WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:14.760 Now, Auto Light and its 60,000 dealers and service stations present... 00:14.760 --> 00:17.760 Suspense! 00:17.760 --> 00:29.680 Tonight, Auto Light brings you Edmund Gwen in Murder in Black and White, a suspense play 00:29.680 --> 00:34.680 produced and directed by Anton M. Leader. 00:34.680 --> 00:41.240 Friends, have you got that faraway look in your eye for faraway places? 00:41.240 --> 00:44.080 Well, it's spring, so let's get going. 00:44.080 --> 00:49.000 Replace old narrow gap spark plugs with wide gap Auto Light resistor spark plugs. 00:49.000 --> 00:53.720 Your Carlisle smoother gives you better power and performance on leaner gas mixtures, actually 00:53.720 --> 00:55.320 save gas. 00:55.320 --> 00:59.160 You see, Auto Light regular type spark plugs have long been standard factory equipment 00:59.160 --> 01:01.520 on many leading makes of cars and trucks. 01:01.520 --> 01:05.960 And now six, that's right, six of these leading makes of cars and trucks have switched to 01:05.960 --> 01:12.320 Auto Light resistor type spark plugs for factory installation on their new 1949 models. 01:12.320 --> 01:16.800 The new Auto Light resistor spark plugs are tomorrow's spark plugs today. 01:16.800 --> 01:20.480 Remember, you're right with Auto Light. 01:20.480 --> 01:26.240 And now, Auto Light presents Edmund Gwen in a tale well calculated to keep you in. 01:26.240 --> 01:27.240 Suspense! 01:27.240 --> 01:29.240 Tom. 01:29.240 --> 01:31.240 Tom. 01:31.240 --> 01:33.240 Tom. 01:33.240 --> 01:48.240 He's asleep at last. 01:48.240 --> 01:58.120 Now, let's see. 01:58.120 --> 02:03.120 I wrap this blanket around the gun to muffle the sound. 02:03.120 --> 02:06.120 Aim about there. 02:06.120 --> 02:09.120 Then... 02:09.120 --> 02:12.120 Tom! 02:12.120 --> 02:15.120 Tom. 02:15.120 --> 02:21.000 Tom is dead. 02:21.000 --> 02:25.840 Now my notebook. 02:25.840 --> 02:29.720 Tab A, preliminary procedure. 02:29.720 --> 02:35.040 Yeah, yeah. 02:35.040 --> 02:39.120 Tab B, performance of murder. 02:39.120 --> 02:40.120 Yeah. 02:40.120 --> 02:41.120 Mm-hmm. 02:41.120 --> 02:43.120 Yes, yes. 02:43.120 --> 02:46.120 Everything has been carried out exactly as I planned it. 02:46.120 --> 02:49.120 Tom is dead. 02:49.120 --> 02:52.120 Now, 915. 02:52.120 --> 02:53.760 Good. 02:53.760 --> 02:56.720 Everything is working out right on schedule. 02:56.720 --> 03:02.600 Now Tab C, procedure to follow murder. 03:02.600 --> 03:05.480 Yeah, here it is. 03:05.480 --> 03:08.360 Replace pistol in my left jacket pocket. 03:08.360 --> 03:09.360 Mm-hmm. 03:09.360 --> 03:15.080 Fold blanket across foot of bed, making sure that it's not still smoldering from the discharge 03:15.080 --> 03:17.280 of the gun. 03:17.280 --> 03:23.360 Using clean handkerchief from breast pocket, wipe soda dispenser and replace on sideboard. 03:23.360 --> 03:30.040 Then, pick up decanter and glasses, take them to the kitchen. 03:30.040 --> 03:34.640 Wash glasses, dry them on handkerchief from breast pocket. 03:34.640 --> 03:36.840 Put them away. 03:36.840 --> 03:38.840 Holding with handkerchief. 03:38.840 --> 03:39.840 Yeah. 03:39.840 --> 03:42.240 Dry handkerchief with handkerchief. 03:42.240 --> 03:45.240 Return to Tom's room and restore it to sideboard. 03:45.240 --> 03:46.480 That's it. 03:46.480 --> 03:48.080 The decanter there. 03:48.080 --> 03:50.520 Replace handkerchief in breast pocket. 03:50.520 --> 03:53.720 Pull covers up around body on the bed. 03:53.720 --> 03:55.540 Put on my hat. 03:55.540 --> 03:57.640 Take off my gloves. 03:57.640 --> 04:00.880 Put them in my left hand pocket with gun. 04:00.880 --> 04:03.840 And place notebook in right hand pocket. 04:03.840 --> 04:09.120 Remember, there is no hurry. 04:09.120 --> 04:10.120 No. 04:10.120 --> 04:12.120 Oh, no. 04:12.120 --> 04:16.040 Now, now let me see. 04:16.040 --> 04:19.120 I believe I anticipated everything quite correctly. 04:19.120 --> 04:20.600 Oh, yes. 04:20.600 --> 04:23.120 Yes, the bedroom lights. 