U.S. Steel Hour: "Scene of Crime" (6/27/1962)

[Music] a United States Steel hour live from New York next a man revisits the scene of the crime and tries to piece together the story of a Murder [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] but of course we won't be back in time for supper so we fix a little snack for us sure thing be careful that backyard has my parents nothing elaborate just a nice Rose suckling pig and baked Alaska oh you never know when I'm falling do you no just some soup in the sand I'll do better than that I know you will oh Mrs fellow wouldn't you think that we were going around the world instead of overnight to Sharon but that's the way I am I like to make a fuss is that a sign of old age no I wouldn't know but goodbye everybody see you tomorrow what's the big rush to get back tomorrow is my bridge club I want I was that for any but the place is never the same without you and without Ronnie too we miss both of you when you're mean enough to leave us like this I adore you all right baby up have you got the tickets I've been one Spade I pass okay to give its Betty oh not tonight I have papers tomorrow don't tell me that she's forgotten something yes can I help you my name is uh Stern yes John Stern okay can I help you uh the sign out on the lawn and it says you have a vacancy oh this is Miss Swan one of our guests show him number 15 Betty that's a lovely room in the front oh uh I prefer a room in the back you would I don't mind the train noises well they enjoy number 12 Betty all right you go on now hurry up before they run us I've got to go um yes it's all ready for occupancy oh and the room is vacant so the keys in the door any trouble oh it's no trouble at all we're supposed to be very genteel around here you'll notice Mrs pigeon calls us guests but we all double in brass when the occasion calls for it is that kind of boarding house your first visit to our Fair City Mr Stone not really no I was here a while back many years ago did you live here Mr Stern uh pardon me did you live in this house oh no Mr Stern may I present Miss Rose Thompson how do you do Mr Stewart and her sister Miss Edna Thompson how do you do and Miss price how do you do what's happening to Mr Wells oh he went to get to you he'll be right back who did you say our solitary male resident Mr Wells could we see the room now yeah Mr Wells Mr stern oh how do you do huh how do you do Stern that's right have we ever met before Mr Stone well that's highly likely I was here only once before in my life a very short visit well I sincerely hope you decide not to stay you see I've been the only man in this nest of charming ladies I've such a long time but I don't relish any competition are you a bridge player Mr stew oh I used to play uh with a lady named fennel does she still live here you know Mrs Fennell she certainly does still live here he owns Green Mountain House she'll be back tomorrow night will she could we see the room now oh of course this way a very nice young man I'd say a little shy perhaps here I'd say 20 years ago that would be just about the time of the murder the time of the year did you say murder officially you're not supposed to know anything about it until you've lived here for five years and you've only been here three it's the first rule of Green Mountain House and Mr Wells has just broken it to Pieces Mrs fennel won't allow anybody to know about the murder until they're very well ensconced here well I think that's perfectly ridiculous I I certainly feel I have the right to know tell her Mr Wells It's Your Privilege as the only guest who was resident at the time well 20 years ago a young woman a beautiful young woman was murdered in the room upstairs not my room no no no not your room is price not your room follow me Mr Stern [Music] not that one Mr Stan that happens to be my room I thought since this was at the back this might be the one no that's mine the vegan one is number 12. Mr Stern the room's back here don't get the morning sun well that's all right and the passing trains do make noise I don't mind noise but the front rooms don't have cross ventilation and they don't have fireplaces as for the food they serve here Mr Stern you won't find a better cook in Greene County than Mrs pigeon well I've learned not to be particular about my food you'd make a good travel agent I'll remember that when my teaching days are over I'll take the room I don't know what the rates are oh that's all right well welcome to Green Mountain House thank you dinner at sixth okay oh uh I won't be down for dinner no I had a late lunch and quite a long train ride I think I'm due for a nice long nap oh well we always have a light collation in the kitchen around 10 o'clock cold cuts oh that sounds good we'll be at the light Collision no afraid not this is PTA night for me Mr Stern we have tea and cake and arguments in the high school gymnasium they usually go on to the scandalous hour of midnight Midnight well tomorrow then yes tomorrow have a good nap foreign foreign [Music] should never have allowed in the house the young lady was an art student same thing what was her name Grace Brown where did she live oh downtown somewhere and what was his name Keller Martin Keller Martin Keller welcome to the initiation Betty Miss price is getting the lowdown on our little murder case how come she hasn't been a member of this club long enough well oh Back Fence here he spilled the beans don't come on Mr Wales who was Martin Keller well he was a student of the Music Conservatory birds of a feather and we are in what room did he kill her well it was my room your room do you mean to tell me that you don't mind living in a room where a murder was committed well I'd live in that room for