 Mystery House. Mystery House, that same publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn, where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff before it was accepted for publication. Mystery House. Oh, we pay the part of husband and wife tonight, huh, Barb? An objection? Of course not. I haven't been talking about the role in real life, have I? Well, you better not. But if you ever try doing the kind of husband in real life that you are in tonight's story, what's wrong? You don't need to worry about Dan, Mrs. Glenn. He's one husband in a minute. Oh, that's alright, Dan. You know, you seem to know how to enjoy life. And here's a tip for others who want to get the most out of things. Okay, Tom, set the scene for tonight's story, huh? A short life for Mary. Tonight's story opens in the luxurious apartment of Alton Merrill, an elderly man with young ideas. A slightly dressed young man who seems out of place in the apartment has just come in. No one ever seems anxious to talk to him. Well, Morgan, have bad news again, Mr. Merriweather. What? You mean Miss LeVon LeRue ain't really in love with you? She's in love with the idea of getting a myth on your goal, Mr. Merriweather. Wait for the prophecy. Hookline and sinker. A high full of life to me, that babe. You know, she is mighty pretty, too. You are full of life, too. If you want me. Well, I got nothing less than Mr. Merriweather. And I wanted her all of life. Ah, no, sir, Mr. Morgan. Somewhere there's a beautiful young woman who appreciates real character and brains. And I think I found her, too. There we go again. Her name is Mary. You were pretty new, huh? Yeah, pretty as a picture, too. Mary Delafield. After the last night. She said I could out-dance into the young spuggers that she'd run around with. I see. Then we got along here good. She called me Alton and I called her Mary. Ah, you're a fast worker all right, Mr. Merriweather. Eh, Mr. Morgan, if you're making fun of me. Oh, no, sir. And if you want to think I'm an oldie, too, because I want a young pretty wife, that's your privilege. But don't ever let all like you think of it. I pay you pretty good, don't I? Honest Mr. Merriweather, it's a shame to take the money. Because I know always what the enough is gonna be. I worked like a dog, building up the Merriweather Steel Company. I never had any time to dance, and laugh when you're pretty girls. I always said they'd come later. Well, it's getting awful late. But why, you couldn't stand the pace of one evening with me. Out till four o'clock with that Miss Della for your last night. Huh? Yeah, you give her the plan now and see what happens. You know, I kind of take maybe two if there to be the one. Ha, ha, ha, ha! I stopped buying my way to work. I have much time, but I had to see it. You were out with that old Merriweather now last night again, weren't you? Really Frank, I'm too tired and sleepy to talk to you. Now, I'm not gonna take long. You've been running around with that old fool for nearly two weeks. Giving me the go-by for a dollar and a two or to be in a wheelchair. Oh, thank you to mind your own business. That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm in love with you, Merri. How interesting. You'll be late for that job of yours if you don't hurry. We've been around together for nearly three years. Run it on? Say that's what you call it. Well, that's some good time together. Going to the movie? Listen, Frank, I'm going to the movie cast. I graduated. Mr. Merriweather spent more money ever coming to you last night than you making a month. Is that all you're in the rest of the morning? It's kind of nice to have it out. If I were to marry, I'd be Merriweather. Marry him? I was joking. Getting married to a million dollars is no joking matter. I thought you were a busy kid. You've no right to talk to me this way. And though with anybody I choose, it's none of your business. If I were to marry, I'd be Merriweather. I guess that's up to me. Not all together. Why I should be in love with you, I don't know. But that's how things are. I'm not going to let you live your whole life. How do you like to try it for a million dollars? You're not yourself. You talk about the lilies. I'm a very practical person. Not only a magic tool, I too. I know, there's a lot farther than you do. What's for you? A friend of yours, baby. Practically a dream of a magic lamp. I don't know. Just a minute, baby. It ain't polite to go on a guy's date. It's not until you've heard your sales talk anyway. So you're sending something? Well, I don't know anything. I figure maybe you do, baby. That's why I waited for you already to leave for work and then for your boyfriend. I wanted to talk to you private. What about? About money, mainly. Lots of money. Look, I've never seen you before in my life. You've seen lots of me before with you, baby. Good moron's the name, Merri. You know my name? Sure, I know all about you. You and the kid down the street. And I know about Mr. Orton Merriweather. Particularly all about him. What do you want? You can invite me in with a cork nice and quiet. I can tell you. I ain't going to bite. All right. Come in. Make it quick. I'm a private detective, Merri. I've