Suspense. And the producer of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, the master of mystery
and adventure, William N. Robeson.
It's a far cry from a desert island in the South Atlantic to a police besieged apartment
in a modern American city. But you're about to hear a man who has bridged it. A man who
also has come full cycle from his first love radio back to the microphone as a star on
suspense. He is Dan O'Hurley, whom you will remember as the bearded, lonely, and silent
Robinson Crusoe from the picture of the same name a few seasons back. In that delightful
film, Mr. O'Hurley spoke only 90 lines of dialogue. In the play you are about to hear,
he has considerably more words to say. Listen, listen then, as Dan O'Hurley he stars in,
strange for a killer, which begins in just a moment. Another visit with Joe and Daphne
Forsythe. Overhead the moon is beaming. Hold it Daphne, hold it. Oh hi Joe. Guess what
honey, I'm trying out for the operetta. As what? A singer. You could have fooled me. I
was just practicing one of the songs. Well I don't think you quite fit the role. Why
not? Well if this version of the student prince is like the version I know, that particular
number is sung by a tenor. Oh. Not that you don't come close, but I think you better stick
to being a housewife. But I want to be a singer. Daphne honey, a singer you'll never be. I
could take lessons. Yeah but lessons cost money. Money better invested for us in savings
bonds. You and your old savings bonds. I can't help it honey, I just can't get over the way
those savings bonds pay off. Four dollars for every three. That's what I call an investment.
What good do they do me now? A lot. The money we put in those bonds every payday helps keep
America strong and protects you and me. No bonds, maybe no operetta. Ever think of that?
I still want to be a singer. Well when those bonds start bringing in the green, if you
still want to sing, they'll pay for the lessons and more. Good. Gee if those bonds mature
as fast as you say, I better start practicing now just so that I'll be ready. Overhead the
moon is beaming. Daphne, Daphne did anyone ever tell you you have a bad voice? Everyone.
And now, Strange or a Killer starring Dan O'Hurley, a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
Alright mister, this is as far as you go. Why? What's the matter officer, what's wrong?
You'll have to park here for a while, the street's closed. But I live on this street.
I've got to get home, my wife's waiting for me, she just had a baby. You'll be a little
late. Now just a minute. Look, will you keep your voice down? Oh, what is this, a stakeout?
Yeah. Who are you after? Roy Jaleska. Jaleska? That guy who's wanted for murder? That's
right. Where's he hiding? Down the street, three doors. There's a cop every ten feet
from here to the river. You better go into the drug store and wait. You can call your
wife if you want. I think I better. Where'd you say he was? That boarding house across
the street, down three doors. We live in the apartment house right next to it. You don't
think there'll be any shooting? Just tell your wife to stay inside and keep her door
locked. She'll be alright. Thanks. Honey, she's got to be home. Hello? What's the matter,
honey? I thought you weren't going to answer. I was looking after Johnny. He okay? Yes,
just getting hungry. Well, go ahead and feed him. I'm going to be late. I don't want to
scare you, Jess, but there's going to be a little trouble next door. I don't want you
to leave the apartment. Trouble? The police are after someone who's been hiding out in
the boarding house next to us. The whole block is surrounded and I won't be able to get home
until it's over. And remember, you're not to come out. All right. There's nothing to
be afraid of, Jesse. Just stay inside and keep the door locked. There's no need for
that now. Goodbye, dear. What? Jesse? Hello? Jesse? I tell you, Sergeant, I'm positive
there's something wrong up there in my apartment. What makes you so sure? Well, my wife was
afraid of something. I know she was. Something right there in the room with her. I didn't
realize how different she sounded until I hung up. You say you live next door to the
boarding house? Yes, the apartment house next door on the third floor. I'm sure he's in
there with her. He could be anywhere now. We've hit the boarding house and he wasn't
in his room. I knew it. He went across the roof. He's with Jesse and my son. Don't go
jumping at any conclusions. Our apartment is on the top floor. He could get in easy
enough. Maybe. Let me go up there, Sergeant. Please let me go up there. I've got to be
with my wife and baby. What good would that do? We're not even sure he's there. I'll make
sure. Look, if everything's all right, if he isn't there, I'll call the drugstore and
have them tell you so. If he is, I'll let you know somehow. We can think of some kind
of signal. All right. Now listen to me. Yes. Go straight to your wife. If you pass anyone
you don't know on the stairs or in the halls, keep going and don't look back. He's trapped
and he's scared now and he'll kill you if he thinks you're on to him. I realize that.
