WEBVTT 00:00:19.250 --> 00:00:27.109 Men. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome to 00:00:27.109 --> 00:00:31.489 our world of mystery and the macabre. Sit back 00:00:31.489 --> 00:00:36.049 and lend us your fears. Have you ever seen a 00:00:36.049 --> 00:00:39.750 ghost? It is an experience of such horror as 00:00:39.750 --> 00:00:43.549 to turn your blood to ice. Why no, why no? There 00:00:43.549 --> 00:00:46.890 are those who scoff, but they have never met 00:00:46.890 --> 00:00:51.340 a ghost. Mal Stout. was a scoffer, but not his 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:54.619 wife, Liz. And on the night they first drove 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:58.200 up Gormley Gorge Road to Gormley Lodge. All right, 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.840 Mel, you laugh if you want to, but the fact remains 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.700 that the puttons were driven off the bridge over 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:06.799 Gormley Gorge by a ghost driver in another car. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.159 Who says? The sheriff. He told me that the wife 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.939 lived long enough to tell the story. How a car 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:16.159 driven by a skeleton. came driving straight at 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:18.700 them, and her husband swam to the side, and off 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.359 the bridge they went! She was dying! She was 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.219 in a state of shock! No! Not in the car! I'm 00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:30.900 coming out of the car! Oh my God! He went right 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:35.760 by! You and your ghost driver is lit! It was 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:40.340 just another car, and it passed us! Yes, it passed 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:56.939 us! written especially for the Mystery Theatre 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:00.900 by George Lother and stars Augusta Dabney and 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:04.760 Mason Adams. I'll be back shortly with act one. 00:02:23.969 --> 00:02:27.090 If it had been up to Liz, they'd never have bought 00:02:27.090 --> 00:02:30.189 Gormley Lodge on top of Manitou Mountain in Colorado. 00:02:30.909 --> 00:02:34.629 Why? Because according to a local legend, the 00:02:34.629 --> 00:02:37.750 former owners, the Putnam's, had been sent crashing 00:02:37.750 --> 00:02:40.509 to their death by a ghost driver who came at 00:02:40.509 --> 00:02:43.789 them head -on. Now, in the living room of the 00:02:43.789 --> 00:02:46.449 lodge... Liz, I've had it up to here with that 00:02:46.449 --> 00:02:48.490 brother of yours. Oh, no. I mean, he promised 00:02:48.490 --> 00:02:50.409 to help finish paying in his living room before 00:02:50.409 --> 00:02:52.310 the dunk has arrived tonight, and where is he? 00:02:52.370 --> 00:02:55.240 I'll tell you where he is. He is out on the slopes 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:58.680 skiing, enjoying himself as usual. Well, do you 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:01.120 just be reasonable now? If we didn't have Rory, 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:03.199 where would we get a ski instructor I'd like 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.199 to know? We certainly can't afford to hire one. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:07.120 Any more than we could afford to have this place 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.599 painted. Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that I've got 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:15.319 so darn much on my mind. Liz, I just hope that 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:18.860 I haven't made the mistake of my life and yours. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:21.439 We'll make a go of the lodge. We're off to a 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:24.180 pretty good start. The Duncans arrive tonight 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:26.939 and they're booked for a full week. And the Tots 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:29.740 and the Morgans arrive next week. Yeah, and after 00:03:29.740 --> 00:03:32.719 that? Well, dying our newspaper ads ought to 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.460 get us more customers. Just ask yourself, John, 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.659 what would you rather be doing now? Painting 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:42.560 the living room of your own ski lodge with paying 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:45.759 guests arriving tonight? or slaving away at your 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:48.219 old accounting job in Aspen. Well, at least that 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:51.000 brought a check in every week. Oh, Mel, you've 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.099 wanted to be your own boss for years. And so 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:56.680 we bought this old mansion on top of Manitou 00:03:56.680 --> 00:04:00.379 Mountain to start our own ski lodge. The old 00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:04.020 Gormley Mansion. And we're gonna keep at it until 00:04:04.020 --> 00:04:07.860 we make a success of it. Liz, you're marvelous. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:10.280 Oh, there's somebody at the front door. I'll 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:17.470 get it. Oh, Mrs. Gormley. We've come to pay you 00:04:17.470 --> 00:04:21.730 a visit, Ms. Stout. My first formal visit. Well, 00:04:21.730 --> 00:04:24.910 that's very good of you, Mrs. Gormley. Oh, won't 00:04:24.910 --> 00:04:27.769 you come in? All right, Jason. You heard the 00:04:27.769 --> 00:04:31.970 lady. Wheel me in. Yes, Mother. You know my son, 00:04:32.310 --> 00:04:37.129 Jason. You've met? Yes. Yes, briefly. Mel, the 00:04:37.129 --> 00:04:39.149 Gormleys have come to pay a visit. Nice to see 00:04:39.149 --> 00:04:41.870 you, Mrs. Gormley. Jason, uh... I hope you don't 00:04:41.870 --> 00:04:44.250 mind if I finish this painting. Oh, go right 00:04:44.250 --> 00:04:47.110 ahead. I'd give you a hand, old as I am, but 00:04:47.110 --> 00:04:50.629 my arthritis keeps me in this wheelchair. Jason, 00:04:50.709 --> 00:04:53.209 why don't you... No, thanks. I couldn't think 00:04:53.209 --> 00:04:56.069 of asking a fine arts painter to do... Fine arts, 00:04:56.230 --> 00:04:59.490 you hear that, Jason? Mr. Stout complimented 00:04:59.490 --> 00:05:02.329 you, called the mountain scenes you paint fine 00:05:02.329 --> 00:05:04.870 arts. Well, they are. Why, I saw some of them 00:05:04.870 --> 00:05:08.009 in the ski shop in town. They're very good. Do 00:05:08.009 --> 00:05:10.589 you sell many? A few. Oh, just enough to cover 00:05:10.589 --> 00:05:13.889 the cost of the paint and canvas. Oh, yes, and 00:05:13.889 --> 00:05:16.589 a quart of whiskey now and then. Mother, please. 00:05:16.709 --> 00:05:18.829 What are they? If they don't hear it from me, 00:05:18.949 --> 00:05:21.550 Jason, they'll hear it from others. What a drink, 00:05:21.730 --> 00:05:24.670 now and then. Now and then. Tell the South how 00:05:24.670 --> 00:05:28.089 you play Russian roulette with that old revolver 00:05:28.089 --> 00:05:30.310 of your father's when you're drunk. Stop it, 00:05:30.350 --> 00:05:32.829 Mother. Stop it. Perhaps you'd like some coffee, 00:05:32.990 --> 00:05:35.589 Mrs. Gormley, or tea. It won't take a minute. 00:05:35.610 --> 00:05:38.370 No, no, no. Thank you. We won't be here that 00:05:38.370 --> 00:05:41.990 long. Now, I've come to do for you what I did 00:05:41.990 --> 00:05:44.930 for the Putnam's. Them that bought my house out 00:05:44.930 --> 00:05:48.009 from under me three years ago. Out from under 00:05:48.009 --> 00:05:51.350 you? Mrs. Gormley, are you saying that we have 00:05:51.350 --> 00:05:54.449 done that? Forced you out of your house? Well, 00:05:54.649 --> 00:05:58.829 haven't you? Oh, it's not your fault. Jason's 00:05:58.829 --> 00:06:02.209 father left his destitute. Left me destitute, 00:06:02.209 --> 00:06:05.430 I should say. With a son too lazy to support 00:06:05.430 --> 00:06:09.959 his old mother. So I had to sell this beautiful 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:12.040 place. Mother, the Stouts aren't interested in 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.620 all this past history. Well, they'd better be 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:18.980 if they value their lives. Value our lives? Well, 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.600 Mr. Halliday didn't tell you, of course. Tell 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:25.660 us what? About how the Putnam's met their death. 00:06:26.220 --> 00:06:29.910 Why, yes. The real estate man told us about the 00:06:29.910 --> 00:06:33.410 accident. That was no accident. No more than 00:06:33.410 --> 00:06:37.290 my husband's death was an accident. He died in 00:06:37.290 --> 00:06:40.050 the same way. His car crashed off the bridge 00:06:40.050 --> 00:06:43.629 into the gorge. Right 800 feet down into the 00:06:43.629 --> 00:06:48.290 gorge to the rock 800 feet below. But no accident. 00:06:49.689 --> 00:06:53.269 Suicide. The Pudnams didn't commit suicide. Not 00:06:53.269 --> 00:06:58.910 them. My husband Jason Senior. drunk and suicidal, 00:06:59.189 --> 00:07:02.649 but theirs was no accident either, the Putnam's. 00:07:02.910 --> 00:07:06.889 He drove them off that bridge. Who? My husband. 00:07:07.029 --> 00:07:08.910 Oh, wait a minute, Mrs. Gormley. If your husband 00:07:08.910 --> 00:07:14.389 was dead... Hi. I am back. Oh, sure. Naturally, 00:07:14.610 --> 00:07:17.569 Rory. Now, the painting job is nearly done. Aw, 00:07:17.709 --> 00:07:20.930 now, don't get uptight, Mel. I just didn't remember 00:07:20.930 --> 00:07:23.850 it till I was out on the slopes. Hi, Mrs. Gormley. 00:07:23.949 --> 00:07:26.579 Jason. Paying a little... Social calls? Anything 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:29.879 but social. Mrs. Gormley, are you saying that 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:33.939 your husband, even though he was dead, somehow 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:36.819 killed the Putnam's? Liz, come on now. All right, 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:39.759 I'll tell you. After my husband's death, when 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:42.839 I realized I'd been left penniless, that I'd 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:46.279 have to sell this place, I fell into a state 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.600 of depression. When the Putnams bought Gormley 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.120 Lodge, well, they were going to use it as a winter 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:55.720 home. not turn it into a ski resort like you. 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:58.980 When they bought it, and I had to move into a 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:01.939 little guest house, I was so sad, I thought I'd 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:06.740 die. For days and days, I sat and wept, and, 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:12.879 and then, and one night, my husband come to me. 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:16.980 Your husband? You dreamed? It was no dream. Oh, 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:21.600 it was my husband. His ghost. Oh, fuck all that. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:25.660 He stood at the foot of my bed, and he begged 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:28.540 my forgiveness for leaving me a pauper and breaking 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:34.740 my heart. And he said, Jessica, I promise you'll 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:39.580 live in Gormley House again. And then he vanished. 