never done anything. I worked for Orton Merriweather. I'm trying to find him a girl that really loves him. Yeah. He ain't going to trust me. I've told him five or six times that something more after his money. So now I'm all ready to take the easiest sucker in the world. And the juicer. An old guy with dough and young ideas. I'll take it out of here. Oh, come down off your high horse, baby. I'm giving you a real date. Without me, you can't land him. Not ever. With me, you might not even have to marry him to get real dough. What are you talking about? There's tricks, baby. Tricks you don't know. Orton wants a beautiful young bride. But if one will have any, he figures there must be a catch in it. And he's right. You can marry her. They can love with me. Oh, sure. But he was involved with money a long time before he met you, sister. Don't forget that. You are the most nervous person I ever saw in my life. Now get out of here. You don't want his money, huh? You could get every dime of it. With me. Without me, you get nothing. But how do I get the money? That's the $50,000 secret, baby. All you gotta do is to leave it to me and follow instructions. You don't invest a thin dime. And once you get the money, they give me $50,000. I... It's ridiculous. Deposit. Sure it is. Things like this just don't happen. Or do they? You read in the papers every day about some young dame getting a heavy load of sugar from some old daddy? You don't have to tell me. I tell you nothing. I take all the risks. All you do is follow instructions. And collect. If you don't collect, I don't get a leg nickel. Is it a deal? I think they're talking to your hat that... If it could work out like you said, I guess I'd be willing to give you $50,000. That's all I wanted to hear, baby. I'll start to work. Well, Morgan, you hit the jackpot this time, Mr. Maryweather. What's that? You mean she's really in love with me? She's nuts about you. You may be awful about getting my money without having to marry me, huh? I nearly got thrown out of her apartment. She's so head over heels in love with you it ain't even funny. Oh, my little Mary. I tell you, Morgan, I'm a swap man. It's worked. It's really worked. She thinks you're wonderful. Yes, yes, I know you. I'll give her everything under the sun. You know you're the coolest you'll be. All the money she wants, everything anybody could ever need to be happy. You think she'd like a big, long, 12-cylinder car with all the pennies? Hmm, I'd still be kind of careful if I was you, Mr. Maryweather. What? How do you know? See, she loves you, you said. Yeah, but I won't make out any insurance there, even so. Why not? Well, maybe she's not the boss. You're the secret relative. And they might get ideas for getting a lift on your dough by you having an accident. Well, that should have a right to my money. If I was you, I'd give her a nice chunk of dough now and say maybe a quarter of a million. That way she won't marry you for your money and there's no temptation for her relative. Oh, you would, would you? And you can throw a quarter of a million dollars around off her lettuce. But I won't. No, no, Mr. Morgan. I will marry her first. Mr. Morgan. Yeah. I've been waiting for you and Alton to get back from your honeymoon. I want to be the first to offer my congratulations. Is Alton here? No, he's down at the camp. Oh, wow. Then I can relax. Eh, you got the perfect plan for me, baby? You said you'd get the money without my marry. I said maybe I would. It didn't work. Then I don't see why I tell you anything. Mary, a copper welter and a bride split with me once and they found them in the ditch the next morning. I don't know you anything. Now, listen here. You never in the world could have married him if I hadn't given it the okay. I've got to stop that wedding in a minute by telling him the truth. Baby, you can't stop it now. It's too late. We made a deal. Fair and square. A deal for 50 grand. It wasn't fair and it wasn't square. It's like I had to marry him to get it. Now, look, baby. I ain't gonna argue with you. You'd get me that 50,000 bucks for you the deadest boy that ever got fitted for a coffin. Ha! Very funny, that is. What's so funny about it? You're asking me for 50,000 dollars. I can't even get my hands on 50 cents. You know what I have to do to get any spending money? Take something out and sell it. What the old man said? I don't care what he said. Only vying me all the presents in the world puts me tight. It shows me off like a prize polo pony. I have an exhibition. But I haven't got a dime. A fine miss you got me into. Back in that dingy apartment line, I should at least go down to the corner and buy a paper with my own free sense. Are you in love with me? You bet I am. Then we gotta do something about all of them. Are you kidding? He ain't got long to live anyway. But no, no, look, I'm not getting mixed up in any money. That's what I'm in now. It's bad enough that... Oh, dear. Oh, you... You're psyching me out. I thought you were dying of pain. Mr. Martin just came in to offer you congratulations. Yes. Yes, I know. I've been listening to him. Just outside. I haven't tested you anyway, Morgan. Too smart, you were. You don't know