1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,000 AutoLite and its 96,000 dealers bring you Mr. Cornell Wilde in a story taken from life. 2 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Tonight's presentation of Suspense. 3 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Tonight, AutoLite presents The Flame, the terrifying study of a pyromaniac starring Mr. Cornell Wilde. 4 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:40,000 Hi Harlow. 5 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:45,000 Well, strip my clutch, it's Oscar the Orating Auto. Where are you going, Oscar? 6 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:51,000 To see my AutoLite spark plug dealer, Harlow. Winter's coming fast and I want to be ready for it. 7 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,000 Then not a bit too soon for a change of oil and grease, antifreeze. 8 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000 And check those spark plugs too. 9 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:01,000 You said it, Johnny Plug Check, the spark plugs are the heart of your car's ignition system. 10 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,000 If they're right, your chances of starting are better than ever, even in coldest weather. 11 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,000 If they're not right, Harlow. 12 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Well then, my curious car, your AutoLite spark plug dealer will recommend ignition engineered AutoLite spark plugs. 13 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000 To give you smoother performance, quick starts and gas savings. 14 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,000 Well, I'm off to visit my AutoLite spark plug dealer, Harlow. 15 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:30,000 Right, and friends, you should too. You can quickly find his name by calling Western Union by number and asking for operator 25. 16 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:36,000 She'll tell you the name of your nearest AutoLite spark plug dealer who's ready to winterize your car. 17 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,000 And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with AutoLite. 18 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:52,000 And now with the flame and the performance of Mr. Cornell Wild, AutoLite hopes once again to keep you in suspense. 19 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Hey, that's a big one, what a monster! 20 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,000 Still a lot of people left in the building. 21 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,000 It started on the ground floor, huh? 22 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,000 I guess so, I don't know, I just got here. You know, mister? 23 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,000 The first floor. 24 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,000 What a mess. When the hell did that start? 25 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,000 Some joker in bed with a lit-cider cigarette, I probably fell asleep. 26 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,000 No, that wasn't the way it started. 27 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,000 Oh, was it? Hey, you mean... 28 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:38,000 To take more than a little cigarette to start a fire like that, but a whole apartment building's just about gone. 29 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000 Maybe the guy who owns the building started it. You know, for the insurance and all. 30 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,000 He didn't have anything to do with it. 31 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,000 Hey, look at it burn with it. 32 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,000 Makes kind of a pretty pattern against this guy though, doesn't it? 33 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,000 Pretty pattern? Hey, are you kidding? 34 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Hey, what are you doing? 35 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,000 What? 36 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,000 I said, what are you doing with that paper? 37 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:10,000 Oh, I'm drawing. I'm drawing a picture of the fire. 38 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:15,000 The big heavy man in the turtleneck sweater got flushed in the face. 39 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,000 Red, just like the fire across the street. 40 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,000 It was burning big now, and it went climbing high. 41 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,000 Way up so high it was going to touch off the sky too. 42 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,000 And just when it reached its peak, they put it out. 43 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,000 Then there were big, black, ugly clouds of smoke. 44 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,000 But I had the picture I'd drawn of the fire, just a pencil sketch. 45 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:42,000 I'd colored it when I got home, just the way I remembered it, with reds, oranges, and pinks. 46 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,000 So I go home. But when I get there, my sister Mary Lee is still up. She's in her robe. 47 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,000 She should be in bed. She has to get up and go to work early in the morning. 48 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,000 Why is she up at this hour? 49 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000 Andy? 50 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:57,000 Yes, Mary Lee? 51 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,000 Where have you been all night? 52 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:04,000 I had supper ready. You promised me you'd be home. What happened? 53 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,000 Andy, just don't stand there. I asked you what happened. 54 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Nothing happened. I just went for a walk, a walk. 55 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,000 What are you so upset about? 