Now the Roma wine company of Fresno, California presents
Suspense
Tonight Roma wines bring you the extraordinary child actress miss Margaret O'Brien co-starring with the incomparable Dame Mae Whitty
Suspense is presented for your enjoyment by Roma wines. That's R-O-M-A, Roma wines.
Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live, 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 a remarkable tale of suspense.
And with the strange tale called Cricket and with the performances of Margaret O'Brien as little Florence and of Dame Mae Whitty as her grandmother, Mrs. Edney, Roma wines hope indeed to keep you in suspense.
Grandma says we have to move from this house Cricket. We have to go away. I guess it's the noises and the things she hears at night.
She's good and I love her, but she doesn't understand. There's nothing in this house to frighten anyone. Nothing that is bad.
Listen Cricket, there'll be no one here but Anna tonight. And tonight, tonight you said you'd come, but I won't be here Cricket.
Grandma's taking me to Golders Green to stay with Aunt Coller until we find another house. Couldn't you come there too Cricket? It wouldn't be hard to find.
No, I guess you couldn't. I guess this is the only house that you can come to. Is that because, because you died here Cricket?
Florence?
Yes Grandma?
Are you ready?
Yes Grandma. I was just saying goodbye.
Please Florence, you promised not to worry me anymore.
Couldn't we stay here tonight? Just tonight?
No dear. Come now. We mustn't keep the cab waiting.
Alright then. You go on ahead. I'll be right down. Goodbye Cricket. I hope you'll understand.
Hello? No, this is the maid. Mrs. Edney isn't here. No, she's staying overnight in Golders Green with her granddaughter. You're welcome. Goodbye.
Who is it?
It's me Anna.
You shouldn't come in without knocking like that.
I heard Mrs. Edney was gone. Have you finished with the cleaning?
Not quite. You're early.
I was worried.
Has there been another robot raid?
Not that. I didn't like you being here in the house alone. Anna, I want you to tell Mrs. Edney you're not coming back after today.
But Charles, I can't do it.
If Mrs. Edney chooses to live in this house, that's fair affair. But have you heard it tonight?
Have I heard what?
You know what I mean.
I've heard nothing.
The neighbors have.
Oh if they minded their own business, they wouldn't hear so much.
They said it was bad.
I'm not interested in what they said.
Well you should be.
Why should I be?
Because of all the things that go on in this house.
What was that?
Who is it?
Anna.
Oh Mrs. Edney.
I thought you'd gone.
Good evening Charles.
Good evening.
I thought you were staying the night in Golders Green Mrs. Edney.
I am. I left Florence there. But I have to meet the real estate man here, Mr. Peters.
Then you are going to move.
Yes Anna.
I hope you're not moving because of the stories that have gone around.
Don't you worry about me. You'd better go now Anna. Take your umbrella. It's raining.
If you need me you'll drop me a line won't you?
I will.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Goodbye Mrs. Edney.
I suppose you don't hear it now Anna.
Charles.
The neighbor's dog's at it again Mrs. Edney.
The neighbor's dog. You know there isn't a dog within miles of here.
That must be Mr. Peters now.
It ain't no dog anyone's ever seen and you know it.
Well good night Mrs. Edney.
Hello there.
Oh Mr. Peters. Good night Anna. Charles. Come in Mr. Peters.
I'm so sorry to be so late but I've been to Brighton.
Have you good news for us?
Well I saw the house. It's going to take a lot of work before you'll be able to move into it.
Oh no. I'd planned so on being out of this house.
Couldn't you stay here?
I can't stay in this house another night.
But Mrs. Edney after you went through all the trouble of remodeling it after the bombing last year,
it seems a pity that you'd be leaving it for something so far less attractive.
My granddaughter isn't well. She hasn't been since her parents were killed at Coventry.
Yeah I know that but I should think she'd be more comfortable here than that.
Let's see what's that noise upstairs?
I hear it too.
It's summer up there eh?
Mr. Peters, would you do me a favour?
Certainly.
Would you come upstairs with me?
Of course. What is it?
