WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:14.400 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 00:14.400 --> 00:21.200 Tonight, we bring you transcribed a story of a prodigal son's return. 00:21.200 --> 00:23.840 We call it Life Ends at Midnight. 00:23.840 --> 00:30.320 So now, starring Paula Winslow and Stacey Harris, here is tonight's Suspense play, Life 00:30.320 --> 00:54.240 Ends at Midnight. 00:54.240 --> 01:11.360 Hiya, Mom. 01:11.360 --> 01:13.440 You still remember my whistle, huh? 01:13.440 --> 01:19.600 Never know when I'll turn up, huh? 01:19.600 --> 01:21.320 Stand out here in the hall? 01:21.320 --> 01:22.960 No, come in. 01:22.960 --> 01:24.560 Come in, Johnny. 01:24.560 --> 01:27.240 Same old crummy joint. 01:27.240 --> 01:30.080 Well, I do my best to keep it clean. 01:30.080 --> 01:32.480 Yeah, yeah, I know. 01:32.480 --> 01:34.800 Oh boy, am I tired. 01:34.800 --> 01:41.080 I'm up all night in a stinkin' coach full of snoring jerks and squalling babies. 01:41.080 --> 01:42.080 Babies are the worst. 01:42.080 --> 01:44.200 All they do is ball and slobber. 01:44.200 --> 01:45.800 You left Pittsburgh last night? 01:45.800 --> 01:46.800 Yeah, one in the morning. 01:46.800 --> 01:48.800 I didn't sleep a wink all night. 01:48.800 --> 01:51.760 Oh boy, look at my collar. 01:51.760 --> 01:55.880 But tomorrow's Monday and you have to be at work in the morning. 01:55.880 --> 01:57.440 What's the matter? 01:57.440 --> 01:58.440 You worried? 01:58.440 --> 01:59.440 Well, no, no. 01:59.440 --> 02:00.440 I just... 02:00.440 --> 02:01.440 Don't just. 02:01.440 --> 02:04.640 Can't a guy come home to see his mother once in six months? 02:04.640 --> 02:06.560 What's a mother for? 02:06.560 --> 02:09.800 You break your back, sit up all night to see your mother for one day and she tells you 02:09.800 --> 02:11.280 you've got to be at work in the morning. 02:11.280 --> 02:12.480 How do you like that? 02:12.480 --> 02:15.800 Oh, I'm sorry, dear, but I just worried about... 02:15.800 --> 02:17.600 I know, Ma, I know. 02:17.600 --> 02:18.600 Don't worry so much, huh? 02:18.600 --> 02:19.600 It makes me nervous. 02:19.600 --> 02:22.680 Well, here, sit at the table, dear. 02:22.680 --> 02:23.680 You must be starved. 02:23.680 --> 02:27.560 Oh, that's like coming home. 02:27.560 --> 02:30.520 Oh, my baby. 02:30.520 --> 02:33.200 I'm so glad to see you. 02:33.200 --> 02:35.400 You did come just to see me, didn't you? 02:35.400 --> 02:36.400 Why, sure, Ma. 02:36.400 --> 02:37.400 What do you think? 02:37.400 --> 02:38.400 Marilyn Monroe? 02:38.400 --> 02:41.760 Of course you came to see me. 02:41.760 --> 02:42.960 It's just that I... 02:42.960 --> 02:45.720 I always worry so about you, I mean. 02:45.720 --> 02:47.720 Oh, forget it, Ma, huh? 02:47.720 --> 02:49.400 Ma, what have you got to eat? 02:49.400 --> 02:51.840 I was just going to pick the chop for my lunch. 02:51.840 --> 02:53.640 Oh, that'll be enough for me. 02:53.640 --> 02:55.880 Why don't you lie down and take a nap? 02:55.880 --> 02:56.880 I'll call you when it's ready. 02:56.880 --> 02:57.880 No, that's okay. 02:57.880 --> 02:58.880 I can sleep later. 02:58.880 --> 02:59.880 Come here, sit down, Ma. 02:59.880 --> 03:02.880 Tell me how you're doing. 03:02.880 --> 03:08.000 Well, I try not to complain, but things aren't easy, you know. 03:08.000 --> 03:11.760 Prices are high and rent's going up all the time, even on this old flat. 03:11.760 --> 03:13.360 Well, you had some bonds. 03:13.360 --> 03:14.360 Papa left you. 03:14.360 --> 03:15.360 You had about $2,000 in bonds. 03:15.360 --> 03:16.360 They left you... 03:16.360 --> 03:20.800 Well, I'm trying to tell you that things haven't been easy and... 03:20.800 --> 03:22.960 Always a poor mouth. 03:22.960 --> 03:25.120 Every time I see you, you cry, poor mouth, Ma. 03:25.120 --> 03:27.280 Well, I'm just saying things aren't easy. 03:27.280 --> 03:30.040 Oh, you think it's a picnic for me? 03:30.040 --> 03:32.360 I got enough trouble and for what? 03:32.360 --> 03:33.360 For what? 03:33.360 --> 03:37.480 All year I work like crazy and for what? 03:37.480 --> 03:39.480 A man must work, Johnny. 03:39.480 --> 03:42.120 Oh, a man must work, Johnny. 03:42.120 --> 03:48.600 A man must work and live like a person and not be afraid so he can sleep at night without 03:48.600 --> 03:51.120 worrying about... 