Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome
to The Sound of Suspense. Welcome to the fear
you can hear. But mostly, welcome to the world
of terrifying imagination. In this story, you're
going to meet what some people call a shutter
bug. You know what a shutter bug is. The kind
of person who never goes anywhere without a camera
swinging from a strap around his neck. Who is
never content unless they're aiming a lens in
your direction, whether you want to be photographed
or not. But unfortunately, this particular bug
is the kind that many people want to crush under
their feet. We all want to get rid of Kellerman.
We want to kill him. And so do you. That's a
lie. You hate his guts as much as we do, Mr.
Bailey. Why don't you admit it? Of course I hate
him. But that doesn't mean I'm ready to commit...
murder. Well, we're ready, Mr. Bailey. And you'd
better be, too. Our mystery drama, Our Choice
of Witnesses, was written especially for the
Mystery Theatre by Henry Slesser and stars Paul
Hecht. It begins on a warm day in early spring.
The kind of day which tempts office workers to
leave their desks and stroll through the nearest
park on the noon hour. Among the strollers is
an amiable young man named Gordon Bailey who
is enjoying the sunshine so much that he's taken
a sandwich lunch to a park bench. He knows it's
not going to be a very good sandwich. His wife
Pam prepared it with her own loving hands. And
even after two years of marriage, Pam seems unable
to cope. with even a hard -boiled egg. Oh, excuse
me, mister. Okay if I sit down here? Oh, yeah,
sure. Plenty of room. Thanks. Nice day, isn't
it? Yeah. It's about time we had some good weather.
That's a good idea. I mean, bringing your lunches
apart. Oh, that's my wife's idea. We're on an
economy drive. Yeah, money's tight these days.
Very tight. What line of work did you say you
were in? Oh, I think I said I was in the insurance
business. No kidding Well now that's what I call
a good business. Oh, excuse me Hey, that ought
to be a cute picture, huh that little squirrel
up there cute as a bug, huh? Do you like to take
pictures of squirrels? Well me I like to take
pictures of everything In fact, I do this for
a living. Oh, you're a professional photographer
kind of I make a buck out of it sometimes. I
suppose you sell pictures to the newspapers.
Oh, no, no, I never sold no pictures of papers.
I sell them to people. Well, I guess I'll be
heading back for work. Wait just a minute, Mr.
Bailey. I don't remember telling you my name.
I guess I know your name on a kind of the badge.
What are you talking about? The badge you wore
at the convention at the hotel in Atlantic City.
Oh, wait a minute. You were at the Insurance
Convention last month? Yeah, I was there. I get
a lot of good pictures at conventions. Some of
my best. I see. Or, uh, maybe I don't. Well,
you know how it is. Bunch of guys get away from
home, away from their wife. They do a lot of
crazy things. Oh, uh, would you like to see the
picture? Of the Insurance Convention? I'll tell
you the truth, Mr., uh... My name is Kellerman.
Frankly, I just don't understand why you'd be
carrying around pictures of a bunch of drunken
insurance, man Yeah, you were gassed all right.
I never seen anybody more gassed than you or
mr. Bailey You don't mean you have pictures of
me. Yeah, that's how I was trying to tell you
you like to see them. They're real beauts I Don't
think I ever took better mr. Bailey All right.
Let me see them. Oh, yeah sure Here they are
another pocket here. Yeah Look at this one Oh,
no. She was really stacked, huh? How did you
get this? Well, I told you with my trusty little
camera. But how? Hey, come on. What do you think?
I'm not giving away no professional secrets.
You were in that hotel room. She let you into
that room, didn't she? You must have been hiding
someplace. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Don't do that.
Don't care that much. What do you think I'm gonna
do with them? Aw, come on, Mr. Bailey. You know
I got negatives. I can print up 2 ,000 of them
if I want. What is this? Blackmail or something?
No, no, no, it's like a business deal. That's
all I Figured I got some pictures that you want
to buy And I got him to sell how much did you
pay her for the privilege of being in that room?
