WEBVTT 00:00:18.109 --> 00:00:25.929 Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome 00:00:25.929 --> 00:00:30.570 to the Sound of Suspense. The fear you can hear. 00:00:31.210 --> 00:00:34.229 For the next 52 minutes we're going to take you 00:00:34.229 --> 00:00:37.670 into the world of mystery, into the world of 00:00:37.670 --> 00:00:41.070 terrifying imagination. The story you are going 00:00:41.070 --> 00:00:43.710 to hear concerns a question which has been asked 00:00:43.710 --> 00:00:47.630 since the first men on earth were born and died. 00:00:48.850 --> 00:00:53.509 Is there a life after death? Is there a way to 00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:58.409 return from the grave? And if there is, can we 00:00:58.409 --> 00:01:01.109 come back in the body? of a living creature? 00:01:02.350 --> 00:01:06.870 Even one that has claws instead of fingernails? 00:01:07.450 --> 00:01:10.530 Here is one chilling answer. Dr. Singh, you have 00:01:10.530 --> 00:01:13.489 to tell me. Could my wife have come back as a 00:01:13.489 --> 00:01:17.290 bird, a sparrow, something like that? Well, your 00:01:17.290 --> 00:01:20.370 wife was a rather big woman, Mr. Morrisby, in 00:01:20.370 --> 00:01:23.230 a physical sense. How about a snake? A seagull? 00:01:23.750 --> 00:01:27.930 How about a cat? A great, big, fat cat? A cat! 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:38.480 Our mystery drama, The Return of the Moresby's, 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:40.680 was written especially for the Radio Mystery 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:44.519 Theatre by Henry Slesser and stars Patrick O 00:01:44.519 --> 00:02:01.439 'Neill. I'll be back shortly with Act One. Now 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.390 here is Act One. Like all murder stories sooner 00:02:05.390 --> 00:02:08.930 or later it reaches the office of a daily newspaper. 00:02:08.930 --> 00:02:13.349 You wanted to see me chief you bet I want to 00:02:13.349 --> 00:02:18.629 see you proudie come in and shut that door I 00:02:18.629 --> 00:02:20.849 Bet I know what it's about that story. I filed 00:02:20.849 --> 00:02:23.449 on Richard Morris be right. I got a flash for 00:02:23.449 --> 00:02:26.250 you proudie This is a newspaper office not a 00:02:26.250 --> 00:02:29.280 fiction magazine You take this story of yours 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:32.020 and see if you can sell it to Weirdo Digest or 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:34.759 something. But get it off my desk. Now, wait 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:37.639 a while, Max. I know it's off beat, but I thought 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:39.919 I handled it with a... with a kind of a light 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:42.819 touch. Stories about murder can't be handled 00:02:42.819 --> 00:02:45.439 with a light touch. Not on this paper. But it's 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:47.879 accurate. I mean, this is exactly what the guy 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:50.180 Moresby told me. Just before he died. Well, he 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:52.860 must have been out of his head. He asked for 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:54.780 somebody to hear his story. That's how I got 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:57.250 to meet him. I was at the hospital covering that 00:02:57.250 --> 00:03:00.409 subway accident. Now, that story made sense to 00:03:00.409 --> 00:03:04.430 me. Nothing but nice, clear facts. But this nonsense... 00:03:04.430 --> 00:03:07.530 Please, let me tell you about this guy. Maybe 00:03:07.530 --> 00:03:10.550 you'll change your mind. All right, what about 00:03:10.550 --> 00:03:14.330 him? Well, for one thing, he was a real distinguished 00:03:14.330 --> 00:03:17.229 looking guy. The only thing peculiar about him 00:03:17.229 --> 00:03:21.030 was his eyes. His eyes? Yeah. They were the palest 00:03:21.030 --> 00:03:24.050 blue eyes I ever saw on a man. They weren't really 00:03:24.050 --> 00:03:27.770 blue at all. They were like silver. Big deal. 00:03:27.930 --> 00:03:30.750 So he had silver eyes. And when he started to 00:03:30.750 --> 00:03:33.349 tell me about himself, well, I just had to hear 00:03:33.349 --> 00:03:35.490 the whole story, Chief. Yes, I was born in London, 00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:37.569 but my family moved to the States when I was 00:03:37.569 --> 00:03:39.789 young. They didn't improve much on the climate 00:03:39.789 --> 00:03:42.689 when they did. We lived in Vermont. I don't think 00:03:42.689 --> 00:03:45.330 I was ever warm enough until the age of 24 when 00:03:45.330 --> 00:03:48.610 I moved to Southern California. I lived on beaches. 00:03:49.129 --> 00:03:52.750 A superb swimmer, a superior surfboarder. and 00:03:52.750 --> 00:03:56.389 a terrible bum. It was on the beach at Malibu 00:03:56.389 --> 00:03:58.689 that I met the woman who was to become my wife. 00:03:59.349 --> 00:04:02.770 Her name was Una. She was as pale as a gardenia, 00:04:03.050 --> 00:04:06.650 a gardenia with bones. Una had more bones than 00:04:06.650 --> 00:04:10.389 any other woman I've ever met. Lovely day, isn't 00:04:10.389 --> 00:04:13.669 it? I beg your pardon? I said it's a beautiful 00:04:13.669 --> 00:04:16.629 day. I don't think I've ever seen the ocean look 00:04:16.629 --> 00:04:19.089 prettier. Frankly, the Pacific always looked 00:04:19.089 --> 00:04:22.610 a little muddy to me. I wonder if that's what 00:04:22.610 --> 00:04:25.350 Balboa said when he first saw it. Oh, he probably 00:04:25.350 --> 00:04:28.170 said what a great place for surfing. Ah, I see 00:04:28.170 --> 00:04:30.709 you have a surfboard. Yes, as a matter of fact, 00:04:30.709 --> 00:04:33.589 I think I see a wave that I like. Will you excuse 00:04:33.589 --> 00:04:37.050 me? I wish I had the nerve to try it. Yeah, you 00:04:37.050 --> 00:04:39.689 really should. Well, bye now. Maybe I'll ask 00:04:39.689 --> 00:04:43.689 my chauffeur to teach me. I'm sorry. What did 00:04:43.689 --> 00:04:47.629 you say? Charles, my chauffeur. He's very good 00:04:47.629 --> 00:04:53.879 at sports. You know, come to think of it, that 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:57.360 wave doesn't look so good after all. By the way, 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:01.240 my name is Richard. Richard Morse. How do you 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:10.939 do? My name is Una. Una van der Meijer. That 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:14.100 was her name. As soon as I realized that she 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:16.759 was from the van der Meijer family, she didn't 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:20.850 seem half as bony as she did before. In fact, 00:05:21.490 --> 00:05:24.110 not only did I become accustomed to Una's appearance, 00:05:24.790 --> 00:05:27.889 I was even able to tolerate her inane conversation. 00:05:28.129 --> 00:05:31.209 Can't you just feel the mystery of the stars, 00:05:31.750 --> 00:05:34.689 Richard? Sometimes I feel their vibrations as 00:05:34.689 --> 00:05:37.550 if they're trying to communicate with me. Do 00:05:37.550 --> 00:05:40.910 you ever feel that? Well, sometimes, I suppose. 