Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Welcome
again through the creaking door. The sound which
always signifies the beginning of another tale
of danger and suspense. Being in the mystery
business, our fables often deal with crime and
criminals. This time, it's a thief. But a thief
with a very definite difference For Ruth Moody
is a young lady who walks into department stores
and simply helps herself Simply because she can't
help herself Yes You've heard of her peculiar
ailment. It's called kleptomania the neurotic
impulse to steal But kleptomania isn't the only
trouble in store for Ruth. I had a proposition
for you. Mrs. Moody How would you like to make
a thousand bucks? A thousand dollars? How? Well,
you do like I said, you're gonna get a thousand
bucks in the mail. But if you don't, well, your
husband may not be able to make a living anymore.
Do I get what I mean? No. I don't know what you're
talking about. I'm talking about stealing stuff,
Mrs. Moody. About that bad habit of yours. Now
we got a use for that habit. And you better listen
to what we have in mind. Our mystery drama, The
Trouble with Ruth, was written especially for
the Mystery Theater by Henry Slesser and stars
Marion Sodas. I'll be back shortly with Act One.
We're in Barnett's department store in the downtown
shopping district. And if it looks and sounds
like a battlefield this morning, it's no different
from any other Saturday. Well, maybe a little
more so since Barnett is running its semi -annual
clearance sale Just as it does every other month
It's the ideal place and time for bargain hunters
and unfortunately for shoplifters Pardon me miss
Yes, would you mind coming with me just for a
moment, please? What for? Our assistant manager
Mr. Hutchins would like a word with you I don't
know, Mr. Hutchins. Why should you want to talk
to me? No, please don't make any trouble. I could
call the guard and have you escorted upstairs.
You wouldn't want me to do that now, would you,
God? Why? What have I done? I think you know
exactly what you've done now. Would you, uh,
please come with me quietly? Right in here, please.
It's a mistake. I did take the scarf, but I was
gonna pay for it. Here's the lady, Mr. Hutchins.
All right, Bill, thanks. You, uh, want me to
stick around? No, no, no, no, it's all right.
Okay, then I'll get back on the floor. It's murder
down there. More larceny than murder, I'd say.
All right. Please, uh, sit down. Mr. Hutchins,
I -I know it looks like I took the scarf deliberately,
but really, I didn't... You were going to pay
for it at another counter. That the idea? No,
I... I wanted to match the color with the purses,
and that's why I put the scarf in my bag. I wanted
to go over to the handbag store. Would you mind
telling me your name? I'm not a shoplifter, so
help me, I'm nothing. My name is Ruth Martin.
Is it Mrs. Martin? Look at me. Can't you tell
I'm not a thief? I don't even know why I took
this scarf. It's just a cheap little thing. It's
not at all like the clothes I wear. Look at me.
Can't you tell? Would you wait just one moment,
Mrs. Martin? What's that you've got? Oh, it's
just a little handbook we keep, sort of a private
record book. You see, most of the retailers in
this city cooperate in these matters, supplying
each other with the names of known kleptomaniacs.
I'm sure you've heard that word before. I am
not a thief. Well, that's what I'm trying to
determine, Mrs. Martin, since there is a significant
difference between shoplifters and kleptos. The
difference, of course, being our ability to prosecute
since one steals for gain and one because, well,
because she can't help it. No, I'm afraid I don't
see any Ruth Martin in the book. All right. It's
Moody. Pardon? My real name is Mrs. Ruth Moody.
I didn't want to give you my real name. I didn't
want my husband to know about this. Here it is.
Ferraros. Three spools of thread. Pearl buttons
from Wilkinson Smith. Oh, the last time it was
a handbag. Awful, ugly, beaded thing. It wasn't
even worth more than five or six dollars. Are
you going to call my husband? Is that what happens
at these other places? Yes. Oh, it was awful.
Please. I have the money to pay for the scarf.
I'll gladly pay you twice what it was worth.
Please don't let him know it happened again.
Don't you think it's best we know? Maybe he'll
try to help you out of trouble. Don't make me
beg you. My husband has a job in the city government,
a very important job. Mrs. Moody, I'm not interested
in causing you any trouble, believe me. Look,
here, take this scarf back. Well, what's this?
Uh, nothing. Some costume jewelry that I saw
in another... Oh, Mrs. Moody. You didn't buy
this any more than you bought the scarf. It still
has the price tag on it. A dollar ninety -five.
