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The Whistler - "Death in the Air" (Old Time Radio, 1943) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: On Friday, August 13th, 1943, the CBS Pacific Network presented
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: a sustaining broadcast of The Whistler, episode 65. This half-hour program,
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: Death in the Air, comes from the months before Signal
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: Oil began its association with the series. Fred Blake has
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: risen as a racketeer, while his former chauffeur, Joe Alberti,
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: has borne the consequences of a murder connected with Blake's past.
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: When Joe's widow Mary arrives at Blake's apartment to demand justice,
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: an unexpected crisis turns suspicion in her direction.
• 0:35
  Speaker 2: Here is the whistler in Death in the Air.
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: And now, we return to the original broadcast.
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: Have you heard the strange tales of the whistler? Yes.
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: I'm the Whistler. Look, I know I haven't a chance.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: I know that I can't live. I can tell by
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: the way that doctor looks at me. And you too.
• 1:18
  Speaker 2: Why don't you tell me the truth? Why don't you?
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: Friday night and again, CBS presents The Whistler.
• 1:27
  Speaker 3: The Whistler. I, the whistler, know many things, for I
• 1:36
  Speaker 3: walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets
• 1:40
  Speaker 3: hidden in the hearts of men and women who.
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: Have stepped into the shadows.
• 1:44
  Speaker 3: And so I tell you tonight, the unusual story of
• 1:48
  Speaker 3: Death in the Air.
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: A girl, a rather.
• 1:54
  Speaker 3: Ordinary brunette of 18, plainly dressed... steps out of an
• 1:58
  Speaker 3: elevator on the 14th floor of a swank apartment house
• 2:01
  Speaker 3: and moves silently down the hall, pauses for a moment
• 2:04
  Speaker 3: before a certain door, then turns the knob and steps inside.
• 2:08
  Speaker 3: A handsome man of 35 jumps to his feet, stares
• 2:12
  Speaker 3: at the girl a moment, then she closes the door
• 2:15
  Speaker 3: behind her.
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: Who are you? What do you want?
• 2:19
  Speaker 4: You don't know me.
• 2:20
  Speaker 5: You've never seen me before. But I know that you're
• 2:22
  Speaker 5: Fred Blake.
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: Yes, I'm Fred Blake. So what? What's the idea of
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: walking into my apartment?
• 2:27
  Speaker 4: I'm Mary Alberti.
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: Mary Alberti?
• 2:29
  Speaker 5: Does that name mean anything to you?
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: Why, lots of people are named Alberti. Yeah.
• 2:34
  Speaker 4: But I'm Mrs. Joe Alberti.
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: Joe.
• 2:37
  Speaker 6: Joe Alberti? Yeah.
• 2:40
  Speaker 5: I thought that name would get a rise out of you.
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: What are you doing here?
• 2:42
  Speaker 5: Do you happen to know where my husband is at
• 2:44
  Speaker 5: this moment?
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: Joe? Why, certainly I know where he is. Who doesn't?
• 2:48
  Speaker 2: This morning he was sentenced. Why, now he's in the
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: state pen.
• 2:51
  Speaker 4: Convicted of murder.
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: That's right.
• 2:52
  Speaker 5: A murder he didn't commit.
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: He was convicted. He had a trial.
• 2:55
  Speaker 4: But he's innocent.
• 2:57
  Speaker 5: And you know it.
• 2:58
  Speaker 2: He yelled up the bank messenger. He shot him.
• 3:00
  Speaker 5: Then what became of the money?
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: How should I know?
• 3:02
  Speaker 5: Well, I know what became of the money.
• 3:04
  Speaker 4: You have it.
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: How do you figure that?
• 3:06
  Speaker 4: Joe was working for you.
• 3:07
  Speaker 5: As a chauffeur, he said. And I didn't know any
• 3:09
  Speaker 5: different until he got into this jam. I didn't know
• 3:12
  Speaker 5: what you were until he told me today.
• 3:15
  Speaker 4: Just before he left.
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: And what did he tell you?
• 3:18
  Speaker 5: That you were a gangster. And that he had nothing
• 3:20
  Speaker 5: to do with the holdup or the murder, but that
• 3:22
  Speaker 5: you planted the evidence on him. He was a fall guy.
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: Now look, sister, I run a couple of nightclubs and
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: little gambling stuff. But I haven't yet gotten around to
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: hold up some murders.
• 3:30
  Speaker 4: My husband wouldn't lie to me. He begged me to
• 3:32
  Speaker 4: keep quiet about it.
• 3:33
  Speaker 5: Because he was afraid if I made a fuss that
• 3:35
  Speaker 5: you'd get rid of me.
• 3:36
  Speaker 6: What a wild imagination Joe has.
• 3:39
  Speaker 5: Joe told me the truth.
• 3:41
  Speaker 4: Joe wouldn't lie to me.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: The jury didn't believe his story?
• 3:43
  Speaker 4: He didn't tell them everything. He was afraid. Afraid for me.
• 3:46
  Speaker 2: Will you get out of here or shall I call
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: the police?
• 3:48
  Speaker 5: Nobody knows what became of the 50,000 my husband was
• 3:51
  Speaker 5: supposed to have taken. Nobody but me.
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: So?
