September 7, 2025 • 41 mins
CBS Radio Mystery Theater - My Own Murderer
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Betune for Asterly Theater. Come in welcome. I'm e. G. Marshall.
(00:25):
We have another story designed to hit you right between
the ears. Murder, of course, is a common everyday subject
of the mystery story, but we promise you that this
one murder has an entirely new kind of definition. You've
heard the expression being of two minds well, Joe Vincent,
our hero, or should I say our victim, is very
(00:48):
definitely a man who could be described that way. The
only trouble is one of those minds seems to be
bent on homicide. Our mystery, my Own Murderer, was written
especially for the Mystery Theater by Henry Slesser and stars
Mandel Kramer. It is sponsored in part by Anheuser Busch Incorporated,
(01:12):
brows of Budweiser and Buick Motor Division. I'll be back
shortly with that one. What is the past? What is
the present? Sometimes our minds can no longer tell the difference.
(01:34):
Sometimes the strains and stresses of our lives stop us
from sorting out the differences between them. And now you're
about to meet a man who has this problem and others.
But in order to meet him, we have to take
you away from what we hope are your comfortable surroundings,
and bring you to the mean streets of skid row,
(01:56):
to the shabbiest part of a large metropolitan city, because
that's where you'll find mister Joseph Innocent. I woke up.
There was nothing unusual about waking up. I've been doing
it all my life, But lately waking up has been
(02:17):
the beginning of a nightmare, not the end. The moment
I opened my eyes, I knew this morning was going
to be one of those one of those days when
I'd have to face that terrible emptiness again, with a
frightening jump between the reel and the unreal cause. When
the cold light of morning ooze through the dirty panes
(02:39):
of the window in front of me, when I finally
mate inside of the strange angles and unfamiliar shapes that
formed my surroundings, I realized that I was in a
room I'd never seen before, the hotel room. Probably there
were always hotel rooms, foul smelling boxes. But I was
(03:00):
Joseph Vincent, and I didn't belong in a flea bag
flophouse of a hotel. I didn't belong in this cell
of misery. I was Joseph vincent, and I was rich.
Hello here, your check out time is twelve o'clock. What
was that? This is a hotel, buddy, not a funny room.
(03:23):
You got twenty minutes to get out of here. I'll
have to charge you another nine bucks nine dollars? Is
that the rate?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
That's right?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
I told you that way? You checked ten? When when
was that? What time last night? Was that drunk? All right?
All right, just tell me one more thing. What's the
name of the hotel. It's the Hotel for Coys? All right, thanks,
and don't worry. I'm leaving. I managed to get myself
(03:54):
out of the bed. I was still dressed. Pants and
shirt were eroded by but my jacket was lying untouched
across a molded arm chair. I reached for the wallet
and checked my money.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
It was all there.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
And then I saw something else. There was a water
glance in a small bottle. I picked it up and
looked at the label. There was a scum and crossbones
on it. I flushed and cold. The small label blurred
in front of my eyes. It was poison, no doubt
(04:31):
of it. I put the bottle down. I struggled into
my jacket, went to the mirror to check out the
condition in my face. There it once once more, the
same comendious sign, the letters written in soap across the
face of the mirror, and the message was signed as
it always was, but this time the words read next
(04:54):
time you die, come in, mister Vincent. Thank you? Doctor
uh play sit down? Thank you. Why don't we begin
with the obvious? Tell me how you got my name? Well,
you may not be planted d but I found it
(05:16):
in a directory, a medical directory in the library. Well, lease,
she knows something about my credentials, so why not tell
me about yourself? Well, you know my name, Joseph Vincent.
I'm in Wall Street. Oh I was. I've been sort
of retired for a while. How old I, mister Vincent?
(05:37):
Fifty six? Was young for retirement? Was it voluntary reasons
of health? Yes, it was voluntary. I I made quite
a bit of money in the market. I didn't see
any real reason to keep to a nine to five schedule,
especially especially after my wife tied. When was that? It
(05:59):
was about a year ago? Was an amoutile accident? I
I was in the same crash, but I came out
with just a concussion. Eleanor was killed out runt who
was she driving? No, I was anyway. Uh. That was
when I decided to quit. The work didn't seem so
interesting to me anymore. And then there was this other thing.
(06:25):
What other thing, this thing that had started to happen
to me? Well, what was that exactly? Doctor Abrams? Someone
is trying to kill me. Are you really certain of that,
mister Vincent? Yes, there have been three attempts. The last
(06:46):
one took place two days ago. That's when I decided
it was time for me to see somebody, a psychiatrist
and not the police. Yes, And I asked why. Well,
the person who is trying to kill me is myself,
I've mister Vincent. Are you telling me that you have
(07:07):
suicidal impulses? No, no, doctor, I don't have anything of
the kind, not me. Look, I get these spells, doctor,
They started right after the accident. I keep waking up
in filthy hotel rooms. Is that what happens during these spells? Yes?
I suppose maybe you could call it amnesia blackouts. I've
(07:31):
had half a dozen since the accident, each one a
little longer than the one before. They come on suddenly,
without any warning, and then I I just find myself
in one of these cheap rooms downtown around tenth Avenue
or something I have. Sometimes I wake up at home
in my own bed. Do you live alone? No? I
have a housekeeper, Missus mc levey. She's been with me,
(07:51):
it well, for more than twenty years. She's been worried,
sick about these disappearances of mine. Tell me about the
last time. Well, I I woke up in a place
called the hotel my goalies. I must have been drinking.
I had a hangover. It still taste the wine I
had drunk, a cheap muscatelle. There wasn't any wine bottle
(08:16):
in the room, but there was something else, the bottle
of poison. Poison. Yes, And there was one more thing. Well,
was that a note written on the mirror in soap? Well?
What did it say? It said, next time you die?
(08:38):
And it was signed Joe vin Cilli, Joe Vincelli. Who's that?
It wasn't the first time. Vincelli had threatened me twice
before he left notes from me on the mirror. This
time he turned to poison me next time next time?
He is it? Mister Vincent? Who is j Joe Vincelli?
(09:01):
I told you it's me. Yes, Look, I know my
name is Joseph Vincent, but it wasn't always. I came
to America thirty four years ago, and my name was
Giuseppe Verdi Vincelli. My father was a great opera lover.
Everybody called me Joe when I arrived, and I had
a lot of different jobs. I I was a construction worker,
(09:22):
I was a barber, salesman for an ice cream company.
Then Uh, a friend of mine got me interested in
the stock market. I went to school at night for
about four years, and then I got a job down
on the street. I don't know. Maybe I was smart
and maybe I was lucky. But and why do you
think Joe Vincelli is after you? I don't know. Doctor,
(09:48):
That's why I'm here so you can explain it to me.
Why this other man that's in me in my own
body wants me dead? U, Doctor Edwin, he ask Penny.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
I just wanted to remind you that mister Vincent will
be here at four o'clock.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Oh, yes, yes, I I remember all too well.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
You don't sound very happy about it.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I'm not sure that this case belongs to my office.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
You've dealt with suicidal types before.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yes, yes, I've dealt with the minutes not difficult to find.
A suicide motive in Vincent's case, guilt over the death
of his wife because of the auto active an auto
that Vincent was driving. Subconsciously, he blames himself for her
death and is seeking punishments, the only punishment that fits
the clime. So he's resurrected the cruder, more violent personality
(10:46):
of Joel in Chilly to do the job for him,
and I'm afraid he might succeed. How awful this other
personality knows that Vincent is trying to defend himself, so
he's all the more cunning, all the more difficult to reach.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Maybe you need an exocist.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Doctor, Maybe I need a detective. What It may take
months to get the answers out of Vincent's unconscious and
by that time.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
But what could a detective do?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He could follow the man, find out where he goes
during these blackharts, what he does.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Do you think that would help?
