WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.240 Yes, Roma wines taste better because only Roma selects from the world's greatest wine 00:07.240 --> 00:10.640 reserves for your pleasure. 00:10.640 --> 00:20.440 And now, Roma wines, R-O-M-A, Roma wines present Suspense. 00:20.440 --> 00:29.720 Tonight, Roma wines bring you Mr. Dan Douriez in The Will to Power, a suspense play produced, 00:29.720 --> 00:35.720 edited and directed for Roma wines by William Spear. 00:35.720 --> 00:37.720 Suspense. 00:37.720 --> 00:44.240 Radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. 00:44.240 --> 00:51.960 That's R-O-M-A, Roma wines, those better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans 00:51.960 --> 00:57.120 than any other wine, for friendly entertaining, for delightful dining. 00:57.120 --> 01:03.360 Yes, right now, a glass full would be very pleasant as Roma wines bring you Dan Douriez 01:03.360 --> 01:13.120 in a remarkable tale of Suspense. 01:13.120 --> 01:17.360 I walked over to the safe and began to dial the numbers. 01:17.360 --> 01:20.520 Before I snapped it open, I turned around to look at him. 01:20.520 --> 01:24.440 He was leaning back in the easy chair at the end of the room. 01:24.440 --> 01:30.000 His greasy face was covered with a shrewd smile, and he poured a revolver in his right 01:30.000 --> 01:31.000 hand. 01:31.000 --> 01:32.000 Come on, get it open. 01:32.000 --> 01:38.840 The gun looked like a model they stopped making in 1900, a 22 with a two-inch barrel. 01:38.840 --> 01:43.240 They were about 40 feet between the safe and where he was sitting. 01:43.240 --> 01:48.320 Unless that guy was an anti-Oakley, he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from that position. 01:48.320 --> 01:49.320 And with that gun... 01:49.320 --> 01:50.320 All right, Fitz Starlin, open it. 01:50.320 --> 01:55.680 I snapped open the little safe, and there it was. 01:55.680 --> 02:02.280 I could see special Super 38 automatic stamped on the blued surface of the slide. 02:02.280 --> 02:06.920 The hammer was back, just as I knew the old man had left it. 02:06.920 --> 02:10.360 I picked up that beautiful precision instrument. 02:10.360 --> 02:15.200 I turned, not too quickly, snapped off the safety and brought the sights in line between 02:15.200 --> 02:16.200 our eyes. 02:16.200 --> 02:17.200 Hey, wait. 02:17.200 --> 02:18.200 Wait, don't. 02:18.200 --> 02:19.200 Don't, the ladder. 02:19.200 --> 02:24.200 He lay there on the floor. 02:24.200 --> 02:38.720 I looked at him, and I had that strange feeling that I'd overlooked something, something important. 02:38.720 --> 02:41.360 I walked over to where he was lying. 02:41.360 --> 02:44.400 He'd pitched forward, landing in a disjointed heap. 02:44.400 --> 02:46.400 The letter. 02:46.400 --> 02:47.400 What had he yelled about a letter? 02:47.400 --> 02:48.400 It meant nothing to me. 02:48.400 --> 02:49.400 A letter? 02:49.400 --> 02:50.400 Had I slipped up somewhere? 02:50.400 --> 02:51.400 No, it was impossible. 02:51.400 --> 03:00.840 I must have stood there over his body for 10 minutes, for the blood was soaking its way 03:00.840 --> 03:03.560 across the carpet. 03:03.560 --> 03:08.640 I tried to think of how I stood now, of what I had to do next, but my mind wouldn't let 03:08.640 --> 03:09.640 me. 03:09.640 --> 03:15.640 It kept slipping back, slipping back to three months ago, three months ago, three months 03:15.640 --> 03:23.680 ago, three months ago. 03:23.680 --> 03:26.480 Old man Donovan was in a pretty bad mood that night. 03:26.480 --> 03:29.280 He and his wife Rosanne were scrapping. 03:29.280 --> 03:31.800 They stopped as I came into the living room. 03:31.800 --> 03:32.800 That's final. 03:32.800 --> 03:35.800 Oh, oh, Charles, come in. 03:35.800 --> 03:36.800 Hello, Charles. 03:36.800 --> 03:39.400 Hello, Mrs. Donovan. 03:39.400 --> 03:42.120 I finished going over these papers, Mr. Donovan. 03:42.120 --> 03:44.120 Ah, good. 03:44.120 --> 03:46.040 Ah, they look okay. 03:46.040 --> 03:47.040 Yes, sir. 03:47.040 --> 03:50.640 Have you seen Mrs. Donovan's bank statements around anywhere? 03:50.640 --> 03:53.000 No, I haven't run across them. 03:53.000 --> 03:54.320 She's been overdrawing again. 03:54.320 --> 03:56.320 We've got to get this straightened out once and for all. 03:56.320 --> 03:57.800 I tell you, I haven't been overdrawing. 03:57.800 --> 03:59.520 How many times do I have to tell you? 03:59.520 --> 04:00.520 Don't argue with me. 04:00.520 --> 04:03.360 Charles, will you see if you can find them somewhere? 