WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:10.000 Autolite and its 96,000 dealers present Suspense. 00:10.000 --> 00:19.720 Tonight, Autolite brings you the story of a woman who finds a letter warning of death 00:19.720 --> 00:22.360 and has only three hours to deliver it. 00:22.360 --> 00:32.640 A transcribed tale we call The Death Parade, starring Miss Agnes Moorhead. 00:32.640 --> 00:38.880 Before our play begins, here is a word about Autolite from our good friend, Harlow Wilcox. 00:38.880 --> 00:41.080 Hi Harlow, you got the time? 00:41.080 --> 00:46.080 Always have the time to discuss those great ignition engineered Autolite spark plugs, half 00:46.080 --> 00:47.080 an hour. 00:47.080 --> 00:48.080 No, the time of day. 00:48.080 --> 00:53.680 Day or night, those matchless marvels designed by Autolite ignition engineers are magic for 00:53.680 --> 00:54.680 merry motoring. 00:54.680 --> 00:58.480 Harlow, I'd like to know what time it is. 00:58.480 --> 01:01.000 Oh, oh, ten to one. 01:01.000 --> 01:02.000 Ten to one? 01:02.000 --> 01:06.280 Yeah, ten to one, that when you replace worn out spark plugs in your car with ignition 01:06.280 --> 01:13.680 engineered Autolite spark plugs, you'll get smoother performance, quick starts, gas savings. 01:13.680 --> 01:16.200 Oh, three o'clock. 01:16.200 --> 01:18.040 Then your watch is working. 01:18.040 --> 01:22.920 With all the precision of Autolite spark plugs, Hap, why they're designed by the same Autolite 01:22.920 --> 01:28.400 engineers who designed the complete ignition system for many leading makes of our finest 01:28.400 --> 01:29.400 cars. 01:29.400 --> 01:33.520 And that's why Autolite spark plugs are world famous for quality and dependability. 01:33.520 --> 01:40.400 And now with The Death Parade and the performance of Miss Agnes Moorhead, Autolite hopes once 01:40.400 --> 01:42.920 again to keep you in suspense. 01:42.920 --> 01:48.400 Some parade, eh? 01:48.400 --> 01:49.400 I'll say. 01:49.400 --> 01:50.760 Something about a parade. 01:50.760 --> 01:53.640 Yeah, you can say that again. 01:53.640 --> 01:59.000 Well, I guess it's all over. 01:59.000 --> 02:01.360 Sure has been a nice day for it. 02:01.360 --> 02:02.360 Yeah. 02:02.360 --> 02:03.360 Not a cloud in the... 02:03.360 --> 02:06.360 Hey, hey, look up there on the roof. 02:06.360 --> 02:07.360 Where? 02:07.360 --> 02:08.360 The Benson building. 02:08.360 --> 02:09.360 Hey, look out, look out! 02:09.360 --> 02:10.360 She's gonna fall! 02:10.360 --> 02:11.360 She's gonna fall! 02:11.360 --> 02:12.360 Go back! 02:12.360 --> 02:13.360 No! 02:13.360 --> 02:14.360 No, don't! 02:14.360 --> 02:15.360 Don't! 02:15.360 --> 02:32.200 All right, now, Miss Johnson, let's try and talk about this. 02:32.200 --> 02:35.900 This girl fell or was pushed off a roof this morning? 02:35.900 --> 02:38.400 You say you were the only other person there at the time. 02:38.400 --> 02:39.400 I was. 02:39.400 --> 02:40.400 I told you. 02:40.400 --> 02:41.400 Oh, what do you mean? 02:41.400 --> 02:42.400 What do you mean, pushed? 02:42.400 --> 02:43.400 You think that... 02:43.400 --> 02:44.400 Oh, can you? 02:44.400 --> 02:45.400 I can't even... 02:45.400 --> 02:46.400 I know you're upset. 02:46.400 --> 02:47.400 Just take it easy. 02:47.400 --> 02:48.400 I'm upset. 02:48.400 --> 02:49.400 I'm nearly out of my mind. 02:49.400 --> 02:52.400 I don't see how you can expect me to tell you anything. 02:52.400 --> 02:53.400 First you accuse me and now... 02:53.400 --> 02:54.400 How can you believe me so unfeeling? 02:54.400 --> 02:55.400 All I was trying to do was just... 02:55.400 --> 02:56.400 Oh, it's freezing in here. 02:56.400 --> 02:57.400 You've no right to keep me in here. 02:57.400 --> 02:58.400 Here, try some coffee. 02:58.400 --> 03:07.400 It'll make you feel better. 03:07.400 --> 03:10.400 You've told us you know something about this accident. 03:10.400 --> 03:12.400 Something more than we already know. 03:12.400 --> 03:13.400 Yes, I do, Lieutenant. 03:13.400 --> 03:16.400 I mean, it never would have happened, don't you see? 03:16.400 --> 03:17.400 Oh, sure. 03:17.400 --> 03:18.400 Well, come on, Donna. 03:18.400 --> 03:19.400 This will help. 03:19.400 --> 03:20.400 I'm so nervous. 03:20.400 --> 03:21.400 Oh, no, it spills. 03:21.400 --> 03:22.400 Oh, that's all right. 03:22.400 --> 03:23.400 We'll clean it up later. 03:23.400 --> 03:24.400 That's how it started. 03:24.400 --> 03:25.400 That's how it started this morning, just like that. 03:25.400 --> 03:26.400 The coffee. 