit of booking every seat in the plane to ensure privacy. 06:12.160 --> 06:15.160 Yet we seem to have two extra passengers. 06:15.160 --> 06:16.160 Well, I'm afraid that's my fault, Mr. Shepherd. 06:16.160 --> 06:20.160 Indeed, sir. Then would you and the young lady be good enough to take some later for him? 06:20.160 --> 06:22.160 I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't do that. 06:22.160 --> 06:23.160 No, and why not? 06:23.160 --> 06:25.160 Maybe I ought to explain, Mr. Shepherd, 06:25.160 --> 06:29.160 that Commander Onslow had last-minute orders to join his ship. 06:29.160 --> 06:32.160 He and Miss Vale have priority as far as Philadelphia. 06:32.160 --> 06:34.160 Philadelphia. Must we stop there? 06:34.160 --> 06:35.160 Only for a few minutes, Mr. Shepherd. 06:35.160 --> 06:37.160 This is outrageous. 06:37.160 --> 06:40.160 Mr. Naylor is traveling, in a sense, on government business. 06:40.160 --> 06:43.160 Well, so am I, old man. The Navy often does. 06:43.160 --> 06:45.160 That doesn't alter the principle of the thing. 06:45.160 --> 06:48.160 I don't want to seem ungracious, you understand. 06:48.160 --> 06:52.160 Mr. Naylor is always glad to help our brave soldiers and sailors. 06:52.160 --> 06:54.160 Oh, I love him, Mike. 06:54.160 --> 06:57.160 Our choir will now sing hymn number 242. 06:57.160 --> 06:59.160 But this time you've gone too far. 06:59.160 --> 07:01.160 I shall appeal to Mr. Naylor himself. 07:01.160 --> 07:02.160 Mr. Naylor. Mr. Naylor. 07:02.160 --> 07:04.160 Yes, Mr. Shepherd. I can hear you. What is it? 07:04.160 --> 07:07.160 This naval officer, sir, and the young lady. 07:07.160 --> 07:09.160 Oh, I know, Shepherd. I know. 07:09.160 --> 07:11.160 Isn't the plane big enough for all of us? 07:11.160 --> 07:13.160 I was only following your orders, Mr. Naylor. 07:13.160 --> 07:14.160 You asked for privacy. 07:14.160 --> 07:16.160 All right, Shepherd. 07:16.160 --> 07:18.160 What I'm asking for now is less noise. 07:18.160 --> 07:20.160 The Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, eh? 07:20.160 --> 07:21.160 That's right, Mr. Naylor. 07:21.160 --> 07:23.160 Off on another fishing trip, I suppose. 07:23.160 --> 07:25.160 That's just exactly right, sir. 07:25.160 --> 07:27.160 Ever have to spec yet? 07:27.160 --> 07:28.160 No, never. 07:28.160 --> 07:29.160 Well, I have. 07:29.160 --> 07:32.160 Twenty thousand a year I've had paid doctors. 07:32.160 --> 07:33.160 And what do they give me? 07:33.160 --> 07:35.160 The stump. 07:35.160 --> 07:37.160 I'm not surprised you got priority, Commander. 07:37.160 --> 07:39.160 But I am a little surprised about the girl. 07:39.160 --> 07:41.160 She's my fiancee. 07:41.160 --> 07:43.160 Mr. Naylor, Miss Vale. 07:43.160 --> 07:45.160 Meet the rest of my family. 07:45.160 --> 07:47.160 These two bruisers here, including the one with the mouth organ 07:47.160 --> 07:49.160 and my bodyguard. 07:49.160 --> 07:51.160 Mr. Cohen. 07:51.160 --> 07:52.160 I'm pleased to meet you, Commander. 07:52.160 --> 07:53.160 How do you do? 07:53.160 --> 07:54.160 This is Mr. O'Reilly. 07:54.160 --> 07:55.160 Glad to know you, Commander. 07:55.160 --> 07:57.160 How are things going? 07:57.160 --> 07:58.160 Hey, Cohen, can't... 07:58.160 --> 08:00.160 Don't you ever get tired of playing that mouth organ? 08:00.160 --> 08:01.160 Stand away from the door. 08:01.160 --> 08:03.160 They want to close it. 08:03.160 --> 08:06.160 Will everyone please take your seats 08:06.160 --> 08:08.160 and fasten your seat belts? 08:08.160 --> 08:09.160 Are we ready to take off? 08:09.160 --> 08:10.160 Yes, in just a moment. 08:10.160 --> 08:11.160 Shepard. 08:11.160 --> 08:12.160 O'Reilly. 08:12.160 --> 08:15.160 Cohen, come along to the front of the plane. 08:15.160 --> 08:16.160 Yes, sir. 08:16.160 --> 08:18.160 We'll sit in the back here, won't we, Fred? 08:18.160 --> 08:20.160 Yes, yes, of course. 08:20.160 --> 08:21.160 I... 08:21.160 --> 08:22.160 Fred, is anything wrong? 08:22.160 --> 08:24.160 No, no, of course not. 08:24.160 --> 08:26.160 Why, what could be wrong? 08:26.160 --> 08:27.160 Well, you'd better sit down. 08:27.160 --> 08:28.160 We're starting to move. 08:28.160 --> 08:30.160 That's good advice, Commander Onslo. 