Suspense.
Radio's outstanding Theatre of Thrills brings you an hour, a full 60 minutes of suspense.
Tonight, our star, Mr. Edmund O'Brien.
Our story, The Blind Spot, by Louis Eby and John C. Flebbing.
A suspense play produced and directed by Anton M. Lieder.
It sometimes happens with men and institutions who deal only in facts, formulae, and the
cold logic of scientific deduction.
They often underestimate or overlook the unpredictability of the human element.
They may covet reason and disregard instinct and emotion.
Tonight, against the background of Rogers International Research Institute, pulse of
the nation's opinions, we meet Eric Strange, Leland Rogers, Mona Bartlett, and Gregory
Rohn in a dramatic combination of logic and fear.
And now, with the performance of Edmund O'Brien as Eric, and with The Blind Spot, we again
hope to keep you in suspense.
Each of us has a blind spot, some of many.
Blank walls in our minds or memory or opinion.
Walls which we cannot penetrate and so we're held back.
Or because we can't or won't understand, we try to draw away from the world.
Run from it.
Because the blind spot has made us afraid.
I started writing books about this during the war.
Maybe you've read or heard about them.
Blind Spots by Eric Strange.
Well, whether you have or haven't, there's little bearing on what I'm about to tell you.
I mention it simply by way of introduction.
Not to myself, but to fear.
Yes, it was The Blind Spot of Fear and the mind and heart of Leland Rogers that led to
... Well, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Perhaps it's best that you meet Leland Rogers and see him as I did that day when I went
to his suite in the Park Central Hotel to settle a business matter.
It wasn't our first meeting, but in a way it seemed to be.
For as I pressed the buzzer and the door opened, I found myself looking at a different Leland
Rogers.
A man completely changed for me by his look of sheer terror.
Strange.
Eric Strange.
How do you know where... Your secretary, Mr. Rogers.
She said... Mona, she had no right to tell you where I...
This Bartlett is worried about you.
So is your partner, the whole staff.
You know, Rogers, when you first approached me as a possible client, I was invited into
your office, offered cigars, a drink.
I'm sorry, Strange.
Come in.
Thank you.
I did like to hold a conference in a hotel hallway.
But there's to be no conference, understand, Strange.
I thought I made it clear we can't handle the survey for you.
Now, I suppose if I suggested that Rogers International Research could be sued for breach
of contract, I might not be offered a chair.
You have grounds for a suit, of course.
Sit down.
Thanks.
Ah, much better.
Now, Rogers, what's it all about?
Why did you really call things off?
It's exactly like I told you on the phone, Eric.
No mystery about it.
Albert LeBlanc, our European supervisor, was killed yesterday in a crash at Le Bourget Airport.
Hmm.
Too bad for the supervisor.
His organization of our overseas officers was a one-man miracle.
That was a mistake, of course.
Won't happen again.
But in the meantime... The survey on my book is impossible.
Quite.
Well, your partner, Jim Carr, now... Yes, he doesn't agree.
I know, but Carr isn't running that end of the business strange.
He shouldn't have even been talking to you.
He just happened into the office while I was with your secretary.
He seemed quite upset.
Yes, he's always upset, but whatever he had to say means nothing.
I suppose not.
But he was enthused over the plans you people had.
He's always enthused.
However, in this case, I was myself.
You know that?
Yes.
That's what confuses me, Rogers.
You seem so anxious to establish the validity of the book's premise.
I believe in that premise, Mr. Strange.
I believe every word of your book, Blindspots.
I agree that the American has the highest natural demand for freedom and guards that
freedom with unequal personal responsibility for national welfare.
The survey could have proved that belief.
I know, I know.
Or proved it to be wrong.
You know, in that event, had we discovered my premise to be arrogant assumption, I intended
that this would be the last edition of Blindspots.
I understood your intention.
People without freedom are happier without facts.
Yes, yes.
However, Mr. Strange, under the circumstances, with my organization powerless to conduct
an immediate survey, I don't see what news there is.
Sit down, Mr. Rogers.
What?
I said sit down.
Or better still, fix us both a drink.
Because I'm not leaving.
Now, see here, Strange, you're wasting your time.
I've told you it's all off.
I've given you a good reason.
You can take your business to universal surveys or sue me for breach of contract.
I don't care.
I don't care, Rogers.
I want to know who threatened you.
Threatened?
I should have warned you months ago.
Threats would be a nuisance item.
You'd have to figure on with my survey.
There have been no threats.
Not at all.
I think there have.
I've been threatened regularly since the first edition of Blindspots.
First by radicals who call the book reactionary, then by reactionaries who suggest I'm proposing
revolution.
There have been no threats.
No threats, Strange.
Simply that my key man LeBlanc in our foreign office is at this very moment as alive as
either one of us.
What?
What are you saying?
What you've been saying is more important.
A call came in while I was at your office.
Miss Bartlett took it.
It was from LeBlanc.
You, you let me lie, Strange.
Yes, because it made you feel easier.
It might make it easier for me to discover what kind of fear you're living with.
This doesn't change anything.
We're not handling the survey with or without a reason.
Nothing helps your kind of fear but action, Rogers.
If it's free for all, I'd like to get in.
