 Suspense. Presented by Roma Wines, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Salud. Your health, senor. The world toasts Roma, and Roma toasts the world. The wine for your table is Roma, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is the man in black, here for Roma Wines to introduce this weekly half hour of suspense. Tonight in Hollywood, we are honored and happy to have with us one of the entertainment world's most distinguished gentlemen, Mr. Kerry Grant. The suspense play which stars Kerry Grant, and which is produced and directed by William Spear, is the exciting and tense bestseller by Cornel Woolrich called The Black Curtain. Suspense is compounded of mystery and suspicion and dangerous adventure. In this series, Roma brings you tales calculated to intrigue you, to stir your nerves, to offer you up a carrier situation, and then withhold the solution until the last possible moment. And so with the Black Curtain, and with the performance of Kerry Grant, we again hope to keep you in suspense. Well rather life began again for me, I guess you'd say, that day, on that street. My head was pounding terribly. I could hear all the noise and the people milling around. Everything was a jumble at first. Sir, now get back there, everybody back there. Oh my head. Everybody let the doctor through, give him air here. No, I'm okay. No, never mind, Doc, I'm okay. Seems to be not in much to matter with you, sir. No, I'm all right. I guess I can talk to him now, Doc? I'll go ahead, officer. Just a bad bump on the head, I think. That's right, we can walk all right, can't you? Yeah, I think so. Sure. Here, now let me brush you off. Hey, hey, I'll be fine. Hey, wait a minute. What am I doing with an overgo now? All right, now, mister. Just so they got it on the blutter. What's your name? Where do you live? Townsend, Frank Townsend, 820 Rutherford Street. I want a cigarette, you're still shaky. Oh, no, thanks, I don't smoke. Well, I'll be getting back then. Drop in at the receiving hospital if you want us to take you off. Yeah, I will. Hey, here's your hat, mister. I found it. Oh, thanks, kid. That's all, now come on, move along. Guy's all right. Come on. I'm sorry about the fellow that got your wallet. Anyway, here's your cigar case, Mr. Townsend. Guy found it right alongside of you. Hey, wait a minute, this isn't my hat. DN, those aren't my initials, DN. Sure that's your hat. I seen it roll off you when you went down. Try it on. You see, it's this. But what am I doing with a cigar case? DN, same initials as the hat. That's the... Wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm trying to think. Where is this? What? This street. You're on Tillerie Street. Tillerie Street? What am I doing on Tillerie Street? He's lost. All right, now, sir. My suggestion is that you go on home and go lie down. It's cold and starting to snow. No, no, please, wait a minute. Don't leave me. Tell me. What happened? Well, you slipped on this icy sidewalk. Felt down and hit your head, good and hard on the curb. You're out for about 20 minutes and then you... Ice on a sidewalk? Well, look at it. That street cleaning department ought to clear away the snow. The snow and ice? Sure way. Snow? In July? July. Oh, it's December. December 1943. 1943. You better go on home, son. Good night. 1943. December 1943. The last I remember was July 1940. Three years just gone. Adnesia. A black curtain comes down over your mind. That black curtain had been over mine for three years. Where had I been? Who had I been? I hadn't been Frank Townsend. I'd been someone else. DN. Someone whose initials were DN. I walked along Tilleries Street thinking about it those three years. I could have been married. I could have been a thief. I could have... Something made me turn around on the street for a moment. That was when I first saw him. Gray eyes. He'd been talking to the cop who took my name. He looked up as I did. And then he started to walk rapidly in my direction. I backed away instinctively. Something about him spelled trouble. He called to me as he came forward. Hey, you stop Townsend! I instinctively knew I should run and get away from him. Hey, you! I looked back as I ran to the corner. He had a gun in his hand. He raised it. And I turned and ran for my life. What lay behind that black curtain, which separated Townsend from his past? With this remarkable story and with Hollywood's distinguished Kerry Grant as our star, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California tonight assumes the sponsorship of Suspense, Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. This is the dinner hour at an exclusive yacht club in Latin