 Suspends. The O's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills brings you an hour, a full 60 minutes of suspense. Tonight, a banner presentation of Emily and William's classic, Night Must Fall, directed by Anton M. Leader and produced by Robert Montgomery. Our stars, Mr. Montgomery and Dame Mae Whitty with Heather Angel, Richard Ney, and Matthew Bolton in Night Must Fall. This is Robert Montgomery. I cannot introduce Night Must Fall. I have no words in prologue. So surely do I feel that the play is the thing. But I can introduce, with great anticipation and pride, the performance of Dame Mae Whitty as Mrs. Bramson, Heather Angel as Olivia Grain, Richard Ney as Hubert Lowry, and Matthew Bolton as Inspector Bellsize. It is our particular pride that both Dame Mae Whitty and Matthew Bolton are playing the roles they created in the original stage play in London. And I will play Dame. With these performances and with Night Must Fall, we again hope to keep you in suspense. It is a smallish place, a typical English country cottage, rambling and comfortable, with roses climbing upon the walls and the fences. Surrounding it on every side stands the dark bulk of the forest. The massive trees, close packed, their interlacing canopies shadowing the undergrowth below. It is an out of the way place, far from the nearest village, a mile or more from the nearest neighbor, a proper place for a murder, you might say. Usually, the forest quiet is undisturbed. But today, one might hear a few scattered shouts, see strange men in uncomfortable city clothes, poking about through the brush, searching. And in the Bramson Cottage, door of the maid is receiving a visitor in the kitchen. Been half off me rocker, what were that old witch in there, saying all those terrible things about you and me? The police turning the place upside down and asking all kinds of questions. Yes, Teddy, now, what's all around? What police? My friend, let Mrs. Chalfant, the woman from the tallbores, has disappeared. Nobody knows what's become of her. Oh, that? And there's even a man from Scotland Yard. Scotland Yard? That is gratifying. Gratifying? Well, I mean there being Johnny on the spot like that. Shows we're getting our tax money's worth. Now, what's the matter with the old girl? Oh, Dennis, she knows about us. And she says if you don't marry me, she'll give me the same. Won't you? If you don't... No, I've about it. Always had the very same thing in mind myself. Oh, Danny. I expect she wants to talk to me. Where is it? Through there? You can't go in now. She's got people with her. The Scotland Yard man. Well, I can look, can't I? Danny, be careful. She hears you. Cat can look at a king, you know? So that's Mrs. Bramson, eh? They say she don't have half a bit talked up to Wade. Oh, she's rich and all, but try to get out of any. Who's the girl with the spectacles? Oh, that's her niece, Miss Grine. Miss Olivia Grine. Puss. And the chap with her, I suppose he... Mr. Lorry. He wants to marry her, but I... I don't think she wants to, not really. Well, now, if you see anything unusual or anybody strange wandering in the woods, I might not stay too nearby and just let him know. Good morning, Mrs. Bramson. Who's that? Just left. The detective, Scotland Yard. We sure had a better look at him. Never seen anyone from Scotland Yard before. Dora? Is that your young man, I guess? Nothing about that. No, Mum. That is... Yes, Mum. Only... Send him in here, instantly. Yes, Mum. Go on. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained, as they say. Well... Morning all. So your baby face, as Dora calls you. That's me. Silly name, isn't it? What's your real name? Dan. Just call me Dan. You smoke, I see. Yes. Oh, I am sorry. I always forget my manners with a cigarette when I'm in company. I am sorry. You know my maid, Dora Parko, I believe. Well, we haven't met, yes. You walked out to that last August bank holiday. Yes. Excuse me, Smiling, but it... It sounds funny when you put it like that, doesn't it? You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Oh, I am. I've thought about it a good bit since, I can tell you. You work at the Tall Boys, don't you? Yes, Miss. Twenty-four hours a day, Miss. Oh, well, then perhaps you can tell us something about that female who's been murdered. Hmm? Well, can you tell us? You know, there's Mrs. Chalfon staying at the Tall Boys who went off one day. Yes? Well, nobody's seen her since. I know. What's she like? But I thought you said... Or somebody said something about to murder. Well, we don't know, of course. But there might have been. Mightn't there. Oh, yes, there might have been, yes. Have you ever seen her? Oh, yes. I used to take cigarettes and drinks up to her. Well, what's she like? What's she like? She's on the Tall side. Thin ankles with one of them bracelets on one of them. Fair hair and... Go on. Thin eyebrows with white marks where he was pulled out to be in the fashion, you know. Her mouth, a bit thin as well. With red stuff painted around it, you can rub it off, I suppose. Her neck, rather thick. Laughs a bit loud, and then it stops. She's very lively. You can't say I don't keep my eye skin, can you? Jove, I should say you do. A living portrait, if ever there was one. Now, uh... Are you going for a walk? So I was by joke. Well, I'll just charge off. Goodbye. Goodbye, Hubert. You're a very observant young man. Oh, the ladies, you know. If you weren't so observant, that dora