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The Whistler - "Murder in Mind" (Old Time Radio, 1950) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

0:00
Speaker 1: On April 16, 1950, the CBS Pacific Network aired episode
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Speaker 1: 411 of The Whistler, Murder in Mind, sponsored by Signal
0:09
Speaker 1: Oil Company. In the exclusive Terrace Heights district, Gil and
0:14
Speaker 1: Vicki Hollister wait at their hillside home after an automobile
0:18
Speaker 1: brake failure has seemingly removed Gil's stepmother, Belle, from their path. Instead,
0:24
Speaker 1: Bell returns by taxi, alive, and hires Foster to serve
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Speaker 1: as her driver and bodyguard. Gil and Vicki have been
0:31
Speaker 1: looking toward an inheritance, and Bell's unexpected arrival changes the
0:35
Speaker 1: circumstances they had hoped to control. With Frances Robinson featured
0:40
Speaker 1: in the cast, we turn now to The Whistler. Here
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Speaker 1: is the original broadcast.
0:47
Speaker 2: And now, stay tuned for the mystery program that is
0:50
Speaker 2: unique among all mystery programs. Because even when you know
0:53
Speaker 2: who's guilty, you always receive a startling surprise at the
0:57
Speaker 2: final curtain. In the Signal Oil program, The Whistler. Signal,
1:14
Speaker 2: the famous go-farther gasoline, invites you to sit back and
1:17
Speaker 2: enjoy another strange story by The Whistler.
1:38
Speaker 3: I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for
1:42
Speaker 3: I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden
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Speaker 3: in the hearts of men and women who have stepped
1:48
Speaker 3: into the shadows.
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Speaker 4: Yes.
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Speaker 3: I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.
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Speaker 2: And now for the Signal Oil Company, the Whistler's strange story,
2:03
Speaker 2: Murder in Mind.
2:11
Speaker 3: The Hollister House looked as permanent as the hillside it
2:14
Speaker 3: occupied in the exclusive Terrace Heights district.
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Speaker 5: On the outskirts of town.
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Speaker 3: The house itself sprawled along the crest of the hill,
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Speaker 3: overlooking the rambling wooded ground. That late afternoon in early spring,
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Speaker 3: Gil Hollister and his wife Vicki sat facing one another
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Speaker 3: on the broad terrace. Neither spoke for a time, for
2:35
Speaker 3: they were waiting. Waiting for something to happen. And then
2:38
Speaker 3: Gil sprang to his feet and started pacing the stone-floored terrace.
2:43
Speaker 5: We ought to be hearing something by now. It shouldn't
2:45
Speaker 5: take this long.
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Speaker 6: Oh, be quiet, will you, Gil? I'm trying to listen.
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Speaker 5: I'm trying not to.
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Speaker 6: Don't tell me you're sorry you did it.
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Speaker 5: I'm not sorry, Vicki. I'm not anything. I just wish
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Speaker 5: it were over, that's all.
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Speaker 6: If you did what you were supposed to do, we
2:59
Speaker 6: won't have much longer to wait. Oh, Gil, stop hating me.
3:03
Speaker 7: I've got to do something.
3:05
Speaker 5: How about a drink?
3:06
Speaker 6: Not for me. But you look like you could use one.
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Speaker 5: Yes. I guess I could.
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Speaker 3: You move rigidly, mechanically, over to the bar under the
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Speaker 3: striped canopy on the side of the terrace. Go through
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Speaker 3: the motions of making the highball with unsteady hands. And
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Speaker 3: your mind is turning over and over. What could have
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Speaker 3: gone wrong, Gil? Should have happened by now. Bell drove
3:29
Speaker 3: away from the house five minutes ago. And then you
3:33
Speaker 3: hear it. A car coming up the road. You freeze inside.
3:36
Speaker 3: Vicki leans forward in her chair. And then as the
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Speaker 3: taxi rounds the curve and comes into view.
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Speaker 7: Gil.
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Speaker 6: It's Bell. She's back, Gil.
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Speaker 3: How did you.
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Speaker 5: Shut up. I said shut up.
3:50
Speaker 6: Yeah, me. Children, I've just had the most terrifying experience.
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Speaker 6: Really terrifying. Why? What's the matter, Del? I have to
3:57
Speaker 6: get my breath. Oh, my goodness. I'm still trembling. I
4:02
Speaker 6: was fortunate enough to get a taxi to bring me
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Speaker 6: back up. But what happened? I cannot understand it, Vicki.
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Speaker 6: I certainly wasn't driving any faster than I usually do
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Speaker 6: down our road. But my goodness, that last curve, you know,
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Speaker 6: before the name gate, why, I went to put on
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Speaker 6: my brakes to slow down a little, and there were
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Speaker 6: no brakes. No brakes at all.
