WEBVTT 00:00:17.729 --> 00:00:26.449 Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome 00:00:26.449 --> 00:00:31.289 to the sound of suspense. Welcome to the fear 00:00:31.289 --> 00:00:36.969 you can hear. But mostly, to the world of terrifying 00:00:36.969 --> 00:00:41.289 imagination. In the next 52 minutes, you'll hear 00:00:41.289 --> 00:00:46.259 a story about truth. Everyone is in favor of 00:00:46.259 --> 00:00:49.780 truth, of course. It's a word which produces 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:54.000 immediate reverence and respect. But sometimes 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:58.960 the truth can be a terrible thing. Even a shattering 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:08.959 thing. Oh, my God! Mark, you hit a woman! I told 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.519 you not to drive so fast! I didn't see her. I 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:13.840 didn't see her crossing the road. Is she alive? 00:01:14.569 --> 00:01:17.730 Look at the way she's lying there! Lorna, she 00:01:17.730 --> 00:01:21.030 must be dead. Lorna, you mustn't tell anyone. 00:01:21.510 --> 00:01:30.930 Please, you mustn't tell anyone! Our mystery 00:01:30.930 --> 00:01:34.590 drama, The Ring of Truth, was written especially 00:01:34.590 --> 00:01:38.290 for the Mystery Theatre by Henry Slusser and 00:01:38.290 --> 00:01:54.109 stars Agnes Moorhead. Now here's act one of the 00:01:54.109 --> 00:01:58.450 ring of truth. The place, a charming college 00:01:58.450 --> 00:02:01.329 town in New England. The people you're about 00:02:01.329 --> 00:02:05.329 to meet, young Lorna Kittredge and the special 00:02:05.329 --> 00:02:09.789 man in her life, Mark Kramer. His driving speed, 00:02:10.370 --> 00:02:14.050 a comfortable 30 miles an hour. I'll tell you 00:02:14.050 --> 00:02:16.870 what I resent most about your father Lorna. It's 00:02:16.870 --> 00:02:18.889 the fact that he deliberately keeps forgetting 00:02:18.889 --> 00:02:23.400 my name. Don't be so silly. Daddy has a genuine 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:26.699 problem about names. No, no, I'm sorry. I can't 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:29.900 buy this absent -minded professor stuff. It's 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.199 too corny. Corny or not, that's exactly what 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.340 my father is sometimes. Absent -minded. His mind 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:39.340 is always up in the stratosphere somewhere, communing 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:42.639 with Socrates or Schopenhauer on the meaning 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:47.539 of truth. You you just don't like my father very 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:51.060 much. I hardly know your father Look, I want 00:02:51.060 --> 00:02:53.060 to get along with him long after he's gonna be 00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:55.740 my father -in -law, isn't it? You're almost home 00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:59.780 But can I do to put you in a better mood? That's 00:02:59.780 --> 00:03:02.900 easy darling You can promise to tell him tonight. 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:07.900 Oh Tonight why not? But I told you that the prize 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:11.240 are going to be a dinner tonight How prize daddy's 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:14.360 publisher so after they leave you can tell him 00:03:15.200 --> 00:03:17.139 Wanna we've been engaged for almost three weeks 00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:19.340 now. Nobody knows about it except you and me. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:21.860 Well, isn't that enough? Not for me. It is no 00:03:21.860 --> 00:03:24.439 I'm the kind of guy wants to shout it now stops 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:30.539 Yes, I do too. I really do mark. I Love you so 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:34.460 much. All right darling and prove it Tell him 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:37.439 tonight, Lorna Tell him you're gonna marry what's 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:51.400 -his -name Quite right, Harold. What the book 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:54.060 needs is a much sexier title. Well, of course, 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:56.159 there isn't a word about sex in it, but what's 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:58.240 the difference as long as it sells? What's the 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.500 latest book about? Why, truth of course. Daddy's 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:03.580 favorite subject. Should be everyone's favorite 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:06.080 subject, in my opinion. You know, if you really 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:07.840 want a suggestion for a new title, Professor, 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:10.759 I think I have one. Do you, Mike? Daddy, the 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:13.780 name is Mark. Oh, yes, yes, of course. I'm sorry, 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.779 Mark. Well, go on, let's hear your suggestion. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:20.600 Why not call it... The Ring of Truth. Well, I 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.360 think that's a very good name, but of course 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:26.500 that's up to Professor Kittredge. It's not a 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:30.060 bad title, Mark, but it does imply a lack of 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:33.480 sincerity, doesn't it? The Ring of Truth is only 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:36.160 the surface appearance of it. What I'm examining 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.319 in my book is the necessity for stark truth. 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:41.839 For truth I'm afraid. Of course, there's a fairly 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.259 good argument against dark truth sometimes, isn't 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:46.079 there? I mean, there's still a necessity for 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.319 a white lie now and then. Is there? You mean 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:50.100 in the real estate business perhaps? No, no, 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:52.740 not just in my business, in everyone's. I mean, 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:57.060 there are times when tact... Courtesy and general 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:01.459 goodwill call for a shading of the truth May 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:04.699 I make a suggestion? Everyone why don't we have 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:06.680 our coffee in the living room was a good idea? 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:11.879 I'll give you a hand with the dishes, honey Besides 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:14.019 I'd like a little conversation with you in the 00:05:14.019 --> 00:05:27.730 kitchen I know what you're going to say. Daddy 00:05:27.730 --> 00:05:30.529 was impossible tonight. Your father's a great 00:05:30.529 --> 00:05:33.470 scholar, man of ideals, the Albert Schweitzer 00:05:33.470 --> 00:05:36.050 of New England. I'm only a poor schnook of a 00:05:36.050 --> 00:05:38.250 real estate man, but I'm perfectly willing to 00:05:38.250 --> 00:05:40.430 put up with him for your sake. Put up with him? 00:05:40.430 --> 00:05:43.569 Won't be easy. A crass, materialistic guy like 00:05:43.569 --> 00:05:46.370 me marrying into all that saintliness. What can 00:05:46.370 --> 00:05:49.509 I do? I'm crazy about his daughter. You idiot. 