08:30.160 --> 08:32.160 But I must ask you, Miss Bale, 08:32.160 --> 08:34.160 not to touch the curtain on the window. 08:34.160 --> 08:36.160 Oh, how soon before we can open the curtain? 08:36.160 --> 08:38.160 As soon as we're well away from New York. 08:38.160 --> 08:39.160 You see that illuminated sign, 08:39.160 --> 08:41.160 no smoking, fasten seat belts? 08:41.160 --> 08:43.160 Yes, what about it? 08:43.160 --> 08:45.160 When the lights and the sign go out, 08:45.160 --> 08:46.160 you can open the curtains 08:46.160 --> 08:48.160 and smoke as much as you like. 08:48.160 --> 08:49.160 Now, if you'll excuse me. 08:49.160 --> 08:51.160 Certainly. 08:52.160 --> 08:54.160 You needn't try to fool me, Fred Onslo. I saw it. 08:54.160 --> 08:56.160 You saw what? 08:56.160 --> 08:57.160 I saw you pick up that scrap of paper 08:57.160 --> 08:59.160 one of those men dropped. 08:59.160 --> 09:01.160 Why, why, that wasn't anything, Monica. 09:01.160 --> 09:03.160 May I see the paper? 09:03.160 --> 09:04.160 No. 09:04.160 --> 09:05.160 Why not? 09:05.160 --> 09:08.160 Well, because, because I'd rather you didn't see it, that's all. 09:08.160 --> 09:10.160 There is something wrong, isn't there? 09:10.160 --> 09:12.160 Look, Monica, let me repeat over and over. 09:12.160 --> 09:13.160 What could be wrong? 09:13.160 --> 09:16.160 I think Silas Naylor, an internationally famous figure, 09:16.160 --> 09:18.160 with a group of trusted attendants, 09:18.160 --> 09:21.160 here's an ACA plane as safe and dependable 09:21.160 --> 09:23.160 as the old gray mare. 09:23.160 --> 09:24.160 All the same, I... 09:24.160 --> 09:25.160 All the same what? 09:25.160 --> 09:27.160 I wish I hadn't brought you along. 09:27.160 --> 09:29.160 I wish there was some kind of an emergency cord, 09:29.160 --> 09:31.160 like a train, so that you could stop this plane 09:31.160 --> 09:33.160 whenever you had to. 09:33.160 --> 09:35.160 We're on our way. 09:44.160 --> 09:48.160 Fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, forty minutes. 09:48.160 --> 09:51.160 The great silver plane throbs against dead quiet. 09:51.160 --> 09:54.160 It's warm and stuffy in the cabin, despite the hissing ventilator. 09:54.160 --> 09:58.160 Dim white reading lamps shine down on a double row of cushioned chairs 09:58.160 --> 10:02.160 along one side and a single row of cushioned chairs along the other. 10:02.160 --> 10:05.160 Ahead above the closed door to the pilot's control cabin, 10:05.160 --> 10:09.160 the red glowing sign still warns against opening those curtains. 10:09.160 --> 10:11.160 Aft in the plane sits Commander Onslow, 10:11.160 --> 10:15.160 his eyes fixed on the clock under that illuminated sign. 10:20.160 --> 10:21.160 Monica. 10:21.160 --> 10:22.160 Yes? 10:22.160 --> 10:25.160 It's not exactly all right. 10:25.160 --> 10:26.160 Fred, why do you say that? 10:26.160 --> 10:30.160 Because we should have been in Philadelphia five minutes ago. 10:30.160 --> 10:32.160 At least we should have been circling over the field. 10:32.160 --> 10:33.160 And we're not? 10:33.160 --> 10:34.160 No. 10:34.160 --> 10:36.160 We're still ten or twelve thousand feet up, 10:36.160 --> 10:39.160 if the pressure on my ear drums count for anything. 10:39.160 --> 10:41.160 And traveling like a bat out of Hades. 10:41.160 --> 10:43.160 Weather's delaying us, I guess, huh? 10:43.160 --> 10:44.160 Maybe it is. 10:44.160 --> 10:46.160 Awfully bumpy, isn't it? 10:46.160 --> 10:47.160 Yes, a little. 10:47.160 --> 10:52.160 Makes you gasp for breath in your stomach. 10:52.160 --> 10:53.160 That was a bad one. 10:53.160 --> 10:55.160 Not getting air sick, are you? 10:55.160 --> 10:57.160 I don't think so. 10:57.160 --> 10:59.160 Wish I had some of that chewing gum they gave you. 10:59.160 --> 11:00.160 Ring for the air hostess. 11:00.160 --> 11:02.160 She'll bring you some. 11:02.160 --> 11:04.160 I did ring the bell, Fred, and there's no answer. 11:04.160 --> 11:07.160 She's busy in the pantry back there, that's all. 11:07.160 --> 11:09.160 She didn't hear you. Here, I'll get you some gum. 11:09.160 --> 11:10.160 No, no, wait, I'll go. 11:10.160 --> 11:12.160 Sure you're all right. 11:12.160 --> 11:14.160 I want to powder my nose anyway. 11:14.160 --> 11:16.160 Besides, you're going to have company. 