In this episode of CBS Radio Mystery Theater, we delve into the complex world of love, self-worth, and societal expectations through the story of Miriam Mallory, a woman who has resigned herself to a life without romance. As the narrative unfolds, Miriam discovers that her boss, Erwin Pomeroy, has been secretly in love with her for years, despite being trapped in a loveless marriage. This revelation turns Miriam's world upside down, challenging her perceptions of beauty and self-value.
As Miriam and Erwin navigate their forbidden love, they are faced with moral dilemmas and the harsh realities of their situation. The episode explores themes of desperation, societal pressure, and the lengths one might go to for love. With a dramatic twist involving a contemplated murder, the story keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, questioning the true nature of love and the sacrifices it demands.
(01:00) Introduction to the Mystery
(03:01) Beauty and Society's Standards
(07:30) Miriam's Daily Struggles
(12:24) A Shocking Revelation
(20:00) Forbidden Love
(29:05) The Dark Decision
(38:48) A Change of Heart
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Unknown:
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[00:00:31] Unknown:
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[00:01:01] Unknown:
CBS radio mystery theater
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presents
[00:01:21] Unknown:
Come in. Welcome. I'm EG Marshall. There are really only two types of people in this world, the haves and the have nots. Love, looks, luck, you either have them or you don't. Money, fame, power, they'll come to you or they won't. The simple, uncomplicated, basic fact of life is this. There are those who will make it, and there are those who will not. And one way or another, there is very little you can do about it. Or is there I love you?
[00:02:01] Unknown:
How could you love me, sir? I love you. I'm plain, homeless. I have no money. I don't care. I love you. And you're married.
[00:02:11] Unknown:
I don't care.
[00:02:12] Unknown:
I know your wife. She'll never divorce you.
[00:02:16] Unknown:
Well, then I'll I'll cure. Why? Because I love you.
[00:02:33] Unknown:
Our mystery drama till death do us part was written especially for the mystery theater by Sam Dan and stars Tammy Grimes. It is sponsored in part by True Value Hardware stores and Buick Motor Division. I'll be back shortly with act one. Beauty, said the poet, is in the eye of the beholder. This is one of those all purpose proverbs designed to make just about everybody feel better. Well, it does no harm, but it has little relationship to reality. The problem is the eyes of most beholders have been conditioned to recognize only a temporary type of beauty, a beauty that is measurable by arbitrary arithmetical standards.
And if a lady's measurements fall short or are not visible, well, our heroine is miss Miriam Mallory. Miss Mallory is pushing 40 or is being pushed by it. Not only has she never received a serious proposal, she has never even inspired a lighthearted proposition. Miss Mallory is intelligent, has a good job, makes a respectable salary, but statistically, there must be a number of girls in this world who will be overlooked, and miss Mallory has long ago been resigned.
[00:04:07] Unknown:
Another cup of coffee, Maryam? I shouldn't, but I will. It's delicious. That's why it's bad. Bad. Why, missus Dennis? The coffee, the food in general, it's too good. And that's bad? If I didn't keep such a good table, you might not have stayed here all these years. I never would have become your starboarder. You would have gone somewhere else, maybe an apartment of your own, lived your life differently. What brings this on? I mean, are we headed where we're usually headed? Funny. I've had three husbands. I know. And I can't even get one. Miriam, you should go out into the world. I'm out in the world. Out with? All day you're at your job. At night you can home, have dinner, watch TV with me.
That being out in the world, you make good money. You can afford to go places, do things. I went to Europe last year. It doesn't matter if I go and stay. I never meet anybody. Don't you want to get married? I suppose so. You suppose so. But you have to be definite about it. Alright. I'm definite. Well, do something about it. What? A man has to ask me. Nobody does. Well, you have to make yourself attractive. There's nothing I can do about that since I'm not attractive to Stacks. If you want to be attractive, you have to feel attractive. Being attractive is something that exists within you. And it's a glow that you feel inside.
You see, Julia, I remember your lectures word for word. I was afraid that would happen. Afraid what would happen? Do you know what you just called me? You called me, Julia. Well, why not? It's your name. In the fifty years you lived in this house, you never once called me anything but missus Kenneth. I, I wasn't aware of it. And now you call me Julia. You came here. You are how old? 22, 20 three. I was 45, an older woman, another generation. Naturally, you called me missus Tennis. But you see, you what am I supposed to say? Well, as long as you considered me an older woman, you called me missus Terrace.
But when you call me Julia, it means we're equal. And do you know what I'm talking about? No. Oh, yes. You do. You have accepted middle age. Would it help if I didn't accept? Oh, you know what I mean. You've given up. Oh, I gave up long ago. I'm late to work. That's another thing. Why are you always late? Subconsciously, do you hate your job? But still, I love my job. Do you feel perhaps it prevents you from fulfilling yourself as a woman? You don't want to believe everything you hear on those TV talk shows. Well, whatever you do, don't speed on the turnpike this morning. I read where the highway patrol has announced the crackdown. Before I leave, are there any further instructions?
Any other psychological gems filled with wisdom and insight? I'll save them for dinner. Where did he come?
[00:07:41] Unknown:
Hey. What do you have to do? Kill somebody? I'm, I'm sorry, officer. You're sorry? Now what does that mean you're sorry. You were doing 75. I I I didn't realize. You didn't realize you're a danger to life and limb on a highway? I, that's 75, you don't control that car. It's an engine of destruction. Officer, I Do you have your license and your registration? Officer,
[00:08:04] Unknown:
I never broke the law before. Yeah. You mean you were never caught.
[00:08:08] Unknown:
Officer,
[00:08:09] Unknown:
really,
[00:08:10] Unknown:
I had no idea. If I let you get away with this, you'd have no respect for me as a cop. Right? Oh, I And deep down, you'd have no respect for yourself with the citizen either. Well, I, The schedule of fines is on a back 30 miles an hour over the limit cost of $45. If you don't wanna go to court, mail it in. Here's your summons, your license, your registration. Have a nice day.
[00:08:43] Unknown:
Mister Pomeroy's office. No. He cannot be disturbed. He's in a meeting. You will have to call again. Miss Dallas, you were told not to put any calls on mister Pomeroy's line this morning. See that you remember. My my. Somebody's in a rotten mood this morning. Ever have one of those days where it all goes badly? Very, very seldom. To begin with, I got a ticket for speeding. How's that possible? The officer wrote it out. A woman getting a ticket? Don't you know that's not supposed to happen? Why not? The answer in one word, sex. Sex. You look at him and smile. And the I smiled. It didn't work.
I don't believe that. Maybe it works for you, Valerie. You're pretty. Oh, every woman's pretty. No woman should ever get a ticket. Tell that to officer Krautwein. Who's he? The cop who signed the summons. Alright. Let us consider officer Krautwein. Look. I'm too upset about this whole business and it's gonna cost me $45. Cheap at half the price if it teaches you a lesson. What lesson? Ask yourself, why did officer Krautwein become a motorcycle cop? I don't even know the man. I couldn't care less. It's the last frontier. The what? The spirit of knighthood. Oh, the spirit of They're those men. They existed throughout the ages who sought fulfillment Love. In rescuing fair damsels in distress. That lets me out. We are not. Women in peril. Women menaced by giants, by dragons. Look, I have to finish the polo check report. The horse is gone, but he has been reincarnated in the form of the motorcycle. You need all this information, Valerie. There he is. This knight in armor and he sees you. Menace by, guess what?
A dragon. You're crazy. That's what your call is. A dragon. A huge monster that surrounds you and is running away with you. Can we get to business or stop this monster? Come to your rescue so when he looks at you, you must not break the illusion. What illusion? That he's saving a damsel from a dragon. So you must be all smiles and softness, gratitude and weakness. All the things that a woman Weakness is womanly. For $45, it is. That's why you must radiate these womanly qualities, but you didn't. That's why you destroyed his illusion. That's why he gave you a ticket. He gave me a ticket because I broke the law. I'll do 75. I bet I won't get a ticket. I, guess I just don't have this womanly quality. Every woman has it.
