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The Whistler - "Death Walks a Tightwire" (Old Time Radio, 1944) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: November 27th, 1944, brought listeners episode 131 of The Whistler
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: on the CBS Pacific Network. Under the canvas of a
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: traveling circus, Enrico returns after ten years away to Mr.
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: Morgan's operation, carrying grief tied to a fatal high trapeze act.
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: There he encounters Marie Savini, rehearsing a backward somersault on
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: the high wire with her partner Michael, while old memories
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: gather around the ring. Hal Wexler wrote the story, with
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: George W. Allen producing and directing, and Wilbur Hatch providing
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: the music. From Signal Oil, here is The Whistler, Death
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: Walks a Tight Wire.
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: And now, our story begins.
• 0:48
  Speaker 3: Let every go signal remind you that you do go
• 0:52
  Speaker 3: farther with Signal Gasoline. The Signal Oil Program. The Signal
• 1:05
  Speaker 3: Oil Company and your neighborhood signal dealer bring you another
• 1:09
  Speaker 3: curious story by The Whistler.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: Tonight, death walks a tight wire.
• 1:32
  Speaker 4: I am The Whistler.
• 1:34
  Speaker 5: And I know many things, for I walk by night.
• 1:37
  Speaker 5: I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the
• 1:41
  Speaker 5: hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows.
• 1:45
  Speaker 5: Presently I'll tell you of the nameless terrors of which
• 1:48
  Speaker 5: they dare not speak.
• 1:56
  Speaker 3: But first, Signal Oil Company has an urgent message from
• 1:59
  Speaker 3: your government. It's really a message from about 11 million
• 2:03
  Speaker 3: friends of yours in uniform. If they could take time
• 2:07
  Speaker 3: out tonight from the smoke and hell of battle, they'd
• 2:10
  Speaker 3: say to you, it takes more than our hands alone
• 2:14
  Speaker 3: to fight Japs and Nazis face to face. It takes
• 2:18
  Speaker 3: guns and tanks and ships and planes. And it takes
• 2:22
  Speaker 3: your bonds to buy them. Yes, we know how expensive
• 2:27
  Speaker 3: war is. A lot of us, in uniform, are giving
• 2:32
  Speaker 3: what we'll.
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: Never get back. An arm, a leg, a life.
• 2:37
  Speaker 3: But you'll get back the money you put into bonds
• 2:41
  Speaker 3: with good interest. So back us up. Buy another bond,
• 2:45
  Speaker 3: the biggest one you can. By keeping the weapons flowing
• 2:49
  Speaker 3: to us on the fighting front, you're helping us get
• 2:53
  Speaker 3: the war over the earliest possible minute. And in this
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: bloody business, minutes mean lives. Now, The Whistler.
• 3:12
  Speaker 5: The corrosive emotion of hatred seeks its effect in strange places.
• 3:18
  Speaker 5: For instance, you'd think there would be no place for
• 3:20
  Speaker 5: it among the spangles, the gaiety of the big top,
• 3:23
  Speaker 5: where heavily painted faces wear perpetual smiles And the band
• 3:27
  Speaker 5: is raucous in its 4-4 happiness. Here, laughter reigns supreme.
• 3:34
  Speaker 5: But have you ever seen the circus as the late
• 3:36
  Speaker 5: evening breeze whips up the dust of the old county fairground?
• 3:40
  Speaker 5: As the last customers straggle across the track to the
• 3:43
  Speaker 5: waiting car? And the big top begins to come down.
• 3:47
  Speaker 5: The air is thick with dust.
• 3:49
  Speaker 4: Churned from the feet of straining men and animals. The
• 3:52
  Speaker 4: air is blue with the shouts of sweating men working feverishly.
• 3:55
  Speaker 4: The circus is moving on.
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: Come on, come on, you rastabout. Hey, get those wagons rolling.
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: We got a long jump to Merseysburg in the morning.
• 4:06
  Speaker 6: Come on, come on, get them rolling.
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: Check the animals, Lefty.
• 4:10
  Speaker 7: Okay, Morgan.
• 4:12
  Speaker 2: Ah, hello, Michael. Better hurry up. We're pulling out in
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: a hurry. Okay, Mr. Morgan.
• 4:16
  Speaker 4: How was the show tonight?
• 4:17
  Speaker 2: Good. Good audience.
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: If we just keep this up, we got nothing to
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: worry about. Oh, by the way, your act was good.
