Come in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. Do come
in. Make yourself comfortable, because I'm going
to tell you... a nice quiet little ghost story.
Nothing to frighten you. Not badly, at any rate.
Nothing to make you run screaming into the street.
No, the most this ghost story can do is make
you snuggle down deeper under the covers and
reach out for a hand to hold. A hand I trust
that is firm and warm, not clammy and cold. There
is some who don't take too well to the idea of
dying. I can't say that I do myself. Well, you
look to me like one that would go quietly. Do
I really? No fuss, no bother. Take it for what
it is. The logical end to life. But those others,
look out for them. I don't think I know what
you mean. What others? The ones that don't find
death logical at all. Our mystery drama, The
Phantom Lullaby, was written especially for the
Mystery Theatre by Elspeth Erick and stars Rosemary
Murphy and Arnold Moss. It is sponsored in part
by CONTAC, the 12 -hour allergy capsule, and
Anheuser -Busch Incorporated, brewers of Budweiser.
I'll be back shortly with Act One. I myself have
never met a ghost. I don't know why. Perhaps
something in my personality puts them off. But
if ever I should, I hope you'll do something
more than moan and sigh and clank chains. What
I should really enjoy would be a nice chatty
ghost. Would sit down and talk things over. Things
like whether the life after death is really pleasanter
than the one before. And if it is, why is it?
Things like that. Things that only a ghost would
know. Ah, well. Perhaps one fine day or some
dark night, if I hold myself in readiness, my
ghost will visit me. Meantime, relax, won't you?
And listen. Hello? Intercoastal Airlines? Well,
can you tell me a flight 509 from New York is
on time? Yeah, I'll hold on. Ellen's room is
finished. Good. I've ordered new curtains. I
hope she likes her room. Oh, I'm sure she will.
I'm sure she... Uh, yes? Oh, it is? Well, good,
good. Thank you very much. Plane's on time. Well,
you'd better get started then. Yeah, yeah. Don't
be nervous. I'm not nervous. It'll only make
her nervous if you're nervous. What are you eating
in the closet for? My, my omicode. It's on the
chair. Oh. She's only been away four days. It's
not a question of how long she's been away, it's
what, what she went away for. I know that. Well
then why say a foolish thing like only four days?
Please, please, I'm nervous too. Well what do
you think you're doing now? The couch shouldn't
be here. It should be over there. That's an eight
-foot couch. Don't try to move it by yourself.
I can do it. Let me have the superintendent,
please. Emily, will you stop that? I'd help you,
but I have to get going. I don't want Ellen standing
around the airport. Hello? This is Mr. King,
Penthouse B. Yeah, we just moved in. We're not
quite settled in yet, and... I have to go to
the airport to pick up my daughter. Could you
possibly help my wife move a few pieces of furniture?
No, we want the place to look extra nice. Our
daughter's never seen it. Oh, that's great. That's
just great. Thank you. Thank you very much. He'll
be up in a couple of minutes. Howard, do you
think Ellen will like this apartment? Well, I
certainly hope so. It's costing an arm and a
leg. What with the terrace and everything? Her
own bathroom, a real dining room? Well, the idea
is to give her a change. New surroundings, blot
out. Everything that happens. As if a terrace
and her own bathroom could take her mind off
that terrible man. Well, they'll help. I'm not
saying completely, but they'll help. Give her
something to think about besides John Draper
and... And the rest of it seems strange. We never
even met him. I hope I never do meet him Well,
honey, I gotta get going don't tell Ellen about
this place. Let it be a surprise and Howard be
very You know gentle with her. Let her know.
We love her. Yeah, I don't know Well, I'm off.
Oh You're the superintendent. Yeah, I didn't
hear you knock I was just getting ready to. Well,
come in. This is my wife. She'll show you what
she wants done. Oh, and, uh, here's something
for your trouble. Oh, okay. Holly, I'll be back
in an hour. Good luck. Take care. Well, now...
You like this place? I'm sure we will like it.
