And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Tonight, the transcribed story of what happens when a trunk is bought at auction, contents
unknown.
We call it Going, Going, Gone.
So now, starring Tom Brown and Eve McVeigh, here is tonight's Suspense play, Going, Going,
Gone.
Sold for $12.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, the next item is very special and not in your category.
Rack it up, boys, and be careful.
It may be valuable.
Very exciting, my folks.
Very exciting.
Wally.
Wally, look.
I swung.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, our trunk, contents unknown.
And you, boys, an old trunk, ladies and gentlemen, from the estate of Mrs. Dexter Joslyn.
Since Mr. Joslyn's unfortunate disappearance last week, the executives have found a ladder
left by Mr. Joslyn requesting us to sell his belong.
Wally.
Yes, sir?
I'm going to bid on it.
Oh, now, Jan, please be sensible.
We already bought a lamp, two chairs, another old trunk.
another original The Mr. Myler statue.
What do we want with a trophy?
I won't go over $10 while they're out.
$10, I should say.
Oh please, honey, it's got such lovely old stains.
Please, it might be very valuable.
Three, two, I hear one.
I hear one who'll make it two.
$2.
Thank you, Mr. Myler.
I have $2.
No.
It's only $2.
Do I hear three?
Three, do I hear three?
$250.
Three?
$3, Mr. Myler.
Three, three, three, do I hear more?
Three going once, three going twice,
going for the third and last time at,
three sold to the lady for $3.
Ha ha ha.
Wally, I got it.
Wait, wait.
I raised the bid, $100.
I'll give $100.
Sorry, friend, you're too late.
No, but I must have the trunk.
$200.
Sorry, friend, it's been sold to this lady for $3.
Come on, dear, let's go back and pick up our things.
Yes, that's ours.
And the statue, too, and the trunk.
Right here, lady.
No, no, that's not the same one.
It's newer.
It's the same one, lady.
No, the one you sold me was lovely and old.
That's right, the one you sold my wife had stains on it,
and we want the one with the stains.
That's right, I want the one I bought.
But I tell you, lady, we use the old one for a come on.
Now take this, it'll make you happy.
No, we want the one you sold me.
Mm-hmm, oh, okay, okay, sure, I'll get it.
I'll be right back.
Okay, boys, drag out the old one.
Now, yeah, that's the one I want right now.
Jan, sometimes I wonder about you.
Oh, you do, huh?
Well, let me tell you something.
That old trunk's got something in it, I know.
You know.
No, what about that funny little man
who came in late and bid $200?
You know, I'll bet he made them offers
for that other trunk just now.
Honey, that's just part of the act.
They want to make people figure it's valuable.
Next Sunday, they'll have 50 old trunks to sell.
All right, you wait, you'll see.
You just wait.
["The Star-Spangled Banner"]
We got our old trunk, paid for it, and caught it at home.
Sat in the middle of the living room.
Big, old, and dirty, with a lot of funny looking stains.
Jan was like a kid with a new doll.
What do you think's in it, Wal?
I don't know.
Could be anything, couldn't it?
Yeah, sure, sure anything.
It's kind of like Christmas, you know?
Well, honey, are we going to stand here and talk about it?
Let's open it and get it open.
No, wait, not for a minute.
I just want to look.
Why do you suppose that little man wanted it so badly?
It can't be the same as the other trunks they've got.
Oh, Jan, I thought you had more sense.
Do you honestly think they'd sell us something for $3
if they didn't open it first to find out what was in it?
Oh, it's heavy.
Sure.
Well, with all clothes, all the skates, blood, instruments,
and, well, that's it.
Wal.
Guess what's in it.
Guess?
Oh, come on, Jan.
Come on, let's open it.
First, we'll guess what's in it.
You guess first.
All right, let's see now.
Old trunk, pretty big.
A lot of peculiar stains.
Big enough to put a book.
Oh, come on.
Come on, let's open it.
Wait, we'll open it together.
All right.
Oh, the cat is stuck.
All right, all right.
Here, I'll do it.
Now stand back.
Well, go on, open it.
It's yours.
Well, doesn't it scare you just a little bit?
Scare me?
There.
Now are you satisfied?
Wally, I'm sorry.
Oh, now look at that.
Nothing but a mess of old rags and papers.
Three dollars.
Three hard earned dollars for a pile of newspapers and.
Hey.
Wally.
Hey.
