 Lux presents Hollywood the Lux Radio Theatre brings you Betty Davis Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price in The Letter. Ladies and gentlemen your producer Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen some stars are born to fame others have fame thrust upon them then there's a third kind like Betty Davis all the honors in Hollywood have come to her at one time or another those who judge stars by box office value place are among the leaders those who judge by purely artistic standards according to the same position she's won the Academy Award twice and yet I doubt whether Betty has has ever been completely satisfied with one of her performances like most great artists she always found some detail that might be improved when either the box office nor the critic judges harshly as her own instinct tonight we present Betty Davis in the letter by Somerset mom she gave one of her finest performances in the Warner Brothers picture and that was only fitting because it was in another mom story called of human bondage that Betty really came of age as an actress the letter packs the drama of a lifetime into a few weeks of love and violence and death it's a great play for a great actress but you'll hear more than one star performance because Herbert Marshall will play opposite Betty in the same party had in the picture and our third star is Vincent Price who makes his first appearance here tonight when I was first connected with the theater the audience which enjoyed a production like this was limited to the few hundred people who could crowd into a Broadway playhouse you can picture the riot that be if tonight stars were appearing on Broadway for one night only but today Lux Flakes has made it possible for 30 or 35 million people to hear the play at the same time and every one of you has the best seat in the house the soldier in New Guinea is in the third row center right beside the banker who is listening from his Park Avenue apartment and Lux Flakes is at work in both places in millions of American homes and abroad where a steel helmet may do double duty as a wash tub is the curtain now for the first act of the letter starring Betty Davis as Leslie Herbert Marshall as Robert Crosby and Vincent Price as Howard Joyce all of this happened a few years ago on the Malay Peninsula in the days before the war just north of Singapore laid a great rubber plantations kingdoms of commerce built by natives and white men on this particular night in the main bungalow of one of these plantations a light burns dimly through a shaded window the night is hot and humid the soft breeze heavy with the scent of flowers a clouded moon hangs low in the sky filtering slowly through the trees making pattern shimmering silver on the ground there is deep silence suddenly the door of the bungalow is flung open I hear a gunfire missy krusby I hear that man that is Mr. Hammond is he dead I I think him did you see the missy krusby do you know where the new district officer lives yes missy send someone for him at once say there's been an accident Mr. Hammond's dead yes missy and get word to my husband he's out somewhere on the number four plantation yes missy I try Leslie what are you Leslie I'm here Mr. Crosby yeah I'm John Withers the new district officer where's Mrs. Crosby she liked herself in her room she wouldn't see me until you can excuse me let me in Leslie darling is Robert Leslie what happened didn't they tell you they said Hammond was killed is he is he still out there I had your head boy removed the body to a shed Leslie what happened tell me he tried to to make love to me and I shot him Leslie oh Robert I'm so glad darling there hold me tight I'm so frightened nothing nothing to be frightened about it'll be all right now there now now now that's better I'll try not to do that again Mr. Withers I hope you'll understand I didn't want to see anyone until my husband came yes of course I understand Mrs. Crosby oh Howard come in I got your message in Singapore Howard how nice of you to come naturally I want to be here if I can help oh you will help us in every way I can as your lawyer and your friend you're a dear Mr. Withers this is Mr. Howard Joyce my attorney how do you do how do you do how's Dorothy how she's very well and anxious to see you has her sister arrived from England Adele oh yes she came last week oh oh you know you know Leslie you better be ready I do feel dreadfully faint come and lie down darling I'll uh I'll get you a drink sorry to be so tired nonsense you're being very brave how long have you been here Mr. Withers about an hour one of the Crosby houseboys came to fetch me was Hammond dead oh yes he was just riddled with bullets what well here's the revolver all six chambers are empty I hear you two you better have a drink of thanks but I'm afraid I shouldn't I'm on duty of a thought you know I'll have one Bob you feeling any better Leslie much better thank you Mrs. Crosby I'm afraid it's my duty to ask you some questions I think I can wait Mr. Withers until my way it's all right Robert really I feel perfectly well now then suppose you tell us Leslie in your own words exactly what happened I'll try and take your time Mrs. Crosby remember we're all friends here you've been so patient well well as you know Robert was spending the night at number four plantation oh I never mind being alone a planter's wife gets used to that I had dinner rather late and I I started working on my late oh I don't know how long I'd been working when suddenly I heard footsteps outside and someone came up on the verandah and said good evening can I come in I was startled because I hadn't heard a car driver who is it I asked Jeff Hammond oh of course I said come in and have a drink were you surprised to see him well I was rather he hadn't been in the house for ages had he Robert three months at least I told him Robert was over at the number four plantation getting out a shipment or something wasn't that it darling what did he say to that he said oh I'm sorry I felt rather lonely tonight so I thought I'd just come over and