Speaker 1 (11:25):
If I knew the answers to those questions, I might
be able to save his life.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Doctor Abrams, don't you remember what my husband, Pete does
for a living.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Your husband, he's a pop I don't understand what you
intend to do. Doctor Abrams. Well, I know it's unorthodox,
mister Vincent, but I think the problem is critical enough
to want some unusual tactics. That's why I wanted you
to meet mister o'connorck. Just call me Pete, mister Vincent.
(11:55):
Pete is my nurse's husband. At the moment, he's on
leave from the police force. I've got a minor disability.
A junkie stab me in a side last month. But
don't worry. I can get around. Just fill. What do
you intend to do? Arrest Jove and Kelly. You're not
too far wrong. What we need to do, mister Vincent,
is find out exactly where your friend Jove in Shelley
(12:16):
takes you when you have these spells of amnesia. I
could continue to probe your unconscious for that answer, and
I will, But at the same time, I'd like to
try a direct approach to the problem. Yeah, I see
that it doesn't make sense. I've often thought I needed
to be watched. If we can catch you in the
personality of Jove and Kelly, mister Vincent, maybe we can
(12:39):
make Joe listen to reason and leave you alone. But
the least we can do is stop them from killing.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
You just wanted to say good night, Doctor Abrams.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Good night, Panny, see you tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
You know, if you wanted me to work on those
files tonight, I.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Could do that.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
No no, oh no, Kenny, you've run along home and
the buyouts can wait for another time.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Tonight isn't a bad time at all, since I won't
have a husband to cook for it.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Oh, yeah, that's true. I forgot Pete's starting this surveillance tonight.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
He called it a stakeoun I'll get that, Doctor Abrams office.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Benny, it's Pete.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Hi, we were just talking about you.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Ah great, that's why my ears are burning. Say nothing
on the rest of my face.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
He sounds funny. Is anything wrong?
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Yeah, I'm wrong.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
This layoff of mine must have turned me stale.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Pete, what's happened?
Speaker 1 (13:33):
I lost up the job.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
What's the matter, doctor, I I think you better talk
to my husband.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Oh, Pete, what's the trouble?
Speaker 5 (13:40):
He out foxed me, Doctor Abrams. The first night I
let Benson get away. He took this razor and got
away from him.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Razor, what are you talking about?
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I spoke to his housekeeper, missus mccleey. She called him
packing up this straight razor and leaving the house. If
we find Vincent with his throat cut, it'll be my fault.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Well, the question is who got away? Was it Joseph Vincent,
the wealthy, cultured, retired stock broker, or was it tough
Jove Vincelly, a man capable of violence, perhaps capable of murder?
And would both personalities finally come into conflict and end
(14:24):
both their lives were in a great deal more when
I returned shortly with that two, Joseph Vincent has disappeared,
and in the offices of doctor William Abrams, a gloomy
(14:45):
trio has gathered to determine their next step, none of
them certain that Joseph Vincent hasn't already known the vengeance
of his alter ego, Jove Vincelly. I don't know how
I could have been so stupid. They I was here
about this. They won't let me back.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Stop blaming yourself, Pete.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
No, No, it's my fault. Really, I should have warned
you that something like this could happen. Yeah, but the
very first night of my stakeout, that's something I never figured.
It's something that Joseph Vincent's alder ego figured. However, Pete.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
How did it happen? Exactly?
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Well, I was sitting outside in my car and I
saw mister Benson leave in his house, so I started
the engine. Well that's when he waved to me and
came over. Well, I did he say? He just said
he was walking around the corner to the newspaper store.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Did he look the same, sound the thing?
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Exactly? I couldn't see anything wrong with the guy at all.
He fooled me, Penny. He wasn't Joseph Vincent at all.
It was this other guy, jove and chilly. Well what
did you do when he didn't return? I went looking
for him, of course, but he was nowhere in sight,
so I figured he hopped the bus or a taxi.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
His car was still out in front.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
That's right. Well, anyway, that's when I decided to go
into the house and talk to missus mcleebey his Housekeep right,
and she tells you about the racing. Yeah, she said
she passed Vincent's bedroom and saw him putting the straight
razor into a case and slipping it into his coat pocket. Why,
I think I'd like to ask missus mclavy that myself,
(16:15):
I feel.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Just terrible about this. Doctor, just off.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I just don't.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Understand it, Doctor Athrams.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I've known the man for twenty years and I've never
seen him access strange.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
When was the first time you knew about mister Vincent's problem?
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I never did know.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
The first couple of times he didn't say a word.
But then he couldn't hide the truth anymore. Once he
was gone for a hall week, just walked out of
the house with all the work and didn't come back
for a week. His clothes were a terrible mess. They
were in such bad shape. He told me to throw
them away.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And did you, yes, did you notice anything unusual about
the clothes? I mean, any strange marking, spat something in
the pockets?
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Well, there was one thing.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
What was it?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
We all I'm a little bit ashamed to say.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Oh, please missus mcleovie, it might be important.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Well it was a calendar, one of those those oh
you know, with one of those women on it without
a stitch.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Oh, yes, I see, And do you uh still haven't?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
No, threw it away along with his dirty clothes.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
But do you have the clothes he wore the last
time he disappeared?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Ooh yeah, I got them all ready for you. Just
back from the dry cleaners.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
The dry cleaners a curse.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I sent them out as as soon as he came back.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Ah, missus mcgleey, we wanted those clothes just the way
they were.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Well, I can't imagine why you want dirty clothes.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Doctor. Oh, never mind, I'll take them just the way
they are. I'll get them for you or missus mcleebe. Yeah,
one more thing. Did mister Vincent always use a straight razor? Why?
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Know?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
He never did what?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
He used an electric razer all the time?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Hey, Joe, for the love of Peter and Joe Kelly,
tell her much. How are you where you've been for
the last couple of weeks? I give up on you already. Well,
I've been around around. Tell them in truth, you were
hitting the bottle again. Uh? Oh, I don't know, Mike,
maybe a little sure, funny guy, Joe, five times you
(18:31):
come to work for me, I'm five times you walk
out without a goodbye. If I didn't like you so much,
child full you out on your ear. Eh. You're a
good barber, Joe. You give people their money's work. Thanks, Mike.
I appreciate that. Man, Mike, you real artist. Do with
(18:51):
the shes and the laser. Joe, listen to me. Why
don't you try and cut it out? I just yeah,
I guess I shouldn't stop stuff. Don't do no good.
You ought to be working steady, saving man. No, no
for your old shoe. Sure, I know, Mike. What's the
(19:12):
matter sho? You don't look so good? Oh well, it's
my head. My head hurts, you see, that's what does
he know? Get No, No, No, I haven't. I haven't
had a drink. It's just just that my head hurts sometimes. Mike.
(19:33):
You will take me back once you can. I work
for you again. But for how long, Joe? Two days?
It's a week if you have a liver shoe. I
need to work, Mike. I don't know what I do
with myself if I didn't work. Okay, Joe, I could
(19:53):
never say no to a good Barbara. You got the job,
thanks Mike, and listen, you'll bring your old ways gore?
Are you? Are you hawk? Its man? No? No, I
didn't hack it much. I got it right here.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I wish you wouldn't look like that, doctor Adman.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
I'm sorry, Penny. I can't help blaming myself for what's happened.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
That's fine.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
I've got a husband who blames himself in a boss
who blames himself.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Maybe it was wrong to handle it this way. Maybe
we should call a police.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
He is the police, and he really doesn't think you
have grounds to involve him.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Doctor. That man is carrying a murderer around with him.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
I suppose so, but I can't help wondering it all.
Seems pretty obvious to me about where mister Vincent goes
when he has these blackouts.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Alright, where you know.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
The old expressions cherche.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
La farm, Yes, I know, fine, the woman.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Don't you think that's the most likely explanation.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Because of that girly calendar Missus mcleey's, well, it does.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Seem to indicate an interest in the opposite sex.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
The no man's been.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Widowed for over a year. Would it be surprising if
he went out hunting for feminine company?
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Oh that must be Pete let him in, Penny, Hi, honey.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
How are you okay?
Speaker 1 (21:12):
I guess I'm rad. I don't have much to report.
