March 3, 2024
Unknown Broadcast | "One Hundred in the Dark"

Oh my, don't be afraid. I mean, not of this show. It's not real, at least I don't think it is. My dear, just relax and listen. These ghosts, ghouls, monsters, murderers and more aren't really here to get you, but your ears may lie to you...
Oh my, don't be afraid. I mean, not of this show. It's not real, at least I don't think it is. My dear, just relax and listen. These ghosts, ghouls, monsters, murderers and more aren't really here to get you, but your ears may lie to you...
WEBVTT
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Welcome back, my dear friend.
I see you couldn't resist but to fiddle
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with that knob on your radio dial
yet again, so that you could join
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me here on this on this cold
but oddly welcome night. I'm always glad
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when you joined me, and I'd
love to share a good scare, if
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you will. I didn't mean to
rhyme, but I'll take it. Take
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it tonight. I suppose we're going
to have an extra special good time.
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You know what? You know what? Because I said, so, that's
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why? What was that was that? Oh no, no, no,
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no, I wouldn't worry about that
at all. Oh no, no,
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no, no no, don't be
silly. Everything's going to be just fine.
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Fine. Yes, indeed, indeed
all is so well? What uh
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no, no, no no,
don't you concern yourself at all. Those
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walls are three feet thick and they're
pretty much pure granite. It will be
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just fine fine, So please sit
down and make yourself comfortable. Comfortable,
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because I am just about ready to
play the story for you. It's an
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oldie but a goodie. Of course. Of course, everything here, including
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myself, is an oldie but a
goodie. I think you'll enjoy it quite
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a bit, and if you wish
to reach out to me, send me
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an email at Weird Mysteries pause at
gmail dot com. Oh, it looks
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like we're ready right now, I'll
hit play. The Columbia Network takes pleasure
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in bringing you suspense suspense Columbia's play
theater of outstanding thrillers, produced and directed
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by William Spear and scored by Bernard
Hermann. The notable melodramas from fiction and
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stage and screen, from the world's
great literature of entertaining excitement, presented each
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week to bring you to the edge
of your chair, to keep you in
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suspense. Tonight's story, by America's
distinguished author playwright Owen Johnson, gathers its
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suspense in a very gentle way.
It doesn't have a spectacular finish, goddessed
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with revolver shots, there are no
graveyard watches. There's not so much as
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a single lifeless body, identified or
unidentified. It's a tale told in a
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club room, the Artists and Writers
Club in New York, A tale of
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high class robbery and suspicion, and
of how some ladies and gentlemen nervously counted
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one hundred in the dark. Ah
that was a fine meal me for the
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club anytime we can all say,
yeah, if you'll just draw up that
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chair for mister Peters. Yeah.
Do you all know Peters? This is
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time? How do you do?
Yeah? Oh yes, oh you know
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each other? Yes? And the
one who drew up the chair, mister
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Rankin. Well, I guess,
I guess we're all acquainted. Now to
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get back to a table discussion.
Quine, Oh yes, how about a
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drink who joined me? Ye?
Pleasure? Fine? Fine? John?
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Well, now stangal as I said, there are only half a dozen stories
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in the world. What is more
to the point? There's every reason oh
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five with soda? John, Yes, Now, now where was that?
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Oh? Yes? What is more
to the point, gentlemen, is the
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small number of human relations that are
so simple and yet so fundamental that they
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can be eternally played upon, redressed, and reinterpreted in every language and every
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age, and yet remain inexhaustible in
the possibility of variation. Well, that's
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true, of course impossible. Take
the eternal triangle two men and a woman
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or two women and a man.
It's variations extend the thousands that right,
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ranking Well in a way, ah
here we are shut them down, right,
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there John, well, little soda, Here you are, thank you,
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and you so pe yes please what
here you are? Thanks? And
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here's joy, thank you? And
now an episode in mine, Well,
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here's to you all. I'm afraid
we can't see eye to eye, Quinny.
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I believe there are situations, original
situations that are independent of your human
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emotions that he desists just because they
are situations accidental and nothing else. As
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for instance, well, I'll just
cite an ordinary one that happens to come
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to my mind. In a group
of five men, such as we are
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here, a theft takes place.
One man is the thief? Which one?
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Now, I'd like to know what
emotion that interprets? And yet it
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certainly is an original theme at the
bottom of a whole literature. It's not
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the same thing at all detective stories. I could answer that the situation you
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give can be traced back to the
commonest of human emotions, curiosity. I
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think pray has you there, rankin
what is the peculiar fascination that the detective
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problem exercises over the human mind?
You will say curiosity, yes and no
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admit it once that the whole art
of a detective story consists in the statement
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of the problem. Anyone can do
it. I can do it. Stengal
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can do it. Ran can I
believe even you can do it. The
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solution doesn't count. It is usually
banal. It should be prohibited. What
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interest dous is? Can we guess
it? There you have it, the
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problem, the detective story. Now
why the fascination? I'll tell you it
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appeals to our curiosity, yes,
but deeper, to a sort of intellectual
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vanity. Five men present, a
theft takes place. Who's the thief?
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Who will guess it first? Whose
brains will show its superior cleverness? You
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see? That's all. That's all
there is to it. Out of all
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of which, the interesting thing is
that Rankin has supplied the reason why the
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supply of detective fiction is inexhaustible.
It does all come down to the simplest
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terms, five possibilities, one answer. All. The reason is that the
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situation does constantly occur. It's a
situation that any of us might get into
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any time. Yes, I know
of an incident of that kind that happened
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to a friend of mine last month. Of course, of course, gentlemen,
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you are glorifying commonplaces. Every crime
ideal you expresses itself in the terms
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of the picture puzzle that you feed
your six year olds, it's only the
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variation that is interesting. Take the
well known instance of the visitor at a
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club and the rare coin, for
example, we all know that story thing
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I have. I'm not sure why
it's very well known. I'll go ahead,
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quney tell it. A distinguished visitor
is brought into a club. Dozen
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men, say present. At dinner, long table conversation finally veers around to
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curiosities and relics. One of the
members present then takes from his pocket what
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he announces as one of the rarest
coins in existence, passes it around the
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table. Coin travels back and forth, every one examining it, and the
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conversation goes to another topic. All
at once, the owner calls for his
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coin. It is nowhere to be
found. Every one looks at every one
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else. First they suspect a joke, Then it becomes serious. The coin
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is immensely valuable. Who has taken
it? The owner is a gentleman,
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does the gentlemanly idiotic thing, of
course, laughs as he knows some one
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is playing a practical joke on him, and that the coin will be returned.
