MUSIC:

SUSPENSE THEME ... FADES IN BRIEFLY, THEN BEHIND VOICE, OUT AT [X]

VOICE:

And now tonight's presentation of Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills -- SUSPENSE! Tonight we bring you a transcribed story of three women and their vigil of death. We call it "Waiting." [X] So now -- starring Vivi Janiss, Paula Winslowe, and Charlotte Lawrence -- here is tonight's SUSPENSE play, "Waiting."

MUSIC:

FOR AN INTRODUCTION

SOUND:

MRS. MARTINSON FIXES A MEAL ... THEN IN BG

MRS. MARTINSON:

(PLEASANT) Do you want me to put butter on them, Eileen?

EILEEN:

(SULLEN) I don't care. Told you I wasn't hungry. I couldn't eat. Not now. (BEAT) I don't see how you can.

MRS. MARTINSON:

You've got to. It's no good going on like this. (BEAT) Is Harriet coming?

EILEEN:

I think so. She said she would.

MRS. MARTINSON:

Oh, I hope she gets here soon. Everything will get cold.

SOUND:

MEAL-FIXING OUT WITH--

EILEEN:

(SUDDENLY SAVAGE) Stop it! Why don't you stop it?! How can you talk as if nothing's happening; nothing's going to happen?! (DISTRESSED) I can't eat! I'd be sick! I'm going to my room! (WEEPS)

SOUND:

EILEEN RUNS OUT OF ROOM, INNER DOOR SLAMS ... PAUSE ... MRS. MARTINSON STEPS TO DINNER PLATES AND PICKS THEM UP ... DOORBELL BUZZES ... MRS. MARTINSON PUTS DOWN PLATES, WALKS TO FRONT DOOR, AND OPENS IT

MRS. MARTINSON:

Oh. Come in, Harriet. I was just wondering if you were going to be late.

SOUND:

DURING ABOVE, HARRIET ENTERS AND MRS. MARTINSON CLOSES FRONT DOOR

HARRIET:

(GRIM) Does it make any difference?

MRS. MARTINSON:

Now, you mustn't talk like that. Life goes on. I know it's hard to see that now, but you will. Time is kind to us.

HARRIET:

Mr. Mahler's still trying to see the governor.

MRS. MARTINSON:

[Let me take your coat, dear.

SOUND:

COAT TAKEN

HARRIET:

He's going to call here in a little while.

MRS. MARTINSON:

We mustn't give up hope.]

HARRIET:

Mrs. Martinson, could I have a drink?

MRS. MARTINSON:

(AWKWARD) Oh, well, I'm afraid there isn't anything since--

HARRIET:

(BEAT) It doesn't matter. Where's Eileen?

MRS. MARTINSON:

She's lying down. She's not taking it the way you are. Oh, I'm afraid these last few hours are going to be awful. I've been trying to get her to take one of those pills the doctor left. She won't. I've got some nice dinner ready, Harriet. Why don't you see if you can get Eileen to have some? It'll give her strength, poor dear.

HARRIET:

(EXHALES) All right.

SOUND:

WE FOLLOW HARRIET'S STEPS OUT OF ROOM TO EILEEN'S DOOR ... HARRIET GIVES A QUICK KNOCK, IMMEDIATELY OPENS DOOR, AND WALKS IN

EILEEN:

(WEEPS QUIETLY, THEN IN BG)

HARRIET:

(GENTLY) Hello, Eileen.

EILEEN:

(THROUGH SOBS) Oh, Harriet. Harriet. I can't stand it. I can't.

HARRIET:

I know. I know.

EILEEN:

(STOPS SOBBING) No, you don't. You're only his sister. I love him. I'm his wife.

HARRIET:

(SIMPLY) I'm his sister and I love him. I know.

EILEEN:

(DESPERATELY) Can't they do anything? Did you see Mr. Mahler?

HARRIET:

Well, he's trying. He's trying to see the governor.

EILEEN:

(HELPLESSLY) But there's no time, [there's] no time.

