1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Suspense. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:25,480 This is the man in black, here again to introduce Columbia's program, Suspense. 3 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,240 With us in Hollywood tonight as star is Mr. Otto Kruger, whose career on the screen and 4 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,880 on the stage has afforded him a precisely equal number of appearances as a character 5 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,480 on the right and on the wrong side of the law. 6 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:43,000 Whether the man Mr. Kruger portrays tonight is devil or saint, we shall leave for you 7 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,040 to judge when the play is over. 8 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,200 It is called After Dinner Story. 9 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,800 The author is Cornell Woolrich, the radio adapter Robert L. Richards. 10 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,360 So with the performance of Otto Kruger as Mr. Hardecker, who told this extraordinary 11 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:05,400 After Dinner Story, we again hope to keep you in Suspense. 12 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:10,520 Mr. Hardecker's residence. 13 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:16,760 I believe I'm expected for dinner. 14 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:17,760 Your name, sir? 15 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,640 Ken Shaw, is my name. 16 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,200 Very good, sir. 17 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,480 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Ken Shaw, sir. 18 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,160 Ah, number one. 19 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,120 Good evening, Mr. Ken Shaw. 20 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,400 Is this where Mr. Hardecker lives? 21 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:33,920 My name is Lambert. 22 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,920 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Lambert. 23 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,840 Number two. 24 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:41,840 My name is Prendergast. 25 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,320 I think I... 26 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:46,240 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Prendergast. 27 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:47,240 Number three. 28 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,760 Mackenzie's a name. 29 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,680 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Mackenzie. 30 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:54,680 Number four. 31 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:59,680 One, two, three, four. 32 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,760 So you're all here, gentlemen? 33 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:04,760 Yes. 34 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:06,400 Then suppose we go into dinner. 35 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,200 After dinner, I shall tell you why you are here, what I have in mind. 36 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:17,960 In fact, I shall tell you in the form of a story, a sort of after dinner story. 37 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:32,640 Well, gentlemen, did you enjoy your dinner? 38 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:33,640 Yeah, it was great. 39 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:37,720 Well, then, if you'll excuse me for just a moment, I have certain instructions to give 40 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,120 the servants, and after that, I shall rejoin you. 41 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,120 I shan't be long. 42 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:43,120 Certainly. 43 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,080 Well, what did that crack mean? 44 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,560 I mean, instructions to the servants. 45 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:49,840 How should I know? 46 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,320 I don't like the looks of the whole thing. 47 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:54,320 Why all the mystery? 48 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,120 Well, I suggest that you have patience, Mr. Prendergast. 49 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,120 Mr. Hardecker clearly intends to tell us in his own good time. 50 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,360 Yeah, and another thing. 51 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:07,840 I don't eat in those fancy Park Avenue joints as a rule myself, but I've seen them in the 52 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:08,840 movies. 53 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,200 They always pass the food around to everybody. 54 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,960 They don't just bring it out of the kitchen already on your plate and just hand it to you. 55 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,920 What possible difference can that make? 56 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:21,440 Well, I don't know, but I know it ain't right. 57 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,480 Oh, none of it's right. 58 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,080 Why does a man invite four perfect strangers to dinner? 59 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,080 What is this thing he has in mind for us he keeps talking about? 60 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:37,040 Well, all I know, he says he'll make it worth our while, and I can use a little of that 61 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,600 worth your while stuff the way business has been lately. 62 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:45,120 Obviously, the connection between us is that we were all in that elevator a year ago. 63 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,680 Oh, what of it? 64 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:47,920 There's no mystery about that. 65 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,300 The police cleared that up the very next day. 66 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:52,080 Maybe Mr. Hardecker doesn't think so. 67 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,720 Sorry to have kept you, gentlemen. 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,320 Now, suppose we get down to business. 69 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:02,760 Mr. Hardecker, none of us wish to seem rude, but we were just wondering what this business 70 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,000 is all about. 