 Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents... Suspense! Tonight, Roma Wines bring you the suspenseful play called, A Guy Gets Lonely, starring Dane Clark. Suspense is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live. Do your happiness and entertaining guests. Do your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you a remarkable tale of suspense. And with the drama called, A Guy Gets Lonely, and with the performance of Mr. Dane Clark as Eddie Lewis, Roma Wines hope indeed to keep you in... Suspense! Have you ever been lonely? Desperately lonely? Well, as an emptiness in the pit of your stomach that no food can remove. There's a coldness about people's faces that make you shudder. And you do silly things when you're lonely. Maybe that explains what happened to me. Maybe. Anyhow, I was hanging around the shooting gallery in one of those Broadway penny arcades that night, one of those places where you can play a game of chess, get your fortune told, have 10 shots at Hitler, all 15 cents. And I was alone as usual, thinking the dull, drab, dreary things a guy thinks about when he's alone. And suddenly an old man standing next to me said, Ah, well, my aim is not what it used to be. Oh, uh, got a match, my boy? Match? Oh, sure, here. Oh, thank you. You haven't by any chance got a cigarette to go with that match, have you, son? Of course, here, take one. Thanks again. You know, with cigarettes so scarce nowadays, the only way a gentleman gets a smoke is to buy him himself. Yep. Thank you, thank you. Ah, it's madder, kid. You look like your ship came in, only your mother-in-law was aboard. Oh, nothing. Oh, come on. Face up to old Horace, I'm Beatrice Barefax without the girdle. Well, I'm just fed up with this town, that's all. There's nothing wrong with this town, kid. Like all of the town? Except the one you grew up in. Well, I suppose you're right. You know what you need is a little diversion. Oh, here, my man. Load these guns up again, will you? Yes, sir, both guns, champ. You'll try it again, won't you, son? Okay. You know, I think perhaps I've got just the right medicine for your homesickness, young fellow. Oh, what's that? A girl. A girl? Yes, don't tell me you've never heard of them. I haven't, bless me. I don't want to be the one to tell you. No, that's not that. Here you are, sir. That'll be two bucks. Two dollars? That's right, chum. There's a wire on it in case you haven't heard. Ammunition's kind of hard to get nowadays. Oh, well, as a matter of fact, it's a little dark in here and my eyes aren't what they used to be, so perhaps I'll simply forget them. No, no, no. Here's the money. Go on. Go ahead, Pop. Shoot. You wouldn't care to make a small wager on this, would you, my boy? Did I say my eyes? No, no, no. No, thanks. As I was saying, son, I have a splendid idea. Now, tomorrow, being the Sabbath, my wife and I are bound for Minna Wonka on a peaceful little fishing expedition. If you care to accompany us, there is a faint chance, just a faint chance, mind you, that I might round up a beautiful young lady who will make it a foursome. Well, wouldn't that be too much trouble? Not at all, son. Meet me here tomorrow at nine. What do you say? Gee, that... Well, that's swell, except... Except what? Oh, do you mind if I shoot first? Go ahead. Except that I've never been fishing before in my life. Don't worry about it. Hey! Hey, your eyes aren't too bad. Oh, with a fish, the big thing is not so much your experience as your bait. The idea of not being alone again on Sunday is what excited me. I didn't give much thought to the girl until I saw her. If you've ever seen a truly beautiful woman walking towards you, you'll know what I'm talking about. First you see the tiny grey silhouette in the distance and then the figure seems to spring to light. Each curve runs into place and finally you see the smooth oval face and the long, law-burn hair dancing in the breeze. Before you know it, you're in a trance, that's all. That must have been what happened to me when I first saw a jolly, because I don't remember much of anything until I heard myself saying... Oh, hey! What's that? A worm, Philly. You can't fish without a worm. Do I have to? Well, of course. As captain of this boat, I promise to bring in more fish than horrors. I order you to put that worm on the hook. No, it shakes. Rather gracefully, don't you think? Kind of reminds me of a shimmy queen in a burlesque show. Oh. There! Now you did it. Easy was me. Now drop your line in the water. Okay. Well, where's the fish? Patience, lad, patience. The fish hasn't had a chance to read your business yet. Well, if they could only see your jolly, I doubt if they'd bother with my line at all. Oh, your line isn't bad, Eddie. This is so bad at all. I guess in the next few hours, I told her just about all I could remember about myself, about wanting to be an actor and leaving home and coming to this town and this appointment and how I decided to go home while I still had some money left and how lonely I was, how terribly lonely I was. And before she left that night, she