The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come
in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to the
terrifying world of your own imagination. One
day a young man named Otis Manley Carter stood
before a great work of art in the Metropolitan
Museum in New York. It was a portrait so beautiful
that it brought tears to his eyes. And Otis Manley
Carter whispered, I would give my soul to be
able to paint like that. It was an idle remark,
spoken without thinking, on the spur of the moment.
How was Otis Manley Carter to know that someone
might be listening? Where'd you learn how to
paint, Otis? At the Fine Arts Institute. No.
I spoke to Professor DiMarco. They flunked you.
You didn't show them any ability at all. Where'd
you learn how to paint? Oh, come on, Bert. I
was born with it. It just comes naturally. I've
been painting all my life. But you're over 30.
How come there are no paintings of yours more
than two or three years old? Where did you learn
how to paint, Otis? What are you driving at?
Answer this, Otis. How come all the people whose
pictures you painted are dead? Well, I don't...
Where did you learn how to paint, Otis? Our mystery
drama, A Portrait of Death, was written especially
for the Mystery Theater by Sam Dann and stars
Nat Poland. It is sponsored in part by the Kellogg
Company, makers of Kellogg's Special K Cereal,
and by new Sugar Free Diet 7 Up. I'll be back
shortly with Act One. Temperature in Chicago
39 degrees at Midway Airport 38 in Grand Park.
The weather outlook for tonight cloudy and continued
cool low 38 degrees. At the age of 30 Otis Manley
Carter was hailed as the world's foremost living
artist. He towered above his contemporaries.
To describe his work, one had to compare it with
the great masters of the past. No one, but no
one painting today could breathe life into a
portrait to match Otis Manley Carter. And yet,
just one week before his 31st birthday, Otis
made the announcement that would stun the civilized
world. He was finished with art. Never again
would his brush touch paint to canvas. He would
neither amplify his statement nor answer questions.
He simply disappeared. And only two people in
all the world knew the reason why. One, of course,
was Otis himself. The other was a detective on
the New York City police force, Sergeant Burt
Denison. Burt! Burt, what are you doing? Just
having a cup of coffee. We'll be late. Late?
All I gotta do is put on my jacket and that takes
all of fifteen seconds. Oh, I'm just so nervous.
Why? Do you know who's going to be there tonight?
For sure. The governor, the mayor, celebrities,
the news media, the critics. Lucy, I'm impressed.
After all, the showing of a new portrait by Otis
Manley Carter has the same impact as the World
Series or a Super Bowl or a heavyweight champion
fight. If you put brown sugar in coffee, do you
save calories? Do you realize, Bert, that we,
that you and I, are going to be sharing the spotlight
with Otis? Well, you will, that's for sure. Oh,
Bert. What does he see in me? Oh, come on, honey.
No, I mean it. Well, let's see. You're pretty.
Well, I'm not beautiful. And you're smart. But
I'm not brilliant. What can I tell you? He's
an artist. All artists are crazy. But the most
fascinating women in the world are ready to throw
themselves at his feet. Sis, you're pretty fascinating
yourself. Thanks to you, Bert. Thanks to me?
You sent me through college. And there were the
trips to Europe. Well, I had to shape you up
before I could marry you off. And it looks like
you got yourself the grand prize. The great Otis
Manley Carter. Oh, Bert, I want you to like him.
Oh, I like him. I like him. He's so sweet, so
kind. Except... Except? What do you mean, except?
Well, except every time he paints somebody's
picture, it seems to me that person dies. What
are you talking about? Now... Tonight's portrait,
that actress, Lila Beaumont. She just died suddenly,
didn't she? But what does that have to do with...
And in the last five years, he painted four other
women. Not one of those women is alive today.
Did you know that? No, I didn't know that. May
I ask you how you knew that? I checked Mr. Otis
Carter out. World famous artist or not, I ran
him through the ringer. Do you mean you actually
investigated Otis? Do you think I'd let you marry
him if I didn't? Honestly, I don't know anyone
who lives his job 24 hours a day. You never forget
you're a policeman. I'm supposed to be on duty
24 hours a day, otherwise I'm cheating the taxpayers.
