 Lux presents Hollywood company the makers of Lux toilet so brings you the Lux radio theater starring Gene Tierney and Victor mature in Laura ladies and gentlemen your producer mr. Irving coming greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen tonight's drama is such a fascinating combination of mystery and romance that it is rapidly becoming a classic to the revolted readers have who done it perhaps its main attraction is its unusual triangle of characters the cynical Broadway columnist the soft spoken detective or the haunting picture of Laura herself regardless of the reason this intriguing mystery is one of 20th century Fox's most memorable screen hits and as our stars we have glamorous Gene Tierney in her original role romantically teamed with one of our most popular stars Victor mature but first let's hear from Ken Carpenter I don't know about you but through the years the Carpenter's washed a lot of dishes with a lot of different products and when lever brothers came out with Lux liquid detergent well we saw all our dishwashing problems go right down the drain really nothing beats Lux liquid for doing dishes fast and easy we just put one teaspoon full of Lux liquid into the dishpan put in the plates and glasses and your work is virtually done Lux liquids wonderful up to the minute formula cuts through grease like nothing you've ever seen the minute you take the dishes out of the dishpan even before you rinse and stack them you'll see they're glistening clean and how you ask does Lux liquid score on mildness well just as you'd expect a Lux product to according to my wife Lux liquids easier on her hands than anything she's ever used in the dishpan of course another thing we like about Lux liquid is the way it comes in a can that won't break with that magic dripless spout that ends messy handling truly once you try Lux liquid and do so soon you'll reach for it come dishes time just as naturally as you reach for Lux flakes when you wash nylons and I know how women like mrs. Cardner count on Lux flakes they know how gentle Lux flakes care is how it can double the life of nylons pair after pair yes no matter what anyone else says 96% of stocking manufacturers recommend Lux flakes if both Lux liquid and Lux flakes aren't everything lever brothers say they are they'll refund the purchase price fair enough so get both won't you now act one of Laura starring Jean Tainy in the title role and victim mature as Lieutenant McPherson most people who read a newspaper all listen to the radio know the name Paul Leidecker Mr. Leidecker is a legendary oracle of Bob wire and forget me not whose enchanted pen and acid tongue have brought fame 200 and oblivion to just as many his New York apartment is a combination art gallery in Roman bath and now immersed in one of his marble pools Mr. Leidecker has a visitor detective Lieutenant Mark McPherson of the Homicide Bureau say nice little place you ever Mr. Leidecker it's lavish but I call it home you'll hear about the murder of Laura Hunt I made my statement yesterday to Sergeant Detective Crane yes I know now suppose you tell me what else you know why not oh I hand me that washcloth Mr. McPherson oh yes yes how good a detective are you oh I picked up a few facts Laura Hunt was killed the night before last the bell rang she opened the door and someone pulled the trigger of a shotgun it wasn't nice the range was close have you found the shotgun no what else well Miss Hunt was a very good-looking girl probably she was about 25 lived in the swell apartment had a maid named Vessie and where did she get the wherewithal to support such a man now the bullet company advertising agency she had a good job art director or something a knot or something she has a lady cousin in town and a couple of boyfriends one name Shelby Carpenter and the other is Paul Leidecker today is Sunday why haven't you tried to see me because it's a peculiar case and I want to think I hope you wait I'll go with you when you leave why murders my favorite crime my radio audience loves it I know you'll visit all your suspects I'd like to study their reactions you're on the list yourself you know I'd be insulted if I weren't were you in love with Laura Hunt Mr. Leidecker was she in love with you Laura considered me the wisest the wittiest the most interesting man she'd ever met I was in complete accord with her on that point and now if you will excuse me I'll get dressed oh where shall we be stopping first lieutenant I'd like to see Laura Hunt's cousin Mrs. Anne Treadwell yes yes yes of course and so if you don't mind Mrs. Treadwell I'd like to ask you a few questions I'll do anything I can to help a good morning Paul good morning Anne you were fond of your cousin Mrs. Treadwell I adored Laura Paul can tell you I can tell you considerable did you approve a Miss Hunt's coming marriage to Mr. Carpenter why shouldn't I approve I don't know just what does Shelby Carpenter mean to you Mrs. Treadwell to me well he comes here regularly is he a friend an acquaintance or are you in love with him this is beginning to assume fabulous aspect well I'm I'm very fond of Shelby of course everybody is I despise him you've been withdrawing a lot of cash from your bank Mrs. Treadwell fifteen hundred and seventeen hundred at a clip I needed that money the day you took out fifteen hundred Carpenter deposited thirteen hundred and fifty when you withdrew seventeen he deposited fifteen shooting crap they're all must I be insulted like this Shelby needed some money I let it to him I suppose I could do with it as I please of course now on Friday night you were home alone why didn't you go to the concert with Mr. Carpenter concert I I didn't go because he didn't ask me well hello we were just talking about you carpenter what a coincidence to find you here this is lieutenant McPherson yes we've met I didn't know you were here carpenter I've been lying