1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,160 Suspense. 2 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:24,120 Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers present Miss Betty Davis in Good Night Mrs. Russell, 3 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:32,680 a suspense play produced and edited by William Spear. 4 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,920 Say Harlow, what's the idea? Why do you stand there so stiffly and keep banging your hand 5 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:37,920 on your forehead? 6 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:38,920 I'm saluting, Hap. 7 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:39,920 Saluting? 8 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:40,920 Yeah. 9 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,720 Oh, I get it. Saluting auto light resistor spark plugs. 10 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,880 No, no. Not that those wonder working wide gap whizzes don't warrant a whale of a whack 11 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,920 on the welkin. They do, they do. But tonight, I'm saluting the truckers of America. 12 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:58,400 The nifty nonpareil purveyors of conveyors who are holding their annual get together 13 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,120 and gab fest in Boston, Massachusetts starting tomorrow. 14 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,760 Oh, you mean the American Trucking Association. 15 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,760 The same. Why, they've got millions of accident-free miles to their credit. Sell them if ever, 16 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:09,760 make a mistake on the road. 17 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:10,760 How do they do it? 18 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:17,800 I'm not sure, but I think auto light resistors spark plugs must be behind it. Because, well, 19 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,200 because you're always right with auto light. 20 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:26,360 And now with Good Night Mrs. Russell starring Miss Betty Davis with Elliot Reid, auto light 21 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,760 hopes once again to keep you in suspense. 22 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:42,560 There's no escaping now. He hasn't said a word for 10 minutes. I know he's turning over 23 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:50,960 in his mind how he's going to kill me. Argument and reasoning are useless. It's almost dawn 24 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:58,920 now. In a little while, the milkman and the paper boys will be making their rounds. I'll 25 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,920 be dead. 26 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:11,640 The cafe was just half a block away from where I worked. It was a small, pleasant little 27 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:17,320 place, spotlessly clean with a large plate glass window in the sidewalk. And there was 28 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:22,680 always a beautiful looking roast turkey and a juicy baked ham in the window. And you could 29 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:27,440 watch Henry carve off succulent pieces of meat and arrange them into meat sandwiches with 30 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:32,480 an olive and a dab of potato salad on the plate. Every noon, all of us who worked in 31 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:39,200 the Hillmar building would go there for lunch. We crowded in on the high stools and jabbered, 32 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:44,520 as women do while Henry patiently served us and put up with our female chatter. He was 33 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,800 always the only one there. 34 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,080 How are you today, ma'am? 35 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,760 Fine, thank you, Henry. How about some of your nice baked ham? 36 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,280 Yes, ma'am. Coming up. 37 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:01,920 He was always especially nice to me. I suppose that was because I'm well a little older than 38 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:10,240 the others. Other girls are all very young, very cute. Henry always seemed uncomfortable 39 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,720 a little with them. 40 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,720 Yes, ma'am. Coffee? 41 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:19,040 Please. And I believe I'll have some of your cherry pie. You're an excellent cook, Henry. 42 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:26,720 Why, thank you, ma'am. I'm glad you think so. Twenty and fifteen's thirty-five, and... 43 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:33,640 Henry had been right in the middle of adding up my check, and he stopped and stood very 44 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:37,800 still and looked out of the corner of his eye with his head cocked on one side as though 45 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:43,520 he were listening to something. His expression was a little horrified. I thought maybe he'd 46 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,800 heard a sound that meant something to him, you know, like the refrigerator out of water 47 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:52,320 or something. Then all of a sudden he shook his head and rushed away. Whatever it was, 48 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:53,320 he'd heard. 49 00:03:53,320 --> 00:04:02,640 Twenty and fifteen's thirty-five, and forty-five. You should try one of my dinners sometime, 50 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:03,640 ma'am. 51 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,480 Henry, Henry, how about some service? 