MUSIC: SHIMMER OF "MYSTERY THEME"...ENGINEER: FADE IN - BUILD - THEN FADE TO BACKGROUND MORGAN: "Mystery in the Air" starring Peter Lorre ... Presented by Camel Cigarettes. MUSIC: "MYSTERY IN THE AIR" THEME CROWD: (ON ECHO - MURMUR) SOUND: GAVEL - THREE MEASURED BEATS JUDGE: (OFF, ON ECHO) (COUGHS) ... and it is the sentence of this Court that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead - and may God have mercy on your soul! (COUGH) SOUND: GAVEL BEAT CROWD: (REACTION, OFF - FADE OUT) MUSIC: STRINGS - SHIMMER - PICK UP AT END OF JUDGE'S SPEECH - DOWN - OUT LORRE: No, no, no - I neither expect nor solicit belief for this wild story - I would be mad to expect it. Yet mad I'm not and very surely do I not dream. But while there is still time, I don't know why - I feel compelled to report a series of mere household events. In their consequences, these events have terrified - have tortured - have destroyed me. Perhaps someone more calm, more logical, but certainly far less excitable than I, will be able to explain them. I can not. I can only tell you the facts - and that I have to do today - because tomorrow - I die!! MUSIC: "MYSTERY THEME" - SWELLS BIG - THEN TO B.G. MORGAN: Each week at this time, Camel cigarettes bring you Peter Lorre in the excitement of the great stories of the strange and unusual..of dark and compelling masterpieces culled from the four corners of world literature. MUSIC: OUT MORGAN; Tonight ... Edgar Allan Poe's immortal American classic, "The Black Cat." MUSIC: GONG..THEN SNEAK IN CURTAIN ROY: "Mystery in the Air"....starring Peter Lorre, brought to you by Camel Cigarettes. MUSIC: CURTAIN UP TO FINISH (APPLAUSE) FIRST COMMERCIAL ROY: Experience is the best teacher! Try a Camel. Let your own experience tell you why more people are smoking Camels than ever before! Give your "T-Zone" the experience of enjoying a Camel... and see if you don't join the millions of other smokers who say..."Camels suit my 'T-Zone' to a T!" Your "T-Zone"... that's T for Taste and T for Throat...is your true proving ground for any cigarette. See if Camel's rich, full flavor isn't a delightful experience for your Taste...if Camel's cool mildness isn't more than welcome to your Throat! Try a Camel! MUSIC: "MYSTERY IN THE AIR" THEME TO SHIMMER..THEN UNDER AND OUT LORRE: Believe me, there was nothing - absolutely nothing in my childhood which forecast the terrible events that were to come. As a child, I was very gentle - I got along very well with everyone - but most I liked animals - animals of all kinds. Then I married quite young, and I was very happy to find that my wife shared my feelings. Very soon we had quite a collection - we had birds, goldfish - we had a dog, some rabbits, and we had a cat. I will never forget the day my wife brought him home -- SOUND: (OFF) DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES LORRE: (FADING IN) Hello, sweet - home so early? WIFE: Look, Charles, what I've brought. CAT: (KITTEN MEWS) LORRE: Oh, look at the little kitty. Where did you get it, darling? WIFE: The poor little thing - some dogs wore chasing it, and I just rescued it in time. It was so frightened. LORRE: Look - now it's not frightened any more. WIFE: It seems to love you, Charles. But then that's not strange - all animals do. LORRE: Yes - nobody is going to hurt you, little kitty. How about a little milk, huh? CAT: (KITTEN MEWS) SOUND: CLATTER OF SAUCER, POURING MILK LORRE: Yes - there, you see - he must have been very hungry. What is your name? WIFE: I don't suppose he has a name. He is so young - I don't think he belongs to anybody. LORRE: Well then we have to give him a name. WIFE: Oh, you mean we can keep him? LORRE: (SURPRISED) Keep him? If he has no home we can't turn him out in the streets, can we? WIFE: Oh, Charles, I was hoping you'd let him stay. LORRE: Of course. But he must have a name. Let's see - he is black - yes, all black - there is not a single white mark on him. Ah, I have it - he is as black as the devil. Let's call him Pluto. CAT: (KITTEN MEWS) LORRE: Yes, we'll call you Pluto. MUSIC: BRIDGE, FADES AND CONTINUES UNDER LORRE: Pluto grew up to be a remarkably beautiful cat and of all the animals in our house he became my favorite and my playmate...until it all changed. Yes, as the years went on, my character suffered a radical change... everything changed. Why? Well, I'm ashamed... I hate to admit it...but - through - through intemperance - yes, through intemperance...and then, as drink became more and more necessary to me, I became more and more moody and irritable. MUSIC: UP AND OUT WIFE: Charles - where are you going? LORRE: (SULLEN) I don't have to tell you where I'm going! WIFE: Oh, Charles - what's happening to you? LORRE: What do you mean, what's happening to me? WIFE: You never used to go out every night, to those vile places -- LORRE: Will you please stop nagging - stop it! I go out because I can't stand listening to you nag - nag - nag! all day long. WIFE: (NEAR TEARS) I don't know what's come over you... CAT: (MEWS) LORRE: Oh, there -- there, see? (TO WIFE) Why don't you learn from Pluto? He doesn't ask me where I'm going... CAT: (MEWS) LORRE: Yes, that's right - you never do, no - come here. Pluto, come here. CAT: (CRIES) WIFE: Be careful, Charles! Don't pick him up like that - you're hurting him! LORRE: (THICKLY) I'm not hurting him, I-- OUCH! He bit me! You devil - I'll show you --! WIFE: Don't, Charles - don't! LORRE: You beast - MUSIC: BRIDGE, FADES AND CONTINUES UNDER LORRE: Yes - I hate to admit it, but I was so furious I kicked Pluto and I kicked him again and hard. And the next morning I saw that his ear was torn and I was filled with remorse for what I had done. And from then on, Pluto ran away in terror whenever I approached. That in turn made me more and more irritated - And in the end it was sheer perverseness - nothing else! Yes, sheer and unexplainable perverseness that made me do what I did. Yes - I blush to admit it - but one morning I strangled the poor animal. And I killed it only because I knew that it had loved me, and because it had given me no reason for offense. No - I am offering no excuse - I am only recounting what happened. Well, in the evening I went to the inn as usual - and I came home very late and I fell fast asleep with my clothes on. Then I was awakened suddenly -- MUSIC: UP TO CLIMAX, OUT SOUND: FLAMES, OFF VOICE: (OFF...) Fire! Fire! CROWD: MURMUR, OFF. WIFE: (ALARMED) What? Charles -- Charles -- Wake up!!! LORRE: (WAKING) Huh? What's the matter? WIFE: There must be a fire -- I smell smoke -- VOICES: (OFF) Fire -- fire -- get the people out -- etc. LORRE: (AWAKE NOW) Good heavens -- look -- it's our house -- our own house is burning -- hurry, we'll be trapped -- SOUND: DOOR WRENCHED OPEN LORRE: Quick -- the stairs are on fire -- SOUND: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS DOWNSTAIRS -- FIRE LOUDER WIFE: (GASPING) I can't -- I-- LORRE: Don't talk -- Perhaps I can get through the flames -- don't breathe! (GASPS) Oh - here's the front door. SOUND: DOOR OPENS, FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL, SLOW DOWN, STOP CROWD: REACTIONS, CONTINUE UNDER SCENE LORRE: (PANTING) We -- we made it -- we're safe -- WIFE: Oh, Charles -- look -- our house -- (CRIES) MAN I: (COMING UP) Anybody else in there? LORRE: No -- nobody else.. MAN I: Just as well -- never could get them out now. Are you the owner? LORRE: (HEAVILY) Yes, -- that was our house. MAN I: Well, you haven't got much left then. We can't save it now -- MAN II: (RUSHING UP) Stand back -- stand back everybody!!! The roof's going to fall in!!!! Stand back! SOUND: FLAMES UP CROWD: REACTION MAN I: (YELLING) There it goes!!! SOUND: CRASH AS ROOF FALLS IN...NOISE OF FLAMES - DOWN CROWD: BIG REACTION, FADES SOMEWHAT MAN I: Well, it's down now! MAN II: Funny, nothing is left but that one wall in the middle. WOMAN: Look at it!!!! VOICE 1: What about it? WOMAN: Well look at it...on the wall. VOICE 1: Say that is strange. MAN I: What are you talking about? - What's strange? VOICE 1: There - on the wall that's still standing. WOMAN: The marks on the plaster!! MAN I: Marks? What marks? VOICE 1: What's the matter, are you blind!!!? Right up there an the wall -- that black figure!! WOMAN: (AMUSED DISCOVERY) Why, it looks like a cat!! MAN II: Yeah it does - the smoke must have done it -- (ALSO AMUSED) but it certainly does look like a cat. LORRE: What looks like a cat? MAN II: There - and it's got one floppy ear!! WOMAN: That's funny - that's really funny. CAST: LAUGHS LORRE: (HYSTERICAL) Funny? No -- it's not funny!! Not funny at all. I know what it is -- it's Pluto -- I recognize him. I know it is -- his ear is torn, see? Oh, you beast -- That hideous beast -- he's come back to haunt me -- I can't stand it---- I can't ------ (MOANS) SOUND: BODY FALL MAN I: Get some water, somebody. This fellow's fainted!! MUSIC: CURTAIN (APPLAUSE) MORGAN: In a few moments, Mr. Peter Lorre will bring us the climax of tonight's "Mystery In The Air" when Camels present Act Two of - "The Black Cat". MUSIC: GONG ROY: Ask a champion the secret of his success...and no doubt you'll get the same answer every time: "Experience is the best teacher!" Take Rose Gould, for instance-- featured aerialist of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Miss Gould says it took experience to teach her that famous seventy-five-foot dive into space. Mildred O'Donnell, diving champion, thanks experience for her crown. Yes, they all learned from experience, just as smokers everywhere learned from experience about cigarettes. Back in the days of the wartime cigarette shortage, millions of smokers tried brand after brand-- smoked whatever they could get. And that experience made people experts in judging the differences in cigarette quality. That was when so many people discovered that Camels suit their "T-Zones" to a T...that Camels give them the rich, full flavor and the cool mildness they have always wanted. As a result: CHANDLER: (FILTER) More people are smoking Camels than ever before! ROY: Experience is the best teacher! Try a Camel yourself! MUSIC: "MYSTERY" THEME TO SHIMMER - THEN UNDER AND OUT MORGAN: The black cat is dead -- killed by its master. The house is burned to the ground, with everything in it completely destroyed. Now the scene is the almost deserted, candle-lit tap room of a local inn. INNKEEPER: Don't you think you'd better go on home, sir? It's late. LORRE: (DEPTHS OF DEPRESSION) Home? You should see the terrible place where my wife and I are living now. INNKEEPER: (SYMPATHETICALLY) I heard you lost everything in the fire. LORRE: Yes - I lost my house -- lost everything -- INNKEEPER: How about the black cat of yours you used to talk about all the time? What was its name ---? LORRE: Pluto? Yes -- Pluto's gone, too. And I tell you I miss him --- I miss him very much.... INNKEEPER: If you miss him that much, why don't you get another cat? LORRE: Bring me a drink! INNKEEPER: It's pretty late sir -- I mean, won't your wife be expecting you? LORRE: Bring me a drink! INNKEEPER: Yes sir. (FADING) But I'll have to fetch another bottle. SOUND: DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES LORRE: (TO HIMSELF) Why don't I get another cat, he said. Well -- why don't I? No reason I shouldn't -- No reason to be in the depths of despair, just because of a cat. Yes - yes - if I get another cat, then perhaps I'll be able to forget ---- CAT: MEWS, OFF LORRE: What's that!!? Why -- why there's a cat now, sitting on top of the table!! A black cat. That's strange -- I've been staring at that table for five minutes, and I could swear there was no cat on it before. Where did it come from? My, you are a beautiful cat -- just as