WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:09.280 And now, Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world, Roma Wines 00:09.280 --> 00:10.280 presents... 00:10.280 --> 00:11.280 Suspense! 00:11.280 --> 00:22.360 Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Miss Susan Hayward as star of Dame Fortune, a suspense play produced, 00:22.360 --> 00:25.840 edited and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear. 00:25.840 --> 00:31.280 Suspense! 00:31.280 --> 00:37.040 Radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. 00:37.040 --> 00:43.280 That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines, those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness 00:43.280 --> 00:48.400 to the way you live, to your happiness in entertaining guests, to your enjoyment of 00:48.400 --> 00:49.840 everyday meals. 00:49.840 --> 00:56.160 Yes, right now, a glass full would be very pleasant as Roma Wines bring you Susan Hayward 00:56.160 --> 00:59.120 in a remarkable tale of... 00:59.120 --> 01:03.920 Suspense! 01:03.920 --> 01:08.160 Nobody's believed this so far, but maybe someday somebody will. 01:08.160 --> 01:15.080 Not that it really matters, it's just something to do to pass the time while I'm waiting. 01:15.080 --> 01:20.680 It was our fifth anniversary and we were having a party, and as usual, partly because a ham 01:20.680 --> 01:24.440 is always a ham no matter how long they've been out of the business, and partly because 01:24.440 --> 01:28.560 it's really easier to go ahead and do it than to spend your whole evening refusing. 01:28.560 --> 01:30.600 I was supplying the entertainment. 01:30.600 --> 01:43.560 But each time I do, just the thought of you makes me stop before I begin, cause I've got 01:43.560 --> 01:58.120 you under my skin, cause I've got you under my skin. 01:58.120 --> 02:04.640 It's not everybody you know, the hostess can entertain, is it? 02:04.640 --> 02:05.640 Certainly, certainly. 02:05.640 --> 02:06.640 Why do you think I married her? 02:06.640 --> 02:08.120 Broadway's loss was Nicholson's gain. 02:08.120 --> 02:12.400 Oh, darling, for someone who's been married to me for five whole years, you still say some 02:12.400 --> 02:13.720 awfully nice things. 02:13.720 --> 02:14.720 Well why not, darling? 02:14.720 --> 02:19.360 I say, Jean, seeing you'll be so nice to come home to, were you in that show, what was the 02:19.360 --> 02:20.360 name of it? 02:20.360 --> 02:23.520 Oh, no dear, Frank had already snatched me from my career by that time. 02:23.520 --> 02:26.520 Excuse me, Jean darling, you wanted on a phone? 02:26.520 --> 02:27.520 Phone? 02:27.520 --> 02:28.520 At this hour? 02:28.520 --> 02:29.520 Who is it? 02:29.520 --> 02:31.440 I don't know dear, it's a man, probably one of your old admirers. 02:31.440 --> 02:35.440 Oh, don't be silly, all my old admirers gave up ages ago. 02:35.440 --> 02:39.680 All right, I'll take your word for it, my sweet, but now you better go see who it is. 02:39.680 --> 02:42.120 All right, don't anybody go away, I'll be right back. 02:42.120 --> 02:49.040 All right, now I'll buy you a drink. 02:49.040 --> 02:50.040 Hello? 02:50.040 --> 02:51.040 Hello, Jean. 02:51.040 --> 02:52.040 Who's this? 02:52.040 --> 02:55.040 Perhaps I should say Mrs. Nicholson. 02:55.040 --> 02:58.120 You're not Jean Marley anymore, are you? 02:58.120 --> 02:59.880 Who is this? 02:59.880 --> 03:01.160 Is there something I can do for you? 03:01.160 --> 03:02.320 I'm rather busy right now. 03:02.320 --> 03:04.120 I was afraid you might forget me. 03:04.120 --> 03:06.800 I've been away such a long time. 03:06.800 --> 03:07.800 This is Charlie. 03:07.800 --> 03:08.800 Charlie? 03:08.800 --> 03:09.800 Charlie Prescott. 03:09.800 --> 03:12.840 Charlie Prescott, or the San Quentin Prescotts. 03:12.840 --> 03:15.600 You remember now, don't you? 03:15.600 --> 03:18.320 You're still there, aren't you Jean? 03:18.320 --> 03:19.800 Yes, I'm still here. 03:19.800 --> 03:21.320 You're surprised? 03:21.320 --> 03:22.320 So you're back, huh? 03:22.320 --> 03:25.320 Out is what we call it sweetheart, only yesterday. 03:25.320 --> 03:27.320 And I want to see you. 03:27.320 --> 03:29.120 Oh no Charlie, that's all over. 03:29.120 --> 03:30.520 You mean you don't want to see me? 03:30.520 --> 03:31.520 Save it Charlie. 03:31.520 --> 03:35.120 I suppose I knew all along this would happen someday. 