 Suspense and the producer of radio's outstanding theater of thrills the master of mystery and adventure William M. Robson the dream of every actor is the perfect performance The performance that brings the audience to its feet shouting Bravo and brings the critics to their knees with rave notices But audiences critics and playwrights being what they are this dream is seldom realized In the upcoming suspense story, however, it is With some startling results listen Listen then as mr. Vincent Price Stars in rave notice which begins in just a moment Memo on medals facts and figures about military decorations with which you may not be familiar Among the earliest forms of medals was a gold button Presented by Alexander the Great to a high priest in the fourth century bc After winning an important battle Crude medallions became the standard form of commemorating victory until in the 15th century A noted italian artist sculptor developed and perfected a classic medallion the forerunner of our modern medals During queen victoria's reign the present system of awarding medals was introduced And was soon adopted by other countries Two famous early american medals appear in the smithsonian institute in washington dc One presented to captain thomas truckston commander of the us constellation For defeating the french frigate vengeance during the west indies campaign of 1800 The other medallion exhibit is the one awarded to general ulysses s grant For breaking confederate control of the mississippi river during the civil war Old or new medals represent a memorable heroic act worthy of our respect and pride And now Rave notice starring vincence price A tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense I am an actor And this is a theater Up there on the stage beyond the empty seats lit by the single bare bulb of the work light are my fellow actors We are here to make a play Friend norman sitting alone in the third row is our director This is the fifth day of rehearsal. It's not a bad little play, but you know norman norman will manage somehow to spoil it norman will misdirect the actors and lose the values No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no Why not because I am the director and I say no no All right cast take five. Oh sam Sam come over here. I I want to talk to you sure norman sure Well, what is it sam? I've I've had to turn over the bell ringer to luther the bell ringer That's my part the bell ringer. What do you mean luther don't make it difficult for me sam I'm not making it difficult the bell ringer role is mine. That's all there's no difficulty involved You must be kidding. It's not as if I haven't warned you. Look, tell me what's wrong. Tell me where I've gone off What irritates you what doesn't fit off? I'll fix it. I'll fix it. That's my role norman I carry the whole play with that role. Don't shout sam. Don't make a fool of yourself a fool Look norman Why are you doing this to me because you're not right for it? Not right You fat pig. What do you know? How do you know? What do you know about acting sam? Take it easy there Fat fat belly fat head fat face. That's enough. You know nothing. I know you. I know actors You're no actor you stink Kill you for saying that. I'll kill you. Did you hear that cast your witnesses? He's threatening me again Yes, listen well my friends norman. I'm going to kill you norman. I'm going to kill you You see you can't even deliver that line you stink Yes gentlemen, I want to buy a gun Yes, sir. What sort of gun did you wish to buy one that'll shoot through fat? Sir Pardon me. I've been thinking What did he got? What else do you wish to use this gun for a lot of killer rat? Oh, I think and maybe uh 22, huh? Now then let me see here Yes, a nice little gun That's pretty small. This is an awful big rat a fat rat Oh, well, I I think a shotgun then or four ten. Yes You think that'll do it It should it should bullets you have bullets Shells you use in this gun very well. I want one one bot. No one shell Only one. Yeah, this rat. I'm not gonna miss It's time now He will come out of the stage door and walk this way through shooting alley on his way to the hearties for a drink I slide the gun out from under my coat and I wonder heart Or belly heart or belly Belly belly. Yes, he's cultivated porch vatted with actors hearts Here he comes on cue for his exit Goodbye, Norman Norman you're dying please somebody call an ambulance, please Is this how you play your deathly norman? You're dying norman play it play it He just lay there and shoot with sally and bled And then they took him to the hospital and they took me to tombs prison and they got me a lawyer I suppose when he dies, I become a murderer. Yes, then electrocute me. Yes, I must have been crazy I thought of that. What do you mean? Temporary insanity. I thought we might please that. Well, why don't we because you threatened him before witnesses at least twice Went to a store chose a gun with great care waited for him to appear you did all this and then you shot him That's right. I did that's premeditated murder first-degree murder so the temporary insanity thing is out way out The um only other thing I could think of is um If we could prove you were insane all along What would happen? I mean What would happen if I were then they couldn't execute you Of course You seem very calm I'm an actor insane mad I know a joke a wonderful joke I'm going to beat Norman even in his grave. I'm going to have