Oh, wow, look.
Diamonds, gold, rubies.
Wow.
Oh, it's a fake.
It must be.
Oh, these aren't real.
They look real, but.
Yeah, but there's nothing to be scared about anymore.
It's not real.
None of it.
I don't know.
Oh, now look, look, be sensible.
If this stuff were the real thing, I mean diamonds, pearls,
emeralds, and all it, it'd be worth millions.
It looks real.
I mean it.
A woman has a feeling about jewelry.
She can tell.
Jewelry.
Here, look.
Did you ever see a diamond ring this big?
Well, no, I never did.
All right.
All right, now once and for all, I prove it to you.
You think this is a diamond ring?
Yes, Wally, I think it is.
This is a diamond?
OK.
It's a diamond ring?
OK.
Now watch.
Diamonds cut glass, right?
Right.
OK.
I'm going to scratch it on the window,
and maybe this will satisfy you.
OK.
Now there's your fake diamond.
Now for heaven's sake, just.
Oh.
I told you.
I told you they're real.
We bought a trunk full of jewels.
What are we going to do with it?
I don't know.
What do you think?
Maybe we should call the police.
Oh.
No, no, no.
Why should we?
Well, I mean supposing it's all stolen jewels.
Hey.
Hey, the door.
Someone's at the door.
Now come on. Come on.
Get the rags and papers back in the trunk.
We'll put it in the bedroom.
Well, it's probably only mother's.
Yeah, or the guy from the auction.
Now come on, hurry.
All right.
All right, now you push, and I'll pull.
Well, I feel as if we've done something wrong.
Oh, we've got to be careful.
There.
Now shut the door.
Now if it is your mother, don't say anything, please.
All right.
Oh, how do you do?
My name is Mr. Minchi.
Yes?
You are Mr. Pindale?
Yeah, that's right.
You bought a trunk this afternoon at the auction.
You see, I arrived too late to buy it myself.
Oh, that's too bad.
Too bad, yes.
Mr. Pindale, I will give you $200 for it,
a sentimental value, you understand.
I'm sorry.
Would you mind getting your foot out of the door?
You have opened the trunk.
Oh, yes.
$50,000 in.
You must be a very sentimental man.
$100,000, Mr. Pindale, my last offer.
We needed a trunk.
Good evening.
I must warn you, the consequences
will be upon your own head.
This is your last chance.
Think carefully.
Good evening.
Mr. Pindale.
You're making a mistake.
Please, please, I beg you.
Please take my offer.
I heard it, Wally.
What are we going to do?
I don't know.
It was that same little fellow.
He's still there.
Oh, I'm scared.
Well, he's quite old and not very big.
I'll take care of him.
No, no, don't do that.
Call the police.
Oh, no, Jan is.
I mean it.
He might have a gun.
Jan is.
Please.
Well, all right, maybe I better.
Well, I never thought I'd see today what's going on.
Hello.
Please, I'm using the phone.
Do you mind getting off?
I'm sorry.
What's the matter?
Party line.
What does that woman talk about all day?
Well, you'd better drive down to the police station.
No, wait a minute.
Maybe he's gone.
It's all right, honey.
Nobody's there.
What are we going to do?
Oh, about what?
We bought the trunk.
What's in it's eyes?
It isn't right, Wally.
We'll get into trouble.
That man at the door, he might be a gangster,
a foreign jewel thief.
Suppose he's got other men with him.
I'll try the police again.
Chestnuts is the only stuffing I use.
Of course, some people like oyster, but I obviously.
Hello.
Will you please hang up?
I'm using the phone.
Look, lady, this is an emergency.
I'm nervous, some people, honestly.
Lady, you don't.
The times I try to get the use of this phone,
I'm in awe with any excuse.
It isn't an excuse.
What I'm saying is, oh, yes, oyster stuffing will.
She won't get off.
She's got to.
Here, let me try.
No, no, no.
Now wait, maybe it's fate.
Maybe we're not supposed to.
You listen to me, Wally.
Now, I don't see why you're making such a fuss.
We're safe enough.
I'm not afraid of.
Wally.
I heard it.
Don't you dare go.
What do you want me to do?
I don't know, but.
Maybe it's your mother this time, huh?
Who is it?
I'll scream out the window for help.
No, no, you can't do that.
What would the neighbors think?
I'm going.
Wally, you be careful.
Here, take the poker.
OK, now you stay where you are.