That's what makes it so unbelievable, Ruth. A
dollar ninety -five rhinestone pin. I don't know
why I took it, Ralph. Any more than I know what
drove me to pick up that awful scarf and just
drop it in my bag. Just like those other times.
Yes, but you swore to me that those other times
would never be repeated. Well, I thought it was
over. I really did. I don't understand what goes
on in your mind when you do these crazy things.
I don't know. It was just an impulse. It seems
so terribly easy that things are just sitting
out in the open the way they are and I... I never
even stop to think if I like it. Just if I can
get away with it. But you never do. You get caught.
Maybe... Maybe that's part of the sickness, too.
Stop saying I'm sick. I'm not. I'm not. So what
would you call it? Look, honey, you've got to
see a doctor. I've told you that a thousand times.
I will not go to a doctor. I can't stand the
idea of it, Ralph. Just talk to one. Give them
a chance. Maybe it's something simple. Maybe
you're just trying to get punished because of
guilt feelings that you can't resolve. You're
wrong about wanting to get caught. I don't. I
swear I don't. I've gotten away with a dozen
things. What? What was that? Nothing. I don't
want to talk about it anymore. And it isn't just
three, four times that this has been going on.
You're probably out there shoplifting every single
day. It's not true. I almost never go into the
stores for exactly that reason. All right, Ruth.
That settles it. You are going to talk to a doctor.
Then you do remember the first time you stole
mrs. Moody. Yes, I remember very well, but But
it was something I really wanted then dr. Berger.
That was the big difference hmm How old were
you I? Was about eight or nine I was in school
There was a girl named Fanny Ritter Her family
was very wealthy. She was always the best dressed
girl in the class. She had this pencil box. It
was absolutely beautiful. With a blue binding
and all sorts of secret compartments. I wanted
that pencil box so much. And one day I walked
into an empty classroom and there it was. Lying
on the seat. Were you caught? No. I was never
caught. That was the biggest thrill of all. Not
being caught. But then I... I also realized I
couldn't use the pencil box. At least not at
school. Yes, I see. All kids steal sometimes.
There's nothing abnormal about it. But you're
not a child now, are you? And yet... You still
crave this secret feeling, this secret gratification.
No! You're wrong. I don't get any pleasure out
of taking things. I feel terrible afterwards
every single time. Well, but that may be exactly
the gratification you require. I don't want to
hear anymore. You sound just like my husband.
Believe me, Mrs. Moody. Neither your husband
nor I want to find fault with you. We both want
to help you. Well, it's his job my husband is
worried about, not me. Why do you say that? Because
he works for the city government in the controller's
office. He's afraid if they ever found out about
me that he... Why am I talking about Ralph that
way? I know he loves me. I know he wants to help
me. Yes. So why don't you let him try? Let both
of us try. No, I don't need a doctor. All I need
is to stay out of department stores. Who is it?
All right, all right. Mrs. Moody? Yes? Hi, Mrs.
Moody. You don't know me, but my name is Tom
Andrea. There's something I have to talk to you
about. I know exactly what it is. Encyclopedias.
Or is it magazine subscriptions? No, ma 'am.
It's nothing like that. Well, whatever it is,
I'm not interested. It's about department stores.
What? You know, stores where people buy things
and take things, too, sometimes. Are you from
Barnett? No, Mrs. Moody, I don't work for Barnett's
or for Wilkins and Smith or any of those places
that you like to, uh, shop in. Look, it's pretty
drafty out here. Can I come in for a minute?
All right. Thank you. Ah, your husband's not
home, I suppose. I mean, it's a working day,
so he's at work, right? Oh, that's clever thinking.
Can we talk in here? Only if you get right to
the point. Well, now look, this ain't the kind
of thing you like to just blur it out. I mean,
I mean, it's kind of sensitive, you know what
I mean? No, I don't. I mean, it's about you and
your husband and so forth. If you think about
it for a while, you'll get my meaning. Am I right?
You'll have to be more specific. Well, you just
won't come out with it yourself, huh? Okay, I'll
say it for you. I'm talking about you being a
shoplifter. That's a lie. Whoever told you that
is a liar. No, no, no, no, no. It's true. Wait
a minute. If you think you can blackmail me by
telling my husband... No, no, Mrs. Moody. We
know that your husband knows all about it. He's
been getting you out of jams for years. And what
do you want here? Well, believe it or not, I
want to give you money. I don't want to take
any from you. What for? Services rendered. What?
