Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at
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about life and the direction of the podcast. And again that's for any Patreon
supporter for us a little last two dollars per month while we're doing yet another
twice Whole Tale program. And what we do with these programs is we take
a look at a radio program and then we take a look at how the
script got recycled onto another program. And sometimes there are big differences and big
changes, and sometimes there are smaller changes. This week, we're going to
get to see how a script was adapted from the United States to Australia.
The story begins with the Adventures of the Abbots, A series was launched over
NBC in the fall of nineteen fifty four. It was based on the Pat
and Gene Abbott novels by Francis Crane, and it even used the naming device
of her novels in including a color in the title, the first episode being
the Brown paper Bag and others being things such as the Midnight Black records for
the Rickshaw Red Lipsticks. This ran for thirty five weeks until it was canceled.
The scraps for the Adventures of the Abbots were reworked into It's a Crime,
Mister Collins, a series for the Mutual Network that essentially renamed Pat and
Gene Abbott as Greg and Gail Collins. Greg Collins was reportedly played by Manda
Kramer and Gail Collins played by an actress name Gail Collins. And this I
have to be a bit incredulous about because I haven't found any contemporary accounts that
support that. Plus I can't find any famous actress or radio actress who went
by the name Gail Collins. Now the name Gail Collins is famous as a
new York Times opinion columnist. However, miss Collins not only doesn't have a
record as a radio actress, but was ten years old when It's a Crime
Mister Collins began airing over the Mutual Broadcasting System. That said, it aired
for twenty four weeks before being canceled, and then the series went to Australia
with Keith Eden and Mary Disney starring as mister and Missus Collins, and that
series lasted for fifty two weeks, beginning on March the fourth of nineteen fifty
seven. It should be said that there are no episodes from the American run
of It's a Crime, Mister Collins, so we can't say how much,
if at all, the scripts were changed by the time they were even considered
for adaptation in Australia. All that to say, let's go ahead and take
a lesson to the Adventures of the Abbots. The original air date on this
one is April the third, nineteen fifty five, and the title is The
Fabulous Emerald Necklace. After all, if a girl wears a dazzling necklace worth
a fortune, should it make a man want to kiss her or killer?
The National Broadcasting Company presents the Adventures of the Abbots, starring Claudia Morgan and
Less Damon as Pat and Jeane Abbott, those popular characters, a detective fiction
created by Francis Crane. NBC invite you to join Pat and Jean each week
at this time for an exciting adventure in Romanson crime. In our story,
tonight will be Miss Sherry Brittain making her dramatic debut in radio. Now Here
is Claudia Morgan as Jean Abbott to set the stage for tonight's puzzle in murder,
a story entitled The Fabulous Emerald Necklace. The necklace was a breathtaking collection
of precious stones. It belonged to missus Dexter Blake, a curious young woman
without any social background who'd somehow manage to marry the heir to the Blake fortune.
Late one night, husband had left the Star Dust club and were strolling
to their Park Avenue townhouse, which was just around the corner from the club.
Really, Kathy, I don't think you behaved very well at the club.
Oh will you stop picking on me? Dexter. Don't be so pretty.
You've been doing it all evening. I just had a little fun at
the club after all our square. Can you get really? Sometimes I've had
more than enough trouble because of you. The snobbery deal Again, it isn't
snobbery, Kathy. It's just that I do have a rather well known family
where sensitive to publicity. The columnists were very cool when you married me,
and every time you miss behave publicly, you're just proving that point. You
believe their point too, don't you. I mean that there's something very wrong
about your having married a divorcee, especially one whose family wasn't descended from the
original settlers, Pilgrims or whatever it was. Oh, let's drop it.
It's come up too often. Now let's separate. You'd like to get out
of our marriage, would well? I no, Darling, I've never said
that, never thought to try thinking of it, Dexter, You'd never make
it if you don't like that publicity. Just imagine what I'd do if you
ever threatened to get rid of me. I'd give missus Blake come back into
that doorway. Who are you? What's the idea? Get away from her?
I said for you two to get off the street and end of that
doorway about a thirty eight here and I'll empty it end of both of you,
n end of the Doway. That's oh, I'll take that necklace.
If you, as Missus Flake, cheap hoodlum, you think you can get
away with this just because you're waving that gun wire. That's it, Missus
Blake. I'll take the necklace. Thank you give me that necklace breaker,
police plie. I told you an how to do that. I told you
come back here, you texter TI. He's dead. The jewel thief disappeared
into the night, leaving Missus Dexter Blake hysterical beside the dead body of her
husband. Hadn't I been home that night? All we knew about Kathy Blake
was what we'd read in the gossip columns. But the next morning Pad had
been invited to the Sterling Insurance Company. He was in the office of a
company executive, Frank Tracy. I sent for you, mister Rabbitt, because
this case calls for a man of your calibal. We'd be glad to pay
any reasonable fee. Of course, is this a reasonable case, mister Tracy?
Well, Frankly, it's rather difficult. That's why I'd rather you handle
this case than any one of our routine investigators. Our company insured Missus Blake's
necklace in Mister Rabbitt or how much two hundred thousand dollars? And Missus Blake
describe the man who attack them? Well, she's quite vague about it.
But something very fascinating came to me in the mail this morning. Oh what
is it? A note from the killer? May I see it? You'll
notice, of course, that it's being written very much like a ransom note
in a kidnapping. No use of pens, pencils, or typewriter. The
letters look as though they've been cut out of newspapers and paste it together as
they do. He makes what he believes is a business offer. As you
see, he wants fifty thousand dollars for that's sum. He'll leave the necklace
where our company can find it. We return it to Missus Blake and save
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It's very wise too. The thief knows
he'd have a difficult time disposing of the pieces through a fence. It's identified
too Weasley. Exactly, I say. He doesn't mention how he proposes to
have you given the cash. I suppose he'll get in touch with you later.