If he's not in your place when you get there, call the drugstore. If he is there, well,
there's nothing I can tell you. You'll be on your own. But don't try to signal. You
wouldn't get away with it and it's not necessary. If I don't get your call ten minutes after
you go in, we'll know. Yes, sir. Remember this, mister. If he's there, don't try to
be a hero. Just do whatever he tells you. Keep a good distance from him and don't make
any quick moves. He's been in spots like this before and he'll know what it means. I know.
That's about all, I guess. Just be careful. We want this man, we want him bad. But we
don't want anyone hurt getting him, but we can help it. You understand? I understand.
Thanks. Okay, mister. You can get going.
Jesse, Jesse, it's me. Jess. Honey, is everything okay? Come in, Henry. Get your hands over
your head, get up against the wall and don't make any noise or I'll kill you.
In a moment, we continue with the second act of suspense. Memo on medals, interesting information
about our military awards and decorations. Campaign medals were authorized by Congress
in 1905 for all officers and men engaged in specified wars and military action, including
such widely divergent battles as the Civil War in the United States and the Boxer Rebellion
in China. The Navy and Marine Corps have a special Manila Bay Medal for members of the
United States Asiatic Squadron under command of Commodore George Dewey in May of 1898.
The Haitian Campaign of 1915 is commemorated with a medal as is the Santo Domingo Expedition,
which suppressed a revolt in that country and preserved order during elections in 1916.
The Army has its Mexican Service Medal for those involved in any of several expeditions
or engagements from April 12, 1911 through June 16, 1919. There is also the Army of Cuban
Pacification Medal for United States troops who from October of 1906 to April of 1909
helped establish a stable government in that island nation. The Victory Medal was initially
awarded to all United States Service personnel in World War I expeditionary forces, including
for the first time women serving in the military units. There is a story behind every American
Medal, a proud story of devotion to country and unselfish service to keep it strong and
free. And now, starring Dan O'Hurley, Act Two of Strange for a Killer.
I'll try anything, mister. I'm not afraid of your gun. That's because you never been
hit by a.45. I'm warning you. You won't never know what it means to wish you could die till
you get a.45 slug in the stomach. Henry. Don't worry, Jesse. I know he means it. I mean
it. It won't do any good, you know. No matter what happens to us, no matter how long you
stay here, they'll get you. Listen there, guys. Just like me, those blue suits don't
make them Superman. They make mistakes like everyone else. They already made a big one.
They shouldn't have sent you. Nobody sent me. My wife didn't sound right when I spoke
to her over the phone. I came up to find out why. Yeah, she gave it away. She's sorry about
that. Jesse, did... It's all right, Henry. Please, it's all right. Did he hurt you,
Jesse? Never mind that. She just got out of the hospital. Would you like to see her go
back? I hope they kill you. I might. I thought about it. I guess maybe you better start thinking
about it, too. It'll happen next time you make a crack like that. Henry, don't. Don't.
I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. You're going to give me the right answers.
The right answers, mister. The first time or you'll get hurt bad. What do you want to
know? Where were you when you made that phone call? Drugstore. At the corner. And your
wife don't sound right? You think maybe something's wrong? Yes. You want to get up there? You
want to find out why? Yes. What takes you so long? What? We don't hear you coming up
the stairs till almost ten minutes after she hangs up. What are you doing all that time?
Well, you see, at first I wasn't sure she sounded like... like there was something wrong.
