 Wait a minute. Have you heard the strange tales of the Whistler? The Whistler. I may be the district attorney, but if my son is guilty, he can pay the penalty like anyone else. I'll prosecute him, then Blake, I'll start on you. Sunday night, and again CBS presents the Whistler. I, the Whistler, know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. So I tell you tonight the unusual story of the weaklings. Young Clyde Banning, son of district attorney Banning, steps out of a nightclub following a gay New Year's Eve party. An expensive limousine pulls up to the curb and Clyde gets in. Clyde has done some careless driving lately, had his driver's license revoked, and is now forced to be driven about by Rawlins, the family chauffeur. Wait till now, Mr. Banning. Let's go home, Rawlings. Not yet, Clyde. Hey, look. What are you doing in here? I thought you were still in the club. I didn't think you even knew I was there. Well, I saw you a couple of times. Why have you been avoiding me, Clyde? You know how it hurts me. What's happened? Take Miss Blake home, Rawlins. No, I won't go home. I won't be brushed off like this without an explanation. But you know how much I love you, Clyde, and I can't go on like this any longer. This is no time to make a scene. Clyde, you know you love me. Let's get married right now, tonight. Please, let's not talk about it now. I will talk about it now. Rawlins, pull up, please. I won't get out, Clyde. I won't. I'll drive, Rawlins. You can take a cab home. You'll drive, but listen to me. Go on, Rawlins. I'll take Miss Blake home. Don't take me home, Clyde. I've got to talk to you. Please, drive down to the ocean highway. All right. All right, but cut out the melodrama. Why have you changed so, Clyde? Why can't we get married? You know as well as I. My father is district attorney and he's out to crack that graph situation wide open. He knows who the big boss of the racket is and he's going to get his scalp, send him to the pen. But what's there to do with us? You know that Jim Blake is the big boss, your own father. But we have our own lives to live. If I married you, Dad would throw me out of my ear. What of that? We could get along? How? Your father would have a dime in the silver. Besides, Dad is up for reelection. How would it look? DA's son marries Convict's daughter. I thought you really loved me. But I've always liked you, Ellen, but it just won't work. It isn't fair to Dad. Then you don't want to marry me? I've told you how I feel about it. What a ridiculous fool I've been. Now don't stop that hysterical stuff. I've hoped against hope that you weren't trying to get rid of me, but now I know you're a low, spineless jellyfish. You didn't love me. You couldn't. I'm shouting. I won't stop. I wish everyone could hear me. Couldn't know what a despicable robber you are. Shut up! No, stop it. You're really a fool. Ellen! Good Lord! Ellen! Ellen! Oh, Lord! Our fate! Ellen! Ellen, darling! I better get a doctor. Maybe she... No, I shouldn't move her. Yes, that's it. Get help. Yes, Clyde. Better get help. They're just ahead of the low lights of a service station. Hurry, Clyde. Maybe she's still alive. What's the trouble, Clyde? You're slowing down. Oh, they might think I did it. I think I pushed her out. She's dead. She must be... No one knows. Better drive on. Past it now, Clyde. You've really fixed things now. You should have stopped. Clyde's fear increases with every mile. He slips the car into the garage and hurries quietly to his room. But he doesn't sleep, not a wink. His head throbs and with every thump of his heart, Ellen's words ring in his ears. Please, I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. District Attorney Banning sits at breakfast with his attractive wife, Marcia. Marcia is Clyde's stepmother. The District Attorney scans his morning paper as Clyde, pale and worn, slips into his place at the table. Hmm. What do you think of that? What is it, Henry? Jim Blake's daughter was found dead on the ocean highway early this morning. Oh, they found? On the ocean highway? Oh, good morning, son. How have you been? Guess I overslept. Really? Looks as though you hadn't slept at all. Have a big evening? Do you want champagne? No, no. Gee, that's terrible about Blake's daughter. What happened to her? I think she was thrown out of a car. Probably some enemy of Blake's, I dare say he has plenty. Thrown out? Did it say that? Yes. Well, I'd better go down to the office. Maybe she jumped out. Not likely. Didn't you just say she was pushed out, all