Yes, Roma wines taste better because only Roma selects from the world's greatest wine
reserves for your pleasure.
And now Roma wines, R-O-M-A, Roma wines present Suspense.
Tonight Roma wines bring you Chester Morris as star of The Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy,
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 better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans
than any other wine, for friendly entertaining, for delightful dining.
Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant as Roma wines bring you Chester
Morris in a remarkable tale of Suspense.
I saw it once in a mirror in the police emergency hospital.
I never saw it again.
When they set me up, I smashed the mirror in my cell the first day.
They never dared to put in another.
The chaplain came and tried to talk to me about it a few times, and then a prison medic.
But I turned over in my bunk and didn't answer.
After a while they stopped coming.
Three and a half years.
Almost every night I dream it wasn't like that.
Wake up crying I was so happy.
And then put up my hand in the dark to feel them and know that it was.
It would always be three and a half years.
Waiting and hating.
Waiting to get out and hating one guy in particular and everybody in general.
Waiting and hating.
It was a cold windy day in November the day I left.
The guard opened the gate and gave me the usual corny send off.
Well Mr. Malone I hope you enjoyed your stay here.
Callers up make a reservation anytime.
I went on through and didn't answer.
I didn't even look at it.
For three and a half years I hadn't looked at anybody.
I didn't want anybody looking at me and I didn't look at anybody else.
My coat collar was pulled up and my hat pulled down and I walked towards the river to the
little park there and hung around waiting for it to get dark.
I knew what I was doing all right.
I was going to kill a man.
But first I was waiting for it to get dark.
When it was I went up into town and caught a train for New York that got me into Grand
Central about 815.
In the station I went to a phone booth and called Sam Braggen.
Then I went down there.
Sam lived in a walk up off Hudson Street.
A good dark street.
A hallway too.
Dark stairs.
The third floor.
Dark.
Who is it?
Hello Sam.
Johnny.
Oh Johnny you old son of a gun you.
Hello Sam.
Well what are you standing there for?
Come on in come on.
Wait let me turn on the light.
No.
All right Sam.
You're having coke.
I will see it in hours later.
Oh Johnny.
Johnny.
Johnny.
I shouldn't have hit him but I couldn't stop myself when I saw that book of horror and
pity that I knew I'd always see from now on when anybody saw my face.
My awful scarred twisted nightmare of a face.
My face.
I closed the door and got Sam into the front room and onto the couch.
And then I got the phone and called Fran's old number because I couldn't stop myself
from that either.
Hello.
Is Miss Thompson there?
Miss Frances Thompson?
No she ain't.
Well is her mother there?
No they've gone away.
You know where I can get in touch with them?
No I don't.
Well do you know if they're coming back sometime?
I hadn't expected anything different.
I don't know why it should have made me so mad.
When I turned around Sam was just beginning to come out of it over on the couch.
Oh you.
Yeah remember?
You have no call to do that Johnny.
I know.
I'm sorry.
I said I'm sorry.
I guess I've been so long where I wanted to and couldn't that I took out the whole three
and a half years on the first guy I could.
I'm sorry.
Yeah I'm sorry too Johnny.
You want to talk about it?
Turn out the lights Sam.
Sure.
Okay.
Thanks.
Where's Fran?
Fran?
You remember Fran.
Oh yeah yeah you and her.
Where is she?
Gee Johnny I don't know.
Don't kid me she's with Gordy Fitzroy isn't she?
Isn't she?
I swear Johnny I swear I don't know what Fran's been doing.
I ain't heard nothing of Fran for a couple of years.
Alright.
Alright I'll find out.
Didn't she come to see you up there?
Yeah at first she did but I didn't see her.
They got lights on you when you see people up there Sam.
I only want to see Fran in the dark.
Yeah yeah sure.
Where's Gordy Fitzroy?
I don't know Johnny.
He's uh he's still around isn't he?
Oh sure sure I hear he's got another place uptown.
Yeah I bet.
What's the angle Johnny?
You sure you didn't hear nothing?
To tell you the truth Johnny it was so long since you was in touch I uh I heard you got
uh three to five and that's about all.
Okay I'll tell you the rest.
Is it how that happened?
Yeah it's how that happened.
