Scene 1

Sound:

A vacuum hums as a maid sings to herself as she works.

Mr. Aimes:

Mary. Turn that vacuum off here for a minute, and come over here will you? I want to show you something.

Mary, the Maid:

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Aimes:

Right here. Out this window. Now look across the street. Directly across. The opposite apartment. See that window, about three windows in from the left with the kinda blue draperies. s

Mary, the Maid:

Uh huh.

Mr. Aimes:

There's someone sitting there in a chair. He hasn't moved all night. I think he must be dead.

Mary, the Maid:

Dead! Lord mercy, Mr. Aimes.

Mr. Aimes:

Take a look at him and tell me what you think.

Mary, the Maid:

Okay, but I don't favor looking at a corpse, Mr. Aimes. It's unlucky. Now, which window did you say? Third one over? I wish I had me glasses with me.

Mr. Aimes:

There. Right there, where my finger's pointing.

Mary, the Maid:

I'm afraid I don't see it yet, Mr. Aimes.

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, look. The window with the blue draperies. He's wearing a sort of gray suit. The arm... You see the arm hanging over the side of the chair?

Mary, the Maid:

No, sir. But you've got good eyes, Mr. Aimes. If you see it, I'm not arguing with ya. Now, what are you gonna do about it?

Mr. Aimes:

I don't know. I only began to notice it last night. I guess, I first have to be sure the man is really dead.

Mary, the Maid:

That's right Mr. Aimes. You don't want to get yourself into any trouble. Maybe he's only sleeping. Or maybe he's incapacitated. Maybe the poor soul is just an invalid? Eh?

Maybe.

Scene 2

(Door buzzer, door closes.)

 

Mr. Hanson:

Yes?

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, hello. I'm Martin Aimes. Are you the superintendent of this apartment house?

Mr. Hanson:

That's what it says on the door.

Mr. Aimes:

I've come to inquire about one of your tenants.

Mr. Hanson:

Yeah? What is it? What do you want to know?

Mr. Aimes:

I live across the street. Well, I'll be frank with you, sir. I been looking out my window across to this building now for two and a half days, and there seems to be someone dead in one of the windows.

Mr. Hanson:

Eh? Which window?

Mr. Aimes:

It's the tenth floor. I've counted from the street and it's ten stories up. There's a window with blue draperies about three windows in from the left, facing toward me that is, and there's a man sitting there slumped down in a chair.

Mr. Hanson:

Huh. Just a minute. I'll get out my chart. Tenth floor up from the street, eh? Well, it's really the ninth floor. The lobby counts one. We got two apartments along the front of the house. It's in the front, ya?

Mr. Aimes:

That's right.

Mr. Hanson:

Huh. Now three windows in from the left. That'll be 9B. A four room. Nah, that couldn't be right. 9B is two ladies. You say this is a man?

Mr. Aimes:

Yes. The face isn't clearly visible – the head's slumped forward. He's wearing a gray suit, and he's sitting in a high winged back chair.

Mr. Hanson:

Uh, I don't place him.

Mr. Aimes:

Well, maybe he doesn't belong in the house. Maybe he was visiting someone. Like I said, this is all conjecture of course. He may not be dead, but I've watched him a good deal. I'm home a lot in the daytime. My profession, the stage, doesn't take up too much of my time. It looks quite suspicious.

Mr. Hanson:

Okay, I'll check on it.

Mr. Aimes:

Mind if I stick around?

Mr. Hanson:

Oh, No. No, sit down. I'll give 9B a ring first on the house phone.

(Phone Ringing)

 

Miss Landis:

Hello?

Mr. Hanson:

Oh, Miss Landis?

Miss Landis:

Yes? This is Ms. Landis. Who is this?

Mr. Hanson:

This is Mr. Hanson, the super. Uh, is everything alright up there, Ms. Landis?

Miss Landis:

Everything alright? Why, yes. Yes, of course.

Mr. Hanson:

Okay, Ms. Landis. Thanks very much.

Miss Landis:

Thank you.

(Phone hangs up)

 

Mr. Hanson:

Well, that's that. No soap in 9B. 9A is in the country anyway, if I got the window straight like you said it ought to 9B.

Mr. Aimes:

The single ladies?

Mr. Hanson:

Yeah, only it couldn't be them. They're real old maids. They've been living in the house for years – real old fashioned type, you know? Say, if they knew you thought there was a man in their apartment. The two of them would just jump out of their skins. Woah ho!

