WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.000 Suspense. 00:02.000 --> 00:25.480 This is the man in black, here again to introduce Columbia's program, Suspense. 00:25.480 --> 00:30.240 With us in Hollywood tonight as star is Mr. Otto Kruger, whose career on the screen and 00:30.240 --> 00:34.880 on the stage has afforded him a precisely equal number of appearances as a character 00:34.880 --> 00:38.480 on the right and on the wrong side of the law. 00:38.480 --> 00:43.000 Whether the man Mr. Kruger portrays tonight is devil or saint, we shall leave for you 00:43.000 --> 00:46.040 to judge when the play is over. 00:46.040 --> 00:48.200 It is called After Dinner Story. 00:48.200 --> 00:52.800 The author is Cornell Woolrich, the radio adapter Robert L. Richards. 00:52.800 --> 00:57.360 So with the performance of Otto Kruger as Mr. Hardecker, who told this extraordinary 00:57.360 --> 01:05.400 After Dinner Story, we again hope to keep you in Suspense. 01:05.400 --> 01:10.520 Mr. Hardecker's residence. 01:10.520 --> 01:16.760 I believe I'm expected for dinner. 01:16.760 --> 01:17.760 Your name, sir? 01:17.760 --> 01:19.640 Ken Shaw, is my name. 01:19.640 --> 01:21.200 Very good, sir. 01:21.200 --> 01:24.480 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Ken Shaw, sir. 01:24.480 --> 01:26.160 Ah, number one. 01:26.160 --> 01:30.120 Good evening, Mr. Ken Shaw. 01:30.120 --> 01:32.400 Is this where Mr. Hardecker lives? 01:32.400 --> 01:33.920 My name is Lambert. 01:33.920 --> 01:36.920 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Lambert. 01:36.920 --> 01:40.840 Number two. 01:40.840 --> 01:41.840 My name is Prendergast. 01:41.840 --> 01:43.320 I think I... 01:43.320 --> 01:46.240 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Prendergast. 01:46.240 --> 01:47.240 Number three. 01:47.240 --> 01:50.760 Mackenzie's a name. 01:50.760 --> 01:53.680 Mr. Hardecker, Mr. Mackenzie. 01:53.680 --> 01:54.680 Number four. 01:54.680 --> 01:59.680 One, two, three, four. 01:59.680 --> 02:03.760 So you're all here, gentlemen? 02:03.760 --> 02:04.760 Yes. 02:04.760 --> 02:06.400 Then suppose we go into dinner. 02:06.400 --> 02:10.200 After dinner, I shall tell you why you are here, what I have in mind. 02:10.200 --> 02:17.960 In fact, I shall tell you in the form of a story, a sort of after dinner story. 02:17.960 --> 02:32.640 Well, gentlemen, did you enjoy your dinner? 02:32.640 --> 02:33.640 Yeah, it was great. 02:33.640 --> 02:37.720 Well, then, if you'll excuse me for just a moment, I have certain instructions to give 02:37.720 --> 02:40.120 the servants, and after that, I shall rejoin you. 02:40.120 --> 02:42.120 I shan't be long. 02:42.120 --> 02:43.120 Certainly. 02:43.120 --> 02:47.080 Well, what did that crack mean? 02:47.080 --> 02:48.560 I mean, instructions to the servants. 02:48.560 --> 02:49.840 How should I know? 02:49.840 --> 02:53.320 I don't like the looks of the whole thing. 02:53.320 --> 02:54.320 Why all the mystery? 02:54.320 --> 02:57.120 Well, I suggest that you have patience, Mr. Prendergast. 02:57.120 --> 03:01.120 Mr. Hardecker clearly intends to tell us in his own good time. 03:01.120 --> 03:03.360 Yeah, and another thing. 03:03.360 --> 03:07.840 I don't eat in those fancy Park Avenue joints as a rule myself, but I've seen them in the 03:07.840 --> 03:08.840 movies. 03:08.840 --> 03:11.200 They always pass the food around to everybody. 03:11.200 --> 03:15.960 They don't just bring it out of the kitchen already on your plate and just hand it to you. 03:15.960 --> 03:17.920 What possible difference can that make? 03:17.920 --> 03:21.440 Well, I don't know, but I know it ain't right. 03:21.440 --> 03:24.480 Oh, none of it's right. 03:24.480 --> 03:28.080 Why does a man invite four perfect strangers to dinner? 03:28.080 --> 03:32.080 What is this thing he has in mind for us he keeps talking about? 03:32.080 --> 03:37.040 Well, all I know, he says he'll make it worth our while, and I can use a little of that 03:37.040 --> 03:40.600 worth your while stuff the way business has been lately. 03:40.600 --> 03:45.120 Obviously, the connection between us is that we were all in that elevator a year ago. 03:45.120 --> 03:46.680 Oh, what of it? 03:46.680 --> 03:47.920 There's no mystery about that. 03:47.920 --> 03:50.300 The police cleared that up the very next day. 03:50.300 --> 03:52.080 Maybe Mr. Hardecker doesn't think so. 03:52.080 --> 03:54.720 Sorry to have kept you, gentlemen. 03:54.720 --> 03:57.320 Now, suppose we get down to business. 03:57.320 --> 04:02.760 Mr. Hardecker, none of us wish to seem rude, but we were just wondering what this business 04:02.760 --> 04:04.000 is all about. 