You remember the gang around here in the old days you, Sam, Gordy Fitzroy and Fran and
me that always ran together when we were kids and Fran went to City College and I got into
a little trouble and Gordy inherited that jewelry store from his uncle.
You remember all that?
Oh sure I remember you were all good kids.
Yeah well it was about a year after the last time I saw you.
Gordy was having trouble.
He owed a lot of dough to the bookies and had to hock his jewelry store to pay off and
then he had a bright idea.
Georgia did?
Yeah he had about 10 or 15 grand worth of assorted rocks in his safe at the store.
We were going to crack it and peddle the rocks and collect the insurance too and split 50-50.
I was going to do the job but I made him come with me and of course we had to blow the safe
to make it look right.
Well something went wrong.
I used too much soup or something and it blew in my face.
In my face.
Oh so that's how.
Yeah only that wasn't all.
When I came out of it Gordy was still there but he'd ratted on me to save his own skin.
There were cops all over the place and Gordy was telling him how he'd caught me in the
act of blowing his safe and knocked me cold or something.
And the cops couldn't make up their minds between patting him on the back and kicking
me in the belly.
We were doing plenty of both.
Oh he was quite a little hero there Gordy was.
Gee Junie.
He did that?
He did better than that.
He even testified at my trial.
Even Fran believed him I guess.
She said she didn't but I don't know.
So I got three to five and lucky that.
I was all bandages then.
I didn't know how bad it really was till after the trial.
And then they took him off.
I only saw it once Sam.
I never dared look at it again.
Gee.
What are you going to do Junie?
What do you think?
Yeah but look.
Look that's bad Junie.
Why they'd pin it on you before you got off at the subway.
Not the way I'm going to do it.
You got a way to do it?
Yeah.
I got a way.
For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Chester Morris in the strange death of Gordon
Fitzroy.
Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Between the acts of Suspense this is Ken Niles for Roma Wines.
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to your Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.
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And here's a holiday tip.
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Tomorrow buy Roma by the case and save.
That's R-O-M-A. Roma, America's favorite wine.
And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Chester Morris as Johnny Malone
in the strange death of Gordon Fitzroy.
A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Sam was always a good gee.
He let me shack up there and he helped me out.
He found out where Gordy Fitzroy lived alone in a little house on Long Island and how he
always caught the same train that got him out there about 1030 every night.
He made the contact with a guy that was going to fix me up the package too.
It was about a week later that I went around to collect it.
It was a little basement watch repair shop off Avenue C. At least that was the guy's
front.
He was a dried up little guy with thick glasses and he was working over some kind of a clock.
Yeah?
You want something?
I'm Pete Jones.
Pete Jones?
Yeah.
You got something for me, haven't you?
I don't know.
I'd have to look.
Sam Braggen sent me.
I don't know no Sam Braggen.
I don't go by names in here.
What do you go by?
I just remember.
Well, start remembering.
Let me take a look at you.
I said I'm Pete Jones.
Okay.
I guess you're the guy.
Where do I put up the sign?
What sign?
You got to go on back.
I don't want no one coming in while we're going.
Come on.
Where is it?
You're looking at it.
That suitcase.
Well, open it up.
I want to see it.
That suitcase ain't made to be opened up no more, bud.
Okay.
How do you work it?
You see the slide and that snap lock?
Yeah.
You push it just once.
When you do that, it's time to blow in three hours.
What'll it do?
Like the atom bomb, bud.
Like the atom bomb.
Listen, you ain't mixed up in any kind of politics, are you?
Like that Christian Front Gang or anything?
No.
Because I don't do that kind of work.
Dangerous.
This is strictly business.
Personal.
Okay.
You know what this job is going to cost you?
One C was what I was told.
No.
Two C's.
Is that the way you always do business?
Materials are going up.
Well, I'll give you one and a half and a working over.
Now, what'll it be?
I'll take the one and a half.
Three hours, you said.
Yeah.
Three hours.
Well, here's your dough.
And this thing better work right.
If it don't give satisfaction, wise guy, bring it back.
Three hours would give me plenty of time.
I went out to Gordy Fitzroy's house in Long Island the next night, about 9.30, an hour
before he'd get home.
The place was dark like it should have been.
I went around back where there was a kitchen window.
