 Wait a minute. Have you heard the strange tales of the whistler the whistler? John was here in this room. I Saw him and talked to him. He had a message for me And while he was here, the room was filled with the order of musty roses Another Sunday night and again CBS presents the whistler. I the whistler know many things for I walk by night I know many strange tales many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows and So I tell you tonight the unusual story of apparition In the midst of a circle of tall moaning pine spreads an old mansion on The second floor a low light burns in a large bedroom the bedroom of Elizabeth Kemper the elderly mistress of the mansion Mrs. Kemper's husband John died suddenly a year ago and left his entire estate to his wife Elizabeth Shortly after John's death Elizabeth brought her husband's sister Bertha and Bertha's daughter Celia to live with her Since John's death Elizabeth's health has gradually failed and she has taken to her bed in the meantime Elizabeth's only sister Mary has come to live in the great house and Mary's son Herbert Now long past midnight Elizabeth tosses in her bed in mumbles What is it what do you want Why don't you say it suddenly Elizabeth's door first open and Bertha moves into the room and stands beside the bed Oh, yes, why did you scream scream did I scream? Yes, just as I came in the room You must have frightened me Were you dreaming? No, I I don't think so But I don't know I I thought John was here John You thought John was here. Yes Standing there beside the bed Elizabeth I Saw him too. Just a moment ago. What in my room. Oh, but that's nonsense Why should he always appear to you? I'm his sister. Yes. Yes, of course John was trying to tell me something Something about you what he was trying to tell me that you should listen to him listen to him Something about the property. What about the property? He says he made a mistake mistake He says he wasn't killed accidentally. He did it deliberately He committed suicide suicide Why should he have done that? He hasn't explained that but he says now he knows the truth about everything He knows that his reason for hating me and cutting me off in his will was unfounded and he's sorry He's been trying to reach you, but you aren't receptive you claim you've seen John every night since the day he died I have Elizabeth. I swear I have I've seen him many times in my dreams But why doesn't he tell me what he wants some night Elizabeth John will reach you in your waking moments Then you'll believe me. I can't understand it. He didn't like you and he told me so. Why should he change now? Perhaps it would be best to see the an eye left you Why should you want to leave all of a sudden you have your own assistant her son Herbert? You won't be alone. I only knew what John was trying to say to me I've told you what he's been saying to me We heard someone scream at least I thought I did no nothing's wrong go back to bed That's what Mary Oh, dear me. I heard someone scream. What was it? Are you all right? Yes, Mary? I had a nightmare. That's all Well, I was worried better go back to bed all of you. I'll be all right. Yes. It's come along. I'll see you in the morning But mother why do you keep frightening at Elizabeth by telling her about uncle John? I'm not frightening her She should know the truth, but she is frightened why she's getting worse and worse Are you sure you have seen uncle really do you dare suggest that I'm lying? Is that what you mean Celia? No, no mother. I didn't mean that honest It's better Don't you ever say such a thing again, but why doesn't he appear to an Elizabeth? She only dreams about him. That's something that can't be answered There are those who are gifted with the powers to see those who have departed See them and talk with them I'm one of those so gifted Do you understand? Yes. Yes, mother John is trying to get a message to Elizabeth about me Because he finds it difficult to reach her. He's chosen me as medium What is the message? He left me nothing in his will because he hated me and thought I hated him But you did I did not It was his imagination But now he's learned the truth now. He knows I had nothing but his best interests at heart He's trying to tell Elizabeth to leave all the estate to me And he will continue to return to this house until his mission is accomplished Then his soul can rest in peace I'm frightened mother. I don't want to stay here another day. I can't stand it here. You stay here until I'm ready to leave Do you hear me? Yes. Yes, mother. I hear Now stop this nonsense and go to bed. Yes, mother. I'm sorry You'd better be In another part of the great house Herbert is talking with his mother Mary Elizabeth's own sister Now now mother get hold of yourself. Oh, I'm terribly frightened Herbert Why should you be frightened nothing to harm you? What have you to be afraid of? Is there something awful in this house? I can feel it. I don't want to stay any longer We must leave before it's too late. I'll admit that strange things are going on But I'm not ready to leave here not just yet. We don't belong here Elizabeth is your own sister. I don't think John wants this here You really believe that John's spirit is walking around this place every night? What else? Then why doesn't he say what he's trying to say and get it over with? Well, I can't stay here much longer. I'll lose my mind I can imagine John's not wanting Bertha here since he stipulated in his will that Aunt Elizabeth Must never give Bertha a dollar of the estate But what's