56 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,000 Nothing, nothing. Just leave me alone, Mary Lee. Do you have to nag at me all the time? 57 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:22,000 I'm not nagging you, Andy. I'm just worried. And I get nervous when I worry, that's all. 58 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,000 Forget it. I'm home and I'm all right, so don't worry yourself anymore, okay? 59 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,000 Okay, Andy. Wait a minute. I wanted to ask you for a big favor. 60 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,000 Well, can't you ask me tomorrow morning, Mary Lee? I'm awful tired. 61 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,000 You know Mr. Boyajian, the dry goods store man, Andy? 62 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 Well, sure I know. I'm one of my favorite people. What about him? 63 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,000 This morning they took his wife to the hospital. 64 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,000 Oh, to the hospital. What for? 65 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,000 She's sick, very sick, Andy. 66 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:53,000 Tonight on the way home from work Mr. Boyajian stopped me and asked me if I'd talk to you about helping him. 67 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,000 Help him out? Sure, I will, but how? 68 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,000 Well, he may have to spend some time at the hospital with her. 69 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,000 He doesn't have anybody he can leave in the shop to take care of it. He thought maybe you'd help him out, Andy. 70 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:08,000 Well, that'd be all right with me, Mary Lee, but I don't know anything about the dry goods business. 71 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,000 It isn't hard, Andy. I told him I thought you wouldn't mind at all. 72 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:17,000 Besides, it'll give you a little something to do to keep you busy. You won't have to... 73 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Go ahead, say it. You won't have to roam the streets like a bum. Just like Pa used to yell at me. 74 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:29,000 All right, I like Mr. Boyajian, Mary Lee. I'll watch his store for him. 75 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,000 Mr. Boyajian was a man who looked like Santa Claus. 76 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,000 He had small eyes and big red cheeks. He laughed all the time. 77 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,000 And when he laughed his small eyes got big and they twinkled just like the stars. 78 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:54,000 Or the flash of a flame when you strike a match and it suddenly flares up with colors and warmth. 79 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,000 And you get a funny sensation in your stomach. 80 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:02,000 That was Mr. Boyajian, the man who owned the dry goods store on Union Street. 81 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:07,000 The following morning, Mr. Boyajian wasn't laughing and there was no twinkle in his eyes. 82 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,000 He looked sad sitting behind the counter. 83 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:16,000 Mr. Boyajian? 84 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,000 Oh, Andy, it's you. 85 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,000 Hello. 86 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:27,000 Excuse me, Andy. My mind, it's not on what's happening. It's on this music. I'm far away when I listen. 87 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,000 Music? 88 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:35,000 Yes. It's the kind of music that the Mrs. and I used to dance to when we were like your age. 89 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,000 It's a folk dance, Andy, from the old country. 90 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:46,000 It's pretty. I like it. Mr. Boyajian, about your wife, I'm sorry she's sick. 91 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:54,000 You're sorry? Everybody's sorry, Andy. The whole neighborhood, everybody tells me how sorry they are. 92 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,000 But me, I'm sorry most of all. 93 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,000 Is it very serious? 94 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,000 Yes, very. 95 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:07,000 Well, don't worry. They'll take good care of her at the hospital, I know. 96 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,000 I'm sure they will. 97 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,000 She'll have the best there is to offer. 98 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 Well, she would if I could afford it. 99 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,000 Afford it? 100 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:20,000 Yes. You see, this sickness needs a special kind of doctor. This special doctor costs extra money. 101 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:21,000 Oh. 102 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:27,000 And it's the kind of money that I, as proprietor of this small dry goods store, do not have. 103 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,000 I wish there was something I could do. 104 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:36,000 You're a good boy with a good heart, Andy. I wish I could have had a son like you. 105 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:41,000 Oh, thank you, Mr. Boyajian. Gee, thanks. 106 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:45,000 I don't make the money I used to make. I can't work as hard. 107 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:52,000 Sometimes I think I would be better off if this place should burn down and I should get the insurance money. 108 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:53,000 Insurance money? 109 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,000 Yeah, from the fire insurance company. 110 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,000 I never thought of that. 111 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,000 You never thought of what, Andy? 112 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:04,000 What I meant was that I never thought of things like fire insurance. 