Well, what are you trying to imply about Otis?
Nothing. Nothing at all. Just an observation.
Idle observation. Otis, darling, you're having
a triumph. It's a fantastic success. What did
you think of the painting, Bert? It's a good
picture. Oh, listen, they have a good picture.
Is that all you can say? Well, it's certainly
lifelike. I'll say that. Well, thank you, Bert.
Good evening, Ortiz. Professor DiMarco. May I
offer my congratulations? I'm honored, Professor,
honored. May I present my fiancee and my prospective
brother -in -law, Miss Lucy Dennison, Detective
Sergeant Dennison, Professor DiMarco of the Fine
Arts Institute. How do you do? Glad to meet you.
Otis, once again, you force me to eat crow. Oh,
come on, Professor, please. No, no, I was wrong
about you, Otis. Wrong. And I don't care who
knows it. Yeah, but the truth is, Professor DiMarco,
you taught me everything I know. The truth is,
you didn't start to paint until after you left
me. Congratulations, Otis, on a double triumph
this evening. Your painting and... Your fiancé.
It is a magnificent work of art. Thank you, sir.
Now, if you'll excuse me, Sergeant Denison, Lucy.
Well, he never got over it. And I don't think
he ever will. He said I'd never amount to anything.
Oh, but you're not serious, darling. How could
anyone who knows anything about art? Oh, there's
Eric Von Heiden. The one who's doing the new
book about him? Come on, come on, darling. I'll
introduce you. Give me a rain check. I feel the
need for a little refreshment. Excuse me, sir.
I hope I didn't spill that on... Oh, it's Sergeant...
Denison, sir. Of course. You know, Professor
DiMarco, I've been watching you. That sounds
ominous. Why would a police detective be watching
me? Because I'm curious. About what? About the
look on your face. What about the look on my
face? It's the only look of its kind in the house.
How do you mean that? Well, analyze all the faces
around you. What do you see? Excitement, boredom,
happiness, anxiety? And what's my look? I would
say puzzlement. Actually, you look completely
confused. I suppose I am. I still can't understand
what... Happened. Otis was my student at the
Institute. And you said he'd never amount to
anything. I did. And you can see how it's come
back to haunt me. Believe me, he had absolutely
no concept whatever of the elementary principles
of art. He had no feeling for line, for color,
for form. I recommended he be dropped from the
school. You not only go out on a limb, you bring
your own saw. Well, six months later... He astounded
the entire world with his portrait of that alderman's
wife. Mm -hmm. The first of the Otis Manley Carter
famous portraits. How do you account for that?
Well, at first, I refused to believe he could
paint like that. And maybe he doesn't. Maybe
he's all done with mirrors. No, no, no, no, no.
There are no mirrors, no tricks. I went up to
his studio. He paints. But where did he learn?
How did he learn? From whom? There must be an
answer. Naturally. Can you even speculate? He
probably sold his soul to the devil. You realize
that isn't an answer? Of course. But it's the
only one I can think of at the moment. Come in.
Hello there, Otis. Hope I'm not disturbing you.
I was about to take a break. Coffee? Oh, sure,
sure. That was quite a bash last night, huh?
Unnecessary evil. You seem to enjoy it. But that's
why it's an evil. It turns your head and wastes
your time and keeps you from doing your job.
Which for me is to paint. Where did you learn
to paint, Otis? At the Fine Arts Institute. Do
you touch sugar? Yeah, one last thing. Okay.
I don't think you learned how to paint at the
Institute, Otis. Hot milk? Yeah, sure. Alrighty.
Professor DeMarco and I had a long talk about
you last night. He thought you were a lost cause.
Well, he did. And I suppose I was for a while.
So? How did the ugly duckling turn into a swan?