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Speaker 5: You don't look at Vicki Gill.
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Speaker 7: You can't.
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Speaker 5: You just keep staring at Belle.
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Speaker 3: Belle, your stepmother, sitting there quite alive, recounting the frightening
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Speaker 3: details of her nearly fatal accident. No brakes on her car, Gil.
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Speaker 3: Just when she needed the most, there were no brakes
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Speaker 3: on her car. You wonder how she made.
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Speaker 5: It at all. She wasn't supposed to, was she, Gil?
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Speaker 6: Both front senders and the grill smashed in something terrible. Oh,
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Speaker 6: my dear, what a frightful experience. Oh, do let me
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Speaker 6: take you to your room and you lie down for
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Speaker 6: a while.
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Speaker 5: I'll call Dr. Stratton, Belle. You've had quite a shock.
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Speaker 6: Oh, my goodness, no. I'm as good as new right now, Gil. Now,
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Speaker 6: don't you darlings worry about me. Oh, I must call Mrs.
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Speaker 6: Morgan at the center. She was expecting me. And then
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Speaker 6: the garage. I must call them to pick up the car.
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Speaker 5: Let me do that for you.
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Speaker 6: Oh, no, dear. Thank you. It won't take a minute.
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Speaker 6: And it'll take my mind off things. After all, Gil,
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Speaker 6: I want to be active while I'm still able. I
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Speaker 6: might have been killed, you know.
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Speaker 3: Yes, Gil, she might have been killed. You watch her
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Speaker 3: bounce happily into the house, smiling and humming. She seems
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Speaker 3: glad to be alive after her near accident. You stand
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Speaker 3: looking after her. And you're suddenly aware that you've dropped
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Speaker 3: your guard. You're no longer tense. Just a little stunned,
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Speaker 3: a little amazed.
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Speaker 6: What is that stepmother of yours? Pioneer stock or something?
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Speaker 6: Won't anything kill her?
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Speaker 5: Nothing has so far.
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Speaker 6: She won't drown. She won't trip down a flight of stairs.
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Speaker 6: And she can drive a car without brakes around steep curves.
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Speaker 5: Maybe she's charmed. Maybe she's supposed to go on living.
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Speaker 5: On and on.
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Speaker 6: Spending all your money so there'd be nothing left for
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Speaker 6: you to inherit.
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Speaker 5: Oh, well, if she was Dad's wife, she'd entitle us something.
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Speaker 6: Yes, but she's taking everything. All we've got is an allowance.
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Speaker 5: Well, I guess Dad never thought too much of the
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Speaker 5: way I handle money. Maybe he thought it would last
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Speaker 5: longer with her.
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Speaker 6: If we wait for her to die a natural death,
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Speaker 6: you won't even inherit her good health.
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Speaker 5: Well, good Lord, Vicki, we've tried, haven't we? I've done
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Speaker 5: everything you've suggested. What else can I do?
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Speaker 6: I'm not sure yet. But I'll think of something. And
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Speaker 6: this time it will work.
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Speaker 5: Yes, Vicki's the planner, Gil. And you're the executioner. Yes,
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Speaker 5: beautiful Vicki.
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Speaker 3: She amazes you, doesn't she? For the next few days,
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Speaker 3: you'll know that Vicki is biding her time. Turning a
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Speaker 3: plan over in her practical mind for another accident to Bells.
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Speaker 3: A plan that will work this time. One late afternoon,
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Speaker 3: you're in the library with Vicki and Belle. With Belle
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Speaker 3: carrying the bulk of the conversation. And, as usual, she's
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Speaker 3: on her favorite subject. The Community Social Work Center.
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Speaker 6: Oh, dear, we're simply swamped with work. Mrs. Morgan and
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Speaker 6: I are up to our ears, literally. Oh, but it
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Speaker 6: is satisfying when you help raise the downtrodden from... Well,
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Speaker 6: the very depth. It's very satisfying. You know, you two
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Speaker 6: should really become active at the center. Social work is stimulating,
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Speaker 6: genuinely stimulating. Oh, yes, I'm sure it is. Belle, dear,
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Speaker 6: if you don't mind, I think I'll go to my room. Oh,
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Speaker 6: we're due at the Coleman's for cocktails in an hour,
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Speaker 6: and I would... Oh, just do sit a moment longer, Vicki.
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Speaker 6: I have something to tell you both.
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Speaker 3: Oh.
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Speaker 6: Well, I don't want to alarm you, but.
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Speaker 5: What is it, Belle?
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Speaker 6: Well, I'm not getting any younger, you know, and lately... Well,
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Speaker 6: that isn't the past six months or so. Well, these
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Speaker 6: accidents of mine. At the lake, remember? I nearly drowned.