113 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:13,000 Of course. To do a thing like this, to even wish it, is against the law. Fire insurance is for the protection. 114 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Of course. 115 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:20,000 Well, Andy, if you have come to stay, I will go to the hospital. 116 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Go right ahead, Mr. Boyajian. I'll take care of everything. You just leave everything to me. 117 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:35,000 Mr. Boyajian looked so sad and tired as he walked out the door. 118 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,000 Why did there have to be terrible things like this in the world? 119 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:45,000 Why couldn't everything be beautiful and good? Beautiful and good like a nice, big fire. 120 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:53,000 Clean, warm, burning all the evil and hurt. It was so simple. 121 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:59,000 I had to laugh. I decided I'd use the plumber's candle and the celluloid. 122 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:05,000 That way all of the evidence would be destroyed and there'd be no way of investigating the claim. 123 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:09,000 I started to get excited about it. I bought what I needed and went home. 124 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:14,000 I got out Mary Lee's cake tin, went in my room and started to experiment. 125 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,000 Andy, I wonder if you'd run down to... 126 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,000 What are you doing? 127 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,000 What? 128 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,000 What are you doing? Trying to start a fire? 129 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,000 Nothing, Mary Lee. Nothing at all. Just a little gag. 130 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:35,000 Gag? With my best cake tin. 131 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Oh, I'm sorry. 132 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:38,000 Gag for what? 133 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Well, needles and I, we had... 134 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Andy, you've been down to that pool room again, haven't you? 135 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,000 So? 136 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:49,000 Andy, what's the matter with you? Why aren't you like other men? 137 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,000 What do you mean? 138 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:55,000 I mean other fellows your age. They're out getting jobs, doing things. 139 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,000 All you do is hang out at that pool room down by the sound. 140 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:03,000 Take walks at night. Draw pictures. 141 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,000 What's wrong with my drawing pictures? Does it offend you? 142 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,000 I don't know. I'm so disgusted I don't know anything. 143 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,000 You're so right. You don't know anything. You're just like Pa. 144 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:15,000 You look like him and you act like him. You don't know anything. You're just like Pa. 145 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,000 Shut up! 146 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,000 Get out of my room. Get out before I kill you. 147 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:37,000 I took a long walk. I thought about leaving Mary Lee, going away, but I remember that I had no place to go. 148 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,000 I found myself down by the shipping piers. 149 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:46,000 I noticed a small barge loaded with crates of some kind, wooden crates. 150 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:53,000 It looked beautiful. The red flames licking against blue sky and blue waters. 151 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,000 I felt better now. I started for home. 152 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:02,000 I began to make plans for Mr. Boyajan's store. I had the equipment, but I needed his key. 153 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,000 I had to get his key without him suspecting a thing. 154 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:10,000 It wouldn't be good for Mr. Boyajan to know what I was going to do. He might try to stop me. 155 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,000 I was sure he didn't like fires as much as I did. 156 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:21,000 The next afternoon in the store, just before I was ready to leave, I asked him about the key. 157 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,000 Key, Andy? 158 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,000 Yes, Mr. Boyajan. 159 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 But a key, what for, Andy? 160 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Well, I thought that maybe tomorrow morning you'd like to go over to the hospital earlier. I could open up the store for you. 161 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Oh, Andy, already you have done so much for me. It's nice. 162 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:44,000 No trouble at all. Believe me, Mr. Boyajan, no trouble at all. I'd be happy to do it. 163 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:49,000 You know, to tell the truth, I would like to get over a little earlier. 164 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:58,000 I certainly would. Well, Andy, like I said before, you are such a good boy. There never was such a good boy with a big heart. 165 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:04,000 Oh, well, you're the only person who's ever said that to me, Mr. Boyajan. 166 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,000 Ha ha ha, this I know is a joke you tell on me. 167 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:14,000 Oh, here, I will give you Mrs. Boyajan's key. Now, how is that? 168 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:19,000 Oh, fine, and don't you worry about a thing. I'll sell out tomorrow. I'll make you lots of money. 