 Suspense. This is the man in black here to introduce Columbia's program suspense. In Hollywood this evening our two distinguished stars are the lovely actress Margot and the Polish young actor from Holland, Mr. Philip Dawn. A story by John Dixon Carr dealing with strange, very strange happening to board an ocean liner and called Cabin B-13 is tonight's tale of suspense. If you have been with us before you will know that suspense is compounded of mystery and suspicion and dangerous adventure. In this series our tales calculated to intrigue you to stir your nerves to offer you a precarious situation and then withhold the solution until the last possible moment. And so with Cabin B-13 and with the performances of Margot as Anne Brewster and Philip Dawn as Dr. Carl Heinrich we again hope to keep you in suspense. Come now in happier peacetime days to a great ocean liner on the night of her departure for Europe. There she is at the West 22nd Street Pier, the 25,000-tonne Moraviania of the white planet line. Smoke from her three funnels coils up lazily in mild October air. You can see the decks white and shiny like shoeboxes and the string of lights along them and the van standing by on a deck to play her out. You can hear the murmur of an excited crowd and the rattle of the steam winches as cargo is lowered into the hold. You can see the bustle of activity and the second officer standing at the head of the gang playing as two rather late passengers hurry through the custom shed towards that gang playing. It's all right we are not too late. No and I thought we'd be in time. A honeymoon in Europe. Three whole months with nothing to worry about. That's right. And you've been my wife for let's see practically five hours now. I believe the correct phrase is it was so sudden Mr. Bruce. So sudden that we had to travel on our own passports instead of a husband and wife one. I hope they don't think you're not an honest woman. I'm going to act like a complete water district devil. Oh what about our tickets Ricky? Do we give them to that officer standing at the top of the gang plaque? No honey you keep your ticket. The cabin steward will come around and collect it after we're underway. And the money Ricky? It's a lot of money and I ten thousand dollars in cash. Maybe I better turn it in at the purses office for safekeeping. Yes maybe you had. Wait a minute Ricky. What is it then? Wait do you mind if we stand here for a second before we go up the gang plan? Well what's the matter you're not ill are you? No but getting over brain fever isn't any joke. Oh I know dear. You see Ricky I I ought to be eager and excited like all those people up there but suddenly you get fancies. Queer sick fancies. Suddenly right now all I can think of is the night and the wind and all the black water in the dark. And that's exactly the kind of morbid fancy I'm trying to cure you of. I know Ricky. I'll be good but I was just thinking of a story. What story? Oh never mind it doesn't matter which way do we go? Up the gang plank, through that door there and then down on the elevator to B-deck and no more horrors do you understand? B-deck and cabin number. Good Lord. B-13. B-13. You're not superstitious are you? I know dear not about things like that. Open the door. Here we are. Lights on and. Oh Ricky darling it's a beautiful cabin. Best I could get. I've got a luggage in anyway and over there madam you'll find a basket of fruit and some books from your obedient servant. Oh you are nice to me and I'm feeling so much better Ricky. I will be all right darling. Of course you will but you won't find any detective novels among those books. Please please Ricky. Detective novels may be all right for presidents and college professors but a straight poison to you. You'll read love stories I like it. You know Ricky I keep thinking and thinking about that story I mentioned. What story? It's an old one you probably know it but it was new to me. A woman and her daughter arrive in Paris and go to a hotel. Oh you mean the old Paris exposition story? Yes that's it the daughter goes out when she returns her mother has disappeared and even the hotel room isn't the same the proprietor of the hotel swears the girl came there alone and that there never was a mother the whole room is different when she goes back to look at it the girl goes to the police and they won't believe her and she's nearly crazy. Of course it turns out that the mother has caught bubonic plague and died and they're hushing it up so that the visitors won't keep away from the city and ruin the whole exposition but you've got to stop this kind of talk. I know but imagine being in a situation like that with all those queer eyes staring at you wondering if you'd lost your reason wondering if your brain had cracked and the whole world might dissolve and listen that's the last call and we'll be on the way any minute now. You know Ricky I would