Good evening. Creed, welcome to the Mystery of My House. What would you do if a friend of yours were accused of committing murder, and circumstantial evidence made him appear to be guilty? He swears to you that he did not commit the crime, but says that he did. I am not guilty. I am not guilty. He swears to you that he did not commit the crime, but says that unless you protect him by lying about his whereabouts, he will be unable to prove his innocence. What would you do? Well, that's the problem posed by mystery writer William Irish, in tonight's play entitled, Two Men in a Furnished Room, starring John Beale. It all began with a housing shortage, Lieutenant Hiller. You see, Dixon and I tried to rent this furnished room just about the same time. Well, first we argued about who should get it, and then we ended up sharing it. We got along all right, I guess. We even became kind of friends in those three months. But just the same, I did get a little sore, Lieutenant, when he started talking about his girl again. I don't get you, Red. You never even met Estelle, and you're down on it. I don't need to meet her. I know women, that's all. All right, some girl gave you the business. That doesn't mean everything. I know. It doesn't mean a thing. Have it your own way. Estelle's different if it weren't for her mother. Yeah, I know. My girl had a mother, too. I never met her. You think every girl's out for what she can get. Yeah. Telling you Estelle is not... Oh, let's drop it, shall we? I want to read. Well, gee, Red, that's what I want to talk to you about. What? Reading? No. But you see, Estelle called me at the office today. Yeah? So? Well, she's got something on her mind, and she wants to come over and talk to me about it. Well, why don't you go to her place and talk? Well, you know, her mother objected. Yeah, that sounds familiar. So you want me to take a walk, huh? If you don't mind. It's raining out. Yeah, I know. Gee, I hate to ask you to do that. Well, I don't feel like going to the movies. Look, it won't happen again, Reg. Honest, Red, honest. All right. What time's curfew? It's almost half past eight now. She ought to be here soon. Okay, I'll clear out. Now, you don't have to dodge meeting her. Look, don't take this personal, Dicks, but I don't particularly want to meet her, okay? I'll just get my raincoat. Are you sure you don't mind? What's the difference? I feel like a heel, Red. Forget it. Maybe someday you can do me a favor. I'll be back around midnight. That's the way it is, Lieutenant, when you share a room with another guy. You gotta live and let live. That's a funny thing to say, live and let live. Especially the way things turned out. The rain was nasty and cold. I crossed the street heading toward the bar on the corner when I saw this girl. She was on the opposite side of the street, her head down into the rain. But once she got under the street lamp, I could make out what she looked like. She was wearing a green raincoat. Well, she turned into the house and I stood there looking at the empty doorway for a while, really getting sore. On account of her, on account of her, I had to swap around the rain. I had a good mind to go back then. Ah, but what was the use? I went into the bar. I'm going to go. Bartender, give me a shot of rye, will you? Yes, sir. Sort of wet night out, huh? Good weather for ducks. Yeah, for the ducks. You look mad. Fight with your girl? No, nothing like that. You look like you'd like to kill someone. Yeah? Well, give me that shot of rye, will you? Sure. The only time I got to kill is three hours' time. It was a long three hours, sitting there and making small talk. Well, finally I decided I might as well go back to the room. When I got up there, I knocked on the door. That you, Red? What do you think it'd be, Lana Turner? Open up. Now, what did you knock for? You got a key? What's eating you? Why shouldn't I knock? I thought maybe your girl was still here. Oh, she's gone, I see. Just a few minutes before you got here. You're some guy. You let her go alone on a night like this? I put her in a taxi. It didn't get wet. Well, it was right at the door. You didn't even get your shoes wet. Okay, okay. I didn't get my shoes wet. What's it to you? Nothing. What are you so nervous about? Can't you even sit still? I'll leave me alone, Red. Okay. What happened? Have a blow up? Now, why should we have a blow up? I don't know. Hey, what's this on the floor? What? This. Looks like a fastener from a raincoat. A green raincoat. Give me that. Okay, okay. Don't grab. Boy, you're really all hopped up tonight. Where are you going? I'm going to the corner in a minute. I want a drink. Since when are you drinking at this hour? Since now. Take your key. I'm going to bed. I'm coming right back. So long. I didn't get it. It was Dixon acting like he had a high tension wire running through him. I got undressed, washed, took a good look at myself in the mirror, and then got into bed. Just as I was getting set to drop off... Hello? I want to speak to my daughter. She promised me to have a definite understanding with you once and for all. But listen... And if you think you'll get anywhere by keeping her till all hours of the night... I'm trying to tell you... Is Mr. Dixon, isn't it? No, this is his roommate. Dixon's out. Oh, and I suppose my daughter's left too. She left over half an hour ago. Half an hour ago? Then why isn't she back here by now? Well, she'll probably get back any minute. It's only six blocks. What could have happened to her? It took me a while to get to sleep, but after a bit of tossing around, I finally made it. Only it didn't last very long. Hello? Is that Mr. Dixon? No, this is Stilley's roommate. I want to speak to Mr. Dixon right away. Just a second, let's turn on the light. Hello? Mr. Dixon isn't here yet. But it's after three o'clock. Isn't your daughter back? No, she isn't. What's he done with her? Where is she? I don't know, maybe... I warned her about him. I'm going to call the police. Wait a second. That's all. I'm going to call the police. Wait a second. Wait, I think I hear him