Suspense.
Tonight's suspense brings you Miss Claire Trevor as star.
But first a word from your announcer.
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Shenley's Cresta Blanca Wine Company, Livermore, California.
And now, Shenley brings you Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Presented by Roma Wines.
That's R-O-M-A.
Roma Wines of Fresno, California.
Tonight's star, Miss Claire Trevor in The Blue Hour, a suspense play produced, edited
and directed for Shenley by William Spear.
Just one more.
Just one more, Mr. Paul.
Are you sure you don't know who killed White, not even a guest?
Just one more.
Oh, boys.
Oh, oh, oh.
Please.
Oh, all right, boys, the show's over.
We're taking off now.
See you on Broadway.
Goodbye.
You've all been just grand.
Just grand, boys.
Love you all.
Bye.
Goodbye.
Hey, stewardess.
Where's my seat, honey?
Well, that was that.
From then on, I had a nice quiet ride into New York with nothing to do but look down
at the scene rate.
You never know when the breaks are going to come in show business.
I've been hoofing for six years now and the best I ever did was a one night stand and
some greasy clip joint.
I know I'm no ballerina from the Ballet Rooster Monte Carlo, but I can do a couple of whirls
without breaking my neck.
And besides, I got looks.
That's what the men ask for.
At least that's what Jason White asked for.
He was my only connection with high society before he passed away.
Oh, don't feel sorry for me because his getting bumped off was my break.
They had my legs in every paper in Chicago.
That's how I happened to come to New York.
I got a contract to dance at an extremely chic joint called the Blue Hour with a minimum,
mind you.
All the way from Chicago, I worried no one would meet me when I arrived, but I was wrong.
There were about nearly a million reporters at LaGuardia Airport.
You'd have thought I was Miss America, a, a Bueller or somebody.
I was really intriguing to miss her.
He showed up.
That man, Mahoney.
How about one more picture, Miss LaPaule?
A little more leg?
Ah, that's it.
Thank you.
Oh, thank you, boys.
Come around and see me at the Blue Hour.
I'll give an extra good show if I know you're there.
Well, you're pretty smooth at extra good shows, aren't you?
I beg your pardon?
Oh, it's you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mahoney's her name.
Alec Mahoney.
I didn't ask your name.
My, my, you're touchy.
Wouldn't you like to know?
Carry your bag for you.
I can afford a porter.
Oh, I, uh, I'd like to speak to you.
Call me up sometime.
Who killed Jason White?
Cop or reporter?
Why?
You got two different answers?
Look, Mahoney, if you could read, you'd know from the papers I had nothing to do with Jason
White's death.
I never read the papers, honey.
I'm a reporter.
Well, I already gave my interview.
Now, leave me alone, Mahoney.
I went through all this with the Chicago police.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I know, I know.
Well, then why the sudden interest?
Because the whole thing smells.
Move, Mahoney.
You're beginning to blow me.
Why were you afraid to tell the police you were at Jason White's apartment the night
he was killed?
What are we playing?
20 questions?
No, no, no, no.
Just, uh, hunches, honey.
Hunches, hmm?
Look, Mahoney, Jason White was a nice guy.
He liked me.
I liked his money.
We got along swell as long as he was spending it on me.
Did you kill him because he stopped spending it?
If that's another hunch, get out of my way before I haul off on you.
Oh, now look, honey.
There's just two things you can do for me.
Drop dead.
Why didn't Phil so good after parting with Mahoney?
He made me feel uneasy, as if he knew something important.
He seemed awfully nosy about who killed Jason White.
He sure would have made a good lawyer.
Besides, he wasn't half bad looking.
Just the same, I hope to never see him again.
I finally got a cab and decided to go straight over to the Blue Hour.
Come to think of it, they didn't have anyone meet me at the airport.
They've got some nerve treating their star attraction that way.
I'd tell them a thing or two.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I took a gander at the Blue Hour.
It was the most beautiful place I ever saw.
Extremely chic.
The walls and ceilings were covered with real satin, and the floors were so clean they glistened.
There were enough mirrors around to pot a 4,000 noses at the same time.
And there was an honest-to-goodness band, ten pieces.
They were rehearsing as I entered.
Oh, anybody would look good on that stage with that music.
And I wasn't going to be the exception.
