 Now, Roma Wines, present. Suspense. Black Path of Fear, starring Brian Donleve. Suspense is 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... Suspense. This is the Man in Black. Here for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. Who tonight from Hollywood bring you a star, Mr. Brian Donleve. And so with the performance of Mr. Donleve as Bill Scott in the Cornell Woolrich bestseller, The Black Path of Fear. We again hope to keep you in... Suspense. It was our first day in Havana. We'd taken a hack, an open, force-drawn carriage and spent the afternoon driving around to see the sights. She was always crazy about jade. So in Chinatown we stopped in a little curiosity shop the driver steered us to. We bought a few gadgets there and started back towards the main part of the town. It was getting dark and she snuggled up close to me in the carriage. It's been a wonderful day, Scotty. Yeah. I was scared at first. A couple of times I thought I saw him in the crowds there in Chinatown. I guess it was just my imagination. Sure it was. He wouldn't try any rough stuff this far from his home base. He may be a little Caesar around the nightclubs back in Florida but here in Cuba he's just another alien who'd better not get caught packing a rod. He said he'd get me if I ever left him. No matter where I went. Well, he'd send us a radiogram wishing us luck. Yes, that's what worries me. He didn't say which kind of luck. I told you. Hey, what's this, driver? A sloppy Joe, senior. Big attraction of Havana. Oh, of course. Slappy Joe's. Want to go in, darling? Why not? We can only die once. Oh, I paid the coachman and we went into sloppy Joe's. The place was jammed to the sidewalk line and so noisy you couldn't hear yourself think. It was like a football scrimmage when you moved and like sardines in a can when you stood still. Suddenly the crowd divided in front of us like the Red Sea and a little photographer came through using an old-fashioned tripod for a battering ram. He set up his camera and pointed it in our direction. The senior and the lady would like a picture for to show their friends back in the estate. No. Oh, please, Scotty. We've never had a picture taken together. Together? With 40,000 people jammed up against us on all sides? Well, instead maybe you come to my studio. Calle Barrios. Calle Barrios is not far. I'll go on. Shoot it here. Go ahead. Oh, make a pose, please. Move your lungs. Hold it. No. That is all. I have the picture. Well, he's taking this now, darling. Oh, come on, honey. Everybody's looking at it. Don't rush me, Scotty. Give me time. What is it? Why are you so limpy? I knew we would make it. What do we care? Part of the night's better than none of all. Just stay with me a minute. What take long? Darling, what happened? What happened? Scotty, it was the first picture we ever had taken together. Let me know how it turns out. Eve, darling. She's dead. She doesn't move anymore. Somebody do something, will you? She's been knifed right here in my arms. We're in sloppy joes. Murder that is to start a man, twisting and turning down the black path of fear. Brian Don Levy is our star this evening. You have heard him in the prologue to tonight's tale of suspense. One gathering place of fashionable people is the charming Pan American Club. A dinner party is in progress, and the Cuban host has just risen to return a compliment which has been paid him by a guest from the United States. Lifting his glass, he says, Thank you, my friends. Thank you also for telling us about the perfect climate and soil of California, from which come these delightful Roma wines. Now we can understand how such perfection is possible, such magnificent quality as we enjoy in Roma wines. Well, such praise of Roma wines in foreign lands can only mean that they are truly magnificent in quality. But remember, you here in the United States can enjoy these distinguished wines at remarkably low cost. Only pennies a glass. Roma wines bring you a unique combination of California's perfect soil and climate, age-old winemaking skill, plus modern tests and controls which make Roma so constant in quality, so uniformly fine. Discover for yourself the delightful flavor and goodness which have made Roma wines America's largest selling wines. Ask for R-O-M-A, Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. And now it is with pleasure that we bring back to our soundstage Mr. Brian Donlevy, who in the person of Bill Scott continues his narrative of The Black Path of Fear, tonight's tale of suspense. Havana is a fast town for anything, love, life, and death too. A minute ago, I'd been half of a honeymoon couple getting their first picture snapped by a little Cuban photographer in Sloppy Joe's. Now, I was alone with a corpse in an empty saloon, but that didn't go on for long either. There were cops there in half a minute, and finally a detective. This woman is dead. Yeah, I know. You were the man with her? I was the man with her. Your name? Scott, Bill Scott. Mr. Scott, how long have you been in Havana? Four hours. You quarreled with this girl here in this bar? No, no. You were traveling together? Yes, that's right. The name on her tour's card is Mrs. Edward Spanelli. Yeah. Where is Mr. Spanelli? Not where I'd like him to be, which is roasting. You are not being very cooperative, Mr. Scott. Okay, okay, I'll tell you the whole story. She was a singer in a nightclub in Tampa, Florida. Spanelli owned the nightclub. She was a killer. He