Follow me.
Do you see anyone in the hallway here?
No. No I don't.
This is the guest room. Do you see anything unusual?
No.
I'm sorry to have to do this.
Well not at all but...
This is my bedroom. There's no one here is there?
No. No there isn't.
Let's go downstairs again.
I could show you through this whole house and you'd see nothing. No one.
Yes but Florence...
She isn't here. I took her to her aunt's this afternoon.
I distinctly heard noises. But perhaps they came from a neighbour's.
Mr. Peters, the noises you heard a while ago, did they sound as though they might have come from a neighbour's?
No. They were in this house all right.
I wish I could help you Mrs. Edney.
I must ask you to say nothing about our moving to Florence. She's against leaving this house.
But I know it isn't good for her to stay here.
I understand but...
I smell something burning.
Yes. It's always like that. First the noises, then something burning.
But there is something burning.
You can search the house, you'll see no one. Nor will you find anything burning. I know.
Are you certain there's no one upstairs?
You saw. You saw a while ago.
Yes but I heard it so clearly. And that smell...
Would you like to go upstairs again?
Yes. I'll go alone this time.
Who is it?
Florence.
Who are you?
I'm Mr. Peters. Remember me?
Yes. You're the man who wants us to move out of this house. Don't you?
Well I looked for another house for you because your grandmother asked me to.
Don't look any more.
Well if you say so. I thought you were at your aunt's.
No.
Florence, that burning smell. Have you been playing with matches?
No.
Well don't you smell something burning?
Yes.
What is it?
It's him.
Him? What do you mean?
Oh you wouldn't understand.
Now you must tell me. You wouldn't want the house to burn down, would you?
The house won't burn down. Mr. Peters, would you please go away?
Very well. Good night, Florence.
Did it hurt much, Cricket?
Mrs. Edney, your granddaughter's upstairs.
She couldn't be.
Are you sure she wasn't up there a while ago when we both went up?
But you saw. I showed you.
Yeah, you didn't show me your granddaughter's room.
I'm going upstairs. Please wait.
Certainly.
Florence, what are you doing here?
I couldn't stay at Aunt Carla's any longer.
How did you get in?
I came in the back door through the kitchen.
Why?
I was afraid you'd send me back again.
How did you get here?
I was given a ride. It was raining.
Oh, you're soaking wet. What have you done with your shoes and stockings?
I left them by the oven to dry.
Well, put on your pajamas and go to bed. I suppose we'll have to stay here tonight.
I'll say good night to Mr. Peters and I'll be up later.
I've come back, Rickett. I knew you couldn't go to Aunt Carla's.
So I've come back here. You don't have to worry anymore.
Mr. Peters.
I'm out in the kitchen. Would you come here for a moment?
I found these shoes by the oven. They're scorched.
Well, Florence must have put them to dry.
Yes, I know you've been through a great deal lately, but I'd suggest that you take yourself in hand.
But Mr. Peters.
Well, I think you've been imagining things. You insisted there was no one upstairs.
But there have been other times.
And are you sure that if you'd investigated them, you wouldn't have found an explanation like tonight?
I know what you're thinking.
I'm only trying to help you. This burning smell, which you thought was so mysterious.
You've been very kind and patient. I'm sorry to have kept you so late, Mr. Peters.
Oh, not at all. But I do wish you'd reconsider your decision to move.
Yes, I'll reconsider. Thank you.
Call me in a few days. And if you still want to move, well, I'll see that...
Very well, Mr. Peters. Good night.
Good night.
Why don't you complain to the neighbors about that dog? They've no right to...
But you see, there isn't any... Thanks again for everything.
Good night.
For Suspense, Romer-Wines are bringing you as co-stars, Dame Mae Whitty and Margaret O'Brien.
In a moment, we will present the second act of Cricket by Mel Dinelli.
Which is Romer-Wines' presentation tonight of Suspense.
Between the acts of Suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Romer-Wines.
Elsa Maxwell is recognized internationally as an authority on gracious living.
You will be interested in something she said the other day about wine and wartime food rationing. Listen.
