 Inner Sanctum Victory, brought to you by Blomos Alper, and starring Ben Hett. The former South, the former South, the former South. Good evening, friends of Inner Sanctum. This is your host, inviting you in through the speaking door. Come in, come in, won't you? We're having a gala fair tonight, a grand premier at the downtown Marcellion. And anybody who is any party will be there. Yes, it's formal, of course, but you don't have to wear evening clothes. You can come in morning. But do come early. We're having a few people in the sky for us, and you mustn't miss the opening kickoff. Tonight's Inner Sanctum Mystery, The Specter of the Rose, is an adaptation of Ben Hett's newest motion picture, which will have its Broadway premiere on August 31. It was adopted by Robert Sloan, and is presented by the Emerson drug company of Baltimore, Maryland, whose registered pharmacist compound that speedy, refreshing headache health in the familiar brew bottle, two more selfies. This is your host, ready with tonight's story. It's all about a ballet dancer who made a woman's heart pirouette and kept the detective on his toes. Our guest tonight is only a student of the ballet, but at telling stories, he has no master. So here is The Specter of the Rose, and its author, Ben Hett. People like Andrew Sanning were born with one foot in heaven. The grace, the charm, the effortless majesty of his movements were learned, perhaps, but never really studied. To him the ballet was like food or sleep, a normal function of the body, an inseparable part of the soul. And when Hansie danced in the theater, Usher's watch, stage hands stood by on the wings and stared. Even the manager of the company applauded his last act cutting-edge. Well, well, I'm very, very proud of you for making music. Don't be an old George Polikoff. Very nice to thank you for that. No, but tonight it was even more the same. Already they're calling you a gypsy. That's my dumbest dude. He's right, Hansie. We've been timing you, Mike. This is that hand they're giving you. It's for you, madame. You're in The Specter of the Rose. I'm just a property that brings your dancers to life. Ah, you're a fool. We'll go out there and take another call. No, no. No more calls without Nina. My wife is entitled to some of this glory. She's dancing hard out tonight. Fine. We'll go before the curtain. Nina? Nina, where are you? We're gonna take a call together. No, it's too late. She'll have shoes in her dressing. No, she hasn't come off the stage. Maybe one of the girls knows where she is. Good job. Good talk. You know who cares? One of the girls from miles. Don't be a poor Polikoff. Just that little one Heidi. Something must have happened. Pick, Andre. Come. Here, here. What's the matter? You're right, Mrs. Ami. Look. She's so scared. I tried to wake her up. What? Nina, my darling. She killed me. No, you can't. Don't touch her. She's dead. No. No, I can't believe it. She died right here on the stage, Andre. On the stage. In a costume of a rose. Nothing like it had ever happened before. A ballerina dies in costume at the end of the performance, and her husband's brief closes the show. But men like Polikoff, men who are full of ego and insolvency, never let a good show stay closed. It took a month to find a new backer for another ballet-starring, Andre Sonny. But as soon as he found one, he went to La Silt for this plan. His bigger and better plan. It's a goldmine, darling. A goldmine. Polikoff, why do you tend to lose your gold, right? I'm giving my girl the lesson. I'm not sending you a stick. You know the stick. I don't believe in that stickness. Nerves, that's all. That's the moment we'll start again. Polikoff, again, Andre. She's mental. But how long can a man suffer over a dead wife? A week, two weeks, but they're monstrous ridiculous. When the music plays, he'll die. I told you, he doesn't dance. He lies in a bed staring. He hasn't moved for months. He doesn't even know if it's a day or night. That's not permanent, hon. He's moody, but he's a shining, he's heavy. He's a poor child. He brings in soup. Like little red-riding or something. He never even looks at it. You're as sweet as your holiday. As long as one woman still adores a man, he isn't sick. He isn't mad. Yes? What is it? Excuse me. Do you mind a little self? That's right. My name is McFarlane. I'm from the homicide bureau. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? What about? About a dancer, you know, called Andre Sonning. You know where I can find him? Well, I imagine you can find him right where he's been for the last seven months at home when he's black. Where is that? Why do you want to see him? Oh, is that the report I'm investigating? You know how the police are. We never really close our books on a case. What books? What are you talking about? Well, we perfectly frank, Mr. Sonning seems to have been making some peculiar statements about his wife. And I'm not altogether sure they are true. What did he say? That his wife was murdered. Murdered? Yeah. That's why I'd like to talk to him. Get some of these statements firsthand. This is foolish, officer. He's sick. It's as sick as making things like that. That's the same I want to talk to him. But you care about where he's in this condition. How would you think of letting him speak to him now? I'm afraid you'll have to, young lady. Why? Who did he say murdered his wife? That's just that. He said he did it himself. Let's get one day straight, Mr. Sonning. I didn't kill her. And if I told somebody I'd do it, it's only because I'm scared of a bed bug. So help me. It was stuck in my mind. What was stuck, Mr. Sonning? The idea that I'd killed her that night. I'm scared. It's sort of a dream. I'm scared. It's all right, Heidi. I can talk about it. Go ahead, Mr. Sonning. Talk. Well, it's like I was telling you before. I can't let these dreamers, daydreamers, if I call them, all are real to me. First I hear the violence in hearts. A rare pie. That's the start. When I see myself coming in, in a jacket of roses. There's an ice in my head, you know? No, I don't. Is this one of the characters that you play on the stage? That's it. If the dance called it, the best pair of the road, only it don't really care enough. It's only in the dream. You see what I mean? me. Well you're a little mixed up to like it. No not anymore. I told you in the dream that I had killed it but I haven't had that dream or heard those three violence of some kind. Not with your normal not sure like a lot even the music doesn't bother me anymore. I'll show you play for me Heidi and then I'm not going to tell you that I said. I've got to admit it's nothing but a lot to me now. I think it's bad about being thrown apart and you might ask I've been working in this room and I've turned taking me up and down the wall. It's just a lot to me now. Just a lot. Maybe it's gentlemen. This is an historic moment of it. We've seen the comeback of a genius that is it come back to me political. I've got to get your social guns for the entire ballet season. I don't just see me by collecting a full orchestra. You can do your own choreography like you're a big car. Well. Little angel that have an extent to make me back to health. I'm well again. But you have made me. What's your beautiful darling and I want you to dance with me. Don't you understand. You shall be my darling. Of course my darling. Together we shall dance to that. In two weeks and the family was ready to start the other two of the spectrum of the road that already began to take shape with Heidi in the ballerina road and one night before the opening performance madam myself to hide your side up to rehearsal and told us something she never expected. And it leaves the show. You cannot play the phone. I don't know what to do about it. But it's your time if you do that. You must not see on the way my child you must see you. They are going to have a lot of it. But they come back yet anymore. Why did I leave on the way I was going to know you do my darling But he's the guy that would do it for you. Then why don't you do that? Oh, please, listen. There's something more important in your life than love. But he's going to kill you. Don't you understand? We were made for each other. Oh, you guys aren't made for anybody. He's a madman. But don't say that. Oh, you guys killed Lina. And he'll kill you if I let him. No, he didn't kill Lina. You can't kill yourself. Why? Because everyone includes everybody. But the guy's been around here a dozen times. He knows the pain that's happening. He knows the truth. That is the truth. I'm going to be the killer. No. No, I'm not going to listen to you. Don't listen. The person you met this year in the dressing room a half hour before she died in a state. She had a knife in her hand. And she was cutting him off with a chair when I came in. She died from a heart attack. And he died from a bruise. He's dead. I think her life was one month before that. But she killed her just because she stabbed her with that knife. Oh, she didn't tell me this. I had to. She had to cut him in the face. And that's the way it started with Lina. He has the same life coming up. That's why I want you to go away. Yeah, I want you to go away. I can't. I can't. Because... you were married to Captain Lina. No, no, no. No, no, no. No, no, no. No, no. No, no, I'm going to sleep with Lina. Ah, but I'm sleeping with Lina. You might as well like to say his body cross the face. Even a worse one like this. Yeah, now I can like to die. Oh, you're so sweet. Come on, keep it. Sweetness isn't such a thing. I'll touch it all for you. I want to take it. What's the matter? You hear me? Look, you're going to go away. Call me. Call me tight. Call me tight. I love you one day. I'll always be with you. Whenever you need me. I mean, just keep it so much. You know? Call me. I'll never find you, Heidi. To lose you. I'll never hurt you. No matter what happens. I don't talk. I'm so glad you're crying. I'm so sad. I just want to know this. I can't? Yes. I'm so sad. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. What can I do? Nothing. Nothing is just for me. Be blessed and blessed. Oh, I'm blessed. The man with the knife. Can't you see? She's coming! closer, closer, closer. coming back to the room. Here he comes, honey. The boss for the money! Oh my darling... Love me. Love me. Do you know that the experts in radio have a way of telling how many people listen to a program. When they figure this out, the program gets what's called a rating. If last week's audience is any indication many millions are listening tonight to inner sanctum. Yes, inner sanctum is a top rating show. And among those millions of people, it's a sure bet that some of them are going to have a headache tomorrow or Wednesday or the next day. And when that happens, many of them have a product on hand that gets a top rating for headache help. It comes in a blue bottle. It fights headaches three ways. Yes, it's born with health. The headache help that millions know because of a fast relief. It brings fast relief, not only from a headache itself, but also from a stomach upset and jittery nerves that may go along with the headache. And we're not going to have to wait time to see because it's such a present way of combating a headache. Why, we're not so nice and refreshing. There's nothing I'd rather take for a headache. That's what modern folks everywhere say. So remember, friends, go more south, sir, is that your gorgeous fountain and counter. And next time you have a headache, get fast relief from that headache grief, fake refreshing well, now that you've had a chance to catch your breath, let's give this ballet dancer another world and find out what makes him take. No, no, no, no. Not Andre, the other one, the gay blade that dances up and down the walls of a night. He's the one I like. Only to pity he never uses a fork. But then what can you expect of a specter that he's an artist and the artist who paint with a sword have a nasty habit of drawing blood. Well, let's get on with the story. Here's Mr. Hecht to continue. The mind of a ballet dancer is hard enough to fathom even under normal conditions. That unsymbolic thoughts and childlike enthusiasm, its simplicity is deceiving. Like a fine watch or an expensive radio, a delicately adjusted mechanism that gives it balance can become distorted. One crossed wire, one loose connection, and instead of hearing a beautiful symphony, out come static. That's why Detective McFarlane was on hand at the theater the night the specter arose, the schedule to open. Now, don't get excited, lost self. I'm not here to arrest anybody. I just got a hunch that something might happen. Don't you know that guy went crazy last time he danced? Loonies like him have a way of repeating themselves. Will you kindly not add to our burden? I've explained about being his death a thousand times. That's the trouble. A normal death needs only one explanation. But a thousand aren't enough when it's the case of murder. Don't give me that luck, self. That scream wasn't up there. There was right down here and I'm very funny. Who's making all the noise? I don't mind about that. What's going on here? Nothing. Somebody screamed in here. Where is she? What are you talking about? You're white. Where is she? She's lying down resting. We always ask you for a performance. You wanted to see me. Yeah. Something might have happened. I scream here. No. No, nothing happened. My husband and I were quarreling. I screamed. I couldn't help it. I appreciate it. Not so fast. You look a little pale to me. Are you all right? Wouldn't I tell you if I would? I don't know. I know this isn't very pretty, but everything is all right. After the show, you can hit me on the head if you want to. But right now, you've got to leave alone. We're dancing tonight. I need them alone. OK, I won't bother you anymore. I mean, I'll be standing right outside the door. Stand on. Charlie, what could I do to you, darling? I stuck you tonight. I stuck you in my face. You stuck you in that willing devil. I thought I was watching you, but it was me. I know I'm having a hard time. I know I love you. I'm making you hear me. I love you. I'm fine. I know you're good. I do just a lot of muscle lifting. The answer is to me is Robbie's broken glass. Don't talk like that, please. Don't even think. How can I not think? I can read again. I do. My shoulder is bleeding. Don't look, can't tell you tell me it's crotch. It's not. It's big. It's a crotch. I can take it. I did that to deny. I cut you with an eye. No, that wasn't an eye. Don't lie to me. How do you know what I tried to kill you? I didn't ask you to know. I fell against the glass. Can't you see the edge of it? I tried to hide it from you in my rope. Good night. Good night. I held it in my hand. Take it, Heidi. Take it and take it into my heart. No, no, never. Angel, you might kill me before I kill you. Hey, darling, tonight