Toxic Romance & Fatal Chemistry – "Love Potion Number Death"

0:00 Speaker 1: Doorway to Nightmare is brought to you in part by Swanage Press. It lies in wait amidst your dreams, where nothing is ever how it seems. It is a portal to a terrifying world beyond the doorway. Nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm Artemis Black. Charles Dickens once wrote, A man is lucky if he is the first love of a woman. A woman is lucky if she is the last love of a man. The emotion that guides us all as human beings can be quite powerful and also quite deadly.

1:12 Speaker 2: Oh, Adam. You have no idea what it's like.

1:19 Speaker 3: You could always divorce him.

1:24 Speaker 2: And be left with nothing? I signed a prenup. It is very, very binding.

1:33 Speaker 3: Then there's only one thing to do. You still love me, don't you, Irene?

1:40 Speaker 2: More than any man I've ever known.

1:43 Speaker 3: Then the solution is simple. We have to kill him. Somehow.

1:55 Speaker 1: Was written especially for Doorway to Nightmare by Winslow Swan and edited by Crimson McKenzie. Our cast includes Darren Marler, Raven Adams, Crimson McKenzie, and Winslow Swan. I'll return shortly with Act One.

2:12 Speaker 4: Have you heard any good books lately? Audiobooks from Winslow Swan, now available on Spotify.

2:35 Speaker 1: Reggae musician Bob Marley once said, If she's amazing, she won't be easy. If she's easy, she won't be amazing. If she's worth it, you won't give up. If you give up, you're not worthy. Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you. Just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.

3:43 Speaker 3: One little drink, that's all. Just one drink and that will be the end. A small drop of poison and then Irene will be free. I suppose I should sit down. Not sure how long it will take. Look to the east. The sky growing darker, darker and Irene in the arms of that man. Don't worry, my love. Only one more night, and then you will be free. It all began a year ago. In the grand scheme of things, a drop in the lake of time. I met Irene Fielding purely by accident.

4:46 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sorry, darling. I didn't know you had a meeting.

4:51 Speaker 5: It's quite all right, Irene.

4:52 Speaker 1: Come on in. Mr.

4:53 Speaker 5: Robinson, this is my wife, Irene.

4:55 Speaker 1: Irene, Mr.

4:56 Speaker 5: Adam Robinson.

4:57 Speaker 3: Very pleased to meet you, Ms. Fielding.

4:59 Speaker 2: Oh, please call me Irene.

5:04 Speaker 1: Mr.

5:05 Speaker 5: Robinson is trying to convince me into a life insurance policy. He says it's more to take care of you, my dear, which makes sense. Probably wouldn't do me any good after I'm gone.

5:14 Speaker 2: Oh, don't be silly, darling. You already do that.

5:19 Speaker 3: Well, I meant in the unlikely event that something happens to you, Mr. Fielding.

5:25 Speaker 5: Well, what could happen, huh? I mean, obviously we're talking about in the event of my death, but you know, everybody does die eventually.

5:34 Speaker 2: And that is not going to happen for a long, long time.

5:40 Speaker 3: Oh, believe me, I wasn't suggesting... Don't worry about it, Mr.

5:44 Speaker 1: Robinson.

5:45 Speaker 2: It's all right.

5:45 Speaker 5: No harm, no foul. Tell you what, Adam, leave your business card with Irene here. We'll talk it over, and then I will get back to you and let you know.

5:53 Speaker 2: Yes, Mr. Robinson. Please leave your business card.

6:08 Speaker 3: I saw the way that she looked at me Like there was something missing in her life. I fell in love with her the moment she had walked into the room. The electricity between us was monumental. She led me to the front door of their penthouse apartment.

6:24 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sure that you can interest anyone in.

6:31 Speaker 2: Oh, the insurance policy.

6:35 Speaker 3: You flatter me, Ms. Fielding.

6:37 Speaker 2: Oh, please. Irene.

6:40 Speaker 1: Well.

6:41 Speaker 3: I have a few other calls to make. I hope to be hearing from you soon.

6:45 Speaker 2: Oh, I am sure that you will, Mr. Robinson.

6:52 Speaker 3: Oh, please. It's Adam.

6:55 Speaker 2: I shall talk with my husband about your policy.

7:00 Speaker 1: Adam. Adam.

7:10 Speaker 3: It would only be a few days later when the phone in my office rang. Ace Insurance. Adam Robinson speaking.

7:21 Speaker 2: Oh, thank God.

7:22 Speaker 6: Adam?

7:23 Speaker 3: Well, Miss Fielding. So glad to hear from you.

