Latest / The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows | Old Time Radio / The Whistler - "Escape to Skull Island" (Old Time Radio, 1950)

Transcript

The Whistler - "Escape to Skull Island" (Old Time Radio, 1950) · The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: January 15th, 1950 brought CBS listeners episode 398 of The Whistler,
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: Escape to Skull Island. In this Signal Oil presentation, escaped
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: convict Steve Henshaw outruns a police pursuit along the nighttime
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: waterfront and finds refuge aboard a barge near Skull Island. There,
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: George and Melody Gromick are engaged in a deep-sea salvage operation,
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: searching the water below for treasure. Henshaw's arrival draws him
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: into their competing interests. R. Sprague Hall wrote the script,
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: with Wilbur Hatch providing the music, and the cast includes
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: Faye Baker, Ted DiCorsia, Tom Tully, and William Conrad. From CBS,
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: here is The Whistler and Escape to Skull Island. And now,
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: we return to the original broadcast.
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: And now, stay tuned for the mystery program that is
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: unique among all mystery programs. Because even when you know
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: who's guilty, you always receive a startling surprise at the
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: final curtain. In the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:21
  Speaker 3: S-I-T-N-A-L.
• 1:27
  Speaker 4: Signal, Signal Gasoline.
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: Signal, the famous go-farther gasoline, invites you to sit back
• 1:37
  Speaker 2: and enjoy another strange story by the whistler. For extra
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: driving pleasure, the signal to look for is the yellow
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: and black circle sign that identifies signal service stations from
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: Canada to Mexico. And for Sunday evening listening pleasure, the
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: signal to listen for is this whistle that identifies the
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: Signal Oil program, the whistler.
• 2:00
  Speaker 4: I am the whistler.
• 2:18
  Speaker 5: And I know many things, for I walk by night.
• 2:22
  Speaker 5: I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of
• 2:25
  Speaker 5: men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes,
• 2:29
  Speaker 5: I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.
• 2:37
  Speaker 5: And now, for The Signal Oil Company, The Whistler's Strange Story,
• 2:42
  Speaker 5: Escape to Skull Island.
• 2:44
  Speaker 6: The Whistler's Strange.
• 2:46
  Speaker 5: Story As the pistol shots shattered the stillness of the
• 2:55
  Speaker 5: night along the waterfront, the figure of a man appeared
• 2:59
  Speaker 5: suddenly running swiftly across the railroad yard. Hatless, the man
• 3:03
  Speaker 5: sprinted along the tracks, then crossed over into the deserted
• 3:06
  Speaker 5: cobblestone street, headed for the old pier at the end
• 3:10
  Speaker 5: of the block. Soon the area became alive with voices,
• 3:13
  Speaker 5: the wail of police sirens, the screeching of brakes. As
• 3:17
  Speaker 5: the shouts came closer, the man, running and stumbling, reached
• 3:20
  Speaker 5: the dock, ran at top speed to the end of
• 3:22
  Speaker 5: the wharf. Then he stopped, looked around frantically. Quickly, he
• 3:26
  Speaker 5: stepped on a rickety wooden ladder and started down. Then
• 3:29
  Speaker 5: he swung himself under the old wharf and clung to
• 3:32
  Speaker 5: a crossbeam with bleeding hands. All right, boys, all right,
• 3:35
  Speaker 5: let out.
• 3:36
  Speaker 7: Got to be around here somewhere.
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: Fred, Jim, take the other side of the pier.
• 3:42
  Speaker 4: All right.
• 3:43
  Speaker 3: Let's go, Phil. Hey, you and Herod.
• 3:45
  Speaker 6: By the warehouse.
• 3:47
  Speaker 3: All right, the rest of you.
• 3:48
  Speaker 4: This way. You sure this guy is Steve Hensher, Lieutenant?
• 3:52
  Speaker 3: I'm positive.
• 3:53
  Speaker 5: I've seen Steve Hensher too many times after recognizing him
• 3:55
  Speaker 5: in that bar back there.
• 3:56
  Speaker 4: Uh-huh. Well, after the radio alarm came in, we had
• 3:59
  Speaker 4: this area covered.
• 4:00
  Speaker 3: In a matter of minutes. He won't get away. All right,
• 4:03
  Speaker 3: come on.
• 4:03
  Speaker 5: Let's move on up ahead. As the footsteps and the
• 4:07
  Speaker 5: voices fade away, you know there's only one thing you
• 4:09
  Speaker 5: can do, don't you, Steve? You let go and drop
• 4:12
  Speaker 5: into the icy waters below. It's your only chance, isn't it?
