Is that you darling?
-Good evening Mr Allen
-For two one please
I have over here
All right,Sir?
-Yes, I'm waiting for Miss Bridges
-Very good,Sir
Good evening,Parker
-Hello,Allen
-Seeing anybody?
Excuse me
You're very late
-I apologize Alycia
-I demand an explanation
The office
Isn't Jonathan coming?
He sends his apologies,I'm afraid
you does have to put up with me
Waiter
Is that a friend of yours?
One of my writers
He looks lonely
Waiter! Ask the gentleman sitting alone
if he cares to join us,would you?
Certainly,Sir
Is he useful?
In certain direction
Interesting(?)
Alycia,may I present you Allen?
-Hugh
-This is Mrs Jonathan Roach
Care to join us?
I am waiting for someone
Won't you wait here?
Pleasure
I understand you're a writer
Yes,I write unpublished novels
Not all of them
He's just being kind
Ronnie once published two of my books
He's regretted ever since
Nonsense
I'm sure he hasn't
-Would you like to dance?
-I'd love to
You mind Ronnie?
Not at all
I'll entertain your guests
when she arrives
Waiter
I think you..
You first
I was going say I think you're the
most beautiful woman in the world
And I think you're the most beautiful man
Except for Ronald Parker
What are you working on now?
A thing called m*rder by Morning
Post,sounds dreadful,doesn't it?
Why is it so many writers
chose m*rder for a subject?
Well it's supposed to be
commercial but I'm bound to say
I haven't found my
check books(?) of it
I think the people should have practical
experience of what they write about
Why don't you try romance?
Thank you,Mrs Roach
You're welcome,Mr Allen
Two other gents used to call
her called a quite a lot,Sir
Do you know their names?
-Yes,a Mr Jonathan Roach an author
-What?
-He writes books
-Oh,it's Roach
Anyone else?
A Mr Hugh Allen,he's the
one who sent the flowers
Oh,what time did they arrive?
Oh,about half past seven,Sir
I didn't bring them up right away
-Because I ..
-Because of what?
I usually pop round the
corner to wet my whistle,Sir
That's when I saw Mr Parker's car
What time did you get back?
A quarter to nine,Sir
A rather long whistle,wasn't it?
The car gone then?
-Yes,Sir
-Hello could I speak with Mr Parker,please
Oh do you happen to
know the telephone number?
Oh thanks,thanks very much no no no message
We get the Flamenco restaurant,OK?
Go ahead
Did Mr Parker call her much?
Yes,he used to drop Miss Bridges
On the way from the office
What was she? Was she a secretary?
I believe so,Sir
Flamenco restaurant?
I understand you have a Mr Ronald
Parker dining with you tonight
Could you call him to the phone,please
OK,he can go
All right,the inspector will
call for you if we need you
Most of these are signed Hugh
Hello
-Mr Parker
-Yes,Ronald Parker speaking
Yes,I know her
What's that?
I'll be there about 20 minutes
You must be very proud of your husband
He's a genius,isn't he?
That's what he tells me
Hugh
Were you expecting to meet Jean?
Yes,I was
I'm afraid she won't be coming
I just had a phone call from the police
-Something wrong?
-I think there must be
They've asked me to
go to her flat right away
I'll come along
Now I think it'd be better
if you stayed here
If Alycia doesn't mind
Of course I don't mind
I'll be back as soon as
I can,excuse me,Alycia
I believe he's been
seeing a lot of her recently
He had a date with her
tonight at the Flamenco
-How do you know?
-He was waiting for her,when I met him
Where were you Mr Parker
before you went to the Flamenco?
At my office
What time?
Oh,nine o'clock I had a
lot of work to catch up on
Anyone with you?
No
You say Miss Bridges
left at her normal time
-which was?- 5 30 -and
you didn't see her again?
-I told you I was working
-Of course
So you left the office at 9 pm?
Do you mind telling me what your
car was doing outside here at 6 30 pm?
-My car?
-Your car
The porter saw it outside the block
Oh yes,of course I had to collect
some papers from my flat
I called by here to ask Miss Bridges to
-do a letter
-There is a letter in the typewriter,Sir
Well
Why did you tell me you
didn't see her again?
I completely forgot,stupid of me
As a matter of fact I have a
had rather lot on my mind lately
Business worries
All right,I'm sorry to kept you so long
-Good night
-Good night
Most people were at dinner
And the porter was having
a snifter of the local boozer
Love from Hugh
What a lovely idea of yours
It's a bit less crowded than the Flamenco
My husband is not going to
be very pleased with us
You can always say that
you came overfed(?)
-Do you like this place?
-Quite perfect
You come here to write?
Sometimes
That girl you were waiting for this evening
Aren't you curious to know
why Ronnie had to go to her flat?
Yes,I think
Well,if you'd waited you'd found out
If I'd waited I wouldn't be here now
Are you in love with her?
In love?
Yes
You usually ask girls to
dinner if you don't like?
I didn't say I didn't like her
I'm too inquisitive
And I'm too obvious
As a matter of fact
Jean and I were meeting
for the last time tonight
I think we are both pretty relieved
No appeals then?
And no ties
I'd like you to read one of my books
If you could bear it
Will you send me one?