00:05:51.350 --> 00:05:53.250 Well, Mark, my hands are wet. Will you tell him 00:05:53.250 --> 00:05:56.500 tonight? Yes, the minute everyone leaves. He's 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:58.579 not gonna be happy about it. You know that he 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:00.639 won't be happy about losing you He knew it had 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.620 to happen someday. All right, then tell him that 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:04.819 day has come tell him the truth I always tell 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:14.060 daddy the truth Daddy can I come in? Yes, darling, 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:17.899 of course. I Didn't want to interrupt your reading. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:21.600 I can't really read this book. I don't understand 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:25.240 the language Have you seen it by the way hmm 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:29.220 still another edition German of the seven secrets 00:06:29.220 --> 00:06:34.319 of Shakespeare Beautiful binding yes, I'm pleased 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:36.699 with it. I suppose an author never loses his 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:38.500 affection for the first book he writes. It's 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:41.959 more than just that This book made you famous 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:46.300 in very limited circles. Yes And I hope you've 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:48.379 enjoyed the evening and what your friend did 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:51.079 too. The only thing Mark didn't like was being 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:53.899 called Max Oh, I'm sorry about that, precious. 00:06:54.459 --> 00:06:57.160 I hope he wasn't offended. But you have to admit 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:00.920 that you do bring home a lot of young men. Daddy, 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:04.620 that may have been true once, but Mark Kramer 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:07.860 is the only man I've seen for the last six months. 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:11.279 How long? The reason I've seen him so much is 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:18.480 that I'm in love with him. Well, that isn't an 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:22.360 entirely new phenomenon either, is it? Daddy, 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:28.540 Mark asked me to marry him. I said yes. Marriage? 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:32.000 You know that word, don't you? It's English, 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:36.399 not German. Yes, I know the word, but... Well, 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.480 it's just that I never suppose you'd want to 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:41.579 marry now. I mean, before your doctorate, before 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:43.519 you've done all those things we plan to do together. 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:47.180 Marriage wouldn't put an end to our plans. And 00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:49.899 it's for your lecture tour, but you don't really 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:52.959 need me along. I don't know if I'd want to go 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.060 without you. I'm getting a little old to gallivant 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:57.980 around Europe by myself. Well, it's the first 00:07:57.980 --> 00:08:00.019 time I've heard you complain about being old. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.620 Yeah, for some reason, the last ten seconds, 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.980 I began to feel old. Of course, Mark and I could 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:11.279 go with you to Europe as a sort of honeymoon. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:15.360 No, Lorna, he's not going to want that, I'm sure. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.410 In fact... My guess is that your young man is 00:08:18.410 --> 00:08:20.689 going to want to see as little of me as he possibly 00:08:20.689 --> 00:08:25.250 can. No, Daddy, that isn't so. He knows that 00:08:25.250 --> 00:08:27.329 I won't just abandon you. I couldn't be that 00:08:27.329 --> 00:08:31.149 heartless. That's the last word I'd use about 00:08:31.149 --> 00:08:34.629 you, precious. I know your heart only too well. 00:08:35.610 --> 00:08:37.970 I know what a tender, beating little thing it 00:08:37.970 --> 00:08:41.769 is. I've always been afraid of the man who would 00:08:41.769 --> 00:08:44.970 trap it someday. I just wish you knew Mark better. 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:48.360 He's not I'm not saying anything against mark. 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:52.960 I'd fear this way about any man I'm like the 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.340 tired old king of the fairy tale darling forced 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:57.419 by the condition of kingdom to give the hand 00:08:57.419 --> 00:09:12.600 of his princess to a commoner Mark you're just 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:17.139 being pigheaded It won't even be six months. 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:19.940 And by that time I'll have my doctorate and daddy's 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:21.879 lecture tour will be over. Oh, that's great. 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:26.460 Just great. Waiter, where's the drink I ordered? 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:28.799 Mark, I've never seen you have more than two 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:31.179 martinis in my life. You're wrong, my love. I 00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:33.019 had one before you got here. The one coming up 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:36.139 will be number four. Mark, please, don't be so 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:39.620 upset. I'm not breaking our engagement. I'm simply 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:41.940 asking for a postponement. How long will it take 00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:44.570 to talk you into it, Lorna? Well, it was something 00:09:44.570 --> 00:09:48.309 I decided to do mark all by myself because you 00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:53.370 realized how important it was Get your PhD To 00:09:53.370 --> 00:09:56.549 make sure daddy was taken care of on his lecture 00:09:56.549 --> 00:09:59.490 tour, but it is important You know, you're a 00:09:59.490 --> 00:10:03.190 lucky girl to have a father like that Now you 00:10:03.190 --> 00:10:06.429 think my old man good old Charlie Kramer real 00:10:06.429 --> 00:10:09.970 estate. I Don't think he ever heard of an ethic 00:10:09.970 --> 00:10:13.250 or an ideal in his life Probably told a dozen 00:10:13.250 --> 00:10:15.309 lies today, old Charlie. I guess that's why it 00:10:15.309 --> 00:10:18.350 turned out so badly. You're drinking too much. 00:10:18.990 --> 00:10:21.250 You always do when you're angry. Just another 00:10:21.250 --> 00:10:24.809 flaw in my character. Hardly noticeable in the 00:10:24.809 --> 00:10:27.090 general ruin of my personality. Please, Mark, 00:10:27.149 --> 00:10:29.450 I don't want you to be drunk to drive me home. 00:10:29.490 --> 00:10:31.389 Don't worry, I won't even have that fourth drink. 