Speaker 1: Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from
Voice 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 the podcast, please follow us
using your favorite podcast software. Well, it is time for
our four thousand, five hundred episode special, and after last
week's special featuring an episode of Escape, I decided to
be good to play an episode of Escape that's a
little closer to the type of stories we usually do.
And I found this episode, which was written by Tony Barrett,
who appeared in so many Great detective programs in supporting
roles and as various thugs, a policeman, and of course
his biggest ongoing role as Cabby Mark Donovan on the
Adventures of Frank Race and we've already heard some of
his writing on Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. So I decided
to give this episode a try, and it's a little
bit different than what we normally played, but I think
it's still worth a listen. This is actually the second
to last episode of Escape, the original air date September
the eighteenth, nineteen fifty four, and the time is the Target.
Speaker 2: Tired of the everyday grind, ever dream of a life
of romantic adventure, want to get away from it all?
Speaker 3: We offer you Escape.
Speaker 4: Escape, designed to free you from the four walls of
today for a half hour of high adventure.
Speaker 2: You stare down from the heights of your plane and
your brain keeps whispering. It's massive, Werda, That's all. It is,
justin island, three hundred miles.
Speaker 3: Off the coast of Chile.
Speaker 2: But both you and the beautiful girl you know it's
more than that. It's the last stop, the last time around,
a death trap from which there is no escape.
Speaker 4: Listen now as Escape brings you Tony Barrett's story, the.
Speaker 3: Target, the dream. Senor, you see a queen, another one
of your talents you can make like a way I
went necessary in Chili, Senor, remind us many things to
believe the way. It was busy, so I got the drinks.
It's not a reason for it, all right, Peppy, all right,
I forget it. You are angry. Let's not play games.
He's an hour late. Now, where is he? Perees he
will be here. I watch with great care.
Speaker 5: He has not come in yet.
Speaker 3: Trust me, Senor, I've got much choice, have I as
being late? Is that part of the built up part
of the sale you demand promptly seen informer Senor? You
ought to be used to it by now. You'll never
get used to it because you want something, an assurance.
At this time you're buying the right thing, the magic word.
And you're whereabout Savarta mats.
Speaker 6: And and your fall for it every time and move
on to where the whispered words said to go corakas Leima,
coachabamba and now Taltan, Taltan, sit in one more crummy
little bar, wait for one more sly little man with
a word for sale?
Speaker 3: How long you search for him? This Arthur Matson a year?
You're watching that door. You're sure Perez hasn't come in.
I'm sure you know him. I know Perrys, Senor. Why
don't you relax yourself, son? Think think of something of
more pleasantness, like what like the lady of great beauty
in the next booth from your country? Is she not, Senor? Yeah?
Way off face? Okay? Joint like this you must be
out of her mind that's fine. All we need now
is a beef, because see what's all about Berry? See
I'll be right back, Senor. Senor Kennedy call here quickly,
teddie what is it? Luke? Senor? There on the floor?
Is he dead? Senor? What do you think that Knight's
gottam pinned to the floor. I I'm sorry for your sake, Senor?
What are you talking about? The dead one? He's the
one you are waiting for? Yes, paris another blank? Another
dead end?
Speaker 7: What is it?
Speaker 3: What happened forget it?
Speaker 7: I've got to see it.
Speaker 3: You wouldn't want to it used to be a man
named Perez.
Speaker 7: Listen, get me out of here now, please, I can't
be found here.
Speaker 3: Relax, it's a killing. I want a drink.
Speaker 7: I've got to get out.
Speaker 3: Please, happy waiting here for me? Come on, lady, stay
close to me. There's a cab.
Speaker 7: Aren't you coming?
Speaker 3: No? Now, you'll be all right. Cops will be here
in a few minutes. A lot of questions they'll want answers.
Speaker 7: Tell the driver quavers Hotel.
Speaker 3: Got a data and a la Senorita our hotel, Quavas.
I'm at the Oh yeah, call me in an hour.
Speaker 7: Would I ask for Kennedy, the Kennedy my turn, if if.
Speaker 3: You'll call and you know, h h she was? She
was lovely, Senor. Yeah, and what will you say if
the police asked about her, if she didn't like blood bueno?
Come on, Pepper, you know what the deal would be.
