 Roma Wines, present. Suspense! Roma Wines, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Salute! Your house, sir. Roma Wines, toast the world. The wine for your table is Roma Wine, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is the man in black here for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California, who introduced this weekly half hour of suspense. Tonight in Hollywood, Roma brings you the young American actor whose sensational rise to stardom has been unparalleled in recent seasons, Mr. Alan Ladd. The suspense play which stars Alan Ladd, and which is produced and directed by William Spear, is called The One Way Ride to Nowhere. So with this play and with the performance of Mr. Ladd as an adventurous young man named Tom Dwyer, Roma Wines again hope to keep you in... Suspense! Our damn town in Ocean City. It's not a roller coaster, ladies and gentlemen. It's an experience. We give you the breathtaking dip over Moonlight Bay. We give you the tunnel of how many good-looking? Two tickets. Now listen, Tom, is this really necessary? What's the matter with you? Come on, you're scared. Well, I just don't like these things. That's all I never have. Silly, it's no worse than riding to a stick-up in a prowl car. Yeah? Well, I never liked that either. Go on, go on, get in. Oh, no, not in the last seat. That is definitely off. Okay, okay, so we're riding the last seat the next time when you're over your stage fright. You're riding the last seat the next time. For me, this is strictly a one-shot proposition and don't expect anything different. I think you're a safety belt, Mac. Everybody got their safety belt buckled? Okay, folks, y'all! Tom, are we still alive? Well, can't you tell? All right, folks, who's gonna... Try it again. Come on, come on, it'll do you good. Don't tell me this thing is a menace to health and sanity. What did I tell you? Look, there's a guy passed out back there. Come on, come on, snap out of it. Hey, come on, get up, mister. Hey, somebody give me a hand with this guy. Yeah, yeah, come here, I'll help you. All right, you get his legs, I'll take his head. Oh, I don't know why guys ride this thing if they're gonna pull a fade-out. Uh-oh. This guy didn't pull any fade-out. Yeah, well, he ain't exactly the life of the party. You're right there, pal, he's dead. He's what? He's dead. Holy jeez. Oh, I better call a boss. All right, folks, you'll just have to step outside the gates, please. I'm sorry, there's been a little accident here. Everybody out, please, go on, everybody out. What's the matter, Johnny? Ah, a guy passed out. The man there says he's dead. Oh, every season it's something. Please, folks, outside the gates, please. All right, stand back there, stand back, everybody. What's the matter, Terry? That guy just died on his... Yeah, how come? I don't know. This man here looked him over. How do you know he's dead? You a doctor? No, officer, but it's, uh, not too hard to tell. Where is he? Uh, back in her last seat. Come on, keep the mob outside, will you, Terry? Sure. Come on, break it up now, will you? This the guy? Yeah. Looks like it must have been heart failure. It doesn't look to me like heart failure. Say, who are you? Dwyer's a named Tom Dwyer. Yeah? Well... Hey, I'd never seen this dead guy. He never bought a ticket for me. That's right, he never had a ticket. You're owed for free. How could he? You're owed for free, all right. Say, how come you know so much about this? Me? Oh, I'm just kind of nosy. Hey, you? Uh, yeah? Do you remember seeing this man get on the car? How do I know they get on? They get off. I just work here. Don't you remember that my friend and I were going to get in that last seat and then we didn't? Hey, that's right. Hey, who's this? Ben Duffy's a friend of mine. Yeah? Yeah. Now listen, my friend and I were the last ones to get in that car. We were gonna take the last seat and then we didn't. Then the car pulled out. And when it pulled out, that last seat was empty. Hey, that's right. That last seat was empty. This dead guy never even got on the car. Now you're getting someplace. All right, Dick Tracy, I'm listening. A roller coaster car starts out from this platform, all hunky-dory, and rips around the tracks about 90 miles an hour. And when it gets back here, there's a dead guy on it that wasn't on it when it started. How do you think he got on there? Dropped out of the sky? Well, figure it out for yourself, pal. If he wasn't on the car when it started, then someplace along the line, he was dumped on it. And guys who have been dumped are generally guys who have been murdered. Murder is a rude and terrible customer always. But seldom indeed has this unwelcome guest intruded more incongruously than on this particular evening when he chose to be the extra passenger on a roller coaster ride. Alan Ladd is our star of suspense in Robert L. Richard's story, The One Way Ride to Nowhere. You have heard the prologue for tonight's tale of suspense. Before we return to Ocean City, the scene of our drama, let's take you for a moment to a pleasant spot to the south. Where are we now? Along the Caribbean, looking into a smart