WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:19.000 Suspense! 00:19.000 --> 00:25.000 Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers present Mr. Robert Taylor in Four Hours to Kill, a 00:25.000 --> 00:30.000 suspense play produced and edited by William Spear. 00:30.000 --> 00:39.000 Oh there, Mr. Wilcox, I am J. Hammock Macbeth of the Legitimate Theatre. 00:39.000 --> 00:42.000 I've just been signed to announce a new show. 00:42.000 --> 00:43.000 Relax. 00:43.000 --> 00:47.000 Okay, let's hear you do something with famous auto light resistor spark plugs. 00:47.000 --> 00:49.000 Of course, I might begin thusly. 00:49.000 --> 00:53.000 To be or not to be, that is the question. 00:53.000 --> 00:57.000 No, no, no, the only question is how soon auto light resistor spark plugs will be 00:57.000 --> 01:00.000 demonstrating their advantages to every car owner in the land. 01:00.000 --> 01:01.000 But I... 01:01.000 --> 01:04.000 You see, my friend, auto light resistor spark plugs with their exclusive built-in 01:04.000 --> 01:08.000 10,000 ohm auto light resistor let your engine idle smoother, give better 01:08.000 --> 01:11.000 performance on leaner gas mixtures, actually save you gas. 01:11.000 --> 01:16.000 What's more, auto light resistor spark plugs have 200% longer electrode life. 01:16.000 --> 01:19.000 Cut down spark plug interference with radio and television. 01:19.000 --> 01:20.000 I want to... 01:20.000 --> 01:24.000 Be your friendly auto light dealer and have him install a set of the new auto light 01:24.000 --> 01:26.000 resistor spark plugs in your car. 01:26.000 --> 01:30.000 Remember, you're always right with auto light. 01:30.000 --> 01:35.000 And now with four hours to kill and the performance of Mr. Robert Taylor, auto light 01:35.000 --> 01:42.000 hopes once again to keep you in suspense. 01:42.000 --> 01:45.000 So you want to know what's the matter, what's wrong with me? 01:45.000 --> 01:47.000 Okay, sit down on that bench over there. 01:47.000 --> 01:51.000 Make yourself comfortable because this takes a while to tell and I want to get it all 01:51.000 --> 01:53.000 off my chest. 01:53.000 --> 01:58.000 You know, now that it's over, I can look back and see everything in perspective. 01:58.000 --> 02:02.000 Clear back to the days when my brother Walter and I were kids in Vermont. 02:02.000 --> 02:06.000 And I can see now that my life's divided into two halves. 02:06.000 --> 02:12.000 The first 34 years and the last four hours. 02:12.000 --> 02:16.000 Yeah, four hours ago I was standing at the big front door of the Bachelors Club on my 02:16.000 --> 02:19.000 way up to see Walter for the first time in five years. 02:19.000 --> 02:23.000 I knew it was going to be tough, but things had changed since the last time we were 02:23.000 --> 02:24.000 together. 02:24.000 --> 02:26.000 Walter had arrived now. 02:26.000 --> 02:30.000 He was the kind of New York lawyer who divides his time between the front page and the 02:30.000 --> 02:32.000 society section. 02:32.000 --> 02:36.000 I was just still a newspaper bum. 02:36.000 --> 02:39.000 The competition between us was over and I was hoping that now with the numbers up on 02:39.000 --> 02:43.000 the scoreboard for everyone to see, Walter might let down a little. 02:43.000 --> 02:47.000 Decide he could afford to call off whatever it was that had set us at each other's 02:47.000 --> 02:49.000 throats from the beginning. 02:49.000 --> 02:51.000 Anyway, that's what I hoped. 02:51.000 --> 02:53.000 As I said, I knew it would be tough. 02:53.000 --> 02:57.000 Asking Walter for anything was always tough. 02:57.000 --> 03:02.000 Well, I finally swallowed what pride I had left and walked into the lobby. 03:02.000 --> 03:07.000 At the desk next to the stairway, the clerk was in the huddle with a bell ringing. 03:07.000 --> 03:10.000 It's one of those clubs where you're supposed to put a call through the desk before 03:10.000 --> 03:11.000 going upstairs. 03:11.000 --> 03:15.000 I stood around waiting for a minute, then figured it might be better if Walter didn't 03:15.000 --> 03:18.000 know I was coming, so I walked past them. 03:18.000 --> 03:20.000 They didn't even see me. 03:20.000 --> 03:21.000 The guy nails me. 03:21.000 --> 03:23.000 I ain't that with all seven courses. 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 So I said to myself, okay, so the guy's got a load of martinis. 03:25.000 --> 03:28.000 Well, you know, I'd call him for you, but his phone's tied up. 03:28.000 --> 03:30.000 Well, I'll tell you one thing, Larry. 03:30.000 --> 03:33.000 Starting tomorrow, someone else is going to take care of Walter. 03:33.000 --> 03:37.000 So it was Walter with a load of martinis. 03:37.000 --> 03:40.000 He should have stopped right there and turned around and walked out. 03:40.000 --> 03:44.000 I'm not the exit queue, but I'm up here. 03:44.000 --> 03:46.000 Well, nothing can change that now. 03:46.000 --> 03:50.000 Anyway, I walked on up to the second floor and down the hall to 206. 