June 6, 2024 • 29 mins
Delve into the "Radio City Playhouse Collection," a comprehensive anthology of some of the most gripping and heartwarming episodes from this iconic radio series. Each story is a masterclass in dramatic storytelling, featuring compelling characters and unforgettable plots. Whether you're revisiting old favorites or discovering these gems for the first time, this collection offers a rich listening experience that captures the essence of classic radio drama. Perfect for fans of vintage entertainment and captivating narratives.
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(00:03):
The National Broadcasting Company presents Radio CityPlayhouse Attraction. Fifteen, ladies and gentlemen,
(00:33):
Here is your director and your hoston Radio City Playhouse, Harry W.
Duncan. Thank you, Bob Warren, and good evening everybody. First
of all, on behalf of everyoneconnected with the show, maybe, thank
you very much for your wonderful letterspraising last week's broadcast and welcoming us back
to the air. Actually, wereceived only one complaint from a lady whom
(00:57):
we'll call missus X. She wrote, why must you portray such horrible people?
I don't mind listening to Radio CityPlayhouse, but i'd sure hate to
live with anybody who is a mindlike yours. Well, missus X,
thanks for your letter anyway, andplease don't think that you're not going to
meet some entirely lovable, kind,good characters on Radio City Playhouse. You
(01:19):
are and in the very near future, so I hope you'll stick with us.
Unfortunately, nasty people make good stories, so good in fact, that
we've another one for you tonight,this time by mister John Golsworthy. John
Stanley plays Keith Darrant. Ian Martinplays Larry Darrant, his brother in John
(01:42):
Galsworthy's the First and the Last Attractionfifteen on Radio City Plans. It is
(02:07):
six o'clock of a November evening inLondon in the year nineteen fourteen. The
fire in Keith Darrant's study flicks littledapples of light across the turkey red carpet.
Mister Darren is dozing, but evenin sleep, his face is strong,
cold, clear cut. Mister KeithDarrant KC. Holly, his butler,
(02:34):
tiptoes into the room, stands lookingin his master's virile, calm face,
then coughs discreetly. Oh, yes, Holly, what is it?
It's your brother, Sir here?Yes, sir? Is he sober?
If he seems so? Sir?All right, Sherman, yes, sir.
(02:57):
Oh and Holly, you'd better telephoneJudge tell us and say I may
be a few minutes late for dinner. Yes, come inter, Larry,
I Hobby, Come in, Larry, come in, Oh, come over
here when I can see you.It's the time you look dreadful. Have
(03:20):
you been drinking a don't mumble,Larry. If you have anything to say,
say it. I suppose you wantmoney? Ah, what is it?
I've killed him? You have beendrinking. No, that's true,
Larry. I have a dinner appointment. But have you got to say?
(03:43):
Say it? So I carry II killed him, Larry last night.
You're not serious. I'm serious.What you want me to do? I've
told you. If my brother can'twants tend English? How when? Tell
me when? But there's a girl, you see, she's poorish. She
(04:10):
buried a man named Walen. Heleft her with a baby, coming ran
out on her. She lost thebaby in almost after death. Then I
came along. She's well, she'snot what you'd call respectable. Go on,
but Keeth, I've never met asweeter woman. She's she's fine and
(04:34):
good. She's so young, he'sonly twenty. Well, last night when
I went to her, Walen wasthere. He turned up again. We
had a row. He was drunkand half mad with rage. He came
(04:55):
for me. I took him.I go through. I well, when
I let go, he was hewas dead, Larry. But never even
until it was over, she'd beenhanging out to him. Two Then what
(05:18):
did you do? WA sat bya 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? Poor Lovedyne?
(05:38):
Then what I went back to?Where does she live? Forty two
bottle of squares? So, youidiot, don't you realize what this means?
You know that I'm within an aceof 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 whatI am, and you smash everything with
(05:59):
a fit of insane man temperately helpedme. I baby, no good,
but I've never even heard the fiveI could help it. I you a
lie like fury. I'm so afraidI feel sick. You can pull yourself
together. Let me think you're sureno one saw you? Yes, when
you left the girl? Finally,where did you go to broom switz Roy
(06:21):
Street? Yes, but you've donesince sat there? Can the girl be
trusted? She loves me? Cana woman like that love? Oh?