see how you were getting on well I put on my spectacles again he went on with my work chatted about one thing in another he asked me if Robert had heard that a tiger had been seen on the road two or three days ago he said he thought he'd try to get it over the weekend oh yes I know about that don't you remember I spoke to about it yesterday did you oh yes I believe you did well we we went on chatting until well well suddenly he said something rather silly what it's hardly worth repeating he paid me a little compliment I think perhaps you'd better tell us exactly what he said that he said you've got very pretty eyes it's too bad to hide them under those ugly spectacles has he ever said anything of the sort to you before oh no never and I thought it's impertinent I don't wonder did you answer him I said I didn't care a row of beams what he thought about me but he only laughed and said I'm going to tell you all the same I think you're the prettiest thing I've ever seen yes let her finish Bob well in that case I said I can only think you half with it he laughed again and moved his chair up closer but Mrs. Crosby I wonder you didn't throw him out there and then well I didn't want to make a fuss I think a woman only makes a perfect fool of herself if she makes a scene every time a man pays her a compliment when did you first suspect that Hammond was serious the next thing he said he looked at me straight in the face and he said don't you know that I'm awfully in love with you swine were you surprised of course I was surprised well we've known him for seven years Robert he's never paid me the smallest attention I didn't suppose he even knew what color my eyes were we hadn't seen very much when the last few years yes go on Leslie well he helped himself to another with skin soda I began to wonder if he'd been drinking before I wouldn't drink anymore if I were you I said he emptied his glass and asked me in a funny abrupt way you think I'm talking to you like this because I'm drunk I said that's the most obvious explanation isn't it oh it's awful having to tell you all this I'm so ashamed I wish there was some way we could spare you Mrs. Crosby Leslie it's for your own good that we know the facts all you can remember of them very well I'll tell you the rest I got up from my chair I was standing in front of the table about about here he rose and stood in front of me good night I said but he just looked at me and his eyes are all funny I'm not going he said but then I began to lose my temper you poor fool don't you know I've never loved anyone but Robert and even if I didn't love Robert you're the last man I should care for the answer Robert's away well that was the last straw I wasn't frightened just angry if you don't go away this minute I told him I'll call the boys and have you thrown out I walked past him to call the boys and he took hold of my arm and swung me back I screamed as loud as I could he flung his arms about me began to kiss me I struggled to tear myself away from him oh he seemed like a mad man he kept talking and talking saying he loved me oh it's horrible I can't go on I'm very sorry Leslie but we'll have to know the rest well he lifted me in his arms I struggled to get free but he was too strong he started to carry me and and then he stumbled on those steps and I got away from him suddenly I remembered Robert's revolver in the draw of that chest he got up but I reached it before he caught it was all instinctive I didn't know what I was doing I didn't even know I'd fire I heard a report and saw him lurched towards the door I followed him out to the veranda he staggered across the porch and fell down this tip I don't remember anything more just the reports one after another until there was a funny little click and the revolver was empty and suddenly I looked down and saw him lying there lying in the moonlight it was only then that I knew what I'd done my poor darling Mrs. Crosby may I say I think you behaved magnificently I'm terribly sorry we had to put you to the ordeal of telling us all this well you were all very kind quite obvious the man only got what he deserved with us if you come with me I'd like to see the body for a minute oh yes yes I'll take you to the shed we'll only be a few minutes my poor child oh Robert what have I done you've done what any woman would have done in your place only nine ten something wouldn't have had the courage and yet I'd give almost anything if I could bring him back to life so horrible to think that I killed it Leslie why there isn't a man or a woman in the colony who won't be proud to know you darling we have been happy haven't we you've been the best wife a man could have I'm grateful for all the time with him together but don't say it that way it sounds so so in the past nonsense we've got most of our lives ahead of us all if only there was something I could do to help you right now you can love me that's all I mean I've always loved you yes but now Leslie darling if I could love you any more I would now be very indulgent towards my cooking gentlemen I can't vouch for it well I can and will funny the head boy running off tonight yeah it is odd well he couldn't have done any better than this my dear it's delicious it certainly is thank you gentlemen I think we should start for Singapore as soon as we're finished right away it's still dark hour it'll be eight o'clock by the time we get there we'll ring the Attorney General and find out when we can see him I think that's the first thing to do don't you with us yes yes I think that's the best thing to do would I have to be arrested well you see Mrs. Crosby as a matter of fact I think you're by way of being under arrest now it's purely a matter of form Mrs. Crosby shall I be in prison well that's up to the Attorney General but it's quite possible he'd be able to accept bail he's a very good fellow and I'm sure he'll do everything he can how do you mean be able to accept bail well my dear it it depends on what the charge is what do you mean by that I think it's not unlikely that he'll say that only one charge is