WEBVTT 00:00:00.650 --> 00:00:23.829 Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come in. Welcome. 00:00:24.649 --> 00:00:29.109 I'm E .G. Marshall. A Chinese proverb holds that 00:00:29.109 --> 00:00:32.710 nobody's family can hang out the sign, nothing 00:00:32.710 --> 00:00:35.450 the matter here. There's wisdom in that, don't 00:00:35.450 --> 00:00:38.789 you agree? Think about your own family. Isn't 00:00:38.789 --> 00:00:41.509 there at least one skeleton lurking in your closet? 00:00:42.590 --> 00:00:45.570 At some time and for some reason, it will surely 00:00:45.570 --> 00:00:49.070 reveal itself. The consequences have raised came 00:00:49.070 --> 00:00:52.549 with ruling powers, business, and even love between 00:00:52.549 --> 00:00:56.149 two persons. That is why Dr. Tom Lodge, a young 00:00:56.149 --> 00:00:59.469 resident in a Boston hospital, has long safeguarded 00:00:59.469 --> 00:01:03.789 a dark family secret from his wife, Nancy. Tom, 00:01:03.850 --> 00:01:07.510 what are you hiding? Nothing, darling. Now, that 00:01:07.510 --> 00:01:10.569 doesn't ring true. We don't have secrets between 00:01:10.569 --> 00:01:14.219 us. Or do we? All right, now look, don't get 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:16.060 on your high horse. Well, then don't treat me 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:18.680 like a child. What have you done? Are you married 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:21.120 to someone else? Is there a girl you left behind 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:23.340 you? Did you kill someone on a hunting trip? 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:28.540 Oh, Tom, please tell me. I have a right to know. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:40.640 Our mystery drama, The Recluse, was written especially 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:43.670 for the Mystery Theater by Roy Windsor. and stars 00:01:43.670 --> 00:01:47.170 Tony Roberts and Patricia Elliott. I'll be back 00:01:47.170 --> 00:02:02.069 shortly with Act One. When we are young, family, 00:02:02.590 --> 00:02:05.650 especially our immediate family, is to us the 00:02:05.650 --> 00:02:09.490 world in microcosm. And we know that we are part 00:02:09.490 --> 00:02:12.580 of a self -contained unit. in which we are fed, 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:15.719 clothed, and protected. When we become adults, 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:18.759 however, we can view our parents and relatives 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:22.520 more objectively. Uncle Bill never was really 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:26.240 that amusing, was he? And why did father always 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.340 unthinkingly vote the straight ticket? Because 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:33.159 he read only the sport pages. And so family unity 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.479 becomes subject to the strains of objective thinking, 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:43.250 as we are about to find out. I'm home, darling. 00:02:43.629 --> 00:02:49.469 So you are. What a treat. Give me a kiss. What 00:02:49.469 --> 00:02:52.009 happened? It's only six o 'clock. Did the patient 00:02:52.009 --> 00:02:56.889 die? You're too much, Nancy. Hey, something smells 00:02:56.889 --> 00:03:00.409 good. Stew. Or call it buff bourguignon. It's 00:03:00.409 --> 00:03:02.750 all the same. Oh, that's a sacrilege, and you 00:03:02.750 --> 00:03:06.030 know better. And no, the patient did not die. 00:03:06.389 --> 00:03:08.270 It was a hot appendix, and she'll be up on her 00:03:08.270 --> 00:03:12.400 feet tomorrow. Now... What's the news of the 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:18.080 day? Not good. My mother? No. No, arthritis is 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:20.759 wicked, but I don't think it's a killer. No, 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:24.159 it's your grandmother in White River. She died 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:27.639 this afternoon. Your mother called. I see. Your 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.300 mother wants us to attend the funeral. She can't. 00:03:30.419 --> 00:03:33.319 Well, neither can I. I just can't up and leave 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.759 the hospital. My mother should know that. Well... 00:03:35.629 --> 00:03:37.949 Somebody has to represent the family, and your 00:03:37.949 --> 00:03:39.610 mother and you are the only living relatives. 00:03:39.930 --> 00:03:44.250 You can't not go, Tom. You seem so unfeeling. 00:03:44.349 --> 00:03:46.770 After all, she is your grandmother. I know, I 00:03:46.770 --> 00:03:49.550 know. Didn't you like her? I thought everyone 00:03:49.550 --> 00:03:52.270 liked his grandmother. Well, sure, but... You 00:03:52.270 --> 00:03:55.370 really adored her, didn't you? Oh, come off it, 00:03:55.610 --> 00:03:57.659 Nancy. Well, first your mother sounded if she 00:03:57.659 --> 00:03:59.680 didn't care that her mother had died, and now 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.060 here you are, not caring either and feeling that 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:04.780 her death is an imposition. Hey, what are you 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:07.620 so worked up about over this old lady? I mean, 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:10.479 you never even met her. Maybe I'm lucky. What 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:14.819 was Mrs. Skyler, some kind of witch? Uh, no. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:20.920 Uh, no. Well, let it go. Why won't you talk about 00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:23.160 her, Tom? Look, I don't remember her very well. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:26.589 I've kind of lost track. Hey, look. Let's have 00:04:26.589 --> 00:04:29.949 our... Supper will keep. You realize, don't you, 00:04:30.009 --> 00:04:31.750 that the more you evade the subject, the more 00:04:31.750 --> 00:04:35.250 you arouse my curiosity. Now, tell me about your 00:04:35.250 --> 00:04:40.449 grandmother. Well, the Schuyler family's been 00:04:40.449 --> 00:04:42.709 in White River for hundreds of years, dating 00:04:42.709 --> 00:04:45.290 from before they built the inn, a place named 00:04:45.290 --> 00:04:47.970 Riverfront. My grandmother's lived there all 00:04:47.970 --> 00:04:51.110 her life. An old inn? Oh, like the ones you see 00:04:51.110 --> 00:04:53.589 on the book covers of Gothic novels? Yeah, something 00:04:53.589 --> 00:04:56.600 like that. It's on the edge of the river and 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.180 it's more than a hundred years old. Twenty rooms. 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:01.759 Most of them were closed off when the inn was 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:04.319 closed to travelers. And you explored every one 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.279 of them, didn't you? As a matter of fact, I did. 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:10.019 But you don't remember her very well, isn't that 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:14.339 what you said? Okay, Doctor, what's the mystery? 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:17.899 There is none. Really, really. Grandma lived 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:20.019 in three rooms and never went out. She's been 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:24.339 a recluse since my mother and I left. Why? Heartbroken 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:29.560 to see you go? No, not exactly. Hey, how about 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:32.519 dropping the subject? No, siree. There's a skeleton 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.879 in the family closet and I want to know what 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.579 it is. And I'll find out tomorrow. Pardon? When 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:43.259 we reach White River. Now look... It's all decided. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:46.339 We're driving up for the funeral. But... No, 00:05:46.540 --> 00:05:52.160 but about it. What is this dark secret? It goes 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:56.579 to the grave with her. My grandmother's death 00:05:56.579 --> 00:06:09.620 has laid that skeleton to rest. Forever. You 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:12.040 stay here, Nancy, in the waiting room. I'm not 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.220 sitting here while Mr. Martin reads you the will. 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:16.699 As your wife, I'm entitled to know the provisions 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:19.779 of your grandmother's will. What am I gonna do 00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:22.889 with you? All right, all right. Come in, come 00:06:22.889 --> 00:06:27.970 in. Come in, Dr. Lodge. Ah, Mrs. Lodge. See? 00:06:28.370 --> 00:06:31.769 He expects me in his office. It's nice to see 00:06:31.769 --> 00:06:35.009 you again, Tom. Thank you, sir. My wife, Nancy. 00:06:35.029 --> 00:06:38.149 How do you do? Hello. Well, sit down, if you 00:06:38.149 --> 00:06:41.930 please. It's been several years, Tom. Yes, sir. 00:06:42.250 --> 00:06:45.850 Six. And you're a doctor in a big Boston hospital. 00:06:46.310 --> 00:06:50.300 Oh, a resident. How interesting. I telephoned 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.420 your mother. She couldn't be here for the funeral. 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:55.519 Yes, arthritis. She's pretty much confined to 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:00.699 her house. Yes, so she told me. A tasteful service. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:03.439 Simple, but reverent. Thank you for attending, 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:06.439 Mr. Martin. Your grandmother was my client and 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:10.920 a friend. You didn't know her, Mrs. Lodge? No, 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.839 only by hearsay. Is that so? Hearsay, indeed. 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:18.490 Tom's told me that she was a reckless. Well, 00:07:18.490 --> 00:07:20.949 I suppose she had become so of course she was 00:07:20.949 --> 00:07:24.610 an old woman and set in her ways And what were 00:07:24.610 --> 00:07:27.209 those if I may ask mr. Martin my grandmother 00:07:27.209 --> 00:07:31.509 was austere self -righteous and unforgiving She 00:07:31.509 --> 00:07:33.769 turned her back on my mother and me six years 00:07:33.769 --> 00:07:37.290 ago, and we've never heard from her since We 00:07:37.290 --> 00:07:43.509 learned not to care. Oh Why Tom she never forgave 00:07:43.509 --> 00:07:46.879 my mother for marrying my father Grandma considered 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.420 him several cuts below her social level. Now, 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:53.240 let's forget what's past and hear what Mr. Martin 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:57.680 has to say. Yes. Well, the provisions of her 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:01.639 will are clear and simple. You, Tom, inherit 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:07.480 her entire estate. The old inn and the 15 acres 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:10.180 surrounding it? And the small house where Mrs. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:14.000 Meggs lives. Tom, it's a fortune. Well, I don't 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:17.329 know about that, but... Well, the land is valuable, 00:08:17.370 --> 00:08:20.389 but the inn... Well, it's in bad disrepair. And 00:08:20.389 --> 00:08:23.290 useless. I'm afraid that your grandmother let 00:08:23.290 --> 00:08:26.209 it go over the past few years. It's weather worn 00:08:26.209 --> 00:08:28.910 and rotted. And mice have replaced the ghosts 00:08:28.910 --> 00:08:32.169 of all those old travelers. Well, it'll have 00:08:32.169 --> 00:08:37.370 to be raised and the land sold. Yes. Well, now, 00:08:37.409 --> 00:08:40.950 your grandmother left a codicil to her will, 00:08:41.509 --> 00:08:46.490 Tom, in her handwriting. Whatever is realized 00:08:46.490 --> 00:08:49.409 from the sale of the inn and the land is to be 00:08:49.409 --> 00:08:54.450 paid to the bank. But why? Was she in debt? Is 00:08:54.450 --> 00:09:00.070 that the skeleton in the large closet, Tom? Why 00:09:00.070 --> 00:09:03.269 don't we just leave it that way, Nancy? Yes, 00:09:03.590 --> 00:09:06.929 it might be best, Mrs. Lodge. But it's not the 00:09:06.929 --> 00:09:09.610 truth, is it? A woman like your grandmother, 00:09:09.990 --> 00:09:12.720 why would she... Get herself into debt and over 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:16.480 what? Her family matter. So it wasn't her debt. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:21.360 Tom, was it yours? Look, darling, it's really 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.580 unimportant. I don't think it is. I won't understand 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:27.419 what this is about. Did you know about this indebtedness? 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.240 Is that why you and your mother lost touch with 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:34.820 your grandmother? Well, I'll file the will for 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:38.679 probate, Tom. Do you want me to dispose of the 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:41.259 inn and the land and... Carry out your grandmother's 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:43.639 last wish? It's not appreciated, Mr. Martin. 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:46.960 Tom, how did you get into debt and for how much? 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:52.379 I really do have a right to know. If you persist, 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:56.440 Nancy, you will regret the day you said, yes, 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:59.759 I'll marry you. Darling, no matter what you did, 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:04.000 I'll never regret that decision. You'd better 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:07.419 tell her, Mr. Martin. Yes, perhaps I should. 00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:12.919 Well, Tom's father was assistant cashier at the 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:15.299 merchant's bank over there across the street. 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:21.120 Six years ago, in February 1970, Tom's father... 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:25.519 My father stole $70 ,000 from his bank and disappeared. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:28.659 And neither have been seen since, him or the 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:33.899 money. Now, are you satisfied? Tom, darling. 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:36.360 My mother and I were so ashamed that we slunk 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.240 out of White River and I hoped I'd never have 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:41.059 to come back here and face the old neighbors. 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:46.080 The sins of the father. How cruel. Your grandmother 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.740 renounced your mother and you for something your 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:52.100 father did? Well, that was my grandmother's way. 