Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Suspense: The Blind Spot (EP1604s)

Transcript

Suspense: The Blind Spot (EP1604s) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:28
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:34
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a common email it to
0:39
me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, Follow us on Twitter and Radio
0:46
Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook, dot com,
0:50
Slash Radio Detectives. Well, before we do get started, I do
0:55
want to welcome you and thank you for sticking with us for sixteen hundred episodes.
1:00
You can support the show support dot Great Detectives dot net or Patreon dot
1:04
Great Detectives dot net for monthly support. This is one of the last of
1:11
the sixty minute episodes of Suspense. Suspense was half an hour throughout most of
1:18
its run, except for a brief period between January and May of nineteen forty
1:26
eight, and I have to say that I do like so much about the
1:30
hour format. Well, there were so many great suspense episodes. In the
1:34
half hour format you can get some really good story development in and I think
1:38
you'll find that to be the case with today's program. The original air date
1:44
is May the first of nineteen forty eight, and the title is The Blind
1:49
Spot Suspense Radio's Outstanding Theater of frills brings you an hour a full sixty minutes
2:15
of suspense. Tonight our star mister Edmund O'Brien, our story The blind Spot
2:24
by lower C. E. B and John C. Fleming, a suspense
2:28
play produced and directed by Anton M. Leader. It sometimes happens with men
2:38
and institutions who deal only in facts, formulae, the cold logic of scientific
2:43
deduction. They often underestimate or overlook the unpredictability of the human element. They
2:50
may covet reason and disregard instinct and emotion. Tonight, against the background of
2:55
Roger's International Research Institute Pulse of the Nation's opinions, we meet Eric Strange,
3:01
Leland Rodgers, Mona Bartlett and Gregory Rome in a dramatic combination of logic and
3:08
fear. And now with the performance of Edmond O'Brien as Eric, and with
3:15
the blind Spot, we again hope to keep you in suspens Each of us
3:23
has a blind spot. Some of many blank wars in our minds are memory
3:28
or opinion wars which we cannot penetrate and so are held back, or because
3:34
we can't or won't understand, we try to draw away from the world,
3:39
run from it because the blind spot has made us afraid. I started writing
3:47
books about this during the war. Maybe you've read or heard about them blind
3:51
Spots by Eric Stange. Well, whether you have a haven, there's little
3:55
bearing on what I'm about to tell you. I mentioned it simply by way
4:00
of introduction, not to myself but to Fear. Yes, it was the
4:05
blind spot of fear in the mind and heart of Leland Rodgers that led to
4:11
well, I'm getting ahead of myself. Perhaps it's best that you meet Leland
4:15
Rodgers and see him as I did that day when I went to his suite
4:18
in the Park Central Hotel to settle a business matter. It wasn't our first
4:24
meeting, but in a way it seemed to be. For as I pressed
4:27
the buzzer and the door opened, I found myself looking at a different Leland
4:32
Rodgers, a man completely changed for me by his look of sheer terror.
4:40
Strange, Eric Strange, How do you know what your secretary, mister Rogers?
4:45
She said owner. She had no right to tell you where Bartler is
4:48
worried about you, so's your partner, the whole staff. You know,
4:53
Rogers, when you first approached me as a possible client, I was invited
4:57
into your office off at Cigars. I'm sorry, Strange, come in.
5:02
Thank you never did like to hold a conference in a hotel hallway, but
5:06
there's to be no conference, understand Strange. I thought I made it clear
5:11
we can't handle the survey for you. Hmm. Now I suppose if I
5:15
suggested that Rogers International Research could be sued for breach of contract, I might
5:20
not be offered a chair. You have grounds for a suit, of course.
5:25
Sit down. Thanks, Ah, much better now, Rogers, what's
5:31
it all about? Why did you really call things off? It's exactly like
5:36
I told you on the phone. Eric, no mystery about it. Albert
5:40
LeBlanc, or European supervisor was killed yesterday in a crash at the Bourget airport.
5:46
Too bad for the supervisor. His organization of our overseas offices was a
5:50
one man miracle. That was a mistake. Of course, won't happen again.
5:55
But in the meantime, survey on my book is impossible. Quite and
6:00
you're a partner Jim Carr. Now yes, he doesn't agree. I know,
6:03
but Carr isn't running that end of the business. Strange. He shouldn't
6:05
have even been talking to you. He just happened into the office while I
6:09
was with your secretary. He seemed quite upset. Yes, he's always upset.
6:12
But whatever he had to say means nothing, I suppose not. But
6:16
he was enthused over the plans you people has. He's always enthused. However,
6:21
in this case, I was myself. You know that. Yes,
6:26
that's what confuses me. Rogers. You seem so anxious to establish the validity
6:30
of the book's premise. I believe in that premise, mister Strange. I
6:33
believe every word of your book, Blind Spots. I agree that the American
6:38
has the highest natural demand for freedom, and God's that freedom with unequal personal
6:42
responsibility for national welfare. The survey could have proved that belief I know,
6:46
I know, or proved it to be wrong. You know, in that
6:51
event, had we discovered my premise to be arrogant assumption, I intended that
6:58
this would be the last edition of Blind Spots. I understood your intention.
7:03
People without freedom are happier without facts. Yes, yes, However it's the
7:06
strange under the circumstances, with my organization powerless to conduct an immediate survey.
7:12
I don't see what you say around mister Rogers, what I said, sit
7:15
down or better still fix us both a drink because I'm not leaving now.
7:20
See you, Strange, You're wasting your time. I've told you it's all
7:24
off. I've given you a good reason. You can take your business to
7:27
universal surveys or assume me for breach of contract. I don't care. I
7:30
care rogers. I want to know who threatened you threatened? I should have
7:35
warned you months ago. Threats would be a nuisance item you'd have to figure
7:39
on with my survey. There have been no threats, not at all.
7:43
I think they have. I've been threatened regularly since the first edition of Blind
7:47
Spots, first by radicals who call the book reactionary, then by reactionaries who
7:53
suggest I'm proposing revolution. There have been no threats, no threats, Strange.
8:00
It's simply that my key man, look like in our foreign office,
8:03
is at this very moment as alive as either one of us. What do
8:09
you say? What you've been saying is more important. A call came in
8:13
while I was at your office, Miss Bartler took it. It was from
8:15
Le Blanc. You you let me lie, Strange, Yes, because it
8:18
made you feel easier, might make it easier for me to discover what kind
8:24
of fear you're living with? This doesn't change anything. We're not handling the
8:28
survey with or without a reason. Nothing helps your kind of fear, but
8:31
action rogers. If it's free for all, I'd like to get in.
