MUSIC:
Creepy Theme
ANNOUNCER:
No. No stay where you are. Do not break the stillness of this moment. For this is a time of mystery. A time when imagination is free and moves forward swiftly, silently. This is… The Haunting Hour.
MUSIC:
changes twice
ANNOUNCER:
The Thought.
SFX:
Happy Crowd sound.
MC:
Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and Gentlmen. For your pleasure and amazment the Seventy Eight club presents the great Marlow the Mental Marvel. Gifted with a seventh sense the great Marlow reads your mind, knows your every thought. Now I warn you, if you have a secret you don't want him to know, just don't think about it!
Presenting the Great Marlow.
SFX:
Applause
Marlow:
Thank you, thank you. Frankly I can't explain the performance you're about to witness. Science without explaining it calls it telepathy, thought transference.
HECKLER:
I call it hokum!
SFX:
Laughter
MARLOW:
The gentleman calls it hokum. Maybe, we will see. Now everybody in this room concentrate, think of a thing or a person. Concentrate. Think hard. Ah, I have a thought. Someone is thinking of the initials S.G. Will the person thinking of S.G. please rise.
FEMALE IN AUDIENCE:
I've been thinking S.G.
MARLOW:
Thanky-you. Young lady you are concentrating on the name of Stanley Green. Is that right?
FEMALE IN AUDIENCE:
Why yes.
SFX:
Audience gasping/oooooing
MARLOW:
Stanley is in the army I believe, correct?
FEMALE IN AUDIENCE:
(said in a dumb blonde way) Yes hehe. He's a sergeant.
SFX:
Audience laughing.
MARLOW:
And you want me to tell you Staley's serial number. It's ah, 3 - 4 - 0 - 0 - 7 - 6 - 7 is that correct?
SFX:
Audience applause.
MARLOW:
I have another thought. Someone is thinking. Someone is thinking. Ladies and gentlemen please bear with me a moment. I have to stop this performance. Believe me it's important. I will be back very shortly.
HECKLER:
I told you it was hokum. What happened professor, forget your code?
SFX:
Door closes
MARINO:
Eh, wads da idea stobbing da act like thad?
MARLOW:
Where's your telephone directory Marino?
MARINO:
Wad you trying to do, ruin my clubs rebudation?
MARLOW:
Shut up Marino. Where's your … Oh here.
MARINO:
Now listen Marlow. I bay you two grand a week.
MARLOW:
(softly) Glenwood 2…
MARINO:
I expect to ged my monies worth.
MARLOW:
Listen. Will you please leave? Just as soon as I'm through with this call I'll finish the act.
MARINO:
All right but make it snappy.
MARLOW:
And close the door.
SFX:
Telephone dialing then ringing.
HELEN:
Hello.
MARLOW:
Hello, I'd like to speak with Helen Thorton.
HELEN:
This is Mrs. Thorton
MARLOW:
Helen thorton?
HELEN:
Yes, who's this.
MARLOW:
My name is Marlow, a telepathist performing at the Seventy Eight Club. A few moments ago during my act I received a thought that is vital to you. Are you alone.
HELEN:
Yes.
MARLOW:
Do as I say Please. Lock all your windows and doors. Allow no one in under any circumstance…
HELEN:
If this is someone's idea of a practical joke…
MARLOW:
No Mrs. Thorton. This is no joke. Some one in this nightclub is planning to kill you.
MUSIC:
Transition
SFX:
Telephone rings.
SFX: Phone being picked up.
HELEN:
Hello.
MILDRED:
This is Mildred, Helen, I just got in.
HELEN:
Oh I've been trying to get you for hours. I know its very late but could you come over.
MILDRED:
Helen, what's the matter?
HELEN:
Oh Mildred, I'm so frightened. I'm alone here.
MILDRED:
Where's Jack?
HELEN:
He's out of town and it's Marie's night off. Mildred I don't know what to do.
MILDRED:
What's wrong, you sound...
HELEN:
Mildred, come over right away please. You could spend the night.
SFX:
Rustling noise, door being opened.
HELEN:
Oh!
MILDRED:
Helen, what happened? What's wrong with you?
SFX:
Whistle short low, short high, long low key
HELEN:
Oh, Jack.
MILDRED:
Helen, Helen, you all right?
SFX:
Whistle short low, short high, long low key
MILDRED:
Look, I'll be right over.