America. And we discreetly eavesdrop on that gentleman and his lady there at the table. This has been a lovely dinner, Ramon. And only you would have thought to have such a delicious wine as the finale. It was so perfect. Is it truly a wine from California in North America? Yes. See? This is the noted Roma Port of California in the United States. We were fortunate to have it tonight for now in time of war. Only occasional ships can bring us Roma wines. I knew that you would. Fortunate? Yes. Roma wines please the exacting tastes of wine lovers in many countries. And we in the United States are most fortunate of all. For we can enjoy any of those delicious wines from the famous Roma wineries located in choice wine districts throughout California at prices unbelievably small for wines of such distinguished character. Because we do not have to pay heavy shipping costs and duty, here at home in America, Roma wines cost only a few cents a glass. What's more, you will find Roma California wines just around the corner at your favorite dealers. Right there waiting for you now, the types of Roma wines you most enjoy. So if you haven't yet discovered the delight of Roma wine regularly with meals or when entertaining friends, make your first purchases of Roma tomorrow. R-O-M-A, Roma, America's largest selling wines. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. And now it is with pleasure that we bring back to our sound stage Mr. Kerry Grant and the Black Curtain, a story well calculated to keep you in suspense. Why was he following me with a gun? What did Grey Eyes want with me? I must have done something. I beat it on the subway and hid. I had to think it all out carefully. I knew I was on the spot for something. Grey Eyes meant business. What could it be? Who would I been during those last three years with that Black Curtain in front of them? Well, maybe I've been a gangster and he was one of a mob that wanted to rub me out. I didn't know. No identification of a wallet stolen. Nothing in my pockets that would help. Just D-N in the hat and D-N on the cigar case. D-N! My head was aching with worry. My stomach had panic in it. I didn't know who I'd been, what I'd done. But how? Where? That's where I'd been when I woke up. Tellery Street. Well, maybe Grey Eyes would go back there too, looking for me. But I had to take that chance. Tellery Street. Couldn't see under that hat at first. Oh, yeah. You know me? Sure. What can I get you, son? Well, you got an evening paper I could look at? Nope. Sorry. Never read them. Too much trouble in the world these days, anyhow. You haven't been around two or three weeks. Oh, well, I've been kind of busy. Look, Pop. I made a bet with a guy that even though you see so many customers, you'd walk right up and give me my full name. Oh, well, I'm sorry. I don't know it. I don't think I ever heard your name. But I know your girl. My girl? You do, huh? Well, maybe I can still win my bet if you'll give me her name. Gee, I've heard you mention it. I'd know it if I heard it. Well, see if I can steer you a little. Now, is it Mary? Nope. Alice? Lillian? Ah, Margaret. No. Wait a minute. Wait. I know Ruth. That's it, Ruth. Ruth? Yeah. Well, sure, you got it. Now, now, what's Ruth's last name? Gee, I don't know her. I know where she lives, though. You do? Yeah, right across the street. The Tilery Apartments. Well, that's right. But now, now, what apartment? What's the number of Ruth's apartment? 3C. Apartment 3C. Say, that's pretty good if I do say so. I was only there once. Remember? The night I brought the sandwiches over... Yeah, well, thanks. Will you win your bet, mister? What? Oh, yeah, yeah, I think I will. What's your name? So I'll know it next time. I'll tell you tomorrow. I hope. So long. So long, Pop. Thank you. I'll be... What's the matter? Nothing. Nothing, I... Just tie him a shoe. I'd just been going to walk out when I saw him standing across the street gray eyes again. I took down behind the store window and watched him. He looked over in my direction and then up and down the street. Oh, then he did a cigarette and stole down the corner. The minute he disappeared, I yanked the door open, dashed out, ran across the Tilery Apartments and went in. I'm here twice today. He may be in the neighborhood right now, for all you know. Oh. Oh, well, flattery, of course. Has he got gray eyes? What? Yeah. Did you ever see a detective that didn't? Oh, sure, sure. Danny, what's the matter with you? You're acting so strangely. Well, I... I just want to look at you. You seem so different, so far away. You haven't kissed me. Well, that's easily fixed. Oh, darling, where have you been for three weeks? All around. Miss me? You know I did. Oh, Danny, do you suppose... do you think we could get away tonight? I've got $3,000 saved up. We could go to Mexico or South America. We could get married. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Nearing, tour of the world. Daniel Nearing? Yeah, and wife. Sounds plenty good to me. Oh, you will never know how good. We'll get out of here tonight. I'll call up and tell him I'm quitting my job. I'll say I'm sick. All my stuff's here. Nothing's out there but a couple of uniforms. I'll make Almond Franklin a present of those. Almond Franklin? Don't you bother your pretty head about those two charmers. Maybe they weren't glad when it happened. A couple of vultures by bite of them. All with you back, Danny. Just think with my $3,000 we could... Do you think you ought to quit your job? Absolutely, I think so. I was never cut out to be a nurse, anyway. I guess you weren't. Any more than I was cut out... Any more than you were meant to be a secretary. That's right. Well, I never wanted to be a secretary. Just drifted into it, I guess. Kind of got on my nerves, especially toward the end. You know, the boss was no cinch to work for. He certainly wasn't. He was a rat. The whole Dietrich bunch are mean, rotten, the whole family. Yeah, that's right. I'll accept the old man. Oh, yeah, the old man. I sort of liked him, didn't I? He loved you, Danny. I think he wished you'd been his son. Poor old man. He's the only reason I've stuck around out there this long. How are things out there? Oh, they've been questioning all of us. They've laid off lately, though, since you... Oh, Danny, don't let's talk anymore about it. You're back. That's the main thing. I just want to forget New Jericho and the whole... New Jericho, huh? Yes. Oh, if only it hadn't happened. What hadn't? You know what? Oh, Danny, what's going to become of you and me? I wish I knew. Danny, get away from that window. Leave that shade down. He's down there. Who? Grey eyes. He's standing in front of the hydrant. He's coming in here, in the building. Oh, did he see you? Ruth, will you help me? What are you going to do? I'm going to give myself up. No, no, don't... Well, it's better than getting shot at. What can they do to me? You crazy fool, they can send you to the chair. The chair? What do you think happens to a man when he's guilty of murder? Ruth, listen to me. I'm not a murderer. If the whole world says I committed murder, I say I didn't. The me that's in me says I didn't. I never said you were, Danny. I always said you didn't do it. I hope you hadn't run away. So that's it. You come here, Danny. Why? Ruth, wait. We've got to get out of here. How about the fire escape shaft? Dom Wader. Dom Wader, come here. I'll get in. I'll stand on top and work the ropes. I don't think it can hold us both. Got to. Can you hear me? Yes, yes, Danny. We're going back there to New Jericho. New Jericho, baby. I've got to. I've got to find out. We're going together. No. No, Danny. No, I've got the money. We can get out of here. No, stop it. From here on in, we're sticking together. They're going to take me back there. Back where it happened. All right, darling. It's crazy, but I'll go wherever you go. I can't lose you again. On the train, Ruth and I said very little to each other. While I hid in the telephone booth at the Pennsylvania station, she bought us a couple of cheap overcoats. I sat hunched up in mine, thinking. Ruth had brought along the newspaper clippings. I looked at what they said for the 20th time, trying to see if there was anything there that would help me. Dietrich Slayer's salt, it said. The secretary wanted him brutal slaying at suburban estate. Police are pressing the search for Daniel Neering, secretary and the employer of the late John Dietrich 58, member of a well-known local family who was shot and killed in the drawing room of his new Jericho estate on the morning of November the 7th. Neering disappeared on November the 7th on the morning of which date he is known to have had a bitter quarrel with the deceased. This last was attested to at the inquest by Elma and Franklin Dietrich, widow and brother of the murdered man. Well, I had all the facts now. Wanted for murder. And yet everything that was in me told me that no matter who I'd been, however many memories I'd lost, that I was no killer, that I couldn't have. I had to get into that Dietrich house and stand again in the room in which it had all happened. Maybe something would come back to me. Maybe there would be... Nothing to do in town. I came out to write some letters. Let's go then. Oh, Danny, I'm scared. Please, let's not stay out