Ray Milland plays a lawyer and husband who leaves home after an argument, starts driving to get his mind straight, stops for a cup of coffee to cool his anger, and then realizes he forgot his wallet. What happens after that will cause him to never forget his wallet again. The script is by Lawrence Goldman, a radio and screenwriter who also worked on other Suspense episodes.
It all started so innocently. His son asked for a nickel, and he gave it to him. That set off a petty argument with his wife that he might be spoiling the son, and not teaching him the value of money. He gets angry, storms out of the house, gets in the car and just starts driving to calm down. He ends up in a small town, fifty miles from home. He decides to stop for a cup of coffee. He can’t find a nickel to pay for it, and realizes he left home without his wallet!
He is picked up for vagrancy because his wallet had his money and his identification. When he has his one allowed phone call from jail, he calls his wife. She’s still miffed and won’t give him the alibi that can get him released. He’s brought down to the police station and put into a holding cell. His cellmates are dangerous bullies. The thugs mistake him as being sent by their gang boss. They think Milland’s constant mention of needing a nickel is code from their boss, named “Nichols,” that he’s instructing them to escape from the station jail. They do, and Milland’s character gets wrapped up in problems beyond his worst imaginings.
A nickel, or five cents, is worth 64 cents in US$2024. The phrase refers to a tiny sum of money that is of little worth. This expression comes from the fact that chickens can be fed corn and wheat grains that are too small to be used for other purposes, and have no value.
The story takes place in Lansing, California. The town is fictional, at least according to Google Maps and other sources.
This is the first time “Hap” appears this season, and is no longer played by Bill Johnstone. In this broadcast it is played by Charlie Victor. In upcoming episodes, Parley Baer has the role.
The Milland movie mentioned in the closing credits is It Happens Every Spring. It’s a lighthearted baseball movie where a scientist accidentally finds a chemical formula that applied to a baseball causes the ball to be repelled by wood. He realizes he can use his discovery to personal advantage and seeks to pitch in the big leagues since wooden bats will miss whatever he throws to the hitters.
At the end of the broadcast a microphone is still open and actors chatting in the background can be heard as the volume fades.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP490908
THE CAST
RAY MILLAND (Ralph Clark), Ann Morrison (Girl), Charles McGraw (Officer Brady / Hood #2), Jack Kruschen (Pete), Vivi Janiss (Waitress / Mary Clark), William Conrad (Slim), Ed Max (Sergeant Ross / Hood #1), Wally Maher (Jerry Nichols), Barney Phillips (Phillips), Paul Frees (Signature Voice)
COMMERCIAL: Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Charlie Victor, Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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