WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.839 The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:27.320 in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:32.320 terrifying world of your own imagination. One 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:35.659 day a young man named Otis Manley Carter stood 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:38.500 before a great work of art in the Metropolitan 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:42.719 Museum in New York. It was a portrait so beautiful 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:47.219 that it brought tears to his eyes. And Otis Manley 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:51.259 Carter whispered, I would give my soul to be 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:54.619 able to paint like that. It was an idle remark, 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:56.979 spoken without thinking, on the spur of the moment. 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:01.500 How was Otis Manley Carter to know that someone 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.500 might be listening? Where'd you learn how to 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.819 paint, Otis? At the Fine Arts Institute. No. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:11.140 I spoke to Professor DiMarco. They flunked you. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:14.859 You didn't show them any ability at all. Where'd 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:17.780 you learn how to paint? Oh, come on, Bert. I 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:20.480 was born with it. It just comes naturally. I've 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:22.739 been painting all my life. But you're over 30. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.420 How come there are no paintings of yours more 00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:29.560 than two or three years old? Where did you learn 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:33.219 how to paint, Otis? What are you driving at? 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:38.840 Answer this, Otis. How come all the people whose 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:43.140 pictures you painted are dead? Well, I don't... 00:01:43.140 --> 00:01:55.540 Where did you learn how to paint, Otis? Our mystery 00:01:55.540 --> 00:01:59.319 drama, A Portrait of Death, was written especially 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:03.019 for the Mystery Theater by Sam Dann and stars 00:02:03.019 --> 00:02:06.299 Nat Poland. It is sponsored in part by the Kellogg 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:09.439 Company, makers of Kellogg's Special K Cereal, 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:13.099 and by new Sugar Free Diet 7 Up. I'll be back 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:17.340 shortly with Act One. Temperature in Chicago 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:20.659 39 degrees at Midway Airport 38 in Grand Park. 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:22.879 The weather outlook for tonight cloudy and continued 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:38.740 cool low 38 degrees. At the age of 30 Otis Manley 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:42.000 Carter was hailed as the world's foremost living 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.379 artist. He towered above his contemporaries. 00:02:45.870 --> 00:02:49.110 To describe his work, one had to compare it with 00:02:49.110 --> 00:02:52.870 the great masters of the past. No one, but no 00:02:52.870 --> 00:02:56.569 one painting today could breathe life into a 00:02:56.569 --> 00:02:59.830 portrait to match Otis Manley Carter. And yet, 00:03:00.330 --> 00:03:04.530 just one week before his 31st birthday, Otis 00:03:04.530 --> 00:03:07.370 made the announcement that would stun the civilized 00:03:07.370 --> 00:03:11.189 world. He was finished with art. Never again 00:03:11.189 --> 00:03:14.509 would his brush touch paint to canvas. He would 00:03:14.509 --> 00:03:17.669 neither amplify his statement nor answer questions. 00:03:18.270 --> 00:03:21.710 He simply disappeared. And only two people in 00:03:21.710 --> 00:03:25.310 all the world knew the reason why. One, of course, 00:03:25.389 --> 00:03:28.789 was Otis himself. The other was a detective on 00:03:28.789 --> 00:03:31.930 the New York City police force, Sergeant Burt 00:03:31.930 --> 00:03:36.150 Denison. Burt! Burt, what are you doing? Just 00:03:36.150 --> 00:03:38.150 having a cup of coffee. We'll be late. Late? 00:03:38.629 --> 00:03:40.509 All I gotta do is put on my jacket and that takes 00:03:40.509 --> 00:03:42.669 all of fifteen seconds. Oh, I'm just so nervous. 00:03:42.810 --> 00:03:46.000 Why? Do you know who's going to be there tonight? 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:48.840 For sure. The governor, the mayor, celebrities, 00:03:49.099 --> 00:03:51.620 the news media, the critics. Lucy, I'm impressed. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.759 After all, the showing of a new portrait by Otis 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:58.680 Manley Carter has the same impact as the World 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:01.439 Series or a Super Bowl or a heavyweight champion 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:03.879 fight. If you put brown sugar in coffee, do you 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:05.780 save calories? Do you realize, Bert, that we, 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:08.740 that you and I, are going to be sharing the spotlight 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:11.860 with Otis? Well, you will, that's for sure. Oh, 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:15.479 Bert. What does he see in me? Oh, come on, honey. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:19.040 No, I mean it. Well, let's see. You're pretty. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:22.160 Well, I'm not beautiful. And you're smart. But 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.279 I'm not brilliant. What can I tell you? He's 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.860 an artist. All artists are crazy. But the most 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:30.240 fascinating women in the world are ready to throw 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.839 themselves at his feet. Sis, you're pretty fascinating 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:38.439 yourself. Thanks to you, Bert. Thanks to me? 00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:41.279 You sent me through college. And there were the 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:43.180 trips to Europe. Well, I had to shape you up 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:45.779 before I could marry you off. And it looks like 00:04:45.779 --> 00:04:48.519 you got yourself the grand prize. The great Otis 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:51.420 Manley Carter. Oh, Bert, I want you to like him. 00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:54.819 Oh, I like him. I like him. He's so sweet, so 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:59.620 kind. Except... Except? What do you mean, except? 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:01.980 Well, except every time he paints somebody's 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:07.180 picture, it seems to me that person dies. What 00:05:07.180 --> 00:05:10.040 are you talking about? Now... Tonight's portrait, 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:14.579 that actress, Lila Beaumont. She just died suddenly, 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:16.779 didn't she? But what does that have to do with... 00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:20.100 And in the last five years, he painted four other 00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:22.800 women. Not one of those women is alive today. 