Joo, lawyer, Sometimes I wantto answer me. All right, I
tell you she's devoted to me.Keith, did you ever pick up a
(06:44):
lost dog? Well, that's whatit's like. She has a lost dog's
love for me. I for her. Did the only decent thing in my
life. You can spare me theintimate details. Did you take anything from
the body? Huh? Oh ohEarth this envelope dropped out of her struggling
Give it to me, mister PatrickWallen Simon's Hotel, Ferriers Street, London,
(07:12):
there into the fire. Doesn't thatmake you an accessory to the crime
of something burning? It on me? I'm quite aware of the risk I'm
running. Now tell me this Walen. Was this his first reappearance after an
absence? Yes? And you sayyou didn't mean to kill him? No?
No, of course I didn't.He keep me and I I oh,
(07:36):
Keith, I didn't know I wasa straw. Did you look to
see if his clothes were marked?Oh? Do I not? I've not
made of iron like you. Howlong has the girl been at this Soho
place? About a year? Areeither she or well unknown to the police.
Off and you're sure no one sawyou either entering or leaving her place
last night? As as I'm positiveI key's to a flat. Give them
(08:00):
to me. What else have youthat connects you with her? Photographs?
Letters? No, no, nothing? A listen, Larry, go straight
home and stay there until I getin touch with you, all right,
have you any money, little I'llget you some tomorrow. You you're very
(08:20):
good to me, Keith. Don'tmention it the privilege of a brother.
As it happens, I'm thinking ofmyself. You realize you've dragged me into
the most unholy mess. Me King'scounsel, sworn to the service of the
law. And okay, I know. 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 untilyou hear from me. Holly, God
(08:45):
remember, keep your head all right? Good you wanted me, mister Darrel.
Yes, goodnight, Daddy, Goodnight Keith, Oh my bolly night,
mister Larry. Has he gone?Yes? Now listen, Holly,
(09:07):
that is in trouble. You'll findout 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, assoon 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. Yes,mister Darren's residence. Did he go straight
(09:52):
home? Oh, yes, misterDarre, he went into a chemist's shop.
I didn't think it wise to stophim in his chant. Yes,
sir, I couldn't see what hebought. I didn't go in after him.
I waited outside and looked through thewindow. He bought something in a
little blue box. Holly, I'mgoing down to Borrow Square in soho,
(10:13):
I'm leaving, Judge Tellison's now waitup for me. Yes, mister Hope
(10:39):
you startled, be comfortable, butso thick I didn't see you. Is
this glovelin? Yes, sir,thank you. I beg pardon, Governor.
I shouldn't be around here too much, sir, if I was you
bad district, thank you, comftable. Only last night a bloke has found
he had done in right by thisart. Yes, I read about it
in the papers. Yes, somethem characters around these parts. Yes,
(11:03):
I'm looking for Borrows Square. Stryahead, sir, and chandle the right.
Thank you. Comfortable, Please don'tbe frightened. I had a dinner
(11:28):
engagement, or I wouldn't have comeso late. That is told me everything.
It's an awful business, yes,awful in this room, Yes,
just where you are standing. Youlook very young to be a How old
are you? Are you fond ofLaddy? I would die for him.
(11:52):
I'm going to try to help.Oh, yes, helps, please help
us. This man Wallen your husbandbefore he came here last night? How
long since you saw him? Eighteenmonths? I was out to dinner with
friends, were very close to thecourts. They've identified Wallen's body. They'll
start looking for everybody connected with him. He never let people know I was
married to him. I don't knowif I really was. We went to
(12:16):
an office and signed our names,but I did not understand English very well
then. I don't know if wereally weren't married. Well, we can
hope not. He treated many likeme. I think you're sure no one
around here knows of your connection withhim. I'm sure if the worst comes
to the worst and this man istraced to you, can you trust yourself
(12:39):
not to give Laddie away. I'velearned all the things he has given me,
even his picture. Good Since lastnight? What have you been doing
rightly? I'm so se you haven'tbeen out a strange girl, but you
call yourself now? What's your name? Vander levinsk one more question. Do
(13:01):
they police know you because of youryour life? No? No, the
police do not know good And I'mgoing 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'tworry, not worry. How can I
(13:22):
not worry? Well? You cantry, Please, sir, don't I
take Larry away from me. Iwould be so careful, but if he
left me, I should die.Please, please, Sir, be good
to us, to marry me.What is Keith doing? Wonder? We've
(13:56):
heard nothing for five days. He'susually so prompt. I couldn't stay locked
up in my rooms forever. Ihad to come out tonight. I I
had to see you. There's beennothing in the papers, nothing from Keith.
Can't stand this much longer. I'vepaid to the Virgin. Lie she
(14:18):
will have us. You don't reallybelieve that too? Oh? Yes,
oh yes, Lie, I do. I wish I could, wish I
could believe in anything. Oh.I hate this world. Hated savageness,
it's ugliness. I hate Keith's world, all righteousness and smugness and success.