down my hotel room is so hot and then all the reporters in the telephone you know how it is lieutenant is that a sign of guilt or innocence McPherson I'm as eager to find a murderer as you are lieutenant Laura and I are going to be married life this week or no no he doesn't know and neither do I know you know anyone else oh Laura had not definitely made up a mind to marry him she told me so herself she was going to the country to think it over Laura was extremely kind but she'd never have thrown her life away on a male beauty in distress I suppose you've heard losers whine before lieutenant yesterday you said you went to that concert Friday night Mr. Carpenter what did they play some bronze Beethoven's ninth this place Miss Hunt hadn't the country have you got a key to it no but I think there's one in her apartment well I'll have a look perhaps I could help you okay come along goodbye Mrs. Trevill well you can start looking for that key now come oh yes yes I'll try the dead excuse say that's the dame's portrait on the wall isn't it will you stop calling Laura a dame that portrait was painted by Joseph Carter he was in love with him have you ever been in love with person yeah a doll in Washington Heights once got a fox fur out of me have you ever know the woman who wasn't a doll or a dame yeah one but she kept walking me past furniture stores where you're going oh a phonograph hey there's a record on it selections from bittersweet one of Laura's favorites not exactly classical but very nice very you know quite a bit about music don't you I don't know a lot about anything lieutenant but I know a little about practically everything then why did you say they played Brahms and Beethoven at that concert they played nothing but Sibelius did they well to be perfectly honest I fell asleep and I didn't hear a note I know it sounds phony but I'm just a natural born suspect well don't let that bother Mr. Carter I followed sleepy concerts myself you find the key no maybe it's in here in her desk but yes it is I knew there'd be one somewhere funny the police looked in that desk yesterday the drawer was empty you had the key right along didn't you cotton yes I didn't want to give it to you while lie Decker was present I have private reasons that don't concern him you have private reasons no doubt to lie about that key Paul I'm warning you to stop implying I had anything to do with Laura's death very well I'll stop implying I'll make a direct statement you asked for this Paul right all right cut it out both of you okay now look we came to find the key and I've got the key now let's get out there's nothing more you want from me no not now I'll run along you were having lunch lieutenant yes I guess so there's a rather superior restaurant nearby okay let's go nice quiet little place mr. Lattica yes say what's the matter you wouldn't call me a sentimental person would you lieutenant well of not dozens of times we sat here this very table Laura and I well how long did you know her nearly five years I was just thinking here we are eating lunch and it was at lunch that I first met Laura the Algonquin Hotel I was alone I looked up and found her standing in front of me she had a lay out in her hand as a sample of medicine mr. Lattica how do you do I'm Laura hunt well I'd like to talk something over with you if I may I am eating my lunch yes but it's practically impossible to get to see you and I know you're from some incredibly remote community where good manners are unknown or you suffer from the common illusion that being a female exempt you from all the rules of civilized conduct possibly but I wanted to show this to you it's an ad for the Wallace flow right pen you're such a famous writer and commentator it would be tremendously helpful if you'd endorse what we say about the flow right then I don't use a pen I write with a goose quill dipped in poison and you may tell your employers oh they don't know anything about this it was all my idea they give you anything to get your endorsement and if I were the first you're getting one regard completely something far more important to me than your career oh my food that don't of course I mean I never heard of anything so selfless in my case self-absorption is completely justified I have never discovered any subject quite so worthy of my attention but in your column on the radio the things you say filled with such understanding that miss hunt you are beginning to bore me you're a poor man mr. Lidecker I feel very sorry for you goodbye in my second meeting with Laura hunt heard about two hours later lieutenant oh she kept after you did she know I went to her because I couldn't stop thinking about her she had something that girl something far deeper than good looks I went to bulletin company and proceeded to do something I have carefully avoided since the age of two I apologize your apologies accepted mr. Lidecker it was very nice of you to go to all this trouble goodbye miss hunt for reasons which are too embarrassing to mention I'd like to endorse the Wallace flow right pen very strange man now I'm sure you're sorry for the way you asked it let's not get psychiatric but in a word yes you're very kind to know I'm vicious it's the real secret of all my charm but if you think me kind I'll call for you here at six what it will have dinner together I can't make it any later will you be ready I'll be ready coffee mr. Lidecker oh thanks for telling I started then to help Laura I am a man reputed live overwhelming ego lieutenant but this I admit without reserve it was Laura's own talent her own incredible charm that enabled her to rise to the very top of her profession through me Laura met everyone the famous and the infamous and deferring always to my taste in judgment she captivated them all well when does cotton to enter the picture men couldn't keep away from Laura but she never regarded anyone seriously but me