 Suspense tonight suspense brings you an all-star cast of Hollywood's finest radio players in 100 in the dark but first wherever hospitality is a gracious art and entertaining is the last word in luxury the first name in wines is CRE S.T.A. B.L.A.N.C.A. Cresta Blanca Cresta Blanca yes that's Cresta Blanca wines a symbol of perfect taste of gracious living to pay your guests a sincere compliment distinguish your holiday dining by serving a fine Cresta Blanca California burgundy or sautern when you pour these proud Cresta Blanca wines from the finest of the vines you enjoy the best shenly's Cresta Blanca wine company Livermore California and now shenly brings you radio's outstanding theater of thrill presented by Roma wines that's R.O.M.A. Roma wines for your enjoyment tonight Roma wines of Fresno, California presents 100 in the dark a study in suspense produced edited and directed for shenly by William Spear oh that was a fine meal indeed me for the club anytime here you know sit here Queenie oh yes yes if you just drop that chair for Mr. Peters thank you do you all know Peters oh this is Mr. Steingar how do you do glad to know you Mr. de Gaulle yeah I believe we've met yes how are you know each other and the one who drew up your chair Mr. Rankin all right the chair well I guess we're all acquainted now to get back to our table discussion oh yes yes yes yes oh how about some coffee all of us thank you all fine oh John John well now a steinger as I said there are only half a dozen stories in the world what is more to the point there's every yes sir yeah oh yes yes coffee John anything else anybody no not I don't think I go yes now where was I oh yes human relations are so simple and yet so fundamental that they can be eternally played upon redressed and reinterpreted in every language in every age they remain inexhaustible in the possibility of variations well that's true of course that's very possible but you take the eternal triangle two men and a woman or two women and a man it's variations extending to the thousand that right rank it well in a way yes but oh yes coffee yes just set them right now I'm afraid we we can't see I die 20 now I believe there are situations original situations that are independent of your human emotions exist just because they are situations accidental and nothing else now as for instance well I'll cite just an ordinary one that happens to come to my mind where are you taking it in a group of five men such as we are here a theft takes place one man is which one now I'd like to know what emotion that interprets and yet it certainly isn't original theme it's at the bottom of a whole literature story I could answer the situation you give can be traced back to the commonest of human emotions curiosity I think when he has you there and yes why the whole art of a detective story consistent the statement of the problem why anyone can do it I can do it Steingall can do it well I don't rank and I believe even you could yeah thank you the solution doesn't count it's usually banal it should be prohibited what interests us is can we guess it yeah well that's true every crime expresses itself in the terms of the picture puzzle that you feed your six-year-old it's only the variation that is interesting you know the well-known instance of the visitor at a club and the rare coin for example of course you all know that seems a distinguished visitor is brought into a club doesn't men say present at dinner long table conversation finally veers around to curiosities and relics one of the members then takes from his pocket what he announces of one of the rarest coins in existence passes it around the table coin travels back and forth everyone examines it and the conversation goes to another topic who say the influence of the automobile on civilian life or some other such intellectual club topic you know all at once the owner calls for his coin it's nowhere to be found yes yes precisely everyone looks at everyone else first they suspect a joke then it becomes serious the coin is immensely valuable who has taken it the owner as a gentleman does the correct idiotic thing of course laughs says he was someone is playing a practical joke on him and that the coin will be returned tomorrow the others refuse to leave the situation so one man proposes they all submit to a search everyone gives his consent until it comes to the stranger I refuse to allow me person to be such as he's very firm very proud very sure and I refuse to give the reason for my action well there's another silence the men eye him and then glance at one another now what's to be done nothing nothing there is etiquette that magnificent inflated blue the visitor evidently has the coin he is their guest and etiquette protects him my situation a well the table is clear a waiter removes a dish of fruit and there under the ledge of the plate where it had been pushed is the car yes of course by now explanation I know I know solutions always should be at once everyone is profuse with apologies whereupon the visitor rises and says now I can give you the reason for my refusal to be searched there are only two known specimens of the coin in existence and the second happens to be here in my best pocket of course the story is very well invented but the turn to it is very nice very nice but the ending the ending row is too obvious to be invented so the visitor should have had on him not another coin but something absolutely different something destructive say to a woman's reputation