Suspense! Tonight, Thomas Dorne, starring Mr. Henry Fonda, for you to... Why, Charles Vanda! It's exciting when there's a storm, and strange things can happen. Now, some people are sensitive to changes in the weather, like me. There's nothing odd about that. It's like people who talk to themselves. I talk to myself a lot. I think about things, and I talk to myself about them. There's nothing odd about that. Come on, Eddie, get the suitcase packed, and let's get out of here. Like that, I talk to myself. You know, just making up my mind because there's no one else around to talk to me. Just getting myself on the move again, because the landlady wasn't taking care of the room. She was away on a visit, and her husband, Mr. Waters, was slopping around in a bathrobe trying to run the place. Come on, Eddie. He never makes the bed, and you've used the same towel for a week. It's time to get out. Lock up the suitcase and get going. Uh-oh. There's Waters. Guess you can't sneak out without his seeing you. There's a mean man, Eddie. You can tell by his little eyes. All fat men aren't good-natured. He's stuffing himself with pig's knuckles or whatever they are. Well, come on. Hey, hello, Eddie. Morning, Mr. Waters. Pig knuckles don't taste as good as they did an hour ago. This will feed the rest of them to Graham's dog. That would be nice, Mr. Waters. Yeah. Taking your laundry out? No, sir. These are clothes. I'm leaving, sir. You what? Leaving. I'm sorry. What's the matter, Eddie? Don't you like the place? Yes, sir, but I gotta get closer to my work. Here's the keys before I forget them. Better wait a while, Eddie. Looks like we're gonna have a storm sometime today. Oh, I don't mind a storm, Mr. Waters. I'm funny that way. Yeah. Well, it'll be a lot better if you'd wait till the wife gets back. Won't be more than a couple of hours. You mean she'd blame you for my leaving? Yeah, she might. Got a nasty tongue. Stick around till she gets back, Eddie. No, I gotta be going. Besides, I ain't feeling so hot. Been feeling bad all morning. Yeah, getting worse, Eddie. I'm sorry, Mr. Waters. It's my stomach. I'm sorry, Mr. Waters, honest, but I gotta go. Wait a minute. Ain't you forgetting something? Forgetting something? What are you trying to pull anyhow? I don't get it. You don't, huh? What about the rent? The rent? Last week's rent, what do you think I am, a sucker? I paid my rent. Oh, you did, huh? Give me that suitcase. I paid it to your wife before she went away. That's your story. Go ahead and leave if you wanna, but this suitcase stays here until I get that rent. Which you've already got. You know I paid it to Mrs. Waters. You're trying to make me out a liar? No, but you were here. You got her a seat? Well, she never gave me one. Said I didn't need it. Give me that suitcase. Don't you take a swing at me. Well, you can't slap me around. No, wait. Eddie, my back. Stop pushing. Why, you asked for it. Eddie, Eddie, let go. Oh, you don't like it when I fight back, huh? Eddie, Eddie, you're killing me. No, I'm not. Maybe I should. There. Help, help somebody. Help. Is that enough? Help, help. Better let him go. He looks bad, Eddie. Who, who are you talking to? Myself. Get over there, you fat. I'm pristine too hard, I guess. Gee, he looks bad. He's out cold, Eddie. Mr. Waters? Mr. Waters, you all right? Somebody at the door. Better be quiet. Hey, Waters. That's Mr. Graham from next door. That clock's awful loud. Are you in there, Waters? Hey, hey, what's up, Graham? Oh, come on up here, old pal. Nothing fishy going on. Huh? What, what's going on? Come here to the door and listen. I, I don't hear nothing. Nothing fishy was going on in there. Well, what do you mean? Waters was yelling his head off a minute ago. Now he won't answer the door. Hey, hey, Waters, you all right? I, I don't hear him. Now that's what I mean. I think we ought to go in and see what's the matter. You mean, you mean just walk in? Where do you think? Huh? They're coming in here, Eddie. You've got to get away. Out the back door. No, no, no, they can see you from where they are. The attic, that's it. They don't know about that. What do you mean? Up the stairs, but don't make any noise. Better not let them find you, Eddie. Up there where you helped Mrs. Waters store the blankets. Why don't you try knocking on it? Just step over Mr. Waters, Eddie. He looks bad. There. He never knows. No, quiet. I don't see a point to