1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,000 Suspense! 2 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:28,000 This is the man in black, here again to introduce Colombians to the world. 3 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Here again to introduce Colombia's program, Suspense! 4 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:37,000 Our distinguished stars tonight are two of the world's acknowledged masters of the art of suspense. 5 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,000 They are Mr. Charles Lawton and Miss Elsa Lanchester. 6 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:46,000 Mr. Lawton, who will soon be seen in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, The Man from Down Under, 7 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:52,000 is here to play a remarkable character, created by England's noted thriller author, Agatha Christie. 8 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:59,000 A mild-mannered character whose initials were ABC, and about whom revolved a series of savage murders, 9 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,000 all neatly and alphabetically arranged. 10 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:07,000 ABC was stamped upon all his belongings, those being his rightful initials, 11 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:12,000 and ABC was stamped too upon the large railway timetable he always carried. 12 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:18,000 But there was nothing so odd about that detail, since no traveler in the British Isles would dream of planning a journey 13 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,000 without consulting this famous railway schedule, the ABC. 14 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:28,000 And so, with the ABC murders by Agatha Christie, written for radio by Robert Tallman and William Spear, 15 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,000 and with the performance of Charles Lawton, we again hope to keep you in... 16 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Suspense! 17 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:44,000 When the time for closing bell rang in the public library, 18 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Alexander Bonaparte Cust started, picked up his battered briefcase for the almost faded initials ABC, 19 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:55,000 closed the book he had been reading, and shuffled over to the librarian's desk. 20 00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:00,000 It's a most interesting book, librarian. I shall like to come back sometime and read another chapter of it, if I may. 21 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,000 Quite. Yes, Mr. Clark. Can I help you, sir? 22 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,000 No hurry. 23 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,000 Well, I'll be going along now. Thank you. 24 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:14,000 Brum little chap, that. What do you think he was reading? Studies in epileptic somnambulism. 25 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,000 Medical stuff, eh? Oh, I say, the little fellow left his briefcase. I'll catch him at the door. 26 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,000 I say, sir, just a moment. You left something. 27 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:27,000 Oh, dear, it's my briefcase. I'm terribly sorry. I seem to be getting more and more forgetful lately. 28 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,000 Why, only the other day I left it on the couch in a tobacco shop. 29 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:36,000 Lucky you have those initials. Not many people with the initials ABC sticks in your mind. 30 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,000 What do you mean by that, sir? 31 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:43,000 Well, after all, they're the first three letters of the alphabet. Practically the first thing we learn, you know, isn't it? Our ABCs. 32 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,000 Don't mention those letters to me. They've brought bad luck to me in more ways than one. 33 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,000 Really? How's that? 34 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:53,000 Well, I used to be a travelling salesman, and I used to carry one of those railway town tables in my pocket, the Thretney kind, 35 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,000 in which they list the towns and all the railroads alphabetically. 36 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Oh, of course. Printed right on the cover, isn't it? ABC. 37 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,000 Yes, that's right, sir. Well, Stockings was my line, sir. I did door-to-door selling. 38 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,000 Whenever I finished one town, out would come that timetable, and I'd look up the next stop on my route. 39 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:13,000 I got sick of the sight of that ABC railway guide, I can tell you, sir. It was like a symbol of failure to me. 40 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,000 One dingy little town after another, and all listed in that railway guide with ABC printed on the cover. 41 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:23,000 My own initials staring out at me from every new stand in every dirty little railroad station in the Midlands. 42 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,000 Oh, come on. It couldn't have been as bad as all that. 43 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,000 Matter of fact, I never noticed it till I began to get the headaches. 44 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Oh, you suffer from headaches? 45 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,000 Yes. 46 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,000 Have you seen a doctor about it? 47 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,000 Oh, no, no. I wouldn't want to see a doctor about it. I already know what brings the man up. 48 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 Well, if you'd rather not talk about it... 49 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,000 Oh, no, no. It isn't that at all, sir. It was just such a long time ago. 50 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,000 During the last war, in fact, Chateau Thierry. 51 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Chateau Thierry? Oh, I see. What a coincidence. I was in the thick of that myself. 52 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000 Yes, we must get together for a drink one day to talk over old times. 53 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000 Franklin Clark is my name. 54 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,000 I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Clark. My name's Cust. 55 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,000 Alexander Bonaparte Cust. 56 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,000 Well, they must have expected great things of you, giving you a name like that. 57 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,000 I'm afraid they did, Mr. Clark. Yes. 58 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,000 I'm very much afraid they did. 59 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,000 Mr. Cust. Oh, Mr. Cust. 60 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Who is it? 61 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,000 It's me, Mr. Cust. I've brought you out a spot of tea. 62 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,000 Oh, it's you, Miss Marbury. That was very thoughtful of you. 63 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,000 Oh, nonsense. You know, Mother Dotes on you. 64 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,000 You're her favourite lodger. In fact... 65 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,000 Why, Mr. Cust, you're patting your things. 