HARRIET:

There is a witness flying in from Mexico tonight. He says he saw a woman coming out of the building that night about the time that -- that she was supposed to have been killed. Mr. Mahler thinks he might be able to get a stay of execution on the strength of it.

EILEEN:

Won't make any difference. It'll be like all the others. There was no proof. (BROKENLY) Just Norman and that terrible diary.

HARRIET:

Eileen? Do you honestly think he didn't kill her?

EILEEN:

(EVENLY) Of course he didn't. I know he couldn't have done it. I couldn't bear thinking anything else.

HARRIET:

But you sometimes do think something else.

EILEEN:

No! No, I love him.

HARRIET:

(BEAT) He wrote me a letter. I got it this morning. I want to read it to you.

EILEEN:

What? What did he say?

SOUND:

LETTER TAKEN FROM ENVELOPE AND UNFOLDED ... PAGES TURN AND RUSTLE DURING FOLLOWING--

HARRIET:

(READS) "Dear little egg. Just a note; there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. I feel I can talk to you better than I can to Eileen. I know how you've stood by these past weeks. It's been the thing that's kept me going -- your faith, your trust. Somehow I feel that Eileen is not convinced of my innocence, and I can't blame her. I was a fool to have kept the diary. I was a fool to have got involved with Sheila, but self-recrimination is no help now. The diary I wrote because I needed to say things aloud which couldn't be said. I wrote them instead. It must have been a terrible shock to Eileen, but you, my wise little sister, weren't altogether blind when it came to seeing the truth of our marriage. I suppose I turned to that poor girl trying to find again what was finished between Eileen and myself. (POINTEDLY) But I didn't kill Sheila -- always believe me. (HURRIEDLY FINISHES) It's too late now, but I wish that things might have been different. Goodbye, little egg. My last brotherly advice -- find a good man, get married, have lots of nice kids, and be happy. You're the best of sisters. All my love, Norman."

SOUND:

FINAL RUSTLE OF LETTER

EILEEN:

(SOBERLY) He thinks-- He hasn't written to me.

HARRIET:

Hasn't he?

EILEEN:

He believes that I - I think he did it.

HARRIET:

Don't you?

EILEEN:

I love him.

HARRIET:

But you think he did kill her?

EILEEN:

I love him!

HARRIET:

It's not too late to send a message. Let him know! Tell him you know he's not guilty! You could do that.

EILEEN:

He was there. He was with her that night.

HARRIET:

He admitted that! But there was somebody else after he left!

EILEEN:

You're so sure! You sit there, cold, not caring. You're - you're like those lawyers. I'm waiting for him to die. I love him and he's going to die. You're waiting for an end to something, and you're not feeling anything; not really. He's your brother and so he's got to be innocent; save the name of Landon; that's all it means to you!

HARRIET:

That's not true, Eileen.

EILEEN:

Yes, it is! (BEAT, QUIETER) You've always laughed at us -- mother and me. You and Norman, always laughing; little secrets. (TEARFUL) I love him and he always held something away from me that he gave to you. I hated him for that!

HARRIET:

(COOLLY) Then you can't be very unhappy that he's going to die tonight.

EILEEN:

Don't you dare say that! Why shouldn't I hate as well? You never let me in; never let me belong. Even waiting -- now -- waiting for him to go to the chair. You keep it to yourselves. I can't even share that!

HARRIET:

I'm sorry. I suppose we just don't feel things the same way. Maybe I just can't cry any more.

EILEEN:

(BREATHES, CHANGES SUBJECT) What's the time?

HARRIET:

(BEAT) Seven.

EILEEN:

(BEAT) Seven. (EXHALES) Four hours. (EXHALES)

MRS. MARTINSON:

(CALLS, FROM OFF) Eileen?! Harriet?! Come along! Dinner's getting cold.

HARRIET:

(CALLS) I'm not hungry, Mrs. Martinson!

EILEEN:

(CALLS) I told you before, mother--!

