 of the creaking door. This is your host to welcome you into the Inner Sanctum for another visit with your favorite character. We're back again with a familiar subject, murder. Ever want to find out how scared you can get? Well, suppose you hang around for a while and when the show's over, I'll cut you down. Suppose we get down to brass tack, and I do mean the ones that go around the edge of a coffin. In a tiny cottage lost in a wild desolate section of rural New England, Ellen Richard sits in the chair, listening. Approaching 60, white-haired, will eyes that dance nervously in the fire light? She listens. She hears the wind weeping and moaning, grim heralds of a bleak winter. But she listens for something else. Because I'm alone. What's the matter with you? Number three. Hello, operator. I want you to ring my name, you leisurely Richard. Tell him to come home at once. What's the matter with you? Don't you understand? You must hurry. I'll take you home somewhere to the depot. Call him at the depot. Oh, don't you understand? I hear the boots. The boots. And the chains happening. It's my husband, my step, and he's been dead for five years. And now he's on the landing. And now he's opening the door. And now... Darling boy, it's you. It's you and not the others. Really, I don't quite understand. Dear boy, you must forgive me. I'm hysterical. Just be patient with me. I'll be all right in a minute. What's wrong? What happened? Let me hold your hand. Oh, just knowing that you're here makes me feel better already. I thought I'd go out of my mind. Oh, you poor darling. Now if you'll only tell me when. Wait a moment. Do you hear anything? Just the wind? That's all. Oh Leslie, you mustn't leave me alone ever again. I think we can't bear to be alone. But I just drove to the station to get Miss Morrill. Darling, you're in a terrible state. You really must sit down. I'll get you... No, no, no. I'll be all right. I'll be all right. Where's Miss Morrill now? She went through the side entrance in her room, I guess. I think I'm going to discharge that girl. Why? Oh, I don't know. I see she doesn't belong here. I don't like strangers about her. Really, Andy? You're being silly. You can't bear being alone and now you want to discharge your companion. Well, you're here now. But I can't be with you all the time. Leslie... But you almost never leave the house and someone must go out to get things done once in a while. Oh, yes, I suppose you're right. And it won't do you a bit of harm to go out once in a while to the movies in town or maybe New York for the theater. No, no, no. But Ellen... Don't you dare suggest that again. You but never suggest that again, do you hear? But why? Why must you stay here locked up in this house? Because... Because ever since my husband disappeared, I vowed... Oh, what a news she wouldn't understand. I think I would. Oh, no, no. You're young and handsome and charming and there's no use troubling you, it's all that. Yeah, I feel ever so much better already. No, dear Leslie, you don't know what you've done for me. Really? It was horrible living here with Justin tomorrow until you were sweet enough to come and stay with a poor lonely old lady. I know it must be trying for you. It's really lots of fun. I'm having a fine time. And that talk of you being an old lady is just nonsense. Why, if Uncle Gregory were here and could see you now, he'd fall in love and marry you all over again. Why do you say that? Just to make you laugh. Oh. You're very laughing. See, you're laughing. That's better. Leslie, you won't go away ever, will you? What an idea. You're my only living relative. I'll remember your kindness when I'm gone. You'll be wealthy very well. Here, now, what kind of talk is this when you're gone indeed? Well, we're going to have grand times here forever and ever. Now you go to bed and sleep away all that foolishness. And here's a kiss for a pleasant dream. You silly, silly boy. I'm too tired to wait. Good night. Vabra? Come in. Don't tell me about it. Don't say anything. Just, just kiss me and hold me tight. Oh, dear. Oh, Leslie. I could hardly bring myself to come back here tonight. She's so hateful and cruel. Vabra, don't. She may hear you. I'm sorry, but how much more of this do you think I can stand? This house will drive me as mad as she is. Please, dear. All right, all right. It's all seemed so senseless. You say you love me and you hate me. Oh, no, I haven't any money, but I'll get some. I'll get a great deal in as soon as I do. But I want to know it when, when? Tonight. Perhaps. You'll hear it. Oh, thank heaven I'm not the only one. What is it? It's Gregory. Oh, no, eh? I know it. That's the way he used to walk around the house, chatting with his friends. No, that's not it. But I know I paid it before while I was alone. He's come back somehow. Oh, Leslie, he's come back. Then why should he do this? If it's Uncle Gregory, come back while he'd come right in the front door. But don't you see he can't. He's been dead these five years. He told me he didn't. I know. I know. I, I didn't want to shock you. I, oh, Leslie, how much can I trust you? Trust you? Why, Auntie, you know there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. Anna, listen. Where is