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Speaker 5: Yes, Belle, we remember.
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Speaker 6: And then tripping on the hall stair just last month. Why,
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Speaker 6: that fall would have killed me, I know. And then
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Speaker 6: the breaks just a few days ago, the crash and all.
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Speaker 6: What is it, Belle? What are you trying to say? Well,
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Speaker 6: you'll have to know sometime, and I do hope you'll approve. Um, Foster? Foster,
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Speaker 6: will you come in now, please?
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Speaker 2: Foster?
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Speaker 5: Who is he? Yes, Mrs. Hollister.
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Speaker 6: Oh, Foster. I want you to know my children.
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Speaker 5: This is Mrs.
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Speaker 6: Hollister, Jr., and my stepson, Mr. Hollister. This is Foster.
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Speaker 5: Mr. and Mrs. Hollister, how do you do?
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Speaker 6: Foster's going to drive for me. Drive, and what was
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Speaker 6: it you said I needed, Foster?
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Speaker 7: A bodyguard, ma'am.
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Speaker 6: Yes, that's it. A bodyguard.
9:08
Speaker 2: Coming May 1st. Coming May 1st. Yes, last Sunday I
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Speaker 2: announced was the final Sunday that limericks would be used
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Speaker 2: on the Whistler because Signal Oil Company would soon be
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Speaker 2: making news with something new, something big, something exciting. That's
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Speaker 2: coming May 1st. And that something new is a $ 10, 000. Yes,
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Speaker 2: I said $ 10, 000 contest for Signal Gasoline with 200 thrilling
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Speaker 2: valuable prizes. First prize is a Buick Super Riviera model
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Speaker 2: combining the swank of a convertible with the safety of
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Speaker 2: a closed car. Second prize is an Apex complete automatic
9:46
Speaker 2: laundry with three work-saving units, Apex automatic washer, Apex automatic dryer,
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Speaker 2: Apex sit-down ironer. And 198 other appealing prizes include Frigidaire's
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Speaker 2: deluxe refrigerator with new electric range, plus 10 Packard Bell radios.
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Speaker 2: These and dozens of other valuable prizes will be given
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Speaker 2: in Signal's big $ 10, 000 contest coming May 1st. Best of all,
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Speaker 2: no purchases are required in these easy, fun-filled Signal contests.
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Speaker 2: There are no box tops to send in, no tickets
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Speaker 2: to save. So be sure to tune in The Whistler
10:22
Speaker 2: next Sunday for more details about this big, exciting $ 10, 000
10:27
Speaker 2: Signal gasoline contest coming May 1st.
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Speaker 3: Well, Gil, you hadn't planned on Foster, had you? When
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Speaker 3: you and your wife, Vicki, were planning those accidents to
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Speaker 3: do away with your.
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Speaker 5: Stepmother, Belle.
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Speaker 3: It never occurred to you that Belle might hire a
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Speaker 3: driver and bodyguard.
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Speaker 5: And you wonder if she's.
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Speaker 3: Just appeasing some troublesome little seers, or if she really
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Speaker 3: knows that you and Vicki have been plotting to kill her. Later.
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Speaker 5: As you and Vicki drive.
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Speaker 3: Down the road to the main gate on your way
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Speaker 3: to the Coleman's cocktail party, well, has.
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Speaker 5: The shock of Foster worn off yet?
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Speaker 6: I'm getting used to the idea. Foster doesn't worry me.
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Speaker 6: In fact, the more I think about it, the more
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Speaker 6: I think he may turn out to be a godsend.
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Speaker 5: You'll forgive me if I don't get it.
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Speaker 6: He's broke, I'll bet on it. He undoubtedly needs money desperately. Why,
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Speaker 6: Gil's The more I think of it, the more I
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Speaker 6: suspect that Foster might rob the wall safe.
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Speaker 5: Well, Vicki, I.
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Speaker 6: And Bell might even meet with foul play. Resisting the robbery,
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Speaker 6: of course.
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Speaker 5: Oh, no.
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Speaker 6: Well, what do you think about it? I.
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Speaker 5: I don't know. I'll need a little more time to think.
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Speaker 6: Not too long, darling. I'm going to do some checking
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Speaker 6: on Foster tomorrow. And if I find what I expect
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Speaker 6: to find, the Hollister estate is due to be robbed
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Speaker 6: within a very few days.
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Speaker 5: It's an interesting thought, isn't it, Gil?
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Speaker 3: And as always, you know that you can count on Vicki.
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Speaker 3: The following day, the two of you drive into town
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Speaker 3: for a little friendly visit with Bell's friend, Mrs. Morgan,
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Speaker 3: the superintendent at the rehabilitation center. Of course, Foster's name
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Speaker 3: is brought into the conversation and.
