Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio and our four thousand, four
hundredth episode special 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 Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives. If you're
enjoying this podcast, pleasease follow us using your favorite podcast software. Now today,
we have a really unique episode. I discovered this while I was making
plans for the new Amazing World of Radio summer series, which focuses on old
time radio work by actors who portrayed villains in the nineteen sixties Batman series.
That was the one that was chosen by our Patreon supporters. Back in April,
Barbara Rush passed away on Easter, and since she had also portrayed a
villain in the nineteen sixty six Batman series, it made sense to include her
in that series in the first episode in the honor of her life an amazing
Golden Globe winning career. I listened to the first act of this episode and
realized that this should really go on The Great Detectives podcast, and since we
didn't have anything planned for four thy four hundred episode yet, this seemed like
a really good story to do. I also did find something else featuring Barbara
Rush that will kick off our Batman Villains of Old Time radio series at Amazing
Great Detectives dot net and that will drop on Wednesday. But now we'll take
a listen to the lux Radio Theater where Claudak Colbert reprises her screen role with
Miss Rush playing the role that was played by Ambleisse in the film. So
from November ninth, nineteen fifty three, here is Thunder on the Hill,
Hollywood Radio Theater. Colbert and Barbara Rush in Thunder on the Hill. Wait
did you got him on your? Producer Irving Cummings reading some Hollywood ladies and
gentlemen, good night. We've welcome back from her recent trip abroad, one
of those rare combinations of Hollywood, a versatile actress, a beautiful woman,
a glamorous personality, Claudette Colbert. We will present Miss Colbert in her original
role in an exciting mystery drama Under on the Hill, produced by Universal International
Pictures. And also from that studio, we have invited one of their more
brightest stars. Barbara Rush now under on the Hill, starring Claudette Colbert as
Sister Mary and Barbara Rush has balery car For two weeks now, the ring
had beat down ceaselessly. Below it's in the little Valley. The red warnings
spread across the southern country. Guy blood for the villagers. There was only
one refuge, the Convent and Hospital of our Lady of Breeds. As Mother
Superior, I issued orders to open our doors to all who asked for shelter.
Yes, Philip May, I ask what you're doing here? There have
been ten Sister Mary. We'll need this recreation room with Merrick to the hospital.
I don't remember giving you permission to leave the war. You didn't,
but when everything's in a turmoil, I forget for melodies. There is no
turmoil here, and let's be created notes. Bring the pup here, Willie.
It's me, mister Mary. Phillips asked my permission to leave the war.
I'm sorry, Doctor Jeffries. I didn't know. I plan to use
this room for a children's dormitory. You see, I've walked them away from
the contagion war, and I was superious. Doctor Jeffrey's wife. Well,
we'll find some other pads. Your wife, doctor, she knew better now,
I'm afraid not. Mister Harmer is bringing her up from the village.
Should be here at a moment. I'll have a bed for that in my
office. Please don't offended. It's just that it's my beauty to see that
things are done in the right way. Of the right way, Sister Mary,
are your way? Please return to the world, nurse. You resent
anybody here with a will of her own. Maybe if I were a feeding
hulf with like Willy, you'd approve of me. You're done on me,
yards, I'll teach you calling me names right, don't will it? Put
it down at once, Willie, My hands be clean, Sister, they
have no sin on them. Go to the kitchen, Sister, Josephie needs
help. Yes, Sister, we're all a little jumping tonight. I'm sure
Nurselits didn't mean much his head. I meant every word and more. What's
happened here? What if it I'm said of reverend mother, Sister Mary,
it would do her so good to be wrong once in a while. If
you weren't so positive about everything, perhaps your sister would still be alike or
she doesn't mean it, sister, Doctor, mister Harmer and your wife have
just arrived. Thank you, excuse me, mister Mary. Willis prove once
more that he can't be trusted. He's a good workman, but as soon
as conditions are back to normal, he must be sent away. Yes,
Reverend mother, you're preparing this room for the children. Yes, they'll be
safer here and they won't disturb the patience. To be sure, how well
you plan everything? No, most Phillips is curious with me in Siebenger sister.
We all say things we don't really mean. But how she found out
about your sister, I really feel it's must have resented me for a long
time. We can't expect to be loved by everyone. We've got to accept
the fact that we are less than angels and make the best of ourselves.
William, mother, Have I made the best of myself? Of course you
have, and you came to us later in life than most of the others.
Sometimes I think it was too late. It's never too late to serve
guard on the aiding. Your record is a growing example of it. From
novice to maidtroom of our hospital in eight short years. Or if I can
only be sure that in changing my life, but I have succeeded in changing
myself. You mustn't hold yourself responsible for what happened to your sister, that
have let her alone if she wanted that man, I had no right to
interfere, but he was altogether an antid person for her. It was your
duty to protect her. But I can't have take the thought that it was
I who you asine is such a horrible thin, Oh mother. No matter
how I've tried, I find no comfort, no peace. It will come
to you, sister, in its own way, in its own time.
Now, then, how many do we have here so far? Seventy two
adults and twenty five children, in addition to all our regulars. You're wanted
in the great room? Is it urgent? A man and you women have
arrived. They want a barris and petrol or a car. Thank you.
I'll see them in a moment. These people, do you know them?
Know of another? But I heard some of the villagers talking. They said,
to bring her to a convent is blaspheming her a young woman. The
other woman in the manner, I'm not certain that they appear to be in
charge of it as if she were from the police. I see well,
sister Mary will take care of them. Take off your coat. Miss,
it's so worried about my health. Sus peers, I only want you to
be comfortable. We'll be back on the road too. Good evening. I've
brought you a train. It's just soup, but it's hot and nourished.
Oh I was told there were three of you, Sergeant Spelling. I'll be
back in a moment. Yea, your soup sit down, won't you?
Thanks? But I don't want him to please. It will warm you.