five years before I was let in on the Hideous Secret by that time I discovered there were no ghosts to bother me and I liked it too much to move well anyway Mrs Fennell heard these noises one night all the rest of us were asleep and she walked in and found modern Keller standing there with a poker in his hand the poker was Dripping with blood and that beautiful young girl were just horrible all right all right Mr Wells spare us the details she was dead poor Mrs Fennell found them yeah she testified at that of the trial of course I was a not altogether unimportant witness I knew the girl not very well of course but she was a charming and lovely young thing and you were 20 years younger at the time just what are you implying he was convicted Mr Wells 20 years to life why did he kill her killer well it seems that well I mean after after that she was pregnant oh and now you're a full-fledged member of the society who's playing it good Heavens I couldn't think of playing cards now another cup of tea Mrs T no the cooking show is in the cabinet over the stove I know where it is Betty dear would you play her hand now let me see the bid is one Spade we each have two tricks and it's your play by the way did he take the room what did Mr Stern take the room oh oh yes yes he took the room he'll be staying with us [Music] [Music] thank you foreign [Applause] [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] this is the United States Steel hour and now George Hicks here's a sight Millions will see this summer it's America's first full-scale monorail system quizzing passengers from downtown Seattle to the truly fabulous 1962 Seattle World's Fair where the Towering Space Needle is like a magnet drawing people from all over the world yes they pour in by the thousands every day to Seattle Century 21 exposition and what an exposition this is 74 Acres of displays and Exhibits of marvels of the future and Treasures of the past Education and Fun how man will live work and play in the 21st century this six building Pavilion houses the world of science the most extensive science exhibit ever assembled it's sponsored by the federal government and includes United States deals participation exhibits of the world of Commerce and Industry Show future Concepts in travel and Communications manufacturing and services the boulevards of the world provide a true International flavor of course there's the exciting Gateway and towering over it all the Space Needle 60 stories high which will remain as a permanent Seattle attraction it was erected by the Pacific car and Foundry Company and was built largely of a new grade of structural steel called A36 produced by U.S steel each of the tremendous supporting Columns of the needle weigh one thousand pounds per lineal foot by using A36 instead of conventional carbon structural steel the designers were able to save about 10 percent in the total weight of these columns making it an important advance for modern structural projects at the top of the columns 600 feet in the air visitors dine in a slowly revolving restaurant which affords a magnificent changing view of Puget Sound the Olympic mountains the Cascades and beautiful Mount Rainier at night the fair becomes a Fantasy of Lights color and music America is enjoying itself at the World's Fair and will be every day and every night until October 21st you and your family are cordially invited we at U.S steel hope many of you will accept and that you'll have a wonderful time see you in Seattle at the fair [Music] I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you I mean you're no harm I thought your room was empty you told me you wouldn't be back until midnight I only came in here to see if I could remember something going now forgive me yes who who told you about Martin Keller 12 oh yes there's never been any doubt about that in the mystery but I'm not here for Revenge please believe that no I killed her and I've served my penalty why didn't Mr Wells recognize you that was 20 years ago 20 years in prison changes in man's appearance when did you get off I got out yesterday and you've come straight you are all right aren't you I'm sorry I I didn't mean to frighten you please forgive me I'm going wait please sit down why have you come back here I came back here to see if I couldn't find out about myself what does that mean that means thank you all right I'll tell you I certainly owe you that much well [Music] her name was Grace Brown we were both very young I was called for art and beauty goodness no she was beautiful she was a young artist I was the earnest young pianist and it was the well-known gem-like flame for four or five months and then it was all over why one afternoon that afternoon I I came in from school into my room this was my room oh I was feeling great I was going to meet my girlfriend Grace for dinner [Music] there's a knock on the door I went the door opened it was Grace it was the first time she'd ever been to my room before so I was very excited I was very flattered I thought she couldn't wait to see me but of course that wasn't it at all she came to tell me that she was going to be married she came to laugh at me really she came to say that all the time she suffered my adoration allowed me to put my arm around her allowed me to put little scraps of poetry in her mailbox she was making real love with someone else she'd been using me to make him jealous no I've got him she said I'll ask you what she meant by that and she said that she was pregnant did she tell you who he was no I should say it was it's been nice knowing you Martin and goodbye forever [Music] no not then no I simply walked out and got drunk [Music] and this was the first time in my life I'd ever had a drink so when