03:35.120 --> 03:36.120 When let be? 03:36.120 --> 03:37.120 The sooner the better. 03:37.120 --> 03:38.640 How about tomorrow? 03:38.640 --> 03:40.080 I can't tomorrow. 03:40.080 --> 03:41.080 Make it Wednesday in the afternoon. 03:41.080 --> 03:42.080 Say three o'clock? 03:42.080 --> 03:43.080 Same old place? 03:43.080 --> 03:44.080 No, not there. 03:44.080 --> 03:45.080 All right. 03:45.080 --> 03:46.080 What about the Shangri-La? 03:46.080 --> 03:47.080 All right. 03:47.080 --> 03:48.080 You'll be sure and be there, won't you sweetheart? 03:48.080 --> 03:55.320 Because if you're not, I'm going to feel very bad. 03:55.320 --> 03:56.320 I'll be there. 03:56.320 --> 03:58.120 Three o'clock then, sweetheart. 03:58.120 --> 03:59.120 Three o'clock. 03:59.120 --> 04:00.120 Who was it darling? 04:00.120 --> 04:01.120 It was Charlie. 04:01.120 --> 04:02.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:02.120 --> 04:03.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:03.120 --> 04:04.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:04.120 --> 04:05.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:05.120 --> 04:06.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:06.120 --> 04:07.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:07.120 --> 04:08.120 Charlie Prescott. 04:08.120 --> 04:09.720 Charlie, darling, anyone I know? 04:09.720 --> 04:10.720 No, just an old friend. 04:10.720 --> 04:12.140 Well, why didn't you ask him over? 04:12.140 --> 04:14.800 Well, he was just passing through town and wanted to say hello. 04:14.800 --> 04:15.800 That's all. 04:15.800 --> 04:17.400 Well, maybe some other time. 04:17.400 --> 04:25.760 Yes, some other time. 04:25.760 --> 04:28.920 Don't let anybody tell you that prison doesn't change people. 04:28.920 --> 04:30.240 It does. 04:30.240 --> 04:32.880 And Charlie had had seven years of it. 04:32.880 --> 04:36.960 It's not just the prison palette they always tell you about or extra dividends in gray 04:36.960 --> 04:43.780 hair. It's something else, an expression in the eyes. And more than that, something I 04:43.780 --> 04:46.300 didn't figure out until quite a while later. 04:46.300 --> 04:48.820 I'll say you're looking great, sweetheart. 04:48.820 --> 04:51.960 Let's cut out the compliments, Charlie. You don't mean them and neither do I. 04:51.960 --> 04:57.300 Now wait a minute, sweetheart. Don't get me wrong. You don't think I'm sore about anything. 04:57.300 --> 05:00.200 Like say, because you're married. You don't think that now, do you? 05:00.200 --> 05:03.780 Why should you be? You knew I wasn't going to wait around for you. It was never that 05:03.780 --> 05:04.780 serious between us. 05:04.780 --> 05:10.520 Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Why, I'm tickled pink you married the guy. Particularly since 05:10.520 --> 05:13.320 I hear he's really in the dough, huh? But good. 05:13.320 --> 05:14.840 The trouble with you blackmailers is... 05:14.840 --> 05:17.020 Oh, that's a nasty word, sweetheart. 05:17.020 --> 05:21.200 The trouble with you blackmailers is that you think all a woman with a wealthy husband has 05:21.200 --> 05:26.240 to do is just run down to the cellar and bring up a basketful anytime she wants to. Well, 05:26.240 --> 05:28.680 it's not like that. He spends the money. I don't. 05:28.680 --> 05:29.840 No joint bank account? 05:29.840 --> 05:33.760 Oh, sure. What do you think happens when all of a sudden two or three hundred a month just 05:33.760 --> 05:35.680 starts disappearing? 05:35.680 --> 05:38.280 I wasn't thinking of hundreds, sweetheart. 05:38.280 --> 05:44.480 Oh, of course not. And the bigger you think, the harder it gets. Don't you see that? 05:44.480 --> 05:47.120 Well, he's got a will, hasn't he? 05:47.120 --> 05:48.560 I suppose so. 05:48.560 --> 05:52.520 Don't stall, sweetheart. You know he has. You know what's in it. It all goes to you, 05:52.520 --> 05:53.520 doesn't it? 05:53.520 --> 05:54.720 Yes. I guess it does. 05:54.720 --> 05:56.840 You know it does. 05:56.840 --> 05:59.120 And you want a cut? 05:59.120 --> 06:02.000 I want half. 06:02.000 --> 06:03.920 Your taxes are deducted or after. 06:03.920 --> 06:08.960 Don't get wise. I did a lot of figuring where I was and I figured you owed me something, 06:08.960 --> 06:10.560 sweetheart. I figured you owed me plenty. 06:10.560 --> 06:15.400 Well, you're going to have a long time to wait for it, darling. I'd say about 30 years 06:15.400 --> 06:17.800 because he's healthy as a horse. 