 In just a moment auto light presents suspense starring Rosalind Russell How is mr. Auto light by Cornelius Wilcox is fine December evening by Cornelius fit as a fiddle hap How's yourself all set for winter yep overcoat data mothballs Yep, I storm windows up snow shovel on the back porch Well auto lights stay full battery in your car Hello, you know friend when the bottom drops right out of the thermometer You'll appreciate a dependable auto light stay full battery more than ever Why everybody ought to switch to auto light for those auto light stay full batteries are just loaded with extra features First they have an extra large liquid reserve need water only three times a year in normal car use what an extra And what's more here's the next auto light stay full battery extra. Hello? suspense Auto light and its 60,000 dealers and service stations bring you Radio's outstanding theater of thrills starting tonight Miss Rosalind Russell in Anton leaders production of the sisters a tale well Calculated to keep you in Suspense here is one. I think would be very lovely. It has a far superior lining pure silk much heavier than the others We've looked at Do you care for this one miss Haskell? Yes, that's very nice I believe I'd like to see something perhaps even a little better. Oh, of course if you will just step over this way miss Haskell Now here here is an exquisite casket something that really does honor to the departed Yes, it's beautiful. Now the interior is just the same as the last but the casket itself is a bronze solid bronze Won't that be rather heavy? Oh, yes, but not too heavy. Will they be six ball bearers? I don't know where it doesn't matter really four men can carry this very easily very Miss Haskell, I want you to notice the floral design you're all hand wrought every bit of it And oh, yes notice the seams in this casket airtight and watertight guaranteed You know, of course, how important that is. Yes. Yes But this casket in a hundred years or even 200 years will be just as strong and work just as beautiful as it Does on this stand today. You couldn't buy a finer piece of workmanship. How much would this one be please this casket? Duravo by the way, Duravo for durability. We say in the trade. This casket is priced at $775 We can't bring back the departed our only solace is the knowledge that we have done them the last possible honor very well I'll take this one. Oh, I'm sure you are making a very wise choice in all my years as a mortician I've never found a family that regretted money spent on a Duravo Now, let me see. I'll give you a check. Oh That won't be necessary not immediately after the funeral will do. Oh by the way, we haven't mentioned it our Are we handling the funeral arrangements? I don't know yet. Oh Well, you want the casket delivered somewhere. No, I'd like you to hold it for a while, please Hold it but how long? For three weeks three weeks. I Don't understand. Who is the party the deceased? Who is the casket for? It's for me Where'd you come in? You've been Lydia. You've been gone all afternoon. I've been shopping. What did you buy? Did you get the ribbons? I asked for no, I didn't have time. Oh, I wanted some new ribbons. These are all worn out Ellie I wish you'd stop putting ribbons in your hair like a schoolgirl. You're almost 40 years old I know Lydia. I know then try to act like it. Oh hand me my sewing and light the lamp. It's getting dark. I Wonder why we have to grow old wouldn't it be wonderful if we had always stayed young like we used to be Remember one mother used to send us out to school with our ribbons matching and I dressed as matching and at the end of the day No one would even guess we were sisters because I was always so must and you were always so clean. Oh I wish we were young again. Stop talking nonsense. Ellie. It is nonsense Oh, the doorbell rang while you were out just before you came home You didn't answer us. No, you told me never to answer. I just looked out of the upstairs window Did you see who it was? Oh, yes. Yes, it was a man a rather big man He rang a long time and then he went away. He didn't see you did he? Oh, no I just peeked ever so carefully from behind the curtains and I came down here and watched him going down the walk You came downstairs. Yes, I told you never to come down those stairs when I'm not in this house It was all right, Lydia. I held on very tight to the banisters all the way And I didn't want to look down the stairwell So I didn't get dizzy and I didn't want to jump. Well, don't do it again It was just that I was lonely. I didn't think you were ever coming home Lydia you didn't tell me what you bought a Deravo what's that? What's a deravo? Don't ask so many questions Ellie Lydia I think I'll so too. I could fix up one of these old livens May I let you yes, yes, so it will be good for you. Thank you Mm-hmm Lydia. Yes, Lydia. Could I go shopping someday? Don't be a fool I'm sorry. I just thought No, I suppose you're right wouldn't do Lydia sing with me, you know, I never sing There wasn't any mail today wasn't them. No, I thought perhaps it'd be a letter from David In such a long time since he's written hasn't I haven't noticed. Oh, yes He used to write every week on Tuesday, and I get the letter on Thursday But