And now, another tale well calculated to keep you in...
Suspense.
A daring and ingenious scheme for a payoff.
As in just one minute we bring you Perfect Plan.
Written by Peter Fernandez.
There you are, Jason. There's the house.
Yeah, I'll pull in here so that dope man can't spot us.
Yeah.
Good, he didn't even notice us.
We're right on schedule.
Put that gun away.
Just be in prepare.
But we've got time, relax.
We have exactly 14 minutes before he leaves the house and walks down to that bus stop.
By now they'll just be having their breakfast.
The
Ah, good morning, Princess.
Henry, you did it again.
Ah, there was no point in waking you, Liz.
Morning, honey.
I'm perfectly capable of making my own breakfast.
But I wanted to have it ready for you.
Today of all days.
It's just that in the mornings lately, I...
I know, I know, mother.
Here, here, sit down.
I'll pour you some coffee.
Thanks, Henry.
It doesn't seem possible, does it?
Only three more months and the baby will be born.
That's all, only three months.
And your baby is going to be beautiful, Liz.
And yours.
I hope it doesn't look like me.
Here you are.
Well, Henry, the decision is due this morning.
Uh-huh.
If that board doesn't make you manager.
I'll just continue to be assistant manager.
But with another mouth to feed soon.
Well, down it, Liz, I've worked hard for that promotion.
And you'll get it.
You're the best assistant manager that bank has.
There's absolutely nothing to prevent you from getting that promotion, Henry.
I hope not.
Well, I'll call you either way.
There'll be only one way.
Goodbye, dear.
What's keeping him?
The bus doesn't leave for five minutes.
He's still got time.
Now, you listen to me, Jason.
This whole job we move carefully and slowly.
Remember that.
Sure, sure.
We didn't spend weeks tailing him, working this out.
Just to have you get edgy now.
Hey, look, he's coming out of the house.
Oh, yeah, I see him.
Now, remember, think, Jason, think.
Sure.
I'll go and join him now at the bus stop.
And you keep away from his house for at least five minutes.
Okay, good luck.
The way this job is planned, Jason, we don't even need luck.
Good morning.
Oh, morning.
Is this seat taken?
No, no, forgive me.
Let me do my briefcase.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Aren't you Henry Travers?
Why, yes.
Yes, have we met before?
Oh, we've merely ridden this bus together a few times.
I'm Shirley Brisbane.
Well, how do you do?
I'm trying to do a little work before I get to the office, if you'll excuse me.
Of course.
Are those loan applications, Mr. Travers?
Oh, you're familiar with this kind of work?
Well, I've been making a study of your procedures.
I expect to get a loan from you this morning.
You do?
Sure.
Let me see, you said Shirley Brisbane. I don't recall your application.
In exactly one hour and fifteen minutes, I expect you to grant me a loan of $50,000.
Yes, ma'am, just like that.
Just like that.
And now, all jokes aside, Miss Brisbane, I do have this work to finish.
Well, go right ahead, Mr. Travers.
There's still plenty of time.
Yes?
Mrs. Travers, I'm from Commercial Trust.
Oh, my goodness.
I didn't expect anyone so early.
I'm not even dressed in the house.
But come in, won't you?
Thanks.
Henry warned me that the bank might send someone around in connection with his promotion,
but I didn't expect anyone so early.
Sit down, won't you?
I just finished coffee.
Would you like some? It's still hot.
Oh, no, thanks.
Would you mind very much, Mr.
Collins, Jason Collins.
Would you excuse me for just a few moments, Mr. Collins, while I change my clothes?
No.
What? It won't take me long.
Well, neither will this. Just a few preliminary questions.
Please, sit down, Mrs. Travers.
Well, I...
Sit down.
Well, all right, Mr. Collins.
Excuse me, Mr. Travers, but according to my watch, you should be at your desk in 12 minutes.
What? How did you know?
We just have time for you to consider my loan application.
I don't consider that a very funny joke.
No joke, I assure you. At a quarter after nine, I expect $50,000.
Oh, you do?
Otherwise, otherwise you'll never see your wife alive again.
What? What are you talking about?