03:58.000 --> 04:01.000 Well, it's about time you got here. 04:01.000 --> 04:03.000 Well, I... 04:03.000 --> 04:04.000 Hello, Walter. 04:04.000 --> 04:06.000 Theodore. 04:06.000 --> 04:07.000 That's right. 04:07.000 --> 04:09.000 Big Brother Theodore. 04:09.000 --> 04:10.000 Well, come on in. 04:10.000 --> 04:12.000 You're just in time for dinner. 04:12.000 --> 04:13.000 The boy will be up in a minute. 04:13.000 --> 04:14.000 No, no, thanks, Walter. 04:14.000 --> 04:16.000 I haven't got too much time. 04:16.000 --> 04:20.000 You mean you're turning down a free meal? 04:20.000 --> 04:22.000 Look, let's forget that stuff, shall we? 04:22.000 --> 04:23.000 We're grown up now. 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 There's no point... 04:24.000 --> 04:26.000 Sure, sure. 04:26.000 --> 04:27.000 Sit down. 04:27.000 --> 04:29.000 No, I won't be too long. 04:29.000 --> 04:34.000 Tell me, Ted, how are things on the paper in Buffalo? 04:34.000 --> 04:35.000 Okay, I guess. 04:35.000 --> 04:37.000 I quit yesterday. 04:37.000 --> 04:39.000 Oh, you quit? 04:39.000 --> 04:40.000 Yeah. 04:40.000 --> 04:43.000 Not fired, you quit. 04:43.000 --> 04:45.000 That's what I said. 04:45.000 --> 04:48.000 So, now you're out of a job and you figure that I'll... 04:48.000 --> 04:49.000 Wait a minute, Walter. 04:49.000 --> 04:51.000 Let me tell you all of it. 04:51.000 --> 04:54.000 There's a guy I met in the service, Dan Allenby. 04:54.000 --> 04:57.000 He's down in Florida now, Fort Lauderdale. 04:57.000 --> 04:59.000 Look, here's a letter I got from him. 04:59.000 --> 05:02.000 He's buying a paper there, a little country sheet, eight pages, twice a week. 05:02.000 --> 05:04.000 He wants me to go in with him. 05:04.000 --> 05:08.000 It's nothing big, Walter, but it's the kind of thing I've been looking for for years. 05:08.000 --> 05:10.000 We can do something down there. 05:10.000 --> 05:11.000 The place is growing. 05:11.000 --> 05:13.000 We can double the circulation in six months. 05:13.000 --> 05:15.000 Dan's got all kinds of ideas and so have I. 05:15.000 --> 05:17.000 He says that... 05:17.000 --> 05:18.000 What's the matter? 05:18.000 --> 05:19.000 Eh? 05:19.000 --> 05:20.000 What's so funny? 05:20.000 --> 05:21.000 You. 05:21.000 --> 05:23.000 I don't get it. 05:23.000 --> 05:26.000 All right, how much, Ted? 05:26.000 --> 05:29.000 The price was 10,000. I'll need half of it. 05:29.000 --> 05:31.000 5,000 bucks. 05:31.000 --> 05:32.000 That's right. 05:32.000 --> 05:34.000 Same song, 82nd verse. 05:34.000 --> 05:36.000 I'm not begging, Walter. 05:36.000 --> 05:37.000 What is it then? 05:37.000 --> 05:40.000 I'm asking you for a loan. I'll sign a note. 05:40.000 --> 05:42.000 Well, what about it? 05:42.000 --> 05:46.000 What happened to your pride, Ted? 05:46.000 --> 05:47.000 I thought we agreed to forget all... 05:47.000 --> 05:49.000 I didn't agree to anything. 05:49.000 --> 05:54.000 You not only lost what pride you had, you haven't even got any good sense. 05:54.000 --> 05:58.000 Okay, Walter, that answers my question. 05:58.000 --> 06:01.000 It's good for a laugh, though. 06:01.000 --> 06:04.000 Big Brother Theodore crawling up on his belly. 06:04.000 --> 06:05.000 Shut up, Walter. 06:05.000 --> 06:07.000 5,000 bucks. You thought I'd just hand it over. 06:07.000 --> 06:09.000 I said shut up. 06:09.000 --> 06:10.000 Hey, let go of me. 06:10.000 --> 06:12.000 I've had all of you I'm gonna take. 06:12.000 --> 06:13.000 You hear that, Walter? I've had all... 06:13.000 --> 06:16.000 Let go of me. 06:16.000 --> 06:18.000 Okay, Walter. 06:18.000 --> 06:22.000 Okay. 06:22.000 --> 06:24.000 You've had that coming for a long time, Walter. 06:24.000 --> 06:27.000 Yeah, you're right. I was stupid thinking you'd... 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 Now get up. 06:29.000 --> 06:32.000 Come on, Walter, get up. I won't bother you anymore. 06:32.000 --> 06:34.000 I... 06:34.000 --> 06:36.000 Walter. 06:36.000 --> 06:38.000 Walter! 06:42.000 --> 06:44.000 I saw it when I turned him over. 06:44.000 --> 06:49.000 A stream of blood oozing out of his right temple where he'd hit his head on the corner of the hearth. 06:49.000 --> 06:51.000 No pulse. 06:51.000 --> 06:54.000 No breath. 06:54.000 --> 07:00.000 Walter was dead. 07:00.000 --> 07:03.000 In a spot like that, you don't think. You move. 07:03.000 --> 07:05.000 No one knew I was in New York. 07:05.000 --> 07:08.000 I was sure the clerk and the bellboy hadn't seen me cross the lobby. 07:08.000 --> 07:11.000 If I could get out without being spotted, I had a chance. 07:11.000 --> 07:16.000 I picked up the letters from Allenby, went to the door and put my handkerchief over the knob. 07:16.000 --> 07:20.000 Turned back to give the room a last look before I left. 07:20.000 --> 07:23.000 That's when I saw it. 07:23.000 --> 07:27.000 The telephone receiver was off the hook. 07:32.000 --> 07:36.000 I remember I looked down at it like it was a poisonous snake or something. 