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Inner Sanctum, is a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952. It was created by producer Himan Brown and was based on the imprint given to the mystery novels of Simon & Schuster.
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00:12Inner Sanctum Mysteries
00:29Good evening, friends.
00:31This is your host to welcome you through the creaking door into the Inner Sanctum.
00:37Come in.
00:39Say, how about joining our Shriek of the Month Club?
00:43We're offering free a shroud-bound copy of Die Alone and Like It.
00:49It's about an unsuccessful authoress who dies of marital illness.
00:55Yes, her husband got sick of her.
00:59However, he was thoughtful enough to bury his novelist wife in the basement.
01:04Now, at last, she's in the best-seller class.
01:19And now for tonight's gruesome little item.
01:23Oh, you better not disturb that fellow in the corner.
01:27He's our ghost of honor tonight.
01:30Poor guy.
01:32He died last night for lack of sleep.
01:35Now he's in for a wave.
01:38Miss John Thompson, age 29, driving a blue coupe across the George Washington Bridge, heading west.
01:48It's kind of a close night.
01:50Heat lightning is dancing up in the sky when I come down off the bridge in the Jersey.
01:55Running a mobile gas station isn't bad when things are breaking right.
02:00But the way things are, I figure I'll do better out west.
02:04I hit the highway and let her out of it.
02:10I spot her a few miles past the bridge.
02:13She's standing there by the side of the road, out in the middle of nothing.
02:19I don't know exactly why, but I stop.
02:23Want a lift?
02:25Thanks.
02:26Now hop in.
02:29Going far?
02:31Not very.
02:32Well, yell when you want me to leave you off, huh?
02:37My name's Thompson.
02:39John Thompson.
02:41Hello, Johnny.
02:43Yeah.
02:44Hello.
02:46What's your name?
02:47Anne.
02:49Uh-huh.
02:50Uh, where in particular are you heading for?
02:53I don't know.
02:54But...
02:55I'll know when we get there.
02:57Yeah, sure.
02:59Uh, look, this ain't the old routine, but you look like I kind of know you from someplace.
03:06Do I?
03:08I don't remember from where or when, but your face, uh, maybe just reminds me of somebody
03:13I used to know, don't anymore.
03:15Maybe.
03:17Uh, you don't remember me, huh?
03:20Should I, Johnny?
03:21Well, it would be kind of more sociable.
03:25I'll try, Johnny.
03:29We go on like that for a couple of three miles.
03:32Her not saying anything and me sneaking a look at her.
03:37She's pretty young and nice to have next to you, but there's this feeling that I ought
03:41to know her and don't.
03:43And I get to wondering where she's going in the middle of the night.
03:47Hey, Anne.
03:48Yes, Johnny.
03:49Hey, maybe we can get some music.
03:51The knob for turning on the radio is over on your side.
03:53See?
03:54All right.
03:56I got these all-night programs with people like us, you know, driving at night or yachting
04:01a truck or sitting up with a sick friend.
04:05Our next request number, uh, just phoned in this minute by a young lady named Anne.
04:10Uh, well, we can't make out your last name, Anne, but anyway, Lou's going right ahead and
04:14play it for you.
04:15Lou, right at the piano, playing Stardust.
04:24He plays a nice piano, huh?
04:26Very nice.
04:28You're the funnier girl with the same name as yours just phoning in to the show and we
04:34start to listen to her.
04:35I mean, with the same first name.
04:38Is it?
04:39Yeah.
04:40Well, I guess it's a coincidence.
04:42I like Stardust.
04:45Well, maybe you'd better try another station.
04:48Why?
04:49I like Stardust.
04:50Yeah, but get another station.
04:52I'm happy with this one.
04:53Get another station or turn the set off.
04:56I don't care which.
04:57Do what I'm telling you.
04:58Why?
04:59Don't ask me why.
04:59I can't take that music.
05:01It bothers me.
05:02Now, will you please?
05:03No.
05:04I said, would you please turn it off?
05:06No.
05:07Look, it's my car.
05:08My radio.
05:10I want you to...
05:11Oh, never mind.
05:11I'll turn it off myself.
05:12You'd better watch the road.
05:13You might have an accident.
05:15I'll turn it off myself.
05:16And I'll let go of my hand.
05:17No.
05:18I don't want you to turn it off.
05:20Let go.
05:20I've got to keep my other hand on the wheel.
05:21I won't let go.
05:22I want you to listen to Stardust.
05:24I like it.
05:25But I don't.
05:26I'm warning you.
05:27Very quickly.
05:28All right.
05:29This is what you wanted.
05:31It's just me.
05:33I told you to turn it off.
05:35I told you to let go of the wheel.
05:37You wouldn't listen to me now.
05:39Now, it's too late.
05:40I told you.
05:42Ben!
05:53It's all black for a while.
05:56Under them, there were streaks of light.
05:58Through the blackness, I shook my head.
06:01I was conscious again.
06:03I slid forward under the wheel.
06:05The car hit the tree.
06:07Pulled myself up.
06:08Get out of the car.
06:12Look, it wasn't damage bad.
06:15Bumper had taken most of the shock when we hit.
06:18One fender was crumpled.
06:20I never remembered.
06:22And she was dead.
06:25I knew I felt her neck give before we crashed.
06:28I swallowed hard for a couple of seconds and went back to the car.
06:33Looked in.
06:35She wasn't there.
06:37She wasn't anywhere near the car.
06:39She hadn't been thrown clear.
06:40She must be dead.
06:42Still, she wasn't there.
06:43Not anywhere.
06:45I drove away.
06:47Fire.
06:55My head don't feel so good, but...
06:58I stopped thinking as I go through the night.
07:00I do puzzles and arithmetic.
07:02Multiplication.
07:03Uh, 49 times 76, 102 times 27.
07:08So I won't think.
07:10Not thinking isn't easy when you're alone, so when I see a diner, I think that's for me.
07:17And I stop and get out.
07:22I walk over to the diner.
07:25The air's still heavy and the crick of the raisin came.
07:28I go in.
07:32Huh?
07:33How'd it be, mister?
07:34Oh, job on a hamburger.
07:37Sure.
07:37Coming up.
07:39Yeah, it's a hot night, ain't it?
07:41Huh?
07:42Oh, I didn't notice you're sitting next to me.
07:45Yeah, it's plenty hot.
07:46You're driving a nice car.
07:48Yeah, I noticed you're pulling in.
07:50That's all right.
07:51Here you are.
07:52Yeah, it looks good.
07:54Say, uh, Joe, I, uh, I was wondering.
07:57You going far?
07:59Far enough.
08:00Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
08:02West?
08:03Uh-huh.
08:04How about me riding with you for a bit?
08:06My feet are getting awful tired holding me up.
08:09Well, sure, I guess so.
08:11Uh, thanks.
08:12Thanks a lot.
08:14Yeah, I could use a bit of company for this.
08:18Hey.
08:19How do you drop your coffee?
08:21I'm sorry.
08:22Did I get anybody on you?
08:23No, you missed, but your hands are trembling.
08:26Well, I'm tired.
08:27Come on, let's get out of here.
08:28Hey, that'll take care of my check.
08:30But hey, you ain't finished your handbag.
08:31I'm not hungry.
08:32Well, uh, you mind if I work it over?
08:34No, of course not.
08:35Only let's get out of here.
08:41Sure is a dark night, huh?
08:43Hurry up, will you?
08:45Yeah.
08:46Dark enough to hide a corpse in.
08:56So, what did you mean back there by dark enough to hide a corpse in?
09:01Nothing.
09:02Just an expression.
09:03Why?
09:04Well, it seemed like a funny thing to say.
09:07I don't think so.
09:09Hey.
09:10Hey, you better slow down.
09:12We're going through a town.
09:13It's deserted this hour and night.
09:16No, it ain't.
09:17Look at that.
09:18Down near the corner.
09:19Huh?
09:19Where?
09:21Ah.
09:22You seen her, huh?
09:24Standing under that lamppost.
09:25Pretty as a picture, ain't she?
09:27Hey, slow down, will you?
09:29Maybe she wants a lift.
09:30You're crazy.
09:31Well, look.
09:32She's giving us the thumbs.
09:33We're going to pass her in a minute.
09:35No, don't bother me.
09:36Yeah, but...
09:38Hey.
09:39Hey, she's calling you.
09:40She knows you.
09:41You can't pass up a girl like that.
09:43Will you shut up?
09:44Wait.
09:44I don't get it.
09:46You was willing to give a hobo like me a lift and you don't even know me.
09:50You know that girl.
09:50She's not there.
09:51She can't be.
09:52Well, you'd seen her.
09:53No.
09:54You looked where I was pointing.
09:56You heard her.
09:56No.
09:57All right.
09:57Yes, I did.
09:58But she's not real.
09:59She couldn't be.
10:00Why?
10:01She's dead.
10:03Yeah, how do you know?
10:04Because I...
10:07Because I saw her die.
10:09Yeah?
10:10Yeah.
10:10In an accident.
10:12A hundred miles from here.
10:14Well, then what was she doing under that lamp hole?
10:16I don't know, mister.
10:17Maybe it was a ghost.
10:19Maybe I'm going crazy.
10:21I've seen her.
10:23And...
10:25Maybe you're dead, too.
10:28And the ghost riding with me.
10:41Well, well.
10:43Look at you.
10:45Chips off an old block of ice.
10:49Splinters from a petrified forest.
10:52Or are you always that way?
10:55Hmm?
10:56Oh, you're not really frightened.
10:58Just pretend he has.
11:00Well, as Zabergia climbed down off that chandelier, I'd listen to the rest of the story about
11:06John Thompson, who took a girl for a boogie ride.
11:13John and the bun he'd picked up rode on for a while in silence.
11:18The knife was closer and heavier, and John was tired.
11:24Hey, hey, watch it, will you?
11:26Oh, sorry.
11:28I can't close my eyes for a second.
11:30Well, you'd better keep them open.
11:31It's healthier.
11:33Yeah.
11:34I'm kind of pooped.
11:37It's been a long night.
11:40That chatter about ghosts.
11:43Yeah?
11:43How come?
11:44Oh, I was kidding.
11:45You were, huh?
11:47It wouldn't be because...
11:49How would you like to get out?
11:51I'd like it fine.
11:53I'd get nervous riding with a guy who turns green when you mention corpses.
11:58Hey, hey, watch that bridge!
12:01You nearly dunked us in that stream.
12:04I can't keep my eyes open.
12:07What if I wash my face, bathe my eyes with cold water?
12:11Yeah, that's an idea.
12:13You can stay in the car.
12:15I'll only be a couple of seconds.
12:16Oh, I'll go along.
12:18I, uh, I could use a drink.
12:21That water looks good.
12:25Dark, peaceful.
12:28You know, you could sleep in water like that.
12:31Yeah, sure, but you wouldn't wake up.
12:35Go on, wash.
12:36Huh?
12:37Oh, yeah.
12:40There, a few swells.
12:42Sure.
12:43It's cold.
12:44It's good.
12:45Uh-huh.
12:46Good for what ails you.
12:48But what does ails you, mister?
12:51Nothing.
12:52I'm tired, it's all.
12:54Getting sleepy.
12:55I'm better now.
12:56Okay.
12:58Well, let's get back to the car.
13:00I'm walking the rest of the way.
13:02What?
13:02Yeah, I want to get there.
13:05There's nothing wrong with my driving.
13:07I didn't say there was, mister.
13:10But are you sure there ain't something wrong with you?
13:13All right.
13:15Walk.
13:17I don't need anybody to ride you.
13:20No, mister.
13:22You already got somebody or something riding with you.
13:34So I walk back to the car.
13:38Get in.
13:41I don't pay no attention, the old bomber says.
13:44Nothing wrong with me.
13:46Nothing.
13:50Start the car and drive off.
13:52Down the highway into the darkness.
13:55It's a long night.
13:56Maybe the longest night I ever lived.
13:59But it's only night someplace, western New York, and that's all.
14:04It's a storm hanging overhead, never breaking.
14:06That's all.
14:10Hello, Johnny.
14:13She's sitting right next to me.
14:17When she saw me looking at her, she smiled.
14:22Hello, Johnny.
14:24Oh, hello.
14:27I didn't expect to see you again.
14:29No, Johnny.
14:31Oh, I left you so far behind.
14:33Not so far behind.
14:35Yeah, but I guess you must have got a list on some other car, a faster car than mine.
14:42That's how you got ahead of me.
14:44Way ahead of me, Johnny.
14:45That's the way it was.
14:47Sure.
14:48You're...
14:49You're all right, though.
14:51I'm all right.
14:52Very all right.
14:54Well, I'm glad to hear that, eh?
14:56I mean, funny, eh?
14:58It'll rain still holding off, you know.
15:00You know, I could have sworn it a port hours ago.
15:03Why are you talking so much, Johnny?
15:06Because...
15:07Because I'm afraid of it.
15:13When will we get there, Johnny?
15:16Get where?
15:17Where you're going.
15:19I don't know.
15:20Why?
15:21Because I'm going there with you.
15:24Oh.
15:28And...
15:35That song's back again.
15:38I don't have to take it.
15:39I can't take it.
15:41She ought to sing that song.
15:42I told her I didn't like it.
15:44I'm not going to tell her again.
15:45It won't do any good.
15:47This time, I'm going to play it smart and sure.
15:50She's looking straight ahead, watching the road slide under the headlights.
15:53So I choked the car.
15:55Hey!
15:56What is it, Johnny?
15:57Oh, there's a motor.
16:00Well, it should be something wrong.
16:04Oh.
16:05Yeah, I'd better get out and see.
16:08I'll wait here.
16:10Sure.
16:12Get the hood up.
16:19Anne?
16:20Yes?
16:21Yeah, I can fix it, but...
16:22Will you bring me the wrench?
16:24Where is it?
16:25In the dashboard compartment.
16:27All right.
16:30I thought it's done.
16:32Well, will you bring it to me?
16:34Here it is, Johnny.
16:35Thanks.
16:37Now all I have to do is...
16:38Hey.
16:39Hmm?
16:41What's that behind you?
16:42Where?
16:43Well, turn around.
16:44You'll see.
16:46All right.
16:47So she turns.
16:49It's back to me.
16:50Looks down the road we can.
16:52And I lift the heavy wrench.
16:54And I...
16:55No!
16:58This time I made sure...
17:01She's dead.
17:03Lying on the road.
17:04But I still gotta make sure she won't...
17:06Even dead be riding with me again.
17:09So I...
17:10I lift her up.
17:12Put her back in the car.
17:15Get in myself next to her.
17:19And start the car up.
17:21I remember the stream.
17:24It's not much of a stream, but...
17:26Deep enough for a thin girl to lie in.
17:28And that's where I go.
17:37It don't take long to get back to the stream.
17:40The bridge over it.
17:41It's where I stop.
17:47Nobody around.
17:49Only the darkness and the water flowing underneath.
17:52Where Ann is going to lie.
17:54But before I let her go...
17:56I dig out my tools.
17:58Tire iron, wrenches, jack, heavy stuff.
18:01Tie them to her.
18:02So she'll lie quiet under the water.
18:05When I get done.
18:07She's heavy now.
18:09Heavy than she ever was before.
18:10But I lift her over the rail...
18:12Hold her for a second in my arms...
18:14Then I let her go.
18:17Drop.
18:18Quick and...
18:20Not awful loud.
18:22Into the water.
18:25Drops to the bottom of the stream.
18:27And where maybe...
