 AutoLite and its 96,000 dealers present suspense. Tonight, AutoLite brings you Mr. Edward G. Robinson in A Case of Nerves, a suspense play produced and edited by William Spear. Say, Hap, where'd you get that medal? Won it at the carnival last night, Harlow. Shot 10 clay pigeons out of 10. Well, that's real firing, Hap. Sure as an AutoLite spark plug. Yes, I qualify as an expert, eh, Wilcox? Well, Hap, the clay pigeon field is a bit limited. But take AutoLite engineers, you see, they design and build AutoLite spark plugs to work as a team with the coil distributor and all the other important parts of the ignition system. That means AutoLite spark plugs are ignition engineered by experts and they're world famous for quality and dependability. I guess that's why AutoLite spark plugs are unexcelled in quick-starting, smooth performance and gas mileage. Right, and these same AutoLite engineers develop the famous AutoLite resistor spark plug, one of the greatest advances in spark plug design for automotive use in the past 20 years. So friends, see your friendly AutoLite spark plug dealer tomorrow. Have him replace worn-out spark plugs with ignition engineered AutoLite spark plugs. Whether you choose the resistor type or the regular type, you can't buy a better spark plug for your car because you're always right with AutoLite. And now with a case of nerves and the performance of Edward G. Robinson, AutoLite hopes once again to keep you in suspense. I got off the train to Alito and walked through the station to the street. I passed up the waiting taxi and went aboard a bus. Patsy Piper's a lucky to remember you and I couldn't take a chance on that. I hadn't paid any attention to the bus. I didn't know what the line was or where it was going. It didn't make any difference. I didn't know to Alito very well anyway. I watched out the window and I came to a likely neighborhood I got off. Strange unfamiliar quarter of the city and yet familiar because every city has neighborhoods like it, drab faceless houses looking almost alike. And then most of them, drab men and women anxious to make a dollar by renting a room. Now this here is a nice room. It's the best one I got. There's your windows on the other side. There's a nice soft bed. I'll take it. How long you figure on staying? Oh, just overnight. I'll pay you now. Well, that's two dollars, please. Yeah. Oh. It's not a mister. Are you sick? Yes, sir. Yes, I'm very sick. Is there a doctor near? Hey, you are sick. Yeah, I think I'll go to bed. That doctor. Oh, yeah, yeah. There's Dr. Martin just around the corner. He's young, but he's good. Well, would you call him for me, please? Ask him to come right up. Oh. Yeah, sure. Right away. Come in. I'm Dr. Martin. You're Mr.... My name is Wentworth, doctor. James Wentworth. Oh, yes. I just got into town. I'm afraid I'm in for my old trouble again. Oh, what's that, Mr. Wentworth? Tri-Gemino neuralgia. Huh. Bad attacks before. Just where is the pain? Here. And here. Oh, yes. Now, if you... No, no, no, no. Don't touch it. It's like a red hot iron, even the tractor bear. I know. Really, you should have that nerve operated. Yes, I'm going to have it down when I get home. Oh, and where's that? Cleveland. Cleveland. I know a lot of men there. Who's your doctor? Uh, Dr. Fletcher. Lawrence Fletcher. No, no. Andrew. And Andrew R. Fletcher. Hmm. I don't recall him. But he's waiting to clear up a heart condition before he operates. Oh, yes. Very sound. Now, how did this attack come on? Oh, the way they always do. I was shaving and I touched the nerve with the razor. Oh, yes. The trigger point is very typical. Well, that doesn't help me when that nerve starts jumping. When will you be back in Cleveland? Not three days. I'll give you a prescription. This is morphine, quarter grain. You've taken it before? Yes, that's the only thing that gives me any relief. Well, then I don't have to tell you about it. I'll drop this off at the drugstore and have them send it up. Well, thank you, doctor. Tell them to hurry. And I'd better give you a shot right now. Hmm? Oh, uh... You know, doctor, I think the pain isn't so bad now. I don't like to take more than I have to. Oh, well, if you're sure you can get along... Well, yes, yes, I can make out all right. I'll hold the tablets until later. I pay Dr. Martin, young Dr. Martin of Toledo, and he left. I waited for the package to arrive from the drugstore. Then I stayed the night so the landlady wouldn't think it was peculiar. In the morning I got on the train and went back to Cleveland to the hospital with the little white tablets in my pocket. With the little white tablets with which I would kill Louise. It had been so simple to deceive the young, impressionable doctor. So simple to counterfeit the symptoms that I'd seen Louise react to for four years now. I would keep her in bed for four years more. Great. 