You just don't know how to use
[00:11:29] Unknown:
it. Yes? How may I take it please, miss Valerie? Yes, sir.
[00:11:33] Unknown:
And further Look, Valerie. It's time to go to work.
[00:11:40] Unknown:
Oh, miss Valerie.
[00:11:41] Unknown:
Where is the pallet check report? It isn't finished yet. It's due today. It will be ready by 04:00. That's shaving it rather close, isn't it? If you wanted it this morning, mister Pomeroy, you should have said so. How wouldn't it stand to reason that they you want something on a given day, that means interrupt me, miss Miller. Only trying to remind you that stand to reason that I would want the whole day to check the figures. But it's customary when you say you want to report on a given day to assume that very tidy, wasteful of time, effort. Mister Pomeroy, you can't talk to me like that. Miss Mallory, how long have you been here? I think I've been here too long. See here, miss Mallory. Miriam, what is it? What happened to you? Miriam, quit quit that typing for a minute.
Your face. You should see your face. Read that. To mister o d Pomeroy, Please be advised that I intend to resign from Pomeroy Associates within four weeks of this date or as soon as the replacement get what what does this mean? What do you think it means? It means I quit? But you can't quit. Watch me. But it's impossible. You you've been here fifteen years. For all it means to anybody. Who does he think he Now, Miriam, please. Who does he think I am? Some scared little high school girl from the typing pool? Wait. What happened? Everything happened. This is the day that everything happened. Come here and please calm down. Talk a second.
What sense is there to any of it? I'm just an unattractive, homely woman and You're not homely. You're right. I was giving myself the best of it. I'm arguing. Say that. Doesn't matter who you are, what you know, what you can do. If you're not pretty, you're nothing. You're nobody. But, Miriam, you For fifteen years, I've worked for that man, and it's always been mister Pomeroy, miss Mallory, proper, polite, correct. Why? I'll tell you why. I'm an unattractive woman. He feels he doesn't have to extend himself for me. Miriam, you're wrong. He couldn't help himself. Don't make excuses for him. He's in love with you. I don't wanna hear another word. Erwin Pomeroy is in love with you.
Please, Valerie, don't do this to me. Don't you make fun of me. I know who I am and I know what I am and it's bad enough. So don't you Pomeroy is in love with you, Miriam, and I can prove
[00:14:18] Unknown:
it. Well, there's a completely unexpected situation. We would assume that nobody could ever be in love with Miriam Mallory the way she carries on. And though we were only exposed to mister Pomeroy very briefly, he seems the least likely candidate. However, there are those of you out there, and your number hopefully is legion, who are not concerned with who loves whom, but rather who kills whom in our little tales. Have no fears. You will not be cheated in act two. Love, your magic spell is everywhere, says the popular song. Our Miriam Mallory would paraphrase that by saying, love, your magic spell is everywhere, but here, poor resigned unattractive Miriam, reconciled to a lonely, barren spinster's existence.
Suddenly, she has received a shattering piece of news. She is loved.
[00:15:30] Unknown:
Please, Valerie. You shouldn't make a joke of it. It isn't funny to me. He loves you. Erwin Pomeroy loves me. You've been working here fifteen years, and you didn't know? I've been here how long? Six months? I saw it the first day. What did you see the first day? The way he looks at you. I Don't don't say it. I don't believe it. But I I don't believe it. I said I'd prove it. Watch. What are you gonna do? Your letter of resignation. I am going to walk in there and just place it on his desk. But I still want to quit, don't you? After the way he spoke to me? Certainly.
He won't let you? Sure. Because he wants to hold on to a good secretary. Oh, no. Because he wants to hold on to the woman he loves. Valerie. This won't take a minute. I don't care what anyone says. I'm going to quit. I'm going to quit. Well, the deed is done. I don't know what to say to you, Valerie. About what? I always thought we were friends. Oh, I hope we are. You know how I feel about not being young or pretty. Wait a minute now. That phone is going to ring. I I don't know what to say. If you're telling the truth, why has he always been so so full, so so distant? Because he's fighting it. Fighting it? Why? Oh, Miriam. You know why?
There. He's just read your letter of resignation. You answer it, Valerie. Why? It's not my phone. Sooner or later, you'll have to face it. Yes?
[00:17:18] Unknown:
Miss, miss Mallory, may I see you?
[00:17:24] Unknown:
I, I'm not going in there. Until your resignation becomes final, you're still working here, aren't you? I, alright. Yes, miss Pomeroy?
[00:17:42] Unknown:
Please, please close the door, miss Mallory. And, would you sit down?
[00:17:51] Unknown:
Miss Mallory,
[00:17:53] Unknown:
why do you want to resign?
[00:17:55] Unknown:
I
[00:17:59] Unknown:
it's highly personal. Yes. I'm sure it has to do with the way I spoke to you. I would rather not discuss it. Miss Mallory, did you ever have one of those days where it all goes badly? Well, I'm I'm having one today. Mister Pomeroy, I It's not just a day where here and there, this and that goes wrong. It's more than that. It's it's it's a day when you finally admit to yourself that that nothing can ever go right for you again. You
[00:18:25] Unknown:
you you you you didn't have to take it out on me. Oh, but I did. I did because you're you're part of my bad day. If if if you are referring to the Polacek report bother the stupid Polacek report. Please, miss Pomeroy.
[00:18:36] Unknown:
I don't want to be yelled at. You've been working here fifteen years, and you've never even called me by my first name. And I've never called you by yours. It's Maria. Maria, do you know what it's been like for me these past fifteen years being in love with you and being unable to tell you? What do you what do you see? You know what I'm saying. I'm in love with you. Please. Please what? I'm going mad or or this is a nightmare. Nightmare? A dream. No. No. No. No. No. It's not a dream. It's really How do you be in love with me? How can I not be in love with you? Please. I don't want to. I just Yeah. Now who knows you better than I do? Who spent more time with you than I have? I can't believe. Miriam, I was just out of school. I had I had brains, ability, and ambition, but I well, I had everything but money.
The only way I could get money was to marry it, so I did. She bought me this company. And a month later, you came to work here. Oh, I fell in love with you the day you walked into this office fifteen years ago.
[00:19:40] Unknown:
You fell in love with me?
[00:19:42] Unknown:
And it was too late. I belonged to someone else. I was already bought and paid for. Why are you telling me this now? Because, Miriam, I can't fight it any longer. For fifteen years, I've kept my feelings in check. It's been miss Mallory, mister Pomeroy. I I had to draw that line. I had to build that wall. But couldn't you feel it? Couldn't you sense it? I, I I lived a fantasy where you also love me in secret. I love you so much. I had to believe I have to believe you love me too. And so this morning, I I faced with my wife. I said I never loved her, and I wanted a divorce, and she laughed at me.
She said she bought me and therefore she owned me forever.
[00:20:38] Unknown:
Miriam, she will not set me free. All these years, you were in love with me. All these years, I was loved.
[00:20:50] Unknown:
So all the dreams I had, those the hopes, the plans for you and me suddenly just collapsed. That's why I shouted at you this morning. Forgive me. Please say you forgive me.
[00:21:04] Unknown:
I forgive you.
[00:21:06] Unknown:
I love you so much. I can't be without you. Don't leave me, please.
[00:21:13] Unknown:
I won't leave you.
[00:21:15] Unknown:
Oh, I'm being so selfish. You should go somewhere else, meet someone else. I'm ruining your life. Ruining? Today,
[00:21:23] Unknown:
now, for the very first time, I feel I'm alive. Alive. Finally.
[00:21:32] Unknown:
Darling. Owen. That's my name. Owen. Kill me, lovely. It has to be. We were meant to be in love. Don't you feel I love you. I love you. Oh, what's the point of saying I love you? What could I do about it? You you could hold me in your arm. Marianne. Oh, Marianne. Darling, I can't give you anything. I can't give you marriage, home, children.
[00:22:03] Unknown:
I never dreamed I would ever live alone. Oh, you must have. Maybe, but it was so long ago. And you deserve none. I'll I'll settle for what we can have.
[00:22:12] Unknown:
What can we have? It'll only be half a life.