SOUND:

DURING ABOVE, MRS. MARTINSON'S STEPS APPROACH

MRS. MARTINSON:

(WARMLY) Oh, it's nice. Nice that you two have each other for comfort. (EXHALES) We must all be strong -- pray together, hope together. I'm not being callous; unfeeling. It's just that - that I've lived longer and seen more unhappiness than either of you. Life must go on.

MUSIC:

BRIDGE

SOUND:

SLOW CREAKING OF ROCKING CHAIR ... CONTINUES IN BG

MRS. MARTINSON:

(HUMS "ROCK OF AGES" WORDLESSLY TO HERSELF)

EILEEN:

(UNHAPPY, ADMONISHES) Mother--

MRS. MARTINSON:

Hmm? Oh. Oh, yes, dear. I'm sorry.

EILEEN:

What's the time?

HARRIET:

Nearly eight.

SOUND:

PHONE RINGS ... HARRIET'S HURRIED STEPS TO PHONE BEHIND--

HARRIET:

(QUICKLY) I'll get it! Must be Mr. Mahler.

SOUND:

RECEIVER UP ... CREAKING STOPS AT [X] AS MRS. MARTINSON LISTENS--

HARRIET:

(INTO PHONE, INCREASINGLY DISCOURAGED) Hello? -- Yes? Yes, Mr. Mahler? [X] -- Yes. --- Oh? ------ Yes, all right. -- Thank you. --- Yes, I will.

SOUND:

RECEIVER DOWN ... CHAIR RESUMES SLOWLY CREAKING, IN BG ... HARRIET'S SLOW STEPS TO CHAIR

HARRIET:

The governor's refused to see him.

EILEEN:

(SOBS, THEN CONTINUES SOBBING VERY GENTLY IN BG)

HARRIET:

He's going to drive to the mansion and try again. He's leaving--

MRS. MARTINSON:

(EVENLY) God's will.

HARRIET:

He's leaving as soon as the witness arrives who saw the woman with him.

SOUND:

CREAKING STOPS

MRS. MARTINSON:

(HARD) A witness? Who?

HARRIET:

A man says he saw someone come out of the apartment that night. He said it was a woman. She was running.

MRS. MARTINSON:

(SURPRISED) He - he saw a woman?

HARRIET:

Yes.

MRS. MARTINSON:

Her face?

HARRIET:

Well, it was dark, but he thinks he could identify her. He's not sure.

SOUND:

CHAIR RESUMES SLOWLY CREAKING

MRS. MARTINSON:

(FIRMLY) I think it's unfair.

HARRIET:

What is?

MRS. MARTINSON:

Rousing our hopes this way.

HARRIET:

Well, if it's true, the woman could--

MRS. MARTINSON:

(INTERRUPTS) Mr. Mahler brought in half a dozen witnesses who swore they saw somebody near the apartment. It didn't help. The jury didn't believe it. (SOUND: CREAKING STOPS) I - I think it's unfair.

HARRIET:

Well, supposing this is different! It's a chance--

EILEEN:

(INTERRUPTS) Please! Please don't talk about it!

HARRIET:

Why not?! Am I the only one?! Am I the only one who thinks Norman didn't kill her?! Am I?!

SOUND:

CHAIR RESUMES SLOWLY CREAKING

MRS. MARTINSON:

"Blind not yourself with love to the faults which lie within man."

EILEEN:

(ADMONISHES) Mother--!

MRS. MARTINSON:

Be quiet, Eileen. (SOUND: CREAKING STOPS) Norman was a difficult man for me to understand, Harriet. I admit I was never really happy that Eileen married him. Oh, I - I tried not to interfere. I've seen what he's done to my daughter during the past two years and I've said nothing. It's not for me to judge his acts. That has been done, and a far higher judge will be waiting.

HARRIET:

I won't listen to you. I won't listen.

MRS. MARTINSON:

"Youth can afford the loyalty that age has already squandered."

