The Shadow - The Oracle of Death

0:00Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The shadow knows. The shadow, the serious character who aids the forces of law and order, is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town. As the shadow, Cranston is gifted with hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the voice of the invisible shadow belongs. Today's story, the Oracle of Death.

1:02Hey, Mr. Coy, we just missed it. Trieby, you should know better than the speed around corners in this tab and we have the police commissioner with us. But Mr. Cranston, that is just why I'm speeding that's why. Get it, hey? There and I, the state commissioner with us, we really had you with us just to fix tickets. Yes, yes and if I didn't feel so darn good natured after that, excuse me, now for that dinner you folks fed me, I'd resented very much, Mr. Lane. Dinner be done, you can't mention it. Can't we persuade you to change your mind and come along to the theater with us? No, no, I'm sorry, Cranston, I've got to get back to headquarters. Oh, now commissioner, please. Oh. Pretty please? Not even with sugar on it. I have to be on the job. We've been taking quite a beating lately. Been a series of petty crimes all over the city. When our percentage of arrests is too small to please the mayor's committee, I'm always the first target. You're hard on you, are they? Yes, like some of the so-called first citizens of our city, they want to clean everybody's

2:03house but their own. You know, you fall into that category too, Cranston. I do? Wow. Well, that new servant you hired Rodney, an ex-con just out of prison. You know nothing about him. It should kick like a steer if you came home some night and found the place cleaned out. Oh, commissioner Rodney would never do that? How do you know? Well, because Rodney's perfectly harmless. Besides, I know for a fact that he was falsely convicted of the crime that he went to jail for. Oh, you do, do you? Yes. Who told you? Why, Rodney? Well, now that's the... Well, he told you. Of all the day Rodney told her. Hey, stop this cab, you're passing headquarter. Okay, okay. Let quarters make the neighbors they make. He's a real fine, that hack driver. He is. He is a real fine. Well, thanks for the dinner. And look, Francis, get rid of that servant. Will you? Commissioner, I have to report you to the mayor's committee. You've got to go. Good night. Okay, let's go, sheezy. Well, if we go in a twig of an eye in a twig of... Lamont, you shouldn't be.

3:03Or Commissioner Weston, like that. You shouldn't be. Why, way down deep, Muggle, he loves to be... Oh, he's me! What? Say that you're she-dad's bootstep right in front of my hang. We hit him, Lamont. We hit that man. He walked right in front of the cab. Come on, sheezy. Oh, Mr. Cranson, you saw what happened? I know, I know, I saw it. Well, you didn't run over him. That's one good thing. Ah, I couldn't help but Mr. Cranson. I know you couldn't, Shreevy. Wait a minute. If the knock-down conscious, come on, give me a hand. We're getting medical attention at once. Look, Lamont. His eyes are open. The doctor must have brought him around. Yes. Let's see if we can learn who he is. Where he is. Hello there. Feeling better? What happened? Where am I? Oh, take it easy, old man. You're all right. I'm all right, Amway. Well, you, Lamont Cranson. I took you here to my apartment right after the accident.

4:06Accident? What accident? Don't you remember being hit by the cab, Mr. Cranson, I were riding in? It by a cab. I don't remember nothing like that. I'll look by. How long have I been in this joint of yours? About 24 hours. Wait for hours. Not even like that. That makes today Monday. And I had an important date Sunday last night. Now, take it easy, my friend. This is not Monday. It's Sunday. What? Sunday? Yeah, crazy. This is Monday. No, truly, today is Sunday. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Who got hit on the head? Me or you? I know that yesterday was Sunday, and I can prove it. By the newspaper record, they were selling on the streets before I was hit. What was the extra? It was about that young society, then. They cut me to it. What young society, then? All right. All right. Play dead, dog. So I'm talking about Anclay. The one who was pushed off a penthouse, broccoli, and fellow wood debt. Well, you must admit the motto. Our friend has quite an imagination. Yeah. I'm sorry, old man, but Anclay is very much alive. We saw it dinner just about an hour ago. Look, Mr.