I'm not cold. Then let me have your coat. Perhaps you don't care
about getting illed, but we do. Why should you? Oh? For
one thing, our woods are overcrowded. All I want to get out of
here. What's keeping him so long? Why are you in such a hurry?
Oh? Oh, but I'm not they are. Isn't there anything I
can do? Perhaps if you'd explain, explain what you know who I am.
You're only being kind because it's your duty, that's true. And if
I can't be of any help, it only means I've failed in my work.
A very clever sister. Appeal to the Senate's conscience. The tricks that
never failed well with me, it does. I have no conscience well,
and I have no tricks left except to ask you once more, take off
your code. Oh right, don't take it off. I don't want you
to be a failure on my account. You'd make me even a greater success
if you've took your soup. No, will you stop, really mess?
There are times when I yes, when well, they've all been evacuated,
I'm sure. But if there's anything Hello, hello, sister, I was
just talking to the chief engineer at the dike. I was cut off.
Will you think through please? Huh oh, oh, thank you. I'll
get ready, Pierre. They're giving us petrol. We'll be in a knowledge
in an hour. I'm afraid you can't. Oh why not, ma'am.
The dyke has been abandoned, Reverend mothers. They expected to collapse at any
moment. Oh, then, if I may use your phone, I'll have
not extended along. I'm afraid you can't do that either. The wires are
down. There's no way to communicate with the outside. But we must be
a knowledge before tomorrow. That's impossible, Sergeant. Even if the rain stops,
it will be at least two or three days before three days. I
couldn't stand it, sinner, you'd better put the entire stuff on emergency duty.
They're bringing in more casualties from why Valerie good evening, Doctor Jeffreys,
How do you get here? That Valerie gone? Let's write sister Valary Cohn's
the murderers Valary Khans, who is underway to nor It's prison to be hanged
in the morning. But now they'll just have to wait. Oh can't you
see it in the newspapers postpone because of rain? Just like a cricket.
All right, niece, and hey, now take her to my office,
put around the couch. Don't deliver her alone here, it's not for it.
Among those now under our roof was doctor Jeffrey's wife, Isabelle. She'd
been ailing for some weeks, a nervous disturbance. The doctor's set up makeshift
call has fought her in his office. As for their meals, they would
eat with mister Harmer as the pharmacist in his dispensary, sit down as a
bell. Breakfast is getting cold. Where's mister Harmer? Oh, he'll be
back in a moment. They're taking some drugs to the ward. Have you
seen her again, Edward's salary. No, not since last night. She's
innocent. I swear she is. Oh your voice, and for Heaven's sake,
be sensible. Good morning, Good morning Hannah. Where it's good to
see you up and about. Missus Jeffries, Thank you. Won't you sit
down and join us? Oh? I had breakfast an hour ago? If
I shall refuse another cup of tea, Edward, please let me see her.
It's impossible she's under arrest. Oh, what's it for? Mary?
Don't get up? Good morning, missus Jeffries. I've brought the world charts,
but they can wait till you've had breakfast. Sister, Please ms Khan?
Where is she? Where are they keeping her? She was moved to
my crotters this morning. We decided it would be better if she were completely
separated from the other. Yes, the villagers are self sat against her.
It's a picky, but that's all she did. Kill her own roller.
Wicked though he was. Did you know Jason Khannes, mister Harmon only slightly
Dodtor Jeffreys is the one who really knew him. What actually was the matter
with him? Let's stroke? It left him almost completely paralyzed. The result
of chronic alcoholism, and overall this looked like Isabelle. Dear, if you
don't eat, sister Mary will think you don't like that cooking. No,
but I do. It's excellent, Valerie carl I'll never forget the look in
her eyes. And all I did was tell the true after all, it
was I who filled the prescription. He prisoned him. Wasn't at the charge
she gave her father Three taps of fatal dose would have killed a horse.
I wagel. She wasn't glad to see you here, doctor, and Afredna.
Why not? I was a key witness for the crown who did everything
you could to save her. Brought up all the extenuating circumstances. If only
Willie hadn't ever heard Willie Arrah, Willie he used to help out at the
Khan's house, Handerman, just as he is here? What did he overhear?
Well, Jason was an agonizing. When I got there, I found
Valery terribly distraught. You had no idea what you were saying, good repeating.
I wish you were dead, Oh Edward, I'm sorry, dear,
Yes, we were all shocked by it. A very tragic affairs. You
mean the court took Willie's evidence. That's testimony. No, not willis mine.
I had to admit he was telling the truth. Oh oh, I'll
leave them here with you. M oh I thank you? Oh you,
sister. Come in. I haven't had a chance yet to thank you for
allowing us to use your rooms here. There's no need to thank me,
sergeant. I'll only be a moment. There's some papers in my desk.
Who's playing Ms Carl's ma'am? Since you have a piano, well, I
hope you don't mind. Oh no, of course not. She plays beautifully.
Tell me? Has she been a difficult prisoner? Oh? Not more
than most, of course. These last days are the worst part of the
home secretary turned down the appeal. May I see him? These rooms are
your, sister. I have no right to stop him. Thank you,
Please don't stop. What do you want? I wanted to see if there's
anything I can do to make you comfortable. It's cold here, isn't it.
I'll have Willy bring some logs for the fireplace. How is Willy?
Oh? I don't know. Unpredictable as always and just as frightened. He
didn't look at me once during the trial. Just a wiping mistake. But
I'm not angry with him. He only repeated what he heard. Ms.
Kahan. Was that music you were playing a moment ago? I knew so
little about music? Was it to b C? No, it's Kahn's.
You're a composer, Jason Kahannes your brother, Yes, the one I killed.
You don't like it to you? Oh, but I do know you
don't. Poor Jason while his life he had to contend with it. Well,
you are wrong. Jay's music has great merit. It will be remembered.