coming. Hello? Hello? Uh... Greg? Are you still up? Well, what does it look like I am? Shut the door. Are you phoning somebody? No, somebody was calling you. Me? Who? Your girl's mother. Mrs. Michaels? What does she want? Your girl never got home, Dixon. What? You heard me. She never got home. But that's impossible. She lives... Only six blocks from here, I know. But her mother says she never made those six blocks. Listen, Red, what is... She phoned twice. She says you're going to call the cops. The cops? But why? Because of the diagram? It doesn't take three hours to make six blocks in a taxi... if she left here in a taxi. You sure you put her in a cab? Well, to tell you the truth, Red, I didn't take her down to the door. You told me you took her down and put her in a cab. I know, but we had an argument. She walked out on me. I was ashamed to tell you. I... Well, go on. Well, I heard her whistling for a cab from the doorway downstairs. I heard it plain, and I heard a cab drive up. Did you see her get into it? Well, I got over the window just a second too late. I didn't see her getting the door catch. Oh, that's not much of a story. Uh-oh. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the cops. Red, you've got to stick by me. Why should I? Red, don't you see? Outside of me, no one saw her leave here. She ends here. If anything happened to her... Just a minute! Red, you've got to tell them you saw her getting in the cab too. But I didn't see her. But you would have if you'd come along just ten minutes before. I swear it. I swear it. I'm not... Open up in there! Red, what are you going to do? What do you expect me to do? I'm going to get her. The first cop that night, the girl disappeared, and I was the curtain raiser, Lieutenant. Dixon, of course, told his story about seeing her get into the cab. The cop only asked me if I was there. I said, no one would let her go there for the time being. As I said, that was just the curtain raiser. That show really got started the next afternoon when I came back from my job at the bank and found you sitting there in our easy chair pretending to read a newspaper. You remember? Well, shut the door. Who are you? Lieutenant Hiller, homicide. Surprised? Not surprised. Then shut the door. How'd you get in? Superliving in. You must be Carr. Yeah. A fellow that lives here with Dixon. That's me. A girl named Estelle Michaels came here last night, didn't she? I don't care if I sit down. I'm kind of tired. No, go ahead. Well? There was a girl here last night, and I think her name was Michaels. Did you see her come in? I think so, from across the street. About 8.30. What time did you get back in? Close to 12. Is the girl still here then? No, she just left. How do you know? Did you see her or did your friend tell you? Well, I was good as soon as I leave. What do you mean by that? Well, as I came back here, I saw someone getting into a taxi, and I saw Dixon at the window looking down. When I got upstairs, he told me she just left. Call your own conclusions. Had you ever seen this girl before? No, just earlier last night. Okay, that's all for now. And stick close by and make sure your friend does, too. I want to see you guys again. After you left, I felt sort of weak. I was getting involved in this mess to protect Dixon. Why should I? How did I know he was telling the truth? How did I know they wouldn't pull me in as an accessory if his story blew up? I was building up a good deal of resentment against Dixon when he came home. And then again, I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him. Hiya, Red. Anyone been here? Yeah, a cop named Hiller. What's happened to you? Well, they had me down at headquarters all afternoon. I thought they weren't going to let me go. Why shouldn't they let you go? Because in their minds I'm already guilty. Of what? Whatever it is, I'm guilty. I had to admit, I quarreled with it. Don't you see, Red, I was the last person on earth to see a lead this place. Listen, you've got to call up... Who? Her mother. It's only natural you should call up her mother and say you're worried about the girl. No, Red, I can't. What's the number? I can't, Red. What's the number? It's... it's Chelted 25772. Now listen, Red, I... You've got to. Don't you understand? You want me to believe your story, don't you? Yeah, but I don't get it. Talk to her. Stop acting guilty. Hello? Mrs. Michaels, please. Who is this, what's... Tell her Dixon wants to speak to her. Here, you take it. Hello? Hello, Mrs. Michaels? This is John Dixon, Mrs. Michaels. Well, I just want to find out... But Mrs. Michaels, I swear I... I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Look, sir, I... I can't talk to her right here. Give me the phone. Hello, Mrs. Michaels? You... This is Mr. Dixon's roommate. Please, stop it! I'm getting out of here. I've got to get out. They're going to get me for this, sure. You run away and you're caught. And they'll know you did it. I didn't do it, red. Don't you believe me. know red listen you know you think I'm the kind of guy who could kill somebody what do I know really sure I've lived in this room with you for three months or I know about you I didn't do it right you know that raincoat faster I found last night it came from her raincoat how come I told you we had an argument she wanted to leave and I was trying to hold it back I was holding out of a raincoat and. Don't just see how this looks on me red. Yeah I see. And you'd better clear out of the eye I knew you'd see it my way red. Look can you lend me some dough I'm dead broke I can lend you twenty I'll pay you back yeah oh yeah oh gee thanks right . I'll get in touch with you somehow are you going to be I don't know yet I'll let you know thanks again right. Twenty bucks when I get thanks. Boy what a sucker. Dixon I hadn't left any too soon that I hardly had time to put on some coffee and light a cigarette when you came in again. Where's the. I don't know be that I get. Where'd he go how should I know he doesn't tell me everything you're covering for him why should I be a sucker red. Funny what's funny. OK and let's get