 Mystery House, that strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn, where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff before it was accepted for publication. Mystery House. Come on on in, gang. We're waiting for you. Hi, Mr. Glenn. Got a good story for us back down tonight? Well, how you have to ask Barbie about that? How about a Barb? It's an unusual story. The kind that tells you holding your breath. Say that's old stuff for a lady on Arthur's barter. Now they have to be able to hold their breath for smooth sentences. How do you know, Tom? Well, it's kind of hard to explain, but, uh, well, listen to this. Okay, places, everybody, except scene, Tom. Danger, man of day. Tonight's story opens in the living room of a pleasant home. Walt Marvin has just come in and talks to his sister. Lock it, boy. But, Walt, what are you doing here? You read the papers, didn't you? They're after me. Don't come here the first thing. You'd do right to come here. You'll get me into trouble. Trouble? You don't know what trouble is. On the radio, they said the police had been instructed to kill you on sight. Well, they did, huh? Don't you can't stay here. You've got to get out. You don't say so. Don't listen to me. Frank and I have our reciprocations to worry about. That's too bad about you and Frank. You've done nothing but get into trouble ever since you were a kid. You've disgraced the whole family. I remember how mom... Shut up. This is no time to talk about mom. Where can I hide? I don't know. Oh, so it's going to be like that, huh? You killed him and you shot him in cold blood. Yeah? Don't say it to me. They know. They're smart guys, aren't they? But if you hadn't killed him, you wouldn't be running away. You never had the cops chase you, have you? You've taken care of that for the whole family. I'm going to get thrown in a minute, Mary. If a guy's own sister can't give them a break, I don't know who to... I've got my own life to live, Walt. It's been bad enough people knowing you were my brother. How the trouble you've been... I've never been in any real trouble before, see? This is it. The works. Get the thighs out of your eyes and get there straight. This is the showdown. It's me. You are the cops. You should have thought of that when you killed that man. So is there. You don't care any tears over him. He's lucky he didn't get it sooner, lousy little rat. Well, you killed him. Listen. That difference doesn't make whether I kill him or not. The cops say I did. They're after me. They got their guns loaded and they're all set for a little marchmanship practice. You say I'm a killer. You are. Well, unless you give me some help, you're a killer, too. I'm your brother, ain't I? You're the only person in the whole luggie world I can ask to give me a break. But first, that is right, human. If we'd get into trouble by helping you, oh, Walt, this is terrible for me. Don't worry about that, bum. You don't like to call Frank a bum. He's done a lot better than you've had. He isn't hiding from the police. Cut it out. I don't even like to hear you talk about that guy. I've given you money. I've lied to him. I've got the out of chance. And now I have to think about myself. Think about yourself tomorrow. Tonight, think about me. Oh, just this once, Tamalee. It'll be the last time I'll be honest. Honest. You couldn't be honest if your life depended on it. Oh, look, kid. Remember how I bought you a doll on your 10th birthday? You never had one. You're so remember the better? Oh, what if I did? That's what I didn't even think that a kid had. Brought up on charity, supposed to be grateful for the scrapped people through us. The point is, I took chances for you. I've always taken chances for you. You never learned to live honestly. I didn't have to be a cook just because we were poor. I've gotten along all right. I have a nice home. I'm happy for the love. I haven't cut it out. As soon as they've done that, they'll think they're not going to come here. Franco just loved that. The whole neighborhood ain't on the verge of getting filled with lead. It's too late. They're coming here. Go outside. Get out of here. What are you going to do? I'm going to shoot it out with them. It's a lot more than four. I might have a chance. Well, you can't murder anymore people. That kid is yours. Go on. I'll have faith in your goodwill. If you didn't kill that Joey Bay, I'll see that you... You still believe in fairy tales, don't you? Listen, I could walk out of here with my hands over my head, and they'd still plug me. They'll ask of me. They... Look. Look, they're getting out of the car now. Up at the corner. Smash that kid back on the metal, quick. Smash it. I don't need money. What I need... Smash it. But I... I told you I don't need money. Now, take it quick. Put it in your pocket. Now, hit me on the head with your gun. Hurry up. What? Do as I say. There's a big shooter chest with a couple of blankets in it. In my bedroom. After you hit me, get in and close it. I said I couldn't prepare the police. Right, too? Do as I say. Hit them. Right. I couldn't hit you, my lady. Oh, no. It's not your business. Oh, hit me on the head. Hard. You've got to do it. Close your eyes. I don't... Hurry to the head