 Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and is intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. Welcome, Weirdos. I'm Darren Marlar and this is Retro Radio Sunday on Weird Darkness. Each week I bring you a show from the golden age of radio, but still in the genre of Weird Darkness. I'll have stories of the macabre and horror, mysteries and crime, and even some dark science fiction. If you're new here, welcome to the show. And if you're already a member of this Weirdo family, please take a moment and invite someone else to listen in with you. And please, leave a rating and review in the podcast app you're listening from. Doing these things helps the show to keep growing. And while you're listening, be sure to check out WeirdDarkness.com for merchandise, my newsletter to connect with me on social media and more. Coming up, it's an episode from Screen Directors Playhouse. The show brought leading Hollywood actors to the NBC microphones beginning in 1949 and recreated radio versions of films that the actors were famous for starring in, with the original directors of the films also sometimes involved in the radio productions, although their participation was usually limited to introducing the radio adaptations and taking a brief curtain call with the cast and host at the end of the program. The show had both a radio and television version. The radio version, which ran for 122 episodes, went through numerous name changes. When it launched January 9, 1949, it was named Screen Directors Guild Assignment, then just Screen Directors Assignment. Then it was changed to NBC Theater, and then it finally landed upon Screen Directors Playhouse before the radio show ended September 28, 1952. Tonight, it's an episode from November 25, 1949. The spiral staircase, with Dorothy McGuire who also starred in the film version in 1946, from which this radio adaptation is based. In a small village, the mute Helen attends a silent film screening in the parlor of a local inn. During the screening, a woman staying at the inn is murdered in her room, the latest in a string of killings in the community, and that's just how the story begins. Now, bolt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights, and come with me into the weird darkness. Directors Playhouse. Screen Directors, Spiral Staircase. Director, Robert C. Ockman. Directors, present a play on silent words. The motion picture drama, Spiral Staircase, starring Dorothy McGuire in her original role of Helen. Sunday school is all right, but I wish they'd treat us like women, like gollum. They make us skip the book of Ruth and the song of songs, which is Solomon. Especially that. My golly, it's in the Bible. Oh, it's beautiful. My beloved spoke and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. Below the winter has passed, the rain is over and gone. What's wrong with that? I'd like to know. Oh, it's beautiful. And St. Elmo. What's wrong reading St. Elmo? Now, if you ask me, I think that the... My golly, a fire on Sunday? Yes. Don't speak. There's no need to speak now. It's all over my daughter. So hush. Whenever I tried, I'd hear my mother's voice again. My mother, who had died in the fire, said, I could make people understand me. Are the shape of my head, pad and pencil? Later, I left my hometown to take domestic work with the Warren family. Professor Albert Warren, his half-brother Stephen, and his stepmother, Mrs. Warren. It was all I wanted. One Friday evening, I was coming home from the village where I'd gone to see that new fangled amusement motion pictures. It was a bleak November dusk, and there had been some mysterious excitement in town. Something quite terrible. I didn't know what. It's the young doctor who likes me, I think. Helen? Oh, what is you? Nod and smile, Helen, as though you could speak, but choose to nod and smile as ladies do, by choice. It's good to see you smile. Well, hop in, and I'll drive you right onto the Warren's gatehouse. Here, here's a hand. Yep, you go. There. Yep, Gillen. I've missed you, Helen. How have you been, Helen? Smile and nod. Good. Good. He missed me, he said. It wasn't a very nice thing happened in town on your day off. Oh, what was it I wanted? Young woman, rather pretty young cripple, was murdered. You know that? Another one. And I'm telling you because I want you to be very careful about going out after nightfall, that's all. Could he really like me? Now, now tell me, how much longer are you going to stay on at the Warren's? I know what he means. You know, you've got to make an effort to get back your voice, Helen. Oh, he mustn't. Oh, I know. Much rather I wouldn't talk about it. I would rather. Not that there isn't a certain beauty and grace in your stillness. You're not mute. You're still, but somehow eloquent. Oh, I'm loving so. And everything you think is in your eyes, Helen. Good night, Helen. Be careful. Only a few more yards to the house. Radle a stick on the picket fence. My kind of whistling in the dark. Cripple girl, murdered. Why? I don't know if she'll go up to see my stepmother. She's feeling worse again. Thank you, Helen. Thank you. There have you been, Helen. It's late. She never remembers. My night out. Oh, put that