 Roma Wines presents Suspense Roma Wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world Salute! Your health, senor 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 to introduce this weekly half-hour of suspense Tonight in Hollywood, Roma Wines bring you the MGM star, Miss Lucille Ball The suspense play which stars Miss Ball, which is produced and directed by William Spear is called Dimer Dance It deals, as you will presently know, with Broadway life and sudden death both set to music and so with Dimer Dance and with the performance of Lucille Ball as a red-haired young lady named Ginger Allen Roma Wines again hope to keep you in suspense Have you ever danced with a murder? It doesn't cost any more for the extra thrill It's only a dime How could I do it, you say? I had to to save my own life Joyland Palace One of the places just off Broadway in the 40s, you know the kind of place Second-rate dance bands like Frankie Froman's 15 Frolickers I was late to work that night I ran down Broadway, scrambling through the crowd to the entrance of the Joyland Boys, come in and count them yourself No more vision, 10 cents a dance The men were just getting started The music is the very... Hello, Max Hey, Ginger, you better step on them Marina's looking for you're late, he's burning I know, it is Julie coming in Not yet 50 beautiful girls waiting to dance You finally decided to come, did you? Hi, Marina, sorry I'm late You ought to be, and so is your Julie All the cash customers are waiting I sent out the girls before all the years are here And you say I'm playing favorites Well, blame it on Julie She gave me a stand-up tonight All right, so I'll blame it on Julie Where is she? Isn't she here? No, she ain't home, neither Because I phoned her there 15 minutes ago I thought she was with you And I thought she was here Hey, if this is no gag, what happened to her? Well, that's what I'm beginning to wonder Go on in and get your stuff on Julie'll be all right Yeah, maybe she slipped in while you were busy Counting tickets or something I'm entertained by Mom here while waiting for her All right, lay off Mom, throw me that foot powder Looks like a heavy night out there My feet still hurt from last night Here you are, girl At least what I like every once in a while Is the good, juicy murder Nice kid Know not to be murdered herself Throw me that dress Would you met him to fars? The green one Is Julie here? Not unless she's hiding in the closet, honey Do any of you know where she is? Who's asking us? Ain't she your buddy? Maybe they had a fight Well, did any of you hear from her? Why not ask Marina? Oh, he's been hanging around her Now that Southern girl, Sally She used to work in a joint like this When further uptown There was a murder for you Come on, hurry it up in there I'm the flight stepper She just never showed up to work one night Who didn't? That Southern girl, Sally Then they found her That was about three years ago Oh, what a sight she was When the police discovered the body Oh, cut it out, Mom Then there was a Robinson gal Out in Brooklyn, stabbed to death They found a phonograph And records by her body She didn't even belong to her The murderer brought his own music Oh, she was a dancehall pony too Maybe some guy has it in for you girls Pleasant character Well, maybe one fella kills the both of them Maybe there's a dancehall killer still at large Getting ready for his next victim Now what do you think I pay you girls for anyway? I often wonder You couldn't interest anybody in that chassis of yours Even with a set of dishes thrown in All right, all of you, file out Come on, Ginger Come on, get out Ginger, what I wanted to see you about I know, I know, Marina I'll put you in a spot I'll be dressed in a minute And if you ward off those garlic eaters tonight I'll work twice as hard to make it up to you I'm in no spot, Ginger But you are Marina, what's the matter? What's happened? The police want to see you, Ginger Police? What for? I didn't do anything I'm sorry, Ginger, but you... Something's happened to Julie That's what the police want to see you by Julie's dead Dead Mind it Tonight in our suspense theater Death is a dancing thing Roma Wines is bringing you Lucille Ball A star of suspense In the Cornell Woolrich story Dime a dance You have heard the prologue For tonight's tale of suspense Before we return to the scene of our drama Let me say just this Few spots in the globe boast the unique And perfect combination of nature's gifts Which makes possible truly good wine Wine which the whole world can enjoy But wine experts will tell you That among those fortunate spots None can surpass the vineyards of our own California From these renowned California