I was in such a daze, I didn't see him come along inside of me.
But somehow he had the knack of making you feel his presence.
Miss LaPaule?
Oh, yeah.
How did you know?
You're quite famous these days.
I'm Anthony LaCatta.
Pleased to meet you, Mr. LaCatta.
I love your joint.
I mean, the place.
Extremely chic.
I know I'm going to like working here.
I hope so.
Follow me, Miss LaPaule.
Oh, that band is certainly out of this world.
I'm glad you like it.
This way, Miss LaPaule.
I've never seen anything like it.
Won't you sit down?
Thanks, I could use a seat.
Those reporters gave me a good going over this morning.
What'd you tell them?
Well, the usual stuff, like how many offers I had.
And I picked your club because it was the best in town.
And I gave them a couple of good shots.
Did you tell them anything about Jason White?
Well, they were the usual questions.
What usual questions?
Like, did I love him?
Do I miss him?
Do I have any idea who killed him?
Do you?
Look, Mr. LaCatta, I want to be a dancer, not an information, please.
I'm sorry, Miss LaPaule, but I'm very interested in crime.
Unsolved crimes.
Just a hobby.
Cigarette?
Oh, thank you.
When do I start working, Mr. LaCatta?
You're on salary already.
Oh, gee, thank you.
I could start rehearsing right away.
I'd be ready by tomorrow night.
Well, you must be very tired from the ordeal of everything that happened in Chicago.
You take a two-week rest, then we're going to see.
Two weeks?
Well, I'll be deader than a mackerel by then.
Mr. LaCatta, I'm hot as a firecracker now.
How long do you think this publicity can last?
I'm sorry, Miss LaPaule, I don't think it's possible.
You don't think it's possible?
Well, I like that.
I've waited six years for this kind of a chance, and I'm not going to sit on my...
I'm not going to just sit and watch it fizzle out.
Unfortunately, Miss LaPaule, you must be satisfied with the arrangement.
Satisfied my foot.
I'll get a job somewhere else.
You're forgetting one small detail, Miss LaPaule.
You're on the contract to me.
I'm going to see that you stay there.
Well, I don't get it.
You chased me around in Chicago as if I was studded with diamonds.
You are very valuable.
What's the game, LaCatta?
Don't you know?
No, I don't know.
What a shame, Miss LaPaule.
I'm sure that before you finished here, you'll play the game very well.
I didn't like it.
I didn't like it at all because it didn't take a Sam Spade to figure out that the game
he was playing had something to do with a guy I knew called Jason White.
And Jason White was murdered.
For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Miss Claire Trevor in the Blue Hour.
Roma Wines presentation tonight in Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills, Suspense.
Suspense, Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills is presented by Better Tasting, Roma Wines.
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And now, Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage, Claire Trevor as Lois LaPaule
in The Blue Hour, a play well calculated to keep you in suspense.
I may have felt uneasy when I left Mahoney, but I was downright scared when I left Anthony
LaCatta's office.
I must be a real square.
Everybody seems to be talking riddles.
I know there's something cooking that just concerns me, but I'll be darned if I know
what.
Mr. LaCatta had an apartment for me.
In fact, he had me driven there.
I wasn't blind enough to miss the stoogey planted outside my door.
I was in a fine fix.
Lois LaPaule was going to burn up the big city, stuck in an apartment with a bodyguard.
The sad part of it all was I didn't know a soul to turn to for help, except, except,
no, no, it wasn't possible.
He wouldn't help me.
So, there was nothing for me to do but sit there and eat.
Who is it?
I'm Mahoney.
Hello there, beautiful.
Shut up and come in.
Well, I'm honored, Miss LaPaule.
Tell me, is this to be a social visit or a...
I'm scared.
I need help.
Well, your attitude seems to have changed.
Did you see a man outside?
An autograph hunter?
More like a headhunter.
He's planted there to watch me.
Who planted him?
Anthony LaCatta of the Blue Hour.
LaCatta, huh?
Well, this is developing faster than I figured.
He sure is impatient.
Nuts, he's impatient.
He's making me sit around doing nothing for two weeks.
It's some game we're playing.
Only I don't like games and I'm scared.
Well, well, you do have human instincts.
Oh, Mahoney, what's going on?