04:04.000 --> 04:07.880 You have had... you had come to the obvious conclusion, of course, that it has to do with 04:07.880 --> 04:08.880 my son. 04:08.880 --> 04:09.960 Well, yeah. 04:09.960 --> 04:11.480 I don't see why we're... 04:11.480 --> 04:15.320 Well, sorry, naturally, but that's all over and done, whether I... 04:15.320 --> 04:16.320 Yes, almost. 04:16.320 --> 04:19.520 But there are one or two little details that I thought you, gentlemen, might help me to 04:19.520 --> 04:20.520 clarify. 04:20.520 --> 04:21.520 Oh, sure. 04:21.520 --> 04:22.520 Oh, well. 04:22.520 --> 04:23.520 Fine. 04:23.520 --> 04:26.520 Well, then, if you don't mind, I know you must remember most of it, but it's almost 04:26.520 --> 04:27.520 a year ago. 04:27.520 --> 04:29.920 I'd like to go over the whole story from the beginning. 04:29.920 --> 04:30.920 Well, that's all right. 04:30.920 --> 04:37.680 Well, it was just about... just before five in the afternoon on August 30th of last year 04:37.680 --> 04:40.320 when the matter which concerns us here this evening had its beginning. 04:40.320 --> 04:46.440 And on that day, and at that time, all four of you perfect strangers who had never seen 04:46.440 --> 04:51.280 each other before in your lives found yourselves, for personal and business reasons of your 04:51.280 --> 04:58.320 own, on various floors of the Norfolk building in midtown Manhattan, waiting for the express 04:58.320 --> 05:00.600 elevator to take you to the lobby. 05:00.600 --> 05:03.800 The first passengers were on the 21st floor. 05:03.800 --> 05:06.760 21, going down, please. 05:06.760 --> 05:09.760 Express car, going down. 05:09.760 --> 05:13.680 There are now three men in the elevator. 05:13.680 --> 05:20.360 The operator, Mr. Kenshaw and Mr. Lambert, who had gotten on at the 21st floor. 05:20.360 --> 05:24.320 18, going down, please. 05:24.320 --> 05:25.320 Face the doors, please. 05:25.320 --> 05:26.320 Going down. 05:26.320 --> 05:31.640 Now there are five men in the car. 05:31.640 --> 05:38.320 Mr. Prendergast and Mr. McKenzie had entered the elevator at the 18th floor. 05:38.320 --> 05:41.360 15, express car to the lobby. 05:41.360 --> 05:42.360 Going down, please. 05:42.360 --> 05:44.280 Say hello to Eleanor for me. 05:44.280 --> 05:45.280 You bet. 05:45.280 --> 05:46.280 Bye, Dad. 05:46.280 --> 05:47.280 Bye. 05:47.280 --> 05:50.280 Six men in the elevator. 05:50.280 --> 05:55.280 The last to enter, I had accompanied to the elevator door myself. 05:55.280 --> 05:59.160 He was my son. 05:59.160 --> 06:00.840 These things drop pretty fast. 06:00.840 --> 06:02.560 Too fast for me. 06:02.560 --> 06:04.520 Hey, this baby is moving. 06:04.520 --> 06:05.520 Hey, look. 06:05.520 --> 06:06.520 We can't stop it. 06:06.520 --> 06:07.520 We're out of control. 06:07.520 --> 06:23.440 Look out, we're going to hit. 06:23.440 --> 06:34.060 Where's the baby? 06:34.060 --> 06:41.060 Hey, anybody got a match? 06:41.060 --> 06:44.060 I think my leg's broken. 06:44.060 --> 06:45.060 Get me out of here. 06:45.060 --> 06:46.060 I've got a wife and kids. 06:46.060 --> 06:47.060 Somebody get me out of here. 06:47.060 --> 06:48.060 Shut up a minute, can't you? 06:48.060 --> 06:49.060 It's so dark. 06:49.060 --> 06:53.060 You're not the only one with a wife and kids. 06:53.060 --> 06:55.060 Has anybody got a match? 06:55.060 --> 06:58.060 We've got to get this door open. 06:58.060 --> 07:00.060 I don't have any. 07:00.060 --> 07:04.060 Why would I suffocate in here? 07:04.060 --> 07:09.060 These things are practically airtight. 07:09.060 --> 07:10.060 Where's the operator? 07:10.060 --> 07:11.060 Operator? 07:11.060 --> 07:12.060 He's over here. 07:12.060 --> 07:15.060 I can feel the braid on his coat against my hand. 07:15.060 --> 07:16.060 What about it, bud? 07:16.060 --> 07:19.060 You got a match so I can see what I'm doing here? 07:19.060 --> 07:20.060 Hey, operator. 07:20.060 --> 07:21.060 He's dead. 07:21.060 --> 07:22.060 Dead? 07:22.060 --> 07:23.060 Why doesn't somebody come? 07:23.060 --> 07:24.060 What's the matter with them? 07:24.060 --> 07:25.060 Why don't they come? 07:25.060 --> 07:26.060 Pipe it down. 07:26.060 --> 07:31.060 When will you pipe down? 07:31.060 --> 07:32.060 There I got it. 07:32.060 --> 07:34.060 We'll get a little air anyway. 07:34.060 --> 07:38.060 There's a light up there somewhere. 07:38.060 --> 07:40.060 Yeah, I can hear voices. 07:40.060 --> 07:41.060 You hear them? 07:41.060 --> 07:42.060 Help! 07:42.060 --> 07:43.060 Help! 07:43.060 --> 07:45.060 Say, there's no use yelling your head off. 07:45.060 --> 07:48.060 They know we're down here. 07:48.060 --> 07:51.060 I wish my leg didn't hurt so bad. 07:51.060 --> 07:52.060 Let's see. 07:52.060 --> 07:54.060 Try wrapping your shirt around it tight. 