WROW, Radio 59.
Another tale well calculated to keep you in...
...suspense.
This is the story of two women, alone in a house during a storm,
and what they do to protect themselves from fear.
In a moment, the companion by Walter Black.
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Mrs. Hughes? Yes, Miss Lord.
That's right. Come right in.
I'm sorry if I'm late, I couldn't get a taxi, so I took the bus.
Oh no, you didn't take any time at all.
I got the impression you wanted me to get out of here.
I'm sorry, I'm late.
I'm sorry, I'm late.
I'm sorry, I'm late.
I'm sorry, I'm late.
I'm sorry, I'm late.
I got the impression you wanted me to get out of here fast.
Yeah, I did. You're a local girl, aren't you?
Yes.
You must know my husband, Kent. You were both probably in high school at the same time.
Yes, I remember him. He was a year ahead of me, but that was some time ago.
Where is my room, Mrs. Hughes?
Oh, just down the hall there. I'd like you to meet my mother first.
Your mother? I thought you were alone.
Well, I might as well be. Poor Mama's been in a wheelchair ever since she had her stroke four years ago.
This way, please.
Here's Miss Lorde, Mama. This is my mother, Mrs. Stinson.
How do you do?
How do you do? Did you say Miss Lorde?
That's right.
Somehow I expected someone a bit older.
May I unpack now, Mrs. Hughes?
Oh, yes, of course. It's at the end of the hall.
Mrs. Stinson, are these your jewels?
Yes.
Why?
If I were you, I wouldn't leave them out on the bureau. They're beautiful.
They might get lost.
Well, I hope you're satisfied, Lois.
I don't act as if I were being selfish. I got her out here as much for you as for me.
Move the wheelchair closer to the window, Lois.
Did I ever complain before about Kent going off on his business trips?
If you want the truth, yes.
I may have complained a little. I never did anything about it.
I can't stand it anymore, always being left alone.
Not all alone, dear.
Yes, I know.
I know. I'm a cripple.
I didn't say that, Mama.
You don't have to look so reproachful.
Each time Kent's gone off, it's gotten worse.
Not that he cares. He's gone away again and again without giving me a thought.
Now, Lois Hughes, you stop being so dramatic.
Kent's a fine person and a good husband, but he's got his job to do.
Well, then he ought to change his job.
I think he wants to travel, doing whatever he does.
Oh.
You think I exaggerate, don't you?
Well, all I want is for my husband to come back home every night.
Is that so terrible?
Does that make me a bad wife?
Now, now, baby, Mama never thought that.
Well, did you ever think how lonely it is out here for me,
buried like this out in the country?
I get scared, Mama, sometimes.
And then you with your precious heirlooms lying around.
Well, they're memories, Lois. That's all I have.
Yes, but what if someone tried to get in here while Kent was away?
Well, people are still robbed, you know.
Stop talking that way. Are you trying to frighten me?
I'm trying to be sensible.
Those jewels are a temptation to any man who wants to walk in and pick them up.
Well, I've had some of those pieces since I was 16, Lois.
That diamond brooch belonged to your great-grandmother.
Mama, I know, but what good would they do you if they were stolen?
Well, even Miss Lord noticed how careless you are about it.
Oh, all right, all right. I don't want to argue about it.
But I still don't see what that woman is going to do around here.
I don't care. She doesn't do anything. She'll be here.
That's all I hired her for.
Who recommended her?
Peggy Martinson. She stayed with her when she was sick last year.
Hmm. I don't like her.
You only saw her for one minute.
It's too cold. She looks right through you.
If you don't mind, I think I'll just have my meals sent in here.
The less I see of her, the easier I'll feel.
Want me to take your supper tray, Mama?
Mm-hmm. Have you eaten?
Oh, I just had some coffee. I'm too jumpy to eat.
Oh, this storm isn't enough to make anyone jumpy.
Oh, listen to that rain.
It's not a storm, Mama. It's Miss Lord.
Why? What's she done?
Nothing, nothing. It's the way she acts, that's all.
Well, it's what you said. She's cold. I feel uncomfortable around her.
What has she done?
Nothing, really. Nothing at all.
I didn't want her to do anything. I just wanted to feel safer with her, but I don't.
She keeps staring at me in that cold way of hers.
Well, then for heaven's sakes, get rid of her.
Call a taxi and have them come pick her up.
Won't that look awfully, awfully funny?
Well, what do you care? This is your house.
Pay her for the day and get rid of her.
Tell her you've changed your mind.
I never should have called her. It's true, I do exaggerate.
We don't really need anyone to...
What's the matter? You want me to look up the number?
There's no dial tone.
Well, jiggle the hook.
It's dead.
Oh, it can't be. The storm isn't that bad yet.
Maybe it's just this extension. Go use the one in the front hall.
Yes. Yes, Mama. I'll be right back.
Oh, Miss Lord, I thought you were in your room.
I was closing the living room windows.
Good night, Mr. Hughes.
Mama! The wire! It's been cut!