Would you care to fix those drinks?
Tell me about it.
Strange.
Were you ever so afraid?
It was like leprosy.
You felt your mind, your body rotting away.
Sometimes sitting on the ground during a war that sometimes seems like it didn't happen.
There was a length of barbed wire in front of me, day after day, night after night.
One day I tried to walk through the wire.
They pulled me off and I tried again and again.
After that I had some kind of fever.
Now it's your turn.
I'll get the drinks.
I'll need one telling you this.
You might need one listening.
Very interesting, Rogers.
All of it.
And where is this little black book?
Right here.
Looks harmless enough.
Lots of people carry them.
You just use it for memoranda?
That's right.
Dates, places, stray ideas I want to jot down.
Certainly nothing unusual about that.
But the last four pages of the book.
Take a look, strange.
Read those last four pages.
Just one line to a page.
That's right.
And not one of them.
Seems to make any sense.
Now you know why my partner, my doctor, even my secretary are beginning to guess.
I don't understand.
Why did you write these things?
Would you say that I did write them?
Handwriting is the same.
Or a very clever imitation.
Exactly.
I wrote all the previous pages.
Those last four I didn't.
Perhaps you will not...
Oh, no, no.
I didn't write them and forget them.
After the first two entries, I mentioned this to Dr. Whitehouse.
He explained it.
Said I'd had the book on my bed table and wrote it in my sleep.
That would be my guess too.
And quite possible.
Except that after that I left the book at the office.
The other two messages I found on different afternoons during the last few days.
I didn't write them.
Perhaps it's the work of a practical joker.
Someone...
Oh, no, strange.
They have other aberrations too.
They began soon after the first message in the book.
Such as?
I hear the telephone ring.
Well?
There's no one on the wire.
I answered doorbells.
There's no one at the door.
One night I woke with a spotlight in my face.
No one was in the room.
You...
You found the third message yesterday?
Yes.
And called you that our deal was off.
You're lucky, actually, how would it be for your survey to have it come out later that
the head of the research organization was off his rocker?
Not good.
But I...
Not good.
Let's leave it at that, strange.
Wait a minute.
This weather report clipped to the last page.
You found it this way?
This way.
The reports is generally clear with rising temperature and the entry, it will still be
gloomy when you go home.
Funny.
The combination mean anything to you?
Yes, it means something to me.
It means I'm going to die tonight.
That's ridiculous.
Is it?
The writer of these notes would be a superstitious person, strange.
Today is the 13th.
I don't make sense, do I?
No you don't.
Delusions.
Good night.
You...
You have no idea who the writer of the messages might be.
I know who it is.
He's in my office and he has every reason to kill me.
But if...
But I don't know how to identify him.
If I did, I might not be afraid.
Blind spots again.
Yeah.
They're with us all.
Yes, I suppose so.
Look strange, I've told you more than I intended to.
Now get out of here, will you?
You've got a lot at stake in that poll of yours and...
You know, maybe I figure there are things even more important than four nation polls.
People.
They're troubles.
People like you, Leland Rogers, a man who was once strong enough to build a great organization
from nothing.
Will you get out?
You've got to fight, Leland, and I'll help you.
There's nothing I like better.
Good Lord strange, didn't you hear me?
I said get out.
Why?
If I wanted a bodyguard, I'd hire one.
You've done it.
And for free.
This is my own mess.
Why do you want to get yourself into it?
I don't.
Never do.
Look, look, this is strictly business.
Tonight I bodyguard for you.
Tomorrow you throw away that little black book in the ash cannon.
Go on with my survey.
I don't know what to say.
You're sure you can't identify this man?
The Burnham Detective Agency in New York is working on it for me.
If I can break through this fog, maybe I can give them more to go on.
Blind spot in your memory?
Something like that.
Maybe if you told me the whole story, it might show up.
It might.
Only I...
Well, it...
Embarrassing, huh?
It's a long story.
Well, we have a long evening on our hands.
It's only 7.30.
7.30.
You had to be somewhere?
Oh, no, no.
Look, strange.
Eric.
That's better.
I've decided that I can trust you.
Thanks.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to...
Thanks.
I think I'll take a shower, climb into a robe.
Then I'll tell you...
The works?
Everything, yes.
Go ahead with your shower.
I'll wait.
He went into the other room to change.
I could hear him moving around.
Then a few minutes later he turned on the water in the shower.
I couldn't help feeling sorry for him the way he seemed to be dodging shadows
He'd been in there about ten minutes from the phone rang on the desk
Shall I get it Leland?
