 Roma wines present Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world Salute your health, Senor Roma wines toast the world the wine for your table is Roma wine made in California for enjoyment throughout the world The Roma wine company of Fresno, California Welcomes you again to this weekly half hour of suspense Tonight from Hollywood, Roma wines bring you a star, Mr. Herbert Marshall Mr. Marshall is with us to play in Nicholas Blake's powerful story of vengeance and retribution The beast must die But before we raise the curtain on tonight's tale of suspense, here is a message from Roma wine In Havana, Cuba, one gathering place of fashionable people is the charming Pan-American club A dinner party is in progress and the Cuban host has risen to compliment Return a compliment, which has just been paid him by a guest from the united states Lifting his glass he says thank you my friend Thank you all so for telling us about the perfect climate in soil of California From which we import these supremely delightful Roma wines Now we can understand how such perfection is possible Such magnificent quality as we enjoy in Roma wines You will agree it is a tremendous tribute when other countries find Roma wine so superior They import them as rare and expensive delicacies Such international esteem can only mean that Roma wines are truly magnificent in quality But remember you here in the united states can enjoy these distinguished wines at almost unbelievably low cost For you pay no high import duties no expensive shipping costs You enjoy the unique combination which makes Roma wine so superlatively fine The combination of California's perfect soil and climate and age old wine making skill Plus Roma's modern quality controls for only pennies a glass Discover the delightful flavor and goodness which have made Roma wines America's largest selling wines Ask for r o m a Roma wines Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world And now with the beast must die And with the performance of Herbert Marshall as Felix Lane who wrote a diary of death We again hope to keep you in Suspended I don't know his name Don't know where he lives. I have no idea what he looks like But i'm going to find him and kill him Well, mr. Lane, I wrote those words if that's what you're asking inspector And I meant them apparently you did Or whatever possessed you to write such a document Vanity for one thing I suppose the record for posterity of the perfect crime As you know, I'm a writer by profession. I think more clearly on paper By keeping this diary. I was able to plan my murder step by step Details little things that happened in the course of a day which might so easily have been forgotten or overlooked Were written down in this diary Well, I could refer back to them and make use of them if need be But you found out that a real life murder could not be carried out so easily As the murders you wrote about in your detective novels, eh, mr. Lane? I wouldn't go so far as to say that inspector. In fact, except for the ending I think this diary is quite the best murder story I've ever written And quite the most incriminating document I've ever known a prospective murderer to leave lying around Incriminating In a way, I suppose in another way this diary might turn out to be my best defense How do you figure that mr. Lane? Supposing I read some part of it aloud to you and let you decide for yourself Very well, mr. Lane far away That was my first entry June 18 Yes I'm going to kill a man It takes great singleness of purpose to commit a murder But if ever for a moment I stray from that purpose I have only to think of Ronnie Ronnie was my son One evening two weeks ago. He was crossing the road outside our house. He had gone into the village to buy some candy For him it could have been only a paralyzing blaze of headlights around the corner a moment's nightmare And then the impact turning everything to darkness forever His body was curled into the ditch. He was dead at once The motorist who killed Ronnie did not stop The police have failed to trace him. They say he must have been going 50 around that blind corner for the child's body Who'd been thrown and injured as it was The man who drove that car He is the man I have got to find and kill June 25th I found my first clue today. My mind was on Ronnie. I was driving toward a neighboring town The hills around were green The boxwood hedges still damp from last night's rain Translucent like giant chunks of emerald Suddenly the front wheels of my car hit into a great puddle A sheet of water splashed up over the front of the windshield and wrenched me from the side I pulled up at the far side of the water splash. I got out cursing myself for my preoccupation and began Mopping away at the windshield A man leaning over a farm gate addressed me Whoa, looks like you've got a proper shower bath, mister Yes They've pestered the county for months repair that hole People always driving into it splashing themselves all over Punishing of all though was about a fortnight ago when a chap tried to use it to get a free car wash Oh, really? Yeah, it was my wife's birthday to be exact What eight o'clock was on her way to Chelanum to see the picture show Just coming out of the gate this chap driving one of those low-slung sports jobs hits the water splash You don't say And then the fellow says something to the girl he's driving with what do you suppose they do? They back up and run through the splash again And then again they did it four times Eight o'clock Your wife's birthday, uh, wouldn't be june 3rd with all right. Yeah, but how'd you know? Oh, well, you see I should a friend of mine was Celebrating that night. He was driving toward toward seven bridge. That's where this fella and his lady friend were going I remember his lady friend says George asked the man whether he turned to the right or the left of the next four George George, yes, that's that's right. That's my pal's name