 Now, Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Roma Wines present... Suspense! Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Miss Faye Bainter as star of The Lucky Lady, a suspense play produced, edited and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear. Suspense, Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills, 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, to your happiness and entertaining guests, to your enjoyment of everyday meals. Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you Faye Bainter, in a remarkable tale of... Suspense! When the police accused George with the murder of those young actresses, I took up for him till the very last. Of course I should have known better, because Lady Susie didn't trust him, and Lady Susie is a smart cat. She has a way of picking winners among humans. On the surface, George didn't look like a criminal, big and gruff. There was nothing unusual looking about him, except his hands. Still, that peculiar antagonism between George and Susie from the very first day he came to work for me at Russell House. It was a dismal afternoon. The rain had been pouring steadily for hours, and in the unreal half-light of the old brownstone parlor, those blunt twitching fingers seemed grotesquely alive. With evil, I was frantic, or I probably never would have hired. What's your name? George. George? George Smith. Married? My wife's dead. Oh. Any children? One, a girl. Where is she? Dead. Oh. I don't talk about it, Mom, ever. I see. Any references? No, but I'm a good worker. The goodness knows that's what I need. You'd want me to stay on the place? Oh, yes, indeed. There's a small room down in the cellar that our last handyman used before he went to the munitions factory. It's quite comfortable. Come along, I'll show it to you. You're showing me the room? This means I'm hired? Well, for a while, at least. Of course, I don't like you're not having references, but with the men, shortage... You won't regret hiring me, Mom. Well, in a girl's boarding house, we just do need a man for the heavy work. There's always the furnace to tend to... Only girls live here? Young actresses. I was one myself years ago. Actresses? Yes, poor dear. They don't have an easy time. That's why I opened this boarding house, just to help them out as much as I can. Actresses? Hmm. Pretty ones? Here's the door to the cellar. Now, what's your step? Anybody home but you? Just me and Susie. No, no, you don't have to take my arm. Just hold on to the railing. It's a cat! A cat! Get away! Get away! Stop kicking my cat! Double straight! Stop it, I say! Susie, come here! Mr. Smith, what do you mean? I'm sorry. I never like cats. They bring me trouble. Then, obviously, you're not the one for the job. But I gotta have this job. Not if you're going to treat my cat that way. Why, this whole house revolves around Lady Susie? Lady what? Lady Susie, my cat. The girls here at the house call her lucky, Lady Susie. A cat lucky? She's brought luck to many an actress right here in this house. Why, the girls regard her as some people do were rabbit's foot or a luck charm. She's a tradition. Well, if she's that important, we'll get along. Wouldn't we, Kitty? Nice, Kitty? No, I wouldn't have hired George, but I had to have a handyman. But I think I realized right then that he was no good for the house. Even if he was startled, that was no excuse for a great big man to kick a harmless little pet. My mother always said any man who isn't kind to animals is not to be trusted. But what with the war and... Well, George was a good worker. However, he and Lady Susie never did get along. Odd too, because she was friendly with everybody. By strange coincidence, girls that she'd scratched in a playful mood had achieved fame in the theater soon afterwards. So lucky Lady Susie was pampered and coaxed for the young hopefuls at rehearsal house. Girls, usually stop by my parlor for tea every afternoon before going up to their rooms to change. Of course, Lady Susie was always here. More tea, Alice? No thanks, Miss Plim. You, Jane? Half a cup, please. You may get me out of this blue mood. Here you are, Jane. And your usual cream. Thanks. Come here, Susie, and sit on my lap. Or if you just bring me a little lock. No, Jane. I'll never get anywhere in the theater. Just keep on plugging, dear. Did anybody hear how Diane came out with a reading? She should be home any minute now. Poor dear, she's worked so long for a break. Haven't we all? Oh, but Diane will get along. I'm sure of it. She got the good luck token from Lady Susie. Miss Plim! Girls, you darned! Diane! I made it! I made it! I got the prize! No, dear. Because of Miss Plim, the guardian angel of struggling young actresses. Who feeds us three meals a day and never subits a bill. And has the most wonderful cat in the world. Susie, you know, don't you, that you're making me a famous actress? No, Diane. Susie just gives you confidence in yourself. There's nothing to the superstition that... Oh, yes, there is. One tiny scratch from Lucky Lady and Success is inevitable. Why, only last week she scratched Diane, and now look, she'll be a star overnight. Oh, yes. I think it... I'm very happy for you, Diane. Thanks. Oh, Susie, why don't you scratch me? Just a tiny scratch here on my hand. Here's