May 16, 2025 • 29 mins
An anthology series presenting original radio plays, showcasing a variety of genres and storytelling styles. Each episode offers a unique narrative experience.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Radio City Playhouse Attraction. Fifteen,
(00:32):
ladies and gentlemen, Here is your director and your host
on Radio City Playhouse, Harry W.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Duncan.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Thank you, Bob Warren, and good evening everybody. First of all,
on behalf of everyone connected with the show, maybe, thank
you very much for your wonderful letters praising last week's
broadcast and welcoming us back to the air. Actually, we
received only one complaint from a lady whom we'll call
missus X. She wrote, why must you portray such horrible people?
(01:04):
I don't mind listening to Radio City Playhouse, but i'd
sure hate to live with anybody who is a mind
like yours. Well, missus X, thanks for your letter anyway,
and please don't think that you're not going to meet
some entirely lovable, kind, good characters on Radio City Playhouse.
You are and in the very near future, so I
hope you'll stick with us. Unfortunately, nasty people make good stories,
(01:30):
so good in fact, that we've another one for you tonight,
this time by mister John Golsworthy. John Stanley plays Keith Darrant.
Ian Martin plays Larry Darrant, his brother in John Galsworthy's
the First and the Last Attraction fifteen on Radio City Plans.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
It is six o'clock of a November evening in London
in the year nineteen fourteen. The fire in Keith Darrant's
study flicks little dapples of light across the turkey red carpet.
Mister Darren is dozing, but even in sleep, his face
is strong, cold, clear cut. Mister Keith Darrant KC. Holly,
(02:33):
his butler, tiptoes into the room, stands looking in his
master's virile, calm face, then coughs discreetly.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Oh, yes, Holly, what is it?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's your brother, Sir here?
Speaker 5 (02:49):
Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Is he sober? If he seems so? Sir? All right, Sherman, yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Oh and Holly, you'd better telephone Judge tell us and
say I may be a few minutes late for dinner.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Yes, come inter, Larry, I Hobby.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Come in, Larry, come in, Oh, come over here when
I can see you.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It's the time.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
You look dreadful. Have you been drinking a don't mumble, Larry.
If you have anything to say, say it. I suppose
you want money?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Ah, what is it?
Speaker 6 (03:35):
I've killed him?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
You have been drinking. No, that's true, Larry.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I have a dinner appointment. But have you got to say?
Say it? So I carry I I killed him, Larry
last night.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
You're not serious. I'm serious. What you want me to do?
I've told you. If my brother can't wants tend English?
How when? Tell me when? But there's a girl, you see,
she's poorish.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
She buried a man named Walen. He left her with
a baby, coming ran out on her. She lost the
baby in almost after death.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Then I came along. She's well, she's not what you'd
call respectable.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Go on, but Keeth, I've never met a sweeter woman.
She's she's fine and good. She's so young, he's only twenty. Well,
last night when I went to her, Walen was there.
He turned up again.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
We had a row. He was drunk and half mad
with rage. He came for me. I took him. I
go through. I well, when I let go, he was
(05:10):
he was dead, Larry. But never even until it was over,
she'd been hanging out to him. Two Then what did
you do? WA sat by a.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Long time and then I carried it down the street
to an archway. Did anyone see you go? What time?
Was this three in the morning? Where was the archway?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Poor Lovedyne? Then what I went back to? Where does
she live? Forty two bottle of squares? So, you idiot,
don't you realize what this means?
Speaker 4 (05:50):
You know that I'm within an ace of a judge
ship help make what do you expect me to do?
Rush out to defend you? For years I've worked and
slave to get what I am, and you smash everything
with a fit of insane man temperately helped me. I baby,
no good, but I've never even heard the five I
could help it.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I you a lie like fury. I'm so afraid I
feel sick.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
You can pull yourself together. Let me think you're sure
no one saw you? Yes, when you left the girl? Finally,
where did you go to broom switz Roy Street? Yes,
but you've done since sat there?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Can the girl be trusted? She loves me? Can a
woman like that love? Oh?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Joo, lawyer, Sometimes I want to answer me. All right,
I tell you she's devoted to me. Keith, did you
ever pick up a lost dog? Well, that's what it's like.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
She has a lost dog's love for me.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I for her.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Did the only decent thing in my life.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
You can spare me the intimate details. Did you take
anything from the body?
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Huh?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh oh Earth this.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Envelope dropped out of her struggling Give it to me,
mister Patrick Wallen Simon's Hotel, Ferriers Street, London, there into
the fire. Doesn't that make you an accessory to the
crime of something burning?
Speaker 1 (07:19):
It on me?
Speaker 4 (07:20):
I'm quite aware of the risk I'm running. Now tell
me this Walen. Was this his first reappearance after an absence?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yes? And you say you didn't mean to kill him? No? No,
of course I didn't. He keep me and I.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
I oh, Keith, I didn't know I was a straw.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Did you look to see if his clothes were marked? Oh?