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:55.899 And now, in the cortisol to her will, she makes 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:59.059 me responsible to see that her estate is sold 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:02.809 and the proceeds paid to the bank. I still can't 00:11:02.809 --> 00:11:05.950 be free of what my father did. I'm still made 00:11:05.950 --> 00:11:08.110 to feel guilty because he grabbed a bundle and 00:11:08.110 --> 00:11:11.909 flew the coop. Now, do you understand why I didn't 00:11:11.909 --> 00:11:15.129 want to come here for the funeral? And why I 00:11:15.129 --> 00:11:22.629 hope my father has already had his. Sit down, 00:11:22.809 --> 00:11:27.370 Roof. A cold wind. Coming on to snow. A cup of 00:11:27.370 --> 00:11:30.929 hot tea will do you good. Oh, nice of Tom to 00:11:30.929 --> 00:11:33.330 invite me to the funeral. He always was nice 00:11:33.330 --> 00:11:37.429 as a boy. Yep. And nice wife, too. What happened 00:11:37.429 --> 00:11:40.210 now, little? You got any idea? He'll sell, is 00:11:40.210 --> 00:11:42.950 my guess. Except for Tom and his mother. The 00:11:42.950 --> 00:11:45.690 old lady was the last of the line. Yep. Last 00:11:45.690 --> 00:11:48.549 of the Scarlet family. Well, I can't complain, 00:11:48.610 --> 00:11:51.070 but it makes me feel kind of peculiar. I won't 00:11:51.070 --> 00:11:55.429 be working the land no more. Forty years. How 00:11:55.429 --> 00:11:58.759 about you, little? You pulling up stakes? Ain't 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:02.080 your sister Faye someplace south? Lauderdale? 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:05.240 I'm thinking about it. After all you did for 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:08.019 the old woman over the years, I thought maybe 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:10.600 she'd leave something to you. It's a nice little 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:13.759 house, I'd say. Not her ladyship. She was a tight 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.639 one. Well, I'd better get up to the inn and light 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:20.360 a fire for him. Every once in a while on a snowy 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:23.620 night, I wonder what happened to him, Lil. To 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:27.889 the father? Yeah. Snow bound, the cast found 00:12:27.889 --> 00:12:30.990 stuck in the snow next morning. No sign of him 00:12:30.990 --> 00:12:35.570 or the money. Where'd he get to, Lil? All I remember 00:12:35.570 --> 00:12:37.950 is he stormed out of the inn and disappeared. 00:12:38.490 --> 00:12:42.649 Yeah, that's what I mean. Gone. Without a trace. 00:12:54.570 --> 00:12:57.269 Oh, my goodness. Oh, it's just Ruth's dog. I'll 00:12:57.269 --> 00:12:59.370 chain him up in the barn. Thanks, Mrs. Megs. 00:12:59.490 --> 00:13:01.769 Anything else I can do? I left bacon and eggs 00:13:01.769 --> 00:13:03.370 in the refrigerator and then... Oh, nothing. 00:13:03.570 --> 00:13:06.009 Thank you. That's fine. Well, then I'll say good 00:13:06.009 --> 00:13:08.389 night and get back while I can see my way. We'll 00:13:08.389 --> 00:13:11.190 have snow. I wouldn't wander around, Tom. The 00:13:11.190 --> 00:13:13.570 old place is falling apart and some of the floors 00:13:13.570 --> 00:13:17.289 ain't too firm. I'll say good night. Good night. 00:13:17.470 --> 00:13:24.330 Good night, Mrs. Megs. It's creepy. I hate this 00:13:24.330 --> 00:13:27.929 place. There's been a pall over it ever since 00:13:27.929 --> 00:13:30.389 what happened. I'll tell you one thing, Nancy. 00:13:30.750 --> 00:13:33.830 I am not spending the night in this mausoleum. 00:13:34.230 --> 00:13:37.149 What did happen to your father? How could he 00:13:37.149 --> 00:13:40.789 have gotten away? Search me. The police went 00:13:40.789 --> 00:13:43.330 all over the inn for days. There was no trace 00:13:43.330 --> 00:13:47.070 of him. You lived here as a boy? Yeah, sure. 00:13:47.830 --> 00:13:50.899 My friends and I used to play games here. You 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:54.960 know, hide and seek. I remember those days. And 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:59.179 you were the hero. I mean, did you ever hide 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:02.480 where no one could find you? Oh, well, there 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.980 were lots of places. Cubby holes, one room with 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:09.360 a false wall, trapped doors and some ceilings. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:13.659 It's a wonder one of us was never found. Maybe 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:19.259 that's what happened, Tom. Huh? But did you have 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:22.320 a... Special hiding place? You knew the old inn 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:28.480 better than anybody else. Good Lord. The sealed 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:32.000 room. The what? Yeah, the sealed room beneath 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.539 the long clothes closet off the entry hall. Oh, 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:40.220 but no, it's impossible. Is it? If your father 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:42.700 couldn't have gotten away because of the snowstorm, 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:50.179 he must still be here. Or... What's left of him? 00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:03.440 Well, what have we here? Old deeds have a way 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.840 of coming to light and the skeleton in your closet 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:09.419 can be made to rattle because of an inquiring 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:13.120 mind. If a major premise and a minor premise 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:17.899 are true, so is the logical conclusion. Tom Lodge's 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:21.559 father disappeared. It was impossible for him 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:25.799 to have left the old inn. Therefore, he never 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:29.600 left the inn. I will return shortly with act 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:45.970 two. It is unusual and unlikely for a person 00:15:45.970 --> 00:15:50.610 to disappear and never be heard of again. Exceptions 00:15:50.610 --> 00:15:54.570 are rare. Rip Van Winkle to be sure, but that 00:15:54.570 --> 00:15:58.690 was fantasy. Dr. Livingston, and that was fact, 00:15:59.289 --> 00:16:02.690 both were presumed to be lost, but after their 00:16:02.690 --> 00:16:05.330 disappearance neither was accused of a crime. 00:16:06.509 --> 00:16:10.610 Tom Lodge's father was. He absconded with $70 00:16:10.610 --> 00:16:14.509 ,000, and therein lies a difference. He was a 00:16:14.509 --> 00:16:18.629 criminal and in danger. What happened to him? 00:16:19.070 --> 00:16:22.450 Tom Lodge hopes to find out. Strike another match, 00:16:22.690 --> 00:16:25.330 Nancy, and I'll let myself down the ladder. Haven't 00:16:25.330 --> 00:16:28.549 we got a flashlight? In the car. I'll get it 00:16:28.549 --> 00:16:30.909 later. I want to see if anything's in there right 00:16:30.909 --> 00:16:33.289 now. You could slip and break a leg, Tom. No, 00:16:33.309 --> 00:16:36.029 no, no. The ladder's strong. Let's strike a match. 00:16:40.169 --> 00:16:43.470 It's really black down here. I can't see a thing. 00:16:43.750 --> 00:16:47.009 I'll hand the matches to you. I'm flat on the 00:16:47.009 --> 00:16:54.970 floor on my stomach. Reach up. Okay. Now, let 00:16:54.970 --> 00:16:58.250 me see. Oh, darling, be careful. Don't worry. 00:16:59.629 --> 00:17:03.529 Oh, there's the pot -bellied stove and the wood 00:17:03.529 --> 00:17:14.380 scuttle and a chair. Small table. caught What 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:21.380 is it Tom Tom answer me I'm coming up Tom Yeah 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:24.220 Look, let's let's get back to the common room. 