I got a little proposition for you, Mrs. Moody.
How would you like to make a thousand bucks?
Thousand dollars? How? Well, you do like I tell
you, you'll get a thousand bucks in the mail.
But if you don't, well, your husband may not
be able to make a living anymore. You get what
I mean? No! I don't know what you're talking
about. I'm talking about stealing stuff, Mrs.
Moody, about that bad habit of yours. Now, we
got a use for that habit. And you'd better listen
to what we have in mind. How did you know about
me? Who told you about me? Well, let's just say
I got sources. I swear to you, I'm not a thief.
Yeah, yeah, sure, I know that. We know it. We?
Well, me and my friend. We know you're just a
sick lady that you can't help what you do. It's
Well, it's just like you had pneumonia a fever.
It's not your fault. Am I right? That's right
You know, it's fine. Only your husband still
don't want the people around city hall to know
he's got a club dough for a wife Does he? Then
this is blackmail a man in his line of work.
He can't afford to have people know his wife
steals Now, some people would understand how
it's only a sickness. But others... ...wad, you
know how people are. Tell me how much money you
want. I don't want a dime from you, Mrs. Moody.
Honest, all I want is your cooperation. You see,
my friend and me, we, uh, we have a little plan.
A really, really sweet little idea. Everybody
makes money and nobody takes any chances. What
could be sweeter than that? A plan to do what,
for heaven's sake? Well, my friend will give
you all the details. All you gotta do now is
put on your coat and come with me. My friend
will give you the whole deal. I'm not coming
with you. We're not desperate for your help.
Don't get this wrong. But we thought we'd give
you a break. That's too bad. If you'd just tell
me what you have in mind. Why shoplifting, Mrs.
Moody? A little nice and easy shoplifting. Only
this time not for no $5 piece of junk. This time
for something worth more like $50 ,000. Troubles
have a way of multiplying themselves, don't they?
And as you've just heard, the trouble with Bruce
has suddenly developed serious complications.
Will Mrs. Moody's unwilling petty larceny turn
into a larceny of the grand variety? We'll find
out when we return shortly with Act Two. Mrs.
Ruth Moody, faced with the prospect of harming
her husband's career, has accepted the invitation
of the man who calls himself Tom Andrea. Although
her instincts tell her that Tom Andrea isn't
his name at all. As they drive towards their
unknown destination, she steals side -long glances
at him. Noting the copper sheen of his skin.
The look of a man who has spent far too many
hours under a sun lamp. But he also has the look
of a man who won't take no for an answer. Can't
you tell me where we're going? Relax Mrs. Moody,
it won't be long now. Who is this friend of yours
anyway? You'll meet him. He works for a department
store, doesn't he? I know they keep records of
people like... well, of kleptomania victims.
That's the only way you could have found out
about me. I just lean back and enjoy the ride,
huh? Aren't you afraid I might recognize him
if he's one of the people that I've met? Here
we are, Mrs. Moody. Told you it wasn't very far.
The Hotel Hamilton. Looks like a fire trap. Well,
it's not very fancy, but it's private. We can
all have a nice, quiet talk. Just the three of
us. One moment. That you, Tom? Yeah, it's me.
The lady with you? Yep, she's here. Just a second,
then. Don't don't be scared mrs. Moody my friend
doesn't really look like that. He's just got
a stocking over his face come in I Hope you'll
forgive the mask mrs. Moody. I know it looks
grotesque, but it's necessary For your own protection
for me. It's important that you don't recognize
me after our business is concluded it would be
embarrassing if we were to run into each other
in different circumstances. In a department store,
for instance? What my friend means, Mrs. Moody,
is that if you started hollering for the cops
when you saw him again, we would have to do something
about you. Understand? Yes, I understand. But
please don't be alarmed. Nothing like that's
going to happen. I can assure you that I am not
a professional criminal. No more than you are.
Then what kind of criminal are you? Why don't
you sit down? The sofa is the only comfortable
seat in the room. Here, let me take these papers
away. I was just drawing up a few diagrams to
help you understand exactly what you have to
do. Diagrams? Would you like some coffee? You
have a small kitchen. This pot already made.
