Roma wines presents Suspense.
Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
Salud.
Your health, senor.
Roma wines toast 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 for the Roma wine company of Fresno, California to introduce
this weekly half hour of Suspense.
Tonight from Hollywood, Roma wines bring you Joseph Cotton in a Suspense play called Sneak
Preview, which tells of a rather remarkable adventure experienced by that noted director
of screen thrillers, Frank Henderson.
And so with Mr. Henderson's by far stranger than fiction story as related and enacted
by Joseph Cotton, we again hope to keep you in Suspense.
Go ahead please, Mr. Henderson.
This all began, you say, two weeks ago?
Yes, that's right.
I just finished the final cutting and dubbing on my newest picture, Escape to Destiny.
I think you'll like it, by the way.
Llewelyn and I.
Yes, yes, go on.
Well, I took the film East with me and the first day I got there we ran it in the projection
room for a few of the boys in the New York office, they seemed to like it pretty well.
Ruth, now that it's all over and we're safe.
Yes?
Well, there's one thing that still worries me.
What's that?
It's, well it's, Ruth, will you marry me?
Darling, that's the one thing I've known the answer to from the very beginning.
Well boys, there it is.
Frank, it is but terrific.
It's the best picture you've ever made.
Oh, it's great, great.
Hitchcock will absolutely quit.
No kidding, you really think so?
I do, Frank, honestly.
I think it even tops perilous journey.
Definitely.
And it's solid box office, Frank, solid.
Well, it's all yours boys, I can't think of anything more to do to it.
We might lighten the music a little under that scene and the wine, fellas.
I'll get it.
Hello?
Who?
What does he want?
Okay, put him on.
Hello?
Yes, this is Frank Henderson.
Who?
I don't think I know any Captain McNeil.
Oh, well, may I ask why the chief of the security bureau wants to...
I hope there's nothing wrong.
I see.
All right, I'll be there.
Who was it, Frank?
Somebody at the police headquarters.
Police headquarters?
What does he want?
That's what I'd like to know.
Well, Mr. Henderson, my second hearing tells me you were a little mystified.
Well, a little, I guess.
You'd never heard of any Captain McNeil?
Oh, no, no, it was just that I didn't think to connect you with the Captain McNeil.
Very nicely put, Mr. Henderson, very nicely put.
But you don't need to explain.
There aren't so many people as you'd think who'd ever heard of any Captain McNeil.
An undercover agent isn't very much good if everybody knows him.
Oh, no, no, I guess not.
Mr. Henderson, when I heard you were going to be in New York, I just couldn't resist
meeting you.
Oh, I...
You see, Mr. Henderson, I'm probably your greatest living admirer.
Well, thank you.
I guess I've seen every picture of you since the first one you directed, most of them three
or four times.
I'll have to remember you and my will.
You know, you'd have made a first-class professional detective.
I'm not so sure about that.
There's a lot of difference between fact and fiction, I guess.
Not so much.
I've always followed the reasoning in your pictures with complete agreement.
Well, I'm glad to hear that.
Yes, but with one exception.
Huh?
What was that?
I couldn't go along with you there.
It was in your fifth picture, Murder in the Morning.
You remember near the end of the picture where the killer has the detective and his pal at
gunpoint in an empty room?
Oh, I remember.
The friend is allowed to leave.
He's helpless anyway, unless... and here was the point... unless the detective is able
to get over certain vital information to the friend in the presence of the killer, but
without his knowledge.
Do you remember?
Sure.
And when the friend is leaving, the detective hands him his hat, and inside the hat band
he's slipped a piece of paper with the information on it.
Is that what you mean?
Exactly.
And that's where I disagree.
Although I realize it probably wasn't your fault.
Probably the writer or the producer.
Oh, no, no.
As a matter of fact, that was my own idea.
It's too simple to unimaginative, if you'll forgive me the word.
No intelligent criminal would allow a thing like that to happen right under his nose.
The way the thing was done, I thought...
Even so, how is the friend to know that this paper is under his hat band?
Oh, what do you see, Hans?
It isn't something you'd likely to notice.
You don't look under your hat band every time you put on your hat.
I know, but we...
It's far too fetched.
It's not true to life.
It's fiction.
Excuse me a moment.
Hello?
Yes?
Yes, as I see.
I'll be down in just a few minutes.
Pardon the interruption.
Not at all, Captain.
I really ought to be going.
I've kept you too long.
Mr. Henderson, I wonder if you're interested in a real crime.
Real crime?
Have you ever seen an actual murderer?
Well, you do make me feel like an amateur now.
No, to tell you the truth, I never have.
Come on, then.