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:45.179 The very next night, the Cuthmums crashed through 00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:47.840 the bridge over Gormley Gorge. Well, accidents 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:52.200 do happen. It was no accident. The real estate 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:55.259 man didn't tell you the whole story. Mrs. Putnam 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:57.940 lived long enough to tell just what had happened. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:01.720 You can ask Sheriff. The Putnams didn't go off 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:04.519 the bridge by accident. They were driven off 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:08.879 it. Forced to swerve off it by an oncoming car. 00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:13.899 A car driven by a skeleton. Good heavens! That's 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:17.960 what I wanted to say. And now you know. Good 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:21.639 day. Well, what kind of a put -on is this? She's 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:24.259 trying to scare us out of here. I'm trying to 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:26.500 save your lives. You were trying to get back 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:28.720 into this house. That's what you're doing. Just 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.559 the way you moved back after the Putlins got 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.259 killed and lived here a full three years until 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:37.600 now. I have some respect. Respect? No way. She 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:39.860 may be old, but she's as shrewd as they come. 00:09:40.250 --> 00:09:42.909 She frightens you off then moves back in again 00:09:42.909 --> 00:09:45.750 and stays until some other sucker... I warned 00:09:45.750 --> 00:09:48.830 you... Just let us know when your husband's ghost 00:09:48.830 --> 00:09:53.590 shows up again. It did. What? Last night. Oh 00:09:53.590 --> 00:09:56.610 man, this is the neatest rip -off. Shut up, Rory. 00:09:56.690 --> 00:10:00.970 Would you... Your husband's ghost? Last night? 00:10:01.070 --> 00:10:04.850 Yes. And he used the same words, Jessica, I promise 00:10:04.850 --> 00:10:08.470 you'll live in Gormley Lodge again. Oh, I beg 00:10:08.470 --> 00:10:11.809 you, listen to me. The partners wouldn't and 00:10:11.809 --> 00:10:14.429 went to their death. Oh, Mrs. Gormley, you're 00:10:14.429 --> 00:10:17.590 really out of sight. You know... You! So smart, 00:10:17.669 --> 00:10:20.909 you're so sure of yourself. You think he isn't 00:10:20.909 --> 00:10:23.929 watching and listening, my husband? You think 00:10:23.929 --> 00:10:27.169 he doesn't know how you insulted me? Do you think 00:10:27.169 --> 00:10:31.929 he'll not repay you all yet? If people are to 00:10:31.929 --> 00:10:35.950 die this time, too, you will be the first. Now, 00:10:35.950 --> 00:10:42.940 do you want? Jason, wheel me back. Be warned. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.139 Rory, you shouldn't have talked to Mrs. Gormley 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:55.720 like that. You didn't spring for that crazy story, 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:01.539 did you? I don't know. I wonder. What, Liz? May 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:04.659 I call the sheriff? Find out if Mrs. Gormley's 00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:07.440 telling the truth. Oh, come on, Liz. I look like 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:10.600 a fool. Anyhow, I've got to finish this paint 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:17.440 job. Liz, you're not... I must find out. Suit 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:27.279 yourself. You always do. Sheriff Harper speaking. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.799 Oh, Sheriff. This is Elizabeth Stout calling. 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:39.039 We're the new owners of Bromley House. from Mrs. 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:44.620 Gormley. Oh? What do you mean, oh? Oh, nothing, 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:48.740 Mrs. Stout, only she can be a little hard to 00:11:48.740 --> 00:11:51.580 take. We're getting on in years. Yes, well, what 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:54.340 I wanted to ask you, of course, you remember 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:56.600 the accident to the Putnam's three years ago, 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.320 crashing off the bridge over Gormley Gorge. Yes, 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:01.860 yes, I remember. Well, according to Mrs. Gormley, 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:05.440 Mrs. Putnam lived long enough to tell you what 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:11.759 had caused the accident. Is that so? Yes, it 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:16.139 is. And what did she tell you? Well now, Mrs. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:20.700 Stout, she was near death. Maybe out of her head 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:23.820 was Spain and China. What did she tell you, Sheriff? 