Now, Roma wines present.
Suspense!
Tonight, The Black Curtain, starring Cary Grant.
Suspense is presented for your enjoyment by Roma wines.
That's R-O-M-A, Roma wines.
Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live.
To your happiness and entertaining guests.
To your enjoyment of everyday meals.
Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma wines bring you...
Suspense!
This is the man in black here for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.
To introduce this weekly half hour of Suspense!
Tonight in Hollywood, we are honored and happy to have with us...
One of the Entertainment World's most distinguished gentlemen, Mr. Cary Grant.
This becomes somewhat of an anniversary broadcast.
Since it was one year ago tonight that Mr. Grant inaugurated this series of Suspense programs, sponsored by Roma wines.
And in response to requests from our listeners, he will appear once more in the Suspense play by Cornell Woolrich, which starred him on that occasion.
And so with the black curtain and with the performance of Cary Grant, we again hope to keep you in Suspense!
It began, or rather life began again for me, I guess you'd say.
That day on that street, my head was pounding terribly.
I could hear all the noise and the people milling around.
Everything was a jumble at first.
All right, all right, Gangway, let the doctor through.
I see what happened, Mr. Policeman. He was running and boy, he really gave himself a clunk on the beam.
Get back there now.
Oh, my head.
Take it easy, take it easy.
His wallet fell out of his pocket and a big boy grabbed it and ran away.
Back everybody back, give the doctor room.
I'm OK. Never mind, Doc, I'm OK.
There seems to be nothing much to matter with you, sir.
No, I'm all right.
Guess I can talk to him now, Doc.
Yes, sure, go ahead, officer. Just a bad bump on the head, I think.
Yeah, you're all right. You're all right. You can walk now, can't you?
Sure, sure. Here, here, let me brush you off.
Thanks. I'll be fine.
Hey, hey, wait a minute. What am I doing with the Nova code on?
All right, now, mister, just so they got it on the plotter, what's your name and where do you live?
Townsend, Frank Townsend, 820 Rutherford Street.
Here, have a cigarette. You're still shaking.
No, thanks, I don't smoke.
OK, well, I'll be getting back.
Talk to me at the receiving hospital if you want us to check you out.
Yes, I will.
Here's your hat, mister, I found it.
Thanks, kid.
That's all now. Come on, move along, move along. This guy's all right.
Oh, thanks, son, thanks.
Hey, sorry about the fellow that got your wallet.
Anyway, here's your cigar case, Mr. Townsend. I found it right alongside you.
But I don't own a case.
No, besides, look at the initials, D-N.
I don't know, same initials in the hat, see, D-N.
Yes, but this isn't my hat.
Don't you even know your own hat, mister?
Wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm trying to think. Where is this?
What?
This street.
You're on Tillery Street.
Tillery Street? What am I doing on Tillery Street?
He's lost.
All right now, sir, look, my suggestion is that you go on home and go lie down.
It's cold. Start in the snow again.
No, wait a minute, wait a minute. Don't leave me.
Tell me, what... what happened?
Well, you slipped on this icy sidewalk.
Fell down, hit your head good and hard on the curb.
You were up about 20 minutes.
Wait, wait, ice on the sidewalk?
Look at it. That street cleaning department ought to clear away that snow too.
But, but, snow and ice?
Sure, why?
Snow in July?
July? It's December. December 1944.
1944?
You better get on home, son. Good night.
1944?
December 1944?
The last I remember was July 1941.
Three years just gone.
Amnesia.
A black curtain comes down over your mind out of nowhere.
That black curtain had been over my eyes for three years.
Where had I been? Who had I been?
I hadn't been Frank Townsend.
I'd been someone else.
D.N. Someone whose initials were D.N.
I walked along Tillery Street thinking about it.
Those three years.
What? I could have been married.
I could have been a thief.
Something made me turn around on the street for a moment.
And that was when I first saw him.
Grey eyes. He'd been talking to the cop who took my name.
He looked up as I did.
And then he started to walk rapidly in my direction.
I backed away instinctively.
Something about him spelled trouble.
He caught me and came forward.
Hey, hey you! Stop! Stop, Townsend! Stop! Townsend!
Instinctively I knew I should run. Get away from me.
Hey, you!
I looked back as I ran to the corner. He had a gun in his hand.
He raised it.
Then I turned and ran for my life.
What lay behind that black curtain which separated Townsend from his past?
Roma wines are presenting Hollywood's distinguished Cary Grant
as star of tonight's tale of suspense.
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And now it is with pleasure that we bring back to our sound stage
Mr. Cary Grant and The Black Curtain.
