Suspense.
Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers present tonight two stars, Mr. Charles Lawton and
Miss June Havoc in Blind Date, a suspense play produced and edited by William Spear.
Say, Hap, have you heard the one about the car that lost its head in a clutch,
got its block knocked off and hasn't had a break since? Slow down, Harlow, that story won't hold
water. Well, maybe not, but here's one that will, the story of the Auto Light Stayful Battery,
the battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. Auto Light Stayful
Batteries with their greater liquid reserve help to eliminate one of the major causes of
battery failure. Still more, Harlow? I'll say, Hap, Auto Light Stayful Batteries have extra
protection with fiberglass retaining mats for longer life. Why, in tests conducted according
to SAE life cycle standards, Auto Light Stayful Batteries give 70 percent longer average life
than batteries without the Stayful features. So, folks, get an Auto Light Stayful Battery.
And remember, you're always right with Auto Light. Oh, and a reminder, suspense on television may
be seen in many parts of the country every Tuesday night. And now with Blind Date and with the
performances of Charles Lotton and June Havoc, Auto Light hopes once again to keep you in suspense.
The DeMarcos and Mamie had said goodbye. That left me alone backstage. I'm always late anyway.
Adax on the bill and I'm always the last to leave the theater. Say, just what do you mean
coming into a lady's dressing room without knocking? Hi, cutie. I never heard of a
cowboy who didn't know how to say, are you decent? Oh, relax, relax. Take it easy. We
can't all be double-jointed. All right, what do you want? He's outside. Who is outside?
Oh, some John you won't like. Says he's got a date with you. Oh, baby, you're closing the
night. Tomorrow you'll be in far-off Detroit. Then you'll wish you'd done the loop with me
once. Come on, let you and me do our own circuit tonight. I have a date. Thank you. Oh. Now,
will you go out and tell him to come in, if you please? You can do better than him. Yeah?
Yeah. Me. Oh. Oh, you know, you got real talent, honey. You need somebody to watch out for you.
In the profession, I mean. Now, what's a cute little trick like you taking fourth billing to
a lot of hoofers? Look. Oh, Gloria, baby, this is your last night. I told you before,
I don't like to be touched by you or anybody else. You need to think you mean it. Get out of here.
Okay, okay. Your stage door, Johnny, ain't gonna be no improvement. Believe me. The idea,
the very idea. Doggone it. Where did I put that? I believe I'm on time. The clock on the
regular tower has just struck 11. I'm Vincent Hawthorne. Oh, yes. She walks in beauty like the
night of cloudless climbs and starry skies. Huh? Come again? I'm not what you expected,
of course. Won't you come in, Mr. Hawthorne? Here, let me take your hat, Mr. Hawthorne.
I'll only be a minute. I'm leaving Chicago. I close tonight, you know, Detroit tomorrow.
I was delayed at packing and all. I'm not quite dressed. Props, anyway. A theatrical trunk. This
is a big thrill to me. Gloria Le Fay. Theater. Rush. Gloria Le Fay. Trends in bends. Yeah,
that's me. Well, well, this is my first experience in meeting an artist. Wow, really? Gloria. It's a
lovely name, Gloria. It fits you. You're a very lovely girl. I, I, I... She had a woman's mouth
with all its pearls complete. And for her eyes, what could such eyes do there but weep and weep
that they were born so fair. Well, it's something of your own. I only wish it were. There's a narrative
poem of Keats about a woman who turned into a serpent. Well, gee, that's a cheerful little
earful, I must say. And what do you got there? That's a flower, a rose for you here. Oh, thanks.
Yeah, I like roses. I thought it looked nice in your hair, Gloria. Oh, yeah, well, thanks. Thanks a
lot. That's real nice. For your hair, yes. And this. Now, this is something for both of us. Is that
whiskey? No, no, hardly. It's wine. It's shabby. It is a fine bouquet. Should lend a note of cheer
to our little dressing room. And two glasses. Gee, I thought of everything. Fine wine should always
be sipped from crystal, don't you think? I planned on going out. Oh, yes, certainly, but I thought...
I'll only be a minute. I'll finish dressing behind the screen. Same, Mr. Hawthorne. Oh, yes? What's
your first name? Vincent, my dear. Oh, say Vincent. Oh, thank you. Vincent, just so we get everything
clear on both sides, I... Well, it's a funny situation, you see, because I don't quite know...
Are you concerned because we are having what is called a blind date? Yeah, that's it. Yeah, you were in
my mind. I just wanted it to be understood on both sides that I am not in the habit. Of course not.
