 Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents... Suspense! Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Mr. Lloyd Nolan, as star of Murder for Myra, a suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear. Suspense Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills 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 glassful would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you Lloyd Nolan, in a remarkable tale of... Suspense! It was raining hard. I was on the bus for Hollywood Lane. Myra had said... Take the last bus early. That'll get you to the house at about 1.30, and I'll see to it that his Highness and I don't get home from the party until after two. That ought to give you plenty of time to get set. Well, I had taken the last bus, and it was 1.10, and we were coming to Beechwood Drive. Don't ride all the way. Get off at Beechwood and Franklin and walk up, just in case. I pulled the cord. I was following Myra's instruction to the letter. It was raining harder than ever when I got off the bus. I turned up my coat collar and started up the hill. I said to the house, when I got to Midway, I stopped under a tree, and was soaked to the steam. And I saw the headlights of a car coming down the hill like duck behind the tree. In the past, I struck out again. The house was dark. I walked up the driveway to the rear. Go in through the kitchen door. I'll leave it unlocked. I tried the door. It opened. I stepped in. I stood still, listening for sound. Then I closed the door. Don't turn on the light. Remember now. Then look for the lipstick on the table. I struck a match. The lipstick was on the table. The lipstick meant that the way was clear for me to go upstairs. The match went out. I stuck the burnt end in my pocket. There was a puddle of water on the floor where I'd been standing. I got a kitchen towel and wiped it up. Then I rung out the bottom of my trousers and wiped the floor again. I took off my coat and went to the sink and rung out my coat too. I looked at my watch. It was 155. Didn't have any too much time. Tomorrow an old man would be returning any minute now. So I walked into the next room. It was the dining room. The door on the other side of the room was open. I led into the hall. I could see the stairs. I walked into the hall and started upstairs. Then the match went out. When I got to the top, I led another. Our bedroom's the first door on your right. I opened the door. I saw the twin beds. I'll keep him late at the party. So that by the time we get home, he ought to be pretty knocked out and fall asleep in no time. He'll have been up since 6 a.m. And there was a closed closet. I opened the closet door. And stepped in. You'll find the hammer on the top shelf. I'll hide it. Behind some old hats of mine. I was groping for the hammer when I heard a car turning into the driveway. My first impulse was to run to get out of the house. Now that the time until I was afraid, I was deathly afraid. I started for the door. You've got to go through with it, darling. It's the only way. It's his life or mine. Don't just see. If you love me, you'll do it. I took hold of myself. I stepped back into the closet and closed the door. I recalled thinking, this can't be me. There's a cop hiding in the dark with a hammer in my hand. Waiting to kill a man I don't know. A man I've never even seen. Waiting to murder a human asleep. This must be somebody else. For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star Lloyd Nolan in Murder for Myra by Lee Horton and Paul Bernard. Roma Wines' presentation tonight in Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrill's Suspense. Elsa Maxwell's ideas on gracious entertaining are followed by women all over America. The other day she said this about Roma Wines. One of my favorite wines is distinguished Roma California Sherry, a glorious gold and amber wine, delightfully light and nut-like in taste. Roma Sherry is ideal for any occasion, before dinner with appetizers or during the friendly evening hours. Yes, good Roma Sherry, like all Roma wines, is always unvaryingly good. The goodness of carefully selected grapes brought to perfection in California's choicest vineyards gently pressed, then unhurriedly guided the flavor richness by Roma's ancient wine-making skill. Yet all this goodness is yours, for only panties a glass. Remember, because of uniformly fine quality at reasonable cost, more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine. R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Lloyd Nolan in Murder for Myra, a narrative well-calculated to keep you in suspense. I stood in the closet and waited. I could hear voices outside in the driveway and a slam of a car door. The hangers loaded with clothes are poking me in the back, tipping me off balance. I was standing on a pair of man's shoes. I took the shoes out of the way and shoved some of the hangers back as closer together. I listened with some sound from below, but everything was quiet again. And then I remembered Myra saying that they shared the driveway with the folks next door. I put down the hammer. It must have been the neighbors coming home. I