I I remember starting to drink not much I remember and that's the last thing I remember it seems I I came back to the house I went to The Parlor I think of this I I went into the Parlor and I played the piano [Music] I'm a very theatrical type of killer right out of a horror movie I play the piano before I kill anybody well I must have come back upstairs here Grace was still here [Music] that must be the way it happened saying you don't remember any of these things remember nothing after I started to drink everything that happened after that had to be pieced together out of what mostly from the testimony of Mrs fennel Mr Wells and the others I I just couldn't remember 20 years I've tried to and the blur rabbit never gets any clearer I remember starting to drink that's the last thing I remember until I was waking up two policemen were shaking me and I was right over there on the floor they pulled me to my feet and I saw Grace lying in the bed her face had the police found you I thought it was Mrs Fennell well it was and she she heard strange noises coming out of the room up here and she came upstairs opened the door and looked in and she saw me bludgeoning Grace I stopped and [Music] Mrs Fennell said I turned and looked at her and then I fainted luckily for Mrs Fennell I suppose I fainted that's when she went and got the police [Music] well that's the whole story the story except for one thing why have you come back this one for 22 years I I was a very quiet very gentle young man I didn't even know the meaning of anger I wasn't even angry at Grace I was humiliated and hurt but I wasn't angry and then in one incredible moment foreign [Music] that moment and I can't I I can't what was I in that moment that's why was I was I simply a bewildered drunk was I a frightened boy was I a raving Maniac what was I what am I what was in my face at that moment when I stood over Grace with the poker in my hand [Music] what was it was it was it horror was it was it lust was it insanity that's what I've got to know Mrs Fennell is the only person in the whole world that can tell me this that's why I've come back that's why I've got to see Mrs Fennell from the moment when I was arrested they never let me communicate with her I wrote a letter from jail asked her come and see me she answered very nice very considerate letter but said no she simply didn't have the strength I can certainly understand that [Music] she'll talk to me now don't you think after 20 years I paid my debt all I want is information she will talk to me won't she [Music] 'll be back tomorrow [Music] here we are here we are thank goodness home sweet home sweet sweet home oh you must be stopped ravenous oh my dear you've gone and done your Sunday Best again well I figured you'd like a good substantial I'll put this in your room later Mr Ronnie thank you will you look at what this woman has done and done darling there's some nice wine here wouldn't you rather that rather have this did you have a good time it was a bloody board my bridge date is 8 30 sharply supper's coming right up the Petersons were rather boys weren't they Sunday with the Petersons is like a month in church well now they're very old friends and they have a daughter and I thought you'd like her now how can you like anybody with teeth like that well she was playing wasn't she a plainest yet mother the plainest yeah very nice have a drink no no thanks sit down and have a glass of wine with us Mrs fennel to be perfectly honest I'm not just visiting I've brought someone who'd like to see you where is she hiding he where is he hiding someone who would like to see me [Music] I'm sorry I'm afraid I don't care it's my life I I don't come with any recriminations believe me recrimination [Music] oh please please get out of this house Ronnie make him or let him talk Mrs fennel and at least let him talk please Mrs Fennell I I waited 20 years for this meeting and all I want is five minutes of your time just just five minutes I don't want to here we are here we are hello Mr Stern hello Betty oh this is the most beautiful roast I've laid eyes on in a long time and it tastes just as good as it looks oh everybody at dinner just raved about it wasn't it good Betty it was delicious oh isn't that a beautiful piece of meat foreign I want you to tell me tell me exactly how it happened I know I know I I don't want to put you through that ordeal again but there are certain details that I must know about please yes please well Ronnie had gone out of town on business I had gone down to the station to see a morph on the 11 15. I got back to the house about 11 20. when I got back the house was dark I thought everybody was asleep but when I let myself in I heard the piano now that was very odd so I tiptoed in do you really want to hear this all over again please well it was you playing the piano that dreary old tune Danny Boy then you saw me and you jumped up and without a word you stumbled past me and up the stairs you were very drunk Mr Fenn well no Sona had your door closed behind you then I I heard you start an argument with someone well I have never interfered in the private lives of my gases so I went to the kitchen to get my glass of milk and as I was heating it in the saucepan I heard the argument growing louder well I finished my milk and I started upstairs and then I heard a sound it was a something sound and it was coming from your room well I went up to your door devices had stopped but that something went on again and again I I knocked at your door I called your name you didn't answer so I went to my room and I got the master key and I opened your door I think she's told you enough I'm not gonna have her go through all this again no it's all right it's all right I