 Suspends auto light and its ninety-six thousand dealers present miss Joan Bennett in statement of Mary Blake a Suspense play produced and edited by William Spear. Oh, where did you get those suspenders half my envious end man? Those are auto lights stay full battery suspenders What queer animals on them is that a camel that half is a contented camel with a smile from hump to hump He knows that auto lights stay full batteries are the batteries that need water only three times a year in normal car use And that's because they have over three times more liquid reserve than batteries without stay full features Wow, what's this dancing dervish doing? He's celebrating his release from camel watering just gotten you stay full battery This is gonna kill me do auto lights stay full batteries do handstands to know on my suspenders They do because auto lights stay full batteries give seventy percent longer average life than batteries without stay full features According to recent tests based on SAE life cycle standards And remember to auto lights stay full batteries need water only three times a year in normal car use anything else will come just one more thing You're always right with auto light Now with statement of Mary Blake and the performance of miss Joan Bennett auto light hopes once again to keep you in Suspends I found myself at the far end of a long corridor The length of it stretching before me in a winding pattern the walls of it are thick and pregnant There were no windows only a small opening high on the wall to my right Through this a single shaft of light fell into a pattern which told me there were iron bars on that one small window At first it seemed that I was alone in this place. I stood huddled and afraid unable to move Somehow I had the feeling that soon I would not be alone Then faintly from out of the darkness ahead of me. I heard him coming Slow shuffling footsteps The walk of a man who has not long been without his eyes I Saw his cane first a Slim thread of white and the blackness before me. I watched Tapping up and down in a nervous rhythm Tapping coming closer Closer I Felt the muscles in my throat tight and an effort to scream But I made no sound at all Nor did I move I Just stood there and waited and watched him come toward me Then in the next instant His face was caught in the shaft of light and I saw him very clearly The searing marks of pain were there and with them the lines born of brooding and evil And I looked for a long time at that face and I found myself wondering If I could see behind those dark glasses Would I find in his sightless eyes any sign of repentance? I remembered suddenly how Gregory Martin had looked the first time I saw him his tall form standing with casual poison the doorway That handsome face creased by the broad smile. It did me welcome into his home Hello, Miss play come in. Won't you thank you? Yeah, let me take your bag. Thanks Mrs. Martin isn't here just now, so I'll show you your room I think you'll find it very comfortable. In fact, I hope you'll enjoy your life here and your work with me Oh, I'm sure I will. I'm I'm a little overwhelmed to find myself actually about to work with the dr. Gregory When you've gotten your things unpacked and had the chance to catch your breath a bit Perhaps you'll join me for coffee wonderful, then I'll show you through my laboratory. I Felt no fear at all that first day My room was luxurious and beautiful in the laboratories beyond anything I'd ever imagined in its completeness I didn't meet Lorna Martin during that first day as a member of the household But in the evening her husband invited me to join the intimate group of friends that were gathered in front of a glowing fire and their living room And how about you professor? Let me fill your glass. I have my customary toast to me Yes, my boy indeed. I want to join you on that one attention everyone a toast V toast to the lovely Lorna a woman of such abundant charm that it's Unfair really for one man only to call her his But three years ago she made her choice and I found that it was such a commendable one That that I for one think we should forgive her and so Here's to the lovely Lorna my wife I Joined and Dr. Martin's toast to his wife and at the same time studied the faces of the people who are gathered in a semi circle around the room There was a glint on the glass of one man's past me that gave his face a weird somewhat supernatural look he was smiling broadly in the direction of Mrs. Martin and his teeth in the light of the fire seemed to be made entirely of gold I Looked then at Lorna She was looking past the others at her husband and although she was smiling I saw that there were tears in her brown Beneath her polish and exquisite breeding. She was insecure and afraid Late that night after the party I was thirsty So I put on my robe and went quietly down the carpet at stairs the big double door that led into the living room was closed But I could see that a lamp was lit inside the room and then as I passed by I heard her She was sobbing softly. I turned quickly to go back to my room I didn't want to be placed in the embarrassing position of hearing something. I shouldn't but before I'd gotten out of ear shot I heard her sobbing stop suddenly with the noise that sounded like the flat of her palm hand hitting hard against a cheek Next morning I was working with Dr. Martin and loving every minute of it We work silently swiftly with no regard for anything outside of the task immediately at hand that is Save for one little thing Dr. Martin seemed fascinated with a little vial of amber liquid which he kept on a desk Twice he abandoned his work to walk over to List the glass container up to the window and study its contents His lips forming a strange half smile Yes, that's it of course what I beg your pardon dr. Martin. Were you speaking to me? No, no miss Blake Talking to myself. I expect