me, Barbara. Oh, don't worry, Mary. Get out of here, Morgan. And if I ever see you on the premises again, I'll have you thrown in jail. Yes, sir. Where? I didn't say anything. What are you going to do to me? I thought you were really sweet, Mary. I was crazy about you. Because I think you're really lovely. I should have known that. But I guess there's no feeling like a lady to it. What are you going to do? I guess maybe I better not tell you, Mary. If not, accept my poems. You see, you ain't gonna like it. What kind of play are you going to know what they had for the ride? And really needed to work it. I will find out in the second act of tonight's story. Here's a brief message from our sponsor. And now, act two of... a short life for Mary. Mary and Alton Merrill, whether they are suited in the living room or they're luxurious apartments. Alton is smiling, and Mary seems sparkly by the minute. What are you smiling about? Isn't it funny? You know all about it now, so you can have a divorce. No, no, Mary, no, no. That would be pretty nice for you, that word. Get a lot of ballymoney and get rid of me at the same time. You'll have to get a divorce. There's nothing else you can do. Oh, yes. I can do quite a little bit. Oh, you're calling? Hello? Morgan, do you take your leave, you see? Let me talk to Skip Morgan, please. Yes. Here. Oh, Morgan. This is Alton Merrill, whether... No, no, now, now, Morgan. Don't be apologizing. Mary and me got things all fixed up. It's not a recent understanding. I just gave her $250,000. I want to start this time with a clean slate. So you can get your $50,000, Morgan. Mm-hmm. Any time you like. Goodbye. You mean you're really going to give me $250,000? I need no such thing. What did you say? What are you calling now? Your old boyfriend, Frank. Hello? A boyfriend? Hey, this is Alton Merrill, whether... No, no, no, no, no. You've no cause to get nasty with me. No. And Mary would like for you to come over. Mm-hmm. I guess maybe she kind of made a mistake, Mary and me, and she wants to see you. Yes. The sooner the better. Goodbye. What did you do in that event? Did you think you were going to get evidence to get a divorce from me? No, I don't want any divorce. And let's see now. I've got one more number to call. Oh, what is her name anyway? Oh, yes, yes. Susan. Susan's there. Stage name, I bet. I've got a number here somewhere. Oh, yes, yes, yes. Who is she? What does she have to tell you about? Ah, you see. Hello? Susan? Hey, Susan, this is Alton. Alton Merrill, whether. I haven't seen you for quite a spell. I know I'm a bad boy. You know, I kind of called up to apologize for making such a fool of myself. Mary and Mary Bellatheer, when it was you that I was really crazy about all the time. Oh, no, no, I'm not. I mean that. That's right. You're the one I should have made. Divorce? Yeah. Well, it's going to be fine if Mary could be talked into it. But I can't do a thing here. I was wondering if maybe if you were to talk to her and explain how things are with her. You know? Oh, now that's standing. I have to see to the better. Goodbye, dear. What are you trying to do? You want a divorce? I'd be glad to give it to you. I don't want one. You know what I was doing when I talked to Susan? I was lying. Yes, man. Just playing downright lying. I was getting here real fast. I wonder which one this is. What? How do you do, Mr. Brent? I never had the pleasure of meeting you before. Oh, you do? Mary, is it true? Did you really want me to come here? I... If you made a mistake, Mary and me, Mr. Brent, we both admit it. But then you're going to give her a divorce? Well, that's up to her. If she wants it, then what goes with it? Oh, she won't need money. I can take care of her. If you've learned your lesson, Mary. I... Yes, yes, I've learned my lesson. Then we'll start making arrangements for the divorce right away. Thank you. And now, don't start arguing about the settlement. We agreed on it and it's fair. What are you trying to do to me? Well, man, looks like we've got more company. Oh, no, no, stay right where you are, Mr. Brent. Hey, Susan Sarah. Oh, Susan, darling. And come right in, Susan. This is Mary, my wife. And this is Frank Brent, Susan Sarah. How do you do? How do you do? How do you do? How do you do? Oh, Mary, she's all right, Susan. Mr. Brent here, he's Mary's own boyfriend. Oh, unfortunately for me. Oh, can you see her down over little land? Oh, could you say the nicest thing? Thank you, dear. Oh, you're lovely, Mr. Brent. Mr. Mary, whether... Oh, listen, this is very odd. Hey, don't tell Mary. Control yourself. After all, you have to look up your mind. Well, this is a party. Excuse me, please. Skip Morgan, the great detective. And come right in, Morgan. Is this on the level, Mr. Mary, whether... Oh, come in, come in, come in. Well, if it is on the level, that would be something new and different, wouldn't it? If you're planning some kind of a trip of me with the gold, Mr. Mary, whether you can forget it. I know most of the angles. Yes, including ways to double-cross your employer. Oh, don't try to explain. Now that we're all here, we can get down to business. Listen, all I want... I know you're $50,000. Well, that shouldn't