11:16.160 --> 11:18.160 Our Mr. Shepherd is weaving along this aisle 11:18.160 --> 11:20.160 as though he didn't like air pockets either. 11:20.160 --> 11:23.160 Well, thank the Lord one of that party's awake up there. 11:23.160 --> 11:24.160 I thought they were all dead. 11:24.160 --> 11:25.160 Don't say that. 11:25.160 --> 11:26.160 Say what? 11:26.160 --> 11:27.160 Dead. 11:27.160 --> 11:31.160 A spooky plane with everything so quiet and dead itself. 11:31.160 --> 11:33.160 Remember how the pilot walked through a while ago 11:33.160 --> 11:36.160 and looked around and walked right back to the control cabin again? 11:36.160 --> 11:37.160 No, I didn't notice him. 11:37.160 --> 11:39.160 Oh, that's what I mean. 11:39.160 --> 11:41.160 It was like a ghost. 11:41.160 --> 11:43.160 I'll be right back. 11:43.160 --> 11:45.160 I say, Commander Anzal. 11:45.160 --> 11:47.160 Yes, Mr. Shepherd? 11:47.160 --> 11:48.160 Mind if I sit down? 11:48.160 --> 11:50.160 Not at all. Go ahead. 11:50.160 --> 11:53.160 The fact is, Commander, I want to apologize. 11:53.160 --> 11:54.160 That's all right. Forget it. 11:54.160 --> 11:57.160 I'm not such an ill-mannered guy, as I must have sounded. 11:57.160 --> 12:00.160 It's no joke, you know, taking care of the Chief. 12:00.160 --> 12:02.160 I've got to go ahead like a cyclone, 12:02.160 --> 12:06.160 so that everything will be quiet when he gets there. 12:06.160 --> 12:08.160 And it's a great responsibility, too. 12:08.160 --> 12:10.160 I can imagine. 12:10.160 --> 12:12.160 I go on these long trips, 12:12.160 --> 12:16.160 and there's the Chief half asleep and O'Reilly reading detective magazines 12:16.160 --> 12:18.160 and Cohen with his mouth organ. 12:18.160 --> 12:20.160 Doesn't that mouth organ bother the old boy? 12:20.160 --> 12:22.160 No, he likes it. 12:22.160 --> 12:26.160 Especially when Cohen plays the old square dances. 12:26.160 --> 12:28.160 The Chief's a great man in his way. 12:28.160 --> 12:30.160 I was just wondering about that. 12:30.160 --> 12:31.160 Wondering what? 12:31.160 --> 12:33.160 Is it true... 12:33.160 --> 12:35.160 Stop me if I'm talking out of turn. 12:35.160 --> 12:37.160 Go ahead. We can trust the Navy. 12:37.160 --> 12:40.160 Is it true he's offered to design and build at his own expense 12:40.160 --> 12:44.160 a fleet of underwater cargo boats, submersible freighters, 12:44.160 --> 12:46.160 up to 5,000 or 6,000 tons, 12:46.160 --> 12:49.160 but a do-away with a submarine menace altogether? 12:49.160 --> 12:50.160 Where did you hear that? 12:50.160 --> 12:52.160 Oh, just a rumor. 12:52.160 --> 12:54.160 Is it true? 12:54.160 --> 12:57.160 Yes. It's true enough. 12:57.160 --> 12:59.160 You see, Mr. Shepherd, I'm one of the few people 12:59.160 --> 13:02.160 who believe that that plan is practical. 13:02.160 --> 13:05.160 There must be a lot of people who would like to see Mr. Naylor 13:05.160 --> 13:06.160 put out of the way. 13:06.160 --> 13:09.160 There are, Commander, only they can't get at him. 13:09.160 --> 13:11.160 You're quite sure of that? 13:11.160 --> 13:13.160 Dead sure. 13:13.160 --> 13:15.160 Hitler himself isn't better guarded. 13:15.160 --> 13:19.160 Why, you could no more shoot or stab or poison the Chief 13:19.160 --> 13:20.160 than you could... 13:20.160 --> 13:22.160 What? What was that? What happened? 13:22.160 --> 13:24.160 Monica! 13:24.160 --> 13:25.160 Is anything wrong? 13:25.160 --> 13:28.160 It's all right, sir. It's only a noise in the pantry. 13:28.160 --> 13:29.160 We'll see to it. 13:29.160 --> 13:31.160 Monica! Monica, pull yourself together. What's wrong? 13:31.160 --> 13:33.160 It's that air hostess, Miss Lee. 13:33.160 --> 13:34.160 Well, what about her? 13:34.160 --> 13:35.160 She's lying back in the pantry among the broken dishes 13:35.160 --> 13:37.160 with her head all over blood. 13:37.160 --> 13:39.160 Somebody beat her over the head and left her there to die. 13:39.160 --> 13:40.160 Somebody? Yes. 13:40.160 --> 13:42.160 But nobody's gone back to the pantry. 13:42.160 --> 13:43.160 Nobody's gone past us except... 13:43.160 --> 13:46.160 Except the pilot or co-pilot of this plane, remember? 13:46.160 --> 13:47.160 Excuse me, Mr. Shepherd. 13:47.160 --> 13:49.160 I'm going to open the curtains on that window. 