mightn't be in the flummox she is now. That's true, ma'am. You don't sound very repentant. Well, what's done's done's my motto, isn't it? Or you'll even miss. If you don't mind. She'd be a nice bit of ice for next summer, wouldn't she? You're a proper one to talk about next summer. One dora will be... Well, what is it now? Oh, Mrs. Bramson, the butcher wants paying. And he says there's men ferretting at the bottom of the garden looking for that Mrs. Chalfont. And do you know about it? Well, it won't ferret long. Not amongst my Pampasgras. Olivia? Olivia! Oh, that girl's never there. Here, you! Come out of my garden, you! Come out! You there! You! You come out of my garden! You're the cook, I suppose. Why, I'll never know. Won't let me pay the butcher so I won't know where she keeps her purse. But I do know. So put that in your pipe and smoke it. They do say down at the tall boys that she's got enough inside of her purse, too. Well, nobody's seen it open. If you have a peep inside, young fella, you'll go down in history. That's what you'll do. Oh, something's falling over! Auntie, did you... Oh. Hello, Miss. Did Mrs. Bramson call me, do you know? I'm sorry. I don't know your name. Oh. There is, uh... not much doing around here for a girl, is there? I'm not a snob. But in case you ever call here again, I'd like to point out that though I'm employed by my aunt, I'm not quite in Dora's position. Oh, I hope not. So I'll be putting it all right for Dora. I'm going to marry her and I... I don't believe you. You don't like me, do you? No. Everybody else does? Your eyes are set quite wide apart. Your hands are quite good. I... I don't really know what's wrong with you. You know, I've been looking at you, too. You're lonely, aren't you? You know, I could see... I'm sorry. It's a waste of time you're doing your stuff with me. I'm not the type. Are you playing up to Mrs. Bramson? Playing up? You stand a pretty poor chance there, you know. What do you bet? They say they've got permits to look for that silly woman. Who would they I'd like to know? If there's anything, I hate it these men who think they've got authority. I don't think they're quite as bad as men who think they've got charm. What do you mean by that? Well, it's no good thinking. She's got any, is it? Now, young man, what about Dora? Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Are you sure you're comfortable like that? Don't you think Mrs. Bramson, you ought to be facing a wee bit more of this side there towards the sun more now? You're looking pale, you know. Pale? Did you say pale? Washed out. The minute I saw you just now, I said to myself, there is a lady that's got a lot to contend with. Well, I have. Nobody knows it better than I do. I know, I'm sure. Oh, it must be terrible to watch everybody else striding up and down, enjoying everything and to see everybody taste in the fruit and... Oh, I am sorry. I shouldn't have ought to say that. But it's true. As true as you're my witness. Do you mind if I ask you what your ailments are? Oh, well. Why don't you better sit down? Thank you, ma'am. Well, I have the most terrible palpitations. Palpitations? But the way you get about. Oh? Well, it's a pretty bad thing to have, you know. Do you know that nine women out of ten in your position to be just sitting down and giving way? Would they? Yes, they would. I've known people with palpitations. Somebody very close to me. They're dead now. Oh. My mother, as a matter of fact, I can just remember her. Oh. As a matter of fact... Yes? Oh, no, it's a daft thing. Come along now, out with you. Well, it's only fancy, I suppose, but you remind me a bit of her. Oh, your mother? Oh. Have you got a son? I haven't anybody at all. She had the same eyes, very wide apart as you, and the same very good hands. And the same palpitations. And the same palpitations. You don't mind my talking about your health, do you? No. You know you ought to get used to... letting other people do things for you. Yes, yes. You're a funny boy to be a page boy. I've taken a liking to you. That's very kind of you, Mrs. Bramson. Aunty, shall I pack these books for the post now? I'll post them for you. With pleasure. Have you got to go back? Now? Well, no, not really. This is my half day. Stay to lunch. Well, I don't like to impose myself. In the kitchen, of course. Oh, I know. Well, that's plenty of food. Stay to lunch. Well, I don't know. All right. So long as you let me help a bit this morning. Don't you want some string for this? Where's it kept? Oh, that woman knows. In the kitchen somewhere. So here? Yes, that's right. What'd she say? Say? About us. It's all right. I told her I'm going to marry you. Oh, Dan! Here, here, here. Now, I'm on an errand for the old girl. I want a bit of string. Oh, yes. Right here in the jar. An errand for Mrs. Bramson. That's right. Aha! This'll do. Dan, she likes you. And why not? Here's something in the paper. Keeper in the Shepley Woods. Was closely questioned. But he had heard nothing beyond a woman's voice in the woods and a man's voice probably with her. Rubbish, the whole business. You, Dan, or whatever your name is, are those men still rummaging in my garden? They're out there poking about right enough. And I must go this minute and have a look at my Pampersgrass. And if they've damaged it, I'll bring an action. Have your package ready and half a shake now, Miss. Thank you. What's that you're whistling? I don't know some song they picked