71 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,880 You have had... you had come to the obvious conclusion, of course, that it has to do with 72 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:08,880 my son. 73 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:09,960 Well, yeah. 74 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:11,480 I don't see why we're... 75 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,320 Well, sorry, naturally, but that's all over and done, whether I... 76 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:16,320 Yes, almost. 77 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,520 But there are one or two little details that I thought you, gentlemen, might help me to 78 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:20,520 clarify. 79 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:21,520 Oh, sure. 80 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:22,520 Oh, well. 81 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:23,520 Fine. 82 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,520 Well, then, if you don't mind, I know you must remember most of it, but it's almost 83 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:27,520 a year ago. 84 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,920 I'd like to go over the whole story from the beginning. 85 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:30,920 Well, that's all right. 86 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:37,680 Well, it was just about... just before five in the afternoon on August 30th of last year 87 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,320 when the matter which concerns us here this evening had its beginning. 88 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:46,440 And on that day, and at that time, all four of you perfect strangers who had never seen 89 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:51,280 each other before in your lives found yourselves, for personal and business reasons of your 90 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:58,320 own, on various floors of the Norfolk building in midtown Manhattan, waiting for the express 91 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,600 elevator to take you to the lobby. 92 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,800 The first passengers were on the 21st floor. 93 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,760 21, going down, please. 94 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,760 Express car, going down. 95 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,680 There are now three men in the elevator. 96 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:20,360 The operator, Mr. Kenshaw and Mr. Lambert, who had gotten on at the 21st floor. 97 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,320 18, going down, please. 98 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:25,320 Face the doors, please. 99 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:26,320 Going down. 100 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:31,640 Now there are five men in the car. 101 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:38,320 Mr. Prendergast and Mr. McKenzie had entered the elevator at the 18th floor. 102 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,360 15, express car to the lobby. 103 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:42,360 Going down, please. 104 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,280 Say hello to Eleanor for me. 105 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:45,280 You bet. 106 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:46,280 Bye, Dad. 107 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:47,280 Bye. 108 00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:50,280 Six men in the elevator. 109 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:55,280 The last to enter, I had accompanied to the elevator door myself. 110 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:59,160 He was my son. 111 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:00,840 These things drop pretty fast. 112 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:02,560 Too fast for me. 113 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,520 Hey, this baby is moving. 114 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:05,520 Hey, look. 115 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:06,520 We can't stop it. 116 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:07,520 We're out of control. 117 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:23,440 Look out, we're going to hit. 118 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:34,060 Where's the baby? 119 00:06:34,060 --> 00:06:41,060 Hey, anybody got a match? 120 00:06:41,060 --> 00:06:44,060 I think my leg's broken. 121 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:45,060 Get me out of here. 122 00:06:45,060 --> 00:06:46,060 I've got a wife and kids. 123 00:06:46,060 --> 00:06:47,060 Somebody get me out of here. 124 00:06:47,060 --> 00:06:48,060 Shut up a minute, can't you? 125 00:06:48,060 --> 00:06:49,060 It's so dark. 126 00:06:49,060 --> 00:06:53,060 You're not the only one with a wife and kids. 127 00:06:53,060 --> 00:06:55,060 Has anybody got a match? 128 00:06:55,060 --> 00:06:58,060 We've got to get this door open. 129 00:06:58,060 --> 00:07:00,060 I don't have any. 130 00:07:00,060 --> 00:07:04,060 Why would I suffocate in here? 131 00:07:04,060 --> 00:07:09,060 These things are practically airtight. 132 00:07:09,060 --> 00:07:10,060 Where's the operator? 133 00:07:10,060 --> 00:07:11,060 Operator? 134 00:07:11,060 --> 00:07:12,060 He's over here. 135 00:07:12,060 --> 00:07:15,060 I can feel the braid on his coat against my hand. 136 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:16,060 What about it, bud? 137 00:07:16,060 --> 00:07:19,060 You got a match so I can see what I'm doing here? 138 00:07:19,060 --> 00:07:20,060 Hey, operator. 139 00:07:20,060 --> 00:07:21,060 He's dead. 140 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:22,060 Dead? 141 00:07:22,060 --> 00:07:23,060 Why doesn't somebody come? 142 00:07:23,060 --> 00:07:24,060 What's the matter with them? 143 00:07:24,060 --> 00:07:25,060 Why don't they come? 144 00:07:25,060 --> 00:07:26,060 Pipe it down. 145 00:07:26,060 --> 00:07:31,060 When will you pipe down? 146 00:07:31,060 --> 00:07:32,060 There I got it. 147 00:07:32,060 --> 00:07:34,060 We'll get a little air anyway. 148 00:07:34,060 --> 00:07:38,060 There's a light up there somewhere. 149 00:07:38,060 --> 00:07:40,060 Yeah, I can hear voices. 150 00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:41,060 You hear them? 151 00:07:41,060 --> 00:07:42,060 Help! 152 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:43,060 Help! 153 00:07:43,060 --> 00:07:45,060 Say, there's no use yelling your head off. 154 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:48,060 They know we're down here. 155 00:07:48,060 --> 00:07:51,060 I wish my leg didn't hurt so bad. 156 00:07:51,060 --> 00:07:52,060 Let's see. 157 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:54,060 Try wrapping your shirt around it tight. 158 00:07:54,060 --> 00:07:56,060 May stop some of the pain. 159 00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:57,060 Thanks. 