wouldn't let me take her home. I made a day for the next night. It's funny how quick you can get to feel that way about somebody when you're lonely. We met in the Aster Lobby and after we talked for a while. Well, for a slow starter, you certainly caught on in the back straight. No, no, no. Please don't laugh. Joly, I'm pretty serious. But what? About you. How about me? Joly, look. Look, I was planning to go home today. I had the ticket in my pocket and this morning I turned it in. Oh. Look, I still want to go home, Joly. But I want you to go with me. You want what? I... I want you to marry me. Joly? I heard. Well? You want an answer now? Yes. It's no, Eddie. Oh, I... I'm sorry. Well, is there somebody else? No, it isn't that, Eddie. There isn't anything you could possibly imagine. There isn't even that I don't love you because maybe I do. Joly! But you see, Eddie, I was going to ask you something tonight too and it doesn't stack up very well against what you asked me. Joly, what? What? Oh, I know, it's silly. We've only known each other for 48 hours and it shouldn't matter, but... Oh, it doesn't matter anyway, no. Joly, you've got to tell me. It's just an old, old story, Eddie. Such an old story that you probably wouldn't even believe it. That's the trouble. Look, I believe anything you told me. It's about my mother out west and how I support her and how she needs an operation. I was going to ask you for $1,000. Is that all? That's enough. Oh, Joly, why did you put me through such a cold sweat for a little thing like that? It's pretty complicated, Eddie. Oh, what's complicated about it? Look, Joly, look, here's a ring. It's all I've got right now, but I wish you'd wear it. Oh, it's beautiful. An old Samoan chief gave it to me when I was in Tahiti. Go ahead, look inside. The Eddie Lewis from Question Mall. Yeah, I had that engraved in it when I got back to the States. I never did know the old guy's name. Will you wear it? Eddie, I'll meet you here tomorrow for lunch. And if I'm wearing the ring, third finger left hand. You will know that I do. All right. Joly. Yes? Do you want the money now? No, Eddie, no. Not now. The next day I was there waiting for her way ahead of time again, but this time she was late. After a half hour, I began to get worried. Then I began to get scared. And after a full hour gone by, and she still hadn't shown up, I was half crazy. Then I felt a hand on my arm and a voice peaking over my shoulder. You waiting for somebody? That's right. A lady? Yeah, what about it? Was your name the Eddie Lewis? Yes. Say, what do you know about the fact that I'm... We found your name written in lipstick in the back of a bathroom door up on the 10th floor. After it, it said, asked a lobby one o'clock, so we sort of put two and two together. You see, I'm from headquarters, Eddie. What? I'm a detective. Detective? Listen, if you know anything about Joly Andrews, I was supposed to meet her here about an hour ago, and she hasn't... been wearing this ring by any chance? That's right, that's my ring. Where is she? She's down at the city morgue, Eddie. She's dead. For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star Mr. Dane Clark, whom you have heard in the first act of A Guy Gets Lonely, a radio play by Don Paul Nathanson, which is Roma Wines' presentation tonight of Suspense. Between the acts of suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines. Gracious hostess, internationally known on entertaining, Elsa Maxwell's suggestions are always worthwhile. Spring is here, and nature is again bursting into life. Let's bring some of this beauty to the dinner table. A centerpiece of spring flowers will brighten your table, and there's no better way to awaken winter weary appetite than by serving cool Roma Burgundy with the meal. This glorious wine from California goes well with almost any food. So simple, and yet how charming. A few flowers to give your table the gain out of spring. A bottle of cool, delicious Roma Burgundy as the subtle accompaniment to a savory meal. You'll enjoy the tart pecancy, the fruity, robust taste of this distinguished Roma Burgundy. Like all Roma Wines, unvaryingly good, always high in quality. The result of selected grapes, slowly brought to perfection in California's choicest vineyards. Gently pressed, then brought to fullest flavor by the ancient skill of Roma's famed wineries. Yet all this goodness is yours for only pennies a glass. Remember, more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wines. R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Dane Clark as Eddie in A Guy Gets Lonely. A play well calculated to keep you in suspense. My mind was going round like a merry-go-round. Having an old mooch like Horace walk up out of a clear sky and introduce you to a girl like Jorley. Proposing to her after only 48 hours and then having a cop come along and tell you she's dead. They took me down to headquarters and I was there all day answering questions and trying to dope out what had happened myself. I even told them how she'd asked me for $1,000, but they didn't pay much