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The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe - "Party for Death" (1951) · Old Time Mystery Radio | Old Time Radio

0:00
Speaker 1: Nero Wolfe sends Archie Goodwin to a cocktail party at
0:03
Speaker 1: the apartment of Jane and Albert Collins with instructions to
0:07
Speaker 1: telephone him after the murder. The gathering also includes the
0:11
Speaker 1: Collins' business partner, Joe Boyce, and his wife, Georgia, as
0:16
Speaker 1: personal and business tensions come to the surface. From NBC,
0:20
Speaker 1: Sidney Greenstreet stars as Nero Wolfe and Harry Bartell as
0:25
Speaker 1: Archie Goodwin in episode 17 of The New Adventures of
0:29
Speaker 1: Nero Wolfe. Originally broadcast February 16th, 1951.
0:35
Speaker 2: The episode is.
0:36
Speaker 1: Party for Death. We now take you back to the
0:39
Speaker 1: original broadcast.
0:42
Speaker 3: Ladies and gentlemen, the ringing of that phone bell brings
0:44
Speaker 3: you Mystery Adventure.
0:47
Speaker 1: Nero Wolfe's office, Archie Goodwin speaking. No, I'm sorry, Mr.
0:51
Speaker 1: Wolfe is busy planning a menu. I'll see if he
0:53
Speaker 1: can talk to you. What's the name again? You want
0:56
Speaker 1: to talk to a dame named Mrs.
0:57
Speaker 4: Collins? Hang up, Archie.
0:59
Speaker 2: Do we know a Mrs.
1:00
Speaker 4: Collins?
1:01
Speaker 1: No.
1:02
Speaker 2: I don't suppose you care, but I think her voice
1:04
Speaker 2: is very charming.
1:05
Speaker 4: Doubtless. Every female has a charming voice to you.
1:08
Speaker 5: Hang up.
1:10
Speaker 4: Okay. I'm sorry, Mrs. Collins, but at the moment, Mr.
1:13
Speaker 1: Wolfe is too involved with his digestive system to be interrupted.
1:17
Speaker 2: However, if I may introduce myself, Archie Goodwin, Mr. Wolfe's assistant.
1:21
Speaker 2: If I can be of any help?
1:22
Speaker 4: Archie. Yes, Mrs.
1:24
Speaker 2: Collins, I'll ask you. Cocktail party.
1:27
Speaker 4: Hang up, Archie.
1:28
Speaker 6: Mrs.
1:29
Speaker 2: Collins, I'm afraid it would be better if you didn't
1:31
Speaker 2: expect Mr.
1:31
Speaker 4: Wolfe. Goodbye. Cocktails. Foy. Sir, very absurd.
1:39
Speaker 2: She says you promised to come to her cocktail party,
1:41
Speaker 2: and why aren't you there?
1:42
Speaker 4: Because you are going to attend the cocktail party, and
1:45
Speaker 4: the probable unpleasant ending.
1:47
Speaker 7: Oh!
2:04
Speaker 3: Ladies and gentlemen, it's that genius who is the bulkiest, balkiest,
2:08
Speaker 3: the most ponderous and most brilliant detective in the world. Yes,
2:12
Speaker 3: none other than that chair-born mass of unpredictable intellect, Nero Wolfe,
2:16
Speaker 3: created by Rex Stout and brought to you in a
2:18
Speaker 3: new series of adventures over this NBC.
2:20
Speaker 5: Network in the person of Mr.
2:22
Speaker 4: Sidney Greenstreet.
2:36
Speaker 9: Mr.
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Speaker 2: Wolfe and I refer to this as the case of
2:38
Speaker 2: the party for death.
2:40
Speaker 1: Nero Wolfe really should have gone to the party since
2:42
Speaker 1: he'd accepted, but I was delegated. I can't complain now
2:46
Speaker 1: since it was there that I met Georgia, the most
2:48
Speaker 1: beautiful redhead. Well, that's my weakness, redheads. Yeah, blondes and brunettes.
2:56
Speaker 4: Well, anyway, Mr.
2:57
Speaker 2: Wolfe was adamant about going to the party.
2:59
Speaker 4: I've never been to a cocktail party in my life.
3:02
Speaker 4: You know, I drink nothing but beer.
3:04
Speaker 2: You could take your beer with you, couldn't you?
3:05
Speaker 4: I could not.
3:07
Speaker 1: Do we know a Mrs. Collins whose cocktail party you
3:09
Speaker 1: said you'd go to?
3:10
Speaker 4: The phone rang and I picked it up.
3:12
Speaker 2: Where was I?
3:13
Speaker 4: Exactly. Okay. So a Mrs.
3:16
Speaker 1: Collins with a beautiful, seductive voice conned you into accepting
3:19
Speaker 1: an invitation to a cocktail party that you knew you
3:22
Speaker 1: weren't going to.
3:24
Speaker 4: Archie. Yes, master? Just a little less sarcasm, perhaps.
3:28
Speaker 2: Sarcasm?
3:29
Speaker 4: Call it impertinence, then. Impertinence, master? Exactly. Less of that.
3:34
Speaker 4: Much less. Okay. Continue now. Where was I? You were
3:39
Speaker 4: eating the duck recipe. Oh, yes. The duck. Oh, here
3:44
Speaker 4: we are.
3:45
Speaker 1: Dodeen de canard. The dodeen is one of the oldest
3:51
Speaker 1: dishes in the repertory of French cooking, being mentioned in
3:54
Speaker 1: books of the 14th century.