8:37
Would you care to fix those drinks? Tell me about it? Strange?
8:43
Were you ever so afraid? It was like leprosy? You felt your mind,
8:52
your body rotting away once sitting on the ground during a war. The
9:00
sometimes seems like it didn't happen. There was a length of bobed wire in
9:05
front of me, day after day, night after night. One day I
9:13
tried to walk through the wire. They pulled me off, and I tried
9:16
again and again. After that, I had some kind of fever. Now
9:26
it's your turn. I'll get the drinks. I'll need one telling you this,
9:33
you might need one. Listening. Very interesting writers, all of it.
9:54
And where is this little black book right here? Looks harmless enough.
10:01
Lots of people carry them. You you just use it for memoranda, that's
10:05
right, Dates, places, stray ideas I want to jut down. Certainly,
10:11
nothing unusual about that. But the last four pages of the book take
10:15
a looks strange. Read those last four pages h just one line to a
10:20
page that's right, and not one of them seems to make any sense.
10:28
Now you know why my partner, my doctor, even my secretary are beginning
10:31
to guess. I don't understand. Why did you write these things? Would
10:35
you say that I did write them? Handwriting is the same? Are a
10:43
very clever imitation? Exactly? I wrote all the previous pages, those last
10:48
four I didn't. Oh, perhaps you Oh No, I didn't write them
10:52
and forget them after the first two entries. I mentioned this to doctor Whiter's.
10:56
He explained it said I'd had the book on my bed table and wrote
10:58
it in I sleep. That would be my guess too, and quite possible,
11:03
except that after that I left the book at the office. The other
11:05
two messages I found on different afternoons during the last few days. I didn't
11:11
write them. Perhaps it's the work of a practical joker, someone I don't
11:15
know. Strange. I have other aberrations too. They began soon after the
11:20
first message in the book, such as I hear the telephone ring, well,
11:26
there's no one on the wire. I answered doorbells, there's no one
11:30
at the door. One night I woke with a spotlight in my face.
11:33
No one was in the room. You found the third message yesterday? Yes,
11:37
I called you that our deal was off. Lucky. Actually, how
11:43
did Bee for your survey to have it come out later that the head of
11:46
the research organization was office Rocker. Not good, but I'm not good.
11:52
Let's leave it at that. Strange. Wait a minute. This weather report
11:58
clipped at the last page. You found it this way. This way the
12:03
reports is generally clear. With rising temperature and the entry, it will still
12:07
be gloomy when you go home. Funny the combination mean anything to you?
12:13
Yes, it means something. To me. It means I'm going to die
12:20
tonight. Oh, that's ridiculous. The writer of these notes would be a
12:26
superstitious person. Strange. Today is the thirteenth. I don't make sense,
12:33
do I? No? You don't delusions? Good night you. You have
12:41
no idea who the writer of the messages might be. I know who it
12:45
is. He's in my office and he has every reason to kill me if
12:48
but I don't know how to identify him. If I did, I might
12:52
not be afraid blind spots again. Yeah with us all so looks strange.
13:01
I've told you more than I intended to. Now get out of here,
13:05
will you. You've got a lot at stake in that poll of yours,
13:09
and you know, maybe I figure there are things even more important than four
13:13
nation polls. People. They're troubles, people like you, Leland Rodgers,
13:20
a man who was once strong enough to build a great organization from nothing.
13:24
Will you get out? You've got to fight Leland, and I'll help you.
13:26
There's nothing I like better. Good Lord Strange, didn't you hear me?
13:30
I said, get out? Why if I wanted a bodyguard, I'd
13:33
hire one and done it and for free. This is my own mess.
13:37
Why do you want to get yourself into it? I don't never do.
13:41
Look, Look, this is strictly business. Tonight, eye body God for
13:45
you. Tomorrow. You throw away that little black book in the ash can
13:48
and go on with my survey. I don't know what to say. You're
13:54
sure you can't identify this man? The Burnham Detective Agency in New York is
13:58
working on it for me. If I can break through this fog, maybe
14:01
I can give them more to go. One blind spot in your memory,
14:05
something like that, something like that. Maybe if you told me the whole
14:13
story, it might show up. It might only I well it embarrassing.
14:22
It's a long story. Well, we have a long evening on our hands.
14:26
It's only seven thirty seven thirty. You were had to be somewhere.
14:31
Oh no, no, it looks strange, Eric. That's better. I've
14:39
decided that I can trust you. Thanks. I think I'll take a shower,
14:43
climb into a robe, then I'll tell you the works everything. Yes,
14:48
go ahead with your shower. I'll wait. He went into the other
15:01
room to change. I could hear him moving around. Then a few minutes
15:05
later he turned on the water in the shower. I couldn't help feeling sorry
15:11
for him, the way he seemed to be dodging shadows. He'd been in
15:15
there about ten minutes when the phone rang on the desk. Shall I get
15:18
it, Leland. He didn't seem to hear me. I wasn't sure if
15:22
he'd want me taking his palls, but I took a chance. Hello.
15:28
Yes, this is the desk clerk. I have a message for you for
15:31
me. Yes, sir, mister Rodgers asked me to tell you what he
15:35
was called out on an appointment. Mister Rogers is right here. He said
15:41
he'd be back to finish that story. Missus strain meantime. Sorry, he
15:43
wants you to turn off the shower. The shower, all right, clerk,
15:50
I'll I'll take care of it. Leyland Rodgers had given me the slip.
15:58
I didn't know how long he'd be, but curiosity and an unusual interest
16:02
in this unusual man held me right there in this hotel suite. I turned
16:08
off one shower, turned on another. With the seals of order and the
16:11
liquor cabinet. That, together with a few magazines and some interesting pen sketches
16:17
on the wall, kept me occupied for some two and a half hours.
16:22
Then I thought I heard Rogers at the door. It wasn't locked, and
16:26
I sat back waiting for him to come in. He didn't, but someone
16:32
else did. A very expensive looking young lady with ash blonde hair, the
16:37
right amount of jewelry, and from the average male viewpoint, the right dress.
16:41
She entered the room slowly, then acted almost as frightened as Roger's head
16:45
when she caught sight of me. Oh, good evening, Ah, how
16:51
how are you? Let's just say a friend, Leland Rodgers, you are
16:57
extrage I've seen you picture in the papers, all right, and I'm Veric
17:02
Strange and you're Relijah a friend, Leland Rogers. Yeah, he isn't here.
