Podcast Summary: The Saint — "The Saint Goes Underground" (07/31/1949)

Overview of the Episode

In this classic episode from "The Saint," originally broadcast in 1949 and featuring Vincent Price as Simon Templar (a.k.a. The Saint), our suave protagonist becomes embroiled in a small-town mystery after an unscheduled landing in Headstone, New Mexico. What starts as a casual layover quickly escalates into a case of attempted murder, an old mining town’s secret, and the pursuit of greedy criminals. With his trademark wit, The Saint unravels the mystery, bringing justice to light and a hint of romance to the dusty West.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Unexpected Stop in Headstone ([01:36]–[02:06])

• Simon Templar’s flight makes an emergency landing in the once booming, now sleepy mining town of Headstone.
• The pilot and crew plan a brief layover, and the Saint explores the area, undeterred:

  "I'm seldom bored in a strange town." — Simon Templar ([02:03])

2. Warnings and Omens: Meeting the Locals ([02:27]–[05:49])

• Simon is immediately recognized and warned off by Harry Kelly, who insists Headstone is not welcoming to strangers, especially not 'The Saint.'
• A fortune teller issues a cryptic warning:

  "Beware of a blonde young woman. She will bring you death." — Betty Connolly (as fortune teller) ([03:41])

• Enter Ziggy, the wisecracking, Brooklyn-born cab driver who prefers to "mind his own business" but can't help piping in:

  "Headstone is a great place for strangers to visit if they've paid up their insurance." — Ziggy ([05:26])

3. The Blonde in Trouble: Introducing Betty Connolly ([05:58]–[08:12])

• Betty Connolly, a frightened yet resourceful local woman, seeks out The Saint at Ziggy’s suggestion.
• She reveals her father left her a worthless silver mine and she's been targeted with two attempts on her life.
• The main suspects mentioned are Mike McCarthy, an alleged gangster, and a mysterious local, Harry Kelly.

4. Assembling the Pieces: A Web of Motives ([08:12]–[11:11])

• Multiple townspeople warn Betty to leave town, raising suspicions about the true value of her inheritance.
• Ziggy continues to feign ignorance, but his knowledge of the players and events is clear.

5. Murder in the Shadows ([11:11]–[12:57])

• Simon and Betty visit Harry Kelly, only to find him shot dead moments after their arrival.
• Before dying, Kelly tries to utter a clue:

  "Mine..." or seemingly "sin..." ([12:32])

6. The Search for Answers ([13:15]–[15:28])

• Simon checks with the town assayer, Matthews, to verify the mine’s supposed worthlessness.
• Matthews insists the mine yields only "mud and water" ([14:32]).
• Undeterred, Simon resolves to question Mike McCarthy.

7. A Tense Confrontation ([15:43]–[17:05])

• In a direct face-off, McCarthy threatens The Saint with a gun, warning him off further meddling:

  "I got answers for nosy guys. Six of them." — Mike McCarthy, brandishing his revolver ([16:37])

8. Descent into Danger: The Mine Showdown ([17:58]–[20:29])

• Simon, Betty, and McCarthy descend into the mine, where McCarthy attempts to eliminate them.
• In a scuffle, McCarthy falls to his death.
• Simon notices red dirt on his coat, a vital clue ([19:58]).

9. The Real Treasure Revealed ([20:29]–[22:13])

• The red dirt is cinnabar ore (from which mercury is extracted).

  "Red sulfide is also cinnabar ore, from which we get mercury. And that is pretty valuable." — Simon Templar ([20:45])

• Simon realizes the mine’s true value — leading to the motive for attempted murder.

10. The Final Reveal: The True Villain ([22:13]–[24:04])

• As Simon prepares to leave and advises Betty how to proceed, the final twist arrives:
  • The killer isn’t McCarthy, but Ziggy the cab driver.
  • Simon deduces Ziggy’s guilt:

    "You knew about the cinnabar ore in the mine. You carried some of it away to be tested in your cab. There was red dust in it, which you tried to explain with a corny gag." ([22:58])

  • Ziggy is caught with the murder weapon and taken into custody.

11. Aftermath & Reflection ([24:04]–[25:07])

• Betty asks Simon to stay, but he departs, leaving her with new fortune and responsibilities.
• Simon expresses the classic moral of The Saint stories:

  "How many times there have been men just like Ziggy, led into crime by insatiable greed, forgetting the simplest truth so aptly phrased by John Dryden: 'Murder may pass unpunished for a time, but party justice will overtake the crime.'" — Vincent Price ([24:31])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Simon’s humor in danger:

  "Mezzanine, ladies underwear, galoshes and accessories..." — Simon (as the mine cable car descends) ([18:58])

• Ziggy’s quintessential wise guy lines:

  "I ain't really equipped for it, because the way you're headed, only a saint could feel at home." — Ziggy ([10:28])

• Romantic tension at the close:

  "Thanks, Betty, for keeping my forced visit to Headstone from being dull." — Simon ([22:16])

• Betty’s grateful relief:

  "Simon, how can I ever thank you?" — Betty ([21:00]) "I have a couple of ideas on the subject..." — Simon ([21:02])

Key Story Timestamps

• Landing in Headstone: [01:36]–[02:10]
• Saint’s first warning: [02:27]–[03:12]
• Fortune teller’s warning: [03:26]–[04:10]
• Meeting Betty Connolly: [05:58]–[08:12]
• Revealed attempts on Betty’s life: [06:46]–[08:12]
• Harry Kelly shot: [11:32]–[12:57]
• Clue about the mine (mine/sin): [12:32], [20:54]
• Explanation of cinnabar/mercury: [20:34]–[20:54]
• Ziggy exposed as the true villain: [22:51]–[23:40]
• Final moral reflection by Vincent Price: [24:31]

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies the wit, charm, and deductive skills of Simon Templar. Set against a backdrop of small-town secrecy and greed, "The Saint Goes Underground" offers all the classic elements of Golden Age radio mysteries: colorful characters, sharp dialogue, a twist ending, and a satisfying dose of justice — all delivered with Vincent Price’s inimitable style.