Speaker 1: The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents.
Speaker 2: Come in, welcome. I'm E. G.
Speaker 3: Marshall.
Speaker 1: I invite you now to join your imagination with that
of Edgar Allan Poe, so that together you can create.
Speaker 3: A tale of intense horror, to say nothing of mystery.
Speaker 4: You would have no better companion for such a joint venture, surely,
because in all the world there has never been a
more accomplished master of the macabre, the terrifying, the grizzly master.
Did I say, correction, genius in proof of which listen.
Speaker 5: Comeover, Let's go to our cabin again, a good night's
restaurant change.
Speaker 2: I'm tired of walking this deck in the fox, should
in the bone.
Speaker 6: I don't want to go.
Speaker 7: To our cabin, but well there's no place else.
Speaker 5: I suppose, my dearest, you must get over your fear
of that oblong box in Kunda's Whatt's cabin. This this
wild fancy of yours, and it's a coffin.
Speaker 7: Well, whether it is or not, I don't like our
cabin being directly across from Wyatt's, and I.
Speaker 2: What is it? Prayer?
Speaker 7: The rail Wyatt and a woman, and the woman is
not his bride.
Speaker 2: Rachel oh, I can see that issue.
Speaker 7: Then, unless I'm mistaken, Will, unless I'm very mistaken, She's
the woman in the Oblong Box.
Speaker 4: Our mystery drama The Oblong Box was adapted especially for
the mystery theater from the Edgar Allan Poe classic by
George Lowther and stars Richard Mulligan.
Speaker 8: It is sponsored in part by.
Speaker 1: Buick Motor Division and sign off the Sinus Medicines. I'll
be back shortly with Act one. I've brought you in
the course of our association many a strange and terror
ridden tale, but believe me, none that.
Speaker 3: Can surpass that which you're about to hear.
Speaker 1: It begins aboard the sailing ship Independence, in the harbor
of Charleston, South Carolina, in June of eighteen ninety seven.
William Hopkins, an attorney of some importance, and his wife Elvirah,
are standing by the ship's rail near the gang plank,
watching the arrival of passengers with more than ordinary interest.
Speaker 6: Will it's close on departure time.
Speaker 7: Are you sure Cornelia is white and Ride would be born?
Speaker 2: Or it says so in the Charleston Herald yesterday.
Speaker 5: And I checked the passenger list, which plainly states mister
and missus Cornelia's white cabin C and D.
Speaker 6: The cabin's directed across from us.
Speaker 5: But why too one for Knulus and his wife from
the other forum.
Speaker 2: Well, very likely they'll have a servant with him.
Speaker 5: Oh, Cornelis has gone far since our college stays together
twenty years ago. Who's a world famous artist?
Speaker 9: Now do you think he'll remember you?
Speaker 2: Oh, my dear old Vira.
Speaker 5: We were the closest of friends. I must have been,
of course if we didn't keep the friendship up through
the years. But oh yes, he'll remember me and well,
and by heaven, there he comes where where the character
just came onto the dock? The man in it is white,
and the woman at his side must be as a
lovely new bride Rachel.
Speaker 6: But what in the world isn't that wagon behind him real?
Speaker 7: It's a question?
Speaker 5: No, well, para, No, that oblong box doesn't contain a corpse.
It contains a priceless painting, a copy of Leonardo da
Vinci's Last Supper, done by a student Rubini.
Speaker 2: It's priceless.
Speaker 7: How do you know all this?
Speaker 2: The newspapers there.
Speaker 5: Were several stories about why at buying the painting and
having a carefully box for the voyage in New York.
Speaker 7: Well it certainly looks real, well like a call to me.
Speaker 5: You must remember, DearS, the painting is six feet long
and two feet wide and requires a box of that side.
Why it is pride coming up the gang planking. I
can't wait to see his face when he discovers his
old friend.
Speaker 2: Will happen? Lord?
Speaker 6: All right, minda hang laos we can go any with there.
Speaker 10: I'm thank you to see the pace of his bry.
Speaker 9: That's a pretty heavy there.
Speaker 5: She's beautiful, absolutely ravishing. Oh no, hell no, but I
know Corneitas White.
Speaker 2: He could never stand an ugly woman, not even a
plain one. Oh no, nothing but the most beautiful of
the female sex.
Speaker 8: For good old right, you pulls cat will, I said,
incompetent idiots, I'll speak to Captain Hardy about this, And
you you said, where can I buy Captain Hardy?
Speaker 2: I'm afraid I don't know. Cornelius.
Speaker 8: Cornelius you addressed me with a familiarity, sir that I
don't hold him moment.
Speaker 5: Sure you're Will Hopkins, your all college friend, Will Hopkins.
Speaker 2: Oh yes, yes, so you lies. No, you certainly don't
seem very happy to see me again. After all these years.
Speaker 8: No, no, most happy, great pleasure. But I'm a bit upset.
Speaker 2: At the moment.
Speaker 8: Good lord, So why are you being the tailor's doing
with that box?
Speaker 7: Damn it?
Speaker 8: I think take it on an even taylor.
Speaker 3: Right side out?
Speaker 5: Oh come now, why there's no damage done on?
