 Suspense and the producer of radio's outstanding theatre of thrills, the master of mystery and adventure, William M. Robson. Suspense is proud to present for the first time to an American radio audience, an actress well known to the listeners of the British and Canadian broadcasting corporations. Ms. Joy Lafleur has twice been named the best actress of the year by the radio critics of Canada and has been invited this summer to play Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, in the Shakespearean festival at Stratford, Ontario. In the tale of suspense you are about to hear, she plays a quite different role. Emily, the tragically disturbed wife, uncertain from moment to moment whether her husband loves her more than life itself or is planning her imminent murder. Listen then, as Joy Lafleur stars in Celebration, which begins in exactly one minute. Fellas and you gals too, have you ever thought about brushing up on some of those high school subjects you found kind of tough? Or maybe studying for a university diploma? Being in the service, you have a chance to enter the largest classroom in the world and join millions of other American service personnel stationed in almost every corner of the globe. Men and women who have taken elementary, high school or college courses, university extension courses, as well as business and technical vocational training. Where is this fabulous classroom located? Wherever you are. That's right. There isn't a camp installation or ship which can't be reached by the services of USOPI, the United States Armed Forces Institute. Whether you're interested in a correspondence course, a self-teaching course which doesn't require the submission of lessons, or if you'd like to study with a group, USOPI can offer you what you want. For a uniform education, study with USOPI. And now, Miss Joy Lafleur in celebration. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Todd was coming for me. Oh, as I packed my suitcase, I looked out of the windows and I could see the flower gardens and the green lawns and some of the girls were playing badminton and some were in the pool. And Todd was coming for me. And I had a surprise for him. Let me see where's my pink sweater. Bottom drawer. It was here, I think. Well, where's the white one? Oh, dear. I couldn't seem to find anything. Oh, but I didn't care. Todd was coming for me. And I knew what he'd say. He'd say, oh, Emily, Emily, how I've missed you. He'd hold me so hard and he'd kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me all over, oh, darling. And then I'd tell him. I'd tell him about the surprise. I'd say, who's there? Mrs. Wall? Yes. It's Mrs. Hallick. Oh, one moment, Mrs. Hallick. I didn't want her to see my suitcase, so I pushed it under the bed. Come in, Mrs. Hallick. Your husband just phoned, Mrs. Wall. He'll be here soon. Oh, Todd's such a darling. Thank you, Mrs. Hallick. You've been so kind to me. Well, I try to be. To all the ladies. No, I just have to put on my perfume. It's passion at night. Do you like it? Very nice. Careful, you don't spill. Now, one drop behind each ear for those who pass. One on each wrist for those who linger. And one on the navel of the neck for those one ever sees. And one on the forehead for a blessing. Oh, a blessing for Todd. Oh, dear, I dropped it. I just can't seem to hold things. Well, it didn't break. Here, I'll wipe it off. Thank you, Mrs. Hallick. Oh, how do you like the way I'm doing my hair? Oh, very nice. Shall I take it down and do it over again? Oh, no. Oh, just look at me. I used to fill this dress out, and now I look like a scarecrow in it. Don't I? You look just lovely. Now you have everything, hat, gloves, purse. Oh, of course. Well, you remember last time you went for a drive? Last time? When did I? Now, let's sort these things on the bed. Oh. Oh, I didn't see your suitcase. Oh, that, well, I was just putting some things away, and I... were you planning to be away longer than for a drive and dinner? Well, I thought I wouldn't come back tonight. Oh, I'll be coming back here to the club often. I love my friends here. Mika, that girl that writes the plays, and Sadie, that newspaper woman, oh, she's so witty. It's so stimulating being here with all these famous women. Oh, I just wouldn't think of not coming back. Well, a change might be the thing for you now, dear. But that's what I thought. You see, we're not equipped to give you all the attention you should have. Oh, attention? Did you want to put this bunch of letters in your suitcase, too? Give them to me. They're Todd's letters. I couldn't leave them. Oh, Todd simply adores me, Mrs. Halleck. I'm sure he does. Look, just listen to this, and you'll see. No, no, here it is. Darling, you are my happiness. I can't live without you. You're as necessary as the air I breathe. Todd's a poet, really. When I looked up, she was gone. She'd left when I was reading. I knew what she'd do. She'd tell Todd I dropped that perfume. I could hear her talking to someone downstairs in the lobby. I recognized Todd's words. What were they talking about? I slipped out of my room, down the corridor to the head of the stairs, and I listened. And that two-faced... I hurried back to my room, and I closed the door. And a moment later, she came in and told me Todd was waiting downstairs. I didn't say a word. She helped