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Suspense - "The Moonstone - Part Two" (Old Time Radio, 1953) · The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: On November 23rd, 1953, CBS Radio presented episode 527 of Suspense,
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: the conclusion of a two-part adaptation of Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone.
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: Peter Lawford stars as Franklin Blake, drawn into the search
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: for a yellow diamond that disappeared after Rachel Verinder received it.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: At the Verinder family estate on the Yorkshire coast, Sergeant
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: Cuff finds the obvious outside suspects apparently could not have
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: taken the jewel, and his inquiry turns toward the household itself.
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: Richard Chandley adapted Collins' 1868 novel. Elliot Lewis produced and
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: directed with Autolite as sponsor. Ladies and gentlemen, here is Suspense,
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: The Moonstone, Part 2. And now, the original broadcast.
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: Autolite and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Peter Lawford
• 1:02
  Speaker 2: in tonight's presentation of Suspense.
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: Tonight, Autolite presents part two of the first detective novel
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: ever written. A tale considered by many to be the
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: greatest ever written. Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone. Our star, Mr.
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: Peter Lawford.
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: Hello, Mr. McStorley. Have you got your Thanksgiving bird yet?
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: I got it all right, Harlow, but not for Thanksgiving.
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: What do you mean? Well, I got the bird for
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: me wife.
• 1:38
  Speaker 3: Because me car battery's a talkie. I forget to fill
• 1:41
  Speaker 3: it with water and it's cold as a cranberry bog
• 1:44
  Speaker 3: in December.
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: Well, you should have an Autolite Stay Full battery, Mr. McSorley.
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: That's the famous battery that needs water only three times
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: a year in normal car use. Ah, yes, the battery
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: with long and happy life. Right. Fiberglass retaining mats protect
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: the power of every positive plate to reduce shedding and
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: flaking and give that Autolite Stay Full longer life as
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: proved by tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards. So, friends,
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: to quickly locate your Autolite battery dealer, whose service is
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: all makes of batteries, just call Western Union by number
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: and ask for Operator 25.
• 2:17
  Speaker 4: I'll tell you the location of your nearest Autolite battery
• 2:20
  Speaker 4: dealer where you can get an Autolite stay full, the
• 2:23
  Speaker 4: battery that needs water only three times a year in
• 2:26
  Speaker 4: normal car use.
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: with Autolite.
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: And now, Autolite presents the concluding portion of Wilkie Collins'
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: The Moonstone, starring Mr. Peter Lawford, hoping once again to
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: keep you in suspense.
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: Tell me, Mr. Blake, the diamond, it belonged to your uncle?
• 3:01
  Speaker 5: Yes, Sergeant Cuff. His will stated that I was to
• 3:04
  Speaker 5: give it to his niece, Rachel, on her birthday.
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: And you say this moonstone had a curse on it?
• 3:08
  Speaker 5: It has been said, yes. Because it's believed he took
• 3:12
  Speaker 5: it from an idol. An Indian moon god.
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: And those Indian jugglers you saw at the jail, you
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: believe they stole it?
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: Yes.
• 3:21
  Speaker 5: They were in the garden outside the house when the
• 3:23
  Speaker 5: diamond was given to Rachel.
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: But I've shown you our prison records, Mr.
• 3:27
  Speaker 5: Blake.
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: The Indians couldn't have stolen it. They were behind bars
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: all last night. Who else was at the party?
• 3:33
  Speaker 5: Let's see.
• 3:35
  Speaker 6: Rachel, her mother, Lady Julia Verinder, our cousin, Godfrey Abelwhite, Dr.
• 3:40
  Speaker 5: Candy, their family physician.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: And the servants, what of them?
• 3:44
  Speaker 5: Betridge and a new housemaid. Her name, I believe, is Rosanna.
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: All right, Mr. Blake, we'll look into it. Ah, there's
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: the house.
• 3:59
  Speaker 6: As soon as we entered the house, Sergeant Cuff went
• 4:01
  Speaker 6: into Rachel's sitting room, hardly bothering with the cabinet from
• 4:04
  Speaker 6: where the moonstone had been stolen. His eyes seemed to
• 4:07
  Speaker 6: be much more taken with the door Rachel had painted
• 4:10
  Speaker 6: and decorated with cupid the afternoon of her birthday.
• 4:12
  Speaker 5: Hmm.
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: Quite good work. There's a smudge on one of the cupids. Pity.