Well, some people are slow learners. The Marco
claims you just didn't have it. No, he was wrong.
I always had it, but it was only in my mind.
I was showing him nothing but meaningless blobs
and dabs. They had to drop me from the school.
Where did you study after that? Nowhere. I just
went to the museum every day. That's all? That's
all. And then... Oh, one morning I was looking
at some of the old masters, just worshipping
at the shrine, as it were, and wishing and hoping
and praying that one day I too could... Well,
the most remarkable thing happened. What? Well,
suddenly everything that Professor DeMarco had
ever tried to teach me just began to make sense.
No, no, it was more than that. It all became
a part of the way I feel and the way I think
and the way I see. I... I was trembling all over.
What did you do? I went home, picked up my brushes,
and from that day on, I was a painter. Touched
like that. Well, in psychology, there is such
a thing as the delayed reaction. Yeah, yeah,
I know. Bert, Lucy and I want you to join us
for dinner tonight, hm? I'd ever refuse an invitation
to dinner. Oh. Otis. Hm? Your latest portrait
of Lila Beaumont. Poor Lila. She never really
saw it. She died the day it was finished. What...
what did she die of? I don't know, Burt. I don't
think anybody does. Sergeant, I wasn't her regular
physician. Who was, doctor? I don't think she
had one. She seemed to be one of those fortunate,
healthy people who never needed medicine. Where
did she die, Dr. Caswell? In Mr. Carter's studio.
And since my office is just next door... Was
she alive when you got there? Just barely. She
seemed to show all the signs of utter exhaustion.
So that's what I wrote on the death certificate.
Afterward, I thought about it and... I asked
for an autopsy. Why? I simply couldn't believe
it. Well, what did the autopsy reveal? Nothing.
I was right in the first place. But I still don't
believe it. Again, why? Well, how could she change
so radically in such a short time? What do you
mean by change? Have you seen the portrait Carter
painted of her? Yes, uh -huh. It's just brimming
with robust good health. It's exactly how she
looked. Just about two months before she died,
I saw her get out of the cab that first time
she came to Carter's studio. And? Two months
later, I was shocked. Why? As I said, I'd never
witnessed such a rapid decline. She was losing
a lot of weight. Her color was gone. She looked
so tired. What did you think was happening? I
didn't know what to think. I decided to speak
to Otis. After all, I knew him when he was just
a starving young artist. One morning, I walked
up to his studio. What can I do for you, doctor?
Busy, Otis? Well, Lila Balmark will be here any
minute. Well, that's what I want to talk to you
about. Is she under medical care? Well, why?
Well, why should she be? Can't you see why? What
are you talking about? Otis, she looks terrible.
Oh, she looks great. She's becoming dangerously
thin. She has no color. Are you serious? Are
you serious, Otis? Well, I don't understand what
you're trying to say. You mean you can't see
anything wrong with Lila Beaumont? She looks
better than ever. Ah, good morning, Lila. Hello,
Otis. Well, you're looking just sensational,
as usual. Lila, I'd like you to meet Dr. Caswell.
How do you do? Oh, does I? I'm so tired this
morning. Could I have a cup of coffee? Well,
coming up. I just have to eat it. Miss Beaumont,
I hope you're seeing a doctor. Why? Look in the
mirror. You're very perceptive, Dr. Caswell.
Perceptive? It's obvious. For one thing, you're
losing your looks. Oh, yes. Your looks, your
livelihood. Shouldn't you want to do something
about it? What can I do? There's a man and he
no longer loves me. But a doctor could prevent
this ravaging. There's no way a doctor could
help me. But you need special treatment. I would
say, Miss Beaumont, that right now you should
be in a hospital. You may be right, Doctor. I
don't... care anymore. I just don't care anymore.
