 This is the story of two women alone in a house during a storm and what they do to protect themselves from fear. In a moment, The Companion by Walter Black. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. Winston gives you real flavor for its tobacco flavor. Winston's easy drawing to the flavor comes right through to you. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. A modern filter? Sure Winston has it, but that's only the beginning of a Winston. Up front, up where it really counts, Winston packs exclusive filter blend. Light flavorful tobaccos, specially selected and specially processed for filter smoking. Filter blend. That's why it's fun to smoke Winston. America's best selling filter cigarette. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. Mrs. Hughes? Yes. Miss Lloyd? That's right. Come right in. I'm sorry if I'm late. I couldn't get a taxi so I took the bus. Oh no. You didn't take any time at all. I got the impression you wanted me to get out here fast. I did. You're a local girl, aren't you? Yes. You must know my husband, Kent. You were both probably in high school at the same time. Yes, I remember him. He was a year ahead of me, but that was some time ago. Where is my room, Mrs. Hughes? Oh, just on the hall there. I'd like you to meet my mother first. Your mother? I thought you were alone. Well, I might as well be. Poor Mama's been in a wheelchair ever since she had her stroke four years ago. This way, please. Here's Miss Lord, Mama. This is my mother, Mrs. Stinson. How do you do? How do you do? Did you say Miss Lord? That's right. Somehow I expected someone a bit older. May I unpack now, Mrs. Hughes? Oh, yes, of course. It's at the end of the hall. Mrs. Stinson, are these your jewels? Yes. Why? If I were you, I wouldn't leave them out on the bureau. They're beautiful. They might get lost. Well, I hope you're satisfied, Lois. Mama, don't act as if I were being selfish. I got her out here as much for use for me. Move the wheelchair closer to the window, Lois. Did I ever complain before about Ken going off on his business trips? If you want the truth? Yes. I may have complained a little. I never did anything about it. I can't stand it anymore. Always being left alone. All alone, dear? Yes, I know. I know. I'm a cripple. I didn't say that, Mama. You don't have to look so reproachful. Each time Ken's gone off, it's gotten worse. Not that he cares. He's gone away again and again without giving me a thought. Lois Hughes, you stop being so dramatic. Ken's a fine person and a good husband, but he's got his job to do. Well, then he ought to change his job. I think he wants to travel doing whatever he does. You think I exaggerate, don't you? Well, all I want is for my husband to come back home every night. Is that so terrible? Does that make me a bad wife? Oh, no, baby. Mama never thought that. Well, did you ever think how lonely it is out here for me, buried like this out in the country? I get scared, Mama, sometimes. And then you, with your precious heirlooms lying around. Well, they're memories, Lois. That's all I have. Yes, but what if someone tried to get in here while Ken was away? Well, people are still robbed, you know. Stop talking that way. Are you trying to frighten me? I'm trying to be sensible. Those jewels are a temptation to any man who wants to walk in and pick them up. Well, I've had some of those pieces since I was 16, Lois. That diamond brooch belonged to your great-grandmother. Mama, I know, but what good would they do you if they were stolen? Well, even Miss Lord noticed how careless you were about it. Oh, all right, all right. I don't want to argue about it. But I still don't see what that woman is going to do around here. She doesn't do anything. She'll be here. That's all I hired her for. Who recommended her? Peggy Martinson. She stayed with her when she was sick last year. Hmm. I don't like her. You only saw her for one minute. It's too cold. She looks right through you. If you don't mind, I think I'll just have my meals sent in here. The less I see of her, the easier I'll see of her. Want me to take you supper, Tray Mama? Mm-hmm. Have you eaten? Oh, I just had some coffee. I'm too jumpy to eat. Oh, this storm is enough to make anyone jumpy. Oh, listen to that rain coming down. You don't need a storm, Mama. It's Miss Lord. Why? What's she done? Nothing, nothing. It's the way she acts. That's all it... Well, it's what you said. She's cold. I feel uncomfortable around her. What has she done? Nothing, really. Nothing at all. I didn't want her to do anything. I just wanted to feel safer with her, but I don't. She keeps staring at me in that cold way of hers. Well, then for heaven's sakes, get rid of her. Call a taxi and have them come pick her up. Won't that look awfully... awfully funny? Oh, but you care this is your house. Pay her for the day and get rid of her. Tell her you've changed your mind. I never should have called her. It's true. I do, it's actually... We don't really need anyone. What's the matter? You want me to look up the number? There's no dial tone. Well, jiggle the hook. It's dead. Oh, it can't be. The storm isn't that bad yet. Maybe it's just this extension. Go use the one in the front hall. Yes, yes, Mama. I'll be right back. Miss Lord, I thought you were in your room. I was closing the living room windows. Good night, Mr. Ture. What is it, my child? The phone. The phone. She cut the main card. I almost caught her at it. Did she say she did it? No, I didn't ask. I was frightened. Besides, she'd gone to her room. What should she do? Why? You see, without the phone, we're helpless. She... Oh, she wouldn't do anything, honey. Why, why people know she's here with her? Why, who knows, Mama? Nobody. They