Wally, please don't open it.
It's all right.
Now you just stay there.
Wally.
OK, I've had enough of this.
Oh.
No.
Whoa.
["Going, Going, Gone"]
You are listening to Going, Going, Gone, tonight's
presentation in radio's outstanding
theater of thrills, Suspense.
You are the Red Cross.
If you're not serving, then it's your neighbors.
When the Red Cross blood program helps you,
when relief and rehabilitation move inefficiently
after disaster, it's a people to people program and operation,
not a disembodied machine that works by flicking a switch.
Today, the Red Cross needs not just your donation,
but you as an active member.
Take your contribution to your local chapter.
And while you're there, join so you can serve.
30 million new members are needed now.
And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage,
Tom Brown and Eve McVeigh, starring in tonight's
production, Going, Going, Gone, a tale well calculated
to keep you in suspense.
Why?
What's wrong with him?
Make him get up.
The door.
Yes.
Oh, yes.
What happened?
Are you hurt?
I don't know.
Been close to me.
I've got to tell you.
You've got to do something.
No, no time, no time.
They caught me as I was coming back up here.
They'll get you too.
Who?
I don't get it.
They are waiting outside.
Later in the night, they will come.
The killers.
The killers?
Who are they?
The jewels.
Where are they?
In the trunk.
We put them in the bedroom.
We can't let him die there.
Call the police, Wally, and doctor or something.
Save yourselves.
Get out of this house.
Wally?
I guess so.
Oh, I'm scared, Wally.
What are we going to do?
Well, now, now, now, take it easy, honey.
Nobody's going to hurt you.
Hello.
Hello, for Pete's sake.
What's the matter?
Oh, that.
She left her phone off the hook just for a spike.
She's left it off.
Oh.
Well, I've got to think now.
Couldn't I scream out the window for help?
Oh, sure.
Sure, they're waiting out there.
You get killed just like him.
Oh, no.
Got to think.
Wait a minute.
Put out the light, honey.
I'm going to peek out.
You stay behind the curtain, Wally.
Don't let him see you.
It was getting misty.
I couldn't see the end of the street,
but near the lamppost a couple of houses down,
I saw a black car, begging along.
In our street, there's only two houses, mine
and a neighbor who wasn't home.
I'd never seen that car before.
I thought of what was in the trunk
and what was lying right outside of the front door.
Man doesn't like to show it, but as I looked out,
I was scared.
Can you see them?
No.
But there's a car down there.
It must be in it.
Come away.
No, no, wait a minute.
What?
Stay back.
There's lights coming around the corner.
Slowing down.
It's Mr. Fling.
Mr. Fling?
He won't do any good.
He always comes home drunk on Sundays.
Hold on.
I'm going to open the window and yell anyway.
Now, you get down on the floor.
They may start shooting.
Oh, Wally.
Mr. Fling.
Hey.
Mr. Fling.
Why?
Why don't you shut up?
No, no.
Mr. Fling.
It's Pindell, Wally Pindell.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, hi.
We're in trouble, Mr. Fling.
You've got to call the police.
Tell them to get over here and hurry.
Oh, sure.
OK.
And you get in your house quick.
You're in danger too.
Yeah, yeah.
OK.
Thank you, Mr. Fling.
Oh, he must be sober tonight.
He's going to do it.
Oh, gee.
I bet the police can just get here in time.
You know, it's funny.
They didn't try anything.
What are we going to do with him?
Mr. Minch?
I don't know.
Better put him in the bedroom, I guess.
On our bed?
Oh, honey.
He's dead, poor guy.
You stay here. I'll carry him in.
All right.
I carried him into the bedroom and laid him down.
I've never touched a dead man before.
And I'd always thought they'd be cold.
He wasn't.
Not yet.
And the doorbell rang.
It's them.
Shh.
Stay with me.
Shh.
Uh, yeah?
Hi.
Hi, pal.
Oh, Mr. Fling.
Anybody with you?
Oh, what do you got?
Huh?
A party?
Hey, you want, I should get a drink?
Oh, no.
No, no.
Come on in.
Oh, push, don't.
Oh, push.
I told you to call the police.
The police?
Yes.
I thought you said, come on up and have a drink.
What's the matter?
Somebody dead?
Jan.
Go make some coffee.
Oh, honey.
Go make coffee.
Something, anything.
Now, look.
Are you sober enough to listen?