Exactly now, couldn't we trap him by promising to pay off at a
certain place and at a certain time. I thought it. Nobody would try
a swindle like this without planning it very carefully. Well, then what do
we do? I'd like to talk to the dead man's wife? All right,
I'll arrange for you to meet Missus Blake. Oh, and you'd better
have your guard up. She's very beautiful and very clever. I think of
her as a kind of Lucrezia Borger. No, really, yes, especially
for one reason. And what's that Lucrezia murdered her husband. I was gallivanting
around San Francisco buying please too for the summer, A very innocent, terrible
indeed, and that husband of mine was closeted in the private office with Missus
Dexter Blake. Missus Blake, you say you hardly saw this man who shot
your husband. Well it was very dark, mister abbot. He pushed us
away from the lamp post into the doorway. I could just see his shadow.
How tall was the shadow? Oh? My average height. Well,
it's very difficult for me to be accurate. I was terribly excited. I
didn't notice details, or if you couldn't see very well you could hear.
How about his voice? Rather odd? Come to think of it, he
didn't sound like the usual gangsters, seemed rather cultured. That all the information
you can give in I'm afraid so sorry, I'm not being very helpful,
Unfortunately, missus Blake, these cases often lead to our having to ask embarrassing
questions probing into the darker corners of people's lives. Go right ahead. Are
you getting along well with your husband? Oh? I suppose so? How
well do people get along after they've been married quite a while? Another philosopher,
missus Blake, just a detective? Did you have reason to believe your
husband was well mixed up in any activity he'd rather you didn't know about?
Is that your diplomatic way of saying? Was there another woman? I don't
think so. I don't follow you, mister Abbott. I wear a necklace,
a very expensive one. Some thief holds us up, becomes excited,
shoots my husband, and you are making a whole French novel out of it.
It's because, missus Blake, very often what looks like a simple hold
up or assault or what have you, is actually more complicated than it appears.
It's often a cover up for something more deeply motivated. I am not
a woman of very deep motivations, my interests and desire as a normal and
obvious as formerly husband. Yeah, Dexter is not a man of many dimensions
either, just folks with a few million dollars. You're a detective, mister
Abbot, not a humorist who collects on your husband's life insurance. I do
all of it, all of it. How much is that? About half
a million? Do you also inherit all his property? It's worth another million
and a half. Where we were speaking of motives a while ago. You'll
need an awfully good attorney to get you out of this. Why, I'm
perfectly innocent. I have an intuitive feeling about you, missus Blake, nothing
too definite to support it. I think you didn't care very much for Dexter,
but you had quite a passion for his check book. What of it?
Well, for instance, you find yourself a mug, You make a
deal with him, He hold you up, get your two hundred dollar necklace's
payment, and it takes a potshot of Dexter. You're the helpless wife.
Dexter's a very dead pigeon. You come into Dexter's money. The mug disappears
with this two hundred grand. Very nice. I could have had anything I
wanted from Dexter. Do you think I'd trade in a comfortable spot like that
for the electric chair? Maybe lots of people try it. You're wasting your
time, mister Abbott. Really, Oh not that I mind. Being questioned
by a very handsome detective is so pleasant. You've changed the subject. Certainly.
You're much more interesting married, mister Abbott. Oh good, that makes
it more fun. Haven't you had enough entertainment these past few days? Not
of the right kind? You wrote my phone number in your notebook. Will
you call me? What for? Why? You amaze me, mister Abbott?
Some men have to be told everything. That night at home, Hat
told me about the case only because he had to, as I found out
soon enough. How dare you know my policy about keeping you out of my
cases? Yes, teacher, For once in your life, you're going to
come in very handy. Oh now you're getting sensible. You have such a
brilliant wife. I never could see why you didn't use her talent. Yes,
well, look, brilliant wife, there's a way to get at this
guy who likes emeralds and target practice with millionaires. Well, how do you
do it with a decoy duck? That mem Oh? What do I do?
We buy you a necklace? This gets better all the time. We
buy you a cheap necklace? Are you and Jack Benny? Huh? We
get our friend Nick Scudder to put a line in this column about the gal
who's always the stardust club wearing a sensational necklace. I ought to start our
boyfriend who likes sparklers chasing around after you and I trying to pick you up
at the club. But I am hard to get h No, easy,
very easy. This wouldn't be typecasting. Would I get the jewels you will
be wearing. He'll have to get you alone, so we'll probably ask you
to his place. You'll both watch side and get a cab pat abb.
Do you mean to say you're actually suggesting that I go to a nightclub,
make a pitch of the killer, and then take a taxi ride alone with
it. Well, it'll be a special kind of cam. What's special about
it? I'll be driving it sounds like quite a Halloween party. It might
not turn out to be so jolly, dear, That's what I don't like
about my little scheme. You see, somebody in this deal might might what
might decide that your throat is a good place to put old razor blades.
We bought a flashy looking necklace. Nick Scudder plugged away in his column about
quote the mysterious gals seen every night at the Stardust Club with a rock studded
horse collar that could pay the national debt unquote outside the club. A few
nights later, pet was the wheel of a taxi. I was inside the
club, sitting alone at the bar. A very oily looking Joe came over
to me, smiled, and well, I knew this was our man.
I fluttered my eyelids in the best Hollywood man, and we were off to
the races. I'll tell me one of those awful people, I like to
drink alone. No, no, no, I'm just new in town and
I haven't made friends yet. I've made one now. My name's zo Al
Francis, a mine's gene. How do I join you for a drink?