The cops will come, they'll see the last questions and
it'll end. And drinks for everyone, because life here is cheap. No,
I didn't make it anyway. Man, buy a drink, we'll
drink the Perez. It was an informer, Senor. You always
drink to a dead man, even if you wouldn't give
him the time of day while he was alive. If
you say so, Senor, I say you you are an
unhappy man. Signor. I'm sorry for that. Yeah, I'm an
unhappy man. Once in your room, you will sleep, Senor.
I told you I want to talk.
Speaker 7: Comments, not just Senor.
Speaker 3: Can't do any messages for me? You sure no phone calls?
Speaker 7: No, Senor, I am sorry.
Speaker 3: Give me miss Eve Coleman at the Hotel Clayless.
Speaker 7: Of course, you take it in your room.
Speaker 3: See, I'll take it here, Senor. You sure you don't
want to take around tabby hold.
Speaker 8: Senor, Kennedy, you said, Senorita E.
Speaker 9: Coleman.
Speaker 3: That's what I said, Yes, Kah.
Speaker 7: I I am sorry, Senor, but there is no one
registered there about that name, Senor.
Speaker 3: All right, all right, forget it, the lovely one who
did not like blood. Yeah, this ain't my day, Senor.
Why do I told you I didn't want to sleep
or want to talk?
Speaker 5: Well, well, well do come in there? Why do sprive?
Speaker 3: Yeah? I was under the impression this was my room.
Speaker 10: That's not much of a greeting for a man that's
come all the way from Hartford just to see you.
Speaker 5: You're getting all your man is Kennedy.
Speaker 3: This is Peppy Galvan, mister Brian Peppy chief claims man
of the company that puts clothes on my back. Be
nice to him. He's a big man. I think I
better a social call O'Brien, come two thousand miles just
to see me. You're spending company money?
Speaker 5: Are we plenty of it? Dear boy?
Speaker 10: Even after pouring your expenses down the drain considerable expenses eindsight.
Speaker 3: You can take me off at any time you like.
You got a better man, put him on.
Speaker 5: It now, dear boy.
Speaker 10: Temper temper tempa wouldn't be fair to you with a
Kennedy and brought Arthur Manson was in your custody when
he escaped with his banks hundred thousand. You come all
this way, just tell me that they have a no
idea back I'm Kennedy, But perhaps you're not trying too
hard to find Arthur Madson that from your point of view,
it might be just the thing you don't want to do.
Speaker 5: I make myself clear.
Speaker 3: You don't have to fire me, O Brian, I quit
right now.
Speaker 5: I don't be an idiot. Kennedy. You could tell them
they were right. You never get another insurance job as
long as you live. You know, Santiago Kennedy.
Speaker 3: But it's still run. I can get their why.
Speaker 5: But they didn't come down here just to fight with you.
You got one last chance. I listen to me.
Speaker 10: Massafuera is an island three hundred miles off San Diago.
Speaker 3: I know where it is.
Speaker 10: A return on an office wanted describes an American living there.
Speaker 5: The description fits Arthur Madson.
Speaker 3: I heard you. I'll take a look, do.
Speaker 10: Dear boy do, and I'll tell them back in Hart
that you still try it.
Speaker 5: By dear boy bye.
Speaker 3: You really know Santiago, Senor, you still got a job.
Get down the docks. Get passage for both of us
for tomorrow. She Senor, he's a three day trip, you know,
on a fruit boat. I'd have to make this one
if it was a row boat. Picked me up in
the morning. The cabin is not so bad, Signor, you
wish to, I'll go out on deck for a while.
You went back, Senor, I do that.
Speaker 7: I never even said thanks, did I? Vic Dick, you're angry, No,
you're angry. You helped the girl who never said things.
Speaker 3: I never called? Why was there too much trouble?
Speaker 7: Cool?
Speaker 3: Sweet pigeon victory see Signor, this is the hotel wave
of us. No Signor is no lady here by name
of you've coleman? Sorry? Why a joke? A whim? Why not?
I want an answer?
Speaker 7: It's too long a story, big.
Speaker 3: Sweet bag. I got the time, we got the time.
Speaker 7: You're wasting it. You waste m You talk too much?
Speaker 11: You know that?
Speaker 3: Yeah, that heaven. Let's go sit down. I'll set up
these deck chairs. Ye are mm hmm.
Speaker 12: Happy?
Speaker 3: What do you think.
Speaker 7: Deck chair should always touch closer?
Speaker 3: Dying better?
Speaker 7: You know, some days somebody's gonna get smart and make
a deck chair for two. You're quiet.
Speaker 3: It's the setup to sit with a girl like you,
to look out at places with names like Antofagasta. All
dare we could get to like it? Yes, Eve, Eve,
the way you ran out on me and tell Tan
now you're here questions.