[00:22:17] Unknown:
Half a life is better than none.
[00:22:20] Unknown:
I must be in love. I'm making bad jokes. No. No. No, darling. You should have everything. It's enough that I destroyed my own life. It's it's not too late for you. I don't want anything else.
[00:22:31] Unknown:
I don't want anyone else. Miriam? Yes? I was a little worried. Are you alright? Yeah. I'm alright. I saved you some supper. Did you keep you working late? We, we weren't working. Olivia, what's going on with you? Oh, missus Tennis. Missus Tennis. I've never seen you looking like this. You well, you're beautiful. I'm in love. Oh, that's wonderful. I'm in love. It's happened. Finally, it's happened to me. Oh, I am so happy for you, my dear. Wonderful, crazy feeling, this beautiful, terrible feeling. I never knew it. I never lived. Who is he? Who is he? He's the man I love, the man I adore, the only man in the whole wide world.
Do I sound like a schoolgirl? Well, why not? Who is he, ma'am? We decided we better not tell anyone. Oh, why not? Well, he's manic, isn't he? Yes. You think it's wrong? Of course, it's wrong. I know that. He knows that, but what's to be done? We're in love and she won't divorce him, but I don't care. I don't care. I'm happy with what I've got. Lillian? You're going to lecture me, missus Dennis. I feel it coming. No. No, dear. I just want you to have everything. That's just what he said. But I'm lucky to even have this. Why do you insist? Why are you so pathetically grateful for crumbs?
I'm sorry. Shouldn't have said that. I apologize. Sometimes I talk too much. Why am I so pathetically grateful for crumbs? It's a fair question. No. It was a cruel thing to say. Perhaps. But it's true. I am. You see, missus Dennis, what might appear a crumb to you is a banquet to me. Some children are doomed from birth. Doomed? Yes. I'll use that word. Doomed to go nowhere, have nothing, be nobody. I refuse to believe you. When I was 10 years old and groggy, no one ever told me I'd be pretty one day. When I was 16 and awkward, no one ever said I'd be beautiful. You just forget it.
Alright? You were an ugly duckling. But, honey, you have just turned into a frog. No. I'm still what I was. But despite it, he fell in love with me And I know why. Nobody knows why people fall in love. Despite what we say, we do judge books by covers. No man ever liked my cover, so no man ever bothered to read me before. But he was with me day after day for fifteen years. Sooner or later, he had to read me. He saw that I was loyal, reliable. I gave him in the office, but he couldn't get at home. A feeling of security. Peace.
I was soft, gentle. I made no demands on him. Him. Stop talking about your boss. I I'm happy. I'm so happy. Yes. You are now, dear. But after a while I don't care about after a while. You will. You will. You've just become a woman. I've been a woman all my life. No. You only become a woman when you fall in love, and then you'll want what every woman wants, what every woman's entitled to have, a home, children, a place in the community. How could I possibly want anything more than I have now? Oh, missus Dennis. He's wonderful.
[00:26:55] Unknown:
Hello, darling. What do you
[00:26:58] Unknown:
I ordered for you Yeah. A martini with a twist, a chef's salad with thousand island dressing, tea with cream. Oh, Marion.
[00:27:07] Unknown:
It's as if we've been married for years. I feel that way.
[00:27:11] Unknown:
Do you know that nice couple we played bridge with last night? Oh, oh, yes. They want to know if we can play golf with them this afternoon.
[00:27:18] Unknown:
This afternoon? Oh, oh, no. I afraid we can't. We we we have to leave early.
[00:27:25] Unknown:
We're leaving?
[00:27:27] Unknown:
Well, I I have to be back in town tomorrow.
[00:27:30] Unknown:
I, I thought we could stay the week.
[00:27:34] Unknown:
Darling, we could except it's her birthday. Oh. I'm sorry.
[00:27:44] Unknown:
These past few days, she's been completely out of my mind. Yeah. It's mine too.
[00:27:50] Unknown:
But you see, darling, I just have to. I am. She she won't give me that divorce.
[00:27:57] Unknown:
Do you suppose
[00:27:59] Unknown:
if I asked Oh, no. Darling, it would make it worse. Besides, I'm sure she already knows about us. She does? No. She's a bitter, neurotic, vindictive woman. Sure she has me watched. I'm sure she knows whether or not. Oh. Fact is in everything but name and in everything but law. You're my wife.
[00:28:25] Unknown:
I know that.
[00:28:27] Unknown:
And yet tonight, I have to leave you and go to her. Just isn't right.
[00:28:33] Unknown:
I told you that's the beginning, darling. Half a loaf,
[00:28:39] Unknown:
half a life. That's what I want more, don't you? Yes. Oh, well, what's the use?
[00:28:47] Unknown:
Besides, I took a vow. Yes. You did take a vow till death do us part.
[00:28:55] Unknown:
Yes. Till death do us part.
[00:29:05] Unknown:
Now we're going to end the act right here. That word has finally come up. That word you were expecting since the beginning of act one. True. The word has been spoken in an offhand, almost unconscious manner, but once that word comes up, once you say death, no matter how innocently, on this show, you know we mean business. Act three in just a few minutes. The psychiatrist, the detective, the judge, they ask the confessed murderer the same question. When did you decide to kill your victim? When, the killer thinks. And even if he wants to tell the truth, can he? Does he know?
Perhaps, he believes, it was a sudden wild impulse. Perhaps, he insists, it was a slowly nurtured grudge that grew and grew till it became a burden too terrible to bear. Or perhaps, well, we fall in love at first sight. Can we also decide to kill the same way?
[00:30:23] Unknown:
Well, here we are. Yes.
[00:30:26] Unknown:
My house.
[00:30:28] Unknown:
I'll, see you at the office tomorrow, darling. Yes. Maria Mark. Hi. I know it's difficult. I
[00:30:36] Unknown:
I didn't know. It was becoming so so old. Darling, there are times when I just got there. I know, darling. I know.
[00:30:48] Unknown:
Let's end it. Let's end it now. What are you saying?
[00:30:52] Unknown:
You mean you're tired of me? Of course not. Then why did you what what why did you just say let's end it?
[00:31:00] Unknown:
Is it is this just an affair? Miriam darling, you're everything in the world to me. Everything. Then why did you say I'm depriving you of your chance. What chance? To to meet someone else and have a full life. We've already talked about No. No. I'm not good enough for you, dear. I just look at me. I married a woman I didn't love. I made a bargain and I'm not man enough to keep it. You're man enough for me. And so I destroy her life. I meet you and I I destroy yours.
[00:31:25] Unknown:
Isn't true. You resent what you're doing. What am I doing? I'm loving.
[00:31:30] Unknown:
I'm living. Well, you you resent her. She takes me away from you. You do, don't you? And that resentment, well, it's going to go stronger as time goes on and you'll even begin to hate me. Oh, no. Don't say that. It's true. She won't give me a divorce, but there's nothing to prevent me from taking one if I really want one. What does that mean? If you really want one. Well, there are states in this country where I could get one. There are grounds, but but you see darling, I'm afraid to divorce.
[00:32:00] Unknown:
Afraid?
[00:32:01] Unknown:
Well, I I stand to lose everything. It's all in her name. I'll be broke. I'll be 42 and penniless.
[00:32:11] Unknown:
I, I understand.
[00:32:14] Unknown:
Understand. What do you understand, Maria? That I'm weak? That I don't have the courage to begin all over again at 43? I understand that you're human. We don't fall in love with people who are perfect
[00:32:27] Unknown:
and they're not made perfect by our love lives. Yes. You have weaknesses and perhaps you don't have courage. What does that mean? That I can't love you?
[00:32:41] Unknown:
I'm not very much, Miriam. Believe me, I'm not very much. Alright.
[00:32:48] Unknown:
But I'm not very much either. A very plain, homely woman. So? Well, home again tonight. He's on vacation. With his wife? No doubt. We don't have to go into that. How long is the vacation? A month. We're travelling in Europe. You're a fool. Probably. Why don't you give him the air? I'm in love with him. May I be brutally frank? Or frankly brutal? It has to be said. You don't love him? I believe I'm a better judge of that man than you are. You're confusing love with something else. What? Gratitude. Gratitude? For what? He's the first man who ever paid attention to you.