I have the laboratory report on Benson's clothing suit.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Missus mcleey had dry clean.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Yeah, that made it kind of tough, But there was
one substance that dry cleaners didn't get out. What was that?
Well there as they can tell, Dorek, it was powder
face powder face powder Are you sure, Pete, Well, not
much doubt about it. It was a kind of cheap brand,
but that's what it was.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Well, why do you know? I was right? Sharshay lave Foper, No.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Bobby, here's a shave like you. Jow, you really got
the touch. Thanks much. It's worth it to be heavy.
You work here just so you come in a shave
a Joe your sma, God, say you're backed? Oh hi,
film ah are you Joe? Where you been lately? I missed, Joe, buddy,
(22:09):
Oh I've been away last time I saw you. You are
hitting that veno pretty hard. Ha ha ha Oh your
bad boy, Joe. You know gin and vino don't mix.
That's right. Hey, we we played Gin Rummy together, didn't we? Hey?
How you like that? Don't even remember? Took fifty bucks
off me and he can't remember a thing. How are
(22:30):
you good for you, Joe? Teaching these young punks that as?
How about were your great shaves? Joe? No, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I uh, I'm not working anymore today? You
mean Acquitting's song got Joe, Joe as I got the headache.
Oh oh, that's too bad. Joe. Hey, listen, if you
feel like relation, how about come over my place. My
(22:51):
girl Anita is there. She'll fix this a little backed.
That's something, And maybe you could play a friendly game
of gin. Well I don't know, Hey, Joe, No, maybe
you better go home and lie down for a while.
Home when yeah, you got some place to stay, don't
you ad Come on, Joe, give me a break, Let
me try and win back. Sew it up bread, all right,
all right, all right, I'll give you a chance. Just
(23:13):
let me get my coat. Yeah great, I wait for
you outside this Joe. You'd any think he's a good idea?
For sure? I should? Why not? You don't know that guy?
What are you doing playing cards with a guy you
don't even know? You gotta do something, Mike. I can't
just eat and sleep. A guy's gotta do something. I
(23:37):
just hope that you know a lot that you're doing. Gone, Joe,
Happy sun Boys cards really lousy? They look better after
a little more being on.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Joe, let and need like inviting me a fresh.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Battlem mm no, no, no more from me.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Don't you like the stuff?
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Joe. Maybe I shouldn't drink you anymore. My head feels
tom to and maybe it's the red stuff. Anna. How
about breaking out that shabbley as a sack joke? Yeah, okay, okay, Hey, yeah,
he gave me the eight of hard wooh, that's nice
to get, Joe. I take that there little later hearts
(24:26):
and give you the two diamonds.
Speaker 6 (24:28):
Hey you go, boys, nice back a lot.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Of diamonds to diamonds down to me and I would
drink up joke. Yeah, thanks, thanks a lot. How about
picking another card joke? Mm uh then I then I
just pick one. You'll get a little stupid now, Joe.
Speaker 6 (24:53):
Thank you for being now, Joe. That'll make everything look better.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Yeah, go ahead, Joe, have a drink. Yeah, h yeah,
it's good, very good. So this is very nice. So careful,
all right, Joe.
Speaker 6 (25:13):
Yeah, he's out, like I like, dead to the world.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Come on, give me your hand with him.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
What are you gonna do, Phil, No, I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Do baby, And I'm gonna make sure that mister Vincelly
is really dead to the work. It would appear that
Mike the Barber gave good advice to his friend Jovin Shelly.
Too much Vino obviously doesn't do him any good. In fact,
(25:45):
too much Vino seems to be threatening his life at
the moment. Obviously, more than one person seems to want
mister Vincent dead. Or is Phil's intended victim Jovencelly. We'll
find out when I returned shortly with Act three, Joseph
(26:15):
Vincent has disappeared, and a man who used to call
himself Jovin Shelley has taken over his body, returning to
the trade. He knew he was a young man, but
Jovin Shelley has encountered another young man who doesn't seem
to like Barber's and is about to do something about it.
At the same time, in the office of a psychiatrist
(26:36):
named doctor Abrams, a worried Trio ponders the problem. I
can tell you one thing. Vincent didn't take a taxi
when he walked around that corner. I checked it out
the hack bureau, no cavium ofcinity. He picked up a
guy that fits his description that night. Therefore, he either
walked to where he was going or he took a button.
(26:56):
Let's face it, where did that add?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Is that word?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
You really think the guy's a menace to his own life. Doctor, Well,
he hasn't been my patient long enough for me to
answer that, but based on his past history, I'd say
the chances are pretty good.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
And I'll get it Doctor Evans's office. Who, Yes, he's here, Pete,
that's calls for you. Oh a man named Halsey.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Oh yeah, yeah, it's Sam Halsey from a lab Hello Sam? Yeah,
uh huh uh uh uh? How many did you say?
Oh that's peculiar? Huh yeah? Yeah, sure, Well thanks a lot, Sam,
I really appreciate this.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
So on, what was that all about?
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Oh, the laboratory isn't still working on those clothes at Vincent?
Do it? No? Not the suit that was dry clean.
But I found another suit in Vincent's closet. I kind
of well borrowed it to see if we would turn
up the same kind of face powder, did you know?
But Sam says they found something else. They found hairs
on the suit, small particles.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Of hair blonder brunette.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Well that's the crazy part. They found both and some
redhead too.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Wow did you say he wasn't a romania?
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Wait a minute, if there were small particles, huh course,
I just remembered what Vincent told me about his early
life in this country. What did he saying? He had
several jobs here before he got into the stock market,
and one of them was barber barbey. That would explain it,
all right. The small bits of hair and that calendar
(28:32):
he brought home that time. Where's a better place to
pick up a girly calendar than a barber shop. And
that face powder on his clothes, Well, that's it. He
goes to a barber shop, I'd say he probably works there,
and that would explain why he packed that straight razor
of his. It's probably the same razor he used when
he started shaving guys in America.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
But why in the world does he want to work
in a barber shop.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
He's a rich man, ah, but he's not a rich man.
When Joven Shelley takes over his body, he's the poor
immigrant all over again during the same work he then,
So all we've gotta do is find out which barbershop
he works in. He's sure to be working under his
old name, Ben Chilly, But there.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Must be a thousand barbershops in this city. We can't
call all the barbers.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Well, if we're lucky, we won't have to call them all.
We'll find the one where mister Binceilli is working. Come on, Joe, Ah,
you can make it, old buddy, just a few steps more. Hey, Hey, hey,
you're bringing that wino back here? What's the matter? Dollar's
(29:34):
hot want customers not like that one. There won't be
any trouble. He just sleep it off and we'll just
make sure he's got enough money to pay the room run.
You don't have to worry about my bow. Yeah, maybe
you better pay for it and a dance. Okay, slop friend,
anything you say, as long as I can make sure
my boy Joe is all right. Hello Apex barber Ben
(29:58):
Chilly you have a barber I and c l I
all right, thank you, thank you? Okay, okay, thank you,
thank you. Hello, Fuddy's barbershop. Have you got a barber
name Lincoln Jolly working there? Tell me if I'm a
barber named Jove Andy there? What's that he got? Dot? Penny?
(30:19):
I got him?
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Never mind?
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Yeah, yeah, I understand, But but can you tell me
where he went? Isn't he there? No, he took off
this afternoon with a friend, because you know where the
friend lives, he said. He doesn't know it. Hello, Uh listen,
are you the owner? Yeah, it's very important that we
find mister Bencelly. But you must have some idea, kay Pete.
Now tell him. We'll come down there and talk to
him in person.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
You know.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Look, if Joey's in some kind of trouble, no, no,
it's not the kind of trouble you might think. Mister D'Angelo,
you said you were a cop, right, yes, I'm a
police officer. But this gentleman here is a doctor, Joe
Vincent's doctor. Who's your visit? The guy I know? His
named Vinerlie. Well, they're one and the same. We think
(31:08):
that your friend may be in danger, mister D'Angelo. He
has definite suicidal tendencies. Joe does. That's right, and unless
we can locate him, he may never work for you
or anyone else. Again. Well, like I told you that
there's a fellow comes in here. Joe played guards with
him a couple of times. All I know is his
(31:29):
first name, Phiil. Well, what does he do for a living?
