 Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents... Suspens. Tonight, Roma Wines bring you the distinguished actor, Mr. George Calouris, as star in The Last Detail. A suspense play produced, edited and directed by William Spear. Suspens says presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live, to your happiness and entertaining guests, to your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a glassful would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you a remarkable tale of suspense. And with The Last Detail, and with the performance of Mr. George Calouris as Professor Moffat, Roma Wines hope indeed to keep you in suspense. Something escapes me. One small detail in all the incredible events of these last weeks. And without it, the pattern is incomplete. I think I dream about it. Yes, yes, I'm sure I do. But I've lost the ability to reconstruct my dreams. I wake up with only a fragment, a ridiculous shred of my unconscious mind. I dream that I, in my laboratory, standing before a rather large cage, an assistant is beside me. What are you doing, Professor? Oh, hello, Pete. I'm recording the behavior of this great ape. Oh, everything he does, huh? Yes, and at times I almost believe he's able to reason, but of course that's impossible. Is this the one you call Calari? He calls himself Calotti. And look, now he's pretending that he's the scientist. Why, he's taking notes on me. That's all I remember of the dream. But after that, something, something about the cage. Well, as a scientist, I should be able to reconstruct from what I actually saw and heard. I'll take a cue from my dream. I'll set down all that happened as dispassionately as Dr. Kohler recorded the behavior of his renowned chimpanzees at Teneriff. Yes, I'll be completely objective. In the first place, I must remember that much of what happened was accidental. It happened through blind chance. It was purely fortuitous that I should be living in that house on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. And no one could foresee that I would be there alone. I was sitting in my study working on a paper for the university. A paper on an instinctual behavior of the spider crab when the doorbell rang. As I say, I was alone as I'd been ever since Janet went away. So I opened the door myself. Yes? We're taking a census. A census? Yeah, it's about housing, a special survey. What's your name? Oh, Leland Jennings Moffat, PhD. Leland Moffat. Occupation? Professor of Comparative Psychology, Golden Gate University. Professor... Professor's due. How many people in this house? I'm the only resident. Only one, huh? No wife? No, my wife has been away for about six months. Rumors, borders? No, no one, I live alone. An old house, ain't it? Yes, I'm told that it was built before the fire. Yeah, looks it. Well, okay. Thanks, Professor. Thanks very much. Yes, yes, that was the beginning. A week later I got the letter. Dear Professor Moffat, I'm only an amateur in your field, Comparative Psychology, but I've made a discovery in my private laboratory, which I want you of foremost authority to check for me. If you find my observations have been correct, I'd also like you to take full credit for the discovery since I dislike publicity. To avoid premature and adverse notice, please tell no one about this, but phone me, collect for information. Anthony Carlotti. Carlotti Realty Los Angeles. Well, Janet would have been wary of such a letter, but I suppose the one weakness of a higher intelligence is that it's slow to simple animal suspicion. Well, in any case, I phoned Mr. Carlotti at once. His secretary told me that if I caught the morning plane, Mr. Carlotti would meet me at the airport in Los Angeles. Pardon me, you, Professor Moffat. Oh, yes, yes, Mr. Carlotti. No, I'm just one of the boys. I was sent to pick you up. Oh, thank you very much. You work for Mr. Carlotti? I guess you'd call it that. This bag yours? Yes, yes. I got a car right over there. Can I make a snappy? Fine, fine. I wonder... Have I met you somewhere before, Mr.... Just call me Pete. You might have, I've been here and there. Well, I don't suppose it's likely, but you look very familiar. There's a million mugs like mine, Professor. Here. You ride in the back. Very well. Oh, my, this is luxury. For the boys, nothing but the best. All set? Yes, yes, all set. Tell me, do we have far to go? Huh? Not far. The boss is in Bel Air. Bel Air? He lives there? Sure. Some layout he's got. Quite a change for you, Professor. What? Oh, yes. You're one of the censors takers. You were at my house last week. Look, Professor, I made a slip. Forget it, will you? Why should I forget it? It's the boss. I wouldn't want the boss to know. You see? Oh, you were trying another job, is that it? Yeah, yeah, something like that. I was trying another job. Mr. Carlotti lives here. Yeah, some