Speaker 2: Certainly a few bumps from harm the painting if.
Speaker 5: You practice a coulee, that is the painting, the copy
of them.
Speaker 2: And she's lost up. You bought your brother as a
wedding gift. It is what's in the box, isn't it.
It's certainly not a corpse, right, No, no, of course not.
And speaking of your bride, why don't you going to
introduce me? Oh? Good, heaven's ever got my manners? My wife? Alvira, dear,
this is my old friend Cornelius wife.
Speaker 7: How do you do?
Speaker 8: How do you do?
Speaker 11: Uh?
Speaker 2: My wife, Rachel, how do you do?
Speaker 8: And now you will excuse us. I'm sure we've we've
got to go at once to rock cabin.
Speaker 7: You mean your cabins, don't you as to wiret you
have engaged too.
Speaker 6: We'd expected you to have.
Speaker 8: A seventh loan. No, no, seven luggage, our luggage. We're
going to the second cabin.
Speaker 6: Which we don't have an luggage. But oh see our
long goss. Of course you will need the extra cabin
to that.
Speaker 8: Come along, Rachel.
Speaker 2: No, no, but wait now, why wait wait a moment.
Speaker 5: Surely we're going to have the pleasure of seeing your bride,
I mean, won't raise a veil so we can look
at this beauty you've married?
Speaker 2: Why?
Speaker 7: Uh?
Speaker 2: Why?
Speaker 8: Yes, yes, I've Rachel, my dear, When you're not the
beauty expect if it Hawkins?
Speaker 5: No, no, that is yes, yes, most attractive you are.
Indeed most attractiveness is why or Rachel?
Speaker 2: If I mean, of course you may now you must
excuse us.
Speaker 8: You men with a box follow me, will you, and
please be careful take care of it? Will you take care.
Speaker 3: Take care of that square?
Speaker 2: Well, it's right, she's ugly.
Speaker 6: Say they're not beautiful?
Speaker 2: Will yes?
Speaker 7: Don't you send something peculiar.
Speaker 5: About all this?
Speaker 2: And will something wrong with her?
Speaker 6: The along box?
Speaker 5: It's in their cabins, in the same cabin, the wise occupy.
How do you know to me why it's going out
of his way to keep their door closed.
Speaker 2: At all time?
Speaker 7: Well, just as I was coming down from my show
on deck, the door opened and I saw Rachel go
into the other cabin to get something from their luggage,
I suppose, And before mister White could close the door,
I saw it the box.
Speaker 5: But that makes no sense. These cabins are anything but spacious.
In fact, they're downright tiny. That box must occupy practically
the entire cabin. Well it does.
Speaker 6: That's why I took mister Watt some moments to close
the door. He nearly fell over the box.
Speaker 2: Well, this is the.
Speaker 5: Damnest thing I've ever heard. They engaged two cabins and
use the extra one for only a couple of pieces
of luggage and keep the box in their cabin full.
It's it's idiocy unless his that must be it the painting.
It's so valuable, in the fact, it's beyond price, why
it would even run the risk of letting it out
of his sight?
Speaker 2: Which reminds me, what do he said, we have a
look at it?
Speaker 6: You mean asks to see it?
Speaker 5: Of course I am not much on art masterpieces, but well,
a copy of the Last Supper done by one of
the bench's own pupils something to see.
Speaker 2: Oliverer, come along, well, will are you sure?
Speaker 7: I mean?
Speaker 8: Yes, I had a door seeing it but well, your
friend mister.
Speaker 6: White wasn't exactly friendly, you know.
Speaker 5: Oh nonsense, Come along, old Why it wasn't a bit
of a stew that's all.
Speaker 2: What is it your old friends, Will Hopkins? Wire? What
do you want?
Speaker 5: Well, well, nothing wired, nothing at all. But if you're
going to continue to be so stand up.
Speaker 8: I didn't mean to I'm sorry, Hopkins, really I am.
Speaker 2: It's just that.
Speaker 8: Well, I've had a good many problems these past few
weeks and my nerves are a bit wrong. I am,
my friend. I'm truly sorry.
Speaker 2: No, no, no, I am sorry. I said what I did.
After all, I had to know you better.
Speaker 8: I would ask you and your wife in. But as
you can see, there's scarcely room to move about because
of the box.
Speaker 7: That's what we came about, mister Wyatt, meaning missus Hopkins.
Why Will thought you wouldn't mind if we had a
look at the painting.
Speaker 8: Oh, I see, and I know. I'm sorry. It's out
of the question. You see. I had to adopt extreme
precautions in creating it, especially to guard against the dampness
of a six day voyaged in New York.
Speaker 2: The box is sealed. If I remove the lid, the seal.
Speaker 8: Will be broken sealed, we don't say with melted wax.
Believe me, I'd be more than glad to share the painting,
old friend.
Speaker 2: But it's it simply can't be done. Oh, I understand.
Speaker 8: I'm sorry it must be that way, Hawkins.
Speaker 2: But that's the size of it.
Speaker 8: Would you excuse me?
Speaker 7: Now?