66 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,000 You're not leaving us, are you? 67 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,000 Oh, no, I'm just taking a little trip over the bank holiday, you know. 68 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,000 Now, now, don't try to deceive me, Mr. Cust. 69 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,000 You're embarrassed about owing us, aren't you? No. 70 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,000 You needn't be, Mr. Cust. Really, you needn't. 71 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,000 Oh, you are a nice girl, Miss Marbury. You really are a nice girl. 72 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,000 As a matter of fact, I'm not going just for the bank holiday. 73 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,000 I've something rather important, some very important matter to take care of. 74 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,000 You know, it's very possible that my mother didn't have me christened 75 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,000 Alexander Bonaparte Cust for nothing. 76 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 Have you got a position, Mr. Cust? What is it? 77 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,000 Come, Mr. Cust. You can tell me, can't you? 78 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 Well, Miss Lillie, I can tell you this much. 79 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,000 I shall be travelling quite a lot. 80 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,000 In fact, where did I leave that ABC Railroad guide? 81 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,000 Oh, yes, here it is. First stop, Andover. 82 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,000 Andover? That's not very far. 83 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,000 No, no, no, but I must be getting on if I don't want to miss that train. 84 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,000 Now, let me see. Have I got everything? 85 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:37,000 There's the spectacles and me overcoat, me typewriter, me walking stick. 86 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,000 Did I ever tell you the history of this walking stick, Miss Marbury? 87 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 It's a Scottish piece, very old. It's always used as antique. 88 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,000 You know, they used to kill people with these 89 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,000 back in the days of the old clan wars in Scotland. 90 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,000 I wonder how many heads this one has bashed in. 91 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:53,000 Oh, Mr. Cust. Oh, please, what a terrible way to talk. 92 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:57,000 Yes, I'm sorry, Miss Marbury. I am a little bit surprised at myself talking like that. 93 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000 It must be my new job. It's gone to my head a bit. That's it. 94 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:04,000 It's gone to my head. Have you got an aspirin by any chance? 95 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,000 I've got an order. 96 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,000 Yes, gentlemen? What'll it be? 97 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:19,000 A packet of Goldfix for me. Yes, sir. And the other gentlemen? 98 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,000 Three Havana's, the Schilling Cigars. 99 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,000 You gentlemen must be up from London. That's right. 100 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,000 Is that your name on the window of this shop? 101 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,000 That's right, sir. Olivia Asher. 102 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:33,000 Been in business right here in Andover and right here in St Andrew's Place for 20 years. 103 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,000 All A's. Andover, St Andrew's Place and Asher. 104 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,000 Funny, ain't it? Never so much as crossed the line before. 105 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,000 Well, Mrs. Asher, we're from Scotland Yard. 106 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,000 We have reason to believe there may be a homicidal maniac at large in Andover. 107 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,000 Gawd, Blonde! We don't want to frighten you, Mrs. Asher. 108 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,000 For all we know, this may be just a practical joke. 109 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,000 You see, we received an anonymous letter, typewritten, and signed A-B-C. 110 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:55,000 A-B-C? 111 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,000 This murderer, if there's anything in his story, is planning a series of murders. 112 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,000 His mania seems to be centered on the alphabet. 113 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,000 If he follows his plan through, his first murder will be committed in Andover. 114 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,000 And the victim will be a person whose name begins with an A. 115 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,000 The Lord help me, sir. You don't think... 116 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,000 We don't think anything. Scotland Yard has taken its precautions. 117 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,000 Oh, a woman takes a terrible chance. 118 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,000 There's probably nothing to be alarmed about, but it won't hurt to keep a sharp lookout. 119 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,000 Who's next on your list, Mackenzie? 120 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,000 Next is Arthur Atwood. 121 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,000 All right. Let's be on our way, then. Good day, madam. Don't worry. 122 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,000 Thank you, sir. And good day to you, sir. 123 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:34,000 A murderer lunatic in Andover of all prices. 124 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,000 Yes, sir. What'll it be for you, sir? 125 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:43,000 These. 126 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,000 That'll be one and six, sir. 127 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,000 I said that'll be... Oh, no, no, no! 128 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,000 Ah! 129 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Sixth-thirty newspaper sensation. 130 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,000 Homicide of maniac in Andover. 