03:26.400 --> 03:27.400 That poor girl wouldn't have died if the coffee hadn't spilled. 03:27.400 --> 03:28.400 That's just how it started. 03:28.400 --> 03:43.400 My name's Ellen Johnson. 03:43.400 --> 03:45.400 Oh, I told you that. 03:45.400 --> 03:47.400 I work at the Farnsworth Chemical Plant. 03:47.400 --> 03:50.400 For 12 years, I've been there and never missed an hour of work. 03:50.400 --> 03:51.400 That is, until today. 03:51.400 --> 03:52.400 It was so unnecessary. 03:52.400 --> 03:53.400 That horrible, rude little man. 03:53.400 --> 03:54.400 He was the one. 03:54.400 --> 03:58.400 I'm very precise about my daily habits. 03:58.400 --> 03:59.400 Very. 03:59.400 --> 04:01.400 When you live alone, you arrange things that way. 04:01.400 --> 04:04.400 In the morning, I get up and allow myself time to take coffee 04:04.400 --> 04:06.400 and toast at the cafe on the corner. 04:06.400 --> 04:08.400 I've always disliked cooking in the morning. 04:08.400 --> 04:13.400 I leave the cafe at 8.15 precisely in order to be at my desk exactly at 9. 04:13.400 --> 04:15.400 Well, this morning, it was the same. 04:15.400 --> 04:17.400 It was just the same, except that horrible man. 04:17.400 --> 04:19.400 He was just awful. 04:19.400 --> 04:22.400 As I sat at the counter, you know, I could feel him there. 04:22.400 --> 04:25.400 He was two seats away, thin and dark, 04:25.400 --> 04:28.400 making a nasty noise as he drank his coffee. 04:28.400 --> 04:31.400 It was all his fault. 04:31.400 --> 04:34.400 Are you going to see the parade this afternoon, miss? 04:34.400 --> 04:35.400 I'm afraid I'll be working. 04:35.400 --> 04:36.400 Too bad. 04:36.400 --> 04:37.400 It should be good for business. 04:37.400 --> 04:38.400 I imagine so. 04:38.400 --> 04:39.400 Anything else? 04:39.400 --> 04:40.400 No, thank you. 04:40.400 --> 04:41.400 Hey, you. 04:41.400 --> 04:42.400 25. 04:42.400 --> 04:43.400 Coffee and toast, right? 04:43.400 --> 04:44.400 Yeah, that's right. 04:44.400 --> 04:45.400 Hey, you. 04:45.400 --> 04:46.400 Thanks. 04:46.400 --> 04:47.400 Pass the sugar with him. 04:47.400 --> 04:48.400 Good morning. 04:48.400 --> 04:49.400 See you tomorrow. 04:49.400 --> 04:50.400 What's the matter? 04:50.400 --> 04:51.400 I asked for the sugar. 04:51.400 --> 04:52.400 You want it? 04:52.400 --> 04:53.400 I beg your pardon. 04:53.400 --> 04:54.400 Yeah, yeah, sure. 04:54.400 --> 04:55.400 Oh, why, look at that. 04:55.400 --> 04:58.400 You deliberately spilled that coffee all over my... 04:58.400 --> 05:03.400 Oh, gee, ain't that a shame. 05:03.400 --> 05:06.400 What a clumsy gee. 05:06.400 --> 05:09.400 Am I sorry? 05:09.400 --> 05:10.400 He wasn't. 05:10.400 --> 05:13.400 He wasn't in the least sorry. 05:13.400 --> 05:16.400 He'd done it on purpose, on purpose. 05:16.400 --> 05:19.400 I was wearing a gray silk dress and it's probably ruined. 05:19.400 --> 05:24.400 And he just stood there and wiped it to stay with his napkin, smiling, his dirty, crooked 05:24.400 --> 05:25.400 teeth. 05:25.400 --> 05:27.400 I pushed him away and I walked out. 05:27.400 --> 05:30.400 I knew I was going to be late because I had a change, so I went home again. 05:30.400 --> 05:40.400 Well, if I hadn't gone home, this awful thing might never have happened. 05:40.400 --> 05:46.400 It took me 15 minutes to get back to the apartment, change my dress, and leave again for the office. 05:46.400 --> 05:49.400 Well, I'd walked three blocks when I saw the letter. 05:49.400 --> 05:52.400 It was lying on the pavement in front of an apartment house. 05:52.400 --> 06:00.400 It was unsealed and addressed simply to Miss Sheila Mannix, no house number or street. 06:00.400 --> 06:03.400 Dear Sheila Mannix, you don't know me. 06:03.400 --> 06:04.400 I just got into the city. 06:04.400 --> 06:08.400 It doesn't matter who I am, but this is a warning. 06:08.400 --> 06:10.400 Believe me, you better take notice. 06:10.400 --> 06:12.400 Jack's got it in for you. 06:12.400 --> 06:14.400 I stopped reading. 06:14.400 --> 06:16.400 There was some more, but I didn't want to go on. 06:16.400 --> 06:17.400 It frightened me a little. 06:17.400 --> 06:22.400 And well, I'm not one to pry into other people's business, but this wasn't prying, really. 06:22.400 --> 06:23.400 It wasn't. 06:23.400 --> 06:25.400 The letter was important. 06:25.400 --> 06:28.400 Whoever had written it must have forgotten to put the address on it and it had fallen 06:28.400 --> 06:29.400 out of their pocket. 06:29.400 --> 06:33.400 I made up my mind then I would go into the apartment house. 