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 right Detectors dot net, Follow us on Twitter at
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com Slash Radio Detectives. Today's episode is brought to you by the financial support
of our listeners. Thanks so much for your support. You can support the
show at support dot Great Detectives dot net. I'm actually recording this program the
day it was supposed to air. Somehow or another, we had a bit
of a mix up where the mister Moto recording didn't get recorded, and yesterday
people heard Johnny Dowler apologize for that mix up, and I'm doing what I
can to rectify it. So fortunately I did not have the commentary originally recorded,
so I'm Marie recording that commentary for mister Moto. Today's episode is called
Smokescreen, and there was one lost episode in between. So let's go ahead
and we'll take a lesson. This is mister Moto. Mister I A.
NBC presents the world's greatest international secret agent, Mister I A. Moto,
the popular Japanese character created by a Kulater Prize winner John P. Marquan.
With a straightforwardness of his American heritage and with the subtlety of his Oriental ancestors.
Mister Motto is fighting the war against communism ruthlessly and bravely. His only
weapons are his brains, his courage, and his fabulous knowledge of the world,
from Norn to Cape Horn, from Cape Town to Mrmantz. Tonight's story
The Smoke Screen starring Mister Motol Mister I A. Moto, the boy unbelievably
young, writhed on the floor of my New York apartment. His legs convulsed
in the rope which tied them together, his thin adolescent wrists strained hopelessly at
the handcuffs. It is impossible not to feel sympathy for a human being possessed
by such a devil. He had bitten his forefinger almost through. He screamed
about a white, crippled cat that clawed at him. There were hollows of
anguish under his eyes, his skin grittened, bloodless, and his ropes wretched
with supper. Mister Morrow, please please tell me the truth sush not me.
A canon I will, please, mister Morrow, mont me some of
God's messy. I can stand it much longer than Usosh, and I have
plenty of time going crazy, crazy dash. They are out a hundred tons
of opium somewhere on Manhattan Island, you know where. Now tell me if
I can't, don't kill me, they won't be will the devils? Please
mister Morrow. I'm an addict, and I'll give it to me. You
can break that habit, slush. I'll help you. You can be strong
again. Because you are young. I can't kick it. I tell you,
I'm hooked. I'm not young, I'm old. Assignment smoke screen began
in several cities of a world at once, and at first I was the
only one in America who knew of its beginning. My information came to a
friend from Okiu, a Count Takahashi, a man of immense wealth, who
flew from Japan to New York to have one hour's conversation with me. Immediately
after my talk, I called on Captain Beresford on an arcotic bureau in his
New York office. Captain Beresford, he's a quiet, cultured man who seldom
swears, seldom raises his voice. My story shocked him into a hard faced,
stunned silence. Mister Moto, I can't believe it. I am afraid,
Captain beresfaid that it is quite quite true. Tell me about this,
Count Taka Whatever you said, Count Takahashi, an old Japanese family my house
once served his house with honor and self sacrifice. He feels he owes me
a debt. Do you mean to say he flew all away from Japan just
to talk to you for an hour? He did? You See, he
knows what opium has done to the aurience, and you're sure his information is
accurate as I am that the sun will rise in the morning. He is
an ex addict himself. See, he knows how dangerous a weapon it can
be. For seven hundred years, this drug has debilitated, weakened, ruined.
While we may think it is impossible here, the fact remains that at
one time in history, twenty five percent of the population of the audience either
smoked opium or addicted to its more fine derivatives. But surely in the United
States work I wonder if we are we are an erratic, excitable people.