131 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,000 Alphabet murderer destroying next-to-the-best-sale latest on ABC. 132 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,000 Oh, boy, let me have one of those. 133 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Yes, sir. News of Stanton, sir. 134 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Both. Here you are. 135 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,000 Oh, thank you, sir. Sixth-thirty newspaper sensation. 136 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Nasty business, eh, mister? 137 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 Oh, yes. Very, very. 138 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,000 You never know with lunatics. They don't always look bomber, you know. 139 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,000 Sometimes they look the same as you on me. 140 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,000 Eh? Yes, I suppose they do. 141 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,000 Oh, it's a fact. Sometimes it's the war on Ingram. 142 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,000 Never been right since. 143 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:30,000 Yes, I expect you're right. 144 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,000 You know, I dealt old with wars. I hope this'll be the last. 145 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,000 You don't hold with wars, eh? Well, young man, I don't hold with plague 146 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,000 and sleeping sickness and famine and cancer, 147 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,000 but they happen all the same. And murder happens all the same. 148 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,000 They can't prevent them. 149 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:48,000 I'm sorry, sir. I expect you had a rocky time of it in the last one, eh? 150 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Yes, yes. My poor head's never been the same since. 151 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,000 I get terrible headaches. 152 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,000 Oh? Well, I'm sorry about that, sir. 153 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,000 Sometimes I oddly know what I'm doing. 154 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,000 You don't say. I forget things. 155 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,000 You know, for instance, I could have sworn I had an ABC railway guide 156 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,000 in my pocket an hour ago. 157 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,000 Do you know they found one of them, ABC railway guides? 158 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,000 And the poor tobogganist lady that he murdered. 159 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,000 Who? 160 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,000 He. ABC. Whoever he is. 161 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,000 Maybe he don't know himself. 162 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,000 Let us stop to think of that. 163 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,000 Maybe he's so bomb he don't remember. 164 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,000 I wonder. 165 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:27,000 Baxill, Baxill, did you say Baxill? That's my train. 166 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,000 Well, goodbye, young man. 167 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,000 Goodbye. 168 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:59,000 MUSIC 169 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,000 May I have your order, sir? 170 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,000 Well, I don't think I'll have the air-mide. 171 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,000 I'm for breakfast. Yes, I think I'll have the mutton pie. 172 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,000 One mutton pie. Yes, sir. 173 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,000 What's the matter with you? You're trembling, young woman. 174 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,000 Is something wrong? 175 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,000 Oh, sir, if you only knew. 176 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,000 I have to walk home tonight after they close our beer. 177 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,000 And there ain't hardly a light in Benson Terrace where I live. 178 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,000 Benson, Benson Terrace in Baxill? 179 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,000 Yes, sir. 180 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,000 You're afraid of the ABC murderer, aren't you? 181 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,000 He follows the alphabet, don't he? 182 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,000 He's got a way down in Andover. 183 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,000 Hey, and does your name begin with a B? 184 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,000 Barnard's my name. Mary Barnard. 185 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,000 Oh, dear me, Miss Barnard. 186 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,000 Well, I don't like to appear forward. 187 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,000 Well, anyway, I'm old enough to be your father. 188 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,000 Would it make you feel easier if I saw you home tonight? 189 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,000 Oh, you don't know, sir. You just don't know what it would mean. 190 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,000 Well, what time do they close up here? 191 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,000 At nine o'clock. All right, I'll wait outside for you. 192 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,000 At nine o'clock? All right. 193 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:58,000 I'll be waiting outside. 194 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Ladies, waitress brutally murdered in Baxill. 195 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,000 ABC strikes again. Here you are, sir. 196 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000 Stotland Yard received third murder note. 197 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,000 Alphabet murderer to strike again in Chaston. 198 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,000 Here you are. 199 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:13,000 Yes, sir? 200 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:23,000 Third class single to Chaston. 201 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000 Give me a pint of half and half, please. 202 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,000 Yes, sir. 203 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,000 There you are, sir. 204 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:30,000 You up from London, sir? 205 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,000 Yes, I come directly from London. 206 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Ah, salesman? 207 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:35,000 Stockings is my line. 208 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Rough going these days, what with rationing, eh? 209 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,000 Well, well, well. 210 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,000 It isn't my old friend Alexander Bonaparte Cust. 211 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,000 I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't remember. 