Roma wine presents Suspense.
Roma wine made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
Salud!
Your health, senor.
Roma wine toasts the world.
The wine for your table is Roma wine made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is the Man in Black, here to introduce this weekly half hour of Suspense.
Tonight as stars we bring you two of Hollywood's outstanding actresses,
Miss Ida Lupino and Miss Agnes Moorhead.
And so with the remarkable tale of the sisters,
and with the performances of Ida Lupino as Lydia Haskell and Agnes Moorhead as Ellie,
Roma wines again hope to keep you in Suspense.
Here is one I think would be very lovely.
It has a far superior lining, pure silk, much heavier than the others we've looked at.
Do you care for this one, Miss Haskell?
Oh yes, that's very nice.
I believe I'd like to see something perhaps even a little better.
Of course, if you just step over this way, Miss Haskell.
Now here, here is an exquisite casket, something that really does honor to the departed.
Yes, it's beautiful.
Now the interior is just the same as the last, but the casket itself is of bronze, solid bronze.
Won't that be rather heavy?
Yes, but not too heavy. Will there be six pallbearers?
I don't know.
Well, it doesn't matter really. Four men can carry this very easily.
Miss Haskell, I want you to notice the floral design here, all hand wrought, every bit of it.
And, oh yes, notice the seams in this casket, airtight and watertight guaranteed.
You know of course how important that is.
Yes.
Yes, but this casket in a hundred years or even two hundred years will be just as strong and will look just as beautiful as it does on this stand today.
You couldn't buy a finer piece of workmanship.
How much is this one, please?
Miss Haskell, a durable by the way, durable for durability we say in the trade.
This casket is priced at, you see, $775, but we can't bring back the department.
No, our only solace is the knowledge that we've done in the last possible honor.
Very well. I'll take this one.
I'm sure you're making a very wise choice. In all my years as a mortician, I've never found a family that regretted money spent on a durable.
And now, let me see.
I'll give you a check.
Oh no, that won't be necessary. Not immediately. After the funeral will do.
Oh, by the way, we haven't mentioned it. Are we handling the funeral arrangement?
I really don't know yet.
Oh, well, you want the casket delivered somewhere?
No. I'd like you to hold it for a while, please.
Hold it? But for how long?
For three weeks.
Three weeks? I don't understand. Who is the party, the deceased? Who is this casket for?
It's for me.
You have heard the prologue to this evening's suspense play, The Sisters.
Before we return to the scene of our drama, here is a message from your host, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.
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An American has just complimented his Cuban friend on the fine quality of Havana tobacco.
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Nature has made a great gift of perfection to your country, too, the magnificent wine which we also enjoy.
It is Roma Wine, made in your own California.
Friends, that little anecdote is typical of many countries where wine is truly enjoyed.
For in other lands, Roma wines must be imported over long distances from our own California.
A luxury to be enjoyed on special occasions, while lucky you can enjoy these superb Roma wines as a daily delight,
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And you'll say, no wonder Roma wines are America's largest selling wines.
I'll spell out the name for you, R-O-M-A, Roma Wine, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
And now it is with pleasure that Roma wines bring back to our sound stage Ida Lupino as Lydia Haskell and Agnes Moorhead as Ellie in The Sisters.
A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Lydia, Lydia, I thought I heard you come in. Where have you been, Lydia? You've been gone all afternoon.
I've been shopping.
What did you buy? Did you get the ribbons I asked for?
No, I didn't have time.
Oh, I wanted some new ribbons. My others are all worn out. See, Lydia?
Ellie, I wish you'd stop putting ribbons in your hair like a schoolgirl. You're almost 40 years old.
I know, Lydia. I know.
Well, then try to act like it. Hand me my sewing and light the lamp. It's getting dark.
I wonder why we have to grow old. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had always stayed young like we used to be?
Oh, did you remember when Mother used to send us to school with our ribbons matching and our dresses matching,
and at the end of the day, no one would even guess we were sisters because I was always so must and you were always so clean?
Oh, I wish we were young again, Lydia.
Stop talking nonsense, Ellie.
It is nonsense, isn't it? Oh, oh, the doorbell rang while you were out just before you came home?
You did not say...
Oh, no, you told me never to answer it. I just looked out of the upstairs window.
Did you see who it was?
Oh, yes. It was a man, a rather big man. He rang a long time and then he went away.
Well, he didn't see you, did he?
Oh, no. I just peeked ever so carefully from behind the curtains. Then I came down here and watched him going down the walk.
You came downstairs?
Yes, I did.
I told you never to come down those stairs when I'm not in the house.
It was all right, Lydia. I held on very tight to the balusters all the way and I didn't want to look down the stairwell,
so I didn't get dizzy and I didn't want to jump.
Well, don't do it again.
It was just that I was lonely. I didn't think you were ever coming home.