03:51.120 --> 03:53.200 Worrying about what, Ma? 03:53.200 --> 03:59.520 About a bell ringing at night or a knock on the door in the morning or somebody touching 03:59.520 --> 04:00.520 you on the arm. 04:00.520 --> 04:02.520 Oh, shut up, will you, Ma? 04:02.520 --> 04:04.320 Please, just shut up. 04:04.320 --> 04:07.440 I ain't in trouble again, so stop yapping at me. 04:07.440 --> 04:09.200 You're always yapping at me, Ma. 04:09.200 --> 04:10.200 You haven't. 04:10.200 --> 04:12.960 Oh, you know what the judge said last time, Johnny? 04:12.960 --> 04:13.960 He was nice. 04:13.960 --> 04:14.960 He gave you another chance. 04:14.960 --> 04:18.960 He saw you were really a good boy and he gave you another chance. 04:18.960 --> 04:23.160 He got you a nice job and you promised... 04:23.160 --> 04:24.160 You mustn't... 04:24.160 --> 04:25.160 You... 04:25.160 --> 04:28.160 You're all right, Johnny. 04:28.160 --> 04:29.720 Sure I'm all right, Ma. 04:29.720 --> 04:30.720 Sure I'm all right. 04:30.720 --> 04:33.600 I'm a meatball, a herring on a plate. 04:33.600 --> 04:36.360 All your life you're a tomcat in the garbage. 04:36.360 --> 04:38.680 You find a fish head and say, thank you, mister. 04:38.680 --> 04:40.160 Well, that's not for me. 04:40.160 --> 04:43.680 You get one break and you're out of the garbage can for life. 04:43.680 --> 04:45.240 You're a mister then with a future. 04:45.240 --> 04:49.320 You hold your nose when you walk through the day, coach, to your compartment. 04:49.320 --> 04:53.480 You leave the stinks behind and the porters dust the air in front of you. 04:53.480 --> 04:54.480 Well, that's for me, Ma. 04:54.480 --> 04:55.480 That's what I want. 04:55.480 --> 04:58.000 That's what I tried to get. 04:58.000 --> 04:59.440 I took another chance. 04:59.440 --> 05:01.440 I tried to run it up. 05:01.440 --> 05:03.880 It was just no dice. 05:03.880 --> 05:05.440 Now I gotta make it good. 05:05.440 --> 05:10.440 The books at the office will show it and I gotta make it good. 05:10.440 --> 05:11.440 How much? 05:11.440 --> 05:12.440 Fifteen hundred. 05:12.440 --> 05:13.440 Fifteen hundred, Don. 05:13.440 --> 05:18.120 Ma, I gotta know where I can get it by midnight tonight. 05:18.120 --> 05:19.120 I gotta know, Ma. 05:19.120 --> 05:23.200 If I miss that 1220 train for Pittsburgh, it's all over. 05:23.200 --> 05:26.280 If I don't show up at the office tomorrow, they'll suspect. 05:26.280 --> 05:29.280 Fifteen hundred. 05:29.280 --> 05:31.560 By midnight tonight? 05:31.560 --> 05:32.560 Where am I gonna get it, Johnny? 05:32.560 --> 05:33.560 The bonds, Ma. 05:33.560 --> 05:35.280 You got the bonds that Pa left. 05:35.280 --> 05:36.280 The bonds. 05:36.280 --> 05:40.000 How do you think I got you out of your last trouble? 05:40.000 --> 05:43.840 Bribes and bail, paying back every penny. 05:43.840 --> 05:44.840 Where do you think I got it? 05:44.840 --> 05:45.840 Oh, give me that, Ma. 05:45.840 --> 05:46.840 You're just holding out. 05:46.840 --> 05:47.840 You gotta help me. 05:47.840 --> 05:48.840 I'll get ten years. 05:48.840 --> 05:51.080 You heard what the judge said the last time? 05:51.080 --> 05:52.880 Oh, what can I do? 05:52.880 --> 05:54.640 Ma, ten years in story. 05:54.640 --> 05:56.880 There won't be no reform school this time. 05:56.880 --> 05:57.880 Oh, Johnny. 05:57.880 --> 05:58.880 Ma, please, huh? 05:58.880 --> 05:59.880 Johnny. 05:59.880 --> 06:04.360 Ma, please give me the money. 06:04.360 --> 06:05.360 Will you get it for me? 06:05.360 --> 06:06.360 Ma, I'll be good. 06:06.360 --> 06:07.360 I'll work hard. 06:07.360 --> 06:10.360 I won't give you no more trouble. 06:10.360 --> 06:12.800 Ma, help me, please. 06:12.800 --> 06:13.800 I'm so tired. 06:13.800 --> 06:14.800 Help me. 06:14.800 --> 06:15.800 Maybe I can sleep then, Ma. 06:15.800 --> 06:16.800 Please. 06:16.800 --> 06:17.800 Ma, please. 06:17.800 --> 06:23.160 Where can I get it, Johnny? 06:23.160 --> 06:24.440 I have nothing left. 06:24.440 --> 06:26.960 I don't care where you get it, Ma. 06:26.960 --> 06:29.640 Look, it's your fault you gotta help me. 06:29.640 --> 06:32.640 I only wanted to help you and not you. 06:32.640 --> 06:33.640 Yes. 06:33.640 --> 06:34.640 It's my fault. 06:34.640 --> 06:39.920 I always protected you, but I can't protect you anymore. 06:39.920 --> 06:44.280 Well, I'll give you the few dollars I have. 06:44.280 --> 06:45.280 Go away. 06:45.280 --> 06:47.480 It'll be enough to help you run away. 06:47.480 --> 06:48.480 That's all I can do. 06:48.480 --> 06:49.480 Oh, sure. 06:49.480 --> 06:50.480 Sure, just run away and don't bother me. 06:50.480 --> 06:51.480 Oh, please, Johnny. 