Speaker 7: I can see them coming to get dressed. I'll see
it dinner, darling. You'll be pleased.
Speaker 3: Senor says, you look like a man who is in love,
but he's not happy about it. Something wrong, Senor, old habit,
occupational hazard. You always add two and two, don't come
up for it's bad if it comes forth too easy,
bad again? She said, you wants you to get a
radiogram off for me to Hartford, Connecticut, to an insurance company.
Speaker 7: What is it then?
Speaker 3: Nothing?
Speaker 7: Nothing, the man says, just like that, and his eyes
narrow and his lips tightened, and he wondered how to begin.
And when I ask him, what does he say? Nothing?
That's what he says, And he fingers a sheet of
paper in his pocket, hopes I don't notice it.
Speaker 3: Very pretty, you're good with words. I got a present
for you, a no set of words. And they heard
it because they tell me something that there is no
Eve Coleman, only a girl that calls herself that a
girl who's.
Speaker 7: Who's really missus Arthur Madson. That's who I am, Missus
Arthur Madison. And he complaints and Vick m h.
Speaker 5: Hi.
Speaker 4: Vic, you are listening to the Target tonight's presentation of
Escape Junion Monday Night and meet Carlos Archer here on
CBS Radio. Remember on most of these stations every Monday Night.
Come on and meet Carlos Archer. Now back to Escape
and the second act of the Target.
Speaker 3: What is it?
Speaker 7: It's Laura in me?
Speaker 3: And you know the way in.
Speaker 7: They asked me if you were s sick when you
didn't show for dinner.
Speaker 3: I'm sick, I missed you.
Speaker 7: Did it hurt to stay away from you? Tell me
how much it hurt?
Speaker 3: Get out of here?
Speaker 7: Is it? The name?
Speaker 3: Is that?
Speaker 7: What bothers you? Why don't you try it? Darling? It's easy,
Laura Matson nice?
Speaker 3: What is it with you? What kind of dame are you?
Speaker 7: You ask that you look at what a child who
reached for the moon and socks because he found it
a different color. You can't afford to sulk?
Speaker 11: Vic?
Speaker 7: Not you what The last time I saw my husband
was an hour after his escape from you. How does
a little man like Arthur Matson get away from a
man your size?
Speaker 13: Vic?
Speaker 3: How he buys that you're out of your mind?
Speaker 7: You want the price five thousand dollars. Arthur told me.
Hurting me won't change it, Darling doesn't change anything.
Speaker 3: What I say.
Speaker 7: I don't care. Don't you understand that, not about any
of it. I love you, I say it. I want
to hear you say it.
Speaker 8: Yah, I love you, Ah, Senor?
Speaker 3: To find out anything? Catch my my brain, peppy where
I tried her cabin, everyplace? Every peasy?
Speaker 5: Is he?
Speaker 3: Senor? I just found out from one of the sea
men he saw he leave there the moment with dark
she was the first one off. What but she couldn't do? You?
Sure is what he say? It must be so, Senor,
she's nowhere to be found. I'm sorry, Senor. Yeah. He
would take the stuff to the hotel. I got things
to do here the San Diego police most of the day.
Which hotel, Senor is the best? Uh? Cassa, San Diego,
right on the beach is nice for swimming. That's it?
Then last time around as well, go first class must
have been a long visit with the police. Is after eight, Signora,
I've seen the chief yet he's at the other end
of the city all day. Be here in any minute.
Did I see you in the morning? You like the room,
the radio? Yeah, see, Senor Kennedy, that's right you, Captain Delgada.
Speaker 13: Very late Delgada with much apology. Oh what come on
in for taking so long to return your course?
Speaker 3: I forget it.
Speaker 13: You didn't know I was coming, but of course I did, Senor.
Your Senor O'Brien said, so, Sam, drink nice idea very nice.
Speaker 3: Brian phoned you.
Speaker 13: See I think we talked for maybe twenty minutes, a
long time.
Speaker 3: Yeah, O'Brien can talk. Did you drink?
Speaker 5: Yes? Akara lokerisk.
Speaker 13: My Spanish is not good translation to each what he deserves?
How you call philosophical?
Speaker 3: No? Yeah, well I'm sure O'Brien told you the whole
setup and see everything.
Speaker 13: What do you think it is possible this author Madson
is on Massafuera. If so, he won't be hard to
find a wild island, Senor, beautiful, but no different than
it was thousands.