7:26 Speaker 2: I must speak with you. Of course.

7:30 Speaker 3: Have you and your husband decided on the policy that I.

7:32 Speaker 2: No, Adam. I must speak with you. In person. Can you come here?

7:38 Speaker 6: Now?

7:39 Speaker 3: I'm on my way. Is Mr. Fielding here?

7:52 Speaker 2: No. He is out of town. Won't be back until Saturday. Would you like a drink?

8:02 Speaker 3: Um, Ms.

8:03 Speaker 1: Fielding, I.

8:06 Speaker 2: I told you. Call me Irene.

8:10 Speaker 3: Ms. Fielding, I don't think that I should be here.

8:13 Speaker 2: And why not? Don't you feel anything towards me? See? I put my hand on your shoulder like this.

8:28 Speaker 3: Irene.

8:28 Speaker 2: I put my other hand on your chest, drawing you closer. Closer to me.

8:36 Speaker 1: What?

8:37 Speaker 3: What are you?

8:38 Speaker 2: Don't fight it, darling. Just kiss me.

8:44 Speaker 3: Kiss me oh Irene.

8:53 Speaker 1: How does love begin is it through a slow process of dating and getting to know someone or does it happen like a thunderbolt some would argue both points saying that each one has its own merits let's find out which one you agree with when I return shortly with act two.

9:15 Speaker 2: Mystery. Horror.

9:17 Speaker 4: Thriller.

9:19 Speaker 2: Suspense. Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swan, now available from Amazon.

9:41 Speaker 1: Humorist and author Mark Twain once said, love is not a product of reasonings and statistics. It just comes. No one knows whence and cannot explain itself.

9:58 Speaker 3: I feel the poison beginning. to work I've already mailed the confession to the police exonerating Irene of any wrongdoing she'll be back soon and then then she will be free we saw each other every chance we could meetings in the park At home, when her husband was out of town, it was the happiest I had ever been.

10:23 Speaker 2: Do you love me, Adam?

10:33 Speaker 3: More than anything in the world.

10:35 Speaker 2: And I love you. There's only one thing standing in the way of our happiness.

10:43 Speaker 3: And you're sure that your husband won't divorce you?

10:46 Speaker 2: Are you kidding? He would divorce me in a second. It is I who will not divorce him.

10:58 Speaker 3: But that's crazy.

10:59 Speaker 2: Honey, if we do divorce, I get nothing. Nothing. Do you really want to try to support me?

11:09 Speaker 3: Well, the business isn't doing too badly. And this time next year.

11:13 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. This time next year, and the year after, and the year after. Darling, I love you. I want us to be together. Forever.

11:29 Speaker 3: Then, there's only one thing we can do. We must kill your husband. It was all carefully planned. Irene called and told me that she had convinced Peter to take the insurance.

11:46 Speaker 2: I'll get him to come out on the balcony. Then all you have to do is, well, one little push over the edge and there he goes. And you and I will be together.

12:05 Speaker 3: And with his entire fortune.

12:15 Speaker 5: So, would you like to join me, Mr. Robinson? Would you like a drink?

12:18 Speaker 3: Oh, no, thank you.

12:20 Speaker 5: You know, you should probably hire Irene as a salesperson. I don't know what you did, but she's done most of the work for you on this particular sale.

12:30 Speaker 2: I just said that it might be a good idea since you travel all the time.

12:37 Speaker 3: Well, I brought the policy with me and all the necessary paperwork.

12:42 Speaker 1: Great.

12:43 Speaker 5: There is just one thing before I sign. I don't want to pay the premium on a monthly basis. I'd really like to do it yearly. Can we pay it that way?

12:53 Speaker 2: Peter, come out to the balcony. You should really see this.

13:00 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Mr. Robinson. Excuse me. What is it, Irene? What are you looking at?

13:03 Speaker 2: Down there in the alleyway.

13:07 Speaker 7: I don't see anything.

13:23 Speaker 3: It was so easy. The police came and we were ready for them. Oh, no, detective. I really didn't know Mr. Fielding or Miss Fielding. I just came to discuss an insurance policy with them.

13:37 Speaker 2: Detective, he'd been drinking.

13:39 Speaker 7: He.

13:41 Speaker 2: He linked too far over. I told him to be careful. Oh, God. How horrible.

13:52 Speaker 1: Yes, sir.

13:53 Speaker 3: It was a life insurance policy. A million dollars, but... well. He never signed it. That was the clincher. No motive. The ruling by the court was accidental death. Irene made plans to wait a couple of months, and then we could get married. In the meantime, we continued to meet. I was so happy.