13:49.160 --> 13:51.160 Do you think it's wise, Commander? We were told not to. 13:51.160 --> 13:53.160 Well, we were told a lot of things. 13:53.160 --> 13:55.160 I'll just take the responsibility of... 13:55.160 --> 13:57.160 Good Lord! 13:57.160 --> 13:59.160 There, there, Monica. Mr. Naylor, Mr. Naylor. 13:59.160 --> 14:00.160 Yes, son? What's up? 14:00.160 --> 14:02.160 Draw the curtain on your window and take a look down. 14:02.160 --> 14:04.160 If O'Reilly and Cohen have got guns, 14:04.160 --> 14:05.160 they better keep them handy. 14:05.160 --> 14:07.160 Is that so now? Why? 14:07.160 --> 14:09.160 Because we're not flying west. 14:09.160 --> 14:12.160 We're over the Atlantic Ocean now and headed straight out to sea. 14:12.160 --> 14:14.160 We're going to be there. 14:35.160 --> 14:38.160 Grey water, thin clouds. 14:38.160 --> 14:40.160 We must be miles and miles away from land. 14:40.160 --> 14:42.160 We are miles away from land. 14:42.160 --> 14:44.160 Does anybody here know anything about first aid? 14:44.160 --> 14:46.160 I do, Commander. I studied medicine in the old days. 14:46.160 --> 14:48.160 Then you'd better go back and look after the hostess. 14:48.160 --> 14:50.160 You'll join Mr. Naylor. Steady, Monica. 14:50.160 --> 14:53.160 I'm all right. It's this horrible blind feeling, that thing. 14:53.160 --> 14:54.160 Hey, Pocket, look out! 14:54.160 --> 14:56.160 Sit here, Commander. We're over the ocean. 14:56.160 --> 14:58.160 What the devil's going on here, eh? 14:58.160 --> 15:01.160 You were being kidnapped, Mr. Naylor. That's my guess. 15:01.160 --> 15:02.160 Kidnapped, did you say? 15:02.160 --> 15:05.160 Ah, come off it, Commander. We ain't as dumb as that. 15:05.160 --> 15:08.160 The pilot and the co-pilot of this plane are fakes. 15:08.160 --> 15:10.160 They've replaced the real officer. 15:10.160 --> 15:13.160 On a dark day like this, with their raincoat collars turned up, 15:13.160 --> 15:15.160 they could have gotten away with it. 15:15.160 --> 15:18.160 And hijacked us straight off the airfield. Is that it? 15:18.160 --> 15:19.160 Yes, I'm afraid so. 15:19.160 --> 15:22.160 The hostess must have spotted one of them and knocked her out. 15:22.160 --> 15:23.160 Now, what about the airport? 15:23.160 --> 15:25.160 Wouldn't they know a plane was missing? 15:25.160 --> 15:27.160 Well, not until we fail to show up at Philadelphia. 15:27.160 --> 15:30.160 The pilot would report by radio telephone 15:30.160 --> 15:33.160 about 15 minutes out of New York. 15:33.160 --> 15:35.160 But after that, silence. 15:35.160 --> 15:37.160 Excuse me, Commander. 15:37.160 --> 15:40.160 You say these two fake pilots are still aboard? 15:40.160 --> 15:42.160 In that compartment there with the closed doors? 15:42.160 --> 15:43.160 Yes, that's right. 15:43.160 --> 15:45.160 Well, what are we waiting for, Corn? 15:45.160 --> 15:46.160 Can we get to work on them? 15:46.160 --> 15:47.160 You said it, Barney. 15:47.160 --> 15:48.160 Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute, both of you. 15:48.160 --> 15:50.160 You wouldn't be trying to stop us, would you, Commander? 15:50.160 --> 15:54.160 The one thing we don't want is a gunfight 12,000 feet up. 15:54.160 --> 15:55.160 Can any of you fly a plane? 15:55.160 --> 15:57.160 No, not one of us. 15:57.160 --> 15:59.160 Neither can I. 15:59.160 --> 16:02.160 So if anything happens to those two pilots, how are we going to get down? 16:02.160 --> 16:04.160 I see, young fellow. 16:04.160 --> 16:06.160 Well, what are you going to do? 16:06.160 --> 16:11.160 First of all, we'll try wrapping on the door. 16:11.160 --> 16:12.160 Have your gun ready. 16:12.160 --> 16:14.160 You can count on that, sir. 16:16.160 --> 16:17.160 Fred, Fred, listen to me. 16:17.160 --> 16:18.160 Be quiet, Monica. 16:18.160 --> 16:21.160 Has this anything to do with the scrap of paper you picked up off the floor? 16:21.160 --> 16:22.160 What scrap of paper, Commander? 16:22.160 --> 16:24.160 Never mind, sir. 16:24.160 --> 16:28.160 Why, this door, it's unlocked. 16:28.160 --> 16:29.160 Unlocked? 16:29.160 --> 16:31.160 Now, don't take any fool chances, young fellow. 16:31.160 --> 16:33.160 The way I always did when I was your age. 16:33.160 --> 16:36.160 Stand to one side when you open that door. 16:36.160 --> 16:38.160 Let Cohen and O'Reilly take care of it. 16:40.160 --> 16:42.160 Good Lord! 16:42.160 --> 16:45.160 Well, the control cabin is empty. 