06:33.400 --> 06:38.400 It was possible that the writer lived there and on his way out had dropped it. 06:38.400 --> 06:39.400 Janitor. 06:39.400 --> 06:40.400 Oh, Janitor. 06:40.400 --> 06:41.400 Yes, he was. 06:41.400 --> 06:44.400 Yeah. 06:44.400 --> 06:47.400 Are you the janitor? 06:47.400 --> 06:49.400 Yeah, I'm sorry. 06:49.400 --> 06:51.400 We've got no vacancy. 06:51.400 --> 06:52.400 No, I don't want... 06:52.400 --> 06:54.400 Look, this letter, it's not addressed. 06:54.400 --> 06:55.400 Do you know the handwriting? 06:55.400 --> 06:56.400 I thought maybe you might... 06:56.400 --> 06:57.400 No, nobody by that name living here. 06:57.400 --> 06:58.400 I didn't ask you that. 06:58.400 --> 07:01.400 All I want you to do is to tell me if you recognize the handwriting. 07:01.400 --> 07:03.400 It might belong to someone living here. 07:03.400 --> 07:04.400 How come you opened it? 07:04.400 --> 07:06.400 Well, it was lying on the pavement outside. 07:06.400 --> 07:07.400 So give it to the mailman. 07:07.400 --> 07:08.400 It's important. 07:08.400 --> 07:11.400 I mean, what's in the letter is important. 07:11.400 --> 07:12.400 I think she ought to get it. 07:12.400 --> 07:14.400 So the post office will forward it. 07:14.400 --> 07:16.400 Well, can't you see there's no address? 07:16.400 --> 07:17.400 How can they forward it? 07:17.400 --> 07:18.400 How stupid. 07:18.400 --> 07:20.400 Listen, you don't have to get nasty. 07:20.400 --> 07:22.400 I told you she don't live here no more. 07:22.400 --> 07:23.400 I'm sorry. 07:23.400 --> 07:25.400 Who doesn't live here anymore? 07:25.400 --> 07:26.400 Mannix. 07:26.400 --> 07:28.400 She had to wait about six months ago. 07:28.400 --> 07:29.400 Sheila Mannix lived here? 07:29.400 --> 07:30.400 Where did she move to? 07:30.400 --> 07:31.400 Can you tell me? 07:31.400 --> 07:32.400 No forwarding address. 07:32.400 --> 07:33.400 But I must find her. 07:33.400 --> 07:34.400 I'm sorry, lady. 07:34.400 --> 07:35.400 I can't find her. 07:35.400 --> 07:38.400 But I must find her. 07:38.400 --> 07:39.400 I'm sorry, lady. 07:39.400 --> 07:40.400 I can't help. 07:40.400 --> 07:48.400 Then I thought of the police. 07:48.400 --> 07:50.400 I should have told them about the letter, but I didn't. 07:50.400 --> 07:53.400 I didn't know what else was in it then. 07:53.400 --> 07:57.400 So I went back to my own apartment and I looked through the telephone book. 07:57.400 --> 07:59.400 There were two Sheila Mannix's lists. 07:59.400 --> 08:02.400 The first lived on Maple Street and the second on South Tower. 08:02.400 --> 08:13.400 I rang the Maple number first. 08:13.400 --> 08:14.400 Hello? 08:14.400 --> 08:15.400 Hello? 08:15.400 --> 08:17.400 Is this Miss Sheila Mannix speaking? 08:17.400 --> 08:19.400 Mrs. Sheila Mannix, who is this? 08:19.400 --> 08:24.400 My name is Ellen Johnson and I found a letter this morning addressed to Sheila Mannix. 08:24.400 --> 08:29.400 I thought it was important and I wanted to make sure it got to the right party. 08:29.400 --> 08:31.400 Who is it from? 08:31.400 --> 08:32.400 Well, that's it. 08:32.400 --> 08:33.400 I don't know. 08:33.400 --> 08:34.400 Well, why don't you open it? 08:34.400 --> 08:37.400 Well, I have, but I only read a few lines. 08:37.400 --> 08:38.400 Oh. 08:38.400 --> 08:40.400 Do you know someone named Jack? 08:40.400 --> 08:41.400 Jack? 08:41.400 --> 08:43.400 Yeah, I have a nephew. 08:43.400 --> 08:44.400 Well, then perhaps maybe... 08:44.400 --> 08:45.400 But he's in Colorado, though. 08:45.400 --> 08:48.400 Well, it seems to be some sort of a warning. 08:48.400 --> 08:49.400 Warning? 08:49.400 --> 08:50.400 Yes. 08:50.400 --> 08:51.400 I'm afraid I don't understand. 08:51.400 --> 08:55.400 Well, the letter says that Jack has got it in for you. 08:55.400 --> 08:57.400 It's a, well, a warning from... 08:57.400 --> 08:59.400 Oh, well, I'm afraid the letter isn't for me. 08:59.400 --> 09:01.400 My Jack is ten years old. 09:01.400 --> 09:02.400 Oh. 09:02.400 --> 09:04.400 Oh, well, I'm sorry to have troubled you. 09:04.400 --> 09:05.400 It's all right. 09:05.400 --> 09:06.400 Goodbye. 09:12.400 --> 09:15.400 As I hung up, I looked at my watch. 09:15.400 --> 09:16.400 It was nine o'clock. 09:16.400 --> 09:20.400 There was my job, but I just had... 09:20.400 --> 09:23.400 The second Sheila Mannix listed in the directory lived on South Tower. 09:23.400 --> 09:37.400 I dialed the number and I waited. 09:37.400 --> 09:39.400 I got the letter out of my purse and read it. 09:39.400 --> 09:42.400 This time I read all of it. 09:42.400 --> 09:43.400 Dear Sheila Mannix, you don't know me. 09:43.400 --> 09:44.400 I just got into the city. 09:44.400 --> 09:46.400 It doesn't matter who I am, but this is a warning. 