Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome
to the world of terrifying imagination. Of all
the great killers of history, perhaps the deadliest
and most terrifying is the automobile. Nero,
Attila the Hun, Lorenzo de' Medici, Bluebeard.
Even artillery fire and the ultimate, the atom
bomb, at least have a purpose, a reason, a rationale.
But the automobile maims or kills mindlessly,
senselessly. For example, You better watch out.
I'm nice and big and crazy. Oh, shut up, you
fool. You can't help me, Big Daddy. I must've
hit something. Somebody. Split. I gotta split.
Our mystery drama, and nothing but the truth,
was written especially for the Mystery Theatre
by Ian Martin and stars Arnold Moss. I'll be
back shortly with Act One. Was the accident we
heard a few minutes ago another statistic of
the road? An innocent victim? A careless driver?
The victim's family broken and lost? A young
man whose carelessness had blighted a bright
new manhood and a promising career? Or was the
driver lucky this time? Lucky in a way far beyond
his hope or expectation. We're about to find
out with David the young driver as he paces his
living room floor Waiting for his father to come
home Dad David David, what are you doing up at
this hour? I didn't hear you come in. I Thought
you'd never get home where you've been now. Do
I have to start answering to you for my whereabouts?
What what? Oh, you mean like mother? Yes. Yes
like your mother. I'm sorry dad Well, for your
information, I was working, correcting term papers.
It wasn't that I... David, I'm very tired. You
all right, Dad? You look like you had an attack
or something. Well, don't be silly. I said I
was tired. What... What's wrong with you? You've
been drinking. I... Yes, I wish I hadn't, but
I did. Oh, okay, son. Take it easy. Whatever
it is, we'll work it out. Where's your sports
car? Didn't you have it out tonight? Yes. I left
it parked on the street. Well, you'd better put
it away. There's no sense in leaving it out in
this rain. Dad, I've got to talk to you. It's
about the car. What about the car? I didn't know
what to do. I hit the panic button. I ran. What
else did you hit? Someone. A man, I'm pretty
sure. Down near the railroad, you know where
the big curve comes around by the station opposite
Franny's place? I think it was one of those old
winos that hang around there. Dad, I swear I
never saw him with all that rain and the fog.
Was there anyone else around? I didn't see anyone.
I should have stopped, but all I could think
of was that I'd been drinking and the scholarship
coming up, and if anything happened, it would
kill Mom. And before I knew it, I was running
away. I've been going crazy waiting for you to
get home. I'm scared too, but I guess I ought
to go to the police. Does your mother know about
this? No, no. Okay, when did it happen? Two o
'clock, almost on the nose. Two this morning?
Yeah. By the railroad, you say? Yeah, I just
came off Stratfield and I took the corner into
the Big Bend on Hills Point. I get the picture,
okay. Now go in the kitchen and wait for me.
And no matter what, don't let your mother get
involved. Where are you going? I'm going to have
a look at your car. Well, I'll come with you.
You'll do as I say from here on in while you
go to the kitchen. I'll be right back. What are
you going to do? I'm not sure yet. But just...
Well, maybe there's a way to get off the spot.
Is your mother still asleep? I guess so. She
hasn't been down. There's a dent in your front
right fender. Was that there before tonight?
No. You sure? Yeah, I simonized the car yesterday.
Does it look bad? Well, not too... Well, it must
have been a... a glancing blow. You mean maybe
it's gonna be all right? Maybe. Oh, I don't think
I could have hurt him too bad. And a night like
tonight, you know, I'm a hoopie hanging around.
It isn't gonna be all that easy, David. They
might be able to trace the car. How? You're missing
a front right hubcap. There aren't that many
Harley 584s in this town. So I'll have to give
myself up. No, no, let's figure this out. Was
your mother up when you went out tonight? I don't
know if she was asleep, but she wasn't downstairs.
Well, then she didn't see what car you took.
No. Did she see me leave? I mean... Did she look
out of the window or anything? No, she was just
sitting in the big chair by the fireplace, crying.
Cry? You know, the usual. Then I was off once
again to the arms of another woman, hmm? Like
that. Well, you don't believe all that talk,
do you? Look, Dad, we've been down this road
before. I'm not making any judgments. I'm not
asking you to sit in judgment on me. I ask for
a simple reaction between a father and his son.