He didn't seem to hear me. I wasn't sure if he'd want me taking his calls, but I took a chance
Hello
Yes
Me
Asked me to tell you he was called out on an appointment, but mr. Rogers is right here he
Finished that story. Mr. Strange meantime sir. He wants you to turn off the shower
The shower all right clerk. I'll I'll take care of it
Leland Rogers had given me the slip I didn't know how long he'd be but curiosity and an unusual interest in this
unusual man
held me right there in his hotel suite I
Turned off one shower turned on another with the seltzer water in the liquor cabinet
That together with a few magazines and some interesting pen sketches on the wall
Kept me occupied for some two and a half hours
Then I thought I heard Rogers at the door. It wasn't locked and I sat back waiting for him to come in
He didn't but
Someone else did a very expensive looking young lady with ash blonde hair the right amount of jewelry and from the average male
viewpoint the right dress
She entered the room slowly then acted almost as frightened as Rogers had when she caught sight of me. Oh
Good evening
Who are you? Oh, let's just say a friend Leland Rogers
You're Eric Strange I've seen your picture in the papers. All right. I'm Eric strange and you're
Well, I
Have a friend Leland Rogers
Yeah
He isn't here I'm expecting him any minute. Oh
Well, I'd better not wait perhaps I'd better not no no really
Mr. Rogers didn't even know I was coming. I'm sure he'd be furious if I've interrupted him
He'd be furious if I've interrupted anything
You see he wasn't I I'm taking calls tonight. Excuse me
Yes, speaking
Yes, lieutenant
The desk clerk tells me you've been with mr. Rogers part of the evening. Yes. I have stepped out a while ago
I expect him back soon
He won't be oh
Calling from his office. Mr. Strange
Leland Rogers is dead
Roger dead. Oh, no
When did it happen lieutenant how but an hour ago watchman found her making his rounds single shot did the jump
Will you come over I'll leave right away?
What is it
Mutual friend Leland Rogers was shot to death
Happened in his office. I'm going over there. You'd better come with me. No, no, no, I can't do that
Why not? Well, I I I can't get mixed up in anything like this. Maybe you already are miss Milner
Gerald Milner
Listen, mr. Strange, you must believe me. I I only met mr. Rogers once before how do I know that wasn't an hour ago in his office?
Well, I haven't been out of the hotel. We live here too. We have the suite on the floor above we
my
my husband and I oh
I see and he
Well, he wouldn't like this. He wouldn't understand. I guess not have
Have you been up there with him for the past few hours? No
No, I was alone. Well, then how do I know that you oh, it's easy to prove that I didn't go out
Just check room service. I've sent down for things all evening. I I
Was bored that I believe oh, please mr. Strange now you won't implicate me. I'll
Check with room service. Oh
Police Lieutenant John Mannix was a very efficient gentleman
When I pulled up at the downtown office of Rogers International Research
Alone police car was parked at the curb
I learned that the others including an ambulance and Roger's own car had already been driven off
My cab rolled in behind the police car. I
Got out paid the driver and entered the building. They were expecting me my
Elevator boy on the trip up was a heavyset sergeant. He took me straight to Leland Rogers office
Mannix had made a few other calls Rogers partner Jim Carr was there together with an older man who Mannix immediately introduced strange
Mr. Fogarty you've met Jim Carr. Oh, yes. Yes, we met. Mr. Fogarty is more or less a silent partner in the firm
But under the circumstance I'm only silent so I can listen better lieutenant. I know what's going on
Know all about strange his survey how Leland felt about it. Did you know he wanted to call it off?
What that's the way it was. Mr. Fogarty changed his mind all of a sudden
I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen. No, he was very determined. I
I don't understand. I don't understand at all
Either of you know any reason why he would have come down here the night if you're impulsiveness
Maybe he's the worker lieutenant lived for this office this business. We all do. Mr. Fogarty
Hmm, I suppose
He had been actually usually lately worried like he had things in his mind and always had things on his mind
But he did behave oddly lieutenant. We've been worried about him. Yeah, and the rest have I haven't
What are you getting out lieutenant suicide, right?
Unless one of you might be able to suggest an enemy and had no enemies
Everybody loved the boy. I wouldn't go that far here now Carl. The man's dead. Don't you say anything gentlemen?
I believe there's something I should tell you
Go ahead strange unless I mistaken you were the last person to see Rogers alive. You are mistaken lieutenant
There was a hotel clerk and if this wasn't a suicide, there was also his murder. I stand corrected. Thank you
Now I'll tell my little story or rather
Leland Rogers story
That's all there is to it strange isn't that enough lieutenant? The man was terrified poppycock. Mr. Strange
Leland was never terrified by anything. That isn't quite true. Mr. Fogarty. I told you he'd been acting odd
He was carrying no little black book when we found it naturally a murderer wouldn't leave it to the mercies of a handwriting
He was a very good man. He was a very good man. He was a very good man
But you saw this boy I saw it they could be the simple explanation that Rogers had some sort of a lopsided idea
That he didn't want his death to look like suicide. Good day. You don't think I don't think so
I've been in the business a long time strange. I've been writing about people for a long time lieutenant
I think I know when a man shows genuine fear and of course you have the added advantage of being the last brand of salmon
Me yes and the hotel clerk lieutenant. Yes, mr. Kyle. I I saw that book myself many times
But Rogers always carried it his idea book jotted down ideas
He got at odd times strange. Can you recall the wording of those unusual messages?
I think so. There were four of them one to a page
The first was at dawn the first was at dawn the second was at dawn the third was at dawn the fourth was at dawn
At dawn the sun casts long shadows
Huh? Go on the other three the horse lost a shoe while our bells were still ringing and the third was
Turned down the blind spots pole and the last
It will still be gloomy when you go home. There was a weather report attached to that nonsense
Not as a fruitcake. Hey, you know lieutenant. We all tried to get Leland to take a vacation
The secretary dr. Weiser's didn't have any idea. It was this bad car. Why didn't he know he was cracking up?