• 4:24
  Speaker 5: You swim to the edge of the pier, dive beneath
• 4:26
  Speaker 5: the surface, and strike out for the other side of
• 4:28
  Speaker 5: the channel. Swimming underwater, your heart pounds violently, but you
• 4:33
  Speaker 5: keep going, driving yourself. Escape the only thought in your mind. Finally,
• 4:38
  Speaker 5: when you feel your lungs are about to burst, you
• 4:40
  Speaker 5: come to the surface again. There are lights all around you.
• 4:46
  Speaker 4: Hey, hey, over there!
• 4:56
  Speaker 5: You quickly go back under, and then you surface again.
• 5:00
  Speaker 5: You notice an old freighter has moved in between you
• 5:02
  Speaker 5: and the police in the dock. Gives you time to
• 5:04
  Speaker 5: swim away. Yes, far enough away to lose the police light.
• 5:09
  Speaker 5: But your arms are lead weight, and your legs stiff
• 5:12
  Speaker 5: from the cold. And you know you'll never reach the
• 5:15
  Speaker 5: other side of the channel. Desperately, you struggle to keep afloat.
• 5:19
  Speaker 5: But gradually your strength leaves you, and there's a strange
• 5:23
  Speaker 5: whirling sound in your ears, and you feel yourself spinning,
• 5:27
  Speaker 5: sinking deeper and deeper into a warm velvet fog.
• 5:42
  Speaker 4: Then out of.
• 5:43
  Speaker 5: The whirlpool voices, faintly at first, but voices growing and
• 5:47
  Speaker 5: coming closer.
• 5:49
  Speaker 4: Oh, sure, sure, sure. He'll be all right. Easy, my boy, easy. Yeah,
• 5:54
  Speaker 4: now take a drink of this. It'll do you good.
• 5:56
  Speaker 7: I said a good long drink.
• 6:01
  Speaker 5: We better get him below now. I'll get him into
• 6:03
  Speaker 5: some dry clothes. You don't remember a thing after that,
• 6:13
  Speaker 5: do you, Steve? Only darkness again and warmth spreading through you.
• 6:18
  Speaker 5: and the strength returning to your arms and legs. Then
• 6:21
  Speaker 5: suddenly you're awake again.
• 6:24
  Speaker 4: Morning.
• 6:25
  Speaker 5: The sun is streaming in through the open porthole, and
• 6:28
  Speaker 5: you feel the motion of the boat under you. You're
• 6:31
  Speaker 5: in a small cabin, but you're not alone.
• 6:35
  Speaker 6: Hello there. Feeling better this morning?
• 6:37
  Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I guess so.
• 6:40
  Speaker 6: Nothing like a good night's rest. You've been asleep for hours.
• 6:44
  Speaker 4: Feels like years.
• 6:45
  Speaker 6: I gave you one of my sleeping powders.
• 6:47
  Speaker 4: That stuff that tasted like fire water?
• 6:49
  Speaker 6: Oh, no. That would be George's special kind of brandy.
• 6:53
  Speaker 6: He consumes it by the gallon.
• 6:55
  Speaker 4: George?
• 6:57
  Speaker 6: My husband, George Gromek. He fished you out of the
• 7:01
  Speaker 6: channel last night. My name's Melody. You were pretty far gone.
• 7:07
  Speaker 6: Good thing we happened to come along when we did.
• 7:09
  Speaker 4: Where are we?
• 7:12
  Speaker 6: Approximately three miles off the coast of Lower California. We're
• 7:16
  Speaker 6: on a business trip, but that's why we couldn't turn
• 7:19
  Speaker 6: back last night after we picked you up. You don't mind.
• 7:23
  Speaker 4: What's our destination?
• 7:25
  Speaker 6: A little island about three hours from here. Skull Island.
• 7:29
  Speaker 4: Sounds real cozy. What's that?
• 7:33
  Speaker 6: Ever hear of the Gromick Salvage Company? No, no, of
• 7:37
  Speaker 6: course not. Well, George just finished a job there. He's
• 7:41
  Speaker 6: just going down to wind things up.
• 7:43
  Speaker 4: I see.
• 7:43
  Speaker 6: The trip will do you good. Take your mind off
• 7:46
  Speaker 6: your troubles. You do have troubles.
• 7:50
  Speaker 4: Who hasn't?
• 7:51
  Speaker 6: Yours must be king size. Mine don't drive me to suicide.
• 7:57
  Speaker 4: Suicide?
• 7:58
  Speaker 6: Last night, remember? Or were you practicing for the English Channel?
• 8:04
  Speaker 3: Well, well, well. Good morning, good morning. Yeah, feeling better,
• 8:08
  Speaker 3: are we, my boy?
• 8:09
  Speaker 4: Uh, yeah, I guess so.
• 8:11
  Speaker 3: Good, good. I brought along my brandy bottle. Thought you
• 8:13
  Speaker 3: might like a little nip, huh?
• 8:15
  Speaker 6: George.
• 8:15
  Speaker 3: My dear, I'm only thinking of our guest. One little nip, sir.
• 8:18
  Speaker 4: Uh, no, thanks.
• 8:20
  Speaker 3: Oh, well. Suit yourself.
• 8:22
  Speaker 7: Uh, Melody, how about a little breakfast, huh? I'm famished,
• 8:25
  Speaker 7: and I'm certain our guest, Mr.
• 8:27
  Speaker 3: uh... By the way, what was your name?
• 8:29
  Speaker 4: Uh, Slauson. Fred Slauson. Slauson.
• 8:33
  Speaker 3: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
• 8:35
  Speaker 4: Something funny?
• 8:36
  Speaker 3: No, no, no, not at all.
• 8:38
  Speaker 7: Just thinking about a crazy idea I had last night
• 8:41
  Speaker 7: that you might be a guy called Steve Hensher.
• 8:45
  Speaker 6: Why?
• 8:46
  Speaker 7: A little while after I picked you up out of
• 8:48
  Speaker 7: the drink, a police launch stopped us. They were looking
• 8:50
  Speaker 7: for an escaped con. Broke out of Folsom two weeks ago.
• 8:53
  Speaker 7: Wanted to know if I'd seen him. Description fitted you
• 8:57
  Speaker 7: like a glove. But I told them I hadn't seen anybody.
• 9:00
  Speaker 6: Oh, come on, George. You'd better take the wheel. I'll
• 9:03
  Speaker 6: fix breakfast.
• 9:03
  Speaker 3: All right, sweetheart. Well, take it easy, my boy. If
• 9:07
  Speaker 3: you need anything, feel free to let us know.
• 9:10
  Speaker 4: Thanks.
• 9:11
  Speaker 3: Melody and I, we're mighty glad to have you aboard, Mr. Slauson. Yes, sir, Mr.
• 9:17
  Speaker 7: Slauson.
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: Mighty glad.
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: Tonight's $ 20 signal gasoline book goes to Edward Tomasian of Ontario, California,
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: for this limerick. There was a young man from Montrose
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: who couldn't put thoughts into prose. Signal gas, murmured he,
• 9:50
  Speaker 2: means go farther. To me, where it flows, mileage grows.
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: Goodness knows.
• 9:55
  Speaker 4: Signal, signal, signal gasoline goes.
• 9:59
  Speaker 2: © BF-WATCH TV 2021 I mean signals quick cold weather starting,
• 10:20
  Speaker 2: signals peppy pickup, signals smooth responsive power. For it's a fact,
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: mileage and performance go hand in hand. To enjoy both,
• 10:29
  Speaker 2: next time treat your car to the gasoline that's packed
• 10:32
  Speaker 2: with gold. Fill up with signal and go farther.
• 11:01
  Speaker 5: You're puzzled by the curious turn of events, aren't you, Steve?
• 11:05
  Speaker 5: Thankful for your miraculous escape from the police, you found
• 11:08
  Speaker 5: a strange refuge aboard a trim cabin cruiser now skimming
• 11:13
  Speaker 5: along the waters off the coast of lower California. You
• 11:17
  Speaker 5: wonder about the man who pulled you up out of
• 11:19
  Speaker 5: the icy waters of the Channel last night, George Gromek.
• 11:23
  Speaker 5: You wonder, too, about his attractive wife, Melody. You're almost
• 11:28
  Speaker 5: certain they know you're the escaped convict, Steve Hensher. Yet
• 11:32
  Speaker 5: when they had the opportunity to turn you over to
• 11:34
  Speaker 5: the police, they didn't. Now you lie in your bunk
• 11:38
  Speaker 5: thinking about it and wondering what lies ahead for you
• 11:41
  Speaker 5: at Skull Island. Presently, George called you to breakfast in
• 11:45
  Speaker 5: the galley and then in the early afternoon....
• 11:50
  Speaker 3: Well, there she is, Fred. Skull Island. Journey's in.
• 11:55
  Speaker 4: Nice place to hold an embalmer's convention.
• 12:01
  Speaker 3: Oh, look over there.
• 12:02
  Speaker 7: See in the cove there? That's one of my barges.
• 12:07
  Speaker 7: Melody tell you about our operations?
• 12:10
  Speaker 4: Not much.
• 12:11
  Speaker 7: We just finished here. Tug will be here in a
• 12:14
  Speaker 7: few days to haul the barge back to port. Start
• 12:17
  Speaker 7: another project in.
• 12:18
  Speaker 3: A couple of weeks.
• 12:19
  Speaker 7: You keep pretty busy. Yeah, I like to keep busy.
• 12:23
  Speaker 7: As long as it pays off. This job didn't.
• 12:28
  Speaker 8: Oh?
• 12:31
  Speaker 3: Fred, I've got a little something for you to do. Huh?
• 12:36
  Speaker 4: I figured you would have.
• 12:37
  Speaker 7: Thought I'd pay you away, you know. Nothing very difficult, understand?
• 12:44
  Speaker 7: Sort of a watchman. Give me a hand around the
• 12:47
  Speaker 7: barge when I hit it, you know?
• 12:49
  Speaker 4: Sure.
• 12:49
  Speaker 7: You'll find it very comfortable aboard the barge. Got regular
• 12:53
  Speaker 7: sleeping quarters for all of us.
• 12:54
  Speaker 3: It's a nice galley. Plenty of food. Does that sound
• 12:59
  Speaker 3: good to you?
• 13:00
  Speaker 4: I've heard worse.
• 13:02
  Speaker 7: It'll be nice and quiet out there. No one to
• 13:07
  Speaker 7: bother you. I figured you'd like that.
• 13:10
  Speaker 4: I don't. What's that over there on the mainland?
• 13:15
  Speaker 3: Small village. You wouldn't be interested.
• 13:18
  Speaker 4: I just asked.
• 13:19
  Speaker 7: Last night watchman I had got lonely... Bob Wilson. Decided
• 13:25
  Speaker 7: to go into the village the night before last.
• 13:26
  Speaker 3: Got involved in a barroom brawl. I'll have to go
• 13:30
  Speaker 3: and bail him out.
• 13:31
  Speaker 7: Then I'm going to can him.
• 13:34
  Speaker 4: You don't have to worry about me.
• 13:37
  Speaker 7: I'm not worried about leaving you on the barge. Not
• 13:40
  Speaker 7: worried at all. I think you know a good thing
• 13:44
  Speaker 7: when you see it.
• 13:45
  Speaker 1: Everett?
• 13:46
  Speaker 3: Everett?
• 13:54
  Speaker 5: He knows, doesn't he, Steve? You're certain of it. He
• 13:57
  Speaker 5: calls you Fred, but you're certain he knows you're Steve Hensher,
• 14:01
  Speaker 5: and there must be a reason, a very good reason
• 14:04
  Speaker 5: why he's offering you this perfect hideout. And you expect
• 14:08
  Speaker 5: to find out soon what that reason is. Then as
• 14:12
  Speaker 5: the cruiser pulls in alongside the barge, you climb aboard.
• 14:15
  Speaker 6: There you are, Fred. Make yourself at home.
• 14:21
  Speaker 4: Thanks.
• 14:22
  Speaker 3: We're going over to the mainland now. Take care of
• 14:24
  Speaker 3: the Pop Wilson business.
• 14:25
  Speaker 4: Okay.
• 14:26
  Speaker 3: We'll be back before nightfall. Now, don't go away. Come on, Melody.
• 14:30
  Speaker 3: Let's travel.
• 14:35
  Speaker 5: You watch the small cruiser pull out. Head across the
• 14:38
  Speaker 5: channel to the mainland. Then you turn and begin your
• 14:41
  Speaker 5: inspection of the barge. Finally, you wander into the galley
• 14:45
  Speaker 5: and make yourself some coffee. Your nervousness grows as the
• 14:49
  Speaker 5: afternoon wears on. Then you hear someone walking the deck outside. Instantly,
• 14:54
  Speaker 5: you're on your feet. Cautiously, you step out on deck.
• 15:00
  Speaker 5: See a short, gray-haired man standing at the edge of
• 15:03
  Speaker 5: the barge. He's standing near the winch, looking down at
• 15:07
  Speaker 5: some diving equipment.
• 15:08
  Speaker 3: Hey!
• 15:09
  Speaker 4: What are you doing here?
• 15:10
  Speaker 6: What?
• 15:11
  Speaker 4: Oh. Who are you? Never mind. Answer my question. Well...
