Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers present Suspense.
Tonight, Auto Light brings you A Ring for Maria, a suspense play starring Mr. Cornell
Wilde.
Oh, John, it's a beautiful ring.
Oh, you like it.
A nice diamond, huh?
John, I can't tell you how much.
Oh, Maria, I would have done more for you and long ago, but for my business problems,
like a stone around my neck hangs that.
I know, John, the store.
Yes, the store.
That's why it's necessary to do this thing tonight, for both our sakes.
Oh, John, it was crazy of me, I know, but I was worried the way things were between
us that perhaps you didn't love me anymore, but no.
After tonight, Maria, there will be other moments like this, many of them.
When we get our money from the fire insurance company, we needn't rush back into business
again.
After all, we have been working hard for nearly ten years.
We'll go someplace, enjoy ourselves first together.
I can hardly believe it.
Only, only I wish that tonight was over with, when I think of what we must do.
There's nothing to worry about, Maria, in the morning you will be at your aunt's home
in Minneapolis, and I, I will be here to handle everything myself.
Don't you see, you'll be safe, and if I wasn't sure of everything, would I be willing to
stay alone and face all the questioning?
Oh, John, you're willing to do this?
For, for both of us, Maria, for our future.
Now I can tell you how much this ring means to me.
As long as I live, I will never take it off.
Now I will go finish packing my bag.
She kissed me before she went, and then I sat there on the couch and rubbed away at
my mouth.
She always smelled like laundry water, I thought.
She was so big, older than I was.
Now she had never appealed to me as the kind of woman I should have.
If I hadn't been so frightened by America when I first arrived, I would never have married
her at all.
But Maria and the marriage settlement her father offered, he wanted her to have a nice
boy from the old country, he said.
Yes, Maria and the money seemed to go with this great new land.
No more slaving for a living.
I could start a business and this big blonde would work.
But now our business at the store had gone to pieces, so burned the store.
With the fire insurance money, I would have a chance for the kind of life I deserved.
Oh, it was smart touch to give her the ring.
Without blinding her eyes, she'd do whatever I wanted her to do.
And afterwards, there'd be no trouble divorcing her.
I had tested her in quarrels.
She was the kind that takes her beatings silently.
In just a moment, Mr. Cornel Wilde in the first act of a ring for Maria.
Ringing in the new year early, Harlow?
Why no, Hap, those are only the three chimes.
What three chimes?
The three chimes a year an auto light stay full battery needs water in normal car use.
Harlow, you deserve life for that.
And I'll take it if it's the longer life of an auto light stay full, because the stay
full gives 70% longer life as proven by tests conducted according to SAE minimum life cycle
standard.
You're positive, Harlow?
Positive is the word.
Hap, every positive plate in the auto light stay full battery is protected with fiber
glass retaining mats to reduce flaking and shedding and keep the power producing material
in place.
You sure got your battery problem solved for 1951, Harlow.
Right, Hap.
And friends, for the new year, see your neighborhood auto light battery dealer and have him install
an auto light stay full battery, a battery that needs water only three times a year in
normal car use.
And remember, you're always right with auto light.
Now with a ring for Maria and the performance of Mr. Cornell Wild, auto light hopes once
again to keep you in suspense.
Before I left the house, I told Maria to be sure in California around in Minneapolis that
she was coming.
Then I stopped in at a bar and ordered a whiskey.
When the bartender wasn't looking, I spilled this whiskey all over my shirt front.
Next, I telephoned my friend, Frank Laszlo, and told him to stop in at my house at 1115
on his way home from his restaurant.
He would be my alibi.
I was getting ready for the part of the plan I hadn't told Maria about yet.
And I wasn't going to tell her.
That part, that part she was supposed to guess.
John?
Oh, I'm so glad you're back.
I tried not to think of it, but John, you look...
What's the matter?
I can't do it.
What?
I, I can't go.
I can't trust myself.
I even had some drinks to get up my nerve, but no, I've been through too much all these
months worrying.
You have been drinking.
I can smell it.
You never drink.
I told you, I had to do something.
I tried to pretend that I was brave, that this thing tonight, because it meant so much
to us, I would go through with it.
But I can't.
I can't.
It takes a stronger person than I am.
But John, if you mean the fire, burning the store, I'm glad we're not going.
It was a terrible thing anyway.
I'm glad.
What are you glad about?
The insurance is our only hope.
You know what it means without it?
We have nothing.
