 Now Roma wines present suspense tonight the fountain plays starring Charles Lawton 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 bowl would be very pleasant as Roma wines bring you This is the man in black here for the Roma wine company of Fresno, California Who tonight from Hollywood bring an old friend at these proceedings? Mr. Charles Lawton as star of an unusual murder study by his distinguished compatriot Miss Dorothy L. Sayers Calls the fountain plays It deals with the fortunes and misfortunes of a middle-class Englishman the name of Spiller Lives on a little country estate with a cook and a man servant and in the garden. Yes So with the performance of Charles Lawton as Mr. Archibald Spiller, we again hope to keep you in suspense Oh What about it? Oh, I say look out there Sam. Look out for what still as blind as a bed, aren't you Sam? You really ought to wear glasses, you know, don't you try and put me off? I was only trying to keep you from getting your clothes wet Sam You almost walked right into the spray of the fountain. Well, never you mind what I need glasses I never mind your blasted fountain neither. I want a straight answer to my question, Mr. Spiller I've given you an answer total. You've given me nothing but pluff-n-pluster. Do I get it all? Don't I that's what I want to know and if I don't ever please my guests are arriving. I'll talk to you tonight You better talk straight. It'd be your last chance. We'll end Hello. Hello there everybody. Hey, that's in time for a little refreshment I hope we're not interrupting. Oh, certainly not certainly not. You know mr. Gooch. Don't you in the beer? Yes, of course. And this is my neighbor. Mrs. Diggler mr. Gooch. How do you do mr. Gooch? And Ronald Powerfoot my daughter's fiancee. How do you do sir? How do you? Well, I was just showing mr. Gooch the wonders of my little fountain. How dare you do make such a fuss over this fountain? Even so, I always say there's nothing like a bit of ornamental water that's set a place off sort of like the Versailles gun. What? Oh, it's really lovely mr. Spiller and so secluded with the road to Denjens and the lilac hair all around. You like it, huh? You know I was thinking of cutting out some of these lilacs Oh, I wouldn't to make your business out of speak. You can't even see it from the house with these bushes and all four sides Well now perhaps that might add something but if you like lilacs, mrs. Diggler lilac shall stay Oh Mr. Spiller, I know authority. I'm sure well if you want an authority I'd say it's a mess plus the backstop and all a miss see a mess Oh Maybe mr. Gooch means the way the backstop arches up above the spray it rather overshadows it Well, I have to have that you know my dear because prevailing winds from the south the prevailing winds from the south Don't you feel how nice and warm it is tonight? Blow the jet of water right onto the grass If it weren't for that backstop, we'd have a proper swamp over there wasteful too Well, I'm glad to know that you always wear a fool auntie squandering money on a fountain No, no, no indeed it uses the same water over and over again like the one and two falcons square most ingenious really Why isn't that a wonderful idea? Of course, I have to be careful of course even soldier turn it off every night to save leakage and waste and so on Mr. Spiller sir, dinner is sir. Oh, thank you masters. Well, uh, what you say everybody very little bit of dinner Shall we go in then? Why mr. Spiller your modest little fountain when you're past the bushes all at once you can scarcely hear it Yes, it's quite impossible to hear it from the house. Can't hear it at all You see Yes, thank you masters an excellent dinner my compliments to the cook. Yes, and coffee in the drawing room masters Well, uh, shall we adjourn? Shall we what? I'll go into the drawing room now Quite a talk, ain't you fancy he changed from the old days adjourn to the drawing room Uh, what would you think mr. Spiller about a rubber or two of bridge? It's an excellent suggestion mrs. Good thing. I don't play in it, aren't you see? I'm counted out before the start. Oh, mr. Gooch. I'm so sorry Do take my place. I'm really very tired. No, thanks. We don't play bridge where I come from another did archie Although I see he picked it up quick enough once. Yes. Yes. Yes. It's uh, never too late to learn, you know Why don't you don't play too long I want to talk to you before this night's over me lad. Yes. Yes. Yes, of course, sir I'll be waiting for you up your precious fountain absorbing the beauties of your precious moonlight and I don't want to wait too long see Right you are old boy Where's the fellow masters? Was there something you wish sir? Yes Give me a handful of those coronas Only the best for your old pals, eh? Yes, yes, of course. Yes, yes, of course. See you later folks Well, uh mrs. Digby Shall it be you and me against the youngsters daddy? Yes, sir Will you tell me why you put up with that man? Gooch. Oh, no, no, no. He's not a bad sort really He is a bad sort. He's a ruled unpleasant terrible man Well, he's an old friend, you know, not much a chap can do Oh, daddy, you're so soft hearted. But if you can't do anything, I can. No, no, no, please dear He'll be gone in a day or two. High time What does he mean talking to you that way in your own home? Uh, yes, shall I? Well, I don't care. You shan't put me off This is the last time that man's going to come into