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Yes, Roma wines taste better because only Roma selects from the world's greatest wine reserves for your pleasure.

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And now, Roma wines, R-O-M-A. Roma wines present Suspense.

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Tonight, Roma wines bring you Mr. Kirk Douglas in Community Property,

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a Suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Roma wines by William Spears.

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Suspense, radio's outstanding theater of thrills, is presented for your enjoyment by Roma wines.

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That's R-O-M-A, Roma wines.

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Those better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans than any other wine.

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For friendly entertaining, for delightful dining.

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Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant.

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As Roma wines bring you Kirk Douglas, the young American actor who made such an auspicious screen debut,

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and the strange love of Martha Ivers.

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Mr. Douglas appears as George Mason, with Kathy Lewis as his wife, Lois, in Community Property.

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Tonight's tale of Suspense.

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You sure manage to look sloppy in the mornings, don't you?

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Thanks. Coffee?

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Yeah. Maybe I shouldn't have qualified it. You look sloppy most of the times nowadays.

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Why should I waste my time looking glamorous for you?

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Oh, don't mind me. I'm just your husband. I just pay the bills, that's all I do.

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What bills? I should look like one of the ten best women of the year on what I can squeeze out of you, I suppose.

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I'm not talking about clothes. But you could get your hair out of your face and put on a little lipstick for a change.

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Sure. Get up three hours early and go to the beauty parlor.

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Offer the privilege of making your breakfast and listening to your sour cracks.

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What's the matter with you? Didn't you sleep well?

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What do you care?

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I thought maybe you'd been lying awake nights again, wondering how you're going to spend your share of Uncle Burt's 50,000 bucks.

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I never lie awake nights wondering how to spend any money that you ever got your hands on first.

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Well, you got something there. I've got better use for that money than letting it go into freak hats and imitation furs.

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Well, then stop harping about it. I don't care about the money. I don't want to see the money. I don't want to hear about the money.

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What do you call this, coffee?

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That's what it says on the can.

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Yeah, you could even make stuff out of a can taste rotten.

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Look, if you don't like it, go get your breakfast at Schwab's Drugstore. It's no pleasure for me.

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Well, I would if I could afford it.

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You know, you're not kidding me any, Lois.

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Kidding you? I've stopped even trying to communicate with you.

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And that doesn't prevent you trying to make my life as miserable as possible, though, does it?

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Your life. What kind of a life do you think I've had this past year?

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I can't even remember the last time I had a civil conversation with you.

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And if for anything else, I'm nothing more than a housekeeper around here, a housekeeper that doesn't get paid.

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Yeah, it's tough. Sometimes I wonder how you stand it.

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So do I.

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But I know why, all right.

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Oh, you know everything.

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I told you, you weren't kidding me any.

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As long as you think I'm gonna get that inheritance from Uncle Bird, you'll stick to me like a leech, won't you?

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I told you I don't care about the money and I don't want to hear about the money.

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There's enough about it.

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Even if your uncle is fool enough to leave it to you, which I don't.

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Oh, sure, you don't care about the money. Not much.

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All I care about is having a decent life.

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Now, if I'm about to come to the conclusion it's impossible for you to be decent to anybody.

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Well, if it's as bad as all that, why don't you get a divorce?

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Well, maybe I should.

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Maybe it's what time we talk divorce, George. Maybe it's just high time.

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Well, what's stopping you?

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Sometimes I wonder.

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Well, I don't. You'll never get a divorce as long as you think I might inherit 50,000 bucks.

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That's what you think.

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Yes.

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Well, I've thought about it. I've thought about it plenty.

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Then why don't you do something about it?

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Because I know you're too cheap to pay alimony in the lawyer's fees. That's why.

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Is that honestly all that's worrying you?

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Well, I'm certainly not worried by any illusions I might ever have had about you.

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All right. I'll pay the lawyer's fees in advance.

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And any reasonable alimony you can get a judge to grant you.

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You mean that, George?

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I never meant anything more in my life.

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Brother, you've got yourself a divorce.

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I tried to register shock and righteous indignation, but I could hardly keep my face straight.