04:23.120 --> 04:25.880 I'll leave on the downstairs light, naturally. 04:25.880 --> 04:26.880 Yeah. 04:26.880 --> 04:27.880 Well, now 9.30. 04:27.880 --> 04:34.080 Thomasina and Clark can't possibly return before 11.30, and I doubt if they'll want 04:34.080 --> 04:37.080 to disturb Tom at that hour. 04:37.080 --> 04:38.080 No. 04:38.080 --> 04:43.480 No, I'll just stroll across town to my apartment house. 04:43.480 --> 04:48.600 People are quite accustomed to my taking a walk each evening after dinner. 04:48.600 --> 04:56.040 Then the train at 11 o'clock for my usual weekly business trip to the city. 04:56.040 --> 05:00.520 I'll go directly upon arriving in the city in the morning to my usual hotel. 05:00.520 --> 05:10.040 And shortly after that, someone should notify me of Tom's death. 05:10.040 --> 05:13.720 Yes. 05:13.720 --> 05:20.960 I believe this has been a most satisfactory murder. 05:20.960 --> 05:23.960 Yes. 05:23.960 --> 05:37.840 For suspense, Auto Light is bringing you Edmund Gwen in Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, 05:37.840 --> 05:38.840 Suspense. 05:38.840 --> 05:43.840 Hi, there, Arnold. 05:43.840 --> 05:47.920 Say, what's that? 05:47.920 --> 05:49.160 That's my sound man. 05:49.160 --> 05:54.160 To make this commercial dramatic, we start with the deep, solemn tone of a gong. 05:54.160 --> 05:57.400 Sound man, I said gong. 05:57.400 --> 06:02.320 Oh, well, let's say it's a trainload of car owners rushing to get wide gap Auto Light 06:02.320 --> 06:03.980 Resistor spark plugs. 06:03.980 --> 06:07.400 Because they know Auto Light Resistor spark plugs make an engine idle smoother, give better 06:07.400 --> 06:11.080 performance on leaner gas mixtures, actually save gas. 06:11.080 --> 06:16.180 Now have the sound of a happy engine idling more smoothly because it has wide gap Auto 06:16.180 --> 06:19.880 Light Resistor spark plugs instead of old narrow gap plugs. 06:19.880 --> 06:23.680 Hey, Arnold, that's a horse. 06:23.680 --> 06:25.160 Oh, that's sound man. 06:25.160 --> 06:29.680 Well, all right, let's say that's folks who missed the train galloping to town to get 06:29.680 --> 06:31.840 Auto Light Resistor spark plugs. 06:31.840 --> 06:35.400 And next, the happy hoot of a hilarious horn. 06:35.400 --> 06:40.400 That sounds like a big celebration. 06:40.400 --> 06:44.440 Sure, that's the way folks feel once they install Auto Light Resistor spark plugs because 06:44.440 --> 06:49.880 their engines idle smoother, give better performance on leaner gas mixtures, actually save gas. 06:49.880 --> 06:55.960 Arnold, before your sound man loses his head, let's get back to suspense. 06:55.960 --> 07:03.280 And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage, Edmund Gwynn as Rice Archer in 07:03.280 --> 07:14.600 Murder in Black and White, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 07:14.600 --> 07:16.160 I hope you had a nice trip, sir. 07:16.160 --> 07:17.160 Yes, very pleasant. 07:17.160 --> 07:18.160 Here you are, sir. 07:18.160 --> 07:19.160 Ah, yes, my regular room. 07:19.160 --> 07:20.160 Put my luggage on the floor there. 07:20.160 --> 07:21.160 Yes, sir. 07:21.160 --> 07:22.160 Thank you, boy. 07:22.160 --> 07:23.160 This is for you. 07:23.160 --> 07:24.160 Oh, thanks for nothing. 07:24.160 --> 07:25.160 My train was two minutes late in arriving, so it must be a long journey. 07:25.160 --> 07:26.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:26.160 --> 07:27.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:27.160 --> 07:28.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:28.160 --> 07:29.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:29.160 --> 07:30.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:30.160 --> 07:31.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:31.160 --> 07:32.160 I'll see you in a minute. 07:32.160 --> 07:35.960 It must be, yes, 832. 07:35.960 --> 07:38.360 Now my notebook. 07:38.360 --> 07:42.600 Tab C, item four. 07:42.600 --> 07:45.040 Procedure upon arrival in the city. 07:45.040 --> 07:46.040 I... 07:46.040 --> 07:52.480 Yeah, yeah, yeah, she is excellent, excellent. 