Is that the reason she died, Dr. Caswell, because
some guy gave her the gait? They say you can
die of a broken heart. What do you say? Well,
I just can't see a vital and perfectly healthy
woman like Lila Beaumont simply withering away
in so short a time. But if her appearance had
changed so drastically, how come Otis didn't
see it? You'll have to ask Otis. You still haven't
told me, Dr. Caswell. What did she die of? But
I did tell you. I don't know. Nobody knows. Well,
what did she die of? And what, if anything, can
it have to do with Otis Manley Carpenter? Detective
Sergeant Dennison has a nagging, indefinable
feeling. That's just the trouble. In most of
the murder cases Burt has solved, the solution
always began with a nagging, indefinable feeling.
We'll see where this feeling leads when I return
shortly with Act Two. Sergeant Bert Denison has
always been an intuitive detective. He trusted
his instincts. He played his hunches. He followed
his theories wherever they led him, usually to
the right answer. But this time, he has absolutely
no idea of how to arrive at the answer. As a
matter of fact, at this point, he can't even
formulate the question. You really should skip
dessert, Bert. I only have one helping. Well,
do you want to tell them, Lucy? No, darling,
I think you should be the one. Somebody's supposed
to tell me something. I hope the wedding hasn't
been canceled. Oh, no, no, Bert. Sunday, right
on schedule. Otis has something to say to you,
Bert. We have a wedding gift for you, Bert. Me?
Why? I'm not getting married. Oh, that's why
you need a gift. Now on Sunday, Lucy is leaving
your house forever. That sounds kind of stuffy,
doesn't it? Keep going, darling. You're doing
fine. And so, therefore, to make sure you never
forget what she looks like... How can I forget
what she looks like? Please, Bert, don't interrupt.
We decided that I would paint a portrait of Lucy
and present it to you. Isn't that wonderful?
Can you imagine that you're going to own an original
Otis Manley car? Yeah, yeah, but... What is it?
Well, these things are... valuable you just can't
afford million dollars couldn't buy all the wonderful
things you did for your sister and i'm grateful
what's on your mind well isn't it uh and bad
luck for an artist to paint a picture of his
own wife oh now where did you ever hear that
they all did it but something is bothering you
yeah yeah well i uh i might as well say it i
want to hurt your feelings but i couldn't accept
the gift Why I yeah, I just can't explain it
Otis you want to give me a gift. I'd really like
of course Well, just promise me you'll never
paint a picture of Lucy Never now what kind of
nothing him Lucy What about it Otis? Well, one
of the reasons I'm marrying her is so that I
can always have her near me so that I can always
capture those fantastic expressions and moods.
Oh, really? I thought you fell in love with my
mind. I did. I did. It's your mind that gives
animation and meaning. What about it, Otis? I
wish you'd tell me why. I wish I could. But I
don't think I can. How about it, Otis? Will you
promise? All right, Bert. I promise. Homicide,
Lieutenant Callahan. Oh, nothing dear, just sitting
around. Oh, but ain't you Spurt Denison? Oh no,
he used to be a million laughs, he isn't anymore.
Just stares into space all day. That's all. All
right, I'll tell him. You ought to get married,
Burt. Puts a little zing in your life. And now
that your sister's gone, you've got no excuse.
Why don't you get off my back? Jenny was downtown
this morning. She told me she ran into your sister.
I'll even buy your... What did you say? Jenny
saw your sister Lucy in one of the stores. She
couldn't have seen my sister. Lucy and Otis were
on a trip to Mexico. See? You don't know everything.
Maybe they came back. As a matter of fact, maybe
that's why they came back. What are you talking
about? Jenny said Lucy didn't look too good.
She what? Hey, Burt, where you going? Burt! Yes,
it's Burt. You never told me you were back. Oh,
we meant to. We just got in this morning and
we haven't even unpacked. Of course not. How
could you unpack when you never packed in the
first place? All your clothes are in the closet.
Bags are up on the shelf. You didn't go anywhere,
did you? I want you to call a doctor. There's
Dr. Caswell. He's just next door. Why do I need
a doctor? You look terrible. You lost about five
pounds. There's no color in your face. It's absolutely
true. I lost five pounds because I'm on a diet.