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Speaker 5: You're pleased with what you hear.
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Speaker 7: Oh, yes.
12:38
Speaker 6: The poor man's had such a trying time of it.
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Speaker 6: Just couldn't find himself, you know. This job now with Bell,
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Speaker 6: it's just the thing for him.
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Speaker 5: I see.
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Speaker 6: Matter of fact, it was all my idea. I thought
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Speaker 6: Bell could use a chauffeur, and Foster is an excellent driver. I...
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Speaker 6: Nothing's happened, has it?
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Speaker 5: I mean.
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Speaker 6: Oh, no, Mrs.
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Speaker 5: Morgan.
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Speaker 6: We were just wondering about Foster, his background and all.
13:02
Speaker 6: One can't be too careful, you know. Of course.
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Speaker 5: We didn't want to worry Belle asking her about it.
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Speaker 5: But as Vicki says... I understand. And you know Belle
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Speaker 5: always carries quite a bit of money around with her.
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Speaker 5: Keeps a considerable amount of the house, too.
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Speaker 4: Yes, yes.
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Speaker 6: You know it never occurred to me. Foster looks so honest.
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Speaker 5: Oh, and I'm sure he is, Mrs. Morgan.
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Speaker 6: Well, we'd better be running along, Gil. I still have
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Speaker 6: some shopping to do. Goodbye, Mrs. Morgan. What's that, dear?
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Speaker 5: Oh, yes.
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Speaker 2: Bye.
13:34
Speaker 3: The stage is set, isn't it, Gil? And you're certain Mrs.
13:44
Speaker 3: Morgan will remember your conversation with her concerning Foster. You
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Speaker 3: waste little time discussing the details, carefully going over each
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Speaker 3: step of the plan with Vicki. Finally, the night arrives.
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Speaker 3: The night of the attempted robbery. You're on the terrace
14:00
Speaker 3: with Vicki and Bell. Foster is there, too. And you're
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Speaker 3: waiting for Belle to go up to her room.
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Speaker 6: Oh, my, it's such a beautiful evening, isn't it, children?
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Speaker 6: Simply beautiful. You know, I think I'll take a stroll
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Speaker 6: down to the creek. Anyone want to come along? I'm
14:17
Speaker 6: afraid I couldn't negotiate that path in these high heels.
14:21
Speaker 6: How about you, Gil? Feel like stretching your legs?
14:23
Speaker 5: Thanks, no. I'm nice and comfortable right where I am.
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Speaker 7: You want me to come along, Mrs. Hollister?
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Speaker 6: Um, no. No, thank you, Foster. You stay here and
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Speaker 6: keep the children company. I shan't be long. A quarter
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Speaker 6: of an hour or so. I'm only going down to
14:37
Speaker 6: the bridge.
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Speaker 5: You sit back, watch Belle stroll.
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Speaker 3: Down the path and then out of sight. And you
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Speaker 3: wonder if Belle had a reason for asking Foster to
14:52
Speaker 3: remain behind. Perhaps to keep an eye on you and Vicki.
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Speaker 3: You wonder, too, if she suspects something. That somehow she
15:00
Speaker 3: senses something is going to happen tonight. Finally, you get
15:04
Speaker 3: to your feet, wander inside and mix yourself a drink.
15:08
Speaker 5: A half hour goes by.
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Speaker 3: Then an hour.
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Speaker 4: Gil?
15:12
Speaker 6: Hmm? She's been gone quite a long time.
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Speaker 7: You suppose something could have happened, Mr.
15:18
Speaker 5: Hollister?
15:19
Speaker 7: What? She mentioned the bridge. That's the one down by
15:22
Speaker 7: the gully?
15:23
Speaker 5: Yes. Yes, it is.
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Speaker 7: Sort of old and rickety. I think I'd better get
15:28
Speaker 7: down there and take a look, huh?
15:30
Speaker 3: I'll go with you, Foster. Something could have happened at that.
15:40
Speaker 3: With Foster following close behind, you hurry down the path.
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Speaker 3: and finally reach the old suspension bridge which spans the deep,
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Speaker 3: narrow gully. As you start across this, Foster grabs your arm.
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Speaker 7: Hold it, Mr.
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Speaker 5: Hollister.
15:52
Speaker 4: Huh?
15:53
Speaker 7: Look up ahead. The handrail.
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Speaker 5: It's broken, isn't it, Gil?
15:57
Speaker 3: And the rail hangs down, seeming to point to the
16:00
Speaker 3: bottom of the gully. You look down, and there in
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Speaker 3: the moonlight you see a sprawled out on the rocks below.
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Speaker 6: Bells.
