And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Tonight we bring you a story of a manhunt that ends in a church.
We call it The Lady in the Red Hat.
So now, starring Mr. Vic Perrin, here is tonight's Suspense play, The Lady in the Red Hat.
Hello Mitch, come in, sit down.
Thanks.
What's the trouble?
The order is to stop those articles you're writing.
Why?
Well, it's not so much the 13th apostle as the way you keep harping on those theories
you've got about him.
Well, I think I'm right.
I know, so does the chief.
But you've got every woman in the city scared to death, that's why I want you to lay off.
Look, five women have been murdered by the 13th apostle in three months, and they were
all wearing red in their clothes.
I say that means something, and they want me to lay off.
This isn't me.
We hired you to do the feature column in the Sunday supplement because you've got a big
following.
Psychology of murder, it's a great idea to...
Excuse me.
Yeah?
Mr. Banning, is Mr. Mitchell in there?
Yeah.
Will you tell him his housekeeper's on the phone?
He says it's urgent.
All right, switch the call in here.
Yes, sir.
Use this phone, Mitch.
Oh, thanks.
Hello?
Oh yes, Mrs. White.
Hello?
Will you repeat the message, please?
Thank you.
No, don't worry, it's all right.
Yes, I won't be home until after midnight then.
Yes, goodbye.
Anything wrong?
I don't know.
I'll find out though.
An anonymous note slipped under my door.
Somebody wants me to meet the Avenger at midnight.
Good evening.
Oh, hi, Mitch.
I thought you were going to wait downstairs.
I was, but Banning wanted to see me.
Naylor called him.
The police department wants me to stop my article.
Why?
No, I'll tell you while we're eating.
Did they say anything about my stuff?
No, no, yours is straight reporting.
It's theorizing they object to.
Maybe I'm getting too close.
Have you written anything on last night's murder?
I'd like to read it.
I won't be writing it now, but if I did, I know what I'd say.
You got something new, Mitch?
Something new?
Maybe.
I don't know yet.
Meet the Avenger at 12 o'clock, and the Avenger could be anyone.
We waited for the elevator.
I watched, tired faces drifting into boxes, lowering them to the street, and then outside
into darkness, growing cold with snow and night's wind.
And she was there with me, a smile on her lips.
We went to a place for dinner.
You know, Mitch, I love this place.
My favorite hangout after work.
That's why I brought you here.
I was beginning to wonder why you've been so quiet.
Subdued lights and warmth.
Is that it?
In a way.
Oh?
Something else, too.
Mitch, tell me now.
What do you think about it?
It?
The Avenger.
You've read my articles.
That's what I think.
No, I don't mean what you write.
I do that, too.
I mean you.
What do you think?
Well, I have to write about him.
Must I talk about him, too?
All right.
I think he's fantastic.
Consider the name he or she has chosen for himself.
The 13th apostle.
Probably wants to purge the world because of its sins.
That's what you said in your article.
Well, that's what I think.
And all that stuff about the color red?
It means something.
Perhaps a sinful color.
The obsession of red is a symbol.
There's a tie-up.
Listen, I want to tell you something.
Something big.
A story?
Can I have another drink?
Oh, I'm sorry.
Mario?
Coming, sir.
I got an anonymous note this morning.
A note?
Well, that's odd.
What do you mean?
Because...
Yes, Mr. Mitchell?
Oh, the same?
Yes, please.
I'm sorry.
Nothing, thanks.
By the way, when a Lieutenant Dowell comes in, will you show him to this table, please?
Bill Dowell?
He's on the Avenger case.
Are you holding out on me, Mitch?
You were speaking of a note, anonymous.
Did it say anything about the Avenger?
Yes.
Yes, it did.
If I wanted important information about the Avenger, I was to go at midnight to the community
chapel on seventh.
Have you got the note with you?
No, I left it at home.
Oh.
Did it tell you to sit in the first pew and wait?
You got one, too?
This afternoon, under my door at home, the housekeeper called...
The same thing.
Where is it?
I wondered.
What?
This isn't an ordinary tip, don't you see?
I've been working on the story for the standard.
You've been doing your series.
Supposing...
The 13th apostle sent the notes?
Well...
Bill Dowell called me earlier.
He wanted to see me.
Oh?
I said I was taking you out for dinner.
I told him to meet us here.
Why?
The lieutenant claims he received a note like ours, too.
Could she be the one?
Or Dowell?
Millions of people in a city and the person next to you, a killer?
You just couldn't believe it was someone you knew.
Was that then the ultimate stimulation?
To kill a stranger was not enough.
Now seek out the danger, the extreme risk.
Because there was emotion here.
Emotion of friendship.
That was different.
And who might it be?
The girl on the newspaper?
Or the policeman?
Are you being stubborn because you're a policeman?
