Whistler 48 10 10 ep331_Whirlpool

0:00Yes, friends, that whistle is your signal for the signal oil program, the Whistler. The mystery program that is unique among all mystery programs. Because you know who's guilty. You see his every move. You know his complete plan. It's the final curtain always brings us startling surprise. In the signal oil program, the Whistler. I am the Whistler, and I know many things for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the

1:04shadow. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. Yes, friends, it's the Whistler for the Thompson Entertainment, and for the Thompson Gasoline quality, it's signal. It takes extra quality, you know, to give you extra mileage, and signal is the famous Go Farther Gasoline. So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly independent signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now the Whistler's strange story. World Who. He wasn't sure when it began. It was too much like walking in the middle of a nightmare, and then remaining in it living in it. The shipwreck, the confusion, was all there again coming back to him, but slowly, hazeily. And there was a strange buzzing in his ears, pressure in the sound of the sea, a whirlpool of confusion.

2:12And then gradually out of the whirlpool, voices dimly faintly at first, but voices growing, coming closer and closer. But through it all, one thing seemed clear in focus. Those few swift minutes before the ship healed over on its side, before he leaked for the lifeboat, and missed. There was a girl, yes a girl standing in the companionway just outside her cabin. He remembered her face, her face, her skin, her clear eyes, wild as he shouted at her frantically. Hey, don't stand there, get up to the deck, the lifeboat. Boats? Oh yes, I was there. Wait, is there anybody inside in the cabin? The cabin? Stay away. No. No, I'm alone. And go on up these stairs. There was a much time, hurry. Well, much time.

3:15Is there ever? Much time. Yeah, but that was going to it all over again. He's better though, he's coming around captain. He's things, Mr. He's things. Well, Mr. He's things, not your safe. They got you in time. Can you hear me? I'm the ship's doctor, you'll onboard the SS Erdogan bound for Singapore. Yes, yes, I would want that. Singapore. Oh, they're here. I had to bring this Mr. He's things. Easy. That's it. I'm all right. I made it. I made it. You sure did, A.C. He's things. There couldn't be any mistake about his identity captain. No, no, that's who he is. He's Hastings, doctor. There's no doubt about it. The girl says so. He's his wife. Oh, I see you. Could you get her to come in here, captain?

4:15What? What? No, I... No, I just relax. You're suffering from shock, Mr. Hastings. Exorption and severe shock. Oh, my God. When you come in, Mr. Hastings. My husband is your wife, Captain. Just come in for you. Oh, I haven't any. You stop, Marty. The protest dying in your throat as you struggle up to one elbow and look toward the door. It's the same girl, isn't it? The one you face in the companion way and shouted at. But now she's coming toward you, speaking differently. Very different. Darling, my darling, I was so afraid for you. But I told them to pull through when I told them who you were. Wow. Are you talking? You didn't do it. No, no, don't worry, Mrs. Hastings. Mrs. Hastings. Yes, dear. Darling. Oh, yes, Mr. Hastings. Can you... Would you leave us alone a minute? Oh, why? Surely. I want to... want to be with my wife.

5:16Certainly. Captain, we'll wait out on that. Anything you say. Okay. Now you want to tell me what it's all about. Darling, you shouldn't try to talk. Skip it, I can talk. They fish me out. I'm okay, see? Okay. Of course you are, dear. And the name South. Like this, or in a full dress suit. It's South. Marty, so. It's a nice name. I like it. That's fine. And your... Mrs. Stephen Hastings. Of a Shanghai Hastings. You can call me Lucille. What about Mr. Hastings? I have been dead. One that didn't make it? One that didn't make it. What happened to him? How come... I don't know. Stop asking me. Stop looking at me like that. Like what? He was like that. Stephen. And the cabin only first heard the alarm. He just sat there staring. And you ran out, left a... No, he wouldn't budge. With as if he didn't want to.