06:17.800 --> 06:21.600 Who said anything about waiting? 06:21.600 --> 06:24.320 You do have big ideas, don't you? 06:24.320 --> 06:26.400 You like it? 06:26.400 --> 06:29.800 You don't really think I'm going to become a party to the murder of my own husband, do 06:29.800 --> 06:30.800 you? 06:30.800 --> 06:32.120 I wouldn't listen to use those words. 06:32.120 --> 06:34.600 You must have gone a little crazy up there, Charlie. 06:34.600 --> 06:37.960 And who said anything about your being a party to it? 06:37.960 --> 06:41.680 Oh, you handle it. I just wait. Is that it? 06:41.680 --> 06:46.880 Well, I know it's not as big a part of the job as you handled the last time, but that's 06:46.880 --> 06:50.040 a general idea. What do you say? 06:50.040 --> 06:51.520 What do you think? 06:51.520 --> 06:57.800 Sweetheart, did you ever stop to figure out what they'd give you if they found out? 06:57.800 --> 06:58.800 I don't know. 06:58.800 --> 07:02.200 I don't know what they'd do, the same as they'd give me. Maybe worse. 07:02.200 --> 07:05.720 Listen, Charlie, suppose I told you I love him. 07:05.720 --> 07:11.800 You? I wouldn't believe you. I wouldn't believe it if he combined the best features of John 07:11.800 --> 07:15.080 D. Rockefeller, Albert Einstein and Clark Gable. 07:15.080 --> 07:17.720 No, I suppose you wouldn't. 07:17.720 --> 07:26.360 Well, that's the way it is, sweetheart. That way or the other. Make up your mind. 07:26.360 --> 07:30.000 Well, it would have to be an accident. 07:30.000 --> 07:33.800 That's okay. It could be an accident. 07:33.800 --> 07:44.040 All right, Charlie. You win. 07:44.040 --> 07:48.440 There's only one way that I know of to deal with blackmail. Agree to the terms first and 07:48.440 --> 07:54.080 find an out afterwards. And that's how I'd plan to play it. I will confess that the murder 07:54.080 --> 07:57.960 of my husband for his estate was a little stiffer price than I'd been prepared for. 07:57.960 --> 08:04.240 But by the time I left, I knew how I was going to play that too. Charlie had never been quite 08:04.240 --> 08:10.920 as smart as he thought he was. That's one reason why he went to prison and I didn't. 08:10.920 --> 08:14.840 That evening after dinner, I went in to see my husband in his study. 08:14.840 --> 08:17.680 Oh, hello, darling. 08:17.680 --> 08:20.600 Frank, there's something I have to tell you. 08:20.600 --> 08:22.320 Well, what is it, darling? 08:22.320 --> 08:24.320 It's pretty serious. 08:24.320 --> 08:26.680 Well, all right. What is it? 08:26.680 --> 08:28.680 Frank, I'm being blackmailed. 08:28.680 --> 08:31.000 What? Blackmailed? 08:31.000 --> 08:35.240 This is going to hurt you, darling. Afterwards, you can do anything you like. But I know that 08:35.240 --> 08:39.720 the only sensible thing and the only decent thing is to tell you the whole story. 08:39.720 --> 08:46.160 Jean, no matter what it is, no matter what, I love you, darling. That's all that really 08:46.160 --> 08:48.840 matters. Do you understand that? 08:48.840 --> 08:55.960 Yes, I do, darling. Frank, a number of years ago, before I knew you, I had some trouble, 08:55.960 --> 09:02.120 bad trouble. I was just a kid and well, I got mixed up with the wrong man. His name 09:02.120 --> 09:09.040 was Charles Prescott. I didn't know how wrong he was until someone got killed. Charlie managed 09:09.040 --> 09:14.160 to convince the jury more or less that it was an accident. His sentence was from 10 09:14.160 --> 09:19.640 to 20 years. He got three years off for good behavior. Frank, he's out of prison now and 09:19.640 --> 09:24.560 he has evidence that I was involved. I was involved much more than ever came out in the 09:24.560 --> 09:29.160 trial and well, that's the story. 09:29.160 --> 09:34.660 Well, that's not so bad, darling. What's his price? 09:34.660 --> 09:37.160 His price is... Oh, Frank. 09:37.160 --> 09:41.960 Oh, there, there, darling. It's all right. It's all right. Now, come on, tell me the 09:41.960 --> 09:42.960 whole thing. 09:42.960 --> 09:46.760 His price is that he plans to murder you and make me give him half of what I inherit. 09:46.760 --> 09:49.720 Good Lord, Jean, the man must be crazy. 09:49.720 --> 09:54.920 That's just it. He is. He's just crazy enough to try it. He's planning some sort of an accident. 09:54.920 --> 09:56.520 Oh, Frank, I'm frightened. 