as for carpenter she met him one night at a party at antredwell she became attracted to him instantly I was shocked a fellow completely without talent with as much depth of character as a saucer of stale gin shortly before I took Laura home I heard her talking and so I spend my time doing what I've always done nothing then tell me what does it feel like living on the income from an estate I once knew what it felt like but the sheriff interfered with that over 10 years ago then why don't you work for a living I did ask a friend for a job all he did was laugh he thought I was joking weren't you oh no when he saw I was sincere he got embarrassed he said he'd phone me that was months ago do you really want a job yes I do then you've got one what now you think I'm joking well I'm not you just be a bulletin company tomorrow morning you're going to work and so in time of July because they got engaged they became attached to each other quickly I concealed my annoyance with masterly self-control but here was a situation however ridiculous that required my attention and as you will see it was for Laura's own good well I followed them one night at this very restaurant they've been working late on some advertising campaign wonderful Shelby and so is a layout by the way who's the model you don't remember you hire yourself Diana Redford Laura could you have dinner with me tomorrow night just like this maybe and what about the night after that but Shelby I just can't about three weeks from the night and all the nights in between don't you think I have any other engaged what about two months from now in the month after that what about next year then it's all settled what about breakfast what about lunch beautiful lunches day after day after day what about beautiful works day after day the way you talk you think I was in love with you a sparkling bit of dialogue wasn't it Lieutenant McPherson if they knew you were listening they might have jazzed it up a bit Laura knew that I had overheard them because I told her so the following evening by then I had some other information to tell her also I don't care what you found out about Shelby it's the snooping about Paul it's degrading of course but I thought you'd want to know that sterling character almost went to jail last year for passing rubber checks after that in Virginia he was suspected of stealing his hostess's jewelry those are only insinuations I know it's false but a man can change can't oh Laura for heaven's sake open your eyes so Carpenter has changed yes he's changed from you to Diana Redfern he's running around with her now a model from your own office Paul how can you be so despicable you know what you mean to me how can you try so deliberately to hurt you well Shelby and I are going to be married next week you gave him a cigarette case on his birthday didn't you a valuable case here where did you get it from the pawn shop where Diana Redfern took it after he gave it to her I don't believe it he probably needed money and was too proud to borrow perhaps that's why this pawn ticket is in her name I won't let this go any further I'm going to telephone you won't find him at his hotel tonight Carpenter's deserted both you and Miss Redfern he's dining with a young and wealthy widow someone you know your cousin and and he's been treating a rather badly these days I'll phone and at one oh really my dear you don't think and would give him away oh this is nasty I know but I must make you realize now suppose we visit cousin and he won't be there I know he won't good evening Miss Laura good evening Mr. Lidecker hello Margaret oh I'm terribly sorry but Mrs. Treadwell isn't at home satisfied Paul then suppose we just wait for oh please Mr. Lidecker come in Laura Laura dear and Paul we were just having dinner yes I know Laura I didn't expect to see you tonight there you are Laura in a moment of supreme disaster he's trite I was just telling and about our getting married well sit down you two oh no no thanks I just stopped by to give you this your cigarette case what you must have misplaced it somewhere Laura Laura wait a minute good night and good night Shelby when was this episode of the cigarette case Mr. Lidecker last Wednesday night on Friday Laura had lunch with the Redfern girl oh I wish I'd been there and as I said in my statement Laura and I were to have had dinner that night at seven o'clock my phone rang and I had a sudden sensation of depression of a boating of disaster hello Paul I'm probably sorry but I just can't meet you well there's nothing wrong Laura I mean you're not ill oh no no I I just decided to go to the country for a few days in this storm it's pouring it won't last Paul it will do me a lot of good to be alone you're thinking about carpenter of course please I simply must have this time to think this out for myself well when will you be back dear I don't know I'll call before I leave maybe you could meet of course I will thanks for goodbye goodbye my dear that was the last time I ever heard her voice this this Redfern girl where does she live in Newark she's in the phone book I will never forgive myself for allowing Laura to become involved with carpenter it was my fault I should have stopped it long ago somehow she's dead now it's too late even to think about it yes too late even to think about it act two of Laura starring Jean Tini in the title role in victim mature as Mark with Joseph Kerns as Paul Attica and Carlton Young as carpenter it's an hour later in front of Laura Hunt's apartment Lieutenant Detective Mark McPherson picks up Sarge and Crane together they make another thorough search of the girls room two things interest McPherson a pile of Laura's letters and a bottle of scotch whiskey if you're thirsty Lieutenant I think you can do better than that no thanks say when did you say that maid was due any minute now say where's Macavity in the basement I've had the