Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come in. Welcome.
I'm E .G. Marshall. A Chinese proverb holds that
nobody's family can hang out the sign, nothing
the matter here. There's wisdom in that, don't
you agree? Think about your own family. Isn't
there at least one skeleton lurking in your closet?
At some time and for some reason, it will surely
reveal itself. The consequences have raised came
with ruling powers, business, and even love between
two persons. That is why Dr. Tom Lodge, a young
resident in a Boston hospital, has long safeguarded
a dark family secret from his wife, Nancy. Tom,
what are you hiding? Nothing, darling. Now, that
doesn't ring true. We don't have secrets between
us. Or do we? All right, now look, don't get
on your high horse. Well, then don't treat me
like a child. What have you done? Are you married
to someone else? Is there a girl you left behind
you? Did you kill someone on a hunting trip?
Oh, Tom, please tell me. I have a right to know.
Our mystery drama, The Recluse, was written especially
for the Mystery Theater by Roy Windsor. and stars
Tony Roberts and Patricia Elliott. I'll be back
shortly with Act One. When we are young, family,
especially our immediate family, is to us the
world in microcosm. And we know that we are part
of a self -contained unit. in which we are fed,
clothed, and protected. When we become adults,
however, we can view our parents and relatives
more objectively. Uncle Bill never was really
that amusing, was he? And why did father always
unthinkingly vote the straight ticket? Because
he read only the sport pages. And so family unity
becomes subject to the strains of objective thinking,
as we are about to find out. I'm home, darling.
So you are. What a treat. Give me a kiss. What
happened? It's only six o 'clock. Did the patient
die? You're too much, Nancy. Hey, something smells
good. Stew. Or call it buff bourguignon. It's
all the same. Oh, that's a sacrilege, and you
know better. And no, the patient did not die.
It was a hot appendix, and she'll be up on her
feet tomorrow. Now... What's the news of the
day? Not good. My mother? No. No, arthritis is
wicked, but I don't think it's a killer. No,
it's your grandmother in White River. She died
this afternoon. Your mother called. I see. Your
mother wants us to attend the funeral. She can't.
Well, neither can I. I just can't up and leave
the hospital. My mother should know that. Well...
Somebody has to represent the family, and your
mother and you are the only living relatives.
You can't not go, Tom. You seem so unfeeling.
After all, she is your grandmother. I know, I
know. Didn't you like her? I thought everyone
liked his grandmother. Well, sure, but... You
really adored her, didn't you? Oh, come off it,
Nancy. Well, first your mother sounded if she
didn't care that her mother had died, and now
here you are, not caring either and feeling that
her death is an imposition. Hey, what are you
so worked up about over this old lady? I mean,
you never even met her. Maybe I'm lucky. What
was Mrs. Skyler, some kind of witch? Uh, no.
Uh, no. Well, let it go. Why won't you talk about
her, Tom? Look, I don't remember her very well.
I've kind of lost track. Hey, look. Let's have
our... Supper will keep. You realize, don't you,
that the more you evade the subject, the more
you arouse my curiosity. Now, tell me about your
grandmother. Well, the Schuyler family's been
in White River for hundreds of years, dating
from before they built the inn, a place named
Riverfront. My grandmother's lived there all
her life. An old inn? Oh, like the ones you see
on the book covers of Gothic novels? Yeah, something
like that. It's on the edge of the river and
it's more than a hundred years old. Twenty rooms.
Most of them were closed off when the inn was
closed to travelers. And you explored every one
of them, didn't you? As a matter of fact, I did.
But you don't remember her very well, isn't that
what you said? Okay, Doctor, what's the mystery?
There is none. Really, really. Grandma lived
in three rooms and never went out. She's been
a recluse since my mother and I left. Why? Heartbroken
to see you go? No, not exactly. Hey, how about
dropping the subject? No, siree. There's a skeleton
in the family closet and I want to know what
it is. And I'll find out tomorrow. Pardon? When
we reach White River. Now look... It's all decided.
We're driving up for the funeral. But... No,
but about it. What is this dark secret? It goes
to the grave with her. My grandmother's death
has laid that skeleton to rest. Forever. You
stay here, Nancy, in the waiting room. I'm not
sitting here while Mr. Martin reads you the will.
As your wife, I'm entitled to know the provisions
of your grandmother's will. What am I gonna do
with you? All right, all right. Come in, come
in. Come in, Dr. Lodge. Ah, Mrs. Lodge. See?