169 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:31,000 I joked with Mary Lee at dinner that night. It surprised her, but it put her in a good mood. 170 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:35,000 The nice part about the plumber's candle was that I could measure it to burn at any time. 171 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:43,000 An hour would be plenty of time. About nine thirty, I told Mary Lee I was going down to the corner drugstore for a few minutes. 172 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:52,000 And down on Union, I waited until the block was almost deserted. Then I let myself into the dry goods store. 173 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:58,000 Mr. Boyajan had a crate of little girls' dresses he just received. It would be perfect tinder. 174 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,000 I lined the strips of celluloid up and set the plumber's candle on top of the crate. 175 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:11,000 Then I struck a match and lit the candle. I watched the flame burn for just a moment. 176 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Then I went back up to the apartment and waited. 177 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:33,000 Mary Lee was darning some socks. I sat for almost an hour coloring my pictures, getting nervous. 178 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:38,000 And when it was time, I asked Mary Lee to go get some ice cream with me. 179 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:46,000 When we got down to the street, Mary Lee, look, it's a fire. 180 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,000 What? 181 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,000 Come on. 182 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:53,000 What? Andy, I hate fires. I hope it's a false alarm. 183 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:58,000 No, it's not false. Look, there's smoke, plenty of smoke. 184 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,000 Hey, there it is, Mary Lee. There it is right over there. 185 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:06,000 Andy, Andy, it's Mr. Boyajan's dry goods store. 186 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Well, for heaven's sake, what do you know, Mr. Boyajan's dry goods store? 187 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:17,000 Oh, isn't that terrible. Poor Mr. Boyajan, he hasn't got enough trouble as it is. 188 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,000 Don't feel sorry for him, Mary Lee. He's got insurance. 189 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,000 I know, but how'd you know? 190 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Oh, we got to talking the other day. He told me about it. 191 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,000 Hey, Andy, what'd he say? Hot one, huh? 192 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,000 Oh, hello, needles. Yeah, real hot. 193 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,000 Andy, who's that they're carrying out? 194 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:38,000 The old man. 195 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,000 Mr. Boyajan? 196 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,000 Yeah, somebody said he was passing by on his way home. 197 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,000 He saw out a fire and rushed inside to try to put it out. 198 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,000 Crazy thing to do. 199 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,000 Is he home now? 200 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,000 Look, look at those flames, look up at the sky, would you? 201 00:14:53,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Just like a torch, just like a torch. It's beautiful. 202 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:34,000 Autolight is bringing you Mr. Cornell Wild in The Flame, tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 203 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,000 Say, Harlow, I'm really set for cold weather now. 204 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Ah, winterized by your Autolight spark plug dealer, eh, Oscar? 205 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,000 Yep, he changed my oil, grease, and put in antifreeze. 206 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,000 And checked those spark plugs, too. 207 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:54,000 And that's important, Johnny Plug Check. When spark plugs are right, your chances of starting are better than ever in cold weather. 208 00:15:54,000 --> 00:16:03,000 And mine are really right, Harlow. My Autolight spark plug dealer replaced my worn out spark plugs with world famous Autolight spark plugs. 209 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:07,000 For smoother performance, quick starts, and gas savings. 210 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:15,000 Autolight spark plugs are ignition engineered and used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of our finest cars. 211 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,000 So friends, get your car winterized now. 212 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,000 And check those spark plugs, too. 213 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:32,000 Right, Johnny. And your neighborhood Autolight spark plug dealer is the only one with the exclusive Autolight plug check indicator to tell you instantly if your spark plugs are right for your type of driving. 214 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:40,000 And he's the only one who can offer you a choice of standard or resistor type ignition engineered Autolight spark plugs. 215 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:46,000 Remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolight. 216 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:55,000 And now, Autolight brings back to our Hollywood sound stage, Mr. Cornell Wilde in Elliot Lewis's production of The Flame. 217 00:16:55,000 --> 00:17:01,000 A dramatic report well calculated to keep you in suspense. 218 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:16,000 Most everybody in our neighborhood felt sorry about poor Mr. Boyajan. 