And now, Mystery Theater. Come in. Welcome. I'm
E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the terrifying world
of your imagination. I have an unusual story
for you about a crack in a cellar wall that resists
all efforts to repair it. Despite all the learning
through the ages, despite the world's great progress
in physics, chemistry, biology, there are certain
matters which cannot be explained by our computers
or our wise men. Matters which may never have
a logical explanation. Mr. Carroll, the contractor,
was the first to admit that the crack in the
wall was beyond him. I'm not a superstitious
man, Mrs. Sanford, but something is happening
here I can't explain. Look at that crack. Not
a speck of mortar on it. Looks like it hadn't
been touched in a hundred years. But I swear
I closed it up, not five minutes ago. I swear
it. That cold draft blowing from it. Like from
a tomb. Like from a tomb. Our mystery drama,
The Crack in the Wall. was written especially
for the Mystery Theatre by Sidney Sloan, and
stars Celeste Holm. It was a cold, rainy, windy
day when Paul and Nora Sanford laid their child
to rest in Green Tree Cemetery. Despite all the
soothing words of friends and relatives, Nora's
despair was inconsolable. She felt that nothing
could ease the pain in her heart caused by the
loss of her only child. Our Father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name. My baby. Why did
you have to die? Nora, darling, please. Our religion
teaches us that God in His infinite wisdom...
Don't speak these empty words to me. I accepted
that because it never touched me before. I never
thought of it. But our daughter, our beautiful
innocent child, is 16. Why? One does not question
these matters, Nora. I do question. But the first
time in my life I questioned, I would do anything,
anything to bring my Ruth back to this world.
Nora, please. Now you know that's impossible.
Why? Why? Because our little girl Ruth is dead.
Burnt to death. Nothing you can do or say or
who can change that. First chance I've had to
take a look at it today. The minister was here
today, Dr. Fowler. Say he wanted to see our new
house. New? This house is over a hundred years
old. Well, new for us, he meant. Just an excuse
to come here, actually. He wanted to know why
I hadn't been to church the last several months.
What did you tell him? Oh, I don't know. It was
awkward. I said I'd be back next Sunday. Made
some excuse about not having felt well lately.
Well, I'm glad. About my going back to church?
Yes. But more important than that, it means that
you're getting over this depression, getting
out into the world again, beginning to forget.
No. No, you're wrong, Paul. I'll never get over
wanting my little girl back with me. I'll never
forget. Please believe me, Nora, I loved Ruth,
too. But I accept the fact that she's gone from
us forever. I'll never accept that. Oh, by the
way, now I remember what I wanted to remind you
about. What? It's about that crack in the cellar
wall right in front of the washer and dryer.
There's a terrible draft that comes from it.
There's no crack there, Nora. No crack? I thought
I'd get rheumatism from the cold draft when I
did the washing today. It hit you right in the
back. I had that repaired. I paid for it. It's
on the general bill for the repairs we had to
make on the old house before we could move in.
Well, then they cheated you, charged you, and
never did the job. You sure? Seems to me that
I remember... It's never been done. Those contractors
will try. You know, it's Mr. Caro, isn't it?
His number's on the telephone stand. Why don't
you call him? It's 7 .30, Nora. Come to think
of it, the only time I could possibly reach him
would be at night. He'd be busy all day out on
the job. Hello, Miss Kara? Paul Sanford. I'm
sorry to bother you, but one of the items on
your bill to me for repairs on my house, item
28, repair crack in cellar wall, north side interior,
$45 .60. You never closed up that crack. You
what? Hold on a minute. Nora, he says he supervised
that item himself, mixed the cement for it. Well,
just tell him that he's got it wrong. Mr. Carroll,
my wife says the crack is still there. It hasn't
been repaired. Okay, sometime tomorrow morning?
Right, thank you. It's kind of funny. He said
he's willing to bet $100 that he completed the
work. Mr. Sanford, I I'm finished with the job
and I want you're okay. I'll put on the pot and
give you a cup of coffee Thanks. I'd appreciate
that Come right down. I'm in a bit of a hurry
won't be a minute I'm coming. Mr. Garrow. Mr.