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Lois was going to get a divorce.

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I'd been working on it for a year.

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Ever since I'd realized that Uncle Bert was going to die and I was going to inherit his estate.

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Ever since I'd realized that under the community property laws of California, Lois would get half of it.

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Half of 50,000 bucks, I figured. Maybe even more.

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50,000 bucks.

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I wasn't going to share that with Lois or anybody else.

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For a year, I'd been nagging her and insulting her and even knocking her around a little, but it was no use.

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He just turned sullen and took it.

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And so I'd just about given up thinking about divorce.

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I'd begun to think about something else for Lois.

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I'd begun to think about murder.

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For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Kirk Douglas in Community Property.

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Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.

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Between the acts of Suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines.

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To enrich your quiet evenings at home, to add warmth to your welcome when friends drop in, serve Roma Wine.

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Yes, your family and friends will appreciate and enjoy the important difference in Roma,

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the extra goodness in fuller bouquet, richer body, and better taste.

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That better taste of Roma Wine begins with California's choicest grapes.

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Then with ancient skill and America's finest winemaking resources,

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Roma master venteners guide this grape treasure unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection.

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These choice wines are placed with mellow Roma wines of years before.

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And from these reserves, the world's greatest reserves of fine wines, Roma later selects for your pleasure.

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So for everyday enjoyment or gracious hospitality, serve Roma California Sherry, Port or Muscatel.

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You'll find all Roma wines delightful, moderate, inexpensive, and always better tasting.

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And that's why more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine.

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And now, Roma wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Kirk Douglas as George Mason

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and Kathy Lewis as his wife Lois in Community Property, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

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So now Lois is going to give me a divorce at last.

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Uncle Burt's $50,000 would be mine as long as she started proceedings before I inherited.

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And knowing Lois, I figure now that she'd finally decided she'd probably go to work on it that very afternoon.

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When I drove out to Uncle Burt's later in the day, I was feeling like a kid just out of school.

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It was one of my regular visits and I never missed three or four times a week.

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That was a bore and a pain, but I'm a guy that can put up with $50,000 worth of almost anything.

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Good afternoon, Mr. Mason.

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Oh, hi, Judson. How's the old boy feeling this afternoon?

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Not too well, I'm afraid, sir.

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Gee, I'm sorry to hear that. One of his bad days, eh?

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Rather difficult, yes, sir.

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Well, do you suppose it's all right for me to see him?

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Oh, yes, sir. It's nothing that serious, I should say.

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He's called for his lawyer, Mr. Bernard, and for Dr. Thorpe.

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I should imagine he'd be quite able to see you as well.

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Yes? Yes, what is it?

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Your nephew, Mr. Mason, is here to see you, sir.

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All right, show him in.

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Hello, Uncle Burt. How are you feeling?

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Oh, not well, my boy. Not well. Not well at all.

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Well, go on, Judson. Close the door. Go about your business.

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Yes, sir.

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Judson was saying you've had sort of a bad day.

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Yes, I'm completely bedridden now, as you see.

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I'm afraid the end is not far off, my boy.

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Oh, don't be silly, Uncle Burt. You live to be a hundred.

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No, no, no, no. I've called Dr. Thorpe.

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Oh, you can't scare me. Well, you call Dr. Thorpe every other day.

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I tell you, I'm sick. I'm dying. Are you going to sit there and argue with me?

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Oh, I know, Uncle Burt, but gee, I...

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Well, I hadn't realized it was that serious.

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Well, it's most serious.

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I'm glad you came today. I'd have called you if you hadn't.

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Oh, I understand your lawyer is coming over here.

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Oh, yes. I wish to be absolutely certain that my affairs are all in order before the end.

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Gee, Uncle Burt, it's hard to believe that anything could happen like that. I mean...

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Ah, my boy. There's no disputing with the Grim Reaper when your time comes.

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Oh, put your chair a little closer.

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Sure.

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Yeah, yeah. George, you have always been a good nephew to me.

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Of course, I know you're always thinking of the money.

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Oh.

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Oh, but that's only natural. I don't care.

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Uncle Burt, now that's not fair.

