Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome
to the sound of suspense. Welcome to the fear
you can hear. But mostly, to the world of terrifying
imagination. In the next 52 minutes, you'll hear
a story about truth. Everyone is in favor of
truth, of course. It's a word which produces
immediate reverence and respect. But sometimes
the truth can be a terrible thing. Even a shattering
thing. Oh, my God! Mark, you hit a woman! I told
you not to drive so fast! I didn't see her. I
didn't see her crossing the road. Is she alive?
Look at the way she's lying there! Lorna, she
must be dead. Lorna, you mustn't tell anyone.
Please, you mustn't tell anyone! Our mystery
drama, The Ring of Truth, was written especially
for the Mystery Theatre by Henry Slusser and
stars Agnes Moorhead. Now here's act one of the
ring of truth. The place, a charming college
town in New England. The people you're about
to meet, young Lorna Kittredge and the special
man in her life, Mark Kramer. His driving speed,
a comfortable 30 miles an hour. I'll tell you
what I resent most about your father Lorna. It's
the fact that he deliberately keeps forgetting
my name. Don't be so silly. Daddy has a genuine
problem about names. No, no, I'm sorry. I can't
buy this absent -minded professor stuff. It's
too corny. Corny or not, that's exactly what
my father is sometimes. Absent -minded. His mind
is always up in the stratosphere somewhere, communing
with Socrates or Schopenhauer on the meaning
of truth. You you just don't like my father very
much. I hardly know your father Look, I want
to get along with him long after he's gonna be
my father -in -law, isn't it? You're almost home
But can I do to put you in a better mood? That's
easy darling You can promise to tell him tonight.
Oh Tonight why not? But I told you that the prize
are going to be a dinner tonight How prize daddy's
publisher so after they leave you can tell him
Wanna we've been engaged for almost three weeks
now. Nobody knows about it except you and me.
Well, isn't that enough? Not for me. It is no
I'm the kind of guy wants to shout it now stops
Yes, I do too. I really do mark. I Love you so
much. All right darling and prove it Tell him
tonight, Lorna Tell him you're gonna marry what's
-his -name Quite right, Harold. What the book
needs is a much sexier title. Well, of course,
there isn't a word about sex in it, but what's
the difference as long as it sells? What's the
latest book about? Why, truth of course. Daddy's
favorite subject. Should be everyone's favorite
subject, in my opinion. You know, if you really
want a suggestion for a new title, Professor,
I think I have one. Do you, Mike? Daddy, the
name is Mark. Oh, yes, yes, of course. I'm sorry,
Mark. Well, go on, let's hear your suggestion.
Why not call it... The Ring of Truth. Well, I
think that's a very good name, but of course
that's up to Professor Kittredge. It's not a
bad title, Mark, but it does imply a lack of
sincerity, doesn't it? The Ring of Truth is only
the surface appearance of it. What I'm examining
in my book is the necessity for stark truth.
For truth I'm afraid. Of course, there's a fairly
good argument against dark truth sometimes, isn't
there? I mean, there's still a necessity for
a white lie now and then. Is there? You mean
in the real estate business perhaps? No, no,
not just in my business, in everyone's. I mean,
there are times when tact... Courtesy and general
goodwill call for a shading of the truth May
I make a suggestion? Everyone why don't we have
our coffee in the living room was a good idea?
I'll give you a hand with the dishes, honey Besides
I'd like a little conversation with you in the
kitchen I know what you're going to say. Daddy
was impossible tonight. Your father's a great
scholar, man of ideals, the Albert Schweitzer
of New England. I'm only a poor schnook of a
real estate man, but I'm perfectly willing to
put up with him for your sake. Put up with him?
Won't be easy. A crass, materialistic guy like
me marrying into all that saintliness. What can
I do? I'm crazy about his daughter. You idiot.
Well, Mark, my hands are wet. Will you tell him
tonight? Yes, the minute everyone leaves. He's
not gonna be happy about it. You know that he
won't be happy about losing you He knew it had
to happen someday. All right, then tell him that
day has come tell him the truth I always tell
daddy the truth Daddy can I come in? Yes, darling,
of course. I Didn't want to interrupt your reading.