there wasn't one this week or last of the week before that Strange isn't it? But perhaps he's been busy perhaps Still he never used to be too busy to write. I Can't understand it You suppose there's some other reason what are you trying to say to me Ellie? Are you hinting perhaps? I'm keeping your mail from you. Oh, well, you certainly seem to be Why should I keep David's letters from you? But I didn't say there. I just said it was strange that David hasn't written. That's all You wouldn't keep David's letters. I know that Go on with your sewing Stop singing that stop it I don't care I said stop Learn something else. That's all you sing day and night day and night same tune over and over Nova. I'll stop it Lydia sometimes you frighten me The way you look at me you make me think that That perhaps I'm not getting well That perhaps I'm still Crazy I'm not still crazy Am I Lydia? Yes Evening you miss Lydia Haskell. Yes Can I speak to you for a minute? I was here this afternoon. There was no at home. What is it, please? We had a call from dawn brothers the undertakers. I'm from the police department. Oh really? I don't see what the police could want with me Come in if you wish thank you sit down. Thank you And there's nothing we want miss Haskell except it's sort of unusual for a woman to order a casket for herself Unusual I've heard of many cases of that kind people who are alone in the world is no one else to look after things Yes, sure. I know only it's a little more unusual when you can name the date The undertaker said you wanted the casket held for three weeks Why three weeks? There must be some reason for it There is I'm going to die. I Shall die in three weeks or Perhaps even before There's no doubt in my mind about it. And that's why I've ordered the casket. You may call it a Premonition if you want maybe I could also call it suicide Well, that's why I'm here miss Haskell I don't know whether you know it but suicides a crime in the eyes of the state a crime for which There is no punishment. Not if it's successful. No, but there is prevention. I know I'm going to die. I feel it I have no intention of taking my own life There's no need to do so Miss Haskell this Premonition as you call it. Have you any idea what I brought it on? No Have you been speaking to anyone? No fortune tellers or anything like that? No, what makes you so sure How do you know you can trust this Premonition? I hear not an old woman I'd say you're in pretty good health a lot of good years ahead of you I have a religion not a church religion just one of my own It preaches that people go on living until they've outgrown their usefulness Then they die from one cause or another When that time comes the desire to live is gone and only desire keeps the body and soul alive and breathing Don't understand that. I'm sorry Miss Haskell do you live alone here? Yes. No relations. No housekeeper. I live alone here Very large house for a person living alone. There are three floors and far too many rooms It's on the outskirts of town. It's quiet and it gives me the privacy I've been looking for a privacy which you are invading for the first time since I moved here five years ago I'm sorry miss Haskell. I'm only doing my job I was told to look you up and find out why you bought that casket and I think we may assume your job is over I guess so but the office might ask me to drop back once in a while just to keep in touch, you know I won't be at home. Why you don't go out very much I ask the folks in town say they don't even see you more than once a week when you come I won't be at home. All right. Sorry to bother you. Good night. Night. Oh miss Haskell How are you going to die? I don't know nor do I consider it important Why should you? Good night. Good night For suspense auto light is bringing you miss Rosalind Russell in radio's outstanding theater of thrills suspense Extra extra hear all about the big extras you get with the wonderful auto light stay full battery How can I help hearing extra number one auto light stay full batteries have an extra large liquid reserve need water only three times a Year in normal car use why an auto light stay full battery can give aces to an oasis and still have water to spare Here we go extra number two auto light stay full batteries have extra large electrical capacity That means extra power when you need it most by Cornelius and listen to me friend You don't want to get caught with your battery down So get an auto light stay full battery right away set them up in the other alley. 