The question is how much are you willing to pay?
I? Mean so your wife don't get a complete set
Look Are you willing to sell me the negatives
I didn't say that I Got a different kind of deal
of mine You know what would happen if I told
the police about this? Well, a guy did that to
me once. It was a meatpackers convention. He
called the cops, they hauled me in. I said I
was just a photographer working at the convention,
that's all. I was selling pictures of the guys
there. He couldn't prove nothing against me on
a vacante, you know why? It was true. I am a
photographer, I do wait conventions. I saw regular
type pictures, too. But they're not as profitable
as these, are they? You know, that guy became
one of my steadiest customers. Only then his
wife divorced him anyway. Wouldn't make no more
payments. Payments? Are you saying this is a
regular thing? How much you iron at that insurance
company? I figure a young guy like you, they
pay about 15, 18 ,000 a year, am I right? Listen
to me, Kellerman. The woman at that convention,
I... I didn't want to get mixed up with her.
I was just so tied. I didn't know what I was
doing. Oh, hey, you don't have to tell me about
stuff like that, Mr. Bailey. I've been around
plenty. I know how guys are. No, no, no, no.
You don't understand. Look, I'm only married
two years. I love my wife very much. And the
only reason I got into that stupid mess was because
of my boss. I didn't want to insult him. He was
drunker than I was. Oh, come on, Mr. Bailey.
You don't have to explain nothing to me. I know
you don't want that nice little wife of yours
to see these dainty pictures. And I don't want
to show them to her. Believe me. She'd never
understand. Pam would never... Listen. Listen,
I'll tell you what. I'll give you a flat price
for the negatives, and that'll be it. Understand?
I got a nice bonus recently. I'll give you 300
cash tomorrow afternoon. How does that sound?
Now listen to me, Mr. Bailey. People are real
funny about this kind of business. They never
believe a guy like me can, well, like be honest,
you know? Honest? That's some word. Well, what
I mean is they always think that if they pay
me a flat fee, I'll be coming back at them again.
You see what I mean? Even if I did give you the
negatives, you'd figure if I had copies someplace
that I could hit you again any time, right? Look,
I'm willing to take your word for it. Nah, Mr.
Bailey, nah. You just spend the rest of your
life worrying about me coming back, am I right?
But this way, you just make one small payment
to me every month, like you pay the electric
bill at a red. You know? How much? How much do
I have to pay? I figure if about 40 bucks a month.
Now that's not so terrible, is it? Just 40 bucks
a month? How do you collect the money? Oh, in
person, Mr. Bailey, I just go around to all my
customers once a month, and I collect in person.
It's better that way, believe me. $40. It's $4
.80 a year. You never miss it. And everything
will just be fine between you and the missus.
That you, honey? Yeah, it's me. Hey, shut up,
you mutt. Hi, darling. Don't be quiet, Lockjaw.
It's your lord master. I'm sorry I'm late. I
decided to do a little Christmas shopping after
work. I forgot how long it takes to fight those
crowds. Oh, what a gorgeous package. Is that
something for me? Never mind. Well, just in case
it is, here's a big kiss in advance. Hey, you
smell good. Is that a new perfume? It's the same
old stuff. The one I'm practically out of. Hint,
hint, hint. Oh, cut out that hinting. I've already
spent more money than I should. Oh, speaking
of money, that man was here. What man? You know,
the one that comes around every month. That Mr.
Kellerman. Kellerman? What the heck was he doing
here? It's only the 19th. Well, I don't know,
Gordon, but he was here just the same, looking
for you. What did he say? Nothing. Just that
he'd be back later. Later today? Mm -hmm. You
know Gordon, I just can't bear that awful little
man Did you ever get a look at his eyes and that
camera he wears around his neck? Listen, is he
going to be coming around every single month?