16:45.160 --> 16:47.160 There's nobody at the controls. 16:51.160 --> 16:53.160 You mean we're... 16:53.160 --> 16:55.160 we're flying without a pilot? 16:55.160 --> 16:56.160 Yes. 16:56.160 --> 16:59.160 See that stick move back and forth? 16:59.160 --> 17:01.160 As though a ghost had hold of it? 17:01.160 --> 17:03.160 What do those crooks do? 17:03.160 --> 17:05.160 They set the automatic controls. 17:05.160 --> 17:08.160 It's a gyroscope attachment that keeps her steady. 17:08.160 --> 17:10.160 And then they must have bailed out. 17:10.160 --> 17:12.160 And what's better happen to us? 17:12.160 --> 17:14.160 You see, Monica, the fact is... 17:14.160 --> 17:16.160 Go on, Fred, tell me the truth. 17:16.160 --> 17:18.160 I'll know if you don't. 17:18.160 --> 17:21.160 Well, we'll go on until our gas runs out or until a storm hits us. 17:21.160 --> 17:23.160 Then we'll dive into the sea. 17:23.160 --> 17:26.160 It's a good way of killing Mr. Naylor, as any. 17:26.160 --> 17:28.160 I see, son. 17:28.160 --> 17:30.160 Have we got any chance at all? 17:30.160 --> 17:32.160 Frankly, I don't know. 17:32.160 --> 17:36.160 Wait till I get a look inside of that control cabin. 17:36.160 --> 17:38.160 Sorry, Mother, that's delicious. 17:42.160 --> 17:44.160 Cohen, stop it! Stop it! 17:44.160 --> 17:46.160 Yeah, Mr. Naylor? 17:46.160 --> 17:48.160 Stop playing that infernal mouth organ. 17:48.160 --> 17:50.160 Or if you must play it, play something cheerful. 17:50.160 --> 17:52.160 Yes, sure, Mr. Naylor, sure. 17:52.160 --> 17:55.160 How long do you think it'll be before we... 17:55.160 --> 17:57.160 Why, it's Cohen. He's the commander back again. 17:57.160 --> 17:59.160 Well, young fella... 17:59.160 --> 18:01.160 The radio telephone's out of order. 18:01.160 --> 18:03.160 We can't signal. 18:03.160 --> 18:05.160 Fred, what about those patrol ships? 18:05.160 --> 18:07.160 You said they're 200 miles out to watch for unidentified aircraft. 18:07.160 --> 18:09.160 Won't they see us? 18:09.160 --> 18:11.160 They've seen us already, I expect. 18:11.160 --> 18:14.160 They'll send for an army fighter plane to investigate, but... 18:14.160 --> 18:16.160 What can it do? 18:16.160 --> 18:18.160 Yeah, shoot us down, maybe, huh? 18:18.160 --> 18:19.160 That's fine. 18:19.160 --> 18:21.160 If only somebody could fly the plane. 18:21.160 --> 18:24.160 Well, nobody can skip us, so think of something else. 18:24.160 --> 18:27.160 See, Mr. Naylor, I was wrong. 18:27.160 --> 18:29.160 Wrong, son. About what? 18:29.160 --> 18:33.160 One of your party, and I can guess which one, 18:33.160 --> 18:36.160 dropped a torn piece of paper. 18:36.160 --> 18:38.160 There was a line of writing on it. 18:38.160 --> 18:40.160 Probably the end of some instructions. 18:40.160 --> 18:41.160 Well? 18:41.160 --> 18:43.160 Those instructions ended, 18:43.160 --> 18:48.160 you should land just as your fuel fails at 7 o'clock a.m. 18:48.160 --> 18:53.160 You should land just as your fuel fails at 7 o'clock a.m. 18:53.160 --> 18:57.160 But that might not have anything to do with the sun. 18:57.160 --> 18:59.160 What made you suspicious of it? 18:59.160 --> 19:01.160 Because it was written in German. 19:01.160 --> 19:03.160 In German? 19:03.160 --> 19:05.160 Quiet, Cohen, I can't hear myself think. 19:05.160 --> 19:08.160 Okay, okay, Mr. Naylor, I'm sorry. 19:08.160 --> 19:11.160 I thought the fake pilots were kidnapping you, maybe abroad. 19:11.160 --> 19:13.160 There's not enough fuel for that, is there? 19:13.160 --> 19:15.160 Well, if there's enough fuel for Los Angeles, 19:15.160 --> 19:17.160 then there's enough for Europe. 19:17.160 --> 19:19.160 Well, that won't work. 19:19.160 --> 19:21.160 They bailed out and left us to crash. 19:21.160 --> 19:25.160 It's unusual, sir, but it's getting black as pitch out there. 19:25.160 --> 19:27.160 I think there's a storm coming up. 19:27.160 --> 19:29.160 What happens when that hits us? 19:29.160 --> 19:31.160 Plenty, O'Reilly, plenty. 19:31.160 --> 19:33.160 Yeah, well, I was afraid of that. 19:33.160 --> 19:36.160 If only somebody could fly this plane, I could navigate it. 19:36.160 --> 19:38.160 Navigate it? 19:36.160 --> 19:38.160 Yes. 19:38.160 --> 19:41.160 You have to learn aerial navigation in my business. 