We just moved in. I know. It's a nice looking
apartment with a terrace and all. First thing
I want to do is move the couch over there to
the long wall. Everybody likes this place when
they first move in. If you take one end and I
take the other... One, two, three months, then
they start getting jumpy. Jumpy? They pay up
what they owe on the lease and they move out.
I didn't know that. Oh yeah, it happens every
time. Well, let's move this thing if we're gonna...
Let me move the coffee table first. I'll do it.
How'd you happen to hear it was vacant? Well,
actually, friends of ours called us. They met
some people at a party who said they were giving
up this beautiful apartment, and we thought...
That would be the Winthrop's. Yeah, they lasted
six months. Where do you want this table? Right
where you're standing. Okay. And before them
was the Katz's, and before them the Millbrooks,
and before them the Cramer's, and before them...
Why did they all move out? What's wrong with
the place? Search me. They would never say any
of them. They just paid up and moved out. Know
what I think? What? I think the joint's haunted.
Now, where does the couch go? Enter, young lady.
Ellen. Darling, it's so good to have you back.
I'll put the suitcase in the bedroom. When you
see your bedroom, darling, make allowances for
the curtains. I had to put up your old ones,
and they're too short, but I'm expecting new
ones, maybe today. Oh, I got you a new bed. Oh,
heavens, the fuss they made about delivering
it. So, what do you think? Do you like the apartment?
It's very nice. Come, look at the view from the
terrace. Come on. You can see for miles. Isn't
that spectacular? Spectacular. Well, you can
take a good look at it later. What would you
like to do now? I don't know. Take a hot bath?
You have your own bathroom now. Really? Do I?
Or would you like to just sit and talk? All right,
if you want to. Ellen, was the operation very
bad? You mean the abortion? No. It wasn't bad
at all. I'm glad of that. I opened your suitcase
and let a little air in, huh? I didn't unpack
anything, though. I'll do it. You want to do
that now, dear? Maybe take that hot bath and
I'll start lunch and then when it's ready I'll
call you. All right. It's the door on the right.
Here, I'll show you. I'll find it. And the bathroom
opens right off of it. Howard, what's wrong with
her? I don't know, she was like that all the
way in from the airport. Like a sleepwalker.
Like a zombie. Howard? I'm making us a drink.
We need it. How is she? I guess she's all right.
Here's your drink. She's lying on the bed just...
staring at the ceiling. I spoke to her, but she
didn't answer me. So I didn't bother her. That
horrible man, he did this to her. I wish she'd
talked to me about him. But she never did say
much, except that she was seeing him a lot. Then
when she told me she was pregnant, she said he
didn't want to marry her, so she guessed she'd
have an abortion. Just like that. Things have
changed, though. Young people nowadays and the
parents nowadays. I guess so I I should have
insisted I should have put my foot down Absolutely
insisted insisted on what? But at least on meeting
the guy at least that it's not the way things
are done these days. Well, they should be Look,
do you think I ought to get in touch with him
now? No It's too late now. We can't just leave
her the way she is walking around like an automaton
Maybe he could Oh, I don't know. Maybe he could
snap her out of it or something. Maybe she'll
snap out of it by herself. If she was really
in love with him... She said she wasn't. Well,
maybe she was. Maybe she was and didn't know
it. Anyway, I think he ought to see what he's
done. What good would that do? I don't know.
I don't know. Why don't you go and see if she's
all right? I don't like to disturb her. Well,
just knock on the door and see if she answers.
All right. Well, the state she's in... Ellen?
Oui, Mama? I don't want to disturb you, dear,
but I just want to make sure everything's all
right. Tout va bien. I guess she's all right.
Anyway, she answered me. What did she say? I
couldn't make it out, but she sounded fine. That's
good. Maybe it was just shock or something before.
Probably that was it. Emily, if you get to talking
to her, if... she'll talk to you. She will. Ask
her about this man. What's his name again? John
Draper? Yeah, ask her how she feels about him.
You know, if she thinks about him, wants to call
him up or anything, you tell her that it's all
right with us. She doesn't care if it's all right
with us. Young people don't these days. They
just go ahead and do what they want to do. Do
you realize we don't know anything about this
man? What does he do for a living, if anything?
