Speaker 1: Come in welcome.
Speaker 2: I'm e. G. Marshall Ciceroni of this guided tour through
the regions of the mysterious and the macabre. Every man
has his price, or so we are told. Some of
us may protest that we are not for sale, and
we may even be convinced of it. However, one should
really refrain from making such statements until one is turned
down and offer. The cynical view is that human beings
are like the stock work. It's merely a matter of
closing the distance between.
Speaker 1: The bid and the ask.
Speaker 2: Is there really such a thing as an offer one
cannot refuse? That's what the next hour is all about.
What can I do for you?
Speaker 3: Man?
Speaker 4: I want someone to commit a murder?
Speaker 1: What did you say?
Speaker 2: I believe you heard me, madam. This is a furniture factory.
I am the owner.
Speaker 4: I know exactly who you are and what you do.
Speaker 2: Why come to me. I'm not a murderer.
Speaker 4: I'm willing to pay a million dollars.
Speaker 2: Murderers against every moral and religious conviction.
Speaker 4: I'm willing to pay a million dollars. I would never
I'm willing to pay you one million dollars.
Speaker 2: Our mystery drama, million dollar Murder was written especially for
the Mystery Theater by Sam Dan and stars Mandel Kramer.
It is sponsored in part by All State Insurance Companies
and True Value Hardware Stories.
Speaker 5: We'll be back shortly with that one.
Speaker 1: Luck, as you know, is fortune. Of course, that's good luck.
Speaker 2: On the other hand, we have bad luck. The way
it works, most people average out, which brings us to
the law of averages, which says that over the course
of your lifetime, you can expect.
Speaker 1: Luck to break fifty to fifty.
Speaker 2: Well, some people can get each fifty percent all at once.
Speaker 1: Here we have Richard F. Nelson.
Speaker 2: Till recently he's had nothing.
Speaker 1: But good luck.
Speaker 2: But these past several months he's taken one blow after another.
He's thirty five half his allotted three score and ten
is bad luck to be the pattern for the rest
of his life. Come in, Jerry, not insidam.
Speaker 1: Dick?
Speaker 4: Uh?
Speaker 1: I uh?
Speaker 2: What's the matter? What's a long face? I guess there's
no other way to say it except to say it.
I'm leaving you what I got another offer. You're walking
out on me in the middle of the season, Dick.
Speaker 1: I can't turn it down.
Speaker 2: The money is twice as good. I taught you everything
you know. I made you my production foreman and my
future to think about. Who are you giving me two weeks? Two?
As far as I'm concerned, you can walk out of
here right now, pick up your money, and beat it. Okay, Dick,
that's the way you feel, Jerry. Wait a minute, I'm sorry.
I I had no right to talk to you like that. Actually,
I I should be happy that you're getting.
Speaker 1: A break, Dick. Believe me, if it wasn't for that money.
Speaker 2: You're not supposed to spend your life out here in
the stick. You don't really owe me anything. Where's the
job Imperial Furniture in p Oh, that's big time. I
don't even know how they ever heard it. Well, word
gets around you're a top.
Speaker 1: Man, Jerry.
Speaker 2: Well I I I sort of felt you'd be glad
for me, Dick, because that's the kind of guy you will.
Just that. So many things have been going wrong lately.
I guess I'm just a little loft dride.
Speaker 1: That's all where you know.
Speaker 2: My assistants are pretty good, man. Don't worry about it.
We'll survive anyhow. Good luck, Thanks to and let's have
dinner one night before you go where I'm going to
be working overtime for the last minute. I wanna leave
you in good shape.
Speaker 1: Oh, by the.
Speaker 2: Way, that northern cherry wood I want to use for
the sofa frames, it didn't come in. What do you
mean didn't come in?
Speaker 1: We should have had delivery a week ago. Look, you
get back to the shop. I'll have literature.
Speaker 2: Yes, Millie, get me George Cawley please.
Speaker 4: Yes, mister Nelson and I have a call from it.
Speaker 6: What's your room of Western States Merchandisers?
Speaker 4: Who're you talk to him?
Speaker 1: I talked to him.
Speaker 2: What do you think?
Speaker 6: Yes, sir, I have mister Nelson for you now, mister Jerome.
Speaker 2: Hello, Dick, Eddie, what's you Dick?
Speaker 6: I'm uh I'm calling. Pretend that we happy cancel what
I just got word this morning canceled. It's direct from
the eighth floor, Eddie.
Speaker 2: We made a lot of those cheers to your particular specification.
Speaker 6: Well, I was just part of, you know, an informal understanding.
But why, Eddie, I don't know. I guess all of
a sudden, classic is out and modern is there, Eddie.
Speaker 2: Practically all of it is made packed ready to ship.
Speaker 6: Believe me, Dick, I understand you know.
Speaker 2: What I've got tied up in that order?
Speaker 6: Yeah? Yeah, I know, and I'm sorry.