5:07Let's stop fooling. Anclay was killed last night. Anclay, anclay, anclay, anclay. All from ten house to three, about the big bite of anclay. Anclay. The month is really amazing. That man actually foretold a future. Yes. Yes, there's no denying that. I've never heard of anything like it. If you'll pardon me, sir. Oh, yes, sir. Yes, Rodney. It's dangerous. Having someone like that fat man around. Are you afraid of him, Rodney? Well, frankly, Miss Lane, I am. That supernatural power he seems to have to lead to... Well, to anything. I wouldn't let it worry you, Rodney. Come on, Margot. I want to go in and have another talk with our psychic wonder. He's still dangerous to have around. I know he is. Don't worry, Rodney. Yeah, remind me not to worry, too, will you? Hello there.

6:08Hello. Do you feel any better? Yeah. Yeah. Now, look. Oh, by the way, what is your name? Spud. Just spud? Yes, spud. Well, looks bad. Something quite extraordinary has happened that I feel you should know. First, you've got to believe me when I tell you that we were telling the truth. When we told you that last night was Sunday, not Monday. What about it? Just this. You told us about the death of young Anne Clay before it actually happened. Well, what, how do you account for it, Spud? What do you think made you do it? I don't know. Well, have you always done this? Have you always been able to foretell the future? You think I'd have looked like I did when you found me if I could, lady? Then what's caused this thing? Now, look, I know you think I'm nuts. But that makes us even because I think you are nuts. Now, tell me why, man. What day do you think this is? Well, Monday, of course. Yeah, Monday. Well, I say it's Tuesday.

7:08Oh, here we go again, Le Mans. Well, look, can you prove it, sir? Yeah, yesterday, that's Monday according to me. At three minutes past six at night, the cut and it'll think was knocked over. The moon. Do you think that's another prediction? I don't know. Let me see. It's five minutes past six now. Well, just to be on the safe side, I'll call Commissioner Western and pass the word along. They'll don't believe me, huh? No, I haven't said I don't believe you, Spud. But you'll forgive us if we do hope you're wrong. You can understand that. I'll tell you this much, Spud. If you say... Please, I've caught it. Oh, hello, Commissioner Western, please. Who's calling him? Le Mans, Cranston. Yes, sir. Just one more. All right. Hello, Commissioner. Yes? Yes, this is Le Mans, Cranston. What's on your mind, Cranston? Look, now, I, uh... I don't want you to think I'm crazy. And please don't ask me where I receive my information. But I have reason to believe that the continental bank will soon be robbed. So get some men over there quickly. Cranston, you're a very smart guy.

8:09The continental was robbed five minutes ago. All right, come on in, Marco. Come on in. Well, you needn't be short with me, Le Mans. He did your best to prevent the continental bank robbery. And I succeeded in looking... It's not true, Mr. Cranston. Oh, yes, right. Oh, Mr. Cranston, while you were gone, that man Spud. He disappeared. Disappeared. He got away? And what happened? Well, just after you and his lane went out, he called for his clothes. When I wouldn't give them to him, he took one of your suits. Didn't you try to stop him? Yes, yes, I did, but he overpowered me and left. Where did he go? Well, I saw him take a cab in front of the door. And when the driver returned, I learned the address he was taken to. I jotted it down on this piece of paper, sir. Good work, Rodney. 160 South Street. Lower end of town. Oh, I did my best to keep him here, sir. Yes. I can tell that by the condition of your left eye. He landed a lucky right hand. I wasn't looking, sir. Margot, we've got to locate this man at once.

9:11Quiet, I'm on. I've done a great deal of thinking about those psychic powers of his. And I've come to the conclusion that this whole thing has been a gigantic hoax. What do you mean? I believe that our friend Spud has been acting as a tool for a devilishly clever crime ring. You mean his predictions were all planned, sir? Yes, Rodney. Planned in advance. That's how he was able to foretell the future. Come along, Margot. We're going to the South Street address. See you later, Rodney. Yes, sir, but don't be careful, sir. Don't you think you ought to tell Commissioner Western all about it first? No, Margot. My visit to our friend Spud is a job for the shadow. Spud. Spud? Huh? Wake up, Spud. Huh? What was that? Wake up, I say it. I want to talk to you. Who's there?

