 And now, tonight's presentation of Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills. Suspense. Tonight, we bring you a story about a man whose name was synonymous with death. We call it, The Groom of the Ladder. So now, starring Hans Conreed, here is tonight's suspense play, The Groom of the Ladder. Evening, Mr. Price. Evening, William. Oh, it's cold enough. Our day for you, Mr. Price? Well, I must say I'm fair wore out. What you need is a bit of the old warming for the cockles. Ah, true, ah, true. It's cruel work for a man in this weather. You opt down to the blue ball, Mr. Price, have yourself a dollop. Oh, I thought of that, but I happen to be a little short of funds tonight, will you? I wonder. Oh, have one for me, Mr. Price. Oh, that's very nice of you, I must say. Well, you're very nice. Good night. Good night, Mr. Price. My kindest regards to your wife, Mr. Price. Thank you, William. Oh, what a dirty dog. I hope so give him what for it a blue boy. Nasty little rat that we are, Martinie. I've got to keep an eye on him. Hardly. What rights he got to look at me like that. I know what he's thinking, get my job. If a chance are there, I'll see him turned off first. Oh, I got a first. It should go on, I suppose. Better be grouching out of all neck. Oh, leather grounds, I got me rights. Blue ball for me. Good evening, Mr. White. Mrs. White. Mr. Lowell. Oh, Brenny, you're spry as ever. What's this all about? Somebody dead. Pay for it? Yes, I can pay for it. And more, don't you worry about me. I can pay for anything. You hear that, all of you? I don't need a bloody one of you. You'll all come to me one of these days. Looking for somebody? Who said it? I wonder who's going to get Jack Kent's job when he's out to office. Who called me? Oh, Mr, that's what you hear. Don't, don't stop it, man. There'll be none of that in here. If you want your ale, come over to the table and drink it. Otherwise? I'm sorry, I'm not very tired tonight. Except my apologies, keeper. I don't accept nothing from you, except your money. I have to serve you, me char to say so. I'll serve you, or act you go. And that's a fact, and don't forget it. Why do they do it? Why, it's always like this. Either they don't say a blinkin' word, or they even that all the way. Can't they understand? I'm just like anybody else. I do me job, same as anyone. It's lonely, a man sitting by himself, swallowing ale, all by himself. Wish I had some money. Some of the actual not coppers, I'd have friends then, lots of them. What was it they were saying about the watchman looking for me? They can't do that. I'll pay the debts, would I, yo? If I can only get a good job or two. Why don't they let the man alone? What ain't fair, Mr. Rice? Who is it? Oh, oh, William. William Hartley, huh? You got off late tonight, didn't you? That's right, Mr. Price. Having a bit of a guzzle, eh? I will not stand familiarity, William Hartley. Kindly remember your place and station. Oh, no offence, intended. And I'm takin' I hopes. Granted. Mind if I sit down with my mug? I don't mind. Well, there's short pay, that's the way of it. William Hartley, why do you talk to me? Why not, Mr. Price? You're my superior, ain't ya? In a way, I ask to talk to ya. I don't want you to have to! I want you to want to! Nobody wants to talk to me! Nobody wants me! Could be worse, you know. I don't beat my wife or the kid. I try to do what's wrong. You're just misunderstood, Mr. Price. Mis-understood, I sympathize. I want that friend, I want people to smile at me in the streets. Talk to me, to like me. Oh, you've got a burden, Mr. Price, and no mistake. William, how'd you like to lend me five sovereigns? I could pay you back with interest. I got one or two odd debts to pay, you know. I heard about that, Mr. Price. Harry White was... Harry White, what's he? No, he's after me job. Just like you, William Hartley. All over my eyes, I know, I know. How could you think such a thing, Mr. Price? Why, you remember this. I'm not out of office yet. Remember, you stay nice to me, William, because I have a position. How about a couple of sovereigns? I know you've got it, so there's no use in knowing. Well, I'd like to oblige, Mr. Price, so I will but my wife's expecting again, and you know how it is with another mouth to feed. How about a copper's