00:05:41.069 --> 00:05:44.589 I really think we must be one with the universe, 00:05:44.730 --> 00:05:48.779 don't you? I really believe there's just... One 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:53.259 great universal soul and we're all part of it. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:56.480 Don't you think so too? Yes, of course right 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:04.660 on as they say You see what I mean she talked 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:08.819 that way all the time from the first day of our 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:13.199 honeymoon Well, it was a fine honeymoon just 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.129 the same it lasted a whole year On the beaches 00:06:17.129 --> 00:06:21.850 of the Caribbean, on the French Riviera, I got 00:06:21.850 --> 00:06:26.949 browner and browner. Una got freckles. Finally 00:06:26.949 --> 00:06:29.790 we returned to our home in Los Angeles and settled 00:06:29.790 --> 00:06:39.529 down to a quiet, comfortable marriage. What on 00:06:39.529 --> 00:06:42.490 earth is that you're playing? It's sitar music, 00:06:42.829 --> 00:06:47.509 darling. Oh, it's just so spiritual. What? What 00:06:47.509 --> 00:06:51.089 made you buy the record? Dr. Singh recommended 00:06:51.089 --> 00:06:55.810 it. Who? Dr. Singh. At the temple of metapsychosis, 00:06:55.970 --> 00:06:58.629 you know. The temple of what? Metapsychosis. 00:06:59.310 --> 00:07:01.910 I told you about joining the temple last week. 00:07:02.329 --> 00:07:04.449 Oh, Richard, sometimes I think you don't listen 00:07:04.449 --> 00:07:12.329 to me. Now, as you may know. Southern California 00:07:12.329 --> 00:07:16.009 abounds in quasi religious organizations And 00:07:16.009 --> 00:07:18.170 she'd gone through a number of them without discovering 00:07:18.170 --> 00:07:21.110 the universal soul at any of their altars darling 00:07:21.110 --> 00:07:25.230 Please come to one of dr. Singh's lectures. He's 00:07:25.230 --> 00:07:29.930 such a magnificent speaker. He emits such vibrations 00:07:29.930 --> 00:07:39.310 And I went you see what an obliging husband I 00:07:39.310 --> 00:07:42.800 was Actually, it turned out to be more interesting 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.620 than I thought. The temple itself was unpretentious, 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:52.879 and Dr. Singh was an impressive man. And when 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.879 he spoke, I realized why his message had such 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:58.560 appeal for Una because he preached a doctrine 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.040 that combined eternal life with a love of small 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:06.040 animals. The soul is immortal. The soul cannot 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:09.689 die. The soul upon leaving the body must make 00:08:09.689 --> 00:08:13.230 its passage elsewhere. There is a science called 00:08:13.230 --> 00:08:17.009 eschatology which deals with the last four things. 00:08:17.629 --> 00:08:21.730 Death, judgment, heaven and hell. It is the most 00:08:21.730 --> 00:08:25.509 ancient of all sciences and from its wisdom has 00:08:25.509 --> 00:08:29.370 come the inescapable certainty of the transmigration 00:08:29.370 --> 00:08:31.629 of souls. Yeah, yeah, I know it's a bit weird 00:08:31.629 --> 00:08:34.809 but stay with it. And where does the soul go? 00:08:35.710 --> 00:08:38.429 According to the wise men of all generations 00:08:38.429 --> 00:08:42.190 past, the soul departs from the mouth of the 00:08:42.190 --> 00:08:46.990 dying. It is consequently a small thing. A bird, 00:08:47.169 --> 00:08:52.070 a snake, a mouse, a dove, or a hawk, a dog, a 00:08:52.070 --> 00:08:56.409 cat, an insect. For these small creations of 00:08:56.409 --> 00:09:00.690 God are empty vessels placed upon earth for only 00:09:00.690 --> 00:09:04.330 one purpose. To house the departing souls of 00:09:04.330 --> 00:09:07.490 humanity. so that they need not wander forever 00:09:07.490 --> 00:09:10.330 in a trackless eternity. Yeah, yeah, it's pure 00:09:10.330 --> 00:09:13.389 rot, of course. But that's what the man said. 00:09:13.789 --> 00:09:17.049 And Una sat there and believed every single word. 00:09:17.490 --> 00:09:21.570 Oh, wasn't he marvelous, Richard? Isn't it wonderful 00:09:21.570 --> 00:09:25.519 that the soul never dies? that we can all come 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.379 back as little animals. I'm not sure I want to 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:30.919 come back as an animal. But you'd still be you, 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:34.480 Richard. Oh, don't you see? Well, by the way, 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:37.980 what was that envelope you handed Dr. Singh after 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:41.299 the meeting? The envelope? That was my donation, 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:44.100 of course. Your donation to the temple? Yes, 00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:47.720 to support the work of Dr. Singh. To open other 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:51.919 temples around the world. Well, how much money 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.200 was in the envelope? What does it matter, Richard? 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:58.399 I'm just curious. Two thousand dollars. To... 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.679 to Una. Una, you go to that temple once a week. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:04.100 Do you always give that kind of donation? Oh, 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:11.090 it's all in a very good cause, Richard. Well, 00:10:11.210 --> 00:10:13.769 in an equally good cause, that of finding out 00:10:13.769 --> 00:10:16.570 exactly how much of my wife's money was supporting 00:10:16.570 --> 00:10:20.330 this nonsense, I sneaked a look at Una's checkbook. 00:10:21.669 --> 00:10:25.389 The answer astonished me. Not only had my wife 00:10:25.389 --> 00:10:29.230 put more than $30 ,000 into Dr. Singh's collection 00:10:29.230 --> 00:10:32.970 plate, she had also donated some 20 ,000 more 00:10:32.970 --> 00:10:35.470 to various institutions for the care and feeding 00:10:35.470 --> 00:10:40.139 of cats, dogs, and birds. It was so kind of you 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:43.340 to honor us with a visit, Dr. Singh. I know how 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:47.039 terribly busy you are. On the contrary. You were 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:51.399 kind to invite me to your lovely home. Now tell 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:55.799 me, Dr. Singh, what determines the kind of animal 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:59.500 one becomes when the soul escapes after death? 