possible and in that case well I'm afraid that an application for bail would be useless what charge murder Leslie oh I'm quite all right more coffee dear no no matter what if we're going to leave I better put a few things together I won't belong let me do it Robert no no no don't bother dear oh Leslie yes there's just one question I'd like to ask you yes what is it Howard just before when I was looking at Hammond's body oh yes it seemed to me that some of the shots must have been fired after he was lying on the ground I'm afraid it sounds very cold blooded but I was so terrified I didn't know what I was doing everything was confused and bleh well there Leslie I I shouldn't even have brought it up tonight put it out of your mind come in where long she mr. Crosby to see you shot oh ask him to come in mr. Crosby thanks hello Bob Howard Howard should you see her if I can be of any assistance sir I can remain within call not at the moment on thanks long has been a great help on the case he finds out everything he's the perfect confidential clock I try to catch with the house I have to see you Howard lead and hesitate about coming to the office Bob you know you're always welcome how is everything everything's fine in fact Leslie is much better than you she hasn't turned a hair she's worth ten of me I don't mind confessing I'm all in the first time you've been separated for more than a day since we were married or you mustn't let yourself go to pieces old man I've tried to work but it's no good your stake and go to blazes for I care I hate the house and every tree on the place but then why not stay in town with us Dorothy's for it and so am I thanks I think I will I I won't be so lonely or you better get some sleep before you see Leslie you don't want her to have to cheer you up she's a plucky woman it's monstrous they should have to keep her in that filthy prison all this time they have no choice anyway it's only a week now before the trial well the whole things are fast why subject her to the or deal of a trial because she admitted killing a man a trial is inevitable she would have sought a mad dog you don't have to convince me Robert you know it it's curious Hammond was able to keep his life so hidden that gambling house he owned and especially the Eurasian woman will she be one of the witnesses and I shan't call her I'll just produce evidence that Hammond was married to her he managed to keep that manager's secret too oh I know you're busy Howard I can't tell you how grateful I am no nonsense now stop worrying that's your lawyer's job I think so man I'll I'll see you up at the house yes Mr. Joy well on if you are not too busy sir may I trouble you for a few words in private conversation no trouble at all it has to do with the case of the crown versus Crosby yes a friend has brought me information sir that there is a letter from the defendant to the unfortunate victim of the tragedy that's not surprising in the course of seven years I have no doubt that Mrs. Crosby often had occasion to write to Mr. Hammond but the letter sir was written on the day of his death well you will recall that Mrs. Crosby had stated that until the fatal night she had had no communication with the deceased for several weeks this letter indicates that her statement is not in every respect accurate have you seen the letter I have with me a copy sir the original is in the possession of a woman who happens to be the widow of Mr. Hammond deceased may I read it oh certainly sir of course as I said this is but a copy can you understand perfectly on it's it's inconceivable that Mrs. Crosby should have written such a letter may I suggest sir that it would be well to make sure since my friend is of the opinion that the letter would be of some interest to the prosecutor I'm obliged to you on I'll give the matter my consideration very good sir do you wish me to communicate that to my friend it might be well if you kept in touch with him yes sir it might be very well you may stay in the visiting room as long as you want Mrs. Crosby the warden's orders that's very nice of him thank you Howard how good of you to come I wasn't expecting you today good morning Leslie you're looking very well thank you Howard well the trial's only five days off now I know each morning when I awake I say to myself one day less just like I used to at school with the holidays coming Leslie oh don't feel sorry for me Howard the time has really passed quite quickly I've read a great deal and worked on my lace but I will confess something to Howard I'm not looking forward to testifying in court Leslie one of the things that it's impressed me is that each time you've told your story you've told it in exactly the same words you've never varied a hair's breadth and what does that suggest to your legal mind well it suggests either that you have an extraordinary memory or or that you're telling the plain unvarnished truth I'm afraid I have a very poor memory Leslie I suppose I'm right in thinking that you had no communication with Hammond for several weeks before the catastrophe oh quite I'm positive of that let's see well the last time we met was at the tennis party at the McFarron I don't think I said more than two words to him and you hadn't written to him oh no at one time you'd be not fairly intimate terms with him how did it happen that you stopped asking him to anything well we hadn't anything much in common he was very parked and you know and well there didn't seem to be any need to shower him with invitation are you quite certain that was all well I may as well tell you we heard about his wife and once just by chance I actually saw her oh you never mentioned that what was she like horrible covered with gold chains and bangles and bracelets and a face like a mask and it was after you knew about her that you stopped having anything to do with Hammond yes Leslie I think I should tell you that there is an existence a letter in your handwriting from you to Jeff Hammond I've often sent him little notes to ask him something or other this letter asked him to come and see you because