04:03.360 --> 04:04.360 I don't know where they are. 04:04.360 --> 04:05.360 Of course you don't know where they are. 04:05.360 --> 04:06.360 Look for them. 04:06.360 --> 04:09.120 What do I have a private secretary for? 04:09.120 --> 04:10.120 Yes, sir. 04:10.120 --> 04:11.120 Yes, sir. 04:11.120 --> 04:13.040 I'm going to bed now. 04:13.040 --> 04:14.800 I want those statements in the morning. 04:14.800 --> 04:15.800 Do you understand? 04:15.800 --> 04:16.800 Good night, Rosanne. 04:16.800 --> 04:17.800 Good night, John. 04:17.800 --> 04:18.800 Charlie. 04:18.800 --> 04:19.800 Come here. 04:19.800 --> 04:26.200 I can't stand it any longer. 04:26.200 --> 04:29.480 I can't live in the same house with him and see you around every day. 04:29.480 --> 04:33.280 Now, now, is that a nice way to talk about your ever-loving husband? 04:33.280 --> 04:35.600 I tell you, I just can't stand it anymore. 04:35.600 --> 04:37.400 Yeah, this is no good. 04:37.400 --> 04:40.000 He's going to talk down to me once too often. 04:40.000 --> 04:41.640 I've got to get out of here before that happens. 04:41.640 --> 04:43.520 That's what I've been telling you. 04:43.520 --> 04:45.800 Charlie, let's run away. 04:45.800 --> 04:47.860 Take a plane to South America tomorrow. 04:47.860 --> 04:50.080 We could be together from then on. 04:50.080 --> 04:51.080 Let's do that, Charlie. 04:51.080 --> 04:54.200 I have a little money and I have my jewels and the furs we could get along. 04:54.200 --> 04:55.320 Let's do it. 04:55.320 --> 04:56.800 Let's call for tickets now. 04:56.800 --> 04:57.800 Run away? 04:57.800 --> 05:01.300 Look, Charlie, isn't our happiness together the most important thing? 05:01.300 --> 05:02.720 Let's just leave him. 05:02.720 --> 05:03.720 We could go to Mexico. 05:03.720 --> 05:08.580 He loves his bank books and bank statements and stocks and bonds more than me anyway. 05:08.580 --> 05:09.760 Can't we do it that way? 05:09.760 --> 05:10.760 Can't we? 05:10.760 --> 05:11.760 Charlie, we can't. 05:11.760 --> 05:14.160 What are we going to do? 05:14.160 --> 05:16.080 I can't go on with him. 05:16.080 --> 05:17.080 What can we do? 05:17.080 --> 05:18.080 Charlie? 05:18.080 --> 05:23.800 Yeah, baby, that's it. 05:23.800 --> 05:25.440 You're reading my mind. 05:25.440 --> 05:28.640 Oh, Charlie, that's... 05:28.640 --> 05:29.920 That's the only way. 05:29.920 --> 05:32.400 Is that what you want to say? 05:32.400 --> 05:33.400 I don't know. 05:33.400 --> 05:34.400 I don't know. 05:34.400 --> 05:35.960 But I know, baby. 05:35.960 --> 05:37.960 You haven't got a thing to worry about. 05:37.960 --> 05:47.680 You look beautiful in black. 05:47.680 --> 05:49.240 There wasn't much time to waste. 05:49.240 --> 05:52.400 I couldn't take any chances on him catching on. 05:52.400 --> 05:55.400 If we were going to do it my way, we'd have to do it soon. 05:55.400 --> 05:57.440 I began to make plans. 05:57.440 --> 05:59.600 I told her we were going to push him out the window. 05:59.600 --> 06:04.000 I told her everything, everything except about the poison. 06:04.000 --> 06:05.000 I was ready. 06:05.000 --> 06:09.520 I bought the poison and now only had to slip it into the old man's medicine. 06:09.520 --> 06:12.800 At six o'clock that night, the phone rang. 06:12.800 --> 06:14.280 I knew that was Judge Peters. 06:14.280 --> 06:16.960 I'd picked him to establish my alibi for me. 06:16.960 --> 06:19.120 Hey, uh, the phone job. 06:19.120 --> 06:20.120 Yes, sir. 06:20.120 --> 06:21.800 It's probably Judge Peters. 06:21.800 --> 06:23.440 He told me he wanted to see me tonight. 06:23.440 --> 06:25.760 Ah, but if I'm to finish your letters... 06:25.760 --> 06:29.000 Well, sir, could you perhaps tell him that I'm not here? 06:29.000 --> 06:33.120 It'd be simpler and I have so much of your work to finish that I... 06:33.120 --> 06:36.120 Oh, I sure sure. 06:36.120 --> 06:37.120 Hello? 06:37.120 --> 06:39.000 Hi, Judge Peters. 06:39.000 --> 06:42.720 The old man swallowed at hook, line and sinker. 06:42.720 --> 06:44.920 He liked little intrigues. 06:44.920 --> 06:48.920 They were the only adventure in his life, except for Roseanne's. 06:48.920 --> 06:49.920 I'm sorry, Judge. 06:49.920 --> 06:50.920 Uh, uh, Charles isn't here. 06:50.920 --> 06:55.920 I haven't seen him all day and I don't expect to see him tonight. 06:55.920 --> 06:56.920 All right, Judge. 06:56.920 --> 06:58.920 Yes, I'll tell him. 06:58.920 --> 06:59.920 Good night. 06:59.920 --> 07:03.240 We fixed that, huh? 07:03.240 --> 07:04.240 Yes, sir. 07:04.240 --> 07:05.760 I think it's better this way. 07:05.760 --> 07:07.920 Now I'll be able to finish those letters for you. 07:07.920 --> 07:08.920 Oh, fine. 07:08.920 --> 07:11.520 Say, fix me my medicine first, will you, Charles? 