Do I not? I've not made of iron like you.
How long has the girl been at this Soho place?
About a year? Are either she or well unknown to
the police.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Off and you're sure no one saw you either entering
or leaving her place last night?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
As as I'm positive I key's to a flat. Give
them to me. What else have you that connects you
with her? Photographs? Letters? No, no, nothing?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
A listen, Larry, go straight home and stay there until
I get in touch with you, all right, have you
any money, little.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I'll get you some tomorrow. You you're very good to me, Keith.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Don't mention it the privilege of a brother. As it happens,
I'm thinking of myself. You realize you've dragged me into
the most unholy mess. Me King's counsel, sworn to the
service of the law.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
And okay, I know.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Don't you think I know what I'd like to jump
in the tablors. I'll stop being melodramatic. Go home and
keep your head. Stay there until you hear from me. Holly,
God remember, keep your head all right?
Speaker 6 (08:49):
Good you wanted me, mister Darrel.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yes, goodnight, Daddy, Good night Keith, Oh my bolly night,
mister Larry. Has he gone?
Speaker 5 (09:05):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Now listen, Holly, that is in trouble. You'll find out
about it soon enough. Follow him, make sure he goes
straight home. He's overwrought and if he starts drinking anything
can happen. Follow him. Don't let him do anything but
go straight home, understand. Yes, as soon as we finished dinner,
I'll phone you from Judge. Tellison's very good. You've better
get after that quickly. I'll phone you later.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Yes, mister Darren's residence.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Did he go straight home?
Speaker 5 (09:53):
Oh, yes, mister.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
Darre, he went into a chemist's shop. I didn't think
it wise to stop him in his chant. Yes, sir,
I couldn't see what he bought. I didn't go in
after him. I waited outside and looked through the window.
He bought something in a little blue box.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Holly, I'm going down to Borrow Square in soho, I'm leaving,
Judge Tellison's.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Now wait up for me.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Yes, mister.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Hope you startled, be comfortable, but so thick I didn't
see you.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Is this glovelin? Yes, sir, thank you. I beg pardon, Governor.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
I shouldn't be around here too much, sir, if I
was you bad district, thank you, comftable.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Only last night a bloke has found he had done
in right by this art. Yes, I read about it
in the papers. Yes, some them characters around these parts. Yes,
I'm looking for Borrows Square. Stry ahead, sir, and chandle
the right. Thank you.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Comfortable, Please don't be frightened. I had a dinner engagement,
or I wouldn't have come so late. That is told
(11:32):
me everything. It's an awful business, yes, awful in this.
Speaker 8 (11:37):
Room, Yes, just where you are standing.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
You look very young to be a How old are you?
Are you fond of Laddy?
Speaker 8 (11:50):
I would die for him.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I'm going to try to help.
Speaker 8 (11:54):
Oh, yes, helps, please help us.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
This man Wallen your husband before he came here last night?
How long since you saw him?
Speaker 8 (12:02):
Eighteen months?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I was out to dinner with friends, were very close
to the courts. They've identified Wallen's body. They'll start looking
for everybody connected with him.
Speaker 8 (12:09):
He never let people know I was married to him.
I don't know if I really was. We went to
an office and signed our names, but I did not
understand English very well then. I don't know if we
really weren't married.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Well, we can hope not.
Speaker 8 (12:27):
He treated many like me.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I think you're sure no one around here knows of
your connection with him. I'm sure if the worst comes
to the worst and this man is traced to you,
can you trust yourself not to give Laddie away.
Speaker 8 (12:40):
I've learned all the things he has given me, even
his picture.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Good Since last night? What have you been doing rightly?
I'm so se you haven't been out a strange girl,
but you call yourself now? What's your name?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Vander levinsk one more question. Do they police know you
because of your your life?
Speaker 8 (13:05):
No?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
No, the police do not know good.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
And I'm going now. Don't do anything until you hear
from me. Talk to nobody. Don't go out for anything
except to buy food. Keep quiet and don't worry.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Not worry.
Speaker 8 (13:21):
How can I not worry?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Well?
Speaker 5 (13:23):
You can try, Please, sir, don't I take Larry away
from me.
Speaker 8 (13:27):
I would be so careful, But if he left me,
I should die.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Please please, sir? He good to us to marry me.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
What is Keith doing? Wonder?
Speaker 4 (13:57):
We've heard nothing for five days. He's usually so prompt.
I couldn't stay locked up in my rooms forever. I
had to come out tonight. I I had to see you.
There's been nothing in the papers, nothing from Keith. Can't
stand this much longer.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
I've paid to the Virgin.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Lie she will have us. You don't really believe that too? Oh?