black as Pluto, except you've got a splotch of white on your chest ---- CAT: MEWS, CLOSER LORRE: That's right -- come sit on my lap. You are so friendly --- such a nice cat. I'd like to -- SOUND: DOOR OPENS...CLICK OF GLASS INNKEEPER: (COMING ON) Here you are sir. LORRE: Never mind the drink --- where did this cat come from? INNKEEPER: Cat? Oh, big one, isn't it? I don't know where it came from. Or how it got in either, for that matter. I've never seen it around here before. LORRE: You don't know who it belongs to? INNKEEPER: No. Far as I'm concerned it belongs to you, if you want it. I can't keep it here -- my wife doesn't like cats -- especially black ones! LORRE: Doesn't like cats? How stupid. (SUDDEN RESOLVE) Yes I want it. I want it very much! I'll take it home with me, right now!! MUSIC: BRIDGE WIFE: Charles -- this is such a wonderful cat -- CAT: MEWS WIFE: Just since last week it's made itself so much at home. Why, you'd think it had lived here always. LORRE: (NERVOUS) Yes -- yes -- I noticed that. WIFE: It reminds me so much of Pluto. LORRE: (HASTILY) But this one has the patch of white on its chest -- don't forget that. WIFE: That's right. But I can't help wondering ---- I wonder what ever became of Pluto? He disappeared the day of the fire --- LORRE: (INTERRUPTING) I know, I know - he disappeared! (TRYING TO LAUGH IT OFF) Maybe he knew the house was going to burn down.... CAT: MEWS WIFE: Oh, see how it loves you? It's rubbing against your leg, just the way Pluto used to ---- LORRE: (FLARING UP) Stop talking about Pluto!!!! WIFE: (HURT) Why --- I didn't mean --- LORRE: (GETTING HOLD OF HIMSELF) I -- I'm sorry, dear. But all this talk about how much this new cat resembles Pluto -- it makes me nervous! (THEN DESPERATELY) Look, there's hardly any resemblance at all, really.... Except that they're both black. This one has that white patch on his chest, and --- WIFE: (INTERRUPTING) Oh, the poor thing! Charles, look -- his ear is torn. LORRE: What!!? WIFE: See? Here, under the fur. I never noticed that before. LORRE: (FEVERISHLY) Neither did I. WIFE: Why, it's just the way --(STAMMERS AS SHE STOPS HERSELF FROM REFERRING TO PLUTO) --- I mean -- LORRE: Go ahead, say it!!! It's torn just the way Pluto's ear was torn when I kicked him. That's it, isn't it??? WIFE: (PACIFICALLY) He must have been in a fight, or something. But it's curious we didn't notice it --- LORRE: Curious!? You have no idea how curious it is..!!! Get that cat out of my sight!!!! WIFE: You're mad!! How can you act that way about a poor dumb animal -- especially one that loves you so much? LORRE: Take it out of here!!! WIFE: Now you've frightened it - LORRE: (MUTTERING) Get it away from me!!! WIFE: The way you talk, anybody'd think you don't even like the poor cat. LORRE: Like it?! I hate it, I tell you -- hate it -- hate it hate it!!! MUSIC: BRIDGE, FADES AND CONTINUES UNDER LORRE: Yes, in the short time the cat had been with us, I had come to look upon it with unutterable loathing. Why, I do not know. Yet the more I hated it, the more affectionate it acted toward me. Wherever I went, it followed. Whenever I sat down, it would spring upon my knees and cover me with its loathsome caresses. As if this were not enough, the white patch on its chest, which originally had been very indefinite in shape, gradually assumed a definite outline --- the unmistakable and ghastly shape of the gallows -- that terrible engine of Horror, of Agony, and of Death. I longed to destroy the beast, but I was prevented by an absolute, unreasoning dread. I was sure I was going out of my mind. MUSIC: UP AND OUT WIFE: Charles, are -- are you going out again? LORRE: (SNARLS) Yes-- I'm going out! And I don't know when I'll be back -- WIFE: Oh. Before you go, do you suppose --? LORRE: Well, what is it? WIFE: Will you help me bring up some wood from the cellar? LORRE: Why do you always want more wood! WIFE: The house