opened your door and I saw you give her one last blow I don't know what I would have done if you turned on me I was I I was paralyzed so stared straight at me and then suddenly your eyes rolled right up back into your head and that's when you collapsed and that's when I ran to my room had called the police well now that you've heard it all over again are you satisfied no no not on one not on one vital Point who I said what have I left what did you see in my face what what did you see in my face at that Split Second when I looked at you did I seem surprised or or dazed or the truth yes please you were enjoying it [Music] you're always such a nice boy you never raised your foot [Music] but I never could understand never could understand how nice well brought up boy like that Google could suddenly oh I know you read about these cases all the time but there's never any explanation he'd been drinking and that is the only explanation he's just one of those people who cannot drink liquor drives him crazy they they become homicidal maniacs there are such sit down I think you deserve a drink at this point you've done your good deed for the Intruder in our midst now you sit there let me get you the special of a house guaranteed the drive away all devils drinking is for people who can drink and Eddie [Music] oh no leave the bottom [Music] this is the United States Steel hour [Music] [Applause] picnic is a day when it's too nice to stay home taking it easy for an afternoon soft drinks and cans go along with that they're easy to pack space saving light to carry and quick to get icy cold a picnic is how good everything tastes out of the picnic basket sandwiches and salads and your favorite soft drinks in cans because Cans really seal in every bit of flavor and Sparkle [Music] a picnic is playing a little run but that's okay with cans best of all a picnic's a day away from your everyday routine no big meals to cook no dishes to wash and with canned soft drinks no deposit and no returns canned soft drinks are easy going for an easy going time of year get lots of them to go with you this weekend even if you're only going as far as your own backyard I remember [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] Mr Keller come in foreign [Music] what do you want now didn't I tell you I want to see you again [Music] what did you come back for now Grace [Music] haven't you laughed at me enough for one day oh who's the father you could at least tell me [Music] don't lie Grace [Music] that's that's 10 o'clock that's the dark the Durham Express that means it's gonna look like one get out of it you know Mrs spindle's rules about yes and stay out I won't let you in if you knock on the door all night [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] I'm sorry how did I get in your room I I went out to the bar and I had a few drinks do you remember what happened after that no I can't remember a thing you came back here you played the piano for a while I played the piano and then you came up here to this room how'd I get in I'll let you in what time does the Durham Express go by 10 o'clock well my goodness I funny I can remember that after all these years and I I can't even remember what happened tonight 20 years ago you went out and got drunk you came back to this room shortly after you got here there was a knock on the door you opened it to let Grace Brown in but at ten o'clock you ordered her out of here how do you know that an hour and a half ago you walked into this room drunk exactly as you did 20 years ago and you went through that whole scene with Grace Brown I was here I saw you I heard you you have a very tricky memory while you're drunk you have total recall and then afterwards you can't remember a thing that happened to you well what are you driving at that night 20 years ago yeah yeah you were in this room and drunk at ten o'clock but Mrs Fennell says you went to your room at 11 20. maybe I went out and came back in again when you got to your room Grace Brown was already here how did she get back in did I let her in no no you couldn't have not according to Mrs fennel's testimony she saw you walk upstairs at 11 20. so you walk into your room and then she heard the argument what Grace must have been here when you walked in how did she get in here I had you giving her a key to your room oh no no no I never did that but she must have had a key the master key no no Grace wasn't a guess so she couldn't borrow the master key but she could have gotten the master key from one of the other guests now who was a friend of Grace's someone she could work her charms on but this is preposterous why should I have taken the master key and given it to Grace Miss Brown you're accusing me of breaking the house rules and of theft well you knew her didn't you well I'd met her yeah she she used to drop around here every once in a while looking for you and if you weren't in we'd have a little chat then it was more than a casual acquaintance Mr Wells it was not it was completely casual she was a bright intelligent young woman and I enjoyed talking Mr Wells please don't pretend that you admired Grace for her intelligence I'm an old man I'm 72. yes and 20 years ago you were 52. now okay young man I don't like the turn of this conversation and I want you out of here what else please don't take offense you see the fact of the matter is besides Mr Keller you were the only one in this house who knew Grace Brown it would be perfectly natural who said so said why that I was the only other one in this house who knew her someone else knew it Ronnie Ronnie Newark well he knew her a lot better than I did I'll guarantee that I saw them downtown once going into a moving picture show you well Mr Wells why