I don't know. I think he's a book. I told
Joe not to get mixed up with and you you
don't know where he lives or I don't know. Oh,
wait a minute, huh. He has got the girlfriend in
the neighborhood and I need the French. Maybe she can
(31:52):
tell you where he is. That's it, Joe, that's all
it's going take. Just turn on the heater and let
some nice gas into the room. Sure, Joe, you just
lie back and take it easy. No, just one more
(32:12):
thing I got I get the soap here it is, Nah,
let's see. Yeah, what do we want to like today? Joe? Hey?
Oh no, just one word today, Joe, okay, just one word.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
Yeah, what do you want?
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Miss French? That's right, police, Miss French?
Speaker 6 (32:41):
But wait, what did I do or nothing?
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Miss? We just want to ask you a few questions.
Well maybe we come in.
Speaker 6 (32:47):
H yeah, I guess.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Well, it looks like there's been a card game. Ye huh.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Is that why you're here?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
On a gambling back.
Speaker 6 (32:55):
We'll forget it. It was just a friendly game.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
No, no, no, that's not why we're here. We came
to ask you about a friend of yours named Phil
and his friend Joseph. I mean Joe Vincelli. Was mister
Vincelli here today? Miss?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Uh? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
He was? So what where's mister Bencelli? Now, how should
I know? The game broke got when they left Miss French.
This may be hard to explain. But this man, you know,
is jove Incelly, isn't jove Incelly. He has another personality,
another identity.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Well, it's not important that you understand. What is important
is that Jove Incelly is in danger of taking his
own life. We've got to find this guy before he
hurts himself. Now can you understand that much? Hey, Pete,
wait a minute, look at this? Well what is it? Doc?
A match book? The Hotel Margolies. Heye, that's right across
the street. That's where Vincent went the last time. Maybe
(33:51):
he's gone back again, Vincent, Joe, are you in there?
He might be a sleep or worse? Am I you
open the door? All right? Already? All right? Oh good lord,
it's good. Turned the heater off, the window open, Hey, Doc,
(34:17):
look at that mirror. Yeah, he's written all over with
so hey is he dead? No? No, he's still alive.
All right. I came up the hall quick, give me ahead,
come on? Yeah you sure he's great? Yeah? Yeah, yeah,
he got mister bell. Sure. I don't know what's going on. Oh,
(34:40):
doctor Abrams. So you yeah, yes, it's doctor Abrams. Do
you know who you are? I'm Joseph Vincent. Ah, no,
that's something anyway. Hey, doc, do you see what it
says on the mirror? Yes? Just one word?
Speaker 3 (35:01):
Uh that?
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Yeah? And it signed Joe Vincelly. What what happened to that?
Did I do it again? Did I try to kill
myself again? It looks that way, mister Vincent, only this
time you almost succeeded. Hey, hey, wait a minute, what
is it, pete? Mister Vincent, let me see your hands?
(35:25):
My hands, Look at 'em? They're guilty or so? What?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well?
Speaker 1 (35:29):
It means he hasn't washed them? No, I guess I didn't.
There's no soap smell out of me, not a trace.
Why are you getting that? Pee? The note on a
mirror was written with a cake of soap, but there's
no trace of soap on mister Vincent's hands. He didn't
light on that mirror, Doc, Mo, we were wrong about
(35:50):
Joe Bncelly. No, Pete, I'm sure there's a vin Shelley personality.
But maybe Vincelly isn't a killer. Maybe the killer's got
an identity all his own. I Mike, Oh, heller and
there said you called her something about my buddy Joe. Yeah,
(36:13):
that's right. I'm afraid Joe won't be around the shave.
You of the horse fear nor can disappeared again. Hey, hey,
but look, I don't want to lose a good customer.
You you sit down, I show you. I can give
you us good to share, can't Mike? I wanted to
take a chance a poor Joe. He really liked his
(36:35):
being on too much. Yeah, I'm afraid of so here,
look at me. Put this towel. Hey, is he gonna
be okay? You know, I'm afraid. It's a kind of
serious fear. Hey, this ladder are too hot for you? No? No, no, no,
it's fine. My go on, Mike, tell me a worse
(36:57):
I'll tell you the worst. Phil, Joe, what are you
doing here?
Speaker 3 (37:02):
An me?
Speaker 1 (37:02):
That raisor Mike, I'll take over. Yeah, show Joe and
I'll be in the back if you need me a
way about the matter. Phil, Huh, you always said I
gave the best shave in town. Hell, listen, Joe, you
it may be better not many. You can don't move.
Razor is a very delicate instrument, you know, that, Joe,
(37:25):
Take it easy. I had one wrong move here. You
could kill a man in two seconds. Feel how sharp
that blade is against your throat? Oh? I keep my
razor sharp. Fit that thing away for me. It wouldn't
move if I were you. What is this? You know
what it is? Phil, I'm not Jovin Shelley anymore. I'm
Joseph Vincent now. And Joseph Vincent doesn't remember how to
(37:48):
handle a razor anymore. You're crazy, not as crazy as
you thought I was. I thought it was Jovin Cilly
who wanted me dead, But it was you. You feel
all along? Why what for? I swear I never meant
to hurt you know, just to kill me? Mmmm? No,
If you don't tell me, why stopped? Look, I've bring
only a small cut fill in another few seconds. Help yourself, Phil,
(38:12):
tell me who you are. I'm uh, I'm Phil mcleevy McLevy.
I'm your housekeeper's son, Missus Mclevy's son. I don't believe you.
She wouldn't do anything like this. She doesn't know anything
about it was or my idea? What idea? Stop it? Hey? Hey,
stop it? Will you look at the blood? I talk
(38:32):
or I'll kill you. Oh okay. When she told me
about those spells you had, I I figured it out.
She showed me a calendar you brought home once you
had the address of Mike's barbershop. Sir, so I came here.
Why did you follow me? I thought, if you're trying
to kill yourself, nobody would ever think it was murder.
Why what was in it for you?
Speaker 5 (38:55):
Well?
Speaker 1 (38:55):
I know you're gonna leave my mother a lot of money.
You didn't have anybody else. And when she got it,
I get mine too. You would kill her next. Oh no,
I swear it. You know something? So some people should
get bathroats cutting. Mister Vincent, all it right there?
Speaker 3 (39:17):
Help me, help me?
Speaker 1 (39:18):
He just got the Kelvy lobing cell. You're okay. You
just had a very close shave. They say that barber
shop shaves are becoming a lost art, and if that's
the kind of shade they're handing out these days, I
(39:39):
can well understand. Of course, we hope the barbers in
our audience aren't offended. Personally, we think there's only one
thing more relaxing than an afternoon in a barber's chair,
and that's the time spent listening to the radio Mystery Theater.
(40:00):
She'll remember the story about the man in the barber
shop who was getting a fine straight razor shave while
a very pretty blonde lady manicured his nails. He said
to her, you're the prettiest girl I've seen in years.
How about a date tonight? She replied, why don't you
ask my husband? He's shaving you know that. Well, that's
(40:22):
not the purpose of the radio Mystery Theater anyway. We're
here to hand out chills and thrills, and we hope
you'll be back for more. Our cast included Mandel Kramer,
Robert Dryden, Katherine Byers, Suzanne Grossman, Ian Martin, and Sam Gray.
The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
Radio Mystery Theater was sponsored in part by Buick Motor
(40:44):
Division and Annheuser Busch Incorporated, brewers of Budweiser. This is E. G.
Marshall inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater for
another adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant dream.
(41:23):
Tonight's w R Mystery Theater was also brought to you
and parked by Shopwright Supermarkets where you get a lot
more for a little less. The preceding program is furnished
by the Columbia Broadcasting System.
