1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,100 Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers bring you the brilliant young motion picture star, Mr. 2 00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:18,800 Richard Bassehart, in tonight's presentation of Suspense. 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:27,020 Tonight, Auto Light presents the story of a man who found it necessary to commit the 4 00:00:27,020 --> 00:00:32,960 perfect crime, a tale we call The Perfectionist, starring Mr. Richard Bassehart. 5 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:44,320 Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Harlow, why the cheers? For the team, 6 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:49,360 Hap. What team, Harlow? Why, the team under your car's hood, the Auto Light Electrical 7 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,960 System, the family team of precision-made units, including the generator, battery, 8 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:58,720 coil distributor, starting motor, and all the other important parts of the complete 9 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,680 Auto Light Electrical System used as original factory equipment on many leading makes of 10 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:08,080 our finest cars, trucks, and tractors. Does this team play full-time, Harlow? 11 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:13,560 It works full-time, Hap, every time you press the starting switch, every second your engine is 12 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:18,800 running, and whenever you use your horn, lights, or radio. That Auto Light Electrical System is a 13 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,780 real winner, eh, Harlow? You bet, Hap, with all units related by Auto Light Engineering 14 00:01:23,780 --> 00:01:29,920 design and manufacturing skill to give you the smoothest performance money can buy. So, 15 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,520 friends, when your Auto Light-equipped car needs replacement parts, take a tip from me, 16 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:40,880 and insist on Auto Light original factory parts. And remember, from bumper to tail light, 17 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:48,080 you're always right with Auto Light. And now, with The Perfectionist and the 18 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:55,440 performance of Mr. Richard Baseheart, Auto Light hopes once again to keep you in suspense. 19 00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:16,720 There, it's all written. I couldn't confess it verbally to these police, 20 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:21,320 as stupid men, men who discovered nothing about the murder through their own efforts. 21 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:29,560 It was a mishap, a blunder which revealed me. I know, I killed him. When it comes to murder, 22 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:35,200 few know it as I do. Few could have planned as I planned. Few could have put the body in such 23 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:41,160 a trunk as I designed, a perfect trunk for transporting the body, perfect. I'm a perfectionist, 24 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:55,480 and that is my failing. I have been, in my perfection, destroyed by imperfect men. 25 00:02:55,480 --> 00:03:01,200 The man I killed, he was old, old enough to be my father. I had planned each step and shipped 26 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,480 his body in the trunk to a city only 90 miles away from the scene of the murder. 27 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:13,480 Only 90 miles. And it was the fourth remaining step of a calculation in which each move had 28 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:18,160 the precision of a mathematical equation. Your check, please. 29 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,680 Here you are. It's a medium-sized trunk. Now we go by the numbers. 30 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:27,960 It was train 91 out of Carleton. We arrived 30 minutes late at 721 a.m., precisely. 31 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,640 You should have been a train man. You're better than the dispatchers. 32 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:44,160 Gee, I'm sorry, mister, but I think we sent your trunk out by mistake. 33 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,480 You what? We'll get it back. It happens sometimes. 34 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:53,000 You idiot. You stupid idiot. Wait a second. I don't have to check. 35 00:03:53,000 --> 00:04:00,120 Yes, yes. You're quite right. And I apologize. When was it delivered? 36 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,520 Yesterday. Has anyone phoned about it? Has anyone 37 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,440 called? Complaining of the error? No. 38 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,480 Well, perhaps they don't realize they have the wrong trunk. Perhaps they haven't opened 39 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,560 it yet. Do you think that's possible? Do you think they might not have called because 40 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,480 the trunk is still closed? It's the only reason. People really beef when 41 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,960 they get the wrong trunk. They scream like wounded eagles. 42 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,440 Give me their name and address. Oh, I'll look it up in the book. 43 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:32,560 Oh, yeah. Yeah, here it is. Name's Granik. Yes, thank you. 44 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,720 Whoa. Ain't you going to write it down? I don't have to write it down. 45 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:47,880 Oh. Well, see you. Clerk, let me see that trunk. 46 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,240 What? I want to see the trunk. I want to be sure it's 47 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,720 not mine. The claim check's wrong. Yes, perhaps that's where the mistake lies, 48 00:04:55,720 --> 00:05:00,280 in the claim check. Okay, okay. So much nonsense about a lousy 49 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:10,200 trunk. Yeah, it's right here. Come on in here and 50 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:16,360 look. Yes. This is my trunk. 