Now, Roma Wines, R-O-M-A.
Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
Roma Wines present, Suspense.
Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Mr. Gregory Peck, as star of The Lonely Road.
A Suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear.
Suspense, radio's outstanding theater of thrills, is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines.
That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines.
Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live.
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As Roma Wines bring you Gregory Peck, in a remarkable tale of...
Suspense!
Okay, Lieutenant. Give me a question and I'll...
Thanks, Doc.
Well, hello, Gare. How goes it?
Oh, not bad. You want a statement, I suppose?
Mm-hmm, that's right.
Well, tell me first, is she apt to get the extreme penalty?
Well, that'll depend a lot upon what you have to say.
I see. Well, I'll give it to you straight.
I'm counting on you to do your best for her.
Sure, sure. Now go ahead, shoot.
Okay.
The first time I saw Jenny, she was coming along the road carrying the suitcase.
I knew she was headed for our place because it's the only house from miles around there.
I was trimming the hedge and I got as far as the rear gate when she reached it.
I waited for her to speak.
Is this the Gare place?
That's right. What can I do for you?
You had an ad in the paper for a girl to do general housework.
Oh, yes, of course.
Well, come along into the house. My wife will want to have a talk with you.
This is a beautiful place you've got here, Mr. Gare.
But it's certainly hard to get to.
You've walked from the highway?
Yeah. Must have been almost five miles.
The sun is something fierce. I almost gave up.
Don't any buses run along here?
No, we're pretty isolated.
If there's help in the house, I always manage to give them a lift into town.
That makes it nice, Mr. Gare.
What's your name?
Jenny.
Jenny what?
Jenny'll do.
All right, Jenny, in here, please. And Mrs. Gare is a trifle hard of hearing,
so you'll have to speak up a bit.
Oh, Helen, this is Jenny. She's come in answer to our advertisement.
Oh, yes. I'm very glad to see you, Jenny. Won't you sit down?
She was extraordinarily looking.
Not beautiful or pretty.
Striking, I guess, would be the word.
She had heavy black braids wound about her head.
Her eyes were a clear green and looked straight through you.
She was lean and powerful, like a young animal, a leopard or a panther or something.
Well, my wife engaged Jenny.
That night she cooked an excellent dinner and served it well.
She had on a purple skirt and a...
cerise, I guess you'd call it, blouse, and I could see Helen eye it with this favor.
Every time the girl came close to me, I...
I could feel the strength of her.
And those green eyes watched as if she was sizing us up.
We took our coffee and cigarettes out on the veranda after dinner.
You can look right over the orange grove to the hill. It's nice.
Steve, what do you think about Jenny?
Oh, well, it's a little early to judge. Seems capable enough.
That was a darn good dinner, if you ask me. Maybe we're in luck, darling.
Maybe. What issue do you think?
Mexican?
No, I'd say Slavic with that build and shape of face.
A little more coffee, Helen. Half a cup.
You're probably right.
There's a sort of, oh, gypsy arrogance, boldness about her that makes me...
uneasy as if I'd have something to cope with.
We went up to bed early.
I was pretty exhausted every night with all the physical work I had to do.
I turned out the light and for some reason stepped over to the window.
Jenny's room was downstairs on the same side of the house as ours in the rear.
Her light was still on.
She was getting ready for bed and her shadow, huge and black, lay across the lawn.
Her arms were raised to take down those heavy braids.
There was something actually classic about the thing.
The picture of it stayed in my mind long after I'd gotten to bed.
Well, two or three days went by and Jenny, well, the thing was you were conscious of her all the time.
Wherever she was about the house, whatever she was doing, you thought about her.
I was working in the garage one afternoon when she came out there with the butcher knife.
Mrs. Gair says you have a whetstone out here.
Can I get you to sharpen my knife for me, Mr. Gair?
Of course, just a moment.
What's that you're doing?
Oh, I'm trying to mend this old bear trap.
Oh, are you a trapper, Mr. Gair?
Oh, no, hardly. There's a coyote around that's been stealing the chickens.
I'm hoping to catch him.
There, now then, let's have the knife.
What do you do, Mr. Gair?
Well, Jenny, Mrs. Gair was a concert pianist at the time of our marriage.
I was a manager. Now I take care of her properties, holdings, investments, you know.
You mean you sign things for her like checks and papers and things?
Parl but telly, yes, that's part of it.
Hmm. Pretty soft for you, huh, Mr. Gair?
Oh, on the contrary, it's quite a job. Keeps me busy.
I still say you've got a pretty set up, but she didn't get such a bad deal herself.
She's crazy in love with you. Anybody can see that.
Why not? You're good looking, Mr. Gair, and young.