A story well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Why was that man following me with a gun?
What did gray eyes want with me?
I must have done something.
I had to get away, some place to be safe and think.
I beat it down into the subway and hid.
For two hours I stayed down there.
I thought it all out carefully during those two hours.
I knew I was on the spot for something.
Gray eyes meant business.
What could it be?
Who had I been during those last three years
with that black curtain in front of them?
Well, maybe I've been a gangster
when he was one of a mob that wanted to rub me out.
I didn't know.
No identification, my wallet stolen.
Nothing in my pockets would help.
Just D.N. in the hat.
And D.N. on the cigar case.
D.N.
My head was aching with worry.
My stomach had panic in it.
I had to find out who I'd been, what I'd done.
But how? Where?
Tillery Street.
That's where I'd been when I woke up.
Tillery Street.
Well, maybe gray eyes would go back there too
looking for me.
But I had to take that chance.
Yes?
Good evening, Pop.
Hello. Oh, hello there.
Oh, you know me.
Sure. Couldn't see under that hat at first.
What can I do for you?
Have you got an evening paper I could look at?
No, sir, I never read them.
There's not much trouble in the world these days anyhow.
Say, how you been?
You haven't been around two or three weeks.
Oh, no? Well, I've been busy.
Oh, look, Pop.
Yeah?
I made a bet with a friend of mine
that even though you see so many customers
you'd walk right up and give me my full name.
Oh, well, I'm sorry. I don't know it.
I don't think I ever heard your name.
But I know your girl.
My girl?
Oh, you do?
Well, maybe I can still win my bet.
Why, of course. Ruth.
Lives right across the street, the artillery apartment.
Oh, well, that's right.
Ruth.
Ah, but now, what apartment?
Apartment 3C, of course.
Don't I take the sandwiches up there every night?
3C? Yeah.
Yes, well, thanks.
Will you win your bet, mister?
Oh, yes, I think I will.
What is your name, so I'll know it next time.
I'll tell you tomorrow.
So long. So long, Pop. Obviously...
What's the matter, Drop? Something?
No, nothing. Nothing.
Just tying my shoe.
I'd just been going to walk out when I saw him
standing across the street.
Grey eyes again.
I took down behind the store window and watched him.
He looked over in my direction.
And then up and down the street.
And then he lit a cigarette and slowed down to the corner.
The minute he disappeared, I yanked the door open,
dashed out and ran across the tillery apartments and went in.
Who is it?
Ruth? Yes?
It's me.
Dan!
Oh, Danny, where have you... Get in here.
Oh, darling, it's really you.
I thought... Hello, Ruth.
Oh, Danny, why did you come here?
He's been around twice today. He may be in the neighborhood right now for all you know.
Yes, who? Who?
Well, Slattery, of course.
Slattery?
Oh, has he got grey eyes?
What? Yeah.
Did you ever see a detective that didn't?
Oh, sure, sure.
Danny, what's the matter with you?
You're acting so strangely.
Well, I...
I just want to look at you.
You seem so different, so far away.
You haven't kissed me.
Well, that's easily fixed.
Oh, darling, where have you been for three weeks?
Oh, all around.
Miss me? Oh, you know I did.
Danny, Danny, just both...
Do you think we could get away tonight?
I've got $3,000 saved up.
We could go to Mexico or South America and...
We could get married.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Nearing,
the tour of the world.
Daniel Nearing?
Oh, Mr. and Mrs.
Sounds plenty good to me.
Oh, you'll never know how good.
And we'll get out of here tonight.
I'll call up and tell them I'm quitting my job.
I'll say I'm sick. All my stuff's here.
Nothing's out there but a couple of uniforms.
I'll make Ada and Franklin a present of those.
Ada and Franklin?
Don't you bother your head about those two.
They weren't glad when it happened.
A couple of vultures.
Why, to them.
Oh, with you back, Danny, with you back.
Just think with my $3,000 we could...
Well, do you think you ought to quit your job?
Well, absolutely, I think so.
I never was cut out to be a nurse anyway.
No, you weren't.
Any more than I was...
Any more than you were meant to be a secretary.
I... That's right.
I never wanted to be a secretary.
I just drifted into it, I guess.
It kind of got on my nerves, especially toward the end.
The boss was no cinch to work for.
He certainly wasn't. He was a rat.
The whole D.P. Bunch were mean, rotten.
The whole family.
Yeah, that's right.
All except the old man.
Oh, the old man. Yes.
I sort of liked him, didn't I?
