 And now, tonight's presentation of Radio's Outstanding, built of clothes, clear of the rehearsal and the performance of the murder. We call it The Cellar. So now, starring Mr. Eric Snowden, here is tonight's suspense play, The Cellar. Hello. I've told him that it's been a long time, 16 years to be exact. We've been married 20, and I think I owe it to myself to do something about it now. It's the principle of the thing, if you follow me. First of all, I don't like your voice. Jor, jor, jor, I haven't found. She goes at it morning, noon and night. You've never heard the like. Or maybe you did. Go something like this. I've got to tell you, not to put your finger on the attic. You think all I've got to do is to send my guys cleaning off your dirty boot marks. And for heaven's sake. I don't know, I'm sure, why I've got to do everything in the house. It's bad enough that why I scream from side, week in and week out, to keep a close of bread in our man. Never a nope, I'm sure, of having somebody do out with the work. I really don't know why you don't get a better position, always dreaming of what we're going to do. If you'd only ask the back of my house. Bloody awful magic. I've worked it out on paper. There's 60 seconds in a minute and 3,600 seconds in an hour and 86,400 seconds in 24 hours. You'll listen to that for 20 years and you'll go off your pleasing nut. Sooner or later it's got to stop and that's a thing. And there's other things. She puts some kind of sheep or a muck on her hands and pour a guy into bed and who gets smeared with it? Who else? Goodness knows. I try to keep myself looking halfway decent. It's not like I can afford a manicure twice a week like Mrs. Climpton. I should think you'd be grateful. It's not a good reason to do in your life. I don't want to tell you, it helps. And she's always put enough feet on me bags. She says they're cold and wants me to warm them for her. They're cold all right. Like a blinking mackerel. She goes my back and she thinks she's hot stuff about keeping accounts. Always guessing about saving. And I get two bob a week spending money. I ask her, how can a man live on that? It's a perishing injustice. So all in all, that's why I got a killer. Everything's ready and I suppose I might as well get on with it. Could you come down for a minute, love? It'll only take half a mile. I've got something to show you down here. Keep your head on, love. It won't be long. What's it you're messing about down here while I'm awake? What are you doing with my cellar? Why is it all dug up like that? You gone bar me? Now you put every scrap of that dirt back in the old this minute. You hear me? All right, love. I will. Don't worry. And don't you dare come upstairs till you've cleaned off your boots. I will not have that mess all over me clean kitchen floor. All right, on course drop. I just wanted to get an idea of the size. It looks all right. What you're talking about? Right for what? You'll be there. No way. You've been drinking. You've been drinking, that's what. Not a drop. I'm a cheat open and you know that, Mil. No, Mil, pal. The time has come as the wall was set to the carpenter. Your time. You made this instant and filled in every bit of that old. All right, old comrade. When you suffer all the on and ten minutes, then I will not have it spoiled. Mil, I've got something I've got to say to you. Thank you. On fed up when you endure. Fed to the teeth and best of that. Yeah, you. Oh, you think you're talking to me? I'm fed up with your greasy hands and I'm fed up with your clammy feet. But most of all, Mil, I'm fed up with you. Oh, I'm going to do you in. Oh, look at you like that. Don't you touch me. I'll have the law on you. I don't give a frid for you and I don't give a frid for the laws. I worked it all out. And if you think you can get up them stairs before I bash your head in, you're very much mistaken. Oscar, if ever you do anything in this world, do it right. I remember their words as I covered up the mortal remains of my ever-loving ex, milling witching. I did her a corker. One good whack on the air so there wasn't much of a mess, if you follow my meaning. Took me about 15 minutes to cover her up. Nice and neat, lice. And then I went upstairs, and I'm telling you, give me a bit of a turn when I open the front door. I hadn't had time to wash up yet, but I wasn't too worried. Not until I saw who was standing outside. He was a copper. Gormly, my name. He's got the beat on my square. Mr. Witchings. Evening, Mr. Gormly. Sorry to have to trouble you. But I had a complaint. Sorry to hear that, Mr. Gormly. Complaint states that an audible vowel was emanating from your ears. A vowel? The screams, more like. Screams? Those. That's the nature of the inquirer, Mr. Witchings. I'd be obliged if you could shed some light. Happy to, if I knew how I could help. The missus at home? No, she run off to the picture palace. You know these women and their ruddy pictures. What time did she go? Don't know. About an hour ago. No one else here. Not a living soul set myself. You've been doing any screaming, Mr. Witchings. Not bloody likely. What do you take me for? All of the nature of the inquirer, Mr. Witchings. No offence, I hope. None at all, Mr. Gormly. She and his hour has me duty to perform. I hope you'll allow me to have a look about the premises, Mr. Witchings. Seems to me a man's got his right, but I always alter aid in the law. If you're looking his aid in, help yourself, Mr. Gormly. Your mind's telling me what you're looking for. Do napers swear the herbs or sounds coming from here? Maybe it was on the radio. It's not on. Saves me making a report, Mr. Witchings. What are you bludgeoning at, you, I'm sure? Well, I don't think there's a need to bother you anymore. I'll just, uh... Hello? Cut yourself? Huh? Oh, that and how. Cutting up a bit of beef for Grubb. Thought I'd give the Mrs. a nice surprise when she gets home. I was in the kitchen when you knocked. Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Witchings. All right. Makes the bloke feel safer now than there's law nearby. Nice that you think so, Mr. Witchings. Good evening. Evening, Mr. Gormly. Handled it nicely. The worst whip was over. Copper had been then gone, and... I'd have at least 24 hours to clear out. May be longer. At eight o'clock, like I'd planned it, Aggie jokes turned up. Oh, what a bit of strawberry jam. Lovely. I'd met her a couple of months before, and I hadn't told her what I had in mind. But I knew she wouldn't care when she heard. After all, it was all done for her, mostly. Oh, Oscar, I do love you. Heavenly ain't it. When you was coming home, I do feel something awful carrying on this way. Aggie, love. Sit down. I've something to say to you. Aggie, will you run off with me? Run away? With me? But how can I? You're a married man, and what would my mom and dad think? Aggie, love. All I have is yours. You don't have to worry about a blinking thing. Everything is taken care of. I didn't care, though, but how? What's your wife going to say? She ain't going to say nothing. Aggie, for love of you, I've done her in. You've done her in? That's right. Where is she? What did you do with her? You're just about sitting over her now. Be reading the cell. Oh, how horrible. This is from me, Oscar. So you, sweetheart. Oh, how you must love me. Never a truer word. Now, listen here, duck. It's all arranged. In the morning, I'm taking the savings out, and you and me are buzzing off. There's a boat sailing for South America to the Argentine at eight o'clock tomorrow night. We'll be on it. No, I don't know what my mom and dad will say. Don't tell them. Write to them from the Argentine. Oh, Oscar, you make it so odd for a girl to say no. Give us a kiss of no more, R.G. Bartz. How may you use that? Oh, what a gash. Eh, you open the kitchen. She won't be a sec. Can I, Oscar? Oh, if you. Where is my daughter? Out. Out. We'll be home for a bit. Then I'll wait. Oh, close the door, Oscar. There's a drop down the back. She put that out of the low cow, Mrs. Quill, poor old Millie's mother. And when she says she's going to wait, she means it. Last time, it took two weeks to get rid of her. Now, what was I going to do about her? The cellar, the night's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Suspense. Ask me to sit down, Oscar Wiggins. Oh, oh yes, sit down, mother dear. Still daydreaming, our stage. Not much improvement in you since the last time I was here. Bill and me, we was going out when she came back. Why don't you drop in over the weekend? She'd love to see you. You can stay for a bit, if you'd like. I've travelled across, all for London to visit me daughter. I've no intention of going home tonight. You can go out if you want to, Oscar. Millie'll stay here and talk to her mother. Oh. I don't let me suffer yet. I've bought a nice bit of smoked daddock. I'll go in and put it on. No. I mean, you sit here comfortable like I'll do it. You? Don't make me laugh. You think I want me attic ruined? I said, mother dear, I'll cook your ruddy apple for you. Take it or leave it. How dare you. How dare you address me in that fashion. Go boil your head. Oh, you nasty little worm. Just wait till Millie is about this. No. You wait. Matter of fact, this is my house. And I didn't hear no invitation for you to come in tonight. You've been drinking. Once and for all, I have not been drinking. Now buzz off. I will not drink this house until me daughter comes in that door. I've got to give you 10 seconds, mother dear, to opt it. Then I've got a land you want you won't forget. Huh? One, two. You're death with an old woman. Three, four, nine, ten. Put her along. All clear, Aggie love. Oh, Lord, I was very frightened. And don't you worry, you're pretty yet. Everything's right as rain. Now you'll have to be yours. I wouldn't do to have anybody else snooping around and find you here. Now, not a word to anyone, say. You need to get the marble art station at four o'clock tomorrow, say. What about me planes off to marble art? Where I'm going? Leave it to me. I'll buy you all the clothes you want. That's one thing I've got to say for poor old Mary. She wasn't a very nourishing woman, but she was a saving one. I've always wanted to go abroad. Oh, that's awful. Amazingly, going for the married man and the murderer. You're all going to marry me, aren't you, Oscar? Marry you? What a question. I've got memorials same as the next one. Of course I'm going to marry you. Oh, Oscar, I know it's wicked, but I can't wait till tomorrow. You dream about it, love, and before you know it, it'll be tomorrow. Now go on. You better leave by the back door. Next morning at 10, I was in the bank. I had my slip made out to withdraw my savings and a nice little drop it was, too, 800 quid. I was waiting for the money when a tallish bloke comes out to me from behind the gate. All smiles and trickle he was. Mr. Widgen? That's right. How do you do? I'm Mr. Fawke, all the manager. I understand that you wish to withdraw your savings. That's right. I trust you've found no fault with our service. No, just what's mine? That's all good, of course, of course, naturally. Now, I inquire as to the reason you're withdrawing the fund. Is there have to be a reason? No, no, no, not at