And now, a tale well calculated to keep you in...
...suspense.
Perhaps I'm a coward.
I don't know.
In the years that have passed, I've never told this story to anyone.
I've tried to justify my silence by assuring myself that no one would believe me.
But sometimes I feel the guilt.
Sometimes I feel it so strongly that I can run out into the street, stop the first man I see, and tell him everything about the White House with the yellow shutters and the small brown chimneys.
But then I think, why frighten him?
Better that he go on believing that life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not its goal.
The Second Door, starring and written especially for suspense by Robert Reddick.
Some time ago, I made arrangements to rent a completely isolated house in the northwestern part of the country.
The last leg of the journey there was made in an old station wagon.
It was very late at night when we arrived, and I instructed the man who drove it to let me off at the entrance to the long driveway, as I wanted to walk up to the house alone.
With a heavy suitcase in each hand, I started up the long gentle slope toward the house.
At a point, perhaps 30 or 40 yards on, the road turned sharply to the left, and up ahead it seemed there must have been a patch where the foliage of the overhanging trees grew less thickly together.
For amid the utter darkness, a thin eerie beam of light filtered down, and in it there appeared to be some sort of a shape.
I had the impression that what I saw up ahead in this driveway in the middle of nowhere was a woman in a bright red dress, seated imperturbably in a chair.
And suddenly after I had taken but a few steps further, this thing that I had been watching move definitely, clearly.
For an instant I thought an animal, but whatever it was remained in the filtering of light and continued to move back and forth.
A slow rhythmic pattern, and a sort of to and fro motion that one might set up at a rocking chair.
Hello? Hello? Who is that up there?
I strained my eyes to bring some sense of detail to this apparition, but incredibly with each step I took toward it in the darkness the dimmer it became.
And so inconceivably when I finally arrived at the spot where it should have been the brightest, there was total darkness.
And there was nothing there, nothing but the unmistakable sound of a rocking chair rocking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
Hello? After a few minutes the sound of that squeaking chair slowly faded away, and I made my way onto the house where I lay awake through the night trying to find some reasonable explanation.
As soon as it was daylight I went back to that spot on the driveway where I found nothing to make the matter more understandable.
And suddenly quite distinctly there was the sound of a man's voice calling out to me.
Hello there! And quite nearby a man stepped abruptly out onto the driveway having come apparently along a footpath leading to the house.
Well I see you're an early riser too. Lovely time of the day to walk about. My name's Edelie, Howard Edelie. I thought as long as we were going to be neighbors that I'd...
Neighbors? Yes, I assume you've taken over the Lonergan place.
Oh yes, yes I have. Well I have the place just north of you.
Well it was made perfectly clear there wasn't another house around here for miles. Oh that's true enough, except for mine.
Originally you see it was sort of a gatehouse but it was cut off, remodeled and sold to me.
When was this? This is our seventh year. Of course we use it only in the summer.
We? Yes, my daughter and I. Would you care to walk back with me to my house? I'd like you to meet Marilla.
Tell me something Mr. Edelie, your daughter... Yes?
Does she own a bright red dress? What a curious question.
Nonetheless I wish you'd answer it. Well I'm... But I don't know.
Why do you have a preference for women in red dresses? By no means.
Do you have a rocking chair Mr. Edelie? A what? A rocking chair.
You're pulling my leg aren't you? Oh not at all. Do you have one?
Oh yes. Yes we do have a rocking chair.
The Edelie house was a one story building, white with yellow shutters and two small brown chimneys.
It sat in the center of a moderate sized clearing. The surface of this clearing was made up entirely of rock.
Actually of one enormous rock whose top was flat as a sidewalk and level with the surrounding earth.
Marilla! Yes father? We have a visitor.
Hello. We thought we heard someone drive up last night. Oh this is Mr. Saunders, my daughter Marilla.
How do you do? It's a pleasure Mr. Saunders. You have no idea how much.
It is strange how attracted this girl and I were to each other from the very first.
There was nothing precisely in what she said that would indicate how she felt, but there was something
unmistakable in her attitude, her manner and the expression in her eyes.
How long do you plan to be staying up here Mr. Saunders?
Just until I unwind a little, maybe a month or so.