vineyards Come Roma Wines Wine so perfect in flavor So delightful that they are enjoyed In many countries of the world To us in America, Roma Wines Are an everyday treat For we may buy them at an astonishingly low price Since we pay no import duties Or expensive shipping costs Do you enjoy a delicious tangy sherry? Tomorrow treat yourself To a glass of Roma California sherry We're sure you will agree You've never tasted finer With your first sip You'll understand why Roma Wines Are America's largest selling wines Tomorrow ask your dealer For your favorite type of Roma wine Made in California For enjoyment throughout the world And now it is with pleasure That Roma Wines bring back to our soundstage Miss Lucille Ball in Dima Dance A tale well calculated To keep you in suspense All the way over in that police car With those two flat feet from homicide I could see Marino's face when he said Murdered poor Marino We got out and walked up to the third floor Of the building, the Julie's room Marino never said a word All right, sister, in here. Is she still in there? No, you won't have to look at her. How did it happen? Strangled. Why didn't she yell out? There were plenty of people around. Look, Ginger, we're asking the questions. Yeah, but since you raised it We figured the person who could get close enough To kill her was someone she felt safe with. She was murdered by someone she trusted, By a friend. Well, I was the only friend she had. Yeah, so they'd tell us. Unless she had a boyfriend. And who was her boyfriend? If she was strangled. Where did all the blood come from? Flatfoot didn't answer Marino. He shut up all at once As if he didn't have the heart to tell us the rest of it. His eyes gave him away, though. I got the whole score Just following his gaze around the room. First, he looked at the little phonograph. By using bamboo needles, She could play it late at night. Soft, you know, so no one could hear it. The needle was worn down halfway. All shredded as though it had been played over and over. Then his eyes wandered to a flat piece of paper That had eight or ten shiny new dimes on it. Some had little brown flecks on them. Then his eyes went down to the rug. It was all pleated up in places, Especially along the edges, As though something heavy, Something lifeless, Had been dragged back and forth over it. He danced with her after he killed her. Gave her a dime, a dance even then. Now will you tell us? Who was her boyfriend? Play that record. Maybe she'll remember some guy they both knew Who was hepped on the piece. It was the only one he played. That wasn't hers, she never had that record. Poor butterfly, she hated it. You couldn't stand it. Someone brought that record here with him. Sure someone did. Maybe her boyfriend sort of... There was no boyfriend. It was someone who waited for her In that room in the dark And killed her before she could scream. It was the same madman Who killed those two other dancehall girls. He pays a dime a dance. A dime a dance whether you're alive or dead. Back at the grind. The flat feet let me go. Nobody told me anything. Sometime when you have nothing better to do You try dancing with a couple of hundred guys a night Asking yourself each time One of them wraps his arms around you. Is this the killer? Has he a knife in his hand behind my back? Say, uh, can I see you a minute? Got a ticket? Yeah, but I don't want a dance, Ginger. I want a tour. Well, it's your dime. Say, how do you know my name? What just happened to her? Who are you anyway? Recognize those two guys leaning against the wall? The two flat feet? And I'm the third. Nick's the name. What about her boyfriend? Relax. We have proof it wasn't her boyfriend and wasn't you. Oh, then you expect him to show up again after what he's done already, huh? We just got the report on those other two girls. They were killed by a maniac who played poor butterfly. Also, the fingerprints in all three cases match. He'll keep it up until we get him. Well, how do you know what he looks like? We don't. We only know he isn't through yet. That's why I was assigned to protect you. Protect me? Yep. Keep my eye on you all night while you work and make your home right to your door. Now, Marina knows about the other two dicks, but no one knows about me. In fact, his headquarters told me not to tell even you. And why did you? I just saw how touchy you are. I don't want you to misunderstand my attentions. Well, what if someone asks me who you are? Say, I'm your new boyfriend. Oh, I don't get smart. I never had a boyfriend. Good, now you've got one. Oh, 35 girls on this musical chain gang. Why do you pick on me? Because we found out one more thing about the killer's habits. The