Speaker 2: I have matters to attend to. I'm sorry, Olvera that
we couldn't. What's wrong? Strange? Very strange?
Speaker 4: Oh?
Speaker 2: Will you stop?
Speaker 5: There's nothing strange about not wanting to open a boxes,
going to infinite pain to seal with melted wax.
Speaker 7: But it isn't sealed with melted wax or anything else.
Speaker 6: What do you mean you didn't smell it?
Speaker 2: Well, now you mentioned it. There there was an odor
of some sort.
Speaker 6: Yes, an odor of some sort.
Speaker 5: Come to bed, don't know, Elvira thought I might take
a stroll on deck before turning in.
Speaker 6: Oh no, do you think that's wise?
Speaker 2: Is a gale blowing, Elvira?
Speaker 5: When it comes to exaggeration, no one can match you.
I'd hardly call that a gale out there.
Speaker 2: A stiff wind perhaps.
Speaker 7: But not again when it comes to splitting hairs, what's
the difference between a gale and a stiff wind.
Speaker 3: I wouldn't know.
Speaker 6: Now you here any more about that leak in the hole.
Speaker 2: Oh yes, yes, I talked to Captain Hardy. No problem.
They caked it without much trouble.
Speaker 7: Strange though, that ap right, I'm sorry, but it is
strange that this ship was in dried off for three
weeks being recocked before we sailed.
Speaker 2: That's the kind of world we live in, Elvira.
Speaker 5: Nobody cares about doing a good workmanlike job anymore.
Speaker 2: I'm going on deck for ten fifteen minutes.
Speaker 6: Oh, do be careful, Will don't get blown overboard.
Speaker 2: By that, Steve Will, don't worry?
Speaker 7: What what will?
Speaker 2: But what is it?
Speaker 7: Well?
Speaker 3: This is the damnedest thing, the damnedest thing.
Speaker 2: What Wait a minute, wait, well, I'll be.
Speaker 6: Will Hopkins if you don't tell me what.
Speaker 5: Rachel Wyatt, she just came out of the cabin, looked
up and down the passage to be sure she wasn't seen,
and then Elvirah, she went into the cabin where they
keep the luggage.
Speaker 7: Well, maybe she needs something else.
Speaker 2: Then why did she locked the door? Locked it?
Speaker 5: And why did she look up and down the passage
as if well as if she were doing something secretive.
Speaker 7: Well, since I'm no longer permitted to say, I think
something is strange?
Speaker 4: What is that?
Speaker 2: It's coming from the live cabinet. It sounds to me
as if y's prying off the lid of that oblong box.
Speaker 6: Right, that's exactly what it sounds like, exactly.
Speaker 2: What it Then it couldn't have been seen.
Speaker 3: I told you that.
Speaker 2: But why would he lie, especially to an old friend?
Speaker 6: Now, Will?
Speaker 7: I may be given to exaggeration, but you are naive, Cornel.
Is whyat no longer considers you an old friend or
even a friend.
Speaker 6: He doesn't want anything to do with you as to
why he lied.
Speaker 7: He lied because he doesn't want you, or me or
anyone else to know what's in that box?
Speaker 6: What's really in the listen?
Speaker 2: What's that?
Speaker 3: What's he says?
Speaker 2: He's crying? Crying? Is it his heart would break?
Speaker 5: Who?
Speaker 2: Terrible? Poor? If he's an anthony a viral?
Speaker 6: Yes, if I can hear him, or man will what
is he crying over?
Speaker 5: It can't be the painting, even if it had been
damaging on those sailors bumped the box and lern It
can't be that.
Speaker 7: It isn't isn't I told you, I've had this feeling
all along, this sense of something, you know, and now
I'm sure it isn't a painting that's.
Speaker 6: In that box. Will, It's a corpse.
Speaker 2: A corpse.
Speaker 6: And the question that.
Speaker 7: I've been asking myself all along is.
Speaker 6: Who's whose copse?
Speaker 1: Do you wonder if Alvira is right? Surely it seems so.
For how else explain the Hopkins?
Speaker 4: Will forgive my use of the word, I trust strange
goings on in.
Speaker 1: The Wyatt cabin as it happened. I know the answer
since I read the Edgar Allan Poe's story. If you haven't,
you must wait till I returned shortly with that two. Well,
now where were we?
Speaker 11: Oh?
Speaker 4: Yes, the Hopkins, Elvira and Will are totally baffled and
just a bit uneasy about the curious actions of Cornelius
Wyatt and his bride Rachel. As the Sailorship Independence makes
its way from Charleston, South Carolina, to New York. Will
and Elvira burn with curiosity and know the contents of
the coffin like outlong box?
Speaker 7: Whyatt brought board Rachel has spent the entire night in
the other cabin.
Speaker 6: Now, what kind of way is that for a newly
married couple to act her in.
Speaker 7: One cabin, him and another solving and crying his heart
out all night long.
Speaker 2: Maybe they had an argument a lover's call.
Speaker 5: Will you don't believe that?
Speaker 8: Neither do worry.
Speaker 6: She didn't act as if they'd call when she came
out of the cabin, did she No?
Speaker 5: No, acted in secretive, as if she didn't want anyone
to see her going from one cabin to the other.