up. Mighty Like a Rose, I think they call it. Do you know what it says here in the paper? About what? The murder. Oh, you're sure of that now, are you? It says, a keeper heard a woman's voice in the woods on the afternoon in question and a man's voice probably with her singing Mighty Like a Rose. Is that a fact now? A popular song, that one. Pretty, too. Pretty little fella. Everybody knows. Don't know what to call me. But I Mighty Like a Rose. Not at all. I like it. I can never make this horrid game come out. Look, the red nine on the black ten. Don't interfere. I saw that. Now I wonder... No, no, no, no. The other one, the other one, the other one. Yes, dear, of course. I am sorry. My cigarette bothering you. No, dear, no. Oh, I'm sick of solitaire. I want to be read, too. Right away now. Let's see what we have. Ah. You all fashion child. What? It's East Lynn. It's your favourite book, isn't it? Oh, yes, dear, so it is. Go on. You all fashion child retorted Mrs. Vane. Why did you not put on your diamonds? I did put on my diamonds. Stemard, Lady Isabel. But I took them off again. What on earth for? That's the other lady speaking there. Yes, dear. What on earth for? I did not like to be too fine answered Lady Isabel with a laugh. Good, isn't it? Oh, yes, realistic. Ah, time for your medicine. Oh, Danny, you always remember. Hello, hello, hello, everyone. Any news? Hello, Hubert. News? About what? Why about the ma... That is the missing woman. What else? All I know is those idiot policemen are still pocketing about in my garden and my Pampas glasses practically ruined. They haven't found anything, of course. And they never will. Lots of nonsense. Will? Where there's life, there's hope. What? Mrs. Brampton, time for your walk. Oh, yes, dear. Have you got my pills? Got them in my pocket. And my chocolates? Got them in my pocket, too. Here's your hat now. And I carry your rug on my shoulder. See you later. You good? Right, you all. Take good care of her. Hubert. Yes? What do you think of... Granny's white-haired boy, you mean? He's all right, I suppose. He's made quite a hit with her. Yes, hasn't he? And in such a short time, something I haven't been able to manage in a year. Yes. It was just two weeks ago today. He moved in, bag and baggage. He came the afternoon after... that woman disappeared. By Jove, that's right. Hubert. Have you noticed... how he acts as if he doesn't care toughens, but all the time he's watching to see what we're thinking of him? Yes, I've thought of that. It's his incredible vanity. They always have it. Who? Murderers. Good heavens, Elida. Do you mean this woman they're looking for? Yes. But why... Oh, it's incredible. I say... Hubert, I'm going to look through his things. Right now, will you? While they're out. That's a bit thick, Spying. We may never have another chance. Please, will you help me? But... well, I suppose... Come on. It's a hat box. Old-fashioned, isn't it? A bit heavy, too. Suppose there's something... inside it? It's locked. But I've got the key somewhere about. Oh, no, no, no. We were just... Could I have my one, please? It's the only one I got. Oh, yes, of course. Thank you very much. Not at all. Did you see the picture of me when I was a little fella? Yes, it's very jolly. Did you? It was on the inside of my wallet. Oh, was it? Yes. But I should be keeping my money. Only any bit of money I have, I always keep on me. Safer, don't you think? Yes. I only keep one ten-barb note in there at this wallet for emergencies. Oh, that's funny. It's gone. Oh, I expect I dropped it somewhere. What did you think of the letter? Letter? You got it in your hand. Oh, well, I didn't. It means well, does little, but we had a row. She would spy on me. And if there's anything I hate, it's a spy. Don't you agree? Yes. I'd soon have anything in a spy. Bar a murderer, of course. What? What did you say? I said, bar a murderer, of course. Talking of murder? Do you know anything about Mrs. Chalfont's whereabouts at the moment? I've got nothing to go on, but I think she's been murdered. Oh, you do? Yes, I do. Who by? They say she had several chaps on a string. And there was one fellow, a London chap, a bachelor, very citified with a fair moustache. But what are you looking at me for? You wasn't around these parts the day she bunked was you? Yes, I was, as a matter of fact. Uh-huh. What in heaven's name are you getting at? Well, if the shoe fits, eh? Uh, I'm going out for a breath of air, Olivia. I'm sorry. I really am about going through your things. Sally, you were caught out at your meeting. Did you do it? You know, you wouldn't be bad looking without them glasses. It doesn't interest me very much what I look like. Don't you believe it? You're very conceited, aren't you? Yes. And you're acting all the time, aren't you? Acting? Acting what? Look at the way I can look you in the eyes. I'll stare you out. I have a theory. It's the criminals who can look you in the eyes and the honest people who blush and look away. Oh. It's a very blank look, though, isn't it? Is it? You are acting, aren't you? Yes. And what do you like when you're not acting? I don't know. It's so long since I stopped. But when you're alone... Then I act more than ever I do. Why? I don't know because I like it, okay? Now, what do you say if I ask a question or two for a change? Just for a change. Why can't you take a bit of an interest in some other body but me? I'm not interested in you. But you... You don't