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Tomorrow. The others refuse to leave
the situation, So one man proposes
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that they all submit to search.
Every one gives his assent until it comes
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to the stranger. He refuses,
curtly, roughly, without giving any reason.
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Uncomfortable silence. The man is a
guest. No one knows him particularly
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well, but still he is a
guest. One member tries to make him
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understand that no offense is offered,
that the suggestion was simply to clear the
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atmosphere. The stranger becomes very firm, very proud, and says, I
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refuse to allow my person to be
searched, and I refuse to give the
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reason for my action. Another silence. The visitor evidently has the coin,
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but he is their guest and etiquette
protects him. Nice situation. Eh,
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well, what's the answer? The
table is cleared a way to removes a
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dish of fruit in there under the
ledge of the plate where it's been pushed
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is the coin. Banal explanation.
Eh, of course, solutions always should
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be at once. Every one apologizes
to him. Whereupon the visit a rises
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and says, now I can give
you the reason for my refusal to be
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searched. There are only two known
specimens of that coin in existence, and
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the second happens to be here in
my best pocket. That's rather obvious.
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Of course. The story is well
invented, but the turn to it is
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very nice, very nice. Indeed, well, I don't know, ending
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is very unsatisfactory. Visitors should have
hit on him, not another coin,
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but something absolutely different, something destructive, say, of a woman's reputation,
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and a great tragedy should have been
threatened by the casual misplacing of the coin.
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Ah, I've heard the same story
told in a dozen different ways.
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Oh, it's happened a hundred times. It must continually happen. I know
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of one extraordinary instance, in fact, the most extraordinary instance of this sort
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I've ever heard. Peter's you Rascal. I see you've been quietly letting us
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at the stage for you. Well, it's not a story that will please
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everyone. Why not, because you
will want to know what no one can
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ever know. It has no conclusion. Then, yes and no. As
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far as it concerns a woman,
quite the most remarkable woman I've ever met,
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the story is complete. Do I
know the woman? Possibly? Probably,
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I should say, as a matter
of fact, there should be particularly
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interesting to you, because I believe
that most of you are acquitted with the
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people involved. The names, of
course, are disguised. I think,
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yes, I have just time before
I catch my train to tell it to
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you. This is well, missus. Rita Kildare inhabited a charming bachelor girl's
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studio, very elegant, the duplex
pattern and one of the buildings just off
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Central Park West. She knew very
nearly everyone in that indescribable society in New
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York that's drawn from all levels,
and that imposes but one condition for membership.
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To be amusing in this mingled society, her invitations were eagerly sought,
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Her dinners were spontaneous, and the
discous Rusians, though gay and usually daring,
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were invariably under the control of wit
and good taste. On the Sunday
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night of this adventure, she had, according to her custom, sent away
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her Filipino butfer and invited to an
informal chafing dish supper seven of her more
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unusual friends at seven o'clock. Having
finished dressing, she put in order her
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bedroom, which formed a sort of
free passage between the studio and a small
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dining room to the kitchen beyond.
Then going into the studio, she struck
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a match and was about to light
the candlesticks, which illuminated the room,
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when the bell rang, and a
mister Flanners, a broker compact nervously alive,
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well groomed, was waiting as she
opened the door. Well, you're
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early. On the contrary, you
are late well in any case, hello,
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and come inside here. Let me
take your things first, I suppose,
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of course. And since you are, you can be a good boy
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and help me with the candles.
Delighted? Who's to be here tonight?
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The Enos Jacksons? I thought they
were separated? Not yet? How interesting?
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Only you, dear lady, would
dream of serving us a couple on
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the verge. It is interesting,
isn't it? Assuredly? Where did you
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know Jackson? Through the wearings?
Jackson's a rather doubtful person, isn't he.
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Well, let's call him a very
sharp lawyer. Can they tell me?
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Though? He's been gambling pretty much
indep How about yourself? Me?
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I'm a bachelor. If I lose
my shirt, it makes no difference.
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Is that possible? Probably? Even
who else is coming? Oh, Maude,
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Lily, you know what, I
don't think? So you met her
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here? Some time ago generally.
Oh, yes, yes, of course
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I've forgotten, mister Harris. The
clubman is coming, and the Stanley Cheevers,
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Stanley Chievers. Are we going to
gamble? Don't tell me you objects
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certainly not only the Cheevers. Well, they played quite a game, yes,
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well united, they have an unusual
streak of good luck. Oh,
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by the way, it's Jackson,
isn't it. Who is so attractive to
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missus? Cheaper? Quite right?
What a charming party? And where does
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Maut Lily come in? Don't joke, she's in a desperate way. And
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John Harris, Oh, he used
to make the salad and cream the chicken.
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See the whole party, I of
course am to wear the element of
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respectability of what. Don't play baby
with me, my dear Flanders. I
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apologize. No one, of course
knows who else is coming. No one,
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of course the Stanley Cheever center,
short fat man with a vacant fat
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face and slow moving high and his
wife voluable, nervous, over dressed and
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pretty. Mister Yes, mister Harris
came in with Maude Lily, a woman's
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straight, dark Indian, great masses
of somber hair held in a little too
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loosely for neatness, with thick,
quick lips and eyes that rolled away from
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the person who was talking to her. The enos Jacksons were late and still
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agitated as they entered. His forehead
had not quite banished the scowl, nor
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her eyes the scorn. He was
of the type that never lost his temper
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but caused others to lose theirs.
Missus Jackson seemed fastened to her husband by
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an invisible leash. You looked at
her curiously and wondered what such a nature
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would do in a crisis, with
a lurking sense of a woman who carried
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with her her own impending tragedy.
As soon as the company had been completed
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and the incongruity of the selection had
been perceived, a smile of malicious anticipation
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and ran the rounds, which the
hostess cut short by saying, well,
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well, now that everyone's here,
this is the order for the night.
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You can quarrel all you want,
you can whisper all the gossip you can
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think of about one another, but
everyone is to be amusing. Also everyone
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is to help with dinner, and
nothing formal, nothing serious. We may
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all be bankrupt, divorced, or
dead tomorrow, but tonight we'll be gay.
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That's the invariable rule of the house. Oh quite small. Oh thanks
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everyone. Now, if you excuse
me, I'll get on with the cooking.
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Harris, I need you will,
May I be a very else?