(14:43):
We don't belong anywhere, wander We'reno good to you and I we're weak,
we're soft, better dead. No, things don't be so unhealthy.
I can't dare to see you.So hope something will keep quiet. No,
(15:07):
I give him the keys. Oh, I don't know, Bob's Keith,
Daddy. I told you to stayat home. I went to your
(15:30):
rooms. You weren't there. Imight have known you wouldn't have the strength
to stay away from here. Icouldn't help it, Keith. I couldn't
stay alone any longer. I hadto see. Well, you're lucky.
They've made an arrest. They've whatI've just come from the courts. It'll
be in the papers tonight. They'vearrested a man named Andersen, a little
yellow, ragged scarecrow. He's lameand half starved. They were fools to
(15:52):
think you have had the strength arrested. But how, Keith, How there's
not nearly enough evidence to convict him. But it'll give us a breather.
You haven'tly robbed the body, butdon't She pawned the snake shaped ring and
they identified this swollen by it.He's in no danger. They always get
the wrong man first. It'll dohim no harm to be locked up for
a spell in the meantime, you'vegot to get out of England. But
(16:12):
I can't be you. There's avote from the Argentine tomorrow. I'll get
you a ticket, Larry, andsome money both of us. You can't
go together. She can go onthe next vote. Lo Ki, what
do you mean? No, Ican't go, That's what I mean,
aunt fwile there's a possibility of thisman being charged with murder grief, Larry,
don't be an idiot. I'm alawyer. I know there's not nearly
(16:33):
enough evidence. No jury were convicted. If they did, no judge would
hang. Besides a ghoul who canrob a dead body ought to be in
prison. Lo Ki, I've gotto see it through, Yes you must.
I've had but enough of you,Larry. Can you possibly imagine what
I've been through in the last fivedays. My own brother, my own
(16:53):
brother, Laurence Starin't a murderer.Do you know what this will do to
me? It'll be the end ofeverything, everything I've worked for for twenty
years. I've slaved and studied andworked, and I'm not going to see
the whole thing smashed up because you'rea weak, queerfish sham of a man
that hasn't enough backbone to I won'tlet you. You understand, I won't
(17:14):
let you well. I don't wantthe money, Keith, or the tickets.
You'd better go, hearer care lddie, you're in no position to argue.
You're engraved, danger of ending upon the gallows. Get on that
boat tomorrow, and I promise youshe'll join you within a month. No,
(17:37):
it'll be at least five months untilhe comes up for trial. You
can't possibly live like this for fivemonths, linking around street corners at night.
You can't stand it. Neither canI I can stand it. I'm
not going to stay here and argue, Laddy, this is your last chance.
You'd better go, Keith, can'tyou do something with him, right,
(18:00):
sir, this poor little man Anderson? Yes, now you have to
see it through very well. Thenthere's nothing more to be said. I
wash my hands of the whole affair. Good night. You are right,
like you are right. Do notbe astraight, my dear, that poor
(18:27):
little lame scarecrow locked up because ofme, locked up like an animal of
a cage, wondering how, wonderinghow this could happen to him. We're
not going to to give yourself up. I don't know. I cannot live
(18:52):
if you are not with me.Love me, Yes, yes you can.
No, I'm not like your englishman. Oh what, of course,
of course you are. I donot care for fine clothes for excitement.
I do not care for much money. I care for you. I've been
(19:14):
hungry before, I can be hungryagain. I cannot live without you,
lady. Oh, wonder, wonderI love you if I only have the
courage to do what I ought todo, if I only had the coat,
(19:52):
mister derect. Yes, they're goingto hang and they found him guilty
of Wolan murder. They're going tohang him. When did you learn this
just now, sir? It's inthe paper this morning. Didn't you know,
sir? No, why I've beenso busy. I didn't know.
It's a sad business, sir.Larry wouldn't be fool enough to go and
(20:14):
confess, to go and blab tothe police. Fight, Holly, get
your coat on quickly if we've gotto get to Thatddy before he makes a
fool of himself. Larry, it'sI Keith. If they're not here,
(20:45):
sir, where would they be.I I don't know yuh open the door
keys, Yes, Larry gave themto me months ago. Go on,
open the door. Oh, worstof reverence, mister Darrant. Look,
(21:06):
keep write, you idiot, keepquiet up at all, sir, the
the dead. That's what he boughtin the chemist's shop. Look, here's
the little blue box of all theridiculous, insane things to do. How
could they do this to me?Don't touch them, Holly, don't touch
(21:27):
them. Here's an note, sir. Let me see it. I Laurence
Starrant, about to die by myown hand. Confess that I deliberately and
with premeditation, strangled and killed aman un as Patrick Wallen on the night
of Holly. Quickly, we've gotto get out of here. Stand,
they're staring at the man. They'redead, both of them, too weak
and stupid to live. Come on, we've got to get out of here.
