Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents...
Suspense!
Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Mr. Lloyd Nolan as star of Murderful Myra,
a suspense play produced, edited and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear.
Suspense! Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills 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 Lloyd Nolan in a remarkable tale of...
Suspense!
It was raining hard. I was on the bus for Hollywoodland. Myra had said...
Take the last bus, Ernie. That'll get you to the house at about 1.30,
and I'll see to it that His Highness and I don't get home from the party until after two.
That ought to give you plenty of time to get set.
Well, I had taken the last bus, and it was 1.10, and we were coming to Beachwood Drive.
Don't ride all the way. Get off at Beachwood and Franklin and walk up, just in case.
I pulled the cord. I was following Myra's instruction to the letter.
It was raining harder than ever when I got off the bus.
I turned up my coat collar and started up the hill. It was four blocks to the house.
When I got to Midway, I stopped under a tree. I was soaked to the skin.
Then I saw the headlights of the car coming down the hill. I got behind the tree.
One of the past, I struck out again.
The house was dark. I walked up the driveway to the rear.
Go in through the kitchen door. I'll leave it unlocked.
I tried the door. It opened. I stepped in.
I stood still, listening to sound.
Then I closed the door.
Don't turn on the light. Remember now.
Then I looked out the window.
Then I closed the door. Don't turn on the light. Remember now.
Then I looked at the lipstick on the table. I struck a match.
The lipstick was on the table.
The lipstick meant that the way was clear for me to go upstairs.
The match went out. I stuck the burned end in my pocket.
There was a puddle of water on the floor where I'd been standing.
I got a kitchen towel and wiped it up.
Then I rung out the bottom of my trousers and wiped the floor again.
I took off my coat, went to the sink and rung out my coat too.
I looked at my watch. It was 1.55.
Didn't have any too much time. Myra and the old man would be returning any minute now.
So I walked into the next room. It was the dining room.
The door on the other side of the room was open.
Right into the hall I could see the stairs.
I walked into the hall and started upstairs.
And the match went out.
When I got to the top I lit another.
Our bedroom's the first door on your right.
I opened the door.
Saw the twin beds.
I'll keep him late at the party.
So that by the time we get home he ought to be pretty knocked out and fall asleep in no time.
He'll have been up since 6 a.m.
And there was the closed closet.
I opened the closet door and stepped in.
You'll find the hammer on the top shelf. I'll hide it behind some old hats of mine.
I was groping for the hammer when I heard a car turning into the driveway.
My first impulse was to run to get out of the house.
Now that the time had come I was afraid. I was deathly afraid.
I started for the door and...
You've got to go through with it, darling. It's the only way.
It's his life or mine. Don't you see?
If you'll love me you'll do it.
I took hold of myself.
I stepped back into the closet and closed the door.
I recalled thinking.
This can't be me.
Ernie's car. I'm hiding in the dark with a hammer in my hand waiting to kill a man I don't know.
A man I've never even seen.
Waiting to murder him and asleep.
This must be somebody else.
For suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star Lloyd Nolan
in Murder for Myra by Lee Horton and Paul Bernard.
Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
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And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood sound stage, Lloyd Nolan in Murder for Myra.
A narrative well calculated to keep you in...
Suspense.
I stood in the closet and waited.
I could hear voices outside in the driveway and a slam of a car door.
The hangers loaded with clothes are poking me in the back, tipping me off balance.
I was standing on a pair of
shoes and a pair of glasses.
I was standing on a pair of glasses and a pair of glasses.
Tipping me off balance. I was standing on a pair of man's shoes.
His shoes.
I kicked the shoes out of the way and shoved the hangers back in closer together.
I listened for some sound from below.
But everything was quiet again.
And then I remembered Myra saying they shared the driveway with the folks next door.
I put down the hammer.
It must have been when he was coming home.
I opened the closet door and stepped out.
Still a little time yet.
In the darkness I noticed that when I looked one of the windows open it was raining in.
I crossed the room and closed it.
There was a nightstand by each bed and an alarm clock on one of them.
I never heard a clock that made so much noise. Just ticking.
It was cold and damp and I was shaking from head to foot.
I couldn't tell whether it was from the cold or from fear.
I sat down on the edge of one of the beds.
Then I decided to have another look at the hammer.
In a few minutes I was going to have to use that hammer.
It's a big heavy one Ernie. It'll do the trick alright.