Opium has an enchantment that is difficult to resist. That is why it is
so terribly dangerous. Yes, I know, Count Takahashi has reason to believe
that four months ago a shipment of fifty tons of raw opium or dumped on
the market in Hong Kong. From there it went to Tokyo. In Tokyo,
it disappeared, how it vanished, as completely as if it had been
swept into the sea. Five days ago, an additional two hundred tons did
the same thing, vanished, disappeared from sight as completely as a tea bug
in the heart of a puppy. Four hundred tons of opium, Captain Darrisforth
would supply the entire medical needs of a world for two years, the whole
world for two years. But frankly, I just can't believe the four hundred
tons of anything could get into this country without the customs department getting wind of
it. Somewhere the drug will smuggled to America aboard a submarine owned by the
Chinese Communist Navy. It was taken a short night on Stuart Island, the
San Juan Island in the state of Washington. From there it came across the
continent in trux as a shipment of can salmon, and your friend believes it
has international implication. Count Takahashi assures me it is another tentacle of a communist
octopus. Spread the door puppet, devour the blood of America's young men and
women, lower the birthrate. You know, of course, that prolonged drug
addiction frequently results in sterility. Certainly, I know, Motho. We've got
to work fast, exactly, Captain Dresford, I have asked that this be
made my personal assignment. Two weeks later, the resolution condemning the Chinese Communists
for pubmitting an international profited book Him was adopted by the United Nation. The
next month, the Kiffa Committee was informed that large quantity of the DUG would
be routed through Japan to America. Captain Beresford was getting alarmed, Moto,
I'm getting stepped on from higher up in what way? There were twenty six
rejections yesterday from one one Army recruiting center. The draftees claimed exemption on the
grounds of dope addiction. There's been forty three cases in the last week of
teachers discovering addiction and children as young as ten ten snet sickly man's in humanity
to his brothers. A lot of people are getting excited. I've been given
two weeks to break this case. We've got to work through the children.
I have exhausted every possible alternative. Yet for me, the children are difficult.
What remain for the Japanese bachelor To make friends with teen agers is more
difficult than it sounds. Boys as well as girls, are suspicious of older
men who attempt casual conversation, very such. But I've had an idea.
Jeffrey Allington, who say? I read in the paper yesterday that he had
recently been appointed chairman of the board of trustees of Halsey College. You know
him. I knew him casually in the audience. We were never close friends,
but I would have no hesitation in California. What for he might invite
me to the school to lecture on Japanese culture. That doesn't sound too hopeful,
But we're at the end of our rope. What's he like? I
should say he is one of the most charming men I have ever met.
He was born in the Audient. His father, an Englishman, left him
fostate holdings in the South Pacific, which he sold to the British government for
something over two million pounds study. He lives in New York, Yes,
in a vast house on Fifth Avenue. He's a little aged now and he
his time to philosophy and his money to charity. He ended his leg as
a boy. He has difficulty working, and as a result he's intensely interested
in young people and youth work. Wants to see them get every opportunity for
self development. With that attitude and two million pounds, he might be very
useful. I shall telephone him immediately and invite myself to luncheon. Yes,
but motto, I don't quite understand why or suddenly so interested in meeting young
people, Jeffrey May, I'd be very rude and not tell you, oh
your work, I see. Well, as a matter of fact, you've
chosen a good time in what way? Oh, do you mind if we
have allkers at the table instead of in the drawing room? My legs acting
up a bitch today at all? Did I mention I have just recently been
elected chairman of the board of trustees for Halsey Coror. Yes, I read
about it. Time beginning to center my ambitions in the coming generation. I'd
like them not to lose faith in their elders. I would like them not
to lose faith in themselves. Then you may count on my complete cooperation.
The reason I say you've chosen a good time is that tomorrow night I'm giving
a sort of graduation party for Halsey students. Be about two hundred of them.
Would you like to come? You can meet every single one of them
if you want to. I should like that very much. Fine for faith,
supper and dancing. Come anytime you like. After nine o'clock the next
night, the huge house blazed with light. Two hundred young people were dancing
and dreading champagne. In a way. They were representative of the young of
our country, please decent, honest. Watching them well around the big ballroom,
I felt proud, yet sadly nostalgic. These are troubled times for the
young. They live in the threat of war. The drafs tangs over their
career than their manches. Tonight there is a desperate quality to their merriment,
And though they were snatching one last hour of dancing before settling their bill with
a piper yourself, how are we not, both at the age everywhere enjoyment
to be really favored should be taken in small doses. Yes, I suppose
we are personally. I wonder where they get the vitality that boy there is
getting us from a sauce other than the young ladies laughing eyes of what the
one dancing with the girl in the white captain, the big blondo. Have
you noticed his eyes? Oh? What do you mean? The pin point
bring in pupils. I was introduced to him. When I shook hands with
him, I was shocked, shocked. Oh boy, the skin temperature is
at least a hundred and two se loto, what are you getting? I
am suggesting that the young man is a more fematic. Yes, a rather
recent addiction for you. Your joke on the contrary, Jeffrey, I'm deadly
serious, don't. Addiction in adolescence is all I think about these days.