café. Captain! Captain! Yes, senor? You have a fine port wine? I should like something special. Perhaps you, uh... Yes, senor. Imported from California, a wine... Excellent. Roma, California port. It's true that in many countries of the world, distinguished Roma wines are imported. Red wines, white wines, dessert wines, sparkling wines. Prized and enjoyed by wine lovers of these countries as rare delight. In many parts of the world, it's been discovered that our own California's sun and soil, plus the skill of Roma's vintners, are to be thanked for some of the cruelly fine wines. Yet to Americans, Roma wines cost little. For we pay no excessive import duty or shipping costs. Yes, you can serve Roma wines often and proudly. You're most knowing, most critical guest. For Roma wine is America's largest selling wine. And at only a few cents a glass. Why not let Roma wines add their delight to your family meals and your family's enjoyment? Buy wine tomorrow and specify Roma, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. And now it is with pleasure that Roma wines bring back to our soundstage Mr. Alan Ladd in the one-way ride to nowhere. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. Hey, Tom, where you been? We're all supposed to be waiting in here for the Chief of Police. They're making a phone call, that's all. Anybody I know? Jefferson Hotel. Do you know him? Huh? Hey, what's this all about? Oh, about $400,000 and a lot of people's lives. Uh-oh, here comes the Chief now. All right, quiet everybody. Chief Haynes wants to say something to you. A man died under peculiar circumstances on the Ocean City rollercoaster tonight. And all of you here were either on the car in which the body was found or in the immediate vicinity, like on the platform. Now cause of death has not yet been determined. But all of you might be needed as witnesses, so we want to know where to get a hold of you. Have all these people been identified in left locations where they can be reached? Yes, sir. So, you can go now. Oh, uh, Chief Haynes. Well? I'd like to ask a couple of questions. Are these the two fellas you told me about, Johnson? Yes, sir. You're a pretty inquisitive young fellow, aren't you? Well, that's my business. By the way, Chief Haynes, haven't we met somewhere before? Not that I know of. What do you want to ask about? Well, for one thing, you said just now that the cause of death have not yet been determined. That's right. The man was blue in the face and apoplectic, but there were no marks of violence on the body. The coroner is working on it now. Maybe the coroner should look at the man's neck. At what? At his neck. Listen, you're no doctor, neither am I. The coroner of this city knows his business. Okay, Haynes. Okay. I just thought I might save him a little time. Well, you're wasting my time. If you think I'm going to give you an inside track so that you can go to this poor man's family with some sales talk that you can help him get some kind of illegal action. Oh, he's got a family, has he? Yeah, he's got a family. Now get out of here. And his name is Richard Elliston Brighton. And he's professor of psychology. He comes from Chicago, right? So you went through his pockets before my men got there. Now did I say that? Listen to me, young fella. You know entirely too much about this case for your own good. You're from Chicago too, aren't you? That's right. What are you doing here? On a vacation visiting my friend here. Well, you better take the... Oh, hello, doctor. What about it? Uh, murder. He was strangled. Strangled? Mm-hmm. We got a good look at him. We found a thin red mark around his neck. He was strangled with something like picture wire. Now, isn't that a funny way for a middle-aged professor to be knocked off? Yeah, a funny way for anybody to be knocked off. And isn't that a funny thing for a professor of psychology with a family and all to be way out here all alone, so far from home, hanging around an amusement park? No funnier than what you're doing, hanging around here. And that's quite a coincidence, by the way, Mr. Tom Dwyer of Chicago. Chicago's a big place, chiefanes. Lots of people live there. I say, chief, when I think of it, here's the stuff we took out of his pockets. There's nothing much, wallet, and a few things. Oops, dropped something there. I got it. Hand it over, Dwyer. Well, well, well, a souvenir postcard. Sheila Kennedy, Ocean City. Hey, she's quite a cutie, too. I said hand it over. It's material evidence. Sure, sure, sure. Here you are. One of the local tent show girls I take it. Know anything about her, chief? Now, listen, Dwyer, I got enough on you already to hold you on suspicion. Take my advice and keep your nose out of this. Come on, Tom. This isn't doing you any good. Yeah, that's right, Ben. And anyway, we got a date with a lady. Lovely, they're luscious. They're delightful and they're daring. The most gorgeous girls. Hey, uh, bud, can we go in now? Yeah, what did she say? What's that? I said, can we go in now? Oh, yeah. Okay, fellas, down there the second door. I told her about you and she says it's okay. Thanks. Make it snappy. She goes out on a couple of heads. They're