 This is your host to welcome you through the creaking door into the Inner Sanctum. Come in, come in. Tonight we're inaugurating a quiz. It's a cut-throat session called, Take It or Drop Dead. If I just tear off the top of your neighborhood mortician and send it to us by hair mail. This is our terror tune. If you could guess the correct title of our morbid Miss Erker, in one scream or less, here are the prizes you'll win. A brand new 1949 stainless steel, just a thing for whittling, and a handsome hand-tooled Florentine dagger, the knife without a conscience, and the Take It or Drop Dead grand prize. Inner Sanctum mystery, The Deadly Dummy, was written by Ed Adamson and Robert Sloan, and stars Mason Adams in the role of Steve with Elspeth Eric S. Clare. Let's get to tonight's... Oh, by the way, let me warn you, all references to ghosts living or dead is anything but coincidence. This is what happened to a guy named Steve Pearson. Why do you keep asking me the questions? Why don't you ask Marlowe? Ask him, Inspector, he'll tell you everything. I told you before, Pearson, Marlowe isn't dead. He is, he's in this room sitting right there in that chair. That's just a ventriloquist dummy in the chair. You told me yourself, Marlowe is dead. You don't understand, the dummy is Marlowe. I can prove it to you, the dummy is alive, real. All right, all right, so he's alive. You think I'm crazy? Go ahead, Pearson. Let's hear the story, all of it, from the beginning. It began when I went to work as Marlowe's assistant. He was billed as the great Marlowe. The great Marlowe. His audience has always thought he was a wonder, but they didn't know him like I did. You couldn't please them no matter how hard you tried. There wasn't a meaner man alive than Fred Marlowe. I would have quit him right at the start of it, I hadn't been for Claire. I only stayed because of her. Claire, she was warm and wonderful. And she was Marlowe's wife. Ah, Steve. Claire, Claire, you gotta come away with me. Wouldn't do any good, Steve. He'd follow us wherever we went. You know him, he'd make our lives miserable. Oh, we can't go on this way. How much of this can we stand? We don't have to go on this way. What do you mean? You really love me. Claire, we couldn't do a thing like that. You hate him as much as I do. We're doing a thing like that. It isn't hard when you really hate. When you really love... Somebody will find out. They always find out. Not the way I've planned it. Ground glass. You'll drink it. But how? He'll know. No, you'll never suspect. He'll be during his act. That part where he drinks the water while the dummy whistles. You handle his props. All you have to do is put the powdered glass into the water pitcher before he goes on. He'll pour the drink himself. Yeah. After he goes off, you can wash out the pitcher and the glass. There'll be no evidence. You do it, Steve. When? Giving his last performance at the Lido on Tuesday. Tuesday? It'll be Marlowe's last performance anywhere. Everything set, Steve? Yes, Mr. Marlowe, everything is set. You made sure the water in the pitcher last night. You almost forgot about that. It's in there now. I made doubly sure this time. All right, P.D., let's go. Ready, Marlowe? There. Yes, friend? My last performance here. Aren't you coming out to watch? I'll be along in a moment. I wouldn't want you to miss it. We're going to be really great tonight. How do we, P.D.? You said it, Marlowe. Tonight, we're going to knock him... In the wings while Marlowe went through his act. It seemed like ages. Like it never gets to the part we waited for. Then finally... He ain't talking about drinking. I'm a little thirsty myself. That was the cue. Now he was coming to it. Do you want to join me? Oh, why you damn... A silent scream shook in my throat. Suddenly, I didn't want it to die. Hating of me, it wasn't enough reason for killing him. I wanted to stop him. There's a scream in my throat begged for release. And then I felt Claire's hand written right. I turned to her smile, smothered the cry within me. Her hand tightened and pulled, and we walked away from the stage. Sent your wife for one, Marlowe. The pain, it feels like there's a fire inside me. It won't bother you. I'm dying. Yes, Marlowe, you're dying. A person helped me. Nothing can help you now. I won't die. The doctor will save me. He won't let me. There won't be any doctor. What? Claire didn't go for one. Hey, she hates me. You and Claire... Drank that water back at the Lido tonight. There was ground glass in it. Ground glass, so finely powdered. You couldn't see or feel it. P.G. A dummy can't help you, Marlowe. B.A.M. at heart. What? A real... What is this? Oh, that death bed scene of Marlowe's. Right off the cob. I thought it was quite good, B.D. Oh, strictly amateur night, strictly. Marlowe. Marlowe, you... B.B.D., I had beers and believing. But it can't be. You drank that water. I saw you. Yes, I drank that water. But you're all right. Marlowe, you're killing our friend Steve with suspense. Come on, give him a break. Somehow, he had switched the container of ground glass I had bought. He let me leave his hotel room without another word. I didn't know what to do or what to expect. I waited. Three days went by. Then he sent for me. Sit down, Pearson. I'll be busy packing a trunk. I sat there waiting. The dummy, P.D., was popped up on the table as perpetual grin, marking my fee. Our friend looks kind of uncomfortable, Marlowe. Really, P.D.? Why did you send for me, Marlowe? Clara, our sailing for South America tonight. I suppose you're curious. All right. What are you going to do? Nothing. Nothing. I just wanted to tell you about Claire, Steve. She's poison. P.D. never did like Claire. Marlowe's a sucker for that, Dame. I guess she never told you that she tried to have Marlowe knocked off before. There was another guy had the job before you. Claire fed him the same line. She's a basket. She'll be back soon. Claire wants Marlowe's money, but not Marlowe. Just using you. Shut up. She'd give you the go-by so fast. Shut up, I said. You're out of her class. She wouldn't want you in a minute. This will shut you up, P.D.! Remember? So, you see, the only sure way to shut them up is to stop the ugly with a sickening laughter. I couldn't stand it. I had to stop it some way. I felt along the table behind me. The hand came across the heavy glass ashtray. I gripped it tightly, then brought it up from behind me. He slumped to the floor. The grin was still on his face. I bent down over him. He was breathing. I hit him again. Marlowe was dead. You shouldn't have done that, Steve. It was the dummy talking. I heard him. He lay on the floor. I had crushed him into a hundred pieces. But they were his words, his voice. You can't get away with murder. You'll see, Steve. He did talk. Steve, it couldn't be. But I heard him. He talked to me. Claire, he talked to me. Steve, get hold of yourself. You shouldn't have done it. If you'd only waited, we would have found a safe place. Someone's at the door. We can't open it. Got? His body on the floor. They'll see it. Here, help me. I come for the trunk, lady. Oh, there must be some mistake. Well, that's a trunk, ain't it? That's what I come for. Mrs. Marlowe said you're mistaken. Look, Mr. I got an order here. See? One trunk, number 3468. That's the number on the tag of this hit trunk. Now listen. The order says this trunk goes to state room 3D on the Tragania. That's what it says. Tragania sales tonight. Now do I take this hit trunk or don't I? Yes, yes. I'm sorry. That was our mistake. But, Claire. Please, take the trunk. Okay, lady. Forget it, Mrs. Giseke. How about one of your two holo... See, Steve? See what? That is a way out for us. Your body won't be found here and we're safe. Now he's gone forever. Nobody will ever know. It's him. Now you can believe me. Steve, what? Tommy was prompted against the closet wall. He looked at me with the same evil grin as the one I had crushed to pieces. Locked in fiber of him. I'll burn him to a... Believe me, he didn't talk. It's just your imagination. I'm not crazy. I heard him. So did you, only you're too afraid to admit it. He couldn't talk without Marlowe. Marlowe would have to be alive for that. Tell me, just speak. What? Marlowe would have to be alive. Do you know that? Yes, yes, that's right. What's the matter with me? Yes, he would have to be alive. You see, it was just your imagination. Then Marlowe isn't dead. Oh, now Steve, please. He wasn't dead before you put him into the trunk. He just wanted us to think he was. Steve! I didn't kill him. He wasn't dead. That's why the dummy talked. Marlowe can do tricks like that. Come on, Claire. We've got to hurry. No, wait, wait. We've got to get there fast. Claire, Steve, what are you talking about? Marlowe stayed room on the boat. He'll be there in the trunk. I've got to make sure he's dead. 3-D, there's Steve. Steve, we shouldn't have come here. I said give me the key. Don't, Steve, please. Don't open it. He is dead and there I know. Give it to me. I was in there motionless. When I touched him, he was cold. Marlowe was dead, all right. But there was something else in the trunk with him at his feet. And the same grin was on his wooden face. Hello, Steve. I knew you'd come. I was waiting for you. Here, Steve, drink this. You fainted. You are right. Marlowe is dead. Dummy, I heard him speak. No, Steve, it's just as I told you. You only heard it in your mind. He didn't really talk. Oh, Claire, Claire. Well, those things happen, and now it's over and you'll never hear it again. Can you get out? Yeah, I'm all right now. We've got to get off this boat before somebody sees us. I ruined everything. No, we're still safe. Nobody knows we came here. You go first. That'll be the best way I'll follow in a moment. Yes, I'll meet you on the pier. All right. How do you do, ma'am? Oh! Oh, sorry to give you such a joke. My name is Igginsman. I'm your steward. Just stop by so we'd know each other. You were too late in getting out of that stable. That steward would remember Claire. Steve, what are we going to do? There was only one chance. With Marlowe's body in that trunk, there was only one thing we could do. I had Claire ring for the steward. Have the porters come for our trunk and take it to the pier. Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Marlowe, but that won't be possible. What? Well, in the excitement, ma'am, you probably didn't notice. What are you talking about? Our departure. We sailed 20 minutes ago. We had walked into a trap of our own making. A trap that was snapped closed on us by a dead man. Marlowe was a cold corpse in that trunk, but we were held by his invisible grip. Steve, there's still a chance we can get out of this. You mean if his body isn't found in that trunk? I'll arrange it so his body will never be found. We'll do it tonight when the deck outside is dark and deserted. You'll see, Steve, we'll be really rid of Marlowe this time. You'll see. Early in the evening, a storm came up and grew worse with the passing hours. About 11 o'clock, I made a careful check of the promenade deck outside the state home. It was completely deserted. We supported Marlowe's body between us and carried it toward the darkened space at the end of the deck. In the morning, I'll report my husband is missing. I'll ask a lot of questions. I'll have all the answers to the way we planned it. I'll tell him how he often gets up at night to go for a walk. And the dizzy spells. Yes, now that it is dizzy spells, that's how it must have happened. Now, the terrible dizzy spell, it fell overboard. Meantime, Steve, you'll have to hide. I found a place I'm one of the lifetimes. We'll meet every night. Wait, wait. What is it? I thought I saw somebody down that way. I don't see anyone. It was probably just a shadow. Come on, let's get this over with. You can help me lift him to the rail. He's gone, Steve. Yes, Claire. That's the end of Marlowe. Now he can live, really live. Will you kiss me, Steve? Will I kiss you? Come here. Oh, Steve. Oh. I beg your pardon. I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm looking for someone. I thought he might be with you. There was no one with us. No, we're alone. I see. I thought I saw three people walk over here. No. It's so dark. I must have been mistaken. Yes, it is dark. The man I'm looking for is Mr. Marlowe. What? You haven't known him? My name is Marlowe. Then you're the gentleman I'm looking for. My name is Ralph Kramer, Mr. Marlowe. Are you all right, Mr. Marlowe? Yes, yes. I'm fine. Why? I just wanted to be sure. By the way, I received your letter. Letter? Don't you remember? Uh, no, not exactly. Oh, I can understand. You're a busy man, Mr. Marlowe. Well, just to refresh your memory, I'm in charge of entertainment here on the boat. I found out last week that you had booked passage. So I wrote you asking you to consent to be one of these features in our theatrical. It's about a night. And I replied... You've got to keep trying. There isn't much time left. It won't work, Claire. Well, it will. You know Marlowe's act. You've understudied him, remember? I know, but I can't... Come to you, darling. I'll just keep trying. Go on, Steve. Please, try again. All right. Tell me, Petey, don't you and your girlfriend, Phoebe, ever have a difference of opinion? Sure, Marlowe, but I wouldn't dare tell her about it. Oh, you see, Claire, it's no good. Are you doing fine? Don't tell me. I know it's rotten. Tell him I'm not going on. Steve, it means our lives. You've got to go through with it. Sure. You can do it, Steve. I'll see you through. Claire. What's wrong? What is it? The dummy just talked, and I didn't do it. You can do it, Steve. I'll see you through. You heard him, didn't you? No. Don't let her kid you, Steve. Mary said something again. You didn't hear that either. Oh, now, Steve, don't. You've got to pull yourself together. Dame can really play angles, can't she, friend? Yes, she really can. Who are you talking to? You know who I'm talking to. You know all about it. Go ahead, Steve. You tell her. You were making that dummy talk, Claire. It was you all the time. You don't know what you're saying. You're trying to drive me crazy. That's why you're doing it. You know what Marlowe said about you was true. You were just using it. No, Steve. You wanted Marlowe dead. You wanted his money. Just as he said, you were playing me for a sucker. Steve, don't look at me that way. No, I can see you for the first time. What you're really doing. Don't you come near me. You are the same evil grin as that dummy. Because that's what you are. Something inhuman. No, stay away. Something mean and vicious and bad. Please. Please. Tighter and tighter. Nails digging deep into the salt brush. The color slowly drained out of her face. Gas, but then she stopped moving. She was like a rag doll in my hand. I stood there holding her lifeless body. Then after a while I heard a knock on the door. Miss Marlowe. Miss Marlowe, it's Ralph Cramer. Mr. Cramer? It was Marlowe. I tried not to look at them. Come on, Steve. The dummy whispered to me. Come on. I want you to meet the folks. I am folks. Talking about her, we've got to get back. You give us a lawyer's name and we'll call her. I don't think the lawyer would do me much good now. It's up to you, Pearson. Okay, Robert, just take him downstairs. I don't suppose you'll need me any longer, Inspector. Just one question, Cramer. What is that? Why don't you hear the dummy say that night when Pearson tried to go through with Marlowe's act? Oh, the dummy didn't say a word. Pearson was up there on the stage talking to himself. He just couldn't help double talking himself into a knot. The kind of hangman ties. Now he's in a grave condition. But it's his own fault, you know. His dummy done told him. Because he figured two dead heads are better than one. Well, anyway. Yes, as we say here in the Inner Sanctum, the end always justifies. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! The film is heard each week in the United States over CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. And has been rebroadcast for servicemen and women overseas through the facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, the voice of information and education.