Why am I involved?
Close the faucet on those crocodile tears, Anthony.
Why don't you believe me?
Because you're not playing square with me.
What do you want from me, Mahoney?
The truth.
Oh, why...
You were in Jason White's apartment the night he was killed.
Weren't you?
Yes, I was.
What were you doing there?
I went to see him.
Oh.
Oh, just like that, huh?
He called me and asked me to come right up.
Do you always run when a man asks you to come up to his apartment?
He sounded frightened.
He told me to hurry.
I grabbed a taxi and got there as fast as I could.
I knocked several times, but there was no answer, so I walked in.
Every light in the place was lit and every chair, table and drawer was upset.
You know that from the newspaper stories.
Jason was sitting in the one and only chair left upright.
I remember he smiled as I walked in.
You got here very quickly, my dear.
Thank you.
Jason, what happened?
What's been going on here?
Oh, forget about that.
Come over here beside me.
I don't understand this.
Never mind, my dear.
It's unimportant.
Listen to me carefully.
You sound sick.
What's the matter?
Nothing, my dear.
Don't worry.
Here, take this.
It's a bottle of perfume.
Yes, I've had it for you for a long time, but like most men, I forgot to give it to you.
Take it now.
You mean you had me rush all the way up here for this?
What's the gag?
Jason, Jason, you're bleeding.
You've been hurt.
I'll call a doctor.
No, Lois, please don't do that.
I'd rather have it this way.
Who did it, Jason?
I don't know.
Lois promised me one thing.
Don't open that bottle of perfume until they catch and convict whoever attacked me.
If you do, your life will be in danger.
I promised Jason.
You'd better go now.
I'll see you soon.
Jason, Jason.
And that's exactly what happened, Mahoney, I swear.
Do you still have that bottle of perfume?
Of course I have.
May I see it?
Thinking of using it?
Perhaps.
I keep it in my makeup kit.
Here.
Wow.
Very interesting.
Did you notice the name of this perfume?
Yeah, it's in French.
I have a hard enough time with my English.
Le Bleu.
Huh?
Sounds like your tongue got stuck.
Oh, I get by, honey.
I get by.
Bleu means the hour and bleu means blue.
The hour blue, or better known as the blue hour.
The blue hour?
That's the same name as the nightclub.
Well, well, well, you catch on fast, don't you?
And here's something else for you to mull over.
Jason White bought a diamond in Antwerp in 1929 called the blue hour.
It was called that because it was a perfect blue white stone worth about a half a million
bucks.
Holy mackerel.
Now, do you know what's in this bottle?
Perfume?
If you're telling the truth, honey, the blue hour diamond is floating around in there.
You mean 500 grand worth of...oh, brother.
Yeah.
Well, we'll find out in just a minute.
No, no, don't.
I told you what Jason said about my life being in danger if that's open before his murderer
is convicted.
Sugar face, your life is already in danger.
Well, cross your fingers.
Here goes.
Oh, my holy.
Oh, brother, look at that thing dazzle.
Oh, gee, it's beautiful.
So that's the blue hour diamond.
Boy, on my finger would that look extremely chic.
Look, baby.
Look, if you want to live to enjoy it, we've got to beat the early bird to the worm.
Now, here.
Sit down here.
You've got a full evening in front of you, honey.
Now, here, here's what you're going to do.
Alec wasn't kidding when he said we had a full evening in front of us.
He had a plan and I had to memorize it.
I was going to do some acting.
And here I come to New York to be a dancer.
I was so mixed up with all that happened, I wasn't sure of anything except that I fell
in love with Alec Mahoney.
He didn't know it yet, but as soon as things were settled, I was going to let him know.
Meanwhile, I felt that Mahoney was staging a play and I was his leading lady.
He said things, had me repeat them till I thought I'd scream, but he assured me one
mistake would be fatal.
He then picked out my chicest evening gown and had me put it on.
I thought I detected a gleam in his eye as I paraded before him, but he pulled himself
together, gave me a quick pat on the shoulder and left.
I waited ten minutes by the clock.
We still had LaCava's fair-haired boy waiting outside.
I then opened the door noisily and stepped out.
Hey, you going someplace?
Look, stupid, I'm going down to the Blue Hour.
If you want to come along, just fall in line behind Teacher.