HARRIET:

Why must you quote?! Are you afraid of saying something original?! Something that will show what you really are?!

EILEEN:

That's enough! He's my husband. He's more mine than yours, or yours. I don't care whether he killed that woman or not; I want him to live! I love him. He can't die.

MUSIC:

BRIDGE ... SEGUES TO FINAL MEASURES OF BEETHOVEN'S SIXTH SYMPHONY AS HEARD ON A RADIO

SOUND:

SLOW CREAKING OF ROCKING CHAIR ... CONTINUES IN BG

RADIO ANNCR:

(FILTER) That was the Beethoven Sixth Symphony played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Bruno Walter, and brought to you on our evening music program. Time now is two minutes after nine and here's a five-minute summary of the news. State prison officials said tonight that nothing new had developed in the bid for stay-of-execution by Norman Landon, convicted slayer of Sheila Warriner. Landon is scheduled to die at eleven o'clock tonight, approximately two hours from now. The governor turned down the lawyer's latest plea. According to William Mahler, attorney for the condemned man, a new witness has been found who can shed further light on the case. However the governor does not feel the evidence is sufficient to--

SOUND:

DURING LAST SENTENCE ABOVE, HARRIET'S STEPS TO RADIO, WHICH CLICKS OFF

HARRIET:

(WHISPERS, TO HERSELF) Why doesn't he call? (UP, FRUSTRATED) He must be there by now! Why doesn't he call?!

EILEEN:

(CONTEMPLATIVE) I always wanted us to have a baby. I knew he didn't love me enough. We'd have those fights and he'd just look at me. He wouldn't say anything; only look. I don't know where it went wrong with us.

MRS. MARTINSON:

You tried, Eileen. Your mother knows you tried.

EILEEN:

Maybe I didn't understand. Maybe I was wrong, like he said in the letter. But what did I do? I wanted to make him happy. He never let me be close to him. I could never share anything.

MRS. MARTINSON:

It's true! True as I sit here! You did your best! You've nothing to be ashamed of!

HARRIET:

Hasn't she? (NO ANSWER) Haven't you, Eileen?

EILEEN:

(DELIBERATELY) No. Nothing. He's ruined all our lives, what he did. But it's not right. I shouldn't care. Why do I have to feel the way I do about him? He didn't love me; it was that other woman.

HARRIET:

If he loved her so much, why did he kill her?

MRS. MARTINSON:

(WITH DISGUST) Because it was--! It was dirty! Nasty! Because of liquor and immorality! It always ends that way.

HARRIET:

(WITH CONTEMPT) What do you know about morality? Your kind's worse than anything. Everything normal is dirty to you! You tried to make Eileen feel that way. You think I don't know what happened to their marriage?! I do! I know! Oh, I know why!

MRS. MARTINSON:

Get out. Get out of this house! You've shown your true color! You're no better than he was. Get out!

HARRIET:

I'll go. I wouldn't--

SOUND:

PHONE RINGS TWICE

MRS. MARTINSON:

(TO EILEEN) Well?

SOUND:

EILEEN'S BRISK STEPS TO PHONE ... RECEIVER UP AFTER THIRD RING

EILEEN:

(INTO PHONE) Hello? --- Yes? --- Yes, I'll wait.

SOUND:

HARRIET'S STEPS TO PHONE

HARRIET:

Who is it?

EILEEN:

Mr. Mahler. He's coming to the phone.

HARRIET:

Well, let me talk to him.

EILEEN:

No, I want to. (INTO PHONE) Hello? -- Mr. Mahler? -- This is Mrs. Landon. -- Yes! ------ (DISHEARTENED) I see. -- Yes, thank you. ---- Thank you very much.

SOUND:

RECEIVER DOWN SLOWLY

HARRIET:

[What did he say? (NO ANSWER)] What?

EILEEN:

(SLOW, EMOTIONLESS) Mr. Mahler's not going to see the governor. He doesn't have to. Norman's just confessed that he killed the woman.

