 Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Miss Lily Palmer in Philomel Cottage, a suspense play produced, edited and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear. Suspense, Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A. Roma Wines, those better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans than any other wine, for friendly entertaining, for delightful dining. Tonight, in our suspense theatre, we celebrate the talents of two distinguished ladies. Our play is by Agatha Christie, England's number one suspense specialist, and our heroine is the distinguished continental star who has recently come to join our Hollywood film colony, Miss Lily Palmer. But before we ring up the curtain on tonight's play and on the performance of Miss Palmer, let me make a suggestion. Rich in tradition is the custom of bidding the old year farewell with champagne. And rich in rare taste pleasure is that custom when you say it with Roma. For brilliant bubbling Roma California champagne lends unforgettable distinction to your New Year's hospitality. And pale gold, sprightly dry Roma champagne, naturally fermented by the world-famed Charmont bulk process, is sparkling wine at its best. So make those golden moments live forever. Say it with Roma champagne. Roma champagne tastes better because the heritage of character that distinguishes Roma champagne begins with choicest grapes, carefully selected. Then Roma vintners ancient skill with the magic of necessary time and America's finest winemaking resources guide this great treasure to taste luxury. Finally, from the famed Roma champagne sellers to you comes Roma champagne, the finest in sparkling enjoyment. So welcome the new year with Roma, Roma champagne, golden masterpiece of Roma, America's greatest vintner. Yes, right now a glassful would be very pleasant as Roma wines bring you. Miss Lily Palmer as Alex Martin with Raymond E. Lewis as her husband Gerald in Philomel Cottage. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Philomel Cottage. What's that, Alex? Well, I was just reading the sign over the gate. What does Philomel mean? Why, you little foreigner, we've been here for three weeks and you still don't know. Philomel is another name for the bird that's supposed to sing only for lovers we've been hearing in every twilight. Nightingale. Of course. That sign Philomel Cottage is the main reason I wanted this place for us. Glad you bought it? Gerald, this was a 50-50 investment and you know it. Oh, 50-50. A thousand pounds from me and two from you. But we did have to have the place, didn't we? What an utterly hopeless romantic I'm married. Well, you can't get out of it now. Gerald, do you know what day today is? Today's the 13th. It's our anniversary, darling. We've known each other exactly a month. No, exactly 30 days. Oh, Gerald, really now. What is it, dear? Do you have that pain again? No. Gerald. No, it's just a little indigestion I think. Oh, darling, do you want me to get your meds? No. No. Well, there, it's 11.35. I'd better get out of the village. I want to get that camera equipped. And the human timetable walks through the garden gate. My dear, there's nothing wrong with system, even on a honeymoon. The sooner I go, the sooner I get back. Oh, come on, Gerald, forget your old photography. Why don't you stay and do some gardening? Be good for you. It's better for old George. He gets paid for it. He's not you again till Saturday and the place will go to rack and ruin. Over my dead body. Goodbye, dear. But don't walk too fast, dear. Remember last time? And be careful, darling. Be careful? Well, it had just slipped out. Be careful? I was swinging there on the garden gate, smiling out my happiness across a part of England that was as remote and placid as any you'd care to find. I wondered why I'd said such a ridiculous thing. If this were London, say that would have... London. And slowly my smile fell away. I knew then that the memory of that last week in London had never really been far from my mind. That and that last talk with Dick on the top deck of the bus to Falgar Square had never seen him like that before. Gerald Martin. I tell you, Alex, the man's a perfect stranger to you. You know nothing about him. I know that I love him. How can you know in a week? You've only met him. It doesn't take every once seven years to find out they're in love with a girl. That's meant for me, isn't it? Alex... It's no use. Alex, don't you know what it's been for me not being able to tell you? I couldn't. Not with the income I had. And then I decided I couldn't wait any more. And I was going to tell you anyway. Do you know what happened? I'm afraid I don't. Oh, yes, you do. The