WEBVTT 00:00:00.910 --> 00:00:22.370 The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come 00:00:22.370 --> 00:00:30.000 in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.200 world of your own terrifying imagination. There 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:38.219 are people who suddenly find themselves tortured 00:00:38.219 --> 00:00:43.020 and taunted by a fragile wisp of a memory. It's 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:47.299 intangible and veiled, and it hovers uncertainly 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:50.380 somewhere around the hazy borders of the conscious 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:54.100 mind. It's a memory of something they may have 00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:58.409 said, or something they think they did. Exactly 00:00:58.409 --> 00:01:03.189 what it was has been long forgotten. But now 00:01:03.189 --> 00:01:09.510 it must be paid for. And the price? Life itself. 00:01:15.530 --> 00:01:22.489 Yes? Are you Mrs. Louise Goodman? That's right. 00:01:23.750 --> 00:01:28.680 Are you sure? I... Of course I'm sure. It's just 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:33.159 that I don't want to make a mistake. I'm Mrs. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:38.439 Louise Goodman. Who are you? And what is it you 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:46.099 want? I want to keep my promise. Promise? What 00:01:46.099 --> 00:02:02.870 promise? I promised I'd kill you. Remember? Our 00:02:02.870 --> 00:02:06.689 mystery drama, A Little Night Murder, was written 00:02:06.689 --> 00:02:09.770 especially for the Mystery Theater by Sam Dan 00:02:09.770 --> 00:02:14.469 and stars Tony Roberts. I'll be back shortly 00:02:14.469 --> 00:02:31.169 with Act One. Downtown at night, the city is 00:02:31.169 --> 00:02:34.639 a deserted place. The lofty office buildings, 00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:38.800 those gleaming towers of glass and steel, stand 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:44.099 quiet, empty and foreboding, like ancient temples. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:48.340 And like the ancient temples, they also have 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:51.860 their priestesses. These are the ladies who enter 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:55.039 at night with mops and brooms and vacuum cleaners 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.520 to clear away the debris of the day's worship 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:03.069 and purify the offices. for tomorrow's rituals. 00:03:04.310 --> 00:03:08.009 We are concerned now with one of these. A sturdy 00:03:08.009 --> 00:03:11.289 middle -aged woman named Mary Margaret Cannon. 00:03:12.229 --> 00:03:16.650 Steady, hard -working, no nonsense. But on this 00:03:16.650 --> 00:03:21.310 Friday evening something seems amiss. Mary Margaret 00:03:21.310 --> 00:03:25.650 is pale. She's nervous. And every now and then 00:03:25.650 --> 00:03:30.250 she stops working and just listens. Someone there? 00:04:03.849 --> 00:04:06.229 I'm so nervous, so jumpy, I'm so scared. Yeah, 00:04:06.270 --> 00:04:12.969 but why? I just don't know. Dammit. Yes? I hear 00:04:12.969 --> 00:04:16.250 someone coming. Are you sure? I hear someone. 00:04:16.329 --> 00:04:51.000 Dammit. today he said he was sick they sent me 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:56.519 down to relieve him how'd you know my name well 00:04:56.519 --> 00:05:00.120 Tom told me I asked him who's in the building 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:05.720 tonight and he said just mrs. Cannon but but 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:10.019 why Tom Tom doesn't know my last name any more 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:14.139 than I know his we're just Mary and Tom how did 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:17.470 you know Why shouldn't I know your last name? 00:05:18.610 --> 00:05:22.970 You know mine. How? How would I know your last 00:05:22.970 --> 00:05:28.629 name? Miss Jackson. Remember? Little Peter Jackson. 00:05:29.569 --> 00:05:32.629 I never saw you before in my life. Oh, you did, 00:05:32.689 --> 00:05:36.649 you did. Yes, you did. What? What do you want? 00:05:36.949 --> 00:05:42.529 I want to keep my promise. What promise? I promised 00:05:42.529 --> 00:05:48.730 I'd kill you. Why do you want to kill me? You 00:05:48.730 --> 00:05:52.350 don't remember? Well, let me refresh your memory, 00:05:52.689 --> 00:05:57.069 Mary Margaret Cannon. Twenty -three years ago, 00:05:57.230 --> 00:05:59.750 you lived on Baxter Street, and one morning, 00:05:59.930 --> 00:06:05.629 you walked into a little grocery store. Now, 00:06:06.350 --> 00:06:12.250 now you remember. You have exactly thirty seconds 00:06:12.250 --> 00:06:15.129 to live. Oh, please, please don't kill me, please! 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.420 Would you be saying your prayer? But I told the 00:06:18.420 --> 00:06:21.120 truth! If it was the truth, then God will forgive 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.360 you. Pray, Mary Margaret Cannon. Pray! Listen, 00:06:25.779 --> 00:06:28.360 listen. My husband and I, we have a little money 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.959 put aside. And I know exactly how you got it. 00:06:30.980 --> 00:07:48.220 You can have it! All of it! Yes, I'll keep you 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:52.920 informed. Well, you got a pretty good one here. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:56.899 Is this your first mad killer assignment, Lou? 00:07:57.060 --> 00:08:00.899 Yeah, I guess so, Captain. Mad killers, mad bombers, 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:04.420 mad stranglers, you name it. You get one every 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:07.839 10, 15 years. You can count on it. You get a 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:10.519 rash of absolutely senseless killings. No motive, 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:13.160 no rhyme, no reason. Should we talk to our husband 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:19.120 again? What for? and how they neither of them 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:21.579 ever had any enemies. Captain Blake, suppose, 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:25.500 just suppose it isn't a mad killer. Four murders 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:30.220 in 11 days. Number one, Mrs. Martha Denson, shot 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:33.440 while parking her car late at night. Number two, 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:37.139 Mrs. Janet Drew, shot in her backyard. Number 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:40.580 three, Mrs. Louise Goodman, shot in her apartment. 