I've got a better idea
Why don't you come and fetch it?
Much too obvious
Good morning,Jonathan
Good morning
You were in rather late
last night,weren't you?
Quite late
Did you enjoy the concert?
No,it was noisy
The concert?
The rabble was supposed
to be listening to it
Anything new in the paper?
Yes,Parker's secretary has
been m*rder*d,Jean Bridges
No
See my old friend Inspector
Thornton is in charge of the case
I wonder who did it
You knew her,didn't you?
I did
Good heavens I'm supposed to be
in the theatre in half an hour
I shall have to rush
-I'm going to London shall I drop you off?
-Thank you
Extraordinary things these
Two of them keep me alive
and four put me under the ground
I'll get the car
What was she like?
Who?
Jean Bridges
Oh,she loved life
Most people do
I hate it,I hate anything
that hangs by a thread
Are you not feeling better lately?
I wouldn't say your life hangs by a thread
You mean you only hope it does
Was there anything very special about her?
She was unusual
Attractive I'm sure
Generous
-And intelligent?
-On the contrary
I rated her intelligence
even lower than I do yours
Thank you,my dear
You want me to pick you up?
No thanks
-Hello,Thornton
-Can I have a word with you?
You can talk to me while we
are rehearsing,my new play
Should interest you,police inspector
turns out to be the m*rder*r
"Oh I don't slate
everybody,just Priscilla,please"
-Good morning,Jonathan
-Good morning
"All right now,Henry,you're discovered back
to the audience looking out of the window"
"Georgina,you enter from the left"
"Naturally you're surprised to see him"
"Start your speech after
he lit your cigarette"
"Lydia,you're seated..."
Have you discovered Jean
Bridges' m*rder*r yet?
No,not yet
When did it happen?
We were not able to
pinpoint the time but it
It must have been soon
after 7 30 pm last night
-All right,Jonathan?
-Yes,all right
"All right take up your.."
I was with myself in the afternoon
Do you happen to remember the exact time?
About 6 pm
Do you mind telling me what
you did after you left her?
Yes I went to the park and fed the pigeons
Did you meet anyone there that
might have recognized you?
They all did
absurdly tame at this time of this year
one of them even sat on my shoulder
-What I mean is
-Ssh
"I didn't expect to see you"
"I had to come back"
"After we talked last night"
"Everything seems so
final yet so incomplete"
Mr Bannister do you mind raising
your voice this is not a bedroom scene
"Yet so incomplete
darling you must listen to me"
Miss Thompson,you are not trying to escape
from a piece of (?)believe it or not
"Eric please "
-Miss Thompson
-What the hell is it now?
Miss Thompson,you're a
woman of spirit,a living flame
You're in love with this man
and yet you are repulsed by him
-Mr Bannister
-Yes
You know how she feels towards
you so try to employ a little more delicacy
Your amorous advances
should be a little more wary
and a little less like a grizzly
bear at the height of its (?) cycle
I beg your pardon
Of its mating season now do it again
Yes,Mr Roach
-"I didn't expect to see you"
-"I had to come back"
Are you still here?
Did you meet any friends?
My friends are out of London
-All of them?
-Both of them
Will you please raise your voices a little
-Acquaintances then?
-None that I know of
You didn't return to Miss Bridges flat?
No,after the park I went to
a concert at the Albert Hall
I arrived ,let me see,about 8 pm
At the end of the first movement
I sat at the cheap seats as I always do
Have you got any idea who did it?
When you left the girl did she appear
worried or upset about anything?
No,she seemed in excellent spirit
People usually are when I leave them
"What do you think they did to me"
"What sort of life do you think
I've had since I married you"
"Do you ever stop to think"
"of the kind of life I could have
had if I'd never met you?"
"The opportunities I missed"
Can you tell us anything
about this girl's character
that might help our investigations
Yes,she had no brains
with a sort of low animal cunning which
served just as well
Have you've been able
to discover the motive?
Not yet
If you know of anything that might help us
I'd be awfully grateful if you
give me a ring at the Yard
-Good day
-Good bye
Miss Thompson could you manage
a little feeling in your voice?
It will assist the audience to
endure the expression on your face
Difficult I'm sure
-Nice chap
-Charming
-What next?
-Hugh Allen
Hi
Hi there
Good morning
How did you get here?
Your most excellent butler let me in
-What's the time?
- 10 30 am
Have you seen the morning paper?
Yes I have
Poor Jean
She didn't deserve that
People don't deserve to be
m*rder*d in their own
People I write about always do
Have you ever tried writing
beneath the surface?
From your heart
I wasn't aware I had one
Till last night
What happened last night?
I met you
Is that all?
I mean all that happened?
I didn't m*rder Jean Bridges
I didn't ask you
I thought I'd make the point quite clear
-Is this one of yours?
-Yes
"Gale warning" can I take it?
When you go
-I'm going
-So soon
I can't wait to read it
I'm supposed to be a good critic
If I don't like it I'll advise
you to sell motorcars
Tell me are you attracted to me?
Or just fascinated by
my literary potentialities
A wise woman let the
man guess what she thinks
Would you like to hide under the sofa?