money you inherited. That money from your cousin and uncle, whoever it was. Well, I don't see what... You didn't think I was going to ask you to marry me then, do you? You didn't think I could live off your money? I'm sorry, Dick. Believe me, I am. But I... Well, it really doesn't matter now. One way or the other. Doesn't matter, does it? You can bet it matters to that mountain, chef. That's what he's after. You mark my words. He's after your money. Dick! It might interest you to know that Gerald has money of his own. Far more than I have. And more than I? Maybe that's the difference. I've had enough of this. I'm getting off at the next stop. Alex, please. All right. But let me tell you something. If you think I'm going to let Gerald cut me out and not do anything about it, you're very much mistaken. I'll catch up with him, do you hear? I'll catch up with him if it's the last thing I do. I'll catch up with him if it's the last thing I do. It was just... a heat of the moment outburst of hurt pride. I shook my head and... and... and shook it away. And then the telephone rang inside the cottage. Now, who could be calling? Could it be Gerald? Gerald had hardly had time to get beyond the turn and the road. He said, if he'd had another... another attack, maybe one of the villagers was calling to say that he'd... Hello? Alex, this is Dick. What? Oh, who... who did you say, Dick? Well, Alex, what's the matter with your voice? I wouldn't have known it. It's Dick. Dick, when... Where are you? I'm around to acquainted with your village pub. You mean you're here? Yes, I'm on a holiday doing a bit of fishing. Any objection to my looking up you two good people this afternoon? No, no, you mustn't. Well, Alex... I beg your pardon, of course I won't bother you. Oh, I'm... I'm sorry, Dick. I only meant that... we'd be away this afternoon. Won't you come this evening? Thanks very much, but I'll probably be away by then. It depends upon whether a pal of mine turns up or not. Goodbye, Alex, and best of luck. The long moment I stood quite still. Then I walked across the living room, and by the time I reached the side porch, I'd made up my mind. I would say nothing to Gerald about it. I stepped out into the garden and... Why, George, I thought we'd agreed that Saturday was your day here. Oh, well, there'd be a fair over to Squires on Saturday. And I said to myself, I says, Mr. and Mrs. Martin, they won't mind if I come for once on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday. Of course not, George. And then I thought, too, I might as well see you before you go away, so as to learn you wishes about the boxwood edges. Before I go away? Aye, to London tomorrow. Me? Going to London tomorrow? Where did you hear that? I met Mr. Martin down the village yesterday. He told me it was both going away to London tomorrow, and it was uncertain when you'd be back again. Oh, well, now, don't tell me that you and the masters disagreeing already. Oh, oh, naturally not. The strip just slipped my mind, George. Yes. I never could understand why anybody wanted to go up to London, though. Like Mr. Ames, what soldier this house? He went up there and to live mind you. And after fixing up this place like he did with tax all over everywhere, you're going to take a loss, I says, to him when I seen he put the place up for sale. It's not everyone is a love your fad for washing themselves in every room in the house like. But, George, he says, I'll get every penny at 2,000 pounds for this house. And by a gum he did. He got 3,000. 2,000? The sum he was asking was talked of at the time, and the very eye figured it was thought to be. No, George, you see, I gave to him. Well, it really was 3,000. Mr. Ames had the cheat to say 3,000 to you. Well, he didn't say it to me. He said it to... to my husband. Well, I reckon I'll do some spade in now. And the price was 2,000. As I strode on across the garden, I was conscious of a thin, vague thought struggling to make itself heard. Then abruptly it was gone. My eye had fallen upon a small, dark green object lying in the far-overside one of the flower beds. It was Gerald's diary. My husband's pocket diary. I picked it up and opened it. Then the entries with some amusement. Once again reminded of Gerald's enslavement at time and system. On page 21 there was an entry. April 14th. Mary Alex at St. Peter's Church, 2.30. And then I looked at today's date. Wednesday, May 13th. Only one thing was written there in red pencil. It said 6 p.m. What did it mean? At 6 p.m. And I... Something just... But this is ridiculous. What am I afraid of? Gerald is my husband. I love him. I trust him. But then I looked again at that cryptic entry. 