6:17He really welcomed it. Welcome. What? The chance to die? I don't know. You couldn't get him out. No. Couldn't send anybody back out. I didn't think. You've been thinking since. Yes. Plenty of it. Well, come on. I'm waiting. My husband... Stephen had the money coming to him. It's waiting for him now in Singapore. Waiting for... Mr. Hastings to pick it up. And a Mr. Hastings will do... 30,000 hours, 30,000, a couple of weeks. 50,000 hours together. Half of it could be yours, Manny. You're crazy. To begin with, how can you pass me off to your husband here on board? There are quite a few survivors, I've heard. Nobody knew him. He sat in his cabin half of orange. Most of the others were picked up by the Calipha. We'll see them in Singapore. Oh, we won't. The Calipha is heading for the United States and we don't know it's sold in Singapore. Where does this money come from? From an old friend in Shanghai, E.J. Galway.

7:18From a business partner of my husband's. You see, E.J. made a mistake once. Business deal in Singapore. I found out about it. I told Stephen what to ask for. He did? It got results. Shake down, huh? You must have felt great giving his old pal a blackmail pitch. We didn't have to do that. E.J. doesn't know where the blackmail is. You think Stephen is the... Go between you to pick up the money in Singapore and make the pay off there. You see, that's where the blackmail is. The blackmail is. Nice guy, your husband. We were, as a matter of fact, but we terribly... No, we almost got six sometimes just thinking about it. But blackmailing his old friend. And why'd he go ahead with it? He liked me. What? Oh, now you don't mean that. I can be quite appealing. Maybe. The guys like Stephen Hastings.

8:19Not the guys like Marty's house. You guessed. How about running along? All right. Oh, wait a minute. Yes? That boat, when it was sinking, did somebody come up to you and ask if there was anybody else in the cabin? I don't remember. What excitement, you know? Yeah, I know. Okay. It's all for now. That's all for any time. Uh, we'll see. You get loads and for me darling. Stephen? Just tell the doctor. That's all, Marty, and then she's gone. Leaving you to think it over. What you know her kind. Blue seals are man-travel. And you figure she'll be back soon too. Try to help you make up your mind. Well, that's where you make a mistake, isn't it, Marty?

9:19Because she doesn't come back. Not in a few hours, not even that night. She just leaves you alone. And the next morning you can hear her outside, asking about you. Always be not, too. She's much better. Oh, I'm so glad, but I think I just let him rest. Yes, Marty. She lets you rest and think. At first, you find yourself strangely curious. Then you think some more, and you don't say anything else to them about not being her husband, Stephen Hastie. Then a half a day out of Singapore, you can't stand it anymore. You call the doctor and send for her. Dear, you're sitting out of wonder. I'm doing better than that. I'm pacing the floor. Don't look as if you don't know why, Blue Seal. Oh, it's Lizia now. Not nice, when you say it. Don't you want to know what I've decided? I know. Yeah? You like money, Martin. You know? I think you like me.

10:19A little? You hit it with the first part. But get this. I know what I'm going into. It includes you only because you're necessary to my immediate prosperity. I'm very necessary, Dye. So as you're having a husband, Stephen. Okay, I'll keep him alive for a while. I know you would. You're pretty smart, Gal, but here's something you don't know. Your husband made a big mistake when he fell in love with you. I'm not going to make the same mistake. I can't afford to. I never let love interfere with my plans. It's bad business. Everything you're all right, Lizia? What? Oh, yes. Fine, doctor. Isn't it dear? I guess so. Sure it is. And don't worry, Dye. You'll feel better. Everything's going to be so much better. I'm going to have a drink. With the prologue of Whirlpool, the signal oil company brings you another strange story by the Whistler.