09:46.400 --> 09:47.400 Believe me, you better take notice. 09:47.400 --> 09:49.400 Jack's got it in for you. 09:49.400 --> 09:52.400 He was drunk one night and told me about it. 09:52.400 --> 09:55.400 Somebody you knew pretty well died last year. 09:55.400 --> 09:57.400 He didn't fall off that building. 09:57.400 --> 09:59.400 He was pushed and Jack did it. 09:59.400 --> 10:01.400 He said he was going to get you, too. 10:01.400 --> 10:05.400 I would have told the police, but they'd start to get nosy about me. 10:05.400 --> 10:07.400 Jack's on his way here and from the way he talks, 10:07.400 --> 10:10.400 he better not find you around. 10:10.400 --> 10:14.400 He talked crazy about a parade, the corner of Maine and Thomas, 10:14.400 --> 10:16.400 and 12 o'clock. 10:16.400 --> 10:18.400 That's when he's going to do it. 10:18.400 --> 10:23.400 A friend. 10:23.400 --> 10:26.400 I sat there holding a piece of paper that carried a death warning 10:26.400 --> 10:28.400 for a woman I'd never seen, 10:28.400 --> 10:32.400 and I knew where and when she was going to be killed. 10:32.400 --> 10:37.400 The Death Parade 10:47.400 --> 10:50.400 All the light is bringing you Miss Agnes Moorhead 10:50.400 --> 10:52.400 in The Death Parade, 10:52.400 --> 11:02.400 tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 11:07.400 --> 11:11.400 The second Sheila Mannix's address was 317 South Tower Street. 11:11.400 --> 11:14.400 I got my car out and I drove there. 11:14.400 --> 11:17.400 It must have been nearly a quarter to ten when I drove up outside. 11:17.400 --> 11:22.400 It was an old rooming house. 11:26.400 --> 11:31.400 Oh, hurry up. Come on, come on, come on. 11:36.400 --> 11:37.400 What do you want? 11:37.400 --> 11:40.400 I'm very sorry to trouble you. Is your name... 11:40.400 --> 11:43.400 You have to talk louder. I can't hear you. 11:43.400 --> 11:48.400 I'm sorry. I wonder if you could tell me, is your name Sheila Mannix? 11:48.400 --> 11:50.400 No, it's not. 11:50.400 --> 11:54.400 But the phone book has a Sheila Mannix listed at this address. 11:54.400 --> 11:58.400 Oh, it's her phone. She pays for it. I never have no cause to use it. 11:58.400 --> 11:59.400 She does live here then. 11:59.400 --> 12:02.400 Yes, she has a room upstairs. What's the matter? 12:02.400 --> 12:04.400 Does she work? Is she at work now? 12:04.400 --> 12:08.400 Well, how should I know? I never ask her where she goes. What's she done? 12:08.400 --> 12:09.400 You mean you don't know where she works? 12:09.400 --> 12:12.400 Do you know where she lived before she moved here? 12:12.400 --> 12:16.400 No. You see, she never says nothing. She's quiet and keeps to herself. 12:16.400 --> 12:20.400 But where can I find her? It's important that I learn where she is right away. 12:20.400 --> 12:24.400 Well, she'll be home prompt by seven. She always is, you know. 12:24.400 --> 12:26.400 You come back then if you got to see her. 12:26.400 --> 12:29.400 Well, seven will be too late. I've got to find her now before twelve. 12:29.400 --> 12:31.400 There ain't no you shouting at me. 12:31.400 --> 12:33.400 Well, I can't tell you no more than I already have. 12:33.400 --> 12:34.400 I'm sorry. 12:34.400 --> 12:35.400 I don't know nothing about Sheila Mannix. 12:35.400 --> 12:43.400 I'm sorry. Good morning. 12:43.400 --> 12:48.400 Now, I knew that I'd wasted far too much time. I had to call the police. 12:48.400 --> 12:53.400 There was a drug store in the corner and I ran down the block to it. 12:53.400 --> 12:55.400 Good morning. Can I help you? 12:55.400 --> 12:56.400 Yes. Do you have a phone? 12:56.400 --> 12:58.400 One over there, but it's out of order. 12:58.400 --> 13:01.400 Oh, then could I use yours? It's an emergency. 13:01.400 --> 13:02.400 I'm sorry. I don't have a private phone. 13:02.400 --> 13:05.400 I've got to call the police. I've never been mixed up in anything like this before. 13:05.400 --> 13:09.400 It's a letter I found this morning, a warning about somebody being killed. 13:09.400 --> 13:12.400 Oh, there's a phone in the next door. You can use that. 13:12.400 --> 13:15.400 Maybe you know her. She lives down the block. 13:15.400 --> 13:16.400 Who? 13:16.400 --> 13:18.400 Sheila Mannix. She's the one. At least I think so. 13:18.400 --> 13:22.400 Mannix? Sure, sure. She comes in often to have a prescription filled. 13:22.400 --> 13:23.400 Very nice young woman. 