He expects me in his office. It's nice to see
you again, Tom. Thank you, sir. My wife, Nancy.
How do you do? Hello. Well, sit down, if you
please. It's been several years, Tom. Yes, sir.
Six. And you're a doctor in a big Boston hospital.
Oh, a resident. How interesting. I telephoned
your mother. She couldn't be here for the funeral.
Yes, arthritis. She's pretty much confined to
her house. Yes, so she told me. A tasteful service.
Simple, but reverent. Thank you for attending,
Mr. Martin. Your grandmother was my client and
a friend. You didn't know her, Mrs. Lodge? No,
only by hearsay. Is that so? Hearsay, indeed.
Tom's told me that she was a reckless. Well,
I suppose she had become so of course she was
an old woman and set in her ways And what were
those if I may ask mr. Martin my grandmother
was austere self -righteous and unforgiving She
turned her back on my mother and me six years
ago, and we've never heard from her since We
learned not to care. Oh Why Tom she never forgave
my mother for marrying my father Grandma considered
him several cuts below her social level. Now,
let's forget what's past and hear what Mr. Martin
has to say. Yes. Well, the provisions of her
will are clear and simple. You, Tom, inherit
her entire estate. The old inn and the 15 acres
surrounding it? And the small house where Mrs.
Meggs lives. Tom, it's a fortune. Well, I don't
know about that, but... Well, the land is valuable,
but the inn... Well, it's in bad disrepair. And
useless. I'm afraid that your grandmother let
it go over the past few years. It's weather worn
and rotted. And mice have replaced the ghosts
of all those old travelers. Well, it'll have
to be raised and the land sold. Yes. Well, now,
your grandmother left a codicil to her will,
Tom, in her handwriting. Whatever is realized
from the sale of the inn and the land is to be
paid to the bank. But why? Was she in debt? Is
that the skeleton in the large closet, Tom? Why
don't we just leave it that way, Nancy? Yes,
it might be best, Mrs. Lodge. But it's not the
truth, is it? A woman like your grandmother,
why would she... Get herself into debt and over
what? Her family matter. So it wasn't her debt.
Tom, was it yours? Look, darling, it's really
unimportant. I don't think it is. I won't understand
what this is about. Did you know about this indebtedness?
Is that why you and your mother lost touch with
your grandmother? Well, I'll file the will for
probate, Tom. Do you want me to dispose of the
inn and the land and... Carry out your grandmother's
last wish? It's not appreciated, Mr. Martin.
Tom, how did you get into debt and for how much?
I really do have a right to know. If you persist,
Nancy, you will regret the day you said, yes,
I'll marry you. Darling, no matter what you did,
I'll never regret that decision. You'd better
tell her, Mr. Martin. Yes, perhaps I should.
Well, Tom's father was assistant cashier at the
merchant's bank over there across the street.
Six years ago, in February 1970, Tom's father...
My father stole $70 ,000 from his bank and disappeared.
And neither have been seen since, him or the
money. Now, are you satisfied? Tom, darling.
My mother and I were so ashamed that we slunk
out of White River and I hoped I'd never have
to come back here and face the old neighbors.
The sins of the father. How cruel. Your grandmother
renounced your mother and you for something your
father did? Well, that was my grandmother's way.
And now, in the cortisol to her will, she makes
me responsible to see that her estate is sold
and the proceeds paid to the bank. I still can't
be free of what my father did. I'm still made
to feel guilty because he grabbed a bundle and
flew the coop. Now, do you understand why I didn't
want to come here for the funeral? And why I
hope my father has already had his. Sit down,
Roof. A cold wind. Coming on to snow. A cup of
hot tea will do you good. Oh, nice of Tom to
invite me to the funeral. He always was nice
as a boy. Yep. And nice wife, too. What happened
now, little? You got any idea? He'll sell, is
my guess. Except for Tom and his mother. The
old lady was the last of the line. Yep. Last
of the Scarlet family. Well, I can't complain,
but it makes me feel kind of peculiar. I won't
be working the land no more. Forty years. How
about you, little? You pulling up stakes? Ain't
your sister Faye someplace south? Lauderdale?
I'm thinking about it. After all you did for
the old woman over the years, I thought maybe
she'd leave something to you. It's a nice little
house, I'd say. Not her ladyship. She was a tight
one. Well, I'd better get up to the inn and light
a fire for him. Every once in a while on a snowy
night, I wonder what happened to him, Lil. To
the father? Yeah. Snow bound, the cast found
stuck in the snow next morning. No sign of him
or the money. Where'd he get to, Lil? All I remember
is he stormed out of the inn and disappeared.
Yeah, that's what I mean. Gone. Without a trace.
Oh, my goodness. Oh, it's just Ruth's dog. I'll
chain him up in the barn. Thanks, Mrs. Megs.
Anything else I can do? I left bacon and eggs
in the refrigerator and then... Oh, nothing.
Thank you. That's fine. Well, then I'll say good
night and get back while I can see my way. We'll
have snow. I wouldn't wander around, Tom. The
old place is falling apart and some of the floors
ain't too firm. I'll say good night. Good night.
Good night, Mrs. Megs. It's creepy. I hate this
place. There's been a pall over it ever since
what happened. I'll tell you one thing, Nancy.
I am not spending the night in this mausoleum.
What did happen to your father? How could he
have gotten away? Search me. The police went
all over the inn for days. There was no trace
of him. You lived here as a boy? Yeah, sure.
My friends and I used to play games here. You
know, hide and seek. I remember those days. And
you were the hero. I mean, did you ever hide
where no one could find you? Oh, well, there
were lots of places. Cubby holes, one room with
a false wall, trapped doors and some ceilings.
It's a wonder one of us was never found. Maybe
that's what happened, Tom. Huh? But did you have
a... Special hiding place? You knew the old inn
better than anybody else. Good Lord. The sealed
room. The what? Yeah, the sealed room beneath
the long clothes closet off the entry hall. Oh,
but no, it's impossible. Is it? If your father
couldn't have gotten away because of the snowstorm,
he must still be here. Or... What's left of him?
Well, what have we here? Old deeds have a way
of coming to light and the skeleton in your closet
can be made to rattle because of an inquiring
mind. If a major premise and a minor premise
are true, so is the logical conclusion. Tom Lodge's
father disappeared. It was impossible for him
to have left the old inn. Therefore, he never
left the inn. I will return shortly with act
two. It is unusual and unlikely for a person
to disappear and never be heard of again. Exceptions
are rare. Rip Van Winkle to be sure, but that
was fantasy. Dr. Livingston, and that was fact,
both were presumed to be lost, but after their
disappearance neither was accused of a crime.
Tom Lodge's father was. He absconded with $70
,000, and therein lies a difference. He was a
criminal and in danger. What happened to him?
Tom Lodge hopes to find out. Strike another match,
Nancy, and I'll let myself down the ladder. Haven't
we got a flashlight? In the car. I'll get it
later. I want to see if anything's in there right
now. You could slip and break a leg, Tom. No,
no, no. The ladder's strong. Let's strike a match.
It's really black down here. I can't see a thing.
I'll hand the matches to you. I'm flat on the
floor on my stomach. Reach up. Okay. Now, let
me see. Oh, darling, be careful. Don't worry.
Oh, there's the pot -bellied stove and the wood
scuttle and a chair. Small table. caught What
is it Tom Tom answer me I'm coming up Tom Yeah
Look, let's let's get back to the common room.
Tell me is there something there my father the
His his bones a clothed skeleton. Oh I've got
to think. You said that the police went all over
the inn, Tom. How could they have missed the
sealed room? I don't know. Nobody remembered
it, probably. Well, what was it for? The caretaker.
Back around the turn of the century, he acted
as a registration clerk and a handyman, and he
lived down there. In that hole in the ground?
Yes. It's a real room with flooring and walls
of wood, and it was very snug and warm. After
he closed the inn for the night, he lifted the
trap door in the long closet in the hall and
pulled it closed after him. I see. Then the flooring
in the closet was covered over. With carpeting,
and that sealed it off. Unless a person knew
a room was down there, he'd never find it. But
you did. As a boy. Was the floor covered over
then? I don't think so. No. So... The carpeting
was laid over the trapdoor recently. Six years
ago? Right after your father disappeared? Yeah.
Your grandmother must have known about the room,
Tom. Yes, of course. Would Mrs. Meggs have known
about the sealed room? I don't know. Why? Well,
who was here the night your father disappeared?
No one. My grandmother and Mrs. Megs and of course
my father. Your father stole money. He came here
and six years later we find his remains in a
sealed room. Why did he hide and why did he die?
I can't answer those questions Nancy. We'll never
know the answers. I know one of them. He came
here and told your grandmother he'd stolen money
from his bank. Why would he tell her? No idea.
What if he'd been dipping into your grandmother's
money and was caught and stole from the bank
in order to replace it? Oh, that's far out. Well,
your grandmother refused the money. That's why
she wanted the proceeds from her estate to go
to the bank, to help repay a debt of honor. Hey,
that's pretty far -fetched, Harling. Maybe. I
have the answer to another one of my questions.
Your father hid here... Because he couldn't get
away. Was he a healthy man, Tom? Yes. Why? How
did he die? There he was, safe in the sealed
room. Did he have a stroke, a heart attack? Did
somebody bring him food? Mrs. Maggs? Could be.
Tom, get the flashlight and let's examine that
room carefully. I feel like I'm in a tomb. It's
my father, all right. Look, where I'm shining
the light. You see this break in the skull? That's
how he died, Nancy. He was struck a hard blow.
He was murdered. And look at this. His watch.
The strap's rotted, but it's his watch, all right.
Look, his initials are on the back. Let's get
out of here. In a minute. Now it's my turn to
ask a question. What became of the money? The
70 grand. Well, whoever murdered him took it.
That was the motive. Yeah, but it was hot money,
Nancy. It was hard to use for a long time. And
the sealed room would be an ideal place to hide
it. Where? Where could it be hidden? I went over
the mattress on the cot. It's not there. And
the small closet is empty. Well, let me see.
In the stove? Why not? Tom! How about that? Look
at this wad of money. Wrapped in oil skin. Oh,
I'm afraid, Tom. Leave that money and close off
the room. Well, there's only 15 ,000. 55 ,000
is gone. Someone squirreled it away. Tom, let's
go back to the hotel and think it through. Okay.
Okay. I'll telephone my mother. Maybe she'll
know the answers to some of our questions. Gee,
you are scared, aren't you, darling? Of course
I am. Someone committed a murder for money. We
found it. If the murderer discovers that we know,
he may try to kill us. There, there, Shark. Down,
boy, down. Thanks, Lou. Have a chance to talk
with Tom? Nothing to talk about, Roof. What's
on your mind? Well, if you don't sell the land,
maybe I could tenant farm it for him. I'd say
he'd want to sell. Yeah. Well, if I had two dimes
to rub together, I'd buy it. Oh, you can always
get work, Roof, so you said. Yeah. Let me change
your mind. Oh, I've been thinking about it, that's
all. I'm getting on. The winter's around here.
Mighty rugged, huh? I wonder if they could use
me down south. Sure. An experienced field hand
like you, I'd say so. Why, what got you thinking
about moving south? Well, I guess you did, Lil.
Talking about your sister down in Lauderdale.
That's where you're going, ain't it? Oh, I think
so. Of course, if the old lady had left me the
house. But she didn't. You got money laid aside?
Ooh, Lil. I could help you out, Roof. Not with
much, but enough to give you a stay. Oh, no,
it's mighty nice of you, Lil. When you thinking
of heading on down south? Soon as I can sell
my furniture and pack, we could spell each other
at the wheel. Yeah, I'd like that. Then it's
settled. I'll be back after I make quick inspection
about the inn. If the snow's piling up, maybe
I could drive Tom's car down here and put it
in the barn. Otherwise, it might get stuck in
the morning. Yes, that's true. It's happened
before. Yep, I remember. Tom's father, Chains.
That's what you need in heavy snow. Mr. Martin
had him. The lawyer? Yeah. He left that night
around 10 o 'clock. I saw him drive away. Chains.
That's what got him through. You didn't know
he'd been to the inn. Thanks, Mother. This has
been very helpful. Well? My father did manage
my grandmother's money, and he had begun to dip
into it. So he dipped into the bank to repay
her. That's why he absconded with all that money.
How did he think he'd get away with robbing the
bank? Who knows? Your grandmother must have been
furious. Well, it was through her that he got
his job at Merchant's. He must have loved your
mother very much. Yes. Well, I'm afraid he wasn't
much of a banker. It's all... Tragic, and they're
both dead because a willful old matriarch couldn't
form him into her own image. Let's pay a visit
to Mr. Martin. I'll turn this money over to him
and he can give it to the bank. Fifteen thousand?
What about the rest? It's gone. Can't be traced
now. I wonder. The snow is beautiful. You won't
think so if it doesn't light up, darling. Driving
is no fun in the North Country. Come in, come
in. Thank you. Forgive us for calling at your
home. Perfectly all right. Oh, what a charming
room. Thank you. Well, let me get right to the
point, Mr. Martin. I found the remains of my
father in a sealed room. What? Your father? He'd
been murdered. In heaven's name. And here is
15 of the $70 ,000 he stole from the bank. You
stagger me, Tom. Well, he didn't disappear. He
was murdered and hidden in the sealed room, and
the money, most of it, was taken away. I came
to you... Of course, of course. I'll notify the
police in the morning. Not tonight. We're in
danger, Mr. Martin. Danger? I don't see how.
Well, if the murderer finds out what we've discovered,
he'll come after us. Well, who knows about your
discovery? Well, no one. Except you, of course.
You didn't speak to Mrs. Meggs? No. Why not?
Well, we think that she must know something about
all this. She was in the house the night my father
vanished. You know that, Mr. Martin? I do. Well,
that's what my mother says. I talked to her half
an hour ago, and she had had it from a roof box.
She'd had what from roof? That you were at the
inn. He saw you drive away. Oh, that. Well, yes,
now that you remind me, I'd driven out to see
your grandmother, but I left quite early. May
I ask a question? I don't mean to be impertinent,
but were you aware that... Tom's father was stealing
from his mother -in -law? Goodness, no. You didn't
check her account periodically? Very seldom.
I thought it was in good hands. Your father's.
My father stole for the purpose of making investments.
You were his broker. Didn't you ever wonder where
he was getting his money? You're on dangerous
ground, young man. I know it, Mr. Martin, but
we mean two different things. I'm not worried
about slander. I'm worried about my skin. Nancy
isn't mine. We're in danger and I think you know
it. Two hundred years ago, Samuel Johnson remarked,
There is nothing which has been contrived by
man through which so much happiness is produced
as by a good tavern or inn. True enough. All
gone now. swallowed up in progress, including
Riverfront, an old New England inn which has
now divested itself of a murder and its remains.
There are more surprises when I return shortly
with Act III. Other sins can only speak. Murder
shrieks out. That metaphor by John Webster from
his 16th century play, The Duchess of Malfi,
best expresses the repugnance we feel when we
learn that someone has been murdered. Murder
cries to be solved. And Dr. Tom Large confronts
one, that of his long -missing father. We still
have three suspects, and one of them is the handyman
at Riverfront, Rufus Boggs. Lord, almighty heaven,
help us. Go on, open up. Come in, Ru. Oh, Lil.
Oh, what's wrong? You're white as the snow. He
was there all the time, Lil. What are you talking
about? Tom's father. You sound crazy. Now sit
down and go slow. Now what's this about Tom's
father? I found him in a room in the cellar.
Tom's father? I was going round the inn. I was
river -side when they drove off leaving all the
lights on and I went up to the door and it wasn't
closed tight. I opened it and called hello. And
then me and Shark stepped inside and he began
to bark and the hair went up on his back. Scared
me stiff. Go on. He ran into that old hall closet
and barked his head off. There's a trap door
there. Did you know that, little? No. A trap
door to where? Well, a room, sort of, under the
common room. I had my flashlight, so I kneeled
down and played the light around it. And I saw
it. A skeleton. Oh, my. Stretched out on a cot.
Oh. It would give me a terrible turn. A skeleton?
Tom's father. It has to be. That's where he's
been these six years. And they drove away? That's
right. We'll have the police swarming all over
the place soon, and there'll be questions like,
what do I know about it? And I don't know nothing,
Lil, nothing. Neither do I. Now you leave the
talking to me. All I know is Tom's father bolted
out of the house and slammed the door behind
him. That's the last anybody's seen of him. And
I was in the barn all evening, except when I
left my room to quiet Chuck. That's when I seen
Mr. Martin drive away. His car, anyway. Well,
we'd better go back up there, Roof. What for?
Well, they found out the murder. He was murdered?
Well, that's my guess. The man wouldn't just
stay in there and starve himself to death. No.
I guess you're right. Tom and the wife made the
discovery, and you can bet whoever killed his
father is gonna do something about it. Like what
like get that evidence out of there and then
kill them now we've got to stop that roof What's
it? What's the gun for? Well, I may need it Why
don't we wait for the police? No, no, no, no,
there's no time. There's no time at all There
was a message at the hotel desk mrs. Meg's telephoned
she has to See me and she's driving into town.