two girls that were murdered before Julie both had red hair. Julie had red hair? Yeah. And so have you, baby. Oh, I was set up as victim number four. Nice thought. But every night, like the milkman, just when the girls filed out to feast the arms and eyes of the wolves, there was Nick. Now, that was some comfort. Nothing personal, you understand. It was also a comfort to see those other two flat feet on the job night after night. How's Ginger? Fine, how's Nick? Hey, you're four minutes late. Miss me? Oh, I'm just a taxpayer that wants to see a public servant earn his money. If the city got broke, I'd do this job for nothing. Uh-oh, your straw boss, Marino, is giving you the high sign. Oh, I'll go see what he wants. You wait here. It's on your mind, Marino. Say, who is that monkey hanging around you every night? We pays for his tickets, doesn't he? Yeah, but he never uses them. Who is he? My boyfriend. Oh, you know him long? Long enough. Take care of yourself, Ginger. Don't worry, Marino. I know my way around, but thanks. Besides, we're not running any matrimonial pure around here. You've got to spread yourself around a little more. Share the wealth. There's other customers there. All right, all right. Now, watch out, will you? All right. What did he want? Oh, nothing. Nick, is there any news? You know, it's a month since Junior's. No, no, no, no. Calm down, redhead. That's just it. That red hair. Look, why won't you let me dye it? Well, I've got my reasons. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You great, big, silent, strong cops. That's right, those cops. And then came that night. That horrible night. I was late as usual, got to the dressing room, planning to dress in no second's flat so I could get out on the floor and be with Nick. Somehow, I felt that I was going to need him that night. Some instinct told me it was a matter of life or death. It's been a whole month since the last one. What I like every once in a while is the good juicy murder. Come on, snap it up. What do you think I'd pay you, girl, for anyone? Are you looking out the door for a ginger? Now, you take that killin' the jewel. There was a real juicy ginger. Oh, shut up, Mom. Will you cut it out? Oh, I'm sorry, dearly. I keep forgetting you and she was so cruel. Well, that's all right. I'm jittery. Laverne, have you seen my boyfriend? Not tonight. Maybe he got bored. Billy, have you seen Nick? You know, the tall, handsome... Not tonight, redhead. I guess he's giving you the air. Come on. Come on up. What am I payin' you for? Come on. What's the matter, ginger? Look like a senior ghost. What are you looking for out there? What's so fascinating about the clock? Marino, they're not there. Where are those two flat feet? How'd you know about that? Never mind that now. Where are they? Called off. Called off? That sounds scurry to me, but police had caught us because they frightened off whoever they was looking for. But that's crazy. I'm gonna fall in. I won't do no good. I told them that anybody had waited till it cooled off before trying again. Now is when we should have protection. Well, come on. Get out on the floor. Come on, Ollie. Out on the floor. Marino, the burn. Yes, hi. As soon as Nick comes in, tell him to come right here. Tell him to tap on the door. Sure enough, sugar. Look at me like that, poor ginger. Look, Mom, I gotta talk to you. I can't go out there on the floor. I'm scared. What are you staring holes in me for? Mom, you and I were here in this room. The last night Julie was alive. The night she must have been killed. Remember? Poor kid. I always liked you. We gotta remember. We've just got to. There was someone dancing with Julie that night. Some rum dumb. Julie said something about him. I can't remember what it was she said. Oh, you mean the one that hurt your hand? That's it. That's it. It hurt her hand. Then a wrist back when they were dancing. Yeah, that's the guy. She said it was almost like a zippy. Got a kick out of hurting her. Yeah. She ain't a squid. Yeah, I know. What else? What else? Well, Julie called him a cement mixer. Oh, now we're getting somewhere, Mom. Yeah. Oh, he had Julie crazy dancing like a slap-happy pug. I remember her describing it. He'd take three little steps to the right as if he was getting ready for a stand-in broad jump. That was it. Remember how Julie said she felt like screaming for Pete's sake if you're going to jump? Jump. Yeah, three steps to the right and if you're going to jump, jump. Hey, what are you doing, Ginger? Some detective work? Getting some clues? You know who we're talking about, Mom? The killer. Yeah. Oh! If he enjoyed hurting her like that, when she was still alive, he'd enjoy dancing with her after