52 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,920 Excuse me, ma'am. 53 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:21,440 That was Henry. Oh, one other thing. Funny, but Henry never smiled. Perhaps I should have 54 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:28,560 realized about him because of that. But I didn't. He was so nice and clean and polite, 55 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:33,200 I rather liked him. As a rule, I make my own dinner in the apartment, but one night I had 56 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:38,180 to work quite late at the office, and I decided to stop by Henry's and get a little bite before 57 00:04:38,180 --> 00:04:44,380 catching the streetcar home. Ever since my husband's death, I've felt just a little uneasy 58 00:04:44,380 --> 00:04:48,280 on the streets alone at night. I was glad to see the bright light in Henry's little 59 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:53,680 cafe down the block. Henry was alone inside, and I could see him fussing around cleaning 60 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,240 up the place. He didn't hear me approaching. 61 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:03,840 What's that? Oh, you're, you're frightening me, ma'am. I didn't hear you coming. 62 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:07,680 I just thought I'd try one of your dinners tonight, Henry. You mentioned it. 63 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:13,240 Yes, I know. Sit down, won't you, ma'am? 64 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,680 You weren't closing or anything? 65 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,480 No, no, not at all. What would you like? 66 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,240 Oh, I'll try your number four dinner. 67 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,040 Number four? Yes, ma'am. 68 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:32,120 He seemed frightened about something or suspicious. Yes, that was it. He seemed suspicious about 69 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:39,120 something, I thought. I wanted to help him somehow, but I didn't want to butt in. 70 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,560 This is the first time you've ever been by here at night, ma'am. 71 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:47,680 Yes, I had to work late tonight, Henry. Didn't want to go home without dinner, you know. 72 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,040 I see. 73 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,080 There's something wrong, Henry. 74 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:59,840 No, no, I'll get the rest of your dinner. 75 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:05,280 Delicious soup. Thank you, ma'am. 76 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:08,480 You don't often work late, do you? 77 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,440 No, I don't. This is the first time, in fact. My boss asked me to stay late to type some 78 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,440 letters. 79 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,000 I know. You work in the Hillmar Building. 80 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,680 Why, yes, I do. How do you... 81 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:25,240 I know lots of things, ma'am. 82 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:36,600 This is a good dinner, Henry. I guess I'm not as hungry as I thought I was. I'm afraid 83 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:38,800 I'm going to have to leave some of it. 84 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,880 I thought you liked my cooking. You said so just the other day. 85 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:47,120 Oh, I do. I think you're a fine cook, Henry. I'm just not hungry tonight. I waited too 86 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:48,120 long to eat, I guess. 87 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,720 You don't have to make excuses, ma'am. If you didn't like it, just say so. 88 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:57,800 Oh, no, I mean it. Your food is wonderful, Henry. If it weren't, I wouldn't have come 89 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:58,800 here. 90 00:06:58,800 --> 00:06:59,800 Wouldn't you? 91 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:04,520 No. Now, could I have my check, please? 92 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,520 85 cents, ma'am. 93 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:12,520 All right. There you are, Henry. You may keep the change. 94 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,320 I'd rather not, ma'am. Here. 95 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,400 Very well. Good night, Henry. 96 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,520 Good night. And ma'am. 97 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,480 Yes? 98 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,960 Next time you come, I'll have something you like. 99 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:27,960 But I did like... 100 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:28,960 Oh, good night, Henry. 101 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:29,960 Good night, Mrs. Russell. 102 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:36,960 It was good food, but I... Oh, I felt ill at ease in there for some reason. That's why 103 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:47,960 I couldn't eat. I decided not to go back there alone. Rather hard to talk to Henry. 104 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:57,720 And I didn't go back alone. That is not for three weeks. Had to work late and again and 105 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:02,400 for the last time I went to Henry's. 106 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,400 Hello, Henry. 107 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:11,600 Ah, you decided to try me again, I see. 108 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,560 Why, Henry, I've been eating here every day. 109 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:14,560 Not at night. 110 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:15,560 What's the difference? 111 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,720 Well, in the daytime, you're always with your friends. 