Robert was going to be away oh but that's impossible I never did anything of the kind here you'd better read it for yourself this is not my hand I know that it's said to be an exact copy of one written on the day of Hammond's death well Leslie what does it mean that's for you to say Leslie I didn't write it I swear I didn't write the original is in your handwriting it would be useless to deny it could be a forgery it would be difficult to prove that Leslie it would be very easy to prove that it was genuine well it's not dated it might have been written years ago oh if you'll if you'll just give me a little time I'll try to remember Leslie the prosecution could cross examine your house boys they would soon find out whether someone took a letter to Hammond on the day of his death I swear to you I did not write this letter very well and there's nothing further to talk about I'll be going Howard Howard wait a minute I I did write it but you see I was afraid to mention it I thought none of you'd believe my story if I admitted that he'd come there at my invitation go on you see I was preparing a surprise for Robert's birthday I knew he wanted a new gun and oh I'm so dreadfully stupid about sporting things I thought I'd talk to Jeff about it and get him to order it for me perhaps you've forgotten what's in the letter will you have another look at it no I don't want to then let me read it to you Robert will be away I absolutely must see you I'm desperate and if you don't come I won't answer for the consequences don't drive up to the door Leslie I'll have to talk to you very plainly I told Robert today that I was certain of your acquittal and I didn't say that just to cheer him up I don't believe the jury would have retired at all but this letter alters the case completely I won't tell you what I what I personally thought when I read the letter duty of counsel is to defend his client and not to convict her even in his own mind I don't want you to tell me anything but what is needed to save your neck oh they can prove Hammond came to your house at your urgent invitation I don't know what else they can prove Leslie but if the jury comes to the conclusion that you didn't kill Hammond in self-defense I know I know that Leslie Matron Matron quickly call the nurse Mrs. Crosby is ill while we wait for Betty Davis Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price to return with Mr. DeMille for act two of the letter you remember this tune it's a song I've always liked remember night and day you are the one only you beneath the moon and under the sun isn't that what every woman would like to hear she can hear it if if she's the charming person she's meant to be and don't think you must be a great beauty to be charming think don't you know women want beautiful or even pretty yet their whole being draws you to them they're warm and gay yes not they're always very dainty flowers fresh and immaculate it isn't that the picture in your mind when I speak of Lux girls they go together Lux and dangerous yes because these gentle Lux Flakes make this appealing quality so very very easy to have we women are busy oh yes there's so much to do these days but all the more reason to remember Lux it's so quick that dainty habit of dipping under things daily in Lux a little thing seemingly but a major part of charm so let's never be too busy to use Lux fake flakes for undies each day the ABC of charm is l ux then you're sure to hear from the one you want most to hear it from night and day you were the one only you beneath moon and under the sun we pause now for station identification this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system act two of the letter starring Betty Davis as Leslie Herbert Marshall as Robert Crosby and Vincent Price as Howard Joyce in that split fraction of a moment before her mind slipped into blackness Leslie Crosby realized that the letter she had written to Jeff Hammond was damning evidence evidence enough to hang her now a few minutes later in the first aid room of the prison hospital she leans wearily back in a chair her eyes half closed I'm afraid I've made rather a mess of things I'm sorry Robert not for me you've distrusted me from the beginning how that's not a hearing of their Leslie who's got the letter now the Eurasian woman who was Hammond's wife Howard are you going to let me be hang what do you mean by that Leslie you could get hold of the letter do you think it's so easy to do away with unwelcome evidence but surely nothing would have been said to you with the owner wasn't prepared to sell it that's quite true but I'm not prepared to buy it but it wouldn't be your money Robert has saved I wasn't thinking of the money I don't know if you will understand this Leslie but I've always thought of myself as an honest man you're asking me to do something which is no different from suborning a witness do you mean to say that you can save me and you won't what harm have I ever done you you can't be so cruel I want to do my best for you Leslie the lawyer has a duty to his profession and to himself I can't do what you ask Robert he doesn't deserve it he's never hurt anyone in his life he's so kind and simple and good and he trusts me so I mean everything to him everything in the world and this will ruin his life oh I know what you're thinking you despise me you think he's well rid of me if they do hang it isn't important what I feel about you do you understand but I'm going to do what I can oh how Bob will want to know what the money's for will it be a very large sum well I imagine this woman has a pretty shrewd idea of the letters value you won't have to show Robert the letter will you I'll do everything possible to prevent it you'll be an important witness and he should be as firmly convinced of your innocence as he is now and after the trial I'm going to try to save your life Robert loses his trust in me he loses everything strange that a man can live with a woman for 10 years and not know the first thing about you say your friend could be induced apart with a letter I believe so sir but my friend