He loves you too, Danny.
I think he wished you'd been his son.
He's the only reason I've stuck around out there this long.
How are things out there?
Oh, they've been questioning all of us.
They've laid off lately, though, since you...
Oh, don't let's talk any more about it.
You're back. That's the main thing.
I want to forget New Jericho and the whole...
New Jericho, huh? Yes.
Oh, Danny.
Danny, if only it hadn't happened.
What hadn't? You know what?
Danny, what's going to become of you and me?
I wish I knew.
Danny, get away from that window.
Leave that shade down. He's down there.
Who? Grey Eyes.
He's standing in front of the hydrant.
He's coming in here. In the building.
Oh, did he see you?
Look, Ruth, will you help me?
What are you going to do? Give myself up.
No. No. Well, it's better than getting shot at.
What can they do to me? You crazy fool.
They can send you to the chair.
The chair? What do you think happens to a man
who's a murderer? Murder?
Murder?
Ruth, listen to me.
I'm not a murderer.
The whole world says I committed murder. I say I didn't.
The me that's in me says I didn't.
I never said you were, Danny. I always said you didn't do it.
But they found the body and they...
Oh, only you hadn't run away.
Oh, so that's it.
All right, nearing. Open up.
Oh, why did you come here, Danny? Why?
Why? Ruth, quick.
We've got to get out of here. How about the fire escape?
Shaft. Dumb waiter. Dumb waiter.
Oh, in here.
Lock that kitchen door, quick.
Now, get in.
I'll stand on top and work the ropes.
I don't think you can hold us both. We've got to.
Now, can you hear me?
Yes, Danny.
Danny, what do we do?
We're going back there to New Jericho.
New Jericho? Oh, no, Danny, don't.
No, please. For me, don't, don't.
I've got to. I've got to find out.
We're going together.
No, no, Danny, no. I've got the money.
We can get out of here and we can...
Now, stop it. Oh, Danny, my arm.
You're hurting me.
From here on in, we're sticking together.
You're going to take me back there, Ruth.
Back where it happened. All right, darling.
Crazy, but I'll go wherever you go.
I can't lose you again.
On the train, Ruth and I said very little to each other.
While I had hidden the telephone booth at Pennsylvania Station,
she'd bought us a couple of cheap overcoats.
I sat hunched up in mine, thinking, thinking.
Ruth had brought along the newspaper clippings.
I looked at what they said for the 20th time,
trying to see if there was anything there that would help me.
I was thinking, thinking, thinking.
Trying to see if there was anything there that would help me.
Dietrich's slayer sword, it said.
The secretary wanted him brutal slaying at suburban estate.
Police are pressing the search for Daniel Nearing,
secretary and the employee of the late John Dietrich, 58,
member of a well-known local family,
who was shot and killed in the drawing room of his new Jericho estate
on the morning of November the 7th.
Nearing disappeared November the 7th,
on the morning of which date he is known to have had a bitter quarrel with the deceased.
This last was attested to at the inquest by Ada and Franklin Dietrich,
widow and brother of the murdered man.
Well, I had all the facts now.
Wanted for murder.
And yet everything that was in me told me that no matter who I'd been,
however many memories I had lost, that I was no killer,
that I just couldn't have...
No Jericho! No Jericho!
I had to get into the Dietrich house
and stand again in that room where it had all happened.
Maybe something would come back to me.
Maybe there would be some...
No Jericho!
Danny! Danny!
Over here, Ruth.
It's dark. I couldn't see.
Ada and Franklin just left. Drove down to the village.
Did they say anything about you being out here on your day off?
Yeah, Ada made some crack.
But I said I had nothing to do in town and came out to write some letters.
Let's go, then.
Danny, I'm scared.
Please, let's not stay here.
You said you loved me.
I do, Danny, I do. That's why I'm scared.
They're only going to the village. They'll be back in half an hour at the most.
Open the door, Ruth.
Hurry. I've got to see the inside.
That room. The place where it happened.
No, it's wrong, Danny. I'm telling you, you're crazy.
They'll find you.
Open the door, Ruth. Quickly.
All right.
Now, let's have a look at that room.
Please, Danny, don't talk about it. Please.
So this is where I'm supposed to have murdered John Dietrich?
Danny, please.
Where was it?
Show me exactly where it was, Ruth. I've got to know.
It was there. Right there.
It was standing by the grandfather's clock.
Are you going crazy, Danny? If they get to you, you'll hang.
By the clock? You still believe me, don't you, Ruth?
I believe you, Danny, but I'm scared.
I love you.
