 Suspense. It, Auto-Lite and its 96,000 dealers present Miss Dorothy McGuire in last confession. A suspense play, produced and edited by William Spear. Friends, millions of masterful motorists have been made merry by the miraculous magic of those magnificent marvels, wide-gap Auto-Lite resistor spark plugs. They let your engine idle smoother, perform better on leaner gas mixtures, actually save you gas. They cut down on television interference, too, and have up to 200% longer electrode life. Backed by the research and engineering know-how of Auto-Lite, Auto-Lite resistor spark plugs today are used as original equipment in many of America's finest cars. So friends, don't be satisfied with spark plugs supposed to be as good. Get genuine Auto-Lite resistor spark plugs. Remember, you're always right with Auto-Lite. Here's a reminder, suspense on television may be seen in many parts of the country every Tuesday night. And now with last confession, and with the performance of Dorothy McGuire, Auto-Lite hopes once again to keep you in suspense. Isn't that horrible, Edna? Let's see. Gee. Is that the way they found him? Yeah. That's the way they found him. Oh, his knife. All twisted up like that. Lined there in the mud. Oh, who do you suppose is guilty? They didn't even find the knife. They'll never find out who did it. Oh, sure they will. No, they won't. Oh, Jesse, put that paper down. Every time something awful happens, you have to read all about it down to the last detail. No, I don't know that. Yes, you do. What can you see so fascinating in horrible things? You make such a bad impression on you. Remember when we went to see Johnny Belinda in the movies? You could hardly talk for a week. That imagination of yours. Oh, look, it says here they found a lady's glove, black, size five. Hey, that's my size. Well, see, it could be anybody size five as my size, too. Just think how many people could have done it. They'll find out. Somebody's conscious will begin bothering them, and then you'll see. A person that would do a thing like that wouldn't have a conscience. Besides, maybe he deserved it. How do you know? Everybody has a conscience. They'll get whoever it was. Don't you worry. I wonder who did it. I wonder who it could have been. It's funny how murders affect me. Even reading about them in the papers and listening to the radio. And someone's killed, I always feel like I did it. Still, how can one person kill another person? How can he? Human flesh and blood. And then not to confess it. How can he stand that guilt? Could I ever kill someone? You wouldn't think so. You wouldn't think I'd be the sort of, well, then nobody is ever the sort of person to be a killer until he's killed someone. I don't know. Every time something like this murder comes up, I keep thinking maybe. Maybe I did it. Maybe when I was asleep or something, I got up and did it. Edna, what day was he killed? What day? Yeah, what day? Tuesday. I think it was. Sit us here someplace. Wait a second. Oh, they're in the woods four miles from the city limits. No, no, no. Yeah, yeah, here it is. Police believe Howard was killed sometime between 5 and 7 PM on Tuesday, July 12. Tuesday, July 12. How can they estimate that close? Oh, they can all right. Oh, is that his picture? Yeah, here. Here, you take it. Thomas L. Howard of Los Angeles who was found dead in Woodland Grove here last, no, tonight. Poor Tommy. Tommy, did you know him? I went out with him once. Hey, did you turn off the heat? Did you turn off the heat, Jesse? The house seems awfully warm. Yeah. Oh, no. No, I didn't turn the heat on. It's roasting in here. Imagine turning on the heat anyway during the summer months in Los Angeles. Well, it was chilly in here this morning. Hey, Edna? I can hear you. Keep talking. Well, look at him. At who? At this picture of Howard, the man who was killed. What about him? Let's see. Yeah, so what? What about him? He's just like him. Who? Remember Henry Hackers, the boy I used to go with? The one on Morella Avenue? The dark-haired one with the funny kind eyes? You mean the one who? Yeah. Oh, sure. But Tommy didn't look anything like Henry. You're crazy. Look at that hairline and the cleft in the chin. Oh, for Pete's sake. Well, now, don't tell me you don't see any resemblance. It's just like Henry Hackers. Well, a little maybe, but she was, Jesse. You've got the dirtiest imagination. Henry Hackers. He sure wasn't what you'd call good-looking. Had a cute smile, though, and a sort of funny little way to brush his hair out of his eyes. And then he'd walk with