I jimmied it and stepped inside with my suitcase full of trouble.
For a minute, I stood and listened and almost thought I heard something.
Nerves, I guess.
Imagination.
Upstairs, under his bed would be the best place.
But first, I wanted to set it.
I put my flash on the slot, slide lock and pushed it like the guide said.
But it wouldn't move.
I tried again.
And it moved the wrong way.
It must have got pushed by mistake earlier sometime.
And then I heard the buzzing sound it was making.
I gave a wild look around and saw a space behind the stove and threw it in there and
started for the window.
I was about halfway out when I felt the blast and something hit me in the face.
And that was all.
It was funny, but I came to sitting in a chair.
Just sitting there in a room I'd never seen before.
It was dark.
Just a little light coming in from the street.
Then I looked around a little and saw the bed.
I knew it must be a hospital.
And I remembered.
But it couldn't have been too bad.
They couldn't have to operate or I'd be in bed and feeling sick.
But there I was just sitting in one of those hospital night shirts and bathrobes.
Just sitting.
And then the door opened.
The doctor and the nurse.
Psychic, throwing a shock.
I just had to keep trying.
That's all.
Well, how's the patient this evening?
Don't turn on the lights, Doc.
Well, oh, what's that you said?
I said don't turn on the lights.
I like it better in the dark.
How did you know I was your doctor?
I guessed.
You are, aren't you?
Yes, yes, yes.
How am I?
You seem to be fine now.
The bulls outside?
The who?
Coppers.
Police.
Oh, the police.
They were here, but they're not around anymore.
You got tired, huh?
Yes, I guess they did.
Thanks for telling me.
Well, it's nice to see you feeling so well.
I'll drop by in the morning.
We'll have a long talk.
Oh, yeah, sure, in the morning.
There were socks and shirts in the bureau.
I don't know what they were.
I don't know what they were.
There were socks and shirts in the bureau.
There were shoes and a suit and a hat and overcoat in the closet.
They weren't mine, but what did I care?
Because the cops must have quit watching me for the night, and that meant I could break
out of here.
There was no time for any fancy suitcase jobs now.
If I was going to get Gordy Fitzroy before the cops got me, I had to go after him and
give it to him face to face.
I put on the duds and got out into the hall and down a back stairway and out through the
basement without anybody even seeing me.
I knew where I could get a gun and I got it.
And then, then all of a sudden I was thinking about Fran.
I knew I was washed up.
I knew they'd get me for what I was going to do to Gordy, but before that I wanted to
see her.
I just wanted to see her.
I took a chance that the old dame on the phone might have been brushing me off here tonight,
and I went into a booth and dialed a number.
Hello?
Fran?
Yes?
Who's this?
Fran, it's, it's Johnny.
Johnny Malone.
Johnny?
Oh, Johnny!
Yeah, yeah, me too.
Out?
Yeah.
Fran, I, I want to see you.
I want to see you the worst way, but you're not going to get away with this.
The worst way, but...
But what, Johnny?
Did you know what happened?
Yes, Johnny, I know.
No, no, I mean all of it.
How bad it was?
Yes, Warden told me.
He even showed me pictures.
He did?
Did you get my letters?
Yeah, I got them, but I tore them up.
Why?
Because I didn't want to know what was in them, maybe.
Because I didn't want to even think about you after what happened.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know what happened.
Then, then they stopped coming.
Well, I joined the Red Cross.
I've been away for two years.
Oh.
You're, you're sure you want to see me, friend?
Of course I do.
Listen, Johnny, I'll meet you now at Jack's, the old place.
No.
No, it's too bright there, friend, too much light.
Oh, all right, where?
Down on your corner, Hudson Street.
Ten minutes.
All right, Johnny.
I'll be there.
I waited in the shadows in the doorway.
My heart seemed to be going crazy and I could hardly breathe.
I forgot all about Gordy Fitzroy and what I was going to do.
I, I didn't even care anymore.
Maybe something could be worked out.
Maybe Fran and I could somehow.
And then I heard her coming down the street.
I looked.
It was her, all right.
I was scared now.
I just waited where I was trying to get my breath.
She got to the corner and looked around.
And then she stood there for a minute under the street light.
And I walked up and went up behind her.
I laid my hand on her arm.