Thank you,no,I feel so
foolish if somebody looked
But if you do then say I was just leaving
I shall know what to say
-Mr Allen?
-Yes
Inspector Thornton of the Scotland Yard
-May I have a word with you?
-Won't you come inside?
Thank you
Excuse me I was just leaving
Oh,Mr Allen I'll read your book and I may
give you a telephone call tomorrow morning
If you're still at large
-Oh do sit down,won't you?
-Thank you
I understand you were
a friend of Jean Bridges
Yes
Yes,I suppose you're aware
that she was m*rder*d last night
Yes,she was going to have dinner with me
What time did you arrange to meet her?
-8 o'clock
-At the Flamenco?
-Yes
-Where were you before then?
I was driving up from the country,Rye
What time did you leave there?
About a quarter to 7 pm
It'll take you about 45 minutes
to get to town wouldn't it?
No longer
I had a slow puncture I had to keep
on stopping to put more air in the tyre
I had no spare
I suppose you passed a number of garages
that could have changed the tyre for you
Most of them were closed
Can you think of anyone who might
have seen you on the road about 7 30 pm?
No I can't
-Is it important?
-It could be
May I ask you a personal question?
Were you in love with her?
No
The orchids rather suggested
that you'd might have been
Did you ever,did you ever quarrel with her?
-Yes,frequently
-What about,another man?
-Yes
-Who was it?
She wouldn't tell me
That's why we quarrelled
I see
-Is there anything else?
-Yes
Were you aware that
she was a convicted blackmailer?
Yes
Thank you
-Good day
-Bye
The porter found her at 7 50 pm
when he delivered the orchids
But three are men
who can't establish an alibi
during the twenty five minutes
in which she was m*rder*d
Now Roach was somewhere
between Hyde Park and the Albert Hall
Parker was in his office alone
And Hugh Allen was driving from the country
Each knew Jean Bridges
And each had an opportunity of k*lling her
What do we do next?
We have three men to watch
And I think their behaviour
is going to be very revealing
Thank you,Pierce
What are you reading?
"Gale warning" by Hugh Allen
-Allen?
-Do you know him?
I've heard of him
Through Parker?
Probably,where did you meet him?
Parker introduced us
This isn't at all bad
You care to read it?
No thanks
His style reminds me a little
of some of your earlier works
Before you decided to
become an intellectual snob
Alycia
Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?
Not at all
And don't compare a down and out hack
with one of the field marshals
of British literature
Oh,he isn't down and out by any means
Have you made up your mind
yet about the BBC broadcast?
Yes,I've decided not to do them
Why not?
I don't like broadcasting
It seems a pity to waste all that material
And the BBC are offering
you a lot of money,Jonathan
That's unusual
It'll go towards your income tax
What an inducement
Anyway I don't like the stories
they're old and dated
-The BBC liked them
-Naturally
And they don't know you wrote them
I submitted them under a pen name
You what?
Yes,I was curious to know whether they'd
recognize great writing,when they saw it
Frankly they did
What name did you use?
Merrill
If you don't want to do the broadcast
let's get someone else to do them
Who do you suggest?
It doesn't really matter
-Staff announcer
-Not
-Actor
-An actor?
Well then,how about a writer,an unknown
There must be dozens who'd jump the chance
of broadcasting for a field
marshal of British literature
Alycia,I'm intrigued to know why
you pursue my business interest
with so much avidity
Business is the only thing
we have in common,Jonathan
And after all you made me your manager
Good night,Jonathan
Your holiday was wonderful
Remind you don't fall in
Of course I won't
Hurry up,slow coach
I've just got to tie up
I've got the radio thing
You don't need the radio
Heavenly
And we met only three days ago
What is it?
Jonathan?
Leave him
Do you really want it?
Of course I do,darling
I love you
But
I can't ask you,I'm a failure
-Don't say that,it isn't true
-But it is true
Look I read your books
Do I have to sell motorcars?
No
Seriously,not as long as you can
write books like "Gale warning",it's good
Obviously it needs a little
more work but it's all there
Well,Parker didn't think so
Parker doesn't know
I want you to meet Jonathan
Why?
I have an idea
Trust me
What time's dinner?
Madam has asked it to
be served at 8 o'clock,Sir
All right
Tell me the bad news,the truth
If you take things easily
you might live for 5 years
-but if you don't
-How long?
Three months at the outside
A man can do a lot in three months
I want you to carry on with the digitalis
and get this prescription made up
To take in the event of an
attack I'll give it to Pierce
What is it?
Apemphy(?),see that you
don't exceed the dose
You know,you're a terrible
trial to me,Jonathan
Am I your worst patient?
By far the worst
-I like distinction in everything
-Quite incorrigible
If you change your mind about the work
-I won't
-Good night,Jonathan
Good night
Well,that's that
What did Dr Forrest have to say?
He said my expectation of
life was a small as my ego
Small? Now you should live to be a hundred
You wouldn't like that,would you?
I haven't thought about it
And why not think about it now
-Jonathan
-Yes
Try not to force a quarrel
My dear girl,nothing was
further from my thought
I came in to talk to you about Hugh Allen
Parker spoke to me about
him this afternoon
Did he?