• 4:20
  Speaker 2: Anyone know how it happened?
• 4:22
  Speaker 7: Mr.
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: Betteridge?
• 4:23
  Speaker 3: One of the maids petticoats with all the commotion this morning.
• 4:27
  Speaker 2: Pity. Paint's dry now. Does anyone know which petticoat did it?
• 4:32
  Speaker 6: I don't think any of them, Sergeant. That part of
• 4:34
  Speaker 6: the door was the last to be painted. Couldn't have
• 4:37
  Speaker 6: happened this morning.
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: You're quite sure, Mr.
• 4:39
  Speaker 5: Blake? I watched her finish it. About four yesterday afternoon.
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: It would have dried in about ten hours. About two
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: in the morning, then. You may have put something valuable
• 4:50
  Speaker 2: in our hands, Mr. Blake. A smeared petticoat or whatever
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: will bring us to the truth.
• 4:57
  Speaker 5: You think it was worn by the thief?
• 4:59
  Speaker 2: I think it was worn by someone. There's no evidence
• 5:02
  Speaker 2: of thievery as yet, only that the diamond is missing.
• 5:06
  Speaker 3: Mr.
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: Betteridge, would you tell Lady Verinder I'd like ten minutes
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: of her time, please?
• 5:20
  Speaker 7: Preposterous, Sergeant. All my servants have been with me for years.
• 5:24
  Speaker 7: If I allow you to search their clothes, it means
• 5:27
  Speaker 7: I suspect them. They're as honest as you are.
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: I'm sure they are, your ladyship. It's only a question
• 5:32
  Speaker 2: of their help. The women especially. Now, if they knew
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: I was going to inspect the wardrobes of everyone from
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: your ladyship downwards... You're certain this is necessary? Before we
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: can make another step. I've also asked Mr. Betteridge to
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: get me the washing book. To account for all the
• 5:49
  Speaker 2: linen in case the article was sent to the washer
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: and destroyed. And to ask your daughter for her wardrobe keys.
• 5:55
  Speaker 7: Where will you start?
• 5:58
  Speaker 2: Well, with Mr. Blake here, if you'll consent.
• 6:00
  Speaker 5: Of course.
• 6:01
  Speaker 7: Don't forget me, Sergeant.
• 6:03
  Speaker 5: I'm in the next room.
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: Then we'll do you next, Mr. Abelwhite. And when you're finished,
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: may I leave for London? Oh, it's a mere formality.
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: You'll all be free to go.
• 6:11
  Speaker 3: Here's the washbook, Sergeant.
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: Ah, thank you, Mr. Petridge. And Miss Verindisky's?
• 6:16
  Speaker 3: My young lady refuses to have her wardrobe examined.
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: Uh-huh.
• 6:20
  Speaker 5: Petridge. Was it explained to her?
• 6:22
  Speaker 7: Yes, sir.
• 6:22
  Speaker 3: She started to cry and said, I won't because I won't.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: Well, you may return the washbook, Mr. Betteridge.
• 6:28
  Speaker 7: Mr.
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: Abelwhite, you may leave at any time. Thank you, Sergeant.
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: That'll be all, Mr. Betteridge.
• 6:34
  Speaker 5: Then you aren't going to search?
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: All or none, sir.
• 6:38
  Speaker 5: But why should Rachel... I don't understand.
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: Pardon my being personal, Mr. Blake. Would it be wrong
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: to say you're in love with Miss Verinder?
• 6:48
  Speaker 5: No, it wouldn't be wrong.
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: Love blinds to a great extent.
• 6:52
  Speaker 5: Look here, are you implying that.
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: Just a moment. Out there in the hall. Out there.
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: Won't you come in?
• 6:59
  Speaker 5: Rosanna.
• 7:00
  Speaker 8: Excuse me. I was looking for Mr.
• 7:02
  Speaker 5: Bedford.
• 7:03
  Speaker 8: I was told he was here.
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: He just left, my girl.
• 7:06
  Speaker 8: Thank you. Excuse me.
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: Rosanna. Rosanna Spearman, that's it.
• 7:15
  Speaker 5: You know her?
• 7:16
  Speaker 2: I've seen her once before, Mr. Blake, about five years ago...
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: In prison for theft.
• 7:21
  Speaker 5: In prison? Well, that's the answer.
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: Well, it's not the old answer, Mr. Blake. Will you
• 7:27
  Speaker 2: promise to hold your temper?