There's someone with her now who won't hesitate to kill her.
Watch!
Don't attract attention to us, Mr. Travers.
What's this all about?
When you get to the bank, call your home. You can talk to my friend, Jason.
Satisfy yourself that Elizabeth's life depends on what you do.
Then what?
Make out all the necessary papers for a loan. I don't care how you do it, as long as they look authentic.
As long as no one stops me, because at 9.15, I'll be in to pick up that money.
I... I still don't know if this isn't some kind of cruel joke.
When we get to the bank, call your home. Then you can be sure this is no joke.
Oh, come in, Mr. Travers.
Oh, yes, O'Malley.
Well, today's the day, sir.
What?
I said good luck, sir. I hope you get the promotion.
Just a moment now, and I'll have this gate open.
Oh, uh, by the way, Mr. Cromwell came in a few minutes ago, sir. I showed him into your office.
I haven't time for him.
But it's Cromwell himself.
I don't care.
There you are, sir.
Oh, Mr. Travers, my dear, dear head. I'm sorry, Mr. Cromwell, but could you wait outside?
I've got to make a private phone call.
I beg your pardon.
Please, it's urgent. I can't explain it just now.
Well, with Forbes Hill in retiring, I've decided to approve you for manager at this morning's board meeting,
and I came here early to have a chat with you first.
I haven't time, please, Mr. Cromwell, if you can wait for just a little while.
Very well, Travers.
Very well.
Now...
Hello?
Who is this?
Is that you, Travers?
Yes, yes, are you...
I've been waiting for your call. You're late.
Elizabeth, is she all right?
She doesn't know a thing about what's going on yet.
Let me talk to her.
No. When I expected your call, I sent her upstairs to change her clothes.
You know, why is Sol Kay so upset?
She's not upset.
She's upset.
Your wife's okay so far.
But if you want her to stay that way, you've got a lot of work before a quarter after nine.
Listen, I'll do my best. I'll try to get the money, but what you're asking is almost...
Never mind.
You just see that you get it.
If you don't want to come home and find your wife dead.
But I...
Hello?
Oh, Mr. Cromwell, good morning.
One of the other tellers informed me that you were here.
Kind of early for you, isn't it, sir?
Well, don't tell me that you, too, have some objections to me being here.
Oh, indeed. No, sir.
Well, good. Then you won't mind if I stand here by your counter?
Oh, not at all, sir.
I want to keep an eye on Mr. Travers' office.
Oh?
I want to know what he's up to.
Now, tell me, have you noticed anything peculiar about him lately?
Peculiar? No, sir. What do you mean?
Well, this morning, for instance, the man seems absolutely frantic.
We haven't even opened the business yet.
There, there he is now, rushing out of his office and going into Frisbees.
Now, what do you suppose he could be up to?
Ah, good morning, Henry.
Heard anything about the promotion yet?
Oh, this is slow, Jim. You forgot to add your endorsement.
Oh, hmm?
You're nervous this morning, Henry, but you needn't be.
I think the promotion is yours.
But, Jim...
Here, I need your signature.
They'll be in for this money in a few minutes.
Well, all right, Henry.
Well, let's see what this is all about.
Hmm.
I don't recall this application.
Well, it came up at the last meeting. You were at the dentist that afternoon.
Oh, yes, yes. The 14th, of course.
Well, do we have the collateral?
Yes, yes, Jim. The stocks and bonds were analyzed more than sufficient.
Equity Products Corporation. Never heard of it.
What do they do, Henry?
A transcript of the meeting is available. I haven't time to go into this with you.
And I haven't had a chance to read the transcript yet.
Well, but you signed this. You must feel that it's worthwhile.
I do.
Now, let me see. It's just nine o'clock.
It is?
And I won't have time to read the transcript now.
So, I'll sign this on your say-so.
Here. Use my pen.
Oh, okay.
There you are.
Hey, and thanks. Thanks for the...
Henry, the promotion's in the bag.
Relax, Henry.
In just a moment, we will return for the concluding act of...
Suspense.
It's 17 minutes past nine, Mr. Travers.
Aren't you finished yet?