06:51.480 --> 06:52.480 I'm no dope. 06:52.480 --> 06:53.480 I know you're holding out on me, Ma. 06:53.480 --> 06:55.840 You're just worrying about your old age. 06:55.840 --> 06:58.560 You're making yourself a nice fat cushion that you can... 06:58.560 --> 06:59.560 Oh, I'm sorry. 06:59.560 --> 07:02.560 I hope I'm not intruding. 07:02.560 --> 07:05.560 Who's he, Ma? 07:05.560 --> 07:08.800 Oh, Mr. Chalmers. 07:08.800 --> 07:10.400 This is Mr. Chalmers, Johnny. 07:10.400 --> 07:12.960 He has the back bedroom. 07:12.960 --> 07:14.640 This is my son, Mr. Chalmers. 07:14.640 --> 07:17.400 Well, how do you do, Mr. Bates? 07:17.400 --> 07:19.680 I feel that I know you very well. 07:19.680 --> 07:24.320 Your mother and I sit here in the kitchen sometimes over a cup of tea and she talks 07:24.320 --> 07:26.560 about you for hours and hours. 07:26.560 --> 07:28.320 He's very proud of you. 07:28.320 --> 07:29.320 Yeah. 07:29.320 --> 07:31.440 Mrs. Bates, excuse me. 07:31.440 --> 07:34.520 I'm just going to the corner for my paper. 07:34.520 --> 07:40.120 By the way, I think the insurance agent might call again to collect and please tell him 07:40.120 --> 07:41.120 to go away. 07:41.120 --> 07:43.840 Will you do that for me, Mrs. Bates? 07:43.840 --> 07:44.840 Yes, Mr. Chalmers. 07:44.840 --> 07:45.840 Oh, thank you. 07:45.840 --> 07:47.960 Tell him not to come back anymore. 07:47.960 --> 07:51.680 I don't want to pay anymore on the policy. 07:51.680 --> 07:55.440 You remember I told you my nephew was very sick in Spokane? 07:55.440 --> 07:57.440 Yes, Mr. Chalmers. 07:57.440 --> 08:00.880 Well, poor young man died. 08:00.880 --> 08:01.880 Yes. 08:01.880 --> 08:08.960 I was going to leave him a few dollars when I died, but now, well, I have no one left 08:08.960 --> 08:09.960 at all. 08:09.960 --> 08:13.840 A dollar a week. 08:13.840 --> 08:15.880 You'll tell that to the insurance agent? 08:15.880 --> 08:17.600 Yes, Mr. Chalmers. 08:17.600 --> 08:18.600 Thank you, Mrs. Bates. 08:18.600 --> 08:21.600 Have a good day, Mr. Bates. 08:21.600 --> 08:22.600 Bye. 08:22.600 --> 08:25.720 I have $40 in the house for the rent. 08:25.720 --> 08:26.720 You can take that. 08:26.720 --> 08:29.800 Drop me a card when you get settled someplace. 08:29.800 --> 08:30.800 Let me know where you are. 08:30.800 --> 08:33.880 I'll send you some more as soon as I can get it. 08:33.880 --> 08:36.720 Maybe later I'll be able to straighten it out. 08:36.720 --> 08:39.320 Maybe later I'll be able to speak to your boss. 08:39.320 --> 08:41.800 I'll promise to pay back every cent. 08:41.800 --> 08:42.800 But now you must go away. 08:42.800 --> 08:43.800 You must. 08:43.800 --> 08:44.800 Johnny! 08:44.800 --> 08:50.360 Ma, tell me something about Mr. Chalmers. 08:50.360 --> 08:51.360 Johnny. 08:51.360 --> 08:54.360 Don't be so nervous, Ma. 08:54.360 --> 08:56.360 We've got plenty of time. 08:56.360 --> 08:59.360 We got till midnight. 08:59.360 --> 09:15.320 You are listening to Life Ends at Midnight, tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding 09:15.320 --> 09:27.200 theatre of thrills, Suspense. 09:27.200 --> 09:30.000 Have you heard from your United Community Campaign this year? 09:30.000 --> 09:31.880 If you haven't, you soon will. 09:31.880 --> 09:34.240 CBS Radio urges that you remember. 09:34.240 --> 09:38.680 Your one annual check to the United Fund or community chest in your locale supports not 09:38.680 --> 09:43.240 one but close to every worthwhile community service in your town. 09:43.240 --> 09:46.680 Your neighbor in difficulty has too much pride to come to you. 09:46.680 --> 09:51.760 But you can come to him, impersonally and effectively, through your check to the United 09:51.760 --> 09:53.680 Community Campaigns. 09:53.680 --> 09:54.760 Be generous. 09:54.760 --> 09:58.000 The money has a long way to go. 09:58.000 --> 10:03.320 And now we bring back to our Hollywood sound stage, Stacey Harris and Paula Winslow. 10:03.320 --> 10:06.880 Starring in tonight's production, Life Ends at Midnight. 10:06.880 --> 10:26.480 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 10:26.480 --> 10:31.480 Yes, I do think I'll have another cup, if you don't mind, Mrs. Bates. 