opened the closet door and stepped out. Still a little time, yeah. In the darkness, I noticed that Myra had left one of the windows open. It was raining in. I crossed the room, closed it. There was a night stand by each bed and alarm clock on one of them. I never heard a clock. It made so much noise, just ticking. It was cold in damp and I was shaking from head to foot. I couldn't tell whether it was from the cold or from fear. I sat down on the edge of one of the beds. Then I decided to have another look at the hammer. In a few minutes, I was going to have to use that hammer. It's a big, heavy one, Ernie. It'll do the trick all right. I felt along the floor of the closet for the hammer. Then I hefted it experimentally. It was big and heavy. The kind that would smash your human skull. I looked at clothes hanging there, many of them, his clothes. The flickering light of the match, one garment caught my eye probably because it was long and white and had big, gaudy flowers on it. It was Myra's negligee. She'd been wearing it that morning when I first met her five months ago. What can I do for you? Good morning. I hope you'll excuse me for bothering you. See, I'm taking a poll of homeowners. What kind of poll? Well, it has to do with your post-war plans. I don't have any. My husband does the planning in this family. I just go along for the ride. Oh, I see. Well, still, if you're not too busy, I would like to ask you a few questions. Why not? I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Come on in. Thanks. Thank you. It's a beautiful day outside, isn't it? Is it? I hadn't noticed. I sat down on the sofa and opened my portfolio. I felt ill at ease. Bare emotions do that to me. And Myra's emotions that morning were as bare as a throat in that low-cut negligee. I knew right away that she'd had a row with her old man. In my business, you get so you can figure out things like that. And it was as plain as the nose on my face. My nose was pretty obvious that day. I'd been to the beach and I was burned to a fiery red, and my nose was peeling. She laughed then, at me, I guess. You got quite a case of sunburn, Mr. Cobb, Ernest Cobb. Yes, I have, haven't I? That's too much beach, I guess. I haven't been to the beach in two years. Oh, don't you like it? Sure, but what difference does that make? His highness doesn't. Who? My husband. Let's have the quiz. Oh, yeah. Yes, of course. Now first, your name is? Blair, Myra Blair. His name is Ray. And his business? He's an aircraft engineer. A scientist. And you don't work? No, no, I'm just the housewife. The little homemaker. You don't sound as though you fancy the role, Mrs. Blair. I hate and despise it. Oh, that's a shame. Any children? Yes, a daughter of four named Julie. She's at nursery school. And now for the questionnaire. Are you playing... I mean, do you know whether or not your husband is planning any extensive repairs or remodeling on your home after the war? I haven't the foggiest notion. It's like I told you, I'm part of the decorations here. But I think in how I feel doesn't count. Oh. I suppose you think I'm talking out of turn while I am. I'm sick and tired of the whole mess. He comes home and smokes his filthy pipes and tinkers around his workshop down in the cellar and I just sit here. Night after night, it's the same thing. Look at me. Am I so hard to take? Well, he's probably just got his mind another thing. Yeah, yeah, I know. Planes, planes, planes. That's all I hear. That's the war, Mrs. Blair. Keep buoy. It's the same before the war started. I'm not getting any younger. I want to have some fun. Do you blame me? No, no. I think everyone's entitled to some fun and good times, Mrs. Blair. Call me, Myra. I never did like being called Mrs. Blair. How about the questionnaire? Now, perhaps you can answer me... Oh, buoy to the questionnaire. I'm sorry. I'm just in a nasty mood. That's all I... I had a fight with him last night, another one this morning. I had to blow my top to someone. You just happen to be it. Oh, that's all right. About your questions, honestly, I don't have the answers. It's like I said, the sunburner yours. You better do something about it. Well, it does burn pretty much all right. Hands are cold. Does this feel good? She bent out over me and... I can feel a breath in my ear. One lock of her hair fell away from the floor and it brushed my nose. Then her fingers touched my face and I did something crazy. I reached up and grabbed it by the shoulders and kissed her on the mouth. And the next thing I knew, she was in my arms and... she was kissing me and sobbing and sort of a spilling over of emotions and left me scared and limp as a dish rag. Oh, there, there, that's... You're going to change things, aren't you, big boy? Oh, sure. You will help me? Sure. Sure, I'd do anything for you. Anything. The match went out. The negligee merged back into the other clothes there. I stuffed the hammer back into the corner and came out into the room again to wait for Myran, his highness, to come home from the party. His highness. He's unbearable, Ernie. Every time he puts his filthy paws on me, I go all raw inside. No matter what we did