20. I'd live with a tick-doll or a painful nerve so long. Too long, too long indeed. Dr. Bamchew had come every day now. Unless I had to be on hand day and night to combat Louise's attacks to quiet the raging nerve with morphine. This was not for long. In my pocket were the little white tablets that would bring her peace. I went into the hospital kitchen. Oh, hello, Mr. Becker. Oh, hello, Nellie. I'd like to bring Mr. Becker a milk. Of course. I just gave it a touch of the fire to take the chill out. I've missed you. Been away I hear, Mr. Becker. Yes, I had to go out of town. And you asked me it's a good thing for you. You needed a change. The hospital day after day was telling on you. Oh, I don't think so. Yes, it was. I could see. You're a good man, Mr. Becker. Believe me, it's like a saint you're bearing your trials. Not like some others I could mention. Well, isn't the milk ready, Nellie? It is, it is. There we are. It's full of sugar. That's the way Mrs. Becker likes it. Thank you, Nellie. Give Mrs. Becker my regards. Yes, I'll do that, Nellie. Now it was just a matter of stepping into an alcove on the way to Louise's room, dropping the white tablets into the warm milk. Sugar would mask the bitter taste. Oh, here, an ideal spot. Mr. Becker. Huh? Oh, nurse. But did I startle you? I didn't mean to. No, no, of course not. Oh, bring me Mrs. Becker a milk. I'll see. Well, I'm going up there myself. May I keep you company? Yes, of course, of course. The nurse's white walked beside me to Louise's room. My chance for the night was gone. Another night of pain for Louise. I felt a sudden anger at the nurse. And a moment later, I realized how unreasonable it was. It was hard to be angry with anyone so hurt, so alive, so beautiful. Even in her severe uniform, she managed to remain feminine and provocative. It was always a flower at her shoulder. Today, it was a sprig of flowering dogwood. And her quiet, unprofessional perfume was an exciting tingle in my nostrils. And then, we were in front of Louise's door. Hello, Mrs. Becker. Look what I brought you. Albert, dear. Hello, darling. Oh, I'm so glad you're back, darling. I missed you. I missed you, too. You never forget, dear Albert. How was your day? Just fine. Wasn't it, Miss White? Oh, yes, Mrs. Becker. A very good day, all things considered. Well, I'm glad. I brought you something else, Louise. Oh, the locket. Oh, thank you, Albert, for remembering. What a nurse, isn't it beautiful? Oh, oh, where it is. It's an old piece, isn't it? It belonged to my mother. I had to hunt all over the house for it. Whatever gave you the sudden notion you wanted it anyway? I don't know. I've had a feeling I'll be joining Mother soon. Oh, Louise, please don't talk that way. Now, Mrs. Becker, you're going to be up on your feet before you know it. And that's almost enough talking tonight, Mr. Becker. No. Mrs. Becker, do you want me to leave a tablet for you? Yes, thank you, dear. Here you are. I hope you don't need to take it. Well, good night. Good night, Miss White. May I have a tablet? You've been taking it every night? Well, I try not to. But lately, the pain... Yes, I know, I know. Oh, Albert, dear, you deserve something better than this. Oh, please, please, dear. Now, your nose to the grindstone to pay for the doctors and nurses. Oh, don't worry. A little handball at the club and in this room. Yes, but you're going to get better, dear. You must believe the doctor. That's what Pauline says. Pauline? The nurse. Oh, yes, yes, yes, of course. Oh, is she looking out for you all right? She's a dear. And very pretty, don't you think? Pretty? Yes, I suppose so. I have noticed. I used to be pretty. You used to embarrass me sometimes the way you looked at me. But you're still beautiful, Louise. You'll always be. I'm sorry, dear. I won't talk like that again. You... You'd better go now, Albert. I'll try to sleep. Yes. Well, good night, dear. I'll see you tomorrow. Mr. Baker. Oh. Miss White. I thought you'd gone. I wanted to talk to you, Mr. Baker. Yes. Mrs. Baker. She worries me. Her mental state is very low. You heard how she talked about her mother, the locket. Yes, I heard. She needs something. I don't know what to snap her out of this mood. I just thought I'd mention it to you. Yes, thanks. Oh, uh, where are you going? To put the morphine away. You know, I don't see why Dr. van Tuer doesn't give her more of that stuff. She needs it. Yet you ration it out as though it were poison. Well, it is poison, Mr. Baker. That's why I'm particularly careful about Mrs. Baker. But you don't think she'd actually... Well, usually the ones who talk about it don't do it, Mr. Baker, so I wouldn't worry. Good night. Wait a minute. Yes? Miss White. Pauline, isn't it? Why, yes, I didn't