Right now in downtown Portland, the temperature
stands at 52 degrees. That's KOIN News to 8 -11.
I'm Bill Gerrity. Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G.
Marshall. If your nerves are steady enough, I'd
like to be your guide into and through, we hope,
a place and a time where things happen which
we ordinarily think of as supernatural, where
grisly events do not necessarily have their moment
and go their way as time moves ahead but may
stay and stay and still stay. The home we enter
first is not the sinister place I'm talking about.
It's a well -appointed apartment. Bright, cheerful,
normal in every way. Occupied by Ken Harris,
who at this moment is reading a novel, and his
wife Martha, who is working on a needlepoint
project. Now who can that be at this time of
night? Only one way to find out. Oh, couldn't
have waited two more pages. I was about to find
out we've done it. Oh, hello, Stu. Hey, come
on in. Let me take your coat. No, no, I can't
stay. I just wanted to let you know that I've
been out to the lake. Shadow Lake? What on earth
for? Well, the thing is, Ken, your cottage has
been broken into unless somebody you know is
out there. Well, no, nobody. But what makes you
think... I saw lights and... I saw a shadow move
across the living room window. No question about
it, Ken. There was somebody in your cottage.
Our mystery drama, Return to Shadow Lake, was
written especially for the Mystery Theater by
Fielden Farrington and stars Nat Poland and Joan
Lovejoy. I'll be back shortly. with Act One.
When you come to think of it, there's something
rather sad about a summer cottage in midwinter.
Its purpose is negated. Its rooms, built to contain
the sounds of pleasure, are silent. Its meaning
has been stripped from it. It is empty. Or should
be. But according to Stu Ralston, the summer
cottage owned by Ken and Martha Harris out on
Shadow Lake is not empty. And whoever is in it
has no business there. You say you saw lights
in the windows, Stu? That's right. Well, but
all the utilities have been turned off for the
winter. There's no electricity. But we left a
couple of hurricane lamps in the utility room,
Ken. Couldn't somebody have found those? It was
a dim light. It could very well have been a lamp
or even a couple of candles. Did you notice if
there was a light in the utility room window,
Stu? No, I don't think there was. All I was aware
of was the light in the living room and the shadow
of a man walking past the front window or maybe
a woman. I couldn't be sure. Stu, what on earth
were you doing out there in the first place?
I just thought I'd drive out, you know. Looking
for Claudia. Did you actually think you'd find
Claudia out there? No, no, of course not I Well,
I I suppose that was in the back of my mind,
but I didn't really expect to find her Our cottage
was empty still Claudia has been missing since
Well, it's almost a year now Do you think it's
healthy to keep on this way? I haven't thought
much about what's healthy and What isn't, Martha?
The police have Claudia listed as a missing person.
Case closed. Well, that's all right for them.
They went married to her. They didn't love her.
I do. I can't just give her up that easily. But
out at Shadow Lake in the middle of winter? She
used to go there when she was upset about things.
Even in the wintertime. She liked to be alone
sometimes. Stu... I know it's a hard thing for
you to believe, but don't you think it's likely
that Claudia just took off on her own? She was
always restless. Claudia might have left me,
yes. But she would never have gone without telling
me she was going. No, I wouldn't have thought
so. So, what does that leave? She was abducted.
Maybe killed. I don't know. If she could, I believe
she'd have got in touch with me by this time.
I just... Well, I just wanted to let you know
about the cottage. How about a brandy, Stu? No.
No, no, thanks. I have to get back to my place.
Stu, don't let it just devour you this way. You're
very sweet to be concerned, Martha. I'll be all
right. Ken, will you come to bed? Are you going
to spend the whole night roaming around worrying?
Well, I'm disturbed about the cottage. I think
I'll drive out there tomorrow. To Shadow Lake?
Yeah. What in the world for? I want to see if
any damage has been done. You know, just check
up on things. I think it's silly. You haven't
been feeling too well. And I don't think going
out there all upset would be any good for you.