11:24But now since this is only our second broadcast at this new Sunday evening time, I have a message, especially for you new friends of the Whistler. If you've lived out west any length of time, you know that signal is known from Canada to Mexico as the Go farther gasoline. Now naturally we're mighty proud of signals famous mileage, but even more so we're proud of the extra efficiency today's signal gasoline coaxes from your motor, which makes such mileage possible. For when your motor runs more efficiently, you also enjoy quicker starting, faster pickup, and smoother, not free power. The things which make driving more fun. That's why folks who want superior performance, as well as those who insist on mileage, are both switching to signal. They've discovered that to get the tops in gasoline quality, there are just two things to remember. One in gasoline it takes extra quality to go farther. And two, signal is the famous Go farther gasoline.

12:25Now back to the Whistler. You made a decision, didn't you, Martin? About Lucille Hastings and the money waiting for Stephen Hastings in Singapore. When she suddenly thrust opportunity into your hand, by asking you to pose as her dead husband, Stephen Hastings, what does another thing you've decided on? And that's more important than anything else. You're not going to make the same mistake he did, are you, Martin? No, you're not going to fall in love with Lucille, because that doesn't fit in with your plans at all. Money is the most important thing, isn't it? It always has been, even though you don't have much of it at the moment. And you've never let a woman in love, you've never let your heart rule your head where money is concerned. The next night in Singapore, the two of you move easily around the dance floor of the Port Plaza Hotel,

13:28a devoted married couple, mistoring Mrs. Stephen Hastings. Are you done? Yes, I am. I'm done. I'm done. I'm done. And you're done? Thanks. I'm done. I've done, I'm done. I'm done. You're done. I have to go back, too. I'm done. I'm done. I know. I'm done. I'm done. I'm done. I'm done. I'm done. I'll have to look at EJ's letter again for the exact address. A little Taylor shop somewhere on Ponderosa Street. You don't have to look again, not with that memory. It's a Taylor shop. Why Wednesday? No reason. I just think it's fair. All right? Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't.

14:29Don't get all this mystery. There isn't any mystery I told you. If Galaway stood still for a 50 grand shakedown, why didn't he just give it to you? Send it to you directly. Why have all this movie stuff? This was my idea, not EJ's. Does he in case EJ couldn't raise the money or changed his mind or decided to talk with the authorities? I thought it would be much better for me if I were far away. With me for the full guy, I have anything goes wrong here. Nothing can go wrong here. There's no crime in having a copress. What do I do when I get to this Taylor shop? Like I said, you just have your copress. You can wait for it if you want to. Tell them you're Mr Hastings. What if they want proof? They can call the hotel and ask Mrs Hastings, but they won't. Relax, darling. Sorry, I can't relax. Not till I've had my copress.

15:36Good morning, sir. I want to get this coat pressed. I'll wait. Or the name's Hastings. Oh, yes. And you're staying the important plaza. Why? Nothing, Mr Hastings. Just curious. If you were going to call or anything, my wife isn't there, she stepped out. No, Mr Hastings. The coat, please. I'll have it for you right away. Good. You watched the proprietor for the little Taylor shop as he takes your coat, moves off toward the back of the establishment. You look around nervously, ready to run for it if anything goes wrong. But nothing does, Marty. He's back in a matter of minutes. Handing the freshly pressed coat across the counter. You pay him and slip it on and feel the bulge of a heavy envelope in the inside pocket. Satisfactory, sir. I think so, thanks.

16:36Will you be dropping it again? Yes, sure. Perhaps if you'd call the day before. Call. Okay. We'll give you quick service, sir. Good morning. Half a block away. You open the envelope and look inside. It's there, Marty. $20,000 in crisp, unmarked bills. Half of it's yours. The payoff just as Lucille described it. You smile as you put it away. Because you're thinking how easy it would be to quit right now. Walk out on Lucille cold. But there's still another payoff. Another $30,000. It would be stupid of you to walk out now, wouldn't it? And then your pulse quickens and your glance back. Someone following you, Marty. And you realize that Lucille is still thinking as fast as ever. That she's guessed that you might pick up the money a day earlier.