I told you honey. He's collecting payments on
the car Well, why can't you make the payments
by man because that's the way he likes it. Maybe
he moves around a lot Well, he gives me the creeps
Oh, it's you. Evening, Mr. Bailey. I heard you
came earlier today. Yeah, but you aren't home
yet. Hope I didn't disturb your wife too much.
Look, we'll talk in the hallway. Oh, yeah, of
course. All right. What's this early visit all
about? You're going away for the holidays? Oh,
no, I never go anywhere this time of year. It's
one of my busiest times of year, you know? Yeah,
I can imagine. I get some of my best pictures
around now. You'd be surprised. You know how
it is. People get all filled up with a Christmas
spirit. All right, all right. Get to the point.
You want your payment now? Well, I wouldn't mind,
of course, but that's not the reason I came around,
Mr. Bailey. You see, I want to tell you that
the payments are gonna go up. What? I really
hate to do it, but it's the inflation, you know?
Everything costs more, food, clothing, film,
gasoline. I'm just going to have an increase,
Mr. Bailey. I'm sorry. How much of an increase?
Well, just another $15 a month. Fifteen? Terrific.
Now it's $55. What's it going to be a couple
of months from now? Shut up, Lockjaw. Excuse
me, Mr. Bailey? Yeah. What can I do for you?
May I talk to you for a moment? Do I know you?
No, I don't think you do. My name is Bliss, Dave
Bliss. Look, can we sit down and talk a minute?
It's kind of chilly. Why don't we talk standing
up? I'm trying to walk my dog and so far he's
been a non -performer. Well, I want to talk to
you about... Ed Kellerman. I don't know any Ed
Kellerman. I know you do, Mr. Bailey. I made
it my business to find out. Now, I'm not asking
what he's got on you, Mr. Bailey. I'm sorry.
You're making a mistake. It doesn't matter. I
won't ask you why Kellerman is blackmailing you.
I expect you'd do as much for me. Only would
you mind telling me how much you pay him? He
hits me for 60 a month. Used to be 40 price went
up last month 55 you mind paying it of course
I mind so do I I'd mind if it was ten bucks a
month and not just because of the money I Hate
that slimy man, and I'm sure you hate him as
much as I do That's why I wanted to talk to you
about putting a stop to him a permanent stop
You mean going to the police? No. That's not
good enough. I'm talking about killing him. Every
problem has a solution, they say. And Mr. Dave
Bliss seems to have arrived at his. The obvious
question here is, do two wrongs make a right?
We'll find out what Mr. Gordon Bailey thinks
about that dilemma when we return shortly with
Act 2. Blackmail is an interesting, if dishonorable,
crime. It has the unusual facility of making
the criminal feel virtuous himself. After all,
he's only punishing wrongdoers by making them
pay for their sins. But the profession has some
serious drawbacks. For one thing, it inspires
one's victims to think in drastic terms. And
when there are more than one victim, and they
meet, well... Mr. Bliss, I know how you must
feel about Kellerman, and you're right. He is
one of the slimmiest characters who ever crawled
out from under a rock. Those eyes. Ever get a
look at his eyes, Mr. Bailey? My wife can't stand
the sight of him. Well, I'm not married. It's
my job he's threatening. Is it your marriage
he's after? Ah, never mind. I don't want to know
any details. None of us know each other's problems.
None of us? You mean you know others beside me?
Well, I know others. How come? Well, I made it
my business to find others. One day when I got
fed to the teeth with Mr. Kellerman and his payments
and his wet eyes, I decided to find out more
about our friend. So when he left one day, I
followed him. Followed him on his rounds. And
that's how you found me. Yeah, that's right.
You're in the root book, Mr. Bailey, just like
all the rest of us. How many are there? There's
no way of telling for sure. All I managed to
find was a dozen, an even dozen. The man really
gets around. He keeps raising his price. Do you
know that? He's only had me in his bag for about
six months. This is my fifth. But others I've
spoken to, they say he raises the ante every
few months. Three of the people I've talked to
are paying well over a hundred. Mr. Kellerman
does very well. That's obvious. Yeah, too well.
