 Suspense Autolight and its 96,000 dealers present William Powell in the escape of Lacey Abbott a suspense play produced and edited by William Spear From the SPCTC I've come here to register a strong protest now wait a minute What is this SPCTC the society for the prevention of cruelty to camels you can't imagine how you've distressed the dear You mean because I say auto light stay full batteries need water only three times a year in normal car use the camels feel bad because They have to have water more often they positively wince when they hear it and you should see their poor dear faces drop Oh, I'm sorry about that Perhaps I could play up the fact that auto light stay full batteries have fiberglass retaining mats protecting every positive plate Or I might even dramatize the fact that in recent tests based on SAE life cycle standards Auto light stay full batteries gave 70% longer average life than batteries without stay full features Well, anyway, one thing I definitely will say friends It's your pays to see your auto light battery dealer for an auto light stay full battery because you're always right with auto light And now with the escape of Lacey Abbott and the performance of William Powell auto light hopes once again to keep you in Suspense Position of authority come here. You can always tell by their voices Sign up commanding the smaller the authority the more commanding the voice you hear me Yes, sir sign out. You said here right below where you signed when you came in of course Perfect forgery I beg your pardon. Well, I mean your signature is almost an exact copy you object Music you think you're talking to one of your your lunatics upstairs No, sir always call me sir Good day Good day, mr. Westland Outside now on the steps There's the street the traffic Walk slowly No need to hurry. No need at all That's right like a cigarette Must be some of the pockets. Yes What brand of the late mr. Westland smoke Lighted might have carried a lighter No need to run. There won't be an alarm for at least 20 minutes one look back over the shoulder casually It's pleasant to be on the outside looking in after two years in the psychopathic world in Bellevue Oh Well This is a restaurant. Are you kidding and you're a waitress a lovely waitress? Look, do you or don't you want something to eat? I'd much rather look at you Look, mr. I get off at 1 a.m. But right now the boy. I'm going to take you out of all this Oh, sure first diamonds warm against your skin On my hand your name is Faye, huh embroidered on your uniform Hey, listen to me now look Romeo. Listen. This will be the biggest thrill of your life I just escaped from Bellevue. What I'm Lacey Abbott I've been in the psychopathic ward in Bellevue for two years You don't say Nicholas Westland my lawyer came to see me and when we were alone I strangled him to death. Let me go stand still I Changed clothes with them. I signed his name on my way out. It'll be in the papers I'm laughing and I'll back. It's nice in a sanctuary mystery. I had a wife once Kate They say I killed her so I must have killed her Sure, you killed her. No, I didn't Martin Avery killed her Sure Martin Avery killed her You just sit there. Well, I get a glass of water. I'll be back We must see mr. Avery. Oh, yes, definitely mr. Avery Oh pop, what do you want that's something you want to talk don't bother me with it everybody's selling nobody's buying you got me wrong pop I'm a buyer. I'm gonna buy a 45 automatic got a permit. No you from the police Now pop, let's see your wallet. All right Lawyer, huh? That's right. Okay $15. Thanks pop. I won't forget this And neither will a friend of mine Little late evening call on Martin Avery There's the apartment house first class mr. Avery very first class May I blow your brains out mr. Martin Avery? Thank you, sir How do they say it in the movies? You want it in the belly or the back? Boy, yes, just out. Yeah Keep the change. Thanks. Aren't you scared with a lunatic running loose in New York? Hey Door unlocked Thoughtful lavish apartment mr. Martin Avery lush Not like it used to be So you're not alone This must be the study. Yes. I'm writing in mr. Avery. Please do well. I have to come out and get you Lacey shut the door quietly Lacey shut it You you're in Bellevue, but you see I'm not Find you look My picture on the front page lousy picture I Could go to work in a delicatessen on the east side live in a hole never leave Manhattan who'd find me they'd find you They'll find you first. I don't expect anything from you. They see you're a sick man I feel sorry for you, but I have my wife and child my son here in the apartment now. I don't work This gun It's just to keep your voice down It's a toy can't hurt It kills Pull the drapes over the window what cover the windows Would there be any dawn that's the question