I'm all right. A drive into the country will
do me good. Well, you don't have to go. Oh, I'll
go if you insist on going. Why, Grady Rather,
you didn't. Why? Well, what if they should still
be out there? I'll pick up a club and go for
them. Same as you. Oh, 7 .30. Ken? Ken? And wake
up. What? Oh. Did you set the radio clock for
7 .30? Yeah, I want to get an early start. Oh.
Oh, I forgot. You still want to go out there,
huh? The time is 7 .32 on a miserable Sunday
morning. Heavy snow warnings are out throughout
the area. Motorists are advised to stay off the
highways if possible. An accumulation of five
to eight inches of snow is predicted. The temperature
right now is 18 degrees and it won't get out
of the 20s all day. Cloudy and cold tomorrow
with the strong possibility of continuing snow.
So if you're in bed, stay there. If you're not,
go on back. Well, so much for driving out to
Shadow Lake. I've driven in snow before. But
you're still not thinking about going, are you?
Can you hear what the man just said? Yeah, he
said it's snowing. Five to eight inches. It never
snows as much as they say it's going to. I've
got studded snow tires. Even got chains in the
trunk if I need them. Ken, why are you so determined?
It's way out of proportion. Can't you see that?
Well, I told you, you don't have to go. Well,
actually, what you told me was you'd rather I
didn't go. No? I'll go. Ken, come on. Enough
is enough. Let's turn back. I can't even see
where we're going. That's all right, as long
as I can. Just be still and let me drive. All
right. We've managed to get as far as Gibbsville.
The last civilized outpost before the lake. Now
look at it, Ken. It's practically buried under
now and the snow's coming down harder than ever.
Will you be sensible for once in your life and
let's turn around? I want to stop at Potts Grocery.
Why, for heaven's sake? I want to pick up a few
things. Is that the store? Doesn't look the same
as in the summer. Nothing does. What do you want
to buy, anyway? Well, if it's really going to
keep on snowing like this, we might be stuck
at the cottage overnight. Oh, Ken. Well, if it
should, we should have to stay over. We'd better
load up on food. Ken, I don't want to spend the
night out there. We'll freeze. That's a summer
cottage. We can't spend the night out there.
Oh, we can. We've got the fireplace. It'll keep
the living room comfortable enough. We have to
sleep over. There are plenty of blankets. And
what are you going to burn? The furniture? For
heaven's sake, Martha. There's a good half -court
of firewood in the utility room. There is? Funny,
I never noticed it. How often do you go into
the utility room when we're out there in the
summertime? Well, it's the same. Come on, come
on. Let's get those groceries. The roads up ahead
aren't getting any better and we sit here arguing.
You know, I still can't understand how I could
spend the whole summer in that cottage and never
notice the light ahead of us. I guess you're
just not very observant. Been there since the
middle of last winter. Go ahead. Howdy, Mr. Harris.
Hi. That's surprised to see you folks out this
way, weather carrying on like it is. What can
I do for you? Well, we want a boxload of provisions,
just in case you have to stay overnight at the
cottage. Martha, you know what we'll need better
than I do. Well, just take one of those baskets,
Miss Harris, and help yourself to whatever catches
your fancy. 150 degrees below zero and cooking
over an open fire. Boy, this is going to be a
lot of fun. You better get some candles too,
dear. The cottage, you're saying? Yeah, yeah.
Stu Ralston was out here last night. He thinks
our place was broken into. I thought I'd better
just check it out. Now, you ain't seriously figuring
on going all the way out to Shadow Lake in this
kind of weather, are you, Mr. Harris? Yes, I
thought we would. Ain't none of my affair, of
course, but I sure wouldn't if it was me doing
it. Not for love or money, I wouldn't. Oh, well,
it won't be easy, I suppose, but I want to make
sure nothing's been tampered with. Ain't gonna
let up for a spell. You can count on that. Not
that I'd think for a minute you're gonna make
it out to Shadow Lake. You don't. Not for a minute.
Not up that wagon track to the lake itself. Okay.
This ought to hold us. You want to add it up,
Mr. Potts? Sure thing. Got everything you need
now? I guess so, yes. All right, let's see. $1
.76, $43... You ask me, I don't think we're going
to need any of it. What did Mr. Potts say about
going out to the lake? Took a damn view. And
you are not going to pay any attention, I suppose.