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:31.319 Tell me is there something there my father the 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:40.210 His his bones a clothed skeleton. Oh I've got 00:17:40.210 --> 00:17:43.349 to think. You said that the police went all over 00:17:43.349 --> 00:17:45.150 the inn, Tom. How could they have missed the 00:17:45.150 --> 00:17:48.549 sealed room? I don't know. Nobody remembered 00:17:48.549 --> 00:17:53.390 it, probably. Well, what was it for? The caretaker. 00:17:54.049 --> 00:17:56.170 Back around the turn of the century, he acted 00:17:56.170 --> 00:18:00.170 as a registration clerk and a handyman, and he 00:18:00.170 --> 00:18:02.569 lived down there. In that hole in the ground? 00:18:02.730 --> 00:18:06.470 Yes. It's a real room with flooring and walls 00:18:06.470 --> 00:18:10.410 of wood, and it was very snug and warm. After 00:18:10.410 --> 00:18:12.670 he closed the inn for the night, he lifted the 00:18:12.670 --> 00:18:15.730 trap door in the long closet in the hall and 00:18:15.730 --> 00:18:18.809 pulled it closed after him. I see. Then the flooring 00:18:18.809 --> 00:18:21.410 in the closet was covered over. With carpeting, 00:18:21.410 --> 00:18:23.869 and that sealed it off. Unless a person knew 00:18:23.869 --> 00:18:27.069 a room was down there, he'd never find it. But 00:18:27.069 --> 00:18:31.769 you did. As a boy. Was the floor covered over 00:18:31.769 --> 00:18:38.759 then? I don't think so. No. So... The carpeting 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:43.059 was laid over the trapdoor recently. Six years 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:47.480 ago? Right after your father disappeared? Yeah. 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:50.680 Your grandmother must have known about the room, 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:54.980 Tom. Yes, of course. Would Mrs. Meggs have known 00:18:54.980 --> 00:19:00.619 about the sealed room? I don't know. Why? Well, 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:03.319 who was here the night your father disappeared? 00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:08.750 No one. My grandmother and Mrs. Megs and of course 00:19:08.750 --> 00:19:12.930 my father. Your father stole money. He came here 00:19:12.930 --> 00:19:15.670 and six years later we find his remains in a 00:19:15.670 --> 00:19:21.410 sealed room. Why did he hide and why did he die? 00:19:22.730 --> 00:19:25.809 I can't answer those questions Nancy. We'll never 00:19:25.809 --> 00:19:29.009 know the answers. I know one of them. He came 00:19:29.009 --> 00:19:31.650 here and told your grandmother he'd stolen money 00:19:31.650 --> 00:19:35.220 from his bank. Why would he tell her? No idea. 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:38.880 What if he'd been dipping into your grandmother's 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.299 money and was caught and stole from the bank 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:46.220 in order to replace it? Oh, that's far out. Well, 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.680 your grandmother refused the money. That's why 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:50.900 she wanted the proceeds from her estate to go 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:55.220 to the bank, to help repay a debt of honor. Hey, 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:59.259 that's pretty far -fetched, Harling. Maybe. I 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:01.480 have the answer to another one of my questions. 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:05.859 Your father hid here... Because he couldn't get 00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:11.480 away. Was he a healthy man, Tom? Yes. Why? How 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.299 did he die? There he was, safe in the sealed 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:17.339 room. Did he have a stroke, a heart attack? Did 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:20.980 somebody bring him food? Mrs. Maggs? Could be. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:26.599 Tom, get the flashlight and let's examine that 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:38.869 room carefully. I feel like I'm in a tomb. It's 00:20:38.869 --> 00:20:42.150 my father, all right. Look, where I'm shining 00:20:42.150 --> 00:20:46.690 the light. You see this break in the skull? That's 00:20:46.690 --> 00:20:49.789 how he died, Nancy. He was struck a hard blow. 00:20:50.549 --> 00:20:54.390 He was murdered. And look at this. His watch. 00:20:55.190 --> 00:20:57.450 The strap's rotted, but it's his watch, all right. 00:20:57.890 --> 00:20:59.970 Look, his initials are on the back. Let's get 00:20:59.970 --> 00:21:02.990 out of here. In a minute. Now it's my turn to 00:21:02.990 --> 00:21:05.900 ask a question. What became of the money? The 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:09.859 70 grand. Well, whoever murdered him took it. 00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:12.539 That was the motive. Yeah, but it was hot money, 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:16.200 Nancy. It was hard to use for a long time. And 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:18.720 the sealed room would be an ideal place to hide 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.380 it. Where? Where could it be hidden? I went over 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:25.079 the mattress on the cot. It's not there. And 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:28.660 the small closet is empty. Well, let me see. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:36.079 In the stove? Why not? Tom! How about that? Look 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:39.599 at this wad of money. Wrapped in oil skin. Oh, 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.819 I'm afraid, Tom. Leave that money and close off 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:47.299 the room. Well, there's only 15 ,000. 55 ,000 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:50.519 is gone. Someone squirreled it away. Tom, let's 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:53.220 go back to the hotel and think it through. Okay. 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:56.619 Okay. I'll telephone my mother. Maybe she'll 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:59.799 know the answers to some of our questions. Gee, 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:01.740 you are scared, aren't you, darling? Of course 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:05.740 I am. Someone committed a murder for money. We 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:09.359 found it. If the murderer discovers that we know, 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:20.839 he may try to kill us. There, there, Shark. Down, 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:24.059 boy, down. Thanks, Lou. Have a chance to talk 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.880 with Tom? Nothing to talk about, Roof. What's 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:30.660 on your mind? Well, if you don't sell the land, 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.569 maybe I could tenant farm it for him. I'd say 00:22:33.569 --> 00:22:37.289 he'd want to sell. Yeah. Well, if I had two dimes 00:22:37.289 --> 00:22:40.029 to rub together, I'd buy it. Oh, you can always 00:22:40.029 --> 00:22:43.609 get work, Roof, so you said. Yeah. Let me change 00:22:43.609 --> 00:22:47.210 your mind. Oh, I've been thinking about it, that's 00:22:47.210 --> 00:22:50.390 all. I'm getting on. The winter's around here. 00:22:50.509 --> 00:22:53.009 Mighty rugged, huh? I wonder if they could use 00:22:53.009 --> 00:22:57.190 me down south. Sure. An experienced field hand 00:22:57.190 --> 00:23:00.299 like you, I'd say so. Why, what got you thinking 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:03.400 about moving south? Well, I guess you did, Lil. 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:07.200 Talking about your sister down in Lauderdale. 