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You're a liar, George. But you're a good liar. And that's a comfort to an old man.

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Of course, I don't know what you're like in daily life. I've been ill for a long time.

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Just average, I guess.

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I wouldn't think so. Now, I imagine you're mean and greedy and thoroughly dishonest when it's safe to be, as I was.

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I run from the family. It's only natural, too.

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You make me sound like a pretty bad guy, Uncle Burt.

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All right. Only true to human nature, George, with the little dash of Mason family thrown in.

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Yes, you've always been a good nephew to me, George.

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Even though you may have been a hypocrite about it, and that's all anyone has the right to expect at my age.

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You won't have any reason to regret it.

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I wish you wouldn't talk that way, Uncle Burt.

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Now what way?

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Well, about the money and things like that.

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I don't want to hear about it.

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Well, have I ever asked you about it?

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No, no, you haven't, George. You've been very clever about that. But you may as well know now.

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Well, I...

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As my will stands now, my estate will be divided into two parts.

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Oh.

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Yes. One half of my estate will go as an endowment to my old school, Weymouth College.

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Half?

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Yes.

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How is that?

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Come in.

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Well, hello, Mr. Basie. How are we today?

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Oh, no, Doctor.

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Oh, man's handing out bad news today. Now in your case, I'm afraid you're about to lose a steady source of income, Doctor.

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Oh, meaning...

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Meaning, meaning me. Yes, I'm afraid you're going to have to find some other victim to pay your office rent very soon now.

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Oh, well...

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You know my nephew, of course.

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Sure. Hi, Doc.

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Hello, George.

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Oh. Oh, by the way, George, here. Here's a prescription your wife asked me to write out for her. You might have it filled on your way home if you have time.

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Sure, thanks.

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Yes, bad news all around. Now, George here, I've just informed him that I'm leaving half my money to my old school.

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Looks mighty disappointed, doesn't he?

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Oh, now, Uncle Burdick, well, it's your money. Why should I be sore?

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Now, did it false please, Mr. Mason?

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No.

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Thank you.

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I haven't told him all of it yet. You want to hear the rest, George, huh?

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Well, whatever you say, Uncle Burdick.

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Really, Mr. Mason, you shouldn't be talking too much. Your condition's not as good today as it might be.

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Oh, I know that. I was saying...

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Oh, what was I saying? Oh, yes, I will.

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As a matter of fact, I'm leaving you fairly well provided for, George. Enough to give you a little start in life, anyhow.

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Take it easy, Uncle Burdick. It's you I care about, not the money.

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Oh, you're an accomplished guy, George. That's the only word for it. But you can relax again. The other half is going to you.

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You know you didn't have to do that, Uncle Burdick. Well, it's not that I don't appreciate it, but...

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I think it will help, Uncle George. You'll be able to use $500,000, won't you?

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What'd you say?

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Really, Mr. Mason, I must forbid you to get excited now you're in your condition.

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Didn't you hear me, George? I said five...

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Uncle Burdick. Mr. Mason. Uncle Burdick. Uncle Burdick, listen to me.

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I'm afraid he's gone.

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Tell me what you said.

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For heaven's sake, man, have a little decency, can't you? He's dead.

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He can't be. It's some kind of a gag. Did you hear? $500,000. Come in.

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Mr. Bernard is here to see you.

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I'm afraid you're too late, Bernie.

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Oh, Bernie, you drew up the will, you'll know.

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Bernie, he said $500,000. $500,000!

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You mean your inheritance? That's roughly what it comes to.

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Wow, half a million bucks.

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And permit me to be the first to congratulate you, George, on bearing up so well unto your bereavement, that is.

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Half a million bucks, and he never told me.

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Why, the rotten old liar.

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I left the house in a day. I got in my car and started driving, just driving around. I don't know where I drove to.

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I just drove, and I must have spent that $500,000 500,000 different ways.

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But I wasn't in such a fog that I didn't do a little real thinking, too, about Lois.

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Because now if she got her divorce, she'd nick me for half that money anyway.

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And I wasn't having any of that, not after what I'd been through.

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So it would have to be the other way.