eternal pencil and pad away. Never mind. Oh, she's ill. She doesn't mean to hurt. I hoped you were never coming back tonight. Why? What can she mean? Helen, run away. If you know what's good for you, run away. What's she saying? Leave this house tonight. Helen, mother. Oh, don't call me mother, Albert. Oh, shocking thing has happened in town. There's been another murder. Why, how would you know? Yes, how? How do you know, Albert? Well, the constable is just here. Very curious. I'm mentioning this in Helen's presence for good reasons. Every one of those murdered girls had some kind of affliction. Affliction? Yes, the servant girl had a bad scar. Second one was wrong in the head. This one limped. Albert, where is Stephen? Stephen? I... Has Stephen come in yet? Why? Answer me. No. Why? Because there's the rain. He'll be drenched. That's why. I want Helen to be especially careful for the next few days. He's good too. Kind and thoughtful and good. Helen, if you see anything at all outside this house that makes you suspicious, I want you to tell me. Yes, not yes. Thank you. I have some dictation to give Blanche on my book. But remember what I told you, Helen. And don't trust anyone. Helen, pack your things and leave. Leave? No. Why? Where? No. Well, shake your head off if you like, but leave tomorrow. Meanwhile, there's a gun in my dresser. No. I'm afraid of guns. Oh, stop shaking your head at me, girl. Stop contradicting me. You're in danger here. Do you want... It's an attack. Dr. Perry, get me Dr. Perry. Hurry. Stephen. Yes, Mother? I just got in. Branched. His shoes coated with mud. Where's Dr. Perry? On the way, Mother. There's been another murder. Oh, has there? Oh, why didn't you stay in Paris? Don't you want me with you, Mother? Where were you tonight? If you must know... I must know. Yes. She knows something. I, um... I was out walking with Blanche. Blanche, Professor Warren's secretary. They both love her. I think the professor will want to talk to you, Stephen. About the murder? I know, Stephen. About Blanche, his secretary. Very well, Mother. We're waiting for Dr. Perry to arrive. Quiet now. But the professor and Stephen have had a dreadful quarrel about Blanche. She's very pretty and no afflictions. And so men quarrel over her. Stephen and the professor hate each other. And it's so terrible. Both, after all, have the same father. Dr. Perry! You know, Dr. Perry, you look a little like my husband. Oh, really, Mrs. Warren? Yes. Was he kind to her husband? He has been gentle and kind to girls with afflictions. Good eye. Well, I'm flattered. Thank you. He always told me I wasn't as beautiful as his first wife, but that I was a much better shot. He has a gun in this very room. Yes. The beauty my husband admired was the beauty of strength and of character. And both of his sons were weaklings. Stephen and the professor. I'm weak, too. Afflicted. Dr. Perry, you love Helen. Mrs. Warren. If you love her, and I know you do, get her out of this house. Now you're upsetting yourself again. Get her out of this house while there's still time. Do you hear me? Do you? Do you? Do you? Helen. Helen, Brandy, quickly. Brandy, Brandy. I've looked everywhere. None. None in the pantry, none in the closet. I'll run into the study to find Professor Warren. Brandy, Brandy. Write it out, Helen. Will you? Yes. B-R-A-N-D. Brandy. Yes, Brandy. Yes. I'll have to fetch a bottle from the cellar. Get Mrs. Oates out of the kitchen. Tell her to come with me and bring a candle. Hurry, girl. Mrs. Warren is resting again. Mrs. Oates is back in the kitchen in a stupor. From the brandy she managed to steal when she went down into the wine cellar with Professor Warren. Blanche stays in her room. I wait in the parlour while Dr. Perry gives Professor Warren some instructions. Helen. Oh, Dr. Perry, looking so very tired. I want to talk to you, Helen. Oh, he mustn't apologize. Here. Here. Sit next to me. Oh, he mustn't try to explain that it was Mrs. Warren and not he who said he loves me. I understand. I've been thinking things over, Helen. Mrs. Warren is right. He says Mrs. Warren is right. You should come away with me tonight. Oh, he does love me. You can stay at my mother's house until I take you to Boston to see a specialist. Oh, afflicted. Uh, Helen, the favors on Pepper Street have an out-of-town guest, Betty Lindstrom. Betty Lindstrom. She went to Sunday School with you years ago. Sunday School. Betty Lindstrom. She tells a story about a young girl walking home through Sunday School one day. When she wasn't far from home, she heard a fire engine rushing down the street. It was her own home, wrapped in flames. Her mother and father trapped inside. She tried to scream. Scream, Helen. I can't. Scream. I can't. I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying. You can speak. Speak. Helen, I was trying to help you. I know he's so good. Oh, that must be for me, Helen. I left this number with the Wilson's there. Boy, he's very sick. Here, I'll write the Wilson telephone number on your note card. 1-8-9. 