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:27.899 Did you know that? No, I didn't know that. May 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:31.120 I ask you how you knew that? I checked Mr. Otis 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:34.670 Carter out. World famous artist or not, I ran 00:05:34.670 --> 00:05:36.790 him through the ringer. Do you mean you actually 00:05:36.790 --> 00:05:39.569 investigated Otis? Do you think I'd let you marry 00:05:39.569 --> 00:05:42.189 him if I didn't? Honestly, I don't know anyone 00:05:42.189 --> 00:05:45.290 who lives his job 24 hours a day. You never forget 00:05:45.290 --> 00:05:47.430 you're a policeman. I'm supposed to be on duty 00:05:47.430 --> 00:05:50.250 24 hours a day, otherwise I'm cheating the taxpayers. 00:05:51.550 --> 00:05:54.910 Well, what are you trying to imply about Otis? 00:05:55.970 --> 00:05:59.970 Nothing. Nothing at all. Just an observation. 00:06:01.770 --> 00:06:13.970 Idle observation. Otis, darling, you're having 00:06:13.970 --> 00:06:16.889 a triumph. It's a fantastic success. What did 00:06:16.889 --> 00:06:18.379 you think of the painting, Bert? It's a good 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:20.759 picture. Oh, listen, they have a good picture. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:23.560 Is that all you can say? Well, it's certainly 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:25.620 lifelike. I'll say that. Well, thank you, Bert. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:29.019 Good evening, Ortiz. Professor DiMarco. May I 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:32.100 offer my congratulations? I'm honored, Professor, 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:34.980 honored. May I present my fiancee and my prospective 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:37.199 brother -in -law, Miss Lucy Dennison, Detective 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:39.399 Sergeant Dennison, Professor DiMarco of the Fine 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:41.639 Arts Institute. How do you do? Glad to meet you. 00:06:42.350 --> 00:06:46.089 Otis, once again, you force me to eat crow. Oh, 00:06:46.110 --> 00:06:48.949 come on, Professor, please. No, no, I was wrong 00:06:48.949 --> 00:06:52.290 about you, Otis. Wrong. And I don't care who 00:06:52.290 --> 00:06:54.610 knows it. Yeah, but the truth is, Professor DiMarco, 00:06:54.709 --> 00:06:57.689 you taught me everything I know. The truth is, 00:06:57.850 --> 00:07:00.470 you didn't start to paint until after you left 00:07:00.470 --> 00:07:03.949 me. Congratulations, Otis, on a double triumph 00:07:03.949 --> 00:07:07.639 this evening. Your painting and... Your fiancé. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:11.139 It is a magnificent work of art. Thank you, sir. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:14.540 Now, if you'll excuse me, Sergeant Denison, Lucy. 00:07:15.939 --> 00:07:18.879 Well, he never got over it. And I don't think 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:22.139 he ever will. He said I'd never amount to anything. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:25.139 Oh, but you're not serious, darling. How could 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:27.160 anyone who knows anything about art? Oh, there's 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:28.939 Eric Von Heiden. The one who's doing the new 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:30.399 book about him? Come on, come on, darling. I'll 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:32.220 introduce you. Give me a rain check. I feel the 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:37.430 need for a little refreshment. Excuse me, sir. 00:07:37.810 --> 00:07:42.269 I hope I didn't spill that on... Oh, it's Sergeant... 00:07:42.269 --> 00:07:45.990 Denison, sir. Of course. You know, Professor 00:07:45.990 --> 00:07:49.370 DiMarco, I've been watching you. That sounds 00:07:49.370 --> 00:07:52.110 ominous. Why would a police detective be watching 00:07:52.110 --> 00:07:56.269 me? Because I'm curious. About what? About the 00:07:56.269 --> 00:08:00.149 look on your face. What about the look on my 00:08:00.149 --> 00:08:03.009 face? It's the only look of its kind in the house. 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:05.879 How do you mean that? Well, analyze all the faces 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:09.060 around you. What do you see? Excitement, boredom, 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:14.540 happiness, anxiety? And what's my look? I would 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:20.560 say puzzlement. Actually, you look completely 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:27.300 confused. I suppose I am. I still can't understand 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:30.000 what... Happened. Otis was my student at the 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.500 Institute. And you said he'd never amount to 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:35.659 anything. I did. And you can see how it's come 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:39.039 back to haunt me. Believe me, he had absolutely 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.860 no concept whatever of the elementary principles 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:44.879 of art. He had no feeling for line, for color, 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:48.519 for form. I recommended he be dropped from the 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:52.299 school. You not only go out on a limb, you bring 00:08:52.299 --> 00:08:56.759 your own saw. Well, six months later... He astounded 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:59.940 the entire world with his portrait of that alderman's 00:08:59.940 --> 00:09:03.500 wife. Mm -hmm. The first of the Otis Manley Carter 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:06.500 famous portraits. How do you account for that? 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:10.480 Well, at first, I refused to believe he could 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:14.200 paint like that. And maybe he doesn't. Maybe 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:16.799 he's all done with mirrors. No, no, no, no, no. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:20.659 There are no mirrors, no tricks. I went up to 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:26.950 his studio. He paints. But where did he learn? 00:09:27.049 --> 00:09:31.450 How did he learn? From whom? There must be an 00:09:31.450 --> 00:09:38.269 answer. Naturally. Can you even speculate? He 00:09:38.269 --> 00:09:43.210 probably sold his soul to the devil. You realize 00:09:43.210 --> 00:09:46.889 that isn't an answer? Of course. But it's the 00:09:46.889 --> 00:10:00.210 only one I can think of at the moment. Come in. 00:10:01.509 --> 00:10:03.649 Hello there, Otis. Hope I'm not disturbing you. 00:10:03.809 --> 00:10:06.950 I was about to take a break. Coffee? Oh, sure, 00:10:06.990 --> 00:10:11.190 sure. That was quite a bash last night, huh? 00:10:11.769 --> 00:10:15.250 Unnecessary evil. You seem to enjoy it. But that's 00:10:15.250 --> 00:10:17.929 why it's an evil. It turns your head and wastes 00:10:17.929 --> 00:10:19.789 your time and keeps you from doing your job. 00:10:20.110 --> 00:10:23.690 Which for me is to paint. Where did you learn 00:10:23.690 --> 00:10:27.370 to paint, Otis? At the Fine Arts Institute. Do 00:10:27.370 --> 00:10:29.960 you touch sugar? Yeah, one last thing. Okay. 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:32.899 I don't think you learned how to paint at the 00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:36.159 Institute, Otis. Hot milk? Yeah, sure. Alrighty. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:39.879 Professor DeMarco and I had a long talk about 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.320 you last night. He thought you were a lost cause. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:47.240 Well, he did. And I suppose I was for a while. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:52.259 So? How did the ugly duckling turn into a swan? 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:56.200 Well, some people are slow learners. The Marco 00:10:56.200 --> 00:11:00.120 claims you just didn't have it. No, he was wrong. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.480 I always had it, but it was only in my mind. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:07.220 I was showing him nothing but meaningless blobs 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:10.299 and dabs. They had to drop me from the school. 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:17.000 Where did you study after that? Nowhere. I just 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.759 went to the museum every day. That's all? That's 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:25.860 all. And then... Oh, one morning I was looking 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:28.519 at some of the old masters, just worshipping 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:31.519 at the shrine, as it were, and wishing and hoping 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.919 and praying that one day I too could... Well, 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:41.419 the most remarkable thing happened. What? Well, 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.419 suddenly everything that Professor DeMarco had 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:46.480 ever tried to teach me just began to make sense. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:50.419 No, no, it was more than that. It all became 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:52.259 a part of the way I feel and the way I think 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:58.029 and the way I see. I... I was trembling all over. 00:11:59.269 --> 00:12:03.370 What did you do? I went home, picked up my brushes, 00:12:03.429 --> 00:12:08.389 and from that day on, I was a painter. Touched 00:12:08.389 --> 00:12:11.950 like that. Well, in psychology, there is such 00:12:11.950 --> 00:12:13.750 a thing as the delayed reaction. Yeah, yeah, 00:12:13.750 --> 00:12:17.750 I know. Bert, Lucy and I want you to join us 00:12:17.750 --> 00:12:20.470 for dinner tonight, hm? I'd ever refuse an invitation 00:12:20.470 --> 00:12:24.509 to dinner. Oh. Otis. Hm? Your latest portrait 00:12:24.509 --> 00:12:28.389 of Lila Beaumont. Poor Lila. She never really 00:12:28.389 --> 00:12:32.370 saw it. She died the day it was finished. What... 00:12:32.370 --> 00:12:39.190 what did she die of? I don't know, Burt. I don't 00:12:39.190 --> 00:12:51.389 think anybody does. Sergeant, I wasn't her regular 00:12:51.389 --> 00:12:54.220 physician. Who was, doctor? I don't think she 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:57.379 had one. She seemed to be one of those fortunate, 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:01.539 healthy people who never needed medicine. Where 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:04.679 did she die, Dr. Caswell? In Mr. Carter's studio. 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.139 And since my office is just next door... Was 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:11.039 she alive when you got there? Just barely. She 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:14.000 seemed to show all the signs of utter exhaustion. 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:17.279 So that's what I wrote on the death certificate. 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:21.429 Afterward, I thought about it and... I asked 00:13:21.429 --> 00:13:25.750 for an autopsy. Why? I simply couldn't believe 00:13:25.750 --> 00:13:29.690 it. Well, what did the autopsy reveal? Nothing. 00:13:30.549 --> 00:13:33.789 I was right in the first place. But I still don't 00:13:33.789 --> 00:13:38.389 believe it. Again, why? Well, how could she change 00:13:38.389 --> 00:13:42.029 so radically in such a short time? What do you 00:13:42.029 --> 00:13:45.750 mean by change? Have you seen the portrait Carter 00:13:45.750 --> 00:13:48.769 painted of her? Yes, uh -huh. It's just brimming 00:13:48.769 --> 00:13:51.970 with robust good health. It's exactly how she 00:13:51.970 --> 00:13:54.950 looked. Just about two months before she died, 00:13:55.110 --> 00:13:57.289 I saw her get out of the cab that first time 00:13:57.289 --> 00:14:02.529 she came to Carter's studio. And? Two months 00:14:02.529 --> 00:14:08.029 later, I was shocked. Why? As I said, I'd never 00:14:08.029 --> 00:14:11.889 witnessed such a rapid decline. She was losing 00:14:11.889 --> 00:14:16.149 a lot of weight. Her color was gone. She looked 00:14:16.149 --> 00:14:19.919 so tired. What did you think was happening? I 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:23.200 didn't know what to think. I decided to speak 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:26.259 to Otis. After all, I knew him when he was just 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:30.960 a starving young artist. One morning, I walked 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:34.600 up to his studio. What can I do for you, doctor? 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.440 Busy, Otis? Well, Lila Balmark will be here any 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.519 minute. Well, that's what I want to talk to you 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:43.539 about. Is she under medical care? Well, why? 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:47.610 Well, why should she be? Can't you see why? What 00:14:47.610 --> 00:14:50.909 are you talking about? Otis, she looks terrible. 00:14:51.309 --> 00:14:53.909 Oh, she looks great. She's becoming dangerously 00:14:53.909 --> 00:14:57.629 thin. She has no color. Are you serious? Are 00:14:57.629 --> 00:15:00.470 you serious, Otis? Well, I don't understand what 00:15:00.470 --> 00:15:02.529 you're trying to say. You mean you can't see 00:15:02.529 --> 00:15:04.970 anything wrong with Lila Beaumont? She looks 00:15:04.970 --> 00:15:08.669 better than ever. Ah, good morning, Lila. Hello, 00:15:08.710 --> 00:15:11.090 Otis. Well, you're looking just sensational, 00:15:11.090 --> 00:15:14.639 as usual. Lila, I'd like you to meet Dr. Caswell. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:19.159 How do you do? Oh, does I? I'm so tired this 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:21.240 morning. Could I have a cup of coffee? Well, 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:24.159 coming up. I just have to eat it. Miss Beaumont, 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:29.360 I hope you're seeing a doctor. Why? Look in the 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:34.159 mirror. You're very perceptive, Dr. Caswell. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:38.820 Perceptive? It's obvious. For one thing, you're 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:43.399 losing your looks. Oh, yes. Your looks, your 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:46.100 livelihood. Shouldn't you want to do something 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:53.559 about it? What can I do? There's a man and he 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:56.279 no longer loves me. But a doctor could prevent 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:59.399 this ravaging. There's no way a doctor could 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:02.879 help me. But you need special treatment. I would 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:05.080 say, Miss Beaumont, that right now you should 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:10.419 be in a hospital. You may be right, Doctor. I 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:16.009 don't... care anymore. I just don't care anymore. 