and a great tragedy should have been threatened with a casual misplacing of the court I've heard the same story told in a dozen different ways oh it's happened a hundred times it must be continually happening I know one extraordinary instance in fact the most extraordinary instance of the sort I've ever heard I beat as you rascal I see you've quietly been letting us dress the stage for you well it's not a story that will please everyone oh why not because you don't want to know what no one can ever know it has no conclusion and yes and no far as it concerns a woman however quite the most remarkable woman I've ever met the story is complete a woman and a crime a crime of fever a such as we've been a crime of fever yes quite a story I think yes I have just time before I catch my train to tell it to you for suspects Roma wines are bringing you 100 in the dark Roma wines presentation tonight in radios outstanding theater of thrills suspense suspense radios outstanding theater of thrills is presided by Roma wines that's our own a Roma wines selected for better taste from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines next week Americans everywhere will celebrate Thanksgiving and in millions of homes families and friends will give a toast of thankfulness with better tasting Roma California wines that's because Roma wines are America's favorite wines for festive occasions as well as everyday enjoyment no matter what you're planning for Thanksgiving dinner there's a fine Roma wine to make every morcella taste delight glorify the flavor of your turkey with gold and hue delicate Roma Saturn or if you're having meat enjoy robust full-bodied Roma burgundy the perfect flavor mate of your favorite roast that's why more Americans enjoy Roma wines that's our own ma Roma wines than any other wines and now Roma wines bring us back to the artists and writers club where five club members regaling themselves over after-dinner coffee are settling down to hear a story told by a guest a certain Mr. Peters his is a narrative well calculated to keep his listeners in suspense 20 before I start I wonder would you ask the John I believe this is a John yes gentlemen John I have a train to catch would you be good enough to get me out of here in exactly 15 minutes in 15 minutes thank you well you have our attention Peters it concerns a woman do I know the woman possibly probably I should say but no more than anyone else on actress what she's been in the past I don't know a promoter would better describe her a very feminine woman and yet as you shall see with an unusual instantaneous masculine power of decision Peters you're destroying a story your purpose will bring an anticlimax you should be the judge of course it should be particularly interesting to you because I believe most of you are acquainted with the people involved the names I shall use of course are disguises Mrs. well Mrs. Rita Kildare inhabited a charming bachelor girl studio very elegant of the duplex pattern and one of the buildings just off Central Park West she knew pretty nearly everyone in that indescribable society in New York that is drawn from all levels that it imposes but one condition for membership and that is to be amusing good phrase that she had a certain amount of money she knew a certain number of men in Wall Street affairs and her studio was furnished with taste and even distinction she was of any age she might have suffered everything or nothing at all in this mingled society her invitations were eagerly sought her dinners were spontaneous and the discussions though gay and usually daring were invariably under the control of wit and good taste on the Sunday night of this adventure she had according to her invariable custom sent away her Filipino butler and invited to an informal shaping dish supper seven of her more congenial friends at seven o'clock having finished dressing she put an order her bedroom which formed a sort of free passage between the studio and a small dining room with the kitchen beyond then going into the studio she struck a match it was about to light the candlesticks which illuminated the room when the bell rang and a Mr. Flanders a broker in fact nervously alive well groomed was waiting as she opened the door on the contrary dear lady you are late well in any case hello and come on inside here let me take your things thank you I I'm the first I of course and since you are you can be a good boy and help me light the candle delighted who's to be here tonight the enus Jackson's oh I thought they were separated not yet how interesting only you dear lady would dream of serving us a couple on the verge well it is interesting isn't it yes surely where did you know the Jacksons through the wearings Jacksons are rather doubtful person isn't he let's call him a very sharp lawyer they tell me though he's been gambling pretty much in deep oh how about yourself for me I'm a bachelor if I lose my shirt it makes no difference who is that possible probable even who else is coming home odd Lyle you know her I don't think so you do too you met her here some time ago a journalist oh yes yes I forgot Mr. Harris a club man is coming and the Stanley Chiever Stanley Chiever we're going to gamble well don't you object certainly not only the Chiever's they play quite a game well united and they have an unusual streak of good luck say by the way it's Jackson isn't it who's so attractive to Mrs. Chiever's quite right well what a charming party and where does more Lyle