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: Getting better all the time.
• 4:24
  Speaker 4: Thanks, Mr.
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: Morgan.
• 4:24
  Speaker 4: Well, wait till you see our new routine. Marie's gonna
• 4:27
  Speaker 4: be sensational.
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: Good, good.
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: Will you have it ready for Dalton?
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: Gee, I don't know. Well, that's only three days away. Yeah,
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: I know, but that's our most important show. We always
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: try to do our best there.
• 4:38
  Speaker 4: Okay, we'll try it. I'll get her up on the
• 4:40
  Speaker 4: wire first thing in the morning. Good.
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: Hey, look at that sky. I hope this weather holds
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: out for another three days.
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: Well, hurry up, Michael. Get ready to roll.
• 4:48
  Speaker 4: Right, Mr. Morgan. Good night.
• 4:50
  Speaker 1: See you later.
• 4:58
  Speaker 5: Yes, another stand is played and the circus is starting
• 5:01
  Speaker 5: to roll.
• 5:02
  Speaker 4: Everything's going fine.
• 5:03
  Speaker 5: There's a smile of satisfaction on the face of Mr.
• 5:06
  Speaker 5: Morgan as he glances over the night's box office report
• 5:10
  Speaker 5: in his little private wagon.
• 5:11
  Speaker 4: Everything's going well. Maybe too well, Morgan.
• 5:16
  Speaker 5: Maybe right at this moment a shadow is creeping over
• 5:19
  Speaker 5: the big top.
• 5:20
  Speaker 4: A menacing shadow of hate.
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: Who's there?
• 5:25
  Speaker 4: Well, who is it?
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: Who is it? What do you want? Hello, Morgan.
• 5:37
  Speaker 4: Who?
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: Enrico.
• 5:39
  Speaker 4: Enrico.
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: I didn't recognize you. The light.
• 5:42
  Speaker 4: Come in.
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: Come in, my friend. Thank you, Morgan. I am happy
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: that you remember me. Remember you? My glory, man.
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: How could I forget you? Enrico, the greatest tight wire
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: artist in the business.
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: That was long ago.
• 5:55
  Speaker 1: Yes, but, man, where have you been for the last
• 5:58
  Speaker 1: ten years? Why, I've looked for you.
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: Ask everyone. Advertised in the billboard. Well, you disappeared right
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: off the face of the earth. I, uh... Yes, I...
• 6:06
  Speaker 2: I have been away. I have worked at many things,
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: my friend. With my hands. Worked at any job I
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: could find where I could grip hard with my hands.
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: Grip hard? A complex, no doubt. A desire... To hang
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: on to something. Perhaps to steady myself in a world
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: that has turned upside down for me.
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: Ah, you've had a bad time. Why did you disappear
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: so none of us could find you? We wanted you to.
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: I know, Morgan, I know. But perhaps you do not
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: remember what happened ten years ago. You mean... Oh, yes. Tony,
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: your son. Yes. Tony. My only son. Tony was killed
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: just ten years ago last month.
• 6:53
  Speaker 4: Yes, of course.
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: I remember now. He was working on the high trapeze
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: with Savini. Yes, with Savini. The great Savini. An unfortunate accident.
• 7:05
  Speaker 1: All at one time, the greatest trapeze artist of them
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: all and the most promising youngster.
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: It was a blow to the circus, and of course
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: to you. Yes.
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: But then, those things happen in our business, Enrico. You
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: can't let them get you down. The show must go on,
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: in spite of accidents.
• 7:19
  Speaker 4: Accidents.
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: Everybody always says accidents. But that was no accident. Enrico,
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: what do you mean? My son's death was no accident.
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: It was murder. How can you say that, Enrico? I
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: saw it myself. So did you. They were trying a
• 7:35
  Speaker 2: very difficult trick. It missed. They both fell. How could
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: it have been murder? Because it was Savini's fault. His egotism.
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: Always trying those impossible tricks. Tony worshipped Savini. Would do
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: anything he asked. If Savini wanted to kill himself, that
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: was all right. But he killed my only son, too. But, Enrico...
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: If he hadn't died himself... I would have killed him
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: with my bare hands.
• 8:06
  Speaker 4: That's.
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: Why I've been gripping these last few years, working with
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: my hands, gripping Savini's throat.