3:56
Speaker 2: Le Grand Cousineur de Toute Cousine.
4:00
Speaker 4: What time is it, Archie? Almost 6.30. In that case.
4:04
Speaker 2: Are you going to get up?
4:06
Speaker 4: Here on this card are your instructions, Archie. If you
4:10
Speaker 4: are still alive tomorrow, you may make your report.
4:18
Speaker 1: I helped the huge vault that was near old Wolf
4:20
Speaker 1: out of his specially built desk chair and walked with
4:22
Speaker 1: him to the elevator that would take him upstairs to
4:24
Speaker 1: his orchards. I stepped back to the desk and found
4:30
Speaker 1: the card which bore my instructions. In his small, perfect handwriting,
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Speaker 1: I read, Mrs. Albert Collins, Empire Towers. Arrive at seven,
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Speaker 1: say I sent you. After the murder, telephone me before
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Speaker 1: the police arrive. At exactly seven, I rang Mrs.
4:46
Speaker 2: Collins' doorbell.
4:54
Speaker 9: Mrs.
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Speaker 4: Collins?
4:54
Speaker 10: Hello?
4:55
Speaker 5: I'm Mrs.
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Speaker 4: Collins. I'm Archie Goodwin. We talked on the phone a
4:57
Speaker 4: little while ago.
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Speaker 5: Oh, yes. Well, come in, Mr.
5:01
Speaker 7: Goodwin.
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Speaker 5: Mr.
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Speaker 1: Wolfe begs to be excused at the last moment. He
5:05
Speaker 1: was unable to attend.
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Speaker 5: Well, I'm glad you could come.
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Speaker 2: You're not disappointed?
5:10
Speaker 5: No, I don't think so. I'm rather upset. I'm afraid, Mr. Goodwin,
5:15
Speaker 5: for my life. That's why I called Mr. Wolfe. Oh,
5:19
Speaker 5: just drop your hat and coat there, Mr.
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Speaker 7: Goodwin.
5:21
Speaker 4: May I tell you something, Mrs. Collins?
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Speaker 5: Well, of course, Mr.
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Speaker 4: Goodwin. Archie will do.
5:27
Speaker 7: Archie?
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Speaker 2: When I spoke to you on the phone, I thought
5:30
Speaker 2: I knew what you'd look like.
5:31
Speaker 7: And?
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Speaker 4: You do.
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Speaker 5: Well, is that good?
5:36
Speaker 4: It's not bad, Mrs. Collins. Janie will do.
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Speaker 2: Janie will do.
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Speaker 5: Um, Archie, I, um, I think it would be best
5:46
Speaker 5: if I say you're an old beau of mine.
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Speaker 4: From where? In Hollywood.
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Speaker 5: When I went to Hollywood High School and you went
5:53
Speaker 5: to USC.
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Speaker 2: Okay, but don't expect me to remember much about it.
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Speaker 8: I'll be flattered if you remember anything about it. I
6:00
Speaker 8: want you to keep your eyes and ears open. Observe
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Speaker 8: everything tonight. Well, now shall we join the party? Oh, Albert,
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Speaker 8: this is Archie Goodwin. Archie, this is my husband, Albert.
6:12
Speaker 4: How do you do? Hello.
6:13
Speaker 5: And this is Joe Boyce, my husband's partner.
6:15
Speaker 4: How do you do? Boyce?
6:17
Speaker 5: I've told you about Archie Albert, but I guess you
6:19
Speaker 5: probably don't remember, do you?
6:20
Speaker 4: No, I don't.
6:21
Speaker 5: When I was in high school and he went to USC.
6:23
Speaker 7: Oh.
6:24
Speaker 4: Oh, yeah, sure. What'll you have, good one?
6:27
Speaker 2: I'd like a plain lime and soda.
6:29
Speaker 5: Oh, not really. A teetotaler now?
6:33
Speaker 2: Yes, I, uh.
6:35
Speaker 4: Well, I.
6:35
Speaker 2: Used to overdo it, remember?
6:37
Speaker 4: So you knew my wife in Hollywood?
6:40
Speaker 2: Quite a while ago, though.
6:41
Speaker 4: Uh-huh. Been here long? Oh, a while. Did you and
6:44
Speaker 4: my wife run into each other again just lately? Yeah.
6:48
Speaker 4: A few days ago?
6:50
Speaker 7: About.
6:51
Speaker 4: Joe Boyce here is my partner, chemical business. Makes this
6:55
Speaker 4: sort of an old home week, doesn't it, Joe?
6:57
Speaker 2: In a way, Al.
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Speaker 4: I guess it does at that. Joe knew my wife
7:01
Speaker 4: back in those days, too. And they're still very friendly. Yeah. Yes, indeed.
7:08
Speaker 4: You two have got something in common to talk about,
7:11
Speaker 4: haven't you, good man? Mrs.
7:12
Speaker 2: Collins, you mean? We never knew each other very well.
7:15
Speaker 4: No? Okay, good, then let it go.
7:18
Speaker 7: Why, look.
7:20
Speaker 11: Look what I found.
7:22
Speaker 5: A new man. That's what I need. I'm Georgia.
7:27
Speaker 4: Archie.
7:28
Speaker 5: Archie, dear, will you fix up my drink, please?
7:32
Speaker 4: Anything for a lady.
7:33
Speaker 5: Let's go to the bar.
7:35
Speaker 7: Eh, Archie?
