Unknown Broadcast | Life Ends at Midnight: A $1,500 Debt, Life Insurance and a Murder Deadline

Transcript prepared from a new automatic transcription of this episode’s released Spreaker recording. Separate host introductions, closing remarks, and identified advertisements are omitted. Reviewed for the previously flagged gaps and repetition; not checked word for word by a human against the audio. Some transcription errors may remain. The original radio introduction and credits are retained.

Suspense The Columbia Broadcasting System brings you radio's outstanding theater of thrills Produced and directed by Anton M. Leder And starring tonight, Miss Faye Bainter In Life Ends at Midnight by Robert Tallman A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense Nurtured in the cradle and carried to the grave the love of a mother for her child is an emotion all-pervasive, all-forgiving. Of all human relationships, this one which we celebrate on Mother's Day is among the strongest, most lasting.

And for most of us raised in the comfort and security of a happy home, no emotional tie is more warm and welcome. But there are some few mothers for whom Mother's Day represents no joyful memories, no warmth, no tenderness. Instead, there is heartbreak and regret, unhappiness, even terror. Such a mother is the woman of our story tonight, Mrs. Bates. A poor, worn woman, kindly, gentle, forgiving, resigned, but not without spirit.

The story's setting, a miserable tenement apartment in the slum section of a large city. The time, today. And now, with the performances of Miss Faye Bainter as Mrs. Bates Tony Barrett as Walter Bates And Norman Field as Mr. Chalmers And with Robert Tallman's story, Life Ends at Midnight We again hope to keep you in suspense Walter? Walter? Walter? Is that you, Walter?

That's right, Mom. Your little sunny boy, Walter. Remember my whistle, huh? Yes, I... Oh, but, well, I didn't know... I'll turn up, am I? What's the matter? Do we have to stand out here in a while? Oh, no, no. Come in. It's just that... Come in, Walt. Same old crummy joint. I do my best to keep it clean, Walt. Yeah, I know.

Regular old mother-hubber. We'll have to clean up the whole south of Chicago for you. Get the filth out of this flea bag. Oh, boy, I'm tired. Up all night in a stinking day coach full of snoring jerks and squalling. Babies, them babies, they're the worst. All they do is ball and slobber. You left Pittsburgh last night? One in the morning. Didn't sleep a wink.

Look at that collar, will you? But tomorrow is Monday, and you have to be at work in the morning. Sure. What's the matter? You worried? Oh, no, no, I just... Then don't just. Can't a guy come home to see his mother once in six months? It's a mother for you. Make you back. You sit up all night to see your mother. But one day, she tells her you have to be at work in a morning.

How do you like that? I'm sorry, dear. I did miss you so, but I just worried about... Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, I know. Don't worry so much. It makes me nervous. Here, dear. Sit at the table. You must be starved. All right. Now it's like coming home. Oh, my baby. I'm so glad to see you. You did come just to see me, didn't you?

Who else? Hedy Lamarr? Of course you came to see me. It's just that I always worry so about you, I mean... Forget it. Forget it. What's to eat? I was just making a chop for my lunch. That's all I seem to have in the house right now. That'll be enough for me. It should be ready in a minute. Now, tell me all about yourself.

Your job. Ah, never mind about me. Come on. Sit down, Mama. All right. How you doing? Well, I try not to complain, Walter, but things are not easy. Prices high, rents going up all the time, even on this old house. Honest, I don't know what I'm going to do if... You had some bonds Papa left. You had about $2,000 bonds he left.

You still got... I'm trying to tell you, Walter, things haven't been easy, and I just... Oh, he's a poor mouth. Every time I see her, she's putting on a poor mouth. I'm just saying that things aren't easy. And for me, you think it's a picnic, huh? I got enough trouble, and for what, for what? All year work like crazy and for what?

A man must work, Walter. A man must work, Walter. Yes, it's true. A man must work and live like a person and not be afraid so that he can sleep at night without worrying about... About what? About a bell ringing at night or a knock on the door in the morning or someone touching you on the arm. Oh, yes. It's a nice feeling and a free feeling to be able to walk down the street in the sun with your eyes meeting another man's without wondering if he's...

Shut up, shut up! I ain't in trouble again, so stop mouthing at me. Always mouthing at me. You haven't. You know what the judge said the last time, Walter. He was nice. He gave you another chance. He saw you were a really good boy, and he gave you another chance. He got a nice job for you, and you promised to. You mustn't.