07:52.480 --> 07:54.160 Your order, please. 07:54.160 --> 07:55.160 Room service, please. 07:55.160 --> 07:56.160 Just a minute, sir. 07:56.160 --> 07:57.160 Room service. 07:57.160 --> 07:58.160 This is room 459. 07:58.160 --> 07:59.160 459, yes, sir. 07:59.160 --> 08:00.160 I'd like to see you in a minute. 08:00.160 --> 08:02.160 Room 459. 08:02.160 --> 08:03.160 459, yes, sir. 08:03.160 --> 08:04.160 I'd like some grapefruit. 08:04.160 --> 08:05.160 Be sure that it's fresh. 08:05.160 --> 08:08.640 Two eggs boiled exactly one minute and a half. 08:08.640 --> 08:11.120 Three slices of whole-wheeled toast. 08:11.120 --> 08:14.160 I'd like this toasted exactly two minutes on each side. 08:14.160 --> 08:17.960 Plenty of butter, a pot of coffee with a double order of cream. 08:17.960 --> 08:18.960 Yes, sir. 08:18.960 --> 08:19.960 Oh, yes. 08:19.960 --> 08:23.640 And would you sit up at times and find out if there's an Amesville Gazette around, will 08:23.640 --> 08:24.640 you? 08:24.640 --> 08:25.640 Yes, sir. 08:25.640 --> 08:28.640 Let me see now. 08:28.640 --> 08:32.120 Undress, take a shower. 08:32.120 --> 08:34.560 Then shave and get dressed. 08:34.560 --> 08:36.520 Wear the blue shirt with matching tie. 08:36.520 --> 08:42.160 And by that time, breakfast should be served. 08:42.160 --> 08:44.040 Yes. 08:44.040 --> 08:47.040 Come in. 08:47.040 --> 08:50.600 Room service, sir. 08:50.600 --> 08:52.600 I'm sorry, sir, but there was no Amesville paper. 08:52.600 --> 08:53.800 It's not important. 08:53.800 --> 08:55.440 I have a niece who lives in Amesville. 08:55.440 --> 08:58.400 She works for an aircraft factory, the Hannigan Company. 08:58.400 --> 08:59.400 It's our company. 08:59.400 --> 09:01.600 That is, I'm a junior partner in the firm. 09:01.600 --> 09:05.440 The senior partner was... is Tom Hannigan. 09:05.440 --> 09:08.040 Well, I must remember to tell my niece. 09:08.040 --> 09:09.160 Will there be anything else, sir? 09:09.160 --> 09:10.160 No, no, no, thank you. 09:10.160 --> 09:11.440 I'll just sign the bill. 09:11.440 --> 09:13.640 I'm adding your gratuity to the bill. 09:13.640 --> 09:14.640 Thank you, sir. 09:14.640 --> 09:15.800 Perhaps you know my niece, sir. 09:15.800 --> 09:16.800 Her name is... 09:16.800 --> 09:18.880 I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the names of the employees. 09:18.880 --> 09:19.880 That'll be all, waiter. 09:19.880 --> 09:20.880 Yes, sir. 09:20.880 --> 09:21.880 Phew. 09:21.880 --> 09:27.320 I must be more careful. 09:27.320 --> 09:31.880 You almost referred to Tom in the past tense. 09:31.880 --> 09:34.560 I believe I should make a note of that. 09:34.560 --> 09:35.560 Yes. 09:35.560 --> 09:36.560 Yes. 09:36.560 --> 09:53.360 Be sure to speak of Tom in present tense until after the notification of his murder. 09:53.360 --> 09:54.880 Too bad I couldn't get the Amesville paper. 09:54.880 --> 09:58.840 But to have made an issue about them sending out for it would have been too pointed. 09:58.840 --> 10:00.920 Oh, perhaps the city paperwork. 10:00.920 --> 10:04.280 They must have discovered the body by this time. 10:04.280 --> 10:08.720 They probably haven't called or wired out of consideration of the hour. 10:08.720 --> 10:09.720 Yes. 10:09.720 --> 10:11.520 Yes, now let's see. 10:11.520 --> 10:13.480 Cold war gets warmer. 10:13.480 --> 10:16.440 President fishing in Gulf Stream. 10:16.440 --> 10:17.440 New highway. 10:17.440 --> 10:18.440 Politics. 10:18.440 --> 10:19.440 Benefit. 10:19.440 --> 10:20.440 Prominent citizen dies. 10:20.440 --> 10:21.440 Yes. 10:21.440 --> 10:22.440 Now, I'm going to go and get the Amesville paper. 10:22.440 --> 10:23.440 Yes, sir. 10:23.440 --> 10:26.440 Now, now the wrong one. 10:26.440 --> 10:27.440 Society. 10:27.440 --> 10:28.440 Sports. 10:28.440 --> 10:29.440 Drama. 10:29.440 --> 10:30.440 Oh, nothing. 10:30.440 --> 10:31.440 Nothing. 10:31.440 --> 10:35.840 It must be that it's just too early, of course. 