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: Anika, get hold of yourself. You can't let such thoughts
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: get you. It was unfortunate, but Tony's dead and so
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: is Savini. The whole thing is over, done with, closed.
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: You've got to forget and go on.
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 8:27
  Speaker 4: I suppose you are right.
• 8:29
  Speaker 2: And if I can help, you know all you have
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: to do is ask me. Thank you, Morgan. And perhaps
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: I will. Just name it. I want a job with
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: the circus. With the circus? Oh, no, no, no. Not
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: on the highway, of course. I've lost that long ago.
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: But any job. Just a helper. A roustabout. Just to
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: feel the circus in my blood again.
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: Well, of course, Enrico, if you really want it. You
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: can sleep here in my wagon tonight. And tomorrow morning,
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: I'll introduce you to the foreman.
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: Thank you, Morgan. Thank you. Oh, you do not know
• 9:03
  Speaker 2: what you have done for me.
• 9:12
  Speaker 4: I wonder if Mr.
• 9:13
  Speaker 5: Morgan caught the look in Enrico's eye when he said that.
• 9:17
  Speaker 5: I wonder if he felt the gnawing hatred in the
• 9:19
  Speaker 5: tortured face. I wonder if he felt that menacing shadow
• 9:23
  Speaker 5: grow larger and spread across the circus.
• 9:27
  Speaker 4: No, I suppose he didn't. Nobody felt it yet except Enrico.
• 9:33
  Speaker 5: Next day, he took up his new duties, but once
• 9:35
  Speaker 5: the big top was up and he had a chance
• 9:36
  Speaker 5: to look.
• 9:37
  Speaker 4: Around, he headed for the performer's tent.
• 9:40
  Speaker 5: There was purpose in his walk, and his hands gripped
• 9:43
  Speaker 5: tightly into a fist. Into the tent he went, his
• 9:50
  Speaker 5: eyes darting at the familiar sight. Makeup tables, mirror, grease paint,
• 9:54
  Speaker 5: the heavy chests in which performers kept their belongings. There
• 9:58
  Speaker 5: are names painted on the sides. He scanned each one anxiously, intently.
• 10:04
  Speaker 5: There was a frown on his face until suddenly, off
• 10:08
  Speaker 5: in a corner, he saw it.
• 10:10
  Speaker 4: Just another chest, but it was the one he was
• 10:12
  Speaker 4: looking for.
• 10:14
  Speaker 5: Yes, yes, there it was, the name he'd thought he'd
• 10:17
  Speaker 5: heard yesterday at the show. The name on the chest
• 10:20
  Speaker 5: was Marie Savini.
• 10:27
  Speaker 2: Hey there. What are you doing in here?
• 10:29
  Speaker 4: Don't you know it's against the rules?
• 10:32
  Speaker 2: I was just looking for someone. Who? Marie Savini. Oh. Well,
• 10:39
  Speaker 2: you'll find her out in the ring. She and her
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: partner are rehearsing a new act. Thank you. Thank you
• 10:44
  Speaker 2: very much.
• 10:52
  Speaker 5: Marie Savini, the child of the great Savini. That's what
• 10:57
  Speaker 5: brought you back to the circus, isn't it, Enrico? The
• 11:00
  Speaker 5: child of the man who killed your son. And now
• 11:03
  Speaker 5: you're standing in the shadow and watching her. A beautiful
• 11:06
  Speaker 5: young girl, graceful and agile, just like her father.
• 11:10
  Speaker 4: And your hands are working convulsively. Marie Savini. Savini, even
• 11:16
  Speaker 4: the name you hate. All right, try it again.
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: Steady. Steady. Go.
• 11:26
  Speaker 4: Steady.
• 11:29
  Speaker 2: Careful.
• 11:31
  Speaker 4: Oh, darn.
• 11:32
  Speaker 7: I don't know what's the matter with me, Michael.
• 11:34
  Speaker 2: If you just relax.
• 11:35
  Speaker 7: I can't. I don't know what it is, Michael, but
• 11:37
  Speaker 7: I feel so funny. As if someone was staring at me.
• 11:41
  Speaker 7: It's making me uncomfortable.
• 11:42
  Speaker 4: Nonsense. There's no one in the tent. I.
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: Hmm. That's funny.
• 11:47
  Speaker 4: What? There is someone over there, standing in the shadow,
• 11:50
  Speaker 4: watching you. I didn't notice him before.