here. You said you loved me. I do, Danny, I do. That's why I'm scared. They're only going to the village. They'll be back in half an hour at the most. Come on, open the door, Ruth. Hurry. I've got to see the inside. That room, the place where it happened. It's wrong, Danny. I'm telling you, you're wrong. Open the door, Ruth. Quickly. Now, let's have a look at that room. Please, Danny, please don't. Don't talk about it. This is where I'm supposed to have murdered John Dietrich. Danny, please. Where was it? Show me exactly where it was, Ruth. I've got to know. He was standing by the grandfather's clock when... Why are you going crazy, Danny? If they get you, you'll hang. Why, the clock? You still believe in me, don't you, Ruth? I believe you, Danny, but I'm scared. I love you. Ruth, wait a minute. What's that? It's only the old man. He's asleep in that room off there. Don't go in there, Danny. You'll wake him. I want to see him. No. No, don't, Danny. He can't help you. You know he's paralyzed and he can't talk. Turn on the light. I want to see him. You walk him. It's me, Mr. Dietrich. Ruth. This is Danny. You remember Danny, don't you? Hello, Mr. Dietrich. See how his eyes are shining. Yeah. Was he here when it happened? You know that, Danny. Why do you ask such funny questions? He's in a bed here for five years. That mirror. On the wall there. The clock. Look. You can see the grandfather's clock in the other room. What are you getting at, Danny? He could see it. The old man could see the murder through the mirror. If only he could talk. He can't talk. You scare me, Danny. He saw the man who killed John Dietrich. Look, look. He understands what I'm saying. He's blinking his eyes. Oh, stop torturing him, Danny. You can't just see what you're doing. Danny's trying to say something. Look. Look. His eyes are blinking. He's gonna help me. Go outside and watch, Ruth. Go on. Now watch out at the entranceway. Be careful, Danny. Please, they'll be back in a minute. Alright, leave me alone with him. I'll call if I hear them coming. Look now, Mr. Dietrich. Don't be afraid. I'm gonna ask you a question and you're gonna answer me. Are you trying to tell me something about the murder? Now, blink your eyes. Blink twice if you are. And that's it. Once. Twice. That's good. Did you see it happen? Here, in your mirror. Blink once if the answer is no. Twice if the answer is yes. Once. Twice. You're dead, huh? You saw it. Now then, is the murderer in this house? Danny, Danny, they're coming. Franklin and I, my God, are here. Run, Danny, run. Is the murderer in this house? Blink once for no, twice for yes. Yes. In this house. Danny, Danny, they're coming. Wait, wait, I've almost got it. Now, Mr. Dietrich, was it me? Once for no, twice for yes. Was it me? Get out of here, Danny, into the big room behind the curtains. I'll talk to them. Alright, alright. Thanks, Mr. Dietrich. I'll be back. Is that you and Father's room? Yes. Are you here alone? Oh, yes. Why? No, he thought we heard voices. What are you so jittery about, Ruth? I'm just tired, that's all. May I go to bed now? Father's still awake, Ruth. He'll go to sleep alright. I'm going upstairs, Mrs. Dietrich, now. Good night, Ruth, and take your flashlight with you. Oh, I'm sorry. It was dark on the road tonight. Good night, Ruth. Good night. She's brought him back here with her. He might think. Who? Dan? Oh, Franklin. Take it easy. If he's here, we'll get him. After the evidence we gave against him at the hearing, I... Oh, I'm frightened. Let's get out of here fast. I'll go to the village for the police. Call the police. No, I'll do it. Hello? Hello? It's too late. It's dead. The wire is cut. Come on, we'll both drive to the village. But he may be waiting for us out by the car. Uh-uh. Oh. What? Yeah. What are you doing there, Franklin? I think I just might need my gun. Come along. The moment they left the house, I made for the old man's room. I called for Ruth, but she was gone. Maybe Franklin and Elma had caught her after she cut the telephone wire. But I couldn't wait. My life was hanging on minutes now. I shot the flashlight on the old man's face. Now, Mr. Dietrich, you're helping me fine. You know I'm trying to save my life, don't you? Now, the murderer. Was it me? Was it me who did it? Me, Danny Neering. Blink once for no. Once. Once. Oh, you're sure. You're sure it wasn't me. Oh, you're smiling, Mr. Dietrich. Smiling. Now, it was somebody in this house. Then who was it? Oh, can't you make a sound? Help me, you've got to. Was it Elma? Twice for yes, once for no. Once. Not Elma. All right, then. Was it Franklin? Up with the hands, Neering. Up, but you'll never get a