gave her the choice between getting killed and marrying him. So she married him. And how did you meet her? I worked for Spanelli, too. I drove his car. You are not a chauffeur by profession, are you, Mr. Scott? No, no. I took the job to get her away from him. Is there anything wrong in that? The murder weapon, this knife. What do you know about it? What are you driving at? Is this your knife, Mr. Scott? No, but it's a pretty close match. I bought one just like it this afternoon in a curiosity shop. Wait a minute, I'll show you. I've got it in my pocket, right? Cuidado, I got some oil. Wait a minute. Don't get so excited. All right, it's in that pocket, right there. Fish it out yourself, if you want to. There is no knife here. But there's got to be. It was a knife with a jade handle. Like this one with a monkey carved on it. But the monkey on the one I bought was holding its hands over its ears. There were three of them in the shop. You know, the type, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. I only know that you bought a knife this afternoon. That you no longer have a knife and that the knife has been used to stop this woman. But it's not the same knife. I tell you, I can prove it. Give me a chance to prove it, will you? All right, Mr. Scott, I will give you a chance. So we went back to the shop where I'd bought the knife. Back to Chinatown, Inspector Acosta. That was the Cuban detective's name. Questioned the old duck who sold it to me. You remember this man buying something in here this afternoon? Yes, gentlemen, buy knife, ornamental knife. Knife with jade handle. Describe the jade handle. Oh, jade handle, have monkey. We know that. Describe the monkey. Oh, pretty sure. Oh, monkey hiding eyes. So see no evil. You're crazy. What's the matter with you? What are you trying to do to me? I bought the one holding its ears. You know it. This man's life may depend on what you are saying. But you are absolutely sure. Come by trees. First one is sold to this gentleman. Almost still gone. Can't show you. Can lie in your teeth. Listen, Acosta, so what if he shows you the set with that one missing? He's probably got a hundred sets in the storeroom. Only one set important. Can't show customs invoices. How did this man and this woman act when they came to the shop? Oh, lady, act scared. Very scared. I told you, she was afraid Spinelli was going to have her bumped off. He did it. And this guy has been paid to frame me. Can't you see that? I am sorry, Mr. Escort. But I must place you under arrest for the murder of Mrs. Eve, this Spinelli. As we threaded our way back through Chinatown in the police car, I thought the whole thing over. I came to a decision. The car fitted in the narrow lane like a cork in a bottle. But it should come to a halt in front of the door of a building. And finally it did. Just that. I bolted. They came after me fast. The door I ducked into opened into a pitch-black hallway. I groped around until I found a flight of stairs and I started climbing. And shoot! I ducked back in the shadows. I turned the knob at the nearest door. I tossed my hat over at the foot of the roof ladder to make it look as if I'd lost it by climbing. I backed through the door into a room. In the dark room, I stood very still and listened. I was separating to case the roof along the block. I was safe for a few minutes anyway. I tried to figure out where I was. The room. The dark room. I strained my eyes into the blackness then. Something cold and metallic found the side of my neck. It was the business edge of a knife blade. A light snapped on. Bueno? I, uh, no hablo español. No se mueva. Oh, take it easy, take it easy. Will you, I can't talk your language. Put that knife down, will you? Te quiero ester aquí. Pol... let's sigh. The standsy. Understand? Comprane? Look, out there on the stairs. I don't know how to say it. Polizia. They're after me. Cops. Cops. Why didn't you say so before? I hate cops. Will you talk English? I ought to have been in enough of your jails to take out naturalization papers. Hey, get over here. I do what I can for you. They're coming back. I better get out of here. Don't be a fool. There's 20 of them down in the street now. They sure must want you bad, Chico. They say I killed my girl. They say wrong. They say very wrong. Another man took her away from you? No. I took her away from another man. Ah, then any fool of a policeman knows you did not kill her. You never killed what does not belong to you. Only what does. You tell them that. Oh, here comes Pede. With me. Get into the car there. Cover yourself up. What? Do as I tell you. Take off that shirt. Don't stop for the buttons. Tear it off. Now then, face the wall. Wait a minute. What are you doing? Keep perfectly still. Don't rub against the covers. See? Now. Thank you, sir. Have you seen a tall American man? I have not seen anyone. Who is he? My husband. My husband. His name is Oslo. He is very sick. He flies. He flies? Yes, flies. He goes to quarantine. It's true. He flies. Thank you, sir. Good night. Good night. What was all that about? Shh. What are all these red spots on me? I put them there with lipstick. I told the cops you were my husband to have smallpox. And they believed it? Why not? I showed them the quarantine sign on the door. Manolito. That was my man. He died of smallpox in this room. Oh, do not be alarmed. It has been disinfected. Oh, let's see. Thanks. But why did you go to Pat for me like that anyway? I know. Different