St James Infirmary Blues

Originally Aired: February 23, 1953 Suspense #501, "St James Infirmary Blues," featuring Rosemary Clooney, plunges listeners into the violent world of Prohibition-era New York. When Sheila arrives at a glamorous speakeasy with her date Freddie, she catches the eye of Nick Valpey, the dangerous triggerman for mob boss Brock Martin. After Freddie is dismissed, Sheila is quickly swept into Nick's thrilling but perilous world of bootlegging, protection rackets, and sudden violence. Their whirlwind week together is filled with fast cars, easy money, and the intoxicating rush of living on the edge. The deadly game turns serious when one of Brock's liquor runners is killed during a hijacking. Brock suspects Nick of stealing his shipment and selling it to a rival, and his suspicions are confirmed when a New Jersey gangster boasts about the deal. Despite Sheila's desperate lies to provide Nick with an alibi, claiming he was with her for five hours, Brock sees through the deception. At the elaborate funeral for the murdered runner, the couple's dangerous romance reaches its devastating climax.