 of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, the master of mystery and adventure, William M. Robeson. Hell half no fury like a woman scorned. When that woman is a reigning movie star who has a contract canceled at the height of a career, the fury can indeed be lethal, as Miss June Lockhart proves in shooting star, which begins exactly one minute from now. Miss June Lockhart as gay lengthening in shooting star, a tale well calculated to keep you in, soft spent. These contract players Dave, Martin, Richard, Doc, Cancel'em. Richard? Uh-huh, but I thought you were... So I play Jane with him and he goes with my daughter. I don't do business that way. Oh, I just meant I thought the boy was pretty good. I can't use him. That's all, Dave. You're awesome. Okay. Yes. Oh, Jeff. That's a here, Jeff. I don't want to hear any more trouble about Dark Lady. If it's the day of my funeral, that picture starts rolling on the 17th. I know Laura Bevan's as expensive, but get her for this picture and bring the papers to my place in the desert. I'll sign them there. All right. Good night. Yes? Mr. Benjamin Cron to see you, Mr. Zimmer. Oh, all right. Send him in. Miss Davis. Yes, Mr. Zimmer? Tell Haines to bring my car around. Yes, Mr. Zimmer. Well, good afternoon, J.D. Hello, Ben. How's the arthritis? Not so good. It's too bad. Going to the desert for the weekend. That's the place. Bake it out. Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about gay lancing, J.D. You thought about it? With Dark Lady? Yeah. I thought about it. And? She's not a type. Not the type who is in with an Italian hatchet? She can't act. How would you know if you've ever given her a chance? Lost Benny, gays. Grayson's sequence and further. She's got the bill for it, even if she don't think so good. But that ain't what the public wants these days. Now they want James and sweatshirts and Levi's and no makeup. Things like Laura Bevin. Don't ask me why. That's the way it is. But if I don't give them what they want, I ain't going to be in business very long. Gays got what it takes, J.D. Then take it somewhere else. Aren't you being a... Listen, Benny, you got no beef. You've had a piece of gay from the beginning. Fifteen percent, they tell me, instead of the usual plan. That's got nothing to do with it. Then who delivered her to you? Who told you that you were the only agent for her? Who? Her? You did, J.D. Okay, now I'm telling you she's at the end of the line. This is going to be rough on her. Yeah, and on me too. Listen, pal. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make it up to you, see? I'll deliver Laura Bevin. Mickey Horowitz handled it. They won't after I tell her you're going to handle it. Well, it's awful nice to see you, J.D. I still don't feel right about gay. Are you going soft or something? There ain't no room for tantrums in this business. You'll be taken care of. You'll get yours. So what do you got to worry about? Up there to crimp, get a lily, rub it up there to get it laid out again. Gays! Oh, Ben, hello. I gotta talk to you, Gays. Oh, come on into my dressing room where I can sit down and take my shoes off. Oh! I've never been so tired. It's harder every time, Benny. Thank heavens, this dance marathon nearly over. And thank heavens, this is my last musical. Gay, I've just seen Zimmer. Oh, Benny, what did he say about Dark Lady? He said no, Gay. No. They're signing Laura Bevin. Laura Bevin? Look, what kind of an agent are you? I'm sorry, Gay, that's the way it is. So my next picture will be another super multicolored musical mishmash. Gay, they're not renewing. They're not? What? They're dropping your option. But I, oh, you must be kidding. Look, I've been with this studio since I was 16. Half my life. I've blown my picture out. J.D. thinks the musical cycle is over. He's like my cycle's over, is that it? He didn't say that, Gay. Just like that. Look, ZSP isn't the only studio in Hollywood. This is, just this morning I was talking with Harry Westerfeld out at Modern Pictures. He says, look out, give me my coat. Where are you going? Does it matter? Now, Gay, take it easy. Look, look, look, you change, and I'll drive you home. You'll feel better. Feel? How would you know how I feel? Gay, I'll figure something. I'll call J.D. at Palm Desert over the weekend. Don't bother. I'll handle this myself. Yeah? Jerry? Yeah. Hello, Iris. I've been calling you all over. What are you doing at the desert? Right now, I'm having a high ball. In a couple of minutes, I'm going to take a sun bath. But your brother and his wife are coming to dinner tonight. Yeah. That's why I'm here. Oh, Jerry. You could be a little more considerate. You could have let me