You know something? It's funny, but... Well,
it's kind of a relief to know that I'm not alone.
Yes. That's what I felt at first Misery loves
company But the satisfaction doesn't last mr.
Bailey You still live every day of your life
with that sword over your head. No, I know but
it's still not a reason for using words like
like killing Don't you know that's the only possible
way to deal with a blackmailer? I wouldn't know
Kellerman's my first well think about it No,
no, you must have thought about it already. You
wouldn't be human if you hadn't thought about
it crossed my mind Not that I should kill Kellerman
just the wish that he were dead that someone
else would kill him. Yeah Guess I wouldn't shed
too many tears. You just didn't want to dirty
your own hands I didn't want to take care of
one problem and have another one even worse and
don't tell me that doesn't make sense The only
thing that makes sense is making Kellerman a
corpse. I'm sorry I'm just not interested in
anything like that. The others weren't either
not at first but now Now they all are oh Look,
what are you talking about? We all want to get
rid of Kellerman. We want to kill him. And so
do you. That's a lie. You hate his guts as much
as we do, Mr. Bailey. Why don't you admit it?
Of course I hate him, but that doesn't mean I'm...
It doesn't mean I'm ready to commit murder. Well,
we're ready, Mr. Bailey. And you better be too.
Ready for what? To commit murder. If you don't
mind my saying it. Perfect murder. Perfect. Foolproof.
I'm sorry. Look, that's a stupid dream and you
know it. You won't say that after you've heard
the idea. Everybody who sets out to commit a
crime thinks it's foolproof. They wouldn't commit
it otherwise. Right now, all I want to know is
if you'll cooperate. That's easy. No. Why not?
Because murder is worse than blackmail. That's
why. Well, this isn't murder. We're going to
erase a human mistake. Forget it. Look, I'll
make believe I never heard you say it. Come on.
Come on, Lockjaw. Come on, girl. Let's get our
business over with. There wasn't one person on
the list I didn't have to convince. But when
I told them that there was no chance of any of
us being caught, that's when they dropped their
objections. All right. What foolproof scheme
for murder do you have? It's foolproof because
it won't be murder. It'll be an accident. If
anyone gets into trouble, it'll be me, just me.
I'm going to kill Kellerman with my car when
he's making the rounds one night. I have the
time and place all figured out just before midnight
on Carroll Street. An accident? Right. So now
you know the favor I'm doing you. I'm taking
the risk all by myself. You think the police
are that stupid? Murderers get caught even when
they frame accidents. Oh, this is different.
Why? Because of the witnesses. What? I'm going
to have witnesses. A lot of them. All disinterested
parties. Nothing to connect them with each other.
And they'll all tell exactly the same story.
What they saw. How it was all Kellerman's fault
getting hit by my car. All right, all right,
all right. Stop. Don't tell me anymore. You've
already told me too much. No, you've got to hear
the rest of it. You're a part of this like everyone
else. Don't you see the beauty of it? Safety
in numbers? If you ask me, you'll all get caught.
No, no. Don't you understand? When a group of
citizens all testify exactly the same way, I
mean, reliable citizens from every walk of life,
you ought to meet some of Kellerman's victims.
One is a college professor, two are doctors,
there are four housewives, a bartender who owns
his own joint, one working stiff, one person
in city government. You might as well know, that's
me. Bless. Wait a minute. I've seen your name
something about the transportation authority
one of them is in the insurance business They're
all with me. Mr. Bailey every one of them has
agreed so many witnesses to one accident Well,
we won't need everyone some of them won't be
asked any questions by the police, but they'll
all be there just the same We'd like you there,
too. You're nuts. Do you know that you and the
rest? I won't have any part of this Don't you
see? It can't miss. It doesn't matter. I don't
want to have any part in killing a man. How come,
Mr. Bailey? Have you got religious scruples or
something? Maybe. You've got scruples, but you
did something rotten enough to make you a blackmailer's
victim. I didn't commit murder. Look, you got
a good idea about getting everyone together.