09:56.520 --> 10:00.160 Now, darling, don't you worry a bit. I know just how to handle this. 10:00.160 --> 10:01.440 Oh, Frank, not the police. 10:01.440 --> 10:11.000 No, darling, no. Not the police. 10:11.000 --> 10:15.600 Later the next morning, we were visited by a chunky little man named Sparks from the Continental 10:15.600 --> 10:22.560 Detective Agency. I told him the story, or most of it, and all the time I was talking, 10:22.560 --> 10:28.320 he kept watching my husband. I got the impression he might be a little difficult to deal with. 10:28.320 --> 10:31.120 As it turned out, I wasn't far wrong. 10:31.120 --> 10:35.480 It's a good story, Mr. Nicholson, but it's not right. 10:35.480 --> 10:37.040 Not right? What do you mean? 10:37.040 --> 10:40.080 Well, for instance, why don't you go to the police? 10:40.080 --> 10:42.600 I've told you it's a case of blackmail. 10:42.600 --> 10:49.200 But it's not just a case of blackmail. According to your wife, here's an ex-con with 13 years 10:49.200 --> 10:54.440 still hanging over him out on parole, and he's threatening your life. We can throw him 10:54.440 --> 10:56.440 back in the can just like that. 10:56.440 --> 11:02.360 Look, Mr. Sparks, you don't have to know all my family affairs to handle this case, do 11:02.360 --> 11:03.360 you? 11:03.360 --> 11:04.360 No, but it would help. 11:04.360 --> 11:09.640 Suffice it to say that it's a delicate matter. We can't go to the police. 11:09.640 --> 11:13.600 Then perhaps you'd better tell me just what you do want me to handle. 11:13.600 --> 11:18.640 I want you to locate him and then follow him day and night. Never let him out of your sight. 11:18.640 --> 11:22.160 Eventually, I suppose, he'll try it. To kill you? 11:22.160 --> 11:23.160 Oh, Frank. 11:23.160 --> 11:25.640 Now, Jean, darling, remember you were going to let me handle this? 11:25.640 --> 11:26.640 I know, but... 11:26.640 --> 11:29.800 But don't you see, dear, if we actually catch him in the act, attempted murder, then we 11:29.800 --> 11:33.320 can send him back to prison and nobody would ever believe anything he said. 11:33.320 --> 11:36.520 Must be a very delicate matter. 11:36.520 --> 11:40.080 It is, Mr. Sparks. 11:40.080 --> 11:42.640 Well, you'll hear from me. 11:42.640 --> 11:46.600 Mr. Sparks, suppose he should try to contact me? 11:46.600 --> 11:50.280 You mean you think he'll try to shake you down beforehand anyway, just for luck? 11:50.280 --> 11:54.720 Well, you see, he thinks I've agreed with his plan. The accident. 11:54.720 --> 12:00.800 Hmm. The way we're handling it, there's only one thing to do. Play him along. 12:00.800 --> 12:05.640 I see. Well, is that all the information you need, Mr. Sparks? 12:05.640 --> 12:16.080 If that's all you'll give me, that's all I need. 12:16.080 --> 12:20.920 By Friday night, they'd located Charlie. By Monday morning, they knew more about him than 12:20.920 --> 12:23.200 his own mother. 12:23.200 --> 12:28.080 Frank took the train for San Francisco that night. He wasn't due back until Wednesday morning. 12:28.080 --> 12:31.240 Tuesday afternoon, Charlie called me, as I told him to. 12:31.240 --> 12:32.240 Hello? 12:32.240 --> 12:33.240 Hello, Charlie. 12:33.240 --> 12:34.240 Oh, hello, sweetie. 12:34.240 --> 12:37.240 Oh, hello, sweetheart. Everything in order? 12:37.240 --> 12:38.240 Yes. 12:38.240 --> 12:42.040 You get that, what you said you'd get for me? 12:42.040 --> 12:43.520 Yes, I got it. 12:43.520 --> 12:49.240 I hope you got enough, because what I mean, what is going to be, well, expenses? 12:49.240 --> 12:50.240 Expenses? 12:50.240 --> 12:54.320 Yes. I've got to make contact. You know, I don't let anybody else in, but I'm going 12:54.320 --> 12:56.960 to need a little outside help on one of two things. 12:56.960 --> 12:57.960 Oh, I see. 12:57.960 --> 13:03.520 And these things take time. Maybe quite a while. I'm not stalling, you understand, but you 13:03.520 --> 13:05.760 can't expect action on a thing like this right away. 13:05.760 --> 13:06.960 I think I understand. 13:06.960 --> 13:13.600 It may be two, three weeks, even more. It's got to be laid out right, you know what I 13:13.600 --> 13:14.600 mean? 13:14.600 --> 13:15.600 Mm-hmm. 13:15.600 --> 13:17.880 Well, where can I pick it up? The stuff you got for me. 13:17.880 --> 13:18.880 You can come out here. 13:18.880 --> 13:19.880 Out there? 13:19.880 --> 13:22.280 Yes, this evening, about ten. There'll be no one here. 13:22.280 --> 13:24.200 Listen, I don't think that's so good. 13:24.200 --> 13:26.200 You're not afraid, are you, Charlie? 