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:10.660 That's where you're going, ain't it? Oh, I think 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:13.579 so. Of course, if the old lady had left me the 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:17.119 house. But she didn't. You got money laid aside? 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:21.539 Ooh, Lil. I could help you out, Roof. Not with 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:23.700 much, but enough to give you a stay. Oh, no, 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:26.519 it's mighty nice of you, Lil. When you thinking 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:29.559 of heading on down south? Soon as I can sell 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:32.799 my furniture and pack, we could spell each other 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:37.220 at the wheel. Yeah, I'd like that. Then it's 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:40.359 settled. I'll be back after I make quick inspection 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:43.440 about the inn. If the snow's piling up, maybe 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:46.500 I could drive Tom's car down here and put it 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:49.000 in the barn. Otherwise, it might get stuck in 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:52.640 the morning. Yes, that's true. It's happened 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:56.960 before. Yep, I remember. Tom's father, Chains. 00:23:57.160 --> 00:24:00.299 That's what you need in heavy snow. Mr. Martin 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:05.240 had him. The lawyer? Yeah. He left that night 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:08.720 around 10 o 'clock. I saw him drive away. Chains. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:11.980 That's what got him through. You didn't know 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:19.160 he'd been to the inn. Thanks, Mother. This has 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:24.680 been very helpful. Well? My father did manage 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:27.279 my grandmother's money, and he had begun to dip 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:30.259 into it. So he dipped into the bank to repay 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:33.339 her. That's why he absconded with all that money. 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:35.839 How did he think he'd get away with robbing the 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:39.059 bank? Who knows? Your grandmother must have been 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:41.559 furious. Well, it was through her that he got 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:44.220 his job at Merchant's. He must have loved your 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:47.799 mother very much. Yes. Well, I'm afraid he wasn't 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:51.839 much of a banker. It's all... Tragic, and they're 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:55.880 both dead because a willful old matriarch couldn't 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:59.859 form him into her own image. Let's pay a visit 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:02.700 to Mr. Martin. I'll turn this money over to him 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:06.420 and he can give it to the bank. Fifteen thousand? 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:10.980 What about the rest? It's gone. Can't be traced 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:22.920 now. I wonder. The snow is beautiful. You won't 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:25.099 think so if it doesn't light up, darling. Driving 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:28.140 is no fun in the North Country. Come in, come 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:31.559 in. Thank you. Forgive us for calling at your 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:35.299 home. Perfectly all right. Oh, what a charming 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:40.740 room. Thank you. Well, let me get right to the 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:45.440 point, Mr. Martin. I found the remains of my 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:49.900 father in a sealed room. What? Your father? He'd 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:53.079 been murdered. In heaven's name. And here is 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:58.079 15 of the $70 ,000 he stole from the bank. You 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:02.259 stagger me, Tom. Well, he didn't disappear. He 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:05.160 was murdered and hidden in the sealed room, and 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:08.500 the money, most of it, was taken away. I came 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:11.440 to you... Of course, of course. I'll notify the 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.390 police in the morning. Not tonight. We're in 00:26:14.390 --> 00:26:17.009 danger, Mr. Martin. Danger? I don't see how. 00:26:17.089 --> 00:26:19.269 Well, if the murderer finds out what we've discovered, 00:26:19.309 --> 00:26:22.289 he'll come after us. Well, who knows about your 00:26:22.289 --> 00:26:25.049 discovery? Well, no one. Except you, of course. 00:26:25.470 --> 00:26:29.029 You didn't speak to Mrs. Meggs? No. Why not? 00:26:30.029 --> 00:26:32.650 Well, we think that she must know something about 00:26:32.650 --> 00:26:35.569 all this. She was in the house the night my father 00:26:35.569 --> 00:26:40.910 vanished. You know that, Mr. Martin? I do. Well, 00:26:40.910 --> 00:26:43.910 that's what my mother says. I talked to her half 00:26:43.910 --> 00:26:47.450 an hour ago, and she had had it from a roof box. 00:26:48.029 --> 00:26:51.009 She'd had what from roof? That you were at the 00:26:51.009 --> 00:26:56.970 inn. He saw you drive away. Oh, that. Well, yes, 00:26:57.009 --> 00:26:59.849 now that you remind me, I'd driven out to see 00:26:59.849 --> 00:27:02.630 your grandmother, but I left quite early. May 00:27:02.630 --> 00:27:05.710 I ask a question? I don't mean to be impertinent, 00:27:05.750 --> 00:27:10.000 but were you aware that... Tom's father was stealing 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:13.339 from his mother -in -law? Goodness, no. You didn't 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:16.180 check her account periodically? Very seldom. 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:19.319 I thought it was in good hands. Your father's. 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:22.539 My father stole for the purpose of making investments. 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:26.680 You were his broker. Didn't you ever wonder where 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:29.940 he was getting his money? You're on dangerous 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:33.240 ground, young man. I know it, Mr. Martin, but 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:36.140 we mean two different things. I'm not worried 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:40.779 about slander. I'm worried about my skin. Nancy 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:45.140 isn't mine. We're in danger and I think you know 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:54.819 it. Two hundred years ago, Samuel Johnson remarked, 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:57.099 There is nothing which has been contrived by 00:27:57.099 --> 00:28:00.400 man through which so much happiness is produced 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:06.099 as by a good tavern or inn. True enough. All 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:10.480 gone now. swallowed up in progress, including 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:13.880 Riverfront, an old New England inn which has 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:18.039 now divested itself of a murder and its remains. 