07:36.000 --> 07:40.000 Started to hang it up, then changed my mind. 07:40.000 --> 07:42.000 Uh, hello? 07:42.000 --> 07:44.000 Walter? 07:44.000 --> 07:46.000 Yeah, yeah, this is Walter. 07:46.000 --> 07:47.000 Really? 07:47.000 --> 07:49.000 Sorry, I kept you waiting so long. 07:49.000 --> 07:52.000 Wait a minute. Let's have an understanding right now. 07:52.000 --> 07:54.000 When I want a good newspaper man, I'll call you. 07:54.000 --> 07:58.000 When I want impersonations, I'll go see the floor show at Leon and Eddie's. 07:58.000 --> 08:02.000 Why don't you call your brother and tell him I'm getting tired of holding this telephone. 08:02.000 --> 08:04.000 Who, who will I say is calling? 08:04.000 --> 08:08.000 He knows. I made that pretty clear just before you barged into his apartment. 08:08.000 --> 08:10.000 What makes you think I barged in? 08:10.000 --> 08:12.000 Just a guess. Am I warm? 08:12.000 --> 08:13.000 Not very. 08:13.000 --> 08:16.000 From this end, the dialogue sounded more like a Donnybrook than a pink tee. 08:16.000 --> 08:17.000 Well, look, let's not go into... 08:17.000 --> 08:19.000 Oh, don't apologize, Theodore. 08:19.000 --> 08:22.000 Walter's a Class A heel. He had it coming. 08:22.000 --> 08:26.000 Now, go pick him up off the floor or wherever you left him and bring him to the phone. 08:26.000 --> 08:30.000 Well, he's out of the apartment right now. Why don't you just give me your name and number and I'll... 08:30.000 --> 08:34.000 He already has it. I gave it to him a year ago in a moment of weakness. 08:34.000 --> 08:38.000 Um, tell him I'll call him back in an hour or so when he's better into the talk. 08:38.000 --> 08:39.000 Hold it, hold it a minute. 08:39.000 --> 08:41.000 You're dinner, Mr. Pomeroy. 08:41.000 --> 08:43.000 Uh, listen, Walter won't be back till late tonight. 08:43.000 --> 08:45.000 You'd better call him at his office in the morning. You got that? 08:45.000 --> 08:47.000 Yes, but he wants... 08:47.000 --> 08:49.000 Mr. Pomeroy? 08:50.000 --> 08:53.000 If I'd had any sense, I'd have given up right then with the bellboy pounding on the door, 08:53.000 --> 08:56.000 with that girl on the phone who could send me to the chair with a word. 08:56.000 --> 09:00.000 But as I said in a spot like that, you don't think something else takes over. 09:02.000 --> 09:04.000 You wouldn't there, Mr. Pomeroy? 09:04.000 --> 09:06.000 I had to get my hands on that girl. 09:06.000 --> 09:09.000 I knew he'd have her number written down somewhere. 09:09.000 --> 09:13.000 There was nothing on the telephone stand, nothing in the drawers, 09:13.000 --> 09:16.000 but a couple of bridge score pads and some other junk. 09:16.000 --> 09:19.000 I wiped the knobs of the handkerchief and turned back to Walter, 09:19.000 --> 09:21.000 began searching his pockets. 09:21.000 --> 09:24.000 The bellboy was raffling some keys outside when I found it, 09:24.000 --> 09:27.000 a little brown leather-covered book with some names and numbers in it. 09:28.000 --> 09:31.000 I jumped toward the door, slid behind it just as it opened. 09:31.000 --> 09:33.000 Mr. Pomeroy, I knocked and I thought... 09:34.000 --> 09:36.000 Holy cow! 09:36.000 --> 09:39.000 Larry! Larry! Larry! 09:39.000 --> 09:42.000 The minute he turned the corner, I took off to the back stairway. 09:42.000 --> 09:45.000 The pack was beginning to howl up front when I left with the rear door, 09:45.000 --> 09:49.000 still unseen, safe, except for that girl. 09:59.000 --> 10:04.000 Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Robert Taylor in four hours to kill. 10:04.000 --> 10:09.000 Tonight's production in radio's outstanding theatre of thrills, Suspense. 10:16.000 --> 10:18.000 Be here, Wilkart. You must let me try again. 10:18.000 --> 10:20.000 Okay, Hamhawk, you're on. 10:20.000 --> 10:24.000 Something from Richard, perhaps. I was great as Richard III. 10:24.000 --> 10:29.000 Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by... 10:29.000 --> 10:31.000 Auto Light resistor, speak. 10:31.000 --> 10:35.000 Now you're cooking, my boy, because Auto Light resistor spark plugs 10:35.000 --> 10:37.000 do get you started faster when it's cold. 10:37.000 --> 10:40.000 They let your engine idle smoother, run better on leaner gas mixtures, 10:40.000 --> 10:42.000 actually save you gas. 10:42.000 --> 10:44.000 The quality of mercy is not strange. 10:44.000 --> 10:47.000 And neither is the quality of Auto Light resistor spark plugs. 10:47.000 --> 10:50.000 With their exclusive built-in 10,000 ohm Auto Light resistor, 10:50.000 --> 10:54.000 Auto Light resistor spark plugs give 200% longer electrode life, 10:54.000 --> 10:57.000 reduce spark plug interference with radio and television. 