come in oh don't joke she's in a desperate way and young Harris he used to make the salad and cream the chicken I see the whole party I of course I'm to add the element of respectability of what no one of course knows who's coming no one of course Stanley Chiever's entered a short fat man with a vacant fat face and a slow-moving eye and his wife valuable nervous overdressed and pretty mr. yes mr. Harris came with more Lyle a woman straight dark Indian with great masses of somber hair held in a little too least loosely for neatness with thick quick lips and eyes that pulled away from the person that was talking to her the enus Jackson's were late and still agitated as they ended his forehead had not quite vanished the scowl nor her eyes the scorn he was of the type that never lost his temper but caused others to lose theirs Mrs. Jackson seemed fastened to her husband by an invisible leash you looked at her curiously and wondered what such a nature would do in a crisis with a lurking sense of a woman who carried whether her own impending tragedy as soon as the company had been completed and the incongruity of the selection had been perceived a smile of malicious anticipation ran the rounds which the hostess cut short well well now everyone is here this is the order of the night you can quarrel all you want you can whisper all the gossip you can think of about one another but everyone is to be amusing also also everyone is to help with the dinner if you please nothing formal and nothing serious we may all be bankrupt tomorrow divorced or dead but tonight we'll be gay that is the invariable rule of this house me for the cooking apron you're to go into the kitchen and bring in the order may I be of any help oh thank you more darling of course Mrs. Cheever you might come along too please tie me up in back will you oh there you are fine thank you now to get these rings all soap and water always seem to do it oh there rings are so beautiful thank you they're very nice but there's only one that's very valuable the sapphire beautiful oh let me see oh it must be very valuable of course 10,000 six years ago it's been my talisman ever seen for the moment however I am cook wait are you going to leave the rings out like that temptation you know now now I am the cook Maud Lyle you are scullery made Harris is the chef and we're all under his Mrs. Cheever did you ever peel onions good heaven no they are no onions to peel all you have to do is help set the table well under their hostess's gay guidance the seven guests began to circulate busily through the rooms laying the table grouping the chairs arranging the flowers and preparing material for the chafing dishes Mrs. Kildare in the kitchen ransacked the icebox and with her own hands shredded the chicken and measured the cream I've got it with my life good boy oh jeeva stop watching your wife and put that salad ball on the table everything ready Harris all set good all right to her bedroom took off her apron and hung it in the closet then going to a dressing table she drew the hat pin around which were her rings from the pin cushion and carelessly slipped them on her fingers all at once she frowned and looked quickly at her hand only two rings were there the third ring the sapphire was missing returned to her dressing table immediately she stopped she remembered quite clearly putting the hat pin through the three rings she made no attempt to search further but remained without moving her fingers slowly drumming on the table her head to one side her lips drawn in a little between her teeth listening with a frown to the babble from the outer room who had taken the ring each of her guests had had a dozen opportunities in the course of the time that she'd been busy in the kitchen too much time before the mirror dearly dear well it's not flanders then she reconsidered to gain time she walked back slowly to the kitchen her head bowed and fought the thumb between her teeth she ran over the characters of her guests in their situations as she knew strangely enough that each her mind stopped upon some reason that might explain a sudden temptation and slowly deliberately she began to walk back and forth her clenched hand beating the deliberate rhythmic measure of her journey five minutes later at Paris installed as chef over the chafing dish was giving directions spoon in the air mrs. killed air came into the room like a little shadow her entrance had been made with scarcely a perceptible sound and yet each guest was aware of it at the same moment with a little nervous start dear lady you came in on us like a Greek tragedy what is it you have for us a surprise I have I have something to say to you mr. Enos Jackson yes mrs. killed air kindly do as I ask you I go to the door go to the door please bring me the key please some kind of a game here you are thank you and now the bedroom door would you do the same of course thank you mr. Jackson mr. Cheever yes would you blow out all the candles except the candle lab room on the table blow out all the can except the candle lab room goodness sakes mrs. killed air what is it I'm getting terribly my love yes put the candle arm on this table here no no wait a minute mr. Jackson yes first clear off the table please I want nothing out that's it no no please put down the candle arm the last candle all right now listen my sapphire ring has just been stolen the ring has been taken within the last 20 minutes I'm not going to mince words the ring has been taken and the thief is