Speaker 2: Look, well, can't you salvage even a piece of it
for me?
Speaker 6: I tried, Dick, you know I tried, but they shot
me down. I'm really sorry, Dick. I'll be talking to you.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, okay, I could almost believe it's a plot.
What now?
Speaker 6: Yes, I had George Caley. Oh thanks, Now I handing
it to colle high day. What's on your mind?
Speaker 2: Wearing blazers? Is my cherry wood?
Speaker 6: Oh well, I'll think. I'm sorry. What happened is there's
no record if you're ordering any.
Speaker 2: No, what do you mean it's a standing order?
Speaker 5: Oh?
Speaker 2: Actually it's kind of an understart.
Speaker 1: I don't care what it is.
Speaker 2: I've been getting that chip in every month for over
a year.
Speaker 6: Look, here's what happens. You know, my own hast got
his master's business administration and he's come in with me
and he set up for seed.
Speaker 2: George. All I want is literally you can get shipped
unless there's a written order, and the shipping.
Speaker 6: Clerk must have forgotten to tell it. Thick, I'm really embarrassed.
Speaker 2: Look forget it. How quickly can you load a truck
and get it out here.
Speaker 6: Well, that's the problem, Dick. I don't think I've got
ten feet left in the warehouse.
Speaker 2: George, I have to fill a special order for a
New York Kane.
Speaker 6: I'm sorry. It was a terribleman's understanding, but I'll make
sure you're taking care of next month.
Speaker 2: Next month, I have to wait thirty days.
Speaker 6: Oh, I hope it's only thirty days. You know how
scarce that stuff is.
Speaker 1: Get all right?
Speaker 3: All right? Oh?
Speaker 4: What?
Speaker 6: Well for being so understanding, the average guy would have
flipped that.
Speaker 2: Last Sure, sure, goodbye, George. Yes, really for the rest
of the day. I don't want to hear any bad news,
you understand. I'm going to the club for lunch. What
could happen to me there?
Speaker 1: Hello, Dick? Oh, judge tomorrow?
Speaker 2: Uh you expecting anyone? No?
Speaker 1: No, joined me for lunch?
Speaker 6: Thanks.
Speaker 2: I was hoping i'd run into you. You look a.
Speaker 1: Bit out of search date.
Speaker 2: Something wrong, Yeah, I did. I wish I knew. You
have to explain that, Judge, you familiar with the story
of job last Well, that's who I feel like right now.
We don't see any boils. Well, it might have been
much presumptuous to me to make the comparison, But I
just feel that I am about to go down the drain.
Are you serious, Dick, judge, there's things go on. At
this rate, I'll be bankrupt within the year. I stand
to lose everything I own in the world. But everyone
says things are going great at your plant. Every day
at something else another setback. I'm losing key customers. Ah,
I don't know, vital raw material don't arrive. Why it
just happens. And the top of all, my foreman got
a better job and is leaving me.
Speaker 1: What is it?
Speaker 2: What's happening? Well, it's just a lot of bad luck,
so much bad luck, all at once, Dick. I've known
you all your life.
Speaker 1: You've always in the Golden Boys.
Speaker 2: Fortune has smiled.
Speaker 1: Upon your constantly.
Speaker 2: Well, she is an extremely fig old girl, and now
she wants to frown for a bit. But it just
seems to be a pattern.
Speaker 4: Day.
Speaker 2: You've probably been spoiled. You've never had to cope with it.
Very now and a lot more than that change. It's
reached a point now where I know that every day
is going to produce another sentinel.
Speaker 1: Come on now, Dacke's Ali in your head.
Speaker 2: Wait, where's the way to Charlie? Charlie, would you please
bring a phone over to my table? Why do you
wanna fall I've only been away from the office for
twenty minutes, judge, and I am willing to bet trouble
is still rolling in. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Charlie.
Speaker 2: You uh might want to see a psychiatrist? Yeah, I
would if I could tell him some furniture.
Speaker 6: Where'd you have Nelson in company?
Speaker 2: It's me, Millie.
Speaker 4: Oh, it's a good.
Speaker 6: Thing you call mister Nelson, mister Davis a consolidated phone.
Speaker 2: They're sending back our order, mister Nelson. How did you know, Millie?
I'm taking the rest of the day off.
Speaker 1: You see.
Speaker 2: He never rains because nead, but eventually it stops. One
time it didn't stop for forty days and forty minutes,
and for most people that was forever.
Speaker 4: You don't have to let Jerry Lyons go according to
the union time.
Speaker 3: No.
Speaker 2: I know I can keep him for a full year
on the technicality, but what's the good of it.
Speaker 1: He'd be unhappy.
Speaker 4: And why did you let George Cally off the hood?
Speaker 1: Dorothy?
Speaker 4: What was there I could do? You know what probably
happened somebody needed that would badly offered him a higher product.