17:38And not wait until Wednesday. You turn. Hurry down the street and you're way back to the hotel. Well, darling, you don't have to knock the door down. My own husband. He's the neighbor's thing. Never mind inside. What's all the excitement? What kind of a double cross is this? Double cross. That's a funny way to put it. Not to me. You had me followed, didn't you? Did I? The fat guy in the white suit right out of the book. Car quit. Stop it, Lucille. Don't give me that ice cube stare. I'm not Steven. Not so loud, darling. Someone might believe you. You're going to tell me what's going on. When you calm down, you might tell me. I went there like you said. Tell us, you're off. Yeah, I went through the routine. Didn't they give you the money? That's not the beef, Lucille. I'm talking about the guy who picked me up on the way out. One of your pals, huh? A high-powered insurance policy. You're not making sense, darling. Somebody followed you. It's because you're in Singapore. The out of alley, darling. Rough neighborhood. This is a big bad city.

18:39I wish I could buy that. You can buy anything. There's days, things. How much did you get? 20,000. Here. It's in the envelope. Pretty, isn't it? Darling. Yeah. Speaking of double clauses. I thought I told you not to go to the paylist shop until tomorrow. I got it. I'll forgive you this time. No, you won't. Well, I'll try. What are you thinking? Something pretty foolish. But sometimes you'd really like to level. I'm not going to die, darling. Put your arms around me. What? So I can hold on for the sleigh ride? I wouldn't take you on a sleigh ride. Not you. You'd take your mother on one. Don't hate me, Marty. No. Not this minute. Here I go, huh?

19:40Well, my back's against the door anyway. Marty. Marty. Tell her. Too bad it's not for keeps, Lucille. It's not talk about for keeps that think about it now. Right now. Yeah. Right now. Only admitted. Tomorrow it could be a knife in my back. All right, if it's the way you want me to say. But right now, kiss me, Marty. Kiss me. Your mind is spinning as you leave, Marty. Go down to the cocktail bar for a drink, and then another one. In a way, it's like fighting up to the surface, isn't it? Trying to struggle out of the whirlpool that keeps pulling you down. You're afraid, aren't you, Marty? Because the one thing you've tried to guard against is happening. Slowly, surely, you're falling for her and you know what it can mean.

20:42You don't do anything about it the next day. Or in the days that follow. Just go along trying to keep your head above water. And then one night as you walk alone through the streets of Singapore, you catch sight of him again. The man she's had following you. You hurry forward, turn into an alley. Stop and wait. You really am, Marty. What do you want? What do you want? Take it easy, Mr. Hastings. I just wanted to talk it over. Talk what over? I was a deal. I thought maybe you'd change your mind of who you've been acting. Avoiding me. Of course, this is a crazy setup. I naturally thought you were going to meet me when you got in last week to set it all up. Well, naturally, but I almost forgot what you looked like. You didn't know what I looked like. You never seen me before. You made a deal with the guy I work for, remember? I think you'd better keep talking, Mr. Grace.

21:42Good enough, Mr. Grace. It might be. I don't blame you for being careful, Mr. Hastings. It's a scruid deal, I guess. But as a son to you, you take your wife to the Red Angel Cafe tomorrow night. Just casual lines, see? You have dinner with her the last one. And then you stroll out on the terrace. The terrace? Yeah, nobody out there much. Just give me a chance to get lined up. And then light a cigarette. Matt, you'll give me a target. An easy one. Well, what do you know? Stephen. It hits you suddenly. Stephen Hastings, the weakling. He'd actually set up a plan to kill her at the end of the voyage. A plan that he was too weak to go through with. It's perfect, isn't it? You can get rid of Lucille tomorrow night. And a few days later, you can drop around to the tailor shop. Pick up the rest of the money and leave town.