is cold and you know I haven't been feeling well - I'm not strong enough to carry it myself. LORRE: Oh, all right. Come on, I'll help you. SOUND: DOOR OPENS. TWO SETS OF FOOTSTEPS START TO DESCEND STAIRS LORRE: You might have thought of this before... WIFE: Look out!! SOUND: SUDDEN STUMBLE CAT: MEWS WITH STUMBLE LORRE: (LOSING CONTROL) That cat! It's always under my feet! It tried to trip me on the stairs.... WIFE: Oh, no...I'm sure it... LORRE: (FEVERISH) I'll get rid of that beast, once and for all! SOUND: METAL CLANK OF CROWBAR WIFE: (SCREAMS) Charles, put down that crowbar!! LORRE: Get out of the way. WIFE: No no...stop... LORRE: Let go my arm! WIFE: You don't know what you're doing! LORRE: (IN FURY) Are you going to let go!!? WIFE: Oh, please! LORRE: I said let go! SOUND: BLOW..BODY FALL LORRE: (PAUSE) Well - why didn't you let me go?? MUSIC: BRIDGE. FADE AND CONTINUE UNDER NARRATION LORRE: Yes, she had fallen dead without a groan. In my blind rage against the cat, I had struck my wife and killed her. Well - nothing I can do about it now - all I could do was set myself to the task of concealing the body. I thought and I deliberated - and then it occurred to me that in the Middle Ages they used to wall up their victims, and I determined to do the same thing, behind the wall in the cellar. I managed to dislodge a section of bricks near the chimney, and in the hole behind them I propped the body. Then I carefully laid the bricks back in their original position. When I had finished, no one could have told that the wall had been disturbed at all. Well I could say to myself, triumphantly "here at least, my labor has not been in vain." My next step then was to look for the cat that had been the cause of so much misery, but then I became aware that it had completely disappeared. Three days passed, and still my tormenter did not appear. It is impossible to describe or to imagine the deep sense of my relief. For the first time in months I slept - yes, slept, even with the burden of murder on my soul. Some few inquiries were made about my wife's whereabouts - a search of the house was conducted, but nothing was discovered. I looked upon my future as secure. MUSIC: UP AND OUT SOUND: KNOCK - DOOR OPEN LORRE: Yes? CONSTABLE: Good day, sir - SERGEANT: Sorry to disturb you again. LORRE: Oh, it's you, Sergeant. Is there anything I can do for you? SERGEANT: Well, they're still puzzled about your wife's disappearance. LORRE: Well so am I. SERGEANT: Some of her friends have been around to the police station-- LORRE: What's that got to do with me? You've already searched the house twice - what do you want? SERGEANT: (APOLOGETIC) I know. But the Captain sent me and the constable here to look around just once more - to be sure there's no clue been overlooked. This will be the last time, sir - only a matter of routine. We won't bother you again. LORRE: (GRUDGINGLY) Oh, all right - come in. SERGEANT: Thank you, sir. Come on, Joe. CONSTABLE: Right. SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON WOOD LORRE: Where would you like to look first? SERGEANT: Well, we might as well begin with the cellar-- LORRE: The cellar? Oh, yes-- SOUND: DOOR OPENS LORRE: Right down those steps...I'll come with you-- SOUND: THREE MEN GOING DOWN WOODEN STAIRS SERGEANT: (EXPANSIVELY) (OVER THIS) Yes, I always say searching a house is like getting ahead in the world - you start at the bottom. (LAUGHS) LORRE: (VERY NERVOUS) Yes, yes, I see. Very funny. SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ONTO LEVEL CEMENT, STOP SERGEANT: Well, come on, Constable -- get to work. CONSTABLE: Right. SOUND: MOVE CHAIRS AND BOXES - SEARCHING SOUNDS UNDER LORRE: While they searched, I folded my arms and watched. As before, they discovered nothing. As they were about to depart, the glee in my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say but one word, by way of triumph. As they