Speaker 6 (14:23):
Yes, oh yes, Lie, I do.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I wish I could, wish I could believe in anything.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Oh. I hate this world.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Hated savageness, it's ugliness. I hate Keith's world, all righteousness
and smugness and success.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
We don't belong anywhere, wander We're no good to.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
You and I we're weak, we're soft, better dead.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
No, things don't be so unhealthy.
Speaker 9 (14:58):
I can't dare to see you.
Speaker 8 (14:59):
So hope something will keep quiet. No, I give him
the keys.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Oh, I don't know, Bob's Keith, Daddy. I told you
to stay at home. I went to your rooms. You
weren't there. I might have known you wouldn't have the
(15:32):
strength to stay away from here. I couldn't help it, Keith.
I couldn't stay alone any longer. I had to see.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Well, you're lucky. They've made an arrest. They've what I've
just come from the courts. It'll be in the papers tonight.
They've arrested a man named Andersen, a little yellow, ragged scarecrow.
He's lame and half starved. They were fools to think
you have had the strength arrested.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
But how, Keith, How there's not nearly enough evidence to
convict him. But it'll give us a breather.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
You haven'tly robbed the body, but don't She pawned the
snake shaped ring and they identified this swollen by it.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
He's in no danger. They always get the wrong man first.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
It'll do him no harm to be locked up for
a spell in the meantime, you've got to get out
of England.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
But I can't be you.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
There's a vote from the Argentine tomorrow. I'll get you
a ticket, Larry, and some money both of us. You
can't go together. She can go on the next vote.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Lo Ki, what do you mean?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
No, I can't go, That's what I mean, aunt fwile
there's a possibility of this man being charged with murder grief, Larry,
don't be an idiot. I'm a lawyer. I know there's
not nearly enough evidence. No jury were convicted. If they did,
no judge would hang. Besides a ghoul who can rob
a dead body ought to be in prison. Lo Ki,
I've got to see it through.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
Yes you must.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I've had but enough of you, Larry.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Can you possibly imagine what I've been through in the
last five days. My own brother, my own brother, Laurence
Starin't a murderer.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you know what this will do to me?
Speaker 4 (16:59):
It'll be the end of everything, everything I've worked for
for twenty years. I've slaved and studied and worked, and
I'm not going to see the whole thing smashed up
because you're a weak, queerfish sham of a man that
hasn't enough backbone to I won't let you.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
You understand, I won't let you well. I don't want
the money, Keith, or the tickets.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
You'd better go, hearer care lddie, you're in no position
to argue. You're engraved, danger of ending up on the gallows.
Get on that boat tomorrow, and I promise you she'll
join you within a month. No, it'll be at least
five months until he comes up for trial. You can't
possibly live like this for five months, linking around street
corners at night.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
You can't stand it. Neither can I I can stand it.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I'm not going to stay here and argue, Laddy, this
is your last chance. You'd better go, Keith, can't.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You do something with him, right, sir, this poor little
man Anderson? Yes, now you have to see it through
very well.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Then there's nothing more to be said. I wash my
hands of the whole affair.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Good night.
Speaker 8 (18:20):
You are right, like you are right.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Do not be astraight, my dear, that.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Poor little lame scarecrow.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Locked up because of me, locked up like an animal
of a cage, wondering how, wondering how this could happen
to him.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
We're not going to to give yourself up. I don't know.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
I cannot live if you are not with me.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Love me, Yes, yes you can. No, I'm not like
your englishman. Oh what, of course, of course you are.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
I do not care for fine clothes for excitement.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
I do not care for much money.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I care for you. I've been hungry before, I can
be hungry again.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
I cannot live without you, lady. Oh, wonder, wonder I
love you.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
If I only have the courage to do what I
ought to do, if I only had the.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Coat, mister derect.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Yes, they're going to hang and they found him guilty
of Wolan murder. They're going to hang him. When did
you learn this just now, sir? It's in the paper
this morning. Didn't you know, sir? No, why I've been
so busy. I didn't know.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
It's a sad business, sir.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Larry wouldn't be fool enough to go and confess, to
go and blab to the police. Fight, Holly, get your
coat on quickly if we've got to get to Thatddy
before he makes a fool of himself. Larry, it's I Keith.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
If they're not here, sir, where would they be.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I I don't know yuh open the door keys, Yes,
Larry gave them to me months ago.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Go on, open the door. Oh, worst of reverence, mister Darrant. Look,
keep write, you idiot, keep quiet up at all, sir.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
The the dead. That's what he bought in the chemist's shop.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Look, here's the little blue box of all the ridiculous,
insane things to do. How could they do this to me?