51 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,240 You sure? You have skeleton keys. Open it. 52 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:26,600 But your trunk, you got a key. I lost my key. Here's $10. 53 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:36,320 Open it. Okay. 54 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,960 That is my trunk. The drafting equipment, surveying instruments, 55 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,800 they're mine. The tags must have been mixed up. 56 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,600 If you want proof, why even they phone? This is my trunk. 57 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:53,680 This one, not the other one. I hated that clerk. 58 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,640 I hate anyone I have to depend on. And I had to depend on him. 59 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,760 I had to ask him to help me when I know you can never trust anyone's help, ever. 60 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,960 But I had to discover who the other people were and their trunk would tell me. 61 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,200 I had to know their secret before they found out mine. 62 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:13,000 Take their trunk, not to exchange it with mine. They might doubt me, ask me to open 63 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,680 it. No. I had to get my trunk my own way and dispose 64 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:29,080 of the body before anyone missed the man I had killed. 65 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,640 Their name was Granick. And some letters in their trunk told me he had been a cripple 66 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:37,640 for three years, paralyzed in the waist down. An accident, four. 67 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,840 I knew more than that, much more. I knew he had just come out of a rehabilitation 68 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:45,360 hospital. But did I know enough to get my trunk without 69 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,720 their knowing who I really was or knowing the trunk was gone? 70 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,760 They would know nothing. Nothing. 71 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,880 Absolutely nothing of me, but I would know about them. 72 00:06:54,880 --> 00:07:00,080 Doesn't it give you a sense of power to know someone else's secret without their knowing 73 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:01,080 any of yours? 74 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:18,920 Yes? How do you do? This is Granick? 75 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:23,600 Yes. My name is Christenton. Is your husband around? 76 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:28,200 My husband is in the living room. I know. You're going to say he can't come 77 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,400 in through the door. I know of this accident. 78 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,280 What did you say your name was? Christenton. Chris. 79 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,000 I know your husband has a great problem. He must. 80 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,560 Anyone handicapped like that must have. You have no right to say anything like that. 81 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,320 No, no. Didn't they call you from the office? Didn't 82 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,240 they tell you I was coming here? Who is it, Betty? 83 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:49,920 It's just someone... If they didn't call you, then you must listen 84 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,120 to me. It's to your benefit to listen before I see 85 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:53,120 him. Betty! 86 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,340 In a minute, dear. We're a non-profit organization devoted solely 87 00:07:57,340 --> 00:08:01,120 to evaluating the attitudes of the crippled. How they're functioning. How much help they 88 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:05,000 need. How dependent they are on others. On their loved ones. 89 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,520 You know what I mean, Mrs. Granick? Surely you must know how terribly dependent 90 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:12,920 such victims become with an inability to help themselves. A refusal. 91 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,680 Or rather, a refusal to see what they're doing to the lives of their loved ones. 92 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:22,480 Isn't that so, Mrs. Granick? Do you... do you want me to tell him who you 93 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,960 are? You can tell him I'm from the hospital. 94 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:31,040 Routine. Interview. Checkup. Follow through checkup. 95 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:38,760 Come in. Mr. Christianson. 96 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:43,200 Two hours had been lost. But once more I began to feel better. Control 97 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,800 of the whole situation was coming back into my hands. 98 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,800 Once more I knew I could succeed. I could get the trunk and dispose of the body as I 99 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,880 had planned to do it. Not as circumstance dictated. And because I had control again, 100 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:02,520 I was able to listen to this wasting hulk of a man, this William Granick, as he regaled 101 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,520 me with his memories. But the trunk. Where was the trunk? 102 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:11,920 I suppose everyone goes through this. Maybe I've taken longer to recuperate. Why is that? 103 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:17,160 It's because of your active life, Mr. Granick. Your previous activity was outdoors. 