• 11:53
  Speaker 7: Who is he?
• 11:53
  Speaker 4: I don't know. Oh, yes, it's that new man, Enrico.
• 11:58
  Speaker 4: The man the manager was telling us about this morning.
• 12:00
  Speaker 4: He used to be a great wire walker himself.
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: Remember?
• 12:04
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes.
• 12:05
  Speaker 7: No wonder I was nervous with him looking on.
• 12:07
  Speaker 4: Oh, but he hasn't done anything for years. We don't
• 12:10
  Speaker 4: have to be nervous about him. Come on.
• 12:12
  Speaker 7: Oh, but Michael, the way he was staring, I.
• 12:17
  Speaker 7: Let's go for a walk and then come back. Perhaps
• 12:18
  Speaker 7: he'll be gone.
• 12:19
  Speaker 4: Now, Marie, what's the matter?
• 12:21
  Speaker 2: We have to keep practicing.
• 12:23
  Speaker 4: Especially if you expect to get this backwards somersault perfected
• 12:26
  Speaker 4: in time to do it in Dalton.
• 12:27
  Speaker 7: I can't help it, Mike. I don't want him staring
• 12:30
  Speaker 7: at me. It may be my imagination, but... There's something
• 12:34
  Speaker 7: about him that scares me.
• 12:36
  Speaker 5: THE END.
• 12:45
  Speaker 4: Yes, Marie, now you feel it too. The hatred reaching
• 12:49
  Speaker 4: out like a shadow to engulf you. But it's only
• 12:52
  Speaker 4: a shadow, and you can shake it off. You've almost
• 12:55
  Speaker 4: forgotten the incident by that night.
• 12:57
  Speaker 5: And now you're sitting in your compartment on the circus train,
• 13:00
  Speaker 5: getting sleep when.
• 13:04
  Speaker 7: Who's there? Michael?
• 13:08
  Speaker 2: Oh. I hope I have not frightened you, Miss Salvini.
• 13:12
  Speaker 2: I knew you were busy all day, and I thought
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: it would be better to visit you here tonight. I.
• 13:18
  Speaker 7: What do you want?
• 13:19
  Speaker 2: I just want to talk to you. And you must
• 13:23
  Speaker 2: not be frightened of me. My name is Enrico. I
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: was a tightwire walker once, and I was very impressed
• 13:31
  Speaker 2: with your ability today.
• 13:33
  Speaker 7: Oh, thank you.
• 13:34
  Speaker 2: The backward somersault on the high wire was my specialty.
• 13:38
  Speaker 4: Oh.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: And I was surprised to see such a young girl
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: performing it and so well.
• 13:45
  Speaker 7: Oh, thank you, sir. We're practicing so hard because we
• 13:48
  Speaker 7: want to try it in Dalton. And only two more days.
• 13:51
  Speaker 2: I see. That is time enough, I'm sure.
• 13:55
  Speaker 7: Do you really think so?
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: Oh, I do. With the proper help. Oh, uh, tell me.
• 14:03
  Speaker 2: You have, uh, no people with you, uh? Who could
• 14:08
  Speaker 2: help you?
• 14:08
  Speaker 7: No, I'm alone. Except for my partner, of course. I
• 14:12
  Speaker 7: have no family. I've had to learn for myself.
• 14:15
  Speaker 2: I see. Well, would you allow me to help you?
• 14:19
  Speaker 2: It would give me great pleasure to see you perform
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: such a difficult trick on the highway. It would be
• 14:24
  Speaker 2: a little like doing it myself once again.
• 14:28
  Speaker 7: Oh, it would be wonderful to have your help.
• 14:30
  Speaker 4: Oh, good.
• 14:32
  Speaker 2: Then we will begin tomorrow morning.
• 14:33
  Speaker 7: Yes, thank you. It's so funny.
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: What?
• 14:40
  Speaker 7: Well, I had the strangest feeling about you, but... Oh,
• 14:44
  Speaker 7: it was nothing. And now you're very nice.
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: Thank you, my dear.
• 14:49
  Speaker 7: I hope that I shall be a good pupil.
• 14:50
  Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sure you will, Marie. I'm sure that I
• 14:55
  Speaker 2: will accomplish what I wish. Good night.
• 15:08
  Speaker 3: You are listening to The Whistler, brought to you by
• 15:11
  Speaker 3: your friend, the Signal Oil Company. Marketers of famous Signal gasoline,
• 15:16
  Speaker 3: your best buy today. Remember to let every go signal
• 15:21
  Speaker 3: remind you, you do go farther with Signal gasoline.