10:35.840 --> 10:37.840 Of course, that's it. 10:37.840 --> 10:38.840 Yes. 10:38.840 --> 10:42.200 Fortunately, I've prepared for every possibility. 10:42.200 --> 10:45.440 All I have to do is to look in the notebook. 10:45.440 --> 10:47.720 It should be right here. 10:47.720 --> 10:48.720 Yes. 10:48.720 --> 10:49.720 Yes. 10:49.720 --> 10:54.800 Nothing in the morning paper and no notice received by time breakfast is served. 10:54.800 --> 10:57.600 Eat breakfast leisurely. 10:57.600 --> 11:03.600 Yes, then proceed with normal business calls, checking back with hotel at frequent intervals. 11:03.600 --> 11:04.600 Yes. 11:04.600 --> 11:05.600 That's it. 11:05.600 --> 11:06.600 That's it. 11:06.600 --> 11:07.600 Normalcy. 11:07.600 --> 11:09.600 Normalcy is the proper note. 11:09.600 --> 11:12.160 Now let's see. 11:12.160 --> 11:13.160 Plenty of butter. 11:13.160 --> 11:14.160 Toast. 11:14.160 --> 11:15.160 Just right. 11:15.160 --> 11:16.160 Time. 11:16.160 --> 11:17.160 Time. 11:17.160 --> 11:18.160 Time. 11:18.160 --> 11:19.160 Time. 11:19.160 --> 11:25.720 Well, Mr. Archer, I hope you didn't come in to tell me that the Hannigan Company can't 11:25.720 --> 11:27.000 deliver that order on time. 11:27.000 --> 11:28.000 Not at all. 11:28.000 --> 11:29.520 This is merely one of my courtesy calls. 11:29.520 --> 11:31.440 Tom and I like to keep our customers happy. 11:31.440 --> 11:35.320 Then all you have to do is to continue turning out precision parts as well as you have been. 11:35.320 --> 11:36.320 How is Tom? 11:36.320 --> 11:37.320 Tom, oh, Tom is fine. 11:37.320 --> 11:38.320 Hotel Sherman. 11:38.320 --> 11:39.320 Mr. Archer speaking. 11:39.320 --> 11:40.320 Mr. Archer speaking. 11:40.320 --> 11:41.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:41.320 --> 11:42.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:42.320 --> 11:43.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:43.320 --> 11:44.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:44.320 --> 11:45.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:45.320 --> 11:46.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:46.320 --> 11:47.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:47.320 --> 11:48.320 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:48.320 --> 11:49.360 Tom, I'm sorry. 11:49.360 --> 11:56.240 Tom, can I have another pair of gloves? 11:56.240 --> 11:57.240 Please? 11:57.240 --> 11:58.240 Mr. Archer speaking. 11:58.240 --> 11:59.240 Mr. Rice Archer, room 459. 11:59.240 --> 12:00.240 Are there any messages for me? 12:00.240 --> 12:01.240 Just a minute, Mr. Archer. 12:01.240 --> 12:02.240 I'll connect you with the desk clerk. 12:02.240 --> 12:03.240 Thank you. 12:03.240 --> 12:04.240 I must be sure I have this right. 12:04.240 --> 12:06.080 Tab C. Yes, here it is. 12:06.080 --> 12:07.480 Procedure with hotel clerk. 12:07.480 --> 12:09.980 And hm, hm, hm. 12:09.980 --> 12:11.580 Ah, good. 12:11.580 --> 12:12.680 Good. 12:12.680 --> 12:17.680 Ah, good. Good I have an answer for anything he may tell me. 12:17.680 --> 12:18.680 Yes, clerk. 12:20.680 --> 12:21.680 Hello, desk clerk. 12:21.680 --> 12:28.680 This is Mr. Rice Archer, room 459. Any messages, please? 12:28.680 --> 12:30.680 Just a minute, Mr. Archer. 12:30.680 --> 12:32.680 They are probably telephone, aren't they? 12:32.680 --> 12:33.680 Mr. Archer? 12:32.680 --> 12:33.680 Yeah? 12:33.680 --> 12:35.680 There's nothing for you, Mr. Archer. 12:36.680 --> 12:37.680 Nothing? 12:36.680 --> 12:37.680 Not a thing. 12:39.680 --> 12:40.680 Thank you. 12:40.680 --> 12:42.680 Very much. 12:59.680 --> 13:01.680 I'm really in town on business, Mr. Whiticum. 13:01.680 --> 13:05.680 But I couldn't resist stopping in long enough to see if there was anything new in jade on the market. 13:05.680 --> 13:14.680 I don't know if you're interested, Mr. Archer, but I've just heard that Joyner in Philadelphia is willing to sell his snuff box from the Ming dynasty. 13:14.680 --> 13:18.680 You know, it's white jade with an inlaid green dragon. 13:18.680 --> 13:20.680 Joyner is asking 12,000. 