telephone tapped he's sitting on it but who's going to use the phone besides us nobody I know of but it's still a good idea I'm making a call now myself go down the basement or leave Mac I'll wait here for the maid carpenters coming to okay hello my scornies this is Lieutenant McPherson homicide Laura hunts been buying liquor from you hasn't she yeah didn't she ever buy a brand of scotch called Blackpony you're sure that okay thanks come in Miss Clary never mind that Miss Clary stuff my name's Bessie have a chair Bessie it seems to me you those letters you've been reading her private letters yeah cops I was brought up to spit whenever I saw one well if it makes you feel any better Bessie spit Bessie who killed Laura hunts how would I know if you think I done it ask anyone anyone who ever came here why I'd worked for a scrub for done anything she would have wanted of me pay or no pay say you're loyal Bessie miss Hunt was a real lady something cops wouldn't know about how this bottle get into her cabinet I put it there it's cheap scotch Bessie Laura hunt wouldn't buy a cheap scotch I found it on a kitchen shelf Saturday morning you know what that means it means that somebody brought it here Friday night who I don't know but I I didn't want anybody to get any wrong idea about her God rest her soul that's why I put the bottle in the liquor cabinet I done more than that there are two glasses I washed them out and cleaned off the bottle to destroying evidence Bessie I don't care I'll do anything to keep her name from being dragged through the mud now relax Bessie just relax look I'd like some ice in the setup you mind oh and a couple of highball glasses I'm expecting somebody more cops no Shelby cotton daddy men and then get the glasses the door was open there Ted and oh Mrs. Tread will come in I didn't expect you oh are you either Mr. Lidecker Shelby dropping me at the head as his later I only sent for you Carpenter I know so I thought I might as well come along my excuse is equally feeble I dropped into inquires to the state of your health lieutenant in Cipid I trust I was about to have a drink oh Bessie two more glasses yes sir Scotcher Lidecker excellent will this do it's like pony I'm a guest here it will have to do here's the ice in the glass that'll be all Bessie you can go home now but I yes sir I'll go thank you Bessie I remember when Laura bought these glasses she loved them she loved all her things so what are you going to do and sell them I suppose so if I'm appointed administrator I'll probably call in Corey Corey the ordeal yes he can dispose of everything there'll be less there's gruesome that way not quite everything and there are one or two things here that belong to me that vase for instance the antique fire screen and of course the clock that's quite a clock you've got one just like it haven't you I noticed in your apartment they were made 200 years ago by Kubey feast large aren't they two clocks exactly the same created at the order the Prince of Wales I lent one to Laura oh really Paul yes really but the vase is the gem of my collection I can take it with me now nothing's leaving here Latika only you is that your quaint way of indicating dismissal we're all leaving I don't understand I thought you sent for I did well don't you want to ask me any questions nothing pressing I see well I bid you goodbye oh the vase mr. Latika put it down oh of course just a touch of cut the mail cream yeah McPherson I'm back upstairs in her apartment how you're doing in the basement any calls come in this afternoon not a thing look I've just been looking this place over I've only done it 40 times anything interesting everything's interesting especially that portrait a really beautiful doll lieutenant yeah you know I've read her letters smell their perfume drank her scotch and gone through a wardrobe wait a minute yeah someone the home look it's seven o'clock Alfred would be along to relieve you make sure Alfred keeps his ear on that phone right who is it yes coming out again I guess you just happened to be passing by and I noticed the lights were on have you sublet this apartment McPherson you're here often enough to pay rent any objections yes especially to your prime and the Laura's letters that bundle in your pocket for instance oh these they're yours the best of the bunch to that's the trouble with getting murdered Latika it ruins your privacy and have detectives who buy portraits of murder victims a claim to privacy Lancaster Corey tells me you've already put in a bid for Laura's portrait that's not your business McPherson did it ever strike you that you're acting very strangely yeah it's a wonder you don't come here with roses in a box of drugstore candy you've been dreaming of Laura as your wife by your side at the policeman's ball or in the bleachers or listening to the heroic saga of how you acquired a silver shin bone in a gun battle with a gangster yes I can see that you have why don't you go home I'm busy perhaps we can come to terms now you want her portrait perfectly understandable I want my possession my bars my clock my fire screen now if you get going oh you better watch our lieutenant you will end up in the psychiatric ward I don't think they've ever had a patient who fell in love with a beautiful girl who died before he met her or did you meet her well good night what's the matter with me maybe maybe you can tell me you the girl in that portrait up there you're beautiful you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen somebody killed you why why do you know I could sit here and look at you all night all night long I could sit who's in there you you what are you doing here you're alive if you don't get out once I call the police you are Laura hunt aren't you well I'm gonna call the police look I am the police see credentials lieutenant Mark McPherson what's all this about you don't know you don't know