Pigeon in the Cage

Originally Aired: May 25, 1953 Suspense #514, "Pigeon in the Cage," Gerald Brewer, a 31-year-old paperhanger with a pregnant wife at home, finds himself trapped in a stalled elevator between floors of the Rogers house. What begins as a frustrating inconvenience turns into a nightmare when the elevator stops directly above the living room, and through a narrow gap, Gerald witnesses a chilling scene unfold below. Harry Rogers and a young woman named Janice are waiting for Mrs. Rogers to arrive home, and Gerald overhears their deadly plan: they intend to murder Rogers' wife and make it look like a robbery. As Gerald lies frozen in the darkened elevator, terrified that any sound will reveal his presence, the tension escalates below. Janice grows increasingly paranoid that someone might be trapped in the stalled elevator, having overheard everything. Rogers tries to reassure her that the elevator frequently gets stuck when the basement door swings open. When Mrs. Rogers finally arrives home, Harry and Janice spring into action, rushing to open the safe and stage the crime scene. Gerald must decide whether to remain silent to save himself or somehow intervene before it's too late.