• 15:43
  Speaker 5: Well, it would seem that Marie Savini should choose her
• 15:47
  Speaker 5: teachers more carefully, especially since the trick she's trying to
• 15:51
  Speaker 5: learn is one of the most difficult of all on
• 15:53
  Speaker 5: the high wire. The next morning, with everything ready, Enrico
• 15:56
  Speaker 5: starts Marie on her lessons.
• 16:00
  Speaker 7: Good morning, Enrico.
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: Oh, there you are, Marie. I was afraid this would
• 16:04
  Speaker 2: prove too early for you.
• 16:06
  Speaker 7: Oh, no.
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: I had the men rig up the high wire. I
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: was hoping we could get started before anybody else was around.
• 16:11
  Speaker 8: But the high wire. Do you really think I'm ready
• 16:14
  Speaker 8: for it, Enrico? Don't you think I should practice on
• 16:16
  Speaker 8: the low one for a while yet?
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: You have only two days to perfect it. I'm sure
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: you can do it now. You are not afraid, are you, Marie?
• 16:25
  Speaker 7: Oh, of course not, Enrico. If you think I'm ready,
• 16:28
  Speaker 7: I'll try it. I'll probably fall into the net the
• 16:31
  Speaker 7: first few times.
• 16:32
  Speaker 2: That is the only way you will learn.
• 16:34
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: Now come, let's hurry. I will give you a boost
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: to the ladder.
• 16:37
  Speaker 7: But I feel nervous, Enrico. Perhaps I shouldn't go up
• 16:41
  Speaker 7: right now.
• 16:42
  Speaker 2: Nonsense. By the time you reach the wire, you will
• 16:45
  Speaker 2: be over it, Marie. I will watch you from down here.
• 16:48
  Speaker 7: Oh, all right.
• 16:53
  Speaker 4: There she goes, Enrico.
• 16:55
  Speaker 2: Up.
• 16:56
  Speaker 4: Up to that dizzy height from which your son fell.
• 16:59
  Speaker 4: Marie Savini. As you watch her, the tent spins in
• 17:03
  Speaker 4: your eyes.
• 17:04
  Speaker 5: She's there now, limbering up, walking out on the wire, unsteadily, nervously.
• 17:12
  Speaker 2: You had better walk the wire a few times just
• 17:15
  Speaker 2: to limber up. Hold yourself steady. That is fine. Now,
• 17:25
  Speaker 2: come back once more, and we will try the somersault. Good, good.
• 17:33
  Speaker 2: Are you ready now?
• 17:36
  Speaker 7: I guess so.
• 17:37
  Speaker 4: All right.
• 17:40
  Speaker 2: Go to the middle of the wire. Relax yourself.
• 17:46
  Speaker 4: All right. Now. I can't, Enrico. I can't do it.
• 17:51
  Speaker 7: I never realized how it would be to do it
• 17:52
  Speaker 7: from up here.
• 17:53
  Speaker 2: Go ahead, Marie. You cannot stop now. You want to
• 17:56
  Speaker 2: be a great star, do you not? You must try
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: it now. Jump.
• 18:00
  Speaker 5: Enrico.
• 18:01
  Speaker 4: Hello there. What are you doing, Marie? Hello, Michael.
• 18:08
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Enrico. I'll try it again.
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: That is quite all right.
• 18:13
  Speaker 4: What's the matter, Marie?
• 18:14
  Speaker 7: Enrico's helping me with my backward somersault. I'm afraid I'm
• 18:18
  Speaker 7: not such a good pupil.
• 18:19
  Speaker 4: Marie, you've got to come down now.
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: What?
• 18:22
  Speaker 4: The manager wants to talk to you right away. He's
• 18:24
  Speaker 4: at the ticket wagon. All right.
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: Come on down. I will hold the rope.
• 18:29
  Speaker 5: Thank you.
• 18:30
  Speaker 7: Here I come.
• 18:31
  Speaker 4: I've heard a lot about you, Enrico. Marie is fortunate
• 18:33
  Speaker 4: to have you to help her.
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: Thank you.
• 18:35
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 18:36
  Speaker 7: Thanks, Enrico. I'll be right back. I promise not to
• 18:39
  Speaker 7: fail again.