You're... You're all right, Walter. You didn't do it. You're a meatball, a herring on a plate. All your life, you're a tomcat in the garbage. Catch, find a fish head and say thank you, mister. Not for me. You take a chance, you throw away the fish heads. You get one break, you're out of the garbage can for life. You throw with time clocks and shiny pants.

You're in the higher brackets, nobody gets at you. You're a mister with a future. You hold your nose when you walk through the day coach to your compartment. You leave the stinks behind and a port of dust the air in front of you. That's for me. One break, you're hot as a rocket shooting diamonds for Spongebob. You're a jet job in a world full of flevers.

A buck gets you two, two gets you four. Good for one blonde to kick her or to kiss her. Walter! So, all right. All right, I took another chance. I tried to run it up, but no dice. I gotta make it good. Tomorrow morning, I gotta make it good. The books at the office will show I gotta make it good. How much?

$1,500. $1,500? By midnight tonight, $1,500. I miss that 12-20 train for Pittsburgh. It's well up. Might as well take gas. $1,500? By midnight tonight? Where am I going to get it, Walter? The bonds. You got the bonds, Papa, left. The bonds. How do you think I got you out of your last trouble? Bribes, bail, paying back, every penny. Where do you think I got it?

Don't give me that. You're holding out. You've got to help me. I'll give you my life, Walter. Walter, please, don't. I'll get ten years. You heard the judge last time. What can I do? What? Ten years and stir. There won't be no reform school this time. Think it over, will you? Walter, Walter. Oh, please, please get me the money. Mama, get it for me.

I'll be good. I'll work hard. I won't give you no more trouble. But help me now. Please, Mama, please. Where can I get it, Walter? I have nothing left. Nothing. I don't care where you get it. It's your fault. You've got to help me. I only wanted to help you, and now I don't know... Yes. Yes, it is my fault. I've always protected you.

But I can't protect you anymore. I'll give you the few dollars I have. Go away. It'll be enough to help you run away. That's all I can do. Not me. I ain't gonna spend the rest of my life being old clay pigeon. Sure. Run away. Walter, please. Don't burn up me. Don't. Don't. You're hurting my arm, Walter. I'm no dope. I know you're holding out on me.

You're worrying about your old age, making yourself a cushy setup. Don't. Oh, I'm sorry. I hope I'm not intruding. Who's this? Oh, Mr. Chalmers. This is Mr. Chalmers, Walter. He has the back bedroom. This is my son, Walter, Mr. Chalmers. How do you do, Mr. Bates? I feel that I know you very well. Your mother and I sit here in the kitchen sometimes over a cup of tea, and she talks about you for hours and hours.

Yes, I can see why Mother's so proud of you. How do you do, Mr. Bates? Yes, and you're a fine-looking young man. Yeah. Mrs. Bates, if you'll excuse me, I'm just going to the corner for my paper. I think that little man with the tiny mustache, you know who I mean, the insurance agent, I think he might call again to collect. Please tell him to go away.

You will do that for me, Mrs. Bates? Yes, Mr. Thomas. Thank you, Mrs. Bates. Tell him not to come back anymore. I don't want to pay any more on the policy. You remember, I told you my nephew was very sick in Spokane. Yes, Mr. Chalmers. Well, the poor young man died, yes. I was going to leave him a few dollars when I died, but now, well, I have no one left at all, and, well, a dollar a week.

You'll tell that to the little man with the tiny mustache? Yes, Mr. Chalmers. Thank you, Mrs. Bates. Good day, Mr. Bates. I have $40 in the house for rent. You can take that. Yeah. Drop me a card when you get settled someplace. Let me know where you are. I'll send you some more as soon as I get it. Maybe later I'll be able to straighten it out.

Maybe later I'll be able to speak to your broth. I'll promise to pay back every cent. But now you must go away. You must. Mama. Tell me something about Mr. Chalmers. He interests me very strangely. Walter. Don't be so nervous, Ma. We got plenty of time. We got till midnight. Yes? I do think I will have another cup if you don't mind, Mrs.

Bates. Now, suppose you look at it this way. You've been paying one buck a week for how many years now? Well, I'd say 20 years. It'd be a conservative estimate. All right, all right. 20 years, that's, let me see, 50 bucks a year. Say that's 1,000 bucks that you paid in. Yes, 1,000 bucks. This coffee cake, Mrs. Bates, is excellent. Do you like it?