Sell out before before he made the rest of us go broke lieutenant
There won't be a lot of fuss made over this will there research group can't stand a lot of notoriety
You know if you would see your way clear to keep things as quiet as possible and let the police get the notoriety
I didn't mean that I'm afraid we'll have to face the fact that the lieutenant isn't hired to keep things quiet gentlemen
He's here to try and discover why Leland Rogers is dead tonight instead of alive check
Maybe I can even pull a murder out of this and get myself a raise one more thing
Where do I get hold of rogers relatives? He has none that I know of i'll give you his secretary's address
She was the closest to him. Oh lord all the organization needs now is some relative popping in and trying to take over
Uh you through with us lieutenant for the present mr. Fudd then i'll say good evening coming car. All right with you if I may
Yeah, they seem more upset over themselves than their partner they do have a lot to lose lieutenant
That story rogers told you what do you think now? No known enemies no relatives
Car and rogers had very opposite views on how to run the business. What do you mean car?
Just thinking how do you figure this foggily?
Oh seems like a nice old gent. Yeah, not a blue beard
Well fine time of night to be waking up a young lady from her beauty sleep, but i'm gonna talk to that secretary
Uh, do you want to come along strange?
So you can keep an eye on me. I didn't say that
No matter of fact i'm bursting to go if you hadn't asked I might have been over there so fast
I'd have answered her door for you
Yeah, that sounds like a man almost fast enough to be here tonight and back at that hotel
and time to answer my phone call
Why don't you check with room service? I might
What's so funny? Oh nothing lieutenant nothing at all. Let's go call on miss mona botland
Mannex was all right. I found that out as we drove across town
He was just a hard-working fellow anxious to do his job and do it. Well, I liked him
But I didn't share his growing theory that this was a simple case of suicide
We reached mona botland's apartment after climbing a steep flight of terracotta steps to a
handkerchief sized landing
Almost immediately we heard the soft slap of moccasins coming in response to our ring
I almost didn't remember her when she opened the door
Remember in white robe and slippers her hair hanging to her shoulders
She was slight
Childlike a totally different creature from the formidable efficient office guardian of the late leiland rogers
Come in, please
Jim car called me told me what happened
Oh, i'm sorry do sit down. Thank you. Sorry to disturb you disturb me
Me here here miss botland you sit down
I'm sorry, but
When jim called I
Well, I felt like I was in the middle of a bad dream
I kept thinking it but now you're coming here. Jim must have told you lieutenant mannex wants to contact the next of kin
He thought that you
I really can't help you much there
Mr. Rogers wrote to no relatives
Mentioned under my knowledge. Yeah
Yeah
He was a long wolf
Maybe in his room or in a safety deposit box. There'll be something oh, well one more thing
Do you know of any business appointment he had tonight? No, I don't
Could have been meeting any one of the 80 people in the office
Do you know of any man in the office that?
He might have been afraid of meeting
No
Then there were the hundreds of past and present clients of the concern
And look i'll give you the key to my desk lieutenant. You can check our appointment books. Thanks
Don't think i'll find anything but you never know. Wasn't there a doctor you wanted to talk to mannex? Dr. Whitehurst. Yeah
That's the name. It's hildale seven seven five seven. I'll try. Well, that's about all miss Bartlett
Unless of course, you know of any enemies he had no you had no idea. He was contemplating suicide
What is it miss Bartlett I
Should have known that what?
Well, there was an assignment paper he dictated it to me about a week ago said it was confidential
What was it all about?
His voting shares of stock in the company
He assigned them to Jim Carr. Oh
I remember he said this would be until a certain situation was cleared up. You had no idea what that situation was
No, can't know about the assignment. He still doesn't it's in. Mr. Rogers safety deposit box
He said that no one not even mr. Carr must know well, he'll know now all right. Yes, he will say
How did those two get along they had different ideas, but they complemented one another
Both knew it the company meant everything to both of them. Okay. Thanks for spotting
See you tomorrow. Oh
Are are you all right?
I will be
Would you?
Could you stay for a few minutes?
Of course
Go ahead Manix. I'll get in touch with you. You won't have to strange
We're always around
You'll find the liquor in the cupboard above the sink
And and Jim Carr wanted you to call him back
After Manix left if possible
Nobody wants I can guess
Never approved of calling off the survey on your book. That's my guess too. I'll sleep on it call him in the morning
Whatever you say
I feel like a fool going to pieces like this
Really? I'm not a goofy stenog in love with her boss. You should have been he seemed like a lot of man
Oh, he was a powerhouse
He was the
The heart and soul of that business
It'll all be lost without him
I'll be lost. Oh
I've only told someone about that assignment. Oh now please please take it easy
That's the bad part about a thing like this. Everybody thinks about what they might have done
chances are miss Bartlett there there wasn't any way you or
Anyone could have stopped him
Do you?