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So I'd have to talk her out of the divorce, or it looked too much like a motive.

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First, I wanted to be absolutely sure of everything.

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I spotted a corner drugstore.

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It was late for this time, but I had Bernie's home number, so it didn't matter.

221
00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:52,000
Then, on the way past the drug counter, I remembered the prescription Dr. Thorpe had given me.

222
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:56,000
I think I had the idea right then.

223
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,000
Yes, sir?

224
00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,000
How long will it take you to fill this?

225
00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,000
Well, oh, that won't take any time.

226
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,000
Okay. Where's your phone?

227
00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,000
Just to your left.

228
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:22,000
Thanks.

229
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,000
Hello?

230
00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:24,000
Bernie?

231
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,000
Yeah?

232
00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:26,000
George Mason.

233
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,000
Why hello, George.

234
00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,000
I'm afraid you can't have the money tonight, old boy, but come in first thing tomorrow.

235
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,000
Great kidder, aren't you?

236
00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,000
Listen, Bernie, I wanted to ask you something.

237
00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,000
Anything you ask, we'll be charged against you.

238
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:38,000
Now, I'll joke.

239
00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:45,000
Seriously, though, I met a friend of mine today, a Texas oil man, but he married out here, and, well, he's having a little trouble with his wife.

240
00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,000
Send him around. I'll give him a discount.

241
00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,000
Well, maybe I'll do that, but all he wants now is free advice.

242
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,000
You see, he's worried about this community property law.

243
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,000
Well, it seems he came into quite a hunk of dough out here lately.

244
00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,000
Coincidence department, huh?

245
00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,000
Not exactly. This was, well, a deal, you know, real estate.

246
00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:05,000
Well, he wants to know if there's any way he can keep his wife from cutting in on it.

247
00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,000
Oh, a heel, huh?

248
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,000
That's right.

249
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:16,000
Not a chance, my boy. Any property accumulated in the normal course of affairs after the marriage is community property. That's the law.

250
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,000
Yeah, that's what he was afraid of.

251
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,000
Now, listen, though, George, you want to know something cute? It had nothing to do with your friend.

252
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,000
Well, I got to go, Bernie. I'm late. I'll call you tomorrow.

253
00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,000
But I'm trying to tell you something.

254
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:28,000
Well, save it till tomorrow, huh? Good night, Bernie.

255
00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:35,000
I was in no mood to listen to bright sayings. I had too much else to do.

256
00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,000
At the drug counter, I picked up the prescription. It was what I thought it was.

257
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,000
Sedative, it said.

258
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,000
She'd been taking stuff to make her sleep for quite a while now.

259
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:49,000
At the next corner, I bought her the biggest box of candy I could find.

260
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:55,000
Then I went home to kill it.

261
00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,000
Lois?

262
00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,000
Is that you, George?

263
00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,000
Yeah. You going to bed?

264
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,000
Yes. You're late.

265
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,000
Yeah, I... Well, I'll tell you about it.

266
00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000
You don't need to. It's nothing unusual.

267
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:18,000
I know it isn't, Lois, and... Well, that's what I want to talk to you about. Oh, here's something I picked up for you.

268
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,000
What's this for?

269
00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,000
Nothing. I just thought you might like it.

270
00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,000
You must have wrecked a car or something.

271
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,000
No, but... Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking today, Lois.

272
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,000
So have I.

273
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,000
Well, you haven't done anything about that yet, have you? I mean the divorce.

274
00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,000
Not yet. I know you're in a big hurry, but tomorrow will be time enough, won't it?

275
00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:42,000
Oh, now listen, Lois. Like I said, I've been doing a lot of thinking today.

276
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,000
Well, it was quite a shock when you said that this morning.

277
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,000
When I said it?

278
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:52,000
When it came up that way. I got to thinking, well, I've been pretty rotten these last few months.

279
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,000
I don't know why, but I have and I know.

280
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,000
You haven't been exactly the ideal companion, George.

281
00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:04,000
Well, it was something was driving me, making me do things and say things that I didn't mean and I didn't want to, and I couldn't help myself.