think you knew. Well, would you mind, uh, when we were alone, if I called you Pauline? Well, I'd like it. Thanks, well, you know, this is, uh, an awful thing to ask, but... Well, you know it's been pretty lonely for me. Oh, yes, I know. That is, I can guess. Well, would you... Would you let me take you to dinner this evening? Why, thank you, Mr. Baker. I'd love it. I'm off duty at eight. Well, I'll pick you up then. And, uh, Pauline... Yes, Mr. Baker? My name, my name's Albert. At eight then, Albert. My heart sang. She was perfect. Had my poison, had my witnesses. Louise had said just the right things in their presence, talking about her locket, making her veiled hints at suicide. How beautifully everything fell into place. I started to the lobby door when I heard my name. Well, Baker, I say Baker. Oh, Dr. Van Tuur, how are you? Fine, fine. I want you to meet someone. This is Dr. Martin of Toledo. I looked at him. Of a man who stepped forward to shake hands with me. And my mouth went dry. This was Dr. Martin of Toledo who had given me my murder prescription. The eager, bumpious young man who's still there now looking straight into my eyes and saying, Hello. How's that bad nerve of yours? Auto Light is bringing you Edward G. Robinson in A Case of Nerves, tonight's production in Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills, Suspends. I heard my fortune told at the carnival too. Oh, that's all. What the gypsy see in the crystal ball, huh? Well, he said I would soon consult with an expert about... Ignition engineered auto light spark plugs? Yeah. Well, they're built by experts because auto light engineers are the experts who design and build complete ignition systems used as original factory equipment on many makes of America's finest cars. So naturally, they engineer auto light spark plugs to work as a team with the coil distributor and all the other important parts of the ignition system. You mean, of course, they know how to build ignition engineered auto light spark plugs that can't be beat for quick starting, smooth performance and gas mileage. Precisely. And it was these same auto light engineers who developed the famous Auto Light Resistor spark plug, one of the greatest advances in spark plug design for automotive use in the past 20 years. Oh, that gypsy had nothing on you, Wilcox. Well, friends, see your friendly Auto Light dealer tomorrow. Have him replace worn out spark plugs with world famous ignition engineered auto light spark plugs. Whether you choose the resistor type or the regular type, you can't buy better spark plugs for your car. Because you're always right with Auto Light. And now Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage our star, Edward G. Robinson, in A Case of Nerves, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. I was caught flat-footed. I couldn't answer, couldn't even turn and hide. Dr. Martin stared at me a minute, unbelievably, and it was your heart. And for a long time, he put out his hand. Because there was nothing else to do, I took it. Oh, this is Mr. Baker, doctor. It's his wife who has this trigeminal condition. His wife, eh? Yes, of course. You didn't think I meant Mr. Baker, did you? He's as strong as an ox. Yes, I can see that, no. I ran into Dr. Martin in the doctor's lounge, Baker. He was telling me about a case he just saw in Toledo. Well, it's Toledo, wasn't it, Martin? Symptoms were remarkably similar to Mrs. Baker's, remarkably. I thought he might like to look in on Mrs. Baker. You don't mind? She's sleeping, I think. Oh, it's too bad. Well, another time, perhaps, eh, doctor? Oh, yes, certainly, doctor. Well, I've got to run. Glad I ran into you, Martin. Have fun sometime, eh? Yes, glad to. I'll see you later, Baker. Yes, sure, doctor. I'll have to be going myself now, Mr. Baker. Oh, wait, uh, wait, doctor. I want to talk to you. Don't see that there's anything to talk about. Yes, but there is. I want you to know that I, uh, what happened in Toledo yesterday. You don't have to explain. I understand. You understand? She didn't say anything, Dr. Bantu. Well, why should I? It's none of my business. None of my... none of your business? Of course. I admit I didn't have you tagged as an addict. Addict? Yes, you don't look like one. And that trick of refusing an immediate shot. Well, I've got to hand it to you. You fooled me completely. And using your wife's symptoms. Very clever. I don't doubt you can get a supply whenever you need it with that routine. Oh, no, no, no, no. I assure you. Oh, please, don't bother to lie to me. I guess I ought to thank you for teaching me that trick. It won't work again on this baby, believe me. And now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Baker, or Mr. Wentworth, I'm heading for a spot of handball. Oh, wait. Yes? No hard feelings? No, no, of