I can't really read this book. I don't understand
the language Have you seen it by the way hmm
still another edition German of the seven secrets
of Shakespeare Beautiful binding yes, I'm pleased
with it. I suppose an author never loses his
affection for the first book he writes. It's
more than just that This book made you famous
in very limited circles. Yes And I hope you've
enjoyed the evening and what your friend did
too. The only thing Mark didn't like was being
called Max Oh, I'm sorry about that, precious.
I hope he wasn't offended. But you have to admit
that you do bring home a lot of young men. Daddy,
that may have been true once, but Mark Kramer
is the only man I've seen for the last six months.
How long? The reason I've seen him so much is
that I'm in love with him. Well, that isn't an
entirely new phenomenon either, is it? Daddy,
Mark asked me to marry him. I said yes. Marriage?
You know that word, don't you? It's English,
not German. Yes, I know the word, but... Well,
it's just that I never suppose you'd want to
marry now. I mean, before your doctorate, before
you've done all those things we plan to do together.
Marriage wouldn't put an end to our plans. And
it's for your lecture tour, but you don't really
need me along. I don't know if I'd want to go
without you. I'm getting a little old to gallivant
around Europe by myself. Well, it's the first
time I've heard you complain about being old.
Yeah, for some reason, the last ten seconds,
I began to feel old. Of course, Mark and I could
go with you to Europe as a sort of honeymoon.
No, Lorna, he's not going to want that, I'm sure.
In fact... My guess is that your young man is
going to want to see as little of me as he possibly
can. No, Daddy, that isn't so. He knows that
I won't just abandon you. I couldn't be that
heartless. That's the last word I'd use about
you, precious. I know your heart only too well.
I know what a tender, beating little thing it
is. I've always been afraid of the man who would
trap it someday. I just wish you knew Mark better.
He's not I'm not saying anything against mark.
I'd fear this way about any man I'm like the
tired old king of the fairy tale darling forced
by the condition of kingdom to give the hand
of his princess to a commoner Mark you're just
being pigheaded It won't even be six months.
And by that time I'll have my doctorate and daddy's
lecture tour will be over. Oh, that's great.
Just great. Waiter, where's the drink I ordered?
Mark, I've never seen you have more than two
martinis in my life. You're wrong, my love. I
had one before you got here. The one coming up
will be number four. Mark, please, don't be so
upset. I'm not breaking our engagement. I'm simply
asking for a postponement. How long will it take
to talk you into it, Lorna? Well, it was something
I decided to do mark all by myself because you
realized how important it was Get your PhD To
make sure daddy was taken care of on his lecture
tour, but it is important You know, you're a
lucky girl to have a father like that Now you
think my old man good old Charlie Kramer real
estate. I Don't think he ever heard of an ethic
or an ideal in his life Probably told a dozen
lies today, old Charlie. I guess that's why it
turned out so badly. You're drinking too much.
You always do when you're angry. Just another
flaw in my character. Hardly noticeable in the
general ruin of my personality. Please, Mark,
I don't want you to be drunk to drive me home.
Don't worry, I won't even have that fourth drink.
See what a nice guy I am? I want to make sure
you get home to Daddy safe and sound. Mark, are
you sure you don't want me to drive? No, you
just leave the driving to us. It's starting to
rain. I think you should turn your wipers on.
That isn't rain, precious. Those are tears in
front of your eyes. Please, Mark. All right,
all right. You have to drive so fast. I know
there isn't any traffic, but these roads are
so dark. That's what the headlights are for.
How far these little candles throw their beam
so shines a good deed in a naughty world Hey,
see your father isn't the only one who can quote
you I Didn't see her I didn't see her crossing
the road to help me She's dead oh the woman's
dead Oh, how horrible! I told you not to drive
so fast! Oh, Daddy, it was so awful. And it was
my fault. My fault that Mark drank so much. He
really doesn't like whiskey very much, but when
I told him about what we decided about postponing
the wedding... I mean... But you decided, darling.
It was your decision. He was driving so recklessly.
He must have been going 60 miles an hour on that
road. His speed limit there was only about 30.
You haven't arrested him, have they? No. But
the police were cold, weren't they? Yes, yes.
They know Mark, of course. He's lived here all
his life. Didn't they give Mark a sobriety test?