10:57.000 --> 10:59.020 Is this a dagger which I can use to cut off the 10:59.020 --> 11:02.000 radio and television? Is this a dagger which I see before me? 11:02.000 --> 11:06.000 Could be, could be. And the answer to your visibility problems, chum, 11:06.000 --> 11:09.000 is Auto Light bullseye sealed beam headlights. 11:09.000 --> 11:12.000 A horse, a horse, my kingdom. Or a horse. 11:12.000 --> 11:15.000 Oh, you'll never feel that way, pal, if your car is equipped with 11:15.000 --> 11:18.000 wide gap Auto Light resistor spark plugs. 11:18.000 --> 11:21.000 So see your friendly Auto Light dealer and have him install a set of those 11:21.000 --> 11:24.000 wide gap Auto Light resistor spark plugs in your car. 11:24.000 --> 11:27.000 Remember, you're always right with Auto Light. 11:27.000 --> 11:31.000 And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage, 11:31.000 --> 11:35.000 our star Robert Taylor in Four Hours to Kill. 11:35.000 --> 11:39.000 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 11:42.000 --> 11:45.000 I started across town toward Fifth Avenue, walking slowly, 11:45.000 --> 11:48.000 letting the cold night air work on my face. 11:48.000 --> 11:53.000 By now, the call was into headquarters and a power car was on the way. 11:53.000 --> 11:57.000 In a half hour, the homicide men would be there with the police photographers. 11:57.000 --> 12:00.000 By nine, the story would be into the morning papers. 12:00.000 --> 12:04.000 They'd be out around midnight. Walter was front page stuff. 12:04.000 --> 12:09.000 And that girl who'd heard it all on the phone, she'd be able to read the headlines. 12:09.000 --> 12:12.000 And once she added it up, I was through. 12:12.000 --> 12:14.000 I had four hours to find her. 12:14.000 --> 12:23.000 Then, somehow, somewhere, I knew I had to kill her. 12:27.000 --> 12:31.000 I found a phone booth in a Fifth Avenue drug store and took out the memo book. 12:31.000 --> 12:34.000 He'd scribbled first names and phone numbers on four or five pages. 12:34.000 --> 12:38.000 The rest of it was blank. No addresses, nothing else to go on. 12:38.000 --> 12:40.000 About a dozen of them belonged to women. 12:40.000 --> 12:44.000 So I started on number one, Anna Lee at a Murray Hill number. 12:54.000 --> 12:55.000 Hello? 12:55.000 --> 12:58.000 Is this Murray Hill 4-1-1-2-1? 12:58.000 --> 13:00.000 That's right. 13:00.000 --> 13:02.000 Is Joanne there, please? 13:02.000 --> 13:06.000 Joanne? I'm sorry, I don't know any Joanne. You must have the wrong number. 13:06.000 --> 13:07.000 Are you sure? 13:07.000 --> 13:10.000 I guess I'd better check it again. I'm sorry. 13:14.000 --> 13:18.000 No, Louise, this isn't him. If you're that guy who's been calling, let me tell you right now... 13:21.000 --> 13:23.000 You say you're making a survey? 13:23.000 --> 13:37.000 Well, my little old head isn't much good at figures, but I'll surely be glad to help you all. I... 13:40.000 --> 13:41.000 Hello? 13:41.000 --> 13:43.000 Is this Maxine? 13:43.000 --> 13:44.000 That's right. Who's this? 13:44.000 --> 13:46.000 Didn't I talk to you a little while ago? 13:46.000 --> 13:50.000 Who? Oh, don't tell me it's Cedar. 13:50.000 --> 13:52.000 Megated, will you? 13:52.000 --> 13:54.000 Oh, we're real friendly now. 13:54.000 --> 13:55.000 Well, I hope so. 13:55.000 --> 13:58.000 I see. And you make a habit of hanging up on people's faces. 13:58.000 --> 14:02.000 We were cut off, Angel, and you were so snide about giving me your name, I couldn't call you back. 14:02.000 --> 14:05.000 So you went out and bought yourself a crystal ball... 14:05.000 --> 14:10.000 No, no. I just called up every girl in Walters' telephone index until you answered. 14:10.000 --> 14:12.000 Why'd you do that? 14:12.000 --> 14:15.000 Because I want to see if the girl is as nice as the voice. 14:15.000 --> 14:17.000 How do you blush or default? 14:17.000 --> 14:21.000 Look, why don't you save us both a lot of trouble by telling me where I can meet you? 14:21.000 --> 14:23.000 I'd rather keep it this way. 14:23.000 --> 14:25.000 I can be pretty persistent. 14:25.000 --> 14:27.000 I can be pretty stubborn. 14:27.000 --> 14:30.000 One Pomeroy is about all I can cope with at a time. 14:30.000 --> 14:32.000 I'm awfully sorry, Theodore, but I have to... 14:32.000 --> 14:34.000 Wait a minute. What's that music? The radio? 14:34.000 --> 14:36.000 No, it's not the radio. And please don't bother me. 14:36.000 --> 14:38.000 You're a nice boy, but I'm too busy writing out a play game. 14:38.000 --> 14:41.000 Look, you've got to at least give me your last name, Maxine. 14:41.000 --> 14:43.000 Not tonight, Theodore. Some other time. 14:43.000 --> 14:44.000 But wait... 14:44.000 --> 14:46.000 I'm sorry, pal. You forced me to do this. 14:46.000 --> 14:48.000 Maxine, wait a minute. 14:48.000 --> 14:51.000 I'm sorry. 14:58.000 --> 14:59.000 Information. 