13:20.680 --> 13:22.680 From the Ming dynasty? Try to get it for me. 13:22.680 --> 13:25.680 All right, Mr. Archer. Business must be good. 13:25.680 --> 13:35.680 Business is... excellent. 13:35.680 --> 13:37.680 No, no one is called, Mr. Archer. 13:37.680 --> 13:39.680 And how's that old son of a gun Tom? 13:39.680 --> 13:42.680 Tom, he's... I believe he's fine. 13:42.680 --> 13:47.680 Not a thing, Mr. Archer. There's nothing for you, Mr. Archer. 13:47.680 --> 14:01.680 And sure, the eggs are one and a half minutes each. Three slices of whole wheat toast, toasted two minutes on each side, plenty of butter, a double order of cream with a pot of coffee, and that'll be all. 14:04.680 --> 14:09.680 24 hours since I arrived in the city and still no word? 14:09.680 --> 14:17.680 Well, there must have been some sort of slip-up at home in some manner, some manner perfectly plausible if I knew what it was. 14:17.680 --> 14:21.680 News of Tom's death has been delayed. 14:21.680 --> 14:27.680 It doesn't mean anything except my plan of action must be held up until someone calls me. 14:27.680 --> 14:31.680 Oh, surely I'll hear sometime during the day. 14:31.680 --> 14:43.680 It's nice of you to take me to lunch, Archer. I must say I look forward to your regular visits. 14:43.680 --> 14:44.680 How's Tom? 14:44.680 --> 14:47.680 Tom, I haven't... I mean, he's fine, very fine. 14:52.680 --> 14:57.680 Well, Archer, you certainly know your restaurants. That was quite a dinner. 14:57.680 --> 14:58.680 Thank you. 14:58.680 --> 15:04.680 You know, the last time I was talking to Tom, he mentioned you had a lot of bomber clips ordered by the government and then cancelled. 15:04.680 --> 15:11.680 He said you'd sell them cheaply since the government paid for the cancellation if someone could figure out a use for them. 15:11.680 --> 15:14.680 Well, I believe I've got an idea and I'd like to know what you and Tom think. 15:14.680 --> 15:17.680 Tom? Why, Tom's fine. 15:23.680 --> 15:24.680 Your order, please. 15:24.680 --> 15:25.680 Yes, clerk, please. 15:25.680 --> 15:28.680 Just a minute. 15:28.680 --> 15:29.680 Yes, clerk. 15:29.680 --> 15:35.680 This is Mr. Rice, Archer, room 459. Any... messages? 15:35.680 --> 15:37.680 No, no messages, Mr. Archer. 15:39.680 --> 15:47.680 I see. I'll be checking out in a few minutes, clerk. Taking the midnight train back to Amesville. 15:47.680 --> 15:56.680 You might send the boy up in 15 minutes and if there are any messages before I check out, you will call me, won't you? 16:06.680 --> 16:12.680 Two days away from home and not a word from anyone. Well, they must have discovered the body. 16:12.680 --> 16:18.680 Well, I'll be home in the morning. I'll go straight to the factory and then someone will tell me. 16:18.680 --> 16:24.680 Surely it's... of course, it's entirely possible that everyone thinks I've been told by someone else. Of course, of course, that's it. 16:24.680 --> 16:33.680 Things have been very strange today. Why, there have been times when I almost felt as if I hadn't killed Tom. 16:33.680 --> 16:35.680 That I'd imagined the whole business. 16:35.680 --> 16:43.680 Yes, it's really most fortunate that I wrote everything down in the notebook. I only have to reread it to remember... 16:43.680 --> 16:47.680 to remember that Tom is dead and that I killed him. 16:47.680 --> 16:54.680 Well, I'll be home in the morning. Nothing to worry about now. 16:54.680 --> 17:06.680 Now, I have everything in the notebook ready to say and do when I at last hear the news. 17:06.680 --> 17:16.680 Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Archer. Good morning. Good morning, sir. Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Archer. 17:16.680 --> 17:20.680 Strange. Everyone seems to be acting quite normally. 17:20.680 --> 17:28.680 Perhaps because they're only employees. Of course, that's it. The workers would feel no sorrow. They didn't know Tom was... as I did. 17:28.680 --> 17:34.680 Now, now, let me see. Normal procedure would be to let Clark Henry know I'm back. 17:34.680 --> 17:38.680 Yes. Miss Gordon, would you inform... Oh, never mind. Morning, Clark. 