10:11Who's Miss Rom? Why don't you put on the light and see? Yeah, yeah. Put on the light. Then. Hey. What is this? Nobody's here. Yes, there is someone here, Spud. I can hear you. I can't see you. I don't get it. I'm standing right here beside you, Spud. And why can't I see you? You can't see me because I've plowed at your brain. And made myself invisible to your eyes. Who are you? Men call me the shadow. No, no, no. I'm hearing things. That's what's happening. Hey, nobody here. I'm going crazy just like they said I was. Who said you were? Who are you talking about? The guy better name a cramston. Him and his girlfriend, this stupid butler. All of them said I was nuts. Maybe they're right. Why did they think you were crazy? Because I predicted things to him. Things that hadn't even happened. And they come out true. How were you able to predict the future? Answer me, Spud. No. No. I insist that you tell me. Why don't you tell me why I can't see you?

11:13And maybe I'll tip my hand too. I've already explained that. Yeah. I have reason to believe, Spud, that all your predictions of the future were carefully planned. That you knew that were going to happen. I see. Then if you're that smart, Shadow, why don't you tell me when I'm going to predict next? I'd rather let you tell me. Okay. Okay, I will. You heard me speak of this guy, Lamont, cramston? Yes. Well, he's dead. Dead? Yeah. Cramston got killed last night at eight o'clock. Oh, yeah. Almost the cramston. Here we are at your apartment. Here we are.

12:13My apartment? Oh, yes. Yes, fine, treated. And I must say, sure, if you were a pot and eat for a man who was on the Gabby side, we've been very young Gabby all the way home. Is it a couple of spottling, is it? To cover that? No, no, no, no, no, no, Shriviya. I was just thinking about the appointment I have at eight o'clock tonight. Mr. Cramston, you got something on your mind, you have. Look, can I help you out here? No, Shriviya, I'll take care of this myself. But in case anything should go wrong, I want you to wait outside the building and watch everyone who enters and leaves. Like a hawk, I would. Like a hawk. Watch you, I'd ask me. Shrivi, if I don't come downstairs by ten-fifteen, you come up and get me. Oh, I didn't know you were in him, Mr. Cramston, sitting in the dark. That's the right, Rodney. I'm waiting for someone called at eight o'clock. I see. Well, we're almost there now. I'll take it, Rodney. You'll excuse me then. I have some work to finish in the pan.

13:14Yes, of course. Hello? Cramston, you're here. I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. Hello? Cramston. Yes? Is this Commissioner Weston? Oh, yes, Commissioner. Look here, man. I want to find out how you know about that continental bank's pickup. Why? Well, because of your call telling us about it before the news broke on the street, you're expected by the mayor's committee of having pulled the job yourself. No, Commissioner. You don't believe that, do you? I don't know what to believe at this point. Look, Commissioner. All I can tell you is that I received my information from a man that I picked up who claimed to have psychic powers. Huh? Before told the murder of Anne Clay, the looting of the continental bank, and right now, I am waiting for the third crime that he predicted to happen. What is it this time? I'm sorry, I can't tell you. You can't listen. You're a projecting justice. No, it's appearing with the law. It's a nightmare, Commissioner. Sorry, Western. I couldn't tell you anymore.

14:15Oh, Rodney, I forgot that you were still here. Yes, sir. I shouldn't need you any longer tonight. I'm expecting a call with you. And what's the date now? I can wait and show your guessing. I'll attempt to it myself. Good night, Rodney. Well? Good night, sir. Good night. You'll show your all-light, Mr. Pantone. I hope so. Good night, sir. Good night, Rodney. Eight o'clock. Well, you so know. Oh, oh, oh. There certainly are an edge. Four, five, six, seven, seven, eight. Well, Mr. P has to be one time that a young man's prophecy didn't work at this thought. Well, I could use it good nightly. Yes? What do you think you're doing?