00:10:31.669 --> 00:10:34.330 See what a nice guy I am? I want to make sure 00:10:34.330 --> 00:10:45.909 you get home to Daddy safe and sound. Mark, are 00:10:45.909 --> 00:10:48.990 you sure you don't want me to drive? No, you 00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:52.570 just leave the driving to us. It's starting to 00:10:52.570 --> 00:10:55.330 rain. I think you should turn your wipers on. 00:10:55.389 --> 00:10:57.950 That isn't rain, precious. Those are tears in 00:10:57.950 --> 00:11:00.389 front of your eyes. Please, Mark. All right, 00:11:00.509 --> 00:11:04.610 all right. You have to drive so fast. I know 00:11:04.610 --> 00:11:06.529 there isn't any traffic, but these roads are 00:11:06.529 --> 00:11:08.289 so dark. That's what the headlights are for. 00:11:09.800 --> 00:11:12.899 How far these little candles throw their beam 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:17.139 so shines a good deed in a naughty world Hey, 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:18.860 see your father isn't the only one who can quote 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:28.960 you I Didn't see her I didn't see her crossing 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:37.639 the road to help me She's dead oh the woman's 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:41.279 dead Oh, how horrible! I told you not to drive 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:53.659 so fast! Oh, Daddy, it was so awful. And it was 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:57.940 my fault. My fault that Mark drank so much. He 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:00.259 really doesn't like whiskey very much, but when 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:05.440 I told him about what we decided about postponing 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:08.929 the wedding... I mean... But you decided, darling. 00:12:10.070 --> 00:12:13.389 It was your decision. He was driving so recklessly. 00:12:14.070 --> 00:12:16.570 He must have been going 60 miles an hour on that 00:12:16.570 --> 00:12:20.590 road. His speed limit there was only about 30. 00:12:20.750 --> 00:12:23.690 You haven't arrested him, have they? No. But 00:12:23.690 --> 00:12:27.029 the police were cold, weren't they? Yes, yes. 00:12:27.669 --> 00:12:30.289 They know Mark, of course. He's lived here all 00:12:30.289 --> 00:12:33.409 his life. Didn't they give Mark a sobriety test? 00:12:33.549 --> 00:12:38.259 No. Nobody even suggested it. I mean, Mark didn't 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:42.259 seem to be drunk at all. Not after it. Of course, 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:45.299 he didn't say he wasn't drinking. He didn't mention 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:47.519 the speed he was traveling at. Well, they asked 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:51.419 him. Mark said he was going 35. Then the woman 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:55.720 just stepped out in front of him. I see. He had 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.720 to say it, Daddy. I mean, otherwise it would 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:02.000 have been a crime, wouldn't it? I think it's 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.159 called vehicular homicide. Well, he should go 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:08.559 to prison for that, couldn't he? Perhaps. Oh, 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:13.940 Daddy. Jonah, what did you say? What? What did 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:15.500 you tell them when the priests talked to you 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:18.639 about the accident? Oh, they didn't. They didn't 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:21.899 ask me anything. They said there would be an 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:25.720 inquest to determine the facts. I suppose I'd 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:28.600 have to answer questions then. And what will 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:32.360 you say then? Why, I... I don't know. I mean, 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:35.620 I have to corroborate Mark's story, of course. 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:38.679 Is that what you're going to do? I wonder if 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:41.419 you could have seen his face, Daddy. He was like 00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:45.700 a child. Like a little boy, afraid to be punished. 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:49.500 He said, you'll stand by me, Lorna, won't you? 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:53.000 And so you're going to stand by him. You're going 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.960 to forget all you ever learned about truth. You're 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:59.039 going to lie. But daddy, what else can I do? 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:02.360 I can't advise you, my darling. All I can do 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:05.600 is remind you that you and I have always loved 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:09.600 truth as much as we've loved each other. Are 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:19.779 you going to change now? And so Lorna finds herself 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:23.759 in the corner of a triangle. The man she loves 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:28.179 on one side... the father she loves on the other. 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:32.039 But the invisible corner of the triangle is that 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:36.559 mysterious thing called truth. We'll find out 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:39.179 what Lona Kittredge does when I return shortly 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:56.240 with act two. Ye shall know the truth. and the 00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:00.700 truth will set you free. Will that familiar saying 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:05.419 work in the case of Mark Kramer? It may all depend 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:08.320 on the outcome of the next conversation you hear 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:11.980 in the home of Professor John Kitteridge and 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:18.100 his daughter. Lorna? May I come in? Yes, Daddy. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:25.659 You're all dressed already? Yes. I know I don't 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:27.860 have to leave for the county courthouse for another 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:31.440 hour, but I... I was too nervous to just lie 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:33.600 in bed. Why don't you come downstairs and have 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.240 some breakfast with me? No. No, I couldn't. I... 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:43.179 I feel too sick. My poor kitty. You know, I haven't 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:45.139 called you that since you were a little child. 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:49.700 Or don't you remember me calling you that? No, 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:52.539 not really. You see, before you were born, I 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:55.639 wanted to name you Catherine. But your mother 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.840 objected because she was certain you'd be nicknamed 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:02.320 Kitty Then you'd be Kitty Kitteridge And she 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:04.600 hated the sound of it. You've told me the story 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.460 before I know you're not in the mood for old 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:11.340 family anecdotes All I can think about is that 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:15.840 inquest this morning I'm so frightened. My skin 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.120 feels like ice darling. You won't have to be 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:22.480 frightened if you do what I said It's only lying 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:26.330 that makes us afraid Please don't talk about 00:16:26.330 --> 00:16:30.370 it. I have to lie for Mark. I love him. I'm going 00:16:30.370 --> 00:16:34.450 to marry him. Do you think the others will lie? 00:16:35.129 --> 00:16:37.950 The bartender at that restaurant? What was that? 00:16:38.029 --> 00:16:41.529 What was the name of that again? Bruno's. Yes, 00:16:41.769 --> 00:16:45.009 he'll defend Mark. I'm sure he will. They don't 00:16:45.009 --> 00:16:47.809 like trouble. They had some license problem last 00:16:47.809 --> 00:16:50.590 year. They won't want to admit that they served 00:16:50.590 --> 00:16:52.929 Mark so many drinks that he was hardly able to 00:16:52.929 --> 00:16:58.639 walk. To say nothing of dry. So you're the only 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:02.799 one who has to lie. Daddy, the woman is dead. 