attention to anything I said. A simple case of suicide and that's that. But it couldn't be! Jorley wouldn't commit suicide? You recognized her, didn't you? Well, I... Well, what? People don't look quite the same after they've fallen ten stories on a concrete side. But you recognized her? Yes, yes, I recognized her. But why does she write my name on the inside of that door? How do I know what women think about before they jump out the window? I'm not Mr. Anthony. Well, look, maybe somebody followed her. Maybe somebody tried to force the door. There wasn't any lock on the door. Then it would have been that much easier. Maybe somebody... Look, Eddie, just what are you trying to make out of this? I don't know! All I know is it couldn't have been as simple as this. You wouldn't be thinking about murder, would you? Maybe. Now, Eddie, this sort of thing happens all the time. Look, I'll draw you a picture. A friendless girl meets guy. They start going together and she asks him for money. He doesn't give. The next day she... Look, I told you... I'm doing that talking. She asks him for money and he doesn't give. See, the next day she writes his name on the handiest plain white surface and... Boom. Now, how does that look to you? All right, all right. But what about Horace? Have you tried to trace him? Yes, sure, sure. We tried to find Horace. Only we didn't. Mainly on account of he doesn't exist, if you ask me. I talked to him, I tell you, he introduced us. You don't have to go that far to explain how a man meets a girl nowadays, Eddie. Look, he did introduce us. He was an old man, white-haired, with an ass-shooting dog. Eddie has a hobby of introducing guys to beautiful girls that nobody knows where he lives. And the only time you ever met him was in the Penny Arcade, that's so busy they wouldn't remember George Washington being in there. That and the time you were seen together by a couple of lake trout. I'll cut it out, will you, son? All right, go on home, Eddie. You've towned just yet, though, if I were you. All right. And, uh, Eddie. Yeah. I wouldn't push that murder theory too far either. Why? Because you know who's the only possible suspect for murder? That's right. You. First, I didn't know what to do or what to think. I didn't blame the cops. From where they sat, it just didn't make any sense any other way. And then all at once I knew what I was going to do. First I moved to another hotel just in case. And then I started growing a full beard and I dyed it black. And my hair, too, you see, I'm a natural blond, so it turned out pretty good. Good enough to pass off for a night anyway. And I really am an actor, maybe no barring more, but enough to give a fair imitation of an accent. And I got some different clothes and then I was ready. I began haunting that shooting gallery because I figured the old man had a system. But after about three weeks I had about giving up hope. When one Saturday night I walked into a little place off Times Square and I saw him. My heart was jumping through hoops, but I just sort of moseyed around, tried to look as down in the mouth as I could, kept my face out of the light. I felt pretty safe with the beard, so I went over and I stood next to him. Well, my aim seems to be off tonight. Oh, pardon me. Do you have a match? I reckon I do. Sure, here you are. Oh, thank you. My boy. Would you like to try your skill at the shooting gallery? Perhaps a little wager? Oh, no, thanks. I've just about had enough shooting to last me a lifetime. I've just come back from two years in the South Pacific. So that's where you got the beard? Yeah, a bunch of us fellas grew them down there. I promised my kinfolk I'd let them see it before I shaved it off. I'm not so sure I would shave it off. It's mightily becoming clear. Thank you, thank you. Where are your folks? Uh, Texas. Got a mighty nice little ranch on my own down there. I sure do miss it. Kind of lonely, huh? Oh, you all can say that again, mister. Well, son, if you'd forgive an old man for sticking his nose in somebody's business where he's got no call to. Shakespearex, no. What's on your mind? I think I know just the medicine for you. Well, what's that? A girl. That was it. That's what I've been waiting for. I thought of taking the old devil out in the alley and sweating it out right then and there. And I thought, no. No, there'll be a girl and I want to have a talk with that girl. In the meantime, the old man was going on about that fishing trip. If you care to join us, my boy, I think I can promise you a very pleasant afternoon. Well, I reckon I couldn't do that. Perhaps if you can make it tomorrow night. Well, now that might be arranged. Where would you like to have us meet you? Why couldn't you just sort of give me the young lady's phone number? Tell her I was fixing the phone. I'm afraid you see this particular young lady doesn't have a phone. Don't think I'm not downright grateful, mister, or that I wouldn't enjoy your company. But you'd rather be alone. Shucks. No, don't get me wrong. I'm no wolf and nothing like that. But, well, when a fella has his first