Mrs. Tennant, we've been friends for fifteen years and I do have a great deal of affection for you but you know I'm right. I don't care to discuss it. You sold yourself a bit of good but you were unattractive. No selling job was necessary. All I did was look in the mirror. But it isn't true. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That's right. And Erwin Pomeroy is the first beholder who ever saw it on my face. It's there. Everyone sees it. You remember, we were at the movie the other night. Well, yesterday. There's this very interesting fellow whose mother is a friend of mine. She said to me, missus Tennis, who was that very attractive girl you were with?
Oh, I tell her to miss it still. Hello? Yes? Oh, just a minute. Miriam, is the transatlantic operator for you? For me? Hello? Yes. Darling? Darling darling, what? Oh, yes. I understand. I, of course, I do. Yes, darling. I love you too. What is it you understand? He, his wife wants to stay in Europe another two weeks. Oh, why not? It's a lovely time of the year. I hate that woman. Why? Because because You're trying to steal her husband and suddenly she's the guilty party. It is. I told myself that certain certain things in this world weren't for me. Couldn't be for me. There never would be a man but there is a man.
Now there's a man and she's standing in a way. What are you talking about? Nothing. I don't know what I'm talking about. Too cold now. I almost went out of my mind. Oh, my darling. My darling, how I miss you. Let's not think about Let's just think about being together.
[00:35:57] Unknown:
Yes, Miriam. But we're not really together. Not the way we were meant to be together. Night and day, all the time. I know.
[00:36:07] Unknown:
But what can we do?
[00:36:10] Unknown:
I tried to do something in Europe.
[00:36:13] Unknown:
What?
[00:36:16] Unknown:
I'm afraid to tell you.
[00:36:18] Unknown:
What is there you could be afraid to tell me?
[00:36:22] Unknown:
I tried to kill her. What? Miriam I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand her any longer. Yes. I I I bought a pistol. She she takes pills, sleeping pills. And when she finally falls asleep, she's out to the world. And so after she fell asleep, I thought I could make it look like a a robbery. I would shoot her in her sleep and and come back later to the hotel room and claim that I well, you understand.
[00:36:46] Unknown:
Yes. I
[00:36:47] Unknown:
I understand. I thought of you. You, my dearest, how you were losing out on life because of her. And so I wanted to kill her for you. For me? So that we could truly live as man and wife. So I I stood over it with a gun in my hand, and I I I couldn't do it. I couldn't pull the trigger. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I realized I'm a coward, Miriam. I was just too frightened. I couldn't do it. And I want her dead. Oh, you'll never know how much I want her dead. I know.
[00:37:26] Unknown:
I know. How could you know? Because I want her dead too. Miriam. Yes, darling. I want her dead. Oh, no. No. That's wrong. Of course it's wrong. It's wrong. It's unfair. It's cruel. I never thought I'd be be able to talk like this, but I suppose there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who take what they want and those who do it out. Gloria, I love you so much, darling. I don't wanna think about it anymore. What's the point in in in talk? It has to be done.
[00:38:01] Unknown:
What has to be done?
[00:38:03] Unknown:
You couldn't kill her for me, but I can kill her for you. No. No, Mary. It it it it doesn't have to be complicated. A burp What are you saying? A night when she'll be alone in the house,
[00:38:16] Unknown:
when the servants are off to But I can't let you. Give me the key. Miriam, this is a problem. The gun. You still have a gun? Yes. Yes. I have the gun. But there's nothing more to say.
[00:38:25] Unknown:
Tomorrow morning, in the office, give me the house key, the pistol. Tomorrow's Tuesday. When are the servants off? Miriam, you can't When are the servants off?
[00:38:40] Unknown:
Thursday night. Hello? Mallory.
[00:38:51] Unknown:
Yes, darling. It worked. Would you believe it worked? I'm the one who said it would work originally. Remember? Well,
[00:39:01] Unknown:
she'll do the job for us.
[00:39:03] Unknown:
How sweet.
[00:39:05] Unknown:
Thursday night. Finally, you and I will be free.
[00:39:17] Unknown:
How about a nice cup of tea there? When I get back. Oh. Are you going somewhere? Yes. Yes. I have to run an errand. But this is Thursday night. The ballet is on TV. Why? I guess I'll have to miss it. Something's wrong. Why? Why do you say that? I don't know. I just I just haven't seen No. I I have to go now. So, why do you have a gun? A gun? I, I was cleaning your room, and there was this box on your dresser. I accidentally locked it to the floor and one of the flats opened and I saw a part of Oh, we we, the company is going into the, the sale of handgun and, each employee, has been given What are you talking about? Well, so much crime and violence. Do you expect to add some more violence? And and there's the danger of of burgers.
Mary Anne, I don't know what's wrong. Nothing wrong. You're a beautiful woman. No. No. Please. Only to Owen Pomeroy. No longer. You feel loved. That's all you needed. It it made you feel beautiful until you look beautiful. Every man who sees you now will think you're beautiful. Every I have to go. You can have your choice of me. That isn't true. Don't be blind. Men look at you differently. You're beautiful woman. I'll be back in a while. You don't have to be great, mister Erwin, Tamara anymore. You are grown in tonight. Missus Dennis, I'm late. Late? For what? I'll do it for you. I'll do it for you, my darling.
The only man who ever loved me. The only man who who ever looked at me. I'll I'll do it for you. God. Where did he come from?
[00:41:24] Unknown:
Hey, lady. Lady. What are you out to do? Kill somebody? Oh, mama. I'm I'm sorry, officer. You're sorry? What does that mean? You're sorry?
[00:41:33] Unknown:
Sorry. You were doing 85. I I didn't realize realize you're a danger to life and limb on the highway. You think because you're a woman, the laws don't apply to you? Well, officer, I If I because you're good looking with a great big smile and big blue eyes, you can get away with lighter. No. But, Well, I guess you can this time. Look, honey, I'm gonna let you go.
[00:41:57] Unknown:
But you promise you'll keep it down at fifty five. I,
[00:42:00] Unknown:
I, Hope it's a big hurry anyhow. I don't know. You don't know? You went down eighty five and you don't know why?
[00:42:10] Unknown:
No, officer. Now that you mention it, I don't know why.
[00:42:16] Unknown:
Well, look at me. Where where you headed?
[00:42:19] Unknown:
I, I think I'll make a u-turn and head for home. Thanks to you. Thanks to me? What did I do? You'll never know, officer Krutweirth. You will never know. Good night.
[00:42:40] Unknown:
James. How could you figure him? Hey, honey.
[00:42:47] Unknown:
How'd she know my name?
[00:42:56] Unknown:
And that's all it takes. HL Mencken understood it very well. He said, if after I'm dead and you wanna make me happy, smile at a homely girl or ask a wallflower to dance. Well, something like that. If you wanna make me happy, wait around for a few minutes. Truth is beauty, the poet said. But is beauty always truth? Who knows? And what is beauty anyhow? The light that is reflected from without, or the light that shines from within? Well, if you listen to us seven times each week, perhaps the answers may emerge. Our cast included Tammy Grimes, E. V. Juster, and Ian Martin. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
And now, a preview of our next tale. Ladies and gentlemen,
[00:44:10] Unknown:
this is your hostess, Pamela Winters. There has been a temporary failure in our pressure system. And for your comfort and safety, captain Chip Ames, our pilot, is making an unusually rapid descent. Do not be alarmed. This sudden descent is merely a safety measure. Please be sure that your safety belts are fastened and that all cigarettes are extinguished. Most of all, don't worry. There is no danger.
[00:44:45] Unknown:
Radio Mystery Theatre was sponsored in part by Buick Motor Division and True Value Hardware Stores. This is E. G. Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theatre for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time. Pleasant dreams.
[00:45:46] Unknown:
You coming to bed, hon? Yep. Honey, I'll
[00:45:48] Unknown:
be I'll be right there. Just gotta turn out the light.