he got against you? Nothing He didn't say that Elizabeth couldn't leave you a part of it All I want to do is to get out of this house But I don't feel that way about it. Why should you walk out and leave everything to Bertha? Well, that's why John's staying around here. He doesn't want anyone here Well, ghost or no ghost, I'm not walking out at the time like this Then I will. I'm leaving here tomorrow Oh no, no, you're not leaving We're both staying until until Aunt Elizabeth makes her will You're staying here whether you like it or not. You hear? Yes Herbert, but nothing good will come of it. I'm convinced of that No Well, we'll see about that Good night mother An hour later, Mary has finally dropped off the sleep. Then as the clock strikes three A figure in white slips into Mary's room and stands beside the bed Slowly Mary opens her eyes and stifles a scream What do you want? I want to talk to you Mary I have a message for you A message? Yes John is here Standing beside me Uh, I don't see anyone He is here What? What is the message? John says that Elizabeth is planning to leave the estate to you But he's learned the truth He knows that his dislike for me was unfounded. He wants the estate left to me Because it's rightfully mine And he'll never be able to rest in peace until that is accomplished Oh, I don't want it. I don't want any powder in me Then if you want to escape this torment You must convince your sister that John made a mistake If you accept any part of it John will never let you rest Do you understand? Yes, yes, yes, I understand Very well, we'll leave you now Good night What? Wake up! Oh, Mary, what's wrong? You're shaking like a leaf He was in my room Who? John, he was in my room Mary, what are you saying? He had a message He said you were planning to leave the estate to me According to his will But he made a mistake about Brother He wants you to leave it to her So he can rest in peace Mary, are you out of your mind? No, no, you must believe me I don't want any part of the estate Oh, please, promise me Leave it to Bertha and I've done with it I refuse to accept it Get control of yourself, Mary I'm leaving here in the morning I'm frightened And if you had any sense, you'd leave too If you stay here, you'll go mad Very well, Mary Is that what you call gratitude if you can go? Oh, I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but I won't remain another night Are you sure you saw John? Well, no No, but he was there in my room Did you talk with him? No, no, that is I Then how do you know he was there? At Bertha told me he was there Bertha? Was she there too? Oh, yes, she told me what he wanted He said he couldn't reach you Why should John appear to everyone but me? I don't know But I know he was there I could sense it Tell you there was someone in the room with Bertha It must have been John Oh, let Bertha have the estate of something terrible What happened to all of us Oh, please, Elizabeth Go to bed, Mary We'll talk about it tomorrow Yes, Elizabeth Next day, Herbert goes into town And pays a visit to Henry Wentworth, Elizabeth's attorney Wentworth was also John's attorney for many years And was familiar with the family for two decades Mr. Wentworth, you drew John Kemper's will Yes, I did Do you have any idea why he cut his sister Bertha off without a dollar? No, but in the last five years John turned against Bertha Turned against her violently Why? I don't really know She was his only sister and he had no brothers It was very strange What happened to Bertha's husband? Well, he died about five years ago He committed suicide He worked with John at one time Then John set him up in a business of his own But he went to the wall and the crash of 29 lost every penny Just couldn't take it, so he killed himself He left nothing? Nothing but an insurance policy to his wife Bertha Didn't amount to much, five thousand, I think Were John and Bertha's husband on good terms? No, apparently the best of friends How did Bertha's husband die? To poison overdose of sleeping tablets Oh, I see But from the day Bertha's husband died John, her brother, seemed to turn against Bertha And shortly changed his will, cutting Bertha off I was the only one who knew about it until the will was read Have you any idea why he changed the will? No, and whatever It was none of my business Yes Well, thank you, Mr. Wentworth I appreciate your telling me this Good day Then Herbert pays another visit A visit to Dr. Martin, formerly John Kemper's physician Dr. Martin is at first reluctant to talk But finally answers a few questions Doctor, you were John Kemper's physician for many years Yes, that's right Was there anything wrong with him? You mean, was he unbalanced? No, no Did he have any severe ailments? Well, no The last year or so he seemed to change considerably though Became a bit morose Anything wrong with his heart? Yes and no Yes and no Well, he began to suffer from severe headaches Stuck to using a lot of aspirin Was too much of anything bad He was killed in a car wreck Yes, he'd been to the city and was driving back home late at night Grew off into the ditch Did you attend him? I saw the body shortly after the wreck Been dead about an hour, badly smashed up Was it his heart? Oh, could have been But I think he went to sleep at the wheel Was there an autopsy? No, it was obvious how he died His skull had been crushed in Who had he visited in the city on business? I don't know, I never thought about it Where is John Kemper buried? In the family vault at the edge of his owner's estate