Antony Ellis adapts this Ray Bradbury story that first appeared in the September 1950 issue of McCall’s. It’s a good but somewhat predictable plotline, made better by the engaging narration of William Conrad.
Two unmarried women, Lavinia and Florence, decide to take in a movie in the downtown area near where they live. Another friend, Helen, joins them. There’s a shortcut across a ravine that will take them there. It’s not usually a problem using that route, but there’s been a serial strangler in the area. Known as “The Lonely One,” he seems to space his attacks about a month apart. Lavinia knows about it, but is not concerned about it. Francine and Helen, however, are, especially for the after-movie walk home.
When they get inside the theater, they spot a man who might be the killer. He fits the description of someone who had asked a storekeeper where Livinia lived. It turns out the man was the theater manager’s brother on a family visit; the hubbub created an embarrassing situation. But it passed and they enjoyed the movie. They leave and start walking home. First, Livinia and Helen walk Francine home. Livinia promises to call when she gets home so they don’t worry. They continue in the quiet town as the clock strikes midnight. Livinia then walks Helen home, again reiterating that she’s not concerned about walking home alone because the police were on the lookout for the killer. She promises Helen she’ll call when she gets home. On her way home, she meets a policeman she knows. He offers to walk her home, but she turns it down. She starts her solitary walk through the ravine and gets to the other side, distracted by a man she sees, but she continues. A man may be following her, but she realizes there was no one. She had told everyone she was not concerned about “The Lonely One,” but it’s clear that she really was and did not want to admit it. She finally makes it home, relieved… but then… someone is in the house.
There are two surviving recordings, with the network recording as the better of the two. The other recording is from the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) repackaged series, Adventure Theater. It is a bit noisy and has a narrow range.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP550614
THE CAST
Jeanette Nolan (Lavinia Nebbs), William Conrad (Narrator), Eve McVeagh (Helen), Paula Winslowe (Francine), Tom McKee (Kennedy / Manager), Florence Walcott (Grandma Hanlon), Tom Brown (Police Lieutenant), Will Wright (Druggist), Larry Thor (Suspense Narrator)
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