Speaker 7: And then we'd heard him prying the lid off the box,
the box he claimed was sealed, and we've heard him
sobbing all through the night.
Speaker 8: I've said it before, will and.
Speaker 6: I say it again. He is not carrying any valuable
painting in that box. He's carrying a corpse.
Speaker 2: But that's impossible. The captain would never allow it. A
corpse on board a ship is thought to be a jinx.
If the crew even suspected there.
Speaker 6: Was a corpse in that box, they don't.
Speaker 7: Wyatt has cleverly hoodwinked them and everyone else with the
story that the box contains that painting copy of Da.
Speaker 6: Vinci's Last Supper. No, will I tell you listen, he's nearing.
Speaker 8: The lid back on.
Speaker 2: What time is it? Six am?
Speaker 7: And for seven straight hours since eleven last night, he's
been crying over whatever's in that box?
Speaker 11: Sh wait, wait, wait, wait, I think I think I heard,
but what Just let me just open our door? Crack there, Elvira,
just as I thought, Rachel has just come out of
their joining cabin. Yes, looking up and down the passage,
and I'm sure she isn't discovered, And there she goes
back into White's cabin.
Speaker 2: I'll be damned.
Speaker 7: I'm frightened right down to my toes, frightened to death.
Speaker 6: Will how can you eat? And so rounously.
Speaker 5: Because I'm hungry? What did we come up with the
Donny sloon for? About to have a good breakfast?
Speaker 7: I can't touch a thing after the goings on last night,
and now hearing that that form ass split and where
what do they call it?
Speaker 6: Hold too?
Speaker 2: Only for a few hours, probably shouldn't take longer than
I to repair it. Say these eggs are tasty? You
want to try them?
Speaker 7: I don't know how you can.
Speaker 5: Eat because I'm not letting this oblong box business get
me down the way you are?
Speaker 2: Oh aren't you?
Speaker 5: You can see I'm not and you know why because
I've decided to take the bull by the horns and find.
Speaker 2: Out what is in that box before this day is out,
That's why.
Speaker 6: And how exactly have you propose.
Speaker 2: To do that? H don't know yet, got to figure
it out. In fact, I think I just have What
do you mean? Why? And his bride have just come
into the saloon, See.
Speaker 6: Yes, and they've seen us.
Speaker 7: They've changed direction and headed for that table way over
in the corner.
Speaker 2: Instead.
Speaker 5: Listen, I'm going down to their cabin while they're having breakfas,
and I'm going to find out.
Speaker 2: What's in the box.
Speaker 6: Oh no, you can't do that, Will? What if they discovery?
Speaker 2: That's where you commit?
Speaker 5: You're going to see to it that they stay right
here in the dunny saloon till I get back.
Speaker 7: Well, how can I possibly just.
Speaker 2: Over the table and start a conversation and keep it
going until her return?
Speaker 4: Will?
Speaker 6: I can't?
Speaker 4: And you can.
Speaker 5: They're just ordering breakfast, all right, All right, back in
twenty minutes or so.
Speaker 6: Good morning, Good morning, Good morning, missus Hopkins. Do you
mind if I join you?
Speaker 2: Why?
Speaker 7: Well, we'll gone for a walk on deck.
Speaker 6: And I couldn't possibly face that gale out there.
Speaker 7: I suppose you heard about the foremast spitting during the night?
Speaker 6: Oh did it?
Speaker 2: Well?
Speaker 6: No, we hadn't heard. It was nothing to worry about.
Speaker 7: Will says, says, they'll have it repaired in a matter
of hours. And mister Riatt, you're not leaving, Yes, excuse me,
but you haven't.
Speaker 6: Even started your breaks.
Speaker 2: Not hungry, anything but hungry.
Speaker 6: But mister ryat.
Speaker 4: Oh dear.
Speaker 10: Talked team that Holkins.
Speaker 2: What the devil are you doing in my cat yet?
I hear?
Speaker 8: What are you doing with that knife in your hand?
You see you're going to find the lead off this box?
Weren't you off my box?
Speaker 2: My personal property?
Speaker 8: Ever since you set eyes on this box when I
brought it aboard yesterday, you've been happening to find out.
Speaker 2: What's any nonsense? That's nonsense. I know what's in it.
Speaker 5: You yourself told me a priceless copy of Lenard.
Speaker 2: Did She's Last Supper. But you don't believe it, No,
of course I do.
Speaker 8: Why shouldn't You don't know why you shouldn't file it?
Or you don't Why else would you sneak into my
cabin and try.
Speaker 2: To file up in the box in my handswer I
didn't try to, all right? White I did. I'm sorry.
Speaker 5: I apologize it was the wrong thing to do, but well,
well damn it, man, I would.
Speaker 2: Like to have a look at a painting bit o
my cabbiness.
Speaker 8: P how fish instrument?
Speaker 2: And why you're about it?
Speaker 6: Get out of my life?
Speaker 2: Right? You don't mean that.
Speaker 5: Surely you wouldn't dissolve a friendship such as ours because
of that friendship.
Speaker 8: I haven't seen you in twenty yet.
Speaker 2: But we were such good friends in college.