one shoulder just a little higher than the other. Henry Hackers. You're such a nice boy. Although I never thought he'd want to get serious. A man can make you feel so guilty if you don't love him. Just because he loves you, he thinks, and that awful thing he said the last time. When was that? When was that? But, Jesse, I- I can't help it. It's just the way I feel about you. But at least let me call you. You might change your mind. I won't change my mind, Henry. But you can't do it, Jesse. We had something new in me. We made such a swell couple. I had wonderful plans. Well, Henry, I can't help it. But the way I feel is just the way I feel. It's been getting too serious lately. You know what I mean? And when a slight flirtation grows out of hand, things can happen that'll only make people awfully unhappy when things don't work out. Slight flirtation? Well, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. But I thought it was a little more than a slight flirtation. The nights are late awake thinking about us. Oh, don't get sore. Well, I want you to know this, Jesse. I just want you to know it and remember it as long as you live. You've done something to me that's beyond repair. And if something should happen to me and believe me, it very well might. I just want you to know you're responsible. Henry, what a horrible thing to say. It's like a curse. Now, if you want, I'll drive you home. Responsible? Telling me I'd be responsible. Ah, poor Henry. I should have talked to him again after that. He kept calling. But I felt so guilty. Wouldn't it be funny if instead of this Tommy fellow here it was Henry that got killed? Between 5 and 7 o'clock on Tuesday, July 12. Tuesday, July 12. Let's see. Tuesday, July 12. I came from work at 4. And I told Ed and I was going out and I wouldn't be back. Now, where was I going? My memory. Where was I going? What's the matter with me? Where was I between 5 and 7 on Tuesday, July 12? Of course, that wasn't so long ago. I should remember that. I remember later that night. I remember at 11, I was in bed because Wednesday I had to be down to work an hour early to get out those new invoice forms. Hey, you know, if they hold me down to the police station right now and began asking me, where were you on Tuesday, July 12, between 5 and 7 p.m., I wouldn't have a thing to say. Edna? Hey, have you read a little Abner yet? Edna, listen, put down that paper. Look, now, don't laugh, will you? It was. Ed, what I'm going to say, what I'm going to ask you. Go ahead, I won't laugh. Do you remember where you were on Tuesday, July 12, between 5 and 7 p.m.? Why? Do you remember? Well, let's see. Sure, July 12. Sure, I went shopping over at Rockins and then I ate dinner and then met Carl Maffoletti and we went to a movie. Gee, that's funny. What? Well, you remember so easy. Oh, well, I know it was Tuesday because Tuesday was the day they had to sail at Rockins. That's why I went shopping that day. I can't remember at all. What do you mean? Do you remember what I did between 5 and 7? I was gone all day, honey. I just explained that. Well, it's funny, but I can't remember a thing during those two hours. Well. Well, I must have done something. I just didn't die between 5 and 7 on Tuesday, July 12. Oh, forget it, Jesse. I'm going out on the fire escape and take the sun. If the phone rings, get it, will you? Sure. I haven't talked to him for such a long time. I'm going to call him. It's the least I can do after all the times he called me and I didn't even answer the phone. Mrs. Hackers? Yes, who is this? This is Jesse Larkin, Mrs. Hackers. Yes? Is Henry there? Henry? Yes, is he there? If this is your idea of a joke, Jesse, it's in terribly bad taste. A joke? I'm not joking. I'd like to talk to him. I know how you feel about the way I treated him, Mrs. Hackers, but really I- I don't know what's the matter with you, Jesse. I don't know whether you're crazy or what. You know that Henry is dead. Dead? Henry Hackers dead. How could I forget a thing like that? It's simple forgetting your coat in a restaurant or your purse in a movie, but forgetting the boy you used to date. The boy you refused to marry just a few days ago, forgetting he's dead. What just doesn't happen? Henry dead. How? I'm responsible, just like he said, like a curse, just like I took a knife out of the kitchen drawer and deliberately plunged it into his heart. Yeah, but could I? Could I murder, actually murder, with a knife, kill? Size five was found at the scene of the crime. Only one, just one black glove in the drawer. Oh, Jesse, what