MUSIC:

FIRST ACT CURTAIN ... THEN BEHIND VOICE--

VOICE:

You are listening to "Waiting," tonight's presentation in Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills, SUSPENSE.

MUSIC:

UP FOR TAG

CBS ANNCR:

Even the most innocent bystander cannot help but feel the atmosphere of drama and excitement that pervades a station house of a big city police force. Step inside our 21st PRECINCT station house any Thursday night and listen as threads of emotion cross and crisscross, to weave a fabric of drama that is no less exciting, no less intense than the situations that confront men on the beat. And these are the stories you hear each Thursday night when 21st PRECINCT is on the air on most of these same stations.

MUSIC:

SUSPENSE THEME BEHIND VOICE--

VOICE:

And now we bring back to our Hollywood sound stage Vivi Janiss, Paula Winslowe, and Charlotte Lawrence, starring in tonight's production of "Waiting," a tale well-calculated to keep you in--

MUSIC:

KNIFE CHORD

VOICE:

--SUSPENSE.

MUSIC:

SECOND ACT INTRODUCTION

MRS. MARTINSON:

(SURPRISED) Norman's - confessed?

EILEEN:

Yes, mother.

HARRIET:

I'll be going. Goodbye, Eileen.

EILEEN:

No. I don't want you to go. Stay with me.

MRS. MARTINSON:

You let her be in this house after the way she talked to your mother?!

EILEEN:

Oh, none of us know what we're saying. Doesn't matter anyway. We wouldn't be talking like this if it weren't for Norman.

MRS. MARTINSON:

Well! I should have thought an apology were in order.

HARRIET:

(EXHALES, RELUCTANTLY) I'm sorry, Mrs. Martinson.

MRS. MARTINSON:

(SKEPTICAL) Hmmph.

HARRIET:

(HALF-CHUCKLE) You know, this is very funny. I wish we could hear ourselves -- quarreling, behaving like this -- and in a little while he's going to be dead. I wish we had a recording, so we could sit down next week and listen to it. (CHUCKLES) I wish I had a drink.

EILEEN:

[There's something in the cabinet.] I'll get you one, Harriet.

HARRIET:

But your mother said there wasn't--

EILEEN:

I keep a bottle just for me. [I want one, too.]

MRS. MARTINSON:

(DISMAYED, HUSHED) Eileen!

SOUND:

EILEEN'S STEPS MOVE OFF

HARRIET:

(CALLS AFTER HER) Make it strong!

SOUND:

SLOW CREAKING OF ROCKING CHAIR RESUMES, FILLS A PAUSE, THEN CONTINUES IN BG

MRS. MARTINSON:

(QUIETLY, TO HERSELF) So he did it, after all.

HARRIET:

What did you say?

MRS. MARTINSON:

Nothing.

HARRIET:

Yes, you did. You said he did it, didn't you?

MRS. MARTINSON:

He confessed. For his soul's sake, he confessed.

HARRIET:

I don't believe it.

MRS. MARTINSON:

You don't want to believe it.

HARRIET:

He didn't kill her!

MRS. MARTINSON:

He was always drinking. He taught Eileen to drink. No good comes of it. It's a false strength she's taking for herself.

HARRIET:

(DRY) Where does your strength come from, Mrs. Martinson?

MRS. MARTINSON:

A knowledge of right and wrong.

HARRIET:

(SKEPTICAL LAUGH) Huh!

MRS. MARTINSON:

Ohhhh, you laugh at that, my girl. But wait! Wait until you're my age.

HARRIET:

I think I'll never know your kind of right and wrong.

SOUND:

CHAIR CREAKING SLOWS TO A STOP BEHIND--

MRS. MARTINSON:

Oh, I'm sorry for you. For Eileen. The shame you'll have to carry for this. And neither of you care now. Not now. You, blinded by loyalty; Eileen, by love. Just wait. Wait! I praise-- I go down on my knees that there were no children to see this night!