He plays the piano. I think he gives lessons.
Where does he live? Over on Market Street, I
think. Yeah, that figures. Has he got a phone?
I imagine so. I don't know. Well, if he gives
lessons, he's got to have a phone. It's got to
be in the book. I think so, anyway. Oh, here
he is. Look. John Draper, 121 Market. You're
not going to call him. No, I'm not going to call
him. I just want to know that he's alive and
breathing somewhere in this town. If Ellen isn't
better by tomorrow or the next day... How would
she will be? Go knock on her door again, will
you? What'll I say? Say anything. Say we're having
a drink out here. Why doesn't she join us? All
right, if you say so. But keep it light and,
you know, cheerful. Ellen, dear, your father
and I are having a drink. Don't you want to join
us? How's that, dear? Well, whenever you're ready.
We'd love to have you. I think a drink would
do you good. Whenever you're ready. I guess she's
all right. What did she say she was all right?
I don't know what she said. What do you mean
you don't know what she said? Ellen! Are you
all right, baby? I regret, but I can't join you
for the moment. I have to take care of these
boys. Excuse me, please. She couldn't join us
just now because... because she had to take care
of the little boy. Do you agree with Anthony
Trollope that the chief duty a parent owes a
child is to make the child happy? I think I do.
And I think in their more beneficent moods, most
people do. Why, then, are there so many bitterly
unhappy children? We may find out when I return
shortly with Act Two. Ellen Keene, only daughter
of Howard and Emily Keene, came home a little
while ago after the removal of an incipient life.
from her body. In the new penthouse apartment
her parents have rented in an anxious effort
to lift her spirits, she has just now delivered
her longest utterance since she arrived. Howard?
I didn't know she could speak French. She can't.
Well, she just did. I understand enough French
to know that. What did she say? Could you tell?
She said she couldn't join us just now because...
because she had to take care of... the little
boy. What little boy? How should I know what
little boy? How had the operations affected her
mind? Don't say that. That's not true. Must have
meant more to her than we knew. How could we
know she acted as though it was... as though
it was nothing? That's how young people are these
days. I'm gonna call that man. John Draper? What
good would that do? He ought to know what he's
done. Howard, it isn't right to blame it all
on him. I don't care. There, here. Here's his
number. I don't see why you think he can help.
Well, maybe she still loves him. Maybe he can
get through to her. Maybe. Draper, John Draper?
Yes? I'm Howard Keane, Ellen Keane's father.
Yes? Ellen came home a little while ago. I thought
you might like to know. How is she? Is she all
right? No, she's not all right. What's the trouble?
She... They didn't hurt her, did they? Physically,
she seems to be all right, but... Otherwise,
she's not. I'm glad you called. My wife and I
thought it might help if you came to see us.
Why, of course, right now? If you can. I'll have
to cancel some lessons, but I'll be there as
soon as I can. Oh, hold on just a minute. We've
moved to a new place. Oh, you've moved? Yes,
we took a penthouse on the spur of the moment,
just moved in this morning. It's at 42 Cedar
Terrace. Do you know where that is? 42 Cedar
Terrace? Yes, penthouse B. Have you got that?
Hello? Mr. Draper, are you there? Hello? I'm
sorry, Mr. Keen, but I'm afraid I won't be able
to get there after all. Give hell and my love.
Hello? Mr. Draper? Hello? Howard? I don't get
it. He was very nice, very concerned about Ellen.
He wanted to help. He wanted to come to see her
right away, and then... Then all of a sudden,
when I gave him the address, he made a sudden
switch and... He said he was sorry. He couldn't.
Why would he do that? Thought it over, I guess.
Decided he wanted no part of it. But you said
he sounded nice at first. He's not going to get
away with it. Howard, what are you going to do?
What was his address again? It's right there
in the phone book. I'm going to get him to see
Ellen if I have to drag him here. What's the
address? 121 Market Street. Howard, I wish you
wouldn't go. I'll be back in half an hour. You
stay right here. You think I should call Dr.