what's happening no well haven't you seen the paper or have you been in the country I I don't get a new state well haven't you got a radio it was broken what do you hear here look at all these headlines I want you sit down my son you don't I'm very glad to see you on Friday night somebody was murdered in this room what did you say until you open the door just now we thought it was you do you have any idea who could have been you don't know the girl died from shotgun wounds no apparently we don't know who had a key to this apartment nobody except my maid when did you say it happened Friday night look you'd better take off that coat you're dripping wet say when did this start raining just a few minutes ago it's teeming outside it was raining Friday night to when that girl wait a minute wait a minute raining come with me miss hunt here in your room I want you to look into your closet I simply don't understand the closet miss hunt the closet here open it up do all those dresses belong to you certainly they belong all of them are you out of your mind of course they do I don't know you tell me why this dress isn't mine it's hers Diana Redford she had it on when she came for lunch on Friday I see but this present was this dress wasn't in here when I left it wasn't this miss Redford is she about your size yeah she's a model she works for yes but she hasn't been home her landlady said she's going to Philadelphia that's right we have a branch office in Philadelphia she had an assignment there but she didn't go it was postponed does she have any relatives in the city and aunt and uncle the same name they live in the village thanks where you going to the telephone I think miss Redford's aunt and uncle had better go to the morgue right away to make it a denification and then oh no no yes sir I will so long inspector well that's that miss hunt they've located the Redford yes we ought to know soon miss hunt when you went to the country Friday did you see anyone you knew on the train no what happened I got off at Norwalk I keep a car in a private garage near the station I drove to my house it's about 18 miles what did you do in the country worked in my garden you didn't leave your place in all that time I keep everything I need in the house I went there expressly to be alone you were going to marry Shelby Carpenter this week yes but you went away for a long weekend to be alone you know Shelby Carpenter has a key to this apartment why didn't you tell me because I know nothing of a sort he hasn't how else did the Redford girl get into the apartment you knew she was in love with Carpenter I also knew that she meant nothing to Shelby I understand him better than you she was found and I'm convinced now it was miss Redford she was found in your dressing gown what of it you yourself told me it was raining Friday night you yourself just saw her dress full of wrinkles and rain well how did she get in here why who brought her here I haven't the slightest idea miss hunt do you love this carpenter fellow so much you risk your own safety to protect him he must have brought her here you suspect me you think I killed somebody in jealousy I'm trying to get at the truth I'm sorry strictly routine look miss us I'll see you in the morning meanwhile don't leave this apartment and don't use the telephone but I've got to use it I've got to let my friends know I'm alive sorry but I must insist you see if anything should happen to you I well I wouldn't like it all right there's one more thing you want a way to make up your mind whether you'd marry Shelby Carpenter or not what did you decide I decided not to marry him well well well I'll see you in the morning miss son good night good night yeah watch your step it's pretty dark down here anything comes through those earphones all just called it was a redfern girl all right they said she wait a minute she's dialing a number of give me those earphones hello don't say anything on the telephone meet me right away from the office can you leave right away with that yeah dames are always pulling a switch on you you stay here outfit Mac out in front yeah get headquarters tell me son another man right away max going to tail the girl what about you I think I'll stick by mr. carton to see you of Laura in a moment if you were curtain rises on act three of Laura starring Jean Tini in the title role and victim that you're as Mark with Joseph Burns as Paul Leidecker detective lieutenant Lee person has been following Shelby Carpenter now in the black hours of the night he stops his car near lonely house 18 miles from Norwalk and makes his way carefully toward the front door it's not quite shut he peers through the crack for a moment and then walk to you what what are you doing with a shotgun carter I must admit this is somewhat embarrassing let me see that gun it's been fired recently I killed some rabbits with it when a while back I don't know exactly I gave the gun to Laura for protection you haven't borrowed it lately you didn't just bring it back you ought to know you've been following me do you realize the spot you're in you brought down a redfern to Laura's apartment you knew all along it was she who was murdered didn't you know Laura would come back any day and spill the whole thing or did you plan to kill her too you're being fantastic you took a bottle of black pony to her house Friday night I took it there over a week ago best he says Friday night I can't help what best he says where's the key to Laura's apartment I haven't got one I never had one okay you didn't bring the scotch there Friday night you never had a key now how did you get in well I oh come on carpenter talk talk well Laura kept an extra key in her office I had asked Diana to meet me in a restaurant I wanted to have it out with her once and for all you know she thought she well but she was in love with me she started to get hysterical and we had to leave well