Curiously the only chair in the room was the rocker that Mr. Edelie had said he owned.
I took a step toward it. No I wouldn't sit there Mr. Saunders.
Really why not? Well it's a little unstable, some of the rungs are loose.
Oh I see, it seems rather old.
That chair belonged to my mother, she died last year. My father sent a medal about it.
I hesitated to mention it. Well Marilla have you prepared that breakfast for me?
Yes it's in the kitchen. Well then I suggest I get to it.
Why don't you and Mr. Saunders take a stroll about and get to know each other?
Shall we? I'll be working when you get back.
What sort of work do you do Mr. Edelie?
Doctor Edelie. Really? Of what? Medicine?
Hardly, of philosophy.
Now let's go, you two can chat another time.
Doctor. See you later Mr. Saunders.
Don't you think you'll be a little chilly?
Oh do you think so? Well I'll get a jacket.
Through the window I could see her open the closet.
And there hanging in plain sight was a bright red dress.
I said nothing to her about it hoping that in some way she'd get around to mentioning it or at least let something drop that would help explain what I'd seen in the driveway.
But she didn't.
We strolled about for some time and she spoke only of inconsequentialities and when I asked her something specific about her background she would respond with a non sequitur or direct my attention to some flower or passing bird.
But with all her attitude remained warm and friendly.
I might even say inviting.
And despite everything I felt myself being more and more drawn to her.
At one point I couldn't resist the impulse to reach out for her hands.
Don't touch me. What? Please.
I don't understand why she. Don't come any closer.
Marilla what is it? We better go back now. What's the matter with you?
Nothing. I'm perfectly all right.
I tried to take hold of your hand. You backed away from me as if I were a serpent. Why? Please. Why did you do that? You looked absolutely terrified. I can't explain. Explain. Why can't you explain? I mean I don't know why I did that.
What are you afraid of me? No. Well then give me your hand.
Why won't you give me your hand? Leave me alone will you? Please just leave me alone.
She suddenly turned and started to run down the path and at that exact moment from a distance we heard a voice calling out.
Screaming out rather as if in anguish. The path branched off just ahead and I ran quickly in the direction of the scream.
It was only a short distance to the point where the path came out of the woods and I found myself on the cleared land that surrounded the Lonergan house.
And there was no one there.
Like the previous night when I'd heard the sound of the rocking chair coming out of nowhere.
There was now only this agonizing scream for help. Again and again.
Help!
Like before the sound eventually faded away. But not before I had the distinct impression that what I had been listening to was the voice of Dr. Eddely.
I started back toward his house but this time securitously.
To make certain that I wasn't seen I approached from the rear of the house and keeping low I scurried up to a partly open window.
Marilla and Dr. Eddely were inside.
It was your suggestion that I walk with him in the woods if you had...
How could I know that you were going to behave like an infatuated adolescent? Of course he was going to touch you.
Batting your eyes, talking in whispers. What kind of behavior is that?
Oh, I didn't know such things.
Of course you didn't. It was outright flirtation. And then running. Imagine that. Running.
What else could I have done?
You could have used your wits.
That screaming you did for help.
It was the only possible way to distract him. I'd rather he was puzzled over that than have him discover the whole truth from you.
Now I'm going down to his house and see if I can double talk our way out of this.
Don't leave here until I get back.
For a moment Marilla stood in the open doorway and then she turned and went to the bend of a long hallway where there were two heavy doors.
She unlocked the narrow one and went in.
Then as quietly as possible I made my way around to the front of the house and down the hallway to the door that Marilla had gone to.
It was slightly ajar and I could see most of the room with no difficulty.
At one side there was an enormous workbench completely strewn over with an infinite assortment of tools and electronic equipment.
There were wires, tubes, lights and meters.
Marilla was seated before what at first appeared to be an ordinary television set.
But there were curious labels above the three knobs that she was carefully adjusting.
They read respectively latitude, longitude and altitude.
And she flicked a switch and an image appeared on the screen.
It was undoubtedly the Lonergan house.
And it was a remarkably acceptable illusion not only because the image was sharp and the coloring perfect but because astonishingly the house was reproduced in its full three dimensions.
The object had roundness, depth, perspective.
Except for the reduction in size every detail seemed as credible, as palpable as the original.
It seemed as if you could reach in and pick the very flowers near the lawn.
I stood for a time watching this, fascinated by it, until Dr. Eddely came into view crossing the lawn approaching the porch.
Mr. Saunders, Mr. Saunders are you at home?
His voice was entirely free of the usual amplification sound of electronic speakers.
It was as clear as the miniature image of him that walked up to the door and knocked.
And getting no answer he went back toward the woods.
At this point Marilla must have heard me move slightly.
For she suddenly turned and in one motion she clicked off the set and came to her feet.
That device, did he invent that?
You mustn't stay here, he's coming right back.
Well there doesn't even seem to be an electronic speaker in that thing. Are there cameras, microphones or does he merely twist those knobs?
Oh if he finds out that you've seen it.
Well why is he keeping this a secret?
It's not perfected.
Is that true?
Yes.
Marilla listen to me, you seem to be frightened by something that's going on around here.
I know that I am and I want to know what it is.
Now I also want to help you, there isn't much I can do if you won't tell me the truth.
Now what's in that other locked room?
What?
In the room next to this.
My father works in there.
Well I'm sure he does but at what? What does he work at in there?
I can't tell you that.
Why not?
Because it's really his affair.
But you do know what it is.
Yes.
You're going to unlock that door Marilla and you are going to unlock it now.
No please.
Well go on Marilla, what will you oblige the gentleman?
When a man is as curious about something as all that I don't think he should be kept in frustration.
Marilla give me the key.
Father what are you doing?
Now Mr Saunders if you'll just step this way.
We walked to the second door where Dr. Eddely inserted the key in the lock and opened it.
I looked into a very small room, the floor, walls and ceiling of which were made entirely of frosted glass.
And there was nothing else, it was empty.
On the outside of the door there was a panel which he slid aside to reveal three knobs like the others I had seen.
Similarly labeled latitude, longitude and altitude.
Actually Mr Saunders there are microscopic perforations in the glass to admit air.
Now would you be good enough to give me the name of a place some distance away.
A place?
Anywhere you choose, anywhere on earth.
Some place I would like to see?
No Mr Saunders, some place you would like to be.
I had no intention of stepping inside Dr. Eddely's glass cubicle but I was curious to see what might appear on the screens.
And I gave him the general location of the New England farm where I was born.
Alongside on the hallway there was a series of bookshelves.
It held a selection of highly detailed atlases and charts and from one of these we determined the location of the place.
Then he carefully adjusted the knobs.
I watched from the doorway as the glass began to glow with colored light.
And then suddenly before me what was for all the world an actual pasture.
Trees and sky, flowers and grass and in the distance a barn with a silo leaning like the tower of Pisa.
That barn I played there when I was a child.
And voluntarily I must have taken a step toward it for I heard Marilla's voice.
Don't, don't go in there.
I turned around and I saw that Dr. Eddely had a gun in his hand.
Say where you are, enjoy yourself, play in the barn again Mr. Saunders.
And now I was completely engulfed in this farmland scene.
It was astonishing.
It was as if I were a very part of it.
If I had somehow awakened here never having seen those blank glass walls I would have completely believed that I was standing in this open countryside.
Where did you come from Mr.
I turned and I saw a farmer standing what seemed to be about ten yards away.
Something I can do for you?
Well, no, no, I.
What are you doing here?
Well, I.
Lose your way?
Well, not exactly, you see I.
Well, go on.
Well, I was born here. My family used to own this place. I just thought I'd look.
Take a look around.
Yes.
What's your name?
Gordon Saunders. My father was.
Dan Saunders.
I heard of him.
He had the place 30 years ago.
That's right.
Want to see the house?
Well, I.
Come on.
He turned his back and walked away.
Bring that rake along, will you?
It was lying on the ground near my feet.
I bent down.
But my hand didn't close about the handle of the rake as it would have ordinarily, but rather passed right through it as if it weren't there.
Nothing but sounds and images projected across the continent.
You coming?
No, no, no, I'd rather be by myself. I'll just take a little walk around if you don't mind.
Suit yourself.
We'll be up at the house if you change your mind.
Well, thank you very much.
And he turned and.
And walked further away.
He went on.
Then suddenly there was a sound of a key and the door opened back into Dr.
Eddely's hallway.
Somehow in an effort to save me, Marilla must have managed to get the key and the gun away from her father.
It quickly opened the door of the cubicle and thrown the gun down the length of a long hallway.
As I came out, she was grappling with him.
Keep him from reaching it.
Before I'd taken two steps toward them, he'd broken loose and was running for the gun.
It was obvious that he'd reach it before either of us.
In a moment, we'd both be helpless.
I had a revolver in my suitcase at the Lannigan place and I knew that our only chance was for me to get it.
I ran out of the house and into the woods.
I got the gun and rushed back with it toward their house.
I stopped just short of the clearing.
I walked carefully to the edge.
The white house with the yellow shutters and the two small brown chimneys
was no more.
It had vanished completely, not a trace of it.
I walked down into the clearing bewildered, shocked, hardly able to accept the evidence of my senses.
How do you know, Mr. Saunders, that all of life is not an illusion?
I didn't even bother to turn or look about, for I knew I'd see nothing.
Can you hear me, Marilla?
Yes, I can hear you. I can see you.
Are you all right?
She's perfectly all right.
The house was never really here, was it?
I'm afraid not.
Nor were you.
That walk we took in the woods, Marilla?
Like your visit with the farmer.
And it was you in the red dress?
Yes. I'm sorry.
I was doing some experiments. There was a short circuit and the image appeared in the driveway.
And when I tried to touch your hand, Marilla, in the woods...
You moved away. We were careful that you never actually touched anything connected with us.
Ourselves, the rocking chair, even the doors of the house were held or left open for you.
The floor?
What you felt under your feet was the same flat rock you're standing on now.
What you saw was the illusion of floorboards.
No, no, nothing to touch. As yet.
As yet?
We have five senses, haven't we, Mr. Saunders?
You were quite beguiled by the use of only two.
I expect to have no particular difficulties with odors and tastes.
But the sense of touch...
You'd be interested to know that I've begun my experiments with the sense of touch, Mr. Saunders.
And with very encouraging results.
I'd considered conducting another experiment now.
With you as the subject.
With you.
And with a bullet for my gun.
Oh.
But Marilla has pleaded your case. She's convinced me that you're too sensible...
to tell anyone about all this.
That no one would believe you.
I don't imagine they would.
She's also promised never to try to get in touch with you.
And of course, I have a way of keeping an eye on you, don't I?
That house actually does exist somewhere, doesn't it?
Yes, but you won't try to find it, will you, Mr. Saunders?
And of course, your name isn't Adderley.
I should think that.
You know, I've thought of an interesting experiment we might conduct...
in the place of the one with the bullet.
Marilla, I thought that since you've become so fond of our friend...
that you might want to say your last goodbye with the proper finality.
That you might want to say it with a kiss.
For a moment or two, there was silence.
And then I heard Marilla's voice.
Very close.
Almost in a whisper.
I'd never heard your first name.
Would you tell it to me now?
It's Gordon.
Goodbye, Gordon.
And then I felt Marilla's lips on mine.
Gently.
A tender pressure that lingered on my lips for a moment.
And then was gone.
And now, Mr. Saunders, now that I have given you your life...
would you tell me in return if you felt Marilla's kiss?
Yes, I did.
Clearly, unmistakably.
It was in every sense the kiss of a lovely woman.
Except...
Yes, except what?
That it was cold, Doctor.
Cold as death.
Suspense.
You've been listening to The Second Door...
and written especially for suspense by Robert Reddick.
Suspense is produced and directed by Bruno Zirotto Jr.
Music supervision by Ethel Huber.
Sound patterns by Walter Otto.
Heard in tonight's story were Barbara Kassar as Marilla...
Paul McGrath as Dr. Ederle...
and Bob Dryden as the farmer.
This is Stuart Metts speaking.
Listen again next week when we return with...
Hide and Seek, written by Bob Corcoran.
Another tale well calculated to keep you in...
Suspense.
Now from Suspense and from CBS radio network stations everywhere...
Anniversary greetings to radio station KSL Salt Lake City...
marking its 40th year of operation today.
To 50,000 watt KSL, affiliated with CBS radio since 1932.
Many more years of success.
This is the CBS radio network.