CBS Radio Mystery Theater - The Million Dollar Murder

Old Time Radio Mysteries

Richard "Dick" Nelson, owner of the Nelson Furniture Factory, has led a charmed life for most of his 35 years. He's had nothing but good luck in personal life and in his business ventures, until recently. For the past few months, he has had one problem after another at his factory. After one particularly bad morning, he goes to lunch at the club and meets his friend, Judge Walter K Morrow. The judge says "Hello, Dick. Are you expecting anyone?" Nelson says "No". Judge says "Well, you join me for lunch". Nelson says "Thanks. I was hoping I'd run into you". Judge says "You look a bit out of sorts, Dick. Something wrong?" Nelson says "Yeah". Judge says "What is it?" Nelson says "I wish I knew". Judge says "You'll have to explain that". Nelson says "Judge, are you familiar with the story of Job?" Judge says "More or less". Nelson says "Well, that's who I feel like right now". Judge says "Well, I don't see any boils". Nelson says "Well, it might have been somewhat presumptuous of me to make the comparison, but I just feel that I am about to go down the drain". Judge says "Are you serious, Dick?" Nelson says "Judge, if things go on at this rate, I'll be bankrupt within a year. I stand to lose everything I own in the world". Judge says "But everyone says things are going great at your plant". Nelson says "Every day it's something else. Another setback. I'm losing key customers. How? I don't know. Vital raw materials don't arrive. Why? It just happens. And to top it all, my foreman got a better job and is leaving me. What is it? What's happening?" Judge says "Well, just a lot of bad luck". Nelson says "But, so much bad luck all at once?" Judge says "Dick, I've known you all your life. You've always been the golden boy. Fortune has smiled upon you constantly. Well, she's an extremely fickle old girl, and now she wants to frown for a bit". Nelson says "But it just seems to be a pattern". Judge says "You've probably been spoiled. You've never had to cope with adversity". Nelson says "No, it's more than that, Judge. It's reached a point now where I know that every day is going to produce another setback".