Roma wines present suspense. Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the
world. 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 to introduce this weekly half
hour of suspense. Tonight from Hollywood we bring you Mr. Orson Welles. Mr. Welles will appear as
star of the suspense play called The Marvelous Barastro from an extraordinary story by the
distinguished American author Ben Hecht. But before we raise the curtain on this evening's tale of
suspense here is a message from your host the Roma Wine Company of Fresno California. Distance lends
enchantment says the old proverb and it seems borne out in such little episodes as these. Let's
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Roma wine tells me all that. Only true perfection of climate and soil could produce the perfection
of your splendid California wine Roma wine. Well that's so and as Roma wines become available to
wine connoisseurs of more and more lands the chorus of praise grows for the truly superb
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these taste delighting Roma wines with no import duty to pay and without expensive shipping charges
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within your reach why not get acquainted with your favorites among Roma wines many different
delightful wine types. Remember the name R.O.M.A Roma wines made in California for enjoyment
throughout the world. And now with a marvelous barastro produced and directed by William Spear
and with the performance of Orson Welles we again hope to keep you in suspense.
This is William Spear. Three weeks ago I was seated in my office pouring over possible future
stories with which to hold you in suspense when a stranger appeared unannounced. I am the marvelous
barastro I've come to tell you a story. How did you get in here? I am a magician by trade I do
such things perhaps you've heard of me barastro. No. I'm the greatest magician alive. No that is
not so I am the second greatest but soon I will be first. I am leaving tonight for Mexico City. You
see me now for the first and last time you will never see me again no one will ever see me again.
It is the last of barastro. How's that? I'm going to Mexico City to murder a man.
Uh well. His name is Rico Sansone. Why are you going to kill him? Because he is the most evil
man in the world. I've been waiting 20 years for his name to appear. For as long as he chose to
hide there was no hope. He's too clever far too clever even for me. But I knew that his vanity
would betray him and that someday I would read again the name Rico Sansone. I knew he would return
to the stage. Is he a magician? He's greatest to ever live. The most profound the most subtle
and the most evil. He's greater than I. He begins his first performance in 20 years in Mexico
next week. I will be there to see it. Well I would like to hear your story. I can tell you all but
the end that I will be unable to provide now but you will find it out for yourself. Well I'd like
to hear what you can tell me. I will tell you Mr. Spearbutt on one condition. And that? I must have
your oath not to interfere. Oh really now you can understand I can scarcely give you that after all.
Ah very well very well very well. I would take my chances with you. The story begins 20 years ago.
I was a young man. I traveled as a magician with a small carnival through southeastern Europe.
One night we came to a village in Malo Russia. Our cymbals sounded, our torches flickered in the
spring wind and the villagers gathered around our tents and wagons. I had taken my place in the black
box outside my tent. There were holes in the box through which I could watch the crowd while the
barker made his announcement. Barastro the marvel of marble. Barastro the magician who speaks with
the dead and reads the secrets of life. At this moment, at this moment I saw her for the first time.
Her young and gentle face surprised me among so many peasants. I said to myself what a strange girl,
what a beautiful child. I kept watching her. I couldn't keep my eyes away from her. At length an
old peasant led her in holding her by the hand. I saw at once that she was blind. My granddaughter
would like you to tell her future. Can you tell my future? Yes. Will it be a happy one my future?
Hold out your hand and I will tell you. Here. A dark mist passed over me. I felt a sudden
chill as I touched her hand. I listened to the voices which would tell the future. Sorrow sorrow
they breathe. Pain and sorrow. Fly run. I studied the girl's face. A fear gripping at my heart.
Her large cyclous eyes were calm resigned. I could not bring myself to tell her what I saw.
These spirits promise you happiness. I lied. Your hands will touch beautiful things.
Love and delight will await you. Oh thank you sir. Thank you.
That was the beginning. Her face haunted me that night. I could not sleep. I'm in inquiries the
next morning and I found her. We walked through the hills. She did not need my hand to guide her.
She knew every stone, every turn of the path. She spoke of the trees around her. She had strange
names for them. I call that tree lullaby because it sings when it sways in the wind. Lullaby.
And that one see when its branches open towards heaven. I call that one prayer. How do you know
its branches open toward the sky? When I was younger I climbed it. Anna. Come I'll raise you
to the bed of flowers at the turn. Anna. Hurry I ran far. We walked often through the hills.