And if there's no color in my face, it's because
I don't have my makeup on. You sound tired. But
we were up late last night. Why did you want
me to think you were in Mexico? Bert, you and
I, we've been very close. We've shared a home.
You've practically raised me. Never mind all
that. What are you leading up to? Well, we'd
see each other every day and talk to each other
and actually have no lives away from each other.
I wasn't aware of that. So, I thought that since
I'm a married woman now, we just have to get
used to a different kind of relationship. Uh
-huh. You can tell when I'm lying. I can tell
when you're lying. Otis broke his promise, didn't
he? What promise? His promise never to paint
your picture. How can you say that? Why don't
I ask you? You can't ask him. He isn't home.
All right, I'll wait. But he may be gone all
day. Who rang the bell just before? Oh. Hi, Bert.
How are you? Just fine. Fine. You've been painting,
I see. Anyone I know? Well, I haven't been painting
exactly. I've been cleaning brushes, things like
that. You know, chores. Why don't we go inside
and see? Bert! Bert! If you walk into that studio,
I'll never talk to you again as long as I live.
If I don't walk into that studio, you'll be dead
in a month. Bert! Oh, Bert. We wanted so much
for you to have a portrait of me. Yeah, so I
see. No, not yet. You don't see. It's nowhere
near finished, but you can just sense what it's
going to be like. Bert, it's going to be my finest
work because it's for you. Oh, darling, don't
be unreasonable. You can't finish that painting,
Otis. Tell me why, why? Otis, Otis. For some
reason, you kill the people you paint. Don't
interrupt me. It's not easy to say this. And
I can imagine what it must sound like, but...
Otis, you've painted the portraits of five women.
Every one of them is dead. But that has nothing
to do with my... Each one died on the day you
finished the portrait. Bert, have you any idea
what you're saying? I know what I'm saying. And
it gets worse. But it's true. What's true? Otis,
the truth is you're not a painter. How can you
say such a... Please, this isn't easy, sis. Just
thank God there were three people who love each
other. and can solve our problem together. Furt,
how can you say I'm not an artist? DeMarco said
you had absolutely no talent. DeMarco? He's a
jealous old fraud! But he's right! When you came
to him, you had absolutely no ability, no talent.
How do you account for the fact that I... You
don't paint, Otis. Furt! Hear me out, please.
Somehow, and I don't even think you're aware
of it, you have the ability to drain the life
out of your subject. project it onto the canvas
well I just don't understand what you're saying
you're not aware of it you didn't notice that
Lila Beaumont was actually dying before your
eyes just as the others did before her tell me
this is a joke no it isn't a joke look at Lucy
Otis she doesn't look ill I honestly can't see
anything wrong Lucy Look in the mirror look And
then tell me there's nothing wrong with you.
I don't have to look I know Then what I have
been saying just it Well, I've been worried about
what about Otis darling. Why oh? I'm afraid one
day you'll get tired of me Lucy. There's so many
women who are after you it sure the only woman
I want you know that yes, I know But sometimes
I can't sleep at night, and that's the reason
that I'm not looking my best. No, no, the painting's
the reason. And Otis, you must promise to destroy
that painting. I can't do that. Then I will.
Bert, put down that knife. Take your hand off
me, Otis. Bert, Bert, don't hit him. I won't
let you destroy my painting. And I won't let
you kill my sister. Otis, Otis. Bert, don't do
that. Lucy, Lucy, stop him. That takes care of
them. Bert, you're crazy. Get up, Otis. I didn't
hit you that hard. Look at what you did to my
painting. Do you know what you've done? Yes,
I destroyed the canvas. And look. Look at your
wife. Look at yourself, Lucy. Your color is back.