You must be at least, at least 12 years younger than she is.
Now here's your knife, Jenny. Careful now, it's like a razor.
Thanks a lot. That's the way I want it. I can't stand a dull knife.
So I'll probably bother you often.
A few more days went by.
I finished my trap and set it out near the chicken run hoping I'd catch my thief.
And one night after dinner, we were in the living room.
What's the matter, Helen?
Oh, Steve, it's that girl. She was standing there in the dining room door listening.
Jenny? Well, she probably likes music. What's the harm?
Oh, it isn't that. She's always listening and watching.
It's beginning to get on my nerves.
How about her work?
Oh, well, she works hard enough. She's willing and clean as a pin.
But I have a feeling she doesn't respect me, that I just don't figure in her scheme of things.
She's just simply taking the place over. I don't even run my own house anymore.
Fire or why don't you?
Oh, no, I couldn't.
I'll say the word and I'll do it for you.
No, no, I don't want you to.
Steve, frankly, I'd be afraid to tell her to go.
She might get ugly and set fire to the house or something.
Oh, I've never heard such nonsense in my life.
What is it, Helen? Aren't you well?
I'm just terribly nervous, Steve. Maybe that's why she takes advantage.
Well, that's settled that.
I feel like a heel though, because I was relieved that Helen didn't want to fire Jenny.
I was obliged to admit to myself that the girl was getting under my skin.
Any little service she had to perform for me.
She made very special, standing as close as she dared.
I could feel the magnetism of that strong, perfect body.
Her hair smelled like new apples, and those clear green eyes would linger caressingly in mine.
Then after about two weeks, one night it must have been one or two o'clock.
Steve, Steve, wake up.
What's the matter?
That girl, I think she's out there in the hallway. I think she's been in this room.
Oh, Helen.
I'm frightened, Steve. Please make a light.
Oh, all right.
No one around. Helen, you must have been dreaming, dear.
Perhaps I was. I dream about her often, Steve.
Horrid, confused kind of dreams.
I'm trying to scream for help and can't. It's just...
Good Lord, Helen. I never thought anybody could get you down.
You've got to control yourself somehow. This is just plain silly.
Yes. Yes.
I turned out the light and got back into bed.
In a little while, I could hear Helen's even breathing and knew she was asleep.
I lay there, thinking about Jenny, of course. I never thought of much else.
In a moment, I heard the piano.
So faint, I thought I was imagining it. And it came again. Weird. Ghostly.
I got up again, put on my robe, and slipped downstairs.
The living room was dark, except for the moonlight pouring through the window.
I was in a state of shock.
I thought I was going to die.
The living room was dark, except for the moonlight pouring through the window.
And Jenny's figure, black against the light, was moving towards me.
Almost before I knew it, she pressed close against me, crushing her mouth to mine.
It was like being stung. Sharp, sweet, terrible.
Jenny, what is this?
Don't kid me. You knew this was coming. That it had to come, that nothing could keep us apart.
Now everything's going to be all right.
But... but Jenny... we can't. Helen is no fool.
We can't let her stand in our way.
What... what do you mean?
It won't be hard. Just a matter of figuring the best way.
I don't know what you mean, Jenny. And we can't stay here talking nights any longer.
I...
It'll be just you and me, Steve.
And all that money. Think what we can do with it. Just think.
Are you crazy?
Yeah. Crazy for you. Just like you are for me.
Listen, Steve. Inside of five or six years, you're going to be stuck with a deaf old woman.
What you're going to do? Sit here and grow old with her? Not you.
Sooner or later, you'll clear out. So why not now? With me.
Why? It's not so simple as you make it sound, my dear.
All you have to do is to spread around the town that Helen's going to visit her folks.
Mississippi or someplace. And leave her to me.
Afterwards, you can say your wife's decided to stay down south.
That you're going to... going to sell out and join her.
Then we can turn everything into cash and we're on our way. Easy?
The next few days I worked outside till my hands bled.
And my whole body shrieked with pain. To keep from thinking, I began having nightmares.
I'd wake up in a cold sweat and lie there longing for daylight.
Swearing that as soon as morning came, I'd throw that girl out of the house.
But she'd brush against me or touch my hand. And I'd be wild for her again.
I guess I knew then that sooner or later I'd agree to nearly anything she asked.
For suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star Gregory Peck in The Lonely Road by Marion Orth.
Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Between the acts of suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines.
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And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Gregory Peck,
who as Stephen Gare in The Lonely Road, continues a narrative well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Helen began to get on my nerves.
It seemed that every day she looked older, washed out, became deffer.
I began to despise her, to wander out of my way, out of Jenny's in my way.
One morning at breakfast, Jenny came in and stood there looking at me fixately.