19:41.160 --> 19:43.160 With enough figuring, 19:43.160 --> 19:47.160 I might even set a new course and try the automatic controls on it. 19:47.160 --> 19:49.160 No, I don't dare handle the ship. 19:49.160 --> 19:51.160 Wait a minute. I know a way out of this. 19:51.160 --> 19:53.160 Well, then speak up, miss. 19:53.160 --> 19:55.160 A 90-mile wind can hit us any minute. 19:55.160 --> 19:57.160 The air hostess, of course. 19:57.160 --> 19:59.160 Miss Lee, what about her? 19:59.160 --> 20:02.160 I remember reading somewhere that most air hostesses get flying instructions 20:02.160 --> 20:05.160 when they've been with the company for a given length of time. 20:05.160 --> 20:07.160 You know, Miss Dale, that's true. 20:07.160 --> 20:09.160 There was a girl of Inter Airways who told me the same thing. 20:09.160 --> 20:11.160 And if this one can even make a triad landing a plane, 20:11.160 --> 20:13.160 we may get back to New York yet. 20:13.160 --> 20:15.160 I thought you said she'd been knocked out. 20:15.160 --> 20:18.160 She isn't badly hurt, but there's just a chance that maybe she's... 20:18.160 --> 20:20.160 There's Shepard, coming back from the pantry. 20:20.160 --> 20:22.160 Anybody got a drink? It wasn't very pleasant back there. 20:22.160 --> 20:24.160 How is she? You know, we were just wondering 20:24.160 --> 20:27.160 whether Miss Lee might be in any shape to pilot the plane. 20:27.160 --> 20:30.160 Pilot the plane? Wine blazers? Should she pilot the plane? 20:30.160 --> 20:32.160 There's no time to explain now, Shepard. 20:32.160 --> 20:35.160 But we're bound for Davy Jones unless something's done. 20:35.160 --> 20:36.160 Could she do it? 20:36.160 --> 20:37.160 No. 20:37.160 --> 20:40.160 Not even if we, uh, revived her? 20:40.160 --> 20:42.160 Not if all the doctors on Earth stood at her side. 20:42.160 --> 20:43.160 Why, but I... 20:43.160 --> 20:45.160 I don't think you understand, sir. 20:45.160 --> 20:48.160 Miss Lee has just died. 21:00.160 --> 21:03.160 Hymn singing of wind above the clouds, 21:03.160 --> 21:06.160 then storm with a white eye of lightning at the windows, 21:06.160 --> 21:08.160 losing height, gaining it again, 21:08.160 --> 21:11.160 blown off her blind course, flung partway back again, 21:11.160 --> 21:14.160 always racing forward on a flight to nowhere, 21:14.160 --> 21:17.160 late afternoon, evening, night, 21:17.160 --> 21:20.160 the steady throbbing of motors like a pulse beat inside the head. 21:20.160 --> 21:23.160 Towards morning, the storm dies away. 21:23.160 --> 21:27.160 In that dim cabin, there is exhaustion of nerves. 21:27.160 --> 21:32.160 The hands of the clock stand at a quarter of two in the morning. 21:37.160 --> 21:40.160 Monica. Monica. Wake up. 21:40.160 --> 21:42.160 Oh, my God. Oh, God. 21:42.160 --> 21:44.160 Shh. Shh. Shh. It's Fred. 21:44.160 --> 21:46.160 Now, keep your voice down. 21:46.160 --> 21:48.160 Have I been asleep? 21:48.160 --> 21:50.160 Yes, for a couple of hours. 21:50.160 --> 21:55.160 They say condemned criminals sleep on the night before their execution. 21:55.160 --> 21:57.160 Where are the others? 21:57.160 --> 22:00.160 Well, I was a boy back home. 22:00.160 --> 22:02.160 They counted down. 22:02.160 --> 22:03.160 My father used to say to me, 22:03.160 --> 22:05.160 Well, are you all right? 22:05.160 --> 22:07.160 Did you ever see a banshee? 22:07.160 --> 22:09.160 A banshee, he says, eh? 22:09.160 --> 22:11.160 The old woman that lets you know when you're gonna die. 22:11.160 --> 22:13.160 Pipe down, you two. 22:13.160 --> 22:15.160 Oh, Roy, I'm sorry, Mr. Nils. 22:15.160 --> 22:17.160 No offense, Chief. 22:17.160 --> 22:19.160 Can't a man play a quiet game of solitaire 22:19.160 --> 22:21.160 without somebody gapping all the time? 22:21.160 --> 22:23.160 Like nine on red dead. 22:23.160 --> 22:26.160 Listen, Monica, and listen carefully. 22:26.160 --> 22:29.160 My first idea was right after all. 22:29.160 --> 22:31.160 What are you talking about? 22:31.160 --> 22:34.160 There's somebody aboard this ship who can fly a plane. 22:34.160 --> 22:37.160 Shh. There is. 22:37.160 --> 22:40.160 I proved it by the automatic controls. 