Speaker 6: Whatever we may have been, we no longer are now.
Speaker 2: Get out, Upkins, Get out.
Speaker 7: Oh missus rant How nice to find you here in
the loud mean Missus Hopkins reading Good.
Speaker 2: Day's Ladies book.
Speaker 4: I see, Yes, I don't.
Speaker 6: Know about you, but I don't in the least care
for the latest styles?
Speaker 9: Do you.
Speaker 8: All right? I guess, my dear, with all.
Speaker 7: Your money, I should think you'd be intensely interested in fashion.
Though I did notice.
Speaker 6: You'll forgive my mentioning this, won't you.
Speaker 7: An older woman giving advice to a younger sisters. I
did notice at that lovely expensive dress of yours could
fit a little better. Proper fitting is so important, don't
you think?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 7: Yes, yes, I just didn't have time to get it
filled proper, properly before we left Chanceton. You don't mind
my mentioning it? Do you a little sound advice.
Speaker 6: From an old married woman?
Speaker 7: No, you're not old mom, missus how I mean old married,
married many more years than you and mister Wyatt.
Speaker 6: In fact, you're not married even a week? Are you
a few days?
Speaker 2: Or a happy days?
Speaker 7: I'm sure? Oh? Yes and night, mister Warett Hopkins, your.
Speaker 6: Dear wife and I were just as I would prefer.
Speaker 8: Missus Hopkins that my wife when you discussed nothing, either
now or at any other time. Mister, I have already
made plain to your husband, as I'm sure he will
inform you, that I no longer consider him my friend
and wish to have nothing whatever to do with him,
And that madam replies.
Speaker 2: To you as well, I'm Rachel.
Speaker 6: Yes, sir, I mean Corneliust, not his wife.
Speaker 5: You're telling me that the woman in that cabin across
the passage, the woman White introduced as his wife, is not.
Speaker 6: I don't think so will. In fact, I'm sure she's not.
Speaker 2: Whatever in the world put such a thought in your head.
Speaker 7: The little chair I had with her before, mister Wyatt,
so rudely terminated a little chat I deliberately had with her,
because quite frankly, Will, my suspicions had been aroused.
Speaker 5: Aroused by what And while you're telling me, I want
to keep an eye out to see missus White, who
is not missus Wyatt changes cabins again tonight.
Speaker 7: For one thing, Will you said mister Whatt was interested
only in the most beautiful of women. And Rachel Wyatt
is altogether plain.
Speaker 2: She's still right ugly, but that's no reason to suspect.
Speaker 6: Also, when I was talking to her, she slipped and
called me mom, mom.
Speaker 2: Only a serpent uses that word exactly.
Speaker 6: Also she slipped again and called mister Wyatt sir.
Speaker 7: But over and beyond that, Will, what originally aroused my
suspicion was her hands. I noticed those when mister Wyatt
introduced us. They're not the hands of a lady, but
the hands of a servant, hands decided the work worn.
Speaker 2: There's no sense to what you're saying, Elvira.
Speaker 5: You're saying that Cornelius Wyat, a world famous painter, a
man of taste discrimination wealth, is married to a servant girl.
Speaker 6: Ah, she's no gentlewoman.
Speaker 5: I can tell you that but good lord, Elvira, which
you say is true, it makes this mystery.
Speaker 2: All the more. Wait wait, wait, is she again? Is she? Yes?
Speaker 5: Yes, leaving the wired cabin and yes, yes, looking up
and down the passage before slipping into the adjoining cabin.
And now he's at it again, taking a little off
that oblong box. If what you say is true, Elvira,
what does all this mean?
Speaker 2: I mean, what can it mean?
Speaker 7: It can mean only one thing that there is a
corpse in that box box my foot.
Speaker 3: It's a coffin.
Speaker 6: And the corpse is that of the real missus, Cornelia's Wyatt.
We'll come to there.
Speaker 2: There's no affair of us, maybe not of yours, but
it is of mine.
Speaker 5: If Wyatt's in some sort of trouble, if he needs help,
and for one reason or another is shy of asking
for it, it devolves upon me, as his friend, to
assist him in any way I can, after what he
said to you and me. Oh, one must make allowances
if if the trouble he's in his so serious, so unbearable.
Speaker 2: So, Elvira, I'm going over there cabin.
Speaker 6: Oh will surely not. Well, it's three o'clock.
Speaker 2: Hear, what time it?
Speaker 7: Is.
Speaker 2: It's the least I can do, the least you will list.
I'm going over there right now, all right.
Speaker 6: I know you better than to try and stop. You
just let me get my robe.
Speaker 7: You stay young, No, no, no, I'm not letting you
go over there three in the morning alone.
Speaker 3: You ask me that man is dangerous?
Speaker 2: Dangerous? Why don't be silly, don't you there?
Speaker 6: I've got my robe on. If you still mean to go,
then let's go.
Speaker 5: All right, all right, come along, I'll knock it, Wyatt.
Why it's me? Will happins?
Speaker 2: Open up? Wyat? Whyat? Do you hear me?
Speaker 7: It's very quiet, and they're not like last night when
he spent a whole night crying and sobbing and carrying
on like I don't know what, Wyatt.
