July 24, 2025 • 60 mins
Please enjoy The Blind Spot hou a great episode of the legendary Suspense - Old Time Radio show OTR - a Old Time Radio OTR classic.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Suspense.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Radio's outstanding Theater of Frills brings you an hour a
full sixty minutes of suspense. Tonight our star mister Edmund
O'Brien our story The Blind Spot by Lois ev and
John C. Fleming, a suspense play produced and directed by
Anton M.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Leader.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It sometimes happens with men and institutions who deal only
in facts, formulae, the core logic of scientific deduction. They
often underestimate or overlook the unpredictability of the human element.
They may cover reason and disregard instinct and emotion. Tonight,
against the background of Rogers International Research Institute Pulse of
(01:08):
the Nation's Opinions, we meet Eric Strange, Leland Rodgers, Mona
Bartlett and Gregory Rome in a dramatic combination of logic
and fear.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
And now with.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
The performance of Admin O'Brien as Eric, and with the
Blind Spot, we again hope to keep you in suspend.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Each of us has a blind spot. Some of many
blank wars in our minds are memory or opinion wars
which we cannot penetrate and so are held back, or
because we can't or won't understand, we try to draw
away from the world, run from it because the blind
(01:52):
spot has made us afraid. I started writing books about
this during the war. Maybe you've read or heard of it,
blind spots by Eric's Strange. Well, whether you have a
haven as little bearing on what I'm about to tell you.
I mentioned it simply by way of introduction, not to
myself but to fear. Yes, it was the blind spot
(02:16):
of fear in the mind and heart of Leland Rodgers
that led to well, I'm getting ahead of myself. Perhaps
it's best that you meet Leland Rodgers and see him
as I did that day when I went to his
suite in the Park Central Hotel to settle a business matter.
It wasn't our first meeting, but in a way it
seemed to be, for as I pressed the buzzer and
(02:37):
the door opened, I found myself looking at a different
Leland Rodgers, a man completely changed for me by his
look of sheer terror. Strange, Eric Strange. How do you
know what your secretary, mister Rogers? She said, Moner, she
had no right to know where heartlet is worried about you,
(02:59):
so's your partner, whole staff. You know, Rogers, when you
first approached me as a possible client, I was invited
into your office off at cigars drink. I'm sorry, strange,
come in. Think you never did like to hold a
conference in a hotel hallway.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
But there's to be no conference, understand, Strange. I thought
I made it clear we can't handle the survey for you.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Hmm. Now I suppose if I suggested that Rogers International
Research could be sued for breach of contract, I might
not be offered a chair. You have grounds for a
suit of course. Sit down. Thanks, Ah, much better now, Rogers,
what's it all about? Why did you really call things off?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
It's exactly like I told you on the phone, No
mystery about it. Albert LeBlanc, or European supervisor, was killed
yesterday in the crish at the Bourget airport to bed
for the supervisor. His organization of our overseas officers.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Was a one man miracle. That was a mistake. Of course,
won't happen again. But in the meantime, survey on my
book is impossible. Quite h Your partner Jim Carr, Now,
yes he doesn't agree. I know, but Carr isn't running
that under the business. Strange. He shouldn't have even been
talking to you. He just happened into the office while
I was with your secretary. Seemed quite upset.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yes, he's always upset, But whatever he had to say
means nothing.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
And suppose not. But he was enthused over the plans
you people has. He's always enthused. However, in this case,
I was myself. You know that. Yes, that's what confuses me. Rogers.
You seem so anxious to establish the validity of the
book's premise. I believe in that premisness.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
To Strange, I believe every word of your book, Blind Spots.
I agree that the American has the highest natural demand
for freedom, and God's that freedom with unequal personal responsibility
for national welfare.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
The survey could have proved that belief I know, I know,
or proved it to be wrong. You know, in that event,
had we discovered my premise to be arrogant assumption, I
intended that this would be the last edition of Blind Spots.
I understood your intention. People without freedom are happier without facts.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yes, yes, However, mister Strange, under the circumstances, with my
organization powerless to conduct an immediate survey, I don't see
what you say around mister Rogers.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
What I said, sit down, or better still, fix us
both a drink because I'm not leaving now.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
See you, Strange, You're wasting your time. I've told you
it's all off. I've given you a good reason. You
can take your business to universal surveys or assume me
for breach of contract.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I don't care.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I care rogers. I want to know who threatened you threatened?
I should have warned you months ago. Threats would be
a nuisance item you'd have to figure on with my survey.
There have been no threats, not at all. I think
they have. I've been threatened regularly since the first edition
of Blind Spots, first by radicals who pull the book reactionary,
(06:01):
than by reactionaries who suggests I'm proposing revolution. There have
been no threats, no threats, Strange. It's simply that my
key man look blank in our foreign office is at
this very moment as alive as either one of us.
What do you say? What you've been saying is more important.
(06:21):
A call came in while I was at your office,
Miss Bartler took it. It was from Le Blanc View.
You let me lie, Strange, Yes, because it made you
feel easier, might make it easier for me to discover
what kind of fear you're living with. This doesn't change anything.
We're not handling the survey with or without a reason.
Nothing helps your kind of fear, but action rogers. If
(06:43):
it's free for all, I'd like to get in. Would
you care to fix those drinks? Tell me about it? Strange?
Will you ever so afraid? It was like leprosy, your mind,
your body rutting away once, sitting on the ground during
(07:08):
a war that sometimes seems like it didn't happen. There
was a length of barbed wire in front of me,
day after day, night after night. One day I tried
to walk through the wire. They pulled me off, and
I tried again and again. After that, I had some
(07:32):
kind of fever. Now it's your turn. I'll get the drinks.
I'll need one telling you this, you might need one.
Listening interesting writers, all of it. And where is this?
(08:05):
This little black book right here? M looks harmless in
the lots of people carry them. You you just use
it for memoranda, that's right, Dates, places, stray ideas I
want to jut down. Certainly, nothing unusual about that. But
the last four pages of the book taker looks strange
to read those last four pages just one line to
(08:30):
a page that's right, and not one of them seems
to make any sense.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Now you know why my partner, my doctor, even my
secretary are beginning to guess.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I don't understand. Why did you write these things?
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Would you say that I did write them?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
The handwriting is the same, are a very clever imitation, Exactly.
I wrote all the previous pages, those last four I didn't.
Perhaps you want to Oh, no, I didn't write them
and forget them. After the first two entries. I mentioned
this to doctor Whieters.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
He explained it said I'd had the book on my
bed table.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
And wrote it in my sleep. That would be my
guess too, and quite possible.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Except that after that I left the book at the office.
The other two messages I found on different afternoons during
the last few days.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I didn't write them.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Perhaps it's the work of a practical joker, someone I
don't know how strange. I have other aberrations too.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
They began soon after the first message in the book,
such as I hear the telephone ring, well, there's.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
No one on the wire. I answered door bells, there's
no one at the door.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
One night I woke with a spotlight in my face.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
No one was in the room. You found the third
message yesterday? Yes, I called you that a deal was off.
You're lucky. Actually, how did bee for your.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Survey to have it come out later that the head
of the research organization.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Was office Rocker? Not good, but I'm not good. Let's
leave it at that. Strange. Wait a minute, and this
weather report clipped at the last page. You you found
it this way? This way the reports is generally clear
with rising temperature and the entry, it will still be
gloomy when you go home. Funny the combination mean anything
(10:23):
to you? Yes, it means something. To me. It means
I'm going to die to night. That's ridiculous. The writer
of these notes would be a superstitious person. Strange to
day is the thirteenth. Ah, I don't make sense, do I? No?
(10:44):
You don't delusions? Good night er you were? You have
no idea who the writer of the messages might be.
I know who it is. He's in my office and
he has every reason to kill me. But if but
I don't know how to identify him. If I did,
I might not be afraid. Blind spots again. Yeah, they're
(11:07):
with us all because I suppose so.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Look, Strange, I've told you more than I attended to.
Now get out of here, will you.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
You've got a lot at stake in that pole of yours?
And you know, maybe I figure there are things even
more important than four nation polls. People. They're troubles, people
like you Leland Rodgers, a man who was once strong
enough to build a great organization from nothing. Will you
get out? You've gotta fight Leland, and I'll help you.
(11:36):
There's nothing I like better. Good Lord Strange, didn't.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You hear me?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I said, get up?
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Why if I wanted a body god, I'd hire and.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Done it and for free. This is my own mess.
Why do you want to get yourself into it? I
don't never do. Look, Look, this is strictly business to night.
I body God for you. Tomorrow. You throw away that
little black book in the ash can and go on
with my survey. I don't know what to say. You're
(12:03):
sure you can't identify this man?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
The Burnham Detective Agency in New York is working on
it for me. If I can break through this fog,
maybe I can give.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Them more to go. One blind spot in your memory,
something like that, something like that. Maybe if you told
me the whole story. It might show up, it might
only I well, it embarrassing. Eh, it's a long story. Well,
(12:33):
we have a long evening on our hands. It's only
uh seven thirty seven thirty. You were had to be somewhere.
Oh oh no, looks strange, Eric. That's better. I've decided
that I can trust you. Thanks. I think I'll take
a shower.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Climb into a robe, then I'll tell you the works everything.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yes, go ahead with your shower. I wait. He went
into the other room to change. I could hear him
moving around. Then a few minutes later he turned on
the water in the shower. I couldn't help feeling sorry
(13:20):
for him, the way he seemed to be dodging shadows.
He'd been in there about ten minutes when the phone
rang on the desk. Shall I get it, Leylan. He
didn't seem to hear me. I wasn't sure if he'd
want me taking his palls, but I took a chance. Hello, Strange, Yes,
this is the desk clerk. I have a message for
(13:41):
you for me. Yes, sir, mister Rodgers asked.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Me to tell you what he was called out on
an appointment.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Mister Rogers is right here.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
He said he'd be back to finish that story, missus
straight meantime. Sorry, he wants you to turn off the shower.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
The shower, all right, clerk, I'll I'll take care of it.
Leiland Rodgers had given me the slip. I didn't know
how long he'd be, but curiosity and an unusual interest
in this unusual man held me right there in his
hotel suitep I turned off one shower, turned on another
(14:20):
with the Seltzer order and the liquor cabinet. That, together
with a few magazines and some interesting pen sketches on
the wall, kept me occupied for some two and a
half hours. Then I thought I heard Rogers at the door.
It wasn't locked, and I sat back waiting for him
to come in. He didn't, but some one else did.
(14:42):
A very expensive looking young lady with ash blonde hair,
the right amount of jewelry, and from the average male viewpoint,
the right dress. She entered the room slowly, then acted
almost as frightened as Roger's had when she caught sight
of me.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
Oh believe me, ah.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Ha, who are you.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Let's just say a friend, Leland Rodgers, You're are extrange.
Speaker 7 (15:08):
I've seen your picture in the papers.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
All right, I'm very strange, and you're a friend of
Leland Rodgers.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
Yeah, he isn't here.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I'm expecting him any minute.
Speaker 6 (15:25):
Oh well, i'd better not wait.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Perhaps I had better not wait.
Speaker 6 (15:30):
No, no, really, I mean mister Rogers didn't even know
I was coming on. Sure he'd be curious if I've
interrupted anything.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
You see, he wasn't.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Really, I'm taking calls and I excuse me, yes speaking,
This is Lieutenant Mannix, homicide, homicide. Yes, lieutenant, I.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Was just checking. And the desk clerk tells me you've
been with mister Rogers part.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Of the evening. Yes, I have stepped out a while
ago and expect him back soon. Don't he won't be Oh.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
I'm calling from his office. Mister strange. Leland Rogers is dead.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Roger dead?
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Oh no?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
When did it happen, Lieutenant Howell?
Speaker 5 (16:15):
But an hour ago, watchman found of making his rounds
single shot at the job. Will you come over a shot?
Speaker 3 (16:21):
I'll leave right away. Good? What is it? Uh, mutual
friend Leland Rodgers was shot to dead. Happened in his office.
I'm going over there. You'd better come with me.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
No, no, no, I can't do that.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Why not, Well, I I can't get mixed up in.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
Anything like this.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Maybe you already are miss.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
Uh milna gerred Milner. Listen, mister Strange, you must believe me.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
I only met mister Rogers once before.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
How do I know that wasn't an hour ago in
his office?