1-8-9. Yes, and have Mrs. Oates call me there if you need me. Now, if you'll go to the door with me, I'll take it as a sign that you forgive me. It's a wretched night, but the rain's over. Nod, yes. Smile, Helen, please. Smile. That's better. Thank you. Thank me. Now, be sure and lock the door, won't you? And don't open it for anybody. Open it for anyone but me. But before he went. Good night. Helen. He kissed me. He kissed me. He wants me to come away with him. He kissed me. How was it long ago, in the Bible, in the song of songs which is Solomon's? My beloved spoke and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away with me. For lo, the winter is past. A wretched night, but the rain's over. The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, and the time of singing has come. Rise, my love, and let me see thy countenance. He loves me. Let me see thy countenance. Let me hear thy voice. Boys. For sweet, sweet is thy voice. And thy countenance is comely. Boys. Let me hear thy voice. Let me hear thy voice. Let me hear thy voice. Hush, daughter. Hush. You are listening to the Screen Director's Playhouse presentation of the Spiral Staircase, starring Dorothy McGuire in her original role of Helen, the mute girl. And John Daener is Dr. Farron. 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Plus, there is a ton of comedy and westerns there too, if you want to relive the shows of yesteryear. All the shows are available to instantly digitally download, and the links never expire, so you can order them now and listen to them anytime you'd like. And because you're a listener of Weird Darkness, you can save 20% on any and all radio shows on the website by using the promo code Weird at checkout. Just visit ClassicRadioStore.com, select all the radio show packages you want, then at checkout use the promo code Weird and save 20% on your whole purchase. That's ClassicRadioStore.com, promo code Weird at checkout. I don't have any feelings in the professor any longer. And just why should we hide our feelings from my step-brother? Oh, I forget you did have a certain interest in him. You are a pig. How, Blanche? Get out! I'm leaving tonight. The better to wash my hands of you. As you wish, Blanche. But you'll regret this. I honestly think you're going to regret this most seriously. Blanche has left her room and gone down to get her suitcases out of the cellar. I'm afraid to go down there alone. It's very dark in the cellar. There's a spiral staircase that goes round and round into the dust and the damp and the darkness, round and round into darkness. Oh, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Helen. Do you know where Blanche is? Blanche. Isn't she up from the cellar yet? Helen, I'm speaking to you. Please find Blanche. I wanted to take some dictation in my study. At once. The spiral staircase going round and round down into darkness, into the dark, the damp. It's been almost an hour. Yes, yes, not yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! All right, all right. Here, let me handle this, Helen. Do you understand what I mean? I could dash for the door. Helen, answer me. Do you understand what I say? Dash for the door, open it, slam it, boat it outside. Helen, you're terrifying. Pencil, lost pencil, pencil. Are you trying to pencil? You're right. Right, yes, right. Blanche? Yes, M-U-R-D-E-R. Helen and Heaven's name, are you... Do you know who did it? S-D-E-P-A-G-E, yes. Of course. Why does he say of course? Helen, where is Stephen now? Locked in cellar. Why does he look at me like that? Helen. Mirror. Go on, look at yourself, Helen. Why does he do this? You see, Helen, you have no mouth. I know what he means, but why should he say it so cruelly? No mouth, Helen. And in all this world, there's no room for imperfection. He's so strange. We're alone, Helen. Mrs. Oates is very drunk because I purposely let her steal a bottle of brandy when we went downstairs before. My stepmother is helpless in her bed. And you have just locked Stephen in the cellar. Blanche is dead. He is the killer. Blanche, whom I loved and who betrayed me with Stephen is dead. Or I killed her. He's mad. What a pity. Father didn't live to see me become strong, to see me dispose of the weak and the imperfect in this world. Escape. I put on these leather gloves. Escape. Where? Father would admire me for what I'm about to do. I know. The gun. The gun in Mrs. Warren's room. Escape. Not so imperfect as he thinks. I run, run like the wind. Climb the stairs to Mrs. Warren's room like a cat. Slam the door and bolt it in his face. Gun, cat and pencil. Run, Mrs. Warren. Wake up. Horizon opening. Now, read. What gun? She knows where the gun is. She must know. Oh, it's no use. It's no use. She's drugged her. Downstairs. Someone's outside. The professor will have to answer. And then I can steal downstairs again. Down the spiral staircase. Free Stephen. Get Stephen to help me. Yes. Into the darkness. I saw a shoe draw back into the shadows. Into the last spiral. Mrs. Warren at the top of the stairs. She has the gun. Why does she point it at both of us? Stepmother. Whom your father always taught never to waste a single shot. It was you who killed all those girls. I thought it was Stephen. You always waited until Stephen came home to cast suspicion on him. Never waste a shot. Your father taught me. Never a shot. Helen girl. Better get me Dr. Perry. Husch