we started to walk it began to rain suddenly and we got drenched I thought of the key and stopped by the office to get it we couldn't find a taxi so we walked back to Laura's apartment yeah yeah Diana went to Laura's bedroom when she came out she had on her dressing gown where we talked argued maybe for a couple of hours and then the doorbell rang why didn't you go to the door suppose one of Laura's friends had found me there well what would they think of finding Diana there I told her to say that Laura had lent her the apartment anybody who knew Laura would believe that I go ahead go ahead well I heard Diana opened the door and then there was an awful explosion by the time I reached here the door was shut again Diana just lay there on the floor did you go out to see who did it I was too horrified to do anything I I knew I had to keep out of it and keep Laura out of it too the only thing on my mind was the safety of the person whose life was dearer to me than my own don't you understand that did you think Laura had killed her did you I don't remember what I thought what do you think so now no look on Saturday when Detective Crane went to see you you seemed sincerely shocked I was I hadn't expected the police to mistake Diana's body for Laura's and your alibi was ready the concert you knew the minute Laura got back to town it wouldn't stick I couldn't think that far ahead I was heartbroken about Diana and panic stricken about Laura okay and tonight you met Laura in front of her office what did you talk about about what I've just told you what are you turning on the radio for to see if it works why don't you tell the truth she sent you here to get rid of that gun she doesn't even know I came it was my own idea the radio works fine doesn't why wouldn't it I hoped it wouldn't all right we're driving back to New York am I under arrest I don't know just don't leave town it would be very foolish thing to do good morning lieutenant good morning you know I have a terrific yender called you Lord why don't you forget that lieutenant business and call me mark because I especially since I brought you all these groceries look you know you didn't buy any food when you went out last night so you know yeah I can fix bacon and eggs can you make coffee oh I spoke to Bessie she'll be a little late when I told her you were alive she joined her past out yes she phoned you might have been a little more delicate about it suppose you set the table but we'll have to wait a little while for the coffee I asked Paul I'd be good to stop by did you tell him about me that I'm alive no why not it's brutal I'm not doing it for laughs why did you break your promise last night not to go out because I'll never be bound to do anything unless it's of my own free will the red friend girl was in love with Carpenter you admitted that I also told you he wasn't in love with her I don't know you stay here hello lieutenant Laura oh good morning darling hello dear excuse me lieutenant I'd like to kiss my fiancee good morning oh so it's on again do I have to get a police permit now who come in like to go the doors are unlatched lie Decker right on my heels well McPherson have you thought over the deal I suggested what about the portrait I'd be all right in a moment Laura what are not now dear don't try to talk come on come on I'll take him just be quiet yes yes how is he now McPherson he'll be all right he's lying down this is going just a little too far your methods are vicious must have been a terrible shock to him see me poor darling I don't tell me you're in love with live I could too stop talking that way to Miss Hunt Laura why do you cover up for a guy like Carpenter what story did he tell you what you bet he blast nice don't answer him darling oh shut up I got enough carter to set you away right now McPherson quick the handcuffs trundle him off to the who's gal oh well I hope you'll forget my wee touch of any giant of my dear it's an old family custom oh did I interrupt a pinch McPherson no I've changed my mind for the moment in that case better order some food and liquor Laura people are coming to celebrate your return this afternoon a cocktail party who asked them I did in the quiet of your boudoir just now I called my man and he's calling all our dear friends why did you have to do that perhaps our friends can weave all the loose ends into a noose a McPherson now you shouldn't have gone to all that trouble I think well Laura I'll run along sorry about breakfast some other time maybe Shelby Shelby can hear what's the matter darling your party's a huge success Shelby tell me I must know why did you go to the country last night Laura you don't know I was afraid you wouldn't think of hiding that shotgun what shotgun the one I gave you going you don't have to lie to me bro but going on here oh nothing at all in case you don't know it that McPherson man hasn't taken his eyes off you I know maybe it'd be better if I well mingled with the gas Laura McPherson suspects him Shelby he suspects me too don't be absurd darling yes are you was interested in Lieutenant McPherson as he is in you and I only met him last night sometimes that's more than long enough anyway he's better for you than Shelby anybody is Shelby's better for me why because I can afford it he's how good wait a minute he's coming mark oh mark is I'm sorry to break up your party Laura but you haven't you've been a model guest so far I'm not joking Laura get your things I'm taking you to headquarters I thought I was going to get a cell in a denim dress is this your office now before they tried out that denim dress I want to know why you've been holding out on me have I been you told me the radio at your country place was broken it was not last night I stopped in the village on my way back I asked the local handyman to fix it well how did he get in with a key the key I always leave under the flower pot on the porch