Speaker 3: Of years ago.
Speaker 13: See, they will know if an American lives on that island. Hey,
don't you know, oh Brian amigo. He asks me the
same question, and I try to explain to.
Speaker 3: Him, explain, explain what elgara.
Speaker 13: The simple fact that Massafuera is just an island and
that I have no you call jurisdiction there from friendly.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I'm saying, And then we have no problems.
Speaker 13: Then, well, the day has been long, and the bed
will be as a friend. If there is anything I
can do for you here in Santiago, you will give
me that pleasure.
Speaker 3: You've done it already, Senor.
Speaker 13: And then I say good night to you, Senor, and
good hunting. I hope you find this Arthur medicine before
she does. She the young lady, the lovely young lady
who asks my lieutenant about Madson only this afternoon.
Speaker 3: Where that's not you?
Speaker 7: Open your eyes Vic.
Speaker 5: For me.
Speaker 3: Allah allah.
Speaker 7: A man a alone on the beach at night is
trying to wash something out of his mind. Laura, no questions.
Nowhere have you been?
Speaker 3: I know where you've been, doesn't matter, say Vic.
Speaker 7: I want to hear it.
Speaker 3: I love you Laura again.
Speaker 7: I love you, Oh, sweet big.
Speaker 5: Laura.
Speaker 3: Is it worried? Vic, Matson. What are we going to
do about him? Kill him? Why? Laura?
Speaker 7: Why You've always known you'd have to do it too?
A bribe, Darling. Remember I don't want my vict prison.
I want him with me, close to me.
Speaker 3: Kill him, darling, Laura.
Speaker 7: All that money a little nothing like him sitting on
an island with all that money, our money. You hear me, Darling,
you understand our money.
Speaker 3: Laura.
Speaker 7: There's a plane in the morning. They must have wear it.
We'll be on him together.
Speaker 3: He'll be honored like man hunting Laura.
Speaker 7: Not eight hours of it.
Speaker 3: Oh god, I didn't tell me it was all uphill, Nick,
What is it?
Speaker 7: Clearing?
Speaker 3: Just a hit?
Speaker 7: I think it's the top.
Speaker 11: Come on, look in time for dinner, mister Kennedy. I
waited almost a year for you. You're looking well, La
tire not well?
Speaker 7: Hello, Arthur.
Speaker 11: You want to freshen up my dear Arthur. While you do,
I'll entertain mister Kennedy, show him what my island has
to recommend it. Freshen up, Laura.
Speaker 3: Madison. Now let me play host.
Speaker 14: I'm out of practice, but let me try.
Speaker 11: You drink, Laura yours Kennedy lost his mind? Is that
what you're thinking, Kennedy, that Arthur Madson lost his mind.
A man who shows you a shabby little house he
loves and the stone terrace built himself and makes you
a drink. As civilized people do, values change, Kennedy. This
is all I care about now, this terrace, the view
from it, even the rocks one hundred feet below. A
great lesson, Kennedy. From here, everyone's a little man.
Speaker 7: I'm glad you're a happy little man.
Speaker 3: How am I going to die?
Speaker 11: Kennedy?
Speaker 12: Will you use a knife? A gun?
Speaker 3: How that's the matter with you?
Speaker 11: I don't mind, not really. I've had a year away
from her, a whole year. You'll pray for your island.
Speaker 3: It'll take too long, You're crazy.
Speaker 11: Laura is doing better with you, Kennedy. You're going to
kill for her. I only stole for you.
Speaker 3: Stole for yourself.
Speaker 12: Mates, That's what she fed you. Oh, poor Kennedy. You
told him I had the money, Laura lovely.
Speaker 7: Love killing vic. Now what are you waiting for?
Speaker 3: Who's got it? Madson?
Speaker 11: She has you, idiots, She's always had it. But I'm
the only one who knows it. Aunt I Laura. With
me alive, you'd never be safe. Never be completely sure.
Speaker 3: Are you.
Speaker 12: Going to do your own killing?
Speaker 8: Lara?
Speaker 7: Let him live too long?
Speaker 3: Thick.
Speaker 7: He shouldn't have said that, stop moving.
Speaker 3: You're gonna kill us both, Laura both. I could kill
the little man in a bar back in Tewtown.
Speaker 7: I bought that. Darling, you were getting too close. Say
goodbye Arthur nicely.
Speaker 12: Not alone.
Speaker 3: Now I won't go along now.