I'm working on it constantly. Would you care to tell me about it?
Certainly if you are interested, But come along up to my day. It's
upstairs, away from the rest of the house, and the party will run
quite smoothly without then, by all means, you lead the way through that
door. I had a small elevator in stalled from the garage to the ball
floor after you go ahead. The elevator is automatic. Thank you. H
how wonderful to be able to afford private elevators. And my leg bothers me
quite a bit stals difficult for me, motto, are you sure about this
dope buitness business? Right? Shan? This is my own private hideaway.
In here, I can be quite cut off from the rest of the house.
Sit down, make yourself comfortable. Thank you. Would you like a
drink? Yes? Thanks? Good good. I have some very special rye
whiskey Hanfield Royal art. I believe it sells in the shamboard for twenty five
dollars a pony, really, and you'all wasting it on me, not at
all. I only serve it to my very special friends there you are.
Thank you? What superbooky you'll forgive me if I don't join you? My
doctor forbidsess certainly, now tell me about this dreadful business. Oh excuse me?
What of this? Phone neverings unless it's something important? Hello? Oh
yes, Senator, I'm afraid I can't tell you yet, but I can
let you know by tomorrow noon. But yes, of course I'll call you
tomorrow then. Oh, not at all, good night, forgive the interruption.
Now you were saying, I have been working without success for some time
now on the problem of dope prediction among teenages. I have readen to believe
that, Jeffrey, how'd it suddenly gotten very warm? Here? Oh go?
What what is it? Are? You will help me up? Quickly?
What's the metal motor? I don't know? Don't joo moto? I
do rapop? Get over here quickly. I found the thought of our interference.
Use the garage entrance in the elevator and hurry, will you? M
oh? What a pity that Japanese haven't learned to mind their business. Well,
it's about time I got here as soon as I could. Mister Rington,
who's that? His name is a motto? And don't underestimate him tripping
a bout? Ask? Can you do it tonight? Sure? And get
him out of here? Anybody see you'll come in. I drove into the
garage took the other day. They'll pick him up and get him out of
here. What did you give him? The usual? You'll be unconscious for
at least three hours? Good? Okay, he's small, isn't he?
Saw rattlesnakes? You come in? Yesk ahead, all right, don't worry,
mister Rington. Everything's okay. Anything to report, Yes, in the
car. I don't want peddlers who are addicts themselves. It's dangerous. Sage's
okay. Take him to the house on Long Island tomorrow. No, we've
drawl. He'll kick at cold turkey. No, doctor Hollison cut him off
cold. That's an order, all right, mister righton anything else? Yeah,
Nick got folly new pedlan in the last week. Get young ones,
really young, fourteen thirteen. The younger the better, Okay, Will I
put our friend in the back sheet? Yeah, he'll be out for three
hours and those are hi. He's just hitched up the monkey. He's floating.
I mean a trip off. He kicks it tomorrow. Okay, boys,
Now what about the chink? Oh? Listen, boys, Now I
react to that kind of word. It's bigger than discusting. He is not
Chinese. He's actually an American of Japanese decay. I didn't mean anything.
What are you? What are you so touchy on that stuff? Someday I'll
tell you. All right, take mister motor up in the boat, shoot
him and dump an overboard as far off short as you can get and still
be back by do and take Zosh out to the Long Island house and report
back here to me. All right, boys, and trip off yas this
dragon. Tell the good doctor Holliston that I'm quite aware of the process involved
in developing morphine from opium. Tell him I expect him to do much better.