know. Listen, Iris, I stopped punching a time clock a long time ago. I'm not checking up on you, honey. Only you. Only what? Who's down there with you? Nobody. I sent Haynes back with a car. But who'll take care of you? Get your food. I'll have my meal sent in. Honey, are you angry with me? No. I just don't want to be around that leech of a brother of mine shows up. You know, I can't stand him. I can't either, really. I'm just trying to be polite. OK, so be polite. And let me know when he and his wife check out. I'd much rather be with you, Jerry. Well, you know where I am. Wouldn't you like that? Just the two of us this weekend are sort of second honeymoon. Yeah. Sounds great. You don't seem very enthusiastic. Oh, listen, honey, will you get off my back? I got to get some sun before it's all gone. All right, Jerry. I'll talk to you later. OK? OK, Jerry. Hello, JD. Gabe, what are you doing here? I just drove down for a little conference. I understand you want to drop my contract. Oh. Benny told you already, huh? I'm sorry about that, Gabe, but the stockholder's feeling. I've heard that routine before. If you're not dropping me, JD, you're drawing up a new contract for $3,000 a week, seven years, and no option. And you're giving me the lead in Dark Lady. Now, look, Gabe. I want you to call the studio now and arrange it. No, Gabe, you're being ridiculous. After all, in today's market, it's the exhibit of the. I mean what I say, JD. Gabe. Quite a conversation piece, isn't it? So small, and a little pearl handle, but it shoots real bullets. I'd advise you to respect it. But this isn't like you, Gabe. Perhaps you just don't know me very well. Go on, get on that phone, JD, and be careful. Let's see how good an actor you are. Go on. All right. Hello, operator. Get me Hollywood 62424. Now, you know how foolish of being a wife. I even hint at the screen actor's guilt, what should I do? No, you can't scare me. Legal department? Mr. Mitchell, please. If I tell Owen to go ahead with this, legal is going to have a mess on their hands with Laura Bevan. I couldn't care less. Hello, Owen. This is JD. I want you to draw up a new contract for Gay Lansing for seven years. That's what I said. 3,000 a week. No options. The part. Put it in the contract. She's to star in Dark Lady. Put that in the contract. You're right. When you work it out. Very good, JD. How far do you think you can go with this, Gay? Monday morning, I'll cancel that contract, and you'll be blackballed by every studio in town. No. Oh, no. Because now, JD, I'm going to kill you. Yeah? I'm going to kill you, but not right away. No, you don't deserve that. I can't let you die with your complacency unshaken, your smugness unbroken. Stay back. Give me that. My arm. Oh, my arm. Oh, I think it's broken. No, it isn't. It's just twisted. You have yourself to thank for that, JD. You had an expert teach me judo. Remember? So for that wack musical, go on. Get up. Gay, why don't you sit down and we'll talk this over? You think I'm crazy, don't you? No, no, no. I think you're tired. I'm quite sane, JD. I want you to understand that. Now, let me see. Last year, you used a folding wheelchair when your knee was bad. Where is it? I don't know. The hall, maybe? Well, we'll have a look then. Go on, JD. Walk. Open the door. Oh, here it is. All right. Open it up and wheel it out here. Now sit down. Go ahead. Now look. Now, the belt off my jacket should do nicely. Now, this should hold you. And if I need you in another room, I can just wheel you there. I won't have to keep the gun pointed out. That's rude. I know. There. Are you comfortable? JD, this is a very poor job. Oh, I don't like to do this, JD. I am not a criminal. I made a phone call. Your contract is being drawn up. Now, let's have a drink and... You remember the first time you saw me? You were in the chorus of one of Daily's reviews. Not the chorus. I had a specialty. Even at first, I had a specialty. $40 a week. Oh, I thought I'd arrived. I was just 16. And then Zimmer Productions signed you up at ten times that figure. And I made The Sunshine Girl. Do you remember how things were with ZSP in those days? The studio was bankrupt. But I saved you. Oh, they liked The Sunshine Girl. And little by little, I climbed to success. With Zimmer Star Productions on my shoulder. The favor worked both ways, gay. How many girls attend premieres of their own picture before their sales? And did you know how I worked for those premieres and contracts? I've danced my heart out. I even risked my life for you. You were never asked to do that. And when you had the bright idea of a dance routine on a 30-foot globe, I did it. Oh, I still have nightmares about it. Some lights in my