course not. Look, Doctor, if you really mean that about no hard feelings and if you haven't got a partner, well, I play a pretty good game. That's what I call a switch, anyway. All right, hop in. An addict? He took me for an addict. Working on any dodge I could to get a supply of dope. Yes, but later, when he heard of Louise's death, he'd remember. I had no idea what I was going to do. I only knew that I couldn't let him go. He drove me over to the athletic club. He wasn't a member, but he held a courtesy card from a Toledo club and he signed me as his guest, laughing as James Wentworth. He was a fast man on the court, younger too. I'd have had a hard time keeping up with him in any circumstances, but as it was, he beat me easily. I could think of only one thing, that he was dangerous. Dangerous, and I had to get rid of him somehow. It's a nice backhand you've got there, Baker. Wish I could handle those tough ones half as well. Oh, never mind the compliments, Doc. They just remember the final score and be satisfied. Hey, how about a sweat out? They've got a good steam room here. Sounds good to me. Oh, take your towel. Oh, boy, this is hot. Sit on your towel. Yeah, good idea. Oh, it was lucky for me you came along. Place is dead today, not a soul here. Well, I enjoyed it. Oh, hot, isn't it? Say, Baker, you know, I misjudged you. Sorry. Oh, that's all right. Forget it. You know, you really could do something for your trouble. We've got a sanitarium in Toledo. They've been having pretty good luck with addiction lately. I scarcely heard him. I only realized that we were alone, clouded in steam, not even visible to any casually curious person looking through the glass square in the door. This was my chance. I'd never get another like it. I picked up my towel. What are you doing? I'm sorry, Martin, but there's no other way. With my towel over his head, he got behind where his flailing arms couldn't reach me. I didn't want to leave any marks on him. With my free hand, I covered his mouth and pinched his nostrils shut through the towel. He floated hard. In a few minutes, he hung limp in my arms. And after a few minutes more, I knew he was dead. I left him there, hidden in the steam. In the locker room, I desperately parted my hair on the wrong side and plastered it down in a way I'd never normally wear it. A man at the reception desk barely glanced at me as I passed him. Later when they found Martin, they'd look for a man named Wentworth. They never find him because he didn't exist. He wasn't even that close. The papers reporting Martin's death put the cause down to heart failure brought on by the shock of exercise in the steam room. They didn't mention a companion. It wasn't important. And I waited anyway. A week. I waited and watched carefully because now not only Louise's future was at stake, but my own and Pauline's. There's the nurses' court is, darling. Better not come any nearer. Pauline, dearest. I know, darling, I know. You must let go now. I'm late already. No, no, no. No, yes, dear. I'm leaving the hospital. I'm taking a job in Chicago. You know what? Yes. This is hopeless. I can't stand it. Taking care of your wife's smiling at it, seeing the two of you together. But you can't do it. I couldn't live without you. What do you think this is going to do to me? But I can't. When are you going? I'm giving notice tomorrow. Tomorrow? Oh, my darling. Pauline! Say goodbye. Sign here what you meant. When I saw her again, it would be in the hospital across Louise's bed. She'd be Miss Whiten. I'd be Mr. Baker. No, no, I couldn't stand that now. Yes, but there was one sure way to hold her. A little white tablets were still in my... Louise? Albert, dear. I brought you your milk. Oh, thank you, dear. Hold this, will you please? What's that? Oh, your locket. It's beautiful, isn't it? Who shall I leave it to, I wonder? Miss White. She's a sweet girl. Oh, Louise, now don't talk that way. Louise, you're not going to... I'd like her to have it. I'll take the milk now, Albert. She drank it. I had to clench my jaws to keep from crying out. She smiled and held out the empty glass to me. And it was over. I went home and talked sleeplessly, waiting... waiting for the inevitable. Hello? Yes? Yes? No. No, no, no, I'll be right over. Dr. Ventura was outside Louise's room in a white-faced Pauline, and Nellie from the kitchen as I hurried up the corridor. Oh, Baker. Oh, Doctor. Doctor, can I go in? No. Baker, your wife is dead. What? Baker? Oh, but I don't understand. I thought you was improving, that you... that you plan to operate. She died of an overdose of morphine. Oh. Oh, Mr. Baker, I'm terribly sorry. I am too, Mr. Baker. Yes, but how... how could she get it? That's what I intend to find out. She took it in this glass of milk. Nellie here says you brought