I... I'm sorry, David. I... I didn't mean to
blow up. I guess we're both a little shook tonight.
But you ought to know by now where I stand. It's
just... Well, I know Mom gets a lot of screwy
notions, but all the same, I'm sorry for her.
She's so lost and... Well, I'm always afraid
that any little thing might push her right over
the edge. Like tonight... Oh, Dad, what am I
going to do? That's what we're going to figure
out right now. I got a few more questions. You
say the accident happened at two o 'clock or
so, right? Just as I said, almost exactly. Now,
how do you know that? I was listening to Long
Jack and he was just going into a last commercial
before he went off the air. The disc he was spinning
was just ending in... Well, when I hit the guy.
What was the record? An oldie. Easy to love.
And you hit this man just after you turned off
Stratfield into Hills Point? Yeah. He suddenly
stepped off the curb. I got out of nowhere. How
fast were you going? Cheat that. Come on, come
on. Don't pussyfoot with me. Too fast. I took
the corner pretty wide. Did you skid? Yeah, it
was pretty slick from the rain. And there was
no one else around? No. You sure? Yeah, I opened
the door to look out. There was no one. That's
why I lost my nerve and cut out. Well, I better
get down and find out you stay right where you
are It's after four the longer I wait the worse.
It will be you're not going to be involved in
this at all David What do you mean? I mean You
were driving the station wagon tonight I was
the one who was driving the sports car and I'm
going to the precinct house right now to report
that I hit a man and Left the scene of the accident
dad. I can't let you do don't be a fool I'm not
on the verge of getting a full scholarship to
Harvard. I haven't been drinking I'm not a teenager
with two strikes against him as a driver to begin
with I'm a full college professor with a distinguished
record who is coming home on a foul night with
visibility almost zero dead tired after Correcting
200 term papers. I can stand the calf and you
can't know sir dad I thank you, and I admire
you, but I hope to God I'm enough of a man not
to hide behind my father's pants. You'd better
think of it as your mother's skirts. Your mother
couldn't care less what happens to me, but you're
a different story. You get in big trouble over
this, and it could kill her. Worse still, drive
her over that edge we both worry about. But,
Dad, I... Don't argue! This is the way it's going
to be. You just let me handle it and you keep
your mouth shut no matter what happens I Don't
know what to say. I'll tell you what you're going
to say Nothing nothing to anyone but mom least
of all to your mother Okay, dad if that's the
way you want it oh How can I thank you? You're
some kind of a guy no no no no David Just the
most sensible way out of a bad situation. I'd
better get down to the police. Don't wait up
by maybe a while. It's still raining. Oh, have
you got the keys? Sorry, right here. And thanks,
Dan, for everything. This will all work out for
the best. Oh, I think I hear your mother moving
about. If she comes down, what do I say? What
we've agreed on is the truth And I've gone to
the precinct house to report that I'm a hit -and
-run driver, right, right? I'll never forget
what you're doing for me and for your mother
for all of us No mom, it's me David What are
you doing at the front door why I better calm
down. What's going on? I heard voices. Angry
voices. That was Dad and me. Not angry. We were
just discussing something. Where's Grant now?
Did... Yes, I heard a door slam. Did he go out
again? Yes. Not another woman. Not two in one
night. Why don't you give him a break once? He
was at the college correcting papers. Then where
is he off to now? Mom, it's kind of damp in the
hall. Let's go into the living room and sit down.
Don't tell me he's finally taken off for good
with one of his bed partners. Oh, Mother, have
a heart. Why can't you see what a right guy Dad
is? Maybe I've known him too long. So what Aaron
took him out of the house again at 420 in the
morning? He's gone to the... Local precinct to
to confess to a hit -and -run Yes, madam, I understand
I'll have some officers on the way immediately
Well, these are experts in the bomb squad. Oh
Yes, ma 'am all the latest equipment. Thank you
ma 'am. We do our best at the police department
Full moon time again our lieutenant. Oh, yeah,
the crazies are out on the broom tonight That
was some ding -a -ling just saw a UFO land in
her backyard How was your hit and run? Oh, no
sweat some old wino stumbled off the curb got
his rear end creased They took him to st. Elizabeth's
anything on the general bulletin. No, it's small
stuff Mugging in the second precinct the gas
station hold up in the fifth. I want to hear
something. No That's a 12th Nah, nothing a code
to see the man Some citizen reports a smell of
gas and has a crap in house possible suicide
Nothing with our brains What's that your hand?