like to see the skyline go past in the Statue of Liberty and the rest of it then why not go up and see it. I've got to deposit this money in the purses office on CD. But I don't like you to leave me. Now look here dear you don't think I'm going to disappear do you? I suppose I don't really when I get these ideas and I can't help it Ricky I wish you'd wallop me. I'm not gonna wallop you and but you've got to stop being afraid you certainly won't disappear in a crowded ship with any number of people all around you and as for me I defy Houdini himself to make me vanish. Don't talk like that. I'm not going to vanish and neither is this cabin dear. Now run along I'll join you on deck as soon as I can. Alright Ricky I'll be good. Stand by. Eager people, excited people, happy people all crowding up to the rail to wave goodbye. Nothing to worry about nothing on their minds except. Except what? Oh. Except seasickness madam. Oh. Well I beg your pardon I hadn't meant to startle you believe me. Please don't mention it how silly of me it was my fault I I haven't been very well. I noticed it madam if you'll forgive me that was why I spoke to you. As you see by my uniform I'm the ship's doctor. This is a British ship isn't it but you don't sound British. No I'm an Austrian madam. Dr. Paul Henry at your service. I'm not very popular in my own country today. Days of colored shirts and vacant mines. I'm Mrs. Brewster doctor and Brewster when does the ship go? In about a second Mrs. Brewster you will hear the whistle then the band will strike up all langs in and then we're moving aren't we? Yes. Don't you feel the vibration of the engine? I imagine this is not your first crossing madam. I'm afraid it is Dr. Henry. My husband's crossed many times he tells me but not on this ship. Well then I hope you're a good sailor. Why Dr. Henry? Well because you'll run into some very dirty weather once we are out at sea. October is a very bad month for traveling. Well if I do get seasick doctor I'll rush straight to you and I'll expect to be cured. Let me tell you a secret madam. There are two common ailments for which medical science has no cure. One is ordinary seasickness and the other is hangover. Tomorrow morning I shall be dealing with both. And enjoying it? Oh no no no no sympathizing with it. That's all I can do. How do you like the Moraviania? Oh it's a magnificent ship from what I've seen of it and you know they've given us a very nice cabin down on B-deck B-13. What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that? I beg your pardon did you say B-13? Yes why not? You're quite sure of that madam? Well yes of course I'm sure of it I I saw the number on the door why not? Well because... Go on Dr. Henry. Because there's no such cavern abort a ship. I'm not joking Mrs. Brewster you see some people are superstitious. Many ships like this one are made number 13 on each deck. You must have been mistaken. What are you trying to tell me? Do you think I saw something that wasn't there? No no Mrs. Brewster not at all. Then come along. I'll show you. I'll prove to you that there is a number 13 will you come along? Yes Mrs. Brewster. I think perhaps I had better escort you. Stewardess Stewardess. Yes miss yes ma'am. Come in straight away. Tell me Stewardess this is B-deck isn't it? B-deck ma'am? Oh yes ma'am. No doubt about that. Dr. Henry and I have been all over this part of the ship looking for cabin number 13 but we've... I've been trying to convince this lady Stewardess that there's no such cavern a cavern number 13 on this ship. Why they're sure to Evan isn't ma'am and never has been. I've served aboard the Morivine era matter of eight years and I ought to know. But I tell you I saw it I was in there. It was a big cabin with a private bathroom attached. The walls were paneled in light oak and the furniture was rosewood and yellow satin and the portholes were like real windows. No that's not much good ma'am. No I'm afraid not. Most of the caverns hereabouts look like that. May I ask you what name was the cabin booked in? Brewster naturally. Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Brewster. Yeah let's have a look on my list. No. No there's no Brewster here ma'am. I tell you I was in there they even delivered the luggage I saw it. Excuse me ma'am but I had a look see in all the cabins I'm in charge of just to see if the passengers wanted anything and I don't remember any luggage with a Brewster label on it. Wait a minute. There may be a partial explanation of this. Ah you see that's better Mrs. Brewster. I was hoping you might find one. Ricky that's my husband. Ricky and I have only been married a very short time and when my maid printed the baggage label she must have made them out in my maiden name. I never noticed at the time. Oh what name might that be ma'am? Thornton and Marie Thornton. Oh lord miss. Now why couldn't you have said that before? I remember