your tea, Diane. Miss Carter, thanks. Fire feels good on a day like today. Come here, Lady Susie. Let me tell you about my part. What's wrong with Lady Susie? Just keep talking, girls, until I get over to the door. I thought so. George, what are you doing up here? Uh... Uh... I'd come up to see if you wanted more wood on fire. Why didn't you knock? I was going to, then I heard Miss Diane talking. Hello, Miss Diane. Hello, George. So you got the part you wanted. That's fine. Oh, yes, George. Isn't it thrilling? You'll be a great actress, Miss Diane. Nice kitty. Hush. That'll be all for now, George. But if you'd like me to fix the fire... When we need more wood, I'll call you. Yes, ma'am. Good evening, Miss Diane. He knows everything about us, doesn't he? I don't like it. The idea is listening at the door. Oh, come on. Now, Plim, he's harmless. He's lonely. Poor man does everything he can for us. You trust everybody, Diane. Too much. Well, it does seem safer with the man in the house. There's something sinister about him. And Susie doesn't trust him. The way she claws the rug and that strange yowl of hers whenever he's around. I wonder why she does that. Could be a warning of some kind. Just be careful, girls. I don't want anything to happen. Oh, Miss Plim, thanks to Lucky Lady Susie. Nothing but good can happen to me from now on. Diane did become a success. The play was a hit and overnight her fame had spread from Broadway to Hollywood. There were radio contracts, movie offices, magazine spreads. Diane was the toast to the hour. Lady Susie was enjoying her share of the fame, too. But Diane's press agent knew the value of a good story. He played up the superstition of Susie's ability to pick a winner. Diane and Lady Lucky had pictures taken together. Soon my shabby rehearsal house had become the residence for aspiring actresses and I was turning girls away. Do you know, even with her fame, Diane refused to move to a better house. She stayed on in a little single room with a one overhead bulb as though nothing had changed. At first she was so happy it was a joy to be around her. But then it began. She'd stare into space for minutes at the time. There were wary lines between her eyes. Being an old actress, I knew too well what her trouble was. One night, Lady Susie and I stayed up later than usual just to cheer her up when she came home from the theater. I'm tired. You haven't been your cheerful self lately, Diane. Plimmy, you were a famous actress once, weren't you? Yes, dear. How long did it last? Your fame, I mean. Oh, until a new toast to Broadway came along? Then I faded into obscurity again. Wasn't that terribly hard to take? It's so cruel. One never gets used to it, Diane. Plimmy, I couldn't bear it. To be unknown again? To go on living with only dreams of the past? Every actress has that fear, Diane. But don't worry, darling. Perhaps I won't. Well, I guess I'll go upstairs now. Why don't you take Susie upstairs with you? She's good company. Oh, Miss Plim, you think of everything. Susie's just what I need. Now don't you worry your pretty head about the future, dear. It'll take care of itself. Good night, Miss Plim. Good night, Diane. Oh, George. I didn't mean to scare you. It's so dark out here in the hall, I didn't see you. You like that cat, Miss Diane. Oh, Susie's a good luck cat. Cats bring nothing but evil. You're up late, George. I'd stay up lots of nights till you come in. Oh? You're so pretty, Miss Diane. Your hair, your face. You walk nice. George, you shouldn't Susie. Susie, how's she? She always yowls that way. She don't like me, Miss Diane. She's just like the cat my daughter had. Your daughter? You make me think of my daughter, Miss Diane. She was pretty, too. She was killed. Oh, George, I'm sorry. My daughter and my wife, they was killed, sudden. Both at once. Oh, how horrible. I keep trying to forget, then I see you and I remember all over again. George, you mean that I... I heard what you were saying to Miss Plim. You're worrying about your fame lasting. Miss Diane, you'll be famous as long as you live. I know you will. Thank you, George. Now, good night. Good night, Miss Diane. Why are you so afraid of George? Susie. Oh, heaven. Susie, the light bulbs burned out. Oh, dear. Miss Plim? Oh, Miss Plim? Yes, Diane? The bulbs burned out and it's awfully dark up here. What'll I do? Oh, that's a shame, Diane. I'll thin George out with a new bulb right away. George? No. George, you'll fix it. What's the matter with you, Susie? I thought cats could see in the dark. All right, all right. Let's go over by the window. Some light from the street lamp over there. Oh, this is better, huh, Susie? I wish George would hurry with that light bulb. Susie, Susie. What's the trouble? Kitty, what... Who's there? George? Susie, wait. You're scratching me. George? George, I know you're in this room. George? George? He was coming from Diane's room and I rushed upstairs at once. I walked into the room and there lay Diane. I think all the girls knew instinctively just as I did that she was... George. That awful George was staring into her face as though he was in a kind of a trance. She's fainted. Pretty Miss Diane, she's fainted. 