Stone? No. No. Not yet. Well, what could we say
to him? That our daughter talks to us in French
when she doesn't know any French? That she says
she has to take care of a little boy when there
isn't any little boy? You just stay here with
her and I... I don't think she'll get violent
or anything like that. I'll be back in half an
hour with Mr. John Draper. Oh, dear. Ellen? Ellen,
honey? Ellen, don't you want to come out now
and have some lunch? I could fix us both a sandwich
and some soup. We haven't had a chance to talk.
You're sure you're all right? That's the phone
buzzer from downstairs, dear. I have to answer
it. Yes? This is Sopa, Mrs. Keen. I've got a
big package down here for you. Package? What
kind of package? It's big. It's from, uh... Standish
Decorators. Oh! It must be the curtains for my
daughter's room. You want me to bring it up?
Yes. Would you please? Thank you. Ellen, darling.
Ellen, the curtains for your room have come.
You remember I told you I ordered new ones? What
do you think? Should we take down the old ones
and put up the new ones? I'm dying to see how
they look. Ellen, dear. Thank you. Thank you.
You okay, Mrs. Keen? What? You look kind of peculiar.
I do? What's the matter? Ghosts been bothering
you? Ghosts? I told you the place was haunted.
Yes, you did, didn't you? Didn't think they'd
be getting to you so soon, though. Look... Come
in for a minute, will you? Do you mind? I'd like
to talk to you. Oh, yeah, okay. Tell me why you
say this apartment is haunted. It was just a
guess. You don't really know, do you? No, I don't
really know about this apartment. No, but I know
quite a lot about ghosts from personal experience.
Tell me what you know. Well... I guess everybody
knows that ghosts know more and know less than
the spirits of the dead who won't leave the earth,
right? I mean, that's pretty obvious, wouldn't
you say? I wouldn't know anything about it. Oh,
I thought everybody knew that. Well, that's what
they are. The only difference between one ghost
and another being why they won't leave the earth.
Why they keep coming back to haunt. And there's
various reasons why. Like what? Well, they...
Could be there in love with some live person
who returns that love even after death. That's
one reason What other reasons are there? Well,
there's a ghost that won't admit to death the
ghost who resents the people who've gone on living
This generally speaking is the ghost of some
person who was used to lording it over everybody
in life and comes back to try to Lord it over
them some more That's another reason for ghosts.
What are the reasons? then There's the kind that
just can't understand how it happened. How what
happened? Death. Their own death. That's the
kind of ghost I understand very well. My sister's
one of those. You mean your sister doesn't understand
how she happened to die? Is that what you mean?
She was 12 years old. She was on her way to school.
And a car came along with a drunken driver behind
the wheel and the car swerved up on the sidewalk
and killed it. She never knew what happened.
Before she knew anything, she was dead. And her
ghost comes back? Every night. Every night I
wake up and hear crying. What do you do? I try
to explain it to her, but what can I say? It
doesn't make any sense. A drunk in a car and
her on her way to school? No, it doesn't make
any sense. Makes more sense to kill yourself,
don't you think? That way you got something to
say about how you go and when. Not just leave
it up to some drunk in a car. Well, that's my
opinion anyway. All right, I... Better be getting
back downstairs. Couldn't you just stay for a
little while? I don't feel like being alone right
now. My husband will be home in about half an
hour. He went to see somebody over on Market
Street. No, I can stay a little while, if you
like. I'd appreciate it. We'll talk about ghosts,
huh? That's my favorite topic. Ghosts. I'm looking
for Mr. Draper. I'm Mr. Draper. I guess it's
your son I'm looking for. I don't have a son.
Oh, well, I expected. Well, I didn't know I...
I'm Howard Keen, Ellen's father. I'd like to
come in and talk to you. Mr. Keen... Please,
it's very important or I wouldn't ask. Come in.
Sit down if you want. Excuse my staring at you.
I expected a much younger man. I'm 51. It's just
my age. You said on the phone Ellen is all right.
No, I said that physically Ellen's all right.