Mr. Aimes:

I don't know what to say. You're sure it must be that apartment?

Mr. Hanson:

Oh, yeah. Yeah. That's the place, alright. But you probably just made a little mistake. You know how your eyes can play tricks on you. After all, it is a pretty wide street.

Mr. Aimes:

I don't think I made any mistake.

Scene 3

(Phone ringing. Receiver is picked up)

Mr. Hanson:

Hanson, speaking.

Mr. Aimes:

Hello, Mr. Hanson. This is Mr. Aimes.

Mr. Hanson:

Again? It's not there.

Mr. Aimes:

But Mr. Hanson

Mr. Hanson:

I checked up on the two apartments this morning. 9A is back from the country. Everybody's okay. And 9B is out walking the dog. No dead bodies in the whole place.

Mr. Aimes:

I can see it. It's still there.

Mr. Hanson:

Okay. Just where? Will you tell me where?

Mr. Aimes:

In the same window. The one you said was 9B. Have you gone inside 9B?

Mr. Hanson:

No. No, but I asked them if anybody was sick or dead and they said, "no."

Mr. Aimes:

You asked them? Why didn't you just search their apartment?

Mr. Hanson:

What do you mean? Break in when they're out?

Mr. Aimes:

No. Search it while they're there. Ring the bell, walk in, and do it.

Mr. Hanson:

Yeah? Not without a search warrant from the police. These apartments don't belong to me; I just take care of the building for the company.

Mr. Aimes:

Then, let's call the police.

Mr. Hanson:

Oh, no. Not me mister. I didn't see no dead body up there.

Mr. Aimes:

Then I will. After all, somebody's got to do something.

Scene 4

Mr. Hanson:

I still maintain, officer. These two sisters are as refined ladies as you can find anywhere. High class, nice church going ladies. They used to teach school up here at PS 33.

Sargent:

Eh, that don't mean a thing.

Mr. Aimes:

As it happens there's a play on Broadway right now in which two nice old ladies commit murder after murder.

Mr. Hanson:

They got a dog in there. Now will you tell me one dog that would stay for almost a week in a flat with a dead person?

Sargent:

I'm not telling you anything. All I know is this gentleman, Mr. Aimes, here reported a stiff over here. And if he says there is one, there is until it's proved different. Right, Mr. Aimes?

Mr. Aimes:

Well I keep seeing the thing day in and day out. I'm not working at the moment, and being home so much...

Mr. Hanson:

None of the other neighbors have complained. Dead bodies ain't exactly...

Sound:

door opening and marching upstairs.

Mr. Hanson:

Right this way, please. I hope they're home.

Sargent:

If they ain't home, you've got a pass key, haven't ya?

Mr. Hanson:

Oh, yeah. But we're not supposed to use it unless for an emergency.

Sargent:

This is an emergency.

(Doorbell rings and dog barks)

 

Sargent:

Eh... the dog bite?

Mr. Hanson:

Sometimes.

Miss Landis:

Get down, Buster. Get down now. Yes? Who is it?

Mr. Hanson:

We're awfully sorry, Ms. Landis, but there's been some kind of mix up. These two gentlemen wanna look over your apartment.

Miss Landis:

But why? It's not for rent.

Mr. Hanson:

Oh, I know. It's just that they...eh. They want to search around and check...

Sargent:

Come on. Come on. Cut out the palaver. Hey, look lady. A dead body's been reported sitting in one of your windows.

Miss Landis:

What?!

Sargent:

Yeah, yeah. This guy lives across the street, and he's been seeing it for over a week.

Miss Landis:

Oh?!

Sargent:

Now, come on. Open up.

Miss Landis:

A dead body? But that's impossible. My sister and I live here all alone.

Sargent:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know all about it.

Miss Landis:

Excuse me a minute. I'll call my sister. Vivian! Vivian!

Sargent:

Oh, come on...

(Dog barking)

 

Miss Landis:

It's the police!

Sargent:

Hey, Lady. Come on! I'm not standing out here all day. Come on, give me the pass key.

Mr. Hanson:

It won't do no good. They got a chain on the door from the inside.

Sargent:

Open up in the name of the law!

(Door chain unlocks)

 

Vivian Landis:

How do you do? I am Vivian Landis. May I ask you what this is all about?

Sargent:

Certainly, Lady. I got a search warrant made out by this gentleman who said to search your place. He said you got a dead body in there.