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And now, Roma wines bring back to our Hollywood sound stage, Faye Bainter, who, as Miss Leonora Plym in The Lucky Lady, continues a narrative well calculated to keep you in suspense. It was certainly a sad and dramatic scene as we all stood there in Diane's room looking down at her. Even more beautiful in death than she had been in life. George had that awful, vacant look on his face. Dad? She's dead? George, what happened? I sent you up here to fix the light bulb for Miss Diane. Then I heard her scream. What happened? When I came up, it was dark. She left the door open and I stood in the room. I could see Miss Diane from the street lamp, but she couldn't see me. She was talking to the cat. I didn't mean to hurt her. The light was shining on her pretty hair. I just tried to touch it. Now she's dead. Pretty Miss Diane. There were no signs of violence. No unusual marks on her body. Diane lays if she was asleep. When you police came, you were sure at first that poor George was guilty. But you could find no evidence to back up your suspicions. Besides, even though we didn't like him, everybody in the house took up for George. The girls just couldn't believe that he was guilty. Then to the next day, a suicide note was discovered. The inspector found it between the pages of a recent success story about the lovely young actress. It said, I don't know how much longer the success is going to last, but I do know I couldn't stand being a nobody again. Just any day now, I'll be taking my final curtain call voluntarily. For only through death can an actress achieve lasting fame. The note was signed Diane. Later, it was announced to the papers that Diane Carville's death appeared to be suicide. However, before this announcement was made public, the inspector had paid me a visit. It's, uh, it's about George, Miss Plym. Yes, Inspector. The state's attorney is satisfied with the suicide verdict. But Inspector. The screams George found in the room, it doesn't make sense that Diane Carville killed herself. Yes. But I can't prove anything. There's no evidence. Just, just this uncanny hunch. What do you want me to do, Inspector? I, uh, look, look, I want you to let him go on working here as though nothing had happened. But Inspector. Let him know you think he's innocent. That, uh, that the case is closed. There's no evidence. No evidence. When his wife and daughter died, there was no evidence either. On the very day that George came back to work, Jane, the young actress I've told you about before, came running into the parlor all out of breath. Miss Plym. Why, Jane! I got it. I got it. I'm set with a guilt. Janey, oh, sit down, dear. Have a cup of tea, then tell me all about it. Well, it's the part in the play. And, and Elliot Nugent said that... Oh, Lady Susie, you wonderful creature. Lady Susie! Yes, last night. Look, here on my arm. But you didn't say anything about it. I didn't tell anybody. I've been trying so long that I couldn't be sure even Lucky Lady could change my luck. But she did. Well, of course, the cat had nothing to do with it, dear. You believed she'd charmed you and you probably read better than you'd ever read before. Yes, George? I was passing in the hall and I heard what Miss Jane said. I'm glad for you, Miss Jane. Thank you, George. Now you'll be a famous actress, like Miss Diane. George. Excuse me, ma'am. Well, it happened to Jane, too. Just as Diane had done, Jane became the toast to the town. Then right at the peak of her career, she died mysteriously and at rehearsal house. There was the burned out light bulb, the horrible yowling of Lady Susie. But this time, George disappeared before the police arrived. A city-wide manhunt began for George. And in the meantime, just as I'd done for Diane, I wrote a letter of condolence to Jane's parents, sending all the newspaper clippings, telling them what a blessing the poor child has succeeded in a life ambition before such a dreadful thing had happened. Jane's mother sent me a long, appreciated letter as Diane's had done. And I pasted the two letters side by side. In my scrapbook. It was about the sixth day after Jane's death that the inspector called me on the phone. Now listen carefully, Miss Blim. What is it now, Inspector? Are you alone? Yes. Listen. Lock yourself in your room and stay there until the police car arrives. A man who looked like George Smith was seen in your neighborhood a few minutes ago. Oh, Inspector, I... There's no time to talk. Lock yourself in. It may be your life next. This man is dangerous. But I've never handled a dangerous man before. Don't under any condition leave your room. Oh, dear. Thanks all, Miss Blim. But, Inspector, I... Oh, dear. All alone. Naturally, I was frightened. Realizing that even at that moment a criminal, or worse, a maniac might be under my own roof. When the inspector hung up, my mind was confused. My heart something like a washing machine. It was then that I heard like a lady soothin'. She was howling away. She always did when George was about. But it was even worse than usual. Fighting in pain. The sound was coming from the direction of the cellar where George's room had been. The warnings of the inspector forgotten I ran down the hall toward the cellar door. All I could think of was that my poor little cat was probably being tortured. Susie? Lady Susie? Susie? Was it all over? For there was George. Angry as I'd never