(21:49):
And we've never been here. Doyou understand we've never been here,
(22:10):
sir, mister Darren. 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. Day after day,week after week, I thought, you
thought, what do you think I'vebeen doing? Night after night? Sitting
here? I look into the flamesand I see a streak filled with people
(22:33):
all staring at me, brother ofwell known Casey, guilty of woll and
murder. What am I supposed todo? We can and go to the
police. Do you want to letme lose and flood of foulst firt?
Sir? Christmas is over, It'sNew Year's Day tomorrow. You have so
little time, sir, rangon Andersonon January the fourteenth. Don't you think
(22:53):
I know that? Stop it,Holly, stopping stopping. Oh, mister
Darren, Sir, please leave itwith 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. PleaseHolly let me alone. Now, Good
(23:36):
morning, mister Darrant. What areyou doing up so early? This is
the day, sir, This isthe I know it's they. They're hanging
um at five o'clock this morning,and you can't sleep. Mister Darrant.
You've got to telephone the prison.You've still got mister Larry's letter. Yes,
yes, I have. It's hereon my desk. There's nothing left
out. It's very clear, evento the addresses of people who could identify
the girl as having once been willOF's wife. You haven't much more time,
(23:57):
sir. I called the prison lastnight, just to see how long
it would take. David telephone rightbeside the gallows, just for last minute
things like this. I'll let meget them for you, mister Darren Polly.
Put that gun down. Put itdown, I say, Holly,
I've decided not to smirch the reputationof my dead brother or my dead mother,
(24:22):
not because of some little sewer rabbitthat isn't worth saving, that's better
off dead anyway. That is suicidewith that woman was bad enough as it
was. It involved me in noway except as a mourner. But now
if I let this confession reach theauthorities, I could never escape the gravest
suspicion that I had known of thewhole affair for the past three months.
(24:45):
I'd have to go into court.I'd be recognized by that policeman who would
believe in the mere coincidence of sucha visit on the part of the murderer's
brother. But sir, you can'tlet an innocent man qued, Polly.
Nothing could prevent this thing from ringingto the hunt stops. Let him have,
yes, I can say it.Let him hang. I will not,
by my own action topple myself intothe gutter, I'll think, mister
(25:06):
de don't do that. Don't yousee how quickly it burns, Holly,
Poor Larry's confession, Poor stupid,silly Larry. He died for nothing,
He had no will, no purpose. He and that girl might now have
been at the other side of theworld. But no, they have to
take poison. Fools, weaklings,A little conscience, a little remorse.
(25:30):
What's that compared to the living?A man must walk firmly, Holly,
hold to his purpose. He mustgo on and up. You shouldn't have
learned that concession, mister Darrel.Don't be impudent, Holly. You know,
of course that if you went tothe police now, you'd sound like
a fool. You haven't a shredof evidence, not a shred, and
(25:53):
I'd be forced to bring up allsorts of counter charges. How surly you
are, how you dislike me,how you've stolen on several occasions that I
overlooked. Hello, Holly, you'llkeep quiet quiet? Perhaps I shall because
they wouldn't believe me. But Iwon't be staying on here, mister Darrett.
(26:15):
You'll stay until the end of themonth if you expect to be paid.
Now, mister Darrnt, I'm leaving. By destroying mister Larry's confession,
you've become a murderer. You murdereda man. I won't work for a
murderer. Five o'clock. Oh,mister Darrnt, Oh, mister Darren,
(26:44):
Sir, don't you realize that you'reguilty too? Don't you realize that,
sir? It's over? Er,it's over, and you're a murderer,
a murderer. I a murderer.He's right, that's what I am.
(27:23):
A murderer. Murderer. You havejust heard The First and the Last by
(27:56):
John Goldsworthy. The production was directedby Harry W. Jenkin and starred John
Stanley as Keith, Ian Martin asLarry. Other players included Roy Irving,
Lado Stoviski, and Eugene Francis.The music was composed and conducted by doctor
Roy Shield. Tonight's story was preparedfor radio by Nelson Olmsted. Radio City
(28:17):
Playhouse is supervised for the National BroadcastingCompany by Richard P. McDonough. This
(28:47):
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 in radio today.The player is entitled The Door. Mister
Larkin portrays a criminals, Mister Grantan Episcopal chaplain. We think you'll find
it an exciting broadcast. Good night, everybody, Bob war I'm speaking.