No. Nobody even suggested it. I mean, Mark didn't
seem to be drunk at all. Not after it. Of course,
he didn't say he wasn't drinking. He didn't mention
the speed he was traveling at. Well, they asked
him. Mark said he was going 35. Then the woman
just stepped out in front of him. I see. He had
to say it, Daddy. I mean, otherwise it would
have been a crime, wouldn't it? I think it's
called vehicular homicide. Well, he should go
to prison for that, couldn't he? Perhaps. Oh,
Daddy. Jonah, what did you say? What? What did
you tell them when the priests talked to you
about the accident? Oh, they didn't. They didn't
ask me anything. They said there would be an
inquest to determine the facts. I suppose I'd
have to answer questions then. And what will
you say then? Why, I... I don't know. I mean,
I have to corroborate Mark's story, of course.
Is that what you're going to do? I wonder if
you could have seen his face, Daddy. He was like
a child. Like a little boy, afraid to be punished.
He said, you'll stand by me, Lorna, won't you?
And so you're going to stand by him. You're going
to forget all you ever learned about truth. You're
going to lie. But daddy, what else can I do?
I can't advise you, my darling. All I can do
is remind you that you and I have always loved
truth as much as we've loved each other. Are
you going to change now? And so Lorna finds herself
in the corner of a triangle. The man she loves
on one side... the father she loves on the other.
But the invisible corner of the triangle is that
mysterious thing called truth. We'll find out
what Lona Kittredge does when I return shortly
with act two. Ye shall know the truth. and the
truth will set you free. Will that familiar saying
work in the case of Mark Kramer? It may all depend
on the outcome of the next conversation you hear
in the home of Professor John Kitteridge and
his daughter. Lorna? May I come in? Yes, Daddy.
You're all dressed already? Yes. I know I don't
have to leave for the county courthouse for another
hour, but I... I was too nervous to just lie
in bed. Why don't you come downstairs and have
some breakfast with me? No. No, I couldn't. I...
I feel too sick. My poor kitty. You know, I haven't
called you that since you were a little child.
Or don't you remember me calling you that? No,
not really. You see, before you were born, I
wanted to name you Catherine. But your mother
objected because she was certain you'd be nicknamed
Kitty Then you'd be Kitty Kitteridge And she
hated the sound of it. You've told me the story
before I know you're not in the mood for old
family anecdotes All I can think about is that
inquest this morning I'm so frightened. My skin
feels like ice darling. You won't have to be
frightened if you do what I said It's only lying
that makes us afraid Please don't talk about
it. I have to lie for Mark. I love him. I'm going
to marry him. Do you think the others will lie?
The bartender at that restaurant? What was that?
What was the name of that again? Bruno's. Yes,
he'll defend Mark. I'm sure he will. They don't
like trouble. They had some license problem last
year. They won't want to admit that they served
Mark so many drinks that he was hardly able to
walk. To say nothing of dry. So you're the only
one who has to lie. Daddy, the woman is dead.
Nothing will bring her back. Lies, truth, nothing.
Who does it help if Mark goes to prison? Yes.
You're right, precious. There's no profit in
truth. None at all. Then you agree with me. No
profit, Lorna. Only loss, maybe. But that's something
you'll have to judge for yourself. You know my
feeling about truth. You know what I've always
taught you about it. Yes. Dare to be true. Nothing
can need a lie. A fault which needs it most grows
too, thereby. You used to like that poem. Now
you're quoting it with contempt. Oh, Daddy. You
understand. Why do you have to be so demanding?
Let me forget truth just this once. Your mind
is your own, Lorna. Well, I want to do what's
right. Then do what you want to do. You're an
adult now, independent of me. Lie if you want
to. But don't look for my approval. And above
all, don't ask for my blessing. Daddy! Let's
have some quiet. The coroner's jury has to hear
the testimony if they're going to judge it. Sergeant
McKeon, was any investigation made of the skid
marks at the scene of the accident with a view
to determining the speed of the vehicle? I know,
sir, there wasn't. The condition of the road
and the rain we had that night, well, it was
impossible to tell the difference between the
skid marks and the tire threads. That's why no
measurement was made It's been stated that the
driver of the vehicle Mark Kramer had left the
establishment called Bruno's shortly before the
accident Since Bruno's is in the business of
serving hard liquor among other things Did the
police give mr. Kramer a sobriety test? No, sir.