HELEN:
No Mildred, it's all right now, Jack's home.
MILDRED:
What was the matter?
HELEN:
I'll speak to you tomorrow.
MILDRED:
All right, good night.
SFX:
Phone hanging up
HELEN:
Oh Jack. (sobbing)
What's the matter? What happened darling?
HELEN:
(more sobbing)
JACK:
Helen. Helen for pray sakes what is it? Pull yourself together darling. Here, come over here and sit down. There that's better. Now what is it darling?
HELEN:
Oh Jack I'm so glad you're home. It's been awful and I didn't expect you and when I heard the door.
JACK:
I finished my business in New York sooner than I planned. I would have wired but I thought I'd surprise you. I met Fred Hamilton on the train coming home. Remember the buyer from St. Louis; we stopped off for a drink downtown.
HELEN:
Oh Jack you should have called me.
JACK:
As a matter of fact I did try to call you about eleven, just as we were leaving the Seventy-Eight club.
HELEN:
The Seventy-Eight club? You, you were there?
JACK:
What is it Darling?
HELEN:
Nothing, I'm all right now.
JACK:
Something is wrong Helen, what is it?
HELEN:
I guess I was just frightened being alone.
JACK:
You've been alone before, many times.
HELEN:
Yes but that call… (gasp)
JACK:
What call?
HELEN:
Well, the police. There was a robbery in the neighborhood.
JACK:
Oh that's it, that's why the door was double locked. Well darling there's nothing to worry about now. I'm here, all right?
HELEN:
Yes Jack, you're here.
JACK:
There, that's better. A good night's sleep and you'll be as good as new.
HELEN:
Yes Jack.
JACK:
Now you lie there and relax darling, I'll go to the kitchen and make you a cup of warm milk.
HELEN:
Thanks Jack.
SFX:
Dialing on phone and then ringing
PAUL:
Hello.
HELEN:
Paul, it's Helen. Didn't you get my message? I called twice.
PAUL:
Yes but I just got in, I thought you'd be asleep by now.
KAREN:
Paul you must help me. Please. Please Paul there isn't much time.
PAUL:
Helen what's the trouble?
KAREN:
He's going to kill me.
PAUL:
What the…
HELEN:
Jack's going to kill me, he came tonight…
PAUL:
Helen, what are you talking about?
HELEN:
Paul you must believe me.
PAUL:
Now listen Helen, you've probably had a bad dream. Is Jack there?
HELEN:
Yes. Please you must believe me. I know what he's going to do.
PAUL:
Well we'll straighten this thing out. Let me speak to Jack.
HELEN:
No, no you mustn't. Please. He's coming now. You'll never see me again, alive. Good-bye Paul.
MUSIC:
Transition
SFX:
Dresser drawer opening.
HELEN:
Don't bother folding up the dreses Marie, just throw them in.
MARIE:
Mrs. Thorton, isn't this kind of sudden your going away.
HELEN:
Don't ask questions Marie. Hurry, here, help me close this suitcase. You finish packing the other suitcase, I'm going down to get the car out of the garage.
JACK:
Good morning Helen.
HELEN:
Jack!
JACK:
You look so surprised to see me.
HELEN:
Marie said you had gone. I didn't expect…
JACK:
I decided to come back. I see I caught you in time.
HELEN:
I was just going over to Mildred's.
JACK:
So early in the morning?
HELEN:
We have an appointment for golf?
JACK:
Honey, in those clothes?
HELEN:
I, well I…
JACK:
Darling, it's all right. Helen I'll tell you why I came back this morning. Frankly I'm worried about you, something's on your mind I know it. Won't you tell me what it is?
HELEN:
I'm all right.
JACK:
Ok now listen to me. I had some very important business to settle with Paul this morning but you come first.
HELEN:
You saw Paul this morning?
JACK:
No I changed my mind on the way down and came back. Helen you need a rest. You and I are going away.
HELEN:
No Jack.
JACK:
Yes, now there is no use arguing. I've already made a reservation for this weekend.
HELEN:
Where, where are you taking me Jack?
JACK:
Remember that cabin we stayed at three years ago?
HELEN:
(shudders) Oh.
JACK:
It will be wonderful, just the two of us all alone. We will drive out there tomorrow. Now there's no need to fuss either, just a few old duds, my rifle.
HELEN:
Your rifle?
JACK:
Yes darling, my gun. The hunting season is on. The shooting at Lone Acres should be very good this year.