• 3:54
  Speaker 5: So, since Joe's been convicted, I think I ought to
• 3:57
  Speaker 5: have the use of the money. So fork over, Mr.
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: Blake. Well, of all the brainstorms, you expect me to
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: give you $ 50, 000?
• 4:04
  Speaker 6: I do.
• 4:06
  Speaker 5: If Joe grabbed it, it belongs to him. And since
• 4:09
  Speaker 5: Joe's gone, it all becomes mine.
• 4:10
  Speaker 2: Are you nuts?
• 4:11
  Speaker 5: I know you don't carry $ 50, 000 around with you, but
• 4:13
  Speaker 5: you can get it tomorrow in cash. So I'll give
• 4:16
  Speaker 5: you till tomorrow at noon to hand it over. That's
• 4:19
  Speaker 5: 12 hours, Mr.
• 4:20
  Speaker 2: Blake. And if I don't?
• 4:22
  Speaker 4: Then I'll kill you.
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: I see. Well, where can I locate you tomorrow by noon?
• 4:28
  Speaker 4: At my hotel.
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: Very well. Just take this notepad and write your name
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: and address. And your phone number. Okay. There.
• 4:39
  Speaker 4: There you are. And bring it in person, Mr.
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: Blake. Oh, of course. I wouldn't want anybody else in
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: on this.
• 4:45
  Speaker 7: And if you don't show up with the money tomorrow... Well,
• 4:49
  Speaker 7: I'll catch up with you.
• 4:51
  Speaker 4: Sooner or later.
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: Okay.
• 4:52
  Speaker 4: You'll pay eventually. I know you will.
• 4:55
  Speaker 2: I think I'll run up to the penitentiary and have
• 4:57
  Speaker 2: a talk with Joe. He's all mixed up.
• 4:59
  Speaker 4: He isn't mixed up.
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: Not now. No?
• 5:03
  Speaker 4: No, Mr. Blake. Joe's dead.
• 5:06
  Speaker 6: What?
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: Dead.
• 5:08
  Speaker 5: Killed himself on the way to the pen. He knew
• 5:11
  Speaker 5: he was stuck and he couldn't face it.
• 5:14
  Speaker 4: You did that, Blake. You killed him. So now you're
• 5:17
  Speaker 4: going to pay. Through the nose. Good night. You dirty rat.
• 5:33
  Speaker 3: For ten minutes or so, Fred Blake sits at his desk, thinking,
• 5:37
  Speaker 3: studying the peculiar situation. Then there comes a knock at
• 5:41
  Speaker 3: the door. He steps across the room and.
• 5:44
  Speaker 2: Yes, who is it? Carl Winston. What do you want, Carl?
• 5:49
  Speaker 2: I want to talk to you a minute. Okay, come in.
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: What's on your mind? Well, I was told you wanted
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: to see me. Yes, Carl, I do. But I didn't
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: expect you here at this time of night. What do
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: you want with me? As if you didn't know. What
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: are you going to do about this phony check? Well,
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: I haven't got the money now, but I'll get it eventually.
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: I've given you a month. Now I want the money.
• 6:10
  Speaker 6: I'll get it. Really, I'll get it.
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: Well, if you can't get it, I can.
• 6:13
  Speaker 6: What do you mean?
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: Your father's district attorney of this county. I'll go to him.
• 6:17
  Speaker 2: He'd pay it to hush it up.
• 6:19
  Speaker 6: Please, Blake.
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: Or maybe I'd tell your father you ran up a
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: liquor bill. Look, Blake, I haven't got the money, but
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: if you wait, I'll get it. I've given you all
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: the time I intend to. I want the money now.
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: Put up your hands, Blake. Now, wait a minute. Don't
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: try that bad man stuff on me. Put up that
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: gun before you hurt somebody. Give me that check. Hand
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: it over.
• 6:39
  Speaker 6: Okay, Carl, but you're crazy.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: Give me that check. Sure. Here you are. Let go.
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: Get away from me. I'll kill you. You crazy little fool.
• 6:57
  Speaker 6: Blake.
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: Blake. Good Lord.
• 7:03
  Speaker 6: Blake.
• 7:18
  Speaker 3: For many hours, Blake hoppers between life and death. Several
• 7:22
  Speaker 3: times he has revived from the coma sufficiently to answer
• 7:25
  Speaker 3: questions of the detectives. Now, several days later, a week
• 7:29
  Speaker 3: to be exact, the district attorney holds a conference.
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: Tell me, Blake, on the night you were shot, did
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: you see your assailant? No. Do you remember anything that happened? No,
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: I remember the shot. Hold a stab of fire in
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: my chest. Came to in a minute or so, I guess.
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: Got to the phone and called the receiving hospital. Then
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: I passed out again. And you didn't see the person?
• 7:49
  Speaker 6: No.
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: Blake, do you know a woman named Mary Alberti? Yes.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: Was she in your rooms the night you were shot? Yes.
• 7:57
  Speaker 2: How did you know? On your date pad, we found
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: her name and address and phone number. What time was
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: she in your apartment? Oh, about 12 o'clock, midnight. And
• 8:04
  Speaker 2: you were shot shortly after midnight. That's right. Do you
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: think she did it? I don't know who did it.