07:54.060 --> 07:56.060 May stop some of the pain. 07:56.060 --> 07:57.060 Thanks. 07:57.060 --> 07:58.060 There, easy. 07:58.060 --> 07:59.060 Now what? 07:59.060 --> 08:00.060 Nothing. 08:00.060 --> 08:01.060 Just sit and wait, that's all. 08:01.060 --> 08:02.060 Why don't they hurry? 08:02.060 --> 08:03.060 What are they waiting for? 08:03.060 --> 08:04.060 Why don't they hurry? 08:04.060 --> 08:05.060 Take it easy. 08:05.060 --> 08:06.060 Take it easy. 08:06.060 --> 08:07.060 You could be worse off. 08:07.060 --> 08:08.060 Worse off? 08:08.060 --> 08:09.060 Yeah. 08:09.060 --> 08:10.060 Like this poor guy, the operator. 08:10.060 --> 08:11.060 He's dead. 08:11.060 --> 08:12.060 And so you waited. 08:12.060 --> 08:13.060 Six months. 08:13.060 --> 08:14.060 And you waited. 08:14.060 --> 08:15.060 And you waited. 08:15.060 --> 08:16.060 And you waited. 08:16.060 --> 08:17.060 And you waited. 08:17.060 --> 08:18.060 And you waited. 08:18.060 --> 08:19.060 And you waited. 08:19.060 --> 08:20.060 And you waited. 08:20.060 --> 08:21.060 And you waited. 08:21.060 --> 08:22.060 And you waited. 08:22.060 --> 08:23.060 And you waited. 08:23.060 --> 08:24.060 And you waited. 08:24.060 --> 08:23.540 Six men, five living, one dead. 08:23.540 --> 08:31.900 I know how it must have been. 08:31.900 --> 08:30.380 For all of you, the minutes dragging by, 08:30.380 --> 08:34.820 out at night, June 15th, year 9. 08:34.820 --> 08:35.620 How's your leg? 08:35.620 --> 08:36.260 Better. 08:36.260 --> 08:39.640 How long do you suppose we've been down here? 08:39.640 --> 08:40.520 It's hard to tell. 08:40.520 --> 08:41.780 Maybe they think we're all dead. 08:41.780 --> 08:42.980 Maybe they're just taking their time. 08:42.980 --> 08:43.980 Don't worry. 08:43.980 --> 08:45.800 They heard your hollerin' all right. 08:45.800 --> 08:46.800 Gee, the poor guy. 08:46.800 --> 08:48.220 I, I wonder if he had any kids. 08:48.220 --> 08:49.100 The operator? 08:49.100 --> 08:49.700 Yeah. 08:50.320 --> 08:52.520 I, I often wonder, 08:52.520 --> 08:54.820 what would happen if one of these things ever slipped. 08:54.820 --> 08:56.820 Well now you know, I'll never ride in one again. 08:56.820 --> 08:59.520 So he's gonna walk up 68 stories to the Rainbow Room. 08:59.520 --> 09:01.520 I don't go to the Rainbow Room. 09:01.520 --> 09:05.520 Oh, I'm certainly glad my father didn't get on this car, wouldn't he? 09:05.520 --> 09:08.520 He was going to, but it changed his mind. 09:08.520 --> 09:10.520 Wish I'd changed my mind. 09:10.520 --> 09:14.520 You know, if I hadn't gone back to make a phone call, I'd have been on another car. 09:14.520 --> 09:17.520 What's the use of wishing? It's happened and here we are. 09:17.520 --> 09:19.520 Listen, there they are! 09:19.520 --> 09:20.520 They're gonna get us out! 09:20.520 --> 09:22.520 Hello! Hello up there! 09:22.520 --> 09:24.520 Yeah, yeah, we're coming to you. Take it easy. 09:24.520 --> 09:26.520 Hurry, can't you hurry? Hurry! 09:26.520 --> 09:28.520 We'll hurry. Anybody hurt? 09:28.520 --> 09:30.520 Yeah, one guy's dead. 09:30.520 --> 09:32.520 We'll be through to you in a minute. 09:32.520 --> 09:34.520 Okay, Ryder, let it on. 09:40.520 --> 09:42.520 Look, look at that light up there. 09:42.520 --> 09:43.520 They're settling torches. 09:43.520 --> 09:45.520 Yeah, they're gonna cut a hole in the roof. 09:48.520 --> 09:49.520 What a racket. 09:49.520 --> 09:51.520 I'm nearly deaf already. 09:51.520 --> 09:54.520 Listen, you guys, we're coming through, see? 09:54.520 --> 09:56.520 Watch out for sparks. 09:56.520 --> 09:58.520 Shut your eyes and stand back against the wall. 09:58.520 --> 09:59.520 Okay. 10:02.520 --> 10:04.520 I never knew those things made so much noise. 10:04.520 --> 10:06.520 It's because we're close in. 10:06.520 --> 10:08.520 No! No! 10:08.520 --> 10:09.520 What was that? 10:09.520 --> 10:10.520 I don't know. 10:10.520 --> 10:12.520 I thought I heard somebody holler. 10:12.520 --> 10:13.520 Yeah, so did I. 10:13.520 --> 10:15.520 Must have been one of those guys up above. 10:16.520 --> 10:18.520 Those sparks are enough to blind you. 10:18.520 --> 10:20.520 Don't look at them. They will blind you. 10:20.520 --> 10:23.520 One went right by in front of my face, right across the car. 10:23.520 --> 10:26.520 They couldn't have. They're dropping down. 10:26.520 --> 10:28.520 If you see it, it was all for price. 10:28.520 --> 10:30.520 Just a reflection. Don't look at it. 10:32.520 --> 10:34.520 I guess they got it cut through. 