13:26.200 --> 13:27.200 No, no, but you... 13:27.200 --> 13:30.200 Besides, you ought to see the layout of things. It might give you some angles. 13:30.200 --> 13:31.200 Well, yeah, but... 13:31.200 --> 13:33.960 You remember what we said, how it had to be done? 13:33.960 --> 13:36.480 You mean accident? 13:36.480 --> 13:37.480 That's right. 13:37.480 --> 13:38.480 Sure, sure. 13:38.480 --> 13:49.720 Well, you'll be here at ten, Charlie. I'll have everything ready for you. 13:49.720 --> 13:55.840 I knew then what prisoner had done to Charlie. He'd lost his nerve. Now that he faced it, 13:55.840 --> 13:59.760 murder was too much for him. He'd never go through with it. It would all come down to 13:59.760 --> 14:04.600 one petty shakedown after another, year after year. It was even more obvious now that I'd 14:04.600 --> 14:10.160 have to do what I'd counted on from the beginning. If my husband was to be murdered, he'd have 14:10.160 --> 14:16.840 to be murdered by me. 14:16.840 --> 14:32.920 For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Susan Hayward in Dame Fortune by Max Wilk and 14:32.920 --> 14:39.280 E.R. Merkland. Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, 14:39.280 --> 14:40.280 Suspense. 14:40.280 --> 14:54.240 Between the acts of Suspense, this is Ken Niles for Roma Wines. Next Thursday, ghosts 14:54.240 --> 15:00.080 and goblins will haunt your street. It's Halloween. A good night for grownups to remain safely 15:00.080 --> 15:06.320 inside entertaining a few trusted friends. A good night to serve Roma Wines, so delicious 15:06.320 --> 15:13.280 with snacks or sandwiches. Yes, Roma Wines add friendly companionship to any occasion. 15:13.280 --> 15:18.920 And with Roma California Sherry, Port or Muscatel, you're sure to please every guest because 15:18.920 --> 15:28.960 more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. The reason? Roma Wines taste better. Yes, 15:28.960 --> 15:34.880 Roma Wines are better tasting. First, because Roma starts with California's choicest grapes. 15:34.880 --> 15:40.560 Second, because Roma with America's finest winemaking resources guides this luscious 15:40.560 --> 15:48.040 grape treasure unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection. Third, because only Roma selects 15:48.040 --> 15:54.360 from the world's greatest wine reserves for your pleasure. Delight your Halloween guests 15:54.360 --> 16:03.760 with better tasting Roma Wines. Tomorrow, ask for Roma. R-O-M-A. Roma Wines, largest 16:03.760 --> 16:11.360 selling wines in America. And now, Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage, Susan 16:11.360 --> 16:31.940 Hayward in Dame Fortune. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Charlie arrived that 16:31.940 --> 16:37.320 evening in a rented car, right on time. As I opened the door to him, I noticed another 16:37.320 --> 16:40.960 car just putting out its headlights about a quarter of a mile down the hill from our 16:40.960 --> 16:46.440 driveway. That would be Mr. Sparks. Charlie had never seen the house before and he was 16:46.440 --> 16:52.520 impressed but a little nervous. I took him into the drawing room. Hey, quite a layout 16:52.520 --> 16:56.920 you got here, sweetheart. Frank likes to have the best of everything and he can afford it. 16:56.920 --> 17:01.440 Sit down. Well, you know I can't stay but a minute or so. What's the matter with you, 17:01.440 --> 17:07.400 Charlie? You seem jumpy. Oh, me? Why should I be jumpy? I don't know. I'll tell you something, 17:07.400 --> 17:12.320 though. I'll just get... What's the clock? I have had the funny idea somebody was following 17:12.320 --> 17:17.400 me the last couple of days. Who'd want to follow you? That's what I can't figure. I'm 17:17.400 --> 17:20.480 clean with the local dicks and they don't tell you unless they think you're working 17:20.480 --> 17:28.760 on a job. Nobody else would want to tell me. Unless I've been double crossed by somebody. 