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:28.559 Did she tell you that they had been forced to 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.980 swerve off the bridge because of another car 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:34.419 that came straight at them? A car with a skeleton 00:12:34.419 --> 00:13:03.519 driving it? Now look, just, just, just get off 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:06.799 it, Liz. We put our life savings every cent we've 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.639 got in this place, and I'm not leaving ghost 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:12.019 or no ghost. Well, speaking of leaving, I'd better 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:14.440 get on down in the Manitou and pick up the Dunkins 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:16.559 at the airport. Well, it's a bit early, isn't 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:19.419 it? Or have you got some cute chick in town that 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:21.919 you'd like to spend an hour or so with? Mal, 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:40.919 you put me away. Don't give me any... Mr. Duncan? 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:44.000 It's frightfully steep and curvy. Don't push 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.399 the panic button, Mrs. Duncan. I'll get you to 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:50.440 the top of Manitou Mountain safe enough. You'll 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:52.779 be enjoying a hot toddy in front of the fireplace 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:58.220 at Gormley Lodge before you know it. Maybe you 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:01.559 better slow down a little. It's okay. That was 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:05.360 just a patch of loose shale. You want you to 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:08.200 ski here, Mr. Duncan? Oh, I do okay. My wife 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:11.080 will need some lessons, though. I, uh, take it 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:15.500 Gormley Lodge has a pro. Oh, the best! Me! Well, 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:19.600 fine, fine. Say, this road is steep and curvy. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:22.980 Must be pretty spectacular. Views, I mean, in 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:25.600 the daytime. Spectacular enough right now, what 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:27.940 I can see in the headlights. We've got some views, 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:30.600 all right. There's one, it's real cool. From 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:35.419 the bridge, over Gormley Gorge. Steep? 800 feet, 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:40.279 straight down. There isn't a moon tonight. I'd 00:14:40.279 --> 00:15:17.690 stop on the bridge and let you have a look you've 00:15:17.690 --> 00:15:21.389 seen one now I don't know about you but I'd like 00:15:21.389 --> 00:15:26.309 to take a break to well steady my nerves I'll 00:15:26.309 --> 00:15:29.350 be back shortly with act two if you have the 00:15:29.350 --> 00:15:50.340 nerve to return is only a word. I could employ 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:52.840 all the art at my command, my voice, the words 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:56.179 I choose to convey to you the full impact of 00:15:56.179 --> 00:16:00.340 terror. Yet, I know I should fail, even as Michael 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:03.419 Duncan fails now in telling his story to Sheriff 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:06.340 Harper on the bridge over Gormley Gorge the next 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:10.200 morning. Terror? You say you experience terror? 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:21.559 What is it? Would it be much longer before they 00:16:21.559 --> 00:17:00.000 get the bodies up? Hard to say. business for 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:03.279 good. Not that it ever got started. Oh, wait 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.920 a few minutes and I'll ride back up with you. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:07.839 Nothing I can do either till they recover Jill's 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:11.000 body. Oh, yes there is, Mr. Duncan. You can give 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.799 me a full account. Oh, Sheriff, I told you all 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:16.319 I know. We were driving across this bridge when 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.819 we saw this other car coming straight at us. 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:21.759 Stout's brother -in -law was driving. He swerved 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.380 to avoid the oncoming car and went through the 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:27.519 guardrail. In the split second between swerving 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:30.049 and going through the rail, I... left clear and 00:17:30.049 --> 00:17:34.230 saved myself. I wish I could say the same for 00:17:34.230 --> 00:17:38.549 that boy and Jill, my wife. About the skeleton 00:17:38.549 --> 00:17:41.109 at the wheel of the other car... Why do you keep 00:17:41.109 --> 00:17:43.849 harping on that? Because it's something to harp 00:17:43.849 --> 00:17:48.150 on. If you saw a skeleton driving that car... 00:17:48.150 --> 00:17:52.410 I didn't. You said... I know what I said, but 00:17:52.410 --> 00:17:55.210 I've got to be wrong. I couldn't have seen what 00:17:55.210 --> 00:18:00.559 I thought I did. I don't believe in ghosts. Take 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:04.960 it easy, Mr. Duncan. All I'm after is a complete 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:08.140 report. The fact. All you're after is the publicity 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:09.839 you're gonna get out of this. Put you on the 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.079 map, won't it, Sheriff? Why, you might even get 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:45.240 a job in orderly - Oh, yes, of course. I'm... 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.059 I'm surprised to see that you're not in a wheelchair. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.920 Well, it depends on how bad my arthritis kicks 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:54.480 up. Sometimes I can walk with a cane, like now. 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:59.440 I see. Is your husband home? No. He's down at 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.680 the bridge with Mr. Duncan. Oh, the fella whose 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:07.180 wife got killed, huh? Yes. Well, I'm sorry about 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:10.980 that. Sorry about your brother, too. Even though 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:14.119 he asked for it. What is this going on? Your 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:17.319 brother's dead because he wouldn't listen. He 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:21.180 wouldn't heed my warning. Now you listen, child. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.920 You heed my warning. Make your husband listen 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:29.599 and take warning too. You leave this place. Leave 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:33.660 it today. Don't think I wouldn't. We wouldn't 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:39.420 if we could. We can't. Oh, our savings are tied 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:44.519 up. Oh, listen to me, listen! My dead husband 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:48.319 came to me again last night, and he promised 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:53.480 me again I'd return to this house. You love this 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:57.720 old house, don't you? Well, it was my life. You're 00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:02.460 a woman, you understand how that is. Yes, I came 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:07.539 here a bride 40 years ago, Jason Senior, that 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:10.460 is. He was just starting his career as a painter. 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:15.019 Jason, my son, was born here. It was another 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:20.559 child of a little girl. She died here. Now, this 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:24.140 house isn't made of wood and stone. I'm sorry. 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:30.519 I'm so sorry. Oh. Oh, I think they've come back. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:36.599 Yes. My husband and Mr. Duncan are back. I'll 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:39.500 go then. Mrs. Gromley, I'm going to put some 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:45.039 coffee on. You stay. I'll have a cup. No. I can't 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:49.019 bear to go on looking at people who I know are 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:52.480 going to die. What's this? Die? Who's going to 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:56.640 die now? You are, Mr. Stout. You and your wife. 00:20:57.059 --> 00:21:00.799 If you don't heed my warning and leave as soon 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.960 as possible. Now what's all this, Stout? Who 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:05.839 is this woman? Jessica Gormley, Houston, this 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:08.180 place. Oh, the woman you told me about. The one 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:10.539 who claims her husband's ghost visits her. I 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:13.640 don't just claim it, it's true. Who are you? 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:17.079 My name's Michael Duncan. Ah, yes, yes. The one 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:20.059 whose wife went to her death in the gorge last 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:24.359 night. Well, you take my advice too. You leave 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:28.579 here, leave as fast as you can. How about a drink, 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:32.420 Stout? Oh, so you too won't listen. The ghost 00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:36.539 driver killed your... and yet you won't listen. 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:42.160 Let me warn you once and for all. Who's that? 00:22:31.789 --> 00:22:34.450 For someone I haven't even met. It's Mike Duncan. 00:22:34.630 --> 00:23:09.450 He and his wife are to be my first guests. for 00:23:09.450 --> 00:23:14.029 years ever since my father died and I always 00:23:14.029 --> 00:23:18.450 win or lose depending on how you look out and 00:23:18.450 --> 00:23:21.309 how do you look at it Jason I give it to you 00:23:21.309 --> 00:23:25.849 straight mr. stuff I want to lose for years now 00:23:25.849 --> 00:23:30.490 I picked up the gun like this oh no not every 00:23:30.490 --> 00:23:52.240 day maybe once a week once every other week I 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.619 deliberately fired that bullet I had in this 00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:59.119 gun was to find out if the thing was a dud. It 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:04.880 wasn't. Too bad. May I shake your hand, Mr. Duncan? 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:07.839 You're the first man I've ever met who says what 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:10.539 he thinks. You want to kill yourself, go ahead. 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:16.619 I like you. You do speak your mind. And now, 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:18.960 gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:34.380 back to this painting of mine. crashing through 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:37.940 the bridge, the oncoming ghost car with the skeleton 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:42.720 at the wheel, all in flaming color. I knock out 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.099 one an hour, I slap a frame on it, and I sell 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:48.700 it in Manitou for 20 bucks. So excuse me, will 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:52.380 you? Business is gonna pick up, thanks to last 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:55.980 night, and I wanna be ready to supply the demand. 