I made it yesterday, but I thought... Forget the coffee cake. Let's figure percentage, huh? How many more years you'll figure to live? Walter! Oh, that's all right, Mrs. Bates. After all, I am an old man, and at my age, one rather, well, comes to terms. Jeff, it's like the end of a long, busy day. Life ends at midnight. And a new day begins.

Yes, Walter, I think you're on the verge of making a very profound observation. My policy is for $2,500. And in the days that are left to me, I certainly will not be required to pay in as much as I've already paid. Well, that's the exact point, Mr. Chalmers. And if you drop it now, will you get anything back? No. You've got a straight life with no cash value.

If you drop the policy now, the insurance company's the winner. But say that you live another couple of years, you pay a couple of hundred more, and you leave that $2,500 to somebody. Which is the smart thing. I'll leave it to you. Yes. I should like to think that when I'm gone, I have left some things behind for someone. Mr. Chalmers, oh yes, I'll always remember him for this.

It's nice to live on in somebody's memory for a little while after we're dead But A, Mr. Bates, I have no one in this world And B, I must be very, very frank with you And tell you that I can no longer afford to pay even the dollar a week You see, I live on very... That's a problem of the most minor importance For anybody to invest in you now a buck a week would be guilt-edged I mean, for instance, take my mother here Yes?

Now, suppose that you made her the beneficiary. Now, suppose she continued to pay the buck a week, huh? Now, who could lose on such a deal? Who can lose? Nobody. You see, you'll get your dearest wish to leave something behind, and my mother in later years says, Mr. Chalmers, oh, yes, I'll always remember him for this. You get the point? Oh, no, I couldn't.

Why not, one? It's simple. Oh, no, no, no, Mr. Chalmers. Let Mr. Chalmers decide. Mr. Chalmers, it makes good sense, no? It makes everybody happy. But we're practically strangers. What do you mean strangers? Who is a stranger in this world, Mr. Chalmers? We're all just little people trying to make each other happy, huh? Mr. Chalmers here can die feeling that he didn't waste a buck a week for 20 years and he'll know that he'll live in your memory, Mama.

That's what he wants. Why shouldn't he have it? Ain't every man entitled to at least live in somebody's memory. Yes, but Mr. Chalmers doesn't have to do that. I'll think about him anyway. I promise I will. So let him say something always admiring. Oh, what do you say, Mr. Chalmers? That must be the little man with the tiny mustache. I'll tell him I'm keeping the policy and changing the beneficiaries.

This file. Could you let me have the... the dollar, Mrs. Bates? Hey, hurry it up, will you? The old man's coming home in a minute or two. He takes his nap about this time. I want this ready for him. Relax, honey. I can't finish this job today. What are you giving me? It'll take a joint and another length of pipe. Fix it up.

You can fix it up for now, can't you? Well, this room's pretty small. Why do you want the heater so close to the bed? Like I told you, he's got rheumatism. He needs plenty heat. Well, I can run a rubber extension. But with gas, I don't like it. Okay, so with gas, you don't like it. But with gas, we gotta run this heater.

The old man's got rheumatics. He can take plenty of gas. Hey, heat. Heat, I mean. He needs plenty. What are you doing now? Tightening this joint. Here, here's your three bucks. Okay, you're the boss. Bring your tools next time. There won't be any next time, sonny. What do you give me now? You can get somebody else to do your dirty work after this.

So long, Skippy. Skippy. Come on, Skippy. Put yourself together. We got work to do. Oh, hiya, Pop. Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Yeah, yeah, this used to be my room. Steam don't come up here so good, so I talked the old lady into fixing this up for you. That was very thoughtful of you, Walter. Oh, thanks. I stuffed the cracks in the windows, too.

Zero weather gets plenty drafty in this room. You thought of everything, didn't you, Walter? Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I want to work out just fine. It'll do the job, I think. I'm going to take a little nap before dinner. Do you think the heater... Just leave it on. I'll look in after bed to see if it's okay. Well, now, you needn't go to all that...

Oh, no trouble at all, Mr. Chalmers. When I do a thing, I like to do it right. Huh? Who's there? Oh, that's you, Walter? Yeah. Yeah, go on back to sleep, Pop. Just turn the heater off. Get a little stuffy in here. You're a good, considerate boy, Walter. Skip it. Go on. Back to sleep. Please, don't walk so fast, Walter. My feet are hurting me again.

