Suspense Sundays (144) A Coffin for Mr. Cash

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"A Coffin for Mr. Cash"

Air date: March 27, 1960
Starring Leon Janney

>>Episodes here<<

Pete's old prison cell buddy, Al, visits him one night at the funeral home where Pete works.  He manages to convince Pete to help him steal a lot of money from a gang.  It's very risky but Al has a great idea to use a hearse as a getaway vehicle because no cop would ever stop a hearse.  Pete really doesn't want to be a part of this, but when something goes wrong and Al dies, Pete has to make the decision of whether or not to continue with the robbery.

This story has two very satisfying twists I think.  Because both Pete and Al get what they deserve.  The irony of the twist was what was so satisfying and not the suspense of it because it is a bit predictable how things will end up given this involves a coffin and a crematorium.   The surprising part was that Al is so quickly taken out of the picture.  The story would seem to set up how Al and Pete get caught, but this story really centers on Pete.