(29:37):
This is NBC, the National BroadcastingCompany.
The National Broadcasting Company presents Radio CityPlayhouse Attraction. Fifteen, ladies and gentlemen,
(00:33):
Here is your director and your hoston Radio City Playhouse, Harry W.
Duncan. Thank you, Bob Warren, and good evening everybody. First
of all, on behalf of everyoneconnected with the show, maybe, thank
you very much for your wonderful letterspraising last week's broadcast and welcoming us back
to the air. Actually, wereceived only one complaint from a lady whom
(00:57):
we'll call missus X. She wrote, why must you portray such horrible people?
I don't mind listening to Radio CityPlayhouse, but i'd sure hate to
live with anybody who is a mindlike yours. Well, missus X,
thanks for your letter anyway, andplease don't think that you're not going to
meet some entirely lovable, kind,good characters on Radio City Playhouse. You
(01:19):
are and in the very near future, so I hope you'll stick with us.
Unfortunately, nasty people make good stories, so good in fact, that
we've another one for you tonight,this time by mister John Golsworthy. John
Stanley plays Keith Darrant. Ian Martinplays Larry Darrant, his brother in John
(01:42):
Galsworthy's the First and the Last Attractionfifteen on Radio City Plans. It is
(02:07):
six o'clock of a November evening inLondon in the year nineteen fourteen. The
fire in Keith Darrant's study flicks littledapples of light across the turkey red carpet.
Mister Darren is dozing, but evenin sleep, his face is strong,
cold, clear cut. Mister KeithDarrant KC. Holly, his butler,
(02:34):
tiptoes into the room, stands lookingin his master's virile, calm face,
then coughs discreetly. Oh, yes, Holly, what is it?
It's your brother, Sir here?Yes, sir? Is he sober?
If he seems so? Sir?All right, Sherman, yes, sir.
(02:57):
Oh and Holly, you'd better telephoneJudge tell us and say I may
be a few minutes late for dinner. Yes, come inter, Larry,
I Hobby, Come in, Larry, come in, Oh, come over
here when I can see you.It's the time you look dreadful. Have
(03:20):
you been drinking a don't mumble,Larry. If you have anything to say,
say it. I suppose you wantmoney? Ah, what is it?
I've killed him? You have beendrinking. No, that's true,
Larry. I have a dinner appointment. But have you got to say?
(03:43):
Say it? So I carry II killed him, Larry last night.
You're not serious. I'm serious.What you want me to do? I've
told you. If my brother can'twants tend English? How when? Tell
me when? But there's a girl, you see, she's poorish. She
(04:10):
buried a man named Walen. Heleft her with a baby, coming ran
out on her. She lost thebaby in almost after death. Then I
came along. She's well, she'snot what you'd call respectable. Go on,
but Keeth, I've never met asweeter woman. She's she's fine and
(04:34):
good. She's so young, he'sonly twenty. Well, last night when
I went to her, Walen wasthere. He turned up again. We
had a row. He was drunkand half mad with rage. He came
(04:55):
for me. I took him.I go through. I well, when
I let go, he was hewas dead, Larry. But never even
until it was over, she'd beenhanging out to him. Two Then what
(05:18):
did you do? WA sat bya 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? Poor Lovedyne?
(05:38):
Then what I went back to?Where does she live? Forty two
bottle of squares? So, youidiot, don't you realize what this means?
You know that I'm within an aceof 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 whatI am, and you smash everything with
(05:59):
a fit of insane man temperately helpedme. I baby, no good,
but I've never even heard the fiveI could help it. I you a
lie like fury. I'm so afraidI feel sick. You can pull yourself
together. Let me think you're sureno one saw you? Yes, when
you left the girl? Finally,where did you go to broom switz Roy
(06:21):
Street? Yes, but you've donesince sat there? Can the girl be
trusted? She loves me? Cana woman like that love? Oh?
Joo, lawyer, Sometimes I wantto answer me. All right, I
tell you she's devoted to me.Keith, did you ever pick up a
(06:44):
lost dog? Well, that's whatit's like. She has a lost dog's
love for me. I for her. Did the only decent thing in my
life. You can spare me theintimate details. Did you take anything from
the body? Huh? Oh ohEarth this envelope dropped out of her struggling
Give it to me, mister PatrickWallen Simon's Hotel, Ferriers Street, London,
(07:12):
there into the fire. Doesn't thatmake you an accessory to the crime
of something burning? It on me? I'm quite aware of the risk I'm
running. Now tell me this Walen. Was this his first reappearance after an
absence? Yes? And you sayyou didn't mean to kill him? No?