00:25:17.329 --> 00:25:20.569 Funny But that isn't what I'm thinking about 00:25:20.569 --> 00:25:23.950 you're thinking about your brother and my wife 00:25:23.950 --> 00:25:26.609 Lying in their coffins of the undertakers in 00:25:26.609 --> 00:25:31.769 Manitou Yes So that even a small village like 00:25:31.769 --> 00:25:36.650 Manitou has an undertaker birth death Texas the 00:25:36.650 --> 00:25:48.210 only sureties in life, Mr. Stapp He told me about 00:25:48.210 --> 00:25:51.089 everything. About what getting this ski resort 00:25:51.089 --> 00:25:53.769 means to you. Your life savings invested all 00:25:53.769 --> 00:25:58.349 that. All down the drain, I'm afraid. The publicity? 00:25:58.710 --> 00:26:03.349 What else? Every reservation's cancelled. Well, 00:26:03.490 --> 00:26:07.049 except one. But that'll come in due. It has, 00:26:07.309 --> 00:26:11.109 Liz. There it is. Please cancel my reservation 00:26:11.109 --> 00:26:14.829 for next week, Frank Norton. As a family of four. 00:26:15.190 --> 00:26:37.920 Telegram phoned in from Aspen. the train because 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:40.599 somebody's playing a trick on you a murderous 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:42.460 trick do you think it's a trick what else could 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:46.680 it be a skeleton driving a ghost car what else 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:50.920 but a trick well what else you were in that car 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:54.519 last night you saw and it was a skeleton behind 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:57.019 the wheel of the oncoming car you told the sheriff 00:26:57.019 --> 00:27:00.599 that you can still say that it was a trick yes 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:04.579 what kind of trick damn it mike you admit you 00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:07.569 saw a skeleton driving a car but you can still 00:27:07.569 --> 00:27:11.930 call it a trick? See, I see you don't answer. 00:27:12.049 --> 00:27:14.930 Look, Mel, I'm a practical man, a businessman. 00:27:15.670 --> 00:27:18.269 You think being a businessman is simple? No, 00:27:18.750 --> 00:27:21.069 no. I've had troubles that would make yours look 00:27:21.069 --> 00:27:24.410 like nothing. Today you won't find anybody more 00:27:24.410 --> 00:27:27.190 successful than me. But I've been bankrupt twice, 00:27:27.490 --> 00:28:18.160 yes, and paid off every cent. We'll do it. a 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:22.339 ski resort. And if you ask me, it's the Gormley's. 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:25.480 One or the other, or both, is behind all this. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:28.500 Or that sheriff down in Manitou. The sheriff? 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.180 Oh, Mike, you don't really think that the sheriff... 00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:33.619 I don't know what to think, Liz. All I know is 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:36.160 that somebody's behind this, and those are the 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:39.299 three likeliest suspects. Look, I'm no Sherlock 00:28:39.299 --> 00:30:00.509 Holmes, but... Stout, would you accept Mike Duncan's 00:30:00.509 --> 00:30:03.890 challenge? If you were Liz Stout would you let 00:30:03.890 --> 00:30:07.650 your husband accept it? It can mean his death, 00:30:07.990 --> 00:30:13.349 you know. What exactly would you do? I'll be 00:30:13.349 --> 00:30:30.839 back shortly. driving the twisting precipitous 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:35.019 mountain road that leads to Gormley Lodge. One, 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:38.380 Mike Duncan, believes that the ghost driver they 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:42.059 hope to meet is nothing but a trick. Mel Stout, 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:46.440 his life savings, every penny at stake, has had 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:51.339 no choice but to go along. Mike, I'm bushed. 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:55.000 Let's make this the last trip. We're gonna drive 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:58.160 up and down this road till dawn. Yes, and night 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:04.000 after night. This is the sixth time we've been 00:31:04.000 --> 00:34:25.650 up and down this mountain road. Rory driving 00:34:25.650 --> 00:34:28.489 the other car. It's impossible. Rory's dead. 00:34:28.989 --> 00:34:31.809 We're burying him tomorrow. Rory's dead, that's 00:34:31.809 --> 00:34:35.869 for sure. But it was Rory driving that car. That's 00:34:35.869 --> 00:34:43.369 for sure too. Then ghosts do exist? Now? That's 00:34:43.369 --> 00:34:47.409 right. After the funeral tomorrow. Let's get 00:34:47.409 --> 00:34:51.849 out of here. Let's go away from this place as 00:34:51.849 --> 00:35:12.530 fast as we can. about every penny I had. Would 00:35:12.530 --> 00:35:16.309 a loan help? You'd be willing to? Well, sure. 00:35:17.349 --> 00:35:21.030 I like you two, and well, the way things turned 00:35:21.030 --> 00:35:23.550 out, we've gotten to know each other real fast, 00:35:23.869 --> 00:35:26.849 actively friends. So, well, if you can use a 00:35:26.849 --> 00:35:28.949 loan. That's generous of you, Mike. It is, it 00:35:28.949 --> 00:35:31.409 is generous of you, Mike, and I appreciate it, 00:35:31.409 --> 00:36:14.500 but... I feel that I saw somewhere but didn't 00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:17.079 pay much attention to at the time. Well, what 00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:19.340 about it? This something. It's just something 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:22.079 as bothering me as all. Something that just could 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:26.179 give me the answer to all of this. Well, good 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:29.139 luck. You deserve it. Oh, there's the taxi that's 00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:31.340 going to take me to the airport. Goodbye, Liz. 