the scientists frequently do I understand? Yes, I've heard sir my formula miss Blake I just realized It's almost the color of her hair isn't it the lawn as I mean My wife is very pretty here. Don't you think I think mrs. Martin is a beautiful woman in many ways That's a rather generous opinion to form and so short of time, isn't it? Do you always analyze people so quickly and so flattering me? How about me for instance? Oh, I don't think you're being fair doctor But since you asked I'd say you're a man of great charm and certainly a scientist of remarkable ability I Should be pleased I suppose However, it sounds like generalities. I think I'll have to see what I can do toward creating a more specific impression Yes Truly beautiful color, isn't it hard never seeing anything quite that shade of amber. What is it doctor? It's a mixture of my own. I'll let you in on it someday soon But meanwhile, I'd advise you to keep clear of it I think I could safely claim it to be the fastest acting poison in existence a new experiment doctor The most exciting experiment to which a scientific mind can apply itself And I have every confidence that I'll be able to work it out to a successful conclusion sounds challenging You're challenging doctor. I hope I'll be allowed to work on it, too. I assure you my dear miss Blake I wouldn't attempt this particular experiment without you Neither of us made mention of his poison again and indeed it seemed that the doctor had quite forgotten We were both working hard on the completion of his current project Lorna Martin worked with us part of the time and was only then that I learned she had previously always assisted her husband with his work It was in fact Lorna who suggested the final step that led him quickly to the result. He had been striving for We work from early morning until late at night and on a third day towards midnight the project was completed We had a late supper and after a glass of liqueur I left the doctor and his wife and went to my room Yes I'm sorry. Well, you were sleep. Oh, no. No, I was just sitting here relaxing doctor I'm still too excited to do any sleeping. Well, that's exactly how Lorna and I found ourselves feeling So we decided to sit up and talk a bit over another glass of liqueur We wanted if you join us after all this has been a freeway victory miss Blake We want you in on our triumphal toast. Oh, that's a generous thought. I'm afraid I wasn't much more than a spectator And this is nonsense. Come along. Well, I am certainly eager to talk with Mrs. Martin I had no idea she was an active colleague of yours in the laboratory. Oh, yes Lorna's been a tremendous help to me in the past. I would say she's been quite indispensable Lorna's brilliant mind amazed me from the first moment I met her. Here we are Lorna, my dear miss Blake and I were just having a most engrossing conversation Holy about you. It seems miss Blake has been greatly impressed by the work you've done on this idea of mine Oh dr. Martin, you're making it sound as if I'd minimized your own work. I didn't mean of course you didn't I do understand And you needn't make apologies in my direction for your appreciation of my wife's talents here now It'll occur for you miss Blake the same as earlier, please There you are. Thank you. Lorna dear, how about you? Your glass can stand a little replenishing I should imagine And let me see Why you still have some that you haven't even touched In a few seconds that have passed since dr. Martin and I had entered the room Three distinctly sharp and clear thoughts had crossed my mind in sudden quick succession And each of them struck at my insides like the painful puncture of a thin sharp blade One that dr. Martin professionally was insanely jealous of his wife Two that it was totally unlike Lorna Martin not to speak to us as we entered the room And three that dr. Martin had just gone over to his wife to make absolutely certain that she was dead Auto light is bringing you miss Joan Bennett in statement of Mary Blake tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills Suspends Say, Harlow, can I get a pair of those auto light stay full battery suspenders? Uh, Hap, there's a catch to these suspenders Of course, wouldn't be suspenders without a catch Well, to get a pair of these, you'll have to rave about that special feature of the auto light stay full battery The fiberglass retaining mat that protects every positive plate to keep the power producing material in place for longer life 70% longer life in fact than batteries without stay full features And this is proven in recent tests based on SAE life cycle standards Doesn't anyone but you have a pair of those wonderful wonderful suspenders? No, no, these suspenders were made for me by a happy car owner who recently bought an auto light stay full battery The battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use Said he couldn't thank me enough for telling him about it So friends, see your auto light battery dealer tomorrow And remember, you're always right with auto light And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage our star, Miss Joan Bennett In statement of Mary Blake A tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense I stood there unable to speak Dr. Martin looked at me He was amused Amused at my reaction to his wife's murder I rather think I could read your mind quite accurately at this moment, Miss Blake Why? Why? Why does one do anything? What motivates any action of man? There is a need, a desire, a want behind every action I wanted to kill my wife It's as simple as that The poison Yes, come into the laboratory The poison We'll look for it It isn't on your desk You did kill her with it But I don't see it And why have you made it a point to have a witness? I remember now You talked of this as an experiment And you told me I would work with you on it Patience, my dear hero, patience What