10:34.520 --> 10:36.520 Phew, yeah. 10:36.520 --> 10:38.520 Couldn't have stood much more of that. 10:39.520 --> 10:42.520 They're pulling off the top. It won't be long now. 10:42.520 --> 10:45.520 All right. One more. One more. 10:45.520 --> 10:46.520 All right. 10:46.520 --> 10:48.520 All right. Stand clear down there. 10:48.520 --> 10:50.520 I'm going to jump down. 10:50.520 --> 10:51.520 Hey, cop. 10:51.520 --> 10:53.520 And no cop ever looked lovelier. 10:55.520 --> 10:58.520 All right. Pass them ropes down now. 10:58.520 --> 11:00.520 Okay, hold it. 11:00.520 --> 11:02.520 All right. Who's first now? 11:02.520 --> 11:04.520 Who's the worst heart of your dog? 11:04.520 --> 11:05.520 How about this fella? 11:05.520 --> 11:07.520 That's the operator. He's dead. 11:07.520 --> 11:10.520 Hey, look. Those other two guys have both passed out. 11:10.520 --> 11:11.520 Yeah, shocking. 11:11.520 --> 11:13.520 I'm going to get out of here. I feel pretty bad. 11:13.520 --> 11:15.520 Hold your horses. There's nothing wrong with you. 11:15.520 --> 11:16.520 But I... 11:16.520 --> 11:17.520 That man's got a broken leg. 11:17.520 --> 11:19.520 Who's got a broken leg? 11:19.520 --> 11:20.520 I have, I think. 11:20.520 --> 11:23.520 All right. Can you sit in this rope sling here? 11:23.520 --> 11:25.520 Now hang on with both your hands. 11:25.520 --> 11:27.520 I'll be all right. 11:27.520 --> 11:29.520 Okay. Pull him up. 11:29.520 --> 11:31.520 Well, so long, fellas. 11:31.520 --> 11:32.520 Take care of that leg. 11:32.520 --> 11:34.520 Thanks. Yeah, thanks. 11:34.520 --> 11:35.520 My name's Lambert. 11:35.520 --> 11:38.520 And mine's Mackenzie. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime. 11:38.520 --> 11:40.520 Yeah. Well, so long. 11:40.520 --> 11:42.520 So long. 11:42.520 --> 11:44.520 All right. Let me have that rope now. 11:44.520 --> 11:46.520 Well, who's next now? 11:46.520 --> 11:48.520 Maybe you'd better take those two guys that passed out. 11:48.520 --> 11:49.520 They might be hurt. 11:49.520 --> 11:51.520 Well, sure. How about this young fella? 11:51.520 --> 11:54.520 Sure. He's got a little blood on him, hasn't he? 11:54.520 --> 11:55.520 He has that. 11:55.520 --> 11:57.520 Glass from the light fixtures, I guess. 11:57.520 --> 11:59.520 I don't think it's serious. 11:59.520 --> 12:00.520 You don't, eh? 12:00.520 --> 12:02.520 No, he seemed to be all right. 12:02.520 --> 12:05.520 Well, whatever he seemed to be, he's not now. 12:05.520 --> 12:07.520 This man is dead. 12:07.520 --> 12:09.520 Dead? 12:09.520 --> 12:10.520 Well, but he can't be. 12:10.520 --> 12:12.520 Look, here, my lad, you don't seem to realize 12:12.520 --> 12:15.520 that you've come through a pretty serious accident. 12:15.520 --> 12:17.520 I know, but he can't be dead. 12:17.520 --> 12:19.520 We heard him talking just a few minutes ago. Isn't that right? 12:19.520 --> 12:21.520 Yes, I heard him. 12:21.520 --> 12:23.520 Well, sure. He was talking. He was here in the dark. 12:23.520 --> 12:25.520 He said something about being glad his father wasn't on this elevator. 12:25.520 --> 12:29.520 I can't help what he said or what you heard him say. 12:29.520 --> 12:31.520 This man is dead. 12:31.520 --> 12:34.520 My son, who had survived the original accident 12:34.520 --> 12:37.520 without apparent injury, was dead. 12:37.520 --> 12:40.520 You gentlemen were more fortunate. You lived. 12:40.520 --> 12:42.520 Five days later, you four met again. 12:42.520 --> 12:46.520 It was a police headquarter, about 2.30 on a Friday afternoon. 12:46.520 --> 12:49.520 The last to arrive was Mr. Lambert. 12:49.520 --> 12:52.520 In here, Mr. Lambert. Thanks. 12:52.520 --> 12:54.520 Hello there. 12:54.520 --> 12:55.520 Hi, fellas. 12:55.520 --> 12:56.520 Hey. 12:56.520 --> 12:58.520 Hello. 12:58.520 --> 13:01.520 Hello there. 13:01.520 --> 13:02.520 How's the leg? 13:02.520 --> 13:03.520 Pretty good. 13:03.520 --> 13:04.520 Mr. Lambert? 13:04.520 --> 13:05.520 That's right. 13:05.520 --> 13:06.520 I'm Chief Inspector McMahon. 13:06.520 --> 13:07.520 How do? 13:07.520 --> 13:09.520 You'll just take a seat there. 13:09.520 --> 13:11.520 Well, we're all here now. 13:11.520 --> 13:14.520 Mr. Ken Chow, Mr. Pendergast, Mr. McKendree, Mr. Lambert. 13:14.520 --> 13:15.520 Yes, sir. 13:15.520 --> 13:17.520 Well, now, as I told each of you over the phone, 13:17.520 --> 13:19.520 I won't keep you very long. 13:19.520 --> 13:21.520 I just wanted to ask a few routine questions 13:21.520 --> 13:23.520 about that business of the elevator the other day. 13:23.520 --> 13:25.520 What's the matter? Something phony about it? 13:25.520 --> 13:28.520 No, not for our money. It's an open and shut case. 13:28.520 --> 13:29.520 Suicide. 