if there is You'll see it come up the way. I had to see it for two years on thick soft blind walls All right now. What do you want? I waited a long time for this a long time Put down the gun. Oh, wouldn't you like that wouldn't you just all right now after all Lacey We were friends once you used to see better Martin what take another look at the paper Western You killed Weston. Yeah, you can always find another lawyer shouldn't upset you. He wasn't your lawyer He was mine never like you always like me trying to help you. He did What do you want with me? Company company. That's what I missed most of all Martin. Can you believe that? company Two years no one to talk to all the doctors sure but not really anyone Two years Martin. All right. I'm sorry. They see I how is Everything going very well. I have to admire you Martin standing there looking to this 45. You're not even blinking Takes nerve to face a madman See in the paper. That's what they call me a madman with a gun in his hand You never know what a madman will do Martin It takes nerve to stand there looking at me like that. No expression cold They should put a drink in your hand and photograph you. Oh, yes We could read the magazines and Bellevue those that wouldn't excite us with the staples removed But Martin you're not listening to me. You're watching the door Relax Martin. It's going to be a long night Maybe you won't see the end of it It depends Depends on whether you say the things I want to hear what do you do things I like? It's up to me I waited a long time now It's up to me. Auto light is bringing you William Powell in the escape of Lacey Abbott tonight's production in radio's outstanding theater of thrills Suspense Mr. Wilcox have you made up your mind about camels you mean you bet I have and you can tell your camel friends that Harlow Wilcox will never again shame them with auto light stay full batteries the batteries that need water only three times a year in normal car use Oh, they'll be overjoyed. You can undroop that very drama Derry's by reporting that Wilcox will no longer imply that auto light Stay full batteries are ruining camels go without water reputation. How we later they'll be from now on I'll nearly mention that auto light stay full batteries have fiberglass retaining mats at every positive plate for longer battery life Recent tests in fact based on SAE life cycle standards show that auto light stay full batteries give 70% longer average life than batteries without stay full features So get an auto light stay full battery friends at your auto light battery dealers. Remember, you're always right with auto light And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage our star William Powell with John McIntyre in the escape of Lacey Abbott That pale well calculated to keep you in Look at him Look at Martin Avery Standing alone in the study of his better homes and gardens apartment alone With only me to keep your company Yes, everything must be going exceptionally well for you But I noticed as I move about the study turning off the lamps that there's a trace of perspiration on your forehead Does it affect you just a little being alone with a madman and a gun at night? What's taking place behind the steady eyes Martin? Are you thinking? That would be fatal That was my mistake thinking too much Watch me Martin. That's right. I want you to keep watching me But then you can't help but think about it Think about what whatever comes into your mind as you watch me the police will be here for you Lacey But why should the police want me you killed a man? Yes But you killed a woman now listen Lacey I can help you I'll get you some of my clothes. I can call a cab Get you to a small hotel somewhere where they won't recognize don't talk like that everybody talks to me like that You just come along with me. We know best. They say it's just a matter of time Answer it go on But what what you say? Hold it out here so I can hear it, too Hello Mr. Martin Avery. Yes speaking. I'm Mrs. Nicholas Westland. I don't know if you've heard Lacey avid escape My husband. Yes. I saw the papers. I'm sorry. I didn't know I thought I'd better warn you Thank you for calling miss Westland. I Night miss Westland are you all right? You can hang up Martin, please Martin You know, I'm not responsible for what I do. You're as responsible as anyone You knew what you did when you killed Westland Now you're going to say I'm not crazy. You know what I mean. I'm either responsible or I'm not If I'm responsible, then I'm a murderer. If not Then Nicholas Westland Westland's death was an unfortunate accident But that was all taken care of and caught two years ago remember You testified against me. I told the truth. Did you yes, I was the only one that knew you were lying Martin You know, I told the truth Where are your