Latest / The Price of Fear Collection / The Price of Fear - The Ninth Removal
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- The Price of Fear, brought to you by Vincent's Price. Do you ever wonder what life will be like in, say, fifty years time. I know I do, especially when I find myself becoming annoyed at some piece of modern tomfoolry, You know, the sort of thing, loud, mindless music being played unnecessarily in stores and restaurants, checks long overdue because somebody's latest computer has made a mistake. This never seems to happen with bills. Notice well, I suppose we all have little likes and dislikes connected with various aspects of modern living, but most of us forget them after a brief flash of annoyance, that is, until the next time. The point I'm making is that we don't dwell upon them continually and become obsessed by them. For that way lies madness. Take for example, my story this week, which I've called the Ninth Removal. It concerns the case of Amelia Sidgwick. These modern young girls that clothes are outrage short skirts, low cut blouses, lipstick disgusting. My first, and thank goodness, my only encounter with miss Sidgwick occurred when I called to see an old friend of mine Peter Jarvis, in connection with some research I was doing for a film script I hoped to write. Peter was the head of a psychiatric clinic, and as I needed some back ground material on psychiatry, I had arranged to call on him one day at his office. I had expected a cold, cheerless institutional building, but when I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the clinic was more like a well appointed country house. I was greeted by a pretty receptionist, told to make myself comfortable, and that my friend Peter Jarvis would be available in a few minutes. Accordingly, I settled back in an armchair and picked up a magazine. Suddenly I became aware of someone hovering over me. Good afternoon, Are you being attended to? H? Yes, yes, I am, thank you, I'm I'm waiting to see doctor Jarvis. Oh, that's all right. Then. She was a tall, thin, scrawny woman of about fifty five or so, dressed in a severely cut suit of dark gray material. She had a thin, white face with pinched lips and the most penetrating, bright blue eye that I have ever seen. Perhaps we would never have exchanged another word, but at that moment, I happened to turn over the page of my magazine, and in doing so, revealed a full page advertisement which showed a pretty, if overdeveloped, young lady wearing an incredibly low cut dress. Disgusting. I beg you bar that girl, completely shameless. Just look at her. I must confess that's just what I was doing looking at her. Now. You know there are some people who have the happy knack of getting rid of boars and other awkward customers easily. Well I don't. Perhaps I just don't like hurting people's feelings. You remember the rhyme of the ancient mariner, where the old sailor stoppeth one of three in order to tell him his long and complicated tale. Well, I'm the one of three, and miss Sidgwick having held me with her glittering eye. Just of course, you know, the men are everybeter's bad. They encourage that sort of thing. Why only the other day I was traveling home in the underground, when God, I hate the underground, crushed together in this awful atmosphere. I sometimes think that hell isn't a matter of fire and brimstone at all, but simply traveling forever on the underground, surrounded by awful people, whose men sitting there so smug and oily looking. Not one of them would dream of offering me his seat. Pigs sticking there reading their newspapers, and what newspapers full of salacious muck head lied there? Another sex murder victim found uncommon? Is it any wonder the way these modern girls dress? Not one over there, crossing and uncrossing her legs, and that short skirt disgusting. Oh she's smiling. Oh, yes, she's noticed that young man opling her. A teacher, I took a whip to her. My dear father would never have allowed me to carry on like that. Dear father, The devil's army is all around us, my child, Never forget it. You must fight it, Fight it with all your might. Never cease to fight for God. I have fought, father, Oh, oh, I've fought for your stern God. I sat there, fascinated as Miss Sidgwick rambled on and on. At times she spoke clearly and precisely, At others she was almost incoherent with rage. Having at length described me the trials and tribulations which she had suffered on the London underground system, She then went on to tell me about her work. Miss Sidgwick's employers had, it seems, been many and various. Her typing, plus her sense of duty were beyond reproach. Employers might appreciate her work, but it seems to a man they were lovers of peace, taking unkindly to criticism, and at length Miss Sidgwick was cast out, and with each casting out, her hate grew. One day, however, she joined a company run by a retired brigadier who had inherited his father's tea importing business. The atmosphere was middle aged, quiet and respectable, and the office staff adhered to the old ways of dress and deportment. As for the Brigadier himself, you see, the Brigadier was a tall, distinguished, gray haired gentleman with both good looks and charming manners. He was not married, he did not smoke, and he was always extremely respectful towards his female employees. He was what I should call a gentle one of the old school from her manner, and I guess that Miss Sidgwick was not in love with the Brigadier. It was just that she worshiped him. Sometimes in my dreams I saw him standing a long way off on a hill. I saw myself