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:44.639 Number four, this cleaning lady, shot while... 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.200 Could there be a connection? Do they have something 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:51.139 in common? There's no pattern. None of them knew 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:53.259 each other as far as we can make out, or even 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:56.419 had anything in common. That we know of. It's 00:08:56.419 --> 00:09:00.440 the toughest situation in our business. A mad 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:03.580 killer. Okay, he's a mad killer. Every killer 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:06.179 is mad, but does this one have a method to his 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:10.080 madness? Yeah. He uses a .38 caliber revolver 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:12.600 and shoots women. The last one, Mrs. Cannon, 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:16.179 that's the problem. What kind of problem? Well, 00:09:16.179 --> 00:09:18.659 he's a mad killer, you say, so he wanders around, 00:09:18.779 --> 00:09:21.500 and if he gets a chance, he'll kill. He sees 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:23.960 a woman alone in a parking lot, Mrs. Denson. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:27.399 He shoots her. He sees Mrs. Drew in her backyard. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:30.659 He shoots her. He sees Mrs. Goodman alone in 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:34.179 her apartment. He shoots her. Okay, how do you 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:36.679 count to Mrs. Cannon? You're dealing with a mad 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:39.399 man, Lou. You can't account for anything he does. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:41.980 All right. Three women are targets of opportunity. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.059 They happened along, or he happened along, and 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:48.059 that was it. But he went out of his way to kill 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:51.940 Mrs. Cannon. Look, he had to slug the night watchman. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.860 He had to take the elevator up 12 stories to 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:57.039 find her. It means he wasn't just out to kill 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:02.799 any woman. He wanted that woman. Why? That's 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:06.049 good thinking, Lou. And if this were almost any 00:10:06.049 --> 00:10:13.470 other kind of cake... Blake? What? Oh, no. Not 00:10:13.470 --> 00:10:19.389 another one. Okay, okay. I'll send her in. Did 00:10:19.389 --> 00:10:22.090 they tell you about nuts while you were getting 00:10:22.090 --> 00:10:24.990 your college degree? This one coming in sounds 00:10:24.990 --> 00:10:30.309 like a 14 -carat nut to me. Captain Blake? Yes, 00:10:30.309 --> 00:10:32.690 I'm Captain Blake. This is Detective Parker. 00:10:32.889 --> 00:10:36.740 How do you do? I'm Miss Maitland, Alice Maitland. 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:41.039 I own a bookshop on 3rd Street, and... Well, 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:44.299 it's about the murders. Do you know anything 00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:47.559 about the murders, Miss Maitland? I... I know 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:53.259 who's going to be killed next. You do? Who? Me. 00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:59.460 Uh, why do you say that? I... I have a premonition. 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:03.299 I see. I know what you gentlemen must be thinking. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.259 You're convinced I'm a hysterical woman or a 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:09.299 crank. No, but I... Miss Madeleine, do you have 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:13.000 any enemies? I don't know of any. Well, we know 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.299 there's a homicidal maniac, Luce. It's true, 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:18.360 he may strike at anyone. That's not why I'm here. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:23.000 I know he's going to strike at me. Well, what 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:26.000 reason would anyone have for killing you? What 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.159 reason was there for killing those other women? 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.759 Hey, you say your shop is on 3rd Street. I'll 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:34.000 see that the officer on the beat keeps an eye 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.960 on the place. Yes. I just thought I should tell 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:44.019 you. That's all anyone can do, I suppose. Goodbye. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:50.080 Goodbye, Miss Maitland. Now, Lou, you have just 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.799 conversed with an authentic member of the Nut 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.330 Club. I don't know about that, Captain. She's 00:11:55.330 --> 00:11:58.230 a charter member. She belongs to the I'm the 00:11:58.230 --> 00:12:01.330 next victim chapter. I still say she's not a 00:12:01.330 --> 00:12:04.409 nut. Maybe not. Maybe she's just some poor little 00:12:04.409 --> 00:12:07.429 dame half scared out of her wits. Oh, she was 00:12:07.429 --> 00:12:10.649 calm. She was very calm. As a matter of fact, 00:12:10.710 --> 00:12:13.070 it's as if she knows what she's talking about. 00:12:21.269 --> 00:12:28.080 May I help you? Remember me? Yes. You're one 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.519 of the detectives I spoke with. Yeah, Lou Parker. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.139 Tell me why you came to police headquarters with 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:36.759 a story that... Well, rationally, it doesn't 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:39.860 make sense. You said as much yourself. You felt 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:42.360 that you had made yourself seem somewhat ridiculous. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:46.320 But now... Well, forget all that. I'm willing 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.639 to assume that your story is true, that you really 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:52.019 are next on the list. Then you do believe me? 