Or because you're just pigheaded, lieutenant?
Jeannie, you're a reporter.
Too much imagination.
I still think it's a crackpot gag.
Then why did you come?
Well...
Because Mitch and I have been working together on this because we're all friends.
I'm not taking any chances.
There have been five murders already.
She makes sense, though, Bill.
Three of us all vitally interested in the case.
It'd be very flattering to him if we turned up at the chapel at midnight.
I'll be there.
I can tell you that.
I don't like it.
He might be after one of us.
Maybe you, Jeannie.
Maybe he doesn't like some of the stuff you've been writing about him.
Maybe me.
Maybe.
Or me.
I'm the cop who's chasing him.
Yes, I don't imagine he's particularly fond of you, Bill.
Well, why not surround the chapel?
No.
Mind you, I still think it's a crank note, but if it isn't, this baby's too smart.
If he sees anything wrong, you'll get away.
Well, you've used police cordons before to get a killer.
There must be enough buildings around to hide him.
I'm still not taking any chances.
I think Billy wants all the credit for a dramatic capture.
I'd have to serve with Mitch anyway.
And me.
Uh-uh, you're going home.
Oh, that's what you think.
I'm on that list.
I want to be there when something happens.
Do you know where the chapel is, Bill?
Yeah, it's the one on seven, just around the corner there.
It's funny.
I must have passed it a hundred times.
I never noticed it.
Most people think it's vacant.
It's not.
In fact, it's open all night.
How do you know, Jeannie?
I don't know.
I guess I heard about it.
You know, I always used to like the snow.
I look forward to it.
I don't like it tonight.
I never liked it.
Something smothering about the stuff I was in the blizzard once.
What happened?
I was lost in the woods up north.
I nearly froze to death.
Snow kept coming down, got in my mouth and my nose and eyes.
After a while, things didn't look white anymore.
They were blurred and red.
What frightened you more, fear of being lost or fear of dying?
I don't know.
Why?
I just wondered.
Anybody got the time?
No, it's eleven o'clock.
Let's go in.
Funny.
What is?
If one of us were killed here.
I'm going to have a look around, check any side doors.
All right.
You stay here.
Yeah.
The music's nice.
There's the organist up there, you see him?
Have you ever noticed how even in an empty place like this, one speaks softly?
Yes.
I wonder why it's always so quiet.
I wonder.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Was I?
Yes.
Why?
Perhaps I was thinking how strange it would be if one of us were the thirteenth apostle.
You are listening to The Lady in the Red Hat, tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding
theater of thrills, Suspense.
Every Saturday night over most of these same stations, CBS radio picks up the threads of
a startling story of people who call the police, and often of people who call on police and
the other way around, working out of 21st precinct.
There's fast moving drama and an intimate glimpse into the human side of police work.
Saturday nights on CBS radio, when you're invited to hear the 21st precinct.
And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage, Mr. Vic Perrin, starring in tonight's production,
The Lady in the Red Hat, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
One of us, the Avenger, or Mitch?
It has to be someone.
I believe you're serious.
I am.
We've all been on the case since the first death.
Of course, one of us enjoys the publicity, the thrill of killing.
Are you trying to frighten me?
No.
I don't like this place.
Better go home and... what, jitters, Jeannie?
What did you find, Bill?
One side exit, that's all.
We can see it in front of you.
What's the time?
About a quarter past 11.
Oh, I'm cold.
What if we could get some coffee?
There's a place in the corner, I'll get it.
You two stay here.
How do you like yours?
Just like yours.
What's it like?
The same, Bill.
Right.
I'll be back in five minutes.
Take it easy, Jeannie.
It's not twelve yet.
You want to sit down?
Up in the front?
No, not yet.
All right, here then.
Mitch, you weren't serious, were you?
Yes.
Mitch.
Well, you've read my articles.
I've theorized about the Apostle.
The analysis could fit any one of us.
I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do it.
Suspense, in which Mr. Vic Perrin starred in tonight's presentation of A Lady in the Red Hat.
Next week, the story of a killer and the family which he held in a night of fear.
We call it, Strange for a Killer.
That's next week on Suspense.
Suspense is produced and directed by Anthony Ellis.
Tonight's script was written by Clark Daly.
The music was composed by René Garagin and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
Featured in the cast were Virginia Gregg, Larry Thor, Barney Phillips, Jack Carroll, and Jenny Stevens.
In this second half of the 20th century, war could happen in a hurry.
To help guard America, enlist in the Ground Observer Corps.
Sign up for the silver wings that mean you're doing your share to man our vital aircraft spotter observation posts.
Write or telephone your nearest Civil Defense Center and volunteer.
Stay tuned now for Douglas Edwards with the news, followed by Disc Theory over the CBS Radio Network.
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