Wait, Ruth. What's that? Listen.
That's only the old man.
He's asleep in that room. Don't go in there, Danny.
Don't please awake him.
I want to see him.
No, don't, Danny. No, he can't help you.
You know he's paralyzed and he can't talk.
Turn on the light. I want to see him.
There you're. Walk him out.
It's me, Mr. Dietrich. Ruth.
This is Danny.
You remember Danny, don't you?
Hello, Mr. Dietrich.
See how his eyes are shining?
Yes.
Tell me, was he here when it happened?
You know that, Danny. Why do you ask such funny questions?
He's been in bed here for five years.
He has?
Well, that mirror on the wall here.
That clock. Look.
You can see the grandfather's clock in the other room.
What are you getting at, Danny?
Well, he could see it.
The old man could see the murder through the mirror.
Oh, if he only could talk.
But he can't talk. You scare me, Danny. Don't...
He saw the man who killed John Dietrich.
Look. He understands what I'm saying.
He's blinking his eyes.
Oh, stop torturing him, Danny. Can't you see what you're doing to him?
He's trying to say something.
Look. His eyes are blinking.
He's going to help me.
Go outside and watch, Ruth. Go on.
I'll watch out at the entrance, Roy.
Be careful, Danny. They'll be back any minute.
Leave me alone with him.
I'll pull if I hear them coming.
Look now, Mr. Dietrich, don't be afraid.
I'm going to ask you a question, and I'd like you to answer me.
Are you trying to tell me something about the murder?
Now, blink your eyes. Blink twice if you are.
That's it. Once, twice.
That's good.
Did you see it happen here in your mirror?
Blink once if the answer is no.
Twice if the answer is yes.
Once, twice.
You did, huh? You saw it.
All right, Mr. Dietrich.
Now, then. Is the murderer in this house?
Danny, Danny, they're coming. Franklin, Nader.
Get out of here and hide. Run, Danny, run!
Is the murderer in this house?
Blink once for no, twice for yes.
Yes! In this house.
Danny, Danny, they're coming!
Wait, wait a moment. I've got it.
Mr. Dietrich, was it me?
Once for no, twice for yes. Was it me?
Get out of here, Danny. In the big room there behind the curtains.
I'll talk to them.
Okay. Thanks, Mr. Dietrich. I'll be back.
Ruth, Ruth, is that you in Father's room?
Yes, Mrs. Dietrich.
Are you here alone?
Why, yes. Why?
We, we thought we heard voices.
What are you so jittery about, Ruth?
I'm tired, that's all.
May I go to bed now?
Father's still awake, Ruth.
Well, he'll go to sleep all right.
I'm going upstairs, Mrs. Dietrich, now.
Good night, Ruth.
Good night.
She's brought someone back here with her.
It's him, I think.
Who? Dan? Oh, Franklin.
Take it easy, darling. Take it easy.
If he's here, we'll get him.
Back to the evidence we gave against him at the hearing.
Oh, I'm scared. Let's get out of here fast.
I'll go to the village for the police.
No, no. Call the police. Here, I'll do it.
Hello? Hello?
It's too late.
The wires have been cut.
Come on, we'll both drive to the village.
But he made me wait for us out by the car.
Uh...
What? Oh.
What are you doing there, Franklin?
I think I might just need my gun.
Come on, let's be on our way.
The moment they left the house, I made for the old man's room.
I called for Ruth, but she was gone.
Maybe Franklin and Ada had caught her after she cut the telephone wire.
But I couldn't wait.
My life was hanging on minutes now.
I shot the flashlight on the old man's face again.
Now, Mr. Dietrich, you're helping me fine.
You know I'm trying to save my life, don't you?
Now, the murderer. Was it me?
Was it me who did it? Me, Danny Nearing.
Blink once for no.
Once.
You're sure? You're sure it wasn't me?
Oh, you're smiling, Mr. Dietrich, smiling.
Now, now, it was somebody in this house.
Then who was it?
Oh, can't you make a sound?
Help me, you've got to. Was it Ada?
Price for yes, once for no.
Once, not Ada. All right, then.
Was it Franklin?
Up with the hands, Nearing, or you'll never go to trial.
Franklin, wait a minute, you've got to listen. You've got to.
I've got that flashlight.
So you're trying to kill the old man too, eh?
The murderer returns to the scene of his crime.
You know I didn't kill him.
Tell it to the police.
They'll have him here in a couple of minutes.
Where's your girlfriend, Ruth?
She's not here. I don't know where she went.
Never mind, they'll find her.