15:16Oh, oh. That's a lot, Kransken. So you see, Commissioner Weston, I was frankly worried about the whole situation. And when I heard Mr. Kransken speak you on the phone tonight, I felt it's my ability to reveal to you just who this man who made the prophetism. Yes, you did the right thing, Rodney. Thank you. This must be his room right here, sir. Let's you're looking, Hubble, isn't it? Uh-huh. Incidentally, it might be wise enough to mention that your friend would be pleased. Not from the police? Oh, sure. Yeah. How's that? Come on, open up. Remember not from the police, Commissioner. Well, I only said that. Oh, yes, I see what you mean. Oh, you. What are you, why? It's Rodney, Mr. Kransken's butler. Don't you remember me? Oh, yeah. Who's this guy? He's a friend of mine who's interested in your case. He wants to talk to you. Okay. Come on.

16:17You're going to ask me a lot of crazy questions, too. No. I'm just very curious to learn more about this psychic power you're supposed to have. You were captain. I said I was here to ask about your psychic power. Well, I don't see nothing wonderful about it. I just don't agree with the rest of you. People just don't know what day it is. That's all. Everyone else is a day behind me. What's that, screwy? No, not if you're telling me. True. You're all right, I'm telling the truth. I'm provading you. I want the day to say this is. Tuesday, of course. See? And I know this Wednesday. Oh, because last night Tuesday, half of this town was blown up by bombs. What's your, the railroad station hotel stairs every place in the east side of town. You are crazy. You can decide that later. I ain't finished. I got the power plant over on the west side, too. Blow it to pieces, kill everyone in the joint. What time did all this happen? About 10.30 last night. That's the matter thing I've ever heard. Okay, okay. I ain't asking you to believe it. Oh, look, Mr. Weston. Whatever your personal reaction may be, I must beg you to believe me.

17:18Everything else that he's foretold has happened right to the minute. This is too fantastic. But you can't lose anything by taking precautions. Suppose the power plant should blow up. Would you want to be responsible for all those deaths? No, no, of course not. And he's always been right before. You know that from the call you made to Mr. Cranston. Yes, that's true. Well, I guess I'll have to take the gamble. If this prediction doesn't come off, I'll be laughed off the force. But if it proves to be right, well, it's worth a try. What time is it now? Five minutes past 10. Then I have exactly 25 minutes to evacuate that powerhouse and send every armman in the department of the east side to protect its nose bombing. Copy. Call the power plant and not all workers. Leave the building until further notice. Yes, sir. Hey, what's... I want officers posted in every theater hotel in public building on the east side. Right. I don't know. Forced the car to men around the railroad station. Have them pick up any and all suspicious characters they find. Hurry, man, hurry.

18:26Mr. Cranston. Mr. Cranston. Holy smoke, what's happening? Mr. Cranston, what's the matter with you? I had a busted door in. Sleevee. Sleeve, I'm glad you're here. I've been shot. Oh. Fresh wound in the shoulder. Oh, my gosh. Are you alright, are you? Yeah, I'm alright. Who's that? Where is he? I'm not sure who did it. You gotta tell me. Did you see any strangers coming out of the building? Oh, no, I was watching. Who I was. I didn't know you hardly paid no attention to all of police alarms. It was coming over to radio. No, what alarm? What were they about? They sent a bunch of riots, spies, over the east side of town. Send them a prop over there. Something was expecting to happen. They moved everybody out of the west side powerhouse, too. Why did Western do that, the fool? Trivia, you've got to get word to the commissioner at once. Say something wrong, is it? They find Western and tell him to order his police back to the west side. And they must send a squad to the power plant, too, right away. Oh, okay, okay. What about you? How to carry myself? Go ahead, now hurry. I'm gone. Oh, Western, get him in back to the west side. I'm gone. Oh, I can stay in my feet long enough. The shuttle will play a part in this thing, too.