Well, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Jenny came in and stood there looking at me fixately.
Well, Jenny, what is it?
If you're going to town today, Mr. Gare, I've written down some things for the house.
Very well, Jenny. If you're list ready, give it to me. I'll be leaving in a few minutes.
I knew what she meant. She was getting impatient.
A reply, which she waited for with those green eyes fixed on mine, was virtually a consent to her plan.
As for me, I wasn't sure what I meant to do, but I thought it would do no harm at least to set the ball rolling.
In town, I dropped into the garage and asked the mechanic to look the car over.
I said Mrs. Gare was planning a trip to visit her family in Mississippi,
but I'd have to drive her into Tucson to take the train, and that my tires weren't so good.
After that, I stopped at the realty office.
Really, Mr. Gare, you're thinking of selling that beautiful place of yours?
Oh, it's just a possibility. I don't want any prospective buyers about the places yet,
but my wife is planning a trip south and I may follow her and remain there permanently.
Help's such a problem. Place of ours takes a lot of handling.
A fellow gets fed up after a while.
Well, there'd be no difficulty disposing of the property, Mr. Gare.
Just let me know when you're ready, and meanwhile I won't bother you with people coming.
I drove home in a sort of trance.
I wasn't shocked at what I'd done, and the thing was still wide open if I wanted to back out.
When I got home, I didn't want to go into the house.
So far I'd had no luck with the coyote, so I busied myself setting the trap in another spot.
While I was doing this, Jenny came out with that butcher knife again, and we went into the garage.
Helen was at the piano.
Did you do what I told you to see?
Yes.
Good. I can't stand this much longer.
All right, Jenny, but I can't bear to be here when...
Kiss me, Steve.
Don't worry. It'll be when you're out of the house.
She didn't say any more, just looked at me with a twisted little smile.
I gave her the sharpened knife, and she kissed me and went into the house.
At dinner that night, Helen said...
I had words with Jenny today, Steve.
I can't have her around any longer.
You can fire her tonight, if you will.
What? Oh, no, my dear.
I offered to do it once, and you wouldn't let me.
Now you'll just have to do it yourself.
Steve, I'm afraid of her terribly.
Why, has she been ugly, threatening?
Don't shout so, Steve. I'm not as deaf as all that.
And she'll hear you.
No, no, she hasn't threatened me, nothing like that.
There's just something about her that I don't know.
There's just something about her that fills me with horror.
You're imagining things, Helen.
What possible reason could she have for harming you?
I don't know, but this house has become a dreadful place.
I'm cold all the time, and I'm shaky.
And you seem different. You look at me sometimes as if you hate me.
Now, see here, Helen...
Don't try to reason with me.
If she doesn't get out of this house quick, I'll lose my mind.
She's like a witch or something malignant or evil.
Jenny came in just then to change the plates for dessert.
As she bent over to take the platter, she held that knife in her hand in such a way that...
my blood ran cool for a minute after she'd gone out.
You haven't noticed it, but lately I haven't taken a mouthful of food until I've seen you start to eat for fear she'll poison me.
That's ridiculous. Why shouldn't she poison me as well?
Because she's crazy about you.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
And you're crazy about her.
Don't deny it, Steve. I may be deaf, but I'm not blind, you know.
Look, Helen, I'm going into town for a drive.
If you want to fire Jenny while I'm gone, that's all right with me.
I tried not to dwell on the immediate events, but...
but to think about the time when I'd be free to go away with Jenny.
The drive into town seemed endless, but at last I pulled up in front of the hotel.
Good evening, Mr. Gare. Come for the papers?
Yes, and a cigar, maybe, Fred.
I looked around the little lobby.
There wasn't a soul in there that I knew.
I watched the people.
One minute feeling sorry for them because their lives were so drab,
the next ending them because they were so secure, simple.
I was sitting there staring unseeingly at the local paper
when I suddenly came out of this trance or...
a spell that I'd been under. The shock of realization was frightful.
I didn't want anything to happen to Helen.
I prayed to heaven I'd get home in time.
I kept recalling the time when I was in town.
I kept recalling similar instances of such crimes I'd read in newspapers.
I'd always wondered how people could become involved in such things.
Well, I knew all about it now.
A weak fool to let a coarse preacher like that lead me into such a thing.
If only I could be in time.
I'd throw that girl out and devote the rest of my life to making Helen happy.
Helen, generous, loving, intelligent and talented.
Why hadn't I thought of all this before?
Then I saw the car.
It was parked at the side of the highway right at my turnoff.
I knew it was a police car.
I cursed to myself and prayed,
don't let them take long. I've got to be in time for Helen. Please.
An officer stepped out into the road and waved his flash.