running towards him, but the distance never seemed to shorten. In the same way as Father's God, he was always unreachable, and so matters stood. Miss Sidgwick had at last found employment which suited her ideally, and an employer whom she could more than respect. And then one morning, yes, sir, will you come in a moment, certainly, sir. That's right, dear lady. That's come in and shut the door, will you. That's a dicky Now just take a seat. That's something to say to you. Now. The point is that I've decided to expand our little team. Indeed, sir, yes, in fact, I'm engaged the young lady, excellent character. She's to join us on Monday. Well, I was not a well how that you'd interviewed any applicants or even advertised the position. No, no, no, quite right, for the young person was strongly recommended, most strongly, I see, sir, meanless to say, dear lady, I will look to you to see that miss Franklin, that's her name, by the way, that she settled in happily. I shall do my duty, sir, as always, of course you will, Dear lady. That goes what I'd say. The following Monday morning began very badly for Miss Sidgwick. On the underground, a large man stood on her toe. He was rewarded by a sharp kick on the shins, but there was worse to come. When she arrived at the office, she found her fellow workers in a buzz of curious excitement as they awaited the arrival of the new girl. It was a tradition in the company that newcomers did not start until ten o'clock on their first morning, so there was plenty of time for speculation. Miss Sidgwick, however, refused to join in the speculations, even when approached directly by mister Parsons, the firm's junior filing clerk, a jovial man of about forty five. Well, Miss, what about the new girl? Eh? Do you think she'll be nice? No, indeed, I shall be greatly surprised if she is nice, as you put it, oh dear. However, as long as she does her work efficient pay, I hardly th' get matters whether she is nice or not. Well, I was only wondering what she'd be like. What what class of person? You know? At least I expect how to be tolerable. Good morning. Ah, yes, miss can I help you? I hope. So, I'm Anne Franklin. I'm going to work here. I see look at that. It's going to be a pleasure showing her the rope. Mister Parsons, I suggest that you get on with your work, After all, you are being paid to do it. Miss Repplin, may I ask if that is your normal business attire? Hol the gear. Well, it's all I've got. I mean, I've got lots of clothes, but they're all like this. It's all right, isn't it. My last place didn't mind. This is a respectable office, I should hope. So otherwise I shouldn't have come to work here. Ah, Miss Franklin, So you've arrived. Good morning, sir. My word, how fresh and smart you look like a breath of spring. Ah, Miss Sidgwick, If you say so, sir, Yes I do, dear lady. And now I'll leave Miss Franklin in your capable hands, yes, sir. During the next few days, Miss Sidgwick could be likened to a lion in a cage with the succulent but stupid lamb which the laws of creation had for some reason forbidding it to eat. Oh, that stupid girl, flaunting herself, smiling at every man who comes within range. She even took to applying her lipstick during working hours to this day, I do not know how I'm meant to restrain myself. All these things might just have been bearable if it had not been for the girl's work. It was awful. There we are. How's that? Then? Oh? No, no, no, no, this will not do. I'm afraid there are six mistakes in this one letter alone. Oh dear, you are fussy and here look free miss sellings and last year's date. I'm sorry, but this will also have to be done again. God, I've certainly made a hell of a bloody mess of that one. What did you say? Well, I mean I've made a mess of it, haven't I Let it be understood, Miss Franklin, the prown language is not tolerated in this office. Neither is blasphemy. Do I make myself clear? Yes, miss Oh, I'm sorry that you are a funny old stick what nutty as a fruit cake? This has gone quite far enough. I am going to say see the brigadier and so Miss Situated stormed into the Brigadier's office, and there presented him with the full catalog of her complaints against the pretty young newcomer. His reaction, however, was not quite what she had expected. Alas the use of today, Miss Sedgwick does not adhere to the Principal's weeed treasure. But you do not see some blinded by your own goodness, you do not see. She bears her flesh, she paints her face, she encourages men. Why mister Parsons has hardly been himself since she came here. In addition to which she cannot type, I too, Miss Sidgwick, deplaure the lax morals and lower standards of this permissive age. For dear lady, you and I can't fight the world, or correct me, sir if I am wrong. But surely a soldier who believes in his cause never ceases to fight. True, very true, But when defeat is sudden, he changes his tactics. He pretends to surrender, infiltrates the enemy's ranks, and becomes an underground force. But that she insulted me, she should be she should be cast out, That dear lady would be to admit defeat. I'll tell you what ask her to come and see me, will you you will chastise her, Sir, appealing as the prospect is. Dear lady, I fear that I shall have to content myself with a reprimand on this occasion. Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention. Thank you, sir, and miss Edgwick. Yes, sir, you are my strong right arm. Never forget that. Oh and remember, infiltrate the enemy's ranks, dear lady, infiltrate the enemy's ranks. Oh, yes, yes, indeed, sir, I'll remember for the rest of that day, Missedgwick. It seems vast in a golden haze, remembering the Brigadier's words, you are my strong right arm, dear lady. Oh oh I am, I am my tea time that day, Miss Sidgwick had even unbent sufficient they to spend a few moments chatting with mister Parsons and Miss Franklin about the latest topics of interest. Oh no, no, no, mister Parsons, I don't think that sort of thing could ever happen here, And we breed a much better type of politician. There was so much more background. Listen to this in the paper. Another of those sex murders. A girl of nineteen found brutally murdered on Wimbledon Common. This is the eighth victim to be struck down in the past two years. Gives me the creeps. Whoever does it must be kinky, poor girl. I wonder why so many of these attacks take place nowadays. I can tell you because these modern girls ask for it. Short skirts, lipstick, low cut blouses. Is it any wonder they get assaulted? Assaulted? I can understand, but murdered. Miss Sidgwick was about to launch herself upon a lengthy and angry tirade concerning Miss Franklin and all girls like her, when she remembered the brigadier's words infiltrate the enemy's ranks, dear lady. Isn't it strange how great disasters often have humble beginnings. A smoldering cigarette and tossed carelessly aside, and an entire building burns down, Or a cat runs across a busy street, a bus swerves and someone is killed. Well, that night, on her way home, Miss Sidgwick suddenly realized that she had forgotten her umbrella. Now, Miss Sidgwick without her umbrella was like a d'Artagnan without his sword. Her umbrella, apart from its proper use, was also invaluable on occasions for shin cracking or rib poking. And so, Muttering angrily to herself, she retraced her steps to the now deserted office. But was it deserted? Strange? A light in the Brigadier's office, But I wonder can he be working? He didn't say anything. No, no, silly of me. Perhaps he's just forgot to turn off his light. What's that, oh dear? Perhaps I better investigate whoever it is has left the Brigadier's door open. I wonder if I could see, Oh Charles, this is cozy, just the tools the tool of us gives me again, man greedy. Miss Sidgwick stood there and stared in horror. The Brigadier and Miss Franklin were far too occupied to notice the white face staring at them through the open doorway. To say that Miss Sidgwick was in a state of shock would be to put it mildly. She left the building quickly and began to walk. I walked a long way that night, through Panton Street into Leicester Square, back again to Lily, through the seedy streets of Soho and everywhere, everywhere, The voice of corruption screamed at me from hornings, bookshop windows, cinema posters, from the white, leering faces of men and the painted faces of the women. At last, I came to a small square surrounded by iron backed seats. I sat down by Now the numbness I had fans leaving the office had passed. I remember I sat there sobbing, feeling like a lost child in a strange land, alone in a city peopled by my enemies. I thought of my father the Devil's army fighted my child fighting, and of the brigadier as he used to be infiltrate the enemy's ranks. Dear lady, I heard the laughter of the men and the women, in the noise of the traffic passing bigh I cried out, why am I forsaken? Then an awful thought came to me. Could it be? Could it possibly be that I was mad? Hurriedly I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. Then I imagined I saw rose, and rose, and rose, and faces, laughing, learing, grinning faces flash. The next morning I gather saw Miss Sidgwick back at her desk as usual. She rebuked Miss Franklin for her bad typing, and greeted the Brigadier with reserve. From that time on, she watched both of them much as the stoat watches a pair of well fed rabbits, keeping meticulous note of their movements. Each day, she carefully examined the Brigadier's desk diary. At last, her vigilance was rewarded. She discovered in the diary and entry for the following Wednesday evening, the Brigadier had written a f followed by an exclamation mark. Question was where would they meet? Miss Sidgwick decided to make certain On that Wednesday evening, She followed Miss Franklin almost to her front door. Then she hid in the shadows and prepared to wait, to wait if necessary, for hours. In fact, her vigil lasted barely half an hour. Then Miss Franklin came out of the house and began to walk towards the nearby underground station. Miss Sidgwick followed. I remember she was hurrying, but it was quite easy really to keep up with her. I followed her along the passage and along the tunnel that led to the ticket office. I can see her now. She was wearing a blue two piece costume with an incredibly short skirt. She wore high heled shoes, and she carried a white handbag, which she swam as she walked along. When she reached the platform, she almost stood at the edge, doing a little impatient jigging dance as she waited for the train to arrive. The platform was fairly crowded, and I was able to get so close to her that I could smell the cheap perfume she had obviously drenched herself with. As we waited for the train to arrive, the platform became more and more crowded. I moved closer to her. I began to feel strange, warm excitement. Then, as the train drew nearer and nearer, I leaned forward, You little such, you have corrupted gaunt. At the same time, I pushed her hard. Nobody saw me do it. The platform was too crowded, and then I stepped back and was immediately lost in the crowd as it surged forward. I left the station, made my way back to the office, where