I find that people who know one simple secret of serving delicious meals aren't bothered much by food rationing.
That secret is to enjoy good Romer wine with food.
For instance, I recently had dinner with some old friends.
The main dish was kidney bean casserole.
And to give this simple food a delightful party flavor, my hostess served cool Romer California Burgundy.
Everyone remarked about its wonderful bouquet and aroma, and about the way that good Romer Burgundy added enjoyment to our plain meal.
Such added enjoyment is one of the reasons why more and more people serve delightful Romer wine.
That's a grand suggestion from Elsa Maxwell.
So why not try Romer California Burgundy with your dinner tomorrow night?
You'll enjoy its tart piquancy, its fruity, robust taste.
And the happy result of selecting luscious wine grapes from California's choicest vineyards,
guided to perfection by the ancient winemaking skill of Roma's famed wineries.
Good Roma wines never vary.
They're always enjoyable, yet cost only pennies a glass.
Remember, more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine.
R-O-M-A, Roma wines.
Now, Roma wines bring back to our soundstage Margaret O'Brien as little Florence,
and Dame Mae Woody as her grandmother in the second act of Cricket,
a play well calculated to keep you in suspense.
I'm letting you stay, Florence, but just for tonight.
Now, you must promise me to go to sleep.
But I'm afraid I'll miss him if he comes.
Oh, you must stop talking like that.
Do you know why he might come tonight, Grandma?
He's not coming, dear.
Oh, yes he is. It's just a year that he's been gone.
A year's an awfully long time for someone that you love to be gone, isn't it?
Try not to think about it, dear.
Please, Grandma, tell me about it.
Oh, no, dear. I want you to go to sleep.
Please, Grandma, tell me just once, and then I'll go to sleep.
Tell me how brave he was. Please.
Oh, Florence, well, then will you promise to go to sleep?
Yes, I promise.
Very well. Very well.
Once upon a time there was a little girl, a lonely little girl and a dog.
A very brave dog.
Yes, a very brave dog.
It was during one of those awful raids when we sometimes thought none of London would be left standing.
I'd put you to bed in this very room, and I'd gone downstairs to lock up the house for the night.
Now, the awful bomb seemed to be coming closer and closer.
I was standing at one of the windows looking out when I heard the screeching whistle very close.
Then, then there was a splitting crash.
The door seemed to go out and under me, and the next thing I knew I was out on the street.
The crowds and confusion had been heard.
It all seemed to hold, but I knew you were still in there.
I tried to get up, but they kept telling me not to, that I'd hurt myself.
The house was blazing by now.
And then I remembered that Cricket was in there too, and I prayed that somehow, someway he'd do something.
And then we saw you.
You were dazed, and Cricket was tugging at you, pulling you towards the doorway.
He was leading you straight to safety. You were almost out, both of you.
Suddenly the flaming doorway crashed.
It looked as though you'd been buried under the doorway, and for a moment I thought.
Then we saw you coming towards me.
It was Cricket who'd been trapped inside the house, and we could hear him.
The poor, brave dog.
There was nothing we could do, but the whole house seemed to fall in after that.
And so the little girl was saved, and her best friend gave his life for her.
Oh, it was us.
Why do you make me tell you about it, Flutters? It only makes you feel worse.
Oh, no, Grandma. It makes me see how brave and wonderful he was.
Grandma, can you hear?
You're imagining things. It isn't good for you.
Listen, Grandma, Charles hears it too. I heard him telling Anna about it.
Please, Florence.
And that burning smell. Mr. Peters says it was my shoes.
But it was, dear.
Then what was it all the other time?
Oh, I...Florence, if you want us to stay in this house, if you don't want us to move,
you must promise to stop talking like that.
It's him. When the burning smell is strong, I can almost see him sometimes.
Florence, you're feverish, being out in the rain. You've taken cold. Let me feel your head.
He can't come to any other house. I know.
Now, Florence, I want you to lie quietly and not talk anymore. I mean it this time.