7:36
Speaker 4: I'm determined, Joffrey. For only the money. Our only, Jane.
7:41
Speaker 4: I might listen.
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Speaker 2: Oh, Al, can't we talk about it later?
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Speaker 4: I like talking about it now, Joe. You're going to
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Speaker 4: be sorry about this, Al. I am already. But you'll
7:48
Speaker 4: have 20 years or so in prison just being sorry.
7:51
Speaker 4: I've got the papers you forged right here. You're hysterical, Al.
7:54
Speaker 4: Let's face it.
7:55
Speaker 10: The firm went broke, but I suffered too.
7:57
Speaker 4: So let's forget it. Yes, Joe. The firm went broke,
8:00
Speaker 4: but you didn't. And I don't think my wife did either.
8:03
Speaker 4: The two of you had everything figured for yourselves. Well,
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Speaker 4: I'm turning the papers over to the D.A. tomorrow. Nero
8:17
Speaker 4: Wolf speaking. Archie.
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Speaker 2: What do you know about this expected murder, if anything?
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Speaker 4: Has it happened yet?
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Speaker 2: No, but who's supposed to get killed?
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Speaker 4: I haven't the faintest idea, Archie.
8:26
Speaker 2: Then why don't you stop it?
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Speaker 4: That is impossible. I don't even know who's there.
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Speaker 2: You want me to tell you?
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Speaker 4: Not in the least.
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Speaker 2: How am I supposed to prevent it if I don't
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Speaker 2: know what I'm looking for?
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Speaker 4: You're not supposed to prevent it, Archie. I don't think
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Speaker 4: you could. I don't think anybody could.
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Speaker 2: You want to hear what I found out already?
8:42
Speaker 8: No.
8:43
Speaker 2: I'll tell you anyway. Collins thinks his wife and his partner, Boyce,
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Speaker 2: have been stealing his dough and he's threatening to send
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Speaker 2: Boyce to the clink.
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Speaker 4: Archie.
8:50
Speaker 2: Yeah?
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Speaker 4: You're wasting our time. Go back to the party. There
8:54
Speaker 4: is nothing you can do to prevent the murder. But
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Speaker 4: I want you to be there when it happens. Now
9:06
Speaker 4: that all the guests have gone, let's sit down.
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Speaker 9: Here, Georgia.
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Speaker 6: When Janie was in Hollywood, she must have had more
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Speaker 6: good-looking boyfriends.
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Speaker 4: Let's get personal about this, Georgia.
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Speaker 11: Yeah, let's.
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Speaker 2: When you say good-looking, do you mean me?
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Speaker 11: I don't mean anybody else, Archie.
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Speaker 4: You know, I think you're pretty, too.
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Speaker 11: You'd better not let Jane hear you say that.
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Speaker 4: You think she'd care?
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Speaker 11: I thought you knew Jane.
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Speaker 4: Only slightly. You don't like Jane too well, do you?
9:32
Speaker 5: Why?
9:33
Speaker 9: Why?
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Speaker 4: Why what?
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Speaker 6: Why don't you tell the truth about it? No man
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Speaker 6: is attractive as you ever knew Jane slightly. Either they
9:41
Speaker 6: knew her or they didn't know her. Maybe you think
9:43
Speaker 6: I'm getting a little tipsy.
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Speaker 4: The idea never occurred to me.
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Speaker 7: No?
9:46
Speaker 11: Well, it has to me.
9:48
Speaker 4: Refill your glass?
9:49
Speaker 11: I'll come with you to the bar.
9:58
Speaker 2: Here's your drink, Georgia.
9:59
Speaker 7: Oh.
10:00
Speaker 2: I find there's no ice left in the ice bucket.
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Speaker 4: Janie.
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Speaker 11: Hey, Janie, no ice.
10:05
Speaker 5: Oh, well, I'll get some. Here, give me the bucket.
10:08
Speaker 2: Mrs. Collins.
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Speaker 4: Janie, I mean.
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Speaker 11: Yes, Archie.
10:11
Speaker 2: May I use the phone in the bedroom again?
10:12
Speaker 4: Oh, of course. Will you excuse me for a minute, Georgia?
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Speaker 11: I'm coming with you.
10:16
Speaker 1: Why don't you just stay here until Jane brings the ice?
10:19
Speaker 1: Why don't you go talk to Joe Boyce?
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Speaker 11: I don't want to talk to Joe Boyce. I don't
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Speaker 11: want to talk to Joe Boyce ever.
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Speaker 4: Look, Georgia.
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Speaker 11: I'm coming with you, Archie. Is that clear?
10:28
Speaker 4: Okay. Come on.
10:34
Speaker 11: Here's where the phone is.
10:35
Speaker 2: I could have found it myself.
10:37
Speaker 11: You don't want me with you, do you?
10:38
Speaker 1: Just sit down here on the edge of the bed
10:40
Speaker 1: and listen, if that's what you want to do.
10:46
Speaker 4: Peter Wolfe speaking.
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Speaker 2: Archie, boss.
10:49
Speaker 4: Well, Archie, what? Just a bit of a report.
10:52
Speaker 2: Go on.
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Speaker 1: At this moment, I am sitting on the edge of
10:55
Speaker 1: one of two twin beds in the apartment of Mr.
10:57
Speaker 2: And Mrs. Albert Collins. Sitting next to me is a
11:00
Speaker 2: gorgeous redhead named Georgia.
11:02
Speaker 4: Georgia what, dear? Boy.