219 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,000 I wish he hadn't tried to put out the fire. 220 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:27,000 I didn't go to the hospital with Mary Lee to see his wife, but I did go to Mr. Boyajan's funeral a couple of days later. 221 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:33,000 He didn't look worried anymore. Instead, he looked very peaceful lying in his casket. 222 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:42,000 I must admit, I did feel some remorse, but the thing that bothered me most of all was the fact I hadn't been able to draw a picture of the fire. 223 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:48,000 It was the following Friday night that I dropped into the pool room down near the sound. 224 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,000 Needles was all alone. 225 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,000 Hi, hi, hi, Chef. 226 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,000 Hi, Needles. 227 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,000 I want to play some pool. 228 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,000 Okay. 229 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,000 Where you been? I've seen you around since the funeral. 230 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,000 Here and there. 231 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,000 You shoot first, Andy. 232 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,000 Okay. 233 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,000 Hey, you know, that was tough about old man Boyajan, huh? 234 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,000 Too bad. He shouldn't have tried to put it out. 235 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:18,000 You know, at first I thought the old guy started it himself. You know, to collect the fire insurance dough. 236 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,000 But I guess he didn't. 237 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Mrs. Boyajan will get the money, though, won't she? 238 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:28,000 Oh, you never could tell. There were some fire insurance coppers around a couple days ago asking questions. 239 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,000 They'll investigate before they pay off. I ate your shot. 240 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,000 Huh? Huh. Oh, yeah. 241 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:42,000 Yeah, they talked to a lot of people in the neighborhood. Did they talk to you, Andy? You were working for them, weren't you? 242 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,000 Helping him out so he could go to the hospital. 243 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:49,000 They'll probably find out if it was a cooked up thing or not. 244 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:53,000 What do you mean, cooked up thing? 245 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:58,000 Well, you still can't toss out the idea that maybe Boyajan himself started the fire. 246 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,000 He didn't. 247 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:04,000 How do you know? He got burned, didn't he? Maybe he got caught or trapped, couldn't get out. 248 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,000 Hey, your shot, Andy. 249 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,000 That's ridiculous. He couldn't have started it. 250 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,000 How do you know? 251 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,000 He couldn't have. He just couldn't have. 252 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:11,000 Why? 253 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,000 Because he... 254 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,000 Yeah, Andy? Because? 255 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,000 He was just doing something. Shoot, Needles. 256 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,000 Because you started it? Is that maybe why? 257 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,000 I said shoot, Needles. 258 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,000 What did you want to do, Andy? Help the old guy out? 259 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,000 I said shoot. 260 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:36,000 Well, that was right decent of you, Andy. And a mighty fine job, too. 261 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,000 How much were you in for? 262 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:39,000 I wasn't in for anything. 263 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:43,000 Shoot. Sure, just for kicks, huh? 264 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Listen, Needles, don't get me mad. 265 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:50,000 Cue. I was only kidding. You start fires just for kicks, Andy. 266 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:55,000 That's a laugh. Sure, Andy. Don't get sore. I was only kidding. 267 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:07,000 Needles was the type of guy that got into all kinds of trouble. 268 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,000 I wish he didn't get on my nerves so much. 269 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:16,000 When I got home later and opened the door to the apartment, I suddenly got a funny feeling. 270 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:22,000 I didn't know what it was, but I was sure it had something to do with the man who was sitting in the living room with my sister. 271 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:30,000 And when she introduced him as Inspector Shapiro or the fire insurance company, I knew why I had the strange feeling in my stomach. 272 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,000 He's investigating about the fire in Mr. Boyjean's store, Andy. 273 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Oh, Mr. Boyjean was one of my very best friends. I was very sorry about... 274 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,000 I understand. I went to the funeral. 275 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:49,000 Before we can pay Mrs. Boyjean the money she has coming, I have to make sure the fire wasn't started purposely. 276 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,000 Pur-posely? He means somebody did it just to collect the money. 277 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Oh. So far we haven't been able to learn how it was started. 