Van Heflin portrays a newspaper reporter whose series of articles about about the possible psychology of an elusive murderer appear to make him the next logical candidate for the killer. The reporter has a theory that the killer, who calls himself, “The Thirteenth Apostle,” has murdered five women in three months because, they were women wearing red in their clothes. He believes the “Apostle” is out to purge the world of its more sinful inhabitants, and he is obsessed with the color red as a symbol of evil. Public hysteria over the killings mounts so high that the reporter is asked by the police to discontinue his series of sensational articles, but he refuses. He soon receives an anonymous note stating that if he wishes important new information about the Apostle he is to go at midnight to a certain church, and sit in the first pew. Similar notes are received by Heflin’s girlfriend, who is also a reporter, and by a police lieutenant assigned to the case. Each of the three feels that they may be the killer's next target as they keep their rendezvous with the “Apostle.” With all three of them there, will one of them be the killer, or will someone enter the church and confront them?
It’s not the best story. Heflin is his usual superb self, but the script is not all that challenging to him, or to listeners. Spoiler alert: of course the reporter will be the “Apostle.” Of course the next victim will be his girlfriend. Of course his interest in psychology is from a disruptive situation in childhood that makes him hate “sinful” women. There’s not enough characters in the cast for it to be anyone else… unlike The Crowd where it could legitimately be “anybody.” The story needs a foundation of chaos because of too many suspects and situations. Heflin could not carry this story, no matter how good he was. It happens… this seems like Lewis’ first disappointing show after many very good ones right from his start as producer.
The original title of the story was “The Thirteenth Apostle,” and was announced in the closing credits of the prior broadcast. It was obviously changed a few days later.
The story is by Clock Dailey, his (or her) only Suspense script, and possibly their only radio play. Dailey wrote scripts for early television anthology programs. Little other information could be found. It is not known if it is pseudonym or not. In some classic radio resources, it is listed as “Clot Dailey,” but that is incorrect. Clock Dailey is listed in the script their television work is listed at the IMDb website. There is no listing of that name in any of the pulp or short story sites, or genealogical sites. The script was adapted by Antony Ellis.
LISTEN
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https://archive.org/details/TSP501130
THE CAST
VAN HEFLIN (Mitchell), Joan Banks (Jeannie), Paul McVey (Banning), Truda Marson (Receptionist), Jack Lloyd (Man 1 / Waiter), Joe Kearns (Signature Voice / Man 2 / Lt. Bill Dowell)
COMMERCIAL: Bert Holland (Hap), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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