 Roma wines present suspense Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world hello your health senior 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 to introduce this weekly half hour of suspense tonight from Hollywood we bring you mr. Orson Wells mr. Wells will appear a star of the suspense drama called the dark tower from the play by George S. Kaufman and the late Alexander Wolcott but before we raise the curtain on this evening's tale of suspense here is a message from your host the Roma wine company of Fresno California let us picture a scene in the fashionable restaurant El Patio in Havana Cuba from the next table we hear a Cuban judge of fine wines describe in glowing terms the wonderful climate and soil of our own California when his American guest points out that his Cuban host has never been to the United States the Cuban answers well it's true I've never visited your California but from only such perfect wine country could come sherry of such superb quality is that we have enjoyed Roma California sherry yes by their example wine connoisseurs of many other lands tell you that in Roma wines are all the great qualities that must be present in a wine for great enjoyment it's for this reason these wine experts of other lands import Roma wines from great distances to be enjoyed as a rare luxury but for you this luxury of other lands becomes a daily pleasure because you can enjoy any of Roma wines many different taste appealing wine types without additional charge for import duties and expensive shipment from great distance these two great Roma wine features superb quality and small cost have made Roma wines America's largest selling wine I'll spell out the name for you R.O.M.A. Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world and now with the dark tower and with the performance of our star Orson Welles as that noted actor Damon Wellington scion of the celebrated royal family of stage and screen we again hope to keep you in suspense you dare you dare call me a ham violet I will prove to the world there are no brains within that thick two tonic skull I'll cleave it open like an overripe melon who thus profanes the rehearsal of my lines and sir if our man of woman born I fear the knot hello Damon man Western you old son of a gun I heard you were back from the coast what news in the reality from that cesspool of the arts known as Hollywood they turned my picture to the wall at the brown derby yet no it's still there I despise myself for wanting to know of course there's marvelous to have you back been oh boy seen Jessica yet yes I've seen her and she looking fine feeling better than she has for years I think you got a great thing in this play been changed quite a bit from the original of course sort of a satire on the family perhaps it might be more dignified to say that the family is a satire on the play yes I heard about for instance those lines you heard me declaiming as you and it actually happened to be once you know that German what's his name of directed Macbeth he called me a ham and I chased him out of the theater and for four city blocks in full costume with a two-edged sword Damon is a little thing I like in the second act too Jessica asked me why I don't stop drinking and I say what would you have me subsist entirely on food and reach the gargantuan proportions of an awesome wells I'd ought to needle a boy wonder amen Damon can't you stop clowning for a minute of course I can know what a rogue and peasant slave Damon please please be serious what's the matter old man you know as well as I do what's the matter no frankly I can't say that I do me the world looks rather well does it and Jessica feeling better than she has for years is she well isn't she of course not how could she be and why shouldn't she be Damon don't you realize there's been a murder to be sure so there hasn't a good thing too if you ask me what of it what of it can't you see the thing is hanging over this house like a like a curse I hadn't noticed anything hanging over this house profane or otherwise and what about Jessica oh I suppose it's bound to upset her a little but she's really fine shape in it's gonna be marvelous in this play there's more at stake in this than a play game the thing has never been solved perhaps it never will be perhaps that's just as well but Jessica can't remember don't you understand Damon she can't remember well let Jessica can't remember listen to me Damon I wouldn't mind it if it was just that other people thought she might have done it but they would do that anyway but but she does oh come on Ben I don't believe I talked to her Damon I know Damon I love Jessica more than anything else in the world you know that yes Ben I do this way I I couldn't you couldn't marry a murderer I just think it would be rather exciting now that you mention it I rather wish I had instead of some of those I did bury Damon I'm sorry pretty serious to you isn't it old man did you think it wouldn't be I'm gonna tell you the truth Ben I hadn't thought about it at all that's the trouble with being an actor as long as your heart's good you don't give a hang about the rest of the play yeah you told Jessica yes we had a long talk how did she take it you know Jessica she carried it off of course Ben you know in spite of all our histrionic bickering I'm rather nuts about Jessica so I know you are Damon I have no very fundamental objections to you either I would describe you my dear Benjamin as adequate thanks so I think perhaps you and I'd better have a nice long heart to heart talk what good will talking do I think if you'll do the listening and let me do the talking