22:40.160 --> 22:41.160 How? 22:41.160 --> 22:44.160 If those controls had stayed as they originally were, 22:44.160 --> 22:47.160 the side winds would have blown us clear off our course. 22:47.160 --> 22:50.160 But we're still on our course. 22:50.160 --> 22:52.160 That shows that somebody's been sneaking in there 22:52.160 --> 22:55.160 and setting us right again when we do stray. 22:55.160 --> 22:57.160 Then you mean... 22:57.160 --> 22:59.160 I mean we're headed for somewhere. 22:59.160 --> 23:02.160 We're being taken somewhere. 23:02.160 --> 23:06.160 But we may outwit this gentleman yet. 23:06.160 --> 23:08.160 Outwit who? 23:08.160 --> 23:09.160 Is somebody still talking back there? 23:09.160 --> 23:11.160 I'm sorry, Mr. Naylor. Monica's just waked up. 23:11.160 --> 23:14.160 None of us can feel very much like sleeping anyway. 23:14.160 --> 23:16.160 You're right, son. I admit it. 23:16.160 --> 23:17.160 Come up here and join me, will you? 23:17.160 --> 23:19.160 With pleasure. 23:19.160 --> 23:21.160 I've been teaching myself in this place since the card game. 23:21.160 --> 23:24.160 But I still can't make it come out. 23:24.160 --> 23:26.160 Oh, what's the use pretending anyway? 23:26.160 --> 23:28.160 We know we're in for it. 23:28.160 --> 23:31.160 It's this waiting that gets you. 23:31.160 --> 23:34.160 Yeah. Yeah, that goes for all of us, Mr. Naylor. 23:34.160 --> 23:36.160 What I'm dreading is... 23:36.160 --> 23:38.160 is the minute when those motors choke and go dead. 23:38.160 --> 23:40.160 And we start whirling. 23:40.160 --> 23:41.160 Down. 23:41.160 --> 23:43.160 Down. 23:43.160 --> 23:45.160 Down. 23:45.160 --> 23:47.160 What does it sound like, Commander, when... 23:47.160 --> 23:48.160 when motors conk out? 23:48.160 --> 23:51.160 I've never heard it, Mr. Naylor, but I imagine it sounds like... 23:51.160 --> 23:53.160 Listen. 23:53.160 --> 23:55.160 I imagine it sounds like that. 23:55.160 --> 23:57.160 We're losing height. I can feel it. 23:57.160 --> 23:59.160 Well, Corn, I guess this is the payoff. 23:59.160 --> 24:01.160 Yeah, you said it. 24:01.160 --> 24:03.160 But look here, Mr. Naylor, we can't be out of fuel. 24:03.160 --> 24:06.160 Because it's too early. Look at the clock. 24:06.160 --> 24:08.160 It's only five minutes to two o'clock. 24:08.160 --> 24:10.160 I beg your pardon, old man. It's five minutes to seven o'clock. 24:10.160 --> 24:12.160 Seven o'clock? Are you crazy? 24:12.160 --> 24:16.160 No. Haven't you forgotten the cross-ocean changes in time? 24:16.160 --> 24:18.160 By George the Commander's right. 24:18.160 --> 24:21.160 European time is five hours ahead of our time. 24:21.160 --> 24:24.160 You don't believe me? Just notice that it's getting daylight outside. 24:24.160 --> 24:27.160 I was thinking of that message. 24:27.160 --> 24:32.160 You should land just as your fuel fails at seven o'clock a.m. 24:32.160 --> 24:35.160 Stand perfectly still, all of you. 24:35.160 --> 24:37.160 What's got into little Art Faroy? 24:37.160 --> 24:39.160 I'll show you what's got into me, my friend. 24:39.160 --> 24:41.160 Yes, I rather thought you would. 24:41.160 --> 24:43.160 I shall go into that control cabin. 24:43.160 --> 24:45.160 Follow me if you like. 24:45.160 --> 24:47.160 I shall sit down at the controls. 24:47.160 --> 24:49.160 And I shall bring this plane safely to the ground. 24:49.160 --> 24:51.160 Safety to the ground? Where? 24:51.160 --> 24:53.160 In Germany, of course. 24:53.160 --> 24:56.160 Germany? Don't pull a gun, Cohen. If you plug him, we're all done for. 24:56.160 --> 24:58.160 That is good advice, Mr. Cohen. 24:58.160 --> 25:01.160 I might add that we're getting closer to the ground every minute. 25:01.160 --> 25:03.160 For the love of... 25:03.160 --> 25:05.160 Do I take control? 25:05.160 --> 25:08.160 Yes, go ahead, but we're following you. 25:08.160 --> 25:11.160 Follow by all means. 25:11.160 --> 25:14.160 All right, let's get comfortable here. 25:14.160 --> 25:16.160 I take up my position. So? 25:16.160 --> 25:18.160 There's fog below. Can you see? 25:18.160 --> 25:20.160 Well enough, Mr. Well enough. 25:20.160 --> 25:22.160 We must go down rather quickly. 