278 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:03,000 I see. Andy, the night of the fire, where were you? 279 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,000 I can answer that, Inspector. He was right here in this room with me. 280 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,000 I see. 281 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,000 I remember. I was darning some socks and Andy was drawing. 282 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,000 Oh, and Mary Lee, he doesn't want to hear about that. 283 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:14,000 He loves to draw. 284 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,000 You want to be an artist? 285 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,000 No, I just like to draw. 286 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:26,000 I see. You worked for Mr. Boyjean while his wife was in the hospital. At least that's what your sister told me. 287 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 I did it to help him out, Inspector Shapiro. I didn't do it for the money. 288 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,000 Did anyone come in while you were there? Someone who may have talked to him? 289 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:39,000 Inspector Shapiro, you're trying to prove that Mr. Boyjean started that fire himself. You're wrong. 290 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,000 He wasn't that kind of man. I know he didn't start the fire. 291 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:48,000 I guess you're a blind alley for us too. I'd hoped you'd be able to shed some light on the case. 292 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:56,000 I'm sorry, but believe me, Inspector, when I tell you Mr. Boyjean didn't start that fire, for one thing, would a man burn himself up in a fire? 293 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,000 He starts, that'd be a crazy thing to do, wouldn't it? 294 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:04,000 Yes, Andy. Definitely a crazy thing to do. 295 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:25,000 Inspector Shapiro was not a stupid man. I could see that. I was going to have to be a little more careful for a little while anyway, until the investigation was over. 296 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:31,000 I hoped that nothing would go wrong, that Mrs. Boyjean would get the money. 297 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:37,000 About two weeks later, I saw Needles was standing in front of the pool room down near the sound. 298 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:42,000 He called me over, said he had something very important to talk to me about. 299 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:47,000 We went in the back room of the pool room, he closed the door and... 300 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:52,000 Cigarette, Andy? You know I don't smoke, Needles. 301 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,000 Of course not, pal. Of course not. 302 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,000 Well, Hotshot, how's fire bugging these days, huh? 303 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,000 Is that supposed to be a cute remark, Needles? 304 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,000 What's the matter? Can't you take a little kid? 305 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:09,000 Not that kind. What's the idea of striking the matches? 306 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:16,000 Oh, it's just a nervous habit, I guess. Yeah, it's a nervous habit. 307 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,000 Pretty flame, huh, Andy? 308 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,000 Say what you have to say. 309 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:28,000 I was thinking about poor Mrs. Boyjean, Andy. What if they hold up the claim, huh? 310 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:33,000 Poor Mrs. Boyjean. Stop speaking in riddles. 311 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:37,000 I got a friend, Andy. He owns a small warehouse a couple of blocks from here. 312 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:42,000 He don't make much money with his small warehouse, and he'd like to get rid of it. 313 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:51,000 One night his place burns down, just like that. He's very, very sad. 314 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:56,000 But then he gets happy because he collects quite a bit of fire insurance. 315 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:02,000 Fire insurance? Yeah, fire insurance. 316 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:07,000 My friend would pay good money if his warehouse burned down. Good money. 317 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,000 He would? 318 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:13,000 You could help out poor, poor Mrs. Boyjean, Andy. 319 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,000 I don't know. 320 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:23,000 And just think of the fun you'll have. A flame, and you'll make it. 321 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:27,000 I'll make it. That's right, Andy. 322 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:39,000 Next Friday night seemed like a very long way off. 323 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:49,000 A couple of times I wanted to go for walks, but then I kept thinking about the big one I was going to make on Friday night, and I decided not to go for any walks. 324 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:55,000 I got some money from Needles and bought all the stuff I needed, the celluloid and the plumber's candles. 325 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:59,000 I met Needles' friend on Thursday, and he took me on a tour of the warehouse. 326 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:08,000 It was a three-story building. When I finished going through it, I decided it would be best to start two fires on the third floor and one on the first. 327 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:15,000 When I got home, I let myself in, but I didn't close the door because I heard voices coming from my room. 328 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:20,000 It was Mary-Lean, a voice that gave me a funny feeling. 