talk. That's bound to make people wonder. I can talk a lot sometimes. A drop of drink makes a power of difference to me. You'll be surprised. I wonder if I would. I know you would. I think I can diagnose you all right. Carry on. You haven't any feelings at all. But you live in a world of your own. A world of your own imagination. I don't understand you so very well. Not being so very literary. You follow me perfectly well. Do you still think there's been a bit of dirty work? I don't know what to think now. I suppose not. Disappointed? What on earth do you mean? Disappointed? Yes. I suppose I am. Why? Oh, I don't know. Because nothing has ever happened to me. It's a dull day and it's the depth of the country. I don't know. Dora, what is it? Let's take it in the rubbish bin. Well, there's something sticking out. What is it? A hand. Somebody's hand. We've found her. Yes. Where are you going? To have a look. In tonight's full hour of suspense, Robert Montgomery stars as Danny with Dame May Whitty, Richard May, Heather Angel, and Matthew Bolton in Night Must Fall. Tonight's study in suspense. Just a moment, we will return with Act Two of Suspense. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System. And now, back to our Hollywood soundstage and Act Two of Night Must Fall starring Robert Montgomery, Dame May Whitty, Heather Angel, Richard May, and featuring Matthew Bolton in a narrative well calculated to keep you in suspense. The forest around Mrs. Bramson's cottage had always been quiet and peaceful until the day they found the body. From that day on, there was no more quiet. There were policemen and questions. There were bus loads of sightseers and newspaper men and photographers. Suddenly, the little rose-covered cottage was a focus of national curiosity. And the people who lived there basked in the reflected glory. Oh, the one. Back home again. I put your gloves away. I feel dead. And no wonder, talking to all those people, getting your picture took 15, 16 times again. I'll drop any more buses today. Oh, it's you, Olivia. Hello, Auntie. And Mrs. Bramson? I feel dead. Don't be a silly old woman. You look as pretty as a picture. Strawberries and cream in your face are not a day over 40. And when I've made you a nice cup of tea, you'll be 25 and the sun and 18 with your back to the light so you can think yourself lucky. You caution. You'll be the death of me. And now would you like a drop-off in your tea? Gin, whiskey, liquor, brandy, or a nice dollop of Sailor's Rom? He doesn't listen to him. Now, don't you make me laugh, dear. Because, you know, there's always my heart. You've lost your heart. You know you have. To the little fellow who pushes your pram, you know you have. Pram! It's wicked to laugh, dear, with this thing all around us. Ah, yes. I forgot. Wonder if they'll ever nab him. What do you mean? The fellow did it. Wonder what he's doing now. I wonder. You know, the fact they still have no idea where this woman's head is. Cut clean off. At one stroke, they say. Stop it. Well, no need to jump down the poor boy's throat. It's merely the fact. Cut off at one stroke. Oh, horrible. I suppose you won't state a T, Mr. No, no, thank you. I think I'll go off before it's dark. Goodbye, Mrs. Bramson. Goodbye, Mr. Dan. Dan, just Dan. Goodbye, Olivia. Goodbye, Hubert. I'm sorry. Can't be helped. Good night. Good night. I'll see you to the door. What's he so solemn about? Olivia's decided not to marry him. Silly girl. Made up her mind a bit sudden, didn't she? Oh, I don't know what's got into the girl. This last week, her social's been touchy as a cat with kittens. Maybe she's lost her heart to someone, too, eh? Tell me. Tell me. Have any more of those terrible people called reporters, police? There's a definite fall and off in attendance today. It's Sunday, I expect. Don't talk like that, dear. Sorry, Mum. And don't you call me Mum? Well, if I can't call you Mrs. Bramson, then I can't call you Mum. What can I call you? Well, if you're very good, I might let you call me Mother. Ha-ha! OK, Mother. You are in a mood today. I want to be read, too, now. Your servant, Mother of Mine. What did you have? Now, let's see. There's the Channings and Redcourt farm. No, I'm tired of them. Oh, what about the Bible? The Bible? Sunday, you know? Oh, well, all right, dear. Makes a nice change. Not that I don't often dip into it. I'm sure you do. Now, where will I read? All at random is nice, don't you think, dear? At random. Yes. I... Auntie, the paper boy's at the back door. He says your picture's in the news of the world again. Oh? He says he won't leave the paper until he's been paid. He says he hasn't been paid for a month. Hasn't been paid? Is he mad? Are you mad? Why don't you be him? Because you don't give me the money to do it with. Well, I... Oh, well, wheel me over to that cupboard. Right you are. Auntie. Well, what? Well, don't... Don't you think... I mean, wouldn't... Danny? Ha-ha. Well, he knows where I keep my money, don't you, dear? Since you told me, of course. Of course. Well, now, here's the key. Aye. Wait till I get it from around my neck. Now, help me with it. Right, you are, dear. There you are. Well, Olivia, what you're staring at? Isn't that rather a lot of money to have in the house? Put not your trust in banks, as my motto. And always will be. And so right, so right. But there's hundreds of pounds. Don't be a silly goose. Here, go and get the paper. Yes, Auntie. And hurry back. Now, lock the box up and put it back. There's a deer. Right. What were those sort of coloured folders? Looked like somebody's will or something. Oh, they're bombs and stocks. Nothing you'd understand about, dear. Oh. Where is that girl with the paper? Here you are, Auntie. Thank you, Miss. I'll find the place for you. There you are. No mother of mine. Oh, look. Whole page. Headlines and all. Oh, yes. The victim's past. Aye. With another picture of me underneath. Ah. Oh. Taken at Tundridge a year before the war, really. Oh. The bungalow of death. Fiendish murderer still at large. The enigma of the missing head. Oh, this print's too small. Shall I read it to you? Yes, dear. Do. The, let's see now. Oh, yeah. The murderer committed the crime in the forest. He buried the body shallow in the open pit, cunningly chanceing it being filled, which it was the next day, the 11th. That was the day before I come here. So it was. The murderer was discovered by a skilled person, possibly a butcher, the murderer. What's the matter? Can you hear something? Got it. It was Sunday. They're going to church in the villages. All got up on their Sunday best with the prayer books and the organ playing and the windows shining, shining on holy things because holy things isn't afraid of the daylight. And Danny, what's in it? It's all the time the daylight's moving over the floor and by the end of the sermon the air and the church is tearing and gray. All the holy things so much and no more, only of the terrible things that's gone on outside that everybody's reading about in the papers because they know that though it's still daylight and everything's ordinary and quiet, today will be the same as all the other days and come to an end and it'll be night. I forgot it was Sunday. Good gracious. What's come over you Danny? I speak if I like anything when I'm roused. I used to go to Sunday school, see, and the thoughts sort of pop into my head as if I was reading them off a book. You should have been a preacher, you should. Well, I want to lie down now. Anything you say, mother of mine. No, no, no, you pushed me about enough for one day. You might try to cheer Olivia up a bit though, for the look of us she needs it. Only too happy to try, Mum? That is, if you like me too, Miss Olivia? You've been drinking, haven't you? You don't miss much, do you? No. I've had a drink and I feel fine. You wouldn't like another dose of reading, would you? I prefer talking. Carry on? Asking questions. Carry on? Are you sure you were ever a sailor? Are you sure you weren't a butcher? Ah, talking's daft, doing's the thing. You can talk too? Yes. To hear me just now, she's right, you know, I should have been a preacher. I remember when I was a kid, sitting in Sunday school, catching my mother's eye where she was sitting by the door, and she pointed to the pulpit and then to me, as if to say, that's the place for you. I never forgot that. I don't believe a word of it. Neither do I, but it sounds wonderful, doesn't it? I never saw my Mum, and I never had a Dad, and the first thing I remember is the Cardiff Docks. And you're the first woman I ever told that to. So you can compliment yourself. Or the drink. You do live in your imagination, don't you? Yes. It's the only way to bear with the awful things you have to do. What awful things? Well, you haven't had as much to drink as all that. You haven't a very high opinion of women, have you? Women don't have to drink, be drunk to talk. You don't talk that much, though. Fair play. You're a dark horse, you are. You know, this isn't a life for you. What is there to it? Tell me that. What is there to it? Yes. Getting up at seven. Having breakfast with a vixenish old woman and spending the rest of the day with her in a dreary house in the middle of a wood. Going to bed at eleven. I'm plain. I haven't got any money. I'm shy. And I haven't got any friends. Don't you like the old lady? I could kill her. Oh, no, you couldn't. Not many people have it in them to kill people. Oh, no. And what was your life at the tourboys? My life? Well, the day didn't start so good. Well, a lot of stuck-up boots to clean and a lot of silly high heels all along the passage waiting for a polish. Oh, there's, oh, there's, oh, there's, go here. Do this, do that. Open the door for me. Get a move on. Waiter, my tea, stone cold. I'm not a waiter. I'm a millionaire. And everybody's under me. And just when I think I got a bit of peace, there's somebody locking the bedroom door. Won't let me out. Talk, talk, talk. Won't fork out with no more money. At me, at me, at me. Calls me everything. Lies in the floor and screams and screams. And nothing keeps that mouth shut only. It's raining out of the window. And the leaves is off the cheese. Oh, Lord, I wish I could hear a bit of music. And I do inside of myself. And I have a drop of drink and everything's fine. And when it's the night. Gone. I'm too fly-floor for you, aren't I? You'd like to know, wouldn't you? Why would you like to know? Why do you lie awake nights? Don't. I'm frightened of you. Why? How do you know I lie awake at night? Shall I tell you why? Because you're awake yourself. You can't sleep, can you? You can't sleep. There's one thing that keeps you awake, isn't there? One thing you've pushed into the back of your mind and you can't do any more about it and you never will. And you know what it is? It's a little thing. A box. Only a box, but it's rather heavy. It's the only thing that keeps me awake, mind you. The only thing. But I don't know what to do. You see, nothing worries me. Nothing in the world. Only I don't like a pair of eyes staring at me with no look in them. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. Don't. There's someone at the door. Anybody's there, I'll deal with them. I'll manage them myself. You watch. How's things? Not so bad, Mr. Inspector. Good afternoon, Miss Grain. How do you do? If you'll excuse me. Of course. Are you bearing up, are you, Dan? Yes, sir, bearing up, you know. We haven't scared you all out of the house yet, I see. Oh, no fear, sir. No more news, may I suppose. No, sir. Ah, too bad, too bad. You might have sit down. Please do, sir. Would you like to see Mrs. Bramson, sir? Oh, plenty of time for that. How's she bearing up? Well, it's been a bit of a shock for her. Them finding the remains of the lady at the bottom of the garden, you know. Why didn't you sleep in your bed on the night of the 10th? What did you say? Why didn't you sleep in your bed on the night of the murder? I did. Oh, no, you didn't. Yes, I did. Oh, oh, oh, for except about half an hour, that's right. I couldn't sleep for a taffy and I went up on the fire, escaped, but I... Oh, what time was that? All about what I... You know how it is. When you wake up in the middle of the night, you don't know what time it is. Why didn't you tell us you were on intimate terms with the deceased woman? Intimate terms. Now come along, old chap. She was seen by two of the maids talking to you in the shrubbery. Well? Oh, sir, it's been on my conscience ever since. So you were, eh? Oh, no, sir, not that. I avoided her ever after the day she stopped me, sir. When they asked me about her, I got frightened to tell about her stopping me. But now you know about her, sir. It's a weight off from the mind you wouldn't believe. As a matter of fact, sir, it was the disgust like of nearly getting mixed up with her that was keeping me awake at night. I see. You're a bit of a milk sub, aren't you? Am I, sir? Yes. Well, that'll be all for today. I'll let you off just this once. I am that relieved, sir. But don't... Well, there's just one thing. If you don't mind, I'll have a quick look through your luggage. Just a matter of form. Oh, yes. Well, where do you hang out? Right in there, sir. First door facing. First door facing? You can't miss it. I'll find it. It's open, I think. You can't miss it? You can't miss it? You can't miss it? You can't miss it? This hat box is locked. Have you got the key? It isn't mine. Not yours? No. Whose is it, then? I don't know. It isn't mine. Oh, I... I'm sorry. I thought... Why, Inspector? What are you doing with my box? Your box? Yes. It's got all my letters in it. But I found it. Oh, Dan's room used to be the box room. Oh, I see. I'll keep it in my wardrobe. It'll be safer there. If you'll give it to me, please. Of course. Thank you. I'm very sorry, Miss. I'm afraid I've offended her. She'll be all right, sir. Well, young fellow, I must be off. You might tell the old lady I popped in, will you? Tell her I hope she's better. Thank you, sir. Good day, sir. Good day. Good day, sir. Good. Back to the land of the living. Oh, dear. Oh, my God. I'd never come over here. I don't know. I felt sick, I think. Whiting hand and foot on Madame Crocodile. Enough to wear King Kong out. Here, have a sip of this. Thank you. Is that bitter? Clear as the brain, no end. Fainting, indeed, is the proper girl's trick. I'm ashamed of myself. Where's Miss Olivia? Gone somewhere for the night. Gone? For the night? Said she was frightened. Just a good excuse to get away from the old dragon, if you ask me. Did she say why she was frightened? Not her. Not Miss High and Mighty. I've got my own ideas about where she was going. Let Mr Eubart. Oh, never you mind about her and Mr Eubart. Maybe the poor thing was frightened. She tried to get the old lady to leave with her, didn't she? Well... Not that she'd ever bunch. Oh, I've got to get on with her to get through the woods before it's too dark. Well, come along then. I'd come with you only. I'm going the other direction. Paley Hillway. You going out? Yes, I feel a bit funny. But you can't leave her here by herself. Oh, now she'll scream the price down. I asked her a while back and she didn't seem to mind. You know what she is. She said, do me good and won't hear of me staying. It's no good arguing with her. No good arguing with her, don't on know it. You have a nice long walk while you get the chance. You whitener too much. Well, you better draw the curtains. Oh, it's a dark out. You've got the torch, Dora. OK, honey. Good night, Dan. Pity you aren't coming our way. See you in the morning. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night here, good night there. Anyone who sings a night before judgment day. What's the matter with... talking to myself? Wish people wouldn't walk out of rooms and leave me high and dry. Don't like it. What's with my chocolates? That girl's been at them again. What's that? Oh, Lord. Danny. Danny. It must have been an owl. Oh, thank heaven. Danny. What's that boy doing in the kitchen? Danny. I've got the jitters. I've got the jitters. I've got the jitters, Danny. They've all gone. They've left me here alone. Oh, Lord, help a poor old woman. Danny. Danny, where are you? Danny. Danny, I'll help you. Forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive... It's all right. It's only Danny. Oh, Danny. I'll never forgive you. Never. Have a drop of this now. I can't take it. I can't. Have a drop of this. Come on. That's better. That's better. There. I am sorry, really. You see, they wanted me to see them through the main path past the rubbish heap in case they were frightened. Now, that's better, isn't it? Oh, Danny. Danny, dear. Oh, Lord, I was. That's better now. Oh, Danny. Oh, Danny, dear, that they'd leave when I saw your face. I'll bet you wasn't half glad, huh? You're the only one that understands me, Danny. That's what you are. That's right. Oh, oh, Danny, dear. You're not quiet enough. That day, you said to me about me reminding you of your mother. Yes. That was a beautiful thought. Oh, yes. When you think you're just an ignorant boy, it's startling. That's right. That's right. I'll never forget it. No. Not as long as ever I live. Oh. Want a chocolate now? Right, you are. Right, you are. I try now. A nice one with a soft centre, the kind you like. Here's one straight away. Now, now, shut your eyes. Open your mouth. Oh, Danny. Hi. You're the only one. Hi. Oh, strong hands you have. Hi. You are a pet. My little chubby face. My little baby face. My Danny. Have I done draught? I've got to take care of myself, haven't I? Oh, you have. I want to be red, too, no? OK. What do you have? The old East Lynn? No. No, I don't feel like anything sentimental tonight. What do you have, then? Well, I think I'd like the Bible. You were going to read from it this morning. It's right here now. It's Sunday. Yes. Isn't that nice? All the aches and pains quiet for once. Pretty peaceful. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth not in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. You read so nicely, Danny. Be kind of you, my lady. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Shhh. What? What's that? Hear something? Yes, a sort of thumping noise. Why, Danny, it's you. Me? It's your heart beating. Oh, well. Are you all right, dear? Fine, fine. I've been running along the path, see. I've been out of training, I suppose. When I was at sea, I never missed a day running around the decks, of course. Of course. I remember those mornings on some sea, very misty place it is, with the sun like breathing silver already's coming up across the water, and only me about and nothing else. Yes. And the sun, just me and the sun. There's no sun now, dear. It's night. Aye. It's night now. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveeth away. I think I'll go to buy buys. Aye. And have the rest tomorrow, shall we? Help me, dear. Help me. You know what I am. Yes, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I've only got two more verses. Oh, hurry up, dear. I don't want to wake up in the morning with a nasty cold. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the way of judgment, nor sin is in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. That's the end. Is it? Oh, well, it's been a long day. Are you quite comfortable? Bit a kick, glad to go to bed. Aye. Hope that woman's put my bottle in. Bet she hasn't. You sure you're comfortable? Wouldn't you like this cushion back of your head? No, dear. Just wheel me. Would you be more comfortable with the cushion? Oh, my pretty little fellow. Everybody knows. Don't know what to call me. What a funny look on your face, dear. Smiling like that. You look so kind. So kind. What are you going to do with that cushion? Jenny. Jenny! Put to some proper use. Get hold of yourself, Don. There's somebody there. Find the curtain. You'll see. It's you. I've never seen a dead body before. I climbed through the window. Nearly fell over it. Like a sack of potatoes or something. I thought it was at first. That's murder. But it's so ordinary. I came back expecting... I don't know. And here I find you smoking a cigarette. You might have been tidying up the room for the night. It's so ordinary. Why don't you say something? I thought you was going to spend the night in town. I was. Why'd you come back? To find you out. You've kept me guessing for a fortnight, guessing hard. I very nearly knew all the time, but not quite. Why are you so keen on finding me out? In the same way any sane, decent-minded human being would want... would want to have you arrested for the monster that you are. Why did you come back? I told you. You didn't keep any money anywhere else, did you? I read a lot about evil. I never expected to come across it in real life. You shouldn't read so much. I never got through a book yet. But I'll read you all right. You haven't had a drop to drink, and yet you feel as if you had. You never knew there was such a secret part inside of you. I hate you. I hate you. You feel as light as air, same as I feel sometimes. Why? This is my big chance. You're the one I can tell about myself. I'm sick of hearing how clever everybody else is. I want to tell them how clever I am for a change. Money I've got to have, and people doing what they're told, and me telling them what to do it. There was a woman at the Tall Boys, wasn't there? She told would she? She never knew it was me. She was dealing with me. Because I made her think she was a chronically invulet, this old girl who's been treating me like a son. She's been more used to me tonight than she's been to any other body in her whole life. Stupid. That's what people are. Stupid. You said just now, murder's ordinary. Well, it isn't ordinary at all, see. And I'm not an ordinary chap. There's one big difference between me and the other fellas that try this game. I'll never be found out. Because I don't care that. The world's got to be fair from me. That's me. But you can't wait, can you? What do you mean? Well, when I say I'll never be found out, what I mean is, no living soul will ever be able to tell any other living soul about me. Can you think of anybody who can go tomorrow and tell the police the fire at Forest Corner wasn't an accident at all? I... I can. No, you can't. Why can't I? Well, I'm up against a very serious problem I am. But the answer to it is simple as pie to a fella like me. Simple as pie. She isn't going to be the only one found tomorrow in the fire at Forest Corner. Aren't you frightened? You ought to be. Don't you think I'll do it? I know you will. I just can't realize it. You know, when I told you all about myself just now, I made up my mind then about you. That's what I am, see. I make up my mind to do a thing, and I do it. I... What's that light in there? What light? There's something in this room holding a flashlight. It can't be in this room. It must be a light in the wood. It can't be. Look, there, the window. Somebody's watching the bungalow. Nobody's watching. I'm the one that watches. They've got no call to watch me. I'll go out and tell them that and all. I'm the one who watches. They're trees. Hundreds of eyes back of each tree. Thousands of eyes. The whole world's on the track. What's that noise? Like a big wall falling over into the sea. They mustn't come in. You're looking at me as if you've never seen me before. I never have. Nobody has. You've stopped acting at last. You're real. Frightened. Like a child. They mustn't come in. Everything's slipping away. From underneath our feet. Can't you feel it? Starting slow and then hundreds of miles an hour. I'm going backwards. And there's a wind in my ears, a terrible blow and wind. Everything's going past me like telegraph poles. All the things I've ever seen, faster and faster. Backwards to the day I was born. I can see it coming to the day I was born. It's all right. You won't die. I'll tell them, I'll tell them I made you do it. I'll tell lies. I'll tell... Like this? Well, everything looks all right here. I'll tell you, we did hear her. Plain as plain. And we'd gone near a quarter of a mile. Plain as plain? Made my blood run cold. Danny, she screamed. Danny, where are you? Well, we'll soon find out. Now then... Oh, hello, Dan. Hello, sir. Second time today, eh? That's right, sir. How's the old lady? Oh, not so bad, thanks, Inspector. She's gone to bed. She says she didn't want to be disturbed. Smell of kerosene. Well, you know what she's like, Inspector? Very nervy these days. I'll just take a look in the bedroom, if you don't mind. I don't. Soon I got around the car and then she screamed for me. Danny, Danny, Danny, she screamed. Danny, she calls me. That's her pet name for Dan. That is, I... She's not there. I... I'll take a look in the sunroom. Yeah. I told her so then. I said it's dangerous. That's what it is. Having so much kerosene in the house. That kerosene. She shouldn't have had so much kerosene in the house. Well, now... Miss Crane, what are you doing here, Mayor? Inspector, I'm concerned... It's all right. I'm the fella. Anything I'm concerned in, I'd run all by myself. If there's going to be any questions on a public platform to answer, I'm going to do it by myself. Or not at all. I'll manage myself all right. I'll get you. You're like a bit of a limelight, eh? Well... Well, let's have a look at your hands, old boy, will ya? Sure. You'd better come along quietly. What's he doing? He's looking at himself in the mirror. This is the real thing, my boy. Acton. That's what she said, wasn't it? She was right, you know. I've been playing up to you, haven't I? I showed you a trick or two, didn't I? But this is the real thing. Come along, Mayor. Just coming. Do you have a cigarette? Sure. You know it's a funny thing. I want something now I've never wanted before in my whole life. A long walk. All by myself. Contrary, isn't it? You coming? But they'll get their money's worth at the trial. I'll hang in the end. They'll get their money's worth at the trial. You wait. You just wait and see. This is Robert Montgomery again. With very grateful thanks to you, Dame May Whitty, Heather Angel, Richard Ney, and Matthew Bolton for your superb performances in Night Must Fall. We all count your appearances here a distinct compliment. It was, of course, a great personal thrill to join you for tonight's play. Good night and thank you. Mr. Montgomery may soon be seen in the Universal International production, The Saxon Charm. Dame May Whitty's current picture is Columbia's Sign of the Ram. Heather Angel may soon be seen in Universal International's The Saxon Charm. Richard Ney's next picture is John of Lorraine. Night Must Fall by Amalyn Williams was adapted from the stage play by Robert L. Richards, was directed by Anton M. Lieder and produced by Robert Montgomery. Lud Glosskin is our musical director and conductor and Lucian Morrowak composes the original scores. Next week, here Dorothy Sayer's Suspicion on Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills. Suspends! Be sure to hear the new Shorty Bell show starring Mickey Rooney tomorrow Sunday night at 9.30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time over most of these stations. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.