wife and your boy sleeping Martin? For the first time there's something behind those cool eyes that I can see get out What time is it? 11 11 o'clock Six hours until dawn We should find out quite a lot before then quite a lot Should I answer it? Answer it hold the receiver up. That's right. It's like before so that I can hear Go ahead. Hello, Martin Avery. Yes Now this is Lieutenant Creekmore police. What is it lieutenant? Is everything all right up there? Yes, everything is all right Yes, have you heard that Lacey Abbott escaped from Bellevue tonight? I saw it in the late paper And you know about Nicholas Westland. It was a tragedy. Well, we thought Abbott was getting better, but Too bad Reason I called you. You know how Lacey Abbott feels about you He may try to get you you think so. Well, he might try but you don't have to worry, mr. Avery I have four of my best men covering the front and rear entrances to your apartment house. If he shows, we'll get him Solicitors we're fortunate in having such a solicitous police force Listen, Lacey. I played your game. Now. Let me get you out of here. You go down to the second floor landing I'll call them and up from downstairs. Tell them you're up here and that'll give you a chance to get out You didn't answer me Martin Where are your wife and son sleeping? In the back bedroom through that door and straight back down the hall the nursery Why do you the nursery? Just off the bedroom How old is your boy? Is he here in six months? Remember somebody told me that you were married while the trial my trial was in progress Yes, one year for the trial two years in the psychopathic. I wish there was something I could do for you Oh, there is But just tell me why did you kill my wife and see the sweat now? I said in a meta he'll be pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping out It's taken a lot to shake you Martin You've had it all your own way so long the money the good life the good married life. Tell me you'll weaken them quiet Let me tell you a little story a bedtime story Listen to me Lacey. Once upon a time there were two men who went into business together The business prospered and things looked pretty good Each partner had 50% of the stock in the company and then along came a big bad menace a corporation I wanted to buy them out One partner wants to sell the other partner. No the partner that said no had a wife Let's call her Kate That seems his stock was negotiable in Kate's name as well as his own don't they shut up The partner that wants to sell that's you pull the fast one while I'm out of town And you've got Kate to sign away everything But before I got back she saw what you're doing and right there Right there was where she disappeared. No now listen to me. They say and I wonder who it was that saw to it I wonder who it was that killed her. You're still out of your mind. That's just a fantasy. Just a fantasy, huh? I suppose it's just a fantasy that at the inquest a few well-chosen words from you started them looking at me Wondering about me wondering why I was away What I done with the body let's see a fantasy that almost killed me to lose her Yes, I was out of my mind then And again your few well-chosen words I've noticed he hadn't been himself lately, but I just thought it was over work You've got to listen thanks partner. I do thank you and I stand ready to repay you Martin Where's her body? I don't know Martin. It was never proven. She was dead say it was taken for granted I did everything I could for you now. Why don't you four hours until dawn? But I can see it now Martin If you try hard enough you can see it too on the wall Give me the gun Advanced psychology, huh? You must have been studying give me the gun response to the command as much the way it goes Response to the command sometimes work the impossible the subject will sometimes obey your command against his better judgment Give it to me now Martin My command to see That's better You know I could have killed you why didn't you? Brave man Martin neighbor you can't take that away from him That's why it takes thought Watch me Martin I'm walking to the door That's right. Don't miss a move see I'm locking the door So there'll be no sudden intrusion What would you do if I walked over to that door unlocked it walked out? First I shoot you in the shoulder or the leg And then maybe the other shoulder. I don't want you dead Not right away. I'd never find out what I want to know they say can't you understand what you're doing? I never harmed you. I swear it. I swear it No answer Yes, I can hear you watch what you say I can shoot right through the door Yes, please honey. I'm finishing something important in a little while Why I Don't remember I just did please I'll be finished soon. No, I was Go back to bed I want to see that you're all right Open