10:31.480 --> 10:34.720 Mr. Chalmers, suppose you look at it this way. 10:34.720 --> 10:37.960 You've been paying one buck a week for how many years now? 10:37.960 --> 10:42.240 Oh, I'd say 20 years would be a conservative estimate. 10:42.240 --> 10:43.240 All right, 20 years. 10:43.240 --> 10:46.280 That's, well, let's see, 50 bucks a year. 10:46.280 --> 10:48.760 That's 1,000 bucks you've paid in, right? 10:48.760 --> 10:51.240 Yes, 1,000 bucks. 10:51.240 --> 10:54.640 Oh, this coffee cake, Mrs. Bates, it's excellent. 10:54.640 --> 10:56.280 Oh, do you like it? 10:56.280 --> 10:57.280 I made it yesterday. 10:57.280 --> 10:59.200 Hey, look, forget about the coffee cake. 10:59.200 --> 11:01.440 Let's figure percentages here. 11:01.440 --> 11:03.080 How many more years do you figure to live? 11:03.080 --> 11:04.080 Oh, John. 11:04.080 --> 11:05.840 It's all right, Mrs. Bates. 11:05.840 --> 11:08.000 After all, I am an old man. 11:08.000 --> 11:14.240 My age won't rather, well, it comes to terms with death. 11:14.240 --> 11:20.520 My policy is for $2,500, and in the days that are left to me, I certainly will not be required 11:20.520 --> 11:22.400 to pay in as much as I've already paid. 11:22.400 --> 11:23.880 Well, that's the exact point. 11:23.880 --> 11:26.920 Now, but say you live another couple of years. 11:26.920 --> 11:32.200 You only pay a hundred or so more, and you can leave $2,500 to somebody. 11:32.200 --> 11:39.520 Yes, I should like to think of when I'm gone, I've left something behind for someone. 11:39.520 --> 11:46.800 It's nice to live on in somebody's memory for a little while after we're dead. 11:46.800 --> 11:50.960 First, Mr. Bates, I have no one in this world. 11:50.960 --> 11:57.400 Secondly, I must be very, very frank and tell you that I can no longer afford to pay even 11:57.400 --> 11:59.480 a dollar a week. 11:59.480 --> 12:01.600 You see, I live on a few... 12:01.600 --> 12:05.760 Mr. Chalmers, that's a problem of the most minor importance. 12:05.760 --> 12:09.480 For anybody to invest in you now, a buck a week would be gilded edged. 12:09.480 --> 12:12.320 Well, I mean, for instance, take my mother here. 12:12.320 --> 12:15.360 Now, suppose you made her the beneficiary. 12:15.360 --> 12:17.480 Suppose she continued to pay the buck a week. 12:17.480 --> 12:19.240 Who could lose on such a deal? 12:19.240 --> 12:21.240 Who could lose? 12:21.240 --> 12:22.240 Nobody. 12:22.240 --> 12:27.600 You get your dearest wish to leave something behind, and my mother in later years says, 12:27.600 --> 12:32.320 well, Mr. Chalmers, oh, yes, I'll always remember him for this. 12:32.320 --> 12:34.120 Hey, you get the point? 12:34.120 --> 12:36.120 Oh, no, Mr. Chalmers, no. 12:36.120 --> 12:37.120 You listen... 12:37.120 --> 12:39.120 Let Mr. Chalmers decide, Ma. 12:39.120 --> 12:40.840 Well, how about it, Mr. Chalmers? 12:40.840 --> 12:42.320 That makes good sense, doesn't it? 12:42.320 --> 12:44.640 And it makes everybody happy. 12:44.640 --> 12:45.640 We're practically strangers. 12:45.640 --> 12:46.640 We're just... 12:46.640 --> 12:49.640 What do you mean, strangers? 12:49.640 --> 12:51.760 Who's a stranger in this world, Mr. Chalmers? 12:51.760 --> 12:56.880 We're all just little people trying to make each other happy, huh? 12:56.880 --> 13:00.120 Isn't every man entitled to at least live in somebody's memory? 13:00.120 --> 13:02.680 Oh, yes, but he doesn't have to do that. 13:02.680 --> 13:04.040 I'll think about him anyway. 13:04.040 --> 13:05.440 I promise I will. 13:05.440 --> 13:09.440 Well, so let him say, Ma. 13:09.440 --> 13:13.000 Well, what do you say, Mr. Chalmers? 13:13.000 --> 13:16.440 It must be the insurance agent. 13:16.440 --> 13:22.840 I'll tell him that I'm keeping the policy and changing the beneficiary. 13:22.840 --> 13:26.440 Could you let me have the dollar, Mr. Bates? 13:26.440 --> 13:28.960 I'll do it. 13:28.960 --> 13:31.520 I'll do it. 13:31.520 --> 13:34.040 I'll do it. 13:34.040 --> 13:37.040 I'll do it. 13:37.040 --> 13:40.040 I'll do it. 13:40.040 --> 13:41.040 Come on, hurry it up, will you? 13:41.040 --> 13:42.880 The old man's coming home in a minute or two. 13:42.880 --> 13:44.600 He takes his nap about this time. 13:44.600 --> 13:45.840 I want this to be ready for him. 13:45.840 --> 13:46.840 Relax, honey. 13:46.840 --> 13:48.120 I can't finish this job today. 