this house. I wish it were Bourish nasty. I just can't stand it. Come now. Come now, dear. He's not as unpleasant as all that. What? The only time he'll ever be pleasant is in his grave. That's what Oh Dear, what an awful thing to say What a perfectly dreadful thing to say Tonight for suspense roma wines are bringing you as star mr. Charles Lawton whom you have heard in the first act of the fountain plays tonight's tale of suspense I have an interesting idea for you tonight from the keen and sensible mind of america's famed expert on parties and smart entertaining Ms. Elsa Maxwell and I quote Serving a nice table wine when friends come to dinner or with everyday meals is one of the smartest most sensible And truly moderate pleasures of which I know And one which any family can regularly enjoy Since the cost of delicious roma burgundy is very little Just serve your roma burgundy well cool Enjoy it with any food and don't worry about special glasses. Any glasses available are perfectly correct The goodness of the wine the added enjoyment of your food. These are the things that count Ms. Maxwell expresses perfectly what we of roma believe In roma california burgundy in all roma wines You enjoy the glorious color aroma and flavor of superb sunrise grapes Our noted wineries located in california's choicest vineyard areas Assure you of flavor and quality which are always good Never varying always delightful And so roma quality is preferred everywhere And you are able to enjoy these fine roma wines at modest prices only pennies a glass bowl remember More americans enjoy roma than any other wines roma roma wines And now it is with pleasure that we bring back to our soundstage Charles Lawton has mr. Ochibald's spiller in the fountain plays A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense We have a very pleasant garden, mrs. Digby I don't know anything that's given me such enjoyment as that fountain You know that uses the same water over and over again. Yes It shows you doesn't it mrs. Digby The simpler pleasures are best. Oh, that's so true Oh, well, here we are. It's been such a lovely evening, mr. Spiller And it was so nice of you to walk me home. Oh, it's my pleasure. I assure you mrs. Digby, you know, I've been thinking I'm very lucky to have found a neighbor like you at my time of life. I mean maybe it's not luck at all It's fate you mean mrs. Digby May I call you Rosalind? Of course you call me Ochibald Silly name only one I've got now. Why I think it's a very nice name. Do you? Well, you know, I've been thinking It was true what I said tonight that the place will be needing a new host as soon We better getting married you mean oh, you must be very happy for her I am but what I mean is I mean what I mean is that uh, well, we're both alone in the world now Yes and uh Rosalind There's something I want to talk to you about soon. I can't just now There are arrangements I have to make but I Want to talk to you very seriously. Well, I'll always be here, you know, but it's late now Yes, it is. Yes. Well, uh Good night Rosalind It has been a lovely evening Good night. Good night Ochibald Our masters Where is everybody? Mr. Ronald left. I got him in segoo, sir. Mr. Elizabeth has retired. Oh, well Is mr. Gooch still in the garden? I couldn't say sir. Shall I go and see no? No, never mind you cut along to bed now. I lock up very good, sir Oh, by the way, is the fountain turned off? Yes, sir I turned it off myself at half past 10 as seeing that you were engaged. That's fine. Well, good night masters Good night, sir. Hello there. I was just coming out to look for you. Hello Have a nice evening Nice evening Not as nice an evening as you had with the obliged in little widow. That's enough of that now, sir Oh, it is is it that's enough. Is it that's a good one Would you think I am talking to me like that one of your ready servants? Well, I'm not on the boss here get that in your aid on the boss and you know it All right. All right. All right, son, but let's buzz off to bed now We talk it all over in the morning. Hmm. No We'll talk it about it right now, mr. Spiller. I'm short of cash It's iton. You kicked him with some more. Look here, Sam I pay you your allowance as we agreed and you stay here whenever you like, but that is all Oh, it is is it? Getting pretty I am mighty answer number four one six three two Sam Quiet for heaven's sake You're in a fine spot to tell me what you're going to do, aren't you Quiet quiet the servants might hear quiet pretty might hear who mr. Ronald flat doodle, whatever these names really sam You're quite impossible this evening. Impossible a impossible, but I'm not an escaped outward. Am I I'm not liable to be all back To work out 10 years aren't labor for forgery. Am I quiet? Look here, Sam I'll give you a little extra This once and when I think a man like me Was only in for a short stretch anyway and worked it out all good and proper Depended on the charity charity mind you have a pill was rolling in wealth. I am not rolling in wealth and you'll know it But if you promise me faithfully that this is the last time sure I'll promise for an old pill or promise anything Just give me 5,000 down 5,000. That's right We've got a great opportunity all I need is a little ready cash. Don't you be an idiot sam? Where do you think I'm going to lay my hands on that much just like that? No, look, I'll give you a check for 500 Trying to renege an old pal a I said