13:29.520 --> 13:30.520 Suicide? 13:30.520 --> 13:31.520 Yeah. 13:31.520 --> 13:33.520 You mean the operator wanted to bump himself off so he could... 13:33.520 --> 13:35.520 No, no, no, no. Not the operator. 13:35.520 --> 13:37.520 He died of a fractured skull. 13:37.520 --> 13:39.520 It's young Hardiker we're interested in. 13:39.520 --> 13:43.520 His father's been raising a row, so we said we'd investigate, but... 13:43.520 --> 13:44.520 I still don't get it. 13:44.520 --> 13:49.520 Wesley Hardiker was killed by a.32 caliber bullet through the heart. 13:49.520 --> 13:50.520 What? 13:50.520 --> 13:54.520 You mean he killed himself right in that car with all of us around? 13:54.520 --> 13:55.520 What else? 13:55.520 --> 13:59.520 He wasn't shot when he walked in, and he was dead when we brought him out. 13:59.520 --> 14:01.520 Unless one of you killed him. 14:01.520 --> 14:03.520 Oh, no. 14:03.520 --> 14:05.520 Any of you know him? 14:05.520 --> 14:06.520 No. 14:06.520 --> 14:08.520 Well, then, there you are. 14:08.520 --> 14:10.520 Even the father had to admit that as far as he knew, 14:10.520 --> 14:13.520 his son had never seen any of you before in his life. 14:13.520 --> 14:15.520 But it don't make sense. 14:15.520 --> 14:16.520 What don't make sense? 14:16.520 --> 14:19.520 Well, I mean, a guy shooting himself in an elevator 14:19.520 --> 14:22.520 with four other people that nobody didn't even know it. 14:22.520 --> 14:23.520 Did any of you hear the shot? 14:23.520 --> 14:25.520 Not before they started the blowtorches. 14:25.520 --> 14:27.520 I can swear to that, couldn't have heard one anyway. 14:27.520 --> 14:28.520 Oh, you see. 14:28.520 --> 14:30.520 Hey, wait a minute. 14:30.520 --> 14:31.520 Did you hear something? 14:31.520 --> 14:32.520 No. 14:32.520 --> 14:36.520 But McKenzie, remember I said when I was laying on the floor of the elevator 14:36.520 --> 14:39.520 that I thought I saw a spark from one of those blowtorches 14:39.520 --> 14:41.520 that went across the car instead of falling down? 14:41.520 --> 14:42.520 That's right. 14:42.520 --> 14:43.520 Anybody else see it? 14:43.520 --> 14:45.520 The blowtorches were absolutely blinding. You couldn't see a... 14:45.520 --> 14:47.520 How about you, Mr. Kenshaw? 14:47.520 --> 14:51.520 Oh, I'm afraid that I fainted or something silly like that. 14:51.520 --> 14:53.520 I'm not a very strong person. 14:53.520 --> 14:55.520 Well, it was probably the gunshot or that. 14:55.520 --> 14:57.520 Nothing very mysterious about it. 14:57.520 --> 14:59.520 The gun belonged to young Hartaker, 14:59.520 --> 15:02.520 licensed in his name and had only his own finger prints on it. 15:02.520 --> 15:06.520 Well, maybe I shouldn't ask, but why did he do it? 15:06.520 --> 15:09.520 The official verdict is suicide while of unsound mind. 15:09.520 --> 15:11.520 He seemed all right. 15:11.520 --> 15:14.520 He talked to us perfectly sensibly just before it happened. 15:14.520 --> 15:17.520 Just goes to show. You never can tell, can you? 15:17.520 --> 15:20.520 Oh, he'd always been nervous and highly strong. 15:20.520 --> 15:22.520 We got that out of his father. 15:22.520 --> 15:25.520 The strain of being down on that black pit was just too much for him, that's all. 15:25.520 --> 15:29.520 Oh, but what a terrible thing to break down just as we were about to be rescued. 15:29.520 --> 15:31.520 Yeah, but it's too bad. 15:31.520 --> 15:33.520 Boys seem to have everything to live for, too. 15:33.520 --> 15:35.520 What do we find that sort of thing all the time? 15:35.520 --> 15:37.520 The noise, I suppose. 15:37.520 --> 15:39.520 I've read of cases of nervous breakdown caused by noise. 15:39.520 --> 15:41.520 Yeah, that's it. 15:41.520 --> 15:43.520 Well, I guess I don't need to keep you gentlemen any longer. 15:43.520 --> 15:46.520 I'm certainly glad there were no complications. 15:46.520 --> 15:48.520 No, don't worry. 15:48.520 --> 15:51.520 If it had anything to do with it, you'd be back in the cell right now. 15:51.520 --> 16:00.520 That was almost a year ago. 16:00.520 --> 16:03.520 Last week, each of you received a phone call from me. 16:03.520 --> 16:07.520 I can well understand and sympathize with the fact that you were somewhat astonished, 16:07.520 --> 16:10.520 perhaps a little suspicious of what you heard. 16:10.520 --> 16:13.520 I don't doubt that most of you debated at some length in your minds 16:13.520 --> 16:16.520 the advisability of accepting my invitation at all. 16:16.520 --> 16:20.520 You, for instance, Mr. Mackenzie, you are married, as I remember. 