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.480 I'm willing to accept what you say. But you have 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:57.480 to help me. Does anyone have a motive for wanting 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:01.279 to kill you? No. You never did or said anything 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:04.539 that may have hurt someone? I can't remember. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:10.000 A disappointed boyfriend? I never really disappointed 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:14.440 anyone that way. And yet you insist someone wants 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:18.679 to kill you. I know it sounds ridiculous. There's 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:21.440 a reason for feeling the way you do. If only 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.559 we could uncover that reason. Excuse me, that's 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:41.529 my phone. Hello? Hello? Hello? Hello? Miss Madeleine? 00:13:42.110 --> 00:13:47.149 Yes. What is it? You seem rather pale. Oh? What 00:13:47.149 --> 00:13:49.690 happened? When I picked up the phone, there was 00:13:49.690 --> 00:13:52.830 just a click on the other end. As if someone 00:13:52.830 --> 00:13:55.730 had just hung up. Well, why should that seem 00:13:55.730 --> 00:13:59.120 to upset you? Well, because it's happened before. 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:03.779 It has? Yes. Frequently? I mean often enough 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:07.259 so that it really isn't just an accident? Three, 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:11.379 four, perhaps five times a day. When did it start? 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:18.059 I'd say about two weeks ago. I remember it happened 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:20.539 three times the night the first of those women 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:23.000 was murdered. Why didn't you tell us this before? 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:26.549 I didn't think it was anything important. May 00:14:26.549 --> 00:14:28.870 I use your phone? It's back there in the office. 00:14:29.110 --> 00:14:36.049 Okay, how long will it be a moment? May I help 00:14:36.049 --> 00:14:44.210 you? Yes. Is your name Alice Maitland? Yes. Can 00:14:44.210 --> 00:14:48.889 I do anything for you? Well, you see, I came 00:14:48.889 --> 00:14:53.029 here because I have to keep a certain promise 00:14:53.029 --> 00:15:04.370 I made. will about this young man. He has at 00:15:04.370 --> 00:15:08.830 least one redeeming feature. His word seems to 00:15:08.830 --> 00:15:13.470 be as good as his bond. But will he be able to 00:15:13.470 --> 00:15:18.190 keep this particular promise? This problem will 00:15:18.190 --> 00:15:21.610 be our primary concern when we return shortly 00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:37.370 with Act Two. At one time, a young man named 00:15:37.370 --> 00:15:41.509 Peter Jackson has made the same promise to several 00:15:41.509 --> 00:15:46.470 women. A promise that he would kill them. So 00:15:46.470 --> 00:15:50.870 far, he has kept his promise four times. Now, 00:15:50.889 --> 00:15:53.570 he is in a bookshop owned by a Miss Maitland, 00:15:54.490 --> 00:15:57.970 apparently ready to fulfill promise number five. 00:15:58.250 --> 00:16:01.950 I came here because I have to keep a certain 00:16:01.950 --> 00:16:06.860 promise I made. You made a promise? Oh, yes. 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:10.840 And I came here to keep my word. Miss Maitland, 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:13.159 I think we're... Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:17.240 you had a customer. What sort of promise are 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:22.840 you talking about? Oh, I had promised a special 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:26.500 person I would buy her a book. I came in here 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:31.720 to... Any particular type of book? Yeah. Yes. 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:35.779 A good murder mystery. Oh, well, we have the 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:38.860 latest Jonathan Merriweather novel. No, I don't 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:43.820 dig him. Nothing happens. You got anything by 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:48.179 Mike Stilson? Now, there's a guy who really writes 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:50.960 murders. I mean, he kills somebody every other 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.980 page. Oh, we're sold out on the latest. It's 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:57.879 called Blood on the Street. Yeah, that's the 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.820 one in which this guy kills all those dames. 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.860 Look, if you're interested in that kind of stuff, 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:04.420 all you have to do is read the newspapers. Do 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:09.420 I tell you what to read, buddy? Sorry. I could 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:12.059 order the book and have it day after tomorrow. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:16.940 No, that'll be too late. Well, try us again. 00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:26.519 Sure. Well, there's a guy with gruesome tastes. 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:30.539 Well, takes all kinds. Hey, you know, he's a 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:32.859 great Mike Stilson fan, and he thinks nobody 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:37.670 knows it. Who? My boss, Captain Blake. You're 00:17:37.670 --> 00:17:41.190 kidding. Hey, this is the very first time I've 00:17:41.190 --> 00:17:45.390 ever seen you smile. Oh, I smile a lot. It's 00:17:45.390 --> 00:17:48.869 just recently. I told Captain Blake about the 00:17:48.869 --> 00:17:52.930 calls. And? You never know. He just grunted and 00:17:52.930 --> 00:17:57.809 said, I'll stay with it. What time do you close? 