It's the end of things, of you and me, of everything.
I will have to go away alone.
I couldn't go on with you knowing that I'm a failure as a man.
John, it is not the end.
I can take the store.
We'll begin fresh again.
No, no, it was the only thing.
Now we shall fail.
I shall just go somewhere and disappear and you...
Yes?
Yes, John?
What about me?
That's what I hate to think about.
Then I must leave you.
If only this thing tonight could be done.
It's so simple.
It's all arranged.
We would have had happiness.
John, John, let me do it.
You were willing to stay behind and face everyone while I was safe at my aunt's?
Why shouldn't I be willing to do as much now that this strain has proven too much for you?
You stay here, John.
I will go to the store.
I will do it myself and then get on the train.
It will be as we planned, only.
Just don't talk like that anymore about leaving me, John.
No, shh, shh, shh.
I was just talking.
It was 11.15.
Mario had been gone 20 minutes when I heard Frank's ring at the door.
Good.
I would keep him a half hour and by then the fire should have been discovered and someone
would call me.
Hello, Frank.
Come in.
Good evening, John.
It's so nice of you to let me come so late.
Does the letter mention my mother?
How is she getting along?
Yes, and your brother and his wife, all are well.
Come, sit down here.
I have poured a glass of wine for each of us.
Thank you.
Where is Maria?
Asleep?
No, she went out to visit friends.
At least that's what she said.
You think I should suspect her, perhaps?
Oh, no, no, John.
Everyone knows how Maria feels about you.
Yes, of course.
And I about her.
A good girl, Maria.
But here you want the letter.
Here.
Here it is, Frank.
Go ahead, read it.
I'll pour some wine.
John, a whole bottle of wine we put away.
I'll never be able to sleep, and it's nearly midnight.
Don't be foolish.
It's wine, not that ink you sell for coffee.
You'll sleep.
Well, I'm off.
Thanks for calling me about the letter.
Don't go, Frank.
I don't get to see you often.
Your phone, John.
Answer it.
I will find my way out.
All right, Frank.
It is nearly midnight.
Seven minutes to.
Good night.
How long have you been here?
Hello?
Is there someone on the line?
What is that?
Who is it?
John.
What did you call for?
John, I'm burned.
What?
What happened?
I fell afterwards, in the dark, in the fire.
I don't understand if you were burned.
I think it's the flames in my breast.
I don't know.
I got up the stairs and ran through the door.
Did you remember to lock the door?
I don't know.
I was in pain, I tell you.
I walked and cried.
I didn't know what to do.
And then I saw a little bar.
I waited till it was almost empty, and that's where I am now, in the telephone booth.
John, will you come?
Do something for me.
But if you're in a bar with people, can't they see?
No.
I took my coat off when I went into the store before I went down to the basement.
I was in the bathroom.
No, I took my coat off when I went into the store before I went down to the basement.
to anyone don't let anyone see you too closely you understand yes yes yes yes
that's my place why what happened fire in my place
how how bad is it how did it start what's burning don't know any answers
like that yet mr. Marco I understand it's just striking out now and they
haven't been in the place yet to look around you better get down there and
help check shall I get word to them that you're coming yes of course right away
yes yes I will
yes yes but which would I go to first to Mario who sounded in such pain she might
tell everything to the first person who found her or to this door where the fire
people and perhaps the police were waiting to talk to me I wanted to go to
the store but I didn't dare I didn't dare to leave Mario alone just nearly a
half hour after midnight when I drove up to the alley when I told it to wait
Maria Maria yes hurry get in come on
right away right away Maria how badly are you burned are you sure it's dumb
Maria listen to me the police have called me about the store and they are
waiting for me there you understand the police the police are waiting but you
will take me to a doctor first you will can I marry I told them I would be right
down I've lost time driving to pick you up first it will look suspicious very
suspicious if I'm delayed but I must what I do Maria I must leave you
someplace in the car and go the rest away in a cab I will get through with
them as quickly as possible and then I will be back for you I can't wait any
longer you have to Maria don't you understand what it means you must
promise that you will that you will stay in the car quietly until I come all
right all right
so you wouldn't know anything at all about how the fire got started a no I
would not say and you were home with this friend from 1120 until nearly
midnight yes that's right I I was home with my friend Frank Laszlo he owns the
restaurant right on the corner there he always closes up by 11 and tonight he
stopped in to read a letter I received some friends of ours in the old country
all right we'll talk to mr. Laszlo in the meantime mr. Markov you better drop
any of the fire marshal's office in the morning at 10 o'clock you mean that I
know I don't mean anything certainly anything I can do to help I'll be there
of course of course
it had taken a half hour of it talking I knew from their manner that they have
found the kerosene or smelled it and I was back at the car looking at Mario she
appeared unconscious but when I started to drive away I couldn't help it Mario
it wasn't pleasant I you know now no doctor John so he can do something for
me all right all right how are you talking to me you frighten me right and
you what about me don't you think I am frightened what do you suppose will
happen if I take you to a doctor he'll want to know everything and he will have
to report it somewhere John I must have to eat where name the place where taking
you won't be the same as going straight to the police
well then the police anybody anybody who will help
John