it coming from? The living room. Give me my robe. But I don't see why you must get out of bed. I must know about this. I can't leave this house, Leslie, and if he's here... Why can't you leave it? You can sell it and go away. You don't understand. Yes, the living room. We're going in there. I'm not afraid to face anything if you're with me. Now come. Very well. Is he anything? There's nothing in the car, Anna. But I can hear it. It's closer. There's the living room, not a soul there. Not a soul? Why'd you pick up that fireplace iron? You don't know in a moment. Can you move the piano? These old uprights are pretty heavy, but I think I can do it. There. Don't get that little shovel from the fireplace. Hurry. Don't say I don't understand. What are you doing there? What is it? Some kind of secret trap door on the floor? You're trying to move with that iron? Yes. It's the floor. Oh, here. Let me do it. All right. I think I have enough. There's nothing but dirt under there. Use the shovel. Very well. Leslie, I don't know if... Listen. The tapping is stopped. Yes. Why? Perhaps this is why. Perhaps he wanted me to find his body. He's still there? Look. Gregory! So that's why you never left this house, isn't it? He was lying here all this time. Lying here where you buried him. After you murdered him. Isn't that so? Now, who was bleeding last? Oh, yes. Auntie Ellen, the old darling, just had her nephew dig up her husband from under the floor. If you think she kept him there to make him stay home night, you're wrong. He'd been murdered. And Auntie Ellen's nephew just accused her of killing him. Yes. Yes, I killed him. Leslie, you mustn't tell anybody. I know you won't tell. Oh, it's been horrible living all these years with him right in the same house. I could never leave someone like Feintim, you see. And every time I heard a noise in the house, oh, it was frightful. I should think so. That's why I sent for you. I couldn't bear it alone. Now you know my secret, and you will help me. Will I? Of course, dear Leslie. Won't you? Oh, it's Miss Barrow. Don't get her through. It's quite all right, Auntie Ellen. Come in, Barbara. No, no, you can't. I've heard everything, Mrs. Richardson. And I know everything. You know? You and Leslie. It was you who made those noises. That cat thing, it didn't start until after you came. Yes, Auntie Ellen. You horrid boy, why did you? How could you do this to me after everything I've done for you? I thought you loved me. I thought... Sit down. No, I will not. Sit down, I said. Barbara, get a check. Okay. What are you going to do? Dear Auntie Ellen, you are going to write a check for $50,000. For you? For me. For the book and the pen. I see it all now. What a fool I've been taking the two of you into my home. And now you do this to me just to get my money. You killed him for that money. You have no right to talk. You make him do this. Leslie's a good boy. You found out about this and you put him up to it. I'm going to call the police. You're a little thief. You are a murderer, Auntie Ellen. You won't call any police. In fact, you'll tell no one. And you'll write that check. No. Leslie. Yes. You're so quite right. I'm not in a very good position, am I? You hurt me deeply, Leslie. After I trusted you. After I... She just stood up and collapsed. Howdy. Howdy, Ellen. Is she dead? Well, she's still breathing. She's paralyzed. This is a boy. Father, call a doctor. I'll fix that floor and push the piano back. You think it's safe? Absolutely. She will say a word if she can die. And if she does tell about the check, who will believe her? It'll be our word against her murderers. Come on, Barbara. We've got to get her well enough to write that check. This is Richard. If you can understand what I'm saying, blink your eyes. Ah, thank you. Well, Dr. Walsh. Well, I can't give you a final opinion yet, young man. She seems to know what we're saying. Why, did it stroke? Possibly. We won't know until I can take some X-rays. It may be simple hysterical paralysis. Doctor, I'd like to know if there's any danger. Danger? Yes and no. Patients have sometimes lived three years after a stroke. I'm going to call in a specialist for consultation. And I'll be back in the morning with X-ray equipment. Or meanwhile, don't move her from that chair. Yes, Doctor Walsh. It was very kind of you to come so quickly. This is Richard's. He's an old friend of mine. Call me at once if she seems to get worse. I certainly will. Good night. Good night. My pleasure. Oh, rotten luck, isn't it? Just when we had... Hello. She seems to be smiling. Don't be careful. She can understand everything you say. I know. And letter. Letter. You won't get away with it, Auntie. We still have you, you know. The will. You forgot about that will. You can't make a new one now. You can't write. And we know your secret. Yes, Auntie. We still have you. No, Leslie. She has us. What are you talking about? You heard what the doctor said. It may be years. We can wait. Can we? Wait here taking care of her, waiting for her to die? You imagine what that'll be like? Maybe you can wait. I can't. Barbara, you must... What's the use, Leslie? You waited all this time and you see what happened? We're worse off than we were