[00:45:57] Unknown:
Some things never change. Like your kids always leaving tiny toys on the floor for you to step on, and GEICO saving folks lots of money on their car insurance.
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Sweetie, I think I left the downstairs light on.
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Please don't make me go. Fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more.
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[00:00:31] Unknown:
At ADP, we work with more than 860,000 companies worldwide. That gives us a pretty good idea of how to help businesses grow stronger, whether it's through data insights that help you make informed decisions about building a team that works better as a team, or by keeping you ahead of thousands of changing regulations so you can keep ahead of everything else, like building that better team. Grow stronger with ADP, HR talent, time, and payroll.
[00:01:01] Unknown:
CBS radio mystery theater
[00:01:04] Unknown:
presents
[00:01:21] Unknown:
Come in. Welcome. I'm EG Marshall. There are really only two types of people in this world, the haves and the have nots. Love, looks, luck, you either have them or you don't. Money, fame, power, they'll come to you or they won't. The simple, uncomplicated, basic fact of life is this. There are those who will make it, and there are those who will not. And one way or another, there is very little you can do about it. Or is there I love you?
[00:02:01] Unknown:
How could you love me, sir? I love you. I'm plain, homeless. I have no money. I don't care. I love you. And you're married.
[00:02:11] Unknown:
I don't care.
[00:02:12] Unknown:
I know your wife. She'll never divorce you.
[00:02:16] Unknown:
Well, then I'll I'll cure. Why? Because I love you.
[00:02:33] Unknown:
Our mystery drama till death do us part was written especially for the mystery theater by Sam Dan and stars Tammy Grimes. It is sponsored in part by True Value Hardware stores and Buick Motor Division. I'll be back shortly with act one. Beauty, said the poet, is in the eye of the beholder. This is one of those all purpose proverbs designed to make just about everybody feel better. Well, it does no harm, but it has little relationship to reality. The problem is the eyes of most beholders have been conditioned to recognize only a temporary type of beauty, a beauty that is measurable by arbitrary arithmetical standards.
And if a lady's measurements fall short or are not visible, well, our heroine is miss Miriam Mallory. Miss Mallory is pushing 40 or is being pushed by it. Not only has she never received a serious proposal, she has never even inspired a lighthearted proposition. Miss Mallory is intelligent, has a good job, makes a respectable salary, but statistically, there must be a number of girls in this world who will be overlooked, and miss Mallory has long ago been resigned.
[00:04:07] Unknown:
Another cup of coffee, Maryam? I shouldn't, but I will. It's delicious. That's why it's bad. Bad. Why, missus Dennis? The coffee, the food in general, it's too good. And that's bad? If I didn't keep such a good table, you might not have stayed here all these years. I never would have become your starboarder. You would have gone somewhere else, maybe an apartment of your own, lived your life differently. What brings this on? I mean, are we headed where we're usually headed? Funny. I've had three husbands. I know. And I can't even get one. Miriam, you should go out into the world. I'm out in the world. Out with? All day you're at your job. At night you can home, have dinner, watch TV with me.
That being out in the world, you make good money. You can afford to go places, do things. I went to Europe last year. It doesn't matter if I go and stay. I never meet anybody. Don't you want to get married? I suppose so. You suppose so. But you have to be definite about it. Alright. I'm definite. Well, do something about it. What? A man has to ask me. Nobody does. Well, you have to make yourself attractive. There's nothing I can do about that since I'm not attractive to Stacks. If you want to be attractive, you have to feel attractive. Being attractive is something that exists within you. And it's a glow that you feel inside.
You see, Julia, I remember your lectures word for word. I was afraid that would happen. Afraid what would happen? Do you know what you just called me? You called me, Julia. Well, why not? It's your name. In the fifty years you lived in this house, you never once called me anything but missus Kenneth. I, I wasn't aware of it. And now you call me Julia. You came here. You are how old? 22, 20 three. I was 45, an older woman, another generation. Naturally, you called me missus Tennis. But you see, you what am I supposed to say? Well, as long as you considered me an older woman, you called me missus Terrace.
But when you call me Julia, it means we're equal. And do you know what I'm talking about? No. Oh, yes. You do. You have accepted middle age. Would it help if I didn't accept? Oh, you know what I mean. You've given up. Oh, I gave up long ago. I'm late to work. That's another thing. Why are you always late? Subconsciously, do you hate your job? But still, I love my job. Do you feel perhaps it prevents you from fulfilling yourself as a woman? You don't want to believe everything you hear on those TV talk shows. Well, whatever you do, don't speed on the turnpike this morning. I read where the highway patrol has announced the crackdown. Before I leave, are there any further instructions?
Any other psychological gems filled with wisdom and insight? I'll save them for dinner. Where did he come?
[00:07:41] Unknown:
Hey. What do you have to do? Kill somebody? I'm, I'm sorry, officer. You're sorry? Now what does that mean you're sorry. You were doing 75. I I I didn't realize. You didn't realize you're a danger to life and limb on a highway? I, that's 75, you don't control that car. It's an engine of destruction. Officer, I Do you have your license and your registration? Officer,
[00:08:04] Unknown:
I never broke the law before. Yeah. You mean you were never caught.
[00:08:08] Unknown:
Officer,
[00:08:09] Unknown:
really,
[00:08:10] Unknown:
I had no idea. If I let you get away with this, you'd have no respect for me as a cop. Right? Oh, I And deep down, you'd have no respect for yourself with the citizen either. Well, I, The schedule of fines is on a back 30 miles an hour over the limit cost of $45. If you don't wanna go to court, mail it in. Here's your summons, your license, your registration. Have a nice day.
[00:08:43] Unknown:
Mister Pomeroy's office. No. He cannot be disturbed. He's in a meeting. You will have to call again. Miss Dallas, you were told not to put any calls on mister Pomeroy's line this morning. See that you remember. My my. Somebody's in a rotten mood this morning. Ever have one of those days where it all goes badly? Very, very seldom. To begin with, I got a ticket for speeding. How's that possible? The officer wrote it out. A woman getting a ticket? Don't you know that's not supposed to happen? Why not? The answer in one word, sex. Sex. You look at him and smile. And the I smiled. It didn't work.
I don't believe that. Maybe it works for you, Valerie. You're pretty. Oh, every woman's pretty. No woman should ever get a ticket. Tell that to officer Krautwein. Who's he? The cop who signed the summons. Alright. Let us consider officer Krautwein. Look. I'm too upset about this whole business and it's gonna cost me $45. Cheap at half the price if it teaches you a lesson. What lesson? Ask yourself, why did officer Krautwein become a motorcycle cop? I don't even know the man. I couldn't care less. It's the last frontier. The what? The spirit of knighthood. Oh, the spirit of They're those men. They existed throughout the ages who sought fulfillment Love. In rescuing fair damsels in distress. That lets me out. We are not. Women in peril. Women menaced by giants, by dragons. Look, I have to finish the polo check report. The horse is gone, but he has been reincarnated in the form of the motorcycle. You need all this information, Valerie. There he is. This knight in armor and he sees you. Menace by, guess what?
A dragon. You're crazy. That's what your call is. A dragon. A huge monster that surrounds you and is running away with you. Can we get to business or stop this monster? Come to your rescue so when he looks at you, you must not break the illusion. What illusion? That he's saving a damsel from a dragon. So you must be all smiles and softness, gratitude and weakness. All the things that a woman Weakness is womanly. For $45, it is. That's why you must radiate these womanly qualities, but you didn't. That's why you destroyed his illusion. That's why he gave you a ticket. He gave me a ticket because I broke the law. I'll do 75. I bet I won't get a ticket. I, guess I just don't have this womanly quality. Every woman has it.
You just don't know how to use
[00:11:29] Unknown:
it. Yes? How may I take it please, miss Valerie? Yes, sir.
[00:11:33] Unknown:
And further Look, Valerie. It's time to go to work.
[00:11:40] Unknown:
Oh, miss Valerie.