00:10:59.710 --> 00:11:03.210 Ah, Mrs. Morrisby, that is a question which has 00:11:03.210 --> 00:11:05.950 baffled wise men for countless generations. But 00:11:05.950 --> 00:11:09.509 isn't it possible to do, well, research? Yes, 00:11:09.509 --> 00:11:14.070 Mrs. Morrisby. I don't doubt that we could find 00:11:14.070 --> 00:11:17.690 the answer to such great questions if only we 00:11:17.690 --> 00:11:21.029 had the proper resources. But, unfortunately, 00:11:21.690 --> 00:11:25.610 that would require money. A great deal more money 00:11:25.610 --> 00:11:28.269 than the movement has at present. Well, it seems 00:11:28.269 --> 00:11:40.210 to me you don't do badly. Well, there you are. 00:11:40.690 --> 00:11:43.690 Hello, Richard. Where have you been all morning? 00:11:43.929 --> 00:11:47.649 Right here, in my little sewing room. Don't tell 00:11:47.649 --> 00:11:51.210 me you were sewing. Oh, don't be silly. Actually, 00:11:51.250 --> 00:11:54.789 I've been composing something. A letter? Oh, 00:11:54.789 --> 00:11:57.440 something more important than that. Richard, 00:11:57.460 --> 00:12:01.080 do you realize that I have no last will and testament? 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:04.580 Well, why should you? Healthy young chicken like 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:07.320 you. I can't call myself young anymore, Richard. 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:10.220 You'll always be young to me, darling. Oh, that's 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:14.159 very sweet. But just the same. It's only practical 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:17.299 to have a will. Would you read it over, Richard, 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:20.120 and see if it... Well, if it sounds legal enough? 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:25.159 Certainly. Now, let's see now. I, Una Vandermeier 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:27.480 Morsby, a resident of the city of Los Angeles, 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:29.980 state of California, residing at 8 Sheridan Drive, 00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:32.860 being over the age of 21 and of sound and disposing 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:35.879 mind and memory. Darling, this is superb. Where 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:37.500 on earth did you get the language? Well, to tell 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.759 you the truth, I copied it out of daddy's will. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:42.840 The one that left you 10 million? Yes. Well, 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:45.379 I don't see how you could go wrong. Let's see 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:49.019 now. Not acting under duress, menace, fraud or 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:55.039 undue influence of any person, whosoever... Good 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:59.820 Lord! Una! What is it? What? You're not serious 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:02.399 about this. Oh, about making a will? Well, of 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:05.320 course I am. I mean, this bequest to the temple, 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:09.080 a mumbo jumbo. What's wrong with it? Now listen, 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:11.700 darling, I told you how important Dr. Singh's 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:15.580 work is, but it requires money to carry it on. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:20.070 Tons of money. So the least I can do is to help 00:13:20.070 --> 00:13:22.669 the poor man as much as I can. But you're giving 00:13:22.669 --> 00:13:26.509 him 90 % of your entire fortune. Ah, you'll still 00:13:26.509 --> 00:13:28.909 have a million dollars if I go first, Richard. 00:13:28.990 --> 00:13:32.169 Isn't that enough? No, it isn't. I mean, the 00:13:32.169 --> 00:13:35.450 whole thing is ridiculous. Don't you realize 00:13:35.450 --> 00:13:39.889 that man is a fraud, a charlatan? What? For heaven's 00:13:39.889 --> 00:13:43.490 sake, open your eyes. Don't you realize the simple 00:13:43.490 --> 00:13:46.330 truth? Your money won't build any temples. It's 00:13:46.330 --> 00:13:48.669 just going to line the pockets of that turban 00:13:48.669 --> 00:13:52.129 phony. Richard, what a terrible thing to say. 00:13:53.210 --> 00:13:56.110 Well, you told me you liked Dr. Singh, that you 00:13:56.110 --> 00:13:59.269 were very impressed by his theory of transmigration. 00:13:59.470 --> 00:14:01.690 Darling, I was only saying all that to please 00:14:01.690 --> 00:14:04.009 you. But now I'm telling you that the only thing 00:14:04.009 --> 00:14:06.990 Dr. Singh is planning to transmigrate is your 00:14:06.990 --> 00:14:09.789 money into his savings account. And frankly, 00:14:10.190 --> 00:14:13.210 I'm not gonna let him do it. Richard, what are 00:14:13.210 --> 00:14:15.919 you doing? You're tearing up my will. That's 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:17.759 right. How dare you do such a thing? It's my 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:19.600 money and I'll do whatever I please with it. 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:22.340 Oh, no. Darling, I just want you to have a chance 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.779 to come to your senses. Well, there's nothing 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:27.340 wrong with my senses. I can see very clearly 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:30.970 what the real trouble is. If I... didn't leave 00:14:30.970 --> 00:14:33.110 a will, all my money would go to you, wouldn't 00:14:33.110 --> 00:14:35.409 it? Well, naturally, I'm your husband. You don't 00:14:35.409 --> 00:14:37.070 have any other elements. That's why you're acting 00:14:37.070 --> 00:14:39.570 this way. It's just plain and simple grief. Oh, 00:14:39.649 --> 00:14:41.649 now listen to me. No, it's all right. It's all 00:14:41.649 --> 00:14:43.710 right. I'm glad you tore up that will, Richard, 00:14:44.309 --> 00:14:47.389 because I realize now that I was quite wrong. 00:14:47.929 --> 00:14:51.690 Do you? Yes. It's a mistake to leave only nine 00:14:51.690 --> 00:14:54.309 million of my money to the temple. I'm going 00:14:54.309 --> 00:15:02.639 to leave all of it to Dr. Singh. When Una actually 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:06.220 drafted that incredible document and called our 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:09.500 attorney for a Monday morning appointment, I 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:12.559 realized that I had to do something very drastic 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:17.059 before the weekend was over. I had to kill my 00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:23.059 poor misguided wife. I had to make her one with 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:31.789 the universe. It's obvious that Mr. Morsby is 00:15:31.789 --> 00:15:35.990 going to be a very reluctant murderer. The question 00:15:35.990 --> 00:15:40.470 is, will his reluctance get in the way of his 00:15:40.470 --> 00:15:43.990 efficiency? We'll get the details when we return 00:15:43.990 --> 00:15:58.190 shortly with Act Two. Now let's return to Richard 00:15:58.190 --> 00:16:02.289 Morsby. In order to find him, we'll have to search 00:16:02.289 --> 00:16:05.129 the highway, for Richard has taken his white 00:16:05.129 --> 00:16:11.250 jaguar out for a spin. But there he is now. On 00:16:11.250 --> 00:16:13.490 Saturday morning, I took a little spin in my 00:16:13.490 --> 00:16:16.210 ex -kayala and did some thinking on the open 00:16:16.210 --> 00:16:19.909 road. I didn't want to kill poor Una, of course. 