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:21.619 There are more surprises when I return shortly 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:37.680 with Act III. Other sins can only speak. Murder 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:41.839 shrieks out. That metaphor by John Webster from 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:44.400 his 16th century play, The Duchess of Malfi, 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:47.660 best expresses the repugnance we feel when we 00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:50.680 learn that someone has been murdered. Murder 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:55.200 cries to be solved. And Dr. Tom Large confronts 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:58.940 one, that of his long -missing father. We still 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:02.819 have three suspects, and one of them is the handyman 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:08.180 at Riverfront, Rufus Boggs. Lord, almighty heaven, 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:14.859 help us. Go on, open up. Come in, Ru. Oh, Lil. 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:18.700 Oh, what's wrong? You're white as the snow. He 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:21.359 was there all the time, Lil. What are you talking 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:25.240 about? Tom's father. You sound crazy. Now sit 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:28.240 down and go slow. Now what's this about Tom's 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:32.980 father? I found him in a room in the cellar. 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:37.349 Tom's father? I was going round the inn. I was 00:29:37.349 --> 00:29:40.049 river -side when they drove off leaving all the 00:29:40.049 --> 00:29:42.650 lights on and I went up to the door and it wasn't 00:29:42.650 --> 00:29:46.890 closed tight. I opened it and called hello. And 00:29:46.890 --> 00:29:49.789 then me and Shark stepped inside and he began 00:29:49.789 --> 00:29:52.690 to bark and the hair went up on his back. Scared 00:29:52.690 --> 00:29:57.069 me stiff. Go on. He ran into that old hall closet 00:29:57.069 --> 00:30:00.750 and barked his head off. There's a trap door 00:30:00.750 --> 00:30:05.799 there. Did you know that, little? No. A trap 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:09.640 door to where? Well, a room, sort of, under the 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:13.660 common room. I had my flashlight, so I kneeled 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:18.079 down and played the light around it. And I saw 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:23.619 it. A skeleton. Oh, my. Stretched out on a cot. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:28.880 Oh. It would give me a terrible turn. A skeleton? 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:34.920 Tom's father. It has to be. That's where he's 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:38.299 been these six years. And they drove away? That's 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:41.759 right. We'll have the police swarming all over 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:43.980 the place soon, and there'll be questions like, 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:47.759 what do I know about it? And I don't know nothing, 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:50.839 Lil, nothing. Neither do I. Now you leave the 00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:53.759 talking to me. All I know is Tom's father bolted 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:55.619 out of the house and slammed the door behind 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:58.319 him. That's the last anybody's seen of him. And 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:00.799 I was in the barn all evening, except when I 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.819 left my room to quiet Chuck. That's when I seen 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:08.039 Mr. Martin drive away. His car, anyway. Well, 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:11.140 we'd better go back up there, Roof. What for? 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:16.119 Well, they found out the murder. He was murdered? 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:20.079 Well, that's my guess. The man wouldn't just 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:22.900 stay in there and starve himself to death. No. 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:26.400 I guess you're right. Tom and the wife made the 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:29.900 discovery, and you can bet whoever killed his 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:33.279 father is gonna do something about it. Like what 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:36.460 like get that evidence out of there and then 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:41.099 kill them now we've got to stop that roof What's 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:45.599 it? What's the gun for? Well, I may need it Why 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.660 don't we wait for the police? No, no, no, no, 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:57.140 there's no time. There's no time at all There 00:31:57.140 --> 00:32:00.619 was a message at the hotel desk mrs. Meg's telephoned 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:03.339 she has to See me and she's driving into town. 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:06.059 When did she call? Half an hour ago. She ought 00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:09.339 to be here any minute. You were pretty rough 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:11.839 on Mr. Martin, darling. Yeah, but his role strikes 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:15.400 me as funny. I mean funny odd. Look, he was my 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:18.059 father's friend and broker. He must have wondered 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:19.940 where the money was coming from for those stocks 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:23.140 my father bought. On the other hand, people up 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:25.759 here pretty much mind their own business. Oh, 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:28.339 it's all very confusing. Not all of it. There 00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:35.400 was a murder. Miss. Mrs. Makes. Oh, Tom. Oh, 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:38.599 Tom, the most dreadful things happened. Roof... 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:42.460 Roof's killed himself. Oh, no. Killed himself? 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:46.240 You found him out, and that's why he did it. 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:50.059 You found the room and the skeleton. Where did 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:53.559 you find Roof? At the inn. The door was unlocked. 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:57.099 I went in with Shark and turned on a light. And 00:32:57.099 --> 00:33:00.200 there he was. Roof's... stretched out on the 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:03.880 floor, dead, shot in the head. I near fainted. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:06.839 I ran back to my house. I didn't know what to 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:09.200 do. You didn't call the police? Well, I phoned 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:12.420 you. Well, then I chained Shaq in the barn and 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:16.140 went into Roof's room. And I found the money. 