Almost.
You ought to cash, didn't you?
That's right.
I've got more forms to fill out. I need more time.
Jason expected the phone call two minutes ago.
If he's done anything to hurt Liz...
You're in no position to bargain, Mr. Travers.
Just do what you have to do.
All right.
There. That's finished.
Now I have to go to the vault and show these to the guard.
Get in and get the money. I'll be back in a couple of minutes.
Well, you'd better be.
Henry, do you think we'll be able to have our little chat soon?
Now, the meeting is not far off, and I...
No, not now.
Henry, what is going on? Now, will you tell me?
I can't. I can't. And please don't ask me.
Well, I just don't understand.
Here, O'Malley.
Oh, thanks, Mr. Travers. You can go right in, sir.
And, Seat, that I'm not disturbed.
I have a large amount of cash to assemble here.
Oh, yes, sir. All right, Mr. Travers.
Now...
Are you ill, Mr. Collins? Can I get you something?
It's 20 after 9.
I know. That meeting about Henry's promotion
will be taking place in only five minutes.
That don't matter. Who cares about a meeting?
Well, I certainly do.
Why doesn't that phone ring?
I really don't understand why it's so urgent.
Two more minutes. That's all I'm going to wait.
Two more minutes.
All set now, Mr. Travers?
Yes, yes, O'Malley.
Oh, Mr. Cromwell's waiting for you just outside.
He insists on a word with you, sir.
Oh, no.
Henry, just a moment.
Mr. Cromwell, I'll explain later.
Oh, thank God. My arm.
Don't be a fool. Try to stop me, please.
This cash form I got from O'Malley just now
and the copy of the loan application seem...
Well, they seem fraudulent.
They're not. Frisbee endorsed that application.
So did I.
It says here that it was approved as per the meeting
of Tuesday the 14th.
Now, I sat in on that entire meeting.
This loan was not approved. It wasn't even discussed.
O'Malley. Yes, sir.
Now, call the 19th precinct. No, listen to me.
Go ahead, O'Malley.
What is it, Henry? I'm listening.
Actually, he's waiting in my office.
Unless he gets this money now and calls him,
he'll kill my wife.
Oh, Henry, I wish you'd told me this sooner, but we'll go in there,
give her the money, and when the police get here,
we'll keep them out of this until your wife is safe.
Thank you, Mr. Cromwell.
Okay, I've got it.
Where...
gone?
What are you doing? She must have slipped out
when we were talking. I've got to catch her.
Now you're lying. Now stop. Stop.
I've got to catch her.
Please, you've got to let me go.
You'll kill her. Let me go.
Now, Henry, you haven't changed.
Listen to me.
But I've already listened, Henry, and I think we'd better wait
in your office until the police get here.
No, Mr. Cromwell. I'm sorry, Henry. Bring him along, O'Malley.
Please.
Now, go ahead, Henry, and call your home.
Tell whoever you think is there
that the woman's already left with the money,
that she didn't want to take the time to call.
He won't believe me.
He'll think she was caught. He might have killed Liz already.
If you're telling the truth,
this is the only thing you can do right now.
But it's obvious what the truth is.
All right, all right.
She was supposed to talk to him herself.
He'll know I'm lying.
You've got to persuade him that the plan is working.
If there is any such plan.
Hello?
Elizabeth, are you all right?
Oh, darling.
I've been so anxious to hear from you.
Did you get the promotion?
What? Oh, Liz, never mind.
Put him on.
Who? Oh, you mean Mr. Collins.
No, he's already gone.
He said he couldn't wait.
Henry, are you the new manager?
Oh, thank goodness.
Just a minute, Travers. Give me that phone.
Hello? This is Walter Cromwell.
Oh.
Hello, Mr. Cromwell. How are you?
Well, I'm fine.
About that man...
Mr. Collins?
Did he threaten you?
Goodness, no.
He just seemed very nervous.
There definitely was nothing wrong.
I see, I see.
Well, thank you very much, Mrs. Travers.
Goodbye for now.
Well, Henry.
Ah, the police. Good morning, Lieutenant.
Hello, Mr. Cromwell.