I knew that she was aware of her destiny. The stars had told me she would not live long.
And that agony and terror awaited for her on the short journey. Our caravan remained for two weeks
in the village. At the end of that time I asked Anna to come with me as my wife. You make me very
happy Shari. I could live only with you. I will love you with all my heart. And you will teach me
Shari. You will teach me to see. To see? Does one need eyes to see as you do? Shari you will teach
me to see beyond the horizons. You will teach me to see as you see. We were married. We rode
together in the gilded wagon and the vows were taken under a clear sky. Suddenly the sky changed.
It was only then that I realized what I had done in seeking to save her. I was fulfilling the
terrible message of the stars. For it was I Shari Barastro who was the instrument fate had selected
for her ruin. Then it came. One night as I stood in the black box outside my tent
I knew that I needed no further word from the mists of prophecy. It was there. It had come.
He stood among the peasants before our tent. A graceful figure smiling, leaning on his cane.
A man of the world amusingly out of place in this far away little village. I looked at him through
the holes in my box as I looked. I turned cold. I watched him and I felt afraid. He was studying
Anna. Never once did he stop looking at her. My temper is quick and fiery. I went up to him
as he was watching Anna. How subtle he was. How graceful. I seized his arm and demanded to know
what he meant by staring at my wife. He removed my hand as if I were a child. I can tell you there
was something, something terrifying in his strength. My most humbly beg your pardon for this
misunderstanding. Let me introduce myself. My name is Rico Sansone. I'm a student of the occult
traveling about the world in search of knowledge. Inside of me I feel that girl has the remarkable
psychic powers. I'd hope to be able to induce her to join me as my assistant. Soon planning to go
on the stage but now that I know she's your wife I apologize again for my seeming forwardness.
Oh I suppose there's nothing to do but to accept that apology. And you madame?
Anna, I think it is fair Anna. Anna? No, I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to say. It was thus Rico Sansone entered our lives. Little by little during the
days that followed he attached himself to us. We listened, Anna and I, to his tales. He'd been
everywhere, seen everything. He brought the world into our gilded wagon. In his presence I always
felt elated and flattered. Thus does a man move in the grip of his destiny. Thus do we dig with
our own hands the appointed grave for our happiness. For one night Anna came to me
and took my hands and told me something that made my heart grow black.
Shari, Rico Sansone has made love to me. Anna. I've done nothing wrong. I'm afraid of Rico.
I tell you this so you will understand my fear. You, you want to tell me about it now? Yes.
Tell me then. Rico came to me this afternoon while I was alone. He took my hand and held it gently
in his. I suspected nothing until he asked me if I loved you and how deeply I loved you.
Then he asked me if I love you more than happiness or life. I took my hand from him and said I cannot
talk of love to you. Even if my love for my husband, please go. Yes? Rico. She's told you.
Shari, forgive me. For a moment I grew weak. Let me remain your friend. I brought you both some
flowers. I picked them myself. Will you accept them? You won't accept them? Of course we will, my friend.
How good I have doubted you. I understand. Come, forget the entire incident.
You are kind. Really, you're kind.
This was the third month of our friendship and now I began to feel it was my companionship he desired.
Not Anna's. We spent long hours together without Anna under his wing. I was afraid of him.
We spent long hours together without Anna under his care. My mind was expanding. My power was developing.
He seemed interested in my every move and again I was flattered, lured, disarmed. You have a funny
way of saying the word beautiful, my friend. How is it you said? Beautiful. That's it. That's it.
Beautiful. Is that all right? You're telling me about the Houdini method of the respiration.
Oh yes, so I was. Beautiful. Very good. I like you, Shari. I like you very much.
Amazing, isn't it? Amazing how one can be drawn in by flattery and charm.
Then one day I was sitting in my tent. When a curious sense came over me I felt a pressure on
my heart as if a hand were closing around it with a warning. I left quickly. I hurried to the apartment.
Anna had remained there. She frequently did in the afternoon. I found myself running toward the door.
I paused, waited until I recovered my breath and then forcing a smile to my lips opened the door.
Oh, I saw Rico. Rico standing with his arms around her face raised to his lips.
Speechless, powerless, I looked at them. I heard her voice murmuring words of love.
Her arms moved around his neck and she kissed him. Then I heard his voice.