13:23.400 --> 13:25.400 Do you know anything about her? I mean, where she works? 13:25.400 --> 13:27.400 I've got to find her right away. 13:27.400 --> 13:28.400 No, I... 13:27.400 --> 13:30.400 Please, it's urgent. I asked her, landlady. She didn't know. 13:30.400 --> 13:33.400 Well, it seems to me she did mention it once, but... 13:33.400 --> 13:35.400 Think you must think, please. 13:35.400 --> 13:39.400 Well, now, it was just the other day we were chatting while I filled her prescriptions. 13:39.400 --> 13:40.400 She said something about work... 13:40.400 --> 13:42.400 Was it a restaurant? A cashier, maybe? 13:42.400 --> 13:43.400 No, no. 13:43.400 --> 13:45.400 Department store elevator operator? Cats? Clothes? Shoes? 13:45.400 --> 13:46.400 No. 13:45.400 --> 13:47.400 Telephone operator, maybe? 13:47.400 --> 13:49.400 No, no. Doesn't hit. I'm sorry. 13:49.400 --> 13:50.400 You're not thinking. Try to think. 13:50.400 --> 13:52.400 Listen, ma'am, if I could help you, I would, but... 13:52.400 --> 13:57.400 Oh, my. I have to keep friends in the neighborhood. Somebody you might know. 13:57.400 --> 13:58.400 No, never mentioned them. 13:58.400 --> 14:02.400 Can't you remember? Maybe she worked in an office, huh? 14:02.400 --> 14:06.400 Excuse me a moment. It's a customer. You better go next door and call the police. 14:06.400 --> 14:07.400 But can't you remember? 14:07.400 --> 14:08.400 I'll be back. 14:08.400 --> 14:11.400 Maybe a chorus girl. Does she work in a bookstore? 14:11.400 --> 14:14.400 Oh, well, I can't wait. I'll come back after I've called. 14:17.400 --> 14:22.400 Oh, a bar. What will they think a woman going into a bar... 14:22.400 --> 14:24.400 Hey, ma'am, wait a minute. 14:24.400 --> 14:25.400 Huh? 14:25.400 --> 14:28.400 Look, I remember. You said bookstore. It's a book company. 14:28.400 --> 14:30.400 Simmons Book and Stationery Corporation. 14:30.400 --> 14:31.400 Oh, thank you. Thank you. 14:31.400 --> 14:32.400 Simmons Book and Stationery Corporation. 14:32.400 --> 14:35.400 Thank you. It's on Main. Yes, I know the place. Thank you very much. 14:42.400 --> 14:46.400 Simmons Book and Stationery. Why, I had been there dozens of times. 14:46.400 --> 14:49.400 She might even have waited on me. I looked at my watch. It was 10.30. 14:49.400 --> 14:53.400 I really meant to call the police from the bar, but I didn't know how long it would take to explain. 14:53.400 --> 14:56.400 And even then, they might not investigate without seeing the letter first. 14:56.400 --> 15:00.400 I thought of the corner of Maynard and Thomas, the parade at 12 o'clock. 15:00.400 --> 15:03.400 An hour and a half. I ran to get my car. 15:03.400 --> 15:08.400 I knew that once I found Sheila Mannix and gave her the warning, she'd be safe. 15:14.400 --> 15:16.400 Good morning. May I help you? 15:16.400 --> 15:19.400 Yes, please. I'd like to speak to Miss Mannix, Miss Sheila Mannix. 15:19.400 --> 15:21.400 I understand that she works here. 15:21.400 --> 15:25.400 Yes, of course. Is there anything I can help you with? 15:25.400 --> 15:27.400 No, no, thank you. It's personal. 15:27.400 --> 15:29.400 Oh, yes. One minute, please. 15:32.400 --> 15:35.400 I'd found her and it was going to be all right now. 15:35.400 --> 15:38.400 While I waited, I looked at the books lining the walls. 15:38.400 --> 15:40.400 I was standing in front of the mystery section. 15:40.400 --> 15:44.400 You know the first title that caught my eye was Time for a Murder. 15:44.400 --> 15:49.400 I'm very sorry, ma'am, but one of the other girls tells me that Miss Mannix had an appointment. 15:49.400 --> 15:50.400 She's not here. 15:50.400 --> 15:51.400 I'm sorry. Now, perhaps I should... 15:51.400 --> 15:53.400 But where did she go? Let me talk to the girl. 15:53.400 --> 15:54.400 I think to the doctor. 15:54.400 --> 15:56.400 What doctor? Where? When did she leave? 15:56.400 --> 15:59.400 Well, if you'll wait here, I'll find out for you. 16:05.400 --> 16:11.400 Oh, I could have cried. It was almost 11 o'clock and that silly precious little salesman, he took forever. 16:11.400 --> 16:14.400 How long does it take to get in the dress? 16:14.400 --> 16:17.400 I started to walk to the back of the store when he came down the aisle toward me. 16:17.400 --> 16:20.400 I'm sorry to have taken so long. A customer on the phone, you know. 16:20.400 --> 16:23.400 It's all right. I don't care. Just give me that doctor's address. 16:23.400 --> 16:25.400 Oh, yes, yes. I have it right here. 16:25.400 --> 16:28.400 Dr. Morton, 101 Flowers Street. 16:28.400 --> 16:31.400 101 Flowers, Dr. Morton. When did she leave? 