160 00:07:57,060 --> 00:07:58,060 There, easy. 161 00:07:58,060 --> 00:07:59,060 Now what? 162 00:07:59,060 --> 00:08:00,060 Nothing. 163 00:08:00,060 --> 00:08:01,060 Just sit and wait, that's all. 164 00:08:01,060 --> 00:08:02,060 Why don't they hurry? 165 00:08:02,060 --> 00:08:03,060 What are they waiting for? 166 00:08:03,060 --> 00:08:04,060 Why don't they hurry? 167 00:08:04,060 --> 00:08:05,060 Take it easy. 168 00:08:05,060 --> 00:08:06,060 Take it easy. 169 00:08:06,060 --> 00:08:07,060 You could be worse off. 170 00:08:07,060 --> 00:08:08,060 Worse off? 171 00:08:08,060 --> 00:08:09,060 Yeah. 172 00:08:09,060 --> 00:08:10,060 Like this poor guy, the operator. 173 00:08:10,060 --> 00:08:11,060 He's dead. 174 00:08:11,060 --> 00:08:12,060 And so you waited. 175 00:08:12,060 --> 00:08:13,060 Six months. 176 00:08:13,060 --> 00:08:14,060 And you waited. 177 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:15,060 And you waited. 178 00:08:15,060 --> 00:08:16,060 And you waited. 179 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:17,060 And you waited. 180 00:08:17,060 --> 00:08:18,060 And you waited. 181 00:08:18,060 --> 00:08:19,060 And you waited. 182 00:08:19,060 --> 00:08:20,060 And you waited. 183 00:08:20,060 --> 00:08:21,060 And you waited. 184 00:08:21,060 --> 00:08:22,060 And you waited. 185 00:08:22,060 --> 00:08:23,060 And you waited. 186 00:08:23,060 --> 00:08:24,060 And you waited. 187 00:08:24,060 --> 00:08:23,540 Six men, five living, one dead. 188 00:08:23,540 --> 00:08:31,900 I know how it must have been. 189 00:08:31,900 --> 00:08:30,380 For all of you, the minutes dragging by, 190 00:08:30,380 --> 00:08:34,820 out at night, June 15th, year 9. 191 00:08:34,820 --> 00:08:35,620 How's your leg? 192 00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:36,260 Better. 193 00:08:36,260 --> 00:08:39,640 How long do you suppose we've been down here? 194 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:40,520 It's hard to tell. 195 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:41,780 Maybe they think we're all dead. 196 00:08:41,780 --> 00:08:42,980 Maybe they're just taking their time. 197 00:08:42,980 --> 00:08:43,980 Don't worry. 198 00:08:43,980 --> 00:08:45,800 They heard your hollerin' all right. 199 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:46,800 Gee, the poor guy. 200 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,220 I, I wonder if he had any kids. 201 00:08:48,220 --> 00:08:49,100 The operator? 202 00:08:49,100 --> 00:08:49,700 Yeah. 203 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,520 I, I often wonder, 204 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,820 what would happen if one of these things ever slipped. 205 00:08:54,820 --> 00:08:56,820 Well now you know, I'll never ride in one again. 206 00:08:56,820 --> 00:08:59,520 So he's gonna walk up 68 stories to the Rainbow Room. 207 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,520 I don't go to the Rainbow Room. 208 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,520 Oh, I'm certainly glad my father didn't get on this car, wouldn't he? 209 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,520 He was going to, but it changed his mind. 210 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,520 Wish I'd changed my mind. 211 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,520 You know, if I hadn't gone back to make a phone call, I'd have been on another car. 212 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,520 What's the use of wishing? It's happened and here we are. 213 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:19,520 Listen, there they are! 214 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:20,520 They're gonna get us out! 215 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:22,520 Hello! Hello up there! 216 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:24,520 Yeah, yeah, we're coming to you. Take it easy. 217 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,520 Hurry, can't you hurry? Hurry! 218 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:28,520 We'll hurry. Anybody hurt? 219 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,520 Yeah, one guy's dead. 220 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,520 We'll be through to you in a minute. 221 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,520 Okay, Ryder, let it on. 222 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,520 Look, look at that light up there. 223 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:43,520 They're settling torches. 224 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,520 Yeah, they're gonna cut a hole in the roof. 225 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:49,520 What a racket. 226 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,520 I'm nearly deaf already. 227 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,520 Listen, you guys, we're coming through, see? 228 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,520 Watch out for sparks. 229 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,520 Shut your eyes and stand back against the wall. 230 00:09:58,520 --> 00:09:59,520 Okay. 231 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,520 I never knew those things made so much noise. 232 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,520 It's because we're close in. 233 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,520 No! No! 234 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:09,520 What was that? 235 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:10,520 I don't know. 236 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,520 I thought I heard somebody holler. 237 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:13,520 Yeah, so did I. 238 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,520 Must have been one of those guys up above. 239 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,520 Those sparks are enough to blind you. 240 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:20,520 Don't look at them. They will blind you. 241 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,520 One went right by in front of my face, right across the car. 242 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,520 They couldn't have. They're dropping down. 243 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,520 If you see it, it was all for price. 244 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,520 Just a reflection. Don't look at it. 245 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,520 I guess they got it cut through. 246 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,520 Phew, yeah. 247 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,520 Couldn't have stood much more of that. 248 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,520 They're pulling off the top. It won't be long now. 249 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,520 All right. One more. One more. 250 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:46,520 All right. 251 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,520 All right. Stand clear down there. 252 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,520 I'm going to jump down. 253 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:51,520 Hey, cop. 254 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,520 And no cop ever looked lovelier. 