13:48.120 --> 13:49.120 Why not? 13:49.120 --> 13:50.120 What are you giving me? 13:50.120 --> 13:51.720 It'll take a joint and another length of pipe. 13:51.720 --> 13:53.040 Oh, come on, fix it up. 13:53.040 --> 13:54.840 You can fix it up for now, can't you? 13:54.840 --> 13:56.840 The room's pretty small. 13:56.840 --> 13:58.640 Why do you want the heater so close to the bed? 13:58.640 --> 14:00.000 Look, it's like I told you. 14:00.000 --> 14:01.000 He's got rheumatism. 14:01.000 --> 14:02.440 He needs plenty of heat. 14:02.440 --> 14:06.320 Well, I'd run a rubber extension, but with gas, I don't like it. 14:06.320 --> 14:08.560 All right, so with gas, you don't like it. 14:08.560 --> 14:10.800 But with gas, we got to run the heater. 14:10.800 --> 14:12.640 Now, the old man's got rheumatics. 14:12.640 --> 14:14.240 He needs plenty of heat. 14:14.240 --> 14:17.080 Look, what are you doing now? 14:17.080 --> 14:18.080 Tightening this joint. 14:18.080 --> 14:19.480 Oh, it's tight enough for now, huh? 14:19.480 --> 14:21.480 Okay, you're the boss. 14:21.480 --> 14:22.480 Here. 14:22.480 --> 14:23.680 Here's your three bucks. 14:23.680 --> 14:25.200 You can bring the pipe back next time. 14:25.200 --> 14:27.320 There won't be any next time, Sonny. 14:27.320 --> 14:31.040 You can get somebody else to do your dirty work after this. 14:31.040 --> 14:34.040 So long, Skippy. 14:34.040 --> 14:35.040 Skippy. 14:35.040 --> 14:38.040 Come on, Skippy. 14:38.040 --> 14:47.040 We got some work to do. 14:47.040 --> 14:54.040 Oh, hi, Pop. 14:54.040 --> 15:03.040 Well, this is a pleasant surprise. 15:03.040 --> 15:04.040 Yeah. 15:04.040 --> 15:06.040 Yeah, this used to be my room. 15:06.040 --> 15:09.760 Steam don't come up here so good, so I talked the old lady into fixing this heater up for 15:09.760 --> 15:10.760 you. 15:10.760 --> 15:12.520 Well, that is very thoughtful of you, Johnny. 15:12.520 --> 15:13.520 It's okay. 15:13.520 --> 15:15.280 I stuffed up the cracks in the window, too. 15:15.280 --> 15:17.280 This cold weather gets plenty drafty in this room. 15:17.280 --> 15:19.560 You thought of everything, didn't you? 15:19.560 --> 15:20.560 Huh? 15:20.560 --> 15:22.680 Oh, yeah, I thought it would work out just fine. 15:22.680 --> 15:27.200 Well, it'll do the job, I think. 15:27.200 --> 15:29.720 Oh, dear, dear, dear. 15:29.720 --> 15:32.280 I'm going to take a little nap before dinner. 15:32.280 --> 15:34.920 Oh, do you think the heater... 15:34.920 --> 15:36.320 No, no, you can just leave it on. 15:36.320 --> 15:39.520 I'll look in after a bit, see if it's okay. 15:39.520 --> 15:42.840 Well, you didn't go to all that trouble. 15:42.840 --> 15:43.840 It's no trouble, Mr. John. 15:43.840 --> 15:45.440 There's no trouble at all. 15:45.440 --> 16:14.200 When I do a thing, I like to do it right. 16:14.200 --> 16:33.200 Missed you. 16:33.200 --> 16:56.880 Where are we going, Johnny? 16:56.880 --> 16:57.880 Nowhere in particular, Ma. 16:57.880 --> 17:01.000 I just thought we'd stroll around the old neighborhood like old times. 17:01.000 --> 17:04.000 Well, that's a nice idea, but oh, my feet hurt. 17:04.000 --> 17:06.480 All right, Ma, we'll turn into the candy store in the corner. 17:06.480 --> 17:07.640 I'll buy you a dish of ice cream. 17:07.640 --> 17:09.440 Oh, so close to dinnertime, dear. 17:09.440 --> 17:11.360 What's the trouble with you, Ma? You're in a rut. 17:11.360 --> 17:12.520 Come on. 17:16.920 --> 17:18.840 Howdy, Mrs. Bates. 17:18.840 --> 17:21.000 Howdy, Johnny. When did you get back? 17:21.000 --> 17:25.080 He came in on the train from Pittsburgh this morning just to see me. 17:25.080 --> 17:26.960 I thought I'd give the old girl a break. 17:26.960 --> 17:28.480 Oh, Johnny. 17:28.480 --> 17:30.920 Now, what can I mix up for you folks? 17:30.920 --> 17:34.040 Mom will take a dish of vanilla ice cream and I'll have some coffee black, please. 17:34.040 --> 17:35.240 Coming right up. 17:35.240 --> 17:36.760 Hey, evening, Nick. 17:36.760 --> 17:38.120 Hello, Mike. 17:38.120 --> 17:39.200 Take it. 17:39.200 --> 17:41.160 Do you folks know Officer Flanagan? 17:41.160 --> 17:44.160 Mrs. Bates from down the block and her son, John. 17:44.160 --> 17:45.600 Pleased to meet you, Officer. 17:45.600 --> 17:46.320 Nice business. 17:46.320 --> 17:48.120 Oh, much the same. 17:48.120 --> 17:49.920 Vagrancy, petty larceny. 17:49.920 --> 17:51.720 What's a while of murder? 17:51.720 --> 17:52.480 Murder? 17:52.480 --> 17:54.160 That's what they start out to do, 17:54.160 --> 17:57.320 but it's harder to pull off a murder than most people think. 