14:59.000 --> 15:06.000 Would you tell me if you have a party by the name of Thomas P. Sherman at Plaza 22376? 15:06.000 --> 15:09.000 Thomas P. Sherman. S-H-E-R-M-A-N... 15:09.000 --> 15:12.000 That's right. Plaza 22376. 15:12.000 --> 15:14.000 One moment, please. 15:14.000 --> 15:16.000 I looked at my watch. 15:16.000 --> 15:20.000 It was 10 o'clock. I could close my eyes and see that hotel room now. 15:20.000 --> 15:22.000 Jammed with the boys from the police, Pete. 15:22.000 --> 15:24.000 Crowding around the medical examiner, grabbing for the phone, 15:24.000 --> 15:26.000 shooting questions at the lieutenant in charge. 15:26.000 --> 15:27.000 Hello, sir. 15:27.000 --> 15:28.000 Yes? 15:28.000 --> 15:33.000 We have no record of a Thomas P. Sherman at Plaza 22376. 15:33.000 --> 15:36.000 Oh, well, who is listed at that number? 15:36.000 --> 15:39.000 I'm sorry, sir. We do not give that information. 15:39.000 --> 15:41.000 What about the address of the number? 15:41.000 --> 15:42.000 I'm sorry, sir. We do not... 15:42.000 --> 15:44.000 Look, I've got to have it, operator. It's very urgent. 15:44.000 --> 15:46.000 One moment. I'll connect you with the supervisor. 15:46.000 --> 15:49.000 No, no. No, skiv it. 15:51.000 --> 15:53.000 I started to get panicky then. 15:53.000 --> 15:57.000 Got a lot of wild ideas about running, grabbing the next plane for anywhere. 15:57.000 --> 15:59.000 But I fought it down. 15:59.000 --> 16:03.000 I'd been a reporter long enough to know what happens to guys who run. 16:03.000 --> 16:05.000 I had to get that girl. 16:05.000 --> 16:07.000 I had to. 16:08.000 --> 16:09.000 Yeah? 16:09.000 --> 16:11.000 You're through with the phone? 16:11.000 --> 16:12.000 Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. 16:12.000 --> 16:15.000 Oh, thanks, pal. I got to get a hold of the little woman, you know. 16:15.000 --> 16:19.000 The more I explain to her now, the less I'll have to do when I do get home. 16:19.000 --> 16:22.000 Boy, they're sure going all out in that Legion parade, ain't they? 16:22.000 --> 16:24.000 Yeah, yeah. 16:27.000 --> 16:29.000 Parade? 16:31.000 --> 16:32.000 Excuse me. 16:32.000 --> 16:33.000 Yeah, sure. What's the matter? 16:33.000 --> 16:35.000 What was that you said about a parade? 16:35.000 --> 16:37.000 Legion parade coming up Fifth Avenue. 16:37.000 --> 16:39.000 Cross town traffic is tied up for two hours. 16:39.000 --> 16:40.000 Coming by here? 16:40.000 --> 16:42.000 Yeah, the band is down the street now. 16:42.000 --> 16:44.000 Band? That's what I heard. 16:44.000 --> 16:45.000 Huh? 16:45.000 --> 16:47.000 Nothing. Thanks a lot. 16:54.000 --> 16:56.000 Crowds were lining the curbs outside. 16:56.000 --> 16:59.000 Down the avenue, somewhere around 78th Street, 16:59.000 --> 17:02.000 I could hear the band at the head of the parade marching toward us. 17:02.000 --> 17:04.000 The same band I'd heard over her telephone, 17:04.000 --> 17:06.000 passing so close it almost covered her voice. 17:06.000 --> 17:09.000 She was on a low floor next to the street. 17:09.000 --> 17:12.000 And the band had passed her at exactly one minute to nine. 17:12.000 --> 17:14.000 I remembered looking at my watch. 17:14.000 --> 17:17.000 I stood there and waited for the band. 17:17.000 --> 17:20.000 It was a wild idea, but I had a feeling if I figured it carefully, 17:20.000 --> 17:22.000 I could come pretty close. 17:24.000 --> 17:28.000 I walked a block with the band, then another one to make sure. 17:28.000 --> 17:31.000 It took them a minute and 20 seconds to cover a block. 17:31.000 --> 17:34.000 We hit 84th Street at 16 minutes and 20 seconds past nine. 17:34.000 --> 17:38.000 They'd covered exactly 13 blocks since they passed her telephone. 17:38.000 --> 17:42.000 That made it somewhere around 71st Street, on a ground floor. 17:42.000 --> 17:46.000 An apartment, maybe a residential hotel facing Central Park. 17:47.000 --> 17:50.000 I turned and started running back down Fifth Avenue. 17:50.000 --> 17:52.000 I was getting close. 17:52.000 --> 17:56.000 And there were still two hours before the morning papers hit the street. 18:00.000 --> 18:03.000 In the next hour and a half, I checked Fifth Avenue for two blocks 18:03.000 --> 18:07.000 on either side of 71st, going over name plates and apartment doorways. 18:07.000 --> 18:09.000 There were two Maxines. 18:09.000 --> 18:11.000 I talked to one on the house phone. 18:11.000 --> 18:13.000 She must have been 70. 18:13.000 --> 18:15.000 And met the other one face to face, a hatchet-faced character 18:15.000 --> 18:17.000 who didn't appreciate being gotten out of bed by a drunk 18:17.000 --> 18:19.000 who had the wrong apartment. 18:19.000 --> 18:21.000 That left only one possibility, 18:21.000 --> 18:23.000 a residential hotel in the middle of the block. 18:23.000 --> 18:25.000 I decided I'd try calling her again. 