17:38.680 --> 17:41.680 Good morning, Mr. Archer. How was your trip to the city? 17:41.680 --> 17:48.680 Excellent, Clark. I managed to get a couple of orders increased substantially. Everything go all right here? 17:48.680 --> 17:57.680 Yeah. Sure. That's fine. How's Tom? Great. He'll probably be back to work in a day or two. 17:57.680 --> 18:03.680 He will? Fine. Excellent, in fact. Yeah, it'll be great to have him back, won't it, Mr. Archer? 18:03.680 --> 18:08.680 Oh, yes. Yes, yes. I was thinking about the additional orders. 18:08.680 --> 18:12.680 Tom will be glad to hear about those. You know how he worries about the business. 18:12.680 --> 18:18.680 Well, gotta get back to work. See you later, Mr. Archer. Yeah, yeah. 18:18.680 --> 18:29.680 Procedure following murder. What to say if notified of Tom's death by Thomas Senor, by Clark, by police? 18:29.680 --> 18:40.680 What to do if read of death in paper before personal notification? Everything. Everything except... 18:40.680 --> 18:45.680 Uncle Rice, you're back. Yeah. 18:45.680 --> 18:51.680 How was the wicked city, Uncle Rice? Like... like it always is. Everything is normal. 18:51.680 --> 18:54.680 Uncle Rice. Yeah. What is it, Thomas Senor? 18:54.680 --> 19:02.680 Purple lipstick. See? I'm going to leave lathers of it on Clark's cheek. You know why? He proposed last night. 19:02.680 --> 19:08.680 Congratulations. I suppose your father will be pleased. 19:08.680 --> 19:12.680 Tom, he was delighted. We're going to have an engagement party tomorrow night. 19:12.680 --> 19:16.680 Couldn't have it until after you got back. Tom wouldn't hear of it. 19:16.680 --> 19:21.680 Tom? How is he? Fine. Tom's fine. 19:27.680 --> 19:31.680 Mr. Archer, I'm going home early. I'm not feeling too well and tomorrow's a big day. 19:31.680 --> 19:34.680 But I'm taking some work home with me. Yeah, yeah, yes, of course. 19:34.680 --> 19:37.680 I suppose you'll be going over tonight to tell Tom about the new orders. 19:37.680 --> 19:39.680 Oh, yeah, yes, that might be a good idea. 19:39.680 --> 19:42.680 You'll be tickled to death to hear about him. You know Tom. 19:48.680 --> 19:51.680 Oh, Mr. Archer. Yeah? What is it, Miss Gordon? 19:51.680 --> 19:55.680 Clark Henley just called. He said he'd taken one of the account books home with him. 19:55.680 --> 19:59.680 And he suddenly thought you might see it was missing and worry about it. 19:59.680 --> 20:02.680 So he just wanted you to know he had it. Oh, which account book? 20:02.680 --> 20:05.680 Mr. Henley said he had the one covering our old government contracts. 20:05.680 --> 20:10.680 He but why? Well, Mr. Henley ordered a general audit for tomorrow. 20:10.680 --> 20:13.680 And he said he wanted to go over that book tonight. 20:13.680 --> 20:18.680 Why, Mr. Archer, what's wrong? You've turned as white as a sheet. 20:23.680 --> 20:30.680 Order. Order and control. Those are the important things. 20:30.680 --> 20:34.680 There must be a logical explanation why they haven't told me about Tom. 20:34.680 --> 20:38.680 Why Clark has ordered an audit? And why he's looking into our government contracts? 20:38.680 --> 20:42.680 Everything is in my notebook. Yes. 20:42.680 --> 20:50.680 Here it is. Plan for killing Tom Hannigan. Reasons why murder is necessary. 20:50.680 --> 20:53.680 The government contracts. Yes. 20:53.680 --> 20:56.680 Yes, it was so easy when the war was over and everything was being cleaned up 20:56.680 --> 20:58.680 to make the government pay twice for the orders. 20:58.680 --> 21:02.680 Just a few little changes in the books and that money was mine. 21:02.680 --> 21:06.680 It wasn't like taking the money from Tom or our regular customers. 21:06.680 --> 21:10.680 And it wasn't as if I was spending the money foolishly. No. 21:10.680 --> 21:13.680 No, it was spent on my jade collection. 21:13.680 --> 21:17.680 But Tom might have misunderstood him, might have called it stealing 21:17.680 --> 21:21.680 and I would have been put in jail. I wouldn't have had my jade. 21:21.680 --> 21:29.680 No, no, no. When Tom was ill, he started thinking about the government orders. 