17:14
I'm expecting him any minute. Oh well, I better not wait.
17:18
Perhaps I had better not wait. No, no, really, mister Rogers
17:22
didn't even know I was coming on. Sure he'd be furious if I've interrupted
17:26
anything. Uh you see, he wasn't. Really I'm taking calls and I
17:32
excuse me. Yes, mister Strange speaking. This is Lieutenant Mannix, Homicide,
17:40
Homicide. Yes, Lieutenant, I was just checking. And the desk
17:44
clerk tells me you've been with mister Rogers part of the evening. Yes,
17:48
I have stepped out a while ago. I expect him back soon, don't
17:52
he won't be Oh calling from his office, mister Strange, Leland Rogers is
17:59
dead. Roger dead? Oh no, when did it happen? Lieutenant Howe?
18:06
An hour ago? Watchman found of making his runs single. I'll leave
18:12
right away. What is it? Mutual friend Leland Rodgers was shot to dead.
18:21
Happened in his office. I'm going over there. You'd better come with
18:23
me. No, no, no, I can't do that. Why not?
18:26
Well, I I can't get mixed up in anything like this. Maybe
18:30
you already are, Miss Milner. Gerald Milner. Listen mister Strange, you
18:37
must believe me. I only met mister Rogers once before. How do I
18:41
know that wasn't an hour ago in his office? Well, I haven't been
18:44
out of the hotel. We live here too. We have the suite on
18:48
the floor, but we maya my husband and I. Oh, why see?
18:56
And he well, he wouldn't like this. He wouldn't understand. I
19:00
guess not. Have you been up there with him for the past few hours?
19:04
No, No, I was love then how do I know that you?
19:08
Oh, it's easy to prove that I didn't go out. Just check
19:11
room service. I've sent down for things all evening. I was bored that
19:18
I believe. Oh, please, mister Strange, Now you won't implicate me.
19:22
I'll check the room service. Police Lieutenant John Mannix was a very efficient
19:37
gentleman. When I pulled up at the downtown officer of Roger's International Research,
19:41
a lone police car was parked at the curb. I learned that the others,
19:44
including an ambulance in Roger's own car, had already been driven off.
19:48
My cab rolled in behind the police car. I got out, paid the
19:52
driver and entered the building. They were expecting me. My elevator boy on
19:57
the trip up was a heavy, he said, Sergeant. He took me
20:02
straight to Leland Rogers's office. Mannix had made a few other calls. Roger's
20:06
partner Jim Carr, was there, together with an older man who Mannix immediately
20:08
introduced Strange. Mister Fogerty. You've met Jim Carr. Oh, yes,
20:14
yes, we've met. Mister Fogerty is more or less a silent partner in
20:17
the firm. But under the circumstance, I'm only silent so I can listen
20:21
better, Lieutenant. I know what's going on, know all about Strange,
20:25
his survey, how Leland felt about it. Did you know he wanted to
20:27
call it off? What? That's the way it was. Mister Foggetty changed
20:32
his mind all of a sudden. I tried to talk him out of it,
20:34
but he wouldn't listen. No, he was very determined. I don't
20:38
understand that. I don't understand it all, either of you know any reason
20:41
why he would have come down here the night. Pure imposiveness. Maybe he's
20:45
the worker, Lieutenant lived for this office, this business we all do.
20:49
Mister Foggarty. H I suppose he had been actually usually lately worried like he
20:56
had things in his mind and always had things on his mind. But he
21:00
did behave on a little. We've been worried about him, and the rest
21:03
have I haven't. What are you getting out, Lieutenant, suicide right,
21:07
and that's one of you might be able to suggest an enemy, and Leland
21:11
had no enemies. Everybody loved the boy. I wouldn't go that from here
21:15
in our car. The man's dead. Don't you say anything, gentlemen.
21:18
I believe there's something I should tell you. Eh, go ahead, Strange.
21:21
Unless I'm mistaken. You were the last person to see Rogers alive.
21:23
You are mistaken, Lieutenant. There was a hotel clerk, and if this
21:29
wasn't a suicide, there was also his murderer. I stand corrected, Thank
21:33
you. Now, I'll tell my little story, or rather Leland Rogers's story.
21:48
That's all there is to It's strange is not enough, Lieutenant. The
21:52
man was terrified, poppy cock, mister Strange. Leland was never terrified by
21:56
anything. That isn't quite true, mister Pogger. I told you he'd been
21:59
act odd. He was carrying no little black book when we found him.
22:03
Naturally a murderer wouldn't leave it to the mercies of a handwriting expert. But
22:07
you saw this book, I saw it. They could be the simple explanation
22:11
that Rogers had some sort of a lapsided idea that he didn't want his debt
22:15
to look like suicide. Could be you don't think I don't think so.
22:19
I've been in the business a long time, Strange. I've been writing about
22:22
people for a long time, Lieutenant. I think I know when a man
22:26
shows genuine fear. And of course you have the added advantage of being the
22:30
last brand of seer me yes and the hotel clerk. Lieutenant. Yes,
22:34
mister Kerr, I saw that book myself many times. Rogers always carried it
22:41
his idea book, jotted down ideas he got at odd times. Strange.
22:45
Can you recall the wording of those unusual messages? I think so. There
22:49
were four of them on to a page. The first was at dawn the
22:56
sun casts long shadows you. The other three the horse lost a shoe while
23:02
our bells were still ringing, and the third was turned down the blind spot's
23:07
poll, and the last it will still be gloomy when you go home.
23:11
There was a weather report attached to that right, nonsense. Nutty is a
23:14
fruitcake. Hey, No, Lieutenant, we all tried to get Leland to
23:18
take afication. His secretary, doctor Whiders, didn't have any idea it was
23:22
this dead car. Why didn't he know he was cracking up sell out before
23:26
before he made the rest of us go broke? Lieutenant, there won't be
23:29
a lot of fuss made over this, will They research group can't stand a
23:33
lot of notoriety. You know, if you would see your way clear to
23:36
keep things as quiet as possible and let the police get the note around.