five thousand and five thousand it is or You'll find yourself back on the rock pile. I'll tell you I haven't got it haven't got it You've got enough to go buy in fancy fountains. I'm playing around with the widow next door. You'll leave mrs. D we out of this leave around a little I don't leave the old front to you Sorry I had to do that. I told you that was enough of that and I meant it I'll put yourself together and go to bed I'll talk to you in the morning. Do you hear me sam? Sam Come on. I didn't hit you that hard Get up on your feet now Sam Sam Oh, I've killed him What was that? Oh, it's just the old clock Hey 11 o'clock seven hours Eight hours perhaps until they find him Of course he hit his head when he fell but the police won't care about that and they'll take fingerprints and they'll find Out I was number four one six three two No What you need is an alibi and they If I could confuse him An alibi an alibi. That's it They could see me was alive when he was already dead First you have to fix the time, haven't you? The time the time the time the time. Well, you've got to make it earlier Say 10 30 while everybody was playing bridge If he could have died some time before that, but how do I prove it? What happened at 10 30? What happened at 10 30? What happened at 10 30? Oh, yes The fountain master's in the fountain. That's like the fountain. Yeah The fountain Now I know what to do Go out into the garden Turn on the fountain Then go down the garden path and call him call him by his name Sam Sam Gooch Gooch I think that'll do for that I'll go back to the house Say I looked for him. I didn't find him that it was dark the moon had gone down Yes, but now How do I move him? How do I That's right. The wheelchair the wheelchair It used to be mrs. Spillers. Do you I remember how she Not time to think of her now I'm gonna try and lift him into it Who'd ever have thought that old Sam was as heavy as this out of the other door But quietly this time The wheelchair wouldn't make so much noise Down the back path A careful boy hold on to yourself See like running he was though every window in the house were filled with faces watching Well Here we are I've got to lift him up again Lay him down on the edge of the fountain Put one end in the water Put the bruise on his head right up against the stone corner of the basin to the right It's brilliant. He was half blind anyway and he'd fail And now it's done What's that he's alive Gooch is alive After all that trouble after committing fatigued with the perfect crime and he's alive It's all right Sam Sam Wait a minute Bring him to life again More blackmail for the rest of your life What about mrs. Digby nice Comfortable mrs. Digby Rosalind What about Betty? She at least deserves something No, it's better to murder. All right murder. It's gonna be He's dead already as far as the rest of the world is concerned now Now or never Push him under It's done mr. Speller Huh, I suppose I ought to feel remorse Why should I feel remorse? Does the mouse feel remorse that the cat's killed? Does the prisoner feel remorse when he leaves his prison? It's done and it's well done. There's nothing left but the finishing touches now Well, we take back the wheelchair Let the fountain run another hour And then to bed Why should I feel remorse in the answers? Congratulations a bit more like it. Yes, that's right. Congratulations, old man Doesn't it turn cold? Inspector Frampton, sir. Oh, yes, sir. Come in inspector. Come in Oh, of course, yes every one here who was present the night of well, that is last night Yes, inspector. There's mrs. Digby. She's my neighbor my daughter elizabeth And her fiance mr. Ronald proud foot and the servants, of course excellent Well, now if you're all there with me, I have to ask you a few questions, you know Now there was a blow on the head. Oh As I understand it the deceased was last seen alive at about 8 30 just after dinner Let me see you you were the last to see a naming man. Yes, sir. I believe so, sir You showed in the way to the fountain in the garden, eh at his request. Yes, sir I believe the deceased gentleman's eyesight was rather bad. Yes, terribly bad And that was the last time he was seen alive by any of you. Yes, that's right The four of you then played cards, I believe until what time until about 10 30 and no one left the room during those two hours Then mrs. Billy you were accompanied mrs. Digby to her own. That's correct mrs. Digby Yes, inspector Now when you returned you were met and you all by masters. What time was that masters? Uh about 10 45 sir and mr. Spiller at that time inquired after mr. Gooch Yes, sir. He asked if I'd seen him and as I'd not he suggested I might retire That he himself would lock up the house. The others had left, right? Yes, sir. That is to say mr. Ronald had left. I heard him drive off in his car And mr. Elizabeth had retired then you were alone in the downstairs part of the house, sir Is that so mr. Spiller? Yes Will you tell me please what you did then? Well, I'd uh promise to poor fellow I'd have a talk with him later in the evening. So I went to look for him I went down to the end of the garden by the fountain, but you didn't go through the lilac edge to the fountain No, no, I didn't it was dark by then. I couldn't see I called Gooch several times Did anyone hear mr. Spiller call? I did, sir I was half asleep as you might say, but I did hear mr. Spiller call out And then what did you