6 p.m. Miss me, darling? Why wouldn't I? It's 3 o'clock and you've had time to buy out the whole village. Only the camera shot. Now if I don't have the best equipped dark room this side of London, if you're not careful, that dark room of yours is going to overflow the whole cellar. Oh, incidentally, here's something you've been watering the flowers with. Catch. Oh, my diary. Dropped it in the garden, didn't I? I know all your secrets now. Oh, not guilty. Oh, I'm not so sure. What about your resignation at 6 p.m. today? Oh, that. Well, you've caught me at last. It's a rendezvous with a very handsome young woman quite remarkably like you, in fact. Not at all. That's simply a reminder that I want you to help me develop some negatives this evening. At 6 o'clock? Well, I'll be getting dinner. We'll eat a light supper tonight. We might have just a sandwich or two and some coffee out on the porch. Before we work on the negatives, you mean? Yes, that'll be pleasant, won't it? You know something, Alex? I've never found anybody yet who could touch your coffee. No, really. And that covers Australia and Canada too. You and your mysterious past. What do you say then? No reason, I... Oh, Jared. I do wish I knew more about you. Alex, you're serious. Oh, I know, it's silly, but... Oh, darling, I've told you all about me, my boyhood in Sydney, my life in Canada. Oh, I see. You mean love affairs. Your women are all alike. Well, but there must have been other women. I don't mean that you're a blue beard or something, but... What? Blue beard? Just put your mind on such a subject anyway, and I've mentioned it before. Oh, I don't know, Jared. I... you know, I've been rather upset all day. I imagine I can thank old George for that. The gardener, you mean? Well, he has some ridiculous idea we were going away to London. He said you told him, sir. What'd you say him? He came to work today instead of Saturday. Old fool. What, Jared? Well, he is an old fool. I told him. Get the collar off. Oh, Jared! Jared, darling, lie down. Lie down here, and I'll get some water. Better? Oh, I'm so sorry, darling, getting you all upset about... Oh, just because the stupid old gardener... I made some weak joke to him by being off to London in the morning. I've taken it seriously, or else he didn't hear properly. You straightened him out, I suppose? Well, hardly. You know what a gossip he is. I didn't want the whole village to think my husband was leaving me in the dark about his plans. Are you all right, darling? You told him we were going there? Naturally. Yes, of course. I'm sorry you were placing that kind of a situation down here. Don't suppose you ran into anybody else today? This far from the world, Jared. Hmm. Well, it is very likely, isn't it? Jared... It's not another word. You aren't yourself now. That's quite plain. And I want you to have a little rest, little nap. You'll be right as rain by six o'clock. Must you do those photographs tonight? You don't see it. My dear, when one sets a time to do something, one should stick to it. That's the only way to get through one's work. All right, up with you, upstairs to your bed, Mel. Oh, well, very well, dear. I'll be getting things arranged, Ms. Dunn. I went upstairs to my room. I told myself that there was no basis. No basis, whatever, for my state of mind. And still the turmoil, the doubt, the odd, unaccountable sense of dread persisted and grew and grew until quite clearly. I knew what I must do. Knew I must find some testimony to my husband's past. Something to reassure me. And strangely, I had remembered that single lock drawer in Gerald's bureau. I tipped out to the door at the head of the stairs, opened it, and entered my husband's room. The key. If only I could find the key to that lock drawer. But there was none in sight. The closet, and then his coat pockets. And then they had my feet. They owned the floor. I saw it. Looked down, a small packet of letters tied with a light blue ribbon. And when I saw the uppermost envelope, my face flushed with shame. They were my own letters, love letters written to Gerald before we were married. And there was nothing else in the drawer. Just a roll of ancient faded newspaper clippings. My glance at the top clipping. It was from an American paper. It featured the trial of one Charles Lemaître and notorious Swindler and bigger messenger. A skeleton had been found beneath the floor of his house and most of the women he'd married had never been heard of again. And another of the clippings described Lemaître's behavior and courtes' interest in the cameras of news photographers, his sensational escape from prison. And another displayed his picture. Long bearded, scholarly looking fellow. Reminded me of someone. I glanced