Not at all? Do you always play the big bad wolf with all the
red riding hoods who come here? There's the beautiful once. They fascinating for
more reasons than what Oh, what do you mean, I'm a psychic about
I'll take you for instance. I'll make a guess. I'd say you were
married to a very wealthy man. What's old newer? You're sick of them,
you're bored. You've come here for some excitement. Agone? How much?
Was a guess? I'll tell you something. I'm very sure you're looking
for excitement. Lovely, you're shopping at the ripe Carter. I wasn't quite
sure if al Francis was just being amorous or if he suspected I was a
plant and might suddenly give me the same treatment he'd given Dexter Blake. We
stayed at the Stardust Club for about an hour. Francis hardly even eyed my
necklace. He became more romantic and suggested we go to his apartment. We
stepped outside to hail a cab, a cab I knew would be driven by
pet. Oh, here comes one. Almah, go ahead, Jane,
step in by to doctor some ten eighty five bay side right. I used
to be alone for a while, Jan just a tourist. Jeane. Every
minute I was in the club, I wanted to kiss him. How the
driver could see it? Bo does he care come in, Gene? Did
you say something eighty five pace side, Yes, yes I did. Okay,
look at those stars. If they're Gene, see through the window.
I mustn't let them go to waste. Just one kiss. Come close to
me closer, Hey, Doc, I don't think there is any sethteen eighty
five pay side. I have raised gonna think there is. Driver. You
see, I've been loving now for nine years. Oh okay, Geane,
Honey. I never thought i'd be lucky enough to meet anyone like you.
I always used to say to myself deep in my heart, and I say,
hey, I think the Yankees got a chance? Is yeah? Look,
friend, just drive the car. Okay, Doc, you walked into
the status club, Jean. I thought for a while that someone might be
with you. Then I realized you were alone. Took a lot of courage
to go over to you. I don't know what i'd done if it turned
me down. Let again an eye. I'll be forty five cents thanks,
Jean. Well, I'm sort of a hide. I've got just a thing
for it. Command. No, really, I think i'd better keep the
captain go home. I'm so tired. You'll feel better when we get upstairs.
I have some taking nice and a bottle of right. Yes, but
thanks, I don't disappoint me, just for a few minutes. We come
on. But you heard the ladies. She wants to go home. Who
asked you to get into this? Invited myself? You know, I met
some fresh cab drivers in my day. But you your lady has a headache,
so she's going home. Now. You're gonna get really cute about this,
aren't you? All right? Pal? I'd love to knock your teeth
down. You hell, don't start a fight with him. Please come on,
but let's play rough. I don't like your face. I think I
could fix it up a little bit. Please know what, Let's know you
and I are all right? Gene, all right, I'll call you to
mind. What's your number? Just meet me at the club same time as
to night. Fine, budge bye. You're the most wonderful cab driver I've
ever had had. Oh, thank you, ma'am. Where to now?
Just drive along the bay. But we don't live out this way, I
know, But didn't you hear the man said we mustn't let those stars go
to waste. The fellow I borrowed the cab from this waiting still right,
cab drivers understand things like that. The next morning, perhaps just leaving his
office, he was on his way to see Frank Tracy. Amen, Good
morning, mister Abbott. Well, missus Blake, do you have a moment.
I certainly, I've been wondering about what sort of progress you've been making.
Have you found any clues to the identity of the man who killed my
husband? Oh? I don't talk about my cases until they're cleared up.
Oh, I think I have a right to know what you're doing. After
all, I was married to dexter frightened, Missus Blake. Why should I
be afraid that what comes out in the wash won't be very pretty? Not
in the least I went to the trouble of looking into the details of your
background, Missus Blake. I wouldn't exactly call it nice reading for the kiddies.
Three husbands, one of them had to go to Mexico for his health
when the Justice Department cracked down on the chemical monopoly. Another husband of yours
has been barred from every racetrack in the country. Then there was that party
in Hollywood where you doctor marijuana charge. It might have been five years and
the clink. How did you get out of that one by off the judge?
Where'd you get all that information? I called up the answer man?
Very funny? Shall I tell you why you really came here, missus Blake?
I want to know who killed my husband. You came here because the
life insurance company is ready to anti up with a small fortune now you're his
beneficiary. You're afraid I could prevent that by coming up with evidence that you
might have done the killing yourself. You want to make sure I'll stay out
of the picture. You are going to stay out of the picture, mister
Abbott. I'll tell you the next two. Now comes the pearl handled revolver
in the pocketbook. When you get shot with one of those, you're just
as dead as with the other kind. So help me if you stop,
If you stop me from collecting Dexter's life insurance, that's for a dime a
dozen to me, Missus Blake. They're part of my business. I collect
them like other people collect butterflies. That afternoon, Missus Blake, look you
two bit key, old peeper. If you and your junior g man badge
stand between me and a couple of million bucks, it wouldn't mean a thing
to me to kill you. I've done a little investigating myself details about your
background. You're mixed up in half a dozen cases where one of the suspects
might knock you off at any time. And if you're ever found dead,
my friend to take the police forever to figure who did it. They'd get
into a jigsaw puzzle that I'd have them flipping. I don't mind telling you
about it this way either, because I also found out your office isn't taped.
It's very thoughtful of you. I think of everything like for instance,
down at the piers, there are men who would be only too glad to
take care of you for me. I can buy your death. Pat Abbot,
a man no one ever heard of, no connection with you. Bumps
you off, disappears on a boat to heaven only knows where. I wonder
if you're so upset with me because I might cast you the two million bucks,
or because I froze up when you made a play for me. It's
the two million. And as for you personally, I said good afternoon,
missus Blake a long time ago. You're underestimating me, mister Abbot, and
you may not live to regret it. Good afternoon, Missus Blake. That
little interruption over, Pat went on to the insurance company's office to see Frank
Tracy. Oh, mister Tracy, I think I've got your man. Really?