do mr. Spiller? I came back into the house inspector And I sat up in the library and read for a while and about One o'clock I went to bed. Now now this is very important Who turned off the fountain? I did, sir. At what time are you at 10 30, sir? You're quite sure of that, eh? Yes, sir. It's the usual time. I see And no one would have turned it on again, of course Uh, I can't think why, sir Well, I think that makes everything very clear mr. Spiller When the body was found it was still wet from the spray of the fountain Therefore death must have occurred some time before the fountain was turned off at 10 30 And as all of you here were occupied up until then from the time the deceased was last seen alive Oh, of course. It is an accident. I said it wasn't at the beginning Well, it might have been either, you know There had been a blow and there was water in the lungs, but the man apparently fell And misty's footing due to his poor eyesight and stuck his head falling into the water from which he was unable to rescue himself Well, it does seem the obvious conclusion, doesn't it? My, my Of fella, do you mean? Well, thanks everyone. I don't think he's left with trouble again, mr. Spiller. I hope not Thank you inspector Oh daddy, I'm so glad I was afraid for a while Nothing to be afraid of dear, you know poor old gooch just lost his footing and fell at all. I know I was afraid of him afraid of him. I know it was silly, but He was so strange I thought he had some sort of hold over you nonsense darling. He's just an old friend and I'm a sentimental old fool You're an old deer, but I got to run now off with one old. Yes Daddy, are you going to be awfully lonely when I've gone? You know, I'll miss you Maybe Mrs. Dickney now now now now now my girl. She's such a darling daddy. She is rather nice In fact, I thought I might pop over to see her this afternoon as long as you're gonna be out Daddy, I knew it. I won't keep you another second. Ask her over to dinner Perhaps I shall You be on time though. I will make pardon, sir Old masters. Yes Is it's convenient to you, sir? I should like to have my bedroom changed I should like to sleep indoors in the main house Why is that masters and the relight sleeper sir and uh Noises keep me awake. Noises master. The well of vain sir about the garage when the wind changes is pretty Well, it is loyal perhaps. I have to think that would do sir because when the wind changes there are other annoyance They can be most disturbing Uh, what are the noises masters the fountains are The fountain. Yes, sir Ordinarily, I'm quite unable to hear it any more than you can in the main house, sir But when the wind is through the east the plaster backstop acts quite like a sounding more than the direction of my room In fact, I can not only hear the fountain itself But I can hear even the faintest noises and the grove around it quite clearly I see yes Yes Yes, for instance on the middle night mr. Goach sustained his uh unfortunate accent I noticed the wind changed a little after 11 because it got very cold The weather vane wakens me and then I heard the fountain I seem to hear other noises too if I may say so You heard Yes, sir. Yes, I might add uh that after noting the police inspector's observation I took the precaution of pressing your dinner jacket Their sleeves seem quite wet, sir. Yes I think sir all things taken into consideration You might find it worth your while to retain me permanently in your service Oh, yes, of course. I wouldn't dream of ever wanting to replace you masters at uh, shall we say uh, Just double my present way For the present well Yes I'm very much obliged to sir. Is there anything else, sir? No nothing else I'm going to sit here by the fountain very ingenious the fountain Most ingenious my fountain Costs a little to run because it uses the same water over and over again Over and over again Over and over again Over and over again And so closes the fountain plays starring Charles Lawton tonight study in suspense Suspense is produced and directed by William Spear The other day Elsa Maxwell told us about a friend who had lived many years in wine loving countries around the world I gave him some of our delicious roma california burgundy at dinner And he confessed to me that he thought it every bit as enjoyable as any he had ever had So I say you people who do not regularly serve roma wine are missing one of the most delightful treats daily living can offer It's so good so smart Yet so very simple take miss maxwell's advice Enjoy roma wine regularly It's always good unvaryingly fine in flavor and quality and only pennies a glass Remember more americans enjoy roma than any other wines roma roma roma wines Next thursday same time. We will have the pleasure of bringing to you mr. Kerry grant Make a note now for next thursday so you won't miss Kerry grant's performance in Suspense Presented by roma wines r.o.m.a made in california for enjoyment throughout the world Our government has asked us to say emphatically to the women of our audience That 10,000 more registered nurses are needed in the united states army nurse corps immediately Registered nurses those about to graduate and who qualify as senior members of the united states Hadet nurse corps up to 45 years of age are vitally needed Right to the surgeon general united states army washington dc Or call at your nearest red cross chapter This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system