Anna, Anna my darling. Shari my love. Anna my darling, my beautiful darling.
My beautiful darling. The sound of his voice a horror seized me. Now I knew why he had spent
so many hours with me. Why he was so interested. It was my voice. It was Barastro talking.
It was a voice that seemed to come from my own throat. A horrible familiar voice and I understood
what had happened. I sprang forward shouting his name Rico. He turned and faced me. He pointed
his finger at me as if he were an image in a mirror. Rico! The echo.
Murder was in my heart. I flew at this monster. We struggled across the room. He answered my cries
with cries that echoed his notes. His inflection of my voice. I saw him through my rage. His face was
contorted like my own. His every feature had changed. He was Barastro. There were two Barastros
screaming together, tumbling over each other.
He held me in his hands. In his hands that were like steel. I could not move or cry out.
His hand was on my throat. I lay gasping crazed and it was Barastro who was holding me.
Then this horrible and familiar figure changed. It became Rico. It was Rico Sansone who spoke.
The breath was leaving my body. I was strangling dying yet I could hear him. Barastro, God, you're
killing me. Shari Shaya Merzi, I'm dying. His voice was faint. I felt in this moment the
agonies of a hundred deaths. For as my eyes grew dark, I saw with horror the thing he had in his mind.
He was pretending it was I who was killing him and thus he would kill me and go to her.
He would be Barastro. It would be Rico Sansone who would be buried. It would be Barastro who
remained. For a moment I caught a glimpse of his cold ruthless eyes burning now over my face as
he enacted his false death groaning, pleading for mercy and the strength drawn from his soul filled
my lungs. I cried out with all my might, Anna, Anna! Knowing that by this she would understand
that it was I, I who was dying and darkness, darkness seized me.
An hour had passed when I opened my eyes. My head was splitting. My throat was stiffened. I raised
myself and looked. He was gone. I saw her. She was standing in the corner of the room, crouched
against the wall, her hand against her teeth and staring, staring into the terrible dark around her.
Anna! I whispered to her, Anna! It is I, Anna. I, Shari.
Anna! Oh, God! Anna, please! Anna! Anna, darling, listen to me! Anna, give me your hand! Anna!
Anna, listen! It is I, Anna! Anna! Shari, your husband, Anna! Listen, Anna! Remember, Anna!
Remember! Remember when we first kissed! When we first kissed, Anna! That time on the hill, Anna,
remember! I called you little princess, remember, Anna, and Anna about your trees, Anna, about lullaby,
the names you had for them, lullaby and prayer, Anna! One with its branches pointing toward him,
the one we climbed, Anna, please! Anna, please! Please, Anna! It is I, Anna! Come here, listen!
Listen carefully, Anna! The spirits promise you happiness. Your hands will touch beautiful things.
Love and delight await you. Oh, Shari! Oh, my darling! My Anna, my sweet! Oh, Shari, hold me close!
Yes, my darling, yes. Oh, my spirit, you are his darling. There, there, my darling, it's all right now.
It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling!
Rico had disappeared. We laid our plans, Anna and I. As soon as she was able to walk, we abandoned the carnival.
We were in separate revenge. She could not bear to have me wait for a moment. I understood everything, everything in her soul.
Yes, even the trembling that would seize her sometimes when I took her in my hand. It was I alone he could not deceive.
I alone, to anyone else, he could become Barastro, even to her, whose senses had learned every breath,
every inflection of the man she loved. Even to her, he had been Barastro.
The months passed. Her life had become again almost like a honeymoon. Almost, I say, for there were nights when I would awake
to find her fingers tracing the contours of my face. Then it was I pretended to be ill and remained at her side.
We said nothing, but we knew the shadow, the shadow in each other's mind. Everything went smoothly, though, until one evening.
When I entered the cabaret, when I was performing, I felt unusually disturbed. It was winter.
I was removing my coat when it came again. As I had known it would, the warning, the hand closing over my heart.
I ran from the place and raced home. I entered our cottage by the back door quietly like a thief, and I stood listening.
From inside, I could hear a voice.
Oh, sorry, dear. Darling, you're ill again. I'll take care of you, darling. I'll make you feel better.
Anna, my dear Anna, how I love you.
He was back. One doesn't reason. One does not reason in the midst of a nightmare.
Yet terror can wake the mind to a clairvoyance and understanding beyond thought.