it. What? You mind? I don't see it. I'll try. Right up here's a place to hide from them. And if they start upstairs, I can crawl in the attic. Waters! No answer, Graham. Well, isn't that what I told you? Come on, I'm going. Now I've got to listen. I've got to see what they do. Try, try to go up. Can't let them see me. There. There, it ain't locked. Come on in. Do you think we ought to? Sure. I'll better put something wrong in here. Come on. I don't like it, Graham. I'm getting out. Then leave me alone. Nothing to do with it. Well, this ain't none of my business, Graham. I feel like a fool if Waters comes strolling down those stairs. Well, he's not going to... Look, I'm going to go up the stairs. I'm going to go up the stairs. I feel like a fool if Waters comes strolling down those stairs. Well, he's not going to... Look, look under the table. Good Lord. Waters. Say, say, listen. Well, let's get the table away. Don't stand there. I don't like this, Graham. Let's get the table away. I tell you, maybe it's hurt bad. Grab the table. All right. Waters? Waters, you all right? We'd better call a doctor. Yeah, well, there's a phone over there. Hey, wait. We don't need no doctor. What? We need the police. The, the, the, the, the, the police? Yeah. The guy's dead. Dead. Waters was dead. The words made me weak. Sick all over. I hadn't hit him hard. I just grabbed him around the neck and pushed him back when the fight went out of him. I remembered the table though. When he fell against it, it tipped up and must have smashed the back of his head. That was it. That had killed him. And now, now they'd start looking for me and when they found me, they'd hang me. They'll say you killed him, Eddie. And you'll hang for it. They're calling the police now. When they find you here, they'll say you killed him, whether you meant to or not. And they'll be right, Eddie. You did. But maybe you can get away. Listen. Be quiet. See what's going on down there. No sound but the clock. Wonder where they are. You can tell the police about this when they get here, Graeme. Stick around. You're a witness too. No, no, sirree. I'm going back home. I don't want to get mixed up in this thing. What's the matter? Are you yelling? No, no, I ain't yelling. I told you before this was none of my business and I'll get out right now. All right, go on. Get out. I'll wait here until the police come. Maybe now's your chance, Eddie. He's all alone. Sneak downstairs before the police come. Get out of this house and get away, far away. Watch out for the stairs. They squeak. Who's there? I thought I heard something. Getting jumpy, I guess. He's right below you, Eddie. But he can't see you. Take it easy. Now's your chance. Let Eddie chest. Drop it on him. Of course you don't want to kill him. But if you do, you can get away from here. Just lift it over the rail and drop it. You killed one man or they'll say you did. They can only hang you once. Lift it slowly, Eddie. Slowly. Now. Lift it over. Quiet. You missed your chance. You let the clock scare you. He's gone. The police, they're here. For the first time panic overtook me. I set down the chest and stepped back into the shadows. Beside me was the door to the hall closet. Now remember that in there was the trap door which led to the attic. I slipped in, got a foot on a wall hook and scrambled up over the clothes that were hanging there. I pushed back the little trap door, lifted myself through the hole and listened for a minute. I could hear the muffled voices, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. They must be down there where Mr. Waters is. Somebody's coming up the stairs. He's coming down the hall. The attic was long and low. He wouldn't think of anyone being up in there. Or would he? It was dark except for the light from a small ventilator. I moved back into the shadows. I crouched low because the space was too small to stand up in. Suddenly my hand brushed against a short piece of pipe. It had been left there for a long time and the dust was thick on it. But it was a weapon. It made me feel safer. I moved quietly over the trap door and waited. Get ready for him, Eddie. If he opens the trap door, you'll have to hit him. They can only hang you once. Anybody up there on the search? No, nobody here. That's all I remembered for a while. I must have passed out for hours. When I woke up, the attic was black and heavy with heat. Still, there was no storm. Only a