Net-ta!
Tommy.
Good evening, Mr. LaCatta.
What are you doing here?
I came to see you.
Was it something you didn't understand this afternoon?
On the contrary.
It was all too clear.
Aren't you going to ask me to sit down, Tony?
Sit down.
And don't call me Tony.
I'm going to ask you to sit down.
And don't call me Tony. My name's Anthony.
I'm sorry, Anthony.
You look pretty good for a second-rater.
See, I'm flattered.
I still don't know why you're here.
I came to play the game.
I see.
What caused this sudden change of mind?
It's a woman's prerogative, isn't it?
Maybe.
You see, I know something about you.
And I think you've guessed something about me.
Stop beating around the bush.
All right, Anthony.
I know you killed Jason White.
For the dumb babe, you think you know an awful lot.
I was in the room when you killed Jason.
Can you prove it?
If I tried hard enough, I might be able to.
But that's not why I'm here.
Then what did cause this social visit?
I think you know I have the Blue Hour Diamond.
I have.
Put your eyes back in your head, Anthony.
So you do have it.
Up to this point, you only thought I had it.
Isn't that right?
What's the deal?
I'll make it short and simple.
I need money.
I couldn't possibly pass that rock.
You know your way around.
Pass it.
Split 50-50.
And I'll forget I ever saw you in Jason's apartment.
I never said I was there.
So you didn't.
Give me the diamond.
Don't be stupid.
I never carry it around.
It's too heavy.
Where is it?
Come to my apartment in about half an hour,
and come yourself, Anthony.
Leave that hairy ape home.
If there's any funny business, you'll never get it.
I'll be there.
I'll own.
I'm sure you'll do as I say, Anthony,
because that diamond must mean a lot to you.
After all, you committed murder for it.
When I left the carter's office,
the taxi back to my apartment felt like a Turkish bath.
But so far, everything went exactly as Mahoney said it would.
He would have been proud of me.
I didn't muffle on.
Now, the worst that could happen to me was getting killed.
The prospect of this didn't appeal at all.
Besides, it took me 25 years to find a guy like Mahoney.
I was a little girl.
I was a little boy.
Besides, it took me 25 years to find a guy like Mahoney.
I wanted to stay around and enjoy him.
Once I got back to my apartment,
I had nothing to do but wait for the carter.
That's like waiting for poison to take effect.
I turned on every light and the radio.
I figured the soft music would help my nerves relax.
It didn't.
I smoked 16 cigarettes.
I know, I counted them.
I was sitting there trying to keep my mind,
as it is, off of unpleasant things.
And then...then I heard it.
It was the window opening.
Very softly in my bedroom.
Somebody had come up the fire escape into my room.
I should have known that the carter wouldn't take a chance
and come to see me alone like I told him.
He had one of his gorillas in my other room
to make sure that I'd be in his power.
This apparently had not occurred to Mahoney,
who thought he was so smart.
I got up from the couch and stood there listening.
The guy in there was coming closer
because I heard him knock my sewing basket over.
I looked around for an effective weapon.
Then I spotted it.
Just the thing. My big makeup case.
I picked it up, hefted it,
and I quietly kicked off my shoes
and strolled over to the bedroom doorway.
I leaned back against the wall out of sight
as the door started to open.
I could see that big gorilla standing there
with a gun in the dark, with his hat pulled down over his face.
Then he started to push his face out into the room.
Now look.
He fell back into the bedroom,
and I shut the door and stood there.
Oh, Mahoney, wherever you are, don't fail me now.
Who is it?
La Cara.
Oh, come in, Anthony.
I'm glad to see your prompt.
It's a sign of good upbringing.
You've got to play that radio.
Oh, I'm sorry.
You shouldn't keep such late hours, Anthony.
It's making you nervous.
Where's the diamond?
Gee, you're in a hurry. Got a date?
I've got to get back to the club.
All right, Anthony, but remember,
I don't care what you do with the diamond.
I just want 250 grand.
Our share, is that clear?
You'll get your share.
Good. Here's the diamond.
Had it in my handbag all evening.
Oh, the blue hour.
I saw it only once,
but I knew then that someday I'd have to have it.
You saw an ant trip in 1929. Isn't that right, Anthony?
How do you know?