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Speaker 5: Bells.
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Speaker 7: Well, she's dead, Mr. Hollister.
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Speaker 3: For a moment, you stand there staring down at Belle Hollister. Yes,
16:25
Speaker 3: she's dead at last, Gil. Accidental death. And it actually
16:30
Speaker 3: happened without you or Vicki being involved at all.
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Speaker 7: Before you call the police, maybe we'd better have an understanding, Mr. Hollister.
16:38
Speaker 5: What? What do you mean?
16:40
Speaker 7: Mrs. Hollister was pretty sure that... You and your wife
16:44
Speaker 7: were trying to knock her off, make it look like
16:46
Speaker 7: an accident. What?
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Speaker 5: Oh, that's preposterous. Is it?
16:51
Speaker 7: She told me about some of those accidents she had.
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Speaker 7: I thought it'd be a good idea if she wrote
16:56
Speaker 7: all that down, put the whole story on paper, turn
16:59
Speaker 7: it over to me.
17:00
Speaker 5: What?
17:01
Speaker 7: Yeah. Just in case something happened to her that I
17:04
Speaker 7: couldn't prevent.
17:04
Speaker 5: Oh, now look, Foster. Belle was killed accidentally.
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Speaker 7: Maybe... I saw you push her off the bridge, Mr. Hollister.
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Speaker 5: Maybe you what?
17:15
Speaker 7: Yeah, maybe I saw you and then... Then again, maybe
17:18
Speaker 7: I didn't. It all depends.
17:21
Speaker 5: Depends?
17:22
Speaker 7: On how much you're willing to pay. Let's go back
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Speaker 7: to the house and talk this over, huh? I think
17:28
Speaker 7: your wife will want to be in on this.
17:37
Speaker 6: All right, Pop. We'll pay.
17:39
Speaker 5: Vicki.
17:40
Speaker 6: I said we'll pay.
17:42
Speaker 7: I knew you'd see it my way, Mrs. Hollister.
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Speaker 6: Now, may I see this letter Bell wrote?
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Speaker 7: Yeah, sure, sure. I got it right here. It's under
17:51
Speaker 7: armed escort, so don't try nothing, huh? I'll hold on
17:55
Speaker 7: to it if you don't mind. Okay, take a look. Now,
17:59
Speaker 7: you recognize the handwriting? Yes.
18:04
Speaker 6: We could deny this, you know.
18:05
Speaker 7: Maybe.
18:05
Speaker 4: Maybe.
18:06
Speaker 7: But when I tell the police I saw Hollister push
18:08
Speaker 7: her off the bridge, plus this letter, it'll be a cinch.
18:12
Speaker 5: Well, Gil? All right. All right.
18:15
Speaker 7: Twenty grand a night, then we'll break it down to, uh,
18:19
Speaker 7: to weekly payments, huh?
18:21
Speaker 6: Ten thousand a night. That's all we can get our
18:23
Speaker 6: hands on.
18:23
Speaker 7: Okay, I'm not greedy. Well, now that that's settled, you
18:26
Speaker 7: can call the cops. Oh, and Mr. Hollister.
18:28
Speaker 3: Yes?
18:29
Speaker 7: When you tell your story to the law, better leave
18:31
Speaker 7: me out of it, huh? When you found her, you
18:33
Speaker 7: were alone.
18:33
Speaker 5: Why?
18:34
Speaker 7: Well, if I'm not involved, I won't have to answer questions.
18:37
Speaker 7: Tell lies. I'm sensitive that way. Call me when it's over.
18:42
Speaker 7: I'll be up in my room.
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Speaker 3: You tell the police exactly what happened, don't you, Gil?
18:55
Speaker 3: Without mentioning Foster, of course. It's all over very quickly.
19:00
Speaker 3: And you breathe a sigh of relief when they leave.
19:03
Speaker 3: Satisfied that Bell Hollis' death was purely accidental. And then later,
19:08
Speaker 3: when you're alone with Vicki. I tell you, it was
19:10
Speaker 3: a mistake agreeing to Foster's demands so quickly.
19:12
Speaker 6: What else could we have done? With that letter from Bell,
19:15
Speaker 6: the police would believe anything Foster told them.
19:17
Speaker 5: How can we trust him?
19:17
Speaker 6: We can't. But don't worry. He isn't going to get
19:21
Speaker 6: away with this.
19:22
Speaker 5: So?
19:23
Speaker 6: We let him stay on a few days. Then one
19:26
Speaker 6: night you find him trying to get into the safe and.
19:29
Speaker 3: Oh.
19:30
Speaker 7: The log's gone, I see.
19:33
Speaker 6: Yes, Foster.
19:34
Speaker 7: That's fine, fine.