MUSIC:
Transition
PAUL:
Now Helen, what's this all about?
HELEN:
Paul, I had to see you.
PAUL:
Yeah but why here at Luigi's all the way across town?
HELEN:
It's safer here.
PAUL:
What's gotten into you?
HELEN:
Jack's going to kill me.
PAUL:
Helen.
HELEN:
He is Paul.
PAUL:
Aw don't be ridiculous. That's what you told me last night over the phone.
HELEN:
He's changed his plan.
PAUL:
Oh I see. And why Mrs. Thorton is your husband going to kill you?
HELEN:
Because, because he's jealous of you.
PAUL:
Jealous? Ha, Jack, jealous of me?
HELEN:
He knows what we once meant to each other before I married him.
PAUL:
Why of course he does. So what? Why his winning you is a standard joke between him and me. Rivals in love, partners in business and all that stuff. Haha. Come on snap out of it. I think I better talk to Jack about you.
HELEN:
No, no Paul you mustn't. Promise me you won't.
PAUL:
All right Helen, if you say so.
HELEN:
Jack's taking me to Lone Acres tomorrow, for a rest he says.
PAUL: Good. It's just what you need.
HELEN:
I'll never come back, alive.
PAUL:
Now Helen get hold of yourself. Everything will be all right, your imaginations' overworked that's all. You should go to Lone Acres for a rest. It will do you a world of good.
HELEN:
All right, I'll go but I'm frightened. So frightened. We will be alone and he will have his gun.
MUSIC:
Transition
JACK:
You know Helen sometimes I think I love this gun more than I do you. There it's ok now, clean of a whistle and ready for the work at hand.
(pause)
Say the fog's lifting, you can see clear across the valley. Now we'll get in some hunting today after all. Helen, what's the matter? You haven't said a word since breakfast.
HELEN:
I'm all right. I've been wanting to finish this story.
JACK:
The Golden Goblet Murders. (chuckles) You know detective stories hand me a laugh. Now if I was planning a murder I'd use a gun, like this Springfield. Now lets say for instance I wanted to kill… Well say I wanted to kill….
HELEN:
Me?
JACK:
All right, say I wanted to kill you. Now lets see we have to have a motive don't we? I have it, motive, jealousy.
HELEN:
Jealousy?
JACK:
Yes, I'm jealous of Paul Allen. That's it, I'm jealous of Paul.
HELEN:
I don't want to talk about it.
JACK:
Come on, be a sport. Our murder plot is just beginning to get interesting. Now lets see we need a locale. Oh, Lone Acres, right here. What a perfect setting for a perfect murder. Now for the time.
HELEN:
Yes Jack, when are you going to kill me?
JACK:
Well I shouldn't really tell you when I plan to kill you. But I will give you a break, this afternoon. How's that? We will be out in the woods hunting. No one will be too near, no one to see what happens. The hunting season, a gunshot, you're dead. A regrettable accident and there's our perfect murder.
MUSIC:
Transition
NARRATOR:
Helen Thorton has discovered that someone wishes to murder her. A mental telepathist performing at the nightclub read the thought from among the guests. Later Helen was shocked to learn one of the guests present in the nightclub was her husband Jack. She fears that he might want to kill her because of his jealousy of Paul, a former suitor. Her anxiety is heightened and her husband suggests that they go away for the weekend to Lone Acres, an isolated hunting lodge. Once there Jack tells her it's the perfect setting for a possible perfect crime, her murder, a hunting accident.
SFX:
Birds tweeting
JACK:
Helen, here up this way. Follow this path around the bend here.
HELEN:
Jack?
JACK:
Yeah?
HELEN:
Would you mind if I went back to the cabin?
JACK:
Helen, I'm going to circle this hill, you wait right here for me.
HELEN:
Jack, Jack please don't leave me here alone.
SFX:
Gunshot
HELEN:
Scream
MUSIC:
Transition
DOCTOR:
A regrettable accident Mr. Thorton.
JACK:
But doctor I don't understand how it happened.
DOCTOR:
Now Mr. Thorton, it's really nothing serious, it's just a shoulder flesh wound. Your wife is perfectly all right.
JACK:
When may I see her?
DOCTOR:
We can go in right now.
JACK:
She's asleep.
DOCTOR:
Go ahead wake her up. She'll feel better knowing you're here.
JACK:
Helen. Helen darling.