Who is he? He knows at seventeen eighty five bay side, smooth
looking, chapter tall, thin dresses very well. Oh how did you do
it? Did you see the necklace? How can you be sure? I
arranged a trap for him, got him to grab for necklace. My wife
purposely wore to the starts club. I see, Well, what are we
waiting for? Why don't we No? No, If we sail in and
grab him now, we won't have much evidence to hold him on. We've
got to give him more rope. He's seeing my wife again tonight. Is
he connected with Kathy Blake as I suspected? Well, it's hard to tell.
But give me another twenty four hours. I think we'll strike oil.
You mean we can arrest him within twenty four hours rather than excellent, mister
Rabbott. Excellent. Now do be careful. Francis is liable to be very
slippery. Oh wow, how about missus Blake? Do we just let her
wander around? Yeah? Remember the nursery rhyme about the lost sheep. Leave
them alone and they'll come home. That night, I put on a very
slinky evening gown. I was getting ready for another session at the club,
but Pat stopped me. I you're not going to the club, Jane,
Oh, Pat Avig, just because you're going to close in on Francis.
You're getting the willies. You're afraid I'll be hurt. No, that's not
the reason. Well then what is it. Francis won't be at the club
to see you. He's going to be late, very late. I couldn't
follow Pat's reasoning at the moment, but as I learned later, Francis was
at home just then having a visitor. I'll say, sorry to keep your
wedding eye. What are you doing here? Why the why the gun?
Huh? I didn't make any mistakes. Put down the gun. Put down
the gun. You did make a mistake. Al No, Tracy, No,
I did everything you said. But I told you not to kill anyone.
Adam Blake try to stop me. He started screaming for the police,
and you should have beat it. But you told me where is the necklace?
So the dress of Dray here, I'll get it, boy, Yeah,
here's an answer. Thank you, Ada, lovely, isn't it.
I didn't mean to kill Blake. I just wanted to shut him up.
I just want to hit him on the leg. You were very careless.
They're not too close to me, are they? I take your hide?
Where is he? Who is he? Abbot? He's very close, Adam,
too close for comfort? What do we do? Oh? The answer
is simple? Can you get me out of here? Get me out then
dream maybe till things cool off. No, al give me my cut on
the necklace. I know some people they'll help. Twenty five grand I can
travel fast. You're not getting any money. It's terribly dangerous for me to
have you alive. All. You get rattled too easily. You might say
something that would be very embarrassing. No wait, wait, Tracy, listen,
listen to me. I don't want to cut I I wouldn't think that.
But I'll go away. That's all I want to I want. I
want to get away. You. You've gotta let me. Sorry, all,
it would be stupid of me to let you go wherever you are.
You're a potential threat to me. Now we're wasting time, Tracy, don't
you don't Tracy? Oh, my happy boy from that window. All.
Oh, I've got more bullets and I like playing rough. Remember who you're
the cab drives rights. I overheard your conversation, Tracy. Al wasn't half
as careless as you were. Look, maybe we we can make a deal,
Abbot. What do you say? How about a deal? The company
had a very high recovery rate on jewelry, Tracy, and you insisted I'm
not working with the police. It seemed kind of strange, but you clinched
it yourself. The last time we talked, and I told you I found
our man. You said, Francis is liable to be very slippery. I'd
never mentioned his name, Tracy. Look, I've got plenty of money,
Abbot. Make it worth your while to forget this. I purposely told you
I wasn't closing in on now for twenty four hours. I knew you'd come
in here to see him. I get up, Tracy house ten thousand cash
right now, stand up, fifteen thousand, Stand up you too, well.
I've got the same taxi waiting Francis, the one we were in before.
But this time we'll all have a nice, quiet, smooth ride.
This time we'll have a police escort. A few hours later, Pat had
disposed of his two friends and had come home to his ever love and wife.
Well, Darling, I suppose you're full of questions as usual. As
usual, Tracy had a very cushy spot figured out him self, didn't he?
Pat sure did. The lug steals the jewelry. Tracy gets his company
to shall out I'll say fifty thousand dollars to get it back, and Tracy
quietly splits it with his pal. The company saves a fortune, Gal gets
her necklace. Everything is moonlight and roses. Well, what about missus Blake?
Yeah, she was just a hell cat. She wasn't in on the
steel at all. Okay, but now, how do we go about celebrating
your solving the case? You want to go down to Fishman's Wharf and have
a seafood banquet? Hm, I don't know. Had the Chinatown have pressed
duck? Maybe? I'm not sure we got any other? Suggested, Well,
yes, I did have something else in mind. What have we gotten
refrigerated? Just some cold chicken, a couple of cans of beer. Well
let's stay right here and eat alone. But why because right here they got
services the other places don't have on the menu. The National Broadcasting Company has
presented The Adventures of the Abbots, starring Claudiam Morgan and Less Damon as those
popular personalities of the time depiction Pat and Jeane Abbott created by Francis Crane.
In our Story Tonight, Miss Sherry Britten portrayed the role of Kathy Dexter.