19:36
Speaker 5: Foster, that suitcase, what are you doing with it?
19:39
Speaker 7: What does it look like, pal? I'm leaving. No need
19:42
Speaker 7: for me to stick around.
19:43
Speaker 4: Leaving?
19:43
Speaker 7: Yeah, I thought I'd find me a nice little apartment
19:46
Speaker 7: in town.
19:46
Speaker 5: It's kind of.
19:46
Speaker 7: Dull out here. I crave the bright lights, excitement, dancing girls.
19:52
Speaker 7: Always have. Only now I can afford it. Well, if
19:56
Speaker 7: you'll give me my dough, I'll be on my way, kid.
20:07
Speaker 3: The weeks pass, and regularly every Friday evening, when all
20:11
Speaker 3: the servants are out of the house, Foster reappears to
20:14
Speaker 3: make his collection. And you find that Bell's money, now yours,
20:18
Speaker 3: is dwindling away twice as fast now as it did when.
20:21
Speaker 5: Bell was alive.
20:23
Speaker 3: Killing Foster won't solve your problem, will it? You know
20:27
Speaker 3: that you've got to get Bell's letter, too.
20:29
Speaker 5: It's important.
20:30
Speaker 3: Then finally one night, an idea occurs to you. You
20:34
Speaker 3: tell Vicki about your plan, and she agrees. Early that
20:38
Speaker 3: Friday evening, when you're certain Foster is on his way
20:40
Speaker 3: to the estate, you pick up the phone and call
20:44
Speaker 3: the auto club in town.
20:46
Speaker 5: This is Mr. Foster, Ralph Foster, 327 Sherbourne Drive. Yes, Mr. Foster.
20:50
Speaker 5: I was in your office a week ago asking for
20:52
Speaker 5: some travel literature. One of your clerks said she'd mail
20:55
Speaker 5: some folders out to me, but I haven't received them yet.
20:58
Speaker 5: Would you find out what the... One moment, sir.
21:00
Speaker 6: What?
21:01
Speaker 5: Going to check.
21:02
Speaker 6: It better work.
21:03
Speaker 5: It will. Don't worry about it.
21:05
Speaker 7: Vicki.
21:05
Speaker 4: Vicki.
21:06
Speaker 5: The car's stopping outside. All right. Stall him off a
21:13
Speaker 5: few minutes.
21:17
Speaker 3: Mr.
21:18
Speaker 7: Foster?
21:19
Speaker 5: Yes?
21:20
Speaker 3: I think I know what's happened, sir.
21:21
Speaker 5: You gave me your address as... 327 Sherbourne Drive.
21:26
Speaker 3: We have you listed at 601 Terrace Boulevard.
21:27
Speaker 5: 601 Terrace Boule.
21:29
Speaker 7: Oh.
21:32
Speaker 5: I see, my old address.
21:33
Speaker 7: I'm sorry, sir.
21:34
Speaker 5: No, no, my mistake. I should have notified you. Well,
21:37
Speaker 5: you'll send out the pamphlet?
21:38
Speaker 7: First thing in the morning.
21:39
Speaker 5: Thank you. Thank you very much. Come on in, Foster.
21:46
Speaker 2: Hello, Hollis.
21:48
Speaker 5: You're early.
21:49
Speaker 7: Yeah, I've got to get back to town. Date.
21:53
Speaker 5: Sit down, huh? Sit down.
21:54
Speaker 7: Well, if you don't mind, I.
21:56
Speaker 5: Please. I have something to talk over with you.
21:59
Speaker 6: Oh?
22:00
Speaker 5: Vic, how about fixing us some drinks?
22:02
Speaker 4: Oh, yes.
22:02
Speaker 6: Yes, of course.
22:06
Speaker 7: Proposition, Hollister?
22:08
Speaker 5: Foster, how would you like to sell me that letter
22:11
Speaker 5: of bells, huh? Get this business over with once and
22:13
Speaker 5: for all.
22:14
Speaker 7: I might be tempted.
22:16
Speaker 5: I'll give you $ 50, 000 for it.
22:18
Speaker 7: Well, maybe I'd better sit down at.
22:21
Speaker 6: That, huh?
22:23
Speaker 5: Could you get me the letter tonight?
22:24
Speaker 7: Well, sure. I'd have to go back to town. I'm
22:27
Speaker 7: keeping it in a nice, safe place.
22:29
Speaker 5: Your apartment?
22:30
Speaker 3: Yes.
22:31
Speaker 7: Too bad you don't know where it is, huh, Hollister? Oh,
22:36
Speaker 7: thank you, Mrs.
22:37
Speaker 5: Hollister.
22:38
Speaker 6: Well, Foster, are you going to sell us the letter?
22:41
Speaker 7: Why not?