and um Seven bridge. Yes Yes The way he drives ought to have bought him here by Just the round eight o'clock He He didn't have a crumpled right front fender, did he? Oh that he did And that bloke was your friend. He sure is a proper nut. Well peculiarly. Yes Yes, he is peculiar driving through that water splash all over again and again four times. He does it. He wasn't laughing either Didn't seem like a joke somehow Looks like he's trying to get a free car wash Funny way. I'd say to get the mud off. Yes Maybe it was tar though. Yes More blood At seven bridge have talked to any number of the town's people and I've met a number of George's But not one of them have owned or driven a low-slung sports job. Not like the one I've been looking for anyway It may be the left of star all over again On some other tack I was returning to the inn this afternoon and I noticed the car parked on the side of the road up ahead The girl with bright hair was working for rear wheel and a small lad beside her was doing his best to help I pulled up beside them It was a long low slung sport job I say can I help? Well, uh, what do you think Phil? Oh, yes, sir. Yes, if you would lend a hand I'm afraid we're not quite heavy enough to weight the jack handle down for another turn. I help fellow. Let me have a go at it I say the um The paint doesn't seem quite to match on the right front fender the fender Oh dad had a new fender put on a while back. It's got bunged up or something I can't tell you how awfully nice it is of you to help us out. Not at all By the way, I wonder if you and um fill here wouldn't stop for tea with me the inn afterwards Not far, you know, we're expected at home, sir. Perhaps you could come along with us What do you do, sir? Why I'm a writer Phil. Oh, you really must come to see us It's gables on Devon road my brother-in-law's place the name's Rattery We'll give you a ring tomorrow and set a date sis. We'll love meeting a real author and so were george Did you say your brother-in-law's name is george? I mean talking to him right about a dead body Well, I'd like to see an author that gets enough to look at one More than a little afraid that george might turn out to be a sympathetic character That need not concern me any longer I shall have no compunction at all about putting his light out Of a garage down in town, a man by the name of Carfax has got a partner A garage that would explain how the damaged fender got itself fixed without the police knowing Oh, how can a beast like george have a fine young son like Phil? This afternoon I was rounding the corner of the tea house in the Rattery's garden when I heard voices It was Lena and George. I stopped in my tracks and eavesdropped shamelessly It's a neat rig you're wearing today Lena Is that for Felix Lane's benefit? Save your compliments for that Carfax woman Jealous don't make me laugh But someday you're going to find out that business partner of yours isn't as mild as he looks I wonder what he'd say if he knew that his wife was And uh, since when did you get so high and mighty? It wasn't so long ago that you yourself weren't glad enough to If you ever open your mouth about any of that, I swear I'll kill you Talking big now aren't we miss snow white? Just try something and you'll find out Remember there are quite a few people who might like to know about that poor kid you ran down last June If it weren't for violet and filly Stop that kind of talk, you hear? Just remember you were with me that night Look around the Rattery Carfax garage this afternoon told george it might come in useful as material in my book All at once I had a shot and there stood george blazing away over the plotting back with the rifle I went up to him That's another one of the pests out of the way. We've tried everything traps Poisons rat hunts. We can't keep them down. That's a nice rifle Yeah Gave it a fill when he came back from school in switzerland much too good for him. Yeah, I'd like to have a go at him I raised the rifle and sighted george's back was to me By shifting a few inches to the right the bullet should enter the base of the brain Who could prove that george hadn't suddenly stepped in my way? My finger tightened on the trigger I say george. I can't find that new tin of rat poison fill spreading some out in the dump yesterday. I wonder where he put it Oh, hello there lane. Hello carpac. Hey watch out. Are you pointing that gun? We wouldn't want anything to happen to the senior partner, right? Not very funny In the house of the man I am going to kill Violet fills mother suggested that I come and stay with them for a fortnight and help fill in odd hours with his latin George much more surprised joined in heartily with the idea I wonder why I was watching very closely because of what happened last night We were having coffee in the drawing room after dinner when the conversation took a most extraordinary turn They were talking about violets new rose bushes I suppose they'll be very nice, but I can't for the life of me see why you went to all that trouble Well, the old ones weren't doing very well. They were still alive weren't they mother? Oh, yes, dear But I'm not one to keep something going when it's only half alive. Oh, I'm glad you're talking about rose bushes I should hate to think you felt that way about people Of course not But on the other hand, I do think if a person were incurably ill that they ought to Well, that is they ought to have the right to ask their doctor to put them out of their misery Don't you think so phoenix? Well, I oh speaking of doctors reminds me george don't forget your tonic Doctor said after every meal tonic Pass it here. That won't kill you george phoenix. Would you really be in favor of doing away with all unfortunate? Well, I Well, what about your incurable social pest the person who makes life miserable for everyone else around him I think a person would be justified in killing someone like that I do think you're