right? Why don't you have some coffee, Clyde? Help that hangover. I haven't got a hangover. What's the name? Heaven's wrong with you. I'm going to take some aspirin, son. Go back to bed. Why? You're going to the office today? It's New Year's Day. Never go down there on a holiday. Going down for an hour or so? A little upset your plans, Manny Chance? I haven't got any plans. And what's bothering you? Something's wrong with you, Clyde. Nothing's wrong with me and nothing's bad. Just a moment. Who are you shouting at? I'm not shouting at. You'd better go on back to your room. Go to bed. You're a bit too unpleasant to suit me. I'm sorry. Sorry, Marsha. That's all right, darling. I'll feel all right after a while. I guess I did have too much champagne. You've never seen Clyde like this. Well, you've only been around him a year, Marsha. He's a moody type, has spells, but he's a good boy. You learn all his little quirks in time. Well, I'll run along, darling. Be back in an hour or so. Hello, Mr. Clyde. Yes? What is it, Thompson? Rollins. The show fair. I would like to see you, sir. Oh, yes? All right. Send him in. Do you see you, Rollins? What do you want, Rollins? I'd have a little talk with you, Clyde. Yeah? What's on your mind? Where did you go last night after you dismissed me? What business is that of yours? Well, I just thought I'd ask you. Got in around 2.30, didn't you, Clyde? What of it? Thought maybe you knew what happened Ellen Blake. I took her home. What happened after that? I don't know. She kind of put the pressure on you, didn't she? What do you mean? I heard her. I heard every word you both said. She said she was determined to get married. So far. Well, it wouldn't be so good for you if I was to tell her about last night. Hello? Oh, you made a big mistake when you let me out of that car. You let me drive her home. Why, you might not be in this jam. Who said I was in a jam? I say so. What if you do tell what you know? That doesn't prove anything. Oh, I got better proof than that. What? Ellen Blake's handbag. I found it in the car this morning. Here it is. Her initials on it. Some personal effects inside. Now I'm the only one who knows about all this. If I talk, you're certain to get a rope around your neck. I didn't kill her. She jumped out. Can you prove that? No. If I tell about the argument and establish the time, you wouldn't have a chance. I didn't kill her, I tell you. How did I try in convincing a jury on that? Well, but you know, I don't have to say a word about it, Clyde. Why should you? It all depends on you. What do you want? Oh, I could use a little money. How much? Two or three thousand dollars. Where would I get that much? You get nice allowance every month. You're a dirty rat, Rollins. I didn't like your looks and you came here three weeks ago. I thought you looked like a crook. I'll have you fired. I don't think you will. You can't afford to. Do I get the handbag? No, until you pay off in full. Suppose I tell you to go to the dentist. And you'll be in jail within an hour. I mean business. Okay, I'll pay as much as I can each month. I don't want to wait too long. I'll try to get as soon as possible. I want that handbag. You'll get it, kid. When I get the three thousand. Good afternoon, madam. What do you mean coming into my room without knocking? And how is madam today? What do you want? I want to wish you a happy new year. What of all the nerve? You get out of here. No, no, no. Don't get excited. I thought you might like to talk to me. What do you mean? Well, I've got a little information that might be of interest to you. Information? What are you talking about? I'm talking about Clyde. What about him? Well, I was just wondering what would happen if your husband had to prosecute his own son for the murder of the daughter of the man he's out to break. Are you crazy? What do you mean? Clyde murdered Ellen Blake. Throw her out of the car. What? How do you know that? She was in love with Clyde. He was trying to shake her. I drove them away from the night club last evening. They had a very serious argument. And then he let me out and drove the car himself. That doesn't mean anything. Ellen Blake was killed about 1 a.m. Clyde came in about 2. Good heavens. This morning I found his handbag in the car. It's Ellen Blake's. If I were to tell what I know about it and produce his handbag, Clyde would have a rope placed around his neck by his own father. I doubt very much that the DA would ever be re-elected. How could Clyde do such a thing? Well, he must have left lost his