Sanford the strangest thing What did you say?
Mr. Carol? Oh Look at that wall. Oh Dear another
crack No, it's it's not another crack what it's
the same crack I I just filled it with cement
You couldn't do it looks old and dry look at
my hands. They're still covered with cement Here
are my tools my trowel my hammer and chisel I
could swear it was closed up not five minutes
ago Knowing from like from a A tomb. Like from
a tomb. Oh, Mr. Sanford. Come in, come in. Thank
you, Dr. Fowler. Come into the study. We won't
be disturbed there. They're right this way. Sit
down, won't you? Thank you. Please forgive me
for interrupting you at this hour. I don't quite
know how to begin. As you know, we've been through
a horrible experience. Yes. Losing your daughter
in that fire. It's our only child. Just 16. Mr.
Sanford, you must get hold of yourself. Yes.
You see, I've been holding my emotions back for
months. I had to be strong for Nora's sake. She's
taken this very hard, yes, I know. She hasn't
gotten over it. It shook her to the very foundation
of her belief. I gather that it's been only recently
that you both came back into the church. She
is... She's definitely twisted mentally. Preoccupation
is with a crack in the cellar wall, which he
says cannot be repaired. What? Well, there's
a long jagged crack in the cellar wall. It's
been there since we bought the house earlier
this year, after our other house burned down.
Have you tried to have this crack filled with
cement? Oh, yes, yes, we tried. The way you say
that is very strange. Well, I paid Carol the
builder for repairs on the house. He was certain
that he'd repaired the wall. However, he came
back and patched up the crack again when he asked
for my wife's okay on the job after he'd finished.
They went down to the cellar and looked. The
crack was open again. I don't understand. Neither
do I. Caro said that he'd not left the cellar,
that he'd called my wife to look at it. What's
your explanation? I have none, Dr. Fowler, none.
Is that you down in the cellar, Paul? Yes, Nora.
I'm... I'm filling up the crack in the wall with
cement. Do you think that's wise, Paul? Wise?
Well, I thought you wanted the wall repaired.
Kara won't come here anymore, so... Well, that's
what I mean Paul there's some very good reason
why that wall resists repair That's a strange
way of putting had wall resist repair So you
thought the wall and I don't quite know how to
put this as though the wall had a will of its
own Nora that's ridiculous. Is it? Mr. Carroll
tried twice to fill that crack. He gave up. I
know I just received a check from him for $45
.60, refunding the money I paid him for the job.
Come on, let's go upstairs. This old cellar gives
me the creeps. Look! My God. It's disappearing.
The cement... The cement I just put into the
cracks dissolving into thin air. Mr. Edmund,
I'm calling about this house you sold us. No,
it's a good, solid old house. It's just that
my wife isn't happy here. We're all alone, as
you know. It just isn't right for us. Yes, I
know. I'll have to take a loss if I change now,
but I'm prepared for that. Okay, I'll see you
tomorrow, around five, okay? Good. Goodbye, Mr.
Edmunds. Who was that on the phone? Oh, Nora,
I called Miss Redmond. The real estate man? That's
right. You're thinking of selling? Well, I thought
you'd want to get out of here, too, Nora. Whatever
gave you that idea? Now, that's a very strange
attitude. Don't you know what this all means?
No. No, I don't understand it. Frankly, it scares
me. Ruth is trying to reach us. What are you
talking about? It was just two days ago. I was
lying in bed. You were sound asleep. I heard
the clock chime three. I felt something urging
me to leave the bedroom and go down into the
cellar. Nora, I've got to take you to a doctor.
Paul, I'm not out of my mind. I tell you, our
daughter is calling to me. She's trying to get
to me. Darling, Nora, listen to me. What you're
saying doesn't make sense. Our child is dead,
Nora. Burned to death. I spoke to her. I spoke
to her through the crack in the cellar wall.
You what? I spoke to our Ruth. And she spoke
to me. What time is it? Quiet. Now do you hear?
Hear what? She's calling to me. Our little girl.
She wants us. She needs us. Nora, listen to me.