• 7:29
  Speaker 5: If I see sense in what you say.
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: All right. Tell me, why does Miss Verinder refuse to
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: cooperate to have her wardrobe examined?
• 7:37
  Speaker 5: Because she.
• 7:39
  Speaker 7: Because.
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: Exactly. Because she knows more about the diamond than she's
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: willing to tell. Couple that with Rosanna Spearman, who was
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: a thief. She knows how to raise money and pledge
• 7:48
  Speaker 2: her valuable without question.
• 7:50
  Speaker 5: Now, that is preposterous. Why should Rachel need money?
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: Well, for reasons she doesn't want to discuss. Something that
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: would force her to go to great lengths. Scandal, if
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: you'll pardon the word, sir.
• 8:01
  Speaker 5: This is the detective's mind, isn't it?
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: Suppose Miss Verinder were to suddenly decide to leave this house. Refuse,
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: point blank to help, as I think she will.
• 8:09
  Speaker 5: I'm sorry, Sergeant. You don't know her.
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: Ah, it's a dirty little world, Mr. Blake. I've had
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: a deal of experience. I'll be the first to admit
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: it if I'm wrong. But I don't think I am.
• 8:28
  Speaker 6: The night came on and a heavy, muffled mood of
• 8:30
  Speaker 6: suspicion settled over the house. Rachel stayed locked in her
• 8:34
  Speaker 6: rooms and would speak to no one. The sergeant was
• 8:37
  Speaker 6: wrong about her.
• 8:38
  Speaker 5: He had to be. But I couldn't push the torture
• 8:41
  Speaker 5: of his logic from my mind. I was afraid. Deeply
• 8:46
  Speaker 5: afraid of the coming day.
• 8:49
  Speaker 6: The first news that terrible morning was that Rachel was
• 8:51
  Speaker 6: going to leave the house. The Colonel's vengeance was working
• 8:56
  Speaker 6: in ways he never dreamed.
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: Miss Verinder, I'd like to say once more that your
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: leaving is a great obstacle to the recovery of your diamond. Now,
• 9:06
  Speaker 2: knowing that, do you still intend to leave?
• 9:08
  Speaker 5: I do.
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: Rachel....
• 9:11
  Speaker 5: Please, Rachel, you can't.
• 9:12
  Speaker 7: I have nothing to say to you, Mr.
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: Blake.
• 9:14
  Speaker 7: Drive on.
• 9:24
  Speaker 6: I stood there helplessly watching it go. There was nothing
• 9:28
  Speaker 6: left but the truth of Sergeant Cupp's words.
• 9:33
  Speaker 5: A scandal.
• 9:35
  Speaker 6: Some terrible secret she dare not tell. I had to
• 9:39
  Speaker 6: find out if I was going to help.
• 9:41
  Speaker 5: Rosanna.
• 9:43
  Speaker 6: If she had helped Rachel plot the theft, she would
• 9:46
  Speaker 6: also know her secret. I went to the servants' hall
• 9:49
  Speaker 6: only to find Betridge and Sergeant Cuff ahead of me.
• 9:51
  Speaker 3: One of the gardeners said he saw her running toward
• 9:54
  Speaker 3: the beach walk.
• 9:55
  Speaker 2: Then there's a hiding place down there, if I'm not mistaken.
• 9:58
  Speaker 5: Hiding place? It's almost all... quicksand.
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: The jewel had to be kept somewhere. Possibly the stained
• 10:04
  Speaker 2: article of clothing, too. Miss Verinder's accomplice recovers the diamond
• 10:08
  Speaker 2: to take to her later. Aye, we'd better hurry. Will
• 10:12
  Speaker 2: you join me, Mr. Blake?
• 10:17
  Speaker 5: We raced down the walk to the beach. Rosanna was
• 10:20
  Speaker 5: nowhere in sight. Only her footprints.
• 10:24
  Speaker 6: They led us finally to the very edge of the quicksand.
• 10:26
  Speaker 6: Look as we might, there were no footprints returning.
• 10:30
  Speaker 5: At almost the same moment, the terrible meaning dawned on
• 10:32
  Speaker 5: us both.
• 10:34
  Speaker 2: Did she know there was quicksand?
• 10:37
  Speaker 5: Yes, Sergeant. She knew. First time I saw her was here.
• 10:44
  Speaker 5: She walked into that muck. Deliberately.
• 10:47
  Speaker 2: Oh, Rosanna wasn't the kind to scare, Mr.
• 10:50
  Speaker 4: Blake.
• 10:51
  Speaker 2: She must have had her own good reason.
• 11:01
  Speaker 6: Back at the house, the news of Rosanna's death deepened
• 11:04
  Speaker 6: the unhappy Paul. That afternoon, Sergeant Cuff was dismissed from
• 11:09
  Speaker 6: any further investigation. And Lady Julia left for London to
• 11:13
  Speaker 6: join Rachel. Later, I left the house myself, feeling terribly
• 11:19
  Speaker 6: depressed and useless. I would have given my life to
• 11:24
  Speaker 6: help Rachel. There was no avenue left open. I took
• 11:29
  Speaker 6: ship for the continent the next morning, hoping that time
• 11:33
  Speaker 6: and distance would let me forget.
• 11:36
  Speaker 5: Almost a year was to pass before I returned.
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: Autolite is bringing you Mr. Peter Lawford in Wilkie Collins'
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: The Moonstone. Tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
• 12:09
  Speaker 5: Suspense.
• 12:17
  Speaker 2: Well, Harlow, now I can eat turkey instead of crow
• 12:20
  Speaker 2: on a Thursday. Got yourself an Autolite Stay-Full battery, eh, Mr. McSorley?
• 12:25
  Speaker 7: That I did, Harlow.
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: Then you've got the battery that stays right on the case,
• 12:29
  Speaker 2: needs water only three times a year in normal car use.
• 12:32
  Speaker 3: Why, that Autolite Stay-Full just snaps my engine to life, Harlow.
• 12:35
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• 12:36
  Speaker 5: Mack.
• 12:36
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• 12:40
  Speaker 2: Thanks to those fiberglass retaining mats. They surround every positive
• 12:44
  Speaker 2: plate to reduce shedding and flaking and give the Autolite
• 12:47
  Speaker 2: Stay Full longer life, as proved by tests conducted according
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: to accepted life cycle standards. So, friends, see your Autolite
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: battery dealer for the best in battery service and the
• 12:58
  Speaker 2: famous Autolite Stay Full, the battery that needs water only
• 13:02
  Speaker 2: three times a year in normal car use. To quickly
• 13:05
  Speaker 2: locate your nearest Autolite battery dealer, phone Western Union by
• 13:09
  Speaker 2: number and ask for Operator 25. That's right.
• 13:12
  Speaker 4: Call me Western Union Operator 25.
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: And remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right
• 13:19
  Speaker 2: with Autolite.
• 13:20
  Speaker 1: And now, Autolite brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr.
• 13:24
  Speaker 1: Peter Lawford in Elliot Lewis's production of the concluding act
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: of Wilkie Collins' The Moonstones. A tale well calculated to
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: keep you in suspense.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: I returned to London in June 1849.
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: I was informed of all that had happened in the
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: year that I'd been.
• 13:43
  Speaker 2: Away by the family lawyer, Mr. Brough.
• 13:58
  Speaker 6: Rachel's mother had died some months ago, and Rachel had
• 14:01
  Speaker 6: been engaged to marry Godfrey Abelwhite.
• 14:04
  Speaker 7: He broke off, of course, right after Lady Verinda died.
• 14:08
  Speaker 7: Seems he was only interested in Rachel's money.
• 14:12
  Speaker 5: Where is Rachel, Mr. Brough?
• 14:13
  Speaker 7: Here in London, living with the guardian appointed by her mother.
• 14:18
  Speaker 5: Has she ever spoken of me?
• 14:20
  Speaker 7: Not once, to my knowledge. As for the Moonstone, we've
• 14:23
  Speaker 7: all respected her silence on that.
• 14:27
  Speaker 5: Why does she resent me, Mr. Bratt? I think it.
• 14:30
  Speaker 7: Was your attempt to help in an affair she once
• 14:32
  Speaker 7: kept secret, whatever her reason.
• 14:35
  Speaker 6: I just can't believe that Rachel stole her own diamonds.
• 14:40
  Speaker 6: I'm going to find out who did.
• 14:41
  Speaker 7: I won't presume to stop you, but how will you
• 14:45
  Speaker 7: go about it?
• 14:46
  Speaker 5: I'll start where it all took place. The house in Yorkshire.
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: By the Lord, Harry, Mr. Franklin, it's good to see you.
• 15:04
  Speaker 3: It hasn't been very happy here since you.
• 15:06
  Speaker 5: I know, Betridge. That's why I'm back. The Moonstone, sir?
• 15:10
  Speaker 3: Don't you think you should leave a sleeping dog lay, sir?
• 15:14
  Speaker 3: Suppose you find Miss Rachel had.
• 15:16
  Speaker 5: It won't make me stop loving her.
• 15:17
  Speaker 7: That's all I wanted to know, sir.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: So I don't see how my helping you can be wrong.
• 15:22
  Speaker 3: Do you remember that poor girl of ours, Rosanna Spearman?
• 15:26
  Speaker 2: Of course.
• 15:27
  Speaker 5: How could I forget?
• 15:28
  Speaker 3: You left a coat here, sir, and I found a
• 15:30
  Speaker 3: letter in one of the pockets. The rest to you,
• 15:33
  Speaker 3: from Rosanna.
• 15:34
  Speaker 7: Here it is.
• 15:37
  Speaker 5: Sir.
• 15:39
  Speaker 6: Please follow the enclosed instructions. Do it when you're not observed.
• 15:46
  Speaker 6: Go to the shivering sand at the turn of the tide.
• 15:50
  Speaker 6: There's a rock ledge covered with seaweed. And attached to
• 15:53
  Speaker 6: the rock is a chain which drops.
• 15:55
  Speaker 5: Into the quicksand.
• 15:57
  Speaker 5: Pull up the chain.
• 16:05
  Speaker 3: There's the ugly place.
• 16:06
  Speaker 5: The tide's almost out. There's only one rock ledge.
• 16:09
  Speaker 7: You go ahead, sir.
• 16:11
  Speaker 3: The note said do it alone. That's her grave, too.
• 16:15
  Speaker 3: I'd like to humor her.
• 16:18
  Speaker 5: I went on to the rock ledge.
• 16:20
  Speaker 6: The last surge of the sea fell away and I
• 16:22
  Speaker 6: walked out gingerly on the edge of the quicksand. Getting
• 16:26
  Speaker 6: down on all fours, I fell under the glistening seaweed.
• 16:29
  Speaker 6: After a moment, my hand touched the rusty length of
• 16:32
  Speaker 6: a chain. It came up easily. Attached to the end
• 16:36
  Speaker 6: was a rusted metal box.
• 16:39
  Speaker 5: I forced it open.
• 16:41
  Speaker 6: It was filled with a white cloth on top of
• 16:43
  Speaker 6: which was another letter bearing my name.
• 16:46
  Speaker 5: I carried it all to the dry beach and unrolled
• 16:48
  Speaker 5: the cloth. It was a nightshirt. On its sleeve was
• 16:54
  Speaker 5: a smear of paint from Rachel's sitting room.
• 16:56
  Speaker 6: And I recalled the words of Sergeant Cuff. Find the
• 17:01
  Speaker 6: smeared article of clothing and you will know who took
• 17:03
  Speaker 6: the diamond.
• 17:06
  Speaker 5: I looked to see if it was marked with the
• 17:07
  Speaker 5: owner's name. Finding the mark, I read Frankton Blake. My
• 17:12
  Speaker 5: own name. I looked again. My own name. Plainly marked
• 17:16
  Speaker 5: with my own name.
• 17:22
  Speaker 6: The next thing I remember was being back in Betridge's
• 17:25
  Speaker 6: room with a drink of whiskey.
• 17:26
  Speaker 5: In my hand.
• 17:27
  Speaker 3: One thing for sure, that nightgown's a liar, a pure liar.
• 17:31
  Speaker 5: It's my nightgown, Betridge.
• 17:34
  Speaker 6: I couldn't have taken the diamond, but it's my nightgown.
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: Then it's foul play.
• 17:38
  Speaker 7: That's how I read it.
• 17:40
  Speaker 3: What about Rosanna's letter, sir?
• 17:43
  Speaker 5: Yes. Sir, I have a confession. A confession of my
• 17:50
  Speaker 5: own misery in three words. I love you. Me? What
• 17:55
  Speaker 5: does she mean?
• 17:56
  Speaker 3: That's what the servants believe, sir. They used to see
• 17:59
  Speaker 3: her mooning at you, puttering around your room every chance
• 18:02
  Speaker 3: she could.
• 18:03
  Speaker 5: Yes, I remember. But it never entered my mind. What
• 18:07
  Speaker 5: more does she say? I will be dead and gone.
• 18:12
  Speaker 8: The morning the moonstone was stolen, I went to do
• 18:15
  Speaker 8: my work in your room. Your nightgown lay across your bed,
• 18:19
  Speaker 8: and I saw the stain of paint I hate Miss
• 18:23
  Speaker 8: Rachel because you love her. It was hard to believe
• 18:27
  Speaker 8: you had stolen her diamond. I had once been a
• 18:30
  Speaker 8: thief and been in prison for it. The nightgown is
• 18:34
  Speaker 8: my only bond with you. I could have helped you,
• 18:38
  Speaker 8: but I dared not speak outright, fearing your anger that
• 18:41
  Speaker 8: I knew your secret. Miss Rachel has left. You will
• 18:46
  Speaker 8: soon be leaving too. I know there is no chance
• 18:49
  Speaker 8: you're ever returning my love. but I will keep your secret.
• 18:54
  Speaker 8: I go now to the shivering sands which have always
• 18:57
  Speaker 8: drawn me. Remember me kindly.
• 19:00
  Speaker 2: Rosanna Spearman.
• 19:10
  Speaker 6: I was at a complete loss. My search for the
• 19:14
  Speaker 6: thief had led directly to myself. So now Rachel's attitude
• 19:18
  Speaker 6: was no longer a mystery. She had left because she
• 19:22
  Speaker 6: believed I had.
• 19:22
  Speaker 5: Stolen the diamond. I went back to London and told Mr.
• 19:26
  Speaker 5: Brough everything.
• 19:27
  Speaker 7: I suggest you do something for me, Mr. Blake.
• 19:31
  Speaker 5: What's that, sir?
• 19:32
  Speaker 7: I received a letter this morning from Dr.
• 19:36
  Speaker 5: Candy.
• 19:37
  Speaker 7: He was at the birthday party the night the diamond
• 19:38
  Speaker 7: was stolen, if you remember. Driving home from the party
• 19:41
  Speaker 7: that night, he nearly caught his death in the rain.
• 19:44
  Speaker 7: He's been ill ever since. His letter suggests he has
• 19:47
  Speaker 7: something of great importance.
• 19:49
  Speaker 5: To discuss with you. Will you please go see him?
• 20:01
  Speaker 7: Good of you to come out of your way to
• 20:02
  Speaker 7: see me, Mr. Blake.
• 20:03
  Speaker 5: Thank you, Doctor. You're looking well.
• 20:05
  Speaker 7: I'd like to apologize to you, Mr. Blake.
• 20:08
  Speaker 5: Apologize, sir?
• 20:09
  Speaker 7: The night of Miss Verinder's party, you and I sat
• 20:12
  Speaker 7: next to each other. There was some joking about the diamond.
• 20:15
  Speaker 5: Do you recall? Not distinctly, no, sir. Just something unpleasant.
• 20:19
  Speaker 7: I told you I suspected you hadn't been sleeping well
• 20:22
  Speaker 7: and to let me give you a course in medicine.
• 20:26
  Speaker 5: I don't think I had been sleeping well.
• 20:28
  Speaker 7: I decided to prove my medicine to you.
• 20:31
  Speaker 5: If I could give you a good night's sleep without
• 20:34
  Speaker 5: you knowing it... What?
• 20:35
  Speaker 7: I was going to come back the next day and
• 20:37
  Speaker 7: ask you how you slept. You would have said, fine,
• 20:41
  Speaker 7: and without medicine. And I was going to say, ah,
• 20:45
  Speaker 7: but you did have medicine, sir.
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: Dr.
• 20:48
  Speaker 5: Candy, did you give me something that night?
• 20:51
  Speaker 7: It was a dose of laudanum, part of the opium family,
• 20:55
  Speaker 7: in your nightcap. I hope you'll accept my apology, Mr. Blake.
• 21:01
  Speaker 5: But if I took the diamond, what did I.
• 21:06
  Speaker 7: Do with it? I feel I owe you all the
• 21:09
  Speaker 7: help I can give. Are you willing to try an experiment?
• 21:13
  Speaker 5: I'd do anything, Doctor.
• 21:15
  Speaker 7: There's a chance that under the right conditions, taking a
• 21:19
  Speaker 7: similar dose of laudanum... You might repeat exactly what you
• 21:23
  Speaker 7: did the night of the birthday. You might very well
• 21:26
  Speaker 7: have hidden the diamond somewhere in the house. With witnesses
• 21:31
  Speaker 7: to watch, it would prove your innocence. Yes, but it
• 21:35
  Speaker 7: would have to be done at the Varenda house. Well,
• 21:37
  Speaker 7: I'll write to Miss Rachel, with your permission, telling her everything.
• 21:41
  Speaker 7: I'm sure she wants your innocence proved as much as
• 21:45
  Speaker 7: you yourself.
• 21:52
  Speaker 6: It was a very nervous time for me, waiting for
• 21:54
  Speaker 6: Rachel's answer.
• 21:56
  Speaker 5: With great relief, her letter came saying she accepted Dr.
• 21:59
  Speaker 5: Candy's explanation. The house was at our disposal, and she
• 22:03
  Speaker 5: wished us all success for the experiment. I wrote Mr. Brough,
• 22:08
  Speaker 5: asking him to be one of the witnesses. Then Dr.
• 22:11
  Speaker 5: Candy and I left for the Verinder house.
• 22:20
  Speaker 7: Ready, Mr.
• 22:20
  Speaker 8: Blake?
• 22:21
  Speaker 5: Of course, doctor. Get on with it.
• 22:22
  Speaker 7: You want my opinion, the whole thing assembled.
• 22:25
  Speaker 5: All right, Mr. Brough, we have your opinion. Forty minims
• 22:31
  Speaker 5: laudanum in weak brandy and soda.
• 22:35
  Speaker 7: You're witnessing, Mr.
• 22:36
  Speaker 5: Brough?
• 22:36
  Speaker 7: I'm witnessing. Drink it, Mr.
• 22:41
  Speaker 5: Blake.
• 22:45
  Speaker 2: Waste of time. Now, Mr.
• 22:46
  Speaker 7: Blake, you may retire to your bed.
• 22:51
  Speaker 5: How long before this is supposed to work?
• 22:54
  Speaker 7: Not before midnight.
• 23:04
  Speaker 5: Look.
• 23:05
  Speaker 7: It's moving.
• 23:09
  Speaker 5: Moonstone. Indian devils. In the house. Kill Rachel. He's getting up.
• 23:20
  Speaker 2: Huh? In that cabinet. Lock on it.
• 23:27
  Speaker 7: Now take it. It's going out of the room.
• 23:29
  Speaker 5: Take off your boots. Come on.
• 23:39
  Speaker 7: Went right to the cabinet.
• 23:41
  Speaker 5: Amazing. There's a piece of crystal to simulate the diamond
• 23:45
  Speaker 5: in the drawer. There. He's found it.
• 23:51
  Speaker 7: It looked like he knew what to do.
• 23:53
  Speaker 9: He dropped it. Going over to that sofa. He couldn't
• 23:58
  Speaker 9: have done that before. The sedative effect is coming on.
• 24:02
  Speaker 9: He slumped on the couch.
• 24:07
  Speaker 5: It's all over.
• 24:09
  Speaker 7: Let him sleep there.
• 24:17
  Speaker 6: When I awoke the next morning, they told me what
• 24:20
  Speaker 6: I had done. I proved only that Dr. Candy's joke
• 24:24
  Speaker 6: was caused by my unconscious behavior. But now, when what
• 24:30
  Speaker 6: had happened afterwards was still a mystery, we had come
• 24:34
  Speaker 6: to another blank wall. It was a month later. An
• 24:45
  Speaker 6: item in the newspaper caught my eye. Some East Indian
• 24:48
  Speaker 6: jugglers had been in a fight in a tavern in
• 24:50
  Speaker 6: one of the lowest parts of London. One of them
• 24:53
  Speaker 6: had been stabbed. The others had escaped. Almost at the
• 24:57
  Speaker 6: same moment, I received an urgent message from Mr. Brough
• 25:01
  Speaker 6: to meet him at the Wheel of Fortune, the tavern
• 25:03
  Speaker 6: mentioned in the news dispatch.
• 25:05
  Speaker 7: Up these stairs, Mr. Blake, quickly.
• 25:07
  Speaker 5: What is it, Mr. Brough?
• 25:08
  Speaker 7: In this room here.
• 25:10
  Speaker 5: Good Lord.
• 25:12
  Speaker 7: You're almost done for, poor beggar.
• 25:14
  Speaker 5: Quick.
• 25:18
  Speaker 6: On the bed lay a man dressed in sailor clothes.
• 25:22
  Speaker 6: On the floor next to him was a small wooden box.
• 25:24
  Speaker 5: Open and empty.
• 25:26
  Speaker 6: The box that had held the moonstone. I looked down
• 25:30
  Speaker 6: at the man's face. There was a brown mark beneath
• 25:34
  Speaker 6: on the bed sheet. I saw that his dark skin
• 25:37
  Speaker 6: was only stained.
• 25:40
  Speaker 5: I looked hard.
• 25:42
  Speaker 6: Beneath the stain and the heavy growth of beard was
• 25:46
  Speaker 6: the face.
• 25:46
  Speaker 5: Of Godfrey Abelwhite.
• 25:50
  Speaker 7: Hello, cousin.
• 25:53
  Speaker 3: Godfrey.
• 25:53
  Speaker 7: Surprised, cousin?
• 25:56
  Speaker 5: Godfrey, you took the diamond.
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: Oh, good joke. I saw you come out of Rachel's
• 26:04
  Speaker 2: sitting room. You dropped it.
• 26:06
  Speaker 5: I picked it up. And you kept it? I like money.
• 26:13
  Speaker 5: Better reason.
• 26:13
  Speaker 7: Those Indians have been after me for a year. Nor
• 26:19
  Speaker 7: I could fool them.
• 26:19
  Speaker 5: Didn't, did I?
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: Moonstone.
• 26:26
  Speaker 5: Fascinating jewel. Exquisite. Almost worth your life.
• 26:52
  Speaker 6: It was some months later that a small news item
• 26:55
  Speaker 6: appeared on an inner page of the Times. It stated
• 26:59
  Speaker 6: that the worshippers of an ancient four-handed moon god were
• 27:03
  Speaker 6: rejoicing over the return of a fabulous yellow diamond to
• 27:07
  Speaker 6: a recess in their idol's forehead.
• 27:11
  Speaker 5: It was a small item. I doubt if many people
• 27:15
  Speaker 5: read it. Suspense.
• 27:37
  Speaker 1: Presented by Autolite, tonight's star, Mr. Peter Lawford.
• 27:42
  Speaker 2: This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Autolite, the world's largest
• 27:46
  Speaker 2: independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment. In 28 plants from
• 27:51
  Speaker 2: coast to coast, Autolite makes over 400 products for cars, trucks, tractors, planes, boats,
• 27:57
  Speaker 2: and industries. These products include dial indicating and recording thermometers, bumpers,
• 28:03
  Speaker 2: die castings, and batteries such as the famous Autolite Stay Full,
• 28:08
  Speaker 2: ignition engineered Autolite spark plugs, both standard and resistor types,
• 28:12
  Speaker 2: voltage regulators, wire and battery cable, Autolite bullseye sealed beam units,
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: and Autolite original service parts for all Autolite electrical systems.
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: Autolite is proud to serve the greatest names in the industry.
• 28:27
  Speaker 2: So from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Autolite.
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: Next week, it will be our pleasure to present the
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: first radio adaptation of one of the most amazing human
• 28:46
  Speaker 1: documents ever written. The personal diary of Emily Wooldridge called
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: The Wreck of.
• 28:52
  Speaker 2: The Maid of Athens.
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: Our star, the first lady of suspense, Miss Agnes Moorhead.
• 28:58
  Speaker 1: That's next week on... Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: by Elliot Lewis, with music composed by Lucian Morawick and
• 29:16
  Speaker 1: conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone was adapted
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: for suspense by Richard Chandley. Featured in tonight's cast were
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: Betty Harford, Ellen Morgan, Norma Varden, William Johnstone, Ben Wright,
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: Herb Butterfield, Eric Snowden, and Alistair Duncan.
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: Peter Lawford will soon be seen co-starring in the Columbia
• 29:37
  Speaker 2: picture It Should Happen to You.
• 29:40
  Speaker 1: And remember, next week, Miss Agnes Moorhead in The Wreck
• 29:45
  Speaker 1: of the Maid of Athens.
• 29:51
  Speaker 4: You can buy Autolite stay-full batteries, Autolite original service parts,
• 29:56
  Speaker 4: and Autolite standard or resistor spot plugs at your neighborhood
• 29:59
  Speaker 4: Autolite dealers.
• 30:00
  Speaker 5: Switch to auto lights. Good night.
• 30:02
  Speaker 9: This is the CBS Radio Network.
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: Our visit with suspense, The Moonstone, Part 2, is complete.
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: Follow the 50 greatest old-time radio shows for more classic broadcasts.