Maybe if we all went to the police. Oh, no way!
Whatever it is you don't want known about yourself,
my friend. It'll come out the minute Kellerman
gets arrested. Now, now my way is better. I can't
buy it. Look, I'm sorry. My dog is getting tired
and so am I. Come on. Come on, Loncho. Now, wait
a minute now. You want my advice, Bliss? Don't
go through with this. Find some other way. There
has to be one. Goodbye. Bailey. Yeah? What if
we do it? You'll be sorry. That's what. Sorry,
why? Because you'll tell the police the truth.
I didn't say that. Goodbye, Mr. Bliss. Hello.
Evening, Mr. Bailey. How are you? I'm all right,
Bliss. What do you want? You going to be busy
tomorrow night? What do you mean, busy? You can't
go through with this. We're all in it together,
remember? You might not have to do a thing. Just
stand there and see it happen. That ought to
be satisfying all by itself. I won't be there.
Well, we'd sure like to have you, Bailey. You
won't get away with this. Nobody ever does. Oh,
shut up, Lockjaw. What's the matter with you
tonight? Gordon? Yeah? Do you think Lockjaw's
all right? She keeps staring at the door and
growling. I don't know. Must hear the neighbors
or something. Maybe she's waiting to bark at
that man, the collector, you know? Kellerman?
Uh -huh. Isn't he coming tonight? He usually
comes on the last Sunday of the month, doesn't
he? Yeah, yeah, usually. Well, I doubt if he'll
be here tonight. It's almost 11 now. Oh. I didn't
realize it was that late. You haven't done much
this evening. Don't you feel all right? Yeah,
sure. Sure, I'm all right. Well, you just seem
to be, well, waiting. Was it for that man? Because
if it was, well, I'm sure he's not coming, honey.
I think we ought to go to bed and listen to the
news or something. Oh, the news. Yeah, I guess
it's on right now, isn't it? Just about. You
want me to turn it on here? Yeah, sure, would
you? Okay. The conference... now postponed until
February, will include top officials from both
nations. On the local front. A man who has been
identified as Edward Kellerman of 1811... Kellerman?
Gordon, do you suppose he's the same man? On
the corner of Carroll Street and 9th Avenue.
The driver of the car, city administration official
David Bliss, was released after questioning.
Five witnesses on the scene of the accident testified
that Kellerman had stepped... Into the automobiles
path. For heaven's sake. In sports, the golden
warrior... Shut it off, Pat. Gordon, do you suppose
it's that man, the collector? You think that's
the reason he didn't come around tonight? It
would be a good enough reason, wouldn't it? He
was dead. Lying in the middle of the street.
Dead. You look so strange. Gordon. Did you like
that man if you want to know the truth Pam I
hated him you did why just on general principles
I Really don't understand you sometimes Gordon
Hand me the hand me the phone book. Okay here
You gonna call somebody Honey, why don't you
go to bed? I'll be in in a few minutes. But who
are you calling? Just someone I know. Someone
who knew Kellerman. Oh, I see. To find out if
they know about what happened to him, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right. Okay, honey.
I'll go in then. I'm feeling a little tired.
Yes, so am I. I'll be right in. Good night, sweetheart.
Good night. David Bliss? Yes, who's this? Gordon
Bailey. What do you want? I heard the news tonight
about Kellerman. Well, you don't have to thank
me. I did it for myself. And you did go through
with it, huh? You can relax now, friend. You've
just saved yourself 55 bucks a month, maybe a
lot more. Your remittance man won't be coming
around again. You ought to go out and celebrate.
I know what I ought to do. What's that? So long,
Bliss. I just wanted to make sure. Hey, Bailey!