has not got the letters sir the woman has it she did not know the value of it till my friend told her what value did he put on it ten thousand dollars only ten thousand why not fifty or a hundred for the reason sir that mr. Crosby has in the bank a savings account in the amount of only ten thousand four hundred and fifty dollars ten thousand dollars is a good deal of money on well I'll speak to Mr. Crosby at the woman come to my office I was about to mention sir she made two conditions she insists that the money shall be brought to her I can take you to the house whenever you are ready what is the other condition that Mrs. Crosby shall bring it to her personally why you must be mad great heavens man you suppose Mrs. Crosby can just walk out of a prison cell whenever she feels like it my friend thinks you could arrange to have her a step your house until the trial I believe the judge will permit it if you are responsible for her very well oh and tell me something yes sir what are you getting out of this two thousand dollars and the satisfaction of being of service to you and our client sit down Howard I've taken the liberty of ordering for you oh thanks you're looking more cheerful Bob I feel better since this morning I guess you finally convinced me we have nothing to worry about well as a matter of fact Bob something has come up or it's nothing very much but I thought I'd better have a talk with you about it yes well it seems Leslie wrote a letter to Hammond asking him to come to the bungalow on the night he was killed well it's impossible you heard us say she had no communication with him for weeks before it happened nevertheless she did write the letter she wanted his advice on something she was buying you for your birthday your birthday was about then wasn't it yes it was the end of April in the excitement she forgot the letter at the time and then later was afraid to say she'd made a mistake but that's not like Leslie she isn't afraid of anything this was a pretty serious mistake she realized who has the letter Hammond's widow she threatens to turn it over to the prosecution well what if she does Leslie can explain it in court just as she explained it to you yes but don't you see it might alter things a good deal in the minds of the jury if if Hammond came to your home by invitation well what's to be done I think we must get hold of that letter I want you to authorize me to buy it I'll do whatever you think is right right by the letter I'll pay you back whatever it costs good now put the matter out of your mind oh by the way Leslie will be at the house tonight I've arranged to have a released pending trial don't tell me that the same late I saw you working out of the McFerrin's how can you go so far well I hadn't anything much else to do this past month what's going to be too fine for a tablecloth surely it's a coverlet for our bed oh Dorothy Leslie and I have some work to do this evening look here Robert why don't you take the girls to a picture it won't take all evening with her there's a lot to go over no use you three hanging around you'd much better see a good film yes go ahead darling it'll take your mind off tomorrow I want you to all right then I'll bring the car around come on Adele I can see the legal mind is anxious to good night Leslie good night where do we have to go the Chinese quarter some sort of shop I believe I've always wanted to see the Chinese quarter I hear it's a bit creepy of course I'd have chosen other circumstances for a visit be flippant about your own crimes if you like but don't be flippant about mine oh I'm sorry Howard I didn't mean to be flippant really I did maybe it's my own sense of guilt I have an unpleasant feeling that I'll have to pay the pipe of what I'm doing tonight I'm jeopardizing my whole career and I have to rely on your discretion whatever else I am I'm not on great please forget what I say Leslie when did you first start doing that place work oh a few years ago how did you happen to take it up I wanted something to do and it appealed to me but it must take enormous concentration and patience I find it soothing you mean it takes your mind off other things is that a legal question you're not an ordinary client Leslie you've been watching me Howard I felt it all evening trying to read my thoughts I'm trying to understand you why because I'm so so evil that's it isn't it some time ago I saw a volcano erupt an island south of here Gwadi it had been dormant for years and then suddenly the crest blew off terrifying and beautiful fire turned the sky and the sea crimson and three villages melted into ashes well it's time we were starting on she'll be waiting for me please come in this is the shop of my friend if you will wait here I shall return in just a moment let's not be too long about it on I will speak to the lady at once they seem to have a little of everything to sell here yes most of these shops do it looks like good Jade and this dagger see the workmanship on the ivory handle imagine all that on a knife he who kills with an unworthy tool commits two crimes one against himself will you follow me please the lady will see you now now where is she you said she'd be here she is coming sir well what is she standing there for ask her if she has the letter yes I may go fun so he's a ma function he'll get me and trick we got more room home and quit he'll quit we got more Mrs. Crosby I regret but the veil that you wear over your head Mrs. Hammett request that you remove it of course he'll quit hung like me she Mrs. Crosby Mrs. Hammond has a further request she wishes you to walk over to her now look here tell her this is a not Howard Howard it's all right I don't mind they say I function they don't give him a hangout they have what does she say Mrs. Hammond say you may have the letter if you will pick it up at half feet thank you gentlemen of the jury have you agreed upon a verdict we have your honor the prisoner will please rise and look upon the jury you find the prisoner of the bar Leslie Crosby guilty or not guilty we find the defendant not guilty and from