23:40
I didn't mean that. I'm afraid we'll have to face the fact that the
23:42
lieutenant isn't hired to keep things quiet, gentlemen, He's here to try and
23:47
discover why Leland Rodgers is dead tonight instead of a liar check, maybe I
23:52
can even pull a murder out of this and get myself a raise. One
23:55
more thing, where do I get hold of Rogers relatives? He has no
24:00
that I know of. I'll give you his secretary's address. She was the
24:03
closest to him. Oh Lord, all the organization needs now is some relative
24:07
popping in and trying to take over you through us. Lieutenant for the president,
24:11
I'll say, good evening, coming cars all right with you? If
24:15
I may. They seem more upset over themselves than their partner. They do
24:22
have a lot to lose, Lieutenant, that story Rogers told you. What
24:26
do you think now? No known enemies, no relatives. Kara and Rogers
24:32
had very opposite views on how to run the business. What do you mean,
24:36
car? Just thinking? How do you figure this? Vocaly Oh seems
24:41
like a nice old gent a blue bed. Well, fine time a night
24:45
to be waking up a young lady from her beauty sleep. And I'm going
24:48
to talk to that secretary. Do you want to come along strange so you
24:52
can keep an eye on me? I didn't say that, no, matter
24:56
of fact, I'm bursting to go. If you had a nice I might
24:59
have been over there so fast I'd have answered her door for you. That
25:02
sounds like a man almost fast enough to be here tonight and back at that
25:06
hotel in time to answer my phone call. Why don't you check with room
25:11
service? I min what's so funny? Oh nothing, Lieutenant, nothing at
25:17
all. Let's go call on miss Mona buttlet annex was all right? I
25:30
found that out as we drove across town. He was just a hard working
25:33
fellow, anxious to do his job and do it well. I liked him,
25:37
but I didn't share his growing theory that this was a simple case of
25:40
suicide. We reached Mona Buttlet's apartment after climbing a steep flight of terra cotta
25:45
steps to a handkerchief sized landing. Almost immediately we heard the soft slap of
25:52
moccasins coming in response to our ring. I almost didn't remember her when she
25:56
opened the door, in white robe and slippers, her hair hanging to her
26:02
shoulders. She was slight, childlike, a totally different creature from the formidable,
26:08
efficient office guardian of the late Leland Rogers. Come in please, Jim
26:15
Carr called me, told me what happened. Oh, I'm sorry. Do
26:19
sit down. Thank you, sorry to disturb you disturb me here here,
26:25
miss Bartlet, you said that I'm sorry. When Jim called it, well,
26:33
I felt like I was in the middle of a bad dream. I
26:37
kept thinking it. But now you come in here. Jim must have told
26:41
you Lieutenant Mannox wants to contact the next of kin. He thought that you.
26:45
I really can't help you much there, mister Rogers wrote to no relatives
26:51
mentioned none to my knowledge. He was a lone wolf. Maybe in his
26:56
room or in a safety deposit box. There'll be something. Oh well,
26:59
one more thing. Do you know of any business appointment he had tonight?
27:03
No? I don't could have been meeting any one of the eighty people in
27:07
the office. Do you know of any man in the office that he might
27:11
have been afraid of meeting? No? Then there were the hundreds of past
27:17
and present clients for the concern. Look, I'll give you the key to
27:21
my desk, Lieutenant, you can check our appointment books. Thanks. Don't
27:23
think I'll find anything. But you'd never known. Wasn't there a doctor you
27:27
wanted to talk to Mannix, doctor Whitehurst. Yeah, that's the name.
27:30
It's Hilldale seven seven five seven. I'll tryump. Well, that's about all,
27:36
miss Bad. But unless, of course, you know of any enemies
27:38
he hadn't. No, you had no idea he was contemplating suicide. What
27:45
is it, miss Bad? I should have known that? What? Well?
27:52
There was an assignment paper. He dictated it to me about a week
27:55
ago, said it was confidential. What what is all about is voting years
28:00
of stock in the company You assigned them to Jim Carr I remember he said
28:04
this would be until a certain situation was cleared up. You had no idea
28:08
what that situation was. No can know about the assignment. He still doesn't,
28:14
said mister Roger's safety deposit box. He said that no one, not
28:18
even mister Carr, must know. Well he'll know no already, Yes he
28:22
will. They say, how did those two get along? Different ideas?
28:26
But they complimented one another. Both knew it. The company knew everything to
28:32
both of them. Okay, thanks, see Tom, Are you all right?
28:38
I will be Would you could you stay for a few minutes? Of
28:45
course, go ahead, Mannix, I'll get in touch with you. You
28:48
won't have to strange where all was around. You'll find the liquor in the
28:56
cupboard above the sink. And Car wanted you to call him back after Mannix
29:03
left, if possible, know what he wants. I can guess. Never
29:07
approved of calling off the survey on your book. That's my guess too.
29:11
I'll sleep on it. Call him in the morning, whatever you say.
29:15
Oh, I feel like a fool going to pieces like this. Really,
29:21
I'm not a goofy stenog and love of their boss. You should have been.
29:25
He seemed like a lot of men. Oh he was a powerhouse.
29:30
He was the heart and soul of that business. It'll all be lost without
29:34
him. I'll be lost. Oh oh, I've only told someone about that
29:41
aside. I don't please, please take it easy. That's the bad part
29:45
about a thing like this. Everybody thinks about what they might have done.
29:49
Chances arms bottled. There wasn't any way you or anyone could have stopped him.
29:56
Do you believe that? Yes? She buried her face on my shoulder.
30:04
I could smell the fragrance of her skin, feel the convulsive movement as
30:11
she cried it out. She stayed there until her breath grew even again,
30:15
peaceful. Her taught buddy relaxed. Then abruptly she pulled away from me,
30:23
stood up. I want to call Greg greg greg Rome. He's one of
30:29
our research workers. Mister Rogers thought a lot of him. Oh, of
30:33
course, thank you very much, mister Strange, not at all. Do
30:38
you want me to call a taxi foril No, I won't. Good night,
30:44
ohna, good night, Eric. I want to put in a called
30:51
San Francisco for Greg Rome at the Wilkins Hotel. That's right, Greg Rome.
31:00
I went down the stairs, wondering, if I wasn't being a little
31:03
foolish about the hole matter. I tried to tell myself that I ought to
31:07
tab that story of Roger's for what it probably was and accept Mannox's ideas about
31:12
the case. I guess I just about decided that way as I came out
31:17
of the building and stepped off the curb. That's when I heard the car
31:21
come roaring around the corner behind me. Look out, what are you doing?
31:26
You'll run me down. In tonight's full Hour of Suspense, Edmund O'Brien
31:41
stars as Eric in The blind Spot, adapted for radio by Joel Malone.
31:45
Tonight's study in Suspense. In just a moment, we will return with Act
31:56
two of Suspense. This is CBS, the colog be a broadcasting system.