255 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,520 All right. Pass them ropes down now. 256 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,520 Okay, hold it. 257 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,520 All right. Who's first now? 258 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,520 Who's the worst heart of your dog? 259 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:05,520 How about this fella? 260 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,520 That's the operator. He's dead. 261 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,520 Hey, look. Those other two guys have both passed out. 262 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:11,520 Yeah, shocking. 263 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,520 I'm going to get out of here. I feel pretty bad. 264 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,520 Hold your horses. There's nothing wrong with you. 265 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:16,520 But I... 266 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:17,520 That man's got a broken leg. 267 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:19,520 Who's got a broken leg? 268 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:20,520 I have, I think. 269 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,520 All right. Can you sit in this rope sling here? 270 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,520 Now hang on with both your hands. 271 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,520 I'll be all right. 272 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,520 Okay. Pull him up. 273 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,520 Well, so long, fellas. 274 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:32,520 Take care of that leg. 275 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,520 Thanks. Yeah, thanks. 276 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:35,520 My name's Lambert. 277 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,520 And mine's Mackenzie. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime. 278 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,520 Yeah. Well, so long. 279 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,520 So long. 280 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,520 All right. Let me have that rope now. 281 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,520 Well, who's next now? 282 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,520 Maybe you'd better take those two guys that passed out. 283 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:49,520 They might be hurt. 284 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,520 Well, sure. How about this young fella? 285 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,520 Sure. He's got a little blood on him, hasn't he? 286 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:55,520 He has that. 287 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:57,520 Glass from the light fixtures, I guess. 288 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,520 I don't think it's serious. 289 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:00,520 You don't, eh? 290 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,520 No, he seemed to be all right. 291 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,520 Well, whatever he seemed to be, he's not now. 292 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,520 This man is dead. 293 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,520 Dead? 294 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:10,520 Well, but he can't be. 295 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,520 Look, here, my lad, you don't seem to realize 296 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,520 that you've come through a pretty serious accident. 297 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,520 I know, but he can't be dead. 298 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,520 We heard him talking just a few minutes ago. Isn't that right? 299 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,520 Yes, I heard him. 300 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,520 Well, sure. He was talking. He was here in the dark. 301 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,520 He said something about being glad his father wasn't on this elevator. 302 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,520 I can't help what he said or what you heard him say. 303 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,520 This man is dead. 304 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,520 My son, who had survived the original accident 305 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,520 without apparent injury, was dead. 306 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,520 You gentlemen were more fortunate. You lived. 307 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,520 Five days later, you four met again. 308 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,520 It was a police headquarter, about 2.30 on a Friday afternoon. 309 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,520 The last to arrive was Mr. Lambert. 310 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,520 In here, Mr. Lambert. Thanks. 311 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,520 Hello there. 312 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:55,520 Hi, fellas. 313 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:56,520 Hey. 314 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:58,520 Hello. 315 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,520 Hello there. 316 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:02,520 How's the leg? 317 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:03,520 Pretty good. 318 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:04,520 Mr. Lambert? 319 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:05,520 That's right. 320 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:06,520 I'm Chief Inspector McMahon. 321 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:07,520 How do? 322 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,520 You'll just take a seat there. 323 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,520 Well, we're all here now. 324 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,520 Mr. Ken Chow, Mr. Pendergast, Mr. McKendree, Mr. Lambert. 325 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:15,520 Yes, sir. 326 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,520 Well, now, as I told each of you over the phone, 327 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,520 I won't keep you very long. 328 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,520 I just wanted to ask a few routine questions 329 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,520 about that business of the elevator the other day. 330 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,520 What's the matter? Something phony about it? 331 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,520 No, not for our money. It's an open and shut case. 332 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:29,520 Suicide. 