before. No, Barbara, you must lose your head. There may be something we can do. What can we do? We can... Yes, Leslie. She got away with it. Why can't we? Look. Yes. I've even thought of a plan. Have you? We can both be away, far away from here in South America, perhaps, when this house can catch fire and invalid unable to move. It can be arranged, you know. Yes, it can be arranged. But are you sure of this will? Certainly. She told me about it a dozen times. Have you seen it? No, but I know. You can't believe what she tells you. You better look. You must be sure of all this. You're quite right. I'm almost certain the well is in her room. I'll find it. You'll see that I'm right. Did you say something, Mrs. Richards? I thought I heard you say something. Why are you looking at me that way? Mrs. Richards, I'm not afraid. I don't care if you heard everything. I'm not afraid of you anymore. You and your orders. Nothing I did was ever good enough for you, was it? Are we telling me I was too common, too cheap for you? Well, I found out what you were tonight. Stop your staring at me. You want to know something, Mrs. Richards? You didn't figure this out himself. I was the one who was smart enough for that. I kept wondering why you never left this house, why your husband disappeared. And I told Leslie, you stopped your staring at me! Barbara, what is it? I heard you scream. I... I... There's nothing. Nothing at all. Have you found it? No, not yet, but it's around somewhere, I'm sure of it. Do you want to... No. No. I'll find it in a minute, I'm sure. Mrs. Richards. The chair. The chair has moved. You moved it while my back was turned while I was talking to Leslie, didn't you? Didn't you? The antion from the fireplace. A very minute ago. Did you take it? Did you? No. I found it. She left me having... Andy Ellen, where are you? I'm standing behind you, Leslie. What? Don't move. What? Barbara. She's dead. I killed her. I have the antion here in my hand. Don't move. Andy, now please. Stay on your knees. Just where you are. Very well. If you wish, but... You were very anxious to find out what happened to my husband. Now you shall know everything. In fact, you shall know precisely because the same thing is going to happen to you. You see, I used this very same instrument, this poker. You and she will share his grave. It's all some silly joke, isn't it? You can't do this to me. You know that I love you. Don't move. Don't you see, Andy? If I didn't take put that thing down, you don't know what you're doing. No! I'm sorry to disturb you, Dr. Walsh. This is Ellen Richard. Ellen Richard? I knew you'd be surprised, but I have fully recovered. You were quite right when you thought it was hysterical or paralysis. Well, I thought so all along, but naturally I wouldn't venture an opinion without an expert. But why did it happen? It was a silly thing, I suppose, but my nephew Leslie told me he was going to marry Miss Morrow. In fact, they planned to elope. And that was the shock that brought it on? Yes, Dr. Walsh. I suppose I let myself care for my nephew more than I should. Yes, so I understand. But I'm quite over it now. I sent them on with my blessing. They drove into New York, and they're sailing for South America in a few days. So you needn't come tomorrow evening. All right, Ellen. But your nose must be in bad shape. You better let me give you a check-up. Very well, Dr. I'll come to your house the day after tomorrow. Good night. Good night. Well, there, Ellen, that completes my check-up. And what's the verdict? You've got a constitution like iron. You'll live to at least 110. Oh, but, Ellen, you have to get out of your house. No, now, don't go into that again, Dr. Walsh. When Gregory disappears, I made up my mind I would never leave, and I mean to stick to that vow. That's not what I meant, Ellen. Haven't you heard the news? What news? The news superhighway. It's going to be built right through your property. Your house is dead center of the roadway. They'll have to rip it down. What? Well, they can't do it. I won't let them. Well, there's no reason to be alarmed. You realize a handsome profit for your property. When will these people be around? When are they coming? Well, the surveyors are in the neighborhood now. They may be calling at your house today to examine the property and make an estimate of its value. Today? Well, I must get back to the house immediately. I don't want them to come when I'm not there. Oh, it's cute. You know... Yes? Yes, one moment. It's for you, Ellen. For me? Who is it? Wait. I believe the man said the state police. But what could they possibly want with you, Ellen? And the Ellen's relatives and friends are now all stoned cold dead in the parlor. She buys you nobody's head, but her husband's, her nephew's, and his girlfriend's. And we leave this electric personality while she's on her way to becoming a short circus. Of course, we don't want to alarm you, but crimes like these don't happen except the people like you and you. But not you. Well, friends, it's time once again to close that creaking door. Until next week at the same time when we'll be back with a little hunk of horror. You'll be sure to listen, won't you? Until next week then. Good night. Pleasant dreams.