You can buy new shoes tomorrow. I'd like to know what worth. Maybe you'll have dough tomorrow. Maybe we'll both have dough. If a miracle happens. Maybe miracles do happen. Maybe. If you're smart. Where are you taking me to, Walter? No place in particular. I just thought we'd stroll around the old neighborhood like old times. Well, that's a nice idea, Walter. But my feet are...

Okay, okay. So we'll turn in at the candy store in the corner and I'll buy you a dish of ice cream. So close to dinner time, dear. Trouble with you, Mars. You're in a rut. Come on. Howdy, Miss Bates. Hello. Howdy, Walter. When did you get back? He came in on the train from Pittsburgh, Nick, this morning, just to see me. Yeah, I thought I'd give the old girl a break.

What? Well, what can I mix up for you folks, huh? Mom will take vanilla and I want coffee. Black. Coming right up. Evening, Nick. Oh, hello, Mike. Take a load off your feet. You folks know Officer Flanagan, Miss Bates from down the block and her son of Walter? Pleased to meet you, officer. How's business, copper? Oh, much the same. Vagrancy, petty, larceny, once in a while a murder.

Murder? That's what they start out to do, but it's harder to pull off a murder than most people think. Yeah. A case just last week over in the next precinct. Family disconnected a gas heater in the old man's room while he was asleep. That's what we were pretty sure he did anyway. They took out a lot of insurance on him a few days before.

But you couldn't prove anything, huh? Didn't have to. They always bungle somewhere. Amateurs. Gas petered out. They forgot to put a quarter in the meter. It's seven o'clock. I'm sure I got your call in. See you later, Nick. Okay, Michael. Ma. Yes, Walter? When did you put a quarter in the meter at home? Why, I don't remember. Goodness, I'd better get some change.

Never mind. Come on, we're getting out of here. What's the matter, Walter? Nothing. Come on, come on. Walter. Why did you ask about the gas meter? Why do you think? Walter, you didn't... That isn't why you put the heater in this... What do you think? I don't think anything. I just pray that that quarter ran out. Save your prayers and get a move on.

Because if that didn't work, I'll try another way. Either that old cluck is dead before midnight or I spent ten years in stir. He's going to be dead before midnight. Do you understand that? If you try making any trouble, you'll be pushing daisies right along with him. Stop that sniveling. I'm going in there now. If it took, scream your head off or I'll give you a reason to scream.

I can't. I can smell it. Come on. Well, good evening, Walter, Mrs. Bates. I was just on my way. Oh, Mr. Jones, you're all right. You're all right. Of course he's all right. What's eating you? I have a slight headache. But a brisk walk in the open air will cure that, I'm sure. Hey, look at this. What is it, Walter? A hose on the heater.

It got unhitched. No wonder you got a headache. Oh, I thought I smelled gas. Pop, it's lucky for you that Ma forgot to put a quarter in the meter. Providence works in strange ways, doesn't it, Walter? Well, I must be getting on. Mrs. Bates. Yes? I'll be coming home rather late, so I'll just let myself in. How late? Well, I thought I'd stop in at the neighborhood picture house after dinner.

That'll be around nine o'clock, so I imagine I won't be home much before eleven. Mr. Chalmers, there's something I... Yes, Mrs. Bates? Walter's a good boy at heart, you know, but he's been in some trouble lately and... Is there anything I can do to help Walter? Yeah, plenty. I'll tell you all about it when you get back. You better run along now, Mr.

Chalmers. You don't want to be late for that picture. Yes, of course. Well, good night, Mrs. Beats. Mr. Chalmers. Good night, Mr. Chalmers. Yes, good night. Walter. Walter. Walter. Walter. Oh, Walter. I'm your mother, Walter. You were going to tell him, weren't you? You'd like to send me to the chair, wouldn't you? Oh, you struck me, Walter. You struck your own mother.

You missed your sad monkey face up for good. But it's your fault I pulled this thing up in the first place. How did you remember to put a quarter in that gas meter? Why didn't you? I'm glad I forgot he wouldn't be alive. You shouldn't have messed around with that gas trying to spare your feelings, make it look like an accident. The thanks I get for it.

She wants to blab the whole thing, turn me in. My own mother. Oh, no, Walter, that's not true. Oh, don't. Please. Don't hit me again. I can't stand it. All right. Maybe now you'll cooperate. Look, let's put it this way. It's either you or him. If it's you, I don't care whether they get me or not. Are you listening to me? Yes, Walter.

