BONUS - Friday Frights: On a Country Road

SPEAKER_1 (0:30)

Fear of something which is about to occur as, Do not keep me any longer in Suspense.

SPEAKER_2 (0:55)

Hello, and welcome to a Halloween bonus episode of Stars on Suspense.

Our series continues today with another story that's among the scariest ever presented on Suspense. From November 16, 1950, and starring Cary Grant, it's On a Country Road. Take a couple out for a drive, add a backward shortcut, throw in an empty gas tank, and top it off with a radio bulletin about an escaped killer. Mix them together, and you have a terrifying 30 minutes of radio.

It also doesn't hurt to have a great performance from Cary Grant, and terrific supporting turns from Cathy Lewis and Jeanette Nolan. Now, if this one doesn't scare you, you're made of stronger stuff than me. I'll be back next Thursday with another regular podcast episode, but for now, turn down the lights, and enjoy On a Country Road.

Cary Grant (2:04)

Autolight and its 96,000 dealers present Suspense. Tonight, Autolight brings you On a Country Road, our Suspense play starring Mr. Cary Grant.

SPEAKER_4 (2:28)

Relax, David, there's no hurry to get home.

Cary Grant (2:31)

Who can relax in this mess of traffic? There must be a wreck or something up ahead.

SPEAKER_4 (2:36)

This keeps up, we'll get caught in the rain.

Cary Grant (2:38)

Yeah, looks like a big storm building up, too. Hey, remember that shortcut?

SPEAKER_4 (2:44)

Which one?

Cary Grant (2:44)

Well, the little tarred road that goes across through center marches and comes out on the other highway.

SPEAKER_4 (2:49)

When we took last time?

SPEAKER_1 (2:50)

Yeah, turn off there and duck this pile up.

Cary Grant (2:52)

I'd like to get as far as possible before that storm hits.

SPEAKER_5 (2:56)

Why don't you put out your hand?

SPEAKER_4 (2:58)

David, don't get mad.

Cary Grant (3:00)

He cut right in front of me trying to turn into that gas station.

SPEAKER_4 (3:03)

Maybe he needed gas.

Cary Grant (3:07)

Turn on the radio, huh?

SPEAKER_2 (3:12)

Oh, there.

Cary Grant (3:14)

At least we aren't the only crazy people on Long Island.

SPEAKER_2 (3:17)

I'm sorry.

Cary Grant (3:18)

I'm sorry. This is a middle-aged woman described as dangerous and insane. She escaped this morning from Rescue Mental Hospital after fatally butchering a doctor, a nurse, and a ward attendant with a meat cleaver. This is the same Nellie Goller who a year ago murdered three persons on a Brooklyn street. Oh, my mother-in-law.

At least we aren't the only crazy people on Long Island.

Jeanette Nolan (3:40)

Why did you change it? I don't want to listen anymore.

SPEAKER_4 (3:44)

Let's get home quickly, David. I don't like being out here with that woman running loose.

Cary Grant (3:51)

Uh-oh. Here's the storm.

SPEAKER_1 (3:53)

Roll up the windows.

Cary Grant (3:58)

In just a moment, Mr. Cary Grant, in the first act of On a Country Road.

SPEAKER_5 (4:03)

Amazing, Wilcox. Amazing.

Cary Grant (4:05)

What's so amazing, Senator?

SPEAKER_5 (4:07)

Your victory in the election.

Cary Grant (4:09)

My candidate's victory, Senator. The famous autolite stay-full battery. The battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. Why everybody voted for the autolite stay-full battery.

SPEAKER_1 (4:19)

You had plenty in reserve, Wilcox.

Cary Grant (4:21)

Reserve? Why the autolite stay-full battery has over three times the liquid reserve of batteries without stay-full features.

SPEAKER_5 (4:28)

Didn't you campaign with fiberglass retaining mats?

Cary Grant (4:31)

Sure did, Senator, because every positive plate of the autolite stay-full battery is protected with a fiberglass retaining mat to prevent shedding and flaking, and keep the power-producing materials in place.

SPEAKER_5 (4:43)

Why, your candidate is in for life, Wilcox.

Cary Grant (4:46)

A longer life, Senator, because the autolite stay-full battery gives 70 percent longer life, as proved by tests conducted according to SAE minimum life-cycle standards. So friends, get acquainted with the autolite stay-full battery, the battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. See your neighborhood autolite battery dealer now. And remember, you're always right with autolite.

And now with On a Country Road and the performance of Mr. Cary Grant, autolite hopes once again to keep you in suspense.

SPEAKER_4 (5:44)

Why don't they put her to sleep instead of just locking her up where she can escape and kill more people?

SPEAKER_1 (5:50)

Put who to sleep?

SPEAKER_4 (5:51)

The woman they were talking about on the radio.

Cary Grant (5:53)

Oh, she can't help what she does, she's sick.

SPEAKER_4 (5:57)

What good does that do the people who get chopped up with a meat cleaver?

Cary Grant (6:00)

I don't know. The laws were made before the doctors knew very much about the human mind.