I stood motionless, silent, listening. The light was turned out. I heard her laugh, laugh like a child in the dark.
And this sound killed me. Yes, one is dead forever. When happiness is torn from the heart.
I wanted to rush into the room. I wanted to shout, Anna, Anna, don't touch him. He's Rico.
But instead, I slept quickly from the house. I walked in the cold streets. My thoughts returned.
I had acted out of one clear impulse. Through the terror and agony of those moments when I heard him take her in his arms,
there had remained a certainty above everything else. I must save her.
And I knew I had acted wisely had I rushed into the room and made a noise.
She would have died. She would have known in that moment, as I knew listening to him, that he had been there before.
That he had been there before. That he had crept through our defenses as our shadow creeps.
And we had not known. I thought of them together as I walked.
And then I thought again that I had only to rush back to speak her name. Yes, and destroy her.
Destroy her. I kept on walking. And as I walked, I began to understand him. Yes, I was dealing with a monster.
He would manage to leave her, as he must have done so often before, a few moments before I was due to return from the cabaret.
And if I sensed something was wrong, he would rely on my lover to keep this sense of secret.
He knew me well. He understood I would allow my heart to be eaten away with grief.
And I would not make a sign lest I destroy her whom I love more than myself.
It was I who must be careful. Not he. Yes, he knew me. He gambled on me.
I determined to kill him the first moment I saw him.
And I began to think. To think of his superhuman strength.
That he might kill me, even as he had first intended.
And that he would go on living with her as per astro.
She would never know I was dead. She would continue to love me in his arms.
To press her kisses upon my murderer.
And this was the thought that contained in it. The fullest measure of horror.
The thought of that moment when she would see him.
And not me. You understand the grief? The grief of that night?
Yes, it is fortunate I cannot remember it all.
I returned home. At the time, at the time Rico wanted me to.
I wasn't careful about my coming. I trusted him.
Do you understand? I trusted him that out of his evil he would spare her.
As I spared her out of love.
I entered the bedroom, opened the door and walked in. She was alone.
Anna. Anna dear.
Anna! Anna, it's I. It's I, it's not Rico, it's I. It's I.
Anna! Anna!
This is my memory of Anna. My memory.
She seized her face with her hands. As if she were tearing something.
Yes, the darkness. As I rushed towards she fell.
She did not speak again. In the morning she died.
That is the story as nearly in Barastro's words as I can remember them.
When he finished he got up quietly, looked at me a moment and said,
Thank you for listening to me Mr. Spear. You understand now my prediction that there will be one less magician alive in the world within a fortnight.
And he turned and left my office. I must admit that the whole thing shook me rather badly.
I've been spent the whole week wondering if something might happen. Something I couldn't predict this morning.
I think perhaps it came, at least while I was reading through the theatrical weekly variety and my eye caught a notice.
You probably saw it too, of a magician who had been killed in Mexico City.
The account said that two magicians had been together in an automobile accident.
While driving through the railyard district their car stalled on a track and had been demolished by an oncoming train.
One of the magicians, unidentifiable, had been cut to pieces.
The other miraculously escaped with his life.
Although his features were so horribly disfigured that plastic surgery will have to create a new face for him.
The survivor identified himself as the Marvelous Barastro.
And so closes Ben Heck's story of the Marvelous Barastro starring Orson Welles.
Tonight's tale of suspense. Before Mr. Welles returns to our microphone, a message from the sponsor of suspense.
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We'll tell you why Roma wines are America's largest selling wines.
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or the rich hearty Roma burgundy, or the sweeter heavier Roma port.
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You'll want to add your voice to the international praise of Roma wines now rising in many lands.
In these words, Roma wines are truly magnificent.
Let me repeat the name, R-O-M-A, Roma wines, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is Orson Welles. It was a great pleasure, ladies and gentlemen, as it always is, to appear as a purveyor of suspense.
And next week, Mr. Spear would like me to tell you that Mr. Ed Gardner, better known to you as Archie,
the elite proprietor of Duffy's Tavern, will make his debut as a dramatic actor.
Mr. Spear has also asked me to mention that Orson Welles played the part of both magicians on the program tonight.
Universal Pictures would like me to mention that Orson Welles plays a magician in a new picture of theirs called Follow the Boys.
Or is it Orson Welles?
Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Ed Gardner radio's famous Archie in Suspense.
Presented by Roma wines, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.