• 8:10
  Speaker 2: That's for you to figure out. What did Mary Alberti want?
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: Why was she in your apartment? Well, her husband Joe
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: was my chauffeur. She wanted some money. She figured I'd
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: help her out. And did you? Well, I told her
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: I'd take care of her later. Did you know Joe
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: Alberti committed suicide? Not until she told me. Did Mary
• 8:29
  Speaker 2: Alberti threaten you because you wouldn't give her some money
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: at the moment? Yeah, she did. You think it was
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: Mary who came back later and shot you? I don't know.
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: Could have been. But she did threaten your life. Yes,
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: that's right. Very well, Blake. There are witnesses to this conversation.
• 8:43
  Speaker 6: It'll have to be repeated in court.
• 8:45
  Speaker 2: Okay, Winston. You'll be notified about the trial. Trial? Certainly.
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: I'm going to try Mary Alberti on attempted murder.
• 8:58
  Speaker 3: And so Mary Alberti is tried and convicted and sentenced
• 9:03
  Speaker 3: for from five to 20 years. And now, five years,
• 9:09
  Speaker 3: five long years have passed Fred Blake has become wealthy,
• 9:14
  Speaker 3: the boss of every racket in the county. And District
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: Attorney Winston has been re-elected on a new platform, a
• 9:19
  Speaker 3: vice clean-up campaign. Fred Blake sends for the District Attorney.
• 9:24
  Speaker 3: Come in, Winston.
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: Sit down. Have a cigar? Thanks. What's on your mind, Blake? Well,
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: I wanted to have a little talk with you, Winston,
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: about your campaign. Campaign is over. I've been re-elected. Yeah,
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: but I mean your so-called clean-up campaigns. When does that start, Winston?
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: It started the day I was re-elected. I see. My
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: name at the head of your list? I'm starting on you, Blake.
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: And if I put you where you belong, well, that'll
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: be a great accomplishment. I think you're being foolish, Winston.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: Do you? Why?
• 9:55
  Speaker 6: You just dropped all this Puritan stuff. I.
• 9:59
  Speaker 2: Well, I could make it more... than worth your while. Blake,
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: I was fortunate enough to be born the son of
• 10:04
  Speaker 2: a very wealthy man. And money doesn't interest me in
• 10:07
  Speaker 2: the least. Money? Oh, no. Not money.
• 10:11
  Speaker 6: Something that's worth more to you than all the money
• 10:12
  Speaker 6: in the world.
• 10:13
  Speaker 2: Blake, you couldn't bribe me no matter what you offered.
• 10:15
  Speaker 6: Mr. District Attorney, I'm going to change your mind in
• 10:18
  Speaker 6: less than one minute.
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: All right, Blake. I'm listening. Five years ago, you.
• 10:23
  Speaker 6: Sent a girl to the penitentiary for attempted murder.
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: My murder, remember? Well, you were wrong on that one.
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: She didn't shoot me.
• 10:29
  Speaker 4: What?
• 10:29
  Speaker 2: Then why didn't you say so? I was saving it.
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: Saving it for a rainy day.
• 10:34
  Speaker 6: What are you talking about?
• 10:35
  Speaker 2: The Alberti woman didn't do it. She was in my
• 10:37
  Speaker 2: apartment that night, but she left. And a man came in.
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: He owed me some money. He didn't have it. I
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: threatened to tell his father that he had lost at gambling,
• 10:45
  Speaker 2: and he went crazy. Pulled a gun and shot me.
• 10:47
  Speaker 2: Who was this man? Your son.
• 10:50
  Speaker 6: Carl.
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: Carl? I don't believe you. Oh, but I can prove it.
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: Look at this. His phony check. That's why he came
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: to my apartment. He demanded the check. We scuffled and
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: he pulled a gun. I hit him and then he
• 11:01
  Speaker 2: shot me. He left in such a hurry that he
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: forgot the check.
• 11:05
  Speaker 6: I see.
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: But there's something more important than the check. Yes? What?
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: A gun. A revolver. Whose gun? Take a look at it.
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: One shot fired. Recognize that gun? Why, yes, it's... Mine.
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: If ballistics were to check this gun and compare the
• 11:21
  Speaker 2: bullet taken from my chest, they'd find a definite similarity
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: in rifle markings. I see. Well, that's all there is
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: to it. What do you say now, Mr. Winston?
• 11:32
  Speaker 6: You've really got me in a tough spot, haven't you, Blake?
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: If you care anything about your son or his future,
• 11:37
  Speaker 2: you'll forget this cleanup business. All right, Blake, I'll think
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: it over. It's something that can't be decided in a moment, huh?
• 11:47
  Speaker 2: Good night, Winston.
• 11:58
  Speaker 3: The cleanup campaign has dropped, and Fred Blake flourishes. He
• 12:03
  Speaker 3: opens more gambling clubs, grows wealthier and wealthier. And a
• 12:07
  Speaker 3: year later, he is a popular figure in the swank
• 12:10
  Speaker 3: set of a southern beach resort. At the moment, Fred
• 12:13
  Speaker 3: is a weekend guest at the beach home of one
• 12:15
  Speaker 3: of the wealthy 400.
• 12:18
  Speaker 4: Oh, what a perfectly divine night.