or where we went, he was always there in her mind. We had another fight this morning, Ernie. Do you want me to show you the black and blue marks? And then one night when we were having dinner, it all spilled out. There's only one answer, Ernie. I got to get rid of him. Well, that's what I've been saying all along. You've got to divorce him. No, Ernie. That isn't what I mean. Well, then what? I mean I'm going to have to do away with him. Myran, what? You're out of your mind. You don't know what you're saying. No, yes, I do. I've thought it all out. Myran, don't say such a thing. Don't even think. What you're suggesting is... Murder, Ernie. That's right. Murder. I didn't sleep that night. And yet, worried as I was that the idea didn't seem real to me. Murder was something you read about, something for gangsters and madmen to traffic in. It wasn't a thing that could touch me, or in his car, or Myran. She didn't say anything about that. The next time we were together, I thought she'd come to her senses. She'd just been upset. And then one night we went throwing in Westlake Park. He's bought a gun. He's threatened to kill me. He wouldn't dare. It's him or me, Ernie. I've got to get rid of him. Well, get rid of him. Yes, but not really. What other way is there? I don't know. What other way is there? Name it. Well, how are you going to do it, Myran? I'm going to poison him. You'll help me, won't you? No, I couldn't. I'm not asking you to feed it to him. You can help me get a little poison, can't you? I don't know anything about poison. I don't know anything about murder. Well, you can learn, can't you? You're that dumb. Maybe I can find someone else. Myran. Others who'd be glad to help. Please don't talk like that, Myran. Well... Well, you know I'd do anything for you. I just... I... There's a better way, Ernie. What? He's got a big, heavy hammer down in his workshop, Ernie. You could do the trick easy. Oh, no. No, Myran, not me. I'd do anything in the world for you, Myran. Anything but... But the one thing that helped me out of this mess. It's his life or mine, Ernie. If you love me, you do it. I can't do that. I can't. You'd leave it for me to do. No, no, I... It'd be a sin, Ernie. You could sneak into the house some night when we were out and hide until we get home. With that hammer to be all over in a second. And then we'd say a burglar came and... Oh, Myran, no. Oh, you don't love me, really. It's all just talk. No, no, it isn't. You know better than that. I worship you, Myran. I couldn't live without you. Ernie, if you want me, you've got to do it. I suppose I knew I'd have to. It's just a little hard. It used to be the idea, that's all. But I'll do it. I looked at my watch. It was ten past two. It'd be home soon. I lost my nerve once. I started downstairs and someone walked past the house. That's all. Just walked past the house. I ran back up into that bedroom with my heart pounding so that it drowned out the sound of the clock. Then the headlights up a car flashed across the wall. A car that was turning into that driveway. There was no mistaking it this time, this was it. I could hear the voices of a man and a woman. The woman's voice was Myra's. Slam up a car door. Footsteps on the cement driveway. I eased back into the closet once more. Felt for the hammer on the floor. Closed the door. All but a little crack. Then I heard the front door open and close. Somebody walking upstairs. It was Myra. The kid was asleep and she was carrying her. That's the girl, that's the girl. Stand up, that's it. Turn around, darling. So, mommy, get on, button your dress. There. You go on your own, don't dare. Take off your shoes. Mommy will be right in. I heard her walking toward the closet. Ernie, are you there? I knew she was standing there, but I couldn't see her. I groped for her in the darkness. My hand touched the shoulder and then she was in my arms. Her body pressed against mine and I was kissing her. Did you find the hammer? Oh, Myra, I... Did you find the hammer? Yeah, that hammer, yes. He's putting up the car. He'll be up in a minute. Myra, I... It's all off. I can't do it. You've got to. I can't, I can't do it. Ernie, listen to me. I can't, I tell you I can't. Shut up and listen to me. Ernie, you say you love me. No, I do. I worship your body. You want me, don't you? More than anything in the world. All right, then. If you want me, you've got to do it. Mommy. Coming, darling. Quick, Ernie, you'll do it. I'll do it, of course. I'll do it. I knew you would. She kissed me and closed the door. Him coming upstairs. He came into the room and switched on the light. I heard him moving around. I figured he was in dressing and getting ready for bed. She will be in a minute. That kid isn't getting enough sleep, Myra. Now, don't start that again, please. Where are you going? The clothes closet to get my pajamas. Why? I'll get them for you. I fled myself against the wall. She opened the door, reached for the pajamas. Her eyes met for an instant, and she was gone. The door closed. Here you are. Thanks. What are you hiding in there? What do you mean, hiding? Well, the way you made a dive for that door, I