she was dead. Oh, he's washed some prune face. Why that? There's someone I got to tell this to right away. Oh, where are the... Nick! See you later, Mom. How's Ginger? Oh. How's Nick? Are you trembling? Sure it's me. Why not? I thought you were called off the case. We were. Then what are you doing here? Habit. Do you mind? No, you dumb ape. I don't mind. Boy, how I don't mind. And as long as it doesn't do to you anymore, do you mind if I do something to you that I've wanted to do for days? No, it depends. I want to take you in my arms. All right, take me in your arms and dance. Anyway, for the time being. I'm a rotten dancer. You're telling me. Nick. Nick, we got to talk. I just found out something about the killer that you ought to know. Later. I paid Marina for all the dances to the end. We can leave whenever you want. After this song, they play Dina, and then comes the break. We can leave then. What makes you so sure? Well, the band always plays a song in the same order. Then they can sleep while they work. I tell time by them. Climbhouse Blues means it's 10.45. Lady was a tramp means 11.15. Dina means 11.30. Never changes except when there's a request number. You know, I like everything about you. I like everything about you, but you're dancing. Let up on my hand. Will you? You're bending it upside down. It hurts my wrist. I told you I was a rotten dancer. Well, for Pete's sake, don't dance like you were priming for a standing broad jump. If you're going to jump, jump. That's not Dina. No, it certainly isn't. It's a request number. Who requested it? I did. What's the matter, baby? I look sick. I feel just awful. I do feel sick. Am I dancing that bad? No, no, I just... Nick, I'll have to stop. It's the air, I guess. I'll go in and get drink of water. Yeah, drink of water in the ladies' room. Oh, I'm sorry. I'll wait here for you. I'll just be a minute. Operator. Operator, give me the police department. Homicide Squad. Hello, Homicide. This is Ginger Allen at Joyland. The third man you assigned to our place is... Night man. What night man? Nick Ballester, the one you assigned to protect me. The killer. He's taking me out with him. I don't know where to. Look, I'll leave a trail of ticket stubs. Please come quick. Good job. Goodbye, Katie. I'm sorry you couldn't work tonight. I'll fix it with Marino. How are you feeling? Shouldn't have come in here, Nick. Didn't you see the sign? All that. Men keep out violator subject to arrest. Didn't say positively. Besides, they wouldn't arrest a cop. Why couldn't you leave me in here alone? You were going so long. I thought something had happened. Nothing's happened yet. Asked me how, but I kept up a patter while we walked. All my brains are in my right hand to clutch those ticket stubs in my coat pocket. I kept dropping those stubs, making sure he didn't see. I tried to stay on the bright streets, but he led me to the lonely ones. The one we were on now was like a graveyard. No lights, no people. Suddenly, I thought my blood run cold. My fingers in that right hand pocket fished around like a drowning man clutching for straws. The last ticket stub was gone. Ginger. Yes, Nick? I'm hungry. Would you like some chop suey? Like it? Oh, I'd love it. He ate that chop suey with an appetite. Like a guy who had work to do. Work he was going to enjoy. I side-sneaked a glance at the jukebox without turning my head, you know, just my eyes. What a relief, all kinds of songs, but no poor butterflies. Nick was beginning to act nervous. He'd guzzle a cup of tea, pour another, keep looking over his shoulder like he was worried somebody might be following us. Then he'd grin like he used to and reach over from my hand. He pressed my fingers till they hurt. Hard like he never pressed them before. I guess... I guess he couldn't wait. And suddenly he stood up. Ask the waiter for the check, Ginger. I'm just going to wash my hands. Then it's time we left. Waiter. Waiter, quick. Yes, ma'am, what will you be? I'm leaving. When my boyfriend comes out, tell him you think I went back to the powder room. Gag, you know, he's a deadbeat. I want to shake him. Maybe you don't understand. Ginger. We know. How did you get here? Ma'am told me, and I followed your ticket stubs. He almost saw me. Come on, quick. Marino, thank heaven you got here. Hurry up. I can't run anymore. I won't last the block. You won't have to, there's a vacant house in the middle of the block. Here. Inside. I think I seem coming. It's all dark in here. No one lives here, that's why. Here, I like the searchlight. There's a stairway leading upstairs. Go ahead. Now watch it. I don't trip. The stairs is broken. Now, do this door. Oh. Here's a candle and a match. Now we can see each other. Wait. Do you think we're safe? We'll know in a few minutes. Oh, Marino, it's him. I should put out the candle. Now hide, back there. I'll take care of him. Ginger. Kim. All right, you ask for it. We'll see about that. Who is it? Answer me. Answer me, please. Oh, why did you stop the music? We danced from the beginning of the record. Marino. Yeah. Yeah, Muriel. You think you can hide from me with different names and different faces? Marino. Why do you call me Muriel? What are you doing? I'm Ginger, don't you remember? I'm Ginger Allen. Yeah, each time you tell me a different name, Muriel. But you can't get away by changing names. Marino. The first time you changed your name was when you married me before I left for Europe with that operetta company. Remember, the orchestra played poor butterfly when you promised to love me forever. Help me. Somebody help me. Yeah, well, the next time you changed your name was when you thought I was dead, lived on my insurance and then married another man. No matter how many times you changed your name, Muriel, I'll find you. No. No, not me. You killed him. You killed him, Marino, again and again. You only killed him last month, Marino. Yeah, next time I think I have, she rises again. This time I'm going to kill you and your lover. This is the last time. Nick! And now we dance. Now we dance. Here are your dimes. They got an awfully hard head. The police will be here in just a minute. Get into this. Headquarters never hurt you. They were instructed to say that in case you called. Well, what was the idea to scare me to death? Well, I figured Marino would call Ginger and her boyfriend once he thought the police were off the case. And when he did, I had to have you think and I was the killer so you'd run off with him willingly. Oh, good. It was the only way to find his hideout and the evidence we need. The phonograph, the record and the attempted murder. At my expense, you big piece of... another thing. How'd you know about dancing like a broad jumper and turning up my wrist? Oh, I listened outside the door to you and Mom talking about that in the dressing room tonight. Gave me a couple of neat pointers. I put them together with poor butterfly so I could scare the daylights out of you. Well, you did too. I ought to wring your... I'll calm down. No wife of mine is going to have a red head of temper. Wife of yours. You'll do anything. You'll learn how to dance, won't you? Yeah, it looks that way. No wonder you didn't want me to dye my hair. You wanted that nice premature gray color. And so closes Dime of Dance presented by Roma Wines and starring Lucille Ball, tonight's tale of... suspense. In just a moment, we'll hear again from Miss Ball. First, though, let's visit a glamorous casino somewhere on the sunny Caribbean. Smartly dressed people stroll about the gardens. The strains of a Cuban song float out. Two men watch from a table on the terrace. One is a Cuban, the other a North American. One is about to propose a toast. To your beautiful country, Jose. I drink to that. Now I propose a toast to this wine in which we drink our toast. It comes from North America from California. Its name is Roma. Only a few places in the world produce wine so fine that many countries enjoy them. And among these enjoyable wines are Roma Wines. For they come from vineyard districts that are among the finest in the world, our own sunny California. What better testimonial to the quality of Roma Wines could you ask than the fact that Roma Wines are made in California for the enjoyment of the world? There is a fine Roma wine for you, whether your taste calls for a sherry, a burgundy, or so turned. And no matter what type of Roma wine you buy, you know you're receiving a truly fine wine at a price made possible because Roma Wines are the overwhelming favorite of Americans. America's largest selling wines. Ask your dealer to show you his assortment of Roma Wines tomorrow and choose your favorite. Roma. R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Remember, this is the year of decision and that means that this year more than ever before we should all buy more and even more war bonds and stamps. This is Lucille Ball. It's been a great pleasure to appear on suspense this evening. Next week, I know you want to be listening, as I certainly will, to a very wonderful actor, Mr. Paul Lucas, who will appear in a suspense play called A World of Darkness. Thank you, Miss Ball. Lucille Ball appeared tonight through the courtesy of Metro Golden Mayor, producers of Madame Curie. Don't forget, then, next Thursday, same time for Paul Lucas in Suspense. Presented by Roma Wines. R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.