104 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:23,080 Always. Civil engineering isn't for sissies. No, it's for men. For real men. Building 105 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,320 bridges and roads. That's for doers. You were a doer. 106 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:30,560 Was a doer. Was. Bastards. And will be again. 107 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:34,000 Never again. You had a hobby? 108 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,720 Yeah. When I worked out the hospital. Dull and stupid. 109 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,600 He still has his drafting equipment. We get that. 110 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:47,080 Yes. That would be good. Work hypothetical engineering problems. I used to do that. 111 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:51,520 I was going to be an engineer. For amusement, I used to pose hypothetical problems myself 112 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,440 and work them out. Really? Where'd you study? 113 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,360 Back East. Long time ago. Couldn't be too long. 114 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,520 It's very long. But you're a young man. 115 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:07,160 You. About your civil engineering. The drafting equipment. Surveying instruments. 116 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:12,920 I lost interest. Can't do anything with it. I can't sit indoors and pretend it's outdoors. 117 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,240 Where is the equipment? Around. 118 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,600 You know very well where it is, Bill. We put it in storage back home where we used 119 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,680 to live. We took it out of storage, Mr. Christensen. 120 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:24,760 Had it shipped here. Is it in a packing crate? 121 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,720 No. Well then what? What is it in? 122 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:32,160 Well what difference does it make? In case I could help. To get it for you. 123 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,480 A woman alone can't do it. Such equipment is heavy. 124 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,840 She isn't alone. I'm here. 125 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,440 Yes, darling. Yes, you are. You are here and you do help me. 126 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:47,160 It's in a trunk. An old trunk. And where is this old trunk? 127 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,520 In the closet. But I don't want to see it. Had a man who delivered it put it there in 128 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,960 the closet. I'm through with it. And you haven't opened the trunk? 129 00:10:53,960 --> 00:11:00,960 You haven't opened it for a long time. In a way that's better. 130 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,120 It's raining. What? 131 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:09,000 It started to rain. Are you a... 132 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:14,920 Maybe it's presumptuous but not many people come over these days but... 133 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,040 Are you busy for supper? Why no. 134 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:25,400 No I'm not. I'd be delighted. 135 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,400 I was exhilarated. The excitement of getting my trunk. 136 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,880 The thrill of my long battle almost won. Almost over. 137 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:37,320 Ah, it's important to be exact. Only the exact survive. 138 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,520 I felt as if I could do anything that night. Anything I wanted to. 139 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:46,380 All the skills I developed over the years. Waiting... 140 00:11:46,380 --> 00:11:49,320 Waiting for them to go to bed. Waiting to get to the trunk. 141 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:56,320 I used one of those skills. I made a pencil drawing of the man. 142 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,720 All right, turn your head. A bit this way. I guess. 143 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,800 There. There, that's it. 144 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,800 No, it's not right. We'll start over. 145 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:13,040 It's about the tenth time. I'm going to do this in oils ultimately. 146 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,120 It must be right. Exactly right. 147 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,920 Yeah, maybe in engineering you have to be that accurate or a bridge would collapse if 148 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,720 we went off a fraction. But in this... 149 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:27,480 In Europe... I studied in Europe. I was told I had a great talent. 150 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,840 Truly great talent. Correggio. You ever heard of him? 151 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:36,240 He was my teacher. He told me I'd never make a living at it because I was too demanding 152 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:37,800 of myself. That's not good. 153 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:42,800 To be too demanding. Expect too much of yourself. 154 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:49,320 That's... it's wrong. It's gone. Once you decide to abandon a talent, never turn 155 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,560 back. My husband is going to turn back. 156 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:55,880 Of course, but that's different. I mean, an artist. When he doesn't feel greatness 157 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,400 in one field, he should go on to another. And an engineer. 158 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,360 I'm sure you were a fine engineer. Yeah. 159 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,800 That was one of the best. He's won an award. 160 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:12,800 Uh, Mr. Creslinson? Would you like to see him? 161 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,080 Uh, why, yes. They're in the trunk, honey. 