You know something, Martha? You're really getting
a little tiresome about this. What? $12 .97,
it comes to folks. Seems like an almighty lot.
We're used to it. Let's see, 10. Let's see if
I have free ones. Yeah, here you are. And here's
your three cents change. I thank you. Come on,
Martha. You take my advice, folks. You'll turn
right around and go back. Gonna be a mess up
there toward Shadow Lake. Please, Ken. He knows
what he's talking about. He's a native. Come
on, come on. We may not even be able to turn
around if we go much further. I don't intend
to turn around. Okay. You wouldn't listen to
me or Lupaz. So now we're stuck. I'm sorry. Like
a doomsday. I can rock us out of here. Is that
the turnoff to the cottage up ahead there? Yes,
there's the old oak with broken limbs. Are you
actually going to try to drive up that bloody
little lane to the cottage? Doesn't look good,
does it? No, no. I guess I better not try it.
Oh, thank goodness. Well, we've had a nice Sunday
morning drive. Now I just hope we can get back.
Listen, there's plenty of gas in the tank. Are
you where? Sit here. Keep the motor idling so
the heater works and you'll be perfectly comfortable.
I'm gonna walk back to the cottage. Oh, Lord
give me strength. I've got boots and fleece -lined
gloves and a warm coat and I've got a cap that
pulls down over my ears. Now why shouldn't I
walk? Snow up to his armpits and he wants to
know why I shouldn't walk. Oh, what is it, a
mile, mile and a quarter? If I can't walk that
far, snow or no snow, I'd better give up. Okay,
I'm coming with you. Are you out of your mind?
Sure, we both are. Well, what are we sitting
here for? Let's get going. I can't, can I? I
just can't. I told you that before we started.
All right. Do you think you can make it back
to the car alone? What, what, you? Go ahead to
the cottage? Oh, thanks. I'll make it somehow.
Don't lie down, Anista. Don't you know better
than to lie down in snow now? I have to... I
can't... I'm so tired. Hang on your feet. Martha...
Just a little... Don't lie down. If I can get
this box of groceries, blood, and this tree for...
There. Now, Martha, I told you not to lie down.
Just... All right, I can carry you if I have
to. I can't, Cam, we go back. It's further back
to the car now than it is to the cottage. You
can't. I can't carry you. We could, we could
rest a couple of minutes, couldn't we? No, no,
we stop now. We stop for one minute to rest now.
We're dead. say it isn't a particularly unpleasant
way to die freezing to death there's no pain
you simply drift off to sleep and that's all
there is to it seems to me the only people who
can tell you with any authenticity what it's
like to die no matter what way are the people
who have died and they don't come back to talk
about it do they I'll be back shortly with act
two Ken and Martha Harris would seem to be in
enough trouble just as things are Martha has
collapsed from exhaustion and exposure and Ken
carrying her the rest of the way to the cottage
is near exhaustion himself He plods through the
nightmare of snow to another nightmare For what
awaits him at the cottage if he makes it is far
more terrifying than any accumulation of clean
white snow I can see the cottage. Oh, Lord, don't,
Martha. Don't go to sleep. We're going to make
it. Don't let yourself sleep. Oh, we're here.
Look. Here are the steps. So heavy. Why should
she be so heavy? Martha! Oh, worst thing. Panic.
I'm tired. That's all. The keys, the keys. Do
you think you could stand up for a minute while
I just get into my pocket? I've got only these
two hands and I haven't... Martha, could you
just try to... Hey, hey, you are helping. Oh,
Kevin, you're not. Okay, now, just... Oh, holy
man. You hear me, Martha? Now, just, just as
far as, just to the rocking chair, remember?
You always liked the rocking chair. Are we home?
We're in the cottage. We made it. Gonna be all
right. Fred, just take a little sleep. No, no,
not yet. I've got to start a fire. It'll warm
the room up. But until it does, I want you to
stay awake. Oh, poor Karen. I can't believe it's
such a hard time. If you just stay awake, everything
will be all right. Just don't go to sleep. Okay,
good fire going. You're wrapped up in blankets.
