 Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents Suspense. Tonight, Roma Wines bring you the suspenseful play called Reprieve, starring Mr. John Garfield. Suspense is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live. To your happiness and entertaining guests. To your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you a remarkable tale of suspense. And with Reprieve and with the performance of Mr. John Garfield, Roma Wines hope indeed to keep you in suspense. This morning, my lawyer, Mr. Gurley, said he was trying to get me a reprieve. I looked it up in a dictionary I got. It says Reprieve to suspend temporarily the execution of a sentence upon and relief for a cessation from pain or ill. Well, the first part I guess Mr. Gurley can get, he knows all the rules. But the second part, cessation of pain, that's up to me. Maybe when I've spilled it all out and put it on a table where I can look at it. And hear about the kid about Lori. Maybe then it'll come. Cessation of pain. I don't know. Anyway, I can try. Okay, name, Steve Hannibal. I already had a namey something, I guess. She read the name Stephen in a book, if she could read, which I doubt. Age 34, Health Excellent. But wait a minute, you don't want to sell me insurance. Because tonight I'm a state prisoner, 80483, registered in cell 77 of the state penitentiary. That's the death cell. I'm in for murder. I was always the bright boy, but right now, I don't know, I'm mixed up but good. And not about being here and not about murder, the pen is my home away from home. Murder, why, in my social set, murders as common as chicken pox and Pierce 137. No, it's that last year of honest toil that threw me for a loss. Because I wasn't mixed up at all in the night that Murph and Joe and I blew out of Chicago. That was a minor inconvenience, right in line with the way I'd always lived. Let's see, it was nearly two years ago. Murph and Joe and I and the boys had knocked off a payroll. A good clean job, except for a couple of guys getting hurt fatally. And the Murph was tipped off that one of the boys he didn't know who had squealed at a cops. So Murph knew we were hot and he came up to my room on Madison Street. I'm leaving town, Steve, tonight. Yeah, it's an idea, so am I. Yeah, yeah, we better blow. You and me and Joe, huh? And the rest of the boys? Well, I can't take care of everybody, Steve, you know how it is. Sure, I know. You take care of the ones who you can't get along without and do your thinking for you. Oh, that ain't it, Steve. Cut it. Well, okay. Well, we got around 20 grand. 23. Yeah, sure, sure, 23. With that dough, we can go down to Florida. Yeah? Yeah, and look down there all winter till it heats off. You think that's a bright idea, don't you, Murph? Why, sure. Why not? We take a big, shiny suite in the Paradise Hotel, pick ourselves some dolls. Yeah, yeah, that's right. Well, that's just what we're not going to do. What do you mean? We're not going to travel first class, spread dough around in places like the Paradise, accompanied by any dolls. And why not? The dough is marked, bird brain. The serial numbers have been written down and they'll be looking for that kind of dough in places where dough changes hands. Places like the Paradise. Well, we could go to some other place, like a Roman house in St. Pete. We could be smart if we put our minds on it. Yeah, like what? Like putting that package of dough out of circulation in a safety deposit box here. You know that's all the dough we got? Sure, but we can get along without it for the time being. It's worth a little discomfort to beat a murder app. Okay, okay, say you're right. But we still have to leave town. We'll leave, Murph, but this is how. I figured I'll never look for you where there isn't a store shower. So we'll fool them. We'll ride the rails. You can play that nine of hearts, Joe. Huh? Where? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I was just going to. You were, huh? You never saw it. Not a guy outsmarts himself in solitude. Hey, it's cold in this boxcar, Steve. Yeah, just pick up the phone, Murph. Tell the management I'll give you more heat. All right, all right. I just said it was cold. At a time like this, be glad it's cold. Uh-uh, Joe. Mustn't cheat. I wasn't cheating. Oh, new game, huh? Where you slip the card under when you can't play it. Ah, so what if I'm cheating? It's my skin, ain't it? You're absolutely right. Ah, I wonder how many of the boys have been picked up. Well, I couldn't take care of everybody, Steve. Fine, and have them been picked up. Why should they be? Oh, boy, they're three you've been looking for. None of them have been picked up. Who's protecting them, Joe, you fairy godmother? Oh, why would the cops pick them up? They know that Murph used the gun. Huh? I mean, they probably guessed Murph was Trigger Man. Why, you