162 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,080 I'll show you. No! 163 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:24,280 Please, don't bother yourself now. We'll have lots of time to talk. 164 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,800 Lots of other conversations. Many. Many. 165 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,960 I guess it would be kind of boasting. It wouldn't be. There's nothing wrong with 166 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:35,960 being proud of what you've done. No, no, no. Never mind, Betty. 167 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:41,880 Oh, excuse me. It's awfully late. 168 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,880 You know, Mr. Creslinson, you've been kind of good for me. 169 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,880 Brandon. How's that? 170 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,600 Oh, Brandon. Brandon Creslinson's my first name. 171 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,440 Oh. I'm glad I've helped you. But how? 172 00:13:55,440 --> 00:14:00,440 Well, by showing me that we shouldn't hold on to something we can no longer do. 173 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,320 But you can, darling. You can. I'm a cripple. I can't. 174 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:09,840 And what would you propose as a solution? Maybe I ought to start with those drafting 175 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,000 instruments. Start? How? 176 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:18,520 Maybe sell them. Maybe get them out of the trunk tomorrow morning and sell them. 177 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:23,520 Yeah. Well, I'd better get to bed. 178 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:29,440 Good night, Mr. Creslinson. See him out, Betty. I can manage the crutches. 179 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,040 Would you mind if I finished filling in my report here? 180 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:37,840 Oh, certainly not. Go right ahead. Thank you. 181 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:46,840 I'll see myself to the door, Mrs. Gunnick. Well, good night, Mr. Creslinson. 182 00:14:46,840 --> 00:15:14,840 Good night. Now wait. Wait for them to sleep. 183 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:20,920 Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Richard Baseheart in The Perfectionist in tonight's production 184 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:42,920 in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 185 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:47,160 Hey, Harlow. What are you doing? I'm showing you how the Auto Light electrical 186 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:52,160 system in your Auto Light equipped car provides the power for starting the engine, sounding 187 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,440 the horn, and playing the radio. And the lights and heater, too, hey, Harlow? 188 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:02,000 Right, Hap, as well as the power that's so important every second your engine is running. 189 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,160 They're all powered by the Auto Light electrical system in which every unit and component part 190 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:12,900 are related by Auto Light engineering design and manufacturing skill to give you the finest 191 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:16,800 performance money can buy. The electrical system is mighty important 192 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,400 to us car owners, Harlow. And that's why you should treat your car's 193 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:25,640 electrical system to a periodic checkup at your authorized Auto Light service station 194 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:31,360 or the dealer who services your make of car. You can quickly locate your nearest authorized 195 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:36,600 Auto Light service station in the classified section of the phone directory or call Western 196 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:42,600 Union by number and ask for operator 25. She'll quickly tell you the name of your nearest 197 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:48,000 authorized Auto Light service station. And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're 198 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:54,440 always right with Auto Light. And now, Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood 199 00:16:54,440 --> 00:17:01,200 sound stage Mr. Richard Baseheart in Elliot Lewis's production of The Perfectionist, a 200 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:21,120 tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. I waited until the house was silent, motionless, 201 00:17:21,120 --> 00:17:28,760 staring, listening. There, in the open closet, in the trunk was the body. My heart started 202 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:38,280 to pound. I advanced toward it in the dark. I felt wonderful. Here, so near completion. 203 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:56,400 Here, in the dark. In a moment, I would have it open. In a moment. She, she came into the 204 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:02,920 room and turned on the light. I slammed the lock back and whirled to face her. What do 205 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:08,920 you want, Mr. Christensen? I, I only wanted to, I. You had the key to that trunk, didn't 206 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:18,160 you? I, I wanted to tell you something. Yes? Don't, don't press me. Don't demand. I'll 207 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:27,720 wait. Well? It's, it isn't easy. It isn't easy. It's very difficult to admit an error. 208 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:36,280 A lie, not an error. No, no, no, not a lie. Yes, it's a lie. You're not from the hospital. 209 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,600 You were never near the hospital my husband was in. How did you know? How did you find 210 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,760 out about us? Who are you? Can you forgive me? Listen, don't judge before you listen. 211 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,040 What's your name? And don't come any closer. I have this poker. I won't be threatened. 