Why didn't you want to marry Ellen when you found
out she was pregnant? I couldn't. You've got
a wife? I had a wife. You're divorced. Something
I never talk about, Mr. Keen. You never talked
about it to Ellen? I never talked about it to
anybody. And I don't intend to. Maybe you should.
I can't. Tell me about Ellen. Well, she came
home a little while ago. She was changed. She
talked in monosyllables, short sentences at the
most. We thought after what she's been through,
maybe that's only natural. So my wife told her
to have a bath, take a nap. We'd have a drink,
lunch. Well, while my wife and I were talking,
Ellen came out of a room and spoke to us, quite
a long speech, and every word of it in French.
In French? Ellen doesn't know any French. You
never spoke to her in French, did you? Never.
Never. Never. I just want... What did she say
in French? Well, she said that... She said she
was sorry she couldn't join us for a drink, but
she had to take care of a little boy. What little
boy? I have no idea. Mr. Keen, after an operation
like the one Ellen had, don't you think it's
possible that, well, that it's bound to have
an effect on a woman, on her emotions, for a
while anyway? I don't want it to go on for too
long, and that's why I called you. You thought
I could help? I hoped you could. Get your coat.
I've got a cab waiting outside. Now I've told
you everything I know about ghosts, Mrs. Keen.
Have you seen the one that's haunting this place?
No. I'm not even sure there is one. Well, I'll
be getting on downstairs if you don't need me
for anything. Well, if you could, I'd really
appreciate your helping me. Put these curtains
up. If you have the time. Oh yeah, I've got a
few minutes. They're for my daughter's room.
I'm not sure we should go in there. She's been
resting. I'll tell you what, I'll knock on her
door. If she's up, I know she'd love to see the
curtains. Ellen Deer, it's mother. The superintendent
is here, and if it's all right with you, we'd
like to put up the new curtains. You know, I
told you before, they just came from the shop.
Ellen Deer. I'm going to open the door and come
in because I think you've been by yourself long
enough. I really do. Ellen? What's the matter?
Mrs. Key, what? Good Lord. She's not moving.
She's not breathing. Her eyes wide open. She's
dead. She's not dead. Don't say such a thing.
Don't you dare say such a thing. Mrs. Key, what
are you doing? Calling the doctor, you fool.
Doctor won't do any good. She's dead. Man is
the only animal who knows that he will die. So
said the great Voltaire. The knowledge that he
will one day cease to live permeates man's days
and poisons them a little. I think that if ever
I am given another life, I should like to live
it as a bird or a monkey. or a chipmunk or a
beetle. It doesn't add much to the enjoyment
of life to know that it won't last long. I'll
be back shortly with act three. You'll remember
I promised you a quiet little ghost story. I
think I've kept my promise so far. Though, of
course, in any story, there must be an explosion
or two. At this moment, Mr. Keen, Ellen's father,
is preparing to enter a taxicab with Mr. Draper,
Ellen's one -time lover. You say you've been
married? Yes. But you weren't divorced. No. Your
wife died. Yes. I see. How long ago was that?
Why? How long ago did your wife die? 25 years
ago. Do you and your wife have any children?
Yes one Where is the child? dead At birth no
I I feel a little bit like a heel asking you
all these questions, but I'm Concerned about
my daughter. I'm concerned too, or I wouldn't
have come with you. I understand I think I understand.
You've never wanted to get married again, is
that it? Never. Even after all these years? I
met my wife in Europe towards the end of the
war. The big war. I've been doing very well in
business. I was on my way to making it big when
I got drafted. I didn't like being drafted but
I went anyway and she... She was the one bright
spot in an otherwise drab and miserable army
career. I brought her back here She had a child
and they both died. I Stopped making money. I
started playing the piano and I have been at
it ever since then But you were in love with
Ellen I hope you don't mind my asking. I don't
know what that means to be in love. I'm not saying
there's no such thing but If there is I've forgotten
or I I never knew what it's like I'm very sorry
for you. It's very kind of you, but Don't bother
see the Terrace is the next right turn driver.
Are we nearly there next right about half a mile
My wife and I just moved in we wanted to do something
to Ellen we heard through friends about this
mildest apartment that was Suddenly available,
a penthouse of all things. Penthouse B, you said?