Mama! Mama!
What? What is it, my child?
The phone. The phone, she cut the main cord.
I almost caught her at it.
Did she say she did it?
No, I didn't ask. I was frightened.
Besides, she'd gone to her room.
Why should she do it? Why?
You see, without the phone we're helpless.
She... Oh, she wouldn't do anything, honey.
Why? Why people know she's here with us?
Why? Who knows, Mama? Nobody.
They do, too. The taxi driver.
No, no, she took the bus. She walked up from Broad River.
She said she couldn't get a taxi.
What are we going to do?
I'm going to talk to her, Mama.
Anything's better than not knowing.
Lois?
Yes, Mama?
Be careful, honey.
Miss Lord, it's me, Mrs. Hughes.
Lois?
It's all right, Mama. It's all right. Here I am.
You'll never know what the last couple of minutes have been like.
What are you carrying your handbag for?
It's not mine. It's hers.
What have you got?
Stop asking questions, Mama, and listen.
I knocked on her door and there wasn't any answer, so I went in.
She wasn't in her room, even though she had said good night.
Her purse was on the dresser, so I opened it up and...
Look, Mama, look.
A gun.
Don't touch it. It might go off.
Why would she be carrying a gun, Mama?
My jewels. She's after my jewels.
Oh, baby, do you think if I offered to give her one of the smaller pieces, she'd leave?
You mean bribe her?
It's worth the try.
Is that my handbag, Mrs. Hughes?
Yes.
What are you doing with it?
Oh, I thought it was mine. I have one like it.
You have one like it in my room.
Well, I was looking for it, and I knocked on your door.
Say I have it.
Thank you.
You didn't put your jewels away, did you, Mrs. Stinson?
Lois, Oscar?
Miss Lord, my mother and I were both very grateful for your coming up here and staying with us,
and we'd like to give you a little token.
After all, my mother hardly ever wears any of her jewelry, and you seem to admire them so...
Why don't you pick out one of the pieces you'd like and take it?
You want to give me jewelry?
Yes, yes, that's right, just because we're so grateful.
Aren't we, Mama?
Yes, yes, we're grateful.
So just tap yourself.
I know it's a little unusual, but we're very grateful.
If you like, Mama will write a little note saying it's a gift.
I don't accept gifts.
Good night.
Quick, lock the door.
Why did she refuse, Mama?
She saw right through us for one thing.
Why should she take one piece and she can murder us in our beds and take everything?
No, no, she wouldn't, Mama.
See this?
What?
The guts.
She didn't even know.
Put it away.
Who just decided it scared me half to death?
All right, Mama, but at least she hasn't got it anymore.
Now I'm going for help.
Lois, you can't leave me alone.
I'll leave the gun with you.
I could never use it.
Mama, that woman is a psychopath.
You mean she's insane?
Yes, I think she is.
But you told me yourself Peggy Martinson recommended her.
Psychopaths act just like anybody else most of the time.
Mama, I'm going to lock your door from the outside because I have to go.
Be careful, Lois, and don't forget your boots.
Yes, Mama.
Maybe once you get out on Barrett Road, maybe a car will pass.
You could get her eyes.
Yes, Mama.
Be sure and lock the door from the outside and take the key with you.
Yes, Mama.
She must be in her room.
Be careful, Lois.
I will.
Who is that?
Go away.
The door is locked.
It's locked.
And I'll go away or I'll scream.
Oh, Lois, why didn't you say it was you?
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
I couldn't.
Why didn't you say it was you?
I didn't want her to hear.
Why haven't you left?
What happened?
Did she catch you?
She didn't have to, Mama.
Mama, the doors are locked.
The back door too?
Yes.
The cellar?
Yes.
Well, there must be a key.
You have the one to this room.
That one was in the door.
But isn't there another key someplace?
Yes, on Kent's key ring.
Oh, dear God.
I thought of the windows, but the casements are too small.
Oh.
Mama, we're prisoners.
In just a moment, we will return for the concluding act of...
Suspense.
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We're prisoners.
Just as surely as if we're locked up in jail.
Mama, when I think of all the awful things you read about in the papers,
you never dream they can ever happen to you.
It's like a nightmare.
Sit down, child.
We've got to think of some way out.
All right, Mama.
I'm sitting.
Now go ahead, think of a way out.
Oh.
Only 10 o'clock.
I thought it was later.
Zoe, hand me my box of stationery.
Mama, what for?
What time does your milkman show up?
Six or seven. Why?
I can write a note.
Wrap it up in three or four sheets of paper and some envelopes.
Throw it out the window.
Even if the rain does get to it, he'll be able to read it.
And then he has to pass my window to get to the back door.
What's the matter?
It's worth trying.
No, no, it's not, Mama.
He was here this morning.
He won't come again until day after tomorrow.
There. There now. There.
Mama, you know who's responsible for all this.
Kent.
He didn't have to go off and leave us alone.
He has that new assistant he could have sent.
But he wanted to go. He wanted to get away from me.
