1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,000 Now, Auto Light and its 60,000 dealers and service stations present Suspense. 2 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:25,520 Tonight, Auto Light brings you Miss Betty Grable in The Copper Tea Strainer, a suspense 3 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:36,560 play produced and directed by Antonin Leader. Friends, even a camel can't compete with an 4 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,960 Auto Light Stay Full Battery because an Auto Light Stay Full Battery needs water only three 5 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:47,880 times a year in normal car use. Yes, sir, that dandy dynamic dependable Auto Light Stay Full 6 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:54,160 Battery needs water only three times a year in normal car use. An Auto Light Stay Full Battery 7 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:59,920 has extra plates too for extra power, protected by fiberglass insulation for longer life and 8 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:05,160 stronger life. Why, in recent tests conducted according to the Society of Automotive Engineers 9 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:10,560 life cycle standards, Auto Light Stay Full Batteries gave 70 percent longer average life 10 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:16,720 than batteries without all these features. So remember, be battery right, switch to Auto Light. 11 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:26,080 And now, Auto Light presents Betty Grable in a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 12 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:38,720 I was in the two by four dressing room changing into my street clothes. It was raining beating 13 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:44,280 down on the low skylight like a fury. It made such a racket that I didn't hear a thing until 14 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:50,160 a buzzer rang and the outer door opened. The first I heard your voice, I was sorry for you. 15 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:55,240 You sounded tired and you had a cold. You'd be surprised if I ever told you, 16 00:01:55,240 --> 00:02:00,400 but I wasn't frightened at all when you spoke to Irwin. You, the photographer who runs this place? 17 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:07,080 I'm James Irwin and this is my port away to say yes. You have some work to do? I got work to do. 18 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:18,960 Is there a name named Jeannie Dunn here, Irwin? When you said my name, I got a little scared 19 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:24,720 without knowing why. I'd been modeling a sun suit and I was cold anyway. Irwin was never a guy to 20 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:30,800 pay for decent heating. Now I got cold way inside and my fingers trembled as I tried to zip my dress. 21 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:36,400 I leaned against the partition to try and hear better, but the rain was too loud. I couldn't 22 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:42,240 figure out why I was so jittery. I was blank. I couldn't remember what had happened all day 23 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:49,360 or yesterday, but I knew you were dangerous to me and I had to find out why. I opened the door 24 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:56,480 a crack to hear better. Oh, Jeannie's posed for me for the past five years of an army. Say, 25 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:01,400 why don't you wait until she gets dressed and ask her yourself? Any pictures of her handy? 26 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:10,920 Say who I... Easy, easy. This is police business. Oh. And that was all it took to make Irwin dangerous 27 00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:17,440 too. Then he was against me. I stood there hidden by the door, sick of you pawing through my pictures, 28 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:23,960 even sicker of Irwin fawning over you because you were a cop. She's really stacked, isn't she, 29 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:29,060 Cap? But if she's done anything wrong, don't worry. I'll tell you all I can't believe me. 30 00:03:29,060 --> 00:03:34,800 I'll cooperate. I believe you. You're the type. I couldn't stay out of sight any longer. I slipped 31 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:40,200 into my shoes and stepped out from behind the door. Miss Jeannie Dunn. What do you want, Mr.? I want 32 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:46,760 to find out a few facts. You live with your mother, don't you? Sure, the old lady's an invalid. Hey, 33 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:52,160 what happened? Shut up. I'm talking to Miss Dunn. She's got a boyfriend too. She might not tell you 34 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:57,480 herself, Cap. Get out of the room. Get out and stay out until I call you. Hey, look, Miss Irwin. Get out. 35 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:07,600 Okay, all right. Thanks for that anyhow. But look about Ted Warp. If it's anything you're trying to 36 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:15,560 pin on Ted, then Irwin's right. I won't talk. I didn't mention that name, did I? Ted wouldn't do 37 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:21,840 a thing. Nothing wrong. What time do you usually leave home for work, Miss? About eight, if it's 38 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:29,200 any of your affair. Yes, I'm afraid it is. Could you be more specific? Describe your routine, say, 39 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:35,960 this morning, for example. This morning? I've had such a headache all day, I really don't know about 40 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:43,720 this morning. Actually, I can't remember. Most mornings I get up about 6.30 and fix breakfast. 