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Thank you, my dear. I
come along too, all right, this
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is an adorable bedroom. Oh,
thank you dear. Now for my apron
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it is tie me off the back, you please, Maud? Of course
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there you were fine. Thanks.
Now just let me get my rings off
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and I'll be all ready to go
to work. Oh, this is such
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a lovely apartment. Miss killed,
air fing, soap and water always seem
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to do it. Ah, there, your rings are so beautiful. They
200
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:37.640
are nice, aren't they. But
there's only one that's very valuable, the
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00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:41.400
sapphire. Oh it's beautiful. Let
me see. Oh it must be very
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valuable. It costs ten thousand,
six years ago. It's been my talisman
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ever since. For the moment,
however, I'm a cook. You're not
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going to leave the rings there?
Why? Of course? Now I'm a
205
00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:56.920
cook, Maud. Lily are the
story maid. Harris is the chef and
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00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:00.920
we're all under his orders. Missus
cheaper, did you ever peel onions or
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with heavens no, well, there
are no onions, peel. All you
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have to do is help us at
the table. Under their hostess's gay guidance,
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the seven guests began to circulate busily
through the room, laying the table,
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00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:22.519
grouping the chairs, opening bottles,
and preparing the material for the chaping
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dishes. Missus Kildare in the kitchen, ransacked the ice box and with her
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00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:34.160
own hands shredded the chicken and measured
the cream. Planned this, carry this
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00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.119
in carefully, Jeeva, stop watching
your wife and put the salad bowl on
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00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:45.319
the table. Everything ready, Harris? Also all right, everyone sit down,
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00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:52.240
I'll be riding in. She went
into her bedroom, took off her
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00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.720
apron and hung it in the closet. Then, going to a dressing table,
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00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:59.680
she drew the hatpin around which were
her rings from the pincushion, and
218
00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:06.160
carelessly slipped them on her fingers.
But all at once she frowned and looked
219
00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:11.759
quickly at her hand. Only two
rings were there. The third ring,
220
00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:19.039
the sapphire, was missing straps,
she said to herself, and returned to
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her dressing table. Immediately she stopped, she remembered quite clearly putting the hatpin
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through the three rings. She made
no attempt to search further, but remained
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without moving her fingers slowly drumming on
the table who had taken the ring.
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00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:41.359
Each of her guests had had a
dozen opportunities in the course of the time
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00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.440
she'd been busy in her kitchen.
She ran over their characters and their situations
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00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.880
as she knew them. Strangely enough, at each her mind stopped upon some
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00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.519
reason that might explain a sudden temptation
to find out nothing this way. That's
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00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:02.680
not the important thing to me.
Just important thing is to get the ring
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00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:07.440
back, And slowly, deliberately,
she began to walk back and forth,
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00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:15.759
a clenched hand, beating the deliberate
rhythmic measure of her journey. Five minutes
231
00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:18.960
later, as Harris installed the chef
over the chafing dish, was giving directions
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00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:25.039
school in the air, missus Kildare
came into the room like a lengthening shadow.
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00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:29.839
Her entrance had been made with scarcely
a perceptible sound, and yet each
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00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:33.839
guest was aware of it at the
same moment, with a little nervous start.
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00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:40.319
Heavens, heavens, dear lady,
you come in on us like a
236
00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:45.079
Greek tragedy. What is it you
have for us? A surprise? I
237
00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:49.680
have something to say to you,
mister enos Jackson. Yes, mus killed
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00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:53.400
her. Kindly do as I ask
you, certainly, go to the door.
239
00:20:55.400 --> 00:21:03.000
Go to the door, please,
yes, lock it and bring me
240
00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:11.400
the key. You've locked it as
you wish me to. Thank you.
241
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:26.119
Now the bedroom door, would you
do the same, Yeah, thank you,
242
00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:30.480
mister Jackson. Mister cheever ah,
would you blow out all the candles
243
00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:36.119
except the candlelabra on the table?
Blow out all the candles except the candelabra,
244
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:42.920
all right? For goodness Saints is
killed there? What is it?
245
00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:47.720
I am getting durribly worked up by
my names are all ready, miss Jackson.
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00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:57.279
That's the last candle? All right
now listen, my sapphire ring has
247
00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:03.480
just been stolen to The ring's been
taken within the last twenty minutes. I'm
248
00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:08.359
not going to mince words. The
ring has been taken and the thief is
249
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:12.960
among you, but missus Kilbury has
passed. So yes, missus chiever is
250
00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.839
not the slightest doubt. Three of
you are in the bedroom, and I
251
00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:18.359
placed my rings in the pincushion.
Quite true, I was in the room
252
00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:22.519
when she took them off. The
sapphire ring was on top. Each of
253
00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.759
you has passed through there a dozen
times since my sapphire ring is gone,
254
00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:32.400
and one of you has taken it. I want now. I'll miss you
255
00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:36.079
all. I'm not going to miss
words. I'm not going to stand on
256
00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:41.519
ceremony, but I'm going to have
my ring back. Listen to me carefully.
257
00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:45.640
I'm going to have that ring back, and until I do, not
258
00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:52.559
a soul shall leave this room.
I don't care who's taken it. All
259
00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:56.599
I want is my ring. Now, I'm going to make it possible for
260
00:22:56.680 --> 00:23:00.319
whoever took it to restore it without
possibility of detection. The doors are locked
261
00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:04.160
and will stay locked. I'm going
to blow out the remaining candles in the
262
00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:11.039
candelabra. I'm going to count one
hundred slowly. There'll be an absolute darkness.
263
00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:15.000
No one will know or see what's
done. But if at the end
264
00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:19.559
of that time the ring is not
here on the table, I shall telephone
265
00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:25.799
the police and have every one in
this room searched. Am I quite clear?
266
00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:33.319
Every one takes place about the table
and remain standing. Please? That's
267
00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:37.359
it. That'll do. Now.