eyes. I whirl. I smile. The music goes faster and faster. I look down. I fall. It was eight months before I danced again. Gay. You've always been our most reliable star. Oh, I have, haven't I? No undue husbands, a scandal or temperament. Why break your record? You use me up and then throw me out. You've done enough to me in my career. Tomorrow you'll be the headline. An unfortunate accident. Huh? What are you talking about? You don't swim, do you? A villa in Palm Desert with a pool. A cottage at Carmel with a private beach. A ranch in Oregon with a private lake. But you don't swim, do you, JD? You wouldn't. No, not yet. Tonight I'm going to set a time. Say, nine o'clock. That'll give you three hours and 40 odd minutes to think about it. Then arrest you. You'll go to jail. What's that? I don't know. But you weren't expecting anyway. Well, I'm not. Who is it, JD? Now, let's not play games. Well, maybe it's the delivery boy. I ordered some liquor. Well, I'll handle him. How? Oh, never mind. Well, I'm going to put you in the den and gag you. If I were you, JD, I'd be very, very cooperative. It wouldn't bother me in the least to kill the delivery boy and then make it look as though you didn't. In a moment, we continue with... we continue with Miss June Lockhart in Shooting Star. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Oh, hello. The delivery for Mr. Zimmer. Can you bring him in? Yes. Come in. Where do you want this stuff? Over here in the bar. You mind? No. It's some sort of hot for this late in the afternoon, isn't it? Could you use a drink? Oh, sure. Why not? Got you, OK? Yeah. It's fine. Say, I thought Mr. Zimmer was here alone this time. He is, technically. I'm the secretary. You know what I'd say? Mm-hmm. Here you are. Thanks. Come on. Bottoms up? Why not? You know, you're awfully cute. All right. Get around? Yes, I'll bet you do. How'd you like to get around me? Yeah. Yeah. You're going to be here long? Well, all right. What's that? Nothing. It must be something in the refrigerator I'm defrosting. Maybe you'd better go now. Go? No. Well, you'd better. Oh, that's a quick switch. Well, OK. But I'll see you again, maybe? Maybe. Yeah. Well, goodbye. And, uh, give my compliments to the old man. Oh, I should be very angry with you, J.D., for knocking over that vase. I don't remember that at 9 o'clock. Meanwhile, we can take this gag off. You witch. That's delivery, boy. You not only want to kill me, but my reputation as well. Your reputation? Shall I tell you something about your reputation, J.D.? You're known as a heartless, grasping, slave-driving tyrant. That's rubbish. I'm a hard-working man who got ahead by his own effort. Have you? All by yourself? How about that brother of yours who lent you $400 to get started? It's a rather small time, brother. You don't even talk to now. I happen to know one of the reasons you're here this minute is because he and his family are visiting at your house in Beverly Hills and you don't want to see him. Why should I? I've paid that leech back a hundred times. Then there was the time you took your own partner's wife away from him. He was making her life miserable. And what are you making it? You left her alone on your honeymoon and she's hardly seen you since. That's not true. I'm a busy man, but I'm a family man. And I won't have you trying. You won't be considered a family man after the publicity you're going to get. A producer dies in love nest killing. But then you always taught me any publicity is good publicity. Even when Eric Allen aloaks with someone else on the eve of our wedding you had the publicity department make a front page fall of my broken heart. But Gay, you can't keep down a story like that. You could have tried. You could have tried. You're all right, Gay. Look, let's say you win. Let's say I've made mistakes. But I can always do better. Now, right now I'm tired and hungry. And if you'll just untie me, I'll agree to forget all about tonight. What do you say? And have you go to the police the moment you're free? Oh, no. I won't. You have my word. Look, I'll put it in writing. Well, I think it over. I'll let you know at nine o'clock. But you do have a point, JD. Of course. About being hungry, that is. I am too. Start. Well, we'll have some dinner sent over from the hotel. Ah, let's not. No, they'd send a waiter. And I hate crowds, don't you? Let's see if your larder is as well stocked as your bar. Will you join me? Anyone would know you were a member of the gourmet society, JD. Cornish game hen, hearts of palm and brandy peaches. It's quite a snack. And it's only seven twenty-four. You have plenty of time to enjoy it. Do I untie you so you can eat? Certainly, I'm not hungry. Oh, but