It might give you an idea.
It's down the hall.
As a matter of fact, I've never seen this particular murderer myself.
But you know he is a murderer?
Not much like a character in one of your pictures, though.
Nothing romantic or exciting.
Was he clever?
Oh, yes, indeed.
His career has been 20 years.
There's never been enough evidence to convict him.
There isn't even a photograph of him.
Here we are.
But if you don't know any more than that, what charge are you holding him on?
Charge?
You don't need any charge when you hold him here.
There he is.
Dead.
Dead, at last.
How did he die?
Shot in the back.
He found him in Central Park.
Well, there you are.
Gregory Sarko, murderer, spy, drug addict, and about everything else in the book.
Know who killed him?
Who knows?
Who cares?
There are plenty of people who would have been happy to do it if they did.
I suppose he had identification on him.
Sure.
Bankbook, wallet, a few inconsequential papers.
Is that all?
That's all.
Oh, a little money, handkerchief, chin of aspirin.
Aspirin?
Sure.
Criminals have headaches just like other people.
It was aspirin, I suppose.
We professionals may not be romantic, Mr. Henderson.
We are thorough.
Oh, cool.
Yes, it was aspirin.
I remember you saying he was a drug addict.
So that was all he had on him, huh?
That's right.
Nothing very sensational or exciting.
No clues.
What about that bankbook?
Was it in his own name?
Oh, he had a lot of names.
Gregory Sarko was the one in the bankbook.
His own, by the way.
Why?
Because a perfectly crazy notion has just entered my head.
For a new picture?
It could be.
But, well, here I am in New York, little time on my hands and...
Well, the guy intrigues me, that's all.
A dead man intrigues you?
His life intrigues me, sure.
Finding out more about it intrigues me.
What's the difference?
The guy's dead.
What have I got to lose?
Well, now, don't say it's likely, Mr. Henderson.
But it's possible, just barely possible, that you might lose your life.
To change from a mood of suspense to one of carefree gaiety, let us wish ourselves away
to Havana, Cuba, seated at a table in the fashionable Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
Near us, a group of Cubans are entertaining an American visitor.
Our American has just remarked that in point of great enjoyment, the Cuban Rumba is one
of America's most delighting imported dances.
Then raising his wine glass, the Cuban host responds, then we have perhaps discharged some
part of our debt to you Americans for this wonderful tasting wine that gives us such
great enjoyment.
It is wine that Cuba imports from your faraway California.
It is Roma wine.
Americans didn't have to wait for wine connoisseurs of other lands to discover the greatness
of California's wine districts.
The superb quality of Roma California wines.
So many millions made this discovery for themselves that Roma wines have long been America's largest
selling wines.
But these millions discovered something more.
In Roma wines, they discovered an easy, inexpensive way to increase the delights of daily living.
Yes, millions have discovered that Roma wines is a beverage on the table and when used in
entertaining, add charm of a special and wholesome kind.
I told you Roma wines cost little.
That's because here in America you pay no high import duty, no expensive shipping charges.
Two, Roma wines are made in Roma's own wineries in the heart of choice California vineyard
districts.
So cost to you is only pennies a glass for R-O-M-A. Roma wines made in California for
enjoyment throughout the world.
And now it is with pleasure that we bring back to our sound stage Joseph Cotton as movie
director Frank Henderson and Robert L. Richards sneak preview.
A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
I'm not an adventurous or even a particularly courageous man and yet suddenly I found myself
engaged in what might possibly as the captain had said be a fairly dangerous occupation.
I poured for hours over Captain McNeil's file on Sarko, even persisting in the face of a
sudden and somewhat mysterious reluctance on the part of the captain to have me do so.
The next thing I did was to inquire at the bank which had issued Sarko's bank book and
found out exactly nothing.
I was pretty discouraged and about ready to quit when I went back to my hotel that evening.
Would you mind closing the door please?
Thank you Mr. Henderson.
My name is Edward.
How do you say what's the big idea?
No, no Mr. Henderson.
Keep away from the telephone please.
Are you threatening me with that gun?
I regret it Mr. Henderson.
I deeply regret it but unfortunately I cannot deny it.
Listen, this whole thing is ridiculous and melodramatic.
Mr. Henderson, why are you so interested in Gregory Sarko?
Sarko?
Yes, Sarko.
Just what if you will forgive a B picture expression is your racket.
Racket?
Oh no Mr. Henderson.
I just like to make money, that's all.
Look Mr. Edwards or whatever your name is, if it's any of your business and I don't see
that it is, my interest in Sarko is simple curiosity.
I was talking with the Captain McNeil at police headquarters.