282
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:14,000
I don't know what it's been. Worry, trying to scrape along with everything going sky high and running into debt, and thinking about the old man's money.

283
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,000
I don't know what it's been, but I know it's been awful for me, too.

284
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,000
And I know it's been ten times as bad for you.

285
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,000
I know, George, but everybody has those kinds of worries nowadays.

286
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:33,000
I know. Well, they don't take it out on somebody else the way I have, but when you talked about divorce, it made me realize that I love you, Lois.

287
00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,000
I don't know how I could ever get along without you.

288
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,000
Did you really mean that, George?

289
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,000
I never meant anything more in my life.

290
00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,000
Just give me another chance, Lois. I'll do anything.

291
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,000
I'll go to a psychiatrist or something. I know it's been my fault, but I can change.

292
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,000
If you'll help me, I can change overnight. It'll be the way it used to be, huh?

293
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,000
Oh, George.

294
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,000
Oh, darling, I know. I've been a terrible healer.

295
00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:03,000
I knew it wasn't really you. It hasn't been all your fault either.

296
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,000
I've been telling the nasty.

297
00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:12,000
I had to do something to self-defense to keep from going crazy.

298
00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,000
Because I love you so.

299
00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,000
Oh, now there, there, baby. It's going to be different now. I've learned my lesson, Lois.

300
00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:24,000
Oh, George. I know it will if we try, if we both just try. We used to be so happy.

301
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,000
We're going to be happy again, too. You see, happier than ever.

302
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,000
I know it.

303
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,000
You know, I think I'll really sleep tonight for the first time in months.

304
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:35,000
Good.

305
00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,000
I've been so nervous lately, I've just been a wreck.

306
00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:41,000
Oh, say, that reminds me. I ran into Doc Thorpe today, and he gave me a prescription to use.

307
00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,000
I had it filled on the way home. Here.

308
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:50,000
Oh, my sleeping pills. That's funny, you're thinking about that now, and I probably won't need them anymore.

309
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,000
You better take one anyway, just to be on the safe side, huh?

310
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,000
Say, maybe I'll take one, too. It's been a pretty tough day.

311
00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:02,000
All right. I guess tonight maybe I'm almost too happy to sleep.

312
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,000
Would you warm up a little milk for me, darling? Take them with you?

313
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,000
Why, sure, honey. I'll fix you right up.

314
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:13,000
Thanks, Doc.

315
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,000
I went downstairs and started warming the milk.

316
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,000
I'd had the stuff hidden away for a couple of months now.

317
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:25,000
It was a narcotic that would have the same effects as the sleeping pills and show up the same way in an autopsy.

318
00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:29,000
I put some sugar and cinnamon in the milk to cover the taste,

319
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,000
and then dumped in another of the stuff to kill a horse.

320
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,000
Then I took it up to her.

321
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,000
Thanks, darling.

322
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:42,000
Oh, that's nice. What'd you put in it?

323
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,000
Oh, just sweeten it up a little. Sweet, sweet.

324
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,000
Oh, here's your pill.

325
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,000
Thank you.

326
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,000
Oh, it tastes a little funny. It's nice, but kind of funny.

327
00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,000
Yes, maybe I got the milk a little too hot. It always tastes funny when it's boiled.

328
00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,000
Ah, how is it?

329
00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,000
Ah, to drink it all now, that's a good girl.

330
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,000
Ah, there.

331
00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,000
That's the ticket. Feeling sleepy?

332
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,000
All of a sudden.

333
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,000
Well, now you lie down and let me tuck you in and you get a good sleep.

334
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,000
And tomorrow, we'll start all over again.

335
00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,000
Oh, yeah. A new life.

336
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:28,000
That's right. Tomorrow there'll be a brand new life.

337
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,000
I took the glass downstairs and washed it out thoroughly and brought it back again half empty.

338
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:37,000
I dumped about three quarters of the sleeping pills down the drain

339
00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:44,000
and then tipped the bottle over on the bedside table to give things that reckless look, and went to bed.

340
00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,000
You think that's pretty funny, I suppose.

341
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:52,000
Lying down in the next bed to someone you know is dying, who will be dead before morning?