head. She was pretty insistent. But you don't have to say anything about this. Oh, I wouldn't have to. If this came out, Henry would be ruined. That's just what I mean. Now you wouldn't want that to happen, would you? No. And it's all up to you. Up to me? Yes. If I cover up a murder, it might affect my conscience. I might worry a lot. But, uh, my conscience might be sad. What do you want? Well, it ought to be worth about $3,000. Why, that's ridiculous. I have no such amount. Then get it. How could I explain what I wanted with $3,000? That's your worry, not mine, baby. Do you know what they can do to you for blackmail? No, no, this isn't blackmail, honey. Oh, I'm not threatening to devolve someone's past. He's bigger than that. As a matter of fact, you're going to bribe me to withhold a piece of important evidence. So, you see, I hold the aces. Get out of here. Get out! Okay. But I know somebody was a lot of dough, and I just assumed to turn the information over to Blake as anyone else. I just wanted to give you a break. How about this diamond bracelet? Oh, yeah, that'll help. But it'll be hard to get rid of. I'd rather have cash. All right, I'll give you these diamonds and you can hold them until I get the cash. Fair enough. Hand them over. You know, I thought I'd, well, that you'd see things in the right way. Goodbye, honey. Get out of here. You rotten thief! Oh, listen to it. As the days pass, Clyde and Marsha are both turning over every scent they can get hold of to Rollins. But the going is difficult, and Rollins becomes more insistent. Then one day, Clyde gets a message to visit the big boss, Jim Blake, Ellen's father. Hi. I was told you wanted to see me, Mr. Blake. Yeah. Sit down, kid. Everything working out all right? What do you mean? You look a little worried, kid. I thought maybe something was disturbing your sleep. Well, I've been having headaches. I think it's my eyes. Been seeing things, have you? In the dark? No, I haven't been seeing things. I don't know what you're getting after nothing's bothering me. Just when was it that you started meeting my daughter, Ellen? I don't know what you mean. I quit playing dumb. I found out about it today. Who told you such a thing? Does your father know about you and Ellen? I'll bet not. Look here. If you think you can stop fathering this investigation by trying to frame something on me, you're crazy. You can't get away with it. I'll spill the whole thing. Oh, you will? Yes, I will. You're a crook. And my father gets through with you. You'll be behind the bars for the rest of your life. When I'm put behind bars, kids, you'll be dangling from the end of a rope. What are you trying to accuse me of? The murder of my daughter. I didn't kill her. Can you prove that? There's no proof that I did. I've got a witness kid and he's ready to talk when I say the word. Witness. That's ridiculous. Why should I want to kill Ellen? Because she was in love with you. When you wanted to shake her, because you were afraid your father would kick if you married her. Your father's out to get me and I'm determined to beat him to the draw. I didn't kill her, I tell you. Ellen left that nightclub with your car. New Year's Eve. You had an argument. She wanted to get married. When she got too insistent, you dismissed the chauffeur and drove the car yourself. And out on the ocean highway, you threw her out on the rocks. I didn't. I didn't. Did you stop? Did you look at her? Her face mangled to a pulp. Her body broken to bits on those rocks. She didn't do it. I swear I didn't. I've got a witness to the argument at the time, Ellen. You can't scare me. I just talked to Rollins, your chauffeur. He knows what time you got in and he found Ellen's purse in the car. I don't believe it. Where's the purse? Rollins has it. You'll produce it when you get the trial. And your own father will have to prosecute you. Oh, I'll enjoy that. Too bad about that purse, kid. If you'd found the purse and Rollins didn't know what he knows, you might have gotten away with it. But you're stuck now. Stuck with Rollins and the purse. And your own father will have to tie the rope around your neck. Rollins is a liar. It'll hold in court. Well, jury'll believe it. He's a dirty liar. I could kill him. Kill him? You wouldn't do that. Well, he isn't fit to live. Well, you aren't either. But I'm going to give you a chance to keep out of the noose. I'll keep Rollins from talking if you get me a couple of letters. What letters? Your father has them. They have my signature on them. You can get them very