When did she call? Half an hour ago. She ought
to be here any minute. You were pretty rough
on Mr. Martin, darling. Yeah, but his role strikes
me as funny. I mean funny odd. Look, he was my
father's friend and broker. He must have wondered
where the money was coming from for those stocks
my father bought. On the other hand, people up
here pretty much mind their own business. Oh,
it's all very confusing. Not all of it. There
was a murder. Miss. Mrs. Makes. Oh, Tom. Oh,
Tom, the most dreadful things happened. Roof...
Roof's killed himself. Oh, no. Killed himself?
You found him out, and that's why he did it.
You found the room and the skeleton. Where did
you find Roof? At the inn. The door was unlocked.
I went in with Shark and turned on a light. And
there he was. Roof's... stretched out on the
floor, dead, shot in the head. I near fainted.
I ran back to my house. I didn't know what to
do. You didn't call the police? Well, I phoned
you. Well, then I chained Shaq in the barn and
went into Roof's room. And I found the money.
He had hidden it in his room? Well, not all of
it. Just about $5 ,000. I can't believe it, Tom.
I can't believe it. I brought it to give it to
you. Roof Boggs. He was such a gentle old man.
Gosh, I don't believe it either. He killed himself
because he was found out. Yeah. Well, I guess
that should clear up the mystery. You'd better
stay here in the hotel, Mrs. Meggs, and I'll
get you a room. No, no, no. I'll go back and
be there when the police come. And the ambulance,
I... Oh! I'm half out of my head with grief,
Tom. Yes, this is a terrible shock, isn't it?
We'll be out in the morning if we can get through.
Oh, they'll have the roads cleared. Never fear.
I don't know what to say. Good night. That's
a blow. Roof box. Gosh, I've known him since
I was a little boy. Kind and patient. He was
a little slow when he was a good man. He must
have gone off his trolley. Mrs. Meggs is a liar.
Nancy, your imagination... It's lucky for you
I've got some. Ask yourself a few questions,
darling. From what you remember, did Roof ever
go into that inn? Oh, well, rarely. But look,
he saw us drive off, and maybe we left a light
on. So he goes in, finds the skeleton, and shoots
himself? Well, that's what Mrs. Megs says. His
dog is always with him? Sure. So the dog went
into the inn with him? Go on. Then how come Mrs.
Megs heard the dog howling outside? Yeah. Mrs.
Megs had said good night to us. Why did she want
to return to the inn? Not for the reason she
gave, Tom. I think Ruth told her what he found
and they returned to the inn together and she
shot him. That's crazy. Is it? What about this?
Where did she find the $5 ,000? In his room.
Just like that? She could walk into Ruth's room
and just like that find $5 ,000? If he'd stolen
the money, he'd have hidden it. Yeah, well, all
right. That's the point. Her story does set on
kind of path, doesn't it? Sure, because it's
a lie. Darling, she murdered Roof just as she
murdered your father six years ago. All right,
but just saying it doesn't make it so. I mean,
how do we prove it? Two ways. The police can
check on the gun used to kill Roof, and they
can also help us to find the rest of the money.
I kept asking myself, where did it all go? For
all I know we just flew away. Oh, that's what
I think too Are you Are you serious very? The
money flew away. Yes You give me a day with the
police and I think I can find that money and
when I do We'll put mrs. Megs behind bars for
life Nancy where have you been? I've been worried
to death I told you where I'd be, darling, with
the police. You want to hear something interesting?
Yeah, go ahead. Every time your father placed
a stock order, he placed a similar one for Mr.
Martin and paid for all of it. What? That's right.
I'll make a guess. Your father and Martin were
in collusion. Your father used your grandmother's
money with Martin's tacit approval. You mean
the two of them were dipping into the old woman's
fund? That's what it looks like to me. Your grandmother
demanded an accounting, and to repay her, your
father robbed his bank. Oh, gosh, it gets worse
and worse. But it's going to get better and better,
darling, because the police have supplied me
with two very helpful pieces of information.
The gun? Yes. They traced the gun. Rufus Boggs
never had a handgun, as far as the police can
tell. But old man Megs did. and he had a permit
to carry it. The permit expired when he died,
but the gun was never turned in. It was Megs'
gun, which was used to murder Rufus. Well, that
should clinch it. Without question, she murdered
Ruf. But what about your father? Were the police
helpful there? Oh, very. Did you know that Mrs.