Others in the cast were Effort Sloan and Santa's Dotega. The Adventures of the
Abbots was written by Howard Merrill. Original music composed and conducted by Joey Bergmann,
produced by Ted Lloyd and Bernard L. Shubert, directed and recorded by
Harry fraz And. Now this is Wayne Howell inviting it to Journey's Next week,
same time, same station for another exciting adventure in crime with Pat and
Jean in the Adventures of the Abbots. This is the United States Armed Forces
Radio and Television Service Welcome Back Now. Sherry Britton, who played the widow,
was actually a well known burlesque dancer. They'd been really big in the
nineteen thirties and forties, but did continue to perform for many years following,
and eventually she became a cabaret singer Bretton did not do a whole lot of
acting in mass medium. She had made a TV appearance in nineteen fifty four
and would go on to make a couple others. I think she did a
decent job here, but the character didn't feel like it was much of a
stretch. And it should be noted that this isn't the only time that the
Abbots tried this in an attempt to gain the listenership. Jackie Robinson of the
Brooklyn Dodgers also made his Somatic Radio acting debut. Of course, he had
starred in the Jackie rob Robinson Story movie, but this was the first time
playing a character who was not himself. Now, as to the story,
I think Pat's plan has a big flaw in it and that I don't think
that he really could have an idea that the robber would be hanging around and
compulsively looking for other jewels to steal. I mean, there's no indication that
the robber was a compulsive jewel thief, So the plan, to the extent
it works, kind of works through dumb Locke. Also, it says something
that Greg is very concerned about his wife's safety and generally doesn't want her getting
in harm's way. But rather than hiring a female private detective or ex policewoman
to play this dangerous decoy role, he opts for his wife. Other than
that, I thought it was a decent app episode. All right, well,
let's go ahead and see how they did it in Australia. And here
is It's a crime, mister Collins. Episode title is the same. Original
airdate is September the second, nineteen fifty seven. Let's go ahead and take
a lesson. It's a crime, mister Collins. It surely is. After
all, it's a girl. Where the dazzling necklaces? Where the fortune?
Should it make an an want a kisser or killer? That was a question
I had to ask myself when my husband gave me a very dangerous job to
do. Oh, by the way, my husband's Greg Colins, a famous
detective. Yeah, I'm Gail Collins, and I'll be back in a minute
to set the stage for our puzzling crime. It's a crime. And tell
me, Gail, what have you called this case? The fabulous emerald necklace?
Mord sounds interesting? Did you wear this fabulous necklace? No more?
The one I wore was a pack But there was a genuine necklace. Oh
sure, it was worth two hundred thousand dollars. I think you'd better start
telling your story, Gail. Okay, mord I will. The real necklace
was a breathtaking collection of precious stone. It belonged to Missus David Blaine,
a curious young woman without any social background who had somehow managed to marry the
heir to the Blaine fortune. Late one night, she and her husband had
left the Stardust Club and was strolling to their Park Avenue townhouse, which was
just around the corner from the club. Welly, Cora, I don't think
you behave very well at the club. Will you stop picking on me?
David, don't be so prissy. They've been doing it all easily. I
just had a little fun at the club, after all, how squigg and
it did sometimes I'm back into the doorway. Who you what's the idea?
Get away from it? Said you to get off the street and into that
doorway. I've got at thirty eight here, and I'm emptied right into boat
of you wild into the doorway, I said, I'll take the necklace of
yours, missus brand you think you can get away with this because you're waving
that gun wild sit Missus Vrain, I've taken the necklace, give me her
hands off me. Please please not to do that. I turn you,
come, I call you David. He did. The Josie disappeared into the
mind, leaving Missus David Blaine's chicle beside the dead body of her husband.
Greg and I'd been home that night. We knew that. But the next
morning Greg was sent for by the Sterling Insurance Company. He's in the offer
for the company's executive, George Trent. I sent for you and mister Cullins,
because this case calls for a man of your caliber. It will be
glad to pay any reasonable fear. So is this a reasonable case, mister
pans Francine, It's rather difficult. That's where I'd rather you handle this case.
In one of their routine investigated. Our company ensured Missus Blaine's necklace.
Mister Cullins how much two hundred thousand dollars, and Missus Blaine described the man
of a tecton. She's quite vague about it. It's something very fascinating.
Gave to me in the mail this morning, a note from the killers.
You'll notice, of course that it's being written very much like a ransom note
in the kidnapping. No use of pens, pencils or right right now,
let us look like they've been cut out of newspapers and pasted together. Yeah,
he makes what he believes it's a business offer, as you see.
Once fifty thousand dollars. That tell me leave the necklace where our company can
find it. We return at the messens Blaine and save one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars and doing wise typically, if heef knows you'd have a difficult time
disposing of the pieces for a friend, it's identified too easily. I see
he doesn't mention how proposals to have to give him the cash. I suppose
you get in touch with you later. Exactly couldn't we trap him by promising
to pay off at a certain place and at a certain time, I got
it. Nobody would try a swindle like this without planning it very carefully.
Then why do we do? I'd like to talk to the dead man's wife,
arrange for your meetness to Blaine. Oh, and you're gonna have your
gut up. He's very beautiful and very clever, And I think it was
a kind of lacretia a borgia, really, especially for one reason the Chritsi
murdered her husband. I was gallivanting around Sanstrancisco buying playsuits for the summer,
a very innocent cherub indeed, and that husband of mine was closeted in a
private office with missus David Blaine. Blaine, you say you could hardly see
this man who shot your husband. It was very dark, mister Colins.
He pushed us away from the lamp. Postings of the doorway had adjusty shadow.