21:29.680 --> 21:35.680 Maybe Clark Henley put him up to it. He... 21:35.680 --> 21:42.680 Yes. I didn't think of that. All I knew was that I could let Tom live 21:42.680 --> 21:45.680 and lose all that was dear to me, which was unthinkable, 21:45.680 --> 21:49.680 or I could kill Tom and keep everything. 21:49.680 --> 21:54.680 Now I did put Tom to sleep and I did shoot him. 21:54.680 --> 21:59.680 And here, Tom's daughter who loved him giggles about her purple lipstick 21:59.680 --> 22:02.680 or it's unseemly. I'll demand that she... 22:02.680 --> 22:08.680 No, no. Order, order and control. 22:08.680 --> 22:14.680 Now what, what, what would be the normal procedure? 22:14.680 --> 22:16.680 Yes, course. 22:16.680 --> 22:19.680 The phone rings. 22:23.680 --> 22:25.680 Mr Hannigan's residence. 22:25.680 --> 22:27.680 Evening, Ethel. This is Mr Archer. 22:27.680 --> 22:29.680 Well, hello, Mr Archer. 22:29.680 --> 22:31.680 Is Mr Hannigan there? 22:31.680 --> 22:33.680 Yes, sir. You want to talk to him? 22:33.680 --> 22:35.680 Yes, please. 22:35.680 --> 22:37.680 Just a minute. 22:37.680 --> 22:41.680 Hey, Mr Tom. Mr Tom. 22:41.680 --> 22:46.680 Well, I guess he's sleeping, Mr Archer, but I'll tell him you called. 22:46.680 --> 22:48.680 He ain't feeling so good this afternoon. 22:48.680 --> 22:52.680 What seems to be trouble? 22:52.680 --> 22:55.680 Oh, he must have ate something. Something that didn't sit right. 22:55.680 --> 22:58.680 He's got kind of an ache-like, kind of a pain. 22:58.680 --> 23:01.680 Oh, you might call it heartburn. 23:01.680 --> 23:05.680 Oh, too bad. Bye. 23:05.680 --> 23:10.680 Bye. Clark, Thomasina. 23:10.680 --> 23:15.680 Now the housekeeper. Heartburn. 23:15.680 --> 23:19.680 Doesn't anyone know that Tom's dead except me? 23:19.680 --> 23:23.680 I can't be the only one. I've got to tell. I've got... 23:23.680 --> 23:29.680 No, no. Order and control. 23:29.680 --> 23:33.680 Yes, yes, I've got to think this out. I... 23:33.680 --> 23:38.680 Now, look here. I know. I know that Tommy's dead. 23:38.680 --> 23:43.680 I saw him die. But Clark and Thomasina announced an engagement, plan a party. 23:43.680 --> 23:46.680 Clark... 23:46.680 --> 23:50.680 Clark, Thomasina will do anything, he says. 23:50.680 --> 23:54.680 Clark ordered an audit of the books for tomorrow. 23:54.680 --> 23:59.680 Clark took home the book of government accounts, the book I had to alter. 23:59.680 --> 24:03.680 Clark. 24:03.680 --> 24:08.680 That's it. Uninterfering bibsqueak. I'll fire him right now. 24:08.680 --> 24:13.680 No. No, no, no, no, no. Better think it out. Think it out. 24:13.680 --> 24:18.680 Order, control. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. That's a better idea. 24:18.680 --> 24:23.680 Now, I shot Tom. I know I did. Because I wasn't sure I could stab him. 24:23.680 --> 24:27.680 A human being is a human being's frailness. Tom was my friend, had been for 20 years. 24:27.680 --> 24:31.680 It was just unthinkable that I could take a knife and stab him. I couldn't do a thing like that to a man who was my friend. 24:31.680 --> 24:35.680 No. No, that's why I shot him. 24:35.680 --> 24:40.680 But I... I can stab young Clark Henley. 24:40.680 --> 24:43.680 Impudent, interfering Clark Henley. 24:43.680 --> 24:50.680 Pierce him like a child's balloon. He's home now. Now. Looking for the mistake that'll catch me. 24:50.680 --> 24:53.680 My notebook. 24:53.680 --> 24:57.680 We'll take a new page for this. Yes. Yes. 24:57.680 --> 25:05.680 Plan for killing Clark Henley. 25:05.680 --> 25:08.560 The 25:09.680 --> 25:12.680 The 25:19.680 --> 25:22.680 Evening, Clark. Well, hello, Mr. Archer. 25:22.680 --> 25:26.680 How are you? I wanted to talk to you about something. I hope I'm not intruding. 25:26.680 --> 25:31.680 Not at all. Come right in. In fact, I'm glad you came. We were just talking about you. 25:31.680 --> 25:35.680 We? Yes, Tom and I. 25:35.680 --> 25:37.680 Tom? Yes, he's in the kitchen mixing a drink. 