all. But since you've been such a faithful depositor for so many years. Oh, well, the truth is, Mr. Fawke, for me and the Mrs. Fawke, we take a bit of an olives. You know, the Riviera. A little sunshine and Pollywood. Oh, yes, I see. Oh, then, of course, you want me for some tea with us? No, I want it all. But, my dear sir, you can't spend it abroad. Who says I can't? The government, sir, the government. A maximum of 50 pounds need be taken out of the country. Yes. What are you giving me? But, surely, you know that it's common knowledge. To me, it ain't. It's my money. I can do as I please with it. Here in England, yes. But you can't take it out to court. It's a ruddy injustice. That's what it is. A chance, I'll give the point, sir. I'm conservative, and that's your hard luck. Now, you and over my money, see. What I do with it is my business. Up to it. Just as you please, Mr. Widget. I've done it. They've done it. What in blazes am I going to do now? I shall be 800 quid in the pocket and went home. And that's what I should never have done. Because when I got there, the old cow was standing in front of the door and the copper gormly was with us. There he is. Ask him what he's done with my little daughter. Ask him. Ask mine, you meddling old egg. Now then, now then. No language of euclation to Widget. There's a lady's upset because she's not down the door and there's no answer to move in. Well, what's that to her? She's worried about Mrs. Widget. It's me own flesh and blood I'm worrying about. I've got a right. She ain't home. That's all. Then where is she? She went out shopping. He's lying. She went out last night and he put me out by force. Threatened to do me a mischief. He's done something to her. You mark my words. How would you like a fat blip? Now then, now then. Look here, I ain't got time to stand here arguing. Constable, you go in that house since he wants what. He wouldn't let me in the kitchen last night. Outside I'd see the blood and gore where he's access to pieces. You go in there. Mr. Widget wouldn't do a thing like that, Mum. Now, why don't you go to the corner house and have a nice cup of tea? And by the time you're finished, your daughter will be home. Just like Mr. Widget is. That's right. I ain't moving from here till I see her alive with me own eyes. Yes, it's all one with me, but she won't sit in front inside. I'm not having you break up my happy own. He's afraid. He's afraid to let me in. He knows what I'll find. He knows. I'll look at him standing there. The stain of his horrible deep, still in his wicked eyes. Mr. Widget, I'd like to ask you but to oblige, will you let this lady come in and satisfy yourself? You seem to yourself, Mr. Gormley. You sing last night. You're the law. If you can't be satisfied, who can? I'll ask you. I'll get him. He's got few hypnotised eyes like he had my poor Millie. Talk a winkalore for Billywood, but not Mace. I'm not doing I am. But Mr. Widget, to oblige, let her have a look at that. Well, you'll blimey what I have to put up with from this old gas bag. All right, all right. But it's the last time. Don't say I didn't warn you. Went through the house like a ruddy bloodhound. And there wasn't nothing, not an air out of place. Mr. Gormley followed her with me and I could see it was a very aggravated position for him. Mr. Gormley likes to keep the peace. But by the time we got to the cellar, he was clear out of patience. Well, satisfied? Are you satisfied? You want to look in the cold wind? Go on. Get your hands nice and dirty. This is sorry to have troubled you, Mr. Virginia. Don't mention it. As for you, Mrs. Quill, I don't want to see your nasty face around here until I give the word. You stay out of Millie's and my way, see? And if you don't, I'll have you put in charge. Them's my right, ain't they, Mr. Gormley? In the matter of speaking. Disturbing the peace, Mr. Virginia. Right. And she's disturbing my peace. Now, I'll thank you to leave my house. When you come right down to it, I suppose they're right. In a way, I am a dreamer. Always have things to tell the truth. I ain't got no 800 pounds. Not even 80. I ain't no Eddie Jones. But I wish there was. There's only Millie's mother and Millie. And then greasy hands and cold feet and jaw, jaw, jaw. And if I end for what I'm going to do, it'll be worth it. There. That looks about right. Millie. Millie. Could you come down for a minute, love? In the cellar, please, huh? It'll only take half a mouth. I've got something to show you down here. I've seen it to the bone. If I get lost, I'll burn to you with a grasp. Are they not? You think I haven't got anything to do with that thing? It could air on, love. It won't. It won't. It'll be a good consideration. I'm fair, well-out. I'm sure I'll get the wire put up with it. I'll go with you. What are you doing with my cellar? Why is this old dog up like that? You've gone, Barney. Now, you put every scrap of dirt back in the old, this minute. You hear me? I just wanted to get an idea of the size. It looks about right. What you're talking about? Right for what? For you, dear, which Mr. Eric Snowden starred in tonight's presentation of The Cellar. Next week, the story of a handcuffed man and the woman who holds the key to his freedom. We call it Give Me Liberty. That's next week on Suspense. Produced and directed by Anthony Ellis, who wrote tonight's play. The music was composed by Lucia Morrowick and conducted by Wilmer Hatch. Richard McCast were Jonathan Olin, John Boehner, Betty Harford, Paula Winslow, and Ramsey Hill. This is presented by the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Forces Network.