Ah, it's a hubcap clue from the scene of the
hit -and -run. Let me have a look in Hmm English
make probably from a Harley or some sport car
like that Found on the scene? About 75 yards
away. No proof it had anything to do with the
hit and run. How's the victim? Conditioned fair.
When the ambulance picked him up, he only got
struck a glancing blow. That still don't make
no never mind. The perpetrator cut out. I want
him brought in. Oh, so do I. But it may be a
little rough. Even if we find the car this belongs
to, it doesn't prove it was lost hitting the
victim. Could have been loose and just fallen
off. So you think we don't make the guy, huh?
My educated guess is that the odds are not so
high. Yeah, Brady, what is it? You don't say.
Right with you now, huh? Well, how about that?
Yeah, yeah, bring him right in. Educated guess,
huh? I was wrong. Couldn't be wronger. A guy
named Williams just came to the desk and confessed
to making the hit and run. He's on the way in
you and he should get on together just Andy guys
a college professor Your father hits someone
with the sports car tonight, but that's impossible
How can you say that mom because he wasn't driving
that car tonight? How do you know you didn't
see him leave? No, but I was awake when he drove
in and I could swear I know he was driving the
station wagon. A father's sacrifice for his son.
Surely a noble if perhaps misguided gesture.
The question of course is should a young man
or anyone be encouraged to evade responsibility?
And will this simple act of altruism remain just
that? We'll find out shortly, when we return
with Act 2. A precinct house in a large city,
even at the best of times, is never the most
prepossessing spot in the world. In the dog hours
of the morning, dusty, dingy, tired paint peeling
from the walls, half empty coffee containers
with cigar and cigarette butts floating in them,
it is certainly one of the most depressing, or
so Grant feels as he dictates his false confession.
It was only when I was putting the car away in
the garage and I noticed a dent in the fender
and found that one of the hubcaps was missing.
But I began to realize with horror that I might
have hit an animal An opossum or something it
never occurred to me that it might have been
a human being Well, I would have returned right
away. But my wife who has Not been well recently.
Well, she she was she was up She was waiting
for me and I I didn't want to alarm her and so
I coaxed her back to bed and to sleep I came
here just as soon as I could And this was what
time professor? Almost exactly two o 'clock And
you can fix the time because you were listening
to long Jack on the car radio and he was signing
on you like acid rock mr. Williams I Beg your
pardon, you know the big hard beat loud enough
to blow your mind. Oh, no. No, no, I don't Why
well, that's long Jack's bag. It's most of what
he plays, you know, I didn't figure you'd dig
his scene Yeah, well, I I didn't I turned on
the radio to keep me awake, not for music appreciation.
As a matter of fact, I remember the last number
he was playing just before he signed off was
Easy to Love, and I wouldn't call that exactly
contemporary. The main point is that you made
the turn at two o 'clock, you felt a jarring
feeling, which jives with our information, right,
Rizzo? Right, Lieutenant. I see. Victim left
Franny's restaurant 518 Hills Point Road at approximately
2 minutes to 2 a .m. Because victim was discovered
by George Bates, post office employee, some two
minutes later. He heard a car drive away but
due to adverse weather conditions could not see
it or make any identification. Victim was Dominic
Capello, unemployed, 61 years old. Well, I hope
he's all right. He's at the hospital. We don't
know the extent of the injuries yet. I feel terrible,
that poor old man. Professor Williams, let me
point out something. From your story and our
evidence, there is no clear -cut evidence that
you did hit this man. Now, if I were you, before
I went any further, I'd get a lawyer. Oh, there's
no need for a lawyer. I'm quite willing to face
my responsibilities. If you'll prepare a statement
for me, I'd be very glad to sign it. All right.