00:16:16.789 --> 00:16:19.070 Is that the reason she died, Dr. Caswell, because 00:16:19.070 --> 00:16:21.950 some guy gave her the gait? They say you can 00:16:21.950 --> 00:16:26.110 die of a broken heart. What do you say? Well, 00:16:26.110 --> 00:16:28.950 I just can't see a vital and perfectly healthy 00:16:28.950 --> 00:16:31.529 woman like Lila Beaumont simply withering away 00:16:31.529 --> 00:16:34.809 in so short a time. But if her appearance had 00:16:34.809 --> 00:16:39.090 changed so drastically, how come Otis didn't 00:16:39.090 --> 00:16:44.210 see it? You'll have to ask Otis. You still haven't 00:16:44.210 --> 00:16:48.809 told me, Dr. Caswell. What did she die of? But 00:16:48.809 --> 00:17:00.470 I did tell you. I don't know. Nobody knows. Well, 00:17:00.490 --> 00:17:04.009 what did she die of? And what, if anything, can 00:17:04.009 --> 00:17:07.519 it have to do with Otis Manley Carpenter? Detective 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:10.519 Sergeant Dennison has a nagging, indefinable 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:14.380 feeling. That's just the trouble. In most of 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:17.119 the murder cases Burt has solved, the solution 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.660 always began with a nagging, indefinable feeling. 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.819 We'll see where this feeling leads when I return 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:38.680 shortly with Act Two. Sergeant Bert Denison has 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:42.859 always been an intuitive detective. He trusted 00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:46.359 his instincts. He played his hunches. He followed 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:49.839 his theories wherever they led him, usually to 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:53.740 the right answer. But this time, he has absolutely 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:58.000 no idea of how to arrive at the answer. As a 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.839 matter of fact, at this point, he can't even 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:04.869 formulate the question. You really should skip 00:18:04.869 --> 00:18:07.210 dessert, Bert. I only have one helping. Well, 00:18:07.269 --> 00:18:08.990 do you want to tell them, Lucy? No, darling, 00:18:09.069 --> 00:18:10.829 I think you should be the one. Somebody's supposed 00:18:10.829 --> 00:18:12.910 to tell me something. I hope the wedding hasn't 00:18:12.910 --> 00:18:15.730 been canceled. Oh, no, no, Bert. Sunday, right 00:18:15.730 --> 00:18:17.990 on schedule. Otis has something to say to you, 00:18:18.190 --> 00:18:21.470 Bert. We have a wedding gift for you, Bert. Me? 00:18:21.490 --> 00:18:23.210 Why? I'm not getting married. Oh, that's why 00:18:23.210 --> 00:18:26.569 you need a gift. Now on Sunday, Lucy is leaving 00:18:26.569 --> 00:18:29.720 your house forever. That sounds kind of stuffy, 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:32.299 doesn't it? Keep going, darling. You're doing 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:35.099 fine. And so, therefore, to make sure you never 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:37.319 forget what she looks like... How can I forget 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.579 what she looks like? Please, Bert, don't interrupt. 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:43.779 We decided that I would paint a portrait of Lucy 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:46.440 and present it to you. Isn't that wonderful? 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:50.279 Can you imagine that you're going to own an original 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:54.579 Otis Manley car? Yeah, yeah, but... What is it? 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:59.400 Well, these things are... valuable you just can't 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:01.700 afford million dollars couldn't buy all the wonderful 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:04.079 things you did for your sister and i'm grateful 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:10.299 what's on your mind well isn't it uh and bad 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.000 luck for an artist to paint a picture of his 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.920 own wife oh now where did you ever hear that 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:18.079 they all did it but something is bothering you 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:23.140 yeah yeah well i uh i might as well say it i 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:26.619 want to hurt your feelings but i couldn't accept 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:31.529 the gift Why I yeah, I just can't explain it 00:19:31.529 --> 00:19:34.589 Otis you want to give me a gift. I'd really like 00:19:34.589 --> 00:19:39.930 of course Well, just promise me you'll never 00:19:39.930 --> 00:19:44.150 paint a picture of Lucy Never now what kind of 00:19:44.150 --> 00:19:49.589 nothing him Lucy What about it Otis? Well, one 00:19:49.589 --> 00:19:51.650 of the reasons I'm marrying her is so that I 00:19:51.650 --> 00:19:54.369 can always have her near me so that I can always 00:19:54.369 --> 00:19:57.670 capture those fantastic expressions and moods. 00:19:57.670 --> 00:20:00.390 Oh, really? I thought you fell in love with my 00:20:00.390 --> 00:20:03.990 mind. I did. I did. It's your mind that gives 00:20:03.990 --> 00:20:07.750 animation and meaning. What about it, Otis? I 00:20:07.750 --> 00:20:12.410 wish you'd tell me why. I wish I could. But I 00:20:12.410 --> 00:20:16.910 don't think I can. How about it, Otis? Will you 00:20:16.910 --> 00:20:29.900 promise? All right, Bert. I promise. Homicide, 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:33.759 Lieutenant Callahan. Oh, nothing dear, just sitting 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:40.059 around. Oh, but ain't you Spurt Denison? Oh no, 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:42.980 he used to be a million laughs, he isn't anymore. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:49.019 Just stares into space all day. That's all. All 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:52.529 right, I'll tell him. You ought to get married, 00:20:52.730 --> 00:20:55.009 Burt. Puts a little zing in your life. And now 00:20:55.009 --> 00:20:56.890 that your sister's gone, you've got no excuse. 00:20:56.930 --> 00:20:59.430 Why don't you get off my back? Jenny was downtown 00:20:59.430 --> 00:21:01.369 this morning. She told me she ran into your sister. 00:21:01.450 --> 00:21:05.049 I'll even buy your... What did you say? Jenny 00:21:05.049 --> 00:21:07.549 saw your sister Lucy in one of the stores. She 00:21:07.549 --> 00:21:10.549 couldn't have seen my sister. Lucy and Otis were 00:21:10.549 --> 00:21:13.950 on a trip to Mexico. See? You don't know everything. 00:21:14.609 --> 00:21:17.349 Maybe they came back. As a matter of fact, maybe 00:21:17.349 --> 00:21:19.950 that's why they came back. What are you talking 00:21:19.950 --> 00:21:23.299 about? Jenny said Lucy didn't look too good. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:37.000 She what? Hey, Burt, where you going? Burt! Yes, 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.660 it's Burt. You never told me you were back. Oh, 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:43.480 we meant to. We just got in this morning and 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:45.279 we haven't even unpacked. Of course not. How 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.880 could you unpack when you never packed in the 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:50.380 first place? All your clothes are in the closet. 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:52.480 Bags are up on the shelf. You didn't go anywhere, 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:55.940 did you? I want you to call a doctor. There's 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:58.240 Dr. Caswell. He's just next door. Why do I need 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:01.180 a doctor? You look terrible. You lost about five 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:04.319 pounds. There's no color in your face. It's absolutely 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:07.299 true. I lost five pounds because I'm on a diet. 