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:19.960 He had hidden it in his room? Well, not all of 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:24.960 it. Just about $5 ,000. I can't believe it, Tom. 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:27.420 I can't believe it. I brought it to give it to 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:32.880 you. Roof Boggs. He was such a gentle old man. 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:36.039 Gosh, I don't believe it either. He killed himself 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:40.880 because he was found out. Yeah. Well, I guess 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:44.339 that should clear up the mystery. You'd better 00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:46.720 stay here in the hotel, Mrs. Meggs, and I'll 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:50.039 get you a room. No, no, no. I'll go back and 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:53.200 be there when the police come. And the ambulance, 00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:56.359 I... Oh! I'm half out of my head with grief, 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:58.559 Tom. Yes, this is a terrible shock, isn't it? 00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:01.859 We'll be out in the morning if we can get through. 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:04.599 Oh, they'll have the roads cleared. Never fear. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:12.019 I don't know what to say. Good night. That's 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:15.679 a blow. Roof box. Gosh, I've known him since 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:20.059 I was a little boy. Kind and patient. He was 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:23.269 a little slow when he was a good man. He must 00:34:23.269 --> 00:34:26.510 have gone off his trolley. Mrs. Meggs is a liar. 00:34:28.170 --> 00:34:31.030 Nancy, your imagination... It's lucky for you 00:34:31.030 --> 00:34:34.889 I've got some. Ask yourself a few questions, 00:34:35.170 --> 00:34:38.250 darling. From what you remember, did Roof ever 00:34:38.250 --> 00:34:43.250 go into that inn? Oh, well, rarely. But look, 00:34:43.349 --> 00:34:46.570 he saw us drive off, and maybe we left a light 00:34:46.570 --> 00:34:49.590 on. So he goes in, finds the skeleton, and shoots 00:34:49.590 --> 00:34:53.969 himself? Well, that's what Mrs. Megs says. His 00:34:53.969 --> 00:34:58.269 dog is always with him? Sure. So the dog went 00:34:58.269 --> 00:35:03.889 into the inn with him? Go on. Then how come Mrs. 00:35:04.110 --> 00:35:10.730 Megs heard the dog howling outside? Yeah. Mrs. 00:35:10.969 --> 00:35:13.650 Megs had said good night to us. Why did she want 00:35:13.650 --> 00:35:16.750 to return to the inn? Not for the reason she 00:35:16.750 --> 00:35:20.889 gave, Tom. I think Ruth told her what he found 00:35:20.889 --> 00:35:25.510 and they returned to the inn together and she 00:35:25.510 --> 00:35:30.769 shot him. That's crazy. Is it? What about this? 00:35:31.150 --> 00:35:34.550 Where did she find the $5 ,000? In his room. 00:35:34.630 --> 00:35:37.070 Just like that? She could walk into Ruth's room 00:35:37.070 --> 00:35:41.190 and just like that find $5 ,000? If he'd stolen 00:35:41.190 --> 00:35:44.889 the money, he'd have hidden it. Yeah, well, all 00:35:44.889 --> 00:35:48.219 right. That's the point. Her story does set on 00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:50.440 kind of path, doesn't it? Sure, because it's 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:55.539 a lie. Darling, she murdered Roof just as she 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:58.079 murdered your father six years ago. All right, 00:35:58.139 --> 00:36:00.280 but just saying it doesn't make it so. I mean, 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:03.500 how do we prove it? Two ways. The police can 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:06.539 check on the gun used to kill Roof, and they 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:09.000 can also help us to find the rest of the money. 00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:13.699 I kept asking myself, where did it all go? For 00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:15.880 all I know we just flew away. Oh, that's what 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:22.539 I think too Are you Are you serious very? The 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:26.639 money flew away. Yes You give me a day with the 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:28.719 police and I think I can find that money and 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:33.000 when I do We'll put mrs. Megs behind bars for 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:40.219 life Nancy where have you been? I've been worried 00:36:40.219 --> 00:36:42.730 to death I told you where I'd be, darling, with 00:36:42.730 --> 00:36:45.730 the police. You want to hear something interesting? 00:36:45.809 --> 00:36:48.610 Yeah, go ahead. Every time your father placed 00:36:48.610 --> 00:36:52.070 a stock order, he placed a similar one for Mr. 00:36:52.429 --> 00:36:57.289 Martin and paid for all of it. What? That's right. 00:36:58.309 --> 00:37:01.510 I'll make a guess. Your father and Martin were 00:37:01.510 --> 00:37:04.369 in collusion. Your father used your grandmother's 00:37:04.369 --> 00:37:08.019 money with Martin's tacit approval. You mean 00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:09.920 the two of them were dipping into the old woman's 00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:12.840 fund? That's what it looks like to me. Your grandmother 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:16.219 demanded an accounting, and to repay her, your 00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:19.880 father robbed his bank. Oh, gosh, it gets worse 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.599 and worse. But it's going to get better and better, 00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:23.780 darling, because the police have supplied me 00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:26.860 with two very helpful pieces of information. 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:31.179 The gun? Yes. They traced the gun. Rufus Boggs 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:33.559 never had a handgun, as far as the police can 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:37.340 tell. But old man Megs did. and he had a permit 00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:41.599 to carry it. The permit expired when he died, 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:45.800 but the gun was never turned in. It was Megs' 00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:49.199 gun, which was used to murder Rufus. Well, that 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:51.559 should clinch it. Without question, she murdered 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:55.719 Ruf. But what about your father? Were the police 00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:58.940 helpful there? Oh, very. Did you know that Mrs. 00:37:59.179 --> 00:38:01.380 Megs has a sister living in Fort Lauderdale? 00:38:01.789 --> 00:38:05.389 No. Well, she has. And they are very regular 00:38:05.389 --> 00:38:07.769 correspondents. Remember what you said, Tom? 00:38:08.050 --> 00:38:11.329 That maybe the money just flew away? Yeah. Well, 00:38:11.329 --> 00:38:16.570 it did. Can't you guess? You're telling me that... 00:38:16.570 --> 00:38:20.510 Exactly. Now let's call on her and see if she 00:38:20.510 --> 00:38:26.530 doesn't fall apart. Well, it's still beyond me. 00:38:26.840 --> 00:38:29.739 Killing your father and then taking his own life. 00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:32.519 Is that what you think he did mrs. Megs? Why 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:35.280 it's plain as the nose on your face Tom. Oh, 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:38.280 why would a man shoot himself unless he was guilty 00:38:38.280 --> 00:38:42.219 of some terrible crime? I guess you're right. 