I have a crystal ball.
You know too much.
Not any more than you do now, Anthony.
What was that reporter Mahoney doing here this evening?
Mahoney? I don't recall.
My man told me he was here.
Oh, oh, yeah, yeah.
He came for an exclusive interview of my life.
Did he tell you it was going to end tonight?
No.
You think for one minute I was going to let you run loose,
knowing what you do about me.
I still don't know how you could have been in that apartment
when I had to kill Jason.
So you did kill him. Mahoney was right.
Oh, Mahoney. I thought so.
Only don't count on him, sister,
because my boys are out looking for him now.
Anthony, let's talk this over, huh?
You can keep the diamond. It's yours.
You should have stuck to those clip joints back in Chicago.
That's where you belong.
No. No!
There you're press...
Lois. Lois, are you all right?
It's me, Mahoney. Mahoney.
Are you all right, beautiful? Are you all right?
I'm alive.
Oh, good.
Well, what did you have to hit me on the head for, you big dope?
Was that you?
Oh, you know, I almost didn't make it.
Well, I never would have spoken to you again, Mahoney.
In fact, I never would have spoken to anybody again, would I?
Oh, you're going to be all right now, honey.
I must have lost four pounds tonight.
Well, I never heard a woman complain about that before.
Come on. Come on, get up, honey. You're all right.
You're not hurt.
Hey, what's wrong?
Nothing. I'm just saying my prayers.
Okay, Miss LaPaule, would you mind facing the sun
just a little more so we can see the sparkle?
That's it.
Hey, are you going to collect the reward for turning up White's killer?
Yeah, Miss LaPaule, what about that?
Well, I didn't turn him up. Somebody else did.
Not the way I heard it.
Well, why are you going back to Chicago all of a sudden?
Oh, that's all, boys. I'm sorry.
Well, goodbye, Miss LaPaule.
Bye. Bye.
Well, now you're really famous, aren't you?
Mahoney, I thought when I didn't hear from you, I thought...
Well, I've been busy.
You didn't think I was going to let you run out on me, did you?
Oh, that. I never really thought about it one way or the other.
No?
No, I'm still extremely angry with you, as you may well imagine.
You haven't even bothered to explain.
Well, honey, it was this way.
LaCotta was with Jason White on his trip to Antwerp,
and he saw Jason buy the Blue Hour Diamond.
He offered him all sorts of dough for it, but he wouldn't sell.
And LaCotta never got over it.
Holy mackerel.
Well, he's over it now.
There's just one thing I want to know from you, Mahoney.
How did you know LaCotta killed Jason White?
Why, I didn't.
You... you... you mean everything I did?
Risking my life, playing games with a maniac,
was it all because you had a hunch?
That's right, baby. Never go wrong, Mahoney.
Oh!
Well, what are you going to do now, beautiful?
You're a rich woman now, you know.
How do you think that?
Well, the diamond legally belongs to you.
I think it would hold up in court.
Well, I know one thing for sure.
I'm giving up the ballet.
And for two things, I think I'll get married.
Oh. Society, I suppose.
Holy mackerel, you're a big dope, Mahoney.
It takes a lot of courage for a girl to do what I'm about to do.
Will you marry me?
Oh, I suppose so.
Oh, you sure?
Suspense!
Two Hour, starring Claire Trevor, presented by Roma Wines.
That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines,
selected from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines.
You get more enjoyment for your money when you serve Roma Wines,
because Roma makes absolutely sure of better taste
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Roma master ventners guide this luscious grape treasure
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These finer wines are laid aside with mellow Roma wines of years before,
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That's why Roma, that's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines,
are America's largest selling wines.
Miss Trevor will next be seen in the independent artist production,
The Velvet Touch.
Tonight's play was by Marty Schwartz.
Next Thursday, you will hear Kirk Douglas as star of Suspense!
Produced and directed by William Spear
for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.
Daylight saving time ends in certain areas September the 28th.
This may change the time at which Suspense is heard in your community.
Please check your local newspaper for the time at which this program
will be heard next Thursday and each Thursday thereafter.
In the coming weeks, Suspense will present such stars as Louis Jourdan,
Agnes Moorhead, and others.
Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense!
Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills.
This is CBS The Columbia Broadcasting System.