32:02
This is Andrew J. Graham, author of the web surface series Oh and
32:07
a Man and his Wife. You're listening to the great detectives of old time
32:09
radio. And now back to our Hollywood sound stage and Act two of The
32:22
blind Spot, starring Edmund O'Brien. Eric Strange has known fear, and this
32:29
night he has seen the brilliant mind of Leland Rodgers overpowered by fear. A
32:34
fear that has cost his life. Now it is Eric's life that is in
32:37
danger. This man, whose business it is to deal in facts, has
32:42
been driven by instinct and intuition to dismiss the verdict of suicide against his friend
32:46
Leland Rodgers in favor of murder. And this course has led him into the
32:52
path of a swerving automobile. And now with Edmond O'Brien as Eric, and
32:58
with that two of the blind spot, we again hope to keep you in
33:02
suspens Time was irrelevant second in its hours. But when the first bright thread
33:17
of consciousness broke through the pattern of darkness, I had the feeling that I
33:22
hadn't been knocked out for long. The damp night air chilled me as I
33:30
lay sprawled on the sidewalk. I got up, slowly, wondering why I
33:37
was still alive. I discovered one thing for sure. Someone had wanted me
33:45
out of the way, badly enough to risk his own neck and jumping his
33:49
car over an eighteen inch curbing around the corner where the car must have been
33:59
parked waiting for me. I found something else, three cigarette stumps, one
34:06
was still warm. I jumped like a jack rabbit at what I thought was
34:08
my friend coming back. It's just a cruising cab. I must have looked
34:15
pretty frightening to the driver. You're right, buddy, Yes, yeah,
34:20
great. Take me to the Park Central Hotel, Park Central. Hey,
34:24
look when I see guys picking up cigarette But I don't care here. I
34:29
got plenty of money here. Get going, yeah, get going, I'm
34:34
going all right, going nuts. It's strange. Why you've been hurt.
34:45
You ought to see the other car. Look, I was going to stay
34:49
here with Leland Rodgers. Oh yes, sir, we'll give you the room
34:52
next to his suite. The police are up there now, Oh, Lieutenant
34:55
mannox Is. He's having mister Rogers rooms locked down. The boy will take
35:00
you up, mister Strange, and if you want anything, just rain.
35:04
Yes, what happens strange? Try to kiss it. Yes, it's the
35:16
angel of death. And I don't mean miss Bartlett. Lieutenant. When I
35:21
came out of the building, somebody tried to run me down. Hit and
35:23
run drivers. They're bad here. You're too logical, Lieutenant. I could
35:28
grow to hate you. I tell you. The man was waiting for me.
35:31
I found cigarette stubbs. One was still warm. It'll be cold before
35:35
you can get into Quarter's evidence. Let's say you are hit and run driver.
35:39
Huh, I'm not talking to you anymore. Find anything next door,
35:45
another thing, and mac just go from headquarters only finger Prince and Roger's goun
35:49
to his own. I want to say something, but he wore gloves.
35:53
Okay, two knocked out to argue. I'll run along. Eric, you
35:58
better get yourself some slop and maybe tomorrow. Yes, decide that I know
36:04
what I'm talking about. Maybe I've already that you other seventeen think so definitely,
36:08
I'm forgetting all about the cases of right now. Oh that must have
36:15
been a Cadillac, a big one. Sorry. I accused you of playing
36:21
post office all right night? Mm hm post off post office? Maybe that's
36:30
it. Come on, come on, which board? Get me the post
36:37
office. I want to speak to the postmaster. Huh are you kidding?
36:42
It's two o'clock in the morning. Huh oh oh, sorry, since the
36:47
time never was too good, and I'll try them a little later. The
36:59
post off hunch was a wild one, but I followed it through. I
37:01
was there bright and early talking to the supervisor. Would you repeat that request,
37:06
mister strange? Certainly? I want to want a list of people who've
37:08
applied for post box rentaled in the last two weeks. Right, I hate
37:13
to turn you down, mister Strange. I know about your work for the
37:15
State Department. That what the devil do you want for those names? Well,
37:20
a friend of mine was corresponding with a Burnham Detective Agency in New York.
37:22
I don't think he would have wanted his correspondence to go through his office.
37:27
We couldn't open any letters, you know, I know, I know
37:29
there probably aren't any. I just want to know if he rented a box.
37:32
Look, I checked with Henley upstairs. Yeah, that's different. Why
37:36
didn't you say so? Let's have a look here last two weeks? Eh
37:42
mm hmmm, only one name Lamce Martin boked two eight Lance Martin. Perhaps
37:52
he Look, I'll be back. You've been a big help. Thanks a
37:57
lot. Hey, I'm terribly sorry. I'm in a hurry. Certainly.
38:01
Yes, I have to make a New York call. The call is to
38:13
Pete Stan, my agent, a man who'll do anything for me for ten
38:15
percent. I asked him to check somehow at the Burnham Detective Agency see if
38:20
they were working for a lancemart and Beverly Hills post office box number two oh
38:22
eight. All I could do was wait on that, so I made another
38:28
call, then headed down to the research office to keep an appointment with Jim
38:30
Carr. He'd taken over but good. He was sitting in Roger's chair,
38:36
dictating furiously when I walked in. And if this emergency division of authority between
38:42
the board members and myself results in a more balanced and scientific control of r
38:46
IR, I see no reason why the system should not be made percent Oh,
38:53
then there you come in, Strange. Sorry if I interrupted, Miss
38:57
Bartlet's say, it's all right, sit down. Type that much of right
39:00
away, Miss Adkins. Yes, I caught that last paragraph about your dividing
39:05
control. It's a method I've always advocated. It's in an excellent time to
39:07
install it, after that assignment of Roger Star. Yes, strange. You
39:14
don't suppose that assignment might cause anybody to wonder? Have they any cause to?
39:20
I shouldn't have mentioned it, Strange. I hope you never know what
39:24
it feels like to kill a man, What this pills I have to feed
39:30
myself for Ulcer's nerves, Everything in the book, I'm killing myself, strange,
39:36
slowly but surely. Oh, this business, it's the car, I'd
39:39
better use one of your worries right now, we'll go ahead with my survey.
39:43
When can you start? Why rite away, Strange immediately, I'll start
39:46
things humming. There'll be seven hundred men out asking questions about your book within
39:51
twenty four hours. Fine, I'll be at the hotel if you have to
39:52
check on anything. I'm expecting a long distance course. Very good, and
39:55
thank you, mister Strange. Thank you very much. Be assured that I
40:00
that will do a job for you. Crossing the hotel lobby toward the desk,
40:09
I I happened to glance into the cocktail room. I saw a familiar
40:14
reflection in one of the big mirrors and back of the bar, in fact,
40:16
two familiar reflections. I went in, sat down beside Mona Bartlett.