Betune for Asterly Theater. Come in welcome. I'm e. G. Marshall.
(00:25):
We have another story designed to hit you right between
the ears. Murder, of course, is a common everyday subject
of the mystery story, but we promise you that this
one murder has an entirely new kind of definition. You've
heard the expression being of two minds well, Joe Vincent,
our hero, or should I say our victim, is very
(00:48):
definitely a man who could be described that way. The
only trouble is one of those minds seems to be
bent on homicide. Our mystery, my Own Murderer, was written
especially for the Mystery Theater by Henry Slesser and stars
Mandel Kramer. It is sponsored in part by Anheuser Busch Incorporated,
(01:12):
brows of Budweiser and Buick Motor Division. I'll be back
shortly with that one. What is the past? What is
the present? Sometimes our minds can no longer tell the difference.
(01:34):
Sometimes the strains and stresses of our lives stop us
from sorting out the differences between them. And now you're
about to meet a man who has this problem and others.
But in order to meet him, we have to take
you away from what we hope are your comfortable surroundings,
and bring you to the mean streets of skid row,
(01:56):
to the shabbiest part of a large metropolitan city, because
that's where you'll find mister Joseph Innocent. I woke up.
There was nothing unusual about waking up. I've been doing
it all my life, But lately waking up has been
(02:17):
the beginning of a nightmare, not the end. The moment
I opened my eyes, I knew this morning was going
to be one of those one of those days when
I'd have to face that terrible emptiness again, with a
frightening jump between the reel and the unreal cause. When
the cold light of morning ooze through the dirty panes
(02:39):
of the window in front of me, when I finally
mate inside of the strange angles and unfamiliar shapes that
formed my surroundings, I realized that I was in a
room I'd never seen before, the hotel room. Probably there
were always hotel rooms, foul smelling boxes. But I was
(03:00):
Joseph Vincent, and I didn't belong in a flea bag
flophouse of a hotel. I didn't belong in this cell
of misery. I was Joseph vincent, and I was rich.
Hello here, your check out time is twelve o'clock. What
was that? This is a hotel, buddy, not a funny room.
(03:23):
You got twenty minutes to get out of here. I'll
have to charge you another nine bucks nine dollars? Is
that the rate?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
That's right?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
I told you that way? You checked ten? When when
was that? What time last night? Was that drunk? All right?
All right, just tell me one more thing. What's the
name of the hotel. It's the Hotel for Coys? All right, thanks,
and don't worry. I'm leaving. I managed to get myself
(03:54):
out of the bed. I was still dressed. Pants and
shirt were eroded by but my jacket was lying untouched
across a molded arm chair. I reached for the wallet
and checked my money.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
It was all there.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
And then I saw something else. There was a water
glance in a small bottle. I picked it up and
looked at the label. There was a scum and crossbones
on it. I flushed and cold. The small label blurred
in front of my eyes. It was poison, no doubt
(04:31):
of it. I put the bottle down. I struggled into
my jacket, went to the mirror to check out the
condition in my face. There it once once more, the
same comendious sign, the letters written in soap across the
face of the mirror, and the message was signed as
it always was, but this time the words read next
(04:54):
time you die, come in, mister Vincent. Thank you? Doctor
uh play sit down? Thank you. Why don't we begin
with the obvious? Tell me how you got my name? Well,
you may not be planted d but I found it
(05:16):
in a directory, a medical directory in the library. Well, lease,
she knows something about my credentials, so why not tell
me about yourself? Well, you know my name, Joseph Vincent.
I'm in Wall Street. Oh I was. I've been sort
of retired for a while. How old I, mister Vincent?
(05:37):
Fifty six? Was young for retirement? Was it voluntary reasons
of health? Yes, it was voluntary. I I made quite
a bit of money in the market. I didn't see
any real reason to keep to a nine to five schedule,
especially especially after my wife tied. When was that? It
(05:59):
was about a year ago? Was an amoutile accident? I
I was in the same crash, but I came out
with just a concussion. Eleanor was killed out runt who
was she driving? No, I was anyway. Uh. That was
when I decided to quit. The work didn't seem so
interesting to me anymore. And then there was this other thing.
(06:25):
What other thing, this thing that had started to happen
to me? Well, what was that exactly? Doctor Abrams? Someone
is trying to kill me. Are you really certain of that,
mister Vincent? Yes, there have been three attempts. The last
(06:46):
one took place two days ago. That's when I decided
it was time for me to see somebody, a psychiatrist
and not the police. Yes, And I asked why. Well,
the person who is trying to kill me is myself,
I've mister Vincent. Are you telling me that you have
(07:07):
suicidal impulses? No, no, doctor, I don't have anything of
the kind, not me. Look, I get these spells, doctor,
They started right after the accident. I keep waking up
in filthy hotel rooms. Is that what happens during these spells? Yes?
I suppose maybe you could call it amnesia blackouts. I've
(07:31):
had half a dozen since the accident, each one a
little longer than the one before. They come on suddenly,
without any warning, and then I I just find myself
in one of these cheap rooms downtown around tenth Avenue
or something I have. Sometimes I wake up at home
in my own bed. Do you live alone? No? I
have a housekeeper, Missus mc levey. She's been with me,
(07:51):
it well, for more than twenty years. She's been worried,
sick about these disappearances of mine. Tell me about the
last time. Well, I I woke up in a place
called the hotel my goalies. I must have been drinking.
I had a hangover. It still taste the wine I
had drunk, a cheap muscatelle. There wasn't any wine bottle
(08:16):
in the room, but there was something else, the bottle
of poison. Poison. Yes, And there was one more thing. Well,
was that a note written on the mirror in soap? Well?
What did it say? It said, next time you die?
(08:38):
And it was signed Joe vin Cilli, Joe Vincelli. Who's that?
It wasn't the first time. Vincelli had threatened me twice
before he left notes from me on the mirror. This
time he turned to poison me next time next time?
He is it? Mister Vincent? Who is j Joe Vincelli?
(09:01):
I told you it's me. Yes, Look, I know my
name is Joseph Vincent, but it wasn't always. I came
to America thirty four years ago, and my name was
Giuseppe Verdi Vincelli. My father was a great opera lover.
Everybody called me Joe when I arrived, and I had
a lot of different jobs. I I was a construction worker,
(09:22):
I was a barber, salesman for an ice cream company.
Then Uh, a friend of mine got me interested in
the stock market. I went to school at night for
about four years, and then I got a job down
on the street. I don't know. Maybe I was smart
and maybe I was lucky. But and why do you
think Joe Vincelli is after you? I don't know. Doctor,
(09:48):
That's why I'm here so you can explain it to me.
Why this other man that's in me in my own
body wants me dead? U, Doctor Edwin, he ask Penny.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
I just wanted to remind you that mister Vincent will
be here at four o'clock.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Oh, yes, yes, I I remember all too well.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
You don't sound very happy about it.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I'm not sure that this case belongs to my office.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
You've dealt with suicidal types before.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yes, yes, I've dealt with the minutes not difficult to find.
A suicide motive in Vincent's case, guilt over the death
of his wife because of the auto active an auto
that Vincent was driving. Subconsciously, he blames himself for her
death and is seeking punishments, the only punishment that fits
the clime. So he's resurrected the cruder, more violent personality
(10:46):
of Joel in Chilly to do the job for him,
and I'm afraid he might succeed. How awful this other
personality knows that Vincent is trying to defend himself, so
he's all the more cunning, all the more difficult to reach.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Maybe you need an exocist.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Doctor, Maybe I need a detective. What It may take
months to get the answers out of Vincent's unconscious and
by that time.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
But what could a detective do?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He could follow the man, find out where he goes
during these blackharts, what he does.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Do you think that would help?
Speaker 1 (11:25):
If I knew the answers to those questions, I might
be able to save his life.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Doctor Abrams, don't you remember what my husband, Pete does
for a living.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Your husband, he's a pop I don't understand what you
intend to do. Doctor Abrams. Well, I know it's unorthodox,
mister Vincent, but I think the problem is critical enough
to want some unusual tactics. That's why I wanted you
to meet mister o'connorck. Just call me Pete, mister Vincent.