believe that
Yes
She buried her face on my shoulder
I could smell the fragrance of her skin
And feel the convulsive movement as she cried it out
She stayed there until her breath grew even again
peaceful
her taut body
relaxed
Then abruptly she pulled away from me stood up. I must I want to call Greg Greg Greg Rome
He's one of our research workers
Mr. Rogers thought a lot of him. Oh, of course
Thank you
Very much. Mr. Strange not at all. Do you want me to call a taxi for you? No, I won't
Good night
Mona
Good night
eric
Operator I want to put in a call to san francisco for greg rome at the wilkins hotel
That's right
Greg rome
I went down the stairs wondering if I wasn't being a little foolish about the whole matter
I tried to tell myself that I ought to tab that story of rogers for what it probably was and accept mannix's ideas about the case
I guess I just about decided that way as I came out of the building and stepped off the curb
That's when I heard the car come roaring around the corner behind me
Look out what are you doing? You'll run me down
In tonight's full hour of suspense edmund o'brien stars as eric in the blind spot adapted for radio by joel mallone
tonight study in
suspense
In just a moment, we will return with act two of suspense
This is cbs the columbia broadcasting system
And now back to our hollywood sound stage and act two of the blind spot starring edmund o'brien
Eric strange has known fear
And this night he has seen the brilliant mind of leiland rogers overpowered by fear
A fear that has cost his life
Now it is eric's life that is in danger
This man whose business it is to deal in facts
Has been driven by instinct and intuition to dismiss the verdict of suicide against his friend leiland rogers in favor of murder
And this course has led him into the path of a swerving automobile
And now
With edmund o'brien as eric and with act two of the blind spot
We again hope to keep you in suspense
Time was irrelevant seconds minutes hours
But when the first bright thread of consciousness broke through the pattern of darkness
I had the feeling that I hadn't been knocked out for long
The damp night air chilled me as I lay sprawled on the sidewalk
I got up slowly
Wondering why I was still alive
I discovered one thing for sure
Someone had wanted me out of the way badly enough to risk his own neck in jumping his car over an 18 inch curbing
Around the corner where the car must have been parked waiting for me. I found something else
Three cigarette stubs
One was still warm. I jumped like a jackrabbit at what I thought was my friend coming back
It was just a cruising cab
I must have looked pretty frightened
I was a little scared
I was a little scared
Just a cruising cab. I must have looked pretty frightening to the driver. You're you're all right, buddy. Yes
Yeah, great
Take me to the park central hotel the park central. Hey look when I see guys picking up cigarette butts, I don't here here
I i've got plenty of money here
Get going. Yeah get going
I'm going all right going nuts
Mr. Strange, what why you've been hurt you ought to see the other car
Look, I was going to stay here with Leland Rogers. Oh, yes, sir
We'll give you the room next to his suite. The police are up there now. Oh, uh lieutenant manix is he's having mr
Roger's rooms locked up
Uh, the boy will take you up. Mr. Strange and if you want anything just bring yes
What happened strange try to kiss her
Yes
Yes, the angel of death
And I don't mean miss Bartlett
Lieutenant when I came out of the building somebody tried to run me down
I'm gonna hit and run drivers. Yeah, they're bad out here. You're too logical lieutenant. I could grow to hate you
I tell you the man was waiting for me. I found cigarette stubs one was still warm
It'll be called before you can get into court as evidence
Let's say a hit and run driver, huh?
I'm not talking to you anymore
Find anything next door another thing and mac just called from headquarters only fingerprints on rogers gun were his own
Uh want to say something pretty walk gloves
Okay, i'm too knocked out to argue. I'll run along eric. You better get yourself some sleep and uh, maybe tomorrow
Yes, you'll decide that I know what i'm talking about. Maybe i've already decided. I doubt it. You're the stubborn type. Think so
Definite i'm forgetting all about the cases of right now
Oh
That must have been a Cadillac a big one
Um, sorry, I accused you of playing post office. It's all right night
Post office post office, maybe that's it
Come on come on
Switch board get me the post office. I want to speak to the post master
Huh?
Are you kidding? It's two o'clock in the morning. Huh? Oh
Oh
Sorry
Sense of time never was too good. I'll try them a little later
The post office hunch was a wild one, but I followed it through I was there bright and early talking to the supervisor
Would you repeat that request mr? Strange?
Certainly now I want to want a list of people who've applied for post box rentals in the last two weeks, right?
I hate to turn you down. Mr. Strange. I know about your work for the state department, but uh
What the devil do you want for those names?
Well, a friend of mine was corresponding with a burnham detective agency in new york
I don't think he would have wanted his correspondence to go through his office
We couldn't open any letters, you know, I know I know but there probably aren't any I just want to know if he rented a box
Look, I checked with henley upstairs. Oh, well, that's different. Why didn't you say so?
Oh, let's have a look here last two weeks, huh?
Only one name
lance martin box 208 lance martin
perhaps he
Look, i'll be back. You've been a big help. Uh, thanks a lot. Hey, where do you think you're going?