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.380 Nothing will bring her back. Lies, truth, nothing. 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:13.160 Who does it help if Mark goes to prison? Yes. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:17.759 You're right, precious. There's no profit in 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:24.220 truth. None at all. Then you agree with me. No 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:28.980 profit, Lorna. Only loss, maybe. But that's something 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:32.519 you'll have to judge for yourself. You know my 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.900 feeling about truth. You know what I've always 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:41.079 taught you about it. Yes. Dare to be true. Nothing 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:45.440 can need a lie. A fault which needs it most grows 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:49.359 too, thereby. You used to like that poem. Now 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:54.490 you're quoting it with contempt. Oh, Daddy. You 00:17:54.490 --> 00:17:57.730 understand. Why do you have to be so demanding? 00:17:58.789 --> 00:18:03.690 Let me forget truth just this once. Your mind 00:18:03.690 --> 00:18:06.450 is your own, Lorna. Well, I want to do what's 00:18:06.450 --> 00:18:09.170 right. Then do what you want to do. You're an 00:18:09.170 --> 00:18:12.430 adult now, independent of me. Lie if you want 00:18:12.430 --> 00:18:17.509 to. But don't look for my approval. And above 00:18:17.509 --> 00:18:31.259 all, don't ask for my blessing. Daddy! Let's 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:36.740 have some quiet. The coroner's jury has to hear 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:40.920 the testimony if they're going to judge it. Sergeant 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:44.259 McKeon, was any investigation made of the skid 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:46.819 marks at the scene of the accident with a view 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:49.640 to determining the speed of the vehicle? I know, 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:52.160 sir, there wasn't. The condition of the road 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:55.220 and the rain we had that night, well, it was 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:57.500 impossible to tell the difference between the 00:18:57.500 --> 00:19:00.990 skid marks and the tire threads. That's why no 00:19:00.990 --> 00:19:04.630 measurement was made It's been stated that the 00:19:04.630 --> 00:19:08.309 driver of the vehicle Mark Kramer had left the 00:19:08.309 --> 00:19:11.089 establishment called Bruno's shortly before the 00:19:11.089 --> 00:19:14.509 accident Since Bruno's is in the business of 00:19:14.509 --> 00:19:17.390 serving hard liquor among other things Did the 00:19:17.390 --> 00:19:21.710 police give mr. Kramer a sobriety test? No, sir. 00:19:21.809 --> 00:19:24.410 We didn't you see sir. We didn't know at the 00:19:24.410 --> 00:19:27.759 time where mr. Kramer had been All we knew was 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:30.720 that Mrs. Moga was dead and Mr. Kramer didn't 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:33.420 appear like he'd been drinking. All right, Sergeant, 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:37.299 you can step down. Thank you. The coroner's office 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:43.279 calls Mr. Kramer to the stand, please. Mr. Kramer, 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:49.160 this inquest isn't a trial. Our duty here is 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:52.740 simply to determine the cause of death. But you 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:55.539 must give your testimony under oath. Please raise 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:58.720 your hand on the Bible. Yes You solemnly swear 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.319 to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:03.900 but the truth so help you God I do All right, 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:07.859 mr. Kramer Just tell us your story of what happened 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:10.519 the night of the accident Well, miss Kittredge 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.819 and I left Bruno's about nine that evening about 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:16.000 a half hour before the accident I'd had one drink 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.200 vodka martini. You can ask mr. Bruno about that 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.799 because he served me go on when I reached route 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.359 24 I decided to take the Ridge Road shortcut 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:27.750 to town I was traveling between 30 and 35 miles 00:20:27.750 --> 00:20:29.670 an hour, I'd say, and I remember slowing down 00:20:29.670 --> 00:20:32.589 when the rain started. Had my wipers going when 00:20:32.589 --> 00:20:35.549 I came over the rise of the hill, so my windshield 00:20:35.549 --> 00:20:40.170 was clear. But I still didn't see Mrs. Mogher 00:20:40.170 --> 00:20:42.809 when she stepped out into the road directly in 00:20:42.809 --> 00:20:46.329 front of the car. Were your lights on full beam? 00:20:46.710 --> 00:20:49.849 Yes, sir, they were. Why do you suppose Mrs. 00:20:50.029 --> 00:20:53.190 Mogher didn't see them? I don't really know. 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:57.859 What I think is she was almost across the road 00:20:57.859 --> 00:21:01.220 when I came over the rise and She panicked when 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:04.539 she realized that a car was coming she started 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:07.339 back in the wrong direction and That was when 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:10.519 she stepped in front of the car Is that your 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:14.480 entire testament? Yes, sir. It is Very well. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:19.980 Mr. Kramer. You can return to your seat Will 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:24.039 Miss Lorna Kittredge take the chair, please? 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:27.380 Place your hand on the Bible, Miss Kittredge. 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:31.740 Yes. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:33.740 the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:39.440 help you God? Yes, I do. Please speak up, Miss 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:43.839 Kittredge. I do. Miss Kittredge, you were with 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:47.279 Mr. Kramer on the night of the accident. Yes. 00:21:47.549 --> 00:21:51.069 You went with him to the place called Bruno's? 00:21:51.869 --> 00:21:54.990 Yes, I did. And did you have a drink that night? 00:21:55.890 --> 00:21:59.450 Yes. I had a martini. The same as Mr. Cramer? 