No, of course I didn't.He keep me and I I oh,
(07:36):
Keith, I didn't know I wasa straw. Did you look to
see if his clothes were marked?Oh? Do I not? I've not
made of iron like you. Howlong has the girl been at this Soho
place? About a year? Areeither she or well unknown to the police.
Off and you're sure no one sawyou either entering or leaving her place
last night? As as I'm positiveI key's to a flat. Give them
(08:00):
to me. What else have youthat connects you with her? Photographs?
Letters? No, no, nothing? A listen, Larry, go straight
home and stay there until I getin touch with you, all right,
have you any money, little I'llget you some tomorrow. You you're very
(08:20):
good to me, Keith. Don'tmention it the privilege of a brother.
As it happens, I'm thinking ofmyself. You realize you've dragged me into
the most unholy mess. Me King'scounsel, sworn to the service of the
law. And okay, I know. 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 untilyou hear from me. Holly, God
(08:45):
remember, keep your head all right? Good you wanted me, mister Darrel.
Yes, goodnight, Daddy, Goodnight Keith, Oh my bolly night,
mister Larry. Has he gone?Yes? Now listen, Holly,
(09:07):
that is in trouble. You'll findout 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, assoon 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. Yes,mister Darren's residence. Did he go straight
(09:52):
home? Oh, yes, misterDarre, he went into a chemist's shop.
I didn't think it wise to stophim in his chant. Yes,
sir, I couldn't see what hebought. I didn't go in after him.
I waited outside and looked through thewindow. He bought something in a
little blue box. Holly, I'mgoing down to Borrow Square in soho,
(10:13):
I'm leaving, Judge Tellison's now waitup for me. Yes, mister Hope
(10:39):
you startled, be comfortable, butso thick I didn't see you. Is
this glovelin? Yes, sir,thank you. I beg pardon, Governor.
I shouldn't be around here too much, sir, if I was you
bad district, thank you, comftable. Only last night a bloke has found
he had done in right by thisart. Yes, I read about it
in the papers. Yes, somethem characters around these parts. Yes,
(11:03):
I'm looking for Borrows Square. Stryahead, sir, and chandle the right.
Thank you. Comfortable, Please don'tbe frightened. I had a dinner
(11:28):
engagement, or I wouldn't have comeso late. That is told me everything.
It's an awful business, yes,awful in this room, Yes,
just where you are standing. Youlook very young to be a How old
are you? Are you fond ofLaddy? I would die for him.
(11:52):
I'm going to try to help.Oh, yes, helps, please help
us. This man Wallen your husbandbefore he came here last night? How
long since you saw him? Eighteenmonths? I was out to dinner with
friends, were very close to thecourts. They've identified Wallen's body. They'll
start looking for everybody connected with him. He never let people know I was
married to him. I don't knowif I really was. We went to
(12:16):
an office and signed our names,but I did not understand English very well
then. I don't know if wereally weren't married. Well, we can
hope not. He treated many likeme. I think you're sure no one
around here knows of your connection withhim. I'm sure if the worst comes
to the worst and this man istraced to you, can you trust yourself
(12:39):
not to give Laddie away. I'velearned all the things he has given me,
even his picture. Good Since lastnight? What have you been doing
rightly? I'm so se you haven'tbeen out a strange girl, but you
call yourself now? What's your name? Vander levinsk one more question. Do
(13:01):
they police know you because of youryour life? No? No, the
police do not know good And I'mgoing 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'tworry, not worry. How can I
(13:22):
not worry? Well? You cantry, Please, sir, don't I
take Larry away from me. Iwould be so careful, but if he
left me, I should die.Please, please, Sir, be good
to us, to marry me.What is Keith doing? Wonder? We've
(13:56):
heard nothing for five days. He'susually so prompt. I couldn't stay locked
up in my rooms forever. Ihad to come out tonight. I I
had to see you. There's beennothing in the papers, nothing from Keith.
Can't stand this much longer. I'vepaid to the Virgin. Lie she
(14:18):
will have us. You don't reallybelieve that too? Oh? Yes,
oh yes, Lie, I do. I wish I could, wish I
could believe in anything. Oh.I hate this world. Hated savageness,
it's ugliness. I hate Keith's world, all righteousness and smugness and success.
(14:43):
We don't belong anywhere, wander We'reno good to you and I we're weak,
we're soft, better dead. No, things don't be so unhealthy.