212 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:56,080 I won't. I mean you no harm. My real name is Brandon, Carl Brandon. I mean you no harm 213 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:05,640 at all. Please believe me. Please. Please. Why did you come here? I'm, I'm a student. 214 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:11,160 Yes, I was in the army and wounded. I had wonderful dreams and plans about what I'd 215 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:17,760 do after I got out. Wonderful dreams. My father's a rich man. He's old and rich. But I couldn't 216 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:23,680 take anything from him after the war. A pension isn't enough. But I couldn't take anything 217 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,160 from him anymore. He gave me money and he told me what to do all the time. Why did you 218 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:34,720 come here? I obtained a part time job in the hospital to support myself. I did work there, 219 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:40,600 you see. But in their storage room. And I, I heard about the trunk your husband had. 220 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:45,480 With his drafting equipment in it? Yes, yes. The valuable equipment. I knew I could steal 221 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:49,240 it and sell the things. I knew they were valuable. I know about things like that. I, I contended 222 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,840 the cost of each instrument. Didn't the fact that my husband and I couldn't afford to buy 223 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:58,240 new ones affect you any? Yes, yes. That's, that's what I'm trying to say. Yes, I, I admitted 224 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,800 everything. Why do you keep accusing me? I admitted everything and I ask your forgiveness. 225 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:08,120 Yes, I was wrong. What more can I do? What more do you want me to do? To leave. Turn 226 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:14,040 to my father and say that I was wrong. I made a mistake. That he was right. Give me money. 227 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:19,280 Tell me what to do. Order my life. Live my life. Show me my failings. Show me where I'm 228 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:27,080 not as strong as he is, as bright as he is, as, as strong as, as strong. No, wait. Don't 229 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:56,840 leave. What? Stay awhile. Just a minute. Sit down, Mr. Brennan. Go on. That's it. The, 230 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:06,200 the Mr. Brandon sounds wrong. Mind if I call you Carl, isn't it? Yes, Carl. Carl Brennan. 231 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:12,400 It's a nice sounding name. Betty, make some coffee, will you honey? Coffee? Yeah. How 232 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:19,400 do you like it, Carl? Just plain black coffee. The way they drink it in the army, huh? The 233 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:26,760 army? Oh, yes, as always. I was in myself. I know what it's like to come out and, and 234 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:31,680 be hit with civilian life. If it isn't a problem, there's nothing one cannot work out if one 235 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:36,880 has the willpower and the self-discipline. No, I couldn't have. Not without Betty. It 236 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:45,640 takes a woman or a friend or just somebody who cares. It takes someone to help. I don't 237 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:50,480 need any help, Mr. Granick. Bill. Just call me Bill. Mr. Granick, I don't need any help. 238 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,080 I'm fully capable of solving my own problems without help, without advice. We all need 239 00:21:54,080 --> 00:22:01,160 help sometimes. None of us can live without it. You're bitter. I can understand it. I, 240 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:05,960 I've felt it. But you have to listen to other people sometimes. Now, why don't you try your 241 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:10,400 homey little platitudes on yourself? Did they do you any good in that wheelchair? Did they 242 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,800 made you bounding with hope and ambition? Are you a better person now than you were 243 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:18,240 before you were paralyzed? Don't preach to me. You better leave right now. Now. No, no, 244 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:23,840 no, Betty. You have to listen. Maybe he's right too. Maybe he can see my problem clearly 245 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:36,720 the way I can see his. I can't stand waiting. Waiting sometimes makes me angry. I'm sorry. 246 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:44,000 Sure. Sure, I understand. And even though I'm not too much older than you, Carl, I, 247 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:50,160 I've seen an awful lot. I've been around a lot. And that's why even though we might 248 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:57,080 not meet again, I, I like to talk to you straight. Like a member of your own family would. I 249 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:02,320 don't need instruction. It's advice. And I don't need advice. We all need it sometimes, 250 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:06,340 Carl. His advice was just like yours. To do things the way he did them. But letting me 251 00:23:06,340 --> 00:23:09,440 know that I could never do the things the way he did them. That I was incompetent and 252 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,360 he was better. Always better. I don't mean that. Not that way. Well, I did something 253 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:18,000 better. Braver. Something more daring. More skilled than he ever dreamed of doing. You 254 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:23,560 understand? I've accomplished what he could never do. What do you mean? What are you trying 255 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:28,280 to say? That you can keep your rotten advice to yourself. That you're nothing but a cripple. 