Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 53-09-22 (012) "The Homecoming"

Air Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode features an installment of the classic police procedural radio drama 21st Precinct titled "The Homecoming." Set in early 1950s New York, the story offers an intimate look at the lives of police officers, centering on the emotional turmoil of Sergeant Burns after he receives tragic news about his son. As the episode unfolds, listeners are drawn into the protocol and personal pain involved when the police family suffers a loss. The narrative is marked by a blend of drama, duty, and humanity, highlighted by the intersection of Burns’ professional and personal worlds as the investigation takes a deeply personal turn.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene and Police Routine

• The episode opens with Captain Kennelly returning from patrol, learning about a bureaucratic mix-up about police witnesses needed for a grand jury.
• There’s a strong sense of routine, office chatter, and the administrative pressures typical of police life.
• Quote:
  "21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city... The security of their homes, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct."
  — Captain Kennelly [00:55]

2. Tragic News for Sergeant Burns

• The core of the episode revolves around Sergeant Burns, who learns that his only son, Fred Jr., stationed at Fort Devens, was killed in an accident.
• Captain Kennelly takes responsibility for breaking the news personally out of respect and compassion.
• The emotional toll on all involved is palpable, especially considering how tightly knit the precinct family is.
• Notable Exchange:
  • "I've got some bad news for you, Fred."
    — Captain Kennelly [06:27]
  • "He's dead?"
    — Sgt. Burns [06:42]
  • "I'm sorry, Fred."
    — Captain Kennelly [06:43]

3. Impact and Grief at Home

• The story follows Captain Kennelly as he visits the bereaved Burns family. The scene portrays raw grief and the struggle to process the loss, especially with the mother, Ruth, in deep distress.
• There's discussion about the son's aspirations and the pride his father felt, contrasted with the shattering loss.
• Quote:
  "19 years old, that's all. Just 19 years old."
  — Sergeant Burns [07:36 and repeated at 12:57 for emphasis]

4. Details of the Fatal Accident

• It's revealed Fred Jr. was killed in a hit-and-run by a car while celebrating a recent promotion.
• The car’s driver was possibly another soldier; the authorities are working to identify the perpetrator.
• Quote:
  "I raised that kid from nothing to 19 years old. I want him to pay... I wouldn't want him to do it to another man's son."
  — Sergeant Burns [15:30]

5. Break in the Case: The Search for the Driver

• The investigation heats up when Lieutenant Nayland from the First Army MP Apprehension Unit arrives, seeking help to arrest the AWOL suspected driver, John Esher.
• Esher is wanted for manslaughter in the hit-and-run fatality that killed Burns’ son.
• The shocking coincidence and ethical implications are remarked upon:
• Quote:
  "The victim's father is a sergeant of police in this precinct, yes? ...That's a strange coincidence. It doesn't happen every day."
  — Lt. Nayland [17:10]
• The police conduct surveillance and plan entry to apprehend the suspect.

6. Arrest and Confrontation

• The tension culminates with a confrontation at a tenement apartment, where Esher threatens to jump from a window rather than surrender.
• A tense negotiation follows, with Sergeant Burns himself attempting to talk Esher down.
• Memorable Dialogue:
  • "Don't come any closer. I'll jump. I swear I'll jump."
    — John Esher [23:13]
  • "It's not that bad. Everybody knows you're sorry... take my word for it."
    — Sgt. Burns [24:17]
• The situation resolves without violence: Esher, shaken and remorseful, is taken into custody.

7. Aftermath & Reflection

• The episode closes with a return to precinct routine, juxtaposed with the emotional gravity of the story.
• Captain Kennelly gives a closing reflection on the life of the precinct—the constant motion of tragedy and civic service.
• Final Quote:
  "The police precinct... is a flesh and blood merry-go-round. Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone."
  — Captain Kennelly [26:55]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Most of the 173,000 people wedged into... wouldn't know... they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security... is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct."
  — Captain Kennelly [00:55]

• "I've got some bad news... It's your boy..."
  — Captain Kennelly [06:27-06:38]

• "19 years old, that's all. Just 19 years old. When he got out of the army, he was going to try and get on the copsy."
  — Sergeant Burns [07:36]

• "Raise a boy and see him like this in your own living room..."
  — Mrs. Burns [11:24]

• "I raised that kid from nothing to 19 years old... I want him to pay hard."
  — Sergeant Burns [15:30]

• "The victim's father is a sergeant of police in this precinct... That's a strange coincidence."
  — Lt. Nayland [17:10]

• "Don't come any closer. I'll jump."
  — John Esher [23:13]

• "Everybody's been in a little trouble... Why make things worse than they are?"
  — Sergeant Burns [24:17]

• "The police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry go round. Anyone can catch the brass ring or the brass ring can catch anyone."
  — Captain Kennelly [26:55]

Key Timestamps

• [00:35-02:30] – Precinct routines; grand jury confusion
• [05:25-07:25] – The death notification and Sergeant Burns’ reaction
• [10:50-12:57] – Visit to the Burns home and parental grief
• [14:53-16:45] – Details of the hit-and-run and ongoing investigation
• [17:10-20:55] – Arrival of the Army MPs, briefing on suspect Esher, planning the arrest
• [21:45-25:45] – Apartment confrontation, Esher's window standoff, Sergeant Burns negotiates surrender
• [26:55-27:49] – Captain Kennelly’s closing reflection

Overall Tone and Style

The dialogue is naturalistic, intimate, and somber, often laced with the dry professionalism of a 1950s police station yet never losing sight of the human cost of tragedy. The story remains sensitive to both the procedural and emotional facets, balancing reserved camaraderie with raw grief.

Memorable Moments

• Captain Kennelly’s heartfelt delivery of tragic news to Sergeant Burns
• The compassion shown to Mrs. Burns in her living room as she processes the death of her son
• The tense, human stand-off with John Esher, highlighting the emotional burden not only on the perpetrator but also those pursuing justice

Conclusion

"The Homecoming" is a poignant episode that deftly combines crime procedural with the emotional realities of police work, creating a timeless exploration of grief, duty, and the search for justice. The episode stands out not for its action, but for its empathy and insight into the costs borne by those in uniform—and their families.