easily. You get those papers and I'll put the quietes on Rollins. They're addressed to the county supervisor. Your father intends to use them against me. I want them. Is that clear? Yeah. You get the papers and we're both in there. Understand? Yeah, he understands. All right. I'll give you till tomorrow evening at six o'clock. You can go now. Yeah. Remember, six o'clock tomorrow night. Saturday night passes. Then Sunday dawns were the most stumbling discovery. Rollins the chauffeur has been found dead. Shot to death in his apartment over the garage. No evidence is discovered, no weapon, no fingerprints, nothing. Now it is late afternoon. Oh, this is a fine mess. A murder in my own home. Everything will come out all right, Henry. You're certain to find the person who did it. Oh, yes. He may have had some enemies. After all, we know very little about him. He'd only been here a short while. Don't you understand? I'm the district attorney. Murder has been committed in my own home. Why, if I can't bring this to a solution, I'll be a laughing stock. I'll never be re-elected. We're trying to help you, Henry. I don't know what I'm going to do, but this has got to be kept from the police department. Once they get into it, it'll be plastered all over the front pages of every newspaper in town. Yes, I'll have to hand a list of my own office. Well, neither one of us has been out of the house and we haven't told anyone. What are you worried about? Surely a man like Rollins could have had many enemies. Who knows what he'd been mixed up in? Captain Stone to see you, Mr. Banning. Captain... Oh, yes, I was afraid of that. All right, show them in. Good afternoon, Mr. Banning. Good afternoon, Captain Stone. Well, what are you doing out this way? We heard about your chauffeur. Really? Who told you? Oh, friend. The body hasn't been moved, has it? No, no one's picked a stone that hasn't. Still in the room over the garage. Well, come on, skeleton. Let's have a look. You don't mind, do you, Mr. Banning? I... I know. Of course not. Thank you. You'll be back in a moment. All right. You know, I've got a strange feeling that Jim Blake knows something about this. Blake? Why do you think that? I don't know. He's just the type to think of something like this. Yeah, it's a perfect setup for him. A murder in my own home. Nothing would please him better. Why would Blake resort to anything like this? Why? Because my dear Blake is in a tough spot. Yes. The more I think about it, the more right I think I am. Well, I'm going to have a talk with him. I don't think Blake has anything to do with it. Really? What do you know about it? Well, nothing, Father. Then please allow me to handle this in my own way. Henry, why must you be so harsh? I'm sorry, Father. I think you should keep away from Blake. Why? I don't know. I just think you should. Yes. Well, when I want your opinion, son, I'll ask for it. Here you are, Mr. Banning. We've found it. Found what? Found this revolver behind the garage. No, no, don't touch it. We want to check for fingerprints. Of course, I know better than to touch it. Fingerprints? Maybe they're none on it. We'll check it just the same. Well, the killer would be a fool to leave his prints on the gun. How do you know it is the gun? We'll find out. Ballistics will know. How will they know who the gun belongs to? Maybe it isn't the gun. We already know who killed him. All we need is proof. No. How do you know who did it? Your son did it. We were tipped off. My son? That's right. Are you crazy? Why should Clyde kill him? He hardly knew him. Look, Mr. Banning, you think I'd come to your house snooping around unless I had a very good reason? Where did you get your tip? Well, I'd rather not say. Who's this friend? Come on, you'd better tell me. I'll bring it out eventually. All I know is that we were tipped off about the murder and told who did it. Your son threatened to kill Rawlins. Who told you that? Jim Blake. He heard him say it. I don't know what they mean. Ask Jim Blake. Come on, Skeleton. Let's check that gun with Ballistics. A few hours later, Boss Jim Blake stands in the study facing the district attorney. There is a tense moment as each waits for the other to speak. Well, Banning, what do you want? I know what you're trying to pull, Blake. You're trying to get at me by framing my son with a murder. I'm not trying to frame him. I just told the police that I heard Clyde threaten to kill Rawlins. So far, there's nothing but circumstantial evidence. Clyde had no reason to kill Rawlins. And without a