41 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:50,080 Does your mother eat with you? My friend, Mr. Irwin, told you. My mother's not well. She stays in bed 42 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:56,040 until noon. And you leave her breakfast ready for her? That's right. Being sick, your mother 43 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:02,360 hasn't much appetite, has she, Miss? No. I leave her teacup on the kitchen table with the tea measured 44 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:06,520 out in a strainer ready to pour hot water through. Now, mister, you'd better tell me what... How long 45 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:12,160 you've been going with this fellow? What's his name, Ted? A year or so, but... How old are you? I beg 46 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:22,240 your pardon, Miss. Thirty. About thirty. Plan to marry him? Why, yes, as soon as... Well, as soon as 47 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:31,840 possible. What, with supporting your mother? Excuse me, prices nowadays, a dollar don't go far. You 48 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:38,960 better take care of that coal, mister. Thank you. Are your mother and Ted Wark friendly? You better 49 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:46,520 take care of that coal. I repeated that stupidly so as not to hear your questions. Then I stared at 50 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:51,480 something you fished out of your coat pocket. I felt the arteries jumping on the sides of my neck. 51 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:56,640 You were looking at my neck. Maybe I could ask you sometime if that was a tip-off you learned by 52 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:01,840 studying people like me. You toyed with the thing in your hand and it picked up a sliver of light 53 00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:08,640 from a flood lamp. It sparkled like a jewel. Only it wasn't any more a jewel in any of the 54 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:18,760 junk on my bureau. It was a common tea strainer made out of bright new copper. You watched me and 55 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:23,280 spun the thing by the handle between your finger and thumb. I couldn't stop looking at the shiny 56 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:30,160 wire, mesh like a net. Well, Miss, what do you say? Are your mother and Ted Wark friendly? 57 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:40,960 Suddenly my mind cleared. Everything I'd managed to block out came back. Everything. There was no 58 00:06:40,960 --> 00:07:00,960 more escaping the past or you. Stop playing with that tea strainer. Put that thing away. Get it out of my sight. 59 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:11,880 Your suspense. Auto Light is bringing you Betty Grable in Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspend. 60 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:28,640 Harlow. Harlow, you're on. No, no, I refuse to go on tonight. Why Harlow? I'm hurt. Auto Light won't let me say what I want to say about Auto Light's stay full batteries. 61 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:34,200 The sponsor won't let you talk about his product? I tell you half they inhibit my artistic expression. 62 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,280 I want to sling wonderful words about my personal experience with Auto Light's stay full batteries. 63 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:43,960 And all they'll let me say is, Auto Light's stay full battery needs water only three times a year in normal car use. 64 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:49,080 Yep, needs water only three times a year in normal car use. Well, that's important. 65 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:56,000 What's more, half an Auto Light's stay full battery has extra plates protected by fiberglass insulation for stronger life and longer life. 66 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:03,800 Folks want to know those things, Harlow. Now, I'm sure. And in recent tests conducted according to the Society of Automotive Engineers life cycle standards, 67 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:09,160 Auto Light's stay full batteries did give 70% longer average life than batteries without all these features. 68 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:16,360 Well, now Harlow, folks should be told those facts. Well, maybe you're right, half. Maybe I shouldn't be angry. Maybe I should put in a commercial right here. 69 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,440 Oh, it's too late, Harlow. Here's Suspend. 70 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:30,520 And now, Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Betty Grable as Jeannie in The Copper Tea Strainer. 71 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:36,000 A tale well calculated to keep you in Suspend. 72 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,400 Can you think that away and keep sitting in a chair talking and acting normal? 73 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:52,240 I did, Mr. Detective. At the side of the tea strainer, you kept spinning between your fingers. 74 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:57,320 A cold blackness paralyzed me and our two voices seemed to be coming from a great distance. 75 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:04,080 My stomach felt sick. You hit at me with questions and I fought with all my will to keep from giving dangerous answers. 76 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:12,720 The rain banged louder on the skylight. A flood lamp sputtered out. Am I breathing quite a down? 77 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:18,960 You said your mother and Ted Wark are friendly? Yes, yes, I told you. Where did you get that tea strainer? 78 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:24,160 Five and Dimes store. Why, Miss? Nothing. 79 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:29,800 You, you leave your mother's breakfast ready for her? 80 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:37,840 Hadn't you asked me that before too? I wasn't sure. But the words started in memories flashing through my mind like jumping movie scenes. 