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:45.239 I've decided to sell the estate mrs. Megs because 00:38:45.239 --> 00:38:48.119 I'm tied down in Boston and I just couldn't manage 00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:51.530 the place from there I'm sorry about that. You've 00:38:51.530 --> 00:38:55.329 lived here... Rent free for over 30 years. That 00:38:55.329 --> 00:38:57.530 was part of the agreements when Megs and me moved 00:38:57.530 --> 00:39:00.809 out here. Yes, I know. Well, if you would like 00:39:00.809 --> 00:39:03.630 to stay on, I... No, no, thanks. I don't want 00:39:03.630 --> 00:39:05.670 charity. Have you thought about what you're going 00:39:05.670 --> 00:39:09.070 to do? Well, Megs left me a little insurance 00:39:09.070 --> 00:39:12.670 and I kept it tucked away. I might move to where 00:39:12.670 --> 00:39:15.829 it's a little warmer than up here. Arizona, maybe. 00:39:16.170 --> 00:39:20.599 Not Florida? Pardon me. Isn't that where your 00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:25.239 sister is? Why do you ask? Your sister confessed 00:39:25.239 --> 00:39:28.059 that there are five savings accounts in Fort 00:39:28.059 --> 00:39:31.860 Lauderdale Banks in your name, Mrs. Banks. And 00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:34.059 the police here in White River want you to explain 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:36.739 how it happens that there is a small fortune 00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:40.059 waiting for you down there. Over fifteen thousand 00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:43.280 dollars. It's no business of theirs. Oh, yes 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:46.760 it is. I found fifteen thousand in the stove 00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:49.570 in the sealed room. You placed five more where 00:39:49.570 --> 00:39:51.650 you said Roof had hidden it. Twenty thousand. 00:39:52.389 --> 00:39:55.150 That plus the fifteen makes thirty -five thousand 00:39:55.150 --> 00:39:58.690 dollars. Half the amount my father stole from 00:39:58.690 --> 00:40:00.869 the merchant's bank. How do you explain that, 00:40:00.889 --> 00:40:04.449 Mrs. Meggs? And how do you explain that the bullet 00:40:04.449 --> 00:40:08.329 that killed Rufus Boggs was fired by your handgun? 00:40:08.730 --> 00:40:11.469 My handgun? I never in my life owned a handgun. 00:40:11.489 --> 00:40:14.429 Your husband did. And he didn't fire that shot 00:40:14.429 --> 00:40:18.539 from the grave, did he? You murdered Roof to 00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:21.079 save your skin, Mrs. Meggs. So you'd better tell 00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:23.320 me and tell me quick what happened six years 00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:26.119 ago to my father. I didn't touch him. He didn't 00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:28.960 crush his own skull, Mrs. Meggs. Martin killed 00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:31.519 him. His friend, Martin. Uh -huh. That's more 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:36.380 like it. Go on. Your father came to give your 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:39.800 grandmother money. She turned him away. He had 00:40:39.800 --> 00:40:43.260 the money with him. Martin spoke to me, said 00:40:43.260 --> 00:40:45.880 he'd divide it. Half for him and half for me. 00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:50.300 I was afraid. I'll just bet you were. Well, then 00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:53.980 he struck your father and killed him. We hid 00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:56.659 the body in the sealed room. And from time to 00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:58.980 time, you dipped into your half of the money 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:01.579 and sent it to your sister for deposit. And you 00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:05.599 murdered Roof to cover the old crime. Well, I 00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:08.780 didn't know what to do. I was crazy with fear. 00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:12.119 I just lost my head. I doubt that, Mrs. Maggs. 00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:17.619 You deliberately murdered the old man. Tom, please, 00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:21.539 be merciful. If you and Martin don't hang for 00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:25.400 the crime, the court will be merciful. You're 00:41:25.400 --> 00:41:34.800 cold -blooded killers. You deserve to die. The 00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:37.880 thief who understands his business never steals 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:41.320 in his own neighborhood. An old Arab precept. 00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:45.840 But greed and opportunity... usually go hand 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:49.539 in hand. What a killer does not understand are 00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:52.739 the consequences of premeditated murder. Not 00:41:52.739 --> 00:41:56.360 for the victim, but for his relatives and friends. 00:41:57.500 --> 00:42:00.960 There are degrees of crime, from petty thievery 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:05.599 to grand larceny, but murder is the worst and 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:08.539 most repugnant. I will draw the curtain on the 00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:23.920 recluse when I return shortly. Tom Lodge and 00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:26.820 his mother had lived for six years under a pall 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:30.519 of shame. But then two deaths lifted the curtain 00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:34.199 and the truth was revealed. What Tom's father 00:42:34.199 --> 00:42:37.699 did was wrong. What was done to him was worse. 00:42:38.579 --> 00:42:42.000 I can report with pleasure that Mrs. Meggs and 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.820 Martin were sentenced to prison for life. And 00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:48.780 for all I know, they are still there. Still a 00:42:48.780 --> 00:42:53.170 burden to taxpayers like you and me. Our cast 00:42:53.170 --> 00:42:55.429 included Tony Roberts, Patricia Elliott, Frances 00:42:55.429 --> 00:42:58.710 Sternhagen, and Court Benson. The entire production 00:42:58.710 --> 00:43:05.130 was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now, 00:43:05.409 --> 00:43:08.690 a preview of our next tale. Where should we go, 00:43:08.949 --> 00:43:10.989 Cap? Down the steps behind the trees. There's 00:43:10.989 --> 00:43:14.570 a little piazza. I'm so worried about you, darling. 00:43:15.590 --> 00:43:17.570 Maybe you really are sick. You just don't sound 00:43:17.570 --> 00:43:23.969 like yourself. Your voice is so strange. You're 00:43:23.969 --> 00:43:27.769 not Cab! We won't need this champagne anymore. 00:43:28.530 --> 00:43:31.050 Or this special masquerade. No, I am not sure, 00:43:31.090 --> 00:43:34.550 Mr. Goodwin. Who are you? Just a man with a purpose. 00:43:35.389 --> 00:43:37.750 You can see that I have exchanged the champagne 00:43:37.750 --> 00:43:41.369 glasses for this. A gun? Which I would not hesitate 00:43:41.369 --> 00:43:45.889 to use. Lover as you are, I am a desperate man, 00:43:45.929 --> 00:43:51.610 so keep walking. Across the driveway. and around 00:43:51.610 --> 00:43:57.170 behind the Lombardi poplars. That's it. Don't 00:43:57.170 --> 00:44:01.809 try to do anything foolish. This is E .G. Marshall 00:44:01.809 --> 00:44:04.630 inviting you to return to our mystery theater 00:44:04.630 --> 00:44:09.769 for another adventure in the macabre. Until next 00:44:09.769 --> 00:44:13.050 time, pleasant dreams.