 Have you heard the strange tales of the whistler I didn't ask you to marry me you asked me And you said you were going to get a job, so you wouldn't be dependent on your mother I was happy then Barry and proud of you another Saturday night and again CBS presents the whistler No 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 weird story of the man who waited a Huge estate spreads out before you the ancestral home of the Bartlett's set amid the peaceful New England countryside The war has not yet come. It is 1937 The estate is ruled by Lydia Bartlett a cold cantankerous woman ill with heart trouble Into this unhappy setting has come young Genevieve Garrison to act as secretary companion to bedridden old Lydia Bartlett Lydia has but one child a son Barry recently returned from a tour of Europe The handsome young Barry is immediately attracted to lovely Genevieve and after a month has passed Genevieve, where are you? I've been looking all over for you So this is your hiding place. No one ever comes up here except the birds. It's mighty windy up here in the tower I love it. It sings to me. Yeah You're a strange girl You know, I think you're part of this wilderness some wild thing that shows itself for an instant and then disappears That's your charm for me. Genevieve that that unattainable wildness that that lures me Please Barry. Oh I know mother'd have a fit if she knew I were in love with you then you must be sensible Barry After all she controls the estate and you'd have nothing if you were to make her angry Your eyes are almost black when I see them so close Are you frightened Genevieve? No That is your heart's beating so fast. No Let me go Barry. Are you frightened? Or is it? Yes, I am frightened Will you marry me darling? I mean would you marry me if if I were able? Yes, Barry. Yes You know that I'll have to find some sort of a job if we marry Mother would cut me off in a minute. You know how she feels about marriage. Yes We'd best forget about it Barry. I wouldn't want to cause any trouble between you and your mother You better go now. Oh, you're too lovely for words, Genevieve. Barry. I love you darling Three months pass by Then one day Genevieve steps into Lydia Bartlett's bedroom. Did you call me Mrs. Bartlett? I certainly did. Where have you been? Put the pillow behind my back and lift my head a little more. There Is that better now? Yes, yes, it'll do. I want to talk to you. What about? About Annie, the maid. Oh Has that young stable boy been visiting Annie again? Well, I think she sees him on her days off Well, I wanted understood once and for all that I'll not tolerate any such nonsense under my roof It must stop. But I think Annie would leave if you forbid her to see the boy She's really very much in love with him. Love? Bosh. Silly nonsense. Mrs. Bartlett You loved your husband, didn't you? My marriage was arranged by my parents It only lasted a short while because he died, but it was a nightmare while it did last love. There's no such thing I'm sorry. I mentioned it and there's something else. I want to talk to you about yes What is it? What's wrong with you lately? You don't look well. You better see dr. Anstead. I have seen him and what did he say? Nothing serious. It's Well a slight heart murmur. He gave me some medicine. I'll be all right Rather take care of yourself. I will Where's the newspaper? Yeah, anything in it? Read it to me. Well There's a tea a charity affair with the proceeds going to the baby shelter baby shelter Women are fools. Well, go on. Go on. What else? Oh a number of engagements and several wedding announcements and What's the matter? Well, what is it? Well, it's it's something something about your son very What do you mean read it seem frequently together our miss Joan Marvell and And mr. Barry Bartlett son of Lydia Bartlett and early announcement is anticipated. Oh He's out of his mind. How dare he do such a thing. I won't have it. I won't Mrs. Bartlett. I I just oh Annie and he come here at once miss Garrison the fainted How are you feeling jennedy mother said you'd been ill but you had some sort of an attack wasn't anything I Had rather a shock my heart isn't too good. I Was reading the paper to your mother and I noticed your name coupled with that of a miss Marvell It was silly of me to give way because I know it can't mean anything now Genevieve II I think I'd better come right out with it. You mean it. It's true. Oh Barry, how could you I've been trying to get up here to discuss it with you You know that such an arrangement as ours is no good. It why if mother ever found out we were married. We'd be sunk It's very unfair. It's just as unfair to me. I didn't ask you to marry me I was content the way things were But when you asked me to be your wife you said you were going to get a job So you wouldn't be dependent on your mother. I was so happy and so proud of you Well, I tried to get a job But it's terribly awkward trying to find something to do when you're not accustomed to it And you can't ask a man of my position to go out and become a garage mechanic or something like that There's nothing dishonorable and becoming a garage mechanic. Oh, don't talk nonsense Naturally, I can't tell my friends my reason that I married naturally. I met Joan some time ago I I was up at King's College with her brother Ned She's grown up to be a most attractive more attractive than I am. I didn't say that It would be a very suitable marriage The Marvelles have parts of money and the old man would give me a place in his business