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.920 And if there's no color in my face, it's because 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:13.359 I don't have my makeup on. You sound tired. But 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.839 we were up late last night. Why did you want 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:20.599 me to think you were in Mexico? Bert, you and 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:23.299 I, we've been very close. We've shared a home. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:25.859 You've practically raised me. Never mind all 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:28.460 that. What are you leading up to? Well, we'd 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:30.440 see each other every day and talk to each other 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:33.599 and actually have no lives away from each other. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:37.240 I wasn't aware of that. So, I thought that since 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:40.720 I'm a married woman now, we just have to get 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:44.380 used to a different kind of relationship. Uh 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:47.740 -huh. You can tell when I'm lying. I can tell 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:51.960 when you're lying. Otis broke his promise, didn't 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:55.440 he? What promise? His promise never to paint 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:58.000 your picture. How can you say that? Why don't 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.900 I ask you? You can't ask him. He isn't home. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.779 All right, I'll wait. But he may be gone all 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:05.819 day. Who rang the bell just before? Oh. Hi, Bert. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:09.440 How are you? Just fine. Fine. You've been painting, 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:13.279 I see. Anyone I know? Well, I haven't been painting 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.559 exactly. I've been cleaning brushes, things like 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.180 that. You know, chores. Why don't we go inside 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:22.059 and see? Bert! Bert! If you walk into that studio, 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:24.859 I'll never talk to you again as long as I live. 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:28.319 If I don't walk into that studio, you'll be dead 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:35.200 in a month. Bert! Oh, Bert. We wanted so much 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:37.880 for you to have a portrait of me. Yeah, so I 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:40.470 see. No, not yet. You don't see. It's nowhere 00:23:40.470 --> 00:23:44.329 near finished, but you can just sense what it's 00:23:44.329 --> 00:23:46.349 going to be like. Bert, it's going to be my finest 00:23:46.349 --> 00:23:48.809 work because it's for you. Oh, darling, don't 00:23:48.809 --> 00:23:51.150 be unreasonable. You can't finish that painting, 00:23:51.430 --> 00:23:57.450 Otis. Tell me why, why? Otis, Otis. For some 00:23:57.450 --> 00:24:01.769 reason, you kill the people you paint. Don't 00:24:01.769 --> 00:24:05.130 interrupt me. It's not easy to say this. And 00:24:05.130 --> 00:24:07.069 I can imagine what it must sound like, but... 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:10.700 Otis, you've painted the portraits of five women. 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:14.019 Every one of them is dead. But that has nothing 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:16.019 to do with my... Each one died on the day you 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:18.619 finished the portrait. Bert, have you any idea 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:21.220 what you're saying? I know what I'm saying. And 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:25.140 it gets worse. But it's true. What's true? Otis, 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:29.440 the truth is you're not a painter. How can you 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.940 say such a... Please, this isn't easy, sis. Just 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:35.740 thank God there were three people who love each 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:39.140 other. and can solve our problem together. Furt, 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:41.559 how can you say I'm not an artist? DeMarco said 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:44.359 you had absolutely no talent. DeMarco? He's a 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:47.119 jealous old fraud! But he's right! When you came 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:49.599 to him, you had absolutely no ability, no talent. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.559 How do you account for the fact that I... You 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:54.920 don't paint, Otis. Furt! Hear me out, please. 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:57.700 Somehow, and I don't even think you're aware 00:24:57.700 --> 00:25:03.579 of it, you have the ability to drain the life 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:07.000 out of your subject. project it onto the canvas 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:13.539 well I just don't understand what you're saying 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:16.519 you're not aware of it you didn't notice that 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:19.200 Lila Beaumont was actually dying before your 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:23.140 eyes just as the others did before her tell me 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:27.819 this is a joke no it isn't a joke look at Lucy 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:33.119 Otis she doesn't look ill I honestly can't see 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:38.559 anything wrong Lucy Look in the mirror look And 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:40.440 then tell me there's nothing wrong with you. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:44.900 I don't have to look I know Then what I have 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:48.779 been saying just it Well, I've been worried about 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:54.099 what about Otis darling. Why oh? I'm afraid one 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:56.740 day you'll get tired of me Lucy. There's so many 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:59.019 women who are after you it sure the only woman 00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:02.549 I want you know that yes, I know But sometimes 00:26:02.549 --> 00:26:04.670 I can't sleep at night, and that's the reason 00:26:04.670 --> 00:26:08.470 that I'm not looking my best. No, no, the painting's 00:26:08.470 --> 00:26:11.769 the reason. And Otis, you must promise to destroy 00:26:11.769 --> 00:26:13.869 that painting. I can't do that. Then I will. 00:26:14.009 --> 00:26:15.809 Bert, put down that knife. Take your hand off 00:26:15.809 --> 00:26:17.710 me, Otis. Bert, Bert, don't hit him. I won't 00:26:17.710 --> 00:26:19.349 let you destroy my painting. And I won't let 00:26:19.349 --> 00:26:27.289 you kill my sister. Otis, Otis. Bert, don't do 00:26:27.289 --> 00:26:31.789 that. Lucy, Lucy, stop him. That takes care of 00:26:31.789 --> 00:26:34.390 them. Bert, you're crazy. Get up, Otis. I didn't 00:26:34.390 --> 00:26:36.170 hit you that hard. Look at what you did to my 00:26:36.170 --> 00:26:38.250 painting. Do you know what you've done? Yes, 00:26:38.470 --> 00:26:41.609 I destroyed the canvas. And look. Look at your 00:26:41.609 --> 00:26:44.630 wife. Look at yourself, Lucy. Your color is back. 00:26:44.670 --> 00:26:47.230 Bert, you're a fool. If my color is back, it's 00:26:47.230 --> 00:26:49.809 because I'm furious. No, no. You've got your 00:26:49.809 --> 00:26:52.710 old vitality and strength. You'll be all right 00:26:52.710 --> 00:26:54.829 now. Bert! There's really nothing we can talk 00:26:54.829 --> 00:26:57.809 about. I did what I had to do. And now let's 00:26:57.809 --> 00:27:03.509 forget it. except for one thing, Otis. Promise 00:27:03.509 --> 00:27:08.029 me, your word of honor, that you'll never try 00:27:08.029 --> 00:27:10.650 to paint Lucy's portrait again. But I can't promise... 