11:04
Speaker 2: You mean you're the wife of Joe Boyce?
11:07
Speaker 5: Of course.
11:08
Speaker 11: Didn't you know?
11:09
Speaker 1: I am sitting next to the gorgeous red-headed wife of
11:13
Speaker 1: Albert Collins' partner.
11:14
Speaker 4: Joe Boyce.
11:15
Speaker 2: Archie, you annoy me. From what I just learned, I
11:18
Speaker 2: can see there's another.
11:19
Speaker 4: Friction going on.
11:20
Speaker 2: You mean Georgia and Jane?
11:21
Speaker 4: Yep.
11:22
Speaker 2: Fireworks between them. This one no like other ones. Anything
11:25
Speaker 2: more to say? When I called, I was going to
11:28
Speaker 2: ask if there's any reason why I shouldn't come home now.
11:30
Speaker 2: I wrote your instructions for you, Archie. After the murder
11:33
Speaker 2: call you. This perfectly cares, isn't it? Well, what if
11:36
Speaker 2: there isn't any? Don't call me Simple, isn't it?
11:42
Speaker 4: Hello He hung up Archie What?
11:46
Speaker 11: It was a strange conversation Do.
11:48
Speaker 2: You want me to explain it to you, honey?
11:50
Speaker 11: What was that business about murder?
11:53
Speaker 2: Shall we join the party?
11:55
Speaker 11: Murder Archie Wouldn't you be surprised if there was one?
12:01
Speaker 2: Yeah Who's going to do what and to whom?
12:03
Speaker 11: I don't know Maybe I will.
12:06
Speaker 2: Elucidate, honey. Do you intend to figure as the killer
12:08
Speaker 2: or the corpse?
12:09
Speaker 6: I don't intend to figure as anything. But you never know. Archie,
12:14
Speaker 6: do you think Jane Collins is better looking than me?
12:17
Speaker 4: No.
12:18
Speaker 11: Honestly?
12:18
Speaker 4: Honestly.
12:19
Speaker 11: Then what's the matter with me?
12:21
Speaker 4: Nothing.
12:21
Speaker 2: Nothing at all.
12:23
Speaker 8: Oh, yes, dear.
12:24
Speaker 11: Look, do you want to kiss me? I.
12:28
Speaker 4: Well, I'll tell you.
12:30
Speaker 2: When I graduated from Sunday school, I took a vow.
12:33
Speaker 11: That's what I mean. But if I were Jane, you'd
12:35
Speaker 11: want to kiss me, wouldn't you?
12:36
Speaker 2: No, frankly, no.
12:38
Speaker 11: Why not?
12:39
Speaker 2: Well, when I graduated from Sunday school, I.
12:41
Speaker 11: Okay, Archie. Let's go back. You boys have such happy faces.
12:49
Speaker 11: Where's Jane?
12:50
Speaker 4: In the kitchen getting some ice. Where have you been?
12:53
Speaker 5: With Archie.
12:53
Speaker 10: Is he an old school chum of yours, too?
12:55
Speaker 5: Do you care, Joe?
12:57
Speaker 4: No.
12:57
Speaker 7: Mr.
12:57
Speaker 10: Boyce.
12:59
Speaker 4: What?
12:59
Speaker 2: How much do you weigh? 187 pounds.
13:02
Speaker 4: Why?
13:02
Speaker 2: Then I'll be giving you five pounds. Shall we step outside?
13:05
Speaker 11: This I have got to see.
13:07
Speaker 4: Shut up. Mr. Goodwin, you seem angry.
13:10
Speaker 2: Just terribly, terribly hurt.
13:12
Speaker 10: Would it do any good if I apologized? Today I'm
13:15
Speaker 10: a little upset. If I said anything to offend you,
13:17
Speaker 10: I do apologize. Now, if you still want me to
13:21
Speaker 10: give you a boxing lesson, I'm at your service. Let's
13:24
Speaker 10: forget it.
13:25
Speaker 2: I'm sorry, too.
13:28
Speaker 1: Jane Collins came in from the kitchen with a bucket
13:30
Speaker 1: of ice cubes, a tray of fresh glasses, and the
13:32
Speaker 1: strapless gown she'd been wearing.
13:34
Speaker 5: There. I never thought I'd make it.
13:37
Speaker 8: Now I'm going to mix my own drink, and you
13:40
Speaker 8: can take care of yourselves.
13:42
Speaker 4: Iceberg.
13:44
Speaker 7: Whiskey.
13:46
Speaker 5: And soda. It's a simple recipe, isn't it, Archie?
13:51
Speaker 2: All it needs is the ingredients.
13:52
Speaker 5: I drink to the ingredients.
13:57
Speaker 4: Nice.
13:58
Speaker 5: Janie, darling.
14:00
Speaker 4: What, dear?
14:01
Speaker 6: Would you mind very much if I took Archie away
14:04
Speaker 6: from you?
14:05
Speaker 7: Uh-huh.
14:06
Speaker 5: Haven't you done that already, dear?
14:08
Speaker 4: If you listen to those girls, you'd think, wouldn't you, Goodman? Me?
14:12
Speaker 4: I never think.
14:13
Speaker 5: What do you do, Archie?
14:14
Speaker 2: I concentrate.
14:15
Speaker 4: On what? On not thinking.