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:46.800 Goodbye, Mike. Goodbye, Mike. Mel, you better 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:52.019 know it now. No matter what you intend to do, 00:36:53.039 --> 00:37:02.599 I won't be staying. Mel, we've got to face the 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:06.000 facts. Buying this place was a big mistake. I 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:09.139 admit it now. But there's no sense in crying 00:37:09.139 --> 00:37:14.019 over spilt milk. What's done is done. So, darling, 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:17.809 let's just... on it, walk away from it, and start 00:37:17.809 --> 00:37:20.590 again. Start what again? The treadmill of office 00:37:20.590 --> 00:37:24.090 work? The dreary day -to -day monotony of auditing 00:37:24.090 --> 00:37:26.929 accounts, toting up figures? I can't bear to 00:37:26.929 --> 00:37:29.389 go back to that kind of life. I have got to make 00:37:29.389 --> 00:37:31.610 a cool of this. I don't have any other choice. 00:37:31.630 --> 00:37:35.409 But is it worth your life? Ghost or no ghost, 00:37:35.409 --> 00:37:38.269 Mel, it's killed four people. It would have been 00:37:38.269 --> 00:37:40.489 six of you and Mike Duncan hadn't been lucky 00:37:40.489 --> 00:37:44.500 enough to hit that stanchion. if you insist on 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:47.059 driving that road again tonight. Six? How do 00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:50.280 you make it six? You don't think I'm gonna let 00:37:50.280 --> 00:37:52.300 you do it alone, do you? But at the funeral, 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:56.079 you said that you weren't even gonna stay. Because 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:59.300 I hope that would change your mind, but it hasn't. 00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:11.019 So you see, I have no choice either. It's just 00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:14.039 like last night with Mike. top of the mountain, 00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:17.360 down a man or two, then back up again and again 00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:20.199 and no sign of him. But he did show, finally. 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:23.099 And Mike lost his nerve, swerved aside at the 00:38:23.099 --> 00:38:26.860 last second. Let's hope I don't lose mine. Will 00:38:26.860 --> 00:38:30.699 it matter? What do you mean? If you lose your 00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:33.639 nerve, we'll go off the bridge. If you don't, 00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:37.280 and the ghost car isn't a ghost car, we'll be 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:39.420 killed in the crash. If there is a crash, but 00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:44.360 there won't be. I'm awfully sure of that. I am. 00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:46.940 Remember at the cemetery I told Mike there was 00:38:46.940 --> 00:38:49.219 something I had seen but hadn't paid any attention 00:38:49.219 --> 00:38:51.780 to? Yes. And if I could only remember what it 00:38:51.780 --> 00:38:53.679 was, I'd have the answer to all of this? Yes. 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:56.579 Well, it's come to me. Climbing up and down the 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:59.079 mountain tonight, it suddenly came to me. See, 00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:01.300 it wasn't something I'd seen, it was something 00:39:01.300 --> 00:39:04.300 I'd heard and paid no attention to. Something 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:07.500 I knew but didn't realize what it meant. And 00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:14.130 if I'm right, Liz, if I'm right... Did you remember? 00:39:14.250 --> 00:39:16.010 We're on the bridge now, let me concentrate on 00:39:16.010 --> 00:39:54.699 driving. I know you would. How? How did you know? 00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:57.019 Later Liz. Right now we better get up to the 00:39:57.019 --> 00:40:11.260 lodge and phone the sheriff. Oh. Oh. Come in 00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:18.579 Mrs. Gormley. Mel? Mrs. Gormley's here. Please, 00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:22.099 won't you sit? Sit down. Yeah, thank you. Hello, 00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:27.239 Mrs. Gormley. I'm sorry about last night. I'm 00:40:27.239 --> 00:40:30.880 not. Mrs. Gormley, Jason was your son. Oh, he 00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:35.159 was the torment of my life every day I lived. 00:40:36.139 --> 00:40:40.340 Of course, I'm sorry he's dead, but I can only 00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:44.139 be glad it's over for me. Did you know that your 00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:48.960 son was the ghost driver? Twice. But I was never 00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:52.960 sure. You see, it was Jason who wanted to go 00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:55.639 on living here in this house far more than I 00:40:55.639 --> 00:40:59.320 did. Oh, you can understand. He was born here. 00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:02.699 He grew up here. Started this painting career 00:41:02.699 --> 00:41:07.340 here in a fine, big studio upstairs. Tragic. 