14:19 Speaker 1: Until.

14:20 Speaker 3: May.

14:33 Speaker 2: I help you?

14:35 Speaker 1: I believe you can, Mrs. Fielding.

14:38 Speaker 2: I'm sorry. Do I know you?

14:40 Speaker 1: Not yet.

14:42 Speaker 6: But I can assure you that you will.

14:45 Speaker 3: Who's at the door, Irene? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Adam Robinson. And you are?

14:53 Speaker 6: Someone that you will want to invite inside. You see, we have business to discuss. It's about your husband's... Murder.

15:12 Speaker 1: I rarely try to plan anything in my everyday life. It seems that every time I do, something always happens to disrupt my plans. So I have learned to simply play it by ear. Something has definitely disrupted Adam's for a happily ever after. You plan to be with us when I return for our final act. Mystery. Horror.

15:43 Speaker 7: Thriller.

15:45 Speaker 1: Suspense.

15:47 Speaker 2: Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swann, now available from Amazon.

16:08 Speaker 1: Actor Johnny Depp once said if you love two people at the same time choose the second because if you really loved the first one you wouldn't have fallen for the second.

16:22 Speaker 3: What the hell are you talking about a murder no one has committed murder.

16:27 Speaker 6: Pour me a drink will you that's a good man Why.

16:30 Speaker 2: You little no-good... Just pour him a drink, darling.

16:42 Speaker 6: My name is Ernest Stanley. I happen to live in the building across the street.

16:47 Speaker 1: Oh, up there. You see?

16:49 Speaker 6: On the 20th floor. I happen to be looking over here when your husband had his, um, accident.

17:00 Speaker 3: Just say the word, Irene. I'll break this little twerp in two.

17:03 Speaker 6: I wouldn't try anything like that, Mr.

17:05 Speaker 1: Robinson.

17:06 Speaker 6: Not only did I see the murder take place, but I filmed it as well. The video has already been sent to my lawyer's office in a sealed envelope. Now, it will only be opened in the event that something unfortunate should happen to me. So I think you had best sit down.

17:26 Speaker 7: Now. Adam?

17:30 Speaker 2: Please, let's hear what he has to say.

17:34 Speaker 6: Very sensible, Mrs.

17:36 Speaker 1: Fielding.

17:38 Speaker 6: Nice and friendly.

17:39 Speaker 3: All right, Mr. Stanley.

17:41 Speaker 6: Oh, please, call me Ernest. After all, we're going to be seeing quite a lot of each other.

17:48 Speaker 3: So, this is blackmail?

17:50 Speaker 6: Not in the sense that you mean. You see, I'm already a very wealthy man. I really have no use for money.

17:57 Speaker 3: Then what the hell do you want?

18:00 Speaker 6: You know, it's rather funny. I've been looking down into this apartment for several months now, and I must say, Irene has a very beautiful figure.

18:14 Speaker 3: You lowlife son of a- Please, Adam.

18:18 Speaker 2: What exactly do you want, Mr. Stanley?

18:21 Speaker 1: Isn't it obvious?

18:24 Speaker 6: I want.

18:26 Speaker 1: You.

18:27 Speaker 3: You go to hell!

18:35 Speaker 6: Before you raise a finger to me, think about it, Adam. That video goes to the police, then you and the lovely Irene both go to jail.

18:46 Speaker 1: Or worse.

18:49 Speaker 6: Do you really want your lady fair rotting in prison? Adam? And you, Irene. Could you stand your true love being behind bars? Possibly awaiting an execution?

19:08 Speaker 3: If you think for one minute that I will allow.

19:11 Speaker 2: Please, Adam. He has us. There isn't anything we can do.

19:19 Speaker 2: I couldn't bear you being in jail. What do you want from me, Mr. Stanley?

19:31 Speaker 6: I get home promptly at eight in the evening. I expect.

19:36 Speaker 1: No. Wait.

19:39 Speaker 6: I demand that you be there waiting for me. I leave for work at eight in the morning, at which time you can do whatever you want. You will stay on the weekend. until I go to work Monday morning. Is that clear, Mrs.

19:54 Speaker 1: Fielding?

19:55 Speaker 6: Oh, yes, and one more thing.

19:59 Speaker 3: I think you have said just about enough, Mr.

20:01 Speaker 1: Stanley.

20:04 Speaker 7: The beautiful Irene and I We'll be married.

20:13 Speaker 1: Tomorrow.

20:14 Speaker 2: Please, Adam. It's the only way. Kiss me, my love.