among you absolutely mrs. cheaper there's not the slightest doubt three of you were in my bedroom when I placed my rings on the pincushion each of you has passed through a dozen times since my sapphire ring is gone and one of you has taken it I was in the room when she took them off the sapphire ring was on top now listen I'm not going to mince words I'm not going to stand on ceremony I'm going to have that ring back now dear listen to me I'm going to have that ring back and and until I do not a soul she'll leave this room I don't care who's taken it all I want is my ring now I I'm going to make it possible for whoever took it to restore it without possibility of detection the doors are locked and they'll stay locked I am going to blow out the remaining candles in the candelabrum and I am going to count to 100 slowly you'll be in absolute darkness no one will know or see what is done but if at the end of that time the ring is not here on this table I shall telephone the police and have everyone in this room searched am I quite clear everyone take his place about the table please that's it that will do very nicely now I I will blow out the candles and count 100 no more no less remember either I get that ring or everyone in this room will be searched 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 Mr. Cheever you may give it to me well well now now that that's over we can have a very gay little supper Harris Harris will you please help me like these candles are you are gentlemen boy I say Peter's little boy that's not all absolutely sorry and that story ends there but who took the ring uh-huh what it was never found out never no clues none I'm not sure I like the story it's not story at all permit me it is a story and it is complete in fact I consider it unique because it has none of the banalities of a solution leaves the problem even more confused than at the start I don't see of course you don't my dear Rankin you do not see that any solution would be commonplace whereas no solution leaves a true intellectual problem also in the first place whether the situation actually happened or not which is in itself a mere triviality Peters has told it in a masterly way the proof of which is that he's made you listen let's observe now each person present might have taken the ring landers a broker just come a cropper maud Lyle a woman on the ragged side of life in desperate means either mr. and mrs. Cheever suspected of being card shops and a very good touch there to Peters mr. Enos Jackson a sharp lawyer or his wife about to be divorced even Harris concerning whom very cleverly Peters has said absolutely nothing to make him quite the most suspicious of all there are therefore seven solutions all possible all logical but beyond this is left a great intellectual problem also was it a feminine or a masculine action to restore the ring when threatened with a search knowing that mrs. Kildare's clever expedient of throwing the room in the darkness may detection impossible or was it a woman who lacked the necessary courage to continue or was it a man who repented his first impulse is a man or is a woman a greater natural criminal that simple 20 woman took it of course oh on the contrary was a man for the first action was more difficult than that first man certainly the restoration of the ring was a logical decision I recognize most of those characters Peters mrs. Kildare of course is all you say over extraordinary woman stories quite characteristic of a friend is I'm not quite sure of what I think I know him too I'm positive I do did it really happen exactly as I've told it the only one I don't recognize is Harris your humble servant what you Peter's you were there I was there pardon me gentlemen oh yes sir what is it John mr. Peters sir your train you told me to remind oh yes thank you I didn't know it was so light are you gentlemen pardon me yes of course Peters nice to have met you curious chap extraordinary now I wonder I wonder if we're wondering the same thing gentlemen suspense and so close as 100 in the dark Peters was played by Howard Duff and the other club members were Joseph Kearns Frank Albertson John McIntyre Dick Ryan and Horace Willard Teresa Marshall was Rita Kildare and at her party were Janet Nolan Wally mayor Mary Jane Croft Jerry Hausner and Grace Gillan tonight study and suspense resided by Roma wines that's R. O. M. A. Roma wines America's favorite wines if you could see how Roman California wines are grown you'd understand why they are America's favorite wines first you'd see how Roma selects and presses only the choicest grapes then how Roma master vintners with ancient skills and unmatched wine making resources guide this luscious great goodness unheardly to tempting perfection finally these better tasting Roma wines are placed with other mellow Roma wines to await later selection for your enjoyment from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines this is Truman Bradley with a suggestion for making your Thanksgiving dinner even more enjoyable top off the meal with glasses of fruity Roma port Roma port is a truly distinguished entertainment wine Ruby red full bodied clear as a bill be sure to ask for Roma that's R. O. M. A. Roma wines America's largest selling wines thank you tonight suspense radio play was adapted by Jack think from short story by Owen Johnson suspense produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma wine company of Fresno, California this is CBS for Columbia broadcasting system