16:20.520 --> 16:24.520 I imagine that you talked quite seriously with your wife about the whole affair. 16:24.520 --> 16:31.520 I phoned your home, I believe, at about 8.30 last Monday evening. 16:31.520 --> 16:36.520 Yes? This is Mr. Mackenzie speaking. 16:36.520 --> 16:40.520 Well, I'm sorry, but I don't seem to place you. 16:40.520 --> 16:44.520 Oh, of course, Mr. Hardigan. 16:44.520 --> 16:47.520 Well, frankly, I don't see the point. 16:47.520 --> 16:51.520 You don't know me, and I don't know you. 16:51.520 --> 16:55.520 Yeah. Yeah, I see. 16:55.520 --> 17:00.520 Well, all right, Mr. Hardigan, I'll be there. 17:00.520 --> 17:02.520 That's a funny name. 17:02.520 --> 17:03.520 Who was it, dear? 17:03.520 --> 17:07.520 His name is Hardigan, the father of that boy who killed himself in the elevator last year. 17:07.520 --> 17:10.520 Oh? Well, what did he want? 17:10.520 --> 17:13.520 He wanted me to come to dinner with him on Saturday at his home. 17:13.520 --> 17:18.520 Why, how lovely. He's a very important man, isn't he? Did he ask both of you? 17:18.520 --> 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. 17:24.520 --> 17:29.520 What a strange idea. Seems sort of gruesome to me. 17:29.520 --> 17:31.520 Yeah, that's what I thought. 17:31.520 --> 17:33.520 Didn't he say anything? 17:33.520 --> 17:35.520 Oh, he didn't quite a lot. 17:35.520 --> 17:38.520 Well, what did he say? 17:38.520 --> 17:39.520 Just thinking. 17:39.520 --> 17:43.520 Oh, now please, Stephen, don't sit there and be so tantalizing. What did he say? 17:43.520 --> 17:46.520 Well, he said something about his son's estate. 17:46.520 --> 17:49.520 Seems his son had quite a lot of money in his own right. 17:49.520 --> 17:54.520 The old man said he didn't need it, and weren't any other relations, and... 17:54.520 --> 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. 18:01.520 --> 18:07.520 Why, Stephen, how wonderful. Why aren't you excited? How much is it? You suppose it's a lot of money? 18:07.520 --> 18:08.520 I don't know. 18:08.520 --> 18:13.520 Why, it might be several thousand dollars. It might be several hundred thousand dollars. 18:13.520 --> 18:15.520 Oh, Stephen, what's the matter with you? 18:15.520 --> 18:18.520 Well, just such a crazy thing to do, that's all. 18:18.520 --> 18:24.520 I don't see that that makes any difference. If a man wants to do a nice, kind, generous thing... 18:24.520 --> 18:28.520 Look, honey, if it was generosity, he'd give it to charity. 18:28.520 --> 18:34.520 But with a sort of memorial to his son, he'd set up a scholarship or build a hospital or something. 18:34.520 --> 18:35.520 Well... 18:35.520 --> 18:39.520 The old man was pretty broken up about it when it happened. 18:39.520 --> 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. 18:46.520 --> 18:50.520 The police might have just told us that at the time. 18:50.520 --> 18:53.520 How do I know he doesn't think one of us killed the boy? 18:53.520 --> 18:55.520 That's absurd. 18:55.520 --> 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. 19:02.520 --> 19:03.520 Oh, by that... 19:03.520 --> 19:05.520 Maybe he thinks we all did it. 19:05.520 --> 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. 19:12.520 --> 19:16.520 I haven't thought of it like that. Perhaps you ought not to go. 19:16.520 --> 19:18.520 I already said I would. 19:18.520 --> 19:21.520 Anyway, maybe it's on the level. 19:21.520 --> 19:26.520 Stephen, do you still have that gun you used to have when you worked at the bank? 19:26.520 --> 19:28.520 Yeah, I have it there. 19:28.520 --> 19:31.520 I think you ought to take it with you Saturday night. 19:31.520 --> 19:34.520 Honey, I think you've got something there. 19:34.520 --> 19:37.520 I think that's a very good idea. 19:43.520 --> 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. 19:51.520 --> 19:58.520 By the way, Mr. McKenzie, I'm afraid I must ask you to give me that gun that you brought along. 19:58.520 --> 19:59.520 So that's it. 19:59.520 --> 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. 20:08.520 --> 20:11.520 Oh, okay. 20:11.520 --> 20:12.520 Thank you. 20:12.520 --> 20:13.520 How did you know? 20:13.520 --> 20:17.520 Why, the butler sort of patted all your pockets when you removed your coats. 20:17.520 --> 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. 20:24.520 --> 20:26.520 So I was right about this setup after all. 20:26.520 --> 20:29.520 Now look here, Mr. Hardecker, I came here tonight in perfectly good faith. 20:29.520 --> 20:32.520 I even cancel a very important business appointment. 20:32.520 --> 20:34.520 With Mr. Joseph Donahue of Celluloid Products. 