I couldn't answer her I was trapped now I thought all I have to do is bring her
in for help anywhere no doctor no hospital would treat her without
reporting the case to police take her home if the police caught me bringing
Maria there if they found that she was burned and I was helping her for hours
seemed I drove that night wondering thinking trying frantically to find some
solution while Maria stared straight ahead not speaking sometimes she would
cry then it was quiet again slept I wanted to get away from other cars from
people they turned on to an old dirt road that led along the river when I got to a
dark spot I stopped yes I'm here Maria
no there is no doctor no there is no doctor there's no hospital and there is
not going to be any you got yourself into this you got me into it when you
are found burned it's prison for both of us John John I said prison separate
prisons thank goodness anything to get away from you now do you understand now
let me hear you say John again once more before I go once more let me touch you
let me just touch you what are you doing get back take your hands away from my
face
God
somehow I got out of the car and away from her it must have been with her last
drink that she attacked me because she she fell back but then when I stopped to
look back she was out of the car standing on steadily on the ground I
called but she didn't hear she turned and I saw that she was trying to reach
the river edge she was weak sagging under her weight but she kept on and made
it almost at the very edge of the river she slumped to the ground in a kneeling
position I started for her inside of me I felt only jelly then as I stood there
I saw she was doing something with her hands as if ringing them then I realized
she was taking off the ring the diamond ring she had said she would keep on as
long as she lived it must have slipped from her hand because she started
pointing around in the dirt then she got it turned and threw it at the car with
all her strength but the effort to her of balance she slowly fell backward like
an old doll into the water she was gone now I was out of it they wouldn't be
able to touch me
you
auto light is bringing you mr. Cornell wild with Irene Tedrow in a ring for
Maria tonight's production and radios outstanding theater of thrills
suspense
hey Harlow what are your plans for this start of a new year same as usual half I
always get the start of the year with an auto light staple battery the battery
that needs water only three times a year in normal car use but aren't you gonna
welcome the year in why sure half year in and year out there's nothing more
welcome than the dependable starting power and extra convenience of the
auto light staple battery you be the life of the party Harlow half my good
man you can't beat the auto light staple for longer life 70% longer life in fact
as proven by tests conducted according to SAE minimum life cycle standard aren't
you gonna raise your champagne glass Harlow you mean fiberglass half because
every positive plate of an auto light staple battery is protected with a fiber
glass retaining mat to reduce flaking and shedding and keep the power producing
material in place but Harlow everybody's going to to start the new year by having
their neighborhood auto light battery dealer install an auto light stay full
a battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use and
remember you're always right with auto light and now auto light brings back to
our Hollywood soundstage mr. Cornell wild in Elliott Lewis's production of a
ring for Mario a tale well calculated to keep you in
suspend
early in the morning I went to a police station I had decided it would look odd
when Maria's body was found if I had not reported her absence they took her
description and then how about jewelry did she have any she might be wearing
only her wedding ring and earrings gold earrings shaped like a hoop nothing
else nothing all right mr. Markoff we'll call you the moment we hear anything
well I think she'll be walking in on you soon that's our experience in these
cases
I breathe easier when I left the station I had almost told him of the diamond
ring I didn't want to because I had failed to find it when I made a hurried
search before leaving the river's edge but I knew the spot and when things
quieted down I planned to go there in daylight and search again it was worth
too much to let go just now the only thing ahead of me was the visit to the
fire marshal's office at 10 o'clock but I wasn't worried about that let them
ask their questions I had an alibi I was home when the fire started the only
person who could implicate me in any way was dead yes I had to admit things had
turned out not bad not bad
oh yes sir my name is John Markov I'm to see the fire marshal this morning oh yes
mr. Markov just a moment mr. Markov is here marshal very well the marshal is
coming out mr. Markov morning mr. Markov had a lot to think about yes I've heard
the fire and then this morning early you reported your wife missing didn't you
yes I was going to tell you about it too I was already informed and I'm afraid I
have what may be bad news for you mr. Markov the police think they found her
found her how where very unusual you reported her as alive only last night yet
this morning a half hour ago her body was found floating in the river the
description tallies exactly floating you mean you mean she was drowned Maria I
don't mean anything of the kind come along mr. Markov please are waiting for
you to make positive identification at the morgue
I didn't like the way the marshal talked or acted with me made me feel as if
something had gone wrong but I told myself to stop worrying they could know
nothing especially if Mario was dead but what did he mean talking as if she
wasn't drowned I was still thinking about this when we got to the undertakers two
men were standing outside in order that the marshal is something told me they
must be detectives then one of them spoke to me you're mr. Markov yes I'm
sergeant Holbrooke with a homicide bureau of the police department mr.