lovely, they're luscious. Ah, the room of her own. Sheila must be all right. Hey, I thought you said this was business. It is. Wait out here, will you, Ben? Oh, so when it's dames, I wait outside. I said this was business. Maybe we've both been missing something. How did you know I came from Chicago? You'd never have got in if you hadn't pulled out. It was a good guess, wasn't it? Well, I don't know you and I don't want to know you so beat it. Oh, look, Sheila, I didn't come here to cause any trouble. My name's Tom Dwyer and I... Are you going to leave or do I call a bouncer? Sheila, a man was murdered in the amusement park tonight. Murdered? Hadn't you heard? Everybody has, but I didn't know it was... It was from Chicago too. And Sheila, he had your picture in his pocket. My picture? That's right. So what? There must be 50,000 old goats from one end of this country to the other with my picture in their pockets. They sell them at the show. How do you know how old he was? I don't. I was only... Professor Brighton didn't come around in the last two or three days to talk to you about anything, did he, Sheila? No. I don't even know what you're talking about. You've got no right to question me. You know what I think, Sheila? I don't know and I don't care. I think you're in a tough spot and you'd like to be out of it. Only you don't know quite how. Well, what if I am? Maybe I can help you. Nobody can help me. This is murder, Sheila. That's not so good. What's your angle in all this? I wouldn't kid you. I'm a private detective. I make my living in things like this. Aside from that and as a general rule, I just don't like murder. Listen, mister, what did you say your name was? Dwyer. Tom, do you? All right. I don't know why, but you seem like a nice guy. I am. Well, you know me better. Might have been nice at that. Keep out of this. It's for your own good. You'll get nothing but grief. Oh, what kind of grief? The worst kind there is. You saw what happened to the professor? Poor guy. Get out of the amusement park. Get out of Ocean City and stay out. Thanks, Sheila. Maybe you're right. I know I'm right. But I'm in kind of deep already. Is there anything particular I should look out for? Come on, Sheila. You're wrong. Okay. Listen, Tom, just remember. That roller coaster isn't the only one-way ride to nowhere around here. One-way ride to nowhere. What do you mean by that? Is it typical? Maybe. One-way ride to nowhere. That's what the professor got all right for free, but how? He was dumped on. I still say how. Well, that little problem doesn't bother me, but... The one and only the bullet-proof automobile that took three men on a one-way ride to nowhere. One-way ride to nowhere. Come on. It's about coming in. Hey, I think it's around there to the right. Yeah. Bullet-proof automobile. Huh? Where? I can't show next to the roller coaster. Take it easy now. Okay, but I... Then you worry me sometimes. Did you know this thing was here? Well, it wasn't here last week. How am I supposed to know what you want? If you tell a guy something once in a while, it wouldn't... Boy, you never heard of him. Wires McGuire either. No? Skip it. That guy's going in his routine again. Ladies and gentlemen, step right up. Inside you will see the actual bullet-proof automobile in which the famous Jarvis gang sped from the scene of the $400,000 Springfield mail robbery. The most daring hold up in modern times. Benny. Benny, now I know I'm right. Is this what you came down here for? Not exactly, but there's been some funny talk lately about this mail robbery job in some funny place. I still don't get it. There were four guys in on that, three of them dead and the others in the bug house. That kind of closes the books, don't it? I gave you a little tip, Benny. They never found the money. Huh? And the insurance company's got a standing offer of a 10% reward. 40,000 bucks. Step right over, gents. The original bullet-proof automobile. Okay, maybe we'll let that. How much? Two bits, please. Yeah, yeah. Step right inside, gentlemen. Now the car that you see before you... You don't have much business, do you? And what are you? A couple of public accountants? No offense. It just seems too bad. It's a swell exhibit. All right, it's all in me. He's kicked down here. They don't appreciate nothing. Must be pretty hard, judging what the public will go for. Yeah. I thought this motor automobile would be a sensation. It's not modern, you know. My brother from the junkyard in Indiana cops must have sold it at auction or something. Look, would you really like to give it to this heap? Like to. Don't worry, I already have. Yeah? Listen, brother, the minute I found out that I had to take you, I went out and found me a sucker, but quick. Well, how did you find him? Well, I didn't exactly find him. He'd come by, you see. He's making some sort of a collection for some cops' museum. Capone's bullet-proof car, Dillinger's artillery. You know, I got my price, though. Oh, that's not too bad, Benny. Oh, yeah, sure it is. Uh, what's too bad about it? Well, to tell you the truth, I'm making sort of a collection ourselves for a big New York exhibit. Sure. I thought maybe we could do a little business. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. I just closed the deal tonight. If you'd only come around just a couple hours sooner, you... Well, you suppose this man you sold the car to would be re-interested in selling at the right price? I don't know. It'd cost you plenty, though. Confidentially, he paid me a thousand bucks. Cash. Well, where could we find this guy? Well, he should be here any minute. He's going to pick up the papers and things. Hey, you want to come out on the back and wait from there? I was just going to knock off anyway. Well, thanks. You know, I had a hunch maybe I should have held on. I was a guy supposed to know in this crazy business. Well, here. Wow. Quite a cozy little place you got here. That's all right, Ryan. Sit down. Make yourself at home. Hey, hey, what's that? Oh, them rolly coasters. The tunnel goes right under the floor here. It's enough to drive your nerves. Yeah, I can imagine. That door over there must open up right where the tunnel comes out, huh? I guess it does it that. I never looked. It's all nailed up. Hey, there used to be another wing on this building in the old days, wasn't there? That was the door to it. It might have been. Yeah, I guess it was. Say, does this Mr.... The guy I saw in the car, too, were McGuire. McGuire? Oh. Does he have sort of a business manager with him or anybody like that? We each had a couple of guys with him once in a while. I really didn't pay no attention. I suppose he's been hanging around here a fairly steady the last few days, huh? In and out, you know. You ought to be here any... Oh, here he is now. Not yet, I don't. Hello, Mr. McGuire. We was just talking about you. Yeah? Who was it? Me and these two gentlemen. They wanted to see you about... Was this the guy that came to see you, Sheila? I don't know. Sure I am, Sheila. Come on, tell him. Well, I guess that's him. Okay. You can run along to the hotel, honey. Headless. Please don't. All right, guys, tell you. Harry, you stay here with me. Okay. I got all your papers and things, Mr. McGuire. Everything's here in this amp. Thanks. And what do you two fellas want to see me about? Just a little business proposition. My name's Tom Dwyer and this is Ben Duffy. Hiya, Mr. McGuire. Here's McGuire. Please, the meeting. You can beat it now for error. We'll take care of everything. Okay. Well, uh... Salam. Salam. Watch the door, Harry. Now, what's your proposition? Well, I understand you bought for our car. That's right. You interested in used cars? Some used cars. How interested? It's enough to make an offer. Your friend hearing on the deal? No, he just came along to the ride. Well, I got a partner. Oh, where do we find him? We don't. He'd have to come here. And we'd have to send somebody after him. Somebody like your friend. Okay. Now, listen, Tom, I don't... What's his name and how does my friend find him? His name is Johnson George Johnson. He's a 2854 Drexel Boulevard. Just tell him I sent you. Tom, I don't think I ought to leave. Take it easy. While you're out, I... I wish you'd do something for me. First. What? Take up my mail. It won't be out of your way. Your mail? Yeah, that's right. Do that first. I'm expecting a very important special delivery. And I want you to stop by the Jefferson Hotel where I'm staying. And ask for a bell hot name, uh... Ted Martin. He takes care of all my stuff. The Jefferson? That's right. And be sure to see Ted Martin. He's the only one who can help you, so ask the first one right back then. Ted Martin and Jeff... Well, okay. You want me to go, Ed? No, you stay here. Now that he's out of the way, what do you know? I know. You're a pretty bright boy, aren't you? You gonna talk? Why not? I know, for instance, why you bought that car. I think he knows too much... Let me handle this. Keep talking, bright boy. Well, after that Springfield nail job, nobody ever found the money. 400,000 bucks is a lot of lettuce. And you think it's still somewhere in that car? Did you figure it out all by yourself, or did you get a tip when you were in the federal pen along with Duke Jarvis? You know any more cute answers, bright boy? Sure. I come from Chicago. I know that around there you got a nickname and they call you Wires. I told you they knew too much. On account you got a reputation of being very handy at disposing of troublesome guys with a length of picture wire twisted around the neck. Any idea what you just talked yourself in for, bright boy? I know what I'll talk you in for if you don't play ball. Well, what do you think of that? I think we're wasting time. Listen, McGuire, I not only know how you kill Professor Brighton, I know why. Sure you do, bright boy. Sure you do. You think I'm kidding, huh? Professor Brighton was a psychiatrist. They used to call him into the federal pen to examine guys who were wacky. They called him in to examine Duke Jarvis. Duke was the last of the Jarvis gang, the rest were all killed in the holdup. He was wacky, all right. He's so wacky that he lets stuff about the money being still hidden in the car. So when the professor heard about the car showing up, he thought he could