I'll blow out the candles and count one
268
00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:44.440
hundred, no more, no less. Remember, either I get that ring,
269
00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:57.119
or every one in this room will
be searched. One, two,
270
00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:11.079
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
271
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:22.559
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
272
00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:30.880
eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty
one, twenty two, twenty three,
273
00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:40.559
twenty four, twenty five, thirty
six, thirty seven, twenty eight,
274
00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:48.680
twenty nine, thirty, thirty one, thirty two, thirty three, thirty
275
00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:56.759
four, thirty five, thirty six, thirty seven, thirty eight, thirty
276
00:24:56.839 --> 00:25:07.079
nine, forty forty one, forty
two, forty three, forty four or
277
00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:12.960
five pot slept off the Chick,
forty seven, forty eight, forty nine,
278
00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:21.960
fifty fifty one, fifty two,
fifty three, fifty four, fifty
279
00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:27.640
five, fifty six, fifty seven, fifty eight, fifty nine, sixty,
280
00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:34.559
sixty one, sixty two, sixty
three, sixty four, sixty five,
281
00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:41.640
sixty six, sixty seven, sixty
eight, sixty nine, seventy,
282
00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:49.480
seventy one, seventy two, seventy
three, seventy four, seventy five,
283
00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:57.680
seventy six, seventy seven, seventy
eight, seventy nine, eighty eighty one,
284
00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:06.039
eighty two, eighty three, eighty
four, eighty five, eighty six,
285
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:15.160
eighty seven, eighty nine, ninety
ninety one, ninety two, ninety
286
00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:22.759
three, ninety four, ninety five, ninety six, ninety seven, ninety
287
00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:33.799
eight, ninety nine, one hundred. Well, well it's the chiever.
288
00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:41.960
You may hand it to me.
Well, now that that's ober, we
289
00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:52.200
can have a very gay little supper
the lights someone and there you are gentlemen,
290
00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:56.519
Oh, I say, Peters,
that's not all. Absolutely, the
291
00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:00.240
history ends there, story ends there. But the hoot of the hing ah
292
00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:07.680
what is never found out, never
no clue none. I'm not sure I
293
00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:11.400
like the story. That's no story
at all, permit me. It is
294
00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:15.279
a story, and it is complete. In fact, I consider it unique
295
00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:18.799
because it has none of the banalities
of a solution and leaves the problem even
296
00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:22.599
more confused than at the start.
I don't horse, you don't see,
297
00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:26.079
my dear kin. You do not
see that any solution would be commonplace.
298
00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:33.240
Whereas no solution leaves an extraordinary intellectual
problem. Well in the first place,
299
00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:37.680
whether the situation actually happened or not, which is in itself a meretor of
300
00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:41.160
reality. Peters has constructed it in
a masterly way, the proof of which
301
00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:45.599
is that he has made me listen. Any of those present might have taken
302
00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:49.880
the ring. There are therefore seven
solutions, all possible and all logical.
303
00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:56.880
But beyond this is left a great
intellectual problem. How so was it a
304
00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:00.359
woman who lacked the necessary courage to
continue? Or was it a man who
305
00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:06.559
repented his first impulse? Is a
man? Or is a woman the greater
306
00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:10.319
natural criminal? All that simple quinny? A woman took it, of course.
307
00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:14.000
On the contrary, it was a
man, for the second action was
308
00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:17.359
more difficult than the first. A
man certainly, the restoration of the ring
309
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:21.759
was a logical decision. You see. Personally, I inclined to a woman
310
00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:26.079
for the reason that a weaker feminine
nature is strangely susceptible to the domination of
311
00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:29.880
her own sex. There you are. We could meet and debate the subject
312
00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:33.279
gear in and year out and never
agree. I recognize most of the characters
313
00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:37.920
Peters missus Kildare, of course,
is all you say of her? An
314
00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:44.680
extraordinary woman. The story is quite
characteristic. Over Flanders, I'm not sure
315
00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:48.319
of, but I think I know
him. I am positive did it really
316
00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:52.759
happen exactly as I told it.
The only one I don't recognize is Harris,
317
00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:59.920
your humble servant. What you Peters? You were there? I was
318
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:07.880
there, I was Harris. Oh
yes, what is it done? Mister
319
00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:12.039
Peters saw your trained You told me
to remind you. Oh, thank you.
320
00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:18.079
Yes, I didn't notice so late
you gentlemen, pardon me. Nice
321
00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:30.799
to meet you all night, curious
chap, extraordinary. Well now I I
322
00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:48.559
wonder, I wonder if we're wondering
the same thing, gentlemen. And so,
323
00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:53.720
with the enigmatic smile of mister Peters
or Harris, ends one hundred in
324
00:29:53.759 --> 00:30:03.079
the Dark. Owen Johnson's smooth story
which gave us to Night's Suspense. Suspense
325
00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:10.000
is produced by William Spear. Tonight's
radio drama was written by Jack Anson Fink,
326
00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:15.279
directed by John Diets, and scored
by Bernard Hermann. Eric Dressler was
327
00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:21.359
mister Peters, Alice Frost played Missus
Kildare, and Ted Osborne Quinny. Others
328
00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:26.880
in the cast were Helen Lewis,
Joan Shay, Henriette Kay, Frank Reddick,
329
00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:30.799
Paul Luther, Stephen Schnabel, Ian
Martin, and Barry Kroger. With
330
00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:36.680
this evening's performance, Columbia brings to
a conclusion the present series of suspense.
331
00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:40.640
If you like these broadcasts, CBS
would be pleased to hear from you.
332
00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:48.000
Suspense has been a series presented for
your relaxation and enjoyment by the Columbia Broadcasting
333
00:30:48.119 --> 00:31:03.559
System. Yes quite the musical accompaniment, Eh, Yes, that was one
334
00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:08.519
of the best I've listened to in
quite a while. And usually I sit
335
00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:14.079
all alone in this here room,
but ever since I found this old beat
336
00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:21.079
up microphone that still works my jewel, I'm very pleased to allow you to
337
00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:23.839
join me. Of course, that's
only if you'll have me. And you've
338
00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:29.680
been very kind and very generous,
and I hope that that means I'll see
339
00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:37.319
you right back here tomorrow night.
Every night is a night worth as scarce,
340
00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:42.640
so I suppose i'll see you then. Oh what's that? What's that?
341
00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:45.599
Oh no, no, no,
there's no need to know my name
342
00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:48.880
Frankly, I'm not sure that I
know it anymore either. It's one of
343
00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:55.240
the first things to go when you're
in the situation that I am. But
344
00:31:55.400 --> 00:32:00.559
until tomorrow night, stay safe,
get into your cozy bed, and enjoy,
345
00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:17.759
enjoy the inevitable. Son Rossi's very
good. You're mumbling
1
00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:15.359
Welcome back, my dear friend.
I see you couldn't resist but to fiddle
2
00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:19.079
with that knob on your radio dial
yet again, so that you could join
3
00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:27.120
me here on this on this cold
but oddly welcome night. I'm always glad
4
00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:32.479
when you joined me, and I'd
love to share a good scare, if
5
00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:36.119
you will. I didn't mean to
rhyme, but I'll take it. Take
6
00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:40.880
it tonight. I suppose we're going
to have an extra special good time.