256 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:33,080 You're the cripple. Not my husband. You're the cripple in your head. Only his legs are 257 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:41,760 far but. Betty. All right, Carl. What is it that you've done that's so great? Get up. 258 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:54,360 Go ahead of me. I'll show you. Do as I say. Now. Right now. I knew then. I knew I'd have 259 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:59,520 to kill them. And perhaps they knew. A woman with a cripple for a husband. Perhaps they 260 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:05,240 knew they had to be killed because. Because. I don't know why. I knew then but I can't 261 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:10,400 remember now. I knew more and more as they went fearfully toward the closet. Afraid to 262 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:15,440 make a move to attack me. Afraid because he was a cripple and she was powerless. And I 263 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:22,640 opened the closet door. My excitement was so great I hardly remember each step. I'm 264 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:30,440 not lying. I barely remember. I turned the key in the lock. Each move was precise. Not 265 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:35,480 a motion wasted. Not one action misplaced. For this was my victory against everything 266 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:42,680 that stood in my way. Not to argue. Not to discuss. But to kill. To kill perfectly. Quickly. 267 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:48,600 Kill. What stands in my way. Kill. The granics. Kill. The man in the trunk. The man who looked 268 00:24:48,600 --> 00:25:06,240 like my father. And I swung it wide. It will do no good. It will not help. The time is 269 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:19,960 past. Why not me first Carl? Afraid of me? Afraid of a cripple? Why didn't I think? Why 270 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:24,680 didn't I calculate? Why for the first time in my life an act of passion without thinking 271 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:31,440 I leaped at him like an animal. Like a beast. Have you ever fought a man whose legs are 272 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:36,000 useless? Have you ever felt the arm of a man who uses his arms to sit and go and move and 273 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:43,520 rise their steel? They went to my throat and I struggled in a dream. I can even feel them 274 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:56,840 now. This wasn't the way. Where was my triumph? My victory? Where was my glory? Afraid of 275 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:16,400 me? Please. Please. Afraid of a cripple? Perfect man? Stop. Please. Stop. I didn't mean it. 276 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:28,840 I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Bill. Call the police first, Betty. Then come back and help 277 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:58,080 me up. Suspense. Presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star, Mr. Richard Baseheart. 278 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:04,720 This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Auto Light, world's largest independent manufacturer of 279 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:09,760 automotive electrical equipment. Auto Light is proud to serve the greatest names in the 280 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:16,120 industry. That's why during the early months of 52, the Auto Light family will join together 281 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:20,800 in saluting the leading car manufacturers who install Auto Light products as original 282 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:26,960 equipment. Our Auto Light family is made up of the nearly 30,000 men and women in 28 great 283 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:32,800 Auto Light plants from coast to coast. Our family also includes more than 18,000 people 284 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:38,280 who have invested a portion of their savings in Auto Light, as well as 96,000 Auto Light 285 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:43,120 distributors and dealers in the United States and thousands more in Canada and throughout 286 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:48,520 the world. Our Auto Light family will salute the Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation 287 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:53,280 on the next Auto Light Suspense television program. Check the day and time of Suspense 288 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:58,360 on television so that you will be sure to see this program. And be with us next week 289 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:08,560 for another thrilling Suspense program on radio. 290 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:13,680 Next week on Suspense, our star will be Mr. Joseph Cotton, who will portray a man without 291 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:20,000 emotion, the mechanical man in a tale we call Carnival. In weeks to come, we shall also 292 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:32,200 present Mr. J. Carroll Nash, Mr. James Mason, and Miss Barbara Stanwyck, all on Suspense. 293 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:36,360 Suspense is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music composed by Lucian Morawick 294 00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:42,720 and conducted by Lud Bluskin. The Perfectionist was written for Suspense by Arthur Ross. In 295 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:48,120 tonight's cast, Charlotte Lawrence was Betty Granick, William Conrad was Bill Granick, 296 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:52,880 and Joseph Kearns was the attendant. Tonight's appearance is made possible through permission 297 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:58,040 of 20th Century Fox. Mr. Baseheart may currently be seen in their production of Decision Before 298 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:04,120 Dawn. And remember next week on Suspense, Mr. Joseph Cotton in Carnival. This is the 299 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:19,120 CBS Radio Network.