Obviously, there's one thing you can say for
David Bliss. He's a man of his word. And because
Mr. Bliss kept his word, two indifferent interns
are now lifting the mortal remains of Mr. Edward
Kellerman and depositing them in the efficient
cold filing cabinet of the city morgue. awaiting
for someone to claim the body. But who cares
about a dead blackmailer? Possibly Mr. Gordon
Bailey. We'll find out shortly when I return
with Act 3. As David Bliss and company managed
to commit the perfect crime So it seems Since
the death certificate for Edward Kellerman simply
states the cause of death as accidental at least
a dozen people know otherwise But they remain
silent feeling not grief, but relief The only
one who finds it difficult to maintain that silence
is the one victim of Ed Kellerman who was not
on the corner of Carroll Street and 9th Avenue
that fateful night. Honey, do you know it's almost
two o 'clock in the morning? Oh, is it? Really?
You know, I honestly think you are coming down
with something. The virus made that. Pam, will
you please stop fussing? You're beginning to
sound like my mother. Well, I certainly wouldn't
want to do that. I'm just trying to get you to
go to sleep. You've got a job to go to tomorrow.
You know, it's funny about my mother. When I
was growing up, she made me feel that there was
something... I don't know, something so profound
about religion. Well, if you ask me, she just
likes the bingo games. My father was that way,
too. But neither one of them really seemed to
live their religion. You know what I mean? They
talked about loving their neighbors and so forth,
but they didn't love them at all. They were always
saying the nastiest things about them. Well,
that's how people are. When I was in my teens,
I used to call them hypocrites. Now, I just wonder
if I'm any different than they were. I really
don't think I am. Different how? Well, about
things like the Ten Commandments, for instance.
I wonder if there's one I haven't broken. I hope
you haven't coveted your neighbor's wife. That's
about the only one I can remember. I remember
them all. You do? Yeah, I won a prize in Bible
class when I was only eight for reciting all
of them. Thou shalt not this. Thou shalt not
that. There are only eight shalt nots. Thou shalt
have no other gods beside me. Thou shalt not
worship any graven image. Thou shalt not take
the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Thou shalt
not kill. Yeah, sure. I'll have that file completed
in time for the meeting. Right -o, Phil. Bye.
Oh, Sylvia, did you reach that number yet? No.
Okay, well, buzz me if you do. All right. Now,
let's see about that actuarial table. Hello.
All right, Bailey. What is it now? Hello, Mr.
Bliss. I've been having a lot of trouble reaching
you this morning. I was wondering if you might
be free for lunch. Sorry. I'd really like a chance
to talk to you About what about some mutual friends
of ours if we're talking about the same thing
barely they're not mutual friends They're all
strangers complete strangers just like you and
me. Well, that's something I'd like to rectify
Would you have lunch with me? All right Suppose
we meet somewhere halfway I know you're in the
City Hall area. I'm on Wall Street. How about
Mercury's? Do you know it? I'll see you there
at 12 .30. That's fine. All right, Bailey, let's
have it. You don't want a social lunch. You have
something on your mind. You're right. Something
I can't get off my mind. About our old friend
Kellerman, I suppose. You remember what you said
about him? He was a sword hanging over your head
so He's still that for me. Mr. Bliss He is exactly
that Kellerman is dead He won't be ringing your
doorbell anymore How come you're not grateful
for that if Kellerman had really been hit by
a car if he had a heart attack or something I
admit I would be glad about it. I would have
gone out and celebrated. I would have slept very
well at night. But the way things are, I'm not
sleeping at all. Try pills. I'm just sorry you
ever came up to me in that park. If I didn't...
If I didn't know it was going to happen the way
it happened, it never would have bothered me.
But I do know. And it bothers me too much. So?
The thing is... I don't know if I can live with
it. You want to be more specific? I don't know
if I can spend the rest of my life with this...
thing on my conscience. Your conscience? Look,
you have nothing to do with Kellerman's death.
I don't know what you think Kellerman had on
me, Bliss, but it wasn't anything illegal. Just
immoral, right? It was something stupid I did.