00:21:59.569 --> 00:22:03.970 Yes. When Mr. Cramer's car approached Mrs. Mogher's 00:22:03.970 --> 00:22:07.829 driveway, did you see the lady before the automobile 00:22:07.829 --> 00:22:11.769 struck her? I'm not sure. I think I saw her for 00:22:11.769 --> 00:22:15.210 just a split second. And then the car hit her. 00:22:15.450 --> 00:22:19.849 It was... All terribly unreal. Were you aware 00:22:19.849 --> 00:22:25.650 of the speed you were traveling at? Miss Kittredge. 00:22:26.490 --> 00:22:30.869 I'm not sure of the exact speed. Mr. Kramer thinks 00:22:30.869 --> 00:22:35.670 it was between 30 and 35. Do you agree with that? 00:22:37.690 --> 00:22:42.210 No. What was that? It couldn't have been that. 00:22:42.250 --> 00:22:50.690 It was more like... 55 or 60 Did you say 60 miss 00:22:50.690 --> 00:22:54.369 Kittredge about that yes Lorna for God's sake 00:22:54.369 --> 00:22:59.349 I Hope you've considered this reply miss Kittredge 00:22:59.349 --> 00:23:03.190 Yes, I've considered it We were traveling at 00:23:03.190 --> 00:23:06.569 least that I'd been looking at the speedometer 00:23:06.569 --> 00:23:10.450 only a few minutes before I Was complaining to 00:23:10.450 --> 00:23:12.089 mark about his speed, but he wouldn't listen 00:23:12.089 --> 00:23:15.789 to me. He Wasn't in any mood to listen. He was 00:23:15.789 --> 00:23:23.309 angry and he was drunk Please everybody quiet 00:23:23.309 --> 00:23:28.250 now Mr. Kramer, please take your seat. It's the 00:23:28.250 --> 00:23:33.650 truth The truth I can't help myself He was drinking 00:23:33.650 --> 00:23:36.329 he had too many martinis and he was drunk. Are 00:23:36.329 --> 00:23:39.589 you telling us he had more than one drink? He 00:23:39.589 --> 00:23:44.109 had four I know he did, and he drove like a madman. 00:23:44.990 --> 00:23:48.670 No matter how I tried to stop him, he never thought 00:23:48.670 --> 00:23:50.529 that woman would be on the road at that time 00:23:50.529 --> 00:24:00.390 of night. He wouldn't listen. I couldn't believe 00:24:00.390 --> 00:24:03.170 it was really happening. It was like hearing 00:24:03.170 --> 00:24:06.410 someone else say the words. Please don't cry, 00:24:06.650 --> 00:24:09.509 Kitty. I tried not to look at his face. I tried 00:24:09.509 --> 00:24:12.650 so hard not to see him, but I... I couldn't stop 00:24:12.650 --> 00:24:14.509 myself. How can you blame yourself for telling 00:24:14.509 --> 00:24:17.309 the simple truth? How can you think it's wrong? 00:24:17.369 --> 00:24:19.250 But don't you realize what will happen to him, 00:24:19.349 --> 00:24:22.349 Daddy? He's going to be indicted. He may go to 00:24:22.349 --> 00:24:25.210 prison. I'm sure Mr. Cramer will hire himself 00:24:25.210 --> 00:24:28.569 a very smart attorney. Who's that? I have no 00:24:28.569 --> 00:24:32.309 idea. I can't see anyone now. I just can't. Of 00:24:32.309 --> 00:24:34.869 course. You go to your room and I'll answer it. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:43.839 Go on, darling. Go lie down. Oh, it's you. I 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:46.880 want to see Lorna. Mark, please listen to me. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:49.039 I know exactly how you're feeling at the moment. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:52.200 Thanks for remembering my name, Professor. That 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:54.380 must be the very first time. I'm sure you realize 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:56.380 that what Lorna did this morning was extremely 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:59.220 difficult and painful for her. That it was an 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:03.460 agonizing decision. Only who made it? Lorna's 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:05.799 lying down right now. I suggest you try telephoning 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:09.099 her later. I'm not leaving until I see her. I 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:11.579 had hoped we wouldn't get violent about all this, 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:14.119 Mark. Frankly, I don't think you're in a good 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:17.420 position to commit any other rash actions. Daddy, 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:20.519 it's all right. Lorna, I thought you were in 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:25.000 your room. I'll talk to Mark. Very well. But 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.880 don't ask me to leave, because I won't. You don't 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.880 have to leave, Professor. I'd like you to know 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:32.039 this, too. Know what? But the town gossips are 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:35.259 saying. Lorna, they're saying that we had some 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:38.220 kind of fight. A lover's quarrel, and that you 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:40.259 wanted to get back at me. Oh, you know that's 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:43.380 not so. Yes, I know it. But the other explanation 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:46.640 makes even less sense. That you just had to tell 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:51.569 the truth. Well, it wasn't easy for me. Lies 00:25:51.569 --> 00:25:54.769 would have been easier. One small lie, Lorna. 00:25:54.769 --> 00:25:57.230 That was all you had to say. You're so afraid 00:25:57.230 --> 00:25:59.109 of hell that you wouldn't lie for me? I can't 00:25:59.109 --> 00:26:01.329 expect you to understand. But I do understand. 00:26:01.390 --> 00:26:03.730 Better than you do, maybe. It was your father's 00:26:03.730 --> 00:26:06.470 idea. No, just a moment, Kramer. Well, you remember 00:26:06.470 --> 00:26:08.809 my last name, too. I think I made more of an 00:26:08.809 --> 00:26:10.289 impression on you than you were willing to admit. 00:26:10.450 --> 00:26:13.269 There's no need to be nasty. Lorna, you're so 00:26:13.269 --> 00:26:17.730 stuck on the truth. Tell it now. He told you 00:26:17.730 --> 00:26:20.180 what to do in that courtroom. Professor Kittredge's 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:22.759 little girl always listens to daddy, and she 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.960 never lies. Please, Mark. He insisted that you 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.779 tell the truth, didn't he? He gave you a lot 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:29.059 of high -flown ethical reasons for telling the 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:31.359 truth. Nothing but the truth. Every reason but 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.619 the real one. You're wrong. I made up my own 00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:35.180 mind. Your father knew what would happen. It 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.900 would split us apart. And that's what he really 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:39.099 wanted, Lorna. That's the truth that he didn't 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:41.339 mention. I think that's quite enough. You don't 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:43.059 leave right now. I'm calling the police. Don't 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:45.539 bother, Professor. You've done a very good job 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:56.839 on Lorna and on me. Oh, Daddy. Daddy. Kitty, 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:00.059 don't. It's going to be all right. How can it 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:04.980 be? He hates me now. Mark hates me. Things will 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:08.099 change. You wait and see. He'll get himself a 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:11.480 smart lawyer and nothing will happen to him. 