22:43But you're not sure that this is the way you want it to be. Not even for $50,000. What's the matter, Mr. Hastings? You change your mind? Change my mind? Yes. Well, I'd like a little more time to think it over. Look, I've been doing some traveling. I want the five thousand bucks that you agreed to pay my employer, Mr. Hastings. Five thousand, yeah. Okay, you'll get it. I want to leave it in your hotel box. Small, new bills, cash. Sure. Mr. Gray, yeah. If the money's in the box, tomorrow night, you'll see it. My wife and me at the Red Angel Cafe on the terrace. Yeah. I'm too light-hearted, cigarette. Darling, how did you know about this place? The Red Angel? No, I heard somebody mention it.

23:44Like it. Very much. I like you for bringing me. I will see you later. You want to talk? Come on. Where are we going? Out on the terrace. Oh, but... Okay, on the terrace. We'll see the lights and the halver. Beautiful. Yeah. Marty, you were going to tell me something inside? Yeah, I was. I think I know what it is. You know, Marty, you're not like Stephen at all. You're anything but weak. Except when it comes to putting this sort of thing into words. Give me a cigarette, darling. What? I said, give me a cigarette. Anything wrong with that? No. Nothing wrong. Yeah, here you are. Thank you, Marty. And that's just the way you're looking now tells me something.

24:45You do love me, don't you? I don't know. Do it. Would you give me a light? Light. Sure. You're really beautiful, Zill. Marty. You're something, I'll never forget. Yes. Here's your light. Thank you, darling. The whistle will return in just a moment with the strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, a suggestion to drivers. The colder nights and mornings that we'll be having from now on place an extra strain on your car's battery. So now is a good time to stop by a signal service station for a free battery inspection.

25:45If it appears that anything is going to interfere with your cold weather starting, your signal dealer is equipped to give you complete battery service. For recharging, he has new type safe, speedy equipment. If your cables are corroded, he can replace them with heavy duty cables. And should you need a new battery? There's none finer than signals new deluxe batteries that are guaranteed not for just 12 or 18 months, but for 30 months on a service basis. Incorporating the latest type all rubber separators plus a new design hard rubber case. These signal deluxe batteries deliver up to 35% more power and don't need water nearly as often. So before you get any battery, get your signal dealer's trade-in offer for your old battery. Plus his convenient credit terms on today's finest battery. The new Signal Deluxe Battery, available only at Signal Service stations. And now back to the whistler.

26:54It was like a whirlpool, the shipwreck, the swirling waters, marty south fighting his way through the sea, awakening to find a new life and wealth placed in his hand by Lucille Hastings. But somehow on the police station at Singapore, that part of the story was a little concern, as the arresting officers huddled around a man sitting under the glaring white light. Come on, Grey. We know you did it. No. You've been following what you asked for that money and hasting so tell box. The clock didn't like your looks. Look, I told you Mr. Hastings gave me the money. You left that for me. What was it for? The kidding? Grey, you are seen firing the gun. How do you think we arrested you so quickly? All right, all right, all right, I did it. But it was a plan. Hastings planned. He was tired of his wife. He must have been tired of everything. But he was a weakling. So, aside from being on his mind for months, he didn't have a nerve. So he hired us, me, to do it for him. But why his wife, too? How do I know? Hastings was crazy about it, I guess.

27:55He didn't want anyone else to have it. It's the only reason I can think of why. Hastings set this deal for them to both die together. Hastings planned. Let that whistle be your signal for the signal oil program, the whisper, each Sunday night at the same time. Brought to you by the signal oil company, marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil, and fine quality automotive accessories. Signal has asked me to remind you to get the most driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous, and obey traffic regulations. It may save a life, possibly your own. Music

28:58Featured in tonight's story were Jack Moils and Betty Lou Gerson. The whistle was produced and directed by George W. Allen, with story by Joel Malone and music by Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces Radio Service. Remember, at the same time next Sunday, another strange tale by the whistler, Marvin Miller speaking, it's a CBS Columbia Broadcasting System.