- 2 days ago
Despite her best attempts, a kleptomaniac falls back into her old ways and is found out by some thieves. They blackmail her to rob a diamond pin or they will reveal her true nature to her husband.
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00:17Come in, welcome, I'm E.G.
00:25Welcome again through the creaking door, the sound which always signifies the beginning
00:32of another tale of danger and suspense.
00:36Being in the mystery business, our fables often deal with crime and criminals.
00:42This time, it's a thief, but a thief with a very definite difference.
00:48For Ruth Moody is a young lady who walks into department stores and simply helps herself.
00:55Simply because she can't help herself.
00:58Yes, you've heard of her peculiar ailment.
01:02It's called kleptomania, the neurotic impulse to steal.
01:06But kleptomania isn't the only trouble in store for Ruth.
01:17Our mystery drama, The Trouble with Ruth, was written especially for the Mystery Theater
01:23by Henry Schlesser and stars Marion Seldes.
01:27It is sponsored in part by the Kellogg Company, makers of Kellogg's Special K Cereal and New
01:35Sugar-Free Diet 7-Up.
01:37I'll be back shortly with Act One.
01:57We're in Barnett's department store in the downtown shopping district.
02:01And if it looks and sounds like a battlefield this morning, it's no different from any other Saturday.
02:07Well, maybe a little more so, since Barnett is running its semi-annual clearance sale,
02:13just as it does every other month.
02:16It's the ideal place and time for bargain hunters.
02:20And, unfortunately, for shoplifters.
02:23Pardon me, miss?
02:26Yes?
02:26Would you mind coming with me just for a moment, please?
02:30What for?
02:31I'll assist it.
02:32I'd imagine Mr. Hutchins would like a word with you.
02:35I don't know, Mr. Hutchins.
02:37Why does he want to talk to me?
02:38Now, please don't make any trouble.
02:40I could call the guard and have you escorted upstairs.
02:43You wouldn't want me to do that now, would you?
02:45Not.
02:46Why?
02:47What have I done?
02:48I think you know exactly what you've done now.
02:51Will you please come with me quietly?
02:59Right in here, please.
03:00It's a mistake.
03:01I did take the scarf, but I was going to pay for it.
03:03Well, here's the lady, Mr. Hutchins.
03:05All right, Bill.
03:05Thanks.
03:06You, uh, want me to stick around?
03:08No, no, no, no.
03:08It's all right.
03:09Okay, then I'll get back on the floor.
03:11It's murder down there.
03:12More larceny than murder, I'd say.
03:14Yeah, right.
03:17Please, uh, sit down.
03:18Mr. Hutchins, I, I know it looks like I took the scarf deliberately,
03:22but really I didn't.
03:22You were going to pay for it at another counter.
03:25Is that the idea?
03:26No, I, I wanted to match the color with the purses,
03:29and that's why I put the scarf in my bag.
03:31I wanted to go over to the handbag section.
03:32Would you mind telling me your name?
03:34I'm not a shoplister, so help me.
03:36I'm not, but my name is Ruth Martin.
03:39Is it Mrs. Martin?
03:41Look at me.
03:42Can't you tell I'm not a thief?
03:44I don't even know why I took this scarf.
03:46It's just a cheap little thing.
03:47It's not at all like the clothes I wear.
03:49Well, look at me.
03:50Can't you tell?
03:52Would you wait just one moment, Mrs. Martin?
03:55What's that you've got?
03:56Oh, it's just a little handbook we keep,
03:58sort of a private record book.
04:00You see, uh, most of the retailers in this city
04:03cooperate in these matters,
04:04supplying each other with the names of known kleptomaniacs.
04:09I'm sure you've heard that word before.
04:11I am not a thief.
04:12Well, that's what I'm trying to determine, Mrs. Martin.
04:16Since there is a significant difference between shoplifters and kleptos.
04:20The difference, of course, being our ability to prosecute,
04:24since one steals for gain and one because,
04:28well, because she can't help it.
04:31No, I'm afraid I don't see any Ruth Martin in the book.
04:36All right.
04:38It's Moody.
04:40Pardon?
04:40My real name is Mrs. Ruth Moody.
04:43I didn't want to give you my real name.
04:46I didn't want my husband to know about this.
04:50Oh, yes, yes, here it is.
04:54Ferrero's.
04:56Three spools of thread.
04:58Pearl buttons from Wilkins and Smith.
05:00Oh, well, the last time it was a handbag.
05:02Awful, ugly, beaded thing.
05:04It wasn't even worth more than five or six dollars.
05:07Are you going to call my husband?
05:09Is that what happened at these other places?
05:11Yes.
05:12Oh, it was awful.
05:13Please, I have the money to pay for this, Scott.
05:16I'll gladly pay you twice what it was worth.
05:19Please don't let him know it happened again.
05:21Don't you think it's best that you know?
05:23Maybe he'll try to help you over the problem.
05:25Don't make me beg you.
05:27My husband has a job in the city government,
05:29a very important job.
05:31Mrs. Moody, I'm not interested in causing you any trouble, Boone.
05:34Look, here, take this scarf back.
05:39Well, what's this?
05:41Nothing.
05:42Some costume jewelry that I bought in another...
05:44No, Mrs. Moody.
05:45You didn't buy this any more than you bought the scarf.
05:50It still has the price tag on it.
05:58A dollar ninety-five.
06:01That's what makes it so unbelievable, Ruth.
06:03A dollar ninety-five rhinestone pin.
06:05I don't know why I took it, Ralph.
06:07Any more than I know what drove me to pick up that awful scarf
06:10and just drop it in my bag.
06:13Just like those other times.
06:14Yes, but you swore to me that those other times would never be repeated.
06:18Well, I thought it was over.
06:20I really did.
06:20I don't understand what goes on in your mind when you do these crazy things.
06:23I don't know.
06:24It's just an impulse.
06:26It seems so terribly easy.
