- 8 months ago
Inner Sanctum Mystery, also known as Inner Sanctum, is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952.
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00:00Good evening, friends of the creaking door.
00:15This is your host to welcome you into the inner sanctum once again.
00:20Come in.
00:21Our little place may not be a mansion, but it has its advantages.
00:25For one thing, it's thoroughly scare-conditioned.
00:29The scream pipes are always in good working order.
00:33And the rent's quite reasonable.
00:34We get a cut rain.
00:48Well, you've had your warning.
00:53Whatever happens from now on, you asked for.
00:57Well, just be sure the family is provided for.
01:01Hmm?
01:01And now, to our happy little anecdote for tonight.
01:07Bird song for a murderer.
01:10My name is Carl Warner.
01:18I'm not a young man any longer, but I don't mind that.
01:22I wasn't very happy when I was young.
01:25Now?
01:26Well, at least I'm not unhappy.
01:29Well, late at night, after Elaine has gone upstairs to bed, but she's my wife, and she's very pretty and younger than I am.
01:39Perhaps I made a mistake in marrying her, but...
01:42Well, late at night, late at night, I go into the womb where I keep the birds, and then, listening to them sing, I get as close to happiness as I can expect.
01:57I stay an hour, and then I cover their cages, and then they know it's time to sleep, and they sleep.
02:10Even on the stormiest of nights, and this was a stormy night.
02:23Someone knocked at the front door.
02:25It was late.
02:26We know very few people.
02:27We kept to ourselves, mostly Elaine and I, so...
02:30I was worried a little when I opened the door.
02:37Yes?
02:38Mind if I come in, Mr. Warner?
02:41This kind of...
02:41Yeah, Bob.
02:42No, of course not.
02:45You...
02:45You seem to know me.
02:48I do, don't I?
02:50But I don't know you.
02:52My name is Brule.
02:54Chester Brule.
02:56Chester Brule.
02:57I still don't know...
02:59Remember?
03:00Hey, that doesn't matter.
03:04What...
03:05What did you want?
03:07Nice place you got here.
03:09Much nicer than Cragmount.
03:12Cragmount?
03:14Cragmount Asylum for the insane.
03:17You...
03:18You work there?
03:20I used to work there.
03:23This is all very interesting, but...
03:25Funny thing happened just before I left.
03:28One of the inmates escaped.
03:30This baby was a homicidal maniac.
03:35Homicidal?
03:36Yeah, that's right.
03:38I don't see what all this has to do with me.
03:40I didn't say it had.
03:43There was one funny thing about this inmate.
03:46What, sir?
03:47Loved canaries.
03:49Loved to listen to them sing.
03:52Psychiatrists at Cragmount found it very interesting.
03:56Birdsong was the only thing that kept the murderous impulses down.
04:01I...
04:01I...
04:02Mr. Warner.
04:03I'm out of work.
04:05That's too bad.
04:06You're not doing badly.
04:09Nice house.
04:10Furnishings.
04:11Didn't I hear canaries singing before I come into the house?
04:16Maybe.
04:17Maybe you did.
04:18So, uh...
04:195,000 in the morning?
04:23No.
04:25I think yes.
04:27Otherwise, Cragmount will be happy to hear from me.
04:3211, Crescent Place.
04:35Room 2B in the morning.
04:37You can show me to the door now.
04:42Of course.
04:44Good night, Mr. Warner.
04:47Till we meet again.
04:51I watched him go out into the blackness,
04:54and the blackness swallowed him.
04:59The birds were quiet.
05:01I thought for a moment of taking the covers off the cages
05:04and letting the birds sing, and then...
05:07Then I thought that tonight...
05:10It might be better if I didn't...
05:13Let the birds sing.
05:25Okay.
05:26Okay.
05:29Who went?
05:31Oh, couldn't wait till morning, huh?
05:34I didn't expect it.
05:36Wait.
05:38Wait, that night.
05:39No.
05:40No.
05:43I shouldn't have let it...
05:45Surprised.
05:48Surprised.
05:48I...
05:49It was a bit of a bad night.
06:03I couldn't have slept more than two or three hours.
06:06Fortunately, Elaine and I had separate rooms.