be difficult. She has the money. All you have to do is get it from her. Hey, what do you talk about, anyway? Your job shouldn't be too difficult. This is who? Because Mr. Brent here will help you. He wants Mary to get her divorce, too. Listen, Mr. Mary, whether you told him she was already getting a divorce, but you'd agree that there'd been a settlement. Now, just a minute, don't tell her just a moment. Don't be excited. Now, let's suppose that... let's suppose that I had lied to all three of you. What? Yes. Susan, I told you that if you could persuade Mary to divorce me, I'd get married to you. Didn't I? Oh, you sure did, darling. And what more had my roommate left me in? I imagine the world. Now, you're going to try things in my affections, and you'll find that it's going to cost you a lot of money. Well, there's quite a lot of no doubt in that. The big idea is... you've got a motive for Mary's murder. What? Yes, get Mary out of the way, and Susan, you could marry me. You can have her with this. You left us something, Mary Weller. You've got a pretty good motive yourself, Mr. Morgan. Huh? She owes you $50,000, and she hasn't paid it. People get angry about it, not most of that. I'm angry enough to commit murder. If you think you're going to frame me... I am not framing anybody. Mr. Brent, your motive is the weakest of the lot. That did you do. You think I'd have any reason to kill Mary? You're crazy. Well, when you find out the kind of tricks she played on me, you may change your mind. She betrayed you over because she loved me more than she did you. It was a matter of courting text. Hey, I don't like this. I'm getting out of here. I don't know what's going on, but I don't want any part of it. No, Susan, no, no. The only person who's going to leave there is Lou. I'm going out for a little walk, and this gun says that nobody's going to try to go with me. You're going to have a chance to talk things over. Give me that 50 grand, baby. I don't have it, I tell you. He didn't give me any money. You know, Ryan, I just want to know one thing, Mary. Are you leaving old Mary whatever or aren't you? I don't know. I'd make up my mind if I was you, darling. Are you too? Can't you see? He's too tall of you. He's telling somebody to kill me, and you're just as tall as me. He wants you to stop this. I kind of think I'd take old Mary with his word before I would yours, baby. You too. You couldn't tell your constrain if you held four races. Put your hands up. Put your nose up. Put them on somebody. Afraid, Mary? Okay. Yes. Yes, I'm back, Mary. How does it feel to be in a dark room locked in with four people who want to kill you? You're still awake, honey. Ah, but I'm not the only one to worry about, Mary. There are three others. Morgan and Miss Sair after money. Frank Wint, whose life you've messed up. And Judy. Four people to worry about, Mary. It's not true. I've never done anything to any of you. No. You don't even believe that yourself. I think you've got to help me. Get me out of here. I was already the one I came here. But you wouldn't even say you'd leave Mary with her. That you divorced him. No, Mary. I guess this is your problem. I'll do anything to stay up. I guess it's too late, Mary. I think you don't want me. I guess that's about it. Get me that 50,000 bucks and I'll get you out of here alive, baby. I don't have it, I said. Oh, you're sad. All you have to do is tell her when you can have a divorce. Do that and you don't have a thing to worry about. No, no. I'm afraid you're wrong, season two. That isn't all I want. I want satisfaction for the way I've been cheated and deceived. My friends, you're about to be in on a perfect crime. A perfect murder. You have too much to do. One of the three people I invited here tonight is a Confederate, my Mary. Only that person and I know which one it is. And that pussy is going to kill you. Can I? Yes. I want to rejoin the rest of the performance, Mary. And the murderer has to see what he's doing. I have to get the gun off the coffee table now, then. Well, you are... No, no, no. No. I have to get to it. Got a money for $50,000 for you, Mary. I'll show you how to buy it. You look heavy. The guy's playing with me. You're not going to kill me or anybody else. Good point. Don't run at me. Mary, please. You're going to kill me, Mary. No. I'll show you. It's not the best. It's not the best. It's not the best. No. Mary! No. I don't... It's a nice job, Mary. Well, I guess that takes care of everything. What? Yes. I hadn't hired him to kill you, Mary. I hadn't hired anybody. More than you were the two I wanted to suffer. I put that gun closer to you than the room, so you'd be sure to get it. And you killed him without any reason, Mary. You killed him, and the state will kill you. You'll be convicted of murder. And I'm all taken care of. Pretty slick all around, ain't it? Yes. It's slick all right. You've got over not one thing, aren't you? When you're hooked anyway, you don't have to worry about freezing... Yes. Yes, I should have known. You can't even lose her. You get the tear for this. I might have been able to help you on Morgan, but not this one, Mary. Nobody could help you now. I know. Go ahead. Call the police.