I can't dare to see you.So hope something will keep quiet. No,
(15:07):
I give him the keys. Oh, I don't know, Bob's Keith,
Daddy. I told you to stayat home. I went to your
(15:30):
rooms. You weren't there. Imight have known you wouldn't have the strength
to stay away from here. Icouldn't help it, Keith. I couldn't
stay alone any longer. I hadto see. Well, you're lucky.
They've made an arrest. They've whatI've just come from the courts. It'll
be in the papers tonight. They'vearrested a man named Andersen, a little
yellow, ragged scarecrow. He's lameand half starved. They were fools to
(15:52):
think you have had the strength arrested. But how, Keith, How there's
not nearly enough evidence to convict him. But it'll give us a breather.
You haven'tly robbed the body, butdon't She pawned the snake shaped ring and
they identified this swollen by it.He's in no danger. They always get
the wrong man first. It'll dohim no harm to be locked up for
a spell in the meantime, you'vegot to get out of England. But
(16:12):
I can't be you. There's avote from the Argentine tomorrow. I'll get
you a ticket, Larry, andsome money both of us. You can't
go together. She can go onthe next vote. Lo Ki, what
do you mean? No, Ican't go, That's what I mean,
aunt fwile there's a possibility of thisman being charged with murder grief, Larry,
don't be an idiot. I'm alawyer. I know there's not nearly
(16:33):
enough evidence. No jury were convicted. If they did, no judge would
hang. Besides a ghoul who canrob a dead body ought to be in
prison. Lo Ki, I've gotto see it through, Yes you must.
I've had but enough of you,Larry. Can you possibly imagine what
I've been through in the last fivedays. My own brother, my own
(16:53):
brother, Laurence Starin't a murderer.Do you know what this will do to
me? It'll be the end ofeverything, everything I've worked for for twenty
years. I've slaved and studied andworked, and I'm not going to see
the whole thing smashed up because you'rea weak, queerfish sham of a man
that hasn't enough backbone to I won'tlet you. You understand, I won't
(17:14):
let you well. I don't wantthe money, Keith, or the tickets.
You'd better go, hearer care lddie, you're in no position to argue.
You're engraved, danger of ending upon the gallows. Get on that
boat tomorrow, and I promise youshe'll join you within a month. No,
(17:37):
it'll be at least five months untilhe comes up for trial. You
can't possibly live like this for fivemonths, linking around street corners at night.
You can't stand it. Neither canI I can stand it. I'm
not going to stay here and argue, Laddy, this is your last chance.
You'd better go, Keith, can'tyou do something with him, right,
(18:00):
sir, this poor little man Anderson? Yes, now you have to
see it through very well. Thenthere's nothing more to be said. I
wash my hands of the whole affair. Good night. You are right,
like you are right. Do notbe astraight, my dear, that poor
(18:27):
little lame scarecrow locked up because ofme, locked up like an animal of
a cage, wondering how, wonderinghow this could happen to him. We're
not going to to give yourself up. I don't know. I cannot live
(18:52):
if you are not with me.Love me, Yes, yes you can.
No, I'm not like your englishman. Oh what, of course,
of course you are. I donot care for fine clothes for excitement.
I do not care for much money. I care for you. I've been
(19:14):
hungry before, I can be hungryagain. I cannot live without you,
lady. Oh, wonder, wonderI love you if I only have the
courage to do what I ought todo, if I only had the coat,
(19:52):
mister derect. Yes, they're goingto hang and they found him guilty
of Wolan murder. They're going tohang him. When did you learn this
just now, sir? It's inthe paper this morning. Didn't you know,
sir? No, why I've beenso busy. I didn't know.
It's a sad business, sir.Larry wouldn't be fool enough to go and
(20:14):
confess, to go and blab tothe police. Fight, Holly, get
your coat on quickly if we've gotto get to Thatddy before he makes a
fool of himself. Larry, it'sI Keith. If they're not here,
(20:45):
sir, where would they be.I I don't know yuh open the door
keys, Yes, Larry gave themto me months ago. Go on,
open the door. Oh, worstof reverence, mister Darrant. Look,
(21:06):
keep write, you idiot, keepquiet up at all, sir, the
the dead. That's what he boughtin the chemist's shop. Look, here's
the little blue box of all theridiculous, insane things to do. How
could they do this to me?Don't touch them, Holly, don't touch
(21:27):
them. Here's an note, sir. Let me see it. I Laurence
Starrant, about to die by myown hand. Confess that I deliberately and
with premeditation, strangled and killed aman un as Patrick Wallen on the night
of Holly. Quickly, we've gotto get out of here. Stand,
they're staring at the man. They'redead, both of them, too weak
and stupid to live. Come on, we've got to get out of here.
