 Roma wines present Suspense Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world Salute your health, senor Roma wines toast the world the wine for your table is Roma wine made in California for enjoyment throughout the world This is the man in black here to introduce this weekly half hour of Suspense tonight from Hollywood. We bring you mr. Orson Wells Mr. Wells will appear as star of the suspense play called the Marvelous Barastro From an extraordinary story by the distinguished American author Ben Hect But before we raise the curtain on this evening's tale of suspense Here is a message from your host the Roma wine company of Fresno, California Distance lens enchantment says the old proverb and it seems borne out in such little episodes as these Let's pretend we're guests at the smart and handsome pan-american club Havana Cuba An American visitor is amazed that his Cuban host can picture the marvelous climate and rich fruitful soil of California Without ever having been there, but the Cuban responds one sip alone of wonderful Roma wine tells me all that Only true perfection of climate and soil could produce the perfection of your splendid California wine Roma wine Well, that's all and as Roma wines become available to wine connoisseurs of more and more lands The chorus of praise grows for the truly superb quality of these good Roma wines No wonder then these wine experts of other lands are so eager to import Roma wines No matter what the distances from our own California And no wonder too that these taste delighting Roma wines with no import duty to pay and without expensive shipping charges added to their cost here Are america's largest selling wines with such richly rewarding enjoyment within your reach Why not get acquainted with your favorites among Roma wines many different delightful wine types? Remember the name r o m a Roma wines made in california for enjoyment throughout the world And now with a marvelous barastro produced and directed by william spear and with the performance of orson wells We again hope to keep you in suspense This is uh, william spear three weeks ago I was seated in my office pouring over possible future stories with which to hold you in suspense When a stranger appeared unannounced I am the marvelous barastro. I've come to tell you a story. How did you get in here? I am a magician by trade. I do such things. Perhaps you've heard of me barastro. No, I'm the greatest magician alive And no, that is not so. I am the second greatest, but soon I will be first I am leaving tonight for mexico city. You see me now for the first and last time you will never see me again No one will ever see me again. It is the last of barastro How's that? I'm going to mexico city to murder a man His name is rico san sony Why are you going to kill him? Because Because he is the most evil man in the world I've been waiting 20 years for his name to appear For as long as he chose to hide. There was no hope. He's too clever far too clever even for me But I knew that his vanity would betray him and that someday I would read again the name Rico san sony I knew he would return to the stage. Is he a magician? He greatest to ever live the most profound the most subtle And the most evil He's greater than I begin his first performance in 20 years in mexico next week I will be there to see it. Well, I would like to hear your story I can tell you all but the end that I will be unable to provide now But you will find it out for yourself. Well, I'd like to hear what you can tell me I will tell you mr. Spear, but on one condition and that I must have your oath not to interfere Well, really now you can understand. I can scarcely give you that after all I very well very well very I would take my chances with you The story begins 20 years ago I was a young man. I traveled as a magician with a small carnival through southeastern europe One night we came to a village in malo russia our symbols sounded our torches flickered in the spring wind And the villagers gathered around our tents and wagons. I had taken my place in the black box outside my tent There were holes in the box through which I could watch the crowd while the barker made his announcement At this moment At this moment I saw her for the first time Our young and gentle face Surprised me among so many peasants. I said to myself The strange girl what a beautiful child I kept watching her I couldn't keep my eyes away from her at length an old peasant led her in holding her by the hand I saw at once that she was blind My granddaughter would like you to tell her future. Can you tell my future? Yes Will it be a happy one my future? Hold out your hand and I will tell you here A dark mist passed over me I felt a sudden chill as I touched her hand I listened to the voices which foretell the future sorrow sorrow. They breathe pain and sorrow fly run I studied the girl's face a fear gripping at my heart Her large sightless eyes were calm resigned. I could not bring myself to tell her what I saw The spirits promise you happiness. I lied Your hands will touch beautiful things Love and delight will await you. Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you That was the beginning Her face haunted me that night. I could not sleep I mean inquire is the next morning and I found her we walked through the hills She did not need my hand or guide her. She knew every stone every turn of the path She spoke of the trees around us. She had strange names for them I call that tree lullaby because it sings when it sways in the wind lullaby And that one see when its branches open towards heaven I call that one prayer Do you know its branches open toward the sky when I was younger? I climbed it Anna come I'll raise you to the bed of flowers at the turn. Anna hurry. I run far We walked often through the hills I knew that she was aware of her destiny The stars had told me she would not live long And that agony and terror waited for her on the short journey Our caravan remained for two weeks in the village At the end of that time I asked Anna to come with me as my wife. You make me very happy shari I could live only with you I will love you with all my heart and you will teach me shari You will teach me to see To see does one need eyes to see as you do Shari, you will teach me to see beyond the horizons You will teach me to see as you see We were married We rode together in the gilded wagon and the vows were taken under a clear sky Suddenly this sky changed It was only then that I realized what I had done in seeking to save her I was fulfilling the terrible message of the stars For it was I Shari Barastro Who was the instrument fate had selected for her ruin Then it came One night as I stood in the black box outside my tent I knew that I needed no further word from the mists of prophecy It was there it had come He he stood among the peasants before our tent a graceful figure Smiling leaning on his cane a man of the world Amusingly out of place in this faraway little village. I looked at him through the holes in my boxes. I looked I turned cold I watched him And I felt afraid He was studying Anna never once did he stop looking at her My temper is quick and fiery. I went up to him as he was watching Anna Her subtly was how graceful I seized his arm and demanded to know what he meant by staring at my wife He removed my hand as if I were a child I can tell you there was something Something terrifying in his strength My most humbly beg your pardon for this misunderstanding. Let me introduce myself My name is Rico Sanzoni. I'm a student of the occult traveling about the world in search of knowledge Inside of me. I feel that girl has remarkable psychic powers I'd hope to be able to induce her to join me as my assistant Soon planning to go on the stage, but Now that I know she's your wife. I apologize again for my seeming forwardness Oh, I suppose there's nothing to do but to accept that apology And you madam Anna I think it is fair Anna Anna No, I have nothing to say It was thus Rico Sanzoni entered our lives Little by little during the days that followed he attached himself to us. We listened Anna died to his tales He'd been everywhere seen everything He brought the world into our gilded wagon In his presence. I always felt elated and flattered thus Thus does a man move in the grip of his destiny thus do we dig with our own hands the appointed grave for our happiness For one night Anna came to me and took my hands and told me something Made my heart grow black Shari Rico Sanzoni has made love to me. I've done nothing wrong I'm afraid of Rico I tell you this so you will understand my fear of you You want to tell me about it now? Yes Tell me then Rico came to me this afternoon while I was alone He took my hand and held it gently in his I suspected nothing until he asked me if I loved you And how deeply I loved you Then he asked me if I love you more than happiness or life I took my hand from him and said I cannot talk of love to you Even if my love for my husband, please go Yes Or Rico Well, she's told you Shari forgive me For a moment. I grew weak Let me remain your friend. I brought you both some flowers I picked them myself Will you accept them? You won't accept them Of course we will my friend How could I have doubted you? I understand come forget the entire incident You're kind really you're kind This was the third month of our friendship and now I began to feel it was my companionship He desired not Anna's we spent long hours together without Anna under his care My mind was expanding my powers developing. He seemed interested in my every move And again, I was flattered Lord disarmed You have a funny way of saying the word Beautiful my friend How is it you said? Beautiful That's it. That's it. Beautiful Hmm You're telling me about the uh Houdini method of respiration. Oh, yes, so I was Be beautiful I like I like you, sorry I like you very much Amazing, isn't it? Amazing how one can be drawn in by flattery and charm Then one day I was sitting in my tent When a curious sense came over me. I felt the pressure on my heart as if a hand were closing around it was a warning I have quickly I heard the apartment Anna the remainder she frequently did in the afternoon. I found myself running through the door I paused waiting until I Recovered my breath and then forcing a smile to my lips opened the door Oh, I saw Rico Rico Claning with his arms around our ears Her face raised to his lips Speechless powerless. I looked at them I heard her voice murmuring words of love her arms moved around his neck and she kissed him Then I heard his voice Anna Anna my darling Anna my darling My beautiful darling The sound of his voice a horror sees me now. I knew why he had spent so many hours with me why he was so interested It was my voice. It was Barastro talking It was a voice that seemed to come from my own throat a horrible familiar voice and I understood what had happened I sprang forward shouting his name Rico He turned and faced me pointed his finger at me as if he were an image in a mirror Rico the echo Murder was in my heart I flew at this monster We struggled across the room. He answered my cries When cries the deck would explode It was the inflection of my voice. I saw him through my rage. His face was comforted like my own His every feature had changed. He was Barastro. There were two Barastros Screaming together tumbling over each other His hands that were like steel I could not move a cry out His hand was on my throat I lay gasping crazed and it was Barastro who was holding me Then this horrible and familiar figure changed. It became Rico. It was Rico Sansone who spoke the breath was leaving my body. I was strangling dying yet. I could hear him Barastro God you're killing me Shari Shia mercy I'm dying His voice was faint. I felt in this moment the agonies of a hundred deaths For as my eyes grew dark. I saw with horror the thing He had in his mind He was pretending it was I who was killing him And thus he would kill me and go to her as Barastro It would be Rico Sansone. He would be buried. It would be Barastro who remained For a moment. I caught a glimpse of his cold ruthless eyes burning now over my faces He enacted his false death groaning pleading for mercy and his strength drawn from the soul filled my lungs I cried out with all my might Knowing that by this she would understand it was I I who was dying and darkness Darkness seized me An hour had passed when I opened my eyes my head was splitting my throat was stiffen. I raised myself and looked He was gone I saw her She was standing in the corner of the room crouched against the wall her hand against her teeth and staring staring into the terrible dark around her Anna I whispered to her Anna It is I Anna I Shari Anna Oh Anna, please Anna Anna darling listen to me Anna. Give me your hand Anna Anna. Listen. It is I Anna Shari your husband Anna. Listen Anna. Remember Anna. Remember. Remember we first kissed When we first kissed Anna That time on the hill Anna remember I called you little princess remember Anna Anna about your trees Anna About lullaby the names you had for them lullaby and prayer Anna One with its branches pointing toward him the one we climbed Anna, please Anna, please Please Anna It is I Anna. Come here. Listen. Listen carefully Anna The spirits promise you happiness Your hands will touch beautiful things Love and delight await Oh My Anna my sweet Yes, my darling There they are my darling. It's all right. No, it's all right It's all right. Rico had disappeared We laid our plans Anna and I As soon as she was able to walk we abandoned the carnival We were in separate revenge. She could not bear to have me way in for a moment I understood everything everything in her soul Yes, even the trembling that would seize her sometimes when I took her in my hand It was I alone. He could not deceive I alone To anyone else he could become barastro Even to her Who senses had learned every breath every inflection of the man she loved Even to her He had been barastro The months passed Our life had become again almost like a honeymoon Almost I say for there were nights when I would awake To find her fingers tracing the contours of my face Then it was I pretended to be ill and remained at her side We said nothing, but we knew the shadow The shadow in each other's mind Everything went smoothly though until one evening When I entered the cabaret where I was performing I felt unusually disturbed. It was winter I was removing my coat when it came again As I had known it would be warming the hand closing over my heart I ran from the place and rest home. I entered our cottage by the back door quietly like a thief And I stood listening from inside. I could hear her voice Darling you're ill again I'll take care of you darling. I'll make you feel better Anna my dear Anna How I love you He was back One doesn't reason One does not reason in the midst of a nightmare Yet Tara can wake the mind to a clairvoyance and understanding beyond thought I stood motionless silent listening. The light was turned out. I heard her laugh Laugh like a child in the dark And this sound killed me He has one is dead forever When happiness is torn from the heart I wanted to rush into the room. I wanted to shout Anna Anna don't touch him He's recall But instead I slept quickly from the house. I walked in the cold streets. My thoughts returned I had acted out of one clear impulse Through the terror and agony of those moments when I heard him take her in his arms There it remained a certainty above everything else I must save her And I knew I had acted wisely had I rushed into the room and I made a noise She would have died She would have known in that moment as I knew listening to him That he had been there before But he had been that he had crept through our defenses as our shadow creeps And we had not known I thought of them together as I walked And then I thought again that I had only to rush back to speak a name The SN destroyer I kept on walking And as I walked I began to understand him. Yes, I was dealing with a monster He would manage to leave her as he must have done so often before a few moments before I was due to return from the cabaret And if I sent something was wrong, he would rely on my lover to keep this sense of secret He knew me well He understood I would allow my heart to be eaten away with grief And I would not make a sign lest I destroy her whom I love more than myself It was I who must be careful not he yes, he knew me He gambled on me. I determined to kill him the first moment I saw him And then we get to think to think of Of his superhuman strength That he might kill me Even as he had first intended And that he would go on living with her as perastro She would never know I was dead. She would continue to love me in his arms to press her kisses upon my murderer And this was the thought that continued The fullest measure of horror The thought of that moment when she would see him and not me understand the grief The grief of that night Yes, it is fortunate. I cannot remember it all I returned home At the time at the time riko wanted me to I I wasn't careful about not coming. I trusted him Do you understand? I trusted him that out of his evil He would spare her as I spared her out of love I entered the bedroom Opened the door and walked in she was alone hannah hannah dear hannah hannah it's I It's I it's not me, it's I It's I This is my memory of hannah My memory She seized her face with her hands as if she were tearing something. Yes, the darkness As I rushed towards she fell She did not speak again In the morning she died That is the story as nearly in barastros words as I can remember them when he'd finished he got up quietly looked at me a moment and said Thank you for listening to me, mr. Spear You understand now my prediction that there will be one less magician alive in the world within a fortnight And he turned and left my office I must admit that the whole thing shook me rather badly I've been spent the whole week wondering if something might happen something I couldn't predict this morning I think perhaps it came at least While I was reading through the theatrical weekly variety and my eye caught a notice You probably saw it too Of a magician who had been killed in Mexico City The account said that two magicians had been together in an automobile accident While driving through the rail yard district their car stalled on a track and had been demolished by an oncoming train One of the magicians unidentifiable had been cut to pieces The other miraculously escaped with his life Although his features were so horribly disfigured that plastic surgery will have to create a new face for him the survivor identified himself as The marvelous barastro And so closes benhex story of the marvellous barastro starring awesony wells tonight's tale of suspense Before mr. Weld returns to our microphone a message from the sponsor of suspense Why is the making of good wine like a proverb because both are based on long experience For you to enjoy the many different taste delighting roma california wines First there had to be long years of painstaking cultivation of some of the world's finest vineyards Plus year upon year of development of the art and skill that go into the making of these fine roma wines Your first sip of any of the good tasting roma wines will confirm the presence of these needed years of preparation Will tell you why roma wines are america's largest selling wines Your taste will thrill to the superb quality and the downright satisfaction when you try say the tangy delicious roma sherry Or the rich hearty roma burgundy or the sweeter heavier roma port You'll be thrilled too when you learn such great enjoyment costs so little mere pennies a glass You'll want to add your voice to the international praise of roma wines now rising in many lands in these words roma wines are truly magnificent. Let me repeat the name r o m a roma wines made in california for enjoyment throughout the world This is orson wells. It was a great pleasure ladies and gentlemen as it always is To appear as a purveyor of suspense and next week. Mr. Spear would like me to tell you that Mr. Ed Gardner better known to you as archie the elite proprietor at duffy's tavern will make his debut as a dramatic actor mr. Spear has also asked me to mention that Orson wells played the part of both magicians on the program tonight Universal pictures would like me to mention that uh Orson wells plays a magician in a new picture of theirs called follow the boys Or is it orson wells? Next thursday same time you will hear ed Gardner radios famous archie in suspense presented by roma wines made in california for enjoyment throughout the world. This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system