20:34.520 --> 20:35.520 Yes. 20:35.520 --> 20:37.520 All right, let's cut out the mystery. What's this all about? 20:37.520 --> 20:38.520 Yes, what's the idea? 20:38.520 --> 20:40.520 No, wait a minute. One moment, gentlemen. One moment. 20:40.520 --> 20:43.520 I didn't ask you up here under false pretenses. 20:43.520 --> 20:48.520 I fully intend to divide my son's estate precisely as I suggested over the phone. 20:48.520 --> 20:52.520 I sincerely hope you don't resent my investigation of your backgrounds. 20:52.520 --> 20:56.520 Well, gee, Mr. Hardecker, my background isn't much, I guess, but... 20:56.520 --> 21:01.520 Perhaps we all owe you an apology, Mr. Hardecker, but you must admit the whole thing's been a little strange. 21:01.520 --> 21:04.520 It has indeed been very strange. 21:04.520 --> 21:07.520 I think, however, that that phase of the matter is about over. 21:07.520 --> 21:11.520 Now, before we get down to business, there is one detail that I'd like you to help clear me up. 21:11.520 --> 21:12.520 Why, sir? 21:12.520 --> 21:13.520 Sure, what is it? 21:17.520 --> 21:19.520 Shall I bring it in now, sir? 21:19.520 --> 21:22.520 If you please. Is it well mixed? 21:22.520 --> 21:23.520 Yes, sir. 21:23.520 --> 21:25.520 In the center of the table. 21:26.520 --> 21:32.520 Thank you, Johnson. Now, please see that we are not disturbed on any account whatsoever. 21:32.520 --> 21:33.520 Yes, sir. 21:36.520 --> 21:40.520 Dang, that looks good. What is it? 21:40.520 --> 21:44.520 Oh, it's got quite a number of things in it. White of egg, mustard, milk. 21:44.520 --> 21:46.520 It sounds like an antidote for poison. 21:46.520 --> 21:49.520 It is an antidote for poison. 21:49.520 --> 21:50.520 A what? 21:51.520 --> 21:54.520 Gentlemen, there is a murderer in this room. 21:54.520 --> 21:58.520 One of you killed my son and hasn't paid for it yet. 21:58.520 --> 22:02.520 Don't be a fool. The coroner's verdict was suicide. 22:02.520 --> 22:07.520 This is not a discussion, Mr. Mackenzie. This is an execution. 22:07.520 --> 22:09.520 I'm getting out of here. 22:09.520 --> 22:15.520 There is a man with a gun outside each door. You'll find them very unreceptive to that idea, Mr. Prendergat. 22:15.520 --> 22:17.520 Sit down. He's got us. 22:17.520 --> 22:19.520 Well, I... 22:19.520 --> 22:21.520 The only thing we can do is try to talk a little sensitively. 22:21.520 --> 22:25.520 I'm not open to arguments, Mr. Mackenzie. One of you killed my son. 22:25.520 --> 22:28.520 I know who that man is. 22:28.520 --> 22:34.520 It's taken me a year to find out, but I now know the food that man ate tonight was poison. 22:34.520 --> 22:35.520 Yeah, now, but... 22:35.520 --> 22:39.520 In ten minutes, he'll drop dead. 22:39.520 --> 22:41.520 You can't take the law into your own hands that way. 22:41.520 --> 22:45.520 Unfortunately, the law demands a very specific type of evidence. 22:45.520 --> 22:50.520 The police, whom I consulted repeatedly, do not believe it possible to get a conviction on the evidence I have. 22:50.520 --> 22:54.520 And therefore, the conviction must come tonight. 22:54.520 --> 22:57.520 Wait, you wouldn't dare. You couldn't kill a man in cold blood that way. 22:57.520 --> 23:00.520 There is an alternative, Mr. Prendergat. 23:00.520 --> 23:04.520 It is there in the center of the table. The antidote. 23:04.520 --> 23:10.520 The murderer may either confess his crime by drinking the contents of that bowl, or... 23:10.520 --> 23:18.520 He may keep silent and go to his death here tonight, privately executed for what cannot be publicly proved. 23:18.520 --> 23:20.520 They could send you to the chair for that. 23:20.520 --> 23:26.520 I am quite aware of that contingency, Mr. Crenshaw, and quite willing to accept the consequences. 23:26.520 --> 23:31.520 But the murderer will have gone to his death before me. 23:31.520 --> 23:33.520 But how do we know you poisoned the right... 23:33.520 --> 23:37.520 The murderer knows, Mr. Prendergat. The rest need have no fear. 23:37.520 --> 23:40.520 Hey, I think the guy's crazy. Maybe he poisoned all of us. 23:40.520 --> 23:44.520 Look, Mr. Hardiker, this whole thing is insane. Nobody killed your son. 23:44.520 --> 23:47.520 As to that, we shall shortly see, Mr. Mackenzie. 23:47.520 --> 23:52.520 The man who killed my son has approximately seven minutes to live. 23:52.520 --> 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. 23:58.520 --> 24:01.520 Now, don't fall for it, Mr. Shure. The whole thing may be a gag. 24:01.520 --> 24:05.520 I assure you, nothing has ever been more serious, Mr. Mackenzie. 24:05.520 --> 24:08.520 You know, I know it feels so good myself. 