17:28.760 --> 17:33.160 Like you, sweetheart. But if I double crossed you, you'd see that I was sent to the penitentiary, 17:33.160 --> 17:38.560 wouldn't you, Charlie? I would devote my entire time to it, sweetheart. And that's why I wouldn't 17:38.560 --> 17:43.400 double cross you, isn't it, Charlie? Yeah, I guess you're smart enough to see that, all 17:43.400 --> 17:49.640 right. You got the dough? Yes, I've got it. How much? A thousand dollars. Well... Oh, 17:49.640 --> 17:54.040 I know you'll be around shaking me down for more before you get to business. But that 17:54.040 --> 17:59.800 will hold you for a while, won't it? Sure, sure. Well, I'd better be moving. Where's 17:59.800 --> 18:04.280 the dough? I don't have it here. You don't have it? No, it's in the car. Frank was home 18:04.280 --> 18:07.200 for a while and I didn't want to bring it into the house. He's inclined to be a little 18:07.200 --> 18:11.680 snoopy sometimes. Well, let's get it. You can get it on the way out. It's in the glove 18:11.680 --> 18:15.640 compartment. No, no, wait a minute. I'm not sure I like this. Oh, don't be silly. The 18:15.640 --> 18:20.640 car's in the garage and nobody's around. It's chilly and I just don't want to go out, that's 18:20.640 --> 18:27.000 all. It's in the Cadillac convertible. Yeah. I guess you're in no spot to pull me fast 18:27.000 --> 18:33.360 once at that, are you, sweetheart? Okay. You'll be hearing from me. Yes, Charlie, I'm sure 18:33.360 --> 18:43.360 I will. Through the glass panel by the door, I watched him head for the garage. Somewhere 18:43.360 --> 18:49.280 out there in the darkness, I knew that Mr. Sparks would be watching him too. Then I buzzed 18:49.280 --> 18:56.680 the house phone for Olsen, the chauffeur. He lived over the garage. Olsen speaking. This 18:56.680 --> 19:00.800 is Mrs. Nicholson. I'm sorry to disturb you, Olsen, but I happened to glance out of the 19:00.800 --> 19:06.040 window just now and I thought I saw a man prowling around the garage. A man? Yes. I 19:06.040 --> 19:10.240 suppose it's silly, but would you mind looking out your window and see if you notice anything? 19:10.240 --> 19:17.480 Sure, sure, Mrs. Nicholson. Say, Mrs. Nicholson, that's right, I seen him. He was running away. 19:17.480 --> 19:21.440 You want me to go after him? He was running away? Sure, he's running plenty, but maybe 19:21.440 --> 19:24.900 I can catch him. Oh, no, that's all right. If he was running away, I'm sure he won't 19:24.900 --> 19:28.800 come back. There's nothing you could take out there anyway. If you want, I'd be glad 19:28.800 --> 19:33.880 to. Oh, no. No, that's all right. I'm sorry I bothered you, Olsen. Good night. Good night, 19:33.880 --> 19:47.160 Mrs. Nicholson. I waited almost two hours until I was sure Olsen would be asleep. Then 19:47.160 --> 19:52.880 I went out to the garage myself. I'd taken a course in automobile mechanics during the 19:52.880 --> 19:57.280 war. I hadn't learned much, but I'd learned enough to know what would make a steering 19:57.280 --> 20:02.160 knuckle fall apart after about an hour or two of hard driving. And Frank was driving 20:02.160 --> 20:07.240 down to San Diego the next morning as soon as he got back from San Francisco. And Frank 20:07.240 --> 20:20.600 was a hard driver. Frank left the next morning on schedule. I won't say it was pleasant waiting. 20:20.600 --> 20:25.320 I paced the living room and the hall for almost an hour, but never more than ten steps from 20:25.320 --> 20:32.960 the telephone. Hello? Gene, this is Charlie. I've got to talk to you. I can't talk to 20:32.960 --> 20:38.560 you now. Listen, Gene, I've got to tell you something. I can talk to you now. I began 20:38.560 --> 20:45.360 my pacing again. The phone rang three more times in the next 15 minutes, but I didn't 20:45.360 --> 20:53.560 answer it. Then it stopped. Almost three hours went by. I'd begun to be afraid that one of 20:53.560 --> 21:01.760 those other calls had been the one I was expecting. And then it rang again. Hello? I'd like to 21:01.760 --> 21:06.240 speak to Mrs. Frank Nicholson, please. This is she? Mrs. Nicholson, this is Dr. Whitty 21:06.240 --> 21:10.400 of the La Jolla General Hospital. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Mrs. Nicholson, 21:10.400 --> 21:15.800 but there's been an accident. Your husband. My husband? Oh, is he? Well, it's hard to 21:15.800 --> 21:30.000 tell just yet, Mrs. Nicholson, but I think you'd better come down here. I got out the 21:30.000 --> 21:35.920 sedan and started for La Jolla. I was terribly nervous and depressed. I crept along at no 21:35.920 --> 21:41.440 more than 40 miles an hour, but somehow I got there. They showed me directly to Frank's 21:41.440 --> 21:47.040 room. He was all covered with bandages, but he was sitting up in bed. And with him was 21:47.040 --> 21:53.840 Mr. Sparks. Hello, Gene. Frank, are you... Oh, not too bad. Oh, darling. Put the ribs 21:53.840 --> 21:58.760 in an arm. They thought I had a fractured skull for a while, but I guess I have a pretty 21:58.760 --> 22:03.640 hard head. Well, what happened? Well, something went wrong with the car, Gene. I was going 22:03.640 --> 22:09.920 pretty fast. I'm lucky to be alive, I guess. Charles. Prescott. Frank, I saw a man prowling 22:09.920 --> 22:15.000 around the garage last night. Olsen saw him too. You think Prescott might have tampered 22:15.000 --> 22:20.800 with the car? Oh, Frank, I told you not to go through with this thing. Well, I don't 22:20.800 --> 22:25.240 know. What do you think of that theory, Mr. Sparks? Oh, you remember Mr. Sparks, don't 22:25.240 --> 22:29.680 you, Gene? Of course. It couldn't have been Prescott, Mr. Nicholson. He never got into 22:29.680 --> 22:36.680 the garage. I was right behind him and I guess maybe he heard me. Anyway, he beat it. I understand 22:36.680 --> 22:41.280 you were in the garage last night, Gene. Isn't that correct, Mr. Sparks? We had another man 22:41.280 --> 22:46.720 posted on the grounds. That's what he reports. Of course I was. There was a book in the car 22:46.720 --> 22:50.240 that I wanted. There was a thousand dollars in currency in the glove compartment too. 22:50.240 --> 22:54.920 Yes, I know. I didn't have time to tell you this morning, but he wanted money. I talked 22:54.920 --> 23:02.360 him out of it. Mr. Sparks knew he was at the house. You told me to see him if he... Frank, 23:02.360 --> 23:08.120 you don't think that I... I don't want to think so, Gene. Oh, how could you? How could 23:08.120 --> 23:12.920 you? Well, it's just that steering knuckles don't usually come loose by themselves. That, 23:12.920 --> 23:16.280 that and all the rest of it. Then it must have been an accident, a real accident. Don't 23:16.280 --> 23:21.360 you see that? Oh, Frank, how could you believe that I'd do a thing like that? I love you. 23:21.360 --> 23:27.200 Oh, I know. I've thought and thought and thought everything. Mr. Sparks has told me you're not... 23:27.200 --> 23:31.880 Oh, I can't believe it, Gene. Mr. Sparks, you don't think I could have done anything 23:31.880 --> 23:38.360 like that. You can't. It's just a matter of your beliefs, I guess. Beliefs? What you want 23:38.360 --> 23:44.840 to believe and who you want to believe in. My office will send you a bill, Mr. Nicholson. 23:44.840 --> 23:52.320 Good day. Oh, Frank. Frank, darling. Oh, I'm sorry, Gene. I'm horribly sorry, darling. 23:52.320 --> 23:57.360 It's just that, well, it looks so bad and... Oh, I wanted so much to hear you say you didn't. 23:57.360 --> 24:02.080 Oh, I didn't. I didn't. You know I didn't. Of course I do. Of course I do. Oh, look, 24:02.080 --> 24:07.840 darling, look. Cheer up. Cheer up. I've got a plan. A plan? Yes, yes. We need a vacation. 24:07.840 --> 24:10.840 I'll be out of here in a week or so and then we'll go away. We'll just drive around the 24:10.840 --> 24:14.040 country, do a little hunting and fishing, whatever we like. You always used to love 24:14.040 --> 24:19.120 those trips. Oh, yes, Frank. Let's. Sure. Sure. We'll just go off and take it easy for 24:19.120 --> 24:29.840 a while and forget the whole thing. Yes, let's. And forget the whole thing. That's what we 24:29.840 --> 24:35.400 did. And I almost did forget the whole thing. It seemed like a nightmare that I dreamed 24:35.400 --> 24:41.800 a long, long time ago. I couldn't believe that I'd really done what I'd done. And I 24:41.800 --> 24:46.840 knew I'd never do it again. As though by mutual consent, we never spoke another word about 24:46.840 --> 24:52.840 it. But I was at peace for the first time since I could remember. And I knew that even 24:52.840 --> 24:57.840 Charlie could be dealt with somehow when we got home. We drove all over the state for 24:57.840 --> 25:04.040 almost three weeks. And on the way back, we stopped over at Little Lake in the Sierras. 25:04.040 --> 25:08.960 One day we rode across it and had a picnic lunch on the other side. Oh, it was beautiful 25:08.960 --> 25:15.240 and so peaceful. There wasn't another soul around for miles. Frank still had the cast 25:15.240 --> 25:20.220 on his left arm. It made him a little clumsy. Getting back into the boat again, he stumbled 25:20.220 --> 25:35.840 over the shotgun, till it up against the seat. I knew he was dead even before I got to him. 25:35.840 --> 25:40.280 The police escorted us. They questioned me a little while and then they left me in the 25:40.280 --> 25:48.840 room alone. But a few minutes later, the door opened and somebody came in. It was Mr. Sparks. 