14:18
Speaker 1: I did some serious concentrating on not thinking about Nero
14:21
Speaker 1: Wolfe or about the conflict of the partners Albert Collins
14:24
Speaker 1: and Joe Boyce, about the jealousies of Jane and Georgia,
14:28
Speaker 1: The next five minutes hardly seemed an hour. Jane and
14:31
Speaker 1: Boyce murmured to each other. Collins drank gently but firmly.
14:35
Speaker 11: Why can't you be honest, Archie? What's the matter with me?
14:38
Speaker 2: What, Georgia?
14:39
Speaker 11: You weren't listening, were you?
14:40
Speaker 2: To every gorgeous word you said.
14:42
Speaker 11: What did I say?
14:43
Speaker 2: I want to hear it again, just the way you
14:45
Speaker 2: said it before.
14:46
Speaker 11: I said, why shouldn't there be a murder? Why not?
14:50
Speaker 11: It's an order.
14:51
Speaker 2: It's just not considered the thing to do.
14:53
Speaker 11: Thing to do. Can you think of anything better?
14:56
Speaker 2: No, frankly.
14:57
Speaker 11: I can. My glass is empty.
15:00
Speaker 4: My glass is empty, too. Jane. Jane!
15:05
Speaker 8: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not much of a hostess, am I?
15:08
Speaker 8: Don't answer that. Oh, you're all empty. But I've only
15:12
Speaker 8: drunk half of mine.
15:13
Speaker 4: You don't usually drink so slowly, Jane.
15:17
Speaker 8: I'm just not in the mood tonight. I usually drink
15:19
Speaker 8: faster to keep you from drinking mine. See, Albert always
15:22
Speaker 8: gulps his and then reaches for mine.
15:24
Speaker 4: What's the difference?
15:25
Speaker 8: And I'll fix you some fresh drinks, but put my
15:27
Speaker 8: drink over there by you, Georgia. And lay off, Albert.
15:31
Speaker 8: I only had about three swallows of it. Besides, you
15:34
Speaker 8: don't need any more.
15:36
Speaker 6: I suppose we know what dear Jane is going to do,
15:39
Speaker 6: don't we?
15:39
Speaker 4: Lay off, will you? Lay off.
15:41
Speaker 11: It's my husband who said that, Archie. Archie, meet my husband, Mr.
15:44
Speaker 5: Boyce.
15:45
Speaker 6: I will now explain why dear Jane took our glasses
15:47
Speaker 6: away to the kitchen when she could have poured a
15:49
Speaker 6: drink right here.
15:50
Speaker 4: Listen, Georgia, will you.
15:51
Speaker 7: Mr.
15:51
Speaker 11: Boyce is speaking, Archie. What, Mr.
15:53
Speaker 7: Boyce? Uh.
15:55
Speaker 4: Ah, nuts.
15:56
Speaker 9: Mr.
15:56
Speaker 11: Boyce says nuts, Mr.
15:57
Speaker 10: Goodwin.
15:58
Speaker 11: What do you say, Mr. Collins?
15:59
Speaker 4: I think Joe has covered the field.
16:01
Speaker 11: We were talking, weren't we, Archie?
16:03
Speaker 4: Possibly.
16:03
Speaker 11: We were talking about dear Jane. She's got to be
16:06
Speaker 11: always the prettiest. Always devastating.
16:09
Speaker 6: Right now, she's putting on a completely new face. And
16:11
Speaker 6: in about 20 minutes, when our tongues are hanging.
16:14
Speaker 5: Out, she'll come back.
16:15
Speaker 6: All horsed up and bright and smiling with another tray
16:19
Speaker 6: of drinks.
16:19
Speaker 4: Yeah, she'll take all night to fix them. Well.
16:23
Speaker 6: I'm going to get some air on the balcony.
16:25
Speaker 4: Don't jump off. Al, you're drinking too much lately. I
16:29
Speaker 4: shouldn't worry you, Joe. Especially now.
16:31
Speaker 10: When you start drinking not only your drinks, but everybody
16:34
Speaker 10: else's too, well.
16:36
Speaker 4: Ah, Jane's right. Is that what worries you? Slide Jane's
16:40
Speaker 4: glass down. Hmm. The ice is all millet. You see
16:46
Speaker 4: what I mean? Okay, Joe. Let's not be nasty until tomorrow. Good.
16:51
Speaker 4: That gives me an idea. Think I'll propose a toast.
16:56
Speaker 4: Until tomorrow. You know, it may be rather fitting that
17:00
Speaker 4: I should drink a toast from the glass that Janie left.
17:04
Speaker 4: Until tomorrow. Go!
17:15
Speaker 7: Al.
17:17
Speaker 4: Al? Jane.
17:20
Speaker 5: Janie!
17:21
Speaker 4: Albert!
17:24
Speaker 5: Oh, Albert.
17:37
Speaker 4: Yellow Wolf speaking.
17:38
Speaker 2: May I come home now?
17:40
Speaker 4: Oh, hello, Archie.
17:42
Speaker 2: I said may I come home now?
17:43
Speaker 4: Have you sent for the police, Inspector Kramer?
17:45
Speaker 2: Of course.
17:46
Speaker 4: Who was killed, Archie?
17:48
Speaker 2: Albert Collins.
17:49
Speaker 4: How, Archie?
17:50
Speaker 2: I don't know.
17:51
Speaker 4: You were right, though, weren't you? Naturally. About what? Murder. Oh, that.
17:56
Speaker 4: We can talk about it tomorrow. Good night, Archie. Come
18:00
Speaker 4: home when you can.
18:01
Speaker 2: What do you mean, come home when I can?