me get ready and close my suitcase and carried her down for me. And then there was Todd smiling, and his arms outstretched. Oh, darling. Oh, Todd, Todd. Emily. Oh, Emily, how I've missed you. I've wanted to kiss you and hold you in my arms like this. No, not here, dear. Let's go. We can be alone. All right. You know, today's an important day, darling. Our eighth wedding anniversary. Why, Todd, we were married only six weeks ago. I mean... I never could remember dates. Never mind. We're going to celebrate. Oh, darling. Really celebrate this anniversary. We're going to all the places we used to go. The lake, that little Italian restaurant we used to like so well. Todd, I've got a surprise for you. Save it, dear. Till we get into the car. No, but it's... Tell me on the way to the lake. Smell those pines. Love them. Todd, didn't you wonder why I brought a suitcase? Oh, yes, I did, but... Well, that's because of the surprise. Oh, yes. I'm not going back to the club, Todd. I'm coming home with you. It's a beautiful surprise. And I'm going to make chinstrapes for the living room that the club has and do the bathroom all over with a full-length mirror and everything. And I want a really smart kitchen. Lots of color like they're doing now. Oh, of course, it takes lots of work, but I don't care. It's a nice idea. And then there's our room. I want to do it over completely. Make it modern and smart and sexy. Let's celebrate first. It's a wonderful day. Let's make the most of it, shall we? Todd sounded gay, but his face was sad. He stared straight ahead. And we drove miles and miles without talking. And at last we turned in at the lake and parked near the beach. Oh, isn't it awfully quiet? You sound frightened here. Remember, I'm with you. I'll always be with you. You know, Emily, we could live a whole lifetime and never find anything better than we have right here. Soft wind, a bright day. And you and I together alone. This we will have forever. Alone? Forever? Now, I'll get some blankets out of the back. I have to take good care of you, you know. I sat there while he went around to the back. And I was alone again. I was always alone. Did Todd bring me out here to leave me? Oh, no, Emily. Put up a brave front up out of your face and fix your lips. I opened my purse and groped around for my lipstick. Oh, dear, it wanted to spill like that. Reached on to pick up my things, the lipstick and the compact, and I hand-touched something under the seat, a little box. I picked it up and it was heavy. I read the words on the label. 38 caliber self-nosed cartridges. Bullets. I looked out of the box in my hand and it was only half full. My hand shook my heart. I could hear Todd rummaging around in the back and I put the cover back in the box. Then there he was at the side of the car. All set. I've got the blankets. I couldn't say anything. You all right? Yes. Come on then, darling. Let's go get out on that beach. I held the box under my purse as I got out. Here, let me help you. I'm all right. You lead the way. Okay. The box of bullets in my hand terrified me and I followed Todd three or four steps and then I let the box slip out of my hand. Down in the leaves and the gravel. Here we are. I'll spread the blankets. Now, come on, darling. Let's curl up and take it easy. Thank you. Look at that lake, will you? Todd, what were you going to do with those bullets in the car? Bullets? What bullets? That box of bullets I found in the car. I don't know anything about any bullets. That imagination of yours... But I saw them. I held them in my hands. That box was about half full. Give me a darling. Close to me. Here. Todd, I'm sure I saw... Tell me, please. Do you feel all right? I don't know. I ache all over. Head feel tight again. Don't rub me. Here. You put your head on my shoulder. That's it. I'll rub away the pain. You're hurting me. Hey, anything the matter? Where'd you come from? I was just passing. I heard the lady. She's all right. Just a headache. I thought she wasn't feeling well. She's all right. The only place out here to get sick... Well, excuse me for bothering you. Where did he come from? I thought we were alone here. Alone. Together, Emily. I will a little bit be with you. Without you it would be unbearable. It would be impossible. That's the one fact in all this. Oh, I was sure. I have to be sure, Todd. All those nightmares I have, they're horrible. Forget them. Now put your hands at mine. There. That's real, isn't it? I get so scared. I hardly sleep at all. It shows, doesn't it? Of course not, darling. When you came down the stairs today, you were radiant. Was I? Was I real? You were beautiful. Why is it? Why am I like that sometimes and then sometimes? You're tired, Emily. Tired. Yes. Relax, Mrs. Ward. You must relax, Mrs. Ward. That's all I ever hear at the club. You'll hear it, too. Only with a difference. Relax, Mrs. Ward. In my arms. Oh, you do want me. All the world, there could never be another woman like you. Never. I live for it. Yes, Emily. Emily, listen to me. No, Todd, please. Darling, it isn't good for you. I don't care. But the doctor said... What doctor? You know, you know... when you went to see the doctor. But that was ages ago. You all talk behind my back, so I can't hear what you say. You and Mrs. Howard? I just asked her how you were. You must believe I love you, Emily. Oh, I do. I do. Oh, darling. I'm so happy, darling. So am I. Look. Look. Over there's where we built the sandcastle, remember? And the wave melted it. Oh, this pretty one had lasted. All the shells. Oh, Todd, that was the day when I was caught in the undertow. But I rescued you. But not until I called, and you didn't hear, and I was sinking down deep, and everything was black, and I was all alone. But you've forgotten how it was. I was asleep on the raft, but I heard you. I called to you. I was there in less than a minute. No, I dream about it. I'm sinking down in the black, and you're not there. Emily. How could you leave me? I can't deal with you always, Emily. Oh, let's get away from here, Todd. I don't like the lake anymore. It's so, so bare and so lonely. Emily, it's a perfect place. No, no, let's go into town. Let's go to that Italian place, Giorgio's. You said we'd go to all the places and celebrate. I mean, and there'd be lots of people around. People. Yes, it'll be fun, and we can have dinner at Giorgio's. It'll be crowded, Emily. No, no. Say, uh... What's that, man? Do you lose this? What? This box of bullets. Bullets? Yeah. You found them in the sand just a few steps from your car. Well, maybe you dropped them. Yes. Yes, I dropped them. Those are the bullets I found in the car, Todd. The very same ones. Is the box half full? Yeah, about half full. Thirty-eight caliber soft-nose cartridges says on the box. Well, I... Oh, I'll bet I know. I let Ernie take the car. Ernie? Yes, yes. He's gone in for target practice. Ernie, who's he? Why, he's... Maybe he got them for you. I figured they were yours. It looked like they'd just been dropped beside your car up there. Well, thanks. Come on, Emily. If dinner at Georgios will make you happy, then it's dinner at Georgios. Well, how do you like that? What? That sign, Georgios, under new management. Probably isn't as good as it used to be. All right, just pull right in, sir, and park over there. What became of Georgio? Oh, he sold out. Just park over there. If it's under new management, Emily, chances are it's not as good as it was before. Oh, you're blocking the driveway. Pull in, will you? Yes. At least you can go in and look, Todd. He parked the car and went into the restaurant. I was alone again. Alone again. Relax, Emily. Relax. Well, before I was, Todd, always gone. If he didn't come out in a minute, I'd go in after him. But, oh, he would come out. And then we'd go in and have dinner. I'd make up my face and be all ready for it. I couldn't get my lipstick on straight. It smeared. What I needed was a cigarette. I opened the glove compartment. Map, flashlight, gloves. No cigarettes. But there was an envelope. I pulled it out. It was addressed to Todd at his office, Mark Pearson. I unfolded the letter. Dear Mr. Ward, Dr. Koenitz today has affirmed what we have felt for some time concerning Mrs. Ward. Her condition is becoming progressively worse. Since we are not equipped here at the rest home to provide care for manic depressive patients, we should appreciate you're making other arrangements for her at your earliest possible convenience. Sincerely, Bertha Halle. We continue with suspense. Your fellows and gals in the service will bear with me for a minute. I'd like to put in a pitch for the United States Armed Forces Institute, better known as USOPI. Here's an educational setup that reaches every corner of the globe. So no matter where you're stationed or what you'd like to study, USOPI is your baby. Not only can you take a variety of courses by correspondence, by teaching yourself without submitting lessons or by group study, but by all final exams for both military and civilian credit. You receive the results, too, no matter which branch you're in. If your grades are satisfactory, they can help you get the rate you're entitled to in the services or the job you'd like to take when you return to civilian life. They can also help you enter the college or university of your choice. If your grades are not what they should be, you're given the chance by USOPI to be retested for a better grade. That's the advantage of USOPI's service and have benefited by it. Why don't you, for a uniform education, study with USOPI. And now, we continue with celebration starring Miss Joy Lafleur, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. That dreadful Mrs. Hallock making up stories about me, writing Todd, you know, I'm a manic depressive. Well, if she'd go that far, what hasn't she told the others at the club? All my friends. Friends until she started her lying stories, but here comes Todd out of church house. I mustn't let on. I know about the letter. I jammed it back in the glove compartment and slammed the door. Honey, this place looks terrible. Why don't you want to take me here, Todd? You promised. It isn't that, darling. It just isn't the same. It's run down and dirty. Can I dive out into the country, find a quiet spot? No, no, Todd, please. No, let's drive into Todd. We can have dinner at the hotel and there'll be music and we can dance. No excitement isn't good for you. Please, Todd, please take me here. Anything the matter here? No, no, no, my wife doesn't feel well. Anything I can do? No, everything's all right. Let's drive into the hotel, Todd. Here, let's drink to us, dear. To us? Oh, Todd, do you really mean it? More than anything else in the world. Now, what would you like to eat? What's on the menu? Oh, lots of good things. Roast beef, southern fried chicken, lobster, Thermador, waiter. Yes, sir. We'll order now. Yes, sir. What would you like, darling? I'll have the southern fried chicken. Good. Oh, sorry. I'm afraid the chicken is all gone. Oh, and that's the one thing I want. Southern fried chicken and everything that goes with it. I'm sorry. Would you try? Maybe there's just one order left, please. I'll see what I can do. Are you, sir? Lobster, Thermador. Yes, sir. Todd, they're playing a rumba. Would you like to dance? Oh, yes, ma'am. Come on. Put your face lights up, Todd. Come on. Put your face lights up, Todd. Being in your arms again. Oh, I'm sorry. Todd, I've forgotten how to dance. Todd, just relax. Follow me. Oh, excuse us, please. Pardon me. The music was right. Everybody bumping into us. Maybe we'd better go back to our table. Yes, let's. I hate dancing. On this chair. And bulging. Paul, what have you gotten there? Your letters. Oh, no. I read them over and over. Look, you wrote me this one from Omaha. Darling, you are my happiness. I can't live without you. You are as necessary as the air I breathe. There are many people at this stage. You are home to me. I don't want you to read the letters. Welcome to me. Quiet. Don't you mean what you said? Is the waiter without food. May I serve you, madam? What's that? Fried chicken. Todd, you know I never eat anything fried. But the lady insists it's a southern fried chicken and everything that goes with it. Yes, I know. We'll take it away. Will you please pay for it? Yes, sir. Well, maybe this once won't hurt. Very good. It's good to me. Tasty. All these people making so much noise about. Todd, take me home. I'm not hungry. I want to go home. Please, may I understand? We subled our house three months ago when you went to... Darling, we have no house. It's our house. Please, darling, please. Please, dear, you must realize we no longer have a house. Todd was talking, but I couldn't stop her ringing. And my head was tightening until I got screaming inside. I was so stirred up. Why was everyone making so much noise? The music rasping and lights dazzling everywhere I look. The best thing we can do is to get out of here. Come on, darling. Our keys. Todd, are you taking me home? We're going where we can be together. Always. But it's quiet and peaceful. Where? To the place up in the hills where we used to park where we were married. No, Todd, I want to go home. Isn't this our eighth wedding anniversary? Aren't we celebrating? Emily will see the starlight through the trees and listen to the crickets. Two lovers alone in the dark where are those keys? Maybe they're in your top coat in the back seat. I'll reach over and see. No, no, no. They're not there. Makes your coat so heavy. Something dropped out of it. A revolver. What do you want with the gun? Yeah, the keys. Todd, were those bullets for that gun? You've got to trust me, Emily. But I found those bullets and then that letter from Mrs. Hallick. What letter? Oh, that double face. Pretending to be nice to me and then writing like that to you and you pretend. Emily, try not to get so excited. And those bullets? You said they were Ernie's. I meant you have to remember, Emily. You've been gone a long time, a long time. And is the gun Ernie's, too? Yeah, half an hour ago. I told you I loved you. Yes, yes, I know you, too. Well, I do. I love you more than anything in the world. Why are you slowing down? This is the turnoff to our special parking place. You used to call it our paradise, remember? Well, now we're coming back to it again. Getting away from the whole world, from everyone. Everything. To be alone together. I'm so tired. Take me home, please. Let go, dear. Don't grab my arm. Take me back to the club. Any place. Just drop me off. Keep your hands off the wheel, Emily. You're going to kill me, aren't you? Don't, don't, don't think of it that way. You must... You are, aren't you? You're not well, Emily. You're never going to get well. Oh, yes, I will, darling. Yes, I will. I'm going to get well. I'll get over being nervous. I'll be a real wife. Do you a real wife? I'll be everything you want me to be. I can't live without you, Emily. But you said we'd always be together. Oh, we will, we will. And this is the way, Emily, together. No, no, don't! Let go of the wheel, darling. Had it all down, Sergeant? Yes, sir. Every word of it. Now, Mrs. Ward, do you remember anything else? See, Todd, no. Mrs. Ward, your husband is gone. Gone? Where did he go? Your husband is dead. Dead? He told you to say that. He doesn't want me! Watch her now, Sergeant. Sergeant, yes. Give me a hand here. Tighten up those straps, sir. Well, I guess it's the state hospital for her. She certainly is strong, considering. Yes. She'll probably live a long, long time. Suspense, in which Miss Joy Lafleur starred in William and Robeson's production of Celebration by Phyllis Parker and Arnold Marquess. Listen. Listen again next week when we bring you another tale related to keep you in suspense. Supporting Miss Lafleur and Celebration were Irene Tedrow, Shepard Menken, Joe DeSantis, and Jack Moyles. Suspense has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States, armed forces radio and television service. Suspense.