How tall was this sad raverage high? It's very difficult for me to
be accurate. I was terribly excited. I didn't notice the chaale. But
if you couldn't see very well, you could be here. How about his
voice? Rather, Rod, came to think of it, he didn't sound
like the usual gangster. It seems rather cultured. Another information you can give
me. I'm afraid so sorry, I'm not being helpful, unfortunately, Missus
Blaine. In these cases often lead to our to ask embarrassing questions and pulling
into the darker corners of people's lives. Go right ahead. Were you getting
along well with your husband? I suppose so? How well do people get
along and sold. They be married quite a while. I'm not a philosopher,
Missus Blaine. Just to detective. They reasonab believe your husband was well
mixed up in any activity. Rather, you didn't know about it, he
said, you're a diplomatic way of saying, was another woman. I don't
think so. I don't follow you, mister Collins. I wear a necklace,
a very expensive one. Some thief pulls us up, becomes excited,
shoots my husband, and you're making a whole French novel out of it.
Because missus Blaine very open. It looks like a simple hold up or a
southood, what have you. It's actually more complicated than it appears. It's
it's happing to cover up for something more deeply motivated. I'm not a woman
of very deep motivation. My interests and desires are normal and optics. As
for my late husband, yeah, they even he was not a man of
any dimensions, just folks man with a few million dollars. You're a detective,
mister Collins, not a human who collects on your husband's Licensune, I
do all of it. How much is it that half a million? You
also one heard all his property? Yes, it's worth another million and a
half. We were speaking of motive for a while ago. You need an
awfully good attorney to get you out of this. Why, I'm perfectly innocent.
I have an intuitive feeling about you, missus Blaine. Nothing too definitely
support it. I think you didn't care very much for David, but you
had quite a passion for his check book. What of it? Well,
for instance, you find yourself a mug, You make a deal with him.
He holds you up, gets your two hundred thousand dollars expass payment,
and takes a pot shot at David. You are the helpless wife. David's
a very dead pigeon. You come into David's money. The mug disappears with
these two hundred grands. Very nice. I could have had anything I wanted
from David. I think I trained an accomfortable spotlight said from the electric chair.
Maybe people, we're wasting your time, mister Colins, not that I'm
mine. Being questioned by a very handsome detective is so CLEAs you've changed the
subject. Certainly you're much more interesting married, mister Collins. Yeah, good
makes it more fun. Haven't you had enough entertainment these past few days?
Not at the right kind. You will rope my phone number in the notebook
and you call me. What for you? Amaze me, mister Collins.
Some men have to be told everything. Of course, I didn't know anything
about this at the time. If I had, I'd have scratched her eyes
out. To keep your ears pin. Friend, We'll be back in a
minute with more of our story that night at home, graz Tony is out
the case only because you had too, as I found about soon enough.
Now, Jim that you know my policy about keeping you out of my cases.
Yes, teachers, once in my life, you're going to come in
very handy. No, you're getting sensible. You have such a brilliant vibe.
I never could see why you don't use her talent. Oh look,
brilliant wife. There's a way to get at this guy who likes him Rosen
target practice with millionaires? How do you do it? With a decoy duck?
That mean, what am I doing? We buy you a necklace all
the time. We buy you a cheap necklace. I thought to be a
catch in it. We get our friend Nicks Gottter to put a line and
he's come about the girl who's always at the Stardust Club wearing a sensational necklace.
I know the start out boyfriend who likes sparklets chasing around after you.
He will try to pick you up at the club, but I'm hard to
get her. No easy, very easy. It wouldn't we tad cat move
to get the jewels you'll be wearing. You have to get you alone,
probably ask you to his place. You both go outside and get a can.
Great Collins, do you mean to say you're actually suggesting that I'd go
to a nightclub, make a pitch of the killer. I'll then take a
TEXTI ride alone with him. It'll be a special kind of can. What's
special about it? I'll be driving and I cried a Halloween party. It
might not turn out to be so jolly yab So I don't like about my
little scheme. You see somebody in this view, might my good might decide
that your photo is a good place to put all razorblade We bought a flashy
looking necklace. Nick Scudder plugged away in his column about quote a mysterious girl
seen every knight of the Stardust Club with a rock studded horse collar that could
pay the national debt. Outside the club with you night Clinger Graves at the
wheel of a taxi. I was inside the club, sitting alone at the
bar. A very oil and looking Joe came over to me and I knew
this without man. I started my eyes was into this Hollywood moment, and
we were off to the way. Don't tell me you're one of those awful
people who like to drink alone. No, I'm just knew in town and
have a name friends. Yet you've made one love. My name's Ben,
Ben for Sory mine, Gail mine. If I join you for a drink
to you always trying to be bad work with all of red riding hoods to
come here, just the very beautiful ones. They fascinated me for more reasons
and one, what do you mean I'm psychic about them? Thank you for
influence. I make a gift. I'd say. You're married to a very
worthy man, much shorter than you are. You're sick of him, you're
bored. You come here for some excitement, go off on that much was
a guess now, I want to tell you was something I'm very sure if
you're looking for excitement, lovely, you're shopping at the right counter. I
wasn't quite sure if things pfure he was just being amorous, or if he
suspected I was a plant and might suddenly give me the same treats if he's
given David Blaine, where you stay at the Stardust Cup for about an hour,
it's really hard. He ever eyed my neck, became more ematic,
and suggested, as he go to his apartment, to step outside a hail
a cab, A cab I knew would be driven by Greg. Say right,
go ahead, gave stopping wait killed gat one seven eight five bayside right,
m nice to be alone for a while, Gail, to do this?
Uh huh yeah. Every minute I was in the club, I I
wanted to kiss you. Then the drive you can see what does he care
here? Oh did you say seventy eighty five bay Sine? Yes, yes
I did? Okay, yeah, look at those stars out there you see
through the window. We mustn't let him go to waste just one kiss.
Come, comeplose to me closer, Gay, I don't think there reginally seventy
eighty five, Bay Sine. I have reasonable things. There is driver,
you see, I've been living there for nine years. Okay, yeah,
anyone ever though, what I'd be lucky enough for meet anyone like you.