vague threat and distant thunder. And inside of me there was a threat too. The beginning of a storm. My head ached and my mouth was dry. I knew there was cold water in the icebox and I wanted it. The storm was coming closer inside of me and I had to be moving. I slid the cover back and listened. The house was quiet with only the ticking of the big hall clock. So I dropped through the hole and started down the stairs. Don't let that clock scare you, Eddie. There's no one here now. Maybe you can get out now, Eddie. There's your suitcase in the hall. Don't forget that. Someone's at the door. Hello, Mrs. Waters. The wife wants to... Oh, it's you, Mr. Farrell. I'm glad someone's come over, even you. I've been alone for hours, ever since the cops got me back from assistant. Well, the wife says... Oh, gosh, I can't tell you how bad I feel about this. Come in, Mr. Farrell. He was a swell man, Mrs. Waters. Your husband, I mean. Yes, yes, he was. Yes, sir. He really swelled. They didn't come any better than him. Anyway, anyway, the wife's seen you from the window, and she said... Won't you come in, Mr. Farrell? In? In there? I mean, well... Just for a minute. Well, all right, just for a minute. They won't find you, Eddie. Not if you stay quiet and keep back here in the shadows. I am. I can't stay long. Anyway, the wife wants to know if there's anything we can do. I mean, if you're scared to be alone or anything. No, no, there's nothing. Just finish up my dinner, and I'll go to bed very shortly. And I'm not frightened. Oh, gosh, gosh, it was awful. Simply awful. The way he was lying there and breathing so heavy. I was standing right there looking at him. And it was the way he was breathing that got me sort of gasping. You know what I mean? Yes, yes, I know, Mr. Farrell, but he's gone now. And there ain't any good... Listen, listen. Did you hear something? Listen. Hear something? Where? It sounded like somebody breathing. Stop breathing, Eddie. I don't hear anything. Good Lord, it sounded just like him. What on earth are you talking about? Your nerves are all on edge, Mr. Farrell. No, look, I've got to be getting back. If you're sure there ain't nothing we need now. No, I'm quite all right. If there's anything you want, you just call. I'm going right to bed. I don't feel well. Well, I shouldn't wonder. I shouldn't wonder. I'll tell my wife. Never mind. I'll be all right. Good night, Mr. Farrell, and don't worry about me. Yes, well, good night. I've got to get back to the wife. Good night. I gave her an hour to get to bed and to sleep. I stayed right there counting the seconds and listening to the ticking of the big clock in the hall. My muscles were stiff and my throat was dry and sore from swallowing. I hardly dared breathe. Finally, I slipped out, picked up my suitcase, and started to tiptoe out. The back door would be the best, I thought. I went slowly in the dark, thinking that I could see the spot in the kitchen where Mr. Water's body had been after a fight. But the back door was in blackness. I tried the knob softly. The door wouldn't open. It was locked, not with a night latch, but with the old-fashioned iron locks that were on all the doors in the house. There was no way out without a key. I started for a window. That was no good either. The screens were heavy and were nailed firmly in place. I'd help nail them myself. I knew that cutting them would make too much noise. There was no way out except with a key, and that must be in Mrs. Water's room. Back down the hall, I went to the downstairs bedroom. The door was unlocked, and I opened it and listened. She's asleep, Eddie. Listen. The keys must be on the dresser, Eddie, right over there. The storm was getting close outside, and I felt all stormy inside. I had to get the keys, get out of this house. It wasn't too dark to see Mrs. Water's in bed. She was breathing heavily. I brushed past the bed and my knee touched the chair. I went on until I felt something waist high, the dresser. I moved my hand slowly over the top. The first thing I saw was the dresser. I moved slowly over the top. First some clothing, then I felt around for the keys. They weren't there. I felt more slowly. A hairbrush, a comb, then a pile of hairpins. Where was the key? I held my breath until Mrs. Water started breathing regularly again. I was shaking now and scared, and the storm was building up inside. I reached into a drawer. I tried not to make