06:10And at breakfast the next morning,
06:12she was fresh and young and beautiful.
06:19Carl?
06:20Huh?
06:20Why are you staring at me in that funny way?
06:23Nothing.
06:24You really shouldn't read at meals.
06:26With only the paper.
06:27So many exciting things happen, I can't wait till I get to them.
06:30Still...
06:31Oh, isn't that terrible.
06:34What is?
06:35A man was murdered last night.
06:37Not very far from here.
06:38Crescent Place.
06:39Crescent Place.
06:40Such an odd name.
06:42Chester Brule.
06:44Carl, your coffee cup.
06:45Sorry, I...
06:46I wish you wouldn't read the paper.
06:49It says that his canary...
06:50He had a canary car.
06:52Was singing when the landlady found the body.
06:55Oh, that's pathetic.
06:55Elaine, I told you not to read that paper.
06:58But, darling...
06:58Give it to me.
07:00But, Carl, you're tearing the paper up.
07:01What's the matter?
07:02I'm nervous this morning.
07:04Don't remember you ever having been like this before.
07:07I told you I was nervous.
07:08Now, look, darling.
07:10Why don't you go into the aviary?
07:12Listen to the birds for a while.
07:14You love them so, and...
07:17They have such a nice effect on you.
07:19I went into the aviary, as she suggested.
07:27And I listened to the birds.
07:30It was quite a little while before I stopped trembling.
07:36Carl?
07:37Yes, dear?
07:38Come into the kitchen.
07:39All right.
07:41I've been washing the breakfast dishes, darling,
07:44and found this among you.
07:45Darling, darling.
07:46This isn't that funny.
07:47Besides, look at it.
07:49The blade's all covered with brown steel.
07:52I see.
07:53Sure, I washed it after dinner last night.
07:56Did you use it for anything?
07:59No, darling.
08:01Now, give it to me, and I'll wash it now.
08:03Oh, I can do it.
08:04I just wondered what...
08:06Oh, the door.
08:07Will you...
08:08No, you give me the knife.
08:10And you answer the door.
08:12I said you answer the door.
08:14Oh, right.
08:15There's nothing to shout about.
08:17I don't know what's the matter with you, Mr. Morton.
08:21I washed the knife.
08:23Quickly, but carefully.
08:25Very quickly, but very carefully.
08:28It didn't take long.
08:30The...
08:30The stains hadn't hardened much.
08:33The...
08:33The brown...
08:36Stain.
08:38Carl?
08:39Yes?
08:39Someone to see you.
08:41A man.
08:41What does he want?
08:42He didn't say, except that it was important.
08:44I'll go see him.
08:45They said he's a lieutenant.
08:47A lieutenant, Greg, from the police.
08:51There are 17 steps between the kitchen and our living room.
08:56I know because I counted them while I was walking to see Lieutenant Greg of the police.
09:0417 steps to make my face polite, relaxed, and smiling.
09:14But would I be able to hide the trembling of my hands?
09:17You know, Lieutenant Greg, my wife said you wanted to see me.
09:22Yes, that's right.
09:24Mr. Warner, did you know a man named Chester Brew?
09:27Chester Brew?
09:28Why, I...
09:29I can't say offhand.
09:31I've got such a bad memory for names.
09:33I may or I may not.
09:36Why?
09:37He was murdered last night.
09:39You see, we found your name and address in Brühl's address book.
09:44I see.
09:45We thought you might be able to help us.
09:46Well, the fact that my name is in his address book doesn't mean...
09:49Prove anything?
09:50Well, of course not.
09:52Uh, would the fact that Brühl used to be an attendant in an insane asylum mean anything to you?
09:58Why should it mean anything to me?
09:59Well, I didn't say it should, Mr. Warner.
10:01I just thought...
10:02Well, it doesn't.
10:04Well, I guess that's that.
10:06You know, a funny thing.
10:07There was a birdcage in Brühl's room with a canary in it, singing its head off.
10:12Huh?
10:13Well, lots of people are fond of canaries.
10:16Sure, sure.
10:17What was funny about it is that Brühl's landlady swears Brühl never had a bird.
10:23That is funny.
10:26The way it looks, the killer knifed Brühl and then left the cage and the bird in it behind him.
