What happens
Jean Nicholson, a woman with a secret past, is blackmailed by Charlie Prescott, a former convict newly released from prison, who demands a share of the fortune she will inherit from her husband Frank. Jean, who is married to a wealthy man, is forced to confront the threat that Charlie poses to her new life and her marriage. Charlie makes a demand that puts her in a difficult position, and she must decide how to respond to his pressure. This episode of Suspense, a radio drama, features Susan Hayward in the lead role. The story unfolds as Jean weighs her options and considers the risks involved in dealing with her blackmailer.
A wealthy home in California in the 1940s, with a party, a drawing room, a garage, and a hospital in La Jolla.
Characters: Jean Nicholson, Frank Nicholson, Charlie Prescott, Mr. Sparks, Olsen, Dr. Hideo
Listen for: Pay attention to Jean's shifting explanations to her husband and to Mr. Sparks, and to the conversation between Jean and Charlie about money and the terms of his demand.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.