shack, huh? Slip me that bag, Professor. And I'll take you to meet the boys. Yes, sir. Thank you, thank you. Well, is his laboratory here in the house? His which? Well, his laboratory, where he conducts his experiments. Oh, no, no, he doesn't do any experiments here. Come on. Some layout, huh? Swimming pool, olive flowers. Yes, in the house, we must have 20 or more rooms. Oh, closer to 30, I bet. After you, Professor. Oh, thank you, huh? Oh, you're nosy. Where's Papa? He's waiting for you, inside. Oh, this way, Professor. He calls this the study. Hey, boys. Oh, call the door people. As you leave. Sure, boss. This is the Professor, Professor Maffett. Now, I'll be outside. So, Professor Maffett, well, come in. Come in, sit down. You have no idea how happy this makes me. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Colotti. I'm glad to be here. You know, you touched on my one weakness. I bet I did. Yes, when you sit on the phone, you have something on condition reflexes. Well, that's rather my specialty. It's my hobby. Your hobby? You're too modest, Professor, who I just the other day. I was rereading this. They're part of your experiments with frogs. Oh. There's nothing to compare with it. Oh, well, frankly, I do consider that a contribution to the field. Well, why do you suppose I called on you to check on my experiments? What you mean because of that pamphlet? Exactly. I wouldn't trust anyone else. Oh. I confess that I'm extremely curious to see what you're doing. You only hinted on... I can't tell you any more until we get to the laboratory. I'll take you there after dinner. Oh, well, I hope that sooner... Well, Professor, since I'm only an amateur scientist, my business counts first. I have two or three appointments. Oh, yes, of course. So if you don't mind waiting here, I'll come back and get you. There are books and radio drinks in the cabinet. If you want anything else, you just punch the button, okay? Oh, yes, I'll be very comfortable. Fine, fine, fine. I won't be long. An hour or so. And then, Professor, you'll really learn something about reflexes. I guarantee it. Yeah, he went out. I took a book off the shelf and settled down to read. His but my mind wandered. Mr. Carlotti intrigued me. He certainly wasn't an intellectual in either appearance or manner. We were all together a bit coarse and ruthless-looking. And I was quite sure his capacity for abstract thinking was limited, to say the least. And yet, yet the report on my labyrinth experiments with frogs had been stimulating to even so dull a mind as his. I walked over to his desk and looked down at my pamphlet with a feeling of some little satisfaction. I picked it up and lightly flipped the pages. And it was then I realized that something was terribly wrong. Because in the pamphlet which Mr. Carlotti told me he had read twice, the pages were still uncut. I threw it down on the desk and went to the door. The door was locked. For Suspense, Roma wines are bringing you a storm to George Caloris in the last detail by Alan Obeson and Harriet Krauss, which is Roma wine's presentation tonight of Suspense. Between the acts of suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines. Elsa Maxwell is famous not only as a hostess, but also for her helpful suggestions on how to entertain more graciously. Recently she said, next time you have friends for dinner, add to their enjoyment of the food and give the occasion a gracious festive touch by serving distinguished Roma California burgundy. Even when ration points are low, simple menus take on added glamour, added flavor goodness with Roma burgundy. Serve well-cooled. Yes, Elsa Maxwell's suggestion is one that lends enchantment to dining. You'll enjoy Roma burgundy. Its tart pecansi, its fruity robust taste, the happy result of selecting and gently pressing luscious grapes from California's choicest vineyards, guided to flavor perfection, unhurriedly, by Roma's ancient wine skill. Good Roma wines never vary, are always enjoyable, yet cost only pennies a glass. Remember, because of uniformly fine quality at reasonable cost, more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. And now Roma Wines bring back to a Hollywood soundstage George Calouris, who in the character Professor Moffat in the last detail continues a narrative well-calculated to keep you in... suspense. I regret to say it, but when I found that door locked, I actually lost my temper. Open this door. You here? Open the door. Let me out. Mr. Calotti, feet. You can't keep me in here. I'll call the police. Let me out. Oh, well. Mr. Calotti. There's something wrong, Professor. Look here. Why is this door locked? Oh, it has a spring lock, and I'm afraid the spring is weak. I thought it had been fixed. I rang the buzzer, pounded on the door, but no one came. Oh, I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. You've