We didn't you see sir. We didn't know at the
time where mr. Kramer had been All we knew was
that Mrs. Moga was dead and Mr. Kramer didn't
appear like he'd been drinking. All right, Sergeant,
you can step down. Thank you. The coroner's office
calls Mr. Kramer to the stand, please. Mr. Kramer,
this inquest isn't a trial. Our duty here is
simply to determine the cause of death. But you
must give your testimony under oath. Please raise
your hand on the Bible. Yes You solemnly swear
to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing
but the truth so help you God I do All right,
mr. Kramer Just tell us your story of what happened
the night of the accident Well, miss Kittredge
and I left Bruno's about nine that evening about
a half hour before the accident I'd had one drink
vodka martini. You can ask mr. Bruno about that
because he served me go on when I reached route
24 I decided to take the Ridge Road shortcut
to town I was traveling between 30 and 35 miles
an hour, I'd say, and I remember slowing down
when the rain started. Had my wipers going when
I came over the rise of the hill, so my windshield
was clear. But I still didn't see Mrs. Mogher
when she stepped out into the road directly in
front of the car. Were your lights on full beam?
Yes, sir, they were. Why do you suppose Mrs.
Mogher didn't see them? I don't really know.
What I think is she was almost across the road
when I came over the rise and She panicked when
she realized that a car was coming she started
back in the wrong direction and That was when
she stepped in front of the car Is that your
entire testament? Yes, sir. It is Very well.
Mr. Kramer. You can return to your seat Will
Miss Lorna Kittredge take the chair, please?
Place your hand on the Bible, Miss Kittredge.
Yes. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to
help you God? Yes, I do. Please speak up, Miss
Kittredge. I do. Miss Kittredge, you were with
Mr. Kramer on the night of the accident. Yes.
You went with him to the place called Bruno's?
Yes, I did. And did you have a drink that night?
Yes. I had a martini. The same as Mr. Cramer?
Yes. When Mr. Cramer's car approached Mrs. Mogher's
driveway, did you see the lady before the automobile
struck her? I'm not sure. I think I saw her for
just a split second. And then the car hit her.
It was... All terribly unreal. Were you aware
of the speed you were traveling at? Miss Kittredge.
I'm not sure of the exact speed. Mr. Kramer thinks
it was between 30 and 35. Do you agree with that?
No. What was that? It couldn't have been that.
It was more like... 55 or 60 Did you say 60 miss
Kittredge about that yes Lorna for God's sake
I Hope you've considered this reply miss Kittredge
Yes, I've considered it We were traveling at
least that I'd been looking at the speedometer
only a few minutes before I Was complaining to
mark about his speed, but he wouldn't listen
to me. He Wasn't in any mood to listen. He was
angry and he was drunk Please everybody quiet
now Mr. Kramer, please take your seat. It's the
truth The truth I can't help myself He was drinking
he had too many martinis and he was drunk. Are
you telling us he had more than one drink? He
had four I know he did, and he drove like a madman.
No matter how I tried to stop him, he never thought
that woman would be on the road at that time
of night. He wouldn't listen. I couldn't believe
it was really happening. It was like hearing
someone else say the words. Please don't cry,
Kitty. I tried not to look at his face. I tried
so hard not to see him, but I... I couldn't stop
myself. How can you blame yourself for telling
the simple truth? How can you think it's wrong?
But don't you realize what will happen to him,
Daddy? He's going to be indicted. He may go to
prison. I'm sure Mr. Cramer will hire himself
a very smart attorney. Who's that? I have no
idea. I can't see anyone now. I just can't. Of
course. You go to your room and I'll answer it.
Go on, darling. Go lie down. Oh, it's you. I
want to see Lorna. Mark, please listen to me.
I know exactly how you're feeling at the moment.
Thanks for remembering my name, Professor. That
must be the very first time. I'm sure you realize
that what Lorna did this morning was extremely
difficult and painful for her. That it was an
agonizing decision. Only who made it? Lorna's
lying down right now. I suggest you try telephoning
her later. I'm not leaving until I see her. I
had hoped we wouldn't get violent about all this,
Mark. Frankly, I don't think you're in a good
position to commit any other rash actions. Daddy,
it's all right. Lorna, I thought you were in
your room. I'll talk to Mark. Very well. But
don't ask me to leave, because I won't. You don't
have to leave, Professor. I'd like you to know
this, too. Know what? But the town gossips are
saying. Lorna, they're saying that we had some
kind of fight. A lover's quarrel, and that you
wanted to get back at me. Oh, you know that's
not so. Yes, I know it. But the other explanation
makes even less sense. That you just had to tell
the truth. Well, it wasn't easy for me. Lies
would have been easier. One small lie, Lorna.