00:17:58.089 --> 00:18:02.150 Just about now. I'll take you home. I live in 00:18:02.150 --> 00:18:05.400 this building. Two flights up. Well, how about 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.140 some dinner? Oh, you don't have to. You asked 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:11.240 for police protection. Is that the reason? Line 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:17.960 of duty? Well, yes and no. I'd like to. Except 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:20.259 that, well, it's the end of the month and I'm 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:24.000 swamped with paperwork. Well, this neighborhood 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.119 seems safe enough. It's busy. And that diner 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.859 across the street stays open all night. Look, 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:32.220 keep this card handy at all times. It's got a 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:34.759 special phone number. Now use it. Anytime you're 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:37.059 disturbed by anything at all, no matter how slight 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:40.619 or trivial, don't feel embarrassed. Just get 00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:49.839 on the phone. Well, I've already told the officers 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:52.720 everything. Yeah, I know, Mr. Kennan, but I just 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.700 have one more question. It's very important. 00:18:55.420 --> 00:19:00.059 What could be important? Harry's dead. You said 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:03.880 that Mrs. Cannon had no enemies. I'll take that 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.819 back. She had a great many enemies. But when 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:10.039 we asked you last night, you said she had none. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.700 Sometimes when you think about a question, you 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:17.640 see it in a whole new light. Can you name some 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:20.930 of these enemies? She was good. She was on... 00:19:20.930 --> 00:19:23.730 I'm sure she was, but just tell me this. During 00:19:23.730 --> 00:19:25.950 the past ten days or so, would the phone ring 00:19:25.950 --> 00:19:28.450 and then go dead as soon as you picked it up? 00:19:29.049 --> 00:19:32.250 Yeah, now that you mention it, it happened. Often? 00:19:33.289 --> 00:19:36.589 At least two, three, maybe four times a day. 00:19:37.309 --> 00:19:44.549 I see. Is the name Alice Maitland familiar? Alice 00:19:44.549 --> 00:19:49.660 Maitland. Think. Alice Maitland. You know, there 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:53.940 is something familiar about it. The Alice Maitland... 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:56.099 Think of the type person with whom you could 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:59.740 associate that name. Now, would she be a movie 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:05.640 star, a librarian, a teacher, a woman who might 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:11.900 own a bookstore? No, none of those. I think of 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:15.680 a little girl. A little girl named Alice Maitland. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:20.509 Did she live in the neighborhood? You know, these 00:20:20.509 --> 00:20:25.130 past couple of years, my memory, it just comes 00:20:25.130 --> 00:20:29.490 and goes. Right now, it's gone. Well, if ever 00:20:29.490 --> 00:20:32.130 you remember why and how you know Alice Maitland, 00:20:32.329 --> 00:20:39.750 call the number on this card. I'll have another 00:20:39.750 --> 00:20:42.509 cup of coffee, please. Are you waiting for somebody, 00:20:42.690 --> 00:20:46.049 mister? Well, not exactly. Why do you ask? Oh, 00:20:46.089 --> 00:20:48.009 you've been sitting around for hours drinking 00:20:48.009 --> 00:20:50.549 this stuff. Is the coffee in this joint that 00:20:50.549 --> 00:20:54.849 good? Look, don't be frightened. Oh, who's frightened? 00:20:54.990 --> 00:21:00.470 Well, you are, so just look at this. Oh, you're 00:21:00.470 --> 00:21:04.250 a cop. I was beginning to think you could be 00:21:04.250 --> 00:21:07.329 that mad killer. Well, it could be just about 00:21:07.329 --> 00:21:11.230 anybody. I hope I didn't scare you too badly. 00:21:11.670 --> 00:21:13.569 Well, the truth is, I wasn't that much scared 00:21:13.569 --> 00:21:17.339 for myself. No? What? You've just been staring 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:19.839 at that building across the street. I got the 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:22.759 idea you were watching for something. Are you? 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:29.359 Well, maybe. Could I have a change for the telephone, 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:40.140 please? Thank you. Now, where have I seen him 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:45.460 before? What did you say? Nothing, just talking 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:49.420 to myself. You do that a lot, don't you? Do what? 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:54.339 Talk to yourself. Well, that was a short call. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:59.319 She wasn't home. Ah, it's too bad. Did you find 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:04.359 the book? What book? The one by Mike Stilson. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:15.819 Oh. No. Well, keep looking. You know the best 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:19.640 way to stop talking to yourself? No. Get married. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:24.400 The light went on in her room. What's that? He 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:27.140 went to the booth, he only had time to dial, 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.680 and the light went on and I was... Who's Alice? 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:52.630 Could be a coincidence. Wait a minute. Alice, 00:22:52.849 --> 00:22:56.769 it's Lou Parker. Did I wake you? No. I'm up. 00:22:57.170 --> 00:23:00.190 Did your phone ring just a minute ago? Did it 00:23:00.190 --> 00:23:02.990 ring? Well, I don't know. What do you mean you 00:23:02.990 --> 00:23:07.910 don't know? Well, I'd fallen asleep, and I must 00:23:07.910 --> 00:23:10.910 have been having a bad dream. I think I heard 00:23:10.910 --> 00:23:13.369 the phone, but it could have been in the dream. 00:23:14.890 --> 00:23:17.970 Anyhow, I did wake up suddenly, and I turned 00:23:17.970 --> 00:23:22.240 on the light. Could it have been the ringing 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:26.960 of the phone that woke you? I don't know. Did 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.240 I hear it ring or did I dream it was ringing? 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:36.019 Why do you ask? I'm just checking. Anyhow, I'm 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:40.299 glad you're okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Good 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:46.779 night. That was a short phone call too. Yeah. 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:52.940 How is she? Who? How do you know I called my 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:56.960 girl? I told you I read character. Do you also 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:01.220 read the future? Like an open book. Well, I sure 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:10.700 hope so. Captain, we got ourselves the killer. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:13.359 Oh, how can you be sure of your guy? I saw him 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:15.900 in the bookshop. Does that make him a suspect 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:18.299 maybe he likes to read? Then again in the diner. 00:24:18.490 --> 00:24:21.029 He may have been hungry. He didn't eat. He just 00:24:21.029 --> 00:24:22.750 went into the phone booth. He didn't even make 00:24:22.750 --> 00:24:25.289 a call. He was in there just long enough to let 00:24:25.289 --> 00:24:28.970 the number ring and then he was out. So? So the 00:24:28.970 --> 00:24:31.750 light went on and Alice is in Miss Maitland's 00:24:31.750 --> 00:24:35.710 apartment. You mean he called her and hung up? 00:24:37.170 --> 00:24:41.750 Well... Well what? She isn't sure. How can she 00:24:41.750 --> 00:24:44.269 not be sure? The phone rang or it didn't? It 00:24:44.269 --> 00:24:46.309 isn't that simple. You see, she was asleep and 00:24:46.309 --> 00:24:49.059 she can't be sure. If it was the ringing of the 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:51.240 phone that woke her up or if the ringing of the 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:54.059 phone was part of her dream. Good luck. Well, 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.680 Captain Blake, there's something about this guy. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:00.220 He's young, about 30 -ish, thin, blonde, very 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:03.460 hard -lined. It was Mount Lowe. I think you better 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:06.700 report him for general duty. This case is getting 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.579 to you. Well, Captain, I'll please... There's 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:11.319 no reflection. It's even to your credit. It shows 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:14.180 you care about people. Captain, let me have one 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:27.079 more day. All right, Lou. 24 hours. I'm sorry 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:29.940 I've caused you so much embarrassment, Lou. It's 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:34.180 all right. Captain Blake is unhappy. He'll get 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:37.240 over it. He thinks I'm crazy. Well, he thinks 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:40.880 most people are crazy. Lou, you can't keep guarding 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:43.980 me forever. He has to strike at you soon. That's 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:47.099 the pattern. He's done four murders in 12 days. 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:50.200 That's one every three days. This is the night 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:55.240 of the 15th day. He's due. Unless... Unless what? 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:59.579 Unless I've scared him off for a while. No, no. 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:02.740 Keep away from your window. Why? Well, if he's 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:06.619 around, we'll be tipped off. But could I have 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:09.799 scared him away? After all, how would you know 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:15.230 I'm a cop? You never saw him before? Never. We 00:26:15.230 --> 00:26:17.670 have to assume he's our killer. What is the only 00:26:17.670 --> 00:26:19.869 thing we know about him besides his general physical 00:26:19.869 --> 00:26:22.930 description? We know he wanted a book by Mike 00:26:22.930 --> 00:26:25.349 Stilson. Blood on the Streets. But he could have 00:26:25.349 --> 00:26:27.609 made that up on the spur of the moment. People 00:26:27.609 --> 00:26:29.670 rarely make things up in the spur of the moment. 00:26:29.690 --> 00:26:32.549 He knows what he's doing. He's out to frighten 00:26:32.549 --> 00:26:37.309 you. The phone calls are a part of it. That book. 00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:40.279 There's something in it that would cause you 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:43.539 to be frightened. But what? I don't know. I've 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:45.700 never read it. Well, he figures you did. After 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:48.599 all, you own a bookstore. I have to sell books 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:51.299 by Mike Stilson, but no one can force me to read 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:54.940 them. Well, the clue is in that book. Wait a 00:26:54.940 --> 00:27:14.190 minute. It's Lou Parker. Do you know it's two 00:27:14.190 --> 00:27:16.250 in the morning? Yes, sir, but I'm calling on 00:27:16.250 --> 00:27:19.769 the line of duty. You live dangerously, Lou. 00:27:20.730 --> 00:27:22.970 What is it? Captain, you've read all the books 00:27:22.970 --> 00:27:26.430 by Mike Stilson. What? Don't deny it, sir. It's 00:27:26.430 --> 00:27:28.430 a known fact throughout the department. You mean 00:27:28.430 --> 00:27:30.750 you woke me up at two in the morning dressed 00:27:30.750 --> 00:27:41.829 as - Line of duty, sir. Captain, what's the story 00:27:41.829 --> 00:27:47.309 of blood on the streets? Oh, I hope your patrolman's 00:27:47.309 --> 00:27:50.329 uniform still fits. I'll be able to prove this 00:27:50.329 --> 00:27:53.009 is the line of duty. Yeah, I was pick up in your 00:27:53.009 --> 00:28:32.099 extension. Well, in a nutshell... be similar 00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:36.380 no but it has to think I hope you don't mind 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:51.880 if I answer your phone hello yes good work we 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:57.000 better hang up what is it Lou right now right 00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:00.579 here and now we're gonna find out if that telephone 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:23.920 should At least young Peter Jackson is something 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:28.640 of a sportsman. In his own way, he warns his 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:32.059 intended victims. He even tries to give them 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:37.380 clues. This time, has he given one too many? 