00:27:10.650 --> 00:27:15.289 I'll put it this way, Otis. If you ever try to 00:27:15.289 --> 00:27:30.519 paint her portrait, I'll kill you. Hi, Burt. 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:33.759 Callahan. Thought I'd find you down here in the 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:37.319 range. Good cluster, except for that one shot 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:39.259 off to the left. Probably a faulty cartridge. 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:42.019 Sure, it's never the shooter, it's always the 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:44.980 shell. What is it you're getting out of your 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:48.799 system tonight? Nothing, nothing at all. Want 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:51.160 to sit down and talk for a minute? About what? 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:57.119 About you and me. All right. What is there to 00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:01.359 say? We... We have to decide what I'm gonna do 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:06.180 about you. Why? Because Otis and Lucy were in 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:10.619 my office this afternoon. They're two very scared 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:13.039 kids. They've got nothing to be scared of. Not 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:18.720 for themselves. For you. Why? Oh, come on, Bert, 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:22.740 you know why they told me everything. Oh, that's 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:25.900 nice. My own sister. She only did it because 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:29.190 she loves you. Yeah, yeah. She told you how all 00:28:29.190 --> 00:28:31.910 of them die when he paints their portraits? Yep. 00:28:33.730 --> 00:28:36.849 Well, what do you think? Here's what I think. 00:28:37.849 --> 00:28:40.190 I just put in this application. Application? 00:28:40.750 --> 00:28:43.029 For your leave of absence. But I'm not the... 00:28:43.029 --> 00:28:46.890 Yes, you are. It'll all be done quietly and when 00:28:46.890 --> 00:28:48.730 you're better you can come back to duty as if 00:28:48.730 --> 00:28:52.529 nothing happened. Where am I supposed to go? 00:28:53.549 --> 00:28:56.869 There's a private sanitarium. Absolutely, the 00:28:56.869 --> 00:29:00.309 top doctor. Callahan? I'm not crazy. Of course 00:29:00.309 --> 00:29:03.349 not. You just got this temporary little quirk, 00:29:03.750 --> 00:29:07.670 and it can be ironed out easily. Subconsciously, 00:29:07.670 --> 00:29:10.230 I guess you just miss not having Lucy around 00:29:10.230 --> 00:29:13.130 the house. Well, thanks for everything, but I'm 00:29:13.130 --> 00:29:17.190 not going. In, uh, in light of what happened 00:29:17.190 --> 00:29:20.210 in the studio this morning, I'm afraid your choices 00:29:20.210 --> 00:29:23.509 are limited. Callahan, is it the quiet private 00:29:23.509 --> 00:29:27.039 sanitarium or... Do we have to put you into the 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:29.539 city hospital for observation? Callahan, what 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:32.599 are you telling me? I'm telling you to hand over 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:41.539 your revolver. Who was it who wrote, heaven keep 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:45.619 me safe from my well -meaning friends? It's certainly 00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:47.900 a sentiment that's shared right now by Detective 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:51.339 Sergeant Burt Denison. All he wants to do is 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:54.160 prevent a terrible tragedy. And who's trying 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:58.410 to stop him? Those people who truly love him. 00:29:58.950 --> 00:30:01.289 We're going to meet more well -meaning people 00:30:01.289 --> 00:30:05.930 when I return shortly with Act 3. This is WBBM 00:30:05.930 --> 00:30:17.630 Chicago, News Radio 78. The best mirror is the 00:30:17.630 --> 00:30:21.650 face of an old friend. Sergeant Denison stares 00:30:21.650 --> 00:30:26.079 at Lieutenant Callahan. Stares at the look on 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:30.559 Callahan's face. It's a strange look. A look 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:35.859 that's a mixture of pity, concern, and fear. 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:40.680 And suddenly Denison realizes that this must 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:44.559 be the same look that showed so often when he 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:48.099 knew he had to arrest a suspect who might turn 00:30:48.099 --> 00:31:20.950 out to be criminally. Insane. Justified for? 00:31:21.009 --> 00:31:24.609 Slice it anyway. Why am I wrong this time? Because 00:31:24.609 --> 00:31:28.569 what you say is crazy. Callahan, you and me, 00:31:28.730 --> 00:31:30.990 we're not the new breed of college cops who know 00:31:30.990 --> 00:31:33.450 everything. But still, we're very careful about 00:31:33.450 --> 00:31:36.369 that word crazy. You mean you really believe 00:31:36.369 --> 00:31:38.490 oldest kills people by painting their portraits? 00:31:38.589 --> 00:31:42.130 Yeah, yeah. Quit fighting me. Work with me. How? 00:31:43.529 --> 00:31:55.960 Let's go out and get some expert testimony. What's 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:58.740 here? This is the doctor who attended Lila Beaumont 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:01.759 just before she died. And he's completely stumped 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:09.140 by the whole thing. Yes, I was dissatisfied with 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:12.799 the cause of death. Dr. Caswell, you said you 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.980 didn't believe she could change so radically 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:17.960 in so short a time. I did say that. You also 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:20.779 said you couldn't see how a splendid physical 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:23.609 specimen like Lila Beaumont could just... wither 00:32:23.609 --> 00:32:27.670 away. Yes, I remember. I did say that, too. And 00:32:27.670 --> 00:32:29.470 even though you signed a death certificate which 00:32:29.470 --> 00:32:32.289 listed exhaustion as the cause of death, nobody 00:32:32.289 --> 00:32:37.450 really knew what she did die of. Well, I've since... 00:32:37.450 --> 00:32:40.809 I've since come to believe that she really could 00:32:40.809 --> 00:32:44.609 have died of exhaustion. But you said... Exhaustion, 00:32:44.890 --> 00:32:47.910 plus loss of the will to live. But you were convinced 00:32:47.910 --> 00:32:51.349 there was a mysterious cause. I didn't use that 00:32:51.349 --> 00:32:54.069 word. But, Doctor, you led me to believe... I 00:32:54.069 --> 00:32:57.390 was merely ventilating some doubts, some misgivings. 00:32:57.430 --> 00:33:00.910 But the other women who died? I wasn't there. 