You don't hear anything. You just think you hear
because you want to hear. Listen. Listen. I don't
hear anything. There it is again. It's very faint,
but you can hear it if you try hard enough. Please.
Darling try to rest I've made an appointment
for you with dr. I don't need a doctor calling
to her mother, or was Paul Sanford falling into
the clouded supernatural obsession that controlled
Nora's life? He thought he heard the voice of
his dead child calling to her mother. He couldn't
be sure, but Nora's certainty was so strong that
he was almost convinced that he heard it too.
I'll be back shortly with Act Two. Everything
that Paul and Ruth Sanford believed in is being
drained away. They are living in a nightmare
of twisted emotions pulled farther and farther
from the normal life they had known into a tangled
dreamlike world in which they hear the voice
of their dead child calling to them. You're not
going down into that cellar, Nora. It was Ruth's
voice calling. Are you coming with me, Paul,
or shall I go down alone? Please. No, we're dreaming
this. It isn't happening. I heard her voice.
You said you heard it. She was calling to me
for help. Are you coming with me or shall I go
alone? I'll come with you, dear. Just to prove
to you that there's nothing there. Nothing. How
could there be? I know there is something there.
Come. Now, wait, wait. Don't try to go down those
steep cellar stairs in the dark. Turn on the
light. It's out. It's not working. Here, let
me try. Oh, I'm not going down there in the dark.
There's some candles in the cupboard just outside
the door. Get them. Candles won't do any good.
Get them. I just remembered. I've got a flashlight
in the kitchen table drawer. Hurry! Here we are.
Now stay right behind me. I'll go first. Flash
the light around. Oh, there's nothing. Nothing
but that crack in the wall. Let's go back upstairs,
Nora. Good evening. What? Who are you? Oh, I'm
sorry if I frightened you. What? Who are you?
What are you doing in our house? Doing? I am
inspecting the wall. The wall that needs repair.
And who are you? Why, I'm the helper. What are
you talking about, helper? Whom are you helping?
You. I don't like this, Paul. Please make him
go away. If you want me to, I'll go. But I thought
you needed me. I want you out of here. I see
you have a hammer in your hand. You're afraid
of me. Believe me, I came to help you. Who sent
you? Employer. Who? Your friend. Your friend
who knows of your sorrows. He sent me to seal
up the crack in the wall. Well, I've tried. Several
people have tried to do that. It won't stay closed.
I can close it for you if you want me to. I repeat,
if you want me to, you may not want it. Why?
You will not hear the voice of your daughter
ever again. No, no, no. Don't, don't seal it.
Please. No, maybe it would be best. No, no. No,
this is insanity. No, our daughter is dead. Dead
and buried. And you think that is the end? Of
course. It's the end of mortal life. And do you
share your husband's beliefs, Nora? No, no. Ruth
was calling to me. I want her back. I... I want
to hold her in my arms. Am I dreaming? This can't
be happening. What are we doing standing here
talking to this... Paul, please, don't. There's
no one here. He was here? Where is he? He couldn't
get past us up the stairs, nor where did he go?
Who? Oh! Nora, darling, what's happened to you?
Speak to me, dear, speak. What are we doing here
in the cellar? How did we get here? Did you say,
Mr. Sanford, that you think you saw this creature
in the cellar of your house? No, it wasn't what
you say. No, not a creature. It was a man. Small,
dwarf -like. He said he'd come to repair the
wall. At three o 'clock in the morning? You saw
this man, too, Mrs. Sanford? No. I don't know
what Paul's talking about. I didn't see anything.
I was fast asleep. Paul woke me and told the
story. Mm, I see. Your daughter's death was a
terrible shock to you both. It's... it's preying
on your thoughts. Your grief pushed the normal
day -to -day living from your minds. You began
to imagine... I heard her voice, Doctor. I heard
Ruth's voice calling to me. Of course you did.
But try to think rationally, Mrs. Sanford. You
know it's impossible for you to have actually
heard the voice of your dead daughter. Seriously,
you... I can't believe you did, can you? Seriously,
can you believe that? I don't know. Mother, I
need you! Help me, my little girl! It's all so
simple if you will recognize the true authority.
Who are you? I am merely a conveyor of ideas,
a messenger. Then you are sent by the devil?
Perhaps. Perhaps I'm your friend. Call me the
helper. Can you help me? Can you bring my daughter
back to me? Under certain conditions, you might
find the cost. too high tell me nothing nothing
is too costly too terrible I'll agree to anything
even if it meant that you would lose everything
everything you've been taught about life and
death since you were a child yes yes yes I agree
I agree I woke you. Paul, he came to see me and
told me that I... Who, darling? That ugly little
creature. I'd seen him before, but I can't remember
where. The helper. That's what he calls himself.
I heard Ruth calling to me. Then he appeared.
I don't know what it is. I don't want to know.
We're getting out of this house and we're not
coming back. Oh, you go, Paul, but I can't. But
don't you see what's happening to us here? Something
evil is pursuing us, either to destroy us or
drive us insane. No. No, I can have my daughter
back. He'll help me. You can't believe that.
I believe it. What does he expect in exchange?
I can't tell you, Paul. I just can't tell you.
Mrs. Sanford Hall? No. No, I called her sister
and got her to make a date with Nora so she wouldn't
be here. My work is suffering. We're not sleeping
well. Nora's had terrible dreams, nightmares.
You've told your physician, Dr. Coombs? If anyone
can help us, it's God. Dr. Fowler, we have seen
the evil one. What? We have seen him. We have
spoken with him. It's either the devil or one
of his emissaries. He calls himself the helper.
My good man, in this enlightened age, when we
speak of Satan, it is usually... Well, what I
mean to say is we think of the devil as the embodiment
of all evil, but not as an actual being. I see.
Well, dr. Fowler If you can't help us we may
have to go to someone who can there are groups
where they believe in the devil mr. Sanford Paul
please understand I Cannot believe in the devil's
being other than an abstract name for evil if
I can show him to you Will you believe me then
I? Saw him I have seen the devil and the devil's
work and I'm frightened to death. Sorry to bother
you, Dr. Combs, but something very disturbing
has happened. Yes? You know the two people I
referred to, the Sanford's? Yes. Dr. Fowler,
the word insane is a legal one, not a medical
one. Well, I would say from a very cursory examination
that they were both suffering from severe emotional
stresses brought on by the untimely death of
their only child. Hallucination? Not exactly
a common delusion in this day and age If they
need medical help they must come to me. I can't
solicit An excellent idea Fowler, but who's going
to commit them? Can you get them to commit themselves
voluntarily? I don't know. I'll try. Have you
come to any decision? I've been thinking about
it. I've heard you say you would do anything
to have your daughter back. You had made up your
mind. Yes. Oh yes, but... But still... You hesitate.
What you asked of me is almost... Well, I'm almost
afraid to think of it. It's been in my mind,
awake and asleep. I can't tell the difference
anymore. You hesitate. Thinking of yourself while
your daughter suffers? No, no. I will leave you
now, perhaps never to return. This is your last
chance Nora Wake up, please Nora Nora. It's me
Paul Open your eyes. You're all right. You're
safe with me darling. It's me Paul Yes It's all
right now Paul I've made my decision What decision
about Ruth I Am going to bring her back Bring
her back What are you saying? I'm going to bring
her back no matter what the cost no matter what
the consequences are Nora and Paul have come
far along a tortuous a frightening path Now Nora
is determined to see the matter to the end, despite
the consequences. I'll be back shortly with Act
3. Forces are tearing at the sanity of Paul and
Nora Sanford. Nora's sleeping and waking worlds
are so much the same that she can no longer differentiate
between them. In her thoughts, in her ears, are
the words of her dead daughter calling to her
for help. Paul thinks he has heard the child,
too, but is uncertain. He is not sure whether
or not it is the driving influence of his wife's
obsession or... what he has actually heard and
seen himself. I don't know, doctor. I don't know
anymore. Everything is so confused. I want you
to sign commitment papers for your wife. You
mean put her in... In a good sanitarium, in a
place where she'll be safe and receive the proper
treatment for her problems. I don't know. I...