18:04
Speaker 4: You'll be held as a witness, won't you? Try not
18:09
Speaker 4: to wake me with the elevator when you come in.
18:17
Speaker 1: Well, Inspector Kramer, you've had me here at headquarters for
18:19
Speaker 1: a long while.
18:20
Speaker 2: For quite a long while. Haven't you asked me enough questions?
18:24
Speaker 9: Goodwin, you say you never saw these people before, Collins
18:27
Speaker 9: or Boyce or their wives. Yet when all the other
18:30
Speaker 9: guests had gone, you.
18:32
Speaker 1: Were still there. I guess I just don't know how
18:34
Speaker 1: to say goodbye. You didn't know they were partners in
18:37
Speaker 1: a chemical company. You didn't know that Boyce had forged
18:39
Speaker 1: a lot of papers with Collins' name.
18:41
Speaker 2: All I know is what you tell me.
18:43
Speaker 4: Goodwin. Yes, sir? I'm trying to be nice. Yes, sir.
18:48
Speaker 9: Now, I know, of course, that you went to that
18:50
Speaker 9: party because Nero Wolfe told you to.
18:53
Speaker 4: Do you?
18:53
Speaker 9: My question is, how did Wolfe know it was going
18:57
Speaker 9: to happen?
18:58
Speaker 2: Why don't you ask him?
18:59
Speaker 4: I already have. He told you?
19:01
Speaker 1: He says he never heard of Collins or Boyce. Did
19:04
Speaker 1: he say he'd ever heard of me?
19:05
Speaker 4: He says he.
19:06
Speaker 9: Isn't responsible for you or your shady friends. Maybe he
19:10
Speaker 9: knows I found a poison pellet in George's bag.
19:13
Speaker 2: Inspector, may I make an important call?
19:15
Speaker 4: Go ahead. Archie, Archie. You found it late.
19:33
Speaker 7: Hello?
19:36
Speaker 2: What time is it, Master?
19:37
Speaker 4: Didn't find it, Archie.
19:39
Speaker 2: I'll tell you what time it is. It's a little
19:41
Speaker 2: after 4 a.m. I'm at Central Headquarters, and Inspector Kramer
19:44
Speaker 2: has been chatting with me about my shady friends.
19:48
Speaker 4: Kramer is a jackass.
19:49
Speaker 2: Just a second. Pick up the other phone, will you, Inspector? Sorry, Mr. Wolfe,
19:54
Speaker 2: what was that you were saying about Inspector Kramer?
19:56
Speaker 4: I said Kramer is a jackass.
19:59
Speaker 2: Thank you.
19:59
Speaker 4: Wait a minute.
20:00
Speaker 10: Wolfe!
20:01
Speaker 7: Oh?
20:02
Speaker 4: Eavesdropping, Inspector.
20:03
Speaker 2: I was just talking about bringing you down here for
20:06
Speaker 2: a little questioning, Wolfe.
20:07
Speaker 4: Wait. Phooey. It can be spelled in several ways. I
20:11
Speaker 4: spell it P-F-U-I. Phooey.
20:14
Speaker 2: You think I won't bring you down here as a
20:16
Speaker 2: material witness?
20:17
Speaker 4: Yes, I think you won't. I think you'd be making
20:20
Speaker 4: a great mistake if you did. A great mistake? Why?
20:23
Speaker 4: Because I might not tell you who killed Collins. Then
20:26
Speaker 4: you wouldn't know which one of these people to prefer
20:28
Speaker 4: charges against. Now send Archie home. Even he needs an
20:32
Speaker 4: occasional night's sleep. He hung up. So it seems.
20:50
Speaker 7: Busy?
20:51
Speaker 1: He's probably left the phone off the hook, Inspector. By
20:54
Speaker 1: now he's probably asleep again. You know I can go
20:57
Speaker 1: out there, don't you? Sure you can. More important men
20:59
Speaker 1: than you have tried it. And where are they now? Goodwin?
21:03
Speaker 4: Yes, sir? I'm going to let you go.
21:05
Speaker 2: I'm sure Mr. Wolfe and I are very grateful, Inspector.
21:09
Speaker 4: You want to know why I'm letting you go? I
21:11
Speaker 4: know why. Why?
21:12
Speaker 1: Because if you're nice and cooperative and don't make too
21:15
Speaker 1: much trouble, Mr. Wolfe will solve this case for you
21:18
Speaker 1: and tell you whom to prefer charges against.
21:20
Speaker 7: Goodwin.
21:21
Speaker 4: Sir? Get out.
21:23
Speaker 2: Thank you, Inspector. Good morning, Inspector.
21:35
Speaker 1: At 3 o'clock the next afternoon, I was rearranging the
21:38
Speaker 1: furniture in Nero Wolfe's office while the great man sat
21:41
Speaker 1: behind his desk watching me perspire.
21:44
Speaker 4: Are you finished now, Archie? I guess so. And tell
21:48
Speaker 4: me where they sat.
21:49
Speaker 1: There were two couches, like this, in front of a fireplace.
21:52
Speaker 1: Collins and Boyce were sitting together on one couch. When
21:56
Speaker 1: Georgia and I came in, they were looking at some
21:57
Speaker 1: canceled checks.
21:59
Speaker 4: Where was Mrs. Collins?
22:00
Speaker 1: I told you, she was getting ice and fresh glasses.
22:03
Speaker 1: Why was she getting fresh glasses, Archie? Where were the
22:06
Speaker 1: empty ones?