SOUND:

CRASH! OF BROKEN GLASS, FROM OFF

HARRIET:

(STARTLED) Eileen--?

SOUND:

HARRIET'S HURRIED STEPS TO EILEEN BEHIND--

HARRIET:

(WORRIED) Eileen! You all right? Eileen?

EILEEN:

(HELPLESSLY) I - dropped it.

HARRIET:

(BRISKLY) Well, don't pick up the pieces like that; you'll cut yourself; I'll do it.

SOUND:

HARRIET SCRAMBLES TO FLOOR AND STARTS PICKING UP PIECES OF GLASS, WHICH CONTINUES IN BG

EILEEN:

(QUIETLY, SLOWLY, HALF TO HERSELF, IN A DAZE) I'm afraid. I'm afraid. I'm afraid.

HARRIET:

Why?

SOUND:

FINISHES PICKING UP GLASS

EILEEN:

(BEAT) What's the time?

HARRIET:

Nearly ten.

EILEEN:

It's the waiting. That's the worst. It'd be better if it were finished.

HARRIET:

(MILDLY ACCUSING) You can't wait till he's dead. Is that what you mean? Is that why you're afraid?

EILEEN:

Shut up!

SOUND:

EILEEN SLAPS HARRIET IN FACE!

HARRIET:

(PAUSE, EVENLY) Did that make you feel better?

EILEEN:

(BREATHES HEAVILY, SLOWLY) I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

HARRIET:

I know you. I've always known what you're like. When you feel guilty about what you've done, you have to take it out on somebody. Norman! It's easier then, isn't it? It always was. If you can get angry enough, you don't have to think about things, like now. That's why you slapped me. You want him to be guilty. It's better for you now that he's confessed, isn't it?

EILEEN:

He did kill her. He did!

HARRIET:

No! I think he confessed to make things easier for you, and for me. Then maybe we wouldn't have to spend the rest of our lives wondering. (BEAT) Not that you'd be wondering. (POINTEDLY ACCUSING) You know, don't you?

EILEEN:

(BEAT, HUSHED) What do you mean?

HARRIET:

You know what I mean. (BEAT, DISMISSIVE) Go on inside. I'll make the drinks.

MUSIC:

SOBER BRIDGE

SOUND:

SLOW CREAKING OF ROCKING CHAIR ... CONTINUES IN BG

MRS. MARTINSON:

(WITH GREAT SATISFACTION) "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked."

HARRIET:

They'll find out who really did it. No matter what happens to Norman, they'll find out who did it.

MRS. MARTINSON:

They already know.

HARRIET:

Do they?

EILEEN:

You said that before -- as if you know. How can you be so sure? Do you know more than the police? Than anybody?

HARRIET:

It's ten-thirty. In half an hour -- half an hour! -- a man's going to be murdered.

MRS. MARTINSON:

"An eye for an eye."

HARRIET:

At eleven o'clock, we'll just sit here and it'll be like New Year's Eve! We ought to have the radio on, so we can know the exact time! But it takes a little while for him to be pronounced dead. Completely dead. What is it? A minute? Minute and a half? Do we drink a toast at eleven?! Or one minute after?!

MRS. MARTINSON:

(DEEPLY OFFENDED) Oh, you should be put away! Talk like that! You're out of your mind!

HARRIET:

(QUIETLY) Somebody else will be sitting -- waiting.

EILEEN:

There isn't anybody else! Why don't you be quiet? He did it! I've wanted to believe he didn't, but I know. He said he did.

SOUND:

DOORBELL RINGS

HARRIET:

I'll go.

SOUND:

HARRIET'S STEPS TO FRONT DOOR, WHICH OPENS

DELIVERY BOY:

Telegram for Mrs. Norman Landon.

HARRIET:

Thank you.

SOUND:

RATTLE OF TELEGRAM ... FRONT DOOR SHUTS ... HARRIET'S STEPS TO EILEEN

HARRIET:

It's for you, Eileen.