you see lend me your ears I will tell you I'm fooled well Jessica as you know had been in a sanitarium for nearly a years and been on the stage in more than two years a dark tower was to be a first attempt to work again all that time I know what isn't the greatest play in the world but it has a surefire box office appeal Jessica needed that to get a confidence back well we were just polishing up a few last minute changes here at the house David Torrance the producer you know he's there with us and of course they're the usual a little different another thing Damon when you kick me in the middle of the second act where you know perfectly well where is it absolutely essential that you boot me halfway across the stage what do you want me to do pull my punches that's one of the high spots in the show it may be a high spot to you darling but it's just a black and blue spot to me very well henceforth I shall appear for the second act on crutches you know Uncle David that's not a bad idea oh now Damon let's be serious there's a lot of work I'm quite serious I could throw a matter might try throwing me a cue once in a while the use of having a play if you just make up the lines as you go along critics thought my ad-libbing very witter you remember dear oh Damon you're such an insufferable ham a ham a ham me now children please I failed to see why I should permit that little minx to insult me with impunity David how dare you speak to me that way started it I did not you start it you call me a hand you are ham ham ham minx minx minx but soft what light through yonder window breaks it is the east and Martha is the sudden I quite agree what but you're a ham get I'll be set by harp is David haven't you any control over these highlings of yours oh I'm only the producer my dear Martha you at least a member of the family and you at least can quit we're terribly sorry on Martha we've been a nuisance I know and I apologize Damon I even apologize to you don't be silly I've been much worse I know but I really been terribly keyed up working again and you know Ben is coming east for the opening love rears its ugly head don't be horrid Damon it's all right I couldn't even be angry if he was anyway I'll have a husband to protect me by this time next week I can lick him with one hand tied behind me Damon seriously I know I owe you an awful lot me I hadn't actually realized how far I'd gone these last six months have been like coming alive again the play and Ben thanks Damon now I think I'll dress for dinner let's all go out to the I'll get it out Martha where would you like to go to a rest home hello who no no he's not here he's not here I tell you he's dead darling what is it it was for Stanley for Stanley yeah never mind darling it's all right just some fool who didn't know of course Damon you take David and Martha after dinner will you I think I'll lie down come on Jess you mustn't let a little thing like that upset I know but I'm awfully tired please Jessica you'd better leave her alone for a while Martha I suppose so it was for Stanley Vance the husband yes he's dead you say might as well tell him about it Martha I was always for telling about it well you don't have to I'd rather he was the cause of her breakdown of course there have been an actor that's why Jessica married him she married him because he forced her to marry him he controlled that girl's mind like some sort of fiendish I've always said that if Jessica was fool enough to marry a psycho whammy Damon stop playing the heartless brother you saw what Stanley did to her I was in Hollywood perhaps that's why Damon went to Hollywood oh well what could one do she was legally married to the man she'd listened to no one but him here's what happened David she went to this fellow to be psychoanalyzed and in the process something happened I don't know what it was but Vance acquired a power over Jessica's mind that was utterly inhuman he married her quite frankly to have a support him then he found he'd overplayed his hand and sent her into a complete mental collapse when he found he couldn't snap her out of it and she was no longer a source of revenue to him he simply decamped hmm you say Vance is now dead we heard the happy news about six months ago some public benefactor had shot him I've always meant to look that fellow up from that very day she began to get better from the moment she heard the news it was as though a spell had been lifted now she's practically all well you know as odd as that someone phoning for him after all these months probably the sheriff just catching up oh I wonder who that could be Damon you don't suppose I'll go it may be a peasant with a petition good evening my dear Martha you are positively psychic the honorable Stanley Vance thank you I trust the shock will not be too great one know us not the place nor the hour when the bridegroom cometh does one my luggage will be here shortly listen to me you Stanley Vance good evening Martha I regret to arrive so unceremoniously I have been ill so we have been told we have been assured however that your illness was fatal Damon I thought I can Jessica my poor poor darling ten but you're real my dear aren't you you're real you should be resting you're tired and exhausted aren't you terribly terribly tired yes I am tired oh great I'll take you up to your room darling I take it we still have the same room listen to me Stanley Vance the poor girl you can see how weak if you think you're going to stay under this roof for a single minute get out very well if you insist on being inhospitable Martha you'll pack your things Jessica will go to an hotel yes yes Jessica but I'm so tired