00:33:01.089 --> 00:33:09.609 I don't know. You told me, Professor DiMarco. 00:33:10.380 --> 00:33:13.339 that Otis had no concept of the basic principles 00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:16.819 of art. I did. No feeling for line, form, color. 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:20.400 I think I said something like that. And since 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:23.500 those things can't be learned, there was no way 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:27.420 he could become a painter. It's a relative thing. 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:29.880 Well, you even went so far as to say the only 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:33.359 way he could have learned them was if he'd sold 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:36.960 his soul to the devil. That was a figure of speech. 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:40.519 He never did learn to be a painter. Something 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:43.539 happened. He found a way, or was given a way, 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:47.220 who knows, to draw the vital essence from a living 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:51.980 thing and put it on canvas. I don't think I could 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:55.039 agree with... I can prove it! Look at everything 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:57.599 he's done. He's never painted an inanimate object. 00:33:57.779 --> 00:34:00.519 Just the face, the body, but no clothes, no furniture, 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:04.579 no jewels, no decorations. I'm sorry if I gave 00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:09.039 you the wrong impression. Maybe... Maybe I was 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:12.159 jealous. Jealous of what? You said he had no 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:16.039 talent. Maybe that was a lie I told myself. Maybe 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:20.880 I resented his youth, his promise. After all, 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:27.360 I never fulfilled mine. Yeah, sure. And besides, 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:29.460 you really don't want to be remembered as the 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:33.079 art teacher who flunked Otis Manley Carter. I 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:36.820 guess that's the simple answer. I wish there 00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:46.079 were such a thing as a simple answer. Well, Bert, 00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:47.980 you've got to admit it's really a comfortable 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:50.400 room with a great view of the ocean. And you've 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:54.380 even got a refrigerator. Yeah. What happens now, 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:57.980 Callahan? Well, starting tomorrow, the doctors 00:34:57.980 --> 00:35:00.780 will begin working with you. You'll be straightened 00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:03.460 out in no time. I see. I'm the one who has to 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:05.849 be straightened out. That's how it is. Even if 00:35:05.849 --> 00:35:08.110 I happen to be right. Those are the rules of 00:35:08.110 --> 00:35:10.670 the game, Bert. But I'm not crazy, Callan. You 00:35:10.670 --> 00:35:13.670 and I know what crazy is. Crazy is when most 00:35:13.670 --> 00:35:16.230 people don't agree with you. You're a big help. 00:35:16.369 --> 00:35:18.329 I'll come up and see you this week. I can hardly 00:35:18.329 --> 00:35:22.510 wait. I better ring for the guy to come let me 00:35:22.510 --> 00:35:27.309 out. What do you mean you gotta ring? Well, uh... 00:35:27.309 --> 00:35:29.570 The door is locked from the outside. Huh? It 00:35:29.570 --> 00:35:31.929 doesn't mean anything, Bert. It's just routine. 00:35:32.050 --> 00:35:35.570 I mean... I know what you mean. I might as well 00:35:35.570 --> 00:35:46.329 be in jail. You wanted something, Sergeant? Yeah, 00:35:46.329 --> 00:35:50.150 yeah, Jerry. I gotta make a phone call. You can't. 00:35:50.650 --> 00:35:52.789 What do you mean, I can't? The first couple of 00:35:52.789 --> 00:35:54.650 weeks you can't. It's like you gotta get your 00:35:54.650 --> 00:35:56.750 interviews in orientation. But I have to make 00:35:56.750 --> 00:35:58.449 a phone call. The doctor said... Forget what 00:35:58.449 --> 00:36:01.030 the doctor says. Look, part of the treatment 00:36:01.030 --> 00:36:03.510 is to isolate you completely from your former 00:36:03.510 --> 00:36:05.730 environment. But I have to know if my sister 00:36:05.730 --> 00:36:07.909 is okay. She's okay. How do you know? Because 00:36:07.909 --> 00:36:10.250 if she wasn't, you'd be told about it. Yeah, 00:36:10.269 --> 00:36:14.369 yeah, yeah. Uh, listen, uh... I know, I know 00:36:14.369 --> 00:36:17.710 I can't make a phone call. But if I could, where 00:36:17.710 --> 00:36:19.969 would I make it from? There's a phone outside, 00:36:20.389 --> 00:36:23.449 at the end of the hall. There is, huh? Jerry, 00:36:23.590 --> 00:36:36.139 I want to show you something. What? Come on, 00:36:36.199 --> 00:36:45.099 Lucy. Answer it. Answer it. Hello? Lucy. What? 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:51.440 Lucy. Yes, I'm Lucy. Who is this? It's me, Bert. 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:57.519 Who? Bert. No, Bert isn't here. Could you call 00:36:57.519 --> 00:37:10.280 back later? Lucy! Oh, my good Lord. Lucy! What? 00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:14.239 Who? He's painting your picture again. I've got 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:16.800 to destroy that canvas. Don't move, Bert. Otis! 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:18.820 Don't make me shoot, Bert. Now listen, Otis. 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:21.820 You don't want to kill me. No. I'd only want 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:23.760 to hit you in the foot, but I'm a bad shot. Now 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:25.440 please, Bert, just stand still. What are you 00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:27.900 doing with the gun, Otis? That's not your style. 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:30.880 Callahan called us. He said you'd broken out 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:32.860 of the sanitarium. He wants me to phone him if 00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:35.909 you show up here. You're killing Lucy. Look at 00:37:35.909 --> 00:37:38.550 her. Bert, I don't know what's gotten into you. 00:37:38.590 --> 00:37:41.530 Is the painting almost finished? What business 00:37:41.530 --> 00:37:43.550 is that of yours? What more has to be done on 00:37:43.550 --> 00:37:47.269 the painting? I just have to finish her mouth. 00:37:47.829 --> 00:37:50.829 And when you do, she's going to die. How can 00:37:50.829 --> 00:37:53.909 you believe... Do you love her, Otis? You know 00:37:53.909 --> 00:37:58.650 I love her. Destroy the painting. I can't. I 00:37:58.650 --> 00:38:00.949 can. I'm warning you, Bert. I'm gonna walk into 00:38:00.949 --> 00:38:04.019 your studio. And I'm going to destroy that painting. 