7
00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.439
You know what? You know what? Because I said, so, that's
8
00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:48.479
why? What was that was that? Oh no, no, no,
9
00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:50.880
no, I wouldn't worry about that
at all. Oh no, no,
10
00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.799
no, no no, don't be
silly. Everything's going to be just fine.
11
00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:59.679
Fine. Yes, indeed, indeed
all is so well? What uh
12
00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:02.640
no, no, no no,
don't you concern yourself at all. Those
13
00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:06.879
walls are three feet thick and they're
pretty much pure granite. It will be
14
00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:11.000
just fine fine, So please sit
down and make yourself comfortable. Comfortable,
15
00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:18.519
because I am just about ready to
play the story for you. It's an
16
00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:22.239
oldie but a goodie. Of course. Of course, everything here, including
17
00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:26.680
myself, is an oldie but a
goodie. I think you'll enjoy it quite
18
00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.239
a bit, and if you wish
to reach out to me, send me
19
00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:37.840
an email at Weird Mysteries pause at
gmail dot com. Oh, it looks
20
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:48.120
like we're ready right now, I'll
hit play. The Columbia Network takes pleasure
21
00:01:48.159 --> 00:02:14.280
in bringing you suspense suspense Columbia's play
theater of outstanding thrillers, produced and directed
22
00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:20.159
by William Spear and scored by Bernard
Hermann. The notable melodramas from fiction and
23
00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:25.560
stage and screen, from the world's
great literature of entertaining excitement, presented each
24
00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:30.240
week to bring you to the edge
of your chair, to keep you in
25
00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:46.599
suspense. Tonight's story, by America's
distinguished author playwright Owen Johnson, gathers its
26
00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:51.599
suspense in a very gentle way.
It doesn't have a spectacular finish, goddessed
27
00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:55.680
with revolver shots, there are no
graveyard watches. There's not so much as
28
00:02:55.719 --> 00:03:01.919
a single lifeless body, identified or
unidentified. It's a tale told in a
29
00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:07.759
club room, the Artists and Writers
Club in New York, A tale of
30
00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:15.360
high class robbery and suspicion, and
of how some ladies and gentlemen nervously counted
31
00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:30.039
one hundred in the dark. Ah
that was a fine meal me for the
32
00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:35.840
club anytime we can all say,
yeah, if you'll just draw up that
33
00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:40.560
chair for mister Peters. Yeah.
Do you all know Peters? This is
34
00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:46.639
time? How do you do?
Yeah? Oh yes, oh you know
35
00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:50.560
each other? Yes? And the
one who drew up the chair, mister
36
00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:53.319
Rankin. Well, I guess,
I guess we're all acquainted. Now to
37
00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:58.439
get back to a table discussion.
Quine, Oh yes, how about a
38
00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:02.039
drink who joined me? Ye?
Pleasure? Fine? Fine? John?
39
00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:08.199
Well, now stangal as I said, there are only half a dozen stories
40
00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:15.199
in the world. What is more
to the point? There's every reason oh
41
00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:18.360
five with soda? John, Yes, Now, now where was that?
42
00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:23.720
Oh? Yes? What is more
to the point, gentlemen, is the
43
00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:29.079
small number of human relations that are
so simple and yet so fundamental that they
44
00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:33.720
can be eternally played upon, redressed, and reinterpreted in every language and every
45
00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:39.279
age, and yet remain inexhaustible in
the possibility of variation. Well, that's
46
00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:44.480
true, of course impossible. Take
the eternal triangle two men and a woman
47
00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.120
or two women and a man.
It's variations extend the thousands that right,
48
00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:54.959
ranking Well in a way, ah
here we are shut them down, right,
49
00:04:55.000 --> 00:05:03.959
there John, well, little soda, Here you are, thank you,
50
00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:17.279
and you so pe yes please what
here you are? Thanks? And
51
00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:25.360
here's joy, thank you? And
now an episode in mine, Well,
52
00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:34.240
here's to you all. I'm afraid
we can't see eye to eye, Quinny.
53
00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:40.240
I believe there are situations, original
situations that are independent of your human
54
00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:45.240
emotions that he desists just because they
are situations accidental and nothing else. As
55
00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:48.040
for instance, well, I'll just
cite an ordinary one that happens to come
56
00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:51.920
to my mind. In a group
of five men, such as we are
57
00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:57.199
here, a theft takes place.
One man is the thief? Which one?
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Now, I'd like to know what
emotion that interprets? And yet it
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00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:04.439
certainly is an original theme at the
bottom of a whole literature. It's not
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the same thing at all detective stories. I could answer that the situation you
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give can be traced back to the
commonest of human emotions, curiosity. I
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think pray has you there, rankin
what is the peculiar fascination that the detective
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problem exercises over the human mind?
You will say curiosity, yes and no
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admit it once that the whole art
of a detective story consists in the statement
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of the problem. Anyone can do
it. I can do it. Stengal
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can do it. Ran can I
believe even you can do it. The
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solution doesn't count. It is usually
banal. It should be prohibited. What
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00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:48.839
interest dous is? Can we guess
it? There you have it, the
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problem, the detective story. Now
why the fascination? I'll tell you it
70
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appeals to our curiosity, yes,
but deeper, to a sort of intellectual
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vanity. Five men present, a
theft takes place. Who's the thief?
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Who will guess it first? Whose
brains will show its superior cleverness? You
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see? That's all. That's all
there is to it. Out of all
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of which, the interesting thing is
that Rankin has supplied the reason why the
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supply of detective fiction is inexhaustible.
It does all come down to the simplest
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terms, five possibilities, one answer. All. The reason is that the
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situation does constantly occur. It's a
situation that any of us might get into
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any time. Yes, I know
of an incident of that kind that happened
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to a friend of mine last month. Of course, of course, gentlemen,
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you are glorifying commonplaces. Every crime
ideal you expresses itself in the terms
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of the picture puzzle that you feed
your six year olds, it's only the
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variation that is interesting. Take the
well known instance of the visitor at a
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club and the rare coin, for
example, we all know that story thing
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I have. I'm not sure why
it's very well known. I'll go ahead,
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00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:59.040
quney tell it. A distinguished visitor
is brought into a club. Dozen
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men, say present. At dinner, long table conversation finally veers around to
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curiosities and relics. One of the
members present then takes from his pocket what
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he announces as one of the rarest
coins in existence, passes it around the
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00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:18.160
table. Coin travels back and forth, every one examining it, and the
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00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:22.000
conversation goes to another topic. All
at once, the owner calls for his
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coin. It is nowhere to be
found. Every one looks at every one
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00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:31.840
else. First they suspect a joke, Then it becomes serious. The coin
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is immensely valuable. Who has taken
it? The owner is a gentleman,
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does the gentlemanly idiotic thing, of
course, laughs as he knows some one
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is playing a practical joke on him, and that the coin will be returned.