I knew the bigadier would be waiting waiting for her. So here you are, at last, Miss Sidgwick. What are you doing here? Is something wrong? No, I'm sorry, I don't understand. Is there something you want to tell me? Yes, sir, yes, yes, I see, sit down, won't you? No, Well, I'm afraid whatever it is, we'll just have to wait until morning. I have an important engagement to night. No, sir, you have no engagement Miss Franklin. That slut will not be coming here to night. What the devil do you mean? I saw you, both of you that night, and since then I've watched, watched, and waited. Then to night. I struck. I see, Miss Sidgwick. I think perhaps you had better sit down. But first I suggest that you put down that obvious, the lethal weapon you've been trying to conceal beneath your coat. As I say at once, I'm not accustomed to having my orders to sbey. Thank you. M a dangerous looking knife, dear lady. Where did you get it? I bought it at the Ironmonger's. Nobody knows I've got it. Nobody saw me. I take it that you did not use it on poor miss Franklin. No, I pushed her under a train. Did anybody see you? No? Well, that is I don't think so it will look like an accident. Well, I suppose we must be thankful for that, Misteridwick. I'm very displeased with your Did I not say to you in this very office, not so long ago, that you were to infiltrate the enemy's ranks act as they do? Yes, may I'm not insighted in your excuses. I only want to know why you took it upon yourself to make what I can only describe as managerial decisions. I am the general in this army, Miss Sidwick, and I and I alone make the decisions. I decide who is to be removed. Do I make myself clear? I'm so sorry. I don't understand. Being sorry would not have been much comfort if you had brought disaster on my entire campaign by your thoughtless and ill conceived actions. Dear lady, I had great plans for you, great plans. In time, I might well have allowed you to work in the field with me. But now how can I ever trust you again? Oh? Please, please trust me? Oh please. It's been a glorious campaign so far. Eight of them I've removed, the last one on Wimbledon Common, and the fame of my work has been proclaimed throughout the country. From Paige Staff too. They came to me flaunting their bodies, young, eager. For a while, I became as they were. Then I struck. I took them to lonely places. And then and you, Miss Sidwick, have interfered. You have destroyed the night's removal. I'm so very sorry, you say I didn't know. Please please forgive me. Oh please, I do forgive you, dear lady, for I see now that you only acted with the very best intentions. Oh yes, I forgive you. We have a great task before us, you and I for you. See, dear lady, there are so many, so very many more to be removed. I sat there in that comfortable, warm waiting room, listening to Miss Sidgwick pouring out her dreadful, monstrous, unbelievable story. I sat there, stunned, not daring to look her in the face. Then suddenly I was roused from my days by the arrival of my friend, doctor Jarvis. Hello Vincent, Oh hello Peter. So sorry to have kept you all this time. I got held up on a difficult case. Hello, Miss Sidgwick. You here, Oh yes, sir, I'm just going. I only looked in to see that everything was as it should be. Well, goodbye, it's been so nice to have someone to talk to. Well, yes, sir, yes, goodbye, bye bye, dear lady Peter that that woman? Is she safe? I mean Missteriwick. Yes, safe as houses. Interesting case though, I'm must tell you about it sometime. Yes, yes you must. I say you're right. Oh man, I say you do look a bit ce day. Fancy you getting stuck with old Mars Sidgwick. Excuse me, doctor Darvis. We were suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a very pretty young blonde. As she came towards us, I experienced, for a moment a strange sin of unreality, for I saw that she was wearing a blue two piece suit with an incredibly short skirt. She was carrying a white handbag and wore high heeled shoes. Sorry to disturb you, Yes, I've left the papers for the Peabody case on your desk. But I wonder what you wanted to do about these two Frederickson Wilkinson. You did say they were urgent, good Lord, so I did. I've forgot all about them. Thank you reminding me. Ah, I'm not gonna have any time today. I'll tell you what. If it's all right with you, why don't we stay on late this evening, get him cleared away. Who knows, we get finished quickly. I might even reward you by taking you out to supper. I have a nice little restaurant out near Wimbledon Common. Hmm, that would be nice, Thank you, right, miss Davis. That settled? Then, well, come along, old ma'am. You can't stay here ogling our miss Davis all day. I'll have some coffee sent into my when talking piece there. Come on, we've got work to do, and work we did. Peter proved a mine of information concerning psychiatry, and I listened to him carefully and made copious notes. But somehow, after that visit, I didn't feel that I had the heart to carry on with my film script. I felt to put it mildly out of my depth, and so, having thought about the whole thing carefully, I decided that all things considered, it might be better if I stuck to something simple. It might, I thought, be safer to write a cookery book, for example, And that's exactly what I did. That was Vincent Price, bringing you the Price of Fear. Also starring in the ninth removal were FRIEDA. Jackson and Richard Pearson, with Claire Sutcliffe, Michael Siegel, and Alan Rowe. The ninth removal was first recounted by our chetwynd Hayes, dramatized by Barry Campbell and produced by John Dyas