That's all.
I laid my hand on her arm and she whirled around and looked at me full in the face.
Get away from me.
Get away.
Get away.
Get away.
I ran.
I just ran.
I was so torn up inside.
I didn't know what I felt.
There were tears dripping out of my twisted eye sockets.
And then, then I stopped.
All right.
She lied to me.
She didn't know what had happened and she didn't care.
And when she saw it, she was like all the rest.
No, right?
And if she could dish it out that way, she could take it that way.
I wasn't going to leave her behind either.
I went around the block and back to her house.
I went up the steps and into the vestibule.
It was dark in there.
Good and dark.
I waited.
It was nearly half an hour before I heard her coming up the steps.
Hello, Fran.
Johnny.
Oh, Johnny, why are you hiding here in the dark?
Why did you do it?
I waited and waited and you never even showed up and I was...
You had your chance, Fran.
And now it's this.
Johnny!
I ran out on the street, through the valley to the courtyard, the building next door and
over the fence and through another alley.
I was on the next street.
There was a cab coming and I hailed him.
Where to?
Just drive uptown.
I'll tell you where later.
Okay.
The next on the list was Gordon Fitzroy.
There was no use calling the house on Long Island.
I know I'd blown that guy high, but I had to find him before morning.
I tried to think.
There must be somebody who'd know where he was.
He was staying in town now, probably.
A cabbie.
Sure.
One of the cabbies up around where his store was ought to know.
I tapped on the glass behind the driver.
He slid it back without looking around.
You know where you want to go now?
Listen, is the RECAB stand up around 53rd and Lakes?
It sure is.
Well, that's where I want to go.
Okay.
You're taking me right home.
Yeah?
That's your stand?
Sure.
I just happened to get a fare down here tonight.
Well, then maybe you're just the guy I want to talk to.
Me?
About what?
There's a jewelry store up around there named Fitzroy's.
Yeah, that's right.
Gordon Fitzroy.
Yeah, an old pal of mine.
You know him?
Yeah.
I've seen him.
I've seen him.
I've seen him.
I've seen him.
I've seen him a few times.
You don't know where I can get a hold of him, do you?
I mean, where he's living now?
No, I don't, Gordon.
To tell you the truth, I ain't seen him around lately.
I think his partner runs the business mostly now.
Oh, he's got a partner.
Oh, yeah.
Know his name?
Let me see.
No, it's...
It's right on a store there.
Begins with a Z.
A Zellman.
That's a Zellman.
Face named Fred, I think.
You can stop right here.
I want to make a phone call.
Wait for me.
OK.
Hello?
Uh, Mr. Zellman?
Yeah?
Well, I'm sorry to bother you this time of night, Mr. Zellman, but I'm an old pal of
Gordon Fitzroy.
I've been trying to find him, but his house in Long Island doesn't answer.
Yeah, I guess it does.
Could you tell me where he is?
Why, he's had an accident.
An accident?
Uh-huh.
He's in the hospital.
Oh, gee, that's terrible.
Oh, gee, that's too bad.
I'd like to see him, though.
What hospital is he in?
Why, uh, the Jefferson Hospital, room 508.
The Jefferson Hospital?
Thanks.
The Jefferson Hospital.
I got it now.
Well, that was the hospital I'd been in.
I was almost sure.
So Gordy had been in his house when I blew it.
And they'd taken us both there.
Why else would he have had an accident just the same time as me?
Maybe he was right on the same floor all the time.
Maybe right in the next room to mine.
Just so he was still alive, that's all.
Because now I wanted to give it to him face to face.
Jefferson Hospital was way out in Long Island, and I knew I wouldn't be able to pay the fare,
but that didn't worry me.
When we got there, I just stepped out of the cab with a gun in my hand.
You want me to wait?
No.
No, beat it.
What about me fare, Dick?
This is your fare.
What is this, a stick?
Hey!
You're... you're...
It's nothing.
I'm nobody.
Now beat it.
It was the same place, all right.
I got in through the basement just like I'd got out.
I went up the same stairs.
I remember now, five flights.
The same floor.
Only this time there was an old dame, a nurse, sitting there at the desk.
I had my gun out and down at my side before I even spoke to her.
Well, where did you come from?