I'm going downstairs. I'm here to be asleep when I get back. Do you understand?
Yes, Grandma.
Did it hurt much, Cricket?
Anna!
I know it's late, Mrs. Edney, but I thought as long as Charles said things to make you nervous,
and you being alone here and all, well, I thought it was the least I could do.
What is it, Anna?
It's about the howling, Mrs. Edney. Charles said there was no dog in the neighborhood,
but it seems there is. He belongs to the hitchfords up the street a ways.
They're renting the place, and the lease doesn't allow them to keep pets,
so they've been hiding the poor animal out in the barn all tied up.
He's what we've been hearing. We found out on the way home.
Oh, thank you for coming back. Florence is ill again.
This might help to straighten things out.
Is she bad, Mrs. Edney?
I'm afraid so. I've called the doctor.
Could I help?
Oh, if you could stay here tonight.
I've made plans, too, Mrs. Edney.
It's foolish, I suppose, but somehow I am relieved to know there is another dog in the neighborhood after all.
I know what you mean. I wouldn't for the world have let Charles know, but I was a bit jumpy myself.
If we could only convince Florence now.
Have you taken her temperature?
No, I was going to.
Listen.
Yes, it's a robot raid. They've been expecting one.
The lights!
It's probably got the power house.
What do we do?
Don't be nervous. Have you candles?
They're upstairs. Why, it's so dark.
Here, take hold of the banister. Just follow me. Careful at the landing now.
Do you smell something burning?
Yes. Probably has something to do with the lights going out.
Look, Anna. That light. Do you see it?
Yes. It's Florence's room.
All the other lights are out.
Oh, don't get excited. We'll go up and see. Come on.
Florence.
Yes, Grandma?
What are you doing with that lighted candle?
It's for Cricket.
I told you to stay in bed.
I put it in the window for him. It'll help him find the house.
Florence, you're ill.
Here, dear. Let me tuck you in bed.
Listen, he's lost.
Child, that's a neighbor's dog, Mr. Hitchford's. That's not Cricket.
Oh, yes, Anna. I know his voice anywhere.
Please keep covered until the doctor gets here.
But I'm so warm. My head's burning.
I'll take a temperature.
I'm on fire like he was. Why doesn't he come?
Florence, please. You'll feel better when the doctor gets here.
Hold this in your mouth, dear.
Is my hair burning, Grandma?
It's the fever. Keep the covers on, dear.
Are the covers to smother the fire, Grandma?
Yes, dear. Keep them on.
Why doesn't he come? I'm burning.
Oh, what's keeping the doctor?
The robot raid. He's probably got his hands full someplace.
Here, here. Let's look at the temp. Let's look at the thermometer.
Let me have it, dear.
Shh. I think she's asleep.
Yes. Poor child.
It is Edna. It's almost 103.
Good heavens.
Listen. They're getting closer.
What'll we do? We can't move Florence with a fever like this.
It may be pneumonia.
Don't get excited.
He's crying because I'm burning like he did.
Shouldn't I close the window? There's a wind coming up.
Oh, no, Anna. I want to listen for him.
I want him to see the candle so he can come home.
All right. Try to sleep, dear.
Is he coming? Why doesn't he come? Why doesn't he?
We've got to get that fever down. I'll go and get some aspirin.
I'll go with you. Get another blanket.
If the doctor would only come.
Cricket, is that you, Cricket?
Oh, they could only see you now. They'd believe me.
Why have you come back, Cricket?
Don't run away, Cricket. Here, Cricket.
Oh, why? Why can I see you this time?
I've never been able to see you before.
Oh, don't run away. I'll help you.
Oh, now I'll have to follow you.
And Grandma told me to stay in bed.
Oh, wait for me, Cricket. I'm coming. Wait for me.
Hurry, Anna. Look at the smoke.
That's never happened before.
It's coming from upstairs.
Quick. Florence. It's Florence's bedroom.
Oh, the curtains are burning. The candles she put in the window.
Look in the bathroom. I can beat these saints out with a rug.
Florence. Florence.
Look. There's a handkerchief on the window, sir.