Now, I don't think she's crazy. You're not in
any condition to judge her mental health, Mr.
Sanford. What do you mean? Well, I mean, I'm
asking you to make a difficult decision. I'm
also asking you to commit yourself. No! I won't
think of it! Send him away! Send the doctor away!
Paul, how can you do this to me? You know I'm
not insane. You heard her. That night, we both
went down into the cellar. And that little man,
you remember? The helper? You saw him, too. You
know I'm not crazy. I won't go. I won't! You
can't make me! She's gone into the bedroom, Dr.
Combs. Is there a lock on the door? No. Well,
suppose I go in. Perhaps a sedative to quiet.
Oh, please doctor. Let me speak to her first.
She'll listen to me very well I'll wait out in
the car if you want me. Yes. Yes, please go.
I I think she'll listen to me if you're not here
Nora Nora May I come in is that doctor still
here? No. No, he's outside in his car. Paul,
how could you do this to me? Deceive me, try
to put me away. But I explained everything to
you. I will never consent. I'm going with you,
dear. I'm going in too. What? Why? Paul, why
do you want to do such a thing? Because I'm frightened.
I've never been afraid in my life before, but
this is all beyond me, beyond any rational explanation.
And you think you'll be away from your fear in
that place? Oh, Paul, I'm not out of my mind,
and neither are you. How much longer can we stand
this? Listen to me. What? I can tell you, only
you. What? I've made a pact with the helper.
Oh, Nora. He has given me the power to bring
Ruth back. You don't know what you're saying.
Oh, yes, I do. That's impossible. Now, don't
be foolish. Don't tell anyone else what you've
told me. Now, you think I'm insane too, don't
you? I don't know what to think. He has given
me two wishes. Two wishes? Yes. He said that
I would need two. Actually, all I need is one.
To bring my dear child back. Yes. Yes, Nora,
of course. Now, now, I want you to do something
for me. What? Don't fight me now. Go along with
me for a little while. Perhaps this nightmare
will stop. We'll be able to get out when we want
to. I have the doctor's promise. Can you trust
him? Yes, darling. Since we're committing ourselves,
we can get... ourselves released merely by asking
to be released. And our poor tortured child?
Who will be here to hear her call? Who will be
here to comfort her, Paul? We're running away,
deserting her. Darling Nora, our Ruth will be
with us always, no matter where we are. Oh, the
phone. Oh. Hello. Hello, Mr. Sanford. Yes, Dr.
Coon. I'm calling from the sanitarium. Is there
anything wrong? Yes, your wife has disappeared.
You mean walked out? Nobody saw her leave. As
a matter of fact, it's a bit of a mystery. Her
room was locked. Perhaps someone, one of the
attendants or nurses unlocked the door for her.
At 1 o 'clock, the nurse assigned to that section
entered her room to administer a mild sedative.
Your wife had complained she was worried because
you weren't there. Well, I was just cleaning
up a few urgent matters here. I was coming to
commit myself tomorrow morning. I told her that,
but it didn't seem to have any effect. When was
Nora last seen? Not more than 10 minutes before
1 a .m. Another nurse on the floor answered her
ring. about her anxiety and her inability to
sleep. She hasn't returned home, has she? No.
What do you want me to do, doctor? Stay where
you are. She may come home. It's very likely
that she will come there. Emily, I'm sorry to
be calling you at this hour, but... Nora has
disappeared. She walked out of the hospital.
The fire, Ruth's death, it's been preying on
our minds, and I thought that... Wait, Emily,
that's my doorbell. I'll call you back. I just
wanted to know if Nora was with you. I'll call
you back. Let me know if Nora shows up. Bye.
Oh, Dr. Fowler. Come in. Oh, thank you. I got
a call from Dr... Coombs about 20 minutes ago.
Yes? He asked me to see him. He said you might
need me. I came right over. Anything I can do
to help? Nothing. Unless you can find Nora. She's
been missing since about 1 .30 a .m. About three
hours. Where would she go? Where could she go?