worth of ale there? You know, I was going to buy one for you, Mr. Price, but when I reached into my pocket, I found I had just enough for me, old mug. William Hartley, you are a dirty, sneak and little liar. Mr. Price. Don't you ever find yourself in trouble, because if you do, it's John Price who's gonna be there taking love in care of you. Did anyone think... Hello, Mr. White. Mrs. White. Oh, good day. Good. Come on, Elizabeth. Time for us to be going home. All right, Annie. I said, allow. That's all. I didn't do no harm, just allow. It's me, John Price. You know me. William Hartley. He come to the blueboard to laugh at me. That's how he gets his pleasure. They all do. And when I get home, it's going to be the same. Oh, I wish I was dead. A very difficult job today. Like they've broke me poor arm. I swore like a pig. How much did you get? The usual. And it over. Now, bad. Ah, I should have known. You've been boozing at the blueboard. Spent every blessed penny. I was tired, but I thought a sap would help. Sap? I said, be the luckier. Sweetheart, we've got a few shillings put by, haven't we? Oh, no, you don't. No, it's desperate, Betco. They'll have me in debtor's prison. I heard them talk tonight. Do you good? No, don't say that. Love, love. It'll only be for a week, two at the most. I've got to raise every penny I can. That money's for me and the kid. You don't touch one sub. I'll lose my job. Don't make me laugh. Your job. Call that a job? I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed to have people know my name. Now, Bet, I'm your husband. It's your duty to obey me. You give me what money we got in the house, and I'm going to... Or what? Now, Bet, he's got a lovely job standing. Don't you try me. It's true now. Listening to the groom of the latter, tonight's presentation in Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, suspense. There are twice as many radios in the United States today as there were 10 years ago. Every minute of the broadcast day, millions are listening to radio, most of all, to CBS Radio, which has all of the top 25 daytime programs and eight of the top 10 once a week half-hour evening shows. Yes, leading the way as it goes and grows are the CBS Radio shows. And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage. Hans Connery, starting in tonight's production, The Groom of the Ladder, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Well, I suppose it was wrong to be there like that. Well, what's a man to do? So, what with me dancing, what I done to Bet? Here I am in Marshall C. Prison. Not the first time I've been here ever. What a stinker now, all of us together. A muck of London. Men, women, and dogs. There's one lad, though, that ain't so bad. I mean, yesterday, he's got Len and a gentleman, you can see there. Thomas Lovelace's name. He's in debt to his eyes. Two thousand pounds. I'll be here until I rot, Price. Oh, I wouldn't say that, sir. There's always hope. You've been here before? Three times, sir. This is me fourth. I ain't always for debt. Of course, there was a matter of my wife, Betty, this time. What did you do for a living, Price? What's the matter? Haven't you noticed? The others there, they never talk to me. Haven't you noticed? Not particularly. I'll tell you why. Because I was in the employ of his majesty, in service to the crown. That's why. That's why they don't talk to you? Well, I suppose you weren't either when I tell you. You find out in a day or so anyhow, what's it use? I'm the Angman. But I thought that Jack catched me. That's what they call me. I thought, sir. Go on, sir. I won't trouble you. You're a gentleman. You know what the likes of me. You haven't got a very savory reputation, you know, Price. It was my job. Somebody had to do it. I've heard that you rather enjoyed it. That's a lie. What about the poor devils who paid you to put them out of their misery quickly? I was happy to oblige. Poor souls. Sometimes they give me a few pants to help them through the awful passage to heaven. But, Lord, bless them, I did my best. And if they didn't have any money? I wouldn't hold it against them. Of course, I'm not denying that a nice rack or press job was worth a few shillings extra. But wouldn't you have taken the money? I ask you, wouldn't you? I wouldn't have had your