Speaker 2: Come on, George Coley, isn't that kind of a guy.
Speaker 4: You're not that kind of a guy. So you want
to believe the best about everyone else and Diddie Jerome,
Maybe the time has come to reach a certain understanding
with Eddie.
Speaker 1: What are you talking about?
Speaker 4: Maybe Eddie wants to be taken.
Speaker 2: Care of Dorothy. You know, I've never done business that way.
Speaker 4: Maybe it's time you thought about it.
Speaker 2: We're saying, I don't know, Dick, I never heard you
talk like that about things like like bribery, and I know,
I know, but.
Speaker 4: Maybe that's the way business has to be conducted these days.
Maybe you and I have lived a kind of a
charmed life so far, maybe we were shielded from reality.
Speaker 2: Look, I have always prided myself on being ethical and honest.
Maybe I'm being punished for for what? Hubris pride?
Speaker 1: Who knows?
Speaker 2: Hello? Who are you?
Speaker 4: Well? H how did you get in? May I introduce myself?
My name is ALTHEA Beaumont. Uh, your door is open,
and so.
Speaker 2: I what does it you want?
Speaker 4: What do I want? First? May I sit down? Thank you?
How are things that Richard F. Nelson and the company
manufactures of fine furniture. Oh well, miss uh, it's missus.
Although mister Beaumont has left us these past five years, we.
Speaker 2: Uh don't wanna seem inhospitable. But uh, of.
Speaker 4: Course, so let's just get to business business. Yes, that's
why I'm here. Are your furniture by missus Beaumont. By
the end of the year, the Richard fne Nelson Company
will need one million dollars.
Speaker 2: What are you talking about?
Speaker 4: Sali's accounts payable, loans due and nothing is coming in.
Speaker 2: And what do you know about that?
Speaker 4: That's true, isn't it.
Speaker 6: Well?
Speaker 2: We have had a phenomenal streak of bad luck, I.
Speaker 4: Know, and that's why I'm here to reverse that streak.
Speaker 2: Who are you?
Speaker 4: No, reverse isn't quite the way to put it, although
that will happen. Now, what I should have said is
that I'm here to help you ride out that run
of bad luck. In short, mister Nelson, I should like
to offer you one million.
Speaker 2: Dollars as a loan.
Speaker 4: Oh no, no, no, no, as a kiser. Why would
you want to make us a gift of one million dollars?
Speaker 1: What dick?
Speaker 2: This woman is crazy? That that's no way to do.
Speaker 4: Of course it is. It's a sound, practical feminine reactions,
and you should verify me first. Here's my card, and
here are some banks you should call. And of this
brokerage firm, I've authorized them to answer your questions, and
i shall expect you to have lunch with me at
my week tomorrow at one. But why should you want
to give my husband one million dollars? My dear missus Nelson.
Should one look a gift horse in the mouth?
Speaker 2: There are two schools of thought on that subject. People
like Saint Jerome and Miguel Davantis said no. On the
other hand, had the men of ancient Troy been more
scrupulous in the inspection of their gift horse, the Greeks
would have lost the Trojan War. But who is this,
missus Elsie of Beaumont, who intends to offer a million
dollars to a complete stranger, and for no apparent reason.
We will know more when I return in just a
few moments. With that two, does luck good or bad
follow a pattern? According to the law of averages, you're
supposed to get an equal part of each over the
course of your lifetime. M And we even have testimony
for this in the Bible.
Speaker 1: After all, the seven.
Speaker 2: Fat years were followed by seven lean all of which
is scant consolation.
Speaker 1: To Richard F.
Speaker 2: Nelson, who has been having some problems lately.
Speaker 4: Come in, Ah, welcome, Oh won't you both sit down
sease now, mister Nelson. Mister Nelson, have you investigated me?
Speaker 2: Well? We, uh, we made some calls and we.
Speaker 4: Discovered that you, uh, you're a fabulously wealthy woman, missus
beaumonhont fabulously wealthy, Yes, you could put it that way.
And so you have ascertained that I am capable of
giving you a million dollars if I.
Speaker 2: Choose, yes, But we can't understand why should you choose?
Speaker 4: Well, I expect you to perform a small service for
me in return, of course, are we supposed to sell
our souls to the devil? What a remarkable notion? Oh please,
I didn't mean it to sound that way. But what
am I supposed to sing out of a clear blue sky?
A stranger offers us a million dollars? And well, these
things only happen in books or plays where you have
to make a bargain with the devil, don't they You
need that million, don't you, mister Nelson.
Speaker 2: Yes, you said something about uh performing a small service.
Speaker 4: Oh yes, And I don't think it's too much to ask,
considering that I'm willing to pay a million dollars for us.
What do you want us to do? Do you know
Judge Walter k maraw No it.
Speaker 2: He's my dearest, closest friend.
Speaker 4: The judge has been like a father to Dick all
these years.
Speaker 2: What about the judge?