Parker thinks he's worth watching
I'm sure he'll benefit from your interest
Yes,I'm sure he will
I might give him that
BBC job we talked about
Take him under my wing so to speak
I can watch him closely under my wing
Good evening,Sir
Hello,Hugh
How are you
Tell my husband Mr Allen's here,will you?
Very good,Madam
Nervous?
Shaking like a leaf
Darling,I thought you'd fallen
Seriously
Jonathan read your books he'll take
the trouble to pull it to pieces
He may be unbearable,he'll patronize you
Try to put up with it,for my sake
Jonathan,this is Hugh Allen,my husband
I have to excuse you a little
dinner time Alycia,I'm very busy
Perhaps you'll look after our guest
-You are dining with us?
-Oh certainly
I wouldn't miss Mr Allen's dinner
conversation for the world
It looks very might be rather scintillating
Besides I'm anxious to learn
something about you
What's that,Sir?
I want to find out if you ever read a book
I've just discovered
you haven't written one
Excuse me,won't you
Unbelievable isn't he?
Yes,that's putting it mildly
Come and have a drink you'll need one
Of course your power of description
is practically non-existent
But you may not be a very
acute observer,Mr Allen
You should open your eyes,occasionally
And what about character?
Oh,your strokes are much too broad
No finesse no light in shade
I'm not saying your work
entirely lacks promise
Thank you
Mr Parker is here,Sir
Oh,ask him to wait,will you,Pierce
-He's in the study,Sir
-Thank you
Weren't you going to speak to Mr
Allen about the broadcast series,Jonathan?
Oh yes
Parker suggests you might be suitable
to broadcast a series of stories of mine
At a nominal fee
Are you interested?
Yes
Alycia will arrange the terms
how many hours Alycia?
Twelve
The BBC want to broadcast
them over a period of 12 weeks
And as I personally don't want
my name connected with them
We've chosen a pen name
What was it Alycia?
My maiden name
Oh,yes Merrill
What made you think of that?
I tried to think of something I
associated with happiness,Jonathan
Anyway in order to avoid complication
You're unaware of the name of the author
-Is that understood?
-Quite
Go and look after,Parker
for me,will you,Alycia?
I'll see you in a few minutes
Very well
-You're an admirer of beauty,Mr Allen
-I hope so
I suppose you're thinking how lucky I am to
be possessed of a wife as lovely as Alycia
Yes,I suppose I was
Naturally,Mr Allen,your
human is your only asset
Have you ever thought whether or
not I appreciate my good fortune?
I wouldn't presume to
Surely we men of letters can disclose
our thoughts to one another
without encroaching on personal feeling
Frankly I don't know whether
you appreciate your wife or not
Oh,but of course I never show it
I always suspect men who admire their
wives in public of beating them in private
I can't imagine anybody
beating Alycia
What a charming compliment
I wish I could think of
nice things to say about people
But I never can while they're alive
After they're dead it's easier
And speaking of the dead
what made you break
off your engagement to Jean Bridges?
I wasn't aware that you knew her
It's surprising the people I know
I was her father confessor
She told me how unhappy you made her
-We were never officially engaged
-Really?
Jean led me to believe the contrary
Still,women are like that,aren't they?
Well,I must go and see what Parker wants
Alycia will join you in the drawing room
It was nice of you to speak
to my husband about Hugh Allen
Thank you Ronnie
I tried to please,Alycia
Good evening
See you later
-I'm in deep water,Jonathan
-I know you are
Who told you?
Your late lamented secretary
Who blackmailed you over some
little falsification she found
in the company's books
I was most interested to discover
that my co-director had
joined the criminal classes
I need 3,000 pounds,Jonathan
-To cover it up with
-I borrowed the money
-Thinking I could pay it back
-Oh yes, they all do
And Jean was a very clever little girl
discovered you hadn't paid it back
I wondered when you were going
to ask me to help you
If the books were audited
I'd be arrested for fraud
Jolly bad luck
Will you help me?
Why should I?
-I was counting on you
-Is that a good reason?
We've been friends for a long time
It mustn't make crime too easy for you
It might start you off again
No,I'm sorry Ronnie
Extraordinary girl wasn't she?
Amazing courage and resource
I'm glad you think so
You must be bitter,Ronnie
Remember the old superstition
to speak ill of the dead
They'll arise and slay you
I'm sorry you can't stay
BTW that was a good idea of yours
having Allen broadcast these stories
I've decided to let him do them
-Jonathan
-Good night Ronnie
Parker asked me to say goodnight
He's feeling rather depressed
business isn't so good
Here's the first three scripts you'd
better take them home and read them
Thank you
And don't alter one single line
To deliver you from temptation
I shall send you the others
one day before each broadcast
As to the name of the series
Since this was entirely your idea,Alycia
We'll call it "the Voice of Merrill"
All right
Tonight representing the first of a
series of twelve original stories
written by a modern author
who prefers to be anonymous
The stories are brought to you by the
Voice of Merrill
I am the voice of Merrill
I'm going to tell you a story
which might be yours or mine
I wonder how many times in
our lives we use the word if
If I had done this how
different things would have been
If this had happened
or that
The whole course of my existence
might have been altered
So it was with Helen Selby
Fate sat in a corner of
her life like a spider
Spinning the curious web
That devised tragedy or success or failure
According to its whim
I found the door of Helen's
apartment austerely closed
as though determined to
share no responsibility
The tragedy it conceive
You're very quiet,darling
This is a celebration
I was wondering how all this was
going to help my career as a writer
It will,I promise you
-But how?