That's the only thing I still believe in wiscons Is there nothing I can
do to help you? Oh? But you have? You're sure you don't
mind a murderous using your room. You didn't kill your brother. I'm sure
you didn't. How very kind of you. That makes two of us.
Even if you had done it out of some false sense of mercy, his
death would be on your conscience and you wouldn't find peace, Not for a
second. You had peace while you planned. Why Why do you think I'm
not guilty till perhaps because I know how it feels to be guilty. I
suppose you do believe in my innocence. What does that mean the meaning.
Can you do something about it? I can pray for you more words,
sister, if you really wanted to believe you help me to live through this
last few days. Oh, I will bring me the human being who really
cares about me? Is his name is Sidney Kingham? Is he his?
No? No? No? It only eight short miles away. Oh,
but you know it's possible to get to knowledge. Well, you're a nun,
the holy woman. Why don't you perform a miracle? Oh? I
seem only to upset you, Miss Kahn, forgive me. Later that night,
Sister Mary went to the kitchen. She wanted to talk to Sister Josephine.
In the corner, Willie was eating his supper. Tomorrow is another long
day, hy, sister. They go up soon, Sit down, sister.
It's something on your mind, isn't it. You have that far away
look in your eyes. You did it still less unfortunate go Ever, sin't
last night. From the first moment I saw her, something passed between us,
Sister Josephine. I know she's no more guilty of murder than than you
are, But you can't see I am. I am certain it's as if
it's as if I were driven from within to do something. This great flood.
It must have been God's will to surround our house with water, to
let no one in and no one out. God's will, it is.
If I could only go to Norwich, No, I'd do anything if I
could get there to night. Well, that's the first foolish thing I've heard
you say in eight years, sister. I need your help, my help.
I want to know everything about that trial. But how would I know
those the old newspapers. You're always saving simon waste to throw out newspapers?
Why I use them to line? Must still? I know, I know
that's why they must be here somewhere. Please won't you find every newspaper you
can from last January when the trial was on, Sister Mary? Is this
wise? I must know what more about it? Please come then we'll find
the paper some here's another one's sister, listen, listen to this prosecution.
If no one else was in the house, who then? But you could
have given your brother tablet this car. I told you one hundred times.
I took one tablet from the fire. I did not substitute the askering for
the two missing tablets. I gave him one tablet just one table and here
down here mister Harmon testimony. Now if we can find the other who is
there? Come in Rene. I hear you talk, sister Mary, So
I come to fetch you. You be wishing to go to Norwich, and
so you will knowed tonight Willie found the way nobody could. But Willie be
you ready, sister, Yes, WILLI I'm ready. Come, we go
to Norwich. Now make a friend and you make an ally. There's a
thought for you to keep in mind. As many Another American has take the
famous all Negro basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters as unofficial ambassadors. In one
year, they played ball before more than a million people on four continents in
Rio Digeneiro. They entertained crowds of from thirty thousand to fifty thousand. During
one summer, they toured Europe and Africa, chalking up another six hundred thousand
fans. In nineteen fifty two, they celebrated their twenty fifth anniversary as a
team by circling Neglobe. Yes, sir. The team, organized by Abe
Sapristin, really gets around and their exhibitions have been more than just the demonstration
of American basketball they've been a lot more. The team is a living example
of American fair play and sportsmanship in and out of uniform. Abe Sapristin now
carries a letter which reads, in part, the Harlem Globetrotters have proved themselves
ambassadors of goodwill. On any future tours, please call on us for any
help we can give. And the letter is signed by the United States State
Department. In being ambassador's of fair play, the Harlem Glove Drotters proved that
by helping others, you help your country. And now our producer, mister
Cummings act too of thunder on the Hills are in Claude Colbert as Sister Mary
and Barbara Rush as Valery Khan. Willie had found a row boat. This
was the means by which he takes this to Mary to knowledge it had stopped
raining. Now the floodwaters were heavy with miss from the park, but Willie
never so much as pause. All we'd be there soon, Sister, that
I'd be right under us, now crushed led by the flood sea, Willie,
do you know a man named Sydney Kingham? I, sister, do
you know where he lives? Maybe Norwich? The night Willie finds him.
Willie. Did mister Kingdom come often to visit Miss Cohn? Not often?
Mister Jason, he hated it. He was appeared mister Kingdom be taking Miss
Valerie away. He was a mean one, all right. Hurting others be
his pleasure. Mister Jason was a very sick. He hurt me, threw
it and choked at me. He did and cut my head. I'd be
bleeding like a pig. Why did he do that? He said? My
hands be picking and stealing. He'd be looking for some letter. But Willy
didn't take the letter, not then. But you did take it. Hi.
After he cut me with the jug, I took it. Oh,
will He punishes Willie for picking? Will he be picking? What did you
do with that letter? By behind my room? Hi? Why do you
know what it says? What it says? No? I just smell it
every night before sleeping. Wellie, when we get back to the convent,
I want you to show me that letter. Hi. My sister smells proper
sweety too, lilac like lilac comes the springtime. We be near the land,
Sister, Oh, this terrible. I can't see a thing. They
close to Willie and be careful. Wuldn't we be in Norwich comfort? They
were back at the convent shortly after dawn with them with Sidney Kingham. Missus
Pears rushed at once for just are you being to knowledge? Yes? Well,
of course you notify the authorities there that we're here. No, no,
I didn't have it in mind. That's unfortunate. However, I have
Willie or whatever his name is, take us back a major there. I'm
afraid that's impossible, Sergeant. As soon as we returned, Willie smashed the
boat to pieces. Why didn't you stop him? He couldn't. Oh this
is mister Kingham's sergeant came. Oh, yes, so fiance. So that's
why you went to knowledge. I'll have to advise my superiors about this.
I have no choice. You must do your duty, sergeant. It's my
sister. I never should have asked you. I knew what I was doing
with can now you'll excuse me. My place is in the world. Oh
wait, please, I have a gift for you. We don't accept you.
