 Murder by Experts. The Mutual Broadcasting System presents Murder by Experts. With your host and narrator, Mr. John Dixon Carr, world-famous mystery novelist and author of the recently published bestseller, The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This is John Dixon Carr. Each week at this time, Murder by Experts brings you a story of crime and mystery, which has been chosen for your approval by one of the world's leading detective writers. Those experts who are themselves masters of the art of murder and can hold density at its highest. This time, our guest expert is the noted mystery writer, Mr. Bruno Fisher, who has selected the first moving, realistic study of a killer at large, written by Joseph Ruskell and Paul Monash. And now we present Kenneth Lynch in prescription for murder. On a Midwestern highway, a car bearing two men moves at a good speed through a dark and stormy night. The driver of the car has just turned on the car radio. Now for the local and state news. The giant manhunt is on tonight for escaped convict, Curly Elkins, who got his way out of the state prison at Harman a few hours ago, killing two guards in the getaway. Roads in the vicinity of Harman have been blocked, and search parties are combing the woods for the escaped desperado. All citizens are asked to be on the alert for Elkins, who is armed and dangerous. Elkins is six feet two, blue eyes, brown curly hair, pale complexion, with a horizontal scar on the left cheek. He was last seen wearing... Why didn't you turn it off, Doc? Well, that is the fog's bad enough without news like that distracting me. Hey, watch that wheel, Doc. Your hand's shaking. Why are you so nervous? Nervous? Well, it's just this fog. I can't see an inch ahead of me. It gives me the jetties. Oh, yeah. Say, thanks for stopping to give me a lift. Oh, that's perfectly all right. Didn't think I'd ever get a lift tonight. No one likes to take on a hitchhiker. You from these parts? In a way. You said you were going into town? Yeah. Which town? Oh, same one you're headed for. Somerset? Yeah, Somerset, that's it. You know, it's funny how you get chummy on the road and tell your life's history, huh? See you're Dr. Richard Bennett. You're going to Somerset to take over some ailing old MD's practice. His daughter, too, huh? Your name again, Marsha? Yes. What town did I pick you up at, friend? Harman. So you've never seen Marsha or her old man, huh? Well, I know. No, I haven't. Just exchanged letters with her from overseas, Japan. Now here you are, coming to a strange town to take over. Life history. It's funny the way guys open up on the road, ain't it? Now you take me. You know all about me, too, huh? No, I don't. You sure? You didn't say a word. You didn't open your mouth till now, just now and... But what? When you turned the radio off and stared at me? I stared at you? Yeah. Now watch the road, Doc. What was so interesting? Nothing. Nothing at all. No, no, come on, tell me, Doc. Why did you look at me like that? Why the sudden once-over? The once-over? What gave you that idea? Never mind my ideas, Doc. I'm wondering about yours. But listen, you... You suddenly got a bright idea, didn't you, Doc? You saw the light, huh? Maybe you can see this, too. This gun. Now wait a second. Okay, Doc. Just pull over to the side of the road. Come on, Doc. Be smart. Pull over. Oh, no. No, I'm not going to pull over. I'm going faster. It's 55 now. 60. You can't shoot me, Elkins. Not now. Not before I keep it going this fast. You got this figured all wrong, Doc. I can let you have it. After all, what have I got to lose? If I get caught, it's the chair. If we go off the road, so I get killed, so what? But you, you get killed, too, Doc. And you've got a lot to lose. Now look, I'm going to count to five, Doc. If you don't stop by then, I'm going to give it to you. One, listen, Doc. Stop the car now, and you'll be okay. Two, maybe I'll take your car, but what have I got to gain by killing you? Three, Doc. Three. I'm not stopping. Out here in the country, you'll be stranded for the night, but I don't have to shoot you, Doc. I'll get my head start. Four, I said