Well, naturally, I planned to take care of you make you a suitable allowance and that sort of thing if you'll divorce me As a matter of fact Joan knows all about you and has consented to marry me if If I can get a divorce she knows about you're being married to me But there's something else. She can't know Barry Well, what are you talking about? I'm going to have a child Your child who knows about it. Dr. Ansteth. I went to see him and he told me what was wrong with me Oh, and that's a good sport He won't talk Anybody else? I've told no one else But I think Annie suspects. Oh, I hope it doesn't get to mother But you can understand now why I can't divorce you I can understand why you think so, but I still think it's a shame Why do these things have to happen to me things have to happen to you Barry? With yours is no great tragedy though. You think yourself so ill-used The harm that is done is not to yourself, but to the woman who loves you so dearly and Can you be sure she won't tell your mother? She wants Mrs. Bartlett. Yes, Annie You're not to let that Joe mobilee into the kitchen. Is that clear? I'll not have that sort of thing going on in my house I'm not seeing Joe in the house. And when I see him I see him open and honest like respectable people Huh, I'm not the only person in this house. It is a gentleman friend either. Well, I'd like to know who that person is I'm not saying anything against anybody Only if I can't see my Joe that keeps his distance and knows his price Why should anybody else be allowed to have a man in this house? Ask Miss Garrison to come up here at once And he said you wish to speak to me Mrs. Bartlett so I do I'll come right to the point What's going on behind my back behind your back? I don't know what you mean. Oh, yes, you do you lie very badly Out with it. I I don't understand Did Annie say anything about me? I was berating Annie for seeing that Joe and she tossed her head and said she wasn't the only person here abouts who had a Gentleman friend only her gentleman friend called on her open and honest Well Is there anything to what she says? Yes, I have a gentleman friend as Annie puts it so elegantly I have more than that. I have a husband a husband your son Barry Barry Barry You're lying. You're lying. He wouldn't dare. He knows what he means to me He couldn't do this to me it seems he did Mrs. Bartlett and you put him into it Of course you would say that but I did nothing of the sort I loved him. He asked me to marry him so he might free himself of your hold on him Barry did that I'll not believe it. Of course. You won't believe it. You don't know the meaning of love. What a way to talk to me I'll not tolerate it another moment. You'll have to tolerate it because there's no way of your stopping me I learned something else from Barry. He has one side to his nature, which he takes from you What do you mean? I married him because he wished it. He was going to find a way that we might live together openly But Barry found he couldn't do what he said he would do He found an easier way to live through another woman who could keep him in the style to which you had accustomed him So he told me this Expecting I would forego my claim to him They bought him I would have released him, but there was another whose claim was greater than mine His child Disgraceful under my very roof. I can't endure any more of this. I'll call my lawyers I'll cut him off without a sense Come in. Oh It's the missus. It's another attack. I'll call dr. Anse. You can call him Annie, but Mrs. Bartlett is dead And now Barry will be free from his mother's apron strings free from financial worry He will inherit the estate to do with as he pleases But still he hasn't everything Joan is forever on his mind. I Had to talk with you Joan has been ages since I've had a moment alone with you. I'm sorry, Barry But I I didn't think it best I've got to talk things over with you when we planned to marry before and you tell me how you'd been tricked into marriage by that That woman I was willing to overlook it if you could get a divorce from her. Oh, that's the devil of it. She won't divorce me now There's going to be a child. Oh Where is she in a nursing home she's been ill ever since mother died for a while They thought she might die too, but she pulled out of it. Oh, I know she must have Well led you on but you're so attractive and she must have been really fond of you But I don't love her dear. I love you. Can't you understand it? I can't give you up I won't very very darling. I love you too, but this isn't a thing we can decide in the moment You must be patient patient Patient you sit there close to me and you ask me to be patient. I will for a while But only for a while Genevieve lying in her narrow bed in the nursing home is trying to be patient too Trying to forget the pain which racks her to the core Trying to keep from calling for the husband who isn't there She had hoped that the birth of their son would bring him back to her Then one evening the door opened Is that you nurse? No Sorry, they said I might see you now Barry. Oh, why haven't you come before I've wanted you so Then how don't go on like that? I've had quite a lot of business connected with the estate which took me away for a bit They sent me a wire about the baby and I came as quickly as I could have you seen him Yes, rum little dickens babies all look alike Well, you'll be as fit as a fiddle before long and after you get out of here there There's some things that must be straightened out what things straightened out. I