did I wear on Tuesday? There'd be tears in the dress from the twigs, and mud, baby, from when I dragged them. Oh, everything's all right, the blue dress, the seam on the sleeve, and the hem and the mud on the skirt. I did it. There lies poor Henry, Henry face down in the mud and the woods. And I did it. I did it. I did it. I did it. Bringing you Miss Dorothy McGuire in last confession, tonight's production in radio's outstanding Theater of Thrills, Suspends. All set for fall driving? Ready, set, and rare to go, Hap. Put in those peppy, powerful, pistol-pack, and white-gap auto-light resistor spark plugs. How's that? Smooth. That's the word, smooth, for smoother idling. Your motor purrs like a cuddly kitty with auto-light resistor spark plugs. And take it easy. That's the word, easy, for easier, breezier starts in cold temperatures with AL-RSP. Hey, you've improved. That's the word, improved, improved engine performance on leaner gas mixtures. You save gas with auto-light resistor spark plugs. Know how? Know how? Right. Auto-light engineering know how and research made the thrifty auto-light resistor spark plug possible. 20 millions have been sold. How much longer can this last? 200% Hap. Auto-light resistor spark plugs have up to 200% longer electrode life. Oh my gosh. Ohm is right. The exclusive auto-light 10,000 ohm resistor engineered into every auto-light resistor spark plug makes possible easier starting in cold temperatures. Get on the ball for fall. Get auto-light resistor spark plugs. Remember, you're always right with auto-light. And now auto-light brings back to our Hollywood sound stage Dorothy McGuire in Last Confession, a tale well-calculated to keep you in suspense. This is where the paper said I left him. I don't really remember the place, not really. It's like being someplace you think you've been before and you're not sure. I've got to find out. I've got to know. I wonder why I picked a place like this. All these bushes. Might be snakes and all sorts of dangerous things. Stand where you are. What? OK, you don't move. Just stay right where you are. Lieutenant Fleming. Oh, hello, Lieutenant. What are you doing here? Oh, just curious, really. You know, I read about it in the papers. What's your name? I'm just curious. That's all. What's your name? Jesse. Jesse Larkin. OK, Jesse, run along. You ought to know better than to hang around a place like this, especially so late at night. Well, it was the glove size, the black glove. I know a girl that wears that size. Is that so? Yeah. Have you found the murder weapon yet? Not yet. It's pretty essential to find, isn't it? I mean to prove somebody's guilt. Yeah? Sometimes they save us all the trouble to come in and confess. Oh, say, it's terrible, isn't it? A nice young man like that. Yeah? Well, there you are. You still don't know who did it. Well, we've got a pretty well narrow down to one of his girlfriends. Oh. You run along now. I wouldn't worry too much about the Tommy Howard killing of either you, Jesse. Howard killing? Oh, no, I won't. Howard. He called him Howard. Why? Why would that lieutenant call him Howard? I've got to buy a paper and found out if they know that it really was Henry Hackers. But then Mrs. Hackers told me and I'm so mixed up. I'm forgetting so many things. Henry's last name was Hackers. Henry H- No. Henry Howard. Henry Howard. Yes, that was it. I remember when Edna showed me the paper, that's what it said, Henry Howard. His girlfriend's officer said, Henry didn't go out with very many girls. You see, there was Fran Gilbert. I know he took her out a couple of times. And Barbara, Barbara, what was her name? Oh, I've got to see them. I've got to see whether they've got alibis. If none of them did it, then it must have been me. But I've got to be clever about it, not let them know what I'm after. I'll say real casual. By the way, Fran, what were you doing between 5 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12th? Well, it's been nice chat, honey. I still don't know who you are, what you're doing here, but it's been real nice. Well, I told you, I heard you were an actress and I've always wanted to be one. Oh, come on, leave us on up. You hear about Henry, what's his name? Henry, yes. Something about his estate? Well, he left me nothing but the memory of two miserable evenings over some warm beer. No, nothing like that. I was just sort of wondering what you were doing between 5 and 7 on Tuesday, July 12th. Between what and what on when? 5 and 7 on Tuesday, July 12th. Wait a minute. Are you a cop gal or