You did this for an innocent woman. I swear this to you.
It's all I have. I make you a gift of it. My innocence.
Geocrats I'll say, good morning, lists go. You're here all over
for you for hours. Well it's too late now what is it? Missus
Smithson's had her baby? She said you promised to be with her. Yes,
yes, I did promise. What about her and the baby? She
is all right, but the baby's barely breathing. It's hopeless. But doctor
Jeffries is still trying. I'll see him. It wrong just a minute.
Most of the villagers are here and they know all about you. How you
had to go and bring that that evil woman's lover back. Her pleasure meant
more to you than poor mister Smithson and her baby. If I were you,
I keep away from the villagers. Thank you for warning. Minister tired
everything system Mary. Yes, the infants alive, but how much longer?
I can't say. Would you like me to take over? Doctors? You
must be twice as tired as I am. No, I'm not tired.
I then do what you can. If your responds at all, try the
ouction again. I wish you'd spoken with me before you went to Norwedge.
I'm afraid you couldn't have changed my mind. You'll break your heart if you
get involved in this. Can's affair. Well call me that and son change.
Oh doctor, how is your wife this morning? I really don't know.
Mister Agatha said, she's trying to help mister Harmer and the dissentery.
I'll see her as soon as I check. Yet I know the villagers.
They'd never raise a singer against the Holy Woman. And I tell you,
mister Jeffrey, that I saw them. Sister Mary went to relieve your husband.
They tried to block away. They shook the fifth at her. You
hate her very much, don't you. I hate hypocrits, mister Harmer,
people with a superiority complex. It is sister Mary be here. No,
she is not, and you should know better than to come to this dispensary
filthy as you are what you are really, Mister Mary is busy in the
nursery. Will you be kind then and tell her Willie has the letter with
the smell of the lilac lalac, missus Jeffrey, I just said, lilac.
They are my favorite flowery baby. Smelne Sweden the letter. If sister
Mary lets me keep it, what are you talking about? Jebrice as usual
tell sister Mary the letter. Mister Jason be looking for Jason comes. Hi.
Don't you know that mister Jason's day, hy, he'd be proper day
that you want to talk with him. Give the letter to me and i'll
take it to her. You don't have them, I'd be hiding it in
my room, Mister Harmer. I must go and lie down. I don't
feel well. I'm so sorry, Missus Jeffrey, my husband. Please send
to my husband. He's still in the ward. Missus Jeffrey, I'll find
him. I'll go and lie down. Please tell him to Harry. We
were all too occupied that morning to me to press the matter of Sister Mary's
journey to Norwige, but it was something I could not ignore. Finally I
was able to sum them all to my office, Sergeant Merry, doctor Jeffreys,
mister Kingham, and Sister Mary. Oh. First of all, Madam,
as a matter of this report, I've prepared a simple than deploration of
facts concerning the deliberate destruction of the robo. Have you read this report?
System Mary? No, Reverend Mother, but I'm certain it's sacurate. I
regret having to do this, but there's been an obstruction of justice. Or
please don't worry, Sister Mary I'm sure they'll forget all about it after Dalis
Well, I mean what I meant to me say it after she's been hanged.
I'm sorry, Kingham, regardless of official charge. Yes, sister,
I wish you'd use better judgments, but Reverend Mother and my heart went out
to that poor girl. Has any real harm been done in letting her see
this matter? Fact remain? She's a convicted murderss I don't suppose I should
say it, but Jason Kahn deserves what he got. Why shouldn't you say
it? He's tormented and abused Valery Constance, so stop being so certain of
her guilt. Both happy, mister Mary, look at the facts, Sister.
I'd prescribed tablet to let him sleep. Hama made up a three week
supply the day my wife and I left for a holiday, twenty one tablet.
Before I left, I cautioned Balery to give Jason only one each night,
no more, no matter how to the other page. And four days
later, Jason was found dead of an overdose. Yes, I know,
after four days, how many tablets should there have been seventeen? And there
were seventeen, but two of the remaining tablets were aspence even so, that
doesn't prove that Valerie puts them there. Jason couldn't reach the fire, it
was paralyzed, and even if he could, why should he want to replace
the tablets with essence? It doesn't make sense. Stuff. If Jason Counts
was paralyzed and Battery Counts was alone in the house with him, And I
told you what she said to me at the time when he overheard it,
that she wished him dead. But you also told me that she really didn't
mean it, remember, doctor, Yes, I had reason to feel that
she didn't. When Jason had his second stroke, the one which left him
paralyzed, if she hadn't sent for me in time, I think he would
have died. So she could have let him die, but didn't. Yes,
she could have, couldn't she She saved him from dying a natural death
and then turned around and poisoned him. I don't understand that kind of logic.
It's conceivable that one can come to the end of one's patience, you
know, No, not Valerie. Only the day before Jason died, I
begged her to send to a nursing home so that she could be free to
marry me. But she wouldn't hear of it. You couldn't say she'd come
to the end of her patience, could you. There's no attense in putting
around trial again. Nothing we can say can change a jurist body. Oh
please keep away, learn you break your heart now, if you don't mind,
I should like to be alone with Sister Mary. Thank you for coming,
gentlemen, Yes, thank you. Would you mind closing the door?
Doctor Jeffries told me this mister baby is a little better. We won't know
much for a few hours yet. If the child survives, he says,
we'll have you to thank We have God to say. How much better it
would be, sister, if you can find all your efforts strictly to your
duties. Oh she's innocent, Reverend Mother. Never in all my life have
I been filled with with such complete conviction. Then you must pronounce that conviction.
You'll have no further contact with Ms. Kahn, You'll not speak to
her again. But Reverend Mother, this girl has prepared herself for death.
It would be cruel Tory's false hopes in her heart. That will be all.
It was evening once again. As I walked to Vespers, I saw
Valerie and Lister Kingdom in the garden watching closely with litter here, Valerie.