212 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,000 We met in the library, remember? In London. 213 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,000 Yes, had quite a talk. 214 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:49,000 Franklin Clark, remember? 215 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,000 Yes, of course. You'll forgive me, Mr. Clark. 216 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,000 My memory, it seems to be getting worse and worse. 217 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,000 But you must have come under better times, Mr. Cust. 218 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,000 New briefcase, I see. Nice, bright new initials. 219 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,000 Well, I got a job shortly after I saw you, Mr. Clark, 220 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,000 from Ballinger Limited. Stockings is my old line, you know. 221 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,000 But to tell you the truth, I haven't been doing very well. 222 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,000 Oh, those headaches again? 223 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,000 Yes, the headaches. And the murders. 224 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,000 The murders have upset me something terrible. 225 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,000 Oh, why, you're shaking like a leaf, man. 226 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:19,000 No. 227 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,000 Hey, Jonathan, a brandy for Mr. Cust. He needs it. 228 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,000 Thank you, sir. 229 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,000 The trouble with you, Cust, is you're inclined to be morbid. 230 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,000 I remember that book you were reading the day we met, 231 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,000 stuff about epilepsy. 232 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,000 Well, it might be epilepsy, mightn't it? 233 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,000 What? 234 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,000 Well, they discharged me from the army before the war ended. 235 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,000 You see, I had a kind of a fit, you know. 236 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,000 Never had anything like it again, have you? 237 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,000 No, I didn't have a fit again, just the headaches. 238 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,000 I forget what happens hours at a time. 239 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,000 Do you know, once I was sitting in a station waiting room 240 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,000 and a newsboy came by and I bought a paper from him, 241 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,000 it was all about that first murder in Andover. 242 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,000 It said the police had got another note, 243 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,000 another typewritten note, Mr. Clark, 244 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,000 and the murderer was going to strike next in Bexhill. 245 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,000 And suddenly I realized I was in Bexhill. 246 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,000 And I'd been in Andover the day before when the first murder happened. 247 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,000 How did you happen to go from Andover to Bexhill? 248 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,000 Well, that's the way I'm supposed to go, on my route, 249 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,000 selling the stockings. 250 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,000 I'm supposed to take the towns alphabetically. 251 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Oh, well, then it's not so surprising 252 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,000 you should have been in Bexhill after all, is it? 253 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,000 Just a coincidence. 254 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,000 Well, the waitress in Bexhill there, I... 255 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,000 I walked home with her that night, Mr. Clark, 256 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,000 the night she was murdered. 257 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:27,000 Oh, good heavens, Cust, 258 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,000 you don't think you killed Mary Barnard, do you? 259 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,000 I don't know, Mr. Clark. 260 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,000 It's said in that book that people who have had epileptic fits 261 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,000 often do things and don't remember them. 262 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,000 They even commit crimes. 263 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,000 I said good night to her, and after that I don't know what... 264 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,000 Well, now, look, the notes, those typewritten notes, 265 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,000 wouldn't you have remembered if you'd written them? 266 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000 I don't know. 267 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,000 Well, now, I know a little something about psychology myself, Cust, 268 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,000 and I'd stake everything I own on the fact that the man who wrote those notes 269 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,000 was conscious of what he was doing. 270 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,000 Do you really think so, Mr. Clark? 271 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,000 Positive of it. 272 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,000 Now, pull yourself together, man. 273 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,000 Incidentally, my sister-in-law lives here in Churston. 274 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,000 My brother is Lord Cameron Clark, 275 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,000 and I have to know she needs some new stockings. 276 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,000 Pop over there in the morning, will you, and show the old girl your line? 277 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Here, here's the address. 278 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,000 Might cheer you up to make a good sale. 279 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,000 Oh, I'm sure it would, Mr. Clark, I'm sure it would. 280 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,000 Well, good night, Mr. Clark, 281 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,000 and thank you again for all your kindness, I'm sure, Cust. 282 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,000 Good night. Good night. 283 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,000 Oh, wait a minute, you've forgotten something again. 284 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,000 Oh, dear me, that's my typewriter. 