I felt along the floor of the closet for the hammer.
Then I hefted it experimentally.
It was big and heavy.
The kind that would smash a human skull.
A pulp.
I looked at clothes hanging there. Many of them his clothes.
In the flickering light of the match one garment caught my eye.
Probably because it was long and white and had big gaudy flowers on it.
It was Myra's negligee.
She had been wearing it that morning when I first met her five months ago.
Hello. What can I do for you?
Oh good morning. I hope you'll excuse me for bothering.
You see I'm taking a poll of homeowners.
What kind of poll?
Well it has to do with your post war plans.
I don't have any. My husband does the planning in this family.
I just go along for the ride.
Oh I see. Well still if you're not too busy I would like to ask you a few questions.
Why not? I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Come on in.
Thanks. Thank you.
It's a beautiful day outside isn't it?
Is it? I hadn't noticed.
I sat down on the sofa and opened my portfolio.
I felt ill at ease.
Bear emotions do that to me and Myra's emotions that morning were as bears as a throat in that low cut negligee.
I knew right away that she'd had a row with her old man.
In my business you get so you can figure out things like that.
And it was as plain as the nose on my face.
My nose was pretty obvious that day. I'd been to the beach and I was burned to a fiery red and my nose was peeling.
She laughed then at me I guess.
You got quite a case of sunburn Mr.
Cobb. Ernest Cobb. Yes I have haven't I.
That's too much beach I guess.
I haven't been to the beach in two years.
Oh don't you like it?
Sure but what difference does that make? His Highness doesn't.
Who?
My husband. Let's have the quiz.
Oh yeah. Yes of course. Now first your name is?
Blair Myra Blair. His name is Ray.
And his business?
He's an aircraft engineer. A scientist.
And you don't work?
No no I'm just the housewife. The little homemaker.
You don't sound as though you fancy the role Mrs. Blair.
I hate and despise it.
Oh that's a shame. Any children?
Yes a daughter of four named Julie. She's at nursery school.
And now for the questionnaire. Are you planning... I mean do you know whether or not your husband is planning any extensive repairs or remodeling on your home after the war?
I haven't the foggiest notion. It's like I told you I'm part of the decorations here.
But I think and how I feel doesn't count.
Oh.
I suppose you think I'm talking out of turn. Well I am.
I'm sick and tired of the whole mess. He comes home and smokes his filthy pipes and tinkers around his workshop down in the cellar and I just sit here.
Night after night it's the same thing.
Look at me. Am I so hard to take?
Well he's probably just got his mind another thing.
Yeah yeah I know. Planes, planes, planes. That's all I hear.
That's the war Mrs. Blair. He, Fooey.
The same before the war started.
I'm not getting any younger. I want to have some fun.
Do you blame me?
No no. I think everyone's entitled to some fun and good times Mrs. Blair.
Call me Myra. I never did like being called Mrs. Blair.
How about the questionnaire? Now perhaps you can answer me.
Oh Fooey to the questionnaire.
I'm sorry.
I'm just in a nasty mood that's all. I had a fight with him last night and another one this morning. I had to blow my top to someone.
You just happen to be it.
Oh that's all right.
About your questions honestly I don't have the answers. It's like I said.
Sunburn of yours. You better do something about it.
Well it does burn pretty much all right.
My hands are cold. Does this feel good?
She bent out over me and I could feel a breath in my ear.
One lock of her hair fell away from the forehead and it brushed my nose.
Then her fingers touched my face and I did something crazy. I reached up and grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her on the mouth.
And the next thing I knew she was in my arms. She was kissing me and sobbing and a sort of a spelling over of emotions that left me scared and limp as a dish rag.
Oh there, there.
You're going to change things aren't you big boy?
Sure.
You will help me?
Sure I'd do anything for you. Anything.
The match went out. The negligee merged back into the other clothes there.
I stuffed the hammer back into the corner and came out into the room again to wait for Myra and His Highness to come home from the party. His Highness.
He's unbearable Ernie. Every time he puts his filthy paws on me I go all raw inside.
No matter what we did or where we went he was always there in her mind.
We had another fight this morning Ernie. Do you want me to show you the black and blue marks?
And then one night when we were having dinner it all spilled out.
There's only one answer Ernie. I got to get rid of him.
Well that's what I've been saying all along. You've got to divorce him.
No Ernie. That isn't what I mean.
Well then what?
I mean I'm going to have to do away with him.