[00:11:41] Unknown:
Where is the pallet check report? It isn't finished yet. It's due today. It will be ready by 04:00. That's shaving it rather close, isn't it? If you wanted it this morning, mister Pomeroy, you should have said so. How wouldn't it stand to reason that they you want something on a given day, that means interrupt me, miss Miller. Only trying to remind you that stand to reason that I would want the whole day to check the figures. But it's customary when you say you want to report on a given day to assume that very tidy, wasteful of time, effort. Mister Pomeroy, you can't talk to me like that. Miss Mallory, how long have you been here? I think I've been here too long. See here, miss Mallory. Miriam, what is it? What happened to you? Miriam, quit quit that typing for a minute.
Your face. You should see your face. Read that. To mister o d Pomeroy, Please be advised that I intend to resign from Pomeroy Associates within four weeks of this date or as soon as the replacement get what what does this mean? What do you think it means? It means I quit? But you can't quit. Watch me. But it's impossible. You you've been here fifteen years. For all it means to anybody. Who does he think he Now, Miriam, please. Who does he think I am? Some scared little high school girl from the typing pool? Wait. What happened? Everything happened. This is the day that everything happened. Come here and please calm down. Talk a second.
What sense is there to any of it? I'm just an unattractive, homely woman and You're not homely. You're right. I was giving myself the best of it. I'm arguing. Say that. Doesn't matter who you are, what you know, what you can do. If you're not pretty, you're nothing. You're nobody. But, Miriam, you For fifteen years, I've worked for that man, and it's always been mister Pomeroy, miss Mallory, proper, polite, correct. Why? I'll tell you why. I'm an unattractive woman. He feels he doesn't have to extend himself for me. Miriam, you're wrong. He couldn't help himself. Don't make excuses for him. He's in love with you. I don't wanna hear another word. Erwin Pomeroy is in love with you.
Please, Valerie, don't do this to me. Don't you make fun of me. I know who I am and I know what I am and it's bad enough. So don't you Pomeroy is in love with you, Miriam, and I can prove
[00:14:18] Unknown:
it. Well, there's a completely unexpected situation. We would assume that nobody could ever be in love with Miriam Mallory the way she carries on. And though we were only exposed to mister Pomeroy very briefly, he seems the least likely candidate. However, there are those of you out there, and your number hopefully is legion, who are not concerned with who loves whom, but rather who kills whom in our little tales. Have no fears. You will not be cheated in act two. Love, your magic spell is everywhere, says the popular song. Our Miriam Mallory would paraphrase that by saying, love, your magic spell is everywhere, but here, poor resigned unattractive Miriam, reconciled to a lonely, barren spinster's existence.
Suddenly, she has received a shattering piece of news. She is loved.
[00:15:30] Unknown:
Please, Valerie. You shouldn't make a joke of it. It isn't funny to me. He loves you. Erwin Pomeroy loves me. You've been working here fifteen years, and you didn't know? I've been here how long? Six months? I saw it the first day. What did you see the first day? The way he looks at you. I Don't don't say it. I don't believe it. But I I don't believe it. I said I'd prove it. Watch. What are you gonna do? Your letter of resignation. I am going to walk in there and just place it on his desk. But I still want to quit, don't you? After the way he spoke to me? Certainly.
He won't let you? Sure. Because he wants to hold on to a good secretary. Oh, no. Because he wants to hold on to the woman he loves. Valerie. This won't take a minute. I don't care what anyone says. I'm going to quit. I'm going to quit. Well, the deed is done. I don't know what to say to you, Valerie. About what? I always thought we were friends. Oh, I hope we are. You know how I feel about not being young or pretty. Wait a minute now. That phone is going to ring. I I don't know what to say. If you're telling the truth, why has he always been so so full, so so distant? Because he's fighting it. Fighting it? Why? Oh, Miriam. You know why?
There. He's just read your letter of resignation. You answer it, Valerie. Why? It's not my phone. Sooner or later, you'll have to face it. Yes?
[00:17:18] Unknown:
Miss, miss Mallory, may I see you?
[00:17:24] Unknown:
I, I'm not going in there. Until your resignation becomes final, you're still working here, aren't you? I, alright. Yes, miss Pomeroy?
[00:17:42] Unknown:
Please, please close the door, miss Mallory. And, would you sit down?
[00:17:51] Unknown:
Miss Mallory,
[00:17:53] Unknown:
why do you want to resign?
[00:17:55] Unknown:
I
[00:17:59] Unknown:
it's highly personal. Yes. I'm sure it has to do with the way I spoke to you. I would rather not discuss it. Miss Mallory, did you ever have one of those days where it all goes badly? Well, I'm I'm having one today. Mister Pomeroy, I It's not just a day where here and there, this and that goes wrong. It's more than that. It's it's it's a day when you finally admit to yourself that that nothing can ever go right for you again. You
[00:18:25] Unknown:
you you you you didn't have to take it out on me. Oh, but I did. I did because you're you're part of my bad day. If if if you are referring to the Polacek report bother the stupid Polacek report. Please, miss Pomeroy.
[00:18:36] Unknown:
I don't want to be yelled at. You've been working here fifteen years, and you've never even called me by my first name. And I've never called you by yours. It's Maria. Maria, do you know what it's been like for me these past fifteen years being in love with you and being unable to tell you? What do you what do you see? You know what I'm saying. I'm in love with you. Please. Please what? I'm going mad or or this is a nightmare. Nightmare? A dream. No. No. No. No. No. It's not a dream. It's really How do you be in love with me? How can I not be in love with you? Please. I don't want to. I just Yeah. Now who knows you better than I do? Who spent more time with you than I have? I can't believe. Miriam, I was just out of school. I had I had brains, ability, and ambition, but I well, I had everything but money.
The only way I could get money was to marry it, so I did. She bought me this company. And a month later, you came to work here. Oh, I fell in love with you the day you walked into this office fifteen years ago.
[00:19:40] Unknown:
You fell in love with me?
[00:19:42] Unknown:
And it was too late. I belonged to someone else. I was already bought and paid for. Why are you telling me this now? Because, Miriam, I can't fight it any longer. For fifteen years, I've kept my feelings in check. It's been miss Mallory, mister Pomeroy. I I had to draw that line. I had to build that wall. But couldn't you feel it? Couldn't you sense it? I, I I lived a fantasy where you also love me in secret. I love you so much. I had to believe I have to believe you love me too. And so this morning, I I faced with my wife. I said I never loved her, and I wanted a divorce, and she laughed at me.
She said she bought me and therefore she owned me forever.
[00:20:38] Unknown:
Miriam, she will not set me free. All these years, you were in love with me. All these years, I was loved.
[00:20:50] Unknown:
So all the dreams I had, those the hopes, the plans for you and me suddenly just collapsed. That's why I shouted at you this morning. Forgive me. Please say you forgive me.
[00:21:04] Unknown:
I forgive you.
[00:21:06] Unknown:
I love you so much. I can't be without you. Don't leave me, please.
[00:21:13] Unknown:
I won't leave you.
[00:21:15] Unknown:
Oh, I'm being so selfish. You should go somewhere else, meet someone else. I'm ruining your life. Ruining? Today,
[00:21:23] Unknown:
now, for the very first time, I feel I'm alive. Alive. Finally.
[00:21:32] Unknown:
Darling. Owen. That's my name. Owen. Kill me, lovely. It has to be. We were meant to be in love. Don't you feel I love you. I love you. Oh, what's the point of saying I love you? What could I do about it? You you could hold me in your arm. Marianne. Oh, Marianne. Darling, I can't give you anything. I can't give you marriage, home, children.
[00:22:03] Unknown:
I never dreamed I would ever live alone. Oh, you must have. Maybe, but it was so long ago. And you deserve none. I'll I'll settle for what we can have.
[00:22:12] Unknown:
What can we have? It'll only be half a life.
[00:22:17] Unknown:
Half a life is better than none.
[00:22:20] Unknown:
I must be in love. I'm making bad jokes. No. No. No, darling. You should have everything. It's enough that I destroyed my own life. It's it's not too late for you. I don't want anything else.