Well... there was nothing stupid about what we
did wasn't it are you really so sure you've committed
the perfect murder shut up don't you ever use
that word in front of me you're still afraid
aren't you afraid of being found out it can't
happen not as long as we all stick together safety
in numbers right when the police came they only
questioned four of them every single one told
the same story There was no reason to doubt their
word. Why should there be because there was no
connection between them, right? They were all
strangers nothing to tie them to each other except
Kellerman What about the records? He might have
kept his his little black notebook for instance.
We thought of that too First thing we did when
we went to his body was lift that book right
out of his pocket What about the apartment? What
about all the stuff he had there? The second
thing we lifted was the key to his apartment
One of our guys a Joe the bartender went straight
there He cleaned out every scrap of paper in
the place every single one of his rotten photographs.
You know, we're very thorough, weren't you? Yeah,
we were thorough Bailey and you ought to be grateful
Not worried and I am worrying I'm worrying about
whether or not I should Go on whether or not
you should what? Bailey, are you thinking about
going to the police? It occurred to me. You mean
you'd turn me in? I don't know, I just don't
know. Did it ever occur to you to turn Kellerman
in? Yes, often. But did you? No. Why not? Wasn't
he committing a crime? Wasn't he disturbing your
precious sleep, too? Yes, yes, he was. But you
didn't turn him in because you were afraid for
yourself. Isn't that the truth? I suppose so
so all this morality of yours this conscience
you talk about You didn't discover you had any
until Kellerman was gone until he was no longer
a threat to you Isn't that true? I still say
blackmail isn't murder barely I've got news for
you. I Wasn't going to tell you this unless it
was absolutely necessary. Tell me what? Kellerman
may be gone, but his photographs are still around.
What? You heard me. We have all of Kellerman's
negatives, all the dirty pictures he ever took.
Most of them have been returned to his victims.
Everyone who cooperated with us. I see. That
means we have your pictures too, my friend. You
understand? And if I don't... cooperate, I get
a new blackmailer. Is that it? No, no, that isn't
the way it is at all. Kellerman bled you, Bailey.
Every month he came whistling up to your front
door asking for money. More and more money all
the time. But that's over now. Done and finished.
So what you're saying is, if I go to the police,
the photographs go where I don't want them to
go. I'm sorry to use Kellerman's own tactics,
but... You're forcing my hand. Bailey, please
use your head. You've got nothing to gain and
everything to lose. Somebody's done you a favor.
The only way to show your gratitude is to forget
it. What do you say? Well, I'll think about it.
That's all I can tell you. Want any more coffee,
honey? No, thanks. You look so... so tense, Gordon.
Yeah, I guess I have been acting pretty jumpy
tonight. Well, you've hardly said two words to
me since you came home. The thing is... I've
been thinking a lot, Pam. About what? About...
whether I had the nerve to tell you something.
Something that happened about, well, seven months
ago. What do you mean? Pam, you remember that
insurance convention I went to? back in July
in Atlantic City. Of course I remember. I couldn't
go with you because of mother being in the hospital.
I wish you had been with me. Then nothing would
have happened. What did happen? Did you get into
some kind of trouble? Yeah. Yeah, I got myself
into trouble by being stupid, by drinking too
much and letting Hal Emmons drink too much. Emmons?
You mean your supervisor? I was still new on
the job, you remember, Pam? I wanted to make
good. Yeah? I was afraid of Emmons taking a dislike
to me, afraid of crossing him. When we both got
drunk that second night, Emmons insisted that
we pick up these girls at the bar. Gordon! Honey,
I swear, I didn't want anything to do with it.
I wasn't the least bit interested, but, you know,
Emmons is the kind of guy who uses conventions
to swing a little, you know, I... Told him I
was crazy about my wife at home cooking was good
enough for me, but he just pressured me Pam Pam
can I make you understand? Go on What happened?
We brought the girls upstairs. They had adjoining
rooms. They were professionals. Oh Sure, I could
have kept my mouth shut I guess I needed to tell
you. I guess I wanted you to know so that you
could forgive me. Of course. I've been torched
about it for months, honey. You have no idea
what torture it's been for me. But that's the
dumbest thing of all. Don't you think I would
have forgiven you a long time ago? I can't. Oh,
please. Oh, my God. Please. Honey, please. It'll
never happen again, honey. I swear. Oh, darn
it. I was just getting cozy. Okay, I'll get it.