that day on I made a solemn vow that I wouldn't make another cocktail until Leslie was acquitted so if these aren't up to my usual high standards remember I'm out of practice don't do darling they're wonderful and never been better Robert Crosby right now you wouldn't know what you were drinking I guess that's right I can't taste or think or feel all I can do is keep saying to myself over and over Leslie's safe darling well ladies and gentlemen anyone planning to bathe shower or sponge before dinner should be getting at it well a shower for me oh I've laid out some things for you Leslie thank you darling I'm going to tidy myself up a bit no no don't go I shot him in it well there's something I particularly want to talk to you about and Howard I want to see you too I want your legal opinion oh you do what's up well I want to get Leslie away from here as quickly as possible I think a bit of a holiday would do you both good no no I mean for good but how could we you can't very well throw up your job well I've got something in view that's much better it's it's in Sumatra we'd be away from everybody and the only people around us would be Dutch we'd start a new life the only thing is that you'd be awfully lonely darling at the start oh I wouldn't find that I'd like to go Robert I don't want to stay here that settles it then I go straight ahead and we can fix things up at once is the money as good as here well I hope it'll be better at all events I'll be working for myself and not for a company in London what do you mean why should I go on sweating my life out for other people this plantation belongs to a Malacca Chinese plant who's in financial difficulties and he's willing to let it go for $30,000 if you can get the money the day after tomorrow how on earth are you going to raise $30,000 Bob well I've saved about 10 and the bank is willing to let me have the balance on mortgage Robert darling I shouldn't like you to take such a risk on my account I'll be perfectly all right here really I shall nonsense down and you just said you wanted to go but I'm not sure it wouldn't be a mistake to run away everyone's been so kind and and they'll all help to make it easy for us I do think the thing to do is to stick it out here anyhow Bob it's not a thing you want to rush into let's wait and see why should I wait it's a good thing and I don't want to lose it look I've got all the papers in my briefcase I'll go and get them and you can see for yourself and I have a couple of photographs of the bungalow to show Leslie I don't want to see them please Robert come darling that's just nerves that shows how necessary it is for you to get away but Robert I'm darling in this case you must let me have my own way I won't be a minute Howard what are you going to do what can I do oh don't tell him now I can't bear anymore heard what he said Leslie he wants the money at once to buy the estate he can't he hasn't got it give me a little time I'll pay it back Leslie I can't afford to let you have a sum like that I've mortgaged everything I own I was glad to advance it but I where is the letter I have it in my pocket oh it'll break his heart what shall I do I don't know Leslie if I tell him you'll want to see the letter of course here we are he's coming up to you Leslie oh tell him tell him and have done with it Mr. DeMille presents Betty Davis Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price in the final act of the letter in a moment right now we have a special guest to tell you not about Lux Flakes but about our boys who have been dishing it out to the Japs and taking it to she's lieutenant later Jelonic an Army nurse stationed at Birmingham General Hospital at Van Nuys, California I suppose you're quite busy these days lieutenant Jelonic yes many of the casualties from our Pacific campaigns come back here boys who've been in tough battles but they're on the road to recovery now you know about 97% of our wounded men live to tell the stories of their adventures that's certainly a high percentage thanks to the quick treatment they get drugs administered right on the field give a man a fighting chance even before he gets to the hospital and that's why I'm here tonight I want to say thank you to you women of America for the used fats used saved fats that help make many of those medicines things like sulfa ointments opiates and tannic acid for burns your used kitchen fats are made into hundreds of military medicines we use every day we need them desperately now and will continue to need even more as we carry the attack to the enemy so please keep right on saving used fats and turning them in the medicines they make will help bring these boys back alive thank you lieutenant later Jelonic yes ladies every drop of grease from your frying pan or broiler will help make more of those life-saving medicines so put aside a tin can of any size or shape never use glass and pour in every drop of used fat don't throw out even a spoonful no matter how burned or black or smelly it is just a tablespoon full a day will add up to a pound a month and your butcher will give you two meat ration points for each pound as well as four cents when you turn it in within three weeks it will be ready to be made into life-saving drugs remember your used kitchen fats may save a wounded man's life now mr. de mill returns to the microphone after the play we'll ask Betty Davis about a certain special hobby of hers but now here's the curtain for the third act of the letter starring Betty Davis Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price Robert Crosby has returned to the room his thoughts full of plans for the purchase of the new plantation in silence Leslie and Joyce watch Robert who is brimming over with enthusiasm as he arranges the papers on his desk this is really a handsome estate we'll be stealing it for 30,000 Bob I don't like to throw cold water on your plans but hasn't it struck you that the costs of well of what we've been through will be pretty heavy costs obviously legal expenses no I'm not going to charge you anything for my own services but there