job, Price. Not for a million pounds. Oh, well, that's the way of it. Each man to what he knows, right, Mr. Lovelace? My profession is aim. Yours is to be a gentleman. Am I right, sir? And we're both of us in debtor's prison. I don't give him something to think about. He wasn't so high and mighty after that. Mr. Lovelace never had visitors. I didn't either. That is not to one day free myself for I first come here. And it was William Hartley. And I didn't like the nasty weasel smile on him. Well, Price, I heard about your misfortune and I came to sympathize. How thoughtful, William. How do they treat you in here? Treat? Oh, like a bloomin' owl, can't you see? Nasty smell down here. They haven't brought in the fresh roses yet. What about your debts, Price? Any luck? No. It's only a matter of five pounds. William? William Hartley, you did... Did you come here to help me? You're going to lend me the money. Have I misjudged you, William? Good friend. No, you haven't misjudged me, Price. I didn't come here to lend you nothing. I'll come here like a good Christian to see you add your wealth and spirits. And I'll brought you a prayer book for your poor soul to feed on. Oh, blimey, I'll... And your ways, Price, change your ways before it's too late. I'll change the shape of your head. Oh, I'm going to turn you off, Mr. William Hartley. Let him go! You know what they'll do to you with this. You shouldn't have done that, Price. I won't forget. You'll pay for that. And slum gullum for a month. I wasn't going to forget William Hartley. Never in all my life was Mr. Lovelace who saved me a cruster to a bread when I was brought up from the black hole. It was the best meal I ever had. And then things were the same again. The weeks went by. I wrote a song ballad. Mr. Lovelace did the words you write in for me. I called it the man of destiny's odd fortune whereby his hopeful harvest is like to be blasted. And nobody bought it though, though I still didn't have the money to pay me debts. Then I heard about Betty and the kid. They'd run off and left me. And that's when I made up my mind to get out of Marshall C. That and William Hartley. Oh, I'd play a little core on him. I'd tell my idea to Mr. Lovelace one night. Mr. Lovelace. Come closer, sir. Listen, I'm getting out, see? Now you've treated me right. I'm willing to take you with. How can you? We've got these chains. It's impossible. No, it ain't. They take him off in the afternoon when we exercise, don't they? All right, that's the time. You leave that to me. You want to go with? I'd rather die trying than stay. All right, sir. Now, here's what we do. There's a wood shed next to the gate of the yard. Doors always open. And we have our constitutional tomorrow. We hop in there and wait till it's dark. One of the keepers will see it, sir. Now, now there's a new one on. I've been watching him. He's been drunk for a week. Easy as pie. You wait. We did it. Stayed eyed and barred in the wood till night. I felt funny without the chains on after so long. And then about 10 o'clock, we started out of the shed. I took a thick stick from the wood pile. It was a bit of climbing, innit? All clear. He's asleep. We have to pass him supposing he wakes up. He won't. First man, I'll pull you over. That's right. That's a loveliest sight. Well, your mark is out there in it. Come on. Look out the side of the prison. And then Mr. Lovelace said goodbye. I'll leave you here, Price. I can't thank you enough for helping me. Or you shan't meet again, I suppose. But I'll always remember you. Goodbye. And it went his way. A couple of minutes later, I found a broom maker going on from selling his wares. And after a short argument, I had two silver shillings in my pocket. I tossed for it. William Hartley now or later. My first one. And that took me to the nearest ale house in Bunhill Fields. Oddly'd have to wait, but not for long. I was going to do him a mischief. Tade a little scot back before the night was out. It was two hours later that I left the ale house with a lovely swishing in my belly and happiness in my head. Funny thing, I couldn't on the line for me remember what I had to do. But there was something. Oh, his groans was driven. They pressed upon him. And Jack stood solemn, not shedding a tear. When the... Hello's there. It's me, Elizabeth