I'll leave you here with Patrolman Foster, who'll
type up a statement. You just check it over when
he's finished, and then if you still want to,
you can sign. I'll be right back. Lieutenant,
see you a minute outside. Okay. All right, Rizzo,
what's biting you? I think the guy's lying. About
what, for Pete's sake? Why would he lie? To cover
up. Cover up who how do I know his daughter son
wife? Now why would he want to take the rap for
them? Ah, that's what'll take some digging to
find out. Oh boy 15 precincts in this city for
detected divisions not to get stuck with you
You want to make a federal case out of one sneaky
little hit -and -run where the guy comes in like
a good citizen and confesses And just for once,
make the job easy? What do you got to do? Go
looking for trouble? Now, Lieutenant, it isn't
just the few small discrepancies, it's the whole
psychology of the man. Psychology? That's all
I need. The new breed. Now look, Ritsu, will
you for once just forget the college education
and get back in there and have that statement
signed, sealed and delivered, and stop making
waves? Mother. Please will you let well enough
alone? I've kept quiet about too many things
for far too long, but I can't let this go I know
your father wasn't driving the sports car tonight
Okay, okay, so he wasn't so you know what that
means You want to get me locked up no, of course
not But why should it come to that you don't
know yet if you really hit anyone or hurt them.
I'm not kidding myself When I pulled away, I
tried to tell myself nothing had happened. But
now it's all on the table, and I know that guy
got hurt. And I'm scared. I'm scared of what
they could do to me. Darling, there's nothing
to be scared of in being honest, owning up. It
was an accident. David, please! Will you let
me go? I'm only trying to help you. Oh, sure.
Some help you are. I don't understand you, Mother.
Look what Dad's willing to do for me, and all
you want is for me to turn myself in. I want
you to be honest. This is for laughs. I mean,
I... Look, Dad went down there to take the blame
so he could protect you as well as me. Protect
me? Yes. He... He said it would kill you if anything
happened to me. Grant was worried about me? Yes.
Don't you ever believe it? Mom, how can you be
so bitter? Look what he's done for me He's got
to have an angle. That's unfair. I know you and
dad have problems I'm not gonna try to make any
judgments about all but you do you make them
every day in spite of yourself and Always against
me mother. I've had just about as much of this
as I can take You know that the curious thing
is that I know you love me in spite of everything
Just give me a moment. What is it? I don't stand
much chance, do I? I spend so much time upstairs
with... with myself. Very lonely with just yourself.
I'm a woman not quite able to cope. A woman with
hallucinations. It's something out of Dickens.
Living among cobwebs of near insanity and the
ghosts of what never was. Mother. Look, it's
time I told you. Time I try to tell somebody
I'm a prisoner with a life sentence because Because
I can't stop loving To everyone else. I'm the
ghost but the truth is that the real corruption
lies rotting in That very man we both love David,
I don't want to ever see you become like him.
I would rather see you dead. That's why I want
you to take your own troubles on your own shoulders.
Mom, don't you think you ought to lie down? I
mean, you're not... It's easy, isn't it, to find
a scapegoat to make someone else responsible?
Poor, mad, wasted Marion Williams. married to
that intelligent, handsome man, respected by
his faculty, worshipped by his students, particularly
the girls. Oh, yes, particularly the girls. Oh,
Mother, for Pete's sake. No, this time you don't
stop me. I loved him so much I forgave all those
early affairs. The young children invaded, cheapened.
I saved him. I went to those girls. I begged
them off. And after you came, the pattern continued.
I began to... Retreat farther and farther. I
had the money. That's why I could always keep
him. And I couldn't stop loving him. That was
the saddest part, wasn't it, David? What? I was
the one who ruined him. Without me to cover for
him, he'd have been found not long ago. So you
see... I don't know what you mean, Mom. I can't
discuss what you've been talking about. But that
has nothing to do with what Dad is doing at this
moment. I'd been drinking. I couldn't have gone
to the police. Dad can handle this. Please, leave
it alone. And let you spoil yourself just as
he did. The rot spread so fast, David. The incident
was totally minor in mind till I returned home,
found that there was a dent in my front fender.
Well, I've read this through, Lieutenant, and
there's nothing here that isn't consonant with
my, uh... My earlier confession? It's a formality,
Professor. I prefer to have you read it aloud
before you sign the statement. If you insist.
It's better, Professor Williams. There is much
more. Go ahead. It's quite evident that I must
have been responsible for striking with my automobile
one Dominic Capello 61 at approximately 2 a .m.
on the above date. This statement is a true and
unsolicited confession of my responsibility and...
Excuse me, Lieutenant. Have you warned the professor
again that he should have legal representation?
No, I don't need a lawyer. I'll have to warn
you, sir, that you may. The man was hit just
died in the hospital without regaining consciousness.
It isn't just an accident anymore. It could be
homicide. Oh, come on. Read so, man, slaughter.