[00:22:31] Unknown:
I don't want anyone else. Miriam? Yes? I was a little worried. Are you alright? Yeah. I'm alright. I saved you some supper. Did you keep you working late? We, we weren't working. Olivia, what's going on with you? Oh, missus Tennis. Missus Tennis. I've never seen you looking like this. You well, you're beautiful. I'm in love. Oh, that's wonderful. I'm in love. It's happened. Finally, it's happened to me. Oh, I am so happy for you, my dear. Wonderful, crazy feeling, this beautiful, terrible feeling. I never knew it. I never lived. Who is he? Who is he? He's the man I love, the man I adore, the only man in the whole wide world.
Do I sound like a schoolgirl? Well, why not? Who is he, ma'am? We decided we better not tell anyone. Oh, why not? Well, he's manic, isn't he? Yes. You think it's wrong? Of course, it's wrong. I know that. He knows that, but what's to be done? We're in love and she won't divorce him, but I don't care. I don't care. I'm happy with what I've got. Lillian? You're going to lecture me, missus Dennis. I feel it coming. No. No, dear. I just want you to have everything. That's just what he said. But I'm lucky to even have this. Why do you insist? Why are you so pathetically grateful for crumbs?
I'm sorry. Shouldn't have said that. I apologize. Sometimes I talk too much. Why am I so pathetically grateful for crumbs? It's a fair question. No. It was a cruel thing to say. Perhaps. But it's true. I am. You see, missus Dennis, what might appear a crumb to you is a banquet to me. Some children are doomed from birth. Doomed? Yes. I'll use that word. Doomed to go nowhere, have nothing, be nobody. I refuse to believe you. When I was 10 years old and groggy, no one ever told me I'd be pretty one day. When I was 16 and awkward, no one ever said I'd be beautiful. You just forget it.
Alright? You were an ugly duckling. But, honey, you have just turned into a frog. No. I'm still what I was. But despite it, he fell in love with me And I know why. Nobody knows why people fall in love. Despite what we say, we do judge books by covers. No man ever liked my cover, so no man ever bothered to read me before. But he was with me day after day for fifteen years. Sooner or later, he had to read me. He saw that I was loyal, reliable. I gave him in the office, but he couldn't get at home. A feeling of security. Peace.
I was soft, gentle. I made no demands on him. Him. Stop talking about your boss. I I'm happy. I'm so happy. Yes. You are now, dear. But after a while I don't care about after a while. You will. You will. You've just become a woman. I've been a woman all my life. No. You only become a woman when you fall in love, and then you'll want what every woman wants, what every woman's entitled to have, a home, children, a place in the community. How could I possibly want anything more than I have now? Oh, missus Dennis. He's wonderful.
[00:26:55] Unknown:
Hello, darling. What do you
[00:26:58] Unknown:
I ordered for you Yeah. A martini with a twist, a chef's salad with thousand island dressing, tea with cream. Oh, Marion.
[00:27:07] Unknown:
It's as if we've been married for years. I feel that way.
[00:27:11] Unknown:
Do you know that nice couple we played bridge with last night? Oh, oh, yes. They want to know if we can play golf with them this afternoon.
[00:27:18] Unknown:
This afternoon? Oh, oh, no. I afraid we can't. We we we have to leave early.
[00:27:25] Unknown:
We're leaving?
[00:27:27] Unknown:
Well, I I have to be back in town tomorrow.
[00:27:30] Unknown:
I, I thought we could stay the week.
[00:27:34] Unknown:
Darling, we could except it's her birthday. Oh. I'm sorry.
[00:27:44] Unknown:
These past few days, she's been completely out of my mind. Yeah. It's mine too.
[00:27:50] Unknown:
But you see, darling, I just have to. I am. She she won't give me that divorce.
[00:27:57] Unknown:
Do you suppose
[00:27:59] Unknown:
if I asked Oh, no. Darling, it would make it worse. Besides, I'm sure she already knows about us. She does? No. She's a bitter, neurotic, vindictive woman. Sure she has me watched. I'm sure she knows whether or not. Oh. Fact is in everything but name and in everything but law. You're my wife.
[00:28:25] Unknown:
I know that.
[00:28:27] Unknown:
And yet tonight, I have to leave you and go to her. Just isn't right.
[00:28:33] Unknown:
I told you that's the beginning, darling. Half a loaf,
[00:28:39] Unknown:
half a life. That's what I want more, don't you? Yes. Oh, well, what's the use?
[00:28:47] Unknown:
Besides, I took a vow. Yes. You did take a vow till death do us part.
[00:28:55] Unknown:
Yes. Till death do us part.
[00:29:05] Unknown:
Now we're going to end the act right here. That word has finally come up. That word you were expecting since the beginning of act one. True. The word has been spoken in an offhand, almost unconscious manner, but once that word comes up, once you say death, no matter how innocently, on this show, you know we mean business. Act three in just a few minutes. The psychiatrist, the detective, the judge, they ask the confessed murderer the same question. When did you decide to kill your victim? When, the killer thinks. And even if he wants to tell the truth, can he? Does he know?
Perhaps, he believes, it was a sudden wild impulse. Perhaps, he insists, it was a slowly nurtured grudge that grew and grew till it became a burden too terrible to bear. Or perhaps, well, we fall in love at first sight. Can we also decide to kill the same way?
[00:30:23] Unknown:
Well, here we are. Yes.
[00:30:26] Unknown:
My house.
[00:30:28] Unknown:
I'll, see you at the office tomorrow, darling. Yes. Maria Mark. Hi. I know it's difficult. I
[00:30:36] Unknown:
I didn't know. It was becoming so so old. Darling, there are times when I just got there. I know, darling. I know.
[00:30:48] Unknown:
Let's end it. Let's end it now. What are you saying?
[00:30:52] Unknown:
You mean you're tired of me? Of course not. Then why did you what what why did you just say let's end it?
[00:31:00] Unknown:
Is it is this just an affair? Miriam darling, you're everything in the world to me. Everything. Then why did you say I'm depriving you of your chance. What chance? To to meet someone else and have a full life. We've already talked about No. No. I'm not good enough for you, dear. I just look at me. I married a woman I didn't love. I made a bargain and I'm not man enough to keep it. You're man enough for me. And so I destroy her life. I meet you and I I destroy yours.
[00:31:25] Unknown:
Isn't true. You resent what you're doing. What am I doing? I'm loving.
[00:31:30] Unknown:
I'm living. Well, you you resent her. She takes me away from you. You do, don't you? And that resentment, well, it's going to go stronger as time goes on and you'll even begin to hate me. Oh, no. Don't say that. It's true. She won't give me a divorce, but there's nothing to prevent me from taking one if I really want one. What does that mean? If you really want one. Well, there are states in this country where I could get one. There are grounds, but but you see darling, I'm afraid to divorce.
[00:32:00] Unknown:
Afraid?
[00:32:01] Unknown:
Well, I I stand to lose everything. It's all in her name. I'll be broke. I'll be 42 and penniless.
[00:32:11] Unknown:
I, I understand.
[00:32:14] Unknown:
Understand. What do you understand, Maria? That I'm weak? That I don't have the courage to begin all over again at 43? I understand that you're human. We don't fall in love with people who are perfect
[00:32:27] Unknown:
and they're not made perfect by our love lives. Yes. You have weaknesses and perhaps you don't have courage. What does that mean? That I can't love you?
[00:32:41] Unknown:
I'm not very much, Miriam. Believe me, I'm not very much. Alright.
[00:32:48] Unknown:
But I'm not very much either. A very plain, homely woman. So? Well, home again tonight. He's on vacation. With his wife? No doubt. We don't have to go into that. How long is the vacation? A month. We're travelling in Europe. You're a fool. Probably. Why don't you give him the air? I'm in love with him. May I be brutally frank? Or frankly brutal? It has to be said. You don't love him? I believe I'm a better judge of that man than you are. You're confusing love with something else. What? Gratitude. Gratitude? For what? He's the first man who ever paid attention to you.
Mrs. Tennant, we've been friends for fifteen years and I do have a great deal of affection for you but you know I'm right. I don't care to discuss it. You sold yourself a bit of good but you were unattractive. No selling job was necessary. All I did was look in the mirror. But it isn't true. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That's right. And Erwin Pomeroy is the first beholder who ever saw it on my face. It's there. Everyone sees it. You remember, we were at the movie the other night. Well, yesterday. There's this very interesting fellow whose mother is a friend of mine. She said to me, missus Tennis, who was that very attractive girl you were with?