didn't you tell that to the court then nobody asked me the witness answers questions he doesn't volunteer information that would be irrelevant the material besides you were the accused you were the man on trial thank you his mother's gone for a bridge game he'll be alone in his room he'll never talk to you you know that if it's just me he won't be suspicious he likes me I'll wait out here come in let's hope left it open for you mother well Betty I'm nice a mother's after a bloody little bridge game but uh I should be back soon this is a purely social visit this time I hope purely social good oh that was quite a quite a messy bit of business before wasn't it yes seeing that that fell again give me cold sugar you're an easy Mark aren't you buddy Stray Cats strangers things like yeah such a good natured girl yes indeed and quite an easy Mark myself strangers Stray Cats pretty girls like Grace Brown what she was really a beauty wasn't she Ronnie well the devil you're bringing her up for for old Mr Wells even he was smitten I remember him telling me once what marvelous legs she had what a lovely walk oh she was something wasn't she running well you knew her no I did not Mr Wilson who else did that in no uncertain terms no I knew the girl I met her yes and admired her okay I admired her of course it did no man could be impervious to the charms of Grace Brown is that why you gave her the key to Martin Keller's room what why Ronnie why did you give it to her she never asked me for any key all she wanted was to get him did you get married Ronnie you get out of here were you the father Ronnie get out of here you were just one of the leading contenders for the title I don't know what you're driving that but you get but the devil you're still doing in these houses what do you want just information running something that never came out of the trial why did you take the 1115 train that night why did you leave home at that ungodly hour because I bloody well felt like you know you get out of here both you are called police call Mama how did it happen Ronnie did she come and tell you you had to get married that she was pregnant did she threaten you is that why you killed her she should threaten tell us how it happened Ronnie [Music] mother doesn't like me drinking slowly Ronnie they've been saying grace for three months I sneak around corners to do it shake up here I don't understand him throw everybody off this track I was the one she wanted [Music] exactly how did it happen that night Ronnie she came in here says we have to get married right away nice I have to tell mother first how old were you then Ronnie 25. another has always helping me make decisions so I this is all right where she comes in I'll tell her she must be here crazy that that spoil everything tell you what you do you go wait in Keller's room you know he'll be glad to see you good she said all right she went down your route in about 10 o'clock five minutes later told me you're thrown her out also told me you're drunk meantime mother coming she's in the room that's when Grace is fine go in and tell mother about us she'd do it herself [Music] after it's all over I didn't know what to do but the body I mean um and remembered she told me how drunk your words took master key opens your doors are you lying on the floor bedroom help me easy [Music] carry Grace in your room stretch your own bed put poker in your hands [Music] it's weird blood all over you [Music] got 11 15. dresses up to mother where's mother she's late and all of your mother's testimony was a lie to protect you kind of scum I loved Gracie I'm one of the marry her why didn't you let her go and tell your mother what she did go in and tell mother I wanted to mother has some awful temper the Gracie wouldn't listen to me she went in the mother's room and told her [Music] everything where his mother [Music] is repeat I wouldn't tell him you killed her you were safe mother they would get enough of me I never tell them who killed her you know [Music] please on July 11th the United States Steel Hour stars Barry Sullivan Zia moyeden and Nan modern in a strange tale of murder that has the killer searching for himself it's titled night of the fourth produced by the theater Guild July 11 on the United States Steel hour [Music] cool that's how you like to get on a hot summer day cool that's how can soft drinks get in a hurry they're cool and compact easy to pack space saving cool and light to carry cool and ready to rough it [Music] cool and full of flavor can seal all a good taste in tight [Music] cool and convenient no deposit no returns no fussing get your favorite brands of soft drinks and no return cans [Music] [Music] here's a message from our alternate program on July 4th as we in America celebrate our Independence Day the Armstrong Circle Theater will bring you authentic glimpses of brave people who have lost their independence because they are trapped behind a communist built wall but who dare to risk their lives to escape to freedom in the west be sure to see a chapter on tyranny Dateline Berlin one week from tonight on the Armstrong Circle Theater thank you now for tonight's cast starring Harry Townes as Martin Keller Betty White as Betty Swann special guest star Patricia Collins as Mrs Fennell also starring Lester Rollins as Ronnie Fennell featuring Edgar Staley as Mr Wells Peggy Conklin as Miss Sarah Price Anne Francine as Edna Thompson Doris rich as Mrs pigeon and Parker McCormick has Rose Thompson [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] the United States Steel hour live from New York this is Andre Bruce speaking the accent is on Archibald mcglishes The Fall of the city tomorrow night at 7 30 6 30 Central Time on the CBS television network