Hello. Mr. Bailey? Dave Bliss here. What do you
want? I have something for you. A present. What
is it? Put them in my mail, to my office. And
have some secretary open them by mistake? No,
I don't think you'd care for that. You could
mark it personal. Supposing I hand them over
in person tonight? Whereabouts? Well, right now
I'm in a bar called Adam and Eve's on 12th and
Walnut. I'll be here for another hour if you
can make it. Otherwise, well, it'll have to be
some other time, that's all. Oh, well, all right.
All right, I'll be there in half an hour. Gordon,
you're not going out. Just for a little while,
honey. I got some client business. Besides, I
can use a little fresh air. You're not still
feeling bad, are you? No, no. I feel just fine.
I never felt better. Maybe I'm crazy to do this,
Bailey. Maybe I'm putting my neck into a noose,
giving you back these photographs. Then why are
you doing it? Because of what you said to me.
You said I was just becoming another blackmailer,
another Kellerman. And I guess you were right.
If I held on to these, I'd have become the very
thing I despised. Well, I give you credit for
honesty, Bliss. I hope that having these will
change your mind about going to the police. I
hope you'll realize that I did the right thing,
that we all did the right thing. I can't answer
that. Then... You're still thinking about it?
You want to know something? I told my wife tonight
about these. What? I told her all about the girl
in Atlantic City. She knows exactly what happened.
That doesn't mean to say she wouldn't be horrified
to see it in black and white. That's why I'm
glad I have these pictures. What else can I say
but thanks. You could say that you won't go to
the police ever. Sorry. I can't make any promises.
Uh -huh. Yeah. I was afraid you felt that way.
Well, let's have another drink, okay? No, no,
not for me. Just one more. Hey, Joey. Coming.
Really, I have to be going. My wife's waiting
at home for me. What'll it be, Mr. Bliss? It's
trouble, Joey. All the trouble we can handle.
Yeah. I figured it had to be. Hey. Hey, what
is this? Sit right there mister. Put that gun
away. Oh my god bless. What are you doing? Go
on Joey. Alright, alright, alright. Let's get
the story straight now. What happened here Joey?
Look, Sergeant, you know me. You know I don't
like trouble with my joint. Well, what did the
guy do? Tried to hold you up? That's right. He
come in, he sat down at the bar, he pulled out
a .45 and stuck it in my gut. Well, that's a
strange one, all right. I mean, the guy was some
kind of insurance executive. That's all right
here on his business card. Well, he must have
gone off his nuts, Sergeant. Look, you can ask
anybody. All of my customers. This gentleman
right here was at the bar. Yes, Officer. My name
is David Bliss. I'm with the city, officer, and
the bartender's right. The guy just sat down
and pulled out the gun. Yeah, that's true. And
when the bartender tried to grab it away from
him, it went off. What's your name, lady? Mrs.
Edith Chester. It was a pure case of self -defense,
Sergeant. I'm just glad nobody else got hurt,
you know. Yeah, yeah, you were lucky, Joey. You
were all lucky. Okay, I'll need some statements
now from some of you other witnesses. And so
for poor Gordon Bailey there was no safety in
numbers, only extinction. We admit that this
is a grim demonstration of the old saying that
in union there is strength, but we sincerely
trust that justice finally prevailed. I'll be
back shortly. If there's a moral to this story,
it might be that eyewitnesses can't always be
trusted, even when they're being honest. Of course,
we don't worry about your eyes on this program.
We're interested in your ears, and we have good
news for you. Many thousands of ears are now
listening to these exercises in imagination.
We hope you'll continue to be an ear witness.
Our cast included Paul Hecht, Evie Chuster, Ralph
Bell, and Robert Dryden. 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.