Speaker 4: I want you to kill him?
Speaker 2: What did you say?
Speaker 4: I believe you heard me. I did huh uh uh uh.
I'm frightened. She's s sh she's a mad woman. I
would disagree.
Speaker 1: You can't be serious kill judge.
Speaker 4: Mam for one million dollars.
Speaker 2: You are a sick woman.
Speaker 4: It isn't worth one million dollars to you.
Speaker 1: I should have to report this to the police.
Speaker 4: What will you report to the police? Who would believe
such a ridiculous sounding accusation? And then you admit it's ridiculous? No,
I only said it sounds ridiculous.
Speaker 2: Don't believe we have anything further to discuss her.
Speaker 4: I agree we have discussed enough for one day.
Speaker 2: Sleep missus Beaumont, you are an evil, vicious woman.
Speaker 4: You may feel differently tomorrow about Murdier. Never you know
where to find me.
Speaker 6: I'm sorry, Dick, we can't afford you anymore.
Speaker 2: I counted on that order.
Speaker 6: The merchandise is just to expand, but its.
Speaker 2: Highest quality is the best workmanship, the raw material.
Speaker 6: I know, but we can't sell it. Maybe the public
doesn't appreciate it.
Speaker 2: Look, isn't there any way that we can do some
business this year?
Speaker 6: Why you have to give us a better price?
Speaker 1: How much better?
Speaker 6: Say better?
Speaker 1: Thirty percent?
Speaker 2: How can I do thirty percent better?
Speaker 6: Cut corners?
Speaker 2: Cut corners take out the quality.
Speaker 6: Our customers don't understand quality, therefore we don't demand it,
and so you don't have to put it in.
Speaker 2: I wouldn't know how to do business that way.
Speaker 6: I understand your problem, but you have to understand my problem.
Speaker 2: Yes, yes, look, let me think about it. Maybe maybe
I can figure something out.
Speaker 6: I sure hope. So go by.
Speaker 2: It won't work.
Speaker 4: You can't compete with the cut throats.
Speaker 2: How did you get in here? You didn't come to
see me, nothing to see you above her?
Speaker 4: So I decided to make it easier for you. I
came to your office.
Speaker 2: Tell me, why do you want judge Morrow murdered.
Speaker 4: I don't like him, and for that reason I can
afford to indulge my emotion.
Speaker 2: Why offer me a million dollars to do it? Surely
you could hire some gangster to do it for a
lot most money.
Speaker 4: It has to do with what you were just talking.
Speaker 2: About on the phone.
Speaker 4: Quality quality, Yes, because this murder would be meaningless if
it didn't have a certain quality.
Speaker 2: I don't know who you are. I don't know what
your motive.
Speaker 4: Is, Ah, Richard, Richard, don't I look familiar?
Speaker 1: No?
Speaker 2: I can't say that.
Speaker 4: I ever s look closely, Richard. You don't recognize me.
Speaker 2: I don't seem to.
Speaker 4: How many people have ever called you Richard? And how
many girls have you ever known who were called a'l
fia I. You've blocked it and her completely from your mind,
haven't you.
Speaker 2: Healthea to Althea.
Speaker 4: From Prison by Richard Lovelace. Stone walls do not a prison, make,
nor iron bars a cage. Mine's innocent and quiet. Take
that for a hermitage, good Lord. If I have freedom
in my love and in my soul, am.
Speaker 2: Free angels alone?
Speaker 4: That soul above enjoy such liberty.
Speaker 2: It's althea?
Speaker 4: What a coincidence. Your name was Richard and my name
was Alfa, and we pretended that you were that poet,
that wonderful seventeenth century poet. How old were we.
Speaker 2: All, fear?
Speaker 4: Just eighteen?
Speaker 1: You can't be Authia.
Speaker 4: You're the wealthy college boy, and I only a towny
who worked at the coffee shop. Oh how I loved.
Speaker 1: You, Richard.
Speaker 4: You were so different from every boy I'd ever known.
Speaker 2: Please Healthia, who introduced.
Speaker 4: Me to art, music, poetry? And now you don't even
remember I do I remember? Do you remember the day
that I told you I loved you so much?
Speaker 1: Richard?
Speaker 2: I loved you so much. Help me refresh your memory
healthier for you.
Speaker 4: We were walking in the woods and we came.
Speaker 2: To our favorite Healthier Dolly.
Speaker 4: Tell me you love me, Richard?
Speaker 2: Oh, tell me? I love you?
Speaker 4: Richard?
Speaker 1: What's Dolly? What is it? Well?
Speaker 2: I something wrong?
Speaker 4: I I guess it all depends on on the way
you look at it. I suppose I am. It is
the eternal mystery, the age old mystery, ever new mystery
of life and birth?
Speaker 2: Healthia, what are you saying?
Speaker 4: I'm saying that we you and I are going to
a field.
Speaker 2: Are you sorry?