are certain out-of-pocket expenses well it's awfully decent of you I'm not sure I can accept that but what do you want these other expenses amount to well the principal item is that that letter of Leslie's I mentioned to you yes yes I'd almost forgotten you were going to I had to pay a great deal of money for it well if you thought it necessary I'm not going to grouse how much was it ten thousand dollars ten thousand dollars we you must have been mad maybe quite sure Bob I wouldn't have given that if I could have got it for less but that's every cent I have in the world why don't you let them bring the letter in and explain it to the jury I didn't dare to me it was absolutely necessary to suppress it if you wanted Leslie acquitted what was there in the letter I told you at the time it was very stupid of me Robert I remember now you wrote to Hammond to ask him to come to the bungalow yes you wanted to get something for me didn't you yes I wanted to get you a gun he knew all about that sort of thing and and you know how ignorant I am buying that letter was a criminal offense wasn't it well it's not the sort of thing a respectable lawyer does in the ordinary way of business it was a criminal offense yes it was I might be disbarred for it then why did you do it you have all people what you're trying to save me from Leslie you knew I was buying a gun from Cameron why did you want to make me a present of another well how should I know you were going to buy a gun because I told you well I'd forgotten I can't remember everything you hadn't forgotten that what do you mean Robert why are you talking to me like this who has the letter now I have where is it Bob it's not your letter of mine I've got to pay ten thousand dollars for that letter I'm going to see it let him see it thank you Robert will be away I absolutely must see you what does this mean it means that I was in love with Jeff Hammond no you couldn't we'd been in love for years it's not true I used to meet him constantly once or twice a week every time we met I hated myself for it was horrible I loathed myself I was like a person who was ill then came a time about a year ago when he began to change toward me I didn't know what was the matter I was frantic I made scenes I threw myself at it Leslie then I heard about that about that native woman I couldn't believe it I wouldn't believe it last I saw her I saw her walking in the village with those hideous spangles and that chalky face and her eyes like a cobra's eyes I couldn't give him up I sent for him you've read the letter oh we'd always been so careful about writing before but this time I didn't care I hadn't seen him for ten days he came and I told him I knew about his marriage oh at first he denied it I was frantic I don't know what I said to him I hated him because he'd made me despise myself I insulted him I cursed him at last he turned on me he told me he was sick and tired of me but it was true about the other woman that she was the only one who really meant anything to him he said he was glad I knew because now I'd leave him alone I knew that if he went out that store I'd never see him again I hardly know what happened I seized the revolver and fired he gave a cry and I saw it hit him I ran after him and I fired and fired and fired until there were no more cartridges that's what happened and I have no excuse for myself I don't deserve to live how could you do this how could you I'm sorry I shouldn't let myself go I I've got to think Leslie well he's going to forgive you yes he's going to forgive me and the fifth couple of the press kids oh yes Robert's told me about how you'll adore them Leslie well now both of you get a good sleep because it'll be a late party good night good night Dorothy night it's lucky you brought your dinner coat Robert you hardly fit in one of ours now let's see what else you'll need oh well how about your studs they're probably still in the bureau at home home Robert no use is it you can't make it go can I don't know I'm not sure Robert you're so kind and so generous you should have had the sort of wife you really deserve so no fault of yours I failed you wrecked your life I can't ask you to forgive me if you love a person you can forgive anything but what about you can you go on I'll try I'll really try that's not what I'm asking I'll do everything to make you happy everything in my that isn't enough unless Leslie now this minute do you love me yes I do kiss me then kiss me as if no no I can't I can't tell me Leslie what is it with all my heart I still love the man I kill my dear they're all waiting for you this is your party you know I'm sorry Dorothy I took rather long to dress well Leslie isn't that your lace work yes well you're working on it just now a little I'm anxious to finish it oh Leslie please come downstairs of course dear in a few minutes very well I see you there come here what you're doing out there I don't want to come she make me come she tell me I come here she missy Hammond she tell me I come here bring dagger leave it outside window Mrs. Hammond dagger missy she she bring dagger to you she's here again yes missy Hammond on path by gate you know going garden missy Crosby she kill you she with her that is what I mean she kill you you go in garden missy you know the police I come missy you know the police I come with an unworthy tool who commits two crimes one against himself I don't deserve to live I don't deserve to live I don't Leslie yes Leslie you've got to do something about Robert he's acting very strangely what is it I don't know at first I thought he was dropped but it's worse than that I'll be right but where will you ship from Crosby oh it's near a good harbor only five six miles away and I can ship my rubber for less money or to get ahead fast in 10 15 years I can live in London travel do anything I please Robert will you come with me darling please not now darling maybe later I'm telling the boys about my new plantations sounds like quite a place of course we'll miss Singapore our friends are here and we've had some mighty fine times no English