-Leave it to me
Anything else worry you?
What do you think
The first time since I've known him
I now feel sorry for Jonathan
He's a very sick man
We have all our lives
To us and your success,Mr Merrill
This is the third of a series of stories
brought to you by the voice of Merrill
Life started to ebb from the body that had
long since begun to die
I am the voice of Merrill
Louise was the loveliest
woman I had ever seen
Her voice was like a gentle whisper
Her beauty came into my
life like a radiant light
I can see her now silhouetted
against the endless sky listening to the
first footfalls of her lover's approach
Turn it off,Pierce
Do you follow that program?
Yes,Sir,it's most interesting
-Beautiful written
-Oh, beautifully,Sir
The style reminds me of yours
Although hardly up to your standards
You have been listening
to the voice of Merrill
-Another Merrill fan,eh?
-Yeah,pretty good
-I've been trying to place the voice
-Hugh Allen
-What's that,Sir?
-I said that is Hugh Allen
Oh really?
Well,I managed to find
Jean Bridges' banking account
That girl got some nom de plumes
Nom do what,Sir?
??? that means other names
Make me an appointment with Ronald
Parker in the morning,will you?
Right,Sir
Every successful writer
should have a secretary
Johnathan hasn't got one
Only because they can't stand him
To hear you talk anyone would
think I wrote the Merrill stories
Would they?
I wonder what goes on in
that genius brain of yours
Wait and see
I can't really afford a secretary
You won't have to
I'm not gonna let you pay
Time you got down to
some really serious work
I'll find you a secretary that will
stop you thinking of anything else
I choose her with great care
I don't want any rivals
Hello,Sara the secretary speaking
Oh,Mrs Roach
Yes,Mr Allen is just here
-Hello
-Hello,Hugh
-Everything all right
-Oh yes yes
Just fine
What time are you through at the BBC?
The rehearsals is 11 am
I should think about 1 pm
I'll pick you up
And darling
Yes
I love you
Oh,yes,I think so too
Good bye
More fan mail is arrived for
the Voice of Merrill,Mr Merrill
I mean Mr Allen it's so confusing
More enquiries about you personally
Everybody's just dying to know who you are
And what you look like
They'd get a quite a shock,wouldn't they?
They certainly would,Mr Merrill,Mr Allen
3,000 pounds deposited in
your name Mr Parker
Do you mind telling me why you gave
your secretary so much money?
It was a loan
Did she offer any security?
I didn't ask for any
Really
And she,she didn't say
what the money was for?
No
Tell me,had she access
to the firm's accounts?
Yes she had
And that in view of her record you have
no objection to the police examining them
I'm sure there's no need for that
Are you? Well,we'll see
There he is
Hold it Mr Merrill
Thank you
Hello there
Anything wrong?
I was wondering why I've just
being photographed by the press
Were you?
I'm afraid that was a little premature
What do you mean?
I'll tell you
Matey aren't they?
Yes,the highway of success,Baker
is still with men being
pushed along by women
Why aren't they doing the shopping
Sit down and go on and get in
When did first think of this?
Does it matter?
Are you really suggesting that I
should playing the work as my own?
Only if Jonathan dies
I can't do that
Why not?
For the simple reason I didn't
write the Voice of Merrill stories
But you will have written so much by then
The important thing is that when
a novel like "Gale warning" comes out
It'll be noticed because
you'll already have a name
Well,that's all very well
A name will take you years
to establish in the ordinary way
but if
-Jonathan finds out
-Jonathan doesn't want his
own name connected
with the voice of Merrill
so we wouldn't be robbing him of anything
What about Parker he knows
I didn't write the stories
I'll handle Parker
All I want you to worry
about is your writing
Except when you're with me
-Madam back yet,Pierce?
-No,Sir
-Excuse me,Sir,
-Yes
On the front page,Sir
Isn't that the gentleman who
dined here a few weeks ago?
-Yes it is
-Thank you,Sir
Alycia
I'd like a word with you
What is it?
I've been hearing quite a lot
about our program lately
It's astonishingly successful isn't it?
Yes it is
Stories must be better than I thought
So difficult to be completely
objective of one's own work
Anyway I decided to let the
public into our little secret
I propose to announce that
I'm the author
But you can't do that
Can't?
I mean the whole reason for its
success is the fact that it's anonymous
The public intrigued mystified
Anonymous?
Really?Do you call that anonymous?
I suppose that you knew
nothing about it did you?
No
And nor did your friend Mr Allen
Posing like a 5th grade matinee idol
No,Jonathan he didn't
No,no,Mr Merrill,author
of the Voice of Merrill
I suppose he was unconscious
when that was taken
Well,what are you expecting him to do?
-Wear a mask
-No I don't
I think he should stick to the
contract or is that inconvenient?
Will it stifle his status as writing the
Primrose part at the success on my back
He would be mad anyone would think
he disclosed his own name
Why didn't he,it's the
next logical step,isn't it?