25:48.840 --> 25:55.600 Well, so you finally did it. Oh, no. No. The trouble with you amateurs is you don't know 25:55.600 --> 26:02.200 your case histories. That hunting accident gag is too old, Mrs. Nicholson. Much too old. 26:02.200 --> 26:08.600 But I didn't. I swear. I swear to you, I didn't. Well, you got the money now anyway. At least 26:08.600 --> 26:14.640 you can hire yourself a flock of good lawyers. Please. Please don't. I can't bear it. I 26:14.640 --> 26:19.200 didn't do what I tell you. You can ask Charlie. Charlie Prescott. Charles Prescott killed 26:19.200 --> 26:25.320 himself this morning when the police arrived to question him. Look, Mrs. Nicholson, I'm 26:25.320 --> 26:30.560 in this thing up to my neck, unfortunately. I'm going to have to tell what I know. And 26:30.560 --> 26:37.520 I know somebody tampered with a steering knuckle on that car and it wasn't Prescott. I know 26:37.520 --> 26:43.680 you tried to kill your husband and put it on Prescott. It just doesn't add up any other 26:43.680 --> 26:52.120 way. All right. Yes, I did. But I didn't do the other. You've got to believe me. I didn't. 26:52.120 --> 26:59.760 You didn't shoot him, man. By all that's sacred in the world, I swear I didn't. Could be. 26:59.760 --> 27:13.400 You do believe me. Say that you believe me. What's the difference? Nobody else will. That's 27:13.400 --> 27:36.040 all. Except my execution will be on the 31st, one week from today. Suspense. Presented 27:36.040 --> 27:44.240 by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. And now 27:44.240 --> 27:48.680 this is Ken Niles returning for the curtain call with a lovely star of tonight's Suspense 27:48.680 --> 27:54.360 play, Miss Susan Hayward. Susan, we think you were wonderful. Well, it was a wonderful part, 27:54.360 --> 28:00.680 Ken. For your grand performance, Susan, here's a gift basket of Roma Wines with Roma's compliments. 28:00.680 --> 28:06.360 Thank you very much. Ken, will you grant me one tiny little favor? Why, certainly. Just 28:06.360 --> 28:12.560 name it. I'm simply fascinated by the way your narrator says, Suspense. Ask him to say 28:12.560 --> 28:19.200 it again, huh? Just for me. For you, Susan, he'd probably say it in Technicolor. Joe? 28:19.200 --> 28:25.440 Suspense. And Susan, you needn't be in suspense about what to serve when friends drop in. 28:25.440 --> 28:30.640 For the Roma California sherry in your gift basket is the favorite of millions for afternoon 28:30.640 --> 28:36.760 or evening entertaining. And Roma sherry is the perfect first call for dinner. Roma sherry. 28:36.760 --> 28:41.840 I'll remember, Ken. And when you serve Roma sherry, Susan, your guests will remember its 28:41.840 --> 28:47.640 finer taste. For to make Roma sherry better tasting, Roma vintners select California's 28:47.640 --> 28:54.320 choicest grapes. Then, with America's finest wine-making resources, Roma guides this grape 28:54.320 --> 29:00.640 treasure to tempting taste richness. Later, Roma selects from this world's greatest reserve 29:00.640 --> 29:08.640 of fine wines for your pleasure. No wonder more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. 29:08.640 --> 29:13.640 That's a real recommendation, Ken. Now tell me who's on Suspense next week. Well, next 29:13.640 --> 29:19.020 week it's Brian Donlevy in a Suspense play about a man upon whom a freak of nature confers 29:19.020 --> 29:25.120 a terrifying attribute. He is a human lie detector. It's impossible for him to hear 29:25.120 --> 29:30.120 a falsehood without instantly knowing it and revealing the deception. The terrifying is 29:30.120 --> 29:35.680 right. I'll certainly be listening. And that's no lie. Well, thanks, Susan. And we're looking 29:35.680 --> 29:40.560 forward to seeing you in the Walter Wanger production smash-up. Thanks, Ken. Good night, 29:40.560 --> 29:49.000 everybody. Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Mr. Brian Donlevy as star of Suspense. 29:49.000 --> 29:55.720 You stand directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. This 29:55.720 --> 30:22.360 is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.