I'm i'm terribly sorry. I'm in a hurry. Certainly. Yes. I have to make a new york call
The call was to pete star my agent the man who'd do anything for me for 10
I asked him to check somehow with the burnham detective agency see if they were working for a lance martin in bevelie hills post office box
Number 208 all I could do was wait on that
Yeah, so I made another call then headed down to the research office to keep an appointment with jim car
He'd taken over but good
He was sitting in roger's chair dictating furiously when I walked in and if this emergency division of authority
Between the board members and myself results in a more balanced and scientific control of rir
I see no reason why the system should not be made perfect. I
I oh didn't hear you come in strange. Sorry if I interrupted miss bartlett said it's all right. Sit down
Tight that much up right away miss adkins. Yes, sir
I caught that last paragraph about your dividing control. It's a method. I've always advocated
It's an excellent time to install it after that assignment of roger stark. Oh, yes. Yes
Strange you don't suppose that assignment might cause anybody to wonder have they any cause to
I shouldn't have mentioned it strange. I hope you never know what it feels like to kill a man what?
These pills I have to feed myself for ulcers nerves everything in the book
I'm killing myself strange slowly, but surely. Oh, oh this business
Mr. Carr, I'd better ease one of your worries right now. We'll go ahead with my survey. When when can you start?
Well, why right away strange immediately i'll start things humming there'll be 700 men out asking questions about your book within 24 hours
Fine, i'll be at the hotel if you have to check on anything. I'm expecting a long-distance call
Very good. And thank you. Mr. Strange. Thank you very much be assured that I that will do a job for you
Crossing the hotel lobby toward the desk I happened to glance into the cocktail room
I saw a familiar reflection in one of the big mirrors and back of the bar. In fact
Two familiar reflections. I went in sat down beside mona bartlett
Mr. Strange. Hello. Hi. Eric strange. Gregory rosa. Yes
Hello. Greg just got in from san francisco about 20 minutes ago. Really?
Well, he must do it with mirrors. What we ran into each other in the post office this morning
The post office. Oh, you must be mistaken. I
Must be
You're a lucky girl mona
If anything should happen to this boyfriend, you've got his exact twin to turn to all you have to do is find him just to mix up
Strange chances are the fellow was doesn't even look like you're sure probably smokes a different brand of cigarettes, too
Just what are you getting at strange? Sorry. I'm uh
I'm always suffering from uh
blind spots
Have to dash mona expecting a call but eric
I
Rode up in the elevator wondering vaguely where greg rohm fitted into the picture and just what time he had arrived from san francisco
But I didn't have long to think about it
They'd given me the room next to leiland rogers suite
It was supposed to be locked up on police order, but I could hear someone moving around in there
I went out on the balcony found that it connected with his
A few moments later. I was looking through a pair of french doors
at a pair of legs
They belonged to cheryl milner. She saw me almost passed out and changed her mind and came over to let me in
Eric, what are you doing here? That's a funny question cheryl, but I haven't time to lie. What's the idea the idea?
oh
Well, I I lost a ring when I was here with you and I thought I'd better get it back
My husband wouldn't understand. I know where's the ring? Uh
Right here, then you're through looking around better get out the way you got in. Uh, just how did you get in?
the bell captain
I bribed him. Yes
They're so obliging here so understanding when a lady's in distress so's room service
I
Don't know what you mean eric
Oh really darling don't you see what this can do to your alibi? Oh, I never thought i'm not so sure that
My call look you better get out of here. I'll talk to you later
Please do go on go on
Hello hello eric this is pete pete did you get what I wanted? Yeah, I think so burnham detective agency has been corresponding with a lance martin in beveley hills
I uh got a girlfriend in their file room. Uh-huh the power of a woman. Here's the dope now
Martin's been after them to trace his ex-wife aline martin in the agency's first report
They found that she died in an asylum for the insane 10 years ago brought there by the police. I see
I wonder if rogers was ever married. What?
Nothing keep talking a letter in her purse asked that she be treated right it was signed by her son darrell martin
There's no trace of the boy before or since
I think we've hit it her son rogers son
He'd be grown up now. It's the man he was afraid of
The name's martin eric not rogers. It's all right. That that could have been a maiden name. Don't you see no I don't what's it all about eric
Haven't time write your book about it later
If he deserted them left them what a motor
Huh? Oh coming coming
Mona
I
I thought you would have to see you eric. I made an excuse
Sure, come on in
I haven't long but I had to know what you were driving at downstairs about greg. I mean meeting him in the post office this morning
You didn't of course
I met his plane eric
Why are you protecting him?
In love with the guy I
I don't know
I've known him ever since college
I guess he's well. He's always sort of dependent on me
Big fella like that
I should think you don't know him eric. He's been hurt inside. I mean by
By things that have happened what kind of things?
eric
he
Greg once killed a man killed a man. It wasn't his fault. It was an accident
But please I didn't come here to tell you about that
And why did you come here?
eric I
I like you very much
I wish you'd give this up except lieutenant mannix's theory before
Before what mona?
Oh, I don't know
I have a feeling that something might happen
It almost did I tangled with a hit-and-run driver when I left your place. What?