But it does change things, professor. If you
sign this, I'll have to book you. You should
have a lawyer before you sign. Well, nonsense.
I want a sign. Let's not waste any more time,
and then I'll call my lawyer. All right. Detective
Rizzo, will you witness this? You'd rather be
fingerprinted, Professor. Whatever you say, Lieutenant.
Foster will take you to a phone first to call
your lawyer about bail. Thank you. And thank
you, Detective Rizzo. Don't mention it. All right
now, Rizzo, don't say it. I've got to. Something's
out of kilter. I never saw a man so anxious to
get arrested in my life. He just wants to get
it over with and get back to bed. Now, who doesn't?
It's wrong, Lieutenant. It's wrong. A cool, collected
individual like that doesn't go around hitting
panic buttons and taking a powder out of a bad
situation. Now, don't drop it. Lay off. Don't
give me any more of the psychology. I'm just
a plain flat foot who came up through the ranks
by sticking to one thing, facts. Let's give the
guy a vote of thanks for coming in. My psychology
is we leave it lay, huh? You got any other hunches?
Save them for the ponies. Okay? Okay. What's
on the bulletin, Ray, sir? Ah, same old noise.
Nothing special. They picked up that mugger in
a second, a repeater. What's happening with Professor
Williams? Huh? Williams. Williams, a professor.
You remember the guy we spent most the night
with? Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, he got fingerprinted
and his lawyer sprung him. He's going home. Hey,
look at this, Lieutenant. What? That code 2.
See the man in the 12th? That suicide was no
false alarm. It was a DOA. Only now it looks
like homicide. They figured the girl was strangled
before the gas was turned on. Oh, what do I care
about some dame in the 12th? The 7th is my baby.
Let the 12th worry about their headaches. I'm
taking you off. Marion, for the last time, you
stay out of this or I'll... You'll what, Grant?
Kill me? You did that a long time ago. The only
reason I clung to any shred of life was because
of David. And a fine little mama's boy you made
out of him. The moment my back is turned, he
runs to you, he blurts out the whole thing. Oh,
no, he didn't. I figured out what happened myself.
I saw you drive away in the station wagon. Why
can't you mind your own business? Because I don't
trust you. And I want David to be a man and stand
on his own feet. Will you get something through
that birdbrain of yours? The man who was hit
is dead. David had been drinking. You won't be
emancipating your son. You'll be burying him
in jail. Is that what you want? You're hurting
me, Grant. Is that what you want? Or will you
keep your mouth shut and allow me to do something
for my own son? Please, let me go. Not until
I get your promise to leave things as they are.
I don't want David to go to jail. All right,
then. I can trust you. Yes, I only wish I trusted
you. You've never done one unselfish thing in
your life, Grant. I only wish I knew what it
is you expect to gain this time. A torturing
dilemma for a mother and father. Is the father
right to protect his son? or the mother to feel
it would be better for him to take his medicine.
So many other questions pose themselves. Questions
which will be answered when I return shortly
with Act 3. Those questions I mentioned. Of course,
Marion Williams would feel herself hurt by her
husband's interest in other women. Or is that
all in her mind, a figment fantasized by her
obviously shaky mental stability? But then there
is also the doubts of Detective Sergeant Ritso.
Let's follow him for a moment. Yes, is professor
Williams at home? No, he has classes this morning
at the university. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's right.
That's right Excuse me. I'm a detective Rizzo.
This is my shield I wonder if I could talk to
mrs. Williams for a moment. I'm sorry, but but
my mother she's still asleep She's kind of an
invalid. Oh and it all well and I wouldn't think
of disturbing you're Professor Williams son,
huh? Yes Well, then how about you take the chain
off the door and I step in and ask you a couple
of questions Have you got a warrant? A warrant?
What would I want a warrant for? Look, don't
let me being a cop scare you. Oh, I'm not scared.
You always keep a chain on when you open the
front door? No. Look, I'm sorry. You're wasting
your time. My father told me not to answer any
questions. Oh, then you know about the accident
last night, huh? I... Yes, but... I'm sorry.
I've got to close the door. Uh, you drive, kid.
Sir, your foot's in the way. Oh, yeah. Yeah,
so it is. Anyway, I figure you drive. Since you
got a license, I looked it up in the bureau.
Would you move your foot, please? Uh, hold it
just a minute. Here's your newspaper, huh? You
might want to read about the accident. Page four.