It was only after I hung up and got to thinking about it that I started to worry. And then
I made up my mind to come up. You don't stop to talk it over with the cops? Why should
I? How could I know it was you in here? Cops all over the block looking for me, searching
every building, streets probably closed off, and your wife sounds scared over the phone
and she don't say why. Sounds like someone's with her and she don't say who. And you don't
think it might be me? Well, yes. Maybe... You don't say nothing to the cops, though? No.
You just come up all by yourself? Yes. You're sure of that? Yes. Okay. No. No! Henry! Henry!
Oh, Henry! It's all right. I'm all right, Jess. What do you think I am? There's a line
of cops five feet thick around every building in the block and no one gets through unless
they let them. You're here because they put you here. I'm giving you just five seconds
to tell me why. What's the big plan? He's hurt, can't you see you've hurt him? I don't know
about that plan. I don't know what they're going to do. But they know you're in here.
Go on. I did go to the police when I thought you were here with my wife. I don't think
they believed me at first, but I talked them into letting me come anyway. If you weren't
here I was supposed to call them right away. And if I was? Nothing. Just wait. And if they
didn't hear in ten minutes it meant, it meant I couldn't call. That you were, that you were
in this room. What time is it? Too late. Much too late. They know Jalaska. They've stopped
searching. They know you're here. You haven't got a chance. I got a chance. As long as I
ain't alone I got a chance. You, lady. Go get that kid. No. Why do you want him? We'll do
anything you say. You look okay. You don't want to hurt the kid. Nothing will happen
if you do like I tell you. Get him, lady. All right, Jesse. Henry. It's all right. I'm
sure of it. You haven't got much time, Jalaska. You know it. Killing our baby is something
you wouldn't do. You can bring him in, Jesse. If you say so. You're so sure this is the
end of the line for me. And those cops down there, they're so sure. Well, I'm telling
you I got lots of time. And you're going to help me take it. Yeah? That's right. Now,
back up to the wall and peel off that jacket. What? You heard me. Take off the jacket. And
throw it on the floor. Sure. All right. What are you going to do? I'm not going to do anything.
You're going to take it for a while. What do you mean? You don't get it, eh? I'm kind
of surprised. I don't see any way out for you, if that's what you mean. They know you're
here. Yeah. They know I'm here. You made sure of that, didn't you? So they're covering every
way out. Doors, windows, alleys. What do you suppose would happen if I tried one of them?
They'd probably kill you. Yeah. I start out that window and every cop comes running to
the bottom of the fire escape to see I don't finish the trip. There won't be any cops anywhere
else, see? In the alleys or on the streets or down near the river. They'll all be watching
the guy on the fire escape, won't they? And the guy on the fire escape, he don't need
to be me, does he? It won't work. You're crazy to think that'll work. I got to take that
chance now. You're going out that window, mister, and you're going to take your time
doing it. They've seen me. They know what I look like. They saw a guy in a leather jacket
right close up. Now you're a guy in a white t-shirt, three stories over the street coming
down a fire escape. That makes you a different guy. That makes you Roy Gileska. Well, what
do they start shooting? The minute I step out in that window... What do they do? It's
a chance you got to take. You don't want me to take all the chances, do you? Ah, a little
guy. All right, bring him in. He's asleep. You... He's asleep. What's his name? Johnny.
Johnny, eh? That's a nice original name. You little kid, too. I don't guess you'll put
up any arguments, will you, mister? No. No arguments. And I'll be right here with your
wife and kid till I see our little schemes working, so don't try no tricks on the way
down. I won't. What does he mean? Henry, what are you going to do? You can read about it
in the papers, lady. Now go turn out the light. The light? Turn it out. But don't try nothing.
I'll be the one of you. You got your kid in here now and there's no telling who'll get
hit if I have to shoot a wild. Turn it out, Jesse. Henry, I... Lights, come on. Now, you,
the window. Okay, they're all waiting. Get going. You can't let him go out there. They'll
think he's you. They'll kill him. I stepped out onto the slatted platform and started
toward the flimsy iron ladder. The cops had seen the light go out and I could hear quick
moving in the street. I could feel every eye focused on me. Jaleska was right. It was going
to work. All right, hold up there. We see it. I'll take another step. And then I discovered
there was a part of the plan Jaleska hadn't told me. The part that would guarantee his
escape. From the window behind me, he fired down into the police. Their guns flew up automatically
and everyone was aimed at me. In a moment, we continue with the third act of suspense.