All right. Like I said, I got very little time to get this thing done. I ought to have done a neat clean in the first place, like I said. He's old. He's weak. Just push him over on the bed, hold a pillow on his face for a few minutes, and the job is done. Nobody would ask any questions of a guy that old.

Walter, for the last time, I beg you. All right. You just make sure it's the last time. Yes. Remember, like I said, it's you or him. What are you going to do? I'll be waiting in his room when he gets home. You wait up for him. Tell him I've left to catch a train. Just in case he suspects anything. When he comes into his room, I'll take care of the rest of it.

How do you know I won't warn him? Because it's you or him, just like I told you. I don't think you'll warn Mr. Chalmers. Don't you try to stall him when he comes in. He's got to be dead by midnight or else. Good evening. Evening, Mr. Chalmers. Joe, I'll have the late edition of the Daily News as usual. Save one out for you, Mr.

Chalmers. Thank you. Good night, Joe. Night. Oh, by the way, Joe, I almost forgot. Can you give me the change of a dollar? Oh, sure, Mr. Chalmers. Here you are. Fifty, seventy-five, eighty-five, ninety, one dollar. Thank you. I just happened to think of something I need change for. A little good deed for a friend of mine. Oh, no. No. Oh, Mr. Jones.

Well, I didn't think you'd be up so late, Mrs. Bates. I waited up especially. I wanted to talk to you about Walter. Mrs. Bates? Your eye, it's all discolored. Oh, yes. Well, the light burned out in the bathroom when I went to replace it in the dark. That is, I bumped into the door. Now, I would have thought Walter would have done that for you.

I mean, Walter's left already. He had to catch the 12.20 for Pittsburgh, you know. But it's only a little after 11 now. Perhaps he had some things to do on the way, I mean. Of course. Well, I'm afraid I must be getting on to bed. No, no, not yet. I mean, won't you sit down for a minute? Have a cup of tea with me?

I'd like to, but tea keeps me awake, Mrs. Bates. I'll be getting along to my room now, if you don't mind. No. No, don't go into that room, Mr. Chong. Why, Mrs. Bates, whatever's the trouble? My son, Walter, there's something I must tell you. Forgive me, Mrs. Bates, but I'm an old man and I need my rest. If it could possibly wait until morning.

No. No, it can't wait until morning. It's got to be told before... before midnight. What was that? Sounds like someone moving about in the back of the house. One of the shutters is loose. The wind. Oh, you were saying, Mrs. Bates? Nothing. I can't tell you after all. I'm afraid. I'm afraid to tell. There, there, Mrs. Bates. Perhaps in the morning, eh?

Try to get some rest. You're going in there now? I think that will be the best thing to do all the way around, don't you, Mrs. Bates? Good night. No, no, wait. Mrs. Bates, I... What is it, Mrs. Bates? That smell. Gas. Walter. Walter. Walter! Why don't you lie down for a few minutes, Mrs. Bates? I'll call you when the ambulance arrives.

Listen. It's striking twelve. Dead before midnight. Poor lad. If only I hadn't remembered to go back for that change. You did it? Oh! You put the quarter in the meter. That's what turned on the gas that killed him. Oh, you mentioned the gas having gone off and forgetting to put a quarter in the meter, so on the way to the picture house, I just went round to the back entry and dropped the coin.

You did it. I suppose I should have remembered about the connection being loose on the heater in my room, but I wanted to surprise you with my good deed. I didn't mean to do anything wrong, Mrs. Bates. Truly, I didn't. You didn't do anything wrong, Mr. Chow. No. You didn't do anything wrong. Our thanks to Miss Faye Bainter for her wonderful performance as Mrs.

Baines. To Tony Barrett, who played Walter, and Norman Field, Mr. Chalmers. Suspense is produced and directed by Anton M. Leder with music under the direction of Lud Gluskin from the original score composed by Lucian Morrowick. Miss Bainter will soon be seen in the Warner Brothers production, June Bride. Next week, we return with 60 Minutes, a full hour of suspense, and a story in which a boy and a girl find themselves trapped in an apartment with a dead man, with a short four hours to find the murderer and prove that they are innocent.

How they do it, if they do it, is the intriguing question in William Irish's tense story, Deadline at Dawn. A tale well calculated to keep you in... Suspense!