I don't know. What? What was that? I heard it
too. Do you have a cat, Paul? No. Sounded like
a cat. It was Ruth. She's calling Nora. Ruth?
My daughter. Oh, yes, yes, your daughter. But
she's... She's... You heard it, too. No. No,
no, no. It can't be. That's superstitious nonsense.
That's what I thought. But I don't anymore. Ruth
is calling to us from the grave. I hear it. I
hear it. Paul, pray with me. Pray to God to make
her go back. No. She will come here and answer
to her child's cries. Her mother's love is so
strong that Ruth's outstretched hand will reach
across the void of death and touch the hand of
her mother. Just been through the most shattering
experience of my life. You saw Mrs. Sanford?
No. I'm not a superstitious man, Dr. Coombs,
but I heard the voice of Ruth Sanford calling
to her mother from the grave. I thought it was
Nora. She hasn't returned yet, huh? I was talking
with your minister, Dr. Fowler. He seemed quite
upset. Any word from the police? Nothing. They've
gotten several false telephone tips from cranks.
Only one man identified himself by name, a Mr.
Helper. Helper? You know him? Yes, I know him.
The police asked him for his address. He gave
him one, but it proved to be a phony. Do you
know where to find him? You won't believe this,
doctor. But the last place I saw him was in my
cellar. What? I don't know how he got there.
I didn't see him leave, although I was standing,
talking to him at the moment. He vanished. Vanished?
Disappeared. I see. Disappeared. Right before
your eyes. Oh, yes. I remember you're telling
me about that incident when you both came to
my office. Hello. Who's there? Paula? I've come
home. What is he doing here? I won't go back
to that place. He can't make me go back. Nora,
Nora, dear. Send him away. Paul, Paul, make him
leave. We don't need him. Mrs. Sanford, as your
doctor, I... You're not my doctor anymore. Please
go. Leave us alone. Please, Dr. Coombs. Your
being here will just make her worse. Very well
if you think you can manage as I can manage.
I'm sorry you feel this way about me. Good morning
He was trying to do what he thought best for
you for us He has no way of knowing what his
best for us. He was just interfering Keeping
us from Ruth Nora, please give up that mad notion.
Give it up. Oh No Paul, I will not give it up
Tonight, this morning before dawn, we will bring
our child back to us. Nora, think what you're
saying. I thought, and I've made up my mind.
Before daylight, he said. What time is it now?
It's twenty after four. It won't be light before
six. We must do it now. Come, we'll go together.
Go where? To the place I first heard her voice,
calling to me, the cellar, the crack in the wall.
Are you sure you want to go through with this?
I've come too far to turn back now. I don't care
what happens to me. It's Ruth we must think of.
All right, Nora, I'll go along. I'd better get
my flashlight. The light's still out in the cellar.
No, Paul. What I must do must be done in darkness.
No lights. Now let's go down the stairs. Don't
say anything. I must ask for her life from the
Master. Oh, Master, listen to my plea. I have
paid dearly for this boon. Heed my request and
grant it to me in payment. I fear your presence,
Master, but I implore you, grant my wish. I wish
my daughter were alive and with me now. My daughter,
please give me back my daughter, Ruth. The second
now I know I did not send her. I am Nora. Yes.
I wish my dear daughter were dead and back in
her grave. Nora. It's over. It's all over. Our
child is gone. May our dear child rest in eternal
peace. And so Paul and Nora were left to pick
up the fragments of their lives and go on. Strangely
enough, the crack in the cellar wall was finally
closed and no human hand had a part in its repair.
I'll be back shortly. The power of a mother's
love cannot be measured by any instrument known
to man. The supernatural strength to reach out
into the void of darkness and bring back to life
the child of her heart defies all the natural
laws of nature. The answer can only be found
in the terrifying world of the imagination. The
world where anything the mind can conceive can
happen. Our cast included Celeste Holm, Wes Addy,
Robert Maxwell, Robert Dryden, and Anne Costello.
The entire production was under the direction
of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall inviting
you to return to our Mystery Theater for another
adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant
dreams.