Bert, you're a fool. If my color is back, it's
because I'm furious. No, no. You've got your
old vitality and strength. You'll be all right
now. Bert! There's really nothing we can talk
about. I did what I had to do. And now let's
forget it. except for one thing, Otis. Promise
me, your word of honor, that you'll never try
to paint Lucy's portrait again. But I can't promise...
I'll put it this way, Otis. If you ever try to
paint her portrait, I'll kill you. Hi, Burt.
Callahan. Thought I'd find you down here in the
range. Good cluster, except for that one shot
off to the left. Probably a faulty cartridge.
Sure, it's never the shooter, it's always the
shell. What is it you're getting out of your
system tonight? Nothing, nothing at all. Want
to sit down and talk for a minute? About what?
About you and me. All right. What is there to
say? We... We have to decide what I'm gonna do
about you. Why? Because Otis and Lucy were in
my office this afternoon. They're two very scared
kids. They've got nothing to be scared of. Not
for themselves. For you. Why? Oh, come on, Bert,
you know why they told me everything. Oh, that's
nice. My own sister. She only did it because
she loves you. Yeah, yeah. She told you how all
of them die when he paints their portraits? Yep.
Well, what do you think? Here's what I think.
I just put in this application. Application?
For your leave of absence. But I'm not the...
Yes, you are. It'll all be done quietly and when
you're better you can come back to duty as if
nothing happened. Where am I supposed to go?
There's a private sanitarium. Absolutely, the
top doctor. Callahan? I'm not crazy. Of course
not. You just got this temporary little quirk,
and it can be ironed out easily. Subconsciously,
I guess you just miss not having Lucy around
the house. Well, thanks for everything, but I'm
not going. In, uh, in light of what happened
in the studio this morning, I'm afraid your choices
are limited. Callahan, is it the quiet private
sanitarium or... Do we have to put you into the
city hospital for observation? Callahan, what
are you telling me? I'm telling you to hand over
your revolver. Who was it who wrote, heaven keep
me safe from my well -meaning friends? It's certainly
a sentiment that's shared right now by Detective
Sergeant Burt Denison. All he wants to do is
prevent a terrible tragedy. And who's trying
to stop him? Those people who truly love him.
We're going to meet more well -meaning people
when I return shortly with Act 3. This is WBBM
Chicago, News Radio 78. The best mirror is the
face of an old friend. Sergeant Denison stares
at Lieutenant Callahan. Stares at the look on
Callahan's face. It's a strange look. A look
that's a mixture of pity, concern, and fear.
And suddenly Denison realizes that this must
be the same look that showed so often when he
knew he had to arrest a suspect who might turn
out to be criminally. Insane. Justified for?
Slice it anyway. Why am I wrong this time? Because
what you say is crazy. Callahan, you and me,
we're not the new breed of college cops who know
everything. But still, we're very careful about
that word crazy. You mean you really believe
oldest kills people by painting their portraits?
Yeah, yeah. Quit fighting me. Work with me. How?
Let's go out and get some expert testimony. What's
here? This is the doctor who attended Lila Beaumont
just before she died. And he's completely stumped
by the whole thing. Yes, I was dissatisfied with
the cause of death. Dr. Caswell, you said you
didn't believe she could change so radically
in so short a time. I did say that. You also
said you couldn't see how a splendid physical
specimen like Lila Beaumont could just... wither
away. Yes, I remember. I did say that, too. And
even though you signed a death certificate which
listed exhaustion as the cause of death, nobody
really knew what she did die of. Well, I've since...
I've since come to believe that she really could
have died of exhaustion. But you said... Exhaustion,
plus loss of the will to live. But you were convinced
there was a mysterious cause. I didn't use that
word. But, Doctor, you led me to believe... I
was merely ventilating some doubts, some misgivings.
But the other women who died? I wasn't there.
I don't know. You told me, Professor DiMarco.
that Otis had no concept of the basic principles
of art. I did. No feeling for line, form, color.
I think I said something like that. And since
those things can't be learned, there was no way
he could become a painter. It's a relative thing.