• 12:21
  Speaker 2: Yes, Anitra, I've never seen such a mood.
• 12:23
  Speaker 4: So peaceful and quiet here on the beach. I didn't
• 12:26
  Speaker 4: want to dance anymore.
• 12:27
  Speaker 2: Let's sit down here on these rocks.
• 12:29
  Speaker 3: All right.
• 12:31
  Speaker 2: Anitra.
• 12:32
  Speaker 4: Yes, friend? What were you going to say?
• 12:34
  Speaker 2: Are you going back to Boston Sunday?
• 12:37
  Speaker 4: Why, I don't know. I haven't decided.
• 12:39
  Speaker 7: I have a few more weeks, but I really should
• 12:42
  Speaker 7: get back. The magazine's so understaffed, and I have a
• 12:45
  Speaker 7: world of illustrations to do.
• 12:47
  Speaker 4: Why do you ask, Fred?
• 12:48
  Speaker 6: Well, I thought if you didn't have to go back,
• 12:49
  Speaker 6: you might come over to my place for a week.
• 12:52
  Speaker 4: Your place? Oh, but Fred, I.
• 12:54
  Speaker 2: Yes, I'm having some guests down for a week. Several
• 12:57
  Speaker 2: couples from New York.
• 12:59
  Speaker 4: Well, I don't know. I really should get back.
• 13:01
  Speaker 2: Please come, Anitra.
• 13:03
  Speaker 6: Please do.
• 13:04
  Speaker 4: Well, it's very sweet of you.
• 13:05
  Speaker 2: Anitra, I... I really want you to come. Because... Yes?
• 13:12
  Speaker 6: You know, the way the moon shines on your hair, it...
• 13:16
  Speaker 6: It looks just like spun gold.
• 13:17
  Speaker 4: Does it? Is that what you were going to say?
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: No. There are a lot of things I want to say.
• 13:24
  Speaker 6: Do you realize what a beautiful girl you are, Anitra?
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: Fred... I mean it. From the moment I first saw you,
• 13:32
  Speaker 2: you knocked the props right out from under me.
• 13:35
  Speaker 6: Nothing else exists. Nothing else matters. Nothing but you, Anitra.
• 13:38
  Speaker 4: But, Fred.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: I'm wild about you. Crazy.
• 13:41
  Speaker 4: Please, Fred, we better go back.
• 13:43
  Speaker 2: You've got to listen, darling.
• 13:45
  Speaker 6: I love you.
• 13:47
  Speaker 4: Are you asking me to.
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: Yes. I want you to marry me.
• 13:52
  Speaker 4: But I'm a career woman. You don't want a career
• 13:56
  Speaker 4: woman for a wife.
• 13:58
  Speaker 5: Besides, we've only known each other for a few days.
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: I don't care, career or not. Two days or two hours.
• 14:04
  Speaker 2: I love you.
• 14:06
  Speaker 4: Let's get back to the house.
• 14:07
  Speaker 6: Come on.
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: You mean you... You don't like me?
• 14:10
  Speaker 6: Is that it?
• 14:12
  Speaker 2: Or is it some other man?
• 14:14
  Speaker 4: I do like you very much and... There's no other man, but.
• 14:19
  Speaker 7: Well, I'll have to think about it. If I marry,
• 14:22
  Speaker 7: I know I'll give up my work, and... I'm not
• 14:25
  Speaker 7: sure I want.
• 14:26
  Speaker 4: To do that.
• 14:26
  Speaker 2: I see. Well, will you at least make me happy
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: by joining the party at my place for a week?
• 14:32
  Speaker 7: Yes, I'll come, Fred. I'll stay here for another week, but...
• 14:37
  Speaker 7: Please don't high-pressure me. Let me make up my own mind.
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: Promise? That's a deal. Shall we seal it? Certainly. With
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: a kiss?
• 14:46
  Speaker 4: Fred, I.
• 14:48
  Speaker 6: Please.
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: I love you, Anitra.
• 14:51
  Speaker 8: Let's go back to the house, please.
• 15:08
  Speaker 3: But Fred doesn't keep his promise. Fred isn't the type.
• 15:12
  Speaker 3: When he wants a thing, nothing can change his mind.
• 15:16
  Speaker 3: And by the time the week is up, Fred has
• 15:17
  Speaker 3: made up Anitra's mind. They are married and decide to
• 15:21
  Speaker 3: spend their honeymoon in Florida. But a few weeks later,
• 15:24
  Speaker 3: their honeymoon is interrupted. Fred is stricken with an illness.
• 15:29
  Speaker 4: In this room, Dr.
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: Phillips.
• 15:32
  Speaker 9: Thank you.
• 15:33
  Speaker 2: Fred.
• 15:35
  Speaker 4: Fred.
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: Yes, darling?
• 15:36
  Speaker 4: This is Dr.
• 15:37
  Speaker 6: Phillips.
• 15:38
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 15:38
  Speaker 6: Well, Mr. Blaine, what seems to be the trouble?
• 15:40
  Speaker 2: I don't know. I'm just... I don't know what it is. Dr.
• 15:44
  Speaker 4: Phillips is a specialist from Miami.
• 15:46
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 15:46
  Speaker 6: Why don't you tell me a few things, Mr.