Lydia, you didn't tell me what you bought.
Hmm? Oh, a duravo.
What's that? What's a duravo?
Don't ask so many questions, Ellie.
All right. Lydia, I think I'll sew too. I could fix up one of these old ribbons. May I, Lydia?
Yes. Yes, so. It'll be good for you.
Thank you.
I'm not a little girl.
Lydia?
Yes?
Lydia, could I go shopping someday?
Don't be a fool, Ellie.
I'm sorry. I just thought, no, I suppose you're right. It wouldn't do. Not yet.
Oh, yes.
There wasn't any mail today.
Wasn't there?
No, I thought perhaps there'd be a letter from David.
It's been such a long time since he's written. Hasn't it?
I haven't noticed.
Oh, yes, he used to write every week. One Tuesday.
Then I'd get the letter on Thursday.
But there wasn't one this week or last to the week before that.
It's strange, isn't it? But perhaps he's been busy.
Perhaps.
Still, he never used to be too busy to write. I can't understand it. You suppose there's some other reason?
What are you trying to say, Ellie? Are you hinting that perhaps I'm keeping your mail from you?
Oh, no.
Well, you seem to be. Why should I keep David's letters from you?
But I didn't say that. I just said it was strange that David hadn't written. That's all. He wouldn't keep David's letters. I know that, Lydia.
Go on with your sewing.
Oh, yes, I want to finish these ribbons.
He's coming by.
All his friends.
Stop singing that. Stop it.
But Lydia, it's a hymn. I've always sung.
I don't care. I said stop. Or learn something else.
That's all you sing day and night, day and night. Same tune over and over and over. Now stop it.
Lydia. Lydia, sometimes you frighten me the way you look at me.
You make me think that perhaps I'm not getting well.
Perhaps I'm still crazy. I'm not.
I'm not still crazy, am I, Lydia?
I'm not.
Yes?
Evening. Are you Miss Lydia Haskell?
Why, yes.
Well, can I speak to you for a minute? I was here this afternoon, but there was no one home.
What is it, please?
Well, we had a call from Doan Brothers, the undertakers. I'm from the police department.
Really? I don't see what the police could want with me. Come in if you wish.
Thanks.
Sit down.
Thank you.
There's nothing we want, Miss Haskell, except it's sort of unusual for a woman to order a casket for herself.
Unusual? I've heard of many cases of that kind. People who are alone in the world and have no one else to look after things.
Sure, I know. Only it's a little more unusual when you can name the date.
The undertaker said you wanted the casket held for three weeks.
Why three weeks? Must be some reason for it.
Yes, there is. I'm going to die. I shall die in three weeks, or perhaps even before.
There's no doubt of it in my mind, and that's why I ordered the casket. You may call it a premonition if you want.
Maybe I could also call it suicide. That's why I'm here, Miss Haskell.
I don't know whether you know it, but suicide is a crime in the eyes of the state.
For which there is no punishment.
Not if it's successful, no. But there is prevention.
You see, I know I'm going to die. I feel it. But I have no intention of taking my own life. There's no need to do so.
Mm-hmm. Miss Haskell, this premonition, as you call it, have you any idea what brought it on?
No.
You've been speaking to anyone, fortune tellers or anything like that?
No.
Well, what makes you so sure? How do you know you can trust this premonition?
You're not an old woman. I'd say you're in pretty good health. You have a lot of good years ahead of you.
I have a religion. Not a church religion, just one of my own.
It preaches that people go on living until they've outgrown their usefulness, then they die.
From one cause or another. When that time comes, the desire to live is gone.
And you see, only desire keeps the body alive and breathing.
I don't understand that.
No, I'm sorry.
Miss Haskell, you live alone here?
Yes.
No relatives? No housekeeper?
I live alone here.
Pretty large house for a person living alone.
Yes. There are three floors and far too many rooms.
It's on the outskirts of town and it's quiet.
And it gives me the privacy I've been looking for.
A privacy which you are invading for the first time since I moved here five years ago.
Sorry, Miss Haskell, I'm only doing my job. I was told to look you up and find out why you bought that casket.
Then I think we may assume your job is over.
I guess so. But the office might ask me to drop back once in a while, you know, just to keep in touch.
I won't be at home.
Why? You don't go out very much.
The folks in the town say they don't even see you more than once a week maybe.
When you come, I won't be at home.
All right. Sorry to bother you.
Good night.
Oh, Miss Haskell, how are you going to die?
I don't know. Nor do I consider it important.
Why should you?
Good night.
Lydia.
Ellie, what are you doing down here?
What are you doing sitting on the steps in the dark?
Lydia.
Haven't I told you never to come down here at night?
Lydia.
Oh, what do you want?
I heard that man was here. Lydia, why did you buy the casket?
Why are you going to die? You mustn't, Lydia, you mustn't die.