What's happened?
Well, we've been very fortunate, Lieutenant.
We just prevented this man, one of our most respected officers,
from absconding with a large amount of the bank's funds.
If I was going to steal money, I would have been much more clever than this.
They threatened to kill my wife unless I gave them $50,000.
Who threatened to kill you?
I just spoke to your wife. She doesn't know anything about it.
We're going down to the precinct, and we'll get a full statement.
If it adds up to the way it sounds, we'll book this man.
Well, that'll suit me just fine, Lieutenant.
Well, here's your wife, Mr. Travers.
We've just finished questioning her.
My poor darling.
Henry, I had no idea what was going on this morning.
I almost wish you had, and they might believe me.
Has my lawyer arrived yet?
He's on his way, dear.
If I'm to be booked, I want to be...
Mr. Travers, when your wife gave us a statement,
we checked the entire board of directors at your bank.
That man who was at your house this morning,
he wasn't on any official business,
as your wife had been led to believe.
He could have been a burglar,
posing as an investigator in order to case the house.
How ridiculous.
Or he could be the man we're looking for.
He has no record,
so we have no mugshots of him.
But the woman...
Yes?
Maybe you can spot her in one of these pictures of various women.
All of them from our files here.
Yes.
Take a good look, Mr. Travers.
Let me see, no.
No.
Not this one either.
No.
No, she's not here, Lieutenant.
Is that a fact? Well, then I'm afraid we'll have to hold you...
No, no, wait, wait. Let me see that one again.
Well, which one? This?
No, no, no, that one.
Yes.
Yes, this could be her.
Now that I take a second look at her, it could be.
But you're not certain.
How can I be? The woman I saw had blonde hair.
This one has black, but the face seems to be the same.
Then let me tell you, Mr. Travers,
the woman in that picture is dead.
I don't see how I have a chance, Russell.
Just look at that jury. Look at their faces.
Every single one of them believes I'm guilty.
I strongly advise you to plead guilty and escape this trial, Henry.
You might have been given a light sentence a year or two,
but now, without any concrete proof,
with nothing to back up your defense,
if they do bring in a guilty verdict,
well, it could mean ten years.
Ten years.
Counsel, counsel for the defense,
are you ready to begin your summation?
I am, your honor.
Very well, then please begin.
Good luck.
Your honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
we can see that the evidence offered in defense of this poor man
We can see that the evidence offered in defense of this poor man
has been purely circumstantial.
However, let me point out that even circumstantial evidence
has been purely circumstantial.
Why there for guilt, Your Honor?
Mr. Prosecutor, if you wish to hold a conference
with one of your witnesses kindly do so outside of this courtroom,
this defendant is entitled to...
I'm sorry, your honor,
but the police lieutenant here has just brought me some information
which has a direct bearing on this whole trial.
Very well, please give the court that information.
The police lieutenant has just informed me, your honor,
that a similar robbery was attempted this morning
at the National Exchange Bank
where the woman has been caught.
She is the sister of the woman identified by the accused.
She has confessed to the crime
for which this man has been on trial.
The state wishes to make a motion
for the dismissal of the indictment.
That motion is granted.
Case dismissed.
CLEARING THROAT
Henry!
Oh, good morning, Mr. Cromwell.
I trust the new manager feels at home.
Henry, by the way...
Yes, sir?
Well, after all, you can't blame me.
I saw the young lady this morning
and this isn't the first time
that a bank official tried to run off to Mexico
with such a tasty young dish.
SUSPENSE
You've been listening to Perfect Plan,
written for suspense by Peter Fernandez.
In a moment, the names of our players
will tell you about next week's story of suspense.
Heard in tonight's story
were George Petrie as Henry,
Elizabeth Lawrence as Shirley,
Paul Potter as Cromwell,
and Patsy Bruder as Elizabeth.
Listen again next week
when we return with
Two Came Back
by Ronald Dawson and Joseph Cochran
from a story by Jules Archer,
another tale well calculated to keep you in.
Suspense.
News analysis next,
followed by latest CBS News
and Have Gun We'll Travel
on CBS Radio.