You're a dead duck, Nearing.
You killed my brother and beat it.
What did you ever get out of it? That's always puzzled me.
You killed your brother, and now you're going to kill me.
You've gone nuts too. Why should I kill my own brother, you idiot?
To get his share of the estate and his wife, Ada, among other things.
But you can't stop with killing me.
Someone else knows the truth.
The old man saw it in the mirror.
What?
Yes, you'll have to kill your own father too.
The old man saw it? How do you know?
You're lying. He can't talk. He can't even move.
He can hear, and he can blink his eyes.
Come over here and look.
Look here you are.
Oh, Rose!
I had to do it. I heard him. He's going to kill you.
Here's the gun, Daddy. Take it.
You'll be all right.
Rose, you shouldn't have done that.
In another minute.
I'm not sure it was Franklin.
Oh, Dad, please, please, let's run for it.
They'll be here in a second. It's your last chance.
They'll all swear you did it.
Not if I can be with the old man another half a minute.
Mr. Dietrich, Mr. Dietrich, it's Danny again.
No, Danny, don't, don't, don't.
Tell me, Mr. Dietrich, was it Franklin?
Did Franklin kill your son John?
Blink once if he did.
What's the matter, Mr. Dietrich?
Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.
Why are you afraid?
He's afraid, Rose.
Oh, it's this gun.
Here, take the gun, Rose. You take it. He's afraid.
I'm not going to hurt you, Mr. Dietrich.
What's the matter?
Why don't you answer me?
Who killed John Dietrich?
It wasn't me. It wasn't Ada.
It wasn't Franklin.
But someone in the house.
Was it...
...Rose?
Rose!
You!
I told you, I told you not to come.
Oh, I love you, Danny. I wanted you.
I wouldn't have let them get you.
Oh, why, why, Rose?
Why did you kill John Dietrich?
He was always after me.
He wouldn't leave me alone.
I hated him.
And then the night he came back, he threatened me.
Said he'd kill me.
He couldn't have me. Nobody could.
He had a gun, Danny, and I got it away from him.
He hit the clock.
He leaned against it.
I thought he'd never fall down.
Die.
It was the day he ran away, and I was crazy.
They thought it was you, and they started looking.
You. Why was it you?
I love you, Danny. I love you.
I begged you not to come back here.
Rose, please. Put down that gun.
No. Stand back, Danny.
Stay over there.
I just want to look at you.
I was hoping we could get away together.
But you've been through enough, Danny.
And all because of me.
Now you're clear, Danny.
And this is going to clear me.
Darling.
Rose. Dear. Rose.
Well, that's about all there is to tell.
I've tried to put it all behind me.
To resume my life where it left off three and a half years ago.
Sometimes when it gets toward evening, I go and walk along Tillery Street.
And once in a while somebody, somebody I don't know,
will say, hello, Danny.
And I just say hello and walk on.
I don't want to find out anything more.
I want it all to die away and be still.
And it will.
All except Ruth.
Because somewhere behind that black curtain,
I was loved.
And loved someone.
We must have known a love that I'll never know again.
And so closes The Black Curtain, starring Cary Grant.
Tonight's study in Suspense.
Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear.
We are sometimes asked, why does Miss Elsa Maxwell always say
it is smart to serve Roma wine?
Her explanation is simple.
It is smart to serve Roma wine.
First of all, because Roma wines are so delicious,
so good with food or any time.
It is smart further, because Roma wine affords simple pleasure.
Enjoyment that is truly moderate.
Finally, it is smart, because it is such an easy and inexpensive addition
to hospitality and everyday living.
Yes, in every way it is smart to serve and enjoy Roma wines.
They are California's finest.
Always good.
Unvaryingly fine in flavor and quality.
And remember, the cost is only pennies a glass.
More Americans enjoy Roma than any other wines.
R-O-M-A. Roma wines.
This is Cary Grant.
I certainly enjoyed reappearing tonight on Suspense.
It's a program I've always admired tremendously.
And it's achieved a distinguished success during this past year.
Two weeks from tonight, my friend Robert Montgomery
will be your star in one of the really all-time great suspense plays,
The Lodger.
Next Thursday, there will be no performance of Suspense,
because the time will be given over to a special Pearl Harbor Day program
on behalf of the Sixth War Loan Drive.
And that brings me to the seven most important words
I could say to you at this time.
Buy more war bonds and save them.
Thank you, Mr. Grant.
Two weeks from tonight on December 14th,
Mr. Robert Montgomery will be your star of...
Suspense!
Presented by Roma wines made in California
for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.