all right I'll accept that why because you're too intelligent to make up a story I could check so easily the main thing I want to know is why you pull that switch about Shelby Carpenter you told me last night you decided not to marry but today it's on again why I changed my mind what went on between you and Carpenter when you met him last night or should I tell you he convinced you that if you broke your engagement now people would think you believed that he killed Diana Redford yeah but now I know the real reason why he wanted to stay engaged he thinks I did it and so do you are you wouldn't love with him no I don't know how I ever could have been come on Laura you're going home but I thought I was under that's what I wanted you to think you and a few other people and all this was just some sort of a game well I was 99 percent certain about you but I just had to make sure that one percent doubt wasn't an easier way to make sure say you're you're smiling you're not sore no mark I'm not so you go back to your party if there's anything left of it and you I'm going to livelihoods department I'll drop by later on I'm glad they've all gone Laura it's been so long since we've been together darling what's the matter nothing for you're worried yes McPherson he's using you for something I don't think so oh I don't deny he's infatuated with you in some war fashion but he's incapable of any normal human relationship he's been dealing too long with criminals when you were unattainable when he thought you were dead that's when he wanted you most he fell in love with a portrait he was glad when I came back as if you were waiting for me you know what he calls women dame a dame in Washington Heights once got a fox fur out of him his very word that doesn't mean anything Paul Laura my dear you have one glaring weakness with you a lean strong body is always the measure of a man and you always get hurt no man is ever going to hurt me again you know not even you I hurt you and all the look at me you are a long time finding out about Shelby but that's all over now we'll be together again wait I thought I heard the door open a bit or don't get up it's only me haven't you heard of science's latest triumph the doorbell I'm glad you're here Ladica I've just been to your park well do you mind if I search your pockets I found a shotgun oh but I wasted my time it wasn't the gun that killed Diana Redford first he tells you that he thinks you're innocent then he proceeds to check up on you I never said you're innocent me I'm talking about Laura my dear this entire maneuver could be a trick to throw you off guard it could be but it isn't I know I believe you must I'm beginning to get annoyed Laura it's the same obvious pattern if McPherson weren't full of muscles and good looks in a cheap sort of way you'd see through him in a second Paul I mean to be as kind about this as I know how but you're the one following the same obvious pattern first with that painter you thought was in love with me then was Shelby and now I suppose what are you saying I don't think that we should see each other again now darling you're not yourself yes I am for the first time in ages I know what I'm doing very well I hope you'll never regret what promises to be a disgustingly earthy relationship oh listen to my broadcast in 10 minutes I'm discussing the other great loves of history that was the most difficult thing I've had to do in my whole life yes but where is where is what the gun that killed Diana Redford what are you doing taking a look at your clock here he's got one just like it has yes well you see I wasn't alone in Lidecker's apartment a guy named Sergeant Crane came with me Crane's old man as a clockmaker and while I wore myself out looking for a shotgun all the sergeant it was drool about the clock he said probably there's not another one like it in the world obviously he was wrong yes but he showed me something about that clock a little feature with all clocks made by Corbett feast underneath down here near the floor is a little spring you push the spring and the whole bottom compartment opens up see like this but I never knew it was there in the old days I guess people use the compartment for a kind of a safe today they use it for hiding other things shotguns for instance yes this is it Laura I'm sure and it was put here by the only man who knew about this clock Paul I think oh no when the Redford girl opened the door this hallway was dark Lidecker saw a girl assumed it was you and fired he figured if he couldn't have you for himself he was going to make sure no one else did he heard Carpenter so he hid behind the stairway outside in the corridor Carpenter was scared to death he got out as fast as he could then Lidecker slipped back in and tucked the gun away in the grandfather clock I've felt it ever since I came back and I'm to blame not for what anything I didn't do but for what I just did what I didn't do I should have stopped seeing Paul long ago but I couldn't I owed him too much you know I can understand all that but I can understand why you tried so hard to protect Carpenter I was frantic you to rest him I knew he wasn't guilty but I knew Paul would do everything he could to incriminate him it was his way of getting rid of Shelby just as he got rid of every other man who might have meant something to me you know for a charming intelligent girl you've certainly surrounded yourself with a remarkable collection of dopes now look don't touch anything I'm leaving the gun the clock I'll have it picked up in the morning you're going yeah I'm picking up Lidecker now mark I've got to you know that and look you try to get some sleep sleep well maybe I can I'll read a book listen to the radio will you call me later sure and you try to forget all this just pretend it was a bad dream good night Laura good night mark good night and be careful please with his final word for