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Bye bye Cornelius friend If you knew what I know you'd switch to auto light stay full batteries right now You'd pop into your puddle jumper pour on the power and set off at a peppy pace down to your nearest auto light dealer For a splendid new auto light stay full battery the battery with all the extras Why the thought of all those extra features makes me excited exhilarated exalted Exhaustor you'll be an ex-announcer if you don't be quiet and listen to suspense And now auto light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Miss Rosalind Russell as Lydia with Miss Loreen Tuttle as Ellie in The sisters a tale well-calculated to keep you in suspense After he'd gone I stood there in the hall thinking Perhaps I'd made a mistake Perhaps I shouldn't have gone to the morticians I have thought it would be so clever, but I hadn't thought he might become suspicious sent a policeman Then someone snooping around asking questions trying to find out things. I was so sad thinking about it I I hadn't heard her come down the stairs What are you doing down here? What are you doing sitting on the steps in the dark? Haven't I told you never to come down here at night. What do you want? I heard that man who was here Did you why did you buy the casket? Why are you going to die? You must Lydia you mustn't die. I'd be alone if you die And you know what would happen. They'd send me away like they did once before The people in the town would come and find me living here and they'd send me away go up to bed Ellie Go to sleep. Oh, can I sleep? Oh? Lydia you won't die promise me you I promise you now go to bed, but why did you buy the casket and The things you said to that man is if you wanted to die why Lydia? Why do you want to die? I don't want to die. No wonder you have such a lot to live for haven't you Ellie? Yes I've been happy Lydia. You made me happy And someday when I'm well again, I'll go back home and David will be waiting for you. You know, he'll be there. You've always told me he'd be waiting and He'll see that I'm well again, and you'll take me back I'm not so old am I? David won't see me at all. He told me that that when I was well no matter how long it took he'd still see me as a young girl That's why I've been happy Just waiting for the time. I can go back to haven't you heard yet And haven't you learned it? Don't you know yet that you're mad and you'll always be mad. No I'm getting better Lydia. You know I'm getting better. Yes, of course putting bows in your hair sewing ribbons all day long Sneaking about the house at night spying on me singing the same hymn over and over and over until I think I'm going mad, too They get away from me why I thought you loved me. Why should I love you? Look what life has given me and tell me why you've always spoiled everything for me even from the time we were children How could I spoil everything? We were just like the same child Lydia twins You were I and I was you look the same. Yes. We were born the same day. Yes, and that's what it ended You were the nice one. I used to hear them say so. You were even the prettiest They said as if they could see any difference between us Well, whatever you wanted you had you smiled so beautifully and I never smiled I was the sullen one the dark cloud in the house. You made it so Lydia. We all love when your doll was broken They gave you mine when you tore your dancing dress. You took mine. You gave it to me Lydia I remember you gave it to me. You gave I've always given things to you. I've given you my whole life I even gave you David You were in love with Dave He came to her house Was it you he came to see? Oh Lydia, I didn't know You never knew No one did I Had to stand by and watch you take him from me When you had your first attack I was glad People said it was a shame, but I was glad because I knew that he could never have you Oh, yes, you were going away and be cured. He was going to wait But it wouldn't matter how long it did it took and how long he waits You'll never be cured and he'll never have you never You hate me you always hate I see it now Even when you've been taken care of me when we came to this town you didn't bring me here So I'd be cured You wanted to keep me this way man That's why you took me out of that place Because they might have made me well go upstairs And now you're going to die leave me without anyone. I will not die. Oh, Ellie Ellie, I'm sorry. We had this quarrel. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that I'm upset myself and tired I didn't mean the things I said you bought a cast and it was only an idea I had in case anything ever happened to me you bought a cast Was it for yourself? Or is it for me You wouldn't would you let me what are you talking about hold the lamp up hold it close to you Go up to bed I can see it in your eyes It is for me You're going to kill me You're going to murder me. Don't be a fool Ellie. It's so you want to get rid of me Because you hate me. I see You love Dave and you're going to kill me and they'll come and find me and bury me and they'll think it's you quiet That's why you bought the casket They'll think it's you who is there because no one knows I'm living here and Then you'll go away and and you go back to Dave and you'll say that Lydia has died and He'll think you are me and that you're well again And he'll marry you You'll have him you'll be Ellie You'll have David in my place Did you hear what I said? I'll go upstairs and get to bed Can you Ellie Ellie are you awake? Ellie a deal you mustn't think anymore about what we said tonight. Do you hear? It's not so Ellie. It's just your imagination. You mustn't think about it. It will be bad for you. Are you asleep Ellie? She's not asleep. She's lying over there on the other side of the room staring at me through the dark She knows it was the truth tonight. She's going to die. I'm going to kill her That quarrel I shouldn't have let her know I lost my temper stupid