• 15:16
  Speaker 4: After Mr. Gromack fired me, I just rode out to
• 15:18
  Speaker 4: pick up some of my stuff.
• 15:20
  Speaker 5: Ah.
• 15:22
  Speaker 4: You must be Pop Wilson. That's right. You the new
• 15:26
  Speaker 4: man he hired? Yeah. Ever worked for Gromack before? No.
• 15:32
  Speaker 4: Just wondered. Mind if I ask a few now? No,
• 15:37
  Speaker 4: I don't mind. What kind of a salvage job was this?
• 15:41
  Speaker 4: You don't know? Would I be asking if I didn't?
• 15:44
  Speaker 4: My stuff's in here. Help yourself. Well, what about it?
• 15:51
  Speaker 6: Huh?
• 15:52
  Speaker 4: Oh, the job.
• 15:53
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 15:55
  Speaker 4: Well, you ever hear of the Lady Luck? The gambling
• 15:58
  Speaker 4: ship used to operate in these waters. Name's familiar. She
• 16:01
  Speaker 4: was raided one night a couple years back. The boss,
• 16:05
  Speaker 4: Gino Bravelli, got away in a small boat. Took over
• 16:09
  Speaker 4: 200 grand with him. Oh, yeah? Yeah. But Bravelli really
• 16:14
  Speaker 4: didn't get away. His boat hit the rocks, went down.
• 16:19
  Speaker 4: So did Gino and the box of money. Uh-huh. That
• 16:25
  Speaker 4: what Gromick was looking for?
• 16:26
  Speaker 3: Yep.
• 16:27
  Speaker 4: But he didn't find the dough.
• 16:30
  Speaker 5: So he says.
• 16:32
  Speaker 4: You think different.
• 16:34
  Speaker 3: Maybe.
• 16:35
  Speaker 4: Why would Gromick want to hold out? He had backers.
• 16:38
  Speaker 4: They put up the dough for this job. All he
• 16:41
  Speaker 4: furnished was the equipment, the winch, air pump, a diving suit,
• 16:44
  Speaker 4: and his experience. I see. So Gromek was the only
• 16:49
  Speaker 4: diver we had on board. Only guy who ever went below.
• 16:54
  Speaker 4: What do you suppose he's keeping that diving equipment on
• 16:57
  Speaker 4: board for if the job's finished? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, Pop,
• 17:03
  Speaker 4: I'm getting curious. Real curious. It's been gnawing at me
• 17:07
  Speaker 4: for days. I'd like to find out. Is it tough
• 17:11
  Speaker 4: going below?
• 17:12
  Speaker 3: No.
• 17:13
  Speaker 4: Been down lots of times myself. but not on this job.
• 17:17
  Speaker 4: Could I handle the works on deck while you went
• 17:19
  Speaker 4: down for a look? Sure. All you got to do
• 17:22
  Speaker 4: is let me down and pull me up. I'll tell
• 17:25
  Speaker 4: you when over the phone. In the meantime, you keep
• 17:29
  Speaker 4: working that air pump. Let's go.
• 17:31
  Speaker 5: It doesn't take long, does it, Steve? Pop tells you
• 17:42
  Speaker 5: exactly what to do. And once he's in the diving suit,
• 17:45
  Speaker 5: the winch started, you lower him into the choppy waters
• 17:49
  Speaker 5: along the barge.
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: Okay, Pop?
• 17:53
  Speaker 3: Okay, son.
• 17:55
  Speaker 4: Just keep working that air pump. It's getting kind of
• 17:58
  Speaker 4: close down here. Spot anything yet?
• 18:01
  Speaker 3: Not a thing. Keep lowering. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it.
• 18:13
  Speaker 4: Well, what do you know?
• 18:14
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 18:16
  Speaker 4: Looks like she's wedged in between the rocks. I can
• 18:20
  Speaker 4: reach her right from where I'm standing.
• 18:24
  Speaker 3: Just a sec.
• 18:28
  Speaker 4: What are you doing, Pop? Pop? I'm trying to get aboard.
• 18:35
  Speaker 6: It's kind of slippery. I....
• 18:39
  Speaker 4: Hey, what's the matter? I.
• 18:42
  Speaker 4: I hurt my ankle.
• 18:44
  Speaker 3: You better haul.
• 18:45
  Speaker 4: Me up, son. Sure you're okay here? Yeah, I'll be
• 18:59
  Speaker 4: all right. So Gromak is lying. The boat is there, huh?
• 19:04
  Speaker 4: It sure is.