Don't touch them, Holly, don't touch them.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
Here's an note, sir.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Let me see it. I Laurence Starrant, about to die
by my own hand.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Confess that I deliberately and with premeditation, strangled and killed
a man un as Patrick Wallen on the night of Holly. Quickly,
we've got to get out of here. Stand, they're staring
at the man. They're dead, both of them, too weak and.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Stupid to live. Come on, we've got to get out
of here. And we've never been here. Do you understand
we've never been.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
Here, sir, mister Darren.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Sir, Well, Holly, what is it? I'm sorry to mention
it again, sir, but time's getting short. I know that, Holly,
stop it, stop it. I'm sick of your tawdry emotionalism.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Day after day, week after week, I thought, you thought,
what do you think I've been doing?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Night after night? Sitting here?
Speaker 4 (22:30):
I look into the flames and I see a streak
filled with people all staring at me, brother of well
known Casey, guilty of woll and murder.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
What am I supposed to do? We can and go
to the police. Do you want to let me lose
and flood of foulst firt? Sir? Christmas is over, It's
New Year's Day tomorrow. You have so little time, sir,
rangon Anderson on January the fourteenth. Don't you think I
know that? Stop it, Holly, stopping stopping.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Oh, mister Darren, Sir, please.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Leave it with me, Holly, leave it with me. Don't
talk about it anymore. Leave it with me. Oh, thank you, sir,
thank you. I knew you couldn't be your father's son
and not do something. Please Holly let me alone.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Now, Good morning, mister Darrant.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
What are you doing up so early? This is the day, sir,
This is the I know it's they.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
They're hanging um at five o'clock this morning, and you
can't sleep.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Mister Darrant. You've got to telephone the prison.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
You've still got mister Larry's letter.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yes, yes, I have. It's here on my desk. There's
nothing left out.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
It's very clear, even to the addresses of people who
could identify the girl as having once been will OF's wife.
Speaker 7 (23:57):
You haven't much more time, sir. I called the prison
last night, just to see how long it would take.
David telephone right beside the gallows, just for last minute
things like this.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
I'll let me get them for you, mister Darren Polly.
Put that gun down.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Put it down, I say, Holly, I've decided not to
smirch the reputation of my dead brother or my dead mother,
not because of some little sewer rabbit that isn't worth saving,
that's better off dead anyway. That is suicide with that
woman was bad enough as it was. It involved me
(24:32):
in no way except as a mourner. But now if
I let this confession reach the authorities, I could never
escape the gravest suspicion that I had known of the
whole affair for the past three months. I'd have to
go into court. I'd be recognized by that policeman who
would believe in the mere coincidence of such a visit
on the part of the murderer's brother.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
But sir, you can't let an innocent man.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Qued, Polly.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Nothing could prevent this thing from ringing to the hunt stops.
Let him have, yes, I can say it. Let him hang.
I will not, by my own action topple myself into
the gutter, I'll think, mister de don't do that. Don't
you see how quickly it burns, Holly, Poor Larry's confession,
Poor stupid, silly Larry. He died for nothing, He had
(25:19):
no will, no purpose. He and that girl might now
have been at the other side of the world.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
But no, they have to take poison.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Fools, weaklings, A little conscience, a little remorse. What's that
compared to the living? A man must walk firmly, Holly,
hold to his purpose. He must go on and up.
You shouldn't have learned that concession, mister Darrel. Don't be impudent, Holly.
(25:47):
You know, of course that if you went to the
police now, you'd sound like a fool. You haven't a
shred of evidence, not a shred, and I'd be forced
to bring up all sorts of counter charges. How surly
you are, how you dislike me, how you've stolen on
several occasions that I overlooked.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
Hello, Holly, you'll keep quiet quiet? Perhaps I shall because
they wouldn't believe me. But I won't be staying on here.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
Mister Darrett.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You'll stay until the end of the month if you
expect to be paid.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Now, mister Darrnt, I'm leaving.
Speaker 7 (26:22):
By destroying mister Larry's confession, you've become a murderer.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
You murdered a man. I won't work for a murderer.
Five o'clock.
Speaker 9 (26:40):
Oh, mister Darrnt, Oh, mister Darren, Sir, don't you realize
that you're guilty too? Don't you realize that, sir?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
It's over?
Speaker 6 (26:54):
Er, it's over, and you're a murderer, a murderer.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I a murderer. He's right, that's what I am. A murderer. Murderer.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
You have just heard The First and the Last by
John Goldsworthy. The production was directed by Harry W. Jenkin
and starred John Stanley as Keith, Ian Martin as Larry.
Other players included Roy Irving, Lado Stoviski, and Eugene Francis.
The music was composed and conducted by doctor Roy Shield.