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:19.279 Mark Kramer, having been found guilty of the 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:22.819 crime of manslaughter... It is my duty to sentence 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:25.180 you to imprisonment for a period of not less 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:35.059 than one year and not more than five. And so 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:39.500 the truth has not set Mark Kramer free. It sent 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:42.640 him to prison, where he'll have plenty of time 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:46.200 to ponder the complexities of ethics, justice, 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:51.259 and human nature. Or perhaps he'll ponder something 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:57.440 else, like revenge? We'll find out when I return 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:12.599 shortly with Act 3. It's now one year later. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:16.859 Sad to say Mark Kramer is still wearing prison 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:21.740 grey. As for Professor Kitteridge, he's had problems 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:25.920 too. A bad case of the gout caused cancellation 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:30.140 of his European lecture tour. Even more disappointing, 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:33.400 his daughter Lorna lost interest in working on 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:37.240 her thesis and abandoned the idea of obtaining 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:40.799 her doctorate. In fact, Lorna Kitteridge seems 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.680 to have lost interest in life itself. Lorna? 00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:57.279 You awake? Yes, Daddy. I'm up. Darling, it's 00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:01.259 almost noon. It's not like you to be in bed so 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:05.799 late. I just didn't feel like getting up. Did 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:09.000 you sleep badly again last night? Last night, 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:13.539 the night before. Night before that. Oh, Lorna. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:16.539 If you don't see Dr. Isaacs voluntarily, I may 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:18.900 have to drag you to his office. You know there's 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:22.599 nothing wrong with me. What's all this paper 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:26.900 for? All those little crumpled balls. Can't you 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:32.079 guess? Oh, Lorna, no. You haven't been writing 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.720 Mark again. I keep thinking that I might hit 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:38.880 on exactly the right words. The magic formula 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:41.299 that would make him answer one letter. Would 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:44.420 be so much better if you forgot him, Lorna. Do 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:46.339 you know that I even thought of sending him a 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:50.539 disguise letter? Making it look like some important 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:54.980 document that he would have to read? Isn't that 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:57.140 ridiculous? What's ridiculous is the way you've 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:59.180 tortured yourself over that man for so many months. 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:03.759 Who's tortured who, Daddy? Which one of us is 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:07.059 really guilty? Oh, Kitty, Kitty. Stop calling 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:10.920 me that name. My name is Lorla. Can't you remember 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:13.740 my name? Darling, you're just not yourself. Is 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:16.680 that why you can't remember me? Because I'm somebody 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:22.420 else? Well, you may be right, Daddy. Every morning 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:24.200 I look in the mirror and I can't recognize the 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.920 woman I see. Darling, you're just not giving 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:29.400 yourself a chance to forget. You'd start getting 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:32.119 out into the world, start meeting new people. 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:35.000 You'd become a hermit. I thought you liked having 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:38.700 me here, Daddy. I thought you couldn't live without 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:42.640 my company. I honestly believe you need medical 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:46.740 attention. If not from Dr. Isaacs and from somebody 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:50.339 else. You mean a psychiatrist, I suppose. No, 00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:53.299 darling, no. Just someone who can help you get 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:57.380 over this distorted guilt that you feel. The 00:30:57.380 --> 00:31:01.839 only one who can do that is Mark. And he won't 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:06.900 see me or write me or anything. No, no. Well, 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:13.099 please go away. Please! Please. I'm gonna try 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:18.599 to sleep. It's the only time I'm happy when I'm 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:32.640 asleep. All right. Step right over here, Kramer. 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:36.619 Anything you say, guard. Remember visiting time 00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:38.460 is limited to 15 minutes. Look, I don't want 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:41.019 the 15 minutes of being forced on me. Sit down 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:43.579 and behave yourself. Yes, sir. Anything you say, 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:50.920 sir. Well, go on, Mark. Make it fast, Professor. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.799 I've got important matters to take care of back 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:55.460 in the shop. I'm making a very special license 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:58.279 plate. Mark, I know you resent the fact that 00:31:58.279 --> 00:32:01.460 I've forced this encounter. Took some doing, 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:03.920 believe me. Uh -huh. Why did you go to all the 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:07.500 trouble? Because it's a matter of health, Lorna's 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:10.059 health. She's pining away for me, is that it? 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:14.059 Well, tell her to stop, Professor. My nights 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:17.039 are filled with sweet dreams, and she is in none 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:20.799 of them. You tell her that for me. I want you 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:23.220 to see her, Mark. Oh, I wouldn't force that issue, 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:26.220 Professor. I don't have anything nice to say 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:30.359 to your daughter. You misunderstood Lorna. Couldn't 00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:32.680 expect her to applaud what she didn't call it. 00:32:33.069 --> 00:32:35.450 But if you really thought about the ideals that 00:32:35.450 --> 00:32:39.049 motivated her whose ideals yours or hers do I 00:32:39.049 --> 00:32:42.809 have to separate them? Yes But you can't professor 00:32:42.809 --> 00:32:45.730 because she's your monster. You've got her all 00:32:45.730 --> 00:32:48.109 twisted up between her ethics and her instincts 00:32:48.109 --> 00:32:50.509 I suppose you're proud of the result, but it's 00:32:50.509 --> 00:32:52.569 a fake. There's nothing. There's nothing fake 00:32:52.569 --> 00:32:55.089 about her prints She doesn't have principles. 