(11:55):
Pete is my nurse's husband. At the moment, he's on
leave from the police force. I've got a minor disability.
A junkie stab me in a side last month. But
don't worry. I can get around. Just fill. What do
you intend to do? Arrest Jove and Kelly. You're not
too far wrong. What we need to do, mister Vincent,
is find out exactly where your friend Jove in Shelley
(12:16):
takes you when you have these spells of amnesia. I
could continue to probe your unconscious for that answer, and
I will, But at the same time, I'd like to
try a direct approach to the problem. Yeah, I see
that it doesn't make sense. I've often thought I needed
to be watched. If we can catch you in the
personality of Jove and Kelly, mister Vincent, maybe we can
(12:39):
make Joe listen to reason and leave you alone. But
the least we can do is stop them from killing.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
You just wanted to say good night, Doctor Abrams.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Good night, Panny, see you tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
You know, if you wanted me to work on those
files tonight, I.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Could do that.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
No no, oh no, Kenny, you've run along home and
the buyouts can wait for another time.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Tonight isn't a bad time at all, since I won't
have a husband to cook for it.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Oh, yeah, that's true. I forgot Pete's starting this surveillance tonight.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
He called it a stakeoun I'll get that, Doctor Abrams office.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Benny, it's Pete.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Hi, we were just talking about you.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
Ah great, that's why my ears are burning. Say nothing
on the rest of my face.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
He sounds funny. Is anything wrong?
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Yeah, I'm wrong.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
This layoff of mine must have turned me stale.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Pete, what's happened?
Speaker 1 (13:33):
I lost up the job.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
What's the matter, doctor, I I think you better talk
to my husband.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Oh, Pete, what's the trouble?
Speaker 5 (13:40):
He out foxed me, Doctor Abrams. The first night I
let Benson get away. He took this razor and got
away from him.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Razor, what are you talking about?
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I spoke to his housekeeper, missus mccleey. She called him
packing up this straight razor and leaving the house. If
we find Vincent with his throat cut, it'll be my fault.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Well, the question is who got away? Was it Joseph Vincent,
the wealthy, cultured, retired stock broker, or was it tough
Jove Vincelly, a man capable of violence, perhaps capable of murder?
And would both personalities finally come into conflict and end
(14:24):
both their lives were in a great deal more when
I returned shortly with that two, Joseph Vincent has disappeared,
and in the offices of doctor William Abrams, a gloomy
(14:45):
trio has gathered to determine their next step, none of
them certain that Joseph Vincent hasn't already known the vengeance
of his alter ego, Jove Vincelly. I don't know how
I could have been so stupid. They I was here
about this. They won't let me back.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Stop blaming yourself, Pete.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
No, No, it's my fault. Really, I should have warned
you that something like this could happen. Yeah, but the
very first night of my stakeout, that's something I never figured.
It's something that Joseph Vincent's alder ego figured. However, Pete.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
How did it happen? Exactly?
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Well, I was sitting outside in my car and I
saw mister Benson leave in his house, so I started
the engine. Well that's when he waved to me and
came over. Well, I did he say? He just said
he was walking around the corner to the newspaper store.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Did he look the same, sound the thing?
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Exactly? I couldn't see anything wrong with the guy at all.
He fooled me, Penny. He wasn't Joseph Vincent at all.
It was this other guy, jove and chilly. Well what
did you do when he didn't return? I went looking
for him, of course, but he was nowhere in sight,
so I figured he hopped the bus or a taxi.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
His car was still out in front.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
That's right. Well, anyway, that's when I decided to go
into the house and talk to missus mcleebey his Housekeep right,
and she tells you about the racing. Yeah, she said
she passed Vincent's bedroom and saw him putting the straight
razor into a case and slipping it into his coat pocket. Why,
I think I'd like to ask missus mclavy that myself,
(16:15):
I feel.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Just terrible about this. Doctor, just off.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I just don't.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Understand it, Doctor Athrams.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I've known the man for twenty years and I've never
seen him access strange.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
When was the first time you knew about mister Vincent's problem?
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I never did know.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
The first couple of times he didn't say a word.
But then he couldn't hide the truth anymore. Once he
was gone for a hall week, just walked out of
the house with all the work and didn't come back
for a week. His clothes were a terrible mess. They
were in such bad shape. He told me to throw
them away.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And did you, yes, did you notice anything unusual about
the clothes? I mean, any strange marking, spat something in
the pockets?
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Well, there was one thing.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
What was it?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
We all I'm a little bit ashamed to say.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Oh, please missus mcleovie, it might be important.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Well it was a calendar, one of those those oh
you know, with one of those women on it without
a stitch.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Oh, yes, I see, And do you uh still haven't?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
No, threw it away along with his dirty clothes.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
But do you have the clothes he wore the last
time he disappeared?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Ooh yeah, I got them all ready for you. Just
back from the dry cleaners.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
The dry cleaners a curse.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I sent them out as as soon as he came back.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Ah, missus mcgleey, we wanted those clothes just the way
they were.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Well, I can't imagine why you want dirty clothes.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Doctor. Oh, never mind, I'll take them just the way
they are. I'll get them for you or missus mcleebe. Yeah,
one more thing. Did mister Vincent always use a straight razor? Why?
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Know?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
He never did what?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
He used an electric razer all the time?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Hey, Joe, for the love of Peter and Joe Kelly,
tell her much. How are you where you've been for
the last couple of weeks? I give up on you already. Well,
I've been around around. Tell them in truth, you were
hitting the bottle again. Uh? Oh, I don't know, Mike,
maybe a little sure, funny guy, Joe, five times you
(18:31):
come to work for me, I'm five times you walk
out without a goodbye. If I didn't like you so much,
child full you out on your ear. Eh. You're a
good barber, Joe. You give people their money's work. Thanks, Mike.
I appreciate that. Man, Mike, you real artist. Do with
(18:51):
the shes and the laser. Joe, listen to me. Why
don't you try and cut it out? I just yeah,
I guess I shouldn't stop stuff. Don't do no good.
You ought to be working steady, saving man. No, no
for your old shoe. Sure, I know, Mike. What's the
(19:12):
matter sho? You don't look so good? Oh well, it's
my head. My head hurts, you see, that's what does
he know? Get No, No, No, I haven't. I haven't
had a drink. It's just just that my head hurts sometimes. Mike.
(19:33):
You will take me back once you can. I work
for you again. But for how long, Joe? Two days?
It's a week if you have a liver shoe. I
need to work, Mike. I don't know what I do
with myself if I didn't work. Okay, Joe, I could
(19:53):
never say no to a good Barbara. You got the job,
thanks Mike, and listen, you'll bring your old ways gore?
Are you? Are you hawk? Its man? No? No, I
didn't hack it much. I got it right here.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I wish you wouldn't look like that, doctor Adman.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
I'm sorry, Penny. I can't help blaming myself for what's happened.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
That's fine.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
I've got a husband who blames himself in a boss
who blames himself.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Maybe it was wrong to handle it this way. Maybe
we should call a police.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
He is the police, and he really doesn't think you
have grounds to involve him.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Doctor. That man is carrying a murderer around with him.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
I suppose so, but I can't help wondering it all.
Seems pretty obvious to me about where mister Vincent goes
when he has these blackouts.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Alright, where you know.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
The old expressions cherche.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
La farm, Yes, I know, fine, the woman.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Don't you think that's the most likely explanation.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Because of that girly calendar Missus mcleey's, well, it does.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Seem to indicate an interest in the opposite sex.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
The no man's been.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Widowed for over a year. Would it be surprising if
he went out hunting for feminine company?
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Oh that must be Pete let him in, Penny, Hi, honey.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
How are you okay?
Speaker 1 (21:12):
I guess I'm rad. I don't have much to report.
I have the laboratory report on Benson's clothing suit.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Missus mcleey had dry clean.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Yeah, that made it kind of tough, But there was
one substance that dry cleaners didn't get out. What was that?