That was all you had to say. You're so afraid
of hell that you wouldn't lie for me? I can't
expect you to understand. But I do understand.
Better than you do, maybe. It was your father's
idea. No, just a moment, Kramer. Well, you remember
my last name, too. I think I made more of an
impression on you than you were willing to admit.
There's no need to be nasty. Lorna, you're so
stuck on the truth. Tell it now. He told you
what to do in that courtroom. Professor Kittredge's
little girl always listens to daddy, and she
never lies. Please, Mark. He insisted that you
tell the truth, didn't he? He gave you a lot
of high -flown ethical reasons for telling the
truth. Nothing but the truth. Every reason but
the real one. You're wrong. I made up my own
mind. Your father knew what would happen. It
would split us apart. And that's what he really
wanted, Lorna. That's the truth that he didn't
mention. I think that's quite enough. You don't
leave right now. I'm calling the police. Don't
bother, Professor. You've done a very good job
on Lorna and on me. Oh, Daddy. Daddy. Kitty,
don't. It's going to be all right. How can it
be? He hates me now. Mark hates me. Things will
change. You wait and see. He'll get himself a
smart lawyer and nothing will happen to him.
Mark Kramer, having been found guilty of the
crime of manslaughter... It is my duty to sentence
you to imprisonment for a period of not less
than one year and not more than five. And so
the truth has not set Mark Kramer free. It sent
him to prison, where he'll have plenty of time
to ponder the complexities of ethics, justice,
and human nature. Or perhaps he'll ponder something
else, like revenge? We'll find out when I return
shortly with Act 3. It's now one year later.
Sad to say Mark Kramer is still wearing prison
grey. As for Professor Kitteridge, he's had problems
too. A bad case of the gout caused cancellation
of his European lecture tour. Even more disappointing,
his daughter Lorna lost interest in working on
her thesis and abandoned the idea of obtaining
her doctorate. In fact, Lorna Kitteridge seems
to have lost interest in life itself. Lorna?
You awake? Yes, Daddy. I'm up. Darling, it's
almost noon. It's not like you to be in bed so
late. I just didn't feel like getting up. Did
you sleep badly again last night? Last night,
the night before. Night before that. Oh, Lorna.
If you don't see Dr. Isaacs voluntarily, I may
have to drag you to his office. You know there's
nothing wrong with me. What's all this paper
for? All those little crumpled balls. Can't you
guess? Oh, Lorna, no. You haven't been writing
Mark again. I keep thinking that I might hit
on exactly the right words. The magic formula
that would make him answer one letter. Would
be so much better if you forgot him, Lorna. Do
you know that I even thought of sending him a
disguise letter? Making it look like some important
document that he would have to read? Isn't that
ridiculous? What's ridiculous is the way you've
tortured yourself over that man for so many months.
Who's tortured who, Daddy? Which one of us is
really guilty? Oh, Kitty, Kitty. Stop calling
me that name. My name is Lorla. Can't you remember
my name? Darling, you're just not yourself. Is
that why you can't remember me? Because I'm somebody
else? Well, you may be right, Daddy. Every morning
I look in the mirror and I can't recognize the
woman I see. Darling, you're just not giving
yourself a chance to forget. You'd start getting
out into the world, start meeting new people.
You'd become a hermit. I thought you liked having
me here, Daddy. I thought you couldn't live without
my company. I honestly believe you need medical
attention. If not from Dr. Isaacs and from somebody
else. You mean a psychiatrist, I suppose. No,
darling, no. Just someone who can help you get
over this distorted guilt that you feel. The
only one who can do that is Mark. And he won't
see me or write me or anything. No, no. Well,
please go away. Please! Please. I'm gonna try
to sleep. It's the only time I'm happy when I'm
asleep. All right. Step right over here, Kramer.
Anything you say, guard. Remember visiting time
is limited to 15 minutes. Look, I don't want
the 15 minutes of being forced on me. Sit down
and behave yourself. Yes, sir. Anything you say,
sir. Well, go on, Mark. Make it fast, Professor.
I've got important matters to take care of back
in the shop. I'm making a very special license
plate. Mark, I know you resent the fact that
I've forced this encounter. Took some doing,
believe me. Uh -huh. Why did you go to all the
trouble? Because it's a matter of health, Lorna's
health. She's pining away for me, is that it?
