780 - Deep Into Darkness

Suspense - Air Date - 07/22/1948 -

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
A journey into a round of restraintand shadi fight. I hope you will
enjoy the chap, that it willthrill you a little and kill you a
little. So settle back, geta good grip on your nerves. Where
are we going? You'll find outwhen we get there in just a moment.

(00:32):
The Span starring Douglas Fairbanks Junior.Oh, here's the show. Don't
spend at the light and it's sixtythousand dealers in service station bring you radios,

(00:53):
outstanding theater of thrills starling Tonight,mister Douglas Fairbanks cannot say well calculated
to keep you in suspend and tonight Auto Light takes pleasure in presenting Anton
Leader's production of Deep Into Darkness,starring Douglas Fairbanks. This is a story

(01:25):
about fear, and I'm an experton fear. Me Ken Matthews. That
cheap, broken down hotel room isas good a place as any to start.
It was all I could afford.New York, the city of bright
lights, and me stretched out ona squeaky bed watching a spot change shape

(01:48):
on the ceiling. It's a kindof game to keep a man from going
crazy. For seven years, Iwatched another spot, changed it into a
million shapes, got to know itbetter than I knew myself. That spot
on the ceiling of my cell atJoliet Penitentiary. When it was over,
when they were finally ready to letme go back into the world, the

(02:12):
warden had something to say to me, some advice that's usual even us early
because of your good behavior record.Now, if I were you, I'd
start fresh on the outside, stayaway from Chicago, go someplace new where
they don't know you. I sortof figured on doing that, Warden good
You'll find it easier. I'd findit easier. I wonder how it is

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when it's tough. Nobody know mein New York. Nobody wanted to know
me. And as for a job, well, did you ever wash dishes?
I washed him, met him,And when he dirty jobs nobody wants
to do, I did them all. That's how I build up my fortune.
Seventeen dollars and fifty cents United Statescurrency, that's how much I was
worth this one morning. When Isaw a sign up in front of a

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construction job men wanted to sign,said I'd leave it. Looked up the
form you want that compression even morelooking for jumping blud. Yes, you
you had a sign out there.Are you hiring men? What do you
do? Oh? Just spot anything? I can keep books, handle your
time. I used to be inaccount Oh yeah, but that's not what

(03:21):
you're looking for. Well, Ican swing a shovel too. I just
want a job. I like thatattitude, like your discards. You're difficult
with you. This charge, yeah, honorable, this charge. Always like
to give a break the service guys. Oh well I wasn't in the service.
Yeah, oh all right, No, no, I I sat out
the wall. I was in jail. Tough. Hey, I got a

(03:42):
little mixed up on your account.No, it was manslaughter. I killed
a man. What about the job? I really need it, buddy.
I don't want you to think thisis my idea, but but you can't
use them there all I can yousee? Yes, I see start,
I got more order to see.It is a Boston figure. There's a

(04:02):
lot of vests looking for a job. But I gotta give them the first
tracket thing. Oh if I wassorry, it isn't your faults. Maybe
maybe it's some other world somehow.That was the last straw. I started
to hate. I hated everything andeveryone, and then I thought of my

(04:24):
fortune, my seventeen dollars and fiftycents, and suddenly that I knew there
was something I wanted to buy.What do you want to use the gun
for? Mister? I don't know. I just want to have it.
I always supposed to put something downhere, I mean, along with your
name and everything. Oh well,put down target Practice. That's good enough
in there, I guess. Sowhat's the name? Put don Smith?

(04:44):
Smith? No, it's like that. Huh. Look, mister, I
don't want to get into any trouble. I'm want a respectable place of business
here. You want to sell agun down? Shall? Sure? But
he wants the fourteen dollars. I'mokay, okay, so it's Smith and
you're gonna do it some target practice. Give me the fourteen bucks and get
lost. No thanks, thanks alot, funny thing. I still don't
know why I wanted to take it, and I swear I don't kill myself

(05:08):
rob a bank or a filling station. I haven't any idea. I suppose
I just thought that having it wouldmake me feel better. Only it didn't.
It hung in my pocket heavy aslamp, cold dead, just like
a said. I turned into aside street. Fifty second fifty first.
I wasn't sure. I stopped tolight a cigarette, and the car pulled

(05:30):
up to the curve. It wasa big car with a chauffeur, a
black car, smooth and shining,and I let the man getting out just
one look, and wheels started spinningaround in my head like a dizzy.
The sidewalk twisted and bounced around likea having a convulsion. When he spoke,

(05:51):
the shock of hearing his voice straightenedit all out. He did,
cold and clear as hard, crisp. That's a few words to that show.
Wait for me, David, Iwill belong walk back Light, bind
me into the bank. He couldn'twalk, He couldn't do anything. That
was Lee Burke. I was staringat Lee Berk, the man I'd killed

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seven years ago for suspense. AutoLight is bringing you, mister Douglas Fairbanks
Junior, in Deep Into Darkness,Autolight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills.
Thus spend and now atter Light bringsback to our Hollywood sound stage.

(06:54):
Mister Douglas Fairbanks Junior, as Kenin Deep Into Darkness, The tale will
calculated to keep you in and thosefew moments watched a man walk across the

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sidewalk into a bank. I livedit all over again, the way it
happened when I killed seven years ago, back in Chicago. There wasn't anything
about it. I couldn't remember.Kim Darling, Yeah, do you love
me? Kim? Do I loveyou? Oh? No, not at
all. I just sit in atGoofy nightclub night after night because the foods

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are good. Oh Kenya, sweet, Well, why don't you forget that?
Please give it up? Is theregoing to get a girl like you
dancing in a cheap honky talk?You had something better to offer up?
Offered it a half a dozen times. Married, I got a good job.
You'll get better. Tell me mydrink, will you? Sure?
Yeah? What do you say?I've told you, Kim, over and

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over again. I'm not getting married, not to you anyway. You're a
sweet guy, Sean. I'm veryfond of you. But little Ley isn't
bearing herself in any house with abunch of squalling kids. That's the sucker.
I don't think you mean, notat all. No, Well,
you just watch Darling. I'm gonnawind up with a diamonds so big it'll
take a two time truck to deliverit to me. I'm gonna have so

(08:20):
many min coats I'll use them fora job. Yeah, that's the way
it talks is you tell him hello, lying. Sounds like you're getting good
sense. What are you doing uphere with this bookkeeper? Anyway? And
a good evening to you too,Lee. Never mind, I thought I
said. I didn't want you waitingat time with him. All right,
I'll get out of here, Matthews. I'll wait a minute if Lila wants

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me to go. Not satisfied withmy suggestions, Eh, I have a
good money. Stop it. Putthat gun away. Every time you have
a few drinks, you start wavingthat gun around. Really you better put
it. Don stop acting like akid, acting like a kidder. I'll
show you who's acting like a kid. I'll give me that gun. Please
wake you're all, let's go.It went off. I was only trying

(09:07):
to take it away from him.You killed him? Can you killed my
brother? I didn't mean it.I said it was all what happened.
I was only trying to get thegun. Get out, Kim. At
least you'll find you get out ofhere. Why, you'll get out.

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I got out all right, ina hurry. It was pouring that night.
I ran down the street with therings flapping me in the face.
I ran up a back alley intothe darkness, and then then I stopped.
I didn't want to run, notfor the rest of my life.
I went to the nearest police stationand turned myself in. I took me
back to the Burks, and wefound Lila sitting in a chair, glassy
eyeed, just staring down at herbrother Lee. He was right where I

(09:54):
had left him, sprawled on thefloor, face down, and a big
red puddle with ruining the rug.Lee Burke was dead, and they gave
me ten years for killing him.Now he wasn't him. He couldn't be.
I've just seen him walk into abank. Uh A nice car,

(10:20):
yeah, yeah, must must bean important man. I have a car
like that. Yeah. He's abig guy, lots lots of money,
I suppose. Huh. Yeah,he's crawling with it. Does that make
you happy? His name happened tobe Burke, doesn't No, Wilson,
Keith Wilson. He also happens tobe a stockbroker. Anything else you want
to know? Keith Wilson yeah,and I'll beat it. The boss is

(10:43):
coming. The boss. Isn't thatsomething? All right? David? I
don't sit the office now? HurryLee h oh, there must be some
mistake. My name isn't Lee,pardon, but it was Lee. There

(11:03):
wasn't any doubt ifys and he knewme too. I could see it in
a tie and the way his facewent white. I didn't understand it.
I couldn't figure out why or how, but Lee Burke was alive. The
rest of the fortune went for ataxi ride, but it was worth it
to me, and I guess ifI hadn't had enough money to follow Lee's

(11:24):
car wherever it went, I hadforced the cab driver with a gun I'd
bought, but it wasn't necessary.We went out to Long Island way out,
and then the car swung into aplace where a big half circle drive.
Lee Burke, now, mister KeithWilson was doing very well for himself,
and so was Lilah, the manof Lilah. Can is it like

(11:46):
seeing a ghost? Can? Canit's really you? I saw a ghost
just now too, Only he wasvery much alive. So that's what he
was so excited about. Yes,he came in, rushed upstairs, told
me to call the airport, gethim a plane to Miami? Did you
not yet? I won't do anygood Ken, Ken, What do you
want? Why did you come here? I just wanted to be sure,

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Lila, absolutely sure? What areyou going to do? I'd like to
kill him. I want to killyour boat. No, Ken, don't
talk like that him. It wasn'tme. I didn't plan. It was
a plan, wasn't it, Elia, wasn't it? Yes? Do you
want to tell me about it?Or do I have to choke it out
of him? I'll kill you.What's the difference? You didn't kill Lee?

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You didn't kill anybody? Huh?Was a frame up? Then?
How could I have seen him likethat? Lee was on the floor,
did No, it wasn't Lee.He he found the man kenn of a
stumbled Mamma drunk, and the manlooked up like him. Close enough of
what Lee had figured out. Itwas a crooked scheme you ever heard without

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insurance with every company in town.Happen million dollars with me is beneficiary.
He was going to kill this differand disappear. Let me collect the money.
It was as simple as that.At first, keep talking, But
I told him it wouldn't work.Chance if they'd never peel off, not
that much, not until they checkfingerprints, tique everything. But he had
that figure too. They wouldn't checkthe thing if a fault guy pleaded guilty
to a murder charge. So that'show it was. It was a fault

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guy. I'd let you take mehome that night. Remember I remember we
had his gun load it was blanks. It was an act, the whole
thing. Then when you ran,he finished the job. He had the
drunk in the bedroom, dressed inhis clothes, brought him into the living
room, killed him right in frontof me. That's who you saw when

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you got back. That's right.Well, I hate my brother away.
I don't care what happens to him. Thanks, that's going to make it
easier. Not only not yet,but I told you not to waste any
time. You don't know what thismeans. She knows what it means,
lady, we all do. Whatdo you want? Why you follow me

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here? Look? I think youbetter get out here. You'll I'd stay
away from that telephone me. I'dstandilify with you. Better deal, he
says Lee. That gun can't listento me. I can't do this,
not now. You don't want anymore trouble. Why if the police food
a police you told him I wasgoing to kill you, it wouldn't make
sense. Leave because I've already donethat. Remember, I can't look I

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can explain the whole thing. Itwas a mistake. I'm glad you know
that. Now. I made alot of money. Can I've been very
lucky. I'll split with you.You look like you could use some money,
Yes I could. Sure, that'sgood. Only forget the gun.
Huh and stop acting like you wantto kill me. You wouldn't gain anything
that way. Come on, Lyla, fix some drinks or something. Now

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we'll pop this over friendly like.Can you know Lyla was always crazy about
you. I was always crazy aboutit. Can I Let's talk about something
else right now, Lee, Let'stalk about America. You know this is
a wonderful country. The way thelaws are set up to protect a man.
Having hear of double jeopardy, Leebring up a rather interesting fact.
If you can't try a man twicefor the same crime, seven years I

(15:11):
spent paying for killing you, sevenyears of jolliet and you weren't even dead.
That means I've paid for something Ihaven't done yet. I still have
the right thing to kill you oncemore. Can't stop it. You're talking
crazy, that there must be somethingwhy. I only want to kill you
because you deserve to be killed.We both know that. Don't wait.

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Only I don't think I'll kill younow, not right away. Oh,
we'll be reasonable. Is that itcan be reasonable? I said, I'm
going to stay right with you twentyfour hours a day, right up to
the time you'll do. I knowexactly when and how I'm going to kill
you, and you won't know.You'll never know me until it happens.
You'll just wait, just sit andwait and wait. I never left the

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Burke's mansion, never let them leave. I was would leave from the time
he got up until he went tobed. I stayed with him every waking
hour. And I never stopped twistinghis life like a piece of body,
putting fear in his mind until welluntil her didn't send to be anything else
left there at all, just atrembling, writhing fear and everything he did,

(16:25):
everything he said, while I can'twe do something, get to somebody,
Holy what can I do with you? Could have said something to the
service. You had a chance beforehe set him away, didn't It all
happened too fast? Got rid ofthem, is easily set the telephone wire.
Oh gotta do something, get intouch with somebody with Madeline make Oh

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yeah, what will your blue bloodfiance think of you now when you suddenly
stopped calling two days before your wedding? Who then don't show up the wedding?
Holy? But don't you see ifanything should happen to the wedding now,
I'd be ruined her get away withthis left down sometime she just got
asleep totally. Lila's right? Lee? Oh can you You were there by

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the door about your wedding? Yes, Lee, And I got back just
in time tonight, and I boughtyou in Manhattan. No, no,
no, I don't want any You'rea sooneral. Don't don't say that.
You're falling apart much faster than Ithought. Leave. It wasn't taking long

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at all. Lee. Couldn't sitstill for a minute, couldn't take an
eye And though, of course littlethings like this didn't exactly help. Who
is it? Can? Yes?Lee, it can go the gun.

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I have the gun. Leave thisthis is the time only No, I
don't think so. Yeah, drinkthis what is it? Milk? Warm
milk? You'll put you to sleepfor good. You've been no, no,
just until morning. You see,I wouldn't think of killing a man

(18:11):
on his wedding day. Don't tellme you've forgotten your wedding to the blue
blooded mister Haven. You've come along way, Lee, marrying into the
social register. Dog. Come on, drink up. You'll need your strength
for the wedding. No, no, that's all off. I haven't even
called it. Lila has I madeher call. She made some very pretty

(18:32):
excuses for you on the wedding willgo on as sketchules. What are you
going to do? Nothing? Onlybehave yourself tomorrow. Do as you're told,
and you might live through the ceremony. Wilt thou keith take this woman

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tis I wed wife to live togetherafter God's dotments in the holy state of
matrimony. Wilt thou love her,comfort her honor, and keep her in
thickness and in health, and forsakingall others. Keep the unto her so
long as you both shall live.Say no, jan Say no, how
chill your light here in front ofthem all? Say at Lee, mister
Wilson. The answer to please,no, No, I can't. I

(19:22):
can't with only one thing wrong withthat of a wedding scene. I had
fun, sure, but in theexcitement, I'm afraid I relaxed a little.
I wasn't sure how much it mattered. That depended on Lila. When
I was surely was asleep that nightI met her in the living room,

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got right to the point. Somethingon your mind? Him? Yes,
Mousey? Who's mousy? Can't youlook so tired? So thin? Tell
me, Lilah, tell me aboutMousey. What do you know about him?
Thee's been talking about him in hissleep, talking about mouse See and
you, Lilah and me? Youbetter tell me all about it? Can
you hurt anyone? Armor? Idon't know anything about Marcie. Maybe he

(20:08):
was there at the wedding. Maybeyou saw him. Maybe you give him
the message? Did Jelilah? Can'tstop it? You know what, Thomas,
I wouldn't do anything like that.Don't you trust me? You should,
La, You really think I shouldn't. But you know how I feel
about you. Surely you don't think. Oh, Ken, Ken Darling,
get away from me. Ken.So that's it. It was all just

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a gag to keep the little girlin line. How did you expect me
to feel after all has happened?That's right. I wasn't naive, wasn't
nigh sure. Okay, but Iwon't be naive anymore, you can bet
on that. Good night, KenDarling and I cooled off. I realized

(21:00):
I've gone too far. She wouldn'tbe on my side anymore, unless unless
I could talk to her again andmake it, make it all seem like
a like a mistake of joke.Maybe, yeah, that that'd be the
thing. But when I went tofind that she wasn't around, I didn't
see her again till next morning.Every morning I went out to the gate

(21:22):
for the paper, but this timeI waited for Lila to get up and
come down so I could talk toher before Lee came in, try to
try to fix them, and standingthere in the hallway, I fixed things,
all right, fixed them good,Lila. Yes, I I want
you to know that well that I'msorry about last night. It's all right,
No, it isn't. No,No, I didn't mean what I

(21:45):
said at all. I guess I'vebuilt up so much hate. Well,
I was upset, I was blindto how you feel about me, how
I really feel about you. You'reasking me to be naive again. Yes,
I guess I am. I likeyou that I I looked for you
last night to tell you you weren'taround. Where'd you go? I can

(22:07):
It's all right. I don't carewhere you went anyway. Now you know
how I really feel? Can you? You don't know what you're saying,
Yes I do. I've been thinkingthat's the way it ought to be.
We've been a couple of lost tollsthat maybe by forgetting the past, trying
to find some peace of mind,can think about it? Will you?
Lallah? I went out, thenout the door and down the driveway,

(22:33):
ter standing there, tearing out tome. And suddenly, as I was
almost at the gate, I heardit from me, running fast, can
come down? And I saw ita car that had been parked down the
road. It was moving now,gathering steeds, coming right past the gate.
Then she was there. She threwher the shop shone heavily against me,

(22:55):
and then and then her body wentin in my arm. I held
her closer a second, and thenI lowered her to the ground. I
walked back up the drive alone,lee without in front of the house,

(23:18):
sitting on a bench in front ofa big tree. He'd heard the shots,
I'm sure, but he was justsitting there, probably waiting for Lyla
to come back and say that.But Mousie had taken care of me.
He turned and looked up as Iwalked towards La. Oh no, his

(23:41):
eyes seemed to look right through me. Somehow he was that full of fear.
I guess his fingers gripped the treeand back of him and deep into
the bark. He was waiting forme to kill him. Lila's deadly,
your your gun and gut her insteadof me. Oh lah, Ohila.

(24:06):
I'm sorry because because it was somethingI didn't have time to tell her.
I never intended that. Kids.I was just just showing you how seven
years looked crowded into a few days. Seven. Yeah, now that's right.
I guess you know now, Iguess you know why? Why and
what you did me me? Thisis ken I'm talking to you, n

(24:33):
n I I don't know why again, And he didn't. He didn't even
know himself where his eyes looked.I don't think he have a will again.
They weren't lie Burck's eyes anymore.They belonged to someone else. Funny,

(24:56):
the man who tried to be somebodyelse had finally made it, and
it was not good to look upon. Thank you Douglas Fairbanks for an outstanding

(25:22):
performance on so Spend and now Hereagain as mister Douglas Fairbanks. I've enjoyed
this appearance on Suspense very much,and I've noted with great interest as a
suspense fan, that Agnes Moorehead willreturn to the sound stage next week,
the scene of her splendid performances atthe Pie. As one of the many
who applauded her portrayal in a suspenseclassic, Sorry wrong Number, I've been

(25:45):
listening with anticipation next week for AgnesMoorehead in The Yellow Wallpaper. A powerful
study in So Spend Douglas Fairbanks maysoon be seen in its own production.
The op Flynn Tonight's and Sense Playwas written by Edward James, with music

(26:11):
composed by Lucian Marwick and conducted byLad Luskin. The entire production was of
the direction of Anton m. Leader. Next Thursday, same time you will
hear miss Agnes Moorehead in The Yellowwall Paper