White. Is that you, John Price? I thought you were in Marshall's sleep. Elizabeth White? Well, I never. What you doing in Bunhill Fields this time of night? Well, I had an order of gingerbread to deliver. No. You frightened me. Oh, me frightened? Oh, I'm all right. You know that. Well, I've had one or two, but nobody can say John Price can't behave like a gentleman. You are wicked. Oh, I wish I was married to a sweet woman like you, Elizabeth. Oh, how I envy your husband. Ah, now, now, Mr Price. Well, I apologize. Umbly. Do you hate me? Of course not. I never hated you. Was out he didn't want me to talk to you? No, I mean, because I'm Angman. Ah, you're not any more anyway. I'm really very gentle with art, you know. I'm just misunderstood by one and all. Oh, I suppose. Elizabeth, I've always had a liking for you. Mr Price. Have you got a little money put away? We could make it a business arrange. You were just me. And I'll pay you next month. I haven't got anything, Mr Price. Hold on. Maybe a shiver or two. You must have copped something for the gingerbread. Please, Mr Price, my area. Well, it ain't honorable for a man in my position to be in debt. There's no one to turn to. Come on, I'll pay you back. I swear that I'm desperate. No, no, Mr Price. Would you keep it? Ah, no. Stop it, you little watchman down there. Stop it, no. Give it away. You hear me? Ah! Ah! Ah, I need this. You see, I need it. I told you I'd pay you. Ah! Ah! Shut it off! Newgate, this time. The watchman got me. But he was too late for Elizabeth White. I'm afraid I done that in, poor soul. I'm to hang for it, sir. There you are. I can hear him coming for me now. Go, I'd like a last swig of something to see me on my way. You ready, John Price? You nasty little winkle. You mean you're the hangman? I am. Go, block. I was coming back to turn you off. You maggity whore. And I forgot you wouldn't be here now. I bear you no malice, John Price. You won't make no hangman. Not for long, you wait. You wait. They'll start calling you Jackcatch. You wait. It's my duty. I always knew that someday I'd find my calling to protect the people from such poor riches as you. I have found it. Go, Blimey. I might have known. I might have known. Bar me, too. Well, I for one haven't got a brass father for you. And my clothes? They won't fetch tuppence. Oh, blast you. I don't want neither. It's my job, John Price. Turning you off is my job. And that's what I'm going to do. You've come to a wicked end, as I knew you would. If I'm going to nab the Star Force, and it's William Artley, what's going to do it? I'm better off dead. Here, here, William. You write something for me on the wall, will you? Yeah, yeah. I've got some charcoal. Yeah, right here. Here. What? All right. No, you write this. Right. Here died John Price, England of London. He was turned off upon the gallows which he had served so well in his day. God save the king in the year 1686. Suspense. In which Hans Conrad starred in tonight's presentation of the Groom of the Ladder. Be sure to listen in again next week when we bring you another presentation of Radio's outstanding Theatre of Thrills. Suspense. Directed in Hollywood by Anthony Ellis, who also wrote tonight's script. The music was composed by Lucian Morrowang and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. In tonight's story, Ben Wright was heard as Hartley. Featured in the cast were Raymond Lawrence, Richard Heal, Bill James, Doris Lloyd, Betty Harford, and Stan Jones. Nobody's selling the Brooklyn Bridge anymore, but don't for a minute think that because that racket has been exposed, a hundred others just as bizarre aren't flourishing right now. Underworld characters who want an easy buck and aren't fussy how they make it are endlessly inventive in that way. Fortunately, the agents of the FBI are even quicker and shrewder in their counter efforts to foil their plans and ferret them out of hiding. You can hear another startling drama revealing one more of those clever plans and its ultimate defeat on that popular CBS radio program, the FBI in peace and war over most of these same stations tomorrow night. Remember the FBI in peace and war tomorrow night. Stay tuned for five minutes of CBS News to be followed on most of these same CBS radio stations by The Jack Carson Show.