THE WHISTLER – The Pattern –1955
This is episode 23 from the 39 episode run of, THE WHISTLER television series. The series ran during 1954 and 1955. It is based on the popular radio and film series of the same name. Each episode begins with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. The episodes followed the same formula, in that someone's criminal acts were undone, either by an overlooked detail, or by their own stupidity. During the episodes, the Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action.
Mild mannered book store owner, Robert Ellenstein calls in his friend, Police Detective, Ken Tobey for a chat. There has been a string of deaths in the city and Ellenstein thinks he sees a pattern in the deaths. They are happening every two blocks with his block next in line. Detective Tobey thinks it is just a fluke thing but promises to look into it.
Ellenstein later gets a visit from Milton Frome. Frome is the older brother of the woman, Ellen Corby, who Ellenstein has been seeing. Frome does not like Ellenstein, and knocks him around a bit as he warns him to stay away from his sister. Ellenstein is adamant that he will continue to see Corby. Frome storms out of the store.
That night, Ellenstein takes a revolver and heads to Frome's house. He intends to kill Frome. He lines up his pistol at Frome as Frome sits by an open window reading a paper. Ellenstein starts shaking and realizes that he is no killer. He pockets the gun and returns home.
The next day Detective Tobey pays him a visit. It seems that Miss Corby returned home last night and found the house in a mess and her brother missing. Ellenstein goes over to see Corby while she explains her movements for the night before. Ellenstein steps out into the garden to light up his pipe. He notices something shining on some freshly turn earth. He picks it up and he recognizes it as one of Frome's cuff links. Ellenstein immediately thinks that his love, Corby has killed her swine brother and buried him.
He says nothing as he reenters the house. Inside the Police are interviewing the just arrived Carlyle Mitchell. Mitchell is the boss of the stock brokerage firm where Frome works as a book-keeper. He was worried when Frome failed to show up for work.
Ellenstein is torn between keeping quiet for Corby's sake or telling Detective Tobey about the cuff link and the garden. He decides to take the night and sleep on it.
The next day Ellenstein heads over to Corby's to ask her if she had killed Frome. It turns out the Police had come that morning and picked her up. Ellenstein returns home to his store to ponder this. He figures that Corby must have killed her brother to get out from under his thumb.
A bit later Detective Tobey pops in for a talk. It turns out Frome is very much alive. He had bilked his firm out of 20 large in cash. He had been captured at a bus depot along with his boss Mitchell. Mitchell had been there with a .45 to get back his cash. The turned over earth in the garden had been where Frome had hid the money. The Police had picked up Corby simply to tell her they had Frome in custody.
Not bad!
This is episode 23 from the 39 episode run of, THE WHISTLER television series. The series ran during 1954 and 1955. It is based on the popular radio and film series of the same name. Each episode begins with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. The episodes followed the same formula, in that someone's criminal acts were undone, either by an overlooked detail, or by their own stupidity. During the episodes, the Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action.
Mild mannered book store owner, Robert Ellenstein calls in his friend, Police Detective, Ken Tobey for a chat. There has been a string of deaths in the city and Ellenstein thinks he sees a pattern in the deaths. They are happening every two blocks with his block next in line. Detective Tobey thinks it is just a fluke thing but promises to look into it.
Ellenstein later gets a visit from Milton Frome. Frome is the older brother of the woman, Ellen Corby, who Ellenstein has been seeing. Frome does not like Ellenstein, and knocks him around a bit as he warns him to stay away from his sister. Ellenstein is adamant that he will continue to see Corby. Frome storms out of the store.
That night, Ellenstein takes a revolver and heads to Frome's house. He intends to kill Frome. He lines up his pistol at Frome as Frome sits by an open window reading a paper. Ellenstein starts shaking and realizes that he is no killer. He pockets the gun and returns home.
The next day Detective Tobey pays him a visit. It seems that Miss Corby returned home last night and found the house in a mess and her brother missing. Ellenstein goes over to see Corby while she explains her movements for the night before. Ellenstein steps out into the garden to light up his pipe. He notices something shining on some freshly turn earth. He picks it up and he recognizes it as one of Frome's cuff links. Ellenstein immediately thinks that his love, Corby has killed her swine brother and buried him.
He says nothing as he reenters the house. Inside the Police are interviewing the just arrived Carlyle Mitchell. Mitchell is the boss of the stock brokerage firm where Frome works as a book-keeper. He was worried when Frome failed to show up for work.
Ellenstein is torn between keeping quiet for Corby's sake or telling Detective Tobey about the cuff link and the garden. He decides to take the night and sleep on it.
The next day Ellenstein heads over to Corby's to ask her if she had killed Frome. It turns out the Police had come that morning and picked her up. Ellenstein returns home to his store to ponder this. He figures that Corby must have killed her brother to get out from under his thumb.
A bit later Detective Tobey pops in for a talk. It turns out Frome is very much alive. He had bilked his firm out of 20 large in cash. He had been captured at a bus depot along with his boss Mitchell. Mitchell had been there with a .45 to get back his cash. The turned over earth in the garden had been where Frome had hid the money. The Police had picked up Corby simply to tell her they had Frome in custody.
Not bad!