25:22.160 --> 25:25.160 And I can't help if it's somewhat rough on your ears. 25:25.160 --> 25:27.160 You young spying, what's the idea? 25:27.160 --> 25:29.160 The idea, dear patron, 25:29.160 --> 25:32.160 is to bring you and your plans for a submarine freighter 25:32.160 --> 25:34.160 to a country which will appreciate them. 25:34.160 --> 25:36.160 And those two fake pilots? 25:36.160 --> 25:38.160 They were colleagues of mine. 25:38.160 --> 25:41.160 Unfortunately, if they had remained your pug-uglies, 25:41.160 --> 25:44.160 we would have started a gunfight, and none of us might have got here. 25:44.160 --> 25:45.160 Well? 25:45.160 --> 25:47.160 So they left by parachute. 25:47.160 --> 25:50.160 And I brought you safely without blood or toil 25:50.160 --> 25:52.160 into the boundaries of the Third Reich. 25:52.160 --> 25:55.160 You're going down too fast, man. Now take it easy. 25:55.160 --> 25:57.160 I am perfectly in command, thank you. 25:57.160 --> 25:59.160 Look out! The trees are coming straight up at us! 25:59.160 --> 26:02.160 Look out! 26:13.160 --> 26:15.160 Are you all right, Monica? 26:15.160 --> 26:17.160 Are you all right? 26:17.160 --> 26:19.160 Only a bit shaken up. 26:19.160 --> 26:21.160 We're all okay here, Skipper. 26:21.160 --> 26:23.160 Shall I give this guy the works now before they come to get us? 26:23.160 --> 26:25.160 No, don't shoot. Let him alone. 26:25.160 --> 26:27.160 That also is good advice. 26:27.160 --> 26:30.160 And now, my friends, my mission is ended. 26:30.160 --> 26:32.160 I stand up on the pilot's chair. 26:32.160 --> 26:34.160 I throw open this glass hatch. 26:34.160 --> 26:36.160 And to old Germany, to all the world, I cry. 26:36.160 --> 26:38.160 This is the stolen plane, 26:38.160 --> 26:41.160 in the name of landing on field number 21. 26:41.160 --> 26:43.160 Heidner! 26:44.160 --> 26:47.160 Well, strike me blind if it ain't another one. 26:47.160 --> 26:49.160 Yes, first Rudolph Esse and now this bloke. 26:49.160 --> 26:51.160 What do you suppose they want over here? 26:51.160 --> 26:53.160 English. Why are you speaking English? 26:53.160 --> 26:55.160 Why, Cocky? 26:55.160 --> 26:57.160 We need an abacus. We've got this country. 26:57.160 --> 26:59.160 This isn't England. 26:59.160 --> 27:01.160 Oh, yes, it is. 27:01.160 --> 27:03.160 Better climb out of here and with your hands up. 27:03.160 --> 27:05.160 But it can't be. 27:05.160 --> 27:07.160 I followed the course laid down on those instruments. 27:07.160 --> 27:09.160 Unfortunately, old man, I altered our course last night. 27:09.160 --> 27:11.160 Keep back, Shepard, or you may get a bullet in the head yet. 27:11.160 --> 27:13.160 Your instructions were all right, 27:13.160 --> 27:15.160 but they didn't tell you about the five hours difference in time. 27:15.160 --> 27:17.160 When we got to the right navigation point, 27:17.160 --> 27:19.160 I let the fuel out of the tanks 27:19.160 --> 27:21.160 and made you think we were landing in Germany. 27:21.160 --> 27:24.160 You know, there's nothing like having a good Nazi 27:24.160 --> 27:26.160 for a taxi driver is there. 27:41.160 --> 27:44.160 And so ends Death Flies Blind, 27:44.160 --> 27:47.160 starring Richard Dix with Gail Page and Montague Love. 27:47.160 --> 27:49.160 Tonight's tale of... 27:49.160 --> 27:54.160 Suspense. 27:54.160 --> 27:56.160 This is your narrator, the man in black, 27:56.160 --> 27:58.160 who conveys to you Columbia's invitation 27:58.160 --> 28:02.160 to spend this half hour in suspense with us again next Tuesday, 28:02.160 --> 28:05.160 same time when Mr. Paul Lucas 28:05.160 --> 28:08.160 will star in the suspense play called 28:08.160 --> 28:12.160 Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer. 28:12.160 --> 28:15.160 Ladies and gentlemen, on the following Tuesday, May 18th, 28:15.160 --> 28:18.160 Mr. Charles Lawton and Miss Elsa Lanchester 28:18.160 --> 28:20.160 will be with us in one of the most famous 28:20.160 --> 28:22.160 of Agatha Christie's thrillers, 28:22.160 --> 28:25.160 The ABC Murders. 28:29.160 --> 28:32.160 William Spear, the producer, Ted Bliss, director, 28:32.160 --> 28:35.160 Doug Luskin and Lucian Mahouk, the conductor and composer, 28:35.160 --> 28:38.160 and John Dixon Carr, the author, 28:38.160 --> 28:48.160 collaborated on tonight's Suspense. 28:48.160 --> 29:10.160 This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.