22:42
Speaker 5: Well, let's drink to it, then.
22:43
Speaker 7: All right.
22:44
Speaker 5: Here.
22:47
Speaker 7: Ah, that's good bourbon. Very good. Uh, you wouldn't be
22:52
Speaker 7: stupid enough to try pulling a fast one, would you, Hollister? What?
22:55
Speaker 7: Fixing this drink, I mean.
22:57
Speaker 5: Oh, hardly.
22:58
Speaker 7: Anything happen to me and you'd never find that letter.
23:00
Speaker 7: Somebody else would.
23:01
Speaker 5: I realize that.
23:02
Speaker 7: Of course, if you knew where you could get your
23:03
Speaker 7: hands on that letter, well, it'd be a different matter, huh?
23:06
Speaker 5: That's right.
23:11
Speaker 7: Well, let's get on to business. I had off some details.
23:14
Speaker 7: I don't have much time.
23:15
Speaker 3: That's right, Foster. You don't have much time. It's only
23:25
Speaker 3: a matter of minutes, isn't it, Gil? And the drink
23:27
Speaker 3: begins to show its effect. Foster leans forward in his chair,
23:31
Speaker 3: peering at you, hardly able to keep his eyes open.
23:35
Speaker 5: And then he begins to clutch at his throat.
23:40
Speaker 7: Hey, what's going on? You... the drink, you... it fixed it.
23:45
Speaker 6: That's right, Foster. You'll be dead in another few minutes.
23:49
Speaker 7: Oh, no.
23:51
Speaker 5: No, you wouldn't. The letter, you don't know where... Oh,
23:55
Speaker 5: but we do know where it is, Foster. Your apartment,
23:57
Speaker 5: 601 Terrace Boulevard.
23:58
Speaker 3: Huh.
23:59
Speaker 5: How did you find... Remember the last time you were here, Foster?
24:02
Speaker 5: You took great delight telling me how you were spending
24:04
Speaker 5: my money. Nightclubs, a new car, a little side trip.
24:08
Speaker 5: You even joined the auto club.
24:11
Speaker 2: I'll kill you.
24:12
Speaker 5: No, you won't. I'll take this gun. Now, Foster, relax.
24:20
Speaker 5: It'll be over soon. You're going on a little trip.
24:24
Speaker 5: This time you're never coming back.
24:37
Speaker 2: With 200 valuable prizes to be given, there was scarcely
24:40
Speaker 2: room in my first announcement to mention even a fraction
24:43
Speaker 2: of the wonderful things you can win in Signal's thrilling $ 10, 000
24:47
Speaker 2: contest coming May 1st. For instance, there'll be six Packard
24:52
Speaker 2: Bell television sets with latest type black picture tube plus
24:56
Speaker 2: distinctive Packard Bell picture mask for photogenic television enjoyment. And
25:02
Speaker 2: the superb 12 1⁄2 and 16-inch console models feature Packard
25:06
Speaker 2: Bell's unique concealed casters, so you can move your television
25:10
Speaker 2: set with mere fingertip touch to most convenient viewing angles. Ah,
25:14
Speaker 2: but this is only the beginning of the wonderful prizes
25:17
Speaker 2: in Signal's big $ 10, 000 contest. Coming May 1st, there's O'Keefe
25:23
Speaker 2: and Merritt's finest gas range with vanishing shelf and grill-evator broiler. Also,
25:28
Speaker 2: five solid gold case wristwatches by Hellbroast with.
25:32
Speaker 5: 17 jewel movement.
25:33
Speaker 2: Five makeup cases from Halliburton's famous line of featherweight aluminum luggage.
25:38
Speaker 2: 10 Westinghouse vacuum cleaners plus 50 Westinghouse pop-up toasters. And
25:44
Speaker 2: you can be sure if it's Westinghouse. Yes, these and
25:48
Speaker 2: dozens of other valuable awards mean you simply can't afford
25:51
Speaker 2: to miss the new Signal Gasoline Contest coming May 1st.
25:56
Speaker 2: So be sure to listen next Sunday when I'll have
25:59
Speaker 2: more details about Signal's big, exciting $ 10, 000 contest coming May 1st.
26:17
Speaker 3: It's almost over now, isn't it, Gil? In a few minutes,
26:20
Speaker 3: Foster will be dead. Then you'll get rid of his body,
26:24
Speaker 3: and using his key, you'll let yourself into his apartment
26:26
Speaker 3: in town, find the letter, and destroy it. You glance
26:30
Speaker 3: over at Vicki. She's smiling as she looks down on Foster.
26:34
Speaker 3: He's still alive, isn't he? But you're not going to
26:37
Speaker 3: delay another moment.