Yeah, we took it on an impulse, thinking it'd
be something for Ellen to come home to, to take
her mind off everything. You know, what she'd
been through. I did it? Well, no. No, she's hardly
said a word about the place since I brought her
home from the airport. She's hardly said anything
about anything. Just a few words of French and...
That one thing about not being able to have a
drink with us before lunch because she had to
look after a little boy How could she speak French
when she doesn't know any French and what little
boy did she have to look after? I don't understand
any of it. Not any hold on hold on We're almost
there. Maybe maybe Ellen will be all right more
more of a self anyway, and then you can ask her
You just hang in there for a couple of minutes
more Dr. Stone, what's wrong with Ellen? This
is key, and I can't detect any vital signs at
all. I hesitate to pronounce her dead, but what
can I say? I can find no pulse, no heartbeat,
no reflexes. I've done everything I can think
of. Injection, massage. She's not dead. Tell
me she's not dead. Like you, I refuse to conclude
that at the moment. But if your daughter is alive,
Mrs. Keen, she is in the deepest coma I've ever
encountered. It's as though she were not in or
out of this world at all. It's that tall building
on the corner, driver number 42. A very tall
building. Was that? I said it's a tall building.
Well compared to the way they build them nowadays.
It's not so tall, but I guess when they put it
up it was considered pretty daring Hey, what
do you think you're doing? I can't I just can't
you get back in there driver driver stop the
cab You let me pay the cab. Idiot, Robert. Now
you get going. Mr. Keen, I know you think this
is very strange. You bet I think it's very strange.
I can explain. After you've seen my daughter,
you can explain. Now you get in the elevator
there. Right now, Ellen's the only one I'm interested
in. Push that button that says Penthouse. Penthouse
B. That's right. Mrs. Keen, if Ellen isn't dead,
then I'm still not convinced. And she's either
in a very, very deep coma or... Here I'm getting
into territory that I don't understand at all.
She's in a trance. A trance? When we hear these
things, people who can control their body functions...
I was told of a man who could make one half of
his arms stone cold and the other half blood
warm. He could do it at will, or so I was told.
I can't believe it. Do you believe it? Mrs. Keen,
there isn't a doctor alive today who would deny
the power the human mind has over the human body.
But... Oh, that must be my husband. Well, I'll
want to talk to him. I'll only be a second. Yes,
I'm coming. Howard. Mr. Draper? That's him. I'm
Ellen's mother. Howard, I called Dr. Stone. He's
with Ellen now. He wants to talk to you. I'm
in here, Mrs. Keen. Dr. Stone, how is she? She
shows no vital signs of life at all. You don't
mean that she's dead. Oh, no, she can't be...
Emily! What happened? Mr. Keen... We don't know
precisely what happened and I don't Well for
some reason I can't really explain I Don't think
she's dead Either she's in a deep coma or she's
in a trance state. Well, what's that a trance
state? It's something medical men know very little
about so I want your permission to take her to
the hospital have her examined by another doctor
there and If he gives us no convincing diagnosis,
we'll call in a psychic healer. You have our
permission to do anything you have to. Of course.
All right, I'll call an ambulance. Mr. Draper,
I've been very rude. We've paid no attention
to you at all. Thank you so much for coming.
It's quite all right. You can see we're beside
ourselves with worry. Yes, I can see that. There's
an ambulance service. Mrs. Keen, do you suppose
that I could see Ellen? Oh, I don't think so.
Not now. Why didn't somebody wake me up? Ellen.
Darling. Is it time for lunch? Ellen. How do
you feel? Dr. Stone. What are you doing here?
John. You know, it's funny. I thought I heard
your voice, but then I decided I must have imagined
it. Yeah, but how do you feel, Ellen? Well, I
feel perfectly fine. I had a wonderful sleep.
You're sure you feel all right? Well, I just
told you I feel fine. I was tired when Daddy
brought me home from the airport, but I had a
lovely nap, and now I'm fine. But what are you
doing here? And John, how... How did you get
here? How did you know where to come? Your father,
he told me. Oh, really? That was nice. Then you've
met. Yes, we've... we've met. You'll stay for
lunch, won't you, John? Mother, is that all right?