Well, tell her to stop, Professor. My nights
are filled with sweet dreams, and she is in none
of them. You tell her that for me. I want you
to see her, Mark. Oh, I wouldn't force that issue,
Professor. I don't have anything nice to say
to your daughter. You misunderstood Lorna. Couldn't
expect her to applaud what she didn't call it.
But if you really thought about the ideals that
motivated her whose ideals yours or hers do I
have to separate them? Yes But you can't professor
because she's your monster. You've got her all
twisted up between her ethics and her instincts
I suppose you're proud of the result, but it's
a fake. There's nothing. There's nothing fake
about her prints She doesn't have principles.
All she has is you Her shining example. She wants
you to love and admire her, so she does what
you expect. That's why Daddy's little girl always
tells the truth. She does tell the truth. Always.
And her father? I abominate lies. You won't even
lie to yourself. Then tell me this. Weren't you
happy when Lorne and I broke up? Didn't it save
your happy home? I can see that coming here was
a mistake. You're a hypocrite, Professor. I'm
sorry. This whole thing was your doing, and I'll
never let you forget it. Goodbye, Mark. Wait
a minute. There's something you should know.
What's that? I'm being paroled next week. Tell
that to your daughter. Maybe it'll improve her
health. Of course I'm pleased, Terrell. It's
just that I... Much rather see a new book of
mine published than a new edition of an old book.
Well, you can't argue with success. People never
seem to tire of the seven secrets of Shakespeare.
I suppose I shouldn't complain. It does buy the
groceries. Just cash the royalty checks and be
happy. Now, tell me how Lorna's doing. Feeling
any better? Still a bit run down, I guess. That's
too bad. I... I suppose you know that young man
Kramer, that he's out of prison? For about two
months now, I gather. He hasn't been in touch
with Lorna? No, and I don't think he will be.
Funny thing is, he's been in touch with us. With
you? What have I fought? Well, actually, it seems
he went to Merritt Bobbs first. My first publishers?
Yes, talked to everyone who would talk to him.
Then he approached members of my own staff. He
even tried to get an appointment with me, but
I put him off. What do you suppose he wants?
He's an embittered young man, you know. Well,
I spoke to George Merritt. He didn't know about,
well, about Lorna and this fellow Kramer. He
thought Kramer was an article writer looking
for biographical material. George said that he
seemed to know an awful lot about you already.
I don't much like the idea of someone like that
snooping into my life. Why? Why do you suppose
he's doing it? Hard to say. Ranker, I suppose.
Hopes he can find something unpleasant in my
past. I'll get it, Lorna. Hello? Professor Kidridge?
Yes. Oh. Yes, I was just speaking about you the
other day with my publisher. I'd like to see
you, Professor, this evening, if that's possible.
See me? Or Lorna? No, just you. If Lorna wants
to be there, that's her business. Something tells
me she'd rather stay away. Can you give me some
idea of why you want to see me? You might say
it's a business matter. Who is it, Daddy? What
time would be good for you, Professor? Make it...
About nine. I'll make it exactly nine. Daddy,
you look so strange. Who was that on the phone?
It was Mark Kramer, Lola. Mark? He's asked me
to see him at nine tonight. I have no idea what
he wants to say, but whatever it is, I'm sure
it won't be anything pleasant. I'd rather not
be here. I didn't think you would. Mark blames
me for what happened in court, not you. He refuses
to admit that it was your own love of truth.
My love of truth? Daddy, you never understood
me yourself. How could you explain me to someone
else? I didn't love truth, I loved Mark. You
did what you had to do. What your conscience
told you to do. My conscience? Is that what I
was satisfying? A small little voice inside me.
It can be a loud voice, darling. A very compelling
voice. But I still hear it. It's still talking
to me. And do you know what it's saying? You
fool. You fool, you fool! Lorna. I think I'll
go out now, Daddy. Right now. Good evening, Professor.
Hello, Mark. Come in. Thank you. Nice of you
to see me. I wasn't sure of my reception after
the last time. I see you're using a cane these
days, Professor. Yes, a touch of gout. Mark,
I hope you weren't expecting to see Lorna. She's
not here. No, I didn't expect to see her. Good
day. Would you care to come to the point of this
visit? Yes, professor. I'll come to the point.