pick up a piece of change. Poor guy, only you caught up with him first, huh? You got it all figured out, haven't you? Yeah, all but one thing. I don't think you're smart enough to have pulled this all by yourself. I think you do have a partner. I tell you we're wasting time here. No, I know we're not. Now listen, bright boy, who are you working for? What difference does that make? Palantins. Don't you think I want to know who else is in on this? What do you say, bright boy? There's nobody, I'm working on it. Cover him, Harry. Okay. You better talk, bright boy. There's nothing to say. Who else knows about this? Nobody. This ain't gonna do your face any good, bright boy. Talk, got him. Talk. Watch him, Harry. I think he's coming out of it again. Yeah, this ain't getting us no place. I suppose his pal comes back. He'll never come back. By the time he finds out there ain't no such guy as George Johnson. Take a look, Harry. Yes, me. It's Chief Haines, Ed. Okay, open up. Hey, I thought I told you. How did he get here? He walked in. He knows plenty. How much? It works. We've been trying to split out of him who he's working for. Haines. I know where I've seen you before. Your picture. You were a guard at the federal pen when Jarvis McGuire were there. That's how you heard about the money. When McGuire came down here, he had to play ball because you were chief of police here. He's got the gold, McGuire. Yeah, I know. So we give him the business and dump him out of the side store there into the rollercoaster like we did the prep. Are you crazy? You can't get away with two jobs like that. Same night. So what do we do? Anything. Dump them in the bay. Make it look like an accident. Anything. We'll try to get fancy about it this time. But you just gave me quite an idea, Haines. Quite a good idea. The fastest and the fastest. Keep that hat down over his face and hold him up straight. I got him. What seat do we want? What's the difference? The car's almost empty anyway. Get him in. Take the middle one. All right. Under your safety belt. Keep that belt loose. Okay, everybody. You're on. There we go. I'm going into the tunnel now. Tie his hands and feet while we're in the dark. Yeah, I'm doing it now. Got the search weights on him? Yeah, around him. We're out now. Watch him. What was that? What's the difference? Hang on. We're starting up. We're coming to the top. You know what to do, Harry? Yeah. When you hit the bottom of the zip over the bay. Okay. I'll yell. We both heave together. He'll go down into that bay and sink like a... Okay, McGuire. Put up your hands, both of you. Put them up. Ben, then you made it. Tommy, you okay? Yeah, sure. What do you think you're doing here? The Federal Pinch, McGuire. I'm Ted Martin, Department of Justice. Staying at the Jefferson Hotel. Get it, McGuire? Hey, Tom, you ought to get to a dock. No, no. I got to get down to the police. Hey, Ted. Ted, listen. Never mind about these guys. Get Haynes, Chief of Police. I've got a couple of men down there already, Tom. When you phoned, I figured you might get mixed up with him. You've had our eye on the Chief for quite a while. Well, I'll see you later. So long. Thanks, Ted. You were taking an awful chance, Tom, playing so cagey. I had to be sure first. If that dame hadn't stuck around and tipped us off, we'd just about made it when the car went through the tunnel. That Sheila dame, huh? Uh-huh. Say, Ben, I think I got a date with a lady. Oh, so what do I do? Well, I'll tell you. Here's a dime advance out of your $20,000 reward. Go take a ride on the roller coaster. And so closes the one-way ride to nowhere, starring Alan Ladd, tonight's tale of a spin. In just a moment, we'll hear again from Mr. Ladd. First, though, may I pass along this thought? Spotted about the globe wherever wine grapes grow, there are a few wineries whose products are made for world enjoyment. Among such wineries right here in California are those of Roma. And we who live in America have the pleasure of enjoying Roma wine at exceptionally low costs, for we buy it free of beauty and free of excessive shipping costs. Try, for instance, Roma California Sherry. Here's a queen of appetizer wines. And not only that, a wine so delicious, it is suitable to serve at any time, cool or chilled. But no matter what your preference may be, you will find a Roma wine costing far less than you would expect to pay for such distinguished wines. So if you have not already tried Roma wines, tomorrow make your first purchase. Select the type of wine you love best. Then you too will know why Roma wines have a universal appeal, why they are America's largest selling wine. But remember, before you buy wine, buy war bonds and stamps. This is Alan Ladd. I can't tell you I enjoyed working on suspense this evening. And next week I know you'll want to be listening, as I certainly will, to Lucille Ball in a very exciting story called Dime a Dance. Thank you, Mr. Ladd. Alan Ladd is currently working in the Paramount picture, and now tomorrow. Don't forget then, next Thursday, same time for Lucille Ball in Suspense. Presented by Roma Wine, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.