something? That was the time the paper said that Howard was killed. Howard? Look, blue eyes talking in circles makes me dizzy. You're either crazy or a cop or a digger with an angle. Whichever it is, I'm surprisingly uninterested. Scoot. Well, all right. If you're sure you know what you were doing. Just to ease your mind, my lady, I was swabbing decks on the USS New Mexico with a vacuum cleaner and the Navy will back me up. Satisfied? Well, thank you. Goodbye. It was nice meeting you. Oh, no. She's got an alibi. She didn't do it. She couldn't have. She didn't even remember Henry's last name. I don't quite understand, Miss Larkin. I'm from the Los Angeles Police Department, Miss Keely. What do you want? I'm a policewoman. You understand? Yes. I'm interested in a Henry of... Hackers? Yes. Yes. You knew he was found four miles from the city limits in the woods? Henry? Henry Hackers is dead, but were you talking about the Howard case? I don't know a thing about that. Where were you and what were you doing between the hours of 5 and 7 on Tuesday, July 12? See here. I don't see any reason for answering any of your questions. Do you have a warrant? Well, I thought it best to make this an informal visit. I thought perhaps I wouldn't need to go into any legalities. We can make this very simple without a lot of complications. Now, what were you doing between 5 and 7 on July 12? I think you'd better talk to my lawyer, Miss Larkin. I'm answering no questions without his permission. Good day. Very well. Goodbye. I'll be seeing you again. Goodbye. Just remember, we have your name on file. All of them have alibis. I knew they would really, and that leaves only me. I must have done it. Henry was right. I am responsible for his death. I deserve what I'll get. I'll deserve it when they sentence me and the judge and no one to stand by me, no one in the world but Edna. Edna, I'll tell her everything. She'll understand how it is. Where have you been? Where did you go? I've been so worried. All right, I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything. I've got to trust you, Edna. You're the only one in the world I can trust. Well? Well, you know the murder in the papers. Yeah, oh, what about it? It was me. You're out of your head. No, I wish I was, Edna. Honest, I wish you ought to see a doctor, kid. Honest, I mean it. We were out there together in a car. I remember it so clearly, and he started getting fresh. But I mean fresh, and I slapped him. Well, I had this knife with me. I don't remember where I got it, but I had it in my purse. And I stabbed him. And I stabbed him, and I stabbed him. And then I realized what I had done, and I was terribly sorry, Edna. Oh, I was awfully sorry, but I had to get rid of him. So I dragged the body to the woods, inside away from the highway, and I left him there. And I took the knife, but I forgot one of my gloves. Jesse, Jesse, we've been roommates for three years honey, I would have sworn you couldn't have dreamed of anything like this, do you honestly believe it? I always had a violin temper, you know that, Edna. Not to kill. Well, I did, and now the only thing is I can't find the knife. Where would I have put it, Edna? No, Jesse, Jesse, you stay here. Will you promise to stay here until I come back? I can't, Edna, I've got to confess. I couldn't live with a thing like that on my conscience. Promise me, please, Jesse, promise. You're not to leave the house. All right, if you say so. See what kind of a person I am? I couldn't even keep a simple promise to my best friend. I had to go. Maybe after I confess this, this terrible headache will go away. There it is, the police station. Well, I certainly will deserve what I get. I hope they give me the maximum penalty prescribed by law. Are you in charge here? Almost. What can I do for you? I'd like to confess to the Howard murder. Who do I see? Certainly, Lieutenant. Sit down. Thank you. Jesse, I... Well, your case is solved, isn't it? Yes. You don't seem to feel too good about it. I don't. I don't, Jesse. Did you find the knife? Yes. Jesse, we have a couple of visitors for you. I think after you've seen them, you'll feel much better. That's what our doctor thinks. Visitors who? Mrs. Hackers, will you come in, please? Mrs. Hackers. Oh, don't hate me too much, Mrs. Hackers. You're going to be released, Jesse. The police can take no action on your case, and not at the present time. Mrs. Hackers here read about your confessions in the papers. She called us and told us you couldn't have killed her. Oh, Jesse, my poor child. Why did you call