I always used to say to myself, deep in my heart, I think
the Yankees have a chance to see what friends. Just drive the car,
okay, And then when you woke into the startup came yeah. I thought
for a while that someone might be with you. Then I realized you were.
We a lot of courage to come over to you. I don't know
what i'd have done if you turn me down, but work together, man,
that'll be forty five times. Thanks. Come on, Gail, sort
of a headache, I've does the thing for it, really, to keep
the cab and go home. I'm so tired, very better when we get
upstairs. That's some turkey on the ice. Thank don't disappoint me, just
for a few minutes. Glad you heard the lady. She wants to go
home. Who asked you to get into this? I invited myself. You
know, I've met some fresh cab drivers in my day. The lady has
a headache. So if you're going home, Nah, you're gonna get real
cute about this, aren't you. Good Night, bab I love to knock
your teeth down your should. Then don't startify with em. Please don't.
I don't like your faith. I think I get picked it up a little
while. Mary, Please, no one must know you h r gay according
tomorrow what was your number? Just meeting at the club same time tonight?
Fine, good bye here, good bye. Oh you're the most wonderful cab
driver I've ever had. Great Thank you, man. What's donna? Just
drive along the bank. But we don't live about this word? I know.
But didn't you hear what the man says? You must let those stars
got away? All right? Borrow the cab round is waiting. All right.
Cab drivers understand things like that. The next morning, Greg was just
leaving his offer. He's on his way to see George Trent. Well,
so it's morning, mister Carr. Missus brain, you have a moment suddenly.
I've been wondering about what sort of progress you've been making. Has I
find it close to the identity of the matter, Clu, my husband,
I don't talk about my cases until they cleared us. I think i'd a
right to know what you're doing. After all, I was married to David.
Frightened Missus Blaine, why should I be afraid that what comes out and
my watch won't be very pretty. Not normally I went to the trouble of
looking into the details of your background, Missus Blaine, I wouldn't exactly call
it nice reading for the kiddies. Son, I tell you why you really
came here, Missus Blaine. I want know who killed my husband. Missus
Blaine, you came here because the life insurance companies ready to endy up with
a small fortune. Now you're his beneficiary. You're afraid I could prevent that
by coming up with evidence that you might have done the killing yourself. You
want to make sure I'll stay out of the picture. You are going to
stay out of a picture, and it's the column to do the next step
too. Now comes the pearl handle revolver in the pocket. But when you
get chop at one of bow which you're just as dead as with the other
kind. So help me. If you stopped me from collecting David's life insurance
to a diamond doesn't to mean that part of my business. I collect them
like other people collect butterflies. Good afternoon, Missus Blaine. Look you two
big keyhole people. If you and your junior GMN badge them between me and
a couple of million bucks. It wouldn't mean a thing for me to kill
you. I wonder if you're so upset with me because I might cast you
the two million bucks, or because I prowse up when you made a play
for me. It's but two millions. As for you personally, I said,
good afternoon, Missus Blaine. How long time ago you're underestimating me?
You may not live to a great good afternoon, Missus Blaine. Eggs dead,
Missus Blaine. And you know that corny bit about hell having no fury
like a woman scorned? Well said tight, just a minute, we'll bring
you the climax of the piece. That's little interruption over. Greg went on
to the insurance company's office to see George Trent. I think I've got your
man, mister Trent, Really, who is he? He looked at seventy
eighty five bay side, smooth looking, chat tall, thin, verses very
well, how did you do it? Did you see the necklace? How
can you be sure? I arranged a trap for him, gotting to go
after a necklace. My wife purposely watered the stardust. Well, well,
what are we waiting for? Why don't know? If we sail and grab
him? Now we won't have much evidence. To holy man, we've got
to give me more rope. He's seeing my wife again tonight. Is he
connected with Coral Blaine? A essus satin? It's not the term. And
give me another twenty four hours. I think we'll strike oil. You mean
we can arrest him within twenty four hours? Probably? Excellent? List the
terms? Excellent? And I do be careful. It's always Ladle to be
very slippery. Yeah. How about missus Blaine? Do we just let her
wander around? Yeah? Remember the nurse we ram about the last sheep.
Leave him alone and they'll come home. That night, I put on a
very slinky evening down. I was getting ready for another session at the club,
but Gregg stopped me. You're not going to the club game, Greg
Collins, just because you're going to close in on Piston? Are you getting
a Willie's You're afraid I'll be here? That's not the reason. What is
it? So though they won't be at the club to see it, he's
going to be late, very late. I couldn't follow Greg's reason at that
moment, but as I learned later, but Polly was at home just then,
having a visitor. On the second sorry to keep you waiting. What
are you doing here to what? Why the gunner? I didn't make no
mistakes. Put on the gun. Put on the gun. You did make
a mistake. No, no, no, no time no. I did
everything you said. But I told you not to kill anyone. Then Blaine
tried to stop me. He started a screamer for the police. And you
should have beaten. You told me in the in the rest of the drawer.
Here here, I'll get it. Yeah, here's the necklace. Thank
you, lovely, isn't I didn't. I didn't mean to kill Blaine.
I just I just wanted to shut him up. I just meant. I
didn't even be Blaine was very careless. They're not close to me, are
they? You know that that that that that that you hired? Where is
he? Who is he? Colin? He's very close Ben, too close
for comfort? Oh what will we do? Yeah, it's so simple.
Can you get me out of here? Give me out of country. Maybe
you know what things go on, you know, Ben? Well, then
give me my cut on the nicklace. I know some people they'll help.
With twenty five grand I can travel. Fack. You're not getting any money,
then you're more cribly dangerous for me to have you alive. Ben,
you get rattled too easily. You might say something to be very embarrassing.