333 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:30,520 Suicide? 334 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:31,520 Yeah. 335 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:33,520 You mean the operator wanted to bump himself off so he could... 336 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,520 No, no, no, no. Not the operator. 337 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,520 He died of a fractured skull. 338 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,520 It's young Hardiker we're interested in. 339 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,520 His father's been raising a row, so we said we'd investigate, but... 340 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:44,520 I still don't get it. 341 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:49,520 Wesley Hardiker was killed by a.32 caliber bullet through the heart. 342 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:50,520 What? 343 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,520 You mean he killed himself right in that car with all of us around? 344 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:55,520 What else? 345 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,520 He wasn't shot when he walked in, and he was dead when we brought him out. 346 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:01,520 Unless one of you killed him. 347 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,520 Oh, no. 348 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,520 Any of you know him? 349 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:06,520 No. 350 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,520 Well, then, there you are. 351 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,520 Even the father had to admit that as far as he knew, 352 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,520 his son had never seen any of you before in his life. 353 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,520 But it don't make sense. 354 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:16,520 What don't make sense? 355 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,520 Well, I mean, a guy shooting himself in an elevator 356 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,520 with four other people that nobody didn't even know it. 357 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:23,520 Did any of you hear the shot? 358 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:25,520 Not before they started the blowtorches. 359 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,520 I can swear to that, couldn't have heard one anyway. 360 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:28,520 Oh, you see. 361 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:30,520 Hey, wait a minute. 362 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:31,520 Did you hear something? 363 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:32,520 No. 364 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,520 But McKenzie, remember I said when I was laying on the floor of the elevator 365 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,520 that I thought I saw a spark from one of those blowtorches 366 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,520 that went across the car instead of falling down? 367 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:42,520 That's right. 368 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:43,520 Anybody else see it? 369 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,520 The blowtorches were absolutely blinding. You couldn't see a... 370 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,520 How about you, Mr. Kenshaw? 371 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,520 Oh, I'm afraid that I fainted or something silly like that. 372 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,520 I'm not a very strong person. 373 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,520 Well, it was probably the gunshot or that. 374 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,520 Nothing very mysterious about it. 375 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,520 The gun belonged to young Hartaker, 376 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,520 licensed in his name and had only his own finger prints on it. 377 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:06,520 Well, maybe I shouldn't ask, but why did he do it? 378 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,520 The official verdict is suicide while of unsound mind. 379 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,520 He seemed all right. 380 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,520 He talked to us perfectly sensibly just before it happened. 381 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,520 Just goes to show. You never can tell, can you? 382 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,520 Oh, he'd always been nervous and highly strong. 383 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,520 We got that out of his father. 384 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,520 The strain of being down on that black pit was just too much for him, that's all. 385 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:29,520 Oh, but what a terrible thing to break down just as we were about to be rescued. 386 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,520 Yeah, but it's too bad. 387 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,520 Boys seem to have everything to live for, too. 388 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,520 What do we find that sort of thing all the time? 389 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,520 The noise, I suppose. 390 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,520 I've read of cases of nervous breakdown caused by noise. 391 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,520 Yeah, that's it. 392 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,520 Well, I guess I don't need to keep you gentlemen any longer. 393 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,520 I'm certainly glad there were no complications. 394 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,520 No, don't worry. 395 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,520 If it had anything to do with it, you'd be back in the cell right now. 396 00:15:51,520 --> 00:16:00,520 That was almost a year ago. 397 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,520 Last week, each of you received a phone call from me. 398 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,520 I can well understand and sympathize with the fact that you were somewhat astonished, 399 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,520 perhaps a little suspicious of what you heard. 400 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,520 I don't doubt that most of you debated at some length in your minds 401 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,520 the advisability of accepting my invitation at all. 402 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,520 You, for instance, Mr. Mackenzie, you are married, as I remember. 403 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,520 I imagine that you talked quite seriously with your wife about the whole affair. 