 And now, tonight's presentation of Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Trails. We bring you a transcribed story of a day in the life of a woman who awaits an execution. We call it The Murderous. So now, starring Kathy Lewis, here is tonight's suspense play, The Murderous. Earlier than she had thought she would. Purposely, she had gone to bed later the night before. Red later. Then to ensure the blessed passage of unconscious time. Taken something to make her sleep. Something to keep her from the slow morning hours. The bedside clock showed 8 a.m. But she knew it sometimes ran slow, and so she picked up the phone. In 30 seconds. Automatically, she adjusted the clock. And noted the ashtray overflowing with half-smoked cigarette stubs. 11 hours and two, three and a half minutes. Cheat the seconds and say, 11 hours and 15 minutes to then herself she would think today. I know I can't help thinking about it. It's silly to try and push it away. But I've got to occupy myself with every minute. Every second, then the time will pass. There's lots of things to do. And I'm lucky. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep at all. And I did get 5 hours. I'm lucky. She got out of bed. And knowing the morning paper would be lying outside her door. She perversely delayed the moment when she would bring it in. Instead, going to the kitchen and turning on the flame under the kettle. It was at that moment of brushing teeth. Washing face that she saw. For the first time that day the face in the mirror, her own. And she was drawn to it. Leaning close over the sink. Examining. Searching. Seeing in an instant a bright objectivity. Another face. A stranger. The fear they kept that way. You're a murderous. You killed somebody. Saw you. And when the face stared back on moon. She was afraid. And reached up to touch the face. To feel it. And know she was herself. And not the thing in the mirror. She was ready when she sat at the kitchen table to drink her tea. And opened the morning's newspaper. Mark 27. Margaret Bailey convicted slayer of her husband John Bailey. Is scheduled to die in the electric chair tonight at eight o'clock. After a lengthy trial and fruitless appeal. The attractive widow was still according to her attorney H. Hillman Adams. Maintaining her innocence. No official word has been received from the governor's office. But it's felt unlikely that a last minute reprieve will be forthcoming. Mrs. Bailey who shot and killed her husband four months ago. Is reported to have spent last night in prayer. That's not a good thing to do. I'm not intrigued anymore. When I go out I won't look at the headlines on the newsstands. I won't listen to the news broadcast. Not today. That was very silly to read that. I wonder if I'd be praying. I wonder what she feels. Who is it? Laura. Good morning honey. Laura. Laura. I forgot you were coming today. If I had a nickel for every time I forgot. My henny used to say to me. Laura. If you don't have your head screwed on tight. You'd forget it and leave it somewhere. Sure is the angel. I've got some coffee on. That would be fine. I never did get a decent couple calls this morning. Oh everything was late. Both was late. One of those devil in the air mornings I guess. Cream and sugar. Oh no ma'am. I'm on my diet again. Here. Oh thank you. It's a truly shame for one pretty thing. At our latest meeting of the night we were talking about it. Most of us don't think that she done it. Oh ain't it awful Miss Marion. When you think there's a life that's going to be no more in a few hours. Laura. It's the last night in cream. Bless her heart. Beautiful Miss Marion. I guess I'm a silly soulful woman. But I look at that face. And I say Laura. That Mrs. Bailey she's no murderer. Just from a face I say that. I don't think the court agrees with you Laura. Court. Somebody had to pay. And they take her. Because if you ask me. With these elections coming up and everything. They have to find her guilty. I don't think it purely is. From what I read there's lots of chances for another woman to have done it. The other woman. You sound just like one of those scandal magazines Laura. Laura. Well if you ask me right now. Someone is sitting laughing to herself right this minute. And she knows what she's done. And a good lord will take care of her all right. You better start vacuuming as soon as you've finished your coffee Laura. I'm going to get dressed. She knew it would have been a mistake to sit down with Laura. She wanted to make small talk. The friendly, non-important things that passed the time. We're listening to Laura's pseudo intellectual philosophies which the cleaning woman so proudly expounded. And yet showing under the surface almost profound wisdom. She might even have talked to Laura about herself. Of unhappiness. Fear. Relieving the pressing weight without disclosing the secret. But now. Laura was alien. Laura suspected something that she knew. It was 10 o'clock. And there were 10 more hours. Until 8. Yeah it's Laura. Hello. Hello dear. Hello mother. How are you? Fine. Did I wake you up? No. No I've been up since 8. Oh. Is Laura there? Yes. You want to talk to her? No no. Just tell her I'm expecting her on Monday. I wasn't sure whether it would be Monday or Tuesday but I decided Monday. All right. Are you all right here? Yes I'm fine. You've got one of those headaches again. I wish you'd go to the doctor about it. It worried me so much. I'm fine mother. I haven't got a headache. Oh I'm glad. Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? I thought I'd... No thanks. Thanks mother. I've got a date. Oh. It's nobody you know mother. Well that's all right dear. I thought you might like to watch TV. It's a very good show at 8 o'clock. Jackie... I'm sorry mother. Maybe you could bring us eight for dinner. And we could watch the show at 8 and then you could go on to whatever you're going. I told you mother I can't... Look I've got to go now. I'll talk to you soon. Tomorrow. All right dear. Goodbye. Ms. Barrington you help me. I want to move the cabinet ma'am. It hasn't been cleaned behind this. It's north. Oh. All right. You just take the corner honey. All right. Don't strain yourself. Just kind of lean. I'll do the pushing. All right. Just a whisk or more. There. All right honey. If you've been missing any bills and things that's where they are. They're clueless. I'll take them Laura. Well here you go. Oh what a nice looking gentleman. Give it to me. I thought I'd lost it. I thought it was lost. She saw it. His picture was in the papers. She'll remember. She'll think about it and she'll remember. It's a picture of a cousin of mine. I never liked him. He was a black sheep. Do you know what I mean? It caused a lot of trouble Laura. I'd almost forgotten all about him. I'm sorry I was rude. It just brought back very unpleasant memories. Oh. Sure. That's all right. I understand. I had an uncle like there was. All he looked at down. Pretty thing though. That cousin of yours sure reminds me of somebody. Somebody I've seen and I know. Now who could that be? You are listening to The Murderous. Tonight's presentation in Radio's Outstanding. Theater of thrills. Suspense. Hello. This is Marvin Miller. We'll return to our program in a moment. But first here's something to think about. The United States of America is young among the nations of the world. But it has proven the value of its way of life. Perhaps the most important words in our national heritage are the first three words of the Constitution. We the people. The people are in power. Not an individual or a party or a group of individuals. But the people as a whole. The communists have corrupted this word people just as they have made the words peace and freedom and liberty seem meaningless. Ask the citizen in one of the communist people's republics just how much he has to say about how his government is run. With us the word means exactly what it says. It means everybody. No exceptions. And as citizens we recognize our two responsibilities. First to know what our rights are. And second to defend those rights. And now we bring back War Hollywood soundstage Miss Kathy Lewis starring in tonight's production The Murderous. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. She'd listen to the sounds of Laura Vacuuming kitchen harmonies clinking a China ring of silver. She had bathed and dressed automatically slowly always with me waiting for a pause and Laura's clean ritual a pause that might indicate that she had remembered remembered whose face it was in the photograph. Yet she does remember and she comes to me. What will I say? And fastening the throat necklace hands momentarily frozen behind her neck the sounds in the kitchen had stopped the clasp of the necklace was secured but all of the plans so carefully made to ease the passage of this terrible day were gone she knew she could never recapture them she thought But after tonight it will be better and tomorrow and next week and next month better it's only the waiting for tonight that's all What about Laura? Photograph. Supposing she did remember him from the newspaper pictures Supposing she knows and doesn't say anything to me wait until I go out then call the police Be careful now honey it's slick over there Laura I'm going out for a while get my hair washed if anyone calls tell them I'll be home by two or two thirty Yes ma'am There's some cold cuts if you want them to lunch Oh I'll be fine Just a cup of soup that'll She put on her hat and coat and left the apartment closing the door would come necessary of course at the elevator door she stopped and waited for a few moments It's silly she doesn't know anything suspect anything besides she didn't have a chance to look at the picture for more than a second or two we believe her lots of people resemble other people unless unless the police do suspect somebody else and they know it wasn't his wife but if the newspaper stories were just a trick trying to make me think that she was going to die tonight knowing she's innocent Yes I know Yes Yes Yes Well I saw with my own eyes Yes Well I'm just telling you what I know That's right Laura Miss Marion I didn't hear you Who are you talking to Laura My sister My sister Mary No baby It's Miss Marion I'll talk to you later Yes Goodbye Are you sure to scare the light on me honey I'm sorry I forgot something And with the live fresh underlifts she went into the bedroom sat on the bed suddenly feeling pale and cold it was 12.15 in the bedroom clock she had called the hairdresser and cancelled the appointment she knew that she couldn't leave