Didn't you know that? Huh? Oh, yes, yes, yes I'd forgotten Well, good day, Dr. And thanks for the information Then later that night the household Repairs to settle down to sleep One by one the lights go out in the various rooms Now only that in Elizabeth's room remains Will there be anything else, ma'am? No, no Higgins, that'll be all Has everyone gone to bed? Oh, yes, ma'am, they've all retired Is the milk warm enough? Yes Good night, Higgins Good night, ma'am I hope you rest well tonight Thank you, Higgins The moon bays the estate in its eerie glow The big clock strikes off the hour Then in the distance there is the howl of a dog A mournful howl of impending doom John's dog crying in its loneliness Across the lawn from the family vault Walks a haggard figure in the moonlight A figure with long white hair Walking toward the house In a few moments later the weird figure appears In Mary's room, stands in the shadows and points at Mary What do you want? Who are you? Uh, I hear you I made a great mistake in life I hated my sister but I know all things now Bertha's a good woman I'm doomed to walk this place without rest until I've made amends Do you understand? Yes, yes, I understand If Elizabeth refuses to listen to my pleas And leaves this estate to you You will never rest a moment under this roof For I can never leave It rightfully belongs to Bertha And to her it must go I don't want it I don't want any part of it I won't stay here I promise, just, just let me alone I will, lundess We will, we will, I... Where are you? Mary gasps and suddenly falls back on her pillow For Mary has fainted dead away From the darkened stairway the great clock chimes out the hour Three o'clock Elizabeth, eyes closed but still awake Senses a presence and slowly opens her eyes Standing close beside her is the white-haired figure Its face hidden in the shadows John, I must be dreaming again, I... Why are you whispering, John? Yes, yes, I can hear you, I... What is that odor? Odor Yes, a strange odor Like, like the smell of flowers A musty odor of roses John! John, what is it? What do you want? You're going to make your will tomorrow Yes, yes Only you can right the wrong I have done Wrong? My father left this estate to me With the understanding that I should leave it to Bertha Yes, I know I suspected her of wrongdoing and cut her off And instructed you to do so Yes You must leave the estate to her You must right my wrong so that I can go on to my rest Yes, yes, John If you all knows you come here shall not know a moment's peace Yes, I understand, John If you fail me... Yes, I... I'll do it I'll do as you say only John, yes, I... You haven't much time, Elizabeth You will be joining me soon I know... Elizabeth clutches at her heart gasping for breath A few moments pass and she revives sufficiently To reach for the stimulant on the nightstand She pours a dose and as she swallows it She glances out the window over the moonlit grounds Across the lawn moves the white-haired figure Cliding toward the family vault at the edge of the estate John, John Elizabeth drops the glass and falls to the floor A few seconds later Bertha hurries into the room Must have been Elizabeth had another attack She's still breathing Put her on the bed There's a medicine I'll get another glass You stay here, Mary, I'll get the glass from the bathroom What do you suppose happened to her? Maybe... Maybe it was... What's what? I don't... I don't know What's wrong with you, mother? You're white as a sheet What are you trying to say? I saw it too So what? What did you see? Well, I saw him... John He was in my room a while ago I talked to him You talked to him? Yes, and he talked to me I heard him and I saw him What did he say? Stop whimpering and tell us Please, please, please, please Mother, mother, stop it, stop it Oh, I won't stay I won't stay, I won't stay Come back here, grab her, see her Elizabeth's coming too Not Elizabeth Not Elizabeth Oh, but I... You're all right now, just take it easy Yes, it's wrong with Mary She says she saw John and talked to him I think she's imagining things No, no, she isn't imagining things I know, I saw him too He was here, he talked to me Oh, now look at Elizabeth, the whole thing is... No, no, no, he was here It was no dream I saw him walk through the garden toward the board When? It can't be very long ago There was a strange, sickly morning in the room All the while he was here It smelled like musty room Oh, be quiet, mother Now maybe you believe what I've been telling you What did he say? It was about his will and my will And he talked about Bertha About me? Yes He said he was wrong about you He wants to make things right through me He knew I intended to make my will tomorrow And he told me just what to do Yes, that's what he said to me, too But you? Yes Why, this is the strangest thing I've ever encountered Why should he talk to you? Well, he did, I tell you And Elizabeth must do what he wants Otherwise something will happen What will happen? Well, I... I don't know I want you to call Mr Wentworth, the lawyer And have him here first thing in the morning I want to draw my will As John tells me Yeah, very well, I... I think I'll have a look around the grounds Never go back to sleep now anyway So, good night, Angela Elizabeth Herbert wanders about the grounds for a while And finally goes to Higgins, the butler After some persuasion obtains the keys to the family vault The next morning the lawyer Wentworth visits Elizabeth in her room Well, how are you this morning, Elizabeth? Much better, Mr