• 19:05
  Speaker 5: How'd you like to split that 200 grand, Pop?
• 19:11
  Speaker 4: Fine, but I can't go down there again. Not with
• 19:15
  Speaker 4: this ankle. Besides, I'm afraid the job calls for a
• 19:19
  Speaker 4: younger man. I wouldn't have the strength. All right, all right.
• 19:22
  Speaker 4: Anything wrong with me trying it?
• 19:24
  Speaker 3: No.
• 19:25
  Speaker 4: I guess not. Only you tell me what to do
• 19:28
  Speaker 4: and I'll do it. Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
• 19:29
  Speaker 4: You can't go down there now. Better wait till the
• 19:32
  Speaker 4: sea calms down.
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: Wait?
• 19:34
  Speaker 4: I can't wait. Gromick will be back tonight. Now, look.
• 19:36
  Speaker 4: You're green at this. You never can tell what might
• 19:39
  Speaker 4: happen down there. Better not try it. There's a couple
• 19:43
  Speaker 4: of hundred grand down there, right? Sure, sure, but maybe
• 19:46
  Speaker 4: you'll get yourself killed. Wait a minute. I got an idea.
• 19:50
  Speaker 8: All right, so we wait.
• 19:53
  Speaker 4: Gromick comes back. Maybe I can handle him after all.
• 19:57
  Speaker 4: What do you mean?
• 19:58
  Speaker 8: Look, did he and his wife ever stay on board
• 20:01
  Speaker 8: the barge here? Sure, all the time we were working.
• 20:04
  Speaker 8: Can you walk okay? Oh, sure, sure, I can manage.
• 20:09
  Speaker 6: Why?
• 20:10
  Speaker 4: Come on. I want to see their cabin.
• 20:20
  Speaker 5: You follow Pop to the cabin, the one occupied by
• 20:23
  Speaker 5: George and Melody Gromick. It doesn't take long to find
• 20:26
  Speaker 5: what you're looking for, what you'd expected to find. A
• 20:29
  Speaker 5: small box containing Melody's sleeping powders. She'd given you some
• 20:34
  Speaker 5: sleeping powders last night, and you played a hunch, figured
• 20:37
  Speaker 5: she'd keep some aboard the barge, too. You send Pop
• 20:41
  Speaker 5: back on deck to keep an eye out for the
• 20:43
  Speaker 5: return of the Gromit. The moment he's gone, you reach
• 20:46
  Speaker 5: for the half-empty bottle of brandy on the shelf over
• 20:49
  Speaker 5: the top bunk.
• 20:50
  Speaker 4: Gromit's brandy.
• 20:51
  Speaker 5: Pour the sleeping powders into the bottle. Replace it on
• 20:54
  Speaker 5: the shelf. You know exactly what you're going to do now.
• 20:59
  Speaker 5: Exactly what's going to happen, Steve. A few drinks of
• 21:02
  Speaker 5: this brandy will take care of George Gromit. And you
• 21:06
  Speaker 5: smile as you close the cabin door.
• 21:09
  Speaker 3: Fred! Fred!
• 21:10
  Speaker 4: What's the matter? They're coming, the Gromacs. Okay, okay. Look, look,
• 21:13
  Speaker 4: I got to get out of here. It's too late now.
• 21:15
  Speaker 4: They'll spot you. Where's your boat? Portside.
• 21:17
  Speaker 8: Well, chance it. They may not see it. Can you
• 21:19
  Speaker 8: hide anywhere in this tub? Well, yeah, yeah, I guess so.
• 21:21
  Speaker 4: All right, beat it. Stay out of sight. I'll handle them.
• 21:29
  Speaker 5: You hurry out onto the deck. Peer through the half-darkness.
• 21:32
  Speaker 5: Watch Gromac's cruiser approach. You're a little surprised, aren't you, Steve?
• 21:36
  Speaker 5: when it pulls up alongside the barge to find that
• 21:39
  Speaker 5: Melody is alone.
• 21:42
  Speaker 4: Hello there.
• 21:43
  Speaker 5: Hi.
• 21:44
  Speaker 4: Give me a hand, will you? Sure, okay.
• 21:47
  Speaker 5: Got it?
• 21:48
  Speaker 4: She's sort of rough.
• 21:50
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 21:51
  Speaker 6: Might be it for a start.
• 21:55
  Speaker 4: Uh, where's Mr. Gromick?
• 21:58
  Speaker 6: Had to go back to San Diego. Business. It was sudden.
• 22:03
  Speaker 4: Oh, I see.