81 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:43,640 You studied me with your tired expressionless eyes, but you couldn't see into my memory. 82 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:55,960 The nagging clatter of my alarm clock at home was waking me one morning, any morning except today. 83 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,720 The others were all alike for the last ten years. 84 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,320 All right, you devil, get up. 85 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:10,400 Lord, another day. Dear, are you awake? Yes, mother. Sleep well? 86 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:18,640 I'm always in pain, you know that, dear. If you're up, you could rub my back a while before you have breakfast, dear. 87 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:28,800 Yes, mother. Oh, now you're so fortunate to be able to eat a hearty meal and have a career that takes you out into the world. 88 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:34,040 Why, why, why, here in pain? Oh, I'm not complaining. It's just... Yes, mother. 89 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:38,520 Hadn't you better take your medicine before I rub your back? Oh, my medicine. Oh, yes, indeed. 90 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,960 And, Jean, don't forget to have the prescription refilled. It's getting low and I can't bear a day without... 91 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:49,360 I'm sure there's plenty, mother. I'll get it for you now. And I wish you would. I don't know how I have to... 92 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:55,560 I went into the bathroom while mother kept droning on and on. The bottle was almost empty. 93 00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:59,240 Mother, you haven't been taking more than you should have this, have you? 94 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:08,720 Don't be absurd. You heard the doctor say that my medicine, more than one capsule a day, is poison. 95 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:14,000 She talked and talked, accusing me of being careless with her medicine and neglecting her. 96 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,840 She said if it hadn't been for me, she would still be on the stage and famous. 97 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:26,840 But I realized she was in pain and unhappy and some mornings I was afraid all of my strength would be drained before I could get away from her. 98 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,560 Especially when she harped on Ted and me getting married. 99 00:11:30,560 --> 00:11:36,800 Dear, don't be angry, but I simply must ask whether you're serious with your young man this time. 100 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:43,920 This time? Well, after all, Jean, in the past years there were several young men I certainly thought you were going to become engaged to. 101 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:49,440 And every single one lost interest. Oh, mother. Oh, yes, they did. You can't deny it. 102 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,680 At your age, dear, a good has to consider her future. 103 00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:59,880 Now, that young man, William something, he surely wanted to marry you and he had a bit of money too. 104 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:05,400 Now, why did he stop coming to see you, dear? Was it anything you might have told him? 105 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,080 You're trying to use me to excuse your own shortcomings, dear. 106 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:18,000 But on earth, how could I scare away any of your young men? When I was on the stage, young men used to flock around me like bees. 107 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:25,040 And now your Ted certainly thinks well enough of me to bring me flowers and look at my scrapbooks, even if my own daughter... 108 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:31,840 I wonder how long that will go on. When will you ask him whether he thinks a daughter has the right to let a helpless old invalid die alone? 109 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,040 Horrible, horrible girl. Oh, have you asked him that already? 110 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:43,320 After the sacrifices I've made for you, ruining my own health, destroying my youth and my career so that you would have the best from life. 111 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,200 Oh, mother. 112 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:56,560 Perhaps the easiest way for both of us would be for me to not try and hang on to this mortal coil any longer, to close my eyes and never wake up. 113 00:12:56,560 --> 00:13:07,520 She used death as a weapon against me many times. I felt weak and nauseated, although I was certain she was bluffing. 114 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:14,640 And I would rush out with no breakfast and a panic to feel the healthy life of the city around me and lose myself in the traffic and crowds. 115 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:24,240 A rotten deal, isn't it, Miss? 116 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:25,480 Huh? 117 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:31,800 Honest, I'm interested in you and Ted Wark. You're serious about each other? 118 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,880 What are you getting at, mister? What's happened? I have a right to know. 119 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,960 You two really in love? 120 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:46,640 You paid no attention to my panic. You kept prodding me with that question and twirling the tea strainer. Faster now, it seemed to me. 121 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:55,120 Was I really in love with Ted? I couldn't have answered even if I'd wanted to. How can you tell a stranger your dreams? 122 00:13:55,120 --> 00:14:03,400 Miss, tell me. Exactly what's the matter with your mother? What treatment is she getting? 