You know, check out the details. Thanks for the
paper. Sure. Here. Will you let it go, please?
You, uh... We're not driving yourself last night,
were you? I'll take the paper. Yeah. And now
I know my hunch is right. Come on, come on. Where
are you? Hello? David. David, where were you?
Oh, I'm sorry. I was just... that mother's lunch
tray but you never answer the phone any mail
any phone calls just a couple of ads no phone
call oh there was uh well we had a visitor who
a detective ritzo what did he want he said he
wanted to talk to you then when i said you weren't
home he wanted to talk to mom well you didn't
let him no no she was asleep so he said he wanted
to ask me some questions lord it's all right
I didn't let him in, and I didn't tell him anything.
Well, I hope you didn't. He had no right, no,
no, no, no right to... David, David, you're sure
you didn't... No, no, I didn't say anything,
but... I'm scared. I think he knows, I think
he's guessed that I... Now, now, listen to me,
David. I don't care what he knows or what he
suspects. He can't prove anything if we just
stick to our story. Now, you get this straight,
David. I'll kill you if you let me down. No,
no, I I didn't mean that I I'm just thinking
about you I I don't want your life spoiled before
it begins now you just remember a Man has been
killed the real truth comes out. You're in trouble
bad trouble Just so you remember both you and
your mother, okay, but supposing that detective
turns up again he won't You just leave that to
me just leave Everything to me. I will and don't
think I'm not grateful. Oh, I don't know how
I can ever pay you back You just sit tight and
stick to our story. That's all the payment I
need I Quite understand professor detective Rizzo
exceeded his orders. I promise you he won't bother
your family again I don't blame you, sir. You'd
feel better if you'd get a load of how I'm gonna
lose mine. You'd have no pleasure. Detective
Rizzo checking in. All right, tell him the leg
is rear end here on the double. I'm gonna bust
him right down to patrol. You looking for me,
lieutenant? Yeah, come on in and close the door.
Jarvis on the desk tells me the Williams guy
was on the phone having a fit. Didn't I tell
you to stop making waves? Well, yes, Lieutenant.
Did I tell you the Williams case was closed?
It can't be closed as long as there's a charge.
That's up to the judge. Now, we've done our part.
We have a statement and a confession. That's
all we're supposed to provide. Uh -huh. A phony
confession. What does that mean? Now, look. That
professor has a kid around 17, 18, huh? Talked
to him today. I'll lay your dollars to doughnuts.
He was the one driving the car with that accident
Have any proof of that? No, but give me an hour
with that kid now quiet detective Rizzo strong
arm methods from a member of the new breed I
Thought today's young cop was exchanging the
third degree for a college degree You know, I
didn't mean anything like that. But if you just
give me a chance to get to the bottom Why would
a respected college professor a guy as prominent
in this town as he is? Why would he risk his
reputation to cover up something his son did?
I don't know this guy's a teacher The last thing
in the world he'd do was let his son run out
on a responsibility. Yeah, that's the way I see
it Psychologically is psychologically now. Let's
not get tangled up with that bull again, huh?
We have a confession, Detective Rizzo. Lieutenant,
give me a break. I got the strongest hunch. It
isn't any stronger than mine. And mine is, if
you don't let this lay like I told you, you're
gonna be back in your boondockers walking a beat
as far uptown as these city limits stretch. Okay,
Detective Second Grade, is this case closed?
Or like you say, the case is closed. You can
study, Mom. You all right? I just want to talk
a minute. What are you doing? Just catching up
on some homework. David, that man, that detective
you said came here, are you sure all he asked
you about was the accident? Look, Mom, that's...
I mean... I promised Dad I wasn't going to talk
about it anymore. So did you. It's a closed book.
We're going to have to open it again. Did he
ask you about anything else than the accident?
No, but... Look, David, you have got to go to
the police and tell them the truth. Now, I promised
Dad... David, don't make me go. You promised
him too. You don't understand. Everything's changed.
He has to be stopped. There must be some justice.