19:26Well, how do things look, Fred? Well, I've been off through the powerhouse. They made a soul around. You've done a good job of scaring them, but why don't you take no credit? The chief was the one who threw up the whole scheme. That's what I can't wait and fight. Well, we have to do is cut the main switch here in the power plant and form the town stock. Boy, I'd love to see you pull out that predicting stuff. It was a foot. Yeah, they felt pretty good. Nobody but that so-called Mart Cranford tumbler that was flat like clockwork. He's been taken care of. You should've seen that wise guy, Police Commissioner, Western. He went red, bigger than any of the others. Man, like anything else that they cut off the power. So was the chief getting... I'll be right back. There he comes. Everything's set up? Yeah, perfect. They didn't even leave our watchmen. Good. I got the rest of the men posted at every worthwhile stall and money center on the west side. When we pulled the switch and the lights go off, they begin working. They're not a carpet of battery.

20:26No, they're all over on the east side waiting for the bombs that will never explode. Well, we might as well get things started. Where's that main switch? I didn't see. I like the honor of pulling it myself. Okay. This is it. The city goes dark. Who knocked my hand off that switch? What do you mean? Who's that? Sorry to spoil your plans, gentlemen. Who's that target? I don't see nobody. I was like he's right here beside us. I am right here beside you, gentlemen. And don't try to look for me. You won't see me. See, for what? Who are you? I am known as the Shadow. The Shadow? Oh, so you've heard of me? Yeah. Yeah. That's the guy that came to call on me before. That's right, but I called on you to learn more about your power to fortell the future. And I learned enough from you to know that you were planning just such a horrors this. What are you going to do to us? And I'll get more shut up. You'll pull down that em' flight new. That's what he's trying to do. Yeah, but I can't see him. I ain't scared of somebody I can see, but I have no fear of anyone I can't see.

21:29You hear that Shadow? Yes. A very brave statement, especially from such a weak man as yourself. Rot me. How do you know me? I know that you're the valet of Lamont-Cwenston, a man whom you tried to murder just two hours ago. Oh, I see. You're pretty smart, aren't you? I'm smart enough to know that you and your gang of cut-roads murdered and played Robert Cuntan at a bank. And that now you're planning to loot and terrorize the entire city. All right. What are you going to do about it? Don't worry. I've already taken care of things. Always that. You hear that gentlemen? The cops! They're going to get out of my house. Come on, let's see, Rot me. You're dead and frightened them away after all. Well, you forget that I can't take your hand away from that switch, Rot me. Or shall I shoot it away? You're not scaring me, Shadow. Get out of here, Mocha. Yes, before the cops get us out of here, I have a brainage to lay. I'll wait for his men. We can't get out now. But the officers of the law are going to have just this tougher time getting in. I'm making a break. The first man that makes a break will get it from me.

22:29Jor-3 against one, gentlemen. Are you going to let him tell you what to do? Shut up! You guys in there coming out. Why are you going to be left to spoke, Joe? Come on, Shadow! I need no more. I'm going to fight with you. I'm going to fight with you. I'm going to fight with you. I'm going to fight with you. Well, you're being treated to tear gas, gentlemen. Kick that thing out of here! I am touching the... I think that will make you all change your mind. Here's the second bomb. I can't stand this. Give up. Come on, you quick, Rot me. Not until I get you, first, Shadow. I'm not a very easy target. Try again. You won't get you yet. Sorry, you missed again. Come on, I can't breathe. You're not a good... Okay. Okay, Shadow. Come and get us. How did you show it to me, Le Mans? It was a good feeling, Mother. You'll be happy to learn, Le Mans. Your man, Rot me and his entire gang,

23:29you've been rounded up and put behind bars. Good work, Commissioner. I was nothing, really. I was wise to those birds right along. Just played with them like a cat with a mouse. And when I was ready, I set my trap for them by purposely pretending to put all of my officers on the other side of town. Yes, routine pre-strategy. My Commissioner West, and you know that, Le Mans. Yes, Maugho, he knows that I'm very proud of him. Besides, we mustn't forget that election. A commission? Oh, the election. Today's program is based on a story copyrighted by the Shadow magazine. The character's names, places, and plots or hikkish. And it's the similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

24:40The weed of crime. There's bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow North.