Suspense - A Tale of Two Sisters/The Ten Years

In "A Tale of Two Sisters," a woman breaks a childhood pact with her irrational sister...and everyone suffers the consequences.

As the episode opens, Clara is in the hospital. The other patients around her are screaming, but Clara is content. She wants for nothing, but if only she had her sister, Adelle....

Clara thinks back to when the two of them were children and the night their mother died. She and Adelle had made a promise that they would always be together, and Clara had kept that promise. Adelle was abnormally clingy, but Clara didn't mind, she assumed that Adelle would grow out of it.

Then, Clara met Doug and fell in love. Adelle was furious! From then on, she refused to have anything to do with her sister. Clara tried to mend their relationship, but Adelle would not forgive her. 

Clara would later find out that her sister was not only hateful but...dangerous.

"A Tale of Two Sisters" was written by screenwriter Mel Dinelli and produced/directed by William Spier. Claire Trevor and Nancy Kelly starred. Also appearing were Patricia Hosley, Wally Maher, Walter Tetley, and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on February 8, 1945.

. Download Suspense_1945-02-08_A_Tale_Of_Two_Sisters

Suspense presented this episode a second time with Joan Crawford in the role of Clara and Lurene Tuttle in the role of Adelle. Both actresses are fantastic. This episode aired on June 6, 1949, under the title of "The Ten Years."

 . Download Suspense_1949-06-02_The Ten Years

(Image from Wikipedia)

Comments

[Betsy]

Very dramatic story. Joan Crawford is really good.

[Mike N.]

The Suspense version aired today on ABN ( radio.macinmind.com ) and for some reason I just found it annoying. I think it seemed over-acted, and I didn't like the ending. I haven't heard the Escape version, maybe it's better.

[Alanna]

This is a horrifying story. I wasn't alive during old time radio's heyday but I remember hearing this episode with my uncle when I was 14 years old. He had bought me a collection of Suspense cassette tapes and this story was on it. Creepy! The Adelle lady was scary. Great suspense story and great acting.