will you help me Stanley of course I will my dear come along Stanley yes Martha all right Stanley you win you're asking us to avail ourselves of your hospitality Martha yes you can stay that's very sweet of you Martha isn't it darling yes yes but somehow someday there'll be a time of reckoning for you Stanley Vance and until it comes keep out of my sight the pleasure will be all mine come darling we'll go to our room now Damon yes my age you don't even Damon what are we going to do I don't know what you're going to do ducky but I'm going down to the Lambs Club and have a quadruple scotch and soda you may think it heartless of me but during the next few days I simply stayed away I think you'll understand my reasons later for Jessica she was of course completely in his power again and about a week later there appeared for the scene a gentleman who was destined to play a very substantial role in our little drama I think you've already met him least on one occasion I'll get it Jessica darling hello no mr. Damon wellington isn't here can I take a message please mr. Max Hartzfeld Hartzfeld I'll tell him you called mr. Hartzfeld I really couldn't say but you can come up and wait if you like of course but I can't promise he'll see you very well goodbye Jessica yes Stanley do you know any friend of Damon's named Max Hartzfeld no Stanley he seemed extremely eager to see him he said he'd come up here and wait oh I see it's no matter tell me darling have you been feeling a little stronger these last few days yes I think perhaps I am Stanley but of course you're not ready to go back on the stage again are you darling no of course not Stanley poor darling well my little lovebirds how are you too how are you Jessica a little stronger I think am I a little stronger Stanley of course you are my dear Jessica I think you'd better leave us now there's something I want to talk over with Damon yes I'll see you again very shortly darling yes well Damon I've been wanting to talk to you for some time really I wish I could say the same I suppose you realize Damon that it's out of the question for Jessica to go on in the play in her present condition kind of the point where your vans have a pressing engagement with a pin-up girl and I have got to change into my suit suit well seriously Damon I know that you somehow connect me with Jessica's condition an odd coincidence I do what of it I know it would make you and everyone very happy if Jessica could go on in the play how the light at last illuminates maddled with so it's a shakedown a shakedown as it Stanley my dear Damon I really don't know what you're talking about here my loss and as in law I've been shaken down by experts on every conceivable count including the man act in my time and I can smell them a mile away what you propose is a certain financial considerations you will leave this happy home Jessica will recover and she can go on in the play the answer is no there won't be any play without are you suggesting that my name is not sufficient to draw the suckers I can get a dozen people to play Jessica's part Margaret O'Brien Marjorie Maine Daisy Agnes more hair makes no difference to me anybody at all don't try to bluff me Damon after all this build-up you won't dare go on without Jessica you little know me stinky you may consider your little farce is having closed on opening night that's what Jessica I'm very much afraid that she's made her bed and now she'll have to lie in it there's no cure for her short of murder with yourself as a victim and I do not propose to put my neck in the hangman's noose good night I think you'll see things my way a little later Damon did by the way did I have any calls oh yes a Max Hartz felt that he was coming up here wait for you good heavens when he's on his way now I imagine not tell him I'm out where you're going to Hollywood or something fellas been pestering me all week wants to buy into the show and I simply don't want to see him well he wants to buy into the show yes he does not share your lamentable lack of faith in my talent Stanley and he's dying to buy into the show does he know Jessica won't be able to appear of course he does you idiot everybody does as you read the trade papers are now good night repulsive I have other fish to fry to do flat top Jessica Jessica my dear I'm coming tell me Jessica the dark tower the play you were going to appear in with Damon you have an interest in it don't you yes yes I think I do an equal interest with Damon with Damon how much do you suppose that interest is worth Jessica a hundred thousand dollars I think a hundred thousand dollars yes that was it have you thought about what you're going to do with it now that you can't appear in the play yourself no Stanley I haven't you see I'm not at all sure the play will be a success without you Jessica I don't know Stanley and so it might be wise to sell your share of it before it opens don't you agree Jessica yes yes I do agree and Jessica if I could find a buyer and I think perhaps I can it might be best if I were to handle the details for you don't you think yes Stanley you handle the fact of the matter is there's a man coming up here this evening a friend of Damon's Max Hartzfeld do you remember I asked you about yes won't be any trouble to you darling all you'll have to do with sign the necessary papers excuse me is this the residence of mr. Damon mr. Hartzfeld yes oh come in please Mr. Wellington is at home no and we don't expect him but he's discussed with me the reason for your visit and I think perhaps you and I can reach a satisfactory agreement and you are Stanley Vance I miss Wellington's husband this is my