don't understand all things things I'll see about a house for you and the baby and for me and the baby What about you? Aren't you gonna live with us Barry? No, you see I'm very That girl are you still in love with her? Well Yes, I am I thought when the baby came it would be different. I see it's not well Let me tell you something sit down. You'll have to keep her waiting a while longer They thought I didn't hear them because I was being put under the anesthetic, but I wasn't quite quite out The doctor said she may last for years, but I lay your ten to one. She's dead in three months. Oh Come now You may have imagined it. I didn't imagine it. You know what that means to me Three months to live You can see how important it is that those three months should be spent with you The doctor didn't say a word to me about your being in such a serious condition. I heard him. I See And you don't want to give me a divorce You want me to wait is that it? Yes, Barry, please First it was my mother and now you very There's something I feel I must tell you Something about your mother you don't know Or what do you mean the doctor said she died of a heart attack and she did But she wouldn't have died if I'd given her the medicine for it She'd found out from Annie that I'd been seeing some man and when she asked me who it was I Told her everything You did she went into a tantrum and stormed at me She had an attack and I stood by and watched Watched her gasp for breath and call for help that never came Did that for you for you Barry? Do you expect me to? To go on with you I'd expect you to stay with me and our son during the last remaining months of my life And if you try to leave me or seek to have me put away because of what I've done I'll bring you into it I'll swear it was your idea That you're an accessory the months go by one two Three and Genevieve remembering the conversation which he had overheard between the doctor and the nurse Cannot believe it when she finds herself unmistakably improving in health Well, Genevieve you'd had a rather severe time of it before the baby came and you were quite run down But you've done very well You must watch your heart though Avoid any strenuous activity and keep as calm as possible Harry has sullenly accepted the conditions which have been forced on him But the knowledge that Genevieve was responsible for his mother's death as well as for his enforced separation from the girl He loves makes him sullen and bitter There's no happiness for either of them in this unnatural arrangement But Genevieve holds him with her constant threat Will you ask cook to make me a fresh pot of coffee Annie? This tastes very bitter. Yes, um that cook won't like it Well, I can't drink this it tastes as bitter as strip Never mind Don't take it back leave it. Yes, I'm But I could have sworn it tasted bitter like good morning, Barry Good morning. I'd offer you some coffee, but it's not so very good. No, thanks. I'll just have a look at the paper I had coffee in my room. Oh Since when do you do that? What? Since when do I do what have coffee in your room? I did this morning. Was it the same part? It might have been I don't know. I never noticed why did you notice it was Quite bitter. I can't say that I did might have been standing too long The cook should have sent you some fresh coffee get after her about it. Yes It might have been standing too long It might have been standing too long, but you don't think so do you Genevieve? Not when you know how your husband resents bitterly resents his enforced stay at your side How he wishes the doctors prognosis of your case had been fulfilled If only there was some way to break up this infatuation with John before it's too late Why not call John talk to her yourself? How do you do miss Marvell come in please. Thank you. There will be all any I Suppose you're wondering why I sent for you. Yes. I was a bit surprised to say the least I want to talk to you about Barry Barry's my husband We have a child as you know This is his home, and I've done everything possible to keep him here where he belongs But so long as you continue to see him It will be more difficult for him to make a decision What makes you think I've been seeing him I can tell by the way he acts He thinks he's in love with you and he will continue to think so until you make a definite break Well, Mrs. Bartlett, I've not been seeing Barry. He's tried to reach me many times, but I've purposely avoided him Are you sure? Yes, because I'm going to be married to someone else So you have nothing further to worry about. Let's Barry know this. No, then why haven't you told him? I intend to tell him today. I wish you would he's been well Been acting strangely of late and I'd feel ever so much easier about things if you let him know the truth. I understand Mrs. Bartlett I hope you'll be very happy Miss Marvell and I do thank you for coming It's all for the best, Barry. You don't mean that, Joan. Until I talked to her I was really undecided about marrying Roger Headon, but now I know what to do She's a lovely woman, Barry. The most tragic eyes I've ever seen in my life You must go back to her. She wants you, needs you. You must forget about me So she sent for you, did she? Yes She thought she was being clever. Oh, why doesn't she give up? She knows how I feel I do wish you hadn't gone to her. I'm glad I did. I know now what to do and having seen her talk to her. I Understand you so much better Understand me? Yes, I think you know what I mean Goodbye, Barry. No, please. Joan, please