• 22:04
  Speaker 8: Oh.
• 22:05
  Speaker 6: Oh, it's getting chilly. You got any coffee on?
• 22:09
  Speaker 4: Sure. Come on.
• 22:12
  Speaker 6: You've had rather a busy afternoon, haven't you, Fred?
• 22:15
  Speaker 4: Busy? No. Things have been kind of quiet.
• 22:19
  Speaker 6: Where's Pop? What? Pop Wilson. He's on board, I know.
• 22:26
  Speaker 6: I saw him roll out this afternoon. I've been watching
• 22:30
  Speaker 6: your activities through my glasses.
• 22:32
  Speaker 8: Oh.
• 22:33
  Speaker 6: You might as well call him. We have work to do.
• 22:38
  Speaker 4: Look, what's on your mind, Melody?
• 22:40
  Speaker 6: I want that money. You and Pop are going to
• 22:43
  Speaker 6: help me get it. It's a two-man job, and I'm
• 22:47
  Speaker 6: not very good at the hand pump.
• 22:49
  Speaker 4: Where does George figure in on this?
• 22:51
  Speaker 6: He doesn't. At this moment, there's a welcoming committee waiting
• 22:55
  Speaker 6: for dear George in San Diego. Of course, he doesn't
• 22:59
  Speaker 6: know it. You see, there are... There was an anonymous
• 23:03
  Speaker 6: phone call.
• 23:04
  Speaker 3: Uh-huh.
• 23:07
  Speaker 6: I'm afraid George is going to have a lot of
• 23:09
  Speaker 6: explaining to do about several of his operations. Coffee?
• 23:18
  Speaker 3: Steve?
• 23:19
  Speaker 4: Steve, huh? You know who I am?
• 23:22
  Speaker 6: We've known all along. Steve Hensher, escaped convict. Now, why
• 23:28
  Speaker 6: don't you get pop? We've got to work fast.
• 23:30
  Speaker 4: What's in it for us?
• 23:31
  Speaker 6: A share. $ 50, 000. Don't complain. That's more than George was
• 23:36
  Speaker 6: going to give you. He was going to make it
• 23:39
  Speaker 6: a bullet in the head.
• 23:41
  Speaker 4: Now, run along, Stevie.
• 23:47
  Speaker 5: For a moment, you stand there staring at Melody. Then
• 23:50
  Speaker 5: she turns her back to you and pours her coffee.
• 23:53
  Speaker 5: Your plans have changed, haven't they, Steve? It isn't George
• 23:56
  Speaker 5: you have to take care of now.
• 23:58
  Speaker 4: It's Melody.
• 23:59
  Speaker 5: Quickly, you step through the door, slam a chuck, and
• 24:02
  Speaker 5: lock it. doing?
• 24:05
  Speaker 4: What is it? Sorry, sweetheart. Fifty grand isn't enough. I
• 24:09
  Speaker 4: want the whole two hundred thousand myself. No split with anybody.
• 24:24
  Speaker 2: Right now, during the rainy season, scientific lubrication is even
• 24:28
  Speaker 2: more important to your car to keep moisture from working
• 24:31
  Speaker 2: into vital moving parts and causing damage. That's why I
• 24:35
  Speaker 2: think you'll be interested in knowing about some of the
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: extras you enjoy when you have your car lubricated at
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: a Signal service station. First of all, Signal dealers don't
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: take any chance on memory when it comes to the
• 24:46
  Speaker 2: many lubrication points on your car. Instead, they check against
• 24:49
  Speaker 2: Signal's factory-recommended lubrication chart, which clearly shows every part. Then
• 24:54
  Speaker 2: they use nine specialized Signal oils and greases, so each
• 24:58
  Speaker 2: part will get the exact type of protection it needs.
• 25:02
  Speaker 2: And finally, just to make doubly sure not a single
• 25:04
  Speaker 2: part has been overlooked, they check each part again, which
• 25:07
  Speaker 2: is why it's called signal double-check lubrication. Now, that's the
• 25:12
  Speaker 2: kind of lube job you want if your car is
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: to give you the long, trouble-free service that was built
• 25:17
  Speaker 2: into it. And that's the kind of lubrication you get
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: from friendly, independent signal dealers.
• 25:29
  Speaker 5: Yes, Steve, you've made up your mind, haven't you? You
• 25:32
  Speaker 5: don't intend to share any of the $ 200, 000 with Melody Gromick.