all getting a little morbid The kind of a person I described is no right to life Of course, that's to say I would if I could do it without running my neck into a noose now in my book I'm working on a very pretty murder Quite my masterpiece. I think well these darn clips about it lock doors seal lips and all that Of course, he sees he's writing a thriller, but we've no proof. Have we I think you would show us the manuscript phoenix. Don't you leaner? I can't I'm sorry. I hate anyone to see an unfinished manuscript of mine I'm funny that way. Oh phoenix, please get it and read some of it. Come on. Don't be a spoiled I'll go and get it myself and read it out loud if the blushing author is too coy by heaven I'll go upstairs and fetch it now. You will do nothing of the sort. I'll admit it I will not have people snooping about among my manuscripts It was close after all there's no book for this diary. I must keep it well hidden in my room Of subtle taunting and persuasion, but it came off at last George is going sailing with me this afternoon And he can't swim Drowning is very painful they say in the early stages. That's good. I'm glad George's lung bursting the top of his head streaking with pain His hands scrabbling pain into thrust against the giant weight of the water But if I cannot kill George today on the open sea with the wind in my favor and myself the undisputed master of the situation If I fail today Then I will know that it is not my destiny to be a murderer and I will make no further attempt on the life of George Rattery That inspector blunt is the last entry in my diary But uh you and George did go sailing didn't you? Yes, it was after lunch on the same day We walked down to the docks together George as you can imagine was rather clumsy about a boat But it was only a few minutes after he clambered aboard that we were out in the main water sailing free George had his feet braced against the centerboard case and his hands ripped the gun off Squall was coming up Very close isn't it? Uh-huh There'll be plenty of room George power vessels have to give way to sailing vessels, you know give way How do you think about that side is going to give way to a crate like this? Hey there, what are you up to? Perfectly safe Oh Perfectly safe That barge didn't miss us by a yard Ah the same thing happened the other day when I was out with Phil. He didn't lose his nerve Oh, he didn't eh? By the way, you better not stand up on the boat again. That's one thing that's not safe Very well my friend But I shouldn't try any of those funny tricks you've been planning Tricks what tricks? You know what I mean you filthy sneak I searched your room just before lunch And I found your diary ores up to my solicitor just before I came out here Most did mind you just before we went sailing So you see it'll be most unfortunate for you if you let me drown Must your lying tongue have you? I ought to break your jaw for you Have a good mind to hand over your diary to the priest Don't be silly you know perfectly well you wonder anything of the kind And for the very good reason that you don't want the police to haul you in on a charge of manslaughter For killing my son Well, you you can't prove I ran over your son. Aren't you forgetting that lean was with you that night? The police had got a confession out of power in no time Why you if I ever I see you again after the day you Slug I'll bash you into a jelly out Oh, shut up George I guess we're both in a little too clever. It looks like a stalemate I'm straight here to the end. Ah, perhaps it's just as well. I didn't succeed Going back to writing detective stories after committing the perfect crime We'd be like going back to playing with tin soldiers after winning the battle of waterloo You seem to be awfully sure of your alibi. Well, after all there's no crime in planning a murder. Is there providing nobody's hurt? Unfortunately, somebody has been hurt. What do you mean? What are you trying to tell me? George Rattery died yesterday evening Of the effects of strict mean poisoning George dead Strict in poisoning All my planning all my high and tragic purpose and the beast ends by taking his own life Poison I remember now he used to talk about suicide quite a lot But I thought he only did it because the subject was so upsetting to his wife I never dreamed How did he take it with his tonic? But it couldn't possibly have been suicide mr. Lane. But who? What else could it have been? It could have been murder Unfortunately, we have no evidence except this diary of yours. The bottle lead to the tonic George Rattery died almost instantly after taking his tonic at dinner But before the doctor arrived that bottle disappeared. Well any suspects? Every person closely associated with George Rattery had enough motive to murder him But you had the strongest motive After all George Rattery did kill your son Am I under arrest? Not officially as yet But naturally I posted a guard outside your room in the meantime But then you can't go in there. He told me Officer let me by. I'll tell you I've got to see Inspector Blum. Please mother. I say it's no good Be quiet Phil. Why couldn't you have stayed at home? Officer let me by. I must see Now let them come in officer Good afternoon, Mrs. Rattery. Phil? No Phil Hello Felix Please Please I can't stand it any longer. They're accusing Felix here of murdering my husband. He had nothing to do with it She doesn't know what she's saying. I haven't said Phil you be quiet It was I who killed George. He treated me very badly. He was unspeakable to Phil. There was another who I can't go on Are you trying to tell me mrs. Rattery that you gave your husband poison? Yes, ma'am. I tell you I poisoned him Where did you get the poison mrs. Rattery? Well, I bought it at that chemist shop. What chemist shop? The one on Abbey Lane near the corner of Itowers. That's it. Uh-huh Oh, what became of the bottle of tonic after your husband's death? I broke it. I