wait a minute You don't really love this, Roger. You're doing this just because of Genevieve. You must think of yourself Think of me. Hold your decision for a few weeks. Why? Well, something may happen I mean, uh Well, if you'll just wait a bit, the picture may change for us. How do you mean? How could that be possible now? Promise me, promise me that you'll wait What are you thinking, Barry? Why? Why nothing? I just want you to wait She said you'd been acting odd. She's imagining things I'll have to hurry now or I'll miss my apartment. Goodbye. I Said goodbye, Barry. Oh Oh, yes Goodbye, Joan Now it is late the same night Genevieve lies wakefully in her bed a car draws up outside the front door opens and closes Genevieve sits up Someone is coming up the stairs. They pause before the door Who is it? May I come in? Yes, Barry Genevieve? Oh, Barry I'm sorry to disturb you at this time of night How do you feel? Well, I feel much better, Barry I... Well, Joan told me that she'd talked to you this afternoon. Yes, Barry We're all washed up, you know She She asked me to come back to you. Oh, Barry If you only would There's a lot of unpleasant memories between us. I try to make you forget them, Barry. I Had decided to go to California. Oh, Barry, please don't stay with me. I need you darling. Please don't go That's the way Barry Don't know what this means to me. We'll really be together again You and the baby Genevieve, Genevieve, Genevieve, what's wrong? It's my heart. What? Excitement. My medicine in the bathroom Please, Barry. Medicine? Yes, the little one with a medicine dropper. Please Yeah. Yes, Genevieve. Medicine drop. Oh, yeah. How much do you take? Five drops. Four Five. There you are. Thank you, Barry. Oh, you'll be all right now, Teneby. You'll be all right in a few moments I'll stay in the other room tonight Barry What is it? That bottle That isn't my medicine. What? No Look, look at the label. That's your mother's medicine. Mother's. Oh, good lord. It is. It's wrong for me That medicine is a heart depressant. Have you done? I can't breathe Genevieve. Well, Barry, what have you done? Genevieve is dead. Isn't this what you wanted? You're free now, Barry. Free Then, 45 minutes later, Dr. Anstead hurries into the bedroom Well, Barry, what is it? What's happened? I don't know, doctor. This is the way I found her. Mm-hmm Well, not sign of a pulse Poor girl. I can't understand it. She didn't prove so much. She's She's dead, doctor. Yes, Barry I'm sorry. I I'm completely dumbfounded. I wait a moment. What's this? What? What's on earth? Why why she's taking some of this medicine? Good good heavens. Yes, I can smell it in the glass. Oh, what's wrong, sir? This isn't her medicine I prescribed this for your mother my mother Genevieve's heart needed a stimulant this induces the opposite reaction She took this by mistake But how on earth could? Well, that's nothing we can do for her now What time did you say you came into the room Barry? Well, well just a few moments before I called you Well, that would be 12 minutes ago. Yes, and that's right. I see She was gasping for breath. She tried to say something, but I couldn't make out what it was. I called you immediately I called you immediately. Yeah. Well, I'll call the undertakers. I'll use the phone in the hall What is in this room mr. Andrews come in. Thank you Barry this is mr. Andrews. Oh, how do you do? How do you do mr. Andrews? There's a police inspector. What? Why the police? I thought you called the undertaker not yet. Oh, why the police Barry? Here's a letter your wife gave me not so long ago It says on the envelope to be opened at my death a letter. Yes, I'll read it to you Yes, dr. Ansteth for many months now my husband has been in love with another woman. I Refused to give him a divorce Lately he's been acting in a strange manner. I Know he wants me out of the way. I know he has tried to poison me I have hoped and hoped that I could bring him back to his senses, but now I'm afraid it's too late If my death occurs, I want you to investigate the circumstances thoroughly signed Genevieve Bartlett But that's ridiculous. I never thought of such a thing. It's all pure imagination. I came back here tonight to stay I realized what a fool I'd been and that matter doesn't prove a thing it proves a motive And furthermore you lied about the time you found her live You said you came into this room 12 minutes before I arrived You said she was trying to speak and that you called me at once 12 minutes elapsed from the time you found her till I came. Yes, that's what I said But she had been dead almost an hour when I saw her what you waited Barry Waited till you're sure she was dead Then you called me. No no no wait a minute doctor. I can explain I can explain down at headquarters. Come on Barry tried to explain he told the truth he had come back to Genevieve to stay He did get the bottle for Genevieve. It was an accident But he couldn't explain why he waited almost 30 minutes before he called the doctor He said he just sat beside the bed in a daze and that was the truth But no one would believe him no one poor Barry CVS has presented the whistler Original music for this production was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hedge Tonight's story was written by Elizabeth Easton then directed by J. Donald Wilson The whistler originates from Columbia Square in Hollywood Next week same time I the whistler will return to tell you another unusual tale Good night. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System