Vivian Landis:

A dead body? Why that's perfectly ridiculous.

Sargent:

It is, but it's been reported. Now kindly take that door off the chain and let us through.

Vivian Landis:

Of course. First, may I ask how did this peeping tom see into our apartment? I thought Mr. Hanson, we we're quite private.

Mr. Aimes:

Well you see...

Sargent:

He lives across the street on the same level.

Mr. Aimes:

I just happened to be.

Vivian Landis:

Oh, well. Then we should have to keep our shades down in the future. Although, one would think a grown man would have something better to do.

(Vivian unchains the lock on the door)

 

Vivian Landis:

Do come right in, gentlemen. (Sarcastically) Make yourselves right at home.

Sargent:

(Unperturbed) Thanks.

Vivian Landis:

(Said slightly heated) Is he coming in here too? Mr. Busy Body?

Sargent:

No, he doesn't have to, if you don't want him.

Vivian Landis:

Well, I most definitely don't.

Sargent:

Okay, Mr. Aimes. You better stay outside.

Mr. Aimes:

Ah, officer, I was...

Vivian Landis:

Oh, he does want to poke around in our private rooms. Is that it? Then he better have some ulterior motive in worming his way in. Maybe he's come to get the lay of the land, so he can break in someday to rob us!

Sargent:

Okay. Okay. He's not coming in. Now let's take a look at your window.

(Door slams shut, keeping Mr. Aimes out alone in the hallway)

 

Scene 5

Sargent:

(To the sisters) Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. Okay. (too Mr. Aimes) Hey, Aimes. What's the big idea?

Mr. Aimes:

You... didn't find it?

Sargent:

No.

Mr. Aimes:

That's very strange.

Sargent:

Yeah? The only thing stranger about it is your eye sight. You oughta get your glasses changed.

Mr. Aimes:

There wasn't anything in 9B?!

Sargent:

(irritated) No...

Mr. Aimes:

I don't understand it. How could I have seen it so distinctly and it's not there. Perhaps it isn't in the window now. Perhaps they hid it while we were waiting outside the door?

Sargent:

Hid it?? Now where do you hide a dead body in a four room flat? I looked in all the clothes closets, and under the sofas and the chairs.

Mr. Aimes:

Maybe they got it out of the back into the service elevator?

Sargent:

Single handed?? With all the garbage cans and laundry going up and down??

Mr. Aimes:

Perhaps they had accomplices. Oh... you probably think... Oh, it's so terrible to keep seeing it and seeing it – and feeling it slowly decaying there in secret. Why the thing would be there for weeks. It's so high above the streets. Perhaps... Perhaps it'll never be found. Perhaps it's already being destroyed.

Sargent:

Well then, if it's gone what do you got to worry about? You don't have to sit and look at it no more.

Mr. Aimes:

But I... I hope it is. I tell you, it's really getting me down. I haven't slept for nights keeping vigil. I'm in a nervous state. I haven't been this nervous in years.

Sargent:

I can see that. Look, why don't you try forgetting about it for a while. Try not to look over into that window. Or... go away for a change. You've done what you could, Mr. Aimes. If there really is a stiff over there, then it's my business ain't it? And if there isn't...

Mr. Aimes:

You mean? You think I'm? I may be?

Sargent:

I'm not saying nothing, Mr. Aimes. But if I was you, I'd try catching up on my night's sleep.

Scene 6

Sound:

Phone dialing, ringing

Miss Landis:

Hello?

Mr. Aimes:

Miss Landis? I – I'm sorry to disturb you this time of night, but I really... I'm desperate – I – I haven't anywhere else to turn.

Miss Landis:

What? Who is this?

Mr. Aimes:

This is Mr. Aimes. Martin Aimes. Your neighbor. The one across the street. I was in your apartment yesterday morning with the police – or... rather I was almost inside your apartment. Your sister wouldn't let me in. Now please don't think of me a pest, Miss Landis. I don't mean to annoy you. It was only because I was – I was so desperate that I initiated that search.

Miss Landis:

It's quite alright, good bye.

Mr. Aimes:

No! Please don't hang up, because... It's worse now than it ever was. Miss Landis, I've been sitting here opposite of your apartment, staring into your window, and I... I'm only asking you to help me, Miss Landis. Help me just a little.

Miss Landis:

Help you?

Mr. Aimes:

It's still there, Miss Landis.

Miss Landis:

What is... still there?