I want to see the guy in 508.
I'm sorry, but visiting hour...
I know all about that.
Take me to 508.
You wouldn't.
Yes, I would, sister.
Now get moving.
We went down the hall.
In 508 she stopped, but I poked her with a rod.
Oh, please don't.
She opened the door ahead of me.
It was a room just like mine, but it was dark.
Just a little street light coming in the window.
Oh, please don't.
I made a move to the right.
I'm going to go to the left.
I'm going to go to the right.
I'm going to go to the left.
I'm going to go to the left.
Just a little street light coming in the window.
Oh, please don't.
I made a move inside.
And then I slugged her.
I looked around.
I couldn't see much yet, but the bed was empty.
I moved on into the room and then I saw him standing in a door.
But somebody must have tipped him off.
He was dressed.
He had a gun in his hand.
I fired, but nothing happened.
It was glass.
Glass.
Somebody had snapped on the lights.
I whirled around looking for him, and then I saw him.
But in a mirror, it was me.
Me with his face.
His face.
They must have come up behind me.
I didn't even remember.
I was in bed and half-doped, and the room was full of medics and cops.
But I knew.
Gordy and me had both been in that house.
Only the way he got it, they couldn't even find him.
Only me.
And they thought I was Gordy.
And they fixed up my face from pictures the way they do to make me look like Gordy.
And Fran had believed me.
That's why she screamed at me.
Because she thought I was Gordy and she knew what he'd done to me.
Oh, I knew.
I knew all right.
Without even hearing them talking in their low voices there beside my bed.
I knew.
Apparently the shock, the explosion and all was just too much for him.
Yes, he was here for 21 months while we rebuilt his face.
You know, he never spoke a word until today.
Well, he's due for another shock now.
He's wanted for murder.
I never even told them who I really was.
What was the use?
Suspense.
Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A, Roma, America's favorite wines.
This is Ken Niles bringing back to our suspense microphone the star of the evening, Chester
Morris.
Tell me, Chester, after so convincing a performance as a first rate heel, don't you find it difficult
to resume being the really nice guy we know you are?
Oh, not at all, Ken.
You know, I just whispered, Abracadabra, and the villain in me disappeared.
Well, I might have known since you're one of Hollywood's most accomplished amateur magicians.
Would you make me disappear if I asked how's tricks?
Now, Ken, I'd like to, but I don't know any tricks that good.
Well, Chester, here's a trick you want to know.
It's a trick in taste magic, and the only props you need are glasses and delicious Roma
California sherry.
Then, when guests drop in, you simply pour and presto, hospitality reigns.
Well, that's a trick anyone can master, Ken, with Roma sherry.
Right, Chester, for Roma sherry is the keynote of gracious entertaining, the popular first
call for dinner.
That's because Roma sherry is better tasting.
In fact, all Roma wines taste better because Roma starts with choicest grapes, skillfully
and unhurriedly guiding this grape treasure with America's finest winemaking resources
to tempting taste perfection.
Then, at the moment of peak taste richness, Roma selects from the world's greatest wine
reserves for your pleasure.
No wonder more Americans enjoy Roma than any other wine.
Well, you're right, Ken, no wonder.
And Chester, so you may practice this taste magic at home and delight your guests, here
from Roma is a gift basket of Roma wines.
Well, thank you, Ken, and thanks to Roma.
And now before I return to my top hats and rabbits, Ken, who will I be hearing on suspense
this time next week?
You'll be hearing Robert Taylor.
Next week is our anniversary show for us.
Roma will be beginning its fourth year of presenting suspense.
It was Cary Grant who was our first star, and each year on our anniversary, Cary has
appeared.
This year, however, he'll be away from town.
We'll present him later.
Next week, it'll be Bob Taylor.
Wonderful, and what kind of a story will Bob do, Ken?
Well, it'll be a suspense play that involves him in a Christmas story with some of the
eeriest and most inexplicable twists imaginable.
It'll take all the magician in you to explain it away.
Well, I'll certainly be listening.
Chester Morris will soon be seen in the Columbia picture Inside Story.
Tonight's suspense play was written by Bruce Cassidy and Robert L. Richards.
Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Mr. Robert Taylor as star of Suspense.
Produced and directed by Williams-Fear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.