Speaker 15: You don't need help, not no more, hum, I don't
need it now.
Speaker 4: Under the direction of David Friedkin and Morton Fine, Escape
has brought you the target, a story by Tony Barrett.
Featured in the cast were Whitfield, Connor and Mary Jane Croft.
Also heard were Edgar Barrier, Herb Butterfield, Hans Conried, Maliteza
Milo and Jane Avello. You're announcer George Walsh. The special
music for Escape is composed and conducted by Leith Stephens.
Speaker 2: Next week, You're at the end of a journey. You've
committed murder to make a barren wasteland of India silent desolate,
where there is a cave and a carved image of
the goddess Callie, whose heart.
Speaker 3: Is a ruby.
Speaker 2: Big is a grenade at which is guarded by a
smiling old man from whom there is no escape.
Speaker 4: So listen next week when Escape brings you Ross Murray's
story The Red Heart of Calli, an honest doctor resists
temptation but gets into trouble anyway. Tomorrow night, when Mister
and Missus North bring us their latest thrilling mystery, don't forget.
CBS Radio has a date for Mystery with Mister and
Missus North Tomorrow night, and you're welcome to on most
of these same stations. Stay tune now for Night Watch,
which follows immediately over most of these stations. Where there's
gun smoke, there's Western Adventure Monday nights on the CBS
Radio Network.
Speaker 1: Welcome back. In interesting showcase of Tony Barrett's writing, and
it definitely has a more modern feel. It features a
morally ambiguous at best protagonist, so it's really hard to like
or root for. He's the type of character that I
think you can get away with in a one off
story or a film noir, and this really does that
have that sort of feel to it. It also has
a very ambiguous ending, which is really unusual for radio
show of this era. Typically you'll see a whistler type
ending where the guiltiest punished or they are inescapably trapped
in their own lives and Steati's like darn I got
some awkward explaining today. Trust be told, this is not
my favorite type of story, although I have had listeners
asking for these sort of stories off and on throughout
the years, so I hope you're still listening and are happy.
The Escape Suspense Blog notes that the town of Toultan
where the story starts, doesn't actually exist anymore. It was
wiped out by tsunami in the Great Chilean Earthquake of
nineteen sixty. There was a new community founded afterwards called
Nueva Toultan nearby. So now it's time to thank our
Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go
ahead and think Mimi. Mimi has been one of our
Patreon supporters since February twenty sixteen, currently supporting the podcast
at the shamous level of four dollars more per month.
Thank you so much for your support, Mimi, and that
will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast,
please follow us using your favorite podcast software now. For
the rest of the year, we will have episodes on Sunday,
but for the next few weeks we'll be featuring Encorse.
Our next big news special will be in four weeks
when we celebrate fifteen years of the Great Detectives of
Old Time Radio. If you would like to send along
a comment specifically for the fifteenth anniversary show, please email
it to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net.
I will also play audio comments, and you can either
record them on your own micro phone and send them
as an attachment or drop box or peak cloud link
any sort of downloadable link to Box thirteen at Great
Detectives dot net. Or you can use our voicemail service
to call in your comment to two O eight nine
nine one four seven eighty three. But join us back
here tomorrow for the adventures of the Falcon wear.
Speaker 3: I spoke to you on the phone.
Speaker 9: Yes, oh yes, yes, come in. Which is it down?
Speaker 3: What's the trouble? Don't you think I can take it standing?
Speaker 9: I don't know what gave you the idea I had
anything unpleasant report, but you have. Yeah, you know, generally
I don't handle this kind of matter.
Speaker 3: Well, I'm glad you made an exception in my case.
Speaker 9: I only did because you seem so concerned about your daughter,
and as you suspected, your son in law has been
running around with a girl named Rita Jordan. He's married
to a petty losny thief named Leo.
Speaker 3: I don't believe you.
Speaker 9: You don't believe what that. He's a petty lostny thief
for that, and he's been playing around neither. I don't
understand you, victim. You asked me to do some research
on your son in law. Obviously you were suspicious.
Speaker 3: I was nothing of the kind. I was merely interested
in seeing how you private detectives operate, and you were
supposed to be the best. Now I'm not for sure.
Speaker 5: What do I owe you?
Speaker 9: Oh, I'll set up an explanation.
Speaker 3: I'm afraid you won't get it.
Speaker 13: You better take my check, mister Wearing, you'll find it
much more satisfied.
Speaker 1: I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.
Send your comments to 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 from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham.
Speaker 3: Sign and off.