112 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:23,840 I like to eat with my friends. Now, come on, let's have no more of this silly talk. How 113 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:28,400 about one of your wonderful dinners, Henry? I promise to eat all of it tonight. 114 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,200 All right, ma'am. Which one? 115 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:35,520 I'll try the number four again, please. I think that way I can convince you I really 116 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:36,520 like it. 117 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:37,520 Why? 118 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:43,680 Why? Oh, because I think four is lucky, don't you? 119 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:47,840 All right, ma'am. It's all ready. 120 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,400 You don't have many customers at night, do you, Henry? 121 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:53,680 No, ma'am. Not many. 122 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:55,040 I'm surprised you stay open. 123 00:08:55,040 --> 00:09:02,560 Are you? There you are. I hope you... I hope... 124 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:09,840 Henry, what is it? You seem to be listening for something. Is there... 125 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,000 Are you enjoying your dinner? 126 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:16,200 I hate to sound like I'm prying. I know it isn't my business at all, but I do think something's 127 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:17,200 bothering you. 128 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:18,200 Do you? 129 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,920 Yes, isn't it? Some way I can help you? 130 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,040 Something's bothering me, ma'am. 131 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:30,480 Yes. You know, I had a son like you. 132 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:31,480 Did you? 133 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:36,400 He was in the army, killed in the war. He was very much like you. 134 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:37,400 I see. 135 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:42,520 That left me all alone in the world. My husband Leonard died four years ago. 136 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:43,520 Yes? 137 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:48,400 He was a wonderful man. Everyone admired him. The contractor, you know. 138 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,400 I see. 139 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:54,800 You'll have noticed that as I talked away about my family and everything, he became 140 00:09:54,800 --> 00:10:00,680 very quiet. He sat down on the cooler back of the counter and just watched me, his face 141 00:10:00,680 --> 00:10:05,960 absolutely blank. Couldn't tell what he was thinking. When I'd ask him a question, he'd 142 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:15,440 just answer with, I see, or yes, or no. Sometimes he wouldn't answer at all, just stare at me. 143 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:22,120 I was getting uneasy again. I just about decided to make up an excuse to pay my bill and leave. 144 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:36,000 It was getting quite late when my head began to feel heavy and I began to feel sick. Henry, 145 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:48,600 Henry, I feel ill. Henry, I'm awfully dizzy. I don't think I can... Henry, can't you hear 146 00:10:48,600 --> 00:11:05,880 me? I believe I'm going to faint. Perhaps you'd better help. Did you do something? 147 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:20,000 Good night, Mrs. Russell. 148 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:24,280 Auto Light is bringing you Miss Betty Davis in Good Night, Mrs. Russell, tonight's production 149 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:37,560 and radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. Say, Harlow, how'd you stain your 150 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:42,320 tie? Oh, that's from the alphabet soup we had at dinner. Boy, do I love that soup. Crazy 151 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:49,680 about it, huh? Yeah. We have a special alphabet too. Only the letters A-L-R-S-P. A-L-R-S-P? 152 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:54,440 And for Auto Light Resistor Spark Plugs. Oh, brother. Say, when you eat it, do you make 153 00:11:54,440 --> 00:12:00,040 noises that sound like A-L-R-S-P? Noise? No, sir. 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And now, Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage, 162 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:47,160 our star, Betty Davis with Elliot Reid in Good Night, Mrs. Russell. A tale well calculated 163 00:12:47,160 --> 00:13:01,560 to keep you in... Suspense. I don't know how long I was unconscious. It seemed just for 164 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:07,080 a moment, a moment crowded with horrible nightmares and dreadful sounds. I remember hearing a 165 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:14,760 woman screaming, screaming and crying horribly. It was ghastly. I must have been unconscious 166 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:23,560 several hours. And when I opened my eyes, it was dark, pitch dark. A clock was ticking 167 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:37,160 somewhere and I realized that the screaming woman had been me. Is, is anyone here? Where 168 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:58,480 am I? I'm tied up. Who's there? Can anyone hear me? Help. Help. Help. Where am I? You're 169 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:08,360 in my room, Mrs. Russell. It was Henry. Where was he? The room was black as night. I could 170 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:14,760 see nothing. What was I doing here? Why was I tied up? How did I get here? I remembered 171 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:27,760 nothing after, after feeling dizzy at him. So that was it. You, you put something in