SOUND:

TELEGRAM OPENED, UNFOLDED

EILEEN:

(PAUSE, SOBERLY ACCUSING) You did this.

MRS. MARTINSON:

What is it, dear? Who is it from?

EILEEN:

She did it. "Congratulations" -- that's all it says. (TO HARRIET) It's from you, isn't it?

HARRIET:

Don't be stupid. Why should I say that?

EILEEN:

You hated me for marrying him. You never thought I was good enough.

HARRIET:

I didn't send it.

EILEEN:

Who did?

MRS. MARTINSON:

You're a wicked girl if you sent that. A horrible wicked girl!

EILEEN:

Mother was right. You shouldn't be here. I want you to go.

HARRIET:

No. I'm staying. I'm going to wait until eleven.

EILEEN:

You're getting out!

HARRIET:

I've told you, I'm not leaving.

MRS. MARTINSON:

Call the police, Eileen. Call the police! They'll take care of her!

EILEEN:

What are you smiling at? What--?

MRS. MARTINSON:

Don't take any notice of her!

EILEEN:

Why are you smiling like that?

HARRIET:

I just think it's funny! Calling the police to put me out. Then I'll have nowhere to go when they execute my brother.

MRS. MARTINSON:

She's gone crazy! Stay away from her, Eileen!

SOUND:

MRS. MARTINSON'S STEPS TO PHONE ... RECEIVER UP AND PHONE DIALED BEHIND--

EILEEN:

Why are you being like this, Harriet? It's not my fault. I can't help it!

HARRIET:

I want to hear you say you believe he's innocent! I'm waiting for that!

MRS. MARTINSON:

(SLIGHTLY OFF, INTO PHONE) Operator? Get me the police. (BEAT, TO HARRIET) Harriet? Will you go now?!

HARRIET:

No.

EILEEN:

(DEFEATED) Mother--? Hang up.

MRS. MARTINSON:

I'll do no such thing!

SOUND:

EILEEN'S HURRIED STEPS TO RECEIVER, WHICH IS GRABBED AND SLAMMED DOWN ON PHONE WITH--

EILEEN:

(VICIOUSLY) I said, hang up!

MRS. MARTINSON:

(EXCLAIMS IN PAIN, ASTONISHED) You - you hurt my hand.

EILEEN:

(SLOWLY, QUIETLY) I'm sorry. Bad enough as it is. We don't need any more business with the police.

MRS. MARTINSON:

(DELIBERATELY, WOUNDED PRIDE) You hurt me. I'm going to my room. When you've thought it over, you may come and apologize.

SOUND:

MRS. MARTINSON'S EVEN STEPS OFF TO INNER DOOR, WHICH SHUTS AS SHE EXITS

EILEEN:

(SADLY) She's old. Things aren't the same to her any more.

HARRIET:

(COLDLY) Were they ever?

EILEEN:

You think I'm to blame for everything, don't you?

HARRIET:

Yes. Most of it.

EILEEN:

(EMOTIONAL) Do you know what it's like living with a man you love? Love so much it makes you weak, and nothing? Realize that when you say things, you don't mean them, but you want to hurt -- do anything -- to get him to notice? Make him angry, anything, but make him feel something? I never could. You think I don't know why he started going with that woman? I understand. I don't want to, but I do. It's the lack in me. Just the way he said in the diary.

HARRIET:

It's ten to eleven.

EILEEN:

I hated her so much, I could have killed her. I thought of killing him. But he wouldn't have cared.

HARRIET:

You'll be even with them both now.

EILEEN:

You can't understand how I love him. There'll never be anybody else.

HARRIET:

There's somebody else, all right.

EILEEN:

No!

HARRIET:

We're a lot alike; the hold others have over us. Norman and I, you and your mother -- it's not good to be that close, not for anybody.

EILEEN:

Norman and I had each other. Maybe if it hadn't been for you and mother, we - we might have--

HARRIET:

(INTERRUPTS) You didn't! You had a chance and you didn't! I thought you'd tell the truth when you got the telegram!