• 15:48
  Speaker 2: Blake? Well, I'm afraid it's some sort of paralysis.
• 15:54
  Speaker 6: Paralysis?
• 15:54
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 15:55
  Speaker 6: What makes you think that?
• 15:56
  Speaker 2: Well, the first time it hit me, I got kind
• 15:58
  Speaker 2: of faint. My feet and legs became numb, sort of
• 16:02
  Speaker 2: crept up on me. At first, it wasn't so bad,
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: but the next time it came, it affected my hands
• 16:09
  Speaker 2: and arms, too. I got dizzy, and I passed out. Oh,
• 16:12
  Speaker 2: I see.
• 16:13
  Speaker 6: Have you become nauseated, Mr.
• 16:15
  Speaker 8: Blake?
• 16:15
  Speaker 2: No. But after the attacks, I'm so exhausted.
• 16:19
  Speaker 6: I can't even get out of bed.
• 16:22
  Speaker 9: Well, I'd better give you a thorough examination.
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: What?
• 16:25
  Speaker 6: What do you think it is, Doctor? Well, I don't
• 16:28
  Speaker 6: know at the moment.
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: Do you think it's serious?
• 16:31
  Speaker 9: Any interruption in the functions may be serious.
• 16:34
  Speaker 4: Do you think it would be best to take him
• 16:35
  Speaker 4: to a hospital, Doctor?
• 16:36
  Speaker 6: I don't know yet. No, no, darling, please. I'd rather
• 16:39
  Speaker 6: stay here with you.
• 16:41
  Speaker 4: Yes, dear, of course, whatever you say.
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: Please, Mrs.
• 16:43
  Speaker 6: Blake, would you mind stepping out for a while?
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: Very well. I'll be in my room. Call me when
• 16:49
  Speaker 4: you're finished. Everything's going to be all right, dear. Please
• 16:52
  Speaker 4: don't worry.
• 16:53
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 16:54
  Speaker 6: I'll be all right.
• 17:09
  Speaker 4: May I come in?
• 17:10
  Speaker 2: Oh, yes.
• 17:10
  Speaker 6: Come in, Mrs.
• 17:11
  Speaker 2: Blake.
• 17:11
  Speaker 6: I've finished.
• 17:13
  Speaker 4: It's been an hour. I just couldn't wait any longer.
• 17:15
  Speaker 9: It's quite all right.
• 17:16
  Speaker 4: How do you feel, Fred?
• 17:17
  Speaker 2: Well, a little better, I guess. He pounded me and
• 17:21
  Speaker 2: thumped and listened, but I don't think he knows himself.
• 17:25
  Speaker 6: I do feel better.
• 17:27
  Speaker 2: I'm going to get up and walk around. Mr.
• 17:29
  Speaker 9: Blake, I'd advise you remain as quiet as possible.
• 17:32
  Speaker 2: Why?
• 17:33
  Speaker 6: If you attempt to move about... I'll have to withdraw
• 17:36
  Speaker 6: from this case.
• 17:37
  Speaker 2: What have you discovered?
• 17:37
  Speaker 6: What is it? Just relax.
• 17:39
  Speaker 2: Why don't you say it? Why keep it a secret?
• 17:40
  Speaker 2: I'm entitled to know.
• 17:41
  Speaker 3: Spill it.
• 17:41
  Speaker 4: Now, please, Fred, darling, please don't get excited. What is it, doctor?
• 17:46
  Speaker 4: Do you know?
• 17:47
  Speaker 6: Mrs. Blake, I'd like a few words with you. Step
• 17:52
  Speaker 6: over here to the window.
• 17:53
  Speaker 4: Why, yes, of course, doctor.
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: I can't.
• 18:01
  Speaker 4: Believe that.
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: Well, what are you talking about? Why go over there
• 18:06
  Speaker 2: and mumble? Why don't you say it and be done
• 18:08
  Speaker 2: with it? Did you hear me? What are you mumbling about?
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: What are you telling her, you quack? Why don't you
• 18:18
  Speaker 2: tell me? No, no, no, please, Mrs. Blake.
• 18:20
  Speaker 6: Now, please, be calm.
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: I have to tell you. If you don't tell me
• 18:22
  Speaker 2: what you're talking about, I'll get out of this bed
• 18:24
  Speaker 2: and brain you. Oh, no. Oh, no, please.
• 18:27
  Speaker 4: Darling, please don't get up.
• 18:28
  Speaker 9: No, you mustn't.
• 18:29
  Speaker 2: Now, Mr.
• 18:29
  Speaker 9: Blake, I advise you to stay in that bed and
• 18:30
  Speaker 9: control your temper. You're in no condition to withstand any
• 18:33
  Speaker 9: form of excitement.
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: No? No. And you know what's wrong with me?
• 18:37
  Speaker 6: I do.
• 18:38
  Speaker 9: And believe me, if you want to recover, you'd best
• 18:41
  Speaker 9: remain as quiet as possible.
• 18:43
  Speaker 2: It's that serious?
• 18:45
  Speaker 6: You have a chance, Mr. Blake.
• 18:47
  Speaker 9: And that small chance depends mostly upon you yourself. I'll
• 18:51
  Speaker 9: do my best, but it mostly depends on you.
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: Is it paralysis?