I'd be alone if you died and you know what would happen?
They'd send me away like they did once before.
The people in the town would come and find me living here and they'd send me away.
Go up to bed, Ellie, and go to sleep.
How can I sleep? Oh, Lydia, you won't die. Promise me you won't.
I promise you. I'll go to bed.
But why did you buy the casket? And the things you said to that man is if you wanted to die.
Why, Lydia? Why do you want to die? I don't want to die. No one does.
No, you have such a lot to live for, haven't you, Ellie?
Yes. I'd be happy, Lydia. You'll make me happy.
And someday when I'm well again, I'll go back home and David will be waiting for me.
You know he'll be there. You've always told me he'd be waiting.
He'll see that I'm well again and he'll take me back.
I'm not so old, am I? David won't see me as old.
He told me that when I was well, no matter how long it took, he'd still see me as a young girl.
That's why I'd be happy. Just waiting for the time I can go back to David.
Ellie, haven't you learned yet?
Don't you know yet that you're mad? And that you'll always be mad.
Don't say that. I'm getting better, Lydia. You know I'm getting better.
Yes. Putting bows in your hair, sewing ribbons all day long,
sneaking about the house at night, spying on me, singing the same hymn over and over and over
until I think I'm going mad too.
Is that why you wanted I? To get away from me? I thought you loved me, Lydia.
Why should I love you? Look what life has given me and tell me why.
You've always spoiled everything for me, Ellie. Even from the time we were children.
How could I spoil everything? We were just like the same charlity of twins.
You were I and I was you.
We looked the same, yes. We were born the same day, yes. And that's where it ended.
You were the nice one. I used to hear them say so. You were even the prettiest, they said.
As if they could see any difference between us. Whatever you wanted, you had.
You smiled so beautifully. But I never smiled.
Though I was the sullen one, the dark cloud in the house.
You made it so, Lydia. We all loved you.
When a doll was broken, they gave you mine. When you tore your dancing dress, you'd take mine.
You gave it to me, Lydia. I remember you gave it to me.
I've always given things to you, Ellie. I gave you the best of everything we had.
I've given you my whole life. I even gave you David.
Lydia, you were in love with David. He came to our house with you. He came to see.
Oh, Lydia, I didn't know.
No, you never knew. No one did. I had to stand by and watch you take him from me.
And when you had your first attack, I was glad.
People say what a shame it was. But I was very glad.
Lydia.
Because I knew then that he could never have you.
Oh, yes, you were going to be cured and he was going to wait.
It won't matter how long he waits.
You will never be cured and he'll never have you. Never.
You hate me. You've always hated me. I see it now.
Even when you've been taking care of me. When we came to this town, you didn't bring me here so I'd be cured.
You wanted to keep me this way, mad. That's why you took me out of that place. Because they might have made me well again.
Go upstairs.
You hate me. And now you're going to die and leave me without anyone.
I told you I'm not going to die.
Oh, Ellie. Ellie, I'm sorry we've had this quarrel.
I didn't mean to upset you. Just that I'm upset myself. Tired.
I didn't mean the things I said.
You bought a casket.
It was only an idea I had in case anything ever happened to me.
You bought a casket. Lydia, was it for yourself or is it for me?
Ellie. You wouldn't. You wouldn't, would you, Lydia?
What are you talking about?
Hold the lamp up. Hold it close to you. I want to see your face.
Ellie, go off to bed.
Yes, I can see it in your eyes. It is for me. You're going to kill me. You're going to murder me.
Don't be a fool, Ellie.
It's true you want to get rid of me because you hate me. You...
Oh, now I see. I see you love David. You're going to kill me and they'll come and find me and bury me and they'll think it's you.
Be quiet.
They'll think it's you who is dead because no one knows I'm living here and then you'll go away.
You'll go back to David and you'll say that Lydia has died and he'll think you're me and that you're well again and he'll marry you. You'll have him.
You'll be Ellie. You'll have David in my place.
Ellie. Ellie, stop it. Did you hear what I said?
Be quiet. Be quiet.
I'll go upstairs and get to bed.
Oh, Lydia, Lydia, how can you be so wicked?
Ellie.
Ellie, are you awake?
Ellie, dear.
You mustn't think anymore about what we said tonight.
Do you hear? It's not so, Ellie. It's just your imagination, dear.
You mustn't think about it. It will be bad for you.
Are you asleep, Ellie?
She's not asleep.
She's lying over there on the other side of the room staring at me through the dark.
She knows it was the truth tonight.
She's going to die and that I'm going to kill her.
That quarrel.
I shouldn't have let her know.
I lost my temper.
Stupid.
I must think clearly.
How am I going to kill her?
It mustn't look like murder because they'll suspect things then.
No, it must be suicide.
How? When?