Or are you waiting after I'm dead
-Let me go
-No I know I'm not Hugh Allen
If I were to die tonight you rush to prove
he didn't write the stories,wouldn't you?
It'll be worth while chinkling
(?) for,wouldn't it,Alycia?
Answer me
Take your hands off me
I'm sure he wouldn't be opposed to
having the success and prestige of a genius
plastered on to his own puny talents
He wouldn't mind crawling through
the mud to say you showed him the way
Did you (?)this?
Alycia
Tablets on the dressing table
Quickly
-How many?
-Two
Hello,may I speak to Mr Roach,please
The master was taken ill last night,Sir
Dr Forest has given instructions that
he isn't to be disturbed
I see
Do you care to speak to Mrs Roach,Sir?
No,thank you,Pierce,I'll
I'll phone later
Dr Forest is still with the Master,Pierce
-Yes,Madam
-He has to remain quiet for a long time
I understand,Madam
BTW I think I should disconnect the
telephone in his room when he is asleep
-We don't want to disturb him
-Very good,Madam
Hello,who's speaking please
Oh,Mr Parker,just one moment
I'm sorry Mr Allen is in a conference
I'll tell him Mr Parker rung
That's certainly the right way
to treat publishers,Mr Allen
Especially when they
start running after you
Hello,just one moment,I'll see
if Mr Merrill can speak to you
It's the Standard
Tell them I'll get in touch with them
I'm sorry,I'm afraid Mr Merrill
is in a script conference
Is there anything I can do?
I'm his secretary you call again
Good bye
Hello,I couldn't possibly interrupt
Mr Merrill at the moment
Oh yes,writing a play a novel
And a further radio series
I beg you pardon
I'll ask him for you
Good bye
-Good morning,Miss Quinn
-Good morning,Mrs Roach
I thought you were out
No I wasn't out
The telephones,they haven't stopped ringing
Silly,wait that was the Echo
They want to know what Mr
Merrill did in his spare time
But excuse me
I think I'll go to lunch
Alycia
Mrs Roach,you won't forget to telephone
the Pancroid Press about Mr Allen's stories
They are waiting a reply to their proposals
Thank you,I won't forget
What stories?
A collection of the Voice of Merrill series
I'm arranging publication
under the Merrill name
You're not serious
Darling I know what I'm doing
It'll be months before they come out and
by that time Jonathan maybe
Oh for heaven's sake let's drop this whole
fantastic idea we can't gamble on
-Why not?
-Why? Because
Look Jonathan had his
worst attack last night
The doctor doesn't think
he can survive another
I know the idea was to wait but
and now the newspapers are almost on to it
It'd be foolish to go back
You've organized the whole
thing perfectly for me haven't you?
Do you really mind so much?
Have you forgotten Parker knows?
Parker has too many worries of
his own to bother about us
Darling,look at me
I'm not really a hard
designing woman I love you
and I just want you to have everything
that you want for yourself,success
But of course I want success
But I want to get it on my
own merits not Jonathan's
But you will
All I'm trying to do
is to save you being worn out and
frustrated by the long climb to the top
can't you see that?
Oh once you're there you have the talent
and ability to stay does it
matter how you get there
Oh come on darling I know
I'm right,believe me
Look,look at these
Fan mail letters to the Voice of Merrill
They're coming into the BBC
by the rate of hundreds a day
Jonathan must be very pleased
Why should we have to talk about Jonathan
-Well,after all Jonathan..
-Jonathan,Jonathan-Alycia!
I'm sorry
I've got to go
I thought you were lunching with me
No I forgot to tell you
I'm luncheon with Sir John Gregson
We're going to talk about a new series
(??)they'll pay you very well
So you'd better start to work remember
keep the same style of writing
We'll lunch tomorrow my darling
and one day soon all the days of our life
I trust you have a good appetite,Sir
I could eat a horse
Not the smell perhaps
Excuse me,Sir
-Probably that fool Parker
-Yes,Sir
-The master is in his room,Sir
-Thank you,Pierce
How is chicken,Jonathan?
Stop asking damned silly questions,sit down
-I want talk to you
-You must be furious about Allen
You'll expose him of course
It looks something like a deliberate
Stop chattering,you know I loathe the
sign of anybody's voice then my own
I've been thinking about
your little financial problem
And I've decided to help you
I shall be extremely grateful
Jonathan you see I
On one condition
Oh,stop wandering about man,
get a chair and sit down
Under no circumstances
either now or the future
Will you reveal to anyone
that Allen's claim to be the
author of my stories is not true
-Not true?
-N O T spelled not
But I don't understand
You don't have to
Bring me that chair
-But surely I'm not going to
-I'm not let him get away with it
I'm still very much alive
and have plenty of time to
work out Allen's punishment
Before I give you this check
I want your solemn promise
Hugh Allen wrote the Voice of Merrill
Is that's the way you want it,Jonathan?
That's the way I want it
I don't know what you have in mind
I want him to have his hour
I want to open his gullet and
swallow the whole Milky Way
Higher he climbs the harder he'll fall
And I want you to write a letter
A letter?