seen him when these big hens he was trying to push poor Lady Susie into the furnace. She was writhing and scratching with all her might. Oh, George! Drop that cat this instant! Miss Priam. George, I'm ashamed of you. Poor little Lady Susie. Poor poor little pet. Come here kitty. George, I'm terribly angry with you. Any grown man who would try to push a poor little helpless kitty into a burning furnace. The cat's brought nothing but trouble. No. Why George, you don't look so well. The cat would be better off dead. It's brought nothing but evil. George, why don't you come upstairs? I was just making some tea. Tea? Come along George, we'll talk it all over in the parlour. No, the police are after me. Of course George, but they'd never think of looking in my parlour for you. They blame me with Miss Jane's murder. All right, let's get the tea over. We'll just let it steep a second. George, I can't forgive you for trying to kill my cat. Why would you do such a cruel thing? I hate cats. They're evil. I understand you're a dangerous criminal, George. What do you prefer, cream or lemon? Creamer. With my daughter's pet cat to turn over the kerosene lamp and set the house on fire. My wife and daughter will burn. I got the blame. There's your tea. Nice hot cup. Just the same, George. You shouldn't have mistreated Lady Suzy. I'm going to turn you over to the police, you know. How's your tea? It's bitter, Mom. I don't like tea. No, no, don't turn me in, Mom. I tell you, I've got to get that cat. She got me in all this trouble. Drink your tea, George. Drink your tea. Yes, ma'am. Can I open up an air-conditioner? Yes, George. I'll have to let them in. Well, I've got to get her out of here. I've got my head out. All right. My goodness. George is dead. Oh, well. Don't tear the door down. I'm coming. Well, you killed him, eh, Miss Plyn? Why, yes. You said he was a dangerous criminal, so I... How, Miss Plyn? A little potassium bichloride in his tea. He thought it was sugar. Potassium? That's what I use for the girls, you know, Diane and Jane. What? You mean you murdered them? I gave them lasting fame. You what? Their names will remain in the history of the American theater forever, because they died at the peak of their success. That's what they both wanted. But the suicide notes? Oh, I wrote those, of course. You see, all these years I've suffered the tortures of being a husband, an actress who's no longer wanted. I didn't want those lovely girls to suffer. But how? The poison... Well, the time is right. I put my chloride under Lady Suzie's claws and sent her up to their rooms with them. That was perfectly natural, as the girls loved her so much anyway. The burned-out bulb was my idea, too. You see, when George went in to fix the light, he'd frighten Suzie. Then she'd scratch the girls. The poison would take effect almost immediately. I kept telling you George was innocent. But... But after all... No, you were right about George. I never should have trusted him. Wasn't it dreadful what that horrible man tried to do to my cat? Suspense. Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Before we hear again from Faye Bainter, the star of the lucky lady tonight's suspense play, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines. Here's an interesting comment on gracious dining from famous Elsa Maxwell, who says, among smart American hostesses who know how much wine adds to mealtime pleasure, I notice more and more now serve Roma California Burgundy regularly. Dining with Roma Burgundy is a gracious, inexpensive custom I share and enjoy with my friends. Roma Burgundy adds new zest, brings out the flavor fullness of food, and lends charm and friendliness to the dinner table. Enrich your next dinner with the appetizing fragrance and tempting taste of good red Roma Burgundy. You'll agree it's true taste luxury at low cost. For Roma Burgundy costs just pennies a glass, so much for so little, because Roma is America's first choice wine. And you make substantial extra savings when you buy Roma Burgundy in the half gallon or gallon economy sizes. Enjoy Roma Burgundy tomorrow. Insist on Roma, R-O-M-A, Roma wine, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is Faye Bainter. It's been a pleasant and stimulating experience as usual to make an appearance on suspense, where an actress never knows until she's read the very last paragraph whether she's a deep-dyed villainess or a lady in jeopardy. Mr. Spear has just been telling me that next Thursday an actor who is an uncomfortable favorite with all of us will be your star. That'll be Colonel James Stewart, late of Uncle Sam's fighting forces. Jimmy Stewart will appear in a role that I think will surprise you, one unlike any he has ever done before. I certainly won't miss next Thursday's suspense show, and I know you'll make it a point to listen to. Faye Bainter will soon be seen in the Paramount production The Virginian. At the same time, Roma Wines will bring you Mr. James Stewart as star of Suspense, Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills. Produced by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. Suspense is broadcast from coast to coast and by shortwave to our men and women of the armed forces overseas through Armed Forces Radio. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.