Everything's gonna be all right. Oh, my feet
are beginning to hurt like anything, Kim. Good
sign. Means the circulation's coming back. I'm
so tired. It's warm enough now, you're to take
a nap. I've got to go out for a while. Out? Yeah,
yeah, I'm all right. My feet don't even feel
cold. I'm dressed for it better than you are.
I've got to go back and get the box of groceries.
Oh, Ken, can't you, can't we just forget the
stupid groceries? I don't see how you can make
it all by yourself back to where you left that
card. I've got two. Three cans of tomato soup
in the pantry, now that's all. Ken, does it,
does it... look like somebody's been here not
that i can tell so far i'll go over everything
better when i get back i wish you wouldn't leave
come on it's not all that far well the truth
is i i'm scared scared well if somebody was in
here last night what what if they came back in
this kind of weather forget it I guess you're
right. Okay. Okay. Okay. I better get going.
I may be a while. It'll be pretty slow, especially
on the way back with that load of groceries.
Okay. I feel as though I could sleep for about
a week anyway. Good. You just sit there and fall
asleep. See you later. Ken, be careful. I'll
be fine. What? Who? Ken? Ken! Ken, be quiet.
Don't make any noise. What the hell are you doing
wandering around without even any shoes on? What
is it? What's the matter? Ken, there's somebody
in the cottage right now, right this minute.
What makes you think that? I heard them. Right
after you left, a man and a woman. They were
laughing. Not after I left? Yeah. I went to sleep.
I couldn't have been more than a minute and they
woke me up with their laughing. But you must
have dreamed it. No. Absolutely not. I was not
dreaming. The laughing woke me up and they...
Kept on for a while. For a while after I was
awake. Can I know I was awake? And then when
I called out, they stopped. Did you look for
them? No, I couldn't. I was scared. OK, I'll
go check it out. Just let me get this carton
out to the kitchen. It weighs a ton. I'll come
with you while you look for them. All right.
Feet still hurt? Some, but not as much as they
did. I can walk all right. OK, OK. I want to
check out on the utility room first. Well, you
were in there when you got the firewood, weren't
you? Oh, I'll look again. You just stay here,
just outside the door. No, I'm coming in with
you. Will you stop that just once? Will you do
as I say without giving me an argument? All right.
Just outside the door here. Just until I've had
a look around. I said all right. Nothing's been
disturbed in here. No, everything's normal in
the utility room, as far as I can tell. Well,
what was all that stamping you were doing? Oh,
just some snow I had left on my boots. Could
you tell where the laughing was coming from?
I mean, what direction? No, no, not really. It
sounded like from... kind of all around. All
around, okay. Let's check the bedroom. Actually,
it was sort of odd. It seemed to come from farther
away than in the house. Silly, of course, but...
You know, it had to be in the house. There could
be a skating party from Gibbsville or somewhere.
The lake must be frozen over. It came from inside
the cottage. Well, you can see there's nobody
in the bedroom. Where would it have come from?
You were in the living room. There's nobody in
the kitchen, the utility room, or the bedroom.
Now, that's all the rooms we have, Martha. I
didn't dream it. Do you want another hot dog,
Ken? Good Lord, no. I've had three. Not to mention
about a pound of French fries and two -thirds
of that big can of baked peas. For a lady who
doesn't know how to cook over an open fire, you
whip up a pretty solid meal. I'm glad you enjoyed
it. It would be kind of cozy, wouldn't it? With
only the lamp and the firelight. Except that...
Except that what? I didn't dream that, Laughing
Ken. There was someone in here. You want to know
what I think? I think you and Stu were both dreaming
about last night and about today. Now, I've been
over this place with a fine -tooth comb. There
couldn't have been anybody in here. No locks
were broken. There's not so much as a chair out
of place. Everything is exactly the way we left
it last fall. Well, I don't know about Stu. I
didn't dream it. There's nobody but us in the
house now. At least we know that. And I've got
a full belly. And the fire makes the room nice
and cozy. You know, Ken... I'm worried about
Stu. He's so... He seems so lost without Claudia.