date with a gal in more than two years, maybe you can understand what that means. I think maybe I get the general idea, son. Well, I'll tell her to look for a handsome Texan with a beard. Can you be here tomorrow night at, say, eight o'clock? Oh, I calculate her sure can. Well, then, my boy, you've got yourself a date. The next night I was there in plenty of time. I had plans for that girl, lots of plans. As I got around toward eight o'clock, I kept looking toward the street entrance, but somehow I must have missed her because the next thing on you, there was somebody standing beside me and I heard a voice. Hello there. I'm Joyce Arlen. It seemed as though minutes went by before I was able to say a word. But hadn't been dark where I was sitting, she couldn't have but helped to see that something was wrong because the girl was Jorley, my Jorley, who was supposed to be dead, the Jorley that I'd seen at myself, at the slayer but the city morgue. Then somehow, somehow, I managed to pull myself together and start talking. You're Johnny Farrell, aren't you? That's right. I was sure mighty nice of you to come. Oh, that's all right. I wasn't doing anything. Is there anything in particular you'd like to do now? No, nothing in particular. I thought maybe you'd like to go dancing or something like that, only I... Only what? Well, I discovered a terrible thing just before he got here, Miss... Ma'am. You can call me Joyce. You see, I left my wallet up in my hotel room. Oh. If you all wouldn't mind stopping by there with me for a minute while I pick it up then we could... And I suppose while we're up there, I can look over your actions. Oh, no, ma'am. I ain't that kind of honest, I'm not. But if you don't want to go... Oh, what's the difference? Come on, let's go. You always keep it this dark in here? Well, there's a couple of bulbs burned out. I told them to have them fixed. Oh, well, never mind. Where's that wallet? In the closet there in my other suit. Say, Joyce. Would you mind if I stepped in here and sort of slicked up a little before he went out? Oh, no. Go right ahead. I went into the bathroom and got out my razor. My plans were still the same. I excused myself a minute before we came upstairs and I made the phone call that I'd planned to. There was a couple of little extra flourishes to be added on now that I hadn't figured on before. First, I shaved off my beard. Then I went to work on the hair dye with some rubbing alcohol. It came out pretty easy. I was almost ready when I heard her voice in the next room. Tommy! Yes? You mean you reckon you don't want to go out with me? Oh, well, it doesn't kill Johnny, but... Well, what is it? No, no, I won't. What is it? Oh, but Joyce, I'm all ready to go now. Well... Only first I thought maybe we'd better have a little more light on this subject. I thought you said you didn't have any... Hello, Jorley. Eddie. That's right. Eddie, I thought you... You thought I'd never catch up with you. All right, Jorley. All right, give. What? Come on, talk and talk fast. Who was that other girl, the one they thought was you, the one who was dead? Well, she was my sister. Sister? What happened to her? I don't know. What kind of a racket are you and the old man running anyway? Well, Horace is... He's my father, Eddie. He's my stepfather anyway. Oh, that's nice. It's very nice. It keeps it all in the family, huh? No, Eddie, you could think anything you want to. Nothing could be quite bad enough. Please believe me. I wasn't playing any games with you. No? That's why I sent Evelyn that day, my sister. I gave her your ring so you'd know she really came from me. I just couldn't face her myself. Face me with what? With what Horace and I had planned to do. Do you? The old shakedown, huh? I guess so. Evelyn was horrified anyway when she got wind of it. She was a funny girl. She belonged to one of those religious sects and she said we'd have to atone for our sins and be punished. I know. Maybe a better start from the beginning. Well, that's about all. We were awfully hard up and Mother really was sick. And I'd borrowed some money once from a man I'd met. I paid it back that time, but it gave Horace ideas. He whittled and threatened and said, oh, Mother, might die. Well, I had a couple of pretty raw deals pulled on me out here and I just didn't care anymore, I guess. That is, till I met you. And so you sent your sister to me to confess all and she jumped out of the window instead. Is that what you think happened? I don't know. Then why did you tell me what you knew then? Well, it wouldn't have brought Evelyn back to life. And Horace said we'd all go to prison and his mother didn't know what was going on, would have broken her heart. Yes, but you went right back at it again. Horace said if he'd had just a little money, he'd go away. He'd leave us alone and go back east. And I was supposed to be the next victim, as Johnny Farrell with a ranch in Texas. No, Eddie, no. Not after I met you. No. No. You were before, were you? Eddie, maybe if he knew a little more about what a girl is up against in this town, you'd