my 172 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:33,400 food, didn't you, Henry? Yes, I did, Mrs. Russell. I didn't want to kill you at the 173 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:46,000 cafe, you see. Kill me? Yes, Mrs. Russell. Kill you. Did. Why, Henry? Why? Because 174 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,560 you're my enemy, you and all the others. Your enemy? I, I like you, Henry. I've always 175 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:55,560 liked you. I, I do. Don't lie, Mrs. Russell. You thought I didn't know, didn't you? You 176 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:59,960 thought I didn't know what you were up to. What I was up to? Planning to kill me. Night 177 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:05,640 after night, I've heard you, all of you, outside my window, whispering, whispering, talking 178 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:10,160 about how you were going to kill me. Didn't you know I could hear you? I'm saying. Oh, 179 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:17,440 no, I'm smart, Mrs. Russell. And you know it. That's why all of you planned to kill me, 180 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:23,640 get rid of me. Oh, it's just lucky I found out you were one of them. You'll be the first 181 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:31,720 to die, Mrs. Russell. And you're going to die slowly in the dark. How do you like that, 182 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:40,960 Mrs. Russell? Be quiet, Mrs. Russell. Or I'll have to beat you up before I kill you. 183 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:50,120 I tried to make myself think. I remembered you're supposed to humor people that are like 184 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:56,840 you, Henry. I tried to control myself. No one can hear you. No one even knows you're 185 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:12,360 here. And I'm not going to untie you, either. Not until you're dead. Henry, I'm just, I'm 186 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:17,860 I'm only in order. You'll lie here in the dark and listen to the clock for half an hour. 187 00:16:17,860 --> 00:16:23,520 Just half an hour, Mrs. Russell. And then I'll kill you. You see, I want you to suffer 188 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:28,880 like you've made me suffer. Henry, I'm just an ordinary woman. Oh, I'm smart enough to 189 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:34,240 see through those remarks you made. Remarks? Always talking about what a good cook I was. 190 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:40,160 As if you felt I wasn't a man. I know what you were thinking. Henry, I didn't mean anything 191 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:44,260 of the sort. I really. And then rubbing it in about your precious son in the army. Rubbing 192 00:16:44,260 --> 00:16:49,640 it in, torturing you. Henry, that's wrong. And always ordering number four dinner. Oh, 193 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:56,760 I'm smart, you see, Mrs. Russell. I can figure things out. Number four is lucky, you said. 194 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:02,200 Four for four F you meant. Henry, Henry, all those things, they were your imagination. 195 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:08,480 I didn't mean them that way at all. I didn't know about the army. Weak excuses, Mrs. Russell. 196 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:16,480 You're like all the rest. I'm too smart for you and you know it. So you want to kill me. 197 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:28,760 I'm a dangerous enemy, Mrs. Russell. How long have I got to live, Henry? Oh, a half hour. 198 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:39,120 I don't know. The alarm will ring and then I'll kill you. I was resigned to it then. 199 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:45,440 It seemed so hopeless. But then I thought if I could just get him to turn on the light, 200 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:57,000 I might see a way out. It was a full lawn hoe, but I tried it. Henry? Henry? How do 201 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:06,360 you know you set the clock right? Henry? I heard you. No, you didn't answer. I thought 202 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:17,080 you thought you could get me to turn on the light. Sorry, Mrs. Russell. Henry, you're 203 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:22,320 torturing yourself more than you are me. Henry, do you know that? What do you mean? Well, 204 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:26,320 you don't know when the alarm's going to ring either. You must be sitting on the edge of 205 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:32,160 your seat waiting to hear it. Aren't you? You see, when it rings, I know that I'll have 206 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:38,840 to die. But you know that you'll have to commit a terrible crime. Murder, Henry. Shut up. 207 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:44,240 It is true then, isn't it? You can't trick me into turning on the light. I'm too smart 208 00:18:44,240 --> 00:19:10,400 for that. You're going to suffer in the dark. As I have. I decided to turn on the light, 209 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:17,080 Mrs. Russell. At first I was blind to having been in the dark so long. Then I saw his hands. 210 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:22,680 They were long and slim and brown. Blue veins stood out on the backs of him. I looked up 211 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:28,480 at him. He was glaring at me from beneath, bulging for it. Then he picked up the alarm 212 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:38,520 crock and looked at it. Henry, I see it's ten minutes to three. Yes, Mrs. Russell. You 213 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:44,960 have ten minutes to live. Can you wait? It was a tiny, neat living room. I was on a couch. 