He showed me his file on Sarko.
Of that much I'm quite aware sir.
Well if you know so much what are you doing up here acting like a suspense radio character?
It may sound silly to you but it was just that I'd never seen a murderer before, alive
or dead and when I saw Sarko's body at police headquarters I got interested.
Mr. Henderson, would you mind repeating that?
I said I got interested.
No, no you said you actually saw the body of Sarko?
Sure.
What's so terrific about that?
Did you see his face?
Of course.
What did he look like?
Iron gray hair, dark eyes.
Yes, yes.
Mr. Henderson we simply must reach an understanding.
You've no idea what possibilities this opens for me.
Well I'm no mind reader.
Mr. Henderson may I have your word that you will do nothing unreasonable if I put away
this gun?
Okay.
Thank you.
I must administer my eye drops.
My eyes are very bad perhaps you've noticed.
I thought you might have a cold.
Nothing so simple unfortunately.
Ingenital weakness.
There we are.
Now Mr. Henderson my interest in all this is very sordid I'm afraid.
Money to the extent of shall we say three hundred thousand dollars.
Nice tidy little sum.
Half of that sum could be yours Mr. Henderson.
You'll forgive me if I don't jump at such a handsome offer without knowing a little
more about it.
I might have realized I suppose that mere Luca was not paramount to one of your position.
Let's leave paramount out of this.
But Mr. Henderson it so happens that I can put you in the way of quite a bit of rather
special information about Sarko.
I shall write several of them down for you here.
That's just fine write several of what down?
Names, addresses, places where you can discover what you want to know.
Okay what's the catch?
Mr. Henderson you must trust me.
What do you want?
I want very little.
But when you've seen these people and when what they tell you suggests that there is
still more to know come to see me.
I've written that address down too.
Good night and good hunting.
Well by this time I was so obsessed with the thing that I actually set out to follow the
itinerary of the rather sinister Mr. Edwards to the very latter.
There was a man serving a life term at Sing Sing his name was Collet.
Well it didn't used to be so healthy to talk about Sarko but seeing he's dead yeah I know
him pretty well.
Did you ever do any business with him?
Yeah we had one little deal he helped me in some business I had with Senator O'Malley.
You remember him?
He was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee during the disarmament conferences after the
last war.
That's right until 1927.
Was that the year you and Sarko had your business with him?
That's right.
That was the year he was assassinated wasn't it?
Yeah it was quite a coincidence Mr. Henderson quite a coincidence.
Sarko huh?
I just hope he didn't die easy.
I don't think he did from the looks of him.
Maybe there is some justice after all.
Are you quite sure he was a drug addict?
Huh how do you think I first learned to take this stuff at the convent?
Yeah there is one guy who might talk I never seen him but they called him Eddie the Greek
he used to hang around Doyle's gambling place.
Oh you see Mr. Henderson it all turned out rather well from your point of view didn't
it?
In a way.
But there are a few little pieces of the picture still missing huh?
You see that's why I dared hope that you'd come back to see me.
That's fine.
What about Eddie the Greek?
Oh yes Eddie the Greek.
I hope it won't be too great a shock if I have the strong impression that Eddie the
Greek is one of your pseudonyms Mr. Edwards.
Very good Mr. Henderson very good indeed.
Yes I have been called that on occasion.
Then what's the idea of the wild goose chase?
You're supposed to know more about Sarko than anybody.
All in good time Mr. Henderson all in good time.
At the moment there is a rather more pressing matter.
Oh is there?
Oh yes there is a little matter of the three hundred thousand dollars.
Look I'm in a business where they pay pretty good dough but nobody can earn three hundred
thousand dollars just overnight and beyond the level.
But my dear Mr. Henderson there is no question of earning.
Okay okay you tell me.
Well it's really quite simple Mr. Henderson.
With the information you possess together with the information I possess there is a
very liberal and sensible gentleman of my acquaintance who will give us three hundred
thousand dollars.
Blackmail huh?
Oh but what possible objection can you have to the transfer of three hundred thousand
dollars from the pocket of one scoundrel to the pocket of another.
None I guess except that I just don't want to have any part of it.
Huh?
Not even if it meant you're coming into the possession of the final and I might say the
most sensational part of your missing information about Sarko.
How do I know you can supply it?
Oh I have something here at my desk which I think you might consider sufficient proof.
Oh yes here it is.
A photograph but before you look at the face read the writing across the bottom please.
To my good friend Gregory Sarko from Count Orlando Montesero.
Was a quite famous Spanish gentleman except that lately he's been engaged in some really
very subversive activity in South America.
Another face please.
But it's Sarko.