26:39
Speaker 5: With Vicki's help, you.
26:40
Speaker 3: Get him on his feet, half-carry and drag him down
26:43
Speaker 3: the hall.
26:44
Speaker 5: And then as Vicki opens the door.
26:45
Speaker 7: Hello?
26:47
Speaker 3: What?
26:48
Speaker 6: Who are you?
26:49
Speaker 4: Lieutenant Thompson, police department. I was just about to ring
26:52
Speaker 4: when you... Well, well, who's this?
26:56
Speaker 5: Foster. Ralph Foster. What's the matter with him?
26:59
Speaker 2: He's, uh.
27:00
Speaker 5: He's sick. Let's have a look at him. Sergeant. Right, Lieutenant. Lieutenant.
27:05
Speaker 7: What is it? They poisoned me.
27:08
Speaker 4: What?
27:09
Speaker 5: Who, Foster? Who poisoned you?
27:11
Speaker 7: Hollister.
27:13
Speaker 5: His wife.
27:15
Speaker 4: Sergeant, you better call an ambulance.
27:16
Speaker 5: Yes, sir.
27:16
Speaker 7: No, wait a minute.
27:19
Speaker 5: Never mind.
27:21
Speaker 7: Wouldn't do any good.
27:23
Speaker 5: Well, Mr. Hollister. Lieutenant, I don't know what he's talking about.
27:28
Speaker 7: Don't you?
27:29
Speaker 5: Funny.
27:30
Speaker 4: And we're here to protect you from him.
27:33
Speaker 6: What do you mean?
27:34
Speaker 4: We've been checking up on Foster here ever since Mrs.
27:36
Speaker 4: Morgan down at the center told us about him.
27:38
Speaker 5: Mrs.
27:39
Speaker 7: Morgan?
27:39
Speaker 4: Seems she recommended him for a job with you folks
27:42
Speaker 4: a while back.
27:42
Speaker 6: Yes, that's right.
27:43
Speaker 4: Then Mrs. Morgan got to thinking maybe.
27:45
Speaker 5: She'd made a mistake. Told us about it.
27:48
Speaker 4: We looked into the matter. Found that Foster here was
27:51
Speaker 4: wanted back.
27:51
Speaker 7: East on a forgery charge.
27:53
Speaker 5: He was?
27:54
Speaker 4: Here's a sample of his work. We've already checked it.
27:58
Speaker 4: It's a letter supposedly written by Mrs.
28:00
Speaker 7: Bell Hollister.
28:01
Speaker 4: saying that you and your wife here had tried to
28:03
Speaker 4: kill her.
28:03
Speaker 6: Why, that's ridiculous.
28:04
Speaker 4: When we found it in Foster's apartment, we figured he
28:06
Speaker 4: was up to something, and we came out here to
28:08
Speaker 4: warn you.
28:08
Speaker 5: Wait a minute. That letter, you mean Bell didn't write it?
28:11
Speaker 7: No.
28:12
Speaker 4: This letter is an out-and-out forgery.
28:15
Speaker 5: Forgery?
28:15
Speaker 6: Yes.
28:16
Speaker 4: And it apparently had you fooled. But there's no fooling
28:20
Speaker 4: about your killing Foster. Let that whistle.
28:41
Speaker 2: Be your signal for the signal oil program, The Whistler,
28:44
Speaker 2: each Sunday night at this same time.
28:46
Speaker 5: Brought to you.
28:47
Speaker 2: By the Signal Oil Company, marketers of signal gasoline and
28:50
Speaker 2: motor oil, and fine automotive accessories. Remember, it's coming May 1st. Yes,
28:57
Speaker 2: May 1st is the opening date of Signal's big new
29:00
Speaker 2: contest with 200 valuable prizes, including a new Buick, Frigidaire refrigerator,
29:06
Speaker 2: electric range, and home freezer, Packard Bell television sets, and
29:10
Speaker 2: many others. So be sure to listen next Sunday for
29:14
Speaker 2: more details about Signal's big, exciting $ 10, 000 contest. Featured in
29:27
Speaker 2: tonight's story were Bill Foreman, Larry Dobkin, Francis Robinson, Eleanor Audley,
29:31
Speaker 2: and Bill Conrad. The Whistler was produced and directed by
29:34
Speaker 2: George W. Allen with story by Dick Anderson, music by
29:30
Speaker 2: TV 2021 Remember, at this same time next Sunday, another
29:57
Speaker 2: strange tale by the Whistler. Marvin Miller speaking for the
30:01
Speaker 2: Signal Oil Company. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
30:09
Speaker 1: The curtain falls on the Whistler.
30:11
Speaker 5: Murder in mind.
30:12
Speaker 1: Follow the Whistler for more classic broadcasts.