10:31Doesn't make any sense.
10:33Unless you figure that the guy who killed Brühl was insane.
10:37The birds had been quiet, but the slam of the door maybe started them off.
10:46And I knew that somehow I would have to get the cage and the bird in it out of Brühl's room.
10:56I didn't know how I'd do it, but I'd do it no matter how insane it was.
11:07It was dark when I got to Crescent Place.
11:18Dark on a lonely street.
11:21There was no one in front of the house.
11:23Nothing to show that a man had died inside the night before with a knife in his throat.
11:30The door was open.
11:35There was a dim light in the vestibule, leaving the stairs beyond in darkness.
11:44I went up them to the second floor.
11:50There was no one in the corridor.
11:52The door of 2B opened.
11:59And I went in.
12:02There was no light.
12:05The moon cast a pale glimmer over the room and...
12:12Someone...
12:13In a chair near the window.
12:18For a moment I thought it was Brühl, but...
12:22But there was no blood.
12:26And then I realized it was a policeman in uniform.
12:31Asleep.
12:32The cage was near the sleeping man.
12:37Would his sleep be sound enough?
12:41I reached out.
12:44Lifted the cage.
12:47Reached the door.
12:51And closed it.
12:52I...
12:56I was safe.
13:01Carl?
13:02Yes?
13:03Oh, I'm so glad you're home.
13:05That Lieutenant Greg is here again.
13:07Greg?
13:08Where?
13:08In the bird room.
13:09Why did you take him to the bird room?
13:11He asked me to.
13:12All right.
13:17Oh, Lieutenant Greg?
13:19Oh, hello, Mr. Warren.
13:20Quite a collection of canaries.
13:22You've got here.
13:23Yes, I have.
13:24Uh, were you home all last night?
13:26Of course.
13:27This is still about Chester Brühl's murder?
13:30Mm-hmm.
13:31Say, uh, remember my mentioning I thought that the man who killed Brühl and left the birdcage behind him must be insane?
13:38Well, you...
13:39You did say something of the sort.
13:41Yeah, yeah.
13:42And then there's the fact that Brühl used to work with insane people.
13:47Begins to mesh, huh?
13:48Oh, I know very little about police work.
13:50I hope I'm not boring you.
13:52Anyway, it occurs to me maybe I'd better take a trip up to Cragmount.
13:56I suppose going to asylum or any place else is just part of your job.
14:00Oh, sure.
14:02Uh, did I mention Cragmount was an asylum?
14:07Well, uh, you, uh, you must have, uh...
14:11Yeah, yeah, well, I'll run up there and I wouldn't be surprised if I get all the answers.
14:16What do you think?
14:17I think I'm going to...
14:20Oh, uh, what is it, Helene?
14:25Well, it's so late, I thought...
14:27Oh, I can take a hint, Mrs. Warner.
14:30Don't bother showing me to the door.
14:33He seems like a very nice man.
14:35He...
14:35Oh, stop it.
14:37What?
14:38That's dead.
14:39If I didn't know you so well, I'd...
14:42I'd say you were going mad.
14:44Go to bed, Helene.
14:54All right, darling.
14:57Oh, Carl, look.
14:59Look at what?
15:00The window, the garden.
15:02Lieutenant Greg didn't go away.
15:03He's down there.
15:04Get away from that window.
15:05Go to bed.
15:06What's going?
15:08But he looks as if he's waiting down there for something.
15:12For what, Carl?
15:15I knew what he was waiting for.
15:19I knew I mustn't go to sleep.
15:23Things happen when you sleep.
15:27Terrible things.
15:30But I hadn't slept well the night before.
15:34Not well at all.
15:37And there'd be the strain of the day.
15:41And it was night now.
15:43But...
15:43Ah...
15:44Still...
15:46Terribly still...
15:50What's that name?
16:04Gargan?
16:06Gargan?
16:07I was right
16:19I was right, only it wasn't Garkin
16:24Such a lovely morning, Carl
16:35Lovely
16:35I looked for Lieutenant Greg as soon as I got up
16:38He wasn't in the garden anymore
16:40He must have got tired
16:42Gone home
16:43Or back to headquarters
16:45Wherever policemen go
16:47Oh dear, that's the Swenson's dog
16:50He's gone into our garden again
16:53I'll have to get him out
16:54Elaine, don't
16:55Darling, you pick up all the flowers looking for both
16:57Elaine
16:58Maybe
17:01Maybe he won't be there
17:04Hello
17:05Elaine
17:07Where are you?