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:59.509 We'll be back shortly with Act 3. Imagine your 00:29:59.509 --> 00:30:03.589 life without it. And the way the telephone works, 00:30:04.250 --> 00:30:08.589 it requires two people to complete a call. However, 00:30:09.450 --> 00:30:12.470 some of the most eloquent conversations can be 00:30:12.470 --> 00:30:15.849 carried on when there's no one at the other end, 00:30:16.329 --> 00:30:49.220 as you shall hear. seconds and then he ran out 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.920 of here. Did you see which way he went? He didn't 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:53.160 even pay his check. Which way did he go? Look, 00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:55.039 you've got nothing to worry about. You'll get 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:57.519 him. What are you saying? He ran into a cab that's 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:59.460 usually parked outside. All right, could you 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:01.539 describe the cab? I don't have to describe. I 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:03.759 know. Look, all I want is the... I know the cab 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:06.920 driver. He's a schoolteacher with days and moonlights. 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:09.200 His name is Vic Wilson. Does he have a radio? 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:11.180 They all have radios. How could he make a living? 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:13.319 What's the company? Oh, what a great witness 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:16.220 I make. Jefferson. You even got the number on 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:20.019 the card in the phone booth. Blondie's in for 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:36.720 it, huh? This is a police call. You have a driver, 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:39.799 Vic Wilson. He's on a job right now. The minute 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:41.740 he checks in, have him report back to the diner 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:53.190 at 3rd Street, to Detective Parker. Yeah, how 00:31:53.190 --> 00:31:58.170 do I know it's my badge Get it Can't be too careful 00:31:58.170 --> 00:32:00.690 that maniac running around loose. Where'd you 00:32:00.690 --> 00:32:05.849 take your last fare? 790 Chris. Oh, what is it? 00:32:06.089 --> 00:32:09.730 Apartment building how big Six family and say 00:32:09.730 --> 00:32:14.069 attached. No, so myself It's an empty lot on 00:32:14.069 --> 00:32:16.329 either side to renovating the neighbors. It's 00:32:16.329 --> 00:32:19.170 about time. He lives there. I've been taking 00:32:19.170 --> 00:32:21.829 that for the last couple of days He comes out 00:32:21.829 --> 00:32:23.650 of the diner, he gets into the camp, that's where 00:32:23.650 --> 00:32:26.670 he goes. That's good enough. Was he a bad boy? 00:32:27.349 --> 00:32:29.430 Why, you wouldn't give him a star for good conduct, 00:32:29.970 --> 00:32:36.549 teacher. Throw on those searchlights, Haggerty, 00:32:36.730 --> 00:32:41.509 and hand me that bullhorn. We know who you are, 00:32:42.210 --> 00:32:45.730 and we know you're in there. We'll give you exactly 00:32:45.730 --> 00:32:54.440 60 seconds to come out. Keep behind the car, 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:57.400 Lou. A nut like this one might want to take some 00:32:57.400 --> 00:33:04.259 people with it. You've had your minute. Come 00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:10.559 out, or we'll come in. All right, let's get in 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:54.319 there fast. Then what happened? Oh, he's smart. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.539 He has himself dropped off at a false certain 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:59.420 address in case he's being tailed, and then... 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:03.400 then he sneaks out. Makes sense. Of course, Captain 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:05.839 Blake doesn't believe a word of it. But, Luke... 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:08.280 Oh, come on. Six families live in that house. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:11.900 Six ordinary law -abiding families, and we rouse 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:14.039 them at five in the morning and search the place. 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:18.760 How angry is Captain Blake? Well, if he ever 00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:21.340 gets over it, I may wind up working nights in 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:24.079 charge of the property office. Otherwise, I'm 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:27.780 pounding a beat down along the docks. It's my 00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:31.840 fault. No. How do I really know I'm in danger? 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:35.179 Why isn't this the product of an overwrought 00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:38.460 imagination? And the phone calls? Coincidence. 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:41.469 And the guy in the bookshop? And we see him again 00:34:41.469 --> 00:34:43.590 in the phone booth, just before your telephone 00:34:43.590 --> 00:34:46.769 rings? It could all be coincidence. I can't accept 00:34:46.769 --> 00:34:49.269 that. Captain Blake does. As far as I'm concerned, 00:34:49.409 --> 00:34:51.469 you're in danger. And you're convinced of it 00:34:51.469 --> 00:34:53.670 too, aren't you? But I don't have to be right. 00:34:53.769 --> 00:34:57.289 We can't take any more chances. I'm gonna stay 00:34:57.289 --> 00:34:59.610 here with you for another hour. By then the stores 00:34:59.610 --> 00:35:02.170 will be open and we'll buy you a small .25 caliber 00:35:02.170 --> 00:35:05.409 revolver. No. I'll arrange for a permit and I'll 00:35:05.409 --> 00:35:07.570 show you how to use it. But I can't stand the 00:35:07.570 --> 00:35:09.730 sight of a gun. Alice, if a man is determined 00:35:09.730 --> 00:35:12.389 to kill you, all the advantages are on his side. 00:35:12.449 --> 00:35:15.289 We have to reduce the odds. I couldn't own a 00:35:15.289 --> 00:35:17.969 gun. I couldn't use one even if it meant saving 00:35:17.969 --> 00:35:20.230 my life. Now, Alice, I don't want to say that 00:35:20.230 --> 00:35:25.889 sounds silly, but... Lou... I don't think I can 00:35:25.889 --> 00:35:34.130 ever forget. Forget what? Well, I was... I was 00:35:34.130 --> 00:35:38.090 standing right next to a man once who... Who 00:35:38.090 --> 00:35:45.590 was killed by a gun? When? Oh, years ago. I was 00:35:45.590 --> 00:35:51.269 about six. Who was killed? A very nice man. He 00:35:51.269 --> 00:35:56.250 was our grocer, Mr. Jackson. It was the day after 00:35:56.250 --> 00:36:00.170 New Year's, and Mama sent me out to buy... To 00:36:00.170 --> 00:36:03.889 this day, I remember. A quart of milk, a half 00:36:03.889 --> 00:36:06.869 pound of butter, and a jar of strawberry jam. 