• 18:56
  Speaker 9: The knowledge of what it is will not help you.
• 18:59
  Speaker 9: It is better that you think as little about it
• 19:01
  Speaker 9: as possible.
• 19:02
  Speaker 6: Good night, Mr.
• 19:03
  Speaker 2: Blake.
• 19:04
  Speaker 6: Good night, Mr.
• 19:04
  Speaker 7: Blake.
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: Good night. Anitra, what... what did he say? Oh, Fred.
• 19:12
  Speaker 4: Fred, you must try not.
• 19:14
  Speaker 5: Not to....
• 19:24
  Speaker 3: Another week passes, and Fred still remains in bed. He
• 19:28
  Speaker 3: has had several more attacks, each one a bit more
• 19:31
  Speaker 3: severe than the last. The doctor has made several visits,
• 19:35
  Speaker 3: and Fred is now terribly frightened by the doctor's concern
• 19:38
  Speaker 3: regarding his progress. Shortly before midnight, Fred feels another spell
• 19:43
  Speaker 3: coming on, a little more severe.
• 19:45
  Speaker 2: Anitra! Anitra!
• 19:47
  Speaker 4: Oh, yes, darling.
• 19:48
  Speaker 7: Yes, Fred?
• 19:49
  Speaker 6: I'm getting faint.
• 19:50
  Speaker 2: It's coming on again. Get the doctor.
• 19:52
  Speaker 4: Oh, yes, Fred. I've already called him. He'll be here
• 19:54
  Speaker 4: in a few moments. Now, be quiet, dear. Please don't
• 19:57
  Speaker 4: exert yourself.
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: This is the worst yet.
• 19:59
  Speaker 4: Please be calm. You're all right.
• 20:00
  Speaker 2: No, no. I'm scared. This is it. I... I know
• 20:04
  Speaker 2: this is the end.
• 20:05
  Speaker 4: Oh, Fred. Fred, don't say that.
• 20:07
  Speaker 2: I can tell.
• 20:08
  Speaker 4: No, you've nothing to fear, darling.
• 20:10
  Speaker 2: Nothing. I have.
• 20:11
  Speaker 6: I can't help it.
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: I'm afraid.
• 20:13
  Speaker 4: Fred, you must get hold of yourself.
• 20:15
  Speaker 2: You must. I know I haven't a chance. You know that.
• 20:17
  Speaker 2: The doctor knows.
• 20:19
  Speaker 4: He told you.
• 20:19
  Speaker 2: I know, too.
• 20:20
  Speaker 4: Oh, please, Fred.
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: There's something I've got to tell you.
• 20:23
  Speaker 4: Hush, darling.
• 20:24
  Speaker 2: You don't understand. I... I've got to tell someone.
• 20:27
  Speaker 4: You must calm yourself.
• 20:28
  Speaker 2: You've got to listen to me. You've got to.
• 20:30
  Speaker 4: The doctor will be here in just a few moments. Now,
• 20:32
  Speaker 4: please try to save your strength, darling.
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: He can't help me.
• 20:35
  Speaker 5: Oh, come in.
• 20:36
  Speaker 2: I came as quickly as I could, Mrs.
• 20:38
  Speaker 8: Blake.
• 20:38
  Speaker 4: It's another attack, doctor. It seems to be worse than
• 20:41
  Speaker 4: the last. He's terribly frightened.
• 20:42
  Speaker 6: Come now, Blake. You must try to get a hold
• 20:44
  Speaker 6: of yourself.
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: Hmm.
• 20:46
  Speaker 6: The pulse is.
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: The pulse is what?
• 20:51
  Speaker 6: Just a second.
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: My bag, please.
• 20:52
  Speaker 4: Yes, doctor.
• 20:53
  Speaker 6: Thank you. Now, let's have a listen to the stethoscope.
• 20:58
  Speaker 6: You have a chill, Blake.
• 20:59
  Speaker 2: I don't know.
• 21:00
  Speaker 6: I'm just awful numb. It's creeping up.
• 21:03
  Speaker 2: Inch by inch.
• 21:03
  Speaker 4: Oh, please, doctor. Can't we take him to the hospital?
• 21:05
  Speaker 2: The hospital?
• 21:06
  Speaker 6: I'm afraid... Well, he's as well off here as in
• 21:09
  Speaker 6: the hospital. Why don't you tell me the truth?
• 21:12
  Speaker 2: I've got a right to know. Tell me. Tell me
• 21:15
  Speaker 2: the truth.
• 21:16
  Speaker 6: No, you're going to be all right, Blake.
• 21:17
  Speaker 2: You're lying.
• 21:19
  Speaker 4: Mrs.
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: Blake....
• 21:21
  Speaker 6: Yes, doctor?
• 21:22
  Speaker 4: What did you start to say?
• 21:24
  Speaker 2: Well.
• 21:24
  Speaker 6: Tell me.
• 21:25
  Speaker 2: I've got to know. Yes, Fred.
• 21:27
  Speaker 4: Tell this doctor. There's no use evading the issue. Fred
• 21:30
  Speaker 4: wants to know.
• 21:30
  Speaker 6: Very well. Since you insist, there is nothing I can
• 21:34
  Speaker 6: do for you, Mr.
• 21:35
  Speaker 2: Blake.