done more than keep me waiting, Mr. Calotti. You've thoroughly annoyed and angered me. What's going on? Why did you bring me down here? Why, to make experiments. Oh, yes, yes, but my pamphlet. You said you read it twice. Well? The pages haven't even been cut. Look. Oh, well, not that copy. That's a copy I'm sending to a friend. Sorry. Oh, I'm awfully sorry. You misunderstood. Oh, I'm not sure I've misunderstood. Well, what about this trip to your laboratory? Well, we go there now. Pete has a car outside, and I've invited a friend of mine to go with us. His name is Sam Schwartz. I think you two will have a great deal in common. Well, Professor? Oh, well, all right. Let's hurry then. I want to take the plane back tomorrow, and I also want a good night's sleep. Well, I'll give you my word. Good night's sleep? Why, you'll have time to spare. You see, Pete knows you're in a hurry. He's got the motor started. Here, you run back with me, Professor. This is Sam Schwartz, the friend I told you about. Oh, how do you do, Mr. Schwartz? Hello, sucky. That's right. Professor, climb in. I forgot to say that Sam tries to be funny. Well, we're ready, Pete. Let's roll. Okay, boy. The boy up there with Pete is nosy. I don't think you know him, Professor. Why, I... I believe I've seen him. Somewhere. What's the matter, Sam? Cat cuts your tongue? Why don't you make yama-yama with the Professor? I'm nuts. Sam isn't feeling too well tonight, Professor. I feel as good as you're going to, Carlotti. You see, Professor, Sam is from San Francisco, too, but he isn't as optimistic as you are about my, uh... my experiments. So, you came down too, Mr. Schwartz? Can't I? You old goat. I came down here because I was tricked. Shut up, Sam. Yes, I was tricked. You can't be all along, Carlotti. You got me on the griddle. My boys will give you a pay-off. I said shut up. I'll get you for this, Carlotti. Shut up, Mr. Carlotti. Okay, Pete. Sam's all right. He just wants to brag about his punks and how they're going to get Carlotti. He's loyal to the whole team. Mr. Carlotti? Yes, yes, yes. What's wrong? I want to know what's going on. There's some mistake. Oh, no. No, no mistake, Professor. Well, what has all this got to do with your experiments with your laboratory? Ah, Professor. Wait, then see. No, no. I insist there's some mistake. I... I don't think I belong here. Don't belong here? Pete, nosy. Listen to the professor. Why, you're absolutely a sense of professor. You're going to be the star in this production. You, then, that events gotten rather beyond me. So I sat back and began to think to sort out the facts of my situation in order to be able to deal with them rationally, scientifically. Nosy, the other man with Pete, I knew now was the second census taker. And it was apparent to me that I was part of some plan of Carlotti, that it was, after all, what he appeared to be a ruthless, stupid man. Well, at any rate, I would be able to outthink him. The car swung off the highway and pulled up in front of a closed gate over which there was a sign that said rear entrance. A man in a guard's uniform opened the gate, and as our car went through, Carlotti leaned out and said, nice going, Mike. The headlights were switched off. There were no other lights on the narrow drive inside, but on each side of the car I could see huge open stalls filled with all sorts of furniture, fireplaces, pieces of scenery, theatrical props. Then suddenly we were passing through what looked like a city street, and I... I knew where we were. Why, this is a motion picture lot. Elementary, my dear professor. Pareto on pictures. Yes, I've never been to one before. It's very interesting. Oh, you've got to find it very interesting. Yes, yes. I gather that. Now tell me, Carlotti, who is going to be killed tonight? Huh? Why's the guy up, Carlotti? Shut up, sir. Well, it'd be me or Mr. Schwartz or both of us. What makes you think there's going to be a killer? Oh, come now. I've been unalert, I admit it, but I certainly can recognize an objective situation when I have to. Well, you won't be bumped off, not tonight. But, uh, my friend Sammy here... Why don't you just grill me? What's all that sremans? Uh, you know how I like things, Sam, a little gaudy. Oh, and I am the trimmings, is that it? You, professor, are the works because you are going to kill Sam. Well, nonsense. Well, you won't really pull the trigger, but you'll look the part. What on earth are you talking about? See now, professor, now on the right another street. Now, do you know this city? It's San Francisco. Yeah, Van Ness Avenue, in fact. What? Yeah, this is my block. There's the house. It's astonishing. Fantastic. A movie set. Really gives you a thrill, doesn't it? My goodness. What a passion Hollywood must have for detail. Yeah, they really do it right, don't they? This is San Francisco now. They got another