Stop that. Now you're getting hysterical.
Kent is a good husband and you're lucky to have him.
Listen.
What is it?
I thought I heard the doorknob rattle.
You know, if she really wanted to, she could break down the door.
Those panels are like tissue paper.
Lois, take that gun.
What for, Mama?
Take it.
Lois, don't touch the trigger.
But, Mama.
Don't argue with me. You've got to face that woman.
You've got to make her leave this house.
I've never handled it.
I don't care. You've got to do it.
You said yourself that you could break down the door.
You think that she'll just sit around and wait until somebody comes and she has to leave?
This is the only chance we have.
All right, Mama.
Don't let her get close to you.
No.
That's my good girl.
And, Lois, if you have to pull the trigger, aim at her leg.
Oh, heaven, I thought it was a thing.
I'm not going to help.
Yes?
It's me, Mrs. Hughes.
I have to see you.
Yes?
What are you doing with that gun?
I have to talk to you.
Put that gun away, Mrs. Hughes.
Please.
I have to talk to you.
What do you want?
Please put that gun down.
After all I've gone through, don't be ridiculous.
Sit down, Miss Lord.
But is it your...
Sit down.
That's better.
Please, Mrs. Hughes, what have I done?
That's right, that's right, Dag, I like that.
But what have I done?
Please, won't you...
It's too bad Kent can't see you crying.
He hates women who blubber, you know.
That's what he calls it.
That's why he's never seen me cry.
Although I've felt like it often enough.
Don't move.
It's better.
Oh, and don't bother screaming.
There's only my mother to hear you.
And she'd think it was me anyway.
And besides, if you screamed, it might make me so nervous.
And the gun would go off, and then I'd have to tell Mama we fought for it.
And it went off accidentally.
What do you want?
Come now, you're a big girl.
Why ask foolish questions?
You?
You cut the phone cord.
Of course.
I did everything else too.
But why?
I've never done you any harm.
I've never done you any harm.
You've only tried to ruin my life, that's all.
You think I don't know about you and my husband?
Your husband?
Not that you're the first.
Every woman who sees him tries to take him away from me.
Even that smug little Peggy Martinson, she thinks I'm blind.
Well, I'm not.
And you, you poor little fool, lying about remembering him from long ago.
You think I didn't know you were sweethearts in high school and still are?
You think I don't know he's been sneaking off to meet you on a sly?
Oh, how you must have laughed at me.
I'm sure you must have felt a walk in here, into my home.
Please believe me, yes I did know Kent in high school, but it was never serious.
I swear to you, I haven't seen him a dozen times since then.
It was only high school dating. I've never been in love with him.
Go on, go on, lie some more.
Tell me you never sat with him in a station cafe either.
Well, I can explain that we bumped into each other accidentally.
We had a cup of coffee while he was waiting for a train, that's all.
I don't understand what he sees in you.
He sees Mrs. Hughes, he doesn't even know I'm alive.
Oh, very, after all, because you won't be much longer.
Now will any of those other girls he runs off with meet?
Are you ready, Miss Lime?
Ah! Give me that gun.
You don't understand, Mama. She's trying to take Kent away from me.
So that's it. You weren't worried about my jewels or about her?
She's trying to get Kent, don't you see, Mama?
I'm beginning to. You locked the door and cut the phone call, didn't you, love?
But I've had some, Mama.
And frighteningly, that was all a part of your plan too.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mama.
I have seen this jealousy of yours build and build, but I never dreamed that you...
Lois, Lois child, your husband loves you.
There's nothing for you to be jealous about. He's coming back.
Yes, to get her.
No, no.
Hey, anybody home?
Just see. In here.
Just see for her.
In here, in the spare bedroom.
What's the matter with the phone?
It's worn down the line. I've been calling since 5.30, but...
Diane, what are you doing here? What's going on?
Lois, what are you doing with that gun?
Lois thinks that you and Miss Lord are sweethearts.
What?
Don't lie anymore. Nancy Adams saw you with her at the station cafe.
Saw me with...?
Oh, once. I ran into her accidentally. We had a cup of coffee, that's all.
Tell her, Diane.
I tried to.
You're away so much. I know I'm not glamorous or very excited.
You're my wife and I love you.
Give me the gun.
Give me the gun.
Yes, darling.
Look, baby.
Honey, look, the trip was postponed until next week.
How about coming with me? We'll take a couple of extra days just for us.
You silly. You really want me to?
Very, very much.
There, there, there. It's all right now, baby.
Everything is going to be all right.
Suspense.
You've been listening to The Companion, written for suspense by Walter Black.
In a moment, the names of our players and the word about next week's story of suspense.
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Music
Heard in tonight's story were Elizabeth Lawrence as Lois, Virginia Payne as Mrs. Stinson, and Rita Lloyd as Miss Lord.
Listen again next week when we return with The Thimble,
a story of murder with a motive for everyone, written by Alan Sloan from a story by Eliezer Lipsky.
Another tale well calculated to keep you in...
suspense.