404 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:31,520 I phoned your home, I believe, at about 8.30 last Monday evening. 405 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:36,520 Yes? This is Mr. Mackenzie speaking. 406 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,520 Well, I'm sorry, but I don't seem to place you. 407 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,520 Oh, of course, Mr. Hardigan. 408 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,520 Well, frankly, I don't see the point. 409 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,520 You don't know me, and I don't know you. 410 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,520 Yeah. Yeah, I see. 411 00:16:55,520 --> 00:17:00,520 Well, all right, Mr. Hardigan, I'll be there. 412 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,520 That's a funny name. 413 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:03,520 Who was it, dear? 414 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,520 His name is Hardigan, the father of that boy who killed himself in the elevator last year. 415 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,520 Oh? Well, what did he want? 416 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,520 He wanted me to come to dinner with him on Saturday at his home. 417 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:18,520 Why, how lovely. He's a very important man, isn't he? Did he ask both of you? 418 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:24,520 No. As a matter of fact, he's asking the four men who were in that elevator with his son when he died. 419 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:29,520 What a strange idea. Seems sort of gruesome to me. 420 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,520 Yeah, that's what I thought. 421 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,520 Didn't he say anything? 422 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,520 Oh, he didn't quite a lot. 423 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,520 Well, what did he say? 424 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:39,520 Just thinking. 425 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:43,520 Oh, now please, Stephen, don't sit there and be so tantalizing. What did he say? 426 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,520 Well, he said something about his son's estate. 427 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,520 Seems his son had quite a lot of money in his own right. 428 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:54,520 The old man said he didn't need it, and weren't any other relations, and... 429 00:17:54,520 --> 00:18:01,520 Well, he sort of hinted that he thought it might be a good idea to split it up between the four men who were with his son in his last moments of life, as he put it. 430 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:07,520 Why, Stephen, how wonderful. Why aren't you excited? How much is it? You suppose it's a lot of money? 431 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:08,520 I don't know. 432 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:13,520 Why, it might be several thousand dollars. It might be several hundred thousand dollars. 433 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,520 Oh, Stephen, what's the matter with you? 434 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,520 Well, just such a crazy thing to do, that's all. 435 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:24,520 I don't see that that makes any difference. If a man wants to do a nice, kind, generous thing... 436 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,520 Look, honey, if it was generosity, he'd give it to charity. 437 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:34,520 But with a sort of memorial to his son, he'd set up a scholarship or build a hospital or something. 438 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:35,520 Well... 439 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:39,520 The old man was pretty broken up about it when it happened. 440 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:46,520 I remember reading something about his being in a sanitarium for a while afterwards, and he never did believe the verdict of suicide. 441 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:50,520 The police might have just told us that at the time. 442 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,520 How do I know he doesn't think one of us killed the boy? 443 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,520 That's absurd. 444 00:18:55,520 --> 00:19:02,520 All right, but anybody who's crazy enough to divide up a wad of dough between four perfect strangers is crazy enough to think a perfect stranger killed his son. 445 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:03,520 Oh, by that... 446 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,520 Maybe he thinks we all did it. 447 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:12,520 Maybe he's wacky and has some crazy idea about revenge and is going to use the dough as bait to get us all together. 448 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:16,520 I haven't thought of it like that. Perhaps you ought not to go. 449 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,520 I already said I would. 450 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,520 Anyway, maybe it's on the level. 451 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,520 Stephen, do you still have that gun you used to have when you worked at the bank? 452 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,520 Yeah, I have it there. 453 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,520 I think you ought to take it with you Saturday night. 454 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,520 Honey, I think you've got something there. 455 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,520 I think that's a very good idea. 456 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:51,520 And so, gentlemen, I'm quite gratified that you all saw fit to accept my rather unique invitation and that we are all here together this evening. 457 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:58,520 By the way, Mr. McKenzie, I'm afraid I must ask you to give me that gun that you brought along. 458 00:19:58,520 --> 00:19:59,520 So that's it. 459 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:08,520 And, Mr. McKenzie, you will notice that one of my servants who is standing in the door directly behind you has got you covered, is the phrase, I believe. 460 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,520 Oh, okay. 461 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:12,520 Thank you. 462 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:13,520 How did you know? 463 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,520 Why, the butler sort of patted all your pockets when you removed your coats. 464 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:24,520 But aside from that, I've spent most of my waking hours during the past year looking into the backgrounds of all you gentlemen. 465 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,520 So I was right about this setup after all. 466 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,520 Now look here, Mr. Hardecker, I came here tonight in perfectly good faith. 