set off before the fire. Yes, yes. I remember I read about it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, the college's been telling all about it. That's how I knew. Okay, nosey. Feet outside. Okay, boy. Come on. Cover our friends as they go out. Professor, Sammy, come on. What are you gonna do? It won't take long, Sam. Just file out. Yes, Mr. Schwartz, come on. Yes, yes. My house. Every detail. Paint flaking off. A bit shabby looking. You'll be able to tell your friends you were in movies, Professor. They'll never believe you. Oh, I see your plan now, Calotti. You're going to photograph me shooting Mr. Schwartz. Isn't that the idea? On the steps of my house. Who tipped you off? Oh, really, I'm a psychologist. It's relatively simple for me to follow your mental processes. Oh, it's simple, is it? Pete, get Sam up there. About a third step and we'll watch him. Okay, come on, punk. My boys are friggin' a swan, Calotti. Get on, Sam, get on. Get a gun. So it's simple, Professor, eh? Well, now that you know how I'm doing it, how do you like it? Oh, it's a colorful plan unique, but it won't work. Oh, you think not, eh? No, to be blunt, you haven't the mind to carry it through. You've bitten off more than you can chew, Calotti. You haven't the higher intelligence necessary for so much detail. Look, you'll be laughing out of the other side of your mouth tomorrow, so I'll let it pass. Very well. Now, you take this gun, Professor. It ain't loaded. I'll get up there by the front door. And when I tell you to, point the gun at Sam like you mean it. As I climbed the steps of the set, I was filled with an enormous, valid amusement. Calotti's plan was so ornate, so melodramatic, I could picture his self-satisfaction when he first thought of it, the immature pleasure he'd derived from working out the details. And I could picture the blind, stupefied obedience of Pete and Nosey when they went to San Francisco to find the right house on Van Ness Avenue. Mine was right because I lived alone. But mine was also wrong because I was trained for detail, trained to see and evaluate. Yes, it was like the reasoning of a human being pitted against that of a fairly adaptable chimpanzee. And as I stood in the doorway of the admirable replica of my house, I looked around quickly for the one or two floors which I could later use, floors which would prove that that night I was in Los Angeles, not in San Francisco. And then Calotti gave his signal. Okay, Professor, aim your gun. Pete. Yeah? Get Sam moving, and then let it fly. Perfect, perfect. What a shot and what a picture. Is he dead, Pete? Get us a macro. You did good too, Professor. In that picture, it'll look like the real thing. Yeah, thank you, Calotti. I enjoyed it. Yes, I suppose everybody likes to act. Yeah, I get to hand it to you too. You didn't bat an eye. Oh, to see a man killed, a scientist can be too perturbed about death. Yeah, I guess not. Pete, get the late Mr. Schwartz into the car and watch the blood. It won't be a trap, boys. I got the coat under him right away. Now, Professor, I promised I'd get you home. Oh, oh, Pete's going to drive me there. All the way to San Francisco? Sure, we've got to have Sammy found up there, don't we? Oh, of course, of course. Well, so I figured you'd better go along for the ride. It was a strange trip. I sat in the back with my feet on Mr. Schwartz. Nozzy sat beside me and covered me with his gun. We drove slowly through the sleeping towns in order not to arouse suspicion. But on the long stretches of open road, Pete drove at a terrific speed, and all the way I was completely calm and at ease. Yes, the corpse would be found somewhere in San Francisco with something on it to send the police after me. And then they would have the picture of me shooting Sam Schwartz on my own front steps. And Carlotti would be safe with alibis in Los Angeles, 420 miles away. Yes, yes, that was the way it was planned. Well, I felt a little sorry for Carlotti. It was going to be so easy to block him. After a while, I fell asleep. I woke up as the car stopped at the curb in front of my house. You're an excellent driver, Pete. Well, thanks. Yeah, we make good time. Okay, Professor, out. No, you don't have to wave that gun at me, Nozzy. After all, I'm home. I live here. Yeah, and I'm going in with you until Pete has time to attend to a couple of other arrangements. Yes, of course. He has to dispose of the body and he has to tell the police and give them the picture and... You know everything, don't you? Okay, Pete, get going. I'll meet you later. Sure thing, Nozzy. Same time, same place. Yeah, but just made it in time. Another round would be daylight. Got your key, Professor? Key? Oh, certainly. I'm a very methodical man. Yes, yes. That movie set is a clever copy. Very clever. Yeah. Everything just the same as here. Oh, no, no, no. That are