Well there as they can tell, Dorek, it was powder
face powder face powder Are you sure, Pete, Well, not
much doubt about it. It was a kind of cheap brand,
but that's what it was.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Well, why do you know? I was right? Sharshay lave Foper, No.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Bobby, here's a shave like you. Jow, you really got
the touch. Thanks much. It's worth it to be heavy.
You work here just so you come in a shave
a Joe your sma, God, say you're backed? Oh hi,
film ah are you Joe? Where you been lately? I missed, Joe, buddy,
(22:09):
Oh I've been away last time I saw you. You are
hitting that veno pretty hard. Ha ha ha Oh your
bad boy, Joe. You know gin and vino don't mix.
That's right. Hey, we we played Gin Rummy together, didn't we? Hey?
How you like that? Don't even remember? Took fifty bucks
off me and he can't remember a thing. How are
(22:30):
you good for you, Joe? Teaching these young punks that as?
How about were your great shaves? Joe? No, I'm sorry,
I'm sorry, I uh, I'm not working anymore today? You
mean Acquitting's song got Joe, Joe as I got the headache.
Oh oh, that's too bad. Joe. Hey, listen, if you
feel like relation, how about come over my place. My
(22:51):
girl Anita is there. She'll fix this a little backed.
That's something, And maybe you could play a friendly game
of gin. Well I don't know, Hey, Joe, No, maybe
you better go home and lie down for a while.
Home when yeah, you got some place to stay, don't
you ad Come on, Joe, give me a break, Let
me try and win back. Sew it up bread, all right,
all right, all right, I'll give you a chance. Just
(23:13):
let me get my coat. Yeah great, I wait for
you outside this Joe. You'd any think he's a good idea?
For sure? I should? Why not? You don't know that guy?
What are you doing playing cards with a guy you
don't even know? You gotta do something, Mike. I can't
just eat and sleep. A guy's gotta do something. I
(23:37):
just hope that you know a lot that you're doing. Gone, Joe,
Happy sun Boys cards really lousy? They look better after
a little more being on.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Joe, let and need like inviting me a fresh.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Battlem mm no, no, no more from me.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Don't you like the stuff?
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Joe. Maybe I shouldn't drink you anymore. My head feels
tom to and maybe it's the red stuff. Anna. How
about breaking out that shabbley as a sack joke? Yeah, okay, okay, Hey, yeah,
he gave me the eight of hard wooh, that's nice
to get, Joe. I take that there little later hearts
(24:26):
and give you the two diamonds.
Speaker 6 (24:28):
Hey you go, boys, nice back a lot.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Of diamonds to diamonds down to me and I would
drink up joke. Yeah, thanks, thanks a lot. How about
picking another card joke? Mm uh then I then I
just pick one. You'll get a little stupid now, Joe.
Speaker 6 (24:53):
Thank you for being now, Joe. That'll make everything look better.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Yeah, go ahead, Joe, have a drink. Yeah, h yeah,
it's good, very good. So this is very nice. So careful,
all right, Joe.
Speaker 6 (25:13):
Yeah, he's out, like I like, dead to the world.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Come on, give me your hand with him.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
What are you gonna do, Phil, No, I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Do baby, And I'm gonna make sure that mister Vincelly
is really dead to the work. It would appear that
Mike the Barber gave good advice to his friend Jovin Shelly.
Too much Vino obviously doesn't do him any good. In fact,
(25:45):
too much Vino seems to be threatening his life at
the moment. Obviously, more than one person seems to want
mister Vincent dead. Or is Phil's intended victim Jovencelly. We'll
find out when I returned shortly with Act three, Joseph
(26:15):
Vincent has disappeared, and a man who used to call
himself Jovin Shelley has taken over his body, returning to
the trade. He knew he was a young man, but
Jovin Shelley has encountered another young man who doesn't seem
to like Barber's and is about to do something about it.
At the same time, in the office of a psychiatrist
(26:36):
named doctor Abrams, a worried Trio ponders the problem. I
can tell you one thing. Vincent didn't take a taxi
when he walked around that corner. I checked it out
the hack bureau, no cavium ofcinity. He picked up a
guy that fits his description that night. Therefore, he either
walked to where he was going or he took a button.
(26:56):
Let's face it, where did that add?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Is that word?
Speaker 1 (27:01):
You really think the guy's a menace to his own life. Doctor, Well,
he hasn't been my patient long enough for me to
answer that, but based on his past history, I'd say
the chances are pretty good.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
And I'll get it Doctor Evans's office. Who, Yes, he's here, Pete,
that's calls for you. Oh a man named Halsey.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Oh yeah, yeah, it's Sam Halsey from a lab Hello Sam? Yeah,
uh huh uh uh uh? How many did you say?
Oh that's peculiar? Huh yeah? Yeah, sure, Well thanks a lot, Sam,
I really appreciate this.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
So on, what was that all about?
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Oh, the laboratory isn't still working on those clothes at Vincent?
Do it? No? Not the suit that was dry clean.
But I found another suit in Vincent's closet. I kind
of well borrowed it to see if we would turn
up the same kind of face powder, did you know?
But Sam says they found something else. They found hairs
on the suit, small particles.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Of hair blonder brunette.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Well that's the crazy part. They found both and some
redhead too.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Wow did you say he wasn't a romania?
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Wait a minute, if there were small particles, huh course,
I just remembered what Vincent told me about his early
life in this country. What did he saying? He had
several jobs here before he got into the stock market,
and one of them was barber barbey. That would explain it,
all right. The small bits of hair and that calendar
(28:32):
he brought home that time. Where's a better place to
pick up a girly calendar than a barber shop. And
that face powder on his clothes, Well, that's it. He
goes to a barber shop, I'd say he probably works there,
and that would explain why he packed that straight razor
of his. It's probably the same razor he used when
he started shaving guys in America.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
But why in the world does he want to work
in a barber shop.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
He's a rich man, ah, but he's not a rich man.
When Joven Shelley takes over his body, he's the poor
immigrant all over again during the same work he then,
So all we've gotta do is find out which barbershop
he works in. He's sure to be working under his
old name, Ben Chilly, But there.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Must be a thousand barbershops in this city. We can't
call all the barbers.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Well, if we're lucky, we won't have to call them all.
We'll find the one where mister Binceilli is working. Come on, Joe, Ah,
you can make it, old buddy, just a few steps more. Hey, Hey, hey,
you're bringing that wino back here? What's the matter? Dollar's
(29:34):
hot want customers not like that one. There won't be
any trouble. He just sleep it off and we'll just
make sure he's got enough money to pay the room run.
You don't have to worry about my bow. Yeah, maybe
you better pay for it and a dance. Okay, slop friend,
anything you say, as long as I can make sure
my boy Joe is all right. Hello Apex barber Ben
(29:58):
Chilly you have a barber I and c l I
all right, thank you, thank you? Okay, okay, thank you,
thank you. Hello, Fuddy's barbershop. Have you got a barber
name Lincoln Jolly working there? Tell me if I'm a
barber named Jove Andy there? What's that he got? Dot? Penny?
(30:19):
I got him?
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Never mind?
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Yeah, yeah, I understand, But but can you tell me
where he went? Isn't he there? No, he took off
this afternoon with a friend, because you know where the
friend lives, he said. He doesn't know it. Hello, Uh listen,
are you the owner? Yeah, it's very important that we
find mister Bencelly. But you must have some idea, kay Pete.
Now tell him. We'll come down there and talk to
him in person.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
You know.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Look, if Joey's in some kind of trouble, no, no,
it's not the kind of trouble you might think. Mister D'Angelo,
you said you were a cop, right, yes, I'm a
police officer. But this gentleman here is a doctor, Joe
Vincent's doctor. Who's your visit? The guy I know? His
named Vinerlie. Well, they're one and the same. We think
(31:08):
that your friend may be in danger, mister D'Angelo. He
has definite suicidal tendencies. Joe does. That's right, and unless
we can locate him, he may never work for you
or anyone else. Again. Well, like I told you that
there's a fellow comes in here. Joe played guards with
him a couple of times. All I know is his
(31:29):
first name, Phiil. Well, what does he do for a living?