Oh, I tell her to miss it still. Hello? Yes? Oh, just a minute. Miriam, is the transatlantic operator for you? For me? Hello? Yes. Darling? Darling darling, what? Oh, yes. I understand. I, of course, I do. Yes, darling. I love you too. What is it you understand? He, his wife wants to stay in Europe another two weeks. Oh, why not? It's a lovely time of the year. I hate that woman. Why? Because because You're trying to steal her husband and suddenly she's the guilty party. It is. I told myself that certain certain things in this world weren't for me. Couldn't be for me. There never would be a man but there is a man.
Now there's a man and she's standing in a way. What are you talking about? Nothing. I don't know what I'm talking about. Too cold now. I almost went out of my mind. Oh, my darling. My darling, how I miss you. Let's not think about Let's just think about being together.
[00:35:57] Unknown:
Yes, Miriam. But we're not really together. Not the way we were meant to be together. Night and day, all the time. I know.
[00:36:07] Unknown:
But what can we do?
[00:36:10] Unknown:
I tried to do something in Europe.
[00:36:13] Unknown:
What?
[00:36:16] Unknown:
I'm afraid to tell you.
[00:36:18] Unknown:
What is there you could be afraid to tell me?
[00:36:22] Unknown:
I tried to kill her. What? Miriam I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand her any longer. Yes. I I I bought a pistol. She she takes pills, sleeping pills. And when she finally falls asleep, she's out to the world. And so after she fell asleep, I thought I could make it look like a a robbery. I would shoot her in her sleep and and come back later to the hotel room and claim that I well, you understand.
[00:36:46] Unknown:
Yes. I
[00:36:47] Unknown:
I understand. I thought of you. You, my dearest, how you were losing out on life because of her. And so I wanted to kill her for you. For me? So that we could truly live as man and wife. So I I stood over it with a gun in my hand, and I I I couldn't do it. I couldn't pull the trigger. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I realized I'm a coward, Miriam. I was just too frightened. I couldn't do it. And I want her dead. Oh, you'll never know how much I want her dead. I know.
[00:37:26] Unknown:
I know. How could you know? Because I want her dead too. Miriam. Yes, darling. I want her dead. Oh, no. No. That's wrong. Of course it's wrong. It's wrong. It's unfair. It's cruel. I never thought I'd be be able to talk like this, but I suppose there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who take what they want and those who do it out. Gloria, I love you so much, darling. I don't wanna think about it anymore. What's the point in in in talk? It has to be done.
[00:38:01] Unknown:
What has to be done?
[00:38:03] Unknown:
You couldn't kill her for me, but I can kill her for you. No. No, Mary. It it it it doesn't have to be complicated. A burp What are you saying? A night when she'll be alone in the house,
[00:38:16] Unknown:
when the servants are off to But I can't let you. Give me the key. Miriam, this is a problem. The gun. You still have a gun? Yes. Yes. I have the gun. But there's nothing more to say.
[00:38:25] Unknown:
Tomorrow morning, in the office, give me the house key, the pistol. Tomorrow's Tuesday. When are the servants off? Miriam, you can't When are the servants off?
[00:38:40] Unknown:
Thursday night. Hello? Mallory.
[00:38:51] Unknown:
Yes, darling. It worked. Would you believe it worked? I'm the one who said it would work originally. Remember? Well,
[00:39:01] Unknown:
she'll do the job for us.
[00:39:03] Unknown:
How sweet.
[00:39:05] Unknown:
Thursday night. Finally, you and I will be free.
[00:39:17] Unknown:
How about a nice cup of tea there? When I get back. Oh. Are you going somewhere? Yes. Yes. I have to run an errand. But this is Thursday night. The ballet is on TV. Why? I guess I'll have to miss it. Something's wrong. Why? Why do you say that? I don't know. I just I just haven't seen No. I I have to go now. So, why do you have a gun? A gun? I, I was cleaning your room, and there was this box on your dresser. I accidentally locked it to the floor and one of the flats opened and I saw a part of Oh, we we, the company is going into the, the sale of handgun and, each employee, has been given What are you talking about? Well, so much crime and violence. Do you expect to add some more violence? And and there's the danger of of burgers.
Mary Anne, I don't know what's wrong. Nothing wrong. You're a beautiful woman. No. No. Please. Only to Owen Pomeroy. No longer. You feel loved. That's all you needed. It it made you feel beautiful until you look beautiful. Every man who sees you now will think you're beautiful. Every I have to go. You can have your choice of me. That isn't true. Don't be blind. Men look at you differently. You're beautiful woman. I'll be back in a while. You don't have to be great, mister Erwin, Tamara anymore. You are grown in tonight. Missus Dennis, I'm late. Late? For what? I'll do it for you. I'll do it for you, my darling.
The only man who ever loved me. The only man who who ever looked at me. I'll I'll do it for you. God. Where did he come from?
[00:41:24] Unknown:
Hey, lady. Lady. What are you out to do? Kill somebody? Oh, mama. I'm I'm sorry, officer. You're sorry? What does that mean? You're sorry?
[00:41:33] Unknown:
Sorry. You were doing 85. I I didn't realize realize you're a danger to life and limb on the highway. You think because you're a woman, the laws don't apply to you? Well, officer, I If I because you're good looking with a great big smile and big blue eyes, you can get away with lighter. No. But, Well, I guess you can this time. Look, honey, I'm gonna let you go.
[00:41:57] Unknown:
But you promise you'll keep it down at fifty five. I,
[00:42:00] Unknown:
I, Hope it's a big hurry anyhow. I don't know. You don't know? You went down eighty five and you don't know why?
[00:42:10] Unknown:
No, officer. Now that you mention it, I don't know why.
[00:42:16] Unknown:
Well, look at me. Where where you headed?
[00:42:19] Unknown:
I, I think I'll make a u-turn and head for home. Thanks to you. Thanks to me? What did I do? You'll never know, officer Krutweirth. You will never know. Good night.
[00:42:40] Unknown:
James. How could you figure him? Hey, honey.
[00:42:47] Unknown:
How'd she know my name?
[00:42:56] Unknown:
And that's all it takes. HL Mencken understood it very well. He said, if after I'm dead and you wanna make me happy, smile at a homely girl or ask a wallflower to dance. Well, something like that. If you wanna make me happy, wait around for a few minutes. Truth is beauty, the poet said. But is beauty always truth? Who knows? And what is beauty anyhow? The light that is reflected from without, or the light that shines from within? Well, if you listen to us seven times each week, perhaps the answers may emerge. Our cast included Tammy Grimes, E. V. Juster, and Ian Martin. The entire production was under the direction of Hyman Brown.
And now, a preview of our next tale. Ladies and gentlemen,
[00:44:10] Unknown:
this is your hostess, Pamela Winters. There has been a temporary failure in our pressure system. And for your comfort and safety, captain Chip Ames, our pilot, is making an unusually rapid descent. Do not be alarmed. This sudden descent is merely a safety measure. Please be sure that your safety belts are fastened and that all cigarettes are extinguished. Most of all, don't worry. There is no danger.
[00:44:45] Unknown:
Radio Mystery Theatre was sponsored in part by Buick Motor Division and True Value Hardware Stores. This is E. G. Marshall inviting you to return to our mystery theatre for another adventure in the macabre. Until next time. Pleasant dreams.
[00:45:46] Unknown:
You coming to bed, hon? Yep. Honey, I'll
[00:45:48] Unknown:
be I'll be right there. Just gotta turn out the light.
[00:45:57] Unknown:
Some things never change. Like your kids always leaving tiny toys on the floor for you to step on, and GEICO saving folks lots of money on their car insurance.
[00:46:08] Unknown:
Sweetie, I think I left the downstairs light on.
[00:46:12] Unknown:
Please don't make me go. Fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more.
[00:46:17] Unknown:
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[00:46:42] Unknown:
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