Speaker 7 (16:53):
Well, I haven't been out of the hotel. We live
here too.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
We have the suite on the floor.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Buzz we maya my husband and I.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Oh, why see? And he well, he wouldn't like this.
Speaker 7 (17:08):
He wouldn't understand.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I guess not have Have you been up there with
him for the past few hours?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
No, No, I was love.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Then how do I know that you?
Speaker 7 (17:18):
Oh, it's easy to prove that I didn't go out.
Just check room service. I've sent down for things all evening.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
I was bored that I believe.
Speaker 7 (17:29):
Oh, please, mister Strange, Now you won't implicate me.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I'll check the room service. Police Lieutenant John Mannox was
a very efficient gentleman. When I pulled up at the
downtown office of Roger's International Research, a lone police car
was parked at the curb. I learned that the others,
(17:54):
including an ambulance in Roger's own car, had already been
driven off. My cab rolled in behind the police car.
I got out, paid the driver and entered the building.
They were expecting me. My elevator boy on the trip
up was a heavy set sergeant. He took me straight
to Leland Rodgers's office. Mannix had made a few other calls.
(18:15):
Roger's partner Jim Carr, was there, together with an older
man who Mannix immediately introduced.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
A strange mister Fogey, you've met Jim Carr who, yes, yes,
we've met. Mister Fogerty is more or less a silent
partner in the firm.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
But under the circumstance.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
I'm only silent so I can listen better, Lieutenant. I
know what's going on, know all about strange his survey,
how Leland felt about it.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Did you know he wanted to call it off?
Speaker 3 (18:39):
What? That's the way it was. Mister Fogetty changed his
mind all of a sudden. I tried to talk him
out of it, but he wouldn't listen. No, he was
very determined. I I don't understand that.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
I don't understand at all, either of you know any
reason why he would have come down here the night.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Pure impottiveness, maybe he's the worker.
Speaker 8 (18:56):
Lieutenant lived for this office, this business we all do.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
I suppose he had been actually usually lately worried, like
he had things in his.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Mind and always had things on his mind.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
But he did behave on a little. We've been worried about.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
Him, and the rest have I haven't what are you
getting out, Lieutenant, suicide.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Right, and that's one of you might be able to
suggest an enemy, and Leland had no enemies. Everybody loved
the boys.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
I wouldn't go that farm him here in our car.
The man's dead.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Don't you say anything, a gentleman, I believe there's something
I should tell you.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Hm, go ahead, Strange. Unless I'm mistaken. You were the
last person to see Rogers alive.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
You are mistaken, Lieutenant. There was a hotel clerk, and
if this wasn't a suicide, there was also his murderer.
I stand corrected, Thank you. Now, I'll tell my little story,
or rather Leland Rodgers' story. That's all there is to it, Strange.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Which isn't that enough?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Lieutenant?
Speaker 8 (20:01):
The man was terrified, poppycock, missus Stranger. Leland was never
terrified by anything.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
That isn't quite true, mister Poggerty. I told you he'd
been acting odd.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
He was carrying no little black book when we found him. Naturally,
a murderer wouldn't leave it to the mercies of a
handwriting expert. But you saw this book. I saw it.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
They could be the simple explanation that Rogers had some
sort of a lapsided idea that he didn't want his
debt to look like suicide. Could be you don't think
I don't think so. I've been in the business a
long time, Strange.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I've been writing about people for a long time, Lieutenant.
I think I know when a man shows genuine fear.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
And of course you have the added advantage of being
the last brandish here me.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Yes, and the hotel clerk. Lieutenant. Yes, mister Karr, I
saw that book myself many times.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Oh.
Speaker 9 (20:48):
Rogers always carried it his idea book, jotted down ideas
he got at odd times.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Strange.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
Can you recall the wording of those unusual messages?
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I think so. There were four of them, were one
to a page. The first was at dawn the sun
casts long shadows.
Speaker 10 (21:07):
On the other three the horse lost a shoe while
our bells were still ringing, And the third was turned down,
the blind spot's pole and the last it will still.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Be gloomy when you go home. There was a weather
report attached to that night.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Nonsense.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Nothing is a fruitcake, Hey, No, Lieutenant, we all tried
to get Leland to takeification.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
The secretary, doctor Widers.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Didn't have any idea it was this dead car. Why
didn't he know he was cracking up sell out.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Before before he made the rest of us go broke?
Speaker 8 (21:37):
Lieutenant, there won't be a lot of fuss made over this,
will They research group can't stand a lot of notoriety,
you know, if you would see your way clear to
keep things as quiet as possible and.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Let the police get another riding. I didn't mean that.
I'm afraid we'll have to face the fact that the
lieutenant isn't hired to keep things quiet, gentlemen. He's here
to try and discover why Leland Rodgers is dead tonight
instead of alive.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Maybe I can even pull a murder out of this
and get myself a raise. One more thing, Where do
I get hold of Roger's relatives?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
He has none that I know of.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I'll give you his secretary's address. She was the closest
to him.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Oh lord, all the.
Speaker 9 (22:14):
Organization needs now is some relative popping in and trying to.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Take over you through us.
Speaker 8 (22:19):
Lieutenant for the president, mister, I'll say, good evening, coming cars,
all ride with you.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
If I may.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Eh.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
They seem more upset over themselves than their partner.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
They do have a lot to lose, Lieutenant.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
That Storry Rogers tells you. What do you think now?
No known enemies, no relatives.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Kar and Rogers had very opposite views on how to
run the business. What do you mean? Carr? Just thinking,
how do you figure this vogany? Oh, seems like a nice,
old gent very blue bed.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
We'll find time a night to be waking up a
young lady from her beauty sleep. And I'm going to
talk to that secretary. Do you want to come along
strange so.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
You can keep an eye? And I didn't say that,
no matter of fact, I'm bursting to go. If you
had a nice I might have been over there so
fast I'd have answered her door for you.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
That sounds like a man almost fast enough to be
here tonight and back at that hotel in time to
answer my phone call.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Why don't you check with room service? I mine? What's
so funny? Nothing, Lieutenant, nothing at all. Let's go call
on this Mona Buttlet Mannix was all right. I found
(23:39):
that out as we drove across town. He was just
a hard working fellow, anxious to do his job and
do it well. I liked him, but I didn't share
his growing theory that this was a simple case of suicide.
We reached Mona Botlet's apop and, after climbing a steep
flight of terra cotta steps to a handkerchief sized landing.
Almost immediately we heard the soft slap of moccasins coming
(24:02):
in response to our ring. I almost didn't remember her
when she opened the door, in white robe and slippers,
her hair hanging to her shoulders. She was slight, childlike,
a totally different creature from the formidable, efficient office guardian
of the late Leland Rogers.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
Come in, please, Jim Carr called me, told me what happened. Oh,
I'm sorry, Do sit.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Down, Thank you. I'm sorry to disturb you. Disturb me
here here, miss bartlet you sit down.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
That's sorry. When Jim called I, well, I felt like
I was in the middle of a bad dream. I
kept thinking it.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
But now you come in here, Jim must have told you,
Lieutenant Mannox wants to contact the next of ken. He
thought that you.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
I really can't help you much there, mister Rogers wrote
to no relatives mentioned none to my knowledge.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Eh, he was a lone wolf. Maybe in his room
or in a safety deposit box.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
There'll be something. Oh well, one more thing. Do you
know of any business appointment he had to night?
Speaker 3 (25:12):
No?
Speaker 7 (25:12):
I don't could have been meeting any one of the
eighty people in the office.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Do you know of any man in the office that
he might have been afraid of meeting?
Speaker 7 (25:22):
No, then there were the hundreds of past and present
clients the concern. Look, I'll give you the key to
my desk, Lieutenant, you can check our appointment books.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Thanks. Don't think I'll find anything. But you never known.
Wasn't there a doctor you wanted to talk to Mannix.
Speaker 7 (25:38):
Doctor Whitehurst.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Yeah, that's the name.
Speaker 7 (25:40):
It's Hilldale's seven seven five seven.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
I'll try umph.
Speaker 5 (25:44):
Well that's about all, miss Barbart, unless, of course, you
know of any enemies he hadn't. No, you had no
idea he was contemplating suicide. Oh what is it, Miss Badler,
I should have known that.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
What? Well?
Speaker 7 (26:01):
There was an assignment paper He dictated it to me
about a week ago, said it was confidential. What what
is all about his voting shares of stock in the company?
He assigned them to Jim Carr. Uh I remember he
said this would be until a certain situation was cleared up.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
You had no idea what that situation was. No, can't
know about the assignment.
Speaker 7 (26:22):
He still doesn't, said mister Roger's safety deposit box. He
said that no one, not even mister Carr, must know.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Well he'll know, no, Alredy, yes he will. They say it.
How did those two get along?
Speaker 7 (26:35):
They had different ideas, but they complimented one another. Both
knew it. The company meant everything to both of 'em.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Okay, thanks, miss Batte. See it to mar Oh, I
are you all right?
Speaker 7 (26:47):
I will be. Would you could you stay for a
few minutes?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Of course, go ahead, Mannix, I'll get in touch with you.
You won't have to strange where all was around.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
They'll find the liquor in the cupboard above the sink.
And and Jim Carr wanted you to call him back
after Mannix.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Left if possible know what he wants.
Speaker 7 (27:15):
I can guess. Never approved of calling off the survey
on your book.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
That's my guess too. I'll sleep on it. Call him
in the morning.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
Whatever you say. Oh, I feel like a fool going
to pieces like this. Really, I'm not a goofy stenog
and love of their boss.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
You should have been. He seemed like a lot of men.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
Oh, he was a powerhouse. He was the heart and
soul of that business. It'll all be lost without him.
I'll be Oh. Oh if i'd only told someone about
that aside, I don't please, please take it easy.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That's the bad part about a thing like this. Everybody
thinks about what they might have done. Chance of Samis Bartlet.
There wasn't any way you or anyone could have stopped.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
Do you believe that?
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Yes? She buried her face on my shoulder. I could
smell the fragrance of her skin, feel the convulsive movement
as she cried it out. She stayed there until her
breath grew even again, peaceful. Her taught buddy relaxed. Then
(28:31):
abruptly she pulled away from me, stood up.
Speaker 7 (28:35):
I want to call Greg Greg greg Rome. He's one
of our research workers. Mister Rogers thought a lot of him. Oh,
of course, thank you very much, mister Strange.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Not at all, do you want me to call a
taxi for you? No? I walked, good night, Ohna, good night, Eric.
Speaker 7 (28:58):
Already I'm gonna called San Francisco for Greg Rome at
the Wilkins Hotel. That's right, Greg Rome.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I went down the stairs, wondering if I wasn't being
a little foolish about the whole matter. I tried to
tell myself that I ought to tab that story of
Roger's for what it probably was and accept Mannox's ideas
about the case. I guess I just about decided that
way as I came out of the building and stepped
off the curb. That's when I heard the car come
(29:30):
roaring around the corner behind me.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Look out, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (29:35):
You're running down.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
In tonight's full hour of Suspense, Edmund O'Brien stars has
Eric in The blind Spot, adapted for radio by Joel Malone.
Tonight's study in Suspense. In just a moment, we will
return with Act two of Suspense.
Speaker 11 (30:07):
This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System and now back.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
To our Hollywood sound stage and Act two of The
blind Spot starring Edmond O'Brien. Eric Strange has known fear
and this night he has seen the brilliant mind of
Leland Rodgers overpowered by fear, a fear that has cost
his life. Now it is Eric's life that is in danger.
This man, whose business it is to deal in facts,
(30:36):
has been driven by instinct and intuition to dismiss the
verdict of suicide against his friend Leland Rodgers in favor
of murder. And this course has led him into the
path of a swerving automobile. And now, with Edmund O'Brien
as Eric, and with Act two of the Blind Spot,
we again hope to keep you in suspense.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Time was irrelevant, seconds, minutes, hours, But when the first
bright thread of consciousness broke through the pattern of darkness,
I had the feeling that I hadn't been knocked out
for long. The damp night air chilled me that I
(31:23):
lay sprawled on the sidewalk. I got up, slowly, wondering
why I was still alive. I discovered one thing for sure.