To Hugh Allen
For that you're getting three thousand
pounds to put things right at your office
So the police need never know that Jean
Bridges has been blackmailing you
And they never realized what an
excellent motive you had for murdering her
Will they?
Jonathan
-Should you be up?
-Of course not dear
According to Dr Forest
I should pushing up daisies
I certainly don't
intend to do that just yet
The uncertainty must be
quite terrifying for you
Incidentally has Allen done anything
about that preposterous claim of his?
What preposterous claims?
Alycia
Oh,you mean the photograph
Yes,I'm sure he'll trying to
do something about that
When?Next year
Whenever he's finished reading the series
I suppose you would prefer him
to make his own little confession
wouldn't you?
Yes please Jonathan
Unless I should happen
to die in the mean time
And it wouldn't be necessary,would it?
I can see that's the upper thoughts
in your mind at the moment
-Oh,Pierce
-Sir
Tell me how would you do
if you were suddenly informed
you only had a short time to live
Oh,speaking quite impersonal
you understand,Pierce
I trust so,Sir
Oh,fascinating position in which
to found oneself in,don't you think?
Little eery,Sir
However I suppose ones natural instinct
would be to do something little daring,Sir
Depending upon how much energy one
could expend in the process
Speaking for myself,Sir,there's
a complete nonentity as it were
I would be inclined to perform at least
one small act of national service
And what would that consist?
It will entail the sh**ting of at
least two prominent cabinet ministers,Sir
I'm convinced the only thing deterring
a number of persons from a similar course
is the fear of the consequences
if one could remove that
I see your point
May I be permitted to inquire
what you would do,Sir?
Of course,Pierce,I should
write my greatest story
Probably to read after my death
It would be about a girl
with three men friends
She deceives each one in turn
Oh,yes,Sir
Yes and she irritates one to such an extent
That he decides to teach her a sharp lesson
-So he sh**t her
-Indeed,Sir
You won't forget your medicine,will you,Sir
No,all right
Good morning,Mr Allen
Good morning
What is it?
It's from Parker
Mr Jonathan Roach requested me to take care
of the last remaining story
in the Merrill series
I will therefore pass
to the BBC for approval in the usual way
and deliver it to you in reasonable time
before you are due to go on the air
May I see?
Go on the end Mr Roach has informed
me that the BBC and the general public
had remained permanently
under the impression
that you were the original
author of this series
I wonder what Jonathan
If he's trying to humiliate me
he's chosen a funny way of doing it
Sent apart these letters
Do we have to use his story?
Why can't we use the one I've written?
I'm afraid it's not quite
good enough,darling
Oh,what's wrong with it?
You can do better when
you're not quite so worried
I see
Of course you can
Alycia
Jonathan is waiting for me to read the last
story in the Merrill series
before he breaks me,isn't he?
Perhaps but darling he might do anything
he's quite unpredictable
He hates me
He hated me from the
very first moment we met
What are we going to do?
I won't let him break you
Alycia
I don't know what I going to do
but I think of something
-Listen to me
-Don't call me
I'll get in touch with you
Pierce,I want Mr Parker to
have this by tonight
I see to it,Sir
Thank you
Thank you,Pierce,I forgot my keys
The master is in the study Madam
-Isn't it your night out?
-Yes,Madam
You can go whenever you
like I shall be in this evening
Thank you
You won't let the master forget
his medicine at 8 o'clock,Madam?
Just two drops
-Where's Pierce?
-It's his night out he went off early
I told him I get your medicine for you
It's alright I've taken it
-You took your medicine?
-Yes
When does Allen do his last broadcast?
This Thursday
I suppose he's told you I've
decided not to expose him as a fraud
He has
Kind of me,don't you think?
Unusual of you
Yes
Instead I'm going to prove that
he m*rder*d Jean Bridges
Why do you say he m*rder*d her?
That's not quite the point I
said I was got to prove he did it
Oh,I see you don't appreciate
the irony of the situation,Alycia
I'm afraid I don't
Nor the pleasures of uncertainty of not
knowing what's around the corner,perhaps
If that's a pleasure I've certainly had
it since I was married to you
You should be congratulated
Most women find life rather
dull after five years of marriage
You can't say that about ours
No,Jonathan
Ours was never dull
Good night,Jonathan
Good night
I told you to keep away
why did you come here for?
I came to stop you
Hugh
This will haunt us the rest of our lives
He had a heart attack
You'd always think of it like that
Yes
We'll always speak the same
I'll telephone the doctor
You must go before he gets here
Whatever you do wait for
me to get in touch with you
Go
New style Standard
Thank you,Sir
Read all about it famous author dies
New style Standard
Dear Parker,I've cause to believe that
for a reason in which you must be aware
my wife is planning to m*rder me
in the circumstances I think it would be
advisable to take the necessary steps to
ascertain beyond doubt
the cause of my death
Yours truly Jonathan Roach
He says for a reason of
which you must be aware of
What is that reason?
Anything to do with Hugh Allen?
I believe so
I,I happen to know that
Mrs Roach is in love with him
Any other reason?
Isn't that enough ?
Well if you subscribe to the
view that love justifies m*rder
I suppose it is
After all a number of
people have thought so
A man suffering from cardiac
liable to pop off at any moment
and a wife who feel that
moment may never come
It's interesting,quite interesting
Well,thank you Mr Parker
You'll keep in touch with us,won't you?