00:32:55.089 --> 00:32:59.390 All she has is you Her shining example. She wants 00:32:59.390 --> 00:33:01.349 you to love and admire her, so she does what 00:33:01.349 --> 00:33:04.109 you expect. That's why Daddy's little girl always 00:33:04.109 --> 00:33:08.170 tells the truth. She does tell the truth. Always. 00:33:08.710 --> 00:33:12.769 And her father? I abominate lies. You won't even 00:33:12.769 --> 00:33:17.089 lie to yourself. Then tell me this. Weren't you 00:33:17.089 --> 00:33:20.329 happy when Lorne and I broke up? Didn't it save 00:33:20.329 --> 00:33:23.390 your happy home? I can see that coming here was 00:33:23.390 --> 00:33:25.569 a mistake. You're a hypocrite, Professor. I'm 00:33:25.569 --> 00:33:27.339 sorry. This whole thing was your doing, and I'll 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:29.079 never let you forget it. Goodbye, Mark. Wait 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:30.680 a minute. There's something you should know. 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:35.779 What's that? I'm being paroled next week. Tell 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:37.720 that to your daughter. Maybe it'll improve her 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:48.180 health. Of course I'm pleased, Terrell. It's 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:50.750 just that I... Much rather see a new book of 00:33:50.750 --> 00:33:53.210 mine published than a new edition of an old book. 00:33:53.470 --> 00:33:56.450 Well, you can't argue with success. People never 00:33:56.450 --> 00:33:58.650 seem to tire of the seven secrets of Shakespeare. 00:33:59.089 --> 00:34:02.230 I suppose I shouldn't complain. It does buy the 00:34:02.230 --> 00:34:05.430 groceries. Just cash the royalty checks and be 00:34:05.430 --> 00:34:11.030 happy. Now, tell me how Lorna's doing. Feeling 00:34:11.030 --> 00:34:15.630 any better? Still a bit run down, I guess. That's 00:34:15.630 --> 00:34:20.889 too bad. I... I suppose you know that young man 00:34:20.889 --> 00:34:23.929 Kramer, that he's out of prison? For about two 00:34:23.929 --> 00:34:27.110 months now, I gather. He hasn't been in touch 00:34:27.110 --> 00:34:30.130 with Lorna? No, and I don't think he will be. 00:34:30.869 --> 00:34:34.530 Funny thing is, he's been in touch with us. With 00:34:34.530 --> 00:34:37.469 you? What have I fought? Well, actually, it seems 00:34:37.469 --> 00:34:41.269 he went to Merritt Bobbs first. My first publishers? 00:34:41.650 --> 00:34:44.150 Yes, talked to everyone who would talk to him. 00:34:45.030 --> 00:34:47.889 Then he approached members of my own staff. He 00:34:47.889 --> 00:34:49.989 even tried to get an appointment with me, but 00:34:49.989 --> 00:34:52.349 I put him off. What do you suppose he wants? 00:34:53.570 --> 00:34:55.590 He's an embittered young man, you know. Well, 00:34:55.590 --> 00:34:59.070 I spoke to George Merritt. He didn't know about, 00:34:59.070 --> 00:35:03.510 well, about Lorna and this fellow Kramer. He 00:35:03.510 --> 00:35:05.590 thought Kramer was an article writer looking 00:35:05.590 --> 00:35:09.190 for biographical material. George said that he 00:35:09.190 --> 00:35:10.929 seemed to know an awful lot about you already. 00:35:12.030 --> 00:35:14.510 I don't much like the idea of someone like that 00:35:14.510 --> 00:35:17.489 snooping into my life. Why? Why do you suppose 00:35:17.489 --> 00:35:22.289 he's doing it? Hard to say. Ranker, I suppose. 00:35:23.610 --> 00:35:27.090 Hopes he can find something unpleasant in my 00:35:27.090 --> 00:35:42.530 past. I'll get it, Lorna. Hello? Professor Kidridge? 00:35:43.110 --> 00:35:49.980 Yes. Oh. Yes, I was just speaking about you the 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:52.460 other day with my publisher. I'd like to see 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:54.380 you, Professor, this evening, if that's possible. 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:59.099 See me? Or Lorna? No, just you. If Lorna wants 00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:01.880 to be there, that's her business. Something tells 00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:04.420 me she'd rather stay away. Can you give me some 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:07.840 idea of why you want to see me? You might say 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:10.920 it's a business matter. Who is it, Daddy? What 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:14.500 time would be good for you, Professor? Make it... 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:19.579 About nine. I'll make it exactly nine. Daddy, 00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:23.480 you look so strange. Who was that on the phone? 00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:28.920 It was Mark Kramer, Lola. Mark? He's asked me 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:33.179 to see him at nine tonight. I have no idea what 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:37.559 he wants to say, but whatever it is, I'm sure 00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:40.519 it won't be anything pleasant. I'd rather not 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:44.610 be here. I didn't think you would. Mark blames 00:36:44.610 --> 00:36:48.369 me for what happened in court, not you. He refuses 00:36:48.369 --> 00:36:51.170 to admit that it was your own love of truth. 00:36:51.730 --> 00:36:56.730 My love of truth? Daddy, you never understood 00:36:56.730 --> 00:37:00.230 me yourself. How could you explain me to someone 00:37:00.230 --> 00:37:05.510 else? I didn't love truth, I loved Mark. You 00:37:05.510 --> 00:37:08.630 did what you had to do. What your conscience 00:37:08.630 --> 00:37:11.989 told you to do. My conscience? Is that what I 00:37:11.989 --> 00:37:15.460 was satisfying? A small little voice inside me. 00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:18.420 It can be a loud voice, darling. A very compelling 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:21.960 voice. But I still hear it. It's still talking 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:24.599 to me. And do you know what it's saying? You 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:31.219 fool. You fool, you fool! Lorna. I think I'll 00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:51.590 go out now, Daddy. Right now. Good evening, Professor. 00:37:52.750 --> 00:37:57.030 Hello, Mark. Come in. Thank you. Nice of you 00:37:57.030 --> 00:37:59.550 to see me. I wasn't sure of my reception after 00:37:59.550 --> 00:38:03.690 the last time. I see you're using a cane these 00:38:03.690 --> 00:38:09.469 days, Professor. Yes, a touch of gout. Mark, 00:38:09.590 --> 00:38:13.150 I hope you weren't expecting to see Lorna. She's 00:38:13.150 --> 00:38:16.630 not here. No, I didn't expect to see her. Good 00:38:16.630 --> 00:38:20.130 day. Would you care to come to the point of this 00:38:20.130 --> 00:38:23.269 visit? Yes, professor. I'll come to the point. 00:38:24.630 --> 00:38:27.949 I've come to see you about truth. Oh, must we, 00:38:28.190 --> 00:38:31.929 Mark? Really? I mean, these philosophical discussions 00:38:31.929 --> 00:38:34.389 are meat and drink to old campus fogies like 00:38:34.389 --> 00:38:37.170 me, but I'm rather tired of the subject right 00:38:37.170 --> 00:38:39.110 now. Very tired of it. Frankly, I'm a little 00:38:39.110 --> 00:38:42.110 exhausted by it myself. I've just spent two months 00:38:42.110 --> 00:38:43.630 in search of it, and I didn't even know what 00:38:43.630 --> 00:38:46.510 I was looking for. You've been digging up things 00:38:46.510 --> 00:38:50.449 about me, haven't you? I hope you enjoyed yourself. 