Please, I said to myself. Please.
Hello.
What's up, officer?
Oh, looking for a stolen car, but not a baby like that one.
A local car, was it?
Yeah.
You'd better let me have a look at your operator's car.
You must have been doing about 80 along that stretch.
Oh, sure. Here you are, officer.
Sorry I was overdoing it. I was just in town and I...
I guess I stayed longer than I intended.
My wife's alone in the house and not very well in a...
How's in a hurry to get home?
You live down this road?
That's right.
Say, maybe that car could have got down in there. I think I'll...
No, no, no. I... I mean, I... I would have seen it.
Ah.
Okay, Mr. Gare, just take it easy, will you?
Yeah. Certainly will, officer. And thanks. Good night.
I didn't know what to do. I stood there in the doorway, looking up.
There was a light upstairs in the window of our bedroom.
It threw a radiance on the screen door and burned with a...
a steady glow as if it... as if it had been burning like that for ages.
As if it had witnessed a scene of horror and brooded over it,
keeping the secret to itself.
When I started finally for the house, my legs were so stiff I could...
I could scarcely walk.
I stayed off the gravel, walking on the grass, and went in the back door.
There wasn't a sound.
I tiptoed through the kitchen, through the dining room, across the hall.
Then I could see the light from that lamp spilling down the stairway
at the far end of the dark living room.
My heart pumped so loud I could hear it.
I wanted to call out, but I didn't dare. Whom would I call?
Perhaps everything was all right.
Perhaps Helen was up there in bed. How I prayed she was.
I hesitated on the threshold, thought of glancing into Jenny's room,
but that would have looked queer if... if nothing had happened.
I stepped over the threshold.
Ah! It was that trap, that bear trap.
Somebody had placed it there, ready for me.
Who? He was excruciating. I wrenched him. Who did the thing?
Helen! Jenny! Somebody!
Come and give me a hand!
Who is it? Help me!
Hurry, I'm caught in this trap.
Get the hammer, pliers, anything!
She reached the bottom of the stairs and snapped on the lights.
I've never seen such a sight in my life.
There was blood all over the place.
On the wallpaper, the white paint.
Then I saw Jenny, lying on the floor in a crumpled heap,
her long braids soaking in... Helen's dress.
Her hands and face were spattered with it.
Her hair was disheveled. Her eyes like pinpoints of fire.
And against her side I could see the gleam of that long, sharp knife.
She was coming slowly towards me.
Oh, we were beautifully caught, Jenny and I.
She with her knife, I with my trap.
Helen! Don't look like that!
What's happened?
You planned this together, you two.
But it didn't turn out just as you thought it might.
Helen, please don't look at me like that.
Well, there she is. Look at her.
If I hadn't been ready for her, I'd be lying in her place
and you'd be glad, wouldn't you, Steve?
No, no. Helen, Helen, you insane, drop that knife for heaven's sake.
Listen to me.
She came closer, I made a lunge for her.
With the grip of that steel above my leg,
threw me off balance and I fell forward.
She sprang on me. I fought her off, but that knife came at me.
Face, throat, everywhere like flashes of lightning.
Helen, don't do this to me!
I swear I came back.
Helen, don't!
Well, Lieutenant,
that police car arrived in time to save my life.
But I...
I wish they'd let her finish the job.
Then and there.
Okay, Gare.
Okay, thanks.
I'll send the doc right in.
And Gare, I wouldn't worry too much about Helen.
I think she'll be all right.
Suspense!
Presented by Roma Wines.
R-O-M-A.
Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
Before we hear again from Gregory Peck,
the star of the lonely road tonight's suspense play,
this is Trume Bradley for Roma Wines.
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R-O-M-A. Roma wine.
Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is Gregory Peck.
Like everyone else here in the film colony,
I've always admired suspense,
and it's been very exciting to appear here tonight.
I want to thank Maria Palmer, who appeared as Jenny,
and Kathy Lewis, who enacted the role of Helen in tonight's play.
Next Thursday on Suspense, a very famous character of crime fiction
will make his debut on the air.
That'll be Baynard Kendrick's remarkable blind detective,
Captain Duncan McClain.
And Brian Donlevy will play Captain McClain
in a radio play built around one of the most ingenious
and cunning murders I've ever heard about.
I'll surely be listening,
and I know you will want to listen next Thursday to Suspense.
Gregory Peck will soon be seen as star of The Yearling,
produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Next Thursday, same time,
Roma wines will bring you Mr. Brian Donlevy
as star of Suspense, radio's outstanding theatre of thrill.
Produced by William Spear
for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.
Suspense is broadcast from coast to coast
and to our men and women of the Armed Forces overseas by shortwave
and through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.