wife sit down please mr. Hartzfeld may I have your hat and coat thank you and your gloves I'm sorry they have eccentricity perhaps I always keep them on oh and mr. Hartzfeld Damon tells me that you wish to buy an interest in the new Wellington play the dark tower yes I've been seeking an interview with mr. very yes so he's told me however Damon has very definitely made up his mind not to sell any part of his interest in the play you are sure of this mr. Vance oh yes quite sure I had a long talk with him about it only this evening I see I will not conceal from you that this is a source of great disappointment to me mr. Vance I have such a deep admiration for the talents of mr. Wellington I've mentioned a few previous theatrical enterprises now at last I hope I quite understand your feelings mr. Hartzfeld and I think that I may be able to help you yes yes you see Damon owns only half of the Wellington interest in the play my wife miss Jessica Wellington owns the other half and she we if the offer were sufficiently attractive and indeed you you are willing to sell them miss Wellington yes whatever stand this is good then perhaps we should get down to detail no yes mr. Vance and miss Wellington I'm afraid you will think me very wrong not at all what is it yeah since the talents of miss Wellington's brother must be considered the very essence of our bargaining and since you are acting as her agent in any event I want to shoot forgive me if I ask that you and I conclude this part of our business alone mr. Vance of course Jessica will understand perfectly won't you my dear yes run along then darling I'll call you when we need you now mr. Vance I imagine you will wish to know a little more about the man with whom you're dealing here's my card I'm staying at the Waldorf I've written the rule number on the card for you oh there's no need really yeah but before we discuss terms there is one other thing yeah I wonder you do not know me do you mr. Vance no you I do not know why I've been looking forward to such pleasure to an interview with you alone I know I it's very simple it's very simple really mr. Vance it's it's just that I'm I'm going to kill you to kill me really mr. heartfelt with these two hands and before you die before you die I want you to know the reason Jessica no no so you see Ben there is your murderer mr. Max Hartzfeld and I hope you're duly grateful to him and elusive fellow Hartzfeld the police have been trying to find him for two weeks they never will left no fingerprints you see he always kept his gloves on it's an eccentricity damn next wait a minute do you mean you have my dear mutton my dear mutton head listen darling the holdings perfectly clear this is plain as the putty knows on Max Hartzfeld's face I still can't get it into my head Benjamin if you don't know who Max Hartzfeld is by now you are the only person within the sound of my voice who does not you mean you impersonated then it wasn't Jessica Jessica she never could have done it the girl has talent but no genius but Damon murder murder he says dear friend you share with me a guilty secret your lips are sealed come in the words of Hamlet never so help you mercy note that you know ought of me swear by my sword what swear I swear well said old mole well I think that winds up the case Watson Jessica will receive by registered post a signed confession by Max Hartzfeld bound in vellum that should end her worries you may consider it as my wedding present it will be a work not without literary merit although written lefty I should prefer it to be published posthumously I look forward to a long and brilliant career in the theater I should not care to terminate it abruptly upon so poetry a characterization as the late Max Hartzfeld music curtain and so closes the dark tower by Alexander Wolcott and George S. Kaufman and starring Orson Wells tonight's tale of suspense suspense is produced and directed by Williams Spear if we could bring to this microphone a man typical of all Roma wine dealers this is what he might tell you I sell a lot of the good Roma wines they are you know America's largest selling wines my Roma wine customers I've noticed are sociable people who enjoy entertaining friends talking with me they give a lot of credit for the success of their entertaining to the enjoyable Roma wines they serve they're thrifty people to these buyers of Roma wines what else could offer so much enjoyment for so little cost only pennies a glass by actual check now that doesn't leave much for me to add except this perhaps if you are not already one of the millions enjoying Roma wines regularly make your own taste test of any of Roma wines many different taste-delighting California wine types such as the delicious tangy Roma sherry or the hearty Roma burgundy or the sweeter heavier Roma port and discover for yourself why Roma wines are winning international praise voiced in this phrase Roma wines are truly magnificent let me repeat the name R.O.M.A. Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world this is Orson Wells ladies and gentlemen next week suspense will as is its policy from time to time do the unexpected in the way of casting because you're going to hear the country's leading comic juvenile Mr. Eddie Bracken as a dramatic actor I look forward to hearing that I know you do too ensure your baby's future by ensuring your country's future buy war bonds for your baby today don't forget then next Thursday same time you will hear Eddie Bracken in suspense presented by Roma wines R.O.M.A. made in California for enjoyment throughout the world this is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System