40:22
Mister Strange, Hello, all right, Eric Strange. Gregory Roray just got
40:28
in from San Francisco about twenty minutes ago. Really you must do it with
40:32
mirrors. We ran into each other in the post office this morning. The
40:37
post office. Oh, you must need a mistake of a hut. I
40:40
I must be. We're a lucky girl, Mona. If anything should happen
40:46
to this boyfriend, you've got his exact twin to turn to. All you
40:50
have to do is find just to mix up strange. Chances are the fellow
40:52
doesn't even look like you're sure, probably smokes a different brand of cigarettes too.
40:58
Just what are you getting out strange? Sorry, I'm I'm always suffering
41:01
from blind spots. Have to dash Mohna, expecting her call. I rode
41:15
up in the elevator, wondering vaguely where greg Rome fitted into the picture and
41:20
just what time he had arrived from San Francisco. But I didn't have long
41:23
to think about it. They'd given me the room next to Leland Rodgers' suite.
41:28
It was supposed to be locked up on police order, but I could
41:30
hear someone moving around, and there I went out on the balcony found that
41:35
it connected with his. A few moments later, I was looking through a
41:39
pair of French doors at a pair of legs. They belonged to Cheryl Milner.
41:45
She saw me almost passed out and changed the mind and came over to
41:49
let me in. Eric. What are you doing here? That's a funny
41:52
question, Cheryl, But I haven't time to lie. What's the idea?
41:55
The idea? Oh? I lost a ring when I was here with you,
42:01
and I thought i'd better get it back. My husband wouldn't understand.
42:07
I know where's the ring? And you threw looking around? Better get out
42:12
the way you got in? Just how did you get in? The bell
42:15
captain? I bribed him. Yes, they're so obliging. He is so
42:22
understanding when a lady's in distress. Those room service. I don't know what
42:29
you mean, Eric, Oh really, dunk. Don't you see what this
42:31
can do to your alibi? Oh? I never thought. I'm not so
42:36
sure that my call. Look, you better get out of here. I'll
42:38
talk to you, lady, Please do go on gone. Hello, Hello,
42:46
Eric, this is Pete. Pete. Did you get what I wanted?
42:49
Yeah? I think so. Burnham Detective Agency has been corresponding with a
42:52
Lance Martin, Beverly Hills. I got a girlfriend in their file room.
42:57
The power of a woman. Here's the door. Don Martin's been after them
43:00
to TRACE's ex wife, Allen Martin. In the agency's first report, they
43:05
found that she died and an asylum for the insane ten years ago, brought
43:07
there by the police. I see wonder if Rogers was ever married? What
43:14
nothing? Keep talking? A letter in her purse asked that she'd be treated
43:17
right. It was signed by her son, Darryl Martin. There's no trace
43:22
of the boy before or since, Pete. I think we've hit it.
43:25
Her son, Roger's son. He'd be grown up now. It's the man
43:30
he was afraid of. Name's Martin, Rick Rogers. It's all right.
43:34
That could have been a maiden name. Don't you see? Oh I don't.
43:37
What's it all about? Having time write your book about it? Later?
43:40
He deserted them, left them. What a mota? Huh? Oh?
43:46
Coming coming mona. I thought you would have to see you, Eric,
43:55
I need an excuse, Sure, come on in. I haven't long,
44:00
but I had to know what you were driving at downstairs? About Greg,
44:04
I mean meeting him in the post office this morning. You didn't,
44:07
of course, I met his plane. Eric. Why are you protecting him?
44:14
In love with a guy? I I don't know. I've known him
44:19
ever since college. I guess. I guess he's well, he's always sort
44:22
of dependent on me, big fellow like that. I should think you don't
44:29
know him, Eric. He's been hurt inside, I mean by things that
44:34
have happened. What kind of things? Eric? He Greg once killed a
44:40
man kill the man. It wasn't his fault. It was an accident.
44:45
But please, I didn't come here to tell you about that. And why
44:49
did you come here? Eric? I? I like you very much.
44:55
I wish you'd give this up. Except Lieutenant Mannix his theory before before what,
45:02
Mona, Oh, I don't know. I have a feeling that something
45:07
might happen. It almost did. I tangled with a hit and run driver
45:10
when I left your place. What it's all right, Mannixa's pedestrians are on
45:14
their own in this time. But Mona, yes, won't you tell me
45:17
when Greg really got back in town? I've told you all. I'm going
45:22
to How old is Greg? About twenty six? But whereas folks? Have
45:27
you ever met them? No? No, I never have. You won't
45:31
tell me anymore about his accident. Where'd you two go to school? San
45:37
Carlos College? Ah, that seems like such a long time ago. Stop
45:44
it, will you? How do you think you make me feel? I'm
45:45
thirty five, positively ancient. Eric. You will get out of this,
45:53
leave Greg alone. I'm sorry, Mona. I want to be very sure
45:58
about the guy you marry. I didn't say I know nobody's a habit now
46:02
that he's said it. Yes, he wants me to marry him right away.
46:07
Don't please, Mona, just give me a couple of days. Maybe
46:10
I have to get back down. He'll wonder what you won't promise? I
46:15
can't hear. Eric, I'm too mixed up. Came here? What that
46:24
makes you up a little more? Eric? Eric? Why? Maybe maybe
46:30
to confuse you enough to wait? Maybe a lot of other reasons, Mona,
46:36
we'll talk about it when I get back. Where are you going right
46:38
now? To college? Dean Spirit at San Carlos College was a man who
46:53
lived by a routine. It didn't include sudden, unannounced visitors. And after
46:58
my long flight up there, it appears that I might not get to see
47:00
him. A lady came to my rescue again, the dean's housekeeper. She's
47:07
read my books, didn't like them, but thought all writers were romantic figures.
47:12
She said she had a plan. She disappeared a few minutes later.
47:15
The dean came ambling out of his study. It's strange you're the author of
47:22
blind spots. Eh, that's right, sir, I have a chair.
47:24
Thank you. May I commend you young men? You have the rare gift
47:29
of making facts plausible. Even our freshman reads you. Oh thank you,
47:35
Dean. My housekeeper, Missus Wilkins, tells me you're considering a post in
47:39
our economic department. Oh h that woman always does things the hard way.