123 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:13,200 That was funny. Ted asked almost the same question last night. You'd give a lot to know about last night, but you'll never get a word out of me. 124 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:22,520 If you had seen Ted and me last night, you wouldn't have had to ask if we were in love. 125 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:28,000 Last night was one of those miserably few times I found a neighbor to come sit with Mother. 126 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:42,200 And Ted took me to a little neighborhood bar where they have a jukebox and postage stamp dance floor. We were dancing crowded in like cigarettes in a pack. 127 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:49,200 How about a kiss, baby? Ted, not right here in public. 128 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:54,600 Nobody here but us, Jeannie. Us and the mob. 129 00:14:54,600 --> 00:15:01,800 Anyway, it's just as crowded as Ciro's. They tell me. We'll get to the ritzy places someday, baby. We got it coming to us. 130 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:10,400 Oh, darling, you make it sound real sometimes. You stick it out a little longer, baby, and it will be real. Just trust me. There's always ways. 131 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:19,200 Sure. A million bucks. A million would help. Oh, forget the gloom, honey. Your feet had enough of my dancing. 132 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:25,400 Uh-uh. You want another beer, you mean? Well, there is a booth. Hey, watch where you're going, you biggie. 133 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,000 Ted! Ted, don't start a fight. Come on. 134 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:33,600 I should have poked him. 135 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:38,800 Maybe you'll tame me down, baby. Here, sit next to me. 136 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:48,000 I don't want to reform you, darling. It's not that. But if anything happened to you, I'd die inside of me. 137 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:56,000 Oh, baby, I don't know the words like you do. How can I tell you? You don't have to tell me in words, darling. 138 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:05,200 I want to, though. Somehow I want you to know. I love you, Jeannie, more than at first. And I was crazy about you then. 139 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:13,600 We could be so happy together. Together? Yeah, that's what we both want more than anything else in the world, isn't it, baby? 140 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:19,200 Ted, what's the matter? Huh? Matter? Oh, there's nothing to matter. I'm just figuring things out. 141 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,200 What do you folks have? Fund? Oh, what'll it be, honey? 142 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:27,200 Beer's fine. Two beers, huh? Yeah, all right. Coming up. 143 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,400 Then we'll have to be leaving. I promised Mrs. Grogan I'd get home by midnight. 144 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:38,000 Oh, baby, you promised me we'd make a night of it. I'm sorry, Ted. But mother was worse this evening before I left. 145 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:44,200 Jeannie, what really ails your mother? The doctor has a long list. She's pretty bad off. 146 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,800 Nothing's bad enough for her to keep you chained on like a slave. 147 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:53,000 Ted, tell me the truth. Has she gotten to you with her... her talk? 148 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:57,400 Oh, honey, don't listen. Ted, please. I want the truth. 149 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,800 Well, I bring her flowers and try to win her over, Jeannie, but it's no soap. 150 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,200 She says, what do I want to do? Kill her by taking you away from her? 151 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:11,400 She said that, huh? She did. I'm glad I know that. I'm glad I know that for sure. 152 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:16,800 Look, maybe it's because she's so sick. Maybe... maybe she's not getting the right treatment. 153 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:21,600 Say, what is the doctor giving her? Some stuff and capsules mixed with strychnine. 154 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:28,400 Strychnine? Right. That's poison. Yes, she has to be very careful. 155 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:32,000 You, uh, need a prescription for that, don't you? Uh-huh. 156 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:37,800 Here, I'll show you the prescription. I have it somewhere in my handbag. Oh, here. 157 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:43,400 Yeah, my Latin's sort of rusty. Excuse me, Ted. I'll freshen up and we'll go. 158 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,600 Be right back. Okay, baby. 159 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:53,400 The mirror in that dingy little powder room was cracked and clouded, 160 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:58,400 but I could see my own face all too clear as I tried to dab on some rouge. 161 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,500 My face was an old face with a thin, cruel mouth. 162 00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:06,500 I tried to remember how I looked ten years ago when I had the screen test. 163 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:10,700 I was Garbo and Dietrich, only younger, the director said. 164 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:16,100 It was then my mother started getting sick and needing me. 165 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:21,000 I looked into the mirror and saw my strange, pinched face. 166 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,100 That was when the whole plan formed in my mind, 167 00:18:25,100 --> 00:18:28,600 as I stared into that cloudy mirror. 168 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,400 Excuse me, miss. You better take care of that comb. 169 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:47,200 Yeah, thanks. Now, tell me, did Ted Wark ever blame your mother? 170 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,500 Did he ever say that she stood in the way of your marriage? 171 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:51,600 I never told you any such thing. Ted wouldn't have done... 172 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,300 Done what, miss? Mother's dead, isn't she? 173 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:58,000 You're not very subtle. Why else would the police persecute me? She's dead. 174 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,800 You believe your mother was killed, miss? 175 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,700 No, no. You keep putting words into my mouth. 176 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:05,400 Maybe she was worried about being in the way. 177 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:06,700 Would your mother have been likely to have... 178 00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:11,400 Mother suffered night and day. I suppose that's why she acted so depressed. 179 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,100 The tea would have been the... What tea? 180 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:14,500 Oh, leave me alone. Please. 181 00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:18,900 You believe your mother took her own life by making herself a poisoned cup of tea 182 00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:22,400 because she didn't want to be a burden any longer? 183 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:27,100 Yes. Yes, that's what must have happened. 184 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:35,300 But I lied. You led me into that lie. 185 00:19:35,300 --> 00:19:40,800 And then because I couldn't help myself, I relived the most terrible day of my life. 186 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:44,300 A day I'll never confess to you or to anyone on earth. 187 00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:49,300 I woke up this morning with a headache, the pain running deep back of my eyes. 188 00:19:49,300 --> 00:19:53,900 I had a feeling of dread with the thought of last night in the mirror. 189 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:56,800 Are you awake, dear? Yes. 190 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,800 Oh, I haven't slept a wink, Gene. 191 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:03,900 Oh, Gene, did you get my prescription filled as I asked you to? 192 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:06,000 No, but there's plenty. 193 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,100 Well, out later than usual. 194 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:14,500 Last night weren't you, dear? I don't mind for myself, but it is an imposition on Mrs. Grogan. 195 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:17,300 Oh, your young man's such an amazing person. 196 00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:25,300 She must have gone on complaining, as usual, but I didn't hear her. 197 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:30,500 I seemed to be moving in a strange world, all my own, as I dressed and went into the kitchen. 198 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:32,900 Sounds lost their familiarity. 199 00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:38,300 The sharp tinkle of tableware hurt my ears as I went about setting the table. 200 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:42,300 When I put her teacup in its regular place in the center of the faded blue cloth, 201 00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:44,500 the spoon fell against the saucer. 202 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:47,800 It was like a fall rasping a slate in my ears. 203 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,100 I ran from the kitchen to get the medicine bottle from the cabinet. 204 00:20:52,100 --> 00:20:54,100 There were only two capsules left. 205 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:56,300 My heart was pounding. 206 00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:59,300 I was so worried about my son. 207 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:03,100 Only enough for two normal doses. 208 00:21:03,100 --> 00:21:05,100 Not enough for... 209 00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:08,100 I yanked my coat on and ran out the front door. 210 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:10,100 I hadn't planned on this. 211 00:21:10,100 --> 00:21:13,100 I ran all the way to the corner drugstore. 212 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:16,500 I ran all the way to the corner drugstore. 213 00:21:29,100 --> 00:21:30,100 Oh. 214 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:33,300 Oh, I never do hear that door open. 215 00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:37,000 Why, why, Jean, is your marlbat off? 216 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:37,900 No. 217 00:21:37,900 --> 00:21:39,500 Well, yes. 218 00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:41,500 Her prescription has run out. 219 00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:45,500 I was shaking all over, having this unexpected job to do. 220 00:21:45,500 --> 00:21:48,500 I knew the medicine bottle had plenty the day before. 221 00:21:48,500 --> 00:21:51,500 I thought I must be going crazy. 222 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:53,500 I'd known Mr. Harmon since I was a kid. 223 00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:57,500 His patient, wisen face and celluloid eye shade. 224 00:21:57,500 --> 00:21:59,500 But I found no comfort in him now. 225 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:03,500 Young lady, I asked you twice for your prescription, huh? 226 00:22:03,500 --> 00:22:06,500 Jean, oh, my sakes, are you well? 227 00:22:06,500 --> 00:22:07,500 No, no. 228 00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:09,500 I'm sorry, Mr. Harmon. 229 00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:11,500 I can't find it. 230 00:22:11,500 --> 00:22:12,500 It's gone. 231 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:16,500 Oh, well, you sit down at the fountain, my dear. 232 00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:19,500 I'm not supposed to, of course, without a prescription, 233 00:22:19,500 --> 00:22:22,500 but I'll make up those capsules anyway. 234 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:26,500 In the meantime, lemon syrup and soda. 235 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:30,500 Remember how you loved that when you were a little pigtail type, eh? 236 00:22:32,500 --> 00:22:35,500 I think I cried then. 237 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:38,500 I scarcely was conscious as I hurried home. 238 00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:41,500 I took a drink of whiskey in the kitchen, gagging on it. 239 00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:44,500 Jean, where did you rush out to? 240 00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:46,500 I answered her while I struggled 241 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:49,500 to unscrew the cap from the medicine bottle. 242 00:22:49,500 --> 00:22:53,500 I took four capsules and emptied them into the tea strainer. 243 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:56,500 I emptied two more to be positive. 244 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,500 On the bottle's label it said, warning, 245 00:22:59,500 --> 00:23:03,500 no more than one capsule in any one 24-hour period. 246 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:05,500 Be careful. 247 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:08,500 And put two spoons of sugar in my cup, dear. 248 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:11,500 It was too bitter yesterday. 249 00:23:11,500 --> 00:23:13,500 Did you hear me, Jean? 250 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:15,500 I hear you. 251 00:23:17,500 --> 00:23:20,500 I was careful, all right. 252 00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:25,500 Three heaping spoons instead of two to hide the bitterness. 253 00:23:25,500 --> 00:23:28,500 A double measure of black tea, carefully, 254 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:32,500 very carefully over the white pottery stuff in the strainer. 255 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:35,500 And it was hidden completely. 256 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:39,500 I left the tea kettle whistling on the electric plate. 257 00:23:39,500 --> 00:23:42,500 Ready for Mother. 258 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:48,500 I didn't see Mother again. 259 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:51,500 I left the apartment half running all the way downtown 260 00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:53,500 to the studio in the rain. 261 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:55,500 Erwin was crabbing as soon as I walked in. 262 00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:58,500 Oh, good morning, Duchess. 263 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:01,500 All right, hop into your sun suit now and make it snappy. 264 00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:04,500 And make up for black and white. 265 00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:05,500 What's the excuse today? 266 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:08,500 Have to go to a funeral or something? 267 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:15,500 I did it, he said, silently and got through a series of poses. 268 00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:19,500 My mind had gone blank and I struggled to keep that way. 269 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:21,500 Numb. 270 00:24:21,500 --> 00:24:24,500 All I knew was I must have left myself remember. 271 00:24:24,500 --> 00:24:27,500 Keep busy and blank. 272 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:29,500 And that's the way it was when you came in 273 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:31,500 and asked me questions. 274 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:33,500 You spun that ugly little tea strainer 275 00:24:33,500 --> 00:24:35,500 until my eyes ain't watching it. 276 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:39,500 And you tore the protective blanket from over my head. 277 00:24:39,500 --> 00:24:40,500 You released my memories. 278 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:42,500 But I told you nothing of the scenes 279 00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:44,500 you conjured up in my mind. 280 00:24:44,500 --> 00:24:46,500 I told you nothing. 281 00:24:46,500 --> 00:24:48,500 But still you knew that I lied 282 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:51,500 when I agreed that my mother must have killed herself. 283 00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:54,500 You're not telling the truth, Miss. 284 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:58,500 But the odd thing is you're closer to the truth than you realize. 285 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:00,500 I didn't kill my mother. I didn't. 286 00:25:00,500 --> 00:25:02,500 Did you know your mother had enough lethal medicine 287 00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:04,500 under her pillow to kill a dozen people? 288 00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:05,500 What? 289 00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:06,500 She'd been hoarding them. 290 00:25:06,500 --> 00:25:09,500 Perhaps because she brooded she was a burden. 291 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:10,500 No. 292 00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:13,500 But Miss, your mother never would have taken those capsules 293 00:25:13,500 --> 00:25:16,500 the hard way and a cup of tea. 294 00:25:16,500 --> 00:25:18,500 I'm sorry. 295 00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:22,500 You could have taken those capsules the hard way and a cup of tea. 296 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:25,500 There was the flaw in your lie, wasn't it now? 297 00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:26,500 What? 298 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:30,500 Your friend Ted Wark got a hold of your mother's prescription. 299 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:32,500 Maybe he took it from your purse. That doesn't matter. 300 00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:35,500 Oh, no. No. No, no. 301 00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:38,500 I'm afraid I must place you under arrest, Miss Dunn. 302 00:25:38,500 --> 00:25:40,500 But I didn't kill my mother. 303 00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:42,500 You said... you said... 304 00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:44,500 No, no. You didn't kill your mother, Miss. 305 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:48,500 Your mother had a caller this morning after you left. 306 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:51,500 He brought her flowers and some more medicine. 307 00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:54,500 Oh, no. Not Ted. 308 00:25:54,500 --> 00:25:57,500 He couldn't have done. No. 309 00:25:57,500 --> 00:25:58,500 No. You lie. 310 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:02,500 So your mother never had a chance to use the overdose she had hidden. 311 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:04,500 No. You... you lie. 312 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:07,500 And your mother's caller never had the chance to feed her 313 00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:10,500 the poison he brought with him either. 314 00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:13,500 Because as soon as he arrived he made the mistake 315 00:26:13,500 --> 00:26:16,500 of affecting your mother's hospitality. 316 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:19,500 He drank a special cup of tea. 317 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:22,500 Half of it, anyhow. Enough. 318 00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:25,500 Your mother is still alive, Miss. 319 00:26:25,500 --> 00:26:47,500 She's requesting you for the murder of Ted Wark. 320 00:26:55,500 --> 00:26:59,500 Thank you, Betty Grable, for a wonderful performance. 321 00:26:59,500 --> 00:27:02,500 Well, Harlow, all over you're mad at the sponsor? 322 00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:05,500 No, half. You know I never hold a grudge. 323 00:27:05,500 --> 00:27:08,500 In fact, I like to talk about Auto Light Stay Full Batteries. 324 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:11,500 I like to tell people an Auto Light Stay Full Battery 325 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:15,500 needs water only three times a year in normal car use. 326 00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:18,500 I like people to know Auto Light Stay Full Batteries 327 00:27:18,500 --> 00:27:21,500 are made by Auto Light, which makes more than 400 products 328 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:25,500 for cars, trucks, airplanes, and boats in 28 Auto Light plants 329 00:27:25,500 --> 00:27:27,500 from coast to coast. 330 00:27:27,500 --> 00:27:30,500 Yes, and Auto Light also makes complete electrical systems 331 00:27:30,500 --> 00:27:33,500 for many makes of America's finest cars. 332 00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:37,500 Batteries, spark plugs, generators, starting motors, coils, distributors. 333 00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:40,500 All engineered to fit together perfectly, 334 00:27:40,500 --> 00:27:44,500 work together perfectly, because they're a perfect team. 335 00:27:44,500 --> 00:27:48,500 So folks, don't accept electrical parts that are supposed to be as good. 336 00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:52,500 Ask for and insist on Auto Light Original Factory Parts 337 00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:56,500 at your neighborhood service station, car dealer, garage, or repair shop. 338 00:27:56,500 --> 00:27:59,500 Remember, you're always right with Auto Light. 339 00:27:59,500 --> 00:28:12,500 Here again is our star, Miss Betty Grable. 340 00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:15,500 I want to thank Tony Leeder and his wonderful cast of actors 341 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,500 for helping me to make my first suspense visit so pleasant. 342 00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:22,500 I'm a suspense fan from way back, and I'm sure all of you 343 00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:25,500 are as anxious as I am to hear next week's show 344 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:29,500 when Mickey Rooney appears in the Cornell Woolrich story, The Lie. 345 00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:32,500 It's another truly gripping study in... 346 00:28:32,500 --> 00:28:37,500 Suspense! 347 00:28:37,500 --> 00:28:41,500 Betty Grable appeared through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox Film Corporation 348 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:44,500 and will soon be seen in the Technicolor picture 349 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:47,500 The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend. 350 00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:50,500 Tonight's suspense play was written by John T. Copeland 351 00:28:50,500 --> 00:28:54,500 with music composed by Lucian Morrowek and conducted by Lud Bluskin. 352 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:58,500 The entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Leeder. 353 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:01,500 In the coming weeks, Suspense will present such stars 354 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:04,500 as Bob Hope, Claire Trevor, James Stewart, and many others. 355 00:29:04,500 --> 00:29:07,500 So make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense, 356 00:29:07,500 --> 00:29:10,500 Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. 357 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:15,500 And next Thursday, same time, hear Mickey Rooney in The Lie. 358 00:29:15,500 --> 00:29:22,500 You can buy auto light staple batteries, auto light resistor spark plugs, 359 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:25,500 auto light electrical parts at your neighborhood auto light dealers. 360 00:29:25,500 --> 00:29:27,500 Switch to auto light. Good night. 361 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:41,500 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.