dirty... Shut up, Murph. What else did the cops probably guess, Joe? Well, how would I know, Steve? Honestly, I only thought that maybe... Talk, Joe. What else did they guess about me? Oh, nothing about you, Steve. Honestly, they... Spill it. Spill it! They knew Murph was Trigger Man, and that... You screaming, dirty rat you. And that he took the dough, no one else. Hey, Steve, I didn't tell them anyone else was on the job. I thought if they picked up Murph, then you and me could... Hey, Steve, Steve, stop Murph. Get back, Mike. Let him finish. Go on, finish. I didn't squeal on you, Steve. You gotta believe me. Steve, you gotta... Steve, stop Murph. You can't let him... Steve, no, don't! That was Murph being Trigger Happy. Joe went down sort of slow and quiet. Like the movies you see of a parish who's settling on the ground. I think he twitched a little. I looked out and saw the train was slowing up and we were coming into a freight yard. And not 50 feet across the tracks, I could see a couple of guys heading our way who looked like railroad dicks. I thought fast, like always. Murph was hot, very hot. And being shy on brains, if they picked him up, he'd lead them to the payroll door, like a homing pigeon inside of 24 hours. And I hadn't anything not pinned on me for a few years. If anyone took the wrapper, it would have had to be me. If I ever wanted to smell any share of that 23 grand. And this was a wrapper I thought sure I could beat. Luckily, I go up for a year for manslaughter, claiming self-defense. Lucky, I bluffed my way out of it all together. I talk fast to Murph. And when the box cost up opposite those dicks, I had Murph's gun in my hand. Three, Mr. I am quite loud, boys. It's the end of the line. Hey! What's the matter, buddy? One of those guys has a gun. What are you doing with that gun, brother? I don't know. And what's wrong with the other guy? He shot him. I was over at the other end, minding my own business. And these two guys were yelling at each other. Okay, okay. Now drop that gun, mister. I'm coming in. Is it dead? Oh, dead at her mackerel. All right, mister. Tell me about it. I... I don't know what happened. It was his gun. It just went off. Yeah? Did you see it? You over there. I didn't see nothing. I told you I was down at the other end of the car, minding my own business. They've been yelling at each other for hours. I didn't pay any attention to the gun went off just now. Honest, I don't know anything. Okay, keep your shirt on. Looks like you're in trouble, mister. I tell you, I don't know what happened. Yeah, leave it at headquarters, buddy. Yeah. Maybe you'll remember better at headquarters. I don't know what happened. All right, Remy. No matter what you remember, the rap is murder. For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star John Garfield, whom you've heard in the first act of reprieve, which is Roma Wines' presentation tonight of Suspense. Between the acts of suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines. Have you ever noticed the next some women have for making their guests feel welcome? One such woman is the renowned hostess Elsa Maxwell, and here's what she suggests you do the next time friends come to dinner. Serve well-chilled Roma California sherry before dinner and later in the evening. You'll find glorious amber golden Roma sherry is a gracious touch that's sure to get the meal off to a good start and adds to the evening's pleasure. And don't worry about fancy glasses, it's the wine that's important. So be sure it's that good Roma wine. Because Roma Wines are so reasonably priced, any family can afford to serve them regularly. Distinctive Roma Wines are grown in California's choicest vineyards. Beginning with choice wine grapes, picked and gently pressed at the top of their flavor then watched over and developed with all the ancient winemaker skill of Roma's famed wineries. The quality of Roma Wines never varies. Always the same tempting flavor. Yet all this goodness is yours for only pennies a glass. No wonder more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. R-O-M-A Roma Wines. And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage John Garfield as Steve Hannibal in Reprieve. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. I'd been in worse spots. The charge was murder first degree. But I knew I could cut that down. The best thing was the tin mirth loose without checking on them. And Joe was unidentified. I dreamed up a name I said I knew Joe by. Read something or other. And it went down all right. And so then I settled down for what might be an extended vacation. A vacation that would earn me half of 23 grand. Only one thing bothered me. It seems that a town we picked to kill Joe in was going through one of those reform spasms and the papers were really lathered up. And my case was made to order for them. A crime that could get wholly about without stepping on any local toes. While I was waiting trial, they fried me good. And I burned about it. So that's why I didn't exactly clap hands when they told me a reporter was coming in to see me. And I didn't shout hallelujah either when I saw it was a doll shop looking all right, but still just a doll. Hi, chick. You're Steve Hannibal? Yeah. I'm Laurie Ware of the news press. I'd like to get your story. Look, sister, your job is writing. If you can't do it alone, you shouldn't have had the job. I mean your side of the story. No, it's not nice of you to take an interest. Oh, please. I wish you'd listen to me. Go pet your paper somewhere else. Please. Don't you understand English? I don't blame you for being suspicious of me. You see, I know the papers haven't been fair to you. I know they've been trying your case before it comes to trial. So it happens every day. And I feel sure there's more to this case than has been told. I've got a feeling that... You've got to be careful of those feelings, baby. I have a hunch that you didn't do it. Maybe you were framed. So, uh, what if I was? Well, I don't know how much I can do. Except I know that if you have a story, I can get it printed. And, uh... that will make all the difference? I don't know. At least when it comes to picking your jury, there'll be some people in this town who haven't made up their minds. Well, uh, what is something in that? Well... Okay. I'll tell you the real McCoy truth. Oh, that's wonderful, Steve. I'll take it down. Well, there isn't much to tell. I was just what the papers call an innocent bystander. I was asleep when it happened. How many men were in the boxcar? Before I went to sleep, there were six or seven. The guys jumped off. Well, moving pretty slow, then, because the train was coming into the yards. But at the inquest, the police said you were holding the gun. Yeah, sure, I was. Yeah. The cops yelled at me, and I saw... Well, I saw I was holding it. Someone had planted it on me while I was half asleep. And the old boy in the corner said I'd done it. Yes, he... he said that you were fighting with... I know that I'd been fighting with Red. Well, I don't think he meant to frame me, but he kind of got me mixed up with one of the guys who scrammed. That's it, Steve. You wouldn't just stand there waiting to be arrested with a gun in your hand, or you would've thrown the gun out. Well, like, Clam, I didn't have time, but... but, uh, it's an angle. And I'll pound it, Steve. I'll get your lawyer. Yeah. I guess I'll need one. You'll need all the help you can get. What a doll. Sold on me even before she got the pitch. And what made my hand all aces was that the girl could really write. She had the news press giving me more space while the other papers had to pick it up. And by the time my trial came up, why, I was local hero number one. An orphan child. The whole town wanted to adopt. So no one, least of all of me, was much surprised when the jury filed back into the jury box with their decision. The gentleman of the jury reached a verdict. We have, Your Honor. Defendant. Well, your word, kitten. What do they say? The pen is mightier than the sword? Oh, I'm so happy I could help, Steve. You don't see me crying, honey. You want to dance? Yeah, but... Come on. I want to talk first. Have you got a home you're going to or a job? Oh, look, kid, you've been girl-scot enough today. Let's dance. Please tell me, Steve. I'm worried about you. I'm going to winter in California and summer in Maine. You haven't any place to go. See America first. That's my motto. Steve, I don't want to butt in, but... Well, Harry Singles will give you a job. Yeah, doing what? In the circulation department. Ah, you're kidding. Well, it wouldn't be such a good job to start, than you'd like, Harry. Well, nine hours a day, five days a week. Is that it? Five and a half days. Steve Hannibal, punching a time clock. I suppose I'll get a social security number and everything, huh? Don't you have one? Unemployment, insurance, income tax. That's a lot of legality. Legality? Skip it, kitten. Let me think. You know, I might just take a world at that job. Oh, Steve, I think that's wonderful. It's not so much the job, but you and I have a lot of unfinished business, baby. We can't get it all done in one day. Right now, I want to dance. Come on, baby. That was the old brain working, see? You see, I had countered on drifting. Nothing was safe to join up with Murph. I didn't know where he'd gone, but I figured I'd be able to find him when the heat was off. But when Lori said job, it was kind of a new angle. I could stay right here in town, pull down enough dough to get by, and maybe a little on the side. What was the safest spot I could possibly be in for a long time? I went down to the newspaper office with Lori the next morning and