285 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,000 I shall certainly need that. 286 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Oh? 287 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,000 Oh, well, it's to type up my report to the home office 288 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,000 in case I should make that sale tomorrow. 289 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,000 Oh, of course. Oh, yes, yes. By the way, Cust, 290 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,000 better watch out. 291 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Somebody in Churston is going to be murdered tomorrow. 292 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,000 Old A, B, C is up to the letter C, you know, 293 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,000 and your name is Cust. 294 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,000 Oh, I see. Good heavens. 295 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,000 Mine is Clark. 296 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,000 Well, thank you again for your generous order, Lady Clark. 297 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,000 I hope you'll be pleased. 298 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,000 This line of woollen line of stockings is one of 299 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Barringer's best buys right now, Lady Clark. 300 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,000 My brother-in-law told me that you'd had some unfortunate times 301 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,000 lately, Mr. Clark, but I really did need the stockings, 302 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:11,000 and I shall be... 303 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,000 Hello again, Cust. 304 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,000 I'll be stuffing myself with bacon and eggs. 305 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Make a sale, old boy? 306 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,000 Oh, yes, Mr. Clark, thank you very much. 307 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,000 Good, good. Louise is filthy with money, 308 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,000 and her ladyship's legs are in constant need of recovering. 309 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,000 Oh, I wouldn't say that. 310 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,000 Yes, really, she wanted the stockings. 311 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,000 Well, thank you very much, my lady. 312 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,000 I hope I shall have the privilege of serving you again next year. 313 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,000 Goodbye, Mr. Cust, and good luck. 314 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,000 Cheerio, Cust. 315 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,000 Such a nice little man, Franklin. 316 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,000 He's a bit off his nut, I'm afraid. 317 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,000 Last night he tried to convince me that he was the ABC murderer. 318 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,000 His initials, you know. 319 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,000 He has minor lapses of memory. 320 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,000 That little man, a murderer? Oh, really, Franklin. 321 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,000 Good Lord, what was that? 322 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,000 One of the maids. 323 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,000 Where is that girl? What's going on? 324 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,000 In the master's bedroom, my lady. 325 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,000 You'd better go with her, Mr. Franklin. 326 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,000 Brothers, what ever are you doing here? 327 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,000 Oh, my lady, the master, Lord Clark, 328 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,000 has been murdered, stabbed with a knife, 329 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:07,000 and bled to death. 330 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,000 Murder? Good heavens. 331 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,000 Why, look, look there on the floor. 332 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,000 A railway guide, an ABC. 333 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:14,000 Take me out of here, Franklin. 334 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,000 Oh, Louise, I'm sorry you had to see this. 335 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,000 Oh, Cameron, my poor Cameron. 336 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,000 He never made an enemy in his life. 337 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,000 The man who did this was a maniac. 338 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,000 And I'm afraid I know who he is. 339 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,000 He always carried a walking stick 340 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,000 with a heavy carved handle. 341 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:30,000 That's how the other murders were committed, 342 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,000 with a heavy stick. 343 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,000 But he wasn't carrying his stick today. 344 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,000 Must have grabbed a knife up there somewhere 345 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,000 to kill Cameron with. 346 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:38,000 But when? 347 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,000 Were you with him every minute? 348 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,000 Well, I went upstairs to get my checkbook. 349 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,000 It took me a little while to find it. 350 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,000 That gave Custy's opening. 351 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,000 Oh, to think that all that time. 352 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,000 Oh, no. No, I'll never forgive myself, Franklin. 353 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,000 No, none of that now, Louise. 354 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,000 The important thing now is to stop him 355 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,000 before he can commit another murder. 356 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,000 But what are you going to do, Franklin? 357 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:56,000 I'm going to the police 358 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,000 and see if they'll let me help. 359 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,000 Let's have a look at this ABC railway guide 360 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,000 he left beside poor Cameron. 361 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:02,000 Hmm. 362 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,000 Look here. All checked. 363 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:05,000 See there? 364 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,000 Andover, Bexhill, Churston. 