It's all right. Manic says pedestrians are on their own in this town, but mona. Yes
Won't you tell me when greg really got back in town? I've told you all i'm going to how old is greg
About 26, but where are his folks? Have you ever met them? No
No, I never have
You won't tell me any more about his accident
Where'd you two go to school san carlos college
Oh, that seems like such a long time ago
No, stop it. Will you how do you think you make me feel i'm 35?
positively ancient
eric
You will get out of this
Leave greg alone. I'm sorry mona
I want to be very sure about the guy you marry. I didn't say I no
No, but he's a habit and i'll bet he said it. Yes
He wants me to marry him right away don't please mona just give me a couple of days maybe less
I have to get back down. He'll wonder what you won't promise
I can't eric
I'm too mixed up
Come here what?
That makes you up a little more eric
eric why maybe maybe to confuse you enough to wait maybe a lot of other reasons mona
We'll talk about it when I get back
Where are you going right now? To college?
Dean spear at san carlos college was a man who lived by a routine it didn't include sudden unannounced visitors
And after my long flight up there it appeared that I might not get to see him
A lady came to my rescue again
the dean's housekeeper
She's uh read my books didn't like them but thought all writers were romantic figures
She said she had a plan she disappeared a few minutes later the dean came ambling out of his study
Hey, Mr. Strange
You're the author of blind spots. That's right, sir. Have a chair. Thank you. May I commend you young man?
You have the rare gift of making facts plausible
Even our freshman radio
Uh, thank you dean my housekeeper mrs. Wilkins tells me you're considering a post in our economic department
oh
hmm
That woman always does things the hard way
Didn't she think I'd talk to the author of blind spots? She doesn't like the book, sir. Yeah, she's stupid kind and harmless though
So what did you have in mind? Mr. Strange an ex-student of yours?
Gregory rome
What about rome?
I uh
Well, i'm going to greece you see for the state department. I'm picking up two assistants. Uh rome's name was suggested now
If you could add your recommendation
I can't
I suggest you contact rogers international research. He works for them. Well, naturally I had leelin rogers on my list
But since his violent death violent death
Well, I thought suicide came under that category
In any case since I can't ask him
I thought perhaps the man who must have suggested rome for the job in the first place. I didn't suggest him
If anyone did it was our honor student here muna bartlett
then
You refused to put in a word for rome. I resent your asking it
I resent your forcing me to blight a man's career
rome may have fought his way successfully out of a bad beginning but
Confounded stranger after our experience with him. He was an accident of some sort that I don't mean that
That was during a wrestling match rome killed his opponent. The athletic board dismissed it
Blamed it on inexperience the result of imperfect wrestling technique. I'm sure he was blameless in that instance
Might have happened to anybody there was something else there was indeed a shocking premeditated act of violence
That's why you reacted so to leelin rogers suicide. It is
To be explicit strange
We expelled rome for something just short of murder
And go on on a certain spring evening during his junior year
Rome waylaid and brutally beat his professor of public opinion measurement left the man a mass of bruises lacerations and a concussion
We found him only just in time. What motive did he have?
That's exactly the point he had none whatsoever
He told a preposterous story of the professor making improper advances toward rome's fiancee a charge described as ridiculous by the girl
as well as by the professor I see
Well, why didn't the professor prefer charges? He had no wish to bring notoriety on either the school or his family
What about rome's parents couldn't they shed any light on his actions as I recall the boy was an orphan
I see
Say he didn't have any grandparents. Did he name of martin? I see no reason to pursue the matter further. Mr
Strange, I I do not recall names
And I have no intention of doing anything at all that might help gregory rome into a position of trust
Good night, sir
And that was that
The dean went back to his routine and I headed back to the airport
I'd had to lie, but i'd learned plenty about the past of gregory rome
And it wasn't pretty
So flying down the coast I felt as if I was trying to push that plane to greater speed
my mind my heart my body were all tensed and driving it forward with the the terrible realization that
Mona Bartlett might at that moment be with this madman might even be deciding to marry him
It was all clear now rogers knowing there was a son somewhere a boy
He'd never seen hadn't even known about when he left the mother to be committed to an asylum
When he learned it realized from those notes that it was someone in his own office
The fear had hit him
I didn't blame him for being afraid. I
But I shuddered thinking about mona
The way she'd somehow believed in greg all these years championed him remained faithful in spite of everything
I had to get back. I had to get back
Look mister, we're in town if you want this hack to go any faster drive it yourself. It's all right
It's deserted. I don't care. Well, look turn left at the end of the block or apart was right around the corner
Uh, see the car in front stop right behind it. Okay
He's here
Hey, that's the car. That's the car that hit me. Say, what are you talking about? Never mind. Look driver. Here's
Ten dollars for you now pick up
lieutenant manix homicide division police headquarters
Bring him here on the double. Oh mister take it from me. Don't go mixing with the police. Tell him look
Go up there and talk it over with a peaceable and then just say blind spots. He'll come now go on. Okay
I turned towards the apartment started inside
It wasn't easy, but I had to realizing mona was up there with him
Um as I went up the steps my head kept spinning with a jumble of things. I'd heard about the man I
I was about to face
A madman an ex-wrestler who'd killed one of his opponents
I wondered how his next opponent would make out
So
Hello greg hello, I want to see mona
You want to see mona?
Sure you do you post office johnny all the men i'd like to see mona
Glad you're here strange glad you went to san carlos
Yes, now, you know what's coming. He's a good greg not here if if we go over the stair rail
Try to drag her into it. Huh?