Speaker 2: Let's go. We know about it.
Speaker 6: Well, the cabin's empty, and so is the box.
Speaker 5: What Look, the box is open and there's nothing in it,
neither a painting nor a corpse.
Speaker 2: Well, now, then where does that put us?
Speaker 1: Nothing in the oblong box, neither the priceless copy of
Leonardo dug and She's Last Supper, nor as Elvira Hopkins
seemed to suggest, the corpse of the real missus Quinnegius Wyatt, baffling, mystifying,
I should say, and I'll have more to say when
I returned shortly with Act three.
Speaker 4: Surprise and no shock is the word to describe the
feelings of Alvira and Will Hopkins when they discover that
the coffin, like oblong box, contains neither that priceless painting
nor a courpse. My bump of curiosity is as fully
developed as anyone's, I'd say, and frankly, at that point
I'd have dropped.
Speaker 3: The whole business. But not Alvira and Will Hopkins.
Speaker 4: Not only had their curiosity been sharpened to a keen edge. But,
as Will said, why it's in trouble Ovira, serious trouble.
Speaker 6: But there's nothing in the book. So why do you
think he's in trouble?
Speaker 5: Because there was something in it? And whatever it was
is he acted well damn strange. He said it contained
a valuable copy of Da Vinci's Last Summer, and he
couldn't open it because it had been sealed against the
sea air with melted wax.
Speaker 6: But he's opened it each night since we left.
Speaker 2: Charles and his hot out all night long.
Speaker 5: Whatever he was sobbing over was in this oblong box
and it isn't here?
Speaker 4: Now where is it?
Speaker 2: And where's Wyre?
Speaker 5: At this hour of the morning? Three a M. I
tell you he's in trouble. I feel at my bones.
Speaker 6: Will someone's coming.
Speaker 2: Rachel, Missus Wyatt from the other cabin.
Speaker 6: If she is Missus Wyatt, which I doubt.
Speaker 10: What are you doing here, mister Watts and my husband's cabin?
Speaker 7: It's the box?
Speaker 2: What about the box, Missus Wyre?
Speaker 6: Oh God, I knew it. I knew you was.
Speaker 7: He's gone Red. I knew he was.
Speaker 2: I saw, I knew it. I hadn't Why why why
do you think that box?
Speaker 6: What about the empty box?
Speaker 7: I can't bury it him?
Speaker 5: I here Vietnam, Missus Wyatt, try to control yourself.
Speaker 12: He's lad gun Red, He's gone.
Speaker 5: I'm so, But you must put yourself together if you
want us to help you help me.
Speaker 12: You can't help me. You can't help him. It's too late,
it's too late. His mind is broken.
Speaker 2: But why because of why?
Speaker 7: Leave me alone? Leave alone?
Speaker 12: Well?
Speaker 7: I think we'd better find Captain Hardy.
Speaker 2: I think we better find White.
Speaker 5: I'm going up on deck to see if I can
look at it. I'm with you cold him deca and
maybe you better stay here right now, will.
Speaker 6: I'm not staying alone anywhere. Oh you were right.
Speaker 7: It's cold and windows that I saw him was here
here put no, no, no, will I as I tell
you for once?
Speaker 2: Yes, will?
Speaker 8: Yes?
Speaker 6: Oh, thank you dear.
Speaker 2: That is better. No, come on, let's see if we
can find him in there, will.
Speaker 6: Well, there is standing at the rail, gazing off across
the water.
Speaker 5: This there's someone with him with them, a woman standing
beside him. Well the passengers maybe only if it is.
Speaker 2: I've never seen her before, but I didn't get a
good look.
Speaker 5: Well you will as soon as that light from the
port side of lamp falls across her face.
Speaker 2: Again.
Speaker 7: Yes, oh, I see her clearly now. Well, I have
never never seen anyone so beautiful. She's ravishy, she's not
all right.
Speaker 5: He absolutely lovely face, that long blonde hair blowing in
the breeze.
Speaker 2: No wonder he's holding her close to him, harm unaways him. Oh,
look kissing her now.
Speaker 6: Well, that's one of the books.
Speaker 7: Is the woman he came aboard with, the woman he
claims is his wife. If she is his wife, then
what is he doing up here on decklar her? You
got me and she isn't one of the passengers, or
if she is, this is the first time I've seen her.
Speaker 2: Who the don can she be? I? Oh oh, oh,
good lord, el.
Speaker 6: I think I'm going to say, take me below to
our cabin.
Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes, right.
Speaker 10: This terrible thought, horrible thought, horrible, what horrible thoughts?
Speaker 7: Thought? That whoever she is, whatever she is, will will
she must have been in that box.
Speaker 5: Madness, absolute madness, Elvira, to even think such a thing. Wait,
you sound as insane as Rachel Wyat says he is.
Speaker 6: The woman in that cabin is not Rachel.
Speaker 2: Wall Come now, Elvira.
Speaker 7: Truth, the plain, simple truth staring us in the face,
is that the woman on the deck with him is
the real missus Wyatt, h Low.