00:16:20.370 --> 00:16:23.649 The whole idea was repellent. But on the other 00:16:23.649 --> 00:16:26.940 hand... The thought of Dr. Singh spending the 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:29.620 fortune that was rightfully mine was even more 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:34.799 abhorrent. However, I decided I would make one 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:42.980 more stab at a reconciliation. Darling, may I 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:47.539 come in? It's your living room, too. It doesn't 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:50.639 feel like it. Matter of fact, I've felt like 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:53.019 a stranger in this house for the past two days. 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:55.960 I suppose that's my fault. Well, you haven't 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:58.899 been exactly cordial, have you? I've hardly been 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:02.019 home, Richard. I spent all day yesterday at the 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:05.420 temple and all morning at the pet breast kennels. 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:09.680 And how are all the little souls doing? You just 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:13.160 won't stop being a reverend, will you? It's been 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:16.000 my money all along hasn't it Richard from the 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.380 very beginning you were attracted to my money 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:20.400 Now darling if you thought that you would never 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:23.400 have married I didn't want to believe it. I don't 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:27.579 want to leave it now How can I prove to you that 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:32.720 you're mistaken? Richard you really want to prove 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.740 it of course. I'll do anything you say all right 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:41.539 Now I know exactly what you can do You can let 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:44.700 me leave my money to dr. Singh and the temple 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:48.240 the whole 10 million Yes, because that's the 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:57.940 only way I'll know that it's me you love Well, 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:01.559 you can't say I didn't try but owners decision 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:05.700 now left me with absolutely no alternative I 00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:07.920 was still deeply unhappy about the necessity 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:12.700 of taking a life However, fate was crying to 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:19.180 me that very afternoon. Now, are you sure that 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:21.279 you want me to continue reading, Richard? Of 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:25.119 course, darling. Well, I'm sort of embarrassed 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:28.640 about this part. It's a paper that I wrote myself. 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:32.059 Oh, something you wrote? Yeah, I wrote it this 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:35.039 morning. I was going to show it to Dr. Singh. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:39.740 It's a... Well, sort of a... poem it's called 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:44.920 death snappy title i can read my own handwriting 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:53.759 death has become nothing to me death holds no 00:18:53.759 --> 00:19:00.539 fear for me come death i welcome you lead me 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:05.640 to the woods the waters the air above the earth 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:15.569 come Take me death. Your touch is kind. Richard? 00:19:17.869 --> 00:19:19.670 Oh, Richard, why do you look like that? Is it 00:19:19.670 --> 00:19:23.630 really that terrible? Oh, terrible. Oh, my darling, 00:19:23.849 --> 00:19:27.450 it's beautiful. Do you mean it? You must give 00:19:27.450 --> 00:19:30.549 it to me. I must have it. You like it that much? 00:19:30.549 --> 00:19:35.089 Yes, I certainly do. I'll type it up for you, 00:19:35.250 --> 00:19:37.970 Richard. No, no, I must have the original. Now, 00:19:38.309 --> 00:19:42.049 just the way you wrote it. Oh, darling, I'm so 00:19:42.049 --> 00:19:45.049 flattered. What will you do with it? Oh, I'm 00:19:45.049 --> 00:19:47.990 going to put it in a frame, of course. And I 00:19:47.990 --> 00:19:58.089 know just where I'm going to hang it. Yes, I 00:19:58.089 --> 00:20:01.640 could hardly believe my ears. Puma had written 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:04.859 her own suicide note and her own handwriting. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:09.660 It was truly karma at work. Now there was no 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:13.200 question of failure and no longer any need for 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:19.160 delay. Oh, what a lovely idea this was, Richard. 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:23.599 Candlelight dinner for two. Yes, yes. I thought 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.680 you'd enjoy it. It's so sweet of you to handle 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:29.420 the whole menu with Cook. You spoil me shamefully. 00:20:36.430 --> 00:20:39.569 And that night, I spoiled her just a bit more 00:20:39.569 --> 00:20:44.029 by bringing hot cocoa to her in bed. Oh, Richard, 00:20:44.089 --> 00:20:47.089 you shouldn't have bothered. But I know how you 00:20:47.089 --> 00:20:49.650 like your hot cocoa before retiring, only you 00:20:49.650 --> 00:20:51.910 can't get to sleep without it. No, but Parker 00:20:51.910 --> 00:20:54.269 could have brought it to me. Oh, no, this is 00:20:54.269 --> 00:20:59.619 something I had to do myself. Drink it down now. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:03.700 Yes. I'm drinking it. Does it taste all right? 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:14.059 Oh, it tastes just fine. Now that was very good 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:17.339 news, because I'd prepared the hot cocoa myself, 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:21.279 and I had no idea whether 25 melted sleeping 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:25.039 pills would seriously affect the flavor. Finally, 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:28.869 Una was all tucked in for the night. I went into 00:21:28.869 --> 00:21:31.529 my study, picked up the poem she had written 00:21:31.529 --> 00:21:34.089 for Dr. Singh, and brought it to the bedroom. 