Life Ends at Midnight: A Deadly Debt

Originally Aired: February 17, 1944 Life Ends at Midnight: A Deadly Debt: In this gripping episode of Suspense, Walter Bates (Dane Clark) finds himself in a desperate race against time. Owing $1,500 that must be paid by midnight, Walter turns to his aging mother, Mrs. Bates (Faye Bainter), for help. But when she reveals that she has nothing left to give, Walter's desperation pushes him toward a sinister solution—eliminating Mr. Chalmers (Ralph Morgan), their quiet and unsuspecting lodger, who just so happens to have an insurance policy. Walter meticulously plots Chalmers’ death, tampering with the gas heater in his room, ensuring the death will look like an accident. However, fate intervenes in the most ironic way—Mr. Chalmers, in an act of kindness, unknowingly foils Walter’s plan by placing a quarter in the gas meter, ultimately sealing Walter’s own doom. With its masterful buildup of suspense and poetic justice, Life Ends at Midnight delivers a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience, proving that sometimes, the best-laid plans lead to the most unexpected consequences. Keywords: "Suspense Life Ends at Midnight episode," "February 1944 Suspense radio," "Dane Clark Walter Bates crime drama," "murder for insurance money plot," "Faye Bainter psychological thriller," "Roma Wines suspense series," "classic radio noir drama." Cast: Dane Clark, Faye Bainter, Ralph Morgan, William Spier.