00:38:51.570 --> 00:38:54.650 No, I didn't. You see, I made the mistake of 00:38:54.650 --> 00:38:58.130 talking to your enemies. The publishers you dropped, 00:38:58.429 --> 00:39:00.809 the friends you no longer see, the scholars you 00:39:00.809 --> 00:39:03.389 had disputes with. What did you get out of that? 00:39:03.610 --> 00:39:07.409 Nothing. Your enemies didn't have the truth about 00:39:07.409 --> 00:39:12.750 you, Professor. Only your friends did. Like Avery 00:39:12.750 --> 00:39:16.190 Hayes. Avery Hayes? Oh, I'm glad to see you remember 00:39:16.190 --> 00:39:19.869 the name. Strange how few people do. Even though 00:39:19.869 --> 00:39:22.269 you dedicated your fourth or was it your fifth 00:39:22.269 --> 00:39:24.989 book to him? George Merritt knew him, of course. 00:39:25.090 --> 00:39:28.550 Mr. Merritt called you Avery's benefactor. Said 00:39:28.550 --> 00:39:30.510 that Hayes was an alcoholic that you took care 00:39:30.510 --> 00:39:33.969 of for many years. He was my friend. Yes, he 00:39:33.969 --> 00:39:35.809 was a good friend. And you were good to him. 00:39:36.170 --> 00:39:38.570 That was one chapter of your past that you had 00:39:38.570 --> 00:39:41.349 every reason to be proud of. Avery's been dead 00:39:41.349 --> 00:39:44.829 for ten years. What did you want from him? Nothing, 00:39:44.989 --> 00:39:48.159 Professor. I just thought a man like that deserved 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:50.579 a little recognition, if only for his past association 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:53.340 with you. So I talked to people who knew him, 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:56.519 his old pals, his family. He still has a brother 00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:58.539 alive, you know, a crotchety old fellow in the 00:39:58.539 --> 00:40:00.219 terminal ward at the county hospital. His name's 00:40:00.219 --> 00:40:03.239 Ezra. Perfect name for the old boy. And you know 00:40:03.239 --> 00:40:06.960 what? He still has the junk haze left when he 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:10.300 died. That pitiful collection of books and papers. 00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:12.800 You don't expect me to believe that, about Avery's 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.539 papers? Avery never kept anything, not a thing. 00:40:15.690 --> 00:40:17.929 He was a foolish, drunken old... He was also 00:40:17.929 --> 00:40:21.489 brilliant, wasn't he? Went to the university 00:40:21.489 --> 00:40:24.269 on a scholarship. You only beat him out for top 00:40:24.269 --> 00:40:25.869 honors because of his drinking. You're talking 00:40:25.869 --> 00:40:28.329 about 40 years ago. He was drunk and he was dishonest 00:40:28.329 --> 00:40:30.429 too, wasn't he, Professor? That was how he sustained 00:40:30.429 --> 00:40:32.550 that wild life of his by selling his scholastic 00:40:32.550 --> 00:40:34.269 services to anybody who could pay for them. It's 00:40:34.269 --> 00:40:37.469 not different today. Yes. That's what Avery said 00:40:37.469 --> 00:40:40.489 in his letter. The one he wrote to a woman named 00:40:40.489 --> 00:40:43.730 Jean. I didn't know who Gene was or why Avery 00:40:43.730 --> 00:40:46.690 never mailed the letter, but there it was. Avery 00:40:46.690 --> 00:40:48.530 said he was cleaning up a hundred, two hundred 00:40:48.530 --> 00:40:50.809 dollars a month, and would surely be able to 00:40:50.809 --> 00:40:53.030 pay back all he owed before the end of the semester. 00:40:55.070 --> 00:40:58.769 And then he mentioned the thesis, the big job 00:40:58.769 --> 00:41:00.849 he was doing, that he expected three hundred 00:41:00.849 --> 00:41:04.570 for that job alone. You know which thesis I mean, 00:41:04.909 --> 00:41:07.639 Professor? Please go. Get out of here. I've had 00:41:07.639 --> 00:41:10.539 enough of this lying filth. The Seven Secrets 00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:14.559 of Shakespeare. Sounds like a mystery story, 00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:16.780 doesn't it? But it was quite a piece of work. 00:41:17.619 --> 00:41:19.739 And it became more than just a college thesis. 00:41:19.820 --> 00:41:22.360 It became a world -famous book. It made your 00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:25.420 reputation, Professor. You're a liar! A liar! 00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:27.800 You know nothing about it. You paid Avery for 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:30.460 his work and put your name on it. You might have 00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:32.239 done as well yourself, but you were young and 00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:34.579 lazy and you had the money to pay for it. Then 00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:36.659 you discovered how good it really was and it 00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:38.539 was too late for both of you to change the course 00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:40.460 of history. Get out of this house now. Get out! 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:42.880 I'm going, Professor. I just wanted you to hear 00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:46.940 this little story about truth. And also to tell 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:50.500 you that I have Avery Hayes' letter. What did 00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:53.420 you say? I have his letter, Professor. It tells 00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:57.300 the whole story. Good night. Back! You told me 00:41:57.300 --> 00:42:01.559 to go and I'm going. You filthy animal! Get rich! 00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:06.800 Kill you monster and fire! Kill you! Kill you, 00:42:06.860 --> 00:42:13.219 you animal! Daddy! Kill you! Daddy! Like a wild 00:42:13.219 --> 00:42:19.400 beast! Oh, my God! What have you done? Oh, no. 00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:23.460 Daddy! Oh, no. Oh, thank heaven you're here. 00:42:23.699 --> 00:42:27.179 Thank heaven. Look at his head, oh, dear Lord. 00:42:27.300 --> 00:42:30.320 You saw what happened. What the crazy fool did, 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:33.679 he attacked me. You killed him with your cane. 00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:36.820 He attacked me, Lorna. You know how much he hated 00:42:36.820 --> 00:42:40.019 me. I had to defend myself. No, no, I saw what 00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:42.420 happened. I saw you strike him from behind. No, 00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:45.599 Kitty, no. He tried to kill me. That's why I 00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:50.079 hit him. Oh, Daddy, I saw everything. You killed 00:42:50.079 --> 00:42:54.000 Mark. You did it deliberately. That's the truth. 00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:57.889 You always taught me to tell the truth. It's 00:42:57.889 --> 00:43:10.090 the only important thing, the truth! Oliver Wendell 00:43:10.090 --> 00:43:15.269 Holmes, Jr. said, all I mean by truth is the 00:43:15.269 --> 00:43:20.130 road I can't help traveling. Well, Professor 00:43:20.130 --> 00:43:23.590 Kitteridge traveled his road, and despite his 00:43:23.590 --> 00:43:27.170 good intentions, It turned out to be the road 00:43:27.170 --> 00:43:44.170 to hell. I'll be back shortly. If there is a 00:43:44.170 --> 00:43:47.530 moral to the story you've just heard, it's not 00:43:47.530 --> 00:43:52.170 that truth is so bad. But Samuel Butler said, 00:43:52.719 --> 00:43:56.539 Truth should not be absolutely lost sight of, 00:43:57.400 --> 00:44:01.099 but it should not be talked about. And we promise, 00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:06.079 that's our last word on the subject. Our cast 00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:09.900 included Agnes Moorhead, Mandel Kramer, Santos 00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:14.159 Ortega, Ian Martin, and Dan Ockel. The entire 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:16.639 production was under the direction of Hyman Brown. 00:44:17.699 --> 00:44:20.219 This is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return 00:44:20.219 --> 00:44:23.250 to our Mystery Theatre for another adventure 00:44:23.250 --> 00:44:28.750 in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.