I've come to see you about truth. Oh, must we,
Mark? Really? I mean, these philosophical discussions
are meat and drink to old campus fogies like
me, but I'm rather tired of the subject right
now. Very tired of it. Frankly, I'm a little
exhausted by it myself. I've just spent two months
in search of it, and I didn't even know what
I was looking for. You've been digging up things
about me, haven't you? I hope you enjoyed yourself.
No, I didn't. You see, I made the mistake of
talking to your enemies. The publishers you dropped,
the friends you no longer see, the scholars you
had disputes with. What did you get out of that?
Nothing. Your enemies didn't have the truth about
you, Professor. Only your friends did. Like Avery
Hayes. Avery Hayes? Oh, I'm glad to see you remember
the name. Strange how few people do. Even though
you dedicated your fourth or was it your fifth
book to him? George Merritt knew him, of course.
Mr. Merritt called you Avery's benefactor. Said
that Hayes was an alcoholic that you took care
of for many years. He was my friend. Yes, he
was a good friend. And you were good to him.
That was one chapter of your past that you had
every reason to be proud of. Avery's been dead
for ten years. What did you want from him? Nothing,
Professor. I just thought a man like that deserved
a little recognition, if only for his past association
with you. So I talked to people who knew him,
his old pals, his family. He still has a brother
alive, you know, a crotchety old fellow in the
terminal ward at the county hospital. His name's
Ezra. Perfect name for the old boy. And you know
what? He still has the junk haze left when he
died. That pitiful collection of books and papers.
You don't expect me to believe that, about Avery's
papers? Avery never kept anything, not a thing.
He was a foolish, drunken old... He was also
brilliant, wasn't he? Went to the university
on a scholarship. You only beat him out for top
honors because of his drinking. You're talking
about 40 years ago. He was drunk and he was dishonest
too, wasn't he, Professor? That was how he sustained
that wild life of his by selling his scholastic
services to anybody who could pay for them. It's
not different today. Yes. That's what Avery said
in his letter. The one he wrote to a woman named
Jean. I didn't know who Gene was or why Avery
never mailed the letter, but there it was. Avery
said he was cleaning up a hundred, two hundred
dollars a month, and would surely be able to
pay back all he owed before the end of the semester.
And then he mentioned the thesis, the big job
he was doing, that he expected three hundred
for that job alone. You know which thesis I mean,
Professor? Please go. Get out of here. I've had
enough of this lying filth. The Seven Secrets
of Shakespeare. Sounds like a mystery story,
doesn't it? But it was quite a piece of work.
And it became more than just a college thesis.
It became a world -famous book. It made your
reputation, Professor. You're a liar! A liar!
You know nothing about it. You paid Avery for
his work and put your name on it. You might have
done as well yourself, but you were young and
lazy and you had the money to pay for it. Then
you discovered how good it really was and it
was too late for both of you to change the course
of history. Get out of this house now. Get out!
I'm going, Professor. I just wanted you to hear
this little story about truth. And also to tell
you that I have Avery Hayes' letter. What did
you say? I have his letter, Professor. It tells
the whole story. Good night. Back! You told me
to go and I'm going. You filthy animal! Get rich!
Kill you monster and fire! Kill you! Kill you,
you animal! Daddy! Kill you! Daddy! Like a wild
beast! Oh, my God! What have you done? Oh, no.
Daddy! Oh, no. Oh, thank heaven you're here.
Thank heaven. Look at his head, oh, dear Lord.
You saw what happened. What the crazy fool did,
he attacked me. You killed him with your cane.
He attacked me, Lorna. You know how much he hated
me. I had to defend myself. No, no, I saw what
happened. I saw you strike him from behind. No,
Kitty, no. He tried to kill me. That's why I
hit him. Oh, Daddy, I saw everything. You killed
Mark. You did it deliberately. That's the truth.
You always taught me to tell the truth. It's
the only important thing, the truth! Oliver Wendell
Holmes, Jr. said, all I mean by truth is the
road I can't help traveling. Well, Professor
Kitteridge traveled his road, and despite his
good intentions, It turned out to be the road
to hell. I'll be back shortly. If there is a
moral to the story you've just heard, it's not
that truth is so bad. But Samuel Butler said,
Truth should not be absolutely lost sight of,
but it should not be talked about. And we promise,
that's our last word on the subject. Our cast
included Agnes Moorhead, Mandel Kramer, Santos
Ortega, Ian Martin, and Dan Ockel. The entire
production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
This is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return
to our Mystery Theatre for another adventure
in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.