Megs has a sister living in Fort Lauderdale?
No. Well, she has. And they are very regular
correspondents. Remember what you said, Tom?
That maybe the money just flew away? Yeah. Well,
it did. Can't you guess? You're telling me that...
Exactly. Now let's call on her and see if she
doesn't fall apart. Well, it's still beyond me.
Killing your father and then taking his own life.
Is that what you think he did mrs. Megs? Why
it's plain as the nose on your face Tom. Oh,
why would a man shoot himself unless he was guilty
of some terrible crime? I guess you're right.
I've decided to sell the estate mrs. Megs because
I'm tied down in Boston and I just couldn't manage
the place from there I'm sorry about that. You've
lived here... Rent free for over 30 years. That
was part of the agreements when Megs and me moved
out here. Yes, I know. Well, if you would like
to stay on, I... No, no, thanks. I don't want
charity. Have you thought about what you're going
to do? Well, Megs left me a little insurance
and I kept it tucked away. I might move to where
it's a little warmer than up here. Arizona, maybe.
Not Florida? Pardon me. Isn't that where your
sister is? Why do you ask? Your sister confessed
that there are five savings accounts in Fort
Lauderdale Banks in your name, Mrs. Banks. And
the police here in White River want you to explain
how it happens that there is a small fortune
waiting for you down there. Over fifteen thousand
dollars. It's no business of theirs. Oh, yes
it is. I found fifteen thousand in the stove
in the sealed room. You placed five more where
you said Roof had hidden it. Twenty thousand.
That plus the fifteen makes thirty -five thousand
dollars. Half the amount my father stole from
the merchant's bank. How do you explain that,
Mrs. Meggs? And how do you explain that the bullet
that killed Rufus Boggs was fired by your handgun?
My handgun? I never in my life owned a handgun.
Your husband did. And he didn't fire that shot
from the grave, did he? You murdered Roof to
save your skin, Mrs. Meggs. So you'd better tell
me and tell me quick what happened six years
ago to my father. I didn't touch him. He didn't
crush his own skull, Mrs. Meggs. Martin killed
him. His friend, Martin. Uh -huh. That's more
like it. Go on. Your father came to give your
grandmother money. She turned him away. He had
the money with him. Martin spoke to me, said
he'd divide it. Half for him and half for me.
I was afraid. I'll just bet you were. Well, then
he struck your father and killed him. We hid
the body in the sealed room. And from time to
time, you dipped into your half of the money
and sent it to your sister for deposit. And you
murdered Roof to cover the old crime. Well, I
didn't know what to do. I was crazy with fear.
I just lost my head. I doubt that, Mrs. Maggs.
You deliberately murdered the old man. Tom, please,
be merciful. If you and Martin don't hang for
the crime, the court will be merciful. You're
cold -blooded killers. You deserve to die. The
thief who understands his business never steals
in his own neighborhood. An old Arab precept.
But greed and opportunity... usually go hand
in hand. What a killer does not understand are
the consequences of premeditated murder. Not
for the victim, but for his relatives and friends.
There are degrees of crime, from petty thievery
to grand larceny, but murder is the worst and
most repugnant. I will draw the curtain on the
recluse when I return shortly. Tom Lodge and
his mother had lived for six years under a pall
of shame. But then two deaths lifted the curtain
and the truth was revealed. What Tom's father
did was wrong. What was done to him was worse.
I can report with pleasure that Mrs. Meggs and
Martin were sentenced to prison for life. And
for all I know, they are still there. Still a
burden to taxpayers like you and me. Our cast
included Tony Roberts, Patricia Elliott, Frances
Sternhagen, and Court Benson. The entire production
was under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now,
a preview of our next tale. Where should we go,
Cap? Down the steps behind the trees. There's
a little piazza. I'm so worried about you, darling.
Maybe you really are sick. You just don't sound
like yourself. Your voice is so strange. You're
not Cab! We won't need this champagne anymore.
Or this special masquerade. No, I am not sure,
Mr. Goodwin. Who are you? Just a man with a purpose.
You can see that I have exchanged the champagne
glasses for this. A gun? Which I would not hesitate
to use. Lover as you are, I am a desperate man,
so keep walking. Across the driveway. and around
behind the Lombardi poplars. That's it. Don't
try to do anything foolish. This is E .G. Marshall
inviting you to return to our mystery theater
for another adventure in the macabre. Until next
time, pleasant dreams.