Speaker 5: Don't tell me again, just please don't tell me again
what you think, Elvirah, it's it's too horrible. Someone at
the down three thirty in the morning, Oh, thank you?
Speaker 2: What is it?
Speaker 5: One of the crew, Henedy, there's a note from Captain Hardy.
He wants to see me in his cabinet once urgent sits.
Speaker 6: At this hour of the morning, it must be what
in the world do you want to see you about?
Speaker 2: Only one way to find out.
Speaker 4: Sit down, mister Hopkins shot down, Thank you, Captain, mister Upkins.
As you know, we've had nothing but bad with her
and bad lucks's leaving Charleston Harbor three days ago.
Speaker 2: I guess all your passengers are aware of that cabin yesh.
Speaker 4: We've promising the former's developed a bad crack. There are
other problems which frankly I've concealed from the passengers, so
it's not gol on them.
Speaker 2: It's understandable.
Speaker 4: But I will till you in our confidence, mister Hopkins,
in confidence that we couldn't manage to cook that seemed
properly in these heavy seas.
Speaker 2: It's getting worse, even worse.
Speaker 4: The repair to the foremast isn't holding, and if the
foremast goes we'll be in serious trouble.
Speaker 2: There's a four to six.
Speaker 4: Gale out there right now, mister hobnns and he's whipping up.
Speaker 2: But Captain, why are you telling meal? That's what can
What can I do? You can tell me something that
I need to know that the crew needs to know.
It's got him worried. I still don't know, mister Hopkins.
Speaker 4: I'm given to understand that you are a very close
friend of mister Cornelius Wyatt's, mister Hopkins, What is mister
Wyatt carrying in that all brown box.
Speaker 5: Or a copy of a priceless copy of the last
supper Bolin out of da Vinci are loosing it?
Speaker 4: No, while the crew are beginning to think that it
contains the body a corpse that because of which this
ship is jinxed.
Speaker 2: Yes I am, I'm aware of the superstition.
Speaker 4: I find myself in a position where I must assure
the crew that their suspicions are unfounded.
Speaker 3: Accordingly, I ask you.
Speaker 4: To go to your friend at once now and get
from him the truth of what is in that or
block box.
Speaker 3: If feats the painting where I'm good.
Speaker 4: And if it's a course, well, then I shall be
well within my rights as kept end of this vessel
to take proper action that would be to conshine the
body to the sea for god sakes, Elmirah, what senses there?
And asking why to show me what's in the box
when he's there well going to refuse.
Speaker 2: And when we've got a pretty good idea.
Speaker 6: Of what is in the box and you agree with me,
findly you think.
Speaker 2: It's a cop I don't I think it's the woman
who's around deck with white.
Speaker 6: And you know the thought that crossed my mind about that, I.
Speaker 5: Thought, I'm too horrible to tool revolting, gruesome, even to
contemplate who would take a corpse on deck?
Speaker 2: Who would make love to a copse?
Speaker 7: A madman would, a man who had gone out of
his mind?
Speaker 5: If you ask me Captain Hardy's worst fears and realize
the four mass is broken?
Speaker 2: Will be will?
Speaker 7: Isn't that the signal for the boat stations?
Speaker 2: God help us?
Speaker 4: It is?
Speaker 6: Oh will, will? What's going to happen?
Speaker 2: What are we going to do for our boat station?
That's what?
Speaker 7: Come on?
Speaker 2: Come on wait, wait with my jewelry, Hell, with the
jewelry woman? Come on now?
Speaker 7: Can that be.
Speaker 8: Mister?
Speaker 6: How can you help me?
Speaker 4: Missus?
Speaker 2: Wyatt?
Speaker 11: I'm not missus?
Speaker 2: Whyant? I'm not as like I'm only a servant, Mary, servant?
Speaker 7: Oh? How you got shurt?
Speaker 6: Rachel comas? Because she died within two days?
Speaker 2: If a marriage died died within two.
Speaker 8: Days, he went out of his mind with grief.
Speaker 6: And he didn't know what he was saying or doing.
All he knew all he could think.
Speaker 12: I was in it, planned his voice for their honeymoon,
and there was no stopping him. He would take on
the honeymoon, he promised, take her dead and alive.
Speaker 6: He dead in heaven.
Speaker 5: All right, I work hold never mind, I know we're
wasting precious time.
Speaker 2: Come on, we must get to the life. But why
about him?
Speaker 6: Why he's in there now, sitting beside her car.
Speaker 12: And I tried to tell him I'm danger, but he wouldn't.
Speaker 5: All right, all right, I'll see what I can do. Alvirah,
you and Rachel Mary whatever, get to the boat.
Speaker 2: But you I'll join you.
Speaker 5: Well, I promise i'll, Junior. But I must try to
say why if I can go now the two of
you go, No.
Speaker 8: No without you.
Speaker 2: Remember I'm not going without you. Will whyet?
Speaker 4: Yes?
Speaker 5: Why if there shoots some danger? It may be foundering
that value here, it's a call to all boat stations.
Speaker 2: Wyatt.
Speaker 5: Stop sitting there carrying out a corpse. Corpse, corpse, the corpse,
the body of your wife.