is the next step, doctor? To call whom? The police and tell them what? When one discovers that one's wife has been murdered One naturally calls in the authorities Oh yes, Sergeant Listen carefully, please This is Dr. Gregory Martin My address is 12448 Pilgrim Drive Would you send some men over immediately, please? My wife has just been murdered The complete realization of what he had done seemed to count upon me all of once A sudden delayed shock that hit me with the impact of a hammer blow I looked at him and he seemed a total stranger A maniac whose next move I could not predict He was laughing and while he laughed I reached desperately behind me Closing my fingers tightly around the glass container And I prayed that it contained something that would serve as an effective weapon against the murder With one quick movement I flung it full on his laughing face I watched it eat away His skin like a sheet of tissue paper in a soaring flame When the police arrived they found Lorna Martin seated erect and beautiful in the chair in the sitting room while her husband writhed in pain on the floor of his laboratory I was at Dr. Martin's desk, they said I remember lifting my eyes to follow mutely the movements of the men who streamed into the room Through the door I could see them bending over the body of Lorna Martin And I washed with a strange, detached curiosity As two interns administered temporary treatment to Dr. Martin's injuries Then they took us away The three of us I don't remember much about it Do you want to talk now? Come now, Miss Blake, we realize that you've been under a great strain We want to find out exactly what happened and we must know exactly what part you played You know, in view of what has happened to Dr. Martin and his wife, a man so revered and well-known we will be subjected to a great deal of pressure to bring someone to justice for this thing Justice? How can Lorna Martin ever know justice? Let's hear your story, Miss Blake, from the beginning There were three people alone in that house when this happened, and of them only you were able to speak Now let's hear what you have to say All right You'll talk on the stand Where to tell the truth? The whole truth? Nothing but the truth, sir, to God? He was like a greenstone a setting now as a court of justice and I sat numbly among strange faces and gesturing hands and questioning voices I could hear words tumbling How long and how well you have known Dr. Gregory Martin, please Dr. Martin has been my close friend and associate for over a dozen years His fine character cannot be questioned He and his wife were an unusually devoted couple This thing that has happened is shocking Can you relate to the court any scenes you witnessed in the Martin household which might have an important bearing on this case? I attended a gathering at the Martin home on the very night that Miss Blake first came there She sat with us in the living room and throughout the evening I was aware of her studying Dr. Martin with a peculiar intensity It was extremely hard on her on this case Will you please tell the court your findings which revealed the cause of Lorna Martin's death? Mrs. Martin was poisoned The poison was in liquid form taken internally It was obviously expertly prepared by someone well acquainted with scientific formulas Someone who had access to an excellently equipped flatware Whose fingerprints were found on the liquor glass from which Lorna Martin drank the poison that killed her? We found on the glass the prints of Mrs. Martin and those of Mary Blake And no others No, sir, no others Did you discover any more of the poison like that which was used to kill Mrs. Martin? There were several drops of it left in the glass from which Mrs. Martin drank Later, during our investigational search of the entire house, more of the poison was found And will you please tell the court where the remainder of that poison was found? Yes, sir In a perfume bottle on the dressing table in the room of Mary Blake The voices floated in and out and around the room and some of the words hit against the walls and echoed back at me Then I rode on them to the front of the room and the voices were loud and strange and my senses seemed blocked by them and by a hand that pointed towards me and a face that swung down at me like an inflated comic balloon I almost laughed, perhaps I did Can you, Mary Blake, in any way account for the fact that only Mrs. Martin's and your own fingerprints were found on the glass of poison? Can you give the court any explanation for the perfume bottle containing the remainder of the poison being found in your room? Mary Blake, can you in any way explain the testimony we have heard repeatedly during this trial of your unusually strong personal interest in Dr. Martin? The words were strung like beads on a string and wound round and round me until I felt them so tired it seemed I couldn't breathe Then suddenly the voice that was strangling me with the words came through to me clearer and louder than ever before and this time the words were built in a big stick and it was carefully aimed and swung straight towards me The prosecution at this time is able to bring forth its most important witnesses We ask, however, that you consideration be given him by all those present in this courtroom as his condition is still very serious He has suffered from extreme shock and as a result of the injuries he recently sustained he is and will forever remain totally blind Mary Blake, will you please inform the nurse outside that you may now bring the doctor into the courtroom The prosecution calls to the stand Dr. Gregory Martin He came in seated in a wheelchair His hands and almost all of his face save an open slit across his mouth squads in thick white bandages There was something about seeing so handsome and powerful a figure so completely incapacitated and voluntary gas to escape from my own