06:28Things are just sitting out in the open the way they are,
06:30and I never even stop to think if I like it.
06:34Just if I can get away with it.
06:35But you never do.
06:36You get caught.
06:40Maybe that's part of the sickness, too, huh?
06:42Oh, stop saying I'm sick.
06:45I'm not.
06:46I'm not.
06:47What would you call it?
06:48Look, honey, you've got to see a doctor.
06:50I've told you that.
06:51It doesn't matter.
06:52I will not go to a doctor.
06:53I can't stand the idea of it, Ralph.
06:54Just talk to one.
06:55Give him a chance.
06:56Maybe it's something simple.
06:58Maybe you're just trying to get punished because of guilt feelings that you can't resolve.
07:04Oh, well, you're wrong about wanting to get caught.
07:06I don't.
07:07I swear I don't.
07:09I've gotten away with a dozen things.
07:12What?
07:13What was that?
07:14Nothing.
07:15I don't want to talk about it anymore.
07:17And it isn't just three, four times that this has been going on.
07:21You're probably out there shoplifting every single day.
07:23That's not true.
07:24I almost never go into the stores for exactly that reason.
07:28All right, Ruth.
07:29That settles it.
07:30You are going to talk to a doctor.
07:38Then, you do remember the first time you stole Mrs. Moody?
07:43Yes.
07:44I remember very well, but it was something I really wanted then, Dr. Berger.
07:50That was the big difference.
07:52Hmm.
07:53How old were you?
07:55I was about eight or nine.
07:58I was in school.
08:00There was a girl named Fanny Ritter.
08:03Her family was very wealthy.
08:05She was always the best-dressed girl in the class.
08:07Oh, yes, yes.
08:08She had this pencil box.
08:11It was absolutely beautiful.
08:14With a blue binding and all sorts of secret compartments.
08:19I wanted that pencil box so much.
08:22And one day, I walked into an empty classroom, and there it was, lying on the seat.
08:29Yes, and were you caught?
08:32No.
08:33I was never caught.
08:35Mm-hmm.
08:35But that was the biggest thrill of all, not being caught.
08:40But, but then I, I also realized I couldn't use the pencil box, at least not at school.
08:48Yes, yes, I see.
08:49All kids steal sometimes.
08:51There's nothing abnormal about it.
08:53But, uh, you're not a child now, are you?
08:57And yet, you still crave this secret feeling, this secret gratification.
09:04No.
09:05You're wrong.
09:06I don't get any pleasure out of taking things.
09:09I feel terrible afterwards, every single time.
09:12Ah, but that may be exactly the gratification you require.
09:15I don't want to hear any more.
09:17You sound just like my husband.
09:19Believe me, Mrs. Moody, neither your husband nor I want to find fault with you.
09:24We both want to help you.
09:26Well, it's his job my husband is worried about, not me.
09:30Why do you say that?
09:32Because he works for the city government and the controller's office, and he's afraid if
09:37they ever found out about me that he...
09:40Why am I talking about Ralph that way?
09:44I know he loves me.
09:46I know he wants to help me.
09:48Yes.
09:48So why don't you let him try?
09:50Let both of us try.
09:53No.
09:53I don't need a doctor.
09:55All I need is to stay out of department stores.
10:06Who is it?
10:10All right, all right.
10:15Mrs. Moody?
10:16Yes?
10:16Hi, Mrs. Moody.
10:18You don't know me, but my name is Tom Andrea.
10:20There's something I have to talk to you about.
10:22I know exactly what it is, encyclopedias.
10:26Or is it magazine subscriptions?
10:29No, ma'am.
10:30It's nothing like that.
10:31Well, whatever it is, I'm not interested.
10:34It's about department stores.
10:36What?
10:37You know, stores where people buy things and take things, too, sometimes.
10:44Are you from Barnett?
10:45No, Mrs. Moody, I don't work for Barnett or for Wilkins and Smith or any of those places
10:50that you like to shop in.
10:54Look, it's pretty drafty out here.
10:56Can't I come in for a minute?
10:59All right.
11:04Your husband's not home, I suppose.
11:06I mean, it's a working day, so he's at work, right?
11:08Oh, that's clever thinking.
11:10Can we talk in here?
11:13Only if you get right to the point.
11:15Well, now, look, this ain't the kind of thing you like to just blur it out.
11:18I mean, I mean, it's kind of sensitive.
11:20You know what I mean?
11:22No, I don't.
11:24I mean, it's about you and your husband and so forth.
11:28If you think about it for a while, you'll get my meaning.
11:32Am I right?
11:33You'll have to be more specific.
11:36Well, you just won't come out with it yourself, huh?
11:40Okay, I'll say it for you.
11:43I'm talking about you being a shoplifter.
11:46That's a lie.
11:47Whoever told you that is a liar.
11:48No, no, no, no, no.
11:49It's true.
11:50Wait a minute.
11:51If you think you can blackmail me by telling my husband...
11:54No, no, Mrs. Moody.
11:55We know that your husband knows all about it.
11:57He's been getting you out of jams for years.
12:00Then what do you want here?
12:02Well, believe it or not,
12:04I want to give you money.
12:07I don't want to take any from you.
12:08What for?
12:11Services rendered.
12:14What?
12:16I got a little proposition for you, Mrs. Moody.
12:20How would you like to make a thousand bucks?
12:23A thousand dollars?
12:25How?
12:27Well, you do like I tell you.
12:28You'll get a thousand bucks in the mail.
12:31Well, what if you don't?
12:33Well, your husband may not be able to make a living anymore.
12:37Do you get what I mean?
12:39No.
12:40I don't know what you're talking about.
12:42I'm talking about stealing stuff, Mrs. Moody.
12:45About that bad habit of yours.
12:47Now, we got a use for that habit.
12:50And you'd better listen to what we have in mind.
12:53How do you know about me?
12:54Who told you about me?
12:56Well, let's just say I got sources.
12:59I swear to you, I'm not a thief.
13:01Yeah, yeah, sure.
13:02I know that.
13:03We know it.
13:04We?
13:05Well, me and my friend.
13:06We know you're just a sick lady that you can't help what you do.
13:10It's, well, it's just like you had pneumonia or hay fever.
13:13It's not your fault.
13:14Am I right?
13:15That's right.
13:17It looks fine.
13:18Only your husband still don't want the people around City Hall to know he's got a clepto for a wife.
13:23Does he?
13:26Then this is blackmail.
13:28Well, a man in his line of work, he can't afford to have people know his wife steals.
13:34Now, some people would understand how it's only a sickness.
13:38But others, well, you know how people are.
13:43Tell me how much money you want.
13:46I don't want a dime from you, Mrs. Moody Honest.
13:49All I want is your cooperation.
13:52You see, my friend and me, we, um, we have a little plan.
13:55A really, really sweet little idea.
13:58Everybody makes money and nobody takes any chances.
14:02Well, what could be sweeter than that?
14:04A plan to do what, for heaven's sake?
14:07Well, my friend will give you all the details.
14:09All you've got to do now is put on your coat and come with me.
14:13My friend will give you the whole deal.
14:14I'm not coming with you.
14:17We're not desperate for your help.
14:19Don't get this wrong.
14:21But we thought we'd give you a break.
14:23Well, it's too bad.
14:26If you'd just tell me what you have in mind.
14:30Well, shoplifting, Mrs. Moody.
14:33A little nice and easy shoplifting.
14:36Only this time, not for no $5 piece of junk.
14:40This time, for something worth more like $50,000.
14:54Well, troubles have a way of multiplying themselves, don't they?
15:01And as you've just heard,
15:03the trouble with Booth has suddenly developed serious complications.
15:09Will Mrs. Moody's unwilling petty larceny
15:12turn into a larceny of the grand variety?
15:17We'll find out when we return shortly.
15:20With Act II.
15:39Mrs. Ruth Moody,
15:41faced with the prospect of harming her husband's career,
15:45has accepted the invitation of the man who calls himself Tom Andrea,
15:51although her instincts tell her that Tom Andrea isn't his name at all.
15:57As they drive towards their unknown destination,
16:02she steals sidelong glances at him,
16:06noting the copper sheen of his skin,
16:09the look of a man who has spent far too many hours under a sunlamp.
16:14But he also has the look of a man
16:17who won't take no for an answer.
16:21Can't you tell me where we're going?
16:23Oh, relax, Mrs. Moody.
16:24It won't be long now.
16:27Who is this friend of yours, anyway?
16:29You'll meet him.
16:30He works for a department store, doesn't he?
16:33I know they keep records of people like...
16:36well, of kleptomania victims.
16:40That's the only way you could have found out about me.
16:42I'd just lean back and enjoy the ride, huh?
16:44Aren't you afraid I might recognize him
16:46if he's one of the people that I've met?
16:48Here we are, Mrs. Moody.
16:51I told you it wasn't very far.
16:54The Hotel Hamilton looks like a firetrap.
16:58Well, it's not very fancy, but it's private.
17:00We can all have a nice, quiet talk.
17:04Just the three of us.
17:15One moment.
17:18Is that you, Tom?
17:19Yeah, it's me.
17:20The lady with you?
17:21Yep, she's here.
17:23Just a second, then.
17:28Oh!
17:29No, no, no, don't be scared, Mrs. Moody.
17:31My friend doesn't really look like that.
17:32He's just got a stocking over his face.
17:34Come in.
17:37I, uh, hope you'll forgive the mask, Mrs. Moody.
17:40I know it looks grotesque, but it's necessary.
17:43For your own protection.
17:45For me?
17:46It's important that you don't recognize me
17:49after our business is concluded.
17:52It would be embarrassing
17:54if we were to run into each other
17:56in, uh, different circumstances.
18:00In a department store, for instance?
18:03What my friend means, Mrs. Moody,
18:05is that if you started hollering for the cops
18:07when you saw him again,
18:08we, uh, would have to do something about you.
18:12Understand?
18:14Yes, I...
18:15I understand.
18:17But please don't be alarmed.
18:19Nothing like that's going to happen.
18:22I can assure you that I am not a professional criminal.
18:26No more than you are.
18:28Then what kind of criminal are you?
18:30Why don't you sit down?
18:32The sofa's the only comfortable seat in the room.
18:35Here, let me take these papers away.
18:38Hey, I was just drawing up a few diagrams
18:41to help you understand exactly what you have to do.
18:45Diagrams?
18:45Would you like some coffee?
18:47We have a small kitchen.
18:48There's a pot already made.
18:50Oh, yeah, no.
18:50I don't want any coffee.
18:51Tom, why don't you do the honors?
18:53Do you drink yours black, Mrs. Moody?
18:55I'm afraid I don't have any cream.
18:57All right.
18:58Uh, black coffee.
18:59I see, Mrs. Moody.
19:01I told you it was going to be very friendly.
19:04Well, now, uh, how much has Tom told you
19:08about our little enterprise?
19:10He just said that if I didn't help you,
19:13you'd tell my husband's employers about me.
19:16Well, I really hate for that to be the inducement, Mrs. Moody.
19:20I was hoping that, uh, you'd cooperate more willingly.
19:25Why should I?
19:26Well, didn't Tom mention the thousand dollars?
19:27He also mentioned something about $50,000,
19:31about shoplifting something worth a fortune.
19:34Oh, don't tell me you have qualms about it.
19:37A lady with your history?
19:39You just don't understand about me.
19:42I don't take things because they're valuable
19:44or even because I want them.
19:46I'm not a thief.
19:48Not in an ordinary sense of the word.
19:50Yes, yes, we know that.
19:52And that's exactly why we're taking you
19:55into our little circle, Mrs. Moody,
19:56because you're a kleptomaniac,
19:59not an ordinary thief.
20:02And that's why you can help us
20:04commit an extraordinary crime.
20:06But I don't want to commit a crime
20:08and I don't want your thousand dollars.
20:10Here's your coffee, Mrs. Moody.
20:12Let me tell you what makes it so different, Mrs. Moody.
20:17An ordinary crime entails a certain amount of risk.
20:21But this particular crime
20:23is guaranteed to be risk-free.
20:26No, that's what people always think.
20:27No, Mrs. Moody,
20:28even professional criminals recognize
20:30a certain degree of chance
20:32when they plan their enterprises.
20:34Personally, I would never get involved
20:36in anything like that.
20:37I loathe the idea of being arrested.
20:40Well, so do I.
20:41And I know exactly what it feels like.
20:43Ah, but you've never been arrested, have you?
20:46You've been detained,
20:48questioned,
20:49reprimanded,
20:50warned,
20:52but you've never been arrested once.
20:55Isn't that true?
20:56Why should I be?
20:57I told you, I'm not a criminal.
20:59No, you're not legally liable
21:01for your little thefts, Mrs. Moody.
21:03You steal because you have to steal.
21:06And if you're caught,
21:08you merely give back what you've stolen
21:10and that's that.
21:11No arrest,
21:12no prosecution,
21:13no risk.
21:13You beginning to see the point, Mrs. Moody?
21:16You want me to steal something for you.
21:19That's right, Mrs. Moody,
21:21and something a great deal more valuable
21:23than, shall we say,
21:26a spool of thread.
21:27Oh, dear Lord.
21:28Let me explain our plan in detail.
21:31At 12.15 tomorrow afternoon...
21:33Tomorrow?
21:33At 12.15,
21:35you'll enter a shop called Travelle's
21:38on 47th Street,
21:39just off 5th Avenue.
21:40You may not know the place.
21:41It's a rather expensive jeweler's.
21:44You will approach a certain counter.
21:47The diagram will make it clear
21:49which one I...
21:49Wait a minute.
21:50You're talking as if I've already
21:52agreed to do this thing.
21:53Please look at the diagram,
21:54Mrs. Moody.
21:56You will approach this counter
21:58and engage the attention
22:00of the salesman.
22:01You will ask to see a certain tray,
22:03the one I've marked with the arrow.
22:06A moment or two after you begin
22:07to examine that tray,
22:08there will be a disturbance
22:09in the store.
22:10Right.
22:11A disturbance.
22:12The disturbance will take place
22:14on the other side of the counter.
22:16It is almost inevitable
22:17that your salesman
22:18will have his attention
22:19drawn away from you
22:20when it occurs.
22:21In all likelihood,
22:23he'll leave you
22:24and go to see
22:25what has happened.
22:27That's when you will act.
22:28You will pick up
22:29the diamond pin
22:30on the upper right-hand corner
22:32of the tray
22:33and drop it
22:34into your purse
22:36and then
22:37you'll simply
22:39walk out the door.
22:41You're really mad.
22:42As you can see
22:42from the drawing,
22:43the distance between
22:44the counter and the door
22:45is a very short one.
22:47You can reach it
22:49within three or four seconds.
22:50You can be sure
22:51that your salesman
22:52will be much too occupied
22:53to notice
22:54that you have left.
22:56I won't do any such thing.
22:57That's plain and simple robbery.
22:58When you reach the outside,
23:00you'll see a man
23:01with a yellow canister
23:02collecting funds
23:03for children's welfare.
23:05The man will approach you
23:07immediately.
23:07You will drop
23:08the diamond pin
23:09into the opening
23:10of the canister
23:11and walk to the corner.
23:14There will be a taxi there
23:15in all probability.
23:16It's a hack stand.
23:18If there isn't
23:19a taxi waiting,
23:20hail one
23:21or walk to the bus stop.
23:22Believe me,
23:23you will have ample time
23:25to make your getaway.
23:26There isn't going
23:27to be any getaway.
23:27I am not going
23:28to do anything so insane.
23:30As I said before,
23:31you'll be perfectly safe.
23:32You'll have
23:33absolutely nothing
23:34to lose.
23:36If you're stopped
23:37before you reach the exit,
23:38simply give yourself up.
23:40When Travelle learns
23:42of your little
23:44idiosyncrasy,
23:45no harm will come to you.
23:47It'll be just
23:48another neurotic incident,
23:50nothing more.
23:51You're wasting your breath.
23:52You'll tell them
23:52about your problem.
23:54They'll check
23:54with other stores
23:55and find your case history
23:57on fire.
23:57No, there's no way
23:58I'll do such a thing.
23:59Hey, what's the matter
24:00with you, lady?
24:00Didn't you hear the man?
24:02You can't get into trouble
24:03doing this,
24:05but your husband will
24:07if you don't.
24:08Let me out of here.
24:09Please,
24:10pick someone else
24:11out of those files.
24:14All right, Tom.
24:16If that's how
24:17Mrs. Moody wants it.
24:19Then I can go.
24:22The door was always open, lady.
24:25See?
24:26But if you change
24:27your mind, Mrs. Moody,
24:29just call me here
24:30at the Hotel Hamilton.
24:32Just ask for
24:33room 408.
24:36But if I don't
24:38hear from you
24:38tonight,
24:40well,
24:41you know
24:42what we'll
24:43have to do.
24:53You've sure
24:54been quiet
24:55tonight, Ruth.
24:56Have I?
24:58You, uh,
25:00you didn't go out
25:01today, did you?
25:03No.
25:04I told you
25:05I wasn't going
25:05anywhere.
25:06I was just
25:06wondering.
25:08I mean,
25:08you said something
25:09about dinner tonight,
25:10about cooking
25:10something special,
25:11and here we are
25:13with last night's
25:14meatloaf.
25:15But you said
25:15you didn't mind.
25:16No, of course
25:16I don't mind.
25:17You know I'm not
25:17fussy about food.
25:18I know.
25:20You're just
25:21too nice for your
25:22own good sometimes,
25:23Ralph.
25:25And, uh,
25:26you just weren't
25:27feeling up to
25:27cooking today,
25:28is that it?
25:28Oh, I know
25:29what you're thinking.
25:31You think I went
25:32on another
25:32shopping spree,
25:34or should I say
25:34shoplifting.
25:35No, Ruth,
25:36I didn't think
25:36anything of the kind.
25:37Well, I didn't.
25:38I swear I didn't.
25:39Okay, okay.
25:41Ralph,
25:43can I ask you
25:44something?
25:44Sure.
25:46What,
25:48what would happen
25:49if,
25:49if people knew
25:50about me?
25:52What people?
25:54The people you
25:55work for,
25:56in the controller's
25:57office,
25:57or, um,
25:59the mayor himself.
26:00What if they knew
26:01about my, uh,
26:03illness?
26:06They'd know,
26:07that's all.
26:08Would it hurt you?
26:10Honey,
26:10this is silly.
26:11Nobody knows
26:11about your problem,
26:12but you and me
26:13and a few
26:13department stores,
26:15and Dr. Berger,
26:16of course,
26:17the doctor you
26:17won't see anymore.
26:18But if they were
26:19to find out,
26:20would it hurt you?
26:21Look,
26:22haven't we got
26:22enough to worry
26:22about without
26:23thinking the worst?
26:24Then it would be
26:25bad for you.
26:26Someone in your
26:27position where
26:28honesty is so
26:29important.
26:30Ruth,
26:30you're not
26:31dishonest,
26:31you're sick.
26:32There's a
26:33tremendous difference.
26:34That's why
26:34I'm so sorry
26:35you won't see
26:35that doctor.
26:36But,
26:36but would
26:37everyone
26:37understand
26:38the difference?
26:39I mean,
26:39when they
26:40learned about
26:40my stealing
26:41things,
26:42would they
26:43think twice
26:43about you?
26:45You want
26:46the truth?
26:47Yes.
26:49Yes,
26:49they would.
26:50They're only
26:51human.
26:52No,
26:52no,
26:52they're worse
26:53than human.
26:53They're politicians.
26:54They have to
26:55be elected
26:56to office,
26:56and that's
26:57exactly the
26:58kind of
26:58scandal
26:59they don't
26:59like.
27:00Yes.
27:02I guess
27:03I've always
27:03known that
27:04was true.
27:06Um,
27:06honey,
27:07I think I
27:07could use
27:08some more
27:08gravy.
27:09Yes.
27:10Oh,
27:10I have
27:10some in
27:11the kitchen.
27:11I'll be
27:12right back.
27:26Is this
27:27the Hotel
27:27Hamilton?
27:28Room 408,
27:30please.
27:40And so
27:41Mrs.
27:42Ruth Moody
27:42has taken
27:44the first
27:44fatal step.
27:46And tomorrow
27:47at noon,
27:48she'll take
27:49several more
27:49steps
27:50to the doors
27:51of Travell's
27:53jewelry.
27:54And for the
27:55first time
27:55in her life,
27:57Ruth will
27:58steal
27:58and know
28:00the reason
28:00why she's
28:02stealing.
28:03Will it
28:04really make
28:05a difference?
28:07I'll be back
28:08shortly with
28:09Act Three.
28:27At 11.30
28:28the next
28:29morning,
28:29Mrs.
28:30Ruth Moody
28:31left her
28:31apartment
28:32and took
28:33a Fifth Avenue
28:33bus to
28:3447th Street.
28:36None of
28:37the other
28:37passengers
28:38saw anything
28:38unusual
28:39in her
28:40expression.
28:41They
28:42couldn't
28:42read the
28:43turmoil
28:43of her
28:44thoughts
28:44or the
28:45fear that
28:46haunted her
28:46eyes behind
28:47the sunglasses
28:48she wore
28:48to hide
28:49them.
28:49She kept
28:50telling herself
28:51that what
28:51the man
28:52in the
28:52stocking
28:53mask said
28:53was only
28:54too true.
28:55That no
28:56matter what
28:57happened,
28:57she couldn't
28:59be blamed
28:59for what
29:00she was
29:00about to
29:01do.
29:01She was
29:02still telling
29:03herself that
29:04when she
29:04pushed open
29:05the heavy
29:05glass door
29:06of Travell's.
29:07May I
29:07help you,
29:08madam?
29:08Oh,
29:09yes,
29:09please.
29:10I'm looking
29:11for a
29:11diamond
29:12pin.
29:13It's a
29:13present for
29:14my mother.
29:15I see.
29:16Do you
29:16have any
29:17particular
29:17kind of
29:18pin in
29:18mind?
29:19We have
29:19everything
29:20from abstract
29:20designs to
29:22representational
29:23pins,
29:24you know,
29:24animals and
29:25flowers and
29:25so forth.
29:27Maybe if I
29:27just browsed a
29:29little?
29:29Certainly.
29:30You can see
29:30some of our
29:31selection right
29:32here, but
29:32we do have
29:33others.
29:34Oh,
29:35yes.
29:36There's so
29:37many,
29:37aren't there?
29:39Of course,
29:40it would help
29:40if you knew
29:41the price
29:41range.
29:43Oh,
29:44well,
29:45the price
29:45isn't
29:46important.
29:46It's just
29:46that the
29:47pin be
29:47right.
29:48Yes,
29:48I see.
29:50Um,
29:51this tray
29:52right here,
29:53on the
29:53first shelf.
29:54Yes.
29:54Well,
29:55that seems
29:55to have
29:55quite a few
29:56nice pins.
29:57Yes,
29:57I'll bring
29:58it out
29:58for you.
30:00Actually,
30:01these are
30:02some of the
30:02best stones
30:03in our
30:04collection.
30:04They have
30:05good taste.
30:06They really
30:07do sparkle,
30:08don't they?
30:09This is
30:10what I made
30:10by representational.
30:12As you can
30:13see,
30:13it's in the
30:14shape of a
30:14cat.
30:15Oh,
30:15well,
30:16no,
30:16no,
30:16my mother
30:17hates cats.
30:18I think
30:19maybe just
30:21something
30:23simple.
30:24You just
30:25take your
30:25time.
30:26All right.
30:29What was
30:30that?
30:30Someone
30:31smashed
30:31one of
30:32my
30:32cases.
30:33Excuse me.
30:34I'm terribly
30:34sorry.
30:35I love
30:35the things
30:36of it.
30:36It's all
30:37my fault.
30:38I was holding
30:38my umbrella
30:39under my
30:39arm.
30:39It just
30:40slipped out
30:40and hit
30:41the glass.
30:42Now,
30:42I've got
30:44to do it.
30:44Now,
30:44I really
30:45don't know
30:46how to do it.
30:46All right.
30:47All right.
30:47Just get back,
30:48please.
30:49Bob,
30:50would you
30:50lend a hand
30:51over here?
30:52There's glass
30:52all over the
30:53merchandise.
30:54I feel dreadful
30:54about this.
30:55It's quite
30:55all right,
30:56sir.
30:56No harm
30:57done to all,
30:57I show you.
30:59I've done
31:00it.
31:01I've really
31:02done it.
31:04Outside.
31:05Help the
31:05needy children.
31:07Help the
31:08needy children,
31:09lady.
31:10What?
31:10Please,
31:11help the
31:12Children's
31:12Welfare Society,
31:14lady.
31:15Oh,
31:15yes,
31:15yes,
31:15of course.
31:17Here.
31:18That's
31:19all I have.
31:20Thanks.
31:21Very,
31:21very much,
31:22lady.
31:22Thanks a lot.
31:24Help the
31:25needy children.
31:33Ralph,
31:34is that
31:35you?
31:36Yes,
31:36I'm home.
31:39How are
31:40you,
31:40honey?
31:41All right.
31:42I'm all
31:42right.
31:43You sure?
31:45You don't
31:46look so good.
31:47No,
31:47no,
31:47I'm fine,
31:48really.
31:49Would you
31:49like a drink?
31:51Yeah,
31:52I wouldn't
31:52mind,
31:52thanks.
31:55Um,
31:57what did
31:57you do
31:58today?
31:59I went
31:59out for a
32:00little while.
32:01Where to?
32:02Oh,
32:02no,
32:02in particular,
32:03I took a
32:03walk.
32:04Weather
32:05was nice.
32:06Uh-huh.
32:08Took some
32:08things to the
32:09cleaners,
32:09did a little
32:10marketing.
32:11Here's your
32:12drink.
32:12Oh,
32:13thanks.
32:16for heaven's
32:17sake,
32:17stop looking
32:18at me like
32:18that.
32:19I can't bear
32:20the way you
32:21look at me
32:21sometimes,
32:22Ralph.
32:22I'm sorry,
32:23Ruth,
32:23it's nothing
32:23deliberate.
32:24Well,
32:24of course,
32:25it's deliberate.
32:26It happens
32:26all the time
32:27now.
32:28You keep
32:29staring at me
32:30as if you're
32:30trying to
32:31read my
32:31mind,
32:33as if you
32:34wanted me
32:34to confess
32:35something.
32:35Now,
32:36Ruth,
32:36that isn't
32:36true.
32:37You've got
32:38to stop
32:38thinking such
32:39things every
32:39time I look
32:40at you.
32:41What's
32:41going to
32:41happen to
32:42us,
32:42Ralph?
32:44What kind
32:45of marriage
32:45are we
32:45going to
32:46have from
32:46now on?
32:47Ruth,
32:47we've been
32:47married six
32:48years now.
32:49I think we
32:50know how
32:50to live
32:50with each
32:51other.
32:51But you
32:51can't live
32:52with this
32:53disease of
32:54mine.
32:55You can
32:55never stop
32:56suspecting me
32:56of having
32:57stolen something
32:57again.
32:59Isn't that
32:59what you're
33:00thinking right
33:00now?
33:01All I'm
33:01thinking about
33:02is that you
33:02don't look
33:03well.
33:04And how
33:05disappointed I
33:06am that you
33:06won't see
33:06Dr.
33:07Berger.
33:10I called
33:11him today,
33:12by the way.
33:13What for?
33:14Well, I just
33:15wanted to talk
33:16to him,
33:16find out if
33:18there was
33:18anything more
33:19I could do
33:20to help
33:20you.
33:20And what
33:21did he
33:21say?
33:23He said
33:23there might
33:24be.
33:25Well, what
33:25do you mean
33:26by that?
33:26I told
33:27Berger about
33:27our talk
33:28last night
33:28about how
33:29worried you
33:30are that
33:30the people
33:31at City
33:31Hall might
33:32find out
33:32about your
33:34illness.
33:35He told me
33:36that was an
33:37important part
33:38of your guilt
33:39syndrome,
33:40whatever that
33:40means.
33:41Oh, I hate
33:41that psychiatric
33:43double talk.
33:44Just the same,
33:44he thought you'd
33:45be a lot
33:45better off if
33:46you weren't
33:47concerned about
33:48such things,
33:48if you were
33:49able to admit
33:50that you were
33:51ill.
33:52I do admit
33:52it.
33:53That doesn't
33:54mean that
33:54other people
33:54have to know
33:55about it.
33:57Ruth,
34:00I told
34:01them.
34:03What?
34:04I told
34:05McGuire,
34:06the controller.
34:07I took
34:08him out
34:08to lunch,
34:09and I told
34:10him all
34:10about your
34:10kleptomania.
34:11Oh, no,
34:12Ralph.
34:13Oh, no.
34:14Look, I began
34:15to realize that
34:16I was hiding
34:17it, too,
34:17that I wasn't
34:18treating it
34:18like an
34:18illness,
34:19either.
34:19That I was
34:20acting as if
34:21it were
34:23something shameful.
34:24What did
34:24you do it
34:25for?
34:26For us,
34:27Ruth.
34:27But now
34:27you'll lose
34:28your job.
34:28No, I'm
34:29not going
34:29to lose
34:29my job.
34:30It's going
34:30to be
34:31all right.
34:31But you
34:31said you
34:32said you
34:32know all
34:32the dumb
34:33things I
34:33said last
34:34night about
34:35how this
34:35sort of
34:36thing can
34:36hurt a
34:36politician.
34:37Well, I
34:37was wrong.
34:40McGuire
34:41is more
34:41of a human
34:42being than
34:43a politician.
34:44You mean
34:45he's not
34:45going to
34:45tell anyone
34:46else?
34:47He won't
34:48give me
34:48away?
34:48No, that's
34:49not what I
34:50meant.
34:52McGuire
34:52suggested
34:53that we
34:53both go
34:54and talk
34:55to the
34:56mayor
34:56himself
34:56about
34:57this.
34:57Oh, Ralph,
34:58you can't.
34:59I already
35:00have, Ruth.
35:02What?
35:02I've seen
35:03the mayor.
35:04And you
35:05know what
35:05he said?
35:07He said
35:07that it
35:08wouldn't
35:08make any
35:08difference to
35:09him this
35:09year or
35:09next year
35:10when he
35:10recommends
35:11me for
35:11the number
35:12one job
35:12in the
35:13controller's
35:13office.
35:14The number
35:15one?
35:15That's right.
35:16McGuire
35:16is moving
35:16up
35:17for his
35:18job.
35:18And the
35:18mayor is
35:19behind me
35:19now, Ruth.
35:20Do you
35:21think he'd
35:22be behind
35:23me if he
35:24really thought
35:25my wife was
35:26a thief?
35:26Oh, dear
35:27Lord.
35:28Ruth.
35:29What have
35:30I done?
35:31What have
35:32I done?
35:32Honey, honey,
35:33what is it?
35:34Oh, why
35:34did I go
35:35through with
35:35this?
35:36What's the
35:36matter, Ruth?
35:36I just
35:37told you
35:37everything's
35:38okay.
35:39I've ruined
35:40everything now,
35:41Ralph.
35:42Oh, God,
35:42if you knew
35:43what a horrible
35:44thing I did
35:45today.
35:46What are
35:47you talking
35:47about?
35:49I am a
35:50thief now.
35:51God help
35:52me, Ralph.
35:53I really
35:54am a
35:55thief.
36:04Try and
36:05stay calm,
36:06Ruth.
36:07Did you
36:08get a look
36:09at the man
36:10who broke
36:10the glass
36:11with his
36:11umbrella?
36:12Do you
36:13think that
36:14he was the
36:14same man
36:15you met
36:15yesterday
36:16at the
36:16Hotel
36:17Hamilton?
36:17I'm sure
36:18he was.
36:18But I
36:19told you
36:19he was
36:19wearing a
36:20stocking
36:20mask over
36:21his face.
36:22And this
36:23other man,
36:24though, the
36:25one who
36:25called himself
36:26Tom
36:26Andrea, he
36:27was the
36:27same man
36:28who was
36:28collecting
36:28for children's
36:29welfare outside
36:30the store?
36:30Yes.
36:33Ruth, you
36:33know, there's
36:34only one
36:35thing to do
36:35now, don't
36:36you?
36:37What do
36:37you mean?
36:39We've got
36:40to tell the
36:40police.
36:41Oh, Ralph,
36:42no, that
36:42would be
36:42awful.
36:43Travelles
36:43will have
36:43discovered the
36:44theft by
36:45now.
36:45They must
36:46have your
36:47description from
36:47the clerk.
36:48Sooner or
36:48later, you
36:49might be
36:49identified.
36:50But they
36:50can't do
36:50anything to
36:51me, Ralph.
36:51I'm not
36:52responsible.
36:53I'm sick.
36:53No, Ruth, in
36:54this case, you
36:55are responsible.
36:57That's why we
36:57have to call
36:58the police.
37:07All right, Mrs.
37:08Moody, here's
37:10the typed
37:10statement you
37:11gave us.
37:12Can I go
37:13home after I
37:13sign it?
37:14Yes, yes, of
37:15course.
37:15But better
37:16read it over
37:17first.
37:18What happens
37:19after that,
37:20Lieutenant
37:20Ames?
37:21That depends.
37:23On what?
37:24Well, mostly
37:26on whether or
37:26not your wife
37:27has told us
37:28everything.
37:28But I swear
37:29I have.
37:30I'm not saying
37:31your story is
37:31phony, Mrs.
37:32Moody.
37:33My own
37:34viewpoint is
37:34that it's
37:35too cockeyed
37:35to be phony.
37:36But that
37:37may be a
37:38subtle way
37:38of looking at
37:39it.
37:39Why should
37:39she lie
37:40about this,
37:41Lieutenant?
37:41What would
37:42my wife
37:42have to
37:42gain?
37:43Well, she
37:44could stand
37:45to gain a
37:45diamond pin
37:46worth almost
37:4750,000 bucks.
37:48But she
37:48doesn't have
37:48the diamond.
37:49She gave
37:49it to them.
37:50Yes, that's
37:51a story.
37:53But let's
37:54say, for
37:54example, that
37:54those two
37:55men never
37:56existed.
37:56Oh, that's
37:57a horrible
37:57thing to
37:58say.
37:58I'm telling
37:59you how
37:59other people
38:00might see
38:01this thing.
38:01If you
38:02were a
38:02crook and
38:03you realized
38:04that you'd
38:04been spotted
38:05in Travelle's,
38:06well, this
38:07story of yours
38:08would put you
38:08in the clear,
38:09wouldn't it?
38:09But it's
38:10true.
38:11Every word
38:12of it.
38:13But you see
38:13the problem,
38:14don't you?