Speaker 2: You're dead, wife, But she's.
Speaker 8: Not dead, Hopkins, That's what I said.
Speaker 2: The doctors.
Speaker 10: But they're around only sleep if she's always sleeping, Hopkins.
Speaker 2: And so she'll wake her very soon. Now it's quiet
should she beautiful?
Speaker 8: Isn't she the loveliest creature you ever seen?
Speaker 6: On this hocket?
Speaker 2: Will you listen to me? The ship is foundering. If
we don't get to the boats, we'll drown. WoT wide
will drown?
Speaker 10: Did you she drown?
Speaker 5: Yes?
Speaker 2: Sorry around?
Speaker 7: No, No, I'm good.
Speaker 6: You're not drowned.
Speaker 2: Not my Rachel? Rachel, Rachel?
Speaker 8: Hear do you hear me? Why it is quiet?
Speaker 5: What are you doing?
Speaker 8: Come darling?
Speaker 2: Time to wake up? Sweet hard in heaven his name?
Speaker 4: Man?
Speaker 2: She's dead, rich lad?
Speaker 4: Do you hear me?
Speaker 10: I can't wake her deeper sleep, in the deep sleep, Hopkins,
and help me and lend a hand.
Speaker 2: I've got to get her om deck into a lifeboat.
Speaker 8: Can't let her drown?
Speaker 6: You give me a.
Speaker 8: Hand here, you're not you're not going to try to
try to get the helse?
Speaker 2: Can I do?
Speaker 6: She's sound asleep?
Speaker 10: She's dead, dead there sitting up boat. Good lord, No,
we'll just the hopkins. If you only just bruce help me.
Speaker 8: To get her out of this part?
Speaker 2: Why at quiet? Come to your senses there?
Speaker 8: If she's on her feet, oh, my lord, in a
deep sleep, but that's all right. How to walk her?
Speaker 7: Oh?
Speaker 8: Well, walk her up to the boat's get get your
arm around her. Hopkins on the other side, all.
Speaker 4: Got, Hopkins.
Speaker 2: I can do this a lot, but it would help
with you. Oh damn Umkins. Way you me.
Speaker 8: There?
Speaker 2: That's better over more comfortable?
Speaker 7: How they all right? Will that lifeboat isn't expected to
be the most comfortable place in the world.
Speaker 3: Mary, thank you, sir.
Speaker 6: I'm all right.
Speaker 2: She's going down. I think the ship getting lower in
the water. Captain ishy hers farbring Look.
Speaker 13: Look he hates him.
Speaker 2: Mister white though you'll see.
Speaker 7: No, no, he's not a card day.
Speaker 12: Looky he's popping it against the rail, his arm around it.
Speaker 2: Up Alway's kissing it.
Speaker 9: Will Low gruesome, beautiful, beautiful, thought away somehow beautiful beautiful?
Speaker 8: How can you say that?
Speaker 14: Because to him, she's still alive, and if there is
a life after death, she must know that few men
have ever loved a woman as.
Speaker 2: As he loves her. She's going now, my ship going,
and that's with her. Please God be with him. Please.
Speaker 3: I hope you enjoyed the oblong box.
Speaker 2: And if you did, we'll think for.
Speaker 5: A moment on the memory of Edgar Allan Poe, to
whom we owe the macabre player.
Speaker 2: Of the Last Hour.
Speaker 4: Like Oscar Wilds, his was a life of torment that
came to a tragic end. Yet out of the crucible
of his torment and tragedy came infinite pleasure for others.
Something to ponder on, I think, don't you, I'll be
back shortly. I heard recently that.
Speaker 1: A little cottage on the Grand Concourse in the Borough
of the Bronx, New York City is.
Speaker 2: To be torn down.
Speaker 4: Why because it is constantly vandalized and the city can
no longer afford to keep it up.
Speaker 1: When I was very young, I went to visit it
more than once and stood in the tiny room where
a beloved young wife died and a grief written husband
drowned his grief and alcohol. But for he also wrote
the story you heard tonight, I say no more? What
more is there to say? Our cast included Richard Mulligan,
Grace Matthews, Briana Raeburn and court Benson. The entire production
was under the direction of Hymon Brown.
Speaker 4: And now a preview of our next tale go on.
Speaker 2: I don't know that I can.
Speaker 13: I have never understood what made these people what they were,
but this I know. There are angels on this earth,
and there are devils, and you metam. I say to you,
even in your dying moments, you are a devil. I
don't blame you for.
Speaker 2: Looking at me like that. I spoke on impulse. I'm ashamed.
Speaker 4: Ashamed.
Speaker 6: You're the first man who is a dare to ask very.
Speaker 13: Stand back.
Speaker 6: No, don't touch me, only listen.
Speaker 7: You will be honted by the magnet that drew you
to me, the weapon with which I ruined.
Speaker 8: Your life, and will destroy you.
Speaker 6: My smile, earnest, my smile, No look at me.
Speaker 1: Radio Mystery Theater was sponsored in part by sign Off
the Sinus Medicines and Buick Motor Division.
Speaker 2: This is E. G.
Speaker 1: Marshall inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater for
another adventure in the macabre.