47:45
Didn't you think I talked to the author of Blind Spots. She doesn't like
47:49
the books, sir. She's stupid, kind and harmless. Though, So
47:53
what did you have in mind, mister Strange? An ex student of yours
47:58
Gregory Rome? What about Rome? I? Well, I'm going to Greece,
48:06
you see, for the State Department. I'm picking up two assistants.
48:08
Rome's name was suggested. Now if you could add your recommendation, I can't.
48:15
I suggest you contact Rogers's International Research. He works for him. Well,
48:17
naturally I had Leland Rodgers on my list, but since his violent death
48:21
violent death, I thought suicide came under that category. In any case,
48:28
since I can't ask him, I thought perhaps the man who must have suggested
48:30
Rome for the job in the first I didn't suggest him. If anyone did,
48:34
it was an honor student here, Mulla Bottlet. Then you refuse to
48:38
put in a word for Rome. I resent your asking it. I resent
48:43
you're forcing me to flight a man's career. Rome may have fought his way
48:46
successfully out of a bad beginning, but you confound it strange after our experience
48:52
with him. Here, I was an accident of some sort that I don't
48:53
mean it. That was during a wrestling match Rome killed his opponent. The
48:58
athletic board dismissed it on inexperienced the result of imperfect wrestling technique. I'm sure
49:02
he was blameless in that instance might have happened to anybody. There was something
49:07
else. There was, indeed, a shocking, premeditated act of violence.
49:12
That's why you reacted Soda Leland Rodgers's suicide. It is to be explicit strange.
49:17
We expelled Rome for something just shot of murder go on. On a
49:22
certain spring evening during his junior year, Rome waylaid and brutally beat his professor
49:28
of public opinion Measurement, left the man a mass of bruises, lacerations and
49:31
a concussion. We found him only just in time. What motive did he
49:36
have? Yet, that's exactly the point, he had none whatsoever. He
49:39
told a preposterous story of the professor making improper advances towards Rome's fiancee, a
49:45
charge described as ridiculous by the girl as well as by the professor. Why
49:51
didn't the professor prefer charges he had no wish to bring notoriety on either the
49:54
school or his family. What about Rome's parents? Couldn't they shed any light
49:58
on his actions? As I recall the boy was an orphan, I see
50:02
say he didn't have any grandparents? Did he name of Martin? I see
50:07
no reason to pursue the meta further, missus strange, I do not recall
50:09
names, and I have no intention of doing anything at all that might help
50:14
Gregory Rome into a position of trust. Good night, sir, And that
50:25
was that. The Dean went back to his routine and I headed back to
50:29
the airport. I had to lie, but I'd learned plenty about the past
50:32
of Gregory Rome, and it wasn't pretty. Flying down the coast, I
50:44
felt as if I was trying to push that plane at greater speed. My
50:46
mind, my heart, my body were all tense and driving it forward with
50:51
the terrible realization that Mona Bartlett might at that moment be with this mad man,
50:58
might even be deciding to marry it. It was all clear now Roger's
51:02
knowing there was a son somewhere a boy he'd never seen, hadn't even known
51:07
about when he left the mother to be committed to an asylum. When he
51:10
learned it, realized from those notes that it was someone in his own office,
51:15
A fear had hit him. I didn't blame him for being afraid.
51:20
And I shuddered thinking about Mona, the way she'd somehow believed in Gregg all
51:24
these years, championed them, remained faithful in spite of everything. I had
51:29
to get back. I had to get back. Look, mister warring in
51:40
town. If you want this hack to go any faster, drive it yourself.
51:45
It's all right. It's deserted. I don't care. Look turner left
51:47
the end of the blocker apartment's right around the corner. See the car at
51:52
front stop right behind him. He's here. Hey, that's the car.
52:01
That's the car that hit me. What are you talking? Never mind?
52:05
Look driver, here's ten dollars for you. I'll pick up Lieutenant Mannix,
52:10
Homicide Division, Police headquarters. Bring him here on the double. Oh,
52:15
mister, take it from me. Don't go mixing with the police. Tell
52:19
him and look, go up there and talk it over with a peaceable and
52:22
then just say blind spots he'll come. I'm go on, okay. I
52:30
turned towards the apartment started inside. Wasn't easy, but I had to realize
52:35
Muna was up there with him. As I went up the steps, my
52:37
head kept spinning with a jumble of things i'd heard about the man I was
52:43
about to face, a madman, an ex wrestler who killed one of his
52:47
opponents. I wondered how his next opponent would make out. Hello, Greg,
53:04
Hello, I want to see Mona. You want to see more?
53:07
Sure you do? You post office? Johnny all a man. I'd like
53:12
to see Mona. Glad you're here, strange, glad you went to San
53:19
Carlos. Now you know what's coming. Greg not here? If if we
53:23
wanted to stay around trying to drag her into it, her just because she
53:29
had a date with him that night. You want? I want to let
53:31
Greg stop it, stop it leaving. I can stop. Oh, Mona,
53:44
Mona, you shot me. I'm right here, Eric, Oh,
54:02
Eric, I'm sorry. I was trying to I know whereas he's still out.
54:09
He struck his head on the stairs. When you're hitting did you did
54:13
you call the police? No? Eric? Please? He suffered enough.
54:19
You know you know who he is he told me tonight that horrible childhood.
54:24
Can't you see why he had to make Roger suffer as he'd seen his mother
54:28
suffer. I'm sorry for a, Mona, but we've got to turn him
54:30
in. He's a homicidal maniac. Come on, help me to the phone.
54:36
No, no, listen, we'll have to put him away ourselves quietly.
54:42
This is no time to drag this thing through the courts. Why why
54:45
isn't at the time you're survey darling a murder trial. Now with everything everything
54:52
coming out, Eric, you've got to think of yourself. You have to
54:57
go on being a success like Rogers. Gregg was right. I'm very fond
55:07
of you. Eric. Please, please, for my sake, don't call
55:13
the police. Mona, Mona, don't you realize what you're saying. We
55:15
can't decide this thing you are talking Craig. That's when it hit me.