Speaker 6: Richard.
Speaker 2: Sorry, Oh my darling, Darling, I'm so happy, are you sure? Well?
We'll have to get married. Oh, Richard, you're the only
girl I've ever loved out here. We're going to be
married sooner or later, Okay, sooner is greater. That was
on a Sunday.
Speaker 4: I remembered, it was my day on and you said
that you were going home to break the news to
your legal guardian, Judge Morrow. And the following week you
came back and the distinguished jur he was with you.
Must have been quite a week because.
Speaker 2: Any team marriage out of the question for Richard.
Speaker 4: But we're going to have a baby, Richard. Aren't you
going to say anything?
Speaker 2: Right, dear girl, you gambled and lost.
Speaker 4: What does that mean?
Speaker 1: No, force me to be blunt, Richard.
Speaker 4: What we did was because we were now tell him that.
Speaker 2: Richard Richard cannot and must not marry you. It will
destroy his career and the plans I've made for him.
Speaker 4: Richard, Aren't you going to say anything?
Speaker 2: Richard and I have discussed this matter from every viewpoint,
and we have reached the same conclusion.
Speaker 4: He is, Richard. I won't Lechard leave me. I won't
give you up I'll kill myself.
Speaker 1: No, be quiet, Richard.
Speaker 2: We have here determined and consummate middle actress, Judge Richard.
We discussed this thoroughly.
Speaker 1: We arrived at a conclude.
Speaker 2: I've changed my mind, then I shall change my mind.
And I keep reminding you constantly that you are to
receive the bulk of your father's fortune at my discretion.
But I love her, of course you love her, and
I'm sure she loves you. But your children, both of you,
two children, and playing an adult's game.
Speaker 1: I can't give her up.
Speaker 2: I realized that I sound.
Speaker 1: Like a villain, but somebody has to take the mature approach.
Speaker 2: Now, he'll fear.
Speaker 1: We'll take care of all your expenses.
Speaker 4: I don't want your money.
Speaker 2: There's no reason why Dick shouldn't pay for his mistakes. Mistake.
Speaker 4: We should tell me, what's a mistake?
Speaker 1: Tell me, I fear.
Speaker 4: I see. I want you both to leave this place
this minute, Elfie, get.
Speaker 2: Out now, el fear, we're just trying to do the
right thing.
Speaker 4: There, get out, and one day I promise you I'll
pay you back. I will pay both of you back.
And here I am, Richard, ready to keep my promise.
Speaker 2: I'll fear, what happened to the child?
Speaker 4: Do you really care?
Speaker 2: Yes? The day doesn't go by that I don't.
Speaker 4: I don't know what happened to the baby. In those days,
in age, you give them up. It isn't the way
it is today. Back then it was a shame, a sin,
a stigma for an unmarried girl who knows what happened
to him?
Speaker 2: Healthy. It's over and I've suffered as much as you had.
Speaker 4: Oh no, you haven't believed me. You haven't.
Speaker 2: You don't look as if you're suffering.
Speaker 4: Ohm, the elegant lady.
Speaker 3: Now.
Speaker 4: But I had ten dad years before I met Jack Beaumap.
He was attracted to me because I reminded him of
a half drowned kitten, Jack Bowmump. Have you ever heard
of him? No? I a happy Jack, the wildcatter. One
day the drill would strike oil, he'd be worth millions,
the next day be flat broke. Fortunately for me, he
died on a day he was rich.
Speaker 2: Helleear, I have repented every waking and every sleeping moment.
Speaker 1: Have you look?
Speaker 2: What I did to you is wrong. I've spent my
my life's trying to make up for it. Have you?
I've tried to be honest, to be ethical. Ask about me,
Ask anyone in town. I'm the most trustworthy.
Speaker 4: You're a phony. When I was a child, I was impressed.
But the truth is, Richard, you are a hollow man.
You have no real convictions. In the end, you'll always
sell yourself to the highest bidder.
Speaker 2: Fellow, I haven't worth on the pont oh from the bank,
Uh tell him, I stepped out of the.
Speaker 6: Office, but it's very important.
Speaker 2: I'm out of the office and I can't talk to him.
Speaker 4: You have some notes overdo at the bank.
Speaker 2: How do you know I own the bank?
Speaker 4: What I'm the majority stockholder and next week Southworth will
has to call in these notes or.
Speaker 2: Else You own the bank?
Speaker 4: Yes, yes, I also recently acquired Imperial Furniture, and my
new manager was instructed to hire your foreman, Jerry Ritzer,
So that's I also have a controlling interest in Western
State Merchandises. I don't think they'll be buying from you
in the future, or at least until I give them
the word.
Speaker 2: Did you also buy up George Cawley's mill.
Speaker 4: George Cowley, No, No, I don't know about that. Well,
it goes to show you bad luck is contagious. You
won't need me to destroy you? And now on it
can uh be a snowball rolling downhill, But we can
always break up that snowball before it gets out of control.