But lately, I've been thinking that after all, how is an artiste like myself, who spent practically
all her life training for a profession and then finally goes out on the road since vaudeville's
coming back now, you know, how's she ever going to meet people? Get the point? Certainly. Of course,
I understand that completely. We'll just have our little midnight supper. I was coming to that. When
I was a little girl, say, by the way, did you ever catch an act called Diane? Diane? I'm not
quite positive. Well, you'd hardly have forgotten her if you had. Diane was my mother. Oh, indeed.
She was an... An acrobatic dancer. Yeah. It's almost entirely her act that I'm doing. Really?
Well, when we were playing Chicago once, when I was a little girl, we went to a little restaurant
off the Gold Coast, which enjoyed largely theatrical clientele. It's called Gregory's.
I thought we'd go there. Are you game, Mr. Halberd? It sounds delightful. You say that your mother is
dead? Yes. Diane died three months ago. I'm terribly, terribly sorry, my dear. Well, thanks.
You were very close to your mother, weren't you? She was an artiste too. And she taught you how to
accomplish all of those remarkable feats that you've been performing on the stage.
Diane taught me everything I know. It's really remarkable what you do at the end of your act,
when you stand on that chair and bend all the way back so slowly and then take the goblet of wine
with your teeth and drink it. Well, thank you. I've worked hard. Of course, either you are double
jointed or you're not. Of course. What did she die of? You might say that when Vaudeville began to die,
mother began to die too. It wasn't the money, but with radio and you see, you have to see a dancer
and radio. In view of those circumstances, you could almost say that your mother was murdered.
Say, where do you live? I was born in London. London. We were thinking about playing Australia
once. London is a great many miles from Australia, Gloria. I'd sure like to get over to London. They
say Australia is great. London is a very lonely place. Palladium, I'll bet that's a big one. It's full of lonely people.
Oh, say, let's not. The world is full of lonely people, Gloria. In your short lifetime, has that
fact come to your attention? Well, really, that kind of talk can ruin an evening. You're going to talk
like that. I don't know about us. Well, here we... Hey, what are you doing? Put away that knife.
I'm just opening our bottle, Gloria. Oh, I told you, I don't want to drink here. I want to go to
Gregory's. Come on, come on, let's put the show on the road. Here's one for the road. A glass of wine
will do us both good. No, I don't like the looks of that knife. Nobody needs a knife that big to open
a bottle with. This is a trick knife, see? You press the little button and the knife's gone. Just like
that, it disappears into the handle. Well, I don't like it. People get hurt with knives. No, no, you're
wrong. You're wrong about that. People get... Knife's a very handy instrument. A good knife is hard to
find. A good knife is a friend, Gloria. The only friend you can depend on sometimes. They say steel
is cold, but it's really warm. It's warm as the human body. Well, just for your information, I don't
like your knife. And while we're at it, I don't think I like you either. I'm very sorry, Gloria.
I'm sorry that my knife frightened you. I don't know. I think maybe you'd better go. Please, Gloria,
don't be angry with me. I'm most anxious to take you to Gregory's, where you once went with your
mother many, many years ago. I don't know. I think... We'll have something that you didn't have at that
time, champagne. A quiet corner by candlelight will be music. I... See, what does a girl do when she
draws a gentleman like you, huh? Why, she has a little glass of wine to celebrate.
It's...
A good, good. Here we go.
You haven't said anything about my dress. One for you. One for me.
Here's to a pleasant evening, Vincent. No, Gloria. Here's to us. Well, okay then. Here's to us.
Ah, there. That's a little better. That's nice. Vincent, I'd like to ask you a personal question.
Certainly. What does somebody like you do for a living? Oh, I was a part of Rembrandt and Silvers.
Yeah? Sounds like a soft shoe. No, they're wine merchants. Oh.
Gloria, when you bend back like you do and you drink out of that glass,
is that wine you drink? Oh, of course not. That's only colored water. Oh.
Did you know that the cork in the bottle is sometimes more expensive than the wine itself?
Hmm. We don't say. Yes, it's imported from Spain, you know.
Imported. That's what costs money, you see. Hmm. Another thing I have wondered about.
Is it true that it's bad luck to whistle in a dressing room? No, that's silly. That's a chorus
girl superstition. Artists, they don't worry about that. Oh, I see. I'm most grateful that
you answered my note this afternoon. Vincent, why did you send the note to me with those six
beautiful Cardoza sisters on the same bill? I thought them very ordinary girls. They were
not the least beautiful. I'm not beautiful like you. No? Well, no. What made you answer my note?