18:25.000 --> 18:29.000 Walked past the cigar stand in the lobby to her old phone booths at the rear. 18:30.000 --> 18:32.000 It was 10 minutes to 11. 18:32.000 --> 18:37.000 Time was running out. 18:45.000 --> 18:46.000 Hello. 18:46.000 --> 18:48.000 Hello, Maxine. 18:48.000 --> 18:50.000 Here we go again. 18:50.000 --> 18:52.000 What is it this time, Theodore? 18:52.000 --> 18:54.000 Well, I'm still trying to wear you down. 18:54.000 --> 18:55.000 Because you like my voice. 18:55.000 --> 18:56.000 Right. 18:56.000 --> 18:57.000 You think I'm charming. 18:57.000 --> 18:58.000 Practically irresistible. 18:58.000 --> 18:59.000 Right. And another thing. 18:59.000 --> 19:00.000 What? 19:00.000 --> 19:03.000 I think you live in the Grayson Arms on Fifth Avenue. 19:03.000 --> 19:04.000 Wrong. 19:04.000 --> 19:06.000 I live on the other side of town. 19:06.000 --> 19:08.000 Wait now. Be honest with me, Angel. 19:08.000 --> 19:10.000 Hold it a second, will you? 19:10.000 --> 19:11.000 She was lying. 19:11.000 --> 19:13.000 She knew what it was all about and was playing with me. 19:13.000 --> 19:15.000 The panic came back. 19:15.000 --> 19:18.000 I looked across the marble floor of the lobby toward the cigar stand. 19:18.000 --> 19:20.000 A customer was standing there. 19:20.000 --> 19:23.000 A girl had appeared behind the counter to wait on him. 19:23.000 --> 19:25.000 Then he left and another guy came in. 19:25.000 --> 19:27.000 My heart stopped. 19:27.000 --> 19:30.000 It was the distributor with a bundle of morning papers. 19:30.000 --> 19:31.000 Hi, Eddie. 19:31.000 --> 19:32.000 Hiya. 19:32.000 --> 19:33.000 Are you ready to fold? 19:33.000 --> 19:34.000 Mm-hmm. 19:34.000 --> 19:35.000 Leave them on the counter. 19:35.000 --> 19:36.000 Okay. 19:36.000 --> 19:37.000 Bye. 19:37.000 --> 19:38.000 Bye. 19:38.000 --> 19:40.000 My mind was paralyzed. 19:40.000 --> 19:41.000 It didn't sink in. 19:41.000 --> 19:44.000 Not even when I saw the girl turn away and pick up the phone. 19:44.000 --> 19:45.000 Now, let's see. 19:45.000 --> 19:47.000 Where were we, Theodore? 19:47.000 --> 19:50.000 You were stringing me along about living on the other side of town. 19:50.000 --> 19:52.000 Listen, Maxine, you've got to... 19:52.000 --> 19:53.000 Hello? 19:53.000 --> 19:55.000 Teddy, you there? 19:55.000 --> 19:57.000 Yeah, sorry. 19:57.000 --> 19:59.000 Maxine, have you got the time? 19:59.000 --> 20:01.000 Oh, just a second. 20:01.000 --> 20:04.000 I saw the girl put down the phone, hold her watch up toward the light. 20:04.000 --> 20:05.000 Five to 11. 20:05.000 --> 20:06.000 When are you through work? 20:06.000 --> 20:08.000 Right now. 20:08.000 --> 20:09.000 Wait. 20:09.000 --> 20:11.000 How'd you know I was working? 20:11.000 --> 20:13.000 Stay put for a minute and I'll tell you. 20:13.000 --> 20:14.000 Ted! 20:14.000 --> 20:17.000 Ted, what do you mean, stay put a minute? 20:17.000 --> 20:18.000 Hello. 20:18.000 --> 20:20.000 I'll be right with you, sir. 20:20.000 --> 20:22.000 Hang on, Ted. 20:22.000 --> 20:23.000 Yes, sir. 20:23.000 --> 20:25.000 Package of those, huh? 20:25.000 --> 20:28.000 Yes, sir. 20:28.000 --> 20:31.000 1825, thanks. 20:31.000 --> 20:34.000 Anything else? 20:34.000 --> 20:35.000 That's up to you. 20:35.000 --> 20:36.000 Oh, now look... 20:36.000 --> 20:37.000 Wait a minute. 20:37.000 --> 20:40.000 I told you I was the persistent type. 20:40.000 --> 20:42.000 What? 20:42.000 --> 20:43.000 You're Ted! 20:43.000 --> 20:45.000 Disappointed? 20:45.000 --> 20:48.000 Not exactly. 20:48.000 --> 20:49.000 How did you find me? 20:49.000 --> 20:51.000 I was calling from the booth over there. 20:51.000 --> 20:54.000 But how did you find this place? 20:54.000 --> 20:55.000 My crystal ball. 20:55.000 --> 20:58.000 You ought to get yourself a booth at the county fair. 20:58.000 --> 20:59.000 You'd make a fortune. 20:59.000 --> 21:01.000 It's only a sideline. 21:01.000 --> 21:03.000 Do you really live across town? 21:03.000 --> 21:06.000 Worst looking brownstone on 75th. 21:06.000 --> 21:07.000 But it's home. 21:07.000 --> 21:09.000 Good, then I can walk you home. 21:09.000 --> 21:12.000 Well, they won't like this. 21:12.000 --> 21:14.000 They won't mind. 21:14.000 --> 21:17.000 Okay, Theodore, I'm whipped. 21:17.000 --> 21:18.000 Let me lock up and get my things. 21:18.000 --> 21:22.000 I'll be with you in a minute. 21:22.000 --> 21:24.000 I waited while she shut things down, 21:24.000 --> 21:26.000 threw a tweed coat over his shoulders, 21:26.000 --> 21:29.000 put a blue felt hat with a feather in it on the back of her head. 21:29.000 --> 21:31.000 Face matched the voice. 21:31.000 --> 21:35.000 Dark hair, wide-set blue eyes with laugh wrinkles at the corners. 21:35.000 --> 21:37.000 I wasn't thinking about that then. 21:37.000 --> 21:39.000 I was thinking what a break it was she lived across town 21:39.000 --> 21:44.000 on the other side of Central Park. 21:44.000 --> 21:45.000 Ted? 21:45.000 --> 21:46.000 Huh? 21:46.000 --> 21:47.000 Mind if I mention something? 