Just uh kill Judge Morrow for me.
Speaker 2: No, I'll never do it. Never, As we all know,
you're a long long time. Actually it's the same as forever,
and things have a way of falling into different perspectives
and circumstances and alter cases. Man is nothing if not flexible.
Well will he or won't he? The third act is
coming up in.
Speaker 3: Just a few moments.
Speaker 2: We talk about morality. But what is morality? It comes
from the Latin moras, which means custom. In other words,
what the majority believes is moral. Now, if we are
having this searching analysis of morality, it's only because mister
Richard F. Nelson is undergoing the same process. Mister Nelson
is in danger of losing everything he cherishes unless he
can murder and murder. As we all know, he is
not moral. So what is morality?
Speaker 1: Dick?
Speaker 4: Yes, I I was at the club today and I
signed for lunch. Oh and as I was leaving, John
the manager took me aside and said, you hadn't paid
our dues and that we were three.
Speaker 1: Yes, I know, I know, Dick.
Speaker 4: I don't want to be embarrassed, so so won't you
take care of it?
Speaker 2: Wait a minute, Dorothy, is it possible that you don't
know what's happening?
Speaker 4: Dear? Sure they was in pay our dou.
Speaker 2: We're gonna have to resign from the club.
Speaker 4: Well that's impossible. W D Do you realize my family
has always or my grandfather was one of the.
Speaker 2: Friends of We no longer can afford it.
Speaker 4: What am I gonna say to people?
Speaker 2: I don't know and I don't care.
Speaker 4: I have no way to talk to me.
Speaker 2: But you're going to have to sign this paper for me.
Why I'm taking a second mortgage on the house and
I need your signature.
Speaker 1: Well, this is really my hotory.
Speaker 2: I have a note, I mean you at the bank.
Speaker 4: Daddy gave it to us for a wedding present, but he.
Speaker 2: Really meant for me to have my darling. We are
facing bankruptcy.
Speaker 4: I don't understand it.
Speaker 2: I'll see a Beaumont woman is out to destroy us.
Speaker 4: So why what have you ever done to her?
Speaker 2: Nothing? Nothing? Now, Look, I can make it despite everything
with the mortgage on the house, so we can pawn
some of your jewelry. We have no choice dying just
a minute, Hello, Dick, Uh mind if I come in more?
Speaker 3: Judge?
Speaker 2: Of course, of course. Well how about joining us for dinner?
Speaker 4: Yeah? How good you see you?
Speaker 2: Oh I'm on my way up to the country.
Speaker 1: I spent little time by myself in the cabinet.
Speaker 6: Are you all right?
Speaker 2: Well now it is he did to be my age
and any day and be alas.
Speaker 4: Oh God, you mustn't talk like that.
Speaker 1: I said I'd drop in and let you know.
Speaker 2: The bridge game for tomorrow night has to be canceled.
Oh it's all right. What's all this?
Speaker 1: Southworth tells me.
Speaker 2: Southworth at the bank, you seem to be running into
some cash flow Proboh well, uh, we've had a few reverses, Judger.
A matter of fact, I was thinking of asking you
for a loan me where else can I turn my boy?
Fifteen years ago I gave you all the money you
were ever going to get from me when Judge, times
happened to be very tough. It's tough times to.
Speaker 1: Bring out the best of people. That's when you develop characters.
Speaker 2: But I have some unusual problems. I could do the
easy thing, think and give you the money, but you get.
Speaker 1: Out of this yourself.
Speaker 2: Now you got the stuff, and you'll see you'll both
thank before it later, since I remember I once heard
you say that before him. Mm.
Speaker 4: You may have and I was right? Was I?
Speaker 1: Now? Goodbye? I'll probably be back for the weekend.
Speaker 4: What is he talking about?
Speaker 1: Nothing?
Speaker 2: Nothing?
Speaker 1: All right?
Speaker 2: Now I can raise uh eighty thousand on the house,
and the jewels would be another fifty. And we have
the Persian rugs and the porcelain and the sofa. I'll
be able to pay the interest and meet the payroll.
Speaker 1: Oh.
Speaker 2: I needed some breathing room, Dorothy, and I'll beat this thing.
Just stand buy me, darling, stand by me. Promise, uh,
I promise?
Speaker 4: Ah, Missus Nelson, Missus Richard F. Nelson? Who may I
come here? Missus Beaumont? Oh, forgive me, of course? Won't
you sit down? Thank you? Why are you out to
destroy us?
Speaker 2: Us?
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 4: I have nothing against you, Dorothy. What have you got
against my husband? That's private?
Speaker 2: Private?
Speaker 4: Yes? Does he ask you to come to his rescuer?
What are you talking about? Let me do you a
good turn? Why would you want to do me a
good turn? Especially since you are resolved to destroy my husband.