was hired. First time in my life such a thing ever happened to me. Harry Singles, he was a sharp guy for any racket. Working with him, I got so... I didn't mind. Of course, the hours were very regular all day time, and I had to put on a clean shirt now and then. But always, I had that 23 grand to think about. And the kid, Lori, I couldn't have squired a better doll in Chicago than any other place. I was kind of nervous. Let's not go out tonight, Steve. Let's stay here in my place, huh? I'll cook something. I don't know. It doesn't seem right. What doesn't seem right? Seeing a doll with a class and an apron. I can't get used to it. You will eventually. After all, you're used to being a working man now. I don't be too sure, baby. Steve, you know you love it. I don't know. Sometimes I get the itch to move on. Forget the itch, Steve. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Yeah, so they tell me. But I saw some moss once and I still wonder what does a stone want with moss anyway? You see what I mean? Lori kept telling me how much I like being a pillar of society so that sometimes even I began to wonder. And then Harry started shoving raises at me in titles. Inside of no time, I was a district manager. And I sat down and I figured the dough angle and that gave me a shock. Because even if it was legal, I was making more dough week in and week out than I had with Murph and the boys. Well, the Chicago stick-up stayed hot and I didn't hear from Murph so I let it ride and kept working. Long about then, the papers were in a lather again all over reforms and the town was crawling with rackets and Lori was working on the stories. One night, Lori was typing a story in a room and I was in the living room waiting for her to finish. And that's a finish for tonight? What is it, buying hats again? Here on the desk. The local wolves are moving in. Much more exciting. Lay off or we'll measure you for a coffin. You have 24 hours to quit your job. First time I ever got anything like that. You want to read my answer? Your answer? My article for tomorrow morning. I've written all about the note so why do you figure? Well, there's an out-of-town mobster who's moved in on the local rackets and he's making a good thing of it. I found out about him three days ago and I've really tracked him down. Here he goes with the name of Dude Ringler. But I knew that was an alias. I finally find out that he's a former big-time operator from Chicago. He's wanted there for a lot of things including murder. I'm going to print it in the paper and he'll be picked up just about the time you told the cops, huh? Not yet. I thought you could go down with me. And what's the guy's name in Chicago? I don't know all of it. He headed up a gang there. They call him Murph. I got that roller coaster feeling only worse. I still can't figure it. She was only a half-baked doll moving into territory where anyone would like to get clipped. Why should I care? I don't see it. Steve, what's the matter? You gotta lay off, Laurie. You gotta quit. Because of that ridiculous note? Don't ask me why. Just quit. Well, I certainly won't quit. That's just what he wants me to do. Okay, I'll tell you. I know Murph. You know him? And he's trigger happy. He's a rattlesnake and pants. Then that's all the more reason... Listen to me. I don't know why I'm doing this. I never figured... I know my life and I'm going to tell you something. I'm going to tell you before I wise up. What, Steve? You remember when you got my true story when I was up for that murder rap? Of course I remember. Well, that was all a pipe dream, sweetheart. Something for the books. You lied to me? You did kill Red? His name wasn't Red. He was a slimy, evil punk from a mob I ran with. Named Joe Tinelli. Mob? He was killed by another guy who was in the car. He was killed by Murph. I covered for Murph because he was hot. Steve, then you... Listen. They'll want you for those jobs, too. They... Shut up. I'm listening. What? What is it, Steve? I thought I heard someone in the other room and the door closed. You're just imagining it, Steve. Yeah, yeah, I guess I am. This being a squealer takes my skin off. Oh, Steve. But you got the story, baby. Short and sweet. Now, you can do what you want with it. Quit your job and live or turn me into... What a dog. She cried on the front of my shirt. And then she smiled. And she called Harry's singles with me sitting there and told him she quit. She told him she was getting married the next morning to me and, well, I played along. Then I left her. And after telling him to button her lip and keep the door locked, I started to go find Murph to check on the 23 grand and put him why so he lay low. I could see he still needed me to think for him. But there was something wrong. Something very wrong. I felt like I was cracking up. So, well, I let it ride until the