thought... Oh, nuts. What would I be hiding? I don't know. I just said... What are you doing? What's the matter with you tonight, Myra? There's nothing the matter with me. Why? Oh, you're so jumpy. Can't I ask you what you're doing? Fooling with the clock? Sure, but why jump out of your skin? I'm just setting the alarm. It's all already set. I'm setting it ahead for four o'clock. Why? Because I've got to be at the plant at five this morning. I've got to... I've got to trial run. Oh. This was something we hadn't figured out. I looked at my watch. Well, it's three now. You won't get much sleep. I know it, but I can't help it. Don't put the clock on my table. Put it on your side where it always is. Oh, okay. It's so important. Hey, how do all this water get on the floor here? Through the window, I suppose. No, but it's closed. I closed it when I came up. We left it open. Oh. Well, if you're getting up at four, you better get to sleep, don't you think? All right, so... I heard them get into bed. Well, good night. Good night, Mara. The stage was set. I breathed easy. Now, I'd only have to wait for him to... and the thought struck me. Suppose he doesn't fall asleep right away. Suppose he doesn't fall asleep at all. He isn't so tired, even if it is late. He doesn't sound knocked out to me. Before he can get to sleep, then the alarm will go off, and he... I looked at my watch. It was exactly five minutes past three. This will never do. I thought I got to get him to hold him myself. I've got nearly an hour yet, and in that time, he oughta... I listened. I couldn't hear a sound. Was he asleep? He might be, but I didn't know I had to be sure. I'd wait half an hour, and if I didn't hear anything by then, I could be pretty certain he was. The minutes dragged on, and I listened. One and a half hours up, and I hadn't heard a sound. I sat down on the floor, took off my shoes, and I picked up the hammer and turned the door knob. I turned it very slowly, made no sound, then I opened the door and stepped into the room. Who? Who's there? Who's there? Oh, it's you. All right, baby, just a minute. What? What's the matter? Oh, it's the kids. She wants to drink water. Oh, no. Don't get up. Don't get up, Ray. Go back to sleep. I'll get it. I stepped back into the closed closet and closed the door. I felt the blood drain from my head. I leaned against the wall. I heard Myra go into the kids' room, and then I slid to the floor. I guess I must have passed out then or faded or something. Because the next thing I remembered was setting up, startling, wondering where I was. I looked at my watch. It was three minutes to four. I remember now where I was and what I was there for. I was in the closet. There was a man on the other side of the door that I had to kill before an alarm went off. And the alarm went off at four. I remember that I had to be very quiet because the man was asleep. Everything I did from that time on was automatic. I acted like a man in a dream. I picked up the hammer and stood up. I opened the door and crept into the loop. I could see the hands of the clock by his bed. It was almost four. I raised the hammer over my head and swung down. And I hear him again and again and again. Then I yell, Myra, Myra, I turned it off. Will you turn the alarm? Myra! Then the light went on. And I was looking at a man sitting up in the other bed. And he was pointing a gun at me. Hello, earned the clock. You saved me a lot of trouble. I looked down at the bed. I was standing over. And I saw Myra and blood in the hammer. And suddenly I felt an insane desire to laugh. And then a sob caught my throat. I couldn't control myself. I started to laugh. I couldn't stop. This is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines, the sponsor of suspense. August, one of the warmest months, calls for tall, frosty iced drinks. And famous hostess Elsa Maxwell recently said, I've discovered the perfect hot weather drink. Wonderfully cooling and refreshing. One that guests really love. I'm going to try it. Wonderfully cooling and refreshing. One that guests really go for. I mean, Roma Wine and Soda, made with distinguished Roma, California Burgundy or Sautern. Yes, Roma Wine and Soda is simple to prepare. Half-filled tall glasses with Roma Burgundy or Sautern add ice cubes, sparkling water, and a bit of sugar. And for a decorative touch, garnish with cherries or fruit. And be sure to use Roma Wine, always uniformly good, yet costs only pennies a glass, so you can serve it often. And next time you use Bermouth, choose Roma Bermouth, sweet or dry. Zestful, full-flavored Roma Bermouth is blended and developed with all the traditional winemaking skill of Roma wineries. It's made and bottled in the heart of California's famous vineyards, yet surprisingly low priced. Try Roma Bermouth soon, won't you? Lloyd Nolan appeared through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox and will soon be seen in their production, Captain Eddie. Next Thursday, three of Radio's most distinguished actors whom you've heard often in this series will be stars of suspense. Radio's outstanding theatre of thrill. Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.