Rather shall we say it is the man whose body you saw at police headquarters but are you
positive?
Of course I am.
Would you be so good as to write a few words of that effect across the face of the picture?
Why?
Because be sure and even on our brief acquaintance Mr. Henderson I know that you would not write
anything above your signature that was not absolutely true.
Sure if it'll make you feel any better it is true.
Yeah.
So now you see it Mr. Henderson.
You saw this body you alone except for one or two police officers with whom I confess
it is a little difficult for me to deal and the body is not that of Sarko.
And the real Sarko?
He's alive and quite well I'm happy to say and here in New York.
How could I meet him?
Oh you will meet him Mr. Henderson when he pays us the three hundred thousand dollars.
By this time I had to go through with it.
I could see the whole thing on film.
What a thrill.
I left everything in the hands of Mr. Edwards.
A meeting was arranged a hotel room the hour eight thirty.
And there we waited for the man I traced all over the underworld of New York.
The murderous spy dope peddler Gregory Sarko.
Not nervous are you Mr. Henderson?
Aren't you?
A little.
Yes I must confess our visitor this evening is not what you might call an easygoing man.
But we will not be murdered.
No we will not even be followed at least not successfully.
Where do you go from here?
To my little apartment where you met me.
It's the safest place in all New York.
You don't mind if I catch up on my notes while we wait.
Your notes?
My private file on Sarko.
Oh of course.
You know Mr. Henderson sometimes I fear that you might think that I've not been quite as
candid with you in this matter as I might.
There are one or two little things aren't there?
Your own connection with Sarko for instance.
Naturally but I honestly believe that once you just.
Will you stand by the door please Mr. Henderson open it when I give you the word.
You have to point that gun.
There will be no shooting this gun is just in case.
You may open the door now Mr. Henderson.
Come in.
Good evening gentlemen.
Captain McNeil.
Surprised to see me?
Naturally he is.
When an appointment has been carefully arranged for Mr. Henderson to meet the arch criminal
Sarko and when that arch criminal turns out to be none other than the illustrious Captain
McNeil naturally.
Oh I sort of wondered how you managed to get yourself a part in this little drama Mr. Henderson.
Now I know.
Well would you mind awfully explaining it to me.
If I were to tell you that I am not Sarko but rather that you are Confederate Mr. Edwards
is Sarko would that help?
Oh I'm truly sorry Mr. Henderson.
It seems my fate to be forced from one deception to another.
Then you are Sarko.
In a word yes.
You see Captain McNeil would scarcely have exceeded to my request if he had not feared
that a third and highly respectable party were also privy to our little secret.
After all there would be ways of dealing with Sarko but a well known motion picture director
that would be another story.
By the way Captain did you bring the money please?
I did.
How convenient to deal with a police officer who also happens to have a large private fortune.
Would you want to count it?
Oh I can see it's close enough.
Mr. Edwards if you think you're going to get me to play cat's paw for you you are...
Ah Mr. Henderson you forget that I have your signature on the photograph of that man whom
the good Captain McNeil mistakenly killed.
You see where you fit into the picture now Mr. Henderson?
And not a very pretty picture either.
Yes it would be most inconvenient for Captain McNeil if it were known that he had accidentally
liquidated the good Count Montresero even though from a patriotic standpoint it's undoubtedly
an excellent thing that he did.
But there might even be international complications might there not Captain?
Ah Mr. Henderson if I'd only resisted the temptation to show you that body.
If only you had Captain McNeil.
You'll forgive me gentlemen if I administer my eye drops.
My eyes seem to grow worse as my fortunes grow better.
And you'll forgive me if I leave now perhaps some day there'll be another meeting.
It could happen.
Yes who knows.
Ah your hat Captain McNeil.
Thank you good night.
So you're the great Sarkozy Mr. Edwards.
You see why I could not tell you before believe me I wish to if only because your interest
was so flatly.
You know he'll catch up with you someday Mr. Edwards.
Captain McNeil?
Hmm.
Not as long as I can prove that he killed Count Montresero.
By the way was that just a sort of happy coincidence for you or was it?
Not quite.
I had done some business with the Count which had turned out rather badly.
He was a pure Nazi agent without doubt.
In any event I was in difficulties with the fellow and I persuaded him that he could secure
some very valuable information if he would appear in New York as Sarko which he was unwise
enough to do.
And then you tipped off Captain McNeil that Sarko was in town.
You're a pretty clever boy aren't you Mr. Edwards?
Thank you Mr. Henderson thank you.
And now may I suggest that we return to my little flat.
We?
We do not want to be in such a situation Mr. Henderson.
I believe it would be safer for both of us.
