 on it. There's a person we know of who paid 10,000 dollars for it. No creeds. There's this Peter Laurie opening the doors of the mystery playhouse. See tonight, we've really got something for you. You're going to hear an exciting version of Somerset Norm's classic story, the letter. Come with me to Singapore. Pre-war Singapore. Meeting place of 100 races. Singapore, where the sun beats down fiercely and passionately. The crowded streets glittering in a stifling heat. But in the law office of Edward Joyce, there is presently cool. Cool, that is, until the ringing of the phone. Heralding the events that were to set fire to Mr. Joyce's conscience, burning their lesson into his memory forever. Hello. Hello, Joyce? Hmm? This is Robert Crosby. Listen. Well, now take it easy, Robert. Nothing's worth getting excited about in this heat. But they put Leslie in jail. What? What'd you say? I know it sounds insane, but they blocked her up. Well, now, wait a minute now. Calm down. What's all this nonsense about? What's Leslie charged with? Murder. Murder? They say she killed Jeff Hammond. Well, that's fantastic. But she isn't Joyce. Will you meet me right away before I go out of my mind? I'll see you in 10 minutes, here at the office. And don't worry. If Leslie's innocent, we'll straighten this ridiculous affair out in no time. Sorry, Robert. Jeff Hammond came to your bungalow while you were away. He made advances to Leslie, and she shot him. Are you gone, please? But that's all there is, Joyce. What? That's what's so insane about the whole thing. We'd known Hammond for years. His plantation was right next to ours. We often had him out to dinner. He always seems such a decent chap. I just can't understand how he could have acted that way. He must have been mad. I see. Well, then it's a clear case of self-defense. There's nothing to worry about if your wife is telling the truth. What the devil do you mean? Now, don't get excited, Robert. Now, suppose Leslie were trying to protect someone. But why? Someone she loves. You. What? Well, perhaps Leslie thinks that you killed Hammond. But why should I shoot Hammond? Perhaps you were jealous of him. Perhaps you found him together. Perhaps you... Oh, that's ridiculous, Joyce. I wasn't even home that night. I can prove it. Oh, you weren't. Well, then we must accept Leslie's story. Of course. Leslie's never even looked at another man since we were married. We've been very happy. Everything was perfect until this horrible thing happened. And now, I tell you, I don't know what I'd do if I lost Leslie. Don't worry, Robert. We'll do everything we can. And the first thing that I'm going to do is to visit the jail and get the facts from Leslie herself. Mrs. Crosby, I am Edward Joyce. Your husband has retained me for your case. Oh. Oh, how do you do, Mr. Joyce? How'd you do? Robert's spoken to me of you often. There are a few questions which I'd like to ask you. I realize that it's difficult for you to talk about it. That's quite all right, Mr. Joyce. I don't mind answering any questions. Splendid. Now, I want you to tell me exactly what happened that night. Very well. Robert had gone to Singapore on business. And I was alone for the night. Jeff dropped in for a visit and we talked and had a few drinks. After a while, he... he began to act very strangely. And then I was surprised to... to hear him say... Leslie, don't you know that I'm awfully in love with you? I don't believe you. But no, I don't even want you to say it. May I have another drink? I wouldn't drink any more if I were you. You think I said I loved you because I'm drunk? Well, it's the most obvious explanation, isn't it? No. I wanted to tell you for a long time. And now that Bob isn't here, this is my chance. Jeffrey, I think you'd better go. I'm not going. Look at me, Leslie. Jeffrey, you're making a fool of yourself. Don't you know that I've never loved anyone but Robert? You love me. You know you do. Let's go, Maya. I wanted to do this for a long time. Let's go of me, you drunk! I'll never let you go. I'll make you forget Robert. Stop that. You're squeezing the breath out. I wanted to kiss your mouth, your eyes, your hair. Please don't, Jeffery. Will you think you're taking me? Don't fight me, Leslie. You know you love me. Now, if you touch me again... What are you doing at that desk? Get away from there. There's only one way to handle you, sir. I'm gone. I'm a fool. Give me that. No, I'm hurting you, Jeff. But you come any closer. You wouldn't shoot me, darling. Jeffrey, let go of me. Put down that gun. I said let go of me! Oh, Leslie. Don't. Don't shoot again. No. I didn't know what I was doing. I was fired and fired and until the gun was empty. Well, that's all I guess. That is all? Yes. Yes, that's just the way it happened. I see. Well, I don't think that you have anything to fear, Mrs. Grandvay. We'll have you out of here very soon. Yes, Robert, of course. Yes. As a matter of fact, my assistant, Chi-Sang, is retyping my brief right now. No. No, we're absolutely prepared for the trial and I'm sure that Leslie will be acquitted. That's right. Goodbye, Robert. Was that Mr. Crosby again? Yes, yes, that's right, Chi-Sang. So upset, and after all, there's nothing to worry about. Except for this. This letter. What? What letter? This. It is a copy of one supposedly written by Mrs. Crosby. A strange man brought it. He suggests we might want to buy it. I think you had better read it, sir. Very well. Robert will be away for the night. I absolutely must see you. I shall expect you at eleven. I am desperate, and if you don't come, I