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Tomorrow. The others refuse to leave
the situation, So one man proposes
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that they all submit to search.
Every one gives his assent until it comes
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to the stranger. He refuses,
curtly, roughly, without giving any reason.
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Uncomfortable silence. The man is a
guest. No one knows him particularly
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00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:09.279
well, but still he is a
guest. One member tries to make him
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00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:13.679
understand that no offense is offered,
that the suggestion was simply to clear the
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atmosphere. The stranger becomes very firm, very proud, and says, I
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refuse to allow my person to be
searched, and I refuse to give the
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reason for my action. Another silence. The visitor evidently has the coin,
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but he is their guest and etiquette
protects him. Nice situation. Eh,
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00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:39.919
well, what's the answer? The
table is cleared a way to removes a
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00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:43.120
dish of fruit in there under the
ledge of the plate where it's been pushed
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is the coin. Banal explanation.
Eh, of course, solutions always should
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be at once. Every one apologizes
to him. Whereupon the visit a rises
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00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:58.440
and says, now I can give
you the reason for my refusal to be
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searched. There are only two known
specimens of that coin in existence, and
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the second happens to be here in
my best pocket. That's rather obvious.
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00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:11.000
Of course. The story is well
invented, but the turn to it is
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very nice, very nice. Indeed, well, I don't know, ending
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00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:20.639
is very unsatisfactory. Visitors should have
hit on him, not another coin,
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but something absolutely different, something destructive, say, of a woman's reputation,
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00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:31.120
and a great tragedy should have been
threatened by the casual misplacing of the coin.
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00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:33.759
Ah, I've heard the same story
told in a dozen different ways.
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00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:39.639
Oh, it's happened a hundred times. It must continually happen. I know
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of one extraordinary instance, in fact, the most extraordinary instance of this sort
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I've ever heard. Peter's you Rascal. I see you've been quietly letting us
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at the stage for you. Well, it's not a story that will please
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everyone. Why not, because you
will want to know what no one can
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ever know. It has no conclusion. Then, yes and no. As
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00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.519
far as it concerns a woman,
quite the most remarkable woman I've ever met,
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00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:09.279
the story is complete. Do I
know the woman? Possibly? Probably,
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I should say, as a matter
of fact, there should be particularly
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interesting to you, because I believe
that most of you are acquitted with the
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people involved. The names, of
course, are disguised. I think,
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yes, I have just time before
I catch my train to tell it to
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you. This is well, missus. Rita Kildare inhabited a charming bachelor girl's
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studio, very elegant, the duplex
pattern and one of the buildings just off
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Central Park West. She knew very
nearly everyone in that indescribable society in New
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York that's drawn from all levels,
and that imposes but one condition for membership.
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To be amusing in this mingled society, her invitations were eagerly sought,
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Her dinners were spontaneous, and the
discous Rusians, though gay and usually daring,
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were invariably under the control of wit
and good taste. On the Sunday
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night of this adventure, she had, according to her custom, sent away
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her Filipino butfer and invited to an
informal chafing dish supper seven of her more
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unusual friends at seven o'clock. Having
finished dressing, she put in order her
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bedroom, which formed a sort of
free passage between the studio and a small
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dining room to the kitchen beyond.
Then going into the studio, she struck
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a match and was about to light
the candlesticks, which illuminated the room,
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when the bell rang, and a
mister Flanners, a broker compact nervously alive,
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well groomed, was waiting as she
opened the door. Well, you're
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early. On the contrary, you
are late well in any case, hello,
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and come inside here. Let me
take your things first, I suppose,
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of course. And since you are, you can be a good boy
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and help me with the candles.
Delighted? Who's to be here tonight?
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The Enos Jacksons? I thought they
were separated? Not yet? How interesting?
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Only you, dear lady, would
dream of serving us a couple on
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the verge. It is interesting,
isn't it? Assuredly? Where did you
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know Jackson? Through the wearings?
Jackson's a rather doubtful person, isn't he.
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Well, let's call him a very
sharp lawyer. Can they tell me?
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Though? He's been gambling pretty much
indep How about yourself? Me?
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I'm a bachelor. If I lose
my shirt, it makes no difference.
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Is that possible? Probably? Even
who else is coming? Oh, Maude,
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Lily, you know what, I
don't think? So you met her
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00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:52.799
here? Some time ago generally.
Oh, yes, yes, of course
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I've forgotten, mister Harris. The
clubman is coming, and the Stanley Cheevers,
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Stanley Chievers. Are we going to
gamble? Don't tell me you objects
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00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:07.399
certainly not only the Cheevers. Well, they played quite a game, yes,
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well united, they have an unusual
streak of good luck. Oh,
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by the way, it's Jackson,
isn't it. Who is so attractive to
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missus? Cheaper? Quite right?
What a charming party? And where does
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Maut Lily come in? Don't joke, she's in a desperate way. And
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John Harris, Oh, he used
to make the salad and cream the chicken.
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See the whole party, I of
course am to wear the element of
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respectability of what. Don't play baby
with me, my dear Flanders. I
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apologize. No one, of course
knows who else is coming. No one,
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00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:54.679
of course the Stanley Cheever center,
short fat man with a vacant fat
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face and slow moving high and his
wife voluable, nervous, over dressed and
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pretty. Mister Yes, mister Harris
came in with Maude Lily, a woman's
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00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:13.240
straight, dark Indian, great masses
of somber hair held in a little too
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loosely for neatness, with thick,
quick lips and eyes that rolled away from
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the person who was talking to her. The enos Jacksons were late and still
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agitated as they entered. His forehead
had not quite banished the scowl, nor
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her eyes the scorn. He was
of the type that never lost his temper
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but caused others to lose theirs.
Missus Jackson seemed fastened to her husband by
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an invisible leash. You looked at
her curiously and wondered what such a nature
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would do in a crisis, with
a lurking sense of a woman who carried
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with her her own impending tragedy.