one or two minor differences. Thank goodness. What do you mean by that? Come in, Nozzy. Well, the doorbell was quite different. It was like the old one I had replaced last year. I didn't see that. Another thing, Nozzy, the porch light wasn't there. What porch light? Well, my landlord put one in for me because I'm rather short-sighted and often stumble going down the steps. And a house in L.A. didn't have that? Did you see one there? No, I thought not. And it won't be in the picture. Well, maybe the picture doesn't show that part of the house. Oh, I think Carlotta got it all in. Carlotta's plan doesn't look so good now, does it, Nozzy? The boss said to bring you here and stay here. I hear the cops coming. And that's what I'm going to do when that's all. Even now that you know Carlotta's plan won't work? I don't know nothing about that. The boss has made all all right so far. Uh-oh, listen. Yes, yes, that would be the police. Hmm, Pete worked very fast. Where was he dumping the body, Nozzy? You'll find that, Professor. I'm leaving. But if you try to leave the front way, I'll plug you. Ah, yes, come in, gentlemen. I was expecting you. You, Professor Moffat? That's right. And you're from the homicide squad. Come in. Hey, how'd you know we were coming? Well, you found a body of a man named Schwartz and somebody told you that I killed him, right? No, we didn't find anybody. Oh. Well, then someone said you were a photograph of me standing on my front porch shooting Sam Schwartz. Look, we don't know anything about you or Sam Schwartz. And we didn't see any pictures. Oh, then why are you here at this ungodly hour? We got a phone call. A phone call? Sure. Someone phoned in that you had a body here. So we came to check. Here? A body here? In this house? That's right. We always check these calls, even though a lot of them are from crack parts. This one said the body was in your cellar. My cellar? Yes, sir. If you don't mind, we'll just look around. No, you can't go in the cellar. There's nothing there. There's nothing in the cellar. Hey, grab the wood. Hang on. Get away from the cellar. Get away from the door. Ben, I knew it was no use. Then I knew that they'd never believe what had really happened that night. Then I knew that Carlotti had thought of everything down to the last detail. Yes, except one I'd thought of, because in the cellar there were two bodies. The body of some Schwartz that Peter put there that night and the body of Janet, my wife, whom I'd murdered six months before. Yes, now I remember my dream, the rest of it. I'm standing in my laboratory beside a cage, only I'm in the cage and I'm watching Carlotti. And Pete is there and Carlotti is talking, talking. Pete, lock him up. I've seen all I wanted for today. He gives me the willies. Funny to watch these apes, boss. Sometimes they're almost human. Yeah. Look at him now. He's pretending he's taking notes on us. He's pretending he's a professor. And so closes the last detail, in which Roma Wines have brought to George Calouris a star of tonight's study in... Suspense. Before Mr. Calouris returns to the microphone, this is Truman Bradley with a word for Roma Wines, the sponsor of suspense. Warm weather and iced drinks just naturally go together. And as famed hostess Elsa Maxwell recently remarked, for a gay and colorful warm weather drink, I recommend Roma Wine and Soda, a delightful frosty cold thirst quencher that's as delicious as it is refreshing. Yes, and Roma Wine and Soda, made with distinguished Roma California Burgundy or Sautern, is quick and easy to make. Have fill the tall glasses with good Roma Burgundy or Sautern. Add ice cubes, sparkling water and a bit of sugar. And for a decorative touch, garnish with cherries or fruit. And for a delightful aperitif, sip delicious Roma sweet vermouth, well-chilled. Zestful, full-flavored Roma vermouth is blended and developed with all the traditional winemaking skill of Roma wineries. Is made and bottled in the heart of California's famous vineyards, yet surprisingly low-priced. Try Roma vermouth soon, won't you? This is George Colores with a word from our government. Large numbers of troops are being redeployed from Europe to the Pacific, many by way of the United States. They will have, and their friends and relatives may learn, facts about their weapons, tactics, training and future assignments which would be of immense value to the Japanese enemy. There may be a tendency to relax our caution with this war information, now that Nazi Germany has been defeated. But the fact is that never before in this war has secrecy been so important. Don't talk. Keep the jabs in the dark. Thank you. George Colores appeared through the courtesy of Warner Brothers, producers of Rhapsody in Blue. Next Thursday we'll hear Mr. J. Carol Nash as star of... Suspense. Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.