20:24 Speaker 6: What a lovely way to begin a new friendship.

20:30 Speaker 1: The poison... Yes, Adam.

20:37 Speaker 2: It's me.

21:08 Speaker 3: Are you okay, Irene?

21:13 Speaker 2: Oh, Adam. I feel so... so dirty. Please hold me. Hold me tight in your arms.

21:27 Speaker 3: It's alright, my love. I should kill him today.

21:32 Speaker 2: No. If you do, then we both go to jail. Oh my, oh my darling. I couldn't stand being away from you.

21:46 Speaker 3: And that was the way it was. Days became weeks, and then weeks turned into months. I waited for her every morning. Weekends were the hardest. I slept very little.

22:04 Speaker 3: I began to drink heavily. I smoked at least four packs of cigarettes every night. And Irene? She became worse and worse.

22:16 Speaker 2: Irene? Don't touch me. Just please, don't touch me.

22:27 Speaker 3: Alright, I won't touch you.

22:31 Speaker 7: No.

22:31 Speaker 2: No!

22:33 Speaker 7: No!

22:34 Speaker 2: I can't do this anymore. Oh, please, Adam, just hold me. Don't let me go. I won't, my love.

22:43 Speaker 4: He's vile and disgusting and cruel.

22:51 Speaker 2: The things he makes me do. And that voice. It gets pleasure in reminding me that we could both go to prison because... Of that damn video. Adam, I can't take this anymore. I can't take it. There, there.

23:15 Speaker 3: It'll all work out. I'll think of something. And I finally have. I wrote out the confession telling the police that I killed Peter Fielding. We had an argument, and I grew angry enough to push him over the edge of the balcony. Irene had nothing to do with it. She was completely innocent. After I mailed it, I came back here and took the poison. It's... really... starting to work now.

23:51 Speaker 1: Irene? Is.

23:54 Speaker 2: that.

23:56 Speaker 3: Is that you?

23:56 Speaker 7: No.

23:59 Speaker 1: Adam?

24:01 Speaker 2: What's happening? What have you done?

24:04 Speaker 1: For you, my love.

24:07 Speaker 3: You're free. I wrote a confession, mailed it to the police, took poison. They won't do anything to you, my love.

24:19 Speaker 2: Well, it's about time. Adam? Hello? He finally did it. Irene, what happened? I told you, darling. Yes, it took a little longer than I thought. But he actually did it.

24:50 Speaker 6: And the confession?

24:53 Speaker 2: It should be in the hands of the police by tomorrow. Of course, I will have to call them after he's gone.

25:05 Speaker 6: I must hand it to you, my dear. It was a rather brilliant plan.

25:10 Speaker 3: Irene? What are you saying?

25:15 Speaker 2: I told you. I could find some sucker to kill Peter for us. And his confession absolves me of everything. There's nothing to connect you or me to the murder. So pack your bags, my darling husband. You're moving in with me.

25:41 Speaker 1: As Adam feels that dark curtain begin to lower over his eyes, he realizes, a little too late, that love really is blind. I'll return shortly with a final word.

26:02 Speaker 4: If you'd like to support us, visit our merchandise store. T-shirts, caps, mugs, and so much more. Visit doorwaytonightmare.com today.

26:29 Speaker 1: Of course, the police did receive Adam's confession, and Irene was absolved of any crime. Adam's death was ruled a suicide. But then, Irene began to get tired of Ernest. Unfortunately for her, Ernest was already tired of Irene. Our cast included Darren Marler, Crimson McKenzie, Raven Adams, and Winslow Swann. The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie and directed by Winslow Swan. And now, a preview of our next tale.

27:11 Speaker 7: How many people do you think you got out there, Mr. Searle?

27:15 Speaker 6: I don't know. I'd have to look at tonight's receipts.

27:19 Speaker 7: Why don't you take a guess?

27:22 Speaker 6: Oh, maybe a couple hundred, perhaps three tops.

27:29 Speaker 7: I'd say more like five. And how many exits do you have?

27:33 Speaker 6: Well, you came through it when you walked.

27:38 Speaker 1: In.

27:38 Speaker 7: Hmm. 500 people and only one exit. As fire inspector, I'm going to have to close you down.

27:47 Speaker 6: Do you think that might be the wise thing to do?

27:54 Speaker 1: Doorway to Nightmare is brought to you in part by Swanage Publications. This is your host, Artemis Black, inviting you to return with us to the doorway to nightmare for yet another adventure into the terrifying world of your imagination. Until next time, slumber peacefully. Epilogue.

28:20 Speaker 2: The butler did it?