myself exaggerated. It is murder. Yes, freedom of the charges I'm going to play the greatest role of my life without makeup without lights without script or cue I'm going to play a part strangely parallel to my nature I'm going to play a homicidal maniac In a moment we continue with the second act of suspense Another visit with joe and daphne foresight Joe, what are you doing? Oh, hi daphne just eating a midnight snack. What is that mess that mess Is a liver worse salami lettuce and peanut butter delight nightmare is more like it What woke you up? My stomach was growling. What woke you up? You And I was dreaming such a pleasant dream Oh What I dreamed all of our savings bonds had matured and we were cashing them in that kind of a dream I can appreciate we were planning a trip around the world And you bought me a fur coat and I bought you that fishing tackle you want Oh, it was gorgeous. Well, it doesn't have to be just a dream Some of our savings bonds are ready to mature now Joe, maybe we shouldn't cash them in They can go on earning interest, you know, and it adds up fast I know that's why we started buying savings bonds. Remember With a bond a month on the payroll savings plan our money is saved automatically Stop waiting that sandwich under my nose. You're making me hungry. Well fix yourself a sandwich, ma'am I got all the makings right over here. All right Move over your bond buying midnight maverick. I'm going to fix myself a humdinger And now Serving Vincent Price act two of rave notice I'm going to play a homicidal maniac how how By using the method this stannis Oh, what is the most horrible thing I ever did the thing closest to murder? I must recreate that mood murder killing blood I killed a cat once I was six years old. I had a stick hit within an alley this cat I poked it just for fun him But he scratched me and I hit him hit him with a stick. He started squalling and oh, I thought I'm going to get in trouble Stop that noise. Stop that noise. So I hit him again to making stuff and again to making stuff And there was blood red blood on the grace and then I struck and struck and struck out the screen Struck out the light struck out the awful gaze of those crazy yellow eyes Right out the spirit spark I killed Murderer am I Killed for the thrill of the silence of the cat the murderer For turning it on is the memory those key points grace and then cat's eyes my feelings is a six year old Oh, they'll be refinement. I'll refine it Oh If you were only to see this scene Dim the house lights raise the curtain and now to bring in the audience Who may I ask are you what's going on down here? I don't know. Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? I have a question I expect a civil answer. Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you so nice and quiet for a while? I just answer my question. That's all I ask and that's not much for the hero to be asking now. Is it you don't know who we are I think he's putting on an act. Hey, hey, don't turn your head away. We know you hear us Yeah, leave and be You think he's kidding. Who cares? I was very weak. You can do better than that You're supposed to be a murderer a homicidal maniacs of what's the emotion Guilt You've got to be guilty guilty guilty guilty guilty Smear yourself with the stuff guilty bloody hands guilty and you want to be punished. Yes That'll do it But it will hurt So what not like it hurts when they shave your head and slit your trousers and strap you to your seat That's the 10 000 volts coursing through this poor player's frail body Let her You should be punished One two three I've been going up I'm guilty I'm guilty there's blood on my hands blood and filth and disease I smashed him on the grave cement and smashed him. I murdered him. I'm a murderer. I confess it. I confess it Oh, look, I want to confess to purge myself of this guilt Oh, come on. I am guilty. You're right smashed in my What you get so worked up about the guy ain't even dead yet. Not dead. He is dead. He's been dead these past 36 years 36 years If you don't punish me, I oh, hey, what are you doing? Hey Hey, will you quit beating your fist against the wall? I am guilty And I shall be smashed as he was smashed. Hey, your hand. You're gonna bust your hand on that wall It is written You know the writing in blood that lies across the counterpane in the bed under the window when little boys are supposed to be far away and slumber land Mahoney. Yeah, get the doctor this guy flip. Good He's killing me. I don't mind the bloody scrapes knuckles are even breaking But not the bones Two cats dead Murdered by my stick Four cats dead Murdered by my stick How long has he been doing this? About 15 minutes doctor. I see All right now you can stop that I don't stop I don't look I keep right at it. I keep it apart murderer Guilty stop it Paying a price stop it. I am buying my way out of the electric chair. All right grab it No, please, please, please, please. I want to pay. I'm the guilty one and I want to pay my debt to society Hold it. No, let me go. Let me let me let me go. Let me go. I must pay steady It's so quiet I don't need An injection. It'll lock me out. I can't activate my unconscious I can't play my part if my guilty guilty part if Got to hurt myself In a moment, we continue with the third act of Suspense We have together Ample capacity in freedom to defend freedom This is NATO the north atlantic treaty organization The north atlantic treaty