07:11.520 --> 07:13.680 All right, sir. 07:13.680 --> 07:15.680 You want soda with it? 07:15.680 --> 07:16.680 Uh-huh. 07:16.680 --> 07:17.680 Enough? 07:17.680 --> 07:20.680 Oh, a little more. 07:20.680 --> 07:23.680 Ah, that's it. 07:23.680 --> 07:24.680 That's good. 07:24.680 --> 07:29.680 You're only a fair secretary, Charles, but you're a swell butler. 07:29.680 --> 07:30.680 Thank you, sir. 07:30.680 --> 07:33.680 Well, I'll get busy on these reports. 07:33.680 --> 07:35.680 Oh, take him down to your room? 07:35.680 --> 07:36.680 Yes, sir. 07:36.680 --> 07:37.680 I can work better down there. 07:37.680 --> 07:38.680 All right. 07:38.680 --> 07:42.080 Oh, I say, make a note to dump my consolidated steel bottles tomorrow. 07:42.080 --> 07:43.080 Yes, sir. 07:43.080 --> 07:44.080 Don't you worry. 07:44.080 --> 07:53.560 I'll take care of everything tomorrow. 07:53.560 --> 07:57.760 As I walked out the door, I saw him take a sip out of his glass. 07:57.760 --> 08:01.080 The next couple of hours, I'd have a lot of work to do. 08:01.080 --> 08:04.560 I walked down the stairs instead of taking the elevator. 08:04.560 --> 08:08.600 No one had seen me enter, and no one was going to see me leave. 08:08.600 --> 08:12.000 My whole plan hinged on leaving without being noticed. 08:12.000 --> 08:15.240 I went out the side door. 08:15.240 --> 08:18.000 She was waiting for me outside just as we'd arranged. 08:18.000 --> 08:21.600 It was exactly 15 minutes after six. 08:21.600 --> 08:24.560 So far, my timing was perfect. 08:24.560 --> 08:30.800 I took her through the hotel lobby, over to the elevator. 08:30.800 --> 08:31.800 Will you be all right? 08:31.800 --> 08:33.800 I'll be all right. 08:33.800 --> 08:34.800 Oh, boy. 08:34.800 --> 08:35.800 Yeah. 08:35.800 --> 08:38.400 Will you see that Mrs. Donovan gets off at her floor all right? 08:38.400 --> 08:39.640 She's not feeling too well. 08:39.640 --> 08:40.640 Yes, sir. 08:40.640 --> 08:41.640 Thanks. 08:41.640 --> 08:43.120 Oh, say, do you happen to have the time? 08:43.120 --> 08:44.120 My watch must have stopped. 08:44.120 --> 08:45.120 Let's see. 08:45.120 --> 08:46.120 That's 20 after six. 08:46.120 --> 08:47.120 Thanks. 08:47.120 --> 08:48.120 Thanks a lot. 08:48.120 --> 08:49.120 I'll be up in about an hour, Mrs. Donovan. 08:49.120 --> 08:50.120 Going up. 08:50.120 --> 08:57.120 That was that. 08:57.120 --> 09:04.040 Now all I had to do was to stall for time. 09:04.040 --> 09:06.040 I walked around for a while. 09:06.040 --> 09:09.640 Between 6.30 and 7, I went into some stores where I was known. 09:09.640 --> 09:13.920 I said hello to some people, just in case anyone checked. 09:13.920 --> 09:15.920 Then I walked around some more. 09:15.920 --> 09:18.320 The minutes dragged by. 09:18.320 --> 09:22.600 I must have looked at my watch 50 times during that hour and a half. 09:22.600 --> 09:24.920 At eight, I went back to the hotel. 09:24.920 --> 09:29.000 As I stepped into the elevator, I really noticed the elevator man for the first time. 09:29.000 --> 09:31.000 He was big and greasy. 09:31.000 --> 09:35.760 I had to make sure he wouldn't forget what time I went upstairs. 09:35.760 --> 09:38.280 He made the first move as the elevator began to go up. 09:38.280 --> 09:39.280 That was luck. 09:39.280 --> 09:41.600 Hey, get your watch fixed, sir. 09:41.600 --> 09:42.600 Hmm? 09:42.600 --> 09:43.600 Oh, oh, sure. 09:43.600 --> 09:44.600 It says 7.30. 09:44.600 --> 09:46.600 It's still not working. 09:46.600 --> 09:47.600 No? 09:47.600 --> 09:49.280 It's almost eight now. 09:49.280 --> 09:50.560 How do you like that? 09:50.560 --> 09:52.560 It must have stopped again. 09:52.560 --> 09:55.560 Almost eight o'clock, hmm? 09:55.560 --> 09:56.560 Yeah. 09:56.560 --> 09:57.560 Thanks. 09:57.560 --> 09:58.560 Charlie? 09:58.560 --> 10:02.960 Charlie, where have you been? 10:02.960 --> 10:08.840 There's something wrong with John. 10:08.840 --> 10:11.080 He keeps moaning and holding his stomach. 10:11.080 --> 10:12.080 He wants me to call a doctor. 10:12.080 --> 10:13.080 Stall him for a minute. 10:13.080 --> 10:14.720 What can be wrong with him? 10:14.720 --> 10:15.720 Search me, baby. 10:15.720 --> 10:16.720 I'm so glad you came. 10:16.720 --> 10:17.720 Help me to my bed, Charles. 10:17.720 --> 10:20.720 Call a doctor for me, will you? 10:20.720 --> 10:21.720 Relax, old man. 10:21.720 --> 10:22.720 I'll get him in a minute. 10:22.720 --> 10:23.720 Are you going to do it now? 10:23.720 --> 10:24.720 Do you think we'd better do it now, Charlie? 10:24.720 --> 10:25.720 Oh, Charles, for the love of heaven, get a doctor. 