467 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:32,520 I even cancel a very important business appointment. 468 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,520 With Mr. Joseph Donahue of Celluloid Products. 469 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:35,520 Yes. 470 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,520 All right, let's cut out the mystery. What's this all about? 471 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:38,520 Yes, what's the idea? 472 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:40,520 No, wait a minute. One moment, gentlemen. One moment. 473 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,520 I didn't ask you up here under false pretenses. 474 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:48,520 I fully intend to divide my son's estate precisely as I suggested over the phone. 475 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:52,520 I sincerely hope you don't resent my investigation of your backgrounds. 476 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:56,520 Well, gee, Mr. Hardecker, my background isn't much, I guess, but... 477 00:20:56,520 --> 00:21:01,520 Perhaps we all owe you an apology, Mr. Hardecker, but you must admit the whole thing's been a little strange. 478 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,520 It has indeed been very strange. 479 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,520 I think, however, that that phase of the matter is about over. 480 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,520 Now, before we get down to business, there is one detail that I'd like you to help clear me up. 481 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:12,520 Why, sir? 482 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:13,520 Sure, what is it? 483 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,520 Shall I bring it in now, sir? 484 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,520 If you please. Is it well mixed? 485 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:23,520 Yes, sir. 486 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:25,520 In the center of the table. 487 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:32,520 Thank you, Johnson. Now, please see that we are not disturbed on any account whatsoever. 488 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:33,520 Yes, sir. 489 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,520 Dang, that looks good. What is it? 490 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,520 Oh, it's got quite a number of things in it. White of egg, mustard, milk. 491 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,520 It sounds like an antidote for poison. 492 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,520 It is an antidote for poison. 493 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:50,520 A what? 494 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,520 Gentlemen, there is a murderer in this room. 495 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:58,520 One of you killed my son and hasn't paid for it yet. 496 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,520 Don't be a fool. The coroner's verdict was suicide. 497 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:07,520 This is not a discussion, Mr. Mackenzie. This is an execution. 498 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,520 I'm getting out of here. 499 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:15,520 There is a man with a gun outside each door. You'll find them very unreceptive to that idea, Mr. Prendergat. 500 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:17,520 Sit down. He's got us. 501 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:19,520 Well, I... 502 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,520 The only thing we can do is try to talk a little sensitively. 503 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:25,520 I'm not open to arguments, Mr. Mackenzie. One of you killed my son. 504 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,520 I know who that man is. 505 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:34,520 It's taken me a year to find out, but I now know the food that man ate tonight was poison. 506 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:35,520 Yeah, now, but... 507 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,520 In ten minutes, he'll drop dead. 508 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,520 You can't take the law into your own hands that way. 509 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,520 Unfortunately, the law demands a very specific type of evidence. 510 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:50,520 The police, whom I consulted repeatedly, do not believe it possible to get a conviction on the evidence I have. 511 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:54,520 And therefore, the conviction must come tonight. 512 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,520 Wait, you wouldn't dare. You couldn't kill a man in cold blood that way. 513 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:00,520 There is an alternative, Mr. Prendergat. 514 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:04,520 It is there in the center of the table. The antidote. 515 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:10,520 The murderer may either confess his crime by drinking the contents of that bowl, or... 516 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:18,520 He may keep silent and go to his death here tonight, privately executed for what cannot be publicly proved. 517 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,520 They could send you to the chair for that. 518 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:26,520 I am quite aware of that contingency, Mr. Crenshaw, and quite willing to accept the consequences. 519 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:31,520 But the murderer will have gone to his death before me. 520 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,520 But how do we know you poisoned the right... 521 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:37,520 The murderer knows, Mr. Prendergat. The rest need have no fear. 522 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,520 Hey, I think the guy's crazy. Maybe he poisoned all of us. 523 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,520 Look, Mr. Hardiker, this whole thing is insane. Nobody killed your son. 524 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,520 As to that, we shall shortly see, Mr. Mackenzie. 525 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,520 The man who killed my son has approximately seven minutes to live. 526 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:58,520 Seven minutes? It's me. I know it's me he's poisoned. My whole insides are on fire. It's me he's poisoned. 527 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,520 Now, don't fall for it, Mr. Shure. The whole thing may be a gag. 528 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,520 I assure you, nothing has ever been more serious, Mr. Mackenzie. 529 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,520 You know, I know it feels so good myself. 