Wait a minute. Who's sober?
For the, look, look.
We've got to get the police.
Why, I got to go?
A raid, huh?
Let me out. I got to get out of here.
Now, look.
Some men are outside there trying to kill us all.
They've already killed one man.
Oh, yeah.
Who, who?
Oh, it doesn't matter.
Look, we can't use our phone.
We've got to get to another one.
Oh, no, no.
Nine no days wild parties.
You get on my phone and you call some dame in Paris.
Oh, if you weren't drunk, I'd put.
No, no.
Come on.
Hey, hey.
Come on.
Hey, that hurt.
That, that hurt.
Hey, hey.
No.
Jan.
What?
What, Wally?
What?
Oh, he's no help.
I'm going to make a run for it.
But you can't go outside.
They'll shoot him.
Now, look, we're not going to stay here.
Hey, hey, where's that drink?
Wait a minute.
I'm going to take a look out the window again.
OK.
OK, I'm going to bed.
The car's still there.
I can't see if anyone's in it.
Oh, good evening, sir.
No, no, don't get up.
Got to take the chance.
Where are you going?
There's no good trying to get to Flings House.
They'd see us.
Try the back way.
Now, if I can get to the garage,
I might be able to make it to the police in the car.
What about him?
I don't want to stay here alone with him.
OK, OK, come with me.
We went out the back door.
Everything was quiet, even quieter than usual
because of the fog.
I knew that we couldn't be seen from the street,
and if we were quiet, maybe.
Ah!
It's all right.
Oh, Wally, he must have heard the noise.
What if they...
Now, look, when we drive out of the garage,
you duck down.
If they try to stop us, well, I'll run them down.
I'll get in.
Go on.
Yeah.
Oh, it's so loud.
Shh.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh.
Ah!
It's all right.
It's only a backfire.
Hold on.
I'll get your guns out, boys.
Mr. Pendell, where's the black car?
Quiet, sir.
It was right over there, across the street.
God.
Hey, maybe they...
Jan, you stay here.
Looks bad.
Door's open.
You wait, Mr. Pendell.
We'll go on first.
You two guys watch the back.
OK, Sarge.
I'll go on.
Yeah.
This the body?
No.
That's Mr. Fling.
Where's Mr. Munchy?
He's gone.
They took him away.
But the trunk's here.
Look.
Yeah.
The jewels.
They're not here.
Mr. Munchy, he was here.
Oh, listen, don't look at me like that.
I'm not a man.
I'm a man.
Don't look at me like that.
I tell you, there was a trunk full of jewels, and Mr. Munchy, he was...
Oh, Jan!
Jan, Jan, come on in and tell him.
Jan!
I was about at...
Same trunk was there, empty.
There was a mark on the bed, and the dead body was gone.
We managed to wake up Mr. Fling, but he couldn't remember anything except that he wanted a drink.
Place were pretty mad, but I guess Jan convinced them that we hadn't been kidding.
Anyway, we gave him coffee, and that was that.
There was much more to it, except that about two months later, Jan and I were having breakfast
on Saturday when the mail came.
Honey, do we know anybody in Mexico?
I don't think so.
More coffee?
Yeah, yeah.
It's from Mexico.
I know, dear, you said so.
Bester and Mrs. Wallace-Pindell.
Who's it from, dear?
Hey, Jan, there's some money in it.
Two $100 bills.
Well, let me see.
What does the letter say?
Dear folks, I'm sorry for the inconvenience I caused you, but it was my trunk and my jewels,
and I had to get it back.
So I know you'll excuse the little trick I played on you.
Just before my disappearance, I put all our jewelry in the trunk and by letter ordered
the sealed trunk to be sold at auction.
But I got caught in the traffic and you got it away from me and closed as a token of my
appreciation.
Sincerely, Dexter Joslyn, alias Anatole Minchie.
Minchie?
We better call the police.
Why?
All those jewels.
He says right here they're his.
Well, I know.
Now, let's just forget the whole thing, pretend it never happened.
But every once in a while, we are reminded of it.
There's a diamond ring about as big as a half dollar.
I put it in my pocket after I cut the glass out of our window.
Jan used to wear it to parties.
Hardly more.
She thinks it looks too much like a fake.
Suspense in which Tom Brown and Eve McVeigh starred in tonight's transcribed presentation
of Going, Going, Gone.
Be sure to listen next week to Suspense.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.