daughter. Number please. You see Helen, you have no mouth. You must leave this house Helen. Let me see thy countenance. Let me hear thy voice. Number please. I'll have no mouth. Let me hear thy voice. Number please. Thy voice no mouth. Thy voice no mouth. Thy voice no mouth. Thy voice no mouth. Number please. Number please. Doctor. This is Dr. Perry. Who is this? He said, darling, and said unto me, arise my love, my fair one, and come away with me. Arise, and let me hear thy voice. Dorothy McGuire will return in just a moment. Next week, as always, another great star repeats a brilliant performance on Screen Directors Playhouse. Our story is All My Sons and recreating his original role will be Edward G. Robinson with Screen Director Irving Reese. Now, here again is tonight's star, Dorothy McGuire. Thank you so much. The part of the mute girl in the picture spiral staircase was a pretty frightening assignment until I found out my director was to be Robert Siadmak. Robert is a kind of super talented elf who directs his pictures with a magnificent mixture of skill and gaiety. As a result, he says he has only one regret about spiral staircase. The studio wouldn't let him slide down the banister. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to meet Robert Siadmak. Thank you, Dorothy. But I was listening to his spiral staircase tonight. I must make a confession. About what, Robert? Well, I thought it would be impossible to do a radio drama in which the central character was a girl without a voice. But it was done beautifully. Well, thank you. My part was a little larger than the three or four lines I had in the picture. This picture business. You know, before spiral staircase, a producer said to me, Robert, what do you think of Dorothy McGuire? She's wonderful, I told him. She has the most magnificent voice. And he said, that's fine. We put on a picture with nothing to say. Well, you know how producer behaves sometimes. And Robert, I loved every minute of it. Well, next time they ask me about Dorothy McGuire, I won't mention your voice. I say she's so beautiful and a great dramatic actress. Well, then they probably tell me to direct you into Invisible Woman. Just so you don't play the part of an invisible director, Robert, and seeing you behind those cameras again is something I'm looking forward to. Well, I know I'm a beauty. Thank you, Dorothy. Thank you, Robert. Good night. Good night, everyone. Good night. And good night to you, Dorothy McGuire and Robert Ziadnak. Remember, next week, Edward G. Robinson and Irving Reese with Jeff Chandler. Spiral staircase was presented through the courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures, producers of that hilarious comedy, Bride for Sale, starring Claudette Colbert, Robert Young, and George Brett. Dorothy McGuire will soon be seen as the star of the 20th century Fox production, Old Doctor. Robert Ziadnak's latest production for Universal International Pictures is Deported, starring Marta Toran and Jeff Chandler. Included in tonight's cast were John Daener, Stephen Dunn, Georgia Backus, David Ellis, Jane Webb, Betty Moran, Jane Morgan, and Dan Riss. Spiral staircase, based on a novel by Ethelina White, was adapted for radio by Milton Geiger, and original music was composed and conducted by Henry Russell. Screen Directors Playhouse is produced by Howard Wiley with Dramatic Direction by Bill Karn. This is Jimmy Wallington speaking and inviting you to listen again next week when we present Screen Directors Playhouse star Edward G. Robinson, production All My Sons, director Irving Reese. What's on NBC Sunday? Sunday on Hollywood Calling. You may be called by motion picture stars June Haver and Richard Widmark to win a wonderful prize and crack the film of Fortune Jackpot. Make a note to stick close to your radio on your telephone Sunday for a Hollywood Calling. It might be your lucky day. So listen to Hollywood Calling Sunday on NBC. Stay tuned for Bill Stern on the Sports News Rail on NBC. Thanks for listening to this week's Retro Radio episode of Weird Darkness. If you like the show, please share it with someone you know who loves old time radio and leave a rating and review in the podcast app you listen from to help spread the word about Weird Darkness and Retro Radio Sunday. And a huge thanks to our friends at ClassicRadiosTour.com for generously providing the old time radio shows you hear on Weird Darkness Retro Radio Sunday. Remember, you can save 20% on all of the ClassicRadiosTour.com shows by using the promo code Weird at Checkout. The rest of the week, I narrate new stories of the paranormal or strange stories, true crime, monsters and mysteries. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already done so. I upload episodes seven days a week. You can email me anytime and find all of my social media links on the contact page at WeirdDarkness.com. Also on the website, you can listen to free audiobooks that I've narrated, shop the Weird Darkness store, sign up for the newsletter to win monthly prizes and more. Weird Darkness is a production and trademark of Marlar House Productions. Copyright, Weird Darkness. I'm Darren Marlar. Thanks for joining me in the Weird Darkness.