organization goes far beyond a formidable military defense organization Within its networks of committees functions the machinery to contribute to further development of peaceful And friendly international relations by strength of sharing tasks and pooling scientific facilities and information The united states of america is a part of nato You should be aware of and alert to the objectives and programs of the north atlantic treaty organization And now Starring vinson price act three of rave notice So quiet here so white Such sweet stillness and peace Gone the darkness of the cell steel and concrete They're watching me very carefully The taller one is new The other gave me the hypodermic. Yes hypodermic How long have I been out? Did I say anything while I was out? Perhaps if I keep still they will let me know Oh Well They put it another way Obsessive guilt with a compulsion to self-destruction Nothing new about that. Look he's opening his eyes Hello You awake Who are you? You remember me, don't you? No Well, I gave you something to quiet you a little while ago a little while ago When you were trying to injure yourself so we'd think you're insane And you've decided to give that up, haven't you? I have to carry out my sentence, you know How will you carry out your sentence be smashed? I'm to be smashed as I have smashed the cat Is that the law? Yes, I smashed him with a stick Sick, huh? You mean shotgun, don't you? Why would I say shotgun if I meant stick? I said stick But you shot the man with a shotgun with a cat and I smashed him with a stick After you smashed him with a stick What happened? What happened after he was dead? I was frightened. I went home. Mama was there. She said, how did you get blood on your hands? I said the dog licked my hand and he had blood on his teeth I understand you're an actor. Oh, aren't we all actors? We try to act innocent when we're guilty My doctor, will you step outside a moment? I've got them What are they talking about out there? I wish I knew It doesn't matter. I've got them. I know that. I've got them. I've got them Well, I uh, I guess you'll be leaving us soon Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're very understanding, doctor I'm guilty and I must pay you know that What the doctor means is that you're going to a place where they'll help you to get well Get well? Yes, of course Uh, doctor, if you'll have the F. David's drawn up outside We'll get a court order committing him. Right Seems you were right all along You know, I wasn't sure until you told me about the man he shot being out of danger Oh, yes, the gods told the patient his victim had recovered But he didn't comprehend, of course, but right on screaming and punishing himself I see, what would they have given him if we'd found him sane? Well, that depends The injured thought he refused to press charges with the otter beer in an hour Recovered They didn't tell me Norman had recovered. How good he have recovered I shot him in his fat porch When did they tell me? It was while I was screaming maybe I I was really into the part then deep in it. I couldn't have heard them couldn't have heard and now Now he'll be free and I will go off to an insane. It's out of married to a roll. But I was that I eat No No Doctor That could come back come back. It was all a joke doctor a game come back come back What is it? Listen doctor, I have a confession to make. I'm not insane. Please believe me believe me Oh, of course, you're not just a little confused. That's all. No, you're wrong. Don't you see it was all a gag just a gag? Yes, of course it was Now you're going to a place where you can rest and everything's going to be all right. No. No, believe me. I am sane Why shout? I'm not shouting I only water him press You were shouting rather loudly. Look my lawyer said if if I could prove insanity I wouldn't go to the chair chair. Yeah, I thought you were to be you said smash Don't forget that that that was a part of the method Method the Stanislaski method. It's a system of acting What do you think doctor? I don't know Well, the patient seems to be telling the truth. Yes, he does I can fool you all over again if you feel it's necessary to prove my point No, I uh, I don't believe you'll be able to fool us again Doctor, what's your opinion? I say the man's in full control of his faculties is aware of his crime and committed it out of what society calls a sober motive I say the man is sane You sir Do you agree with the doctor? It's what I've been telling you and I say saying that makes it unanimous Uh gentleman Never in the history of the theater has such a performance been rendered Nor I miss that dad very circumstances. Um just one more question Of course Why did you kill him kill him? But I didn't I shot him that's all shot You mean shot. Don't you don't don't you know what he Norman he is is dead. Yes, and you were sane And you were going to repay society with your life Norman is dead Tretcheress letcheress body billon Bring down the curtain The play is ended Suspense In which Vincent price starred in william and robeson's production of rave notice by james po Supporting vinson price and rave notice were lou merrill peter leads barney phillips jack cruisin jim nussar and gerome thor listen Listen again next week when we return with mr. Larry parks in the invisible eighth Another tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense This is the united states armed forces radio and television service