understand. Telegram. Telegram. I had a hunch about you, my boy. Horace! Why, you won't... Oh, don't try anything foolish. I'm quite expert with this little gun as you may recall, my boy. I suggest we close the door and have a nice quiet talk just between ourselves. That's better. So in spite of all my admonitions, you still persist in this confessional mood, do you, my dear? Horace, what are you going to do? You young people may not see it quite my way, but I'm an old man and I don't fancy the notion of spending my remaining years behind bars. Quite a penalty for extortion, you know? You're telling me. And so I'm afraid there's going to be a little accident up here, something like the accident that happened to poor Evelyn. So you did kill her! Well, technically, yes. I did assist her through that window after she insisted on making a scene. Why, you... Evelyn was always excitable, you know. Really not quite normal, I'm afraid. Oh, Horace, you're mad. My dear, I want you to write a little note. See, there's paper and pen over there on the desk, and you will say, darling, forgive me, but it will be best this way for both of us. Can sign your name. You must be mad to think I'd do such a thing. You wouldn't like to see me kill your lover here, would you? Oh, yes, these old eyes can still tell love, wouldn't they see? Jolly, look, don't do it, don't do it. Can't you see he's going to kill us both anyway? Horace, will you promise then? Call us I will. That's it, my dear. Write it down just as I told you. There's only one thing wrong with all this, Horace. You want to know what it is? Naturally. I've already called the police. They're waiting for me in the lobby right now. And if I'm not down there in about five minutes, they'll be up here. Oh, dear, this is embarrassing, isn't it? Isn't it? I think perhaps you'd better get on that telephone, my boy. Give directions for the officers to go away immediately. Say that you no longer have any need of them. Well, all right. Hello? Hello, Desk? You know those two men who were waiting in the lobby for me? Well, tell them, don't they get up here as fast as they can? Horace, no! Jolly, why you won't... Jolly, Jolly, are you all right? I think so. It's only my shoulder. Oh, darling, you shouldn't have gotten in the way. I'd rather have had it been me than you. Look, I'll call a doctor. What's going on here? We heard a shot. Look, there's the man who's responsible for the suicide of Jolly Andrews. Only it wasn't a suicide. He killed her. It wasn't Jolly Andrews. That's Jolly Andrews over here. What are you talking about? Hello, hello, hello? I've got to get a doctor. Wait a minute, will you? Hello? Don't you understand? Look, that isn't Jolly Andrews. That's Jolly Andrews over there. You're not making sense, man. Look, fella, look. I met this guy at a hotel. Yeah? And then we went fishing, and then we put the worms on a hook. Yeah, yeah. And then she was in a slab, and she was dead only. She's not dead. She's wonderful. We're going to get married, see? I love her. And then Horace and I were in the shooting gallery. Then I met him, and I dyed my hair, and I made a fake Texas accent, see? And so closes, a guy gets lonely, in which Roma Wines have brought you, Mr. Dane Clark, a star of tonight's study in... Suspense. Before our star returns to the microphone, let me say a word for Roma Wines, the sponsor of suspense. Elsa Maxwell is known the world over for her great charm as a hostess. Now, here's a brief message from this noted authority. It is always a gracious act of hospitality to serve a glass of distinguished Roma wine. I suggest you try Roma California Toque, a wine of unusual versatility, enjoyable any time, before or after meals. I serve it frequently with dessert or coffee. It's perfect with fruit or nuts or with any light snack. Follow Miss Maxwell's good suggestion. Try Roma Toque, a velvety smooth, flame bright wine, moderately sweet, light, yet delightfully rich in flavor. And you'll find that all Roma Wines are always delicious, always of unvarying goodness and fine quality. The next time you use Bermouth, sweet or dry, use Roma Bermouth. Zestful, herb-flavored Roma Bermouth is blended, mellowed, developed, and bottled in California, with all the traditional wine-making skill of Roma Wineries. Yet surprisingly low-priced, try Roma Bermouth soon, won't you? This is Dane Clark. That I enjoyed appearing on suspense goes without saying all of us do. Next week's show sounds like it'll be really swell. It's a story written by one of the great contemporary masses of the art of suspense, that shall ham it. And starring in it will be two of your favorite Hollywood people, John Payne and Stuart Irwin. I'll surely want to catch the one next Thursday, and I know you will too. Suspense is produced, edited, and directed by William Spear. Dane Clark appeared through the courtesy of Warner Brothers, and will soon be seen with Dennis Morgan in their production, God Is My Copilot. Next Thursday, same time, John Payne will be your star of... Suspense! Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.