Wentworth Here you had a bad night Yes, I guess I had another attack Oh, so? Mr Wentworth, I want to draw up my will I should have done it long ago, but... Well, something held me back I see Well, I'll take down the data and have it typed Then bring it back for you to sign I've been caught all day, probably through the evening So I'll have to come around 11 tonight Very well, as soon as possible Good, now let's have the particular Yes, to my sister, Mary Wilton I leave the five room cottage in Danbury To my nephew, Herbert Wilton I leave $1,000 in cash Yes And to my husband's sister, Bertha Mallory I leave all other property, personal and real Amounting to some $400,000 What? Please Amounting to some $400,000 According to my late husband's wishes What do you mean? John stipulated that you leave not a penny to Bertha John has changed his mind When did he change his mind? Since his death What do you think we'd better postpone this until you feel better? I want my will drawn just as I have told you What do you mean by saying John has changed his mind? How could he? He told me so last night You know what you're saying Yes, I saw John, I talked to him He was wrong in his attitude toward Bertha This is, this is ridiculous I want it done as I say Very well, I'll draw it up this way But I certainly think that You think I'm insane? Since you bring it up, yes, I do So did I at first But I'm not I'll be expecting you around 11 tonight, Mr. Wentworth Yes, yes, of course I'll be here Now it is shortly after 11 the same night The lawyer has returned to the will And Elizabeth has called her three relatives to her room Very well, Mr. Wentworth, this is drawn the way I want it You mean as John wants it? I mean just that I'm leaving the property that was mine before I married John This wall cottage to you, Mary And a thousand dollars to Herbert All else I am leaving according to John's directions to you, Bertha That's the way John wants it And that's the way it shall be You must do as you think best I'm doing as John wishes Hand me the pen, Wentworth There you are And I hope you all understand I don't Thank you, Elizabeth Well, now that you've got it, Bertha What good is it going to do you? What do you mean? How much chance do you think you'll have to use it? What happiness do you think it'll bring you? More than it would you Isn't it rightfully mine? Is it? That's the way John wanted it Oh, no, it is It's the way you want it I had nothing to do with it John made a will He's never wanted to change Elizabeth knows better than that And Elizabeth knows nothing of the kind This is my house now And the sooner you leave, the better You'll be living sooner than I will You and your spooks You don't believe in ghosts and you never saw one I saw John night after night Everyone saw him Everyone but me because I'm not a donk Your own mother Mary saw him and talked to him Gosh, John is dead in his coffin Out there in the vault, I saw him But I did see him So did I You wouldn't know if you did see him We would We've seen him Yes Then turn around Turn around all of you And look John, good lord It's him Is that John? Is it? Yes, yes Take off your wig Egon Yes, the butler There's your spook I'm sorry, ma'am You can go, Egon's I'll explain everything Bertha hired Egon to impersonate John That's a lie Egon's would never have done it If he'd known about the murders I trapped him into it He confessed everything Murders? What do you mean? I got wise to the whole thing I investigated the whole story About Bertha's husband And John's accidental death They were both murders You're lying I have the bodies exhumed and examined They both died of an overdose Of the sleeping tablets The very same purchased by Bertha At a certain drug store He's crazy He's crazy I can't even listen She put the tablet in her husband's aspirin bottle She was the one John visited That night he had the wreck She must have drugged him That's why he went to sleep at the wheel I didn't I didn't She killed her husband for his insurance And John cut her off on his will Because he suspected that she killed her husband It's a lie A lie, I said John never wanted his will changed I have proof of the whole thing And the police are waiting outside now You haven't a chance, Bertha You're guilty The police Oh What could the law of this do with you? Where is your fortune now? They'll hand you Yes, I did, I did it I don't know why, but I did it I gave him the tablet Did Higgins know that? No No, he didn't know Bertha, she's fainted Mother She hasn't fainted What's wrong with her? She's dead Hand me that will, Mr. Wentworth I want to draw a new one in the morning Well, there you are That's the story John never wanted his will changed And for good reason He really knew the truth But wait a minute How did you figure this one out, Herbert? You didn't really have those bodies exhumed, did you? I didn't have them exhumed And if I had There would have been no traces of sleeping tablets left And there were no police waiting outside I was bluffing Working on pure hypothesis But it did work Yes, it worked, Herbert And it afforded me a very nice story indeed Thank you, Herbert Your work CBS has presented The Whistler Original music for this production was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch The Whistler is written and directed by J. Donald Wilson And originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood Next week, same time I, The Whistler, will return to tell you another weird tale Good night This is the Columbia Broadcasting System