HELEN:
Huh.
JACK:
It's me darling Jack.
DOCTOR:
Mrs. Thorton, it's your husband.
HELEN:
Doctor, get him out of here. He's going to kill me. Please doctor you must save me.
DOCTOR:
Mr. Thorton. Perhaps you'd better leave the room a while.
JACK:
All right doctor, I will wait outside.
HELEN:
Doctor, doctor, please don't let him in here again. You must believe me; he's planning to kill me.
DOCTOR:
Mrs. Thorton, what happened was an accident.
HELEN:
That's what he wants you to think. He planned it that way but it wasn't an accident.
DOCTOR:
Now Mrs. Thorton it's natural in a case like this for you to imagine strange things.
HELEN:
Doctor, you think I'm crazy don't you but I'm not. I know what I'm saying. You yourself took the bullet out of my shoulder. Doesn't that prove he was trying to kill me?
DOCTOR:
On the contrary Mrs. T on the scene of the accident they found your husband with a 32-caliber rifle in his hands. The bullet I removed from your shoulder was a 45-caliber pistol cartridge.
MUSIC:
Transition
HELEN:
Marie, Marie.
MARIE:
Yes Mrs Thorton I will be right up.
SFX:
Steps going up stairs.
MARIE:
I was just cleaning up the scullery mam. Oh Mrs. Thorton you have the sling off.
HELEN:
Yes Marie, the doctor says the shoulder is OK now. Soon I will be playing golf again.
MARIE:
Aw that's fine Mam, I'm so glad.
HELEN:
Were there any calls for me while I was out.
MARIE:
Mr. Thorton called to tell you not to wait up for him; he'll be home very late. Oh and Mr. Allen called too Mrs. Thorton
HELEN:
Did he say what he wanted?
MARIE:
No mam, he said he'd try to get you later on. Oh and Mrs. Thorton, I was thinking. Do you suppose Mr. Thorton wants to keep this box of bullets downstairs on the open shelf?
I was thinking it might be dangerous.
HELEN:
Bullets?
MARIE:
Yes, this box here.
HELEN:
Let me see that box Marie. 45-caliber cartridges. 45-caliber cartridges?
MUSIC:
Transition
DOCTOR:
(distant - dreamlike) At the scene of the crime they found a 32-caliber rifle in your husbands hands. The bullet I removed from your shoulder was a 45-caliber pistol cartridge.
MUSIC:
Transition
MUSIC:
Club jazz music.
DOORMAN:
Evening, have you a reservation madam?
HELEN:
No I'm here to see the Great Marlow.
DOORMAN:
Yes madam, then perhaps a table on the side, this way please.
HELEN:
No I've come to see him on a personal matter, he's expecting me.
DOORMAN:
Oh I see madam.
SFX: Snaps fingers.
DOORMAN:
Albert, show this lady to the Great Marlow's dressing room
SFX:
Club music fades out
HELEN:
And when the doctor told me about the bullet he removed from my shoulder I thought it was all a terrible mistake. I was even too ashamed to explain to Jack why I acted the way I did. Now Mr. Marlow I'm sure what you told me over the phone that night is true. Someone is really planning to kill me. My husband.
MARLOW:
Are you sure the doctor said it was a 45-caliber cartridge?
HELEN:
Yes. A 45-caliber cartridge, just like these Marie found in the basement.
MARLOW:
Does your husband have a pistol?
HELEN:
I think so. He keeps his guns locked in the case. He has the only key. Mr. Marlow, he tried once and failed. He will try again. You must help me.
MARLOW:
All right Mrs. Thorton I will do all I can. Where is your husband now?
HELEN:
He's out on business. He will be home late.
MARLOW:
Then we will have to work fast. I go on again at nine o'clock. I want you to go home immediately and find some way to open the case where your husband keeps his guns. I will call you as soon as my act is over. Mrs. Thorton if you can find a 45-caliber pistol in that case I think we can put an end to this affair.
MUSIC:
Transition.
SFX:
Phone rings
HELEN:
Hello
MARLOW:
This is Marlow.
HELEN:
I opened the case there was no pistol.
MARLOW: Mrs. Thorton
HELEN:
I've searched all through the house and I can't find it anywhere, he must have it with him.
MARLOW:
Mrs. Thorton
HELEN:
What can I do? I can't stay here tonight. He will kill me.