lips as well as from those of every person in the crowded courtroom Being spoken, the prosecution had easily scored its most effective point and after Dr. Martin had finished his spoken testimony the big stick of words came down upon me with full force Mr. Foreman, ladies and gentlemen of the jury how do you find the defendant? We find the defendant guilty as charged Then more words Words coming at me with final flattening blow This court hereby sentences you to the women's state penitentiary for a period of not less than 99 years Myself at the far end of a long corridor the length of it stretching before me in a winding pattern the walls of it are thick and pregneable cement There were no windows safe for a small opening high on the wall to my right Through this, a single shot of light fell into a pattern which told me that there were iron bars on that one small window At first it seemed that I was alone in this place I stood huddled and afraid unable to move Somehow I had the feeling that soon I would not be alone Then faintly from out of the darkness ahead of me I heard him coming with slow, shuffling footsteps the walk of a man who has not long been without his eyes I saw his cane first A slim thread of white in the blackness before me I watched it Tapping up and down in a nervous rhythm Tapping, coming closer closer I felt the muscles in my throat tighten in an effort to scream but I made no sound at all nor did I move I just stood there and waited and watched him come toward me Then in the next instant his face caught in the shaft of light and I saw him very clearly Mary, Mary, please Come on now, get hold before you round the whole block Come on now We can't have this every night What's that dream? I can't stop dreaming It isn't fair, it isn't fair I don't belong here, I didn't do anything but I'm here He still won't leave me alone not even with my sleep There you see, Gordon That's the way it is every night We can't seem to do anything We're releasing Mary Blake Your free Miss Blake, the nightmare is over Come with me and I'll tell you what has happened This state has no way of returning these weeks of freedom it wrongly took from you nor of erasing the shock and heartbreak you've been forced to suffer We can only hope that it is not too deeply embittered you and hasn't totally destroyed your faith and the justice one customarily finds in our courtrooms There seems to be a limit to bitterness, Warden I find that what I feel now is not a release from injustice but a release from fear I know that he can never reach me again even in my dreams how can I be so sure of that? Well, it's another of the things that can't be accounted for rationally about this case It leads one to wonder of some oh, some metaphysical force wasn't put to work in place of the erring machinery of justice Miss Blake, when you blinded Dr. Martin you limited his vision to mental images and over the period of time that has lapsed since the day you received sentence it seems the doctor's mind would not free him from one particular visual experience He too suffered from a recurring dream which, due to his impairment was inflicted upon his waking as well as sleeping hours The dream, did he describe it? Oh, he did, in detail It seemed that there was I entered a narrow corridor with my hands felt that the walls were of a thick impregnable cement and the tap of my cane produced an echo that told me the corridor was one of interminable winding links I did not want to enter nor walk through it yet it seemed that I was forced to and the walking, walking seemed endless I wanted to cry out but could find no voice I wanted to see a single light from a window or an open door to know that there was somewhere an end to the blackness but there was no light and no end I wanted to turn back but there was no turning back and no end to my walking and although I had the feeling of being alone in this place I knew that I was not alone and never would be and it was worse than being alone although I could not see her and though she did not touch nor speak to me I knew she was there and for me she would always be there Mary Blake my accuser for she is the innocent and I am the guilty and for the innocent there is always a freedom and for the guilty there is never an escape today I mean say a word about the more than 400 products made by auto light for cars, trucks, planes and boats in 28 plants coast to coast these include complete electrical systems used as original equipment on many makes of America's finest cars spark plugs, batteries, generators, coils distributors, electric windshield wipers starting motors, bullseye sealed beam headlights all engineered to fit together perfectly work together perfectly because they're a perfect team so friends don't accept electrical parts that will be as good ask for and insist on auto light original factory parts at your neighborhood service station car dealer garage or repair shop remember from bumper to tail light you're always right with auto light next Thursday for suspense our star will be Mr. John Lund the play is called the man in the room and it is as we say a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense tonight's suspense play was produced here and directed by Norman McDonnell music for suspense is composed by Lucian Moraweck and conducted by Lud Bluskin statement of Mary Blake is an original play written for radio by Shirley Gordon Miss Joan Bennett will soon be seen in the MGM production father of the bride in the coming weeks you will hear such stars as Claire Trevor and Charles Boyer don't forget next Thursday same time auto light will present suspense starring John Lund you can buy auto light, stay full batteries like resistor or regular spark plugs auto light electrical parts at your neighborhood auto light dealers switch to auto light goodnight this is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System