I don't know. I think he's a book. I told
Joe not to get mixed up with and you you
don't know where he lives or I don't know. Oh,
wait a minute, huh. He has got the girlfriend in
the neighborhood and I need the French. Maybe she can
(31:52):
tell you where he is. That's it, Joe, that's all
it's going take. Just turn on the heater and let
some nice gas into the room. Sure, Joe, you just
lie back and take it easy. No, just one more
(32:12):
thing I got I get the soap here it is, Nah,
let's see. Yeah, what do we want to like today? Joe? Hey?
Oh no, just one word today, Joe, okay, just one word.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
Yeah, what do you want?
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Miss French? That's right, police, Miss French?
Speaker 6 (32:41):
But wait, what did I do or nothing?
Speaker 1 (32:42):
Miss? We just want to ask you a few questions.
Well maybe we come in.
Speaker 6 (32:47):
H yeah, I guess.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
Well, it looks like there's been a card game. Ye huh.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Is that why you're here?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
On a gambling back.
Speaker 6 (32:55):
We'll forget it. It was just a friendly game.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
No, no, no, that's not why we're here. We came
to ask you about a friend of yours named Phil
and his friend Joseph. I mean Joe Vincelli. Was mister
Vincelli here today? Miss?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Uh? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
He was? So what where's mister Bencelli? Now, how should
I know? The game broke got when they left Miss French.
This may be hard to explain. But this man, you know,
is jove Incelly, isn't jove Incelly. He has another personality,
another identity.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Well, it's not important that you understand. What is important
is that Jove Incelly is in danger of taking his
own life. We've got to find this guy before he
hurts himself. Now can you understand that much? Hey, Pete,
wait a minute, look at this? Well what is it? Doc?
A match book? The Hotel Margolies. Heye, that's right across
the street. That's where Vincent went the last time. Maybe
(33:51):
he's gone back again, Vincent, Joe, are you in there?
He might be a sleep or worse? Am I you
open the door? All right? Already? All right? Oh good lord,
it's good. Turned the heater off, the window open, Hey, Doc,
(34:17):
look at that mirror. Yeah, he's written all over with
so hey is he dead? No? No, he's still alive.
All right. I came up the hall quick, give me ahead,
come on? Yeah you sure he's great? Yeah? Yeah, yeah,
he got mister bell. Sure. I don't know what's going on. Oh,
(34:40):
doctor Abrams. So you yeah, yes, it's doctor Abrams. Do
you know who you are? I'm Joseph Vincent. Ah, no,
that's something anyway. Hey, doc, do you see what it
says on the mirror? Yes? Just one word?
Speaker 3 (35:01):
Uh that?
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Yeah? And it signed Joe Vincelly. What what happened to that?
Did I do it again? Did I try to kill
myself again? It looks that way, mister Vincent, only this
time you almost succeeded. Hey, hey, wait a minute, what
is it, pete? Mister Vincent, let me see your hands?
(35:25):
My hands, Look at 'em? They're guilty or so? What?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well?
Speaker 1 (35:29):
It means he hasn't washed them? No, I guess I didn't.
There's no soap smell out of me, not a trace.
Why are you getting that? Pee? The note on a
mirror was written with a cake of soap, but there's
no trace of soap on mister Vincent's hands. He didn't
light on that mirror, Doc, Mo, we were wrong about
(35:50):
Joe Bncelly. No, Pete, I'm sure there's a vin Shelley personality.
But maybe Vincelly isn't a killer. Maybe the killer's got
an identity all his own. I Mike, Oh, heller and
there said you called her something about my buddy Joe. Yeah,
(36:13):
that's right. I'm afraid Joe won't be around the shave.
You of the horse fear nor can disappeared again. Hey, hey,
but look, I don't want to lose a good customer.
You you sit down, I show you. I can give
you us good to share, can't Mike? I wanted to
take a chance a poor Joe. He really liked his
(36:35):
being on too much. Yeah, I'm afraid of so here,
look at me. Put this towel. Hey, is he gonna
be okay? You know, I'm afraid. It's a kind of
serious fear. Hey, this ladder are too hot for you? No? No, no, no,
it's fine. My go on, Mike, tell me a worse
(36:57):
I'll tell you the worst. Phil, Joe, what are you
doing here?
Speaker 3 (37:02):
An me?
Speaker 1 (37:02):
That raisor Mike, I'll take over. Yeah, show Joe and
I'll be in the back if you need me a
way about the matter. Phil, Huh, you always said I
gave the best shave in town. Hell, listen, Joe, you
it may be better not many. You can don't move.
Razor is a very delicate instrument, you know, that, Joe,
(37:25):
Take it easy. I had one wrong move here. You
could kill a man in two seconds. Feel how sharp
that blade is against your throat? Oh? I keep my
razor sharp. Fit that thing away for me. It wouldn't
move if I were you. What is this? You know
what it is? Phil, I'm not Jovin Shelley anymore. I'm
Joseph Vincent now. And Joseph Vincent doesn't remember how to
(37:48):
handle a razor anymore. You're crazy, not as crazy as
you thought I was. I thought it was Jovin Cilly
who wanted me dead, But it was you. You feel
all along? Why what for? I swear I never meant
to hurt you know, just to kill me? Mmmm? No,
If you don't tell me, why stopped? Look, I've bring
only a small cut fill in another few seconds. Help yourself, Phil,
(38:12):
tell me who you are. I'm uh, I'm Phil mcleevy McLevy.
I'm your housekeeper's son, Missus Mclevy's son. I don't believe you.
She wouldn't do anything like this. She doesn't know anything
about it was or my idea? What idea? Stop it? Hey? Hey,
stop it? Will you look at the blood? I talk
(38:32):
or I'll kill you. Oh okay. When she told me
about those spells you had, I I figured it out.
She showed me a calendar you brought home once you
had the address of Mike's barbershop. Sir, so I came here.
Why did you follow me? I thought, if you're trying
to kill yourself, nobody would ever think it was murder.
Why what was in it for you?
Speaker 5 (38:55):
Well?
Speaker 1 (38:55):
I know you're gonna leave my mother a lot of money.
You didn't have anybody else. And when she got it,
I get mine too. You would kill her next. Oh no,
I swear it. You know something? So some people should
get bathroats cutting. Mister Vincent, all it right there?
Speaker 3 (39:17):
Help me, help me?
Speaker 1 (39:18):
He just got the Kelvy lobing cell. You're okay. You
just had a very close shave. They say that barber
shop shaves are becoming a lost art, and if that's
the kind of shade they're handing out these days, I
(39:39):
can well understand. Of course, we hope the barbers in
our audience aren't offended. Personally, we think there's only one
thing more relaxing than an afternoon in a barber's chair,
and that's the time spent listening to the radio Mystery Theater.
(40:00):
She'll remember the story about the man in the barber
shop who was getting a fine straight razor shave while
a very pretty blonde lady manicured his nails. He said
to her, you're the prettiest girl I've seen in years.
How about a date tonight? She replied, why don't you
ask my husband? He's shaving you know that. Well, that's
(40:22):
not the purpose of the radio Mystery Theater anyway. We're
here to hand out chills and thrills, and we hope
you'll be back for more. Our cast included Mandel Kramer,
Robert Dryden, Katherine Byers, Suzanne Grossman, Ian Martin, and Sam Gray.
The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
Radio Mystery Theater was sponsored in part by Buick Motor
(40:44):
Division and Annheuser Busch Incorporated, brewers of Budweiser. This is E. G.
Marshall inviting you to return to our Mystery Theater for
another adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant dream.
(41:23):
Tonight's w R Mystery Theater was also brought to you
and parked by Shopwright Supermarkets where you get a lot
more for a little less. The preceding program is furnished
by the Columbia Broadcasting System.
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