Tonight's story was prepared for radio by Nelson Olmsted. Radio
(28:17):
City Playhouse is supervised for the National Broadcasting Company by
Richard P. McDonough.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
This is Harry Jonson again next week, something of a
tour de force for two actors, John Lackin and Bernard Grant,
in my opinion, two of the most talented actors.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
In radio today. The player is entitled The Door.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Mister Larkin portrays a criminals, Mister Grant an Episcopal chaplain.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
We think you'll find it an exciting broadcast. Good night, everybody,
(29:36):
Bob war I'm speaking. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
The National Broadcasting Company presents Radio City Playhouse Attraction. Fifteen,
(00:32):
ladies and gentlemen, Here is your director and your host
on Radio City Playhouse, Harry W.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Duncan.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Thank you, Bob Warren, and good evening everybody. First of all,
on behalf of everyone connected with the show, maybe, thank
you very much for your wonderful letters praising last week's
broadcast and welcoming us back to the air. Actually, we
received only one complaint from a lady whom we'll call
missus X. She wrote, why must you portray such horrible people?
(01:04):
I don't mind listening to Radio City Playhouse, but i'd
sure hate to live with anybody who is a mind
like yours. Well, missus X, thanks for your letter anyway,
and please don't think that you're not going to meet
some entirely lovable, kind, good characters on Radio City Playhouse.
You are and in the very near future, so I
hope you'll stick with us. Unfortunately, nasty people make good stories,
(01:30):
so good in fact, that we've another one for you tonight,
this time by mister John Golsworthy. John Stanley plays Keith Darrant.
Ian Martin plays Larry Darrant, his brother in John Galsworthy's
the First and the Last Attraction fifteen on Radio City Plans.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
It is six o'clock of a November evening in London
in the year nineteen fourteen. The fire in Keith Darrant's
study flicks little dapples of light across the turkey red carpet.
Mister Darren is dozing, but even in sleep, his face
is strong, cold, clear cut. Mister Keith Darrant KC. Holly,
(02:33):
his butler, tiptoes into the room, stands looking in his
master's virile, calm face, then coughs discreetly.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Oh, yes, Holly, what is it?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's your brother, Sir here?
Speaker 5 (02:49):
Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Is he sober? If he seems so? Sir? All right, Sherman, yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Oh and Holly, you'd better telephone Judge tell us and
say I may be a few minutes late for dinner.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Yes, come inter, Larry, I Hobby.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Come in, Larry, come in, Oh, come over here when
I can see you.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It's the time.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
You look dreadful. Have you been drinking a don't mumble, Larry.
If you have anything to say, say it. I suppose
you want money?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Ah, what is it?
Speaker 6 (03:35):
I've killed him?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
You have been drinking. No, that's true, Larry.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I have a dinner appointment. But have you got to say?
Say it? So I carry I I killed him, Larry
last night.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
You're not serious. I'm serious. What you want me to do?
I've told you. If my brother can't wants tend English?
How when? Tell me when? But there's a girl, you see,
she's poorish.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
She buried a man named Walen. He left her with
a baby, coming ran out on her. She lost the
baby in almost after death.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Then I came along. She's well, she's not what you'd
call respectable.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Go on, but Keeth, I've never met a sweeter woman.
She's she's fine and good. She's so young, he's only twenty. Well,
last night when I went to her, Walen was there.
He turned up again.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
We had a row. He was drunk and half mad
with rage. He came for me. I took him. I
go through. I well, when I let go, he was
(05:10):
he was dead, Larry. But never even until it was over,
she'd been hanging out to him. Two Then what did
you do? WA sat by a.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Long time and then I carried it down the street
to an archway. Did anyone see you go? What time?
Was this three in the morning? Where was the archway?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Poor Lovedyne? Then what I went back to? Where does
she live? Forty two bottle of squares? So, you idiot,
don't you realize what this means?
Speaker 4 (05:50):
You know that I'm within an ace of a judge
ship help make what do you expect me to do?
Rush out to defend you? For years I've worked and
slave to get what I am, and you smash everything
with a fit of insane man temperately helped me. I baby,
no good, but I've never even heard the five I
could help it.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I you a lie like fury. I'm so afraid I
feel sick.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
You can pull yourself together. Let me think you're sure
no one saw you? Yes, when you left the girl? Finally,
where did you go to broom switz Roy Street? Yes,
but you've done since sat there?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Can the girl be trusted? She loves me? Can a
woman like that love? Oh?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Joo, lawyer, Sometimes I want to answer me. All right,
I tell you she's devoted to me. Keith, did you
ever pick up a lost dog? Well, that's what it's like.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
She has a lost dog's love for me.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I for her.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Did the only decent thing in my life.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
You can spare me the intimate details. Did you take
anything from the body?
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Huh?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Oh oh Earth this.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Envelope dropped out of her struggling Give it to me,
mister Patrick Wallen Simon's Hotel, Ferriers Street, London, there into
the fire. Doesn't that make you an accessory to the
crime of something burning?
Speaker 1 (07:19):
It on me?
Speaker 4 (07:20):
I'm quite aware of the risk I'm running. Now tell
me this Walen. Was this his first reappearance after an absence?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yes? And you say you didn't mean to kill him? No? No,
of course I didn't. He keep me and I.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
I oh, Keith, I didn't know I was a straw.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Did you look to see if his clothes were marked? Oh?
