Calling Dr. Death

---

This is the Inner Sanctum.

A strange, fantastic world

controlled by a mass

of living, pulsating flesh,

the mind.

It destroys, distorts,

creates monsters,

commits murder.

Yes.

Even you, without knowing,

can commit murder.

Sleep.

Sleep.

Relax.

You're tired.

Very tired.

Relax.

Sleep.

She's asleep now, Doctor.

Listen to me.

Listen closely.

You can speak.

You can speak.

You will speak.

Speak.

Frank.

She spoke.

She said something.

Who is Frank?

He is no good.

I'm not interested

in his character.

Who is he?

Marion fell in love with him.

He was a bad influence.

We forced them to separate.

She took the automobile.

They said she drank...

Marion never drank.

And then

there was the accident.

From then on,

she hasn't said a word.

She's a victim

of voluntary paralysis.

It's not uncommon.

Get her and the boy together,

and I'm sure

she will soon speak.

But I told you

he was no good.

He's a bad influence.

Perhaps he is, but at the

moment he's the only cure.

It seems impossible.

Nothing is impossible

where the mind is concerned.

This girl loves that boy.

Let her settle

her own problems.

Don't you see that in order

to hurt you she's hurt herself?

You're very fortunate.

I've known cases, many of

them, one quite recently,

where the girl despised her

mother, wanted to kill her.

She couldn't,

so she killed herself instead.

You might call that

murder indirectly.

This is a milder form.

I'd advise you

to bring them together.

All right, Marion, wake up.

How do you feel, Marion?

Come on, dear.

I'll expect to hear from you

sometime next week.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Neurology.

Neurology.

The results

are beyond imagination.

To penetrate man's mind

intrigues me more and more.

Even after

eight years of practice,

it's still fascinating.

And there's satisfaction

in being successful.

Successful?

Yes, with everyone but myself.

My personal life is a failure.

After two years

of marriage to Maria,

it's no go.

We were terribly in love

from the moment we met.

At least I was.

She certainly fooled me.

So beautiful.

She wore a perfect mask.

I couldn't see beyond it.

Dr. Mark Steele,

eminent neurologist,

can't read

his own wife's mind.

Everybody else could.

Everybody else did.

Even Stella knows it.

She probably knew it

the day I married Maria.

Stella's a fine person.

She's not only a nurse,

she's my co-worker

and confidante.

I depend on her more and more.

5:
00.

How I wish the hands

would never move.

My work keeps me occupied,

I don't think of myself.

Now I've got

to go home to her.

I dread it.

But I must face it.

It's bad to run away

from things you fear.

They mustn't be

allowed to beat you.

Goodnight, Doctor.

See you in the morning.

Her grip is so firm,

her hand so cool,

as if she wanted

to tell me something.

Thank you, Stella.

Where is she, Bryant?

Mrs. Steele left word

that she would be detained.

Dining alone.

Large table, six empty chairs.

One man.

No, I'm not alone.

She keeps staring at me

all the time.

I never understood

the modern school of painting.

It was a joke to me.

But now I begin to respect

the man for whom she sat.

He has caught one thing in Maria

that she was able to hide from me.

Those eyes.

Mean eyes, selfish.

They really portray her soul.

Yes? Dr. Steele?

What's wrong?

Why, nothing.

I merely just called

to discuss that Jennings case.

I thought we'd better...

Why should anything be wrong?

Well, it's 3:
00, Doctor.

Are you sure you're all right?

Of course, I'm all right.

Oh, I had no idea

it was so late, Stella.

I'm sorry.

I'll see you in the morning.

Goodbye.

For hours

I've been sitting here,

never conscious of the time,

and still Maria

hasn't returned.

I hate her.

Maria.

Oh, it's you.

What are you doing,

spying on me?

Well,

why don't you say something?

Spying. Always spying.

Maria, I want to talk to you.

You must listen to reason.

I know just what

you're going to say.

You poor fool,

do you think I'm stupid?

Stop it.

Stop it!

Stop it!

Take your hands off me!

Maria, we can't

go on like this.

You'd like to get away

from me, wouldn't you?

But you can't.

I like my title.

A doctor's wife.

I have money, position,

and there's nothing

you can do about it.

No, Doctor,

there's nothing you can do.

I'm not so sure.

Not murder, Doctor.

You haven't the courage.

I wonder.

Good morning, Doctor.

Good morning, Stella.

I'm sorry about

that call last night.

I didn't realize

that it was so late.

Oh, I understand.

There's something that I have

to talk to you about, Stella.

I had another row

with my wife last night.

Why are you telling me this?

Because for the first time,

Maria made me realize that...

Oh, Stella, we're adult.

This business of hiding the truth from

one another, that's not being honest.

But there's nothing

we can do about it.

No, I guess there isn't.

Good afternoon, Doctor.

I didn't expect you so soon.

Bryant, where is Mrs. Steele?

I don't know, sir.

Where is she?

Mrs. Steele said something, I believe,

about going away for the weekend.

I'm sorry, Bryant. That's

all right, sir, I understand.

Mark!

What are you

doing here so early?

Oh, just look at yourself.

This is a fine way

to start the week.

The week?

Is this Monday?

Of course it is.

Monday. And I don't

even remember coming here.

Mark, are you ill?

I don't know.

Something must be wrong.

I remember leaving the house

Saturday afternoon.

From then on,

everything is a blank.

You've got to help me.

I guess I must be ill.

Please don't worry, Mark.

We'll work this out.

Now, you sit right down there, and

I'll get you something to fix you up.

Go on, sit down.

Saturday afternoon.

Sunday.

Where was I?

I've got to recall.

I left the house,

got into the car,

I drove.

Drove.

Here, take this.

It'll help you.

Oh, no, thanks, Stella,

I never use them.

Maria?

Must be.

Nothing like this

ever happened before.

We had an argument and...

Stella, do you know that I

couldn't even tie my own shoelaces?

Bryant had to do it for me.

And now all this.

Well, I'm calling off your

appointments for this morning.

You're going to the gym. A good

rub and a shower will do you good.

No, Stella,

that won't be necessary.

I'll be all right. Thanks.

Mark, there are

two men outside.

Detectives.

Detectives?

Yes, and I don't think

it's a professional call.

Well, we'll soon see.

Yes, gentlemen?

We'd like to see you alone,

Doctor.

I'm sorry, but Miss Madden is

always present at my interviews.

Okay. When did you last see your

wife? What are you talking about?

Murder.

Your wife's been killed.

Where is she?

When did it happen?

At your lodge.

Sometime during the weekend.

Better come along with us,

identify the body.

I'll be right with you.

Won't you be seated?

Excuse me.

Mark,

you mustn't say a word.

You were with me

Saturday and Sunday.

That's why Stella

is so worried.

I have no alibi.

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