Do you like your drink Mr. Henderson?
Oh it's very good thanks thanks.
Uh, of Mr. Edwards I do wish you'd put that gun away.
Oh yes the gun.
Mr. Henderson I've been trying to think of a way out of this dilemma all evening.
I would have liked to spare you this last little deception.
What little deception?
I'm going to have to kill you.
Oh.
I am sincerely sorry you've been a most pleasant companion but knowing as much about me as
you do you...
Oh may I finish my drink please?
Oh but certainly.
And now if you'll excuse me for a moment my eye drops are in my coat in the hall.
Oh by the way it's useless to try to escape Mr. Henderson.
This is the only way out and the windows are barred with steel shutters.
Thank you for the information.
Edwards Edwards.
Dad.
Captain McNeil.
I take it that someone has just liquidated our friend Sarko or Edwards as you prefer.
Ah so it would seem.
Did you see it happen?
No no.
Did you have much trouble finding your way here?
None whatsoever Mr. Henderson.
I'm afraid I have a little confession.
You don't need to.
But I do.
You remember the metal of the information on the piece of paper slipped under the hat
band?
The thing in your picture that I disagreed with?
I remember.
I apologize.
It's a highly practical device.
Highly practical.
Perhaps it wasn't made clear enough in the picture that the paper was rolled up into
a little hard ball.
I suppose it hurt your head when you put your hat on.
It did.
And I found the address of this place when I removed it.
You'd make a fine detective Mr. Henderson.
By the way how much have you known?
You know I'm kind of surprised myself quite a lot as a matter of fact.
You knew about the body I showed you?
Well I was pretty sure it wasn't Sarko, a drug addict who takes a precaution of carrying
aspirin for his headaches who would certainly carry his favorite drug too.
I used that in a picture once myself.
Don't you remember?
The blue canary?
So you did now.
So you did.
I sure do remember.
And I suspected Edwards because of the eye drops.
There was nothing the matter with his eyes.
His particular brand of drug works on any mucous membrane including the eyes.
Mr. Henderson you're all right.
And just what are your immediate plans?
Well I'd kind of like to get out of here.
What about the money in the photograph?
Don't let it worry you.
The money in the photograph is safe.
I kind of thought so.
And I suppose we can safely leave to the regular police force the question of who killed Sarko.
I think we can.
If I knew who I'd sort of like to thank him.
He did save my life you know.
And if he knew you I'm sure he'd want to thank you as well because in a way you also saved
his life.
Well that's about all there is to the story.
Pretty exciting stuff.
Be good material for one of your pictures I'd think Mr. Henderson.
Yeah sure Edward sure.
For that dumb studio of mine I called a big meeting just before I left New York and I
told this story changing a few names and places of course.
And what happened?
I don't know Frank it's a good story but I don't know.
What's the matter I think it would make a swell picture.
Public could never go for it Frank it's too crazy.
It's unbelievable.
I wouldn't buy it.
You're entirely right LG.
Don't make sense Frank.
Something like that couldn't happen.
Look I'm telling you that...
You are entirely too arty.
It wouldn't gross a dime.
And by the way Frank I wanted to talk to you about the new release.
Where have you been?
Me?
Yeah the last time we saw you you beat it out of the projection room to see some cop
and nobody's heard a word from you for two weeks.
Where you been?
Me?
Oh I've been around.
And so closes sneak preview starring Joseph Cotton tonight's tale of suspense.
Joseph Cotton star of the Lockheed America ceiling unlimited appeared by courtesy of
David O. Selznick and will soon be seen in the All-Star Selznick production since you
went away.
Did you know that these Roma wine suspense dramas are setting a record for the millions
of delighted listeners they are attracting.
We want you to feel that by tuning in the suspense program every week you can count
on real radio enjoyment.
Well in just as dramatic style the popularity of Roma wines is also record-breaking because
Roma wines are by far America's largest selling wines.
Millions make sure of great wine enjoyment simply by asking for Roma wines.
Here's something else these millions have discovered.
You don't need fancy glassware or a special occasion to enjoy these zestful taste-delighting
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Roma wines possess lip-smacking flavor and zest because they come from Roma wines own
wineries right in the heart of the magnificent California wine grape districts and you can
enjoy them as a daily delight because the cost is only pennies a glass.
Ask for R-O-M-A Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is Joseph Cotton.
It's a great pleasure to join forces with this really excellent company whose business
and pleasure it is each week to keep you in suspense.
I know you'll want to be listening next week as I will when Sonny Tufts will be your star.
Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear.
Next Thursday same time you will hear Sonny Tufts in Suspense presented by Roma wines
made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.