It'll have to be soon now that she knows.
There.
Listen. She's starting again.
She's singing that hymn again. That hymn.
I must be calm.
I mustn't get excited.
I must think clearly.
How am I going to kill her?
I wish it were over.
I could go back then. Back to David.
How quickly she saw through that, but I'd go back in our place.
He'll never suspect.
Because I'll be Ellie to him.
Ellie, cured and happy again.
I learned to smile.
First she must die.
How?
Stairs.
Stairwell.
She gets dizzy if she looks down into the stairwell.
Yes, it could be so easy.
In a day or two that policeman will come back to the house.
They'll find her and they'll think it's me.
Of course.
The stairwell.
Three floors from the attic here.
Three floors straight down.
So easy when you think clearly.
The stairwell. Of course.
Ellie. Ellie dear.
Ellie, you mustn't cry anymore.
Do you hear me?
Are you afraid of the dark?
I'll light the lamp for you dear.
There.
That's better isn't it?
Why are you shivering?
Are you cold?
Come along, put your wrapper on.
We'll go down to the parlour and light a fire.
I'll make you a nice cup of hot milk.
Come along Ellie.
Ellie, stop acting like this.
Now come dear.
Here's your wrapper.
That's the girl.
Get up now.
I'll carry the lamp.
Give me your hand dear.
You're as cold as ice.
Now be careful.
Walk slowly.
There we are.
Hold on to the banisters dear.
That's right.
I'll hold the lamp up high so you can see better.
I'm afraid of the stairwell.
That's right dear.
I'm afraid.
Ellie, you must get over that fear.
Look Ellie.
Just look down.
There's nothing to frighten you.
Look down the stairwell Ellie.
No.
I'm holding you dear.
Just lean over and look down.
You can see all the way.
No, don't make me love.
Nothing is it?
Nothing at all?
Are you dizzy dear?
I'm holding you.
Let me go. I can't stand it.
Come closer dear.
No.
Let me get back.
No.
A very strange thing.
It was brought to my mind of course because this is the house.
Just here. The next one we're coming.
Yes.
She was in to see us just a few days ago.
Came in to order the casket.
She saw a casket she wanted.
And then she told me it was for herself.
Well.
She must have had a premonition.
Yes.
I notified the police of course.
She said she wanted me to hold the casket three weeks.
Then just the day before yesterday.
The police came back to the house here.
And found her lying at the bottom of the stairwell.
Dead.
She'd been dead about two days.
Funny how she knew.
The banister up on the attic floor broke away.
And she fell.
Did she have any people?
No.
Little galoon they tell me.
We're going to bury her tomorrow.
Haskell in a way.
Haskell.
That's strange looking.
That's strange living all by herself here.
In a big three story frame house.
Yes.
Isn't it?
Hey.
What is it?
My imagination I guess.
Could have spawned us all light in the attic windows.
What couldn't have been?
The police have shut it up.
Of course.
That story of yours really gave me the creeps.
Come on let's walk on.
Hmm.
What a queer thing the power of suggestion is to be sure.
You conveyed it to me of course.
You know just now I thought I could hear someone upstairs in there.
A woman.
A woman singing.
A woman?
Yes.
Sort of crooning to herself.
Some kind of a hymn.
Sort of crooning to herself.
Some kind of a hymn.
Sort of crooning to herself.
Sort of a hymn.
And so closes the sisters presented by Roma Wines.
And starring Ida Lupino and Agnes Moorhead.
Tonight's tale of suspense.
In just a moment we'll hear again from Miss Lupino.
In the meantime here is a true life suspense drama.
Your guests raise their wine glasses to their lips.
Your reputation as a host hangs in the balance.
Will they approve the wine of your selection?
Well no need to feel the least bit concerned if you have elected to serve any of Roma Wines many different types of taste delighting california.
Perhaps the tangy appetizing Roma Sherry.
Or the richly satisfying Roma Burgundy.
Or the delicately delicious Roma Sauternes.
And notwithstanding your cost for any of these good Roma Wines is only pennies a glass.
Your guests verdict is sure to agree with this verdict of wine connoisseurs of many lands.
Roma Wines are truly magnificent.
The Roma Wines are truly magnificent.
Roma Wines are truly magnificent.
Let me repeat the name please.
R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is Ida Lupino.
It is my sincere hope that you enjoyed our suspense play this evening.
Ms. Moorhead and I trust you will join us in listening to suspense next week when Charles Ruggles is your star.
One more word. Remember Americans.
This is the critical year of the war calling for more of everything to win.
You answer the call when you buy more war bonds.
Ms. Lupino will soon be seen in the Warner Brothers picture in our time.
Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear. Tonight's play was written by George Wells.
Don't forget then next Monday same time Charles Ruggles will star in Suspense.
Presented by Roma Wines. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is PBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
Thank you.