Well, you even went so far as to say the only
way he could have learned them was if he'd sold
his soul to the devil. That was a figure of speech.
He never did learn to be a painter. Something
happened. He found a way, or was given a way,
who knows, to draw the vital essence from a living
thing and put it on canvas. I don't think I could
agree with... I can prove it! Look at everything
he's done. He's never painted an inanimate object.
Just the face, the body, but no clothes, no furniture,
no jewels, no decorations. I'm sorry if I gave
you the wrong impression. Maybe... Maybe I was
jealous. Jealous of what? You said he had no
talent. Maybe that was a lie I told myself. Maybe
I resented his youth, his promise. After all,
I never fulfilled mine. Yeah, sure. And besides,
you really don't want to be remembered as the
art teacher who flunked Otis Manley Carter. I
guess that's the simple answer. I wish there
were such a thing as a simple answer. Well, Bert,
you've got to admit it's really a comfortable
room with a great view of the ocean. And you've
even got a refrigerator. Yeah. What happens now,
Callahan? Well, starting tomorrow, the doctors
will begin working with you. You'll be straightened
out in no time. I see. I'm the one who has to
be straightened out. That's how it is. Even if
I happen to be right. Those are the rules of
the game, Bert. But I'm not crazy, Callan. You
and I know what crazy is. Crazy is when most
people don't agree with you. You're a big help.
I'll come up and see you this week. I can hardly
wait. I better ring for the guy to come let me
out. What do you mean you gotta ring? Well, uh...
The door is locked from the outside. Huh? It
doesn't mean anything, Bert. It's just routine.
I mean... I know what you mean. I might as well
be in jail. You wanted something, Sergeant? Yeah,
yeah, Jerry. I gotta make a phone call. You can't.
What do you mean, I can't? The first couple of
weeks you can't. It's like you gotta get your
interviews in orientation. But I have to make
a phone call. The doctor said... Forget what
the doctor says. Look, part of the treatment
is to isolate you completely from your former
environment. But I have to know if my sister
is okay. She's okay. How do you know? Because
if she wasn't, you'd be told about it. Yeah,
yeah, yeah. Uh, listen, uh... I know, I know
I can't make a phone call. But if I could, where
would I make it from? There's a phone outside,
at the end of the hall. There is, huh? Jerry,
I want to show you something. What? Come on,
Lucy. Answer it. Answer it. Hello? Lucy. What?
Lucy. Yes, I'm Lucy. Who is this? It's me, Bert.
Who? Bert. No, Bert isn't here. Could you call
back later? Lucy! Oh, my good Lord. Lucy! What?
Who? He's painting your picture again. I've got
to destroy that canvas. Don't move, Bert. Otis!
Don't make me shoot, Bert. Now listen, Otis.
You don't want to kill me. No. I'd only want
to hit you in the foot, but I'm a bad shot. Now
please, Bert, just stand still. What are you
doing with the gun, Otis? That's not your style.
Callahan called us. He said you'd broken out
of the sanitarium. He wants me to phone him if
you show up here. You're killing Lucy. Look at
her. Bert, I don't know what's gotten into you.
Is the painting almost finished? What business
is that of yours? What more has to be done on
the painting? I just have to finish her mouth.
And when you do, she's going to die. How can
you believe... Do you love her, Otis? You know
I love her. Destroy the painting. I can't. I
can. I'm warning you, Bert. I'm gonna walk into
your studio. And I'm going to destroy that painting.
You take one step and I'll shoot you. I'll just
have to take the chance. I've still got five
bullets in the gun. All of them can't miss. Otis,
look at Lucy. Look at her. She's dying. That
isn't true. You don't want to see it. If I could
prove you're killing her, would you destroy the
painting? How could you prove that? Would you
destroy the painting? Yes. Let's go back into
the studio, Otis. It's a trick. You've got the
gun, Otis. What are you afraid of? Come on. I
do just stand near the wall. You keep far away
from my painting. It's beautiful. Then why do
you want me to destroy it? Because it is, Lucy.