Save yourself. What the ship is sinking? Get on the lifeboat.
So far it's a rather roomy and comfortable lifeboat. I
don't know what you're talking about. Travel in the same circles, mingle,
Try to meet a man of your own position. Mary, Again,
I happen to love my husband. That's an interesting word.
Speaker 1: Happen.
Speaker 4: You happen to love Richard. By the same happenstance, you'll
come to love someone else. I should know it happened
to me. Richard isn't worth it, and you are a
woman of no morality. Lot is foreign to your understanding.
Of course, Well here's the position.
Speaker 1: You can strip.
Speaker 4: Yourself clean in a vain attempt to salvage Richard's business.
I have confidence in rich I hope so. I think
it's through. You won't have a penny to your name,
and neither were Richard. Are you equipped for a life
of poverty? Missus Nelson hits a woman's duty to stand
by her husband. This show promise and even progress. First
you would stand by him because you love him. Now
because it's your beauty. M Yes, indeed, we are really
getting somewhere. You lied to me. Why Why did you
lie to me?
Speaker 1: How could I tell you the truth?
Speaker 2: You?
Speaker 4: You were the father of her child? Oh good lord,
it sounds like a melodrama.
Speaker 2: I was young, stupid.
Speaker 4: Now you're older and not much wiser.
Speaker 2: Didn't you ever make a mistake?
Speaker 1: Yes, I married you, Dorothy.
Speaker 4: I guessed wrong. I never had the courage to bring
it out into the open, but now I can face it.
My share of our money.
Speaker 1: Won't save to you, Dorothy.
Speaker 2: You have to help me. I have nowhere else to go, Yes,
you have. What are you saying?
Speaker 4: You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2: Are you telling me to kill Judgemorrow?
Speaker 4: I'm only saying you have an alternate?
Speaker 2: Do you think for one moment but I would?
Speaker 4: I don't know, I I I. I just can't stand
any more of this. It's impossible for me to stay
with you any longer, just as just as it was
impossible for you to stay.
Speaker 5: With her one.
Speaker 4: Have you told them all? Have you told them they're
not getting paid this Friday? No?
Speaker 2: What business is it of yourns?
Speaker 4: My bag holds your note? Oh poor Richard. Actually there
can be plenty of money here by Friday, and plenty
of orders.
Speaker 2: You get out of here before I forget I'm a gentleman.
Speaker 4: Are you going to shoot judge more for me? Richard?
Speaker 2: I won't even dignify that with an answer.
Speaker 4: It would be different if you really had scruples, But
in the end, you always do what's best for Richard.
Speaker 2: You don't know me. I made an adolescent mistake. I'm
different now.
Speaker 4: Actually the trouble is the judge, which he talked you
out of marrying me.
Speaker 2: What business was it of his?
Speaker 4: You married Dorothy? Did she really love you? Oh? Yes,
in her way? But where is she now? Richard? You're
in a jam. The judge could help you. Has he
offered to lend you even one copper penny?
Speaker 2: I'll start if I have to brave and I need them.
I'll get a job doing anything.
Speaker 4: Oh those anything jobs? Want to post you at the
Country Cloud.
Speaker 2: I don't need the club. I won't commit murder.
Speaker 4: Southworth will have to close you down on Friday.
Speaker 2: Dem Richard F.
Speaker 4: Nelson and Company, Fine Furniture, the end of four generations?
Speaker 6: Oh bid?
Speaker 1: Tell her sick?
Speaker 2: Oh yes, Judge, I'm.
Speaker 6: Feeling kind of point.
Speaker 2: What's wrong?
Speaker 4: Oh?
Speaker 6: Why don't you take a round here tomorrow? The company a.
Speaker 2: Bit Judge's brilliant.
Speaker 1: Appreciate it.
Speaker 3: All.
Speaker 6: I've our art.
Speaker 4: Well, that was the author of all your problems. Why
don't you go up there and kill him?
Speaker 2: I don't have to kill him, and I've got the
last laugh on you. It looks like he's going to
die soon and he's leaving everything to me.
Speaker 4: Oh, I'm afraid he isn't.
Speaker 2: Oh but he promised me.
Speaker 4: He did. He bows and commonly of his attorneys they
also represent a company of mine. I've been able to
ascertain that most of his money is going into a
foundation to help needy law students. Well, but he's not
going to leave you anything. But why should you care?
After all, you still have your integrity?
Speaker 2: Why do you want me to kill him?
Speaker 4: He deserves to die. He's an evil meddling old man.
Speaker 1: Jour I know, but we do it all the time.
Speaker 2: See that isn't there any tenderness, lift, any memory of
all of the sweet times when we were young.
Speaker 4: The judge will die soon anyhow, he has to be sick.
It isn't as if you were robbing a man of
full rich life.
Speaker 6: I don't want to hear anymore.
Speaker 4: Who's to know? Who's to suspect? They'll think it was
some prowler a burger. There's no one not there.