I had three birds this morning. Birds? Uh-huh. Tea leaves. Oh, yes. That means good luck.
And then when I got your note, naturally, I took it to Mamie. She does handwriting too.
And she said, you must be a fine gentleman. And otherwise, I wouldn't have answered you because
I've never had a blind date before. Then I'm most grateful to Mamie. Well, I think it's about time
we left. Oh, I don't know, Gloria. I see that you have a portable phonograph to travel with that.
That's an old one. It's no good. It doesn't work too well. I've got to have it fixed. I'm very fond
of music, Gloria. What have you got? It doesn't work. Let's try one before we leave. Hey, Mr.
Looknight. What about this one? Moonlight Madonna. Why, that's the music you use in your act.
It's plain. I told you that phonograph doesn't work. Oh, come on. Why don't you...
You're wrong, Gloria. I see that that works fine, you see.
All right. Now, come on. I finished my drink. Let's go.
Could we have another one and listen to the record? No. I've had enough and you've had enough too.
So let's get the... Must you wear that fur piece?
For your information, Mr. Wiseguy, this fur piece was given to Diane by Mr. Nat Kalsheim
of the Morris office and is practically unobtainable on today's market. You just can't get it nowadays.
I can wear this anywhere, anywhere at all. What I mean, Gloria, is that it doesn't do you justice.
Nothing, nothing is beautiful enough for a girl with lips. Don't you touch me. Oh. Don't you ever
touch me, see. You, you, you shouldn't have done that. When I was a little girl, one night I was
standing in the wings watching Diane on a stagehand kiss the floor. I was so happy.
Diane on a stagehand kissed me on the neck and I just... He's still carrying the scar in his forehead.
I took the heel on my shoe and I hit him. And he... Listen, don't you ever try to touch me again, see.
Never. Come on now. We had our wine. It's a quarter after 11 and we're going to go.
We're going right now. Do you understand? We didn't hear the rest of this record, Gloria.
You get out. You get out of my dressing room. I do not want to leave yet, Gloria.
I'll show you, you... Hey, what are you... What are you... It's no use. I have the key.
You have... Bill! Bill! Come on, you're not me, Bill! Bill!
Bill is the name of the stage nobleman that I met coming in. A liberal gratuity, a gentle hint,
and he obligingly left you and me alone, Gloria.
And there we were in the dressing room, backstage in that empty theater. Mr. Hawthorne, his knife, and me.
Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Charles Lawton and Miss June Havoc in Blind Eight.
Tonight's production in Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Hey, Hap, listen to this. A letter from my old Arab pal, Hassam Ben Aad, the Karachi camel keeper.
Dear Harlow, he says, you win wager. I now have a dozen droopy dromedaries dying for a drink.
What was the wager, Harlow? Oh, I bet him Auto Light Stay Full batteries could go without water
longer than his camels. Oh, no. Why, sure. And it's like taking candy from a kid.
Those Auto Light Stay Full batteries need water only three times a year. And what's more? More.
Sure. Auto Light Stay Full batteries have more power, are packed with potent pep and punch,
more life. Auto Light Stay Full batteries gave 70% longer average life in recent tests based on SAE
life cycle standards compared to batteries without the Stay Full features. Is that all?
No, no, no. There's more. More life insurance. Auto Light Stay Full batteries have a fiberglass
retaining mat safeguarding every positive plate. So get an Auto Light Stay Full battery. Remember,
you're always right with Auto Light. And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage,
Charles Lawton and June Havoc in Blind Date, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Get out. Get out of my dressing room. There is no reason to be afraid of me, Gloria. You take your
while and sit down and listen to the music. I don't want it. Now, why did you do that?
Because I don't want to have another drink here. I want to leave. Unlock that door. Don't you be
impatient, Gloria. We'll leave in a minute. Why can't we leave now? I want to get out for
some fresh air. You aren't frightened? No, I'm not. Why are you... You promised to take me to
Gregory's for supper. I've done four shows a day for six days and I'd like to relax and tomorrow
I've got to go. Of course you would. Listen, I'll even change my fur piece, Mr. Hawthorne.
You know, Gloria, loneliness is a terrible thing. You can wander in a city of a million people and
yet have no one to speak with and you wonder and you think there is no cure for loneliness
and there is a cure. As I watched you there dancing on the stage, I knew that loneliness has a cure.
Just a simple kiss will banish loneliness forever. Well, you're not going to kiss me.
I'll tell you that much. I don't care how lonely you are. And I'm sick of this record.