buried it. I'm sorry mrs. Rattery the police have checked You didn't buy any poison at the chemist's mother. I told you it was no good Sir mother is trying to save me. It was I sir. I killed him. What Phil you don't believe him Don't believe him. He's just a foolish child. He doesn't know what he's saying. Go on Phil Well, you see sir. I left the note I was running away, but mother found the note before I quite got out the door A boy gets it strange ideas. He couldn't have done it. He's just a boy. You know he couldn't You see sir when they accused Felix here, I couldn't stand it any longer That's why I wrote you the note that mother found it first She said if she confessed that they wouldn't do much to her the police would understand Felix make them believe me. I can prove I did it. Now go on phil. You say you can prove it What do you mean? I have it here in my pocket, sir I've had it here ever since to say here it is. It's still half full. It's dad's bottle of tonic Phil where did you get that? I took it off the buffet after the doctor said dad was dead But this is very serious Phil you know that he's lying. He couldn't have. He's just a little boy Please all of you have a favor to ask let me talk to Phil alone for a few minutes Won't hurt anything. I think I may be able to help solve this whole thing Phil didn't do it while it's right. Yes, but the bottle just gives Phil and me 10 minutes alone Hey, well, we'll wait outside 10 minutes mind you big no more Come here Phil. I'm a murderer Felix. You are not a murderer Phil. No one could ever tell me that I left a note. We've gone all over that. I killed him. He beat mother. I killed him. I tell you stop that Phil I know better. They thought you did it Felix. I heard them talking about your diary You wanted to kill him. You said so on your diary. Maybe I did but they hang you Felix So that's why you wrote the note and pretended you did it Yes, I saw you in the pantry with dad's bottle of tonic before you went for the sale with him. You saw me Oh, I'm sorry Phil. Sorry you saw me. Naturally you jumped at the inclusion that I Oh poor little man There's nothing for you to worry about now Phil. You mean I'm not gonna hang you feel it They're not going to hang me. You won't let them do anything to you promise me. No, I won't let them do anything to me But Phil there are other things for you to think about now Now that your father's gone You are head of the house That's a man's job. Phil There's a lot you've learned about courage these last few days Living takes a lot of courage I was just pretty grown up talk Phil. Do you understand me? I'm trying Felix You remind me a lot of my own son. You mean the boy my father? That's right Phil Yes, you're a lot like him. Would he have gone sailing with us? Oh, yes I think Ronnie would have been quite a sailor. Can we go sailing tomorrow Felix? Not tomorrow Phil. Are you going away Felix? Yes, but not as far as most people might think You sound very strange Felix. I have a note to write. I have to make everything ship shape You go on out to your mother and tell them they may join me in a few minutes. Can't I wait Felix? No Phil Go ahead now. But those are orders kippers orders Aye aye sir Goodbye son I thought I'd made the last entry in this diary, but there will have to be one more This diary was kept for only one purpose To make George and the police believe that I planned to kill the beast by drowning him Death was already waiting for George Rattery at home in the bottle of his tonic Where I had placed three pellets of rat poison taken by me from the garage My plan was almost perfect The only thing I didn't expect was that someone loved me enough to try to destroy the evidence I had so carefully planted In an effort to help me And even to confess to my crime in order to save my skin I know now that my life ended with the death of my son Ronnie It seems that I must have just come back to life for a few weeks to save Phil Yes, I killed George Rattery I have no regrets I might have known that the matter would be taken care of fittingly It says in the bible The beast must die But the man dyeth also Yay, they both must die George was right about that tonic of his It is very bitter And so closes the beast must die starring Herbert Marshall tonight's tale of Suspense Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear Have you discovered the age-old secret of famous chefs and lovers of fine food? Namely how good wine makes even the simplest most inexpensive meals really exciting events How roma wines perform flavor miracles and bringing out rich new savoriness Well, the next time you cook any of the red meats stews fish or poultry Add a generous portion of any roma california table wine delicious sautern hearty burgundy or tasty claret Then put the same bottle well chilled on the table with your meal You will be amazed at the wonders roma wine performs in bringing out all the appetizing goodness of even the simplest foods Remember roma wines these marvelous aids to greater enjoyment of daily meals cost only pennies a glass full So any home can afford the pleasure they give to everyday living Ask for roma wine America's largest selling wines made in california for enjoyment throughout the world This is Herbert Marshall And of the request of the united states army. I'm addressing this to every soldier listening Volunteers are once more being accepted for immediate training by the parachute troops Paratroopers receive $50 extra per month in base pay Officers get $100 extra per month If you think you can qualify for the paratroops Apply to your company commander immediately. Mr. Marshall appeared to the courtesy of metro golden mayor producers of white cliffs of dover Next thursday same time you will hear mr. Peter laure with richard conby as stars of Presented by roma wines roma made in california for enjoyment throughout the world This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system