her Mrs. Hackers? When you knew I deserved it. When you knew I killed him, your only son, tell them the truth, Mrs. Hackers. You didn't kill Henry, Jesse. Between five and seven on July 12th? Jesse, don't you remember where you were? I was... I was... No. I can't think. I can't remember. Now, think, Jesse. Try to remember. Between five and seven on July 12th. If you remember, everything will be straightened out in your mind. I can't. The flowers, dear. You were crying. You cried when I put down the flowers. The flowers. You cried, Jesse. Don't you remember? The flowers. The funeral. Henry's funeral. Oh, I remember. I... I cried when you put the flowers down. That's right, dear. The doctor says maybe you felt guilty inside or something because he was dead. But you're going to be all right. Yes, Jesse. Apparently, you just blotted those two hours out of your mind. Doctor, sometimes it happens that way, you sum of us. Your mind just blots out a thing that's too painful to remember. Yes, but then... I dressed in the gloves. Oh, no, I must have somehow. I must have... Just a minute, Jesse. Please. Oh... All right. Come in, please. Oh, hello, Jesse. Edna, I'm so glad you came. Jesse, Jesse, you promised me you wouldn't leave the house. Edna, I couldn't have done it. I couldn't have. Mrs. Hacker said I was with her at Henry's funeral between five and seven on July 12th. The only thing I can't figure out is my missing glove and my blue dress. Jesse, I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid to, but... That day, on July 12th, I borrowed your blue dress and your gloves. You borrowed them? I had a date. I knew you'd be wearing your black dress to the funeral, so I... Oh, Jesse, I kept quiet when it looked as though nobody else was going to be blamed for it, but... Edna, I don't believe it! It's true, Jesse. If it hadn't been for you, I'd never have told anybody. I didn't know that all these days you've been convincing yourself that you... Edna, Edna! When I went out, when I told you not to leave the house, I went and got the knife. I buried it in the vacant lot, and I brought it to the police. Oh, that killed... But I want you to know, Jesse, that Tom Howard was no good. And if anybody ever deserved, can I please go now? Yes. How do you feel now, Jesse? What? How do you feel? Poor Edna. She was your roommate, wasn't she, Jesse? Not just her roommate, Mrs. Hackers. She was my best friend. Come on, dear. I'll take you home. Mrs. Hackers? Yes, dear? How did Henry die? Of pneumonia. He died very peacefully. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry for all the trouble I caused. I'm very sorry. Suspense presented by AutoLite, tonight's star, Dorothy McGuire, in last confession. Notice the day is getting shorter, Harlow. Did you say shorter? Don't use that word around here. We're only interested in things that last longer, like AutoLite resistor spark plugs, those famous fast-firing wide-gap spark plugs that have up to 200% longer electrode life. And AutoLite resistor spark plugs let your engine run better on leaner gas mixtures, actually save you gas. AutoLite makes complete electrical systems for many makes of America's finest cars. Batteries, spark plugs, generators, starting motors, coils, distributors. All engineered to fit together perfectly, work together perfectly, because they're a perfect team. Get AutoLite, original factory parts at your neighborhood service station, car dealer, garage, or repair shop. Remember, you're always right with AutoLite. Next Thursday for suspense, John Lund will be our star. The play is called Experiment 6R, and it is, as we say, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Tonight's suspense play was produced and edited by William Spear and directed by Norman MacDonald. Music for suspense is composed by Lucian Morrowak and conducted by Lud Bluskin. Last confession was a radio play by David Ellis. Dorothy McGuire will soon be seen in the 20th Century Fox picture, Oh Doctor. In the coming weeks, you will hear such stars as Charles Lawton, June Havoc, Van Johnson, and Betty Davis. And don't forget, next Thursday same time, AutoLite will present suspense, starring John Lund. Plugs, AutoLite, stay full batteries, AutoLite electrical parts at your neighborhood, AutoLite dealers, switch to AutoLite. Good night. Your National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis has only enough money to last two more weeks. Help now, send dimes and dollars to Polio, care of your local post office. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.