any noise, but there was some. I reached inside. There was something steely and cold. The key? No. No scissors. Long ones, sharp and pointed. The phone was frightening. I wanted to run to get out of the room, but I couldn't remember where the door was. I held the scissors like a weapon, a knife, and flattened myself against the wall. Oh dear, the phone. Eddie. Eddie hides somewhere. The phone at this hour. I stepped back into the closet. Pulled some clothes in front of me just before she snapped on the light over the bed. I'm coming, I'm coming. I talked softly to myself like I always do when I'm alone and scared. You've got the scissors, Eddie. If she comes in here, you'll have to use them. They must know you killed Mr. Waters. It wouldn't be right to kill her too, but what if she finds you, Eddie? You're no killer, Eddie, but you can't be caught, you can't. If she opens the door, do it. Do it quickly, Eddie, and then run. Where's that dang bathroom? All right, all right. She didn't find you, Eddie. You didn't have to kill her. She just took her robe off the hook. Hello? She didn't have to kill her, did you? Hello, Mr. Fett. Not yet. But now's your chance, Eddie. Her handbag's on the bed. Let's see. Here they are. The keys, Eddie. Get the back door before she's through. I'll stay out and let you in. I walked a long time in the rain while a storm out inside me settled down the same steady rhythm as the raindrops. I hadn't eaten all day and I was weak and shaky. The water dripped from me and the bag slapped against my leg and my shoes made little splashing noises in the mud. I counted my footsteps. I counted to a thousand and then started over. And then through the rain I saw an all-night diner. I shook the rain from my hat and looked inside. There was a man and an apron. No one else. I hesitated for a moment, but the smell of food and coffee came to me and I opened the door and walked in. Ah, what'll it be? Coffee. Coffee? Bad. Boy, you're really wet. Yeah. Boy. Give me a sandwich, any kind of sandwich. Sure, sure, sure, coming up. Look, kid, take off the coat and let me hang it up for the coffee boiler. Oh, I'm all right. Let me have the sugar. Sugar? Cream? No. These sandwiches all right? It's all gone. Hello, Casey. Well, what's cooking with the police department on a night like this? Good day, Mike. Give me a cup of coffee and I'll hurry with it. A cup, Eddie? Don't run, take it easy. Coffee coming up, Casey. Hey, kid. Hey. Beef sandwich okay? Sure. This raincoat's dripping all over your floor. I'll hang it up, Mike. Okay. It's really wet out there. He's hanging up his gun too, Eddie. Maybe you couldn't get it if you have to. Well, how'd you get so wet, kid? Didn't see you before. I got caught in the storm. Yeah, I see. Oh, thanks, Mike. Look, kid, maybe you'd better come along with me down to the station house. It was done. It was over. They'd caught me. I'd felt free up until now. I looked at where his gun was hanging by his raincoat. Now I'd have to try it. I'd have to kill again, I thought. I could get them both and get away, maybe. They could only hang me once. How about it, kid? I'll book you as a sleeper. Well, morning you'll be dried out on your way. Okay? You mean, you mean just sleep there? Well, sure. There won't be any charge against you. Well, well, thanks, but I've got to get along. Okay, have it your own way. Well, what do I owe you, Mike? Just a dime. Here. Thanks. You been hitting the ball tonight? I'll say. Been taking the doc around. I have to go back and pick him up now. Oh, emergency case, huh? Yeah, doc called it botulism, something like tomaine poisoning. Said it was from eating pig's feet. Old lady Waters up on Elm Street. You gotta be awful careful of them things. Yeah, they'd wonder about them, but I guess she ate them anyhow. They were from the same batch that killed her husband earlier today. She didn't know that was what happened to him, and she ate him too. Ah, tomaine's bad stuff. Hits you, just like that. Yeah, well, so long. So long, Casey. More coffee, kid? No, thanks. Did you hear that about Mr. and Mrs. Waters both dying from the same thing? Yeah. Pig's nuts. Ah, you gotta be careful of that tomaine stuff. Well, looks like the storm's over. Sure is. The moon's out. Just a summer storm and now it's all over. Yeah, it'll make it nice for you. Feel all right? Me? I feel swell. Music. This is the Armed Forces Radio Service. Music.
