 like a common criminal, and I didn't mean it. You know I didn't. Oh, stop whining, Gerald. Take your medicine like a man. What? All right, Harvey. I'll stop. You're responsible for the whole thing. You know you are. And since they can only hang me once, even for two murders. BAM! Midnight, the witching hour when the night is darkest, our fears the strongest, and our strength and its lowest damn midnight when the graves keep open and death strikes. How? You learn the answer in just a minute, then. Death's Goblet. It was Masters of the Macabre. Our story by Sigmund Miller is Death's Goblet. Joel began at one of Arthur Cunningham's parties. He always gave a party when he came back from one of his trips abroad. I went there with Gerald, my partner, and his wife, Susan. Beautiful Susan. Did I care for her? People used to say so. But she was too self-centered a woman for me. Now I like to look at her just as I like to look at anything that's lovely. That was all. As for Gerald, well, he was rich, which was the only reason he was my partner. But suppose I start at the beginning. At the moment we got to the party, and Arthur came over. Well, hello, Harvey. Glad you came. Wonderful to see you back, Arthur. You know Gerald and his lovely wife, Susan. Of course. Hello, lovely wife, Gerald. Nice to see you again, Arthur. Good trip, aren't you? Marvelous. You're just in time for a drink. Let's get away from this mob. Come into the study. I just opened my last bottle of Chateau Albert. Here we are. Oh, well, someone get the glasses out of the cabinet, will you? The bad part is making very nervous, you know. I'm much proud of you. Here you are. Hi. What an odd goblet this one is. Oh, put that one back, Susan. Why, what's wrong, Arthur? Use any of the others, but not that one. Oh, I'll be careful of it, if that's what you're worried about. It's not that. I just don't want you to drink from it. What's all the mystery about, Arthur? Well, you'd all think I was mad if I told you. Take a look at it. It's a very strange-looking glass. Yes, it looks Venetian, possibly from Murano. It is. This red spot here on the side. Yes, it's supposed to be a drop of blood. That's very odd. How do you know that? Well, Gerald, this goblet has a legend, a terrible legend. And of course, none of you will believe it, but the story is that anyone who drinks from this goblet will kill someone. Oh, that's wonderful. And you believe it? Well, yes, Gerald. You see, I've had proof. Oh, heavens. I, well, I once drank from this goblet. What? You're joking. You mean that you... Yes, Susan, it was justifiable homicide. But after I drank from it, I did kill someone. He was a thief, and he attacked me. But still, I killed him. Well, you never told us about that. It was not anything that I care to remember, particularly. Oh, how terrible for you, Arthur. Where did you get the goblet? From a murderer. A man who killed his wife. They were auctioning off his estate. Extraordinary. May I look at the glass, Arthur? Yes, if you like. Everyone stared at the goblet in silence as I held it to the light. It had a delicate brown tint, reminding me of old blood, except that it sparkled and glittered. The spot of red did look like a drop of blood about to roll down the side. It seemed ridiculous that this inanimate object could make men commit murder, and yet there was something about it that fascinated me, and suddenly I wanted to drink out of it. You seem very interested in my goblet, Harvey. Yes, will you pour some wine in it for me? What? No, Harvey. This happens to be one superstition, I believe. Everyone who has ever put his lips to this goblet has killed. I don't know why it's so, but it is. It's silly, of course, but why can't fate? No nonsense, Gerald Nonsense. I'm going to drink out of it. You'll have to pour the wine yourself, Harvey. All right, I will. Well, here's health and long life. No, Harvey, I won't let you. Well, Susan, you shouldn't have done that. You've spilled some of Arthur's best burgundy and ruined a good tablecloth. It doesn't matter. I'm glad you did it, Susan. I won't let you or anyone else drink from that glass. It's strange to get so distressed about a ridiculous legend. I don't think murder is ridiculous. You know, I'd like to get rid of it. I was thinking of destroying it. Well, why don't you just fling it against the fireplace? No, I can't. I've tried several times, but somehow I couldn't. Um, Arthur. Yes? How about giving it to me? I'd rather not. Oh, come on. You want to get rid of it, and I have a fine glass collection. I'd like to add to it. I'll keep