10:25.720 --> 10:26.720 Don't just let me die here. 10:26.720 --> 10:27.720 Rosanne, please get a doctor. 10:27.720 --> 10:28.720 Charlie, I can't. 10:28.720 --> 10:29.720 I'm going to lose my nerve. 10:29.720 --> 10:30.720 Help me get him over to the window. 10:30.720 --> 10:31.720 No, I... 10:31.720 --> 10:32.720 What are you going to do? 10:32.720 --> 10:33.720 No, no, Charles. 10:33.720 --> 10:34.720 That's it, Rosanne. 10:34.720 --> 10:35.720 Up on the sill. 10:35.720 --> 10:36.720 Charles, no! 10:36.720 --> 10:37.720 I'm going to die. 10:37.720 --> 10:38.720 I'm going to die. 10:38.720 --> 10:39.720 I'm going to die. 10:39.720 --> 10:40.720 I'm going to die. 10:40.720 --> 10:41.720 I'm going to die. 10:41.720 --> 10:42.720 I'm going to die. 10:42.720 --> 10:46.720 That's it, Rosanne. 10:46.720 --> 10:49.720 Up on the sill. 10:49.720 --> 10:52.720 Now, push. 10:52.720 --> 10:55.880 Push! 10:55.880 --> 10:57.400 You know everything now, don't you? 10:57.400 --> 10:58.400 I just come in. 10:58.400 --> 10:59.400 He fell. 10:59.400 --> 11:00.400 He fell. 11:00.400 --> 11:01.680 We were on the other side of the room. 11:01.680 --> 11:03.400 There was nothing wrong with him before the accident. 11:03.400 --> 11:04.400 Get it? 11:04.400 --> 11:05.400 Get it? 11:05.400 --> 11:06.400 Yes. 11:06.400 --> 11:15.880 I looked at her standing there. 11:15.880 --> 11:19.200 She was shaking, frightened half to death. 11:19.200 --> 11:23.240 And yet her face had a reddish glow, like something warm and mellow. 11:23.240 --> 11:26.760 The kind of stuff you feel in your dreams. 11:26.760 --> 11:30.700 At that moment, I wouldn't have traded her in for anything. 11:30.700 --> 11:45.600 Less than a million dollars. 11:45.600 --> 11:50.800 For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Dan Douriez in The Will to Power. 11:50.800 --> 11:59.680 Roma Wines presentation tonight in Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills, Suspense. 11:59.680 --> 12:08.240 Between the acts of Suspense, this is Ken Niles for Roma Wines. 12:08.240 --> 12:15.400 A friend famed for her enjoyable little dinners recently told me her secret of gracious hospitality. 12:15.400 --> 12:19.840 Because she's usually busy in the kitchen after guests arrive, her husband keeps their 12:19.840 --> 12:25.240 friends pleasantly entertained until dinner time by serving Roma California Sherry. 12:25.240 --> 12:32.200 Yeah, she's a smart hostess, for better tasting Roma Sherry is the favorite of millions as 12:32.200 --> 12:37.760 the perfect first call for dinner and for entertaining any time. 12:37.760 --> 12:42.600 For Roma Sherry, like all Roma wines, begins with choicest grapes. 12:42.600 --> 12:48.520 Then Roma Wintner skill and America's finest winemaking resources guide this luscious grape 12:48.520 --> 12:52.840 treasure unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection. 12:52.840 --> 12:59.240 Later, at peak taste richness, Roma selects from the world's greatest wine reserves for 12:59.240 --> 13:00.840 your pleasure. 13:00.840 --> 13:06.280 So share with your guests the better taste of Roma California Wines. 13:06.280 --> 13:10.280 Roma Sherry, Porte, Muscatel or Toquet. 13:10.280 --> 13:12.240 Insist on Roma. 13:12.240 --> 13:15.340 R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. 13:15.340 --> 13:18.000 By America's greatest vintner. 13:18.000 --> 13:24.040 And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Dan Douriez in The Will to Power. 13:24.040 --> 13:32.920 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 13:32.920 --> 13:45.560 At the inquest there was some talk of an autopsy, but the old man's prestige and a crew of lawyers 13:45.560 --> 13:51.240 preserved the body in a state of unmarred dignity at the request of the grief-stricken 13:51.240 --> 13:52.240 widow. 13:52.240 --> 13:55.480 That's just the way they put it too. 13:55.480 --> 14:00.560 The day after the funeral we were married, quietly, no publicity. 14:00.560 --> 14:03.440 Well, there I was. 14:03.440 --> 14:07.200 I had all the old man's dough, then I had her. 14:07.200 --> 14:10.160 I don't know what it was that made me go on. 14:10.160 --> 14:14.280 Maybe it was the reading of the will that made me go through with my original plans. 14:14.280 --> 14:15.800 A million? 14:15.800 --> 14:18.680 Well, now we know better. 14:18.680 --> 14:23.520 In one safety deposit box alone there was over 400,000 in cash. 14:23.520 --> 14:25.680 And then there were the estates. 14:25.680 --> 14:47.640 Compared to that kind of money and what it meant to me, she was just another dame. 14:47.640 --> 14:52.240 James Donovan was poisoned and then pushed out the window. 