started up the steps-- SOUND: TWO STEPS LORRE: I said, "Have you noticed this is a very well-constructed house - gentlemen, you're not going -- SOUND: STEPS STOP LORRE: An excellently constructed house." In the frenzy of my bravado, upon that very portion of the brickwork behind which stood the corpse of my wife, I rapped with my cane -- SOUND: RAPPING OF CANE CONTINUES UNDER LORRE: But may heaven deliver me from the Arch Fiend (CANE RAP) -- what was that? SOUND: FOUR CANE RAPS CAT: SUDDEN BANSHEE SCREECH FROM CAT, MUFFLED LORRE: (GASPS) SERGEANT: Mother of mercy, what was that!? LORRE: The - the wind, probably. SERGEANT: Wind, - that's not the wind. It came when you hit this wall here! SOUND: RAPPING ON BRICK AGAIN CAT: ANOTHER WAIL CONSTABLE: Whatever it is, it's behind these bricks, Sarge. SERGEANT: Here, take this crowbar and knock the wall down. CONSTABLE: Right. LORRE: Wait a minute, you can't--- SERGEANT: Keep quiet, you! SOUND: CROWBAR ON MASONRY, CONTINUES UNDER FOLLOWING SERGEANT: (OVER ABOVE) Wait a minute, where are you going? LORRE: Upstairs -- I -- SERGEANT: You stay right here! SOUND: CROWBAR STOPS CONSTABLE: This is new plaster - hasn't had time to set yet. SERGEANT: Ah!! Pull it down! SOUND: MORE WORK WITH CROWBAR CONSTABLE: Here she comes - look out!! SOUND: BIG CRASH OF FALLING MASONRY ALL: HORRIFIED EXCLAMATIONS SERGEANT: Well, there's what we're looking for, all right - his wife's body! CONSTABLE: What's that horrible looking thing sitting on her head? CAT: MEWS LORRE: (HYSTERICALLY) It's the cat!! SERGEANT: How did that cat get in there? LORRE: (HYSTERICAL) I know how it got in there - I must have walled it up in the tomb - and I never knew it! Look at that red mouth - those burning eyes - you hideous beast - you monster - you devil!! You made me a murderer, and now for three days you've been in there, waiting - waiting to send me to the gallows. Well, the hangman will get me, and I hope you're satisfied -- I hope you're satisfied!! MUSIC: BUILDS UP BIG FOR CURTAIN (APPLAUSE) COMMERCIAL ROY: Each week, the makers of Camel Cigarettes send free Camels to servicemen's hospitals from coast to coast. This week the Camels go to Veterans' Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama...U.S. Army McCormack General Hospital, Pasadena, California...U.S. Naval Hospital, Houston, Texas.... U.S. Marine Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.... and Veterans' Hospital, Dayton, Ohio. ANDERSEN: When three leading independent research organizations asked one hundred thirteen thousand, five hundred and ninety-seven doctors...doctors living in every state of the Union -- What cigarette do you smoke, Doctor? The brand named most was Camel. CHANDLER: (FILTER) According to a nationwide survey, more doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette. MUSIC: "MYSTERY IN THE AIR" THEME...FADE UNDER TO BACKGROUND MORGAN: Next week, "Mystery In The Air", starring Mr. Peter Lorre, brings you an adaptation of one of our star's greatest motion pictures, "Crime and Punishment", based on the book by Feodor Dostoevsky, with a special musical score composed and conducted by Paul Baron. MUSIC: COMMERCIAL LEAD IN... FADE OUT ON CUE HITCHHIKE CHANDLER: Mister Pipe Smoker! Here's proof for you - proof that Prince Albert is a satisfying smoke! More pipes smoke Prince Albert than any other tobacco! Naturally! Prince Albert is a mellow, mild tobacco with a rich, full flavor - choice tobacco specially made for smoking pleasure. Specially treated to insure against tongue bite - crimp cut to burn slow, smoke cool. See if one pipeful of P.A. doesn't convince you that Prince Albert is your favorite, too. Beginning two weeks from tonight - Thursday, October second - Camel's comedy-quiz, "The Bob Hawk Show", will be heard at this time over these same NBC stations. NBC ANNCR: THIS IS NBC ... THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY.