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"The Three Ghosts" is a classic Halloween episode of The Shadow old-time radio drama that originally broadcast on October 31, 1937, starring Orson Welles as Lamont Cranston and Agnes Moorehead as Margo Lane.
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00:11The Shadow Knows
00:23Blue Coal presents The Shadow
00:25The man of mystery who strikes terror in the very souls of sharpsters,
00:29lawbreakers, and criminals.
00:54Five, six...
00:55Arthur, don't, sir.
00:56Please.
00:59Eight, nine.
01:01This is the hour, my dear.
01:03I can't stand it, I tell you.
01:05Always at nine o'clock it comes.
01:07But if I hear that horrible thing again, I'll go crazy.
01:10Oh, this awful house.
01:12But it's quiet, my dear.
01:14Way out in the country like this,
01:15I can install my laboratory here as soon as I get around to it.
01:19But as for these strange sounds, well, haunted houses have always fascinated me.
01:26I've always wanted to meet a ghost, shake hands with him, or bite him to tea.
01:33Stop talking like that.
01:34It's serious.
01:36Oh, I've tried to stand it for your sake, Arthur.
01:38But I don't know how much longer.
01:41My heart isn't strong and I...
01:43Hear it?
01:45But that's only the wind, isn't it?
01:47No.
01:48It always starts like that.
01:50You know it does.
01:53Don't move.
01:54Listen.
01:57Arthur.
01:58It's coming.
01:59It's coming.
02:00It's coming.
02:01A ghost, eh?
02:03Well, we'll see.
02:04I'll meet him this time.
02:06I'll meet him halfway, too.
02:09Stop.
02:10Stop.
02:11Come.
02:11We'll both meet him.
02:13Give me your hand.
02:14No.
02:18Carolyn.
02:20Carolyn.
02:21It's stopped.
02:22Can't you hear me?
02:25Goodness me.
02:26Has the shock killed her?
02:29No, her heart still beats.
02:32She's only fainted again.
02:35Hmm?
02:35Just her heart out here.
02:49Turn the next corner, Lamont.
02:51It's that big house, that on the hill.
02:53May I ask, Margot, the reason for this late call on Carolyn Sneed?
02:57I'd like to know what's the matter with the poor woman.
02:59I got an awful shock when I saw her in town last week.
03:02She looks positively haggard.
03:04And there was thought such a change come over a person.
03:06Married life may not agree with her.
03:08Well, she was a spinster for close to 40 years, wasn't she?
03:11I know, but I think she was foolish.
03:14Carolyn has nearly a million dollars in her own name.
03:16She didn't have to marry me.
03:17Yes, but right now I'm not the shadow.
03:22Remember, I'm just your patient chauffeur, darling.
03:24Lamont Cranston, in need of arrest from my famous mystery manual.
03:29That last adventure took a lot out of me, you know.
03:31Oh, well, a marriage problem is hardly...
03:35Seriously, though, nobody knows anything about this man she married.
03:39He came into town six months ago, met Carolyn in some accidental manner at the county fair,
03:44and proceeded to rush her off her feet.
03:47I've met him only once, but I don't like his looks.
03:50Hmm, something sinister, I gather.
03:52Hence the shadow idea.
03:55Well, who is he, anyway?
03:56Professor Arthur Sneed, I believe he calls himself.
04:00He has a small office in town where he's supposed to be working on inventions or something.
04:05Well, here we are.
04:07Hmm.
04:08Usually pretty level-headed, Margot,
04:10but don't let your aversion for this man we're seeing be too apparent.
04:20Really a place, isn't it?
04:25I don't see any bell.
04:27I guess you're supposed to use the marker.
04:33Here he comes.
04:36Well, who is...
04:37Oh, it's you, Miss Lane.
04:39Yes.
04:40Good evening, Professor Sneed.
04:41I hope we aren't too late.
04:42Too late?
04:43Too late for what?
04:44Why, I phoned Carolyn that we'd drop in just to say hello.
04:47Well, she didn't tell me.
04:48Uh, Carolyn isn't feeling well at the moment.
04:51I'm sorry.
04:52Good night.
04:53Oh, but please, I only want to see her for a moment.
04:55That is, unless it's something really serious.
04:58Well, it isn't as serious as she pretends to think it is, but, uh...
05:03Well, come in.
05:07Uh, this is my friend, Lamont Cranston.
05:10Uh, come in.
05:12I'm very happy to see Mr. Cranston.
05:15I've heard a lot about him.
05:16How do you do?
05:19You say Carolyn is ill?
05:20She didn't mention it when I...
05:22It came on suddenly.
05:23She's been in a nervous condition lately, but it's mostly imaginary.
05:27I made her go to bed.
05:29Well, would it be all right if I saw it, Professor?
05:32I suppose so.
05:33Go on up, if you like.
05:35Well, thanks.
05:36I'll only be a few minutes, Lamont.
05:38Uh, what seems to be the trouble with your wife, Professor Sneed?
05:43Oh, she's run down, I guess.
05:45Frightly nervous.
05:46She has some absurd notion that this place is, uh, well, haunted.
05:53Haunted?
05:54It's only the wind, of course, and the creaking of an old house.
05:57Hmm.
05:58Ghosts.
05:58She keeps talking about ghosts.
06:01And I can't persuade her that there are no such things.
06:04Of course, old houses have a habit of getting themselves haunted, Professor.
06:09As for myself, I'm not so sure there aren't such things as ghosts.
06:13But surely, Mr. Cranston...
06:15Oh, not the conventional sort, perhaps, but...
06:18I mean people's spirits.
06:21Souls, whatever you want to call them.
06:24Haunting the places where they've been unhappy.
06:27Very interesting, I'm sure.
06:29But a lot of tosh.
06:31I put no stock in it.
06:32No?
06:33I'm just noticing that rather rare book on the table, Professor.
06:38Neurosis of death.
06:39What?
06:39If you're interested in that, I'm sure you must be interested in ghosts.
06:44I understand its morbid analysis of the factors of violent death are quite interesting.
06:50What do you know about it?
06:52Oh, I read all sorts of things, Professor.
06:54Professor, please.
06:55Oh, yes, Miss Lane?
06:58Carolyn wants her sedative.
07:00Oh, yes, yes.
07:01I'll go up and give it to her.
07:03Did you find her comfortable, Miss Lane?
07:06I think Carolyn is seriously ill.
07:09Yes, but more nerves than anything.
07:12Excuse me just a moment, won't you?
07:15Lamont, there's something wrong here.
07:18I was afraid there was.
07:20I don't know what it is, but it's something terrible.
07:22What's the matter with Carolyn?
07:23Well, she hardly recognized me, and she talks like one in a trance, as though she were in
07:27the grip of some deadly fear.
07:29When I suggested sending the doctor over, she shook her head, but I'm going to just the
07:34same.
07:34I can't help feeling it.
07:36It's that man, her husband.
07:38Yes, he isn't very pleasant, is he?
07:41His skin has a mild pallor.
07:44You see it on men who've spent some time in prison.
07:48There are many little traits of his behavior that interest me as a psychologist.
07:55Remarkable men.
07:56But you don't mean...
07:57I don't know.
07:59But I think we'll investigate this more or less formally, Margot.
08:03I'll visit the professor tomorrow at his office in town.
08:08If there are ghosts involved here, perhaps the shadow can bring them to light.
08:25Hello?
08:27Yes, Carolyn.
08:29Well, don't worry, my dear.
08:32I'll leave the office here at five, and I'll be home before six.
08:37Yes.
08:38Yes, I understand.
08:40Goodbye, dear.
08:43Well, who is it?
08:45Is that you, Miss White?
08:49Who's opening that door?
08:51Don't get up, Professor.
08:53I'll close it after me.
08:55What?
08:56I thought I might find you in.
08:58Who said that?
08:59Who are you?
09:00Your conscience speaking, Professor.
09:04Or have you a conscience?
09:06I'll show you what I've got.
09:10Don't excite yourself.
09:12I'm only a voice.
09:15A voice, they call.
09:18Professor, have you ever heard of the shadow?
09:22The shadow?
09:23Yes.
09:25You seem to have heard of me.
09:27What do you want?
09:28I've come to warn you, Sneed.
09:30Warn me?
09:31Warn me about what?
09:32I know what you're doing.
09:34What?
09:34And I know how it's going to end.
09:38The end is death.
09:41Death?
09:42I have something here I'll toss in your lap.
09:46There.
09:48Do you hear it?
09:49Why, you.
09:50Get out of here, I tell you.
09:52See it?
09:53Look.
09:55It's half of a playing card.
09:57The ace of spades.
10:00When you find the other half, that will be the end.
10:05Get out and leave me alone.
10:07All right, Sneed, I'll go.
10:08But don't forget, the shadow knows.
10:19Trying to frighten me with his tricks.
10:23Oh, coming back, are you?
10:26Oh, it's you, Miss White.
10:28There are two gentlemen here to see you, Professor Sneed.
10:30Two gentlemen?
10:31Well, I'm not expecting...
10:32I guess you may remember us, Professor Sneed.
10:34Spike.
10:35Your old friend Spike Collins and Mr. Wilson here.
10:38Yes, yes, of course.
10:40Please take those circulars on your desk, Miss White,
10:43and mail them at the post office right away.
10:45Yes, sir.
10:47Lock that door, all right?
10:48Okay.
10:50And what are you staring at, Sneed?
10:52We need ghosts.
10:53Uh, I thought you two were doing a stretch at Leavenworth.
10:56Yeah, we were.
10:58We framed a getaway.
10:59And now we come to see an old pal.
11:01Oh, now, listen, Spike.
11:03I'd help you if I could, but...
11:04Nuts.
11:05We've been watching you, and we know your game.
11:07We ain't got no time to stall.
11:09This old dame you married her has got plenty of...
11:11I don't know what you're driving at.
11:13Well, you'll know if we squawk about that dame you married out in Idaho
11:17that croaked without anybody knowing what was the matter with her.
11:20Cards on the table, Sneed.
11:21Hey, has this one signed her money over to you?
11:24Yes.
11:25She fixed her will in my favor.
11:27Well, what are you doing to get her?
11:29Well, she has a weak heart and...
11:32I know.
11:33Playing ghost and scaring her the dead, eh?
11:36That's too slow, Sneed.
11:37I got a better skin.
11:39We break into the house.
11:41State your burglary, see?
11:43In a scuffle, the old dame gets shot.
11:45Dead.
11:46It's quick.
11:47No, no.
11:47You can't do that.
11:48Now you'll see.
12:00Spike Collins.
12:02Spike Collins.
12:04Wake up.
12:06Spike Collins.
12:08What?
12:10Who's that?
12:11It's just a voice, Collins.
12:14The voice of your own thoughts coming to warn you.
12:20No one but you can hear me.
12:24Your friend, Sneed, is going to double-cross you tonight.
12:31Sneed is going to double-cross you.
12:33If your move, be there to prevent him.
12:39Be there in time.
12:42Six o'clock.
12:44Be there.
12:46Be there.
12:48Be there.
12:50Be there.
13:02Be there.
13:20Are you comfortable in that chair, Carolyn?
13:22Yes, thank you, Margot, dear.
13:24And I do appreciate your coming out here and staying with me.
13:27I'm glad to do it.
13:29But it's six o'clock.
13:30Your husband ought to be coming home pretty soon, shouldn't he?
13:32He phoned just before you got here and said he was starting.
13:36He seemed very agitated.
13:39Oh, he's a strange, unaccountable man sometimes.
13:42There are things about him I don't seem to understand.
13:45Yes, I know, dear.
13:47He has the car, I suppose?
13:48Yes, he's driving.
13:49He's probably on his way now.
13:55I've got to think.
13:57I've got to think of something.
13:59I know.
14:00We leave town.
14:02You're driving rather recklessly, Smead.
14:05You again.
14:07I'm going to haunt you.
14:09Try to forget that I'm here in the rear seat.
14:13If it annoys you.
14:15No, don't look under the seat.
14:18If I could only see you, get my hands on you, I'd show you how much it annoys me.
14:24Shut up.
14:24I'm the voice of your conscience, Smead.
14:28Perhaps you have a conscience.
14:31After all...
14:32I could choke that voice down your throat without any trouble to my conscience.
14:36If you only had the power of second sight, you could see me.
14:40That's an invaluable gift, Smead.
14:44Being able to see things that other men can't.
14:48Some people call it mental telepathy.
14:51Some by other names.
14:54Remember, I can see the pictures you make in your mind.
15:00I told you about that.
15:03You can warn all you like.
15:05That's not evidence.
15:06Not in court.
15:07A lot of wild guesses that don't mean anything.
15:10Well, doesn't it frighten you a little, Smead?
15:13I simply will.
15:16You not to see me.
15:19And you don't.
15:22Careful.
15:23There's a truck coming down the road.
15:25Better sound your horn.
15:27Good Lord, the fool's taking up the whole road.
15:30It's going to hit you.
15:31Look out.
15:35It's gone.
15:37There wasn't any truck there.
15:40No.
15:41I willed you to see it.
15:44And you saw it.
15:46No truck at all.
15:48Just hypnotism.
15:50Gosh, I...
15:51I'm having hallucinations.
15:53But that's the way to dispel hallucinations.
15:57Drive straight through them.
16:00Be careful.
16:02We're near your house.
16:04And this old mill road is tricky.
16:06What about it?
16:07Look, Smead.
16:08There's a man in the road ahead of you.
16:10There is, eh?
16:12Really?
16:12Why, it looks like one of your two pals that called on you today.
16:16I knew we would be here, Smead.
16:19Really?
16:20You're going to hit him if you don't watch out?
16:21More of your hallucinations.
16:24You think that I'll believe you again, don't you?
16:27Well, I won't.
16:28Look out.
16:32I hit him.
16:34This time, it was no hallucinations, Smead.
16:38He was in front of you.
16:57Morning, Smead.
16:59Morning, Smead.
17:01Morning, Smead.
17:10We found dead.
17:11Here, son.
17:12I'll take one.
17:13Here, answer.
17:15What's it all about, Lamont?
17:18Found dead on old mill road.
17:21But that's out for the Smead's place.
17:23Yes, yes, I believe it is.
17:26Notorious criminal struck by automobile and killed.
17:30He was certainly struck by an automobile.
17:33I wonder if Smead knew anything about it.
17:35He acted very strange when he got home last night.
17:37Strange?
17:38In what way?
17:39Well, he was pale and shaky, and he hardly seemed to know I was there.
17:43He told Carolyn that he'd had a message from out of town, and they'd have to pack and leave.
17:47Did he say when?
17:48Well, they thought they could get their trunks and things ready by this afternoon sometime.
17:52You're not going to let Carolyn go with him, Lamont?
17:54Not if I can help it.
17:56Let's see.
17:58A little after nine, I imagine Commissioner Weston is rather startled by the morning's news.
18:05I think I'll have a word with Commissioner Weston.
18:20Commissioner Weston, they're sending Carolyn's body into the morgue.
18:24You went out there this morning and checked all the details, Captain?
18:26Yes, sir, I did.
18:27And whoever hit him certainly smashed him up good.
18:31His face was all out of shape.
18:33Couldn't recognize him.
18:35But he found these in his pocket.
18:36Well, let's see.
18:38A letter from his girl out west, looks like.
18:43Insurance policy.
18:46Library card of Leavenworth Penitentiary.
18:48And this ring, sir, that Collins always wore with the figure eight on it.
18:53Oh, yes.
18:54Well, it's a good job done, whoever did it.
18:57Tag that stuff and file it.
18:58Yes, sir.
18:59Let me know when the wagon gets here.
19:00Yes, sir.
19:02Police department.
19:04Commissioner Weston speaking.
19:05Good morning, Commissioner.
19:07This is your good friend, the Shadow.
19:11Oh, yeah?
19:12Well, what the blazes do you want?
19:14To be of a little assistance, as usual.
19:17Yes, I see.
19:19I'm getting tired of this rigmarole, though heaven knows things happen when you phone.
19:24And what's the assistance today?
19:26Why didn't you investigate the ghost that haunts Sneed House, Commissioner, on the old mill road?
19:32Well, you missed up on that one, Mr. Shadow.
19:34I don't put much stock in ghosts.
19:37But we went out there and checked up.
19:39Searched the house.
19:40There's no evidence.
19:42No.
19:43Go again today, Commissioner.
19:45Commissioner, and this time, I think you'll get your evidence.
20:05Is that the last drunk, Arthur?
20:08Yes.
20:09The expressman won't be here until four.
20:12Another hour yet.
20:14But why don't you go up and lie down a while, Caroline, hmm?
20:18Yes, I will.
20:19Try to sleep a little now that it's daylight.
20:22You told the milkman we wanted to pay him.
20:25He's coming back just all we need.
20:27Good.
20:29Well, that must be him now at the back door.
20:36Get back.
20:37Get back.
20:38What's the matter, Sneed?
20:40Think you're seeing a ghost?
20:42Stop.
20:43Don't come near me.
20:44Snap.
20:44Snap out of it, will you?
20:45This is me, Spike Collins.
20:47You?
20:49Alive?
20:50It wasn't me you hit with your car last night on that back road.
20:54Well, I guess you wish it had been, huh?
20:56Who was it then?
20:58It was Brad Wilson.
20:59The fool got half pickled trying to get up his nerve for the job.
21:03Staggered on the road before I could stop him and wham.
21:06It was all over.
21:08Wilson, eh?
21:08So there was my chance.
21:10See?
21:10Him and me, about the same size.
21:12His face and hands all smashed flat.
21:15I put my stuff in his pockets.
21:17My ring and what was left of his finger.
21:20Here I was.
21:21Dead.
21:23And all that time you has given me the double trots.
21:27Maybe I am a ghost.
21:28But I can still deal with you, Sneed.
21:31Who is it, Arthur?
21:32Just a minute, Carolyn.
21:34Now listen, Spike.
21:35There's only one way to see this thing through.
21:38You and I have got to stick together.
21:40The shadow is after us both.
21:42We've got to get out together.
21:44Away from this shadow.
21:46Don't kid me anymore about the shadow.
21:49You see this cat?
21:50I'm here on business and I'm going through with it.
21:52Put the old lady out of her misery.
21:54Good Lord.
21:56What's the matter?
21:58There.
21:59On the table.
22:02Nothing but a torn playing card.
22:04The ace of spades.
22:06Or half of it.
22:06You've got to stop it, Spike.
22:08You've got to stop it.
22:09Arthur, what's the matter?
22:11Who's this man?
22:12Carolyn.
22:14This, uh, this is a friend of mine.
22:17Friend?
22:18Sure.
22:19A friend.
22:20But I don't understand.
22:22The pistol, uh...
22:23Yeah, that's my way of doing business, lady.
22:25Your husband does it different.
22:27He's been scaring you to death, ain't he?
22:29Making you think the place was haunted.
22:31You know how he always does it?
22:32Stop it, Spike.
22:33He used to be an electrician, see?
22:34He rigs up a sort of electric sound box with a remote control switch.
22:38He usually puts the switch over here, by the door.
22:44Yeah.
22:45Here it is.
22:46What's it all about, Arthur?
22:49The ace of spades.
22:51The end.
22:53Death.
22:54When he turns the switch, you hear the ghost dance.
22:57All you have to do is turn this knob.
22:59That's the way it works, lady.
23:03But I hear it.
23:05Arthur, I hear it.
23:07Turn that thing off, you idiot.
23:09What?
23:11I...
23:11I haven't turned it on.
23:14You haven't.
23:15Then...
23:16Then what's making those sounds?
23:20I am.
23:22What is that?
23:23It's him.
23:24He's come.
23:25A shadow.
23:26I am coming up these stellar stairs.
23:30I will enter and stand beside you.
23:35Where is he?
23:36Stand back or I'll shoot.
23:37When I enter, I will touch one of you.
23:41On the shoulder.
23:42Stop him.
23:43Stop him.
23:44And that one will die.
23:49Mr. Cops, come here, Steve.
23:52It's a plant.
23:53You called in the cops.
23:54No, don't shoot, Spike.
23:55The jig is up.
23:57You can have the bullet I was going to give your wife, you double-crossing skunk.
24:03You killed him.
24:05Come on.
24:07Go through that tideroom, boys.
24:09Stick him up.
24:11I got him.
24:13I'll stand.
24:14Still around.
24:15Break your arm.
24:17Now, hand over that gat.
24:20All right.
24:22I'm through.
24:24You win.
24:26Spike Collins.
24:27Spike.
24:28Collins?
24:29I thought he was...
24:29I thought you...
24:31Say, what is this?
24:33Who was that guy that got killed over here last night?
24:36Come clean, Collins.
24:39Whoever it was, I didn't do it.
24:44Who's that?
24:45Where are you?
24:46Don't be alarmed.
24:48I am here behind you in the shadow.
24:53Oh.
24:54So you're here, Shadow, eh?
24:57Maybe you know who got killed here last night.
24:59The man killed last night, Commissioner, is a ghost.
25:04Oh, yeah?
25:05There are now two ghosts in this little adventure.
25:10Mr. Collins will probably make the third.
25:15You really should believe in ghosts now, Commissioner.
25:20And in shadows.
25:23Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
25:26ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
25:28ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
25:29ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
25:31ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
25:33ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha