 And now, Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, Roma Wines, present. Suspense. Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Robert Taylor in the house in Cyprus Canyon. A suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear. Suspense. Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. Those better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans than any other wine, for friendly entertaining, for delightful dining. Yes, right now, a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you Robert Taylor, star of Metro-Goldman Mayor's undercurrent, in a remarkable tale of... Suspense. Merry Christmas, Jerry. How's the real estate business? Kind of early with your greeting, aren't you, Sam? Well, I gotta get them in some time. I mean, I'll see you again until next Christmas. This real estate racket gets any crazy. I'll be dead by next Christmas. I'm glad you could get up here, though, Sam. What's on your mind, Jerry? You'll probably shoot me when you hear it, Sam, because I'm probably nuts. But, darling, you're a detective, and you're my pal, and I just had to tell somebody. You sound like it's serious. That's just it. I don't know what it is, Sam, but... Now, listen, you know we're agents for a group of houses up in Cyprus Canyon. Those places that were started before the war never got finished. All I got in were the foundations, just concrete and a couple of beams. Well, they've been finished now. In fact, I'm putting up the for-rent on the last of them today. What do you want? Police protection from the mob? Listen, Sam, this house that I'm talking about, it's got a number now, 2256. But before, when the men went back to work on it about three months ago, they just started when the foreman on the job gave me a shoebox that he'd found up on a beam. And this box had a, what do you call it, a manuscript in it, a story kind of, all written out. Well, he gave me the thing. I read it. I didn't think much about it. I put it in my desk. But the other day, and I happened to drive by there, I saw the number on the house and what the house looked like. I thought of this manuscript. Well, I don't like it. That's all. There's something funny about it. What's funny about it? Mind you, this thing was found in an unfinished house in Cyprus Canyon. House was only just started building. Well, listen, Sam, I want to read it to you if you've got the time and you'll see what I mean. Oh, I should. Well, here's how it begins. To whom it may concern, my reasons for setting down on paper what follows here will be abundantly clear to anyone into whose possession it may fall. First, let me say that I'm a very ordinary person. My name is James A. Woods. I'm 35 years old. My profession is chemical engineer. My wife, Ellen, was a school teacher when I met and married her in Indiana seven years ago. There's nothing in the past life of either one of us to suggest remotely any cause or reason for the dreadful thing that has invaded our lives. Our married life has been in no way different from that of millions of other averaged, reasonably happy and congenial families. Three months ago, I was ordered by my firm to take charge of a rather minor project in Los Angeles in Hollywood, to be exact. The order was a sudden one. There had been no time to secure accommodations and conditions being what they are. The inevitable result was that until day before yesterday, we'd been living in the cramped quarters of one of those characteristic California motels. Needless to say, most of our spare time had been devoted to a search for something more permanent and comfortable, but the fruits of these efforts had been financially and in every other way, a geometrical progression of discouragement. Until last Saturday afternoon, only four days before Christmas. We were driving into town on our way to a movie when Ellen saw it. Jim, look. What? That sign in front of that real estate office. Oh, yeah. But don't you see what it says? Forent, furnished, two-bedroom house, close-in, immediate occupancy. Yeah. Aren't you going to stop? Oh, Ellen, you know a sign like that. It'd mean right out in plain sight in front of a real estate office. Oh, yeah, but Jim... Do they want $600 a month? We'll never know until we ask. If it's any good at all, there are probably 50 people fighting for it right back there now. Well, honey, there's no harm in trying. Now, is there? You really want to go back? Oh, it's probably foolish, but what can we lose? Oh, okay. Oh, darling, come on. Cheer up. How do you know? Maybe our luck's changed. Maybe fate's going to give us a nice new house for a Christmas present. We're sorry to bother you, but we just happened to see that Forent sign outside. Oh, yeah. I hung it outside just this minute. Is the house available? Why, sure, sure it is. Uh, let me introduce myself. My name is James A. Woods, and this is my wife, Ellen. How'd it go? Wow. Looks like it's fixing to rain. Yes, so it does, doesn't it? Well, it was one of those things. The real estate agent had just been authorized to rent the place by mail that morning, and he'd hardly had time to look at it himself and put up his sign when we drove up. It was just an ordinary little California house about halfway up Cyprus Canyon, number 2256, just an ordinary, undistinguished little house. The agent didn't know much about it. Construction on it had been stopped by the war and it had just been completed and furnished lately. Been vacant while somebody's estate was being settled and now it was owned by a bank in Sacramento. Of course, we didn't... Got this key in the mail along with the authorization to rent. Only one there is, of course, you can have duplicates made. Seems to stick a little. Oh, no, there it is. Doesn't sound as though that door had ever been opened. A little oil on the hinges would fix that, all right. Oh, sure. Now, here's your living room. Furniture's a little dusty, of course. You've got to expect that. It's good furniture, though, you see? Benson Brothers. Yes, uh-huh. Now, over here's a little den. Panel, you see? Radio, fireplace. Really a very attractive little room, particularly for a man. Uh-huh, yep. Now, the bedroom's off the living room here. Everything's all on one floor, you understand? Uh-huh. It's quite nice out there. Yes, uh-huh. You can see you get the morning sun here. There's a view of the canyon through these front windows. We got frostbath away. That's about all there was to it. It wasn't the best place in the world. It was small and badly built, but what would you have done? We took it with as little inspection as that. It was the Saturday before Christmas. And the very same evening, we were struggling up the steps from the road with suitcases and boxes and arm loads of clothes and all the endless brick-a-brack that people collect and never know they have until they move. Ellen began unpacking, and I began moving things around and taking the worst of the pictures off the wall, doing all the little things that everybody does when they move into a new place and try to give it something of their own worth. Don't be such a sour-puss. You know, it's a roof over our heads for Christmas. That's more than we ever thought we'd get, isn't it? Now, what in the world are we gonna do with those two pictures? Why don't we just leave them where they are? Jim, we can't. They're too awful. Well, all right. Put them in the closet then. I can't. Both the closets are jam-full. No, I mean the other one and the little alcove off the den. At least there's a door there. I suppose it's a closet. Yeah. That isn't a commentary on the housing problem, huh? A woman moving into a house without even knowing where all the closets are. Take the pictures down. Where do you, honey? Bring them in here. Okay, okay. Guess you'll have to help me with this door. I can't get it open. Let me see it. Of course you can, silly. It's locked. Where are those keys we found in the desk? Here they are. Not this one. Sure, this one won't work. Feels like an awful solid door for a closet. Oh, and that's one solid door in the house. Well, this one won't do it either. Well, we'll just have to get a locksmith up here on Monday. I'll put the pictures behind the desk, okay? Yeah, yeah, all right. Jim, if you could just help me move this armchair, huh? Oh, Ellen, will you let it go until tomorrow? You know what time it is? Oh, but, honey, I'd like to get the place looking just a little bit. Yeah, but it's almost midnight. In fact, it's exactly... What was that? Tomcat, I guess, out in the brush somewhere. Sounded near. Oh, hope that doesn't go on all night. There's as much we can do about it. Come on, Ellen, I'm dead tired. All right, Jim, all right. It's right in the medicine cabinet. Oh, yeah. Jim, we ought to get some firewood tomorrow. You know, a fire in that living room would make all the difference in the world. Make? Can? Sunday? Well, Monday then. Jim, I think red curtains are what we need, don't you? Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. You know, just at least for the living room. Anyway, the ones in there now have just got to come down. Yeah, I suppose they do. Well, I guess... Jim. It's some Tomcat. Jim, it sounded in the house. How could it be in the house, Ellen? We've been over every inch of the house. Except the closet. How could a cat or anything else be in the closet that's been locked up for over a year? It's probably under the house of a wildcat or a mountain lion or something. I hear they have them in California. Jim, I don't like it. Well, neither do I like it, but there's nothing we can do about it tonight. Well, maybe we ought to call somebody, the police or some neighbor. Oh, don't be silly, Ellen. You act like a kid. Come on, let's go to bed, huh? Well, all right. I suppose it is silly. Jimmy, did you lock the door? Yeah, yeah. Can I turn out the lights now? Yeah. Good night, Ellen. Sleep tight. Good night, Jim. I don't know what time it was, perhaps an hour or perhaps only a half hour later. My mind was in that hazy borderland between sleep and a dream that's still part of consciousness. Then I was awake. Ellen, are you all right? Yes. Do you have a nightmare or something? I heard it, too. Well, that didn't sound like any cat. Put on the light. Yeah. It seemed to be out there, Jim, in the house somewhere. I'm going to look into this. Jim, you be careful. Come on. Where's my shotgun? In the den, I think... Jim. What? There... there's something wet. What? Wet? Running from under the closet door. Sticky. Ellen, don't. Don't touch it. I had to. Jim, it's blood. For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Robert Taylor in the house in Cyprus Canyon. Roma Wines' presentation tonight in Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills. Suspense. Between the acts of suspense, this is Ken Niles for Roma Wines. These days, before Christmas, are busy ones indeed, yet smart hostesses everywhere find time for shopping and distinguished home entertaining later. The secret? Magnificent Grand Estate Wines. Presented by Roma, America's greatest vintner, Grand Estate Wines add distinction to your hospitality on a moment's notice. Make your holiday welcome, effortless and in perfect taste. The brilliant clarity, full fragrance and mellow taste of Grand Estate Wines, please discriminating people everywhere. For Grand Estate Wines, limited bottlings by Roma, are born of choicest grapes, then patiently guided to superb taste richness by Roma vintner skill, necessary time, and America's finest winemaking resources. Delight your guests with Grand Estate California Wines for entertaining, medium sherry, ruby port, or golden muscatel. For dining, burgundy or sautern. So insist on Grand Estate Wines and enjoy the crowning achievement of vintner skill. And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Robert Taylor, as James A. Woods, with Kathy Lewis as his wife Ellen, in the house in Cyprus Canyon, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. It cannot be too difficult to understand from the foregoing why I've taken the pains to sit down and writing the events related here. To find in one's newly rented house a closet which cannot be opened is in itself certainly no great cause for alarm. But to be awakened in the stillness of the night by unearthly cries within that house. To find oozing from under that closet door something that is unquestionably blood. That's another matter. Perhaps others might have been braver than we. Suffice it only to say that we got out of the house in something very close to a panic. And only returned when we had the moral support of two stalwart Los Angeles police. You just moved in here, you say? That's right, officer. You can see we're still unpacking. And the place has been empty right along before that? Yeah, I don't know much about that part of it. You could check all that with the real estate agent, though. Well, where is this closet? Oh, it's right in here, officer. And the blood, the blood is... Where? Where's the blood? Jim? Officer, I swear to you there was blood on the floor less than an hour ago. I saw it. It was running out from under that door. We heard that noise and we got up and then we saw it. The door was locked. Locked, huh? Well, it seems to be all right now. Hey, you folks aren't trying to be funny, are you? Isn't there anything in it? No, ma'am. There is not. Look, officer, we're reputable people. You can call my firm. They'll tell you all about me. There's nothing wrong with this closet. Walls are solid. No trap doors. You think I'm lying? I didn't say that, mister. Oh, you probably did hear some sort of a noise and you got a little panicky and... What about the blood? It got on my hand. It isn't there now, is it? Yes. Where? I feel it. Now, you folks, just take it easy. You know you're liable to hear all kinds of noises up in these canyons at night? You're from the east, you say? Yeah, I'm sorry, officer. Ah, that's all right. If you have any real trouble, call on us any time. All right. Well, good night. Good night. Hey, you ought to have this door fixed. That's enough to scare you. Yeah, we're going to have it fixed. We didn't say much about it after that. There wasn't much that could be said. The next day I went down to a lot and bought a little Christmas tree and some trimmings, and we tried to pretend we were cheerful, but... there was an uneasiness between us that had never been there before. Ellen seemed tired and listless. Several times during the day, I noticed her washing her hands with a brush, scrubbing the one that had touched the blood. That night, we each took a sleeping pill and went to bed. Sometime after midnight, I was suddenly wide awake and staring into the darkness. In some way, I knew at once what had awakened me. Ellen was not in her bed nor in the room. The nameless thing I feared gripped at my heart until I could scarcely breathe. I opened the bedroom door and started through the house, putting on every light that I could find. There was not much to search, but I searched thoroughly. The living room, the kitchen, bathroom, day, and even the garage. And all the time, the dread of looking where I knew at last I must look. For I think I knew from the very first time where I'd find her. It must have been a full minute that I stood before that closet door. Then, I opened it. She stood there rigid, her arms at her sides, her fingers extended like claws. Her hair was over her face, her eyes stared out of it. Her lips were drawn back in a grin like an animal at bay. For a moment, I was frozen with the horror of it. I stretched out my hand. Very deliberately, she turned her head and sunk her teeth into the flesh of my forearm. I'd raised my hand to strike at her, but already she'd relaxed her hold and gone utterly limp. She would have fallen unless I'd caught her. I carried her into the bedroom later on the bed. Strangely, at that moment, my only thought was how I might revive her. Until I saw that it was it was not a faint, but a sleep that she'd fallen into. A sleep as deep and heavy as though she'd been drugged. But for me, that night, there was no sleep. Yes, Ellen? Oh, I got a little restless, but make some coffee. Oh, I feel so rested. Do you? Jim. What? What's the matter with your arm? Oh, I just heard it. Well, honey, it's terribly swollen. Let me see it. No, it's all right, Ellen. Oh, it isn't all right. You've got to see Dr. Wesley right away. Now, you promised me, Jim, that you'll go the first thing this morning. How did it happen? Oh, I, uh, there was a dog. A dog? Yeah, I heard him trying to chew through the screen door. I went out to chase him away, and he bit me. Oh, there's all that racket, and I didn't even wake up? No, Ellen, you didn't even wake up. It was clear to me that Ellen knew nothing of what had transpired the night before. I went to my office that morning and the pretense of going over routine business is only to restore my mind to some semblance of calm by the sight and sound of common, familiar things. Pain in my arm had become a persistent, dull throbbing. I made a late appointment with Dr. Wesley. He treated my arm with something of an arched eyebrow, and he said, Well, I've never seen anything quite like it before. That is such a rapid onset of infection. It was dark when I left his office. I hadn't realized it was so late. Driving home, my car seemed sluggish until I saw the needle on the dashboard and realized that I was pushing it to the utmost of its speed. I was racing home to prevent... prevent something before it was too late for the darkness that inspired against me. For somehow I already knew with certainty that it was the darkness and the night that I had to fear. The curves of the canyon seemed endless. And then the cold fear leaked up inside me. My house, too, was dark. I went slowly up the stone steps in the road, looking, praying for some sign of light or light. There was none. The house was empty. Ellen was gone. I looked with the same self-torsuring thoroughness, and in that closet, first of all, knowing as I did so, there was hopeless. And so alone in that empty house, I waited. Powerless and helpless now. Deadened in thought and will. Empty as the house itself. Save only for the overwhelming sense of a terrible foreboding. For some time in the early hours of the morning, I snapped on the radio, shortwave. Why? Surely a minor question now. I only know that I did. And then I heard it. I was there almost before the police, edging my way through the little crowd, staring down at the man lying there in his white uniform under the streetlight. Yeah, the milkman's poor guy. I heard him scream, but when I got here, just like this, it's nothing. All right, stand back, stand back. Please, please stand back. Well, you again. I heard it on the radio. I lived just down the road. Yeah, yeah, I remember. Well, what happened? Well, take a look. Maybe you can tell us. He was dead. And he was lying on his back. And his throat had been torn out as though by the fangs of some wild animal. It is now Christmas Eve. Or rather, Christmas morning, for it's a little after midnight. I've been waiting here. Here in the stillness of this empty house for nearly 24 hours, waiting for the end. Already once tonight, I've heard that dreadful, wailing, crying somewhere in the hills. I've nailed up the closet door, but that I know is childish. Useless. My arm is horribly swollen and turning black, but that's nothing. It's another end that I foresee. As surely as other men foresee the rising of the sun, I hear the cry again. It's nearer now. I shall leave these notes in a sealed envelope and put it in a shoebox. In the hope that someone will give credence to these dark and terrible events. If indeed such nameless horrors can ever yield to mortal understanding. As for myself, I feel no longer any fear or even sorrow. Only a desire that the end and the thing that I must do may come soon. It will be soon. Yes. But there is someone left to go. But there is someone left to go. It's quite a yarn. But what of it? That's what I thought. Now listen, that's not quite all of it. Clip to it's a newspaper clip. Listen. Hollywood December the 26th. Police reported what was apparently a case of murder and suicide in Cyprus Canyon sometime in the early hours of the morning. The victims were James A. Woods, a chemical engineer, and his wife Ellen. Preliminary investigation indicates that Mrs. Woods was killed by the blast of a shotgun in the hands of a husband who then turned the weapon upon himself that she fought desperately for her life however was evidenced by the disorder of the room and the severe lacerations inflicted upon her husband about the neck and arms. This is the second tragedy to be reported in Cyprus Canyon in the early hours, the other being the unexplained death of Frank Polanski, a milkman. Well, no such murders or whatever they were ever occurred if that's what's worrying you. The clipping. No, no, it's not that, Sam. That story was found in an unfinished house in Cyprus Canyon. No number, no nothing, just a framework. Now that house is finished. When I drove by it today, but that's what stopped me, Sam it is the house in the story the same construction, the same vines and creepers on the lawn, even the same number. So what, a guy who knows roughly what this house is going to be like writes a yarn and loses it or something. Did he know the place was going to be listed for rental today, the Saturday before Christmas? Jerry, coincidence. Two bits you find the guy next door as a ghost story writer or something and he's been wondering for a year what happened to that thing he wrote. Okay. I'm sorry I bothered you, Sam. Don't be silly, I liked it. It's a good yarn. Is that the for rent sign you were talking about? Oh, yeah, I'm going to put it up outside now. Well, so long Jerry and Merry Christmas again. Well, thanks, Sam. I guess I was kind of zillio. Listen, when a guy named whatever it is, Woods with a wife named Ellen comes in to rent that place from you, then you can start worrying. Yeah, well, so long, Sam. So long, Jerry. Come in. Oh, we're sorry to bother you but we just happened to see that for rent sign outside. Yeah, I hung it out just this minute. Is the house available? Oh, sure, sure it is. Let me introduce myself. My name is James A. Woods and this is my wife, Ellen. How do? Wow. Looks like it's fixing to fix into her. Yes, it does, doesn't it? Suspense. Presented by Roma Wines. R-O-M-A. Roma Wines, selected for your pleasure from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines. Tonight show marks the third birthday of suspense on the air and this is Ken Niles asking our star of the evening Robert Taylor to help us celebrate. Why didn't you tell me before, Ken, if I'd only known I'd have baked a cake? All suspense parties are surprise parties. As an old hand on suspense, you know that in our plays the tables are usually turned on the star. So tonight, although it's our birthday, we're going to give you a present. Here it is, a gift basket of grand estate California wines from Roma, America's greatest vintner, to our distinguished anniversary guest, Robert Taylor. Thanks, Ken. You turn a nice table. And you can set a nice table with grand estate burgundy in your basket, Bob, for grand estate burgundy means rare dining pleasure, adds memorable distinction to holiday dinner. Even everyday meals are outstanding in taste when grand estate burgundy is served. Yes, all grand estate wines presented by Roma are limited bottlings of outstanding taste excellence. That I know about grand estate wines, Ken. But did you know that for grand estate wines Roma selects only the choicest grapes? In the ancient skill of Roma master vintners, necessary time and America's finest winemaking resources, guide the cuve of this great treasure to rich taste luxury. That's why discriminating wine users everywhere look to grand estate wines as the crowning achievement of vintner skill. Reason enough. And now, Ken, who's all set to star on suspense next Thursday? It's that very wonderful actress and wonderful girl, Miss Susan Peters. A young lady in straightened circumstances who finds herself mistaken for a very rich young lady and who is forced into continuing the deception with murder as a result. I'll certainly make it a point to listen. Before I go, I'd like to thank this really great company of actors who played with me tonight, and particularly Kathy Lois who played Ellen. Thank you, Bob. Tonight's original suspense play was written by Robert L. Richards. Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Miss Susan Peters call suspense. Produced by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.