Speaker 2: I don't even ever go I do.
Speaker 4: I have it ready and wait here here. This is months,
of course, but it's not your first. After all, you
abandoned me, didn't you.
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 2: I know I can trust you.
Speaker 4: You can trust me. I know I keep my promises,
don't I? Years ago, I promised i'd paid both of
you back. I'm keeping Elsie. We're wasting time. Tonight is
when we should do it. When we get there, I'll
give you the revolver and I'll tell you exactly what
to say.
Speaker 1: Oh, who's there?
Speaker 2: I say, who's there? It's made Judge, Oh Dick, I
thought you weren't coming up until tomorrow. Here, let me
turn on the life.
Speaker 1: Who whoo? Who's that with you?
Speaker 4: You don't remember me?
Speaker 2: Judge? Who are you?
Speaker 4: I'm the girl who gambled and lost.
Speaker 2: Stop talking in riddled.
Speaker 4: I'm outfeared, Judge, the town girl who wasn't good enough
to marry Richard Dick.
Speaker 1: What's the meeting?
Speaker 4: The meaning is that I promised to pay you back
and I'm giving Dick one million dollars to kill you. Well?
Speaker 2: Is this crazy showing the revolver.
Speaker 4: Richard, this is a joke, you told me, She choked
with a loaded thirty eight in his hand.
Speaker 2: Pick careful, I've done for you, what have you done
for him? Lengthly, I swear to you are I'll leave
you everything in my wild we're here. I'll even write
it out now, and I'm trying it.
Speaker 4: Can you give him a million dollars? No, you don't
have that much, and that's my bid.
Speaker 1: Dick.
Speaker 2: You can't kill me. I've known you since you were
to him. I can't. I can't.
Speaker 1: He look shot me like that.
Speaker 4: I turned Southwi with her clothes in the morning. Shoot him, No, don't.
Speaker 2: I can kill him.
Speaker 1: I turn.
Speaker 4: I don't want your money. It's child. If you need
money for so many things, payroll the bank, loan. Shoot him.
Speaker 1: No, Richard shoots him. I'm sorry.
Speaker 4: Please fitch your.
Speaker 1: Meddling, old fool.
Speaker 2: No, get hanged ruined my wife.
Speaker 1: That's it, an account of you.
Speaker 2: I lost the only girl I ever loved. No, why
shouldn't I kill for a million dollars?
Speaker 4: I ought to tinue for nothing? Bravo, Richard, Bravo.
Speaker 2: He doesn't die.
Speaker 1: Look at him. He doesn't die.
Speaker 4: Richard you're wasting your time, Richard. Those are blank cartridges, blanks.
I proved my point. You are a scoundrel, and now
I am over you, completely over me. His only you
had told me to take my money and go to Blazes,
if only you had meant it. Well, goodbye Richard, goodbye Judge.
I hope you will remain fast friends.
Speaker 2: No, they didn't, and Richard's wife left him too.
Speaker 1: But you know, Elsier did pay him a million dollars.
Speaker 2: After all, he kept his part of the bargain. It
was she who loaded the dice. Oh, we should say
the gun. I'll be loading up with some information for
you when I returned shortly. I wouldn't do it for
a million dollars?
Speaker 1: Have you ever said that? Careful?
Speaker 2: Someone might just happen along and offer you the million,
And then.
Speaker 1: Where would you be?
Speaker 6: Morality?
Speaker 1: We're still no further along our we Does it go deep?
Speaker 3: Or is it a veneer?
Speaker 1: I suppose it all depends.
Speaker 2: We have these and similar problems that are aired here
seven times each week. Our cast included Mandel Kramer, Patricia Elliott,
Katherine Byers, Robert Dryden, and Matt Pollan. The entire production
was under the direction of Hyman Brown and now a
preview of our next tale.
Speaker 1: Yes, it's such you know you alone?
Speaker 4: Yeah, call a.
Speaker 1: Baby, hold it, just tell me one thing.
Speaker 4: Only after you tell me how you are right.
Speaker 1: I'm fine. Now it's your turn. What bank do I use?
Speaker 6: Honey?
Speaker 2: Never mind, dag what bank'kay?
Speaker 1: All I need to know? The board manager recognized me.
Speaker 2: In the sheet I had to sign had earlier signatures
on it by Gino himself.
Speaker 1: What I forged was close enough. In the box had
just what I figured. I didn't stop the counter money.
Speaker 2: What was more interesting was a list of names and
the whole structure of the organization. And what was most
interesting after I put the box back and came out
was beating myself.
Speaker 1: Radio Mystery Theater.
Speaker 2: Was sponsored in part by sign Off, the Sinus Medicines
and Buick Motor Division. This is E. G. Marshall inviting
you to return to our Mystery Theater for another adventure
in the macabre. Until next time, Pleasant dreams, O.
Speaker 3: FA.