it locked up. You'll be sorry, but if you want it that badly, Harvey, it's yours. Arthur, please don't give it to him. Susan, what's the matter with you? You watch over Harvey as if well as if. As if what? Gerald? Oh, the whole business is absurd. Of course it is. Yes, and if I should drink out of it and commit a murder, that would be the most absurd thing of all. Ha, ha, ha. I kept the goblet on the mantelpiece in my library where the lamp light made it glitter. I discovered that the red drop was not paint. It was ingrained in the glass. Oh, very cleverly. One night, both Susan and Gerald were at my home. As we chatted, I got up, went to the mantelpiece, and idly toyed with the goblet. That goblet? It's the one Arthur gave. Yes, yes, you remember, he gave it to me. Why don't you smash it, Harvey, get rid of it. Oh, it gives us all the creeps. Well, Gerald, you aren't really afraid of a piece of glass, are you? You don't believe Arthur's story at all, do you, Harvey? On the contrary, Susan, I do believe it, but not the way you think. What do you mean? Well, I mean to say, murder is not in the goblet. It's in me, and you, even in Gerald. What a silly thing to say, Harvey. Oh, yes, you don't need a magic goblet to commit a murder. All you have to do is let yourself go. Let go of the civilized controls that tie you up. Why, Gerald, if you had cause, you could murder me or even your lovely wife. Oh, I couldn't kill a fly. Oh, but you could if the fly gave you enough trouble. Now, supposing, just as an example, supposing that you discovered that Susan was really in love with me and only married you for your money, wouldn't that make you want to murder a Gerald? Harvey, you're crazy. That's not very funny, Harvey. Even you, Susan. What? Even though you have a lovely face and exquisite hands, even you could commit murder. Well, there must have been times when you hated Gerald only for a moment, of course, but in that moment. Eh, in that moment, if you were not so civilized. Stop it, Harvey. Why, you could even put your lovely hands around my throat. Oh, stop it, Harvey. You're not that important to her, and then just why are we on this gruesome subject? That's Harvey's idea of humor. Susan looked at me a touch of red at the point where the cheekbones make the skin taut. She seemed angry, but she wasn't really. Oh, yes, she loved me. I could see it in her face. She looked at me for a moment and then dropped her eyes. May I look at the goblet, Harvey? No, I'm afraid not, Susan. You might accidentally drop it. You might be a good idea. Well, I have an even better one, Gerald, and that's to go home before we get really serious about this murder business. I sat there staring at the goblet after they left. It fascinated me, glittering in the lamp light. And as I looked at it, it almost seemed as if the red spot of blood was moving, rolling down its side. Why shouldn't I drink from it? Why? And before I knew it, I'd taken it down and put it on the table. I got a bottle of burgundy, opened it, and I poured slowly, filling the goblet just up to the red spot. And then I drank from it. It seemed to me that the wine had a different taste, although I drank this wine often and knew it's taste well. It was delicious. I had another. It was heady. And it made me a little dizzy, although I felt fine and free. Yes, light and dizzy. But after a while, when the dizziness wouldn't go away, I decided to go for a drive, even though it was close to midnight. I drove fast. The speed and power of the car gave me a feeling of great exhilaration. I took the turns at full speed, enjoying the danger of the sharp curves. Then I came to a long-level stretch of road. I pressed down hard on the gas. The needle of this pedometer slowly moved upward, 60, 70, 80, 85, a road like a black ribbon rolled up in front of me. And then I suddenly saw him, but it was too late. I struck him with my right fender. He never made a sound. The car swerved a little from the impact. My heart and my throat, I stopped. Then I backed up, backed up to where the body was lying, sprawled grotesquely on the edge of the road. One look was enough. He was dead. But no one had seen the accident. I stepped on the gas and drove off. Death's goblet and the man who drank from it, the corpse lying limp by the side of a lonely road. And the car speeding away as the clock strikes 12th floor. Murder! Harvey challenged the curse of the goblet and found it true. He had just killed a man after drinking from it. Let's listen to him as he continues the story of Death's Goblet. I knew now that the story of