The Hands of Death, 10-17-1954

This is also from a radio script. The main characters include Dr. Felix Grelling, 50, a scientist; Rama Shandu, a Hindu scientist; Netta Shaw, an actress, and Commissioner Weston.

At midnight Shandu visits Grelling, and tells him he knows Grelling's real name, which is Gross. Shandu knows that Gross worked for years in Tibet to “unlock the secrets of cosmic rays.”

Shandu says he's 104, but he looks only in his mid-twenties. The two scientists believe that cosmic rays cause things to become older and die, and Shandu claims he has found a way to shield himself from the cosmic rays.

He wants to keep a young person young forever as a demonstration of their discovery.

The scene then shifts to Lamont and Margot having a dinner at a restaurant. Netta talks to them and says someone is watching her and she's frightened.

Later, Shandu captures Netta, having used his “hypnotic powers” on her. He promises her the gift of eternal life.

The next scene has Lamont and Margot at the morgue. The body of a very old woman has been found. The commissioner is there and he fills Lamont in on the details of her death, and, of course, it's Netta.

Cranston goes to talk to Grelling, only knowing that he's an expert in the biology of old-age.

Shandu comes in just as Grelling starts to get nervous under Lamont's normal questioning. Lamont knows about the theory of cosmic rays causing aging.

Later, Greeling and Shandu are having an argument. Grelling wants out of working with Shandu, and Shandu doesn't want to let him go. Margot shows up; Grelling wants her to leave, and Shandu is thinking of using her as an experimental subject.

Margot reveals that she knows what happened to Nettie, and Shandu says he will now have to kill her. Just as they are about to start, Shandu and Grelling hear the voice of the Shadow.

Gruelling just happens to have a gun and kills Shandu with it, and Shandu's body ages to his full 106 years. Greeling ends up being sent to prison.


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