00:21:34.809 --> 00:21:37.289 I placed it carefully on the night table beside 00:21:37.289 --> 00:21:40.630 her. Then I bent over my sleeping darling to 00:21:40.630 --> 00:21:43.769 see if she was getting along all right. She was 00:21:43.769 --> 00:21:48.549 very, very quiet. And then, a dreadful thing 00:21:48.549 --> 00:21:59.279 happened. Una opened her eyes. Now go, go back 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:03.980 to sleep. Richard, I'm sick. No, no, no, my love. 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:06.839 No, no, no. You're only sleepy. Go, go. Taste 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:11.839 it. So strange. I didn't want to upset you, Richard. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.859 I'm sick. You'll feel much better in the morning. 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:19.740 I promise you, tomorrow morning you'll be one 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:23.759 with the universe. Richard, that paper. What 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:30.049 paper, darling? It's my... My my poem doctor 00:22:30.049 --> 00:22:33.450 sing. What's it doing? I will I was just just 00:22:33.450 --> 00:22:36.950 reading it over darling. That's all and bottle 00:22:36.950 --> 00:22:43.849 my Sleeping pills. Oh, it's it's empty the bottle 00:22:43.849 --> 00:22:53.230 is empty Have you done nothing darling nothing 00:22:53.230 --> 00:22:58.910 now go just go to sleep Put sleeping pills in 00:22:58.910 --> 00:23:02.269 it all of them and don't try to get up. Oh, no, 00:23:02.390 --> 00:23:07.130 please I don't don't don't trying to kill me 00:23:07.130 --> 00:23:11.950 Now for heaven heaven's sake now stop saying 00:23:11.950 --> 00:23:14.670 things like that you want the servants to hear 00:23:14.670 --> 00:23:19.170 Come on lie down lie down. Oh no for heaven's 00:23:19.170 --> 00:23:24.470 sake. Come on now. Let lie down That's that's 00:23:24.470 --> 00:23:30.069 better you won't get away with it. You won't 00:23:30.069 --> 00:23:34.390 get away with it, Richard. I promise you. Anything 00:23:34.390 --> 00:23:40.109 you say, darling. I'll come back, Richard. You 00:23:40.109 --> 00:23:44.970 know I'll be back. Yes. Yes, of course. Just 00:23:44.970 --> 00:23:48.390 welcome death, Una, the way you wrote in your 00:23:48.390 --> 00:24:08.839 little poem. I'll be back. The funeral was held 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:12.500 two days later. It was a magnificent occasion, 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:16.519 of course. I gave one a farewell that was consistent 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:20.200 with her vast fortune. Everything was the best. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:25.039 Coffin, flowers, preacher, everything. Her burial 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:27.539 place was one of the choicest bits of real estate 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:31.299 at Forest Lawn. The only discordant note was 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:33.740 the fact that Dr. Singh insisted on saying a 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:36.359 few words at the service. They were familiar 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:40.599 words, but Frankly, they gave me a slight bit 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:45.940 of a chill. The body of Una Morsby is dead, but 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:50.579 her soul lives on. The soul cannot die. The soul 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:54.640 is immortal. It has left the earthly remains 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:58.380 of this woman and has sought the body of a small 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:03.039 living thing. There it will abide until the Almighty 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.839 is ready to choose its next home. Mourn not. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:11.339 the end of Una Morrisby, for there is no end. 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:17.000 I couldn't help congratulating myself on how 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:20.000 well everything had gone. When I called for medical 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.799 attention the night of Una's death, the physician 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.180 was only too ready to declare her a suicide. 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:29.099 The police had to be informed naturally, and 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:32.440 they too agreed with the doctor's verdict. Una 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:35.460 had died by her own hand, and she had died without 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:38.220 a will. There was simply no question that the 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:41.519 matter would be probated in my favor. Suddenly 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:44.740 I realized I was not only rich, but a rich widower. 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:49.079 What fist is open for me? The devil, look out, 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:52.920 you stupid mongrel! Hey, dog, trying to get run 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:58.859 over. I admit I was shaken up by it. I mean, 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:02.980 it was sort of a coincidence, you know? Right 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:13.539 after the funeral and all that. to be home again, 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:17.619 you can be sure. Excuse me, Mr. Morsby? Yes, 00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:21.119 Parker? Cook is worried about the raccoon, sir. 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:24.859 The what? There's been a raccoon at the kitchen 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:28.140 door all morning, and Cook is badly alarmed, 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:31.000 I'm afraid. I've tried to scare it away, but 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:34.019 it keeps returning. A raccoon, for heaven's sake? 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.940 Why don't you just shoot it and make a code out 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:39.140 of it? I was wondering if you wished me to call 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:42.619 the game warden, sir. Please, Parker, do whatever 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:44.720 you please about it. I'm going to take a nap. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:53.539 Yes, sir. Very good, sir. I went upstairs at 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:57.440 once, undressed, and got into bed. It was a warm 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:02.559 day, and yet... yet I found myself cold. I got 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:06.009 out the electric blanket and... Soon felt very 00:27:06.009 --> 00:27:10.289 cozy indeed in fact. I felt so much better that 00:27:10.289 --> 00:27:21.809 I made a phone call Hello may I speak to Rachel, 00:27:22.029 --> 00:27:29.430 thank you very much Hello Rachel Rachel you you 00:27:29.430 --> 00:27:31.829 probably don't even know my name, but it's it's 00:27:31.829 --> 00:27:35.259 Morsby Richard Morsby You met me at the club 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:38.559 numerous times I I'm the rather distinguished 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.720 looking gentleman who sits at the table on the 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:44.119 far -right corner Yeah, I know I know it is and 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:46.119 I've always regretted it frankly I would have 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:48.160 enjoyed my lunches at the club even more if you 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:51.900 would serve them Well, what I wanted to find 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:58.720 out was if you're busy this evening Quiet dinner 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:04.029 perhaps Why don't we just wait and see I can 00:28:04.029 --> 00:28:05.769 pick you up outside the club whenever you're 00:28:05.769 --> 00:28:08.549 free. Yeah, how I know it's you. I mean, I'm 00:28:08.549 --> 00:28:10.569 still not sure which gentleman you are. I'll 00:28:10.569 --> 00:28:13.690 never be sitting in an XKL Jaguar. Do you think 00:28:13.690 --> 00:28:18.410 you'll recognize it? Jack? I get off at 6 .30. 00:28:19.289 --> 00:28:28.130 See you then. Yes, I was feeling very good now. 00:28:28.470 --> 00:28:31.930 Very good indeed. I would have drifted off into 00:28:31.930 --> 00:28:36.720 a... pleasant sleep except for one thing. The 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:39.380 moment I thought a bomb had gone off in the room, 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:42.019 then I realized it was nothing more than a bird. 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:45.279 A foolish sparrow had dived in headfirst into 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.339 the plate glass window of the bedroom and now 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:50.380 lay stunned on the carpet. I looked at the things 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:53.660 fluttering little heart and suddenly I was struck 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:57.680 by a terrifying palpitation of my own. The dog, 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:05.309 the raccoon, the bird, Good Lord! Could one of 00:29:05.309 --> 00:29:17.630 them have been... Una? Has Una Morsby returned 00:29:17.630 --> 00:29:22.210 from the grave? Nonsense! Such things don't really 00:29:22.210 --> 00:29:26.849 happen. But perhaps we should reserve judgment 00:29:26.849 --> 00:29:44.359 until I return shortly with Act III. Now let's 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:47.059 see if common sense has returned to our hero. 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:50.640 He's doing a sensible thing right now. He's taking 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:58.660 a good, refreshing shower. By the time evening 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:03.099 came, I was feeling better. All my peculiar notions 00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:06.539 about Uno's animal reincarnation seemed ludicrous 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:09.460 as I stood in front of the shaving mirror. I 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:11.920 thought about the delicious young woman that 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:15.440 was waiting for me at the club. I'd admired Rachel's 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:18.000 way with a tray for months, but ever faithful 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.799 to my wife I hadn't done more than gaze from 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:24.539 afar. But now things were gonna be different. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:29.700 Yes, who is it? It's Parker, sir. Yes, come in 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:35.440 Parker. It's all right. Excuse me, sir. A bit 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:38.720 of emergency in the kitchen. Well, what is it? 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:43.480 A snake, sir. A what? Cook insists that there's 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:46.559 a snake curled up in the telephone wire. Oh, 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:50.079 that's ridiculous, Parker. Cook says it's there, 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:53.200 Mr. Mordby. They do get into the house sometimes. 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:55.940 Tell Cook she's seeing things. Tell her to stop 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:58.220 nipping at the cooking, Sherry, and she'll soon 00:30:58.220 --> 00:31:01.859 stop seeing snakes. Yes, sir. What was that? 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:05.680 I would guess it was Cook, sir. Oh, for heaven's 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:08.000 sake, go down and see to it, Parker. I'll try, 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:11.309 sir. But I'm not very good with snakes, sir. 00:31:11.369 --> 00:31:21.990 Well, what do you think I am, an expert? But 00:31:21.990 --> 00:31:25.089 that wasn't the end of it. Ten minutes later, 00:31:25.390 --> 00:31:27.569 Parker was back upstairs saying that the snake 00:31:27.569 --> 00:31:29.490 had left the kitchen and run into the living 00:31:29.490 --> 00:31:33.210 room. No, I suppose snakes don't run, they slither. 00:31:33.470 --> 00:31:35.809 It slithered into the living room and was now 00:31:35.809 --> 00:31:38.609 embracing still another telephone wire, obviously 00:31:38.609 --> 00:31:43.769 mistaking it for a long -lost love. But then... 00:31:43.769 --> 00:31:46.589 another... another unsettling thought came into 00:31:46.589 --> 00:31:50.670 my mind. What if the... what if the snake... 00:31:50.670 --> 00:31:56.430 No, no, that... that was ridiculous. Hello? Hi. 00:31:56.849 --> 00:31:59.450 Is this Mr. Moresby? Yes, who's this? Rachel, 00:31:59.589 --> 00:32:03.369 from the club. Oh, yes, Rachel. What is it? Listen... 00:32:08.170 --> 00:32:10.730 Yes, fine, I'll be there as soon as I can. In 00:32:10.730 --> 00:32:13.410 the Jaguar, right? Yes, yes, in the Jaguar. Listen, 00:32:13.509 --> 00:32:15.829 the reason I want to leave earlier is because 00:32:15.829 --> 00:32:18.809 my husband always picks me up at 6 .30. What 00:32:18.809 --> 00:32:21.210 was that? So I asked one of the girls I work 00:32:21.210 --> 00:32:23.710 with to tell him that I got another job someplace. 00:32:24.250 --> 00:32:28.009 He won't care. He likes me to earn extra money. 