at the caption beneath the picture. Modern blue beard. Modern blue beard. My eyes went back to the picture. And in a flash I saw the resemblance. I ran through the other clippings. Dates had been found in the man's pocket diary. Dates, it was contended when he'd done away with his victims. He was an amateur photographer. He was from Sydney, from Canada. He was subject to heart attacks. He was... He was Gerald. Dick had tried to warn me. Dick had been near me that morning. And I turned him away. It was then that I noticed the sound. There was a pipe in the corner running up through the room. From below near its base something was striking that pipe as though someone were... as though someone were digging. I knew then that Charles Lemaître was preparing the dark room for the latest one of his victims. Six o'clock. Six o'clock. Less than an hour from now. All the jigsaw pieces shot into place. The money paid for the house. My money! My money only! The bonds I'd entrusted to his keepings. And then suddenly I heard the quiet. The digging had stopped. I escaped from that house at once before he came out. The clippings back in the drawer. Don't lock it. Don't lock it. Don't bother. Just get away. I rushed to the door. Out on the hall and... I was just trying to find your nail file. Were you, dear? There's nothing you look so guilty about now, is it? Better come on down getting late, you know. Gerald, I... You'll just have time to make the coffee and sandwiches before we do the pictures, that is. I'll be right down, darling. You really mustn't delay, must we? Coming, Alex? Very well. Oh, that's better. Never mind, Gerald. Why, Alex? How cold you are. Cold? Yes. Yes, I am, rather. Well, I will soon pass away, I'm sure. Hurry along, dear. Hurry along. Well, yes, into the kitchen. Alex, what is the matter? Oh, nothing. I'll be... I'll be all right. The... the kitchen. Yes. Yes, I'll fix her something in a second. Now, you just sit here in the living room and... No, no, no, the porch. That'll be more comfortable, won't it? I'll be right with you. Splendid, Alex. I'll just... Why, no, of course not. What, Gerald? I'll rotten of me not to have suggested it. Since you're feeling a bit under par, you can probably do with some help. I'll come with you. I knew then that some way, somehow I must get word to dick. The possibility that he might be gone by now, I just put out of my mind. No more panic. No more panic. When I carried the coffee out on the porch, I glanced at the clock on the mantel. It was ten minutes till six. Pity you're so abstracted, my dear. What? Why do you say that? Because you're missing the loveliest sight you're ever likely to see again. Look out beyond the garden. The first soft shades of twilight. Twilight over Philamel cottage. I say, Alex, you are below par. What do you mean? First time I've ever slipped on the coffee, you must have tossed in the entire canister. Well, I'll be more careful after this. Oh, dear. That reminds me. Alex, where are you going? Nothing to get excited about, Gerald. I forgot to order things for tomorrow. I'm just going to phone the grocer. The grocer? This time of evening? Yes, he generally stays late on Wednesdays. I'll be right back, darling. Don't shut the door, Alex. Oh, it keeps the insects out of the living room. You're not going to... You're not afraid I'm going to make love to the grocer, are you? Operator. Operator. Get me the trevelous arms. Operator, get me the trevelous arms, please. Hurry. Hello? Mr. Mr. Wendiford. Mr. Wendiford, please. Will you? What? What? You don't know if he's still there? Oh, well, see, won't you? It's most important. Don't let me disturb you. Oh, well, darling, you do. I hate anyone listening when I telephone. But I do, Gerald, truly. You're quite sure you're really calling the grocer? What is it? What? There's a major effect. I'm not sure. What? What I mean is, I'm afraid I've got the wrong person, a perfect stranger. I don't understand. Someone I know nothing about. You know nothing about? Then why don't you hang up? Here, who's at the end of that wire? Let me see if... Hello? Hello? It's dead. All right, my dear. Might as well get started. We're late now. Late? Well, for further pictures... It's precisely three minutes past six. Why, Gerald, it won't be six o'clock. For eight minutes, look. At the clock, they're on the mantel. I don't go by that relic. I go by my own wristwatch. Gerald, listen. Stop pacing and listen to me. I don't feel up to it tonight. I'm tired and I'm upset. Alex, I promise you, you won't be a bit tired after it's over. No, I'm not going to wait one minute longer. I won't do it. I'm not coming with you. No, I'm not coming with you. No, I'm not