24:08.520 --> 24:12.520 Neither do I. Probably just indigestion. 24:12.520 --> 24:15.520 After dinner, a story like this is enough to give indigestion to a horse. 24:15.520 --> 24:19.520 No kidding. Hey, I suppose this guy's a maniac. 24:19.520 --> 24:22.520 I suppose he just made it all up in his own head and poisoned all of us. 24:22.520 --> 24:26.520 Listen, Mr. Hardiker, let me just tell you this. 24:26.520 --> 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. 24:29.520 --> 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. 24:33.520 --> 24:36.520 Shut up, Mr. Hardiker. Shut up. 24:36.520 --> 24:40.520 Five more minutes. 24:40.520 --> 24:45.520 Hey, I feel awful. Maybe we all ought to take some of that stuff, just in case. 24:45.520 --> 24:48.520 Yeah, that's it. We'll all take it. Yeah, who'll take it first? 24:48.520 --> 24:53.520 Unfortunately, gentlemen, there's only enough antidote for one. 24:53.520 --> 24:57.520 Even if you're right, Hardiker, this is no way to do... This is my way. 24:57.520 --> 25:00.520 You're crazy, I tell you. Crazy. Perhaps. 25:00.520 --> 25:03.520 Have you a son? 25:03.520 --> 25:05.520 Oh! 25:05.520 --> 25:08.520 Kensho! 25:12.520 --> 25:15.520 Will it save me? 25:15.520 --> 25:18.520 Well, gentlemen, now you know. 25:18.520 --> 25:23.520 All right. All right, what do I care? I killed him. And I do it again. 25:23.520 --> 25:27.520 I hated him. Hated him. All my life. 25:27.520 --> 25:32.520 In school, in college, he never even knew that I existed. 25:32.520 --> 25:36.520 He was too good for someone like me. And he had everything. 25:36.520 --> 25:41.520 Money, everything. And he married the girl that I loved. 25:41.520 --> 25:46.520 She didn't know how I felt. I never told her. 25:46.520 --> 25:49.520 And then she died. 25:49.520 --> 25:55.520 In the morning, they said. She wouldn't have died if she hadn't married him. 25:55.520 --> 26:00.520 So I killed him. I saw him, didn't see anything. 26:00.520 --> 26:04.520 And then it failed. It failed. 26:04.520 --> 26:10.520 It was as though God had delivered it into my hand. 26:10.520 --> 26:13.520 It came to me there in the dark. 26:13.520 --> 26:19.520 I choked him. I choked him, and then he got out his gun. 26:19.520 --> 26:26.520 I put my hand over his, and I turned it against him, and fired. 26:26.520 --> 26:32.520 But I'm glad. I'm glad. 26:32.520 --> 26:38.520 Look, help him somebody. Help him. Here. Pull up his head. Here. 26:38.520 --> 26:41.520 Never mind. He's dead. 26:41.520 --> 26:44.520 It didn't work in time. 26:44.520 --> 26:45.520 You killed him, Haruka. 26:45.520 --> 26:46.520 No, I didn't. 26:46.520 --> 26:47.520 I tell you, he's dead. 26:47.520 --> 26:54.520 Yes, I know. But what he drank was not the antidote. It was the poison. 26:54.520 --> 26:55.520 Poison? 26:55.520 --> 27:00.520 You see, I didn't exactly know which of you killed my son. 27:00.520 --> 27:03.520 I only knew that one of you must have. 27:03.520 --> 27:10.520 And so Robert Kenshaw convicted himself in front of all of you, and was his own executioner. 27:10.520 --> 27:14.520 But then he was never poisoned at all? Until... 27:14.520 --> 27:18.520 Until he drank the contents of that bowl. 27:18.520 --> 27:19.520 Gee. 27:19.520 --> 27:23.520 I shall divide the estate, gentlemen, as I promised. 27:23.520 --> 27:26.520 Meanwhile, you may call the police if you like. 27:26.520 --> 27:32.520 Let the law and divine providence decide whether this man died by my hand, 27:32.520 --> 27:52.520 or by the guilt that lay upon his own soul. 27:52.520 --> 27:57.520 And so closes After Dinner Story by Cornell Woolrich, starring Otto Kruger. 27:57.520 --> 28:04.520 Tonight's tale of suspense. 28:04.520 --> 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, 28:12.520 --> 28:20.520 when our star will be Gene Lockhart in the suspense play called Statement of Employee Henry Wilson. 28:20.520 --> 28:25.520 The producer of suspense is William Spear, who tonight also directed the broadcast, 28:25.520 --> 28:29.520 and who with Ludd Gluston and Lucian Morrowick, conductor and composer, 28:29.520 --> 28:40.520 and Robert L. Richard, the radio author, collaborated on tonight's suspense. 28:40.520 --> 28:44.520 Make a note on your calendar that beginning December 2nd, 28:44.520 --> 28:49.520 suspense will come to you on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. Eastern wartime, 28:49.520 --> 28:55.520 7 p.m. Central wartime, and 6 p.m. Mountain wartime. 28:55.520 --> 29:00.520 Remember, suspense will be heard on Thursday nights beginning December 2nd. 29:00.520 --> 29:20.520 This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.