I do not no. Wait wait, wait, wait, train wait,
listen, listen to me. I don't want to cut. I wouldn't see
the colins. I'll go away. That that's all I want to I want
to get away. You've got to let me. Sorry, Ben, it
be sto without me to let you go wherever you are. You're a potential
threat to me. We're wasting time. Don't shoot, don't don't shoot,
don't don't confront my hand. Give away from my window. I have more
bullets and I like playing rough, remember, did you that's right? I
overheard your conversation Clinton. Ben wasn't half as careless as you were. Maybe
maybe we can make a deal. Colendary, What do you see? How
about a deal? Your company had an awfully high recovery rate on Juelry Clinton,
and you insisted I'm not working with a police. That seemed rather strange,
but you cringched it yourself. The last time we talked, when I
told you I'd found man, you said, there Zoli's lable to be very
stippery. That I never mentioned his name. Get plenty of money, Colendar,
make it worth your while to forget this. I purposely told you I
was closing in on Ben for twenty four hours. I knew you'd come here
to see you. Get up ten thousand cash right now, Tanna fifteen,
I han up you too, Ben. I have that same taxi wedding presolity,
the one we were in before. This time, we'll all have a
nice, quiet, smooth ride. This time we have a police ask God.
A few hours later, Greg to suppose it his two friends and had
come home to his ever love and wife. I suppose you're full of questions
as usual? Game as usual? Trent had a very trushy spot figured out
for himself, didn't Greg, surely, I love steals the jewelry, didn't
get his company to shell out, say, fifty thousand to get it back.
Trent quietly, but with his powers, the company saves a fortune.
The game gets your nickers. Everything's moon light and roses. What about missus
playing just to Hellcat? He wasn't in on this deal at all, Cooky
Bob, Now how do we go about celebrating your thus in the case?
What about down deficient war and he had every food banquets. Don't know he'd
be China Town have pressed up. Maybe I'm not sure, got any other
suggestions. Well, I did have something else in mind. Year, Why
are we having a refrigerator justin cold chicken? Couple of cans of beer.
Let's stay right here, an a that it's like here, the services don't
go in and just a moment, will be back with you. Well,
folks, good and I hope you enjoyed out at benchitty fight. Be Emerald
Nicholas, be sure to visit us next time for another puzzle in murder,
whether it was Clime and little Man, there you'll find mister Oh listen,
Colin, welcome back now. There were two changes that I noticed here.
The first is that the part of the widow was reduced, particularly at the
start of the story. Conversation between her and her husband ran for more than
a minute on the abbot, but rans for about thirty seconds on It's a
crime, mister Collins. And also the content is the same, there are
some different idioms that are used. The other big difference is that when the
widow as that first conversation where she flirts with Greg, Gail as a comment
that isn't in the original that she didn't know about the conversation, and if
she had known about it, she would have scratched the lady's eyes out.
Now, one thing I wonder, because when I played It's a Crime,
Mister Collins back in season eleven, there were a lot of listeners who didn't
like Gail and therefore did not enjoy the series, saying that she was too
jealous. That kind of confused me, since I didn't really get those complaints
back when I played The Abbots. But here we see that the jealousy is
being amped up from what was in the Adventures of the Abbots. The one
thing I wonder about is whether that sort of sentiment got inserted when the series
went to Mutual or when the series went to Australia. We don't know,
but that does give us a hint as to why the series had different reactions.
Other than that, it really does seem that the two scripts kind of
work beat for beat and often word for word. But the change is particularly
one of them I think is kind of significant and may change how people feel
about one series or the other. All right, well, now it's time
to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Alexandra. Patreon
supporters sent Steptember of twenty sixteen, currently supporting the program at the mastered attacked
level of fifteen dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your
support, Alexandra, and that will do it for today. If you are
enjoying this podcast, you can follow it using your favorite podcast software. Join
us back here tomorrow for Sam's Spade. Where your Tom's spade? Aren't you
Sam Man? The fun loving spade? Pick your photograph out of the other
detectives. Look like you got spoke? Why did you come here? Curiosity?
I met Glory Thomas out of Miss Wigginson's I liked it. I wanted
to see the type that was strong armor out of a job from a safe
distance Bookay, come over here a spade. I want to show you something.
Pig it yes, peperdu Now I work at the other end of the
garden, but the time being, Yes, man, oh pig it's my
gardman beekeeper, most taciturn individual. You know what this is? Well I
didn't, but now I can see. It's a bee high, Yes,
my own bee high, fish, honey from a tea and fruit. Take
it the afternoons. Fine old tradition. Observe this hive, young man.
Honey bees are the most intelligent of all insects, surpassing even the ants.
And why because one female controls a community of many, many thousands. I
am against it. Yes, mister Spade, a queen bee veins supreme.
The males at dromes is quite useless. The female workers perform all necessary they
but no waste, lotion, no dissensions. Well, some of my best
friends of drones and I just cast you understand me, mister Spade, I
wish Gloria Thomas removed from San Francisco for an excellent reason. My nephew,
Gerald Long, the young man who just left here, has developed a so
romantic notions about it. Yeah, so you want the romance, bust it
up. But if you try to break it up openly, and nephew might
get stubborn and even marry it. On the other hand, by framing her
as a faith you ward off the affair and then you can figure out some
other dirty treaders. I knew you that has tapped me, mister Spade.
I admire bluntness moderation. Well, what do you say to joining passes with
me, just one thing, Missus Kavanagh nuts. I hope you'll be with
us then. In the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at
Great Detectives dot and it, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and
check us out on Instagram, Instagram dot com slash Great Detectives