Yeah. I feel sorry for him, too. But he's not
the first guy whose wife walked out on him. No,
that's just it. He can't believe she did. I mean,
he can't believe she would, without at least
telling him she was going. Yeah, well, she didn't
tell him, did she? What more proof does he want?
You've got to just backwards from his thinking.
He thinks her not telling him is proof that something
happened to her. Yeah, yeah. He also sees people
in other people's cottages. Hey, I just had an
idea. We left the Scrabble board out here, didn't
we? We were up all up on the shelf in the bedroom
closet. How about a game of Scrabble? Hmm. I
don't know. I... Oh. Okay. If I can keep my mind
on it. Give me a chance to beat you for once.
I'll go get it. And Martha. Hmm? If you say you
want to come with me, so help me out clobber
you. Okay. I'll sit right here. I won't budge.
I'm pretty sure I left it in there up on the
closet shelf. I won't be a second. Don't hurry.
I won't be going anywhere. It's no good, I tell
you. I can't do it. What did you say, Ken? I
didn't say anything. Can't do it. Or won't do
it. All right, won't, if you like it better that
way. We'll see about that. Ken! Ken! What's the
matter? What happened? Ken, I heard them again.
They were talking this time. Didn't you hear
them? I didn't hear a sound. You mean the people
you thought you heard laughing before? I did
hear them, but they were talking this time. He
said he couldn't do something, and... Ken, where
are they? Well, I... I'm afraid they're just
in your head, Martha. Oh, no, you don't! Just
because you didn't hear them, you're not gonna
make me out to be off my rocker. Come on, come
on, Martha. You're nervous, you're upset, and
who wouldn't be? So am I. Okay, let's play one
game of Scrabble and get to bed. I piled enough
blankets on that bed to smother us, never mind
keep us warm. All right. But I heard them. They've
got to be here somewhere. Ken? Ken, wake up.
Ken. Come on, will you wake up? What? What is
it, Martha? Look. At what? Can't you see it,
the flickering? The fireplace in the living room
is burning. Oh. Well, it's probably just part
of a log that wasn't all the way burned up. Smoldered
for a while and then caught again. Go to sleep,
Martha. No, that's a fire, a whole fire. We couldn't
see an ember or something from clear back here.
What are you doing? I'm going in there to see
what's going on. A fire like that just doesn't
build itself out of ashes. Somebody built it.
Don't you want to catch them? All right. Now,
don't talk. We'll just sneak up to the living
room door and see what's going on, okay? Okay,
okay. Did you hear something? Not a damn thing.
Don't talk anymore. Just let me get a look through
the door and... you see she's come back it's
Claudia it's Claudia I don't think so Martha
I don't think they can hear us it can't be that
man looks like you But it can't be. Apparently
it can be, Martha. Ken Harris stands beside his
wife, watching a scene in which he, he, Ken Harris,
sits in front of the fireplace talking to Claudia
Ralston. That adds up to two Ken Harris's in
the same house at the same time impossible well
very unlikely Except that there it is and Claudia
a long absent Claudia We'll find out when I return
shortly with act three It is held by some that
events of great dramatic impact may leave their
imprint so deeply stamped upon the scene of their
occurrence that it is never totally erased. Not
by the absence of the participants, nor by the
passage of time. Perhaps this is what we're witnessing
here in the living room of the Harris's summer
cottage. Perhaps something is about to happen
which has happened before and left its indelible
mark. on Shadow Lake. How could it be you? You're
standing right here beside me and yet you're
sitting there in the living room talking to Claudia.
I don't see how it could be. It's something beyond
our understanding. They're not really here, Martha.
I mean, not really in this place at this time.
I don't understand it either. I just, I just
want to get away from him. She's talking again.
It isn't easy for me either, Kim. Not one bit
easier than it is for you. I told you in the
beginning, weekends are out. I hate lying to
Martha, you know that. So we steal a weekday
when we can. We come out here and have a cold,
miserable afternoon, and a short evening together,
and then go back to the city and wait for our
next chance to sneak away. We said in the beginning,
and you agreed that... I know what we said in
the beginning. Can't stand this hole in the corner
business much longer. That was all it was ever
meant to be. We should never let it start. Well,
we did let it start. You can't undo that. And
now it's not enough. It's too much. I think we
have to stop now. It's going much further than
we meant it to. They... they just... faded away.