25:37.680 --> 25:41.680 Come on out, Tom. Mr. Archer's here. 25:41.680 --> 25:45.680 No. No, he can't be. Tom. Tom's dead. 25:45.680 --> 25:48.680 What did you say? How did you know Tom is dead? 25:48.680 --> 25:52.680 Well, it was either my notebook, it's right here, it's tab, it must be one of them. 25:52.680 --> 25:53.680 I'll take that notebook. 25:53.680 --> 25:58.680 And now? Yes. Yes. Just as I thought. 25:58.680 --> 26:02.680 All right, officer, here's the whole story in this little notebook. 26:02.680 --> 26:06.680 I guess you were right, Mr. Henley, but I never thought I'd see anything like this. 26:06.680 --> 26:08.680 No, no, you can't. You can't do this. It isn't the way I planned it. 26:08.680 --> 26:12.680 I knew we'd trap him this way. He's never been able to do anything without preparing a notebook. 26:12.680 --> 26:17.680 Tom told me you couldn't even hire a secretary without planning all the dialogue in advance and writing it out. 26:17.680 --> 26:20.680 Right. That's why I made everyone pretend Tom was still alive. 26:20.680 --> 26:23.680 I knew if he didn't have all the answers in his little book, he'd have to break. 26:23.680 --> 26:26.680 Break. Break. Well, come along, Archer. 26:26.680 --> 26:32.680 No, it really wasn't fair. 26:32.680 --> 26:36.680 Not telling me. 26:36.680 --> 26:41.680 And I had it all written down. 26:41.680 --> 27:01.680 Black and white. 27:01.680 --> 27:03.680 Thank you, Edmund Gwen. 27:03.680 --> 27:07.680 Friends, Autolite Resistor Spark Plugs, our ignition engineered by Autolite, 27:07.680 --> 27:14.680 which makes over 400 products for trucks, cars, airplanes, and boats in 28 Autolite plants from coast to coast. 27:14.680 --> 27:19.680 Yes, sir, and Autolite also makes complete electrical systems for many makes of America's finest cars. 27:19.680 --> 27:23.680 Spark plugs, batteries, generators, starting motors, coils, distributors. 27:23.680 --> 27:29.680 All engineered to fit together perfectly, work together perfectly, because they're a perfect team. 27:29.680 --> 27:33.680 So, folks, don't accept electrical parts that are supposed to be as good. 27:33.680 --> 27:40.680 Ask for and insist on Autolite original factory parts at your neighborhood service station, car dealer, garage, or repair shop. 27:40.680 --> 27:51.680 Remember, you're always right with Autolite. 27:51.680 --> 27:54.680 Now here again is our star, Mr. Edmund Gwen. 27:54.680 --> 27:58.680 You know, I really enjoyed returning to the Suspense Playhouse. 27:58.680 --> 28:03.680 This program is a favorite of most Hollywood actors, and much of their enthusiasm comes from the opportunities 28:03.680 --> 28:07.680 Suspense gives them to play a different kind of part. 28:07.680 --> 28:08.680 See? 28:08.680 --> 28:11.680 Well, for instance, I'm sure you're going to want to hear next week's show, 28:11.680 --> 28:18.680 when Betty Grable appears in an unusual role in a story called The Copper Tea Strainer. 28:18.680 --> 28:25.680 Another gripping study in Suspense. 28:25.680 --> 28:30.680 Edmund Gwen appeared through arrangement with MGM, producers of the Technicolor picture Little Women, 28:30.680 --> 28:34.680 starring June Allison, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien, and Elizabeth Taylor. 28:34.680 --> 28:40.680 Tonight's Suspense Play was adapted for radio by Eli David from a story by Ann Wormser and Jess Oppenheimer. 28:40.680 --> 28:44.680 Music was composed by Lucian Morrowek and conducted by Ludd Gluskin. 28:44.680 --> 28:51.680 The entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Lieder. 28:51.680 --> 28:56.680 You can buy autolight resistor spark plugs, autolight staple batteries, autolight electrical parts 28:56.680 --> 29:01.680 at your neighborhood autolight dealers. Switch to autolight. Good night. 29:01.680 --> 29:05.680 This is Cancer Control Month. Do your share in the fight to control this vicious killer 29:05.680 --> 29:09.680 by generously supporting the American Cancer Society. 29:09.680 --> 29:25.680 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.