Robert Dryden stars as “Charlie,” a public works engineer who kills his nagging wife and disposes of her lifeless body in a concrete support (bridge pier) of his town’s new and highly trafficked new bridge that he helped design and construct. He tells acquaintances, confidentially, knowing they would gossip, that she has disappeared and never said where she was going or what she was doing. She was a wealthy woman who had the financial means and independence to go and do whatever she wanted. Since no one ever hears from her, the gossip reaches the police who become suspicious. They can’t arrest him because they can’t produce her body or any evidence of foul play. Charlie is so proud of his accomplishment in this new bridge and is always pleased to talk about it. Much time passes, and he gradually begins his social life again with new relationships. One night, while driving with a date over the bridge, there is a serious accident with another vehicle. Of course, there is damage to the bridge, and it reveals a small part of his deceased wife’s body.
It’s a fairly obvious storyline as it is clear that Charlie will get caught. The surprise is how long he will get away with it, and that it will take a near-tragic incident that will expose his wrong-doing. It is hard to believe that Charlie can manage the pouring of the pier without detection about what he was doing with the body. Set the implausibility aside, enjoy the story.
The story is by William N. Robson. There were eleven Robson scripts used in the New York period (from August 30, 1959 to September 30, 1962). Some were repeats of Suspense scripts he authored and others were re-worked from prior series he produced, such as The Modern Adventures of Casanova. This script appears to be original for this broadcast.
The program was recorded on Thursday, July 14, 1960. Rehearsal began at 4:30pm and ended at 7:30pm. Recording was done from 7:30pm to 8:00pm.
Two recordings of this episode have survived. The network recording is an aircheck, has some minor issues with the AM signal, but is very listenable despite some slight muddiness in the sound. The Armed Forces Radio Service recording (AFRS#794) has cleaner sound, but has narrow range. It is the preferred one of the two.
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https://archive.org/details/TSP600717
THE CAST
Robert Dryden (Charlie), Charlotte Manson (Clara), Sam Grey (Steve / Foran), Ralph Bell (Foreman), Roger De Koven (Man / Voice), Larry Haines (The Detective), Pat Hosley (Lady / 2nd Lady), Lawson Zerbe (Cop)
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