16:31.400 --> 16:33.400 Oh, I forgot to ask if you'll... 16:33.400 --> 16:38.400 No, no, I'm going there now. Listen, if she comes back, if I miss her, you tell her to stay right here. 16:38.400 --> 16:41.400 Don't let her leave the store again until I come back. It's a matter of life and death. 16:41.400 --> 16:47.400 Oh, well, all right. Is something wrong? 16:49.400 --> 16:52.400 Something wrong? I ran to a telephone booth. 16:52.400 --> 16:57.400 I knew that I'd done as much as I could alone to save that poor girl. 17:01.400 --> 17:02.400 Police Department, Sergeant Leonard. 17:02.400 --> 17:06.400 Please listen carefully. There's a murder going to be committed at 12 o'clock. 17:06.400 --> 17:07.400 Who is this? 17:07.400 --> 17:12.400 Oh, that doesn't matter. My name's Ellen Johnson. I found a letter in the street this morning. 17:12.400 --> 17:14.400 It was to a woman called Manix, Sheila Manix. 17:14.400 --> 17:16.400 Would you spell that, please? 17:16.400 --> 17:19.400 Manix, M-A-N-N-I-X. There's not time for... 17:19.400 --> 17:20.400 When did you find the letter? 17:20.400 --> 17:25.400 I told you this morning. Oh, what difference does it make? It was at nine, I think. 17:25.400 --> 17:26.400 Why didn't you call earlier? 17:26.400 --> 17:31.400 I didn't because... Well, I tried to find her myself. I think I know where she is, but I... 17:31.400 --> 17:32.400 Have you got the letter with you? 17:32.400 --> 17:33.400 Yes, yes, I have. 17:33.400 --> 17:34.400 Would you read it, please? 17:34.400 --> 17:37.400 One time, you've got to send some men here. It's a warning. 17:37.400 --> 17:42.400 Somebody called Jack is going to kill her at 12 o'clock on the corner of Main and Thomas. 17:42.400 --> 17:47.400 There's a parade going on then. What does this woman look like? Can you give us a description? 17:47.400 --> 17:49.400 No, I've never seen her. I don't even know her. 17:49.400 --> 17:51.400 You say you think you know where she is. 17:51.400 --> 17:54.400 Yes, at a Dr. Morton, 101 Flower Street. 17:54.400 --> 17:55.400 Where are you calling from? 17:55.400 --> 17:58.400 Simmons Book and Stationery Store. She works here. 17:58.400 --> 18:00.400 Will you get a description of the woman, please? I'll wait. 18:00.400 --> 18:04.400 Yes, yes, of course. Don't hang up! 18:08.400 --> 18:12.400 I found the young man again and he told me what Sheila Mannix looked like. 18:12.400 --> 18:20.400 I got back to the phone and told the officer, short, about five foot two, thin, possibly 90 pounds, 18:20.400 --> 18:23.400 wearing a brown coat with a brown shoulder strap bag. 18:23.400 --> 18:30.400 Go try to find her, Miss Johnson. Please stay there. I'll have an officer come to the store to pick up the letter. 18:36.400 --> 18:41.400 I put the receiver on the hook and sat in the booth. I was shaking and my hands were ringing wet. 18:41.400 --> 18:46.400 It was 1120. Somewhere outside I heard a band playing. The parade must have started. 18:46.400 --> 18:51.400 I stayed in the shop and the minutes passed 1130, 25 to 12. 18:51.400 --> 18:56.400 At 20 minutes two, I just couldn't stand it any longer, the waiting, you know, the awful waiting. 18:56.400 --> 19:00.400 I had to do something. I called Sheila Mannix's house again. 19:00.400 --> 19:04.400 There was just that chance, that slight chance. 19:05.400 --> 19:12.400 Maybe she went home after the doctor. Maybe she's there. Two more. No, three. Let it go. Three more. 19:12.400 --> 19:16.400 Oh, be there, be there, be there. You must. You've just got to be. 19:17.400 --> 19:18.400 Hello? 19:18.400 --> 19:19.400 Miss Mannix? 19:19.400 --> 19:20.400 Who is this? 19:20.400 --> 19:21.400 Miss Mannix? 19:21.400 --> 19:23.400 You'll never know. Listen, you don't know me, but I... 19:23.400 --> 19:26.400 I have to speak louder. I can't hear a thing on this thing. 19:26.400 --> 19:28.400 Who is this? Is this Miss Mannix? 19:28.400 --> 19:31.400 Miss Mannix ain't here. This is the landlady. 19:31.400 --> 19:32.400 Oh, my. 19:32.400 --> 19:35.400 I'm cleaning up. Is there a message? 19:41.400 --> 19:47.400 I couldn't stand that story any longer, so I gave the letter to the salesman and told him to give it to the police when they arrived. 19:47.400 --> 19:54.400 It was quarter to twelve. Main Street was alive with people. It seemed as though the whole city had turned out to watch the parade. 