it up to her. I didn't want to. No, that's all right, Nellie. Well, of course I took it up. I did every night. Everybody in the hospital knows that. Yes, I knew it also. Was anybody in the room when you brought it? No, no, no, just Louise. And you saw her drink the milk? No, no, Doctor. She... she didn't drink it then. Then not until after I'd gone. She did that frequently. That's right, Doctor. Yes, I know that too. Only last night before she drank it, she managed to dissolve in it a lethal dose of morphine. I checked the hospital supply. Every tablet is accounted for. We keep a very strict count, you know. Yes, I know that. Have you anything to say, Baker? Well, I... I hardly know. I... I'm stunned. Doctor, what do you mean? Surely you're not accusing Mr. Baker. I'm not accusing anyone. That will be up to the police. No, wait a minute. Wait a minute, Doctor. You're making a mistake. It seems perfectly clear. Yes, but I didn't kill her. Oh, no? Then how did she die? Well, she... She took her own life. She'd hinted more than once. Miss White, you remember? Yes, Doctor. I spoke to Mr. Baker about it myself. You know she was very depressed. That's true nurse, but the morphine, it must have come from the outside. We'd have missed it. No, wait a minute. The tablet you left for her each night. Yes, I ordered that. Oh, what of it? Instead of taking it, she saved it. Oh, I... Well, she must have. It's the only way it could have happened. Well, that's it, Doctor. It must be. For the past week she's been exhausted and drawn in the morning, yet the tablet's raw was gone. Well, if that's the case, nurse, how does it happen that you failed to find them? She couldn't leave her bed. You bathed her and changed the linen every day. The locket? The locket? Yes. Yes, of course. Do you remember Miss White? She made such a point of asking me to bring you to her. And then the way she talked about joining her mother. Yes, I do. I do remember. She wanted you to have the locket, Pauline. It was her last wish. Now, where is it? I... I have it here. It was clutched in a hand. Let's... Hmm. Please, headquarters, please. You... You have to notify them? Yes, I do. Please, headquarters, give me a homicide. Homicide? Yes, I'll wait. Are you out of your mind? I just got through explaining everything. Yes, you explained everything, including what still puzzled me. You see, Becker, you were right about this locket. Your wife did have a reason for wanting it. Look, I'll open it. You see, it's full. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven quarter-grain morphine tablets that she saved at the cost of seven nights of agony. And she would have taken them last night. Only you beat her to it. Suspense. Presented by Autolite, tonight's star, Mr. Edward G. Robinson. Say, Wilcox, do you know what else the gypsy sow in the crystal ball? Well, half, if it was a really big crystal ball, she might have been able to see more than 400 products made by Autolite for cars, trucks, planes, and boats in 28 plants coast to coast. These include complete electrical systems used as original equipment on many makes of America's finest cars. Generators, coils, distributors, voltage regulators, wire and cables, starting motors, electric windshield wipers. All engineered to fit together perfectly, work together perfectly, because they're a perfect team. So friends, if your Autolite-equipped car needs replacement parts, ask for and insist on Autolite original factory parts at your neighborhood service station, car dealer, garage, or repair shop. Remember, you're always right with Autolite. Next Thursday for suspense, our star will be Charles Boyer. The play is called The Case of Henri Vibard. And it is, as we say, a tale well calculated to keep you in. Suspense. Tonight's suspense play was produced and edited by William Spear and directed by Norman MacDonald. Music for suspense is composed by Lucian Morrowek and conducted by Lud Bluskin. A Case of Nerves is an original play written for radio by Lawrence Goldman. Edward G. Robinson may soon be seen in My Daughter Joy, an Alexander Quarter production for London Films. In the coming weeks, you will hear such stars as Broderick Crawford, Jack Carson, and Kathy and Elliot Lewis. Don't forget, next Thursday, same time, Autolite will present suspense, calling Charles Boyer. You can buy world-famous Autolite resistor or regular spark plugs, Autolite staple batteries, Autolite electrical parts at your neighborhood Autolite dealers. Switch to Autolite. Good night. Autolite, sponsor of suspense, is proud to acknowledge receipts of the National Safety Council's Public Interest Award for exceptional contribution to highway safety. This is the second consecutive year that suspense and its sponsors have been so honored. This is CBS, Columbia Broadcasting System.