EILEEN:

(FLATLY) You sent it. It was you.

HARRIET:

Yes. I hoped it would make you tell [the truth] before it was too late.

MRS. MARTINSON:

(APPROACHES) Eileen? Eileen? It's - it's nearly eleven. (MAGNANIMOUSLY) I forgive you. I forgive both of you. (GRANDLY) We must all pray together.

HARRIET:

(DRY) You pray, Mrs. Martinson. I'll watch you.

SOUND:

PHONE RINGS ... HARRIET'S STEPS TO PHONE ... RECEIVER UP

HARRIET:

(INTO PHONE) Hello? -- Yes, Mr. Mahler? ----- (STUNNED) Oh? ----- (PLEASED) Yes. Yes, I will. ---- Thank you.

SOUND:

RECEIVER DOWN SLOWLY ... HARRIET'S STEPS TO EILEEN AND MRS. MARTINSON

HARRIET:

The witness arrived and identified the woman from a picture. The governor granted a stay of execution five minutes ago!

EILEEN:

Identified?

HARRIET:

Yes. Hmm, you knew, didn't you, [Eileen]?

MRS. MARTINSON:

(BEGINS TO SOB, IN BG)

EILEEN:

It didn't make any difference. He wouldn't have come back to me. Would have been better [if he died]. Now I'll have no one.

HARRIET:

Mr. Mahler had a suspicion; he couldn't prove anything, he told me. I wondered, too. No one else recognized the woman in the picture except the man who was in Mexico. And you would have let Norman die.

EILEEN:

Oh, mother, stop it!

MRS. MARTINSON:

(STOPS SOBBING) I - I didn't think anyone saw me come out. I followed him, Eileen. I - I did it for you. I had to. It was so wicked! Right after he left her, I went in. I - I tried to talk to her. I did it for you, dear. They - they won't electrocute me, will they? I - I know it's against the commandment to kill, but I - I had to. [I think I'll be able to stand everything but the waiting.] I could stand everything but the waiting.

HARRIET:

(CRACKS UP WITH LAUGHTER) Oh, Mrs. Martinson! (LAUGHTER TURNS TO TEARS AND SOBS OF NERVOUS RELIEF, THEN CONTINUES IN BG UNTIL CURTAIN)

MRS. MARTINSON:

(SURPRISED) Harriet? Harriet?! (PLEASED) She's crying. I never thought she could cry. (SOOTHING) It's all right, dear. Have a good cry. It'll do you good.

MUSIC:

CURTAIN

VOICE:

SUSPENSE--!

MUSIC:

KNIFE CHORD ... FADES OUT BEHIND--

VOICE:

--in which Vivi Janiss, Paula Winslowe, and Charlotte Lawrence starred in tonight's presentation of "Waiting." Next week -- the story of a man caught in a mineshaft, trapped by his own conscience. We call it "The Digger." That's next week on--

MUSIC:

KNIFE CHORD ... FADES OUT BEHIND--

VOICE:

--SUSPENSE.

MUSIC:

BRISK CLOSING MARCH ... THEN BEHIND VOICE--

VOICE:

SUSPENSE is transcribed and directed in Hollywood by Antony Ellis. You have just heard "Waiting," written by Mr. Ellis especially for SUSPENSE. The music was composed by Lucien Moraweck and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Others in our cast were Thomas Hanley and George Walsh.

CBS ANNCR:

Are your neighbors talking about ACTION yet? Well, if they aren't, perhaps it's because they're not yet aware of the practical plan for preventing and eliminating slums that has been set up by ACTION, the American Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods. If your friends and neighbors are interested already, CBS Radio urges you to join their efforts to keep your community from running down. But if a slum-fighting program has not been organized where you live, why not write to ACTION, Box 20, New York 19, for a free leaflet that explains what can be done to prevent your neighborhood from falling into disrepair. That's ACTION, Box 20, New York 19.

MUSIC:

BRISK CLOSING MARCH RESUMES UNTIL END