19:54.400 --> 20:01.400 I pushed my way along the street towards the intersection. I just couldn't have stayed away if it were my own life, depending on it. 20:01.400 --> 20:07.400 The crowd was so thick that it was impossible to see anything from the street, and I just had to see. 20:07.400 --> 20:14.400 Then I thought of the Benson Building and the roof. If I was up on the roof, I could see everything that happened on that corner. 20:14.400 --> 20:18.400 It was five to twelve when I got in the elevator and took it up to the 19th floor. 20:18.400 --> 20:25.400 I had to walk to the roof, and I could hardly breathe as I opened the door and stepped out into the bright sun. 20:25.400 --> 20:34.400 Instinctively, you know, I knew that this was the building, the same building that the man in the letter had been pushed from last year. 20:34.400 --> 20:37.400 For a minute, I didn't see anyone. 20:37.400 --> 20:42.400 And then, at the corner, standing near the edge, looking down, I saw her. 20:42.400 --> 20:47.400 A short woman, quite thin, dressed in a brown coat with a shoulder strap bag. 20:51.400 --> 20:55.400 Miss Mannix? You are Miss Mannix, aren't you? 20:57.400 --> 21:03.400 I've been looking for you. It's about a man called Jack. He's looking. 21:03.400 --> 21:08.400 It's all right. It's all right. Don't be frightened. Don't be frightened. 21:08.400 --> 21:12.400 Don't move back. Don't. Don't. Don't the edge. Don't. 21:12.400 --> 21:19.400 What's the matter? Get away from there. No. No, you'll just. No. No. No. 21:32.400 --> 21:35.400 I don't know. It's just terrible. 21:35.400 --> 21:40.400 Uh-huh. That's how it happened, eh? 21:40.400 --> 21:48.400 Yes, yes. I tried to stop her. You spend from nine o'clock till twelve looking for her, and then you don't call us till forty-five minutes before it happens. 21:48.400 --> 21:52.400 I told you why. I just didn't know. You know something, Miss Johnson? 21:53.400 --> 21:55.400 I think you're lying. 21:55.400 --> 21:59.400 Lying? How dare you say that? I was doing what I thought was the right thing. 21:59.400 --> 22:05.400 You pick up a letter, a warning letter. You go to a janitor. You call people on the phone, but not the police. 22:05.400 --> 22:13.400 Well, I. You visit Sheila Mannix's house, talk to the landlady, talk to the neighborhood druggists, to the salesman in the bookstore. All witnesses, all alibis. 22:13.400 --> 22:18.400 But I wanted to find her to warn her, don't you? And then you call the police when you're sure it's too late. 22:18.400 --> 22:23.400 How did I know she'd be up there? How? You set up a nice alibi for yourself. 22:24.400 --> 22:28.400 You were alone with Sheila Mannix. Who's to say you didn't push her? 22:28.400 --> 22:36.400 Oh, stop it. You don't know what you're talking about. You know, right? I was trying to help her. That's all. I won't listen to you. I'm going home. 22:36.400 --> 22:43.400 Now you sit down. I'm holding you for a while. We're going to check, Miss Johnson. We're going to do a lot of checking. 22:43.400 --> 22:48.400 Arrest me? I was a good citizen. I did my duty. I tried to save her, and you're going to. 22:48.400 --> 22:54.400 Listen, now. Oh, yeah? Can I see you for a minute? Sure. You stay right there, Miss. We're not through. 22:54.400 --> 23:01.400 This happened last year. Murdered? Murdered? That's what he's saying, that I murdered her. 23:01.400 --> 23:09.400 He's saying that. To me, after all the good I did. I was only trying to warn the poor girl. 23:09.400 --> 23:14.400 Take a look at the report. Where are they holding? He's saying it's about me. I know it. I know it. I know it. 23:14.400 --> 23:18.400 Okay. That's all right. That does it, then. 23:18.400 --> 23:22.400 All right, Miss Johnson. We know what happened now. 23:22.400 --> 23:27.400 You know? What do you mean, you know? I told you that's how it happened. Every word. 23:27.400 --> 23:32.400 I'll tell you something. I've got to believe you. There's nothing I can do about it. 23:32.400 --> 23:37.400 Nothing you can do? Well, what should you do? Instead of frightening the life out of me, you should thank me for doing it. 23:37.400 --> 23:42.400 You listen to me for a change. I'd like nothing better than to throw the book at you, but I can't. 23:42.400 --> 23:45.400 We've got the man called Jack. He was picked up in the parade. 23:45.400 --> 23:48.400 There. You see? There. I was right. 23:48.400 --> 23:53.400 The fellow who wrote that letter you found called the police about an hour ago. He told us the story. 23:53.400 --> 23:59.400 That's how we got our boy. Then she was safe. He couldn't kill her. She wasn't in any danger then, was she? 23:59.400 --> 24:03.400 Oh, yes, she was. You. Because you found her and frightened her to death. 24:03.400 --> 24:07.400 I was only telling her that there was nothing to be afraid of. 24:07.400 --> 24:14.400 Sure, sure. That's all. Do you know that she was standing in the same place where her boyfriend was killed a year ago? 24:14.400 --> 24:18.400 Then you come along and mention the name of the man she knew killed him. 24:18.400 --> 24:22.400 Now maybe you know why she was afraid and backed away from you. 24:22.400 --> 24:29.400 You didn't know a thing, huh? Well, I want you to know something, though. I want you to sleep with for the rest of your life. 24:29.400 --> 24:34.400 If you'd called the police when you picked up that letter, Sheila Mannix would be alive right now. 24:34.400 --> 24:39.400 You think about that. I can't see where I was wrong. 24:39.400 --> 24:44.400 Oh, maybe I should have called sooner, but I did call if you hadn't taken so long. 24:44.400 --> 24:50.400 Get out of here. Go on, get out. It's too bad we can't send you where the other guy's going. 24:50.400 --> 24:56.400 He killed last year, and you did it today, just as sure as if you'd shot her. 24:56.400 --> 24:58.400 Go on. 24:58.400 --> 25:05.400 It's all right, Lieutenant. I understand. I can see why you're upset, and I'm sorry. 25:05.400 --> 25:13.400 Sergeant, you understand that I was only doing what I thought right, don't you? 25:13.400 --> 25:23.400 It wasn't my fault. It wasn't. If it got there sooner, it never would have happened. 25:23.400 --> 25:28.400 I have nothing to reproach myself about. Nothing. 25:28.400 --> 25:35.400 Oh, I'm so upset. A whole day's work and my gray silk dress ruined. 25:35.400 --> 25:58.400 They'll never be able to get that coffee stain out. 25:58.400 --> 26:06.400 Suspense presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star, Miss Agnes Moorhead. 26:06.400 --> 26:12.400 Backward turn backward, old time in your flat, and give us a minute to talk Auto Light. 26:12.400 --> 26:19.400 That's a good idea, Hap, but it would take us hours to tell about the more than 400 fine products made by Auto Light 26:19.400 --> 26:23.400 for cars, trucks, planes, and boats in 28 plants from coast to coast. 26:23.400 --> 26:30.400 These include complete electrical systems used as original equipment on many leading makes of cars, 26:30.400 --> 26:37.400 electric windshield wipers, starting motors, wire and cable, voltage regulators, coils, distributors, generators, 26:37.400 --> 26:43.400 all engineered to fit together perfectly, work together perfectly as a part of the Auto Light team. 26:43.400 --> 26:47.400 So friends, don't accept electrical parts supposed to be as good. 26:47.400 --> 26:55.400 Ask for and insist on Auto Light original factory parts at your neighborhood service station, car dealer, garage, or repair shop. 26:55.400 --> 27:06.400 And remember, you're always right with Auto Light. 27:06.400 --> 27:10.400 Next week on Suspense, in answer to your many requests, 27:10.400 --> 27:15.400 backseat driver repeated for you with its original stars, Fibber McGee and Molly. 27:15.400 --> 27:22.400 And during the month of March, you will hear Mr. William Bendix, Mr. Ronald Coleman, and Mr. Jack Carson. 27:22.400 --> 27:29.400 All on Suspense. 27:29.400 --> 27:36.400 Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music composed by Lucian Morrowek and conducted by Ludd Bluskin. 27:36.400 --> 27:38.400 Portions of this program were transcribed. 27:38.400 --> 27:46.400 Tonight's cast included Joseph Kerns, Jack Crouchon, Byron Cain, Shimon Ruskin, Jerry Hausner, Lou Krugman, 27:46.400 --> 27:49.400 Jeanette Nolan, Jane Avello, and Lou Merrill. 27:49.400 --> 27:54.400 For some interesting backstage pictures of Agnes Moorhead rehearsing for today's Suspense play, 27:54.400 --> 27:58.400 see the current issue of Quick Magazine. 27:58.400 --> 28:03.400 The Death Parade was written by Shirley Gordon and adapted for Suspense by Anthony Ellis. 28:03.400 --> 28:09.400 Agnes Moorhead is currently on tour with Charles Lawton, Charles Boyer, and Sir Cedric Hardwick 28:09.400 --> 28:13.400 in the drama quartet presentation of Man and Superman. 28:13.400 --> 28:27.400 And remember next week on Suspense, Fibber McGee and Molly in Backseat Driver. 28:27.400 --> 28:32.400 You can buy world famous auto light standard type or resistor type spark plugs, auto light day full batteries, 28:32.400 --> 28:35.400 auto light electrical parts at your neighborhood auto light dealers. 28:35.400 --> 28:38.400 Switch to auto light. Good night. 28:38.400 --> 29:07.400 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.