14:52.240 --> 14:54.160 I suggest you dig up the body. 14:54.160 --> 14:55.160 What? 14:55.160 --> 14:56.160 Who's this speaking? 14:56.160 --> 14:59.920 I, uh, I work in the hotel. 14:59.920 --> 15:03.320 The night before Donovan was killed his wife threatened him. 15:03.320 --> 15:04.320 Ask anyone on the floor. 15:04.320 --> 15:06.280 They'll tell you how Donovan and his wife always fought. 15:06.280 --> 15:07.800 Hey look, suppose you come down here and- 15:07.800 --> 15:09.600 That's all, Lieutenant. 15:09.600 --> 15:20.280 Dig him up. 15:20.280 --> 15:26.200 The second part was in the works and now all I had to do was to sit back and wait. 15:26.200 --> 15:31.880 I was on my way to being the sole owner of the Donovan millions, standing alone on top 15:31.880 --> 15:35.800 of a mountain with everyone looking up at me. 15:35.800 --> 15:48.160 Everyone looking up at me. 15:48.160 --> 15:50.520 What's the idea dragging us down here, Lieutenant? 15:50.520 --> 15:53.240 Treating us like a pair of common criminals? 15:53.240 --> 15:54.440 What is it you want of us, Lieutenant? 15:54.440 --> 15:56.520 You'll get the idea in just a minute, Nargis. 15:56.520 --> 15:57.600 Don't get excited. 15:57.600 --> 15:58.600 Not get excited? 15:58.600 --> 15:59.600 Why of all- 15:59.600 --> 16:03.060 It's mighty strange the guy falls out of a window with two people in the room. 16:03.060 --> 16:04.640 What do you mean strange? 16:04.640 --> 16:06.080 We were on the other side of the room. 16:06.080 --> 16:07.080 Accidents will happen. 16:07.080 --> 16:08.080 Sure, sure. 16:08.080 --> 16:09.080 I know. 16:09.080 --> 16:10.320 I was at the inquest too. 16:10.320 --> 16:15.040 What I really wanted to ask you was, where were you before he fell out? 16:15.040 --> 16:16.040 I told you. 16:16.040 --> 16:17.040 I'd just come in. 16:17.040 --> 16:18.040 I see. 16:18.040 --> 16:19.040 You'd come in, but before? 16:19.040 --> 16:20.040 Why, yes. 16:20.040 --> 16:21.040 I'd gone- 16:21.040 --> 16:22.040 Can you prove that? 16:22.040 --> 16:23.040 What? 16:23.040 --> 16:26.680 Can you prove that you weren't in the apartment any length of time before the accident? 16:26.680 --> 16:29.320 Yes, I guess so. 16:29.320 --> 16:30.640 I hadn't seen him all day. 16:30.640 --> 16:32.640 Sure, I guess I could prove it. 16:32.640 --> 16:34.480 But why? 16:34.480 --> 16:36.520 And how about you, Mrs. Donovan? 16:36.520 --> 16:37.520 I... 16:37.520 --> 16:38.520 Why, I- 16:38.520 --> 16:41.720 Listen, Lieutenant, if you have something to tell us, let's hear it. 16:41.720 --> 16:43.440 Otherwise, let us go. 16:43.440 --> 16:45.360 Okay, brother. 16:45.360 --> 16:48.320 We dug up old man Donovan. 16:48.320 --> 16:51.640 He had enough poison in him to kill an ox. 16:51.640 --> 16:52.640 Poison? 16:52.640 --> 16:53.640 Poison? 16:53.640 --> 16:56.320 Why, that's impossible. 16:56.320 --> 16:57.720 He couldn't have been poisoned. 16:57.720 --> 17:00.240 Mrs. Donovan was up there with him all the time. 17:00.240 --> 17:01.960 Oh, she was? 17:01.960 --> 17:02.960 Of course. 17:02.960 --> 17:04.440 He couldn't have been poisoned. 17:04.440 --> 17:06.000 I see. 17:06.000 --> 17:07.000 Can we go now? 17:07.000 --> 17:08.000 Yeah, sure. 17:08.000 --> 17:10.120 Sure, you can go. 17:10.120 --> 17:12.920 Mrs. Donovan will have to wait though. 17:12.920 --> 17:18.880 We're booking her for murder. 17:18.880 --> 17:20.680 It was perfect. 17:20.680 --> 17:23.680 They indicted her for second-degree murder. 17:23.680 --> 17:28.600 That was a smart move on the part of the DA because he couldn't conclusively prove whether 17:28.600 --> 17:31.120 the fall or the poison killed him. 17:31.120 --> 17:34.600 And then she swore to high heaven that she didn't see him drink anything while she was 17:34.600 --> 17:35.600 there. 17:35.600 --> 17:40.440 The lawyer who was trying to prove suicide almost broke a blood vessel. 17:40.440 --> 17:45.040 The best part came when the prosecution tried to get me to testify for them. 17:45.040 --> 17:47.840 I showed them our marriage license then. 17:47.840 --> 17:50.800 It convinced her that I was trying to protect her. 17:50.800 --> 17:54.800 But it gave the DA all the motive he needed. 17:54.800 --> 18:05.160 The jury finds the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree. 18:05.160 --> 18:07.560 There was only one more step left. 18:07.560 --> 18:11.000 I had to face her in her cell. 18:11.000 --> 18:18.280 You've got five minutes, mister. 18:18.280 --> 18:19.280 Darling. 18:19.280 --> 18:20.280 Charlie. 18:20.280 --> 18:23.800 Oh, Charlie, I've been waiting for you to come. 18:23.800 --> 18:26.400 I'm still in a daze, Roseanne. 