Do I not? I've not made of iron like you.
How long has the girl been at this Soho place?
About a year? Are either she or well unknown to
the police.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Off and you're sure no one saw you either entering
or leaving her place last night?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
As as I'm positive I key's to a flat. Give
them to me. What else have you that connects you
with her? Photographs? Letters? No, no, nothing?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
A listen, Larry, go straight home and stay there until
I get in touch with you, all right, have you
any money, little.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I'll get you some tomorrow. You you're very good to me, Keith.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Don't mention it the privilege of a brother. As it happens,
I'm thinking of myself. You realize you've dragged me into
the most unholy mess. Me King's counsel, sworn to the
service of the law.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
And okay, I know.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Don't you think I know what I'd like to jump
in the tablors. I'll stop being melodramatic. Go home and
keep your head. Stay there until you hear from me. Holly,
God remember, keep your head all right?
Speaker 6 (08:49):
Good you wanted me, mister Darrel.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yes, goodnight, Daddy, Good night Keith, Oh my bolly night,
mister Larry. Has he gone?
Speaker 5 (09:05):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Now listen, Holly, that is in trouble. You'll find out
about it soon enough. Follow him, make sure he goes
straight home. He's overwrought and if he starts drinking anything
can happen. Follow him. Don't let him do anything but
go straight home, understand. Yes, as soon as we finished dinner,
I'll phone you from Judge. Tellison's very good. You've better
get after that quickly. I'll phone you later.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Yes, mister Darren's residence.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Did he go straight home?
Speaker 5 (09:53):
Oh, yes, mister.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
Darre, he went into a chemist's shop. I didn't think
it wise to stop him in his chant. Yes, sir,
I couldn't see what he bought. I didn't go in
after him. I waited outside and looked through the window.
He bought something in a little blue box.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Holly, I'm going down to Borrow Square in soho, I'm leaving,
Judge Tellison's.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Now wait up for me.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Yes, mister.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Hope you startled, be comfortable, but so thick I didn't
see you.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Is this glovelin? Yes, sir, thank you. I beg pardon, Governor.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
I shouldn't be around here too much, sir, if I
was you bad district, thank you, comftable.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Only last night a bloke has found he had done
in right by this art. Yes, I read about it
in the papers. Yes, some them characters around these parts. Yes,
I'm looking for Borrows Square. Stry ahead, sir, and chandle
the right. Thank you.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Comfortable, Please don't be frightened. I had a dinner engagement,
or I wouldn't have come so late. That is told
(11:32):
me everything. It's an awful business, yes, awful in this.
Speaker 8 (11:37):
Room, Yes, just where you are standing.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
You look very young to be a How old are you?
Are you fond of Laddy?
Speaker 8 (11:50):
I would die for him.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I'm going to try to help.
Speaker 8 (11:54):
Oh, yes, helps, please help us.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
This man Wallen your husband before he came here last night?
How long since you saw him?
Speaker 8 (12:02):
Eighteen months?
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I was out to dinner with friends, were very close
to the courts. They've identified Wallen's body. They'll start looking
for everybody connected with him.
Speaker 8 (12:09):
He never let people know I was married to him.
I don't know if I really was. We went to
an office and signed our names, but I did not
understand English very well then. I don't know if we
really weren't married.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Well, we can hope not.
Speaker 8 (12:27):
He treated many like me.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I think you're sure no one around here knows of
your connection with him. I'm sure if the worst comes
to the worst and this man is traced to you,
can you trust yourself not to give Laddie away.
Speaker 8 (12:40):
I've learned all the things he has given me, even
his picture.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Good Since last night? What have you been doing rightly?
I'm so se you haven't been out a strange girl,
but you call yourself now? What's your name?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Vander levinsk one more question. Do they police know you
because of your your life?
Speaker 8 (13:05):
No?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
No, the police do not know good.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
And I'm going now. Don't do anything until you hear
from me. Talk to nobody. Don't go out for anything
except to buy food. Keep quiet and don't worry.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Not worry.
Speaker 8 (13:21):
How can I not worry?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Well?
Speaker 5 (13:23):
You can try, Please, sir, don't I take Larry away
from me.
Speaker 8 (13:27):
I would be so careful, But if he left me,
I should die.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
Please please, sir? He good to us to marry me.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
What is Keith doing? Wonder?
Speaker 4 (13:57):
We've heard nothing for five days. He's usually so prompt.
I couldn't stay locked up in my rooms forever. I
had to come out tonight. I I had to see you.
There's been nothing in the papers, nothing from Keith. Can't
stand this much longer.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
I've paid to the Virgin.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Lie she will have us. You don't really believe that too? Oh?
Speaker 6 (14:23):
Yes, oh yes, Lie, I do.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I wish I could, wish I could believe in anything.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Oh. I hate this world.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Hated savageness, it's ugliness. I hate Keith's world, all righteousness
and smugness and success.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
We don't belong anywhere, wander We're no good to.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
You and I we're weak, we're soft, better dead.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
No, things don't be so unhealthy.