As soon as the company had been completed
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and the incongruity of the selection had
been perceived, a smile of malicious anticipation
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and ran the rounds, which the
hostess cut short by saying, well,
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well, now that everyone's here,
this is the order for the night.
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You can quarrel all you want,
you can whisper all the gossip you can
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00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:17.240
think of about one another, but
everyone is to be amusing. Also everyone
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is to help with dinner, and
nothing formal, nothing serious. We may
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all be bankrupt, divorced, or
dead tomorrow, but tonight we'll be gay.
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That's the invariable rule of the house. Oh quite small. Oh thanks
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00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:52.000
everyone. Now, if you excuse
me, I'll get on with the cooking.
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Harris, I need you will,
May I be a very else?
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Thank you, my dear. I
come along too, all right, this
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is an adorable bedroom. Oh,
thank you dear. Now for my apron
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it is tie me off the back, you please, Maud? Of course
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there you were fine. Thanks.
Now just let me get my rings off
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and I'll be all ready to go
to work. Oh, this is such
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a lovely apartment. Miss killed,
air fing, soap and water always seem
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to do it. Ah, there, your rings are so beautiful. They
200
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:37.640
are nice, aren't they. But
there's only one that's very valuable, the
201
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:41.400
sapphire. Oh it's beautiful. Let
me see. Oh it must be very
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valuable. It costs ten thousand,
six years ago. It's been my talisman
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ever since. For the moment,
however, I'm a cook. You're not
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going to leave the rings there?
Why? Of course? Now I'm a
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00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:56.920
cook, Maud. Lily are the
story maid. Harris is the chef and
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00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:00.920
we're all under his orders. Missus
cheaper, did you ever peel onions or
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00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:06.279
with heavens no, well, there
are no onions, peel. All you
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have to do is help us at
the table. Under their hostess's gay guidance,
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00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.599
the seven guests began to circulate busily
through the room, laying the table,
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00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:22.519
grouping the chairs, opening bottles,
and preparing the material for the chaping
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dishes. Missus Kildare in the kitchen, ransacked the ice box and with her
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00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:34.160
own hands shredded the chicken and measured
the cream. Planned this, carry this
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00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.119
in carefully, Jeeva, stop watching
your wife and put the salad bowl on
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00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:45.319
the table. Everything ready, Harris? Also all right, everyone sit down,
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00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:52.240
I'll be riding in. She went
into her bedroom, took off her
216
00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.720
apron and hung it in the closet. Then, going to a dressing table,
217
00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:59.680
she drew the hatpin around which were
her rings from the pincushion, and
218
00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:06.160
carelessly slipped them on her fingers.
But all at once she frowned and looked
219
00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:11.759
quickly at her hand. Only two
rings were there. The third ring,
220
00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:19.039
the sapphire, was missing straps,
she said to herself, and returned to
221
00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:25.799
her dressing table. Immediately she stopped, she remembered quite clearly putting the hatpin
222
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through the three rings. She made
no attempt to search further, but remained
223
00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:37.400
without moving her fingers slowly drumming on
the table who had taken the ring.
224
00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:41.359
Each of her guests had had a
dozen opportunities in the course of the time
225
00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.440
she'd been busy in her kitchen.
She ran over their characters and their situations
226
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.880
as she knew them. Strangely enough, at each her mind stopped upon some
227
00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.519
reason that might explain a sudden temptation
to find out nothing this way. That's
228
00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:02.680
not the important thing to me.
Just important thing is to get the ring
229
00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:07.440
back, And slowly, deliberately,
she began to walk back and forth,
230
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:15.759
a clenched hand, beating the deliberate
rhythmic measure of her journey. Five minutes
231
00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:18.960
later, as Harris installed the chef
over the chafing dish, was giving directions
232
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school in the air, missus Kildare
came into the room like a lengthening shadow.
233
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Her entrance had been made with scarcely
a perceptible sound, and yet each
234
00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:33.839
guest was aware of it at the
same moment, with a little nervous start.
235
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Heavens, heavens, dear lady,
you come in on us like a
236
00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:45.079
Greek tragedy. What is it you
have for us? A surprise? I
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00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:49.680
have something to say to you,
mister enos Jackson. Yes, mus killed
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00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:53.400
her. Kindly do as I ask
you, certainly, go to the door.
239
00:20:55.400 --> 00:21:03.000
Go to the door, please,
yes, lock it and bring me
240
00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:11.400
the key. You've locked it as
you wish me to. Thank you.
241
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:26.119
Now the bedroom door, would you
do the same, Yeah, thank you,
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00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:30.480
mister Jackson. Mister cheever ah,
would you blow out all the candles
243
00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:36.119
except the candlelabra on the table?
Blow out all the candles except the candelabra,
244
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:42.920
all right? For goodness Saints is
killed there? What is it?
245
00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:47.720
I am getting durribly worked up by
my names are all ready, miss Jackson.
246
00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:57.279
That's the last candle? All right
now listen, my sapphire ring has
247
00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:03.480
just been stolen to The ring's been
taken within the last twenty minutes. I'm
248
00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:08.359
not going to mince words. The
ring has been taken and the thief is
249
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:12.960
among you, but missus Kilbury has
passed. So yes, missus chiever is
250
00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.839
not the slightest doubt. Three of
you are in the bedroom, and I
251
00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:18.359
placed my rings in the pincushion.
Quite true, I was in the room
252
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when she took them off. The
sapphire ring was on top. Each of
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00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.759
you has passed through there a dozen
times since my sapphire ring is gone,
254
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and one of you has taken it. I want now. I'll miss you
255
00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:36.079
all. I'm not going to miss
words. I'm not going to stand on
256
00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:41.519
ceremony, but I'm going to have
my ring back. Listen to me carefully.
257
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I'm going to have that ring back, and until I do, not
258
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a soul shall leave this room.
I don't care who's taken it. All
259
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I want is my ring. Now, I'm going to make it possible for
260
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whoever took it to restore it without
possibility of detection. The doors are locked
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and will stay locked. I'm going
to blow out the remaining candles in the
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candelabra. I'm going to count one
hundred slowly. There'll be an absolute darkness.
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No one will know or see what's
done. But if at the end
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of that time the ring is not
here on the table, I shall telephone
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the police and have every one in
this room searched. Am I quite clear?
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Every one takes place about the table
and remain standing. Please? That's
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it. That'll do. Now.