365 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000 Each with a check mark after it. 366 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,000 Oh. 367 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,000 Where's the next one? 368 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,000 Ah, see? See London. 369 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,000 He's through with ABC. 370 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:27,000 He's gone home, and I'm going after him. 371 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:28,000 Yes? 372 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,000 Well, Mr. Cust, come in. 373 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,000 What ever kept you away so long? 374 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,000 Miss Lily, I've got to talk to you alone. 375 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,000 Oh, well, I'll go up with you. 376 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,000 I want to show you the new curtains 377 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:38,000 I put up in your room anyway. 378 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:39,000 Oh, you are a nice girl, Miss Lily. 379 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,000 Really, you are a nice girl. 380 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,000 Let me carry one of these, Mr. Cust. 381 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,000 The typewriter. 382 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,000 No, no, no. I'll carry my own things. 383 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,000 Thank you. 384 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,000 Oh, Mr. Cust, you're trembling. 385 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,000 Oh dear, you do look a fright. 386 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:47,000 Look, I'm going to straighten you a hot foot bath. 387 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,000 No, no, not now, please. 388 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,000 Not now, Miss Lily. 389 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,000 There's no time for it. 390 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,000 What is it, Mr. Cust? 391 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,000 Close the door and lock it. 392 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,000 Are you in some trouble, Mr. Cust? 393 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,000 I'm in terrible trouble, Miss Lily. 394 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,000 I want you to hear the story first from me. 395 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,000 You're the only one who has ever been my friend. 396 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,000 Oh, I've had a lonely life, Miss Lily. 397 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,000 Oh, poor Mr. Cust. 398 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,000 Poor Mr. Cust. 399 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:00,000 That's what they always say about me. 400 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,000 Poor Mr. Cust. 401 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:02,000 I thought you were different. 402 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:03,000 Oh, don't take on so, Mr. Cust. 403 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:14,000 It was only a manner of speaking. 404 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,000 Oh, you don't need to worry. 405 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,000 I'm all right now. 406 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,000 I never get two spells in one day. 407 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,000 Spells? 408 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,000 Mr. Cust, I don't understand. 409 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,000 What do you... 410 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Well, you heard of the ABC murders. 411 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,000 Shocking affairs. 412 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:25,000 But, Mr. Cust, why are you saying... 413 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:26,000 Miss Lily, the police will be here at any minute. 414 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,000 Please let me finish. 415 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,000 I don't want you to think harshly of me, Miss Lily. 416 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,000 I'm sorry. 417 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:30,000 I'm sorry. 418 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:31,000 I'm sorry. 419 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,000 I'm sorry. 420 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:33,000 I didn't plan it ahead. 421 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,000 My instructions told me where to go. 422 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,000 Some people can't help what they do. 423 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,000 There are diseases. 424 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,000 Epilepsy, for instance. 425 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:39,600 You do things you don't remember. 426 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:40,600 You commit crimes. 427 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:41,600 I'm like that. 428 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:42,680 Oh, Mr. Cust, I can't believe it! 429 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,560 When I was a child, Miss Lily, they used to badger me about my name. 430 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,660 My mother worshipped strength. 431 00:18:47,660 --> 00:18:51,400 She named me after the strongest people she knew about in history. 432 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,320 Alexander and Bonaparte. 433 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,520 But nobody ever called me by those names. 434 00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:59,100 They called me ABC. 435 00:18:59,100 --> 00:19:00,100 ABC! 436 00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:02,180 C-A-B-C. 437 00:19:02,180 --> 00:19:05,980 I used to dream I was boiling in a kettle of alphabet soup. 438 00:19:05,980 --> 00:19:08,380 I was a terrible disappointment to my mother. 439 00:19:08,380 --> 00:19:10,340 Mr. Cust, you're unsettled and tired. 440 00:19:10,340 --> 00:19:11,940 You've got to hear me out, Miss Lily. 441 00:19:11,940 --> 00:19:13,260 Oh, my eyes! 442 00:19:13,260 --> 00:19:15,140 Now listen to me, Miss Lily. 443 00:19:15,140 --> 00:19:17,980 I could have been a hero once in the army in the last war. 444 00:19:17,980 --> 00:19:18,500 I was happy. 445 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:20,420 I could have made something of myself. 446 00:19:20,420 --> 00:19:22,020 Then I started getting the headache. 447 00:19:22,020 --> 00:19:22,740 Let me go, Mr. Cust! 448 00:19:22,740 --> 00:19:24,140 You must hear me out, Miss Lily. 449 00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:26,380 I started forgetting things after they discharged me 450 00:19:26,380 --> 00:19:26,940 from the army. 451 00:19:26,940 --> 00:19:28,420 Shut, they called it. 452 00:19:28,420 --> 00:19:30,060 I used to have dreams. 453 00:19:30,060 --> 00:19:31,540 I was a great ruler. 454 00:19:31,540 --> 00:19:34,060 The destiny of men was in my hands. 455 00:19:34,060 --> 00:19:36,660 I had the power over them of life and death. 456 00:19:36,660 --> 00:19:37,660 Let me go! 457 00:19:37,660 --> 00:19:38,660 Please let me go! 458 00:19:38,660 --> 00:19:41,340 First there was Andover, that tobacco list. 459 00:19:41,340 --> 00:19:43,380 I can't even remember what she looked like. 460 00:19:43,380 --> 00:19:44,860 Then there was Bexhill. 461 00:19:44,860 --> 00:19:46,860 I walked home with a waitress from the station restaurant. 462 00:19:46,860 --> 00:19:48,620 She was murdered, too. 463 00:19:48,620 --> 00:19:50,940 In Cheston, I sold a dozen pair of stockings to a lady. 464 00:19:50,940 --> 00:19:53,060 And while she was upstairs getting her checkbook, 465 00:19:53,060 --> 00:19:56,620 her husband was murdered on the floor where I was waiting. 466 00:19:56,620 --> 00:19:59,660 And now I've come back here. 467 00:19:59,660 --> 00:20:03,020 Maybe the alphabet charm is over. 468 00:20:03,020 --> 00:20:04,060 Or is it? 469 00:20:04,060 --> 00:20:05,380 This is London. 470 00:20:05,380 --> 00:20:08,420 L, your name is Lily. 471 00:20:08,420 --> 00:20:11,220 Are you trying to frighten me, Mr. Cust? 472 00:20:11,220 --> 00:20:13,660 I am trying to convince you. 473 00:20:13,660 --> 00:20:15,020 You, murderer? 474 00:20:15,020 --> 00:20:16,420 Ha, ha, ha. 475 00:20:16,420 --> 00:20:18,340 I'd soon believe it. 476 00:20:18,340 --> 00:20:19,220 My own mother. 477 00:20:19,220 --> 00:20:20,940 What about this? 478 00:20:20,940 --> 00:20:21,860 Look at it. 479 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:22,780 Oh, no, no. 480 00:20:22,780 --> 00:20:24,100 Look closely at it. 481 00:20:24,100 --> 00:20:27,220 I found it in my briefcase when I came on the train, Miss Lily. 482 00:20:27,220 --> 00:20:30,300 This knife murdered a man in Cheston just three hours ago. 483 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:31,300 No! 484 00:20:31,300 --> 00:20:32,060 No! 485 00:20:32,060 --> 00:20:33,060 No! 486 00:20:33,060 --> 00:20:34,060 Ah! 487 00:20:34,060 --> 00:20:35,060 Ah! 488 00:20:35,060 --> 00:20:36,060 Ah! 489 00:20:36,060 --> 00:20:37,060 Ah! 490 00:20:37,060 --> 00:20:38,060 Ah! 491 00:20:38,060 --> 00:20:39,060 Ah! 492 00:20:39,060 --> 00:20:40,060 Ah! 493 00:20:40,060 --> 00:20:41,060 Ah! 494 00:20:41,060 --> 00:20:42,060 Ah! 495 00:20:42,060 --> 00:20:43,060 Ah! 496 00:20:43,060 --> 00:20:44,060 Ah! 497 00:20:44,060 --> 00:20:45,060 Oh, no. 498 00:20:45,060 --> 00:20:46,060 There, there, Miss Marbury. 499 00:20:46,060 --> 00:20:47,060 Don't take that on yourself. 500 00:20:47,060 --> 00:20:49,060 He's all hand-cut pretty as you please in the next room. 501 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:51,060 But he was such a nice man. 502 00:20:51,060 --> 00:20:54,060 I still can't hardly believe it. 503 00:20:54,060 --> 00:20:56,060 Is this the knife he threatened you with, Miss Marbury? 504 00:20:56,060 --> 00:20:57,060 Yes. 505 00:20:57,060 --> 00:20:59,060 What have you got here in the nick of time, Ethan? 506 00:20:59,060 --> 00:21:00,060 Hey, that's a wicked-looking knife. 507 00:21:00,060 --> 00:21:02,060 It's the Cheston murder knife right enough, Mr. Clark. 508 00:21:02,060 --> 00:21:03,060 No doubt of it. 509 00:21:03,060 --> 00:21:04,060 Well, let's take inventory. 510 00:21:04,060 --> 00:21:05,060 Typewriter. 511 00:21:05,060 --> 00:21:06,060 Checks with the murder notes. 512 00:21:06,060 --> 00:21:07,060 Walking stick. 513 00:21:07,060 --> 00:21:09,060 Same markings as on the heads of the first victims. 514 00:21:09,060 --> 00:21:12,060 And the psychiatrist's report says the murders were premeditated 515 00:21:12,060 --> 00:21:13,060 and the notes could not possibly have been written 516 00:21:13,060 --> 00:21:16,060 except by a person who was conscious and in his right mind. 517 00:21:16,060 --> 00:21:18,060 Well, that breaks down any idea Cust may have had 518 00:21:18,060 --> 00:21:20,060 of entering an insanity plea. 519 00:21:20,060 --> 00:21:21,060 Right. 520 00:21:21,060 --> 00:21:23,060 I think he'll sign the confession without any difficulty. 521 00:21:23,060 --> 00:21:24,060 Bring him in. 522 00:21:24,060 --> 00:21:25,060 Bring the prisoner in. 523 00:21:25,060 --> 00:21:28,060 Well, Cust, are you ready to sign your confession? 524 00:21:28,060 --> 00:21:29,060 I don't know, Inspector. 525 00:21:29,060 --> 00:21:32,060 A moment ago I was certain I must have done it. 526 00:21:32,060 --> 00:21:33,060 But why? 527 00:21:33,060 --> 00:21:35,060 That's what worries me. 528 00:21:35,060 --> 00:21:36,060 Why? 529 00:21:36,060 --> 00:21:39,060 Mr. Clark, why do you think I did it? 530 00:21:39,060 --> 00:21:41,060 You're wasting valuable time, Cust. 531 00:21:41,060 --> 00:21:42,060 I don't care why you did it. 532 00:21:42,060 --> 00:21:44,060 You killed my brother and I want to see you hang for it. 533 00:21:44,060 --> 00:21:46,060 I don't care how balmy you are. 534 00:21:46,060 --> 00:21:47,060 You ought to be ashamed of yourself 535 00:21:47,060 --> 00:21:50,060 talking to our Mr. Cust in that bloodthirsty manner. 536 00:21:50,060 --> 00:21:52,060 I don't know what you're thinking. 537 00:21:52,060 --> 00:21:55,060 I don't know what's getting into the gentry, I'm sure. 538 00:21:55,060 --> 00:21:57,060 He tried to murder you, didn't he? 539 00:21:57,060 --> 00:21:59,060 Well, he couldn't help himself, poor thing. 540 00:21:59,060 --> 00:22:01,060 He's been terribly upset of late. 541 00:22:01,060 --> 00:22:03,060 You are a nice girl, Miss Lily. 542 00:22:03,060 --> 00:22:04,060 You are a nice girl. 543 00:22:04,060 --> 00:22:07,060 The murders were willful and premeditated. 544 00:22:07,060 --> 00:22:11,060 They couldn't have been premeditated, Mr. Clark. 545 00:22:11,060 --> 00:22:13,060 Why do you say that, Cust? 546 00:22:13,060 --> 00:22:16,060 Well, because I didn't go to any of those places of my own choice. 547 00:22:16,060 --> 00:22:19,060 I had my instructions from Bellingers Limited. 548 00:22:19,060 --> 00:22:23,060 And those instructions were sent to me after the police got the warnings 549 00:22:23,060 --> 00:22:25,060 of the murders that were printed in the papers. 550 00:22:25,060 --> 00:22:27,060 There never were any such instructions. 551 00:22:27,060 --> 00:22:29,060 We ransacked all your things, Cust. 552 00:22:29,060 --> 00:22:31,060 There wasn't any letter of instructions, was there, Inspector? 553 00:22:31,060 --> 00:22:32,060 No. 554 00:22:32,060 --> 00:22:33,060 Oh, yes, there was. 555 00:22:33,060 --> 00:22:34,060 All right, we'll ring up Bellingers. 556 00:22:34,060 --> 00:22:36,060 May I use your telephone, Miss Marbury? 557 00:22:36,060 --> 00:22:37,060 Oh, certainly, Inspector. 558 00:22:37,060 --> 00:22:40,060 The number is Regent 3313, Inspector. 559 00:22:46,060 --> 00:22:48,060 Bellingers, are you there? 560 00:22:48,060 --> 00:22:49,060 Get me on to personnel. 561 00:22:49,060 --> 00:22:51,060 Oh, Mac, start packing those exhibits, will you? 562 00:22:51,060 --> 00:22:52,060 Aye, aye, sir. 563 00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:54,060 Chrome speaking, Scotland Yard. 564 00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:58,060 At what date did you employ a commercial traveler named Alexander Bonaparte Cust? 565 00:22:58,060 --> 00:22:59,060 No, Cust. 566 00:22:59,060 --> 00:23:00,060 A.B. Cust. 567 00:23:00,060 --> 00:23:02,060 Initials A, B, C. 568 00:23:02,060 --> 00:23:03,060 Yes, yes. 569 00:23:03,060 --> 00:23:05,060 Never employed by you. 570 00:23:05,060 --> 00:23:06,060 You're absolutely certain? 571 00:23:06,060 --> 00:23:08,060 Did you send a man to Andover or Bexhill last week? 572 00:23:08,060 --> 00:23:09,060 Not on your route. 