you must dance. They were like music that night, not like people. Like music floating through the air like resonant notes echoing down a corridor. When the curtain fell, the ovation was tremendous. Heidi and Sannin were an overnight sensation, and especially the rose was only the first of their triumph. For weeks, they played the capacity houses, and then one night just before curtain time, it happened. They're not here yet, must feel. They're not here yet. What? Heidi and Sannin are not in the theater. No. What time is it? 8.25, five minutes before curtain time. They're not here yet. How can they prove it? Please, please. Have they called up or anything? Nothing. Nothing. They hadn't called the phone in their apartment. Doesn't matter. Henry's been calling them for 20 minutes. Here, man. What can I do? Bring him again? No, no, no. Henry, go over there right away. Something must have happened. You'd better tell the audience. Of course, they're not coming. How do you know? They're not coming, I tell you. Wait a minute. Where are you going? I'm going to call the police. Every morning they're knocking on themselves. I got a key from the super. Nobody's home. My car and Henry would have called us if they were here. That's the same. We're going inside. They made a mess of this place before they left. How do you know they left? I don't know. I know what the phrase will be. What's that? Wait. There's somebody on the front. Henry, what happened? Oh, God. Where? I don't know. He took him away. Where'd they go? What happened to you? He hit me with that chair. He's like a wild man. What did you say to him? Nothing. I just wanted to get his doctor. Never mind about that. Where did they go? I told you. I don't know. She was a faded doctor who'd come and take him away. That's why they left. She didn't want any doctors to aid him. He was a foolish little child. He must find him a father before it's too late. Oh, finally, if it's going to end, he's going to leave. Oh, God, I know what I told you. He said he was going to hide Henry from everybody, too. He got where again. Was he dead? Yes, ma'am. He was talking about violence and hype way up high the way they began in the specky of the road. And they was bad. For three days and three nights in the stuffy hotel room where Heidi had hidden him, he coughed and turned over in his bed like a man with tropical fever. And all the while, the demon sang in his head. On the first night, Heidi went out with some food. When she came back, Henry was very still on the bed. I was looking at the baby. He dances all the time now. In my mind, I can't stop talking to you. I've got you some rose and mint. Oh, you must be hungry darling. You haven't eaten for three days. So you're gone just now. So I didn't hear you say. So do you hear alone? I'm not alone. He's here. He's all alone. He looks so much better to talk to you. I thought you were well. Hey, I'm still dying. Darling, if you could help me, I could only get you three pills, but they weren't given to me without a doctor's prescription. Oh, they're called a doctor? Yes, if you know, I wouldn't call anybody. No, you wouldn't. I know who you are. I know you're well again. So who was I talking to before? No, you must have taken your eyes off me. I wouldn't have done that. Oh, it's hard to say. You don't feel the same. Heidi's feeling it. I can make her feel enough. I can give it some rest. I hate you, Heidi. I'm great. I'm a dancing out of crazy man right here in the bed. I'm a dancer, I dance, I dance. I'm great. I'm having too much to make you laugh. I don't want to laugh. I'm moving to the main room. Darling, darling, darling. I can't close you any more. I don't care. I don't want to laugh. There's no one here. Yes, I tell you. I don't want to laugh. Please put that roof out of there. It's no use. I don't stop him. He's trying to walk. Just to be here. I always try. Because he wants to see my face in here, I do. He wants to stay in places with me. Heidi needs help. Yeah. Yeah, I'm having too much to make you laugh. I don't feel like that. No, you are. No, you are. I'm tired. I'm tired. I'm tired. I'm tired. I'm tired. Meanwhile, I saw you a while ago, You wanted to get off? You want to go out? I'm up. I want to come and contact you. So I'm not drunk. Die. No, there's nothing I can do. You know what possible. I'm gone. No, darling. I can't get out. For you, Nina, the dance when you die, while the road spins around with a knife. My kill, Nina, I come to the scene, I leave, I turn, I tell the rest, but it's for God. This is your old goriographer, and let that be a lesson to all you whirling dervishes. If you much commit a murder, don't wind up like a top. No, only in this case our hero wound up at the bottom. Well, as I always say, a rolling stone gathers no more salience. A word of advice, then, from a man who made quite a mark for himself, cutting clothes. Murder, he says, is a messy business, but business always comes before a place