17:57.320 --> 17:58.160 Yeah. 17:58.160 --> 18:01.080 Case just last week over in the next precinct. 18:01.080 --> 18:05.640 Husband disconnected a gas heater in the wife's room while she was asleep. 18:05.640 --> 18:08.640 That's what we were pretty sure he did, anyway. 18:08.640 --> 18:12.440 He took out a lot of insurance on her a few days before. 18:12.440 --> 18:15.760 Oh, you couldn't prove anything, huh? 18:15.760 --> 18:17.240 He didn't have to. 18:17.240 --> 18:19.480 They always bungled somewhere. 18:19.480 --> 18:21.200 Amateurs. 18:21.200 --> 18:25.400 The gas petered out and he forgot to put a quarter in the meter. 18:25.400 --> 18:27.560 It's seven o'clock. 18:27.560 --> 18:29.280 Well, it's time to call in. 18:29.280 --> 18:30.560 I'll see you later, Nick. 18:30.560 --> 18:31.560 OK, Mike. 18:33.960 --> 18:34.800 Ma. 18:34.800 --> 18:35.640 Yes, Johnny? 18:35.640 --> 18:37.880 When did you put a quarter in the meter at home? 18:37.880 --> 18:40.360 Oh, well, I don't remember. 18:40.360 --> 18:41.880 Oh, goodness, I better get some change. 18:41.880 --> 18:43.320 No, never mind, Ma. Come on. 18:43.320 --> 18:45.160 We're getting out of here. 18:45.160 --> 18:46.440 What, Johnny? What's the matter? 18:46.440 --> 18:48.640 Nothing. Come on, will you? 18:48.640 --> 18:50.960 Why did you ask about the gas meter? 18:50.960 --> 18:52.800 Why do you think? 18:52.800 --> 18:54.640 You didn't... 18:54.640 --> 18:57.320 That isn't why you put the heater in, Mr. Chum. 18:57.320 --> 18:59.080 What do you think? 18:59.080 --> 19:01.080 I don't think anything. 19:01.080 --> 19:03.400 I just pray that quarter ran out before... 19:03.400 --> 19:04.920 Well, you save your prayers and get a move on, 19:04.920 --> 19:07.400 because if that didn't work, I'll just try another way. 19:07.400 --> 19:10.280 Either way, that old cluck is dead before midnight, 19:10.280 --> 19:13.320 before I have to go back. 19:13.320 --> 19:15.320 If he isn't, I'll have to spend 10 years in Stur, 19:15.320 --> 19:17.320 and he's going to be dead before midnight, see? 19:17.320 --> 19:18.480 And if you try to make any trouble, 19:18.480 --> 19:32.480 you'll be dead right along with him. 19:32.480 --> 19:34.160 Will you stop sniveling? 19:34.160 --> 19:35.320 Now, we're going in there now. 19:35.320 --> 19:36.760 If it took you, scream your head off, 19:36.760 --> 19:38.040 or I'll give you a reason to scream. 19:38.040 --> 19:40.880 Now, go on. 19:40.880 --> 19:42.920 The gas. I can smell it. 19:42.920 --> 19:47.920 Come on. 19:47.920 --> 19:51.920 Well, good evening, Johnny, Mrs. Bates. 19:51.920 --> 19:53.800 I was just on my way out. 19:53.800 --> 19:56.080 Oh, Mr. Chalice. 19:56.080 --> 19:57.600 Oh, you're all right. You're all right. 19:57.600 --> 19:59.400 Of course he's all right, Ma. 19:59.400 --> 20:00.600 What's eating you? 20:00.600 --> 20:02.440 Well, I have a slight headache. 20:02.440 --> 20:04.320 With a brisk walk in the open air, 20:04.320 --> 20:06.360 a cure of that, I'm quite sure. 20:06.360 --> 20:09.400 Hey. Hey, look at this. 20:09.400 --> 20:11.000 Oh, what is it, Johnny? 20:11.000 --> 20:14.560 Well, the holes on the heater here, they come unhitched. 20:14.560 --> 20:16.080 No wonder you've got a headache. 20:16.080 --> 20:20.200 You know, I thought I smelled gas. 20:20.200 --> 20:21.880 Pop, you know, it's lucky for you, Ma. 20:21.880 --> 20:23.880 I forgot to put a quarter in the meter. 20:23.880 --> 20:28.080 Providence works in strange ways, doesn't it, Johnny? 20:28.080 --> 20:30.200 Well, I must be getting home, Mrs. Bates. 20:30.200 --> 20:31.720 I'll be coming home rather late, 20:31.720 --> 20:33.680 so I'll just let myself in. 20:33.680 --> 20:34.800 Oh, holly. 20:34.800 --> 20:37.760 Well, I thought I'd stop in the neighborhood picture house 20:37.760 --> 20:40.760 after dinner. That'll be around 9 o'clock. 20:40.760 --> 20:45.000 So I imagine I won't be home before 11. 20:45.000 --> 20:47.480 Oh, Mr. Chalmers, there's something I... 20:47.480 --> 20:49.280 Yes, Mrs. Bates, what is it? 20:49.280 --> 20:52.440 Uh, Johnny's a good boy at heart, you know, 20:52.440 --> 20:54.600 but he's been in some trouble lately. 20:54.600 --> 20:55.600 Ma... 20:55.600 --> 20:57.080 Is there anything I can do to help Johnny? 20:57.080 --> 20:59.160 Yeah. Yeah, there's plenty, 20:59.160 --> 21:01.160 but I'll tell you about it when you get back, Mr. Chalmers. 