do, too. The taxi driver. She took the bus. She walked up from Broad River. She said she couldn't get a taxi. What are we going to do? I'm going to talk to her, Mama. Anything's better than... than not knowing. Lois? Yes, Mama. He can't... Miss Lord? It's me. Mrs. Hughes. It's all right, Mama. It's all right. Here I am. Hughes never know what the last couple of minutes have been like. What are you carrying your handbag for? It's not mine. It's hers. Stop asking questions, Mama, and listen. I knocked on her door and there wasn't any answer, so I went in. She wasn't in her room, even though she had said good night. Her purse was on the dresser, so I opened it up and... Look, Mama, look. Oh, God. Don't touch it. It might go off. Why would she be carrying a gun, Mama? She's after my jewels. Oh, baby, do you think if I... if I offered to give her one of the smaller pieces, she'd leave? You mean briber? It's worth trying. Is that my handbag, Mrs. Hughes? Yes. What are you doing with it? Oh, I thought it was mine. I have one like it, and I... You have one like it in my room. Well, I was looking for it, and I knocked on your door. May I have it? Thank you. You didn't put your jewels away, did you, Mrs. Simpson? Lois, Oscar, Miss Lord, my mother and I, we're both very grateful for your coming up here and staying with us, and we'd like to give you a little token. After all, my mother hardly ever wears any of her jewelry, and you seem to admire them, so... Why don't you pick out one of the pieces you'd like and take it? You want to give me jewelry. Yes, yes, that's right, just because we're so grateful. Aren't we, Mama? Yes, yes, we're grateful. So just tap yourself. I know it's a little unusual, but we're very grateful. If you like, Mama, write a little note saying it's a gift. I don't accept gifts. Good night. Did she refuse, Mama? She saw right through us for one thing. Why should she take one piece and she can murder us in our beds and take everything? No, no, she wouldn't, Mama. See this? What? Look, she didn't even know. Put it away. Who just decided it scares me half to death? All right, Mama. But at least she hasn't got it anymore. Now I'm going for help. Lois, you can't leave me alone. I'll leave the gun with you. I could never use this. Mama, that woman is a psychopath. You mean she's insane? Yes, I think she is. But you told me you're such Peggy Martinson recommended her. Well, psychopaths act just like anybody else most of the time. Mama, I'm going to lock your door from the outside because I have to go. Be careful, Lois. And don't forget your boots. Yes, Mama. Maybe once you get out on Barrett Road. Maybe a car will pass. You could get a ride. Yes, Mama. Be sure and lock the door from the outside and take the key with you. Yes, Mama. She... She must be in a room. Careful. I will. Go away. The door's locked. It's locked. And I'll go away. Why didn't you say it was you? I didn't want her to hear. Why haven't you left what happened? Did she catch you? She didn't have to, Mama. Mama, the doors are locked. The back door, too? Yes. The cellar? Yes. What book? There must be a key. You have the one to this room. And that one within the door. But isn't there another key somewhere? Yes. Yes, on Kent's key ring. Oh, dear God. I thought of the windows, but the casements are too small. Oh. Mama, we're prisoners. In just a moment, we will return for the concluding act of... Here's Hollywood star Mona Freeman. Who feels like acting with a miserable cold? I relieve cold distress the fast way, with four-way cold tablets. Yes, tests of all the leading cold tablets proved four-way fastest acting. Amazing four-way starts in minutes to relieve muscular pains and headache, reduce fever, calm upset stomach, also overcomes irregularity. When a cold strikes, do what I do. Take four-way cold tablets. It's the fast way to relieve nasty cold distress and feel better quickly. Four-way, only 29 cents. Our program will continue in a moment, after word about another fine product of Grove Laboratories. Does Dandruff dull your hair, leave scalp itchy? Get Fitch Dandruff Remover Shampoo and get rid of unsightly dandruff in three minutes. Three minutes with Fitch regularly is guaranteed to keep embarrassing Dandruff away forever. Apply Fitch before wetting hair, rub in one minute, add water, lather one minute, rinse one minute. Every trace of Dandruff goes down the drain. Three minutes with Fitch, unsightly dandruff gone. Fitch can also leave your hair up to 35% brighter. Fitch, Dandruff Remover Shampoo. Prisoners, just as surely as if we're locked up in jail. Mama, when I think of all the awful things you read about in the papers, you never dream they can ever happen to you. It's like a nightmare. It's all child. We've got to think of some way out. All right, Mama. I'm sitting. Now go ahead, think of a way out. Only 10 o'clock. I thought it was later. Lois, hand me my box of stationery. Mama, what for? What time does your milkman show up? Six or seven. Why? I can write a note. Wrap it up in three or four sheets of paper and some envelopes. Throw it out the window. Even if the rain does get to it, he'll be able to read it. And then he has to pass my window to get to the back door. Well, what's the matter? It's worth trying. No, no, it's not, Mama. He was here this morning. He won't come again until day after tomorrow. There, there now, there. Mama, you know who's responsible for all this. Kent, he didn't have to go off and leave us alone. He has that new assistant he could have sent. But he wanted to go. He wanted to get away from me. Stop, Seth. Now you're getting hysterical. Kent is a good husband, and you're lucky to have him. Listen, what is it? I thought I heard the door knob rattle. You know, she really wanted to. She could break down the door. Oh, no, no, no. Those pillows are like tissue paper. Lois, take that gun. I'll fire Mama. Take it. Lois, don't touch the trigger. But Mama, don't argue with me. You've got to face that woman. You've got to make her leave this house. I've never handled it. I don't care. You've got to do it. You've said yourself that you can break down the door. You think that she'll just sit around and wait until somebody comes and she has to leave? This is the only chance we have. All right, Mama. Don't let her get close to you. No. That's my good girl. And Lois, if you have to pull the trigger, aim at her legs. Oh, haven't we talked about this? It's me, Mrs. Hughes. I have to see you. Yes? What are you doing with that gun? I have to talk to you. Put that gun away, Mrs. Hughes. Please. I have to talk to you. Please put that gun down. After all I've gone through. Don't be ridiculous. Well, sit down, Miss Lord. What is it? You're too... Sit down. That's better. Please, Mrs. Hughes, what have I done? That's right, that's right. I like that. But what have I done? Please, don't you... It's too bad. Can't see you crying. He hates women who blubber, you know. That's what he calls it. That's why he's never seen me cry. Although I felt like it often enough. Please, don't move. That's better. Oh, and don't bother screaming. I had my mother to hear you. And she'd think it was me, anyway. And besides, if you screamed it might make me so nervous. And the gun would go off. And then I'd have to tell Mama we fought for it. And it went off... accidentally. What do you want? Come now, you're a big girl. I ask foolish questions. You... Who cut the phone cord? Of course. I did everything else, too. But why? I've never done you any harm. You've only tried to ruin my life, that's all. You think I don't know about you and my husband? Your husband? Not that you're the first. Every woman who sees him tries to take him away from me. Even that smug little Peggy Martinson she thinks I'm blind. Well, I'm not. And you, you poor little fool lying about remembering him from long ago. Well, you think I didn't know you were sweethearts in high school and still are? You think I don't know? He's been sneaking off to meet you on the slide? Oh, you must have laughed at me. How sure you must have felt to walk in here into my home. Please, please. Yes, I did know Kent in high school, but it was never serious. I swear to you, I haven't seen him a dozen times since then. It was only high school dating. I've never been in love with him. Go on, go on, lie some more. Tell me you never sat with him in a station cafe either. We bumped into each other accidentally. We had a cup of coffee while he was waiting for a train. That's all. I don't understand what he sees in you. Please, Mrs. Hughes. He doesn't even know I'm alive. Oh. Oh-ho-ho-ho. Very actable. Because you won't be much longer. No, well, any of those other girls he runs off with me. Are you ready, Mrs. Martinson? Give me that gun. You don't understand, Mama. She's trying to take Kent away from me. So that's it. You weren't worried about my jewels? Or about her? She's trying to get Kent. Oh, just see, Mama. I'm beginning to. You locked the door and cut the phone cord. Didn't you, love? But I've had you. I'm frightening me. That was all a part of your plan, too. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mama. I have seen this jealousy of yours build and build, but I never dreamed that you... No, no, it's child. Your husband loves you. There's nothing for you to be jealous about. He's coming back. Yes, forget her. Hey, anybody home? I've been calling since 5.30, but... Diane, what are you doing here? What's going on? What are you doing with that gun? I was thinking that you and Miss Lord are sweetheart. What? You don't have to lie anymore. Nancy Adams saw you with her at the station cafe. He saw me with... Oh, oh, Juan. I ran into her accidentally. We had a cup of coffee, that's all. Tell her, Diane. I tried to. You're away so much and... I know I'm not glamorous or very excited. You're my wife, and I love you. With you, again. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Honey, look. The trip was postponed until next week. How about coming with me? We'll take a couple of extra days. Just for us. He... He... You really... You really want me to. Very, very much. Oh, ho, ho, ho. Ha, ha, ha, ha. There, there, there. It's all right, now, baby. Ha, ha, ha, ha. Everything is going to be all right. listening to the companion written for suspense by Walter Black. In a moment the names of our players and the word about next week's story of suspense are you out of tune due to irregularity then help yourself get back in tune with Kellogg's all-brand pleasant isn't it the feeling of well-being you get when constipation from lack of bulk is no longer a worry when harsh irritating drug laxatives can be thrown away because Kellogg's all-brand is the normal natural way to regularity its whole brand content gentle the way constipation supplies your system with the bulk forming foods you need for youthful regularity and it tastes good too fact is Kellogg's all-brand is the one and only whole brand cereal that combines proved effectiveness with appetizing taste and Christmas so if you're out of tune help yourself get back in tune as millions do with Kellogg's all-brand a double l-hyphen b-r-a-n Kellogg's all-brand my story where Elizabeth Lawrence is loyal Virginia pain as Mrs. Stinson and Rita Lloyd has missed Lord listen again next week when we return with the symbol a story of murder with a motive for everyone written by Alan Sloan from a story by Eleazar Lipsky another tale well-calculated to keep you in