four, Doc. Getting kind of close. How do I know you won't shoot me? If you're only chance. You don't stop now. I'm surely going to let you have it. The other way, you got a chance. That's better, Doc. Now you're playing it smart. Okay, Doc, get out, but don't try anything. Now look, Elkins, you have nothing to gain by... I know, Doc. I said that myself. Now start walking into those woods. But don't argue with me. Get going. You still got a chance, Doc. Just trust your luck. It's been pretty good so far. Got you to be your sore bones, got your girl. This'll do, Doc. Stop here. Now we can't be seen from the road. Elkins, I was only trying to be a decent guy, giving you a ride. Good, Doc. You're a good guy. You're a big guy, too. Just about my size. I got you a coat, Doc. We're going to change clothes. Sure. Sure. Come on. A shirt, too. Here's my coat. With a shirt. A silk shirt, huh? Nice. A pants. Come on, hurry, hurry. It's fine, it's fine. Don't bother to put my stuff on. You won't catch cold. You don't have to be modest, because... Who do you know? Too soon to close my car. What a break. There's not a lot to get cold. Slugs must be wet. Come on, baby. Start. Stop. Somebody's coming. Motorcycle cop. What's the idea? What's the matter? Your tail light's out. Want somebody to come along and smash into you? Guys, it was on last time I noticed. Headlights are okay. Let me stop my motor and see if that makes any difference. All right. Maybe it went on then. That is the second I'll have a look. No, I'll switch on your frights. See if it works that way. Okay. Just the second. A copper, just the second while I shift into reverse like this. A copper. They wouldn't waste any time. Well, let's see your license. Jameson, you've come on the side. What's the matter, officer? There's something wrong. Plenty. Some guy escaped from the state prison. Now, let's see your license. My license? You got one, ain't you? Yeah. Yeah, it's right here. A wallet someplace. Yeah, here it is. Let's see now. Six feet, two. 190 brown hair. Bennett. Dr. Richard Bennett? Huh? Oh, so you're the new doc coming to some set. What? Yeah, yeah, that's right. Yeah, I heard old Doc Milburn's been expecting you. Doc Milburn's expecting him. The whole town's expecting him. Excuse us for stopping you like this now. Yes, sir. This is a heck of a reception. Practical being me mistook for an escaped convict. Well, uh, look, Red, I got an idea. Why don't we greet Doc Bennett here in style? You're going off duty in a few minutes anyway. Give him a motorcycle escort to Marsha's place. That's a swell idea. Now, wait a minute. We'll take no for an answer. No, sir. Boy, would I like to see Marsha's face when you pull up with that siren going? Well, I look, fellas. I appreciate all this. Skip it, Doc. I'm already on the motorcycle. Come on. Let's go. Thanks a lot, officer. See you later. Sure, sure, but, uh, let me get Marsha first. No, no, that's all right. You just run along. I don't mind at all. Everything's fine. Look who I got. Don't you know him? Well, Red, I never saw that man before in my life. Hey, what goes? Look, you didn't you say you was Dr. Richard Bennett? Oh, yes, yes. Dr. Richard Bennett. Oh, Dick, can you ever forgive me? Say, what is this? I thought you recognized me at first sight, Marsha, after all our letters. Oh, Dick, do come in, please. Don't stand out here. Look, Marsha, what is going on? Oh, it's all right, Red, and thanks for showing him the way. You see, Red, we'd never really met. Well, anyway, it's all right. Leave it to a woman to fow things up, eh, Doc? Had me thinking you were that escaped convict for something for a minute. Oh, Red. Well, we've seen you. Goodbye, Red. Well, Dick, do come in, please. Oh, I'm so glad you're here. Well, don't stand out there. Come on. You know, we'd just about given you up. It's so late, and Dad and I thought that with the fog and all over the road, well, look, I'll call Dad. You know, I hoped you'd look like this, but I never saw it. But I would have known you. I think I'd have known you, too, Dick, if you'd given me one second more. Tall, serious-looking, but you didn't write me that you were