Speaker 9 (14:58):
I can't dare to see you.
Speaker 8 (14:59):
So hope something will keep quiet. No, I give him
the keys.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Oh, I don't know, Bob's Keith, Daddy. I told you
to stay at home. I went to your rooms. You
weren't there. I might have known you wouldn't have the
(15:32):
strength to stay away from here. I couldn't help it, Keith.
I couldn't stay alone any longer. I had to see.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Well, you're lucky. They've made an arrest. They've what I've
just come from the courts. It'll be in the papers tonight.
They've arrested a man named Andersen, a little yellow, ragged scarecrow.
He's lame and half starved. They were fools to think
you have had the strength arrested.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
But how, Keith, How there's not nearly enough evidence to
convict him. But it'll give us a breather.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
You haven'tly robbed the body, but don't She pawned the
snake shaped ring and they identified this swollen by it.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
He's in no danger. They always get the wrong man first.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
It'll do him no harm to be locked up for
a spell in the meantime, you've got to get out
of England.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
But I can't be you.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
There's a vote from the Argentine tomorrow. I'll get you
a ticket, Larry, and some money both of us. You
can't go together. She can go on the next vote.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Lo Ki, what do you mean?
Speaker 4 (16:24):
No, I can't go, That's what I mean, aunt fwile
there's a possibility of this man being charged with murder grief, Larry,
don't be an idiot. I'm a lawyer. I know there's
not nearly enough evidence. No jury were convicted. If they did,
no judge would hang. Besides a ghoul who can rob
a dead body ought to be in prison. Lo Ki,
I've got to see it through.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
Yes you must.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I've had but enough of you, Larry.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Can you possibly imagine what I've been through in the
last five days. My own brother, my own brother, Laurence
Starin't a murderer.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you know what this will do to me?
Speaker 4 (16:59):
It'll be the end of everything, everything I've worked for
for twenty years. I've slaved and studied and worked, and
I'm not going to see the whole thing smashed up
because you're a weak, queerfish sham of a man that
hasn't enough backbone to I won't let you.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
You understand, I won't let you well. I don't want
the money, Keith, or the tickets.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
You'd better go, hearer care lddie, you're in no position
to argue. You're engraved, danger of ending up on the gallows.
Get on that boat tomorrow, and I promise you she'll
join you within a month. No, it'll be at least
five months until he comes up for trial. You can't
possibly live like this for five months, linking around street
corners at night.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
You can't stand it. Neither can I I can stand it.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I'm not going to stay here and argue, Laddy, this
is your last chance. You'd better go, Keith, can't.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You do something with him, right, sir, this poor little
man Anderson? Yes, now you have to see it through
very well.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Then there's nothing more to be said. I wash my
hands of the whole affair.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Good night.
Speaker 8 (18:20):
You are right, like you are right.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Do not be astraight, my dear, that.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Poor little lame scarecrow.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Locked up because of me, locked up like an animal
of a cage, wondering how, wondering how this could happen
to him.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
We're not going to to give yourself up. I don't know.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
I cannot live if you are not with me.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Love me, Yes, yes you can. No, I'm not like
your englishman. Oh what, of course, of course you are.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
I do not care for fine clothes for excitement.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
I do not care for much money.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I care for you. I've been hungry before, I can
be hungry again.
Speaker 5 (19:18):
I cannot live without you, lady. Oh, wonder, wonder I
love you.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
If I only have the courage to do what I
ought to do, if I only had the.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Coat, mister derect.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Yes, they're going to hang and they found him guilty
of Wolan murder. They're going to hang him. When did
you learn this just now, sir? It's in the paper
this morning. Didn't you know, sir? No, why I've been
so busy. I didn't know.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
It's a sad business, sir.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Larry wouldn't be fool enough to go and confess, to
go and blab to the police. Fight, Holly, get your
coat on quickly if we've got to get to Thatddy
before he makes a fool of himself. Larry, it's I Keith.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
If they're not here, sir, where would they be.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I I don't know yuh open the door keys, Yes,
Larry gave them to me months ago.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Go on, open the door. Oh, worst of reverence, mister Darrant. Look,
keep write, you idiot, keep quiet up at all, sir.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
The the dead. That's what he bought in the chemist's shop.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Look, here's the little blue box of all the ridiculous,
insane things to do. How could they do this to me?
Don't touch them, Holly, don't touch them.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
Here's an note, sir.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Let me see it. I Laurence Starrant, about to die
by my own hand.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Confess that I deliberately and with premeditation, strangled and killed
a man un as Patrick Wallen on the night of Holly. Quickly,
we've got to get out of here. Stand, they're staring
at the man. They're dead, both of them, too weak and.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Stupid to live. Come on, we've got to get out
of here. And we've never been here. Do you understand
we've never been.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
Here, sir, mister Darren.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Sir, Well, Holly, what is it? I'm sorry to mention
it again, sir, but time's getting short. I know that, Holly,
stop it, stop it. I'm sick of your tawdry emotionalism.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Day after day, week after week, I thought, you thought,
what do you think I've been doing?