342
00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,000
Someone you just murdered?

343
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,000
Well, maybe it is.

344
00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:01,000
But all I was thinking of was that 500,000 bucks

345
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:09,000
and spending it over and over another million different ways as I went off to sleep, and believe it or not, I slept like a baby.

346
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:21,000
I woke up early feeling great, not knowing why for a minute, and then I remembered.

347
00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,000
I went over to look at Lois.

348
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,000
She was lying just the way I'd left it.

349
00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,000
I put out my hand and touched her arm.

350
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,000
That was all I needed to know.

351
00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:40,000
She was cold, stone cold.

352
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,000
Dr. Thomas, give me the doctor, quick, quick.

353
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,000
Calling, please.

354
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:49,000
What's the dip? George Mason, hurry, please.

355
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:50,000
Hello, George.

356
00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,000
Oh, Doc, listen, you've got to come right over here.

357
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:53,000
Something's happened, something terrible.

358
00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:54,000
What is it, George?

359
00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,000
Lois, those pills you gave her. She's taken almost all of them.

360
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,000
I can't get her to move.

361
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,000
Now, wait a minute, George, wait a minute.

362
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,000
Are you sure there isn't some mistake?

363
00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,000
I know there isn't. She's cold.

364
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,000
You'd better call the police, George.

365
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,000
Police?

366
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,000
Yes. Yes, it's usual in such cases.

367
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:17,000
I'll be over, but you'd better call the police.

368
00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,000
In about half an hour, they arrived.

369
00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:23,000
Two plainclothes dicks and a man from the coroner's office.

370
00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:28,000
He and one of the dicks went in to look at Lois, and the other one stayed outside talking to me.

371
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,000
I know it's a trying time for you, Mr. Mason.

372
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,000
I can't understand it. I can't understand it.

373
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,000
Had you and your wife had any quarrels?

374
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:39,000
No, well, we had a little fast, but nothing more than any other married couple.

375
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,000
Nothing to make her do a thing like that.

376
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,000
She's been taking these sedatives long.

377
00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,000
Now, the last few months, I don't know exactly why.

378
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:50,000
Well, she's been nervous and upset. You know, she wasn't getting any younger, of course.

379
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:55,000
Well, but you took them on advice of a physician. She was under a physician's care, I suppose.

380
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,000
Oh, yes, Dr. Alexander Thorpe. Well, he saw her regularly.

381
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,000
But he never told me there was anything, mentally.

382
00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,000
Oh, how about it, Doc?

383
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,000
Narcotic poisoning. Pretty clear.

384
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:09,000
That bottle was full. When she went to work on it, she took enough to kill her heart.

385
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,000
I got it filled for her only last night.

386
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,000
Well, I guess that's about all, Mr. Mason. We'll, uh...

387
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,000
I'm Dr. Thorpe, the family physician. Oh, hello, John.

388
00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,000
Hello, Alex. You know Lieutenant Farley?

389
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,000
How do you do, Lieutenant? Hello, Doc.

390
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,000
Hello, George.

391
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,000
You want to say the, uh...

392
00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,000
I take it Mrs. Mason is dead?

393
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,000
Uh-huh. Narcotic poisoning.

394
00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,000
Your, uh, prescription, wasn't it, Alex?

395
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:34,000
Yes. Yes, so it was. But, uh, I'm afraid there's some discrepancy here.

396
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,000
Discrepancy? Yes.

397
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:40,000
I had been prescribing sedatives for Mrs. Mason for some time.

398
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:48,000
Lately, however, I reached the conclusion that her mental health was such that the possession of drugs in any quantity would be dangerous.

399
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:53,000
My last prescription, therefore, contained no sedative of any kind.

400
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,000
What did it contain? Nothing.

401
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,000
Sugar and a neutral base.

402
00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:58,000
Quite.

403
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:05,000
If Mrs. Mason died of poisoning, the poison was administered to her in some other form.

404
00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,000
You said, uh, administered?

405
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000
I did. From the evidence, I can reach no other conclusion.

406
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,000
I need to get another.

407
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,000
Well, Mr. Mason?

408
00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,000
Can I call my lawyer?