214 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:52,600 The shades were down. There was no phone. The front door might be unlocked. It might be. 215 00:19:52,600 --> 00:20:02,200 I can wait, Henry. Eight minutes now. Somehow with the lights on, I felt more optimistic, 216 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:07,080 though. The hands were racing each other around the face of the clock. If I could just get 217 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:13,400 untied now, there'd be a chance. I'd have to be careful, but quick, quick. Five minutes, 218 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:22,080 Mrs. Russell. Henry, what? Are those things strapped to that board over there on the wall? 219 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:30,920 Huh? Oh, that's my collection. A collection? Match folders. Oh, do you collect match folders? 220 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:37,240 Oh, yes. I'll show them to you. I held my breath as he took them down off the wall. If 221 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:45,360 that clock would only stand still for five minutes. Here. See? I have folders from all 222 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:55,560 the famous night spots. Here's Ciro's and the Stork Club and 21. I bet you didn't think 223 00:20:55,560 --> 00:21:00,840 I'd been to all those places, did you? I know. Have you, Henry? Oh, sure. Lots of times. 224 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:08,480 People would never believe me. That's why I have these. They're lovely, Henry. Henry, 225 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:15,120 my arms and legs are numb from being tied up like this. Could you? No! I warned you 226 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:21,400 not to get tricky, Mrs. Russell. I just wanted you to loosen my hands so I could look at 227 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:31,000 your collection. Well, just your hands. I've forgotten about everything. His collection 228 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:35,720 for the moment. But that alarm would go any second and I would remind him. Here. As he 229 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:43,840 untied my hands, my eyes fell on a large jade bookend beside the couch. There. Now, be careful, 230 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:51,320 Mrs. Russell. You just wanted to see my collection, remember? Yes, Henry. Show it to me. Now, 231 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:57,840 oh, see this one? That's from the Coconut Grove. Yes, yes, Henry. And this one. I let 232 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:03,600 my hands steal along the couch toward the bookend. Isn't that beautiful? Yes, yes, it 233 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:14,800 is, Henry. I had it in my hands. You're not paying attention. Oh, yes, I am! Henry! I 234 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:21,000 don't remember doing it, but somehow I'd gotten the bindings off my feet when I was 235 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,960 outside in the night. He'd been telling the truth. His house was completely isolated on 236 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:30,000 one block. I ran down the block as hard as I could. I didn't even think about direction, 237 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:34,280 just ran. I knew he'd come to in a minute and I had to get out of sight. I'm not used 238 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:39,040 to such exercise and my heart was pounding so hard. It ached. In the middle of the next 239 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:44,440 block, I stopped for a moment and leaned against a tree to breathe. And I looked back and I 240 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:51,240 saw him. I could see him beneath the street lamp. He'd stopped not knowing which way I'd 241 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:57,280 gone. He was wild. His mouth was hanging open loosely. I shrank back further in the shadows 242 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:05,560 and prayed he'd go the other way. He didn't. He started walking rapidly again in my direction. 243 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:11,760 There was a house on this block, a big rambling place. It was after 3 a.m. and the people 244 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:18,760 would be asleep, but I knew I could run no further. Help! Help! Let me in, please! Please, 245 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:31,760 open the door! Open! And then I saw the note pinned to the door. It said, no milk for 10 246 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:37,520 days. I could hear Henry's footsteps down the street and I knew he must have heard me. 247 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:48,520 My heart felt as though it would burst. The street was deserted. And then I heard a car 248 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:54,400 approaching. It was a block away. I ran out on the street and waved my arms. Help! Help 249 00:23:54,400 --> 00:24:13,720 me! Stop! Please! Please stop! Stop! Help! Help! Help! Help! Help! Help! Help! 250 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:23,880 Hello, Mrs. Russell. Henry! Come on, Mrs. Russell. Come on! Now, we're going home again. 251 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:43,360 Mrs. Russell? There's no escaping now. He hasn't said a word for 10 minutes. I know he's turning 252 00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:50,480 over in his mind how he's going to kill me. It's almost dawn now. In a little while, the 253 00:24:50,480 --> 00:25:01,160 milkman and paper boys will be making their rounds. I'll be dead. You shouldn't have tried 254 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:12,720 to get away, Mrs. Russell. You made me very mad. I know. You shouldn't have hit me either. 