Is there enough for John, too? Yes, dear, there's
enough. But first, don't you think you ought
to bathe and change your clothes? I guess I should.
I was going to do that before, wasn't I? When
I first got here... But then I got busy with
something, rather, and I forgot all about it.
You want me to come with you, dear? That would
be nice. We haven't had a chance to talk, have
we? No, but we will. Stay you all for lunch.
Yes, Ellen. You'll stay, Mr. Draper? I'm not
sure that I can. Please do. Ellen seems to want
you to. Mr. Keen, I don't know any of the whys
or wherefores, but... Your daughter seems to
be all right. Yes, she seems to be. I'm going
back to my office. I'll be there all afternoon.
If anything happens to alarm you, please call
me. I can be here in five minutes. Thank you,
Dr. Stone. Don't bother to come to the door.
I'll let myself out. I'm glad she's all right.
I suppose you don't believe there was ever anything
wrong. I don't know. After all, you didn't see
her when she was... Well, the way she was. I
know your daughter very well, Mr. Keen. I know
what a sensitive girl she is. I told you in the
taxi that... I didn't believe I knew the meaning
of being in love. Now I'm not so sure. I think
I was, in my own neurotic way, in love with Ellen.
We were very close. Well, why did you make such
a fuss about coming here? Why did you... Tried
to jump out of the cab. What was that all about?
I had been here before. When? When were you ever
here? I used to live here. In this apartment?
That house B, yes. But when was this? 25 years
ago. You lived here with your wife? And your
child? Yes. And your child was a little boy?
Yes. How old was the child when he died? Two
years old. And your wife, how old was she? Twenty
-one. They both died while you were living here.
I can see why you wouldn't want to come with
me. It's, it's not, it's not just that they died.
What was it? It, it was the way they died. Tell
me about it. When I came back from Europe, I
started up in business again. The business which
the war had so rudely interrupted. I was determined
to work my way up the ladder again, and I threw
myself into my work. I think my wife felt neglected.
Truth is, I did neglect her. But it wasn't just
my neglect. She was a foreigner. Even after three
years, she hadn't learned to speak English. She
was shy. She didn't make friends. She was alone
a great deal, except for the child. And one night,
I was at my desk working over some papers when
she came into the room with a child in her arms.
She spoke to me. I don't remember what she said,
but I remember that she spoke to me. I had every
intention of answering her. But I didn't want
to be bothered at that precise moment. Half a
minute later, I turned around and she wasn't
there. She had jumped from the terrace. She had
jumped. From the terrace with with the child
in her arms Do you think it's possible I know
how far -fetched it sounds but is it possible
that the little boy Ellen told us she had to
look after Was the ghost of your son I don't
know what else to think. Do you? Tell me something.
What nationality was your wife? My wife is French.
It all begins to fit together, doesn't it? When
you stop and think about it. and think about
it. You don't want to stop and think about it?
That such things don't bear thinking about? All
right, don't stop. Go right on doing the things
you've always done. Waking in the morning, putting
in the hours until it's time to go to sleep again.
Don't, for an instant of your busy day, think
about such things. But that won't make the things
go away. Now will it? I'll return shortly. That
was a quiet little ghost story, wasn't it? Just
as I said it would be. Personally, I prefer ghost
stories to be quiet. For ghosts, generally speaking,
having no physical equipment, tend to be quiet.
But like so many living people who are quiet,
ghosts are also tenacious and persistent. And
they are everywhere. Our cast included Rosemary
Murphy, Arnold Moss, Mason Adams, Corey Knorr,
and Robert Dryden. The entire production was
under the direction of Hyman Brown. Radio Mystery
Theatre was sponsored in part by Buick Motor
Division, the Kellogg Company, makers of Kellogg
Special K Cereal, and New Sugar Free Diet 7 Up.
This is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return
to our Mystery Theatre for another adventure
in the macabre until next time pleasant dreams
listen to mystery theater again tomorrow night
same time same station