going or two headquarters now I'm not yet first I'm going to take you to the Michael's house maybe when you see the girl's mother that will make a difference. A. A. Six blocks ride in the headquarters car took maybe three or four minutes but in that time I did plenty of thinking. So at last there's going to meet the girl's mother and then what how far can I go in this whole thing how far could I protect the. You remember the house one of those places it was fashionable about twenty five years ago the apartment was dark and dingy with a lot of old furniture and the mother she looked old and dried up to she was lying in a bed in that room smell like it had been a sick room for years Michael this is Dixon's room mate I'm sorry Mr Michael's your body it sounds to me I've spoken to you on the telephone Oh that's right I keep forgetting the story car I have to I think you're better OK. I was coming back home that night Mrs Michael's and I saw a girl getting into a cat or a dog or a that's right that's a flash and like I said I saw Dixon at the window looking down into the street you saw a stale getting into the taxi I saw a girl I guess it was your daughter man and I read listen think carefully you were close enough to see the girl getting into the cab now she must have hailed it right . Did you hear a shout or whistle well now that you mention it well I did hear a whistle you liar you liar you didn't hear it with yes I'm sure couldn't whistle never with the living life. You didn't see my daughter leave that house. When we got on the street you turned on me and you hadn't told it to well read what do you say now all right he was lying to me you still want to cover for him leave me alone can't you leave her alone car. We found the body. Not pretty when I come down to the morgue and have a look at it no no he strangled her car and he dragged her up to the roof even went to the trouble to carry the body across a couple of buildings you know he isn't a very strong guy but you can make to him they carry that girl's body across a couple of roofs and then throw it down an air shaft. Want to take a trip to the morgue red. You let me go and I went back to the room feeling sort of sick all the way when I got there the phone was ringing. Hello. What do you want. What number do you want. To. Go. I got news for you what can I read you. I got to see you where are you well I'm afraid I can't tell you over the phone. I'm at. Nineteen. Nineteen East 10th Street third floor. Yeah that's right in red make sure no one follows don't worry I'll come along. What I was going to do. Wasn't very pleasant but what else could I do now. But the only way I could save my own skin and just because he'd room with me for three months I didn't mean I had to have any sense of loyalty to the guy or anything like that I was in this deep I had to get out. He sure you weren't followed right I made sure she's good to say what's been happening I found the girl a founder you mean at the bottom of an air shaft. Bottom of an air shaft dead. Dead what did you think. Red I was in love with that girl what did she say to you what did you do that made you go off your nut I didn't kill her red I couldn't kill anybody but you told me you put her in a pack I admitted that was a lie you know why I said that you told me you heard her whistling for a cab you let me lie to the cops about she did with the first her mother says she couldn't whistle. What you heard me she couldn't whistle. I didn't know that. I didn't know that was not too bad but I tell you I heard somebody with maybe it was a bird and I thought somebody getting getting into a cash or sure I know OK let's drop the act I'm going to call the cops now ready to can I won't let you put down the phone red. Where'd you get that gun a punch up with my door when you're dirty gonna call the cops right not even if I have to kill you I'm not going to let him get me for something I didn't do I'll stand still red don't move you're not good enough. Operator. Please. Please my name is Wesley Carr I'm at six nineteen East 10th Street third floor rear. I've just had to shoot someone a guy who killed that girl last night. Well that's a whole story Lieutenant Hiller it was him or me I didn't want to shoot him I know red. We just got a report from the hospital. Dixon died in the ambulance on the way over one. Well maybe it's better this way thanks I don't know maybe it's better. I was really sorry for him you know I tried to cover up for him I thought maybe it was innocent until that business about that whistling sure I won't get in any trouble but there were like that no no we're willing to forget that thanks and I go now well just a minute time. Bring in a girl a girl but she's dead I know. I don't get this that's not a spell is it you ever see this girl before car no ever say in this never well where you at midnight last night but I told you tell me again I want him to hear it I was in front of the house where that girl was killed and what did you do I whistled for a cab and it came and you got into it that's right that's all even figure out that. I mean Dixon was telling the truth that's right I'm going to still get them thought he saw I get into that cab but it wasn't her someone was waiting for her on the stairs red a guy she'd met while she was a canteen hostess a guy she got tired of when he was overseas a guy who hated her for throwing him over a guy we've been investigating on the QT but who a guy who recognized her earlier the night she was killed a guy strong enough to strangler red strong enough to carry her across a couple of roofs and throw her down into an air shaft. Another word car you. OK you've been pretty smart but she had it coming to her then. Well in about three months I guess. That's what they'd be saying about you and. The man in a finished room was written by William Irish and adaptable radio by Paul Mona. John Beale was heard as red and Sam Wanamaker played the. Music was by Jack Miller. Until next time. And three, nine, eight times. It will be on portioned radio service, a voice of information and education.