I wish I'd never answered your note. I'll tell you that much. But you did answer it and here we are.
Girl can make a mistake. No, Gloria, you didn't make a mistake. I'm a humble man and I apologize
to you. Unlock the door. I have been studying you, Gloria, ever since I came into the dressing room
tonight. There is more to you than just a pretty face. Oh, that kind of talk doesn't impress me.
That kind of talk will get you exactly nowhere. Unlock the door. Now, what if I told you that
you'd successfully passed the test? I really have been testing you. Oh, yeah. Yeah, when first I saw
you six days ago, I knew there was a lot more to you than just a pretty face and that's why I've
been to see you dance every day. I wanted to make sure and I came here tonight to test you.
Well, what do you mean? When I tried to kiss you, that was the test. I had to find out what you were
like. A man has to be careful too about a girl, I mean. And when you wouldn't let me kiss you,
I knew you were someone that I could... Oh, oh, oh, Gloria. Yeah, I don't get you at all.
Now you're almost as if you were going to cry. I have a confession, Gloria. I have cried a great
deal in my life. Really? Have you really? A very great deal. Huh. Well, well then look, now that
I've passed your test, you know what kind of a girl I am, don't you? I know exactly what kind of a
girl you are, Gloria. All right, and then we understand each other. And I know you and you know me.
All right, then, then come on, let's put the show on the road. There is just one thing. What? It's
your dress. Well, so now it's my dress, is it? Yes. First it was with my fur piece and now it's my dress.
It's a very, very beautiful dress. But before we go out, I would like to see you for the last time
in the costume you wear for your act. Oh, you would. Just what do you think? I like the green one best,
the golden spotlight. Well, it's not here. I've already sent the trunk to the station. I don't
believe that. What's this then? That's, that's my other trunk. You give me the key, will you? I will.
All right, then I'll open it my own way. Put the knife away, will you? I told you, Gloria, a knife is a very handy
instrument. It's a very handy instrument. Stop that, will you? Stop that, you're going to break the lock.
Get away from that trunk. Don't you do that. Don't you ever try to take my knife away from me.
Don't you ever try to take my knife away from me.
I asked you to do a simple little thing. I asked you to wear your costume for me because you look
very pretty in it. A simple thing like that. It'd take only a minute of your time. You say it's packed
and shipped, but I don't think it is. I'm going to find out whether it is. It's all right. I am going to find out.
There, I've got it. And here's the dress right on top. Your beautiful green costume. I won't put it on,
now, do you hear me? I won't put it on for you or for anybody else. On top of everything else,
you've broken my trunk. I just had that lock. Go behind that screen and put it on. I will not. Go on.
All right. All right. All right. I'll put it on. That's a good girl.
You know, Gloria, I didn't mean anything by showing you my knife. It's only just that I
want to see you. I want to see you exactly as you look when you're performing on the stage. You're
so beautiful, Gloria. Your eyes are greener than the sea. You're so lovely. And all that isn't going
to make me forget that knife or what you've done either. I'm just a humble man. I'm a human being
the same as you are, but I'm only lonely, Gloria. I'm terribly, unendurably lonely. You've got friends
all right. How does that go? I have no friends, said Lamia. No, not one. My presence in wide
currents, hardly known. My parents' bones are in their dusty urns, sepulchred where no kindly
incense burns. Seeing all their luckless race are dead, save me. And I neglect the holy right for
the... Have you put on the costume? Yeah. Well, now here it is. All right. Now you take your look, Mr. Hawthorne.
Well. That's lovely. It is. All right. All right then. Then I can...
What are you doing? How can you perform without music? Perform? Why else would I ask you to put
on your costume? You better dance for me. I'm not putting on a special act for anybody.
You can't imagine the effect that this has on me. It is the way you twist and turn slowly and silently.
So slow, so lovely and so alone. Oh, so very much alone. Alone? How could I be alone in a theater full
of people? You can be alone in a city of a million people. You had no one in that theater, Gloria,
even though it was crowded. And now here in your dressing room, you have me to watch you and you
can perform for me alone. Hey, what's the idea of turning off the lights? All but the ones around
your mirror. You see, that's your spotlight. You're on stage. Now that's for me and no one else.
Don't you scream again. Don't you scream whatever you do. That upsets me.
Look, Vincent, if I do my act for you, if I do it just the way I do it on the stage,
only only this time just for you, if I do it for you like that, will you please go away? Yes,
yes, Gloria. That's all I want you to do. I just want you to do it as if you were on the stage.