motive, Clyde is in the clear. You had a scheme in mind to force me to drop that investigation, and your scheme went haywire. You pulled a boner. What do you mean boner? If Clyde had threatened Rawlins' life, the natural thing for a man in your situation to have done was to approach me instead of the police. Why? Well, you wanted those letters, didn't you? How could you possibly make a deal for those letters now that you've made your information public? I'm away ahead of you, Banning. I'm not so dumb as all that. I'm still holding the aces. What aces? The ones I'll throw down for the letters. I think you're bluffing, Blake. I know why Clyde killed Rawlins. I can supply the motive. I'll admit that without the motive, he'd be in the clear. But if I spilled the motive, he'd crack in five minutes. I still think you're bluffing. I know you've got a sense case against me with those letters. But with what I know, I've got a sense case against your son that will send him to the gallows. Not only that, but if I do spill it, you wouldn't dare show your face in this town again. Sounds pretty gruesome. I can't imagine what it could possibly be. I'll say you can't. Clyde is really in it, up to his neck. You really think he's guilty? Certainly, but whether he is or not, he had the motive. And the motive for killing Rawlins will lead to something that can be definitely proved. You mean material evidence? I do. So in order to prosecute me, you'll be forced to prosecute your own son. I'll see to that. Now you hand over those letters and we'll all be in the clear. Believe me, Banning, I'm not bluffing. Blake, if you're telling the truth, then we're both in a very unfortunate position. You're a crook and I happen to be a stickler for duty. I can't be bribed. You mean you would actually prosecute your own son? I do. And if he's guilty, he can take the consequences. I don't believe he is, but I know you are. I think you're crazy. And I still think you're bluffing. I'll call you a bluff. But you'll change your mind, Banning. If you don't, you're a bigger fool than I've ever come across. Let's have it. Get your son in here. All right. Marsha, bring Clyde in here. Yes, Henry. What a sack you are, Banning, over a couple of punk letters. Duty ladder bourgeois. Oh, you can come in too, Marsha. Yes, Henry. What are you doing here? Well, Ken, I've been having a little chat with your righteous father. He's sent for me. He's a little stupid. He wants to be enlightened. Maybe you can help him. Yeah. Clyde, I understand you paid a visit to Mr. Blake. Go on, better tell him, Clyde. What were you doing there, Clyde? Well, Blake sent for me. Why? He wanted to talk to me. What about? About what you've been saying. I told him what you said to me. I said about why? About Roland. What did you say, Clyde? Nothing. He's lying. Lying about what? We haven't said anything yet. He tried to get me to steal something. Steal something? Now, we're getting someplace. He's out of my safe. Yes, yes. He offered me a lot of money. Money? I didn't even mention money. I didn't have to. What inducement would money be to you, Clyde? You always get everything you want. I offered you something better than money, kid. But was it Clyde? He threatened me. Threatened to kill me. How do you like that? You're in a tough spot, kid. You better start talking. You threatened to kill Roland. I did not. Why did you make that threat? Well, I was just talking. I didn't mean it. I couldn't kill anybody. But you did say it. But I didn't mean it. What had you done? Did you say it? Now what was it? Nothing. Nothing. I haven't done anything. You killed Roland. You said you would. I didn't kill him. You killed him to shut his mouth. What did he know, Clyde? He's lying. He's not trying to scare me. I'll scare you. You killed Roland to keep him from telling what he knew about you and my daughter, Ellen. What? Your daughter? She was in love with Clyde. He wanted him to marry her. He tried to shake her, but when she got too insistent, he threw her out of his car, murdered her. I did not. I didn't. Roland's heard them arguing. Clyde dismissed him and drove the car himself. Roland's found Ellen's purse in the car next morning. Roland's told you. He's lying, lying. I told him Roland's wouldn't talk if Clyde got me the letters, but he killed Roland instead. Was Ellen Blake in your car the night she died? Yes. Did you dismiss the chauffeur? Yes, but I didn't kill her. She jumped out. She jumped out delivering. Why didn't you tell this? I was going to, but then I got afraid to