with your gun. Yeah. They're sisters, ain't it? They're same. Well, let me spin it all right. And take a look on the floor with a busted china bank. After money, the dirty rep. Say, do you suppose you're still around here? Yeah, we'll see, Burton. But the little lady needs attention. Get her some water. Well, can't the doc take care of her? I'm anxious to get that Walt Marvin. Yeah, we'll get him all right, Burton. But get the little lady a glass of water first. Uh, to the nest. See, boo, she has done her part. Poor thing. Okay, Flannery. Okay. But you Irish are all alike. You let your shimmery get you into the dinest messes. All right, all right. The guy could be getting five blocks away while we're fussing around here. Get the water, Burton. Get it! Okay. Okay. Ah, poor thing. He hurt you bad, kitten. Must be pretty good to have a lass like that for a brother. To have him to be decent with his own sister. And her a pretty lass like you. Here's the water. Don't hurry it up. I'll put it on the forehead and the resting amount. Ah, that's the girl. Ah, you see? She's coming to already. I... There now. You'll be all right. We'll have a doctor here in no time at all. He... He's... gone, isn't he? We'll take care of him all right. Now tell us, what happened? He... He... He... He's gone in his hand. He wanted money. He... What do you want to go for, did he say? Yes, he... He said he had to get to Texas tonight. He was in trouble. Had to get out of town. He wasn't lying about that. I told him I didn't have any money. He... He's had a little time at his bank on the mainland. And good for it. I tried to stop him. He screamed at me. I got to get out of town. I reached out to the bank and... All right, that's all I remember. You think he left here then? He better not come back. He knows what's good for him. I don't blame you for feeling that way. Hitting his own sister like that. Well, it's already a bit of mine. Not after that. You sure you weren't hiding somewhere? Me? Listen, he's the only cook in our family. How long ago was this? Well, I... I don't know. A friend. That's my husband. Carl said he had to work for him. He said he'd be having about an hour. Then his job came in right after that. You don't know what time it was, huh? No, I... I didn't look at my watch. I think... Oh, thank goodness you're home. Oh, police, huh? Molly, don't tell me that brother of yours has been here. Dad, he has, Mr. Garmin. Oh, you've been hurt, darling. I'll get that woman out whipping within the niche of his life. All right, now, Mr. Garmin, the police will take care of that in fine cheer. You got home when you were expected, did you? Well, yes, of course. Why? And that means our little paging has got nearer than hours. Head start on us. Hmm, we've got to find out when their train's leaving for Texas or that general vicinity. And maybe that was a trick. We'll find out when their train's leaving for any place at all. You're sure he isn't here? No, we ain't looked yet. You'd better think of a look around. But, Frank, do you... You'd better be sure now, darling. If you like him, I'm not anxious for any more trouble. Just give the place a once-over. That's a good idea. Burton, you run along back to the station with the reinforcement for covering the railroad and bus station. Okay. And I'll find another squad car out to pick you up. Okay. Well, let's get busy. I'll take the clothes. Mr. Garmin, if you look out in the kitchen... Right. ...and no sign of anybody in these closets... I don't think he's here. He wouldn't have cared. Well, you never know, ma'am. A man who's desperate enough to strife his own sister... There's no sign of him in the kitchen. You'd better try the bedrooms. That's a good idea. This way, officer. Wouldn't it be silly for him to hide in the bedrooms? There's no way of getting out of the house from them without going down this hall. Well, he doesn't have the mentality to figure out a thing like that. There are two bedrooms, officer. Let's try this one first. You look under the bed. I'll take the feet in the clothes closet. Right. And out in there, that's your... Say, I wonder now... I wonder if a man could squeeze into that seated chair. I looked under the bed in the office this January, but it's sort of a kettle, and I'm afraid it's not so tidy. Oh, don't mind me. I'll just take a quick look. No, no. Nothing there, officer. Except the rather untidy bunch of blankets. I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll get them starting up tomorrow. Well, that leaves one bedroom. Let's see it. Let's go back down. This way. All right, here we are. Look it over. Not much space to hide in there. There you go. I always feel sitting looking for a person under the bed. Not in the clothes closet. Well, it just about takes care of this. I don't know if you hear anything from a litter snow. Yes, we certainly will, officer. But it might be a good idea for you to keep a man posted in the neighborhood just in case. Yes, I will. Well, I might as well wait out in front of the squat car. No need of me disturbing you folks any more. It's quite all right, officer. Well, all right. Goodbye. That's all. You can't imagine how frightened I was when both came in and hit me over the head. You can