(21:49):
And we've never been here. Doyou understand we've never been here,
(22:10):
sir, mister Darren. 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. Day after day,week after week, I thought, you
thought, what do you think I'vebeen doing? Night after night? Sitting
here? I look into the flamesand I see a streak filled with people
(22:33):
all staring at me, brother ofwell known Casey, guilty of woll and
murder. What am I supposed todo? We can and go to the
police. Do you want to letme lose and flood of foulst firt?
Sir? Christmas is over, It'sNew Year's Day tomorrow. You have so
little time, sir, rangon Andersonon January the fourteenth. Don't you think
(22:53):
I know that? Stop it,Holly, stopping stopping. Oh, mister
Darren, Sir, please leave itwith 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. PleaseHolly let me alone. Now, Good
(23:36):
morning, mister Darrant. What areyou doing up so early? This is
the day, sir, This isthe I know it's they. They're hanging
um at five o'clock this morning,and you can't sleep. Mister Darrant.
You've got to telephone the prison.You've still got mister Larry's letter. Yes,
yes, I have. It's hereon my desk. There's nothing left
out. It's very clear, evento the addresses of people who could identify
the girl as having once been willOF's wife. You haven't much more time,
(23:57):
sir. I called the prison lastnight, just to see how long
it would take. David telephone rightbeside the gallows, just for last minute
things like this. I'll let meget them for you, mister Darren Polly.
Put that gun down. Put itdown, I say, Holly,
I've decided not to smirch the reputationof my dead brother or my dead mother,
(24:22):
not because of some little sewer rabbitthat isn't worth saving, that's better
off dead anyway. That is suicidewith that woman was bad enough as it
was. It involved me in noway except as a mourner. But now
if I let this confession reach theauthorities, I could never escape the gravest
suspicion that I had known of thewhole affair for the past three months.
(24:45):
I'd have to go into court.I'd be recognized by that policeman who would
believe in the mere coincidence of sucha visit on the part of the murderer's
brother. But sir, you can'tlet an innocent man qued, Polly.
Nothing could prevent this thing from ringingto the hunt stops. Let him have,
yes, I can say it.Let him hang. I will not,
by my own action topple myself intothe gutter, I'll think, mister
(25:06):
de don't do that. Don't yousee how quickly it burns, Holly,
Poor Larry's confession, Poor stupid,silly Larry. He died for nothing,
He had no will, no purpose. He and that girl might now have
been at the other side of theworld. But no, they have to
take poison. Fools, weaklings,A little conscience, a little remorse.
(25:30):
What's that compared to the living?A man must walk firmly, Holly,
hold to his purpose. He mustgo on and up. You shouldn't have
learned that concession, mister Darrel.Don't be impudent, Holly. You know,
of course that if you went tothe police now, you'd sound like
a fool. You haven't a shredof evidence, not a shred, and
(25:53):
I'd be forced to bring up allsorts of counter charges. How surly you
are, how you dislike me,how you've stolen on several occasions that I
overlooked. Hello, Holly, you'llkeep quiet quiet? Perhaps I shall because
they wouldn't believe me. But Iwon't be staying on here, mister Darrett.
(26:15):
You'll stay until the end of themonth if you expect to be paid.
Now, mister Darrnt, I'm leaving. By destroying mister Larry's confession,
you've become a murderer. You murdereda man. I won't work for a
murderer. Five o'clock. Oh,mister Darrnt, Oh, mister Darren,
(26:44):
Sir, don't you realize that you'reguilty too? Don't you realize that,
sir? It's over? Er,it's over, and you're a murderer,
a murderer. I a murderer.He's right, that's what I am.
(27:23):
A murderer. Murderer. You havejust heard The First and the Last by
(27:56):
John Goldsworthy. The production was directedby Harry W. Jenkin and starred John
Stanley as Keith, Ian Martin asLarry. Other players included Roy Irving,
Lado Stoviski, and Eugene Francis.The music was composed and conducted by doctor
Roy Shield. Tonight's story was preparedfor radio by Nelson Olmsted. Radio City
(28:17):
Playhouse is supervised for the National BroadcastingCompany by Richard P. McDonough. This
(28:47):
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 in radio today.The player is entitled The Door. Mister
Larkin portrays a criminals, Mister Grantan Episcopal chaplain. We think you'll find
it an exciting broadcast. Good night, everybody, Bob war I'm speaking.
(29:37):
This is NBC, the National BroadcastingCompany.
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