this evening Mr. Paul Lidecker as history has proved love is eternal the strongest motivation for man's actions throughout centuries love is stronger than life it reaches beyond the dark shadows of death may I remind you of some favorite lines of mine from Dawson's poem they are not long the weeping and the laughter love and desire and hate I think they have no portion in us after we pass the gate they are not long days of wine and roses are the mystery dream are the mergers for a while then closes within a dream that's the way it is the word isn't it Laura by electrical transcription this is the seat there's a final irony to all of this Laura you know how I despise melodrama yet here I am a gun in my hand about to kill you Paul you've taken one life is not enough the best part of myself that's what you are Laura you think I'm going to leave you to the vulgar poings of a second rate policeman who thinks you're a dame he'll find you Paul you know you will really don't you overestimate the man who thought I left here a few moments ago all I did was wait in the hall Laura and then let myself in again with a key I've always had but I'm not going to lose you Laura Laura it's me Mark open the door up move Laura he didn't leave you somewhere in the spelling line are you all right find us together darling always we should have been as always we will be turn your face darling please turn your face I couldn't bear to do it I've been let the boss in before you are you all right got him to the window lieutenant from the fire escape I'll call headquarters a fine detective a fine detective I am Laura goodbye goodbye my mom it's all right darling it's all right the bad dream is all over now here's Mr. Cummings with our stars and please step forward for a well-deserved curtain called Jean Dany and Victor mature and I can't tell you how proud I am when I recall that I'd directed each of you in your first starring role you know everything I'll never forget you either you kept me up one day on a ferris wheel for two hours going around and round and round that was a long time why wouldn't he let you down because you know I wouldn't go up again especially after lunch what they didn't know that I was riding on a crane with a camera crew and I was just as sick as he was I'm glad you didn't beat me that way in my first starring role it might have been my last I'm always very charming to Lux girl's gene and you were a Lux girl even then weren't you oh yes I've used Lux soap for my complexion ever since I came to Hollywood say early time I was also a star 20th century Foxen and you know now he's starring in their cinema scope production King of Kyber rifles don't you have a new cinema scope production to Vic yes Susan Heyward hour I starred in the in Demetrius and glad he was almost got the name didn't you play the part of Demetrius in the road yes and 20th century Fox received so many letters from people wondering what eventually have the poor old Demetrius that he decided to film his story I'd like to know myself and Irving I'd also like to know about next week's play next week we will have another suspenseful drama one that will take us through war turn Europe on a thrilling hunt for a dangerous murderer it's one of David O. Selznick's many motion picture triumphs the third man and as our stars that excellent actor to roam power and one of the screen's most exciting personalities Ruth Roman that will make a great show and how it will good night night everyone good night and the best to both of you now here's art link letter with a word for the busy housewife when you're at the store pushing that metal cart around have you ever noticed how many detergents there are golly you get busy just looking at them so what's the poor girl to do try all of them some people do generally speaking they find that a good detergent gets things clean looking and then it doesn't make any difference which one you buy just close your eyes now wait a minute open your eyes when you buy that detergent when you're trying to find out if your wash is really clean don't rely on looks alone because your nose can tell you what your eyes can't see oh you mean that things aren't really clean unless they smell clean sure if things don't smell clean they aren't as clean as they should be and like I said all good detergents will give you a wash that's clean looking but sir all purpose sir will do more surf gets things so clean they smell clean too so clean they smell like sunshine that means they're clean clear through one wash day with surf will prove that to you and you won't go reaching blindly for just any detergent down at the store you'll always reach for surf remember no matter how tough a laundry job you've got greasy work clothes and overalls towels sheets surf get things really clean so get the big money-saving economy-sized box of surf you'll like it leave a brother's car makers of locks toilet soap and locks liquid detergent invite you to be with us again next Monday evening when the locks radio theater presents your own power and Ruth Roman in the third man this is Irving Cummings saying good night to you from Hollywood in our cast tonight were Joseph Kearns as Paul Carlton young as carpenter Yvonne Paytia's and the ring a meal as Bessie Charles seal is crane Eddie Mars Alfred and Marianne Cape as the main our radio play was adapted by SH Barnett and our music was directed by Rudy Schrager don't forget lever brothers pair and a spare plan the smart new way to buy stockings you get three cannon nylon stockings a dollar eighty five cent value for just one dollar plus box tops or wrappers from lever brothers products look for details of the packages this is your announcer Ken Carpenter reminding you to join us again next Monday night to hear the third man starring her own power and Ruth Roman every Thursday the company brings you the culture of a newspaper for time and space