-All right
-Order a car,Baker-Yes,Sir
You haven't forgotten your appointment
with Alison publications have you,Mr Allen
-What time is it for
-11 o'clock
Use our headache tell him I can't make it
Has Mrs Roach telephoned this morning?
No,no she hasn't
Will you get her for me
now? I'll take it in here
Inspector Thornton to see you,Madam
And Mr Allen to speak you on the phone
Thank you
I'll ask him to hold the line
Good morning I'm sorry to
trouble you at a time like this
But from information received
I'm compelled to ask for
an autopsy on the body of your husband
Purely a formality
What information?
I'm afraid I can't disclose that
Have you any objections?
Then I'll make the arrangements
I won't trouble you more than necessary
Hello,Alycia
Hugh
I had to phone is everything all right?
Yes,yes of course everything's all right
But you sound worried,are you sure?
Quite sure
Listen,darling
I may not be able to see
your broadcast tomorrow
Why not?
There's so much to do here,you know
Arrangements and things
I shall be listening to
you,of course,as usual
Alycia
If anything should happen
you let me know,won't you?
Of course I will,hi darling
Don't worry
-Good evening,Ronnie
-Good evening
Your script
Thank you
Allen?
Now that Jonathan is dead I think the
least you can do is to tell the truth
But if you feel so strongly
about it why don't you?
Because I gave Jonathan a
promise not to expose you
-What was his object?
-I don't know
Whatever it is I have to respect it
I'm sorry Ronnie
Well I hope you enjoy your triumph
And I hope it won't be too short-lived
What do you mean?
You haven't heard about the autopsy?
Autopsy?
The police have reason to believe
that Jonathan may have been poisoned
They've ordered an autopsy
You look very nervous of that already
You're on the air in five minutes,Mr Allen
Hello,hello
Come in
It's Mr Allen
Hello
Alycia
I've just heard
Now listen to me whatever
you do don't talk to the police
I'm going to them
myself after the broadcast
No,darling
I shall say that I quarrelled
with him over the stories
and saw the chance to
put that stuff in his glass
No Hugh
Oh,I wanted it to happen
as much as you did
I knew you were going to do it,
I could have stopped you
But you did try
-Mr Allen they are waiting for you
-Right
-Alycia
-Hugh
Hugh,darling,no
I'd like to see Mrs Roach,please
Inspector Thornton to see you,Madam
Show him in
I have to inform you,Madam,that the
autopsy ordered on your late husband
showed that he died from natural causes
I shan't have to to trouble you any more
Good day,Madam
Hugh
Pierce
Madam
What are you doing?
I was removing a stain
from the carpet,Madam
I think the Master must have dropped
his port wine glass before he died
The voice of Merrill number 12
written and told by Hugh Merrill
I decided to k*ll Jean not through jealousy
an emotion I have always deplored
but because of the insults she levelled at
my intelligence that I
could never forgive
Her excuses her miserable
protestation of innocence
would scarcely have annoyed me
had they not been accompanied
by the impertinent presumption
that I would accept them
How dare she
I had known about Jean's
lover for some time
He was a writer like myself
Please,hurry
I laid my plans very carefully
I parked my car some
distance from the block of flats
and walked the rest of the way
I passed no one I knew it was
dark when I reached the street
where she lived
The kind of night that suited me well
cold and black with few people abroad
I walked slowly measuring my tread
and feeling the pain of my aching heart
I made my way into the
front entrance building
because I knew the porter
would not be there
I had thought even of so lowly
creature as the night porter
Jean was barely important enough to k*ll
She was certainly not
important enough to hang for
As I drew near to her room
and heard the sound of cheap music that
so typified her
I felt only one momentary
qualm then it vanished
At this last glimpse of
feminine complacency
Is that you,darling?
I looked at the vase she had knocked over
And the water dripping
into the open handbag
And somehow I caught from
this a strange sense of
foreboding for someone
I wondered if it was for me
You've been listening to
the voice of Merrill
written and told by Hugh Merrill
A vase with water dripping
into an open hand bag
Good heavens
He's told an almost parallel
story with the Bridge's m*rder
and he's disclosed something in her flat
that only the m*rder*r apart from ourselves
could possibly have known about
The voice of Merrill got
some explaining to do
BBC
Mr Allen
I was coming to see you
Were you? We found your
story very interesting
Based on fact wasn't it?
On personal experience
No
Are you sure? You wrote it didn't you?
No I didn't write it
It was written,it was written
by Jonathan Roach
This gentleman can prove it
Are you prepared to say,Hugh Allen
did not write the story you just broadcast?
Well
No,I'm not prepared to say
Mrs Roach can prove I didn't write it
In that case we'd better
have a word with her
Do you mind coming along to the Yard?
You too,Sir,if you don't mind
Could I have your autograph
please,Mr Merrill
Me too please
Thank you
Thanks very much
Hugh
Don't say anything to them
Everything
All right
After all
Of course
Keep trying
My love
God bless you
There's something I should
explain to you,Inspector
All right
m*rder Will Out (1952)
Moderator: Maskath3
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