We have together ample capacity in freedom to defend freedom. This is NATO, the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. Positive results have been achieved through NATO since its
formal inception in April, 1949. The Alliance has fulfilled its primary objectives, preservation
of peace and security and the halting of communist expansion westward. Not one square inch of
European territory has fallen under Soviet domination since the signing of the Alliance
Treaty. The United States of America is a part of NATO. You should be aware of and alert
to the objectives and programs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And now, starring
Dan O'Hurley, Act Three of Strange for a Killer. Henry. Henry. Don't touch him. Let him alone.
He's losing blood. I've got to have a doctor. You'll get a doctor, lady. Why don't you go?
What are you waiting for? Haven't you done enough? He's been shot. He's hurt and you
stand there. I thought you wanted to get out. Well, get out now. Get out!
Jesse. Henry. Henry, you'll be all right. Don't try to move, darling. You'll be all right.
Is he gone? No, mister. I ain't gone. Our little scheme don't look like it's going to
work. Coming up the stairs right now. Don't move, Henry. Be over in a minute. You're glad,
aren't you? No. I'm not glad. I feel sorry for you. Don, I've been running a long time.
I think it'll feel good to stop. Funny. And now right after you, when you're running away,
you look the same. You act the same as you always did, but it's different on the inside.
You're all tight and twisted. No matter what you do and you can't relax, you can't get
a good deep breath. Yeah, I think I'm almost glad. Get out of here, Juleska. Those guys
are going to do a lot of bragging tomorrow. I know you're in there. Come out with your
hands up or we're coming in after you. They finally get me, Juleska, the guy they're all
afraid of. You killed a man. Yeah, I killed a guy. I got mad, real mad. Things happen
when you get that way. Things you can't stop. When it's over, no matter how it happens,
you're different from anyone else. You're a killer. One day you're just a guy and then
something happens and you're a killer. Please go, please. Haven't you heard us enough?
Sure, sure, I'll go. Why not? We'll make much difference now. Buddy, you know what I mean,
don't you? You're just a guy. Yeah. Put your gun down. Maybe they'll give you a chance.
Chance? What chance? I've been waiting for a chance all my life. Give her the gun. It'll
be better. Forget it. Get out of the way, lady. I'm going out. Why don't you let me have your
gun? Get back. Get away back. Jesse. It's all right, Henry. That's right. Stay there.
I... Stay just like that. Okay, Juleska, hold it right there. Don't come any farther.
Where's Johnny? In the other room, way in back. There's six guns on you. You haven't
got a chance. Drop that thing and come down with your hands over your head. Oh, no. We
shouldn't have tried. Jesse. Yes? Why didn't it work? They shot at me and then there was
at least a half minute when he could have got out that door. Why didn't he? What made
him wait? Don't talk, darling. It's all over now. What happened? Tell me. When the police
fired at you, he started for the door. He was almost out. And then he stopped. He came
back, Henry. They were still shooting. He went out onto the fire escape and lifted you
into the room. Then he started for the door again, but they could hear the police on the
floor. It was too late. Is your husband all right? I don't know. I think so. Will you
get a doctor, please? I already sent for him. Take it easy, mister. You're going to be okay.
Just lie easy. Yeah, sure. You know, it's funny. Hmm? Not funny. Strange. Strange. Strange.
Strange for a killer. Suspense. In which Dan O'Hurley, he starred in William and Robeson's
production of Strange for a Killer, adapted by Anthony Ellis from a story by Robert Essen.
Supporting Dan O'Hurley in Strange for a Killer were Joan Banks, Jack Moyles, and Ted D'Courcia.
Listen. Listen again next week when we return with The Last Kilometer by Michael Frost,
a tense action-packed story of the Raleigh des Alpes, one of Europe's greatest sports
car races, another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.
This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.