it. Oh, I'll stand right behind the door get rid of her. Is anything wrong? No, darling Please go back to bed like a good girl. I'll be alone. All right But it's after three o'clock Set at the desk Martin Let me see the light on your face You're happy with her Yes, I see you are How was she like Kate? She like Kate at all Oh, but she's your wife and she's Kate to you Was the light trouble your eyes glares Just a little light But it glares white in the dark as you stare at Beyond that pool of light everything is black Black as it is in me black Stare into the black Now what you see What do you see I see her to Everywhere I look everywhere The worldly hope men set their hearts upon turns ashes thought it prosperous But an on like snow up on the desert dusty face lighting a little hour or two is gone Oh my god, I am She's beautiful Martin your wife beautiful Leave the wise to talk One thing is certain That the life flies One thing is certain And the rest is lies The flower that once has blown Forever dies Dies I caught Martin I could no she had nothing to do say it money I'll give you money enough so you can find your way out. They can't do anything to you if you have money That's not what I want to hear Where is Kate's body? I don't know tell me Through the door and down the hall Just off the bedroom not not the boy Tell me I can't Nicholas Westland speaking Yes, yes, I know commissioner and I'm glad you had the faith to play along with us. I Know yes It was pretty extreme here. I'll let you talk to lieutenant Creekmore. Oh, thank you. Hello commissioner Avery's wife and child. Oh, they're okay. I got a little scared when Abbott fired those two shots in the ceiling Yeah, I know But that's what got the confession out of Avery. I know he shouldn't have brought the gun. We didn't bargain on that. Oh Yeah, we got it. It's all on tape Listen, all right play it back boys. I'm just playing the good part boys. That's enough Did you get that? Well, we'd never have cracked Martin Avery any other way They wanted to release Lacey Abbott six months ago why they said he was as sane as I am But I'm glad we waited till he had this worked out in his head You'll have my full report tomorrow Good night and thanks commissioner for letting us try it Well, what's the matter mr. Abbott? You should be feeling pretty good about all this your plan worked out great. Well, you're clear What difference does that make? He said Kate came to him Kate Came to him Presented by auto light tonight star William Powell with John McIntyre. Oh Mr. Wilcox, you've made the Camel Kingdom Ecstatic and have you ever seen an ecstatic Camel mr. Wilcox? No, I haven't but if you like beautiful sights Take a look at this auto light stay full battery The battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use and it's only one of more than 400 outstanding products made by auto light for cars trucks planes and boats in 28 plants coast to coast These include complete electrical systems used as original equipment on many makes of America's finest cars batteries spark plugs generators coils distributors starting motors and bullseye sealed beam headlights all Engineered to fit together perfectly work together perfectly because they're a perfect team So don't accept electrical parts supposed to be as good Ask for and insist on auto light the original factory parts at your neighborhood service station car dealer garage or repair shop Remember you're always right with auto light next Thursday for suspense an unusual bit of casting that we think will intrigue you Our stars will be radios usually happy couple Ozzie and Harriet the play is called mr. Diogenes And it is as we say a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense Tonight suspense play was produced and edited by william spear and directed by norman mcdonnell Music for suspense is composed by lucian morroweck and conducted by lud bluskin The escape of lacy abbot is an original radio play by gilbert thomas Will uh william powell appeared by arrangement with metro golden mayor producers of east side west side starring barbara stanwick james mason van Heflin and ava gardener in the coming weeks You will hear such stars as rosalind russell and marlena detrick don't forget next thursday same time auto light will present suspense Starring ozzie and harriet nelson You can buy auto light safe all batteries auto light resistor or regular spark plugs auto light electrical parts at your neighborhood auto light dealers Which to auto light good night Your help is needed to stamp out dreaded infantile paralysis give now to the march of dimes Remember every dime or dollar you give may help to save you or your loved ones from affliction In canada give to the canadian march of dimes box 10 toronto This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system