Myra. What? You're out of your mind. You don't know what you're saying.
No yes I do. I thought it all out.
Myra. Don't say such a thing. Don't even think. What you're suggesting is murder.
Murder Ernie. That's right. Murder.
I couldn't sleep that night. And yet worried as I was that the idea didn't seem real to me.
Murder. It was something you read about. Something for gangsters and madmen to traffic in.
It wasn't a thing that could touch me, Ernest Cobb or Myra.
She didn't say anything about that. The next time we were together I thought she'd come to her senses.
She'd just been upset. And then one night we went rowing in Westlake Park.
He's bought a gun. He's threatening to kill me.
He wouldn't dare.
It's him or me Ernie. I've got to get rid of him.
Well get rid of him. Yes but not that way.
What other way is there?
I don't know but...
What other way is there? Name it.
Well how are you going to do it Myra?
I'm going to poison it. You'll help me won't you?
No. I couldn't.
I'm not asking you to feed it to him. You can help me get a little poison can't you?
I don't know anything about poison. I don't know anything about murder.
Well you can learn can't you? If you're that dumb maybe I can find someone else.
Myra.
There are others who'd be glad to help.
Please don't talk like that Myra.
Well.
You know I'd do anything for you. I just...
There's a better way Ernie.
What?
He's got a big heavy hammer down in his workshop Ernie.
You could do the trick easy.
Oh no. No Myra. Not me. I'd do anything in the world for you Myra. Anything.
But the one thing that'd help me out of this mess.
It's his life or mine Ernie if you love me you'd do it.
I can't do that. I can't.
You'd leave it for me to do.
No. No. I...
It'd be a cinch Ernie. You could sneak into the house some night when we were out and hide until we get home.
With that hammer to be all over in a second.
And then we'd say a burglar came and...
No Myra. No.
Oh you don't love me really. It's all just talk.
No. No it isn't. You know better than that. I worship you Myra. I couldn't live without you.
Ernie if you want me you've got to do it.
You've got to Ernie.
Alright Myra.
I...
I suppose I knew I'd have to.
It's just a little hard.
Get used to the idea that's all but I'll do it.
I looked at my watch. It was ten past two.
They'd be home soon.
I lost my nerve once. I started downstairs and someone walked past the house. That's all.
Just walked past the house.
I ran back up into that bedroom with my heart pounding so that I drowned out the sound of the clock.
Then the headlights of a car flashed across the wall.
A car that was turning into their driveway.
There was no mistaking it this time. This was it.
I could hear the voices of a man and a woman.
The woman's voice was Myra's.
Slam of the car door.
Footsteps on the cement driveway.
I eased back into the closet once more.
Felt for the hammer on the floor and closed the door.
All but a little crack.
Then I heard the front door open and close.
Somebody walking upstairs.
Come on Julie. Wake up. Wake up now darling. Come on.
We've got to get undressed.
It was Myra. The kid was asleep and she was carrying her.
That's the girl. That's the girl. Stand up. That's it.
Turn around darling. So mommy get on button your dress.
There. You can go in your own room dear. Take off your shoes.
Mommy will be right in.
I heard her walking toward the closet.
Ernie. Ernie are you there?
Yes. I knew she was standing there but I couldn't see her.
I groped for her in the darkness.
My hand touched her shoulder and then she was in my arms.
Her body pressed against mine and I was kissing her.
Did you find the hammer?
Oh Myra. I do.
Did you find the hammer?
Yeah. The hammer. Yes.
He's putting up the car. He'll be up in a minute.
Myra it's all off. I can't do it.
You've got to. I can't. I can't do it.
Ernie listen to me.
I can't. I tell you I can't.
Shut up and listen to me.
Ernie you say you love me.
Oh you know I do. I worship the Lord.
And you want me don't you?
More than anything in the world.
Alright then if you want me you've got to do it.
Mommy. Mommy.
Coming darling.
Quick Ernie you'll do it.
I'll do it. Of course I'll do it.
I knew you would.
Mommy.
She kissed me and closed the door.
And then I heard him coming upstairs.
He came into the room and switched on the light.
I heard him moving around.
I figured he was undressing and getting ready for bed.
Well is she asleep?
She will be in a minute.
That kid isn't getting enough sleep Myra.
Now don't start that again please.
Where are you going?
To the clothes closet to get my pajamas. Why?
I held my breath.
I'll get them for you.