• 18:40
  Speaker 2: Do not worry about it. I will wait for you here.
• 18:44
  Speaker 7: Will you wait too, Michael?
• 18:46
  Speaker 2: Sure, Marie. Hurry.
• 18:46
  Speaker 4: Hurry.
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: Marie is going to be a great star someday, son.
• 18:53
  Speaker 4: I hope so, Enrico.
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: You are very fond of her, are you not, Michael?
• 18:57
  Speaker 4: Yes, I am. She and I grew up together in
• 19:00
  Speaker 4: the circus. One of these days we're going.
• 19:01
  Speaker 2: To be married. Oh, I did not know that. Congratulations.
• 19:07
  Speaker 4: I'm... Enrico! Look!
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: What is it?
• 19:10
  Speaker 4: The net.
• 19:11
  Speaker 2: Look at it.
• 19:13
  Speaker 4: Every rope on that end is untied and hanging loosely.
• 19:15
  Speaker 4: Good heavens! Marie had fallen, she would have been killed instantly.
• 19:19
  Speaker 2: Oh, I should have checked it, those stupid riggers. Oh, Michael,
• 19:24
  Speaker 2: do not tell Marie about this. She might lose her
• 19:27
  Speaker 2: nerve and never want to go up again. Yes, you're right, Enrico. Hurry,
• 19:31
  Speaker 2: we've got to fix it before she comes back. Oh,
• 19:34
  Speaker 2: thank heaven she didn't try the somersault. Yes. It is fortunate,
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: is it not? THE END.
• 19:46
  Speaker 5: Yes, it is fortunate, is it not? There might have
• 19:51
  Speaker 5: been a very regrettable accident, mightn't there, Enrico? Did I
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: say accident? Well, who knows? Those things do happen in
• 19:59
  Speaker 5: a circus. But it was avoided, thank goodness. And the
• 20:03
  Speaker 5: next morning, Michael is there to see that it doesn't
• 20:05
  Speaker 5: happen again.
• 20:06
  Speaker 4: And so now Marie is ready for her... debut as
• 20:09
  Speaker 4: a star.
• 20:12
  Speaker 8: Enrico, I want to apologize for the way I almost
• 20:15
  Speaker 8: failed you yesterday.
• 20:16
  Speaker 7: I hope you'll forgive me.
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: Oh, of course I do, Marie. I understand just how
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: you felt up there. The important thing is the fact
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: that you came back again and did it perfectly. And
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: this morning, you performed like a veteran. I admire your courage.
• 20:35
  Speaker 7: It was all because of you, Enrico. This means so
• 20:38
  Speaker 7: much to me.
• 20:39
  Speaker 8: I've always looked forward to the day when I'd be
• 20:41
  Speaker 8: a featured star in the circus.
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: Oh, you will be the star of the show tomorrow, Marie.
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: I can just see you on the high wire. The
• 20:50
  Speaker 2: ringmaster will introduce you, and then you will climb to
• 20:54
  Speaker 2: the platform, confidently knowing that you will be doing one
• 20:58
  Speaker 2: of the greatest tricks on the high wire. I remember
• 21:03
  Speaker 2: saying all this to my son.
• 21:06
  Speaker 7: Your son, Enrico?
• 21:08
  Speaker 2: Yes. My son, Tony. He was killed while working on
• 21:12
  Speaker 2: the trapeze ten years ago.
• 21:14
  Speaker 7: Oh, I'm sorry. The trapeze, but I thought you said
• 21:19
  Speaker 7: he worked the high wire.
• 21:21
  Speaker 2: Someone else persuaded him to give it up and become
• 21:23
  Speaker 2: a trapeze performer. That's when he was killed.
• 21:26
  Speaker 7: How terrible, Enrico. Didn't he use a net?
• 21:31
  Speaker 2: A great artist does not use a net, Marie. It
• 21:34
  Speaker 2: is a sign of utmost confidence in oneself to think
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: that makes people admire a performer even more. Someday, you
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: will work without Annette, Marie. And then you will be
• 21:49
  Speaker 2: truly a great performer.
• 21:51
  Speaker 8: After today, Enrico, I could never be afraid of anything.
• 21:55
  Speaker 8: I know I could perform without Annette tomorrow if.
• 21:57
  Speaker 7: You wanted me to.
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: Oh, no, no, no, my dear. You could not do that.
• 22:01
  Speaker 2: It is extremely dangerous.
• 22:02
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 22:03
  Speaker 2: But, of course, it would give you great prestige if
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: you performed without a net in Dalton. You would indeed
• 22:11
  Speaker 2: be acclaimed as a great tightwire artist.
• 22:15
  Speaker 7: I'm going to do it, Enrico.
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: No, no, no, but, Marine, you cannot.
• 22:18
  Speaker 8: Enrico, I know you want to help me, but I
• 22:20
  Speaker 8: can't help feeling that you still think.
• 22:21
  Speaker 7: I'm a coward.
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: Oh, no, Maria, do not.
• 22:25
  Speaker 8: Tomorrow, when I perform the backwards somersault without a net,
• 22:28
  Speaker 8: I'll prove to you that I'm not afraid.
• 22:30
  Speaker 2: You are very wrong, Marine. But I admire your spirit.
• 22:35
  Speaker 2: If you are determined to do this, I know I
• 22:37
  Speaker 2: cannot stop you. I shall be at your side when
• 22:41
  Speaker 2: you go up. I know you will be successful.
• 22:54
  Speaker 5: And now the shadow of hatred engulfs the circus. The
• 22:58
  Speaker 5: day has come. And if you'd watch closely, you'd see
• 23:01
  Speaker 5: Enrico's hands working convulsively, gripping hard, gripping hard on a
• 23:07
  Speaker 5: dead throat. Marie Savini is going on to the high
• 23:10
  Speaker 5: wire today to do a backward somersault without a net.
• 23:16
  Speaker 4: And now, ladies and gentlemen....
• 23:29
  Speaker 6: You are about to witness a performance of great daring.
• 23:34
  Speaker 6: Marie Savini is going to attempt a backwards somersault down
• 23:39
  Speaker 6: the high wire above. This will be the first time
• 23:44
  Speaker 6: that this feat has ever been attempted by a woman.
• 23:48
  Speaker 6: To add to the already present danger... Miss Savini is
• 23:53
  Speaker 6: going to perform right before your eyes without the aid
• 23:57
  Speaker 6: of a life-saving net. Presenting Marie Savini!
• 24:12
  Speaker 4: Now, Enrico. Now watch, Enrico. Stand there in the shadow
• 24:16
  Speaker 4: you brought and watch.
• 24:19
  Speaker 6: Miss Savini is approaching the center of the wire.
• 24:24
  Speaker 2: She's ready now. Her body is.
• 24:27
  Speaker 6: Poised for the spring that will spell success or doom.
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: She's about to jump.
• 24:35
  Speaker 4: She does!
• 24:39
  Speaker 6: Good Lord, the wire broke!
• 24:50
  Speaker 2: I can't believe it.
• 24:51
  Speaker 4: I can't. Marie, dead. Buck up, son.
• 24:55
  Speaker 2: These accidents happen sometimes. I'm afraid this was no accident, Mr.
• 24:59
  Speaker 4: Morgan.
• 24:59
  Speaker 2: What do you mean?
• 25:00
  Speaker 4: I just examined the wire.
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: It didn't just break. It was filed halfway through.
• 25:04
  Speaker 4: No. No.
• 25:05
  Speaker 2: You sure, Johnson? You can see for yourself. Oh, no.
• 25:08
  Speaker 2: Who would want to kill Marie Servique? Good heavens, I
• 25:11
  Speaker 2: never thought of that.
• 25:12
  Speaker 4: What's the matter, Mr. Morgan?
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: Who checked this wire before Marie went up?
• 25:16
  Speaker 4: I usually do, but Don Rico said he'd do it.
• 25:19
  Speaker 4: That's what I thought. Don Rico! Don Rico!
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: He's the one who persuaded her to go up without
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: a net.
• 25:24
  Speaker 4: Yes, he is.
• 25:25
  Speaker 2: And he checked the wire. You mean... Wait.
• 25:29
  Speaker 4: Yes. Yes. Something else happened, too. The other day, I
• 25:34
  Speaker 4: discovered the net wasn't tied while Marie was practicing. Don
• 25:38
  Speaker 4: Rico blamed it on the hands who put it up.
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: That's not true. I supervised that myself. It was all
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: tied perfectly. But Don Rico ordered us out. He said
• 25:45
  Speaker 2: he'd check everything himself.
• 25:46
  Speaker 5: And then.