it will. Two silk kices and a little trunk. They're in B-16 now. Where's B-16? Right go on you miss. You're standing practically in front to the door. Oh thank goodness. Oh yes but what about my husband's luggage? There's no gentleman's luggage in that cabin miss. Your husband's or any other gentlemen's if you know what I mean. I won't stand for this. Where's Ricky? What have you done with Ricky? Please Mrs. Brewster. There's one easy way to settle this. Settle it? How? Just look down the corridor. You notice the men coming towards us. The men with the two goat stripes around the sleeve. Well? That's Mr. Marshall our second officer. Did you ever see him before? Yes. Yes of course I have. He was standing at the top of the gank when Rick and I got aboard. Exactly. So he might be able to tell us something. Mr. Marshall? Mr. Marshall? Yes doctor. What's up? Would you mind coming here for a moment? Well not at all old boy. Always glad to be a little blighted chap who may have to cut me up at any moment. What may I do for you? Take a good look at this young lady and tell me have you seen her before? Seen her before? My dear chap if I had overlooked young lady will pardon me I know a passenger as charming as this lady is I would be less of the gentleman than I fancy myself. You saw her coming a bore tonight. Oh yeah certainly. And of course you saw the gentleman who was with her. The gentleman who was with her? Yes yes yes. Oh there was nobody with her old boy. You're quite certain of that Mr. Marshall? My dear doctor she was the last of them to come aboard. I take my Bible oath there was no other passenger with her all ahead of her or behind her if he comes to that. You're lying you're lying to me. Please Mrs. Rooster lower your voice. I know what it is. It's the old Paris trick like in the story but you won't get away with it you hear. I'll look here. I'll go to the cursor I'll go to the captain. Oh dear father in heaven won't anybody believe me. Later that night in the captain's room just above the bridge there is a conference of ship's officers. Outside stung by spray clinging to the bulkhead rail in the dark a frightened girl waits for the door of the cabin room opens. Can you bring the young lady in Dr. Hagey? Can you close the door? Yes sir here we are. This is Captain Wayne Wright. Now just tell your story straightforwardly and please don't excite yourself. Maybe we can get some decision into this matter. Would you sit down here beside my desk Ms. Thornton? My name is Brewster Captain Mrs. Anne Brewster. Ah whatever you say Mrs. Brewster. Thank you very much Captain. I might tell you ma'am I've got a lot on my mind already. The first officer comes aboard with an attack of flu. I'm facing an equinoxial gale shorthanded and now this has to happen on top of it. I'm terribly sorry I can't help that Captain but I want to know what they've done with Ricky. Just one moment please while I get this straight. For this time I understand you yourself have personally interviewed practically every single passenger aboard this ship. Is that true? Yes it's true. But your alleged husband is not here. Is that true? Yes that's true. In the meantime the person has sent a squad of men to search this ship. They've searched every inch of it. You can take my word for that. There's nobody hidden. Your husband's not here. According to Mr. Marshall standing over there. I see him. According to Mr. Marshall he never was here. Hang it all Miss Thornton you needn't glare at me like that. We couldn't see the chap he wasn't there. No could we? Be quiet Mr. Marshall. Yes I'm sorry. No I'm not unreasonable Mrs. Brewster. I think you'll admit that. So what can I do? What can I say? Can you offer any proof even that this husband of yours ever existed? Proof? Yes of course I can. Excuse me for interrupting but what you mind captain if I ask you a question or two? No doctor go ahead I tell you I'm going to ask myself. If you were married Mrs. Brewster you must be carrying a joint husband and wife passport. Where is that? Well there wasn't time to get one. We each carried our own passport. Oh I see but still there must be someone back in America who can confirm what you say if you got in touch with a radio telephone. Your parents for instance. I haven't got any parents they're dead. What about relatives then or a guardian? My guardian is a trust company. The administrators don't even know I'm married. But somebody must have performed the ceremony of marriage. The pass and the justice of peace. Yes of course of course but oh I I can't remember the name of the town. You don't remember the name of the town. Well thank you your chair Mrs. Brewster the ship is going to pitch again. How's the glass looking Mr. Marshall? Oh a barometer's rising sir. The weather won't hold long. We should be in the fog before morning. There is no fog now if you ask me. This lady says she... I'm terribly