Why did you bring me in here to prove? That you
kill a living thing when you paint it. On the
windowsill, Otis. That flower. That geranium.
Paint it. Sure. I'll put the gun down and pick
up the brush and you'll jump. You're afraid.
You're scared. You're crazy. What you're saying
is crazy. Here's your chance to prove it, Otis.
Paint that flower. And if nothing happens to
it, I promise, I'll go away quietly. I... Well?
I will. It's a quick sketch. How do you like
it? It's beautiful. All right, now look at the
windowsill. Look at the geranium. Go on, look
at the ger... Oh. Oh, no, a bird. What... What
happened to it? You can see what happened. I
can't believe it. But it's true. The color is
gone. It's wilted, withered. It's dead. They're
all dead. Lila Beaumont, those other women. And
Lucy is dying. Before it's too late, Otis, you
know what you have to do. No. Otis! You do it
for me. No. You have to destroy that canvas yourself.
Why? Because I can't keep watching you guarding
my sister forever. You have to put an end to
it yourself. I promise I won't paint Lucy. You
must never paint anybody. I don't know if I can
give it up. But you're not really a painter,
Otis. Somehow you stumbled into some sort of
mysterious power. And now you've got to give
it up. Destroy the painting. I'll go back to
Lucy. How do you know I just won't finish it?
How can you trust me? I trust you. I trust you
because you love Lucy. Lucy? Lucy? Who is it?
Oh, Bert. I must have been napping. Oh, I feel
so refreshed. Yes, you're looking better. Bert,
what are you doing here? You're supposed to be...
I know, I know. I'm supposed to be crazy. I don't
worry about it. Otis, Bert's here. Shouldn't
we... No, no, no. Everything's all right. I better
go straighten everybody out. Especially Callahan.
The painting? Is it my imagination or... What
happened to the painting? I, um... decided to
give it up. Otis, how could you? Will you...
will you love me even if I'm not a famous painter?
But, darling... Sure she'll love you, Otis. She'll
love you even more. She'll love you even more.
There's a lot of truth to that, Otis. A woman
in love with a famous man has a problem. She
wants him all to herself. But she is forced to
share him with the entire world. And you ladies
in our audience might think about it, too. If
you're married to a man who doesn't seem to be
going anywhere special, look on the brighter
side. Just think. You can have him all to yourself.
I'll be back shortly. What killed those women?
A coincidence of real and fancied illness? Or
can an artist really drain the life from a living
creature and transform it to canvas? Certain
primitive tribes agree. It's taboo to create
a likeness. Maybe they know what they're talking
about. Our cast included Nat Poland, Marion Seldas,
Jack Grimes, Jackson Beck, and Roger DeKoven.
The entire production was under the direction
of Hyman Brown. And now, a preview of our next
tale. I told you I burned it. And you know that's
a fairy tale that no one will believe. I don't
care whether you believe it or not. Now you're
coming with me? Where? To talk to your Colonel
Blake. He won't see you. Oh, I think he will.
Goodbye, Carol. It was nice knowing you, I think.
You will kindly step back into your room as you're
feeling? Now, wait a minute. Move. I am Major
Samanovich. Oh, of the Gay Payoo or the NKVD?
Does not really matter. What matters is that
you and I have something to discuss. I warned
you. Yeah, sure you did. I do so dislike dealing
with amateurs. This is strictly a business. You
mean you want to make a deal with me? Correction.
I mean you would find it wise if you wanted to
make a deal with us. For the paper? Exactly.
Where is it? No, no, not so fast, not so fast.
You spoke about a deal? You give us the paper,
we give you your life. Radio Mystery Theater
was sponsored in part by Anhorser -Busch, Inc.
Brewers of Budweiser. This is E .G. Marshall
inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater.
for another adventure in the macabre. Until next
time, pleasant dreams. CBS News is next on WBBM
Chicago.