Mr. Aimes:

The dead body... in your window.

Miss Landis:

Oh, my! There isn't! How dare you! When the police arr...

Mr. Aimes:

I know, I know. I know now it doesn't have anything to do with you. But would you do me just one favor, Miss Landis? Would you go into your living room and just check once more?!

Miss Landis:

(Miss Landis screams) Oh! I won't! I'll do nothing of the kind. You're out of your mind!

Mr. Aimes:

Perhaps I am, Miss Landis. That's what I'm trying to find out! (Mr. Aimes shudders) Then perhaps your sister, Vivian, would help me?

Miss Landis:

(Sobbing) She's not at home.

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, lord...

Miss Landis:

And, anyway, I don't see how you can see in. I've pulled the shades down in there yesterday morning.

Mr. Aimes:

I know... They're all down still.

Miss Landis:

Then, how can you see?

Mr. Aimes:

I can't. At least, not the actual body. It's just a silhouette. I'm not belying you or your sister, Miss Landis. It's just if there's someone dead in there, it's not you who are doing it, but think of me!

Miss Landis:

What?!

Mr. Aimes:

If you could just be here! And look over there... and see the shadow of those quiet fingers... that shoulder... that head.

Miss Landis:

OH! PLEASE! STOP IT! STOP IT! IT'S NOT HERE! IT ISN'T –

Mr. Aimes:

Just tell me just one thing Miss Landis. There is a chair by that window though, isn't there?

Miss Landis:

Yes... (Sobbing quietly) There's a chair...

Mr. Aimes:

Oh... A high backed wing chair?

Miss Landis:

Uh huh... (Sobbing)

Mr. Aimes:

And have you anything on it? Anything piled up? I mean like curtains, cushions, a dress makers dummy, or –

Miss Landis:

Of course, not!

Mr. Aimes:

Or do you have a plant in the window in front of it? Some kind of an odd table? Anything?! Anything that would cast a shadow like a man's head slumped forward or an arm hanging limp.

Miss Landis:

(Shudders) No... There's nothing. Nothing but the chair.

Mr. Aimes:

Then would you do me just one more favor, Miss Landis? Please! Please! As an experiment, would you just go into the living room and move that chair from the window, please?!

Miss Landis:

I... if I do it, would you stop pestering us?

Mr. Aimes:

Yes.

Miss Landis:

Would you leave us alone? Forever?!

Mr. Aimes:

Yes, yes if it works.

Miss Landis:

If it works? What do you mean? Do you mean?

Mr. Aimes:

I can't tell you, Miss Landis, until you move the chair!

Miss Landis:

Oh! Alright... Alright...

Sound:

Miss Landis walking away from the phone muttering. We hear her footsteps as she returns

Miss Landis:

Hello?

Mr. Aimes:

Yes?

Miss Landis:

I moved it away from the window. It's at the other end of the room. And... it's empty.

Mr. Aimes:

Oh... I see... Well, thanks very much, Miss Landis. I know what I have to do now...

Miss Landis:

(frantic) YOU MEAN?!

Mr. Aimes:

Yes, Miss Landis. It's still there....

Scene 7

Sound:

Door bell ringing, Mr. Aimes opens his door

Mr. Aimes:

Miss... Landis...

Vivian Landis:

Where is it? I want to see it, at once.

Mr. Aimes:

Oh yes, Miss. Come in. I hope you'll excuse my appearance. I... I just passed another sleepless night.

Vivian Landis:

SO has my sister. And so have I. What do you mean by this business, Mr. Aimes. You have frightened my sister half to death.

Mr. Aimes:

I...

Vivian Landis:

Seeing things that aren't there when you know they are not.

Mr. Aimes:

I know they're not... Oh... I wish they weren't... I wish to heaven I never looked out that window. I wish those walls were solid stone. And you're walls... oh...

Vivian Landis:

You are a sick man, Mr. Aimes.

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, am I... I wish I were. But I'm perfectly sane and well. I went to the psychiatrist yesterday, and guess what he told me? That there's nothing wrong with me. Nothing.

Vivian Landis:

I can't believe that.

Mr. Aimes:

I suppose it's a form of madness to persist and persist in this hideous image. But not me, Miss Landis. No. I've finally come to an entirely different conclusion.

Vivian Landis:

And what is that?

Mr. Aimes:

The supernatural.

Vivian Landis:

The supernatural? A ghost?! What nonsense, Mr. Aimes.