quit after me now, Molly. Huh? I saw that bump on your forehead. I thought perhaps you actually had refused to give that bump any help. And I looked in the cedar chest. I knew it was all right, Molly. Is this Molly? Of course I saw him. Well, then... Why didn't I say anything? If you didn't trust that cook, you'd have told the police the whole story. You'd have been thrown into jail right along with him. You had an affidavit, a neighbor. I didn't want to help you, Frank. Honestly, I didn't. I had to... That is a business of a skunk. Yes, you're writing this with him now, Molly. Well, it was my friend. Well, let's call the police and say that he turned back. But... He wouldn't take... I have a gun, dear. And I heard what had happened. I knew just about what to expect. This is any better way. No! Don't! I wouldn't reach for that gun if I were you, Frank. There's nothing I'd enjoy any more than putting a bullet right through your head. And don't think that I have anything to lose. Is Walt Marvin going to kill his sister's husband? And will the police catch him? We'll find out in the second act of tonight's story. Meanwhile, here's a brief message from our sponsor. And now, act two. A dangerous man at bay. The scene of the living room of the Frank Gorman home. Frank and his wife, Molly, are seated in two easy pairs. And a third voice comes from behind the... Yes. Keep all the lights on and the curtains up. Let everybody see that we're sitting in your living room. And if you have the nerve to come out from behind that chair, and fight it out like a man... Here, I'd like to talk about fighting like a man, you yellow pup, going to turn into the cops without giving me a chance. I'll turn it all over, Walt. I'm going to give you enough money to clear out. Get out of the country. You're a bad man. Cut it. You must think I'm an awful chap, Frank. I'll give you a thousand dollars' cash. You can ride a long way on the trains for that. You sure like to see me try it, wouldn't you? You know that gets her lined up all over the railroad station. Don't you think you owe Molly a little something? I didn't expect you to show me any consideration, but after all, she's entitled to live a respectable life. Well, I guess she is at that, Frank. She can be mighty proud of you, can't she? But if she goes, people are going to be whispering that Smiley Gorman, her brother, Walt Marvin, you remember the killer, tough. I guess it's asking too much to expect you to see it. She can't stay behind that piano forever, Walt. My police are going to be watching this place day after day. Sooner or later, they're going to get you. Once they decide you haven't left town on one of the trains, they'll really concentrate here. And that's going to embarrass you, ain't it? I shouldn't have said that. Embarrassing me seems to make you very happy. You know what I think I hate most about you, Frank? You came from the right side of the tracks. You had the chance to be a quite a guy. And you're the loveliest heel I know. Walt! Answer the doorbell. I know funny stuff. I thought for you, too, Frank. Oh, wait. Did you sign him off of this planet? No, we're stuck. And nobody that answers his description has been seen near the railroad stations. He's still in town, if that were sure. But then he might come back here. And then he might. That's what I come to warn you about. I'm afraid we need more than a warning, officer. Oh, don't worry. There's two men outside right now. One in back and one in the front of the house. They got instructions to shoot to kill the minute they see Walt Marvin. That's some assurance, I suppose, but don't you think you should have a man inside the house, too? But that's silly. What for would I put a man in here when we already got men outside? I don't know. I just wondered. You look tired, officer. Molly, why don't you play some music for us? Well, I... I don't feel like playing, sir. Oh, come now, darling. I'm sure Officer Flannery would love to hear some good, lively Irish music. You know, that's one thing about the Marvin Flannery. They all love the piano. They say most of the Irish is musical. They say if I never could distinguish your harmonica from the sither. Oh, you don't know anything about pianos, then? Not a thing. That's too bad. I've been wanting someone who knows about them to examine ours. Officer Flannery, tell me. Who is this Jerry Derry that my brother's supposed to kill? Well, ma'am, exactly what he is, is hard to say. But we think he's a hijacker. And we got evidence, and after satisfy us, that was his business, now that he's gone. Oh, then we need to... Sorry, sir. Well, there he did. A smooth operator day was with high-up connections. How do you know he walked in? Not much mystery about that one. Your brother was eating lunch with a bunch of hoods when he got a phone call. He'd come back to the table and said he had to go over to Joey Day's office and collect some money. Well, that hardly proves that he murdered the man, does it? He was seen going near to Gray's office. His day called the station saying that he was expecting some trouble from one of his truck drivers and to have a man around handing. And then he came running out. Our man Hollis was going to stop and what does