573 00:23:09,060 --> 00:23:10,060 Thank you. 574 00:23:10,060 --> 00:23:12,060 That's all I wanted to know. 575 00:23:12,060 --> 00:23:13,060 Too bad, Cust. 576 00:23:13,060 --> 00:23:16,060 I guess this knocks out your last ghost of a chance, doesn't it? 577 00:23:16,060 --> 00:23:17,060 No, Mr. Clark. 578 00:23:17,060 --> 00:23:21,060 Because you see, the instructions were in a letter, and that letter is right in this room. 579 00:23:21,060 --> 00:23:22,060 Well, let's have a look. 580 00:23:22,060 --> 00:23:24,060 Come on, Mackenzie, give me a hand. 581 00:23:24,060 --> 00:23:25,060 Let's go through these things again. 582 00:23:25,060 --> 00:23:27,060 It won't do you any good to look there, Mr. Clark. 583 00:23:27,060 --> 00:23:29,060 I have the letter. 584 00:23:29,060 --> 00:23:31,060 Would you like to see it, Mr. Chrome? 585 00:23:31,060 --> 00:23:32,060 Let's see it. 586 00:23:32,060 --> 00:23:33,060 Well, I'll be... 587 00:23:33,060 --> 00:23:34,060 Where did you get that? 588 00:23:34,060 --> 00:23:35,060 It wasn't on him, Inspector. 589 00:23:35,060 --> 00:23:37,060 I'll swear to that. 590 00:23:37,060 --> 00:23:38,060 Where did you have this hidden? 591 00:23:38,060 --> 00:23:44,060 Well, Inspector, it isn't generally known, but I do wear a smaller hairpiece. 592 00:23:44,060 --> 00:23:46,060 Not out of benefit of mind, do I find it necessary for the business? 593 00:23:46,060 --> 00:23:47,060 Let's see that letter. 594 00:23:47,060 --> 00:23:48,060 Oh, gladly. 595 00:23:48,060 --> 00:23:52,060 Dear Mr. Cust, in close, fine advance, typewriter is being posted today. 596 00:23:52,060 --> 00:23:53,060 You will... 597 00:23:53,060 --> 00:23:54,060 What a lot of nonsense, Inspector. 598 00:23:54,060 --> 00:23:56,060 Look at the typeface of the letter. 599 00:23:56,060 --> 00:23:58,060 It's obviously written on Cust's typewriter. 600 00:23:58,060 --> 00:24:00,060 Yes, that's right, Mr. Clark. 601 00:24:00,060 --> 00:24:03,060 And the man who wrote that letter was the murderer. 602 00:24:03,060 --> 00:24:10,060 Cool as you like, he sent the typewriter to me and instructions on one of Ballinger's letterheads and the money and everything else. 603 00:24:10,060 --> 00:24:12,060 What kind of stunt are you trying to pull here, Cust? 604 00:24:12,060 --> 00:24:13,060 No stunt. 605 00:24:13,060 --> 00:24:17,060 It's just that when you made that telephone call, Inspector, and Ballinger said I'd never worked for them, 606 00:24:17,060 --> 00:24:20,060 I knew that the typewriter must have been sent to me by the murderer. 607 00:24:20,060 --> 00:24:26,060 And the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that the murderer must be Mr. Clark. 608 00:24:26,060 --> 00:24:27,060 What? 609 00:24:27,060 --> 00:24:29,060 This is too utterly fantastic, Inspector, really. 610 00:24:29,060 --> 00:24:37,060 Well, the murderer would have to know something about me, something I'd never confided to anyone but to Mr. Clark, about my... well, my headaches. 611 00:24:37,060 --> 00:24:40,060 I'd been reading a book in the public library, Inspector, a book on epilepsy, 612 00:24:40,060 --> 00:24:43,060 and it seemed to me that what I suffered during the last war might have been epilepsy. 613 00:24:43,060 --> 00:24:45,060 And it was on my mind, see? 614 00:24:45,060 --> 00:24:49,060 It said that epileptics might commit crimes and not remember them under certain conditions. 615 00:24:49,060 --> 00:24:53,060 Without that to go on, the murderer couldn't possibly have pinned the crime on me. 616 00:24:53,060 --> 00:24:58,060 That works two ways, Cust. You might have told me that story deliberately, just so you could cook up this story now. 617 00:24:58,060 --> 00:25:04,060 Well, I couldn't cook up your fingerprints, Mr. Clark, and I'll wager anything. Your fingerprints are on that letter. 618 00:25:04,060 --> 00:25:05,060 Ah, calm down, really. 619 00:25:05,060 --> 00:25:07,060 Well, that's easily settled. We can do it right here. 620 00:25:07,060 --> 00:25:12,060 Won't take a moment. Take a set of Mr. Clark's fingerprints, Mackenzie. You examine the prints in the letter meantime. 621 00:25:12,060 --> 00:25:17,060 Right, Inspector. Just press your fingers down firmly on this ink pad, Mr. Clark. 622 00:25:17,060 --> 00:25:19,060 What is it, Mr. Clark? It's quite simple, really. 623 00:25:19,060 --> 00:25:21,060 Yes, yes, it's so simple it isn't even necessary. 624 00:25:21,060 --> 00:25:25,060 I'm afraid this is necessary, Mr. Clark. Only a matter of routine, you know. 625 00:25:25,060 --> 00:25:29,060 I tell you it isn't necessary because Cust is right. I am the murderer. 626 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:34,060 You? But wait, then, you killed your brother Cameron Clark so that you would inherit the estate? 627 00:25:34,060 --> 00:25:35,060 Yes, exactly. 628 00:25:35,060 --> 00:25:37,060 But the others, the A and B murders in Andover and Bexhill and... 629 00:25:37,060 --> 00:25:39,060 I committed them, all of them. 630 00:25:39,060 --> 00:25:40,060 Yes, but... 631 00:25:40,060 --> 00:25:44,060 Come now, gentlemen. Surely you'll give me credit for thinking this thing through. 632 00:25:44,060 --> 00:25:49,060 If only my brother, Lord Clark, had been murdered, I, being the only heir, would have had a lot of explaining to do. 633 00:25:49,060 --> 00:25:57,060 So I invented my own little crime wave to make it appear as though he were just one of the victims of a homicidal maniac. 634 00:25:57,060 --> 00:26:02,060 And I must say, it almost came out thanks to the unknowing cooperation of Mr. Cust here. 635 00:26:02,060 --> 00:26:04,060 Thank you just the same, Mr. Cust. 636 00:26:04,060 --> 00:26:05,060 You're very welcome. I mean... 637 00:26:05,060 --> 00:26:08,060 Oh, Mr. Cust, I knew you couldn't be a murderer, not really. 638 00:26:08,060 --> 00:26:11,060 Oh, you are a nice girl, Miss Lily, really, you are a nice girl. 639 00:26:11,060 --> 00:26:14,060 You forgot those headaches, Mr. Cust. Why don't you go to an oculist? Those headaches. 640 00:26:14,060 --> 00:26:16,060 Maybe you just need a new pair of glasses. 641 00:26:16,060 --> 00:26:19,060 I think I'll do that, Miss Lily. Do you really think... 642 00:26:19,060 --> 00:26:21,060 Of course, I'll wait till that's what's been the trouble with me all of these clothes. 643 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:23,060 You know, you need someone to take care of you. 644 00:26:23,060 --> 00:26:31,060 Oh, I do, Miss Lily, I do, really. If only you... Oh, but no, you couldn't ever think of... 645 00:26:31,060 --> 00:26:32,060 What, Mr. Cust? 646 00:26:32,060 --> 00:26:38,060 Well, I mean, Miss Lily, I was just thinking it would be really too much to ask anyone. 647 00:26:38,060 --> 00:26:43,060 Mrs. Alexander Bonaparte Cust... 648 00:26:43,060 --> 00:26:49,060 But when we're married, please don't wear that toupee. It's very conspicuous. 649 00:26:49,060 --> 00:27:14,060 Oh, you are a nice girl, Miss Smith, really, you are. I do hope people won't call you Mrs. ABC. 650 00:27:14,060 --> 00:27:21,060 And so closes the ABC Murders, starring Charles Lawton with Elsa Lanchester and Bramwell Fletcher. 651 00:27:21,060 --> 00:27:24,060 Tonight's tale of suspense. 652 00:27:24,060 --> 00:27:32,060 This is your narrator, the man in black, who conveys to you Columbia's invitation to spend this half hour in suspense with us again next Tuesday, 653 00:27:32,060 --> 00:27:45,060 when Agnes Moorhead will return to our stage as star of the suspense play called She Overheard Murder Speaking. 654 00:27:45,060 --> 00:27:49,060 The producer of these broadcasts is William Spear, with Ted Bliss, the director, 655 00:27:49,060 --> 00:28:06,060 Lud Cluskin and Lucian Mahawick, conductor and composer, and Robert Tallman, the radio author, collaborated on tonight's suspense. 656 00:28:06,060 --> 00:28:20,060 This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.