And now, another tale well calculated to keep you in...
Suspense.
Fun Island Amusement Park, late one summer night.
The smell of popcorn and Franks, the music of the carousel, the thunder of the lower coaster,
the steady sound of shots from the shooting gallery, the seat was called to barkers along the midway.
All the garish life and color of a carnival, and hiding behind them the shadows that off the lives of the carnivibles.
From the hunchback who peddled balloons to Danny King, the diving wonder of the world.
Over this way, boss. Danny King is down at the end of the midway.
Oh, this is Fun Island, huh? Somehow I've never been out here before.
Yeah, you go more for night clubs than racetracks, boss, but a lot of people like this kind of fun.
I wonder if we shouldn't look into it. A lot of potential customers are here.
Ah, they're all two-bit spenders, every one of them. Oh, there's Danny King's pitch.
Hey, you see that diving tower? That's him now, climbing up on it.
This is where Danny's been hiding all. No wonder we couldn't find him.
Yeah, and if I hadn't seen his mug and had newspapers...
Hey, we better hurry, boss. He's already up on the platform.
And he's really going to dive from up there? He must be 60 feet up.
75. And he dives into a canvas pool six feet deep.
You know, he's a bum, this guy. He's a no-goodnik, but in college he was a diving champ.
Hey, we better stop here. This guy's getting too thick. I don't like crowds.
Okay, boys.
All right, folks, all right.
Now we bring you our feature attraction, Danny King, the human seal, the diving wonder of the world.
It's free, folks. It's free. Step up, step up, step up.
In just a moment, this daring young man you see standing far above your head
is going to dive through flaming gasoline into five feet of water.
Yes, folks, five feet of water.
Can he perform the feat of daring and live 75 feet into a tiny canvas tank?
He's getting ready, folks. He's getting ready.
Watch him make his desperate gamble with death.
He's getting steady, sweetie, gonna do it.
And here he comes, folks. He's in the air.
And he's plunging through the flames. He's handling four times.
Is he going to miss the tank?
And here he's done it.
75 feet into a puddle of water, and he still lives.
Danny King, the diving wonder of the world.
Give him a hand, folks. Give him a hand. That's it.
Very neatly done.
Charlie, if Danny has to earn his living like this, I doubt if he has $10,000 to pay it.
That's right. But he's got a rich uncle. A real rich uncle.
Quite true.
All right.
Suppose we give him time to get dressed, and then we'll have our little chat with Danny.
Hey, Danny, are you dressed?
Yeah, what is it?
Two guys outside want to see you. I don't like their looks. They got the look of the racket to me.
Call them off, Parker. I don't want to see them.
That's too bad, Danny, because we're here.
Oh, Rogan.
You can't come busting in here like this. And you take your hands off me.
It's okay, Parker. I know these fellas.
You heard the man.
Well, if you say so, Danny. I'll wait outside.
Well, Danny, this is a pleasant surprise.
What do you want?
Just to say hello and collect $10,000.
I don't owe you anything. You got $25,000 from me, and I stole part of that.
If my uncle threw me out, that ought to satisfy you.
Unfortunately, no. I still hold $10,000 of your IOU.
Well, I haven't got it.
Tell him, Mike. He knows somebody who does have it.
Charlie means your uncle, Danny. Harvey K. Randolph.
You'll never give me a cent.
I forged his check for the last $5,000 you suckered out of me, and my uncle threw me out.
Oh, that's too bad, isn't it, Mike?
Listen, someday I'll get at least a million.
He's got it now, but it's held in trust for me.
When I get it, I'll pay you double. Triple!
All right, Danny. If you need time, we'll give you time.
I knew you'd be reasonable.
I pride myself on being reasonable.
So I've given you a whole week in which to pay me that $10,000, or else, Danny.
Or else.
It's not good, huh, Danny?
They'll kill me, Bart.
Yeah, Mike Brogan plays for keeps, but...
Look, if your uncle...
He has absolutely no use for me.
I've told you how I forged that check, and then he...
Yeah, and he tossed you out on your ear. Sink or swim, huh?
Yeah. But look, with your life in danger...
My life? That wouldn't matter to Uncle Harvey.
He told me to never come to him again, and he meant it.
Boy, you really got yourself sold in a sack.
There isn't a soul of...
Wait. Betty!
Who's Benny?
Betty Thompson.
A sort of a combination nurse and secretary for Uncle Harvey.
She's a nice kid. It'd be like employing new glasses.
Well, what can she do?
Oh, Uncle Harvey dotes on her, and she dotes on me.
She's in love with me.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll phone her. I'll make a date.
She's around here?
Yeah, I'm sure of it.
Every summer, Uncle Harvey takes a suite at the Grand Beach Hotel.
That's only a couple of miles up the beach from here, and...
You know, she might be followed.
We're not able to get away.
The Grand Beach? That's a real ritzy joint.
You almost gotta have a passport to get inside.
I got it. The hotel's outdoor swimming pool.
What about it?
Well, it's open to the public on Tuesdays. Tomorrow's Tuesday.