I'll blow out the candles and count one
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hundred, no more, no less. Remember, either I get that ring,
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or every one in this room will
be searched. One, two,
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00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:11.079
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
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00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:22.559
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen,
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00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:30.880
eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty
one, twenty two, twenty three,
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00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:40.559
twenty four, twenty five, thirty
six, thirty seven, twenty eight,
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00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:48.680
twenty nine, thirty, thirty one, thirty two, thirty three, thirty
275
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four, thirty five, thirty six, thirty seven, thirty eight, thirty
276
00:24:56.839 --> 00:25:07.079
nine, forty forty one, forty
two, forty three, forty four or
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00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:12.960
five pot slept off the Chick,
forty seven, forty eight, forty nine,
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00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:21.960
fifty fifty one, fifty two,
fifty three, fifty four, fifty
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five, fifty six, fifty seven, fifty eight, fifty nine, sixty,
280
00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:34.559
sixty one, sixty two, sixty
three, sixty four, sixty five,
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00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:41.640
sixty six, sixty seven, sixty
eight, sixty nine, seventy,
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00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:49.480
seventy one, seventy two, seventy
three, seventy four, seventy five,
283
00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:57.680
seventy six, seventy seven, seventy
eight, seventy nine, eighty eighty one,
284
00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:06.039
eighty two, eighty three, eighty
four, eighty five, eighty six,
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00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:15.160
eighty seven, eighty nine, ninety
ninety one, ninety two, ninety
286
00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:22.759
three, ninety four, ninety five, ninety six, ninety seven, ninety
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00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:33.799
eight, ninety nine, one hundred. Well, well it's the chiever.
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00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:41.960
You may hand it to me.
Well, now that that's ober, we
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00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:52.200
can have a very gay little supper
the lights someone and there you are gentlemen,
290
00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:56.519
Oh, I say, Peters,
that's not all. Absolutely, the
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00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:00.240
history ends there, story ends there. But the hoot of the hing ah
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00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:07.680
what is never found out, never
no clue none. I'm not sure I
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00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:11.400
like the story. That's no story
at all, permit me. It is
294
00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:15.279
a story, and it is complete. In fact, I consider it unique
295
00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:18.799
because it has none of the banalities
of a solution and leaves the problem even
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00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:22.599
more confused than at the start.
I don't horse, you don't see,
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my dear kin. You do not
see that any solution would be commonplace.
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00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:33.240
Whereas no solution leaves an extraordinary intellectual
problem. Well in the first place,
299
00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:37.680
whether the situation actually happened or not, which is in itself a meretor of
300
00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:41.160
reality. Peters has constructed it in
a masterly way, the proof of which
301
00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:45.599
is that he has made me listen. Any of those present might have taken
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00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:49.880
the ring. There are therefore seven
solutions, all possible and all logical.
303
00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:56.880
But beyond this is left a great
intellectual problem. How so was it a
304
00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:00.359
woman who lacked the necessary courage to
continue? Or was it a man who
305
00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:06.559
repented his first impulse? Is a
man? Or is a woman the greater
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00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:10.319
natural criminal? All that simple quinny? A woman took it, of course.
307
00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:14.000
On the contrary, it was a
man, for the second action was
308
00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:17.359
more difficult than the first. A
man certainly, the restoration of the ring
309
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:21.759
was a logical decision. You see. Personally, I inclined to a woman
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for the reason that a weaker feminine
nature is strangely susceptible to the domination of
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00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:29.880
her own sex. There you are. We could meet and debate the subject
312
00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:33.279
gear in and year out and never
agree. I recognize most of the characters
313
00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:37.920
Peters missus Kildare, of course,
is all you say of her? An
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00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:44.680
extraordinary woman. The story is quite
characteristic. Over Flanders, I'm not sure
315
00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:48.319
of, but I think I know
him. I am positive did it really
316
00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:52.759
happen exactly as I told it.
The only one I don't recognize is Harris,
317
00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:59.920
your humble servant. What you Peters? You were there? I was
318
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:07.880
there, I was Harris. Oh
yes, what is it done? Mister
319
00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:12.039
Peters saw your trained You told me
to remind you. Oh, thank you.
320
00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:18.079
Yes, I didn't notice so late
you gentlemen, pardon me. Nice
321
00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:30.799
to meet you all night, curious
chap, extraordinary. Well now I I
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00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:48.559
wonder, I wonder if we're wondering
the same thing, gentlemen. And so,
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00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:53.720
with the enigmatic smile of mister Peters
or Harris, ends one hundred in
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00:29:53.759 --> 00:30:03.079
the Dark. Owen Johnson's smooth story
which gave us to Night's Suspense. Suspense
325
00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:10.000
is produced by William Spear. Tonight's
radio drama was written by Jack Anson Fink,
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00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:15.279
directed by John Diets, and scored
by Bernard Hermann. Eric Dressler was
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00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:21.359
mister Peters, Alice Frost played Missus
Kildare, and Ted Osborne Quinny. Others
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00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:26.880
in the cast were Helen Lewis,
Joan Shay, Henriette Kay, Frank Reddick,
329
00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:30.799
Paul Luther, Stephen Schnabel, Ian
Martin, and Barry Kroger. With
330
00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:36.680
this evening's performance, Columbia brings to
a conclusion the present series of suspense.
331
00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:40.640
If you like these broadcasts, CBS
would be pleased to hear from you.
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00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:48.000
Suspense has been a series presented for
your relaxation and enjoyment by the Columbia Broadcasting
333
00:30:48.119 --> 00:31:03.559
System. Yes quite the musical accompaniment, Eh, Yes, that was one
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00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:08.519
of the best I've listened to in
quite a while. And usually I sit
335
00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:14.079
all alone in this here room,
but ever since I found this old beat
336
00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:21.079
up microphone that still works my jewel, I'm very pleased to allow you to
337
00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:23.839
join me. Of course, that's
only if you'll have me. And you've
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00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:29.680
been very kind and very generous,
and I hope that that means I'll see
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00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:37.319
you right back here tomorrow night.
Every night is a night worth as scarce,
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00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:42.640
so I suppose i'll see you then. Oh what's that? What's that?
341
00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:45.599
Oh no, no, no,
there's no need to know my name
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00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:48.880
Frankly, I'm not sure that I
know it anymore either. It's one of
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00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:55.240
the first things to go when you're
in the situation that I am. But
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00:31:55.400 --> 00:32:00.559
until tomorrow night, stay safe,
get into your cozy bed, and enjoy,
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00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:17.759
enjoy the inevitable. Son Rossi's very
good. You're mumbling