21:47.000 --> 21:48.000 No, go ahead. 21:48.000 --> 21:50.000 We're going the wrong way. 21:50.000 --> 21:52.000 Main path across the park is down there. 21:52.000 --> 21:53.000 Yeah, I know. 21:53.000 --> 21:55.000 I just don't want to meet any cops. 21:55.000 --> 21:58.000 The park's closed after nightfall, you know. 21:58.000 --> 22:00.000 You don't mind? 22:00.000 --> 22:03.000 No, I don't mind. 22:03.000 --> 22:06.000 At the last minute, she grabbed a paper off the pile, 22:06.000 --> 22:08.000 folded it and stuck it in her pocket without looking at it. 22:08.000 --> 22:10.000 We turned into a dark byway. 22:10.000 --> 22:12.000 She moved closer and took my arm. 22:12.000 --> 22:16.000 The paper pressed against me like a hot branding iron in my side. 22:16.000 --> 22:18.000 My heart was pounding now. 22:18.000 --> 22:20.000 There was a choking lump in my throat. 22:20.000 --> 22:23.000 I hardly dared to talk. 22:23.000 --> 22:25.000 I... 22:25.000 --> 22:28.000 I'm sorry I gave you such a bad time tonight, Ted. 22:28.000 --> 22:30.000 Forget it. 22:30.000 --> 22:33.000 I guess I thought you'd be different. 22:33.000 --> 22:35.000 More like your brother. 22:35.000 --> 22:40.000 Why are we stopping? 22:40.000 --> 22:42.000 Why did you do it? 22:42.000 --> 22:44.000 What do you mean? 22:44.000 --> 22:46.000 You can let your hair down. 22:46.000 --> 22:47.000 Walter can't hear us. 22:47.000 --> 22:49.000 Why did I do what? 22:49.000 --> 22:51.000 You mean you do this every night? 22:51.000 --> 22:52.000 Huh? 22:52.000 --> 22:54.000 Call up strange women, 22:54.000 --> 22:57.000 tell them you've fallen in love with their voices. 22:57.000 --> 22:59.000 Oh. 22:59.000 --> 23:01.000 Well, let's not talk about that now. 23:01.000 --> 23:03.000 I don't get it, Ted. 23:03.000 --> 23:04.000 Look, I'll tell you later. 23:04.000 --> 23:06.000 Never mind. 23:06.000 --> 23:08.000 I just thought it was worth mentioning. 23:08.000 --> 23:11.000 I guess I was wrong. 23:11.000 --> 23:12.000 Night, Ted. 23:12.000 --> 23:14.000 I can make it the rest of the way alone. 23:14.000 --> 23:15.000 No, no, wait. 23:15.000 --> 23:16.000 I mean it. 23:16.000 --> 23:17.000 Let go of me. 23:17.000 --> 23:18.000 Quiet, Maxina. 23:18.000 --> 23:19.000 The cop will hear us. 23:19.000 --> 23:21.000 I don't care. 23:21.000 --> 23:23.000 Hey! 23:23.000 --> 23:29.000 Anyone up there? 23:29.000 --> 23:32.000 I held her tight, my lips hard against hers. 23:32.000 --> 23:36.000 I heard the cop walk by on the main path 50 feet away. 23:36.000 --> 23:38.000 There in that dark body. 23:38.000 --> 23:40.000 I could have done it. 23:40.000 --> 23:42.000 Ten seconds, maybe 20, and it would be over. 23:42.000 --> 23:44.000 I'd be free. 23:44.000 --> 23:46.000 But I discovered something else. 23:46.000 --> 23:49.000 As I felt her respond, felt her arms tighten around me. 23:49.000 --> 23:52.000 I said it before, back in that room with Walter's body at my feet. 23:52.000 --> 23:53.000 I stopped thinking. 23:53.000 --> 23:55.000 Something else took over. 23:55.000 --> 23:59.000 I was like an animal, fighting for life, going on nerve and instinct. 23:59.000 --> 24:01.000 But there in that black pathway in the park, 24:01.000 --> 24:04.000 I began to think again like a human being. 24:04.000 --> 24:07.000 And I knew that whatever it is that's born into a murderer 24:07.000 --> 24:09.000 wasn't in me. 24:09.000 --> 24:11.000 Love her or hate her, 24:11.000 --> 24:15.000 I could no more murder this girl in cold blood than I could fly to the moon. 24:24.000 --> 24:29.000 Well, here's the 8th Avenue entrance. 24:29.000 --> 24:31.000 Yeah. 24:31.000 --> 24:34.000 Why don't you tell me, Ted, something's tearing it to pieces. 24:34.000 --> 24:36.000 I can see it. 24:36.000 --> 24:38.000 Okay. 24:38.000 --> 24:40.000 You've got a morning paper in your coat pocket. 24:40.000 --> 24:41.000 Take a look at it. 24:41.000 --> 24:43.000 Paper? 24:43.000 --> 24:44.000 What's that got to do with... 24:44.000 --> 24:46.000 Here, give it to me. 24:46.000 --> 24:49.000 Page 1, I knew it. 24:49.000 --> 24:51.000 Lawyer attacked in city apartment. 24:51.000 --> 24:52.000 Walter. 24:52.000 --> 24:53.000 Yeah. 24:53.000 --> 24:55.000 You ask me, here it is. 24:55.000 --> 24:57.000 New York, January 18th. 24:57.000 --> 24:59.000 Bruised and bleeding after an attack by a mysterious visitor 24:59.000 --> 25:02.000 into his rooms at the bachelor's club early last night. 25:02.000 --> 25:04.000 Walter Pomeroy... 25:04.000 --> 25:06.000 Wait a minute. 25:06.000 --> 25:07.000 Go on. 25:07.000 --> 25:09.000 Walter Pomeroy, noted criminal lawyer, 25:09.000 --> 25:12.000 still refused to disclose the identity of his assailant. 