Just because she had a date with him that night you won't I won't let greg stop it. Stop it. Leave him alone
I can stop
Oh mona mona you shot me
Me
Mona i'm right here eric
Eric i'm sorry. I was trying to I know
Where's he's still out. He struck his head on the stairs when you hit him. Did you did you call the police? No
No
Eric, please
He suffered enough. You know, you know who he is. He told me tonight
That horrible childhood
Can't you see why he had to make rogers suffer as he'd seen his mother suffer?
I'm sorry for him mona, but we've got to turn him in he's a homicidal maniac
Come on help me to the phone. No eric. No
Listen
We'll have to put him away ourselves quietly
Finally, this is no time to drag this thing through the courts. Why why isn't it the time your survey darling?
A murder trial now with everything everything coming out
eric
You've got to think of yourself
You have to go on being a success
like
rogers
Greg was right
I'm very fond of you eric
please
Please for my sake
Don't call the police mona mona. Don't you realize what you're saying? We can't decide this thing you're talking crazy
That's when it hit me gregg's words suddenly came bouncing back words that changed everything
Wiped away the last blind spot
Try to drag her into it just because she had a date with him that night
mona you
darrell martin
a girl's name
your name
I gave you a chance eric
I could have fired again. It wasn't an accident you you meant to hit me then you lost your nerve. I love you eric
I really do
No
I'm asking you to play this my way
Will you no?
Then I
I'm glad I won't have to shoot you again eric
You're bleeding badly
very badly
That should do it
I won't have to
Greg
Greg he was just a foil someone to help me
Yes
and at fool rogers
Greg was an orphan the right age and after his wrestling accident. He was shaken
I kept him that way. Oh, it's crazy rotten that professor
I goaded him into that
He was so jealous of me eric
That poor fool he didn't have a chance. What about me?
My mother did we have a chance but mona mona to destroy the lives of others to get to leiland rogers
I'd do it all over again every step those entries in his book effective too. Weren't they eric?
you know
They almost drove him out of his mind, but
Why me you wouldn't stop?
I begged you to
remember
And this was to look like greg's doings still can
It's his gun
And if you're not alive to challenge me, oh lord
Lord mona, please
Get compresses stop the blood. I know eric
I won't have to shoot you again
Then i'm so glad so fair
He's coming around now lieutenant. Yeah, thank heaven the guy can't go out on me. I owe him too many apologies can
Can I talk to him? Dr. Whitehurst now take it easy all of you
Mr. Strange, this is dr. Whitehurst. You're in a hospital. Hmm
No
Hospital where?
Mona, what about she's dead eric shot herself when we pulled up in front
Oh
Did a funny thing though. She called the emergency hospital for you
No
something
Talks young greg here into a jealous rage and
Gets him to try to run you down and shoot you
self
Changes the mind
Saves your life. I guess it's a woman's privilege to change her mind. Yeah, by the way, eric, uh, what about young greg here?
What do you want us to do? Hmm
Oh
Hello greg
Mr. Stranger she she had quite a hole on you, didn't she? Yes
I I didn't know what I was doing. I I was so much in love with you
You'll get over it and don't feel too bad. I
I had the same blind spot. Oh, thanks. Mr. Strange. Hey, dr. Whitehurst
Could the patient possibly take a phone call and say it's urgent? I don't know. How do you feel strange? All right
I'll plug in right here. Hold the receiver for you. Thanks
Hello
Mr. Strange. Yes
Cheryl millner
Hi
Hi yourself
Oh goodness darling. What have they done to you? How long i'm gonna be in that horrible old hospital. I'm just dying to see you again
I'm bored darling. Yeah, i'll bet
And i'm tired honey too tired
i'm afraid you
You better call room service
Oh
Thank you edmund o'brien for a magnificent performance as eric and to jeff corey bruce cammon francis cheney paul mcvay
Ralph moody bud widom martha shore and bill lolly our thanks for your fine support
Next week for suspense the lives of three persons cross in an atmosphere
fear fraught with the fears of a doting mother
The story title holds the premise of our play. It is aptly called life ends at midnight
So join us next week then when with life ends at midnight. We again hope to keep you in suspense
Mr. O'brien may soon be seen in the universal international production another part of the forest
The blind spot by lois eeby and john c fleming was adapted for radio by joel malone and was produced and directed by anton m leader
Ludgluskin is our musical director and conductor lucien morrowak and renee garagank composed the original scores
Listen again next week for life ends at midnight on radio's outstanding theater of thrills
suspense
In this weather most of us have a yen to get out into the country well this year
Enjoy it don't destroy it forest fires do destroy miles of countryside every year
And nine out of ten forest fires are man set started through carelessness
That's another way of saying that nine out of ten forest fires could have been prevented
When you go into the country this spring and summer take a few simple precautions
Crush out cigars cigarette and pipe embers snap matches in half after using
Drown campfire stir the ashes and then drown them again
And before you start a fire anywhere for any purpose find out what the law about fires is in that locality
Don't you be one of the guilty ones to turn the destructive rampage of fire loose in our forests this spring
Be careful and help avoid forest fires
Forest fires
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