I want five thousand decks a day out of that lab and I go
now, yes, and I'm sorry I struck you. Some day I'll explain
why I feel so strongly about well, good night, trip off. I
think meat here? Does he think he's pushing around all I get overs?
I should stay awake. Hi, boy, I tell you they cat swinging
higher than I. I don't way with anybody. This is Fifth Avenue,
gentlemen, I am quite capable of shooting you both. And don't turn around,
mister Trepoff. Just drive my apartment if you please left down seventy seconds
and didn't you don't do as I tell you, I will blow your head
off. Keep quite still, top off, I'm warning you. Come in
cappen I got here, sim as, Hey, what's first? This is
a man named Trepof. He was commissioned by Jeffrey Arrington to kill me.
Arrington incredible, isn't it. Arrington tried to rub me with claul hidbrak and
whiskey. He made a slight error, which I will explain later. I
wish to have been taken out of the boat. I overheard enough information to
send Harrington and he's going to jail for twenty years. Take this man and
book him for felonious assault, attempted murder. Whatever you like. All right,
what's the matter with the boy hire Copper having fun? That is Rush?
He's ragging morphine a million miles away. Okay, now, come on
you you can make a steak Capper. Never leave me your handcuffs? Will
your captain? What are you going to do? Perform an experiment, Say
thank you and come back here as soon as you can. And then began
the heart breaking vigil. The boy dozed down the floor alone in a world
of bunting chances. I tied his feet together, restrained the thin wrists with
Bresfa tancuffs. By the time the captain got back, Dash was conscious normally
the fight and belittle thing. I've got a spell anything. You guys are
nuts. We've got lots of times. By five in the morning, he
was white face stand pleading. Listen what I've got two decks with me,
so three of us can jump together. Come on, Captain, there's an
eagle in a box in my pocket. Please no, sash no. By
seven he was crying. Why. Ten he was screaming. I knew he
was suffering. Unbelievable. The packing attics cooff rapped at his fai lungs.
A thousand devils start at every whit blashed quickly, nuf, I'm dying.
I tell him, I'm dying, Die and dying. At one in the
afternoon, he talked names, and this is everything. Captain Barrison took it
down, and then, because we were afraid complete withdrawal might kill him,
we called the doctor. The doctor gave him two grains in his right arm,
as always the results of Polly. As the morphine hit, his eyes
became doing bright, the glow of health returned to his cheeks. He went
quite happily with the doctor to Bellevue. I wish every kid in America could
have seen that. They knew what it could do. They's so rotten.
Yes, well, take twenty men to the Long Island House. You will
catch doctor Holliston doing at them. Thuty send another detail to bathe the warehouse
in the box. Right. Oh, and what about Errington? Mister Errington
I shall deal with personally in the fift Avenoe house. Yes, he really
moves quite slowly. He injured his hip as a boy. I shall step
out of the elevator with a gun in one hand and this in the other.
What is it at night? In Japan? It is the national form
of honorable suicide. Literally translated, it means bellicutt. You know it better,
perhaps as a chilly but I'm a cripple. I I sign it.
No, I take that knife away from my eyelid. Pennington, There is
no time for discussion. I have a right to a trial and a free
democratic trial. You have no right at all. This morning I watched a
voice of aragonists. But what is the use of telling you? You know?
In five seconds I shall go to work with this knife. I believe
me you will not enjoy it. Listen too, go in saying your free
alright, alright I will, I will if I haven't say, picked that
night away from my eyelids. Frank it. Thank you. And now before
I take you to Captain Barriss at one question, why what is behind this
monstrous in your manage. You have no idea sort of that's the logical insanity.
None. Hi, I'm a your age. You know what. Yes,
I'm surprised you didn't guess. I really look very white, don't.
I gifted? Educated? But I committed an unpardonable sin. My mother was
a singerly is peasant. I knew it. I knew there must be something
quite Daisiatics forbid my cleaning toilets. They also forbid me the answered their clubs
or their homes. Neither white nor yellow black. I'm not a European,
I'm not an Asiatic. What I might tell me it is so useless to
beat it useless. It's health for nothing, the wandering, hopeless, marginal
man. Outside of a barefoot, savage peasant girl, there isn't one woman
in Asia who would marry me. I marry a white woman here and take
it a Singapore. What do I let her in for? Insults? Heartbreak,
misery. I want to live in the East. Singapore is the only
civilized city in the world. But I can't. I can't. I can't
join the spinky bullswork club. But angine democracy, democracy, I spill at
it. I hate it. I hate the world, don't you see?
It is this? Do you know how I was crippled a gang of males
beat my hip to a pump in a Singapore street fight? Eight moto,
You don't know them meaning of the world? And if grain of morphine in
the veins of an American boy means one less enemy for Communism and I don't
care who the boy is. You must I don't not even thus is my
son? Well, no, you can know, you know, you can
take me down to your busby's station and introduce me to justice. Do you
know why she's pictured with a bandage over her eyes because of justice? Could
see she'd throw up. Mister Motow, we've died twenty six indictments and charging
conspiracy to one port opium. We've got every single one them angry cover the
opium, over five hundred tons of it. Good, then the smoke screen
has lifted. I have one of my own. But surely everything is quite
quite clear that whiskey Arrington gave you the night of the party. Why didn't
you drink it? He had to be dramatic. He told me it was
Hanfield Royal arc special rye. It so happens, it is distilled in England.
During the war, the warehouse was bombed. All but five cases of
Hanfield Royal arc were destroyed. They never manufactured that particular blend again. But
Arrington is wealthy. Wasn't it impossible? No, no, no. Of
the five remaining cases, Sir Graham Hanfield gave three to King Farouk of Egypt
as a wedding gift on the occasion of his first match. Don't tell me
that the other two were yes, in return for a trifling service some years
ago, Sir Graham gave them to me. You're incredible. Don't you ever
make a mistake? Sometimes sometimes I winced and lash out in sight when people
call me a dirty chap. I was born in San Francisco. I am
as American as you are. But surely these people are well, that is
true. They are ignorant to now, and their number is decreasing. Yes,
I think we're growing up slowly, maybe, but growing I hope it
is not too slowly. I hope we achieve maturity before it is too late.
That is one way everybody can fight communism, simply by growing up and
out of prejudice. It is a battle in which every one of us can
be a soja. You have just heard the world's greatest international secret agent,
mister I A Moto in Smoke Screen. James Monk starred as mister Moto.
The script was written and directed by Harry W. Junkin, produced by Carol
Irwin. Others in the cast were Ross Martin, Bob Haig, Bernard Grant,
and Edwin Bruce. The music was transcribed This is Fred Collins speaking,
and here were the preview of next week's story. Is mister I a mortal
point? Fine Chua has written A man who lives a falsehood must each day
die a little. Next week the story of Truth Twisty, A journey into
horror made by a gracious woman and the desperate sun, both caught in a
sickening wed of Blackney. And now may sleep fall upon your eyes as softly
as puppy petals on a plastic pool. May your sould be blessed with repose
your dreams with enchantment. Welcome Back. Definitely a very dramatic episode and it's
touched on a lot of hot Biden topics. It's pretty rare, I think
for a Golden Age drama to you know. In the same half hour program,
to touch on drug the drug trade, communism, racial prejudice, a
pretty strong style for nineteen fifty one. Mister Motto perhaps already emerging as one
of radio's most ruthless and terrogators, which isn't far out of line from some
of the nineteen fifties or the Mister Moto movies when you think about it,
right, Well, that'll do it for today. Join us tomorrow for Sherlock
Holmes, and hopefully we'll be back on track next Tuesday, another episode of
Mister Moto. In the meantime, send your comments to Box thirteen at Great
Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter, Radio Detectives, and become one
of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com. Slash Radio Detectives from Boise,
Idaho. This is your host, Adam graham Son and Off