Mr. Aimes:

Yes, I suppose it is nonsense to you.

Vivian Landis:

Yes.

Mr. Aimes:

You've been a school teacher. You believe in logic, common sense. The things that give up the pretense of solidity in this frail life of ours. But I have eyes. I've always had a feeling for the hidden beyond, the intangible, the shadowy. We are children, Miss Landis. Children playing along the edge of the ocean. We laugh and toy with the waves and mock fright. But sometimes... Sometimes one of us slips down into the darkness. Sometimes the depths rise and we glimpse the yearning things of the eternal.

Vivian Landis:

You – You put things rather oddly, Mr. Aimes. Just exactly do you mean?

Mr. Aimes:

Simply this. I checked on that building with the real estate agents last noon after I left my psychiatrist. There was a murder.

Vivian Landis:

In... In our apartment?

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, the report doesn't say. You know how they try to hush those things up. It was a man. A young man. A lover of one of the tenants, a Ms. Sweetzer.

Vivian Landis:

Sweetzer? Why - that – that's the name of the people who lived there before us.

Mr. Aimes:

Oh...

Vivian Landis:

They were an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Sweetzer. I never saw any Ms. Sweetzer.

Mr. Aimes:

She died. She was the daughter. She killed herself afterwards by jumping out of one of the windows.

Vivian Landis:

(Vivian shudders) How – perfectly awful.

Mr. Aimes:

A rather ghastly coincidence, isn't it?

Vivian Landis:

Was it out our window?

Mr. Aimes:

No. She must have been a very neurotic person though, this Ms. Sweetzer. Half crazed almost with love and jealousy. I checked over tales of an old newspaper. She cut his throat, nearly decapitated him.

Vivian Landis:

(Vivian gasps)

Mr. Aimes:

It said that when they lifted his body out of the chair later his head almost rolled.

Vivian Landis:

Excuse me... (Vivian moves away from Aimes) Mr. Aimes, I'd rather not hear... I still can't believe that if there is something. If there could possibly be something, why haven't we seen it too. Why should you –

Mr. Aimes:

Haven't you seen it Ms. Landis?

Vivian Landis:

No!

Mr. Aimes:

Are you sure?! Never? Perhaps in the middle of the night, getting up and passing that room? Seeing that chair outlined against the window? Just... Just in passing perhaps? You've never had a glimpse?

Vivian Landis:

No... I'm – I really must be going.

Mr. Aimes:

No, no, no. Please stay and look at it. I want you to see it out of my window.

Vivian Landis:

No, my – my sister, Elaine, she's very nervous. I can't leave her so long alone.

Mr. Aimes:

Then how will I know? How? Ms. Landis, I thought you can here – especially... It'll only take a minute, really. It'll only take a minute.

Sound:

Vivian storming out of the apartment

Mr. Aimes:

It's right in here. In the bedroom. I just gotta let up the Venetian blinds. Oh, Ms. Landis! Don't go!

Sound:

Door slams

Mr. Aimes:

Ms. Landis...

Scene 8

Sound:

Phone rings, Reciever picked up.

Mr. Aimes:

Hello. Uh, hello, Sargent. This is Aimes, Martin Aimes. I just called to let you know, I think you're right about that goodnight sleep. Yes... I'm going away tomorrow for a long rest. Shutting up my apartment... I – I'm all tied up in knots. I don't know what to think. Oh they did... Yes, I saw the moving van in front of the house, but I – I didn't know it was those two sisters. Couldn't take it huh? Well, I can't take it much longer myself...

Scene 9

(Knocking)

Ronald:

Whoa! Martin! Bravo! Bravo micio, old boy!

Mr. Aimes:

Shh... Shhh... Not so loud. (laughing)

Ronald:

Why all the mystery?

Mr. Aimes:

The superintendent eh... doesn't like me.

(Both Martin and Ronald laugh)

Ronald:

You'd think he wouldn't like you grabbing this beautiful apartment right from under his nose. He probably had it promised to a friend.

Mr. Aimes:

But you've got it now, Ronald. Just as I said.

Ronald:

So I have, old boy. So I have. And it's beautiful. You know I'm crazy about it. Marty, you've out done yourself! You've been more than generous.

Mr. Aimes:

Think nothing of it, Ronald. I was glad to do it for such a distinguished colleague.