reasons. Flowers on a grave, I guess. Flower? What do you mean? It's hard to explain. It's my way of doing something for somebody that's not around anymore, I guess. It's the only way I have. I do not know any other way. You see, I know what it is to lose someone you love too. Just like you. Manolito? He got smallpox in jail. He came back here to me to die. Hey, what is your name, Huapo? Bill Scott. It's Scott? No, no, no. Scott with an S. It's too hard to say. I call you Huapo. Huapo. That means handsome. Well, thanks. What do I call you? Around this neighborhood they call me Medianoche. Medianoche? It means midnight. Okay, that way. Okay, midnight. They call me that because now I always hang around late by myself since he's gone. Well, midnight I don't know what to say to you except thanks. Denada, flowers on a grave? Yeah. Well, I guess I'd better get going. What do you want to throw away all my hard work for? They spot you at the next corner? I can't hang around here for the rest of the night. Was the matter with it here? You know, if I could only get hold of that photographer. Photographer? Yeah, I was a photographer in Sloppy Joe's. He was snapping a picture of us just when it happened. Oh, you think maybe in this picture is the man who killed your sweetheart? Yeah, I'm pretty sure of it. Think, Huapo, what do you remember about this photographer? He is just a typical cheap photographer of tourists. Wait a minute, wait a minute. He said something about having a studio somewhere near Sloppy's. Calle Barrios? That said Calle Barrios. Look, do you know this guy? A sailor's go there with the girls to get their pictures taken. His name is Pepe Campos. I've got to get that picture midnight. I'll have to risk it. One momentito. I first get you some other clothes. Here. I think this fits you. What? Manolito was one big sailor. And now listen, I tell you what to get from here over to the Calle Barrios, so maybe the police don't see you. You go down to the mouth of the alley. You turn to the right. Just a few steps from there. It was so dark, I almost had to feel my way along the streets. Suddenly out of nowhere came a voice. There were two of them there. Keeping the alley covered. In fact, the way I had come, someone was coming toward me through the blackness. I waited there paralyzed. Que tal, Marinero? What? Out of your lonesome? Yeah. Yeah. Hey, you want a drink, sister? Well, look, walk close to me like this. Huh? Now, now, lean up closer. Get your face up under mine, honey. That's it. Perfection. That's the stuff. Now look, walk down this way with me. Just pass the corner. You said it, big boy. You said it. What do you want to drink, honey? You said it. That's good. Here's the turn. Goodbye, sister. I was afraid of yelling. I'd attract the cops, so I took off down the street, and then I ducked into the alley to catch my breath. I looked up. I saw a sign on the shop. Campos Retratos e Fotografias. At first, I didn't get it. Then, all of a sudden, I knew I was there. I opened the door and walked in. Senor. Look, you took a picture this evening of me and a lady in Sloppy Joe's. I want that picture. Now, look, there was trouble right afterwards. You know a lot of noise, remember? See, see, I remember. I am just developing the pictures I have taken today. Come with me. This is my dark room. The very latest equipment, Kodak. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but where's that picture? Oh, right here, in the back. It's beginning to come through. Yeah. Yeah, that's us. Oh, someone leans over the lady's shoulder, no? Yeah. Yeah, let's have some more light on the subject, will you? Did you see someone who knows, senor? Yeah. It's someone I know, all right? His name is... Never mind the name, Scotty. I'll introduce myself. Spinelli. Stand over against the wall, Scotty. You too. Well, I'm glad you found this picture, Scotty. I was kind of nervous about having a thing like this floating around. You can understand my feelings. You surprised me, Spinelli. I didn't think you even had the guts to stab a woman in the back without your gorillas around to protect you. Don't make me angry, Scotty. I'm in a bad mood. I didn't know you were smart like you are, either, Spinelli. I apologize. You know, that was a cute trick, hiring a cab driver to steer us into that shop in Chinatown, but what I still can't figure out is how you switched those knives. I didn't. I still have the knife you bought. I first got out of your pocket. Now I'm going to give it back to you. Would you like to see it first? There. It's pretty in it. You've always had a knife, Jades. This is definitely the best of the three. It's pretty to spoil such a pretty knife, but the revolver, that makes too much noise. Yeah, I think I'll use the knife on you, too. I like things symmetrical. Like Romeo and Juliet, ain't it? What's that? Don't move, Scotty. Guapo, Guapo, are you in here? His sweetheart not did an hour and already has another. Midnight, get out of here quick. This man is a killer. Oh, I'm not afraid of you, big boy. Keep away from me and don't try any funny business. Oh, my hombre, he was just like you. He talked very mean, but he don't hurt me. Not one little bit. I don't only talk, big sister. I got a job to do here. I'll talk to you when I shut your boyfriend's trap for good. My boyfriend? Are you kidding? Go ahead, finish him off. He took a powder on me. I come after him only to collect. On the cuff, huh? Oh, Scotty, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. On