00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:11.420 Just tragic. Even more tragic if it hadn't been 00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:15.889 for you. How did you come to know? What made 00:41:15.889 --> 00:41:19.849 you realize that my son was the ghost driver? 00:41:21.030 --> 00:41:27.230 A gunshot. A gunshot? The shot he fired to see 00:41:27.230 --> 00:41:29.809 whether the bullet he used for playing Russian 00:41:29.809 --> 00:41:33.789 roulette was live or not. I don't talk to you. 00:41:34.070 --> 00:41:37.289 You see, something kept bugging me, Mrs. Gormy, 00:41:37.309 --> 00:41:40.269 but I couldn't nail it down because I kept thinking 00:41:40.269 --> 00:41:43.260 it was something that I'd seen. But then suddenly 00:41:43.260 --> 00:41:46.739 I realized it wasn't something I'd seen, but 00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:51.500 something I'd heard. That gunshot. It got me 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:53.980 to thinking about Jason playing Russian Roulette, 00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.820 playing with life and death. And that got me 00:41:56.820 --> 00:42:00.000 to thinking a step further. Sure, Russian Roulette, 00:42:00.139 --> 00:42:02.880 only a fool or a would -be suicide would play 00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:06.559 it. But the fact remains that the odds are in 00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:09.639 his favor. Every time Jason spun the barrel of 00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:12.690 that gun and pulled the trigger, Chances were 00:42:12.690 --> 00:42:16.550 five to one against firing the bullet. But what 00:42:16.550 --> 00:42:19.769 was the connection between that and the ghost 00:42:19.769 --> 00:42:22.710 driver? Driving a car straight at another car 00:42:22.710 --> 00:42:25.889 is just another form of Russian roulette. Ah, 00:42:25.889 --> 00:42:30.250 yes, I see. Well, Sheriff Harper came to see 00:42:30.250 --> 00:42:35.590 me, and he said Jason was wearing a mask, a paper 00:42:35.590 --> 00:42:39.070 mache mask of your brother's face. Yes, and it 00:42:39.070 --> 00:42:42.289 wasn't a very good likeness of my brother. But 00:42:42.289 --> 00:42:45.250 it didn't have to be. It looked enough like him 00:42:45.250 --> 00:42:47.869 to fool you when you saw it under those awful 00:42:47.869 --> 00:42:52.070 conditions. The night and the headlights and 00:42:52.070 --> 00:42:55.610 the car coming straight at you. Fear did the 00:42:55.610 --> 00:42:58.250 rest. There must be another mask with skeleton 00:42:58.250 --> 00:43:01.750 face. Oh, there is. We searched the studio and 00:43:01.750 --> 00:43:06.150 we found it, Sheriff Harper and me. Yeah, well, 00:43:06.550 --> 00:43:12.230 it's all over. Jason's at peace at last. God 00:43:12.230 --> 00:43:19.630 knows I soon shall be. Well, good day. It's funny, 00:43:20.210 --> 00:43:23.690 though. What, Mrs. Gormley? Well, we've searched 00:43:23.690 --> 00:43:27.070 and we've searched, but we couldn't find a mask 00:43:27.070 --> 00:43:30.449 of my husband's face. What made you think there 00:43:30.449 --> 00:43:34.889 was one? Well, you see, when I heard about the 00:43:34.889 --> 00:43:38.530 masks, I thought it must have been Jason who 00:43:38.530 --> 00:43:42.739 came and... stood at the foot of my bed, not 00:43:42.739 --> 00:43:49.920 my husband's ghost. But if it wasn't Jason, who 00:43:49.920 --> 00:44:02.440 was it? What was it? An interesting question. 00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:08.480 What was it indeed? Makes you wonder, does the 00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:13.750 spirit live on? Are there such things as ghosts? 00:44:14.789 --> 00:44:29.989 Think about it. I'll be back shortly. I think 00:44:29.989 --> 00:44:32.989 you'll be glad to know that Mel and Liz made 00:44:32.989 --> 00:44:36.230 a go of Gaumbly Lodge and are today the owners 00:44:36.230 --> 00:44:40.309 of a successful ski resort. Old Mrs. Gormley 00:44:40.309 --> 00:44:43.989 passed on a few years ago. When the guest cottage 00:44:43.989 --> 00:44:47.349 was renovated, a really thorough search was made 00:44:47.349 --> 00:44:51.050 for that mask of Jason Senior's face. But no 00:44:51.050 --> 00:44:57.809 sign of it was ever found. Curious. Very. Our 00:44:57.809 --> 00:45:01.070 cast included Augusta Dabney, Mason Adams, Mary 00:45:01.070 --> 00:45:04.510 Jane Higby, Norman Rose, Nick Pryor, and Leon 00:45:04.510 --> 00:45:07.820 Gianni. The entire production was under the direction 00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:13.159 of Hyman Brown. And now, a preview of our next 00:45:13.159 --> 00:45:20.239 tale. As we moved into that parlor, I was super 00:45:20.239 --> 00:45:22.639 -conscious of my host's reaction to the parcel 00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:26.619 he bore in his hands. Although there was no superscription 00:45:26.619 --> 00:45:30.079 from the sender, I had an infallible feeling 00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:34.219 that he sensed exactly where it had come from. 00:45:35.079 --> 00:45:38.960 that somehow I was accidentally part of a climax 00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:44.440 in the life of this strange and vital man. We've 00:45:44.440 --> 00:45:47.739 talked about my trophies, Monsieur Donné. Yes. 00:45:48.340 --> 00:45:51.820 The ones I've mounted, the others too clumsy 00:45:51.820 --> 00:45:55.880 and large to render that way. Yes. And the third 00:45:55.880 --> 00:45:59.360 so far I've had no right, no courage to mount. 00:46:00.199 --> 00:46:03.340 What are you saying, Sir John? There is no reason 00:46:03.340 --> 00:46:06.409 for my receiving this parcel. that I can conceive 00:46:06.409 --> 00:46:11.070 except one. That I've found no refuge here. I've 00:46:11.070 --> 00:46:14.090 been betrayed. This is E .G. Marshall inviting 00:46:14.090 --> 00:46:17.190 you to return to our Mystery Theater for another 00:46:17.190 --> 00:46:23.510 adventure in the Macabre. Until next time, pleasant 00:46:23.510 --> 00:46:24.610 dreams.