people in that part of the only Dutch natives going to be a little lonely at first maybe but we'll get used to it Robert they'll just be the two of us but my my wife's a good sport always can count on her she's not afraid of anything and we'll have each other that's the important thing stop it stop stop it I can't stand anymore I can't stand it give me a drink I want to drink she ran out into the garden garden oh I'll find no let her alone there's nothing you can do for you I couldn't give him up I said for it Robert will be away I absolutely must see you I couldn't give him up what does this mean means that I was in love with Jeff Hammond that's not true means I was in love with Jeff Hammond no we've been in love for years been in love for years we've been in missy krusby go back go back you killed her you've killed her the police the police don't move I will shoot what do you do here I do nothing I tell her no going to garden I tell her this woman she she is dead she she she killed her it was right she'd die our stars will return for a curtain call in just a moment meantime we take you to a home almost anywhere and a mother who might be almost anyone Mrs. Thompson is in her kitchen and she's getting ready to do her dinner dishes there all scraped and rinsed now that's funny I know it was here when I did the lunch and dishes now where did I put it not on the table the closet I know I haven't used it all a box lasts me practically a month well I suppose I could use the laundry soap but it takes forever to make suds the sides it's hard on my hands Alice Oh Alice you know what happened to the box of luxe flakes I keep here on the drain board Oh well you bring it right down this minute I need it for the dishes well do your sweater later dear I have to have it now yes I'll have to get a box for the bathroom when I go to the store tomorrow the man said he expected more this week I hate to be caught without luxe I know what those strong soaps do to my hands women everywhere say that once you've used luxe for dishes you'll never want to use a strong soap again luxe leaves hands so soft and lovely even if they're red and rough from using harsh soaps just changing to gentle luxe flakes will take away that dishpan look make them smooth and attractive again and luxe is thrifty you can change dishpan hands to luxe hands for less than a penny a day now here's mr. de mill with our stars a curtain call is one of the oldest traditions in the theater I don't believe it's it's ever been better earned than tonight coming back to the footlights now are Betty Davis Herbert Marshall and Vincent Price the pleasure to be back mr. de mill I'd like to thank all the people in the cast for their excellent work tonight to most of us Betty your your name stands for fine artistry in the theater but I think that when this war is over many many thousands of soldiers will remember you for another reason that being the Hollywood canteen which Betty started I've seen the canteen in action and it's a very fine thing to be remembered for so that we can keep the record straight let's give credit to the right people they were really more than six thousand work together in a team to make the canteen possible I still say you coach that team Betty how many boys have visited the canteen Betty well I believe about a million and a half Vincent many of whom greatly admired Bart Marshall's work is a bust boy you know I've I've often wondered what the fellas talk about when they've wandered over to the snack bar to see you or Irene down or a dilemma well I remember one boy who paid me a very nice compliment hiya Rosie he said I can't stand you on the screen but you're certainly sweetness and light around here all right that's quite a tribute to your acting Betty have you picked a play for next week yet Mr. DeMille yes and it's a roaring drama of the west Republic's current screen hit in old Oklahoma and our stars will be Roy Rogers Martha Scott and Albert Decker it's the story of a of a girl and a cowboy who discover romance as well as oil in the rich land of Oklahoma and besides a thrilling drama we'll also have the songs of Hollywood's great cowboy star Roy Rogers very exciting evening CB good night good night good night any theater should be thankful for players like you three our sponsors the makers of Lux Flakes join me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night when the Lux Radio Theater presents Martha Scott Roy Rogers and Albert Decker in in old Oklahoma with the Cecil B. DeMille saying good night to you from Hollywood this week all America salutes those women who are working in war useful jobs women must get into the war with their hands as well as their hearts until victory is finally one Betty Davis has just finished the picture of mrs. Skeffington at Warner Brothers and is currently seen in old acquaintance Herbert Marshall appeared through the courtesy of Metro Golden Mayor Vincent Price is currently seen in the 20th century Fox picture the song of Bernadette the Warner Brothers screenplay of the letter was written by Howard Koch heard in tonight's play where Charlie Lung is on G be Bernadette as Chinese woman Richard Davis as withers and Frederick Warlock Alex Haver Regina Wallace Paula Winslow Joe Gilbert Eric Snowden and Charles C. this program is broadcast to our fighting forces overseas through cooperation with the armed forces radio service our music was directed by Lewis silvers and this is your announcer John N. Kennedy reminding you to tune in again next Monday night to hear Martha Scott Roy Rogers and Albert Decker in the play in old Oklahoma listen everybody free vitamins for you and every member of your family your drugist will hand you a regular 50 cent package of famous vims free with every large economy size vims you buy a two dollar and a quarter value for 169 remember vims are vitamin complete have vitally needed minerals to complete satisfaction with vims or your money back the offer is limited so hurry to your drug don't wait get your free vim this is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System