18:29Maybe it'll be soft and cool for her.
18:32But I gotta get away from here.
18:35Fast.
18:36Fast!
18:44Every time the wheel turns around.
18:46Every time the valves open and close.
18:49Every time the sparks fire.
18:50I'm getting further away from her.
18:52This time she isn't gonna follow me.
18:55This time she's deep under the water with iron tied to her and her head bashed in.
19:01Never turn around again and find her sitting next to me.
19:04I'd never hear her calling Johnny again.
19:07I'd never see her eyes or her thin body again.
19:10Clouds are pressing down now.
19:12No more moon.
19:14Thunder's purring closer like a big cat.
19:17I don't care.
19:18I'm through with her forever now.
19:21I'm so happy I could sing.
19:29Oh no.
19:33The skies are open.
19:35The light is turning off on our own like God's neon sign.
19:39The thunder's pounding in my head.
19:40I go faster.
19:42Hit a curve.
19:43Take it at 60.
19:44I'm standing there, lit by the lightning and it's...
19:49Gas pedals down to the floor, the motors roaring like a hundred horses screaming.
19:53We're pulling up the hill with the rain slamming against the window pane like a million fingers tapping on my
19:58brain.
19:58The top of the hill swept by the window, wet-dressed clasped against their bodies.
20:04I can't take it.
20:06I can't take it much more.
20:07The car sliding down the wet road like death on butter.
20:10And she's there all the time now, running with the car, face plastered against the closed window next to my
20:16seat.
20:16Johnny.
20:17Annie, you're dead.
20:19Am I, Johnny?
20:20You're dead. I killed you, don't you remember?
20:22No, Johnny.
20:23Back there, I hit you. I dropped you into the water. I hit you. You're dead.
20:27Am I, Johnny?
20:29No, no, no, Ann. Please, please.
20:31Aren't you tired, Johnny? Tired of running away?
20:35Isn't the road too long? The road away from me?
20:38Go away. Go away, Ann.
20:40Don't you want to drive me mad?
20:42No, Johnny.
20:43Then what do you want?
20:45Just to go with you. To the end of your road.
20:48But where's that?
20:50Why, maybe here. Maybe right here. In this town, Johnny. In this town.
21:01Here. It's a town. Small place, and I'm riding through it.
21:09Storm's dying out.
21:11Dying out.
21:13Yeah, and the air's clear now. Fresh after the storm.
21:18And?
21:19No, she's gone.
21:21Now, the thing is, we're...
21:23Oh, no, right up ahead.
21:31Sure.
21:33They always have one.
21:36Yeah, there's a green light shining over the door.
21:41And they're always open.
21:43And there's always a sergeant, half-sleeping in the chair behind the desk.
21:50Hello?
21:51Huh? Oh, what do you want?
21:55My name is John Thompson.
21:57All right, so your name is John Thompson. So what?
22:01If you check, I think you'll find that I'm wanted.
22:05Wanted? For what?
22:06For the murder of my wife, Ann Thompson.
22:09Huh? Hey, don't move. I've got you covered.
22:14I killed her in our apartment in New York City.
22:17Come on. Stick your hands out.
22:20When I killed her, the radio was on.
22:24They were playing Starter.
22:35How'd you like our new arrangement of Stardust?
22:38We're billing it this week as tune number one of the Murderer's Hot Parade.
22:45With, of course, a boogeyman beat on a new grave lane.
22:52Oh, yes.
22:53Before I stop off for a little chat with John and that one-way death cell of his,
22:58let me give you a bit of homicidal advice.
23:01Never kill your wife with the radio on.
23:06Tune in later.
23:19Well, friends, it's time once again
23:21To close that creaking door
23:23Until next week at this same time
23:25When we'll be back with a little hunk of horror
23:30You'll be sure to listen, aren't you?
23:33Until next week, then
23:35Good night
23:38Pleasant dreams
23:46Inner Sanctum has come to you
23:48Through the worldwide facilities
23:50Of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service
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