409
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,000
You're entitled to do that.

410
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:25,000
And for where I sit, bud, looks like you're gonna need a good one.

411
00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,000
Well, let that be a lesson for you, George.

412
00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,000
Before you commit a murder, always check with your attorney.

413
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,000
Great kidder, huh, Bernie?

414
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,000
Sure.

415
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,000
You did only told me this on the phone yesterday.

416
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:56,000
Instead of that cock and bull story about a friend from Texas, I could have saved you a lot of trouble.

417
00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:57,000
Oh.

418
00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:03,000
I tried to tell you, money that you earn or make in business is community property.

419
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,000
Money that you inherit is not what...

420
00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:09,000
That 500 grand would have bid all you, George.

421
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,000
You see what I mean?

422
00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:18,000
Next time, check with your attorney.

423
00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,000
Check with your attorney.

424
00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,000
A great kidder.

425
00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,000
Now he says, don't worry.

426
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:29,000
If he can get me off the gas chamber, I'll still have the worst years of my life ahead of me.

427
00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:50,000
How do you like that?

428
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,000
Suspense.

429
00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,000
Resouted by Roma Wines.

430
00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,000
R-O-M-A. Roma.

431
00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,000
America's favorite wine.

432
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:05,000
This is Truman Bradley bringing back for the curtain call our suspense star of the evening, Kirk Douglas.

433
00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:12,000
Kirk, you know millions of our suspense listeners will remember you as Barbara Stanley's husband in the strange love of Martha Ivers.

434
00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:17,000
Seeing you play the part of a weak, neurotic man, they had never guessed you were a wrestling champion in college.

435
00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,000
Well, Truman, you know the difference isn't as great as you might think.

436
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:21,000
No?

437
00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,000
You see, college wrestling was my first acting experience.

438
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,000
See, that's where I learned to portray suffering.

439
00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:30,000
Well, since you were undefeated champion, Kirk, I imagine most of the suffering was done by your opponent.

440
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,000
But you must have some other hobby besides wrestling, Kirk.

441
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:38,000
After all, you can't be throwing your guests around the living room all the time, you know.

442
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,000
Well, my wife claims my favorite hobby is eating.

443
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,000
I do have an awful sweet tooth.

444
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,000
You know, when it comes to eating cake, I'm worse than a ten-year-old at a birthday party.

445
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,000
Say, speaking of birthday parties, Kirk, reminds me that your host of the evening, Roma Wines, has a gift for you.

446
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:57,000
This hamper of Roma Wines with the compliment of Roma, the greatest name in wine.

447
00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,000
Well, thank you, Truman, and my compliment to Roma.

448
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,000
And for that sweet tooth of yours, Kirk, let me suggest this.

449
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:10,000
After dinner tomorrow or with dessert, enjoy the tempting taste luxury of Roma California Port.

450
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:17,000
Yes, brilliant, ruby red Roma Port, with its rich, full body and mellow natural sweetness,

451
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,000
is the ideal finishing touch to a fine dinner.

452
00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,000
And when friends drop in, add warmth to their welcome with Roma Port.

453
00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:29,000
You'll find Roma Port delightful with your favorite fruits or nuts, too.

454
00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:30,000
Truman, I'll remember that.

455
00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:34,000
And remember, Kirk, that in all Roma wines, you enjoy an important difference,

456
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:39,000
an extra goodness and fuller bouquet, richer body and better taste.

457
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:47,000
Yes, Roma Wines taste better because Roma selects better tasting wines from the world's greatest reserves.

458
00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:51,000
That's why more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine.

459
00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,000
I can't think of a better recommendation. Thank you.

460
00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,000
And good night.

461
00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:58,000
Kirk Douglas appeared through the courtesy of Hal Wallace Productions

462
00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:02,000
and can soon be seen in the RKO picture, Out of the Past.

463
00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:08,000
Tonight's suspense play was written by Robert Richards from the story by Howard Leeds and Arthur Julian.

464
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:15,000
Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Mr. Lloyd Nolan as star of Suspense.

465
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:21,000
Produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.

466
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:38,000
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.