No, no, I don't want any coffee. Tom, why don't
you do the honors? Do you drink yours black,
Mrs. Moody? I'm afraid I don't have any cream.
Oh, right. Black coffee. I see, Mrs. Moody. I
told you it was going to be very friendly. Well,
now, how much has Tom told you about our little
enterprise? He just said that if I... didn't
help you, you'd tell my husband's employers about
me. Well, I really hate for that to be the inducement,
Mrs. Moody. I was hoping that you'd cooperate
more willingly. Why should I? Didn't Tom mention
the thousand dollars? He also mentioned something
about fifty thousand dollars about shoplifting
something worth a fortune. Don't tell me you
have qualms about it. A lady with your history?
You just don't understand about me. I don't take
things because they're valuable, or even because
I want them. I'm not a thief, not in the ordinary
sense of the word. Yes, yes, we know that. And
that's exactly why we're taking you into our
little circle, Mrs. Moody, because you're a kleptomaniac,
not an ordinary thief. And that's why you can
help us commit an extraordinary crime. I don't
want to commit a crime, and I don't want your
thousand dollars. Here's your coffee, Mrs. Moody.
Let me tell you what makes it so different, Mrs.
Moody. An ordinary crime entails a certain amount
of risk. But this particular crime is guaranteed
to be risk -free. That's what people always think.
No, Mrs. Moody, even professional criminals recognize
a certain degree of chance when they plan their
enterprises. Personally, I would never get involved
in anything like that. I loathe the idea of being
arrested. Well, so do I. And I know exactly what
it feels like. Ah, but you've never been arrested,
have you? You've been detained, questioned, reprimanded,
warned. But you've never been arrested once,
isn't that true? Well, why should I be? I told
you, I'm not a criminal! No, you're not legally
liable for your little thefts, Mrs. Moody. You
steal because you have to steal, and if you're
caught, you merely give back what you've stolen,
and that's that. No arrest, no prosecution, no
risk. You beginning to see the point, Mrs. Moody?
You want me to steal something for you. That's
right. Mrs. Moody and something a great deal
more valuable than Shall we say? School of thread.
Oh dear lord Let me explain our plan in detail
at 12 15 tomorrow afternoon tomorrow at 12 15
You'll enter a shop called travel's on 47th Street
just off 5th Avenue. You may not know the place
It's a rather expensive jewelers. You will approach
a certain counter. The diagram will make it clear
which one I... Wait a minute. You're talking
as if I've already agreed to do this thing. Please
look at the diagram, Mrs. Moody. You will approach
this counter and engage the attention of the
salesman. You will ask to see a certain tray,
the one I've marked with the arrow. A moment
or two after you begin to examine that tray,
there will be a disturbance in the store. Right.
A disturbance. A disturbance will take place
on the other side of the counter. It is almost
inevitable that your salesman will have his attention
drawn away from you when it occurs. In all likelihood,
he'll leave you and go to see what has happened.
That's when you will act. You'll pick up the
diamond pin on the upper right -hand corner of
the tray and drop it into your purse. And then,
you'll simply walk. The door. You're really mad.
As you can see from the drawing, the distance
between the counter and the door is a very short
one. You can reach it within three or four seconds.
You can be sure that your salesman will be much
too occupied to notice that you have left. I
won't do any such thing. That's plain and simple
robbery. When you reach the outside, you'll see
a man with a yellow canister collecting funds
for children's welfare. The man will approach
you immediately. You will drop the diamond pin
into the opening of the canister and walk to
the corner. There will be a taxi there in all
probability. It's a hack stand. If there isn't
a taxi waiting, hail one or walk to the bus stop.
Believe me. You will have ample time to make
your getaway. There isn't going to be any getaway.
I am not going to do anything so insane. As I
said before, you'll be perfectly safe. You'll
have absolutely nothing to lose. If you're stopped
before you reach the exit, simply give yourself
up. When Travelles learns of your little, uh,
idiosyncrasy, no harm will come to you. It'll
be just another neurotic incident, nothing more.
You're wasting your breath. You'll tell them
about your problem. They'll check with other
stores and find your case history on file. No,
there's no way I'll do such a thing. Hey, what's
the matter with you, lady? Didn't you hear the
man? You can't get into trouble doing this. But
your husband will, if you don't. Let me out of
here, please. Pick someone else out of those
files. All right, Tom. If that's how Mrs. Moody
wants it. Then I can go. My door was always open,
lady. See? But if you change your mind, Mrs.