38:15You've been
38:15identified as
38:16a robber.
38:17You've confessed
38:18to stealing
38:18the pin.
38:19The fact that
38:20you're a
38:20known kleptomaniac
38:21doesn't help.
38:23Some people
38:23might even be
38:24nasty enough to
38:25say that you
38:25got yourself
38:26that reputation
38:27deliberately.
38:28This is
38:28incredible.
38:29You're accusing
38:29my wife of
38:30being a thief.
38:31Oh, what can I
38:31say to convince
38:32you?
38:33If you could
38:33only give me a
38:34better description
38:35of those two
38:36men.
38:37Well, I've done
38:37the best I
38:38could.
38:38The first
38:39man, he was
38:40of average
38:41height, dark
38:42hair, very
38:44sunburned.
38:44Yeah, yeah,
38:45yeah.
38:45You keep telling
38:46me about that
38:47sunburn, but
38:48that's not going
38:49to last very
38:49long, is it?
38:51Lieutenant, you
38:52do you think
38:53that sunburn
38:54was a kind
38:54of disguise?
38:55I'm sure it
38:56was, Mr.
38:56Moody.
38:57And the other
38:58man, he wore
38:59a stocking mask.
39:01There's no way I
39:01can describe him.
39:03What about the
39:03hotel, Lieutenant?
39:04No good.
39:05It's a kind of a
39:06dump which doesn't
39:06even bother to
39:07keep a register,
39:08even though it's a
39:09city ordinance.
39:10But the clerk
39:11might be able to
39:12identify the man
39:12who took the
39:13room.
39:13Maybe, if we
39:15could produce
39:15him.
39:16Only, how do we
39:17do that?
39:18Uh, what about
39:19the thousand
39:20dollars they
39:21promised to send
39:21her?
39:22Oh, I wouldn't
39:22count on that.
39:23If she's telling
39:24the truth, you'll
39:25never hear from
39:26him again.
39:28Okay, so maybe
39:29it's a new gimmick.
39:31Maybe one of them
39:31works in a
39:32department store,
39:33has access to the
39:34names of recognized
39:35kleptos.
39:36I'm sure he did
39:37work in a department
39:38store.
39:39Yeah, and so do
39:40thousands of people,
39:41Mrs. Moody.
39:42All you've got to
39:43do is name the
39:44one.
39:44And if she can't,
39:45what happens then?
39:47I think you know
39:49the answer to that.
39:51Will I be
39:52arrested?
39:53But you can't
39:54arrest her.
39:54She's sick.
39:55She was seeing a
39:56doctor.
39:56And I'm going to
39:56see him again.
39:57Oh, so help me,
39:58Ralph.
39:59Do you really
39:59mean that, Ruth?
40:00I'm not going to
40:02stop seeing Dr.
40:03Berger until I'm
40:04cured.
40:05Unless they send
40:06me to prison first.
40:08Well, have you
40:09read the statement,
40:10Mrs. Moody?
40:11Yes.
40:12Yes, it's all
40:13right.
40:13I'm ready to sign
40:14it.
40:14Fine.
40:15Yeah, let's see.
40:16I thought I had a
40:17pen on this desk.
40:19Oh, well, I think
40:21there's one in my
40:21purse.
40:22I'll get it.
40:24Hey, it's funny.
40:26What is?
40:28Well, this isn't
40:29your pen, Ruth.
40:30I don't recognize it.
40:31Do you?
40:32Let me see.
40:34No.
40:35Well, that isn't
40:35my pen.
40:36Oh, Ruthie, no.
40:37Not again.
40:38You mean you
40:39stole it, Mrs.
40:40Moody?
40:42I'm afraid I did.
40:45I remember now
40:47when the man was
40:49drawing the diagrams
40:50of the jewelry store.
40:51He left his pen
40:53on the coffee table
40:54and I just couldn't
40:57stop myself.
40:57Wait a minute.
40:59You stole his pen,
41:00the man in the
41:01stocking mask?
41:02Yes.
41:03Will you arrest me
41:04for that, too?
41:05Let me see it.
41:07Miss Moody,
41:08do you realize
41:09there's a name
41:10on this pen?
41:11It's from Barnett's
41:12department store
41:13and it's engraved
41:14with the name
41:14of the owner.
41:15What?
41:16Barnett's department
41:17store, J.M. Hutchins.
41:19Hutchins?
41:20He's the assistant
41:22manager.
41:22He is the one.
41:23Lieutenant,
41:24you found your man.
41:26Well, what do you
41:27know?
41:28This is the first
41:29time I've ever seen
41:30a proof of that
41:31old chestnut.
41:32Old chestnut?
41:33That it takes a thief
41:35to catch a thief.
41:44The moral of this
41:45story might be
41:47never steal
41:48anything small,
41:50particularly
41:51if it's a diamond
41:53pin worth
41:53$50,000.
41:55Well, you'll be
41:56happy to know
41:57that the police
41:58investigation
41:58proved the guilt
42:00of Mr. J.M. Hutchins
42:01and the innocence
42:03of Mrs. Ruth Moody.
42:05And the last
42:06we heard,
42:07the only trouble
42:08with Ruth
42:09was going to be
42:10a little one.
42:12Our cast included
42:14Marion Seldes,
42:15George Petrie,
42:16Jack Grimes,
42:17Jackson Beck,
42:18and Gil Mack.
42:19The entire production
42:21was under the
42:21direction of
42:22Hyman Brown.
42:23Radio Mystery Theater
42:25was sponsored
42:25in part by
42:27Sinoff,
42:28the Sinus Medicines,
42:29Buick Motor Division,
42:31and Anheuser-Busch
42:32Incorporated,
42:33Brewers of Budweiser.
42:34This is E.G.
42:36Marshall inviting you
42:37to return to our
42:38Mystery Theater
42:38for another adventure
42:40in the macabre.
42:42Until next time,
42:44pleasant dreams.
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