18:26.400 --> 18:27.840 How did it all happen? 18:27.840 --> 18:30.000 The trial, the conviction. 18:30.000 --> 18:33.440 It all went so fast. 18:33.440 --> 18:36.560 I don't know how it happened, but maybe it's better this way. 18:36.560 --> 18:39.480 At least part of what we did has been paid for. 18:39.480 --> 18:44.160 When I get out, we'll be able to live a free life together. 18:44.160 --> 18:46.160 For ten years? 18:46.160 --> 18:47.800 No, darling. 18:47.800 --> 18:49.280 I'm going to tell them. 18:49.280 --> 18:50.880 I'm going to confess everything. 18:50.880 --> 18:53.600 I'll do that rather than see you wasting away in prison. 18:53.600 --> 18:54.600 No. 18:54.600 --> 18:55.600 No, you're not. 18:55.600 --> 18:58.600 You'll just be trading places with me. 18:58.600 --> 19:02.560 It'll be punishment enough if we're deprived of each other's love. 19:02.560 --> 19:06.040 No, Charlie, this is the only way it can be. 19:06.040 --> 19:09.160 Ten years isn't so long. 19:09.160 --> 19:13.000 I know you'll always be mine no matter where I am. 19:13.000 --> 19:14.360 Yes, darling. 19:14.360 --> 19:22.840 No matter where you are, I'll always be yours. 19:22.840 --> 19:24.840 I really felt bad about it, too. 19:24.840 --> 19:28.040 But you've got to compromise in life. 19:28.040 --> 19:32.120 I traded in a thing I wanted for something I wanted more. 19:32.120 --> 19:34.880 Money and power. 19:34.880 --> 19:37.520 It was right there in the palm of my hand. 19:37.520 --> 19:49.920 And all I did was make a fist. 19:49.920 --> 19:53.640 I headed up to one of the old man's hideouts in the White Mountains then to let things 19:53.640 --> 19:54.640 cool off. 19:54.640 --> 19:58.800 There, I wanted to plan all the things I'd do during the coming weeks. 19:58.800 --> 20:05.120 It would have been a great time except for that phone call. 20:05.120 --> 20:06.120 Yes? 20:06.120 --> 20:07.120 Hello, Mr. Ross. 20:07.120 --> 20:11.360 I was reading about Mrs. Donovan's trial, Mr. Ross. 20:11.360 --> 20:12.360 Who is this? 20:12.360 --> 20:13.360 The old man was really poisoned, huh? 20:13.360 --> 20:17.040 And you were running off leaving your wife to take a rap. 20:17.040 --> 20:18.040 Who is this? 20:18.040 --> 20:19.040 Tell you what. 20:19.040 --> 20:25.840 For 25 grand, no one will ever know about you sneaking out of the apartment that day. 20:25.840 --> 20:28.400 I think you'd better come up here and see me in person. 20:28.400 --> 20:29.400 Okay. 20:29.400 --> 20:31.200 I'll be up tomorrow night at nine. 20:31.200 --> 20:32.200 Why not tonight? 20:32.200 --> 20:40.040 You'll be there if you know what's good for you, brother. 20:40.040 --> 20:41.360 Blackmail. 20:41.360 --> 20:42.800 I knew what to do. 20:42.800 --> 20:44.640 And paying him wasn't the answer. 20:44.640 --> 20:48.240 Once I began to pay, he'd then have the power that belonged to me. 20:48.240 --> 20:49.920 He'd pull the strings. 20:49.920 --> 20:54.280 This man, whoever he was, could degrade me and humiliate me more than I'd ever been degraded 20:54.280 --> 20:55.960 while serving the old man. 20:55.960 --> 21:03.200 I heard the car drive up at a little after nine. 21:03.200 --> 21:07.160 I left the front door open and sat in the living room waiting for him. 21:07.160 --> 21:08.160 He walked in. 21:08.160 --> 21:09.160 Hello, Mr. Ross. 21:09.160 --> 21:10.160 It was the elevator man. 21:10.160 --> 21:18.720 Well, well, Mr. Ross, got a pretty classy set up here. 21:18.720 --> 21:20.120 I ain't nice. 21:20.120 --> 21:21.440 Poor Mr. Donovan. 21:21.440 --> 21:25.040 Sure is a shame when a guy has to leave all that money behind. 21:25.040 --> 21:26.320 Straight to the point or get out. 21:26.320 --> 21:28.880 Brother, from now on, you're going to treat me with respect. 21:28.880 --> 21:32.520 What I know can send you straight to the chair. 21:32.520 --> 21:33.520 Keep talking. 21:33.520 --> 21:37.200 I saw you sneak out of Donovan's apartment a couple of hours before he died. 21:37.200 --> 21:40.800 I saw you pull your act in the lobby so the dame would be alone with the old man. 21:40.800 --> 21:43.920 It's pretty clear the way you framed her at the trial. 21:43.920 --> 21:46.400 But you didn't fool me for a minute. 21:46.400 --> 21:47.400 What's the count? 21:47.400 --> 21:52.080 Well, I figure you're working the babe for plenty, so seeing the papers said that Donovan 21:52.080 --> 21:57.080 left the flock of millions, well, $25,000 will do for a start. 21:57.080 --> 21:59.800 You know I haven't got that kind of money here. 21:59.800 --> 22:01.080 How much have you got? 22:01.080 --> 22:06.720 I guess there ought to be $16, $1700 in the wall safe. 22:06.720 --> 22:07.720 But look here, if I... 22:07.720 --> 22:08.720 Get it! 22:08.720 --> 22:09.720 Then what do I get in return? 