They're gone. They were never here, Martha. They
weren't real. And the fire is dead. And everything
is just gone. It was, I don't know, some kind
of illusion. We imagined it. It was something
that happened before, wasn't it? Something that
actually happened. You and... Claudia out here
together Martha if you just which weekend was
it Ken? The time you had to go to Chicago to
close that deal with Whoever it was that time
that's enough We're gonna get dressed and get
the hell out of this place before it drives us
both nuts now We're no No, we're not we're staying
right here, but Martha. I'm scared But I have
a feeling they'll be back And I'm staying till
the end All right. If you want to see the end,
we'll stay. You'll be sorry, but we'll stay.
Operator. Hi, Mabel. This is Lou Potts. Hello,
Lou. What in the world are you doing out this
time of night? Oh, inventory. Have to do it sooner
or later, and I wasn't anxious to leave the store
in this kind of weather. Ah, ain't it awful.
Yep, still snowing. What can I do for you? Do
you happen to know, is the sheriff still in his
office, or did he close up and go home? In his
office five, ten minutes ago. Why? Want me to
ring him? No, I just thought if it turns out
he's still in his office, maybe I'd stop by and
say hello. Some kind of trouble going on, Lou?
Wouldn't you know it before I did if there was?
What are you doing out on a night like this,
for feet's sake? Got something bothering me.
The ice is cold out there. Happens every winter,
seems like. How come you're still around this
late at night? Waiting for folks like you to
show up. Got something bothering them. What is
it you got on your mind? Well, you remember the
Harrises? Got a summer place up there by the
lake? Harris, Harris. Oh, sure, sure. Pretty
little thing she is. Well, they stopped in at
the store this afternoon and filled up with a
box of provisions to take out to the cottage
with them. Today? I told them I'd neared in so
many words they was damn fools. I've been watching
all day, waiting for them to come, and I ain't
seen them. I would have too if they drove past.
I must be stuck up there. Yeah, I guess there's
nothing for it, but I'd go on up there and see
or try to. They're coming back. I knew they would.
We shouldn't be here. We should have gone away.
Be quiet. You want us to stop seeing each other?
You've had your fun and now you're ready to go
back to Mars, is that it? We agreed in the very
beginning that it would have to end this way,
Claudia. I may have agreed to that at the start,
or seemed to. But I won't have it that way now.
I don't really see that you have much choice.
This was never more than just a... Just a little
thing. Is that what you mean? A little fun. Something
you could toss aside whenever you got tired of
it. Claudia, we both agreed. Oh, you and we both
agreed. I don't give a damn what I agreed to.
All right. What do you want from me? I want you
to tell Martha tomorrow that you want a divorce.
That simple enough. She asks you why. Tell her.
I won't do any such thing. You know that, Claudia.
Do you want to bet? I won't. All right then.
I'll tell her myself. Her and Stu both. Let them
do the divorcing. And don't you think they won't?
I only hope Stu doesn't blow your brains out.
You're not going to do that, Claudia. Do you
think you can stop me? Yes, I think I can. You're
not a very nice person, really. Yes, I'm quite
sure I can stop you. They've faded away again.
Just faded away, as if there were nothing but
air. Less than air, Martha. There's nothing at
all. I remember you. Okay, you've seen the end
of it. Now will you come away with me? Oh, no.
That wasn't the end of anything, Ken, and you
know it. Martha, I told her I love you. You heard
me tell her that. Oh, yes, sure. After you...
After you and she had... Martha, don't. Please
don't. Don't what? Cry? Not for a million dollars.
I want us to leave this place now. You go if
you like. I'm staying for the end. Well, they
must have made it as far as the turnoff anyway.