the cuff. Yeah, you are rich, huh? You've got big diamonds. Say, I like you, Mr. Stop mooching around. I tell you, this guy's a killer. Watch out. Ah, shut up. Huh? How about his big boy? Come on. Stick around, baby. I can use talent like yours. Kiss me, big boy. Later, later. Now, or I yell very loud. Make big trouble. You're pretty hot stuff, ain't you? You don't know the half of it, big boy, huh? Come here. Dirty little stupid. Hi, Spinelli. I've got the gun now. Scotty, I was only throwing a scare into you. Why, I would have knocked you off by the way. That's what I meant to do, wouldn't I? What's it worth to you to stay alive, Spinelli? Scotty, $100,000. In the bank, right here in the van. Just let me go over that table there. Check to bearer, no strings. Spinelli, I want to eat back again. $200,000. Chicago account thrown in. A quarter of a million, Scotty. I want Eve. You can't bring the dead to life, Scotty, but you can be rich. Kill me and you get nothing but a murder rap. The picture don't show me sticking a knife in it. The knife don't mean anything. Chin and the driver never talk. You're just fixing up a nice murder rap for yourself, Scotty. Shut up. Stand over under the lights, Spinelli. I don't want to miss. Scotty, don't do it, Scotty. Scotty. Come to give myself up for the murder of Ed Spinelli. What are you going to do about it, Inspector? About what? What? About what I just told you, the murder. I don't speak English so good. I often miss hearing things that I say, especially when they are said too fast. All right, I can say it slower. I just killed a man named Ed Spinelli. My English stinks today. I don't understand. You don't understand? I said... I don't know what you said. If I should get word from the commissioner, the old man named Scott for murder, that would be different. It would be in my language, unless that should happen and it hasn't pleased me. You might not come in here and mumbling in this English of yours that I don't understand. But, Senora Scott, this girl, this media noche. Midnight? What about her? Do you know where she is? That girl, that woman. She's been raising kin in my jail all night, all day yesterday. What? What she charged with? My foolish over his questioner and then they didn't know any better that they put down some charge other than the book. Senora Scott, we have been stalked with her ever since. She's like a hurricane. I'll agree with you there. Senora Scott, if you have not enough to bail her out, I'll pay another my own pocket, anything to get her out. It's over. Idea where we're headed for? The Sluffy Joes. The feet of an American in Havana walk always in the direction of the Sluffy Joes. No? Yeah. Yeah, I can hear it already. I'd like to ask in for a drink, Midnight? No, Waffle. You go in alone. Oh, won't you just have one with me, please? No. There's someone waiting for you in there. Oh, that's crazy, Midnight. I don't know anybody in Havana except you. Someone is waiting for you in there, Waffle. How do you say flowers on a grave? No? In Sluffy Joes? Love makes any place beautiful. Even in Sluffy Joes. Go on, Waffle. Buy her a drink at the bar and tell her how that picture you took together turned out. You promised you would, remember? How do you tell something to somebody that's dead? In your mind, Waffle, where she will always be. I'll try and tell her, Midnight. I'll tell her about you, too. No, no, she will be jealous. Oh, no, not when I tell her. Oh, you do not know women, Waffle. Well, maybe not. Well... Adios, Waffle. Goodbye, Midnight. And so closes the Black Path of Fear, starring Brian Dunleavy. Tonight's study in Suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear. Have you discovered the secret of lovers of fine food? Namely, how good wine makes even the simplest most inexpensive meals really exciting events. Well, the next time you serve any of the red meats, stews, fish or poultry, place on the table a well-chilled bottle of Roma California Table Wine. Delicious sautern, hearty burgundy or tasty claret. You will be amazed at how much Roma wine in bringing out all the appetizing goodness of even the simplest foods adds to the pleasure of the meal. How it makes even a simple meal a feast. And remember, Roma wines cost you only pennies a glass full. So any home can afford the pleasure they give to everyday living. Ask for R-O-M-A, Roma wines, America's largest selling wines, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is Brian Dunleavy. Our government has asked us to bring to the attention of women listeners a very important message. In spite of our wonderful victories we must remember that the war is by no means over or nearly over. Hundreds of thousands of women must get into war work this year. You are desperately needed, both because you are admirably fitted for these jobs and because you represent the only adequate source of labor to replace the men in the armed forces and in the heavy war industries. Go to the United States Employment Service Office and ask for information about the kinds of full-time part-time jobs for which you are best suited. Brian Dunleavy will soon be seen in the starring role of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Technicolor production and American romance. Next Thursday, same time, Olivia de Havilland and Reginald Gardner will be your stars of suspense. Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. PBS The Columbia Broadcasting System.