• 25:37
  Speaker 5: And so you've put her out of the way temporarily,
• 25:39
  Speaker 5: locked her in the galley until you can dispose of
• 25:42
  Speaker 5: her for good. The weather has calmed down now and
• 25:45
  Speaker 5: you're on deck with Pop Wilson. He's helping you into
• 25:48
  Speaker 5: the diving suit, briefing you and cautioning you. And you
• 25:52
  Speaker 5: listen to him carefully. You're anxious to get it over with,
• 25:54
  Speaker 5: aren't you? And just a little nervous about your trip
• 25:57
  Speaker 5: below the surface of the water. Finally, you're ready. The
• 26:02
  Speaker 5: winch lifts you off the barge, swings you out over
• 26:05
  Speaker 5: the sea, and then lowers you slowly into the depths.
• 26:12
  Speaker 5: You stare through the little glass port in your helmet.
• 26:15
  Speaker 5: Look out at a cold, silent world before you. A strange,
• 26:19
  Speaker 5: fascinating world of weird shadows accented by your torchlight. Elusive
• 26:23
  Speaker 5: shapes that move stealthily around you in the water. Finally,
• 26:27
  Speaker 5: your feet touch bottoms.
• 26:30
  Speaker 4: Hold it, Pop. Hold it.
• 26:32
  Speaker 3: You okay?
• 26:33
  Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, fine. The ship's towards shore.
• 26:36
  Speaker 3: You see it?
• 26:38
  Speaker 6: Just a sec.
• 26:39
  Speaker 5: You turn slowly. Move your torch around. Watch the beam
• 26:43
  Speaker 5: of light spear the darkness.
• 26:45
  Speaker 4: And there it is.
• 26:46
  Speaker 5: The battered boat wedged in between the rocks. And you
• 26:49
  Speaker 5: move toward it.
• 26:51
  Speaker 4: Hey, Pop. Pop.
• 26:54
  Speaker 7: Yeah?
• 26:55
  Speaker 4: You slowing down on that air pump? It's getting stuffy
• 26:58
  Speaker 4: down here. Say, what's the matter up there? Something wrong? I...
• 27:04
  Speaker 4: I don't know. Look, you better get me up. I...
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: I feel sort of dizzy.
• 27:12
  Speaker 5: Pop.
• 27:13
  Speaker 4: Start the winch. Start the winch. Get that pump going.
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: I can't.
• 27:20
  Speaker 3: Funny.
• 27:21
  Speaker 4: Never had a slug of brandy hit me.
• 27:26
  Speaker 3: Brandy?
• 27:27
  Speaker 4: Like this.
• 27:28
  Speaker 3: What brandy?
• 27:30
  Speaker 5: In.
• 27:31
  Speaker 4: Gromack's cabin. I took a few drinks from that bottle
• 27:38
  Speaker 4: while you were with Mrs.
• 27:41
  Speaker 3: Gromack.
• 27:43
  Speaker 4: I didn't think I.
• 28:12
  Speaker 2: Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program,
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: The Whistler, each Sunday night at this same time. Brought
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: to you by Signal Oil Company, marketers of signal gasoline
• 28:22
  Speaker 2: and motor oil, and fine automotive accessories. Remember, if you
• 28:27
  Speaker 2: would like the fun of having your friends hear a
• 28:29
  Speaker 2: limerick of yours on The Whistler, the address to which
• 28:31
  Speaker 2: to send it is The Signal Oil Company, Los Angeles 55, California.
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: All limericks become the property of The Signal Oil Company.
• 28:39
  Speaker 2: Those selected for use on The Whistler will be chosen
• 28:42
  Speaker 2: by our advertising representatives on the basis of humor, suitability,
• 28:46
  Speaker 2: and originality. So, of course, they must be your own composition.
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: Featured in tonight's story were Ted DiCorsia, Faye Baker, Tom Tully,
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: and William Conrad. The Whistler was produced and directed by
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: George W. Allen, with story by R. Sprague Hall, music
• 29:08
  Speaker 2: by Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted to our troops overseas
• 29:11
  Speaker 2: by the Armed Forces Radio Service. The Whistler is entirely fictional,
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: and all characters portrayed on The Whistler are also fictional.
• 29:19
  Speaker 2: Any similarity of names or resemblance to persons living or
• 29:22
  Speaker 2: dead is purely coincidental. Remember, at this same time next Sunday,
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: another strange tale.
• 29:32
  Speaker 4: By The Whistler. S-I-G-N-A-L Signal, signal gasoline.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: We close with The Whistler and Escape to Skull Island.
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: Good night, and thank you for joining us for this
• 30:01
  Speaker 1: CBS broadcast.