530 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:12,520 Neither do I. Probably just indigestion. 531 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,520 After dinner, a story like this is enough to give indigestion to a horse. 532 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:19,520 No kidding. Hey, I suppose this guy's a maniac. 533 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,520 I suppose he just made it all up in his own head and poisoned all of us. 534 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:26,520 Listen, Mr. Hardiker, let me just tell you this. 535 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,520 If I come out of this alive, I'm going to beat your brains out of it. It's the last thing I do. 536 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:33,520 I can't stand it. Mr. Hardiker, I didn't do it. I swear I didn't. I didn't do it. I didn't. 537 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,520 Shut up, Mr. Hardiker. Shut up. 538 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:40,520 Five more minutes. 539 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:45,520 Hey, I feel awful. Maybe we all ought to take some of that stuff, just in case. 540 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:48,520 Yeah, that's it. We'll all take it. Yeah, who'll take it first? 541 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:53,520 Unfortunately, gentlemen, there's only enough antidote for one. 542 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,520 Even if you're right, Hardiker, this is no way to do... This is my way. 543 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,520 You're crazy, I tell you. Crazy. Perhaps. 544 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,520 Have you a son? 545 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,520 Oh! 546 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,520 Kensho! 547 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,520 Will it save me? 548 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,520 Well, gentlemen, now you know. 549 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:23,520 All right. All right, what do I care? I killed him. And I do it again. 550 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:27,520 I hated him. Hated him. All my life. 551 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:32,520 In school, in college, he never even knew that I existed. 552 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,520 He was too good for someone like me. And he had everything. 553 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:41,520 Money, everything. And he married the girl that I loved. 554 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:46,520 She didn't know how I felt. I never told her. 555 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,520 And then she died. 556 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:55,520 In the morning, they said. She wouldn't have died if she hadn't married him. 557 00:25:55,520 --> 00:26:00,520 So I killed him. I saw him, didn't see anything. 558 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,520 And then it failed. It failed. 559 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:10,520 It was as though God had delivered it into my hand. 560 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:13,520 It came to me there in the dark. 561 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:19,520 I choked him. I choked him, and then he got out his gun. 562 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:26,520 I put my hand over his, and I turned it against him, and fired. 563 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:32,520 But I'm glad. I'm glad. 564 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:38,520 Look, help him somebody. Help him. Here. Pull up his head. Here. 565 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,520 Never mind. He's dead. 566 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,520 It didn't work in time. 567 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:45,520 You killed him, Haruka. 568 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:46,520 No, I didn't. 569 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:47,520 I tell you, he's dead. 570 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:54,520 Yes, I know. But what he drank was not the antidote. It was the poison. 571 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:55,520 Poison? 572 00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:00,520 You see, I didn't exactly know which of you killed my son. 573 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,520 I only knew that one of you must have. 574 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:10,520 And so Robert Kenshaw convicted himself in front of all of you, and was his own executioner. 575 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:14,520 But then he was never poisoned at all? Until... 576 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:18,520 Until he drank the contents of that bowl. 577 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:19,520 Gee. 578 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,520 I shall divide the estate, gentlemen, as I promised. 579 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,520 Meanwhile, you may call the police if you like. 580 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:32,520 Let the law and divine providence decide whether this man died by my hand, 581 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:52,520 or by the guilt that lay upon his own soul. 582 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:57,520 And so closes After Dinner Story by Cornell Woolrich, starring Otto Kruger. 583 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:04,520 Tonight's tale of suspense. 584 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:12,520 This is the man in black who conveys to you Columbia's invitation to spend this half hour in suspense with us again next week, same time, 585 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:20,520 when our star will be Gene Lockhart in the suspense play called Statement of Employee Henry Wilson. 586 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:25,520 The producer of suspense is William Spear, who tonight also directed the broadcast, 587 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,520 and who with Ludd Gluston and Lucian Morrowick, conductor and composer, 588 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:40,520 and Robert L. Richard, the radio author, collaborated on tonight's suspense. 589 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:44,520 Make a note on your calendar that beginning December 2nd, 590 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:49,520 suspense will come to you on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. Eastern wartime, 591 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:55,520 7 p.m. Central wartime, and 6 p.m. Mountain wartime. 592 00:28:55,520 --> 00:29:00,520 Remember, suspense will be heard on Thursday nights beginning December 2nd. 593 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:20,520 This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.