22:06
Speaker 4: I don't know.
22:07
Speaker 1: Maybe they were the same ones she brought back washed
22:09
Speaker 1: and polished. Archie, I trust your powers of observation absolutely.
22:14
Speaker 1: That's why I sent you to Mrs. Collins' cocktail party.
22:18
Speaker 2: Okay, how did you know there was going to be
22:19
Speaker 2: a murder, if it was a murder?
22:21
Speaker 4: It was a murder, Archie. But isn't it obvious? How
22:25
Speaker 4: is it obvious?
22:26
Speaker 1: Suppose Collins slipped a few drops of the poison into
22:28
Speaker 1: his drink himself.
22:30
Speaker 4: It's very strong, very deadly poison. With a remarkably strong odor.
22:34
Speaker 2: Like almonds, I know. I smelled it when I picked
22:36
Speaker 2: him up.
22:38
Speaker 4: Archie, was anything found on the body that might have
22:41
Speaker 4: contained the poison a fountain pen, whatever?
22:44
Speaker 2: Not even that.
22:46
Speaker 4: Inspector Kramer found a poison pellet in Georgia's handbag. He
22:50
Speaker 4: thinks she poisoned Collins' drink. Say, could be.
22:55
Speaker 1: But it wasn't his drink, it was his wife's. Then
22:57
Speaker 1: Georgia was trying to kill Jane and Collins got it
23:00
Speaker 1: by mistake.
23:01
Speaker 4: We shall soon see, Archie.
23:03
Speaker 1: I was expecting a murder because you told me to
23:05
Speaker 1: expect it. I watched every move that everybody made. There
23:08
Speaker 1: is no possibility that Jane's glass, the glass with the
23:11
Speaker 1: poison in it, was tampered with by anybody.
23:14
Speaker 4: Yes, I believe. Okay. Archie, you're a saw, aren't you?
23:18
Speaker 1: Have you ever spent the night with Inspector Kramer? He's
23:21
Speaker 1: really a good man, too. Why did you say he
23:23
Speaker 1: was a jackass?
23:24
Speaker 4: Because he didn't know who killed Collins.
23:26
Speaker 8: Do you?
23:27
Speaker 4: Of course. Is there ever any question about it? Just
23:31
Speaker 4: a moment, please. The only trouble is it may be
23:34
Speaker 4: difficult to prove. That's why we are giving this little
23:37
Speaker 4: cocktail party this afternoon with the help of Inspector Kramer.
23:41
Speaker 4: By the way.
23:41
Speaker 5: Yes?
23:42
Speaker 4: Call Mrs. Collins and tell her to bring a bucket
23:45
Speaker 4: of ice from her refrigerator. Why? Because our refrigerator's broken down. No,
23:50
Speaker 4: it hasn't.
23:51
Speaker 2: I was just out in the kitchen a minute ago.
23:53
Speaker 4: Our refrigerator has broken down. And it would be very
23:57
Speaker 4: helpful if Mrs. Collins would bring a bucket of ice cubes.
24:00
Speaker 2: What makes you think she'll do it?
24:02
Speaker 4: She will. Call her.
24:08
Speaker 7: 6.45.
24:08
Speaker 1: There we were in Wolfe's office doing a repeat performance
24:12
Speaker 1: of last night's smash hit. Two couches faced each other,
24:15
Speaker 1: a cocktail table between them.
24:18
Speaker 2: On one couch, red-headed Georgia and me.
24:21
Speaker 1: On the other couch, it was a big one, Joe Boyce,
24:24
Speaker 1: Jane Collins, widow of the lately defunct Albert, and Nero Wolfe.
24:29
Speaker 1: Jane had been drinking a little slower than the rest
24:31
Speaker 1: of us. Our glasses were empty. Hers was still half full.
24:35
Speaker 4: Wolfe said.
24:36
Speaker 2: Marjorie.
24:37
Speaker 4: Yeah? At this point in last night's party, Mrs. Collins
24:41
Speaker 4: got up and left to get some fresh drinks. Repeat
24:43
Speaker 4: what she said. Approximately. Approximately will do. I think she
24:48
Speaker 4: said something like this. She said, um.
24:51
Speaker 1: Put my drink over by you, Georgia... Lay off, Albert.
24:54
Speaker 1: I've had about three swallows of it. Besides, you don't
24:57
Speaker 1: need any more, Albert. Am I right, Jane?
25:00
Speaker 5: Close enough, Archie. But what of it?
25:02
Speaker 4: Now, what is this nonsense all about, Wolf?
25:04
Speaker 9: Mr.
25:04
Speaker 5: Wolf is trying to make something out of nothing.
25:07
Speaker 11: I think Mr. Wolf is going to turn up something
25:09
Speaker 11: mighty interesting. Don't look so perturbed, Joe.
25:13
Speaker 4: Since I am playing the part of the late Mr. Collins,
25:15
Speaker 4: pass me Jane's glass.
25:17
Speaker 5: I'll keep my glass, Mr.
25:18
Speaker 7: Wolfe.
25:18
Speaker 5: I haven't finished my drink.
25:20
Speaker 4: You're a very clever woman, Mrs. Collins.
25:22
Speaker 2: Would it be too much if I ask what this
25:24
Speaker 2: is all about?
25:25
Speaker 4: What is it, Archie?
25:26
Speaker 1: You make it sound as if that drink she's holding
25:28
Speaker 1: is poison. But it can't be, because as yesterday, she's
25:31
Speaker 1: already drunk half of it herself.