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Night after night? Sitting here?
Speaker 4 (22:30):
I look into the flames and I see a streak
filled with people all staring at me, brother of well
known Casey, guilty of woll and murder.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
What am I supposed to do? We can and go
to the police. Do you want to let me lose
and flood of foulst firt? Sir? Christmas is over, It's
New Year's Day tomorrow. You have so little time, sir,
rangon Anderson on January the fourteenth. Don't you think I
know that? Stop it, Holly, stopping stopping.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Oh, mister Darren, Sir, please.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Leave it with me, Holly, leave it with me. Don't
talk about it anymore. Leave it with me. Oh, thank you, sir,
thank you. I knew you couldn't be your father's son
and not do something. Please Holly let me alone.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Now, Good morning, mister Darrant.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
What are you doing up so early? This is the day, sir,
This is the I know it's they.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
They're hanging um at five o'clock this morning, and you
can't sleep.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Mister Darrant. You've got to telephone the prison.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
You've still got mister Larry's letter.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yes, yes, I have. It's here on my desk. There's
nothing left out.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
It's very clear, even to the addresses of people who
could identify the girl as having once been will OF's wife.
Speaker 7 (23:57):
You haven't much more time, sir. I called the prison
last night, just to see how long it would take.
David telephone right beside the gallows, just for last minute
things like this.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
I'll let me get them for you, mister Darren Polly.
Put that gun down.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
Put it down, I say, Holly, I've decided not to
smirch the reputation of my dead brother or my dead mother,
not because of some little sewer rabbit that isn't worth saving,
that's better off dead anyway. That is suicide with that
woman was bad enough as it was. It involved me
(24:32):
in no way except as a mourner. But now if
I let this confession reach the authorities, I could never
escape the gravest suspicion that I had known of the
whole affair for the past three months. I'd have to
go into court. I'd be recognized by that policeman who
would believe in the mere coincidence of such a visit
on the part of the murderer's brother.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
But sir, you can't let an innocent man.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Qued, Polly.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Nothing could prevent this thing from ringing to the hunt stops.
Let him have, yes, I can say it. Let him hang.
I will not, by my own action topple myself into
the gutter, I'll think, mister de don't do that. Don't
you see how quickly it burns, Holly, Poor Larry's confession,
Poor stupid, silly Larry. He died for nothing, He had
(25:19):
no will, no purpose. He and that girl might now
have been at the other side of the world.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
But no, they have to take poison.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Fools, weaklings, A little conscience, a little remorse. What's that
compared to the living? A man must walk firmly, Holly,
hold to his purpose. He must go on and up.
You shouldn't have learned that concession, mister Darrel. Don't be impudent, Holly.
(25:47):
You know, of course that if you went to the
police now, you'd sound like a fool. You haven't a
shred of evidence, not a shred, and I'd be forced
to bring up all sorts of counter charges. How surly
you are, how you dislike me, how you've stolen on
several occasions that I overlooked.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
Hello, Holly, you'll keep quiet quiet? Perhaps I shall because
they wouldn't believe me. But I won't be staying on here.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
Mister Darrett.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You'll stay until the end of the month if you
expect to be paid.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Now, mister Darrnt, I'm leaving.
Speaker 7 (26:22):
By destroying mister Larry's confession, you've become a murderer.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
You murdered a man. I won't work for a murderer.
Five o'clock.
Speaker 9 (26:40):
Oh, mister Darrnt, Oh, mister Darren, Sir, don't you realize
that you're guilty too? Don't you realize that, sir?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
It's over?
Speaker 6 (26:54):
Er, it's over, and you're a murderer, a murderer.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I a murderer. He's right, that's what I am. A murderer. Murderer.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
You have just heard The First and the Last by
John Goldsworthy. The production was directed by Harry W. Jenkin
and starred John Stanley as Keith, Ian Martin as Larry.
Other players included Roy Irving, Lado Stoviski, and Eugene Francis.
The music was composed and conducted by doctor Roy Shield.
Tonight's story was prepared for radio by Nelson Olmsted. Radio
(28:17):
City Playhouse is supervised for the National Broadcasting Company by
Richard P. McDonough.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
This is Harry Jonson again next week, something of a
tour de force for two actors, John Lackin and Bernard Grant,
in my opinion, two of the most talented actors.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
In radio today. The player is entitled The Door.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Mister Larkin portrays a criminals, Mister Grant an Episcopal chaplain.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
We think you'll find it an exciting broadcast. Good night, everybody,
(29:36):
Bob war I'm speaking. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
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