Now, Betty could slip down for a swim, and Uncle Harvey wouldn't think anything of it.
Here, I'll phone her now until she'll join me in the pool tomorrow afternoon.
Betty!
Oh, Danny!
Pretend not to notice me. Just swim alongside me.
Oh, Betty, I thought you were never coming.
Well, I was delayed. Now listen.
Okay.
Climb out of the pool, and lie on the tiles.
Just casually.
I'll come and lie down a couple of feet away.
I'll cover my face with a towel.
You can talk and not be noticed.
Yes, Danny. Anything you say.
Go on, climb out now. And don't look back at me.
Oh, Danny!
We can talk now, Betty. But don't look at me.
Oh, Danny, can't I even look at you after all this time?
No, I don't want anyone even to suspect we've been in contact.
Well, glad I'm here?
Oh, you know I am. I've thought about you so much.
You said you were going to ride.
Uncle Harvey wouldn't have liked it.
But I love you. You're more important to me than he is.
Oh, Danny, darling, where have you been?
A lot of places. Right now I'm making pretty good living. 200 a week.
Danny, that's wonderful. Your uncle...
Oh, what about him?
If he knew, he might forgive you.
At least, well, he might.
You know him better than that.
Well, he's terribly stern, I know.
But if he thought you'd turned over a new leaf...
Well, I have. But I'm in trouble.
Danny, no.
I need $10,000. And if I don't get it, I'll be killed.
Don't say that. Please tell me that isn't true.
It is true. You've got to help me.
I don't want to, but how?
I don't know how. I'm a stomach...
Pretend to be asleep.
What is it? Your uncle.
He's waving to me from his bedroom window. Quietly.
There. He's gone now.
From his bedroom window?
Yes. The apartment overlooks the pool.
It's on the fifth floor, directly above us. See? Up there.
Oh, no. I see.
There. Right above us.
He often watches me when I come swimming.
Do you see me? No, no, no. The towel hit your face.
Hmm. So that's where the old boy hangs out.
The air is good for him. He gets terrible headaches sometimes.
Yeah, I should weep.
Now, listen. I have to have $10,000 inside six days.
Six days? Danny, how can we get it?
From Uncle Harvey.
You have to give him some sob story.
My life depends on it.
Elizabeth, you are not experienced in the art of life.
But Mr. Randolph...
I have a whole story about needing $10,000 to save your brother in San Francisco from jail.
It's a complete fabrication now.
No, no, sir. Jack is desperate and I'll pay it back out of my salary.
Oh, please, my dear. Your story's a lie.
The only person you would lie for is Daniel. Am I right?
Yes, Mr. Randolph. Danny needs the money. He needs it terribly.
What difficulty is he in now?
He's some gambler. They threaten to kill him.
I see.
But he's reformed. Really, he has. If you can only help him out of this trouble...
Elizabeth, you may think me hard-hearted, but I've helped Daniel out of an endless succession of difficulties in the last few years, each time he swore to reform.
I know, but this time he has, I'm sure of it.
Ah, you love it.
You must help him. Please say that you will.
There is only one help for Daniel to solve his own problems and stand on his own feet.
Now, these men are simply trying to scare him.
Now, it hurts me to say this to you, but for Daniel's own sake, the answer is no.
The End
Who is it?
Just me.
Oh.
Hey, it's starting to rain. Radio says we'll have three days of rain, maybe more.
You know, it's just dandy.
Hey, Danny. This ain't doing any good, lapping up the booze that way.
You know, your timing is way off. Tonight you almost missed the pool. Pretty near gave me heart failure.
Now, don't worry about me. I can die blindfolded on a pitch-dark night, drunk or sober.
Aw, ease up, Danny.
Listen, I passed that Betty kid in the hall, boring her rise out. What'd you say to her?
I told her to stop bothering me. I need her $10,000 and she brings me $500.
Well, she loves you, Danny. She's doing her best.
That uncle of yours just won't sell a shell out of diamond.
No, no, I gotta sink or swim on my own, he says.
I can only get my hands around his throat and choke and choke and choke.
All right, Danny, now take it easy.
Here, with three days left, he tells me to take it easy.
A million dollars I have coming to me when Uncle Harvey dies or I reach 28.
If only I'll never get it because I won't reach 28.
If you keep on living it, I'll be dead.
I can only die now. If you only die like a man his age should.
What is it, Danny? What's the matter?
Hmm, just an idea.
Heh heh heh, a really terrific idea.
I don't intend to get killed, see?
No matter what I have to do, I don't intend to get killed.
You get me?
No, no, I'm not sure I do.
It doesn't matter.
Just find me the name of a tailor who can make a bellhop uniform in a hurry and keep his mouth shut.
Well, how do you like it, Barker? How's it look, huh?
You look just like a bellhop.
Hey, what's this say on the pocket? Grand Beach Hotel.
Hey, Danny, what is this?
Simple. Now I'm a bellhop at the Grand Beach.
No kidding, you are, really?
Of course not.
But I'm paying a call there tonight and if anybody notices me, I'm just a bellhop.
Nobody to look at twice.
You gonna go see your uncle?
Look, forget everything. Just don't ever spill a word of this.
Or not me. I know how to keep my mouth shut.
Hey, listen. Is that Dungeon?
Yeah, the weather's getting worse. Rain for two more days anywhere the radio says.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Now listen, I have a date with Betty tonight.
I called her up and told her I made a settlement with Drogon.
Oh yeah?
Yeah, to meet her at the Quartet Cafe at 1 a.m.
She thinks I'm gonna ask her to marry me.
I'll be a little late.
You'll meet her and keep her there till I get there.
Okay, if you say so.
I'll be there at ten after. Just keep her there.
Yes, who is it?
A message from Miss Thompson.
From Elizabeth? Just a moment.
Let me see you.
Oh yes, one of the bellboys. Well, I like to be certain.
Alright, come on in.
Thank you, sir.
Now you say you have a message. Let me have it.
Daniel.
Yes, Uncle Harvey.
What the devil are you doing in that bellboy outfit?
I had to see you. I had to talk to you.
Elizabeth already has pleaded your case and the answer's no.
Uncle Harvey, I need ten thousand dollars.
They'll kill me if I don't pay it. You understand? They'll kill me, leaving me lying in the gutter.
You won't like that, won't you? You've always said I belong in the gutter.
Then you'll know melodramatics. Possibly someone is trying to scare you.
And part of your growing up is to learn not to be so easily scared.
I am scared. I'm dying.
For the last time, Uncle Harvey, will you let me have ten thousand dollars of my own money to save my life?
I'm sorry. I cannot go back on the principles that I live by.
Then you'll have to die by them too.
Why, a gun?
And loaded and silenced.
Don't be a fool. Now surely you know you can't kill me, if that's what you plan.
I have a million dollars coming to me and I can only collect it now if you die.
Well, I need it. So you're going to die, Uncle Harvey.
Daniel, you're being absurd as well as melodramatical.
You know he's had a low opinion of me. If he'd had more faith in me, maybe I'd have him out of this something.
But did you ever think I'd get down to murder, huh?
Daniel, you're out of your mind. If you harm me, all the motive will point to you. You'll be electrocuted.
Oh no, because you're going to commit suicide.
You're going to hang yourself with your dressing gown cord.
No one will believe that.
Oh yes, you've had a lot of bad headaches. That's reason enough.
Besides, they'll have to believe it. Even Betty.
You see, the door will be locked from the inside and the chain will be in place and the door will be bolted.
Proving you had to be alone so no one could possibly have killed you but yourself.
How? How do you propose to manage that?
When you know, Uncle, you'll be dead.
Hey, Uncle Harvey. How quietly you hang.
Perfect model of a gentleman in suicide.
Head off.
Locked and bolted on.
Inside.
Chair under your feet.
Kicked over to keep appearances.
Oh yes, your bedside clock.
Then set it ahead and break it on the floor.
There.
Now shift the chair.
Knock against the dresser and the clock fell.
You died at half past one.
But I'll be drinking with Betty.
Asking her to marry me. The perfect alibi.
And the keeper from being suspicious.
And now for the graceful exit.
First open the window.
Oh, it's still raining.
Good. No one would be around on a night like this.
Now, out on the window ledge.
There, that's it.
Close the window tight behind me.
That was a big dive.
A million dollar dive.
The pool directly below me. I could see it there.
About fifteen feet out.
Ninety deep.
This trial's play for Danny King, the diving wonder.
Just a little push outward to clear the tiles. Nothing to it.
And Uncle Harvey is left behind dead in a locked room.
And I'll go after him and splash a lightning.
I'll shield him and I'll set the police full on balance.
Goodbye, Uncle Harvey.
A million dollars, here comes Danny.
Hey, Betty. You'll wear out that coffee cup.
Oh, I'm still stirring it.
I guess I'm worried about Danny. He's so late.
He's fine. He said he'd be a little late.
Oh, I'm so glad he's got that business with those awful gamblers straightened out.
I do love him so. I know he's going to be different after this.
Sure he is. He's going to be all right.
His uncle just misjudged him, that's all. Danny's a fine person, really.
But it's after half past one and he isn't here yet.
Oh, I'm being silly.
I'll put some lipstick on. I must have chewed it all off by now.
Hey, you dropped this piece of paper out of your purse.
Paper? Let's see.
Oh, it's nothing important.
Just a notice from the management of the hotel. It was in our box.
It only says that the management is taking advantage of the bad weather to repair the swimming pool.
It drained all the water out this afternoon and closed it until further notice.
Suspense.
You've been listening to The Big Dive, written for suspense by John West.
Heard in tonight's story were Leon Janney as Danny King, Rosemary Rice as Betty,
Sam Gray as Mike Brogan, Mandel Kramer as Charlie, Ralph Bell as the Barker,
and Bill Smith as Uncle Horace.
Listen again next week when we return with Night Fairy to Paris by William N. Robeson.
Another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.