- 2 days ago
A bitter fight between a couple. A sea side cottage. And turbulent weather that threatens to turn into a hurricane.
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00:16Come in.
00:19Welcome.
00:21I'm E.G. Marshall.
00:23Welcome to another hour of mystery and suspense.
00:27To a terrifying battle of wits.
00:30Our play poses a dilemma you have never faced.
00:34Or are likely to face in your lifetime.
00:39Whether to commit the murder in your heart.
00:42When your mind tells you to restrain yourself.
00:45Listen to what happened to one man.
00:48Thomas Drake.
00:49Who did face that dilemma.
00:51And what he did about it.
00:56Professor Mowry.
00:57If you're a friend of Emory's.
00:59You've got to tell him.
01:00To stay away from my wife.
01:03Really now Drake.
01:04I.
01:05I don't like to interfere in the personal life of faculty.
01:08You must.
01:09You must tell him.
01:10Or I won't be responsible.
01:12I.
01:13I don't want to kill him.
01:15But I don't trust myself.
01:17Come now Drake.
01:18Sensible people don't solve their marital problems like that.
01:21With murder.
01:23With murder.
01:24With murder.
01:26With murder.
01:32Our mystery drama.
01:34Under grave suspicion.
01:36Was written especially for the mystery theater.
01:38By Hank Warner.
01:40And stars Ralph Bell.
01:42It is sponsored in part by the Kellogg Company.
01:45Makers of Kellogg Special K cereal.
01:48And by Anheuser-Busch Incorporated.
01:51Brewers of Budweiser.
01:52I'll be back shortly.
01:54With act one.
02:05Have you ever returned home late one night.
02:09And listened in the still darkness.
02:12Tense and trembling.
02:14Hoping and praying.
02:16That you would not hear.
02:18The whispered passions of your wife.
02:21And a stranger.
02:24Fearful that you could not.
02:26Would not control a blinding fury.
02:30To kill.
02:32That man getting out of the car.
02:35On that dark dead end road.
02:37On the windswept bluff.
02:39Overlooking the desolate Long Island Sound Beach.
02:43Hurrying by cloud veiled moonlight.
02:45Down the winding footpath.
02:47Through the scrub pines and brush.
02:48To his isolated cottage.
02:50Is Thomas Drake.
02:51Deep.
02:53Despondent.
02:54Depressed.
02:55I should have telephoned.
02:57Given her some warning.
02:59That I'd be home a night earlier.
03:02But deep down I had the feeling that I still couldn't trust her.
03:06And I had to find out.
03:08I hurried towards the cottage.
03:10Wondering why there were no lights on.
03:13Wondering whether she was asleep.
03:15Alone.
03:16Alone.
03:16Or with.
03:18I walked around from the back of the house.
03:21Across the gravel mound.
03:23Toward the waterside port steps.
03:26Not caring whether the crunch of my footsteps could be heard inside.
03:30The only other sound was my pounding heart.
03:33And the surf washing the loose gravel off the burn.
03:38The half moon slipped behind a bank of black clouds.
03:43And in the darkness I tripped over the shovel.
03:46Left lying on the gravel.
03:48I kicked it away.
03:51I went up the port steps.
03:53To the front door.
03:55I tried it.
03:56It was not locked.
03:59I stepped inside.
04:01And listened.
04:03I called out.
04:05Marianne.
04:07The bedroom door was closed.
04:11I opened the door.
04:13I stabbed at the wall switch.
04:16The ceiling flooded.
04:18An empty made up bed.
04:21I went to the kitchen.
04:24Turned on the light.
04:27It was swept and tidy.
04:29The counter of the sink.
04:31The stove top.
04:32Bare and dry.
04:34Not a trace of food particles.
04:36No lingering cooking odors.
04:39The dish mop.
04:40Dish towel.
04:41Bone dry.
04:44I needed a drink.
04:45To calm down.
04:47I reached for the bottle of bourbon in the kitchen cabinet.
04:51Poured myself a stiff one.
04:55Wondering where she was.
05:00The drink only added fuel to my slow burn.
05:03I flushed with waves of anger.
05:06I had to get out in the air.
05:08To think.
05:10I put out the house lights.
05:12Carry the bottle on the glass to the porch.
05:14And settled down.
05:15To wait.
05:20The cool, onshore wind on my face.
05:24The moon playing hide and seek with the dark clouds.
05:28The lights of Connecticut blinking across ten miles of black water.
05:32The old field light alternating beams of green and red.
05:37I was restful.
05:39But as I nursed the bourbon, I couldn't altogether get her out of my mind.
05:45My thoughts wandering back in time.
05:49Wondering if she'd left me or would once again, like the first time.
05:55Before we were married.
05:57And we're living together.
05:59In my apartment on Manhattan's swingy side.
06:03Two modern, sensible singles.
06:06Willing to give it a try.
06:12I had a job then.
06:14Good job.
06:16I was a vice president with electronics engineering.
06:20I got home that night.
06:22It was Friday night, about eight o'clock.
06:25And as I let myself in...
06:27Yes.
06:27Yes, dear.
06:28I heard her talking on the phone.
06:30Come on up, Jack.
06:31Oh, ask the doorman to hold the cab.
06:34He just got home.
06:37Well, who was that, Jack Harrison?
06:40Of course.
06:41Who else?
06:42You know, I'm getting tired of his hanging around.
06:45Why did you tell him to stop calling you?
06:48He didn't.
06:49I called him.
06:51You look so surprised, Thomas.
06:54You don't have the time anymore for anything but dear old electronics engineering.
06:58You did phone me you wouldn't be home for dinner, so...
07:01I called him.
07:02There's a movie I want to see.
07:04That's the third time this week.
07:06Oh, I didn't know you were counting, darling.
07:14I waited that night, watching television, dozing fitfully.
07:21My mind going back to the smiles and looks they had exchanged as they left.
07:26I could see them after the movies going to the purple camellia for nightcaps
07:32and the wild rock of the patting cougars
07:35and then sensor-stimulated bodies pulsating with savage beats
07:40to spend the night with him.
07:49I was awakened from my sleep in the chair by the buzzing TV set.
07:57It was four o'clock.
08:00I fought off the idea of phoning her at Harrison's apartment.
08:04I had no one but myself to blame.
08:07We had agreed, like two sensible moderns,
08:10that there'd be no strings,
08:12that we'd be free to live our own lives.
08:15And for the first time, I admitted to myself
08:19I didn't want that freedom.
08:24By ten o'clock that morning, I couldn't stand it.
08:27I phoned Harrison's apartment.
08:30There was no answer.
08:32I went down to the lobby reception desk to get the mail.
08:35It hadn't arrived yet.
08:36But the clerk handed me an unstamped envelope,
08:39my name and apartment number on it,
08:41in Marianne's handwriting.
08:42I tore it open.
08:45Dear Tom, I'm sorry.
08:48I think it would be best for both of us to call it quits.
08:51I'm going away.
08:53There was no date on the plain white notepaper.
08:56No imprint of name and address,
08:58no forwarding address.
09:00Just signed, Marianne.
09:03I refused to believe it.
09:05I hurried right back up to the apartment,
09:07to her bedroom closet.
09:09Her clothes were gone.
09:13I got through the day somehow,
09:15in a daze.
09:17But the next day,
09:18when I went out to get the Sunday paper
09:20and returned to the apartment,
09:23there she was,
09:25unpacking.
09:27I changed my mind.
09:32Let's have a drink.
09:35Want to tell me?
09:37There's not much to tell.
09:39He told me he has a wife,
09:41three children in Connecticut,
09:43that she won't let him go.
09:45So he couldn't marry me.
09:48Marry you?
09:50You...
09:51You want to get married?
09:57Is that all?
10:00You want to get married?
10:05Will you marry me?
10:07Yes.
10:19Now, here I am,
10:22waiting once again.
10:25Like two sensible moderns,
10:28we adjusted to marriage.
10:30We seemed to be making a go of it.
10:33Until I lost my job
10:35and the cutbacks of government contracts.
10:39We subleased the apartment,
10:42moved to the cottage,
10:43to make the rounds of electronic firms on Long Island.
10:48I sat there on the porch,
10:50waiting once again,
10:53looking up and down the beach.
10:56And suddenly I saw a flashlight
10:57about a hundred yards down the beach.
11:00It moved around,
11:01but it did not advance.
11:03And then it went out.
11:05I listened.
11:07The crunch of footsteps on gravel,
11:09carried by the wind,
11:10grew louder.
11:11I could make out the silhouettes of a man
11:14and a fishing rod on his shoulder.
11:17He was alone,
11:18hugging the water line.
11:20As he came abreast,
11:22I called out,
11:22uh,
11:23any luck?
11:24It was Professor Mallory
11:26of the State University Marine Laboratory
11:28at nearby Flax Pond.
11:29Oh, not a thing.
11:31I was hoping to pick up a striper.
11:34Line got snarled in the reel,
11:36too tangled to bother with tonight.
11:38I'm just having a nightcap.
11:40Did you join me, Professor?
11:41I could stand one short one.
11:44I'm getting a bit nippy.
11:49We talked.
11:51He sipped his whiskey.
11:53I don't know how many I had.
11:56He talked about projects
11:57at the Marine Lab,
11:58the need for more state funds
12:00for research on wetlands,
12:02water pollution,
12:02erosion.
12:04He knew I was trying
12:05to get relocated.
12:07He'd given me a letter
12:08to an executive
12:08at the Grumman plant.
12:09Hear anything from Grumman?
12:12No, not a thing.
12:14I'm about exhausted
12:15the job possibilities
12:16on Long Island
12:17I spent yesterday
12:18and today in New England.
12:19Mm-hmm.
12:20Well,
12:21thanks for the drink.
12:23I'm sure the job market
12:24will open up.
12:25Say hello to Mrs. Drake.
12:27Thanks again.
12:28Uh, Dr. Mallory.
12:29Yes?
12:31Would you do me a favor?
12:33A favor?
12:36Are you a friend
12:36of Emory,
12:37Richard Emory?
12:38I know you know him.
12:40But are you
12:41a friend of his?
12:43Well,
12:44he's
12:44one of several
12:45new young chaps
12:46doing post-doctorate work
12:48at the Marine Lab.
12:49It's a small group
12:51and we're all
12:52more or less friendly.
12:53I mean,
12:53will he listen
12:55to you
12:55as a friend?
12:57Listen?
12:58Yes.
12:59Tell him
13:00to stay away
13:01from my wife.
13:02Well,
13:04Emory?
13:04Your wife?
13:05That's right.
13:06Don't ask me
13:07how I know.
13:09Little things,
13:10I know.
13:10I, uh,
13:11I come home
13:12tonight.
13:13She's not home.
13:15I know.
13:16Well,
13:16it's a
13:17rather personal matter.
13:19I don't feel
13:19I have the right
13:20to meddle
13:21in the personal affairs
13:23of a faculty member.
13:23If he doesn't,
13:24I'll kill him.
13:25Now,
13:26Drake,
13:26don't talk like that.
13:28Sensible people
13:29don't solve
13:30such problems
13:31like that.
13:31That's what I always
13:32thought,
13:33but now I...
13:33Look,
13:34Drake,
13:35if you don't mind
13:36my giving you
13:38some advice,
13:39why don't you
13:40just get a divorce
13:41or separation?
13:43You just tell
13:44Emory to stay
13:45away from her.
13:46You must tell
13:48her,
13:48Mallory.
13:49You must.
13:50I don't want
13:51to kill her,
13:52but I'm afraid.
13:56There'll be
13:56a breaking point.
13:58You tell
13:59him,
13:59Mallory.
14:00Tell him.
14:01If you don't,
14:03you'll share
14:04the responsibility.
14:05Now,
14:05Tom,
14:06you're overwrought.
14:07You'll feel
14:08better in the morning.
14:10All right,
14:11I'll talk
14:12to Emory.
14:13Thanks.
14:14Good night,
14:15Tom.
14:24I picked up
14:25the bottle.
14:26It still
14:27had about
14:27one drink in it.
14:29I walked
14:30down to the
14:30waterline.
14:32I swallowed
14:33what was left
14:34in the bottle,
14:35and with
14:36swelling anger,
14:37I flunk it
14:38into the waves.
14:40I turned
14:40back towards
14:41the cottage
14:41and stopped.
14:44I saw
14:45a flashlight
14:46down the beach.
14:47I could make out
14:49two persons
14:50walking towards me,
14:52and then the light
14:53was out
14:55and silhouetted
14:56against the night sky.
14:59Two forms
15:00embraced as one,
15:02and then carried
15:04by the wind
15:04rising out of the
15:05northeast,
15:06I heard
15:06the teasing
15:07laughter
15:08of Marianne.
15:16Well,
15:17there may be
15:18laughter in the
15:19wind,
15:19but for poor
15:21Tom,
15:21this is no time
15:23for levity.
15:25Wonder whether
15:25he knows
15:26that it's an
15:27ill wind
15:28and will blow
15:29him
15:29no good.
15:31I'll be back
15:32shortly
15:33with Act Two.
15:45Now,
15:46what's a fellow
15:46to do?
15:48Poor Tom Drake
15:49is in the dark
15:50and all at sea,
15:52wondering where
15:53he ought to be
15:54or not to be.
15:56But let's not
15:57blow the man down.
15:59Just lend me
16:00your ears
16:01and we'll listen.
16:07their embrace
16:08in the dark
16:09was brief
16:10and they started
16:11walking towards
16:12the cottage
16:13without using
16:14the flashlight.
16:15For a split second,
16:17I thought of
16:17walking towards them
16:18for a showdown,
16:20but Mallory's promise
16:21to talk to Emery
16:22made me put aside
16:23the impulse.
16:25I ducked behind
16:25a line of boulders
16:26that formed a breakwater
16:27above a high water line.
16:29They stopped
16:30in front of the cottage.
16:32From behind the boulders
16:33I watched
16:34and listened.
16:37That was a good hike.
16:38Yeah.
16:39Let's go inside.
16:40Let's sit out here
16:42for a while.
16:43It's such a beautiful night.
16:45I'd like a cigarette.
16:47Okay.
16:48He sat down
16:50beside her,
16:51struck a match,
16:53cupped it in his hands
16:54and held it
16:54to the cigarette
16:55in her lips.
16:56In the glow
16:57from the match flame,
16:59her face flushed,
17:01her eyes
17:02dreamy with desire.
17:04I knew I would
17:05never give her up.
17:07I'm going out
17:08to Montauk next week.
17:09It's a long
17:10Monday holiday weekend.
17:11How about coming with me?
17:13Hmm, I'd love to,
17:15but I'll have to figure out
17:17some excuse to be away.
17:19Figure out.
17:21Well, that shouldn't
17:21be any problem.
17:23You're pretty clever
17:24about such things.
17:25I'll think of something.
17:27I couldn't help
17:28thinking she was
17:30pretty clever
17:30about such things.
17:32Like the night she went
17:34with that very
17:35clever Harrison
17:38leading her on.
17:41I'd never forget
17:42that Friday night.
17:44And now,
17:46another Friday night.
17:47Come on,
17:48let's go inside.
17:49You said he won't
17:50be back tonight.
17:51Oh, relax, Richard.
17:53You mean to tell me
17:54you prefer this
17:55cold gravel
17:56to a nice,
17:57comfortable couch?
17:59Come on,
18:00Marianne.
18:01Oh,
18:02what's wrong
18:02with staying out here?
18:04Omar Khayyam
18:05was content
18:06with a
18:07a jug of wine,
18:09a loaf of bread
18:10beneath a bough.
18:11Not bad.
18:13Not bad.
18:14The laughter
18:15broke off suddenly.
18:17I saw the
18:18glowing tips
18:18of two
18:19flipped cigarettes
18:20and then...
18:21Kiss me,
18:22Richard.
18:23I'm crazy about it.
18:25Stop it!
18:26Stop it!
18:27Tom!
18:28What are you...
18:28Marianne, go inside.
18:30Go inside, I tell you.
18:31Now, wait a minute.
18:31Why?
18:31If you have anything
18:32to say,
18:33you can say it here
18:33in front of Richard.
18:34Go inside!
18:35Let go of my arm!
18:36Now, listen,
18:36you leave her alone.
18:37Let go of her!
18:39He broke my grip
18:40on her arm
18:40and pushed me away.
18:42Richard!
18:43This shove
18:43made me slip to my knee.
18:45I came up swinging
18:46at his face
18:46and missed
18:47to pin my arms
18:48from behind.
18:49No, listen!
18:50What's the matter
18:50with you?
18:51Are you crazy?
18:53I broke out
18:54of his grip,
18:54stepped back
18:55from him
18:56and fell
18:57across the shovel.
18:58I grabbed the handle,
19:00jumped up...
19:00No!
19:01No!
19:02...and swung
19:02at Emery.
19:03Too late for me
19:04to stop the swing.
19:05No!
19:06As she rushed
19:06in between us,
19:07the sharp edge
19:08of the shovel
19:08hit her
19:09in the back
19:09of a hit.
19:10Oh!
19:12Oh, my God!
19:14I stood there
19:16holding the shovel
19:19unable to move
19:21my eyes fixed
19:22on her face
19:23as Emery
19:25knelt down
19:25over her
19:26with the flashlight.
19:28I watched her face
19:29and prayed
19:32prayed
19:32she wouldn't die.
19:36I trembled
19:36with fear
19:36and anguish
19:37telling myself
19:38this couldn't be.
19:39It was a nightmare.
19:41Emery turned
19:41the flashlight
19:42on me
19:42studied
19:43my trembling
19:44lips,
19:45my glazed eyes
19:46fixed on
19:47Mary Ann.
19:48She's...
19:50She's dead.
19:52I heard him
19:53but didn't answer.
19:55I couldn't
19:56take my eyes
19:57off her.
19:58Drake,
19:59did you hear
19:59what I said?
20:00She's dead
20:02and you killed her.
20:04You better go
20:04in the house
20:05and call the police.
20:06I looked at him
20:08puzzled.
20:10My mind,
20:11my eyes,
20:12my memory
20:12playing clicks
20:13on me
20:14wondering
20:15who he was.
20:17Harrison?
20:19Jack Harrison?
20:22Mocking me
20:23the night
20:24he took her
20:24to the movie
20:25telling me
20:26we'll be back.
20:27What's the matter
20:28with you, Drake?
20:29Don't you hear me?
20:30Call the police.
20:31I'll tell them.
20:32I'll say
20:33it was an accident.
20:34She tried to steal...
20:36I don't think
20:37you've heard
20:37a word I said.
20:39I'll call
20:40the police myself.
20:41Where are you
20:42going, Harrison?
20:43Call the police.
20:44Who's Harrison?
20:46I'm Emery,
20:47Richard Emery.
20:49Drake.
20:51I'll be right back.
20:52Don't turn
20:53your back on me.
20:54What?
20:56He looked back
20:57as I swung the shovel.
20:58His mouth open,
20:59his eyes unbelieving.
21:02She went down.
21:04I hit him again.
21:07He was still
21:09lying on his face.
21:11I staggered,
21:12gasping for air,
21:14my head pounding,
21:16thousands of pinpoints
21:17of light exploding
21:18inside my head.
21:20I sank down
21:21on the steps
21:21of the porch,
21:22holding my head
21:23in my hands,
21:24trying to clear my head,
21:26groping to recall,
21:28understand
21:29what had happened
21:30to me,
21:32to them.
21:34slowly,
21:35the horror of it
21:35all returned.
21:38Marianne was dead.
21:40I turned the other
21:41body face up.
21:43It was not Harrison.
21:46It was Emery.
21:55I don't know
21:55how long
21:56I sat there
21:57on the porch steps.
21:59Finally,
22:00I faced it.
22:01I decided
22:02to try
22:03to get rid
22:03of the bodies,
22:05bury them
22:05temporarily
22:06in the gravel berm.
22:09I'd have to get
22:10a small boat,
22:12that rowboat,
22:13in the woods
22:14just above
22:14the floodwater line
22:16stored by one
22:17of these summer
22:17residents.
22:19I'd row the bodies
22:20out to the channel,
22:22weight them,
22:23drop them overboard
22:24on an outgoing tide.
22:26The strong current
22:28on the bottom
22:28of the channel
22:28would move them
22:29out to the sea.
22:31The loose scrabble
22:33was only about
22:33three feet deep.
22:35It would be deep
22:36enough to hide them.
22:39I dragged the bodies
22:40over,
22:41laid them
22:42end to end,
22:44covered them,
22:46building up
22:47the gravel mound
22:48to the same height
22:48of the berm
22:49that ran parallel
22:50to the water level.
22:54I inspected
22:55the shovel.
22:56The metal
22:57glistened
22:58clean,
22:59no sign
23:00of blood
23:00or hair.
23:01I stood it
23:02against the porch rail,
23:04went inside.
23:05I sprawled out
23:07on the bed,
23:07exhausted,
23:09and fell
23:10into a heavy,
23:11dreamless sleep.
23:21I woke up
23:22the next morning
23:23about an hour
23:23after sunrise.
23:25My mind clear,
23:27instantly aware
23:28of what had happened,
23:29what I had done.
23:31I jumped off
23:32the bed,
23:32went to the porch
23:33door,
23:34looked at the
23:35gravel graves
23:36on the berm.
23:38It looked natural,
23:39peaceful,
23:41like a cemetery.
23:43I knew
23:44what I had
23:44to do.
23:46I put on
23:47the coffee,
23:47showered,
23:48changed my clothes,
23:50became aware
23:51that her clothes
23:51were still
23:52hanging in the closet.
23:53I got the old note
23:55she had left me
23:55on that weekend
23:56with Harrison,
23:57read it over
23:58and over
23:59as I had my coffee
24:00on the kitchen
24:00counter.
24:01I turned on
24:02the radio
24:02for the weather.
24:03The Bureau
24:03reports Hurricane
24:04Gilda moving
24:05past Cape Hatteras,
24:07leaving a devastating
24:08trail.
24:08I placed the note
24:09on the counter,
24:10carefully spilled
24:11a spoonful of coffee
24:12on the counter,
24:13wetting a large
24:14corner of the paper,
24:15and then blotted it
24:17with a paper towel.
24:18I knew I'd have
24:19to keep checking
24:20the weather.
24:21But first,
24:22get rid of her clothes.
24:24I put them
24:24in a large plastic
24:25garbage bag.
24:26I knew I'd have
24:27to stay close
24:28to the cottage
24:28until I got rid
24:29of the bodies,
24:31lay in a supply
24:31of food,
24:32so I drove
24:33to the supermarket,
24:34put the clothes
24:35into the collection
24:36bin of the Salvation Army
24:37on the parking lot.
24:38I did my shopping
24:40and was back
24:40in less than an hour.
24:44I went up
24:45to where the rowboat
24:46was on the bank
24:47of trees.
24:48It looked all right.
24:50Aluminum,
24:50light enough to drag.
24:52The oars were in it
24:53and burlap fish bags,
24:55strong enough
24:56to hold the rocks
24:56I'd use for weights.
24:58I'd have to wait
24:59until dark
25:00to move the bodies.
25:01In the meantime,
25:03I could move the boat.
25:05It was a couple
25:06of hundred yards.
25:10I placed the boat
25:11on top
25:12of the grave.
25:18By nightfall,
25:19the Coast Guard
25:20was sending out
25:21small craft warnings
25:22and all through the night
25:23I was glued
25:24to the radio
25:26for weather checks,
25:28feeling trapped,
25:30helpless
25:30to do
25:31what I had planned.
25:32I finally fell asleep
25:34on the couch.
25:39I was awakened
25:40by the Sunday morning
25:41church music
25:42and a loud knocking
25:44on the porch door.
25:45Jale!
25:46Are you in now?
25:48I didn't recognize
25:49the voice
25:50and I hesitated.
25:52The knocking stopped.
25:54I heard him walk
25:55down the porch steps.
25:57I put on my shoes,
25:58went to the door.
26:00He was sitting
26:01on the edge
26:01of the transom
26:02of the boat.
26:02His back to me,
26:04smoking a cigarette,
26:06fishing pole
26:06across his knees.
26:08It was Mallory.
26:09He turned.
26:11Didn't wake you,
26:11did I?
26:12I heard the radio
26:13and I thought
26:14I'd stop by.
26:16Uh,
26:17feel all right?
26:18Okay now,
26:19but, uh,
26:21yesterday,
26:22what a head.
26:24All day.
26:25How about some coffee?
26:26Oh, thanks,
26:27but I've got to get
26:27back to the lab.
26:29I didn't know
26:30you had a boat.
26:32Oh,
26:32it's not mine.
26:34Along to the Johnsons.
26:35I, uh,
26:36saw a couple of kids
26:36dragging it out
26:37to the, the, the,
26:38uh, patch of trees
26:39up there.
26:39They ran when I
26:41started towards them,
26:42thought I'd better
26:42keep it here for them.
26:43Ah,
26:44yes,
26:44it's safe enough here,
26:45unless we get
26:46that hurricane.
26:48I'd pull it up
26:49on higher ground
26:50if the weather
26:50gets worse
26:51and Gilder
26:52doesn't move out sea.
26:54Well,
26:55I'm glad to see
26:56you're feeling better.
26:56Oh,
26:57Dr. Mallory,
26:57did, uh,
26:59did you get a chance
27:00to talk to Emery?
27:02Uh,
27:03no.
27:04Matter of fact,
27:05I haven't seen him.
27:07I stopped by his room
27:08Friday night
27:09after I left you.
27:11He wasn't in.
27:12I left a note
27:13to call me.
27:15Didn't hear from him
27:16all day Saturday.
27:18Wasn't in Saturday night.
27:20Not in his room
27:21this morning either.
27:23It's not like him
27:24to go off
27:26without a word.
27:27Hmm.
27:30I've been, uh,
27:31thinking over it,
27:31Dr. Mallory.
27:32It's, uh,
27:33it's no use
27:33talking to Emery.
27:34I can't keep it tied to me.
27:37She's left me.
27:38Oh, did she?
27:40I'm sorry.
27:42Eh,
27:42perhaps for the best.
27:43Well,
27:43she didn't get home
27:44for Friday night
27:45and let me know
27:45that I found it
27:47in the kitchen
27:48this Saturday morning.
27:49Is she
27:50leaving you
27:51for Emery?
27:53She didn't say.
27:55Ah,
27:55I see.
27:57Mm-hmm.
27:58Well,
27:59I'm sorry,
28:00Drake.
28:00I really am.
28:07Sunday night,
28:08I was still
28:08trapped by the weather.
28:10It got worse
28:11through the night,
28:12but the weather report
28:13said there still was
28:14a 50-50 chance
28:15that the hurricane
28:16would bypass
28:16Long Island.
28:25About noon
28:26the next day,
28:27the wind
28:27died down.
28:29I stood there
28:30by the rowboat,
28:31wondering whether
28:32I should take the chance
28:33in broad daylight.
28:35Long Island Sound
28:36was still,
28:37calm as a lake.
28:39I heard a helicopter
28:41coming across
28:42Crane Neck,
28:44routine patrol
28:45to the shore.
28:47I could read
28:49Suffolk Police.
28:51And then
28:54Dr. Mowry
28:55coming down
28:55the beach
28:55towards me.
28:57I stood there
28:58waiting for him.
28:59Well,
29:00I'm glad
29:01I find you home,
29:02Drake.
29:02Oh,
29:03I've just
29:03been answering
29:04more job ads.
29:05Yeah,
29:05have you heard
29:06from Mrs. Drake
29:07a letter,
29:08perhaps a phone call?
29:09Why,
29:10no,
29:10I haven't.
29:11Well,
29:11I'm getting
29:12really concerned
29:13about Emory.
29:15No one at the lab
29:16has seen him
29:17or heard from him
29:17for three days.
29:19This morning,
29:20I looked through
29:22his room.
29:23His clothes,
29:24his suitcases
29:24were there.
29:26I can't understand.
29:28I was hoping
29:30if you'd heard
29:30from Mrs. Drake
29:31and knew where she was,
29:32I'd ask her
29:33if she had any idea
29:34about where
29:35Emory might be.
29:36Well,
29:36I do have her
29:37mother's phone number
29:38in Ohio
29:39and her sister's
29:41in Connecticut.
29:42If you don't mind.
29:44Do you want
29:45to call from here?
29:46Thanks,
29:46but I'm on my way
29:47to the village hall
29:48to see
29:48Police Chief Raymond.
29:54I stood there
29:55watching him
29:56make his way
29:57along the beach
29:57to the village hall
29:58at the old
29:59Field Lighthouse,
30:01wondering
30:02just what he'd tell
30:03Chief Raymond.
30:09Well,
30:10you know
30:10what they say.
30:12The path
30:13of gory murder
30:14leads but
30:16to the grave.
30:17What do you suppose
30:19will happen
30:19to Tom Drake?
30:20Will he be like
30:21that comedian
30:22who murdered people
30:23with stolen jokes
30:24and was hanged
30:26by his wit's end?
30:28I'll be back shortly
30:29with Act Three.
30:42The lot
30:43of most policemen
30:44is not
30:44a happy one.
30:46Wonder how
30:47Police Chief Raymond
30:48will receive
30:49Professor Mallory
30:50and will he use
30:52the right bait
30:53and make a haul
30:55or lose
30:56hook, line, and sinker.
30:58Let's follow
30:59our troubled professor
31:00and find out.
31:01What's this all about?
31:03Emma said
31:03to tell me
31:04it was urgent.
31:06Well, I mean
31:06it's not a matter
31:07of life or death,
31:08is it?
31:09I
31:10hope not.
31:11Oh, well
31:12you sound like
31:14you're not so sure.
31:15I'm not
31:16but I am
31:17getting worried.
31:18Somebody been
31:19stealing typewriters
31:21and lab equipment again?
31:22Oh, no, no, no,
31:22Chief.
31:23I
31:24well, this may sound
31:25odd but
31:27a member of the lab
31:28faculty
31:29is
31:30seems to be
31:32missing.
31:33Oh?
31:34That's
31:34what do you mean
31:35missing?
31:37No one's seen him
31:38since Friday afternoon.
31:40Well, this is only
31:41Monday.
31:42Yes, yes, but
31:43he was not in his room
31:44Friday night,
31:45Saturday night,
31:46Sunday night.
31:48He didn't show up
31:49in the lab today.
31:50Well, what about
31:50his weekends?
31:51Did he have them free?
31:52Oh, sometimes
31:53when scheduled.
31:54He was not scheduled
31:56to be off
31:56this weekend.
31:57Uh-huh.
31:58The chap he rooms with,
31:59Garrison,
32:00says he saw
32:01Emery Friday noon.
32:03Well, Garrison was off
32:04this past weekend.
32:05He got back Sunday night.
32:07I saw Garrison
32:08this morning.
32:10He wasn't surprised
32:11or upset
32:12over the fact
32:13that Emery
32:13hadn't spent the night
32:14in his room.
32:15Mm-hmm.
32:15It, uh,
32:17wasn't the first time.
32:18Do you know that
32:19cottage
32:20the Drake's rented?
32:22Yes, I do.
32:22It belongs to Howard's.
32:23Is that the one?
32:24What about it?
32:26Well, last
32:26Friday night,
32:28I was out
32:29casting along the beach.
32:32On my way back
32:33to the lab,
32:34Drake invited me
32:35to stop
32:36for a nightcap
32:37on the porch.
32:39and he'd already
32:40had quite a few.
32:42I had one drink
32:43with him
32:44and he asked me,
32:46was I a friend
32:47of Emery's?
32:49And he asked me,
32:50the way he put it,
32:53would I do him
32:53a favor?
32:54Mm-hmm.
32:55Go on, go on.
32:57What he wanted me
32:58to do
32:58was for me
32:59to tell Emery
33:00to stay away
33:03from his wife.
33:04Ah.
33:06Now, did he explain that?
33:07Did he mean
33:08Emery was annoying
33:09his wife
33:10or did he mean
33:11they were
33:11having an affair?
33:13Well, my first impression
33:14was that it was
33:15more or less
33:16a dalliance.
33:19Well, that's kind of
33:20par for the course
33:21in this university town,
33:22you know.
33:23Yes, perhaps,
33:23but I...
33:24I told him
33:26I'd prefer
33:26not to get involved
33:27in personal affairs
33:29of faculty members.
33:30And what'd he say?
33:30He said if Emery
33:33didn't stay away,
33:35he'd kill him.
33:37His exact words.
33:39Huh?
33:39Of course,
33:40he was very drunk
33:41when he said it.
33:43I told Drake
33:44to calm him down
33:45that I'd talked
33:46to Emery.
33:46Yes, I see.
33:47Well, now,
33:47what about Mrs. Drake?
33:48Was there anything
33:49said to indicate
33:50whether she was
33:51inside the cottage
33:52while Drake was
33:53blowing his top
33:54this way to you?
33:55No, no.
33:56There were no lights
33:57on inside.
33:58Matter of fact,
33:58Drake made it clear
33:59that she was not home.
34:01he implied,
34:02without mentioning
34:03Emery by name,
34:05that she was out
34:06somewhere with him.
34:07Well, in that case,
34:08she could have
34:09some idea
34:10about where he might be.
34:11That occurred to me.
34:13I went back there
34:15yesterday morning
34:16with that in mind.
34:17And did she?
34:19She wasn't there.
34:21Drake told me
34:22she'd left him.
34:24He said she
34:25didn't come home
34:26at all Friday night.
34:28He said he found
34:29a note from her
34:30in the kitchen
34:31Saturday morning.
34:32Well, that's quite
34:33a coincidence
34:34to say the least.
34:35Did the note say
34:36she'd gone away
34:37with Emery?
34:38Well, Drake didn't
34:39show me the note,
34:39but as much as said,
34:41there was no mention
34:42of Emery.
34:43Have you been to the cottage
34:44since yesterday?
34:45I stopped there
34:46on my way here.
34:48Drake says he hasn't
34:49heard a word from her.
34:50No mail,
34:51no phone call.
34:53But I asked him
34:54would she perhaps
34:55have gone to
34:56her parents' home
34:58to a relative
35:00and he gave me
35:01these phone numbers.
35:02Oh, yes,
35:03let me see that.
35:04Ohio
35:06and Connecticut.
35:07You think
35:08we ought to call them?
35:10No.
35:11No.
35:13I'll drop in on Drake.
35:14I'd rather he made
35:15the call.
35:16You see,
35:16if we can't locate
35:17Mrs. Drake
35:18and you don't hear
35:19from Emery,
35:19that leaves us
35:20with two missing persons.
35:22We'll put out
35:22in all points
35:23teletype alarm,
35:24full descriptions
35:25and photos.
35:26I'll keep you posted,
35:28Mallory.
35:35I'll come to the point,
35:37Drake.
35:38Mallory,
35:38Professor Mallory
35:39up at the marine lab,
35:40you know,
35:41came to see me
35:42and he's a bit worried
35:43about the absence
35:44of a faculty member,
35:46one Richard Emery.
35:47There's no use
35:48being delicate
35:48about this, Drake.
35:49From what he told me,
35:50it does look like
35:51Emery and your wife
35:54ran off together,
35:55doesn't it?
35:56Yes,
35:57it sure looks like it.
35:59Do you mind
35:59if I see that note
36:01she left you?
36:02Oh, no,
36:03not at all.
36:03It's on the kitchen
36:04condo
36:05where I found it.
36:07We went into
36:08the kitchen,
36:09he picked up the note,
36:11studied it carefully,
36:12looked at the back
36:13of the paper,
36:14felt the coffee stain.
36:16Ah,
36:17when did you
36:19discover this note?
36:21Uh,
36:21Saturday morning.
36:23Well,
36:23that stain,
36:24some coffee spilled
36:25from my cup
36:26as I was reading it.
36:26Oh,
36:27I see,
36:27I see.
36:27You mind if I
36:28look around?
36:30Oh,
36:31go right ahead.
36:32I followed him
36:33into the bedroom.
36:35He looked through
36:35her dresser,
36:36the closet,
36:37the night table.
36:38Well,
36:38her clothes are gone
36:39all right.
36:40I was looking
36:41for a letter
36:42she might have received
36:43from a friend
36:43or relative,
36:44you know,
36:44inviting her for a visit
36:45for a few days
36:46or a week.
36:47I mean,
36:48did she mention
36:49such an invitation
36:50to you?
36:51No.
36:52Well,
36:52if she did get
36:53such a letter,
36:54she could have
36:54taken it with her.
36:56I mean,
36:56have you called
36:57her parents
36:57or her sister?
36:59Well,
37:00frankly,
37:00no.
37:01I was hoping
37:02I wouldn't have
37:03to do that,
37:03that when she'd
37:05come back
37:05or write her phone.
37:07Well,
37:07if they don't
37:08turn up in a week
37:09or two,
37:10we might perhaps
37:10go on the assumption
37:11that they're dead,
37:13you see,
37:14and start a search
37:15for their bodies.
37:19You don't think?
37:22Well,
37:22look,
37:22chief,
37:23I was drunk
37:23when I told her.
37:25Oh,
37:25no,
37:25no.
37:26I don't think
37:27you killed them.
37:28Of course not.
37:29What would you do
37:29with the bodies?
37:31Bury them out there?
37:32Let's not get morbid
37:33about this.
37:33You don't think
37:35I'm going to call out
37:35the tractors
37:36to scrape down
37:38the gravel,
37:39do you?
37:40Oh,
37:41by the way,
37:43how long are you
37:43planning to stay
37:44on here?
37:45A couple of weeks.
37:46Four.
37:47Fine.
37:47Well,
37:47now keep in touch.
37:48I'll call you
37:49if anything develops.
37:50Phone me
37:51if you get a letter
37:52or a call
37:54from your wife.
37:57I followed him out.
37:58He looked at the rowboat
38:00and studied the sky.
38:02You know,
38:02I'd pull that little boat
38:03up higher
38:04beyond that low ground
38:05back of the house.
38:06I wouldn't be surprised
38:07if we get some
38:08of Hurricane Gilda
38:09before night's over.
38:10Better keep the radio
38:11set on the Coast Guard
38:13reports.
38:14I watched him
38:15go down the footpath
38:16across the low ground
38:17behind the cottage
38:18and then uphill
38:19to where his car
38:19was parked
38:20on top of the bluff.
38:22It was not
38:22till he was out of sight
38:24that I stopped sweating.
38:30It stayed calm,
38:32windless,
38:33an oppressive silence
38:35hanging over the water
38:36and the land.
38:37The sky was sunless,
38:39gray,
38:40not a cloud in sight.
38:42I'd heard of the calm
38:43before the storm,
38:44but I'd never seen it.
38:46I filled the kerosene lanterns,
38:48got candles ready.
38:50Gale warnings,
38:51Cape May to Block Island.
38:53High tide
38:54three to four feet
38:54above normal
38:55was flooding
38:56along the land.
38:59By late afternoon,
39:01all up and down
39:02the sound,
39:02white caps galloped
39:03shoreward
39:04from as far
39:04as the eye could see.
39:06Treetops swayed
39:07and twisted
39:08in the whistling wind.
39:10The waves crashed
39:12higher on the shore.
39:14It started to rain hard.
39:16Windswept sheets of water
39:17lashed the roof
39:18and the shingles sided.
39:22The lights went off.
39:24I lit the lanterns
39:26and candles.
39:27Winds 50 to 60 knots.
39:29Residents alerted
39:30to evacuate
39:31low-lying shore areas.
39:33The door banged open
39:34and the wind
39:35picked up the rowboat,
39:37sent it rolling
39:38side over side
39:39across the low ground
39:40behind the house.
39:41I stood with a lantern
39:42on the gravel burn,
39:44watching the waves
39:45inching closer,
39:47lapping the foot
39:48of the gravel mound,
39:50loosening gravel
39:51and the backwash.
39:53And then I heard
39:54the phone ringing.
39:55I went to it,
39:56picked it up,
39:58still watching
39:58through the open door,
39:59the waves breaking
40:00over the gravel.
40:02Uh, hello?
40:03Hello, hello, Drake.
40:04This is Police Chief Raymond.
40:05What the hell
40:05are you still doing out there?
40:06Didn't you hear
40:07the evacuation alerts?
40:08Oh, the phone
40:11fell out of my hand.
40:12I saw waves
40:13crashing over the grave
40:14and ran out.
40:15Drake, you listen
40:16to me carefully.
40:17There's been a breach
40:18in the shore
40:18about a quarter mile
40:19down the beach.
40:20Get the hell out of there.
40:21You'll be cut off.
40:22You hear me?
40:23Are you there?
40:25Hello?
40:26Hello?
40:29I must have
40:30won't get that idiot.
40:32Well,
40:32better get going
40:33with the motorboat.
40:42I knew
40:43I had to keep
40:44shoveling
40:44on the gravel
40:45and sand
40:46as fast as the waves
40:48washed it off.
40:49But for every
40:51shovelful
40:51I threw on the grave,
40:52the waves
40:53washed off too.
40:55I lost track of time.
40:56I knew
40:57I had to keep at it
40:58to keep the grave
40:59covered.
41:08Head in close
41:08to the house,
41:09Mallory.
41:10Drake!
41:11Drake!
41:13All right,
41:14let's go ashore.
41:15Nose it into the bank.
41:16All right,
41:16you better bring your flag.
41:17All right.
41:23What?
41:24What the hell
41:26is he doing?
41:27No!
41:28No!
41:29You can't come back!
41:31Never, Harrison!
41:33Get back!
41:34God of mercy,
41:35it's hammering.
41:38Well,
41:38I better get him
41:39over to the
41:39Riverhead Prison Hospital.
41:41Tide will be
41:41going out
41:42in a little while.
41:43Let's put this
41:43rope around the ankles
41:44and secure it
41:46to the porch.
41:47Mallory,
41:48you stay here.
41:49You're looking
41:49on any police
41:51and the coroner
41:52get here.
41:59Chief,
42:00I'm at the morgue
42:02at Riverhead.
42:03Uh?
42:04Dr. Henderson
42:05of the police
42:06lab gave me
42:06an envelope
42:07to get to you.
42:08He said you wanted
42:09an analysis report
42:11in a hurry.
42:11That's right.
42:12What's it say?
42:12Read it to me.
42:13It says,
42:15a coffee stain
42:16is less
42:18than a week old.
42:20The ink
42:21is at least
42:22a year old.
42:27Well,
42:27thanks,
42:28Mallory.
42:29By the way,
42:30do me a favor,
42:31will you?
42:31Leave a note
42:32to Highway
42:32Superintendent Murphy
42:34in the state
42:35office building
42:36and tell him
42:37I said,
42:38uh,
42:39I won't be
42:40needing those
42:40tractors.
42:46Well,
42:48imagine.
42:49what do you
42:50think of that
42:50police chief?
42:52Isn't he
42:53the fishy
42:53character?
42:55Anyhow,
42:56we didn't
42:57have to
42:58scrape
42:59bottom.
43:00I'll be
43:01back shortly.
43:12Still
43:13in a dilemma?
43:15We hope
43:16you never
43:16have to face it.
43:18We can
43:19offer some
43:19advice,
43:20though.
43:21When you
43:22are uptight
43:22about any
43:23matter,
43:24nothing like
43:25settling down
43:26at your
43:26radio and
43:27letting the
43:28cares of the
43:29day slip
43:29away as
43:31your mind
43:31and ears
43:32carry you
43:33off on a
43:34relaxing journey
43:35of mystery
43:36adventure.
43:38Our cast
43:39included Ralph
43:39Bell,
43:40Patricia
43:41Wheel,
43:41Robert
43:42Dryden,
43:42and William
43:43Redfield.
43:44The entire
43:45production was
43:46under the
43:46direction of
43:47Hyman Brown.
43:48And now,
43:49a preview
43:50of our
43:51next tale.
43:55No,
43:55I want,
43:56I want to
43:56know.
43:59I'm afraid
44:00he had the
44:02head impaled
44:04on a pike
44:05and left to
44:05wither on the
44:06battlements.
44:07The body,
44:08of course,
44:09was interred.
44:10Oh,
44:11my God.
44:13Nasty types
44:14they were in
44:14those days.
44:15How old
44:15was she?
44:16Oh,
44:17see,
44:17I think I
44:17remember.
44:18Yes,
44:1824.
44:20Just my
44:21age.
44:23So young
44:24to die
44:25and be
44:26buried
44:26forever.
44:27Oh,
44:28the legend
44:28is,
44:29of course,
44:30that she
44:31hasn't been.
44:32You mean
44:33she,
44:34she haunts?
44:35Oh,
44:35rather.
44:36She was
44:37quite a
44:37horsewoman,
44:38history tells
44:39us.
44:40And any
44:41night,
44:41but particularly
44:42when the
44:43moon is
44:43full,
44:44she rides
44:45the grounds
44:47searching for
44:48her lost
44:49head.
44:49Radio Mystery
44:50Theater was
44:51sponsored in
44:51part by
44:52New Sugar
44:53Free Diet
44:537-Up.
44:54This is E.G.
44:56Marshall inviting
44:56you to return
44:57to our mystery
44:58theater for
44:59another adventure
45:00in the macabre.
45:03Until next
45:04time,
45:06pleasant
45:07dreams
45:08more
45:08the
45:08one
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