Someone had wanted me out of the way, badly enough
to risk his own neck and jumping his car over
an eighteen inch curving around the corner where the car
(31:52):
must have been part waiting for me. I found something else.
Three cigarette stands. One was still.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
I jumped like a.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Jack rabbitt it, but I thought was my friend coming back.
It's just a cruising cab. I must have looked pretty
frightening to the driver. You're right, buddy, Yes, great. Take
me to the Park Center Hotel, Park Central.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Hey, look when I see guys picking up cigarette but
I don't care here.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I got plenty of money here.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Get going, yeah, get going, I'm going all right, going nuts.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
It's strange.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Why you've been hurt.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
You ought to see the other car. Look, I was
gonna stay here with Leland Rodgers. Oh, yes, sir, we'll
give you the room next to his suite. The police
are up there now, Oh, Lieutenant mannox Is. He's having
mister Rogers rooms locked down.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
The boy will take you up, mister Strange, and if
you want anything.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Just ring. Yes, what happens strange? Try to kiss it. Yes,
he's the angel of death. And I don't mean miss Bartlett. Lieutenant.
When I came out of the building, somebody tried to
run me down. Hit and run drivers. They're bad. You're
(33:20):
too largical, Lieutenant. I could grow to hate you. I
tell you. The man was waiting for me. I found
cigarette stubbs one was still warm.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
It'll be cold before you can get into court. Is evidence.
Let's say a hit and run driver.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Huh, I'm not talking to you anymore. Find anything next door?
Another thing?
Speaker 5 (33:40):
And Mac just called from headquarters only finger princes and
Roger's gun to his own.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
I want to say, somebody wore gloves, okay, and two
knocked out to argue.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I'll run along. Eric, you better get yourself from sleep.
And maybe tomorrow he is to decide that I know
what I'm talking about.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Maybe I've already decided I died that you're the seventeen
I think so, diffinitely. I'm forgetting all about the cases
of right now. Oh oh, that must have been a Cadillac,
a big one. Sorry.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
I accused you of playing post office all right night, mum.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Post off, post office?
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Maybe that's it.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Come on, come on, which board, get me the post office.
I want to speak to the postmaster.
Speaker 7 (34:34):
Huh are you kidding at two o'clock in the morning.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Huh oh oh sorry. Sense of time never was too good,
and I'll try him a little later. The post office
hunch was a wild one, but I followed it through.
I was there bright and early, talking to the supervisor.
(34:58):
Would you repeat that question, mister Strange?
Speaker 8 (35:01):
Certainly, And I want to want a list of people
who've applied for post box rentals in the last two weeks, right,
I hate to turn you down, mister Strange. I know
about your work for the State Department. That what the
devil do you want for those names?
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Or A friend of mine was corresponding with a Burnham
detective agency in New York. I don't think he would
have wanted his correspondence to go through his office. M
We couldn't open any letters, you know, I know, I
know there probably aren't any. I just want to know
if he rented a box. Look, I checked with Henley up. Yeah,
that's different. But didn't you say show let's have a
look here last two weeks?
Speaker 12 (35:34):
Eh mm hmmm, only one name, Lamce Martin boked two
eight Lance Martin.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Perhaps he look, I'll be back. You've been a big help.
Thanks a lot of take. I'm terribly sorry.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
I'm in a hurry. Certainly, Yes, I have to make
a New y'all call.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
The call is to Pete Stan, my agent, a man
who'll do anything for me for ten percent. I asked
him to check somehow at the Burnham Detective Agency see
if they were working for a Lancemartin and Beverly Hills
Post Office box number two. Oh wait. All I could
do was wait on that. So I made another call,
then headed down to the Research Office to keep an
appointment with Jim Carr. He'd taken over but good. He
(36:28):
was sitting in Roger's chair, dictating furiously when I walked in.
Speaker 9 (36:32):
And if this emergency division of authority between the board
members and myself results in a more balanced and scientific
control of R I are I see no reason why
the system should not be made.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Oh then' there you come in?
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Strange? Sorry if I interrupted, Miss Bartlet's.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Say, all right, sit down? Type that much brought away?
Miss Atkins.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
Yes, I caught that last paragraph about your dividing control
that I've always advocated. It's in an excellent time to
install that after that assignment of Rajasthan.
Speaker 9 (37:05):
Yes, strange, you don't suppose that assignment might cause anybody
to wonder?
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Have they any cause to? I shouldn't have mentioned it, Strange.
I hope you never know what it feels like to
kill a man. What this kills. I have to feed
myself for Ulcer's nerves.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
Everything in the book. I'm killing myself Strange, slowly but surely.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Oh, this business, it's the car. I better use one
of your worries right now. We'll go ahead with my survey.
When can you start?
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Why write away Strange?
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Immediately, I'll start things humming.
Speaker 9 (37:41):
There'll be seven hundred men out asking questions about your
book within twenty four hours.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Fine, I'll be at the hotel if you have to
check on anything. I'm expecting a long distance course.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Very good, and thank you, mister Strange. Thank you very much.
Be assured that I that will do a job for you.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Crossing the hotel lobby tard the desk, I I happened
to glance into the cocktail room. I saw a familiar
reflection in one of the big mirrors and back of
the bar, in fact, two familiar reflections. I went in,
sat down beside Mona Bartlett.
Speaker 7 (38:15):
Mister Strange. Hello, all right, Eric Strange Gregory rod Stray
just got in from San Francisco about twenty minutes ago.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Really us do it with mirrors? What we ran into
each other in the post office this morning? The post office, Oh,
you must leave a stake of a hut, I I
must be a lucky girl, Mona. Anything should happen to
this boyfriend, You've got his exact twin to turn to.
All you have to do is find just mix up strange.
Speaker 11 (38:46):
Chances are the fellow.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
Doesn't even look like you're sure. Probably smokes a different
brand of cigarettes too. Just what are you getting out strange? Sorry,
I'm I'm always suffering from blind spots. Have to dash, Mona,
expecting a call. I rode up in the elevator, wondering
(39:10):
vaguely where Greg room fitted into the picture and just
what time he had arrived from San Francisco. But I
didn't have long to think about it. They'd given me
the room next to Leland Rodgers' suite. It was supposed
to be locked up on police order, but I could
hear someone moving around in there. I went out on
the balcony found that it connected with his. A few
(39:31):
moments later, I was looking through a pair of French
doors and a pair of legs. They belonged to Cheryl Milmer.
She saw me almost passed out, and changed the mind
and came over to let me in.
Speaker 7 (39:45):
Eric. What are you doing here?
Speaker 3 (39:46):
That's a funny question, Cheryl but I haven't time to lie.
What's the idea? The idea?
Speaker 6 (39:51):
Oh well, I I lost a ring when I was
here with you, and I thought i'd better get it back.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
My husband doesn'tderstand. I know where's the ring? Then you
threw looking around? Better get out the way you got in?
Just how did you get in?
Speaker 7 (40:09):
The bell captain?
Speaker 3 (40:11):
I bribed him.
Speaker 6 (40:12):
Yes, they're so obliging. He is so understanding when a
lady's in distress.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
Those room service.
Speaker 6 (40:20):
I don't know what you mean, Eric, Oh really.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
Dark, don't you see what this can do to your alibi?
Speaker 7 (40:27):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (40:28):
I never thought. I'm not so sure that my call. Look,
you better get out of here. I'll talk to you lady.
Please do go on gone.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Hello, Hello, Eric, this is Pete.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Pete. You get what I wanted?
Speaker 7 (40:43):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 13 (40:44):
Burnham Detective Agency has been corresponding with a Lance Martin,
Beverly Hills.
Speaker 7 (40:48):
I got a.
Speaker 13 (40:49):
Girlfriend in their file room.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
Huh, the power of a woman.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Here's the door now.
Speaker 13 (40:53):
Martin's been after them to trace his ex wife, Allen Martin.
In the agency's firstly fourth They found that she died
and on the side for the insane ten years ago
brought there by the police.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
I see one off Rogers was ever married? What? Uh? Nothing?
Keep talking?
Speaker 13 (41:08):
A letter in her purse asked that she'd be treated right.
It was signed by her son, Daryl Martin.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
There's no trace of the boy before or since, Pete.
I think we've hit it. Her son, Roger's son. He'd
be grown up now. It's the man he was afraid of.
The name's Martin Rick, not Rogers. It's all right that
that could have been a maiden name, don't you see? Oh?
Speaker 1 (41:30):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
What's it all about? Have them time? Write your book
about it later. If he deserted them, left them? What
a mota? Huh? Oh? Coming coming mona. I thought you
would have to see you, Eric, I need an excuse, Sure,
(41:52):
come on in.
Speaker 7 (41:53):
I haven't blong, but I had to know what you
were driving at downstairs? About Greg?
Speaker 3 (41:58):
I need meeting him the post office?
Speaker 7 (41:59):
This you didn't. Of course, I met his plane.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Eric, Why are you protecting him? In love with the guy?
Speaker 7 (42:09):
I I don't know. I've known him ever since college.
I guess I guess he's well, he's always sort of dependent.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
On me, big fellow like that. I should think you.
Speaker 7 (42:23):
Don't know him, Eric, he's been hurt inside. I mean
by things that have happened.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
What kind of things? Eric?
Speaker 7 (42:32):
He Greg once killed a man.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Kill the man.
Speaker 7 (42:36):
It wasn't his fault, it was an accident. But please,
I didn't come here to tell you about that.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
And why did you come here? Eric?
Speaker 7 (42:44):
I like you very much. I wish you'd give this up,
except Lieutenant Mannix's theory.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Before before what? Owner?
Speaker 7 (42:58):
Oh, I don't know. I've a feeling that something might happen.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
It almost did. I tangled with a hit and run
driver when I left your place. What it's all right?
Mannex's pedestrians are on their own in this time. But mona, Yes,
won't you tell me when Greg really got back in town?
Speaker 7 (43:13):
I've told you all.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
I'm going to How old is Greg?
Speaker 7 (43:17):
We're about twenty six?
Speaker 3 (43:20):
But whereas folks? Have you ever met them?
Speaker 7 (43:22):
No? No, I never have.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
You won't tell me any more about his accident? Where'd
you two go to school?
Speaker 7 (43:31):
San Carlos College? Ah, that seems like such a long
time ago.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Stop it, will you? How do you think you make
me feel? I'm thirty five, positively ancient?
Speaker 7 (43:42):
Ru Eric, you will get out of this. Leave Greg alone.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
I'm sorry, Mona, I want to be very sure about
the guy you marry.
Speaker 7 (43:53):
I didn't say I.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
Know nobody's a habit, and I'll bet he's said it.
Speaker 7 (43:57):
Yes, he wants me to marry him right away.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
Don't please, Mona, Just give me a couple of days.
Speaker 7 (44:03):
Maybe once I have to get back down.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
He'll wonder what you won't promise?
Speaker 7 (44:08):
I can't, he Eric, I'm true mixed up?
Speaker 3 (44:12):
Come here? What that makes up a little more? Eric? Eric? Why?
Maybe maybe to confuse you enough to wait? Maybe a
lot of other reasons, Mona, we'll talk about it when
I get back. Where are you going right now? To college?
(44:45):
Dean's spirit at San Carlos College was a man who
lived by a routine. It didn't include sudden, unannounced visitors.
And after my long flight up there, it appeared that
I might not get to see him. A lady came
to my rescue again, the dean's housekeeper. She's uh, read
my books, didn't like them, but thought all writers were
romantic figures. She said she had a plan. She disappeared
(45:08):
a few minutes later, the dean came ambling out of
his study.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
Eh, it's strange you're the author of blind Spots.
Speaker 3 (45:16):
Eh, that's right, sir, I have a chair. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
May I commend you young men. You have the rare
gift of making facts plausible. Even our freshmen read you.
Speaker 3 (45:26):
Oh, thank you, Dean.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
My housekeeper, missus Wilkins, tells me you're considering a post
in our economic department. Oh hm, that woman always does
things the hard way.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
Didn't she think I'd talked to the author of Blind Spots,
which she doesn't like the books?
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Sir, She's stupid, kind and harmless. Though, So what did
you have in mind, mister Strange?