25:33
Speaker 4: When our freezer broke down, she was more than willing
25:36
Speaker 4: to bring a bucket of ice cubes, wasn't she? So?
25:39
Speaker 4: What would happen, Archie, if you froze a gelatine-coated pellet
25:42
Speaker 4: of poison in the center of one particular ice cube? Mrs.
25:46
Speaker 4: Collins hasn't finished her drink. Notice the ice has all
25:50
Speaker 4: melted now. She hasn't taken one sip since the ice
25:54
Speaker 4: melted completely. She came prepared in case she was exposed.
25:58
Speaker 4: Smell it, Archie.
25:59
Speaker 5: No, Archie, stand back. I can easily swallow this before
26:01
Speaker 5: you can reach me. Mr. Wolfe, in a few seconds,
26:04
Speaker 5: I'll drink it. But tell me something first. Tell me
26:07
Speaker 5: how you knew.
26:08
Speaker 4: Jane, Jane, listen to me. I knew there was going
26:11
Speaker 4: to be a murder last night because you said so.
26:13
Speaker 4: I knew that it was you who would commit the
26:16
Speaker 4: murder because it was you who invited me. You hoped
26:19
Speaker 4: an expert witness would prove that you couldn't have killed
26:22
Speaker 4: your husband. So I sent Archie Goodwin, whose observations are
26:26
Speaker 4: always exact, Even when he doesn't know the import of
26:30
Speaker 4: what he's observing.
26:31
Speaker 1: She brought back clean glasses. She poured the drinks out
26:34
Speaker 1: of bottles already open. And if anybody had put anything
26:37
Speaker 1: in or touched one of those glasses, I would have
26:39
Speaker 1: seen it.
26:39
Speaker 4: Exactly. The poison pellet was frozen in a certain ice cube.
26:44
Speaker 7: Mrs.
26:44
Speaker 4: Collins put that cube in her own drink, drank it
26:47
Speaker 4: until the ice had almost melted down to the poisonous
26:50
Speaker 4: pellet center.
26:51
Speaker 2: And then.
26:53
Speaker 4: Then she took all the other glasses away, leaving only
26:55
Speaker 4: hers half full. And as usual, her husband drank it. No, no, Jane, don't.
26:59
Speaker 5: Don't. Too late, Joe.
27:03
Speaker 7: Too late.
27:14
Speaker 1: Well, boss, Jane didn't get away with the suicide try.
27:17
Speaker 1: I was clever thinking you did.
27:19
Speaker 4: I prepared a cube of ice in which I had
27:21
Speaker 4: frozen a gelatine capsule containing nothing more than a vitamin compound.
27:26
Speaker 4: I substituted for the cube in which Jane had placed
27:29
Speaker 4: the poison for herself.
27:30
Speaker 1: I wonder why Jane Collins wanted to have Joe. He'd
27:33
Speaker 1: stolen practically all the money in the company.
27:35
Speaker 4: He was just a crook. Birds of a feather, Archie.
27:39
Speaker 4: I don't believe Joe Boyce had any idea that Jane
27:41
Speaker 4: was planning a murder. And he still had all the money.
27:45
Speaker 1: Well, the forgeries will put him away for a long time.
27:48
Speaker 1: And poor Georgia could have had it pinned on her
27:51
Speaker 1: if it hadn't been for me.
27:52
Speaker 4: Yes, yes. You knew all along, didn't you, that Jane
27:56
Speaker 4: had planned to have Georgia accused by planting another pellet
28:00
Speaker 4: of the poison in Georgia's handbag. Jane would have gotten
28:03
Speaker 4: rid of her husband and Joe's wife in one stroke.
28:06
Speaker 4: You knew all that, didn't you? Well, I.
28:12
Speaker 2: How about a bottle of beer, boss?
28:14
Speaker 4: Could you spare the time? Georgia. Beautiful redhead.
28:21
Speaker 2: Wonder where she is tonight.
28:23
Speaker 4: I'm sure I haven't the slightest idea, but in case
28:26
Speaker 4: you do... Well, just be quiet with the elevator door
28:32
Speaker 4: when you come in.
28:33
Speaker 7: Ah!
28:36
Speaker 5: Ah!
28:48
Speaker 3: You have been listening to The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe,
28:51
Speaker 3: starring Sidney Greenstreet.
28:53
Speaker 4: The New Adventures of Nero.
28:55
Speaker 3: Wolfe Tonight's transcribed story by Mindred Lord was based on
29:11
Speaker 3: the characters created by Rex Stout. This is an Edwin
29:14
Speaker 3: Fadiman program produced and directed by J.
29:17
Speaker 4: Donald Wilson.
29:18
Speaker 3: In the cast were Harry Bartell as Archie Goodwin, and
29:21
Speaker 3: Gigi Pearson, Herb Butterfield, Peter Leeds, Evelyn Eaton, and Bill Johnstone.
29:26
Speaker 3: Next week at this same time, Nero Wolfe and Archie
29:29
Speaker 3: will bring you The Case of the Malevolent Medic.
29:33
Speaker 4: Don Stanley speaking.
29:36
Speaker 2: Three chimes mean good times on NBC.
29:45
Speaker 1: This concludes The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe with Party
29:49
Speaker 1: for Death. Thank you for joining us for this 1951
29:52
Speaker 1: NBC broadcast. Follow Old Time Mystery Radio for more classic
29:57
Speaker 1: mystery and detective broadcasts.