22:09.720 --> 22:10.720 Keep quiet. 22:10.720 --> 22:11.720 For a while. 22:11.720 --> 22:12.720 For a while. 22:12.720 --> 22:13.720 That's it. 22:13.720 --> 22:20.000 Seeing I'm such a valuable guy, I figure you ought to put me on a payroll. 22:20.000 --> 22:25.240 Take me sort of a private secretary, like you was the old man Donovan. 22:25.240 --> 22:26.720 I think I understand. 22:26.720 --> 22:28.920 Yeah, you bet you understand. 22:28.920 --> 22:31.640 Now get the dough, and fast! 22:31.640 --> 22:33.440 Yes, I see now. 22:33.440 --> 22:40.040 I think I see the whole picture. 22:40.040 --> 22:44.200 I walked over to the safe and began to dial the numbers. 22:44.200 --> 22:46.880 Before I snapped it open, I turned round to look at him. 22:46.880 --> 22:51.240 He was leaning back in the easy chair at the end of the room. 22:51.240 --> 22:57.160 His greasy face was covered with a shrewd smile, and he was pawing that silly little revolver 22:57.160 --> 22:59.160 in his right hand. 22:59.160 --> 23:03.280 It looked like a 1900 Iver Johnson.22 caliber with a two inch barrel. 23:03.280 --> 23:08.760 I took that, and the fact that they were about 40 feet between us, and at a glance. 23:08.760 --> 23:13.960 Unless that guy was an Annie Oakley, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from that position, 23:13.960 --> 23:14.960 and with that gun... 23:14.960 --> 23:17.640 All right, Fritz Stalin, open it! 23:17.640 --> 23:21.360 I snapped open the little safe, and there it was. 23:21.360 --> 23:28.040 I could see Colt Super 38 automatic, stamped on the blued surface of the slide. 23:28.040 --> 23:32.200 The hammer was back, just as I knew the old man had left it. 23:32.200 --> 23:36.280 I snapped off the safety and brought the sights in line between our eyes. 23:36.280 --> 23:37.280 Hey, wait! 23:37.280 --> 23:38.280 Don! 23:38.280 --> 23:39.280 The ladder! 23:39.280 --> 23:40.280 The ladder! 23:40.280 --> 23:47.480 He lay there on the floor. 23:47.480 --> 24:03.640 I looked down at him, and I had this strange feeling that I'd overlooked something. 24:03.640 --> 24:08.160 I'd hidden his car in the garage and gotten rid of the body in the cellar under two feet 24:08.160 --> 24:09.960 of dirt. 24:09.960 --> 24:11.880 Maybe I should have left him alone. 24:11.880 --> 24:15.920 I could have pleaded self-defense, but no, no. 24:15.920 --> 24:19.240 After Donovan, another trial might not have turned out so well. 24:19.240 --> 24:20.800 Now I had to get away. 24:20.800 --> 24:22.960 I was really in the clear. 24:22.960 --> 24:25.760 Nobody'd ever look under those boards in the cellar. 24:25.760 --> 24:29.680 Nobody'd ever dare to snoop around Donovan's place, my place. 24:29.680 --> 24:32.480 Not unless they suspect something. 24:32.480 --> 24:35.160 And why should anyone suspect anything? 24:35.160 --> 24:37.400 Not in my house. 24:37.400 --> 24:39.920 My house. 24:39.920 --> 24:43.160 In a minute I'd be off this dirt road and on the highway to New York. 24:43.160 --> 24:44.960 Yes, that's it. 24:44.960 --> 24:45.960 Back to New York. 24:45.960 --> 24:48.960 Then out of the country. 24:48.960 --> 24:51.880 What the? 24:51.880 --> 24:54.640 Hey, you! 24:54.640 --> 24:56.400 How about pulling out of the road and letting me by? 24:56.400 --> 24:58.400 You seem to be in an awful hurry, mister. 24:58.400 --> 24:59.400 Who is it? 24:59.400 --> 25:00.400 Why don't you? 25:00.400 --> 25:03.400 How about letting me see your driver's license, huh? 25:03.400 --> 25:05.680 Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Ross. 25:05.680 --> 25:09.040 Why, Lieutenant Braddon, what's the trouble? 25:09.040 --> 25:10.040 Oh, no trouble at all. 25:10.040 --> 25:12.720 As a matter of fact, I just came up here to talk to you. 25:12.720 --> 25:14.040 Sort of a social call. 25:14.040 --> 25:15.640 Well, right now I'm going to New York. 25:15.640 --> 25:16.640 I, I, I mean, I can't. 25:16.640 --> 25:17.640 You see, you see, you can't... 25:17.640 --> 25:21.120 You know, Mr. Ross, I never had a chance to talk to you after the trial. 25:21.120 --> 25:24.320 I, I got a little theory about Donovan's death. 25:24.320 --> 25:28.720 Oh, it's too late to do anything about it now, of course, but I thought it might be 25:28.720 --> 25:31.080 nice if we could sort of discuss it. 25:31.080 --> 25:32.080 Sure, sure. 25:32.080 --> 25:33.080 Any time except now. 25:33.080 --> 25:34.080 I'm in a great hurry. 25:34.080 --> 25:36.720 So I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. 