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:13.840 Then this man came in he had a gun it was a holdup 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:20.739 and suddenly there was a loud explosion and a 00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:27.199 Terrible flash of light. Oh It was terrible mr. 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:33.300 Jackson fell to the floor He was dead the man 00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:38.469 ran away was he ever caught oh, yes Just a few 00:36:38.469 --> 00:36:41.670 hours later. I had to go to the station house 00:36:41.670 --> 00:36:45.110 to identify him Do you realize what you've just 00:36:45.110 --> 00:36:51.110 told me? This is it you identify the man He was 00:36:51.110 --> 00:36:54.409 sent to jail now years later. He wants his revenge, 00:36:54.510 --> 00:36:59.750 but that's not what happened No Well, you see 00:36:59.750 --> 00:37:04.650 I was so frightened I wasn't sure I really couldn't 00:37:04.650 --> 00:37:09.309 identify him And he went free yes, so why would 00:37:09.309 --> 00:37:13.190 he want to kill me now? Then that gets us nowhere 00:37:13.190 --> 00:37:17.289 either The others couldn't identify him either 00:37:17.289 --> 00:37:22.630 The others? Yes There were other people, but 00:37:22.630 --> 00:37:27.630 No one was sure of him Now if you had identified 00:37:27.630 --> 00:37:31.289 him and sent him to prison It makes sense to 00:37:31.289 --> 00:37:35.460 suppose he'd want revenge, but you didn't Now 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:38.260 whoever and wherever he is today, he's happy. 00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:42.019 But the fact that you failed to identify him 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:45.780 could have made someone else unhappy. What do 00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:48.320 you mean? Oh, the book, Blood on the Streets. 00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:50.800 It's about a man who killed people who did his 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:54.119 father an injury. Did this grocer have a son? 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:57.820 I think so. I think a little boy used to play 00:37:57.820 --> 00:38:03.079 in the store. But it's so long ago. Who could 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:07.909 that be? I'll take him. Hello. Mr. Parker, this 00:38:07.909 --> 00:38:10.809 is Terry Cannon. Remember me? Yes, Mr. Cannon. 00:38:11.170 --> 00:38:14.690 They said I could reach you at this number. And 00:38:14.690 --> 00:38:18.650 now, it came to me. What came to you? I was trying 00:38:18.650 --> 00:38:21.690 to puzzle out one name. Alice Maitland was so 00:38:21.690 --> 00:38:26.190 familiar. You know, I'll say, about 23 years 00:38:26.190 --> 00:38:30.190 ago, Mary Margaret was in a grocery store and 00:38:30.190 --> 00:38:33.829 a man was killed in a hold -up. I took her down 00:38:33.829 --> 00:38:36.090 to the station house to identify the gunman. 00:38:36.250 --> 00:38:40.250 And could she? Well, not so she really couldn't 00:38:40.250 --> 00:38:44.550 be sure. Anyhow, another one of the witnesses 00:38:44.550 --> 00:38:48.630 was a little girl. Her name was Alice Maitland. 00:38:49.269 --> 00:38:53.329 And I remember her because she was the most terrified 00:38:53.329 --> 00:38:56.449 little thing I'd ever seen in my life. Thank 00:38:56.449 --> 00:39:02.159 you. Thank you, Mr. Cannon. Finally, I've got 00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:05.480 you all tied together. Who? You and those women 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.519 who were killed all come together in a little 00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:11.900 grocery store some 23 years ago. Finally, now 00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:14.900 we know who we're looking for. I'd like to see 00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:16.900 the look on Captain Blake's face when I tell 00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:18.599 him this. Well, good to see that look, friend. 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:20.940 Lou! I know you got a gun on the shoulder holster. 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:28.300 Just lay the phone down. Slow. Easy. Now, raise 00:39:28.300 --> 00:39:35.780 the hand. Slow. Easy. That's fine. Just keep 00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:39.800 him there. I guess your name is Jackson. Peter 00:39:39.800 --> 00:39:44.500 Jackson, Jr. You figured it out. So I figured 00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:48.800 I'd have to come back and get both of you. The 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:52.219 hands stay up. It's too late, Peter. We know 00:39:52.219 --> 00:39:55.119 about you. You know about me, but the other cops 00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:57.920 don't. See, I was in the house across the street 00:39:57.920 --> 00:40:00.969 when you staged the raid. I thought I'd die laughing. 00:40:01.369 --> 00:40:03.769 I learned never to get dropped off where I live. 00:40:03.809 --> 00:40:05.949 That way you don't get surprised. You won't get 00:40:05.949 --> 00:40:08.389 away with it. Oh, I'll get away with it. She's 00:40:08.389 --> 00:40:12.070 the last one. I'm sorry about you, but I'll walk 00:40:12.070 --> 00:40:15.489 out of here. And who knew it was me? But why 00:40:15.489 --> 00:40:18.769 her? She was just a kid. She lied. But I didn't 00:40:18.769 --> 00:40:21.269 know. I really didn't know. Yeah, that's what 00:40:21.269 --> 00:40:24.349 they all said, but they were lying. They were 00:40:24.349 --> 00:40:27.210 bored off. All of you were bought off. Come on, 00:40:27.349 --> 00:40:30.369 Peter, talk sense. My father is murdered, and 00:40:30.369 --> 00:40:33.170 the law lets a killer go free, and you want me 00:40:33.170 --> 00:40:36.269 to talk sense? Does it make sense that five people 00:40:36.269 --> 00:40:38.289 who were standing right there couldn't recognize 00:40:38.289 --> 00:40:41.010 him? But I couldn't be sure. I really couldn't 00:40:41.010 --> 00:40:43.949 be sure. My father, he never hurt a soul in his 00:40:43.949 --> 00:40:46.250 life. If a hungry person didn't have a penny 00:40:46.250 --> 00:40:48.190 in his pocket, he could still walk out of that 00:40:48.190 --> 00:40:50.289 store with a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk. 00:40:50.469 --> 00:40:53.010 If your father was that kind of man, what would 00:40:53.010 --> 00:40:55.630 he think of you killing innocent people? My father 00:40:55.630 --> 00:40:58.769 believed in justice. But you knew who the killer 00:40:58.769 --> 00:41:01.610 was. Why didn't you go after him? Yeah, I did. 00:41:01.849 --> 00:41:04.829 I did, but I was cheated. I spent years on his 00:41:04.829 --> 00:41:06.550 trail, and when I friendly caught up with him, 00:41:06.550 --> 00:41:09.130 he was in his grave. Well, my father wasn't going 00:41:09.130 --> 00:41:11.449 to be cheated out of everything. If I couldn't 00:41:11.449 --> 00:41:13.329 have the killer, at least I could get the people 00:41:13.329 --> 00:41:15.800 who helped him. Let me explain something. The 00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:17.820 law! You don't want to explain anything. You 00:41:17.820 --> 00:41:20.559 want a store. You want a chance to go for your 00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:23.119 gun. Well, you won't get it. See, I'll kill you 00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:25.659 first. And then her. There's such a thing in 00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:27.840 this world as justice. If the law won't give 00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:29.699 it to you, then you make your own. And that's 00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:32.719 why you're doing this? A justice? That's right. 