sorry but I'm trying to think of it. It was a little town in upstate New York where they can marry you at a moment's notice. Ricky kept the certificate I I was confused. I haven't been well. No you haven't. You see Ricky had been away and he came back and I was in love with him and he he sort of set me off my feet and what's the use? Not much use apparently. If you'll take my advice ma'am you'll go below to your cabin and get some sleep. I'll send the doctor down to make sure I set it in. You think I'm crazy don't you? I I think you're a little overwrought ma'am. What I can't understand is why why why should you want to do this? It can't be that you want to play this time. You want to play ma'am? Who said anything about the bubonic plague? Never mind but I'll show you. You're all against me except maybe the doctor but I'll show you. I'll prove it to you. I am going downstairs and I don't want anybody to follow me. Good night. Good night all of you. I'm glad that's over. Look here Mr. Marshall. Huh? You think it's quite safe to trust her out there alone? I don't know sir. She's mad as a hater if you ask me. You think she might do something foolish? I think she might chuck herself overboard if we're not careful. What's your opinion doctor? I can give you my opinion gentlemen in a very few words. That girl is as sane as you are. What's that? Wait and hear what I have to say. I shared your own belief at first but I've been talking to her all evening. I've heard a whole story and there's not a psychopathic trait in her nature. She firmly believes in this husband. Where is doctor? A lot of people firmly believe they're Napoleon but they get tossed into loony bins as I say. This matter is not a joke Mr. Marshall. I tell you this man exists or did exist. What do you mean doctor? I suppose he has been murdered. Perhaps he has been murdered and thrown overboard. Murdered? Thrown overboard? If you remember Richard Brewster was carrying a very large sum of money in cash. His wife's wedding gifts. Practically all her inheritance. He meant to go to the purse's office but he never got there. That money might have been a great temptation. To whom? To a stewardess perhaps or even to a ship's officer. Just exactly what are you getting at? Well numbers on doors can be changed easily enough. You just print a small card and put it on the metal slot on the door. I still want to know what you're driving at. If you use your intelligence gentlemen I think you will understand how a man can be made to vanish into thin air and why Mr. Marshall saw never an other passenger. You still don't see it. No I do not. Well then listen and I'll explain exactly how it was created. Four o'clock in the morning. Four o'clock the hour of suicides and bad dreams. The gala subsided. The sea is calm. The SS Moraviania creeps blindly at barely eight knots through a thick and strangling fog. The whole ship is dark and sealed up in sleep. There's no sound in all that mournful dimness except when the fog horn cries out a warning overhead. Even cabin B16 is dark and Brewster still fully dressed lies restlessly across one of the birds. The head almost touching the cabin telephone. I thought I heard telephone. Yes. Hello Ricky. Ricky where are you? Quiet. Keep your voice down. Where are you Ricky? What happened? Do you hurt? No. Who nearly got you? Listen dear. I can't explain over the phone and I don't dare go down there. Can you meet me up on deck? Yes of course. Where? Do you know the boat deck? Boat deck? Which one is that? The top deck where all the lifeboats are slung. Oh yes I know it. Well go to the starboard side. Yes. That's the right hand side facing forward. Find the fourth lifeboat from the half companion way. Yes. There's a thick fog and nobody will see us. Ricky. What is it? Ricky. He's gone. He's gone. But I thought I heard somebody talking in the air. Stewardess what are you doing up at this time of the night? If I might ask miss what are you doing up and dressed? Oh you ought to get some sleep miss. You're really odd. It might interest you to notice Stewardess that I've just been talking to my husband. Now look here miss. Don't stop that all over again. Please don't stop that all over again. You all pretended to think I was mad didn't you? And you nearly drove me mad. Ricky's beaten the whole crowd of you and I'm going out on deck to meet him now. Out on deck miss. That's what I said. Where's my coat? Don't go out there miss. Not in the state of mind you're in. And the fog's so thick you can't hardly see your hand in front of your face. Stand away from the door please. Suppose miss. I didn't want to let you go out there. I don't think that would matter much. You've probably heard that mad people have ten times ordinary strength and I'm stronger than you anyway. Miss I'm a beggin' ya. Stand away from that door. Is that you? Yes. Ricky. Ricky darling where are you? Here. Duck your