55:22
Gregg's words suddenly came bouncing back. Words that changed everything, wiped away the
55:27
last blind spot. Tried to drag her into it just because she had a
55:31
date with him that night. Mona, you Darrel Martin, a girl's name
55:39
your name? I gave you a chance, Eric, I could have fired
55:44
again, it wasn't an accident. You meant to hit me, then you
55:47
lost your nerve. I love you, I really do. No, I'm
55:52
asking you to play this my way. Will you no? Then I I'm
56:00
glad I won't have to shoot you again. Eric, you're bleeding badly,
56:07
very badly. That should do it. I won't have to Greg Greg,
56:15
he was just a foil, someone to help me. Yes, and at
56:20
four Rogers, Greg was an orphan the right age, and after his wrestling
56:25
accident he was shaken. I kept him that way. It's crazy that professor
56:32
I go to him into that. He was so jealous of me, Eric,
56:37
poor fool. He didn't have a chance. What about me, my
56:42
mother? Did we have a chance, Mona, to destroy the lives of
56:45
others? Get to Leland Rogers. I'd do it all over again. Every
56:50
step effective too, weren't they, Eric? You know they almost drove him
56:58
out of his mind. But why me? You wouldn't stop. I beg
57:04
you to remember, and this was to look like Greg's doing still can he
57:13
his gone? And if you're not alive to challenge me, Oh lord,
57:20
Mona, please get compresses. Stop the blood that Now I won't have to
57:28
shoot you again. I'm so glad he's coming around now, Thank Heaven.
57:45
The guy can't go out of me. You want too many apologies? Can
57:50
I talk to him? Doctor Whitehurst? Now take it easy, all you.
57:52
Mister Strange. This is doctor Whitehurst. You're in a hospital. Hospital
57:59
where Yeah, mona, what about she's dead? Eric shot herself when we
58:05
pulled up in front. Oh did a funny thing, though. She called
58:09
the emergency hospital for you. O sometime talk to young Greg here into a
58:15
jealous rage and gets him to try to run you down. Shoot yourself,
58:22
changes her mind, saves your life. I guess it's a woman's privilege to
58:28
change her mind. Yeah. By the way, Eric, what about young
58:30
Greg here? What do you want us to do? Oh? Hello Greg,
58:37
it's the stranger. She had quite a hole on you, didn't she?
58:43
Yes, sir, I didn't know what I was doing. I was
58:45
so much on you. You will get over it and don't feel too bad.
58:51
I had the same blind spot, thanks, mister strange, Doctor Whitehurst.
58:55
Because the patient possibly take a phone call or say it's urgent, I
58:59
don't How do you feel, strange? All right, I'll plug in right
59:02
here, hold a receiver for you. Thanks, Hello, mister Strange.
59:08
Yes, Cheral, Milda, Hi, Hi yourself. Goodness darling. What
59:16
have they done to you? How Am'm going to be in that horrible old
59:20
hospital. I'm just dying to see you again. I'm bored, darling.
59:25
Yeah, I'll bet. And I'm tired, Holy too tired. I'm afraid
59:32
you you better call room service. Thank you Edmund O'Brien for a magnificent performance
1:00:00
as Eric, and to Jeff Cory, Bruce Cammon, Francis Cheney, Paul
1:00:04
McVay, Ralph Moody, Bud Widham, Martha Shaw, and Bill ally Our
1:00:08
thanks for your fine support. Next week for suspense, the lives of three
1:00:14
persons cross in an atmosphere fraught with the fears of a doting mother. The
1:00:19
story title holds the premise of our play. It is aptly called Life Ends
1:00:24
at Midnight. So join us next week. Then, when with Life Ends
1:00:29
at Midnight, we again hope to keep you in suspense. Mister O'Brien may
1:00:35
soon be seen in the Universal International production. Another part of the Forest,
1:00:39
The Blind Spot, by Lewis E. B and John C. Fleming,
1:00:43
was adapted for radio by Joel Maloonem and was produced and directed by Anton m
1:00:46
leader lud Gluskin is our musical director and conductor. Lucian Morrowack and Renee Garagank
1:00:52
composed the original scores. Listen again next week for Life ends at midnight on
1:00:59
Radio's Outside Standing Theater of Thrills suspend in this weather. Most of us have
1:01:07
a yen to get out into the country. Well this year. Enjoy it,
1:01:13
don't destroy it. Forest Fires do destroy miles of countryside every year,
1:01:16
and nine out of ten forest fires are man set started through carelessness. That's
1:01:22
another way of saying that nine out of ten forest fires could have been prevented.
1:01:27
When you go into the country this spring and summer, take a few
1:01:30
simple precautions. Crush out cigar, cigarette and pipe embers, snap matches in
1:01:35
half after using, drown camp fires, stir the ashes and then drown them
1:01:38
again. And before you start a fire anywhere for any purpose, find out
1:01:45
what the law about fires is in that locality. Don't you be one of
1:01:49
the guilty ones to turn the destructive rampage of fire loose in our forests this
1:01:53
spring. Be careful and help avoid forest fires. This is CBS, where
1:02:00
ninety nine million people gather every week. The Columbia Broadcasting Systems. This is
1:02:10
Andrew Ryan's with Otrwesterns dot com, where we stream live old time radio Westerns
1:02:15
twenty four hours a day, seven days a week with a special twist.
1:02:19
You select the tracks that get to be played. We've got a thousand different
1:02:22
episodes from shows like Gunsmoke, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Escape, Genautry,
1:02:28
and many more. Come check us out at Otrwesterns dot com slash live.
1:02:31
Again, that's OTR Westerns dot com slash Live. You're listening to the
1:02:36
great detectives of old time radio with Adam Graham. And now let's get back
1:02:39
into the show. Welcome back. Well, a fascinating play and really just
1:02:49
a great performance by m and O'Brien. Hi emm and O'Brien won a Best
1:02:54
Supporting Actor Academy Award in nineteen fifty four, but is less remembered today.
1:03:01
And here we just get a really great sample of the type of talent that
1:03:06
he brought to this performance and everything he did. And I love the twist
1:03:10
of him having his own blind spot in regards to the identity of the killer.
1:03:16
There's some great acting, particularly when Bryan's been shot as well. As
1:03:22
just some superb music and sound effects to really set the tone. And it's
1:03:27
a shame that there were not more of these one hour adaptation. With the
1:03:31
right amount of skill in terms of understanding mystery and a knowledge of radio,
1:03:37
you can take a decent sized mystery novel and turn it into a good one
1:03:44
hour radio drama. It comes a lot harder when you get to half an
1:03:49
hour, but I'm so glad that some of these longer form programs exist,
1:03:53
and we'll be bringing you something else that will be a bit longer when we
1:03:58
get into our eighth, teen hundredth episode, but that will actually do it
1:04:02
for today. Join us back here tomorrow for the Saint. In the meantime,
1:04:09
send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Attactives dot net, follow us
1:04:14
on Twitter at Radio Detactives, and become one of our friends on Facebook,
1:04:17
Facebook, dot com slash Radio Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your
1:04:23
host, Adam Grahamson and off