All right, all right then. Sure. Sure.
Why can't you do that for me? Why you went clumsy in the theater when all those other people were
watching? I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's such a small room and when I do my kicks, I can't.
Never mind, never mind. You go on, will you? No, I said no. That's right.
Oh, slowly, slowly. Please remember to do it slowly.
I'm a decent self-respecting girl. I accepted your invitation. I thought you were going to be nice
because you're handwriting. You got me so scared. I don't know what I want you to do or say. I just
can't see the please. Why can't you go away? Why don't you get out of my dressing room and leave me
alone? I hate you. I hate you. You hate me. You hate me. I knew that when I came in that door tonight
that you hated me. And I'm accustomed to being hated. And let me tell you something. Every girl
with a nice dress and a pretty face hates me, Gloria. I don't care anymore. I was lonely. I
went to the theater. I saw you there on the stage. I thought you were beautiful. I thought if I could
see you alone in the same costume that you can wear it just for me and perform just for me,
that I wouldn't be lonely anymore. That'd be enough. But it isn't enough.
Don't, don't, don't, don't you come near me. Don't you touch me. A kiss is the cheapest thing in the
world. A kiss means nothing to you. To me it means everything. A kiss would cure my loneliness,
Gloria. I will never kiss you again. I think you will. I think you will.
My knife. Oh please, please. Now then, just touch your head.
That's right. Now. Vincent, darling. What'd you say? I said darling. Why did you say that?
What would you say if I really kissed you? What do you mean? You said it. A kiss means
everything to you. Do you want me to really kiss you? I can't believe it. Oh, I'd kiss you.
Really I would, but. But what? No, I'm, I'm afraid of your knife. Do you actually want to kiss me?
Yes, I guess. But, but the knife scares me. Oh, I never meant to use that, Gloria. Here, you take it.
Here. Now. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. Kill, kill, kill, kill.
No. What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?
Oh, they'd been looking for him ever since he left London. They knew all about him.
So they let me go. Self-defense. Loneliness is a terrible thing, he said.
I'll never have another blind date as long as I live.
Suspense presented by Auto Light. Tonight's stars, Charles Lawton and June Havoc in Blind Date.
Mr. Lawton, if you'll release Miss Havoc from your clutches, I'd like to get her in mine.
From clutches to cliches. Well, we might say that, yes, Mr. Lawton. All right, Mr. Wilcox,
I'll do that. But I may say that it's being done with a great deal of reluctance, June.
Thank you. Mr. Wilcox, I'll bet you want, want me to tell you about the Auto Light
stay full battery in my car. I surely do, June. What is the woman's slant?
Well, Harlow, women are traditionally supposed to be unaware of an automobile's innards. However,
I'm one who wants to know what's in my car. Well, more women should, for more women drive cars
today than ever before. And an Auto Light stay full battery is my insurance that I'll get to the
studio and other appointments on schedule. I get a hurry call, step on the starter, and I'm off.
June, you've got the best car starting insurance there is with an Auto Light stay full battery.
It's made by Auto Light, makers of over 400 other products for cars, trucks, airplanes, and boats
in 28 Auto Light plants from coast to coast. Auto Light also makes complete electrical systems
for many makes of America's finest cars. Batteries, spark plugs, generators, starting motors,
coils, distributors, all engineered to fit together perfectly, work together perfectly,
because they're a perfect team. So friends, don't accept electrical parts that are supposed
to be as good. Ask for and insist on Auto Light original factory parts at your neighborhood service
station, car dealer, garage, or repair shop. Remember, you're always right with Auto Light.
Next Thursday for Suspense, Van Johnson will be our star. The play is called Defense Rests,
and it is, as we say, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Tonight's Suspense play was produced and edited by William Spear and directed by Norman MacDonald.
Music for Suspense is composed by Lucian Morrowek and conducted by Lud Bluskin.
Blind Date was a radio play by E. Jack Newman and Harrison Negley. During the next 10 weeks,
Charles Lawton will appear at Eastern universities and concert halls reading from his favorite books.
June Havoc will soon be seen starring in the Universal International Picture, The Story of
Molly X. In the coming weeks, you will hear such stars as Edward Arnold, Betty Davis, and Victor
Mottour. Don't forget, next Thursday same time, Auto Light will present Suspense starring Van Johnson.
You can buy Auto Light staple batteries, Auto Light resistor spark plugs, Auto Light electrical
parts at your neighborhood Auto Light dealers. Switch to Auto Light. Good night. This is CBS,
the Columbia Broadcasting System.