the apartment not at least until after Laura had gone and that wouldn't be until 4.30 Laura had been calling the police she was convinced of that but I don't think they believed her still they might begin to wonder they might investigate she was lying on the bed arms folded behind her head aware that her shoes were still on sharp heels endangering the lacy counter pain but not caring hearing the sounds of Laura's humming and an occasional groan as she stooped to her work even if they did come they'd never find the picture they couldn't prove anything I'd deny it but what would I have to deny I mustn't do that then they would suspect all right I wish I could sleep this isn't the way it was supposed to be today I think I'll make some calls no what number do you want batting 3, 5, 7, 6, 9 you have the right number but there's no one living here by that name yes you want me to make you a bite of something to eat I'm just going to make some coffee well maybe it'd feel more chipper honey you're a real pale why don't you take off your shoes and take a lie down somebody trying to frighten me that's the second time he calls now you take yourself a nap that'll fix you no I don't want to oh but honey you're all wrought up you got something troubling you Miss Marion you want to tell me why do you say that there's nothing wrong with me was it seeing that cousin of yours the one in the picture now you can tell Laura it was an old gentleman friend not your cousin wasn't he and seeing him upset you didn't he I could tell oh well now I'll make you a cup of coffee now you lay down for a spell and when I come back you can talk it all out honey make it feel better you better get back to your work Laura I'm going out now honey I'm worried about you I wish you wouldn't go she didn't turn around didn't answer the maid pausing only for an instant to take up a pocketbook and coat then she left the house she walked in the city aimless not thinking not seeing and it wasn't until she noticed a cruising patrol car the things drew back into focus perhaps they're looking for me they found out they know should have done something what killed her killed Laura oh she like crazy crazy thinking things like that it's three o'clock three four five six seven eight five hours I'll go to a movie they wouldn't find me in there they wouldn't think of looking there it'll pass the time she went into the first movie theater she saw not looking at the marquee paid her admission almost ran inside then sank into the worn shiny seat and leaned back in semi-darkness and watched the flickering light on the screen before her without seeing or caring about its content it was five o'clock when the second feature began playing for ten minutes she watched now seeing and hearing because the fantasy had momentarily taken her out of herself not seven you jerk eight look I got 34 apples right right you take 30 from me right right but you're a good guy you hit that maxi system a good guy you give me back to me yeah I got seven now I got eight four and four eight why you ain't got no brains there's arithmetic seven eight seven one two three he said eight you heard him I heard him eight it is you think I want to go to the chair and didn't notice the side glances that she half ran down the street her sobs catching in her throat tears streaking her cheeks then I'd be dead she'll be dead I need a clone sorry officer all right man yes yes I'm all right you sit why I don't look sick do I you don't want to go wandering out on the street like that you could get hurt yes I'm sorry I'm late excuse me sure the patrolman looked after her puzzle caught the eye of a bystander shrugged exchanged an understanding brin and continued his beat it was six o'clock when she turned into a quiet cocktail lounge on a side street needing the drink now to forget to blot out the last two hours of waiting she couldn't go home she knew they'd be waiting for her there not be seen again on the street until it was dark until after eight o'clock and she sat in a shadowed booth drinking slowly then faster and faster hoping for the dulling of sensibilities I'm not drunk and I want to be well hello alone alone yes can I uh buy you a drink a drink oh it's kind of lonesome sitting here isn't it oh waitress ranked with him and he was faceless nobody she didn't even care that he sat close to her in the booth urging her how about another drink honey smiling insinuating he said things that she didn't hear it passed the time what's the time oh it's early no no no what time is it you got a date? break it I think I'm drunk now it's okay who is it we're having fun are we what's the time well it's uh it's seven what do you care hey how would you like I've got to go now goodbye what are you giving me I killed somebody and I've got to go you're not feeling any pain honey come on let's have one for the road goodbye outside it was dusk she stood swaying for a moment and the sidewalk tipped under her she walked slowly carefully in an hour she'll be dead except she won't have to feel anymore and I'll have to go on like this like today every day she stopped on the corner is there a police station anywhere near here quarter past seven when she went into the police station and said to the sergeant I want to give myself up I killed John Bailey you