Walt Marvin do but fire a shot at him? Did he hit the police? No, but he knocked the gun out of his hand. At the time, our reality got his gun again, Walt Marvin had run down the stairwell. Our reality went into Day's office and found a guy with a bullet in his head. My brother... and he isn't afraid to show to them. Oh, he's desperate. Up to now, he's been what you might call a nuisance test. Petty rackets, more bodies than anything else. For him, he gets cornered with a big rapidism. From now on, he's got nothing to lose. I see. He hasn't a chance in the world. We got his fingerprints. He's in our file complete. He's a murder man. But they haven't found him yet. So what if we don't get him for a couple of days? None of his hoodlum friends dares do anything for him. He's too hot. Wait, Frank. But thanks for trying to tip him off anyway. Walt Marvin, listen, Marvin. Hold on to safe, Molly, so I can come out into the room. Hurry up or I'll shoot. All right, all right. So, you were here all the time? Are you full? What do you think I asked you about putting a man inside the house? What do you think I kept talking about the piano? You mean you wasn't hiding him? I didn't. You idiot. He was back there with a gun on us. That same gun I have on you, Flannery. Put your side kick around. He's back at the station. All right, I want you to call him. Tell him to bring the squad car at you. There's a barrel of this gun against your head, Flannery. You won't feel it long unless you make that call. What do you want? You won't get away with this. I kind of think I will, Flannery. Now make that call. And don't try any tricks. Here as fast as I could, Flannery. Step right on in, Burton. No, I wouldn't reach above you. I thought you was Flannery. And it's not head, Burton. Nothing but his feelings, that is. He doesn't seem to like my clothes. Nearly as well as his uniform. When we finally get you in, Sonny Boy, you're going to get everything in the book. I'll worry about that when the time comes. Let's have the gun, Burton. I won't argue with you. Thanks. Okay. What next? I worked it before we ran the doorbell, Burton. You stopped to talk to the man out in front. You told him you were picking up Flannery, did you? Of course. Flannery called. Only because he had a revolver barrel right against the back of me, head Burton. There was nothing I could do. Absolutely nothing, Flannery. And I don't think there's anything Burton can do about the next part of our little performance. What's that? I'm dressed in Flannery's uniform. I have his gun, yours and mine. I'm going to have one of them in my hand in my coat pocket, trained on you. I'll have to knock Flannery and my dear brother-in-law out before we leave. You mean it. Exactly. I mean that you and I are going to walk out to the squad car arm and arm. When we get it, I'm going to drive. And it's going to be quite a trip. You. What do your Flannery's have to do to me? When we get far enough away from here, I'm going to give you a slight tap over the head. Burton. And up to make you sleepy. Once I get outside you're dragging it, I'm not interested in you. You'll be interested before you get through all right. Your description is as broadcast all over the state. That's real flattering, Burton. Okay, Flannery. Ready for your sleeping pill? You keep away from me. I'll tell. Either you take it nice or I'll have to shoot. Stand back, Burton. I'll get even with you for this when we pull you in. And don't think I won't remember. I bet you will, Burton. Kiss? I think I can trust you. I don't know, Walt. Just remember. Any alarm you give is a bullet right through my heart. Remember that and... Well, I don't think I'll have to worry. Okay, Frank. Okay, what? I'll have your gun now, too. I don't have any guns. Don't worry about me, Frank. You start to pull one out when I walk in. I'll hand it over. All right. Sure, here. Yes, quick, Frank. Of course, I'm fooling you. Stand back, Burton. I'm still on my feet. Nice, yes, quick. I got it. Yes, quick. Get...bullet. Got to throw away. Got it. I don't understand it. Hurry. Hurry, got to...got to get bullet. I...I didn't want you, uh... cops to know. To know what? Bullet and me and... and one and date will be same. Frank's been... been with me a long time. He's a fan. For a day, two days, and he called me and the cops. Didn't want you to... didn't want you to know, sis. But had to... had to get the gun. Right. Is this true? Of course not. He's trying to get even with me for shooting him. If it isn't true, give Officer Burton your gun. Give it to him. That's a good idea, Mr. Gorman. I'll give it to you, right in our hearts. Give away for me. Listen, you're going to get it anyway. If I kill you and Molly, Flannery will think about it. So, you've known all along I was friend in your world. Sure. And you're a bigger sap than I thought. Sis, I'm crazy about you. Yeah. You've got much insurance, right? Better for a sis this way, Frank. That was pretty nice shooting for a man with a bullet to his stomach wall. Of course, yes. I can't. Always got to get you to the hospital. Burton, call an ambulance. Get a doctor. I don't even... I guess it's no use, Mrs. Gorman. I don't know. I know. You just lost yourself. Quite a guy.