the goblet wasn't a myth, and I also knew what I was going to do about it. The next night, I got Gerald to come to my house to do some work. I can't make head or tail out of your cost estimates, Harvey. Well, now, really, Gerald is very simple. Just concentrate. Why can't you take care of it like a good fellow? I'm awfully tired. Well, all right, let's stop for a couple of minutes. Have a drink. What are you doing, Harvey, the goblet? Why, you don't really believe that story of ours, do you? You're much too intelligent for that. Well, you only pretended in front of Susan, didn't you? Well, I... Yes, I had to pretend you know women. Well, of course. And even if you did believe it, I have a feeling that basically you're pretty reckless, aren't you? It used to be pretty wild when I was a young fella. On the motorcycle once. Yes, yes, I know, yes. Well, let's drink up. Find me a victim, will you, Gerald? Well, you know, according to the legend, I've got to murder someone. Maybe even you. Harvey the murderer. Yes. Mmm, very nice wine. Well, here's to your lovely wife. And how about switching glasses? Well, you might as well get a kick out of it, too. Well, okay, here goes. I watched the fool's swagger as he drank down the wine. In an hour, when he was alone, he'd be shivering with fright at what he'd done. Well, I did it. You certainly did. By the way, Gerald... I checked Arthur's story about this goblet. And it seems that he's right. Everyone who ever put his lips to this goblet has committed a murder. You mean, well, of course, it's all coincidence, but then again, who knows? All the next week, I kept reminding Gerald about his drinking from the goblet. I wasn't really trying to get him to kill, but it was amusing to see him get upset and uneasy. And I noticed he was getting a little bolder, particularly with Susan, and had developed a temper. And one night, just as I was about to retire... Harvey? Yes, Susan, how are you? I'm at 11 o'clock now. Do you know where he might be? Why, he's having dinner with his sister. His sister? Yes, a tall, dark girl. She was in the office today. Someone else? Yes, yes. It was Les Gordon who was meeting his sister. Yes, Gerald had some business to take care of over in Milford. Things were beginning to happen. It was becoming very interesting. Now we'd see. I must know, who is this girl? Take it easy, Susan. Come, sit down, sit down. Never mind that. What about Gerald? I don't know anything about Gerald's private life. And besides, you're not the one to talk. What on earth do you mean? You know perfectly well what I mean. I'm not here for Gerald. Actually, you're in love with me. Harvey. Well, you are. Aren't you? Maybe. Sometimes I think I am. But you're too cold-blooded. I'd never be sure I could trust you. As a matter of fact, you'd like to get rid of Gerald. Why do you say that? Well, I'm just putting your thoughts into words. You never really loved him, did you? And he's finally become unbearable, hasn't he? Oh, Harvey, if you only knew. Do you know that the last time Gerald was here, he drank out of that goblet of Arthur's? It's possible that he wants to get rid of you too. Oh, stop it, stop it, you hear? Well, I'm just telling you what I think you ought to know. Oh, we'll see. I left word at home that Gerald was to meet me here. And if he does come, well, we'll see. We sat and waited, not talking much. Susan's face was pale and agitated. It was most exciting. Susan, with all her charm and embellishments, was really a fierce animal underneath. I could almost hear her rage seething. Are you expecting anyone? Just Gerald. Well, let him in. Hello, Harvey. Susan, what's up? Why did you leave word to meet you here? It's almost midnight. Where have you been all the evening? At Milford. With whom? What's going on, anyway? What are you so excited about, Susan? What were you doing in Milford? Why, I went there on business. Oh, really? You've been behaving very strangely lately, Gerald. If you don't love me, why don't you say so like a man? What? This is all your fault, Harvey. You've been filling her head with poison. I had nothing to do with this. I told her that you went to Milford. All he did was to make me see clearly something I felt for a long while. And I think this is the time to do something about it. So how are you out of your mind? Put that gun down. You remember it, don't you? You gave it to me. Said it might be useful in an emergency. Harvey, take that gun away from her. She's liable to shoot. She won't shoot. She's only trying to frighten you. Am I? Let's see. Oh, my shoulder. Give me