21:01.160 --> 21:02.160 You'd better run along now. 21:02.160 --> 21:03.520 You don't want to be late for that picture. 21:03.520 --> 21:05.400 Oh, oh, yes, of course. 21:05.400 --> 21:06.840 Well, good night, Mrs. Bates. 21:06.840 --> 21:07.840 Oh, Mr. Chalmers... 21:07.840 --> 21:08.840 Good night, Mrs. Chalmers. 21:08.840 --> 21:11.560 Oh, yeah. Good night. 21:11.560 --> 21:12.560 Oh, Johnny, I... 21:12.560 --> 21:14.560 Ow! 21:14.560 --> 21:16.560 You were going to tell him, weren't you? 21:16.560 --> 21:19.240 You'd like to send me to the chair, wouldn't you? 21:19.240 --> 21:21.680 Johnny, I... 21:21.680 --> 21:22.680 I'm your mother. 21:22.680 --> 21:26.560 I'd have messed up your sad monkey face for good. 21:26.560 --> 21:29.520 It's all your fault I balled this thing up in the first place. 21:29.520 --> 21:31.880 Why didn't you remember to put a quarter on that gas meter? 21:31.880 --> 21:32.880 Why didn't you? 21:32.880 --> 21:34.880 I'm glad I forgot. 21:34.880 --> 21:35.880 He wouldn't be alive. 21:35.880 --> 21:37.520 I shouldn't have messed around with gas, 21:37.520 --> 21:40.480 trying to spare your feelings, making it look like an accident. 21:40.480 --> 21:42.320 That's the thanks I get for it. 21:42.320 --> 21:43.920 You want to blab the whole thing, 21:43.920 --> 21:45.320 turn me in, my own mother. 21:45.320 --> 21:46.920 Oh, no, Johnny, no, it's not true. 21:46.920 --> 21:48.520 All right, let's put it this way, huh? 21:48.520 --> 21:51.120 Now, look, it's either you or him. 21:51.120 --> 21:53.520 If it's you, I don't care whether they get me or not. 21:53.520 --> 21:54.920 Are you listening to me? 21:54.920 --> 21:56.920 Yes, I... 21:56.920 --> 21:57.920 I'm listening. 21:57.920 --> 21:59.920 All right, now, listen. 21:59.920 --> 22:02.720 It's like I said, I got very little time to get this thing done. 22:02.720 --> 22:04.720 I ought to have done it neat and clean in the first place, 22:04.720 --> 22:06.120 just push him over on the bed, 22:06.120 --> 22:09.320 hold a pillow over his face for a few minutes, and the job's done. 22:09.320 --> 22:11.720 Nobody will ask any questions, a guy that old. 22:11.720 --> 22:14.120 Oh, Johnny, for the last time, I'm begging you. 22:14.120 --> 22:16.720 All right, just make sure it's the last time. 22:16.720 --> 22:19.520 Now, remember, Ma, it's you or him, like I said. 22:19.520 --> 22:20.920 What are you going to do? 22:20.920 --> 22:22.720 I'll be waiting in his room when he gets home. 22:22.720 --> 22:25.720 You wait up for him, tell him I've left to catch a train. 22:25.720 --> 22:27.920 That's in case he suspects anything. 22:27.920 --> 22:30.920 When he comes in his room, I'll take care of the rest of it. 22:30.920 --> 22:33.720 How do you know I won't warn him? 22:33.720 --> 22:36.320 Because it's him or you, like I told you. 22:36.320 --> 22:39.720 Now, I don't think you'll warn Mr Chalmers, Ma. 22:39.720 --> 22:41.720 And don't try to stall him when he comes in. 22:41.720 --> 22:44.320 Now, don't, you hear? 22:44.320 --> 22:46.720 He's got to be dead by midnight or else. 22:59.920 --> 23:01.120 Evening, Mr Chalmers. 23:01.120 --> 23:02.720 Good evening, Joe. 23:02.720 --> 23:06.120 Well, I'll have the late edition of the Daily News, as usual. 23:06.120 --> 23:07.920 Saved one off for you, Mr Chalmers. 23:07.920 --> 23:10.720 Thank you. Good night, Joe. 23:10.720 --> 23:12.720 Oh, uh, Joe. 23:12.720 --> 23:13.720 Yeah? 23:13.720 --> 23:15.920 You give me the change of a dollar? 23:15.920 --> 23:17.720 Sure, Mr Chalmers. 23:17.720 --> 23:19.720 There. 23:19.720 --> 23:21.720 Thank you, thank you. 23:21.720 --> 23:24.720 Just happen to think of something I need change for. 23:24.720 --> 23:38.720 Hmm. Little good deed for a friend of mine. 23:48.720 --> 23:50.720 Oh, Mr Chalmers. 23:50.720 --> 23:53.720 Well, I didn't think you'd be up so late, Mrs Bates. 23:53.720 --> 23:55.720 Well, I waited up especially. 23:55.720 --> 23:58.720 I wanted to talk to you about Johnny. 23:58.720 --> 24:03.720 Mrs Bates, your eyes, they're all discolored. 24:03.720 --> 24:06.720 Yes, the light burned out in the bathroom, 24:06.720 --> 24:09.720 and when I went to replace it, in the dark, that is, 24:09.720 --> 24:11.720 I bumped into the door. 24:11.720 --> 24:15.720 Oh. Well, I would have thought that Johnny would have done that for you. 24:15.720 --> 24:17.720 Oh, no, no, Johnny didn't. 24:17.720 --> 24:21.720 I mean, Johnny's left already. 