I flat myself against the wall.
She opened the door.
Reached for the pajamas.
Her eyes met for an instant.
And she was gone. The door closed.
Here. Here you are.
Oh thanks.
What are you hiding in there?
What do you mean hiding?
Well the way you made a dive for that door I thought...
Nuts. What would I be hiding?
I don't know. I just said...
What are you doing?
What's the matter with you tonight Myra?
There's nothing the matter with me. Why?
You're so jumpy.
Can't I ask you what you're doing?
Fooling with the clock?
Sure. But why jump out of your skin?
I'm just setting the alarm.
It's already set.
I'm setting it ahead for four o'clock.
Why?
Because I've got to be at the plant at five this morning.
I've got a trial run.
Oh.
This was something we hadn't figured out.
I looked at my watch.
It's three now. You won't get much sleep.
I know it but I can't help it.
Don't put the clock on my table.
Put it on your side where it always is.
Oh. Okay. But so important.
Hey.
How did all this water get on the floor here?
Through the window I suppose.
No. But it's closed.
I closed it when I came up.
We left it open.
Oh.
Well, if you're getting up at four, you better get to sleep, don't you think?
Oh, yes, I'll.
I heard them get into bed.
Well, good night.
Good night, Marlin.
The stage was set.
I breathed easy.
Now I'd only have to wait for him to...
Then the thought struck me.
Suppose he doesn't fall asleep right away.
Suppose he doesn't fall asleep at all.
He isn't so tired.
Even if it is late.
He doesn't sound knocked out to me.
Before he can get to sleep, then the alarm will go off and he...
I looked at my watch.
It was exactly five minutes past three.
Man, this will never do.
I thought I got to get a hold of myself.
I've got nearly an hour yet and in that time he ought to...
I listened.
I couldn't hear a sound.
He might be, but I didn't know.
I had to be sure.
I'd wait half an hour and if I didn't hear anything by then,
I could be pretty certain he was.
The minutes dragged on and I listened.
When the half hour was up and I hadn't heard a sound,
I sat down on the floor, took off my shoes,
and I picked up the hammer and turned the door knob.
I turned it very slowly.
It made no sound.
Then I opened the door and stepped into the room.
Who's there?
Daddy, I want to drink water.
Oh, it's you.
All right, baby, just a minute.
What? What's the matter?
It's the kids. She wants to drink water.
No, don't get up. Go back to sleep. I'll get it.
I stepped back into the closed closet and closed the door.
I felt the blood drain from my head.
I leaned against the wall.
I heard Myra go into the kids' room.
Then I slid to the floor.
I guess I must have passed out then or faded or something
because the next thing I remembered was sitting up, startled,
wondering where I was. I looked at my watch.
It was three minutes to four.
I remembered now where I was and what I was there for.
I was in the closet.
There was a man on the other side of the door
that I had to kill before an alarm went off,
and the alarm went off at four.
I remember that I had to be very quiet because the man was asleep.
Everything I did from that time on was automatic.
I acted like a man in a dream.
I picked up the hammer and stood up.
I opened the door. He crept into the room.
I could see the hands of the clock by his bed.
It was almost four.
I didn't breathe.
I only listened.
I touched the foot of the bed.
I felt along the side of it until I reached the headboard.
I was standing over it.
I raised the hammer over my head and swung down,
and I hear him again and again and again.
Then I yelled, Myra, Myra, turn it off.
Will you turn the alarm?
Myra, hold your horn.
Myra.
Then the light went on,
and I was looking at a man sitting up in the other bed,
and he was pointing a gun at me.
Hello, Ernie. I moved the clock.
You saved me a lot of trouble.
I looked down at the bed. I was standing over it,
and I saw Myra, and blood, and the hammer.
Suddenly I felt an insane desire to live,
and then a sob caught in my throat.
I couldn't control myself.
I started to laugh.
I couldn't stop.
Roma Wines have brought you Lloyd Nolan as star of Murder for Myra.
Tonight's study in Suspense.
This is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines, the sponsor of Suspense.
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Lloyd Nolan appeared through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox,
and will soon be seen in their production Captain Eddie.
Next Thursday, three of radio's most distinguished actors,
whom you have heard often in this series, will be stars of...
Suspense!
Radio's outstanding theatre of thrill.
Presented by Roma Wines.
R-O-M-A.
Made in California.
For enjoyment throughout the world.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.