25:36.720 --> 25:37.720 What? 25:37.720 --> 25:42.800 Well, some crank sent me a letter, see, saying he was coming up here to see you. 25:42.800 --> 25:45.880 It, it seems he thought that you might kill him. 25:45.880 --> 25:46.880 A letter? 25:46.880 --> 25:51.440 Yeah, oh, it probably didn't mean a thing, but, well, you're a rich man now, Mr. Ross. 25:51.440 --> 25:54.320 You'll just have to get used to being a target for cranks. 25:54.320 --> 25:55.520 A letter. 25:55.520 --> 25:56.520 That's what he meant. 25:56.520 --> 25:57.520 A letter. 25:57.520 --> 25:58.520 What's the matter, Mr. Ross? 25:58.520 --> 26:00.520 You look, you don't look so good. 26:00.520 --> 26:02.920 Yeah, there's nothing to be afraid of. 26:02.920 --> 26:04.920 Ah, I tell you what. 26:04.920 --> 26:08.360 You're, your house ain't far from here, let you and me take a little stroll up there and 26:08.360 --> 26:10.320 see if that crank has arrived, huh? 26:10.320 --> 26:11.600 It'll make you feel better. 26:11.600 --> 26:13.680 Oh, I'm all right. 26:13.680 --> 26:15.440 I'm all right. 26:15.440 --> 26:17.120 Just let me go. 26:17.120 --> 26:18.400 No, no, no, no, no. 26:18.400 --> 26:21.840 I insist it'll set your mind at ease. 26:21.840 --> 26:22.840 Okay? 26:22.840 --> 26:33.800 Come on, let's go. 26:33.800 --> 26:37.680 The cop didn't have any trouble finding him at all. 26:37.680 --> 26:43.520 I guess Roseanne will get the money after all now when she gets out. 26:43.520 --> 26:44.520 It's too bad, really. 26:44.520 --> 27:12.320 Suspense presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, Roma, America's favorite wines. 27:12.320 --> 27:16.760 This is Ken Niles returning to our suspense microphone with the star of tonight's play, 27:16.760 --> 27:17.760 Dan Durier. 27:17.760 --> 27:22.600 Dan, I've noticed in your last few pictures that you've forsaken the cloak of villainy 27:22.600 --> 27:23.600 to play the hero. 27:23.600 --> 27:29.600 Yes, Ken, I have managed to qualify for a love scene or two lately in spite of my wicked 27:29.600 --> 27:30.600 reputation. 27:30.600 --> 27:33.880 Well, then I'm afraid we've done you wrong tonight casting you as the villain. 27:33.880 --> 27:35.720 No, no, on the contrary, Ken. 27:35.720 --> 27:38.160 I don't want to be a hero on suspense. 27:38.160 --> 27:40.080 Look at what happened to the good guy tonight. 27:40.080 --> 27:43.240 He was poisoned, pushed out of a window in a couple of minutes, fat. 27:43.240 --> 27:47.600 Well, maybe you're right, Dan, but he'll or a hero for your fine performance tonight, 27:47.600 --> 27:48.960 you rate a reward. 27:48.960 --> 27:55.360 So here's a gift basket of Roma Wines with thanks from Roma, America's greatest vintner. 27:55.360 --> 27:58.800 Oh, thank you, Ken, and Roma. 27:58.800 --> 28:01.520 I'll be glad to be a villain on suspense anytime. 28:01.520 --> 28:06.000 And you'll be glad to have Roma California Sherry on hand when guests drop in. 28:06.000 --> 28:11.400 Just serve the Roma Sherry in your gift basket and watch the smiles of enjoyment appear at 28:11.400 --> 28:15.120 the first sip of this better tasting Roma Wines. 28:15.120 --> 28:21.560 Remember to Roma Sherry is the perfect first call for dinner, a delightful treat anytime. 28:21.560 --> 28:23.660 I know that about Roma Sherry, Ken. 28:23.660 --> 28:26.560 But do you know why Roma Sherry tastes better? 28:26.560 --> 28:31.680 Well, to begin with, Roma selects and presses the choicest, most luscious grapes in all 28:31.680 --> 28:33.200 California. 28:33.200 --> 28:38.560 Even the ancient skill of Roma vintners with America's finest winemaking resources guides 28:38.560 --> 28:42.840 this rich treasure unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection. 28:42.840 --> 28:49.080 Later, at peak taste richness, Roma selects from the world's greatest reserves of fine 28:49.080 --> 28:51.240 wines for your pleasure. 28:51.240 --> 28:56.160 That's why more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. 28:56.160 --> 28:58.200 What better reason? 28:58.200 --> 28:59.840 Thank you, Ken, and good night. 28:59.840 --> 29:01.280 Thank you, Dan Durier. 29:01.280 --> 29:05.480 Dan Durier appeared through the courtesy of Universal International Studios and is currently 29:05.480 --> 29:08.440 being seen in their production, White Tie and Tales. 29:08.440 --> 29:11.520 Tonight's suspense play was written by Frank Talbis. 29:11.520 --> 29:18.240 Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Miss Joan Bennett as star of Suspense. 29:18.240 --> 29:23.040 Produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. 29:23.040 --> 29:36.560 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.