25:12.000 --> 25:15.000 Dr. James Penrose, attending physician, 25:15.000 --> 25:17.000 said Pomeroy suffered a possible concussion 25:17.000 --> 25:19.000 from a severe blow on the head, 25:19.000 --> 25:21.000 but was otherwise progressing nicely 25:21.000 --> 25:23.000 and would be released from city hospital in 24 hours. 25:23.000 --> 25:25.000 The attack came at... 25:27.000 --> 25:28.000 Good Lord. 25:28.000 --> 25:31.000 Severe blow on the head. 25:31.000 --> 25:33.000 Yeah, he fell. 25:33.000 --> 25:34.000 Listen. 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 Listen, Maxine, this... 25:36.000 --> 25:38.000 This doesn't tell at all. There's something else. 25:38.000 --> 25:40.000 Then what is it? 25:40.000 --> 25:42.000 What is the matter? 25:42.000 --> 25:44.000 Okay. 25:44.000 --> 25:46.000 So you want to know what's the matter? 25:46.000 --> 25:48.000 What's wrong with me? 25:48.000 --> 25:50.000 Okay, sit down on that bench there. 25:50.000 --> 25:53.000 Make yourself comfortable, because this takes a while to tell. 25:53.000 --> 25:56.000 And that's it. That's what's wrong. 25:56.000 --> 25:59.000 I wanted you to know all of it, because... 25:59.000 --> 26:01.000 Well, you're important to me now. 26:01.000 --> 26:05.000 Maybe more important than anything else in the world. 26:05.000 --> 26:08.000 You can check out if you want to. 26:08.000 --> 26:12.000 It's nothing a cup of coffee won't cure. 26:12.000 --> 26:14.000 I'm sorry. 26:14.000 --> 26:16.000 I'm sorry. 26:16.000 --> 26:18.000 I'm sorry. 26:18.000 --> 26:20.000 I'm sorry. 26:20.000 --> 26:24.000 It's nothing a cup of coffee won't cure. 26:24.000 --> 26:26.000 Oh, Maxine. 26:26.000 --> 26:29.000 There's an all-night stand around the corner. 26:29.000 --> 26:31.000 I've got 20 cents. 26:31.000 --> 26:34.780 The 26:49.000 --> 26:52.000 Suspense presented by Auto Light. 26:52.000 --> 26:54.000 Tonight's star, Robert Taylor. 26:54.000 --> 26:57.000 Ah, Wilcox, shall we do another sterling performance? 26:57.000 --> 26:59.000 I believe. 26:59.000 --> 27:01.000 I believe we rate at least 10 curtain calls. 27:01.000 --> 27:03.000 Ham-hawk, old boy, if you think we're good, 27:03.000 --> 27:07.000 just wait till you try Auto Light Resistor Spark Plugs. 27:07.000 --> 27:10.000 They're the unbeatable performers of the spark plug field. 27:10.000 --> 27:13.000 And they're only one of more than 400 products made by Auto Light 27:13.000 --> 27:18.000 for cars, trucks, planes and boats in 28 plants coast to coast. 27:18.000 --> 27:21.000 These include complete electrical systems used as original equipment 27:21.000 --> 27:24.000 in many makes of America's finest cars. 27:24.000 --> 27:27.000 Batteries, spark plugs, generators, coils, distributors, 27:27.000 --> 27:30.000 starting motors and bullseye sealed beam headlights. 27:30.000 --> 27:33.000 All engineered to fit together perfectly, 27:33.000 --> 27:36.000 work together perfectly because they're a perfect team. 27:36.000 --> 27:40.000 So don't accept electrical parts supposed to be as good. 27:40.000 --> 27:43.000 Ask for and insist on Auto Light original factory parts 27:43.000 --> 27:47.000 at your neighborhood service station, car dealer, garage or repair shop. 27:47.000 --> 28:00.000 Remember, you're always right with Auto Light. 28:00.000 --> 28:03.000 Next Thursday for Suspense, William Powell will be our star. 28:03.000 --> 28:06.000 The play is called The Escape of Lacey Abbott. 28:06.000 --> 28:12.000 And it is, as we say, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 28:12.000 --> 28:22.000 Tonight's Suspense play was produced and edited by William Spear 28:22.000 --> 28:24.000 and directed by Norman MacDonald. 28:24.000 --> 28:28.000 Music for Suspense is composed by Renee Garagank and Lucian Morawak 28:28.000 --> 28:30.000 and conducted by Lud Bluskin. 28:30.000 --> 28:34.000 Four Hours to Kill is an original radio play by Harold Swanson. 28:34.000 --> 28:37.000 Robert Taylor will soon be seen with John Hodiac and Arlene Dahl 28:37.000 --> 28:40.000 in the Metro Goldwood Mayor production Ambush. 28:40.000 --> 28:44.000 In the coming weeks you will hear such stars as Ozzie and Harriet Nelson 28:44.000 --> 28:46.000 and Rosalind Russell. 28:46.000 --> 28:49.000 Don't forget next Thursday same time Auto Light will present Suspense 28:49.000 --> 28:56.000 starring William Powell. 28:56.000 --> 28:59.000 You can buy Auto Light resistor or regular spark plugs, 28:59.000 --> 29:02.000 Auto Light staple batteries, Auto Light electrical parts 29:02.000 --> 29:04.000 at your neighborhood Auto Light dealers. 29:04.000 --> 29:07.000 Switch to Auto Light. Good night. 29:07.000 --> 29:11.000 One million six hundred thousand men still wear the uniform 29:11.000 --> 29:14.000 of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. 29:14.000 --> 29:17.000 It's good to know that the USO extends them a friendly welcome 29:17.000 --> 29:19.000 no matter where they are stationed. 29:19.000 --> 29:23.000 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. 29:23.000 --> 29:38.000 Music