wounded. Wounded? Well, that scar on your cheek. Oh, sadly, well, I... Who's that? Just came in, Marshal? Dad, he's here. Oh. Uh, Dr. Bennett. Well, Dr. Bennett, well, well, at last. Hello, Dick. Don't mind my calling you that, though. We've never met. Good to see you, Dr. Melbourne. You must be tired and hungry. Well, I have a little. Of course you are. I'll show you after your room, and Marsha, warm up something for Dick. All right, Dad. Hurry, or I'll tell Dick all about Scotty. The motorcycle cop used to keep company with... Oh, Dad. Until your male romance started, of course. Well, we can all have a nice long chat. You two can talk about those soulful letters, but save me a moment with him. I shall discuss his new patience. All right, Dad. And, uh, I'd like him to see some X-ray plates. I've just developed them. Right this way, Dick. Uh, okay. Over here. Here they are, Dick. X-ray shots. Get to know your future patience inside out. Yeah. Um, I know it's late, but here's one I'd like your diagnosis on. My diagnosis? We'll see if it checks with mine. Yeah, take it. Hold it up for a while. Ah. What do you make of it? What? What do I make of it? Well, uh... I'd say... I'd say... Dick. Huh? You will have your little joke, eh? What do you mean? Oh, you know well enough what I mean. You're holding that X-ray upside down. Hungry. Never been hungry in my life. Do you want any more, Dick? No, no. You just take it easy. Dick, you seem so jumpy. Is there anything wrong? Wrong? No. I'm just tired. Well, you know how it is coming into a strange town. Taking over a new practice. Patience, I don't even know. Got me sort of phased. But that's what I always like about you. Your attitude. Attitude? When things go wrong. Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, you finish it, Dick. Finish it? I'd like to hear you say it. Say what? The rest of the poem. Poem? I don't know it. Oh, stop kidding, Dick. It's Invictus. Yeah? Well, I still don't know it. That's strange. Why? Some people like one poem, others... Well, they don't. What's strange? Because that was your favorite poem, Dick. You quoted it to me in one of your letters. Remember? How are you feeling now, Dick? Uh, okay, I guess. I'll better get a good night's rest, then you can start writing tomorrow. Tomorrow? You mean start treating patients tomorrow? Oh, yes. Sooner you take over, the better. Oh, but I'm all fagged out, Doc. I need a rest. Oh, by tomorrow you'll be as fresh as days. No, no. Look, I need a couple of days. That's all. A couple of days and then I'll be husset. Well, Dick... Let me get accustomed to things, then. I'll see who it is, Dad. Excuse me, Dick. Is your dad in, Marsha? Yes, Red. Oh, good lord. What's happened? There's been an accident. What? Why, it's Scotty. Yep. He must have got run over. I found him lying on the road near his motorcycle. Unconscious. Dad! Dad! Come here quick! What's happened? It's Scotty. He was run over. Great heavens. Bring him into my office. Easy now. Easy. All right, Doc. Put him down there. Here? Yeah, on the couch. Okay. Scotty? Oh, Scotty. Looks like hit and run, Doc. I'm going down to headquarters and reporting. Yes, Red. You do that. Call me at headquarters when you finish. Marsha, this is his... Here, Dad. Got to cut away his uniform. Scotty? Scotty, this is Marsha. Listen, Scotty. What happened? No nasal or oral hemorrhage. Good. Some guy parked at the side of the road. Easy now. Want to listen to your heart. How is he, Father? He'll be all right. Oh, thank goodness. Multiple contusions of abrasion. Will you have to move him to the hospital, Dad? Not now. First aid right now. He ran over me on purpose. He went to kill me. What? I think it was escaped killer, Curly Elkins. Curly Elkins? Did you get a good look at him? Scotty, describe him. We'll notify headquarters. Well, his height was about... Dr. Milburn, I'll take over the patient. Oh, Dick. But, Dr. Bennett, I don't... I thought you wanted to wait a few days. I know, but you were right. I got to begin sometime. It may as well be now. That voice. What is it, Scotty? That voice. Just... Lost consciousness again. What did he say? I don't know. Something about a voice. Just leave him to me. I'll handle it. Well, let me explain the case. I know. It's an accident case. How did you know? I'm a mind reader. Pretty obvious, isn't it? Well, my diagnosis... I'll make my own diagnosis. All right, but I'll just stay around and help. No, no help. What? No one's going to help me when you're gone, so I want to handle my very first case in this town alone. Very well. But, Dick, can I? I always help. Father and case... Oh, Marsha, you go too. Now, don't worry. I know he means a lot to you both. Rest easy. I'll take good care of him. Very good care of him. All right. All right. Let's go, Marsha. How do you feel, Scotty? Who... Who are you? Let you know. Honest. How did you get run over? Did you get a good look at the driver? No. You sure? I want to see Old Doc Milberg. Why? What do you want to tell him? You sure you can't identify that driver? No. I don't believe you. You're lying. You said that voice. What voice? What did you mean? I want to talk to Marsha and the doc. Let me see him. I'm taking care of you, Scotty. I'm going to fix you up good right now. Scalpel to do the check. Take it easy, Scotty. What are you trying to do? I still just a little unsure of seat to make sure you feel all right. I wish he had hurry with Scotty. Dad, there's something funny about him. Isn't there? You think so, too? Yes, I do. I recited a poem to him. One he had sent me in. Well, he didn't remember it. That's nothing to condemn a man for, but I don't know. Maybe we'd better check up while he's busy with Scotty. Yes, I can call his club in Los Angeles. Get a description of him. Maybe you'd better. All right. Hello? Hello, operator? Operator? Put down that phone. He said put down that phone. That's better. We don't want the police now, do we? What have you done to Scotty? Get a box for him after I'm gone. Dr. Bennett? You're not Dr. Bennett. That's right. My name is Elkins, Curly Elkins. Dr. Bennett is lying out in the woods with a bullet in his head. I got a bullet for each of you, too, if you make one false move. You're not going to get away with this, Elkins. Dad, don't! Why, you old... That was dumb of you, Doc. Never rush a guy with a gun. Now, listen to me, both of you. In case the cops return to check on Scotty's condition, you won't let him in the door. Scotty was fixed up, so he didn't want to wait for a rest. If either of you say one word out of turn, you're going to get it. What do you want from us? Why don't you leave? I'm staying right here, sister, right in this house until the heat's off. Remember this. I'll just as soon kill you as look at you. I'm staying put. You're going to cover for me. Because if you don't, if you or your old man try anything, it'll give me away. It's curtains for both of you. How does that sound? Convincing? Well, well, that wasn't such a bad night now, was it? Cozy, just the three of us? A lot better than the pen, huh? You can't keep this up forever, Elkins. Someone's sure to find out. And then... Then it's flowers for you. Yeah, and for your Marsha too. Get up, Doc. I don't like to see you always laying around, see? Can't get up. You heard his back when you hit him with your gun. But we'll get even with you, Elkins. You can't keep us prisoners forever. One of us will find a way. You can't always stay up chain-smoking. You've got to go to sleep sometime. Yeah, sure I do, sis. But when I do, I'll take your old man into the room with me and tie him up. Then I'll lock the door and sleep with a gun under my pillow. If anyone tries to get into that room... You've got it all figured out, haven't you, Elkins? But what are you going to do in a couple of hours when my patients come in? I thought of that too, Doc. You'll tell them all you got kind of crippled falling down the stairs, see, and you'll send them away. But you won't let out one peep because all the time I'll be upstairs with Marsha. She'll stay alive as long as you play ball, Doc. That's just how long. No more. Let's take her to the salon. Hurry up with that coffee. It's not boiled yet, Elkins. Let's take her to the salon. You're grown it. You've got to have a swallow of java, you hear? Marsha's