coming with you. No, I'm not coming with you. I'm not coming with you. I'm not coming with you. I'm not coming with you. I'm not coming with you. I've got something to tell you. I've got something to confess. Confess? Yes. Yes, to confess. Something I ought to have told you before now. I've had my secret past, too. What? A former lover, I suppose. In a way, but something else. You'd call it, yes, yes. You'd call it a crime. A crime? You? I don't believe it. You better sit down, Gerald, there. Now, I told you I'd never been married before and that was not entirely true. There was a marriage when I was 22 in Vienna. He was an elderly man with a little property. Go on, go on. I induced him to ensure his life in my favor. At one time, I was a nurse with access to a number of poisons. There's one poison, a white powder. You know something about poisons, perhaps? No, I know very little about them. Oh, well, this one is absolutely untraceable. Any doctor would give a certificate of heart failure. Go on, I want to hear. I always made his coffee for him. One evening, I put a pinch of this poison in his cup. I remember that evening. How very much like this it was, how peaceful. He gasped a little and tried to move from his chair, but couldn't and presently, he died. How much was the insurance money? About 2,000 pounds. I speculated and lost it. It was over two years before I married again, and he was a much younger man, quite well off. There was a will in my favor. He liked me to make his coffee too, just as my first husband had done. I made very good coffee. Alex? It was the same long about Twilight. The coffee? Yes, it was the same as the other. He just sat there in his chair. The coffee? He died. Our village doctor pronounced it heart failure. My husband did have a weak heart, you see, that helped a great deal. Alex, listen. That netted me over 4,000 pounds. I didn't speculate. The coffee? That's why I tasted that way. You devil, you poisoned me. You poisoned me. I'll kill you. Yes, I poisoned you, and already the poison is working. You can't move from your chair. You're lying. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. Constable, go see what's happening in that room. Why, sir? Right. Darling, tell me. Any longer. You came just in time. You... You understood on the phone, didn't you? Poor darling. When I heard you say you'd got the wrong person, someone knew nothing about it. Excuse me, sir, but... What did you find, Constable? A man sitting in a chair, sir. Art trouble, it looks like, sir. And... Yes? Well, sir. He's dead. Your husband, ma'am? Well, you might say, a perfect stranger. He was just sitting in his chair. And presently, he died. I married her to overnight Hollywood stardom, Miss Lily Palmer. Lily, your performance tonight certainly qualifies you as one of Hollywood's reigning queens of suspense. Well, thank you, Ken. But how can I accept another throne I'm already married to the king of Siam? Your what? Don't you remember? It's my husband who plays the Siamese monarch on the screen. Of course. And for your majesty's entertaining pleasure, this New Year's Eve, is a little present from Roma, America's greatest vintner, a gift basket of Roma California Champagne. Did you say little present? I call Roma Champagne a magnificent gift. True, Lily. And your friends will call Roma Champagne magnificent, too. For pale gold, sprightly dry Roma Champagne adds a touch of continental smartness to New Year parties. Naturally fermented by world-fame charmant bulk process, brilliant bubbling Roma Champagne is sparkling wine at its finest. So make those golden moments live forever. Say it with Roma Champagne. Say it with Roma, I will Ken. And Lily, to bring you the finest in sparkling enjoyment, Roma begins with choicest grapes, especially selected for fine champagnes. Then ancient Roma skill and the magic of necessary time guide this grape treasure to rare taste luxury in America's finest champagne cellars. That's why those who know Champagne chose Roma Champagne, golden masterpiece of America's greatest vintner. So welcome the New Year smartly. Say it with Roma Champagne. Right, Ken. Good night. Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Mr. Mark Stevens as star of Suspense. Produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. In the coming weeks, Suspense will present such stars as Dan Durier, Alfred Hitchcock, and others. Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense, Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills. Suspense is broadcast from coast to coast and to our men and women overseas by shortwave and through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. This is CBS, the broadcasting system.