255 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:19,440 You were even smarter than I thought, Mrs. Russell. You almost made it. But you weren't 256 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:25,200 smart enough, were you? If you're going to kill me, Henry, please do it. Haven't you 257 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:30,720 tortured me enough? You see, it just didn't do you any good to be my enemy, did it? I 258 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,880 don't like to kill you, but I have to. It's the only way I can protect myself. Don't 259 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:39,880 you see you're not well, Henry? Please try to listen to me. You'll have to kill all the 260 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:45,440 others too. If I don't, they'll kill me. The others? Oh, don't pretend you don't know, 261 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:51,880 Mrs. Russell. Oh, I've heard them whispering about me. You must have heard them too. The 262 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:58,600 voices... The voices? All the time. Just like I told you. When I'm at work and even here 263 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:04,320 at home, I hear them plotting. They don't know I know. Henry, there's no one. It's 264 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:09,060 all an illusion. Don't you see? Just like you are, they're afraid of me because they 265 00:26:09,060 --> 00:26:14,560 know I can outsmart them. I'm too clever for them and they know it. That's why they want 266 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,720 to kill me. That's why you want to kill me, isn't it, Mrs. Russell? I don't want to kill 267 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:24,960 you, Henry, if only... Oh, I've sort of got to like you, Mrs. Russell. If you weren't 268 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:30,280 dangerous to me, I might let you live. I'm not dangerous to you, Henry. Oh, yes, you 269 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:38,640 are. I've decided to choke you. If you close your eyes, it will happen very quickly. You'll 270 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:47,600 hardly know it. Are you ready, Mrs. Russell? Please don't struggle. It'll be much easier 271 00:26:47,600 --> 00:27:02,400 for both of us. Aren't you going to close your eyes? No. What's that? What? Listen. You 272 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:11,680 can hear them. Don't you hear them? The voices. The voices. The voices. Don't you hear them? 273 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:19,320 Yes, I hear them, Henry. See? Now you believe me, don't you? You hear what they're saying? 274 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:26,640 Yes. Yes, it's just as you said, Henry. They must be right near. Yes, right near. There 275 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:34,240 are a lot of them. Too many! You'd better hide, Henry. Yes. Yes, but where? They sound 276 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:40,200 louder all the time. They're getting closer. Have you a closet? Yes, that's it. The closet. 277 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:47,680 Over here. Shall I help you, Henry? Yes, yes. But be quick. This closet. I'll hide in here. 278 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:55,440 All right, Henry. I'll protect you. There. A good place to hide. What if they find me 279 00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:02,440 here? I'll lock the door, Henry. No. I don't want to be locked in. They're getting closer, 280 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:14,240 Henry. You'll unlock the door when they're gone? Yes, Henry. Lock the door, Mrs. Russell. 281 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:30,920 You'll be safe now. Good night, Henry. 282 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:35,080 Suspense presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star, Miss Betty Davis with Elliot Reed. You 283 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,000 know, Harlow, it's really marvelous how safely and courteously American truckmen drive. You 284 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,240 said it happened. Auto Light cooperates regularly with the American Trucking Associations in 285 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:47,560 their excellent highway safety programs. Say that swell, Harlow. Swell? Say that reminds 286 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,680 me. We haven't said anything about the more than 400 products Auto Light makes for cars, 287 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:56,480 trucks, planes, and boats in 28 plants, coast to coast. They're swell, too. And Auto Light 288 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:01,000 makes complete electrical systems for many of America's finest cars. Batteries, spark 289 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,160 plugs, generators, starting motors, coils, distributors, all engineered to fit together 290 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:10,080 perfectly, work together perfectly because they're a perfect team. So folks, don't accept 291 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:14,560 electrical parts that are supposed to be as good. Ask for and insist on Auto Light original 292 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:19,160 factory parts at your neighborhood service station, car dealer garage, or repair shop. 293 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:29,440 Remember, you're always right with Auto Light. Next Thursday for Suspense, Victor Matur will 294 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:34,860 be our star. The play is called Momentum. And it is, as we say, a tale well calculated 295 00:29:34,860 --> 00:29:41,400 to keep you in suspense. Tonight's Suspense play was produced and edited by William Spear 296 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,600 and directed by Norman MacDonald. Music for Suspense is composed by Lucian Moorowack and 297 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,680 conducted by Lud Gluskin. Goodnight, Mrs. Russell was an original radio play written 298 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:54,040 by Ben S. Hunter. Betty Davis will soon be seen in the Warner Brothers production Beyond 299 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:59,680 the Forest. You can buy Auto Light resistor spark plugs, Auto Light staple batteries, 300 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:04,160 Auto Light electrical parts at your neighborhood Auto Light dealers. Switch to Auto Light. 301 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:07,520 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.