bringing it. What's the matter? Why are you so jumpy? Why are your eyes so bloodshot? Shut up. Look at your hands trembling. What is it? Pantions? I doubt it. Shut up, Doc. Climb up, you hear? Nerves? What are you afraid of? You've got the gun in your hand. Climb up, I say, or I'll... Let's see who's jumpy. As soon as I've had my coffee, just wait. I'm going to be glad to get rid of me, hey, Doc. Half an hour it'll be dark, and I'm scramming out of here. You feel good about that, eh, sore bones? I can't say I'll be sorry. You hear that, Marsha? He thinks I'm going off and leave you two here to blow the whistle on me. He thinks I'm fool enough to do that. But they take me for a dope. Elkins, no. Good heavens, man. Surely you won't. Elkins, do anything you want to me, but Marsha... She's deaf and dumb. She can't talk to the cops. I promise we won't. We won't be the word. Not a word. I beg you. Ask me, Doc. Ask me right who knows. Come on with that job. Coming. You like it hot, don't you? Give it here. Yeah, maybe I will, maybe I won't, Doc. Maybe I'll kiss you both goodbye. Or maybe two bullets will do it. Can't be sure. Give you kind of a funny feeling, huh? Drink your coffee. Why? Why what? Why are you so anxious for me to drink this cup of coffee? You wanted it, didn't you? Is it good? I hope so. You hope so, huh? You hope maybe a few drops of poison will do the trick and get rid of me, huh? What are you talking about? You wouldn't try a little thing like that now, would you? To save your own neck here. You drink it. Me? Yeah, you drink it. Drink it, I say. Take a few swabs. Very well. Why not? For the silly things. Give it here. There. Are you satisfied now? Okay. I wasn't taking any chats. Give me that coffee now. Dad. B-C-D. B-C-D. C-2-S-O-4, quick. What's all that? What was that double talk? Double talk, okay. Come on, spill it. What was it all about? Where's she run off to? She's gone to the next room to the dispensary. What for? To get a drink. Drink? Of what? Of a certain liquid. What? What for? What is this? Tell me, you scheming old devil, or I'll kill you right now. What did she ask you? What did you answer? What? My daughter just asked me the antidote for poison. I gave it to her. A antidote? Poison? That's poison coffee. You both just drank, Elkins. It would take exactly 60 seconds to kill you. 60 seconds? No. No. Wash it. Wash it. Yes, Elkins? I... May I help you? I... Do you want something in this laboratory? A antidote, a swallow. Oh, yes, I took some myself. Quite well now, thank you. Give it to me. Where is it? No, isn't it a pity? I forget. Where is it? A bottle? Which one? Which... Doc, doc, tell me. Tell me which one. Inside's burning. Which one? C-2-S-O-4. What's that? The antidote. See what? But the full name's on the bottle. What's the mean? What's the name? You're a doctor, aren't you? Surely you weren't merely posing. Give me a break. Any doctor would know, Dr. Bennett. Get it for me. It hurts, get it. I'd be glad to, Dr. Bennett. You had crippled me, but I can't move. I must lie on this couch, perhaps, for life. Or else I'd get the bottle for you and save you. There is no antidote... to death. And so the curtain falls on prescription for murder, which was chosen by guest expert Bruno Fisher, whose latest thriller, The Restless Hands, will soon be published. Next week at this time, Murder by Experts brings you the story of an invisible menace, which terrorizes a whole city. Selected for your approval by the noted mystery writer, Mr. Lawrence Blockman. Until then, this is your host, John Dixon Carr, hoping you'll be with us again next week at this time. Prescription for Murder was written by Joseph Ruskell and Paul Monash. In the cast were Kenny Lynch, Kathy McGregor, Roger DeCoven, Bernie Grant and Jack Curtis. Music is under the direction of Emerson Buckley, composed by Richard Dupage. Murder by Experts is produced and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Cogan. All characters in our story were fictitious. Any resemblance to the names of actual persons was purely coincidental. This is Phil Tonkin speaking. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.