• 21:36
  Speaker 6: Nothing anyone can do for you. You mean it's a
• 21:38
  Speaker 6: matter of days? It may be only a matter of hours.
• 21:44
  Speaker 6: I'm sorry, Blake. Hours? Anitra... Oh, darling, I.
• 21:49
  Speaker 2: I knew.
• 21:51
  Speaker 4: I knew, but I.
• 21:54
  Speaker 4: I just couldn't let you know. Hours.
• 21:58
  Speaker 2: Doctor, will you leave us alone for a while.
• 22:00
  Speaker 6: Of course?
• 22:01
  Speaker 4: Oh, please. Don't leave the house, Doctor.
• 22:04
  Speaker 9: No, I'll stay with you as long as you need me.
• 22:06
  Speaker 9: I'll be in the hall. You call me if you want.
• 22:09
  Speaker 6: Anitra, get a sheet of paper and write what I
• 22:13
  Speaker 6: tell you. Yes, sir. And please hurry, Anitra.
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: Of course, dear. Here.
• 22:20
  Speaker 4: I'm ready.
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: To District Attorney Frank Winston... I never thought I'd do this.
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: But here it is.
• 22:28
  Speaker 6: Joe Alberti was innocent in the killing of the bank messenger.
• 22:33
  Speaker 6: He was framed.
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: I killed the messenger and framed Joe.
• 22:37
  Speaker 6: Fred. And Joe's wife is innocent of trying to kill me.
• 22:42
  Speaker 6: She didn't shoot me.
• 22:43
  Speaker 2: I want it released. I'm enclosing a check for $ 10, 000
• 22:49
  Speaker 2: for her. And furthermore, what I told you about your son.
• 22:54
  Speaker 6: was a lie. He didn't shoot me either. He did
• 23:00
  Speaker 6: come to my room.
• 23:03
  Speaker 2: He had a gun.
• 23:04
  Speaker 6: I took it away from him. And then the scuffle
• 23:09
  Speaker 6: gun went off.
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: I shot myself. So that... that clears everything up. Now
• 23:18
  Speaker 2: you can start your campaign. But I.
• 23:22
  Speaker 6: I won't be around.
• 23:23
  Speaker 2: To participate in it. Yours, Fred Blake. Fred, are.
• 23:31
  Speaker 4: You out of your mind? Well, this is ridiculous. I
• 23:36
  Speaker 4: won't turn this over to the district attorney.
• 23:37
  Speaker 9: I won't.
• 23:38
  Speaker 2: Please, Sunita, please do.
• 23:40
  Speaker 6: I can't die.
• 23:40
  Speaker 2: I just can't unless I know. Please, you've got to
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: do it. Hand me the pen. I've got to sign
• 23:51
  Speaker 2: it before my hands go numb.
• 23:54
  Speaker 9: Oh, no.
• 23:54
  Speaker 4: No, don't sign it. Please don't.
• 23:56
  Speaker 2: It isn't true. It is true.
• 23:59
  Speaker 6: Every word.
• 24:01
  Speaker 2: Hold it. There. Oh, darling. You don't know what a
• 24:12
  Speaker 2: relief this is.
• 24:14
  Speaker 4: All right, Fred. I'll do as you say. Oh, darling,
• 24:20
  Speaker 4: I don't care what you've done. You've been so, so
• 24:23
  Speaker 4: good to me.
• 24:23
  Speaker 8: Thank you.
• 24:25
  Speaker 4: But if you want me to turn this over, I will.
• 24:29
  Speaker 6: I do.
• 24:30
  Speaker 2: Oh, doctor.
• 24:32
  Speaker 7: Doctor.
• 24:34
  Speaker 4: Quick, doctor.
• 24:35
  Speaker 2: You're too late, doctor. Everything's okay now.
• 24:46
  Speaker 6: Well, it's all over. All over.
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: I was fortunate in getting a plane within half an
• 25:03
  Speaker 2: hour after you phoned me, Mrs.
• 25:04
  Speaker 6: Blake.
• 25:04
  Speaker 4: I understand, and I appreciate your coming.
• 25:06
  Speaker 2: Well, what is this about Fred Blake?
• 25:08
  Speaker 4: Well, Fred has been ill for several weeks, and last night, well,
• 25:12
  Speaker 4: he got worse, became frightened, and made me take down
• 25:16
  Speaker 4: this letter. He signed it, and then.
• 25:18
  Speaker 9: Letter?
• 25:19
  Speaker 4: Yes, you may read it. It's addressed to you. And
• 25:22
  Speaker 4: I promised him I'd see that you got it.
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: I see.
• 25:26
  Speaker 6: District Attorney Fred Wilson. I never thought I'd get this one.
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: To Alberti?
• 25:31
  Speaker 4: And what's this?
• 25:33
  Speaker 6: Carl.
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: Out of all things. I had a hunch this would
• 25:37
  Speaker 2: clear up sooner or later. But how, I hadn't the
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: slightest idea.
• 25:40
  Speaker 4: And here's the check for 10,000 to Mary Alberti. Will
• 25:44
  Speaker 4: you see that she gets it and is released from prison?
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: Mrs. Blake, Mary Alberti was paroled over a year ago.
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: You keep the check and I'll locate her for you.