won't answer for the consequences. Don't drive up. Leslie, tell me what this means. It could mean any number of things. Why, this is nothing short of blackmail. But this is ridiculous. Do you think that Mrs. Crosby could have written such a letter? I don't know, Mr. Crosby. I can't believe this. It must be a fortune. Who is the original? A Chinese woman who lived in Mr. Hammond's house. Oh, I see. If the original letter should be sent to the public prosecutor. But it's preposterous. Mrs. Crosby said that she hadn't written to Hammond for weeks before the shooting. This letter is genuine. Well, I've got to find out. Mr. Joyce, surely you didn't come here to visit me. It's horrible. Jay, I'll just talk about Robert and his rubber plantation. Mrs. Crosby, I... I think I should tell you that there exists a letter. A letter? Yes, in your handwriting to Jeff Hammond. What of it? I've often sent him little notes, asking for a party or a tennis match or something. I've asked him to come and see you because Robert was going to Singapore. Oh, that's impossible. I never wrote anything of a kind. Well, here, perhaps you'd better read it for yourself. Well, it's not my handwriting. It said to be an exact copy of the original. Will you read it for me? Robert will be away for the night. I absolutely must see you. I shall expect you at 11. I'm desperate, and if you don't come, I won't answer to the consequences. Don't drive up. Leslie, I didn't write it. And be very careful, won't you say? If the original is in your handwriting, you know it would be useless to deny it. Now, look, Mr. Joyce, it's not even dated. If I hadn't written it and forgotten all about it, it might have been written years ago. If you just give me time, now you must give me time, give me time to think, please. If the prosecution had this letter, they would cross-examine the boys who work on your plantation. They would soon find out whether someone took a letter to Mr. Hammond on the day of this. How many times must I tell you I did not write that letter? Very well. That's all you have to say. I think I'll be getting back to my office. Oh, just a minute, please. Yes. Mr. Joyce, what did the court think that letter meant? The court would know that you had told a deliberate lie. When? You have said that you had no communication with Hammond for at least three months. Well, it was such a shock. I can't remember every detail. Perhaps I did write the letter. Well, just a moment ago, you said... You're not surprised I was preparing for Roberts. His birthday's next month. I knew he wanted a new gun. I want to talk to Jeff about it before I get him to order it for me. Perhaps you'd better read that letter again. No. No, I don't want to. It is not the sort of letter you'd write to consult someone about a gun. Mrs. Crosby, please. I'm sorry. I'm all right. Mrs. Crosby, until now, this case was competitively plain sailing. This letter has thrown an entirely different complexion on everything. With it, the prosecution can prove that Hammond came to your house at your urgent invitation. Therefore, I must insist that you tell me everything to save your neck. You mean they'd hang me? Yes. If they came to the conclusion that you hadn't killed Hammond in self-defense. But what can they prove? I don't know what they can prove. You know. Mr. Joyce, why do you speak to me this way? After all, Mr. Joyce, I'm not criminal. I'm not. I'm not. I'm not. No. I'm sorry. All right. Try it on her. Don't let them hang you, please. But you put yourself together, please. Just give me time. Just give me some time and let me think I'm with you. I'll come back later. No, don't leave me. Well, Mrs. Crosby. Will they... Will whoever has the original letter sell it? Why, yes, I think so. Who has it? The Chinese woman who was living in Hammond's house. The Chinese woman. Does she want very much for it? I imagine she wants a very large sum. Mr. Joyce, are you going to let them hang me because of a poultry sum of money? What? Do you think it's so simple as all that to secure possession of that letter? Why, you have no right to make any such suggestion to me. Even what will happen to me? Well, you should have thought of that before. Justice mistake its cause. Oh, please, Mr. Joyce, please. I'm putting myself in your hands. If you do anything that isn't proper, but you must do everything you can to help me. Mr. Joyce, you're my counselor. Now who else will help me? You've got to. You've got to help me, Mr. Joyce. Now please, I'm getting down on my knees. Mrs. Crosby, please, stop it. Could your husband raise the money? Yes, I'm sure he could. Well, you know that he'd have to be told what it was for. Yes, but doesn't he have to send a letter? He's in love with me, Mr. Joyce. He'd make me sacrifice, save me. Well, I'm not... I don't know anything for me. I'm asking you to save a rather simple kind man never did you any harm from... from all the pain that's possible. Mrs. Crosby, I'll help you. But on one condition. Yes. Now, you tell me the truth about the letter. Now, will you tell me the truth about that night? Oh, yes, yes, I will, I will. All right. Did you... or did you not shoot him and didn't self-defense? Well, of course it wasn't self-defense. I swear to you, Mr. Joyce, it wasn't self-defense. You've got to believe me, you must help me. Please, Mr. Joyce, I'm placing my life in your hands. I wouldn't lie to you now, I wouldn't... You're very welcome, Mrs. Crosby. I, um... I must go now. Mr. Joyce! What are you going to do? Do? I don't know. Why did they have to keep her in prison all these