I'll have to climb down the trellis.
Oh, dear. I can't see her out there.
She couldn't be out in this cold.
She must be. Come, Anna. We'll go out the front way.
We've got to find her.
We will. Let's try the gnarled back of the house where she used to walk him.
Florence. Florence.
We've got to find her, Anna. Listen.
As long as you can hear them robot motors, we don't have to worry.
It's only when they stop.
Look. It's just coming over the gnarled.
It's Florence. Oh, thank heaven. Oh, Florence. Florence.
Oh, darling, you shouldn't have come out like this.
I had to. I saved him. He might have burned to death.
Would you like me to carry her?
No, thank you. It's not far.
I put the flames out with my blanket like he did, and now I don't burn any more either.
Florence. Mrs. Edney. Feel her head. What do you mean?
The fever's gone. How?
I don't know.
Anna! Anna! The bomb! It stopped. It's overhead.
Fall to the ground, Mrs. Edney.
Anna, are you all right? Yes.
And Florence? She's all right.
I can't see the house. Has it? Was it?
It must have hit directly on top of it. There's nothing. Nothing left of your house.
Are you all right over there? Yes.
That was a bad one. Oh, Mr. Hitchford.
Oh, it's you, Anna. Thank heavens. I thought maybe you were in the Edney place.
This is Mrs. Edney. Mr. Hitchford.
Oh, I'm sorry about your home, Mrs. Edney.
Oh, thank you. We got our place too.
Was anyone hurt? No. Our dog disappeared just before the attack,
and we were out hunting for him. I guess if it hadn't been for him, we'd have all been killed.
Was there anyone hurt at your place, Mrs. Edney?
No. We were hunting the dog too. Was your dog and I reset him, Mr. Hitchford?
Yes, he was. But how did you know? We've been keeping him hidden.
And I knew his name too. Did you now? What was it?
Cricket. Why? That's remarkable. Remarkable, Florence.
I... I just can't... What are you saying, Mr. Hitchford?
Was that really your dog's name? It was indeed.
That's very remarkable of you to know, Florence.
I thought there was only one dog in the world named Cricket.
There is. I mean, there was.
And so closes Cricket, in which Roma wines have brought you Miss Margaret O'Brien
and Dame May Whitty as co-stars of tonight's study in... Suspense!
Before our stars return to the microphone, let me say a word for Roma Wines, the sponsor of Suspense.
Here's a brief message from that noted authority on smart and pleasurable entertaining, Elsa Maxwell.
Most of the parties I'm giving these days are simple affairs.
And when I entertain, I always serve well-chilled Roma California sherry,
before dinner and later in the evening.
You'll find the glorious amber-golden Roma sherry is a gracious touch
that's sure to get the meal off to a good start and adds to the evening's pleasure.
And don't worry about fancy glasses. It's the wine that's important.
So be sure it's that good Roma wine, because Roma wines are so reasonably priced,
any family can afford to serve them regularly.
Yes, Roma wines cost only pennies a glass, so enjoy them often.
Serve Roma with your everyday meals.
Roma wine is delicious, for Roma quality never varies.
Remember, more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine.
R-O-M-A, Roma wines.
And the next time you use vermouth, either sweet or dry, choose Roma vermouth.
Zestful, full-flavored, blended, mellowed, and developed,
with all the traditional quality, winemaking skill of Roma wineries.
Yet surprisingly low priced. Try Roma vermouth soon, won't you?
This is May Whitty. It's always a very great pleasure to be invited to act on Suspense,
which we all consider to be radio's outstanding theater of thrills.
It was especially an exciting privilege to play tonight,
opposite this amazing little girl, Margaret Bryan.
Have you anything to say, Margaret?
Thank you. This has been the most delightful experience of my whole entire life.
Suspense is produced, edited, and directed by William Spear.
Margaret O'Brien appears through the courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
and is currently being seen in their production, Music for Millions.
Next Thursday same time, Roma Wines will bring you Mr. Lloyd Nolan, as star of Suspense.
Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
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