17:09Oh, I'm in the street
17:11What?
17:12What?
17:13Look
17:13Lieutenant Greg
17:14He's thrown
17:17Come inside
17:19Oh, all right
17:20The kitchen
17:25Carl
17:26Where are you going?
17:28The kitchen
17:29What are you doing?
17:33The drawer
17:33Silverware
17:35Yes
17:38It's here
17:40The carving knife
17:41That's right
17:42Carl
17:43I thought you washed it last night
17:46I guess you didn't
17:47You'd be wrong
17:48I did wash it last night
17:50But the stains are still there
17:52The brown stains
17:53These are fresh ones
17:55Elaine
17:55Get out of my way
17:58But
17:58I've got to go to the bird room
18:01Carl, please don't go away from me
18:03Carl
18:04I was holding the carving knife in my hand
18:08Started to put it down
18:10And then
18:11I
18:11I held on to it anyway
18:14It would make taking the covers off the cages awkward
18:18But
18:19I held on to it anyway
18:22And the birds were still
18:25They'd remain still
18:28Unless I took the covers off
18:31Elaine
18:33Carl
18:33You must tell me
18:35What's wrong?
18:36Don't
18:36Don't come any closer
18:37But
18:38Elaine
18:39Please
18:39Not any closer
18:40You
18:41You've got that knife in your head
18:43Yes
18:43The one with the brown stain
18:45Oh, Carl
18:47Don't say anything
18:49Carl
18:49The night before last
18:51Elaine, don't ask questions
18:52That's dangerous
18:53You were out of the house
18:54No
18:54Last night when Lieutenant Greg was killed
18:56I was asleep
18:56You have the knife, Carl
18:58Yes
18:58Give it to me
18:59No
19:00Please, Carl
19:01No
19:01Stay where you are
19:03All right
19:04You may keep the knife
19:06Because
19:07Look, Carl
19:09A revolver
19:10Yes
19:11Lieutenant Greg's revolver
19:14Elaine
19:15Give that to me
19:18Oh, no
19:19I took it from Lieutenant Greg last night
19:22After he stopped crying
19:25They always cry when
19:28Elaine
19:28Didn't you like it the way you've been looking at me, Carl?
19:32You were thinking that
19:33Maybe you'd have to send me back
19:35To Craig, Mark
19:36I wasn't
19:37You were, Carl
19:38I know you were
19:40After Chester Brew died
19:43Elaine
19:43Stop where you are
19:44All right
19:45Keep your hands away from the birdcage
19:47Don't pull off the covers
19:48Oh, Carl
19:53I've hurt you
19:55Never
19:55Never mind
19:57But I didn't want to
19:59Are you going to cry
20:01Like the others?
20:03It was my fault
20:04Loved you too well
20:07I
20:09I
20:11I really killed those others
20:13Not
20:14You
20:15My darling
20:16That's a very silly thing to say
20:19And I've become quite angry
20:22I
20:23I am quite angry
20:25Carl
20:30You're silly
20:32You pulled the covers off the cage
20:35Carl
20:36Carl
20:38Carl
20:38I'm speaking to you
20:39Those birds
20:41I don't like them
20:42I
20:42Carl
20:44Oh
20:47Poor Carl
20:49He's dead
20:51I loved him
20:53And now he's
20:54Dead
20:55But anyway
20:58He didn't cry
21:01He didn't cry
21:04Well
21:13There it is
21:16That's so sweet
21:18The story of a couple of lovebirds who
21:21Instead of billing and cooing
21:23Went in for killing and shooting
21:26Of course it was all little Elaine's idea
21:31All Carl did was
21:32Cover up
21:34Well friends
21:36It's time once again
21:37To close that creaking door
21:39Until next week at this same time
21:41When we'll be back with a little hunk of horror
21:44You'll be sure to listen aren't you
21:48Until next week then
21:50Good night
21:52Present
21:54Dream
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