329 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,000 You never bothered to look at this crap book? 330 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,000 Why? He draws pictures. 331 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,000 Your brother's a very dangerous man. 332 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:32,000 I never suspected anything. I never bothered to look at the pictures he's drawn. 333 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:39,000 He'll have to be turned over to the authorities. They'll give him proper medical treatment. He's a dangerous man with a dangerous sickness. 334 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,000 I got to call Needles. 335 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:54,000 I had to act now and act fast. I called Needles and told him we had to burn his friend's warehouse tonight. 336 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,000 Tomorrow night would be no good because I'd have to leave Seattle now. 337 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:03,000 He didn't want to at first because we hadn't planned it that way, but then he finally agreed. 338 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,000 He met me in front of the warehouse a little before nine. 339 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:14,000 I set two fires up on the third floor, and then we went down to the first and I started another one. 340 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Come on. 341 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,000 No, wait. Let's watch it for a while. 342 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,000 Are you crazy? This place is going to go up like a tinderbox. We'll either get caught. 343 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:27,000 I said I want to watch it for a while. I'm going to draw a picture. 344 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,000 You're loony as a nut. Come on, Andy. Let's get out of here. 345 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,000 For you, go ahead, Needles. I'll be along in a little while. 346 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,000 Come on, Andy. Come on. Don't be crazy. 347 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:42,000 I'm glad I brought my pencil and pad with me. I think this is going to be a beautiful one. 348 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,000 And it was. 349 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:57,000 It had wonderful colors. The flames were all around me now. 350 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:03,000 Not an awful lot of smoke here inside the building. Just flames. 351 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:11,000 Beautiful colors. Just beautiful reds. Deep reds and blues, greens, yellows. 352 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:16,000 I had a feeling this was going to be my best picture. 353 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:20,000 The most beautiful flames I'd ever seen. Thrilling. 354 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:27,000 And the picture now. Just one big flame. 355 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:31,000 And it was. 356 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,000 Suspense. 357 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:05,000 Presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star, Mr. Cornell Wilde. 358 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:11,000 And here he is once again, Mr. Wilde. A splendid and convincing performance, Cornell. 359 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,000 Thank you, Harlow, and thanks to Auto Light. 360 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,000 Yes, thanks to Auto Light for many things. 361 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:20,000 Smoother performance, click starts, and gas savings. 362 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:24,000 Harlow, you're wonderful. You always have something to say about Auto Light. 363 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:30,000 Well, of course, because Auto Light makes over 400 products for cars, trucks, tractors, planes, and boats. 364 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:37,000 Including the world-famous Auto Light Stay Full Battery. Automotive wire and cable, and many more. 365 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,000 Well, no wonder you always have the right thing to say, Harlow. 366 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:55,000 Cornell, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light. 367 00:28:55,000 --> 00:29:06,000 Next week on Suspense, our star will be Mr. Ray Milland in another story based on actual events concerning a British gunboat trapped by communist fire 100 miles from help. 368 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:10,000 A dramatic report we call The Log of the Marne. 369 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:21,000 In weeks to come, we shall also present Mr. Richard Woodmark and Mr. John Lund all on Suspense. 370 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:28,000 Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morawick and conducted by Ludd Gluskin. 371 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,000 The Flame was written for Suspense by Richard George Pedicini. 372 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:39,000 In tonight's story, Kathy Lewis was heard as Mary Lee, Sydney Miller as Needles, and Joseph Kearns as Boyajian. 373 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:44,000 Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel, Bert Holland, and Charles Calvert. 374 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:50,000 Cornell Wilde will soon be seen starring in the Cecil B. DeMille production, The Greatest Show on Earth. 375 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:57,000 And remember next week on Suspense, Mr. Ray Milland in another story based on actual events. 376 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:02,000 A dramatic report we call The Log of the Marne. 377 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:11,000 For the location of your nearest autolite battery or spark plug dealer or your nearest authorized autolite service station, 378 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:19,000 phone Western Union by number and ask for operator 25. Switch to autolite. Good night. 379 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:27,000 This is the CBS Radio Network.