now. I must I must think clearly What was my plan? How was I going to kill her? It doesn't look like murder. They suspect things and it must be suicide and it must be soon Other she knows Listen She's starting again. She's singing again that him that him don't want I must be calm Don't get excited think clearly How was I going to kill her? Oh? I wish it were over. I could go back then Back to David How quickly she's thought through that I'd go back in her place But he'll never suspect I'll be Ellie to him Ellie couldn't have me again. I'll learn to smile She must die Which way is best? this day is Of course a stairwell. She gets dizzy if she looks down into the stairwell Yes, it will be so easy in a day or two that policemen will come back to the house They'll find her and they'll think it's me the stairwell Three floors from the attic here three floors straight down. It's so easy when you think clearly the stairwell, of course Ellie you mustn't cry anymore You hear me. Are you afraid of the dark? I'll light the lamp for you There dear That's better. Isn't it? Why you're shivering are you cold come Put your wrapper on we'll go down to the parlor and light of fire And I'll make a nice cup of hot milk for you. Come Ellie. Ellie stop acting like this Now come dear. Here's your wrapper put it around your shoulders. That's a girl now get up get up now I'll carry the lamp give me your hand dear why you're cold as ice Now be careful Slowly There we are Now hold on to the banister dear That's right. I'll hold the lamp up high so you can see better It's right here dear you see Ellie you must get over that fear Look Kelly Just look down. There's nothing to frighten you Look down the stairwell Ellie. No, I'm holding you dear. I just lean over and look down you can see all the way I'm holding you It was brought to my mind of course because this is the house just here this one the next one were coming to yes She was in disease just a few days ago came in to order the casket She saw a casket. She wanted and then she told me it was for herself She must have had a premonition. I notified the police of course why she said she wanted me to hold a casket three weeks Then just the day before yesterday the police came back to the house here and found her lying at the bottom of the stairwell Dead, she'd been dead about two days Funny how she knew the banister up on the attic floor broke away and she fell did she have any people? No, let alone they tell me We're going to bury her tomorrow Haskell the name was Strange living all by herself here in a big three-story frame house. Yes, isn't it say Well, what is it? My imagination I guess I I could have sworn I saw a lightening attic window just now I couldn't have been the police have shut it up Yes, of course That story of yours really gave me the creeps Let's walk on What a queer thing the power of suggestion is you've conveyed it to me Thank you You know just now I thought I could hear someone upstairs in there a woman a woman singing a woman. Yes sort of crooning to herself some kind of Yes, oh look supposing just supposing you didn't already have an auto light stay full battery in your car What would be the first thing you'd do tomorrow morning? Eat breakfast Then what? Well, then uh, right, right You'd make hay with your coupé right straight down to your nearest auto light dealer and ask for an auto light stay full battery That beautifully built battery with the biggest bunch of bonus features you ever saw Why that auto light stay full battery needs water only three times a year in normal car use Has extra electrical capacity and an extra long life What's more friends the auto light people make over 400 other automotive aviation and marine parts in their 26 nationwide plants Every part famous for its auto light engineered Dependability and remember friends Auto light means batteries. Stay full batteries. Auto light means spark plugs ignition engineered resistor spark plugs Auto light means ignition system the lifeline of your car And now here again is miss rusland russell It has been a great pleasure to appear here tonight Unsuspence and I want to thank tony leader and his fine cast And especially lorenne thuddle for her splendid performance as ellie I know none of you will want to miss james cagney's appearance next week on radio's outstanding theater of thrills in a story called No escape another gripping study in suspense Miss russell and russell may currently be seen in the independent artist's production the velvet touch tonight suspense play The sisters was written by george weles with music composed by lucian morawek and conducted by led bluskin The entire production was under the direction of anton m leader in the coming weeks suspense will present such stars as ronald colman william bendix ethyl barrymore frank sanatra and many others make it a point to listen each thursday to suspense radio's outstanding theater of thrills And next thursday same time here james cagney in no escape This is the autolight suspense show Autolight salutes the automotive industry on the occasion of the observance tonight in detroit of the production of the 100 million motor vehicle Good night switch to autolight This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system