• 25:47
  Speaker 4: He untied the net. Mr. Morgans!
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: Come on. Let's find Enrico. Enrico, we want to... Enrico,
• 26:06
  Speaker 2: what's the matter? Nothing. Nothing, my friend. Everything is all
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: right now. Enrico, you killed her. When I was a
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: little boy, Morgan, a priest once told me that revenge
• 26:21
  Speaker 2: brought no satisfaction. But it does, Morgan. It does. That's
• 26:29
  Speaker 2: why you find me smiling, laughing, yes. Yes, Morgan. I
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: killed Marisa Vini as I could not kill her father.
• 26:41
  Speaker 2: And now my son's death is avenged.
• 26:54
  Speaker 3: The Whistler will be back with a strange ending of
• 26:57
  Speaker 3: tonight's tale in just a moment. Meantime, here's a timely
• 27:01
  Speaker 3: reminder about two important parts on your car. Your transmission
• 27:05
  Speaker 3: and differentials. Because these gears need their lubricant changed only
• 27:10
  Speaker 3: once every 5,000 miles, they're often forgotten.
• 27:13
  Speaker 2: Then here's what happens.
• 27:15
  Speaker 3: Tiny bits of metal are pulverized by the tremendous pressure
• 27:19
  Speaker 3: of the gears, and the lubricant gradually becomes a gritty,
• 27:22
  Speaker 3: grinding abrasive that can cause costly damage. That's why now,
• 27:28
  Speaker 3: when you take your car to your signal gasoline dealer
• 27:31
  Speaker 3: to have him.
• 27:32
  Speaker 2: Lubricated for winter protection... It's a.
• 27:34
  Speaker 3: Good time to also have him change the transmission and
• 27:37
  Speaker 3: differential lubricant. His famous safety signal chart shows the exact
• 27:43
  Speaker 3: type of signal lubricant... the maker of your car prescribed...
• 27:48
  Speaker 3: to give your expensive gears maximum protection. Incidentally, if your
• 27:54
  Speaker 3: old windshield wiper is leaving blurring streaks on your windshield...
• 27:58
  Speaker 3: your signal gasoline dealer... has just received a fresh stock
• 28:02
  Speaker 3: of the famous Rainmaster blades that will keep your vision
• 28:06
  Speaker 3: clear through the rainy season. Helping you to go safely
• 28:11
  Speaker 3: is just another way your signal gasoline dealer is prepared.
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: To help you go farther. And now, back to the whistler.
• 28:22
  Speaker 9: Whistling Yes, Enrico had his revenge. He killed Marie Savini.
• 28:42
  Speaker 4: At last, the hated name was wiped from the pages
• 28:44
  Speaker 4: of the living. But wait, Enrico. What does this mean?
• 28:49
  Speaker 4: The expression on the face of your friend Morgan.
• 28:51
  Speaker 2: Good Lord, Enrico, you don't know what you've done.
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: I've done what I had to do. But you don't understand, Enrique.
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: Savini never had a daughter.
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: What? What do you mean?
• 29:03
  Speaker 1: His child was a son. There never was a Marie Savini.
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: I gave Marie that name.
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: The End.
• 29:33
  Speaker 3: Next Monday at 9 o'clock, the Signal Oil program will
• 29:36
  Speaker 3: bring you another strange tale by the Whistler. The Signal
• 29:40
  Speaker 3: Oil program is broadcast for your entertainment by the Signal
• 29:43
  Speaker 3: Oil Company, marketers of Signal's famous go-father gasoline and motor oil.
• 29:48
  Speaker 3: And by your neighborhood Signal Oil dealer, who is at
• 29:51
  Speaker 3: your service daily to keep your car running for the duration.
• 29:54
  Speaker 3: The Signal Oil program, produced and directed by George W. Allen,
• 29:58
  Speaker 3: with story by Hal Wexler and music by Wilbur Hatch,
• 30:01
  Speaker 3: is transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces
• 30:04
  Speaker 3: Radio Service. Bob Anderson speaking for your friend, the Signal
• 30:08
  Speaker 3: Oil Company, and suggesting once again that you let every
• 30:12
  Speaker 3: go signal remind you that you do go farther with
• 30:16
  Speaker 3: Signal Gasoline. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: We leave the circus ring with the whistler. Death walks
• 30:38
  Speaker 1: a tight wire. Follow the whistler for more classic broadcasts.