Speaker 3 (45:49):
An ex student of yours Gregory Rome? What about Rome? I? Uh, well,
I'm going to Greece for the State Department. I'm picking
up two assistants. Rome's name was suggested. Now if you
could add your recreation, I can't.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
I suggest you contact Roger's International Research.
Speaker 3 (46:10):
He works for them. Well, naturally, I had Leland Rodgers
on my list, but since his violent death violent death,
I thought suicide came under that category. In any case,
since I can't ask him, I thought perhaps the man
who must have suggested Rome for the job in the first.
Speaker 2 (46:26):
I didn't suggest him. If anyone did, it was an
honor student here muna bottlet.
Speaker 3 (46:31):
Then you refuse to put in a word for Rome.
Speaker 2 (46:34):
I resent your asking it. I resent your forcing me
to write a man's career.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
Rome may have.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
Fought his way successfully out of a bad beginning, but
you confound it strange after our experience with him.
Speaker 3 (46:45):
Here was an accident of some sort that I.
Speaker 2 (46:48):
Don't mean it. That was during a wrestling match, Rome
killed his opponent. The Athletic Board dismissed it, blamed it
on inexperienced the result of imperfect wrestling technique. I'm sure
he was blameless in that instance might have happened to anybody.
There was something else. There was, indeed, a shocking, premeditated
act of violence.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
That's why you reacted, Sir Dea Lyland Rodgers' suicide.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
It is to be explicit strange we expelled Rome for
something just shot of murder.
Speaker 3 (47:16):
Go on.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
On a certain spring evening during his junior year, Rome
waylaid and brutally beat his professor public opinion measurement left
the man a mass of bruises, lacerations and a concussion.
We found him only just in time.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
What motive did he have?
Speaker 2 (47:30):
Ye, that's exactly the point. He had none whatsoever. He
told a preposterous story of the professor making improper advances
towards Rome's fiancee, a charge described as ridiculous by the
girl as well as by the professor.
Speaker 3 (47:44):
Why didn't the professor prefer charges.
Speaker 2 (47:46):
He had no wish to bring notoriety on either the school.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
Or his family. What about Rome's parents? Couldn'ty shed any
light on his actions? As I recall the voyme was
an orphan, I see say he didn't have any grandparents?
Did he name of Martin?
Speaker 2 (48:00):
I see no reason to pursue the meta further, missus strange,
I do not recall names, and I have no intention
of doing anything at all that might help Gregory Rome
into a position of trust.
Speaker 3 (48:11):
Good Night, And that was that. The Dean went back
to his routine, and I headed back to the airport.
I had to lie, but I'd learned plenty about the
past of Gregory Rome, and it wasn't pretty. Flying down
(48:37):
the coast, I felt as if I was trying to
push that plane at greater speed. My mind, my heart,
my body were all tense and driving it forward with
the terrible realization that Mona Bartlett might at that moment
be with this madman might even be deciding to marry him.
It was all clear now Roger's knowing there was a
(48:57):
son somewhere, a boy he'd never seen. I hadn't even
known about when he left the mother to be committed
to an asylum. When he learned it realized from those
notes that it was someone in his own office, a
fear had hit him. I didn't blame him for being afraid.
And I shuddered thinking about Mona, the way she'd somehow
believed in Gregg all these years, championed, remained faithful in
(49:21):
spite of everything. I had to get back. I had
to get back.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
Look, mister Warry in town. If you want this hack
to go any faster, drive it yourself.
Speaker 3 (49:38):
It's all right. It's deserted. I don't care. Look, turn
left the end of the block or a part that's
right around the corner. Say the car at front stop
right behind him. He's here. Hey, that's the car. That's
the car that hit me.
Speaker 1 (49:57):
What are you talking?
Speaker 3 (49:58):
Never mind the look driver, here's ten dollars for you.
I'll pick up Lieutenant Mannox Homicide Division, Police Headquarters. Bring
him here on the double.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Oh, mister tank.
Speaker 3 (50:09):
It from me.
Speaker 1 (50:10):
Don't go mixing with the police. Telln and look go
up there and talk it over with.
Speaker 3 (50:15):
A peaceable and then just say blind spots. He'll come.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
I'm gone, Okay.
Speaker 3 (50:23):
I turned towards the apartment started inside. Wasn't easy, but
I had to realize Mona was up there with him.
As I went up the steps, my head kept spinning
with a jumble of things i'd heard about the man.
I was about to face, a madman, an ex wrestler
who killed one of his opponents. I wondered how his
(50:44):
next opponent would make out. Hello, Greg, Hello, I want
to see Mona. You want to see Mona? Sure you do?
You post office, Johnny all a man. I'd like to
(51:06):
see Mona. Glad you're here, strange glad you went to
San Carlos. Now you know what's coming.
Speaker 7 (51:16):
Greg, not here.
Speaker 3 (51:17):
If we wanted to stare around.
Speaker 13 (51:19):
Chair trying to drag her into with her just because
she had a dick with him that night, you want,
I want.
Speaker 7 (51:25):
To let Greg stop it, stop it.
Speaker 1 (51:27):
Lea, I can stop.
Speaker 3 (51:30):
Oh Mona, Mona, you shut me.
Speaker 7 (51:54):
I'm right here, Eric, Eric, I'm sorry. I was trying.
Speaker 3 (52:00):
I know where's he's still out?
Speaker 7 (52:04):
He struck his head on the stairs when you're.
Speaker 3 (52:05):
Hitting did you did you call the police?
Speaker 7 (52:08):
No? Eric, please, he suffered enough.
Speaker 3 (52:12):
You know you know who he is.
Speaker 7 (52:14):
He told me tonight that horrible childhood. Can't you see
why he had to make Rogers suffer as he'd seen
his mother suffer.
Speaker 3 (52:22):
I'm sorry for him, Mona, but we've got to turn
him in. He's a homicidal maniac. Come on, help me
to the phone.
Speaker 7 (52:30):
No, no, listen, we'll have to put him away ourselves quietly.
This is no time to drag this thing through the courts.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
Why why isn't at the time your.
Speaker 7 (52:40):
Survey darling a murder trial. Now with everything everything coming out, Eric,
you've got to think of yourself. You have to go
on being a success.
Speaker 3 (52:54):
Like Rogers.
Speaker 7 (52:57):
Greg was right, very fond of you. Eric, Please, please,
for my sake, don't call the police.
Speaker 3 (53:07):
Mona, Mona, don't you realize what you're saying. We can't
decide this thing you are talking Craig. That's when it
hit me. Gregg's words suddenly came bouncing back, words that
changed everything, wiped away the last blind spot.
Speaker 13 (53:23):
Try to drag her into it just because she had
a date with him.
Speaker 7 (53:26):
That night.
Speaker 3 (53:28):
Mona, you, Darrell martn't a girl's nae you are me?
Speaker 7 (53:35):
I gave you a chance. Eric, I could have fired again.
Speaker 3 (53:38):
It wasn't an accident. You you meant to hit me.
Then you've lost your nerves.
Speaker 7 (53:42):
I love you, Er, I really do.
Speaker 3 (53:45):
No.
Speaker 7 (53:46):
I'm asking you to play this my way. Will you no?
Then I I'm glad I won't have to shoot you again. Eric,
you're bleeding badly, very badly. That should do it. I
won't have to.
Speaker 3 (54:07):
Greg, Greg, he was just a foil someone.
Speaker 7 (54:10):
Too to help me, Yes, and at for Roger's Greg
was an orphan the right age, and after his wrestling
accident he was shaken. I kept him that way.
Speaker 3 (54:23):
Oh it's crazy, rotten professor.
Speaker 7 (54:26):
I got it in into that. He was so jealous
of the rich.
Speaker 3 (54:31):
Poor fool. He didn't have a chance.
Speaker 7 (54:34):
What about me, my mother?
Speaker 3 (54:36):
If we have a chance, Mona, Mona to destroy the
lives of others.
Speaker 7 (54:40):
Get to Leland Rogers. I'd do it all over again.
Every step book effective too, weren't they herek You know?
They almost drove him out of his mind.
Speaker 3 (54:53):
But why me?
Speaker 7 (54:55):
You wouldn't stop?
Speaker 3 (54:57):
I beg you too, And this was to look like
Greg's doing.
Speaker 7 (55:04):
Still can he is gone? And if you're not alive
to challenge me?
Speaker 3 (55:11):
Oh lord lord, Mona, please get compresses. Stop the blood
that nowhere.
Speaker 7 (55:20):
I won't have to shoot you again. I'm so glad.
Speaker 3 (55:37):
He's coming around now, Thank Heaven. The guy can't go
out of me. You don't have too many apologies? Can can?
I talk to him? Doctor Whitehurst? Now take it easy,
all you, mister strange. This is doctor Whitehurst. You're in
a hospital. Hospital where Mona? What about? She's dead? Eric
(55:57):
shot herself when we pulled up in front. Oh, did
a funny thing though. She called the emergency hospital for you.
Speaker 5 (56:06):
No something talk to young Greg here into a jealous
rage and gets him to try to run you down
and shoot your self. Changes her mind, saves your life.
Speaker 3 (56:19):
I guess it's a woman's privilege. Who change her mind? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (56:23):
By the way, Eric, uh, what about young Greg here?
What do you want us to do?
Speaker 3 (56:27):
M oh h, hello Greg? It's this stranger. She she
had quite a hole on you, didn't she? Yes? Uh?
I I didn't know what I was doing. I I
was so much Amo, you'll you'll get over it and
don't feel too bad. I I had the same blind spot.
Speaker 4 (56:47):
Oh thanks, mister strange, doctor Waitehurst cause the patient possibly
take a phone call and say it's urgent.
Speaker 3 (56:53):
I don't know. How do you feel strange? Alright, I'll
plug in right here, hold a receiver for you. Thanks, Hello,
mister Strange, Yes, Cheronnilda, Hi, Hi yourself. Goodness, darling?
Speaker 7 (57:11):
What have they done to you?
Speaker 13 (57:12):
How am I'm going to be in that horrible old hoskin.
Speaker 5 (57:14):
I'm just dying to see you again.
Speaker 3 (57:18):
I'm board, darling, and I'm tired, honey, too tired. I'm
afraid you you medical room service.
Speaker 2 (57:50):
Thank you Edmund O'Brien for a magnificent performance as Eric,
and to Jeff Corey, Bruce Cammon, Francis Cheney, Paul McVeigh,
Ralph Moody, Bud Widow Martha Shaw, and Bill ally Our
thanks for your fine support. Next week, for suspense, the
lives of three persons cross in an atmosphere fraught with
(58:11):
the fears of a doting mother. The story title holds
the premise of our play. It is aptly called Life
Ends at Midnight. So join us next week. Then, when
with Life Ends at Midnight, we again hope to keep
you in suspense.
Speaker 11 (58:28):
Mister O'Brien may soon be seen in the Universal International
production Another part of the Forest, The Blind Spot by
Lois E. B and John C. Fleming, was adapted for
radio by Joel Malone and was produced and directed by
Anton m Leader lud Gluskin is our musical director and conductor.
Lucian Morrowack and Renee Garagank composed the original scores. Listen
(58:50):
again next week for Life ends at midnight on Radio's
outstanding Theater of Thrills.
Speaker 3 (58:55):
Suspend in this weather.
Speaker 11 (59:01):
Most of us have a yen to get out into
the country well this year. Enjoy it, don't destroy it.
Forest Fires do destroy miles of countryside every year, and
nine out of ten forest fires are man set started
through carelessness.
Speaker 1 (59:16):
That's another way.
Speaker 11 (59:17):
Of saying that nine out of ten forest fires could
have been prevented. When you go into the country this
spring and summer, take a few simple precautions. Crush out cigar,
cigarette and pipe embers. Snap matches in half after using,
drown camp fires, stir the ashes and then drown them again.
And before you start a fire anywhere for any purpose,
(59:38):
find out what the law about fires is in that locality.
Don't you be one of the guilty ones to turn
the destructive rampage of fire loose in our forests this spring.
Be careful and help avoid forest fires. This is CBS,
where ninety nine million people gather every week. The Columbia
(59:58):
Broadcasting System
Suspense.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Radio's outstanding Theater of Frills brings you an hour a
full sixty minutes of suspense. Tonight our star mister Edmund
O'Brien our story The Blind Spot by Lois ev and
John C. Fleming, a suspense play produced and directed by
Anton M.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Leader.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It sometimes happens with men and institutions who deal only
in facts, formulae, the core logic of scientific deduction. They
often underestimate or overlook the unpredictability of the human element.
They may cover reason and disregard instinct and emotion. Tonight,
against the background of Rogers International Research Institute Pulse of
(01:08):
the Nation's Opinions, we meet Eric Strange, Leland Rodgers, Mona
Bartlett and Gregory Rome in a dramatic combination of logic
and fear.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
And now with.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
The performance of Admin O'Brien as Eric, and with the
Blind Spot, we again hope to keep you in suspend.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Each of us has a blind spot. Some of many
blank wars in our minds are memory or opinion wars
which we cannot penetrate and so are held back, or
because we can't or won't understand, we try to draw
away from the world, run from it because the blind
(01:52):
spot has made us afraid. I started writing books about
this during the war. Maybe you've read or heard of it,
blind spots by Eric's Strange. Well, whether you have a
haven as little bearing on what I'm about to tell you.
I mentioned it simply by way of introduction, not to
myself but to fear. Yes, it was the blind spot
(02:16):
of fear in the mind and heart of Leland Rodgers
that led to well, I'm getting ahead of myself. Perhaps
it's best that you meet Leland Rodgers and see him
as I did that day when I went to his
suite in the Park Central Hotel to settle a business matter.
It wasn't our first meeting, but in a way it
seemed to be, for as I pressed the buzzer and
(02:37):
the door opened, I found myself looking at a different
Leland Rodgers, a man completely changed for me by his
look of sheer terror. Strange, Eric Strange. How do you
know what your secretary, mister Rogers? She said, Moner, she
had no right to know where heartlet is worried about you,
(02:59):
so's your partner, whole staff. You know, Rogers, when you
first approached me as a possible client, I was invited
into your office off at cigars drink. I'm sorry, strange,
come in. Think you never did like to hold a
conference in a hotel hallway.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
But there's to be no conference, understand, Strange. I thought
I made it clear we can't handle the survey for you.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Hmm. Now I suppose if I suggested that Rogers International
Research could be sued for breach of contract, I might
not be offered a chair. You have grounds for a
suit of course. Sit down. Thanks, Ah, much better now, Rogers,
what's it all about? Why did you really call things off?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
It's exactly like I told you on the phone, No
mystery about it. Albert LeBlanc, or European supervisor, was killed
yesterday in the crish at the Bourget airport to bed
for the supervisor. His organization of our overseas officers.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Was a one man miracle. That was a mistake. Of course,
won't happen again. But in the meantime, survey on my
book is impossible. Quite h Your partner Jim Carr, Now,
yes he doesn't agree. I know, but Carr isn't running
that under the business. Strange. He shouldn't have even been
talking to you. He just happened into the office while
I was with your secretary. Seemed quite upset.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yes, he's always upset, But whatever he had to say
means nothing.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
And suppose not. But he was enthused over the plans
you people has. He's always enthused. However, in this case,
I was myself. You know that. Yes, that's what confuses me. Rogers.
You seem so anxious to establish the validity of the
book's premise. I believe in that premisness.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
To Strange, I believe every word of your book, Blind Spots.
I agree that the American has the highest natural demand
for freedom, and God's that freedom with unequal personal responsibility
for national welfare.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
The survey could have proved that belief I know, I know,
or proved it to be wrong. You know, in that event,
had we discovered my premise to be arrogant assumption, I
intended that this would be the last edition of Blind Spots.
I understood your intention. People without freedom are happier without facts.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yes, yes, However, mister Strange, under the circumstances, with my
organization powerless to conduct an immediate survey, I don't see
what you say around mister Rogers.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
What I said, sit down, or better still, fix us
both a drink because I'm not leaving now.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
See you, Strange, You're wasting your time. I've told you
it's all off. I've given you a good reason. You
can take your business to universal surveys or assume me
for breach of contract.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I don't care.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
I care rogers. I want to know who threatened you threatened?
I should have warned you months ago. Threats would be
a nuisance item you'd have to figure on with my survey.
There have been no threats, not at all. I think
they have. I've been threatened regularly since the first edition
of Blind Spots, first by radicals who pull the book reactionary,
(06:01):
than by reactionaries who suggests I'm proposing revolution. There have
been no threats, no threats, Strange. It's simply that my
key man look blank in our foreign office is at
this very moment as alive as either one of us.
What do you say? What you've been saying is more important.
(06:21):
A call came in while I was at your office,
Miss Bartler took it. It was from Le Blanc View.
You let me lie, Strange, Yes, because it made you
feel easier, might make it easier for me to discover
what kind of fear you're living with. This doesn't change anything.
We're not handling the survey with or without a reason.
Nothing helps your kind of fear, but action rogers. If
(06:43):
it's free for all, I'd like to get in. Would
you care to fix those drinks? Tell me about it? Strange?
Will you ever so afraid? It was like leprosy, your mind,
your body rutting away once, sitting on the ground during
(07:08):
a war that sometimes seems like it didn't happen. There
was a length of barbed wire in front of me,
day after day, night after night. One day I tried
to walk through the wire. They pulled me off, and
I tried again and again. After that, I had some
(07:32):
kind of fever. Now it's your turn. I'll get the drinks.
I'll need one telling you this, you might need one.
Listening interesting writers, all of it. And where is this?
(08:05):
This little black book right here? M looks harmless in
the lots of people carry them. You you just use
it for memoranda, that's right, Dates, places, stray ideas I
want to jut down. Certainly, nothing unusual about that. But
the last four pages of the book taker looks strange
to read those last four pages just one line to
(08:30):
a page that's right, and not one of them seems
to make any sense.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Now you know why my partner, my doctor, even my
secretary are beginning to guess.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
I don't understand. Why did you write these things?
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Would you say that I did write them?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
The handwriting is the same, are a very clever imitation, Exactly.
I wrote all the previous pages, those last four I didn't.
Perhaps you want to Oh, no, I didn't write them
and forget them. After the first two entries. I mentioned
this to doctor Whieters.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
He explained it said I'd had the book on my
bed table.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
And wrote it in my sleep. That would be my
guess too, and quite possible.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Except that after that I left the book at the office.
The other two messages I found on different afternoons during
the last few days.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I didn't write them.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Perhaps it's the work of a practical joker, someone I
don't know how strange. I have other aberrations too.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
They began soon after the first message in the book,
such as I hear the telephone ring, well, there's.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
No one on the wire. I answered door bells, there's
no one at the door.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
One night I woke with a spotlight in my face.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
No one was in the room. You found the third
message yesterday? Yes, I called you that a deal was off.
You're lucky. Actually, how did bee for your.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Survey to have it come out later that the head
of the research organization.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Was office Rocker? Not good, but I'm not good. Let's
leave it at that. Strange. Wait a minute, and this
weather report clipped at the last page. You you found
it this way? This way the reports is generally clear
with rising temperature and the entry, it will still be
gloomy when you go home. Funny the combination mean anything
(10:23):
to you? Yes, it means something. To me. It means
I'm going to die to night. That's ridiculous. The writer
of these notes would be a superstitious person. Strange to
day is the thirteenth. Ah, I don't make sense, do I? No?
(10:44):
You don't delusions? Good night er you were? You have
no idea who the writer of the messages might be.
I know who it is. He's in my office and
he has every reason to kill me. But if but
I don't know how to identify him. If I did,
I might not be afraid. Blind spots again. Yeah, they're
(11:07):
with us all because I suppose so.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Look, Strange, I've told you more than I attended to.
Now get out of here, will you.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
You've got a lot at stake in that pole of yours?
And you know, maybe I figure there are things even
more important than four nation polls. People. They're troubles, people
like you Leland Rodgers, a man who was once strong
enough to build a great organization from nothing. Will you
get out? You've gotta fight Leland, and I'll help you.
(11:36):
There's nothing I like better. Good Lord Strange, didn't.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You hear me?
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I said, get up?
Speaker 4 (11:40):
Why if I wanted a body god, I'd hire and.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Done it and for free. This is my own mess.
Why do you want to get yourself into it? I
don't never do. Look, Look, this is strictly business to night.
I body God for you. Tomorrow. You throw away that
little black book in the ash can and go on
with my survey. I don't know what to say. You're
(12:03):
sure you can't identify this man?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
The Burnham Detective Agency in New York is working on
it for me. If I can break through this fog,
maybe I can give.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Them more to go. One blind spot in your memory,
something like that, something like that. Maybe if you told
me the whole story. It might show up, it might
only I well, it embarrassing. Eh, it's a long story. Well,
(12:33):
we have a long evening on our hands. It's only
uh seven thirty seven thirty. You were had to be somewhere.
Oh oh no, looks strange, Eric. That's better. I've decided
that I can trust you. Thanks. I think I'll take
a shower.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Climb into a robe, then I'll tell you the works everything.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yes, go ahead with your shower. I wait. He went
into the other room to change. I could hear him
moving around. Then a few minutes later he turned on
the water in the shower. I couldn't help feeling sorry
(13:20):
for him, the way he seemed to be dodging shadows.
He'd been in there about ten minutes when the phone
rang on the desk. Shall I get it, Leylan. He
didn't seem to hear me. I wasn't sure if he'd
want me taking his palls, but I took a chance. Hello, Strange, Yes,
this is the desk clerk. I have a message for
(13:41):
you for me. Yes, sir, mister Rodgers asked.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Me to tell you what he was called out on
an appointment.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Mister Rogers is right here.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
He said he'd be back to finish that story, missus
straight meantime. Sorry, he wants you to turn off the shower.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
The shower, all right, clerk, I'll I'll take care of it.
Leiland Rodgers had given me the slip. I didn't know
how long he'd be, but curiosity and an unusual interest
in this unusual man held me right there in his
hotel suitep I turned off one shower, turned on another
(14:20):
with the Seltzer order and the liquor cabinet. That, together
with a few magazines and some interesting pen sketches on
the wall, kept me occupied for some two and a
half hours. Then I thought I heard Rogers at the door.
It wasn't locked, and I sat back waiting for him
to come in. He didn't, but some one else did.
(14:42):
A very expensive looking young lady with ash blonde hair,
the right amount of jewelry, and from the average male viewpoint,
the right dress. She entered the room slowly, then acted
almost as frightened as Roger's had when she caught sight
of me.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
Oh believe me, ah.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Ha, who are you.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Let's just say a friend, Leland Rodgers, You're are extrange.
Speaker 7 (15:08):
I've seen your picture in the papers.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
All right, I'm very strange, and you're a friend of
Leland Rodgers.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
Yeah, he isn't here.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I'm expecting him any minute.
Speaker 6 (15:25):
Oh well, i'd better not wait.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Perhaps I had better not wait.
Speaker 6 (15:30):
No, no, really, I mean mister Rogers didn't even know
I was coming on. Sure he'd be curious if I've
interrupted anything.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
You see, he wasn't.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Really, I'm taking calls and I excuse me, yes speaking,
This is Lieutenant Mannix, homicide, homicide. Yes, lieutenant, I.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Was just checking. And the desk clerk tells me you've
been with mister Rogers part.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Of the evening. Yes, I have stepped out a while
ago and expect him back soon. Don't he won't be Oh.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
I'm calling from his office. Mister strange. Leland Rogers is dead.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Roger dead?
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Oh no?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
When did it happen, Lieutenant Howell?
Speaker 5 (16:15):
But an hour ago, watchman found of making his rounds
single shot at the job. Will you come over a shot?
Speaker 3 (16:21):
I'll leave right away. Good? What is it? Uh, mutual
friend Leland Rodgers was shot to dead. Happened in his office.
I'm going over there. You'd better come with me.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
No, no, no, I can't do that.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Why not, Well, I I can't get mixed up in.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
Anything like this.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Maybe you already are miss.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
Uh milna gerred Milner. Listen, mister Strange, you must believe me.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
I only met mister Rogers once before.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
How do I know that wasn't an hour ago in
his office?
Speaker 7 (16:53):
Well, I haven't been out of the hotel. We live
here too.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
We have the suite on the floor.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Buzz we maya my husband and I.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Oh, why see? And he well, he wouldn't like this.
Speaker 7 (17:08):
He wouldn't understand.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I guess not have Have you been up there with
him for the past few hours?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
No, No, I was love.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Then how do I know that you?
Speaker 7 (17:18):
Oh, it's easy to prove that I didn't go out.
Just check room service. I've sent down for things all evening.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
I was bored that I believe.
Speaker 7 (17:29):
Oh, please, mister Strange, Now you won't implicate me.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I'll check the room service. Police Lieutenant John Mannox was
a very efficient gentleman. When I pulled up at the
downtown office of Roger's International Research, a lone police car
was parked at the curb. I learned that the others,
(17:54):
including an ambulance in Roger's own car, had already been
driven off. My cab rolled in behind the police car.
I got out, paid the driver and entered the building.
They were expecting me. My elevator boy on the trip
up was a heavy set sergeant. He took me straight
to Leland Rodgers's office. Mannix had made a few other calls.
(18:15):
Roger's partner Jim Carr, was there, together with an older
man who Mannix immediately introduced.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
A strange mister Fogey, you've met Jim Carr who, yes, yes,
we've met. Mister Fogerty is more or less a silent
partner in the firm.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
But under the circumstance.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
I'm only silent so I can listen better, Lieutenant. I
know what's going on, know all about strange his survey,
how Leland felt about it.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Did you know he wanted to call it off?
Speaker 3 (18:39):
What? That's the way it was. Mister Fogetty changed his
mind all of a sudden. I tried to talk him
out of it, but he wouldn't listen. No, he was
very determined. I I don't understand that.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
I don't understand at all, either of you know any
reason why he would have come down here the night.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Pure impottiveness, maybe he's the worker.
Speaker 8 (18:56):
Lieutenant lived for this office, this business we all do.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
I suppose he had been actually usually lately worried, like
he had things in his.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Mind and always had things on his mind.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
But he did behave on a little. We've been worried about.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
Him, and the rest have I haven't what are you
getting out, Lieutenant, suicide.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Right, and that's one of you might be able to
suggest an enemy, and Leland had no enemies. Everybody loved
the boys.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
I wouldn't go that farm him here in our car.
The man's dead.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Don't you say anything, a gentleman, I believe there's something
I should tell you.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Hm, go ahead, Strange. Unless I'm mistaken. You were the
last person to see Rogers alive.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
You are mistaken, Lieutenant. There was a hotel clerk, and
if this wasn't a suicide, there was also his murderer.
I stand corrected, Thank you. Now, I'll tell my little story,
or rather Leland Rodgers' story. That's all there is to it, Strange.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Which isn't that enough?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Lieutenant?
Speaker 8 (20:01):
The man was terrified, poppycock, missus Stranger. Leland was never
terrified by anything.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
That isn't quite true, mister Poggerty. I told you he'd
been acting odd.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
He was carrying no little black book when we found him. Naturally,
a murderer wouldn't leave it to the mercies of a
handwriting expert. But you saw this book. I saw it.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
They could be the simple explanation that Rogers had some
sort of a lapsided idea that he didn't want his
debt to look like suicide. Could be you don't think
I don't think so. I've been in the business a
long time, Strange.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
I've been writing about people for a long time, Lieutenant.
I think I know when a man shows genuine fear.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
And of course you have the added advantage of being
the last brandish here me.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Yes, and the hotel clerk. Lieutenant. Yes, mister Karr, I
saw that book myself many times.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Oh.
Speaker 9 (20:48):
Rogers always carried it his idea book, jotted down ideas
he got at odd times.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Strange.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
Can you recall the wording of those unusual messages?
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I think so. There were four of them, were one
to a page. The first was at dawn the sun
casts long shadows.
Speaker 10 (21:07):
On the other three the horse lost a shoe while
our bells were still ringing, And the third was turned down,
the blind spot's pole and the last it will still.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Be gloomy when you go home. There was a weather
report attached to that night.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Nonsense.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Nothing is a fruitcake, Hey, No, Lieutenant, we all tried
to get Leland to takeification.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
The secretary, doctor Widers.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Didn't have any idea it was this dead car. Why
didn't he know he was cracking up sell out.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Before before he made the rest of us go broke?
Speaker 8 (21:37):
Lieutenant, there won't be a lot of fuss made over this,
will They research group can't stand a lot of notoriety,
you know, if you would see your way clear to
keep things as quiet as possible and.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Let the police get another riding. I didn't mean that.
I'm afraid we'll have to face the fact that the
lieutenant isn't hired to keep things quiet, gentlemen. He's here
to try and discover why Leland Rodgers is dead tonight
instead of alive.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Maybe I can even pull a murder out of this
and get myself a raise. One more thing, Where do
I get hold of Roger's relatives?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
He has none that I know of.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I'll give you his secretary's address. She was the closest
to him.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Oh lord, all the.
Speaker 9 (22:14):
Organization needs now is some relative popping in and trying to.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Take over you through us.
Speaker 8 (22:19):
Lieutenant for the president, mister, I'll say, good evening, coming cars,
all ride with you.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
If I may.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Eh.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
They seem more upset over themselves than their partner.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
They do have a lot to lose, Lieutenant.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
That Storry Rogers tells you. What do you think now?
No known enemies, no relatives.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Kar and Rogers had very opposite views on how to
run the business. What do you mean? Carr? Just thinking,
how do you figure this vogany? Oh, seems like a nice,
old gent very blue bed.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
We'll find time a night to be waking up a
young lady from her beauty sleep. And I'm going to
talk to that secretary. Do you want to come along
strange so.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
You can keep an eye? And I didn't say that,
no matter of fact, I'm bursting to go. If you
had a nice I might have been over there so
fast I'd have answered her door for you.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
That sounds like a man almost fast enough to be
here tonight and back at that hotel in time to
answer my phone call.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Why don't you check with room service? I mine? What's
so funny? Nothing, Lieutenant, nothing at all. Let's go call
on this Mona Buttlet Mannix was all right. I found
(23:39):
that out as we drove across town. He was just
a hard working fellow, anxious to do his job and
do it well. I liked him, but I didn't share
his growing theory that this was a simple case of suicide.
We reached Mona Botlet's apop and, after climbing a steep
flight of terra cotta steps to a handkerchief sized landing.
Almost immediately we heard the soft slap of moccasins coming
(24:02):
in response to our ring. I almost didn't remember her
when she opened the door, in white robe and slippers,
her hair hanging to her shoulders. She was slight, childlike,
a totally different creature from the formidable, efficient office guardian
of the late Leland Rogers.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
Come in, please, Jim Carr called me, told me what happened. Oh,
I'm sorry, Do sit.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Down, Thank you. I'm sorry to disturb you. Disturb me
here here, miss bartlet you sit down.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
That's sorry. When Jim called I, well, I felt like
I was in the middle of a bad dream. I
kept thinking it.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
But now you come in here, Jim must have told you,
Lieutenant Mannox wants to contact the next of ken. He
thought that you.
Speaker 7 (24:55):
I really can't help you much there, mister Rogers wrote
to no relatives mentioned none to my knowledge.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Eh, he was a lone wolf. Maybe in his room
or in a safety deposit box.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
There'll be something. Oh well, one more thing. Do you
know of any business appointment he had to night?
Speaker 3 (25:12):
No?
Speaker 7 (25:12):
I don't could have been meeting any one of the
eighty people in the office.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Do you know of any man in the office that
he might have been afraid of meeting?
Speaker 7 (25:22):
No, then there were the hundreds of past and present
clients the concern. Look, I'll give you the key to
my desk, Lieutenant, you can check our appointment books.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Thanks. Don't think I'll find anything. But you never known.
Wasn't there a doctor you wanted to talk to Mannix.
Speaker 7 (25:38):
Doctor Whitehurst.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Yeah, that's the name.
Speaker 7 (25:40):
It's Hilldale's seven seven five seven.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
I'll try umph.
Speaker 5 (25:44):
Well that's about all, miss Barbart, unless, of course, you
know of any enemies he hadn't. No, you had no
idea he was contemplating suicide. Oh what is it, Miss Badler,
I should have known that.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
What? Well?
Speaker 7 (26:01):
There was an assignment paper He dictated it to me
about a week ago, said it was confidential. What what
is all about his voting shares of stock in the company?
He assigned them to Jim Carr. Uh I remember he
said this would be until a certain situation was cleared up.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
You had no idea what that situation was. No, can't
know about the assignment.
Speaker 7 (26:22):
He still doesn't, said mister Roger's safety deposit box. He
said that no one, not even mister Carr, must know.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Well he'll know, no, Alredy, yes he will. They say it.
How did those two get along?
Speaker 7 (26:35):
They had different ideas, but they complimented one another. Both
knew it. The company meant everything to both of 'em.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Okay, thanks, miss Batte. See it to mar Oh, I
are you all right?
Speaker 7 (26:47):
I will be. Would you could you stay for a
few minutes?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Of course, go ahead, Mannix, I'll get in touch with you.
You won't have to strange where all was around.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
They'll find the liquor in the cupboard above the sink.
And and Jim Carr wanted you to call him back
after Mannix.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Left if possible know what he wants.
Speaker 7 (27:15):
I can guess. Never approved of calling off the survey
on your book.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
That's my guess too. I'll sleep on it. Call him
in the morning.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
Whatever you say. Oh, I feel like a fool going
to pieces like this. Really, I'm not a goofy stenog
and love of their boss.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
You should have been. He seemed like a lot of men.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
Oh, he was a powerhouse. He was the heart and
soul of that business. It'll all be lost without him.
I'll be Oh. Oh if i'd only told someone about
that aside, I don't please, please take it easy.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That's the bad part about a thing like this. Everybody
thinks about what they might have done. Chance of Samis Bartlet.
There wasn't any way you or anyone could have stopped.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
Do you believe that?
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Yes? She buried her face on my shoulder. I could
smell the fragrance of her skin, feel the convulsive movement
as she cried it out. She stayed there until her
breath grew even again, peaceful. Her taught buddy relaxed. Then
(28:31):
abruptly she pulled away from me, stood up.
Speaker 7 (28:35):
I want to call Greg Greg greg Rome. He's one
of our research workers. Mister Rogers thought a lot of him. Oh,
of course, thank you very much, mister Strange.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Not at all, do you want me to call a
taxi for you? No? I walked, good night, Ohna, good night, Eric.
Speaker 7 (28:58):
Already I'm gonna called San Francisco for Greg Rome at
the Wilkins Hotel. That's right, Greg Rome.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I went down the stairs, wondering if I wasn't being
a little foolish about the whole matter. I tried to
tell myself that I ought to tab that story of
Roger's for what it probably was and accept Mannox's ideas
about the case. I guess I just about decided that
way as I came out of the building and stepped
off the curb. That's when I heard the car come
(29:30):
roaring around the corner behind me.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Look out, what are you doing?
Speaker 3 (29:35):
You're running down.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
In tonight's full hour of Suspense, Edmund O'Brien stars has
Eric in The blind Spot, adapted for radio by Joel Malone.
Tonight's study in Suspense. In just a moment, we will
return with Act two of Suspense.
Speaker 11 (30:07):
This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System and now back.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
To our Hollywood sound stage and Act two of The
blind Spot starring Edmond O'Brien. Eric Strange has known fear
and this night he has seen the brilliant mind of
Leland Rodgers overpowered by fear, a fear that has cost
his life. Now it is Eric's life that is in danger.
This man, whose business it is to deal in facts,
(30:36):
has been driven by instinct and intuition to dismiss the
verdict of suicide against his friend Leland Rodgers in favor
of murder. And this course has led him into the
path of a swerving automobile. And now, with Edmund O'Brien
as Eric, and with Act two of the Blind Spot,
we again hope to keep you in suspense.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Time was irrelevant, seconds, minutes, hours, But when the first
bright thread of consciousness broke through the pattern of darkness,
I had the feeling that I hadn't been knocked out
for long. The damp night air chilled me that I
(31:23):
lay sprawled on the sidewalk. I got up, slowly, wondering
why I was still alive. I discovered one thing for sure.
Someone had wanted me out of the way, badly enough
to risk his own neck and jumping his car over
an eighteen inch curving around the corner where the car
(31:52):
must have been part waiting for me. I found something else.
Three cigarette stands. One was still.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
I jumped like a.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Jack rabbitt it, but I thought was my friend coming back.
It's just a cruising cab. I must have looked pretty
frightening to the driver. You're right, buddy, Yes, great. Take
me to the Park Center Hotel, Park Central.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Hey, look when I see guys picking up cigarette but
I don't care here.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
I got plenty of money here.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Get going, yeah, get going, I'm going all right, going nuts.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
It's strange.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Why you've been hurt.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
You ought to see the other car. Look, I was
gonna stay here with Leland Rodgers. Oh, yes, sir, we'll
give you the room next to his suite. The police
are up there now, Oh, Lieutenant mannox Is. He's having
mister Rogers rooms locked down.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
The boy will take you up, mister Strange, and if
you want anything.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Just ring. Yes, what happens strange? Try to kiss it. Yes,
he's the angel of death. And I don't mean miss Bartlett. Lieutenant.
When I came out of the building, somebody tried to
run me down. Hit and run drivers. They're bad. You're
(33:20):
too largical, Lieutenant. I could grow to hate you. I
tell you. The man was waiting for me. I found
cigarette stubbs one was still warm.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
It'll be cold before you can get into court. Is evidence.
Let's say a hit and run driver.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Huh, I'm not talking to you anymore. Find anything next door?
Another thing?
Speaker 5 (33:40):
And Mac just called from headquarters only finger princes and
Roger's gun to his own.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
I want to say, somebody wore gloves, okay, and two
knocked out to argue.
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I'll run along. Eric, you better get yourself from sleep.
And maybe tomorrow he is to decide that I know
what I'm talking about.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Maybe I've already decided I died that you're the seventeen
I think so, diffinitely. I'm forgetting all about the cases
of right now. Oh oh, that must have been a Cadillac,
a big one. Sorry.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
I accused you of playing post office all right night, mum.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Post off, post office?
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Maybe that's it.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Come on, come on, which board, get me the post office.
I want to speak to the postmaster.
Speaker 7 (34:34):
Huh are you kidding at two o'clock in the morning.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Huh oh oh sorry. Sense of time never was too good,
and I'll try him a little later. The post office
hunch was a wild one, but I followed it through.
I was there bright and early, talking to the supervisor.
(34:58):
Would you repeat that question, mister Strange?
Speaker 8 (35:01):
Certainly, And I want to want a list of people
who've applied for post box rentals in the last two weeks, right,
I hate to turn you down, mister Strange. I know
about your work for the State Department. That what the
devil do you want for those names?
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Or A friend of mine was corresponding with a Burnham
detective agency in New York. I don't think he would
have wanted his correspondence to go through his office. M
We couldn't open any letters, you know, I know, I
know there probably aren't any. I just want to know
if he rented a box. Look, I checked with Henley up. Yeah,
that's different. But didn't you say show let's have a
look here last two weeks?
Speaker 12 (35:34):
Eh mm hmmm, only one name, Lamce Martin boked two
eight Lance Martin.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Perhaps he look, I'll be back. You've been a big help.
Thanks a lot of take. I'm terribly sorry.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
I'm in a hurry. Certainly, Yes, I have to make
a New y'all call.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
The call is to Pete Stan, my agent, a man
who'll do anything for me for ten percent. I asked
him to check somehow at the Burnham Detective Agency see
if they were working for a Lancemartin and Beverly Hills
Post Office box number two. Oh wait. All I could
do was wait on that. So I made another call,
then headed down to the Research Office to keep an
appointment with Jim Carr. He'd taken over but good. He
(36:28):
was sitting in Roger's chair, dictating furiously when I walked in.
Speaker 9 (36:32):
And if this emergency division of authority between the board
members and myself results in a more balanced and scientific
control of R I are I see no reason why
the system should not be made.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Oh then' there you come in?
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Strange? Sorry if I interrupted, Miss Bartlet's.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Say, all right, sit down? Type that much brought away?
Miss Atkins.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
Yes, I caught that last paragraph about your dividing control
that I've always advocated. It's in an excellent time to
install that after that assignment of Rajasthan.
Speaker 9 (37:05):
Yes, strange, you don't suppose that assignment might cause anybody
to wonder?
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Have they any cause to? I shouldn't have mentioned it, Strange.
I hope you never know what it feels like to
kill a man. What this kills. I have to feed
myself for Ulcer's nerves.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
Everything in the book. I'm killing myself Strange, slowly but surely.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Oh, this business, it's the car. I better use one
of your worries right now. We'll go ahead with my survey.
When can you start?
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Why write away Strange?
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Immediately, I'll start things humming.
Speaker 9 (37:41):
There'll be seven hundred men out asking questions about your
book within twenty four hours.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Fine, I'll be at the hotel if you have to
check on anything. I'm expecting a long distance course.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Very good, and thank you, mister Strange. Thank you very much.
Be assured that I that will do a job for you.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Crossing the hotel lobby tard the desk, I I happened
to glance into the cocktail room. I saw a familiar
reflection in one of the big mirrors and back of
the bar, in fact, two familiar reflections. I went in,
sat down beside Mona Bartlett.
Speaker 7 (38:15):
Mister Strange. Hello, all right, Eric Strange Gregory rod Stray
just got in from San Francisco about twenty minutes ago.
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Really us do it with mirrors? What we ran into
each other in the post office this morning? The post office, Oh,
you must leave a stake of a hut, I I
must be a lucky girl, Mona. Anything should happen to
this boyfriend, You've got his exact twin to turn to.
All you have to do is find just mix up strange.
Speaker 11 (38:46):
Chances are the fellow.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
Doesn't even look like you're sure. Probably smokes a different
brand of cigarettes too. Just what are you getting out strange? Sorry,
I'm I'm always suffering from blind spots. Have to dash, Mona,
expecting a call. I rode up in the elevator, wondering
(39:10):
vaguely where Greg room fitted into the picture and just
what time he had arrived from San Francisco. But I
didn't have long to think about it. They'd given me
the room next to Leland Rodgers' suite. It was supposed
to be locked up on police order, but I could
hear someone moving around in there. I went out on
the balcony found that it connected with his. A few
(39:31):
moments later, I was looking through a pair of French
doors and a pair of legs. They belonged to Cheryl Milmer.
She saw me almost passed out, and changed the mind
and came over to let me in.
Speaker 7 (39:45):
Eric. What are you doing here?
Speaker 3 (39:46):
That's a funny question, Cheryl but I haven't time to lie.
What's the idea? The idea?
Speaker 6 (39:51):
Oh well, I I lost a ring when I was
here with you, and I thought i'd better get it back.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
My husband doesn'tderstand. I know where's the ring? Then you
threw looking around? Better get out the way you got in?
Just how did you get in?
Speaker 7 (40:09):
The bell captain?
Speaker 3 (40:11):
I bribed him.
Speaker 6 (40:12):
Yes, they're so obliging. He is so understanding when a
lady's in distress.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
Those room service.
Speaker 6 (40:20):
I don't know what you mean, Eric, Oh really.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
Dark, don't you see what this can do to your alibi?
Speaker 7 (40:27):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (40:28):
I never thought. I'm not so sure that my call. Look,
you better get out of here. I'll talk to you lady.
Please do go on gone.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Hello, Hello, Eric, this is Pete.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Pete. You get what I wanted?
Speaker 7 (40:43):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 13 (40:44):
Burnham Detective Agency has been corresponding with a Lance Martin,
Beverly Hills.
Speaker 7 (40:48):
I got a.
Speaker 13 (40:49):
Girlfriend in their file room.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
Huh, the power of a woman.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Here's the door now.
Speaker 13 (40:53):
Martin's been after them to trace his ex wife, Allen Martin.
In the agency's firstly fourth They found that she died
and on the side for the insane ten years ago
brought there by the police.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
I see one off Rogers was ever married? What? Uh? Nothing?
Keep talking?
Speaker 13 (41:08):
A letter in her purse asked that she'd be treated right.
It was signed by her son, Daryl Martin.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
There's no trace of the boy before or since, Pete.
I think we've hit it. Her son, Roger's son. He'd
be grown up now. It's the man he was afraid of.
The name's Martin Rick, not Rogers. It's all right that
that could have been a maiden name, don't you see? Oh?
Speaker 1 (41:30):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
What's it all about? Have them time? Write your book
about it later. If he deserted them, left them? What
a mota? Huh? Oh? Coming coming mona. I thought you
would have to see you, Eric, I need an excuse, Sure,
(41:52):
come on in.
Speaker 7 (41:53):
I haven't blong, but I had to know what you
were driving at downstairs? About Greg?
Speaker 3 (41:58):
I need meeting him the post office?
Speaker 7 (41:59):
This you didn't. Of course, I met his plane.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Eric, Why are you protecting him? In love with the guy?
Speaker 7 (42:09):
I I don't know. I've known him ever since college.
I guess I guess he's well, he's always sort of dependent.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
On me, big fellow like that. I should think you.
Speaker 7 (42:23):
Don't know him, Eric, he's been hurt inside. I mean
by things that have happened.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
What kind of things? Eric?
Speaker 7 (42:32):
He Greg once killed a man.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Kill the man.
Speaker 7 (42:36):
It wasn't his fault, it was an accident. But please,
I didn't come here to tell you about that.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
And why did you come here? Eric?
Speaker 7 (42:44):
I like you very much. I wish you'd give this up,
except Lieutenant Mannix's theory.
Speaker 3 (42:54):
Before before what? Owner?
Speaker 7 (42:58):
Oh, I don't know. I've a feeling that something might happen.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
It almost did. I tangled with a hit and run
driver when I left your place. What it's all right?
Mannex's pedestrians are on their own in this time. But mona, Yes,
won't you tell me when Greg really got back in town?
Speaker 7 (43:13):
I've told you all.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
I'm going to How old is Greg?
Speaker 7 (43:17):
We're about twenty six?
Speaker 3 (43:20):
But whereas folks? Have you ever met them?
Speaker 7 (43:22):
No? No, I never have.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
You won't tell me any more about his accident? Where'd
you two go to school?
Speaker 7 (43:31):
San Carlos College? Ah, that seems like such a long
time ago.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Stop it, will you? How do you think you make
me feel? I'm thirty five, positively ancient?
Speaker 7 (43:42):
Ru Eric, you will get out of this. Leave Greg alone.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
I'm sorry, Mona, I want to be very sure about
the guy you marry.
Speaker 7 (43:53):
I didn't say I.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
Know nobody's a habit, and I'll bet he's said it.
Speaker 7 (43:57):
Yes, he wants me to marry him right away.
Speaker 3 (44:01):
Don't please, Mona, Just give me a couple of days.
Speaker 7 (44:03):
Maybe once I have to get back down.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
He'll wonder what you won't promise?
Speaker 7 (44:08):
I can't, he Eric, I'm true mixed up?
Speaker 3 (44:12):
Come here? What that makes up a little more? Eric? Eric? Why?
Maybe maybe to confuse you enough to wait? Maybe a
lot of other reasons, Mona, we'll talk about it when
I get back. Where are you going right now? To college?
(44:45):
Dean's spirit at San Carlos College was a man who
lived by a routine. It didn't include sudden, unannounced visitors.
And after my long flight up there, it appeared that
I might not get to see him. A lady came
to my rescue again, the dean's housekeeper. She's uh, read
my books, didn't like them, but thought all writers were
romantic figures. She said she had a plan. She disappeared
(45:08):
a few minutes later, the dean came ambling out of
his study.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
Eh, it's strange you're the author of blind Spots.
Speaker 3 (45:16):
Eh, that's right, sir, I have a chair. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
May I commend you young men. You have the rare
gift of making facts plausible. Even our freshmen read you.
Speaker 3 (45:26):
Oh, thank you, Dean.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
My housekeeper, missus Wilkins, tells me you're considering a post
in our economic department. Oh hm, that woman always does
things the hard way.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
Didn't she think I'd talked to the author of Blind Spots,
which she doesn't like the books?
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Sir, She's stupid, kind and harmless. Though, So what did
you have in mind, mister Strange?
Speaker 3 (45:49):
An ex student of yours Gregory Rome? What about Rome? I? Uh, well,
I'm going to Greece for the State Department. I'm picking
up two assistants. Rome's name was suggested. Now if you
could add your recreation, I can't.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
I suggest you contact Roger's International Research.
Speaker 3 (46:10):
He works for them. Well, naturally, I had Leland Rodgers
on my list, but since his violent death violent death,
I thought suicide came under that category. In any case,
since I can't ask him, I thought perhaps the man
who must have suggested Rome for the job in the first.
Speaker 2 (46:26):
I didn't suggest him. If anyone did, it was an
honor student here muna bottlet.
Speaker 3 (46:31):
Then you refuse to put in a word for Rome.
Speaker 2 (46:34):
I resent your asking it. I resent your forcing me
to write a man's career.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
Rome may have.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
Fought his way successfully out of a bad beginning, but
you confound it strange after our experience with him.
Speaker 3 (46:45):
Here was an accident of some sort that I.
Speaker 2 (46:48):
Don't mean it. That was during a wrestling match, Rome
killed his opponent. The Athletic Board dismissed it, blamed it
on inexperienced the result of imperfect wrestling technique. I'm sure
he was blameless in that instance might have happened to anybody.
There was something else. There was, indeed, a shocking, premeditated
act of violence.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
That's why you reacted, Sir Dea Lyland Rodgers' suicide.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
It is to be explicit strange we expelled Rome for
something just shot of murder.
Speaker 3 (47:16):
Go on.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
On a certain spring evening during his junior year, Rome
waylaid and brutally beat his professor public opinion measurement left
the man a mass of bruises, lacerations and a concussion.
We found him only just in time.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
What motive did he have?
Speaker 2 (47:30):
Ye, that's exactly the point. He had none whatsoever. He
told a preposterous story of the professor making improper advances
towards Rome's fiancee, a charge described as ridiculous by the
girl as well as by the professor.
Speaker 3 (47:44):
Why didn't the professor prefer charges.
Speaker 2 (47:46):
He had no wish to bring notoriety on either the school.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
Or his family. What about Rome's parents? Couldn'ty shed any
light on his actions? As I recall the voyme was
an orphan, I see say he didn't have any grandparents?
Did he name of Martin?
Speaker 2 (48:00):
I see no reason to pursue the meta further, missus strange,
I do not recall names, and I have no intention
of doing anything at all that might help Gregory Rome
into a position of trust.
Speaker 3 (48:11):
Good Night, And that was that. The Dean went back
to his routine, and I headed back to the airport.
I had to lie, but I'd learned plenty about the
past of Gregory Rome, and it wasn't pretty. Flying down
(48:37):
the coast, I felt as if I was trying to
push that plane at greater speed. My mind, my heart,
my body were all tense and driving it forward with
the terrible realization that Mona Bartlett might at that moment
be with this madman might even be deciding to marry him.
It was all clear now Roger's knowing there was a
(48:57):
son somewhere, a boy he'd never seen. I hadn't even
known about when he left the mother to be committed
to an asylum. When he learned it realized from those
notes that it was someone in his own office, a
fear had hit him. I didn't blame him for being afraid.
And I shuddered thinking about Mona, the way she'd somehow
believed in Gregg all these years, championed, remained faithful in
(49:21):
spite of everything. I had to get back. I had
to get back.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
Look, mister Warry in town. If you want this hack
to go any faster, drive it yourself.
Speaker 3 (49:38):
It's all right. It's deserted. I don't care. Look, turn
left the end of the block or a part that's
right around the corner. Say the car at front stop
right behind him. He's here. Hey, that's the car. That's
the car that hit me.
Speaker 1 (49:57):
What are you talking?
Speaker 3 (49:58):
Never mind the look driver, here's ten dollars for you.
I'll pick up Lieutenant Mannox Homicide Division, Police Headquarters. Bring
him here on the double.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Oh, mister tank.
Speaker 3 (50:09):
It from me.
Speaker 1 (50:10):
Don't go mixing with the police. Telln and look go
up there and talk it over with.
Speaker 3 (50:15):
A peaceable and then just say blind spots. He'll come.
Speaker 1 (50:19):
I'm gone, Okay.
Speaker 3 (50:23):
I turned towards the apartment started inside. Wasn't easy, but
I had to realize Mona was up there with him.
As I went up the steps, my head kept spinning
with a jumble of things i'd heard about the man.
I was about to face, a madman, an ex wrestler
who killed one of his opponents. I wondered how his
(50:44):
next opponent would make out. Hello, Greg, Hello, I want
to see Mona. You want to see Mona? Sure you do?
You post office, Johnny all a man. I'd like to
(51:06):
see Mona. Glad you're here, strange glad you went to
San Carlos. Now you know what's coming.
Speaker 7 (51:16):
Greg, not here.
Speaker 3 (51:17):
If we wanted to stare around.
Speaker 13 (51:19):
Chair trying to drag her into with her just because
she had a dick with him that night, you want,
I want.
Speaker 7 (51:25):
To let Greg stop it, stop it.
Speaker 1 (51:27):
Lea, I can stop.
Speaker 3 (51:30):
Oh Mona, Mona, you shut me.
Speaker 7 (51:54):
I'm right here, Eric, Eric, I'm sorry. I was trying.
Speaker 3 (52:00):
I know where's he's still out?
Speaker 7 (52:04):
He struck his head on the stairs when you're.
Speaker 3 (52:05):
Hitting did you did you call the police?
Speaker 7 (52:08):
No? Eric, please, he suffered enough.
Speaker 3 (52:12):
You know you know who he is.
Speaker 7 (52:14):
He told me tonight that horrible childhood. Can't you see
why he had to make Rogers suffer as he'd seen
his mother suffer.
Speaker 3 (52:22):
I'm sorry for him, Mona, but we've got to turn
him in. He's a homicidal maniac. Come on, help me
to the phone.
Speaker 7 (52:30):
No, no, listen, we'll have to put him away ourselves quietly.
This is no time to drag this thing through the courts.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
Why why isn't at the time your.
Speaker 7 (52:40):
Survey darling a murder trial. Now with everything everything coming out, Eric,
you've got to think of yourself. You have to go
on being a success.
Speaker 3 (52:54):
Like Rogers.
Speaker 7 (52:57):
Greg was right, very fond of you. Eric, Please, please,
for my sake, don't call the police.
Speaker 3 (53:07):
Mona, Mona, don't you realize what you're saying. We can't
decide this thing you are talking Craig. That's when it
hit me. Gregg's words suddenly came bouncing back, words that
changed everything, wiped away the last blind spot.
Speaker 13 (53:23):
Try to drag her into it just because she had
a date with him.
Speaker 7 (53:26):
That night.
Speaker 3 (53:28):
Mona, you, Darrell martn't a girl's nae you are me?
Speaker 7 (53:35):
I gave you a chance. Eric, I could have fired again.
Speaker 3 (53:38):
It wasn't an accident. You you meant to hit me.
Then you've lost your nerves.
Speaker 7 (53:42):
I love you, Er, I really do.
Speaker 3 (53:45):
No.
Speaker 7 (53:46):
I'm asking you to play this my way. Will you no?
Then I I'm glad I won't have to shoot you again. Eric,
you're bleeding badly, very badly. That should do it. I
won't have to.
Speaker 3 (54:07):
Greg, Greg, he was just a foil someone.
Speaker 7 (54:10):
Too to help me, Yes, and at for Roger's Greg
was an orphan the right age, and after his wrestling
accident he was shaken. I kept him that way.
Speaker 3 (54:23):
Oh it's crazy, rotten professor.
Speaker 7 (54:26):
I got it in into that. He was so jealous
of the rich.
Speaker 3 (54:31):
Poor fool. He didn't have a chance.
Speaker 7 (54:34):
What about me, my mother?
Speaker 3 (54:36):
If we have a chance, Mona, Mona to destroy the
lives of others.
Speaker 7 (54:40):
Get to Leland Rogers. I'd do it all over again.
Every step book effective too, weren't they herek You know?
They almost drove him out of his mind.
Speaker 3 (54:53):
But why me?
Speaker 7 (54:55):
You wouldn't stop?
Speaker 3 (54:57):
I beg you too, And this was to look like
Greg's doing.
Speaker 7 (55:04):
Still can he is gone? And if you're not alive
to challenge me?
Speaker 3 (55:11):
Oh lord lord, Mona, please get compresses. Stop the blood
that nowhere.
Speaker 7 (55:20):
I won't have to shoot you again. I'm so glad.
Speaker 3 (55:37):
He's coming around now, Thank Heaven. The guy can't go
out of me. You don't have too many apologies? Can can?
I talk to him? Doctor Whitehurst? Now take it easy,
all you, mister strange. This is doctor Whitehurst. You're in
a hospital. Hospital where Mona? What about? She's dead? Eric
(55:57):
shot herself when we pulled up in front. Oh, did
a funny thing though. She called the emergency hospital for you.
Speaker 5 (56:06):
No something talk to young Greg here into a jealous
rage and gets him to try to run you down
and shoot your self. Changes her mind, saves your life.
Speaker 3 (56:19):
I guess it's a woman's privilege. Who change her mind? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (56:23):
By the way, Eric, uh, what about young Greg here?
What do you want us to do?
Speaker 3 (56:27):
M oh h, hello Greg? It's this stranger. She she
had quite a hole on you, didn't she? Yes? Uh?
I I didn't know what I was doing. I I
was so much Amo, you'll you'll get over it and
don't feel too bad. I I had the same blind spot.
Speaker 4 (56:47):
Oh thanks, mister strange, doctor Waitehurst cause the patient possibly
take a phone call and say it's urgent.
Speaker 3 (56:53):
I don't know. How do you feel strange? Alright, I'll
plug in right here, hold a receiver for you. Thanks, Hello,
mister Strange, Yes, Cheronnilda, Hi, Hi yourself. Goodness, darling?
Speaker 7 (57:11):
What have they done to you?
Speaker 13 (57:12):
How am I'm going to be in that horrible old hoskin.
Speaker 5 (57:14):
I'm just dying to see you again.
Speaker 3 (57:18):
I'm board, darling, and I'm tired, honey, too tired. I'm
afraid you you medical room service.
Speaker 2 (57:50):
Thank you Edmund O'Brien for a magnificent performance as Eric,
and to Jeff Corey, Bruce Cammon, Francis Cheney, Paul McVeigh,
Ralph Moody, Bud Widow Martha Shaw, and Bill ally Our
thanks for your fine support. Next week, for suspense, the
lives of three persons cross in an atmosphere fraught with
(58:11):
the fears of a doting mother. The story title holds
the premise of our play. It is aptly called Life
Ends at Midnight. So join us next week. Then, when
with Life Ends at Midnight, we again hope to keep
you in suspense.
Speaker 11 (58:28):
Mister O'Brien may soon be seen in the Universal International
production Another part of the Forest, The Blind Spot by
Lois E. B and John C. Fleming, was adapted for
radio by Joel Malone and was produced and directed by
Anton m Leader lud Gluskin is our musical director and conductor.
Lucian Morrowack and Renee Garagank composed the original scores. Listen
(58:50):
again next week for Life ends at midnight on Radio's
outstanding Theater of Thrills.
Speaker 3 (58:55):
Suspend in this weather.
Speaker 11 (59:01):
Most of us have a yen to get out into
the country well this year. Enjoy it, don't destroy it.
Forest Fires do destroy miles of countryside every year, and
nine out of ten forest fires are man set started
through carelessness.
Speaker 1 (59:16):
That's another way.
Speaker 11 (59:17):
Of saying that nine out of ten forest fires could
have been prevented. When you go into the country this
spring and summer, take a few simple precautions. Crush out cigar,
cigarette and pipe embers. Snap matches in half after using,
drown camp fires, stir the ashes and then drown them again.
And before you start a fire anywhere for any purpose,
(59:38):
find out what the law about fires is in that locality.
Don't you be one of the guilty ones to turn
the destructive rampage of fire loose in our forests this spring.
Be careful and help avoid forest fires. This is CBS,
where ninety nine million people gather every week. The Columbia
(59:58):
Broadcasting System
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!