00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:36.679 That's wrong. You're doing it because you love 00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:42.260 to kill. That's a lie. Ah, it's the truth. Look 00:41:42.260 --> 00:41:45.679 at yourself. Look at how you're enjoying this. 00:41:45.679 --> 00:41:48.440 I'm doing what has to be done. You killed those 00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:51.980 four women and you enjoyed it You have 30 seconds 00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:54.719 to live say your prayers. How long do you think 00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:58.000 you have to live? You're gonna keep killing and 00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:02.099 you'll be caught you can't stop I Hate killing 00:42:02.099 --> 00:42:04.679 come on. You'll love to see people under the 00:42:04.679 --> 00:42:07.619 gun how they squirm and sweat you're eating this 00:42:07.619 --> 00:42:11.639 up Look at your face in that mirror. Look at 00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:16.480 that grin Like a wolf. See how flushed and excited 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:23.739 you are. Look at yourself. Look! Break your arm, 00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:30.599 Trumpet! Very good work, Lou. Very good. One 00:42:30.599 --> 00:42:32.659 more second and we would have had to gun him 00:42:32.659 --> 00:42:36.739 down. This way we can take him home alive. Captain 00:42:36.739 --> 00:42:40.880 Blake! Somehow, I'm gonna get back here. Get 00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:44.030 back to you, Miss... Alice Maitland. I'll keep 00:42:44.030 --> 00:42:48.389 my promise. Hagerty. Gordon. Cuff him. Hustle 00:42:48.389 --> 00:42:51.210 him back to headquarters. Look, Alice, don't 00:42:51.210 --> 00:42:53.690 worry about him. Are you all right, Miss Maitland? 00:42:54.369 --> 00:42:58.710 Yes. I think so. You shouldn't be. It was a rough 00:42:58.710 --> 00:43:02.289 experience. Why did you come back, Captain? Well, 00:43:02.289 --> 00:43:05.349 I guess we both solved it, Lou. You broke it 00:43:05.349 --> 00:43:08.789 by pure and simple brain work. I waited for a 00:43:08.789 --> 00:43:11.650 miracle. Oh, did you get it? Yeah, I got it. 00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:16.239 I got it because of this little machine. Mary 00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:20.119 Cannon was killed in an office. She managed somehow 00:43:20.119 --> 00:43:23.739 to throw the switch on a dictating machine. A 00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:26.119 secretary came into work this morning and she 00:43:26.119 --> 00:43:29.059 heard Peter Jackson and she didn't stop running 00:43:29.059 --> 00:44:08.340 until she got to my desk. Listen. You might want 00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:11.099 to know what happened to Peter Jackson. He's 00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:14.679 in a hospital for the criminally insane. For 00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:17.400 his sterling leadership in cracking the case, 00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:21.440 Captain Blake will probably become the next chief 00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:26.019 of police. Detective Parker will probably become 00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:30.860 Detective Sergeant Parker. And Miss Alice Maitland 00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:35.880 will probably become Mrs. Lou Parker. So you 00:44:35.880 --> 00:44:40.219 see? Sometimes, we can give you a happy ending. 00:44:41.139 --> 00:44:55.900 I'll be back shortly. The story you have just 00:44:55.900 --> 00:44:59.820 heard is concerned with the most precious concept 00:44:59.820 --> 00:45:05.480 the human race has ever created. Justice. And 00:45:05.480 --> 00:45:08.719 when you think of Peter Jackson, perhaps he proves 00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:13.139 the point made by a great poet. When a man takes 00:45:13.139 --> 00:45:17.579 justice in his own hands, he will soon shape 00:45:17.579 --> 00:45:23.039 her to his own ends. Our cast included Tony Roberts, 00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:26.159 Susan Grossman, Jack Grimes, Brianna Rayburn, 00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:29.960 and Robert Dryden. The entire production was 00:45:29.960 --> 00:45:34.059 under the direction of Hyman Brown. And now... 00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:41.119 A preview of our next tale. How has life gone 00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:43.940 with you all these years? Oh, as all lives go, 00:45:43.960 --> 00:45:46.940 I suppose. There's been the good, the bad, and 00:45:46.940 --> 00:45:50.360 different. Yes, but mine has been mostly bad. 00:45:51.219 --> 00:45:54.599 I've prospered my importing business in Baton 00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:57.019 Rouge. Ruination, that's been my lot, my fate. 00:45:57.820 --> 00:46:03.000 The fate of the House of Usher? Well, if you 00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:07.559 are... financially in need. No, no. No, no, no. 00:46:08.460 --> 00:46:12.619 I speak of another kind of ruination. Decadence. 00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:16.059 I speak of the evil. The evil that molders within 00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:23.460 my body, my mind. My house. House? Oh, no. No 00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:28.739 house this. A tomb. A tomb that houses the living 00:46:28.739 --> 00:46:34.929 dead. You are ill. Yes, I lied. I... I am ill 00:46:34.929 --> 00:46:38.849 with fear. This is E .G. Marshall inviting you 00:46:38.849 --> 00:46:41.710 to return to our mystery theater for another 00:46:41.710 --> 00:46:48.550 adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant 00:46:48.550 --> 00:46:49.449 dreams.