I ain't seen hiding her hair in the car. Oh,
there it is. Yep, up ahead there. That heap of
snow? Yeah, must be. Stop just this side of turnoff
to the lake. I sure hope they had enough gas
to keep the heater going. Else they're frozen
to death by now. Don't look like there's anybody
in the car, Lou. I guess I'll just have to walk
on up there myself. You're as crazy as they are,
Hal. Yeah, you sit here and stay warm, Lou. I
got snowshoes in the trunk. Son of a gun. Now
who'd think of snowshoes? And I'd like this or
Sheriff would. Don't know why I didn't open a
grocery store instead of running for sheriff.
It's weird. The way they just materialize. It
isn't real. Why are you looking at me like that,
Tim? If you have anything silly in mind, you
can just forget it. Silly. Just don't. Look at
me that way. What way, Claudia? As if you could...
almost as if you could... could kill me. I wouldn't,
of course. If there were any other way. But there
isn't. Come on, Ken. You're... you're kidding.
I won't have you telling Martha about you and
me. I won't put her through a thing like that.
If I have to kill you to prevent it, by then...
Okay. Then... I didn't realize you felt so strongly
about it. We'll just forget the whole thing,
okay? Well, don't just sit there shaking your
head at me. I won't say a word to Martha or to
Stu either. About us, Ken, I promise you. I don't
believe you. But that's just the point, Ken.
I'm telling you, you can believe me. I promise.
A moment ago, you said you don't give a damn
what you promised. That was just... No, it was
just talk. Oh, Ken, you've got to believe me.
I can't. But if you don't... Oh, no, no, Ken.
Please, please. There's only one hope. That was
the weekend she disappeared. You killed her.
Yes. I couldn't figure anything else to do. But...
Oh, God. A murderer. Martha, don't say that.
A delterer and murderer. What did you do with
her? What did you do with... with her body? I
tore some boards off the floor of the utility
room and buried her under there. The utility
room? You mean she's under there now? Under that
floor right this minute? Yes. All last summer.
Every weekend. All last summer we were out here
laughing and having fun and she... I wasn't having...
Much fun. So, what do we do now? I'll go to the
sheriff's office and give myself up. You intend
to confess? What else is there to do? I'm glad
it's over. I... I don't think I can walk to the
car. We can make it. There's nobody else who
knows about this, is there? Just me. Nobody else
even suspects. It doesn't matter. I told you
I'm going to give myself up. I know what you
told me. It would be so easy. What would be easy?
carry me part of the way far enough so I can't
get back and then just leave me in the snow to
die the way you I'd have done yesterday Martha
you're a murderer you killed Claudia to save
yourself why not me I wouldn't Martha you know
I wouldn't There's only one way to find out for
sure, isn't there? Let's go. Ken Harris does
not know that the sheriff is making his way toward
the cottage, but the going is slow. It will be
some time before the two meet. If Ken chooses
to leave his wife to die of exposure, he can
do it and get away with it. But will he? You
may have it either way you want it, or can believe
it. Whatever you decide, I'll be back in a few
minutes. A murderer, a reluctant murderer, granted,
has either been exposed for what he is... or
has been prodded to the brink of a further and
even more despicable crime. And the force that
brought him to this fight was supernatural. According
to our present standards of what is and what
is not natural, could it be that there is a department
of criminal investigation operating on a level
not yet recognized by our very exact sciences?
Our cast included Joan Lovejoy, Nat Poland, Joan
Rory, Bob Caliban, and Robert Maxwell. The entire
production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
And now a preview of our next tale. Lord, will
the old goat never die? The bishop is dead. He
asked for you at the last. Did you hear me, Carl?
Of course I did. And now, by heaven, you're going
to hear me. Asked for me, did he? A slavering
old hypocrite. He could no more stand the sight
of me than I of him. But now he's gone and there's
nothing to stop me. His state is mine! The money
is mine! Now I can rock the rafters, the seven
deadly sins, the Ten Commandments. I'm going
to commit all the first and I'll break all the
second. Oh, I'm gonna cut such a swath that devil
himself will envy me. Radio Mystery Theater was
sponsored in part by Uncle Ben's Long Grain and
Wild Rice 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. Great and beautiful
music comes your way from midnight to six. CBS
News has news on the hour. Alan Archer has news
following in the local vein. From KOYN in Portland,
I'm Bill Garrity. It's 12 midnight.