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Suspense.
This is the man in black here again to introduce Columbia's program, Suspense.
With us again a star is Mr. Orson Welles in the third of four successive
appearances for the Suspense audience. And sharing honors with Mr. Welles this
evening is a lovely and distinguished Hollywood leading lady, Miss Geraldine
Fitzgerald. Our play tonight is from a short story by Agatha Christie and so
with Philomel Cottage and with the performances of Geraldine Fitzgerald as
Alex Martin and of Orson Welles as her devoted husband Gerald. We again hope to
keep you in Suspense.
Philomel Cottage. What's that Alex? I was just reading the sign over the gate. What does
Philomel mean? Are you joking? No really. Why you little cockney. You've been here for three weeks and you still don't know. Philomel is another name for the bird that's supposed to sing only for lovers. You've been hearing it every twilight. Oh Nightingale. Of course. That sign Philomel Cottage is the main reason I wanted this place for us.
Mad you bought it. Gerald this was a fifty-fifty investment and you know it. Fifty-fifty. A thousand pounds from me and two from you. What else could we do? You couldn't touch any more of your capital at the time and well when you find a country cottage that combines old world charm with new world plumbing you want to grab it. And we did have to have the place didn't we? Yes we did. I've often wondered if you went a bit lonely. Lonely? With you? I mean well after living the city all your life. Pretty much to our
selves you know. Two miles from the nearest neighbor. From the nearest eavesdropper you mean. What an utterly hopeless romantic I met. Well you can't get out of it now. No. Oh Gerald you know what day today is? Today it's the thirteenth. It's our anniversary darling. We've known each other exactly a month. No exactly thirty days. Oh Gerald really now. No really. What is it dear? You have the painting eh? No.
Just a little indigestion I think.
Dear. Do you want me to get you your pillow? No no no.
Well dear it's eleven twenty five. Better get on to the village. How to get that camera equipment. And the human time table walks through the garden gate. My dear there's nothing wrong with system even on a honeymoon. Sooner I go sooner I get back. Oh come on Gerald forget your old photography. Why don't you stand and do some gardening. To be good for you. Better for old George he gets paid for it. He's not due again until Saturday the place will go to rack and ruin. Oh my dead body. Goodbye dear. Don't walk away.
Too fast dear remember the last time. Be careful darling.
Be careful. It had just slipped out. Be careful. Alex Martin swinging there on the garden gate. Smiling out her happiness across a part of England that was as remote and placid as any you'd care to find. Wondered why she'd said such a ridiculous thing. If this were London say that would have. London. Slowly the smile fell away.
She knew then that the memory of that last week in London had never really been far from my mind. That and that last talk with Dick. On the top deck of the bus crossing the square. She'd never seen him like that before. Gerald Martin. I tell you Alex the man's a perfect stranger to him. You know nothing about him. I know that I love him. How can you know in a week. You've only met him. It doesn't take everyone seven years to find out they're in love with a girl. It's meant for me isn't it. Alex. It's no use. Alex don't you know that.
You know what it's been for me not being able to tell you. I couldn't not with the income I had. And I decided I couldn't wait anymore and I was going to tell you anyway. And you know what happened. No I'm afraid I don't. Oh yes you do. That money you inherited. That money from your cousin or uncle or whoever. I don't see what that. You didn't think I could ask you to marry me then did you. You don't think I could live off your money. I'm sorry Dick. Believe me I am but. But it really doesn't matter now one way or the other. Doesn't matter does it. You can bet it matters to that Martin chap. That's what he's after. You mark my words.
He's after your mind. My interest you know that you're going to have money to be there and far more than I have and more than I have maybe that's the difference I've had enough of this I'm getting off at the next stop Alex please.
All right but let me tell you something if you think I'm going to let you know cut me out not do anything about it you're very much mistaken I'll catch up with you here I'll catch up with him if it's the last thing I do.
To Alex that thread of just one month ago was merely a piece of the moment outburst of her pride and yet as she leaned on the gate of Philomel Cottage kept echoing her mind.
What swept it away what brought her back to the rustic idyllic happiness of her life with Gerald Martin was the ring of the telephone inside the cottage.
Who could be called. Gerald Gerald had time to get beyond the turn in the road except if something had happened to him he'd had another attack maybe one of the villagers was trying to call to say that he was she hurried then and her hand shook a trifle.