that gun. No. Give me that gun. Harvey, she's dead. Yes, Gerald. And you killed her. But it was an accident. She shot at me. And I was only trying to get the gun away from her. You know that's what happened. I only know that you drank from that goblet and that you killed her. What? But you dirty treacherous. You planned all this so that you could get rid of me. So that you could have Susan. You could have the firm for yourself. You'll have to do better than that to beat the gallows, Gerald. The gallows? Please, Harvey, we've been friends for a long time. You can't let me down. You wouldn't have pressed the trigger if you hadn't had murder in your heart, Gerald. You shot her because you wanted to. That's what I saw. I believe in telling the truth. Harvey, I'll turn over the business to you. I'll do anything. Anything. If you'll just... I don't accept bribes, Gerald. All right. But I'll fool you. I'll call the police myself. Well, there's the phone. I'll prove my case in court. They won't convict me. Operator. Operator. Give me the police. Hello? Police department? This is Gerald Hamilton. I just accidentally shot my wife and my friend's home. Yes, she's dead. The address is 411 Grove Street. That's right. I killed her accidentally. Yes. I'll be waiting here. Cigarette, Gerald? Treating me like a condemned man, huh? Well, I'm not going to die. All I have to do is tell the truth about everything, including you. Oh, but you forget, Gerald, there must be fingerprints. Your fingerprints on that gun. That won't look very accidental, will it? I... But... But Harvey... You did it, Gerald. I saw you. If you don't back me up, they'll hang me like a common criminal. Please, Harvey. Don't let them do that to me. Please. Oh, stop whining, Gerald. What? All right, Harvey. I'll stop. You're responsible for this whole thing. You know you are. Since they can only hang me once. He raised the gun, but I'd been expecting it. I grabbed his hand, pushed it against his chest. My finger pressed on his hand on the trigger. And suddenly, he went limp. You won't get away. My alibi was perfect. All I had to do was wait for the police that he himself had called. The minutes ticked slowly away. And then Arthur... Well, I found you in. See, you look as if you'd been in a fight. Arthur, you'd better not come in. Why? What's the matter? No, you'd better not come in. Oh, but why? Well, Gerald and Susan, they had a quarrel and he killed her. What? And then he shot himself. What are you talking about, Harvey? Well, all right, come in. Look for yourself. Good lord. Well, tried to kill me, too. But why? It doesn't sound like him or like either of them. Well, I don't know why. A fit of insanity? Or maybe it was the goblet, your goblet. He drank out of it, you know. The goblet? Why, that's ridiculous. As he spoke, he picked up the gun. It made me furious. All those fine fingerprints of Gerald's were now erased. Put that gun down, Arthur. There are fingerprints on it. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize. I tried to get hold of myself. The stupid fool, he was going to ruin everything. But I had to keep calm. What, uh, what were you saying about the goblet? Why, it has no curse or magic. I just made that story up. You, you, you made it, you mean... Of course I bought the goblet in an antique shop. As a matter of fact, I have a whole set of them. The pulses hammered away in my head. A vast, uncontrollable anger seized me. Was it because of those precious fingerprints that he'd wiped out or because I had believed in the goblet myself? I don't know. I only know that I had to fight to keep from grabbing him by the throat. You know, I don't think you're telling me everything you know about this horrible business, Harvey. In fact... A red hot wave came over me. I don't remember exactly what happened. Let me go! Get your hands off me! The body is lying there too now. Next to Susan's. But the police will be here any minute, so I have to hurry. First, the goblet. There. That's done. That... No. Some of the broken fragments still glitter in the lamp light. I've got to crush them. Grind them to powder under my heel. There are always other pieces that I can't find. They're, they're hiding from me. They're afraid of me. But I'll find every piece. I'll find them! I'll find them! Lying huddled on the floor, the madmen crushing the fragments of the broken goblet to powder, as the police car drives up and the clock strikes 12 for... Murder! The face of a friend and the clocks strike 12 for... Rick Dressler. With music by Charles Paul, tonight was directed by Anton...