head under the lifeboat. You take my hand. But isn't the horribly dangerous out there on the edge? There's no railing along the side of the ship. Don't worry Ann. I won't let you fall. Look out. We're on overboard here. We're well-off near the propellers the suction would carry into the propeller blades and listen. I can't hear anything except the fog horn. But I can. Somebody walking along the thing. And I can see a flashlight moving in the fog. You can see a flashlight moving in the fog. Dr. Heinrich what are you doing here? At a moment young lady I'm covering both of you with revolver. Please don't move. So you were in the conspiracy Dr. Heinrich. May I ask you what conspiracy? The whole ship's conspiracy to say Richard Brewster didn't exist. My dear young lady you can set your mind at rest. There never was any ship's conspiracy against you. The people you spoke to were perfectly honest. Including Mr. Marshall I suppose. Yes including Mr. Marshall. And what is this? Stand back there. I suppose he was telling the truth when he said nobody came up the gangplank before or after me. I beg your pardon that was not what he said. He said no passenger came up the gangplank at this time. Well what's the difference? A great crime has arranged for tonight young lady. No less a crime than murder. Murder? Who's going to be murdered? You are. What? That I repeat is a scheme. But there is no conspiracy and only one criminal. And who is the criminal? The criminal is the man standing beside you. Your so-called husband. Ricky? You don't know what you're saying. I think I do. Marshall of course did see someone walk up the gangplank loitering behind you. But he never dreamt of associating this person in any way with you. He saw a ship's officer returning from shorely in civilian clothes. A ship's officer? Yes. The man you called your husband, his name isn't Richard Brewster. His real name is Blaney. And he's the first officer of the Moravianian. Are you trying to tell me that my... The captain can identify him. He's actually British. Though he can fake an American accent very well. He has already got a wife in England and he's planning to join her with the $10,000 he got from you. I don't believe it. I don't. Ricky, why don't you say something? Oh, he planted very cleverly, I must admit. He never let you know he was ship's officer, did he? He's been away for some time naturally, so he persuaded you to marry him in a hurry. Ricky, Ricky, is this true? He has the money, you see. All he did was hang a dummy number on the cabin door, remove it later, put on his uniform and walk away with his own luggage. But Captain Wainwright told us that the first officer had come aboard tonight with... With a bad attack of flu, yes. Our friend couldn't be seen in public until after he disposed of you. The best thing was to convince everybody who were insane as he did. Then, when you went overboard tonight... They would all believe it was suicide. Exactly. But I began to suspect this Brewster because you quoted him as telling such an obvious lie. He said he had never traveled in a Moraviania, yet he could direct you all over the ship and even knew who the person's office was. So I went to his cabin, found it empty, searched, and found your $10,000. Look out, don't go ahead. Put it down, you fool. Put it down. I shot him. Your shots, my dear, never touched him. Never touched him? No. The weight of the iron carried him over backwards when he lifted it. It was the weight he was going to use to sink your body. Ricky! The propellers! The propellers! Yes, they suck you under. Oh, Doctor. Doctor, I can't stand this. It won't be easy, my dear. It won't be easy, I know, but believe me, this way is better. And so closes cabin B13, starring Margo and Philip Dawn, tonight's tale of suspense. With our two stars tonight, with Dennis Hoy as Captain Wainwright, and William Johnstone as Ricky Brewster. This is the man in black who conveys to you Columbia's invitation to spend this half hour in suspense with us again next week, same time, when our star will be one of the screen year's most sensational newcomers, Mr. Gene Kelly. Mr. Kelly will be supported by Hans Conreed and William Johnstone. The producer and director of suspense is William Spear, who with Ludblust can elution Morrowick conductor and composer, and John Dickson Carr, the author, collaborated on tonight's suspense. Suspense fans, please note that these programs will shortly move to different days of the week. Suspense will come to listeners in Eastern and Central time zones on Thursdays, beginning December the second, and to mountain and Pacific time zone listeners on Monday, beginning December the sixth. Remember Thursday, beginning December the second in Eastern and Central time zone, and Mondays, beginning December the sixth in the Pacific and Mountain time zone for suspense. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.