Moody, just call me here at the Hotel Hamilton.
Just ask for room 408. But if I don't hear from
you tonight, well, you know what to do. You've
sure been quiet tonight, Ruth. Have I? You, uh...
You didn't go out today, did you? No. I told
you I wasn't going anywhere. I was just wondering.
I mean, you said something about dinner tonight,
about cooking something special, and... Here
we are with last night's meatloaf. But you said
you didn't mind. Of course I don't mind. You
know I'm not fussy about food. I know. You just...
Too nice for your own good sometimes, Ralph.
And, uh, you just weren't feeling up to cooking
today, is that it? Oh, I know what you're thinking.
You think I went on another shopping spree, or
should I say shoplifting? No, Ruth. I didn't
think anything of the kind. Oh, I didn't. I swear
I didn't. Okay, okay. Ralph, can I ask you something?
Sure. What? What would happen if... If people
knew about me. What people? The people you worked
for. In the controller's office. Or, uh, the
mayor himself. What if they knew about my, uh,
illness? They'd know, that's all. Would it hurt
you? Arnie, this is silly. Nobody knows about
your problem. But you and me in a few department
stores... And Dr. Berger, of course, the doctor
you won't see anymore. But if they were to find
out, would it hurt you? Look, haven't we got
enough to worry about without thinking the worst?
Then it would be bad for you. Someone in your
position where honesty is so important. Ruth,
you're not dishonest. You're sick. There's a
tremendous difference. That's why I'm so sorry
you won't see that doctor. But would everyone
understand the difference? I mean, when they
learned about my stealing things... Would they
think twice about you? You want the truth? Yes.
Yes, they would. They're only human. No, no,
they're worse than human. They're politicians.
They have to be elected to office, and that's
exactly the kind of scandal they don't like.
Yes. I guess I've always known that was true.
Um, honey, I think I could use some more gravy.
Yes. Oh, I have some in the kitchen. I'll be
right back. Is this the Hotel Hamilton? Room
408 please. Mrs. Ruth Moody has taken the first
fatal step. And tomorrow at noon, she'll take
several more steps to the doors of Travell's
jewelry. And for the first time in her life,
Ruth will steal and know the reason why she's
stealing. Will it really make a difference? I'll
be back shortly with Act 3. the next morning,
Mrs. Ruth Moody left her apartment and took a
Fifth Avenue bus to 47th Street. None of the
other passengers saw anything unusual in her
expression. They couldn't read the turmoil of
her thoughts or the fear that haunted her eyes
behind the sunglasses she wore to hide them.
She kept telling herself that what the man in
the stocking mask said was only too true. that
no matter what happened, she couldn't be blamed
for what she was about to do. She was still telling
herself that when she pushed open the heavy glass
door of Travell's. May I help you, Maddie? Oh,
yes, please. I'm looking for a diamond pen. It's
a present for my mother. I see. Do you have any
particular kind of pen in mind? Do we have everything
from abstract designs to... the representational
pins, you know, animalists and flowers and so
forth. Maybe if I just browsed a little? Certainly.
Sees them of our selection right here, but we
do have others. Oh, yes. There's so many, aren't
there? Of course, it would help if you knew the
price range. Oh, well, the price isn't... It's
just that the pen be right. Yes, I see This tray
right here on the first shelf. Yes, that seems
to have quite a few nice pens. So bring it out
for you Actually These are some of the best stones
in our collection. You have good taste They really
do sparkle don't they? This is what I made by
a representational as you can see it's in the
shape of a Oh, well, no, no. My mother hates
cats. I think maybe just something simple. Well,
you just take your time. All right. Thank you.
What was that? Someone smashed one of my cases.
Excuse me. It's all my fault. I was holding my
umbrella under my arm and it just slipped out
and hit the glass. Ow! I've got to do it! Ow!
I really don't know how to do this. All right!
All right! I've got it! Just get back, please.
Bob, would you lend a hand over here? There's
glass all over the merchandise. I feel dreadful
about this. It's all right, sir. No harm done
to all, I assure you. I've done it. I've really
done it. Outside. Help the needy children. Help
the needy children, lady. What? Please, help
the Children's Welfare Society, lady. Oh, yes,
yes. Of course. Here. That's all I have. Thanks
very, very much, lady. Thanks a lot. Help the
needy children. Yes, I'm home. How are you, honey?