Please, you're only torturing you. Though I know what's going to happen to
me. Why not talk about it? All? Right? So you've left
your will with your attorney, and I want to change it, Sidney.
I'm going to leave half of what I own to the sisters. I'll write
it all down and you can take it to Lemony. I'll do whatever you
want me to do. And I want you to forget me, darling.
Please, I won't listen to such talk. I want you to promise me
if you meet another girl that you want me anyway, you mustn't think it.
If you fall in love again, you'll be training. You're all I
ever had. I'll never look for anyone else. Don't feel badly because you
can't believe it. I'm inniscent, Salary. How can you say such a
try? I'm so hard to hide it. Oh no, no, it's
not true. By this time tomorrow I may be a Nords. Don't light
me now, Sidney, not even quite live good, Sister Mary tell you
this. No, I'm totally but if you didn't do it, there's only
one other person who could have. Who else had a reason to kill Jason.
But I didn't do it, and he didn't do it. Nobody did
it. They didn't happen. Mean, it's on a job, Howry.
Jacob's at home waiting for his dinner he's getting I don't want to go in.
It's beautiful the evening, the press are I didn't do it, Sidney.
I'm innocent when I'm young and I'm in love with you. I want
to live. I want to be a wife. I don't want you to
touch any other woman but me. I don't want to die. Darling,
my darling Mary. Something important has just come up. This letter? What
is this? It was written to her brother, to Jason Kahnes. How
did you get it from Willy? Your brother accused him of stealing it?
He punished Willy. Then later, when Willie famed the letter, he decided
to keep it. It was his childish way of satisfying his resentment. Do
you recognize the writings, kind No, it was obviously written by a woman
with the team. Please read it. Here is Jason. I'm mortally afraid
of getting in touch with you, and yet I must. We are suspected.
I haven't been questioned, but I feel it there is nothing either of
us can do except to go on as if we never met. If you're
asked, you must deny everything, take care of yourself, and please please
get well. I'll never change. I couldn't if I wanted. But no
signature. Have you any idea who it could be? No? The envelope
postmarked knowledge? But he knew women in London? But why didn't will he
produce this letter of the trial? He was afraid and besides me never read
it. He kept it only because it smells sweet? Are you sure your
brother never spoke of anyone? No telephone calls, miss did. Mister you
are definitely worn not to come in contact with a prisoner. I know,
Sergeant. I'm sorry. You have absolutely no right to continue to interfere.
Here's take Miss Cahns to a room from now on. No more pession of
favors and no visitors. Take away. Give up, sister, It's too
late. I'm it on me. There's nothing more you can do. As
for you, sister, Yes, sage, I reported you again to the
mother superior here at once five. There's a thought for you to keep in
mind, as many another American has in nineteen forty five, Lyle Hayden was
sent to Iran by a privately financed organization to help the farmers with their agricultural
problems. At first they were listless and disinterested, but Hayden started a small
demonstration farm to show them what could be done. He began to drill for
the water he was sure lay beneath the villages, and when he hit it,
his second hand prompt began pumping fifteen thousand gallons an hour. Now the
Iranians welcomed his health With their aid, he purified the water, removed the
threat of malaria from the irrigation ditches, started a successful chicken breeding program.
Then he opened a free school to teach the children reading and writing, and
it was so successful that the Iranian Minister of Education asked him to organize his
teaching methods in other villages. Hayden offered a teaching job to any young villager
who could learn to read and write. These successful ones came from his night
school classes. As the months and years went by, Hayden continued educational and
agricultural programs throughout the country, and today what prosperity the peasant farmers of Iran
and Joy can be attributed to the tireless work of Lyle Hayden, who combined
the best qualities of missionary and businessman to win the thanks of a grateful people.
Once again, an unselfish American proved that by helping others, you help
your country. We parsesew for patience identification. The curtain rises are like three
of thunder around the Hill are in Claudette Colbert as Sister Mary and Barbara Rush
as Valery Khan. Yes, I spent again to Sister Mary, and for
good reason. This latest in appearance was inexcusable. I cannot defend my actions
verrein Mother, other than to explain verbind, Sister, you openly disobey my
orders. I felt I had to see Miss Kahnt because of the mother.
This letter suggests only but Jason Khanes had a secret romance, but doesn't suggest
that a third persons involved Reverend Mother, a person who may have decided to
take revenge. That's merely a guess. You've done nothing but harm this unfortunate
young woman, raising false hopes bringing her fiance here, rekindling her passionate desire
to live. All that I've done, I've done because I felt compelled to
help her compelled yet, but not so much to help her as to prove
once more that you're a right Oh mother, surely you don't think the nice,
stubb and fanatic manner in which you cling to your opinions. I can't
even call it an opinion. It's just a wild notion, an idea.
It's not just an idea, certainly this letter. You were convinced of par
innocence long before you saw that letter. Admit that much, I do.
I was convinced of it the first time I saw her, and every moment
I've spent with her since has only strengthen my face. Don't call it face,
sister, call it by its proper name, a premonition, a wild
notion. How can you be so stubborn? You keep blaming yourself for your
sister's death, and yet you're doing the same thing all over again, forcing
your will and others no matter what what cost. You're right, vin mother.
All my life I've had this relentless drive. That's why you feel yourself
a failure. You keep trying to do too much. You forget there's a
greater power who guides our lives, whose ways are not always our ways,
Just as you believe you came here because the outside world had become empty and
meaningless to you. It has quite meaningless. But you didn't come here,
sister, You were led here by our Lord. Ah. When will you
accept that and bring peace to your heart? If I could only believe that
God want me? Yes, Reverend Mother, it's Willie. Willy has been
stopped down. Willie in his room in the Bell Towers, unconscious and a
terrible wound in his head. Who could have done such a thing? You've
called doctor Jeffrey. Yes, and the poor lad's belongings all strewn about.
Is someone to try to rob him? Rob Willie. That doesn't make sense
except for the letter. What is willing to do with this letter? It
goes back to when he worked for Jason. Can't he found it? He
kept it? But don't you see, Reverend Mother, someone here in our
house must have found out about it and tried to steal it. Nonsense.
It probably was one of the villagers. They're all outraged with him for helping
you to bring mister Kingham here, for destroying the boat. But if there's
one child, forbid you to go on with this. No more of this
playing Scotland yard you have a hospital full of patience. There you're only concerned,
not this letter. There's the fireplace, sister Mary. I want you
to throw this letter into the fire. No I can't. I beg you
for the sake of your soul. I can't. Then I shall burn it.
Oh, you can forget about the letter now and try to forgive me.
Willie was badly hurt that he'd recover. He had no idea who his
advailant was. Doctor Jeffries left him and went to his quarters. His wife
was lying down. She was very dipto get what as well my letter,
the letter. I told you about it, but you didn't tell me about
the letter. I did. I did the letter, I wrote Jackson,
you've been sleeping, Isabelle had another one of your dreams. I hope you
get over them. Edward, this wasn't a dream. How do you know?
Because they heard Willy talk about the letter to mister Harmer Nos Philips.
But what makes you so sure they weren't part of your dream? It wasn't
a dream. Ask them, Ask them, let them know how ill you
are. I've told you before and about I can help you only I do
trust me. I don't think you'd like me to commit you to an I
would know, no, don't. It was a dream, a bad dream.
H of course I'll come. We'll have supper with mister Harmer. You'll
feel better, DearS. I made it especially for you Shepherds tie and Yorkshire
pudding, especially for me, Sister Josephine, you make it sound like my
last suffers. Now, no, child, you mustn't even think. Haven't
you heard the news to tell onlines are being repaired, the floodwater is running
off. They'll probably come for me tomorrow to lease eat your supper. He
thought it gets cold. There's something the chaplain reads is the last I heard
it once from a sir next night. I am the resurrection and the life,
save alone, and he that believes in me. So he were dead,
yet he shall live. And he that believeth in me shall never die.
If you don't mind, sir, the ordered are no visitors. Yes,
missus, yes, I'm leaving. Show me the past. I must
follow your lord, for I'm lost. Grab me peace and forgive my sins
and help you. Who is it to you? I must be you to
very I'm sorry, mister Kingham, but it's terribly important. I need your
help. The telephon's been fixed, Melling's already called. The Orange Police are
sending a lunch. Then it's all over us. I won't let them kill
her. I get her out of here somehow. Oh but that's impossible.
Have you help us? Look, if you could arrange for missus Pearce to
leave Ollie's room for for just a few minutes, I could do that,
and you mustn't. You'll be caught, you know you will, And I'll
do it without your help. You know nothing about it, but I do.
Oh. This makes it clear how wrong I've been. I've done nothing
but harm. Nothing but evil will come up. You've lost your courage,
sister. You know she's innocent. What about the letter, the attack on
Willie? They don't prove anything, not really. Oh excuse me, I
thought you were alone. I brought you more newspapers, sister, some of
them you haven't seen. Well, I've seen them. I've read them all
over and over again. It's no use, sister. You might as well
burn them. Indeed, I won't never burn a newspaper, araw away a
piece of strings. You must read them. You can't give up. Did
you know, for instance? Not so where was it? Oh? Yes,
here? Did you know that Jason Karnes was once arrested in London for
assaulting a man? He claimed in death, none at all. Did you
know that, mister Harmer, the chemist has two kearings? Mister? Please?
What difference does it make? When I found the testimony very interesting?
It's right here, sister. They asked mister Harmer, why do you keep
two separate keyrings? And mister Harmer said, in case one gets lost?
They're identical keys. I remember every word he said, identical keys and identical
order and identical keyring. There was more to it than that. Listen to
this, sister. Do you recognize all the keys, mister Harmer? Indeed
I do? Well, then name them the keys are as follows house,
car, garage, barn, shop, poison, cabinet storms. Wait a
minute, wait, there's something wrong here, something wrong. Look at this
newspaper. The councils for the dispense asked mister Harmer if he also name the
keys on the second ring? Yes, I know, Harmer said it was
ridiculous that the keys in each ring were identical. But the lawyer and sistered
didn't he And here's what mister, Harmer says house, car, garage,
bond, poison, cabinet, shop, storeroom. The Harvey is a meticulous
man, but don't you see in naming the keys. On the first ring
he said house, car, garage, barn, shop, poison, cabinet,
storerooms, and on the second he said shop after poison, cabin Right
now, what did I tell you? Never burn a newspaper? Sister,
Do to come with me, please, we've got to see mister Harmer.
I never make mistake. That's one of the two virtues I can boast of
in the all modesty, of course. But you've just read what the newspaper
says your own testimony, mister Harmon, I do argue that's is today.
I rely suggest that the mistake was not myass that's order newspaper reporter. Then
you're certain the order of seez was the same on the spring. Now that's
very easily confirmed. This is accusing. It's like carrying with me and over
here theself is the sense of duplicate blaming. Hi, I hope I'm not
serving anything, not at all. Doctor just is doctor has willy. Oh
he'll be all right, I think as on my offic see him. Now,
I just remembered I hadn't given my wife a stadys. Anything I can
do for you, mister Harmon, Oh no, no, doctor, just
a little mess of about my keyling. You know, here are my cool
keelings. They were both impounded by the court. I got them back.
I never thought to look I supposed to do so. Now each ring has
seventeen correct, and each key ith too like you hope. This is ridiculous,
ridiculous, that's what I mean me. You are right, they're not
in the proper orders at all. Someone took the key to the poison cabinet
and put it back on the ring as a wrong place. But who could
have done it? Who? Right? No, mister kicken By Finches prehapshot
off? Who well, sister Harmon? Will any of my professional clients,
for that matter, the doctors and visiting nurses of the district, they all
have the run of this distinct today. I'm sergeant meilling, mister Harmer,
you must tell them at once thought, how can I help you if you
keep resisting me? No, I've had my sedative. I don't want another.
This is only half a grain, darling. Then you'll be sure to
see what don't I don't want another. Mister Mary had not gone with mister
Kingham and mister Harmer in tourch of Sergeant Melling. She remained in the dispensary.
Now in her hand was a tiny box doctor Jeffries adopted in the waste
basket when he left the dispensary a few moments ago. The bus had contained
a powerful sedative. She did no more. It's sister marry missus Jeffrey,
you've got to get out of bed. You've got to keep moving. You'll
be all right if you keep awake. Jeffrey, you knew Jason Khan.
I'm not allowed to say. Oh, you must tell me you can save
an Ellison's life. Now, lean on me and just keep walking. Why
are you taking him a trying Sergeant Milling. You don't want Bowery kN to
die? Oh, Valerie, he loved Jason too. If only he loved
I wouldn't been here. You loved him. You wrote that letter because your
husband had found out. Yes, I loved him. He wanted me to
take me away from No, no, no, we mustn't stop leading,
Missus Jeffries. Try to stay awake. We must tell Sargent Selling. No,
no, I don't want to peace. Hold on me. You might
get out of here, and I think hard. Missus Jeffrey, don't let
yourself go. We were to meet in London. Take the boat from Southampton,
d walking. It's not much father Victoria station, the Luggy joffice.
There's a suitcase full of things he brought Edward. You kill Jason, You
kill him. Go back to your room. You killed him because I loved
him, You hated him, and you have to die. Isabelle, go
back to your room. I'll help her. You can go back by herself.
It doesn't matter, Nothing matters anymore. Oh why Doctor Jason Kahnes was
a hopeless, crippled doomed to die. No, No, he was going
to get well. Isabelle was going to go away with him, and I'd
only want him to do. We must tell Sergeant Melling the truth that you're
right. There's no way to escape. I'm tired. Are you going,
doctor? He's downstairs? No, I saw him just a moment ago.
He's gone up to the bell tower. Bell tower. He went up to
watch for the police launch. You don't have to come. You're a sick
man, doctor Jeffery. Have you just found it out I've known it for
a long time. My love for Isabelle is a sickness, an incurable one.
And you would have let Valorie die. Placed the two aspirins and the
files for diverse suspicion. For myself. It happened to fall on her.
As you can see, I stopped nothing to keep Isabelle. Why couldn't you
have left things alone, sister? Why did you have to interfere? West
Sargeant Nelly, let me go down, Let me go down there. You'll
never go down. No, it's quite quiet up here, just the wind.
You. No one can hear you. You if they'll know, no
one will ever know what they'll find out. You came up here to be
alone. You were severely reprimanded by Mother Superior. You will engrace discuss.
It was dark, you couldn't see the rail, you can You fell doctor
every card. Just think it's not just the law you have to answer too.
There's a higher sorrowy your mistake. Someday I know what I'm doing out
there in my punishment when the time comes, if I have to, I'm
sorry about you and Valerie. Why are you so afraid of that? Why
don't you pray? Maybe your hire a party. Will hear you? I
beg you have a rail. It was Willy who first heard the bell and
saved her. Willy whose room was near the tower, and who, in
spite of his wound, overpowered the unfortunate doctor l Evan. Mother bell to
the stone below. I had no thought to hurt him, only to help
system. Mary. God forgives you Willie. You have the gratitude of assult.
I be better by morning. I've been lighting the fires like always called
five o'clock system, Mary, who has another? I disobeyed you at Gens,
Yes, thank God you did. You've shown great engineerity encourage. I'm
sorry it made it so difficult for you. Thank you. I don't deserve
your praise. It's just a Joseph who really saved this count me. She
insisted on my reading the newspapers after I'd given up hope. Sure, I
only insisted because I happened to see Miss Kahn on a phrase pray to Almighty
God. No, I know, reaven Mother, we were chosen life in
Yes, I think you found the answer, sister, to'd be right.
Since a heavenly gift that's wasted unless its rapt and meet you egrape deo gratcha
deo gratch. In a moment, our stars will return. At ten minutes
after two, on the afternoon of August fifth, nineteen forty nine, the
country of Ecuador suffered one of the most disastrous earthquakes of the present century.
The death numbered from six to eight thousand, twenty thousand, no more were
injured, and one hundred thousand were made homeless. Fifty three towns were destroyed
or badly damaged. But from United States Army installations in Panama came immediate aid.
Military planes shuttle back and forth with emergency supplies, food, medicine,
clothing, and especially tents for the homeless. Besides material things, doctors,
nurses, and engineers volunteered from far and near to give their own hands in
the work of saving lives. The warm heartedness of these angels in uniform is
remembered in Ecuador as a bright light in its darkest hour. Such act as
these by you and your friends today are shaping our world of tomorrow and now,
mister Cummings, with our stars, and here they are coming forward for
a well deserved curtain call Godet, Colbert and Barbara Rush, how about your
show next week? Jerday next week we are a game post and having an
outstanding stream personality, an actress who has proved a self expert in both comedy
and drama, Lovely Ginger Rudd. And for next Monday Night, we thought
you might like to hear Miss Rogers starring in a delightful comedy role that of
a housewife suddenly possessed of all the money she needs because she discovers it grows
on trees. I'm sure you'll agree that the theme of this gay Universe international
picture will appeal to everyone. Well, it certainly will, mister Cummings,
good night, good night, good night, and hurry back. Heard in
our cast tonight, where Norma Varden as Mother Superior, Leo Breath as Doctor
Jeffries, Paul Priest as Willie, Mary Flynn as Isabelle, Her Butterfield as
mister Harmer, Atlerns Smith as that To, Josephine dan Or Hurla Here as
Sydney, Joseph Kerns as Melling, Jean Wood as Nurse, Philip loss Carbon
as Pierce, and Yvonne Petty as Sister Agatha. Hollywood Radio Sayers by the
Burning Coming Orchestra directed by Rudy Straker. This is Candle Carping inviting you to
be with us again next week for another worldwide presentation of the Hollywood Radio Sayer,
rought to use through the facilities of the United States Encourses Radio and Television
Service, Welcome Back. In interesting adaptation of a good and somewhat obscure film
which I bought and watched before recording this. I'd like to say that I
coined the term none More, but I found someone used it a year or
two before I even found this episode, so I can't claim credit for that.
Barbara Rush does a fantastic job here as Valerie, who's this really complex
character who goes through several stages in the course of the radio drama, from
bitter resignation to trying to be stoyak and noble, and then really just dealing
with the tragedy of what she's losing and coming to peace with her fate,
both in her scene with her boyfriend and when she was praying. It's a
very vulnerable performance that called for a lot, and Barbara Rush absolutely delivered.
She was every bit the equal of and blithe in the film version. When
it comes to Valerie. I do think that the mother Superior was wrong about
the effect that Sister Mary had on her. I don't think that Sister Mary
gave her false hope. Even if Valorie he had ultimately been executed, Sister
Mary trying to help had the effect of making Valerie really face what she was
going through. She didn't have peace about dying before she came to the convent.
In many ways, Sister Mary taking this seriously and taking Valerie seriously helped
her, ironically come to a place of acceptance. Sister Mary is a very
interesting heroine. Claudette Colbert is great as always, and she really brings this
character to all life. Who's a lot more than you might first imagine.
In many ways, she looks like the textbook amateur sleuth, driven by a
haunch or an instinct and an unquestioning belief that she's right. When I was
thinking about her, I thought she's Quincy in a habit. But this is
a story that asked is that really a good way to be? It was
obviously not just a case where she was very headstrong and believed in Valerie's innocence,
because the fact is that she was like that in so many other areas
of her life, in particular in the hospital ward and she'd really gotten to
a point of exasperating Nurse Phillips, who said something very cruel about her sister's
death. But you get the sense it was out of frustration of working with
someone who always thought she was right and would steamroll everyone else into compliance.
I also feel like sister Mary was driven by her sister's suicide. There's this
sense that Valerie's life is imperiled and if she can say Valerie, she can
somehow find peace with herself and with God. And she goes to a character
journey, and Sydney's own headstrong play for this wild escape really wakes her up
to the defects in her own character and how it might be doing harm to
others. And throughout the drama she goes through a whole emotional and spiritual journey,
and while the religious themes are not bashed over the head, they are
develop as it's a very important part of who she is and how she views
the world. And this is a noteworthy exception. It's true today, and
it was often true during the Golden Age of Hollywood that there would often be
really shallow portrayals of phase in the language people use to describe it. But
here they get it, which I think is very important to understand if you're
going to explore that aspect of a character. The concluding line from the Mother
Superior really stands out and I think summarizes the entire story. To be right
is a heavenly gift that's wasted unless it's wrapped in meekness and grace. It
reflects where Sister Mary has gone, and also the really interesting ideas of the
story. I think, particularly today, there are a lot of people who
think if you're right, you're right, and anything you say or do is
justified because you're right. But the reality of this story in his life is
you can be right but for the wrong reason. You can be right and
do the wrong thing. You can be right and run roughshod over everyone else
and create a lot of problems. And this is such a rich story with
really intriguing themes. The film version does have some differences, but I don't
think it really changes in terms of the message. It's about twice the links,
so they do cut a lot. For example, the film version has
the entire bit of travel of Sister Mary to get Sidney, and we actually
see Willie destroy the boat. The only part they cut that I kind of
wish they'd left in were a few of the other lines in the Mother Superior's
office. Then they kind of make random changes at the end, the reasons
for which I don't really understand. In the film version, Sidney actually came
to Sister Mary's rescue, not Willie, and doctor Jeffries actually lives and is
carted away by the police and request that they don't hold Missus Jeffries accountable for
any actions, as she was innocent of the whole thing. Also, the
inline is slightly different. The film version states that being right is wasted unless
it's wrapped in humility, and then on radio it's changed to meekness and grace.
I'm not certain the reason for that change is to my mind, they
essentially mean the same thing and have similar powers, but for some reason it
was changed when they adapted it for radio. Now a quick programming note.
If you want to hear of more Barbara Rush and even more discussion of her
career, be sure and tune into the Amazing World of Radio on Wednesday,
where we will be bringing you the first episode of our Batman Villains of Old
Time radio series. And I do now want to go ahead and thank our
Patreon support of the day. Thank you to Lori, Patreon supporter since April
twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast at the Shamus level of four dollars or
more per month. Thank you so much for your support, Lourie, and
that will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please
follow us using your favorite podcast software. We'll be back tomorrow with the adventures
of the fall can Wear. I got a little exterminating jet I want to
do. You're drunk, sure, I am, don't worry. I won't
miss I figure you get real close to him before I let him have it?
Who are you talking about? Freddy Laye a new champ? But soon
you want your mind? I don't think so way I see it. So
many guys hate Freddy. The cops will ever pen on me, especially if
you can get me a gun that can't be traced. You're crazy. You
think I'm kidding, don't you No? That's what scares me. Look,
Steve, why don't you bump here on the sofa and we will talk us
over tomorrow morning. Nah, I'm gonna get him tonight. I think you're
better sober up? You mean you won't get me a gun. That's exactly
what I mean. Let's swell pall. You turned out to be okay,
that's the way you feel. I got out of front. Hold it,
you're staying here. Who's gonna make me? No, Steve, you're leaving
yourself wide open for a crack there. There's no reason why you shouldn't get
it. I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime. Send your
comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio
Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great
Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.