you must eat something. Gabe, you were going to consider my offer. Oh, yeah. Oh, I wouldn't count on it, JD. I'm afraid it's a little too late for mercy. Coffee? No. Well, let me slice you some of this creer. What's that? What's what? There's a car turning in. Who do you know who drives a pale blue cad convertible? My wife. It's Iris. So? She must have driven down. And Iris knows you, gay. You might as well give up the game right now. Oh, not necessarily. Twilight. It was dim, dark in the front room. What are you going to do? First, gag you again. Don't you lay a finger on my wife. Don't you touch her. I swear, gay, I'll... No. Wipe off my lipstick and I'll take this broom with me. Yes, Mom? Oh, hello. Who are you? Your maid, Mom, from the hotel. Mr. Zimmer, he wanted some cleaning up then. Oh, I see. Mrs. Zimmer, I forgot my keys. Where is Mr. Zimmer? Out. Out? To dinner. But I thought... Where was he going? Did he say? Oh, I wouldn't be knowing. Oh, some club somewhere. The Palm Club? The Tennis Club? Oh, that might be it. Oh, this is the Tennis Club. Oh, well, I'll drive over and join him. After a drink of water to drive through the desert is simply hard. Oh, wait. I'll get it for you, Mom. I know. Don't bother. I'll just run out to the kitchen. Oh, well, I was that worried I was about his going out. Him was the mark of the grave on him. The mark of the... What are you talking about? Him with a shadow in his eyes and the pain not ten minutes gone from his heart. And will he get to bed and let me bring him something? Oh, not him. A telephone call and off he goes. Are you trying to tell me my husband had a heart attack? It was just a slight one. When did this happen? Oh, why not ten minutes after I got here, Mom? Oh, I knew it this morning. I was born with a call and I had the feeling. The minute I opened my eyes, I said, There'll be trouble this day. I said... Don't do be quiet. I better get over there. Just leave the latch off the door. We won't be late. Hope you're not too late, Mom. Goodbye. Well, JD, you can talk again now. What have you done to my wife? She's gone. Where is she? I sent her into town to search for you. She thinks I'm the maid. And she thinks I'm a little odd. The maid? Why, with a napkin round my head and my lipstick wiped off? You know, lipstick makes a remarkable difference to a woman. She'll be back. When she can't find me, she'll be back. Not in your lifetime, JD. Now we go into the living room. Allow me. The kitchen clock must have been a little slow. Twenty-two minutes for nine. Twenty-two minutes, JD. Want anything special to pass the time? Jay, I... I... No. Nothing. No? No entertainment, JD? And how about a little music on the radio? And then I'll sit down. We shall have twenty-one minutes to wait. I'm really very tired. Odd how much planning a murder takes out of one. My hand's free. Get me the police. Quickly. Too late. Put down that phone. You thought I was asleep, but I wasn't. You might say that I was acting. It's nine o'clock, JD. Get up and walk towards the pool. Gay. Now don't make me shoot you here. Get out of that chair. Gay, please. Listen to me. Gay, I've been wrong, but I'll make it up to you. You can have anything, money, parts, anything, Gay. Don't, not my life. Don't take my life. I beg you. I beg you. Don't, don't. All right, JD. The audition's over. It was rather drastic, perhaps. And I'm sorry, but it was the only way I knew. Gay? Just an act. It was all an act, JD. The threat. And that. The pace-off. The madness. Even the sexy scene with the delivery boy. After all, I had to prove to you that I could be something more than a song and dance girl. You think about it, JD, while I see who's at the door. Maybe it's Iris back again. Why, please, oh, my favorite director and Penny. Okay, okay. See, what is all this? I was all set with Laura Bevin for Dark Lady. When I got word, you were to do it. I came down to corner JD and find out what goes. He's right in there. You can ask him. Well, good evening, JD. What's the matter with him? He's unconscious. Unconscious? But he was all right a minute ago. Get some brandy. Now, don't bother. He's dead. Dead? But he can't be. He can't. JD. Look at the expression on his face. Yeah. He looks scared. Scared to death. In which Miss June Lockhart starred in William M. Robeson's production of Shooting Star by Ruth Bourne. Listen. Listen again next week when we return with Jeff Chandler and the Mother Tale, well calculated, to keep you in suspense. Supporting Miss Lockhart and Shooting Star were Ellen Morgan, Joda Santos, Shepard Menken, Dick Crenna, and Hans Conrad. This is the CBS Radio Network. CBS in Northeastern Pennsylvania, WGBI, AM, FM, Scranton.