Mom, why don't you go upstairs? Look, don't treat
me like an invalid, or worse, a half -wit. Have
you read the newspaper that you brought up to
me today? No. Do you know a girl named Susan
Rowland? Susan? Yeah, yeah, kind of. I mean,
she was a class ahead of me at school. I guess
I rapped with her here and there, but we never
dated or anything like that. That her picture
yes front page what happened read the story and
find out carefully Then you'll know why your
father is so anxious to keep you quiet David
you you're going to find out why the truth has
to be told Lieutenant Klemeth here. How's everything
with the 12th, John? You know how it goes with
lieutenants in the police department, from bad
to worse. A little favor, George. Name it, you
got it. You see, the DOA we had on the bulletin,
possible suicide, now definitely homicide. The
picture in the morning paper? Yeah, that's the
one. Susan Rollin, 19 years old, college student.
We're running a routine check on all our acquaintances.
You got a make on anyone? No. Fingerprints all
over the place, but not even a warm lead. Uh
-huh. What can I do? Ah, well, I'm running down
blind alleys. Like in her address book is the
name of a guy, Grant Williams, domiciled your
precinct. She seemed to have been in one of his
classes at the university. Could you spare the
man to check it out? John, I don't even have
to. I'll close one lead for you. What time did
your little student get strangled? at around
2 o 'clock at 1 .55 she called her mother to
say she was pregnant and the guy who did it was
with her. She started to give his name, the connection
was broken. At 2 .15 a prowl car responded to
a code 2, suspicion of suicide by gas. They broke
in, turned off the gas, but the girl had already
been dead 10 or 15 minutes. So, 2 o 'clock. 2
o 'clock, eh? Well, that lets out Grant Williams.
2 o 'clock, outside of town. 45 minutes away.
He was involved in a traffic accident. He's already
booked How long ago did he leave too late for
you to stop him I ought to kill you for this
like you did that poor little girl no no no i
i i didn't mean to the little idiot refused to
have an abortion she wanted me to marry her marry
her for heaven's sake oh and divorce your meal
ticket marion marion please please help me no
not anymore anyway i couldn't even if i wanted
to but david maybe i can still stop david if
you could you'd still have to stop me And everything
my father testified to in his statement was true
except that it was Me who was driving the car
not my father. I hit that man panicked and drove
off Well, don't look at me lieutenant. I have
nothing to say You wouldn't have to reach her
Another boys telling the truth Yeah, you were
right all along I Had a phone call about a half
It's all right, Sergeant. Let him in. What is
it, Professor Williams? David, I don't want you
to say one word until I've talked to you and
we can get legal advice. It's too late, Dad.
I've said everything I have to say. But you don't
know what you're doing. The first time in my
life, I do. I'm taking care of myself. How could
you do it, Dad, to a nice kid like Susan? I don't
know what you're talking about. I can clear that
up, Professor. We're booking you for the murder
of Susan Rowland. Oh, you can't I have an alibi
correction You had an alibi, but I'm not guilty
and you can't prove it. We will with your help
What do you mean? It's ironic, isn't it? If you
hadn't walked in here and made a false confession,
we might never have had your fingerprints That's
what's gonna nail you You provided us with a
whole set to match up. You were just a little
too clever. You managed to hang yourself. All
right, take him out and bug him, Jarvis. Dad,
I... Let him go, kid, huh? Let him go. There's
nothing you can do for him. Now, you go on with
Foster. Let him type up your statement, huh?
What's gonna happen to him? He'll be found guilty.
As he ought to. And me? You're taking a beating,
you know, already. It's an accident. It won't
be too tough. And things should be looking up
from now on for both you and your mother. Go
on, kid. Okay, Lieutenant. Well, I guess I ought
to start to eat my hat, Reid, so, huh? But I
rather just say I'm sorry. Oh, no me too lieutenant
This is one time. I wish I could just have been
wrong When you're a cop as long as I've been
there'll be a lot more I Wish I could say you
get used to it Come on let's try the squad room
coffee, right? Bad as it is it's better than
the taste. I got in my mouth right now So Marion's
intuition was right, along with Ritzo's. And
David made the first long stride towards being
a man. Something else I'd like to say about that,
but I'll return shortly. Not every story must
have a moral. But I believe this one has. Not
that crime doesn't pay. That's obvious. But that
the acceptance of responsibility is a cornerstone
of life. The Apostle John has saved us Jesus'
words. You shall know the truth, and the truth
shall set you free. Our cast included Arnold
Moss, Ralph Bell, Clarissa Blackburn, Billy Redfield,
and Christopher Tabore. The entire production
was under the direction of Hyman Brown. This
is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return to our
mystery theater for another adventure in the
macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.