24:21.720 --> 24:24.720 He had to catch the 1220 for Pittsburgh, you know. 24:24.720 --> 24:27.720 Well, but it's only a little after 11 now. 24:27.720 --> 24:31.720 Well, perhaps he had some things to do on the way, I mean. 24:31.720 --> 24:35.720 Oh, of course. Well, I'm afraid I must be getting on to bed. 24:35.720 --> 24:37.720 Oh, no, no, not yet. 24:37.720 --> 24:41.720 I mean, won't you sit down for a minute and have a cup of tea with me? 24:41.720 --> 24:45.720 Well, I'd like to, but tea keeps me awake, Mrs Bates. 24:45.720 --> 24:48.720 So I'll be getting along to my room now if you don't mind. 24:48.720 --> 24:50.720 No, no, don't go into that room, Mr Chalmers. 24:50.720 --> 24:53.720 Mrs Bates, what the hell was the trouble? What's the trouble? What is it? 24:53.720 --> 24:58.720 My son, Johnny, there's something I must tell you. 24:58.720 --> 25:02.720 Forgive me, Mrs Bates, but I'm an old man and I need my rest. 25:02.720 --> 25:05.720 I've got to have my rest now. If I could possibly wait until morning... 25:05.720 --> 25:07.720 No, no, no, it can't wait until morning. 25:07.720 --> 25:10.720 It's got to be told before midnight. 25:10.720 --> 25:12.720 What was that? 25:14.720 --> 25:17.720 It was like someone moving about in the back of the house. 25:17.720 --> 25:21.720 One of the shutters is loose, the wind. 25:21.720 --> 25:24.720 Oh, you were saying, Mrs Bates? 25:24.720 --> 25:34.720 Nothing. I can't tell you after all. I'm afraid. I'm afraid to tell it. 25:34.720 --> 25:37.720 There, there now, Mrs Bates, perhaps in the morning. 25:37.720 --> 25:40.720 You try to get some rest, huh? 25:40.720 --> 25:43.720 You going in there now? 25:43.720 --> 25:48.720 Well, I think that'll be the best thing to do all the way around, don't you, Mrs Bates? 25:48.720 --> 25:49.720 Good night. 25:49.720 --> 25:50.720 No, no, wait. 25:50.720 --> 25:53.720 Mrs Bates, I... 25:53.720 --> 25:56.720 What is it, Mrs Bates? 25:56.720 --> 25:59.720 That smell. Gas. 25:59.720 --> 26:01.720 Johnny. 26:01.720 --> 26:03.720 Johnny! 26:03.720 --> 26:18.720 Johnny! 26:18.720 --> 26:26.720 Oh, why don't you lie down for a few minutes, Mrs Bates? 26:26.720 --> 26:34.720 Listen, it's striking 12. Dead before midnight. 26:34.720 --> 26:40.720 All right, poor lad. If only I hadn't remembered to go back for that change. 26:40.720 --> 26:48.720 You did it. You put the quarter in the meter. That's what turned on the gas that killed him. 26:48.720 --> 26:54.720 You mentioned the gas having gone off and forgetting to put a quarter in the meter. 26:54.720 --> 27:00.720 So on the way to the picture house, I just went around to the back entry and dropped the coin. 27:00.720 --> 27:10.720 He kept saying that he was so tired, so sleepy. He must have fallen asleep while he was waiting. 27:10.720 --> 27:16.720 Suppose I should have remembered about the connection being loose and the heater in my room, 27:16.720 --> 27:21.720 but I wanted to surprise you with my good deed, you see. 27:21.720 --> 27:27.720 I didn't mean to do anything wrong, Mrs Bates. Honestly, I didn't. 27:27.720 --> 27:31.720 You didn't do anything wrong, Mr Chalmers. 27:31.720 --> 27:55.720 No, you didn't do anything wrong. 27:55.720 --> 28:04.720 Suspense, in which Paula Winslow and Stacey Harris starred in tonight's presentation of Life Ends at Midnight. 28:04.720 --> 28:11.720 Next week, the story of a prescription filled in error. We call it To None, A Deadly Drug. 28:11.720 --> 28:25.720 That's next week on Suspense. 28:25.720 --> 28:31.720 Suspense is produced and transcribed by Anthony Ellis. Tonight's script was written by Robert Tolman. 28:31.720 --> 28:35.720 The music was composed by Renny Garaghan and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. 28:35.720 --> 28:41.720 Featured in the cast were Victor Rotman, Jim Nusser, Bob Easton, and Dick Ryan. 28:41.720 --> 28:47.720 The stamp of realism is indelibly imprinted on CBS Radio's thrilling productions of the 21st Precinct. 28:47.720 --> 28:54.720 Hear another hard-hitting true-to-life story of big city police at work again this Friday night on most of these stations. 28:54.720 --> 28:57.720 Join Everett Sloan as Captain Cannelly in the station house. 28:57.720 --> 29:03.720 Follow the finest out into the city as they probe another human conflict jam-packed with danger and action. 29:03.720 --> 29:06.720 Remember, it's now Friday evenings at the Star's Address.