I'm all right. You sure? You don't look so good.
No, no, I'm fine, really. Would you like a drink?
Yeah, I wouldn't mind, thanks. What did you do
today? I went out for a little while. Where to?
Oh, no, in particular, I took a walk. Weather
was nice. Uh -huh. Took some things to the cleaners.
Did a little marketing. Here's your drink. Oh,
thanks. For heaven's sake, stop looking at me
like that. I can't bear the way you look at me
sometimes, Ralph. I'm sorry, Ruth. It's nothing
deliberate. Well, of course it's deliberate.
It happens all the time now. You keep staring
at me as if you're trying to read my mind. Because
if you wanted me to confess something... Now
Ruth, that isn't true. You've got to stop thinking
such things every time I look at you. What's
going to happen to us, Ralph? What kind of marriage
are we going to have from now on? Hey Ruth, we've
been married six years now. I think we know how
to live with each other. But you can't live with
this disease of mine. You can never stop suspecting
me of having stolen something again. Isn't that
what you're thinking right now? All I'm thinking
about is that you don't look well. And how disappointed
I am that you won't see Dr. Berger. I... I called
him today, by the way. What for? Well, I just
wanted to talk to him, find out if there was
anything more I could do to help you. And what
did he say? He said there might be. What do you
mean by that? I told Berger about our talk last
night about how worried you are that the people
at City Hall might find out about your illness.
He told me that was an important part of your
guilt syndrome, whatever that means. Oh, I hate
that psychiatric double talk. Just the same,
he thought you'd be a lot better off if you weren't
concerned about such things, if you were able
to admit that you were ill. I do admit it. That
doesn't mean that other people have to know about
it. Ruth. I told them. What? I told McGuire,
the controller. I took him out to lunch. I told
them all about your kleptomania. Oh, no, Ralph.
Oh, no. Look, I didn't realize that I was hiding
it too. That I wasn't treating it like an illness
either. That I was acting as if it were... Something
shameful. What did you do it for? For us, Ruth.
But now you'll lose your job. No, I'm not going
to lose my job. It's going to be all right. But
you said... No, I know all the dumb things I
said last night about how this sort of thing
can hurt a politician. Well, I was wrong. McGuire
is more of a human being than a politician. You
mean he's not going to tell anyone else? He won't
give me away? No, that's not what I meant. McGuire
suggested that we both go and talk to the mayor
himself about this. Oh, Ralph, you can't! I already
have, Ruth. What? I've seen the mayor. Do you
know what he said? He said that it wouldn't make
any difference to him this year or next year
when he recommends me for the number one job
in the controller's office. The number one? That's
right. McGuire is moving up. I'm next in line
for his job. And the mayor is behind me now,
Ruth. Do you think he'd be behind me if he really
thought my wife was a thief? Oh, dear Lord! Ruth.
What have I done? What have I done? Honey, honey,
what is it? Oh, why did I go through this? What's
the matter, Ruth? I just told you everything's
okay. No, no, no. I've ruined everything now,
Ralph. If you knew what I... horrible thing I
did today. What are you talking about? I am a
thief now. God help me Ralph. I really am a thief.
Try and stay calm, will you? Did you get a look
at the man who broke the glass with his umbrella?
Do you think that he was the same man you met
yesterday at the Hotel Hamilton? I'm sure he
was, but I told you he was wearing a stocking
mask over his face. And this other man, the one
who called himself Tom Andrea, he was the same
man who was collecting for children's welfare
outside the store. Yes. Ruth, you know there's
only one thing to do now, don't you? What do
you mean? We've got to tell the police. Oh Ralph,
no, that would be awesome. Travelles will have
discovered the theft by now. They must have your
description from the clerk sooner or later. You
might be identified. But they can't do anything
to me, Ralph. I'm not responsible. I am sick.
No, Ruth. In this case, you are responsible.
That's why we have to call the police. Mrs. Moody,
here's the typed statement you gave us. Can I
go home after I sign it? Yes, yes, of course.
But, uh, better read it over first. What happens
after that, Lieutenant Ames? That depends. On
what? Well, mostly on whether or not your wife
has told us everything. But I swear I have. I'm
not saying your story is phony, Mrs. Moody. My
own viewpoint is that it's too cock -eyed to
be phony, but that may be a subtle way of looking
at it. Why should she lie about this lieutenant?
What would my wife have to gain? Well, she could
stand to gain a diamond pin worth almost 50 ,000
baht. She doesn't have the diamond. She gave
it to them. Yes, that's a story. But let's say
for example that... Those two men never existed.
Oh, that's a horrible thing to say. I'm telling
you how other people might see this thing. If
you were a crook, and you realized that you'd
been spotted in Travell's, well, this story of
yours would put you in the clear, wouldn't it?
But it's true. Every word of it. But you see
the problem, don't you? You've been identified
as the robber. You've confessed to stealing the
pin. The fact that you're a known kleptomaniac
doesn't help. Some people might even be nasty
enough to say that you got yourself that reputation
deliberately. This is incredible. You're accusing
my wife of being a thief. Oh, what can I say
to convince you? If you could only give me a
better description of those two men. Well, I've
done the best I could. The first man, he was
of average height, dark hair, very sunburned.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You keep telling me about that
sunburn. But that's not going to last very long,
is it? Lieutenant, you think that sunburn was
a kind of disguise? I'm sure it was, Mr. Moody.
And the other man? He wore a stocking mask. There's
no way I can describe him. What about the hotel,
Lieutenant? No good. It's a kind of a dump which
doesn't even bother to keep a register, even
though it's a city ordinance. But the clerk might
be able to identify the man who took the room.
Maybe. If we could produce him. Only, uh, how
do we do that? Uh, what about the thousand dollars
they promised to send her? Oh, I wouldn't count
on that. If she's telling the truth, you'll never
hear from him again. Okay, so maybe it's a new
gimmick. Maybe one of them works in a department
store, has access to the names of recognized
kleptos. I'm sure he did work in a department
store. Yeah, and so do thousands of people, Miss
Moody. All you've got to do is name the one.
And if she can't, what happens then? I think
you know the answer to that. Will I be arrested?
But you can't arrest her. She's sick. She was
seeing a doctor. But I'm gonna see him again.
Oh, oh, so help me, Ralph. Do you really mean
that, Ruth? I'm... I'm not gonna stop seeing
Dr. Berger until I'm cured. Unless they send
me to prison first. Well, have you read the statement,
Ms. Woody? Yes. Yes, it's all right. I'm ready
to sign it. Fine. Now, let's see, uh... Thought
I had a pen on this desk. Oh, well, I think there's
one in my purse. I'll get it. Hey, it's funny
what is This isn't your pen Ruth. I don't recognize
it. Do you let me see? No, no that isn't my pen.
Oh Ruthie. No not again. You mean you stole it
mrs. Mooney I'm afraid I did I remember now When
the man was drawing the diagrams of the jewelry
store, he left his pen on the coffee table. I
just couldn't stop myself. Wait a minute. You
stole his pen, the man in the stocking mask?
Yes. Will you arrest me for that, too? Let me
see it. Miss Moody, do you realize there's a
name on this pen? It's from Barnett's department
store, and it's engraved with the name of the
owner. What? Barnets Department Store, J .M.
Hutchins. Hutchins? He's the assistant manager.
He is the one. Lieutenant, you found your man.
Well, what do you know? This is the first time
I've ever seen the proof of that old chestnut.
Old chestnut? That it takes a thief to catch
a thief. of this story might be, never steal
anything small, particularly if it's a diamond
pin worth $50 ,000. Will you be happy to know
that the police investigation proved the guilt
of Mr. J .M. Hutchins and the innocence of Mrs.
Ruth Moody? And the last we heard, the only trouble
with Ruth was going to be a little one. I'll
be back shortly. We hope you've enjoyed our story,
and we hope your reception has been as good as
the reception we've been getting at the Radio
Mystery Theater. In case you haven't heard, We're
attracting millions of listeners all over the
country. Yes, television has its rabbit ears,
but we have human ears. Thank you for lending
them to us. Our cast included Marion Seldas,
George Petrie, Jack Grimes, Jackson Beck, and
Gil Mack. The entire production was under the
direction of Hyman Brown. Radio Mystery Theatre
was sponsored in part by Sinov, the Sinus Medicines,
Buick Motor Division, and Anheuser -Busch Incorporated,
brewers of Budweiser. This is E .G. Marshall
inviting you to return to our Mystery Theatre
for another adventure in the macabre. Until next
time, pleasant dreams.