trial. Franklin, look, you've got to listen. You've got to. Shut up and drop that flashlight. I'm trying to kill the old man, too, huh? The murderer returns to the scene of his crime, huh? You know I didn't kill him. Now, you tell that to the police. Elma will have me in a couple of minutes. Where's your girlfriend, Ruth? She's not here. I don't know where she went. Never mind. They'll find her. You're a dead duck, Neering. You killed my brother and beat it. Where'd you get out of it? I thought it was puzzle-less. You killed your brother, and you're going to kill me. You've gone nuts, too. Why should I kill my own brother, you idiot? To get his share of the estate and his wife, Elma, amongst other things. But you can't stop with killing me. Someone else knows the truth. The old man saw it in the mirror. You'll have to kill your own father, too. The old man saw it? How do you know? He told me. Oh, you're lying. He can't talk. He can't even move. He can hear. And he can blink his eyes. Come over here and look. Now, look here. I don't... Ruth! He'll be all right. I heard him. He was going to kill you. Here's the gun, Danny. Take it. Oh, Ruth, you shouldn't have. In another minute, I... I'm not sure it was Franklin. Oh, Danny, darling, please. Let's run for it. They'll be here in a second. It's your last chance. I'll swear you did it. Not if I can be with the old man in another half-minute. Mr. Dietrich. Mr. Dietrich. It's Danny again. No, Danny, don't. Don't. All right. Tell me, Mr. Dietrich. Was it Franklin? Did Franklin kill your son, John? Blink once if he did. He's afraid. Oh. Why are you afraid? Oh. Oh, there's this gun here. Take the gun, Ruth. You take it. He's afraid. I'm not going to hurt you, Mr. Dietrich. But what's the matter? Why don't you answer me? Who killed John Dietrich? It wasn't me. It wasn't Elma. It wasn't Franklin. But someone in the house. Was it Ruth? Ruth! You! I told you. I told you not to come. Oh, I love you, Danny. I wanted you. I wouldn't have let them get you. Why? Why, Ruth? Why did you kill him? He was always after me. He wouldn't leave me alone. I hated him. Then that night he came at me, threatened me. Said he'd kill me. If he couldn't have me, nobody could. He had a gun. I got it away from him. We hit the clock. He leaned against it. He'd never fall down and die. It was the day you ran away, and I was crazy. They thought it was you. They started looking. I love you, Danny. I still love you. I begged you not to come back here. Ruth, put down that gun, Ruth. No. Stand back, Danny. Stay over there. I just want to look at you. I was hoping we could get away together. But you've been through enough, Danny. Not because of me. Now you're clear, Danny. And this is going to clear me. I guess that's about all there is to tell. I tried to put it all behind me. To resume my life where I left off over three years ago. Sometimes when I get to it evening, I go and walk along Tilleries Street. Once in a while, somebody, somebody I don't know, will say, hello, Danny. And I just say hello and walk on. I don't want to find out anything anymore. I want it all to die away and be still. And it will. All except Ruth. Because somewhere behind that black curtain, I was loved and loved someone. We must have known a love that I'll never know again. So closes the black curtain, starring Mr. Kerry Grant, tonight's tale of suspense. Since the beginnings of history, people have enjoyed wine. Ages ago, our ancestors found that wine made any food taste better. Wine is a simple pleasure that anyone can enjoy. That is why Roma has devoted all its wine-making skill to producing wines of fine quality at a price that means you can enjoy them often. Just a few cents a glass. Don't feel that you need fine crystal or a special occasion to serve Roma wines. Next time you have a quick supper, serve Roma wine in plain tumblers with your spaghetti or cold meats. And notice how much more enjoyment and zest it adds to the meal. Serve Roma wine often, cool or chilled. You'll quickly discover why Roma, R-O-M-A, Roma wines are America's largest selling wines. Yes, Roma wines are true to type. Roma wines are faithful in flavor. Roma wines are sound of character. Roma wines are reasonable in cost. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Our thanks to Kerry Grant for his suspenseful performance here tonight. And Mr. Grant wants us to say that he will be listening with you next week at the same hour to Mr. Robert Young in the story called The Night Reveals. Don't forget then, next week, same time for Robert Young in Suspense. Presented by Roma wines, R-O-M-A, Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.