Markov we'd like to take a look through your car is it here why sure go ahead
and let me have your keys you mind we might have to move the car one reason or
another yes all right this way mr. Markov for the identification well mr.
Markov it's hair it's maria but how what happened what happened was a tragedy
mr. Markov but you see those marks on her body yes yes those marks are burns
and there was a fire in your store last night but I don't understand you you
think Mario can I talk to you for a moment oh yes
the mark of did you know your wife telephoned her aunt in Minneapolis last
night and told her she was arriving for a visit there this morning did you or
didn't you know there mr. Markov you're awfully slow answering very simple
questions no no no I did not know I see well anyway she did mr. Markov you might
like to know how we found out would you yes you see when your wife wasn't on the
morning train at 7 o'clock her aunt got worried and telephoned your house but
got no answer I was at the police station reporting Mario's absence right
at 930 your wife's aunt telephoned again but this time to your place of business
naturally she was told the line was out of order now she really was worried and
that's how we found out about it she telephoned the police I talked to her did
you tell her about Mario no mr. Markov I knew a body had been found that answered
the description of mrs. Markov but I wasn't sure yet I'm only sure now but
mrs. Markov's aunt told me something else it seemed that your wife was very
happy about a gift you gave her last night and naturally as women will she
had to talk about it she told her and you remember the gift oh yes yes of
course it slipped my mind in all this that has happened the ring you mean the
diamond ring you mean that's right mr. Markov she was wearing that ring wasn't
she when you last saw her yes yes I forgot she must have been wearing that
right and she left the house before the fire naturally about 11 you reported and
you never saw her after that until this morning here no I did not you're sure
you're very sure of that yes yes I'm sure then how is it mr. Markov that when
we looked at your car just now we saw something that had been caught in the
rain scupper that runs along the side of the body over the windows and this mr.
Markov is what we found stuck in there along with some loose fine gravel this
diamond ring what of it the coroner's physician found no water in your wife's
lungs she didn't drown in his opinion she died from heart failure directly
super induced by her pain and burns how did this terribly injured woman get to
the river miles from the scene of the fire the diamond ring tells us the
answer she was taken there and thrown in thrown in by you who watched her die
even though you might have perhaps saved her life by getting medical aid for her
I didn't throw her in she fell in I tell you she fell in it was an accident
oh mr. Markov we don't talk the same language in mine the death of your wife
was murder
suspense presented by auto light tonight star mr. Cornell wild well see you next
year Harlow okay happen in the meantime don't forget and don't forget what that
auto light makes over 400 product for cars trucks planes and boats in 28
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auto light parts are original factory parts you can be sure you're right
because you're always right with auto light next week on suspense mr. Mickey
Rooney a star of alibi me and in weeks to come you will hear such famous stars
as ginger Rogers Eve Arden and it's your pincer all appearing in tales well
calculated to keep you in suspense
suspense is produced and directed by Elliott Lewis with music composed by
Lucien Morrowek and conducted by Ludd Bluskin a ring for Maria was written
for suspense by Lewis Pollock Cornell wild is next to be seen in the new RKO
Technicolor production sons of the musketeers and remember next week on
suspense mr. Mickey Rooney in alibi me this is Harlow Wilcox again to wish each
and every one of you on behalf of suspense and 96,000 auto light dealers
from coast to coast a happy and prosperous new year this is CBS the
Columbia Broadcasting System