MARLOW:
Mrs. Thorton, listen to me please. You must come down here immediately A few minutes ago during my act I received the murder thought again. Mr. Thorton is in this nightclub.
HELEN:
My husband is there now?
MARLOW:
Yes, meet me in my dressing room. Be sure to come in through the back entrance and hurry.
HELEN:
All right Mr. Marlow.
JACK:
Where am I supposed to be right now?
HELEN:
Jack? But he said you were, you were standing there the whole time, you heard everything.
JACK:
Enough.
HELEN:
It's not you. Then who is it at the Seventy-Eight club?
JACK:
Me, Seventy-Eight Club? Helen are you going to tell me what this is all about?
HELEN:
It's not you. Oh yes darling I will tell you everything, everything! I should have told you before, I wanted to. Oh Jack, I need you so much.
MUSIC:
Transition.
JACK:
Now look here Marlow, I want to get to the bottom of this.
MARLOW:
Mrs. Thorton and I have told you everything…
JACK:
Yes, well then explain to me why at the very moment I was standing in my own house listening to my wife talk to you on the phone you were telling Mrs. Thorton I was in this club planning to kill her. Oh don't you see Helen, this man is a cheap trickster. He's never even seen me before. Why didn't you come to me when this all started darling?
HELEN:
I was afraid.
MARLOW:
Because she thought you were the one and so did I. That's why I assumed it was you sitting out there. Of course I never saw you before you entered my dressing room a few minutes ago. You see Mr. Thorton I have a telepathic mind, not a magic eye. I know what your wife and I have told you is hard to believe.
JACK:
I don't know what your game is but I'll find out soon enough. Come on Helen we're going to police headquarters.
MARLOW:
That won't be necessary Mr. Thorton. The police know about this, I told them.
JACK:
Huh?
MARLOW:
The police are here now in this nightclub. Mr. Thorton whether you believe it or not your wife's life is in jeopardy. Someone in this club now is planning to kill her. Perhaps this will convince you. You own a 45-caliber pistol with the serial number 75682.
JACK:
Why yes, that's right. It's the pistol I reported missing.
MARLOW:
Yes I know, the police told me tonight.
HELEN:
Jack, why didn't you tell me?
JACK:
Well, darling you've been so upset lately I didn't want to cause you any more anxiety.
MARLOW:
That pistol in all likelihood the pistol which was used up at Lone Acres in an attempt on your wife's life. Mr. Thorton that pistol was brought to this club tonight by the person who is planning to kill your wife. The police found it concealed in a coat in the hat check room. Whoever claims that coat is Mrs. Thortons intended murderer.
JACK:
Why would anyone want to kill her?
HELEN:
Who can it be?
MARLOW:
We will soon find out. Mr. Thorton, do you recall the night you were in this club. The night I first received the murder thought.
JACK:
Yes
MARLOW:
That night did you see anybody here or were you with anyone who knows you and Mrs. Thorton very well.
JACK:
Well let me see. Well yeah. No it couldn't be.
SFX:
Knock on door.
MARLOW:
Pardon me please.
SFX:
Door opening
POLICE OFFICER:
We got him Mr. Marlow, here he is.
MARLOW:
Mrs. Thorton, your intended murderer.
HELEN:
Paul!
JACK:
That's right, he was here the night you received the murder thought.
HELEN:
It was Paul all the time.
JACK:
It almost worked.
MARLOW:
Yes, and all the clues pointed to you Mr. Thorton.
HALEN:
But why? We were so friendly, the three of us.
MARLOW:
Friendly? More than that Mrs. Thorton, Paul Allen was hopelessly in love with you.
SFX:
Knock at door.
STAGE HAND:
Mr. Marlow, you're on.
MARLOW:
All right, I'm coming.
POLICE OFFICER:
Let's go Allen.
MUSIC:
Transition
SFX:
Crowd noise.
MC:
Now ladies and gentlemen the Seventy-Eight Club presents the Great Marlow the Mental Marvel. He will read your mind and tell your every thought but let me warn you. If you have a secret you don't want him to know. Just don't think about it.
MUSIC:
Transition
MUSIC: Creepy Organ.
ANNOUNCER:
From shadows and stillness. Mystery weaves a spell of strangest fascination. Charging the mind with doubts and fears. The mystery is a strange companion, a living memory.
SFX:
Muted gong. Footsteps fading
ANNOUNCER:
In the Haunting Hour.
MUSIC:
Close