00:32:28.430 --> 00:32:32.789 Yes, I see. So, just to make the story look good, 00:32:33.029 --> 00:32:35.809 I guess you'll have to lend me a few dollars 00:32:35.809 --> 00:32:40.619 after our date. Yes. Of course. And listen, I 00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:44.220 really do remember you, Suga. You're the handsome 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:55.559 one with the cute bald head. See you soon. As 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:58.079 it happens, I have a very full head of hair. 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:01.779 But distressing as Rachel's telephone call was, 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:05.640 an even more disturbing thought intruded. The 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:09.720 snake was in the telephone wire. What if the 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:12.220 snake had been trying to listen in on the extension 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:17.640 phone I? Knew the idea was absurd, but I I couldn't 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:21.759 help the superstitious shiver of dread In fact, 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:24.839 I was so troubled that I I decided to forego 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:27.519 my date with Rachel the waitress it wouldn't 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:30.740 matter anyway she She'd be angry at some man 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:36.910 at the club with a cute bald head The next day 00:33:36.910 --> 00:33:39.509 I did the only thing that really relaxed me. 00:33:40.390 --> 00:33:43.329 I went to the beach. It proved to be an excellent 00:33:43.329 --> 00:33:46.650 idea. I stretched out on the golden sand and 00:33:46.650 --> 00:33:49.930 let the sun warm me. I listened to the waves 00:33:49.930 --> 00:33:52.630 beating against the shore. I listened to the 00:33:52.630 --> 00:33:55.130 haunting cries of seagulls circling overhead. 00:33:57.410 --> 00:33:59.250 Suddenly I was aware that the gulls which had 00:33:59.250 --> 00:34:01.910 been hovering over the water were now hovering 00:34:01.910 --> 00:34:06.180 over me. Instead of the cries being sad and plaintive, 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:10.300 now they seemed menacing. I stood up hastily, 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:12.539 but the gulls seemed to be increasing in number. 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:16.159 I saw their sharp, pointy beaks, their raking 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:19.679 claws. They were predators, of course. How many 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:22.320 times had I seen them swoop into a dive and snatch 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:25.760 up some poor fish out of the sea? And there was 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:29.719 one sea gull in particular. Its beady eyes seemed 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:33.190 to be staring at me. No, it was my imagination. 00:34:33.289 --> 00:34:36.409 Of course, I wasn't a fish. I was a man. But 00:34:36.409 --> 00:34:40.170 just the same, I found myself running down the 00:34:40.170 --> 00:34:46.110 beach. Running for dear life. And that's when 00:34:46.110 --> 00:34:55.829 I knew it was time to see a doctor. Yes, Mr. 00:34:56.030 --> 00:34:59.090 Moulty. I'm very pleased that you honored the 00:34:59.090 --> 00:35:02.039 temple with your presence. I'm grateful that 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:05.239 you're willing to see me, Dr. Singh. I realized 00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:08.820 that, well, you had a disappointment. A disappointment? 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:12.599 I'm afraid I don't understand. I know my wife 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:15.800 made certain promises to you concerning her will. 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:19.039 I believe she mentioned some modest donation. 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:21.579 She wasn't in her right mind, of course. I mean, 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:24.920 when she took those sleeping pills. Yes, it was 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:28.900 very sad. I trust that she has found the peace 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:32.409 and happiness. That you thought. Frankly, that's 00:35:32.409 --> 00:35:35.809 what I wanted to talk to you about. I mean, about 00:35:35.809 --> 00:35:38.409 whether you really believe that my wife is... 00:35:38.409 --> 00:35:41.469 Well, that she's some kind of animal right now. 00:35:41.710 --> 00:35:45.170 But of course I believe it, Mr. Morsby. I don't 00:35:45.170 --> 00:35:49.969 merely believe. I'm positive. When your wife 00:35:49.969 --> 00:35:53.809 passed from this world into the next, her soul 00:35:53.809 --> 00:35:56.869 made its escape. Yes, yes, I know how it goes, 00:35:57.210 --> 00:35:59.829 but... What I really like your opinion about 00:35:59.829 --> 00:36:03.730 is what sort of animal do you think she might 00:36:03.730 --> 00:36:07.809 be now? I told you, Mr. Morsby, we have no way 00:36:07.809 --> 00:36:10.329 of knowing. But can't you take a guess? I mean, 00:36:10.429 --> 00:36:13.570 you said it might be influenced by a person's 00:36:13.570 --> 00:36:17.190 karma. Am I quoting you right? Yes. The kind 00:36:17.190 --> 00:36:20.449 of person she was in life may well determine 00:36:20.449 --> 00:36:24.610 the kind of animal she is now. Your wife was 00:36:24.610 --> 00:36:29.340 soft. Your wife was gentle. Your wife was independent 00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:34.239 of spirit. Now, what animal does that remind 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:38.679 you of? I don't know. I can't think. Then go 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:42.840 home and think about it, Mr. Morsby. Go home 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:51.760 and try to be one with the universe. I went home 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:54.800 and I tried to be one with the universe. And 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:57.179 when that didn't work... I tried being one with 00:36:57.179 --> 00:37:00.519 a bottle of scotch. I was still in the library 00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:03.079 asleep in the big leather chair when I heard 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:07.400 the noise in the cellar. I simply had to investigate. 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:12.340 I looked into the cellar and found that one bare 00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:15.659 bulb wasn't enough for a thorough search. I found 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:18.800 a flashlight and went down the cellar steps. 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:24.400 At first, first there was nothing I could see. 