• 25:51
  Speaker 2: You can give it to her.
• 25:52
  Speaker 4: Do... Do you know where she can be found?
• 25:55
  Speaker 2: I have a pretty good idea. Now, may I see
• 25:59
  Speaker 2: your husband? I'd like to be sure that he is
• 26:01
  Speaker 2: the Fred Blake.
• 26:02
  Speaker 4: Yes, of course. This way.
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: Yes, he's the real Fred Blake. That's all I wanted
• 26:14
  Speaker 2: to know.
• 26:14
  Speaker 6: Anitra.
• 26:18
  Speaker 2: Is that you, Anitra? Good Lord, I thought he was dead.
• 26:21
  Speaker 6: What is this?
• 26:23
  Speaker 2: Where am I? Blake.
• 26:24
  Speaker 6: Doctor, what happened?
• 26:27
  Speaker 2: I'm not a doctor. Oh, then... Who are you? I'm
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: District Attorney Winston. Winston? What? What are you doing here?
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: Where am I? You're in your bed, but you're on
• 26:37
  Speaker 2: your way to jail. Jail? Are you crazy? I'm sick.
• 26:41
  Speaker 2: I'm dying. You may be right about that.
• 26:44
  Speaker 4: He isn't dying. It's all in his imagination.
• 26:46
  Speaker 2: Yeah? Get up out of that bed. But I can't.
• 26:49
  Speaker 2: I can't walk. Then we'll carry you. All right, Murphy.
• 26:52
  Speaker 2: Come in and carry him out. Yes, sir. Come on, Jim.
• 26:56
  Speaker 2: We'll make a saddle seat for him. I'm sick, I
• 26:58
  Speaker 2: tell you. I'm dying. You're taking a plane ride north,
• 27:00
  Speaker 2: whether you're dying or not. You signed this confession, didn't you? What? Yes.
• 27:06
  Speaker 2: But you weren't supposed to get that till I was dead.
• 27:09
  Speaker 2: Why didn't you wait, Anitra? Bring him along. You'll never
• 27:12
  Speaker 2: convict me. You'll never get that far because I'll be dead.
• 27:14
  Speaker 2: Come on, boys. Take him to the car. Anitra. Anitra,
• 27:18
  Speaker 2: why don't you tell them? It's all a mistake. They
• 27:20
  Speaker 2: can't do this. Tell him.
• 27:22
  Speaker 4: Tell them what?
• 27:23
  Speaker 2: I'm dying.
• 27:24
  Speaker 4: What can I do, Fred? I did just as you
• 27:26
  Speaker 4: asked me to do. I can't do a thing now.
• 27:30
  Speaker 4: It's too late.
• 27:31
  Speaker 2: What's happened to you? What's happened? Nothing.
• 27:35
  Speaker 4: I've never been so satisfied in my life.
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: What?
• 27:40
  Speaker 4: I said this is the happiest moment of my life.
• 27:44
  Speaker 4: Now get up, Fred. You can walk. You're stalling. There's
• 27:49
  Speaker 4: nothing wrong with you.
• 27:50
  Speaker 2: You're crazy. No, she's not crazy. She's clever. I've tried
• 27:55
  Speaker 2: for over a year to work this thing out, and
• 27:57
  Speaker 2: she did it all by herself. Yes, Blake, Mary Alberti,
• 28:02
  Speaker 2: now known as Mrs. Anitra Blake, is a very clever woman.
• 28:09
  Speaker 3: Well, there you are. Mary Alberti, alias Anitra Blake, was
• 28:14
  Speaker 3: a clever woman. She knew that her husband, Joe, was innocent.
• 28:18
  Speaker 3: And when she was sent to prison for shooting Fred Blake...
• 28:21
  Speaker 3: She made up her mind to eventually get out on
• 28:24
  Speaker 3: good behavior. So she studied art, glamorized herself, changed her
• 28:29
  Speaker 3: speech and appearance, and worked her way into the circles
• 28:32
  Speaker 3: frequented by Fred. And everything worked out just as she planned.
• 28:38
  Speaker 3: There was nothing wrong with Fred. He wasn't ill and
• 28:41
  Speaker 3: he wasn't dying. Just a few grains of medicine each
• 28:45
  Speaker 3: day was all that was necessary to bring on that numbness.
• 28:48
  Speaker 2: And the doctor... Well, he wasn't a doctor. No, he
• 28:52
  Speaker 2: was really the brother of her husband. The brother of
• 28:56
  Speaker 2: Joe Alberti. The End CBS has presented The Whistler.
• 29:24
  Speaker 3: Original music for this.
• 29:27
  Speaker 2: Production was composed.
• 29:30
  Speaker 9: By Wilbur Hatch and conducted by Ivan Dittmars.
• 29:37
  Speaker 2: The Whistler is written and directed by J. Donald Wilson
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: and originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood. Next week, same.
• 29:45
  Speaker 3: Time, I, the Whistler, will return to tell you another
• 29:49
  Speaker 3: unusual story. Good night.
• 29:54
  Speaker 2: This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:14
  Speaker 6: We conclude this visit with the whistler, Death in the Air.
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: Good night, and thank you for sharing another broadcast from
• 30:21
  Speaker 1: Radio's Past.