think I killed her. Roland tried a blackmail, Clyde, then double-crossed Clyde and came to me. Where's the purse? Clyde probably has it. That's why he killed her. I haven't got it. I don't know where it is. I couldn't find it. Then you were in Roland's apartment over the garage. Yes, but I didn't kill him. I didn't kill Ellen. Now, what do you have to say, Mr. Banning? Do I hold the aces? No. I'll bring it to trial. I'll find that purse if there is a purse. If he's proven guilty, he can pay the penalty like anyone else. And then, Blake, I'll start on you. You're a fool, Banning. You're crazy. Come in. Got quite a bit of dope on this. Roland's killing. But now? There are no fingerprints on that gun, but it was definitely the murder weapon. Ballistics checked it. Well, it still doesn't prove my son fired the gun. That's right, but we did manage to trace the original ownership. What did you learn? Here it is. The gun was purchased four years ago in Seattle. By whom? By Patricia Rollins. Patricia Rollins? Do you check on Patricia Rollins? Who was she? We checked on her. We also checked on Rollins. Patricia Rollins was your chauffeur's wife. They both have a police record. Rollins was a confidence man. Three convictions. The wife Patricia was implicated as an accomplice. Anything else? Yes. Rollins disappeared in a Mexico three years ago, finally turned up here. Rollins must have had the gun in his possession. Or the wife had it, in which case she could have killed him. That possible? You'd better try to locate the wife. Oh, uh, here's a picture. We should be able to locate her without much trouble. What do you mean? Good Lord. Marsha. Yes, Henry? Look at this photo. Do you know who this is? Yes, Henry. Sorry, Mrs. Manning. We'll check your fingerprints with these on police record, just to make sure. You don't need to check them. They're mine. Marsha, don't. Why not, Clyde? It doesn't prove anything. Maybe somebody got into the apartment and killed it with his own gun. That's just what happened. He did have the gun, but I killed him. Three years ago he deserted me. Later I heard he was dead. Then after I'd married Henry, he turned up here. I knew what he was going to do eventually. But I was in love with Henry. Then when he found the purse, he used it to blackmail me. And when he double-crossed both Clyde and me by going to Blake, we determined to get the purse. But he caught us ransacking his apartment. He pulled the gun and struck me. We all fought for it. Clyde wrestled with him and I got the gun and shot him. Why did you tell, Marsha? Why not? It doesn't matter now. Tell me, did she shoot and self-defense Clyde? Certainly. He'd have killed us both. Well, that will clear you of the Roland's charge. But what about Alan? He still killed Alan. Captain Stone, there's a missing purse. Alan Blake's purse. I want it. You can start looking in Roland's apartment. I'm going through with this Blake regardless of the consequences. Take a look at him, Captain. A man who'd sacrifice his own son, his own life for a couple of measly little letters. What a set. But District Attorney Banning, a determined man, goes through with his promise. The case against his son is in preparation. The day of the opening of the trial is set. Then the missing purse is found. And in it is a note to Clyde, written and signed by Alan Blake. Go on, read it, Clyde. Dearst Clyde, I've tried every way to reach you. I know now that you've been avoiding me. I can't go on. I know your fault, but I love you. I can't help it. So I'm going to kill myself. I don't know how, but some way will present itself. Goodbye, Clyde. I hope you find the happiness I've been denied. I love you, Alan. Well, there you are. Alan Blake did jump from Clyde's car. And Clyde, even though he did seem a weakling, was able to fight when it came to a showdown. And Marsha, because of her great love for Banning, was willing to sacrifice everything for him. So Clyde is cleared. Marsha is acquitted. And Blake is sent to prison. And that is the end of a story which might have ended very tragically. Had it not been for the note in Alan's purse. Very convenient, that note. CBS has presented The Whistler. Original music for this production was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. The Whistler is written and directed by J. Donald Wilson. And originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood. Next week, 9.30. I, The Whistler, will return to tell you another unusual tale. Good night. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.