morning. I was climbing up the stairs to pick up Gloria 9 on the dot and for some reason I was feeling pretty good. Open up, chick. It's me. Open! Hello, Murph. Still trigger-happy, huh? And you don't have to call me names. You're up kind of. Aren't you, Murph? I was making a little call on your doll. Yeah, I see you was. She wasn't a bad-looking doll, Steve. You didn't have to plug her. She quit her job. Yeah. I didn't know about that. Well, still she knew too much. She wasn't gonna use it, Murph. Maybe. You told her about Joe. You shouldn't have done that, Steve. So it was you I heard in here last night, huh? No, kiddin'. You heard me? Yeah, I heard the tone. And you heard me tell her, huh? Yeah. This work in legal has given you bad habits, Steve. But I'll forget it. Come here. Come over here. Just look what she there wrote. Dude Ringo. Alias Murph. Alias we don't know how many other names. One and a half dozen cities for murder, loss, and he'd kidnap her. But good, Steve. She wasn't gonna use it. No. Well, don't let her worry you. Well, that's about time we picked that 23-grit. Hey. Hey, what's up, Steve? You shouldn't have put your gun down, Murph. What's eatin' ya? You shouldn't have put it down. Because I'm gonna drill ya, Murph. I always wanted a drill ya. And before I wise up, I'm gonna do it. That time, that time the neighbors heard it. I didn't care. I kept pumping lead. When they came in, I... I was standing over Murph holding the gun. Same gun he used to kill the kid. So the cops got me for both of them. Both of them. And the Joe and the payroll job, too. They really thought they hit their jackpot with me. I didn't give them any arguments. There wasn't any use. But see what I mean? I'm mixed up. You see? I've always been a sharp guy. I gotta beat the game. Murph was right when he knocked off the kid. She did tone. Well, she did know too much. It's the way things work out when I sit. Why should I get a case of highs over a doll getting drilled? I can't figure it out. Now I'm trimming my fingernails waiting for Mr. Burley to get a reprieve. I'm mixed up about that, too. Because in the dictionary, it's a word that's got kind of two meanings. And the way I feel they don't mesh, they cancel each other out. To suspend temporarily the execution of sentence upon and relief for cessation of pain or ill. Any time now. Hello, Mr. Gurley. Hello, Steve. That's the good word. My boy. Turn your collar around, Mr. Gurley. We're gonna talk like that. Spill it. It wasn't any use, Steve. No reprieve. I'm sorry. I got until 6 a.m. No reprieve. No reprieve. I wouldn't say that, Mr. Gurley. I draw a definition number two. I get cessation of pain. And so closes reprieve in which Roma Wines have brought you John Garfield, a star of tonight's study in... Suspense. Suspense is produced, edited and directed by William Spear. Before our star returns to the microphone, let me say a word for Roma Wines, the sponsor of suspense. Genuine cordiality, unaffected simplicity. These are the qualities that have made Elsa Maxwell's hospitality famous the world over. In her own words. Friendliness and hospitality begin at home. And there's no better or simpler way than with a glass of distinctive Roma wine. I suggest Roma Vermouth. Chill as a most delightful aperitif. Or next time you serve cocktails, flatter your guests by using this delicious California Roma Vermouth. You'll find that zestful, full-bodied Roma Vermouth brings delicious flavor to your favorite mixed drinks. The goodness of Roma Vermouth comes from using almost 100 different herbs and specially selected Vermouth type wines. So I say whenever the occasion calls for Vermouth, either sweet or dry, be sure to serve delightful Roma Vermouth, made and bottled in the heart of California's famous vineyards. You can depend on Roma Vermouth and all other Roma wines to be always delicious. Always pleasing to the palate of unvarying fine quality. This week is being celebrated as National Restaurant Week. Let us all join in saluting America's restaurateurs, who despite food and personnel shortages are doing such a splendid job. This is John Garfield with a message from your government. Four million crop core workers are needed to help the regular farm labor forces harvest the 1945 crop. We face the most serious farm labor shortage since the beginning of the war. Everyone with or without farm experience can help. Crop core work is war work which will pay you the prevailing farm wages. Get in touch with your county agricultural agent or local government employment office. Thank you. John Garfield appeared through the courtesy of Warner Brothers Studios and will soon be seen as Al Schmidt in their production, Pride of the Marines. Next Thursday, you will hear Mr. Dana Andrews as star of Suspense. Resented by Roma Wines. R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.