Ronald:

Well it certainly was nice of you. And I wish I could do something in return. I really do! Perhaps that play I'm doing next week? You know there's a part in it, a rather small part, but very necessary.

Mr. Aimes:

Well, thanks just the same, but I'm doing pretty well just now, Ronald.

Ronald:

I don't know how you found it, Martin. I mean in this housing shortage. You know, even the superintendent didn't notice the rent. When your call came to my manager I left rehearsal. I wouldn't trust it to anyone but myself (chuckles). I left the whole cast just standing there when I came over. And when I asked this gloomy character, Hanson, he just said nothing about it. I insisted of course. I told him who I was, and finally he pulled. Sure enough these two sisters who lived here just decided to move out.

Mr. Aimes:

I hope you didn't mention my name. You know if Hanson knew that I tipped you off he'd –

Ronald:

No, you asked me not to. Anyway, I think my own name was enough. Seriously, Marty. How did you know? Were they friends of yours?

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, no. It's all a long story. Come, let's sit down, shall we? In the living room. Oh, no. No. You take the chair. Guess they must have left that when they moved out.

Ronald:

Thank you.

Mr. Aimes:

Well, to be frank, Ronald, I got this apartment by a ruse.

Ronald:

A ruse? What kind of ruse?

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, a pretty nasty one actually. I frightened the last tenants away. I told them I saw a dead man sitting here in this window.

(Ronald and Martin have a laugh)

Ronald:

No. No. No. Not Really? How clever of you. Of course there was one.

Mr. Aimes:

You see, I live across the street. Directly across in that apartment there with the french curtains. One night, just sitting there late I got an amusing thought. There was a kind of shadow in this chair. The one you're sitting in. It reminded me a little bit of a corpse. And it came to me that it might be fun to create a great paw, a character, a corpse that wasn't there.

Ronald:

Oh? I don't follow you.

Mr. Aimes:

Some actors need a play, Ronald, to create a character. Others, the great ones, work out their own dramas. I receded to invent a part for myself. I was the eye witness – the innocent bystander across the street who saw a corpse I here. And I kept seeing it and kept seeing it. And finally, by the power of suggestion it became real enough to frighten them away.

Ronald:

Heh. Very clever. Wasn't it rather drastic?

Mr. Aimes:

I always hoped we'd be neighbors, Ronald. As a matter of fact, the whole idea for this thing came to me that day in October, when you turned me down from that part outside of Sardy's. Don't you remember? You said you were looking for a place then. Oh, yes. It was then I thought how nice it would be to see you, right across the street, sitting in this window. I simply had to bring it about.

Ronald:

Well... I...

Mr. Aimes:

Oh, no – no- no- no, Ronald. Don't get up yet. I'm not through.

Ronald:

Uh. Really, old boy, I think the gang don't even know that I'm here. They –

Mr. Aimes:

They'll wait. People always wait for you. Don't they, Ronald? I could call them, free of course, but the phone's been disconnected.

Ronald:

Well, I'm afraid that I'm – uh... Which ways the door, old boy? Now really, Marty, it's been very kind of you to –

Mr. Aimes:

Don't you like the apartment, Ronald? Aren't you going to take it? After all my work?!

Ronald:

Uh... Yes! I like it very much.

Sound:

Ronald pulling on the door handle

Ronald:

The door's locked!

Mr. Aimes:

Yes, Ronald. I'm afraid you'll have to find your way out alone.

Sound:

a struggle and Ronald's body falls dead

Mr. Aimes:

There... That'll keep you quiet! (Laughs) Silence always became you better than all that ranting and glibness and charm, Ronald! (Laughs menacingly) And now I've got the part for you. A part to end all parts! Entirely in a chair! There's not much action, not a line for you. Just sit, Ronald.

Sound:

Martin picks Ronald's body up and drops his corpse into the high winged back chair

Mr. Aimes:

Just sit in this chair by the window. Here... It'll be the greatest performance of your career. You like to hog all the fattest roles for yourself, didn't you? Well, this is a part that's been talked about up and down this street for weeks. You'll play the part of a ghost! A corpse that never was, a hallucination in my brain. And who will be your audience?! I will! I, the insignificant outmoded ham who wasn't fit to appear in your precious plays, but good enough to put you here, Ronald. (Martin chuckles) Who's the better actor now... Ronald.

Sound:

Martin walking toward the front door to the apartment, door opens

Mr. Aimes:

Goodbye, Ronald. See you across the street!

Sound:

Front door slams shut.