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:31.000 But then, with an empty oil can, swiftly my flashlight 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:34.440 picked out the culprit. At first I thought it 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:37.860 would turn out to be a mouse, but instead, instead 00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:45.639 it was a large white cat. I don't like cats. 00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:51.139 I never had skulking cynical creatures. When 00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:54.260 the beam of my flashlight hit it, the cat froze. 00:37:54.889 --> 00:37:59.829 I saw it was an alley cat. It's fur shaggy. It's 00:37:59.829 --> 00:38:04.170 eyes baleful in the light. It was fat, and yet 00:38:04.170 --> 00:38:08.150 it was bony too. I said scat, but it didn't scat. 00:38:08.789 --> 00:38:14.469 Instead it started to walk toward me. And I knew 00:38:14.469 --> 00:38:17.530 for certain what Dr. Singh had meant. I knew 00:38:17.530 --> 00:38:20.289 for certain I was looking at the reincarnation 00:38:20.289 --> 00:38:25.309 of my wife. As soon as that... hideous apparition 00:38:25.309 --> 00:38:27.630 howled at me. I made a cowardly dash for the 00:38:27.630 --> 00:38:33.550 cellar door. Once I was on the other side, I 00:38:33.550 --> 00:38:35.210 remembered the hunting rifle that Una had given 00:38:35.210 --> 00:38:39.650 me for Christmas. It stood unused in an upstairs 00:38:39.650 --> 00:38:45.469 closet. I found it. I loaded it and brought it 00:38:45.469 --> 00:38:49.349 back to the cellar. I hadn't fired a rifle since 00:38:49.349 --> 00:38:52.429 boyhood. I stood on the top of the stairs with 00:38:52.429 --> 00:38:56.019 my Flashlight picked out the ghostly white form 00:38:56.019 --> 00:39:00.440 of the cat. I put down the light, raised the 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:04.619 weapon, and squeezed the trigger. The report 00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:08.139 was deafening, but the recoil was worse. My precarious 00:39:08.139 --> 00:39:10.760 balance on the top step was lost. I fell to the 00:39:10.760 --> 00:39:23.800 bottom. I tried to get up again. The pain in 00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:27.559 my right leg was agonizing. I found out later 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:31.179 that it was broken. But the cat, the cat was 00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:35.400 still alive. And it was regarding me at eye level 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:41.019 now. Its fur matted with plaster dust. Its eyes 00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:46.460 filled with hatred. I tried to crawl toward my 00:39:46.460 --> 00:39:50.019 fallen rifle. Just as I saw the creature advancing 00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:58.360 toward me, I screamed. The rifle now grasping 00:39:58.360 --> 00:40:01.039 it. Too quickly in my panic, my fingers touched 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:13.000 the trigger, the rifle went off again. So that's 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:15.480 how Morsby ended up in the hospital, Chief. With 00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:18.039 a broken leg and a bullet in his hip. And then 00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:20.960 he died. But I think he was telling the truth. 00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:23.940 You could see it in his eyes. His silver eyes, 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:27.659 right? Yeah, his silver eyes. And you really 00:40:27.659 --> 00:40:30.840 believe that the guy's wife came back as a cat 00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:33.719 to get her revenge? What does it matter? It's 00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:36.800 still a good story. Sorry, Prouty, I can't okay 00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:40.460 it. Well, what if I got more details? What if 00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:42.780 I talked to this Dr. Singh? If I went to the 00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:45.519 Moresby cellar and found that cat? And what would 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:50.139 you do then? Ask her if she's Mrs. Moresby? I 00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:53.000 still think it's worth a try, Chief. I'll tell 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:55.280 you what, Prouty. What are you doing for lunch? 00:40:56.090 --> 00:40:58.650 I hadn't thought about it. Well, think about 00:40:58.650 --> 00:41:02.230 buying my lunch. You? There's a pretty good restaurant 00:41:02.230 --> 00:41:04.530 right around the corner where the Moresby's lived. 00:41:05.349 --> 00:41:08.289 Now we can get a bite there and then check out 00:41:08.289 --> 00:41:18.170 that cellar. So, uh, this is where it happened, 00:41:18.489 --> 00:41:21.150 huh? Moresby fell from these steps when he fired 00:41:21.150 --> 00:41:23.760 that rifle. Hey, you can still see the plaster 00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:26.900 dust where the bullet hit. Yeah, I see it. But 00:41:26.900 --> 00:41:30.400 I don't see any white cat. It might be hiding 00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:34.000 someplace. Or it might be a figment of his imagination. 00:41:34.460 --> 00:41:39.480 Maybe so. Hold it. Did you hear something? No. 00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:47.300 Listen. There it is. Look. Hmm. It's a cat, all 00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:50.880 right. And it looks like it just found its supper. 00:41:52.590 --> 00:41:55.030 That mouse is still alive. Yeah, but not for 00:41:55.030 --> 00:41:58.469 long. Look at it squirm. He's eating it. Yep, 00:41:58.849 --> 00:42:02.329 and there goes your mouse. Oh, my God. What's 00:42:02.329 --> 00:42:04.769 the matter, Prolly? Never see a cat eat a mouse 00:42:04.769 --> 00:42:07.449 before? Chief, did you see that mouse? Sure I 00:42:07.449 --> 00:42:09.429 saw it. But didn't you notice something? Like 00:42:09.429 --> 00:42:13.309 what? Its eyes. Chief, did you ever see a mouse 00:42:13.309 --> 00:42:17.530 with eyes like that? They were so pale blue, 00:42:17.590 --> 00:42:28.519 they were almost... silver. And so the cat and 00:42:28.519 --> 00:42:32.079 mouse game comes to an end. But according to 00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:37.019 Dr. Singh, there is no end. Perhaps Richard Moresby 00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:39.840 will have his turn next in another afterlife. 00:42:40.840 --> 00:42:54.519 I'll be back in a few moments. Do you believe 00:42:54.519 --> 00:42:58.969 in reincarnation? Do you believe the dead return? 00:43:00.550 --> 00:43:04.849 We have to believe it, because here we are, the 00:43:04.849 --> 00:43:09.250 reincarnation of radio drama. We hope you'll 00:43:09.250 --> 00:43:12.230 keep us alive by listening again to the radio 00:43:12.230 --> 00:43:15.670 mystery theater. Our cast included Patrick O 00:43:15.670 --> 00:43:19.329 'Neill, Marion Seldes, Nick Pryor, and Dan Ako. 00:43:20.210 --> 00:43:21.989 The entire production was under the direction 00:43:21.989 --> 00:43:25.679 of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall inviting 00:43:25.679 --> 00:43:29.099 you to return to our mystery theater for another 00:43:29.099 --> 00:43:35.380 adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant 00:43:35.380 --> 00:43:36.260 dreams.