00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:05.679 You take one step and I'll shoot you. I'll just 00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:09.380 have to take the chance. I've still got five 00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:11.880 bullets in the gun. All of them can't miss. Otis, 00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:18.039 look at Lucy. Look at her. She's dying. That 00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:20.960 isn't true. You don't want to see it. If I could 00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:23.039 prove you're killing her, would you destroy the 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:24.719 painting? How could you prove that? Would you 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:30.679 destroy the painting? Yes. Let's go back into 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:33.900 the studio, Otis. It's a trick. You've got the 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:41.480 gun, Otis. What are you afraid of? Come on. I 00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:43.880 do just stand near the wall. You keep far away 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:48.940 from my painting. It's beautiful. Then why do 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:53.500 you want me to destroy it? Because it is, Lucy. 00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:58.300 Why did you bring me in here to prove? That you 00:38:58.300 --> 00:39:02.000 kill a living thing when you paint it. On the 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:03.760 windowsill, Otis. That flower. That geranium. 00:39:03.820 --> 00:39:07.039 Paint it. Sure. I'll put the gun down and pick 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:08.760 up the brush and you'll jump. You're afraid. 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:10.920 You're scared. You're crazy. What you're saying 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:13.099 is crazy. Here's your chance to prove it, Otis. 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:16.000 Paint that flower. And if nothing happens to 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:20.280 it, I promise, I'll go away quietly. I... Well? 00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:35.170 I will. It's a quick sketch. How do you like 00:39:35.170 --> 00:39:38.070 it? It's beautiful. All right, now look at the 00:39:38.070 --> 00:39:40.610 windowsill. Look at the geranium. Go on, look 00:39:40.610 --> 00:39:49.969 at the ger... Oh. Oh, no, a bird. What... What 00:39:49.969 --> 00:39:55.289 happened to it? You can see what happened. I 00:39:55.289 --> 00:39:58.469 can't believe it. But it's true. The color is 00:39:58.469 --> 00:40:02.750 gone. It's wilted, withered. It's dead. They're 00:40:02.750 --> 00:40:06.070 all dead. Lila Beaumont, those other women. And 00:40:06.070 --> 00:40:10.190 Lucy is dying. Before it's too late, Otis, you 00:40:10.190 --> 00:40:14.130 know what you have to do. No. Otis! You do it 00:40:14.130 --> 00:40:17.989 for me. No. You have to destroy that canvas yourself. 00:40:18.010 --> 00:40:20.889 Why? Because I can't keep watching you guarding 00:40:20.889 --> 00:40:24.269 my sister forever. You have to put an end to 00:40:24.269 --> 00:40:26.730 it yourself. I promise I won't paint Lucy. You 00:40:26.730 --> 00:40:31.219 must never paint anybody. I don't know if I can 00:40:31.219 --> 00:40:33.300 give it up. But you're not really a painter, 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:36.440 Otis. Somehow you stumbled into some sort of 00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:39.139 mysterious power. And now you've got to give 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:43.539 it up. Destroy the painting. I'll go back to 00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:46.159 Lucy. How do you know I just won't finish it? 00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:50.380 How can you trust me? I trust you. I trust you 00:40:50.380 --> 00:41:04.900 because you love Lucy. Lucy? Lucy? Who is it? 00:41:06.059 --> 00:41:12.639 Oh, Bert. I must have been napping. Oh, I feel 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:15.760 so refreshed. Yes, you're looking better. Bert, 00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:17.320 what are you doing here? You're supposed to be... 00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:20.000 I know, I know. I'm supposed to be crazy. I don't 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:23.880 worry about it. Otis, Bert's here. Shouldn't 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:29.380 we... No, no, no. Everything's all right. I better 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:32.860 go straighten everybody out. Especially Callahan. 00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:38.719 The painting? Is it my imagination or... What 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:44.639 happened to the painting? I, um... decided to 00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:49.460 give it up. Otis, how could you? Will you... 00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:51.679 will you love me even if I'm not a famous painter? 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:55.860 But, darling... Sure she'll love you, Otis. She'll 00:41:55.860 --> 00:42:04.619 love you even more. She'll love you even more. 00:42:05.139 --> 00:42:07.880 There's a lot of truth to that, Otis. A woman 00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:11.139 in love with a famous man has a problem. She 00:42:11.139 --> 00:42:14.579 wants him all to herself. But she is forced to 00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:18.179 share him with the entire world. And you ladies 00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:21.579 in our audience might think about it, too. If 00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:23.900 you're married to a man who doesn't seem to be 00:42:23.900 --> 00:42:26.360 going anywhere special, look on the brighter 00:42:26.360 --> 00:42:30.000 side. Just think. You can have him all to yourself. 00:42:31.099 --> 00:42:45.869 I'll be back shortly. What killed those women? 00:42:46.789 --> 00:42:50.849 A coincidence of real and fancied illness? Or 00:42:50.849 --> 00:42:54.250 can an artist really drain the life from a living 00:42:54.250 --> 00:42:57.929 creature and transform it to canvas? Certain 00:42:57.929 --> 00:43:01.550 primitive tribes agree. It's taboo to create 00:43:01.550 --> 00:43:05.150 a likeness. Maybe they know what they're talking 00:43:05.150 --> 00:43:10.030 about. Our cast included Nat Poland, Marion Seldas, 00:43:10.369 --> 00:43:13.349 Jack Grimes, Jackson Beck, and Roger DeKoven. 00:43:13.769 --> 00:43:16.130 The entire production was under the direction 00:43:16.130 --> 00:43:22.550 of Hyman Brown. And now, a preview of our next 00:43:22.550 --> 00:43:28.250 tale. I told you I burned it. And you know that's 00:43:28.250 --> 00:43:30.090 a fairy tale that no one will believe. I don't 00:43:30.090 --> 00:43:31.590 care whether you believe it or not. Now you're 00:43:31.590 --> 00:43:33.969 coming with me? Where? To talk to your Colonel 00:43:33.969 --> 00:43:37.130 Blake. He won't see you. Oh, I think he will. 00:43:37.309 --> 00:43:39.409 Goodbye, Carol. It was nice knowing you, I think. 00:43:39.710 --> 00:43:41.989 You will kindly step back into your room as you're 00:43:41.989 --> 00:43:45.949 feeling? Now, wait a minute. Move. I am Major 00:43:45.949 --> 00:43:49.809 Samanovich. Oh, of the Gay Payoo or the NKVD? 00:43:49.869 --> 00:43:53.170 Does not really matter. What matters is that 00:43:53.170 --> 00:43:56.309 you and I have something to discuss. I warned 00:43:56.309 --> 00:43:59.409 you. Yeah, sure you did. I do so dislike dealing 00:43:59.409 --> 00:44:02.309 with amateurs. This is strictly a business. You 00:44:02.309 --> 00:44:04.449 mean you want to make a deal with me? Correction. 00:44:05.289 --> 00:44:08.010 I mean you would find it wise if you wanted to 00:44:08.010 --> 00:44:10.730 make a deal with us. For the paper? Exactly. 00:44:11.869 --> 00:44:14.070 Where is it? No, no, not so fast, not so fast. 00:44:14.809 --> 00:44:17.750 You spoke about a deal? You give us the paper, 00:44:18.150 --> 00:44:21.210 we give you your life. Radio Mystery Theater 00:44:21.210 --> 00:44:24.309 was sponsored in part by Anhorser -Busch, Inc. 00:44:25.110 --> 00:44:27.789 Brewers of Budweiser. This is E .G. Marshall 00:44:27.789 --> 00:44:30.250 inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater. 00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:35.059 for another adventure in the macabre. Until next 00:44:35.059 --> 00:45:14.329 time, pleasant dreams. CBS News is next on WBBM 00:45:14.329 --> 00:45:14.869 Chicago.