weeks? Everyone I've met in Singapore has told me that Court will exonerate her. Oh, of course, Robert. There's no question about the verdict, except for one thing. Except for what? It appears that your wife sent a letter to Hammond, asking him to come to the bungalow on the night he was killed. A letter? Yes. But that's impossible. She's already said that she's had no communication with Hammond. Well, the fact remains that this letter exists. It's in the possession of the Chinese woman who lived in Hammond's house. I don't understand. Leslie sent a letter to Hammond. Your wife meant to give you a present on your birthday, and she wanted Hammond to help her get it. This... this letter... What would it... what would it... Well, it would be very awkward if this letter found its way into the hands of the prosecution. You see, your wife lied, and she would be asked to explain this lie. It would make a difference if it were proven that Hammond did not intrude, but came to see your wife by invitation. I see. Well, is there anything we can do? Well, we must get hold of that letter. Can we get it? Oh, we can buy it. How much? $10,000. Well, that'll take about every cent I have. Can you get it? Well, I have to get it. If you think it's absolutely necessary. The only way, if you want your wife to quit it. But I still don't understand. Listen, Joyce, listen. You say Leslie sent Hammond the letter to help her get a present for me. Yes. What was the present she wanted to give me? Oh. Well, I believe she said she wanted to give you a new gun. A new gun? A new gun. What's the matter? Robert, you will. Can I get you a glass of water? No, I'm quite all right. When must you have the money? 10 o'clock tonight. Is the Chinese woman coming to you? No, I'm going to her. I'll bring the money. I'll come with you. Oh, you don't have to do that. I think it would be better if you left me to deal with this matter by myself. It's my money, isn't it? I'm going with you. Mr. Joyce, Mr. Crosby, this is Lin Foe, the man who delivered the letter. Good evening. May I present Laotiu, friend of the late Mr. Hammond. Good evening, gentlemen. How do you do? Cheesang, let's get down to business. After all, that's a quick hair fall. Laotiu, do you have the letter? Here's the money, Cheesang. Count it. You'll see that it's correct. Yes, sir. Yes, it is correct. Here you are, Laotiu. Here is the money. Is everything all right? Never again will anything be right. Money is not like blood. To raise money is not difficult. To make a child. To raise a child to a man. That is difficult. The money will not change the blood. The blood will be there. In the mind. So it is in her mind now. A wound in her mind. And this wound is a memory. This memory will grow. And the wound will consume it. Yes, so it is. Here is the letter. Thank you. This is the right document, Mr. Joyce. I'll take that. Yes, Mr. Crosby. Read what your wife wrote to Heaven. Robert will be away for the night. I absolutely must see you. I should expect you at eleven. I am desperate. And if you don't come, I won't answer the consequence. Don't drive up, Leslie. Yeah, you'd better let me have it, Robert. I'm going to keep it myself. It's cost me enough money. Oh, no, right, Omar. Joyce. Leslie said that she sent that letter to Hammond to ask him to come and help her get a gun for me. Is that right? Yes, that's right. On the night of Hammond's death, I went to Singapore to buy a new gun. Leslie knew that. Good night, Joyce. Mr. Crosby. This court having found you not guilty, I congratulate you. You are once again a free woman. I had to see you. I had to show you this. Oh, the letter. Where did you rob it, Leslie? He gave me this. He knows. He knows? What does he know? He knows that Jeff and I loved each other. I warned it will never heal. What did you say? Nothing. Jeff and I loved each other for years. He was all my life. I loved him. Then I heard this Chinese woman was living in his house. I couldn't believe it at first. Then when I did believe it, I had to see him. That letter would always been so careful. He always taught any word I wrote to him. When he received my note, he came. I told him I knew about the Chinese woman. Don't believe it. It's a lie. I hated him then. I knew that he was lying. I insulted him. I called him names last I turned on him. Shut up. I'm sick and tired of you. The truth is I never want to see you again. You bore me. Is it true that I had a Chinese woman? Yes, it's true. I think I began to go crazy when he said... I'm glad you know now. I never loved you. Now maybe you'll leave me alone. Don't bother me anymore. I don't quite know what happened then. There was a revolver on the desk. Robert had left it there when he went away. I'd made him take it in my room with me. Now I see the revolver and before I knew what I was doing, I fired. He gave a cry and I saw that I'd hit him. He staggered and rushed for the ramp. I ran after him and fired again. He fell and then I stood over him and I fired and fired. The revolver was empty. I knew there were no more cartridges. Well, what do you want me to do, Mrs. Crouser? Do? What can anyone do? Don't you hear what the judge said? I'm free. Free to live alone in that bungalow in that lonely estate. Free to do without Jeffrey and without Robert. Free to be a prisoner of my life. Prisoner of my own conscience. Free to remember until the day I die. Why didn't they hang me? This is Mom's traumatic story, the letter. Tonight's performance in a mystery playhouse. This is Peter Laurie closing the doors of the mystery playhouse. Good night. Sleep tight.