Hello Alex this is Dick what who did you say.
What. Who did you say. Dick. Well where are you.
The right. Or aren't you.
You mean you're here.
And the objection to my.
Looking up to. Know no no no you mustn't. I'm sorry I only meant to be away this afternoon won't you come to see me.
And one other.
One. One moment Alex stood quite still the memory of Dick's threat flooding her mind she walked across the spacious old bean living room by the time she reached the side for she made up
a mind but she hated to see she would say nothing to Gerald Dicks. She stepped out into the garden and for the second time that morning got a surprise there because life was
a gardener. George I thought we agreed that Saturday was your day here.
I thought it would be surprised Mrs Martin. It will be a fair over the squares on Saturday and he says to me so he says Mr Mrs Martin they won't take it on this if I come for once on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday.
No of course not George. Then I thought too as I might as well see before he goes away so as to learn your wishes with the borders.
Before I go away. To London tomorrow.
Going to London tomorrow. Where did you hear that Mr Martin down the village yesterday he told me you were both going away to London tomorrow and it was uncertain when you'd be back again.
I didn't.
Now don't tell me you and the master is disagreeing already.
Hmm.
Oh no naturally not. Just slipped my mind. Get on with your work George.
Yes. Never could understand why anybody would want to go up to London though. Like Mr Raines what used to have this house. He went up there. Not that he would mind you. Yes.
And after fixing up this place like he did with taps all over everywhere.
You're going to take a loss I says to him when I sees the place up for sale. Didn't everyone as well you were fed for washing themselves in every room in this house and the men were speaking.
But George he says to me. I'll get every penny of two thousand pounds for this house. And sure enough he did.
He got three thousand.
Two thousand. Something was asking was taught job at the time. And very early I figured it was thought to be.
No George you see I gave two and that. Well it really was three thousand.
Yeah you don't tell me that Mr Raines had the face to stand up to say three thousand. Like in a loud voice.
He didn't say it to me he said it to. My husband.
I guess I'll do some speed now.
The price was two thousand.
As Alex strolled on across the garden she was conscious of a thin big force struggling to make itself heard.
Then abruptly it was gone. Her eye had fallen upon a small dark green object lying in the furrow beside one of the flower beds.
She picked it up and opened it scanning the entries for some amusement once again reminded of Gerald's enslavement to time and.
It was the entry on page twenty one that brought the smile. April.
Mary Alex St. Peter's church.
And it was the entry on page thirty that took that smile away she stared at the date on the page Wednesday May.
Why. Only one thing was written in red.
P.M.
What was.
Happened at six p.m. as she stood there that small big thought struggle to be heard once more it was yes it was something Dick Winderfeld said not the threat not that
while silly promise of vengeance but something else and then it came.
Stranger. Nothing about.
True what did she know about.
I love him I. Then she thought once again that cryptic entry.
Six p.m.
It was just three o'clock when Gerald his arms laden with packages walked up the garden path and came onto the side.
The door into the living room he noticed the rather odd kind of excitement about him.
Miss me darling why wouldn't I you had time to buy the whole.
Camera stuff. I don't have the best equipped dark room this side of London it won't be my fault if you're not careful that dark room of yours going to overflow the whole.
Oh incidentally here's something you've been watering the flowers with.
Diary.
Dropped it in the garden.
I know all your secrets now.
Not guilty I'm not so sure what about your resignation at six p.m. today.
Oh that's where you caught me at last it's an assignation with a very handsome young woman quite remarkably like you and.
You're evading the issue.
Not at all simply a reminder that I want you to help me develop some negatives this evening.
Six o'clock that's all the peculiar time isn't it.
I'm usually preparing dinner at that hour well no harm in delaying it a bit we might have a sandwich or two and some coffee out on the porch before we walk on the negatives you mean yes I'll be pleasant wanted you know something Alex.
I don't found anybody yet who could touch your coffee really that covers Australia and Canada.
You and your mysterious past.
Why do you say that.
I. Oh Joe I do wish I didn't know about you.
Alex.
I know it's silly but I.
I've told you all about me my boyhood in Sydney my life in Canada.
Yes.
I see.
You mean love affairs you women are all alike.
Well but there must have been there must have been other women I mean the family I.
Do you think it was Alex.
This blue beards chamber business.
Put your mind on such a subject anyway.
I mentioned it before I don't know Joe does.
I've been on the set all day I imagine I can thank old George for that.
God I mean he had some ridiculous idea we were going away to London.
Where did you see him.
He came to work today and said.
Right.
I didn't get to.
Go down lie down look lie down here.
Here's some water here darling I'm all right.
Oh I'm sorry darling getting you all upset.
Stupid old gardener I made some.
Weak joke to him about being off to London the morning he must have taken it seriously I didn't hear.
You.
Straightened him out I suppose hardly you know what a gossip is I didn't want the whole village to think my husband is leading me in the dark about his plans.
Are you all right.
You.
You told him we were going then.
Naturally.
Yes.
Sorry you were placed in that kind of situation darling.
I don't suppose you.
Ran into anybody else today.
This far from the world.
It isn't very likely is it.
No.
Not another word.
No not another word you aren't yourself now it's quite plain.
I want you to have a little rest.
You'll be right as rain by six o'clock.
Must you do those photographs tonight.
After all you've done things so well.
Dear if one wants to set the time to do something one should stick to it.
The only way to get through one's work.
All right up with you upstairs to bed now.
Very well dear.
I'll be getting things arranged in the dark room.
The.
Alex rest was more like a nightmare upstairs in her room she told herself that there was no basis no basis whatever for her state of mind still the turmoil the doubt the odd unaccountable sense of dread persisted in grew grew until.
The door. Step down the upstairs hallway quite clearly she knew what she must do you must find some testimony to our husband's past something to reassure her something to kill that agonizing dread mounting within her.
Strangely she remembered that single lock drawer in your.
She just told the door to the head of the stairs opened it and entered her husband's room. Yes the key if only she could find the key that locked the drawer but there was none in sight she moved to the wardrobe went to his coat pockets and then they're the feet they're on the floor she saw it.
She stepped to the bureau inserted the key and it was.
Alex Martin opened the drawer look down upon a small packet of letters tied with a light blue ribbon.
When she saw the upper most end of her face reddened with shade.
Why they my life they were her own letters love letters written to Gerald before they were married.
And there was nothing else in the door save a roll of ancient faded newspaper clinic.
Alex side with relief she glanced at the top clipping.
It was from an American paper and it featured the trial of one Charles Lemaître.
A notorious swindler and bigamist a skeleton had been found beneath the floor of his house and most of the women he'd married had never been heard of again.
Another of the clippings described the method behavior in court his interest in the cameras of the news photographers is sensational escape from prison another displayed his picture a lot of the pictures.
Another displayed his picture long bearded scholarly looking fun.
Reminded her of someone.
Who she couldn't tell she glanced at the caption beneath the picture.
Modern blue beard.
Yes that's what she read her eyes went back to the picture and in a flash they saw the resemblance.
The other. Dates have been found in the man's pocket diary dates it was contended when he had done away with the victims he was an amateur photographer he was from Sydney from Canada you were subject to heart attacks he was he was.
The room around. He could try to warn her they could be near her that morning she turned him away she.
Was then that she noticed. She turned toward the bright new pipe in the corner running up through the room from below near its base something was striking that pipe as though someone were.
That was it.
So someone were digging the major was preparing the dark room for the latest one of his victims.
That was the day six o'clock less than an hour from now.
Suddenly all the pieces shot into place the money paid for the house her money her money only the bond she didn't trust him for his keeping.
The. Diggings stopped.
The.
I was just trying to find the nail file.
Where you.
Well it's not going to look so guilty about now is it.
Come on down.
Getting late you know.
I.
Just have time to make a coffee and sandwiches.
Before we do the pictures that.
I'd like to and I'll do it we really mustn't delay must we.
Coming Alex.
They will.
Now that's better.
Yeah let me give you a hand.
Never mind.
I had an X.
I called you.
Cold.
Yes I am.
I'll let them soon pass away I'm sure.
I don't want to.
I don't want to get into the kitchen.
Alex what is the matter.
Nothing.
I'll be all right.
The kitchen.
Yes I'll fix it something in a second.
You just sit here in the living room and.
No the porch.
That'll be more comfortable.
And I'll be right with you.
Splendid Alex I'll just.
No of course not.
What Gerald.
How rotten of me not to have suggested it.
Since you're feeling a bit under power you can probably do with some help.
I'll come with you.
You know then that some way somehow she must get word to take wind of.
The fact that he might be gone by now the memory of him telling her so she resolutely put out of her mind.
No more panic.
She must be in utter control of herself.
Alex carrying the coffee out of the porch glanced the clock from the mantle.
Ten minutes till six.
Her very life hung by those next ten minutes.
Why her ability to think coolly and swiftly because standing beside her was a man as determined as he was insane.
A pity you're so abstracted my dear.
What.
Why do you say that.
Well.
Because you are missing the loveliest sight you'll ever like to see again.
I can't be on the garden.
First soft shades of twilight.
Twilight.
Over fill of the old cottage.
Now I say Alex you are below par.
What do you mean.
First time you've ever slipped on the coffee.
Must have talked in the entire canister.
I'll be more careful after this.
Oh dear.
That's.
Alex where are you going.
Nothing to get excited about.
I forgot to order meat for tomorrow I'm going to find the butcher.
Butcher this time of evening.
He generally.
He generally stays late on Wednesdays I'll be right back darling.
Don't shut the door Alex.
It keeps the insects out of the living room.
You're not afraid I'm going to make love to the butcher are you.
Operator.
Get me the travelers arms please hurry.
Hello.
Travels on Mr.
Winterford please.
What you don't know if he's still there.
We'll see once you it's most important.
Don't let me disturb you.
Well darling you do.
I hate anyone listening when I telephone.
But I do get out truly.
You're quite sure you're really calling the butcher.
Well.
As a matter of fact I'm not sure what.
What I mean is talking about.
I'm afraid I've got the wrong person.
A perfect stranger.
Don't understand.
Someone I know nothing about you know nothing about and why don't you hang up.
It was the end of that while it Hello.
Hello.
Did.
All right my girl I'll get started with a great now.
Three minutes past six.
I don't go by that really I go by my own.
Listen.
I don't feel up to tonight I'm upset I'm tired I promise you you won't be a bit tired after it's over.
I'm not going to wait one minute longer.
I want to.
Come along.
I'm going to.
You will you will.
I've got something to tell you something to confess.
Confess.
Yes to confess.
Something something I want to tell you before.
I've had.
I've had my secret past to.
Form a love eyes.
In a way but but something else you'd call it yes I expect you'd call it a crime.
You.
Yes I don't believe it yes.
You better you better sit down.
I.
I told you I'd never been married before that wasn't entirely true.
There was a marriage.
When I was twenty two.
He was an elderly man with a little property.
I used to ensure his life in my favor at one time I was a nurse with.
The access to a number of poison there's one poison like powder it.
You know something about poison perhaps you know I know very little about them.
This one is very much like it's absolutely untraceable any doctor would give a certificate of heart failure and that.
And that.
No.
No I can't tell you no no another time there's another time now I want to hear.
How did you get him to take it.
How did I get him to take it out.
Well.
I always made his coffee for you.
Yes.
One night I put a pinch of this of this poison in his cup.
I remember that even have very much like this it was how peaceful.
He gasped a little side to move in this care but he couldn't presently he died.
How much.
How much is the insurance on about two thousand pounds I speculate I lost it it was over two years before I before I married again he was a much younger man quite well off.
There was a will in my favor he liked me to make his coffee to just as my first husband had done I make very good coffee.
It was the same along about twilight.
I remember it perfectly I'm nervous and upset I've been all day wondering if it would turn out all right.
But it did it was the same as the other he just sat there in his chair and he died I believe doctor pronounced it heart failure.
My husband did have a weak heart you see and that that helped a great deal.
Listen that's not of me I'm a four thousand pounds I didn't speculate.
That's why I tasted that way you didn't you poison me.
You.
And already the poison is working.
From your chair.
I.
You can't move your head.
Yeah.
I'm.
Excuse me.
Yeah.
We'll see if they.
He was just.
Presently.
And so closes Philomel cottage Agatha Christie's story of love from a stranger starring Geraldine Fitzgerald and Orson Welles tonight's tale of.
Suspense this is your narrator the man in black who conveys to you Columbia's invitation to spend this half hour in suspense with us on October 19 one week from Tuesday when Orson Welles will again be our star our next broadcast in the series will be Tuesday October 19 at 10 o'clock Eastern War time seven o'clock Pacific War time.
The producer of suspense is William Spear who tonight also directed the broadcast and who with Wilbur Hatch and Lucian Malawick conductor and composer and Harold Medford the radio author collaborated on tonight's.
Suspense.
This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System.